Associations between dietary patterns and stages of chronic kidney disease.

Background: Studies have revealed that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have dietary patterns different from those of the general population. However, no studies have compared the dietary patterns of between patients with early-stages (stages 1-3a) and late-stages (stages 3b-5) of CKD. Our objective was to investigate the associations between dietary patterns in early and late-stage CKD.

Taiwan's Response to Influenza: A Seroepidemiological Evaluation of Policies and Implications for Pandemic Preparedness.

Objectives: To evaluate class suspension and mass vaccination implemented among Taipei schoolchildren during the 2009 influenza pandemic and investigate factors affecting antibody responses.

Methods: We conducted 2 cohort studies on: (1) 972 schoolchildren from November 2009-March 2010 to evaluate pandemic policies and (2) 935 schoolchildren from November 2011-March 2012 to verify factors in antibody waning. Anti-influenza H1N1pdm09 hemagglutination inhibition antibodies (HI-Ab) were measured from serum samples collected before vaccination, and at 1 and 4 months after vaccination.

Factors Associated with Significant Platelet Count Improvement in Thrombocytopenic Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Receiving Direct-Acting Antivirals.

To clarify the predictive factors of significant platelet count improvement in thrombocytopenic chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. CHC patients with baseline platelet counts of <150 × 10/μL receiving direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy with at least 12-weeks post-treatment follow-up (PTW12) were enrolled. Significant platelet count improvement was defined as a ≥10% increase in platelet counts at PTW12 from baseline.

When Does Da Vanci Robotic Surgical Systems Come Into Play?

The emergent of medical science and technology has risen the minimally invasive surgery. Da Vinci Robotic Surgical Systems (RSS) is the trend at present. Compared with the past surgical methods, many studies related to RSS tend to explore postoperative outcomes and quality of life or compare the advantages and disadvantages than the other surgery.

Invasive lobular carcinoma enclosed by a benign phyllodes tumor: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Phyllodes tumors (PT) account for approximately 1% of all breast tumors. The coexistence of phyllodes tumor and invasive lobular carcinoma in the ipsilateral breast is extremely rare with fewer than six cases reported worldwide in the last 20 years. We hereby present the first in Taiwan.

Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for HCV genotype 1, 2, 4-6 infection: Real-world evidence from a nationwide registry in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: The Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL) HCV Registry (TACR) is a nationwide registry of chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan. This study evaluated antiviral effectiveness of ledipasvir (LDV)/sofosbuvir (SOF) in patients in the TACR.

Methods: Patients enrolled in TACR from 2017-2020 treated with LDV/SOF were eligible.

Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir for Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Real-World Effectiveness and Safety from a Nationwide Registry in Taiwan.

Introduction: Pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals are expected to cure hepatitis C virus (HCV) in more than 95% of treated patients. However, data on the effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) in Taiwan are limited. This study aims to characterize the patient population in the nationwide Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL) HCV Registry and evaluate treatment outcome in Taiwanese patients receiving SOF/VEL.

Nationwide registry of glecaprevir plus pibrentasvir in the treatment of HCV in Taiwan.

The study evaluated the real-world treatment outcomes of Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) including effectiveness, safety and healthcare resource utilization based on a nation-wide registry in Taiwan. The Taiwan HCV Registry (TACR) is a nation-wide platform organized and supervised by the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver. Data were analyzed for patients treated with GLE/PIB, including 3144 patients who had treatment outcome available.

A novel low-molecular-weight chitosan/gamma-polyglutamic acid polyplexes for nucleic acid delivery into zebrafish larvae.

Many challenges, such as virus infection, extreme weather and long cultivation periods, during the development of fish larvae have been observed, especially in aquaculture. Gene delivery is a useful method to express functional genes to defend against these challengers. However, the methods for fish larvae are insufficient.

A low serum iron level is a potential predictor of poor renal function in patients following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a retrospective study.

This study aimed to assess the association of serum iron level (Iron) with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after bariatric surgery (BS). We reviewed 210 patients with mean age of 39.1 ± 10.

Quantitative physical examination indicators to detect patients with stenosis at a high risk of thrombosis at hemodialysis vascular access sites: A retrospective case-control study.

Background: Quantitative physical examination (PE) indicators, including palpable pulsatility length and outflow scores, can be used to quantify stenosis severity at hemodialysis vascular access sites. It is known that the risk of high-shear-related thrombosis is increased when the minimal luminal diameter (MLD) of stenosis decreases. At present, MLD is measured using sonography or angiography.

Transarterial chemoembolization as a part of multi-modality treatment with drug-eluting beads for locally advanced breast cancer: A case report.

Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is generally treated with combined-modality therapy including systemic chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy due to its nature of rapid onset of metastatic disease and poor prognosis. In this case report, we present a 61-year-old female who suffered from a huge protruding breast mass (16.2cm) with superficial ulcerative wound noted for three months.

Exploration of Preventable Hospitalizations for Colorectal Cancer with the National Cancer Control Program in Taiwan.

Background: Causing more than 40,000 deaths each year, cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and preventable hospitalizations (PH) in Taiwan. To reduce the incidence and severity of cancer, the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) includes screening for various types of cancer. A cohort study was conducted to explore the long-term trends in PH/person-years following NCCP intervention from 1997 to 2013.

Identification of Dipeptidyl Peptidase (DPP) Family Genes in Clinical Breast Cancer Patients via an Integrated Bioinformatics Approach.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease involving complex interactions of biological processes; thus, it is important to develop therapeutic biomarkers for treatment. Members of the dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) family are metalloproteases that specifically cleave dipeptides. This family comprises seven members, including DPP3, DPP4, DPP6, DPP7, DPP8, DPP9, and DPP10; however, information on the involvement of DPPs in breast cancer is lacking in the literature.

Impact of Sofosbuvir-Based Direct-Acting Antivirals on Renal Function in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients With Impaired Renal Function: A Large Cohort Study From the Nationwide HCV Registry Program (TACR).

Background & Aims: Sofosbuvir is approved for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). The impact of sofosbuvir-based therapy on renal function augmentation on a real-world nationwide basis is elusive.

Methods: The 12,995 CHC patients treated with sofosbuvir-based (n = 6802) or non-sofosbuvir-based (n = 6193) regimens were retrieved from the Taiwan nationwide real-world HCV Registry Program.

Multidisciplinary Care after Acute Care for Stroke: A Prospective Comparison between a Multidisciplinary Post-Acute Care Group and a Standard Group Matched by Propensity Score.

In this large-scale prospective cohort study, a propensity score matching method was applied in a natural experimental design to investigate how post-acute care (PAC) after stroke affects functional status and to identify predictors of functional status. The main objective of this study was to examine longitudinal changes in various measures of functional status in stroke patients and predictors of scores for these measures before and after PAC. A group of patients who had received PAC for stroke at one of two medical centers (PAC group, = 273) was compared with a group who had received standard care for stroke at one of four hospitals (three regional hospital and one district hospital; non-PAC group, = 273) in Taiwan from March, 2014, to October, 2018.

Longitudinal changes in physical and mental health of older adults with chronic hepatitis B infection: Trajectories and predictors.

Despite the increasing health burden of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in aging populations, little is known about the course of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes. We aimed to assess individual-level longitudinal HRQoL changes in elderly patients with CHB and to examine their correlates. A prospective 5.

Histone Methyltransferase G9a-Promoted Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Is Targeted by Liver-Specific Hsa-miR-122.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of primary liver cancers, which is the second most lethal tumor worldwide. Epigenetic deregulation is a common trait observed in HCC. Recently, increasing evidence suggested that the G9a histone methyltransferase might be a novel regulator of HCC development.

Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Gelatin and Gelatin Hydrolysates Obtained from Extrusion-Pretreated Fish ( sp.) Scales.

Fish gelatin and its hydrolysates exhibit a variety of biological characteristics, which include antihypertensive and antioxidant properties. In this study, fish gelatins were extracted from extrusion-pretreated tilapia scales, and then subjected to analyses to determine the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of the extracted gelatins. Our findings indicate that TSG2 (preconditioned with 1.

Comparison of Dizziness Factors for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with and without Dizziness: A Factor Analysis and Propensity Score Model Study.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes major socioeconomic problems worldwide. In the United States, nearly three-quarters of patients with TBI have mild TBI (mTBI). 32% of these patients may develop dizziness.

A Bioinformatics Analysis Identifies the Telomerase Inhibitor MST-312 for Treating High-STMN1-Expressing Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a relatively chemo-resistant tumor. Several multi-kinase inhibitors have been approved for treating advanced HCC. However, most HCC patients are highly refractory to these drugs.

RGL2 Drives the Metastatic Progression of Colorectal Cancer via Preventing the Protein Degradation of β-Catenin and KRAS.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers and results in high mortality worldwide, owing to cancer progression, i.e., metastasis.

Hippocampal Malrotation: A Genetic Developmental Anomaly Related to Epilepsy?

Hippocampal malrotation (HIMAL) is an increasingly recognized neuroimaging feature but the clinical correlation and significance in epilepsies remain under debate. It is characterized by rounded hippocampal shape, deep collateral, or occipitotemporal sulcus, and medial localization of the hippocampus. In this review, we describe the embryonic development of the hippocampus and HIMAL, the qualitative and quantitative diagnosis issues, and the pathological findings of HIMAL.