The initial experiences of junior nursing college students when communicating with children during pediatric clinical practicum: A phenomenological study.

Purpose: Nursing students feel stressed during pediatric clinical practicum due to limited communication encounters with hospitalized children. The purpose of this study was to describe junior nursing college students' experiences of communicating with children during pediatric clinical practicums.

Design And Methods: A qualitative phenomenological research design was used.

Copayment policy reforms and effective care utilization by patients with persistent asthma in Taiwan.

Objectives: Reforms to the Taiwan National Health Insurance copayment scheme in 2005 imposed a notable increase in the cost of outpatient visits. This provided an ideal situation to determine whether such reforms lead to a reduction in the utilization of effective care by patients with persistent asthma.

Methods: This study applied the pretest-posttest non-randomized control group design in our analysis of nationwide claims data (2002 to 2010).

Establishment of a GFP::LMNB1 knockin cell line (CSUi002-A-1) from a dystonia patient-specific iPSC by CRISPR/Cas9 editing.

LMNB1, as one of the major components of nuclear lamina, anchors heterochromatin and associates with transcription regulation. LMNB1 was previously demonstrated to be upregulated and nuclear-to-cytoplasmic mislocalized in DYT1 dystonia specific neurons. Here, we established a knockin cell line with GFP::LMNB1 fusion expression from a DYT1 patient derived iPSC line, by CRISPR/Cas9 editing.

Efficacy of Scenario Simulation-Based Education in Relieving Parental Anxiety about Fever in Children.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of a scenario simulation-based education intervention on parental anxiety about fever in their children.

Design And Methods: This experimental research was conducted using a two-group pretest-posttest design. One hundred and sixty parents of 3-month to 5-year-old children enrolled in preschools and kindergartens with childcare services were recruited as participants using cluster random sampling.

Overexpression of long noncoding RNA ANRIL inhibits phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells to prevent atherosclerotic plaque development .

Background: Phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a key role in atherosclerosis. Long noncoding RNA ANRIL (lncRNA-ANRIL) is critical in vascular homeostasis. Metformin produces multiple beneficial effects in atherosclerosis.

Prevalence of heated tobacco product use among adolescents in Taiwan.

Objective: To determine the penetration of heated tobacco products (HTPs) into the youth market in Taiwan, with a particular focus on the correlation between IQOS use and the usage of other tobacco products.

Methods: Data from the 2018 Global Youth Tobacco Survey were used to assess previous experience with and current use (within 30 days prior to survey completion) of IQOS products by Taiwanese students aged 12-18 years. Independent variables included the usage patterns of conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

miRNA-22 as a Candidate Diagnostic Biomarker for Coronary Slow Flow.

Background: Coronary slow flow (CSF) refers to the phenomenon of delayed distal flow in the absence of lesions detected on coronary angiography. Although the detection rate of CSF has been increasing in clinical practice, early diagnosis is difficult and the factors contributing to this condition remain unclear. Given the increasing demonstration of the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in disease and as diagnostic biomarkers, the aim of this study was to analyze the expression of serum miRNA-22 in patients with CSF detected using coronary angiography and its diagnostic efficacy.

Comparing the Characteristics of Cigarette Smoking and e-Cigarette and IQOS Use among Adolescents in Taiwan.

Objectives: Our objective in this study was to identify the risk factors for cigarette, e-cigarette, and IQOS use among adolescents in Taiwan, with a particular focus on socioeconomic status, smoking status of parents and peers, cigarette promotions, and anti-tobacco campaigns.

Methods: Data were obtained from the 2018 version of the annual cross-sectional Taiwan Global Youth Tobacco Survey, which is used to monitor tobacco use among Taiwanese adolescents in junior and senior high schools. The dependent variables in the study were "current cigarette smoking," "current use of e-cigarettes," and "current use of IQOS devices" (i.

Plasma Choline as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Slow Coronary Flow.

Aim: The slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon was characterized by delayed perfusion of epicardial arteries, and no obvious coronary artery lesion in coronary angiography. The prognosis of patients with slow coronary flow was poor. However, there is lack of rapid, simple, and accurate method for SCF diagnosis.

NFAT5 promotes arteriogenesis via MCP-1-dependent monocyte recruitment.

Studies have demonstrated that nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5) is not only a tonicity-responsive transcription factor but also activated by other stimuli, so we aim to investigate whether NFAT5 participates in collateral arteries formation in rats. We performed femoral artery ligature (FAL) in rats for hindlimb ischaemia model and found that NFAT5 was up-regulated in rat adductors with FAL compared with sham group. Knockdown of NFAT5 with locally injection of adenovirus-mediated NFAT5-shRNA in rats significantly inhibited hindlimb blood perfusion recovery and arteriogenesis.

Circulating miR-182-5p and miR-5187-5p as biomarkers for the diagnosis of unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

Background: Patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease (uLMCAD) have high mortality rate due to sudden heart failure and acute myocardial infarction, for which reliable diagnostic biomarkers to detect this disease at an early stage are in urgent need. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as a class of novel biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate utility of miRNAs as biomarkers for early detection of uLMCAD.

Endothelial progenitor cell impairment mediated vasodilation dysfunction via diminishing nitric oxide production in postmenopausal females.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction is the major contributing factor to hypertension. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are essential for endogenous vascular endothelial renovation. The activity and number of circulating EPCs are preserved in prehypertensive premenopausal females according to our previous research.

Hypoxia-elicited mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes facilitates cardiac repair through miR-125b-mediated prevention of cell death in myocardial infarction.

Exosomes (Exo) secreted from hypoxia-conditioned bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were found to be protective for ischemic disease. However, the role of exosomal miRNA in the protective effect of hypoxia-conditioned BM-MSCs-derived Exo (Hypo-Exo) remains largely uncharacterized and the poor specificity of tissue targeting of Exo limits their clinical applications. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of miRNA in Hypo-Exo on the repair of ischemic myocardium and its underlying mechanisms.

Endogenous reduction of miR-185 accelerates cardiac function recovery in mice following myocardial infarction via targeting of cathepsin K.

Angiogenesis is critical for re-establishing the blood supply to the surviving myocardium after myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MicroRNAs are recognised as important epigenetic regulators of endothelial function. The aim of this study was to determine the roles of microRNAs in angiogenesis.

Electronic Cigarette Use and Attempts to Quit Smoking Cigarettes Among Adolescents in Taiwan.

Purpose: This study assessed the relationship between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and attempts to quit smoking cigarettes by adolescent smokers in Taiwan.

Methods: Data were obtained from the cross-sectional Taiwan Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted annually between 2014 and 2016, which included adolescents aged 12-18 years. The independent variable was e-cigarette use in the previous 30 days.

Dual Use of E-Cigarettes and Traditional Cigarettes Among Adolescents in Taiwan, 2014-2016.

Introduction: We investigated the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) with traditional cigarettes among adolescents during 2014 to 2016 to identify risk factors for using e-cigarettes only, traditional cigarettes only, or both products.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the Taiwan Global Youth Tobacco Survey, (conducted over a 3-year period by the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan), which is representative of tobacco use among adolescents aged 12-18 years. The outcome variable was smoking behavior.

Lipoxin A4 improves erectile dysfunction in rats with type I diabetes by inhibiting oxidative stress and corporal fibrosis.

Previous studies have shown that oxidative stress and corporal fibrosis in penile tissues of rats were key pathological factors of erectile dysfunction induced by diabetic mellitus (DMED). Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) was reported to inhibit oxidative stress and fibrosis diseases, while whether it could exert a protective role on erectile function was not clear. Type I diabetic mellitus (DM) was induced in thirty male 10-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats using streptozotocin.

MiR-15b-5p Regulates Collateral Artery Formation by Targeting AKT3 (Protein Kinase B-3).

Objective: To identify circulating microRNAs that are differentially expressed in severe coronary heart disease with well or poorly developed collateral arteries and to investigate their mechanisms of action in vivo and in vitro.

Approach And Results: In our study, we identified a circulating microRNA, miR-15b-5p, with low expression that, nevertheless, characterized patients with sufficient coronary collateral artery function. Moreover, in murine hindlimb ischemia model, in situ hybridization identified that miR-15b-5p was specifically expressed in vascular endothelial cells of adductors in sham group and was remarkably downregulated after femoral artery ligation.

Plasma Omentin-1 Level as a Predictor of Good Coronary Collateral Circulation.

Aim: Coronary collateral circulation (CCC) is crucial during an acute ischemic attack. Evidences showed that omentin-1 exhibited remarkable antiatherogenic effects and ischemia-induced revascularization. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma omentin-1 levels and CCC in patients with ≥90% angiography-proven coronary occlusion.

Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Education on Childhood Fever Management by Taiwanese Parents.

Background: Childhood fever is a common symptom managed by parents at home. Most parents do not know the definition of fever, its effect, or its management. To establish simulation-based education for parents and evaluate its effectiveness for fever management at home are essential for nursing care.

High-Density Lipoprotein Prevents Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Downregulation of Liver LOX-1 Expression.

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a specific cell-surface receptor for oxidized-low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). The impact of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated alteration of the LOX-1 level in hepatocytes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact on LOX-1 expression by tunicamycin (TM)-induced ER stress and to determine the effect of HDL on TM-affected LOX-1 expression in hepatic L02 cells.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine triggers macrophage apoptosis via the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), is emerging as a key contributing factor in atherogenesis, a process in turn known to involve macrophage apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ADMA on macrophage apoptosis, with specific reference to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway. Macrophage apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V- Propidium iodide (PI) and Hoechst 33258 staining assays.

The costs of smoking and secondhand smoke exposure in Taiwan: a prevalence-based annual cost approach.

Objectives: To assess the costs of the health effects of cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure to society.

Design: Prevalence-based, disease-specific cost-of-illness study. We used an epidemiological population-attributable risk method to determine the costs that can be attributed to smoking and SHS exposure.

Predicting all-cause and cause-specific mortality by static and dynamic measurements of allostatic load: a 10-year population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Objective: To evaluate the role of allostatic load (AL), either static or dynamic measurements, in predicting all-cause and cause-specific mortality of older people in Taiwan.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Setting: Population-based community study.