J Formos Med Assoc
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Meta Analysis
Association of SOD2 p.V16A polymorphism with Parkinson's disease: A meta-analysis in Han Chinese.
Oxidative stress could participate in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of genetic variation of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), an important regulator against oxidative stress, in PD remains to be elucidated. ⋯ Our findings demonstrate that SOD2 p.V16A may play a role in the susceptibility of PD in Han Chinese.
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in North America and Europe, with increasing prevalence in other regions of the world. Its spectrum encompass steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis and cirrhosis. ⋯ In this review we discuss the histopathological features, differential diagnoses, and the commonly used grading and staging systems of NAFLD. NAFLD associated with other diseases, histological changes after therapeutic intervention and recurrence or occurrence of NAFLD after liver transplantation are also addressed.
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The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to William G. Kaelin Jr, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, and Gregg L. ⋯ Next, the biology of HIF in the kidney will be reviewed. Studies on the HIF stabilizers in the context of kidney disease, as well as the manipulation of HIF in different renal cell types will be covered. Lastly, the clinical application of HIF stabilizers and HIF antagonists for the treatment of anemia and cancer, respectively, will be discussed.
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Cryptogenic stroke comprises about one-quarter of ischemic strokes with high recurrence rate; however, studies specifically investigating the features and treatment of this stroke subtype are rare. The concept of 'embolic stroke of undetermined source' (ESUS) may facilitate the development of a standardized approach to diagnose cryptogenic stroke and improve clinical trials. Since recent large randomized control trials failed to demonstrate a reduction in stroke recurrence with anticoagulants, anti-platelet agents remain the first-line treatment for ESUS patients. ⋯ Anticoagulant treatments may still benefit some subgroups of high-risk ESUS patients, such as those with multiple infarcts at different arterial territories without aortic atheroma, the elderly, or patients with high CHA2D2-VASc or HOVAC scores, atrial cardiopathy or patent foramen ovale. Several important ESUS clinical trials are ongoing, and the results are anticipated. With rapid progress in our understanding of ESUS pathophysiology, new subcategorizations of ESUS and assignment of optimal treatments for each ESUS subgroup are expected in the near future.
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Significant associations between suicide behaviors and inappropriate suicide reports in the media have been reported. The study aimed to examine the quality of long-term suicide reports under surveillance by the Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center (TSPC). ⋯ The quality of suicide reports significantly improved in most WHO guideline items. Development of psychiatric-media liaisons may be beneficial for further improvement.