Risk of long-term ophthalmological complications in Taiwanese preterm infants: a nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: The aim was to determine whether different maturity levels and birth weights could change the risk of long-term ophthalmological complications in preterm infants.

Design: This was a cohort study.

Setting: This was a nationwide population-based study.

Acupuncture treatment is associated with a decreased risk of dementia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan: A propensity-score matched cohort study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to understand whether acupuncture can decrease the risk of dementia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Using the registry from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we carried out a 1:1 propensity-score matched cohort study to analyze patients with RA diagnosed between 2000 and 2010. The patients who received acupuncture therapy were grouped as acupuncture users ( = 9,919), while the others were grouped as non-acupuncture users ( = 19,331).

Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbs for Breast Cancer Prevention and Survival: A Narrative Review of Epidemiological Studies from Taiwan.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to describe the association of integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs into conventional medicine (CM) in preventing breast cancer and improving survival rates among breast cancer patients of Taiwan.

Recent Findings: Of 7 relevant studies, spanning 2014-2023, 4 investigated breast cancer risk in women with menopausal symptoms and other comorbidities. All 4 reported that TCM herbal use was associated with lower risks of developing breast cancer.

Integrating traditional Chinese Medicine reduced the risk of hip fracture in patients with dementia.

Background/purpose: The high incidence of hip fracture is an important problem among dementia patients because of their higher risk of falls and balance deficits due to a lack of physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy could reduce the risk of hip fracture in dementia patients.

Methods: We identified 38,071 patients who were first diagnosed with dementia from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2017, from the database of the 2000 Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database (LGTD 2000) provided by the Health and Welfare Data Science Center (HWDC) in Taiwan.

Effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine compared with angiotensin II receptor blockers in patients with diabetic kidney disease: A hospital-based matched cohort study.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are one of the standard treatments for diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Some patients may opt for Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) of their own free will. However, there is no real-world evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of CHM.

The in vitro and in vivo depigmentation activity of coenzyme Q, a major quinone derivative from Antrodia camphorata, through autophagy induction in human melanocytes and keratinocytes.

Background: Coenzyme Q (CoQ), a novel quinone derivative of Antrodia camphorata, has been utilized as a therapeutic agent (including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, antiatherosclerotic, and anticancer agents); however, its depigmenting efficiency has yet to be studied.

Methods: We resolved the depigmenting efficiency of CoQ through autophagy induction in melanoma (B16F10) and melanin-feeding keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and in vivo Zebrafish model. Then, MPLC/HPLC analysis, MTT assay, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, LC3 transfection, melanin formation, GFP-LC3 puncta, AVO formation, tyrosinase activity, and TEM were used.

The Association between Acupuncture Therapy and the Risk of Disability Development in Dementia Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Purpose: Disability is the comorbidity of dementia for which there is no available preventive measure. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between acupuncture treatment and the risk of disability development in dementia patients.

Patients And Methods: A cohort study was performed using a nationwide health database in Taiwan.

Effect of acupuncture on ischaemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide propensity score-matched study.

Objective: To demonstrate that acupuncture is beneficial for decreasing the risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Design: A propensity score-matched cohort study.

Setting: A nationwide population-based study.

Integrative traditional Chinese medicine treatment for children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disease that affects 1%-6% of children. Our study aims to explore the effectiveness and clinical characteristics of integrative Traditional Chinese Medicine (ITCM) for pediatric OSA.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed differences of polysomnography (PSG) parameters and clinical characteristics between 2009 and 2020.

The association between acupuncture therapy and the risk of reduced pressure ulcers in dementia patients: A retrospective matched cohort study.

Background: The pressure ulcer is a complication developed from dementia. The aim of this study is to study the association between the development of pressure ulcers and the use of acupuncture therapy in patients with dementia.

Methods: We performed a retrospective 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort study to investigate the association between acupuncture therapy and the risk of pressure ulcers in patients with dementia.

Tranexamic acid improves psoriasis-like skin inflammation: Evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies.

The chronic disease psoriasis is associated with severe inflammation and abnormal keratinocyte propagation in the skin. Tranexamic acid (TXA), a plasmin inhibitor, is used to cure serious bleeding. We investigated whether TXA ointment mitigated Imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like inflammation.

Effect of Acupoint Stimulation on Controlling Pain from Heel Lance in Neonates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

To evaluate the effect of acupoint stimulation compared to other interventions on pain control in neonates who underwent heel lance, we searched for randomized controlled trials across six databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science) published up to January 2023. Studies comparing acupoint stimulation and other interventions for controlling heel lance pain in neonates were included. These reports measured at least one of the following variables: pain score, crying time, oxygenation saturation, heart rate, respiration rate, and duration of the procedure.

Relationship between Chinese Herbal Medicine Use and Risk of Sjögren's Syndrome in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective, Population-Based, Nested Case-Control Study.

: Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is a common extra-articular feature among subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used to treat symptoms of RA for many years, few studies have examined its efficacy in guarding against the SS onset. This study aimed to compare risk of SS for RA patients with and without use of CHM.

Humoral and cellular immunity in three different types of COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants in a real-world data analysis.

Background: An effective vaccine response is currently a critical issue in the control of COVID-19. Little is known about humoral and cellular immunity comparing protein-based vaccine with other types of vaccines. The relevance of basal immunity to antibody production is also unknown.

Acupuncture May Help to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Single-Blind Study.

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in preventing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: This single center, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial randomly assigned patients with stage 3 CRC attending outpatient clinics in China Medical University Hospital to either verum or sham acupuncture treatment concurrently with chemotherapy. Primary outcomes were nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and touch thresholds of limb terminals.

Targeting Nrf2 with 3 H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione to moderate OXPHOS-driven oxidative stress attenuates IL-17A-induced psoriasis.

Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in the epidermis and parakeratosis, significantly impacts quality of life. Interleukin (IL)- 17A dominates the pathogenesis of psoriasis and facilitates reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which exacerbates local psoriatic lesions. Biologic treatment provides remarkable clinical efficacy, but its high cost and unignorable side effects limit its applications.

The effect of Tai Chi in elderly individuals with sarcopenia and frailty: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The potential role of Tai Chi in improving sarcopenia and frailty has been shown in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of Tai Chi on muscle mass, muscle strength, physical function, and other geriatric syndromes in elderly individuals with sarcopenia and frailty.

Methods: Systematic searches of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Medline databases for RCTs published between 1989 and 2022 were conducted; the database searchers were supplemented with manual reference searches.