702 results on '"Chen NC"'
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2. EPH128 Identifying Diabetic Ketoacidosis Events at Diagnosis Among Type 1 Diabetes Patients in Claims Data
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McQueen, R, Chen, NC, Gutierrez, E, and Alonso, GT
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- 2024
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3. Early Amputation vs Limb Salvage: Characterization of Procedural Management for Limb Threatening Upper Extremity Injuries in Hospital Days 1 to 30
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Westenberg, RF, Langhammer, C, Nawijn, F, Eberlin, K, and Chen, NC
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ddc: 610 ,mangled upper extremity amputation salvage ,610 Medical sciences ,Medicine - Abstract
Objectives/Interrogation: There is little quantitative data regarding the acute care burden for patients with upper-extremity threatening injuries. This study characterizes procedural care provided for a cohort of patients with acutely limb-threatening traumatic upper-extremity injuries at an urban[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)
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- 2020
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4. Longterm outcome after Ulner Tunnel Release
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Westenberg, RF, Chen, NC, and Van Hooven, D
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musculoskeletal diseases ,body regions ,ulnar tunnel decompression surgery ,ddc: 610 ,musculoskeletal, neural, and ocular physiology ,ulnar nerve ,610 Medical sciences ,Medicine ,musculoskeletal system ,guyon's canal syndrome - Abstract
Objectives/Interrogation: Ulnar tunnel syndrome (UTS) is a rare nerve compression syndrome with a variety of causative factors. The aims of this study are to describe the distribution of causes of ulnar tunnel syndrome, the rate of revision, and to evaluate the long-term outcome of ulnar tunnel[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)
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- 2020
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5. Tide-Tank System Simulating Mangrove Wetland for Removal of Nutrients and Heavy Metals From Wastewater
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Chu, HY, Chen, NC, Yeung, MC, Tam, NFY, Wong, YS, Chu, HY, Chen, NC, Yeung, MC, Tam, NFY, and Wong, YS
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Kandelia candel plants were grown in a simulated tide-tank system in the greenhouse to determine the performance of the mangrove ecosystem in treating synthetic wastewater of various strengths (NW, 5NW and 25NW). NW had a strength similar to the natural municipal wastewater, while 5NW and 25NW had 5 and 25 times, respectively, the amount of nutrients and heavy metals as in NW. The system was flooded daily with artificial seawater to simulate the tidal regime. Synthetic wastewater was irrigated to the system three times a week for 3 months. The results of effluent characteristics showed that the removal efficiencies of nutrients and metals from the wastewater were nearly 98\% (except for organic N) and 96\%, respectively, in NW and 5NW tanks whereas those of 25NW tanks were 75\% for nutrients, 92\% for Cd, Cr, Cu and around 88\% for Ni and Zn. This study demonstrated that the mangrove ecosystem had a very high capacity to retain or immobilize the nutrients and heavy metals in the wastewater suggesting mangrove wetland had inherent physical. chemical and biological properties for adsorption and utilization of nutrients and heavy metals. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
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- 1998
6. Cranberry-Containing Products for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in Susceptible Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
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Wang CH, Fang CC, Chen NC, Liu SS, Yu PH, Wu TY, Chen WT, Lee CC, and Chen SC
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- 2012
7. Salvage reconstruction of congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle with vascularized fibular graft after failed operative treatment: a case report.
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Glotzbecker MP, Shin EK, Chen NC, Labow BI, and Waters PM
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- 2009
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8. Management of distal radial fractures.
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Chen NC, Jupiter JB, Chen, Neal C, and Jupiter, Jesse B
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- 2007
9. Anatomy of Lister's Tubercle: Implications for Volar Locked Plating of the Distal Radius.
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Laane CLE, Raasveld FV, de Klerk HH, Weigel DT, Pratap JS, Chen NC, and Eberlin KR
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Background: Determining accurate intraoperative screw length in complex distal radius fractures may pose difficulties. With volar plate fixation, excessive screw length may result in extensor pollicis longus injury and this can be challenging to determine via intraoperative imaging. This study aims to identify the precise anatomic location and parameters of Lister's tubercle on the dorsal aspect of the radius., Methods: The anatomy and location of Lister's tubercle was evaluated in 26 cadaveric arms, of which 27% were female, with a mean age of 73.6 years. Additionally, Lister's tubercle was evaluated on 198 computed tomography (CT) scans using a quantitative distal radius surface map. Median age was 28 years, and 28% of the patients were female., Results: As measured in cadaveric arms, the mean Lister's tubercle length was 12.6 mm, and width was 5.4 mm. The distance from the radial styloid to the distal and proximal border of Lister's tubercle averaged 23.0 and 10.4 mm, respectively. Of the total distal radial width, Lister's tubercle begins 43% from the radial border and spans to 42% of the ulnar border, encompassing 16% of the entire width of the dorsal distal radius. On CT mapping, the distance between the peak of Lister's tubercle and the ulnar and radial border of the radius was 46% and 54%, respectively. Female sex was associated with a smaller distal radius width, but not with a smaller Lister's tubercle., Conclusions: Knowledge of Lister's tubercle anatomy may assist in more precise screw placement in volar locked plating of distal radius fractures., Level of Evidence: IV-Therapeutic., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was in part supported by the Jesse B. Jupiter Research Fund/Wyss Medical Foundation. CL, FR, HK, DW and JP have nothing to disclose. NC is a consultant for Biedermann Motech. KE is a consultant for Axogen Inc, Integra Lifesciences Corporation, Checkpoint Surgical Inc, and Tulavi Therapeutics Inc, Tissium, and BioCircuit.
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- 2024
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10. Application of time series analysis in predicting postpartum depression: integrating data from the hospitalization period and early postpartum weeks.
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Hsu FM, Chen HC, Wang KC, Ling WL, and Chen NC
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Purpose: This study aimed to explore the dynamic changes in postpartum depressive symptoms from the hospitalization period to 4-8 weeks postpartum using time series analysis techniques. By integrating depressive scores from the hospital stay and the early postpartum weeks, we sought to develop a predictive model to enhance early identification and intervention strategies for Postpartum Depression (PPD)., Methods: A longitudinal design was employed, analyzing Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores from 1,287 postpartum women during hospitalization and at 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic characteristics. Time Series Analysis using the Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model explored temporal trends and seasonal variations in EPDS scores. Correlation analysis examined the relationships between EPDS scores and demographic characteristics. Model validation was conducted using a separate dataset., Results: EPDS scores significantly increased from the hospitalization period to 4-8 weeks postpartum (p < .001). The ARIMA model revealed seasonal and trend variations, with higher depressive scores in the winter months. The model's fit indices (AIC = 765.47; BIC = 774.58) indicated a good fit. The Moving Average (MA) coefficient was - 0.69 (p < .001), suggesting significant negative impacts from previous periods' errors., Conclusions: Monitoring postpartum depressive symptoms dynamically was crucial, particularly during the 4-8 weeks postpartum. The seasonal trend of higher depressive scores in winter underscored the need for tailored interventions. Further research using longitudinal and multi-center designs was warranted to validate and extend these findings. Our predictive model aimed to enhance early identification and intervention strategies, contributing to better maternal and infant health outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)
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- 2024
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11. Outpatient Upper Extremity Fracture Surgery Is Associated with Increased Post-operative Emergency Department Visits.
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Lans J, Beagles CB, Watkins IT, Lechtig A, Garg R, and Chen NC
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Objectives: This study aimed to determine if outpatient upper extremity fracture surgery was associated with increased post-operative ED visits and identify related risk factors., Methods: Design: Retrospective cohort., Setting: This multi-center study was conducted within a single academic institution, encompassing two level 1, two level 2, and one level 3 trauma center., Patient Selection Criteria: All patients >18 years of age that underwent upper extremity fracture surgery from 2015-2021 were included., Outcome Measures and Comparisons: Risk factors for postoperative ED visit that were investigated included age, sex, tobacco use, alcohol abuse, psychiatric diagnosis, Elixhauser comorbidity score, race, location of upper extremity fracture, surgical setting (inpatient vs. outpatient), upper extremity block, surgical specialty, and Area Deprivation Index. Variables with a p<0.1 in bivariate analysis were included in a multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with a postoperative ED visit at 30 and 90-days., Results: A total of 6,315 patients with an average age of 51±19 years were identified of which 52% were female and 65% had outpatient surgery. Post-operatively, 188 patients (3.0%) presented to the ED within 30 days and 304 (4.8%) presented within 90 days. Thirty-seven percent of ED visits were directly related to the procedure, most commonly for pain (20%), cast issues (4.3%), and swelling (3.9%). At 30 days postoperatively, 2.8% of patients who underwent surgery in an outpatient setting and 3.4% of those who underwent inpatient surgery returned to the ED, with these rates increasing to 4.4% and 5.6%, respectively, by 90 days. In multivariable analysis, outpatient surgery (OR:1.5, p=0.030), tobacco use (OR:2.1, p<0.001), higher Elixhauser Comorbidity scores (OR:1.2, p<0.001), non-White race (OR:1.9, p<0.001) elbow fractures (OR:1.8, p=0.016), and hand fractures (OR: 1.6, p=0.046) were associated with 30-day ED visits., Conclusions: Outpatient surgery was associated with increased rate of 30-day ED visits. Patients that smoke, had increased number of comorbidities or were non-White presented to the ED more frequently., Level of Evidence: III., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement: Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g. consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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12. Scaffold-free 3D culture systems for stem cell-based tissue regeneration.
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Liu KC, Chen YC, Hsieh CF, Wang MH, Zhong MX, and Cheng NC
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Recent advances in scaffold-free three-dimensional (3D) culture methods have significantly enhanced the potential of stem cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine. This cutting-edge technology circumvents the use of exogenous biomaterial and prevents its associated complications. The 3D culture system preserves crucial intercellular interactions and extracellular matrix support, closely mimicking natural biological niches. Therefore, stem cells cultured in 3D formats exhibit distinct characteristics, showcasing their capabilities in promoting angiogenesis and immunomodulation. This review aims to elucidate foundational technologies and recent breakthroughs in 3D scaffold-free stem cell engineering, offering comprehensive guidance for researchers to advance this technology across various clinical applications. We first introduce the various sources of stem cells and provide a comparative analysis of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D culture systems. Given the advantages of 3D culture systems, we delve into the specific fabrication and harvesting techniques for cell sheets and spheroids. Furthermore, we explore their applications in pre-clinical studies, particularly in large animal models and clinical trials. We also discuss multidisciplinary strategies to overcome existing limitations such as insufficient efficacy, hostile microenvironments, and the need for scalability and standardization of stem cell-based products., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts to disclose., (© 2024 Author(s).)
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- 2024
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13. Factors associated with the choice of treatment for coronoid fractures.
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de Klerk HH, Verweij LPE, Doornberg JN, Jaarsma RL, Murase T, Chen NC, van den Bekerom MPJ, Al K, Ar B, Ac W, A VT, Ac AP, A T, A B, B M, B T, B J, Cs M, Cm L, Cg L, Cg T, C R, D R, Ds R, D E, E AG, E K, Et E, Gi B, Jn L, Ja W, J P, J A, K S, K S, Al B, Ms C, M M, Ml R, Mj S, N A, N W, Nwl S, P A, P M, R B, Rj T, R VR, R G, S S, Sd D, S T, T M, and Y C
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- Humans, Elbow Injuries, Male, Female, Consensus, Elbow Joint surgery, Fracture Fixation methods, Adult, Surveys and Questionnaires, Delphi Technique, Clinical Decision-Making, Ulna Fractures therapy, Ulna Fractures surgery
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Aims: This study aimed to gather insights from elbow experts using the Delphi method to evaluate the influence of patient characteristics and fracture morphology on the choice between operative and nonoperative treatment for coronoid fractures., Methods: A three-round electronic (e-)modified Delphi survey study was performed between March and December 2023. A total of 55 elbow surgeons from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America participated, with 48 completing all questionnaires (87%). The panellists evaluated the factors identified as important in literature for treatment decision-making, using a Likert scale ranging from "strongly influences me to recommend nonoperative treatment" (1) to "strongly influences me to recommend operative treatment" (5). Factors achieving Likert scores ≤ 2.0 or ≥ 4.0 were deemed influential for treatment recommendation. Stable consensus is defined as an agreement of ≥ 80% in the second and third rounds., Results: Of 68 factors considered important in the literature for treatment choice for coronoid fractures, 18 achieved a stable consensus to be influential. Influential factors with stable consensus that advocate for operative treatment were being a professional athlete, playing overhead sports, a history of subjective dislocation or subluxation during trauma, open fracture, crepitation with range of movement, > 2 mm opening during varus stress on radiological imaging, and having an anteromedial facet or basal coronoid fracture (O'Driscoll type 2 or 3). An anterolateral coronoid tip fracture ≤ 2 mm was the only influential factor with a stable consensus that advocates for nonoperative treatment. Most disagreement existed regarding the treatment for the terrible triad injury with an anterolateral coronoid tip fracture fragment ≤ 2 mm (O'Driscoll type 1 subtype 1)., Conclusion: This study gives insights into areas of consensus among surveyed elbow surgeons in choosing between operative and nonoperative management of coronoid fractures. These findings should be used in conjunction with previous patient cohort studies when discussing treatment options with patients., Competing Interests: N. C. Chen reports funding from the Jesse B. Jupiter Research Fund of the Wyss Medical Foundation, related to this study. H. H. de Klerk reports travel grants for a research internship in Boston from De Stichting Prof. Michaël-van Vloten Fonds, Van Leersum Grant/KNAW Medical Sciences Fund from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts & Sciences, Marti-Keuning Eckhardt Foundation, Vreedefonds, the Stichting Anna Fonds | NOREF, the Stichting het Scholten-Cordes Fonds, Fundatie van Renswoude, and the USC Scholarship Foundation (all Netherlands), all related to this study. Each author certifies that he has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article., (© 2024 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.)
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- 2024
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14. From Tradition to Innovation: Analyzing Strategies and Support for Enhancing Badminton Course Teaching Quality through Educational Technology.
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Lin ML, Chen NC, Luo YJ, Liao CC, and Kao CC
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This study aims to explore the impact of Multimedia-Assisted Teaching (MAT) on the quality of physical education (PE) instruction in universities, with a particular focus on badminton courses. A quasi-experimental design was employed, including pre-tests and post-tests, involving two badminton classes at Ming Chuan University, with a total of 101 students. These two classes were assigned to an experimental group (using MAT) and a control group (traditional teaching methods). The research instrument used was the Physical Education Teaching Quality Scale (PETQ), which includes four factors: course content, teaching strategies, classroom management, and learning assessment. The results indicated that, compared to traditional teaching methods, the use of MAT significantly enhanced students' perception of the quality of PE instruction. The experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group across all scale factors, suggesting that MAT is more effective in capturing students' attention and improving learning outcomes. The conclusion suggests that MAT has significant advantages in improving the quality of physical education instruction. The integration of MAT enables more flexible lesson planning and enhances the learning process through the features of multimedia-assisted teaching. It is recommended that physical education teachers consider applying multimedia technologies to aid teaching, in order to increase student engagement and effectiveness.
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- 2024
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15. Genotype inference from aggregated chromatin accessibility data reveals genetic regulatory mechanisms.
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Wenz BM, He Y, Chen NC, Pickrell JK, Li JH, Dudek MF, Li T, Keener R, Voight BF, Brown CD, and Battle A
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Background: Understanding the genetic causes for variability in chromatin accessibility can shed light on the molecular mechanisms through which genetic variants may affect complex traits. Thousands of ATAC-seq samples have been collected that hold information about chromatin accessibility across diverse cell types and contexts, but most of these are not paired with genetic information and come from diverse distinct projects and laboratories., Results: We report here joint genotyping, chromatin accessibility peak calling, and discovery of quantitative trait loci which influence chromatin accessibility (caQTLs), demonstrating the capability of performing caQTL analysis on a large scale in a diverse sample set without pre-existing genotype information. Using 10,293 profiling samples representing 1,454 unique donor individuals across 653 studies from public databases, we catalog 23,381 caQTLs in total. After joint discovery analysis, we cluster samples based on accessible chromatin profiles to identify context-specific caQTLs. We find that caQTLs are strongly enriched for annotations of gene regulatory elements across diverse cell types and tissues and are often strongly linked with genetic variation associated with changes in expression (eQTLs), indicating that caQTLs can mediate genetic effects on gene expression. We demonstrate sharing of causal variants for chromatin accessibility and diverse complex human traits, enabling a more complete picture of the genetic mechanisms underlying complex human phenotypes., Conclusions: Our work provides a proof of principle for caQTL calling from previously ungenotyped samples, and represents one of the largest, most diverse caQTL resources currently available, informing mechanisms of genetic regulation of gene expression and contribution to disease., Competing Interests: A.B. is a co-founder and equity holder of CellCipher, Inc, a stockholder in Alphabet, Inc, and has consulted for Third Rock Ventures. N.C. is an employee and shareholder of Exai Bio, Inc. J.K.P. and J.H.L. are employees of Gencove, Inc.
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- 2024
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16. Effects of ON101 for Hard-to-Heal Diabetic Foot Ulcers in a Randomized Phase III Trial: A Post Hoc Analysis.
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Chang SC, Lin CW, Chen JC, Wu YH, Chen SG, Huang YY, Cheng NC, Cazzell SM, Chen HH, Huang KF, Tung KY, Huang HL, Perng CK, Shi B, Liu C, Ma Y, Cao Y, Li Y, Xue Y, Gao F, Cao Y, Yan L, Li Q, Armstrong DG, and Ning G
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Objective: Hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are associated with higher mortality rates and an increased medical burden for patients. ON101, a new topical cream, exhibited better healing efficacy than the control dressing in a Phase III trial. In this post hoc analysis, we further identify whether ON101 can improve the healing of ulcers with hard-to-heal risk factors in this cohort of DFU patients. Approach: To compare the efficacy of ON101 with absorbent dressing among various hard-to-heal wounds in patients with DFU, a post hoc analysis of a randomized Phase III trial that included 276 DFU patients was performed by subgrouping those patients based on ulcer depth, location, size, duration, and patients' glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and body mass index (BMI). Results: In the full analysis set, the proportion of patients achieving healing was 61.7% in the ON101 group and 37.0% in the comparator ( p = 0.0001). In subgroup analysis according to risk factors, ON101 demonstrated superior healing capacity on Wagner grade 2 ulcers ( p < 0.0001); plantar ulcers ( p = 0.0016), ulcer size ≥5 cm
2 ( p = 0.0122), ulcer duration ≥3 months ( p = 0.0043); for patients with HbA1c ≥9% ( p = 0.0285); and patients with BMI ≥25 ( p = 0.0005). Innovation: ON101, a novel therapeutic drug, can modulate the functions of macrophages and demonstrate superior healing rates to conventional absorbent dressing in patients with hard-to-heal DFUs. Conclusions: The results of this post hoc study suggest that ON101 is a better therapeutic option than conventional dressing used in treatment for DFU patients with higher HbA1c, BMI, or ulcers with complex conditions such as longer duration, deeper wounds, larger size, and plantar location.- Published
- 2024
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17. The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and inhibitory control following acute stress: An ERP study.
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Chu CH, Huang IL, Hillman CH, Chen NC, Yu J, Hung CS, Chen FT, and Chang YK
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- Humans, Male, Adult, Young Adult, Female, Reaction Time physiology, Stroop Test, Executive Function physiology, Electroencephalography, Inhibition, Psychological, Stress, Psychological physiopathology, Evoked Potentials physiology, Cardiorespiratory Fitness physiology
- Abstract
Although the relationships among acute stress, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and cognitive function have been examined, whether CRF is related to behavioral and neuroelectric indices of inhibitory control following acute stress remains unknown. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the combined influence of acute stress and CRF on inhibitory control. Participants, aged 20-30 years, were stratified into the Higher-Fit (n = 31) and the Lower-Fit (n = 32) groups, and completed a Stroop task following the modified Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST) in the stress condition and the sham-MAST in the non-stress condition, during which electroencephalography was recorded. Behavioral (i.e., response time and accuracy) and neuroelectric (N2 and P3b components of the event-related potential) outcomes of inhibitory control were obtained. While the Higher-Fit group demonstrated shorter response times and higher accuracy than the Lower-Fit group following both the MAST and the sham-MAST, they also exhibited selective benefits of acute stress on inhibitory control performance (i.e., decreased response times and diminished interference scores). CRF-dependent alterations in neuroelectric indices were also observed, with the Higher-Fit group displaying smaller N2 and greater P3b amplitudes than the Lower-Fit group following the sham-MAST, and increased N2 and attenuated P3b amplitudes following the MAST. Collectively, these findings not only confirm the positive relationship between CRF and inhibitory control but also provide novel insights into the potential influence of CRF on inhibitory control and associated neuroelectric activity following acute stress., (© 2024 Society for Psychophysiological Research.)
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- 2024
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18. Peritoneal Dialysis Technique Survival: A Cohort Study.
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Hsu CM, Li NC, Lacson EK Jr, Weiner DE, Paine S, Majchrzak K, Argyropoulos C, Roumelioti ME, Pankratz VS, Miskulin D, Manley HJ, Salenger P, Johnson D, Johnson HK, and Harford A
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- Humans, Male, Female, Retrospective Studies, Middle Aged, Aged, Cohort Studies, Renal Dialysis methods, Adult, Time Factors, Peritoneal Dialysis methods, Kidney Failure, Chronic therapy
- Abstract
Rationale & Objective: Reasons for transfer from peritoneal dialysis (PD) to hemodialysis (HD) remain incompletely understood. Among incident and prevalent patients receiving PD, we evaluated the association of clinical factors, including prior treatment with HD, with PD technique survival., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting & Participants: Adults who initiated PD at a Dialysis Clinic, Inc (DCI) outpatient facility between January 1, 2010, and September 30, 2019., Exposure: The primary exposure of interest was timing of PD start, categorized as PD-first, PD-early, or PD-late. Other covariates included demographics, clinical characteristics, and routine laboratory results., Outcome: Modality switch from PD to HD sustained for more than 90 days., Analytical Approach: Multivariable Fine-Gray models with competing risks and time-varying covariates, stratified at 9 months to account for lack of proportionality., Results: Among 5,224 patients who initiated PD at a DCI facility, 3,174 initiated dialysis with PD ("PD-first"), 942 transitioned from HD to PD within 90 days ("PD-early"), and 1,108 transitioned beyond 90 days ("PD-late"); 1,472 (28%) subsequently transferred from PD to HD. The PD-early and PD-late patients had a higher risk of transfer to HD as compared with PD-first patients (in the first 9 months: adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.51 [95% CI, 1.17-1.96] and 2.41 [95% CI, 1.94-3.00], respectively; and after 9 months: AHR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.99-1.35] and AHR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.24-1.65], respectively). More peritonitis episodes, fewer home visits, lower serum albumin levels, lower residual kidney function, and lower peritoneal clearance calculated with weekly Kt/V were additional risk factors for PD-to-HD transfer., Limitations: Missing data on dialysis adequacy and residual kidney function, confounded by short PD technique survival., Conclusions: Initiating dialysis with PD is associated with greater PD technique survival, though many of those who initiate PD-late in their dialysis course still experience substantial time on PD. Peritonitis, lower serum albumin, and lower Kt/V are risk factors for PD-to-HD transfer that may be amenable to intervention., Plain-Language Summary: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important kidney replacement modality with several potential advantages compared with in-center hemodialysis (HD). However, a substantial number of patients transfer to in-center HD early on, without having experienced the quality-of-life and other benefits that come with sustained maintenance of PD. Using retrospective data from a midsize national dialysis provider, we found that initiating dialysis with PD is associated with longer maintenance of PD, compared with initiating dialysis with HD and a later switch to PD. However, many of those who initiate PD-late in their dialysis course still experience substantial time on PD. Peritonitis, lower serum albumin, and lower small protein removal are other risk factors for PD-to-HD transfer that may be amenable to intervention., (Copyright © 2024 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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19. Psychosocial and functional impact of successful digital replantation - A cohort study of 36 patients with a median follow-up of 6 years.
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DiGiovanni PLC, Hoftiezer YAJ, van der Heijden BEPA, Eberlin KR, Lans J, and Chen NC
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- Humans, Follow-Up Studies, Recovery of Function, Retrospective Studies, Treatment Outcome, Male, Female, Adult, Middle Aged, Depression, Adaptation, Psychological, Replantation, Amputation, Traumatic rehabilitation, Amputation, Traumatic surgery, Quality of Life, Finger Injuries surgery, Patient Reported Outcome Measures
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Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the long-term psychosocial and functional outcomes of successful digital replantation following traumatic amputation., Methods: Patients that underwent successful replantation (i.e. no secondary amputation following replantation) of one or more traumatically amputated digits between January 2009 and April 2019 were invited to participate in this study. In addition to a custom questionnaire on psychosocial and socioeconomic aspects of life, various Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaires regarding global health, upper extremity function, and depressive symptoms were completed. Bivariate analyses were performed to identify significant associations between outcomes and explanatory variables., Results: Thirty-six patients were successfully enrolled and completed the questionnaires at a median follow-up of 6.1 years. The median PROMIS score for Upper Extremity Function (40.6) was considerably different from the score that is typically found in the general population (all PROMIS instruments are calibrated with a control group score of 50.0), but the median PROMIS scores for Global Health - Physical (49.0), Global Health - Mental (50.7), and Depression (45.6) were comparable to those among the general population. Dominant hand injury, a greater number of injured digits, higher age at the time of injury, and the need for neuropathic pain medication were associated with lower Upper Extremity Function scores (all p < 0.05). Additionally, the presence of neuroma was associated with negative changes in both household finances and mental well-being (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: At long-term follow-up, a majority of patients that underwent replantation of traumatically amputated digits seem to cope well based on psychosocial and functional outcomes. However, neuropathic pain and the presence of neuroma are strong negative factors. Specific attention to digital nerves at the time of surgery is crucial in the management of traumatic amputations., (Copyright © 2024 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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20. Trends in inpatient versus outpatient upper extremity fracture surgery from 2008 to 2021 and their implications for equitable access: a retrospective cohort study.
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Beagles CB, Watkins IT, Lechtig A, Blazar P, Chen NC, and Lans J
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- Humans, Male, Female, Retrospective Studies, Middle Aged, Adult, Aged, COVID-19 epidemiology, Health Services Accessibility statistics & numerical data, Health Services Accessibility trends, Healthcare Disparities statistics & numerical data, Healthcare Disparities trends, Upper Extremity surgery, Upper Extremity injuries, Fractures, Bone surgery, Ambulatory Surgical Procedures statistics & numerical data, Ambulatory Surgical Procedures trends
- Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe trends in inpatient and outpatient upper extremity fracture surgery between 2008 and 2021, along with identifying patient factors (age, sex, race, socioeconomic status) associated with outpatient surgery., Methods: Retrospectively, 12,593 adult patients who underwent upper extremity fracture repair from 2008 to 2021 at one of five urban hospitals in the Northeastern USA were identified. Using Distressed Communities Index (DCI), patients were divided into five quintiles based on their level of socioeconomic distress. Multivariable logistic regression was performed on patients from 2008 to 2019 to identify independent factors associated with outpatient management., Results: From 2008 to 2019, outpatient procedures saw an average increase of 31%. The largest increases in the outpatient management were seen in humerus (132%) and forearm fractures (127%). Carpal and hand surgeries had the lowest percent increase of 8.1%. Clavicle and wrist fractures were independently associated with outpatient management. Older age, male sex, higher Elixhauser comorbidity index, DCI scores in the 4th or 5th quintile, and fractures of the scapula, humerus, elbow, and forearm were associated with inpatient management. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in outpatient procedures., Conclusion: There is a shift toward outpatient surgical management of upper extremity fractures from 2008 to 2021. Application of our findings can serve as an institutional guide to allocate patients to appropriate surgical settings. Moreover, physicians and institutions should be aware of the potential socioeconomic disparities and implement plans to allow for equal access to care., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)
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- 2024
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21. Factors Associated With Reoperation After Distal Radius Nonunion Repair.
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Stam M, Dankelman LHM, Wijffels MME, Chen NC, Bhashyam AR, and Laane CLE
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Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of, and factors associated with, reoperation after distal radius nonunion repair., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a multicenter academic institution and identified adult patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for distal radius nonunion between January 2005 and August 2021. Thirty-three patients were included in this study. The cohort consisted of 13 males (13/33) and had a median age of 56 years (interquartile ranges: 49-64). Median follow-up was 59 months (interquartile ranges: 23-126)., Results: Unplanned reoperations occurred in eight of 33 patients. The most common reasons for reoperation were irrigation and debridement for infection, revision surgery for persistent nonunion, and unplanned hardware removal. In total, 10 complications occurred in nine patients. The most common complications were infection and persistent nonunion; both occurred in three cases., Conclusions: Complications after distal radius nonunion repair are common. Reoperation after distal radius nonunion repair is required in approximately one of four cases., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Prognosis IV., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly to this article., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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22. Effects of motor and cognitive complex training on obstacle walking and brain activity in people with Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.
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Wong PL, Hung CW, Yang YR, Yeh NC, Cheng SJ, Liao YY, and Wang RY
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- Humans, Male, Female, Single-Blind Method, Aged, Middle Aged, Gait Disorders, Neurologic rehabilitation, Gait Disorders, Neurologic physiopathology, Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared, Cognition physiology, Parkinson Disease rehabilitation, Parkinson Disease physiopathology, Walking physiology, Exercise Therapy methods
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Background: The difficulties in obstacle walking are significant in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) leading to an increased fall risk. Effective interventions to improve obstacle walking with possible training-related neuroplasticity changes are needed. We developed two different exercise programs, complex walking training and motor-cognitive training, both challenging motor and cognitive function for people with PD to improve obstacle walking., Aim: To investigate the effects of these two novel training programs on obstacle walking and brain activities in PD., Design: A single-center randomized, single-blind controlled study., Setting: University laboratory; outpatient., Population: Individuals with idiopathic PD., Methods: Thirty-two participants were randomly assigned to the complex walking training group (N.=11), motor-cognitive training group (N.=11) or control group (N.=10). Participants in training groups received exercises for 40 minutes/session, with a total of 12-session over 6 weeks. Control group did not receive additional training. Primary outcomes included obstacle walking, and brain activities (prefrontal cortex (PFC), premotor cortex (PMC), and supplementary motor area (SMA)) during obstacle walking by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Secondary outcomes included obstacle crossing, timed up and go test (TUG), cognitive function in different domains, and fall efficacy scale (FES-I)., Results: The motor-cognitive training group demonstrated greater improvements in obstacle walking speed and stride length, SMA activity, obstacle crossing velocity and stride length, digit span test, and TUG than the control group. The complex walking training did not show significant improvement in obstacle walking or change in brain activation compared with control group. However, the complex walking training resulted in greater improvements in Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test, TUG and FES-I compared with the control group., Conclusions: Our 12-session of the cognitive-motor training improved obstacle walking performance with increased SMA activities in people with PD. However, the complex walking training did not lead such beneficial effects as the cognitive-motor training., Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: The cognitive-motor training is suggested as an effective rehabilitation program to improve obstacle walking ability in individuals with PD.
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- 2024
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23. Reply to the Letter to the Editor: How Does ChatGPT Use Source Information Compared With Google? A Text Network Analysis of Online Health Information.
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Shen OY, Pratap JS, Li X, Chen NC, and Bhashyam AR
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- Humans, Search Engine, Consumer Health Information, Information Seeking Behavior, Internet
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Competing Interests: The authors certify that there are no funding or commercial associations (consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article related to the author or any immediate family members. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.
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- 2024
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24. Phalangeal fractures: A retrospective comparison of open reduction and internal fixation vs. closed reduction and percutaneous pinning.
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Veeramani A, Meulendijks MZ, Szapary H, Moura SP, Gomez-Eslava B, Hoftiezer YAJ, Chen NC, and Eberlin KR
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The treatment of phalangeal fractures is guided by fracture characteristics, patient factors and surgeon judgment. This study retrospectively compares characteristics of phalangeal fractures treated with closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP) with those of fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) to identify risk factors associated with reoperation. A total of 901 phalangeal fractures were included and treated operatively by either CRPP (748 fractures, 83 %) or ORIF (153 fractures, 17 %). Demographics, surgical management, and complication data were collected. Statistical analyses were performed to stratify risk associations and identify potential predictors of reoperation. With multivariate analysis and bootstrapped LASSO regression, fractures addressed by means of ORIF (vs. CRPP), work-related fractures, and open fractures were found to be independently associated with reoperation. These findings can be used to guide patient selection, surgical planning and timing of fracture repair., Level of Evidence: Level III, Therapeutic., Competing Interests: This study was supported in part by the Jesse B. Jupiter Research Fund of the Wyss 10.13039/100001236Medical Foundation. The funding source had no involvement in any aspect of the study nor the decision to publish. Dr. Eberlin is a consultant for AxoGen, Integra, Tissium, Tulavi, Biocircuit, and Checkpoint. Dr. Chen is a consultant for Biedermann Motech. Dr. Veeramani, Ms. Szapary, Mr. Moura, Dr. Gomez-Eslava, Dr. Meulendijks, and Dr. Hoftiezer have nothing to disclose., (© 2024 Society for Indian Hand Surgery and Micro Surgeons. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.)
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- 2024
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25. The association of socioeconomic status on kidney transplant access and outcomes: a nationwide cohort study in Taiwan.
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Chung TL, Chen NC, Yin CH, Lee CC, and Chen CL
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- Humans, Taiwan epidemiology, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Adult, Risk Factors, Treatment Outcome, Aged, Graft Survival, Residence Characteristics, Time Factors, Young Adult, Kidney Transplantation statistics & numerical data, Health Services Accessibility statistics & numerical data, Social Class, Proportional Hazards Models, Healthcare Disparities statistics & numerical data
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Background: Conflicting evidence exists regarding the relationship between socioeconomic status and access to or outcomes after kidney transplantation. This study analyzed the effects of individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status on kidney transplant access and outcomes in Taiwan., Methods: We used a retrospective cohort study design and performed comparisons using the Cox proportional hazards model after adjusting for risk factors. Data were collected from the National Health Insurance Bureau of Taiwan data (2003-2012)., Results: Patients with high individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status had higher chances of receiving kidney transplants than those with low individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.04; 95% CI: (1.81-2.31), p < 0.001]. However, there were no significant differences in post-transplant graft failure or patient mortality in Taiwan between individuals of varying socioeconomic status after five years. When we stratified kidney transplants by domestic and overseas transplantation, there were no significant differences in post-transplant mortality and graft failure, but individuals who received a kidney graft in Taiwan with high individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status experienced lower risks of graft failure (aHR = 0.55; [95% CI 0.33-0.89], p = 0.017)., Conclusion: A relevant disparity exists in accessing kidney transplantation in Taiwan, depending on individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status. However, results post transplantation were not different after five years. Improved access to waitlisting, education, and welfare support may reduce disparities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
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- 2024
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26. Athletes with meditation experience counteract the detrimental effect of mental fatigue on endurance performance and neurocognitive functions.
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Nien JT, Chen NC, Kee YH, Wu CH, Ahn J, Yu CY, Chi L, and Chang YK
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- Humans, Male, Young Adult, Female, Evoked Potentials physiology, Athletic Performance physiology, Athletic Performance psychology, Adult, Athletes psychology, Inhibition, Psychological, Mental Fatigue physiopathology, Physical Endurance physiology, Stroop Test, Meditation, Motivation, Cognition physiology
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The current study examined whether meditation experience is associated with changes in endurance performance and inhibitory control-relevant neurocognitive functions caused by mental fatigue. Twenty-four athletes with meditation experience (AME) and twenty-five athletes without meditation experience (AWME) underwent a 30-min incongruent Stroop test in mental fatigue condition (MF) and a 30-min congruent Stroop test in control condition (CON) in a randomised-counterbalanced order. Inhibitory control-relevant neurocognitive functions were assessed using Flanker task and event-related potentials, followed by an endurance task using the Bruce treadmill protocol. Visual analogue scale was used to evaluate perceived mental fatigue (VAS-MF) before (T1), after Stroop test (T2) and after Flanker task (T3), and VAS for motivation (VAS-M) was used to evaluate motivation in Flanker task and endurance task. Results indicated that, compared to the CON, AWME in the MF exhibited overall lower accuracy, smaller incongruent N2 amplitude of the Flanker task ( ps < .05), and shorter time to exhaustion (TTE) of the endurance task ( p < .001), whereas AME did not exhibited difference in these outcomes between the conditions. Along with athletes in the MF reported lower VAS-M in endurance task. These findings suggest the benefits of meditation experience in mitigating the negative effects of mental fatigue.
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- 2024
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27. Developing an entrustable professional activity for providing health education and consultation in occupational therapy and examining its validity.
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Fu CP, Huang CK, Yang YC, Liao WS, Huang SM, Chang WD, Chen YJ, Li MW, Lin YJ, Wu CL, Chi HY, Lee CY, Chiang FM, Chen YL, Tsou CF, Liu TH, Su CT, Yang AL, Kuo NC, and Chang WY
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- Humans, Reproducibility of Results, Educational Measurement, Health Education, Referral and Consultation standards, Curriculum, Male, Female, Occupational Therapy education, Competency-Based Education, Clinical Competence standards
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Background: Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA)-based assessment is easily and intuitively used in evaluating the learning outcomes of competency-based medical education (CBME). This study aimed to develop an EPA for occupational therapy focused on providing health education and consultation (TP-EPA3) and examine its validity., Methods: Nineteen occupational therapists who had completed online training on the EQual rubric evaluation participated in this study. An expert committee identified six core EPAs for pediatric occupational therapy. TP-EPA3 was developed following the EPA template and refined through consensus meetings. The EQual rubric, a 14-item, five-point criterion-based anchor system, encompassing discrete units of work (DU), entrustable, essential, and important tasks of the profession (EEIT), and curricular role (CR), was used to evaluate the quality of TP-EPA3. Overall scores below 4.07, or scores for DU, EEIT, and CR domains below 4.17. 4.00, and 4.00, respectively, indicate the need for modifications., Results: The TP-EPA3 demonstrated good validity, surpassing the required cut-off score with an average overall EQual score of 4.21 (SD = 0.41). Specific domain scores for DU, EEIT, and CR were 3.90 (SD = 0.69), 4.46 (SD = 0.44), and 4.42 (SD = 0.45), respectively. Subsequent revisions clarified observation contexts, enhancing specificity and focus. Further validation of the revised TP-EPA3 and a thorough examination of its reliability and validity are needed., Conclusion: The successful validation of TP-EPA3 suggests its potential as a valid assessment tool in occupational therapy education, offering a structured approach for developing competency in providing health education and consultation. This process model for EPA development and validation can guide occupational therapists in creating tailored EPAs for diverse specialties and settings., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
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- 2024
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28. Simplified Fabrication of a Lingual Splint for Management of Mandibular Fractures.
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Wang YC, Wu YC, Chen RF, Cheng NC, and Lee SS
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Lingual splints have been used to treat mandibular fractures, particularly in cases of complicated mandibular fractures, and serve as a noninvasive adjunctive procedure for reduction and fixation. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with open reduction and internal fixation, the lingual splint provides feasible external fixation against displacing forces exerted by the robust musculature of the mandible. However, the conventional method for lingual splint fabrication is performed preoperatively, and the procedure is time-consuming. This technical note describes a simplified and efficient technique for the intraoperative manufacture of a lingual splint for mandibular fractures using a thermoplastic material, polycaprolactone. Our results demonstrated satisfactory fixation outcomes, reduced lingual splint fabrication time, and superior cost-effectiveness, offering an alternative option for adjunctive external fixation of mandibular fractures., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. This work was partly supported by grant KMUH108-8M18 from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)
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- 2024
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29. Destination Restaurants' Practices and the Production of Locality: The Case of Michelin Restaurants in China.
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Huang Y, Hall CM, and Chen NC
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Dining plays a pivotal role in the travel experience, with numerous studies identifying the significant impacts of restaurant attributes on tourists' destination experiences and their sense of place. The identified attributes include the origin of food produce, menu design, the physical and social servicescape, and restaurant reputation, all of which have the potential to enhance customers' sense of place. Therefore, based on theories of the production of locality, this study explores how destination restaurants "put place on the plate" and identifies how destination restaurants promote place. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the representatives of seventeen Michelin (one star, two stars, three stars, and Bib Gourmand)-awarded restaurants across Mainland China. The results reveal three primary strategies employed by destination restaurants in promoting place: forging partnerships with the local community to produce, present, and reproduce localities; leveraging local knowledge embedded in the local produce, recipes, cooking techniques, and local culture; and practicing translocality to introduce a regional cuisine to diverse and cosmopolitan consumers. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of the way in which notions of locality and place are used by destination restaurants and the way in which this may promote not only restaurants but also regional culinary cultures and destination attractiveness.
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- 2024
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30. Human platelet lysate-cultured adipose-derived stem cell sheets promote angiogenesis and accelerate wound healing via CCL5 modulation.
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Chen YC, Chuang EY, Tu YK, Hsu CL, and Cheng NC
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- Animals, Humans, Rats, Stem Cells metabolism, Stem Cells cytology, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Cells, Cultured, Male, Stem Cell Transplantation methods, Angiogenesis, Wound Healing, Blood Platelets metabolism, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Chemokine CCL5 metabolism, Adipose Tissue cytology, Adipose Tissue metabolism
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Background: A rising population faces challenges with healing-impaired cutaneous wounds, often leading to physical disabilities. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), specifically in the cell sheet format, have emerged as a promising remedy for impaired wound healing. Human platelet lysate (HPL) provides an attractive alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for culturing clinical-grade ASCs. However, the potential of HPL sheets in promoting wound healing has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to explore the anti-fibrotic and pro-angiogenic capabilities of HPL-cultured ASC sheets and delve into the molecular mechanism., Methods: A rat burn model was utilized to evaluate the efficacy of HPL-cultured ASC sheets in promoting wound healing. ASC sheets were fabricated with HPL, and those with FBS were included for comparison. Various analyses were conducted to assess the impact of HPL sheets on wound healing. Histological examination of wound tissues provided insights into aspects such as wound closure, collagen deposition, and overall tissue regeneration. Immunofluorescence was employed to assess the presence and distribution of transplanted ASCs after treatment. Further in vitro studies were conducted to decipher the specific factors in HPL sheets contributing to angiogenesis., Results: HPL-cultured ASC sheets significantly accelerated wound closure, fostering ample and organized collagen deposition in the neo-dermis. Significantly more retained ASCs were observed in wound tissues treated with HPL sheets compared to the FBS counterparts. Moreover, HPL sheets mitigated macrophage recruitment and decreased subsequent wound tissue fibrosis in vivo. Immunohistochemistry also indicated enhanced angiogenesis in the HPL sheet group. The in vitro analyses showed upregulation of C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) and angiogenin in HPL sheets, including both gene expression and protein secretion. Culturing endothelial cells in the conditioned media compared to media supplemented with CCL5 or angiogenin suggested a correlation between CCL5 and the pro-angiogenic effect of HPL sheets. Additionally, through neutralizing antibody experiments, we further validated the crucial role of CCL5 in HPL sheet-mediated angiogenesis in vitro., Conclusions: The present study underscores CCL5 as an essential factor in the pro-angiogenic effect of HPL-cultured ASC sheets during the wound healing process. These findings highlight the potential of HPL-cultured ASC sheets as a promising therapeutic option for healing-impaired cutaneous wounds in clinical settings. Furthermore, the mechanism exploration yields valuable information for optimizing regenerative strategies with ASC products., Brief Acknowledgment: This research was supported by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (NSTC112-2321-B-002-018), National Taiwan University Hospital (111C-007), and E-Da Hospital-National Taiwan University Hospital Joint Research Program (111-EDN0001, 112-EDN0002)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
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- 2024
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31. Long-Term Patient-Reported Outcomes following Proximal Row Carpectomy.
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Meulendijks MZ, Lans J, Jupiter JB, and Chen NC
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Background Proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is a procedure used for pain relief from arthrosis that preserves some degree of range of motion (ROM). Dorsal capsular interposition (DCI) is an option for cases where some chondral loss of the capitate is present. Purposes The aim of this study is to assess what factors influence long-term patient-reported outcomes following PRC and specifically to evaluate the role of DCI. Additionally, this study aims to report the long-term postoperative ROM in patients with DCI. Methods Patients who underwent PRC in the period between 2002 and 2017 were retrospectively identified, resulting in a cohort of 162 patients. Patient-reported outcomes were obtained using validated questionnaires and were completed by 59 patients at a median follow-up time of 8.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 6.0-13). Multivariable linear regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with patient-reported outcomes. Results The median PRWE (Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation) score was 17 (IQR: 5.5-52), the median QuickDASH (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score was 16 (IQR: 4.5-39), and the median NRS (Numeric Rating Scale) Pain score was 1 (IQR: 0-3). The mean flexion-extension ROM was 70 ± 24 degrees. After correcting for gender, involvement of the capitate cartilage was independently associated with worse QuickDASH scores. Conclusions PRC is associated with good functional outcomes and pain control at long-term follow-up. This generally also applied to patients who underwent DCI; however, the role of DCI in those with capitate cartilage injury remains unclear. Preexistent damage to the capitate cartilage was associated with worse QuickDASH scores. Level of Evidence II, Prognostic study., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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32. Effects of physical training on depression and related quality of life in pre-frail and frail older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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Weng WH, Wang YH, Yeh NC, Yang YR, and Wang RY
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- Humans, Aged, Exercise, Aged, 80 and over, Exercise Therapy methods, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Female, Male, Quality of Life, Depression therapy, Frail Elderly psychology, Frail Elderly statistics & numerical data
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Objectives: To investigate the effects of physical training on depression and related quality of life in pre-frail and frail individuals., Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis., Participants: Pre-frail and frail older adults., Methods: Five electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, CINAHL, and Wiley were searched through December 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing physical training with usual care, health education, or light-intensity exercise were included. Outcomes included depression and depression-related quality of life. The quality of the included studies was assessed using Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score, and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan5.4. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated by The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach., Results: Ten articles with 589 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included. The pooled analysis indicated that depression (SMD = -0.55, 95%CI = -0.92, -0.17, p = 0.004) and mental health status in life (SMD = 1.05, 95%CI = 0.59, 1.50, p < 0.00001) improved significantly in the experimental group. The results of subgroup analysis revealed that the beneficial effects of physical training were significant only in frail older adults but not in pre-frail older adults., Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that the positive effects of physical training on depression and related quality of life were evident for people with frailty. However, no positive results were observed in pre-frail older adults, indicating the need for further investigation in this subgroup., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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33. Prefrontal activity and heart rate variability during cognitive tasks may show different changes in young and older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment.
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Ku PH, Yang YR, Yeh NC, Li PY, Lu CF, and Wang RY
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Background: Age-related decline in cognitive function is often linked to changed prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity and heart rate variability (HRV). Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia, might have further degeneration beyond aging. This study aimed to investigate the differences between young and older adults with or without MCI in cognitive functions, task-induced PFC activation and HRV changes., Methods: Thirty-one healthy young adults (YA), 44 older adults (OA), and 28 older adults with MCI (OA-MCI) were enrolled and compared in this cross-sectional study. Each participant received a one-time assessment including cognitive and executive functions, as well as the simultaneous recording of PFC activity and HRV during a cognitive task paradigm., Results: We observed age-related decrease in global cognitive functions, executive functions, HRV, and increase in PFC activity. The MCI further deteriorated the global cognitive and executive performances, but not the HRV or the prefrontal activation., Conclusion: Older people showed lower performances in general cognitive function and executive function, compensatory increase of PFC activity, and reduced HRV. Older people with MCI had further deterioration in cognitive performance, but not in PFC activation and HRV., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ku, Yang, Yeh, Li, Lu and Wang.)
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- 2024
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34. Recurrence of Diabetic Foot Complications: A Domino Effect Leading to Lethal Consequences-Insights From a National Longitudinal Study.
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Hsu CC, Lai HY, Lin HY, Pan SC, Cheng NC, Chen LK, Hsiao FY, and Lin SW
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Background: Foot complications are common in people with diabetes mellitus (DM), leading to increased health care utilization, heightened mortality risk, and notable recurrence rates even after treatment. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of repeated occurrence of DM-related foot complications on the risk of all-cause mortality and to identify the potential risk factors associated with repeated events., Methods: People with DM admitted with foot complications (ulcer, skin and soft tissue infection, or osteomyelitis) from 2012 to 2014 were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, with a 3-year follow-up for repeated events. We categorized the study subjects based on their cumulative number of hospital admissions with foot complications. Logistic regression was conducted to explore the potential risk factors associated with repeated diabetic foot events. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the associations between repeated diabetic foot events and all-cause mortality., Results: In this study, 28 754 eligible individuals were enrolled and classified into 3 groups: no repeated diabetic foot events (76.1%), 1 repeated event (16.0%), and 2 or more repeated events (7.9%). Logistic regression revealed that advanced age, male sex, congestive heart failure, dyslipidemia, hypertension, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes-related preventable hospitalizations, and outpatient visits due to diabetic foot were significantly associated with repeated events of diabetic foot complications. Compared with those with no repeated events, the adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 1.26 (95% CI, 1.19-1.34) for 1 repeated event and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.26-1.47) for 2 or more repeated events., Conclusions: The significant association between repeated diabetic foot and elevated mortality risk highlights the critical necessity for proactive and targeted patient care within clinical practice. More research to delve into the predictive factors related to the repeated occurrence of diabetic foot is needed to provide additional insights for prevention strategies., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: no reported conflicts., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)
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- 2024
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35. Transaxillary endoscopic subfascial operation for persistent muscular torticollis in pediatric patients: A 13-year retrospective study in Taiwan.
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Cheng NC, Chen YH, Wu YL, and Chang YT
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- Humans, Retrospective Studies, Male, Female, Child, Child, Preschool, Adolescent, Infant, Taiwan, Treatment Outcome, Axilla, Myotomy methods, Torticollis surgery, Endoscopy methods
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Background: The endoscopic surgery for persistent muscular torticollis has been well-described and most are subcutaneous working caverns. As the sternocleidomastoid muscle is located beneath the deep cervical fascia that corresponds to the pectoral fascia, this study aimed to review our results of the transaxillary approach under the pectoral fascia and the deep cervical fascia., Methods: Between November 2009 and January 2022, pediatric patients with persistent muscular torticollis receiving transaxillary endoscopic subfascial operation were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed., Results: There were thirty-three consecutive patients with median age of 6.5 years (range, 5.5 months-15.7 years). The median operating time was 90.0 min. With a median follow-up of 14.8 months (range, 5.0-127.7), the final outcomes showed excellent-to-good results in 90.9%, fair results in 6.1%, and poor results in 3.0%. Univariate analysis revealed that the long-term outcomes of the operation were independent of gender, age, involved side and previously open myotomy (p = 0.662, 0.818, 0.740 and 0.596, respectively)., Conclusions: The subfascial working cavern would be technically achievable for the transaxillary endoscopic approach with good functional and cosmetic outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (Copyright © 2024 Taiwan Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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36. Comprehensive Insights and Recommendations: Unraveling the Neurocognitive Impact of Chronic Viral Hepatitis in Older Adults.
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Shih NC, Su CH, and Wei JC
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- Humans, Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Cognition Disorders psychology, Hepatitis, Viral, Human
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Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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- 2024
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37. Deep-Learning-Based Automated Anomaly Detection of EEGs in Intensive Care Units.
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Wu JC, Liao NC, Yang TH, Hsieh CC, Huang JA, Pai YW, Huang YJ, Wu CL, and Lu HH
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An intensive care unit (ICU) is a special ward in the hospital for patients who require intensive care. It is equipped with many instruments monitoring patients' vital signs and supported by the medical staff. However, continuous monitoring demands a massive workload of medical care. To ease the burden, we aim to develop an automatic detection model to monitor when brain anomalies occur. In this study, we focus on electroencephalography (EEG), which monitors the brain electroactivity of patients continuously. It is mainly for the diagnosis of brain malfunction. We propose the gated-recurrent-unit-based (GRU-based) model for detecting brain anomalies; it predicts whether the spike or sharp wave happens within a short time window. Based on the banana montage setting, the proposed model exploits characteristics of multiple channels simultaneously to detect anomalies. It is trained, validated, and tested on separated EEG data and achieves more than 90% testing performance on sensitivity, specificity, and balanced accuracy. The proposed anomaly detection model detects the existence of a spike or sharp wave precisely; it will notify the ICU medical staff, who can provide immediate follow-up treatment. Consequently, it can reduce the medical workload in the ICU significantly.
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- 2024
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38. Measuring, visualizing, and diagnosing reference bias with biastools.
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Lin MJ, Iyer S, Chen NC, and Langmead B
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- Computational Biology, INDEL Mutation, Bias, Sequence Analysis, DNA methods, Software, High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing methods, Genome, Genomics methods
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Many bioinformatics methods seek to reduce reference bias, but no methods exist to comprehensively measure it. Biastools analyzes and categorizes instances of reference bias. It works in various scenarios: when the donor's variants are known and reads are simulated; when donor variants are known and reads are real; and when variants are unknown and reads are real. Using biastools, we observe that more inclusive graph genomes result in fewer biased sites. We find that end-to-end alignment reduces bias at indels relative to local aligners. Finally, we use biastools to characterize how T2T references improve large-scale bias., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
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- 2024
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39. Structure-Based High-Efficiency Homogeneous Antibody Platform by Endoglycosidase Sz Provides Insights into Its Transglycosylation Mechanism.
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Hsieh YC, Guan HH, Lin CC, Huang TY, Chuankhayan P, Chen NC, Wang NH, Hu PL, Tsai YC, Huang YC, Yoshimura M, Lin PJ, Hsieh YH, and Chen CJ
- Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have gradually dominated the drug markets for various diseases. Improvement of the therapeutic activities of mAbs has become a critical issue in the pharmaceutical industry. A novel endo-β- N -acetylglucosaminidase, EndoSz, from Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Sz105 is discovered and applied to enhance the activities of mAbs. Our studies demonstrate that the mutant EndoSz-D234M possesses an excellent transglycosylation activity to generate diverse glycoconjugates on mAbs. We prove that EndoSz-D234M can be applied to various marketed therapeutic antibodies and those in development for antibody remodeling. The remodeled homogeneous antibodies (mAb-G2S2) produced by EndoSz-D234M increase the relative ADCC activities by 3-26-fold. We further report the high-resolution crystal structures of EndoSz-D234M in the apo -form at 2.15 Å and the complex form with a bound G2S2-oxazoline intermediate at 2.25 Å. A novel pH-jump method was utilized to obtain the complex structure with a high resolution. The detailed interactions of EndoSz-D234M and the carried G2S2-oxazoline are hence delineated. The oxazoline sits in a hole, named the oxa-hole, which stabilizes the G2S2-oxazoline in transit and catalyzes the further transglycosylation reaction while targeting Asn-GlcNAc (+1) of Fc. In the oxa-hole, the H-bonding network involved with oxazoline dominates the transglycosylation activity. A mobile loop2 (a.a. 152-159) of EndoSz-D234M reshapes the binding grooves for the accommodation of G2S2-oxazoline upon binding, at which Trp154 forms a hydrogen bond with Man (-2). The long loop4 (a.a. 236-248) followed by helix3 is capable of dominating the substrate selectivity of EndoSz-D234M. In addition, the stepwise transglycosylation behavior of EndoSz-D234M is elucidated. Based on the high-resolution structures of the apo -form and the bound form with G2S2-oxazoline as well as a systematic mutagenesis study of the relative transglycosylation activity, the transglycosylation mechanism of EndoSz-D234M is revealed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)
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- 2024
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40. How Does ChatGPT Use Source Information Compared With Google? A Text Network Analysis of Online Health Information.
- Author
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Shen OY, Pratap JS, Li X, Chen NC, and Bhashyam AR
- Subjects
- Humans, Information Storage and Retrieval, Search Engine, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Abstract
Background: The lay public is increasingly using ChatGPT (a large language model) as a source of medical information. Traditional search engines such as Google provide several distinct responses to each search query and indicate the source for each response, but ChatGPT provides responses in paragraph form in prose without providing the sources used, which makes it difficult or impossible to ascertain whether those sources are reliable. One practical method to infer the sources used by ChatGPT is text network analysis. By understanding how ChatGPT uses source information in relation to traditional search engines, physicians and physician organizations can better counsel patients on the use of this new tool., Questions/purposes: (1) In terms of key content words, how similar are ChatGPT and Google Search responses for queries related to topics in orthopaedic surgery? (2) Does the source distribution (academic, governmental, commercial, or form of a scientific manuscript) differ for Google Search responses based on the topic's level of medical consensus, and how is this reflected in the text similarity between ChatGPT and Google Search responses? (3) Do these results vary between different versions of ChatGPT?, Methods: We evaluated three search queries relating to orthopaedic conditions: "What is the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome?," "What is the cause of tennis elbow?," and "Platelet-rich plasma for thumb arthritis?" These were selected because of their relatively high, medium, and low consensus in the medical evidence, respectively. Each question was posed to ChatGPT version 3.5 and version 4.0 20 times for a total of 120 responses. Text network analysis using term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) was used to compare text similarity between responses from ChatGPT and Google Search. In the field of information retrieval, TF-IDF is a weighted statistical measure of the importance of a key word to a document in a collection of documents. Higher TF-IDF scores indicate greater similarity between two sources. TF-IDF scores are most often used to compare and rank the text similarity of documents. Using this type of text network analysis, text similarity between ChatGPT and Google Search can be determined by calculating and summing the TF-IDF for all keywords in a ChatGPT response and comparing it with each Google search result to assess their text similarity to each other. In this way, text similarity can be used to infer relative content similarity. To answer our first question, we characterized the text similarity between ChatGPT and Google Search responses by finding the TF-IDF scores of the ChatGPT response and each of the 20 Google Search results for each question. Using these scores, we could compare the similarity of each ChatGPT response to the Google Search results. To provide a reference point for interpreting TF-IDF values, we generated randomized text samples with the same term distribution as the Google Search results. By comparing ChatGPT TF-IDF to the random text sample, we could assess whether TF-IDF values were statistically significant from TF-IDF values obtained by random chance, and it allowed us to test whether text similarity was an appropriate quantitative statistical measure of relative content similarity. To answer our second question, we classified the Google Search results to better understand sourcing. Google Search provides 20 or more distinct sources of information, but ChatGPT gives only a single prose paragraph in response to each query. So, to answer this question, we used TF-IDF to ascertain whether the ChatGPT response was principally driven by one of four source categories: academic, government, commercial, or material that took the form of a scientific manuscript but was not peer-reviewed or indexed on a government site (such as PubMed). We then compared the TF-IDF similarity between ChatGPT responses and the source category. To answer our third research question, we repeated both analyses and compared the results when using ChatGPT 3.5 versus ChatGPT 4.0., Results: The ChatGPT response was dominated by the top Google Search result. For example, for carpal tunnel syndrome, the top result was an academic website with a mean TF-IDF of 7.2. A similar result was observed for the other search topics. To provide a reference point for interpreting TF-IDF values, a randomly generated sample of text compared with Google Search would have a mean TF-IDF of 2.7 ± 1.9, controlling for text length and keyword distribution. The observed TF-IDF distribution was higher for ChatGPT responses than for random text samples, supporting the claim that keyword text similarity is a measure of relative content similarity. When comparing source distribution, the ChatGPT response was most similar to the most common source category from Google Search. For the subject where there was strong consensus (carpal tunnel syndrome), the ChatGPT response was most similar to high-quality academic sources rather than lower-quality commercial sources (TF-IDF 8.6 versus 2.2). For topics with low consensus, the ChatGPT response paralleled lower-quality commercial websites compared with higher-quality academic websites (TF-IDF 14.6 versus 0.2). ChatGPT 4.0 had higher text similarity to Google Search results than ChatGPT 3.5 (mean increase in TF-IDF similarity of 0.80 to 0.91; p < 0.001). The ChatGPT 4.0 response was still dominated by the top Google Search result and reflected the most common search category for all search topics., Conclusion: ChatGPT responses are similar to individual Google Search results for queries related to orthopaedic surgery, but the distribution of source information can vary substantially based on the relative level of consensus on a topic. For example, for carpal tunnel syndrome, where there is widely accepted medical consensus, ChatGPT responses had higher similarity to academic sources and therefore used those sources more. When fewer academic or government sources are available, especially in our search related to platelet-rich plasma, ChatGPT appears to have relied more heavily on a small number of nonacademic sources. These findings persisted even as ChatGPT was updated from version 3.5 to version 4.0., Clinical Relevance: Physicians should be aware that ChatGPT and Google likely use the same sources for a specific question. The main difference is that ChatGPT can draw upon multiple sources to create one aggregate response, while Google maintains its distinctness by providing multiple results. For topics with a low consensus and therefore a low number of quality sources, there is a much higher chance that ChatGPT will use less-reliable sources, in which case physicians should take the time to educate patients on the topic or provide resources that give more reliable information. Physician organizations should make it clear when the evidence is limited so that ChatGPT can reflect the lack of quality information or evidence., Competing Interests: Each author certifies that there are no funding or commercial associations (consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article related to the author or any immediate family members. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request., (Copyright © 2024 by the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.)
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- 2024
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41. Does Revision Carpal Tunnel Release Result in Long-Term Outcomes Equivalent to Single Carpal Tunnel Release? A Matched Case-Control Analysis.
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Westenberg RF, DiGiovanni PL, Schep NWL, Eberlin KR, Chen NC, and Coert JH
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- Humans, Pain, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Retrospective Studies, Wrist, Case-Control Studies, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome surgery, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome complications
- Abstract
Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate long-term patient-reported outcomes after revision carpal tunnel release (CTR); compare these outcomes with those of patients who had a single CTR and a comparable age, sex, race, type of initial surgery, and follow-up time; and assess which factors are associated with worse patient-reported outcomes after revision CTR., Methods: The authors retrospectively identified 7351 patients who had a single CTR and 113 patients who had a revision CTR for carpal tunnel syndrome between January of 2002 and December of 2015 at five academic urban hospitals. Of these 113 revision CTR cases, 37 patients completed a follow-up questionnaire including the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), the Numerical Rating Scale for Pain Intensity, and satisfaction score. Those who completed the follow-up questionnaire were randomly matched to five controls (patients who had a single CTR) based on age, sex, race, type of initial surgery, and follow-up time. Of these 185 matched controls, 65 completed the follow-up questionnaire., Results: A linear mixed effects model using matched sets as a random effect showed that patients who had a revision CTR had a higher total BCTQ score, Numerical Rating Scale for Pain Intensity score, and a lower satisfaction score at time of follow-up than patients who had a single CTR. Multivariable linear regression showed that thenar muscle atrophy before the revision surgery was independently associated with more pain after revision surgery., Conclusion: Patients improve after revision CTR, but generally have more pain, have a higher BCTQ score, and are less satisfied at long-term follow-up compared with patients who had a single CTR., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)
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- 2024
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42. Alveolar mucosal cell spheroids promote extraction socket healing and osseous defect regeneration.
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Tu CC, Zheng ZC, Cheng NC, Yu J, Tai WC, Pan YX, and Chang PC
- Subjects
- Animals, Rats, Male, Spheroids, Cellular transplantation, Tooth Extraction, Cell Differentiation, X-Ray Microtomography, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Mouth Mucosa cytology, Mouth Mucosa surgery, Bone Transplantation methods, Alveolar Process pathology, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Tooth Socket surgery, Bone Regeneration physiology, Wound Healing physiology
- Abstract
Background: Alveolar mucosa could be a promising source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for regeneration therapeutics because it exhibits faster healing potential and can be easily collected with minimal periodontal disturbance. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of alveolar mucosal cell (AMC) spheroids for promoting extraction socket healing and calvarial osseous defect regeneration., Methods: AMCs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats. Antigenic and MSC surface marker expressions and trilineage differentiation capability were assessed. AMCs were then osteogenically stimulated (OAs) or unstimulated (UAs), self-aggregated to form spheroids, and encapsulated in gelatin hydrogel to fill rat extraction sockets or combined with freeze-dried bone graft (FDBG) to fill rat calvarial osseous defects. The outcome was assessed by gross observation, micro-CT imaging, and immunohistochemistry., Results: AMCs highly expressed MSC surface markers, showed weak antigenicity, and were capable of trilineage differentiation at Passage 3. In the extraction sockets, wound closure, socket fill, keratinization, and proliferative activities were accelerated in those with AMC spheroids treatment. Socket fill and maturation were further promoted by OA spheroids. In the calvarial osseous defects, the mineralized tissue ratio was promoted with AMC spheroids/FDBG treatment, and bone sialoprotein expression and cell proliferation were more evident with OA spheroids/FDBG treatment., Conclusion: AMCs exhibited MSC properties with weak antigenicity. AMC spheroids promoted extraction socket healing, AMC spheroids/FDBG promoted calvarial osseous defect regeneration, and the outcomes were further enhanced by osteogenically stimulation of AMCs., (© 2023 American Academy of Periodontology.)
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- 2024
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43. A case of Listeria monocytogenes brain abscess with a clinical presentation mimicking stroke.
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Chu YC, Chen NC, and Chen CL
- Subjects
- Humans, Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination therapeutic use, Listeria monocytogenes, Listeriosis diagnosis, Listeriosis drug therapy, Stroke diagnosis, Stroke etiology, Stroke drug therapy, Brain Abscess diagnostic imaging, Brain Abscess drug therapy
- Abstract
Purpose: Kidney transplant recipients are at a high risk of both stroke and infection. We report this case to inform readers of the possibility of the occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes brain abscess despite treatment with low dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole., Conclusion: Physicians should monitor unusual stroke symptoms and consider Listeria brain abscess as a differential diagnosis. This case suggests that listeria brain abscesses can potentially cause temporary neurological deficits akin to a stroke, despite trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis, but these symptoms resolve without necessitating surgical intervention.
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- 2024
44. Anatomy of the Lumbrical Muscles: Implications for Mechanical Advantage.
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Kooi K, Legerstee IWF, van Vliet E, Freundt LA, Reikersdorfer K, Chen NC, and Eberlin KR
- Abstract
Background: The lumbrical muscles comprise 4 intrinsic muscles of the hand and are involved in flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) and extension of the proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomical mechanics of the lumbrical muscles of the index, middle, ring, and small fingers., Methods: We evaluated 25 cadaver arms and measured the distance between the MCPJ and fingertip, the distance between the MCPJ and lumbrical muscle insertion, and the distance between the MCPJ and the most proximal lumbrical muscle origin. With these measurements we calculated the needed force, insertion ratio (length of the proximal, middle, and distal phalanx divided by the MCPJ to insertion distance), and lumbrical muscle length., Results: We found that the force was significantly different between all fingers, except for the comparison of the index and ring finger ( P = .34). In addition, we found that muscle length was significantly different between most the fingers, except for the comparison between the index and middle fingers ( P = .24), and index and ring fingers ( P = .20). There was no significant difference in insertion ratio., Conclusions: Our study suggests that the anatomical mechanics for the motor function of the lumbrical muscles are similar in all fingers. This could further imply that movements are equally precise in all fingers resulting in coordination with one another and, therefore, adequate hand function., Level of Evidence: IV., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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- 2024
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45. Gag proteins encoded by endogenous retroviruses are required for zebrafish development.
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Chang NC, Wells JN, Wang AY, Schofield P, Huang YC, Truong VH, Simoes-Costa M, and Feschotte C
- Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) make up the bulk of eukaryotic genomes and examples abound of TE-derived sequences repurposed for organismal function. The process by which TEs become coopted remains obscure because most cases involve ancient, transpositionally inactive elements. Reports of active TEs serving beneficial functions are scarce and often contentious due to difficulties in manipulating repetitive sequences. Here we show that recently active TEs in zebrafish encode products critical for embryonic development. Knockdown and rescue experiments demonstrate that the endogenous retrovirus family BHIKHARI-1 (Bik-1) encodes a Gag protein essential for mesoderm development. Mechanistically, Bik-1 Gag associates with the cell membrane and its ectopic expression in chicken embryos alters cell migration. Similarly, depletion of BHIKHARI-2 Gag, a relative of Bik-1, causes defects in neural crest development in zebrafish. We propose an "addiction" model to explain how active TEs can be integrated into conserved developmental processes.
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- 2024
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46. Oral Agents and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Effectiveness against Severe COVID-19 Omicron Events in Patients Requiring Maintenance Dialysis.
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Manley HJ, Li NC, Hsu CM, Weiner DE, Miskulin D, Harford AM, Johnson D, and Lacson E Jr
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- Humans, SARS-CoV-2, Vaccine Efficacy, Renal Dialysis, Administration, Oral, COVID-19 Vaccines, COVID-19 prevention & control
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- 2024
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47. Phalangeal Fractures Requiring Vascular Reconstruction: Epidemiology and Factors Predictive of Reoperation.
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Szapary HJ, Meulendijks MZ, Moura SP, Veeramani A, Gomez-Eslava B, Hoftiezer YAJ, Chen NC, and Eberlin KR
- Subjects
- Adult, Humans, Reoperation, Retrospective Studies, Fingers, Fractures, Bone epidemiology, Fractures, Bone surgery, Fractures, Bone complications, Finger Injuries epidemiology, Finger Injuries surgery, Finger Injuries etiology
- Abstract
Background: Demographic information related to phalangeal fractures that undergo simultaneous vascular repair, as well as their complication and reoperation profiles, remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to examine the patient and fracture characteristics influencing the outcomes after these injuries in a large Unites States adult patient cohort and to identify risk factors associated with unplanned reoperation of these fractures., Methods: A retrospective study was performed, identifying 54 phalangeal fractures in 48 patients; all fractures were also associated with vascular injuries requiring repair. Patients with digital amputations were excluded. A manual chart review was performed to collect epidemiologic, radiographic, and surgical outcome information., Results: The incidence of phalangeal fractures undergoing vascular repair was higher in the non-dominant hand, middle finger, proximal phalanx, and phalangeal shaft. Most (52.9%) fractures were due to occupational injury, with the most common mechanism being sharp injuries. More than half of the fractures had a nerve injury, and 13% required a vein graft for vascular repair. More than half of the fractures required at least one reoperation, most commonly due to "stiffness/tendon adhesion" (50%) and "nonunion or delayed union" (21.4%). In multivariable analysis, thumb (odds ratio [OR]: 35.1, P = .043) and index (OR: 14.0, P = .048) fingers' fractures were found to be independently associated with unplanned reoperation., Conclusions: Phalangeal fractures requiring vascular repair occurred most often in the occupational setting and more than 50% required at least one unplanned reoperation. Injuries sustained in the thumb and index finger were more likely to undergo unplanned reoperation, which may guide initial treatment decision-making and postoperative follow-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: K.R.E. is a consultant for AxoGen, Integra, and Checkpoint. N.C.C. is a consultant for Biedermann Motech. The rest of the authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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- 2024
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48. Cause of Extensor Pollicis Longus Ruptures After Distal Radius Fracture Fixation Using a Volar Plate.
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Laane CLE, Dijkmans AL, Messinger CJ, Wijffels MME, Bhashyam AR, and Chen NC
- Abstract
Background: This research sought to analyze a cohort of patients with extensor pollicis longus (EPL) ruptures after volar locked plating of a distal radius fracture (DRF) to characterize the incidence of ruptures that are unlikely to be related to dorsal screw prominence., Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, descriptive cohort study of adults with operative fixation of a closed DRF and an EPL rupture between 2002 and 2022. Eighteen patients with operative fixation using a volar plate of a closed DRF had an EPL rupture. The cohort consisted of 66% women with an average age of 57.5 years. Median follow-up was 14.5 months., Results: The incidence of EPL rupture was 0.4% (18/4768). The average time from DRF and DRF fixation to EPL rupture was 3.7 and 3.4 months, respectively. Based on the operative record, in 2 of the 18 patients (11%), the rupture was directly attributable to prominent hardware; however, in 4 of the 18 patients (22%), the rupture was not related to prominent hardware, and the cause was indeterminate in 12 patients (67%). Radiologic analysis of those in the indeterminate group demonstrated that 5 of the 12 patients had screws that had a high probability of being prominent., Conclusions: The incidence of EPL rupture after volar plating of DRF is between 0% and 1% and usually occurs about 3 months after fixation. Approximately 50% of EPL ruptures are attributable to prominent dorsal screws. Although screw prominence is an important cause of EPL rupture, it is not the sole cause of rupture., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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- 2024
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49. Predictive model for treatment outcomes of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, in Taiwanese patients.
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Chen NC, Chang H, Kuo MC, Lin TL, Shih LY, Chuang WY, and Kao HW
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- Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Progression-Free Survival, Retrospective Studies, Treatment Outcome, East Asian People, Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral drug therapy
- Abstract
Purpose: We aimed to explore the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for PTCL-NOS patients in the real world., Methods: Clinical data were retrospectively collected from adult patients with PTCL-NOS treated at a single center in Taiwan., Results: 104 PTCL-NOS patients with a median age of 53.0 years were enrolled. Patients with the International Prognostic Index (IPI) or prognostic index for peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PIT) scores of zero had a longer overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS), while patients with IPI or PIT scores ≥1 did poorly. For patients who are eligible for transplantation, the use of pralatrexate as salvage chemotherapy has shown better OS (2-year OS 83.3% vs. 24.4%, P = 0.011) compared to patients who did not. By multivariate analysis, age >60 years, male, B symptoms, ECOG >1, lung involvement, and thrombocytopenia were independent adverse factors for OS. Incorporating factors in multivariate analysis, we established a novel predictive index for PTCL-NOS which efficiently stratifies patients into low (0-1 factor), intermediate-1 (2 factors), intermediate-2 (3 factors), and high risk (4-6 factors) groups with 2-year OS rates of 81.5%, 32.9%, 8.8%, and 0%, respectively (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: PTCL-NOS patients have a dismal prognosis in Taiwan. Novel agents may improve the outcomes of PTCL-NOS patients. The usefulness of the novel prognostic index for PTCL-NOS needs further validation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (Copyright © 2023 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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50. Feasibility and safety of laparoscopic radical cystectomy for male octogenarians with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
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Pan DL, Zhang LF, Li XJ, Zhang KP, Gao PF, Yang B, and Li NC
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- Aged, 80 and over, Humans, Male, Cystectomy adverse effects, Cystectomy methods, Urinary Bladder pathology, Octogenarians, Feasibility Studies, Treatment Outcome, Muscles pathology, Laparoscopy adverse effects, Laparoscopy methods, Urinary Bladder Neoplasms surgery, Urinary Bladder Neoplasms pathology, Carcinoma surgery
- Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) for male octogenarian patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Briefly, a total of 57 male octogenarian patients (A group) with bladder carcinoma were enrolled and underwent LRC and intracorporeal pelvic lymph node dissection with bilateral cutaneous ureterostomy from May 2016 to December 2022. Besides, 63 male patients (age < 80 years old) with bladder carcinoma undergoing LRC and 17 octogenarian male patients with bladder carcinoma undergoing open radical cystectomy (ORC) were enrolled in B and C groups as control. All perioperative clinical materials and outcomes of long-term follow-up, and complication were collected. The specific results were shown as follows. Compared with C group, the operation time and resected lymph node in A group was increased, and the estimated blood loss, the number of transfusion needed, duration of pelvic drainage and hospital stay after surgery was decreased. The death rate and ileus complication rate were higher in A group (12 cases) than in C group (15 cases). The cases of ureteral stricture in A group (13 cases) was decreased compared with that in C group. Overall, LRC and bilateral cutaneous ureterostomy are safe, feasible and better choices for the treatment of male octogenarian patients with MIBC. The octogenarian receiving cutaneous ureterostomy heals slowly and exists certain incomplete intestinal obstruction after surgery., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
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- 2024
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