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Nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic analysis of Newcastle disease virus isolates from recent outbreaks in Taiwan

Yang CY, Chang PC, Hwang JM, Shieh HK

Avian Dis, 1997 Apr-Jun;41(2):365-73.
PMID: 9201401

Portions of the hemagglutinin neuraminidase (HN) gene of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates from two recent outbreaks were sequenced to investigate epidemiology of this disease in Taiwan. These NDV isolates were all viscerotropic velogenic according to the clinical lesions produced in chickens. Sequence data were obtained from 14 NDV isolates (12 from 1995 and 2 from 1984). All isolates differed in their nucleotide sequences (from 0.3 to 15.3%), and represented potentially different strains of NDV. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these isolates are closely related to viruses isolated from Japan and Malaysia. Some viruses isolated in 1995 appeared to evolve from viruses isolated in 1984. The results suggest that the 1995 outbreak of Newcastle disease (ND) in Taiwan may have been caused by multiple strains of velogenic NDV that have cocirculated in Taiwan for some time. Moreover, NDV isolates from racing pigeons were very similar to isolates from chickens in the same period, suggesting that both domestic and free-living birds were involved in the spread of ND in Taiwan.
Fulltext Association between intrauterine growth restriction and patent ductus arteriosus: Use of a dichorionic twin pregnancy model

Yang CY, Hoong MF, Li CS, Li WF, You SH, Lee YC, et al.

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol, 2021 May;60(3):517-522.
PMID: 33966739 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2021.03.023

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the incidence of fetuses with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and Hemodynamically significant PDA (Hs-PDA) in dichorionic twins (DC) with selective IUGR.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational cohort study and retrospective case assessment, involved twins born at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan between 2013 and 2018. DC twins with selective IUGR (sIUGR) were defined as the presence of a birth weight discordance of >25% and a smaller twin with a birth weight below the tenth percentile. PDA was diagnosed using echocardiography between postnatal day 3 and 7. Hs-PDA was defined as PDA plus increased pulmonary circulation, poor systemic perfusion, cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, or hypotension requiring pharmacotherapeutic intervention.
RESULT: A total of 1187 twins were delivered during the study period, and 53 DC twins with selective IUGR were included in this study. DC twins with PDA have higher rate of preterm birth, lower gestational age of delivery, and lower mean birth weight of both twins compared with DC twins without PDA. In a comparison of the sIUGR twin with the appropriate for gestational age co-twin, both the incidences of PDA (28.30% vs. 7.55%, respectively; P = 0.003) and Hs-PDA (24.53% vs. 5.66%, respectively; P = 0.002) were higher in sIUGR fetuses than in the appropriate for gestational age co-twins. Small gestational age of delivery was the only variable to predict PDA and Hs-PDA [p = 0.002, Odds ratio = 0.57 (0.39-0.82), p = 0.009, Odds ratio = 0.71 (0.55-0.92), respectively].
CONCLUSION: An analysis of dichorionic twins with sIUGR indicated that IUGR increased the risk of PDA and hemodynamically significant PDA.
Fulltext A Novel GaN:C Millimeter-Wave HEMT with AlGaN Electron-Blocking Layer

Weng YC, Lin YC, Hsu HT, Kao ML, Huang HY, Ueda D, et al.

Materials (Basel), 2022 Jan 18;15(3).
PMID: 35160649 DOI: 10.3390/ma15030703

An AlGaN/GaN/Si high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) using a GaN:C buffer with a 2 nm AlGaN electron-blocking layer (EBL) is investigated for the first time for millimeter-wave applications. Compared with the double heterostructure field effect transistor (DHFET), the AlGaN/GaN HEMT with the GaN:C/EBL buffer has a lower vertical leakage, higher thermal stability, and better RF performance. In addition, AlGaN EBL can prevent carbon-related traps from GaN:C and improve electron confinement in 2DEG during high-frequency operation. Finally, a Pout of 31.2 dBm with PAE of 21.7% were measured at 28 GHz at 28 V. These results demonstrated the great potential of HEMTs using GaN:C with AlGaN EBL epitaxy technology for millimeter-wave applications.
Fulltext Pimecrolimus for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Infants: An Asian Perspective

Chu CY, Yao TC, Shih IH, Yang CY, Chin CL, Ibrahim SBBK, et al.

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb), 2023 Mar;13(3):717-727.
PMID: 36735214 DOI: 10.1007/s13555-022-00886-9

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic, multisystem inflammatory skin disease in pediatric patients. There has been an increase in the incidence of AD in the pediatric population of the Asia-Pacific region. Studies have shown that genetic, epigenetic, environmental and cultural factors may lead to differences in the clinical manifestation and prevalence of AD between races. Early treatment of AD is necessary to prevent the atopic march leading to comorbidities such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Topical corticosteroids (TCS) are used as first-line therapy for the treatment of AD, but their long-term usage poses a risk to the patient's health. Pimecrolimus (1%) is a topical calcineurin inhibitor (TCI) that is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate AD. Pimecrolimus has no apparent increase in adverse events compared to TCS, and it causes less of a burning sensation than tacrolimus. The safety and efficacy of pimecrolimus has been established through various clinical trials; yet, in many Asian countries, the use of pimecrolimus in infants is still restricted due to safety concerns. Based on the available evidence, the expert panel recommends pimecrolimus in infants between 3 months and 2 years of age in the Asian population.
Immune-stealth VP28-conjugated heparin nanoparticles for enhanced and reversible anticoagulation

Hussein HR, Chang CY, Zheng Y, Yang CY, Li LH, Lee YT, et al.

Nanotechnology, 2024 Feb 09;35(17).
PMID: 38262054 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ad21a2

Heparins are a family of sulfated linear negatively charged polysaccharides that have been widely used for their anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. Additionally, it has been used for acute cerebral infarction relief as well as other pharmacological actions. However, heparin's self-aggregated macrocomplex may reduce blood circulation time and induce life-threatening thrombocytopenia (HIT) complicating the use of heparins. Nonetheless, the conjugation of heparin to immuno-stealth biomolecules may overcome these obstacles. An immunostealth recombinant viral capsid protein (VP28) was expressed and conjugated with heparin to form a novel nanoparticle (VP28-heparin). VP28-heparin was characterized and tested to determine its immunogenicity, anticoagulation properties, effects on total platelet count, and risk of inducing HIT in animal models. The synthesized VP28-heparin trimeric nanoparticle was non-immunogenic, possessed an average hydrodynamic size (8.81 ± 0.58 nm) optimal for the evasion renal filtration and reticuloendothelial system uptake (hence prolonging circulating half-life). Additionally, VP28-heparin did not induce mouse death or reduce blood platelet count when administered at a high dosein vivo(hence reducing HIT risks). The VP28-heparin nanoparticle also exhibited superior anticoagulation properties (2.2× higher prothrombin time) and comparable activated partial thromboplastin time, but longer anticoagulation period when compared to unfractionated heparin. The anticoagulative effects of the VP28-heparin can also be reversed using protamine sulfate. Thus, VP28-heparin may be an effective and safe heparin derivative for therapeutic use.
Fulltext Prevalence, complete genome, and metabolic potentials of a phylogenetically novel cyanobacterial symbiont in the coral-killing sponge, Terpios hoshinota

Chen YH, Chen HJ, Yang CY, Shiu JH, Hoh DZ, Chiang PW, et al.

Environ Microbiol, 2022 Mar;24(3):1308-1325.
PMID: 34708512 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15824

Terpios hoshinota is an aggressive, space-competing sponge that kills various stony corals. Outbreaks of this species have led to intense damage to coral reefs in many locations. Here, the first large-scale 16S rRNA gene survey across three oceans revealed that bacteria related to the taxa Prochloron, Endozoicomonas, SAR116, Ruegeria, and unclassified Proteobacteria were prevalent in T. hoshinota. A Prochloron-related bacterium was the most dominant and prevalent cyanobacterium in T. hoshinota. The complete genome of this uncultivated cyanobacterium and pigment analysis demonstrated that it has phycobiliproteins and lacks chlorophyll b, which is inconsistent with the definition of Prochloron. Furthermore, the cyanobacterium was phylogenetically distinct from Prochloron, strongly suggesting that it should be a sister taxon to Prochloron. Therefore, we proposed this symbiotic cyanobacterium as a novel species under the new genus Candidatus Paraprochloron terpiosi. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that 'Paraprochloron' and Prochloron exhibit distinct genomic features and DNA replication machinery. We also characterized the metabolic potentials of 'Paraprochloron terpiosi' in carbon and nitrogen cycling and propose a model for interactions between it and T. hoshinota. This study builds a foundation for the study of the T. hoshinota microbiome and paves the way for better understanding of ecosystems involving this coral-killing sponge.
The Medication Risk of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in Asians: The Major Drug Causality and Comparison With the US FDA Label

Wang YH, Chen CB, Tassaneeyakul W, Saito Y, Aihara M, Choon SE, et al.

Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 2019 01;105(1):112-120.
PMID: 29569740 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.1071

Specific ethnic genetic backgrounds are associated with the risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) especially in Asians. However, there have been no large cohort, multiple-country epidemiological studies of medication risk related to SJS/TEN in Asian populations. Thus, we analyzed the registration databases from multiple Asian countries who were treated during 1998-2017. A total 1,028 SJS/TEN cases were identified with the algorithm of drug causality for epidermal necrolysis. Furthermore, those medications labeled by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as carrying a risk of SJS/TEN were also compared with the common causes of SJS/TEN in Asian countries. Oxcarbazepine, sulfasalazine, COX-II inhibitors, and strontium ranelate were identified as new potential causes. In addition to sulfa drugs and beta-lactam antibiotics, quinolones were also a common cause. Only one acetaminophen-induced SJS was identified, while several medications (e.g., oseltamivir, terbinafine, isotretinoin, and sorafenib) labeled as carrying a risk of SJS/TEN by the FDA were not found to have caused any of the cases in the Asian countries investigated in this study.