Long-term exposure to NO and PM and the occurrence of chronic kidney disease among patients with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan.

Background: Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) frequently exhibit chronic kidney disease (CKD) which may be caused by environmental hazards such as exposure to air pollutants. However, limited research has explored the effects of prolonged exposure to air pollutants on CKD development in this population. This study examines the relationship between long-term exposure to air pollutants and CKD incidence in a longitudinal cohort of individuals with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan METHODS: Between 2003 and 2005, we recruited 1316 T2D patients (693 females [52.

Higher Risk of Psychiatric Disorders in Children With Febrile Seizures: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Febrile seizures occur commonly in children aged between six months and six years. A previous Danish study found a positive correlation between febrile seizures and the overall incidence of psychiatric disorders. This population-based nationwide observational study was conducted to investigate the association between febrile seizures and different psychiatric disorders in Taiwan and the associated risk factors.

Effect of Low-Dose Aspirin in Preventing Early-Onset Preeclampsia in the Taiwanese Population-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of low-dose aspirin on preventing early-onset preeclampsia during first-trimester screening using maternal factors and biochemistry.

Patients And Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with singleton pregnancies at a gestational age of 11-13 weeks from May 2017 to August 2019. Serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A)/placental growth factor (PLGF) and maternal demographic and clinical characteristics were collected and analyzed using a logistic regression model with a preset detection rate of 74% and a 10% false-positive rate.

RET Regulates Human Medullary Thyroid Cancer Cell Proliferation through CDK5 and STAT3 Activation.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a neuroendocrine tumor that arises from the parafollicular C-cells, which produces the hormone calcitonin. RET is a transmembrane receptor protein-tyrosine kinase, which is highly expressed in MTC. Our previous studies reported that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) plays a crucial role in cancer progression, including MTC.

Effective treatment of tubal angiomyofibroblastoma via laparoscopic complete resection.

Angiomyofibroblastoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor usually originating from the vulva and vagina with only one reported case arising from fallopian tube. We describe a second case of tubal angiomyofibroblastoma treated successfully with laparoscopic complete resection.

Kefir peptides alleviate particulate matter <4 μm (PM)-induced pulmonary inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway using luciferase transgenic mice.

Kefir peptides, generated by kefir grain fermentation of milk proteins, showed positive antioxidant effects, lowered blood pressure and modulated the immune response. In this study, kefir peptide was evaluated regarding their anti-inflammatory effects on particulate matter <4 μm (PM)-induced lung inflammation in NF-κB-luciferase transgenic mice. The lungs of mice under 20 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg PM treatments, both increased significantly the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines; increased the protein expression levels of p-NF-κB, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4 and α-SMA.

Future Aspects of CDK5 in Prostate Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Therapeutic Implications.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is a unique member of the cyclin-dependent kinase family. CDK5 is activated by binding with its regulatory proteins, mainly p35, and its activation is essential in the development of the central nervous system (CNS) and neurodegeneration. Recently, it has been reported that CDK5 plays important roles in regulating various biological and pathological processes, including cancer progression.

A mini-pig model for evaluating the efficacy of autologous platelet patches on induced acute full thickness wound healing.

Background: Autologous platelet concentrates are currently widely used across different areas of regenerative medicine in order to enhance the wound healing process. Although several protocols for platelet concentrates are available, their application remains difficult due to different protocols leading to distinct products with vary potential biological uses. In this study, we attempted to make a platelet patch (PP) using mixtures of platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection and platelet rich fibrin (PRF) to promote wound repair and regeneration.

Arecoline Promotes Migration of A549 Lung Cancer Cells through Activating the EGFR/Src/FAK Pathway.

Arecoline is the primary alkaloid in betel nuts, which are known as a risk factor for oral submucosal fibrosis and oral cancer. Lung cancer is a severe type of carcinoma with high cell motility that is difficult to treat. However, the detailed mechanisms of the correlation between Arecoline and lung cancer are not fully understood.

Impact of a home health care program for disabled patients in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of home health care (HHC) for disabled patients.We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study. A total of 5838 disabled patients with HHC were identified to match by propensity score with 15,829 disabled patients without HHC receiving tube or catheter care (tracheostomy tube, nasogastric tube, urinary catheter, cystostomy tube, nephrostomy tube) or stage 3 or 4 pressure sore care from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database between 2005 and 2009.

The Impact of Local Intervention Combined with Targeted Therapy on Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: We performed a retrospective survey on our metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) patients who had received targeted therapies, and afterwards evaluated the clinical impacts of local interventions on the patient outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Between 2006 and 2016, 124 patients with MRCC who had received at least one line of tyrosine kinase inhibitors or mammalian target of rapamycin were included in the study. Seventy-five patients (60.

Increased risk for major depressive disorder in severely obese patients after bariatric surgery - a 12-year nationwide cohort study.

Background: Bariatric surgery is associated with a significant improvement in depressive mood in the initial postoperative years, but the maintenance of the improvement is under debate.

Aim: To explore the association between bariatric surgery and major depressive disorder (MDD) in a 12-year nationwide cohort study.

Method: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we identified 2302 patients who underwent bariatric surgery in 2001-2009.

Effects of long-term exposure to CO and PM on microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes.

Objective: No study has examined the effects of air pollutants on albuminuria in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the present study investigated this association.

Methods: This follow-up study enrolled 812 patients with type 2 diabetes between 2003 and 2012.

Risk of bipolar disorder in patients with COPD: a population-based cohort study.

Bakcground: Few studies have investigated the relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bipolar outcomes in the world. We sought to investigate the association between COPD and risk of bipolar disorder in a large national sample.

Methods: The insured aged 15 years or more with a new primary diagnosis of COPD (ICD-9: 491, 492, 494 and 496) between 2000 and 2007 were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Reduction of microRNA-184 by E6 oncoprotein confers cisplatin resistance in lung cancer via increasing Bcl-2.

MicroRNA-184 suppresses cell growth and survival via targeting c-Myc and Bcl- 2. We recently reported that miR-184 promotes tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer via targeting CDC25A and c-Myc. We here hypothesized that miR-184 could be down-regulated by E6 oncoprotein to confer cisplatin resistance in NSCLC.

Morbidity, mortality, associated injuries, and management of traumatic rib fractures.

Background: Thoracic trauma is responsible for approximately 25% of trauma deaths, and rib fractures are present in as many as 40-80% of patients, and intensive care and/or ventilator support are frequently required for these patients. To identify their risk factors would improve treatment strategies for these patients.

Methods: Between March 2005 and December 2013, consecutive patients with blunt thoracic trauma, who were admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Tungs' Taichung Metro Harbor Hospital (Taichung, Taiwan), were reviewed in this retrospective cohort study with the approval of the Institutional Review Board.