The Impact of Body Mass Index and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia on Bone Health of Middle-Aged and Older Men.

Objective: Osteoporosis significantly affects older adults by reducing bone mass and increasing fracture risk, thereby impacting morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index (BMI), and trabecular bone score (TBS) among middle-aged and older men with or without benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using health examination data from male participants aged 50-98 years collected at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan.

Short-term outcomes after robot-assisted versus open radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus: an analysis of the United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample of 2005-2018.

: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with worse surgical outcomes, and is a risk factor for bladder cancer and subsequent oncological outcomes. This study evaluated outcomes robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) compared to open radical cystectomy (ORC) in patients with DM. : Data of adults ≥ 18 years old with DM who underwent radical cystectomy were extracted from the United States National Inpatient Sample database 2005-2018.

Uncovering the Role of in Prostate Cancer: Insights from Genetic and Expression Analyses.

Biochemical recurrence (BCR) is a critical concern in prostate cancer management; however, its underlying genetic determinants remain poorly understood. The () gene family is involved in cellular detoxification and biosynthetic processes and has been implicated in various cancers. This study investigated the association between the family members and prostate cancer recurrence.

Delayed open-heart operation to remove migrated intracardiac inferior vena cava stents in a living donor liver transplantation recipient: a case report.

Intracardiac migration of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter or stent is a rare but potentially fatal complication of endovascular venous device placement. There is no consensus whether migrated stents should be surgically removed by open cardiac surgery or retrieved by the percutaneous endovascular route and whether an intervention should be performed immediately or expectantly. Herein, we report a 39-year-old female who received emergent left lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) owing to posthepatectomy liver failure.

Intraovarian platelet-rich plasma injection significantly improves blastocyst yield and quality in IVF patients.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in improving ovarian response and embryo quality in IVF patients with poor embryo quality in previous controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles. 74 patients participated, with 30 in the control group and 44 in the PRP group. PRP was injected during the follicular phase for the PRP group.

Paracentesis exceeding three liters increases risks of acute kidney injury even in cirrhotic patients with albumin infused refractory ascites.

Background: Cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites exhibit severe portal hypertension and hemodynamic disturbances. The risks associated modest-volume paracentesis (<5 L) for refractory ascites remains unclear. We aimed to explore the impact of modest-volume paracentesis in refractory ascites.

Baseline Impedance via Manometry Predicts Pathological Mean Nocturnal Baseline Impedance in Isolated Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms.

Background/aims: Distal mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) measuring via pH-impedance may be valuable in diagnosing patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). However, its wide adoption is hindered by cost and invasiveness. This study investigates whether baseline impedance measured during high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM-BI) can predict pathological MNBI.

Health-promoting lifestyle mediates the relationship between mHealth technology acceptance and cognitive function in older adults with chronic diseases.

This study used a cross-sectional design to investigate the mediating role of a health-promoting lifestyle on mobile health technology acceptance and cognitive function. A total of 219 older adults, age 65 years or older, with diagnosed chronic diseases, were recruited from a northern Taiwan community. Participants completed questionnaires including demographic characteristics, the Senior Technology Acceptance Scale, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile Scale, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Performance of Convolutional Neural Network Models in Meningioma Segmentation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Meningioma, the most common primary brain tumor, presents significant challenges in MRI-based diagnosis and treatment planning due to its diverse manifestations. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have shown promise in improving the accuracy and efficiency of meningioma segmentation from MRI scans. This systematic review and meta-analysis assess the effectiveness of CNN models in segmenting meningioma using MRI.

Advanced whole transcriptome sequencing and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation of human keratinocytes.

Introduction: Although the HaCaT keratinocyte model has been used in previous research to study the effects of antipsoriatic agents, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced proliferation and signal transduction in psoriasis-like keratinocytes.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms and pathways associated with psoriasis-like inflammation caused by IMQ in human keratinocytes.

Materials And Methods: HaCaT cells were exposed to different concentrations of IMQ to induce inflammation similar to that observed in psoriasis.

Artificial intelligence-driven prediction and validation of blood-brain barrier permeability and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion profiles in natural product research laboratory compounds.

Introduction: Our previous research demonstrated that a large language model (LLM) based on the transformer architecture, specifically the MegaMolBART encoder with an XGBoost classifier, effectively predicts the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of compounds. However, the permeability coefficients of compounds that can traverse this barrier remain unclear. Additionally, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) characteristics of substances obtained from the Natural Product Research Laboratory (NPRL) at China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) have not yet been determined.

Integrating natural product research laboratory with artificial intelligence: Advancements and breakthroughs in traditional medicine.

The Natural Product Research Laboratory (NPRL) of China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) was established in collaboration with CMUH and Professor Kuo-Hsiung Lee from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The laboratory collection features over 6000 natural products worldwide, including pure compounds and semi-synthetic derivatives. This is the most comprehensive and fully operational natural product database in Taiwan.

2025 Expert Consensus Recommendations for the Diagnostic Requirements in Routine Practices of Transthoracic Echocardiography.

Transthoracic echocardiography plays a crucial role in clinical diagnosis and is increasingly being used around the world. Comprehensive echocardiographic examinations require accurate measurements and the operators to have excellent technical skills. Despite the availability of several published echocardiographic guidelines, the absence of recommended operational manuals in daily practice has resulted in significant variation in the content of echocardiography reports across different medical institutions.

Rhythm Control Better Prevents Stroke than Rate Control in Patients with Concomitant Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population Based Cohort Study with Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risks of stroke and mortality. It remains unclear whether rhythm control reduces the risk of stroke in patients with AF concomitant with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: We identified AF patients with HCM who were ≥ 18 years old in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database.

2025 Update Consensus of Tc-Pyrophosphate Scintigraphy in the Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis from the Taiwan Society of Cardiology and the Society of Nuclear Medicine of the Republic of China.

This 2025 updated consensus outlines the diagnostic strategy for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Given that ATTR-CM is a significant contributor to heart failure, this article emphasizes the importance of making an early and precise diagnosis, particularly as new therapeutic options become available. Highlighting the critical importance of an early and accurate diagnosis, particularly in light of emerging therapeutic modalities, this consensus underscores the central role of Tc-pyrophosphate (PYP) scintigraphy as a non-invasive diagnostic tool.

Identification of a novel Eps 15 homology domain-containing protein 1 (EHD1) and EHD4-binding motif in phostensin.

Phostensin (PTS) encoded by KIAA1949 binds to protein phosphatase 1, F-actin, Eps 15 homology domain-containing protein 1 (EHD1) and EHD4. Most EHD-binding proteins contain a consensus motif, Asn-Pro-Phe (NPF), which interacts with the C-terminal EH domain of EHD proteins. Nevertheless, the NPF motif is absent in PTS.

Vulnerable parafoveal microcirculation quadrant in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss among adults. This study evaluates Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) vessel density (VD) as a marker for DR in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. An observational study was conducted with 47 type 2 DM patients and 21 healthy controls.

Xalnesiran with or without an Immunomodulator in Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background: Xalnesiran, a small interfering RNA molecule that targets a conserved region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome and silences multiple HBV transcripts, may have efficacy, with or without an immunomodulator, in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Methods: We conducted a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, controlled, adaptive, open-label platform trial that included the evaluation of 48 weeks of treatment with xalnesiran at a dose of 100 mg (group 1), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg (group 2), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg plus 150 mg of ruzotolimod (group 3), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg plus 180 μg of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (group 4), or a nucleoside or nucleotide analogue (NA) alone (group 5) in participants with chronic HBV infection who had virologic suppression with NA therapy. The primary efficacy end point was hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss (HBsAg level, <0.

TCF12 and LncRNA MALAT1 Cooperatively Harness High Cyclin D1 but Low β-Catenin Gene Expression to Exacerbate Colorectal Cancer Prognosis Independently of Metastasis.

Metastasis is a well-known factor worsening colorectal cancer (CRC) prognosis, but mortality mechanisms in non-metastatic patients with poor outcomes are less understood. TCF12 is a transcription factor that can be physically associated with the long non-coding RNA MALAT1, creating an alliance with correlated expression levels in CRC patients. This TCF12-MALAT1 alliance is linked to poorer prognosis independently of age and metastasis.

Establishment of the Normative Value of Classical Bluestone's Nine-Step Inflation/Deflation Tympanometric Eustachian Tube Function Test.

Background/objectives: The nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric Eustachian tube function test (commonly referred to as the nine-step test) is a widely utilized method for evaluating Eustachian tube function (ETF). This study aimed to establish normative values for the nine-step test to facilitate the diagnosis of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD).

Methods: A total of 160 adults, including 70 healthy volunteers and 90 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), were recruited for this study.

Osimertinib as Second- and ≥Third-Line Treatment in Advanced and Recurrence EGFR-Mutant NSCLC Patients Harboring Acquired T790M Mutation.

Background/objectives: Osimertinib is a standard sequential therapy for advanced and recurrent Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the T790M mutation, following treatment with first- or second-generation EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs). This study aims to investigate the differences in clinical outcomes between osimertinib as a 2nd-line treatment and as a ≥3rd-line treatment in this patient population.

Methods: Between September 2014 and March 2023, we enrolled advanced and recurrent T790M + NSCLC patients who had received osimertinib as sequential treatment for analysis.

Basal metabolic rate correlates with excess postexercise oxygen consumption across different intensities.

Background: Both the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) can be influenced by physical training and are associated with body composition and aerobic capacity. Although a correlation between the two is expected, this relationship has not been explored. Our hypothesis is that a higher BMR is correlated with lower EPOC.