Educational video assistance in shared decision-making for psoriasis: Effectiveness and outcomes.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition associated with significant comorbidities that impact quality of life. Effective patient engagement through shared decision-making (SDM) is crucial for optimal management. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding clinician-created educational videos in enhancing patient knowledge and engagement during SDM for psoriasis treatment.

Mucin 1 promotes salivary gland cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by regulating the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway.

Background/purpose: Salivary gland cancer (SGC) is the common malignant tumor of the head and neck region with poor prognosis. Mucin 1 (MUC1) has been reported to be associated with the development of cancer. However, whether MUC1 contributed to the progression of SGC remains to be explored.

Risk of skin cancer in kidney, liver and heart recipients: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

Background Previous population-based studies in western countries had revealed increased skin cancer risk among transplant recipients compared to the general population. However, population-based studies in Asia on skin cancer among recipients of different transplanted organs were lacking in the literature. Aims This study aims to estimate skin cancer risk among recipients in Taiwan, examine the association between each specific type of skin cancer and each type of transplanted organ, and compare skin cancer risk between different immunosuppressive regimens.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders: A retrospective population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening adverse reactions to drugs and psychological sequelae are also observed to follow the trauma of widespread epidermal necrolysis. To delineate the association between SJS and TEN, and psychiatric disorders, we conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study by including 212 patients diagnosed with first-time SJS or TEN in Taiwan between 2000 and 2013 and 669 population controls. Adjusted hazard ratios were calculated after adjusting for sex, age, comorbidity in the form of Charlson comorbidity index, and facility level of care.

Comparison of outcomes for percutaneous coronary intervention in men and women with unprotected left main disease.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease (ULMCAD) is increasing strategy in coronary artery patients. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the impact of sex on outcomes of patients undergoing ULMCAD PCI.

Methods: From January 2004 to December 2015, there were 3,960 patients undergoing ULMCAD PCI at our institution, including 3,121 (78.

Interferon regulatory factor transcript levels correlate with clinical outcomes in human glioma.

Members of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) gene family are crucial regulators of type I interferon signaling, which may play a role in the resistance of glioma to immune checkpoint blockade. However, the expression profiles, potential functions, and clinical significance of IRF family members remain largely unknown. Here, we examined IRF transcript levels and clinicopathological data from glioma patients using several bioinformatic databases, including ONCOMINE, GEPIA, TCGA, and cBioPortal.

Clinical Features, Treatments, and Prognostic Factors of Spinal Myxopapillary Ependymoma.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and factors affecting the prognosis of myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 24 patients diagnosed with MPE who were surgically treated from January 2010 to January 2020 in the Department of Neurosurgery at Tongji Hospital (Tongji Medical School, Huazhong University of Science and Technology).

Results: Among the 24 included patients, there were 13 male and 11 female patients.

Impacts of smoking status on the clinical outcomes of coronary non-target lesions in patients with coronary heart disease: a single-center angiographic study.

Background: Coronary atherosclerotic plaque could go through rapid progression and induce adverse cardiac events. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of smoking status on clinical outcomes of coronary non-target lesions.

Methods: Consecutive patients with coronary heart disease who underwent two serial coronary angiographies were included.

Lithium toxicity with prolonged neurologic sequelae following sleeve gastrectomy: A case report and review of literature.

Rationale: Lithium is the first-line medication for bipolar disorder, given a narrow therapeutic window of 0.8 to 1.2 mEq/L.

Pharmacogenomics study on cadherin 2 network with regard to HIV infection and methadone treatment outcome.

Heroin dependent patients have a high incidence of HIV infection. In contrast to the gene expression method, we developed a systemic correlation analysis method built upon the results of pharmacogenomics study in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) cohort consisting of 344 Taiwanese heroin dependent patients. We identified genetic variants and their encoding proteins that may be involved with HIV infection and MMT treatment outcome.

In Situ Release of VEGF Enhances Osteogenesis in 3D Porous Scaffolds Engineered with Osterix-Modified Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can differentiate into various cell types and thus have great potential for regenerative medicine. Herein, rat ADSCs were isolated; transduced with lentiviruses expressing Osterix (Osx), a transcriptional factor essential for osteogenesis. Osx overexpression upregulated key osteogenesis-related genes, such as special AT-rich binding protein 2, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osteopontin, at both mRNA and protein levels.

Metabolic labelling of cholesteryl glucosides in reveals how the uptake of human lipids enhances bacterial virulence.

infects approximately half of the human population and is the main cause of various gastric diseases. This pathogen is auxotrophic for cholesterol, which it converts upon uptake to various cholesteryl α-glucoside derivatives, including cholesteryl 6'-acyl and 6'-phosphatidyl α-glucosides (CAGs and CPGs). Owing to a lack of sensitive analytical methods, it is not known if CAGs and CPGs play distinct physiological roles or how the acyl chain component affects function.

Genome-Wide Pharmacogenomic Study on Methadone Maintenance Treatment Identifies SNP rs17180299 and Multiple Haplotypes on CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L Associated with Plasma Concentrations of Methadone R- and S-enantiomers in Heroin-Dependent Patients.

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is commonly used for controlling opioid dependence, preventing withdrawal symptoms, and improving the quality of life of heroin-dependent patients. A steady-state plasma concentration of methadone enantiomers, a measure of methadone metabolism, is an index of treatment response and efficacy of MMT. Although the methadone metabolism pathway has been partially revealed, no genome-wide pharmacogenomic study has been performed to identify genetic determinants and characterize genetic mechanisms for the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers.

Intraoperative neuromonitoring for removal of large vestibular schwannoma: Facial nerve outcome and predictive factors.

Background: Preservation of facial nerve (FN) function is one of the major goals for resection of large vestibular schwannoma (VS) (≥ 30 mm). Little is known about the FN outcome and its predictive factors due to limited data.

Objective: To explore the predictive factors affecting FN outcome following resection of large VS.

Gene expression profiling of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia reveals ADAMTS2 overexpression as a potential marker.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) as an abnormal bone growth is one of the common fibro-osseous leasions (FOL) in oral and maxillofacial region, however, its etiology still remains unclear. Here, we performed gene expression profiling of FD using microarray analysis to explore the key molecule events in FD development, and develop potential diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets for FD. We found that 1,881 genes exhibited differential expression with more than two-fold changes in FD compared to normal bone tissues, including 1,200 upregulated genes and 681 downregulated genes.

Assessment of CYP450 genetic variability effect on methadone dose and tolerance.

Aim: Methadone dose is related to treatment success in individuals under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). We constructed a gene matrix using previously identified genetic polymorphisms in CYP450 and determined their genetic influence on methadone dose or tolerance.

Materials & Methods: The allelic combinations of CYP450 genetic variants (two from CYP2C19, four from CYP2B6 and five from CYP3A4) were analyzed in 366 MMT heroin dependent patients as possible determinants of methadone dose and tolerance using analysis of covariance.

Functional genetic polymorphisms in CYP2C19 gene in relation to cardiac side effects and treatment dose in a methadone maintenance cohort.

Abstract Methadone maintenance therapy is an established treatment for heroin dependence. This study tested the influence of functional genetic polymorphisms in CYP2C19 gene encoding a CYP450 enzyme that contributes to methadone metabolism on treatment dose, plasma concentration, and side effects of methadone. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs4986893 (exon 4) and rs4244285 (exon 5), were selected and genotyped in 366 patients receiving methadone maintenance therapy in Taiwan.

Hepatitis C virus infection influences the S-methadone metabolite plasma concentration.

Background And Objectives: Heroin-dependent patients typically contract hepatitis C virus (HCV) at a disproportionately high level due to needle exchange. The liver is the primary target organ of HCV infection and also the main organ responsible for drug metabolism. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is a major treatment regimen for opioid dependence.

CYP1A2 genetic polymorphisms are associated with early antidepressant escitalopram metabolism and adverse reactions.

Aim: The liver CYP1A2 enzyme may metabolize antidepressant escitalopram (S-CIT) to S-desmethylcitalopram (S-DCIT) and S-didesmethylcitalopram (S-DDCIT). This study tested whether genetic polymorphisms in the CYP1A2 gene are associated with the treatment responses to S-CIT.

Materials & Methods: Ten SNPs in CYP1A2 were selected and genotyped in 158 patients under S-CIT treatment.

Outcomes of overlapping heterogeneous drug-eluting stents versus homogeneous drug-eluting stents for diffuse lesions in small coronary arteries.

Objective: To investigate the outcomes of overlapping drug-eluting stenting (DES) in small and diffuse lesions.

Background: Clinical outcomes of overlapping heterogeneous versus homogeneous DES of diffuse lesions (requiring ≥ 30 mm of length) in small coronary arteries (requiring ≤ 2.75 mm of diameter) are unknown.

Characterization and identification of essential residues of the glycoside hydrolase family 64 laminaripentaose-producing-β-1, 3-glucanase.

Laminaripentaose-producing β-1,3-glucanase (LPHase) from Streptomyces matensis DIC-108 uniquely catalyzes the hydrolysis of β-1,3-glucan to release laminaripentaose as the predominant product. For studying this novel enzyme, the gene of LPHase was reconstructed with polymerase chain reaction and over-expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant wild-type enzyme and various mutants were further purified to >90% homogeneity on an ion-exchange chromatograph.