Number of Previous Strokes and the Association With Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Longitudinal Data From the GLORIA-AF Registry.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who suffered a previous stroke are at increased risk of recurrent thromboembolic events and other major outcomes. The impact of the number of stroke episodes on the natural history of patients with AF is still unclear.

Methods And Results: Using data from the international, multicenter, and prospective GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Registry Phase III, we categorized patients with a recent diagnosis of non-valvular AF according to the number of previous strokes (either 0, 1, or ≥2 episodes).

Two-year clinical outcomes of Taiwanese and other Asian ethnicities with atrial fibrillation treated with edoxaban in the ETNA-AF Asia registry.

Background: The non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC), edoxaban, is approved for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in many Asian countries. Nonetheless, data on its long-term effectiveness and safety in routine clinical practice are limited in Taiwan.

Methods: The Global ETNA-AF (Edoxaban Treatment in routiNe clinical prActice) registry is an observational study that integrates data of AF patients receiving edoxaban from multiple regional registries.

First in Asia: Ventricular tachycardia ablation in patients with mechanical aortic and mitral valves using right atrium to left ventricle approach.

With the cases of mechanical valves, especially double mitral and aortic valves, ablation at the left ventricle is very challenging. This case report used equipments that are readily available in the Electrophysiology laboratory, which can make the access feasible.

High-density mapping in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in Asia Pacific region: An observational study.

Background: Few clinical studies of atrial fibrillation (AF) have focused on Asian patients; data are lacking on current mapping and ablation strategies in the Asia Pacific region (APAC).

Objective: The HD Mapping Observational Study (NCT04022954) was designed to characterize electroanatomic mapping (EAM) with market-released high-density mapping (HDM) catheters in subjects with AF in APAC.

Methods: Subjects undergoing HDM and indicated for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat AF were prospectively enrolled in APAC.

Outcomes of upfront primary tumor resection in patients with synchronous wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

This multicenter study explored the survival benefits of upfront primary tumor resection (PTR) followed by first-line cetuximab plus chemotherapy in real-world patients with wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Treatment options for mCRC include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. The efficacy of upfront PTR in managing mCRC remains unclear.

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.

Metabolic Outcomes of Changing From Rilpivirine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine to Rilpivirine/Tenofovir Alafenamide/Emtricitabine: A Longitudinal Study.

Background And Aims: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PLWH) are aging, and there are growing concerns regarding combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)-associated negative metabolic consequences. We aimed to investigate the metabolic outcomes of PLWH by replacing rilpivirine (RPV)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) with RPV/tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)/FTC.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled PLWH who changed from RPV/TDF/FTC to RPV/TAF/FTC between January 2019 and September 2023.

Performance of the novel ANTWERP score in predicting heart function improvement after atrial fibrillation ablation in Asian patients with heart failure.

Background: Previous research has demonstrated that atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation improves heart function variably among patients. We proposed that the ANTWERP score, which was validated in a European group of patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who had AF ablation, would be valid in an Asian group as well. The purpose of the study is to examine how well a new scoring system (the ANTWERP score) can predict heart function improvement after atrial fibrillation ablation in Asian patients with heart failure.

Customized GPT model largely increases surgery decision accuracy for pharmaco-resistant epilepsy.

Background: To develop an enhanced epilepsy diagnosis system by integrating an expert-informed ontology with a custom generative pre-trained transformer (GPT), validated by inferring possible seizure lateralization and localization using retrospective textual data from the pre-surgical assessments of patients with pharmaco-resistant epilepsy (PRE).

Methods: We developed an AI system for epilepsy diagnosis using Protégé with OWL/SWRL, integrating a knowledge base with seizure semiology, seizure types EEG descriptors, expert insights, and literature to pinpoint seizure locations. A customized GPT model was then tailored for specific diagnostic needs.

Intravenous thrombolysis following dabigatran reversal in a patient with acute embolic stroke after atrial fibrillation ablation.

This case demonstrated the feasibility of administering emergent intravenous thrombolysis followed by Dabigatran reversal with idarucizumab in a patient who underwent atrial fibrillation ablation. The consideration of transitioning anticoagulant therapy to dabigatran for scheduled AF ablation in patients at high risk of stroke should be carefully evaluated.

Risk of Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage After Stroke: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Stroke and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) are major causes of disability worldwide, with stroke exerting significant negative effects on the brain, potentially elevating tICH risk. In this study, we investigated tICH risk in stroke survivors.

Methods And Results: Using relevant data (2017-2019) from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Development and validation of deep learning models for identifying the brand of pedicle screws on plain spine radiographs.

Background: In spinal revision surgery, previous pedicle screws (PS) may need to be replaced with new implants. Failure to accurately identify the brand of PS-based instrumentation preoperatively may increase the risk of perioperative complications. This study aimed to develop and validate an optimal deep learning (DL) model to identify the brand of PS-based instrumentation on plain radiographs of spine (PRS) using anteroposterior (AP) and lateral images.

Using computed tomography to evaluate anatomic landmarks in Taiwanese trauma patients for insertion of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Hemorrhage, particularly from noncompressible torso hemorrhage (NCTH) in the abdominopelvic region, is a leading cause of preventable trauma deaths. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA), designed for aortic occlusion, has emerged as a tool for temporary hemorrhage control in recent years. However, attaining optimal REBOA placement in diverse demographic groups, such as Asian populations, may pose challenges owing to unique anatomical and physiological differences.

IDH2 mutation accelerates TPO-induced myelofibrosis with enhanced S100a8/a9 and NFκB signaling in vivo.

Introduction: mutation is an unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) but its effect on myelofibrosis (MF) remains largely unclear.

Methods: In this study, we aimed to elucidate the roles of mutation in the development and progression of MF by transcriptomic and molecular techniques using the transgenic mice.

Results: We found that thrombopoietin (TPO)-overexpressed ( + TPO) mice had accelerated progression to MF, compared with TPO-overexpressed wild (WT + TPO) mice, showing activation of multiple inflammatory pathways, among which nuclear factor κB (NFκB) was the most significantly enhanced.

The use of overlapping self-expandable covered stents in the management of long-segment tracheobronchomalacia: A case report.

Tracheomalacia is a condition where the tracheal wall is abnormally soft and prone to collapse during increased respiratory efforts. Airway malacia can manifest as segmental conditions like laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia and bronchomalacia, or as diffuse conditions such as tracheobronchomalacia (TBM). Unlike long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis, where surgery may be the preferred treatment, the management of long-segment TBM remains controversial.

Promoter methylation and increased expression of PD-L1 in patients with active tuberculosis.

The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway plays a pivotal role in T cell activity and is involved in the pathophysiology of (MTB) infection. DNA methylation is a mechanism that modulates PD-L1 expression in cancer cells. However, its effect on PD-L1 expression in macrophages after MTB infection remains unknown.

RAB31 drives extracellular vesicle fusion and cancer-associated fibroblast formation leading to oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with tumorigenesis and drug resistance. The Rab superfamily of small G-proteins plays a role in regulating cell cytoskeleton and vesicle transport. However, it is not yet clear how the Rab family contributes to cancer progression by participating in EMT.

Can immersive olfactory training serve as an alternative treatment for patients with smell dysfunction?

Objectives: Olfactory training (OT) has emerged as a first-line therapeutic approach to the management of olfactory dysfunction. Conventional OT (COT) involves the systematic home-based exposure to four distinct odors. Previous research has demonstrated that immersive OT (IOT) involving full-body exposure to dozens of distinct odors could also improve overall olfactory function.

The salvage lenvatinib-based regimen provides survival benefit in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

Salvage treatment for refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has yet to be identified. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a salvage lenvatinib-based regimen for refractory mCRC. In total, 371 patients were categorized into lenvatinib-based and non-lenvatinib-based groups.

The lncRNA TPT1-AS1 promotes the survival of neuroendocrine prostate cancer cells by facilitating autophagy.

The lncRNA tumor protein translationally controlled 1-antisense RNA 1 (TPT1-AS1) is known for its oncogenic role in various cancers, but its impact on the pathological progression of prostate cancer remains unclear. Our previous study demonstrated that the RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) regulates neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in prostate cancer (PCA) by derepressing specific long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), including TPT1-AS1. In this study, we revealed that TPT1-AS1 is overexpressed in LNCaP and C4-2B cells after IL-6 and enzalutamide treatment.

Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Treated Isolated Diastolic Hypertension and Isolated Low Diastolic Blood Pressure.

Background: The prognosis of high or markedly low diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with normalized on-treatment systolic blood pressure on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) is uncertain. This study examined whether treated isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) and treated isolated low DBP (ILDBP) were associated with MACEs in patients with hypertension.

Methods And Results: A total of 7582 patients with on-treatment systolic blood pressure <130 mm Hg from SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) were categorized on the basis of average DBP: <60 mm Hg (n=1031; treated ILDBP), 60 to 79 mm Hg (n=5432), ≥80 mm Hg (n=1119; treated IDH).

Sodium Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors Versus Metformin on Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Patients With Diabetes With Low Cardiovascular Risk: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: This study investigated whether initial SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitor-based treatment is superior to metformin-based regimens as a primary prevention strategy among low-risk patients with diabetes.

Methods And Results: In this nationwide cohort study, a total of 38 496 patients with diabetes with low cardiovascular risk were identified (age 62.0±11.