Association of categorical diagnoses and psychopathologies with quality of life in patients with depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorders, and somatic symptom disorder (SSD) are associated with quality of life (QoL) reduction. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between these conditions as categorical diagnoses and related psychopathologies with QoL, recognizing their frequent overlap.

Methods: We recruited a total of 403 clinical patients and healthy individuals, administering diagnostic interviews based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.

Management of complications of sutureless intrascleral intraocular lens fixation.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to report the complications of sutureless intrascleral (SIS) intraocular lens (IOL) fixation and its management.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter, retrospective, consecutive interventional case series of patients with intra or postoperative complications after SIS IOL fixation during the technical learning curve of vitreoretinal surgeons from three Taiwanese referral hospitals. The used surgical techniques were the Scharioth technique for intrascleral tunnel fixation, Yamane technique (double-needle scleral fixation), and modified Yamane technique (double-needle flanged haptic scleral fixation).

Complete response to front-line therapies is associated with long-term survival in HIV-related lymphomas in Taiwan.

Background: The prognosis for people living with HIV (PLWH) who develop lymphomas has been greatly improved by combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. However, real-world clinical data on this patient group in Asia are limited.

Methods: Treatment outcomes were retrospectively examined for 104 PLWH with lymphomas between 2000 and 2019.

Vitamin D Supplementation for Patients with Dysmenorrhoea: A Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Vitamin D reduces prostaglandin levels and inflammation, making it a promising treatment option for dysmenorrhoea. However, its effects on pain intensity in different types of dysmenorrhoea remain unclear. We examined whether vitamin D supplementation decreases pain intensity in patients with dysmenorrhoea.

Exploring the evolution of T cell function and diversity across different stages of non-small cell lung cancer.

The immune system plays a key role in detecting and fighting cancerous tumors. T cells are a crucial component in both natural and therapeutic cancer immunoediting responses, but it is unclear if they are the primary agents of these processes. In this study, patients with lung lesions detected by CT scan were selected, and their peripheral blood samples were analyzed for T cell population and serum cytokines/chemokines.

Synergistic B and T lymphocyte interaction: prognostic implications in non-small cell lung cancer.

While T-cell-mediated immune responses in solid tumors have been well-established and have driven major therapeutic advances, our understanding of B-cell biology in cancer is comparatively less developed. A total of 60 lung cancer patients were included, of which 53% were diagnosed at an early stage while 47% were diagnosed at an advanced stage. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the proportion of T and B cells in all blood samples, and the levels of human serum cytokines were also assessed.

Exploring the Impacts of Age at Menarche on Cognitive Aging in Late Adulthood: Evidence from a Mendelian Randomization Study on the Taiwanese Population.

Introduction: The potential influence of age at menarche (AM) on cognitive aging remains inadequate, partly because of the difficulties presented by multiple confounders. To address this issue, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to explore the causal impacts of AM on cognitive aging.

Methods: Using the publicly accessible Taiwan Biobank, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with AM as instrumental variables to estimate the effects of instruments on cognitive function assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Sexually transmitted coinfections among at-risk HIV-positive MSM: implications for optimal preemptive treatment.

Background: Concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in sexually active populations. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and coinfection rates of bacterial STIs among sexually active, HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), and to assess the potential benefits of different combination treatment regimens in managing concurrent bacterial STIs.

Methods: From September 2021 to September 2023, HIV-positive MSM underwent STI testing when they had symptoms suggestive of STIs or recently acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or early syphilis.

Risk factors, patterns, and outcome predictors of late recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection: A large cohort study with long-term follow-up results.

Background: Late recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection significantly influences long-term patient survival outcomes, and yet it remains understudied. This study aims to explore the risk factors and patterns of late recurrence and predictors of subsequent outcome.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study analyzed 1,701 consecutive patients who achieved a disease-free survival period exceeding 2 years after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma between 2001 and 2018.

A non-invasive nomogram for predicting heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in taiwanese outpatients with unexplained dyspnea and fatigue.

Background: While Reddy proposed the H2FPEF diagnostic algorithm to aid in diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), certain parameters like age and obesity are not suitable for Asian population, especially given the increasing incidence of HFpEF in younger individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an easy-to-use nomogram with non-invasive indices that can be used in outpatient clinics in Taiwan to quickly estimate the probability of HFpEF and help decide whether further invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is needed.

Methods: Outpatients with unexplained dyspnea and fatigue were recruited divided into HFpEF (n = 64) and non-HFpEF (n = 34) groups based on invasive CPET and echocardiography.

Clinical manifestations and risk factors for COVID-19 and its severity in patients with hematological malignancies.

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) were at a high risk of developing severe disease from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to assess the clinical outcome of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with HM.

Methods: Adult patients with HM who were hospitalized with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between May, 2021 and November, 2022 were retrospectively identified.

High incidence of cerebrovascular lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in pediatric COVID-19 during omicron outbreak - A retrospective case series.

Background: The incidence of pediatric hospitalizations has significantly increased since the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Changes of characteristics in respiratory and neurological symptoms have been reported. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study to characterize the MRI change in children with an emphasis on the change of cerebral vasculatures.

Effectiveness and evolution of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein titers after three doses of COVID-19 vaccination in people with HIV.

Background: Real-world vaccine effectiveness following the third dose of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 remains less investigated among people with HIV (PWH).

Methods: PWH receiving the third dose of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 (either 50- or 100-μg) were enrolled. Participants were followed for 180 days until the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 infection, seroconversion of anti-nucleocapsid IgG, death, or loss to follow-up.

Effect of early dexamethasone on outcomes of COVID-19: A quasi-experimental study using propensity score matching.

Background: The RECOVERY trial demonstrated that the use of dexamethasone is associated with a 36% lower 28-day mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 on invasive mechanical ventilation. Nevertheless, the optimal timing to start dexamethasone remains uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study at National Taiwan University Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan) using propensity score matching to simulate a randomized controlled trial to receive or not to receive early dexamethasone (6 mg/day) during the first 7 days following the onset of symptoms.

Novel scoring system derived from meta-analysis and validated in cohort population for predicting 1-year atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoballoon catheter ablation: The HeLPS-Cryo score.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence rates in 1 year after cryoballoon ablation catheter (CBCA) are still high. We purposed to identify strong predictors for AF recurrence after the successful CBCA procedure and develop a new scoring system based only on pre-procedural parameters.

Methods: In the derivation phase, a systematic review and meta-analysis identified the strong predictors of AF recurrence after the CBCA.

Clinical outcomes of cetuximab-based treatment for distant metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A real-world study using Taiwan Head Neck Society registry database.

Background: For R/M HNSCC, the differences in prognosis and treatment options between distant metastasis (DM) and locoregional recurrence, especially in the DM group, remain unclear.

Methods: From the Taiwan Head Neck Society registry database, patients who were diagnosed with R/M HNSCC and received cetuximab-based frontline therapy were collected for analysis.

Results: Among the enrolled patients, 59.