Neuroprotective potential of isofraxidin: Alleviating parkinsonian symptoms, inflammation and microglial activation.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Previous research has confirmed that isofraxidin can reduce macrophage expression and inhibit peripheral inflammation. However, its effects on the central nervous system remain underexplored.

Psychological Distress, Multicare Needs and Social Resource Utilisation of Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Descriptive-Correlational Study.

Background: The population of people with dementia increases yearly, imposing a growing burden on family caregivers. Psychological distress impacts the mental health of family caregivers of people with dementia. Caregiver psychological distress can result in increased social resource utilisation and unmet multicare needs.

Effect of far-infrared radiation on inhibition of colonies on packaging during storage of sterilised surgical instruments.

The sterilisation of surgical instruments is a major factor in infection control in the operating room (OR). All items used in the OR must be sterile for patient safety. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of far-infrared radiation (FIR) on the inhibition of colonies on packaging surface during the long-term storage of sterilised surgical instruments.

Micro-elimination of hepatitis C virus infection in the rural and remote areas of Taiwan - A multi-center collaborative care model.

Introduction: Taiwan has several hepatitis C virus (HCV) hyper-endemic areas. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a collaborative HCV care system with an outreach decentralized strategy among the resource-constrained rural/remote areas of Taiwan.

Methods: The pilot study was conducted in four high HCV-endemic townships in the rural/remote areas of Taoyuan, Alishan, Zhuoxi and Xiulin.

The lowest level of tumor involvement is a significant prognostic factor for upper tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy: A large retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic impact of the lowest level of tumor location for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Materials And Methods: Data were collected from patients with UTUC treated with RNU (01/2005- 06/2020) at a single center in Taiwan. Patients were stratified by the lowest level of tumor location into three groups: renal pelvis only (RPO), above upper ureter (AUU), and below upper ureter (BUU).

Salvage Radiotherapy Plus Androgen Deprivation Therapy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer with Biochemical Failure after High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound as Primary Treatment.

We conduct a retrospective analysis of salvage radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy (SRT+ADT) for high-risk prostate cancer patients with biochemical failure after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as the primary treatment. A total of 38 patients, who met the criteria of biochemical failure and were consecutively treated with SRT+ADT, were enrolled. All patients received intensity modulated radiotherapy with a median dose of 70 Gy to the clinical target volume.

Using Self-Administered Game-Based Cognitive Assessment to Screen for Degenerative Dementia: A Pilot Study.

Background: The earlier detection of dementia is needed as cases increase yearly in the aging populations of Taiwan and the world. In recent years, the global internet usage rate has gradually increased among older people. To expand dementia screening and provide timely medical intervention, a simple self-administrated assessment tool to assist in easily screening for dementia is needed.

Sensitivity and Specificity of the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination to Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Chinese Population.

Introduction: The Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) examination is a common screening instrument to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Western countries. However, further work is needed to identify optimal SLUMS cutoff scores for screening MCI and dementia in Chinese populations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility and diagnostic accuracy of the SLUMS examination in the diagnosis of dementia and MCI in Chinese population.

Effects of Tempeh Fermentation with and on Streptozotocin-Induced Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Rats.

The increased consumption of high fat-containing foods has been linked to the prevalence of obesity and abnormal metabolic syndromes. , a fungus in the family Mucoraceae, is widely used as a starter for homemade tempeh. Although can prevent the growth of other microorganisms, it grows well with lactic acid bacteria (LAB).

Sundown Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Walking Among Community-Dwelling People With Alzheimer Disease.

Purposes: Sundown syndrome and sleep disturbances cause people with Alzheimer disease (PAD) and caregivers suffering. Studies have indicated that physical exercise could have a positive impact on sundown syndrome, yet no research has ever explored the relationship between walking and sundown syndrome. The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between sundown syndrome and sleep quality, and determine whether the severity of dementia, sleep quality, and weekly duration of walking influenced sundown syndrome, and to assess differences in sundown syndrome and sleep quality in relation to the accompanying walker and weekly duration of walking among people with Alzheimer disease living in the community.

A legume product fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae modulates cutaneous atopic dermatitis-like inflammation in mice.

Background: Isoflavone-containing soy products modulate allergic inflammation in mice. In our previously study, IFN-γ and IL-10 production increased in mice fed with Saccharomyces cerevisiae legume fermented product (SCLFP), demonstrating that SCLFP had immunomodulatory activity. In this study, we tested the anti-inflammatory effects of SCLFP in a mouse model of cutaneous atopic dermatitis inflammation induced by epicutaneous sensitization.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination performance in patients with mild-to-moderate dementia with Lewy bodies, Alzheimer's disease, and normal participants in Taiwan.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine and test the sensitivity, specificity, and threshold scores of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and determine those that best correspond to a clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

Methods: Sixty-seven Alzheimer's disease (AD), 36 DLB, and 62 healthy participants without dementia (NC), aged 60 to 90, were enrolled. All three groups took the MoCA and MMSE tests at the same time.

Development of a daily mortality probability prediction model from Intensive Care Unit patients using a discrete-time event history analysis.

As studies have pointed out, severity scores are imperfect at predicting individual clinical chance of survival. The clinical condition and pathophysiological status of these patients in the Intensive Care Unit might differ from or be more complicated than most predictive models account for. In addition, as the pathophysiological status changes over time, the likelihood of survival day by day will vary.

Combined enteral feeding and total parenteral nutritional support improves outcome in surgical intensive care unit patients.

Background: For intensive care unit (ICU) patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction and in need of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) support, the benefit of additional enteral feeding is not clear. This study aimed to investigate whether combined TPN with enteral feeding is associated with better outcomes in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients.

Methods: Clinical data of 88 patients in SICU were retrospectively collected.

CYP1A1 protein activity is associated with allelic variation in pterygium tissues and cells.

Background: A thymine/cytosine point mutation in the MSP I restriction site of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) has been linked to susceptibility to smoking-related cancers and is reported to result in increased enzyme activity. Therefore, we sought to determine whether allelic variation of CYP1A1 is associated with protein expression and protein activity in pterygium.

Methods: We collected 150 pterygium samples and 50 normal conjunctiva samples, which served as controls.

General anesthesia in a juvenile with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder accompanied by long-term use of methylphenidate (Concerta).

Methylphenidate, a central stimulant, is used in the treatment of individuals who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a notorious worldwide disorder with a prevalence rate of 8-12% in schoolchildren, which is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Currently, there have been few reports in the anesthetic literature examining ADHD patients who have had long-term use of methylphenidate, especially the extended-release formulation.

Passenger thermal perceptions, thermal comfort requirements, and adaptations in short- and long-haul vehicles.

While thermal comfort in mass transportation vehicles is relevant to service quality and energy consumption, benchmarks for such comfort that reflect the thermal adaptations of passengers are currently lacking. This study reports a field experiment involving simultaneous physical measurements and a questionnaire survey, collecting data from 2,129 respondents, that evaluated thermal comfort in short- and long-haul buses and trains. Experimental results indicate that high air temperature, strong solar radiation, and low air movement explain why passengers feel thermally uncomfortable.

New simulation-based airway management training program for junior physicians: Advanced Airway Life Support.

Background: All junior physicians in Taiwan were enrolled into a 3-month post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) course after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) attack in 2003.

Aims: To develop and evaluate a new airway management training protocol by using an integrated course of lectures, technical workshops and medical simulations.

Methods: In each PGY1 course, the trainees participated in the Advanced Airway Life Support (AALS) program.

Characteristic features and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome found in severe acute respiratory syndrome intensive care unit patients.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to identify characteristic clinical features and outcomes of critically ill patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study enrolled all patients admitted to a 12-bed SARS intensive care unit (ICU) in a tertiary care medical center in Taipei between May 15 and July 17, 2003. Patients with positive results of either reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or antibody to SARS coronavirus were defined as SARS cases and others with negative results as control cases.

Instructor-based real-time multimedia medical simulation to update concepts of difficult airway management for experienced airway practitioners.

Background: We integrated lecture, real-time multimedia display and medical simulation into a new renewal airway management training protocol for experienced nurse anesthetists.

Methods: Trainees of the Taiwan Association of Nurse Anesthetists from northern Taiwan and junior residents from our department were enrolled into the training program. A 4-hour renewal curriculum in the management of airway emergencies was developed, which consisted of a 2-hour general lecture (including 4 divided sections) and a 2-hour instructor-based real-time multimedia medical simulation of 4 specific techniques.

Pneumothorax and mortality in the mechanically ventilated SARS patients: a prospective clinical study.

Introduction: Pneumothorax often complicates the management of mechanically ventilated severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients in the isolation intensive care unit (ICU). We sought to determine whether pneumothoraces are induced by high ventilatory pressure or volume and if they are associated with mortality in mechanically ventilated SARS patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, clinical study.

Airway obstruction caused by endotracheal tube cuff herniation during creation of tracheal stoma.

We report an unusual case of airway obstruction caused by herniation of endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff in a 62-year-old male who underwent surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma. During the procedure of creating a tracheal stoma, a new oral ETT was inserted by the surgical team to the lower portion of the trachea through the cut opening to replace the old for ventilation and prevention of soiling of the airway. Upon resumption of surgical manipulation, right endobronchial intubation was disclosed.