This video presents a case of L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis treated with full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF), emphasizing the GUARD (Glider Used as a Rotary Device) technique for nerve root protection. This innovative approach involves controlled rotation of the cage glider before cage insertion to minimize the risk of nerve root injury, a significant complication in Endo-TLIF procedures. The GUARD technique, validated in previous cadaveric studies, provides enhanced safety during cage insertion by protecting the nerve root. A 48-year-old woman with a 3-year history of progressive low back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (right-sided predominance) was diagnosed with L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. After failure of conservative management, she underwent uniportal full-endoscopic facet-resecting transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using the GUARD technique. Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant symptomatic improvement and resolution of radiculopathy, without any intraoperative nerve root injury or postoperative neurological deficits. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the GUARD technique in reducing neurological complications and improving patient outcomes.

This video presents a case of L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis treated with full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF), emphasizing the GUARD (Glider Used as a Rotary Device) technique for nerve root protection. This innovative approach involves controlled rotation of the cage glider before cage insertion to minimize the risk of nerve root injury, a significant complication in Endo-TLIF procedures. The GUARD technique, validated in previous cadaveric studies, provides enhanced safety during cage insertion by protecting the nerve root. A 48-year-old woman with a 3-year history of progressive low back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (right-sided predominance) was diagnosed with L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. After failure of conservative management, she underwent uniportal full-endoscopic facet-resecting transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using the GUARD technique. Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant symptomatic improvement and resolution of radiculopathy, without any intraoperative nerve root injury or postoperative neurological deficits. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the GUARD technique in reducing neurological complications and improving patient outcomes.

This video presents a case of L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis treated with full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF), emphasizing the GUARD (Glider Used as a Rotary Device) technique for nerve root protection. This innovative approach involves controlled rotation of the cage glider before cage insertion to minimize the risk of nerve root injury, a significant complication in Endo-TLIF procedures. The GUARD technique, validated in previous cadaveric studies, provides enhanced safety during cage insertion by protecting the nerve root. A 48-year-old woman with a 3-year history of progressive low back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (right-sided predominance) was diagnosed with L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. After failure of conservative management, she underwent uniportal full-endoscopic facet-resecting transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using the GUARD technique. Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant symptomatic improvement and resolution of radiculopathy, without any intraoperative nerve root injury or postoperative neurological deficits. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the GUARD technique in reducing neurological complications and improving patient outcomes.

This video presents a case of L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis treated with full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF), emphasizing the GUARD (Glider Used as a Rotary Device) technique for nerve root protection. This innovative approach involves controlled rotation of the cage glider before cage insertion to minimize the risk of nerve root injury, a significant complication in Endo-TLIF procedures. The GUARD technique, validated in previous cadaveric studies, provides enhanced safety during cage insertion by protecting the nerve root. A 48-year-old woman with a 3-year history of progressive low back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (right-sided predominance) was diagnosed with L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. After failure of conservative management, she underwent uniportal full-endoscopic facet-resecting transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using the GUARD technique. Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant symptomatic improvement and resolution of radiculopathy, without any intraoperative nerve root injury or postoperative neurological deficits. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the GUARD technique in reducing neurological complications and improving patient outcomes.

This video presents a case of L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis treated with full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF), emphasizing the GUARD (Glider Used as a Rotary Device) technique for nerve root protection. This innovative approach involves controlled rotation of the cage glider before cage insertion to minimize the risk of nerve root injury, a significant complication in Endo-TLIF procedures. The GUARD technique, validated in previous cadaveric studies, provides enhanced safety during cage insertion by protecting the nerve root. A 48-year-old woman with a 3-year history of progressive low back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (right-sided predominance) was diagnosed with L4–5 unstable spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. After failure of conservative management, she underwent uniportal full-endoscopic facet-resecting transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using the GUARD technique. Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant symptomatic improvement and resolution of radiculopathy, without any intraoperative nerve root injury or postoperative neurological deficits. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the GUARD technique in reducing neurological complications and improving patient outcomes.

Background/Aims: Despite the high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), approximately 1–3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients fail to achieve a sustained virological response. We conducted a nationwide study to investigate risk factors associated with DAA treatment failure. Machine-learning algorithms have been applied to discriminate subjects who may fail to respond to DAA therapy. Methods: We analyzed the Taiwan HCV Registry Program database to explore predictors of DAA failure in HCV patients. Fifty-five host and virological features were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural network. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: The training (n=23,955) and validation (n=10,346) datasets had similar baseline demographics, with an overall DAA failure rate of 1.6% (n=538). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, poor DAA adherence, and higher hemoglobin A1c were significantly associated with virological failure. XGBoost outperformed the other algorithms and logistic regression models, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1.000 in the training dataset and 0.803 in the validation dataset. The top five predictors of treatment failure were HCV RNA, body mass index, α-fetoprotein, platelets, and FIB-4 index. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the XGBoost model (cutoff value=0.5) were 99.5%, 69.7%, 99.9%, 97.4%, and 99.5%, respectively, for the entire dataset. Conclusions Machine learning algorithms effectively provide risk stratification for DAA failure and additional information on the factors associated with DAA failure.

Background/Aims: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who failed antiviral therapy are at increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study assessed the potential role of metformin and statins, medications for diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidemia (HLP), in reducing HCC risk among these patients. Methods: We included CHC patients from the T-COACH study who failed antiviral therapy. We tracked the onset of HCC 1.5 years post-therapy by linking to Taiwan’s cancer registry data from 2003 to 2019. We accounted for death and liver transplantation as competing risks and employed Gray’s cumulative incidence and Cox subdistribution hazards models to analyze HCC development. Results: Out of 2,779 patients, 480 (17.3%) developed HCC post-therapy. DM patients not using metformin had a 51% increased risk of HCC compared to non-DM patients, while HLP patients on statins had a 50% reduced risk compared to those without HLP. The 5-year HCC incidence was significantly higher for metformin non-users (16.5%) versus non-DM patients (11.3%; adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio [aSHR]=1.51; P=0.007) and metformin users (3.1%; aSHR=1.59; P=0.022). Statin use in HLP patients correlated with a lower HCC risk (3.8%) compared to non-HLP patients (12.5%; aSHR=0.50; P<0.001). Notably, the increased HCC risk associated with non-use of metformin was primarily seen in non-cirrhotic patients, whereas statins decreased HCC risk in both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Conclusions Metformin and statins may have a chemopreventive effect against HCC in CHC patients who failed antiviral therapy. These results support the need for personalized preventive strategies in managing HCC risk.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by alternating periods of inflammation and remission. Although UC incidence is lower in Taiwan than in Western countries, its impact remains considerable, demanding updated guidelines for addressing local healthcare challenges and patient needs. The revised guidelines employ international standards and recent research, emphasizing practical implementation within the Taiwanese healthcare system. Since the inception of the guidelines in 2017, the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease has acknowledged the need for ongoing revisions to incorporate emerging therapeutic options and evolving disease management practices. This updated guideline aims to align UC management with local contexts, ensuring comprehensive and context-specific recommendations, thereby raising the standard of care for UC patients in Taiwan. By adapting and optimizing international protocols for local relevance, these efforts seek to enhance health outcomes for patients with UC.

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic, fluctuating inflammatory condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. Although the incidence of CD in Taiwan is lower than that in Western countries, the severity of CD presentation appears to be similar between Asia and the West. This observation indicates the urgency for devising revised guidelines tailored to the unique reimbursement system, and patient requirements in Taiwan. The core objectives of these updated guidelines include the updated treatment choices and the integration of the treat-to-target strategy into CD management, promoting the achievement of deep remission to mitigate complications and enhance the overall quality of life. Given the diversity in disease prevalence, severity, insurance policies, and access to medical treatments in Taiwan, a customized approach is imperative for formulating these guidelines. Such tailored strategies ensure that international standards are not only adapted but also optimized to local contexts. Since the inception of its initial guidelines in 2017, the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (TSIBD) has acknowledged the importance of continuous revisions for incorporating new therapeutic options and evolving disease management practices. The latest update leverages international standards and recent research findings focused on practical implementation within the Taiwanese healthcare system.

Vascular endothelial cells and oxidation reduction system play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). If these conditions are disordered, it will inevitably lead to plaque formation and even rupture. Astragaloside IV (AsIV) and salvianolic acid B (Sal B) are the main active ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus and Salvia miltiorrhiza, respectively, and found to ameliorate vascular endothelial dysfunction and protect against oxidative stress in recent studies. However, it is still unknown if the combination of AsIV and Sal B (AsIV + Sal B) can inhibit the development of plaque through amplifying the protective effect of vascular endothelial cells and anti-oxidative stress effect. To clarify the role of AsIV + Sal B in AS, we observed the efficacy of each group (Control, Model, AsIV, Sal B, and AsIV + Sal B) by biomolecular assays, such as observing the pathological morphology of the aorta by oil red O staining, evaluating the level of oxidative stress and endothelial cells in the serum by the Elisa test, and analyzing the changes of all small molecule metabolites in liver tissue by UPLC-QTOF-MS. Results showed that AsIV, Sal B and AsIV + Sal B decreased the deposition of lipid in the arterial wall, so as to exert the effect of anti-oxidant stress and vascular endothelial protection, where the inhibitory effect of AsIV + Sal B was the most obvious. Metabonomics analysis showed that Sal B regulated the metabolic pathways of arginine and proline. AsIV regulated glycerol metabolism and saturated fatty acid biosynthesis metabolism. AsIV + Sal B is mainly related to the regulation of the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamate metabolism, cysteine, and methionine metabolism. Succinic acid and methionine are synergistic metabolites that exert an enhancing effect when AsIV and Sal B were used in combination. In conclusion, we demonstrated that AsIV acompanied with Sal B can be successfully used for anti-oxidative stress and vascular endothelial protection of AS, and succinic acid and methionine are the synergistic metabolites.
Antioxidants ; Atherosclerosis ; Benzofurans ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Methionine ; Saponins ; Succinic Acid ; Triterpenes