2023 TSOC-TACVPR-TACPAH Consensus Statement of the Rehabilitation on Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

In the past, patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) were advised to avoid exercise due to concerns that it might strain cardiac function and exacerbate symptoms. However, recent evidence indicates that structured exercise programs can enhance outcomes and improve health-related quality of life for these patients. Consequently, exercise rehabilitation is now recommended in international guidelines as a key component of PH management.

Application of REVEAL Lite 2 and COMPERA 2.0 risk scores to patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension switching to riociguat in the REPLACE study.

In Riociguat rEplacing PDE5i therapy evaLuated Against Continued PDE5i thErapy (REPLACE) (NCT02891850), improvements in risk status were observed in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) at intermediate risk switching to riociguat versus continuing phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i). This post hoc study applied the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) Lite 2 and Comparative Prospective Registry of Newly Initiated Therapies for Pulmonary (COMPERA) 2.0 risk-assessment tools to REPLACE to investigate the impact of baseline risk status on clinical improvement.

Exercise capacity-hemodynamics mismatch in elderly patients with pulmonary hypertension: A nationwide multicenter study from Taiwan Society of Cardiology Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (TAIPANS).

Background: Demographics of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has changed a lot over the past forty years. Several recent registries noted an increase in mean age of PH but only a few of them investigated the characteristics of elderly patients. Thus, we aimed to analyze the characteristics of PH in such a population in this study.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived exosomes attenuate vascular remodelling in pulmonary arterial hypertension by targeting HIF-1α and Runx2.

Aims: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by extensive pulmonary arterial remodelling. Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes provide protective effects in PAH, MSCs exhibit limited senescence during in vitro expansion compared with the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Moreover, the exact mechanism is not known.

The long-term outcome of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Pulmonary endarterectomy and balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

Background: The long-term outcome on patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has not been ideal after standard medical treatment. However, good outcome for patients with CTEPH after interventions such as pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has been reported recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of PEA or BPA on long-term outcomes for CTEPH patients in Han-Chinese population.

Application of homocysteine as a non-invasive and effort-free measurements for risk assessment of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Current guideline-recommended multiparameters used to assess the risk levels of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are invasive hemodynamic measurements or effort-dependent exercise tests. Serum natriuretic peptide is only one kind of effort-free biomarker that has been adopted for risk assessment. This study aimed to investigate the application of homocysteine as a non-invasive and effort-free measurement for the risk assessment of patients with PAH.

The impact of end-stage kidney disease on mortality in patients after acute myocardial infarction: A nationwide study.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on mortality in patients with first-time acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: This was a retrospective nationwide cohort study. Patients diagnosed with first-time AMI between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012, were included.

2023 Taiwan Society of Cardiology (TSOC) and Taiwan College of Rheumatology (TCR) Joint Consensus on Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), defined as the presence of a mean pulmonary artery pressure > 20 mmHg, pulmonary artery wedge pressure ≤ 15 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) > 2 Wood units based on expert consensus, is characterized by a progressive and sustained increase in PVR, which may lead to right heart failure and death. PAH is a well-known complication of connective tissue diseases (CTDs), such as systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and other autoimmune conditions. In the past few years, tremendous progress in the understanding of PAH pathogenesis has been made, with various novel diagnostic and screening methods for the early detection of PAH proposed worldwide.

Long-term outcomes after stent implantation in very small vessel coronary artery disease.

Background: Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in very small vessel lesions represent an intriguing aspect of coronary artery disease (CAD). Uncertainty still exists in stent implantation in very small caliber vessels. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients treated with 2.

Impact of medications on outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Various inhaled bronchodilators have been associated with cardiovascular safety concerns. This study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the safety of COPD medications in patients after their first acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: This nationwide cohort study was conducted using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

The influence of testosterone on the risk of cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, 580 men undergoing PCI at a tertiary referral hospital were divided into low (<3.25 ng/mL) and normal (≥3.25 ng/mL) testosterone groups.

High Accuracy and Safety of Intraoperative CT-Guided Navigation for Transpedicular Screw Placement in Revision Spinal Surgery.

Background: Intraoperative CT-guided navigation (iCT-navigation) has been reported to improve the accuracy and safety of transpedicular screw placement in primary spinal surgery. However, due to a disrupted bony anatomy and scarring tissue, revision spinal surgery can be challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and safety of iCT-navigation for screw placement at the virgin site versus the revision site in revision thoracolumbar spinal surgery.

MMP-10 from M1 macrophages promotes pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by muscularized pulmonary blood vessels, leading to right heart hypertrophy and cardiac failure. However, state-of-the-art therapeutics fail to target the ongoing remodeling process. Here, this study shows that matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and MMP-10 levels are increased in the medial layer of vessel wall, serum, and M1-polarized macrophages from patients with PAH and the lungs of monocrotaline- and hypoxia-induced PAH rodent models.

Gene Mutation Annotation and Pedigree for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients in Han Chinese Patients.

Background: The etiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the Han Chinese population is poorly understood.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess gene variants and associated functional annotations for PAH in Han Chinese patients.

Methods: This is an ethnicity-based multi-centre study.

Risk Factors and Outcomes of Heart Failure Following First-Episode of Acute Myocardial Infarction-A Case Series Study of 161,384 Cases.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is one of the important complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the epidemiology, associated risks and outcomes have not been well investigated in the era of broad use of fluoroscopy-guided angiographic intervention.

Methods: We analysed 161,384 subjects who had experienced the first episode of AMI during 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2012 using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Results: During the index AMI hospitalization, 23.

Combination therapy of iPSC-derived conditioned medium with ceftriaxone alleviates bacteria-induced lung injury by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome.

The lung is the first and most frequent organ to fail among sepsis patients. The mortality rate of sepsis-related acute lung injury (ALI) is high. Despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy, no treatment strategies are available for sepsis-induced ALI.

Comparison of Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bioresorbable Scaffolds between Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk of cardiovascular events. Bioresorbable stent frame materials capable of providing mechanical support and drug-delivery functions have been developed in an attempt to improve long-term outcomes. However, publications about the long-term outcomes of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) in DM patients are still limited.

Impact of statin on long-term outcome among patients with end-stage renal disease with acute myocardial infarction (AMI): a nationwide case-control study.

Background: Use of statin has been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases events and mortality. However, in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the protective effects of statin are controversial. To evaluate the impact of chronic statin use on clinical outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with ESRD.

Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients with World Health Organization Functional Class II.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an incurable chronic and progressive debilitating disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization functional class (WHO FC) at diagnosis and at follow-up remains one of the strongest predictors of survival in PAH. Studies have shown improved long-term outcomes in PAH patients who received PAH-specific treatment, as monotherapy or as combination therapy, early in their disease course.

Comparison of effects of triple antithrombotic therapy and dual antiplatelet therapy on long-term outcomes of acute myocardial infarction.

Warfarin is an alternate choice for patients who are not eligible for non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aimed to compare the long-term outcome of triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) with that of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after AMI. This was a nationwide, propensity score-matched, case-control study of 186,112 first AMI patients, of whom 2,825 received TAT comprising aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin.

2018 TSOC guideline focused update on diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized as a progressive and sustained increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, which may induce right ventricular failure. In 2014, the Working Group on Pulmonary Hypertension of the Taiwan Society of Cardiology (TSOC) conducted a review of data and developed a guideline for the management of PAH. In recent years, several advancements in diagnosis and treatment of PAH has occurred.