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.

Impact of Obesity on Perioperative Outcomes in Robotic Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of obesity on the perioperative outcomes in robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD), rarely documented.

Methods: A total of 886 patients undergoing RPD or open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) were enroled. These patients were categorised into the obese RPD, non-obese RPD and obese OPD groups.

Effects of Pancreatic Fistula After Minimally Invasive and Open Pancreatoduodenectomy.

Importance: Postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPF) are the biggest contributor to surgical morbidity and mortality after pancreatoduodenectomy. The impact of POPF could be influenced by the surgical approach.

Objective: To assess the clinical impact of POPF in patients undergoing minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) and open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD).

2024 Guidelines of the Taiwan Society of Cardiology on the Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease --- Part II.

For the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the recommended treatment target for each modifiable risk factor is as follows: reducing body weight by 5-10%; blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg (systolic pressure < 120 mmHg in high-risk individuals); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) < 100 mg/dL in high-risk individuals, LDL-C < 115 mg/dL in moderate-risk individuals, LDL-C < 130 mg/dL in low-risk individuals, and LDL-C < 160 mg/dL in those with a minimal; complete and persistent abstinence from cigarette smoking; hemoglobin A1C < 7.0%; fulfilling recommended amounts of the six food groups according to the Taiwan food guide; and moderate-intensity physical activity 150 min/wk or vigorous physical activity 75 min/wk. For the primary prevention of ASCVD by pharmacological treatment in individuals with modifiable risk factors/clinical conditions, statins are the first-line therapy for reducing LDL-C levels; some specific anti-diabetic drugs proven to be effective in randomized controlled trials for the primary prevention of ASCVD are recommended in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; pharmacological treatment is recommended to assist in weight management for obese patients with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m (or 27 kg/m who also have at least one ASCVD risk factor or obesity-related comorbidity); an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, a sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, and finerenone can be used in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease for the primary prevention of ASCVD.

Onyx as an adjunctive embolic material for transvenous embolization of cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula after coiling.

Background: Transvenous coil embolization (TVCE) is a common and effective treatment for cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (CSDAVFs). However, some patients may experience residual fistulas or worsening visual symptoms after the procedure. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of transvenous coil and Onyx embolization (TVCOE) with TVCE in treating CSDAVFs.

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.

Geographical variation in patient characteristics and outcomes in heart failure with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Compared to heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) are increasing in prevalence, yet little is known about the geographic variation in patient characteristics, treatments and outcomes among these two HF phenotypes. The aim of this study was to investigate geographic differences in HFpEF and HFmrEF.

Methods And Results: We conducted an individual patient analysis of five clinical trials enrolling patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF from North America (NA), Latin America (LA), Western Europe (WE), Central/Eastern Europe and Russia (CEER), and Asia-Pacific (AP).

Enhanced Proteomic Coverage in Tissue Microenvironment by Immune Cell Subtype Library-Assisted DIA-MS.

Immune cells that infiltrate the tumor microenvironment (TME) play crucial roles in shaping cancer development and influencing clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses. However, obtaining a comprehensive proteomic snapshot of tumor-infiltrating immunity in clinical specimens is often hindered by small sample amounts and a low proportion of immune infiltrating cells in the TME. To enable in-depth and highly sensitive profiling of microscale tissues, we established an immune cell-enriched library-assisted strategy for data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS).

Increased expression of the kynurenine pathway in mice with eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the major cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide. The imbalance of neurotoxic and neuroprotective metabolites in the kynurenine pathway (KP) have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) infection. We hypothesized that KP may also be involved in parasitic eosinophilic meningitis.

A Facile NMR Method for Pre-MRI Evaluation of Trigger-Responsive T Contrast Enhancement.

There is a growing interest in developing paramagnetic nanoparticles as responsive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, which feature switchable T image contrast of water protons upon biochemical cues for better discerning diseases. However, performing an MRI is pragmatically limited by its cost and availability. Hence, a facile, routine method for measuring the T contrast is highly desired in early-stage development.

The emerging role of cell-free DNA as a molecular marker for duodenal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Duodenal adenocarcinoma is rare and its prognostic factors remain controversial. In our study, the role of cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) as prognostic factor in duodenal adenocarcinoma was evaluated.

Methods: From June 2003 to July 2021, plasma samples were collected from 41 patients with duodenal adenocarcinoma.

TENAYA and LUCERNE: Two-Year Results from the Phase 3 Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Trials of Faricimab with Treat-and-Extend Dosing in Year 2.

Purpose: To evaluate 2-year efficacy, durability, and safety of the bispecific antibody faricimab, which inhibits both angiopoietin-2 and VEGF-A.

Design: TENAYA (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT03823287) and LUCERNE (ClinicalTrials.

Logistic Regression Is Non-Inferior to the Response Surface Model in Patient Response Prediction of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery.

Response surface models (RSMs) are a new trend in modern anesthesia. RSMs have demonstrated significant applicability in the field of anesthesia. However, the comparative analysis between RSMs and logistic regression (LR) in different surgeries remains relatively limited in the current literature.