Browsing by Author "Lin, Hsi-Hsun"

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Association of Human Q Fever with Animal Husbandry, Taiwan, 2004-2012
(2015-12-01)
Lai, Chung-Hsu
;
Chang, Lin-Li
;
Lin, Jiun-Nong
;
Liao, Ming-Huei
;
Liu, Shyh-Shyan
In Taiwan, Q fever cases in humans began increasing in 2004 and peaked in 2007 but dramatically declined in 2008 and 2011. Cases were significantly correlated with the number of goats. The decline might be associated with the collateral effects of measures to control goat pox in 2008 and 2010.
Development of an Animal Model for Alcoholic Liver Disease in Zebrafish
(2015-08-01)
Lin, Jiun-Nong
;
Chang, Lin-Li
;
Lai, Chung-Hsu
;
Lin, Kai-Jen
;
Lin, Mei-Fang
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) continues to be a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. To date, no zebrafish animal model has demonstrated the characteristic manifestations of ALD in the setting of chronic alcohol exposure. The aim of this study was to develop a zebrafish animal model for ALD. Male adult zebrafish were housed in a 1% (v/v) ethanol solution up to 3 months. A histopathological study showed the characteristic features of alcoholic liver steatosis and steatohepatitis in the early stages of alcohol exposure, including fat droplet accumulation, ballooning degeneration of the hepatocytes, and Mallory body formation. As the exposure time increased, collagen deposition in the extracellular matrix was observed by Sirius red staining and immunofluorescence staining. Finally, anaplastic hepatocytes with pleomorphic nuclei were arranged in trabecular patterns and formed nodules in the zebrafish liver. Over the time course of 1% ethanol exposure, upregulations of lipogenesis, fibrosis, and tumor-related genes were also revealed by semiquantitative and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. As these data reflect characteristic liver damage by alcohol in humans, this zebrafish animal model may serve as a powerful tool to study the pathogenesis and treatment of ALD and its related disorders in humans.
High prevalence of fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pyogenes emm12 in Taiwan
(2015-10-01)
Lin, Jiun-Nong
;
Chang, Lin-Li
;
Lai, Chung-Hsu
;
Huang, Yi-Han
;
Chen, Wei-Fang
Fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pyogenes has rapidly emerged in several countries. The aim of this study was to survey the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible S. pyogenes in Taiwan. A total of 350 consecutive S. pyogenes isolates were collected between January 2005 and December 2012, including 152 (43.4%) invasive and 198 (56.6%) noninvasive isolates. Thirty-nine isolates (11.1%) of S. pyogenes were nonsusceptible to fluoroquinolones, including one emm1/ST28, 4 emm4/ST39, 33 emm12/ST36, and 1 emm87/5T62. Of all the isolates, emm12 (50%) demonstrated the highest prevalence of fluoroquinolone nonsusceptibility. Alterations of Ser79Phe and Ala12Val in ParC were the most frequently mutations in fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible S. pyogenes isolates. There were no amino acid substitutions in GyrB, and 1 emm87 isolate exhibited 3 nonsynonymous mutations in ParE. Our study reveals the emergence of fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible S. pyogenes emm12/ST36 in Taiwan. Regular surveillance of fluoroquinolone susceptibility in S. pyogenes is suggested. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Predisposing factors for oropharyngeal colonization of yeasts in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: A prospective cross-sectional study
(2013-04-01)
Lin, Jiun-Nong
;
Lin, Chih-Chao
;
Lai, Chung-Hsu
;
Yang, Yun-Liang
;
Chen, Hui-Ting
Background: Oropharyngeal candidiasis continues to be a major opportunistic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence, associated factors, and microbiologic features for oropharyngeal yeast colonization in HIV-infected patients. Methods: From October to December 2009, consecutive HIV-infected patients older than 18 years were recruited in this study. Demographic information, underlying conditions, and clinical histories were collected. Oropharyngeal swab cultures for yeasts and antifungal drug susceptibilities of the isolates were performed. Results: Of the 105 HIV-infected patients, 54 (51.4%) were colonized with yeasts, including 11 patients (20.4%) with more than one species. Among the 68 isolates, Candida albicans accounted for 73.5%, followed by Candida tropicalis (5.9%), Candida glabrata (5.9%), and Candida dubliniensis (4.4%). There were 7.5% and 6% Candida isolates resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. All of the Candida isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B. A higher prevalence of yeast colonization was noted in patients with a CD4 cell count <= 200 cells/mu L (p = 0.032). Multivariate regression analysis showed that intravenous drug use was an independent associated factor for oropharyngeal yeast colonization (odds ratio, 5.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-20.6; p = 0.015), as well as protease inhibitor-containing anti-retroviral therapy (odds ratio, 3.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-9.12; p = 0.007). Conclusion: Despite previous studies showing that protease inhibitors decreased Candida adhesion to epithelial cells in vitro, the current study found protease inhibitor-containing anti-retroviral therapy predisposed to oropharyngeal yeast colonization in HIV-infected patients. Copyright (C) 2012, Taiwan Society of Microbiology. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.
Prevalence of and risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization among human immunodeficient virus-infected outpatients in Taiwan: oral Candida colonization as a comparator
(2017-01-01)
Wu, Chi-Jung
;
Ko, Wen-Chien
;
Ho, Mao-Wang
;
Lin, Hsi-Hsun
;
Yang, Yun-Liang
Human immuodeficency virus (HIV)-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA) have increased in recent years in Taiwan. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for nasal and oral S. aureus and MRSA colonization among contemporary HIV-infected populations. Clinical variables for S. aureus and MRSA colonization among HIV-infected outpatients from three hospitals were analyzed and compared with those for oral Candida colonization. Genetic characteristics of MRSA isolates were analyzed. A total of 714 patients were screened for nasal S. aureus colonization, and a subset of 457 patients were also screened for oral S. aureus colonization. Of all patients, 79.4% were receiving HAART, and their mean CD4 count was 472 cells/mm(3). The colonization rates in the oral cavity, nasal cavity, and at either site were 18.8%, 31.7%, and 36.8%, respectively, for S. aureus, and 3.1%, 4.4%, and 5.5%, respectively, for MRSA. These rates were all much lower than the previously reported rate of oral Candida colonization (52.4%). By multivariate analysis, a suppressed viral load (< 200 copies/mL) protected against oral S. aureus, MRSA, and Candida colonization, and recent use of antibacterial agents protected against oral and nasal S. aureus colonization. Recent incarceration increased the risk of nasal MRSA colonization, while recent hospitalization, tuberculosis, older age, and intravenous drug use increased the risk of oral Candida colonization. Candida spp. did not augment S. aureus or MRSA colonization in the oral cavity. Most of the 41 MRSA isolates recovered belonged to the SCCmec IV/pvl-negative (51.2%) and VT/pvl-positive (26.8%) ST59 local prevalent CA-MRSA clones. Distinct carriage rates demonstrated here suggested that mucosal immunity against colonization might differ in terms of microbes and sites. A decreased risk in oral carriage of MRSA and Candida might be a benefit of HAART.