Radiological Sublingual Space Invasion in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Clinicopathological Associations and Impact on Survival.

Objectives: We investigate if sublingual space invasion (SLI) determined on magnetic resonance imaging confers differences in clinicopathological manifestations and treatment outcomes of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary Academic Medical Center.

Novel multiple Z-score models for detection of coronary artery dilation: application in Kawasaki disease.

Background: This study aims to develop Z-Score models to normalize measurements of three coronary arteries and enhance the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD) in children from newborns to 10 years old. Developing a reliable Z-Score model is challenging, as some existing models fail the normality test. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for improving KD diagnosis.

Protective effect of a novel smoke evacuation device during laparoscopic surgery: An experimental proof-of-concept study.

Background: Surgical smoke generated by energy devices poses health risks to medical staff. During laparoscopic surgery, the smoke aggregating around the camera obstructs the visual field, forcing surgeons to interrupt surgery, and may increase surgical risk. We propose a proximal smoke evacuation method to improve surgical quality by effectively eliminating surgical smoke.

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.

ANGPTL3 overcomes sorafenib resistance via suppression of SNAI1 and CPT1A in liver cancer.

Liver cancer, encompassing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatoblastoma, the latter of which primarily occurs in early childhood, is the most common malignant tumor arising from liver and is responsible for a significant number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Targeted drugs have been used for anti-liver cancer treatment in the advanced stage, while their efficacy is greatly compromised by development of drug resistance. Drug resistance is a complicated process regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic signals and has been associated with poorer prognosis in cancer patients.

Fabrication of hybrid nanocomposites for electrochemical evaluation of food-based preservative and bioactive targets of hydrogen peroxide and rutin in real fruit and drug samples.

Development of a reliable tool to detect hydrogen peroxide (HO) and rutin in food-derived products and bioactive flavonoids is essential for food safety. Nevertheless, food/drug-based real samples are complex matrices that affect the sensor's specificity and sensitivity. For this purpose, we developed a simple electrochemical detection platform using covalent organic framework‑silver nanoparticles (COF-AgNPs).

Value Framework Based on Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis for Assessment of New Health Technologies under Universal Healthcare Coverage System in Taiwan.

Objective: Given the lack of a value framework for assessing health technologies in Asian settings, a value framework incorporating multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for new drugs under universal healthcare coverage in Taiwan was established.

Methods: The development process included: 1) the adoption of five value domains (i.e.

Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students.

This study investigates the relationship between maladaptive digital technology use, which arises from nomophobia, and insomnia among young adults. It specifically focuses on problematic gaming (PG), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic YouTube use (PYTU) as significant forms of digital behavior contributing to this contemporary health concern. Adolescents and young adults, being the first generation raised in a highly digitized environment, encounter unique challenges, including the emergence of behavioral addictions.

GRADE-based procalcitonin guideline for emergency departments.

Procalcitonin is a useful biomarker for infection. Over the past two decades, there has been much research on the clinical applications of procalcitonin, yet the majority of these studies have been conducted in the intensive care setting. Despite the extensive use of procalcitonin in emergency departments, there have been no guidelines focusing specifically on these clinical settings.

Tracking adipose-derived stem cell exosomes applied in a mouse crush injury model: insights from fluorescent labeling and spatial transcriptomics - an experimental study.

Adipose-derived stem cell exosomes (ADSC-exos) are promising for nerve regeneration; however, their precise mechanisms remain unclear. This study employed fluorescent labeling and spatial transcriptomics to track the effects of ADSC-exos on crushed sciatic nerves in mice. Labeled exosomes were detected in spinal neurons and proximal nerve segments after application.

Chinese Medicines Treatment for Sleep Disturbance in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Sleep disturbance and insomnia are common adverse events in patients with breast cancer (BC). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment for sleep disturbance includes acupuncture, acupressure, auricular acupressure/auricular acupuncture, and Qigong. However, the specific efficacy of these TCM treatment 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.

Myriscagayanone C, a new compound from the fruit of myristica cagayanensis, inhibits fMLP-induced respiratory bursts by specifically preventing Akt translocation in human neutrophils.

Neutrophils that are overactivated can cause inflammatory diseases. Neutrophils possess various surface receptors, including G-protein-coupled chemoattractant receptors, which assist in recognizing pathogen attacks and the inflammatory environment. Therefore, targeting G-protein-coupled chemoattractant receptors and their downstream molecules is important for preventing abnormal neutrophil activation.

A correlation of polymorphic G-quadruplex formation in vitro and in the lysosomes of live cancer cells.

Guanine-rich oligonucleotides (GROs) can fold into G-quadruplex (G4) structures. The diverse roles of G4 structures, particularly as targets for drug design, anticancer agents, and drug delivery systems, highlight their critical significance in cancer research. However, the formation of G4 structures is highly dependent on the specific nucleotide sequences and the number of G-tracts within each GRO.

Characterization and evaluation of the adsorption of uremic toxins through the pyrolysis of pineapple leaves and peels and by forming a bio-complex with sodium alginate.

This study was performed to develop an optimal process for manufacturing activated carbon (AC) from pineapples' off-cuts (leaves and peels; PL and PP) by pyrolysis and for forming a bio-complex with sodium alginate (CA). In addition, the physicochemical properties were also explored under different preparation conditions, and the effects of adsorbed uremic toxins in three simulated gastrointestinal conditions (in vitro) were evaluated. This study showed that pyrolysis at 800 °C and activation by CO (30 min) resulted in satisfactory porous profiles with high specific surface areas of 388.

Comparison on functional and esthetic outcomes between single and combined surgery to crooked nose deformities.

Background: Nose deviation deformities pose a complex cosmetic and functional problem. The most common surgical intervention to manage such deformities is septorhinoplasty, typically performed by a plastic surgeon or a rhinologist. This study investigated the effect of a combined operation by a plastic surgeon and rhinologist, comparing them with those operations performed singlehandedly by a plastic surgeon.

The fibula osteoseptocutaneous flap: evolution in concepts, techniques, and technologies during mandibular reconstruction - a review.

The fibula-free flap has evolved from its initial description to be a reliable workhorse-free flap providing bone, soft tissue, and a reliable skin paddle. The senior author has been refining this technique since the mid-1980s and has personally performed over 950 hundred cases of the fibula-free flap. The following paragraphs detail an evolution in surgical concepts related to this technique's refinement and serves as a roadmap detailing contemporary mandibular reconstruction.

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.

A prospective pilot study of kidney-specific biomarkers to detect acute kidney injury after cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical morbidity after cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC).

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the use of kidney-specific biomarkers to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of post-HIPEC AKI.

Methods: Patients who received CRS/HIPEC were prospectively enrolled in this study.

Neurobehavioral disorders among children born to mothers exposed to illicit substances during pregnancy.

Background: Exposure to illicit substances during pregnancy may have long-term impacts on children's neurodevelopment. This study explores subsequent risks for intellectual disability, autistic disorders, and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in children born to mothers exposed to illicit substances before or during pregnancy.

Methods: We identified women with illicit drug use by linking the police records from the "Substance Abuse Control Databases" and Taiwan Birth Registration and Birth Notification records from 2004 to 2014.

Correlations Between the Pterygomaxillary Junction and Appropriate Osteotome Placement Angles During Junction Separation in Le Fort I Osteotomy.

Purpose: The authors evaluated pterygomaxillary junction angles across malocclusion patterns and identified the optimal technique for effective pterygomaxillary junction separation during Le Fort I osteotomy, focusing on appropriate osteotome angles and clinical applications.

Methods: This retrospective study included 211 patients with malocclusion who had undergone Le Fort I osteotomy at Chang Gung Craniofacial Center between December 2015 and September 2023. The patients were stratified by sex and malocclusion class (class I, II, or III).

The Effect of Left Temporal EEG Neurofeedback Training on Cerebral Cortical Activity and Precision Cognitive-Motor Performance.

The present study employed individualized magnitudes of electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha (8-12 hz) power in the left temporal (T3) region as a neurofeedback target parameter during the aiming period in pre-elite air pistol shooters to determine its effectiveness on cerebral cortical activation and performance accuracy compared to physical skill training, only. Shooting scores and EEG activity in the left and right temporal regions were collected from 20 healthy air pistol shooters (10 assigned to neurofeedback training) before and after a 16-session intervention completed within 6 weeks. Specifically, EEG low-alpha (8-10 hz), high-alpha (10-13 hz) power, and coherence obtained at the T3-Fz and T4-Fz recording sites over three consecutive 1-s intervals prior to trigger pull, were subjected to three separate 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 (Group x Hemisphere x Time x Epoch) ANOVAs.

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.