Predictive modelling of hospital-acquired infection in acute ischemic stroke using machine learning.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are serious complication for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), often resulting in poor functional outcomes. However, no existing model can specifically predict HAI in AIS patients. Therefore, we employed the Gradient Boosting matching learning algorithm to establish predictive models for HAI occurrence in AIS patients and poor 30-day functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale > 2) in AIS patients with HAI by analyzing electronic health records from 6560 AIS patients.

Baseline urinary ALA and PBG as criteria for starting pharmacologic prophylactic treatment in acute intermittent porphyria treated with givosiran.

Introduction: For patients with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), a true attack could be difficult to distinguish from chronic abdominal pain. This study focused on treatment responses from two patients with confirmed elevated biochemical data (delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), porphobilinogen (PBG)) and clinical evidence for acute attacks before starting givosiran.

Methods: Data from patients who participated in the phase III givosiran trial in Taiwan between May 2018 and May 2021 were reviewed.

Long-Range Temporal Correlations in Electroencephalography for Parkinson's Disease Progression.

Background: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) present progressive deterioration in both motor and non-motor manifestations. However, the absence of clinical biomarkers for disease progression hinders clinicians from tailoring treatment strategies effectively.

Objectives: To identify electroencephalography (EEG) biomarker that can track disease progression in PD.

Bleeding Associated With Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Using Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Nationwide Population Cohort Study.

Background: This study investigated drug-drug interactions in patients with atrial fibrillation taking both a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) and an antiarrhythmic drug.

Methods And Results: Using data from the National Health Insurance database (2012-2018), we identified 78 805 patients with atrial fibrillation on DOACs, with 24 142 taking amiodarone, 8631 taking propafenone, 2784 taking dronedarone, 297 taking flecainide, 177 taking sotalol, and 42 772 on DOACs alone. Patients with bradycardia, heart block, heart failure, mitral stenosis, prosthetic valves, or incomplete data were excluded.

Upfront Surgery Versus Upfront Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy as Primary Modality in Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: The management of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) continues to be one of the most formidable challenges in the realm of head and neck oncology.

Objectives: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the disparity in survival outcomes between upfront surgery and upfront concurrent chemoradiotherapy as the primary treatment modality in patients with HPSCC.

Design: Systemic review with meta-analysis.

Improving the Purity of Extracellular Vesicles by Removal of Lipoproteins from Size Exclusion Chromatography- and Ultracentrifugation-Processed Samples Using Glycosaminoglycan-Functionalized Magnetic Beads.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are present in blood at much lower concentrations (5-6 orders of magnitude) compared to lipoprotein particles (LP). Because LP and EV overlap in size and density, isolating high-purity EVs is a significant challenge. While the current two-step sequential EV isolation process using size-expression chromatography (SEC) followed by a density gradient (DG) achieves high purity, the time-consuming ultracentrifugation (UC) step in DG hinders workflow efficiency.

Dysregulation of choline metabolism and therapeutic potential of citicoline in Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is associated with dysregulated choline metabolism, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the expression of key enzymes in this pathway in R6/2 HD mice and human HD postmortem brain tissues. We further explored the therapeutic potential of modulating choline metabolism for HD.

Atrial Fibrillation in Adult Congenital Heart Increase Ischemic Stroke Risk Even at Low CHADS-VASc Score.

Background: The population of adults with congenital heart diseases (ACHDs) is expanding, and atrial fibrillation (AF) emerges as a crucial risk factor for ischemic stroke. However, the evidence regarding the impact of AF on the incidence of ischemic stroke in ACHDs remains limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and effect of AF among ACHDs and assess the suitability of the traditional CHA₂DS₂-VASc score in this specific population.

Postoperative radiotherapy versus surgery alone in pN1 oral cavity cancer patients: A meta-analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the potential benefits of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with pN1 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: A literature search through major databases was conducted until January 2023. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) or risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of different survival outcomes were extracted and pooled.

The prognostic value of lymph node to primary tumor standardized uptake value ratio in cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The lymph node to primary tumor standardized uptake value ratio (NTR) is an innovative parameter derived from positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans that captures the intricate relationship between primary tumors and associated lymph nodes. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prognostic value of NTR in cancer patients.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases was conducted to identify studies investigating the association between NTR and survival outcomes in cancer patients.

LIF-STAT signaling in decidual cells: a possible role in embryo implantation and early pregnancy.

In this study, we investigate the effects of miRNA-138-5p and probable G-protein coupled receptor 124 (GPR124)-regulated inflammasome and downstream leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-STAT and adhesion molecule signaling in human decidual stromal cells. After informed consent was obtained from women aged 25-38 years undergoing surgical termination of the normal pregnancy and spontaneous miscarriage after 6-9 weeks of gestation, human decidual stromal cells were extracted from the decidual tissue. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) with microRNA (miRNA) between cells have been regarded as critical factors for embryo-maternal interactions on embryo implantation and programming of human pregnancy.

Mothering and mother-child interactions in the unaffected siblings of autistic children.

Aim: To investigate parenting and mother-child interactions in unaffected siblings of autistic children.

Method: This cross-sectional study enrolled 274 probands with a DSM-5 diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (87.4% male; mean [SD] age = 11 years 4 months [3 years 2 months]), their unaffected siblings (n = 274, 46.

Vitamin D level is inversely related to allergen sensitization for risking atopic dermatitis in early childhood.

Background: There are few studies concerning the impact of serum vitamin D status on the risk of allergen sensitization and atopic dermatitis (AD) during early childhood.

Method: Children with AD and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were prospectively enrolled at age 0.5, 2, and 4 years.

Association Between Leg Muscle Thickness and Walking Test With the Hemophilia-Specific Functional Parameters.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the muscle thickness and walking test in people with hemophilia A and their correlation to joint health and functional impairments.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study.

Results: Twenty-nine severe/moderate people with hemophilia A were enrolled.

Limited Sustained Remission After Nucleos(t)ide Analog Withdrawal: Results From a Large, Global, Multiethnic Cohort of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B (RETRACT-B Study).

Introduction: Complete viral suppression with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) has led to a profound reduction in hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality among patients with chronic hepatitis B. Finite therapy yields higher rates of functional cure; however, initial hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations are almost certain after treatment interruption. We aimed to analyze off-treatment outcomes beyond 12 months after NA cessation.

Kisspeptin Regulates Cell Invasion and Migration in Endometrial Cancer.

Kisspeptin (a product of the KISS1 gene and its receptor) plays an important role in obstetrics, gynecology, and cancer cell metastasis and behavior. In hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and placentation, Kisspeptin/Kisspeptin receptor affects hormone release and represses trophoblast invasion into maternal deciduae. Endometrial cancer is one of the common gynecological cancers and is usually accompanied by metastasis, the risk factor that causes death.

Integration of the cancer cell secretome and transcriptome reveals potential noninvasive diagnostic markers for bladder cancer.

Purpose: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a major cancer of the genitourinary system. Although cystoscopy is the standard protocol for diagnosing BLCA clinically, this procedure is invasive and expensive. Several urine-based markers for BLCA have been identified and investigated, but none has shown sufficient sensitivity and specificity.

Classifying Alzheimer's disease and normal subjects using machine learning techniques and genetic-environmental features.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is complicated by multiple environmental and polygenetic factors. The accuracy of artificial neural networks (ANNs) incorporating the common factors for identifying AD has not been evaluated.

Methods: A total of 184 probable AD patients and 3773 healthy individuals aged 65 and over were enrolled.

A randomized, placebo-controlled study of givosiran in patients with acute hepatic porphyrias (ENVISION): Final (36-month) analysis of the Taiwan Cohort.

Background/purpose: Acute hepatic porphyrias (AHP) are rare genetic disorders associated with acute neurovisceral attacks and chronic symptoms. This analysis was conducted to examine the long-term efficacy and safety of givosiran in Taiwanese participants in the ENVISION study (NCT03338816).

Methods: Patients (age ≥12 years) with AHP and recurrent attacks were randomized to receive givosiran 2.

A Radiotherapy Dose Map-Guided Deep Learning Method for Predicting Pathological Complete Response in Esophageal Cancer Patients after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery.

Esophageal cancer is a deadly disease, and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy can improve patient survival, particularly for patients achieving a pathological complete response (ypCR). However, existing imaging methods struggle to accurately predict ypCR. This study explores computer-aided detection methods, considering both imaging data and radiotherapy dose variations to enhance prediction accuracy.

Optimizing treatment persistence in epilepsy: a comparative analysis of combined antiseizure medications with different mechanisms of action.

Background: Combination therapy with antiseizure medications (ASMs) is a rational strategy if monotherapy cannot effectively control seizures, thereby aiming to improve tolerance and treatment persistence.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of different ASM combinations among patients.

Design: Patients with epilepsy on monotherapy who had a second ASM added as concomitant two-drug therapy from January 2009 to May 2019 in the Chang Gung Research Database, Taiwan, were included in the analysis.