Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan Versus Telmisartan in Type 2 Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic Patients with Hypertension and Without Heart Failure: The Rationale and Design of A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan has revealed superior glycemic and blood pressure control compared with enalapril and irbesartan in patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes and in individuals with chronic kidney disease. However, whether the effects of sacubitril/valsartan remain the same in those without heart failure is unknown.

Methods: A multicenter randomized double-blinded trial will be carried out in five military hospitals in Taiwan for a period of 1 year.

Pros and cons of continuous glucose monitoring in the intensive care unit.

Diabetes mellitus affects people worldwide, and management of its acute complications or treatment-related adverse events is particularly important in critically ill patients. Previous reports have confirmed that hyperglycemia can increase the risk of mortality in patients cared in the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition, severe and multiple hypoglycemia increases the risk of mortality when using insulin or intensive antidiabetic therapy.

Design optimisation and experimental evaluation of dorsal double plating fixation for distal radius fracture.

This study determines the relative effects of changes in osteoporosis condition, plate/screw design factors (plate angle/length/width/thickness and screw diameter) and fixation methods (screw number and screw length) on the biomechanical response of dorsal double plating (DDP) fixation at a distal radius fracture to determine the optimal design and evaluate its biomechanical strength using the dynamic fatigue test. Eighteen CAD and finite element (FE) models corresponding to a Taguchi L18 array were constructed to perform numerical simulations to simulate the mechanical responses of a DDP fixed in a simply distal radius fracture bone. The Taguchi method was employed to determine the significance of each design factor in controlling bone/plate/screw stress and distal fragment displacement under axial (100 N), bending (1 N m) and torsion (1 N m) loads.

Thyrotropin as an independent factor of renal function and chronic kidney disease in normoglycemic euthyroid adults.

Objectives: The relationship between thyroid status and renal function has been well characterized. However, renal function is affected by various factors, including sex and dysglycemia. Because these studies have yet to be undertaken in a normoglycemic population, this study sought to explore the association between thyroid and renal function in large population of normoglycemic euthyroid adults.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, adiponectin, and proinflammatory markers in various subtypes of depression in young men.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), adiponectin, and proinflammatory cytokines in various subtypes of depression in a cohort of young men.

Methods: Sixty-two men 18-30 years of age were recruited for the study. Forty-two were newly diagnosed with depression according to DSM-IV criteria and were divided into three subtypes: reactive depression (N = 13), major depression (N = 18), and bipolar depression (N = 10).

3D micro-crack propagation simulation at enamel/adhesive interface using FE submodeling and element death techniques.

This study investigates micro-crack propagation at the enamel/adhesive interface using finite element (FE) submodeling and element death techniques. A three-dimensional (3D) FE macro-model of the enamel/adhesive/ceramic subjected to shear bond testing was generated and analyzed. A 3D micro-model with interfacial bonding structure was constructed at the upper enamel/adhesive interface where the stress concentration was found from the macro-model results.

Baseline forced expiratory volume in the first second as an independent predictor of development of the metabolic syndrome.

A growing body of evidence strongly supports associations between reduced lung function and insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. The present study was undertaken to explore the possibility that reduced lung function is an independent predictor of development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to investigate potential links between reduced lung function and the MetS. A prospective cohort study of reduced lung function as a predictor of subsequent MetS was conducted using 2-year follow-up data for 450 middle-aged adults lacking the MetS at baseline.

Antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis.

Antithyroid drugs are widely used to treat hyperthyroidism, especially Graves' disease, but they tend to cause agranulocytosis, which increases the mortality rate. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor decreases the duration of recovery from agranulocytosis. We retrospectively studied cases of antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis over the past 10 years in a northern Taiwan medical center.

Damage accumulation simulations in the adhesive of enamel/ceramic interface using the FE submodelling and the element deactivation approaches.

Purpose: To investigate the micromechanics and damage accumulation of the enamel/adhesive interface using sub-modelling and element deactivation methods.

Materials And Methods: A finite element (FE) macromodel of the enamel/adhesive/ceramic interface subjected to shear bond testing was generated for mechanical analysis. The FE micromodel was constructed at the upper enamel/adhesive interface where stress concentration was found.

Evaluation of differentially expressed genes by shear stress in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes in vitro.

Background: The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is related to abnormal mechanical stresses that alter cartilage metabolism and chondrocyte survival. Among the mechanical stresses, shear stress is held responsible for the development of arthritis.

Methods: Monolayer cultures of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes were subjected to fluid-induced shear stress in vitro.

Numerical investigation of macro- and micro-mechanics of a ceramic veneer bonded with various cement thicknesses using the typical and submodeling finite element approaches.

Objectives: This study investigates the influence of cement thickness on the macro- and micro-mechanical responses in a ceramic veneer adjacent to an incisal overlapped incisor.

Methods: Seven finite element (FE) ceramic veneer macro-models with different cement thicknesses (10-180mum) were generated. A 10N load was applied with an angulation of 60 degrees to the longitudinal tooth axis.