Role of ERK in gender difference of fibromyalgia pain.

This study investigated the ERK pathway of the peripheral nervous system and discovered a gender-specific pattern of ERK activation in the dorsal root ganglion of an acid-induced chronic widespread muscular pain model. We employed a twice acid-induced chronic musculoskeletal pain model in rats to evaluate mechanical pain behavior in both male and female groups. We further conducted protein analysis of dissected dorsal root ganglions from both genders.

The impact of icodextrin on the outcomes of incident peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of icodextrin on the risks of death, technique failure and the first episode of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: From medical records of a medical center in Taiwan, a total of 725 newly diagnosed end-stage kidney disease patients receiving PD for at least 90 days from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018 were identified. These patients were grouped as 190 icodextrin users and 535 non-users.

Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes After SGLT-2 Inhibitors: A Nationwide Population Cohort Study.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) accounts for 80% of cases of vision loss in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Interventional treatments are only indicated in advanced DR and are ineffective in some patients. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are used to attenuate T2DM-associated cardiovascular complications.

Denosumab treatment and infection risks in patients with osteoporosis: propensity score matching analysis of a national-wide population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Denosumab demonstrates efficacy in reducing the incidence of hip, vertebral, and nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. We present a population-based national cohort study to evaluate the infection risks in patients with osteoporosis after long-term denosumab therapy.

Methods: We used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to identify patients with osteoporosis.

Comparison of the risks of renal cell carcinoma or urothelial cancer between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Purpose: This study is to compare risks of developing renal cell carcinoma or urothelial cancer between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: The age-, sex-, and index year-matched patients with newly diagnosed end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing dialysis [HD (N = 22,587) or PD (N = 11,547)] from 2000 to 2015 in Taiwan were identified. Patients were followed until the development of renal cell carcinoma or urothelial cancer, renal transplantation, death, or the end of follow-up (December 31, 2017).

Risk of Severe Alphaherpesvirus Infection after Solid Organ Transplantation: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT) are more susceptible to various viral infections, including alphaherpesviruses. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the risk of alphaherpesvirus infections, including herpes simplex and herpes zoster, after solid organ transplantation. Inpatient records from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) defined solid organ recipients, including heart, liver, lung, and kidney, hospitalized for alphaherpesvirus infections as a severe case group of transplants and matched them with a nontransplant cohort.

Renal function is associated with one-month and one-year mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: This study evaluated short-term (1-month) and long-term (1-year) mortality risks associated with the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on admission for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods: From the Taiwan Stroke Registry data from April 2006 to December 2016, we identified and stratified patients with intracerebral hemorrhage into five subgroups by the eGFR level on admission: ≥90, 60-89, 30-59, 15-29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis.

Risk of Periodontitis in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common digestive clinical problem worldwide that affects approximately 20% of the adult populations in Western countries. Poor oral hygiene has been reported to be associated with GERD as an atypical clinical complication. However, evidence showing the relationship between GERD and the risk of periodontitis is less clear.

Necroptosis: A Pathogenic Negotiator in Human Diseases.

Over the past few decades, mechanisms of programmed cell death have attracted the scientific community because they are involved in diverse human diseases. Initially, apoptosis was considered as a crucial mechanistic pathway for programmed cell death; recently, an alternative regulated mode of cell death was identified, mimicking the features of both apoptosis and necrosis. Several lines of evidence have revealed that dysregulation of necroptosis leads to pathological diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, lung, renal, hepatic, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases.

Far-Infrared Therapy Decreases Orthotopic Allograft Transplantation Vasculopathy.

Orthotopic allograft transplantation (OAT) is a major strategy for solid heart and kidney failure. However, the recipient's immunity-induced chronic rejection induces OAT vasculopathy that results in donor organ failure. With the exception of immunosuppressive agents, there are currently no specific means to inhibit the occurrence of OAT vasculopathy.

The impact of multidisciplinary pre-dialysis care on the outcomes of incident peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary pre-dialysis care (MDPC) on the risks of peritonitis, technique failure and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: Incident end-stage kidney disease patients who received peritoneal dialysis (PD) for more than 90 days were recruited in this study from 1 January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018. Patients were classified into two groups, the MDPC group and the control group, that received the usual care by nephrologists.

Calycosin Alleviates Paraquat-Induced Neurodegeneration by Improving Mitochondrial Functions and Regulating Autophagy in a Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder with limited clinical treatments. The occurrence of PD includes both genetic and environmental toxins, such as the pesticides paraquat (PQ), as major contributors to PD pathology in both invertebrate and mammalian models. Calycosin, an isoflavone phytoestrogen, has multiple pharmacological properties, including neuroprotective activity.

Risks of central nervous system infections and related mortality in patients undergoing dialysis.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the risks of central nervous system (CNS) infections and related mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis.

Methods: Incident dialysis patients were identified from 2000 to 2013. The risks of CNS infection and related mortality were analyzed.

Higher Risk of Gastric Infection in Patients with Periodontitis: A Nationwide Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Periodontitis is the most prevalent chronic inflammatory oral disease that is characterized by tooth loss and is commonly associated with several systemic inflammatory diseases. Some epidemiological studies suggest that those suffering from periodontitis might be at a greater risk of developing gastric () infection; however, evidence that showing the association between periodontitis and the risk of gastric infection is less clear. We conducted a large-scale, population-based study in Taiwan with a 13-year follow-up period to evaluate the risk of gastric in a periodontitis patient cohort.

Exosomal tumor necrosis factor-α from hepatocellular cancer cells (Huh-7) promote osteoclast differentiation.

Bone is the common extra-hepatic site for cancer metastasis. Hepatic cancer is associated with a higher incidence of pathological fracture. However, this important regulatory mechanism remains unexplored.

Renal dysfunction is associated with lower odds of home discharge for patients with stroke.

Objectives: Studies on the association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels with hospital discharge disposition after stroke are limited with inconsistent results. This study investigated the odds of home discharge with eGFR levels at admission for patients with stroke using the Taiwan Stroke Registry (TSR) data.

Methods: From the TSR database, a total of 51,338 stroke patients from 2006 to 2015 were categorized into five groups based on eGFR levels at admission.

Population-based retrospective cohort study on risk of age-related macular degeneration in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are both common diseases of the elderly people. COPD induced systemic inflammation and hypoxia may have an impact on the development of AMD. This study investigated the possible association between COPD and subsequent risk of AMD.

Increased risk of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis infection in patients with polycystic kidney disease: a nationwide population-based study with propensity score-matching analysis.

Background: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a common renal disorder affecting approximately 1 in 1000 live births. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease worldwide. This study investigated the risk of TB infection in patients with PKD.

Impact of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis on PD discontinuation and mortality: A population-based national cohort study.

Background: The impact of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PD peritonitis) on long-term outcomes is uncertain. This nationwide retrospective study was conducted in Taiwan to understand the incidence, risk factors and long-term outcomes of PD peritonitis.

Methods: A total of 11,202 incident adult peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients from 2000 to 2010 were collected from a Longitudinal Health Insurance Database and followed up until the end of 2011.

Transferring Plasmon Effect on a Biological System: Expression of Biological Polymers in Chronic Rejection and Inflammatory Rat Model.

The plasmon-activated water (PAW) that reduces hydrogen bonds is made of deionized reverse osmosis water (ROW). However, compared with ROW, PAW has a significantly higher diffusion coefficient and electron transfer rate constant in electrochemical reactions. PAW has a boiling point of97 °C and specific heat of0.

A Novel Relative High-Density Lipoprotein Index to Predict the Structural Changes in High-Density Lipoprotein and Its Ability to Inhibit Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

Therapeutic elevation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is thought to minimize atherogenesis in subjects with dyslipidemia. However, this is not the case in clinical practice. The function of HDL is not determined by its concentration in the plasma but by its specific structural components.

Early Dual-Antiplatelet Therapy at the Emergency Department Is Associated with Lower In-Hospital Major Adverse Cardiac Event Risk among Patients with Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is a standard treatment in non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). However, the timing of initiation of DAPT in the Emergency Department (ED) is not well established. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the correlation between the different timings of DAPT initiation in ED and the outcomes in patients with NSTEMI.