Tadalafil is a selective phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor commonly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Its mechanism of action involves the inhibition of PDE5, leading to increased levels of nitric oxide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the corpus cavernosum, which facilitates smooth muscle relaxation. This article reviews studies using tadalafil in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and emphasizes its potential advantages in conditions such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, diabetic ulcers, and cardiomyopathy. Although tadalafil shows potential efficacy in treating cardiovascular disease, further experimental studies are needed to clarify its pharmacological effects on cardiovascular protection beyond PDE5 inhibition.

The literature has mainly focused on the association between tooth loss and dementia, and evidence regarding the separate and joint effects of tooth loss and denture use on the risk of dementia is limited. This study investigated the links among tooth loss, denture use, and dementia risk in Taiwanese adults aged 65 years or older.

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common hereditary cerebral small vessel disease caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene. This review highlights the increasing recognition of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) as a significant manifestation of CADASIL, often predominantly characterized by ischemic strokes and vascular dementia. Recent studies indicate that the prevalence of ICH in CADASIL patients ranges from 0.5% to 33.3%, the variability of which is mainly influenced by ethnicity. In East Asian cohorts, where specific NOTCH3 mutations like p.R544C and p.R75P are more prevalent and have been associated with a higher rate of ICH, suggesting a link between these mutations and the hemorrhagic risk. Hypertension, as with other etiologies of ICH, is a key risk factor in CADASIL patients, with 40-90% of those who experience ICH also having a history of hypertension. The presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and a high CMBs load are strongly associated with increased risk of ICH. Neuroimaging studies show that ICH in CADASIL patients predominantly occurs in the thalamus and basal ganglia. There is a notable spatial correlation between CMBs and subsequent ICH, suggesting that CMBs may serve as markers of microangiopathy in regions prone to vascular injury. CADASIL patients with ICH experience greater morbidity, higher mortality rates, and increased annual stroke recurrence risk compared to those with ischemic events. In summary, this review emphasizes the need for tailored management strategies that prioritize rigorous blood pressure control and the careful use of antithrombotic agents in CADASIL patients with a high burden of CMBs. By advancing our understanding of ICH in CADASIL, we aim to improve diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life in this high-risk population.

Acute carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) has been a common cause of emergency hospital visits over the past decade. Besides the immediate symptoms of poisoning, carbon monoxide exposure can cause various long-term complications, especially delayed neurological sequelae (DNS) and myocardial injury (MI).

Unlike conventional photon radiotherapy, particle therapy has the advantage of dose distribution. Carbon-ion radiotherapy is also advantageous in terms of biological effectiveness and other radiobiological aspects. These benefits lead to a higher response probability for previously known radioresistant tumor types. Therefore, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, which is located in the northern district of Taipei, built the first carbon-ion irradiation facility in Taiwan.

Noninfectious anterior uveitis shares genetic factors, including HLA-B27, with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of this study was to identify significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with noninfectious anterior uveitis in AS patients, which could help predict the risk of developing this condition and provide deeper insights into its genetic underpinnings.

ABO-incompatible liver transplantation (ABOi LT) can now be successfully performed with standard pretransplant induction therapy. For patients with chronic end-stage liver disease (ESLD), ABOi LT can achieve long-term outcomes comparable to those of blood type-compatible (ABOc) LT. Outcomes of patients with acute liver failure (ALF) who undergo urgent transplantation surgery with a limited induction period should be further investigated.

Limited information is available regarding the clinical features and outcomes of advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Taiwan, despite expanding treatment options for this distinct subtype. The present study explored the clinical features and outcomes of HER2-mutant NSCLC in a real-world setting.

To investigate the effect of nimotuzumab (N) combined with nab-paclitaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (APF) neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the surgical margin.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has had a significant impact on global health. While the virus primarily affects the respiratory system, the intricate interplay between immune cells and the virus remains poorly understood. This study investigates the causal relationship between 731 immune cell phenotypes and COVID-19 using Mendelian randomization analysis.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has emerged as a powerful tool for disease modeling, providing an innovative platform for investigating disease mechanisms. iPSC-derived organoids, including retinal organoids, offer patient-specific models that closely replicate in vivo cellular environments, making them ideal for studying retinal neurodegenerative diseases where retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are impacted. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic mRNAs, plays a critical role in RNA metabolic processes such as splicing, stability, translation, and transport. Given the high energy demands of RGCs, mitochondrial dysfunction, which leads to impaired ATP production and increased ROS levels, is often central to the progression of retinal neurodegenerative disorders. However, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying m6A modification and their contributions to these conditions remain unclear.

Pediatric airway diseases are associated with complex challenges because of smaller and more dynamic airway structures in children. These conditions, along with specialized management by medical care staff, should be immediately and precisely recognized to prevent life-threatening obstructions and long-term respiratory complications. Recently, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an innovative approach to clinical medical education. To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of VR-based education and traditional lectures in enhancing knowledge retention, clinical reasoning, and motivation among senior respiratory therapy students.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is regarded as a major health concern worldwide. In patients with chronic HBV infection, exhausted virus-specific CD8+ T cells, resulting from the activation of the programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed death ligand 1 axis, play a key role in the chronicity of infection. Functional cure for HBV, defined as the seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), is viewed as the optimal goal of chronic HBV infection treatment because HBsAg loss is associated with a low risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and a relatively favorable prognosis. Both interferon treatment and finite antiviral therapy have been found to be associated with positive HBV outcomes. Overall, combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with nucleos(t)ide analogs appears to be a promising approach for achieving HBsAg loss, particularly in patients with low HBsAg levels.

Operative delivery is a technique used during vaginal or cesarean birth to facilitate the patient's labor course through the assistance of a vacuum extractor. This method is increasingly used compared with forceps. This study aimed to investigate the forced effects of vacuum extractors comprising vacuum cups with different thicknesses on the fetal head and the vacuum extractor during vacuum-assisted delivery and to determine the optimal thickness for reducing the failure rate and minimizing neonatal and maternal morbidity.

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, presents with varying severity among individuals. Both viral and host factors can influence the severity of acute and chronic COVID-19, with chronic COVID-19 commonly referred to as long COVID. SARS-CoV-2 infection can be properly diagnosed by performing real-time reverse transcription PCR analysis of nasal swab samples. Pulse oximetry, chest X-ray, and complete blood count (CBC) analysis can be used to assess the condition of the patient to ensure that the appropriate medical care is delivered. This study aimed to develop biosignatures that can be used to distinguish between patients who are likely to develop severe disease and require hospitalization from patients who can be safely monitored in less intensive settings.

Trauma is consistently among the top ten causes of death worldwide. The aging population, constituting 15.21% of adults aged over 65 in Taiwan as of November 2019, has significantly impacted healthcare expenditures. This study aimed to explore the prognosis and resource utilization in patients with geriatric trauma.

Since the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was performed in China in 2010, TAVR has developed rapidly. However, the temporal trends in the 1-year prognosis after TAVR in China have not been described. This study enrolled patients treated at a high-volume Chinese TAVR center, West China Hospital, between 2015 and 2022, to analyze and characterize the temporal trends in 1-year outcomes. After multivariate adjustment, the 30-day mortality, 1-year all-cause mortality, 1-year cardiac mortality, and 1-year permanent pacemaker implantation rates showed a significantly decreasing trend (adjusted p for trend < 0.05). The 1-year major adverse cardiovascular event and 1-year stroke incident rate also decreased but did not reach significance. In conclusion, this study, for the first time, reveals a declining trend in adverse prognosis among patients who underwent TAVR in China.

Few studies have explored the genetic changes and clinicopathological features of stage II/III gastric cancer (GC) patients with no tumor recurrence, early recurrence, or late recurrence after curative surgery.

Predictors of the efficacy of a single-session of CO 2 laser therapy for female stress urinary incontinence are important for pretreatment consultation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate these predictors.

Pruritus is a distressing symptom of systemic opioid analgesia that responds poorly to conventional antipruritus treatments. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for postoperative pruritus using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA).

Many studies have reported the renal outcomes and metabolic consequences after augmentation cystoplasty (AC), however few studies have discussed changes in renal tubular function. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic disturbances, evaluate renal tubular function and 24-hour urine chemistry to evaluate the association between metabolic alterations and urolithiasis after AC.