The objective structured clinical examination as an assessment strategy for clinical competence in novice nursing practitioners in Taiwan.

Background: The conventional written tests and professional assessment have limitation in fair judgement of clinical competence. Because the examiners may not have total objectivity and may lack standardization throughout the assessment process. We sought to design a valid method of competence assessment in medical and nursing specialties.

Abdominal obesity and hypertension are correlated with health-related quality of life in Taiwanese adults with metabolic syndrome.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) gains more attention due to high prevalence of obesity, diabetes and hypertension among adults. Although obesity, diabetes and hypertension can certainly compromise health-related quality of life (HRQoL), the correlations of sociodemographic factors, quality of life and MetS remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between HRQoL and MetS in an Asian community of the sociodemographic characteristics.

Correlates Between Health Beliefs and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profiles in the Development of Metabolic Syndrome in Taiwan.

Differences in sociodemographic variables, health beliefs, and a healthy lifestyle all contribute to the varied prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). We investigated the associations among MetS-related risk factors and performed a cross-sectional study, recruiting 1741 Taiwanese residents aged ≥30 years, between August 2014 and August 2015. Data were obtained on sociodemographic factors, health beliefs, and health-promoting lifestyle profiles using questionnaires.

Defects in the acquisition of tumor-killing capability of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Emerging evidences have shown that diabetes mellitus not only raises risk but also heightens mortality rate of cancer. It is not clear, however, whether antitumor CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is down-modulated in diabetic hosts. We investigated the impact of hyperglycemia on CTLs' acquisition of tumor-killing capability by utilizing streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-diabetic) mice.

Accuracy of faecal occult blood test and Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test for detection of upper gastrointestinal lesions.

Objective: Highly sensitive guaiac-based faecal occult blood (Hemoccult SENSA) and Helicobacter pylori stool antigen testing might help detect upper gastrointestinal lesions when appended to a colorectal cancer screening programme with faecal immunochemical testing. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracies of two stool tests in detecting upper gastrointestinal lesions.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

CD4+ T cell-derived IL-2 signals during early priming advances primary CD8+ T cell responses.

Stimulating naïve CD8+ T cells with specific antigens and costimulatory signals is insufficient to induce optimal clonal expansion and effector functions. In this study, we show that the activation and differentiation of CD8+ T cells require IL-2 provided by activated CD4+ T cells at the initial priming stage within 0-2.5 hours after stimulation.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and sleep quality in a Chinese population.

Background/purpose: Although evidence suggests that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may interrupt sleep, the effects of symptomatic and endoscopically diagnosed GERD remain elusive because the patient population is heterogeneous. Accordingly, we designed a cross-sectional study to assess their association.

Methods: Consecutive participants in a routine health examination were enrolled.

Annexin A4: A novel molecular marker for gastric cancer with Helicobacter pylori infection using proteomics approach.

Helicobacter pylori was reported to be an important risk factor for the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer. Here, we used a proteomic approach to find differentially expressed proteins between the normal and tumor tissue of gastric cancer patients infected with H. pylori.

Helicobacter pylori infection and CagA protein translocation in human primary gastric epithelial cell culture.

Background: Increasing evidence has shown that Helicobacter pylori CagA protein translocation into gastric epithelial cells plays an important role in the development of gastric inflammation and malignancy. Translocated CagA undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in gastric adenocarcinoma cell line cells, and CagA involves disruption of cellular apical-junction complex in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

Methods: To elucidate whether these events take place in normal human gastric epithelium, we infected human primary gastric epithelial cells with H.

Factors determining post-colonoscopy abdominal pain: prospective study of screening colonoscopy in 1000 subjects.

Background: Factors determining post-colonoscopy abdominal pain remain poorly understood. Accordingly, a prospective study was conducted to reveal the key determinants.

Methods: One thousand consecutive and asymptomatic patients (569 men, 431 women; mean age 51 years, range 19-84 years) undergoing total colonoscopy were evaluated to assess their abdominal pain.

Comparative analysis between psychological and endoscopic profiles in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a prospective study based on screening endoscopy.

Background: Associations between psychological and endoscopic profiles are not clearly validated among the heterogeneous patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The purpose of the present paper was therefore to identify any associations by means of cross-sectional study.

Methods: Consecutive participants in a health screening program were enrolled.

A prospective study of the frequency and the topographical distribution of colon neoplasia in asymptomatic average-risk Chinese adults as determined by colonoscopic screening.

Background: The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of colorectal neoplasia in an asymptomatic Taiwanese population and the topographic distribution of lesions relative to age and gender.

Methods: Colonoscopy was performed in 1846 consecutive asymptomatic adults undergoing a health evaluation in 2003. Neoplastic lesions were considered advanced if they exceeded 10 mm in size, had a villous component, or contained moderately or severely dysplastic tissue or invasive cancer.

CagA tyrosine phosphorylation in gastric epithelial cells caused by Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: Tyrosine phosphorylation of Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin-associated protein of in gastric epithelial cells is reported. The goals of this study are first to examine the occurrence of CagA tyrosine phosphorylation in H. pylori strains isolated from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and gastritis, and second to clarify the relationship between the diversity of tyrosine phosphorylation motifs and the presence of CagA tyrosine phosphorylation.