Applying Artificial Intelligence Constructing a Prediction Model Related to Environmental Hormones and Breast Cancer Incidence.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and the age of diagnosis is younger and younger. The research is aimed to make a prediction model related to environmental hormones and breast cancer incidence. First, we analyzed lab data to figure out the risk factor of breast cancer.

A single session of sensorimotor rhythm neurofeedback enhances long-game performance in professional golfers.

Enhanced Sensorimotor Rhythm activity has been linked to increased automation in motor execution. Although existing research demonstrates the positive effects of SMR neurofeedback training on improving golf putting performance, its influence on golf long-game performance remains unexplored. This study sought to address this gap by involving seventeen professional female golfers (Age =24.

In vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam, meropenem/vaborbactam and comparators against Enterobacterales causing urinary tract infection in Taiwan: results from the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART), 2020.

Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance due to β-lactamase production is a worldwide issue, and β-lactamase inhibitors have been developed to overcome the growing problem. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro activities of two recently introduced carbapenem/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations - imipenem/relebactam and meropenem/vaborbactam - and their comparators against Enterobacterales from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Methods: Enterobacterales isolates from patients with UTIs in Taiwan and participating in the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) in 2020 were included.

Brain plasticity of structural connectivity networks and topological properties in baseball players with different levels of expertise.

Brain plasticity in structural connectivity networks along the development of expertise has remained largely unknown. To address this, we recruited individuals with three different levels of baseball-playing experience: skilled batters (SB), intermediate batters (IB), and healthy controls (HC). We constructed their structural connectivity networks using diffusion tractography and compared their region-to-region structural connections and the topological characteristics of the constructed networks using graph-theoretical analysis.

Strike or ball? Batters know it better: an fMRI study of action anticipation in baseball players.

To assess whether the brain processes of action anticipation are modulated differently by perceptual and motor experiences, baseball batters, pitchers, and non-players were asked to predict the fate of pitching actions (strike or ball) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results showed both batters (perceptual experts of pitching action) and pitchers (motor experts) were more accurate than non-players. Furthermore, batters demonstrated higher perceptual sensitivity in discriminating strikes than non-players.

The Relationship between Clinic Visit Accompanied by Family and Dementia Severity in Taiwan.

Introduction: This study analyzes the severity of dementia status with clinical dementia rating (CDR) score distribution among patients according to various family functional and sociodemographic issues.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a regional hospital in Central Taiwan. The sample consisted of 318 patients who came to the clinic from May 2018 to April 2019, and who were diagnosed by the physicians with CDR scores ≧ 0.

An artificial immune system with bootstrap sampling for the diagnosis of recurrent endometrial cancers.

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies in developed countries. The prevention of the recurrence of endometrial cancer has always been a clinical challenge. Endometrial cancer is asymptomatic in the early stage, and there remains a lack of time-series correlation patterns of clinical pathway transfer, recurrence, and treatment.

Using percutaneous parapedicle screw vertebroplasty to treat transpedicle screw loosening.

Background: Pedicle screw loosening (PSL) is a postsurgical complication of spinal fusion surgery that can result in morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous parapedicle screw vertebroplasty (PPSV) for pain reduction and motility improvement in patients with PSL.

Methods: The postsurgical solid inter-body fusion with inter-body bone mass formation of 32 patients who underwent lumbar-sacrum spinal fusion surgery was confirmed with plain films and CT scans.

Nonlinear engagement of action observation network underlying action anticipation in players with different levels of expertise.

The goal of this study was to reconcile inconsistency of neural engagement underlying action anticipation between experts and nonexperts, as well as between correct and incorrect anticipations. Therefore, we asked novice, intermediate, and skilled baseball batters (N, IB, and SB) to anticipate their swing decisions in response to pitching videos of a strike or ball, using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Behavioral results confirmed the effect of expertise that is generally shown in a linear fashion.

Mucoadhesive Polysaccharide-Based Artificial Tears to Relieve Symptoms and Inflammation in Rabbit with Dry Eyes Syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a multifactorial disorder of the ocular surface affecting many people all over the world. However, there have been many therapeutic advancements for the treatment of DES, substantial long-term treatment remains a challenge. Natural plant-based polysaccharides have gained much importance in the field of tissue engineering for their excellent biocompatibility and unique physical properties.

Continuous versus intermittent infusions of antibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases: Meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Severe sepsis and pneumonia are common problems in the intensive care units (ICUs) and cause high morbidity and mortality. Optimal doses and appropriate routes of antibiotics are critical to improve their efficacy, but their appropriate routes remain controversial.

Objective: The efficacy of antibiotic administration among critically ill patient populations remains controversial.

Altered Central Autonomic Network in Baseball Players: A Resting-state fMRI Study.

The physiological adaptive regulation of healthy population with a high fitness level is associated with enhanced cognitive control in brain. This study further investigated the effects of different levels of sporting experience on intrinsic brain networks involved in central autonomic processing using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We explored functional connectivity of four core regions within central autonomic network (CAN), namely posterior midcingulate cortex (pMCC), left amygdala (AMYG), and right anterior (aINS) and left posterior insular cortices, in advanced and intermediate baseball players, and compared their strength of connectivity with individuals without baseball-playing experience.

Nonlinear neuroplasticity corresponding to sports experience: A voxel-based morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity study.

We aimed to investigate the structural neuroplasticity associated with different levels of sports experience and its effect on the corresponding resting-state functional circuitry. We recruited 18 skilled baseball batters (SB), 19 intermediate baseball batters (IB), and 17 healthy controls (HC), and used magnetic resonance imaging methods to compare their regional gray-matter volume (GMV) and seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC). Our results revealed that a quadratic function could better depict intergroup differences in regional GMV than a linear function.

Thermosensitive Injectable Hydrogel for Simultaneous Intraperitoneal Delivery of Doxorubicin and Prevention of Peritoneal Adhesion.

To improve intraperitoneal chemotherapy and to prevent postsurgical peritoneal adhesion, we aimed to develop a drug delivery strategy for controlled release of a chemotherapeutic drug from the intraperitoneally injected thermosensitive poly(-isopropylacrylamide)-based hydrogel (HACPN), which is also endowed with peritoneal anti-adhesion properties. Anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into the hydrogel (HACPN-DOX) to investigate the chemotherapeutic and adhesion barrier effects in vivo. A burst release followed by sustained release of DOX from HACPN-DOX was found due to gradual degradation of the hydrogel.

Clinical and microbiological characteristics of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium bloodstream infection in Central Taiwan.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfae) remain a therapeutic challenge. This study aimed to evaluate mortality from BSIs due to VREfae in Central Taiwan.We retrospectively analyzed patients with significant VREfae BSIs in the Changhua Christian Hospital System between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014.

[Mortality analysis of Enterococcus faecium bloodstream infection in central Taiwan].

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium), particularly those due to vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), are still a therapeutic challenge.

Aim: To evaluate mortality from BSI due to E.

Risk factors associated with postcraniotomy meningitis: A retrospective study.

Postcraniotomy meningitis (PCM) is a major challenge in neurosurgery, and changing patterns of infectious agents in PCM have been noted. The limited epidemiological data and urgent clinical needs motivated this research. We conducted this study to determine a risk assessment for PCM and the current pattern of infectious agents.

Clinical manifestations, course, and outcome of patients with neutralizing anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies and disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infections.

Neutralizing anti-interferon-γ autoantibody (nAIGA)-associated immunodeficiency is an emerging medical issue worldwide. In the present study, we describe and discuss the clinical features and outcomes of patients with nAIGAs and disseminated infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria (dNTM).We thoroughly reviewed the medical records of all patients.

The experience of intramuscular benzathine penicillin for prophylaxis of recurrent cellulitis: A cohort study.

Background/purpose: Recurrent cellulitis is an important clinical issue but the optimal strategy for prophylaxis is not determined. Intramuscular benzathine penicillin at a 4-week interval had been adopted in our hospital and the study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy.

Methods: From January 1, 2009 to May 31, 2013, all patients aged ≥ 18 year, with a history of recurrent cellulitis and having received at least three shots of intramuscular benzathine penicillin for prophylaxis were retrospectively recruited for analysis.

Cobra bite wound infection caused by Shewanella algae.

Shewanella wound infections after snake bites are rare. We report the case of a Shewanella algae wound infection associated with a cobra bite in a 27-year-old woman. The isolate was confirmed by sequencing of the 16S ribosomal DNA gene.

Changing epidemiology of candidemia in a medical center in middle Taiwan.

Background: Candidemia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the health care setting, and the epidemiology of Candida infection is changing.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory data from patients with candidemia were collected retrospectively at a tertiary medical center in Taiwan from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2012 (a 36-month period). Demographics, clinical characteristics, and drug susceptibility of the invading Candida species of patients at the onset of candidemia were analyzed and compared with previous study from January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003 (a 30-month period).

Decreasing catheter-related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit: interventions in a medical center in central Taiwan.

Background: A high catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rate, in comparison with that in the National Healthcare Safety Network report, is an important concern in our hospital. Therefore, evidence-based interventions have been introduced to reduce the rate of CRBSI.

Methods: A surveillance study conducted from March 2008 to May 2010 to observe the reduction of infection rate after interventions in two intensive care units (ICUs).

Drug resistance pattern of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex at a medical center in central Taiwan, 2003-2007.

Background/purpose: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is an important issue for public health. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of drug resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex at Changhua Christian Hospital in central Taiwan.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1,961 non-duplicate isolates of M.

Venous catheter-associated bacteremia caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria at a medical center in central Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: Infections due to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are increasing worldwide, especially in immunocompromised hosts, but data on the clinical features of patients with RGM bacteremia are limited in Taiwan. This study was performed to determine the features associated with RGM.

Methods: The medical records of 12 patients with RGM bacteremia admitted to the Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, from April 2001 to March 2003 were retrospectively studied.