Mitoquinone shifts energy metabolism to reduce ROS-induced oxeiptosis in female granulosa cells and mouse oocytes.

The female reproductive system is quite sensitive to regulation, and external environmental stimuli may cause oxidative stress which in turn may lead to accelerated aging and programmed cell death in female reproductive cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not mitoquinone (MitoQ) could resist ROS-induced apoptosis in human granulosa cells and mouse oocytes. We found that the MitoQ treatment significantly reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and imbalance in mitochondrial membrane potential.

Metformin use and the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia cause substantial pain in patients. Persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are prone to zoster infection and postherpetic neuralgia due to compromised immunity. We conducted this study to evaluate the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia between metformin users and nonusers.

Comparing efficacy of a single intraarticular injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with different hyaluronans for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Intraarticular plasma-rich platelet (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have each been shown to be effective for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). Evidence supporting the combination therapy is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a single intraarticular PRP injection combined with different HAs in patients with knee OA.

Metformin Use before Influenza Vaccination May Lower the Risks of Influenza and Related Complications.

Older adults are more likely to have influenza and respond less well to the flu vaccine. We conducted this study to investigate whether pre-influenza vaccination metformin use had an effect on influenza and relevant complications in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Propensity score matching was used to identify 28,169 pairs of metformin users and nonusers from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2018.

Gene Sequencing Identifies Perturbation in Nitric Oxide Signaling as a Nonlipid Molecular Subtype of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: A key goal of precision medicine is to disaggregate common, complex diseases into discrete molecular subtypes. Rare coding variants in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene () are identified in 1% to 2% of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, defining a molecular subtype with risk driven by hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: To search for additional subtypes, we compared the frequency of rare, predicted loss-of-function and damaging missense variants aggregated within a given gene in 41 081 CAD cases versus 217 115 controls.

Standardized home blood pressure monitoring: Rationale behind the 722 protocol.

Home blood pressure (HBP) has been recognized as a prognostic predictor for cardiovascular events, and integrated into the diagnosis and management of hypertension. With increasing accessibility of oscillometric blood pressure devices, HBP monitoring is easy to perform, more likely to obtain reliable estimation of blood pressures, and feasible to document long-term blood pressure variations, compared to office and ambulatory blood pressures. To obtain reliable HBP estimates, a standardized HBP monitoring protocol is essential.

An Integrated Community-Based Blood Pressure Telemonitoring Program - A Population-Based Observational Study.

Background: Home blood pressure telemonitoring (BPT) has been shown to improve blood pressure control. A community-based BPT program (the + program) was launched in 2015 in an urban area around a medical center.

Objectives: To examine the impact of the BPT program on the use of medical resources.

Case Report: Myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome presenting as rapid growth of an extra-uterine mass.

Objective: To report a case of myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome (MES) with an extra-uterine manifestation.

Case Report: A 43-year-old woman presented with progressive abdominal distension and rapid enlargement of a pelvic mass. Upon survey, a high-level of hemoglobin (19.

Polymorphisms of haptoglobin modify the relationship between dietary iron and the risk of gestational iron-deficiency anemia.

Purpose: To assess whether polymorphisms of haptoglobin (Hp) modify the relationship between dietary iron and the risk of gestational iron-deficiency anemia (IDA).

Methods: This study analyzed 1430 singleton pregnant women aged 20 ~ ≤ 48 years from the 2017-2019 National Nutrition and Health Survey of Pregnant Women in Taiwan. Sociodemographic, blood biochemical, Hp phenotype, and 24-h dietary recall data were collected.

Diabetes, Hypertension, and the Risk of Dementia.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension (HTN) are well-known modifiable risk factors for dementia, but their intricate attributes accounting for dementia development has not been clearly delineated.

Objective: We conducted this study to investigate and compare the effects of T2D and HTN on dementia risk.

Methods: We screened data of matched pairs of patients with T2D or HTN between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2017 from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Metformin and the Development of Asthma in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

We conducted this study to compare the risks of asthma development and exacerbation between metformin users and nonusers. Overall, 57,743 propensity score-matched metformin users and nonusers were identified from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database between 1 January 2000, and 31 December 2017. We used the Cox proportional hazards model with robust standard error estimates to compare the risks of asthma onset, exacerbation, and hospitalization for asthma in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The clinical and imaging features of FLNA positive and negative periventricular nodular heterotopia.

Background: Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH) is caused by abnormal neuronal migration, resulting in the neurons accumulate as nodules along the surface of the lateral ventricles. PVNH often cause epilepsy, psychomotor development or cognition problem. Mutations in FLNA (Filamin A) is the most common underlying genetic etiology.

Clinical Utility of Albumin Bilirubin Grade as a Prognostic Marker in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: Hepatic function is a key prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and central to patient selection for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). We investigated the clinical utility of the Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) grade, an emerging prognostic model, in this heterogenous cohort via a meta-analysis of published studies.

Methods: Publications including full text articles and abstracts regarding ALBI grade were sourced by two independent researchers from databases including PubMed, Embase, Medline and Cochrane Library.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Perimenopausal Women: The Role of Hysteroscopy and Its Impact on Quality of Life and Sexuality.

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a frequent symptom in perimenopausal women. It is defined as uterine bleeding in which the duration, frequency, or amount of bleeding is considered excessive and negatively affects the woman's quality of life (QoL) and psychological well-being. In cases of structural uterine pathology, hysterectomy (usually performed via a minimally invasive approach) offers definitive symptom relief and is associated with long-lasting improvement of QoL and sexuality.

Efficacy and safety of cervicothoracic epidural blood patch for patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Background: Epidural blood patch (EBP) is a generally effective treatment for spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage through the spinal dura mater. It is still unclear; however, whether application near the leakage site (targeted EBP) is more effective than distal application (untargeted EBP). Further, EBP targeted to high thoracic or cervical spine levels is infrequent due to greater technical requirements and potential complications.

Expression status and prognostic significance of mitochondrial dynamics OPA3 in human ovarian cancer.

Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer and the discovery of prognostic markers can significantly improve survival and reduce mortality. OPA3 protein exists in a structure called mitochondria, which is the energy production center of cells, but its molecular and biological functions in ovarian cancer are still unclear. Here, the expression of OPA3 mRNA in ovarian cancer was estimated using TCGA, Oncomine, TIMER databases.

The Procedural and Clinical Outcomes of Rotational Atherectomy in Patients Presenting With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Rotational atherectomy (RA) is an indispensable tool used for calcified lesion preparation in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, use of RA in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is challenged with limited clinical data.

Objectives: This study aims to retrospectively investigate the procedural results, periprocedural complications, and clinical outcomes of RA in patients with AMI.

DHEA restores mitochondrial dynamics of cumulus cells by regulating PGAM5 expression in poor ovarian responders.

Objective: Poor ovarian responder (POR) poses a significant challenge for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Previous studies have suggested that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may improve IVF outcomes in POR. The current study attempts to investigate the clinical benefits of DHEA in POR and the possible mechanism of DHEA on cumulus cells (CCs).

Diabetic visceral neuropathy of gastroparesis: Gastric mucosal innervation and clinical significance.

Background And Purpose: The pathogenesis of diabetic gastroparesis due to visceral neuropathy involves multidimensional mechanisms with limited exploration of gastric mucosal innervation. This study aimed to examine quantitatively this topic and its relationship with gastroparesis symptoms and gastric emptying in diabetes.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 22 patients with type 2 diabetes and gastroparesis symptoms and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy controls for comparison.

An aquatic microrobot for microscale flow manipulation.

Microrobots have been developed and extensively employed for performing the variety tasks with various applications. However, the intricate fabrication and actuation processes employed for microrobots further restrict their multitudinous applicability as well as the controllability in high accuracy. As an alternative, in this work an aquatic microrobot was developed using a distinctive concept of the building block technique where the microrobot was built based on the block to block design.

Geriatric syndromes predict mortality of people aged 75+ years in the observation room of emergency department: Towards function-centric emergency medicine.

Background: Aging is a complex process involving functional decline, reduced physiological reserve, increased multimorbidity, and impaired homeostasis, all of which collectively generate various health risks for older adults. To predict short-term mortality of non-critical older patients in the observation room of the emergency department (ED) based on function-centric approach instead of disease-centric one.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study enrolling 831 patients aged 75 years and older between 2018 and 2020.

Lycopene treatment improves intrahepatic fibrosis and attenuates pathological angiogenesis in biliary cirrhotic rats.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is characterized by liver fibrosis and pathological angiogenesis, which results in hyperdynamic circulation, portal-systemic collateral vascular formation, and abnormal angiogenesis. Lycopene is a nutrient mostly found in tomatoes. The beneficial effects of lycopene include anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-fibrosis, and anti-angiogenesis; however, the association between liver cirrhosis and pathological angiogenesis has yet to be studied.

Phosphoglycerate mutase family member 5 maintains oocyte quality via mitochondrial dynamic rearrangement during aging.

Decline in ovarian reserve with aging is associated with reduced fertility and the development of metabolic abnormalities. Once mitochondrial homeostasis is imbalanced, it may lead to poor reproductive cell quality and aging. However, Phosphoglycerate translocase 5 (PGAM5), located in the mitochondrial membrane, is associated with necroptosis, apoptosis, and mitophagy, although the underlying mechanisms associated with ovarian aging remain unknown.

Cardiovascular risk assessment tools in Asia.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is becoming the most important burden to health care systems in most part of the world, especially in Asia. Aiming at identifying high risk individuals and tailoring preventive treatment, many cardiovascular risk assessment tools have been established and most of them were developed in Western countries. However, these cardiovascular risk assessment tools cannot be used interchangeably without recalibration because of the different risk factor profiles (ie, greater absolute burden of hypertension and lower level of total-cholesterol in Asians and higher prevalence of metabolic disorders in South Asians) and different CVD profiles (higher ratio of stroke/coronary heart disease in Asians) between Western and Asian populations.