The DOSE index in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: evaluating healthcare costs.

Background And Objectives: The DOSE index, which incorporates Dyspnea, Obstruction, Smoking, and Exacerbations, is a widely used tool for assessing the severity and prognosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In addition to risk assessment, it has potential clinical utility in predicting healthcare costs, which are primarily driven by exacerbations. While several indices, such as the BODE (Body-mass index, Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise) and ADO (Age, Dyspnea, Obstruction) indices, exist for risk prediction, there is a lack of dedicated tools for forecasting healthcare costs.

Impact of Smoking Cessation and Charlson Comorbidity Index on Influenza Vaccination Efficacy in COPD Patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are particularly susceptible to respiratory infections like influenza, which exacerbate symptoms and increase healthcare utilization. While smoking cessation and influenza vaccination are recommended preventive measures, their combined impact on healthcare resource utilization is underexplored. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) assesses comorbidity burden in COPD patients and may influence healthcare outcomes.

Risk Factors, Pathogens, and Outcomes of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Non-Cardiac Surgical Patients: A Retrospective Analysis.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a critical hospital-acquired infection following non-cardiac surgeries, leading to poor outcomes. This study identifies VAP risk factors in non-cardiac surgical patients and determines the causative pathogens. A retrospective analysis with 1:4 propensity-score matching was conducted on patients in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) from 2010 to 2020 at a private tertiary medical center.

The Benefit of Hydrogen Gas as an Adjunctive Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Recent studies suggest that hydrogen gas possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of hydrogen gas and assess its safety and tolerability in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Enrolled COPD patients received standard treatments along with additional hydrogen inhalation for 30 min in the morning, afternoon, and evening over a 30-day period.

The Relationship between Exertional Desaturation and Pulmonary Function, Exercise Capacity, or Medical Costs in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients.

Exertional desaturation (ED) is common and is associated with poorer clinical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The age, dyspnea, airflow obstruction (ADO) and body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise (BODE) indexes are used to predict the prognosis of COPD patients. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between these indexes, pulmonary function, medical costs, and ED in COPD patients.

IL13 Promoter (-1055) Polymorphism Associated with Leukocyte Mitochondria DNA Copy Number in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

IL13 polymorphism is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD have smaller numbers of mitochondria deoxyribonucleic acid copies (mtDNA-CN) than people without COPD do. However, whether IL13 polymorphism affects the mutation and recombination of mitochondria remains unclear.

How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Population Mobility in Taiwan?

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) impairs the free movement of human beings. The study aims to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected population mobility.

Methods: The study obtained Google COVID-19 population mobility report and e Taiwan COVID-19 pandemic information from Our World in Data.

Effect of abdominal weight training with and without cough machine assistance on lung function in the patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation: a randomized trial.

Purpose: The patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) have the risk of ineffective coughing and infection due to diaphragm weakness. This study aimed to explore the effect of abdominal weight training (AWT) intervention with/without cough machine (CM) assistance on lung function, respiratory muscle strength and cough ability in these patients.

Methods: Forty patients with PMV were randomly assigned to three groups: AWT group (n = 12), AWT + CM group (n = 14) and control group (n = 14).

The Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Different Severities of Airflow Obstruction.

This retrospective study included COPD patients who attended our medical center between January and October 2018, and analyzed the outcomes of their influenza vaccination, including medical visits, hospitalization, medical expenses, and the incidence of respiratory failure. Airflow limitation was stratified according to GOLD guidelines. Overall, 543 COPD patients were enrolled, including 197, 113, 126, and 107 mild, moderate, severe, and very severe patients, respectively.

The Differing Effect of Gender and Clinical Specialty on Physicians' Intention to Use Electronic Medical Record.

Background: The use of electronic medical record (EMR) is anticipated to bring benefits for patients, physicians, and organizations. But limited physicians' acceptance of EMR presents a serious threat to its effective implementation.

Objectives: The current study incorporates technology acceptance model (TAM) with two antecedents, gender, and clinical specialty and one context-specific factor, financial incentives, to identify the factors that influence physicians' intention to use EMR in Taiwan.

Development and validation of an analytical procedure for quantitation of surfactants in dishwashing detergents using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The detection of surfactants in dishwashing detergents is challenging because the detergents tend to create a lot of foam. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a simple and robust procedure for simultaneous identification and quantification of multiple surfactants in dishwashingdetergents using standard addition method and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The results contain the method validation for 11 surfactants (linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, PPG-9-ethylhexeth-5, sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, alkyl polyglucoside, sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, cocamide diethanolamine, cocamide monoethanolamine, lauryldimethylamine oxide, cocamidopropyl betaine, nonylphenol, and nonylphenol ethoxylate).

Investigation of the proton relay system operative in human cystosolic aminopeptidase P.

Aminopeptidase P, a metalloprotease, targets Xaa-Proline peptides for cleavage [1-4]. There are two forms of human AMPP, a membrane-bound form (hmAMPP) and a soluble cytosolic form (hcAMPP)[5]. Similar to the angiotensin-I-converting enzyme, AMPP plays an important role in the catabolism of inflammatory and vasoactive peptides, known as kinins.

Determining the Residual Characteristics of Alkylphenols, Arsenic, and Lead as well as Assessing the Exposures of 1,4-Dioxane from Household Food Detergents.

Food detergents are commonly used in households. The main components of detergents include surfactants and water. It has been found that certain compounds, which may cause health concerns, appear in food detergents, such as alkylphenols, arsenic, and lead.

Implicit target substitution and sequencing for lexical tone production in Chinese: an FMRI study.

In this study, we examine the neural substrates underlying Tone 3 sandhi and tone sequencing in Mandarin Chinese using fMRI. Tone 3 sandhi is traditionally described as the substitution of Tone 3 with Tone 2 when followed by another Tone 3 (i.e.

Inhibition of glutathione S-transferase M1 by new gabosine analogues is essential for overcoming cisplatin resistance in lung cancer cells.

A new class of human GST inhibitors has been identified via rational design approach; we report their discovery, synthesis, inhibitory activity, and synergetic effect in combination with cisplatin against A549 lung cancer cell line. The results of this effort show that the lead 4-O-decyl-gabosine D (24) has optimum synergetic effect in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell and that this activity involves inhibition of glutathione S-transferase M1, apparently consistent with siRNA-mediated knockdown of GSTM1 gene.

E-healthcare maturity in Taiwan.

The purpose of this study was to explore the status of e-healthcare maturity in Taiwan following a nationwide investigation sponsored by the Department of Health. Based on Nolan's stage model and related studies, we propose a multidimensional model to gain a better understanding of the current status of e-healthcare maturity in hospitals. The target subjects included every hospital in Taiwan.

Preparation and characterization of amino-linked heterocyclic carbene palladium, gold, and silver complexes and their use as anticancer agents that act by triggering apoptotic cell death.

Transition metal complexes bearing amino linked N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) were prepared and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities in human cancer cells. The optimum antiproliferative activity, observed for the gold complex 3 in U-87 MG cells, was found to involve S-phase arrest of the cell cycle. The results indicate that 3 induces apoptosis through a p53-bak pathway, a finding that could serve as a new strategy to reduce the resistance of cancer cells to p53-induced apoptosis.

A study of factors affecting acceptance of hospital information systems: a nursing perspective.

Background: Hospital information systems (HISs) are widely used in Taiwan, and HIS performance must be carefully evaluated. Nursing personnel are the largest group of staff in a hospital and are the center of care delivery; thus, they play an important role in the adoption and evaluation of HISs.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to explore the critical factors affecting the acceptance of HISs in Taiwan from a nursing perspective.

Exploring nursing e-learning systems success based on information system success model.

E-learning is thought of as an innovative approach to enhance nurses' care service knowledge. Extensive research has provided rich information toward system development, courses design, and nurses' satisfaction with an e-learning system. However, a comprehensive view in understanding nursing e-learning system success is an important but less focused-on topic.

Overcoming the drug resistance in breast cancer cells by rational design of efficient glutathione S-transferase inhibitors.

A new type of competitive human GST inhibitors has been developed via the bioisostere and structure activity profile strategies; we report their discovery, preparation, inhibitory activity, and synergetic effect in combination with chemotherapy drugs against breast cancer cells.

Correlation between dissociation and catalysis of SARS-CoV main protease.

The dimeric interface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus main protease is a potential target for the anti-SARS drug development. We have generated C-terminal truncated mutants by serial truncations. The quaternary structure of the enzyme was analyzed using both sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium analytical ultracentrifugation.

Metal ions stabilize a dimeric molten globule state between the open and closed forms of malic enzyme.

Malic enzyme is a tetrameric protein with double dimer quaternary structure. In 3-5 M urea, the pigeon cytosolic NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme unfolded and aggregated into various forms with dimers as the basic unit. Under the same denaturing conditions but in the presence of 4 mM Mn(2+), the enzyme existed exclusively as a molten globule dimer in solution.