Effects of a quasi-experimental study of using flipped classroom approach to teach evidence-based medicine to medical technology students.

Background: Flipped classroom is known to improve learning efficiency and to develop one's ability to apply high-level knowledge. To investigate the effect of flipped classroom approach on teaching evidence-based medicine to medical technology students, we conducted a tailor-made six flipped classroom based EBM courses for medical technology students.

Methods: This study adopted a qusai-experimental design with 62 medical technology interns as the research object.

The training in SHARE communication course by physicians increases the signing of do-not-resuscitate orders for critical patients in the emergency room (cross-sectional study).

Background: Communication skills may be an important skill for the front-line emergency physicians.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of training in a SHARE communication course by emergency physicians on patient notification and signing of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders for critical patients in the emergency room.

Design: From a total of 29 attending physicians in the emergency department, 19 physicians had been trained in the SHARE communication course.

Clinical utility of mean platelet volume and immature platelet fraction in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients with ACS have an increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and immature platelet fraction (IPF) resulting in elevation of thrombotic ability. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of MPV and IPF in identifying suspected ACS patients at emergency department.

Genome-wide annotation, expression profiling, and protein interaction studies of the core cell-cycle genes in Phalaenopsis aphrodite.

Orchidaceae is one of the most abundant and diverse families in the plant kingdom and its unique developmental patterns have drawn the attention of many evolutionary biologists. Particular areas of interest have included the co-evolution of pollinators and distinct floral structures, and symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal flora. However, comprehensive studies to decipher the molecular basis of growth and development in orchids remain scarce.

Neocarzinostatin as a probe for DNA protection activity--molecular interaction with caffeine.

Neocarzinostatin (NCS), a potent mutagen and carcinogen, consists of an enediyne prodrug and a protein carrier. It has a unique double role in that it intercalates into DNA and imposes radical-mediated damage after thiol activation. Here we employed NCS as a probe to examine the DNA-protection capability of caffeine, one of common dietary phytochemicals with potential cancer-chemopreventive activity.

Insight into the strong inhibitory action of salt on activity of neocarzinostatin.

Enediyne anticancer drugs belong to one of the most potent category in inducing DNA damage. We report 85+/-5% inhibition on activity of neocarzinostatin by salt. As high sodium ion concentration is a known tumor cell feature, we explored the dynamic mechanism of inhibition.