The Distribution of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Characteristics, and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure in Taiwan.

Background: Data regarding the distribution of left ventricular ejection fraction among patients with newly diagnosed heart failure (HF) and the outcomes of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in Taiwan are limited.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed HF were identified from a multi-institutional database between 2016 and 2020. Outcomes were compared between patients with HFpEF and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after propensity score matching (PSM).

Comparing clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after ischaemic stroke: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors users versus non-users. A propensity score matching National Cohort Study.

Aim: This nationwide cohort study evaluated the impact of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after ischaemic stroke (IS), aiming to compare clinical outcomes between SGLT2i-treated patients and those not receiving SGLT2i.

Materials And Methods: Utilizing Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 707 patients with T2DM treated with SGLT2i and 27 514 patients not treated with SGLT2i after an IS, respectively, from 1 May 2016 to 31 December 2019. Propensity score matching was applied to balance baseline characteristics.

Clinical Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Patients After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Comparison of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors vs. Non-Users.

To compare clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) vs. non-use of SGLT2i. A national cohort study based on the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database enrolled 944 patients with T2D who had experienced AMI and were treated with SGLT2i and 8,941 patients who did not receive SGLT2i, respectively, from May 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019.

Adverse cardiovascular, limb, and renal outcomes in patients with diabetes after peripheral artery disease revascularization treated with sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.

Aims: The effectiveness and limb safety of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) for patients with type-2 diabetes (T2D) who have received peripheral artery disease (PAD) revascularization are unknown.

Methods And Results: In this nationwide retrospective cohort study, we identified a total of 2,455 and 8,695 patients with T2D who had undergone PAD revascularization and received first prescriptions for SGLT2i and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i), respectively, between May 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019. We used 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) to balance covariates between the two study groups.

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.

Glycemic status and risks of thromboembolism and major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Studies specifically examining the association between glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism (IS/SE) risk in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are limited. Here, we investigated the association between HbA1c levels and the risk of IS/SE, as well as major bleeding, among AF patients with or without oral anticoagulants (OACs). We also compared the effectiveness and safety of warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in different HbA1c categories.

Association of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue with overall survival in Taiwanese patients with bone metastases - results from a retrospective analysis of consecutively collected data.

Background: Growing evidence indicates that measures of body composition may be related to clinical outcomes in patients with malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether measures of regional adiposity-including subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI) and visceral adipose tissue index (VATI)-can be associated with overall survival (OS) in Taiwanese patients with bone metastases.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Upregulation of long noncoding RNA LINC00152 promotes proliferation and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The long noncoding RNA LINC00152 has been confirmed to play an oncogenic role in many cancers. However, the expression pattern and function of LINC00152 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unclear.

Pretreatment subcutaneous adipose tissue predicts the outcomes of patients with head and neck cancer receiving definitive radiation and chemoradiation in Taiwan.

We aimed to determine whether body composition assessment before treatment can predict outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). All 881 patients with locoregional head and neck cancer treated with curative intent radiotherapy (RT) between 2005 and 2012 were retrospectively investigated. Body composition was analyzed via pre-RT planning computed tomography (CT) images.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Reactions in Macrophages and Endothelial Cells.

Background: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) accompanied by trauma can lead to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and even death. Early inhibition of the inflammation is necessary for damage control. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), as a novel therapy modality, have been shown to reduce inflammatory responses in human and animal models.

Intraperitoneal (188)Re-Liposome delivery switches ovarian cancer metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation and effectively controls ovarian tumour growth in mice.

Background And Purpose: Cancer stem cells exhibit distinctive cellular metabolism compared with the more differentiated counterparts or normal cells. We aimed to investigate the impact of a novel radionuclide anti-cancer agent (188)Re-Liposome on stemness markers' expression and cellular metabolism in an ovarian cancer model.

Material And Methods: A 2×2 factorial experiment was designed in which factor 1 represented the drug treatment comparing (188)Re-BMEDA, a free form of (188)Re, with (188)Re-Liposome, a nanoparticle-encapsulated form of (188)Re.

Overweight and obesity predict better overall survival rates in cancer patients with distant metastases.

Recent studies conducted in patients with chronic diseases have reported an inverse association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality. However, the question as to whether BMI may predict prognosis in patients with metastatic cancer remains open. We therefore designed the current retrospective study to investigate the potential association between BMI and overall survival (OS) in patients with distant metastases (DM) and a favorable performance status.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide Through Inhibiting the TLR2, 4/NF-κB Pathway in Rats with Multiple Trauma.

Background: Multiple trauma normally leads to acute lung injury (ALI) and other multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Finding effective treatments for ALI remains a medical as well as socioeconomic challenge. Several studies show that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have the potent anti-inflammation activity and transfusion of BMSCs can effectively inhibit inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Bypassing the EPR effect with a nanomedicine harboring a sustained-release function allows better tumor control.

The current enhanced permeability and retention (EPR)-based approved nanomedicines have had little impact in terms of prolongation of overall survival in patients with cancer. For example, the two Phase III trials comparing Doxil(®), the first nanomedicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, with free doxorubicin did not find an actual translation of the EPR effect into a statistically significant increase in overall survival but did show less cardiotoxicity. In the current work, we used a two-factor factorial experimental design with intraperitoneal versus intravenous delivery and nanomedicine versus free drug as factors to test our hypothesis that regional (intraperitoneal) delivery of nanomedicine may better increase survival when compared with systemic delivery.

[Expression and clinical significance of circadian gene Per2 in non-small cell lung cancer].

Objective: To detect the expression of Per2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and analyze its clinical significance.

Methods: The expression of Per2 was determined in 60 NSCLC and 20 normal lung tissues by immunohistochemical assay, and the relationship between Per2 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed.

Results: The positive expression rates of Per2 in NSCLC and normal lung tissues were 71.

Primary pleural squamous cell carcinoma misdiagnosed as localized mesothelioma: a case report and review of the literature.

Primary pleural squamous cell carcinoma is very rare, and there is a lack of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. An asymptomatic 75-year-old man was referred to us after a right pleural nodule was found on computed tomography during a routine health examination. He underwent surgery for his pleural tumor twice over the following 2 years.

Efficacy of an absorbable polyglycolic acid patch in surgery for pneumothorax due to silicosis.

Background: We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an absorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) patch in surgery for refractory pneumothorax due to silicosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of 56 patients who received thoracotomy or thoracoscopic surgery for refractory pneumothorax due to silicosis between 1995 and 2010. An absorbable PGA patch was used as a reinforcement or repair material after resection of the bulla in 24 operations and it was not used in another 32 operations.