J Formos Med Assoc
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Dental pulp fibroblasts can protect dental pulp from microbial invasion. However, little is known about the interaction between pulp fibroblasts and the immune cells. In this study, the production of proinflammatory cytokines related to inflammatory cell recruitment was evaluated in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated human dental pulp fibroblasts (HDPFs). The role of TNF-α-stimulated HDPFs in the cell fusion under inflammatory process was determined with the cell co-culture with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). ⋯ Our results indicate that under the stimulation of TNF-α, HDPFs may amplify inflammatory response by cytokines production, which in turn can modulate the differentiation of immune cells.
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Observational Study
Identification and management of contraindicated drug-drug interactions through pharmaceutical care programs: Experience in direct-acting antivirals therapy.
To investigate the impact of pharmaceutical care programs for the management of contraindicated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy. ⋯ The implementation of pharmaceutical care programs in DAA therapy provides a favorable outcome and substantial cost avoidance.
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Risk factors associated with longer stays in cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit after CABG.
Monitoring ICU length of stay (LOS) after CABG and examining its risk factors can guide initiatives on the improvement of care. But few have evaluated this issue to include personal and clinical factors, and demands of ICU care. This study applied Donabedian model to identify risk factors for longer ICU stays after CABG. Lifestyle, clinical factors during and after CABG, TISS were viewed as structure factors, and infection and organ failures during ICU did as process factors. ⋯ Further quality improvement initiatives to shorten ICU stay after CABG may include the promotion of a smoking cessation program in clinical practice, and better management of the manpower allocation, infection control and renal failure.
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Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common causes of peptic ulcer disease among children. This study is aimed to investigate the eradication rate of 14-day sequential therapy and the antibiotic resistance of H. pylori in children. ⋯ In treatment-naïve children with H. pylori infection, 14-day sequential therapy is superior to triple therapy, and achieve a high eradication rate (above 90%) in an area of high clarithromycin resistance.
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Limited data are available on the role of illicit non-injecting drug use in a prolonged HIV outbreak that predominantly affected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Taiwan since 2006. We aimed to assess associations between specific types of drug use and incident HIV infections in this outbreak. ⋯ Non-opioid recreational drugs use is associated with incident HIV infection in this prolonged HIV outbreak. There is an urgent need to formulate an effective public health response to mitigate the risk.