Cell culture design for homogeneous proliferation of cells in three-dimensional nonwoven polymer scaffolds.

The objective of this study is to establish strategies to uniformly proliferate cells in a three-dimensional nonwoven polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) scaffold by simple adjustments in seeding and culture methods and the scaffold design. The combined dynamic and static seeding (intermittent agitations at 300 rpm with 1 h interval) resulted in the highest seeding efficiency (71%) comparing to the static and continuous agitating seeding methods. Cell-attached scaffolds were cultivated under different conditions.

Sources of Information about COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Its Associations with Parental Motivation to Have Their Children Vaccinated in Taiwan.

Pediatric COVID-19 vaccines have been developed to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 and subsequent hospitalization in children. Few studies have examined whether different sources of information regarding pediatric COVID-19 vaccines and parents' trust in the information have different effects on parental motivation to have their child vaccinated. No study has examined parental demographic factors related to the sources of information and the trust of parents in these sources.

A Parent Version of the Motors of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale for Assessing Parents' Motivation to Have Their Children Vaccinated.

Parents' motivation to vaccinate their children against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) plays a crucial role in the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among children. The Motors of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale (MoVac-COVID19S) is a valuable tool for assessing individuals' vaccination-related attitudes and the factors influencing their decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This study adapted the MoVac-COVID19S to create a parent version (P-MoVac-COVID19S) and examined the psychometric soundness of two P-MoVac-COVID19S versions (a 9-item version (P-MoVac-COVID19S-9) and a 12-item version (P-MoVac-COVID19S-12)) for assessing parents' motivation to vaccinate their children.

Comparing the Psychometric Properties among Three Versions of the UCLA Loneliness Scale in Individuals with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder.

The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3; UCLA-LSV3) is widely used for assessing loneliness. Nevertheless, the validity of this scale for assessing loneliness in individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder has not been determined. Additionally, studies validating the eight-item and three-item versions of UCLA-LSV3 have not included individuals with severe mental illness; therefore, whether the short versions are comparable to the full 20-item version of UCLA-LSV3 for this population is unclear.

Factors Related to Caregiver Intentions to Vaccinate Their Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder against COVID-19 in Taiwan.

The aims of this study were to examine the proportion of caregivers who were hesitant to vaccinate their children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the factors related to caregiver intentions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. In total, 161 caregivers of children with ADHD were recruited in this study. The caregivers completed an online questionnaire to provide data regarding their intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, concerns about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, unfavorable family attitudes toward vaccines, and children's medication use for ADHD and comorbid psychopathology.

Poor Mental Health in Caregivers of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Relationships with Caregivers' Difficulties in Managing the Children's Behaviors and Worsened Psychological Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has thrown out a challenge to caregivers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study examined the factors related to the poor general mental health state of the caregivers of children with ADHD during the COVID-19 pandemic, including (1) difficulties of caregivers in asking their child to adopt protective behaviors against COVID-19, (2) difficulties of caregivers in managing the child's daily performance, and (3) worsened psychological symptoms in children. In total, 161 caregivers completed an online questionnaire to provide data regarding their general mental health state and difficulties in asking their child with ADHD to adopt protective behaviors against COVID-19 and in managing the child's after-school learning, sleep routine, and internet use, as well as worsened psychological symptoms.

Affiliate Stigma in Caregivers of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: The Roles of Stress-Coping Orientations and Parental Child-Rearing Styles.

Affiliate stigma may increase the risks of negative parenting and psychological and depressive problems in caregivers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Evaluating affiliate stigma and determining how to reduce it are crucial to promoting mental health in caregivers and their children with ADHD. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of stress-coping orientations and parental child-rearing styles with the risk of high affiliate stigma in caregivers of children with ADHD in Taiwan.

Did Affiliate Stigma Predict Affective and Behavioral Outcomes in Caregivers and Their Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

The aim of this follow-up study was to examine the predictive values of caregivers' affiliate stigma at baseline for depression in caregivers and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 1 year later. The Study on Affiliate Stigma in Caregivers of Children with ADHD surveyed the levels of affiliate stigma and depression in 400 caregivers and the behavioral problems of their children with ADHD. The levels of the caregivers' depression and children's behavioral problems were assessed 1 year later.

Efficacy of induction regimens for cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-infected adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is the most fatal adult meningitis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There is no conclusive evidence for the superiority of 1-week amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmphB) + flucytosine (5-FC) regimen over other antifungals in the management of HIV patients with CM (HIV-CM patients). We aimed to evaluate the differences in efficacy and tolerability of different antifungal agents in HIV-CM patients by conducting a current network meta-analysis NMA.

Association between affiliate stigma and depression and its moderators in caregivers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Background: This study aimed to determine the association between affiliate stigma and depression in caregivers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Taiwan and evaluated the moderating effects of perceived family support, self-esteem, and children's behavioral problems on the association.

Methods: The affiliate stigma and depressive symptoms of 400 caregivers of children with ADHD were assessed using the Affiliate Stigma Scale and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, respectively. A general linear model (GLM) was used to examine the association between affiliate stigma and depression symptoms.

Loss of the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex results in neuronal dysfunction.

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inherited error in the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) caused by a severe deficiency of the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) complex, which ultimately leads to neurological disorders. The limited therapies, including protein-restricted diets and liver transplants, are not as effective as they could be for the treatment of MSUD due to the current lack of molecular insights into the disease pathogenesis. To address this issue, we developed a model of MSUD by knocking out the gene, an ortholog of the human gene encoding the dihydrolipoamide branched chain transacylase (DBT) subunit of BCKDH.

Dietary factors and risk of mortality among patients with esophageal cancer: a systematic review.

Background: The effects of dietary factors on prognosis of esophageal cancer remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the association between dietary intake and the risk of mortality among patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods: Six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, OVID, ProQuest, CNKI and Wanfang) were searched for studies published up to Oct.

Caregiver-Attributed Etiologies of Children's Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Study in Taiwan.

The aim of this survey study was to examine the etiologies of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) attributed by caregivers of Taiwanese children with ADHD, particularly factors affecting such attribution. This study had 400 caregivers of children with ADHD as participants. We examined the caregiver-attributed etiologies of ADHD and factors affecting such attribution.

Application and Perceived Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Intervention Strategies for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Relationships with Affiliate Stigma.

This cross-sectional questionnaire survey study was designed to examine the complementary and alternative intervention strategies (CAIS) employed by caregivers for their children's attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the associations of affiliate stigma with the employment and rated effectiveness of these strategies in Taiwan. A total of 400 caregivers of children with ADHD participated. CAIS that the caregivers employed and their effectiveness rated by the caregivers were surveyed.

Affiliate Stigma and Related Factors in Family Caregivers of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

This cross-sectional questionnaire study examined factors related to affiliate stigma among caregivers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the association of affiliate stigma with caregivers' unfavorable attitude toward ADHD and moderators. The affiliate stigma of 400 caregivers of children with ADHD was assessed using the Affiliate Stigma Scale. Caregivers' and children's factors related to affiliate stigma were examined using multiple regression analysis.

Tuberculosis infection and lung adenocarcinoma: Mendelian randomization and pathway analysis of genome-wide association study data from never-smoking Asian women.

We investigated whether genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) influences lung adenocarcinoma development among never-smokers using TB genome-wide association study (GWAS) results within the Female Lung Cancer Consortium in Asia. Pathway analysis with the adaptive rank truncated product method was used to assess the association between a TB-related gene-set and lung adenocarcinoma using GWAS data from 5512 lung adenocarcinoma cases and 6277 controls. The gene-set consisted of 31 genes containing known/suggestive associations with genetic variants from previous TB-GWAS.

Re-Evaluating the Protective Effect of Hemodialysis Catheter Locking Solutions in Hemodialysis Patients.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) and exit-site infections (ESIs) are common complications associated with the use of central venous catheters for hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of routine locking solutions on the incidence of CRBSI and ESI, in preserving catheter function, and on the rate of all-cause mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. We selected publications (from inception until July 2018) with studies comparing locking solutions for hemodialysis catheters used in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Electrokinetic ion transport in an asymmetric double-gated nanochannel with a pH-tunable zwitterionic surface.

Bioinspired, artificial functional nanochannels for intelligent molecular and ionic transport control have versatile potential applications in nanofluidics, energy conversion, and controlled drug release. To simulate the gating and rectification functions of biological ion channels, we model the electrokinetic ion transport phenomenon in an asymmetric double-gated nanochannel having a pH-regulated, zwitterionic surface. Taking account of the effect of electroosmotic flow (EOF), the conductance of the nanochannel and its ion current rectification (ICR) behavior are investigated and the associated mechanisms interpreted.

Continuous versus intermittent infusions of antibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases: Meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Severe sepsis and pneumonia are common problems in the intensive care units (ICUs) and cause high morbidity and mortality. Optimal doses and appropriate routes of antibiotics are critical to improve their efficacy, but their appropriate routes remain controversial.

Objective: The efficacy of antibiotic administration among critically ill patient populations remains controversial.

Anterior decompression and fusion versus laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy due to ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament: A meta-analysis.

Background: Both anterior decompression and fusion (ADF) and laminoplasty (LAMP) are frequently used for the treatment of cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). However, some controversies still remained in surgical options. We investigated whether ADF had better neurological outcome than LAMP in the treatment of cervical myelopathy due to OPLL.

Influence of salt valence on the rectification behavior of nanochannels.

Taking account of the influence of electroosmotic flow, the behavior of the ion current rectification of a charged conical nanochannel is studied theoretically focusing on the effect of ionic valence. A continuum-based model comprising coupled Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations for the ionic mass transport and Navier-Stokes equations for the hydrodynamic field is adopted. We show that if the bulk salt concentration is fixed, the behavior of the current-voltage curve depends highly on the ionic valence, which arises from the difference in ionic strength and ion diffusivity.

Biochanin A extirpates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in a human lung cancer.

The natural iso-flavonoid, biochanin A, is categorized as a phytoestrogen and has been demonstrated to exhibit various pharmacological properties. However, no effects of biochanin A on lung cancer cell lines have been reported. Therefore, the present study aimed to demonstrate whether biochanin A has the ability to reduce lung cancer triggered pro-inflammatory effects from leukemic monocytes.

Effects of theory of mind performance training on reducing bullying involvement in children and adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.

Bullying involvement is prevalent among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined the effects of theory of mind performance training (ToMPT) on reducing bullying involvement in children and adolescents with high-functioning ASD. Children and adolescents with high-functioning ASD completed ToMPT (n = 26) and social skills training (SST; n = 23) programs.

Determinants of influenza vaccination in older adults: A nationwide community-based study in Taiwan.

Aims: Influenza vaccination (InVa) is an effective measure for preventing influenza infection, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. However, the determinants of InVa remain unclear.

Methods: The present study included 4756 adults aged 55 years and older who completed the baseline examination of the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan.