Comparison between virtual reality and traditional lecture methods in educating respiratory therapy students on pediatric difficult airway diseases.

Background: Pediatric airway diseases are associated with complex challenges because of smaller and more dynamic airway structures in children. These conditions, along with specialized management by medical care staff, should be immediately and precisely recognized to prevent life-threatening obstructions and long-term respiratory complications. Recently, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an innovative approach to clinical medical education.

Using computed tomography to evaluate anatomic landmarks in taiwanese trauma patients for insertion of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Hemorrhage, particularly from non-compressible torso hemorrhage (NCTH) in the abdominopelvic region, is a leading cause of preventable trauma deaths. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA), designed for aortic occlusion, has emerged as a tool for temporary hemorrhage control in recent years. However, attaining optimal REBOA placement in diverse demographic groups, such as Asian populations, may pose challenges owing to unique anatomical and physiological differences.

Benefits and Risks of Preprepared Parenteral Nutrition for Early Amino Acid Administration in Premature Infants with Very Low Birth Weight.

Purpose: Administering early parenteral amino acids to very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants (birth body weight [BBW]<1,500 g) is challenging due to factors such as holidays, cost, and access to sterile compounding facilities. Using advance-prepared parenteral nutrition (PN) may address this issue and should be evaluated for its safety and potential benefits.

Methods: We extracted data from medical records collected between July 2015 and August 2019.

The impact of premature rupture of membrane on neonatal outcomes in infants born at 34 weeks gestation or later.

Background: Premature rupture of membranes (PROMs) is a known risk for adverse neonatal outcomes, often leading to neonatal hospitalization due to suspected perinatal infection or other issues. This study assesses PROM's clinical impact on neonatal outcomes in infants born at 34 weeks of gestation or later.

Methods: We studied hospitalized neonates born between December 2018 and November 2019, with gestational ages of 34 weeks or more and PROM diagnosis.

Contemporary fluid management, humidity, and patent ductus arteriosus management strategy for premature infants among 336 hospitals in Asia.

Objectives: The management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a critical concern in premature infants, and different hospitals may have varying treatment policies, fluid management strategies, and incubator humidity. The Asian Neonatal Network Collaboration (AsianNeo) collected data on prematurity care details from hospitals across Asian countries. The aim of this study was to provide a survey of the current practices in the management of PDA in premature infants in Asian countries.

Weight growth velocity and growth outcomes in very-low-birth-weight infants developing major morbidities.

Background: Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) is common in very-low-birth-weight-infants and may be associated with poor neurodevelopment. The growth velocity of preterm infants is increasing over decades, but the relationship between growth velocity, EUGR, and morbidities of preterm infants remains unknown.

Methods: A total of 263 infants born between 2012 and 2020, with birthweight <1500 g and gestational age of 24-33 weeks, were included.

Echocardiographic function evaluation in adolescents following BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccination: A preliminary prospective study.

Background: Vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is crucial for preventing and minimizing illness. Myocarditis and pericarditis after messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents and young adult males have been reported. Most of the studies in this area rely on retrospective symptom reporting, especially for adolescents experiencing myocarditis as a potential side effect.

Outcomes of wasp and bee stings in Taiwan.

Background: The families of Hymenoptera causing commonly poisonous animal stings in Taiwan include (bee) and (wasp). This study aimed to investigate the epidemiologic, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of the severity of envenomation following wasp or bee stings in Taiwan.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study by identifying all wasp and bee sting-related envenomation reported to the Taiwan National Poison Control Center between January 2001 and November 2021.

The role of transforming growth factor-β2 in cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation and injury.

Aims: Transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) plays an important role in pleiotropic functions and has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive lung disease. The role of TGF-β2 in regulating cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung inflammation and injury has not been investigated, and its underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Main Methods: Primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) were treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE), and the signaling pathway of TGF-β2 regulating lung inflammation was investigated.

Comparing Strategies for Critical Congenital Heart Disease Newborn Screening.

Objectives: An extended newborn critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening program using oximetry has been implemented in Taipei, Taiwan since April 2014. This study was conducted to investigate the test accuracy and efficiency of this screening protocol.

Methods: This study analyzed data from 30 birthing facilities representing 87.

Validation of a five-level triage system in pediatric trauma and the effectiveness of triage nurse modification: A multi-center cohort analysis.

Introduction: Triage is one of the most important tasks for nurses in a modern emergency department (ED) and it plays a critical role in pediatric trauma. An appropriate triage system can improve patient outcomes and decrease resource wasting. However, triage systems for pediatric trauma have not been validated worldwide.

Fatal Fulminant Cerebral Edema in Six Children With SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 Infection in Taiwan.

Acute fulminant cerebral edema in children following SARS-CoV-2 infection has been rarely reported. Such patients frequently demonstrate rapid progression and are usually fatal. In this retrospective study, we describe the detailed clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging features of six fatal cases in Taiwan.

Factors associated with postoperative respiratory conditions and critical outcomes on pediatric liver transplantation: A single-center experience.

Background: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is an established therapeutic option for pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD). The postoperative respiratory conditions of OLT recipients may be associated with subsequent clinical outcomes including length of stay (LOS) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This study aimed to characterize the postoperative respiratory conditions, associated factors, and outcomes after pediatric OLT.

Risk factors and predictive markers for early and late-onset neonatal bacteremic sepsis in preterm and term infants.

Background: The early detection and prediction of bacteremic sepsis in preterm and term neonates remains a challenging task because of their nonspecific clinical presentations. We aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with bacteremia and find the cutoff values of predictive markers to achieve accurate diagnosis of neonatal bacteremic sepsis.

Methods: Not-doing-well preterm and term neonates with suspected sepsis were retrospectively enrolled between January 2015 and December 2017 in Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Efficacy of intratracheal budesonide-surfactant combined therapy in surfactant-insufficient rat lungs with lipopolysaccharide insult.

Background: Intratracheal steroid therapy for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) remains challenging particularly in surfactant-insufficient lungs, a common problem of neonatal or pediatric ALI. Surfactant has been used as a vehicle for intratracheal steroid in the treatment of other types of ALI. This study investigated the efficacy of intratracheal budesonide (BUD) delivered by two concentrations of surfactant in the treatment of LPS-induced ALI in surfactant-insufficient rat lungs.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Retrospective Population Cohort Study.

Objective: The relationship between autoimmune rheumatic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and carpal tunnel syndrome is unclear. We aimed to survey the occurrence and characteristics of carpal tunnel syndrome in autoimmune rheumatic diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases, compared with the general population.

Methods: We used the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2015 from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Role of gender in the survival outcome of acute phase of major trauma: A nationwide, population-based study.

Background: Animal models of trauma have shown that females have better posttraumatic survival; however, results of previous studies on the influence of gender on major trauma patients have been controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between gender and survival in major trauma patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients registered in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between 2008 and 2012 with the diagnosis codes 800-939 and 950-957 (International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, clinical modification).

Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of significant neonatal jaundice in Taiwan from 2000-2003: a nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Newborns with significant neonatal jaundice (SNJ) would admit for evaluation and/or intervention due to an earlier or more rapid increase in bilirubin level. Bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction in this population might be underestimated. We aimed to investigate the risk of long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae of SNJ in Taiwan.

Effects of Combined Use of Mother's Breast Milk, Heartbeat Sounds, and Non-Nutritive Sucking on Preterm Infants' Behavioral Stress During Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Even routine procedures can cause pain and stress, and can be harmful to the fast-growing brain of preterm infants. Mitigating pain and stress with sucrose and analgesics has side effects; thus, an alternate choice is the use of natural breast milk and infants' sensory capabilities. Therefore, this study examined the effects of different integrations of sensory experiences-mother's breast milk odor and taste (BM-OT), heartbeat sounds (HBs), and non-nutritive sucking (NNS)-on preterm infant's behavioral stress during venipuncture.

Coronavirus disease 2019 in children: Current status.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged from China in December 2019. The outbreak further exploded in Europe and America in mid-March 2020 to become a global health emergency. We reviewed recent published articles and on-line open messages on SARS-CoV-2-positive infants and children younger than 20 years of age.