Objective:To extract the early result of postoperative echocardiographic evaluation in patients underwent left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, and to assess the efficacy of surgical treatment for end-staged heart failure.Methods:Between June 2019 and May 2023, the patients underwent left ventricular assist device implantation were enrolled in this study. Demographic baseline characteristics and perioperative echocardiographic parameters were collected and analyzed.Results:A total of 28 patients were included in the study. After LVAD implantation, the heart sizes of the patients obviously reduced and the left heart contractibility function improved. The right ventricular contractibility remained stable. The proportion of the patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation was significantly reduced, but patients with mild to moderate aortic insufficiency increased. No serious complications such as death, pericardial tamponade and thrombosis events were observed during the follow-up period.Conclusion:LVAD implantation improved the left cardiac function, while the right cardiac function remained stable. However, it should be paid attention that the aortic valve function was impaired after the surgery. Generally, the early results of LVAD implantation for the treatment of end-stage heart failure were satisfactory.

Objective:To investigate the association of R wave peak time(RWPT)with severity of coronary artery disease and short-term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods:A total of 133 ACS patients who were treated in Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital between January 2019 and June 2022 and received coronary angiography were selected.According to number of diseased coronary arteries,they were divided into single-vessel coronary disease group(n=43),double-vessel coronary disease group(n=51)and multi-vessel coronary disease group(n=39);according to severity of coronary artery disease,they were divided into mild group(n=40),medium group(n=48)and severe group(n=45).ECG indexes were compared among groups with different number of diseased coronary arteries and severity of coronary artery disease.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze corre-lation between ECG indexes and Gensini score;patients were divided into major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)group(n=46)and no MACE group(n=87)according to presence of MACE during hospitalization.Clinical data were compared between two groups,and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors of MACE during hospi-talization in ACS patients.Results:QRS duration and RWPT significantly increased according to the order of single-ves-sel,double-vessel and multi-vessel coronary disease group(P＜0.05 or＜0.01);QRS duration and RWPT significantly increased according to the order of mild,medium and severe group(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Pearson correlation analysis indi-cated that QRS duration and RWPT were significant positively correlated with Gensini score in ACS patients(r=0.222,0.557,P=0.010,＜0.001).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that hypertension,diabetes,RWPT,Gensini score and multi-vessel disease were independent risk factors for MACE during hospitalization in ACS patients(OR=3.171～9.360,P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Conclusion:RWPT is closely related to the severity of coronary artery disease in ACS patients.RWPT detection helps to guide risk stratification and secondary prevention of ACS patients,therefore im-prove their short-term prognosis.

Objective To explore the biomarkers and potential mechanisms of chronic restraint stress-induced myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia ApoE-/-mice.Methods The hyperlipidemia combined with the chronic stress model was established by restraining the ApoE-/-mice.Proteomics and bioinformatics techniques were used to describe the characteristic molecular changes and related regulatory mechanisms of chronic stress-induced myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia mice and to explore potential diagnostic biomarkers.Results Proteomic analysis showed that there were 43 significantly up-regulated and 58 sig-nificantly down-regulated differentially expressed proteins in hyperlipidemia combined with the restraint stress group compared with the hyperlipidemia group.Among them,GBP2,TAOK3,TFR1 and UCP1 were biomarkers with great diagnostic potential.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that fer-roptosis was a significant pathway that accelerated the myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia combined with restraint stress-induced model.The mmu_circ_0001567/miR-7a/Tfr-1 and mmu_circ_0001042/miR-7a/Tfr-1 might be important circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks related to ferroptosis in this model.Conclusion Chronic restraint stress may aggravate myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia mice via ferrop-tosis.Four potential biomarkers are selected for myocardial injury diagnosis,providing a new direction for sudden cardiac death(SCD)caused by hyperlipidemia combined with the restraint stress.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly common liver disease worldwide. MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of steatosis on images, histological findings, or serum marker levels as well as the presence of at least one of the three metabolic features: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic risk factors. MAFLD is not only a liver disease but also a factor contributing to or related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the major etiology responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. Hence, understanding the association between MAFLD and CVD, surveillance and risk stratification of MAFLD in patients with CVD, and assessment of the current status of MAFLD management are urgent requirements for both hepatologists and cardiologists. This Taiwan position statement reviews the literature and provides suggestions regarding the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, risk stratification, nonpharmacological interventions, and potential drug treatments of MAFLD, focusing on its association with CVD.

Background: The initiation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) typically leads to a reversible initial dip in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The implications of this phenomenon on clinical outcomes are not well-defined. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to March 23, 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing kidney and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with and without initial eGFR dip after initiating SGLT2i. Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effect meta-analysis. Results: We included seven studies in our analysis, which revealed that an initial eGFR dip following the initiation of SGLT2i was associated with less annual eGFR decline (mean difference, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.437 to 0.843) regardless of baseline eGFR. The risk of major adverse kidney events was similar between the non-dipping and dipping groups but reduced in patients with a ≤10% eGFR dip (hazard ratio [HR], 0.915; 95% CI, 0.865 to 0.967). No significant differences were observed in the composite of hospitalized heart failure and cardiovascular death (HR, 0.824; 95% CI, 0.633 to 1.074), hospitalized heart failure (HR, 1.059; 95% CI, 0.574 to 1.952), or all-cause mortality (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.589 to 1.170). The risk of serious adverse events (AEs), discontinuation of SGLT2i due to AEs, kidney-related AEs, and volume depletion were similar between the two groups. Patients with >10% eGFR dip had increased risk of hyperkalemia compared to the non-dipping group. Conclusion Initial eGFR dip after initiating SGLT2i might be associated with less annual eGFR decline. There were no significant disparities in the risks of adverse cardiovascular outcomes between the dipping and non-dipping groups.

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.

Traditional acute kidney injury (AKI) classifications, which are centered around semi-anatomical lines, can no longer capture the complexity of AKI. By employing strategies to identify predictive and prognostic enrichment targets, experts could gain a deeper comprehension of AKI’s pathophysiology, allowing for the development of treatment-specific targets and enhancing individualized care. Subphenotyping, which is enriched with AKI biomarkers, holds insights into distinct risk profiles and tailored treatment strategies that redefine AKI and contribute to improved clinical management. The utilization of biomarkers such as N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-2·insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7, kidney injury molecule-1, and liver fatty acid-binding protein garnered significant attention as a means to predict subclinical AKI. Novel biomarkers offer promise in predicting persistent AKI, with urinary motif chemokine ligand 14 displaying significant sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, they serve as predictive markers for weaning patients from acute dialysis and offer valuable insights into distinct AKI subgroups. The proposed management of AKI, which is encapsulated in a structured flowchart, bridges the gap between research and clinical practice. It streamlines the utilization of biomarkers and subphenotyping, promising a future in which AKI is swiftly identified and managed with unprecedented precision. Incorporating kidney biomarkers into strategies for early AKI detection and the initiation of AKI care bundles has proven to be more effective than using care bundles without these novel biomarkers. This comprehensive approach represents a significant stride toward precision medicine, enabling the identification of high-risk subphenotypes in patients with AKI.

【Objective】 To evaluate the dietary quality with the dietary balance index (DBI_16) and the association between dietary quality and bone mass among middle-aged and elderly people in Gansu Province so as to provide evidence for improving dietary quality and bone health status of Gansu population. 【Methods】 Based on the information of the type and quantity of food intake and the bone mass of middle-aged and elderly people aged 35 years and above collected by the Gansu Project in the Regional Ethnic Cohort Study in Northwest China, DBI_16 was used to evaluate the intake level of cereals, vegetables, fruits, milk, beans, fish and shrimp, eggs and other foods, and the degree of inadequate, excessive and unbalanced dietary intake of the participants. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the associations of three component indexes of DBI_16, high bound score (DBI_HBS), low bound score (DBI_LBS), diet quality distance (DBI_DQD), and seven single indexes of DBI_16 with bone mass. 【Results】 Analyses of the dietary and bone mass data of 11,840 participants showed that 44.8% of participants consumed excessive amounts of cereals compared to the dietary recommendation. 96.3%, 90.6%, 90.1%, 71.9%, 95.1% and 60.3% of participants’ intake of vegetables, fruits, milk, soybeans, fish and shrimp, and eggs, respectively, were inadequate. 47.7% participants consumed less than 10 types of food. 2.3% participants’ DBI_LBS levels were appropriate. 54.7% participants’ DBI_HBS levels were appropriate. Only 1.2% participants’ DBI_DQD reached a balanced level. The bone mass level in the study population was (2.5±0.6) kg [(2.8±0.5) kg for men and (2.3±0.5) kg for women]. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, total dietary energy intake and body mass index, DBI_LBS and DBI_DQD were negatively associated with bone mass [β and 95% CI was -0.002 01 (-0.003 62--0.000 40) and -0.001 76 (-0.003 09--0.000 43), respectively]. 【Conclusion】 Dietary intake imbalance is common among middle-aged and elderly people in Gansu Province, and the more severe the dietary intake imbalance, the lower the bone mass level.

The latest epidemiological data suggests that the situation of adult diabetes in China is severe, and metabolic diseases have become significant chronic illnesses that have a serious impact on public health and social development. After more than six years of practice, the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has developed distinctive approaches to manage metabolic patients and has achieved a series of positive outcomes, continuously advancing the standardized diagnosis and treatment model. In order to further improve the efficiency, based on the first edition, the second edition guideline was composed by incorporating experience of the past six years in conjunction with the latest international and domestic guidelines.