Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on antimicrobial resistance among major pathogens causing healthcare-associated infection.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused great impact on healthcare systems, including antibiotic usage and multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections at hospitals. We aim to investigate the trends of antimicrobial resistance among the major pathogens causing healthcare-associated infection (HAI) at intensive care units (ICU).

Material And Methods: The demographic characteristics of hospitalization, usage of antimicrobial agents, counted by half-an-year DID (defined daily dose per 1000 patient-days), and HAI density of five major MDR bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), of ICU patients at a medical center in Taiwan during January 2017 to December 2021 were collected and analyzed.

Automatic tube compensation for liberation from prolonged mechanical ventilation in tracheostomized patients: A retrospective analysis.

Background: To analyze the predictability of an automatic tube compensation (ATC) screening test compared with the conventional direct liberation test performed before continuous oxygen support for MV liberation.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed tracheostomized patients with prolonged MV in a weaning unit of a medical center in Taiwan. In March 2020, a four-day ATC test to screen patient eligibility for ventilator liberation was implemented, intended to replace the direct liberation test.

Monitoring the performance of a dedicated weaning unit using risk-adjusted control charts for the weaning rate in prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Background: Weaning rate is an important quality indicator of care for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). However, diverse clinical characteristics often affect the measured rate. A risk-adjusted control chart may be beneficial for assessing the quality of care.

Small nucleolar RNA is potential as a novel player in leukemogenesis and clinical application.

Lack of clarity of the mechanisms that underlie leukemogenesis obstructs the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of leukemia. Research has found that small nuclear RNA (snoRNA) plays an essential role in leukemia. These small non-coding RNAs are involved in ribosome biogenesis, including the 2'-O-methylation and pseudouridylation of precursor ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA), and pre-rRNA splicing.

Update and review of the gerodontology prospective for 2020's: Linking the interactions of oral (hypo)-functions to health vs. systemic diseases.

New lines of evidence suggest that the oral-systemic medical links and oral hypo-function are progressively transcending beyond the traditional clinical signs and symptoms of oral diseases. Research into the dysbiotic microbiome, host immune/inflammatory regulations and patho-physiologic changes and subsequent adaptations through the oral-systemic measures under ageism points to pathways leading to mastication deficiency, dysphagia, signature brain activities for (neuro)-cognition circuitries, dementia and certain cancers of the digestive system as well. Therefore, the coming era of oral health-linked systemic disorders will likely reshape the future of diagnostics in oral geriatrics, treatment modalities and professional therapies in clinical disciplines.

Preceptors' Subjective Competency Ratings in Acute Care Hospitals in Taiwan.

Background: This study focused on developing a Subjective Competency Scale (SCS) in acute care hospitals and identified factors that affect preceptors' competency to precept new graduate nurses (NGNs).

Method: This study was conducted in two stages that included collecting information on preceptor training courses and conducting a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. A total of 350 preceptors completed the survey in 2011.

Chemopreventive effect of Toona sinensis leaf extract on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch squamous cell carcinogenesis.

Objective: Toona sinensis leaf extract (TSL) has been shown to have anti-tumor effects on cancer cell lines. This study aimed to investigate the chemopreventive potential and the underlying mechanism of TSL during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis.

Methods: One hundred hamsters were divided into control (n=30), carcinogenic (n=20), preventive (n=42), and therapeutic (n=8) groups.

Sialolithiasis of minor salivary glands: A review of 17 cases.

Background/purpose: To our knowledge, sialolithiasis in minor salivary glands is very rare, and information about the disease is limited. The current study aimed to provide updated data regarding the disease in Taiwan. The data were compared with those of previous case series studies.

Retrospective study of oral and maxillofacial lesions in older Taiwanese patients.

Objective: The aim was to provide information regarding oral and maxillofacial (OMF) lesions in an older Taiwanese population.

Background: The rate of increase of older people in Taiwan is expected to be rapid. OMF lesions are very frequent in the older population, but no studies have been performed on these lesions in Taiwan.

The Impact of Flip Angle and TR on the Enhancement Ratio of Dynamic Gadobutrol-enhanced MR Imaging: In Vivo VX2 Tumor Model and Computer Simulation.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is widely used to diagnose cancer and monitor therapy. The maximum enhancement ratio (ERmax) obtained from the curve of signal intensity over time could be a biomarker to distinguish cancer from normal tissue or benign tumors. We evaluated the impact of flip angle (FA) and repetition time (TR) on the ERmax values of dynamic gadobutrol-enhanced MR imaging, obtaining T1-weighted (T1W) MR imaging of VX2 tumors using 2-dimensional fast spoiled gradient echo (2D FSPGR) with various FAs (30°, 60° and 90°) at 1.

Differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into germ-like cells in mouse seminiferous tubules.

Our previous study demonstrated that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) were capable of differentiation into germ cells in vitro. To assess this potential in vivo, HUMSCs were microinjected into the lumen of seminiferous tubules of immunocompetent mice, which were treated with busulfan to destroy endogenous spermatogenesis. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling studies demonstrated that HUMSCs survived in the tubule for at least 120 days, exhibited a round cell shape typical of proliferating or differentiating germ cells, migrated to the basement of the tubule, where proliferating spermatogonia reside and returned to the luminal compartment, where differentiating spermatids and spermatozoa reside.

Advanced Cu chemical displacement technique for SiO2-based electrochemical metallization ReRAM application.

This study investigates an advanced copper (Cu) chemical displacement technique (CDT) with varying the chemical displacement time for fabricating Cu/SiO2-stacked resistive random-access memory (ReRAM). Compared with other Cu deposition methods, this CDT easily controls the interface of the Cu-insulator, the switching layer thickness, and the immunity of the Cu etching process, assisting the 1-transistor-1-ReRAM (1T-1R) structure and system-on-chip integration. The modulated shape of the Cu-SiO2 interface and the thickness of the SiO2 layer obtained by CDT-based Cu deposition on SiO2 were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Perceptions and experiences of nurse preceptors regarding their training courses: a mixed method study.

Background: Although the benefits of preceptor training programs on the performance of nurse preceptors have been reported, research related to nurse preceptors' perceptions of and experiences with preceptor training courses is relatively limited.

Objectives: To explore nurse preceptors' perceptions of preceptor training courses and obtain information on their experiences in working as preceptors.

Design: A mixed method design was conducted.

Retrospective study of biopsied head and neck lesions in a cohort of referral Taiwanese patients.

Introduction: A study of the whole spectrum of biopsied head and neck (HN) diseases in Taiwan has not yet been performed. Therefore, the current study aimed to provide updated information about HN lesions in a cohort of referral Taiwanese patients for histopathological examination.

Methods: HN lesions (2000-2011) in patients with records of age, sex, and histological diagnoses were retrieved from the Oral Pathology Department of the institution.

Sphere-forming-like cells (squamospheres) with cancer stem-like cell traits from VX2 rabbit buccal squamous cell carcinoma.

Previous studies have demonstrated that spheroid type cells grown under suspension culture conditions have cancer stem cell (CSC) traits in a number of cancers, but this phenomenon has not yet been reported in the VX2 rabbit oral cancer model. Hence, this study aimed to study the spheroid cells from VX2 rabbit buccal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and assess their CSC characteristics. Five adult male New Zealand white outbred rabbits were used to generate VX2 rabbit buccal SCC.

[Anti-atherosclerosis role of N-oleoylethanolamine in CB2].

To observe a PPAR-alpha agonist effect of N-oleoylethanolamine (OEA) on CB2 (cannabinoid receptor 2), an anti-inflammatory receptor in vascular endothelial cell, healthy HUVECs and TNF-alpha induced HUVECs were used to establish a human vascular endothelial cell inflammatory model. Different doses of OEA (10, 50 and 100 micromol x L(-1)) had been given to HUVECs, cultured at 37 degrees C for 7 h and then collected the total protein and total mRNA. CB2 protein expression was detected by Western blotting and CB2 mRNA expression was assayed by real-time PCR.

Clear-cell variant of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (Pindborg tumor) in the mandible.

We present an uncommon case (female patient aged 59 years) of the clear-cell variant of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) (also known as Pindborg tumor) in the mandible. The clinical characteristics and probable origins of the clear tumor cells of previously reported cases of clear-cell variant of intraosseous CEOT are also summarized and discussed.

[The hypolipidemic and liver protective effect of (Z)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) docos-13-enamide on hyperlipidemic golden hamsters].

This study is to observe preventive effect of (Z)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) docos-13-enamide on hyperlipidemia and fatty liver of golden hamsters. Hyperlipidemic golden hamsters fed with high-fat diet was administered orally with (Z)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) docos-13-enamide (10, 20 and 40 mg x kg(-1)) for 5 weeks. Levels of serum and hepatic lipid content, liver histology, hepatic MDA and SOD levels, serum ALT and AST levels were evaluated in golden hamsters.

Overexpression of Smad proteins, especially Smad7, in oral epithelial dysplasias.

Objective: Transforming growth factor β, via membrane-bound receptors and downstream Smad2-4, 7, can modulate tumorigenesis. Smad2 and Smad3 heterodimerize with Smad4, and the complex migrates to the nucleus to regulate the expression of target genes. Smad7 is a key negative regulator of this signaling pathway.

A retrospective comparison of the location and diameter of the inferior alveolar canal at the mental foramen and length of the anterior loop between American and Taiwanese cohorts using CBCT.

Purpose: The aim was to retrospectively compare the measurements of the location and size of the inferior alveolar canal at the mental foramen and the length of the anterior loop between two cohorts of Americans and Taiwanese using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: CBCT was performed with an I-CAT(®) Cone-Beam 3D Dental Imaging System and reconstructed into multiple-plane views to measure two populations.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.

Human dental pulp stem cells derived from different cryopreservation methods of human dental pulp tissues of diseased teeth.

Background: Successful isolation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) has been documented at least 120h after tooth extraction. Viable hDPSCs have been isolated chiefly from cryopreserved healthy molar teeth and their undigested dental pulp tissue. Isolation of hDPSCs from diseased but vital teeth after cryopreservation has not been reported.

Aberrant expression in multiple components of the transforming growth factor-β1-induced Smad signaling pathway during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal-pouch squamous-cell carcinogenesis.

Unlabelled: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 signaling controls a plethora of cellular processes including tumorigenesis. The TGF-β1 ligand initiates signaling by binding to TGF-βreceptor II (TβRII) and allowing heterodimerization with TGF-βreceptor I (TβRI); thus, TβRI is phosphorylated by TβRII. After phosphorylation, Smad2 and Smad3 heterodimerize with Smad4, and this complex migrates to the nucleus to regulate the expression of specific target genes.

Expression of inhibitor of apoptosis family proteins in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) expression, its relationship with p53, and epigenetic change in oral carcinogenesis that remain to be elucidated.

Methods: We measured IAP and p53 expression in 44 oral potentially malignant disorders and their corresponding malignant-transformed oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), and in 44 other non-transformed oral potentially malignant disorders. IAP and p53 expression in 10 fresh OSCCs, together with epigenetic change of their mutation, were also determined.

DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinoma and VX2-induced rabbit cancer as a model for human oral carcinogenesis.

In this article, we have described and compared the advantages and disadvantages of two potential animal cancer models (the hamster buccal pouch cancer model and the VX2-induced rabbit cancer model) for human squamous cell carcinomas of the oral mucosa. Currently, no animal cancer model is perfectly applicable to human oral squamous cell carcinomas. This is because the hamster buccal pouch cancer model has a different etiology and genetic constitution compared with human oral carcinomas.