Unveiling Hidden Dangers: Quantitative Analysis of Ischemic Risks in High-Risk Patients with ASCVD and Dyslipidemia.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the foremost causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) identified as a significant risk factor for subsequent ischemic events. Elevated LDL-C contributes to vascular injury and fibrosis by upregulating the expression of connective tissue growth factor and collagen IV, which leads to endothelial cell dysfunction that initiates the process of atherosclerotic diseases. Currently, there is an absence of clear, risk-defined criteria to identify patients who are in greater needs for intensive LDL-C reduction, particularly with PCSK9 inhibitors.

Supranormal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Concentric Remodeling, and Long-Term Survival.

Background: Supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) confers a paradoxically higher mortality risk; however, whether intrinsic structural changes of left ventricle (LV) play an important role remain unclear.

Objectives: The authors sought to investigate the prognostic implication of supranormal LVEF and its interaction with LV concentric remodeling.

Methods: Consecutive participants undergoing echocardiography in a tertiary medical center with LVEF >60% were included.

Evidence-based clinical recommendations for hypofractionated radiotherapy: exploring efficacy and safety - Part 4: Liver and locally recurrent rectal cancer.

In this paper, we review the use of hypofractionated radiotherapy for gastrointestinal malignancies, focusing on primary and metastatic liver cancer, and recurrent rectal cancer. Technological advancements in radiotherapy have facilitated the direct delivery of high-dose radiation to tumors, while limiting normal tissue exposure, supporting the use of hypofractionation. Hypofractionated radiotherapy is particularly effective for primary and metastatic liver cancer where high-dose irradiation is crucial to achieve effective local control.

Portulaca oleracea Extract Ameliorates Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a distressing health problem that can cause serious complications in aging men. Androgens are implicated in the causation of BPH. Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a natural product with diverse pharmacological effects.

Qigong Therapy for Stress Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background/objective: Althouth Qigong is commonly used to manage stress, anxiety, and depression, there have been no systematic reviews on Qigong therapy for stress management. This study aimed to analyze the clinical evidence of Qigong therapy for perceived stress.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Qigong using 11 electronic databases, namely MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, CINAHL, and Korean Medical databases (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Korean traditional knowledge portal, KoreaMed, OASIS, RISS, and the National Library of Korea).