Comprehensive Exploration of Bromophenol Derivatives: Promising Antibacterial Agents against SA and MRSA.

The incidence of treatment failure due to multidrug-resistant pathogens elevated over the years; the rate is much higher than new antibiotic drug discovery. Therefore, bromophenol derivatives as potential antibacterial agents on and MRSA were explored in this research via integrating chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacology to address significant knowledge gaps pertaining to the antibacterial activity of bromophenols based on their functional groups. Surprisingly, a simple molecule, 3-bromo-2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (), exhibited good anti- activity and even MRSA, a drug-resistant strain.

Phytoconstituent-derived zingerone nanoparticles disrupt the cell adhesion mechanism and suppress cell motility in melanoma B16F10 cells.

Combining phytochemicals and nanotechnology to improve the unfavorable innate properties of phytochemicals and develop them into potent nanomedicines to enhance antitumor efficacy has become a novel strategy for cancer chemoprevention. Melanoma is the most aggressive, metastatic, and deadly disease of the primary cutaneous neoplasms. In this study, we fabricated phytoconstituent-derived zingerone nanoparticles (NPs) and validated their effects on cell adhesion and motility in melanoma B16F10 cells.

Deficiency of ADAR2 ameliorates metabolic-associated fatty liver disease via AMPK signaling pathways in obese mice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease caused by hepatic steatosis. Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) catalyze adenosine to inosine RNA editing. However, the functional role of ADAR2 in NAFLD is unclear.

The Fracture Risk of Elderly Patients With Atopic Dermatitis.

A higher fracture risk has been reported previously in patients with atopic Dermatitis (AD). The bone mineral density (BMD) was not accounted for in these studies. To investigate the fracture risk in AD patients after adjustment for factors including BMD.

The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with systemic sclerosis: a nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the incidence and risk factors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: We conducted a nationwide, population-based, cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. We performed propensity score matching (PSM) using a 1:2 ratio, resulting in inclusion of 1379 patients with SSc and 2758 non-SSc individuals in the analysis.

Potential alleviation of bone mineral density loss with Janus kinase inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by localized bone loss, general osteoporosis and increased fracture risks. Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), non-tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (non-TNFi) biologic, Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) had shown the suppression effects to osteoclast activation and improvement of bone mineral density (BMD). Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) is associated with osteoclast activation and the resultant bone loss.

Treatment of Myopia with Atropine 0.125% Once Every Night Compared with Atropine 0.125% Every Other Night: A Pilot Study.

(1) Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of myopia treatment in children using atropine 0.125% once every two nights (QON) compared with atropine 0.125% once every night (HS).

Appendicitis is associated with an increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a nationwide, population-based, case-control study.

Objective: To examine the association between appendicitis and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Using claims data from the 2003-2013 Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, we selected 6054 patients with newly diagnosed SLE from 2007 to 2012 and 36,324 age-, sex- and year of SLE diagnosis date-matched (1:6) non-SLE controls. After controlling for potential confounders, a multivariable conditional logistic regression model was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association of appendicitis history with SLE.

Investigation of changes in ankylosing spondylitis disease activity through 2021 COVID-19 wave in Taiwan by using electronic medical record management system.

We aim to investigate the alteration in disease activity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) individuals before, during, and after the COVID-19 wave in Taiwan by using electronic medical-record management system (EMRMS). We identified 126 AS individuals from the single center, and gathered data of the three disease activities (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI], Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ASDAS-ESR], and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-Reactive Protein [ASDAS-CRP]) by using EMRMS before (7 February to 1 May, 2021), during (2 May to 24 July, 2021), and after the COVID-19 wave (25 July to 16 October, 2021). We compared the disease activity measures of the three phases through a paired t test.

An environmentally sensitive molecular rotor as a NIR fluorescent probe for the detection of islet amyloid polypeptide.

The deposits of human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), also called amylin, in the pancreas have been postulated to be a factor of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and is one of the common pathological hallmarks of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, it is imperative to gain an in-depth understanding of the formation of these aggregates. In this study, we demonstrate a rationally-designed strategy of an environmentally sensitive near-infrared (NIR) molecular rotor utilizing thioflavin T (ThT) as a scaffold for IAPP deposits.

The Effectiveness of Multidisciplinary Team Huddles in Healthcare Hospital-Based Setting.

Objective: Huddles are short, regular debriefings that are designed to provide frontline staff and bedside caregivers environments to share problems and identify solutions. Daily huddle implementation could improve medical safety work, problem identification and improvement, situation awareness and teamwork enhancement, the collaboration and communication between professionals and departments, and patient safety. This study aimed evaluated the effectiveness of a hospital-based huddle at a general medical ward in Taiwan.

High-fat diet induces depression-like phenotype via astrocyte-mediated hyperactivation of ventral hippocampal glutamatergic afferents to the nucleus accumbens.

Comorbidity exists between metabolic disorders and depressive syndrome with unclear mechanisms. To characterize the causal relationship, we adopted a 12-week high-fat diet (HFD) to induce metabolic disorder and depressive phenotypes in mice. Initially, we identified an enhanced glutamatergic input in the nucleus accumbens of HFD mice.

Comparing the natural progression and clinical features of keratoconus between pediatric and adult patients.

To present the natural course of keratoconus (KC) and compare pediatric and adult patients. Design A retrospective cohort study. Setting Hospital-based.

Association Between a History of Dengue Fever and the Risk of Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: A Nationwide, Population-Based Case-Control Study.

To determine the association between a history of clinically diagnosed dengue infection and the risk of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). Using claims data from the 1997-2013 Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, we included 74,422 patients who were diagnosed with SARDs and 297,688 patients without SARDs who were matched (in a 1:4 ratio) for age, sex, year of SARDs index date, and city of residence. The associations between the development of SARDs and a history of dengue infection (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 061) were investigated using conditional logistic regression analysis shown as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after adjusting for potential confounders.

Effects of Distal Mutations on Ligand-Binding Affinity in Dihydrofolate Reductase.

Mutations far from the center of chemical activity in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) can affect several steps in the catalytic cycle. Mutations at highly conserved positions and the distal distance of the catalytic center (Met-42, Thr-113, and Gly-121) were designed, including single-point and double-point mutations. Upon ligand binding, the fluorescence of the intrinsic optical probe, tryptophan, decreases due to either fluorescence quenching or energy transfer.

RNA editing of 5-HT R impairs insulin secretion of pancreatic beta cells via altered store-operated calcium entry.

Recent studies emphasize the importance of 5-HT2C receptor (5-HT R) signaling in the regulation of energy homeostasis. The 5-HT R is the only G-protein-coupled receptor known to undergo post-transcriptional adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) editing by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR). 5-HT R has emerged as an important role in the modulation of pancreatic β cell functions.

Association of the Risk of Childhood Asthma at Age 6 With Maternal Allergic or Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

This study aimed to assess the associations of the risk of asthma diagnosed in children aged 6 years or younger and having maternal immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), inflammatory myositis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and autoimmune thyroiditis. A total of 628,878 singleton newborns documented in 2006-2009 and followed up for at least 6 years were identified. Overall, 153,085 (24.

Early Age of the First Myopic Spectacle Prescription, as an Indicator of Early Onset of Myopia, Is a Risk Factor for High Myopia in Adulthood.

Purpose: The present study investigated the risk factors for high myopia in adulthood, with a focus on the age at which children wore their first spectacles.

Methods: Adults aged between 20 and 45 years were invited to complete a questionnaire about age, sex, current refractive error, high myopia in parents, early onset of myopia presented by the age of the first myopic spectacle prescription, refractive power of the first spectacles, and life habits at different educational stages. The associations between these factors and high myopia in adulthood were then evaluated and analyzed.

Fluoxetine ameliorates high-fat diet-induced metabolic abnormalities partially via reduced adipose triglyceride lipase-mediated adipocyte lipolysis.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have more risk to develop depression. Fluoxetine (FLX), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is drug for mood and anxiety disorders. Previous studies showed that FLX could induce weight loss in non-depressed clinically overweight individuals.

Correlation Between Malpractice Litigation and Legislation Reform in Taiwan Over a 30-Year Period.

Background: The annual medical litigation rate has increased yearly since 1987 in Taiwan. Policy makers keep going medical legislation reforms. The effectiveness of legislation reforms to reduce malpractice litigation risk is uncertain.

Pioglitazone rescues high-fat diet-induced depression-like phenotypes and hippocampal astrocytic deficits in mice.

The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide and is highly associated with the incidence of depression. Pioglitazone, a Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist, is widely used for treating patients with type 2 diabetes. However, whether pioglitazone alleviates metabolic disorder-related depression and astrocytic deficits remains unclear.