Comparative study of 3D contact area percentage between zygomatic implant and bone in different surgical approaches: clinical and biomechanical perspectives.

Background: Zygomatic implants, either alone or in combination with dental implant placement, have emerged as a viable surgical option for elderly patients with severe bone atrophy for occlusal restoration. This study aims to examine the biomechanical impact of the three-dimensional contact area between zygomatic implants and bone on biomechanics under different surgical methods.

Material And Methods: Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images from 10 patients with severe bone atrophy, we reconstructed 3D maxillary bone models and created corresponding 3D zygomatic implant models.

Adverse effects on birth weight of parental illegal drug use during pregnancy and within two years before pregnancy.

This study investigates possible links between maternal illegal drug use during pregnancy and up to two years before pregnancy with birth weight (BW), and explores the potential role of paternal illegal drug use on low birth weight. A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted that linked four national databases in Taiwan. A total of 1,698 subjects with a criminal record of schedule I or II illegal drug use within two years before pregnancy were enrolled as the drug-exposed group, and 16,980 matched subjects were enrolled as the unexposed group.

Emergency department visits due to new psychoactive substances and other illicit drugs in Taiwan: preliminary results of the Taiwan Emergency Department Drug Abuse Surveillance (TEDAS) project.

Introduction: The use of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) has markedly increased worldwide; thus, it is important to monitor NPS-related effects. The Taiwan Emergency Department Drug Abuse Surveillance (TEDAS) project aims to assess the patterns of recreational drug use in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) across the country. Here, we report the preliminary results of this project.

First-time offenders for recreational ketamine use under a new penalty system in Taiwan: incidence, recidivism and mortality in national cohorts from 2009 to 2017.

Background And Aims: Ketamine has become a new recreational drug of choice among young people in parts of Asia. Using national databases in Taiwan, this study aimed to (1) examine the yearly trend in the ketamine offence rate over time; (2) estimate the 3-year risk of drug-related re-offence and its correlates among the first-time offenders; and (3) estimate the 3-year standardized mortality ratio (SMR) among the first-time offenders.

Design, Setting And Participants: Retrospective cohort studies of offenders for recreational ketamine use in a penalty system initiated in 2009.

Hospitalized burn injury risk associated with benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in elders: A population-based case-control study.

Objective: To examine the association between benzodiazepines (BZDs) and Z-drugs treatment and risk of burn injury in elders.

Methods: We designed a nested case-control study. All subjects were aged 65 and older and enrolled in the National Health Insurance program in Taiwan, 2003 to 2012; 813 cases were identified with burn injury for the first time in their inpatient claims, and they were individually matched to 4879 controls based on age, gender, and index year.

Differences in prevalence, socio-behavioral correlates, and psychosocial distress between club drug and hard drug use in Taiwan: Results from the 2014 National Survey of Substance Use.

Background: This study examined variation between users of 'club' and 'hard' drugs in Taiwan in terms of prevalence of use and demographics and psychosocial characteristics.

Methods: Data were derived from a survey of 17,837 Taiwanese civilians, aged 12-64 years, using stratified, multi-stage, random sampling. Participants completed a computer-assisted self-interview on tablet computers which covered use of legal substances, sedatives/hypnotics and prescription analgesics; use of illicit drugs/inhalants, risky sexual experiences; expectations of drugs; and psychological distress.

Association of benzodiazepine and Z-drug use with the risk of hospitalisation for fall-related injuries among older people: a nationwide nested case-control study in Taiwan.

Background: Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (Z-drugs) are advocated to be safer than benzodiazepines (BZDs). This study comprehensively investigated the association of BZD and Z-drug usage with the risk of hospitalisation for fall-related injuries in older people.

Methods: This study used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database with a nested matched case-control design.

Large enhancements in optoelectronic efficiencies of nano-plastically stressed conjugated polymer strands.

The photoluminescence (PL) of well dispersed molecules of a conjugated polymer, poly[2-methoxy-5-((2'-ethylhexyl)oxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene] (MEH-PPV), in an optically inert matrix manifested dramatic increases when the individual molecular strands were fully stretched. The PL increase rose with stretching and may reach several folds when the mechanical strain of the matrix polymer went beyond 550%. Strong polarization effects indicate that stretching individual polymer chains was responsible for the PL enhancement.

Dinosaur girls, candy girls, and Trinity: voices of Taiwanese club drug users.

Research among Asian users of methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA), also known as Ecstasy, is rare. To evaluate the feasibility of a study on the abuse of and dependence on Ecstasy, two focus groups of users (n= 12) and health professionals (n=7) were conducted in Taiwan. Major results included blatant human testing with "candy and dinosaur girls" and a specific sequence of drugs called a "Trinity" (Ecstasy, ketamine, and marijuana).

Performance characteristics of selected immunoassays for preliminary test of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methamphetamine, and related drugs in urine specimens.

Eight commercially available immunoassays for amphetamines (DRI Amphetamines, CEDIA DAU Amphetamines-Semiquantitative, EMIT d.a.u.