Recruitment-Potential-Oriented Mechanical Ventilation Protocol and Narrative Review for Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Even though much progress has been made to improve clinical outcomes, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a significant cause of acute respiratory failure. Protective mechanical ventilation is the backbone of supportive care for these patients; however, there are still many unresolved issues in its setting. The primary goal of mechanical ventilation is to improve oxygenation and ventilation.

Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer After Disease Progression on Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Final Results of CheckMate 722.

Purpose: The phase III CheckMate 722 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02864251) evaluated nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor ()-mutated metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after disease progression on EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

Methods: Patients with disease progression after first- or second-generation EGFR TKI therapy (without T790M mutation) or osimertinib (with/without T790M mutation) were randomly assigned 1:1 to nivolumab (360 mg once every 3 weeks) plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy (once every 3 weeks) or platinum-doublet chemotherapy alone (once every 3 weeks) for four cycles.

Relationship between Dry Eye Disease and Dyslipidemia: A Systematic Review.

Background: Dyslipidemia has been suggested to be associated with the occurrence of dry eye disease (DED). However, whether dyslipidemia is responsible for the development of DED remains unclear. In this systematic review, we explored the relationship between DED and dyslipidemia by using quantitative data.

Optimal Timing of Targeted Temperature Management for Post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome: Is Sooner Better?

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is often considered to improve post-cardiac arrest patients' outcomes. However, the optimal timing to initiate cooling remained uncertain. This retrospective analysis enrolled all non-traumatic post-cardiac arrest adult patients with either out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) or in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) who received TTM from July 2015 to July 2021 at our hospital.

Predicting the successful application of high-flow nasal oxygen cannula in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure: a retrospective analysis.

Background: The right time of high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNCs) application in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure remains uncertain.

Research Design And Methods: In this retrospective study, COVID-19-infected adult patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure were enrolled. Their baseline epidemiological data and respiratory failure related parameters, including the Ventilation in COVID-19 Estimation (VICE), and the ratio of oxygen saturation (ROX index), were recorded.

Baseline characteristics and treatment response predictive of nAMD outcomes with ranibizumab therapy in treatment-naive patients: the RACER subgroup analysis.

Background: The Ranibizumab AMD Clinical Efficacy Study (RACER) conducted in treatment-naive adult Taiwanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) suggested the importance of early and intensive dosing of ranibizumab for optimal treatment outcomes. This subgroup analysis aims to provide clinical information on treatment response that can potentially guide on maintaining the treatment or switching anti-VEGF agents in the real-world setting.

Methods: Visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were assessed in the RACER subgroup population.

Clinical benefits of inhaled ciclesonide for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection: a retrospective study.

Background: The successful management of patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with inhaled ciclesonide has been reported, however few studies have investigated its application among hospitalized patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled all adult patients admitted to our hospital with confirmed COVID-19 infection from May to June 2021. Critical patients who received mechanical ventilation within 24 h after admission and those who started ciclesonide more than 14 days after symptom onset were excluded.

Risk of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome among selective alpha-1 blockers-A consistency model of 6,488 cases.

Selective α1-blockers are commonly administered to patients with lower urinary tract syndrome and benign prostatic hyperplasia, but may increase the risk of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS). The purpose of this study aimed to clarify the risk of IFIS among various selective α1-blockers. Four databases were searched for prospective studies comparing alpha-1-antagonists.

Association between Ocular Parameters and Intraocular Pressure Elevation during Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery in Open-Angle Glaucoma and Nonglaucoma Individuals.

In this study, we evaluate the association between biometrics and intraocular pressure (IOP) during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) in normal patients and those with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 103 patients who had received elective FLACS were enrolled, and those with OAG who received FLACS were further divided into a subgroup.

A 12-month, prospective, observational study of ranibizumab in treatment-naïve Taiwanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration: the RACER study.

Background: The current National Health Insurance scheme in Taiwan reimburses 3 initial plus 4 additional injections of ranibizumab 0.5 mg for eligible patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). The Ranibizumab AMD Clinical Efficacy in Real-world practice (RACER) study aimed to observe the effectiveness of ranibizumab injections under this reimbursement system.

Association of interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms and glaucoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the association between IL-6 gene polymorphisms ( and ) and glaucoma.

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed to select eligible studies regarding IL-6 polymorphisms and glaucoma. The effect sizes in the fixed-effects model were calculated using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Chitosan-cartilage extracellular matrix hybrid scaffold induces chondrogenic differentiation to adipose-derived stem cells.

Introduction: Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are potential cell sources for cartilage tissue engineering. Chitosan has been shown to enhance the stemness and differentiation capability of ASCs, and the native extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from articular cartilage has been also reported to induce chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs. Here we tested the hypothesis that a porous three-dimensional (3D) hybrid scaffold composed of chitosan and cartilage ECM can provide a better environment to induce ASC chondrogenesis.

Design and Study of a Portable High-frequency Ventilator for Clinical Applications.

Treatment costs for ventilator-dependent patients are a substantial burden not only for their family but also for medical systems in general. Recently, using high-frequency ventilators have been shown to reduce the risk of lung injury through low-volume airflow. However, the machines used today remain bulky, costly, and only for use in hospital settings.

Pembrolizumab in Combination With Erlotinib or Gefitinib as First-Line Therapy for Advanced NSCLC With Sensitizing EGFR Mutation.

Introduction: Anti-EGFR agents are standard treatments for patients with EGFR-mutant advanced NSCLC. The feasibility of combining erlotinib or gefitinib with the anti-programmed death 1 immunotherapy pembrolizumab was evaluated in the phase 1/2 KEYNOTE-021 study (NCT02039674).

Methods: Adults with previously untreated stage IIIB/IV EGFR-mutant NSCLC were treated with pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks plus oral erlotinib 150 mg daily in cohort E or oral gefitinib 250 mg daily in cohort F, using a 3 + 3 design with cohort expansion.

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of beclomethasone/formoterol and fluticasone/salmeterol fixed combination in Taiwanese asthmatic patients.

Background: The study was designed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of extra-fine beclomethasone and formoterol, with the fixed combination fluticasone and salmeterol in Taiwanese asthmatic patients.

Methods: This was a phase III, multicentre, randomized, two-arm parallel groups, controlled study. Patients with moderate to severe asthma were randomized to a 12-week treatment with either beclomethasone 100 mcg plus formoterol 6 mcg (BDP/F) or fluticasone 125 mcg plus salmeterol 25 mcg (FP/S), both delivered 2 inhalations twice daily.

Potential effect of ezetimibe against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in type II diabetes.

Background And Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) risk might be increased in patients with diabetes by factors other than hyperglycaemia, such as dyslipidaemia. Host lipids are essential energy sources used by mycobacteria to persist in a latent TB state. A potential therapy targeting cholesterol catabolism of mycobacteria has been proposed, but the potential of cholesterol-lowering drugs as anti-TB therapy is unclear.

Alternative Roles of STAT3 and MAPK Signaling Pathways in the MMPs Activation and Progression of Lung Injury Induced by Cigarette Smoke Exposure in ACE2 Knockout Mice.

Inflammation-mediated abnormalities in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of lung injury. Angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2), an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) homologue that displays antagonist effects on ACE/angiotensin II (Ang II) axis, could also play a protective role against lung diseases. However, the relationship between ACE2 and MMPs activation in lung injury is still largely unclear.

Analysis of the immune response of human dendritic cells to Mycobacterium tuberculosis by quantitative proteomics.

Background: The cellular immune response for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection remained incompletely understood. To uncover membrane proteins involved in this infection mechanism, an integrated approach consisting of an organic solvent-assisted membrane protein digestion, stable-isotope dimethyl labeling and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis was used to comparatively profile the membrane protein expression of human dendritic cells upon heat-killed M.

Chemogenomic analysis of neuronal differentiation with pathway changes in PC12 cells.

The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database creates networks from interrelations between molecular biology and underlying chemical elements. This allows for analysis of biologic networks, genomic information, and higher-order functional information at a system level. Through high throughput experiments and system biology analysis, we investigated the genes and pathways associated with NGF induced neuronal differentiation.

Angiotensin II downregulates ACE2-mediated enhancement of MMP-2 activity in human cardiofibroblasts.

Angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2) is a component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that negatively regulates angiotensin II (Ang II). Ang II, in turn, affects the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to induce heart remodeling. The specific mechanisms by which ACE2 regulates MMP-2, however, remain unclear.

Aminopeptidase N facilitates entry and intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in monocytes.

Background And Objective: Aminopeptidase N (CD13) is an ectoenzyme located in the outer membrane of a variety of cells. Proteomic profiling indicates an increased expression of CD13 in phagocytes during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of CD13 on the internalization and intracellular survival of M.

Circulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 enzyme activities in the children with ventricular septal defect.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common form of congenital heart diseases. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases involved in causal cardiac tissue remodeling. We studied the changes of circulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in the patients with VSD severity and closure.

Surgery for elderly lung cancer.

Objective: There are still controversies about the surgical benefits for elderly lung cancer.The aims of this study were to assess impacts of aging for non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) following pulmonary resection.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken for patients operated at a curative intent from January 1998 to October 2008.