Garcinia Multiflora Inhibits FPR1-Mediated Neutrophil Activation and Protects Against Acute Lung Injury.

Background/aims: Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) recognize different endogenous and exogenous molecular stimuli and mediate neutrophil activation. Dysregulation of excessive neutrophil activation and the resulting immune responses can induce acute lung injury (ALI) in the host. Accordingly, one promising approach to the treatment of neutrophil-dominated inflammatory diseases involves therapeutic FPR1 inhibition.

What's wrong with neutrophils in lupus?

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) act by promoting phagocytosis, and are regarded as the first line of defense against pathogen invasion. However, recent investigations have revealed that they have many previously unknown functions. These functions include mitogen-induced cell-mediated cytotoxicity, production of cytokines/chemokines/growth factors, and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and ectosomes/exosomes.

Differences between national and international guidelines for the management of diabetic foot disease.

Aim: No studies have investigated if national guidelines to manage diabetic foot disease differ from international guidelines. This study aimed to compare guidelines of Western Pacific nations with the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) guidance documents.

Methods: The 77 recommendations in five chapters of the 2015 IWGDF guidance documents were used as the international gold standard reference.

Madelung Disease: Analysis of Clinicopathological Experience in Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Background: The main feature of Madelung disease (MD), a rare condition, is the growth of adipose tissue without a capsule. Usually, this disease is known for its prominent features with fat deposition around the neck, shoulder, back, or chest wall. Clinically, the patient is likely to exhibit alcohol, neuropathy, and metabolic disorders; however, no clear cause has been confirmed.

Alirocumab Reduces Total Nonfatal Cardiovascular and Fatal Events: The ODYSSEY OUTCOMES Trial.

Background: The ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) trial compared alirocumab with placebo, added to high-intensity or maximum-tolerated statin treatment, after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in 18,924 patients. Alirocumab reduced the first occurrence of the primary composite endpoint and was associated with fewer all-cause deaths.

Objectives: This pre-specified analysis determined the extent to which alirocumab reduced total (first and subsequent) nonfatal cardiovascular events and all-cause deaths in ODYSSEY OUTCOMES.

Angiotensin-(1-7) attenuates organ injury and mortality in rats with polymicrobial sepsis.

Background: Sepsis and related multiple organ dysfunction result in high morbidity and mortality. Angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7), a biologically active peptide, has various opposing effects of Ang II. Because the effect of Ang-(1-7) on sepsis is unknown, in this study we aimed to determine the impact of Ang-(1-7) on pathophysiologic changes in a clinically relevant model of polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

Can mesenchymal stem cell lysate reverse aging?

Recent findings regarding uses of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-lysate on weight loss and improved glucose tolerance in mice on a high-fat diet suggest an encouraging possibility of using MSC lysate for an anti-aging intervention in humans. However, weight loss and lipopenia during late life can be as life-threatening as hyperglycemia during early adulthood. For this 3-year lifelong experiment, a total of 92 rats were randomized into the vehicle-injected group (F=22; M=24) and the MSC lysate injected group (F=22, M=24).

Clinical characteristics of patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 during the 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 clade 6B/6B.1/6B.2-predominant outbreaks.

A novel pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus emerged in 2009 globally, and it continues to circulate in humans. The National Influenza Surveillance Network in Taiwan identified five A(H1N1)pdm09-predominant seasons, representing the 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2012/2013, 2013/2014, and 2015/2016 outbreaks from 2009 to 2016. Independently, a retrospective cohort study (which enrolled 639 infected patients during the five seasons) was conducted at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital to explore the risk factors associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09-related complications.

Simplified quantification of N-ammonia PET myocardial blood flow: A comparative study with the standard compartment model to facilitate clinical use.

Background: Short imaging protocol to quantify myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) may enhance the clinical application of N-ammonia cardiac PET. We assessed the flow quantitation of N-ammonia PET implementing simple retention model and two-compartment model.

Methods: Fourteen healthy volunteers (HVT) and twenty-three clinical patients received N-ammonia PET/CT.

Treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with delayed first intrathecal therapy and omission of prophylactic cranial irradiation: Results of the TPOG-ALL-2002 study.

Background: To eliminate cranial irradiation (CrRT)-related sequelae and to minimize the adverse impact of traumatic lumbar puncture (TLP) with blasts, the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG) introduced a modified central nervous system (CNS)-directed regimen characterized by delayed triple intrathecal therapy (TIT) and the omission of CrRT for all children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: This study compared the treatment outcomes of patients overall and patients with a non-CNS-1 status (CNS-2, CNS-3, or TLP with blasts) in 2 treatment eras, one before and another after the revision of the TPOG-ALL-2002 protocol by the introduction of the modification (era 1 [2002-2008] with CrRT and era 2 [2009-2012] with delayed first TIT and no CrRT).

Results: There were no statistically significant differences in major outcomes between the 903 patients treated in era 1 and the 444 patients treated in era 2: the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rates were 75.

Clinical outcomes associated with anti-coagulant therapy in patients with renal infarction.

Background: Patients with renal infarction are vulnerable to thromboembolic complications with poor outcomes. There is limited report concerning the effect of anti-coagulant therapy in this population.

Aim: To assess the impact of anti-coagulant therapy on outcomes in patients with renal infarction.

A single-institution study of predisposing factors of patients with BAVMs to flow-related aneurysm.

Background And Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess the potential risk factors leading to flow-related aneurysm (FA) formation in patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) in Taiwanese.

Methods: We recruited 890 patients with BAVMs: 72 had FA(s) and 818 did not. Several factors were assessed including patient's age, gender, BAVM volume and location, and Spetzler-Martin grade.

Associations between environmental heavy metal exposure and childhood asthma: A population-based study.

Background/purpose: The health risks of environmental heavy metals have been of concern are well known. The greater likelihood of heavy metal contamination in the physical environment increases the risk of asthma, especially in children. This cross-sectional, population-based study sought to investigate associations between heavy metal exposure and childhood asthma or wheezing.

H. pylori infection and extra-gastroduodenal diseases.

Helicobacter pylori infection is the principal cause of peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Recent studies have shown that it may interfere with many biological processes and determine or influence the occurrence of many diseases outside the stomach. Currently, the role of H.

Association of the Graft Size and Arthrofibrosis in Young Patients After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Introduction: This study investigated the association of graft-related surgical factors and patient characteristics with the odds of arthrofibrosis after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R).

Methods: A retrospective case-control study assessed consecutive patients who underwent primary ACL-R in one tertiary pediatric hospital. Each arthrofibrosis case was matched to three controls for sex, calendar year, and age at the time of ACL-R, as well as the primary surgeon.

Antithrombotic Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report.

Background: The risk of stroke is heterogeneous across different groups of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), being dependent on the presence of various stroke risk factors. We provide recommendations for antithrombotic treatment based on net clinical benefit for patients with AF at varying levels of stroke risk and in a number of common clinical scenarios.

Methods: Systematic literature reviews were conducted to identify relevant articles published from the last formal search perfomed for the Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (9th Edition).

Patient response prediction with logistic regression in gastrointestinal endoscopy under midazolam-alfentanil sedation performed as well as response surface model.

Background: Researchers have used logistic regression (LR) and non-linear response surface models (RSMs) to predict patient responses to sedation. The reduced Greco and hierarchy RSMs have proven to be more appropriate than other RSMs in gastrointestinal endoscopies using midazolam and alfentanil. In this study, we evaluate the performance of a simpler model, LR, and compared it with that of RSM.

Association of Intracranial Hemorrhage Risk With Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Use vs Aspirin Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) might be an attractive choice for stroke prevention in people without atrial fibrillation who may harbor a potential source of cardiac emboli, but not if certain individual NOACs carry risks of intracranial hemorrhage that are heightened relative to aspirin.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to assess the risk of intracranial hemorrhage with individual NOACs vs aspirin across all indications.

Data Sources: We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.

Tracheal sounds accurately detect apnea in patients recovering from anesthesia.

Apnea should be monitored continuously in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) to avoid serious complications. It has been confirmed that tracheal sounds can be used to detect apnea during sedation in healthy subjects, but the performance of this acoustic method has not been evaluated in patients with frequent apnea events in the PACU. Tracheal sounds were acquired from the patients in the PACU using a microphone encased in a plastic bell.

Comparison between robotic and open pancreaticoduodenectomy with modified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy: A propensity score-matched study.

Background: This study is to clarify the feasibility of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy in terms of surgical risks, clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, and oncologic outcomes compared with open pancreaticoduodenectomy by using propensity score matching. Traditional open pancreaticoduodenectomy and robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy have been compared only in small, retrospective, and nonrandomized cohort studies with variable quality.

Methods: Prospectively collected data for pancreaticoduodenectomy were evaluated.

Tubeless single-port thoracoscopic sublobar resection: indication and safety.

Background: The tubeless technique, defined as non-intubated general anesthesia with omission of chest drainage after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), is a new concept to further minimize surgical trauma. However, there has been little investigation into the associated feasibility and safety. Minimization of postoperative pneumothorax is challenging.

Characterization and management of various renal cystic lesions by sonographic features.

Renal cysts are common incidental findings in clinical practice. Most renal cysts detected in medical imaging are benign simple cysts. However, some are complicated by hemorrhage or infection or are associated with calcification.

2018 Guidelines of the Taiwan Society of Cardiology, Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine and Taiwan Society of Cardiovascular Interventions for the management of non ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

In Taiwan, the incidence of non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) continues to increase in recent years. The purpose of this guideline is to help health care professionals in Taiwan to use adequate tests and treatments for management of NSTE-ACS. For rapid diagnosis, in addition to history and physical examination, 0/3 h rapid diagnosis protocol with high sensitivity cardiac troponin assay is recommended in this guideline.

Novel mandibular advancement bite block with supplemental oxygen to both nasal and oral cavity improves oxygenation during esophagogastroduodenoscopy: a bench comparison.

Drug-induced respiratory depression is a major cause of serious adverse events. Adequate oxygenation is very important during sedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Nasal breathing often shifts to oral breathing during open mouth EGD.