A new birth weight chart and optimal birth weight percentiles for predicting infant mortality.

Prescriptive BW charts can facilitate discrimination between normal and abnormal birthweight. This study aimed to develop a prescriptive BW chart specific to Asian populations and assess its utility in predicting infant mortality. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and National Birth Reporting Database.

Impact of baseline dietary quality on the efficacy of a dietitian-guided weight reduction program.

Aim: This pre-post intervention study aimed to assess the relationship between baseline dietary quality and the efficacy of a dietitian-guided weight reduction program, which has not been thoroughly documented to date.

Methods: Ninety-two consecutive obese or overweight patients visiting a tertiary center clinic for weight reduction were enrolled in this study. Participants received a dietitian-guided weight reduction education program aimed at reducing daily caloric intake by 500 kcal and improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet for 3 months.

Characteristics of Cancer in Subjects Carrying Lynch Syndrome-Associated Gene Variants in Taiwanese Population: A Hospital-Based Study in Taiwan.

Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by increased risks of colorectal and endometrial cancers. LS is defined by pathogenic variants in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, including MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6. Data on the prevalence and associated cancer risks of LS in the Han Chinese population remain limited.

Gefitinib (an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor) plus anlotinib (an multikinase inhibitor) for untreated, EGFR-mutated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (FL-ALTER): a multicenter phase III trial.

Dual inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways offers the prospect of improving the effectiveness of EFGR-targeted therapy. In this phase 3 study (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT04028778), 315 patients with treatment-naïve, EGFR-mutated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomized (1:1) to receive anlotinib or placebo plus gefitinib once daily on days 1-14 per a 3-week cycle.

Polygenic Risk Score Predicts Earlier-Onset Adult Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and First-Year Renal Diseases in a Taiwanese Cohort.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a predictive model using polygenic risk score (PRS) to forecast renal outcomes for adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Taiwanese population.

Methods: Patients with SLE (n=2782) and matched non-SLE controls (n=11 128) were genotyped using Genome-Wide TWB 2.0 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array.

Effectiveness of Huddles in Improving the Patient Safety Attitudes Among Clinical Team Members.

Background And Objectives: Huddles among members of interdisciplinary medical teams involve short stand-up sessions and allow team members to focus on existing or emerging patient safety issues, thereby facilitating team communication. Hospital managers are able to recognize the current situation of the organization through patient safety attitudes, strengthen team members' awareness of patient safety, and improve the quality of health care. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of huddles on improving team members' attitudes toward patient safety.

Association between HNF4A rs1800961 polymorphisms and gallstones in a Taiwanese population.

Background And Aim: A large genetic effect of a novel gallstone-associated genetic variant, the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4A) rs1800961 polymorphism, has been identified through recent genome-wide association studies. However, this effect has not been validated in Asian populations. We investigated the association between the rs1800961 variant and gallstones among a Taiwanese population.

Impacts of Huddle Intervention on the Patient Safety Culture of Medical Team Members in Medical Ward: One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design.

Objective: A huddle is a short, regular meetings to discuss existing or emerging patient safety issues. Hospital administrators can encourage healthcare staff to voluntarily examine the potential occurrence and severity of risks, thereby enhancing awareness of patient safety. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of huddle intervention on patient safety culture among medical team members and related factors.

Distal Mean Nocturnal Baseline Impedance Predicts Pathological Reflux of Isolated Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms.

Background/aims: Diagnosis of isolated laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms (ILPRS), ie, without concomitant typical reflux symptoms (CTRS), remains difficult. Mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) reflects impaired mucosal integrity. We determined whether esophageal MNBI could predict pathological esophagopharyngeal reflux (pH+) in patients with ILPRS.

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.

Molecular Biomarker Exploration of Rituximab plus CHOP Therapy in Real-World Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients.

Background: Presently, several classification methods are based on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), but its clinical application has not yet been testified in Asian populations.

Methods: Twenty-five DLBCL patients were subjected to second-generation gene sequencing (NGS), and retrospective analysis of clinical features of the patients was to explore genotyping and survival prognosis biomarkers.

Results: The prevalent mutant genes in DLBCL patients cover myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) (40%), TP53 (32%), B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) (28%), PIM1 (28%), and CREB-binding protein (CREBBP) (24%) in this study.

Validation of Pharyngeal Acid Reflux Episodes Using Hypopharyngeal Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance-pH.

Background/aims: Hypopharyngeal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (HMII-pH) technology incorporating 2 trans-upper esophageal sphincter impedance channels has been developed to detect pharyngeal reflux. We used the HMII-pH technique to validate the candidate pharyngeal acid reflux (PAR) episodes based on the dual-pH tracings and determined the interobserver reproducibility.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in tertiary centers in Taiwan.

Anti-depressive-like and cognitive impairment alleviation effects of Gastrodia elata Blume water extract is related to gut microbiome remodeling in ApoE mice exposed to unpredictable chronic mild stress.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) is a traditional Chinese dietary therapy used to treat neurological disorders. Gastrodia elata Blume water extract (WGE) has been shown to ameliorate inflammation and improve social frustration in mice in a chronic social defeat model. However, studies on the anti-depressive-like effects and cognitive impairment alleviation related to the impact of WGE on the gut microbiome of ApoE mice remain elusive.

Endoscopic features and clinical course of patients with asymptomatic cecal ulcers.

Background: Cecal ulcers are sometimes encountered in asymptomatic individuals. Their clinical outcomes and management recommendations remain uncertain.

Methods: Asymptomatic patients who underwent a colonoscopic exam for colon cancer screening were retrospectively reviewed from July 2009 to November 2016.

The interplay of autophagy and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and therapy of retinal degenerative diseases.

Oxidative stress is mainly caused by intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which is highly associated with normal physiological homeostasis and the pathogenesis of diseases, particularly ocular diseases. Autophagy is a self-clearance pathway that removes oxidized cellular components and regulates cellular ROS levels. ROS can modulate autophagy activity through transcriptional and posttranslational mechanisms.

Interaction of Alcohol Consumption and rs2231142 Variant Contributes to Hyperuricemia in a Taiwanese Population.

Background: rs2231142 is an important genetic factor that contributes to the development of gout and hyperuricemia (HUA). Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that lifestyle risk factors of HUA (e.g.

Association of rs2231142 Allele and BMI With Hyperuricemia in an East Asian Population.

Genetic variants and obesity are risk factors for hyperuricemia (HUA). Recent genome-wide association studies have identified rs2231142 as one of the most prominent genetic variants for HUA in an East Asian population. Nevertheless, no large-scale studies have demonstrated any interactive effects between this variant and obesity on serum urate level in Asians.

Long-Term Safety in HBsAg-Negative, HBcAb-Positive Patients with Rheumatic Diseases Receiving Maintained Steroid Therapy after Pulse Therapy.

Unlabelled: The risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc)-positive patients after glucocorticoid (GC) pulse therapy remains unclear.

Aims: Our study aimed to examine the safety of GC pulse therapy in HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive rheumatic patients.

Methods: Medical records of HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive patients receiving GC pulse therapy to treat rheumatic diseases were reviewed.

Electrospun Resveratrol-Loaded Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Cyclodextrin Nanofibers and Their Biomedical Applications.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol compound which has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its pharmaceutical applications are limited by its poor water solubility. In this study, we used electrospinning technology to synthesize nanofibers of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) loaded with resveratrol.

Sodium Iodate Disrupted the Mitochondrial-Lysosomal Axis in Cultured Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

Purpose: Low doses of sodium iodate (NaIO) impair visual function in experimental animals with selective damage to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and serve as a useful model to study diseases caused by RPE degeneration. Mitochondrial dysfunction and defective autophagy have been suggested to play important roles in normal aging as well as many neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we examined whether NaIO treatment disrupted the mitochondrial-lysosomal axis in cultured RPE.

The prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B flares in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving glucocorticoid pulse therapy.

Background The frequency and risks of hepatitis B reactivation in patients receiving glucocorticoid pulse therapy has not been reported. Objective The aim of our study was to investigate the possibility of glucocorticoid pulse therapy related hepatitis B flare. Setting A Taiwanese tertiary hospital.

Efficacy and safety of recombinant human lymphotoxin-α derivative with cisplatin and fluorouracil in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A randomized, multicenter, open-label, controlled, phase 2b trial.

Background: Recombinant human lymphotoxin-α derivative (rhLTα-Da) is a lymphotoxin-α derivative that is missing 27 N-terminal amino acid residues. Previous studies indicated a benefit from the addition of rhLTα-Da to cisplatin-based treatment in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The current study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhLTα-Da plus cisplatin and fluorouracil (PF) in patients with mESCC.

Zoledronic acid inhibits human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation by activating mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

We investigated the apoptosis-inducing effect of zoledronic acid in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell HNE-1 and explore the potential mechanism. Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell HNE-1 was exposed to various concentrations (0-40 μmol/L) of zoledronic acid. Cell proliferation was studied by an MTT assay.