http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9092 207 - 431 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:54:42 GMT 2026-04-10T01:54:42Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9323 Title: Longitudinal neutralizing antibody responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A convalescent cohort study in Taiwan Authors: Huang, Yen-Fang; Hsu, Fang-Chi; Wu, Jiunn-Jong; Lin, Yi-Ling; Liu, Ming-Tsan; Yang, Chin-Hui Abstract: Abstract Background: Understanding the neutralizing antibody (NAb) titer against COVID-19 over time is important to provide information for vaccine implementation. The longitudinal NAb titer over one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection is still unclear. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the duration of the neutralizing NAb titers in COVID-19 convalescents and factors associated with the titer positive duration. Methods: A cohort study followed COVID-19 individuals diagnosed between 2020 and 2021 May 15th from the COVID-19 database from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. We analyzed NAb titers from convalescent SARS-CoV-2 individuals. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) and a Cox regression model to summarize the factors associated with NAb titers against COVID-19 decaying in the vaccine-free population. Results: A total of 203 convalescent subjects with 297 analytic samples were followed for a period of up to 588 days. Our study suggests that convalescent COVID-19 in individuals after more than a year and four months pertains to only 25% of positive titers. The GEE model indicates that longer follow-up duration was associated with a significantly lower NAb titer. The Cox regression model indicated the disease severity with advanced condition was associated with maintaining NAb titers (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.11e3.63) and that smoking was also associated with higher risk of negative NAb titers (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33e0.92). Conclusions: Neutralizing antibody titers diminished after more than a year. The antibody titer response against SARS-CoV-2 in naturally convalescent individuals provides a reference for vaccinations. Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9323 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9304 Title: Huge brain abscess caused by Actinomyces israelii associated with chronic sinusitis: A rare case report Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9304 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9303 Title: Socioeconomic disparities and multidrugresistant tuberculosis in South Korea: Focus on immigrants and income levels Authors: Jeong, Han Eol; Bea, Sungho; Kim, Ju Hwan; Jang, Seung Hun; Son, Hyunjin; Shin, Ju-Young Abstract: Abstract Risk factors of MDR-TB remain unclear in South Korea, despite being an important public health issue. Findings from this study, which included 50,000 patients with TB from South Korea, suggests that immigrants and patients with lower income levels were strong predictors of MDR-TB in a high-income, high TB incidence country. Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9303 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9301 Title: Characterization of the biomarkers related to the clinical course and outcomes of juvenile dermatomyositis Authors: Lin, Ting-Wei; Hu, Ya-Chiao; Chiang, Bor-Luen Abstract: Abstract Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of children diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) in a tertiary medical centre in Taiwan and to identify important biomarkers for predicting the disease course and outcomes of JDM. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with JDM diagnosed at the National Taiwan University Hospital between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2021. The endpoints for disease assessment included complete clinical response or remission. The JDM courses were divided into monocyclic, polycyclic, and chronic continuous statuses. The significant relationship between the predictors and outcomes was further analysed. Results: A total of 47 patients were included in this study. The mean age at disease onset was 7.5 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1.35. The most common initial presentations were Gottron’s sign (74%), followed by muscle weakness (66%) and facial rash (66%). Among all included patients, 35 (74.5%) patients achieved complete clinical remission, 15 (31.9%) had a monocyclic course, six (12.7%) had a polycyclic course, and 24 (51.1%) had a chronic continuous course. Negative facial rash and arthralgia were favourable factors for achieving complete clinical remission. Muscle weakness, higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) at disease onset were related to the chronic continuous course. The most common long-term complication was calcinosis (29.8%). Conclusion: Juvenile dermatomyositis is a rare disease, and only a few studies have been conducted in Asia. Our results identified the important predictors of the disease course and outcomes. The chronic continuous course requires more attention and aggressive treatment. Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9301 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z