Multi-omics identification of quantitative trait loci associated with vascular pathogenesis and diagnostic potential in chronic venous disease.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a prevalent vascular disorder with a poorly characterized genetic basis. In this study, we employed an integrative omics strategy combining genome-wide association studies (GWAS), expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping, endothelial cell functional assays, and transcriptomic correlation analysis to elucidate the molecular architecture of CVD. A GWAS conducted in a Taiwanese population identified two CVD-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms: VSTM2L rs1998049 and DPYSL2 rs1442887.

Low birth weight and chronic kidney disease with progression to kidney failure in children.

Background: It is unclear whether low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) could synergistically cause chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). This cohort study was conducted to examine their individual and combined impacts on the development of CKD and ESKD in childhood.

Methods: From the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database, we identified 1 477 128 newborns born between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2016.

Differences between atrial fibrillation diagnosed before and after stroke: A large real-world cohort study.

The clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and atrial fibrillation detected after stroke (AFDAS) have not been clearly established. Previous studies evaluating patients with AFDAS were limited by the low prescription rates of anticoagulants and short follow-up periods. Consecutive patients hospitalized for IS between 2014 and 2017 were identified from a National Health Insurance Research Database.

In Situ Atomic-Scale Investigation of Structural Evolution During Sodiation/Desodiation Processes in Na V (PO ) -Based All-Solid-State Sodium Batteries.

Recently, all-solid-state sodium batteries (Na-ASSBs) have received increased interest owing to their high safety and potential of high energy density. The potential of Na-ASSBs based on sodium superionic conductor (NASICON)-structured Na V (PO ) (Na VP) cathodes have been proven by their high capacity and a long cycling stability closely related to the microstructural evolution. However, the detailed kinetics of the electrochemical processes in the cathodes is still unclear.

Reduced risk of pneumonia and influenza infection after bariatric surgery: a retrospective cohort study among patients with nondiabetic obesity in Taiwan.

Background: Bariatric surgery is associated with significant improvements in immunity in individuals with obesity, but the exact efficacy in reducing pneumonia and influenza infections is unclear.

Objective: To investigate the association between bariatric surgery and the risk of pneumonia and influenza infection.

Setting: Nondiabetic patients who underwent bariatric surgery and matched controls were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.

Impact of a home health care program for disabled patients in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of home health care (HHC) for disabled patients.We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study. A total of 5838 disabled patients with HHC were identified to match by propensity score with 15,829 disabled patients without HHC receiving tube or catheter care (tracheostomy tube, nasogastric tube, urinary catheter, cystostomy tube, nephrostomy tube) or stage 3 or 4 pressure sore care from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database between 2005 and 2009.

Cardiovascular Benefits of Acarbose vs Sulfonylureas in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Metformin.

Context: Although α-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) have been shown to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction in patients with impaired glucose tolerance, the cardiovascular benefits of AGIs in those with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unclear.

Objective: We compared the clinical outcomes of adding acarbose vs sulfonylureas to metformin therapy in patients with T2D.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The study population was drawn from the database of the Diabetes Pay-for-Performance program in Taiwan.

Increased risk for major depressive disorder in severely obese patients after bariatric surgery - a 12-year nationwide cohort study.

Background: Bariatric surgery is associated with a significant improvement in depressive mood in the initial postoperative years, but the maintenance of the improvement is under debate.

Aim: To explore the association between bariatric surgery and major depressive disorder (MDD) in a 12-year nationwide cohort study.

Method: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we identified 2302 patients who underwent bariatric surgery in 2001-2009.

Improving the regenerative potential of olfactory ensheathing cells by overexpressing prostacyclin synthetase and its application in spinal cord repair.

Background: Olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC), specialized glia that ensheathe bundles of olfactory nerves, have been reported as a favorable substrate for axonal regeneration. Grafting OEC to injured spinal cord appears to facilitate axonal regeneration although the functional recovery is limited. In an attempt to improve the growth-promoting properties of OEC, we transduced prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) to OEC via adenoviral (Ad) gene transfer and examined the effect of OEC with enhanced prostacyclin synthesis in co-culture and in vivo.

Association of warfarin with congestive heart failure and peripheral artery occlusive disease in hemodialysis patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The effect of warfarin on the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease is unknown among chronic hemodialysis patients with atrial fibrillation (HD-AF).

Methods: Population-based propensity score and prescription time-distribution matched cohort study including 6719 HD-AF patients with CHADS-VASc score ≥ 2 were divided into warfarin users and nonusers and followed-up for CV events and death.

Results: Warfarin treatment in HD-AF patients with AF preceding HD was associated with higher risks of developing congestive heart failure [hazard ratio (HR)=1.

Statistical Approaches to Assess Biosimilarity from Analytical Data.

Protein therapeutics have unique critical quality attributes (CQAs) that define their purity, potency, and safety. The analytical methods used to assess CQAs must be able to distinguish clinically meaningful differences in comparator products, and the most important CQAs should be evaluated with the most statistical rigor. High-risk CQA measurements assess the most important attributes that directly impact the clinical mechanism of action or have known implications for safety, while the moderate- to low-risk characteristics may have a lower direct impact and thereby may have a broader range to establish similarity.

Cationic amphiphile in phospholipid bilayer or oil-water interface of nanocarriers affects planktonic and biofilm bacteria killing.

A cationic amphiphile, soyaethyl morpholinium ethosulfate (SME), immobilized in liposomes or nanoemulsions, was prepared in an attempt to compare the antibacterial activity between SME intercalated in the phospholipid bilayer and oil-water interface. Before antibacterial assessment, the size of the liposomes and nanoemulsions was respectively recorded as 75 and 214 nm. The data of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)/minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and live/dead cell count demonstrated a superior antimicrobial activity of nanoemulsions compared to liposomes against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S.

Effectiveness of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine on diabetic elderly.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) is recommended for prevention of pneumonia. However, the effectiveness of PPV23 remains unclear in the older diabetic patients who usually have compromised immune function.We used data extracted from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2000 to 2009 to conduct a population-based retrospective cohort study, comparing the incidence of pneumococcal diseases among PPV23-vaccinated and propensity-score matched PPV23-unvaccinated groups in diabetic elderly.

Statins Improve Long Term Patency of Arteriovenous Fistula for Hemodialysis.

The protective effects of statins against stenosis for permanent hemodialysis access have been repeatedly demonstrated in animal studies, but remain controversial in human studies. This study aims to evaluate the association between statin use and permanent hemodialysis access patency using a nationwide hemodialysis cohort. A total of 9862 pairs of statin users and non-users, matched by age and gender, were selected for investigation from 75404 new hemodialysis patients during 2000-2008.

Fracture Risk After Bariatric Surgery: A 12-Year Nationwide Cohort Study.

Bariatric surgery has been shown to impair bone health. This study aimed to investigate the fracture risk in patients after bariatric surgery versus propensity score-matched controls. The authors used the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan and identified 2064 patients who underwent bariatric surgery during 2001 to 2009.

Lower Incidence of End-Stage Renal Disease but Suboptimal Pre-Dialysis Renal Care in Schizophrenia: A 14-Year Nationwide Cohort Study.

Schizophrenia is closely associated with cardiovascular risk factors which are consequently attributable to the development of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, no study has been conducted to examine ESRD-related epidemiology and quality of care before starting dialysis for patients with schizophrenia. By using nationwide health insurance databases, we identified 54,361 ESRD-free patients with schizophrenia and their age-/gender-matched subjects without schizophrenia for this retrospective cohort study (the schizophrenia cohort).

The impact of urban particulate pollution on skin barrier function and the subsequent drug absorption.

Background: Ambient particulate matters (PMs) are known as inducers that adversely affect a variety of human organs.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of PMs on the permeation of drugs and sunscreens via the skin. The role of skin-barrier properties such as the stratum corneum (SC) and tight junctions (TJs) during the delivery process was explored.

Trend and factors associated with healthcare use and costs in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a decade experience of a universal health insurance program.

Background: Little is known about how a universal National Health Insurance program with cost-containment strategies affect costs and quality of diabetes care.

Objectives: To examine the trends of healthcare use and costs for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Taiwan over the last decade, and to identify factors associated with high healthcare cost and poor diabetes care.

Research Design: We delineated the pattern of healthcare use and costs for T2DM in 2000-2010.

Squarticles as a lipid nanocarrier for delivering diphencyprone and minoxidil to hair follicles and human dermal papilla cells.

Delivery of diphencyprone (DPCP) and minoxidil to hair follicles and related cells is important in the treatment of alopecia. Here we report the development of "squarticles," nanoparticles formed from sebum-derived lipids such as squalene and fatty esters, for use in achieving targeted drug delivery to the follicles. Two different nanosystems, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) and nanoemulsions (NE), were prepared.

Profiling and characterization of sialylated N-glycans by 2D-HPLC (HIAX/PGC) with online orbitrap MS/MS and offline MSn.

Glycosylation is a critical parameter used to evaluate protein quality and consistency. N-linked glycan profiling is fundamental to the support of biotherapeutic protein manufacturing from early stage process development through drug product commercialization. Sialylated glycans impact the serum half-life of receptor-Fc fusion proteins (RFPs), making their quality and consistency a concern during the production of fusion proteins.

Rejuvenation of aged pig facial skin by transplanting allogeneic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced peripheral blood stem cells from a young pig.

Following a stroke, the administration of stem cells that have been treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) can ameliorate functional deficits in both rats and humans. It is not known, however, whether the application of GCSF-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) to human skin can function as an antiaging treatment. We used a Lanyu pig (Sus scrofa) model, since compared with rodents, the structure of a pig's skin is very similar to human skin, to provide preliminary data on whether these cells can exert antiaging effects over a short time frame.

Characterization of Fc-fusion protein aggregates derived from extracellular domain disulfide bond rearrangements.

Aggregation of protein biotherapeutics has consequences for decreasing production and has been implicated in immunogenicity. The mechanisms of protein aggregation vary depending on the protein and the expression system utilized, making it difficult to elucidate the conditions that promote their formation. Nonnative aggregation of recombinant immunoglobulin G protein therapeutics from mammalian expression systems has been extensively studied.

Poverty increases type 2 diabetes incidence and inequality of care despite universal health coverage.

Objective: The discrepancy of diabetes incidence and care between socioeconomic statuses has seldom been studied concurrently in nations with universal health coverage. We aimed to delineate whether income disparity is associated with diabetes incidence and inequality of care under a national health insurance (NHI) program in Asia.

Research Design And Methods: From the Taiwan NHI database in 2000, a representative cohort aged ≥20 years and free of diabetes (n = 600,662) were followed up until 2005.