Wearable mobile health device for monitoring postoperative ambulation among patients with colorectal cancer undergoing minimally invasive surgery: A prospective comparison study.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using mHealth devices for monitoring postoperative ambulation among patients with colorectal cancer undergoing minimally invasive surgery (MIS).

Methods: Patients with colorectal cancer undergoing MIS were prospectively recruited to wear mHealth devices for recording postoperative ambulation between October 2018 and January 2021. The primary outcome was the compliance by evaluating the weekly submission rate of step counts.

A Novel S981fs Mutation Identified by Whole-Exome Sequencing Is Associated with Type 2 Long QT Syndrome.

loss-of-function mutations cause long QT syndrome type 2 (LQT2), an inherited cardiac disorder associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Through whole-exome sequencing, we discovered a novel AGCGACAC deletion (S981fs) in the gene of an LQT2 patient. Using a heterologous expression system and patch clamping, we found that the mutant K channel had reduced cell surface expression and lower current amplitude compared to the wild type.

Prevention of Glutamate-Induced Neurodegeneration by Piceatannol via Mitochondrial Rescue In Vitro and In Vivo.

Scope: Parkinson's disease is one of the neurodegenerative diseases that have no cure. Excitotoxicity induced by excess glutamate is known to be a hallmark of these diseases. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the preventive effect of piceatannol on glutamate-induced neurodegeneration via mitochondrial rescue.

Beneficial Effects of Fixed-Dose Combination of Amlodipine and Atorvastatin in Patients with Concomitant Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia: A Multi-Institutional Cohort Study.

Background: Blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are important risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Although treating these factors simultaneously is recommended by current guidelines, only short-term clinical results are available.

Objectives: To examine the longer-term efficacy and safety of fixed-dose combination (FDC) versus free combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin in patients with concomitant hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

A Precision Health Service for Chronic Diseases: Development and Cohort Study Using Wearable Device, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning.

This paper presents an integrated and scalable precision health service for health promotion and chronic disease prevention. Continuous real-time monitoring of lifestyle and environmental factors is implemented by integrating wearable devices, open environmental data, indoor air quality sensing devices, a location-based smartphone app, and an AI-assisted telecare platform. The AI-assisted telecare platform provided comprehensive insight into patients' clinical, lifestyle, and environmental data, and generated reliable predictions of future acute exacerbation events.

Benzodiazepines in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Background: In patients with heart failure (HF), anxiety or insomnia is prevalent and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are one of the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety or insomnia in Taiwan. Evidence regarding the effects of BZDs on patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is inconclusive.

Dietary Methylglyoxal Exposure Induces Alzheimer's Disease by Promoting Amyloid β Accumulation and Disrupting Autophagy in .

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a precursor of advanced glycation end products usually generated during cooking. The high level of MG in the brain is correlated to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is not clear if MG consumed through the diet can cause AD-related toxicity.

Acute Fulminant Myocarditis After ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine: A Case Report and Literature Review.

According to recent literatures, myocarditis is an uncommon side effect of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. On the other hand, myocarditis after adenovirus based vaccine is rarely reported. Here we report a middle-aged healthy female who had acute fulminant perimyocarditis onset 2 days after the first dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine (AstraZeneca) without any other identified etiology.

The necessity of abdominal drainage for patients with complicated appendicitis undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the necessity of abdominal drainage after laparoscopic appendectomy in patients with complicated appendicitis.

Methods: Patients with acute appendicitis undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy at two hospitals between January 2014 and December 2018 were retrospectively included. Complicated appendicitis was defined as the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade ≥ II.

Panic Attack Prediction Using Wearable Devices and Machine Learning: Development and Cohort Study.

Background: A panic attack (PA) is an intense form of anxiety accompanied by multiple somatic presentations, leading to frequent emergency department visits and impairing the quality of life. A prediction model for PAs could help clinicians and patients monitor, control, and carry out early intervention for recurrent PAs, enabling more personalized treatment for panic disorder (PD).

Objective: This study aims to provide a 7-day PA prediction model and determine the relationship between a future PA and various features, including physiological factors, anxiety and depressive factors, and the air quality index (AQI).

Arrhythmia Detection is Improved by 14-Day Continuous Electrocardiography Patch Monitoring and CHA2DS2-VASc Score.

Background: Arrhythmias are not always easy to capture because they are often paroxysmal or asymptomatic.

Methods: Using the CHA2DS2-VASc score for arrhythmia risk assessment, a 14-day electrocardiography monitor patch was used to evaluate patients with no documented history of arrhythmia.

Results: Ninety-three patients (mean age 59.

Major adverse limb events in type 2 diabetes patients receiving glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists versus sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors: A retrospective multi-institutional study.

Aims: To compare the risk of incident major adverse limb events (MALEs) between patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who initiated glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT2Is).

Methods: T2DM patients with prescriptions of GLP-1 RAs or SGLT2Is between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018 were retrospectively identified from a multi-institutional database. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to balance covariates, and compared MALEs between GLP-1 RAs and SGLT2Is initiators using Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard model.

Association of family history with incidence and gestational hypertension outcomes of preeclampsia.

Background: Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia are hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy that can cause maternal morbidity and fetal growth retardation. The association of these disorders with family history remains unclear.

Objectives: To examine the degree of family aggregation of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension in Taiwan.

Resuscitation outcomes of a wireless ECG telemonitoring system for cardiovascular ward patients experiencing in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background/purpose: In-hospital cardiac arrest is a serious issue for hospitalized patients. The documented initial rhythm and detected medical events have been reported to influence the survival of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This study aimed to identify the effect of continuous real-time electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring on the prognosis of resuscitated patients in a general cardiac ward.

Real-world Comparisons of Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Asian Patients with Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Whether four direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are superior to warfarin among Asians with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) remains unclear in the real-world setting.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Medline + Journals@Ovid + EMBASE from September 17, 2009 to May 4, 2019 to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of all observational real-world studies comparing four DOACs with warfarin specifically focused on Asian patients with NVAF.

Results: From the original 212 results retrieved, 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis.

Left bundle-branch block contraction patterns identified from radial-strain analysis predicts outcomes following cardiac resynchronization therapy.

A left bundle-branch block (LBBB) contraction pattern identified from longitudinal-strain analysis predicts outcomes following cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We investigated the use of an LBBB-contraction pattern identified from radial- or circumferential-strain analysis in the prediction of CRT benefits. Eighty CRT candidates were prospectively enrolled.

Effects of Door-to-Balloon Times on Outcomes in Taiwanese Patients Receiving Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Report of Taiwan Acute Coronary Syndrome Full Spectrum Registry.

Purpose: The impact of door-to-balloon (DTB) time on patient outcomes is unclear in a Taiwanese population receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The study aimed to investigate the relationship between stratified DTB times and outcomes through analysis of the database from the Taiwan acute coronary syndrome full spectrum registry.

Methods: Relevant data were collected from case report forms of patients receiving primary PCI who were categorized as group 1, 2, 3, and 4 according to the DTB time < 45, 45-90, 91-135, and > 135 minutes, respectively.

Ratio of transmitral early filling velocity to early diastolic strain rate predicts outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure.

Aims: The ratio of transmitral early filling velocity (E) to early diastolic tissue velocity (E') is a key diastolic function parameter. The early diastolic strain rate (E'sr) has been proposed as a substitute for E' in the E/E' ratio for better estimation of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. This study aims to assess the predictive value of combined E/E'sr ratio and global longitudinal strain (GLS) for prognosis in systolic heart failure (SHF).

Fibroblast inward-rectifier potassium current upregulation in profibrillatory atrial remodeling.

Rationale: Fibroblasts are involved in cardiac arrhythmogenesis and contribute to the atrial fibrillation substrate in congestive heart failure (CHF) by generating tissue fibrosis. Fibroblasts display robust ion currents, but their functional importance is poorly understood.

Objective: To characterize atrial fibroblast inward-rectifier K(+) current (IK1) remodeling in CHF and its effects on fibroblast properties.

Detailed characterization of microRNA changes in a canine heart failure model: Relationship to arrhythmogenic structural remodeling.

Heart failure (HF) causes left-atrial (LA) and left-ventricular (LV) remodeling, with particularly-prominent changes in LA that create a substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF). MicroRNAs (miRs) are potential regulators in cardiac remodeling. This study evaluated time-dependent miR expression-changes in LA and LV tissue, fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes in experimental HF.

Disease and region-related cardiac fibroblast potassium current variations and potential functional significance.

Aims: Fibroblasts, which play an important role in cardiac function/dysfunction, including arrhythmogenesis, have voltage-dependent (Kv) currents of unknown importance. Here, we assessed the differential expression of Kv currents between atrial and ventricular fibroblasts from control dogs and dogs with an atrial arrhythmogenic substrate caused by congestive heart failure (CHF).

Methods And Results: Left atrial (LA) and ventricular (LV) fibroblasts were freshly isolated from control and CHF dogs (2-week ventricular tachypacing, 240 bpm).