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Background: COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, presents with varying severity among individuals. Both viral and host factors can influence the severity of acute and chronic COVID-19, with chronic COVID-19 commonly referred to as long COVID. SARS-CoV-2 infection can be properly diagnosed by performing real-time reverse transcription PCR analysis of nasal swab samples. Pulse oximetry, chest X-ray, and complete blood count (CBC) analysis can be used to assess the condition of the patient to ensure that the appropriate medical care is delivered. This study aimed to develop biosignatures that can be used to distinguish between patients who are likely to develop severe disease and require hospitalization from patients who can be safely monitored in less intensive settings., Methods: A retrospective investigation was conducted on 7897 adult patients with virologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between January 26, 2020, and November 30, 2023; all patients underwent comprehensive CBC testing at Taipei Veterans General Hospital). Among them, 1867 patients were independently recruited for a population study involving genome-wide genotyping of approximately 424 000 genomic variants. Therefore, the participants were divided into two patient cohorts, one with genomic data (n = 1867) and one without (n = 6030) for model validation and training, respectively., Results: We constructed and validated a biosignature model by using a combination of CBC measurements to predict subsequent hospitalization events (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] = 3.38, [3.07, 3.73] for the training cohort and 3.03 [2.46, 3.73] for the validation cohort; both p < 10-8). The obtained scores were used to identify the top quartile of patients, who formed the "very high risk" group with a significantly higher cumulative incidence of hospitalization (log-rank p < 10-8 in both the training and validation cohorts). The "very high risk" group exhibited a cumulative hospitalization rate of >60%, whereas the rate for the other patients was approximately 30% over a 1.5-year period, providing a binary classification of patients with distinct hospitalization risks. To investigate the genetic factors mediating this risk, we conducted a genome-wide association study. Specific regions in chromosomes 7 and 10 and the mitochondrial chromosome (M), harboring IKZF1, ABLIM1 and MT-ND3, exhibited prominent associations with binary risk classification. The identified exonic variants of IKZF1 are linked to several autoimmune diseases. Notably, people with different genotypes of the leading variants (rs4132601, rs141492519, and Affx-120744614) exhibited varying cumulative hospitalization rates following infection., Conclusion: We successfully developed and validated a biosignature model of COVID-19 severe disease in virologically confirmed patients. The identified genomic variants provide new insights for infectious disease research and medical care., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Yu-Chun Chen, and Dr. Shih-Hua Chiou, editorial board members at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, have no roles in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2024, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have promising potential in clinical application, whereas their limited amount and sources hinder their bioavailability. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have become prominent options in regenerative medicine as both possess the ability to differentiate into MSCs., Methods: Recently, our research team has successfully developed human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-homozygous iPSC cell lines with high immune compatibility, covering 13.5% of the Taiwanese population. As we deepen our understanding of the differences between these ESCs and HLA-homozygous iPSCs, our study focused on morphological observations and flow cytometry analysis of specific surface marker proteins during the differentiation of ESCs and iPSCs into MSCs., Results: The results showed no significant differences between the two pluripotent stem cells, and both of them demonstrated the equivalent ability to further differentiate into adipose, cartilage, and bone cells., Conclusion: Our research revealed that these iPSCs with high immune compatibility exhibit the same differentiation potential as ESCs, enhancing the future applicability of highly immune-compatible iPSCs., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Shih-Hwa Chiou, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association , had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2024, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma-an aggressive and life-threatening malignancy-is a type of non-small-cell lung cancer. Despite medical advancements, the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma remains unfavorable, likely because of its heterogeneous nature. Furthermore, few subtype-specific treatments are available for lung adenocarcinoma. This study was conducted to explore the molecular subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma., Methods: We performed a joint analysis of transcriptome and proteome data from East Asian patients with lung adenocarcinoma (nonsmokers, 86.5%)., Results: Four novel subtypes were identified based on distinct molecular characteristics: subtypes I, II, III, and IV. In patients with subtype I lung adenocarcinoma, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma 1 activates cell proliferation; inhibiting this factor suppresses tumor growth, and reducing its level induces autophagy. Subtype II is characterized by Kristen rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog-activating oncogenesis; the onset age of this subtype is the lowest among all subtypes. Subtype III manifests as an advanced disease at diagnosis; it is characterized by a core serum response-related oncogenic signature, which indicates poor overall survival in Western patients with lung cancer. Subtype IV is more common in men than in women; it has astroglial characteristics. A Connectivity Map analysis revealed that the oncogenic expression patterns corresponding to subtypes I, II, III, and IV can be reversed by the inhibitors of Inhibitor of κB (IκB) kinase (eg, withaferin A), mammalian target of rapamycin (eg, everolimus), Src proto-oncogene (Src) (eg, saracatinib), and Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β/Smad (eg, LY-364947), respectively., Conclusion: This study introduced an innovative multiomics data analysis pipeline. Using this approach, we successfully identified four molecular subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma and their candidate therapeutic agents. The newly identified subtypes can be combined with the current biomarkers to generate a comprehensive roadmap for treatment decision-making., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Shih-Hwa Chiou and Dr. Han-Shui Hsu, editorial board members at the Journal of the Chinese Medical Association , have no roles in the peer review process or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2023, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has brought tremendous challenges to public health and medical systems around the world. The current strategy for drug repurposing has accumulated some evidence on the use of N -acetylcysteine (NAC) in treating patients with COVID-19. However, the evidence remains debated., Methods: We performed the systematic review and meta-analysis that complies with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five databases and reference lists were searched from inception to May 14, 2022. Studies evaluating the efficacy of NAC in treating patients with COVID-19 were regarded as eligible. The review was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD42022332791)., Results: Of 778 records identified from the preliminary search, four studies were enrolled in the final qualitative review and quantitative meta-analysis. A total of 355 patients were allocated into the NAC group and the control group. The evaluated outcomes included intubation rate, improvement, duration of intensive unit stay and hospital stay and mortality. The pooled results showed nonsignificant differences in intubation rate (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.16-1.89; p = 0.34; I2 = 75%), improvement of oxygenation ([MD], 80.84; 95% CI, -38.16 to 199.84; p = 0.18; I2 = 98%), ICU stay (MD, -0.74; 95% CI, -3.19 to 1.71; p = 0.55; I2 = 95%), hospital stay (MD, -1.05; 95% CI, -3.02 to 0.92; p = 0.30; I2 = 90%), and mortality (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.23-1.45; p = 0.24; I2 = 54%). Subsequent trial sequential analysis (TSA) showed conclusive nonsignificant results for mortality, while the TSA for the other outcomes suggested that a larger sample size is essential., Conclusions: The current evidence reveals NAC is not beneficial for treating patients with COVID- 19 with regard to respiratory outcome, mortality, duration of ICU stay and hospital stay., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Shih-Hwa Chiou, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2023, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is an immune checkpoint and regulates the immune function of T cells. However, previous findings regarding the association of CTLA-4 polymorphisms and breast cancer remain inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the potential effects of five polymorphisms (-1722 T/C, -1661 A/G -318 C/T, +49 A/G, and CT60 A/G) in the CTLA-4 gene on breast cancer susceptibility., Methods: Relevant literatures were systematically searched through electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to October 10, 2021. Available data were extracted and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were used to estimate the pooling effect size. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was applied for assessing the quality of included studies. We conducted subgroup analyses based on ethnicity and control sources to explore levels of heterogeneity. Moreover, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were assessed., Results: Finally, a total of 12 eligible studies regarding CTLA-4 polymorphisms and breast cancer were included. For overall analyses, only the +49 A/G polymorphism was significantly associated with breast cancer under allelic (OR = 1.19), dominant (OR = 1.27), and recessive (OR = 1.27) models. Ethnicity-based subgroup analysis found that the +49 A/G polymorphism has a significant risk (OR = 2.03) of breast cancer under the recessive model in the non-Asian population. Studies with hospital-based controls showed that the +49 A/G polymorphism has significant breast cancer risks under allelic (OR = 1.44), dominant (OR = 1.86), and recessive (OR = 1.60) models. In addition, those with population-based controls found that -1722 T/C polymorphism has a significant breast cancer risk under allelic (OR = 1.19) and dominant (OR = 1.26) models., Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that CTLA-4 + 49 A/G polymorphism may significantly associate with breast cancer susceptibility. Future studies containing various populations are helpful for evaluating the impacts of CTLA-4 polymorphisms on breast cancer susceptibility., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Shih-Hwa Chiou, an editorial board member at the Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article, (Copyright © 2023, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: Despite the effectiveness of intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor in treating retinal diseases, there remains a paucity of evidence on potential systemic risks associated with this procedure. This study aims to investigate cardiovascular parameters and the risk of hypertensive urgency after IVIs., Methods: Patients who received IVIs for retinal/macular diseases were enrolled retrospectively. Patients who received cataract surgeries were enrolled as controls. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were measured 10 minutes before, immediately after, and more than 30 minutes after IVIs and cataract surgery. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for hypertensive urgency., Results: Seventy patients who received IVIs and 95 patients who received cataract surgeries were enrolled. A higher preoperative systolic BP was found in the IVI groups than in the control group (147.0 ± 22.9 vs 136.3 ± 21.8 mmHg, respectively). The patients who received IVIs had a higher increase in perioperative systolic BP immediately after the procedure than the controls (17.43 ± 20.53 mmHg vs 9.11 ± 18.92 mmHg, p = 0.009). The IVI procedure (odds ratio [OR] 4.84, p = 0.008), preoperative systolic BP ≥160 mmHg (OR 17.891, p = 0.001, compared to preoperative systolic BP <140 mmHg), and underlying hypertension (OR 3.305, p = 0.041) were risk factors for hypertensive urgency immediately after the IVIs., Conclusion: We found a transient increase in BP after IVIs, which may have been associated with hypertensive urgency and related cardiovascular disorders in older patients and in those with relevant comorbidities. Clinicians should pay more attention to these patients before performing IVIs., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Shih-Hwa Chiou, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2022, the Chinese Medical Association.)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants of concern can infect people of all ages and can cause severe diseases in children, such as encephalitis, which require intensive care. Therefore, vaccines are urgently required to prevent severe disease in all age groups. We reviewed the safety and efficacy profiles of mRNA vaccines-BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273-demonstrated by clinical trials or observed in the real world. mRNA-1273 is effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in preschool children (6 months-6 years old). Both BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 are effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in school-aged children and adolescents, thereby preventing post-coronavirus disease (COVID) conditions. The common side effects of vaccination are pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headache. Myocarditis and pericarditis are uncommon. Monitoring post-vaccination troponin levels may help prevent severe cardiac events. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus mutates its genome to overcome the herd immunity provided by mass vaccinations; therefore, we may need to develop new generations of vaccines, such as those using viral nucleocapsid proteins as antigens. In conclusion, the mRNA vaccines are generally safe and effective in preventing severe diseases and hospitalization among children and adolescents., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr Shih-Hwa Chiou, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association , had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2022, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: The development of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has gained reputation from its therapeutic potential in stem cell regeneration, anti-inflammation, tumor suppression, and drug delivery treatment. Previous studies have shown MSCs have both promoting and suppressing effects against cancer cells. While the limitation of obtaining a large quantity of homologous MSCs for studies and treatment remains a challenge, an alternative approach involving the production of MSCs derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs; induced MSCs [iMSCs]) may be a promising prospect given its ability to undergo prolonged passage and with similar therapeutic profiles as that of their MSC counterparts. However, the influence of iMSC in the interaction of cancer cells remains to be explored as such studies are not well established. In this study, we aim to differentiate iPSCs into MSC-like cells as a potential substitute for adult MSCs and evaluate its effect on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., Methods: iMSCs were derived from iPSCs and validated with reference to the International Society of Cellular Therapy guidelines on MSC criteria. To create a stromal environment, the conditioned medium (CM) of iMSCs was harvested and applied for coculturing of NSCLC of H1975 at different concentrations. The H1975 was then harvested for RNA extraction and subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS) for analysis., Results: The morphology of iMSCs-CM-treated H1975 was different from an untreated H1975. Our NGS data suggest the occurrence of apoptotic events and the presence of cytokines from H1975's RNA that are treated with iMSCs-CM., Conclusion: Our results have shown that iMSCs may suppress the growth of H1975 by releasing proapoptotic cytokines into coculture media. Using iPSC-derived MSC models allows a deeper study of tumor cross talk between MSC and cancer cells that can be applied for potential future cancer therapy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Shih-Hwa Chiou, an editorial board member at the Journal of the Chinese Medical Association , had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2022, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Lung carcinoma (LC) is the third most common cancer diagnosis and accounted for the most cancer-related mortality worldwide in 2018. Based on the type of cells from which it originates, LC is commonly classified into non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancers (SCLC). NSCLC account for the majority of LC and can be further categories into adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Accurate classification of LC is critical for its adequate treatment and therapeutic outcome. Since NSCLC express more epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with activation mutations, targeted therapy EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been considered as primary option of NSCLC patients with activation EGFR mutation. In this review, we present the genetic alterations, reported mutations in EGFR, and TKIs treatment in NSCLC patients with an emphasis on the downstream signaling pathways in NSCLC progression. Among the signaling pathways identified, mitogen activation protein kinase (MAPK), known also as extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (Erk) pathway, is the most investigated among the related pathways. EGFR activation leads to the autophosphorylation of its kinase domain and subsequent activation of Ras, phosphorylation of Raf and MEK1/2, and the activation of ERK1/2. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt is another signal pathway that regulates cell cycle and has been linked to NSCLC progression. Currently, three generations of EGFR TKIs have been developed as a first-line treatment of NSCLC patients with EGFR activation and mutation in which these treatment options will be further discussed in this review. The Supplementary Appendix for this article is available at http://links.lww.com/JCMA/A138., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr Shih-Hwa Chiou, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, had no role in the peer-review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2022, the Chinese Medical Association.)

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to the normal operation of the healthcare system. On a worldwide scale, hospitals suspended nonurgent surgeries and outpatient visits to downsize clinical loadings to redistribute manpower to counteract the pandemic's impact. So far, there is no evidence-based guideline defining a clear line between urgent and nonurgent indications of intravitreal injections (IVI). Herein, we aimed to summarize IVI algorithm modifications and discuss the patient prioritization according to medical needs in the hostile environment in the COVID crisis. Assessing current literature, we found that neovascular age-related macular degeneration is considered the utmost priority among conditions that require IVI. Other conditions assigned with a high priority include monocular or quasi-monocular patients (only one eye > 20/40), neovascular glaucoma, and new patients with significant vision loss. Although patients with central retinal vein occlusion and proliferative diabetic retinopathy are not advised to delay treatments, we found no consistent evidence that correlated with a worse outcome. Diabetic macular edema and branch retinal vein occlusion patients undertaking treatment delay should be regularly followed up every 2 to 3 months. Serving as the principle of management behind the algorithm modifications, the reduction of both patient visit and IVI therapy counts should be reckoned together with the risk of permanent visual loss and COVID infection., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Shih-Hwa Chiou, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2021, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: This study aimed to assess the use of medical record items in clinical research in one large academic medical center in Taiwan., Methods: A descriptive survey design was adopted to collect the data. Articles published in 2018 by Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) staff as the first author were obtained. The types of specialties and types of research were analyzed. To understand the conditions for the use of medical records, the retrospective research using hospital's medical records were analyzed. Each article was read in entirety to realize the use and number of patients and the medical record items., Results: Among the 362 articles first-authored by TVGH staff in 2018, 219 (60.4%) were classified as clinical studies, 60 (16.6%) as basic studies, 53 (14.6%) as database studies, and 30 (8.2%) as other categories. About 50% of the retrospective research using TVGH medical records had a case number <100 (67 cases, 49.6%) with an average number of 41 cases and 13 studies (9.6%) had a case number >1000. Analysis of the number of medical record items used in 135 retrospective research studies based on TVGH medical records showed that 118 (87.4%) used basic patient information. In addition to basic information, notes written by professionals were used most frequently (73 cases, 54.0%), whereas medication information was used in 50 cases (37.0%); laboratory test data were used in 49 cases (36.2%); and body measurements was used in 27 cases (20%)., Conclusion: More than one-third of publications utilized medical records, but the patient numbers and record items in use were relatively limited. In the era of digitalization and big data analytics, the potential of medical records in research deserves attention. Investment in establishing a more accessible database of medical records to access nonstructural, descriptive medical records could be considered., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Tzeng-Ji Chen, Dr. Shih-Hwa Chiou and Dr. Shinn-Jang Hwang, Editorial board members at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, have no roles in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2021, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: Lung cancer contributes to high cancer mortality worldwide with 80% of total cases diagnosed as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase (TK) domain serves as a druggable target in NSCLC patients with exon 19 deletion and L858R mutation. However, patients eventually succumbed to resistance to first- and second-generation EGFR-TK inhibitors through activation of T790M mutation. Third-generation EGFR-TKI, Osimertinib exhibits high efficacy in patients with exon 19 deletion/L858R/T790M mutation but they experienced acquired resistance thereafter. Available treatment options in NSCLC patients remains a challenge due to unknown molecular heterogeneity responsible for acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI. In this study, we aim to generate Osimertinib-resistant (OR) cells from H1975 carrying L858R/T790M double mutation which can be used as a model to elucidate mechanism of resistance., Methods: OR cells were established via stepwise-dose escalation and limiting single-cell dilution method. We then evaluated Osimertinib resistance potential via cell viability assay. Proteins expression related to EGFR-signalling, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and autophagy were analyzed via western blot., Results: OR cell lines exhibited increased drug resistance potential compared to H1975. Distinguishable mesenchymal-like features were observed in OR cells. Protein expression analysis revealed EGFR-independent signaling involved in the derived OR cells as well as EMT and autophagy activity., Conclusion: We generated OR cell lines in-vitro as evidenced by increased drug resistance potential, increased mesenchymal features, and enhanced autophagy activity. Development of Osimertinib resistance cells may serve as in-vitro model facilitating discovery of molecular aberration present during acquired mechanism of resistance., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2020, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss. Once the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layers are destroyed, the poor visual acuity and recognition are generally irreversible. Cell therapy that possesses enormous potential in regenerative medicine may provide an alternative treatment for several incurable diseases such as AMD. In this study, we developed an innovative polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based biomimetic scaffolds with cylinder micropillars for the cultivation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPEs (iPSC-RPEs). RPEs were cultured on the PDMS-based biomimetic scaffolds and validated the cells gene expression., Methods: The biomimetic PDMS scaffold was fabricated through spin coating and lithography method. It was further modified on surface with biomolecules to improve cell affinity and stability. The iPSC-RPEs were seeded on the scaffold and analyzed with characteristic gene expression., Results: PDMS biomimetic scaffold was analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proved its chemical composition. iPSC-RPEs demonstrated confluent cell monolayer on the scaffold and maintained RPE-specific gene expression, which proved the PDMS-based biomimetic scaffold to be supportive for iPSC-RPEs growth., Conclusion: The PDMS interface allowed regular growth of iPSC-RPEs and the design of cylinder micropillars further provided the bioscaffold high motion resistance may improve the engraftment stability of iPSC-RPEs after transplantation. Taken together, this innovative PDMS-based biomimetic scaffold may serve as an ideal interface for in vitro iPSC-RPE cultivation and subsequent transplantation in vivo. This novel device exhibits better bioavailability than conventional injection of donor cells and may be an alternative option for the treatment of AMD.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, also called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) outbreak accelerates, vigorous and diverse efforts were made in developing treatment strategies. In addition to direct acting agents, increasing evidence showed some potential adjuvant therapies with promising efficacy against COVID-19. These therapies include immunomodulators (i.e. intravenous immunoglobulin, thymosin α-1, interleukin [IL]-6, tocilizumab, cyclosporine, thalidomide, fingolimod), Chinese medicines (i.e. glycyrrhizin, baicalin, Xuebijing), anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (bevacizumab), estrogen modulating drugs, statins, and nutritional supplements (i.e. vitamins A, B, C, D, E and zinc). This article reviewed the pharmacological development of potential adjuvants for COVID-19 treatment.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and the awareness status of glaucoma in an elderly Chinese population., Methods: A total of 460 individuals aged ≥72 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional community-based eye disease screening program. Glaucoma was diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria proposed by the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology. Characteristics of subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) were described and compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests., Results: Forty subjects were diagnosed with glaucoma, including 17 subjects with POAG, 22 with PACG, and one with secondary glaucoma. The estimated prevalence of glaucoma, POAG, and PACG was 8.7%, 3.7%, and 4.8%, respectively. In total, 71% of the subjects with PACG and 77% of POAG subjects presented with a normal intraocular pressure (IOP) of <19 mmHg. The demographic and ocular characteristics were similar between the two groups; however, subjects with POAG had a longer axial length and smaller vertical disc diameter than those with PACG. Further, 95% of the glaucoma subjects ever visited the eye clinic, but only 32.5% of them were aware of the disease., Conclusion: Glaucoma is prevalent in the elderly population in Taiwan, but the diagnostic rate and disease awareness are low. Since most subjects with glaucoma presented with normal IOPs, optic disc evaluation is critical for diagnosing glaucoma in the elderly in Taiwan.

Background: The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused severe pneumonia at December 2019. Since then, it has been wildly spread from Wuhan, China, to Asia, European, and United States to become the pandemic worldwide. Now coronavirus disease 2019 were globally diagnosed over 3 084 740 cases with mortality of 212 561 toll. Current reports variants are found in SARS-CoV-2, majoring in functional ribonucleic acid (RNA) to transcribe into structural proteins as transmembrane spike (S) glycoprotein and the nucleocapsid (N) protein holds the virus RNA genome; the envelope (E) and membrane (M) alone with spike protein form viral envelope. The nonstructural RNA genome includes ORF1ab, ORF3, ORF6, 7a, 8, and ORF10 with highly conserved information for genome synthesis and replication in ORF1ab., Methods: We apply genomic alignment analysis to observe SARS-CoV-2 sequences from GenBank (http://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/genebank/): MN 908947 (China, C1); MN985325 (United States: WA, UW); MN996527 (China, C2); MT007544 (Australia: Victoria, A1); MT027064 (United States: CA, UC); MT039890 (South Korea, K1); MT066175 (Taiwan, T1); MT066176 (Taiwan, T2); LC528232 (Japan, J1); and LC528233 (Japan, J2) and Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data database (https://www.gisaid.org). We adopt Multiple Sequence Alignments web from Clustalw (https://www.genome.jp/tools-bin/clustalw) and Geneious web (https://www.geneious.com., Results: We analyze database by genome alignment search for nonstructural ORFs and structural E, M, N, and S proteins. Mutations in ORF1ab, ORF3, and ORF6 are observed; specific variants in spike region are detected., Conclusion: We perform genomic analysis and comparative multiple sequence of SARS-CoV-2. Large scaling sequence alignments trace to localize and catch different mutant strains in United possibly to transmit severe deadly threat to humans. Studies about the biological symptom of SARS-CoV-2 in clinic animal and humans will be applied and manipulated to find mechanisms and shield the light for understanding the origin of pandemic crisis.

In 2017 and 2018, Food and Drug Administration has approved YESCARTA (axicabtagene ciloleucel) and KYMRIAH (tisagenlecleucel), two chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T-cell products, for B-cell malignancies. It also marked a watershed moment in the development of immunotherapies for cancer. Despite the successes in adults, it remains clinically applicable only in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in pediatrics. Notably, multiple clinical trials and recent case reports about childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors, the leading cause of deaths in children, have emerged and granted promising results. With the growing consideration of the biological responses in the interaction of human immunity, the major technical obstacles such as on-target off-tumor toxicity in widespread solid tumors, antigenic heterogeneity, adaptive resistance, difficult T-cell (CD4/CD8) trafficking, and immunosuppressive environments in CNS are gradually approached and ameliorated. The new spotlights of this review are focusing on current development, and emerging treatments for pediatric CNS tumors integrating molecular research with the mainstream of CAR-T therapeutic strategies to sketch a main axis and pathway forward in the improvement of novel gene-modified-based cellular platform.

Background: China announced an outbreak of new coronavirus in the city of Wuhan on December 31, 2019; lash to now, the virus transmission has become pandemic worldwide. Severe cases from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale market in Wuhan were confirmed pneumonia with a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Understanding the molecular mechanisms of genome selection and packaging is critical for developing antiviral strategies. Thus, we defined the correlation in 10 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) sequences from different countries to analyze the genomic patterns of disease origin and evolution aiming for developing new control pandemic processes., Methods: We apply genomic analysis to observe SARS-CoV2 sequences from GenBank (http://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/genebank/): MN 908947 (China, C1), MN985325 (USA: WA, UW), MN996527 (China, C2), MT007544 (Australia: Victoria, A1), MT027064 (USA: CA, UC), MT039890 (South Korea, K1), MT066175 (Taiwan, T1), MT066176 (Taiwan, T2), LC528232 (Japan, J1), and LC528233 (Japan, J2) for genomic sequence alignment analysis. Multiple Sequence Alignment by Clustalw (https://www.genome.jp/tools-bin/clustalw) web service is applied as our alignment tool., Results: We analyzed 10 sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database by genome alignment and found no difference in amino acid sequences within M and N proteins. There are two amino acid variances in the spike (S) protein region. One mutation found from the South Korea sequence is verified. Two possible "L" and "S" SNPs found in ORF1ab and ORF8 regions are detected., Conclusion: We performed genomic analysis and comparative multiple sequences of SARS-CoV2. Studies about the biological symptoms of SARS-CoV2 in clinic animals and humans will manipulate an understanding on the origin of pandemic crisis.