Lifestyle and risk factors associated with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels in rural men: implications for health counseling.

Background: The use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for early detection of prostate cancer (PCa) is common but controversial. In rural areas, PSA is widely used for screening because it is convenient and early-stage PCa often shows no symptoms. Studies suggest that PSA levels are linked to factors like unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, lack of exercise, inflammation, and aging.

Associations between vitamin A and K intake and lung function in the general US population: evidence from NHANES 2007-2012.

Introduction: While nutrition's critical role in enhancing respiratory health is acknowledged, the specific impacts of vitamins A and K on lung function remain largely unexplored. The study aimed to evaluate the relationships between vitamins A and K intake and lung function.

Methods: The cross-sectional study focused on adults aged 20-79 with utilizing data from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2012.

A cooperative learning intervention for improving a simulation-based paediatric nursing course: A quasi-experimental study.

Aim: This study aimed to examine if a cooperative intervention improved outcomes for a simulation-based paediatric nursing course.

Background: Fostering cooperative learning can enhance student engagement and improve learning. Simulation-based courses provide nursing students an opportunity to practice and hone nursing skills when hands-on experiences are limited.

[Improving the Accuracy of Patient Self-Care After Joint Replacement Surgery].

Background & Problems: Joint replacement wound stitches are typically not removed until two weeks after the operation. Therefore, patients with joint replacement must be able to execute proper wound care after discharge from the hospital to reduce the risk of wound infection. Prior data from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's orthopedics ward indicate only 69% of joint-replacement patients are able to perform wound care properly at home.

An analysis of the relevance and proximity between maxillary posterior root apices to the maxillary sinus and the buccal cortical bone plate.

Background/purpose: Understanding the relationship between maxillary sinus and posterior root apices is critical in preventing dental treatment complications. This study aimed to analyze and showcase the relationship between the posterior root apices and the maxillary sinus floor, the distance to the buccal cortical bone, and their correlation with age, gender, and sides.

Materials And Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography images were collected from 94 patients with a total of 478 maxillary posterior teeth and 997 roots.

Composite Polycaprolactone/Gelatin Nanofiber Membrane Scaffolds for Mesothelial Cell Culture and Delivery in Mesothelium Repair.

To repair damaged mesothelium tissue, which lines internal organs and cavities, a tissue engineering approach with mesothelial cells seeded to a functional nanostructured scaffold is a promising approach. Therefore, this study explored the uses of electrospun nanofiber membrane scaffolds (NMSs) as scaffolds for mesothelial cell culture and transplantation. We fabricated a composite NMS through electrospinning by blending polycaprolactone (PCL) with gelatin.

Applying team-based learning combined with empathy map to improve self-directed learning skills.

Background: Lifelong learning is essential for cultivating conscientious nurses. Because self-directed learning is significantly correlated with lifelong learning, it is necessary to enhance nursing students' self-directed learning skills after graduation. This study examined the effectiveness of an integrated team-based learning and empathy mapping teaching strategy in a Psychiatric Nursing course for enhancing students' self-directed learning skills and academic performance.

The importance of high total body water/fat free mass ratio and serial changes in body composition for predicting hospital mortality in patients with severe pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of body composition variables on hospital mortality compared to other predictive factors among patients with severe pneumonia. Additionally, we aimed to monitor the dynamic changes in body composition variables over the course on days 1, 3, and 8 after intensive care unit (ICU) admission for each patient.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study, enrolling patients with severe pneumonia admitted to the medical intensive care unit at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from February 2020 to April 2022.

Polycaprolactone in Bone Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Review of Innovations in Scaffold Fabrication and Surface Modifications.

Bone tissue engineering has seen significant advancements with innovative scaffold fabrication techniques such as 3D printing. This review focuses on enhancing polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold properties through structural modifications, including surface treatments, pore architecture adjustments, and the incorporation of biomaterials like hydroxyapatite (HA). These modifications aim to improve scaffold conformation, cellular behavior, and mechanical performance, with particular emphasis on the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in bone regeneration.

Neonatal gut microbiota profile and the association with retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants.

Background: To explore the role of gut microbiota in preterm infants at high risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: Preterm infants with gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks and/or birth weight (BW) < 1500 g born between 2020 and 2021 were prospectively enrolled. Their faecal samples were collected and analysed at different postnatal ages of life using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the Miseq platform.

Pseudogene: Relevant or Irrelevant?

With the advancement of high-throughput technologies, the pivotal role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) as a master regulator of various biological functions has become increasingly apparent. Historically considered non-functional and labeled as "junk DNA," pseudogenes can be transcribed into RNA, indicating a potential role similar to ncRNAs. Recent research suggests that some pseudogenes can encode functional peptides or proteins.

Cytidine Deaminase Enhances Liver Cancer Invasion by Modulating Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via NFκB Signaling.

Background: Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, underscoring the importance of understanding its underlying mechanisms. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a highly malignant type of cancer, was selected as our research model.

Material And Methods: We aimed to develop high-metastatic cell lines using in vitro and in vivo selection strategies and identify critical metastasis-related genes through microarray analyses by comparing them with parental cells.

Discovery of 1,3-disubstituted prop-2-en-1-one derivatives as inhibitors of neutrophilic inflammation via modulation of MAPK and Akt pathways.

Targeting neutrophil function has gained attention as a propitious therapeutic strategy for diverse inflammatory diseases. Accordingly, a series of enone-based derivatives were developed to inhibit neutrophil-mediated inflammation, showing promise for treating inflammatory diseases. These compounds fall into two clusters with distinct effects: one inhibits neutrophilic superoxide (SO) anion production and elastase release triggered by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF), with compound being most effective (IC values of 1.

Neutrophils in Atopic Dermatitis.

Neutrophils have a critical role in inflammation. Recent studies have identified their distinctive presence in certain types of atopic dermatitis (AD), yet their exact function remains unclear. This review aims to compile studies elucidating the role of neutrophils in AD pathophysiology.

Familial coaggregation of major psychiatric disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders among first-degree relatives of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder.

Background: Anxiety disorders, major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia and major affective disorders), and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.

The Inhibiting Effect of GB-2, (+)-Catechin, Theaflavin, and Theaflavin 3-Gallate on Interaction between ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 EG.5.1 and HV.1 Variants.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to pose significant global health challenges. The results demonstrated that GB-2 at 200 μg/mL effectively increased the population of 293T-ACE2 cells with low RBD binding for both SARS-CoV-2 Omicron EG.5.

A Narrative Review: Repurposing Metformin as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Oral Cancer.

Oral cancer, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is a significant global health challenge because of its high incidence and limited treatment options. Major risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and specific microbiota, contribute to the disease's prevalence. Recently, a compelling association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and oral cancer has been identified, with metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, emerging as a potential therapeutic agent across various cancers, including OSCC.

Interpretable Machine Learning Models for Predicting Critical Outcomes in Patients with Suspected Urinary Tract Infection with Positive Urine Culture.

(1) Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a leading cause of emergency department visits and hospital admissions. Despite many studies identifying UTI-related risk factors for bacteremia or sepsis, a significant gap remains in developing predictive models for in-hospital mortality or the necessity for emergent intensive care unit admission in the emergency department. This study aimed to construct interpretable machine learning models capable of identifying patients at high risk for critical outcomes.

Flavonol-Ruthenium Complexes as Antioxidant and Anticancer Agents.

Flavonol-metal complexes can enhance the biological activity of flavonols. Inspired by the potential of ruthenium-based drugs in pharmaceutical applications, seven flavonol-Ru (II) complexes were synthesized to evaluate their biological activities. Among these compounds, compounds 8, 11, and 12 showed potent antioxidant activities.

Predictors of ICU Surrogates' States of Concurrent Prolonged Grief, Posttraumatic Stress, and Depression Symptoms.

Objectives: Scarce research explores factors of concurrent psychologic distress (prolonged grief disorder [PGD], posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and depression). This study models surrogates' longitudinal, heterogenous grief-related reactions and multidimensional risk factors drawing from the integrative framework of predictors for bereavement outcomes (intrapersonal, interpersonal, bereavement-related, and death-circumstance factors), emphasizing clinical modifiability.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

and -enriched adsc-exosomes mitigate PM exposure-exacerbated cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury through the modulation of the BNIP3-MAP1LC3B-BBC3/PUMA pathway.

Epidemiology has shown a strong relationship between fine particulate matter (PM) exposure and cardiovascular disease. However, it remains unknown whether PM aggravates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and the related mechanisms are unclear. Our previous study has shown that adipose stem cell-derived exosomes (ADSC-Exos) contain high levels of and .