Background: As Taiwan’s population ages, falls among older adults have become a critical public health concern. However, limited data exist regarding temporal trends and injury patterns in fall-related emergency department (ED) visits. This study aimed to examine trends in fall-related ED visits and hospitalizations among older adults in Taiwan and to explore injury distributions by age group. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Taiwan University Hospital between 2011 and 2017. Patients aged ≥65 years were compared with those aged 20–64 years. Fall-related visits were identified using chief complaints and the International Classification of Diseases 9th/10th revision (ICD-9/ICD-10) codes. Outcomes included hospitalization rates, length of stay, and 30-day mortality. Results: A total of 22,471 fall-related ED visits were analyzed. While visits among younger adults declined (annual growth rate, -1.34%), visits among older adults increased (2.37% annually), with the steepest rise in those aged ≥85 years. Hospitalization occurred in 27.1% of older adults, nearly double that of younger adults (14.4%). Older adults also had longer hospital stays and higher 30-day mortality rates, findings consistent even when restricted to lower limb fractures. Conclusion Fall-related ED visits and hospitalizations are rising disproportionately among Taiwan’s older population. Targeted prevention strategies and transitional care interventions are urgently needed to address the growing clinical and economic burden of falls in aging societies.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of gram-negative bacterial infection on the prognosis of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF),and to explore its effects on biomarker dynamics,car-diac function recovery,rehospitalization rates and all-cause fatality rate.METHODS Clinical data were retrospec-tively collected from 100 patients diagnosed with HFrEF and combined with gram-negative bacterial infection at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University and the Cardiovascular Medicine of the Army Medi-cal Center of Chinese PLA from Jan.2022 to Jan.2024.Clinical baseline data,including demographic information,medical history and biomarkers[interleukin-6(IL-6),C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and troponin]were collected through follow-up visits for 12 months.Follow-up visits were conducted at discharge,3 months,6 months and 12 months,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),NYHA classification(New York heart asso-ciation functional classification for heart),rehospitalization status and all-cause fatality rate were recorded.RESULTS Gram-negative bacterial infection significantly increased the rehospitalization and all-cause fatality rates in patients with HFrEF.The cumulative rehospitalization rate reached 45.00％within 12 months,and the all-cause fatality rate was 15.00％(P＜0.05).Inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and CRP were significantly ele-vated at baseline(P＜0.001)and decreased at discharge,while NT-proBNP levels were higher during the follow up period than those after the discharge,positively correlating with the numbers of rehospitalizations and fatality rates(r=0.752,P＜0.001).LVEF and NYHA classification improved in the short term but showed poor long-term prognosis.CONCLUSIONS Gram-negative bacterial infection significantly affects the long-term prognosis of patients with HFrEF,exacerbating cardiac function damage through inflammatory responses,thus increases re-hospitalization and fatality rates.This study provides new directions for clinical management,and emphasize the importance of early infection control.

A mounting body of research suggests that circRNAs significantly contribute to the develop-ment of myocardial fibrosis.The microarray results of human circular RNA expression profile indicated that circHERC4_041 expression increased in the myocardium of patients with heart failure,RT-qPCR a-nalysis confirmed that the myocardial expression level of circHERC4_041 in individuals with heart failure were considerably elevated compared to that in healthy organ donors.Fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)confirmed that circHERC4_041 was abundant in the cytoplasm of human cardiomyocyte AC16.Overexpression of circHERC4_041 in mouse myocardial fibroblasts(mCFs)mediated by adenovirus in-hibited the expression of fibrosis-related proteins in mCFs.Experiments involving cell proliferation,wound healing,and Transwell assays demonstrated that overexpression of circHERC4_041 suppressed the growth and mobility of mCFs(P＜0.001).Sequence analysis results suggested that circHERC4_041 con-tains potential ribosome entry sequence(IRES)and open reading frame(ORF).Western blot confirmed that circHERC4_041 could translate the 516 amino acid HERC4-516aa protein,which was mainly located in the cytoplasm of the cell.Cell functional experiments confirmed that circHERC4_041 inhibited the fi-brotic phenotype of mCFs by specifically translating HERC4-516aa(P＜0.05).The specific interaction between HERC4-516aa and transglutaminase 2(TGM2)was confirmed by IP-MS screening and Co-IP i-dentification.Further results found that the degradation of TGM2 was promoted through proteasome path-way.The overexpression of TGM2 in mCFs facilitated by adenoviral vectors could counteract the suppres-sive effects of HERC4-516aa on the fibrotic phenotype of mCFs.Therefore,this study confirmed that the HERC4-516aa protein translated by circHERC4_041 can specifically bind to TGM2 to inhibit the fibrotic phenotype of myocardial fibroblasts.

Objective To observe the value of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing pheochromocytoma(PCC)and paraganglioma(PGL).Methods Thirty-eight patients with suspected or confirmed PCC/PGL who underwent 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT were retrospectively enrolled,among them 20 cases underwent 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine(MIBG)SPECT/CT during the same period.The value of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL at individual and lesion levels were analyzed and compared to the results of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT.Results Among 38 cases,there were 20 cases of PCC,14 cases of PGL,1 case of adrenocortical carcinoma and 3 cases of benign adrenal hyperplasia.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL in all 38 cases was 87.88％(29/33),60.00％(3/5),93.55％(29/31),42.86％(3/7)and 84.21％(32/38),respectively.Totally 188 lesions were detected in 34 cases,with detection rate of 89.95％(188/209).For 20 patients who underwent both 2 kinds examinations,the detection rate of bone,lymph node,liver,lung metastases and the overall lesions of 68Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT were all higher than those of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT(all P＜0.05).No significant difference of diagnostic accuracy of PCC/PGL was found between 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT and 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT(P＞0.05).Conclusion The value of 68 Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT for diagnosing PCC/PGL was comparable to that of 131I-MIBG SPECT/CT,but the former showed higher detection rate of metastases,hence being helpful to staging and risk stratification of PCC/PGL.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of gram-negative bacterial infection on the prognosis of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF),and to explore its effects on biomarker dynamics,car-diac function recovery,rehospitalization rates and all-cause fatality rate.METHODS Clinical data were retrospec-tively collected from 100 patients diagnosed with HFrEF and combined with gram-negative bacterial infection at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University and the Cardiovascular Medicine of the Army Medi-cal Center of Chinese PLA from Jan.2022 to Jan.2024.Clinical baseline data,including demographic information,medical history and biomarkers[interleukin-6(IL-6),C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and troponin]were collected through follow-up visits for 12 months.Follow-up visits were conducted at discharge,3 months,6 months and 12 months,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),NYHA classification(New York heart asso-ciation functional classification for heart),rehospitalization status and all-cause fatality rate were recorded.RESULTS Gram-negative bacterial infection significantly increased the rehospitalization and all-cause fatality rates in patients with HFrEF.The cumulative rehospitalization rate reached 45.00％within 12 months,and the all-cause fatality rate was 15.00％(P＜0.05).Inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and CRP were significantly ele-vated at baseline(P＜0.001)and decreased at discharge,while NT-proBNP levels were higher during the follow up period than those after the discharge,positively correlating with the numbers of rehospitalizations and fatality rates(r=0.752,P＜0.001).LVEF and NYHA classification improved in the short term but showed poor long-term prognosis.CONCLUSIONS Gram-negative bacterial infection significantly affects the long-term prognosis of patients with HFrEF,exacerbating cardiac function damage through inflammatory responses,thus increases re-hospitalization and fatality rates.This study provides new directions for clinical management,and emphasize the importance of early infection control.

Objective To evaluate the surgical technique and clinical value of laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy guided by inserting ureteral catheters into the diverticulum under plasmakinetic resectoscope.Methods From December 2018 to May 2024,9 patients underwent laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy in combination with resectoscope.Each patient had a solitary bladder diverticulum with a median maximum diameter of 6.40(5.70,7.40)cm(range:5.0～8.5 cm).Among the 9 patients,3 patients had concurrent benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and simultaneously underwent transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate;1 patient had concurrent both BPH and bladder calculi,requiring simultaneously underwent plasmakinetic resection of the prostate and bladder calculi removal;2 patients required ureteral reimplantation as the diverticulum was directly involving the ureteral orifice;1 case underwent ureteroscopic double-J stent implantation because the opening of the ipsilateral ureter was adjacent to the entrance of the diverticulum.Results Bladder diverticulectomy was successfully performed in the all patients.Median operative time was 160.00(120.00,317.50)min(range:85～345 min).Median estimated blood loss was 20.00(10.00,150.00)mL(range:10～300 mL).No iatrogenic injuries to adjacent organs were observed.Pelvic drains were removed 1～3 d postoperatively,with no urine leakage.Urinary catheters were maintained for 7～10 d after operation.Follow-up at 3～12 months showed no recurrence or hydronephrosis in any of the patients.Conclusion Laparoscopic resection of bladder diverticula guided by ureteral catheter placed into bladder diverticula by means of resectoscope has the advantages of less trauma,less bleeding and faster recovery,and is an effective measure for the treatment of bladder diverticula.

Objective To evaluate the surgical technique and clinical value of laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy guided by inserting ureteral catheters into the diverticulum under plasmakinetic resectoscope.Methods From December 2018 to May 2024,9 patients underwent laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy in combination with resectoscope.Each patient had a solitary bladder diverticulum with a median maximum diameter of 6.40(5.70,7.40)cm(range:5.0～8.5 cm).Among the 9 patients,3 patients had concurrent benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and simultaneously underwent transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate;1 patient had concurrent both BPH and bladder calculi,requiring simultaneously underwent plasmakinetic resection of the prostate and bladder calculi removal;2 patients required ureteral reimplantation as the diverticulum was directly involving the ureteral orifice;1 case underwent ureteroscopic double-J stent implantation because the opening of the ipsilateral ureter was adjacent to the entrance of the diverticulum.Results Bladder diverticulectomy was successfully performed in the all patients.Median operative time was 160.00(120.00,317.50)min(range:85～345 min).Median estimated blood loss was 20.00(10.00,150.00)mL(range:10～300 mL).No iatrogenic injuries to adjacent organs were observed.Pelvic drains were removed 1～3 d postoperatively,with no urine leakage.Urinary catheters were maintained for 7～10 d after operation.Follow-up at 3～12 months showed no recurrence or hydronephrosis in any of the patients.Conclusion Laparoscopic resection of bladder diverticula guided by ureteral catheter placed into bladder diverticula by means of resectoscope has the advantages of less trauma,less bleeding and faster recovery,and is an effective measure for the treatment of bladder diverticula.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the prognostic nutritional index(PNI)and the prevalence of coronary heart disease(CHD)in adults.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database.A total of 12,141 adult participants were initially included and divided into CHD group and control group according to the disease status questionnaire.PNI was calculated using serum albumin level and lymphocyte count.Multivariable logistic regression was applied to explore the association between PNI and the prevalence of CHD in adults.Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess whether this association remained consistent across different populations.A restricted cubic spline model was con-structed to clarify the dose-response relationship between PNI and CHD prevalence in adults.Results:Among the 3,894 adult participants,200(5.14％)had CHD.The PNI level in CHD patients was significantly lower than that of the control group[(49.20±8.59)vs.(51.57±4.80),P＜0.001].Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that,after adjustment for sex,age,race,marital status,body mass index(BMI),hypertension,diabetes and family history of cardiovascular disease,an increase in PNI was still independently associated with a lower prev-alence of CHD(odds ratio[OR]=0.92,95％CI 0.89～0.94,P＜0.001).The dose-response relationship indica-ted a negative linear correlation between PNI and CHD prevalence(P＜0.001).Subgroup analysis showed that the association between PNI and CHD differed significantly across BMI,hypertension and diabetes subgroups(P for in-teraction＜0.05 or＜0.01).Conclusion:Increasing PNI was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of CHD in adults,and this association was more pronounced in specific high-risk populations,such as those with obe-sity,hypertension,and diabetes.Our findings suggest that maintaining good nutritional status is of great significance in reducing the risk of CHD.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)with half-dose recombinant staphylokinase(r-SAK)in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)who are expected to undergo PCI within 120 minutes.Methods From October 2021 to August 2022,a total of 200 STEMI patients in eight centers were included and randomly assigned in a 1﹕1 ratio to either r-SAK group or control group.Patients received loading doses of aspirin and ticagrelor and intravenous heparin and were randomized to receive an intravenous bolus of either 5 mg r-SAK or normal saline prior to PCI.The outcomes were set as ST-segment resolution(STR)at 60-90 minutes after PCI,the proportion and transition of pathological Q waves on the 5th day after PCI,and the proportion of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T(hs-cTnT)peaking within 12 hours of onset.The safety outcome was major bleeding events defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium(BARC)≥type 3 bleeding during hospitalization.Results Compared with the control group,the r-SAK group had a higher proportion of STR≥70%within 60-90 minutes after PCI(58.3%vs.40.3%,P=0.009);a lower proportion of pathological Q waves(59.1%vs.74.1%,P=0.040);a lower rate of Q wave progression(14.8%vs.43.2%,P＜0.001);a higher rate of Q wave disappearance(12.5%vs.3.7%,P=0.027);and a higher proportion of hs-cTnT peaking within 12 hours of symptom onset[31/40(77.5%)vs.17/33(51.5%),P=0.027].Regarding the safety outcome,no significant difference in BARC≥type 3 bleeding was found between the two groups during hospitalization(P＞0.05).Conclusions For STEMI patients who were expected to undergo primary PCI within 120 minutes of symptom onset,the facilitated PCI with half-dose r-SAK significantly increased the proportion of STR≥70%at 60-90 minutes after PCI,reduced the formation of pathological Q waves,and shortened the time to peak hs-cTnT,without increasing the risk of bleeding,which should be an alternative reperfusion strategy worthy of further study.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the prognostic nutritional index(PNI)and the prevalence of coronary heart disease(CHD)in adults.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database.A total of 12,141 adult participants were initially included and divided into CHD group and control group according to the disease status questionnaire.PNI was calculated using serum albumin level and lymphocyte count.Multivariable logistic regression was applied to explore the association between PNI and the prevalence of CHD in adults.Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess whether this association remained consistent across different populations.A restricted cubic spline model was con-structed to clarify the dose-response relationship between PNI and CHD prevalence in adults.Results:Among the 3,894 adult participants,200(5.14％)had CHD.The PNI level in CHD patients was significantly lower than that of the control group[(49.20±8.59)vs.(51.57±4.80),P＜0.001].Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that,after adjustment for sex,age,race,marital status,body mass index(BMI),hypertension,diabetes and family history of cardiovascular disease,an increase in PNI was still independently associated with a lower prev-alence of CHD(odds ratio[OR]=0.92,95％CI 0.89～0.94,P＜0.001).The dose-response relationship indica-ted a negative linear correlation between PNI and CHD prevalence(P＜0.001).Subgroup analysis showed that the association between PNI and CHD differed significantly across BMI,hypertension and diabetes subgroups(P for in-teraction＜0.05 or＜0.01).Conclusion:Increasing PNI was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of CHD in adults,and this association was more pronounced in specific high-risk populations,such as those with obe-sity,hypertension,and diabetes.Our findings suggest that maintaining good nutritional status is of great significance in reducing the risk of CHD.