Comparative In vitro antibacterial activity of nemonoxacin and other fluoroquinolones in correlation with resistant mechanisms in contemporary methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus blood isolates in Taiwan.

Background: Nemonoxacin is a new quinolone with an antibacterial efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Certain sequence types (STs) have been emerging in Taiwan, including fluoroquinolone-resistant ST8/USA300. It's an urgent need to determine nemonoxacin susceptibility against ST8/USA300 and other emerging lineages, if any.

The severity of coronary heart disease and the incidence of later diabetic retinopathy in diabetic population: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The coronary heart disease (CHD) can influence the development of several diseases. The presence of CHD is correlated to a higher incidence of concurrent diabetic retinopathy (DR) in previous study. Herein, we aim to analyze the relationship between the CHD severity and following DR with different severity.

Internet of Things (IoT)-Driven Fermentation System for Enhanced Cordycepin Production in Cordyceps militaris (Ascomycetes) under Hypoxic Conditions.

Cordycepin, known for its tumor-suppressive and antiviral properties, has garnered attention due to its therapeutic and biological potential. Current Cordyceps militaris - based cordycepin production methods involve time-consuming and cost-intensive solid-state fermentation. Using an internet of things (IoT) architecture, we developed an active air-feed regulation fermentation system (AAFRFS) to detect CO2 emitted during C.

Two-year clinical outcomes of Taiwanese and other Asian ethnicities with atrial fibrillation treated with edoxaban in the ETNA-AF Asia registry.

Background: The non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC), edoxaban, is approved for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in many Asian countries. Nonetheless, data on its long-term effectiveness and safety in routine clinical practice are limited in Taiwan.

Methods: The Global ETNA-AF (Edoxaban Treatment in routiNe clinical prActice) registry is an observational study that integrates data of AF patients receiving edoxaban from multiple regional registries.

Can we diagnose noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features before surgery?

Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) can be differentiated from invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (eFV-PTC) by the presence of a tumor capsule or blood vessel invasion in histological examination. The objective of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to distinguish between NIFTP and invasive eFV-PTC before surgery. Patients diagnosed with NIFTP and invasive eFV-PTC from 2017 to 2023 were analyzed for biochemical, ultrasonographic, and cytological features.

Developing competency-based medical education for dental education in Taiwan: A pilot study of tooth extraction entrustable professional activities.

Background/purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the initial implementation of competency-based medical education (CBME) through entrustable professional activities (EPAs) in Taiwan dental education, focusing on tooth extraction EPAs across undergraduate year (UGY), postgraduate year (PGY), and oral and maxillofacial surgery-residency (OS-R) levels.

Materials And Methods: Using the Delphi method, an advisory team developed and validated three levels of trial EPAs, which were implemented through the Emyway platform. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate teachers' and students' experiences and satisfaction with Emyway and the EPAs.

Unexpected cardiovascular risks of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist and aspirin co-administration in individuals with obesity, with and without type 2 diabetes: A propensity score matched cohort study.

Aims: To examine the cardiovascular safety of combining glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) with aspirin in individuals with obesity, both with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Materials And Methods: This propensity score matched cohort study analysed data from 2 946 579 individuals with obesity, with and without T2D, using the TriNetX US and Global dataset. Participants were categorized into four matched groups: those receiving GLP-1 RA plus aspirin versus those receiving GLP-1 RA alone, for both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Outcomes of upfront primary tumor resection in patients with synchronous wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

This multicenter study explored the survival benefits of upfront primary tumor resection (PTR) followed by first-line cetuximab plus chemotherapy in real-world patients with wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Treatment options for mCRC include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. The efficacy of upfront PTR in managing mCRC remains unclear.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes among vaccinated patients with tuberculosis.

Objectives: Limited data are available to assess breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections, medical utilization, and mortality in patients with tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to examine the risk of COVID-19 and severe outcomes in patients with TB between January 2020 and March 2022.

Study Design: US electronic medical records were used to identify TB and non-TB patients who completed the primary series of vaccination and had no prior COVID-19.

AI-Driven Enhancement of Skin Cancer Diagnosis: A Two-Stage Voting Ensemble Approach Using Dermoscopic Data.

Background: Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with melanoma being the deadliest type, though it accounts for less than 5% of cases. Traditional skin cancer detection methods are effective but are often costly and time-consuming. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have improved skin cancer diagnosis by helping dermatologists identify suspicious lesions.

Prediction of Persistent Tumor Status in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Post-Radiotherapy-Related Treatment: A Machine Learning Approach.

The duration of the response to radiotherapy-related treatment is a critical prognostic indicator for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Persistent tumor status, including residual tumor presence and early recurrence, is associated with poorer survival outcomes. To address this, we developed a prediction model to identify patients at a high risk of persistent tumor status prior to initiating treatment.

Comparison Between Topographic-Based and Manifest-Based Astigmatism Corrections in the Second (Visumax 800)-Generation Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction Surgery: A Real-World Study.

: To evaluate the effectiveness of astigmatism correction between topographic- and manifest-based methods in individuals who underwent second-generation keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) surgery. : This study was conducted with participants who underwent second-generation KLEx surgery. After exclusion, there were 46 and 43 participants in the manifest and topographic groups, respectively.

Use of Machine Learning to Predict the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Among Relatively Healthy Adults: A 10-Year Longitudinal Study in Taiwan.

: The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, particularly in the Pacific Ocean island nations. Although machine learning (ML) models and data mining approaches have been applied to diabetes research, there was no study utilizing ML models to predict diabetes incidence in Taiwan. We aimed to predict the onset of diabetes in order to raise health awareness, thereby promoting any necessary lifestyle modifications and help mitigate disease burden.

Comparison of Visual and Refractive Outcomes Between Refractive Lens Exchange and Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction Surgery in Moderate to High Myopia.

: To evaluate the visual and refractive outcomes of keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) surgery and refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery in moderate to high myopia patients. : A retrospective cohort study was performed, and patients receiving KLEx or RLE surgeries with myopia within -3.00 to -10.

The Potential for High-Priority Care Based on Pain Through Facial Expression Detection with Patients Experiencing Chest Pain.

Background And Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), one of the chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), is defined as a cardiac and vascular disorder that includes coronary heart disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and elevated blood pressure (hypertension). Having CVD increases the mortality rate. Emotional stress, an indirect indicator associated with CVD, can often manifest through facial expressions.

Effect of abnormal placental cord insertion on hemodynamic change of umbilical cord in a tertiary center: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Our study aims to evaluate the umbilical vein (UV) hemodynamic change in the prenatal cohort of pregnancies diagnosed with abnormal placental cord insertion (aPCI).

Methods: From January 2022 to December 2022, the fetal umbilical cord insertion site was sonographically examined in singleton fetuses, and umbilical cord blood flow was calculated. The umbilical artery and UV Doppler flow indexes were assessed in cases of normal and abnormal cord insertion.

Prolapsed fallopian tube to the vagina after hysterectomy a year ago: A case report.

Objective: This case report aims to present a rare occurrence of fallopian tube prolapse into the vaginal vault following hysterectomy, underscoring the importance of recognizing this uncommon complication.

Case Report: A 45-year-old woman, with a history of hysterectomy for adenomyosis, presented with symptoms mimicking a vaginal tumor, including persistent discharge, abdominal pain, postcoital bleeding, and weight loss. Imaging raised concerns of malignancy, but surgery revealed a prolapsed fallopian tube with chronic inflammation.

Impact of patient resourcefulness on cancer patients' pain management and medical opioid use: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Negative beliefs about cancer pain and morphine are detrimental to pain interpretation. Patients with high resourcefulness often proactively address problems to cope with stress, and establish problem-solving strategies.The aim of the project is to investigate the impact of resourcefulness and pain interpretation on cancer-related pain control.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells in Humans Exhibit Resistance to Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid (SAHA) Owing to the Diminished Level of Hsa-miR-125a-5p.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents an escalating public health challenge globally. However, drug resistance has emerged as a major impediment to successful HCC treatment, limiting the efficacy of curative interventions. Despite numerous investigations into the diverse impacts of hsa-miR-125a-5p on tumor growth across different cancer types, its specific involvement in chemotherapy resistance in HCC remains elusive.

Endoglin as a predictive biomarker for pemetrexed sensitivity in non-small-cell lung cancer: a cellular study.

Objective: Based on our previous research, which demonstrated that elevated plasma endoglin (ENG) levels in lung cancer patients were associated with a better prognosis, increased sensitivity to pemetrexed, and enhanced tumor suppression, this study aims to validate these findings at the cellular level. The focus is on membrane and extracellular ENG and their influence on drug response and tumor cell behavior in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.

Methods: The correlation between ENG expression and pemetrexed-induced cytotoxicity in eight human non-squamous subtype NSCLC cell lines was analyzed.

Tribbles pseudokinase 3 drives cancer stemness in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by supporting the expression levels of SOX2 and EGFR.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a type of head and neck cancer (HNC) with a high recurrence rate, which has been reported to be associated with the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3) is involved in intracellular signaling and the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of TRIB3 in the maintenance of CSCs. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database samples demonstrated a positive correlation between TRIB3 expression levels and shorter overall survival rates in patients with HNC.

Low Versus High Levels of Social Cognition Impairment and Their Associations With Specific Schizophrenia Symptom Domains.

Objective: Social cognition is defined as the ability to construct mental representations about oneself, others, and one's relationships with others to guide social behaviors, including referring to mental states (cognitive factor) and understanding emotional states (affective factor). Difficulties in social cognition may be symptoms of schizophrenia. The authors examined associations between two factors of social cognition and specific schizophrenia symptoms, as well as a potential path from low-level affective perceptual social cognition to high-level social cognition, which may be associated with schizophrenia symptoms.