Elevated reactive aggression in forebrain-specific knockout mice.

Cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2) is a matricellular protein that plays important roles in connective tissue. CCN2 is also expressed in the nervous system; however, its role is still unclear. To explore CCN2 function in the brain, we generated forebrain-specific knockout (Fb KO) mice.

Risk of Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage After Stroke: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Stroke and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) are major causes of disability worldwide, with stroke exerting significant negative effects on the brain, potentially elevating tICH risk. In this study, we investigated tICH risk in stroke survivors.

Methods And Results: Using relevant data (2017-2019) from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study.

IDH2 mutation accelerates TPO-induced myelofibrosis with enhanced S100a8/a9 and NFκB signaling in vivo.

Introduction: mutation is an unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) but its effect on myelofibrosis (MF) remains largely unclear.

Methods: In this study, we aimed to elucidate the roles of mutation in the development and progression of MF by transcriptomic and molecular techniques using the transgenic mice.

Results: We found that thrombopoietin (TPO)-overexpressed ( + TPO) mice had accelerated progression to MF, compared with TPO-overexpressed wild (WT + TPO) mice, showing activation of multiple inflammatory pathways, among which nuclear factor κB (NFκB) was the most significantly enhanced.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue is Associated with Geometry Alteration and Diastolic Dysfunction in Prediabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Diastolic dysfunction and alterations in cardiac geometry are early indicators of diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the association between cardiac changes across the glucose continuum and the contribution of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) to these changes has not yet been investigated.

Purpose: In this study, we aim to investigated the EAT on cardiac diastolic function and structural alterations along the diabetic continuum using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI).

Changing or Retaining Direct Oral Anticoagulant After Ischemic Stroke Despite Direct Oral Anticoagulant Treatment.

Background: The optimal antithrombotic strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation who experience ischemic stroke (IS) despite direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy remain inconclusive. This study compared outcomes for patients with DOAC treatment failure who changed or retained their prestroke DOAC.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Research Database from 2012 to 2020.

Right Ventricular-Vascular Uncoupling Predicts Pulmonary Hypertension in Clinically Diagnosed Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is highly prevalent in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and it is a strong predictor of adverse outcomes. We aimed to determine possible echocardiographic parameters to predict the presence of PH in patients with HFpEF.

Methods And Results: A total of 113 patients with HFpEF were prospectively enrolled from November 2017 to July 2022.

Updated trends in the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from 2017-2021: Prior to and during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Objective: This study aims to describe out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) characteristics and trends before and during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Taiwan.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a 5-year interrupted time series analysis. Eligible adults with non-traumatic OHCAs from January 2017 to December 2021 in 3 hospitals (university medical center, urban second-tier hospital, and rural second-tier hospital) were retrospectively enrolled.

Differentiating the Prognostic Determinants of Myocardial Steatosis for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background Myocardial steatosis and fibrosis may play a role in the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We therefore investigated the prognostic significance of epicardial fat (epicardial adipose tissue [EAT]) and myocardial diffuse fibrosis. Methods and Results Myocardial fibrosis, estimated as extracellular volume (ECV), and EAT were measured using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in 163 subjects with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Assessment of circulating extracellular vesicles from calorie-restricted mice and humans in ischaemic injury models.

Calorie restriction (CR) and fasting affect lifespan, disease susceptibility and response to acute injury across multiple animal models, including ischaemic injuries such as myocardial infarction or kidney hypoxia. The cargo and function of circulating extracellular vesicles (EV) respond to changes in host physiology, including exercise, injury, and other interventions. Thus, we hypothesised that EVs induced following CR may reflect some of the beneficial properties of CR itself.

Peptide-functionalized double network hydrogel with compressible shape memory effect for intervertebral disc regeneration.

As a prominent approach to treat intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, disc transplantation still falls short to fully reconstruct and restore the function of native IVD. Here, we introduce an IVD scaffold consists of a cellulose-alginate double network hydrogel-based annulus fibrosus (AF) and a cellulose hydrogel-based nucleus pulposus (NP). This scaffold mimics native IVD structure and controls the delivery of Growth Differentiation Factor-5 (GDF-5), which induces differentiation of endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Perioperative optimization of Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease mainly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. With the increased availability of modalities in the last two decades, the treatment of CD has advanced remarkably. Although medical treatment is the mainstay of therapy, most patients require surgery during the course of their illness, especially those who experience complications.

Higher expression levels are associated with worse overall and leukaemia-free survival in myelodysplastic syndrome patients.

mutations are frequently detected in various myeloid neoplasms and implicate unfavourable clinical outcomes in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). On the other hand, high expression of is also correlated with poor prognosis in AML patients. However, the clinical relevancy of expression in MDS patients remains elusive.

Inhaled Carbon Dioxide Improves Neurological Outcomes by Downregulating Hippocampal Autophagy and Apoptosis in an Asphyxia-Induced Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation Rat Model.

Background Protracted cerebral hypoperfusion following cardiac arrest (CA) may cause poor neurological recovery. We hypothesized that inhaled carbon dioxide (CO) could augment cerebral blood flow (CBF) and improve post-CA neurological outcomes. Methods and Results After 6-minute asphyxia-induced CA and resuscitation, Wistar rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups (n=25/group) and administered with different inhaled CO concentrations, including control (0% CO), 4% CO, 8% CO, and 12% CO.

Heart Failure and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease from 15 Countries.

Background Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of mortality and associated with significant morbidity in adults with congenital heart disease. We sought to assess the association between HF and patient-report outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease. Methods and Results As part of the APPROACH-IS (Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease-International Study), we collected data on HF status and patient-reported outcomes in 3959 patients from 15 countries across 5 continents.

Leukoencephalopathy with Brainstem and Spinal Cord Involvement and Lactate Elevation: A Novel Mutation and Intra-Familial Heterogeneity.

Background: Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL) is characterized by slowly progressive spastic gait, cerebellar symptoms, and posterior cord dysfunction. , which encodes mitochondrial aspartyl tRNA synthase, is associated with the rare disease.

Cases: The proband had gait disturbance since age 56, while her younger brother had the gait problem since his 20s and needed cane-assistance at age 45.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antiarrhythmic Effects of Beta Blocker in a Rat Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at twice the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death as the general population. We hypothesize that β-blocker treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is antiarrhythmic by producing synergistic anticatecholaminergic and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods and Results Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with type II collagen in Freund's incomplete adjuvant.

Secular Trends and Geographic Maps of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among 4 Million Blood Donors in Taiwan from 1999 to 2017.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan was approximately 4% a decade ago, much higher than the worldwide average. This study aimed to assess the HCV burden among 4 million voluntary blood donors after 2 decades of prevention and treatment policies. We retrieved screening results for anti-HCV and HCV RNA from the Database for Evaluating Voluntary Taiwanese Eligible Donors.

Cerebral Blood Flow-Guided Manipulation of Arterial Blood Pressure Attenuates Hippocampal Apoptosis After Asphyxia-Induced Cardiac Arrest in Rats.

Background In most post-cardiac arrest patients, the autoregulation mechanism of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is dysregulated. We examined whether recovery of CBF by adjusting mean arterial pressure mitigates post-cardiac arrest neuronal damage. Methods and Results Wistar rats that underwent 8-minute asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and resuscitation were computer-randomized to norepinephrine or control groups.

Synergistic Effects of Moderate Therapeutic Hypothermia and Levosimendan on Cardiac Function and Survival After Asphyxia-Induced Cardiac Arrest in Rats.

Background This study investigated whether levosimendan, an inotropic calcium sensitizer, when combined with moderate therapeutic hypothermia, may exert synergistic benefits on post-cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction and improve outcomes. Methods and Results After 9.5-minute asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and resuscitation, 48 rats were randomized equally into 4 groups following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), including normothermia, hypothermia, normothermia-levosimendan, and hypothermia-levosimendan groups.