Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Volume and Acuity in Low Incidence Area: Taiwan's Experience in Three Hospitals.

Background: The decrease in emergency department (ED) patient visits during the COVID-19 pandemic was reported by various studies. Our study aimed to investigate whether a similar trend can be observed in a country with a low incidence of COVID-19 as well as the impact caused by the pandemic on ED patients in different triage levels and categories.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study collected data from three regional hospitals between March 2019 and December 2020.

Efficacy and acceptability of noninvasive brain stimulation interventions for weight reduction in obesity: a pilot network meta-analysis.

Background/objectives: Obesity has recently been recognized as a neurocognitive disorder involving circuits associated with the reward system and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been proposed as a strategy for the management of obesity. However, the results have been inconclusive.

Efficacy and acceptability of different anti-fungal interventions in oropharyngeal or esophageal candidiasis in HIV co-infected adults: a pilot network meta-analysis.

: Oropharyngeal/esophageal candidiasis are the most common opportunistic infections observed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While the commonly recommended treatment is fluconazole, relapse of oropharyngeal or esophageal candidiasis has been gradually increasing in recent decades.: The current network meta-analysis (NMA) included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy and acceptability (i.

Therapeutic benefits of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for depressive symptoms after traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Depression is a common morbidity after traumatic brain injury. This network meta-analysis investigated the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions for depression after traumatic brain injury.

Methods: We extracted randomized controlled trials examining pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic interventions with placebo- or active-controlled designs from PubMed, the Cochrane Library and ScienceDirect, from inception to October 30, 2018.

P-cresyl sulfate causes mitochondrial hyperfusion in H9C2 cardiomyoblasts.

Increased circulating level of uraemic solute p-cresyl sulphate (PCS) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to increase myocardial burden relevant to mitochondrial abnormalities. This study aimed at investigating mitochondrial response to PCS in H9C2 cardiomyoblasts. H9C2 cardiomyoblasts were treated with four different concentrations of PCS (3.

MicroRNA-214 modulates the senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells in carotid artery stenosis.

Background: MicroRNAs control gene expression by post-transcriptional inhibition. Dysregulation of the expressions of miR-199a/214 cluster has been linked to cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed at identifying potential microRNAs related to vascular senescence.

Synergistic effect of combined melatonin and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADMSC)-derived exosomes on amelioration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis.

This study tested the hypothesis that melatonin (Mel) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes effectively suppress dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute inflammatory colitis (AIC) in rats. To determine whether Mel-exosome treatment could ameliorate the severity of AIC, we treated Sprague Dawley rats with DSS-induced AIC with Mel, exosomes, or combined Mel-exosome therapy and evaluated the effects on AIC. First, to induce an inflammatory response in vitro, we treated HT-29 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and evaluated the response to Mel and/or exosome treatment.

The therapeutic impact of entresto on protecting against cardiorenal syndrome-associated renal damage in rats on high protein diet.

Background: This study tested the hypothesis that Entresto could safely and effectively preserve heart and kidney function in rats with cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) induced by 5/6 nephrectomy and intra-peritoneal doxorubicin administration (accumulated dosage up to 7.5 mg/kg) together with daily high-protein-diet (H).

Methods And Results: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were equally categorized into Group 1 (sham-operated control + H), Group 2 (CRS + H) and Group 3 [CRS + H + Entresto (100 mg/kg/day orally) since Day 14 after CRS induction] and euthanized by Day 63 after CRS induction.

Extracorporeal shockwave against inflammation mediated by GPR120 receptor in cyclophosphamide-induced rat cystitis model.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT) can abolish inflammation and restore urothelial barrier integrity in acute interstitial cystitis by upregulating the fatty acid receptor GPR120.

Methods: A total of 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats were categorized into five groups: (1) sham-operated rats (SC); (2) rats treated with ESWT (SC + ESWT); (3) rats with bladder irritation using 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide through intraperitoneal injection; (4) cyclophosphamide rats treated with ESWT (cyclophosphamide+ESWT); (5) cyclophosphamide rats treated with GPR120 agonist (cyclophosphamide+GW9508).

Results: On Day 3, urine and bladder specimens were collected for biochemical, histopathological, immunological, and immunoblotting analysis.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave-Supported Adipose-Derived Fresh Stromal Vascular Fraction Preserved Left Ventricular (LV) Function and Inhibited LV Remodeling in Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rat.

This study tested the hypothesis that extracorporeal shock wave- (ECSW-) assisted adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) therapy could preserve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and inhibit LV remodeling in a rat after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Adult male SD rats were categorized into group 1 (sham control), group 2 (AMI induced by left coronary artery ligation), group 3 [AMI + ECSW (280 impulses at 0.1 mJ/mm, applied to the chest wall at 3 h, days 3 and 7 after AMI), group 4 [AMI + SVF (1.

Application of multiscale Poincaré short-time computation versus multiscale entropy in analyzing fingertip photoplethysmogram amplitudes to differentiate diabetic from non-diabetic subjects.

Background And Objectives: Multiscale Poincaré (MSP) plots have recently been introduced to facilitate the visualization of time series of physiological signals. This study aimed at investigating the feasibility of MSP application in distinguishing subjects with and without diabetes.

Methods: Using photoplethysmogram (PPG) waveform amplitudes acquired from unilateral fingertip of non-diabetic (n = 34) and diabetic (n = 30) subjects, MSP indices (MSPI) of the two groups were compared using 1000, 500, 250, 100 data points.

Instantaneous frequency from Hilbert-Huang transformation of digital volume pulse as indicator of diabetes and arterial stiffness in upper-middle-aged subjects.

To investigate the value of decomposed short-time digital volume pulse (DVP) signals in discerning systemic vascular anomaly in diabetic patients, demographic and anthropometric parameters, serum lipid profile, fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were obtained from 29 healthy adults (Group 1) and 29 age-matched type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (Group 2). Six-second DVP signals from right index finger acquired through photoplethysmography were decomposed using ensemble empirical mode decomposition. Using one intrinsic mode function (IMF5), stiffness index (SI) and instantaneous energy of maximal energy (f) were obtained.

Role of double knockdown of tPA and MMP-9 on regulating the left ventricular function and remodeling followed by transverse aortic constriction-induced hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in mice.

This study tested the hypothesis that extracellular matrix accumulation in tPA/MMP-9 [double-knockout (DKO)] may be protective against left ventricular (LV) remodeling and dysfunction following transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in mice. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice (n = 20) were equally categorized into sham-control (SC) and TAC. Similarly, DKO mice (n = 20) were equally divided into two groups (i.

Repeated Plastic Stentings of Common Hepatic Duct for Portal Vein Aneurysm Compression in a Patient Unsuitable for Surgery.

Portal vein aneurysms are rare vascular malformations with unclear etiologies and optimal treatment guidelines. Although Doppler ultrasonography is the most commonly used diagnostic tool, there is no gold standard imaging modality. Despite recommendations of surgical treatment for symptomatic aneurysms, there are limited options in the management of portal vein aneurysm-related complications in patients unfit for surgical intervention.

Combination of R-R Interval and Crest Time in Assessing Complexity Using Multiscale Cross-Approximate Entropy in Normal and Diabetic Subjects.

The present study aimed at testing the hypothesis that application of multiscale cross-approximate entropy (MCAE) analysis in the study of nonlinear coupling behavior of two synchronized time series of different natures [i.e., R-R interval (RRI) and crest time (CT, the time interval from foot to peakof a pulse wave)] could yield information on complexity related to diabetes-associated vascular changes.

Correlation between Therapeutic Efficacy of CD34 Cell Treatment and Directed Angiogenesis in Patients with End-Stage Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: This study was aimed at testing the association between the therapeutic efficacy of CD34 cell treatment in patients with end-stage diffuse coronary artery disease as reflected in angiographic grading and results of directed angiogenesis assay (DIVAA) on their isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cell- (PBMC-) derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

Methods: Angiographic grades (0: <5%; 1: 5-35%; 2: 35-75%; 3: >75%) which presented the improvement of vessel density pre- and post-CD34 treatment were given to 30 patients with end-stage diffuse coronary artery disease having received CD34 cell treatment. The patients were categorized into low-score group (angiographic grade 0 or 1, = 12) and high-score group (angiographic grade 2 or 3, = 18).

Daily melatonin protects the endothelial lineage and functional integrity against the aging process, oxidative stress, and toxic environment and restores blood flow in critical limb ischemia area in mice.

We tested the hypothesis that daily melatonin treatment protects endothelial lineage and functional integrity against the aging process, oxidative stress/endothelial denudation (ED), and toxic environment and restored blood flow in murine critical limb ischemia (CLI). In vitro study using HUVECs, in vivo models (ie, CLI through left femoral artery ligation and ED through carotid artery wire injury), and model of lipopolysaccharide-induced aortic injury in young (3 months old) and aged (8 months old) mice were used to elucidate effects of melatonin treatment on vascular endothelial integrity. In vitro study showed that menadione-induced oxidative stress (NOX-1/NOX-2), inflammation (TNF-α/NF-kB), apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3/PARP), and mitochondrial damage (cytosolic cytochrome c) in HUVECs were suppressed by melatonin but reversed by SIRT3-siRNA (all P < .

Therapeutic effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells against brain death-induced remote organ damage and post-heart transplant acute rejection.

We tested the hypothesis that allogenic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) alleviated brain death (BD)-induced remote organ damage and events of post heart-transplant acute rejection. To determine the impact of BD on remote organ damage, adult-male F344 rats (n=24) were categorized sham-control (SC), BD and BD (allogenic ADMSC/1.2 × 10 cells/derived from F344 by intravenous transfusion 3 h after BD procedure).

Combination therapy of exendin-4 and allogenic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell preserved renal function in a chronic kidney disease and sepsis syndrome setting in rats.

Combined therapy with exendin-4 (Ex4) and allogenic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) was tested against either therapy alone for protecting kidney function against chronic kidney disease (CKD) complicated by sepsis syndrome (SS) [i.e., by intraperitoneal injection of cecal-derived bacteria (1.

Effective protection against acute respiratory distress syndrome/sepsis injury by combined adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and preactivated disaggregated platelets.

This study assessed whether combining adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) with preactivated, disaggregated shape-changed platelets (PreD-SCP) was superior to either therapy alone for protecting rat lung from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complicated by sepsis. ARDS and sepsis were induced through 100% oxygen inhalation and peritoneal administration of 1.5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively.

Extracorporeal shock wave treatment attenuated left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling in mini-pig with cardiorenal syndrome.

This study tested the hypothesis that extracorporeal shock wave (ECSW) treatment can improve ischemia-induced left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in mini-pig with co-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD). LV ischemia in mini-pigs was induced by applying an ameroid constrictor over mid-left anterior descending artery (LAD), while model of CKD was established by right nephrectomy with partial ligation of left renal arterioles 2 weeks before LAD constriction. Thirty mini-pigs were randomly divided into group 1 (sham-control), group 2 (LV-ischemia), group 3 (LV-ischemia + CKD), Group 4 [LV-ischemia + ECSW (applied 1200 shots at 0.

Xenogeneic human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells reduce mortality in rats with acute respiratory distress syndrome complicated by sepsis.

This study tested the hypothesis that xenogeneic human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (HUCDMSC) therapy would improve survival rates in rats with acute respiratory distress-syndrome (ARDS, induction by 48 h inhalation of 100% oxygen) and sepsis-syndrome (SS, induction by cecal-ligation and puncture) (ARDS-SS). Adult-male Sprague-Dawley rats were categorized into group 1 (sham-controls), group 2 (ARDS-SS), group 3 [ARDS-SS+HUCDMSC (1.2 ×106 cells administered 1 h after SS-induction)], and group 4 [ARDS-SS+HUCDMSC (1.