Fully human chitinase-3 like-1 monoclonal antibody inhibits tumor growth, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and immune cell remodeling in lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers.

Considering the limited efficacy of current therapies in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, innovative combination treatments with diverse mechanisms of action are needed to improve patients' outcomes. Chitinase-3 like-1 protein (CHI3L1) emerges as a versatile factor with significant implications in various diseases, particularly cancers, fostering an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment for cancer progression. Therefore, pre-clinical validation is imperative to fully realize its potential in cancer treatment.

Prediction of high-risk emergency department revisits from a machine-learning algorithm: a proof-of-concept study.

Background: High-risk emergency department (ED) revisit is considered an important quality indicator that may reflect an increase in complications and medical burden. However, because of its multidimensional and highly complex nature, this factor has not been comprehensively investigated. This study aimed to predict high-risk ED revisit with a machine-learning (ML) approach.

The interaction of sex and age on outcomes in emergency medical services-treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A 5-year multicenter retrospective analysis.

Background: Studies have established that sex and age influence outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, a knowledge gap exists regarding their interaction. This study aimed to investigate the interaction of age and sex and how they cooperatively influence OHCA outcomes.

Updated trends in the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from 2017-2021: Prior to and during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Objective: This study aims to describe out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) characteristics and trends before and during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Taiwan.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a 5-year interrupted time series analysis. Eligible adults with non-traumatic OHCAs from January 2017 to December 2021 in 3 hospitals (university medical center, urban second-tier hospital, and rural second-tier hospital) were retrospectively enrolled.

Factors Influencing Older Adults' End-of-Life Care Preferences.

The objective of this study was to explore factors influencing Taiwanese older adults' end-of-life (EOL) care preferences. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 2 geriatric wards of a veterans' hospital. Fifty-five older adults aged 65 years or older were included.

Upregulation of cluster of differentiation 36 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlates with frailty severity in older adults.

Background: Aging-associated frailty has been connected to low-grade chronic inflammation and also to progressive monocytic activation. CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36, platelet glycoprotein 4 or fatty acid translocase) has been shown to induce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and to activate macrophage connected inflammation. This study aims to examine whether the expression of CD36 is up-regulated among frail older adults.

The Differences and Perspectives Between Elderly Individuals and Their Surrogates Regarding End-of-Life Care: A Mixed Methods Study.

Family members often take the place of decision-making for elderly individuals. Previous studies showed that family members could not predict elderly individuals' thoughts about end-of-life care. The aims are to understand the differences and perspectives between elderly individuals and surrogates regarding end-of-life care.

Polypharmacy Is Significantly and Positively Associated with the Frailty Status Assessed Using the 5-Item FRAIL Scale, Cardiovascular Health Phenotypic Classification of Frailty Index, and Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Scale.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between frailty and polypharmacy using three different frailty screening tools. This was a cross-sectional study of people aged ≥65 years. Participants were included and interviewed using questionnaires.

Complementarity of 2,6-Dimethanolpyridine and Di(ethylene glycol) in the Complexation of Na Ions: Attaching Multiple Copies of [2]Catenane Branches to Isophthalaldehyde-Containing Cores.

In this study we found that 2,6-dimethanolpyridine displays good complementarity toward di(ethylene glycol) for the complexation of Na ions, allowing us to use this recognition system for the efficient synthesis of hetero[2]catenanes; indeed, it allowed us to attach multiple copies of [2]catenanes to branched systems presenting multiple isophthalaldehyde units. When we attempted to form a catenane from a preformed macrocycle featuring only a single di(ethylene glycol) unit, reacting it with a di(ethylene glycol) derivative presenting two amino termini, isophthalaldehyde, and templating Na ions [i.e.

Correlation between plasma ZAG and adiponectin in older adults: gender modification and frailty specificity.

Background: Adiponectin and zinc alpha2-glycoprotein (ZAG) are associated with frailty. This study aims to further examine the association of adiponectin with ZAG.

Methods: Outpatients aged 65 years or older with chronic disease followed up in a hospital-based program were recruited for a comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Integrated approach for multimorbid patients in a hospitalist setting: Survival analysis of a two-year prospective study.

Background/purpose: Multimorbidity is a worldwide issue when aging is rapidly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of demography, morbidity, disability and depression on short-term and long-term mortality for multimorbid inpatients.

Methods: The participants' information were assessed upon recruitment.

Age-dependent messenger RNA expression of toll-like receptor 4 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the ageing process in which monocytes/macrophages are important players. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) are well-known inflammatory markers. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between age and the expression and correlation of ICAM-1, TNF-α and TLR4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Role of electrocardiographic early repolarization pattern in long-term outcomes of a community-based middle-aged and geriatric ambulatory population: a prospective cohort study.

In some studies, electrocardiographic early repolarization pattern (ERP) has been associated with an increased risk of death from cardiac causes. However, little is known about the prognostic significance of ERP in the middle-aged and geriatric general populations. We investigated the prevalence and long-term prognostic significance of early repolarization pattern (ERP) on electrocardiograms (ECGs) in the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study (HALST) cohort of 4615 middle-aged and geriatric community-dwelling Han Chinese adults from Taiwan.

Long-term outcomes and left ventricular diastolic function of sarcomere mutation-positive and mutation-negative patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a prospective cohort study.

Aims: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inheritable disease that leads to sudden cardiac death and heart failure (HF). Sarcomere mutations (SMs) have been associated with HF. However, the differences in ventricular function between SM-positive and SM-negative HCM patients are poorly characterized.

Prognostic value and prevalence of complete right bundle branch block in an elderly population: a community-based 10-year prospective study.

Complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB) occurs in 0.2% to 1.3% of the general population, but its prognostic significance in the geriatric population is unknown.

A quasi-experimental evaluation of advance care planning improves consistency between elderly individuals and their surrogates regarding end-of-life care preferences: Development and application of a decision aid with cartoon pictures.

Objective: This study sought to develop a decision aid with cartoon pictures and evaluate its effectiveness in increasing consistency between elderly individuals and their surrogates regarding end-of-life care.

Methods: A pre-post quasi-experimental design was adopted using the Life Support Preferences Questionnaire. The intervention had two components: (1) increasing participants' knowledge of medical treatments related to end-of-life care, and (2) sharing their end-of-life wishes.

Plasma vascular adhesion protein-1 levels correlate positively with frailty severity in older adults.

Geriatric frailty is associated with increased mortality and links to increased inflammatory activity. Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is important in inflammatory process. This study investigates the relationship between plasma VAP-1 level and frailty in older adults.

GSTM3 variant is a novel genetic modifier in Brugada syndrome, a disease with risk of sudden cardiac death.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a rare inherited disease causing sudden cardiac death (SCD). Copy number variants (CNVs) can contribute to disease susceptibility, but their role in Brugada syndrome (BrS) is unknown. We aimed to identify a CNV associated with BrS and elucidated its clinical implications.

Perceptions and practices of spiritual care among hospice physicians and nurses in a Taiwanese tertiary hospital: a qualitative study.

Background: Spiritual care is frequently cited as a key component of hospice care in Taiwanese healthcare and beyond. The aim of this research is to gauge physicians and nurses' self-reported perspectives and clinical practices on the roles of their professions in addressing spiritual care in an inpatient palliative care unit in a tertiary hospital with Buddhist origins.

Methods: We performed semi-structured interviews with physicians and nurses working in hospice care over a year on their self-reported experiences in inpatient spiritual care.