Impact of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment on Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration with and without Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachment: A Real-World Study.

Background/objectives: This study evaluates the impact of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment on neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with and without pigment epithelial detachment (PED) over a one-year period.

Methods: Conducted at a tertiary referral center in Taiwan, this retrospective analysis included 88 eyes treated with intravitreal aflibercept injections. Patients were categorized into four groups based on the presence or absence of PED at baseline and 12 months post-treatment.

Myopic traction maculopathy in fovea-involved myopic chorioretinal atrophy.

Objectives: To assess the specific features of myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) in the context of myopic macular atrophy (MA). The evolution, surgical considerations, optimal surgical procedures, and results were studied.

Methods: Retrospective, consecutive cases collection was performed for highly myopic eyes with MA (category 4, the classification system of META-analysis for Pathologic Myopia).

Neuropsychological features of somatic symptom disorder and depression/anxiety in Taiwan: An analysis based on the comorbidity status.

Individuals with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) often have comorbid depression or anxiety, but whether SSD is associated with specific neuropsychological functions has yet to be fully examined. We analyzed which neuropsychological features are more closely associated with SSD, anxiety, and depression. In this case-control study, we recruited 140 individuals with SSD, 104 individuals with affective disorders without SSD, and 159 healthy controls in Taiwan.

Using the Discharge Decision-Making System to Improve the Pressure on Family Members of Ventilator-Dependent Patients.

The relevant regulations for preparing ventilator-dependent patients for discharge to institutions or home care are cumbersome and there are numerous health and education materials, which make family members confused and make the decision to discharge very difficult. The purpose of this study is to explore the use of ventilator-dependent family members in critical care units. Discussion on the pressure before and after "Discharge Decision Assistance System web APP".

Using cryoprobes of different sizes combined with cone-beam computed tomography-derived augmented fluoroscopy and endobronchial ultrasound to diagnose peripheral pulmonary lesions: a propensity-matched study.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and cone-beam computed tomography-derived augmented fluoroscopy (CBCT-AF) are utilized for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). Combining them with transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBC) can provide sufficient tissue for genetic analysis. However, cryoprobes of different sizes have varying degrees of flexibility, which can affect their ability to access the target bronchus and potentially impact the accuracy.

Prognostic Value of Immune Cells Subsets Within the Tumor Microenvironment in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

Background/aim: One-third of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases are rectal cancers. Multimodal treatment regimens including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy improve local control and survival outcome and decrease tumor relapse for patients with rectal adenocarcinoma (READ). However, stratification of patients to predict their responses is urgently needed to improve therapeutic responses.

Clinical outcomes, medical costs, and medication usage patterns of different somatic symptom disorders and functional somatic syndromes: a population-based study in Taiwan.

Background: Somatic symptom disorders (SSD) and functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are often regarded as similar diagnostic constructs; however, whether they exhibit similar clinical outcomes, medical costs, and medication usage patterns has not been examined in nationwide data. Therefore, this study focused on analyzing SSD and four types of FSS (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia).

Methods: This population-based matched cohort study utilized Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) claims database to investigate the impact of SSD/FSS.

Epilepsy and Coenzyme Q10 deficiency with COQ4 variants.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is one of the essential substances for mitochondrial energy synthesis and extra-mitochondrial vital function. Primary CoQ10 deficiency is a rare disease resulting from interruption of CoQ10 biosynthetic pathway and biallelic COQ4 variants are one of the genetic etiologies recognized in this hereditary disorder. The clinical heterogenicity is broad with wide onset age from prenatal period to adulthood.

Literature- and Experience-Based Consensus for Acute Post-operative Endophthalmitis and Endogenous Endophthalmitis in Taiwan.

Clinical practices on acute post-operative and endogenous endophthalmitis (EnE) are highly variable among clinicians due to a lack of up-to-date, high-quality evidential support. An expert consensus is thus much needed. A panel consisting of ten retinal specialists in Taiwan was organized.

The microstructural change of the brain and its clinical severity association in pediatric Tourette syndrome patients.

Background: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a prevalent pediatric neurological disorder. Most studies point to abnormalities in the cortico-striato-thalamocortical (CSTC) circuits. Neuroimaging studies have shown GTS's extensive impact on the entire brain.

Clarifying the link between psychopathologies and heart rate variability, and the sex differences: Can neuropsychological features serve as mediators?

Background: Patients with common mental disorders (depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms) often exhibit lower heart rate variability (HRV) than healthy individuals. Under the hypothesis that disorder status affects cognitive function, we examined whether neuropsychological features can be mediators between psychopathologies and HRV and possible sex differences.

Methods: We recruited 359 individuals (aged 42.

Lifetime risk, life expectancy, loss-of-life expectancy and lifetime healthcare expenditure for Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis in Taiwan: follow-up of a nationwide cohort from 2008 to 2019.

Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) not only cause acute, devastating mucocutaneous reactions but also have long-lasting implications on survivors' lives.

Objectives: To quantify the lifetime burden of SJS/TEN.

Methods: The cumulative incidence rate (CIR), life expectancy (LE), loss-of-life expectancy (LoLE) and lifetime healthcare expenditure (HE) for SJS/TEN were estimated over the period from 2008 to 2019 using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan and life tables of vital statistics.

Lifetime risk, life expectancy, loss-of-life expectancy, and lifetime healthcare expenditures for psoriasis in Taiwan: a nationwide cohort followed from 2000 to 2017.

Background: Patients with psoriasis have a significant disease burden throughout the life course. Nevertheless, the lifetime risk and disease burden of psoriasis across the entire lifespan is rarely quantified in an easily understandable way.

Objective: To estimate the cumulative incidence rate, life expectancy, loss-of-life expectancy, and lifetime healthcare expenditures for incident psoriasis.

Colonic Diverticulitis Location Affects the Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Multicenter, 10-Year Study.

Objective: Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) has high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing uncomplicated colonic diverticulitis in Western patients. Evidence regarding the accuracy of PoCUS in Asian patients in which diverticulitis frequently occurs in the right-side colon is lacking. This multicenter, 10-y study was aimed at evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of PoCUS in various locations of uncomplicated diverticulitis among Asians.

Assessing overdiagnosis of fecal immunological test screening for colorectal cancer with a digital twin approach.

Evaluating the magnitude of overdiagnosis associated with stool-based service screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) beyond a randomized controlled trial is often intractable and understudied. We aim to estimate the proportion of overdiagnosis in population-based service screening programs for CRC with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). The natural process of overdiagnosis-embedded disease was first built up to learn transition parameters that quantify the pathway of non-progressive and progressive screen-detected cases calibrated with sensitivity, while also taking competing mortality into account.

The Effects of Yoga Exercise on Blood Pressure and Hand Grip Strength in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Pilot Controlled Study.

Background: We investigated the beneficial effect of add-on yoga with rehabilitation on blood pressure (BP) and hand grip strength in patients with chronic stroke (more than 90 days).

Methods: The study included patients 30-80 years of age who could stand independently for 1 min. Patients with psychiatric diseases or undergoing other therapies (like acupuncture) were excluded.

Use of machine learning to diagnose somatic symptom disorder: Are the biomarkers beneficial for the diagnosis?

Objectives: We used machine learning to incorporate three types of biomarkers (respiratory sinus arrhythmia, RSA; skin conductance, SC; finger temperature, FT) for examining the performance of diagnosing somatic symptom disorder (SSD).

Methods: We recruited 97 SSD subjects and 96 controls without psychiatric history or somatic distress. The values of RSA, SC and FT were recorded in three situations (resting state, under a cognitive task and under paced breathing) and compared for the two populations.

The outcomes of right-sided and left-sided colonic diverticulitis following non-operative management: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is no sufficient overview of outcomes in right-sided and left-sided colonic diverticulitis (CD) following non-operative management. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the recurrence/treatment failure in right-sided and left-sided CD.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.

Blood Reflux-Induced Epigenetic Factors HDACs and DNMTs Are Associated with the Development of Human Chronic Venous Disease.

Blood reflux and metabolic regulation play important roles in chronic venous disease (CVD) development. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) serve as repressors that inhibit metabolic signaling, which is induced by proatherogenic flow to promote aortic endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between blood reflux and epigenetic factors HDACs and DNMTs in CVD.