A mutant ASXL1-BAP1-EHMT complex contributes to heterochromatin dysfunction in clonal hematopoiesis and chronic monomyelocytic leukemia.

is one of the three most frequently mutated genes in age-related clonal hematopoiesis (CH), alongside and (. CH can progress to myeloid malignancies including chronic monomyelocytic leukemia (CMML) and is also strongly associated with inflammatory cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in humans. DNMT3A and TET2 regulate DNA methylation and demethylation pathways, respectively, and loss-of-function mutations in these genes reduce DNA methylation in heterochromatin, allowing derepression of silenced elements in heterochromatin.

Facial Lymphedema Following Head and Neck Tumor Resection: Preliminary Experience of Supermicrosurgical Treatment With LVA-Report of Three Cases.

Facial lymphedema (FL) is a potential complication following head-and-neck tumor (HNT) therapy. Conservative management is often difficult, and there is limited literature on surgical treatments for FL. This report presents three cases of FL treated with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA).

Technical Pearls for Breast Reconstruction in Low BMI Asian Women With the Profunda Artery Perforator Flap.

Background: The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is currently the gold standard for autologous breast reconstruction. In cases where the DIEP is contraindicated, the profunda artery perforator (PAP) flap is now the preferred second-line option in our institution. The PAP flap poses unique challenges to the reconstructive surgeon, especially in Asian women with low body mass index (BMI).

Cost Effectiveness of Exclusionary EGFR Testing for Taiwanese Patients Newly Diagnosed with Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background And Objective: Approximately half of lung adenocarcinomas in East Asia harbor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. EGFR testing followed by tissue-based next-generation sequencing (NGS), upfront tissue-based NGS, and complementary NGS approaches have emerged on the front line to guide personalized therapy. We study the cost effectiveness of exclusionary EGFR testing for Taiwanese patients newly diagnosed with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

The correlation between LAG-3 expression and the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy in advanced biliary tract cancer.

In our previous phase II T1219 trial for advanced biliary tract cancer (ABTC), the combination of nivolumab with modified gemcitabine and S-1 exhibited promising efficacy, while the programmed-death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression did not predict chemoimmunotherapy efficacy. Lymphocyte-activation-gene-3 (LAG-3), a negative immune checkpoint, is frequently co-expressed with PD-L1. This study assessed the predictive value of LAG-3 expression in ABTC patients who received chemoimmunotherapy.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Abnormal brain inflammation is an important feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation is highly related to immune cell activation. Homeostasis of immune cell activity regulation is crucial for CNS autoimmune response.

Exhaled Breath Analysis Using a Novel Electronic Nose for Different Respiratory Disease Entities.

Purpose: Electronic noses (eNose) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are two important breath analysis approaches for differentiating between respiratory diseases. We evaluated the performance of a novel electronic nose for different respiratory diseases, and exhaled breath samples from patients were analyzed by GC-MS.

Materials And Methods: Patients with lung cancer, pneumonia, structural lung diseases, and healthy controls were recruited (May 2019-July 2022).

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Continuous speech analysis is considered as an efficient and convenient approach for early detection of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, the traditional approach generally requires human transcribers to transcribe audio data accurately. This study applied automatic speech recognition (ASR) in conjunction with natural language processing (NLP) techniques to automatically extract linguistic features from Chinese speech data.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive decline and increased seizure susceptibility due to brain damage and neural disruptions. This study examines the relationship between cognitive deterioration and seizure pathology in hAPP-J20 transgenic Alzheimer's mice, a model known for amyloid plaque deposition and heightened seizure activity.

Method: We observed hAPP-J20 mice aged 8 to 28 weeks using long-term wireless telemetry to assess hippocampal local field potential, sampled at 2 kHz.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: There is a strong genetic component to Alzheimer's disease (AD), as evidenced in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) that have identified new variants associated with the disease. This is particularly true for the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and its neighboring genes on chromosome 19q13.3.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: It has been found that speech analysis is a sensitive method for early Alzheimer's disease (AD) detection. Among the various linguistic features, silent pause has emerged as a fair indicator, exhibiting higher prevalence in individuals with AD compared to general population. This study aimed to further examine the relationship between long pause ratio (LPR) in speech and traditional markers of disease progression, like biomarkers, neuroimaging features and neuropsychological tests.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Gait performance has been found to be an effective method for screening cognitive impairment in elderly. Nevertheless, the efficacy of utilizing gait speed as a marker for monitoring cognitive changes remains incompletely substantiated.

Method: From 2021 to 2023, we recruited 104 participants from the memory clinic of Cardinal Tien Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.

Utilizing Lateral Sprouting Axons to Reinnervate a Transferred Free Muscle to Enhance Distal Muscle Recovery When Performing High-Level Nerve Repair : Experimental Rat Study.

Background: High-level median or ulnar nerve injuries and repairs typically result in suboptimal re-innervation of distal muscles. Functioning Free Muscle Transplantation (FFMT) is increasingly recognized as an effective method to restore function in chronic muscle denervation cases. This study investigates the efficacy of using an additional FFMT, neurotized by lateral sprouting axons from a repaired high-level mixed nerve in the upper limb, to enhance distal hand function.

Exploring Rehabilitation Protocols for Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: Insights from a Scoping Review.

Objectives: The primary repair of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has re-emerged as a treatment for acute ruptures. While numerous studies have investigated rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction, few have focused on primary repair. We aimed to describe the rehabilitation protocols for primary ACL repair, and to identify knowledge gaps and differences between primary ACL repair and reconstruction.

Aptasensor-based point-of-care detection of cardiac troponin biomarkers for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents a critical health challenge characterized by a significant reduction in blood flow to the heart, leading to high rates of mortality and morbidity. Cardiac troponins, specifically cardiac troponin I and cardiac troponin T, are essential proteins involved in cardiac muscle contraction and serve as vital biomarkers for the diagnosis of AMI. Aptasensors utilize synthetic aptamers or peptides with high affinity for specific biomarkers and offer a promising approach for integration into portable, user-friendly point-of-care (POC) applications.

Nontyphoidal Salmonellosis Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Stroke: Insights from Multinational Real-World Data.

Background: Stroke is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, contributing substantially to the global burden of disease. In low- and middle-income countries, stroke tends to occur at younger ages, with infection being one of the notable contributing factors. Previous studies have explored the impact of nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) on vascular and blood-related diseases, with animal experiments confirming related mechanisms.

Circulating CD3CD8 T Lymphocytes as Indicators of Disease Status in Patients With Early Breast Cancer.

Circulating CD3CD8 cell levels were lower in breast cancer patients, elevated posttreatment, and subsequently declining upon recurrence. Elevated plasma chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) levels distinguished patients with breast cancer from healthy controls. In summary, circulating CD3CD8 CTL and plasma CCL2 levels emerged as promising dual-purpose biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer management.

Novel digital droplet inverse PCR assay shows that natural clearance of Hepatitis B infection is associated with fewer viral integrations.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration into the host cell genome is reportedly a major cause of liver cancer, and a source of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). High HBsAg levels can alter immune responses which therefore contributes to the progression of HBV-related disease. However, to what extent integration leads to the persistent circulating HBsAg is unclear.

Deciphering network dysregulations and temporo-spatial dynamics in disorders of consciousness: insights from minimum spanning tree analysis.

Objectives: The neural mechanism associated with impaired consciousness is not fully clear. We aim to explore the association between static and dynamic minimum spanning tree (MST) characteristics and neural mechanism underlying impaired consciousness.

Methods: MSTs were constructed based on full-length functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals and fMRI signal segments within each time window.

Evaluation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and urine non-transferrin-bound iron concentrations in cats with chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) regulate gene transcription, which aids hypoxia adaptation while promoting renal fibrosis. Non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) is a catalytic form of iron that can lead to oxidative damage. However, NTBI in cat biofluids has rarely been evaluated.

Selective treatment de-escalation in advanced prostate cancer: have we come full circle?

Compelling evidence has solidified the notion of early treatment intensification in managing patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Landmark trials have provided Level 1 evidence for the survival benefits achieved by combining multiple agents. The efficacy of combined therapy relies not only on how treatment is intensified but also on how it is de-escalated.

Early diagnosis and treatment of Ramsay Hunt syndrome: a case report.

Background: Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS), a rare complication of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation, presents with ipsilateral facial paralysis, ear pain, and vesicular rash. Early recognition is crucial for prompt treatment and optimal outcomes.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 67-year-old woman with RHS who presented with right-sided facial palsy, severe ear pain, and fluid-filled blisters.

Association of obesity with orbital fat expansion in thyroid eye disease.

Background: To investigate the association between obesity and orbital fat expansion in proptosis of thyroid eye disease.

Methods: This observational study retrospectively enrolled 87 participants who received orbital fat decompression surgery for thyroid eye disease. Primary outcome measures included average body mass index (BMI) and the proportion of the study sample with overweight and obesity, compared with the general Taiwanese population.

Vertebral artery dissection in a patient with migraine treated with calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibody: a case report and FAERS database analysis.

Background: Migraine is associated with cervical artery dissection (CeAD). Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a multifunctional neuropeptide with vasodilatory effects. The use of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAb) may affect cerebrovascular disease risk; however, no reports have associated CGRP mAb with CeAD.