Enhancing Cognitive Function in Older Adults through Processing Speed Training: Implications for Cognitive Health Awareness.

It may be possible to enhance adults' cognitive health and promote healthy aging through processing speed training using the Useful Field of View (UFOV) related activities and software. This study investigated the impact of utilizing UFOV on processing speed improvement in older adults in response to the growing global attention on cognitive health and aging issues. In this quasi-experimental study, 22 individuals (mean age ± SD = 71.

Exploring the Frontiers of Neuroimaging: A Review of Recent Advances in Understanding Brain Functioning and Disorders.

Neuroimaging has revolutionized our understanding of brain function and has become an essential tool for researchers studying neurological disorders. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) are two widely used neuroimaging techniques to review changes in brain activity. fMRI is a noninvasive technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed brain images.

Exploring the Critical Driving Forces and Strategy Adoption Paths of Professional Competency Development for Various Emergency Physicians Based on the Hybrid MCDM Approach.

The implementation of competency-based medical education (CBME) focuses on learners' competency outcomes and performance during their training. Competencies should meet the local demands of the healthcare system and achieve the desired patient-centered outcomes. Continuous professional education for all physicians also emphasizes competency-based training to provide high-quality patient care.

Single-cell RNA sequencing of immune cells in patients with acute gout.

Cell subpopulations in the blood and joint fluid of patients with gout are poorly understood. Single-cell RNA sequencing and bioinformatic tools were used to identify cell subsets and their gene signatures in blood and synovial fluid (SF) cells, determine their relationships, characterize the diversity, and evaluate interactions among specific cell types. We identified 34 subpopulations (5 types of B cells, 16 types of T and natural killer cells, 9 types of monocytes, and 4 other cell types) in the blood of five healthy subjects and seven patients with acute gouty, and the SF of three patients with acute gout.

Determining the Development Strategy and Suited Adoption Paths for the Core Competence of Shared Decision-Making Tasks through the SAA-NRM Approach.

Shared decision making (SDM) is an interactive process that involves patients and their healthcare professionals reaching joint decisions about medical care through negotiation. As the initiators of medical decision-making in daily routine, physicians should be aware of and concerned about the SDM process. Thus, professional competency development for SDM has become increasingly critical for physicians' training.

Establishing the Competency Development and Talent Cultivation Strategies for Physician-Patient Shared Decision-Making Competency Based on the IAA-NRM Approach.

Shared decision making (SDM) is a collaborative process involving patients and their healthcare workers negotiating to reach a shared decision about medical care. However, various physician stakeholders (attending physicians, medical residents, and doctors in post-graduate years) may have different viewpoints on SDM processes. The purpose of this study is to explore the core competence of physicians in performing SDM tasks and to investigate the significant competency development aspects/criteria by applying the literature research and expert interviews.

Exploring RNA modifications, editing, and splicing changes in hyperuricemia and gout.

Hyperuricemia and gout are two of the most common metabolic disorders worldwide; their incidence is increasing with changes in lifestyle, and they are correlated with many diseases, including renal and cardiovascular diseases. The majority of studies on hyperuricemia and gout have focused on the discovery of the associated genes and their functions and on the roles of monocytes and neutrophils in the development of gout. Virtually no studies investigating the epigenomics of gout disease or exploring the clinical significance of such research have been conducted.

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Taiwanese Pharmacy Students' Experiences and Perceptions of Transitioning from In-Hospital Internships to Distance Learning Due to COVID-19.

The introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPE) in Taiwan, which are traditionally conducted in physical hospital settings, incorporated up to 30% distance learning from May 2021 due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). A web-based cross-sectional survey was adopted to investigate pharmacy students' experiences and perceptions of transitioning from in-hospital internships to distance learning due to COVID-19 in the pharmacy department of a university in Southern Taiwan. We analyzed the results to discover factors that significantly affected students' perceptions of transitioning from in-hospital internships to distance learning.

Cancer carrier screening in the general population using whole-genome sequencing.

Background: Cancer is a major cause of death, and its early identification and intervention have potential for clinical actionability and benefits for human health. The studies using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and large samples analysis of cancer-related genes have been rarely done.

Methods: We performed WGS to explore germline mutations in coding and non-coding areas of cancer-related genes and non-coding driver genes and regulatory areas.

Med-Tech Industry Entry Strategy Analysis under COVID-19 Impact.

COVID-19 has been impacting the Med-Tech industry dramatically since the beginning of 2020. Along with the pandemic continuously growing, the demand for major global medical products such as masks and protective clothing has surged. The Med-Tech industry is facing the huge challenge of a lack of production capacity, including raw material, production equipment, production line, professional human resources, and more.

Impact of Enterobius vermicularis infection and mebendazole treatment on intestinal microbiota and host immune response.

Background: Previous studies on the association of enterobiasis and chronic inflammatory diseases have revealed contradictory results. The interaction of Enterobius vermicularis infection in particular with gut microbiota and induced immune responses has never been thoroughly examined.

Methodology/findings: In order to answer the question of whether exposure to pinworm and mebendazole can shift the intestinal microbial composition and immune responses, we recruited 109 (30 pinworm-negative, 79 pinworm-infected) first and fourth grade primary school children in Taichung, Taiwan, for a gut microbiome study and an intestinal cytokine and SIgA analysis.

Inheritance and stability of mevinphos-resistance in Plutella xylostella (L.), with special reference to mutations of acetylcholinesterase 1.

Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) causes enormous damage on cruciferous vegetables and can rapidly develop resistance to all kinds of insecticides. To effectively manage the insecticide resistance of P.

DNA-Sensing and Nuclease Gene Expressions as Markers for Colorectal Cancer Progression.

Objective: Oncogene-driven stress-related DNA damage has been observed in lesions of colon cancer. Furthermore, DNA sensors and nucleases are stimulated during active DNA damage and replication. However, their changes and influences with respect to cancer remain largely unknown.

Association of a Bundled-Payment Program With Cost and Outcomes in Full-Cycle Breast Cancer Care.

Importance: Value-driven payment system reform is a potential tool for aligning economic incentives with the improvement of quality and efficiency of health care and containment of cost. Such a payment system has not been researched satisfactorily in full-cycle cancer care.

Objective: To examine the association of outcomes and medical expenditures with a bundled-payment pay-for-performance program for breast cancer in Taiwan compared with a fee-for-service (FFS) program.

Down-regulated and Commonly mutated ALPK1 in Lung and Colorectal Cancers.

The ALPK1 gene located in the 4q25 region encodes a newly explored protein kinase which could phosphorylate the amino acid of a domain full of α-helices. Recently, several studies have indicated that the expression of ALPK1 is related to inflammation and various diseases; therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the expression of ALPK1 has an influence on tumorigenesis and to further scrutinize its gene polymorphism in order to better understand its clinical importance. In lung and colorectal cancer tissues, the ALPK1 RNA level of the normal part was higher than that of the tumor part using the RT-qPCR analysis.

Amino acid substitutions and intron polymorphism of acetylcholinesterase1 associated with mevinphos resistance in diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.).

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L., is the most destructive insect pest of Brassica crops in the world. It has developed resistance rapidly to almost every insecticide used for its control.

Synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of PPh2-C2-(C6H4)n-C2-PPh2 based bimetallic Au(I) complexes.

A family of the diphosphines PPh(2)C(2)(C(6)H(4))(n)C(2)PPh(2) (n = 0-3), which possess a dialkynyl-arene spacer between the phosphorus atoms, was used for the synthesis of a series of bimetallic gold(I) complexes 1-7. Unlike the corresponding polynuclear Au(i) clusters, which show unique phosphorescence, 1-7 reveal dual emissions consisting of fluorescence and phosphorescence. The results are rationalized, in a semi-quantitative manner, by the trace (1-3) to zero (4-7) contribution of MLCT varying with the number of conjugated phenylene rings.

Highly luminescent octanuclear Au(I)-Cu(I) clusters adopting two structural motifs: the effect of aliphatic alkynyl ligands.

Reactions of the homoleptic (AuC(2)R)(n) precursors with stoichiometric amount of diphosphine ligand PPh(2)C(6)H(4)PPh(2) (P^P) and Cu(+) ions lead to an assembly of a new family of bimetallic clusters [Au(6)Cu(2)(C(2)R)(6)(P^P)(2)](2+) (type I; R=9-fluorenolyl (1), diphenylmethanolyl (2), 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanolyl (3), 1-cyclohexanolyl (4), Cy (5), tBu (6)). In the case of R=1-cyclohexanolyl, a structurally different complex [Au(6)Cu(2)(C(2)C(6)H(11)O)(6)(P^P)(3)](2+) (7, type II) could be obtained by treatment of 4 with one equivalent of the diphosphine, while for R=isopropanolyl only the latter type of cluster [Au(6)Cu(2)(C(2)C(3)H(7)O)(6)(P^P)(3)](2+) (8) was detected. Steric bulkiness of the alkynyl ligands and O···H-O hydrogen bonding are suggested to play an important role in stabilizing the type I and type II cluster structural motif, respectively.

A potential for granulocyte-colony stimulating factor for use as a prophylactic agent for heatstroke in rats.

Heatstroke is a form of excessive hyperthermia associated with a systemic inflammatory response that leads to multi-organ dysfunction in which central nervous system disorders predominate. Herein we determined to ascertain whether heat-induced multi-organ dysfunction in rats could be attenuated by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) preconditioning. Anesthetized rats were divided into 2 major groups and given vehicle solution (isotonic saline, 0.

Emissive iridium(III) diimine complexes formed by double cyclometalation of coordinated triphenylphosphite.

We report on the synthesis of a new series of iridium(III) complexes functionalized with various diimine chromophores, together with a facially coordinated dicyclometalated phosphite chelate and a monodentate anionic ancillary. This conceptual design presents a novel strategy in obtaining a new class of iridium(III) diimine complexes without employment of traditional nitrogen-containing polyaromatic cyclometalates. Additionally, we discuss the basic charactersistics of the ground and lower-lying excited states involved, as documented by crystal structural, photophysical studies, and density functional theory calculations.

Octanuclear gold(I) alkynyl-diphosphine clusters showing thermochromic luminescence.

The unprecedented, purely gold(I) alkynyl-diphosphine clusters 1-3 demonstrate intense room-temperature phosphorescence with maximum quantum efficiency of 92% in solution (3) and 86% in solid (2) and thermally dependent emission in the crystalline form, attributed to the crystal lattice arrangement.

Stepwise 1D growth of luminescent Au(I)-Ag(I) phosphine-alkynyl clusters: synthesis, photophysical, and theoretical studies.

Reactions between the diphosphino-gold cationic complexes [Au(2)(PPh(2)-C(2)-(C(6)H(4))(n)-C(2)-PPh(2))(2)](2+) (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) and polymeric acetylides (AuC(2)Ph)(n) and (AgC(2)Ph)(n) lead to the formation of a new family of heterometallic clusters with the general formula [Au(8+2n)Ag(6+2n)(C(2)Ph)(8+4n)(PPh(2)C(2)(C(6)H(4))(n)C(2)PPh(2))(2)](2+), n = 0 (1), 1 (2), 2 (3), 3 (4). Compounds 1-4 were characterized in detail by NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopy. Complex 1 (n = 0) crystallizes in two forms (orange (1a) and yellow (1b)), one of which (1a) has been analyzed by X-ray crystallography.

A case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is an uncommon malignant tumor that has recently been drawn to the attention of clinicians because of the protean clinical spectrum, endocrinological pathogenesis, aggressive metastatic features, poor prognosis, oncogenic tyrosine kinase receptor mutation and its brilliant revolutionized inhibitor imatinib. However, very few cases of GIST and hypoglycemia have been reported worldwide and they are usually associated with normal or low insulin levels. Here, we report on a rare case of GIST with postabsorptive hypoglycemia, extraordinary hyperinsulinemia and low insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I).