Patient-caregiver concordance on death preparedness over Taiwanese cancer patients' last 6 months.

Background: Worldwide patient-caregiver concordance on cognitive prognostic awareness (PA) has been extensively examined, but concordance on sufficient (ie, cognitive and emotional) death preparedness is unexplored. We comprehensively examine the evolution of patient-caregiver concordance on death preparedness over the patient's last 6 months.

Materials/methods: This study re-examined data from 2 cohort studies on 694 dyads of cancer patients and their caregivers recruited from a single medical center in Taiwan.

Exploring foreign language anxiety and resting-state EEG alpha asymmetry.

Anxiety experienced when interacting in a foreign language hinders communication through detrimental behavioral, cognitive, and somatic effects. Despite its impact, there is limited research on how neural asymmetry relates to foreign language anxiety (FLA). While researchers have investigated FLA through brain imaging, there remains an absence of studies examining its correlation with frontal alpha asymmetry.

Stimulation of dorsal root ganglion with low-intensity focused ultrasound ameliorates pain responses through the GABA inhibitory pathway.

Aims: Chronic pain is a critical public health issue that severely impacts quality of life and poses significant treatment challenges, particularly due to the risk of adverse effects associated with pharmacological therapies. The search for effective non-invasive treatment alternatives has become increasingly relevant. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) has been identified as an effective non-invasive strategy for pain management, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Biomechanical assessment of Kirschner wires integrated with a novel external fixation device for treatment of pediatric supracondylar humeral fracture: a finite element analysis.

Background: Pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures present considerable surgical challenges due to the difficulty of achieving proper fracture alignment and stable fixation while avoiding injury to the ulnar nerve. This study assesses the biomechanical performance of a novel Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation device (KFD), designed to enhance stability and reduce complications linked to traditional K-wire configurations.

Methods: Using finite element analysis (FEA), we evaluated four fixation strategies for treatment of pediatric supracondylar humeral simple transverse fractures: crossed pin fixation, crossed pin fixation with KFD, two lateral pin fixation, and two lateral pin fixation with KFD, under various mechanical loads.

Rheumatoid factor levels indicate cryoglobulinemia severity in hepatitis B e antigen-negative hepatitis B virus carriers: a 7-year prospective cohort study.

Background: The phenotype of cryoglobulinemia in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers remains elusive.

Methods: A 7-year prospective cohort of 648 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative Taiwanese HBV carriers [males: 344 (53%)] was conducted.

Results: Among 648, 189 (29.

Prophylaxis of topical levofloxacin against endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in Taiwan, 2001-2019: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background: Since May 2007, topical levofloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution for prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) in cataract surgery has been reimbursable in Taiwan.

Aim: We used the National Health Insurance Research Database to estimate the practice of levofloxacin in cataract surgery from 2001 to 2019 and compared the POE rates before and after the introduction of levofloxacin using interrupted time series (ITS) analysis.

LPC-SonoNet: A Lightweight Network Based on SonoNet and Light Pyramid Convolution for Fetal Ultrasound Standard Plane Detection.

The detection of fetal ultrasound standard planes (FUSPs) is important for the diagnosis of fetal malformation and the prevention of perinatal death. As a promising deep-learning technique in FUSP detection, SonoNet's network parameters have a large size. In this paper, we introduced a light pyramid convolution (LPC) block into SonoNet and proposed LPC-SonoNet with reduced network parameters for FUSP detection.

Development and validation of the Taiwan Cancer Frailty Tool for older patients with cancer: A prospective longitudinal study.

Introduction: The increasing occurrence of cancer in Taiwan's older population highlights the need for a culturally attuned frailty assessment tool. This study aimed to develop and validate a frailty screening instrument specifically designed for older Taiwanese patients with cancer to predict survival outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Patients aged ≥65 years newly diagnosed with cancer before treatment initiation at three Hospitals in Taiwan were prospectively included from July 2018 to December 2020 to participate in the study.

Central vascular plug-assisted portal vein embolization with absolute ethanol.

Aim: Compare the efficacy and procedural efficiency of central vascular plug-assisted portal vein embolization (PVE) with absolute ethanol compared to selective PVE.

Materials And Methods: Between 2016 and 2023, patients who underwent ipsilateral percutaneous transhepatic PVE were included. Selective PVE involves serial cannulation and embolization of portal veins.

Effects of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms.

The circadian rhythm controls a wide range of functions in the human body and is required for optimal health. Disruption of the circadian rhythm can produce inflammation and initiate or aggravate chronic diseases. The modern lifestyle involves long indoor hours under artificial lighting conditions as well as eating, working, and sleeping at irregular times, which can disrupt the circadian rhythm and lead to poor health outcomes.

Examining the factors influencing academic performance of medical technology students in e-learning: A questionnaire survey.

In an era of rapid digital development, e-learning has become a significant trend in the educational field. Medical technology students need to acquire extensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills. E-learning can enhance learning experiences, improving students' understanding and application abilities.

Bereaved Family Quality of Life Varies With Comorbid Psychological Distress and ICU-Care Quality.

Context: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is highly endorsed, but HRQOL studies scarcely investigate the following: ICU family members; modifiable end-of-life (EOL) ICU-care factors; conjoint associations with prolonged grief disorder (PGD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression; and long-term bereavement outcomes.

Objectives: Exploratorily investigate associations of PGD-PTSD-depressive-symptom states (resilient, subthreshold-depression dominant, PGD dominant, and PGD-PTSD-depression comorbid) and quality of EOL ICU care with families' HRQOL 6-24 months post loss.

Methods: This cohort study examined symptoms of PGD (11 items of the PG-13), PTSD (Impact of Event Scale-Revised), and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and HRQOL (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey) among 303 ICU family members.

Augmented triboelectric properties of graphene-filled poly(vinylidene difluoride--hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofibers.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy through the triboelectric effect, supplying power to a wide array of advanced sensing and monitoring systems. In this work, we utilized graphene-filled nanofibrous poly(vinylidene difluoride--hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) as TENGs, employing electrospinning technology. We examined how the dielectric characteristics and transferred charge of the electrification mat affect the output of TENGs.

Molecular characterization of ovarian squamous cell carcinoma originating from mature teratoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the ovary, an uncommon form of gynecologic cancer, typically originates from the malignant transformation of a pre-existing mature ovarian teratoma (MOT). However, due to its rarity, the molecular pathways driving its development are not well understood. To address this knowledge gap, we performed molecular inversion probe (MIP) array analysis and targeted sequencing of 275 cancer susceptibility genes on 11 ovarian SCC samples derived from MOTs.

The protective role of anti-parkinsonian drugs in pancreatic cancer risk: A comprehensive case-control study in Taiwan.

Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest cancers, with a grim prognosis despite advances in treatment. We conducted a population-based case-control study from Taiwan, linking Health and Welfare Data Science Center data to the Taiwan Cancer Registry, which offers a promising strategy for its treatment through drug repurposing. The study aims to identify the association of anti-parkinsonian drugs with pancreatic cancer risk across different age groups.

Changes in nutritional status and fatigue and their associations with quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer after surgery: A 12-month longitudinal study.

Objective: This study examined changes in nutritional status, fatigue, and quality of life, and identified longitudinal factors influencing changes in quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer before and 12 months after surgery.

Methods: A longitudinal, correlational, single-group study was conducted on 89 patients with operable pancreatic cancer in Taiwan. Data were collected preoperatively (T0) and at 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 (T3) months post-surgery using questionnaires- Mini Nutritional Assessment, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General-and through bioelectrical impedance analysis, handgrip strength measurement, and the 30-s sit-to-stand test.