A Complex Environmental Water-Level Detection Method Based on Improved YOLOv5m.

The existing methods for water-level recognition often suffer from inaccurate readings in complex environments, which limits their practicality and reliability. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that combines an improved version of the YOLOv5m model with contextual knowledge for water-level identification. We employ the adaptive threshold Canny operator and Hough transform for skew detection and correction of water-level images.

Multidisciplinary-derived clinical score for accurate prediction of long-term mortality in fibrotic lung disease patients.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) stands out as one of the most aggressive forms of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), currently without a definitive cure. Multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) is now considered a cornerstone in diagnosing and differentiating ILD subtypes. The Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) score, developed to assess IPF prognosis based on sex, age, forced vital capacity, and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), is limited in not considering dyspnea and functional impairment during the walking test.

Association of atypical anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody with comorbidities and outcome in a hospital-based population.

Introduction: Atypical anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (a-ANCA) is characterized by a positive fluorescence staining other than typical cytoplasmic or perinuclear ANCA. ANCA is associated with increased risk of dialysis and mortality in patients with ANCA vasculitis. However, comorbidities related to a-ANCA and whether a-ANCA exhibits an increased risk for renal failure and mortality remain unclear.

Antirheumatic drugs and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Objectives: To assess the association between antirheumatic drugs and of the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a nationwide rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohort.

Methods: Using claim data from the 2000-2020 National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 21 457 incident patients with RA from 2002 to 2020 without prior liver diseases. A time-varying multivariable Cox regression model was applied to estimate for the association of NAFLD with the use of antirheumatic drugs after adjusting potential confounders, show as adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence interval (CIs).

Risk Factors for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Expert Consensus.

Objective: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review of studies focusing on adult patients classified as having SLE-related PAH by searching the electronic databases Embase, Medline, Medline in-progress, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Ichushi Web, Kmbase, and KoreaMed. Based on the findings, we conducted a Delphi survey to build expert consensus on issues related to screening for PAH in patients with SLE and on the importance and feasibility of measuring the identified factors in clinical practice.

The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with systemic sclerosis: a nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the incidence and risk factors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: We conducted a nationwide, population-based, cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. We performed propensity score matching (PSM) using a 1:2 ratio, resulting in inclusion of 1379 patients with SSc and 2758 non-SSc individuals in the analysis.

Potential alleviation of bone mineral density loss with Janus kinase inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by localized bone loss, general osteoporosis and increased fracture risks. Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), non-tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (non-TNFi) biologic, Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) had shown the suppression effects to osteoclast activation and improvement of bone mineral density (BMD). Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) is associated with osteoclast activation and the resultant bone loss.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of a line immunoblot assay in Taiwanese patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background And Aims: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance and prognostic value of disease-specific antibodies and anti-Ro52 using a commercial line immunoblot assay (LIA) in Taiwanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively enrolledall individuals at the Taichung Veterans General Hospital. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of LIA, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and also the association between the autoantibodies and the clinical phenotype using multivariable logistic regression.

Association of Hydroxychloroquine Use with a Dose-Dependent Decrease in Mortality Risk in Patients with Elderly-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Introduction: Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) is associated with an increased mortality risk; however, the effect of conventional synthetic, biologics or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs, bDMARDs or tsDMARDs) on the EORA-specific mortality risk is unknown. In this study, we investigated the risk factors for all-cause mortality of patients with EORA.

Methods: Data of EORA patients diagnosed with RA at age > 60 years between January 2007 and June 2021 were extracted from the electronic health record of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.

Association between air pollutants and initiation of biological therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a nationwide, population-based, nested case-control study.

Background: Outdoor air pollution has been found to trigger systemic inflammatory responses and aggravate the activity of certain rheumatic diseases. However, few studies have explored the influence of air pollution on the activity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). As patients with active AS in Taiwan can be reimbursed through the National Health Insurance programme for biological therapy, we investigated the association between air pollutants and the initiation of reimbursed biologics for active AS.

Renal Histopathology Associated With Kidney Failure and Mortality in Patients With Lupus Nephritis: A Long-Term Real-World Data Study.

Objective: Lupus nephritis (LN), a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus, is associated with a higher risk of kidney failure and death. The renal pathology of LN helps elucidate the severity of inflammation and the extent of irreversible damage. We aimed to identify histologic variables that correlate with risks of kidney failure and mortality.

The rs223114 polymorphism and the risk of nephrolithiasis: A case-control study from the Taiwan biobank.

Background: Hyperuricemia and gout are risk factors of nephrolithiasis. However, it is unclear whether the gene contributes to the development of nephrolithiasis. We aimed to investigate the interaction between the rs2231142 variant and incident nephrolithiasis in the Taiwanese population.

The electronic medical record management systems may improve monitoring and control of disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

To investigate the impact of an electronic medical record management system (EMRMS) on disease activity and the frequency of outpatient visits among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We identified 652 patients with AS who were followed up for at least 1 year before and after the first Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) assessment and compared the number of outpatient visits and average visit time within 1 year before and after the initial ASDAS assessment. Finally, we analyzed 201 patients with AS who had complete data and received ≥ 3 continuous ASDAS assessments at an interval of 3 months, and we compared the results of the second and third ASDAS assessments with those of the first.

A Single Strain of (CGMCC 21661) Exhibits Stable Glucose- and Lipid-Lowering Effects by Regulating Gut Microbiota.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is usually accompanied by obesity and nonalcoholic fatty-liver-related insulin resistance. The link between T2D and dysbiosis has been receiving increasing attention. Probiotics can improve insulin sensitivity by regulating imbalances in microbiota, but efficacy varies based on the probiotic used.

Serious Infection Rates Among Patients with Select Autoimmune Conditions: A Claims-Based Retrospective Cohort Study from Taiwan and the USA.

Introduction: Serious infections are an important concern for patients with autoimmune conditions. We sought to estimate serious infection rates among patients with select autoimmune conditions relative to the general population in Taiwan and the USA.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study estimated setting-specific standardized serious infection incidence rates and ratios among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, including extra-renal lupus and lupus nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis and primary membranous nephropathy, compared with the general population using insurance claims for hospitalizations between 2000 and 2013.

Comparison of -specific antibody cut-offs for the diagnosis of aspergillosis.

Background: diseases are frequently encountered in patients who are immunocompromised. Without a prompt diagnosis, the clinical consequences may be lethal. -specific antibodies have been widely used to facilitate the diagnosis of diseases.

Single-cell RNA sequencing to decipher the immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 and mRNA-1273 vaccines in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Objectives: To investigate the differences between the vector vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) and mRNA-based vaccine mRNA-1273 (Moderna) in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD), and to explore the cell-cell interactions between high and low anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels in patients with rheumatic arthritis (RA) using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).

Methods: From September 16 to December 10, 2021, we consecutively enrolled 445 participants (389 patients with AIRD and 56 healthy controls), of whom 236 were immunized with AZD1222 and 209 with mRNA-1273. The serum IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain was quantified by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay at 4-6 weeks after vaccination.

The BASDAI Cut-Off for Disease Activity Corresponding to the ASDAS Scores in a Taiwanese Cohort of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Objectives: The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) has been widely utilized to evaluate disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by an arbitrary cut-off of ≥4 to indicate high disease activity and initiate biological therapy. The Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) is a new composite index to assess AS disease activity states that have been defined and validated. ASDAS ≥2.

Factors Associated with the Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Nationwide, Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Background: Potential risk factors for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) requiring medical therapy should be investigated. Methods: We identified newly diagnosed AS patients without previous MACE from 2004 to 2012 using the National Health Insurance Research Database, matched MACE cases with non-MACE controls at a 1:4 ratio for age, gender, AS duration, and index date, and included 947 AS patients with MACE and 3896 matched controls for final analyses. By using conditional logistic regression analyses, we examined the associations of MACE with low income, urbanisation, comorbidities, common extra-articular manifestations (EAM), and medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) of three categories (traditional NSAIDs, selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (COX-2i), and preferential COX-2is) with their annual cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) within a year before MACE development.