Complete Response in Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Cardiac and Lung Involvement via Multimodality Treatment.

: Until recently, advanced HCC patients with major vessel and cardiac involvement have had an extremely poor prognosis without satisfactory treatment. : A 63-year-old Taiwanese male presented with metastatic HCC with RA and IVC thrombi, as well as pulmonary metastases that were successfully treated by multimodal management, encompassed by surgical thrombectomy, concurrent systemic sorafenib and locoregional therapies, and immunotherapy. The patient has achieved a complete response over the past 33 months.

Measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter by ultrasound in healthy term neonates.

Background: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) ultrasound is a noninvasive and repeatable tool to dynamically evaluate intracranial pressure with high diagnostic accuracy; however, data in neonates are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the reference value of ONSD and potential influencing factors in healthy term neonates.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 250 full-term neonates who underwent cranial ultrasound as part of selective newborn screening over a 2-year period.

Effects of various statins on depressive symptoms: A network meta-analysis.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that statins can reduce the severity of depressive symptoms. However, the optimal choice of statin remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a network meta-analysis to determine the optimal statin for treating depression.

Utilizing ultrasound findings of a single indicator joint to assess non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) has been used worldwide in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but is beginning to play an increasing role in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The aim of this study was to investigate the application of MSUS findings of a single indicator joint in JIA to assess the disease activity and classify disease subtype.

Methods: Thirty-five non-systemic JIA patients with a total of 62 visits were retrospectively recruited in this study.

Aerobic glycolysis supports hepatitis B virus protein synthesis through interaction between viral surface antigen and pyruvate kinase isoform M2.

As an intracellular pathogen, the reproduction of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) depends on the occupancy of host metabolism machinery. Here we test a hypothesis if HBV may govern intracellular biosynthesis to achieve a productive reproduction. To test this hypothesis, we set up an affinity purification screen for host factors that interact with large viral surface antigens (LHBS).

Learning Effectiveness Assessment between Primary School Students and Adults in Basic Life Support Education.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a big issue of critical care. It is well known that bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an automated external defibrillator (AED) used did improve the survival rate. Therefore, CPR education including basic life support (BLS) and AED has been advocated for years.

Survival After Treatable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence in Liver Recipients: A Nationwide Cohort Analysis.

Background: Survival after post-transplant recurrence of HCC is dismal, and almost all treatments for recurrent HCC are off-labeled, without an extensive large-scale analysis. We aimed to delineate their post-recurrence courses and define benchmarks for comparing future treatment effectiveness.

Methods: Three national databases, including health insurance, catastrophic illness, and the cause of death, were linked for cohort establishment and data collection during the period from 2005 to 2016.

Statin use and depression risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Evidence regarding whether statin use is associated with depression is inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate this association.

Methods: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the EMBASE database, limiting the search to human patients and articles written in English and published by March 31, 2020.

Effect of β-Blocker in Treatment-Naïve Patients With Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma Receiving First-Generation EGFR-TKIs.

Background: Through activation of adrenergic receptors, chronic stress can trigger the secretion of neurotransmitters and hormones that enhance tumor growth, increase angiogenesis, and promote drug resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of β-blockers in patients receiving first-line epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) for lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma under first-line EGFR-TKIs between 2011 and 2014 in the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.

Anti-inflammatory effects of powdered product of Bu Yang Huan Wu decoction: Possible role in protecting against Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia.

Bu Yang Huan Wu decoction (BYHW) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that consists of several herbs and has been used in patients with ischemic stroke for centuries. Although powdered formula of BYHW has widely been prescribed in clinic nowadays, evidence-based effectiveness and mechanism of action of BYHW powdered product in stroke remain to be characterized. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 90 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h (ischemia/reperfusion; I/R) or sham surgery.

Assessment and determinants of global outcomes among 445 mass-casualty burn survivors: A 2-year retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Purpose: To study outcomes among survivors of the mass-casualty powder explosion on 27 June 2015, at Formosa Fun Coast Waterpark, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Methods: Using retrospective data on Taiwanese survivors, we analyzed prehospital management, burns assessment and prognosis, functional recovery, and medical costs, followed-up through 30 June 2017. We related outcomes to burn extent, categorized according to the percentages of total body surface area with second/third-degree burns (%TBSA) or autologous split-thickness skin grafts (%STSG), and an investigational scale: f{SASG} = (%TBSA + %STSG)/2, stratified by %STSG.

Evaluating the combined effect of alcohol-involved and un-helmeted riding on motorcyclist fatalities in Taiwan.

Background: Alcohol-involved riders tend to engage in other risk-taking behaviours such as un-helmeted riding which could further increases injury severity. The combined effect of alcohol-involved and un-helmeted riding on fatal injuries is rarely investigated. This study investigated the interaction effect between blood alcohol concentration and helmet use on fatal injuries.

Prevalence and psychosocial risk factors associated with current cigarette smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking among adolescents in Taiwan.

Background: Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are the most common types of substance use and misuse (SUM) among adolescents. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and psychosocial factors associated with current cigarette smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking among adolescents in Taiwan.

Methods: Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires on computers from students at 14 senior high schools in Taipei, Taiwan.

Lymphadenectomy is Unnecessary for Pure Ground-Glass Opacity Pulmonary Nodules.

Background: Lobectomy plus lymph node dissection is the standard treatment of early-stage lung cancer, but the low lymph node metastasis rate with ground-glass opacity (GGO) makes surgeons not perform lymphadenectomy. This study aimed to re-evaluate the lymph node metastasis rate of GGO to help make a clinical judgment.

Methods: We performed this retrospective study to enroll patients who received lung cancer surgery from 2011 to 2016.

Applicability of an in-house saponin-based extraction method in Bruker Biotyper matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry system for identifying bacterial and fungal species in positively flagged pediatric VersaTREK blood cultures.

Background/purpose: Early identification of pathogens causing bloodstream infection (BSI) is critical for prompt administration of appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Methods: We used an in-house saponin-based extraction method to evaluate the performance of Bruker Biotyper MALDI-TOF MS system (MALDI Biotyper) for bacterial and fungal identification in 2013 positively-flagged VersaTREK blood culture bottles.

Results: A total of 180 monomicrobial and 23 polymicrobial positive blood cultures were investigated.

Incidental Congestive Heart Failure in Patients With Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas.

Background Previous studies show that patients with primary aldosteronism are associated with higher risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the effect of target treatment to the incidental CHF has not been elucidated. We aimed to investigate the risk of new-onset CHF in patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) and explore the effect of adrenalectomy on new onset of CHF.

Author Correction: Comparison of Multipulse Laser Vaporesection versus Plasmakinetic Resection for Treatment of Benign Prostate Obstruction.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Risk of new-onset autoimmune diseases in primary aldosteronism: a nation-wide population-based study.

Objective: The association between hyperaldosteronism and autoimmune disorders has been postulated. However, long-term incidence of a variety of new-onset autoimmune diseases (NOAD) among patients with primary aldosteronism has not been well investigated.

Methods: From Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database with a 23-million population insurance registry, the identification of primary aldosteronism, essential hypertension and NOAD as well as all-cause mortality were ascertained by a validated algorithm.

Impact of metformin use among tuberculosis close contacts with diabetes mellitus in a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The protective effect of metformin against active tuberculosis (TB) among TB close contacts is unknown.

Methods: TB close contacts with diabetes mellitus (DM) and normal renal function were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Metformin users were patients who received ≥90 cumulative defined daily doses within 1 year before the index date.

The net clinical benefits of febuxostat versus allopurinol in patients with gout or asymptomatic hyperuricemia - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Systemic reviews and meta-analyses suggest hyperuricemia is a cardiovascular risk factor. The effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitors on cardiac outcomes remain unclear. We assessed the effects of febuxostat and allopurinol on mortality and adverse reactions in adult patients with hyperuricemia.

Trifluoperazine, an Antipsychotic Drug, Effectively Reduces Drug Resistance in Cisplatin-Resistant Urothelial Carcinoma Cells via Suppressing Bcl-xL: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the primary treatment for metastatic bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC). Most patients inevitably encounter drug resistance and resultant disease relapse. Reduced apoptosis plays a critical role in chemoresistance.