Epidemiology of benign essential blepharospasm: A nationwide population-based retrospective study in Taiwan.

Importance: This study provides a nationwide, population-based data on the incidence of benign essential blepharospasm in Asian adults.

Background: To describe the incidence, patient demographics, and risk factors associated with benign essential blepharospasm.

Design: Population-based retrospective study.

Association Between Polymorphisms in Dopamine-Related Genes and Orthopedic Pain Expression in a Chinese Elderly Population.

Objectives: The dopaminergic pathway plays a vital role in pain expression. Here, our aim was to investigate the effects of polymorphisms in genes encoding the dopamine active transporter (SLC6A3) and dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) on preoperative pain expression among patients preparing for orthopedic surgery.

Methods: Chinese elderly patients scheduled for orthopedic surgery were enrolled.

Decreased IL-1ra and NCAM-1/CD56 Serum Levels in Unmedicated Patients with Schizophrenia Before and After Antipsychotic Treatment.

Objective: Schizophrenia (SZ) has been associated with the inflammatory-related and immunological pathogenesis. This study investigates the aberration of cytokines in patients with SZ.

Methods: Thirty patients with SZ without antipsychotic treatment for at least two weeks participated.

Serum nerve growth factor beta, brain- and glial-derived neurotrophic factor levels and psychopathology in unmedicated patients with schizophrenia.

Background: There is accumulating evidence that neurotrophic factors may be involved in the pathophysiology of patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between serum nerve growth factor beta (NGF-beta), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels and psychopathology in unmedicated patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Serum NGF-beta, BDNF, and GDNF levels were determined using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the serum of 30 unmedicated patients with schizophrenia.

Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form as a useful method of predicting poor 1-year outcome in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.

Aim: The present study aimed to determine whether the Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) can predict the 1-year outcome of orthopedic fracture surgery in elderly patients.

Methods: This 1-year prospective study assessed nutrition using the MNA-SF at baseline, and postoperatively at 6 and 12 months. Repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to examine functional change over time for two MNA-SF categories.

Serum DHEA-S concentration correlates with clinical symptoms and neurocognitive function in patients with bipolar II disorder: A case-controlled study.

Objectives: Dysregulation of the neuroendocrine system including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and pregnenolone may play a role in the pathophysiology of bipolar II disorder (BP-II). The aims of the current study are to determine (a) the differences in DHEA, DHEA-S and pregnenolone in patients with BP-II and controls; and (b) the correlation of levels of the above hormones, cognitive function, and clinical symptoms.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with BP-II and healthy controls were recruited from psychiatric department.

Lack of Association between Pre-Operative Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 and the Risk of Post-Operative Delirium in Elderly Chinese Patients.

Objective: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a highly prevalent complex neuropsychiatric syndrome in elderly patients. However, its pathophysiology is currently unknown. Early detection and prevention of POD is important; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the link between preoperative insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels in the serum and POD in the Chinese elderly patients.

Short-Form Mini Nutritional Assessment as a useful method of predicting the development of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.

Objective: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a major cause for concern among elderly patients undergoing surgery, often resulting in poor outcome. It is therefore important to predict and prevent POD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) as a predictor of POD after orthopedic surgery.

Developing a Prediction Model for Post-Operative Delirium and Long-Term Outcomes Among Older Patients Receiving Elective Orthopedic Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study in Taiwan.

This study aimed to develop a prediction model for post-operative delirium among older patients receiving elective orthopedic surgery and to evaluate its effectiveness in predicting long-term health outcomes. This prospective cohort study screened all subjects aged over 60 years who were admitted for elective orthopedic surgery in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan from April, 2011, to December, 2013. Demographic characteristics, surgery-related factors, and results of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) were all used to develop the prediction model.

Interrelationship of postoperative delirium and cognitive impairment and their impact on the functional status in older patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The impact of postoperative delirium on post-discharge functional status of older patients remains unclear, and little is known regarding the interrelationship between cognitive impairment and post-operative delirium. Therefore, the main purpose was to evaluate the post-discharge functional status of patients who experience delirium after undergoing orthopaedic surgery and the interrelationship of postoperative delirium with underlying cognitive impairment.

Method: This prospective cohort study, conducted at a tertiary care medical center from April 2011 to March 2012, enrolled all subjects aged over 60 years who were admitted for orthopaedic surgery.

Regain of visuospatial capacity after coenzyme Q10 in a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes: a case report.

Objective: MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Multiple systems of the body, including cognitive function and heart conduction, can be affected by this disorder. We report a case with global cognitive impairment.

Decreased plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in institutionalized elderly with depressive disorder.

Objectives: To compare the differences in plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels among institutionalized ethnic Chinese elderly participants with major depression, those with subclinical depression, and a nondepressed control group.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: The veterans' home in southern Taiwan.

Fear of falling (FF): Psychosocial and physical factors among institutionalized older Chinese men in Taiwan.

Fear of falling (FF) can have multiple adverse consequences in the elderly. Although there are various fall prevention programs, little is known of FF and its associated characteristics. This study examined FF-associated physical and psychosocial factors in older Chinese men living in a veterans home in southern Taiwan.