Comparison of clinical and laboratory data between hantavirus infection and leptospirosis: a retrospective case series study in southern Taiwan.

Background: Leptospirosis (LS) and hantavirus (HV) are rodent-borne diseases and share similar clinical manifestations, posing diagnostic challenges.

Methods: This retrospective study compared clinical characteristics, laboratory data, complications and outcomes of 33 LS and nine HV cases in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from 2006 to 2021.

Results: Both LS and HV diseases had high rates of acute kidney injury (84.

Impact of Pre-existing Anti-polyethylene Glycol Antibodies on the Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of a COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (Comirnaty) In Vivo.

The presence of anti-polyethylene glycol (anti-PEG) antibodies can hinder the therapeutic efficacy of PEGylated drugs. With the widespread use of a PEGylated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) messenger RNA vaccine (Comirnaty), the impact of pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies on vaccine potency has become a point of debate. To investigate this, we established mouse models with pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies and divided them into 3 groups: group 1 with anti-PEG immunoglobulin G + immunoglobulin M concentrations of 0.

The association between patients' personality traits and pain perception during orthodontic treatment: a systematic review.

Background: Orthodontic treatment is frequently correlated with different levels of discomfort and pain, caused by the application of forces to move the teeth. The mechanism of orthodontic pain is based on the initially activation of sensory receptors in periodontal tissues which results in a cascade of nociceptive pain processing and transduction in both the central and peripheral nervous systems that is finally experienced by patients. The perception of pain is subjective and varies among people, as it is influenced by both general and individual elements.

Repurposing of the Antipsychotic Trifluoperazine Induces SLC7A11/GPX4- Mediated Ferroptosis of Oral Cancer via the ROS/Autophagy Pathway.

Ferroptosis, a mode of cell death characterized by iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation, has a substantial therapeutic potential for the treatment of various cancers. This study investigated the effects of trifluoperazine (TFP), an FDA-approved drug traditionally utilized for mental health disorder, on oral cancer cells, with a particular focus on the mechanisms involved in its potential anti-tumor properties. Our findings indicate that TFP significantly elevates the levels of lipid-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces ferroptotic cell death in oral cancer cells through pathways involving autophagy, the SLC7A11/GPX4 axis, and mitochondrial damage.

The effectiveness of foam rolling with and without vibration and static stretching on range of motion, muscle strength and proprioception of the ankle joint in adults with chronic ankle instability.

Background: People with chronic ankle instability (CAI) have insufficient ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM) and decreases proprioception and muscle strength. Foam roller with and without vibration as a warm-up intervention may have benefits for healthy populations, but the effect on applied to injured individuals is still lacking, especially in CAI. Therefore, we aimed to compare the acute effects of three warm-up interventions, including vibration foam rolling (VR), foam rolling (FR), and static stretching (SS) in adults with CAI.

Skin immune-mesenchymal interplay within tertiarylymphoid structures promotes autoimmunepathogenesis in hidradenitis suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating inflammatory skin disease characterized by keratinized epithelial tunnels that grow deeply into the dermis. Here, we examined the immune microenvironment within human HS lesions. Multi-omics profiling and multiplexed imaging identified tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) near HS tunnels.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Hemodynamic Management Using Norepinephrine on Cardiorespiratory Function Following Cervical Spinal Cord Contusion in Rats.

Cervical spinal cord injury usually leads to cardiorespiratory dysfunction due to interruptions of the supraspinal pathways innervating the phrenic motoneurons and thoracic sympathetic preganglionic neurons. Although clinical guidelines recommend maintaining the mean arterial pressure within 85-90 mmHg during the first week of injury, there is no pre-clinical evidence from animal models to prove the therapeutic efficacy of hemodynamic management. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of hemodynamic management in rats with cervical spinal cord contusion.

Regenerative Potential Nanomedicine of Adipocyte Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Senescent Skin Tissue.

Introduction: Skin is the first-line barrier defense against infection, irradiation, and toxins, but is prone to natural aging (intrinsic aging) and environmental factors (extrinsic aging). Hence, there is an increasing urgency to explore an effective treatment for aging skin. This study was focused on testing the potential of utilizing adipocyte stem cell derived exosomal as nanomedicine to regenerate the dermal layer and counteract signs of skin aging.

Consensus on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations: Challenges and strategies for high-risk populations in Taiwan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact globally, particularly in high-risk populations such as those with underlying health conditions. In response to the evolving pandemic landscape and the recent surge in confirmed cases in Taiwan, the Taiwan Association of Family Medicine (TAFM) established a consensus on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for vulnerable groups through a comprehensive literature review, expert panel discussions, and a practice-oriented formulation procedure to develop evidence-based guidance. Its key findings highlight the increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes among individuals with disorders such as diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illness.

The spatiotemporal variations of marine nematode populations may serve as indicators of changes in marine ecosystems.

The volcanic island, Kueishan Island, harbors two unique shallow-water ecosystems: hydrothermal vents and coral communities. The unique geologic features render the island an ideal place as a spectrum for studying two different ecosystems and mimicking the impacts of climate change on coral reef biota in the future. However, little is known about the meiofauna community there.

Research on surface roughness of high-speed milling 7075-T6 aluminum alloy using nanofluid/ultrasonic atomization minimal quantity lubrication system.

This study employed a self-developed nanofluid/ultrasonic atomization minimal quantity lubrication system. The use of ultrasonic cavitation can effectively improve the accumulation of nanofluids via van der Waals force bonding and enhance their efficiency. This system is a high-speed milling manufacturing innovation in lubrication technology.

Therapeutic effects of Huangqi formula (Eefooton) in chronic kidney disease: clinical research and narrative literature review.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the clinical effects of employing the Huangqi formula (Eefooton; EFT) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) treatment. A narrative literature review was undertaken to elucidate the specific ingredients of EFT and their potential impact on renal health.

Methods: A retrospective observational study investigated EFT treatment in outpatients with stable CKD (stages 3B to 5) from March 2019 to March 2021.

Exploring Circulating Tumor Cells: Detection Methods and Biomarkers for Clinical Evaluation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), originating from primary neoplastic tissues, infiltrate blood vessels, migrate through the bloodstream, and establish secondary tumor foci. The detection of CTCs holds significant promise for early-stage identification, diagnostic precision, therapeutic monitoring, and prognostic evaluation. It offers a non-invasive approach and has broad clinical relevance in cancer management.

Evolution of aluminum aminophenolate complexes in the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone: electronic and amino-chelating effects.

A series of aluminum complexes bearing phenolate (O-Al and O2-Al), biphenolate (OO-Al type), aminophenolate (ON-Al), aminobiphenolate (ONO-Al), bis(phenolato)bis(amine) (NNOO-Al), and Salan (ONNO-Al) type ligands were synthesized. ε-Caprolactone (CL) polymerization using these aluminum complexes as catalysts was investigated. The overall polymerization rates of Al catalysts with different ligands were found to be in the following order ( values): ONBr-Al (0.

Molecular Biological Mechanisms of Action of Chrysophanol in Hepatic Stellate Cells Activated by Hepatic B Virus X Based on Network Pharmacology.

Introduction: Chrysophanol (Cho) is a natural anthraquinone with biological effects such as inducing ferroptosis and anticancer activity. The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is essential for HBV replication. We aimed to identify the key pathways in HBx-induced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and to characterize the potential mechanisms of action of Cho against liver fibrosis.

Decreases in pH from effluent had a devastating but reversible impact on the coastal plankton communities.

An event of releasing untreated effluent caused serious decreases in surface seawater pH from 8.1 to lower than 7.5 in seven years and increased back to prior levels after 15 years.

Overexpression of BMAL-1 is related to progression of urothelial carcinoma in arsenic exposure area.

Background: Environmental exposure to arsenic has long been associated with various clinical and pathophysiological aspects of urothelial carcinoma (UC), although the role of arsenic in UC and its impact on circadian proteins, particularly BMAL-1, remains unestablished. Previous research suggests that arsenic upregulates Aurora kinase A (AURKA), subsequently inhibiting GSK-3β, which might lead to overexpression of BMAL-1; nevertheless, the underlying pathway and its clinical significance in UC with arsenic exposure have yet to be validated. This study focuses on two potential upstream regulators of BMAL-1, AURKA and GSK-3β.

Rapid biomonitoring of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy drugs and their biometabolites in colorectal cancer patients' blood samples using an in-syringe-based fast drug extraction technique followed by LC-MS/MS analysis.

Patients with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency in peripheral mononuclear cells are at higher risk of severe toxicity due to the improper dose of fluorouracil-based chemotherapy drugs, which has become an essential aspect for consideration in clinical studies. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a first-line and second-line chemotherapy drug in adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or palliative therapy settings to treat solid tumors and cancers. In this work, a novel in-syringe-based fast drug extraction (IS-FaDEx) technique followed by UHPLC-MS/MS detection was developed for rapid biomonitoring of 5-FU and its biometabolites in human blood samples.