Indispensable Nafion Ionomer for High-Efficiency and Stable Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media.

Addressing the challenge of sluggish kinetics and limited stability in alkaline oxygen evolution reactions, recent exploration of novel electrochemical catalysts offers improved prospects. To expedite the assessment of these catalysts, a half-cell rotating disk electrode is often favored for its simplicity. However, the actual catalyst performance strongly depends on the fabricated catalyst layers, which encounter mass transport overpotentials.

Pore-Scale Modeling of Microporous Layer for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: Effective Transport Properties.

A microporous layer (MPL) is a transition layer with a porous material structure, located between the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and catalyst layer (CL) in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). It not only significantly improves electron transfer and heat conduction in membrane electrode assembly, but also effectively manages liquid water transport to enhance the fuel cell performance. The MPL is usually coated on one side of the GDL.

Transdermal nanolipoplex simultaneously inhibits subcutaneous melanoma growth and suppresses systemically metastatic melanoma by activating host immunity.

Benefit for clinical melanoma treatments, the transdermal neoadjuvant therapy could reduce surgery region and increase immunotherapy efficacy. Using lipoplex (Lipo-PEG-PEI-complex, LPPC) encapsulated doxorubicin (DOX) and carrying CpG oligodeoxynucleotide; the transdermally administered nano-liposomal drug complex (LPPC-DOX-CpG) would have high cytotoxicity and immunostimulatory activity to suppress systemic metastasis of melanoma. LPPC-DOX-CpG dramatically suppressed subcutaneous melanoma growth by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and recruiting immune cells into the tumor area.

Patient Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, Healthcare Resource Utilization, and Costs of Targeted Therapy-Eligible Atopic Dermatitis Patients in Taiwan-A Real-World Study.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to conduct a retrospective analysis to understand the patient profile, treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and cost of atopic dermatitis (AD) of patients eligible for targeted therapy in Taiwan.

Methods: A retrospective, claims-based analysis was undertaken using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 01 January 2014 to 31 December 2017. Patients aged ≥ 2 years and with at least one diagnosis code for AD during 2015 were identified.

Multivessel versus Culprit-Only Revascularization Strategies in Cardiac Arrest Survivors.

Background: Whether multivessel revascularization or culprit-only revascularization is more beneficial in cardiac arrest survivors with multivessel coronary artery disease remains unclear. We aimed to retrospectively evaluate whether multivessel or culprit-only revascularization following cardiac arrest was associated with a reduced incidence of in-hospital mortality.

Methods: A total of 273 adult nontraumatic cardiac arrest survivors (aged ≥ 18 years) who underwent emergent coronary angiography (CAG) within 24 h following cardiac arrest were retrospectively recruited from three hospitals.

Impact of protocolized postarrest care with targeted temperature management on the outcomes of cardiac arrest survivors without temperature management.

Introduction: Protocolized postarrest care that includes targeted temperature management (TTM) improves survival and neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors. Whether the accumulated experience regarding the use of the protocolized approach also benefits patients who did not undergo TTM has yet to be investigated.

Methods: Adults (≥18 years old) with nontraumatic cardiac arrest and who survived to intensive care unit (ICU) admission were retrospectively recruited from a single tertiary medical centre from 2006 to 2009 and 2011 to 2017.

Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients Receiving Tumor Treating Fields for Glioblastoma.

Background: To date, there has been no large-scale, real-world study of the health-related quality of life outcomes for patients using tumor treating fields (TTFields) therapy for glioblastoma (GBM) treatment.

Methods: A survey was mailed to 2,815 patients actively using TTFields for treatment of GBM in the USA ( = 2,182) and Europe ( = 633). The survey included patient-reported demographic and clinical information, as well as EuroQol's EQ-5D-5L and visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) overall health score.

A nationwide study of the risk of all-cause, sudden death, and cardiovascular mortality among antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia in Taiwan.

Introduction: Studies have reported higher risks of mortality for patients with schizophrenia, compared to the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of all-cause, sudden death, and cardiovascular mortality among patients with schizophrenia in terms of types of antipsychotics.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study assessed the risk of mortality among antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia.

Additive Effects of Arsenic and Aristolochic Acid in Chemical Carcinogenesis of Upper Urinary Tract Urothelium.

Background: Aristolochic acids (AA) and arsenic are chemical carcinogens associated with urothelial carcinogenesis. Here we investigate the combined effects of AA and arsenic toward the risk of developing upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: Hospital-based ( = 89) and population-based (2,921 cases and 11,684 controls) Taiwanese UTUC cohorts were used to investigate the association between exposure to AA and/or arsenic and the risk of developing UTUC.

Prognosis Value of Gray-White-Matter Ratios in Comatose Survivors After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: The gray-white-matter ratio (GWR) measured on cerebral non-contrasted computed tomography (NCCT) has been reported to help the prognostication of mortality or comatose status of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims. Since the etiologies and resuscitative process differ significantly between patients with OHCA and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), the predictive ability of GWR in IHCA survivors remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective observational study conducted in a single tertiary medical center in Taiwan enrolled all the non-traumatic IHCA adults with sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and had received cerebral NCCT examination within 24 hours following cardiac arrest.

Targeted temperature management and emergent coronary angiography are associated with improved outcomes in patients with prehospital return of spontaneous circulation.

Background/purpose: Whether targeted temperature management (TTM) and emergent coronary angiography (CAG) remain associated with better outcomes in patients with prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was unknown.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 81 adult, nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who had good pre-arrest neurological function and achieved prehospital ROSC during 2012 to August 2017. The outcomes were survival-to-discharge and neurological recovery at discharge.

Stenosis and revascularization of the coronary artery are associated with outcomes in presumed cardiogenic arrest survivors: A multi-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: The emergent coronary angiography (CAG) is associated with better outcomes in CA survivors. However, the impact of severity and revascularization of coronary artery stenosis on outcomes in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 273 non-traumatic adult CA survivors who underwent emergent CAG from January 2011 to July 2017 were retrospectively recruited.

Postarrest Steroid Use May Improve Outcomes of Cardiac Arrest Survivors.

Objectives: To evaluate the ramifications of steroid use during postarrest care.

Design: Retrospective observational population-based study enrolled patients during years 2004-2011 with 1-year follow-up.

Setting: Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Effect of glucocorticoid use on survival in patients with stage I-III breast cancer.

Purpose: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used in breast cancer patients to ameliorate emesis induced by chemotherapy. Some preclinical studies have suggested that systemic GCs might promote survival of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer cells. This study aims to clarify their clinical effect on patient survival.

Diuretic or Beta-Blocker for Hypertensive Patients Already Receiving ACEI/ARB and Calcium Channel Blocker.

Background: In patients already receiving combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and calcium channel blocker (CCB), whether the choice of additional diuretic or beta-blocker affects the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 13,551 patients who were concurrently receiving three anti-hypertensive agents of different classes through outpatient clinics during 2004-2006 were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Patients were further classified into two treatment groups according to the medication possession ratio of drug combinations; the A + B + C group as those who received concurrent therapy of ACEI/ARB, beta-blocker and CCB.

Bipolar patients treated with long-acting injectable risperidone in Taiwan: A 1-year mirror-image study using a national claims database.

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) is burdensome for patients and healthcare systems. This study evaluated changes in concomitant medication patterns, healthcare utilization, and costs after the initiation of risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) treatment among BD patients.

Method: 287 BD patients receiving regular RLAI treatment for 1 year were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research database during 2007-2012.

Data for outcomes of acute hospital administration of amiodarone and/or lidocaine in shockable patients presenting with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "Acute Hospital Administration of Amiodarone and/or Lidocaine in Shockable Patients Presenting with Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Nationwide Cohort Study" (C.H. Huang, P.

Acute hospital administration of amiodarone and/or lidocaine in shockable patients presenting with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Terminating ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) is critical for successful resuscitation of patients with shockable cardiac arrest. In the event of shock-refractory VF, applicable guidelines suggest use of anti-arrhythmic agents. However, subsequent long-term outcomes remain unclear.

Glucocorticoid use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be beneficial for cardiac arrest.

Background: Various studies have indicated that glucocorticoid supplementation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), in conjunction with vasopressors, may improve outcomes in instances of cardiac arrest. However, further population-based analysis is warranted with respect to resuscitative and long-term survival benefits conferred by administering glucocorticoids in this setting.

Methods: A total of 145,644 adult patients who experienced non-traumatic, cardiac arrest occurred at emergency room during years 2004-2011 were selected for study from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research database.

Light-gated molecular brakes based on pentiptycene-incorporated azobenzenes.

Three azobenzene derivatives (2 R, 2 OR, and 2 NR) that differed in their terminal substituent (alkyl, alkyloxy, and dialkylamino, respectively) have been synthesized and investigated as molecular brakes, in which the rigid H-shaped pentiptycene group functioned as a rotor and the dinitrophenyl group as a "brake pad". The E and Z isomers of these compounds corresponded to the "brake-off" and "brake-on" states, respectively. The rotation rate of the rotor was evaluated by VT NMR spectroscopy for the brake-on state and by DFT calculations for the brake-off state.

Distinct clinicopathological features and prognosis of emerging young-female breast cancer in an East Asian country: a nationwide cancer registry-based study.

Background: A rapid surge of young-female breast cancer (YFBC) has been observed in Taiwan and other East Asian countries. We recently reported that these cases of YFBC, in contrast to their Western counterparts, are predominantly luminal A subtype. YFBC in Asia may have distinct clinicopathological features and outcomes.