Metformin regulates the proliferation and motility of melanoma cells by modulating the LINC00094/miR-1270 axis.

Background: Melanoma is an aggressive tumor with a high mortality rate. Metformin, a commonly prescribed diabetes medication, has shown promise in cancer prevention and treatment. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-protein-coding RNA molecules that play a key role in tumor development by interacting with cellular chromatins.

Health beliefs model to explore older adults' dementia prevention and health promotion from 2021 to 2022 in Taiwan: A cross-sectional survey study.

One person suffers from dementia every 3 seconds globally. Thirteen older adults aged 65 and older will have dementia, and 1 in 5 older adults over the age of 80 years will have dementia in Taiwan. Older adults should be equipped with demonstrated health beliefs regarding dementia prevention and health promotion about Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire (AD8), cues to action, health beliefs, self-efficacy, and behavioral intention in daily life.

Positive effect of exposure to ambient air volatile organic compounds on clinic visits for atopic dermatitis.

Background: Exposure to air pollutants have been associated with exacerbations of atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms, however, the role of each volatile organic compound (VOC) was rarely investigated.

Objective: This population-based study investigated associations between daily visits for AD at hospitals and exposure to each ambient air VOC in central-southern Taiwan.

Methods: The dependent variable with diagnostic code (ICD-9-CM code 691.

Evaluation of vaccine allergy safety track program to assess potential COVID-19 vaccine allergy: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Concerns about new COVID-19 vaccines played a key role in vaccine hesitancy and hampered population uptake. Hong Kong initiated a Vaccine Allergy Safety Track (VAS-Track) program to assess potential COVID-19 vaccine-associated allergies. A 'Hub-and-Spoke' model of predominately non-specialists supported by the allergist hub was established to meet overwhelming demand despite limited specialists.

Benchmark Dose of Melamine Exposure for a Renal Injury Marker Mediated by Oxidative Stress: Examples in Patients with Urolithiasis and Occupational Workers.

Establishing a safe exposure level from epidemiological studies while providing direct hazard characterization in humans often faces uncertainty in causality, especially cross-sectional data. With advances in molecular epidemiology, it is reasonable to integrate identified intermediate biomarkers into health risk assessment. In this study, by considering the mediation of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA), we explored the exposure threshold of melamine on the early renal injury marker N-acetyl-β-D glucosaminidase (NAG).

Hepatitis B surface antigen loss in chronic hepatitis B patients with low-viral-load.

Background And Aim: Among low viral load (DNA of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was < 2000 IU/mL), the factor of the loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) remained elusive.

Methods: The retrospective study recruited patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who were negative low for hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg), had a low viral load, and experienced HBsAg loss during follow-up. CHB patients with low-viral load but without consequent HBsAg loss were also enrolled at the ratio of 1:4.

New infundibulopelvic angle measurement method can predict stone-free rates following retrograde intrarenal surgery.

To enhance the accuracy of predicting stone-free rates after retrograde intrarenal surgery, we devised a novel approach to assess the renal infundibulopelvic angle. We conducted a retrospective review of patient records for those who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery for renal stones between April 2018 and August 2019. Patient demographics, stone characteristics, and perioperative data were recorded.

Short-term impact of exposure to ambient air volatile organic compounds on daily clinic visits for urticaria in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Background: Air volatile organic compounds (VOCs) cause allergic reaction mainly via the respiratory tract or skin.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between daily visits by patients with urticaria and short-term changes in exposure to ambient air VOCs.

Methods: The dependent variable was information from patients with urticaria at a medical center in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from 2014/01/01 to 2018/07/31.

NTRK3 exhibits a pro-oncogenic function in upper tract urothelial carcinomas.

Neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (NTRK3) has pleiotropic functions: it acts not only as an oncogene in breast and gastric cancers but also as a dependence receptor in tumor suppressor genes in colon cancer and neuroblastomas. However, the role of NTRK3 in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is not well documented. This study investigated the association between NTRK3 expression and outcomes in UTUC patients and validated the results in tests on UTUC cell lines.

The factors impacting on Gleason score upgrading in prostate cancer with initial low Gleason scores.

Background: This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to the discrepancy in between biopsy Gleason score (GS) and radical prostatectomy GS in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Methods: 341 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy from 2011/04 to 2020/12 were identified. 102 Patients with initial GS of six after biopsy were enrolled.

Lipid Profiles Impact on the Oncologic Outcome of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: The prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) varies, with T3/T4 UTUC having less than 50% 5-year survival post-radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Lipid profiles including cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TGs), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) have shown correlations with oncologic outcomes in various cancers. We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of the lipid profiles in UTUC patients who had received RNU.

Comparison of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration plus cholecystectomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy for elderly patients with common bile duct stones and gallbladder stones.

Background: Common bile duct (CBD) stones commonly occur in cholecystectomy cases. The management options include laparoscopic CBD exploration (LCBDE) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Although ERCP is fully developed, it has complications, and LCBDE is a proven alternative.

Air pollution as a potential risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwanese patients after adjusting for chronic viral hepatitis.

Background: Air pollution is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the effect of air pollution on HCC risk in patients with hepatitis remains unclear.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 348 patients with chronic hepatitis who were tested for serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen (HBcIgG) and hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in 2022.

Prognostic factors of intravesical recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate predictive factors of increasing intravesical recurrence (IVR) rate in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after receiving radical nephroureterectomy (RNUx) with bladder cuff excision (BCE).

Materials And Methods: A total of 2114 patients were included from the updated data of the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration Group. It was divided into two groups: IVR-free and IVR after RNUx, with 1527 and 587 patients, respectively.

A comparison of S.T.O.N.E nephrolithometry scoring system, Guy's stone score, and Seoul National University Renal Stone Complexity (S-ReSC) in predicting mini-PCNL stone-free rate.

The main goal of the study is to evaluate the three stone scoring systems (S.T.O.

MicroRNA-299-3p inhibits cell proliferation, motility, invasion and angiogenesis via VEGFA in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Background: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare tumor with extraordinarily different features between Eastern and Western countries. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) was originally identified as a secreted signaling protein and regulator of vascular development and cancer progression. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of VEGFA by microRNA in UTUC.

Air pollution impede ALT normalization in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues.

Biochemical response is an important prognostic indicator in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving nucleotide/nucleoside analogues (NAs). However, the effects of air pollution in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization remain elusive. This longitudinal study recruited 80 hepatitis B e antigen-negative CHB patients who received NAs.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is an early predictor for testosterone deficiency in aging men without metabolic syndrome.

Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a valuable marker for identifying individuals at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction, liver-related complications, and cardiovascular disease. However, the association between MAFLD and testosterone deficiency (TD) in aging men remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between MAFLD and the risk of TD in aging Taiwanese men, with a specific focus on those without metabolic syndrome (MetS).

The Auxiliary Effects of Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Before Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Patients with cancer use low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMF) as a supplement to therapy. However, most studies of LMF are or conducted using animals. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the gold standard for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Clinical and cost-effectiveness analysis of mFOLOFX6 with or without a targeted drug among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: inverse probability of treatment weighting.

This study investigated the cost-effectiveness and quality of life (QoL) within 1 year of receiving mFOLOFX6 with or without a targeted drug (bevacizumab or ramucirumab) as second-line treatment among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) following the failure of FOLFIRI + bevacizumab as first-line treatment. This prospective cohort study included patients who received a diagnosis of mCRC between March 2015 and May 2020. QoL was evaluated before treatment and at 6 months and 1 year posttreatment.