[Not Available].

Background & Problems: Urinary tract infection (UTI), one of the most common types of healthcare-associated infections, is associated with increased hospital stay durations and healthcare costs. Our unit is located in the internal medicine ward of a medical center. In 2020, infection control data revealed a rise in the UTI rate to 2.

Shared genetic study gives insights into the shared and distinct pathogenic immunity components of IgA nephropathy and SLE.

An autoimmune component has been suggested to play a role in pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). And genetic studies have reported the shared susceptibility loci between IgAN and the prototype autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was designed to systemically identify and annotate the shared susceptibility genes between IgAN and SLE.

The differences in nurses' willingness to discuss palliative care with patients and their family members.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the differences in nurses' willingness to discuss palliative care with terminally ill patients and their family members.

Methods: The participants were randomly recruited from registered staff nurses ≥20 years of age who were responsible for clinical inpatient care in a tertiary hospital in northern Taiwan. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to evaluate nurses' experiences of discussing do-not-resuscitate (DNR) decisions and their willingness to discuss palliative care with terminal patients and their family members.

A dual system platform for drug metabolism: Nalbuphine as a model compound.

Reaction phenotyping is a method commonly used for characterizing drug metabolism. It determines the drug metabolic pathways and ratios by measuring the metabolized fractions of individual enzymes. However, currently published results have focused on cytochrome P450s (CYPs), while not considering phase II metabolism.

Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics to Assess the Correlation Between Plasma Drug Concentrations and Different Blood Sampling Methods.

Purpose: Various blood collection methods were developed and used in the pharmacokinetic evaluation of drugs. However, the influence of different blood sampling methods on plasma drug concentrations has not been clarified. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether the plasma concentration of a target drug changes based on the collection site and elucidate the mechanism responsible for this change.

Novel pre-mRNA splicing of intronically integrated HBV generates oncogenic chimera in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration is common in HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and may play an important pathogenic role through the production of chimeric HBV-human transcripts. We aimed to screen the transcriptome for HBV integrations in HCCs.

Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was performed on paired HBV-associated HCCs and corresponding non-tumorous liver tissues to identify viral-human chimeric sites.

[Community structure of planktonic rotifers in the Pearl River Delta].

Four ecological investigations were carried out on planktonic rotifers in Pearl River Delta in 2012. The community structure, including spatial and temporal patterns of species composition, dominant species, biomass and biodiversity, was investigated. The correlation between the community structure of rotifers and the environmental factors was discussed.

Biomolecular recognition with a sensitivity-enhanced nanowire transistor biosensor.

In applications of silicon nanowire field-effect transistors (SiNW-FETs) as biosensors, the SiNW-FETs conventionally are all area modified (AAM), with receptors covering not only the minute SiNW surface area but also the relatively large surrounding substrate area. In this study, using a bottom-up technique, we successfully fabricated selective surface modified (SSM) SiNW-FETs with the receptors on the SiNW sensing surface only. In this approach, the strategy was to modify the SiNWs with a chemical linker of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) prior to photolithographic fabrication of the device.

[The role and mission of nurses in hospice care].

The concept of "hospice care" was first institutionalized in Taiwan 19 years ago. Today, 30 hospitals in the country provide hospice care, with healthcare teams actively providing humane and compassionate care to those in the last phases of incurable disease so that they may live out their remaining time as fully and as comfortably as possible. Typical therapeutic approaches to hospice care include meaning/existential, nostalgia, environmental and spiritual.