Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is mainly the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) associated with high apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which is accepted to be caused by the mutations in the subunits of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The treatment is still infant while efforts of correcting genes or using antioxidants do not bring good and consistent results. Unaffected carrier carries LHON mutation but shows normal phenotype, suggesting that the disease's pathogenesis is complex, in which secondary factors exist and cooperate with the primary complex I dysfunction. ⋯ We showed that the downregulation of miR548c-3p plays a critical role in modulating cellular dysfunction and the apoptotic program of RGCs in LHON.
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With the increasing number of individuals with dementia, families have hired an increasing number of live-in migrant caregivers (LIMCs). Currently, limited evidence is available regarding the influence of long-term care resource utilization on the hiring of LIMCs for caring for individuals with dementia in Taiwan. ⋯ Hiring LIMCs is strongly correlated with the utilization of non-long-term care resources and is influenced by the dynamics between individuals with dementia and their primary family caregivers. A higher likelihood of hiring LIMCs was observed for individuals with Lewy body dementia and individuals with elevated NPI scores compared with their counterparts. Given these observations, various support strategies and interventions should be tailored to the specific requirements of individuals with dementia and their families.
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During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, reports of vaccine-induced myocarditis, particularly messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based myocarditis, were widely spread. This case series describes various cases of COVID-19 vaccine-induced myocarditis confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including those who were administered rare protein-based vaccines. Eleven patients comprising eight males and three females with suspected myocarditis underwent cardiac MRI at Taichung Veterans General Hospital between October 2021 and May 2022. ⋯ Among four patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), two showed LVEF restoration during the follow-up period, and the other two were lost to follow-up. Cardiac MRI characterizes myocardial features such as edema, inflammation, and fibrosis, and has been proven to diagnose myocarditis accurately with a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 96.2% according to the 2018 Lake Louise criteria. This diagnosis was achieved without invasive procedures such as endomyocardial biopsy or coronary angiography.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a major impact on human life. This review highlights the versatile roles of both classical and modern structure-based approaches for COVID-19. ⋯ Further progress into protein structure modeling was made using modern structure-based approaches derived from homology modeling and integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), facilitating advanced computational simulation tools to actively guide the design of new vaccines and the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. This review presents the practical contributions and future directions of structure-based approaches for COVID-19.
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Genital elephantiasis is a severe form of lymphedema of the groin. It is characterized by progressive enlargement and distortion of the genitals, presenting significant physical, psychological, and social challenges to the affected individuals. ⋯ We also discuss how a combination approach of ablation, soft tissue coverage, and lymphatic reconstruction is viable for treating genital elephantiasis. By examining the literature, we hope to provide insights into how surgery plays a role in the holistic management of genital elephantiasis.