A Carbon Nanotube Transistor Based on Buried-Gate Structure.

From the discovery of carbon nanotubes to the ability to prepare high-purity semiconductor carbon nanotubes in large quantities, the large-scale fabrication of carbon nanotube transistors (CNT) will become possible. In this paper, a carbon nanotube transistor featuring a buried-gate structure, employing an etching process to optimize the surface flatness of the device and enhance its performance, is presented. This CNT thin-film transistor has a current switching ratio of 10, a threshold voltage of around 1 V, and a mobility that can reach 6.

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.

Urinary Incontinence and Sleep Quality in Older Women with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) and poor sleep negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study explored the UI-related factors and the relationships between UI, sleep quality, and HRQoL.

Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 237 women with type 2 diabetes.

Longitudinal Effects of a Combined Program of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Yoga on Genitourinary Symptoms in Asian Women of Older Age: A Randomized Experimental Study.

This parallel-two-group randomized experimental study including a supervised group and an unsupervised group examined the longitudinal effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) combined with yoga on genitourinary symptoms and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and compared practice adherence rates of the two groups. A sample of women experiencing ≥1 genitourinary symptom(s) were recruited and assigned to a supervised group or an unsupervised group. The supervised group attended supervised group practice sessions and performed at-home practice of PFMT and yoga.

MicroRNA miR-18a-3p promotes osteoporosis and possibly contributes to spinal fracture by inhibiting the glutamate AMPA receptor subunit 1 gene (GRIA1).

The promoting role that miR-18a-3p plays in osteoporosis (OP) has been previously described. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Bone tissues were collected from healthy patients, OP patients, and patients with osteoporotic spinal fractures.

Irigenin reduces the expression of caspase-3 and matrix metalloproteinases, thus suppressing apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation in TNF-α-stimulated nucleus pulposus cells.

Irigenin, an isoflavonoid isolated from the rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis, possess various pharmacological effects. However, the effect and mechanism of irigenin on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) remain unclear. The potential targets of irigenin or disease were predicted using PharmMapper or GeneCards databases, respectively.

Thermographic follow-up of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) subsequent to Ramsay Hunt syndrome with multicranial nerve (V, VII, VIII and IX) involvement: a case report.

Background: Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is caused by a reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, and it is characterized by the symptoms of facial paralysis, otalgia, auricular rash, and/or an oral lesion. Elderly patients or immunocompromised patients, deep pain at the initial visit and no prompt treatment are significant predictors of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). When PHN occurs, especially involved cranial polyneuropathy, multiple modalities should be administered for patients with the intractable PHN.

Predictors of resilience among adolescent disaster survivors: A path analysis.

Aims: To investigate a theoretical model of risk and protective factors to predict resilience among adolescent disaster survivors.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: Parent's consent and student's informed consent forms were distributed at seven schools in a postdisaster setting (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) between July-October 2017; those who agreed to participate had to complete the self-reported questionnaires.

Nocturia in Women With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-sectional, Correlation Study.

Purpose: The first aim of this study was to compare nighttime voiding frequency (nocturia), serum hemoglobin A1c level, peripheral neuropathy score, and global sleep quality score in younger (>40 to <65 years) versus older (≥65 years) women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Additional aims were to identify factors associated with clinically relevant nocturia (≥2 episodes/night) and to analyze relationships between nocturia frequency, glycemic control, peripheral neuropathy, and sleep quality in these women.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Indonesian adolescent disaster survivors: A psychometric evaluation.

Background: Social support plays an important role in adolescents' mental health and well-being, and even more so for disaster survivors. To measure the level of social support, one needs an appropriate tool to produce valid and reliable results; therefore, we aimed to measure the invariance across gender groups, and analyze the construct validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), a social support measurement tool which was theoretically constructed and has been well validated in many countries with various cultures and backgrounds.

Methods: A school-based assessment was conducted in junior and senior high schools in a post-disaster setting in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia.

MicroRNA-628-5p inhibits cell proliferation in glioma by targeting DDX59.

Recent study has reported that microRNA-628-5p (miR-628-5p) is involved in the development of epithelial ovarian cancer; however, the mechanisms of miR-628-5p in glioma remain unclear. In this study, we explored the potential biological roles of miR-628-5p in glioma. First, we found that miR-628-5p was decreased in the tissues and cells (U87 and T98) of glioma.

The perceived neighborhood environment is associated with health-enhancing physical activity among adults: a cross-sectional survey of 13 townships in Taiwan.

Background: Many environmental factors have been associated with physical activity. The environment is considered a key factor in terms of the rate of engagement in physical activity. This study examined the perceived effect of environmental factors on different levels of health-enhancing physical activity among Taiwanese adults.

[Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Patients With Type II Diabetes Mellitus].

Background: Type II diabetes, a major healthcare issue, is a common chronic disease in Taiwan that affects the quality of life of sufferers.

Purpose: To understand the physical activity status and the quality of life of patients with type II diabetes mellitus and to explore the related predictors of quality of life.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to collect relevant data between January to October 2014 from a regional teaching hospital in Taipei.

Development and psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Resilience Scale for Southeast Asian immigrant women who divorced in Taiwan.

Background: Only a few studies exist on the resilience of divorced women. Furthermore, relevant instruments for assessing the resilience of divorced immigrant Southeast Asian women are rare. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to develop and examine a new Resilience Scale-Chinese version (RS-C) that is specific to divorced immigrant Southeast Asian women in Taiwan.

Exploring bowel dysfunction of patients following colorectal surgery: A cohort study.

Aims And Objectives: To examine changes in patients' bowel function and to compare patients' outcome among different operation and treatment after rectal resection.

Background: Anal-preserving surgery is the trend of treatment of colorectal cancer and bowel function after surgery needs to be concerned.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Pain Relief by Parecoxib for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis is to verify the effectiveness of postoperative pain relief by perioperative parecoxib, a selective intravenous cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, for patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) surgery.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness of pain relief by parecoxib or placebo for patients receiving LC surgery. The primary outcomes was the pain score evaluation using visual analogue scale (VAS).

Trends in Urodynamic Procedures, Surgical Procedures, and Overall Health Resource Utilization in the Adult Taiwanese Population With Urinary Incontinence: A Secondary Data Analysis.

Background: The prevalence and incidence of the main risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) have both increased over time. In addition, official statistics indicate that Taiwan is on course to evolve from an aging society into an aged society within the next decade. However, most of the studies in the literature that address the natural history of UI target Western and other non-Asian populations.

Preventing shivering with adjuvant low dose intrathecal meperidine: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the pros and cons of adjuvant low dose intrathecal meperidine for spinal anaesthesia. We searched electronic databases for randomized controlled trials using trial sequential analysis (TSA) to evaluate the incidence of reduced rescue analgesics, shivering, pruritus, nausea and vomiting when applying adjuvant intrathecal meperidine. Twenty-eight trials with 2216 patients were included.

Sleep Quality Associated With Different Work Schedules: A Longitudinal Study of Nursing Staff.

Purpose: To explore the differences in sleep parameters between nurses working a slow, forward rotating shift and those working a fixed day shift.

Method: A longitudinal parallel-group comparison design was used in this prospective study. Participants (female) were randomly assigned to a rotating shift or a fixed day shift group.

Correlates of Nocturia and Relationships of Nocturia With Sleep Quality and Glycemic Control in Women With Type 2 Diabetes.

Purposes: To explore correlates of nocturia, compare sleep quality and glycemic control for women with and without nocturia, and examine relationships of nocturia with sleep quality and glycemic control in women with diabetes.

Design: This study was a cross-sectional, correlational study with data collected from 275 women with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Data were collected using a structured questionnaire.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Scale.

Background: Women with breast cancer experience a wide spectrum of symptoms after diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms experienced by this specific population might not be fully assessed using available traditional Chinese-language symptom measures.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the latent constructs and psychometric properties of the Chinese Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (C-BCPT) Symptom Scale.

Patterns and correlates of benzodiazepine use in nurses: A nationwide, population-based study.

In the present study, we examined patterns of benzodiazepine (BZD) use in nurses, and compared the characteristics of frequent users with those of infrequent users. Data on all nurses enrolled in the study were derived from the reimbursement claim records in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database for the period 2004-2008. The case group comprised 33 588 nurses with BZD use, and the control group was exactly matched to each case according to age and sex.

Prevalence and factors associated with food intake difficulties among residents with dementia.

Background: Few studies have examined the prevalence of food intake difficulties and their associated factors among residents with dementia in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. The purpose of the study was to identify the best cutoff point for the Chinese Feeding Difficulty Index (Ch-FDI), which evaluates the prevalence of food intake difficulties and recognizes factors associated with eating behaviors in residents with dementia.

Methods And Findings: A cross-sectional design was adopted.

Comparing the Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predictive Values of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination When Screening People for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Chinese Population.

Background: The study compared the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic value of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used, and 142 participants were screened for MCI and mild dementia by using the MoCA and MMSE. The receiver operating characteristic curves and the cutoff scores with the largest area under the curve (AUC) were determined and compared to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic value (positive predictive value [PPV] and negative predictive value [NPV]).