Trajectories of hepatic steatosis and incidence of cardiovascular disease over a 29-year follow-up.

Aim: To examine the dynamic change in hepatic steatosis status during repeated assessments over time, and its potential impact on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: We assessed trajectories of hepatic steatosis and other metabolic disorders in 3134 middle-aged adults undergoing longitudinal assessment of ultrasonography during a pre-baseline period (1993-2009) in a population-based cohort study of liver health. Subsequently, we determined the association of hepatic steatosis trajectories with the incidence of CVD among 2185 CVD-free individuals, followed until 2021.

Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan on Survival in Patients with Heart Failure and Significant Valvular Heart Disease.

Although the benefits of sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are well established, patients with hemodynamically significant mitral regurgitation (MR) were excluded from pivotal trials. We aimed to assess the effects of sacubitril/valsartan on survival in patients with HFrEF and concomitant significant MR. All patients from a single center who underwent echocardiography between June 2008 and December 2020, with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 40% and hemodynamically significant MR were recruited.

CXCL1 promotes cell migration in hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating the miR-30b-5p/ICAM-1 axis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal cancer with a growing global incidence and is often associated with poor prognosis due to its tendency to metastasize. Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) 1 is a transmembrane protein found in various cancer cells and is associated with the spread of cancer and poor prognosis. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) is a chemokine that significantly affects the cell motility of various cancers.

A pre-trained language model for emergency department intervention prediction using routine physiological data and clinical narratives.

Introduction: The urgency and complexity of emergency room (ER) settings require precise and swift decision-making processes for patient care. Ensuring the timely execution of critical examinations and interventions is vital for reducing diagnostic errors, but the literature highlights a need for innovative approaches to optimize diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. In response, our study endeavors to create predictive models for timely examinations and interventions by leveraging the patient's symptoms and vital signs recorded during triage, and in so doing, augment traditional diagnostic methodologies.

Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma in the nasopharynx: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) arising from a minor salivary gland is a rare malignant neoplasm. Most HCCC has been reported in the palate and tongue base, and only rarely in the nasopharynx. Here, we report a rare case of nasopharyngeal HCCC.

Effects of Colchicine on Major Adverse Limb and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease.

Objective: To assess the effects of colchicine, which has been shown to reduce the risks of coronary artery disease but scarcely studied in peripheral artery disease (PAD), on major adverse limb events (MALE) in patients with PAD.

Methods: This is a retrospective study based on a nationwide database. Patients who were diagnosed with PAD between 2010 and 2020 and prescribed with colchicine after the diagnosis of PAD were identified.

The novel thromboxane prostanoid receptor mediates CTGF production to drive human nasal fibroblast self-migration through NF-κB and PKCδ-CREB signaling pathways.

Chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyp (CRSsNP) is characterized by tissue repair/remodeling and the subepithelial stroma region in whose nasal mucosa has been reported by us to have thromboxane A (TXA) prostanoid (TP) receptor and overexpress connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between TP receptor activation and CTGF production/function in human CRSsNP nasal mucosa stromal fibroblasts. We found that TP agonists including U46619 and IBOP ([1S-[1α,2α(Z),3β(1E,3 S*),4α]]-7-[3-[3-hydroxy-4-(4-iodophenoxy)-1-butenyl]-7-oxabicyclo[2.

Management of Crohn's disease in Taiwan: consensus guideline of the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease updated in 2023.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, fluctuating inflammatory condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. Although the incidence of CD in Taiwan is lower than that in Western countries, the severity of CD presentation appears to be similar between Asia and the West. This observation indicates the urgency for devising revised guidelines tailored to the unique reimbursement system, and patient requirements in Taiwan.

Management of ulcerative colitis in Taiwan: consensus guideline of the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease updated in 2023.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by alternating periods of inflammation and remission. Although UC incidence is lower in Taiwan than in Western countries, its impact remains considerable, demanding updated guidelines for addressing local healthcare challenges and patient needs. The revised guidelines employ international standards and recent research, emphasizing practical implementation within the Taiwanese healthcare system.

[The Diverse Development and Clinical Application of Game-Based Learning].

The effectiveness of game-based learning strategies lies in the ability of these strategies to engage learners and enhance their motivation to learn. This is particularly important for today's younger generations, which are known to respond better to visual rather than textual information. Gamified education provides stimulating, realistic, and enjoyable learning experiences, helping students understand complex nursing knowledge and skills.

Thoracic Pyogenic Spondylitis Misdiagnosed As Osteoporotic Compression Fracture Status Post Vertebral Augmentation With Resultant Paraplegia: A Case Report.

This paper describes a case of serious complications following vertebral augmentation resulting from a misdiagnosis of pyogenic spondylitis as osteoporotic compression fracture (OCF). A 56-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus underwent vertebral augmentation following a diagnosis of T10 OCF based on plain film analysis. Note that preoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were not performed.

Left Ventricular Geometry and Inferior Vena Cava Diameter Co-Modify the Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients.

: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) represents a significant cardiovascular risk in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (CHD). A large inferior vena cava diameter (IVCD), potentially indicative of fluid overload and a contributing factor to elevated cardiovascular risk, has not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, our study aims to gain further insights into this aspect.

Continuous aspirin treatment improves cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at heightened risk of adverse vascular events, and aspirin positively affects those outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association between different patterns of aspirin use and clinical vascular events in chronic HD patients with PAD.

Methods: This retrospective nationwide cohort study enrolled 758 chronic HD patients who had been diagnosed with PAD between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2012, and followed up until the end of 2020.

Expiratory Velopharyngeal Obstruction: Sleep Endoscopy-Guided Treatment Strategies to Prevent Oral Breathing During Sleep.

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder, with oral breathing influencing its severity. Expiratory velopharyngeal obstruction (EVO), observed during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), may contribute to oral breathing in OSA patients. EVO results in obstruction between the pharynx and nasal cavity during expiration.

Incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists versus sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors: A population-based cohort study.

Aim: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are both recommended for patients with diabetes, yet their effects on the development or progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) are largely unknown.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from a nationwide database. Patients with diabetes who initiated treatment with a GLP1RA or SGLT2i between 1 May 2016 and 31 December 2017, were identified.

Using Trastuzumab Deruxtecan to treat advanced metastatic breast cancer in patients with varying HER2 expression levels: A single-center experience in Taiwan.

To observe the clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer undergoing Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (T-DXd) therapy in a real-world setting. The study retrospectively reviewed and collected medical data from 13 patients at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital who underwent T-DXd treatment over a period from April 2022 to June 2023. Demographics, pathological characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes were descriptively analyzed.

Recommendations and guidance for herpes zoster vaccination for adults in Taiwan.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful, vesicular, cutaneous eruption from reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV), which can lead to potentially debilitating complications. The lifetime risk of HZ is estimated to be 20%-30% in the general population, with an increased risk in the elderly and immunocompromised populations. The most effective strategy to prevent HZ and its complications is by vaccination.

Benefits of Hepatitis C Viral Eradication: A Real-World Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) increases the risk of liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This nationwide cohort study assessed the effectiveness of viral eradication of CHC.

Methods: The Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C cohort and Taiwan hepatitis C virus (HCV) registry are nationwide HCV registry cohorts incorporating data from 23 and 53 hospitals in Taiwan, respectively.

Effects of the combination of various pharmacological treatments and exercise on knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Purpose: The combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions is strongly recommended by current guidelines for knee osteoarthritis. However, few systematic reviews have validated their combined efficacy. In this study, we investigated the effects of the combination of pharmacological agents and exercise on knee osteoarthritis.