Growth changes in infants born of adolescent mothers: Results of a national cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Adolescent pregnancy and childbirth are associated with increased risk and challenges for both mothers and birth outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the associations of growth change over time with parenting factors and to compare the differences between children born to adolescent and adult mothers in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: The dataset retrieved from Taiwan birth cohort study (TBCS) was collected by interviews using structured questionnaires, birth certificate and Passport of Well-baby Care of each child.

The Chinese version of the Facts on Aging Quiz scale: reliability and validity assessment.

Background: The use of health care services by older adults is increasing with the aging of the population. It is therefore essential that health care workers are current in their knowledge about gerontology; thus, educational programs regarding the care of elders are essential. Chinese-language assessments to measure knowledge about gerontology and aging and attitudes toward older adults are lacking.

Evaluating outcomes of Taiwan's first gerontology certification program.

The elderly population will approach 20% within the next 20 years. This enhances the need for skilled and experienced health care providers. There is a critical need to strengthen gerontology curricula to prepare health-related professionals for a graying population.

Taiwanese medical and nursing student interest levels in and attitudes towards geriatrics.

Introduction: To investigate the attitudes of medical and nursing student towards the older Chinese population.

Materials And Methods: A reliable and valid Chinese language version of Kogan's Attitudes toward Older People (KAOP) with 17 matched item pairs (34 items) was completed by 275 medical and nursing students. Descriptive data analysis was employed.

A Chinese version of Kogan's Attitude Toward Older People Scale: reliability and validity assessment.

Background: Taiwan is facing the dilemma of a rapidly growing elderly population and there is a perceived need for greater gerontological education. Several universities have recently started providing elective gerontological certification programs. In order to provide useful and sufficient information to increase students' knowledge and attitudes, to develop a reliable and valid instrument is essential and helpful for faculty as well as the program director to pinpoint students' strengths and weaknesses.

Amplification of the entire genome of influenza A virus H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

This study describes the development of a simple RT-PCR method to amplify the whole genome of the influenza A virus based on the amplification of full-length gene segments. Primers were designed based on the conserved regions of both the 5'-end and the 3'-end of each gene segment. After optimizing the duration and temperature of denaturing, annealing, and extension, these primers could amplify all of the full-length gene segments.