Chronic kidney disease and incident cancer risk: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Studies examining the association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with cancer risk have demonstrated conflicting results.

Methods: This was an individual participant data meta-analysis including 54 international cohorts contributing to the CKD Prognosis Consortium. Included cohorts had data on albuminuria [urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR)], estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), overall and site-specific cancer incidence, and established risk factors for cancer.

The interaction between the skin microbiome and antimicrobial peptides within the epidermal immune microenvironment: Bridging insights into atopic dermatitis.

The epidermal immune microenvironment is a multifaceted system in which the interplay between the skin microbiome and antimicrobial peptides plays a pivotal role in sustaining skin homeostasis and preventing dysbiosis. Disruption of these interactions can lead to inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis. This review aims to explore the complex mechanisms by which antimicrobial peptides and the skin microbiome communicate within the epidermal immune microenvironment, emphasizing causal dynamics and the dual role of antimicrobial peptides.

Unveiling anaphylatoxins: Pioneering cancer therapies through complement system insights.

The complement system, a cornerstone of innate immunity, plays pivotal roles in both defense and pathology, particularly through its anaphylatoxins, C3a and C5a. These small peptides, generated during complement activation, not only mediate pro-inflammatory responses but also contribute to the progression of various cancers by modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME). Anaphylatoxins influence tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, immune suppression, and therapy resistance via key signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, MEK/ERK, and p38 MAPK.

Serological surveillance of Leucocytozoon spp. in Taiwan.

Chicken Leucocytozoonosis is a protozoan disease that affects the blood and tissues of chickens. High summer temperatures create optimal conditions for reproducing biting midges, the primary vectors for transmitting Leucocytozoon to chickens. In Taiwan, a subtropical region, the disease remains prevalent throughout the year, except in winter, leading to significant economic losses due to increased mortality and reduced egg production.

Intercostal nerve block is superior than erector spinae plane block after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: randomized controlled trial.

In this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, sixty patients undergoing elective uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy were randomly assigned to receive thoracoscopic intercostal nerve block (ICNB, n ​= ​30) or ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB, n ​= ​30). No block-related adverse events occurred. The ICNB group showed significantly lower resting and coughing visual analog scale scores, than the ESPB group, 4 (4.

Marked Improvements in Airway Abnormalities and Multifaceted Outcomes After 2 Years Switching to Avalglucosidase Alfa: Evaluation of A 19-Year-Old Male Diagnosed With Late-Onset Pompe Disease.

Pompe disease (PD), a severe inherited metabolic myopathy caused by the deficiency of acid α-glucosidase (GAA), is characterized by progressive myopathy with reduced muscle strength, endurance, and respiratory insufficiency. The primary GAA deficiency treatment is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with alglucosidase alfa; however, its long-term efficacy seems to diminish with time. In 2021, a new ERT medication, avalglucosidase alfa, was approved for patients over 6 months of age with PD in Taiwan.

Longitudinal molecular epidemiology of ceftriaxone-resistant enterobacterales in intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections: A decade-long SMART surveillance study in Taiwan (2009-2019).

Background: Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales is a recognized global concern. This study investigated the molecular epidemiology of β-lactamase genes and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among ceftriaxone-resistant Enterobacterales causing intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections in Taiwan between 2009 and 2019.

Methods: Data from the SMART surveillance program were analyzed, including Enterobacterales isolates with ceftriaxone minimum inhibitory concentrations ≥4 μg/mL.

Screening and eradication of or gastric cancer prevention: Taipei Global Consensus II.

Objective: To convene a global consensus on () screening and eradication strategies for gastric cancer prevention, identify key knowledge gaps and outline future research directions.

Methods: 32 experts from 12 countries developed and refined consensus statements on management, using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework to assess evidence and the Delphi method to achieve ≥80% agreement.

Results: Consensus was achieved on 28 statements.

Age-group variations in the associations between technostress, job burnout, and work engagement among nurses: Evidence from a network analysis.

Background: While digital transformation has become a necessary trend for hospitals, it imposes technostress on nurses working on the health-care front lines. According to previous research, it increases conflict between nurses and patients but the mechanism and age difference are ignored.

Methods: A total of 672 nurses recruited from five hospitals in Liaoning Province, China.

Ca/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II (CaMKII)-Targeted Drug Discovery: Challenges and Strategies.

Calcium (Ca)/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is an emerging drug target for age-related diseases. It is a multifunctional kinase with complex activation modes, numerous isoforms, broad tissue distribution, and a dual role in health and disease. In particular, its isoforms share a high degree of conservation within the catalytic and regulatory domains, with only minor differences confined to the linker region.

Malachite green in environmental samples: Updates on sources, fates, distribution and removal techniques.

Malachite green (MG) is a synthetic triphenylmethane dye originally employed as an industrial colorant in textile, paper, and leather industries. Its subsequent application in aquaculture was driven by its demonstrated antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. However, substantial evidence has revealed its high toxicity, including carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects, posing severe threats to both ecological systems and human health, leading to strict regulations or outright bans in numerous countries.

Extracting Clinical Guideline Information Using Two Large Language Models: Evaluation Study.

Background: The effective implementation of personalized pharmacogenomics (PGx) requires the integration of released clinical guidelines into decision support systems to facilitate clinical applications. Large language models (LLMs) can be valuable tools for automating information extraction and updates.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of repeated cross-comparisons and an agreement-threshold strategy in 2 advanced LLMs as supportive tools for updating information.

A novel RHD*01N allele harboring a c.634+1G>A splice site variant results in the RhD-negative phenotype in a Chinese blood donor.

Background: The D-negative phenotype demonstrates significant ethnic diversity in its molecular background. This study reports the identification of a novel RHD*01 N allele resulting from a splicing site variation observed in a Chinese blood donor.

Study Design And Methods: The D blood group phenotype was determined using serological techniques, including the saline method, and the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) performed by both tube and microcolumn gel methods.

Correlation between the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines and the constitutions of traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classifies individuals into constitution types that may influence physiological responses. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induce spike-specific antibodies and activate B and T cells, including memory subsets. This study investigates whether TCM constitution types are associated with immune responses and adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination.

Ultrasound-optimized decellularization and functional modification for enhanced vascular grafts.

This study aimed to improve the efficiency of decellularization and enhance the functional properties of vascular grafts to optimize their application in vascular repair. Rabbit abdominal aortas were used as the decellularization target, and ultrasound-assisted decellularization was performed using intermittent ultrasound at 100 W power, 20 kHz frequency, and 4 °C. Rabbit abdominal aortas were subjected to three different decellularization techniques.

The effects of 5-HT on vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with panic disorder.

Panic Disorder (PD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent episodes of acute severe anxiety. These episodes frequently present with symptoms that overlap with those of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as elevated blood pressure and chest pain. Despite the prevalence and impact of this comorbidity, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood and remain underexplored.

Global, regional, and national burdens of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and skull fracture and their attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study 2021.

Background: Traumatic central nervous system (CNS) injuries-particularly traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and skull fractures-represent a significant global health challenge. Previous estimates have lacked a comprehensive global analysis of these injuries and their associated risk factors. Herein, we aimed to examine the epidemiological patterns, temporal trends and risk factors of TBI, SCI, and skull fractures globally from 1990 to 2021.

Regulation mechanism of curcumin mediated inflammatory pathway and its clinical application: a review.

Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound derived from , has shown great potential in the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases due to its significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This article aims to systematically review the anti-inflammatory molecular mechanism, clinical application prospects and challenges of curcumin. By searching the databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar and CNKI, and integrating the latest research progress, it was found that curcumin exerted its core anti-inflammatory effects mainly by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation cascade, and regulating the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway.

Tofacitinib as an adjuvant treatment for pediatric Still's disease.

Objective: To describe the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib for pediatric Still's disease, also referred to as systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). Traditional non-biological drugs and drugs targeting the interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 pathways benefit some patients, but others show inadequate responses.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed ten patients with pediatric Still's disease who were treated with tofacitinib and had at least one follow-up visit.

Retroflex tongue as a non-invasive neurological marker of functional severity in older adults with ischemic stroke: a retrospective observational study.

Background: With the growing global burden of ischemic stroke in aging populations, there is increasing interest in simple and non-invasive neurological markers to support early risk stratification and functional prognosis. Retroflex tongue (RT) and tongue deviation (TD) are observable signs of cranial nerve dysfunction; however, their comparative predictive value for stroke severity remains unclear.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 308 older adults (mean age: 69.

A self-healing micellar hydrogel system for controlled release of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and durable inhibition of prostate tumor.

Hydrogel-encapsulation allows slow and stable delivery of drugs with short half-lives, avoiding the undesired side effects of high-dose or frequent administration of drugs. We previously reported that gavage or injection of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) at 10-15 mg/kg, 2-3 times per week effectively repressed the tumor growth of human prostate xenografts in nude mice. However, daily oral or injectable delivery of CAPE in prostate cancer (PCa) patients may be impractical due to forgetfulness, physical limitations, or treatment fatigue.

Effect of collagen scaffold versus intrauterine device on preventing recurrence of intrauterine adhesions: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of collagen scaffold versus intrauterine device (IUD) in prevention of adhesion recurrence in moderate intrauterine adhesions (IUA) following hysteroscopic adhesiolysis.

Design: A multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled, two-arm superiority clinical trial.

Setting: Six tertiary university hospitals from February 2023 to September 2024.