Four Genes with Seven Targeted Drugs might be Treatment for Diabetic Nephropathy and Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Diabetes nephropathy (DN) is a main risk factor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but the molecular mechanism is unknown. This research used bioinformatics approaches to uncover potential molecular mechanisms and drugs for DN and ACS. GSE142153 and GSE19339 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

Student Behavior Recognition System for the Classroom Environment Based on Skeleton Pose Estimation and Person Detection.

Human action recognition has attracted considerable research attention in the field of computer vision, especially for classroom environments. However, most relevant studies have focused on one specific behavior of students. Therefore, this paper proposes a student behavior recognition system based on skeleton pose estimation and person detection.

Application of DynaCT angiographic reconstruction in balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) using DynaCT angiographic reconstruction guidance.

Methods: Thirty-four BPAs (23 CTEPH patients) targeting 175 pulmonary arteries were included. Eleven BPAs (2D group) were guided by DSA two-dimensional angiography.

Statin use after intracerebral hemorrhage: a 10-year nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: Although statin therapy is beneficial to patients with ischemic stroke, statin use, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remain a concern. ICH survivors commonly have comorbid cardiovascular risk factors that would otherwise warrant cholesterol-lowering medication, thus emphasizing the importance of assessing the characteristics of statin therapy in this population.

Methods: We performed a cohort study by using 10 years of data collected from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Early Statin Use and the Progression of Alzheimer Disease: A Total Population-Based Case-Control Study.

The protective effect of statin on Alzheimer disease (AD) is still controversial, probably due to the debate about when to start the use of statin and the lack of any large-scale randomized evidence that actually supports the hypothesis. The purpose of this study was to examine the protective effect of early statin use on mild-to-moderate AD in the total Taiwanese population.This was a total population-based case-control study, using the total population of Taiwanese citizens seen in general medical practice; therefore, the findings can be applied to the general population.

Aspirin use associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a total population-based case-control study.

Background: The association of aspirin use and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) risk is unclear. This study determined whether use of any individual compound is associated with ALS risk by conducting a total population-based case-control study in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 729 patients with newly diagnosed ALS who had a severely disabling disease certificate between January 1, 2002, and December 1, 2008, comprised the case group.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk: a total population-based case-control study.

Importance: Although several studies have shown that use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) potentially decreased amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) risk in animal models, to our knowledge, there has been no human study in the literature discussing this issue.

Objective: To investigate the association between the use of ACEIs and the risk for developing ALS.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This case-control study was conducted using the total population of Taiwanese citizens seen in general medical practice; therefore, the findings can be applied to the general population.

Beta2-adrenergic agonist use and the risk of multiple sclerosis: a total population-based case-control study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of fenoterol, a beta2-adrenergic agonist, was associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) risk by conducting a total population-based case-control study in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 578 patients with newly diagnosed MS who had a severely disabling disease (SDD) certificate between January 1, 2002 and December 1, 2008 comprised the case group. These cases were compared with 2890 gender-, age-, residence-, and insurance premium-matched controls.

Using a blood pressure harmonic variability index to monitor the cerebral blood flow condition in stroke patients.

Objective: Beat-to-beat cardiovascular variability analysis provides important information on the autonomic control. Bilateral radial arterial blood pressure waveforms (BPW) in stroke patients were compared to explore the efficacy of frequency-domain variability index in evaluating bilateral differences in the cerebral blood-flow condition.

Methods: Five-minute BPW signals were obtained in 22 stroke patients (Group S) and 21 healthy volunteers (control Group C).

The rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder in Chinese-Taiwanese patients.

Aims: While the features of rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) have been reported in Caucasian patients, the characteristics of Chinese-Taiwanese patients with RBD have never been examined.

Methods: Subjects were retrospectively recruited between April 2005 and February 2008 from the neurological clinic and sleep laboratory in the Department of Neurology of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. A total of 70 consecutive subjects fulfilling the criteria for RBD were recruited.

Rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder secondary to acute aseptic limbic encephalitis.

Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by complex motor activity associated with dreaming during REM sleep. RBD may be idiopathic or associated with various neurological diseases involving the brainstem. The association of RBD and limbic system impairment was unclear.

Eligibility for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischemic stroke: way to endeavor.

Background: The eligibility for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is rare. We analyze the reasons for exclusion from rtPA among patients who were admitted to our hospital within 3 h.

Methods: A strict protocol for hyperacute stroke was set in a university teaching hospital.

Effect of levetiracetam on truncal tic in neuroacanthocytosis.

We report on an uncommon manifestation of neuroacanthocytosis in a 31-year-old woman and the successful use of levetiracetam in the treatment of her neurological symptoms. Truncal tic is one of the major presenting features of this patient. We find that Levetiracetam, a new antiepileptic drug, was effective in eliminating this patient's truncal jerks and motor tic manifestations, such as eyelid blinking and head nodding.