Psychometric evaluation of the wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire for pregnant women in Taiwan.

Background: Fear of childbirth profoundly affects women's ability to cope during pregnancy and influences birth outcomes. In Taiwan, there's a lack of validated tools for assessing childbirth fear.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Taiwanese version of the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire version A (WDEQ-A) in pregnant women.

The importance of mother-child interaction on smart device usage and behavior outcomes among toddlers: a longitudinal study.

Background: In recent years, smart devices have become an integral part of daily life. However, longitudinal studies, particularly those regarding the relationship between toddlers' smart device usage and behavioral outcomes, are limited. Understanding the impact of parent-child interactions on this relationship is crucial for enhancing toddlers' developmental outcomes.

Clinical factors associated with subsequent surgical intervention in women undergoing early medical termination of viable or non-viable pregnancies.

Introduction: Mifepristone-misoprostol treatment for medical abortion and miscarriage are safe and effective. This study aimed to assess clinical factors associated with subsequent surgical intervention after medical termination of early viable or non-viable pregnancy.

Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included women who underwent medical abortion at Taipei Medical University between January 2010 and December 2019.

Impact of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy on subsequent pregnancies: A longitudinal study of maternal and paternal depression, anxiety and eudaimonia.

Background: Although miscarriage and termination of pregnancy affect maternal mental illnesses on subsequent pregnancies, their effects on the positive mental health (e.g., eudaimonia) of both first-time and multi-time parents have received minimal attention, especially for fathers.

Effects of mobile device use on emotional and behavioral problems in the CBCL among preschoolers: Do shared reading and maternal depression matter?

Introduction: Although mobile devices are used ubiquitously, studies on their detrimental effects on preschoolers are limited. Furthermore, no study has considered shared reading and mobile device usage simultaneously. Therefore, this study examined the effects of mobile devices and shared reading on preschoolers' development along with the effects of maternal depression on this association.

Adverse effects of inadequate sleep duration patterns during pregnancy on toddlers suspected developmental delay: A longitudinal study.

Background: Although studies have reported the effects of inadequate sleep on maternal health, few have examined the relationships of maternal sleep patterns with fetal health and early childhood development. This study investigated maternal sleep duration patterns from early pregnancy to 3-years postpartum and their effects on birth outcomes and child development.

Methods: This study recruited pregnant women and their partners during prenatal visits at five selected hospitals in the Taipei area; follow-up lasted from July 2011 to April 2021.

Aspartame Consumption, Mitochondrial Disorder-Induced Impaired Ovarian Function, and Infertility Risk.

Frequent consumption of diet drinks was associated with oocyte dysmorphism, decreased embryo quality, and an adverse effect on pregnancy rate. We investigated the harmful effects of aspartame and potential mechanisms through which it increases infertility risk through clinical observations and in vivo and in vitro studies. Methods: We established a cohort of 840 pregnant women and retrospectively determined their time to conceive.

Effects of prenatal subjective well-being on birth outcomes and child development: A longitudinal study.

Background: Although maternal mental illnesses have been found to influence child health and development, little is known about the impact of maternal positive well-being on child health and development. Therefore, this longitudinal study investigated the effects of prenatal subjective well-being on birth outcomes and child development by considering the potential modifier effect of parity.

Methods: Pregnant women in early stages of pregnancy were recruited at five selected hospitals in Taipei, Taiwan, during their prenatal appointments since 2011.

Effects of an integrated childbirth education program to reduce fear of childbirth, anxiety, and depression, and improve dispositional mindfulness: A single-blind randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of an integrated childbirth education intervention on reducing childbirth fear, anxiety, and depression, and improving dispositional mindfulness.

Design: A two-arm parallel, single-blind randomised controlled trial.

Setting: A teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan.

Association between intracytoplasmic sperm injection and neurodevelopmental outcomes among offspring.

Purpose: To compare the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and those conceived naturally.

Materials And Methods: A population-based cohort study using data retrieved from the Taipei Medical University Research Database (TMURD) from January, 2004 to August, 2016. The data included maternal pregnancy history, perinatal history and developmental follow up of their babies up to 5 years of age.

Niche Laminin and IGF-1 Additively Coordinate the Maintenance of Oct-4 Through CD49f/IGF-1R-Hif-2α Feedforward Loop in Mouse Germline Stem Cells.

The mechanism on how extracellular matrix (ECM) cooperates with niche growth factors and oxygen tension to regulate the self-renewal of embryonic germline stem cells (GSCs) still remains unclear. Lacking of an appropriate cell model dramatically hinders the progress. Herein, using a serum-free culture system, we demonstrated that ECM laminin cooperated with hypoxia and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) to additively maintain AP activity and Oct-4 expression of APGSCs.

Effectiveness of an integrated breastfeeding education program to improve self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding rate: A single-blind, randomised controlled study.

Background: Low self-efficacy affects new mothers' ability to sustain breastfeeding. Interventions that increase self-efficacy could improve sustained breastfeeding.

Objectives: To develop an integrated breastfeeding education program based on self-efficacy theory, and evaluate the effect of the intervention on first-time mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy and attitudes.

Paternal influences from early pregnancy to postpartum years on child development: A longitudinal study.

Introduction: Although an array of maternal and child-centered risks have been researched, considerably less is known about the effects of paternal influences on child's birth outcomes and early development. This longitudinal study thus examined the effects of paternal influences (parental stress, partner support, childcare and nursing, and father-child interaction) from early pregnancy to 2 years postpartum on pregnancy outcomes and toddlerhood development, with a simultaneous consideration of maternal depression.

Methods: Pregnant women together with their partners were recruited from 2011 to 2016 at five selected hospitals in Taipei, Taiwan.

High risk of depression, anxiety, and poor quality of life among experienced fathers, but not mothers: A prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Mental distress patterns in first-time or experienced mothers and fathers during the transition to parenthood have been inadequately studied. This longitudinal study thus investigated changes in depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life in both parents from early pregnancy until 1 year postpartum. Parity effects were specifically examined.

IGF-1R Promotes Symmetric Self-Renewal and Migration of Alkaline Phosphatase Germ Stem Cells through HIF-2α-OCT4/CXCR4 Loop under Hypoxia.

Hypoxia cooperates with endocrine signaling to maintain the symmetric self-renewal proliferation and migration of embryonic germline stem cells (GSCs). However, the lack of an appropriate in vitro cell model has dramatically hindered the understanding of the mechanism underlying this cooperation. Here, using a serum-free system, we demonstrated that hypoxia significantly induced the GSC mesenchymal transition, increased the expression levels of the pluripotent transcription factor OCT4 and migration-associated proteins (SDF-1, CXCR4, IGF-1, and IGF-1R), and activated the cellular expression and translocalization of the CXCR4-downstream proteins ARP3/pFAK.

Effects of smoking on perinatal depression and anxiety in mothers and fathers: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Considerable concern persists on tobacco use during perinatal periods. No study has simultaneously investigated the longitudinal association of paternal smoking with maternal and paternal depressive and anxiety symptoms during perinatal periods.

Methods: In this prospective study, 533 couples (pregnant women and their husbands) completed 5 self-report instruments from early pregnancy until 6 months postpartum.

TGF-βI Regulates Cell Migration through Pluripotent Transcription Factor OCT4 in Endometriosis.

Transforming growth factor (TGF-β)/TGF-β receptor signal is known to promote cell migration. Up-regulation of TGF-β in serum/peritoneal fluid and increased levels of pluripotent transcription factor OCT4 in endometriotic tissues are frequently observed in patients with endometriosis. However, the mechanisms underlying how TGF-β/TGF-β receptor and OCT4 affect endometriotic cell migration still remain largely unknown.

The efficacy of cold-gel packing for relieving episiotomy pain - a quasi-randomised control trial.

Purposes: This study evaluated the effectiveness of cold-gel packing on episiotomy pain among postpartum women who had normal spontaneous deliveries.

Methods: A quasi-randomised control trial was conducted in a maternity ward of a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Seventy postpartum women were recruited, choosing to be in either the experimental or control group (35 women per group).

Sonographic patterns of the endometrium in assessment of medical abortion outcomes.

Background: We aimed to define endometrial pattern and endometrial thickness in predicting the outcome of early medical abortion.

Study Design: While blinded to outcomes of abortion, we retrospectively reviewed the ultrasound scan performed 14-21 days after medical abortion. We assessed the endometrial pattern and endometrial thickness.

Expression of the pluripotent transcription factor OCT4 promotes cell migration in endometriosis.

Objective: To identify the impact of the pluripotent transcription factor OCT4 in endometrial cell migration and endometriosis.

Design: The OCT4 expression and cell migration study.

Setting: Research institution and reproductive medical clinic.