Outcomes of combined mitochondria and mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosome therapy in rat acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis.

Background: The treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complicated by sepsis syndrome (SS) remains challenging.

Aim: To investigate whether combined adipose-derived mesenchymal-stem-cells (ADMSCs)-derived exosome (EX) and exogenous mitochondria (mito) protect the lung from ARDS complicated by SS.

Methods: study, including L2 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and study including male-adult-SD rats categorized into groups 1 (sham-operated-control), 2 (ARDS-SS), 3 (ARDS-SS + EX), 4 (ARDS-SS + mito), and 5 (ARDS-SS + EX + mito), were included in the present study.

Machine Learning Radiomics Signature for Differentiating Lymphoma versus Benign Splenomegaly on CT.

Background: We aimed to develop and validate a preoperative CT-based radiomics signature for differentiating lymphoma versus benign splenomegaly.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed CT studies from 139 patients (age range 26-93 years, 43% female) between 2011 and 2019 with histopathological diagnosis of the spleen (19 lymphoma, 120 benign) and divided them into developing ( = 79) and testing ( = 60) datasets. The volumetric radiomic features were extracted from manual segmentation of the whole spleen on venous-phase CT imaging using PyRadiomics package.

Comparing Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) and the MAGiC Sequence for Simultaneous T1 and T2 Quantitative Measurements in the Female Pelvis: A Prospective Study.

The aim of this study was to explore the potential of magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF), an emerging quantitative MRI technique, in measuring relaxation values of female pelvic tissues compared to the conventional magnetic resonance image compilation (MAGiC) sequence. The study included 32 female patients who underwent routine pelvic MRI exams using anterior and posterior array coils on a 3T clinical scanner. Our findings demonstrated significant correlations between MRF and MAGiC measured T1 and T2 values ( < 0.

Generalizable transfer learning of automated tumor segmentation from cervical cancers toward a universal model for uterine malignancies in diffusion-weighted MRI.

Purpose: To investigate the generalizability of transfer learning (TL) of automated tumor segmentation from cervical cancers toward a universal model for cervical and uterine malignancies in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI).

Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, we analyzed pelvic DWI data from 169 and 320 patients with cervical and uterine malignancies and divided them into the training (144 and 256) and testing (25 and 64) datasets, respectively. A pretrained model was established using DeepLab V3 + from the cervical cancer dataset, followed by TL experiments adjusting the training data sizes and fine-tuning layers.

Oxidized-LDL Deteriorated the Renal Residual Function and Parenchyma in CKD Rat through Upregulating Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and Extracellular Matrix-Mediated Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis-Pharmacomodulation of Rosuvastatin.

This study tested the hypothesis that intrarenal arterial transfusion of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) jeopardized the residual renal function and kidney architecture in rat chronic kidney disease ((CKD), i.e., induced by 5/6 nephrectomy) that was reversed by rosuvastatin.

Disposition of embryos from women who only produced morphologically poor embryos on day three.

Background: The presence of only morphologically poor embryos (MPEs) on day3 is common in autologous in vitro fertilization (IVF), particularly among p Tel: 886-7-7317123 Ext. 8916. Fax: 886-7-7322915.

Monopronucleated (1PN) and tripronuclear (3PN) zygotes formation during assisted reproduction in POSEIDON group 4 patients: Emphasizing on polar bodies.

Aim: Abnormal fertilization (1PN/3PN) and its accompanying polar body (PB) conditions have been less discussed in poor ovarian responders. By observing the PBs, we analyzed the mechanisms of abnormal fertilization and aimed to explore the role of intracytoplasmic sperm injection/in vitro fertilization (ICSI/IVF) in POSEIDON group 4 patients.

Methods: An observational study.

Investigation of echocardiographic characteristics and predictors for persistent defects of patent foramen ovale or patent ductus arteriosus in Chinese newborns.

Background: Persistent patent foramen ovale (PFO) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) increase the adult risk of cryptogenic embolic stroke and chronic pulmonary hypertension. To understand the characteristics of PFO and PDA in newborns, we investigated the spontaneous closure rate and derived the determinants for residual defects.

Methods: We utilized the database of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Xiamen ChangGung Memorial Hospital from 2015 to 2017 and allocated 2523 eligible newborns into four groups according to PDA, PFO, both or neither at birth.

Computer-Aided Segmentation and Machine Learning of Integrated Clinical and Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Parameters for Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis in Endometrial Cancer.

Precise risk stratification in lymphadenectomy is important for patients with endometrial cancer (EC), to balance the therapeutic benefit against the operation-related morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate added values of computer-aided segmentation and machine learning based on clinical parameters and diffusion-weighted imaging radiomics for predicting lymph node (LN) metastasis in EC. This prospective observational study included 236 women with EC (mean age ± standard deviation, 51.

Risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in Taiwanese women with endometriosis.

Background/purpose: Endometriosis (EM) is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, whether this finding can be applied to the Taiwanese population remained unanswered. To investigate the association between EM and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and the therapeutic effect on the risk of MACCE in Asian women with EM.

Reduced effects of cardiac extracorporeal shock wave therapy on angiogenesis and myocardial function recovery in patients with end-stage coronary artery and renal diseases.

Background: Growing evidence have shown cardiac extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) improve clinical symptoms and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for patients with end-stage diffuse coronary artery disease (EnD-CAD) unsuitable for coronary interventions. However, little is known whether cardiac ESWT remains effective on symptomatic relief and improvement of LVEF for the EnD-CAD patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: This was a small-scale prospective study.

Association between paternal age and risk of schizophrenia: a nationwide population-based study.

Purpose: To study the association between paternal age and schizophrenia in offspring.

Methods: This report describes a nationwide population-based cohort study from 1997 to 2013. Data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database were utilized to answer the research question.

Baseline factors identified for the prediction of good responders in patients with end-stage diffuse coronary artery disease undergoing intracoronary CD34+ cell therapy.

Background: Treating patients with end-stage diffuse coronary artery disease (EnD-CAD) unsuitable for coronary intervention remains a clinical challenge. They usually express refractory angina and have a high risk of mortality. Although growing data have indicated cell therapy is an alternative solution to medical or invasive therapy, there are still lacking useful markers to predict whether heart function will improve in the EnD-CAD patients who underwent circulatory-derived CD34+ cell therapy.

Intracoronary Injection of Autologous CD34+ Cells Improves One-Year Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Patients with Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease and Preserved Cardiac Performance-A Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled Phase II Clinical Trial.

This phase II randomized controlled trial tested whether intracoronary autologous CD34+ cell therapy could further improve left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) with relatively preserved LV ejection fraction (defined as LVEF >40%) unsuitable for coronary intervention. Between December 2013 and November 2017, 60 consecutive patients were randomly allocated into group 1 (CD34+ cells, 3.0 × 10/vessel/ = 30) and group 2 (optimal medical therapy; = 30).

Soluble ST2 is a Useful Biomarker for Grading Cerebral-Cardiac Syndrome in Patients after Acute Ischemic Stroke.

This study tested whether the soluble (s)ST2 is a superb biomarker predictive of moderate to severe cerebral-cardiac syndrome (CCS) (defined as coexisting National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) >8 and left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <60%) in patients after acute ischemic stroke (IS). Between November 2015 and October 2017, a total of 99 IS patients were prospectively enrolled and categorized into three groups based on NIHSS, i.e.

Risk of Venous Thromboembolic Events in Patients with Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Undergoing Primary Hip Arthroplasty.

Previous data have shown patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) have increased lifelong risk of unprovoked venous thromboembolic events (VTE) as compared with the general population, according to sharing common pathological mechanism of endothelial dysfunction. However, whether the risk of VTE increases in those ONFH patients undergoing major hip replacement surgery remains unclear. This is a retrospective nationwide Asian population-based study.

Risk of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Among Asian Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Carriers: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection not only links closely to systemic inflammation but also has numerous extrahepatic manifestations. Chronic inflammation also increases the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). However, little is known regarding the clinical association between HCV infection and new-onset AF.

Developmental potential of surplus morulas with delayed and/or incomplete compaction after freezing-thawing procedures.

Background: Morulas with delayed growth sometimes coexist with blastocysts. There is still limited evidence regarding the optimal disposal of surplus morulas. With the advancement of vitrification, the freezing-thawing technique has been widely applied to zygotes with 2 pronuclei, as well as embryos at the cleavage and blastocyst stages.

Prognostic model based on magnetic resonance imaging, whole-tumour apparent diffusion coefficient values and HPV genotyping for stage IB-IV cervical cancer patients following chemoradiotherapy.

Objectives: To develop and validate a prognostic model of integrating whole-tumour apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from pretreatment diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping in predicting the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for women with stage IB-IV cervical cancer following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

Methods: We retrospectively analysed three prospectively collected cohorts comprising 300 patients with stage IB-IV cervical cancer treated with CCRT in 2007-2014 and filtered 134 female patients who underwent MR imaging at 3.0 T for final analysis (age, 24-92 years; median, 54 years).

Nationwide study on the risk of unprovoked venous thromboembolism in non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head.

Purpose: Endothelial dysfunction is a risk factor for osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) [defined as deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE)]. However, the risk of unprovoked VTE in non-traumatic ONFH patients remains unclear.

Methods: We investigated the relationship between ONFH and VTE using Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events Are Associated With Nontraumatic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction has been identified as an etiologic factor for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (defined as major cardiovascular disease [CVD] and cerebrovascular accident [CVA]). However, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with nontraumatic ONFH and any association between the two diagnoses remain unclear.

Questions/purposes: We compared a large cohort of patients with nontraumatic ONFH and a matched control group without this diagnosis and (1) examined the frequency and hazard ratio (HR) of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in both groups adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and associated comorbidities (which we defined as the adjusted HR), (2) determined whether any association of ONFH and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events was stable after adjusting for confounding variables, and (3) compared the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events with time in both groups.

Combination therapy of exendin-4 and allogenic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell preserved renal function in a chronic kidney disease and sepsis syndrome setting in rats.

Combined therapy with exendin-4 (Ex4) and allogenic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) was tested against either therapy alone for protecting kidney function against chronic kidney disease (CKD) complicated by sepsis syndrome (SS) [i.e., by intraperitoneal injection of cecal-derived bacteria (1.

Combined renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade and statin therapy effectively reduces the risk of cerebrovascular accident in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Fairly limited data reported the incidence and risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Additionally, little is known regarding the therapeutic impact of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade and statin on reducing the occurrence of CVA in ADPKD. We utilized the data from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to perform a population-based cohort study (1997-2013).