Mucolipidosis I/II/III in Taiwan

Lin, Hsiang-Yu,Lin, Shuan-Pei Association for Research of MPS and Rare Diseases 2016 Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare disease Vol.2 No.1

Constipation anti-aging effects by dairy-based lactic acid bacteria

Mohamad Hafis Jaafar,Pei Xu,Uma-Mageswary Mageswaran,Shandra-Devi Balasubramaniam,Maheswaran Solayappan,Jia-Jie Woon,Cindy Shuan Ju Teh,Svetoslav Dimitrov Todorov,Yong-Ha Park,Guoxia Liu,Min-Tze Liong 한국축산학회 2024 한국축산학회지 Vol.66 No.1

Constipation, which refers to difficulties in defecation and infrequent bowel movement in emptying the gastrointestinal system that ultimately produces hardened fecal matters, is a health concern in livestock and aging animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of dairy-isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to alleviate constipation as an alternative therapeutic intervention for constipation treatment in the aging model. Rats were aged via daily subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (600 mg/body weight [kg]), prior to induction of constipation via oral administration of loperamide hydrochloride (5 mg/body weight [kg]). LAB strains (L. fermentum USM 4189 or L. plantarum USM 4187) were administered daily via oral gavage (1 × 10 Log CFU/day) while the control group received sterile saline. Aged rats as shown with shorter telomere lengths exhibited increased fecal bulk and soften fecal upon administration of LAB strains amid constipation as observed using the Bristol Stool Chart, accompanied by a higher fecal moisture content as compared to the control (p < 0.05). Fecal water-soluble metabolite profiles showed a reduced concentration of threonine upon administration of LAB strains compared to the control (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis also showed that the administration of LAB strains contributed to a higher colonic goblet cell count as compared to the control (p < 0.05). The present study illustrates the potential of dairy-sourced LAB strains as probiotics to ameliorate the adverse effect of constipation amid aging, and as a potential dietary intervention strategy for dairy foods including yogurt and cheese.

Newborn Screening for Lysosomal Storage Diseases in Taiwan

Lin, Hsiang-Yu,Chuang, Chih-Kuang,Lin, Shuan-Pei Association for Research of MPS and Rare Diseases 2017 Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare disease Vol.3 No.1

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of rare inherited metabolic disorders caused by the deficiency of specific lysosomal enzymes and subsequent accumulation of substrates. Enzyme deficiency leads to progressive intra-lysosomal accumulation of the incompletely degraded substances, which cause dysfunction and destruction of the cell and eventually multiple organ damage. Patients have a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes which are generally not specific for some LSDs, leading to missed or delayed diagnosis. Due to the availability of treatment including enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for some LSDs, early diagnosis is important. ERT products have been approved with optimal outcomes for some LSDs in the recent decades, including Gaucher, Fabry, mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) I, Pompe, MPS VI, MPS II, and MPS IVA diseases. ERT can stabilize the clinical condition, prevent disease progression, and improve the long-term outcome of these diseases, especially if started prior to irreversible organ damage. Based on the availability of therapy and suitable screening methods in the recent years, some LSDs, including Pompe, Fabry, Gaucher, MPS I, MPS II, and MPS VI diseases have been incorporated into nationwide newborn screening panels in Taiwan.

Mucopolysaccharidoses in Taiwan

Lin, Hsiang-Yu,Chuang, Chih-Kuang,Lin, Shuan-Pei Association for Research of MPS and Rare Diseases 2018 Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare disease Vol.4 No.1

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of rare inherited metabolic disorders caused by specific lysosomal enzyme deficiencies leading to the sequential degradation of glycosaminoglycans, causing substrate accumulation in various cells and tissues and progressive multiple organ dysfunction. The rare disease medical care team at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan has been dedicated to the study of MPSs for more than 20 years. Since 1999, more than 50 academic papers focusing on MPSs have been published in international medical journals. Topics of research include the following items regarding MPSs: incidence, natural history, clinical manifestations, gene mutation characteristics, cardiac function, bone mineral density, sleep studies, pulmonary function tests, hearing assessments, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, anesthetic experience, imaging analysis, special biochemical tests, laboratory diagnostics, global expert consensus conferences, prenatal diagnosis, new drug clinical trials, newborn screening, and treatment outcomes. Of these published academic research papers, more than half were cross-domain, cross-industry, and international studies with results in cooperation with experts from European, American and other Asian countries. A cross-specialty collaboration platform was established based on high-risk population screening criteria with the acronym "BECARE" (Bone and joints, Eyes, Cardiac and central nervous system, Abdomen and appearance, Respiratory system, and Ear, nose, and throat involvement). Through this platform, orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, rehabilitation physicians, gastroenterologists, otorhinolaryngologists, and medical geneticists have been educated with regards to awareness of suspected cases of MPSs patients to allow for a further confirmative diagnosis of MPSs. Because of the progressive nature of the disease, an early diagnosis and early multidisciplinary therapeutic interventions including surgery, rehabilitation programs, symptom-based treatments, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and enzyme replacement therapy, are very important.

Early Diagnosis for Mucopolysaccharidosis I - A 6-month-old Female Infant Presenting with Gibbus, Hirsutism and Mongolian Spots in a Well Baby Clinic

Lin, Hsiang-Yu,Chuang, Chih-Kuang,Chang, Jui-Hsing,Lin, Shuan-Pei Association for Research of MPS and Rare Diseases 2016 Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare disease Vol.2 No.1

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) I is a rare, progressive and multisystemic disease with insidious initial signs and symptoms, and making an early diagnosis can be a challenge for the first-line general medical practitioner. We report a 6-month-old girl who was brought to our well baby clinic for regular immunization with the manifestations of lumbar gibbus, hirsutism, large Mongolian spots over back and buttock, and mild bilateral legs spasticity noticed by the general pediatrician, and then newly diagnosed with MPS I after referral to the geneticist in time. Her surgical history included inguinal hernia repair at 1 month old, $CO_2$ laser supraglottoplasty for laryngomalacia and tracheostomy due to chronic respiratory failure with ventilator dependence at 2 months old. Understanding and identification of the early signs and symptoms of this disease have the potential to early diagnosis and timely appropriate treatment, which could contribute to a better clinical outcome.

Keratanase II Digestion Accompanied with a Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Urinary Keratan Sulfate Quantitative Analysis

Chuang, Chih-Kuang,Lin, Hsiang-Yu,Wang, Tuen-Jen,Huang, Sung-Fa,Lin, Shuan-Pei Association for Research of MPS and Rare Diseases 2017 Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare disease Vol.3 No.1

Purpose: Mucopolysaccharidosis IV (MPS IV) is a disease characterized by deficient activity of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) causing excessive lysosomal storage of keratan sulfate (KS). The identification of the relevant disaccharide units of KS after keratanase II digestion followed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS) is validated and applicable for the preliminary diagnosis of MPS IV. Methods: A total of 67 urine samples were collected and analyzed from 11 MPS IV patients comprising 10 MPS IVA and one MPS IVB patients, and 56 normal controls. Urinary glycosaminoglycan was first precipitated by the Alcian blue method followed by a digestion of keratanase II. The protonated species of the digested disaccharide products were detected by using multiple reaction monitoring experiment. Results: One particular disaccharide of KS was selected. The transition mass-to-charge (m/z) of the parent ion and its daughter ion after collision was $462.0{\rightarrow}97.0$, whereas the chondrosine used as an internal standard in this assay was m/z $353.9{\rightarrow}73.0$. The results corresponded well with the two-dimensional electrophoresis method. The quantities of urinary KS were significantly raised in confirmed MPS IV patients when comparing with those of normal controls ($170.2{\pm}81.1$ vs. $4.06{\pm}1.92{\mu}g/mL$). Conclusion: The LC-MS/MS method for MPS IVA determination is specific, sensitive, validated, and applicable for urinary KS quantification. This method can be used not only as a first-line biochemistry examination of MPS IVA, but also as an outcome survey after enzyme replacement therapy.