Association between the number of acute episodes and increased cardiac left ventricular mass index in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Patients with schizophrenia have a high risk of cardiovascular death. Increased cardiac left ventricular (LV) mass has been reported to be associated with heart failure and cardiac mortality. However, few studies have used echocardiographic imaging to evaluate the associations between cardiac LV mass and the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Version of the Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire in Women With Breast Cancer.

Aims: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire for assessing vulvovaginal symptoms and symptom-related influences in women with breast cancer.

Design: A methodological study.

Methods: Women with breast cancer (n = 202) were recruited from the outpatient department of a hospital.

Association of circulating monocyte number and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio with cardiovascular disease in patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of excessive and premature mortality in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Despite immune cells participating considerably in the pathogenesis of CVD, limited data are available regarding leukocyte phenotypes in patients with BD and CVD. This study aimed to evaluate associations between circulating leukocyte subset and CVD among patients with BD.

Situations and Risk Factors of Unplanned Extubation of Nasogastric Tubes in Inpatients: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: The aim of the study is to understand whether the risk factors of the unplanned extubation (UE) of nasogastric (NG) tubes vary among different inpatient situations.

Methods: Inpatients who experienced UE between 2009 and 2022 at a medical center were selected, and electronic medical records were used to collect patient background data and their conditions during UE. A total of 302 patients were included in our analysis.

The Effect of Oncology Nurse Navigation on Mental Health in Patients with Cancer in Taiwan: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

In this study, we investigated the prevalence of mental health problems among patients with cancer and whether oncology nurse navigation improved their mental health outcomes and medical experience. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, we recruited 128 outpatients with cancer via purposive sampling from a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to the navigation group ( = 61) or the usual care group ( = 67).

A longitudinal study of rotating shift type and attention performance of acute and critical care nurses with chronotype as moderator variable.

Objectives: To investigate whether chronotype is a moderator variable that also interacts with shift type and whether they jointly influence the attention performance of nurses working in acute and critical care units.

Methods: We adopted a longitudinal research design focusing on nurses working rotating shifts in the emergency room and intensive care units at a medical center. A total of 40 complete samples were obtained.

Cardiac autonomic regulation following a 246-km mountain ultra-marathon: An observational study.

Physical exercise requires integrated autonomic and cardiovascular adjustments to maintain homeostasis. We aimed to observe acute posture-related changes in blood pressure, and apply a portable noninvasive monitor to measure the heart index for detecting arrhythmia among elite participants of a 246-km mountain ultra-marathon. Nine experienced ultra-marathoners (8 males and 1 female) participating in the Run Across Taiwan Ultra-marathon in 2018 were enrolled.

Mediating effects of predictability between caregiving demands and caregiving consequences for persons living with dementia: A longitudinal study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of predictability in the relationship between caregiving demands and caregiving consequences.

Design: This 2-year longitudinal survey study collected from self-report questionnaires. A convenience sample of family caregivers of older persons living with dementia were recruited from a neurology clinic.

The effect of progressive exercise prescription for group exercise guidance for Taiwan seniors and Integrated Care for old People: Post-event movement observation.

Purpose: This study is aimed at the seniors of the "2022 Taiwan Senior Citizens Fitness Club Subsidy Plan" with a sample.

Method: The doctor will diagnose and confirm whether the physical condition suits participation. Then, the professional sports instructor will design and arrange a progressive fitness enhancement group course suitable for the Senior person's physical fitness, conducted four times a week, every 2 h, for three months of group course training.

High myopia at high altitudes.

Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) increases significantly at high altitudes, and is associated with the presence and severity of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Exposure to hypobaria, hypoxia, and coldness when hiking also impacts intraocular pressure (IOP). To date, little is known about ocular physiological responses in trekkers with myopia at high altitudes.

Factors Associated With Diabetes Self-Care Performance in Indonesians With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In Indonesia, the number of Type 2 diabetes cases is increasing rapidly, making it the third leading cause of death and among the leading noncommunicable disease healthcare expenditures in the country. Thus, there is a critical need for Indonesians with Type 2 diabetes to perform better self-care to optimize their health and prevent the onset of comorbidities.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the influence of knowledge, depression, and perceived barriers on Type 2 diabetes self-care performance in Indonesia.

Association of Neonatal Antibiotic Exposure with Long-Term Growth Trajectory Faltering in Preterm-Birth Children.

Introduction: Preterm neonates often receive a variety of duration of antibiotic exposure during admission. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether neonatal antibiotic exposure is relevant with longitudinal growth problems in preterm-birth children.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 481 infants who were born <32 weeks of gestation, discharged, and longitudinally followed from corrected age (CA) 6-60 months.

Use of consecutive transcutaneous oxygen measurement when assessing the need for revascularization and association with the outcomes of ischemic diabetic ulcers.

This study compared the ankle-brachial index (ABI) with transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO ) in assessing peripheral vascular disease (PVD) prevalence in 100 diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients. Patients were categorized into vascular or nonvascular reconstruction groups and underwent both ABI and TcPO measurements four times over 6 months. Predictive validity for PVD diagnosis was analysed using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Antidepressant sertraline increases thioflavin-S and Congo red deposition in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 transgenic mice.

Depression is strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Antidepressants are commonly used in patients before and after their diagnosis of AD. To date, the relationship between antidepressants and AD remains unclear.

Far-Infrared Ameliorates Pb-Induced Renal Toxicity via Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel-Mediated Calcium Influx.

Far-infrared (FIR), characterized by its specific electromagnetic wavelengths, has emerged as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy for various diseases, particularly in ameliorating manifestations associated with renal disorders. Although FIR was confirmed to possess antioxidative and anti-inflammatory attributes, the intricate cellular mechanisms through which FIR mitigates lead (Pb)-induced nephrotoxicity remain enigmatic. In this study, we investigated the effects of FIR on Pb-induced renal damage using in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Characteristics and Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine in the Management of Female Infertility: A Hospital-Based Study.

Background: In Taiwan, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is used to treat female infertility. Evidence indicates that the absence of monotherapy efficacy assessment and comparison with mainstream interventions may lead to the improper use of CHM for female infertility.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study enrolled female patients at a hospital undergoing CHM intervention to treat infertility from 2012 to 2020 in order to determine the outcomes of CHM monotherapy for female infertility.

Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Cancer Patients After Head and Neck Surgery: A Proportional Meta-analysis.

Objective: To summarize the incidence of postoperative delirium among cancer patients undergoing head and neck surgery and determine the differential incidence rates among patients undergoing different types of head and neck surgeries.

Data Sources: The databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched from inception till February 2023. Keywords based on the condition (delirium), context (postoperative), and population (head and neck cancer) were used as search terms.

Artificial intelligence based system for predicting permanent stoma after sphincter saving operations.

Although the goal of rectal cancer treatment is to restore gastrointestinal continuity, some patients with rectal cancer develop a permanent stoma (PS) after sphincter-saving operations. Although many studies have identified the risk factors and causes of PS, few have precisely predicted the probability of PS formation before surgery. To validate whether an artificial intelligence model can accurately predict PS formation in patients with rectal cancer after sphincter-saving operations.

The Efficacy of Health Promotion Program Among Parents Who Had Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity-Disorder.

Objectives: To explore the effect of health promotion program (HPP) on stress, quality of life, health-promoting lifestyles, and children's attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in parents of children with ADHD.

Methods: Sixty parents of children with ADHD were equally randomized into the intervention (health promotion program) and control (usual care) groups. Outcomes included parents' stress, quality of life, health-promoting lifestyles, and children's ADHD symptoms before, immediately after, and 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention.

Tn as a potential predictor for regional lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer.

Background: Approximately 10 percent of T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) has lymph node metastasis. In this study, we aimed to determine possible predictors for nodal involvement in order to aid selection of appropriate patients for organ-preserving strategies.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed CRC patients underwent radical surgery from January 2009 to December 2016, with final pathology report disclosed as T1 lesion.

Acupressure Improves Cognition and Quality of Life Among Older Adults with Cognitive Disorders in Long-Term Care Settings: A Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of acupressure on cognition and quality of life (QoL) among older adults with cognitive disorders residing in long-term care (LTC) settings.

Design: A clustered, randomized, assessor-blinded, controlled trial with a repeated measures design.

Setting And Participants: Participants were recruited from residential care facilities in Taiwan from August 2020 to February 2021.

Effects of Online Video Sport Spectatorship on the Subjective Well-Being of College Students: The Moderating Effect of Sport Involvement.

Individuals' engagement in sports and sport-related entertainment is reported to improve their subjective well-being (SWB). We investigated whether online video sport spectatorship (OVSS) enhances the SWB of college students and whether sport involvement moderates the correlation between OVSS and SWB. For this, a pretest-posttest experimental design with a 3-week-long intervention (OVSS) was adopted.