Development of a Computerized Adaptive Test of Children's Gross Motor Skills.

Objectives: To (1) develop a computerized adaptive test for gross motor skills (GM-CAT) as a diagnostic test and an outcome measure, using the gross motor skills subscale of the Comprehensive Developmental Inventory for Infants and Toddlers (CDIIT-GM) as the candidate item bank; and (2) examine the psychometric properties and the efficiency of the GM-CAT.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: A developmental center of a medical center.

[Workplace Stress Counseling for Nurses: A Community Counseling Model].

Nurses play an integral role in providing medical services, with the quality of nursing care related closely to the level of success that these services achieve. Nursing is a high-stress occupation with a relatively high risk of work burnout, which has been associated with reduced workplace satisfaction, increased turnover, and reduced patient safety. In recent years, the high level of work-related stress in nursing has been an important issue for the government, academia, and industry.

A rational approach for cancer stem-like cell isolation and characterization using CD44 and prominin-1(CD133) as selection markers.

The availability of adequate cancer stem cells or cancer stem-like cell (CSC) is important in cancer study. From ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV3 and OVCAR3, we induced peritoneal ascites tumors in immunodeficient mice. Among the cells (SKOV3.

The Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Improving Mind-Body Health for Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose. To conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review examining whether Tai Chi Chuan could have mental and physical benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods.

The Current Status of the Disease Caused by Enterovirus 71 Infections: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Molecular Epidemiology, and Vaccine Development.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections have a major public health impact in the Asia-Pacific region. We reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and molecular epidemiology of EV71 infection as well as EV71 vaccine development. Previous studies were found using the search terms "enterovirus 71" and "epidemiology" or "pathogenesis" or "molecular epidemiology" or "vaccine" in Medline and PubMed.

Genetic polymorphisms in APE1 Asp148Glu(rs3136820) as a modifier of the background levels of abasic sites in human leukocytes derived from breast cancer patients and controls.

Background: Apurinic/apyrimidinic (abasic/AP) sites are among the most common endogenous DNA lesions. AP sites, if not repaired, could result in genomic instability as well as chromosome aberrations. Information regarding the direct assay of the number of abasic sites in human leukocytes and its association with risk of breast cancer has not been reported.

Incidence of second hip fractures and associated mortality in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based study of 95,484 patients during 2006-2010.

Objectives: The aim of the study is was to determine the incidence and mortality of second hip fracture using a nationwide database.

Patients And Methods: A nationwide epidemiological study was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2001 to 2011. Patients older than 50 years with hip fractures from 2006 to 2011 were included in the study.

Proteinuria as a Therapeutic Target in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: a Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Current evidence of proteinuria reduction as a surrogate target in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incomplete due to lack of patient-pooled database. We retrospectively studied a multicenter cohort of 1891 patients who were enrolled in the nationwide multidisciplinary pre-end stage renal disease care program with a baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <45 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and followed longitudinally to investigate the effect of the change in proteinuria on renal death (defined as composite of dialysis and death occurring before initiation of dialysis).

Relative variances of the cadence frequency of cycling under two differential saddle heights.

[Purpose] Bicycle saddle height is a critical factor for cycling performance and injury prevention. The present study compared the variance in cadence frequency after exercise fatigue between saddle heights with 25° and 35° knee flexion. [Methods] Two saddle heights, which were determined by setting the pedal at the bottom dead point with 35° and 25° knee flexion, were used for testing.

Changes of Plantar Pressure and Gait Parameters in Children with Mild Cerebral Palsy Who Used a Customized External Strap Orthosis: A Crossover Study.

Toe-in gait and crouch gait can make children with mild cerebral palsy fall and suffer improper balance during walking or ambulation training. A customized external strap orthosis for correcting leg alignment was used to resolve this problem. The purpose of this study was to research the immediate effects while wearing the customized external strap orthosis.

Muscle Activation of Vastus Medialis Oblique and Vastus Lateralis in Sling-Based Exercises in Patients with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Cross-Over Study.

Objectives. To examine what changes are caused in the activity of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) at the time of sling-based exercises in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and compare the muscular activations in patients with PFPS among the sling-based exercises. Methods.

Current status of rotavirus vaccines.

Background: Rotaviruses remain the major cause of childhood diarrheal disease worldwide and of diarrheal deaths of infants and children in developing countries. The huge burden of childhood rotavirus-related diarrhea in the world continues to drive the remarkable pace of vaccine development.

Data Sources: Research articles were searched using terms "rotavirus" and "rotavirus vaccine" in MEDLINE and PubMed.

Effects of Kinesio Taping versus McConnell Taping for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives. To conduct a systematic review comparing the effects of Kinesio taping with McConnell taping as a method of conservative management of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Methods.

New design of home-based dynamic hand splint for hemiplegic hands: a preliminary study.

[Purpose] Hemiplegia following a stroke can affect hand movement; therefore, reconstructing hand function is the most desired outcome for stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the application of rehabilitation through the use of a dynamic hand splint and observes its effects on the muscle strength and functional activity of the affected hands. [Subjects and Methods] Chronic stroke patients who underwent a 3-month conventional rehabilitation using the dynamic hand splint were recruited .

Core strength training for patients with chronic low back pain.

[Purpose] Through core strength training, patients with chronic low back pain can strengthen their deep trunk muscles. However, independent training remains challenging, despite the existence of numerous core strength training strategies. Currently, no standardized system has been established analyzing and comparing the results of core strength training and typical resistance training.

A positive bacterial culture from allograft bone at implantation does not correlate with subsequent surgical site infection.

Fresh-frozen allograft bone is frequently used in orthopaedic surgery. We investigated the incidence of allograft-related infection and analysed the outcomes of recipients of bacterial culture-positive allografts from our single-institute bone bank during bone transplantation. The fresh-frozen allografts were harvested in a strict sterile environment during total joint arthroplasty surgery and immediately stored in a freezer at -78º to -68º C after packing.

Disease caused by rotavirus infection.

Although rotavirus vaccines are available, rotaviruses remain the major cause of childhood diarrheal disease worldwide. The Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Rixensart, Belgium) and RotaTeq (Merck and Co., Inc.

Long-term risk of tuberculosis in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: a 10-year nationwide study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious problem for patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in TB-endemic areas; however, data on these patients are limited.

Methods: We obtained data on 2040 HSCT recipients from the Registry of Catastrophic Illness in Taiwan from 1997 to 2006. We also obtained data on age-, sex- and enrolment date-matched controls from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database.

Effects of open and closed kinetic chains of sling exercise therapy on the muscle activity of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis.

[Purpose] The muscle strength of the quadriceps muscle is critical in patellofemoral pain syndrome. The quadriceps muscle supplies the power for dynamic patellar movement, and the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) enable the patella to stabilize during tracking. We followed the theories about open and closed kinetic chain exercises to design two exercises, sling open chain knee extension (SOCKE) exercise and sling closed chain knee extension (SCCKE) exercise.

A Meta-analysis of Clinical Effects of Low-level Laser Therapy on Temporomandibular Joint Pain.

[Purpose] Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain is a symptom of TMJ disease. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is often used in the clinical treatment of TMJ pain. The aim of this study was to review the effective parameters of LLLT for TMJ pain.

Auditory and Visual Attention Performance in Children With ADHD: The Attentional Deficiency of ADHD Is Modality Specific.

Objective: This study explored auditory and visual attention in children with ADHD.

Method: In a randomized, two-period crossover design, 50 children with ADHD and 50 age- and sex-matched typically developing peers were measured with the Test of Various Attention (TOVA).

Results: The deficiency of visual attention is more serious than that of auditory attention in children with ADHD.

Systemic sclerosis and the risk of tuberculosis.

Objective: Pulmonary involvement is common in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and this condition causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Disrupted immunity from the disease or associated medication may render such patients subject to tuberculosis (TB) infection. However, the relationship between SSc and TB has not yet been investigated.

The impact of acute kidney injury on the long-term risk of stroke.

Background: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis in hospitalized patients is increasing; however, information on the long-term incidence of stroke in patients surviving to discharge after recovering from AKI after dialysis has not been reported.

Methods And Results: Patients that survived after recovery from dialysis-requiring AKI during index hospitalizations from 1999 to 2008 were identified in nationwide administrative registries. The risk of de novo stroke and death were analyzed with time-varying Cox proportional hazard models.

The epidemiology of imported malaria in Taiwan between 2002-2013: the importance of sensitive surveillance and implications for pre-travel medical advice.

The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of imported malaria in Taiwan between 2002 and 2013. We analyzed the national data recorded by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC). Malaria cases were diagnosed by blood films, polymerase chain reaction, or rapid diagnostic tests.

Vimentin is involved in peptidylarginine deiminase 2-induced apoptosis of activated Jurkat cells.

Peptidylarginine deiminase type 2 (PADI2) deiminates (or citrullinates) arginine residues in protein to citrulline residues in a Ca2+-dependent manner, and is found in lymphocytes and macrophages. Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein and a well-known substrate of PADI2. Citrullinated vimentin is found in ionomycin-induced macrophage apoptosis.