Higher Periwound Temperature Associated with Wound Healing of Pressure Ulcers Detected by Infrared Thermography.

Visual and empirical assessments do not enable the early detection of wound deterioration or necroses. No suitable objective indicator for predicting poor wound-healing is currently available. We used infrared thermography to determine the association between wound temperature and pressure-wound healing.

Correction: Lung cancer susceptibility from deletion and air pollution with smoking status: a meta-prediction of worldwide populations.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25693.

Lung cancer susceptibility from deletion and air pollution with smoking status: a meta-prediction of worldwide populations.

() gene has been associated with lung cancer (LC) risk, for GSTM1 enzyme playing a vital role in detoxification pathway and protective against toxic insults. The major objective of this study was to investigate deletion pattern and its association with LC in the world's population by using meta-prediction techniques. The secondary objective was to examine the effects of air pollution, smoking status, and other factors for gene-environment interactions with deletion and LC risk.

MTHFR Gene Polymorphism-Mutations and Air Pollution as Risk Factors for Breast Cancer: A Metaprediction Study.

Background: The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) is one of the most investigated genes associated with breast cancer for its role in epigenetic pathways.

Objectives: The objectives of this metaprediction study were to examine the polymorphism-mutation risk subtypes of MTHFR and air pollution as contributing factors for breast cancer.

Methods: For triangulation purposes in metapredictive analyses, we used a recursive partition tree, nonlinear association curve fit, and heat maps for data visualization, in addition to the conventional comparison procedure and pooled analyses.

Postoperative Showering for Clean and Clean-contaminated Wounds: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate wound infection rates, pain scores, satisfaction with wound care, and wound care costs starting 48 hours after surgery.

Background: Showering after surgery is a controversial issue for wound care providers and patients. We investigated the benefits and detriments of showering for postoperative wound care.

A Qualitative Study of Family Caregiver Experiences of Managing Incontinence in Stroke Survivors.

Background: Incontinence is a common problem faced by family caregivers that is recognized as a major burden and predictor of institutionalization. However, few studies have evaluated the experiences of family caregivers caring for stroke survivors with incontinence.

Purpose: To describe experiences of caregivers managing incontinence in stroke survivors.

Gastro-intestinal Quality of Life After Metabolic Surgery for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Emerging evidence has shown that bariatric/metabolic surgery ameliorates type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in mildly obese patients (BMI < 35 kg/m(2)) but long-term data is inadequate. We investigated the change of the quality of life after metabolic surgery in not well-controlled T2DM patients with BMI < 35 kg/m(2).

Methods: The quality of life was measured by the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI), a 36-item questionnaire divided into three domains of general health and one domain of specific gastro-intestinal symptoms, administered before operation, at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.

Communication dysfunction, body image, and symptom severity in postoperative head and neck cancer patients: factors associated with the amount of speaking after treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships of communication dysfunction, body image, and amount of speaking in patients who were treated for head and neck cancers (HNCs).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of postoperative HNC patients at the otolaryngology outpatient departments of two leading medical centers in northern Taiwan. Data were collected using questionnaires to assess perceived communication dysfunction, body image, symptom severity, and amount of speaking after treatment.

Fever presentation and associated factors in patients with healthcare-associated bacteraemia.

Bacteraemia is a systemic infection associated with strong febrile immune reactions. Fever definitions, fever intensity and other factors might affect the recognition, management and prognosis of patients with bacteraemia. A prospective observational design was used to study 412 consecutive Taiwanese patients with healthcare-associated bacteraemia.

Impairment of gastrointestinal quality of life in severely obese patients.

Aim: To investigate the common gastro-intestinal symptoms and quality of life in severely obese subjects.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 340 severely obese patients [mean age 30.5 ± 7.

Nutritional status and health outcomes for older people with dementia living in institutions.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to determine changes over a 3-month period among older people with dementia living in long-term care settings, related to: (1) changes in body mass index, and (2) health outcomes and associated factors.

Background: Nutritional deficiencies are common problems among older people, but frequently unrecognized, both in long-term care settings and in the community.

Method: A cross-sectional design with repeated measures of body weights and medical record reviews was adopted.

Identifying the most efficient items from the Mini-Mental State Examination for cognitive function assessment in older Taiwanese patients.

Aims: The purpose of the study was to identify the most efficient items from the Mini-Mental State Examination for assessment of cognitive function.

Background: The Mini-Mental State Examination is the most frequently used cognitive screening instrument. However, the Mini-Mental State Examination has been criticized for insensitivity to mild cognitive dysfunction, limited memory assessment and variability in level of difficulty of the individual items.

Gastrointestinal quality of life following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in Asia.

Background: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a safe and effective treatment for morbid obesity. Previous studies in Western countries disclosed a significant improvement in co-morbidities and health-related quality of life. Data from Asia and regarding the specific GI quality of life following LAGB are lacking.

Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty: 5-year results.

Background: Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) has been a popular bariatric operation for the past 2 decades, and this operation has evolved into a laparoscopic procedure. However, reports of laparoscopic VBG (LVBG) from large series with longer results are limited.

Methods: From October 1998 to May 2002, 612 consecutive patients underwent LVBG.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y versus mini-gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity: a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: This prospective, randomized trial compared the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) and laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (LMGBP) in the treatment of morbid obesity.

Summary Background Data: LRYGBP has been the gold standard for the treatment of morbid obesity. While LMGBP has been reported to be a simple and effective treatment, data from a randomized trial are lacking.

[Increasing the executive rate of standard central venous catheter care].

The purpose of this project was to increase the executive rate of standard nursing care of central venous catheters. The average rating of the procedure used by our nurses in caring for central venous catheters in our unit was 58.5%.

Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty and laparoscopic gastric bypass: a comparison.

Background: Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and gastric bypass (GBP) are the two bariatric procedures recommended by NIH consensus conference. Recent advancement in laparoscopic (L) techniques has made LVBG and LGBP alternatives for the conventional open approach.

Methods: From December 2000 to February 2002, 80 patients (24 men and 56 women; mean age 32 years, range 18-57) with morbid obesity (mean BMI 43.

Predicting post-surgical cognitive disturbance in older Taiwanese patients.

The purpose of this study was to test a theoretical model to understand the influences of six predicting variables in post-surgical cognitive disturbance in older Taiwanese patients after elective surgery. The data were collected in a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. Ninety-three patients were included in the final analysis.

Postoperative cognitive changes among older Taiwanese patients.

The purpose of the study was to describe variations in cognitive/behavioural changes during the course of delirium among older Taiwanese patients after elective surgery. A total of 106 patients assessed four times (admission, onset of delirium, delirium day 3 and delirium day 5) by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were included in the analysis to understand the neurocognitive/behaviour change during the course of delirium. Repeated measures anova was used to analyse within-subject differences across these four time points for those who became delirious and those who did not.

Gastrointestinal quality of life following laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty.

Background: Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (LVBG) is a safe and effective treatment for morbid obesity. Previous studies disclosed a significant improvement in the health-related quality of life after substantial weight loss following VBG. Data regarding the specific gastrointestinal quality of life following LVBG is lacking.