Hyperglycemia with high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels is associated with significant health risks. However, the relationship between HbA1c levels and the physical functioning status in later life remains uncertain and so is the possible underlying mechanism. Dr. I-Chien Wu and his team from the Institute of Population Health Sciences conducted…
Environmental factors contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease. However, these factors, and particularly the toxic effects of heavy metals, have not been completely evaluated. Among which, chromium is a widespread industrial contaminant that has been linked to nephrotoxicity in animal and occupational population studies. Nevertheless, its role…
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially fatal, and systemic allergic reaction. Previous studies document increasing trends in incidence rates of anaphylaxis-related events in Western countries, yet little is known about the incidence and trend of anaphylaxis in Asia. Dr. Hui-Ju Tsai from the Institutes of Population Health Sciences and her collaborators…
In recent decades, the incidence rates of breast cancer have been increasing rapidly in Asian countries. Previous studies have shown that pregnancy has dual effects on breast cancer. However, with increasing incidence of breast cancer in young women and delayed childbearing, the incidence of pregnancy‐related breast cancer may have been…
DUSP6, a MAPK phosphatase has been shown to regulate MAPK activities, including those of ERK, JNK, and p38. Dr. Yu-Wen Su and her team from the Immunology Research center utilized mice lacking DUSP6 (DUSP6−/−) and demonstrated that this phosphatase regulates T cell receptor (TCR) signaling to influence follicular helper T…
Daptomycin, a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, is one of the last-line agents for the treatment of certain severe multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). However, the exact mechanisms giving rise to daptomycin-non-susceptibility in S. aureus are not fully revealed but appear to involve diverse genetic…
APBB2, amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein-binding family B member 2 has been reported to be associated with opioid dependence. Dr. Yu-Li Liu from the Center for Neuropsychiatric Research reported the first time that the genetic variants in the APBB2 gene were associated with use of amphetamine in opioid dependent patients…
October 3, 2018 Autoimmune disease is the third of the top 10 catastrophic illnesses in Taiwan. An autoimmune disease is a condition that one’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells or organs in one’s own body. Patients with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and…
