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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the current uncontrolled outbreak of infectious disease, has caused significant challenges throughout the world. A reliable rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19 is demanded worldwide. The real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain was one of the most quickly established methods in the novel viral pandemic and was considered as the gold standard for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this report, we illustrate our experience of applying a protocol from the Taiwan CDC and achieving assay optimization in the immediate circumstances to meet the urgent medical and public health needs.

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IMPORTANCE: Theory of mind (ToM) can be divided into two constructs: capacity and performance. Although severity of autism traits and verbal comprehension have been identified as being associated with ToM capacity, no study has yet verified their role in predicting the ToM performance of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). OBJECTIVE: To examine the differences and associations between ToM capacity and ToM performance and to verify the role of autism traits and verbal comprehension in predicting ToM performance in children with ASD. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Pediatric rehabilitation hospitals and clinics. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred four children with ASD who met the inclusion criteria. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We examined ToM capacity and ToM performance with the Theory of Mind Task Battery (ToMTB) and the Theory of Mind Inventory-2-Chinese version (ToMI-2-C). Severity of autism traits and verbal comprehension were assessed with the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), and the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) of either the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition. We conducted correlation and hierarchical regression analyses. RESULTS: Scores on the ToMI-2-C were significantly correlated with those on the ToMTB, SRS-2, and VCI (rs = .613, -.344, and .566, respectively; p < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: ToM capacity is significantly correlated with ToM performance. Both severity of autism traits and verbal comprehension played an important role in predicting ToM performance of children with ASD after controlling for ToM capacity. WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS: ToM capacity, severity of autism traits, and verbal comprehension were all significant predictors of ToM performance. Improving ToM capacity, severity of autism traits, and verbal comprehension of children with ASD would be beneficial to their ToM performance.

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The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is the most frequently studied in the central nervous system and has been linked to neuropathic pain. In this study, a post-translational mechanism of microRNA (miR)-186 via regulating the expression of NLRP3 in the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-treated mice was investigated. The injection of CFA was used to induce trigeminal neuropathic pain in mice. miRs microarray chip assay was performed in trigeminal ganglions (TGs). CFA treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression of NLRP3, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-18 in TGs compared to the control group. Moreover, 26 miRs were differentially expressed in TGs from trigeminal neuropathic pain mice, and the expression of miR-186 showed the lowest level of all the miRs. Further examination revealed that NLRP3 was a candidate target gene of miR-186. We delivered miR-186 mimics to CFA-treated mice. The head withdrawal thresholds of the CFA-treated mice were significantly increased by miR-186 mimics injection compared with CFA single treatment. The mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, IL-1ß, and IL-18 in TGs from trigeminal neuropathic pain mice were significantly inhibited by miR-186 mimics treatment compared to the CFA group. miR-186 was able to suppress the neuropathic pain via regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

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The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is the most frequently studied in the central nervous system and has been linked to neuropathic pain. In this study, a post-translational mechanism of microRNA (miR)-186 via regulating the expression of NLRP3 in the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-treated mice was investigated. The injection of CFA was used to induce trigeminal neuropathic pain in mice. miRs microarray chip assay was performed in trigeminal ganglions (TGs). CFA treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression of NLRP3, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 in TGs compared to the control group. Moreover, 26 miRs were differentially expressed in TGs from trigeminal neuropathic pain mice, and the expression of miR-186 showed the lowest level of all the miRs. Further examination revealed that NLRP3 was a candidate target gene of miR-186. We delivered miR-186 mimics to CFA-treated mice. The head withdrawal thresholds of the CFA-treated mice were significantly increased by miR-186 mimics injection compared with CFA single treatment. The mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 in TGs from trigeminal neuropathic pain mice were significantly inhibited by miR-186 mimics treatment compared to the CFA group. miR-186 was able to suppress the neuropathic pain via regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

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This study aimed to clarify the relationships between theory of mind and pretend play in children with autism spectrum disorder, using refined assessments of theory of mind and pretend play while controlling for autistic behaviors and verbal comprehension. A total of 92 children with autism spectrum disorder aged 4-10 years were enrolled. In two visits, the children were assessed with the Theory of Mind Task Battery, the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and the Verbal Comprehension Index of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, respectively, for their theory of mind, pretend play performance, autistic behaviors, and verbal comprehension. The hierarchical regression models showed that in addition to the contributions of the autistic behaviors and verbal comprehension scores, the theory of mind scores positively predicted (p < 0.001) the elaborateness scores of pretend play in the conventional imaginative and symbolic play contexts, respectively, accounting for an additional 8.1 and 18.5% of the variance, but did not predict the scores for number of object substitutions or imitated actions. The findings demonstrate that theory of mind has a predominant role in the quality, not the quantity, of pretend play of children with autism spectrum disorder, when the children's autistic behaviors and verbal comprehension are considered. This study fills a gap in the previous literature and provides information useful for clinicians and researchers on the relationships between theory of mind and pretend play in children with autism spectrum disorder.

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Since 1993, following the National Thalassemia Major Prevention Program and an increase in immigration and interracial marriages, especially in southern Taiwan, the distribution of hemoglobinopathies may have changed. This study investigates the epidemiologic transition of hemoglobinopathies. We analyzed 1870 specimens collected between 2003 and 2012 in southern Taiwan, used gap-polymerase chain reaction and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism-based methods, and confirmed genotypes of hemoglobinopathies by DNA sequencing. We found a 91% reduction in the incidence of thalassemia major compared with samples from between 1986 and 1995. The most common genotypes of α-thalassemia and α Hb variants were the SEA type (69.4%) and Hb Quong Sze (1.54%). The most common genotypes of ß-thalassemia and ß Hb variants were IVS-II-654 (46.2%) and Hb E (2.2%), respectively. Compared with studies performed in different areas of and time intervals in Taiwan, a higher prevalence of -α3.7, Hb Quong Sze, and Hb E and a lower prevalence of the SEA type were found in this study. However, the SEA type remained the most common genotype observed. In addition, an increasing number of cases with an -α3.7 type carrier, Hb Quong Sze carrier, and Gγ(Aγδß)° were identified following a peak of interracial marriages between 2003 and 2005, reflecting a regional difference and the impact of interracial marriage. In conclusion, global migration and international marriage have changed the distribution of hemoglobinopathies in Taiwan. A more comprehensive prenatal screening for new immigrants with a longer follow-up is warranted.

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OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed at the rapid identification of the copy number of α-globin genes for the diagnosis of α-thalassemia. DESIGN AND METHODS: To identify the copy number of α-globin genes in α-thalassemia, we developed a novel method using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in combination with the CE analysis. RESULTS: The proposed method provides a rapid detection of the common α-globin gene deletions. Sixty-six patients with α-thalassemia and 46 normal controls were included in the present study. The obtained results showed good correlation with those obtained by gap PCR. Moreover, a low amount of maternal cell contamination in the fetus specimen for the prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobin Barts hydrops fetalis as well as the rare multiplicated α-globin genes can be identified using this method. CONCLUSION: This method provides a convenient and efficient tool for the rapid identification of the copy number of α-globin genes in α-thalassemia and the individuals with α-globin gene multiplication.

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BACKGROUND: Excess reactive oxygen species related to neoplasia of liver has been established. Essentially, the human body has developed different antioxidant systems for defence against these attacks. To evaluate the redox status in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV), the most important aetiological factor in Taiwan, changes in O2(.) generation, lipid peroxidation as well as antioxidant status in the blood of HCC patients with HBV carriers for more than 20 years were measured. METHODS: Superoxide anion radical (O2(.-)) generation and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) served as an index of lipid peroxidation along with the analyses of activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRx); also, glutathione status, including reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and the levels of vitamins A, C and E were determined. RESULTS: In 54 patients, the levels of O2(.-), MDA and GSSG, and the activities of SOD and GRx of blood were significantly higher than those of 57 controls. Conversely, the levels of GSH and total GSH, and GSH/GSSG ratio, and vitamins A and C were significantly decreased. Additionally, there were no significant changes in the activity of GPx and the levels of vitamin E. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the redox statuses in patients with HBV-associated HCC were elevated or decreased in certain parameters. However, the increased activities of antioxidant enzymes may be a compensatory up-regulation and the decrease antioxidant statuses were responses to the enhanced oxidative stress in those patients.

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BACKGROUND: Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is a tyrosine kinase involved in the cytokine signaling of several growth factors such as erythropoietin and thrombopoietin in normal and neoplastic cells. The G to T exchange at nucleotide 1849 in exon 14 of the JAK2 gene leads to a substitution of valine with phenylalanine at the amino acid position 617 (V617F) of the JAK2 protein. Currently, the occurrence of the JAK2 V617F mutation is well recognized in chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). METHODS: We identified JAK2 V617F missense mutation in patients with MPD by high resolution melting (HRM) analysis. HRM analysis is a new gene scan tool that quickly performs the PCR and identifies sequences alterations without requiring post-PCR treatment. This study included 7 PV patients (41.1%), 6 ET patients (35.3%), and 4 myelofibrosis patients (23.5%). Additionally, our methodology was compared with amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) assay. RESULTS: Up to 5% of the JAK2 V617F mutation was successfully detected in patients with MPD using HRM analysis. Eleven out of 17 patients (64.7%) were positive for the presence of JAK2 V617F mutation. The prevalence of mutation in the different subtypes of MPDs was 85.7% in PV (6 of 7 patients), 66.7% in ET (4 of 6) and 5.9% in myelofibrosis (1 of 4). The results proved 100% comparable to those obtained by ARMS assay. CONCLUSIONS: The HRM analysis is a rapid and effective technique for the detection of JAK2 V617F missense mutation.

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OBJECTIVES: Glutathione status can be regarded as the redox status for many diseases. This study was performed to investigate the glutathione status in virus-originated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DESIGN AND METHODS: The blood and tissue samples were obtained from 24 patients. Blood samples were also obtained from 137 controls for comparison. RESULTS: The GSH level and the ratios of GSH/GSSG and GSH/total glutathione of the blood samples from the patients were significantly lower than those of the controls, while the GSSG values were significantly higher. Meanwhile, levels of GSH and total glutathione, as well as the ratios of GSH/GSSH and GSH/total glutathione, were significantly decreased, whereas GSSG levels were significantly higher, in the HCC tissues than those of the adjacent cancer-free tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Glutathione status in the HCC suggested that the antioxidant system is severely impaired, supporting a consistent role of the free radical cytotoxicity in the pathophysiology of the disease.

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BACKGROUND: Information pertaining to the lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status of patients with beta-thalassemic major, with or without hepatitis C virus infection, has been scanty. METHODS: We report here the results of our efforts in the evaluation of lipid peroxidative status, antioxidants, and vitamin A, E and C levels in the sera of a group of patients (n=42) with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemic major with or without HCV infection. RESULTS: Firstly, plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, a lipid peroxidation product, in these patients was found to be increased significantly when compared to the disease-free controls (p<0.05). Conversely, levels of plasma vitamins A, E and C were all shown to be drastically reduced as compared to the disease-free controls (p<0.01). In parallel with these data, we also found that HCV infection did play some role in aggravating the depletion of plasma vitamin E and C levels in the beta-thalassemic patients. In contrast, HCV infection did not seem to alter the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data indicate that excessive lipid peroxidation and a profound depletion of plasma vitamin A, E and C levels exist in patients with beta-thalassemic major. These data suggest that antioxidant supplementation to the patients for the purpose of alleviating the oxidative stress may be warranted.

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Parameters of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and antioxidant defense systems were measured in blood samples from 47 children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and from 51 healthy controls, matched for age and sex. In the diabetic children, chemiluminescent assay of plasma superoxide anion gave photoemission (counts x 10(3), mean +/- SD) of 674 +/- 412, which were significantly higher than those in the controls (452 +/- 185; p <0.05). Plasma vitamin A levels in the diabetic children (243 +/- 90 microg/dl) were also higher than those in the controls (207 +/- 59 microg/dl, p <0.05). In a subgroup of 24 diabetic children with blood HbA1C levels >or=8.5%, plasma lipoperoxide (LPO) and vitamin E levels were higher (p <0.05) than those in 23 diabetic children with blood HbA1C levels <8.5%. In a subgroup of 26 children with diabetes duration >or=5 yr, plasma LPO levels were higher (p <0.05) than those in 21 children with diabetes duration <5 yr. These findings confirm the presence of oxidant stress in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and demonstrate that certain indices of oxidant stress are influenced by the duration of diabetes and by the efficacy of glycemic control. These observations suggest that supportive therapy aimed at oxidative stress may help to prevent clinical complications in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

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The structural organization of the genes encoding B2, B4, B5 and B6 chains of beta-bungarotoxins are reported in this study. These genes shared virtually identical overall organization with three exons interrupted by two introns in similar positions. On the contrary, intron 1 of these genes had a similar size, a notable variation with the size of intron 2 was observed. It was found that two regions at the second intron of B1 and B2 chains were absent in that of B4, B5 and B6 chains. RT-PCR analyses indicated that Bungarus multicinctus venom gland, heart, liver and muscle expressed the RNA transcripts showing sequence similarity with the intronic segment being deleted in B4, B5 and B6 chain genes. This reflects that the ancestral gene of the intronic segment might insert in multiple loci of B. multicinctus genome. Comparative analyses of B chain genes showed that the protein-coding regions of the exons are more diverse than introns, except for in the signal peptide domain. These results suggest that intron insertions or deletions occur with the evolution of B chains, and that accelerated evolution may diversify the protein-coding sequence of B chain genes same as snake phospholipase A2, neurotoxin and cardiotoxin genes.

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Glutathione plays an important role in the antioxidant system that is required for the maintenance of the redox status of the cell, defence against free radicals and detoxification of toxic compounds. Reduced glutathione (redGSH) can be converted to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) during oxidative stress. The ratio of redGSH/total glutathione can be regarded as an index of the redox status and a useful indicator of disease risks. We conducted experiments by the capillary zone electrophoresis method to investigate the alterations of the glutathione status in the blood and tissue samples from patients with breast cancer. The results showed that the levels of redGSH, GSSG, total glutathione and the ratio of redGSH/total glutathione were significantly decreased in the blood of the patients with breast cancer compared to those of the control subjects. The levels of various forms of glutathione were lower and more pronounced in stage III. In contrast, the levels of redGSH, GSSG, total glutathione and the redGSH/total glutathione ratio in breast cancer tissues were significantly increased relative to those of the adjacent cancer-free tissues, especially in stage II. We suggest that the high redGSH levels are associated with the enhancement of cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis in the cancer cells, and the loss of the large amount of erythrocyte redGSH may be due to increased detoxification capacities and defence against oxidative stress. We propose that redGSH should be regarded as an important biochemical parameter for detecting breast malignancy.

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Excessive ethanol consumption may increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which results in the damage of tissues, especially the neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of whey protein concentrate (WPC) on the glutathione (GSH) status after acute ethanol exposure in the pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line. In this study, we assayed the cell viability, the percentage of lactate dehydrogenase released (% LDH released), the level of GSH, and the activity of GSH reductase (GRx). The results showed that with the supplement of WPC, the cell viability displayed no significant difference after acute exposure of ethanol in groups with or without ethanol treatment. The ethanol-induced cytotoxicity showed a slight decrease ,and the level of GSH showed a significant increase. The activity of GRx significantly increased when 0.1, 10mg/ml of WPC was supplied. In conclusion, these results suggest that WPC in a moderate concentration should be a precursor agent to promote the production of GSH and will enhance the antioxidant capacity in the PC12 cell line.

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BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anion radical (O2(-)), plays an important role in carcinogenesis. The human body has developed different antioxidant systems to defend against free radical attacks. We investigated the changes of the antioxidant status in the blood of patients with breast cancer. METHODS: The O2(-) generation and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured as an index of lipid peroxidation along with the examination of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRx), the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and vitamins A, C, and E. RESULTS: The results showed that the levels of O2(-) and MDA, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the blood of the patients with breast cancer were significantly higher than the controls. However, the levels of vitamin C, GSH, GSSG and ratio of GSH/GSSG in the blood of the patients with breast cancer were significantly decreased compared to control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress may be involved in breast cancer. The increased activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes may be a compensatory upregulation in response to the increased oxidative stress.

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Genomic DNAs encoding the precursors of eight cardiotoxins and two cardiotoxin-like basic proteins (CLBP) were isolated from the liver of Naja naja atra (Taiwan cobra). The cardiotoxin and CLBP genes have three exons like alpha-neurotoxin precursors. The promoter regions of these genes are highly conserved and contain the consensus transcriptional factor-binding sites for TBP, NF-1, CACCC-binding site, Spl and EFII, suggesting that these genes are regulated using similar transcriptional mechanisms. The introns and flanking regions of these genes share a high degree of nucleotide sequence identity, but except for the signal peptide domain the protein-coding regions are much more diversified than introns. The ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution is higher than one, reflecting that adaptive selection occurred during the evolution of cardiotoxin and CLBP proteins. Phylogenetic trees separate CLBPs and cardiotoxins into two clusters, suggesting that the CLBP gene and the cardiotoxin gene diverged earlier before the appearance of numerous cardiotoxins and CLBP.

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Apolipoprotein E (apoE, protein; APOE, gene) plays a major role in lipoprotein metabolism and lipid transport. Many investigators have described associations between apoE genotypes, coronary artery disease (CAD), and other risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between apoE genotypes and serum lipid profiles in a healthy population of 220 volunteers at Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Other CAD risk factors such as serum levels of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), apolipoprotein B, (apoB), homocysteine (Hcy), folate, and vitamin B12 were also measured. ApoE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). In the study population, the frequency of apoE allele epsilon3 was greatest (85.2%); the frequency of epsilon2 was 8.4%; and that of epsilon4 was 6.4%. The serum apoA-1/apoB ratio showed significant difference among the 3 apoE genotype groups (p 0.0001); the apoA-1/apoB ratio was 1.9 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- SD) in the epsilon2 group, vs 1.4 +/- 0.04 and 1.5 +/- 0.12 in the epsilon3 and epsilon4 groups, respectively. No significant associations were found between APOE alleles and the serum levels of the various lipids or other CHD risk factors.

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