Pre-existing but not post-solid organ transplantation diabetes mellitus predicts end stage renal disease and mortality.

This study examined patients who underwent solid organ transplantation (SOT) within a large healthcare system in Taiwan, with the objective of comparing the risks of adverse outcomes, specifically end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and mortality. The study aimed to assess whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), occurring either before or after SOT, serves as a prognostic factor in this particular population. The study cohort comprised 3,675 non-T2DM patients, 2,261 patients with pre-existing T2DM, and 358 patients who developed T2DM post-SOT.

Hemorrhoid risk among people with diabetes mellitus using glucose lowering agents.

We investigated whether there is an association between using antidiabetic agents (ADAs) or insulin and hemorrhoid risk among people with diabetes mellitus (DM). We have essentially used a massive dataset to identify a statistical association between ADAs and hemorrhoidal disease. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for hemorrhoids were estimated using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.

Antibacterial Envelope Prevents Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infections: The Largest Asia Real World Data.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is a serious complication of CIED therapy and has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. The use of an absorbable antibiotic-eluting envelope (TYRX, Medtronic, Minneapolis, US) has been reported to reduce the risk of CIED infection without increasing the risk of additional complications. To investigate the real-world efficacy in Taiwanese patients, we retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of CIED patients with and without the use of an envelope.

Does intraoperative antiseptic solution soaking reduce microbial contamination in spine surgery? A randomized controlled trial.

Background Context: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant complication in spine surgery, particularly in instrumented procedures, leading to increased morbidity and healthcare costs. Despite standard preoperative disinfection protocols, bacterial contamination remains prevalent. Strategies such as intraoperative antiseptic irrigation have been explored to mitigate contamination, yet the comparative efficacy of different antiseptic solutions remains unclear.

Impact of sacubitril/valsartan on adverse clinical events in heart failure with end-stage renal disease patients-a real life nationwide investigation.

The research aims at identifying the risk of adverse events, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) readmission, heart failure (HF) readmission, and cardiovascular (CV) death induced by sacubitril/valsartan in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and HF. This data came from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Propensity scoring (PS) matching was used.

Impact of Acute Kidney Injury, Co-Existing with and without Chronic Kidney Disease on the Short-Term Adverse Outcomes Following Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Events in Patients with Diabetes.

Background/objective: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Although ASCVD risk is elevated in diabetic populations, the effect of acute kidney injury (AKI), especially when chronic kidney disease (CKD) is present, on post-ASCVD outcomes remain unclear. This study investigates the association between AKI-with or without co-existing CKD-and short-term adverse outcomes in diabetic patients following their first ASCVD event.

Women with breast cancer exhibit a higher risk for periodontitis: A nationwide cohort study.

Background/purpose: Epidemiologic research has linked periodontitis to several types of cancer, particularly breast cancer. Although clinical evidence indicates a higher risk of breast cancer in women with periodontitis than in those without, few studies have explored whether the risk of periodontitis is higher in women with breast cancer than in those without. In this study, we examined the incidence of periodontitis in patients with breast cancer and identified potential interventions for its prevention.

Comparison of Stand-Alone Anchored Spacer and Plate-Cage Construct for Surgical Treatment of Multilevel Cervical Degenerative Spondylopathy: A Meta-Analysis.

Study DesignMeta-analysis study.ObjectivesWe aimed to compare clinical outcomes, radiologic parameters, and complications between the stand-alone anchored spacer and the plate-cage construct as treatment options for patients with multilevel cervical degenerative spondylopathy involving 3 or 4 levels.MethodsIn this meta-analysis, we adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Impact of anti-peptic ulcer disease medications on type 2 diabetes mellitus risk in patients with PUD: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Background: The etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex, with environmental factors playing a significant role in its pathophysiology. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs usage and infection are the two most frequent causes of peptic ulcer disease (PUD). The link between PUD and T2DM is unclear, and comprehensive analyses of anti-PUD medications' impact on T2DM risk, especially in Asian populations, are lacking.

Association of stroke and mortality among patients receiving heart transplantation-a nationwide study.

This study aims to define the association of heart transplantation with incident stroke, cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause death. The incidence rate (IR) was calculated by dividing the number of outcomes by the summed person-years in the group during the follow-up period. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models.

Key Insights and Implementation of a Patient-Centered Education Video For Managing Acute Radiation Dermatitis in Breast Cancer: A Single-Center Pilot Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an educational tool to improve breast cancer patients' understanding of radiation therapy (RT) and analyze its usage.

Methods And Materials: A single-arm trial was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients scheduled for RT. Patients viewed a 4-minute educational video explaining RT mechanisms, self-care for irradiated skin, treatment precautions, and radiation dermatitis toxicity grading.

Relationship between venous thromboembolism and inflammatory bowel disease in Taiwan: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Background: Inflammation significantly influences thrombosis development, with venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk linked to various systemic inflammatory diseases, but not fully established in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Using a population-based cohort study conducted in Taiwan, we investigated the impact of IBD on the risk of VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE), as well as the impact of anti-IBD treatments.

Methods: A study was conducted on a cohort of patients with IBD diagnosed between 2010 and 2019 using the National Health Insurance database.

Comparison of nebivolol, carvedilol, and bisoprolol for adverse clinical outcomes among patients with heart failure-a real-world nationwide investigation.

The authors report a retrospective cohort study based on a national dataset that explores the association between the prescription of three beta-blockers (BB) and a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) readmission, cardiovascular (CV) death, and all-cause death. Patients with HF who received nebivolol, carvedilol, and bisoprolol between 2016 and 2020 were identified. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were employed to assess and examine the crude and adjusted hazard ratio of the outcomes associated with the three BBs, demographics, comorbidities, and concomitant medications.

Microscopic-based analysis of nuclei in spheroids via SUNSHINE: An on-chip workflow integrating optical clearing, fluorescence calibration and supervoxel segmentation.

Multicellular spheroids (MCSs) are increasingly employed as 3D cell culture models in biomedical research due to their ability to effectively replicate in vivo cell interactions, making them suitable for high-throughput drug screening. Accurate cell counting is critical for data normalization, therapeutic evaluation, and exploration of culture conditions; however, affordable software solutions for 3D cell counting using microscopic images are limited. To fill this gap, we created SUNSHINE, an innovative on-chip analytical workflow that uniquely merges optical clearing, histogram matching (HM)-assisted fluorescence calibration, and simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) supervoxel segmentation.

Risk of Infertility in Reproductive-Age Patients With Thyroid Cancer Receiving or Not Receiving 131I Treatment: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Fertility is the crucial concern for many survivors of cancer diagnosed as children, adolescents, and young adults. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of infertility in reproductive-age patients with thyroid cancer receiving or not receiving radioiodine treatment in Taiwan.

Methods: This nationwide population-based cohort study was conducted using data obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database from 2009 to 2019.

Variations in ECM Topography, Fiber Alignment, Mechanical Stiffness, and Cellular Composition Between Ventral and Dorsal Ligamentum Flavum Layers: Insights Into Hypertrophy Pathogenesis.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a significant role in the development of ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) and the histological differences between the ventral and dorsal layers of the hypertrophied ligamentum flavum. Although LFH is associated with increased fibrosis in the dorsal layer, comprehensive research exploring the characteristics of the ECM and its mechanical properties in both regions is limited. Furthermore, the distribution of fibrosis-associated myofibroblasts within LFH remains poorly understood.

Increased Incidence of Surgical Intervention for Otitis Media With Effusion Among Patients With Type 2 Inflammatory Diseases.

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is associated with comorbidities such as allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, and more. Many of these comorbidities can be caused by type 2 inflammation (T2I). This study aims to determine the risk of undergoing OME surgery in patients with and without T2I disease.

Long-Term Pentoxifylline Therapy Is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Cell Apoptosis in Diabetic Kidney Disease Patients.

There is limited understanding of the optimal duration and dosage of pentoxifylline (PTX) therapy required to achieve significant reductions in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, particularly in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of long-term PTX therapy on the risk of ASCVD in patients with DKD who do not have pre-existing cardiovascular disease, while also exploring potential vascular protective mechanisms. This retrospective cohort study included data from Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare's Health and Welfare Data Science Center.

Reducing Postoperative Neurological Complications in Uniportal Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Efficacy of the GUARD Technique Combined With Delayed Ligamentum Flavectomy.

Objective: Uniportal full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (FE-TLIF) carries a unique risk of nerve traction and abrasion injury during cage insertion. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the GUARD technique and delayed ligamentum flavectomy in reducing postoperative radicular pain and neurapraxia in patients undergoing uniportal FE-TLIF.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 45 patients with an average age of 53.

Innovative Nerve Root Protection in Full-Endoscopic Facet-Resecting Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Controlled Cage Glider Rotation Using the GUARD (Glider Used As a Rotary Device) Technique.

This video presents a case of L4-5 unstable spondylolisthesis treated with full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF), emphasizing the GUARD (Glider Used as a Rotary Device) technique for nerve root protection. This innovative approach involves controlled rotation of the cage glider before cage insertion to minimize the risk of nerve root injury, a significant complication in Endo-TLIF procedures. The GUARD technique, validated in previous cadaveric studies, provides enhanced safety during cage insertion by protecting the nerve root.

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine on cardiovascular death and all-cause death among patients with heart failure and/or atrial fibrillation.

We tried to define the association of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events, such as CV death and all-cause death among patients with heart failure (HF) and/or atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or not. We used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database in a retrospective cohort study using propensity scoring (PS) matching. We matched 54,859 and 18,307 patients each to the treatment vs.

Beneficial effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on mortality among patients with cancer and diabetes mellitus.

The work attempts to describe mortality outcomes of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2I) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and cancer. Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to analyze the prognosis of cancer patients with coexisting DM, comparing those receiving SGLT2I with those who do not. After index-year and matching (age, sex, some comorbidities and medications), we obtain two groups of 20,339 patients.

Association between Scabies Treatment and Parkinson's Disease: A Nationwide, Population-Based Study.

Background: Scabies is typically treated with scabicides like lindane, which poses a risk for acute neural toxicity. Lindane's prolonged use, particularly in agriculture, is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. This study aimed to evaluate whether scabies patients, particularly those treated with topical lindane, are at increased risk of developing PD.