Increasing Risk of Dementia Among Patients with Subsequent Epilepsy Within 2 Years Post-Traumatic Brain Injury: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Background: Although the association between neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) has long been known, the association between dementia and TBI with epilepsy has been controversial.

Aim: This data-driven population-based study is designed to investigate the association between dementia and epilepsy after TBI within a 2-year period.

Methods: This case-control cohort study was conducted using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000).

A Three-Dimensional Bioprinted Copolymer Scaffold with Biocompatibility and Structural Integrity for Potential Tissue Regeneration Applications.

The present study was to investigate the rheological property, printability, and cell viability of alginate−gelatin composed hydrogels as a potential cell-laden bioink for three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting applications. The 2 g of sodium alginate dissolved in 50 mL of phosphate buffered saline solution was mixed with different concentrations (1% (0.5 g), 2% (1 g), 3% (1.

Relative Efficacy of Weight Management, Exercise, and Combined Treatment for Muscle Mass and Physical Sarcopenia Indices in Adults with Overweight or Obesity and Osteoarthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Aging and osteoarthritis are associated with high risk of muscle mass loss, which leads to physical disability; this loss can be effectively alleviated by diet (DI) and exercise (ET) interventions. This study investigated the relative effects of different types of diet, exercise, and combined treatment (DI+ET) on muscle mass and functional outcomes in individuals with obesity and lower-limb osteoarthritis. A comprehensive search of online databases was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy of DI, ET, and DI+ET in patients with obesity and lower-extremity osteoarthritis.

Tele-Health Intervention for Carers of Dementia Patients-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the major mental health outcomes on dementia patient carers when using psychoeducational programs and psychotherapeutic interventions. A meta-analysis was performed with randomized controlled trials of carers' tele-health interventions from the literature inception to December 31, 2019, using PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases for articles. The meta-analysis identified 1,043 results, of which 11 were randomized control trials.

Anionic redox reaction triggered by trivalent Al in P3-NaMnAlO.

P3-Na0.65Mn0.5Al0.

Characteristics and clinical outcomes of head-injured cyclists with and without helmets in urban and rural areas of Taiwan: A 15-year study.

Objective: Bicycle riding is increasingly popular in Taiwan, but the number of cyclists injured and cyclists' death rates are both increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the different characteristics and clinical outcomes of traffic accident-related head injuries among cyclists in urban and rural areas.

Methods: Records of 812 patients (533 urban and 279 rural) admitted to 27 hospitals in Taipei City and Hualien County as the result of a traumatic head injury while bicycling between 1998 and 2013 were retrieved for study.

Hazard Ratio and Repeat Injury for Dementia in Patients With and Without a History of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Population-Based Secondary Data Analysis in Taiwan.

The impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the pathogenic hazard ratio (HR) for dementia patients is still controversial. Some studies have supported the association between TBI and dementia, especially for Alzheimer's disease, and our study determined that the HR of dementia patients with and without a history of TBI or repeated TBI (RTBI). We determined the HR for dementia patients with a diagnosis of TBI (n = 12931) and a comparative cohort with age- and gender-matched controls (n = 51724) during 2004-2005, using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Reduced power spectra of heart rate variability are correlated with anxiety in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

Anxiety is one of the most frequently diagnosed emotional disorders after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI); however, predictors of anxiety after an mTBI remain uncertain. Recent research indicated that anxiety is associated with abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which can be evaluated by a power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). In this study, we investigated whether a frequency-domain analysis of HRV could correlate with the occurrence of anxiety in mTBI patients.

Early dysautonomia detected by heart rate variability predicts late depression in female patients following mild traumatic brain injury.

Depression is one of the frequent complications following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Recent research indicated that abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) can be evaluated by a noninvasive power spectral analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV). In this study, we investigated whether a frequency-domain analysis of HRV was correlated with late depression in mTBI patients.

The effect of various types of motorcycle helmets on cervical spine injury in head injury patients: a multicenter study in Taiwan.

Introduction: The relationship between cervical spine injury (CSI) and helmet in head injury (HI) patients following motorcycle crashes is crucial. Controversy still exists; therefore we evaluated the effect of various types of helmets on CSI in HI patients following motorcycle crashes and researched the mechanism of this effect.

Patients And Methods: A total of 5225 patients of motorcycle crashes between 2000 and 2009 were extracted from the Head Injury Registry in Taiwan.

Gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Asian obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a complicated disease involving several pathogenic mechanisms. Microarray technology provides a high-throughput means of identifying differentially expressed genes in patients with OSA.

Methods: An Affymetrix U133A gene chip was used to globally analyze the transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with OSA and nonapneic control participants after overnight polysomnography.

Validation of the quality of life after brain injury in Chinese persons with traumatic brain injury in Taiwan.

Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of the Quality of Life After Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) in Chinese persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Taiwan.

Participants: Three hundred one patients with TBI were interviewed face-to-face at baseline; of these, 132 completed a follow-up assessment 1 year later.

Settings: Neurosurgery clinics of 6 teaching hospitals in northern Taiwan.

Early enteral nutrition and clinical outcomes of severe traumatic brain injury patients in acute stage: a multi-center cohort study.

Guidelines for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) published in 2007 recommend providing early nutrition after trauma. Early enteral nutrition (EN) started within 48 h post-injury reduces clinical malnutrition, prevents bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract, and improves outcome in sTBI patients sustaining hypermetabolism and hypercatabolism. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of early EN support on survival rate, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, and clinical outcome of sTBI patients.

Increased risk of schizophrenia following traumatic brain injury: a 5-year follow-up study in Taiwan.

Background: Whether traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an independent risk factor for the subsequent development of schizophrenia has evoked considerable controversy. No evidence has been previously reported from Asia. This study estimated the risk of schizophrenia during a 5-year period following hospital admission for TBI relative to a comparison group of non-TBI patients during the same period in Taiwan.

An epidemiological survey of acute spinal trauma caused by traffic accidents versus falls in northern Taiwan.

Background: Traffic accidents and falls are the major causes of spinal trauma, which result in serious personal and social loss. A comparison between causes and patients' characteristics can be important.

Methods: A total of 681 spinal trauma patients were compared for differences, and the effects of age stratification of the differences are discussed.

Review paper: epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury: comparisons between developed and developing countries.

A review of global epidemiological studies of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) within 2 decades was undertaken to compare the incidence, mortality rate, patients' age, gender, causes, and severity of injury between developed countries and developing countries. The incidence rates varied greatly, and there was also a 2-fold difference between the highest mortality rate in developing countries and that in developed countries. Male sex and age from 30 to 50 years are strong risk factors in both these groups.

Mass screening of suspected febrile patients with remote-sensing infrared thermography: alarm temperature and optimal distance.

Background/purpose: Detection of fever has become an essential step in identifying patients who may have severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or avian influenza. This study evaluated infrared thermography (IRT) and compared the influence of different imagers, ambient temperature discrepancy, and the distance between the subject and imager.

Methods: IRT-digital infrared thermal imaging (IRT-DITI), thermoguard, and ear drum IRT were used for visitors to Municipal Wang Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Survey of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in Taiwan.

Background: Injury ranked third among the top 10 leading causes of death in Taiwan from 1964 to 1996 and is still among the top 10 presently. Among transportation accidents, motor vehicle-related injury had the highest incidence rate, often resulting in traumatic head injury.

Methods: This survey was conducted from July 1, 1994, to June 30, 2002, and was collected from 55 major hospitals in Taiwan.

Head injuries in adolescents in Taiwan: a comparison between urban and rural groups.

Background: Data pertaining to head injuries in adolescents in Taiwan are scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trend and pattern of head injuries in adolescents in both urban and rural areas in Taiwan.

Methods: We collected data from major hospitals in the urban (20) and in the rural (4) areas of Taiwan for a period of 3 years.