The Train-Line Pattern on Duplex Ultrasound Helps Differentiate Intramural Thrombus from Atheromatous Plaque in Common Carotid Artery Dissection.

Common carotid artery dissection (CCAD) can result in severe neurological sequelae; however, its diagnosis may be challenging due to consciousness disturbance and aphasia. The objective of this article is to propose a new imaging feature to assist in the identification of CCAD. : This retrospective case series enrolled 139 patients with discharge diagnoses of aortic dissection who underwent carotid ultrasound during admission over a period of three years.

Cardiovascular Toxicity of Angiogenesis Inhibitors Among Patients With Cancer in Taiwan: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Background: Research on the cardiovascular toxicity of angiogenesis inhibitors among patients with cancer in Taiwan is lacking. This observational study explored the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) associated with angiogenesis inhibitors in Taiwan.

Methods And Results: We conducted a nested case-control study using the TCR (Taiwan Cancer Registry) linked with the Taiwan National Insurance Claim Database.

Major adverse cardiovascular events of vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors among patients with different malignancy: A systemic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGF-TKIs) are a common cancer treatment. However, the pharmacologic characteristics of VEGF-TKIs may influence cardiovascular risks. The relative risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) associated with VEGF-TKIs are poorly understood.

Patient and hospital characteristics associated with do-not-resuscitate/do-not-intubate orders: a cross-sectional study based on the Taiwan stroke registry.

Background: Previous studies of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) or do-not-intubate (DNI) orders in stroke patients have primarily been conducted in North America or Europe. However, characteristics associated with DNR/DNI orders in stroke patients in Asia have not been reported.

Methods: Based on the Taiwan Stroke Registry, this nationwide cross-sectional study enrolled hospitalized stroke patients from 64 hospitals between 2006 and 2020.

GT-Repeat Polymorphism in the HO-1 Gene Promoter Is Associated with Risk of Liver Cancer: A Follow-Up Study from Arseniasis-Endemic Areas in Taiwan.

The induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been shown to have therapeutic potential in experimental models of hepatitis and liver fibrosis, which are closely related to liver cancer. In humans, HO-1 induction is transcriptionally modulated by the length of a GT-repeat [(GT)n] in the promoter region. We aimed to investigate the effect of HO-1 (GT)n variants on liver cancer in a human population.

Prognostic impact of renal dysfunction on embolic stroke of undetermined source-Role beyond CHA DS -VASc score: Results from Taiwan Stroke Registry.

Background And Purpose: The CHA DS -VASc score has immense prognostic value in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). We aimed to determine the usefulness of advanced renal dysfunction and its addition to the CHA DS -VASc score in improving predictive accuracy.

Methods: In total, 3775 ESUS patients were enrolled from a nationwide hospital-based prospective study.

Combined Effects of MMP-7, MMP-8 and MMP-26 on the Risk of Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is multifactorial causation combining with traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) and genetic risk factors. Combined effects of MMP-7, MMP-8 and MMP-26 on the risk of IS remain incompletely understood. We aimed to assess individual and joint effects for IS risk by weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) from these three genes and traditional CVD risk factors.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of stroke patients with p.R544C mutation in Taiwan.

Objective: Features of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarct and leukoencephalopathy CADASIL) caused by mutations vary between ethnicities and regions. In Taiwan, more than 70% of CADASIL patients carry the mutation hot spot of p.R544C.

The effect of rheumatoid arthritis on the risk of cerebrovascular disease and coronary artery disease in young adults.

Background: Only a few studies have investigated the affect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the risk of cerebrovascular disease (CVD)/coronary artery disease (CAD) in young adults. This study, therefore, examined the association between RA and the risk of CVD/CAD in young adults and the interaction effects between cardiovascular risk factors and RA on the risk of CVD/CAD.

Methods: Data regarding 52,840 subjects (10,568 patients with RA and 42,272 age-, sex-, urbanization-, and income-matched non-RA controls) were collected from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in 2006.

Rheumatoid arthritis significantly increased recurrence risk after ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack.

The effect of RA on recurrent stroke is unknown. Therefore, we examined effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on risk of stroke recurrence and investigated the interaction between RA and traditional cardiovascular risk factors on recurrence risk after ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Of 3190 patients with IS or TIA recruited in this cohort study, 638 were comorbid with RA and 2552 without RA.

Effect on Risk of Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction of Nonselective Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

There are still debates on the association of increased cardiovascular risk with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of inconsistent results. Therefore, our study aims to evaluate the transient effects of selective and nonselective NSAIDs on the risk of stroke and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with RA. We conducted a case-crossover study of 5,921 stroke or AMI patients with co-morbidity of RA.

Significant Association Between Low Mitochondrial DNA Content in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes and Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Cumulative evidence has shown that low mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content is related to elevated oxidative stress and atherosclerosis, which play important roles in ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to explore the association between mtDNA content in peripheral blood leukocytes and ischemic stroke.

Methods And Results: A total of 350 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke and 350 healthy controls were recruited in this case-control study.

Arsenic Exposure From Drinking Water and the Incidence of CKD in Low to Moderate Exposed Areas of Taiwan: A 14-Year Prospective Study.

Background: Arsenic exposure is associated with decreased kidney function. The association between low to moderate arsenic exposure and kidney disease has not been fully clarified.

Study Design: The association between arsenic exposure from drinking water and chronic kidney disease (CKD) was examined in a long-term prospective observational study.

Impact of MCA stenosis on the early outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Background: Asians have higher frequency of intracranial arterial stenosis. The present study aimed to compare the clinical features and outcomes of ischemic stroke patients with and without middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis, assessed by transcranial sonography (TCS), based on the Taiwan Stroke Registry (TSR).

Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack registered in the TSR, and received both carotid duplex and TCS assessment were categorized into those with stenosis (≥50%) and without (<50%) in the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and MCA, respectively.

Associations of estradiol levels and genetic polymorphisms of inflammatory genes with the risk of ischemic stroke.

Background: Estrogen plays an important role as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent in ischemic stroke. In this study, we analyzed the effect of a polygenic risk score (PRS) constructed using inflammatory genes and estradiol levels on the risk of ischemic stroke.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted with 624 ischemic stroke patients and 624 age- and gender-matched controls.

Beneficial effects of prolonged blood pressure control after carotid artery stenting.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether carotid artery stenting (CAS) plus medicine in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis provide a better long-term blood pressure (BP) control compared to other medical treatments alone. The other aim was to explore the correlation between post-CAS hypotension within 6 h and long-term BP reductions after CAS.

Materials And Methods: Patients with severe carotid stenosis were recruited either in the CAS group or in the medication group.

Quality Improvement in Acute Ischemic Stroke Care in Taiwan: The Breakthrough Collaborative in Stroke.

In the management of acute ischemic stroke, guideline adherence is often suboptimal, particularly for intravenous thrombolysis or anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation. We sought to improve stroke care quality via a collaborative model, the Breakthrough Series (BTS)-Stroke activity, in a nationwide, multi-center activity in Taiwan. A BTS Collaborative, a short-term learning system for a large number of multidisciplinary teams from hospitals, was applied to enhance acute ischemic stroke care quality.

Effects of Arsenic in Drinking Water on Risk of Hepatitis or Cirrhosis in Persons With and Without Chronic Viral Hepatitis.

Background & Aims: Arsenic in drinking water is associated with hepatomegaly and death from liver cancer. However, confounding factors related to liver diseases have not been carefully studied. We examined associations between exposure of arsenic in drinking water and risk of hepatitis and cirrhosis, and the interaction with chronic viral hepatitis, in people living in the Lanyang Basin of northeastern Taiwan, where well water has an arsenic content that ranges from undetectable to 3590 μg/L.

Stroke: morbidity, risk factors, and care in taiwan.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the most common cause of complex disability in Taiwan. The annual age-standardized mortality rate of stroke is steadily decreasing between 2001 and 2012. The average years of potential life lost before age 70 for stroke is 13.

Significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease among patients with gallstone disease: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: To investigate whether gallstone disease (GD) increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large population-based cohort.

Methods: A study population including 6,981 patients with GD was identified from The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2004 and 2005. GD patients were defined as patients with principal discharge diagnoses of cholelithiasis using the ICD-9-CM code 574.

Risk factors correlated with risk of insulin resistance using homeostasis model assessment in adolescents in Taiwan.

The study aims to discover risk factors significantly correlated with insulin resistance among adolescents in Taiwan. A total of 339 study subjects were recruited in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire and physical examinations including anthropometrics and biochemistry profiles were collected.

Epistasis analysis for estrogen metabolic and signaling pathway genes on young ischemic stroke patients.

Background: Endogenous estrogens play an important role in the overall cardiocirculatory system. However, there are no studies exploring the hormone metabolism and signaling pathway genes together on ischemic stroke, including sulfotransferase family 1E (SULT1E1), catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT), and estrogen receptor α (ESR1).

Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 305 young ischemic stroke subjects aged View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Association between genetic variant on chromosome 12p13 and stroke survival and recurrence: a one year prospective study in Taiwan.

Background: The association between ischemic stroke and 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 12p13, rs12425791 and rs11833579 appears inconsistent across different samples. These SNPs are close to the ninjurin2 gene which may alter the risk of stroke by affecting brain response to ischemic injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between these two SNPs and ischemic stroke risk, as well as prognostic outcomes in a Taiwanese sample.

Significantly increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis with arsenic exposure and polymorphisms in arsenic metabolism genes.

Individual susceptibility to arsenic-induced carotid atherosclerosis might be associated with genetic variations in arsenic metabolism. The purpose of this study is to explore the interaction effect on risk of carotid atherosclerosis between arsenic exposure and risk genotypes of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), arsenic (+3) methyltransferase (As3MT), and glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GSTO1) and omega 2 (GSTO2). A community-based case-control study was conducted in northeastern Taiwan to investigate the arsenic metabolic-related genetic susceptibility to carotid atherosclerosis.

Adjuvant effect of liposome in chicken result from induction of nitric oxide.

Intranasal delivery of liposome-encapsulated inactivated Newcastle Disease virus (NDV) is known to be an effective vaccine for inducing immunity in the respiratory tract from our previous reports. Four-week-old specific pathogen-free chickens were intranasally immunized with NDV entrapped in phosphatidylcholine-liposomes (PC-Lip). The mucosal levels of anti-NDV s-immunoglobulin A (IgA), serum IgG, a high hemagglutination inhibition titer (1:640), and the high survival rate with the PC-Lip vaccine were comparable to those of our previous report.