Age, period and cohort processes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease related emergency department visit rate in Taiwan, 2001-2015.

Purpose: Emergency room (ER) physicians must deal with patients with clinically suspected symptoms, such as dyspnea, cough, and increased sputum production, on the frontlines of medical care if patients present with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aims to investigate the longitudinal tendencies of COPD-related ER visits.

Patients And Methods: A total of 360,313 patients were included in this study.

Association of LVV-Hemorphin-7 with Sepsis and Shock: Roles of Cathepsin D and G in Hemoglobin Metabolism in a Prospective ICU Cohort Study.

Background: Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Cell-free hemoglobin (CFH) released during sepsis interacts with lysosomal enzymes from neutrophils and macrophages. This study aims to examine the association of LVV-hemorphin-7 (LVV-H7), cathepsin D, and cathepsin G with sepsis and shock in ICU patients.

Assessing post-COVID-19 respiratory dynamics: a comprehensive analysis of pulmonary function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and bronchodilator response.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a considerable impact on the global healthcare system. Individuals who have recovered from COVID often experience chronic respiratory symptoms that affect their daily lives. This study aimed to assess respiratory dynamics such as airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and bronchodilator response in post-COVID patients.

The level of discomfort during the use of different circuits of the mechanical ventilator.

Objectives: Endotracheal tube (ETT) intubation is a life-saving procedure in patients with respiratory failure. However, the presence of an ETT can cause significant discomfort. A tracheostomy tube is used to administer a mechanical ventilator, resulting in a more stable airway and fewer serious injuries.

The influence of uremic toxins on low bone turnover disease in chronic kidney disease.

Uremic toxins play a crucial role in the development of low bone turnover disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD) through the induction of oxidative stress. This oxidative stress disrupts the delicate balance between bone formation and resorption, resulting in a decline in both bone quantity and quality. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate nuclear factor kappa-B and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, promoting osteoclastogenesis.

Quality of Life and Emotional Problems of COVID-19 Patients after Discharge: A One-Month Longitudinal Study.

Aim: The first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Taiwan occurred in May 2021 and many individuals were infected. All COVID-19 patients were quarantined in designated facilities until they fully recovered to prevent the spread of the disease. Prolonged quarantine could adversely affect these patients.

Predictive role of neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratios for mortality in patients with COPD: Evidence from NHANES 2011-2018.

Background And Objective: This study evaluated the predictive roles of hematologic inflammatory biomarkers including neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR) for mortality in community-dwelling individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This longitudinal study extracted data of adults 40-79 years who had physician-diagnosed COPD from the United States (US) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018. Cox regressions determined the associations between NPAR, NLR, ELR and their components, with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and mortality from chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD).

The Effectiveness of a Traditional Chinese Medicine-Based Mobile Health App for Individuals With Prediabetes: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories assert that body constitution and meridian energy lay the foundation for disease prevention. TCM-based health concepts have not yet been incorporated into mobile health (mHealth) apps for individuals with prediabetes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a TCM mHealth app for individuals with prediabetes.

Evaluation of the relationship of tricuspid regurgitation peak gradient/tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion to exercise capacity, cardiac index, and ventilatory function during exercise in patients with COPD.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often causes cardiopulmonary dysfunction, which deteriorates exercise capacity. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and echocardiography are common tools for evaluating cardiovascular function. No studies have analyzed the correlation between echocardiography-derived parameters and cardiopulmonary response during exercise.

Impact of bisoprolol and amlodipine on cardiopulmonary responses and symptoms during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have exercise intolerance. The prevalence of hypertension in COPD patients ranges from 39-51%, and β-blockers and amlodipine are commonly used drugs for these patients.

Objectives: We aimed to study the impact of β-blockers and amlodipine on cardiopulmonary responses during exercise.

Early pulmonary rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients in an isolation ward and intensive care unit.

When patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are hospitalized, the limited space for activity, disease itself causes fever, muscle aches, fatigue, respiratory failure with mechanical ventilation, or medications such as steroids or neuromuscular blocking can cause muscle dysfunction. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) should be arranged for these patients with COVID-19. However, the literature on early PR within 1 week of admission on patients with COVID-19 are limited.

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Chest X-ray for the Diagnosis of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Because it is an accessible and routine image test, medical personnel commonly use a chest X-ray for COVID-19 infections. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now widely applied to improve the precision of routine image tests. Hence, we investigated the clinical merit of the chest X-ray to detect COVID-19 when assisted by AI.

Immunothrombosis biomarkers as potential predictive factors of acute respiratory distress syndrome in moderate-to-critical COVID-19: A single-center, retrospective cohort study.

Background: Immunothrombosis, a process of inflammation and coagulation, is involved in sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome formation (ARDS). However, the clinical correlation between immunothrombosis biomarkers (including tissue factor [TF] and von Willebrand factor [vWF]) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related ARDS is unknown. This study investigated ARDS development following moderate-to-critical COVID-19 and examined immunothrombosis biomarkers as ARDS predictors.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Elderly Patients with COVID-19: Potential of Melatonin Treatment.

Aging processes, including immunosenescence, inflammation, inflammasome formation, genomic instability, telomeric attrition, and altered autophagy, are involved in viral infections and they may contribute to increased pathophysiological responses to the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the elderly; this poses additional risks of accelerated aging, which could be found even after recovery. Aging is associated with oxidative damage. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infections may increase the production of reactive oxygen species and such infections will disturb the Ca balance via an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated unfolded protein response.

Association between heme oxygenase one and sepsis development in patients with moderate-to-critical COVID-19: a single-center, retrospective observational study.

Background: Heme oxygenase one (HO-1) is considered a poor prognostic factor for survival in patients with severe-to-critical coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but the clinical correlation between heme catabolism biomarkers and COVID-19-related sepsis is unknown. The etiopathogenetic hypothesis of HO-1 response during sepsis in patients with poor prognosis should be clarified. This study aimed to investigate sepsis development within 48 h following moderate-to-critical COVID-19 and examined heme/HO-1 catabolism biomarkers associated with sepsis.

Co-existing obstructive sleep apnea reduces Nuss surgery efficacy in pectus excavatum.

Nuss surgery is effective in correcting pectus excavatum (PE), with a recurrence rate of 1.2-27%. Re-do surgery is successful but still has a 6% failure rate.

Spatial Transcriptomics Analysis Reveals that CCL17 and CCL22 are Robust Indicators of a Suppressive Immune Environment in Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma (AITL).

Background: T cell lymphoma is a complex and highly aggressive clinicopathological entity with a poor outcome. The angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) tumor immune microenvironment is poorly investigated.

Methods: Here, to the best of our knowledge, spatial transcriptomics was applied for the first time to study AITL.

Factors and Outcomes Associated with Failed Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure.

Background: The decision guild for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) application in acute respiratory failure (ARF) patients still needs to work out.

Methods: Adult patients with acute hypoxemic or hypercapnic respiratory failure were recruited and treated with NPPV or primary invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Patients' characteristic and clinical outcomes were recorded.

Review of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors administration to non-small-cell lung cancer patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) causes significant mortality worldwide. Patients with chronic renal failure have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. NSCLC Patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis (HD) often exhibit poor performance, and chemotherapy is generally contraindicated.

Deciphering the role of damage-associated molecular patterns and inflammatory responses in acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and causes great mortality. ALI presents with overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, cell death, destruction of alveoli-endothelial barriers, and neutrophil infiltration in lung tissues. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are molecules released from damaged cells due to infection, trauma, etc.

A Review of the Potential Effects of Melatonin in Compromised Mitochondrial Redox Activities in Elderly Patients With COVID-19.

Melatonin, an endogenous indoleamine, is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule widely distributed in the body. It efficiently regulates pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines under various pathophysiological conditions. The melatonin rhythm, which is strongly associated with oxidative lesions and mitochondrial dysfunction, is also observed during the biological process of aging.

Associations Between Physical Activity, Smoking Status, and Airflow Obstruction and Self-Reported COPD: A Population-Based Study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease with an increased mortality rate in recent years, mainly caused by exposure to tobacco smoke. Regular physical activity is thought to diminish the risk of COPD exacerbation, while very few studies investigate the interaction between smoking and physical activity on COPD development. This study aims to investigate the association between smoking status, physical activity and prevalent COPD.

COVID-19 Illness Severity in the Elderly in Relation to Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian Diets: A Single-Center Experience.

The first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Taiwan occurred in May 2021. The risk for and severity of this disease vary and are highly dependent on personal habits and comorbidities. Moreover, the gut microbiome, which may be affected by diet, is highly susceptible with regard to the risk and severity of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.