Enhanced breathing effort in pulmonary function tests by CO2/O2 gas mixture and barometric whole-body plethysmography in healthy and feline lower airway disease cats.

Objective: Enhancing ventilatory effort during pulmonary function testing can help reveal flow limitations not evident in normal tidal breathing. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of using a CO2/O2 gas mixture to enhance tidal breathing with a barometric whole-body plethysmography system in both healthy cats and those with feline lower airway disease (FLAD).

Methods: This prospective study included healthy cats and those with FLAD, which underwent pulmonary function testing and were exposed to a 10% CO2/90% O2 gas mixture in a barometric whole-body plethysmography chamber, with CO2 concentrations maintained within the target range of 5% to 10%.

Protozoa-enhanced conjugation frequency alters the dissemination of soil antibiotic resistance.

Protozoa, as primary predators of soil bacteria, represent an overlooked natural driver in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. However, the effects of protozoan predation on antibiotic resistance genes dissemination at the community level, along with the underlying mechanisms, remain unclear. Here we used fluorescence-activated cell sorting, qPCR, combined with metagenomics and reverse transcription quantitative PCR, to unveil how protozoa (Colpoda steinii and Acanthamoeba castellanii) influence the plasmid-mediated transfer of antibiotic resistance genes to soil microbial communities.

Effects of early palliative care intervention on medical resource use among end-of-life patients.

Background: In Taiwan, as the population ages, palliative care services (PCS) have expanded significantly to include comprehensive benefit plans for critically ill individuals, supported by reimbursements from the National Health Insurance program. However, incorporating palliative care into the medical management of these patients presents several challenges. We aim to evaluate the effects of palliative care interventions on medical resources in end-of-life scenarios, to promote earlier palliative care access and provide high-quality healthcare services for patients.

Clinical Outcomes and Safety Profiles of Generic Versus Brand-Name Clopidogrel in Patients Following Coronary Artery Stent Placement.

Coronary artery disease remains a significant global health issue and is a leading cause of mortality. Dual antiplatelet therapy, including clopidogrel, is essential for preventing stent thrombosis after coronary artery stenting. This study assessed the comparative efficacy and safety of generic versus brand-name clopidogrel in a large Taiwanese cohort.

Bioabsorbable magnesium-based bulk metallic glass composite (BMGC) for improved medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy in knee osteoarthritis.

Background And Objective: Osteoarthritis is a widespread and debilitating condition, particularly affecting the medial compartment of knee joint due to varus knee deformities. Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) has emerged as an effective treatment, but it comes with challenges like fractures, correction loss, and nonunion, leading to unsatisfactory results in up to 26 % of patients. In response, our study explores the potential of a bioabsorbable magnesium-based bulk metallic glass composite (MgZnCa BMGC) enriched with molybdenum particles as an innovative solution for MOWHTO.

A Novel COL7A1 Mutation in a Patient With Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. Successful Treatment With Upadacitinib.

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is a heterogeneous and rare genetic skin disease caused by mutations in the gene, which encodes Type VII collagen. The absence or dysfunction of Type VII collagen can cause the dense lower layer of the basal membrane zone of the skin to separate from the dermis, leading to blister formation and various complications. In different DEB subtypes, the severity of the phenotype is associated, to some extent, with the outcome of Type VII collagen caused by mutations in the gene, which may be reduced in expression, remarkably reduced, or completely absent.

Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions May Attenuate Acute Exacerbations of Asthma: Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan.

Background: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were widely used during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, however their impact on acute asthma exacerbations (AEs) is not well studied.

Methods: We had retrospectively collected patients with asthma AEs between 2019 and 2020 and retrieved data from the Chang Gung Research Database, including clinical manifestations, medications, pulmonary function, clinic and emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

Results: A total of 39,108 adult patients with asthma were enrolled, of whom 1502 were eligible for analysis.

Temporal variations in and predictive values of ABG results prior to in-hospital cardiac arrest.

In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has been understudied relative to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Further, studies of IHCA have mainly focused on a limited number of pre-arrest patient characteristics (e.g.

Survival-Inferred Fragility of Statistical Significance in Phase III Oncology Trials.

Background: Statistical significance currently defines superiority in phase III oncology trials. However, this practice is increasingly questioned. Here, we estimated the fragility of phase III oncology trials.

Conglomerated Imiquimod and Metronidazole Incorporated Biodegradable Nanofibrous Mats for Potential Therapy of Cervical Cancer.

Background: In clinical practice, imiquimod is used to treat Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related lesions, such as condyloma and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN). Metronidazole is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for bacterial vaginosis. The study developed biodegradable imiquimod- and metronidazole-loaded nanofibrous mats and assessed their effectiveness for the topical treatment of cervical cancer, a type of HPV-related lesion.

The trend of DALY of breast, colorectal, oral, and cervical cancers in Taiwan in 2005-2017.

Objectives: This study used the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) to quantify the long-term trends for four cancers (oral cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer) that have undergone cancer screening in Taiwan.

Methods: DALYs were calculated as the sum of Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature mortality and Years Lived with Disability (YLD). YLLs were determined using cancer-specific mortality data from the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), Ministry of Health and Welfare, based on age-specific life expectancy.

Psychometric Properties of Chinese Version of the Multiple Intelligence Scale (MIS) Among Older Adults: Rasch Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

Unlabelled: The present study utilized advanced psychometric methods (i.e., Rasch analysis and confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]) to evaluate the factor structure of the Multiple Intelligence Scale (MIS) and its validity among Taiwanese older adults.

Frameworks Construction with Rhodium-Organic Cuboctahedra via Rigid Linker Incorporation.

The architectural characteristics of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be examined through their net topology, which consists of nodes and linkers. A node's connectivity and site symmetry are likely the key elements influencing the net topology of MOFs. Metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) function effectively as nodes when used as supermolecular building blocks (SBBs).

Intervention of a Communication Between PI3K/Akt and β-Catenin by (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Suppresses TGF-β1-Promoted Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Invasive Phenotype of NSCLC Cells.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) assists in the acquisition of invasiveness, relapse, and resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and can be caused by the signaling of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) through Smad-mediated or Smad-independent pathways. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a multifunctional cancer-preventing bioconstituent found in tea polyphenols, has been shown to repress TGF-β1-triggered EMT in the human NSCLC A549 cell line by inhibiting the activation of Smad2 and Erk1/2 or reducing the acetylation of Smad2 and Smad3. However, its impact on the Smad-independent pathway remains unclear.

Association between frailty index and mortality in depressed patients: results from NHANES 2005-2018.

This study investigated the relationship between the frailty index and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with depression. We recruited 2,669 participants with depression from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018 and quantified their frailty status using a 53-item frailty index. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Exploring the perspectives of early-stage postoperative glioblastoma patients and their caregivers on end-of-life care planning: An exploratory qualitative interview study.

Aim: Compare the convergent and divergent viewpoints of early-stage postoperative patients with glioblastoma and their caregivers on end-of-life care planning in Taiwan.

Background: Decision-making capacity in patients with glioblastoma may be compromised as disease progresses, making early future care planning essential to ensure that the provided care aligns with patients' goals. However, within many Asian cultures, the tendency to avoid discussions about death can lead patients to feel hesitant about addressing end-of-life care options.

NIR photo-responsive injectable chitosan/hyaluronic acid hydrogels with controlled NO release for the treatment of MRSA infections.

Due to resistance to common antibiotics, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections pose a significant threat to human health. In this study, we developed an injectable, adhesive, and biocompatible hydrogel with multiple functions. Specifically, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) crosslinked with hyaluronic acid (HA) forms the primary framework of the hydrogel.

An update on regulation and function of G protein-coupled receptors in cancer: A promising strategy for cancer therapy.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large family of cell surface receptors that play a crucial role in signal transduction and cellular communication. GPCR proteins are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including cell growth, migration, and survival. Dysregulation of GPCR protein expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer, and GPCR proteins have been shown to modulate these processes in various types of cancer, highlighting their importance as potential therapeutic targets.

Epidemiology, Treatment Outcomes, and Prognosis of Myelodysplastic Syndromes/Neoplasms in Taiwan: Real-World Insights and Trends.

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms (MDS) are a diverse group of clonal myeloid disorders. Advances in molecular technology lead to the development of new classification systems. However, large-scale epidemiological studies on MDS in Asian countries are currently scarce.

Synergistic Effect of Strontium Doping and Surfactant Addition in Mesoporous Bioactive Glass for Enhanced Osteogenic Bioactivity and Advanced Bone Regeneration.

Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) is an advanced biomaterial widely recognized for its application in bone regenerative engineering. This study synthesized an MBG powder (80 mol% SiO, 5 mol% PO, and 15 mol% CaO) using a facile sol-gel method with the non-ionic surfactant Pluronic P123, which acted as a pore-forming agent. MBGs form bioactive surfaces that facilitate HA formation, and the presence of Pluronic P123 increases the surface area and promotes HA nucleation.

A Solar-Heated Phase Change Composite Fiber with a Core-Shell Structure for the Recovery of Highly Viscous Crude Oil.

Due to the high viscosity and low fluidity of viscous crude oil, how to effectively recover spilled crude oil is still a major global challenge. Although solar thermal absorbers have made significant progress in accelerating oil recovery, its practical application is largely restricted by the variability of solar radiation intensity, which is influenced by external environmental factors. To address this issue, this study created a new composite fiber that not only possesses solar energy conversion and storage capabilities but also facilitates crude oil removal.

Positive Correlation Between Serum Limonene Levels and Muscle Health in a Representative Adult Population in the United States.

Monoterpenes, a class of organic compounds with the molecular formula CH, have garnered significant attention for their potential medicinal benefits. Emerging evidence suggests they may positively influence skeletal muscle function. However, the impact of monoterpene exposure on muscle strength and mass in humans remains unclear.

High Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Risk as a Predictor of Postoperative Complications and Early Mortality in Older Adult Patients Undergoing Pancreatoduodenectomy for Periampullary Malignancies.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a major surgery associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in older adult patients. Malnutrition is a common complication in these patients and is linked to poorer outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the associations between preoperative nutritional status using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and postoperative outcomes in older adult patients who underwent PD.

NGF-TrkA Axis Enhances PDGF-C-Mediated Angiogenesis in Osteosarcoma via miR-29b-3p Suppression: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy Using Larotrectinib.

Angiogenesis plays a critical role in osteosarcoma (OS) growth and metastasis. While nerve growth factor (NGF) is implicated in cancer progression, its role in OS angiogenesis remains unclear. This study explored NGF's effects on angiogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Associations of Serum Cystatin C, DNAm Cystatin C, Renal Function, and Mortality in U.S. Adults.

Serum cystatin C is a well-established marker of renal function and a valuable predictor of health risks and mortality. DNA methylation-predicted cystatin C (DNAmCystatinC), an advanced epigenetic biomarker, serves as a proxy for serum cystatin C levels. However, the relationships between serum cystatin C, DNAmCystatinC, renal function, and mortality outcomes have not been previously examined.