Association between activity quotient and cause-specific mortality - A prospective cohort study of 0.5 million participants in Asia.

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is important for reducing the risk of chronic diseases and improving overall health. Activity Quotient (AQ) is a novel metric that translates heart rate during PA into a weekly score, providing an objective measure of an individual's PA. We prospectively examined the association of AQ with cancer and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality outcomes, the two major causes of death, in a Taiwanese population.

Uncovering a dose-response relationship between positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer-related mortality.

Background: Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Its association with non-CRC mortality has been overlooked. Given the quantitative FIT values, its dose-response relationships with different causes of deaths and years of life shortened were assessed.

Translocation of Methionine Adenosyl Transferase MAT2A and Its Prognostic Relevance for Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Methionine adenosyl transferases (MATs) catalyze the synthesis of the biological methyl donor adenosylmethionine (SAM). Dysregulation of MATs has been associated with carcinogenesis in humans. We previously found that downregulation of the gene enriches the protein-associated translation process and worsens liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) prognosis.

Surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering dual-readout chip constructed with silver nanowires: Label-free clinical detection of direct-bilirubin.

It has been found that the direct/total bilirubin ratio (D/T-BIL) is related to the survival rate of COVID-19 pneumonia. The presence of an excessive amount of bilirubin in human blood also causes liver and neurological damage, leading to death. Therefore, upon considering the adverse impact of the presence of excessive bilirubin in human blood, it has become highly imperative to detect bilirubin in a fast and label-free manner.

Sequence types 8, 59, and 45 methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus as the predominant strains causing skin and soft tissue infections in Taiwan's prisons and jails.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the predominant cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), which is a problem in prisons and jails. We conducted this study to understand MRSA molecular characteristics among inmates with SSTIs, and we chose MRSA isolates from a community hospital as a comparison.

Methods: A total of 219 MRSA isolates from three custodial facilities and 134 isolates from a community hospital in Taiwan were collected in the 2017 calendar year.

Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation with suture mucopexy compared with LigaSure™-assisted pile excision for the treatment of grade III hemorrhoids: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation and stapled hemorrhoidopexy have been used in surgical practices to avoid post-hemorrhoidectomy pain. Our study compared Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation with suture mucopexy (DGHAL-SM) and ligature-assisted pile excision (LAP) for greater than three grades of internal hemorrhoids.

Methods: Eighty patients with greater than 3 grades of internal hemorrhoids were selected (age range: 20-28 years; average age: 23 years) between January and June 2015.

Apoptosis induction and ERK/NF-κB inactivation are associated with magnolol-inhibited tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo.

Although hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C virus were recognized as major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), certain occupational, environmental, and lifestyle factors also play key roles in HCC tumorigenesis. Moreover, in molecular signaling route, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling was found to be overexpressed and linked to poor prognosis in HCC. Thus, to identify possible nature compound that can suppress ERK/NF-κB may be benefit to HCC patient.

Synergistic effect of platelet-rich plasma injections and scalp lifting in androgenetic alopecia.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common hair loss disorder, especially in men and the elderly. In this study, we analyzed the therapeutic effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and embedded sutures in patients with AGA. In each participant, we administered different treatments in one area of hair loss that was divided into four sections.

Elevated Plasma Levels of Gas6 Are Associated with Acute Lung Injury in Patients with Severe Sepsis.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is one of the complications of severe sepsis, causing sudden deaths. However, information regarding predictive factors for the onset of ALI in severe sepsis is limited. Growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) is secreted by endothelial cells and is important for the activation of endothelium during inflammation.

Tricetin suppresses human oral cancer cell migration by reducing matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression through the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

Tricetin is a flavonoid derivative and a potent anti-inflammatory and anticancer agent. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of tricetin on human oral cancer cell migration remains unclear. The cell migration and invasion abilities of three oral cancer cell lines (SCC-9, HSC-3, and OECM-1) were analyzed using Boyden chamber migration assays.

The effects of the location of cancer stem cell marker CD133 on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background: CD133 (prominin-1) is widely believed to be a cancer stem cell marker in various solid tumor types, and CD133 has been correlated with tumor-initiating capacity. Recently, the nuclear location of CD133 expression in tumors has been discussed, but hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been included in these discussions. The goal of this study was to investigate the location of CD133 expression in HCC and this location's potential value as a prognostic indicator of survival in patients with HCC.

Nasogastric tube placement with video-guided laryngoscope: A manikin simulator study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate video-guided laryngoscopy for nasogastric tube placement.

Methods: This was an observational comparative study performed in a hospital. The participants included volunteers from the medical staff (physicians and nurses) experienced with nasogastric intubation, and non-medical staff (medical students, pharmacists and emergent medical technicians) with knowledge of nasogastric intubation but lacking procedural experience.

Rapidly Developed Multiple Face and Neck Skin Cancers in a Patient with Sjögren's Syndrome: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic, systemic disorder of an autoimmune nature, and its primary etiopathogenetic events are not known. Previous studies have found elevated incidence of malignancies in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. However, there are few reports regarding the association of Sjögren's syndrome with skin cancers, especially with multiple skin cancers developed within a short time.

Elevated transglutaminase-2 expression in the epidermis of psoriatic skin and its role in the skin lesion development.

Psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease triggered by the immune system, presents keratinocyte hyperproliferation, differentiation and angiogenesis. The role of transglutaminase-2 (TG2) in psoriasis has not been fully established yet. In this retrospective, non-randomized and non-blinded study, skin biopsies were collected from 37 psoriatic patients and immunohistochemical staining was performed.

Prognostic impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Objectives: To investigate the prognostic impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (AdjCT) in patients with high-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials And Methods: A total 403 NPC patients with at least one of the following criteria (1) neck node>6cm; (2) supraclavicular node metastasis; (3) skull base destruction/intracranial invasion plus multiple nodes metastasis; or (4) multiple neck nodes metastasis with one of nodal size>4cm were retrospectively reviewed. All patients finished curative radiotherapy±neoadjuvant/concurrent chemotherapy.

False Suggestion of Malignant Transformation of Benign Bone Tumor by 18F-FDG PET/CT: A Potential Pitfall.

A 68-year-old man underwent serial F-FDG PET/CT scan follow-up for lung cancer. Then 5.5 years after the initial F-FDG PET/CT scan, the presumed benign bone tumor in the left clavicle showed markedly increased FDG uptake during follow-up; in contrast, the Tc-MDP bone scan paradoxically exhibited no apparent interval change since last bone scan 5.

Beneficial effects of bipolar hemiarthroplasty replacement and fosamax in the retrospective cohort study of refracture and mortality of hip fractured patients.

The epidemiological hip fracture leads to a high death rate in the elderly with osteoporosis worldwide. However, the appropriate surgical styles or anti-osteoporotic therapy could prevent these patients with hip fractures from suffering refracture, but the efficacy of such treatment remains elusive for first hip fractured patients. Our retrospective analysis was conducted on 508 hip fracture patients who were enrolled from Show Chwan Memorial Hospital from January 2005 through December 2011 and followed up until the end of 2012.

The efficacy and safety of everolimus for the treatment of progressive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: A multi-institution observational study in Taiwan.

Aim: Everolimus is an inhibitor of mTOR, approved for treatment of advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The purpose of this observational study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of everolimus in treatment of progressive, advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) in Taiwan.

Methods: Fifty-three patients with progressive, advanced GEP-NETs who received everolimus treatment between January 2008 and August 2014 were selected.

Risk of cancer in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a nationwide population-based study.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the overall cancer risk among patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by using a nationwide population-based data set.

Methods: We obtained data on newly diagnosed IBS patients (age ≥ 20 years) without antecedent cancer from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for the period between 2000 and 2010. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for various types of cancer in the IBS patients.

Effects of Yoga on Stress, Stress Adaption, and Heart Rate Variability Among Mental Health Professionals--A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Mental health professionals experiencing work-related stress may experience burn out, leading to a negative impact on their organization and patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of yoga classes on work-related stress, stress adaptation, and autonomic nerve activity among mental health professionals.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was used, which compared the outcomes between the experimental (e.

Secondary primary malignancy risk among patients with esophageal cancer in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: To evaluate the risk and sites of metachronous secondary primary malignancies (SPMs) among patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods: Newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients between 1997 and 2011 were recruited. To avoid surveillance bias, SPMs that developed within one year were excluded.

Inhibition of cytochrome P450 2C9 expression and activity in vitro by allyl isothiocyanate.

The growing interest in the use of natural herbal products and dietary supplements to treat and prevent diseases raises the question of medicinal drug safety. Allyl isothiocyanate, a hydrolysis product of a glucosinolate, sinigrin, has multiple beneficial properties, and based on this fact, allyl isothiocyanate-containing dietary supplements have been developed. To date, no studies of the effects of this compound on the cytochrome P450 2C9 have been reported.