Promotion of Smoking Cessation Using the Transtheoretical Model: Short-Term and Long-Term Effectiveness for Workers in Coastal Central Taiwan.

Background: Smoking cessation reduces the risk of severe illnesses in the long run and contributes to improving health. This study evaluated the short-term and long-term effectiveness of workplace smoking cessation intervention implemented using the transtheoretical model.

Methods: Participants were assessed at baseline before the intervention and after 6 months and 4 years of follow-ups.

Joint Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Green Tea Consumption with miR-29b and mRNA Expression in the Development of Lung Cancer.

In tumor development, increased expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) has been observed. In particular, cigarette smoke and tea polyphenols may influence DNMT3B mRNA expression by regulating microRNA (miR)-29b expression. Herein, we designed a case−control study to evaluate the joint effects of smoking and green tea consumption, with miR-29b and DNMT3B mRNA expression, in lung cancer development.

Correlation Between Smoking Paradox and Heart Rhythm Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: The effect of smoking on short-term outcomes among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial. However, little is known about the impact of smoking on long-term outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who receive PCI.

Methods: A total of 2,044 patients with stable CAD undergoing PCI were evaluated.

ERα determines the chemo-resistant function of mutant p53 involving the switch between lincRNA-p21 and DDB2 expressions.

Mutant p53 (mutp53) commonly loses its DNA binding affinity to p53 response elements (p53REs) and fails to induce apoptosis fully. However, the p53 mutation does not predict chemoresistance in all subtypes of breast cancers, and the critical determinants remain to be identified. In this study, mutp53 was found to mediate chemotherapy-induced long intergenic noncoding RNA-p21 (lincRNA-p21) expression by targeting the G-quadruplex structure rather than the p53RE on its promoter to promote chemosensitivity.

Combined effects of cigarette smoking, DNA methyltransferase 3B genetic polymorphism, and DNA damage on lung cancer.

Background: Smoking increases DNA methylation and DNA damage, and DNA damage acts as a vital cause of tumor development. The DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) enhances promoter activity and methylation of tumor suppressor genes. Tea polyphenols may inhibit DNMT activity.

Interaction of Adiponectin Genotypes and Insulin Resistance on the Occurrence of Taiwanese Metabolic Syndrome.

Backgrounds: Adiponectin (apM1) may affect insulin sensitivity, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) can inhibit the binding of insulin and insulin receptors. However, whether and genes influence the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) preceded by insulin resistance is unclear. The current study examines the interactions between the +45 genotypes, -308 genotypes, and insulin resistance on the occurrence of MetS.

Clinical Validation of the Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale in Taiwan.

Purpose: A successful transition from gavage to full oral feeding is a decisive indicator for discharging premature infants from the neonatal intensive care unit. A clinically useful measure of oral feeding readiness would help nurses initiate implementation of the cue-based feeding model in Taiwan. The study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Traditional Chinese Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale (TC-POFRAS).

Accumulation of gallium (Ga) and indium (In) in rice grains in Ga- and In-contaminated paddy soils.

To understand the risk of two emerging contaminants, gallium (Ga) and indium (In) to humans via rice consumption, effects of soil properties and concentrations of spiked Ga/In on the accumulation of Ga and In in rice grains were investigated. A pot experiment was conducted, and paddy rice was grown in three soils with different pH values and Al availabilities (i.e.

Influence of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes on long-term outcome in patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a life-threatening medical emergency which needs urgent medical attention. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is common and necessary for patients with CAD. The effect of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes on long-term outcomes in patients with stable CAD receiving PCI is unclear.

Hypertension and chronic kidney disease affect long-term outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is commonly used for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension (HT) on long-term outcomes in patients with stable CAD receiving PCI are still unclear. A total of 1,676 patients treated with PCI were prospectively enrolled and divided into 4 groups according to the presence or absence of HT or CKD.

Genetic polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase modulates the association of green tea consumption and lung cancer.

Tea polyphenols are strong antioxidants, which can be rapidly O-methylated by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Thus, it is possible that the genetic polymorphism of COMT can modulate the association of green tea consumption and lung cancer. Here, we designed a case-control study to evaluate the combined effect of green tea consumption and COMT genotypes on the risk of lung cancer.

The DNA Methyltransferase 3B -149 Genetic Polymorphism Modulates Lung Cancer Risk from Smoking.

Background: Smoking can cause increase of DNA methylation and hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes, this possible contributing to subsequent lung cancer development. DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) is crucial in regulation of DNA methylation and it has been proposed that green tea might lower cancer risk through inhibiting its activity. Here, we designed a case-control study to investigate whether the DNMT3B -149 genetic polymorphism could modulate lung cancer risk due to smoking.

Chronic kidney disease and diabetes associated with long-term outcomes in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) on long-term outcomes in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear.

Methods: A total of 1394 patients who underwent PCI were prospectively enrolled and divided into 4 groups according to the presence or absence of DM or CKD. Baseline characteristics, risk factors, medications, and angiographic findings were compared.

The growth and uptake of Ga and In of rice (Oryza sative L.) seedlings as affected by Ga and In concentrations in hydroponic cultures.

Limited information is available on the effects of gallium (Ga) and indium (In) on the growth of paddy rice. The Ga and In are emerging contaminants and widely used in high-tech industries nowadays. Understanding the toxicity and accumulation of Ga and In by rice plants is important for reducing the effect on rice production and exposure risk to human by rice consumption.

Methylphenidate on Cognitive Improvement in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-Analysis.

Although methylphenidate has been used as a neurostimulant to treat patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, its therapeutic role in the psychomotor or cognitive recovery of patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in both intensive care and rehabilitation settings has not been adequately explored. To address this issue, this meta-analysis searched the available electronic databases using the key words "methylphenidate", "brain injuries", "head injuries", and "traumatic brain injury". Analysis of the ten double-blind RCTs demonstrated significant benefit in using methylphenidate for enhancing vigilance-associated attention (i.

Arsenic accumulation and speciation in rice grains influenced by arsenic phytotoxicity and rice genotypes grown in arsenic-elevated paddy soils.

Rice consumption is a major route of As exposure to human for the population of worldwide. This study investigates the effect of phytotoxicity and rice genotypes on the content and speciation of As in rice grains grown in different levels of As-elevated paddy soils from Taiwan. Three levels of As-elevated soils and six rice genotypes commonly planted in Taiwan were used for this study.

Multidrug resistance 1 gene variants, pesticide exposure, and increased risk of DNA damage.

The P-glycoprotein, encoded by the multidrug resistance (MDR)1 gene, extrudes fat-soluble compounds to the extracellular environment. However, the DNA damage of pesticides in subjects with genetic variation in MDR1 has not been investigated. In this study, the comet assay was applied to examine the extent of DNA damage in the peripheral blood of 195 fruit growers who had been exposed to pesticides and 141 unexposed controls.

Smoking, green tea consumption, genetic polymorphisms in the insulin-like growth factors and lung cancer risk.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are mediators of growth hormones; they have an influence on cell proliferation and differentiation. In addition, IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 could suppress the mitogenic action of IGFs. Interestingly, tea polyphenols could substantially reduce IGF1 and increase IGFBP3.

Preparation of rutile and anatase phases titanium oxide film by RF sputtering.

Titanium oxide films were prepared by RF magnetron sputtering onto glass substrates. The effects of RF power and deposition temperature on crystalline structure, morphology and energy gap were investigated, which were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, SEM and UV-Vis spectrometer, respectively. Results show that rutile phase is the favored structure during deposition.