Taipei Veterans General Hospital

About: Taipei Veterans General Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Taipei, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 11878 authors who have published 16478 publications receiving 363424 citations. The organization is also known as: Táiběi Róngmín Zǒngyī Yuàn.

Benefits of hypoxic culture on bone marrow multipotent stromal cells

Abstract: Cultivation of cells is usually performed under atmospheric oxygen tension; however, such a condition does not replicate the hypoxic conditions of normal physiological or pathological status in the body. Recently, the effects of hypoxia on bone marrow multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) have been investigated. In a long-term culture, hypoxia can inhibit senescence, increase the proliferation rate and enhance differentiation potential along the different mesenchymal lineages. Hypoxia also modulates the paracrine effects of MSCs, causing upregulation of various secretable factors, including the vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6, and thereby promoting wound healing and diabetic fracture healing. Finally, hypoxia plays an important role in mobilization and homing of MSCs, primarily by its ability to induce stromal cell-derived factor-1 expression along with its receptor, CXCR4. After transplantation, an ischemic environment, that is the combination of hypoxia and lack of nutrition, can lead to apoptosis or cell death, which can be overcome by the hypoxic preconditioning of MSCs and overexpression of prosurvival genes like Akt, HO-1 and Hsp70. This review emphasizes that hypoxia is an important factor in all major aspects of stem cell biology, and the mechanism involved in the hypoxic inducible factor-1signaling pathway behind these responses is also discussed.

Recurrent atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus: A very long-term follow-up of 333 patients

Abstract: Introduction: Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus is an effective therapy for typical atrial flutter (AFL), however, the long-term recurrence of AFL and early or late occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) are not well defined. This study investigated the long-term (up to 68 months) outcome of patients with typical AFL after catheter ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus.

Sleep quality among community-dwelling elderly people and its demographic, mental, and physical correlates

Abstract: Background Sleep quality is an important predictor of well being in the elderly. However, the effects of depression and physical activity on sleep quality among elderly are less clear. Methods One hundred older individuals who met the inclusion criteria were randomly sampled from a Taipei district elderly residential list. Door-to-door interviews were conducted. Sleep quality (the outcome variable), physical activity and depression symptoms were measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire (TDQ), respectively. Logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between the above major variables. Results A half of the elderly had short sleep onset ( 5). Twenty-two percent of community-dwelling elders used psychoactive medication for sleep. The prevalence of depressive disorders (TDQ ≥ 19) was 7%. Although both physical activity and depression were significantly associated with sleep quality in the univariate analysis, only depression remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, education, marital status, and chronic illness confounders in logistic regression (OR = 1.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.12–1.52). Conclusion Elderly depression symptoms was the only factor significantly associating with poor sleep quality after adjustment. Higher level of physical activity was associated with better sleep quality in univariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis, which considered the factor of elderly depression symptoms in the elderly. The role of physical activity in late life potentially influence sleep quality but may have less significance compared with depression. Therefore, we suggest the need for more future research to investigate the relationship between elderly people's sleep and physical activity.

The Effect of Diabetes, Hyperlipidemia, and Statins on the Development of Rotator Cuff Disease: A Nationwide, 11-Year, Longitudinal, Population-Based Follow-up Study

Abstract: Background:The intrinsic risk factors of rotator cuff disease (RCD) include degeneration, inflammation, oxidative stress, and circulation impairment. Both diabetes and hyperlipidemia are thought to increase these risk factors and therefore potentially enhance RCD development. However, few studies, and few longitudinal follow-up studies in particular, exist to prove this.Hypothesis:Both diabetes and hyperlipidemia can increase a patient’s risk of developing RCD.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A total of 498,678 participants, including 28,391 diagnosed with diabetes and 25,621 with hyperlipidemia in the year 2000, were followed for an 11-year period. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the effect of (1) diabetes, (2) hyperlipidemia, (3) diabetes with/without insulin use, and (4) hyperlipidemia with/without statin use on the development of RCD. In the subgroup of patients with hyperlipidemia, multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were also performe...