Incidence and Factors Associated with Falls in Older People in a Long-Term Care Facility: A Prospective Study in Taiwan.

Background: The effectiveness of applying a fall-risk assessment to prevent falls in residents of long-term care facilities has not been investigated.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled elderly residents in a long-term care facility in Taiwan. Caregivers were provided with a health-status assessment and fall-risk data to enhance their fall-prevention practices.

Congenital bronchogenic cyst: From prenatal diagnosis to postnatal management.

Objective: Bronchogenic cysts are rare congenital abnormalities, and usually asymptomatic until adulthood. We present a fetus prenatally diagnosed with a bronchogenic cyst, experiencing compression symptoms immediately after birth and underwent thoracoscopic surgery at 14 days old.

Case Report: A 33-year-old primigravida had a suspicion of fetal tracheal cyst.

Prenatal phthalate exposure and sex steroid hormones in newborns: Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study.

Background: Newborn anogenital distance (AGD) has been associated with prenatal exposure of phthalates. The association between prenatal phthalate exposure and sex steroid hormones in newborns is unclear.

Object: This study aimed to examine whether cord-blood sex hormone levels were associated with prenatal phthalate exposure and newborn anogenital distance (AGD).

Long-term follow-up of cancer and catastrophic diseases in hematopoietic stem cell donors: a comprehensive matched cohort study.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation, using either bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), is a well-established therapy for various hematologic and non-hematologic diseases. However, the long-term health outcomes after HSC donation remain a major concern for several potential donors. Thus, we aimed to conduct a matched cohort study of 5003 unrelated donors (1099 BM and 3904 PBSC) and randomly selected 50,030 matched controls based on age, sex, and resident area from the donor registry between 1998 and 2018.

Predictors of extubation failure and prolonged mechanical ventilation among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage after surgery.

Background: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a condition associated with high mortality and morbidity. Survivors may require prolonged intubation with mechanical ventilation (MV). The aim of this study was to analyze the predictors of extubation failure and prolonged MV in patients who undergo surgical evacuation.

Delay of Surgery for Spinal Metastasis due to the COVID-19 Outbreak Affected Patient Outcomes.

Objective: The present study is to analyze the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 2019) outbreak and the subsequent lockdown on the outcomes of spinal metastasis patients.

Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective cohort study. All patients underwent surgical intervention for spinal metastases between January 2019 and December 2021 and had at least 3 months of postoperative follow-up.

Association between a maternal vegetarian diet during pregnancy and the occurrence of atopic dermatitis in children.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is rising globally, with genetics and environmental factors both playing crucial roles. Dietary habits during pregnancy are linked to children's allergic disease risk. However, limited studies have explored the association between maternal vegetarian diets during pregnancy and child AD.

A virtual reality intervention to improve formal caregivers' understanding of community-dwelling people with dementia: a pilot study.

Background: The optimum approach to enhance the understanding toward dementia is to experience how patients feel as they experience the manifestations of the disease. The application of virtual reality (VR) and relevant innovative technologies for developing caregiver training programs allows caregivers to better understand dementia and empathize with patients.

Objectives: To develop a VR-based experiential training course on individualized care for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Biomimetic Carbon Sequestration and Cyanate Detoxification Using Heat-Purified Carbonic Anhydrase from .

The reaction condition for purifying carbonic anhydrase from (SspCA) by direct heating without prior cell lysis was optimized; heating at 70 °C for 5 min resulted in the highest total activity of 23,460 WAU (Wilbur-Anderson unit) from a 50 mL culture. Heat-purified SspCA was examined for its capability to increase the rate of the mineralization of CO; compared with an uncatalyzed control, the onset time of CaCO formation was shortened by up to 71%. Cyanase can be used to degrade toxic cyanate; however, one of the limitations of this biomimetic process is that the reaction needs HCO as a substrate.

Associations of urinary phthalate metabolites with household environments among mothers and their preschool-age children.

Phthalates have become a matter of public health concern due to their extensive use worldwide and negative health effects. The evaluation of potential sources of phthalate exposure is crucial to design prevention strategies, especially for vulnerable populations. This study included 528 mother-child pairs in the Taiwan Mother Infant Cohort Study who were followed up at ages 3-6 years between 2016 and 2020.

Socially Assistive Robots for People Living with Dementia in Long-Term Facilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Objective: The purpose of our study was to explore the immediate and long-term effects of socially assistive robots (SARs) on neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs), behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), positive emotional experiences, and social interaction in older people living with dementia.

Methods: We set keywords and used Boolean operators to search the CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, IEEE Digital Library, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Chinese Electronic Periodical Service from inception to February 2022 for randomized controlled trials. The Cochrane Collaboration bias assessment tool was used to assess article quality, and RevMan 5.

Status of resource recycling stations in Taiwan and recycling work-related health effects.

Resource recycling has become an integral part of environmental protection efforts. At present, the development of Taiwan's resource recovery and related works are quite mature. However, laborers or volunteers working in resource recycling stations may be exposed to different types of hazards during the recycling process.

Co-exposure to toxic metals and phthalates in pregnant women and their children's mental health problems aged four years - Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study (TMICS).

Background: Childhood and adolescent mental health problems may increase the global burden of disease. Neurotoxic metals are associated with inflammation and cytotoxicity in the brain. In addition, prenatal phthalate ester (PAE) exposure is associated with cognitive function deficits.

Reference intervals for thyroid hormone, sex hormone, and clinical biochemical tests in cord blood from Taiwanese newborn - TMICS cohort.

Background/purpose: This study aims to establish reference intervals for important biochemical parameters in cord blood of newborn male and female infants in Taiwan and to investigate their sex difference. We also examined the correlation of the same markers between maternal blood levels and neonatal cord blood levels.

Methods: 2,136 pregnant women receiving regular routine prenatal health assessments in their third trimester (weeks 29-40) were recruited from nine hospitals in Taiwan between 2012 and 2015.

Associations between maternal phthalate exposure and neonatal neurobehaviors: The Taiwan maternal and infant cohort study (TMICS).

Previous studies have shown associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and neurobehavioral changes in children. However, few studies have focused on neonatal neurobehavioral development. This study aimed to examine the associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and neonatal neurobehavioral development in the early days of life after birth.

The Parallel Mediation Effects of Depression, Well-Being, and Social Activity on Physical Performance and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older People.

Background: Frailty refers to a decline in an elderly person's physical, psychological, and social functioning, making them sensitive to stressors. Because frailty is caused by a variety of factors, including certain demographic characteristics, understanding the mediating factors that affect frailty in the elderly is critical.

Purpose: To provide evidence about the relationship between depression, well-being, social activity, physical performance, and frailty among older adults.

Associations between residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticides exposure and birth outcomes.

Pesticides are widely used globally. Due to their widespread use, exposure to pesticides is of concern. In addition to occupational exposure, residential exposure during pesticide application is a concern for those living in or near agricultural areas.

Cervical cerebrospinal fluid venous fistula with syringomyelia treated with suboccipital decompression: illustrative case.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) venous fistulas are a recently discovered and underdiagnosed cause of spontaneous spinal CSF leak, which may lead to spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Most cases occur in the thoracic spine, and only 2 cases were reported in the cervical spine. Treatments include the epidural blood patch, fibrin glue injection, and surgical ligation of the fistula.

Benchmark dose in the presence of coexposure to melamine and diethylhexyl phthalate and urinary renal injury markers in pregnant women.

Environmental exposures to mixtures of toxic chemicals have potential interaction effects that may lead to hazard index values exceeding one. However, current regulation levels, such as tolerable daily intake (TDI), are mostly based on experimental studies conducted with a single chemical compound. In this study, we assessed the relationships between melamine and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure and their coexposure with the early renal injury markers N-acetyl -D-glucosaminidase (NAG), albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), and microalbuminuria in 1236 pregnant women.

Sex Differences between Urinary Phthalate Metabolites and Metabolic Syndrome in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Taiwan Biobank Study.

Background: Phthalates are widely used in consumer products, food packaging, and personal care products, so exposure is widespread. Several studies have investigated the association of phthalate exposure with obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension. However, little is known about the associations of phthalate exposure with sex, age, and menopausal status in metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Coordinated NADPH oxidase/hydrogen peroxide functions regulate cutaneous sensory axon de- and regeneration.

Tissue wounding induces cutaneous sensory axon regeneration via hydrogen peroxide (HO) that is produced by the epithelial NADPH oxidase, Duox1. Sciatic nerve injury instead induces axon regeneration through neuronal uptake of the NADPH oxidase, Nox2, from macrophages. We therefore reasoned that the tissue environment in which axons are damaged stimulates distinct regenerative mechanisms.

Development and Assessment of the Validity and Reliability of the Short-Form Life Satisfaction Index (LSI-SF) among the Elderly Population.

Background: Elderly care should focus on not only prolonging life but also satisfaction with elderly life. Our study investigated the reliability and validity of the Short-Form Life Satisfaction Index (LSI-SF).

Method: Data were drawn from the 2015 Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Association between two common environmental toxicants (phthalates and melamine) and urinary markers of renal injury in the third trimester of pregnant women: The Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study (TMICS).

Background: Exposure to either melamine or phthalate, two common toxicants, during pregnancy may cause adverse health effects, including kidney damage.

Objectives: We investigated the independent and interactive effect of exposure to melamine and phthalates, particularly di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), on markers of early renal injury in women their third trimester of pregnancy in one nationwide birth cohort, the Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study (TMICS).

Methods: Between October, 2012 and May, 2015, participants were administered questionnaires, physical examinations, and blood and urine tests during their third trimester.