High cumulative antibiotic exposure in extremely low birth weight infants during the first month of life: Risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Background: Extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants invariably receive multiple antibiotic therapies during hospitalization. However, the causes of high cumulative antibiotic exposure, as well as the impact of such exposure on the outcomes of preterm infants, particularly long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, remain to be elucidated. Furthermore, the cumulative effects of simultaneous use of multiple antibiotics are often overlooked.

Using High-Resolution Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Images in a Patient of Intracranial Artery Dissection Related Acute Infarction.

Acute ischemic stroke in young adults typically carries significant implications for morbidity, mortality, and long-term disability. In this study, we describe the case of a 34-year-old male with no prior medical history who presented with symptoms of right-sided weakness and slurred speech, suggesting an acute ischemic stroke. Initial CT angiography revealed an occlusion in the left M2 segment middle cerebral artery (MCA).

MMP-9 upregulation may predict hemorrhagic transformation after endovascular thrombectomy.

Background: Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a serious complication after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We analyzed the plasma levels of MMP-9 before and after EVT and assessed the temporal changes of MMP-9 that may be associated with, and therefore predict, HT after EVT.

Methods: We enrolled 30 AIS patients who received EVT, and 16 (53.

From comfort zone to front-line care: perspectives and reflections of community pharmacists entering home-based palliative care.

Background: Palliative care requires a multidisciplinary team to assist patients and their families to obtain good quality care at the end of life. Typically, community pharmacists have fewer opportunities to provide services for patients with palliative care needs than hospital pharmacists. Moreover, home-based palliative care (HBPC) by pharmacists remains low and there is a lack of research regarding HBPC provided by pharmacists.

FcγRIIB modulates splenic germinal center response against immune subversion during acute influenza A virus infection.

Background: B cells are essential for providing humoral protection against acute influenza A virus (IAV) infection. FcγRIIB, a regulator of antibody (Ab) production, influences immune responses during pathogen infections, but its specific impact on humoral protection and B cell-mediated responses against IAV remains unclear.

Methods: To investigate FcγRIIB's role in host defense and B cell function during acute IAV infection, we generated mice with systemic FcγRIIB deficiency, functional impairment, and B cell-specific FcγRIIB deletion.

Dual antiplatelet therapy is associated with favorable outcome in acute minor stroke with an onset-to-door time beyond 24 h.

Background/purpose: In patients with noncardioembolic acute minor ischemic stroke (AMIS), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin plus clopidogrel within 24 h after stroke onset was more effective than aspirin alone. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of DAPT in AMIS patients with an onset-to-door time (OTDT) of more than 24 h.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective stroke registry from 2015 to 2021.

Patent foramen ovale closure in non-elderly and elderly patients with cryptogenic stroke: a hospital-based cohort study.

Introduction: The efficacy of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in the elderly population is unclear. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of PFO closure in non-elderly and elderly patients.

Methods: Patients over 18 years of age with cryptogenic stroke (CS) or transient ischemic attack and PFO were prospectively enrolled and classified into two groups according to treatment: (1) closure of PFO (the PFOC group) and (2) medical treatment alone (the non-PFOC group).

Correlates of the Veterans Visiting Emergency Departments in Taiwan: A Comparison Before and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background: Taiwan has a substantial number of veterans, but knowledge regarding their emergency department (ED) visits during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains limited. This study examined the characteristics of veterans' ED visits during Taiwan's COVID-19 epidemic.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the ED of a large veteran medical center located in Taipei, Taiwan, from May 2018 to October 2021.

Severe lupus flare is associated with a much higher risk of stroke among patients with SLE.

Background And Aim: There are few data on the influence of lupus flare on stroke risk in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we examined whether a severe lupus flare further increases the risk of stroke among SLE patients.

Methods: Using the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study from 2000 to 2016.

Dihydrocaffeic Acid-Decorated Iron Oxide Nanomaterials Effectively Inhibit Human Calcitonin Aggregation.

To date, more than 30 human peptides or proteins have been found to form amyloid fibrils, most of which are associated with human diseases. However, currently, no cure for amyloidosis exists. Therefore, development of therapeutic strategies to inhibit amyloid formation is urgently required.

Prognostic significance of the blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio in in-hospital cardiac arrest after targeted temperature management.

Background: Targeted temperature management (TTM) has been reported to improve outcomes in in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) patients but little has been investigated into the relationship between prognoses and the blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio (BCR).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from IHCA survivors treated with TTM between 2011 and 2018 was conducted based on the Research Patient Database Registry of the Partners HealthCare system in Boston. Serum laboratory data were measured during IHCA and within 24 hours after TTM completion.

The experiences and needs of nurses providing home-based palliative care: A qualitative meta-synthesis.

We conducted a qualitative meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on nurses' experiences when caring for palliative patients to (1) identify the needs of nurses and (2) describe their experiences to provide more in-depth information. Qualitative articles published in English from 2000 to 2022 were identified from several databases through a searching strategy. Authors screened through the title, abstract, and full text of relevant studies.

A 10-year Trend of Sleeping Patterns, Geographical, and Community Disparities Among Chinese Older Adults.

This study examined the trend and geographical/community disparities of sleeping patterns among Chinese older adults. We included older adults from four waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS; n = 25,672; age ≥65). We used a multivariable logistic regression model to examine sleep quality (not good versus good), and a multinomial logistic regression model to assess daily sleep duration (7-8 hr, <7 hr, >8 hr).

The effect of reduction on the properties of the regioselectively oxidized starch granules prepared by bromide-free oxidation system.

Development of intact oxidized starch granules by regioselective oxidation technology is of interest and provides a new research direction for oxidized starch. In this study, new sodium tetrahydridoborate (NaBH)-treated oxidized starch (OS-BH) granules were prepared by a one-pot method, where native corn starch (NS) granules were oxidized by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)/sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) system followed by reduction with NaBH. Oxidized starch (OS) granules without NaBH reduction were also prepared to investigate the effect of C6 aldehyde groups remained after TEMPO-mediated oxidation on properties of the granules.

Heme oxygenase-1 inhibits DENV-induced endothelial hyperpermeability and serves as a potential target against dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a cause of vascular endothelial dysfunction and vascular leakage, which are characterized as hallmarks of dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which become a severe global health emergency with substantial morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are still no promising therapeutics to alleviate the dengue-associated vascular hemorrhage in a clinical setting. In the present study, we first observed that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression level was highly suppressed in severe DENV-infected patients.

Community Nurses' Preparations for and Challenges in Providing Palliative Home Care: A Qualitative Study.

Hospitals have played a leading role in providing palliative care in Taiwan as its care model has developed over the past few decades. However, earlier local studies in Taiwan showed that terminal patients prefer to die at home, highlighting the need to promote community-based palliative care instead of hospital-based care. Along with this shift, how community nurses provide palliative home care merits further exploration.

Factors associated with do-not-resuscitate document completion among patients hospitalized in geriatric ward.

Background: With a rapidly aging population, there is an increasing need for do-not-resuscitate (DNR) and advance care planning (ACP) discussions. This study investigated the factors associated with signing DNR documents of older patients in the geriatric ward.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a geriatric ward in a tertiary hospital in Southern Taiwan.

Dynamic Modeling and Experimental Validation of an Impact-Driven Piezoelectric Energy Harvester in Magnetic Field.

In this study, an impact-driven piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) in magnetic field is presented. The PEH consists of a piezoelectric cantilever beam and plural magnets. At its initial status, the beam tip magnet is attracted by a second magnet.

Risk of Dementia in Patients with Depression or Parkinson's Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: This study aimed to clarify whether Parkinson's disease (PD) and depression were independent risk factors or with synergic effects in dementia.

Methods: Newly diagnosed PD ( = 1213) patients and control subjects ( = 4852) were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from January 2001 through December 2008. Follow-up ended in 2011 with an outcome of dementia occurring or not.

Discovery of Zika Virus NS2B/NS3 Inhibitors That Prevent Mice from Life-Threatening Infection and Brain Damage.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, which initially was endemic only in Africa and Asia, is rapidly spreading throughout Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. Although there have been enormous efforts, there is still no approved drug to treat ZIKV infection. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of agents with noncompetitive mechanism of the ZIKV NS2B/NS3 protease inhibition through the binding to an allosteric site.

Effects of Methyl Terminal and Carbon Bridging Groups Ratio on Critical Properties of Porous Organosilicate-Glass Films.

Organosilicate glass-based porous low dielectic constant films with different ratios of terminal methyl to bridging organic (methylene, ethylene and 1,4-phenylene) groups are spin-on deposited by using a mixture of alkylenesiloxane with organic bridges and methyltrimethoxysilane, followed by soft baking at 120-200 °C and curing at 430 °C. The films' porosity was controlled by using sacrificial template Brij L4. Changes of the films' refractive indices, mechanical properties, -values, porosity and pore structure versus chemical composition of the film's matrix are evaluated and compared with methyl-terminated low- materials.

MicroRNA-155 inhibits dengue virus replication by inducing heme oxygenase-1-mediated antiviral interferon responses.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to directly alter the virus life cycle and virus-host interactions, and so are considered promising molecules for controlling virus infection. In the present study, we observed that miR-155 time-dependently downregulated upon dengue virus (DENV) infection. In contrast, exogenous overexpression of miR-155 appeared to limit viral replication in vitro, suggesting that the low levels of miR-155 would be beneficial for DENV replication.