Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists Reduce Cardiovascular Events in Cancer Patients on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP1a), initially developed for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have shown promising results in reducing cardiovascular events. We aimed to investigate the effect of GLP1a on cardiovascular events in patients receiving ICIs.

Synergistic interplay between cortisol and aldosterone: unveiling mechanisms of vascular calcification in hyperaldosteronism.

The synergistic interplay between cortisol and aldosterone is critical for maintaining homeostasis, particularly in blood pressure regulation, fluid balance, and stress response. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, and aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid, often act in tandem to regulate sodium retention and blood volume. Dysregulation of these hormones, as seen in hyperaldosteronism or Cushing's syndrome, contributes to hypertension and metabolic imbalances.

Topical Vancomycin Paste Over the Sternal Edge During Cardiac Surgery: Effects of Renal Function and Body Size on Systemic Exposure.

Purpose: Intraoperative topical vancomycin has been widely used in several surgical fields to prevent wound infection. However, there have been limited studies on the systemic exposure of topical vancomycin. The aim of this study was to investigate systemic exposure after topical vancomycin over the sternal edge in cardiac surgical patients.

Differential diagnosis and comparison of diagnostic algorithms in children and adolescents with autoimmune encephalitis in Spain: a prospective cohort study and retrospective analysis.

Background: The usefulness of current diagnostic approaches in children with suspected autoimmune encephalitis is unknown. We aimed to assess the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis in clinical practice and to compare the performance of two international diagnostic algorithms (one intended for patients of any age [general], the other intended for paediatric patients), with particular emphasis on the evaluation of patients with probable antibody-negative autoimmune encephalitis because this diagnosis suggests that immunotherapy should be continued or escalated but is difficult to establish.

Methods: We did a prospective cohort study that included all patients (<18 years of age) with suspected autoimmune encephalitis recruited at 40 hospitals in Spain whose physicians provided clinical information every 6 months for 2 years or more.

The first attempt in synthesis, identification, and evaluation of SEPT9 inhibitors on human oral squamous carcinomas.

Septin 9 (SEPT9), a GTPase, known as the fourth cytoskeleton, is widely expressed in various cells and tissues. The functions of SEPT9 are partly similar to other cytoskeletons as a structure protein. Further, SEPT9 can interact with other cytoskeletons, participating in actin dynamics and microtubule regulation.

GRADE-based procalcitonin guideline for emergency departments.

Procalcitonin is a useful biomarker for infection. Over the past two decades, there has been much research on the clinical applications of procalcitonin, yet the majority of these studies have been conducted in the intensive care setting. Despite the extensive use of procalcitonin in emergency departments, there have been no guidelines focusing specifically on these clinical settings.

Comparative evaluation of sensititre YeastOne and VITEK2 antifungal susceptibility tests with CLSI broth microdilution method of clinical isolates in Taiwan.

Unlabelled: Commercial antifungal susceptibility tests were available for clinical yeast isolates. However, the updated Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) version YO10C excluded species for susceptibility testing. Uncorrelation of antifungal susceptibility patterns by SYO and therapeutic outcomes had been recently reported.

Effectiveness of Interventions to Disease Management Programs of Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Heart failure (HF) prevalence is rising due to population aging and increasing risk factor incidence, thereby posing a significant global public health challenge. Disease management programs (DMPs) play a crucial role in managing HF and optimizing postevent health outcomes. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of DMPs following an HF event.

Intrinsic Capacity and Life Quality Among Taiwanese Older People: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Intrinsic capacity (IC), an internal composite ability proposed by the World Health Organization, is fundamental to older people's health. The present study examined potential models explaining the association between IC and quality of life (QoL) among older people in Taiwan. Frailty, basic activities of daily living (BADL), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were hypothesized to be mediators in the association between IC and QoL.

Transcriptome-wide RNA 5-methylcytosine profiles of human iPSCs and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

Cardiac regenerative therapy has recently progressed by reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and advanced by large-scale differentiation-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). However, repairing damaged cardiac tissues with hiPSC-CMs remains limited due to immune rejection, cardiac arrhythmias, and concerns over tumor formation after hiPSC-CM transplantation. Despite efforts in profiling epigenomic changes during cardiac differentiation, regulatory mechanisms underlying 5-methylcytosine (mC) deposition in RNA mC epitranscriptomic landscape during hiPSC-to-cardiomyocyte differentiation remain unclear.

"I Cannot Walk Far or Go Anywhere": The Experience of Lower Limb Lymphedema Among Women With Gynecological Cancer.

Background: Lower limb lymphedema (LLL) significantly impacts the quality of life in women who have undergone gynecological cancer surgery, limiting their physical activities, household chores, and social interactions. Despite its prevalence, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the lived experiences of these women.

Objective: To explore the experiences of LLL in Taiwanese women following gynecological cancer surgery.

Deep learning model for diagnosis of venous thrombosis from lower extremity peripheral ultrasound imaging.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) causes significant healthcare burdens worldwide. This study aims to establish a deep learning model for the diagnosis of DVT from the assessment of vein compressibility. Considering the complexity of ultrasound images, convolutional neural networks with UNet and residual neural network (ResNet) are established for image segmentation, from venous duplex ultrasonographic video images, obtained through standard and portable handheld ultrasound methods.

Association of Scoliosis and Severe Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case-Control Study.

: Scoliosis has been linked to pelvic position and tilt angle, but few studies have explored its relationship with knee pathology, which can be a significant burden for the elderly. Our aim is to investigate the relationship between scoliosis and knee osteoarthritis (OA). : This population-based case-control study using data from the National Health Insurance Database of Taiwan included patients diagnosed with OA who underwent total knee replacement (TKR) for the first time between 2014 and 2019.

Development and Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Program for Immediate Newborn Care Training in Nursing Education: A Feasibility Study.

Introduction: Nursing education equips students with the skills necessary to navigate the clinical environment. Repetitive training in complex skills ensures patient and student safety. Immersive virtual reality (VR) offers a realistic and safe environment for such repetitive learning processes.

Long-Term Statin Use Is Associated With Reduced Rates of Adverse Events in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The effectiveness of statin use in preventing adverse cardiovascular events in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) has remained uncertain. This study aimed to assess whether statin use could lead to better outcomes among individuals with AF.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 397 787 patients with AF from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2020.

Pharmacokinetic study of polymyxin B in healthy subjects and subjects with renal insufficiency.

Polymyxin B is a viable option for treating antibiotic-resistant infections; however, current data on its pharmacokinetics, particularly in patients with renal insufficiency, remain inconclusive and necessitates further investigation. To address this gap, we conducted an open-label, single-center, single-dose, parallel-group pharmacokinetic study. Participants received an intravenous dose of 0.

Hamstring activation deficits during Double-Leg Jump-Landing tasks in athletes with hamstring strain injuries using EMG Time-Frequency analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the hamstring activation in athletes with hamstring strain injuries in vertical jump tasks using an EMG time-frequency analysis. Fifteen injured athletes and 15 matched controls were recruited. The EMG signals of the lateral hamstring (LH) and medial hamstring (MH) were assessed during countermovement, squat, and drop vertical jump tasks.

Accurate Intramyocardial Hemorrhage Assessment with Fast, Free-running, Cardiac Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping.

Purpose To evaluate the performance of a high-dynamic-range quantitative susceptibility mapping (HDR-QSM) cardiac MRI technique to detect intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) and quantify iron content using phantom and canine models. Materials and Methods A free-running whole-heart HDR-QSM technique for IMH assessment was developed and evaluated in calibrated iron phantoms and 14 IMH female canine models. IMH detection and iron content quantification performance of this technique was compared with the conventional iron imaging approaches, R2*(1/T2*) maps, using measurements from ex vivo imaging as the reference standard.

Consensus on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations: Challenges and strategies for high-risk populations in Taiwan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact globally, particularly in high-risk populations such as those with underlying health conditions. In response to the evolving pandemic landscape and the recent surge in confirmed cases in Taiwan, the Taiwan Association of Family Medicine (TAFM) established a consensus on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for vulnerable groups through a comprehensive literature review, expert panel discussions, and a practice-oriented formulation procedure to develop evidence-based guidance. Its key findings highlight the increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes among individuals with disorders such as diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illness.

The asymptomatic bacteriuria in the patients with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by repetitive unprovoked seizures. While certain anti-seizure medications have been linked to urinary tract infections, limited information exists on the occurrence and risk factors of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in individuals with epilepsy. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with ASB in patients with epilepsy.

Too early to be different? A multi-institutional study with 30-year follow-up for prognostic factors of completely resected early stage thymoma.

Background/purpose: This multi-institutional study was aimed to analyze prognostic factors of completely resected early stage thymoma.

Methods: Patients with surgically treated early stage thymoma between 1988 and 2019 were enrolled. Statistical associations were evaluated using the χ test, Fisher's exact test, and Student's t-test.