Three-Dimensional Photography for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin Injection for Masseter Hypertrophy.

Background: Masseter hypertrophy is a common condition that causes a undesirable square face, and often treated with botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA). Subjective assessments of BoNTA effectiveness vary from physician to patient, necessitating an objective approach for evaluation. This study introduces three-dimensional photography (3DP) for the first time in clinical assessment to evaluate BoNTA treatment for masseter hypertrophy.

G Tolerance Prediction Model Using Mobile Device-Measured Cardiac Force Index for Military Aircrew: Observational Study.

Background: During flight, G force compels blood to stay in leg muscles and reduces blood flow to the heart. Cardiovascular responses activated by the autonomic nerve system and strengthened by anti-G straining maneuvers can alleviate the challenges faced during G loading. To our knowledge, no definite cardiac information measured using a mobile health device exists for analyzing G tolerance.

Verifying the accuracy of self-reported smoking behavior in female volunteer soldiers.

Smoking rates in the military are evaluated through questionnaire surveying. Because the accurate identification of smokers facilitates the provision of smoking cessation services, this study conducted urine cotinine concentration testing to verify the accuracy of self-reported smoking behavior by female volunteer soldiers and analyzed the effects of second-hand smoking on urine cotinine concentrations. This study is a cross-sectional study conducted using purposive sampling on female volunteer soldiers receiving training at the Taichung Recruit Training Center in May 2014.

Effective and enduring surgical treatment for targeted therapy-related paronychia: A retrospective study.

The development of targeted therapy has improved treatment outcomes for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, paronychia, a common adverse effect of targeted therapy, remains burdensome. Although conservative treatments for paronychia have been well reported in the literature, studies on the efficacy of surgical partial matricectomy for paronychia, are scarce.

Factors influencing smoking cessation counselors' intention to stay: An application of a conceptual model of intention to stay verified with path analysis.

Background: The Taiwanese military trains smoking cessation counselors to counsel officers and soldiers on quitting smoking as part time. The intention to stay among smoking cessation counselors affects the promotion of smoking cessation. This study investigated smoking cessation counselors' intention to stay by applying a conceptual model of intent to stay (CMIS) to analyze influencing factors.

Extracorporeal Life Support for Severely Burned Patients with Concurrent Inhalation Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Experience from a Military Medical Burn Center.

Background: Both inhalation injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are risk factors that predict mortality in severely burned patients. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is widely used to rescue these patients; however, its efficacy and safety in this critical population have not been well defined. We report our experience of using ECLS for the treatment of severely burned patients with concurrent inhalation injury and ARDS.

New dimension on potential factors of successful pediatric peripheral intravenous catheterization.

Background: Peripheral intravenous catheterization (PIVC) is pivotal to pediatric medical care; however, it is a challenging technique for pediatricians, and the parameters affecting successful pediatric PIVC establishment have not been fully investigated.

Methods: This prospective observational study collected data from pediatric patients aged less than 18 years who required PIVC. The participants were categorized into five groups for subgroup analysis: newborn, infant, toddler, pre-school, and student (children and adolescent).

Association between serum uric acid levels and colonic diverticulosis in terms of sex.

Background: The association between elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels and the risk of developing colonic diverticulosis has not yet been investigated. Thus, this cross-sectional study aimed to examine this correlation in individuals from Taiwan.

Methods: From Jan.

Real-World Evidence for the Association between Heat-Related Illness and the Risk of Psychiatric Disorders in Taiwan.

This study aimed to investigate the association between the heat-related illness (HRI) and the risk of developing psychiatric disorders. From 2000 to 2015, there were 3126 patients with newly diagnosed HRI selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database, along with 31,260 controls matched for gender and age. Fine and Gray’s analysis was used to compare the risk of psychiatric disorders during the 16 years of follow-up.

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.

The Usage of Histamine Type 1 Receptor Antagonist and Risk of Dementia in the Elderly: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: The histamine type 1 receptor antagonist (H1RA) has been commonly used. This study aimed to examine the association between the usage of H1RA and the risk of dementia.

Methods: A total of 8,986 H1RA users aged ≥50 and 26,958 controls matched a ratio of 1:3 for age, sex, and comorbidity, were selected between January 1, and December 31, 2000, from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Effect of Standardized Yelling on Subjective Perception and Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Motion Sickness.

This study investigated the effects of yelling intervention on symptoms and autonomic responses in motion sickness. Forty-two healthy participants were recruited, and they participated in Coriolis stimulation, a technique for inducing motion sickness. The experimental procedure comprised five 1-min rotating stimuli with 1-min rest after each stimulus.

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.

A Comparative Evaluation of an Automated Functional Assay for Von Willebrand Factor Activity in Type 1 Von Willebrand Disease.

Background: von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RCo) is the standard functional assay used for von Willebrand disease (VWD) diagnosis. However, it has some drawbacks including being time consuming and labor intensive and having high inter-laboratory variability. The HemosIL VWF activity assay has the advantages of both high speed and automation.

Risk of dementia in patients with toxoplasmosis: a nationwide, population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Approximately 25-30% of individuals worldwide are infected with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which is difficult to detect in its latent state. We aimed to evaluate the association between toxoplasmosis, the risk of dementia, and the effects of antibiotics in Taiwan.

Modulating the ERK1/2-MMP1 Axis through Corosolic Acid Inhibits Metastasis of Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.

Corosolic acid (CA; 2α-hydroxyursolic acid) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid with antioxidant, antitumour and antimetastatic activities against various tumour cells during tumourigenesis. However, CA's antitumour effect and functional roles on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells are utterly unknown. In this study, our results demonstrated that CA significantly exerted an inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1 expression, cell migration and invasion without influencing cell growth or the cell cycle of human OSCC cells.

A Cardiac Force Index Applied to the G Tolerance Test and Surveillance among Male Military Aircrew.

Military aircrew are occupationally exposed to a high-G environment. A tolerance test and surveillance is necessary for military aircrew before flight training. A cardiac force index (CFI) has been developed to assess long-distance running by health technology.

Analysis of Altitude Hypoxia Training and In-Flight Hypoxia Events among the Helicopter Aircrews.

All aircrews are required to undertake the altitude hypoxia training and be familiarized with the hypobaric effect on their physiological regulation. Due to the characteristics of the helicopter aircrafts, few researches have reported in-flight hypoxia events among the helicopter aircrews. The main goal of this study was designed to compare the hypoxia symptoms of helicopter aircrews between the altitude hypoxia training and during flight.

Association of and Gene Polymorphisms with Osteoporosis in a Study of Taiwanese Osteoporotic Patients.

Osteoporosis is a rising health threat in the increasingly aging world population. It is a common skeletal disease strongly linked to genetic predisposition. We aim to identify the effects of the anti-inflammatory - and -specific single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) combination on the risk for osteoporosis.

Contributions of Hypoxia-Awareness Training to the Familiarization of Personal Symptoms for Occupational Safety in the Flight Environment.

Hypoxia remains a flight-safety issue in terms of aviation medicine. Hypoxia-awareness training has been used to help aircrew members recognize personal hypoxia symptoms. There is still no study, as yet, to establish the association of within-subject data between inflight hypoxia events and the altitude chamber.

Cancer pain and lower functional status predict poor trajectories of symptom and fatigue distress in patients with lung cancer.

Objective: To identify distinct subgroups of patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer (LC) over time and to explore the predictors of distinct trajectories of symptom and fatigue distress in LC patients.

Methods: A total of 120 patients newly diagnosed with LC were recruited in this longitudinal prospective study. Our survey investigated patients' symptoms in 6 months.

Government's subsidisation policy and utilisation of smoking cessation treatments: a population-based cross-sectional study in Taiwan.

Objectives: This study examined the associations between the Second-Generation Cessation Payment Scheme (SCPS) and the use of smoking cessation treatments. Furthermore, these associations were compared between light and heavy smokers in Taiwan.

Design: This study had a cross-sectional design.

Combined effect of heart rate responses and the anti-G straining manoeuvre effectiveness on G tolerance in a human centrifuge.

Increased heart rate (HR) is a reaction to head-to-toe gravito-inertial (G) force. The anti-G straining manoeuvre (AGSM) is the crucial technique for withstanding a high-G load. Previous studies reported the main effects of HR only or AGSM only on G tolerance.

A Rare Case of Rib Fractures During Centrifuge Training.

There are several injuries potentially related to high-G exposure, including neck and back pain, spinal fractures, and pneumomediastinum. We present a young military pilot diagnosed with isolated fractures of the right 9th and 10th ribs via X-ray after high-G exposure (maximum G level: 9G). This patient presented with progressive and localized pain in the right anterior chest and flank region.