Palbociclib Promotes Dephosphorylation of NPM/B23 at Threonine 199 and Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Cell Growth.

Endometrial cancer incidence rates are growing, especially in countries with rapid socioeconomic transitions. Despite recent advances in chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy, advanced/recurrent disease remains a clinical challenge. Palbociclib-a selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6-has therapeutic potential against estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer.

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of pregnancy in patients with repeated implantation failure.

Objective: Despite the great advance of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in recent decades, many IVF patients failed to achieve a pregnancy even after multiple IVF-ET attempts. These patients are considered to have repeated implantation failure (RIF). While exhausting efforts have been devoted to the improvement of pregnancy rate in RIF patients, it is not clear whether RIF patients have aberrant obstetric or perinatal outcomes after they eventually achieved a pregnancy.

A prospective, observational study on conversion of clinically isolated syndrome to multiple sclerosis during 4-year period (MS NEO study) in Taiwan.

Importance: CIS to MS conversion rates vary depending on population cohorts, initial manifestations, and durations of follow-up.

Objective: To investigate conversion rate of patients from CIS to MS and the prognostic significance of demographic and clinical variables in Taiwanese population.

Design: Nationwide, prospective, multi-centric, observational study from November 2008 to November 2014 with 4 years follow-up.

Effect of an Oral Health Programme on Oral Health, Oral Intake, and Nutrition in Patients with Stroke and Dysphagia in Taiwan: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

No previous studies have evaluated an oral health programme, before swallowing therapy, in patients with stroke and dysphagia in Taiwan. This randomised controlled trial evaluated the effect of an oral health programme (i.e.

Dementia-friendly community indicators from the perspectives of people living with dementia and dementia-family caregivers.

Aims: To identify dementia-friendly communities' indicators and their current conditions in Taiwan from the perspectives of people with dementia and dementia-family caregivers.

Design: This qualitative study explored the opinions and experiences of people with dementia and dementia-family caregivers regarding dementia-friendly communities.

Methods: Participants (16 people with dementia and 20 family caregivers) were recruited from neurological clinics, day care centres for people with dementia and support groups for family caregivers in the Taipei community from July - October, 2016.

Development and validation of a Taiwan version of the DN4-T questionnaire.

Background: Neuropathic pain (NeP) is often under-recognized, resulting in poor pain management. Therefore, a Taiwan version of the 10-item Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4-T) questionnaire was developed to identify patients with NeP from a mixed population of patients with pain.

Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter study was conducted in the Neurology Departments of four Taiwanese medical centers, to develop and validate the DN4-T questionnaire as a diagnostic tool for identifying patients with NeP.

Development of chimeric and bifunctional antagonists for CLR/RAMP receptors.

CGRP, adrenomedullin (ADM), and adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2) family peptides are important neuropeptides and hormones for the regulation of neurotransmission, vasotone, cardiovascular morphogenesis, vascular integrity, and feto‒placental development. These peptides signal through CLR/RAMP1, 2 and 3 receptor complexes. CLR/RAMP1, or CGRP receptor, antagonists have been developed for the treatment of migraine headache and osteoarthritis pain; whereas CLR/RAMP2, or ADM receptor, antagonists are being developed for the treatment of tumor growth/metastasis.

A Study of D-Amino Acid Oxidase in Blood as an Indicator of Post-stroke Dementia.

Stroke is an important risk factor for dementia. Epidemiological studies have indicated a high incidence of dementia in stroke patients. There is currently no effective biomarker for the diagnosis of post-stroke dementia (PSD).

A comparison between spinal cord infarction and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Clinical and MRI studies.

This study aims to investigate the clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with spinal cord infarction (SCI) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs). Over a period of 16 years, we retrospectively analyzed 39 patients with SCI and 21 patients with NMOSD. The demographic features and clinical presentations of both diseases were carefully documented.

Safety and Effectiveness of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Anemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Major randomized trials assessing non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants ( NOAC s) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation generally excluded patients with hemoglobin <10 g/dL. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of NOAC s in patients with atrial fibrillation and anemia. Methods and Results A cohort study based on electronic medical records was conducted from 2010 to 2017 at a multicenter healthcare provider in Taiwan.

The serum level of irisin, but not asprosin, is abnormal in polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligo- or anovulation, and/or polycystic ovary. It frequently presents with dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Recent studies have shown that the white adipose tissue-derived asprosin is elevated in humans with insulin resistance.

A Scoping Review of Medical Education Research in Neurosurgery.

Background: Little is known about the state of medical education (ME) research in neurosurgery. As ME started to develop in neurosurgery in recent years, it is important to understand the current status and develop the theory for advancement in neurosurgery. The aim of this study was to undertake a scoping review of neurosurgery literature on ME research.

Utilization of HEPES for Enhancing Protein Transfection into Mammalian Cells.

The delivery of active proteins into cells (protein transfection) for biological purposes offers considerable potential for clinical applications. Herein we demonstrate that, with a readily available, inexpensive organic agent, the 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) method can be used for simple and efficient protein transfection. By mixing proteins with a pure HEPES solution before they are applied to live cells, proteins with various molecular weights (including antibodies, recombinant proteins, and peptides) were successfully delivered into the cytoplasm of different cell types.

High risk of silent stroke in older bipolar patients with typical-onset age.

Aim: Older patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are at a high risk of stroke. Silent stroke could be neglected in BD patients after middle age, particularly in those with illness onset at the young age. Therefore, we investigated the morbidity and related factors for stroke in older BD patients with typical-onset age.

Electrical cortical stimulation for refractory focal epilepsy: A long-term follow-up study.

Objective: To report the long-term seizure control and safety of open-loop electrical cortical stimulation in patients with refractory focal epilepsy of diverse etiologies.

Methods: Six patients who received a therapeutic trial of cortical stimulation were included retrospectively. The frequency of seizures was recorded before and after implantation.

Identification of microbiota in peri-implantitis pockets by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The purpose of this study was to identify the microbial communities that colonize peri-implantitis pockets using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Subjects having at least one implant with peri-implantitis, no diabetes, and not taking antibiotics in the previous 3 months were selected. Peri-implantitis was defined when surrounding bone loss ≥0.

Novel synthetic chalcone-coumarin hybrid for Aβ aggregation reduction, antioxidation, and neuroprotection.

Background: Aggregation of misfolded amyloid β (Aβ) in senile plaques causes oxidative stress and neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compounds possessing antiaggregation and antioxidant properties are promising candidate compounds for AD treatment.

Methods: We examined the potential of synthetic derivatives of licochalcone A and coumarin for inhibiting Aβ aggregation, scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), and providing neuroprotection by using biochemical assays and Tet-On Aβ-GFP 293/SH-SY5Y cell models for AD.

Genetic Polymorphisms Associated with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Differences in the incidence of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) between ethnicities exist, with an estimated 42% of the variance explained by ethnicity itself. Caucasians have a higher proportion of lobar ICH (LICH, 15.4% of all ICH) than do Asians (3.

Efficacy of limited hippocampal radiofrequency thermocoagulation for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: Radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC), which has been developed for drug-resistant epilepsy patients, involves less brain tissue loss due to surgery, fewer surgical adverse effects, and generally good seizure control. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of RFTC performed at limited hippocampal locations.

Methods: Daily seizure diaries were prospectively maintained for at least 6 months by 9 patients (ages 30-59 years) with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) before treatment with RFTC.

Genitourinary tuberculosis in Taiwan: A 15-year experience at a teaching hospital.

Background: Genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) is rare but fatal if not diagnosed early. The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcomes of GUTB in Taiwan.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 57 patients who were diagnosed as GUTB from January 2002 to December 2016, over a 15-year period.

A Simple Imaging Device for Fluorescence-Relevant Applications.

This article unveiled the development of an inexpensive, lightweight, easy-to-use, and portable fluorescence imaging device for paper-based analytical applications. We used commercial fluorescent dyes, as proof of concept, to verify the feasibility of our fluorescence imaging device for bioanalysis. This approach may provide an alternative method for nucleotide detection and semen analysis, using a miniaturized fluorescence reader that is more compact and portable than conventional analytical equipment.

Association Between Flow Acceleration in the Carotid Artery and Intracranial Aneurysms.

Objectives: In physiologic pulsatile flow, velocity acceleration is an independent factor determining wall shear stress experienced by the vascular endothelium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Doppler indices of systolic velocity acceleration in extracranial cerebral vessels and the occurrence of intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: We reviewed medical records and 3.

Selection of β-Blocker in Patients With Cirrhosis and Acute Myocardial Infarction: A 13-Year Nationwide Population-Based Study in Asia.

Background It is not clear whether β-selective or nonselective β-blockers should be used in patients with cirrhosis and acute myocardial infarction. Methods and Results Medical records were retrieved from Taiwan NHIRD (National Health Insurance Research Database) during 2001-2013. Patients were excluded for age <20, previous acute myocardial infarction, contraindication to β-blockers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or atrioventricular conduction disease.

Efficacy and Safety of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation Patients With Impaired Liver Function: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Patients with impaired liver function ( ILF ) were excluded from clinical trials that investigated non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants ( NOAC s) for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NOAC s in atrial fibrillation patients with ILF . Methods and Results A cohort study based on electronic medical records was conducted from 2009 to 2016 at a multicenter healthcare provider in Taiwan and included 6451 anticoagulated atrial fibrillation patients (aged 76.

Androgen receptor transcriptional activity and chromatin modifications on the ABCB1/MDR gene are critical for taxol resistance in ovarian cancer cells.

We report here that the androgen receptor (AR) and ABCB1 are upregulated in a model of acquired taxol resistance (txr) in ovarian carcinoma cells. AR silencing sensitizes txr cells to taxol threefold, whereas ectopic AR expression in AR-null HEK293 cells induces resistance to taxol by 1.7-fold.