The Mindful Compassion Program Integrated with Body-Mind-Spirit Empowerment for Reducing Depression in Lung Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads.

This study compared the long-term effects of a mindful compassion program on improving depression in lung cancer patients, both in patient-caregiver dyads and in patient-only groups, and examined the moderating roles of anxiety and quality of life (QOL). Participants consisted of 56 dyads, who were randomly assigned to either the dyadic or patient-only groups. Data collection included various assessments at different time points: baseline (T0), end of intervention (T1), and follow-up at the 5th month (T2), 8th month (T3), and 14th month (T4).

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease is associated with increased risks of heart failure.

Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), defined by steatotic liver disease (SLD) and cardiometabolic factors, is increasing in prevalence, but its association with heart failure (HF) is unclear.

Methods And Results: Patients with SLD without a history of HF from 2006 to 2021 were retrospectively included and were classified into MASLD and non-MASLD groups that were followed longitudinally. The primary outcome was the new development of HF, which was sub-classified by echocardiography.

2025 Update Consensus of Tc-Pyrophosphate Scintigraphy in the Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis from the Taiwan Society of Cardiology and the Society of Nuclear Medicine of the Republic of China.

This 2025 updated consensus outlines the diagnostic strategy for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Given that ATTR-CM is a significant contributor to heart failure, this article emphasizes the importance of making an early and precise diagnosis, particularly as new therapeutic options become available. Highlighting the critical importance of an early and accurate diagnosis, particularly in light of emerging therapeutic modalities, this consensus underscores the central role of Tc-pyrophosphate (PYP) scintigraphy as a non-invasive diagnostic tool.

Prenatal Perfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure in Association with Global Histone Post-Translational Methylation in 2-Year-Old Children.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have elimination half-lives in years in humans and are persistent in the environment. PFASs can cross the placenta and impact fetal development. Exposure to PFASs may lead to adverse effects through epigenetic mechanisms.

Defining a Critical Partition Zone for Sagittal Alignment in Lumbar Spine Fusion Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background: Sagittal alignment in the lumbar spine is essential for spinal stability and functionality, with significant implications in surgical planning for spinal deformity correction. However, standardized lumbar partitioning, particularly identifying a critical sagittal alignment zone, remains underdefined. This study aims to establish a reliable lumbar partition to guide surgical decisions and optimize clinical outcomes.

High SAFE scores predict hepatocellular carcinoma in viral and non-viral hepatitis and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease.

Background/aims: There are no hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance recommendations for non-viral chronic liver diseases (CLD), such as metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We explored the Steatosis-Associated Fibrosis Estimator (SAFE) score to predict HCC in MASLD and other CLD etiologies.

Methods: Patients with various CLDs were included from medical centers in Taiwan.

Indocyanine green-mediated photothermal release of lidocaine from genipin-crosslinked gelatin hydrogel in nerve block.

Local anesthetic (LA)-induced peripheral nerve block (PNB) is an important part of multimodal analgesia to reduce postoperative pain, accelerate postoperative recovery, and improve clinical prognosis. The duration of LA depends on anesthetics, and the repeated nerve positioning, puncture injection or indwelling catheter is often required to prolong the effect of PNB. In this study, the genipin, was used to crosslink gelatin-based hydrogel, and then co-loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) and lidocaine as an LA-controlled release system (ICG@Lido/Gel and ICG@Lido/gGel).

Reduced gastric mucosal nerve density in functional dyspepsia: clinical significance and functional correlation.

Background: This study aimed to quantitatively examine gastric mucosal nerve density (GMND) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and analyzed its clinical correlation.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 35 patients with FD and 16 age-and gender-matched healthy controls for comparison of GMND on endoscopic biopsy, scores of Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), and gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES).

Results: Patients with FD had lower GMND than the control subjects in gastric antrum, body, and fundus.

Aβ-reactive T cell polyfunctionality response as a new biomarker for mild cognitive impairment.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves neuroinflammation and amyloid plaque deposition, yet the role of amyloid-reactive immune response in neurodegeneration remains unclear. We investigate amyloid-reactive T cell levels in the Epidemiology of Mild Cognitive Impairment Study in Taiwan (EMCIT) and Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (TPMIC) cohorts.

Method: Using diverse amyloid peptide formulations, we established a polyfunctionality assay for five T cell functions and compared mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients to control subjects in both cohorts.

Passing the Torch forward: Moving beyond EGFR Inhibition in NMIBC Prevention.

The study by Downs and colleagues targets patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) to explore secondary/tertiary cancer prevention strategies. Utilizing a "window-of-opportunity" design, erlotinib was evaluated for its effect on EGFR phosphorylation, although the unconventional dosing regimen failed to demonstrate efficacy. New opportunities in NMIBC prevention include targeting FGFR3 mutations with emerging FGFR inhibitors.

Genetic predisposition of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a population-based genome-wide association study.

Background/purpose: Although metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has been proposed to replace the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with new diagnostic criteria since 2023, the genetic predisposition of MASLD remains to be explored.

Methods: Participants with data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the Taiwan Biobank database were collected. Patients with missing data, positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and alcohol drinking history were excluded.

Incidence and outcome of hepatitis D virus infection in people with HIV in the era of tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves survival in HBV-coinfected people with HIV (PWH). We investigated the incidence of HDV infection and its clinical impact in HBV-coinfected PWH in the era of tenofovir-containing ART.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2022, HBV-coinfected PWH were included and followed until December 2023.

The Captopril Challenge Test Predicts Cardiac Structure and Dysfunction in Primary Aldosteronism.

Context: The captopril challenge test (CCT) is a commonly used confirmation test that identifies the magnitude of renin- and angiotensin II-independent aldosterone production, and thus the presence and severity of primary aldosteronism (PA).

Objective: This study investigated the association between the post-CCT plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and cardiovascular remodeling and diastolic dysfunction.

Methods: A total of 540 PA patients with complete CCT and echocardiographic data were retrospectively analyzed.

Clinical profiles and their interaction of concurrent metabolic associated steatotic liver disease and hepatitis B virus infection.

Background: A new nomenclature of metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) was proposed in 2023, thus expanding the diagnostic name of "MASLD combined with other etiologies".

Aim: To investigate the clinical profiles of patients with concurrent MASLD and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: This study included participants from the Taiwan Bio-bank.

HBV DNA integration and somatic mutations in HCC patients with HBV-HCV dual infection reveals profiles intermediate between HBV- and HCV-related HCC.

Background: In regions with a high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, coinfected patients face a heightened risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), termed HBV/HCV-related HCC (HBCV-HCC). We aimed to investigate the contribution of preexisting chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and subsequent chronic hepatitis C (CHC) to the development of HBCV-HCC.

Methods: We examined HBV's involvement in 93 HBCV-HCC cases by analyzing HBV DNA integration as an indicator of HCC originating from HBV-infected hepatocytes, compared with 164 HBV-HCCs and 56 HCV-HCCs as controls.

Assessment of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.

The background of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is complex, and its influence on adverse pregnancy outcomes is inconsistently reported. We performed a multi-institutional, retrospective analysis using de-identified electronic health records from the TriNetX Research Network to compare various pregnancy outcomes in women with and those without H.

Comparative analysis of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors/angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor in heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Introduction: To clarify the efficacy of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors/angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (RASI/ARNI) in heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF).

Methods: This study assessed the association between these medications and outcomes in HFmrEF using data from the National Taiwan University Hospital-integrated Medical Database. The primary outcome was cardiovascular mortality/heart failure hospitalization (HHF).

Striatal-cortical dysconnectivity underlies somatosensory deficits in Parkinson's disease: Insights from rhythmic auditory-motor training.

Evidence indicates that neurodegenerative diseases spread through distinct brain networks. For Parkinson's disease (PD), somatosensory abnormalities may accompany motor dysfunction in early disease stages when dopaminergic degeneration is limited to the basal ganglia. It remains unclear whether, based on the network-spread account, these abnormalities emanated from aberrant functional connectivity with the basal ganglia, and whether interventions normalizing this connectivity could reverse these abnormalities.

Pre-arrest atrial fibrillation and neurological recovery after cardiac arrest among hospitalized patients: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: New-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of stroke in hospitalized patients with severe sepsis. Post-cardiac arrest patients experience conditions similar to sepsis. This study investigated whether pre-arrest AF is associated with poor neurological recovery following in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA).

Effectiveness of the primary Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine against the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis disease: a meta-analysis of individual participant data.

Background: Tuberculosis vaccine trials using disease as the primary endpoint are large, time consuming, and expensive. An earlier immunological measure of the protection against disease would accelerate tuberculosis vaccine development. We aimed to assess whether the effectiveness of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for prevention of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was consistent with that for prevention of tuberculosis disease.