Association Between Pentoxifylline Use and Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Multi-Institutional Cohort Study.

Background: Pentoxifylline is administrated to improve the hemodynamics of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Despite the improvement of capillary blood flow velocity in retina after pentoxifylline use, no evidence has been provided to prove the protective effect for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the risk of DR in pentoxifylline users with CKD and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Association of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and the risk of retinal vascular occlusion: A real-world retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are proposed to alleviate the development of inflammatory eye diseases. However, the association between SGLT2i and retinal vascular occlusion remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effects of SGLT2i on the incidence of retinal vascular occlusion.

Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy between Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists.

Background: To compare risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) between patients taking sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and those taking glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) in routine care.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study emulating a target trial included patient data from the multi-institutional Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan. Totally, 33,021 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using SGLT2is and GLP1-RAs between 2016 and 2019 were identified.

Deep Learning-Based Detection of Early Renal Function Impairment Using Retinal Fundus Images: Model Development and Validation.

Background: Retinal imaging has been applied for detecting eye diseases and cardiovascular risks using deep learning-based methods. Furthermore, retinal microvascular and structural changes were found in renal function impairments. However, a deep learning-based method using retinal images for detecting early renal function impairment has not yet been well studied.

Aspirin use in central retinal arterial occlusion to prevent ischaemic stroke: a retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Objective: To understand the efficacy of aspirin use for preventing ischaemic stroke after central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO).

Design: The retrospective cohort study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database from 1998 to 2013.

Setting: A population-based study.

Association of Statin Therapy With Prevention of Vision-Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy.

Importance: Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Studies have suggested that statins may reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Objective: To investigate the association between statin therapy and the development of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage among patients receiving hemodialysis in Taiwan: prevalence rate, molecular characterization and de-colonization.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin resistant (MRSA), is a common pathogen among patients receiving hemodialysis. To evaluate nasal carriage, molecular characterization and effectiveness of decolonization of MRSA among patients receiving hemodialysis in Taiwan, we conducted this study.

Methods: From January to June 2011, two nasal samplings with a 3-month interval were obtained from patients undergoing hemodialysis in a medical center (CGMH), and in a local hospital (YMH) and sent for detection of MRSA.