Nutritional Status, Frailty, Oral Health, and Oral Motor Functions in Long-Term Care Residents with Swallowing Dysfunction.

: Swallowing dysfunction is a prevalent but often overlooked problem in long-term care facilities. This study investigated the relationships between nutritional deficits, frailty, oral health, and swallowing dysfunction. Additionally, we explored the associations between oral muscle weakness, frailty markers, and swallowing dysfunction.

Ultrasound Features of Nodular Hidradenoma: A Case Series of 27 Patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the ultrasonographic features of nodular hidradenoma (NH).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was used to systematically summarize the ultrasonographic data of 27 patients diagnosed with NH by surgical pathology, including 13 eccrine nodular hidradenomas (ENH) and 14 apocrine nodular hidradenomas (ANH).

Results: All instances of NH presented as solitary, well-defined lesions that infiltrated the dermis and subcutaneous fat layer, characterized by a heterogeneous hypoechoic internal solid component on ultrasound imaging.

Correlation of ultrasound features with Bcl-2 protein expression in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).

Background: The expression of the Bcl-2 protein is frequently observed in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), making it a significant biological marker and potential therapeutic target. Skin ultrasonography offers a noninvasive means of obtaining anatomical information about cutaneous tumors.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between ultrasound features and Bcl-2 expression in BCCs, to provide a reference for developing pharmacological treatment plans.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate mediates IL-33 production aryl hydrocarbon receptor and is associated with childhood allergy development.

Background: Few studies assess cord blood biomarkers to predict prenatal exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on the development of allergic diseases later in childhood. IL-33 has been indicated to play an important role in allergic diseases. We evaluated the association of prenatal DEHP exposure and IL-33 in cord blood on the development of allergic diseases.

Prevalence and the associated factors of cognitive impairment among people living with HIV in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study.

Cognitive impairment impacts the quality of life and increases morbidity and mortality rates. The prevalence of and factors associated with cognitive impairment have become important issues as the age of people living with HIV(PLWH) increases. In 2020, We conducted a cross-sectional study to survey the cognitive impairment among PLWH in three hospitals in Taiwan with Alzheimer Disease-8 (AD8) questionnaire.

Usefulness of Shear Wave Elastography in Determining the Tumor Extent of Basal Cell Carcinomas.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in determining tumor extent of basal cell carcinomas (BCC), and thereby determine the optimal surgical margins (OSM).

Methods: 10 patients (40 surgical margins) with BCC were collected, the visual observation boundaries (VOB) were marked, and the SWE parameters of soft tissues were measured 1 mm intervals in "3, 6, 9, 12" clock directions, starting from VOB. Then tumors were resected with a 5 mm surgical margin outward expansion of VOB.

[Integration and Promotion of a Care Model for Chewing and Swallowing Reconstruction Teams].

Eating with the mouth is one of the basic joys of life. However, some 450,000 people currently live with nasogastric tubes in Taiwan. The causes of dysphagia disorders are complicated.

High-Frequency Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography in Quantitative Differential Diagnosis of High-Risk and Low-Risk Basal Cell Carcinomas.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of high-frequency ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE) in quantitative differential diagnosis of high-risk and low-risk basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).

Methods: A total of 52 BCCs confirmed by surgical pathology were studied. Taking pathologic subtypes as reference, all the cases were classified as high-risk BCCs or low-risk BCCs.

A Novel Tongue Pressure Measurement Instrument with Wireless Mobile Application Control Function and Disposable Positioning Mouthpiece.

This study developed a novel chair-side tongue pressure (TP) measuring instrument with a disposable positioning mouthpiece controlled using a smartphone application (APP), denoted as the TP wireless application (TPWA). The mouthpiece was designed with a palate-shaped air balloon containing a tongue contact bump and a plastic bite positioning tube. Fatigue load testing was performed to evaluate mouthpiece durability by applying 700 displacement cycles (50 times a day for one week during training, with twice the safety factor) on the air balloon.

Allergic rhinitis as a key factor for the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may cause airway symptoms and some airway diseases exacerbate GERD symptoms. Asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) have been identified as united airway disease because of their similar epidemiology and pathophysiology. Asthma has been considered a risk factor to develop GERD.

[Infection Control: The Roles and Functions of Nurses Working at the International Medical Center].

Travelers are known to convey infectious diseases across international borders. After its experience with SARS, Taiwan established a comprehensive mechanism at its border to prevent the entry of infectious diseases. However, people with chronic infectious diseases, carriers with no symptoms, and those likely to be infected are not easy to identify during border screenings.

[Exploring the Stress, Psychological Distress, and Stress-relief Strategies of Taiwan Nursing Staffs Facing the Global Outbreak of COVID-19].

Background: The global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) began in December 2019. The high levels of stress experienced by nurses during this pandemic may have immediate and long-term effects on their mental health.

Purpose: To explore the stress and psychological problems of nurses during this pandemic and to identify strategies used by these nurses to relieve stress.

The Mortality and the Risk of Aspiration Pneumonia Related with Dysphagia in Stroke Patients.

Background: Dysphagia may result in poor outcomes in stroke patients due to aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition.

Goal: The aim of the study was to investigate aspiration pneumonia and the mortality rate in stroke patients with dysphagia in Taiwan.

Methods: We selected 1220 stroke patients, divided them into dysphagia and nondysphagia groups, and matched them according to age; covariates and comediations from 2000 to 2005 were identified from the NHIRD 2000 database.

[Sleep Quality, Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Esteem in People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)].

Background: HIV has become a chronic disease. Therefore, the mental health and sleep quality of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have become increasingly important issues of concern.

Purpose: To explore the sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem of PLWHA and the correlation between sleep quality and various related mental-health factors.

[Stress, Needs, and Quality of Life of People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus/AIDS in North East China].

Background: HIV/AIDS has become a chronic disease since anti-retroviral therapy has reduced the related rates of morbidity and mortality and maintained the immunity of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus / AIDS (PLWHA). PLWHA have psychological needs and many hope to improve their quality of life (QoL) over the long course of their treatment. Despite the large number of AIDS cases, there are limited reports addressing the issue of QoL among PLWHA in China.

Stress, needs, and quality of life of people living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS in Taiwan.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS is a manageable infectious disease by the effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy. AIDS-related stigma and conflict may create distress and deteriorate quality of life (QoL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study using structural questionnaires aimed to explore the stress, needs, QoL, and associated factors of PLWHA in Taiwan.

[HIV/AIDS: an exploration of the knowledge, attitude, infection risk perceptions, and willingness to care of nurses].

Background: The number of people infected with HIV/AIDS continues to increase across the world. The awareness of HIV/AIDS and attitudes toward this disease among nurses and their willingness to care for those infected directly impacts upon the quality of HIV/AIDS-patient care.

Purpose: This study explores the knowledge, attitudes, infection-risk perceptions, and willingness to care for HIV/AIDS patients among nurses and the correlations among these variables.

[Case management: a concept analysis].

While the case management approach has been increasingly applied to healthcare worldwide in recent years, significant differences in application exist among discrete medical systems. This paper applies a methodology outlined by Walker and Avant to analyze the case management concept. This methodology is designed to assist medical staff to understand a concept in order to better achieve concept goals.

Prevalence and knowledge of sexual transmitted infections, drug abuse, and AIDS among male inmates in a Taiwan prison.

This cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study performed a structured questionnaire survey of a Taiwan population of male prison inmates to determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), intravenous drug users (IDUs), and drug abuse and to assess their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The objective was to obtain data needed to control the spread of HIV. Out of 1000 questionnaires distributed, 908 valid questionnaires were returned.

[Tuberculosis patient disease knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions: the impact of individualized counseling].

Background: The Taiwan government currently promotes a case management approach to tuberculosis (TB) treatment to address the growing number of TB and multiple drug-resistant TB cases in Taiwan. The approach aims to improve medical follow-up and monitor quality of care. The efficacy of this case management approach has yet to be evaluated.

Computer laboratory notification system via short message service to reduce health care delays in management of tuberculosis in Taiwan.

Background: We investigated the impacts of introducing an expedited acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear laboratory procedure and an automatic, real-time laboratory notification system by short message with mobile phones on delays in prompt isolation of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: We analyzed the data for all patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis at a hospital in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, a 1,600-bed medical center, during baseline (January 2004 to February 2005) and intervention (July 2005 to August 2006) phases.

Results: A total of 96 and 127 patients with AFB-positive TB was reported during the baseline and intervention phases, respectively.

Outcome and risk factors associated with surgical site infections after cardiac surgery in a Taiwan medical center.

Background/purpose: Surgical site infection (SSI) after cardiac surgery leads to morbidity and mortality. Identifying SSI risk factors, which vary between populations, is important in preventing infection.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of adult cases receiving cardiac surgery in a Taiwan medical center in 2004 and 2005.