Machine learning-driven prediction of medical expenses in triple-vessel PCI patients using feature selection.

Revascularization therapies, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), alleviate symptoms and treat myocardial ischemia. Patients with multivessel disease, particularly those undergoing 3-vessel PCI, are more susceptible to procedural complications, which can increase healthcare costs. Developing efficient strategies for resource allocation has become a paramount concern due to tightening healthcare budgets and the escalating costs of treating heart conditions.

A portable optical detection system for rapid quantification of two rheumatoid arthritis biomarkers.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint damage and progressive destruction of adjacent cartilage and bones. Quick and accurate detection of rheumatoid factors (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) in serum is effective in diagnosing RA and preventing its progression. However, current methods for detecting these two biomarkers are costly, time-consuming, labor-intensive, and require specialized equipment.

PD-L1 expression and immune profiling cannot predict osimertinib efficacy in lung cancer with EGFR T790 M mutation: A translational study.

Background: PD-L1 is associated with poor efficacy of first- or second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in untreated EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Whether PD-L1 is also predictive of osimertinib efficacy in pre-treated patients with an acquired EGFR T790 M mutation is unclear.

Patients And Methods: PD-L1 expression and tumor microenvironments were evaluated in tumors from EGFR-mutant T790 M + NSCLC patients treated with osimertinib.

CCR8/CCL1 and CXCR3/CXCL10 axis mediated memory T cell activations in recalcitrant drug-induced hypersensitivity patients.

Background: As a drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is potentially fatal. Most patients with DRESS recover within a few weeks; however, some patients may suffer from a prolonged disease course and develop autoimmune sequelae.

Objective: We investigated the immune mechanism and therapeutic targets of patients with recalcitrant DRESS with a prolonged disease course.

Comparison of the efficacy of micropulse diode laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation using different energy protocols.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of laser treatment settings of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation treatment in glaucoma patients and to evaluate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and different treatment parameters.

Materials And Methods: A total of 74 eyes in 64 glaucoma patients with IOP over 21 mmHg or under 20 mmHg with visual field progression who underwent micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation treatment were included. Patients were divided into success and failure groups based on criteria of 20% IOP reduction rate.

Growth Behavior of Ni on Hydrogen-Etched WS Surface.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are 2D materials in which the layers are stacked together by van der Waals forces. Although TMDs are expected to be promising for electronic applications, forming a uniform electrode on them is challenging because of the low adhesion forces between metals and TMDs. This study focuses on improving the quality of metal electrodes by introducing atomic H to create surface defects, using Ni on WS as an example.

Real-world analysis of survival outcomes in advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients treated with platinum-pemetrexed after EGFR-TKI treatment failure.

Introduction: EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the standard therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR-activating mutations in the first-line setting. Despite initial efficacy, resistance to EGFR-TKIs often develops, and platinum-based chemotherapy is the predominant subsequent treatment. For this study, we aimed to identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) among advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients receiving platinum-pemetrexed after progression on EGFR-TKIs.

The association of temporalis muscle thickness with post-stroke dysphagia based on swallowing kinematic analysis.

Background/purpose: Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is a common functional deficit after stroke. Temporal muscle thickness (TMT) had been proven to be an independent factor for PSD. However, the relationship between TMT and PSD based on quantitative swallowing kinematic analysis remains unexplored.

HLA-DR genotypes in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome in Taiwan.

Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes have been known to be associated with the risk of development of Sjögren's syndrome in different populations, but this association has never been reported in Taiwan. We enrolled 1044 subjects (673 patients, 371 controls) and tested their HLA-DR genotypes. We found an increased risk of Sjögren's syndrome in patients carrying HLA-DR8.

Impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on cortical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy evaluation.

Background: Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could induce alterations in cortical excitability and promote neuroplasticity. To precisely quantify these effects, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), an optical neuroimaging modality adept at detecting changes in cortical hemodynamic responses, has been employed concurrently alongside rTMS to measure and tailor the impact of diverse rTMS protocols on the brain cortex.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the effects of rTMS on cortical hemodynamic responses over the primary motor cortex (M1) as detected by fNIRS.

Deep Learning Analysis for Predicting Tumor Spread through Air Space in Early-Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma Pathology Images.

The presence of spread through air spaces (STASs) in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma is a significant prognostic factor associated with disease recurrence and poor outcomes. Although current STAS detection methods rely on pathological examinations, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) offers opportunities for automated histopathological image analysis. This study developed a deep learning (DL) model for STAS prediction and investigated the correlation between the prediction results and patient outcomes.

Underground Ink: Printed Electronics Enabling Electrochemical Sensing in Soil.

Improving agricultural production relies on the decisions and actions of farmers and land managers, highlighting the importance of efficient soil monitoring techniques for better resource management and reduced environmental impacts. Despite considerable advancements in soil sensors, their traditional bulky counterparts cause difficulty in widespread adoption and large-scale deployment. Printed electronics emerge as a promising technology, offering flexibility in device design, cost-effectiveness for mass production, and a compact footprint suitable for versatile deployment platforms.

Advanced maternal age-related clustering of metabolic abnormalities is associated with risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Aims: Advanced maternal age (AMA) is correlated with higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes while the pathophysiology remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate whether AMA is linked to the clustering of metabolic abnormalities, which in turn is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Method: A total of 857 pregnant woman were recruited in a prospective cohort at National Taiwan University Hospital, from November 2013 to April 2018.

Abnormal Respiratory Sound Identification Using Audio-Spectrogram Vision Transformer.

Respiratory disease, the third leading cause of deaths globally, is considered a high-priority ailment requiring significant research on identification and treatment. Stethoscope-recorded lung sounds and artificial intelligence-powered devices have been used to identify lung disorders and aid specialists in making accurate diagnoses. In this study, audio-spectrogram vision transformer (AS-ViT), a new approach for identifying abnormal respiration sounds, was developed.

HLA-DR genotypes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Taiwan.

Background: Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR genotypes have been known to be associated with the risk of development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in different populations, although Lu et al. have reported previously that no correlation exists between the HLA-DR genotype and disease manifestation in SLE patients in Taiwan. We investigated the effects different HLA-DR genotypes had on SLE incidence in Taiwanese patients as to whether risk alleles were associated with different clinical manifestations, and the effects risk alleles had on the age of disease onset.

The Role of Macrophages in Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Focusing on Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Treatment Strategies.

Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is a severe manifestation of CTD that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Clinically, ILD can occur in diverse CTDs. Pathologically, CTD-ILD is characterized by various histologic patterns, such as nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and usual interstitial pneumonia.

The impact of comorbidities, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and drug toxicities on quality of life in lung cancer patients receiving EGFR-TKI therapy.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are used as the standard first-line treatment for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the impact of comorbidities and treatment toxicities on quality of life (QoL) was seldom investigated.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the association of comorbidities, adverse events (AEs), and QoL in treatment-naïve advanced NSCLC patients receiving EGFR-TKI treatments.

Self-assembly of gelatin and collagen in the polyvinyl alcohol substrate and its influence on cell adhesion, proliferation, shape, spreading and differentiation.

Culture substrates display profound influence on biological and developmental characteristic of cells cultured . This study investigates the influence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) substrates blended with different concentration of collagen or/and gelatin on the cell adhesion, proliferation, shape, spreading, and differentiation of stem cells. The collagen/gelatin blended PVA substrates were prepared by air drying.

Targeted therapy in glomerular diseases.

Targeted therapy has emerged as a more precise approach to treat glomerular diseases, focusing on specific molecular or cellular processes that contribute to disease development or progression. This approach complements or replaces traditional immunosuppressive therapy, optimizes supportive care, and provides a more personalized treatment strategy. In this review, we summarize the evolving understanding of pathogenic mechanisms in immune-mediated glomerular diseases and the developing targeted therapies based on these mechanisms.