Aspirin use reduces cancer risk in betel nut chewers: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Betel nut chewing, common in several Asian populations, is linked to increased cancer risk, including oral, esophageal, gastric, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Aspirin shows potential as a chemopreventive agent. This study investigates the association between aspirin use and cancer risk among betel nut chewers.

Effects of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy and real-time fluorescent imaging on deep sternal wound infection: a retrospective study.

Objective: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a rare but devastating complication that is estimated to occur in 1-2% of patients after median sternotomy. Current standard of care (SoC) comprises antibiotics, debridement and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) appears to be an effective adjuvant therapy for osteomyelitis.

Recommendation for the use of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common pathogen for young children hospitalized with bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Most infections occur below 1 year of age. RSV is also a significant viral pathogen for adults with respiratory tract infection.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Subacromial-Subdeltoid Bursa and Coracohumeral Ligament Corticosteroid Injections With and Without Physiotherapy in Adhesive Capsulitis Treatment.

: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection to the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa (SSB) and coracohumeral ligament (CHL) in treating adhesive capsulitis, with a particular focus on evaluating the potential benefits of regular electrotherapy and conventional rehabilitation exercises. : A total of 29 patients with unilateral shoulder pain and restricted shoulder range of motion (ROM) were included. Corticosteroids were delivered to the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa (SSB) and coracohumeral ligament (CHL) through a single percutaneous injection.

Efficacy of defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) lenses and low-dose atropine on retarding myopic shift among premyopic preschoolers: Protocol for a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Myopia has been a rising problem globally. Early-onset myopia significantly increases the risk of high myopia later in life. Despite the proven benefits of increased outdoor time, optimal strategies for preventing early-onset myopia in premyopic children need further investigation.

Predictive Scores for Identifying Chronic Opioid Dependence After General Anesthesia Surgery.

Purpose: To address the prevalence and risk factors of postoperative chronic opioid dependence, focusing on the development of a predictive scoring system to identify high-risk populations.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Taiwan Health Insurance Research Database spanning January 2016 to December 2018, encompassing adults undergoing major elective surgeries with general anesthesia. Patient demographics, surgical details, comorbidities, and preoperative medication use were scrutinized.

Metformin lowers risk of hearing loss and mortality in type 2 diabetes.

Aims: To assess the association between metformin use and the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a population at elevated risk for SSNHL.

Materials And Methods: This cohort study utilized data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, following T2D patients from 2008 to 202 database's baseline. Metformin use was defined as achieving ≥80% of the medication possession ratio (MPR) and ≥28 cumulative defined daily doses (cDDD) within three months.

Association Between Current Medical Decision-Making Participation Self-Efficacy and Advance Care Planning Engagement Among Older Adults: Baseline Findings from a Nationwide Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Misconceptions of and cultural differences in aging influence older adults' medical decision-making self-efficacy and engagement in advance care planning (ACP). This study aims to investigate the association between current medical decision-making participation self-efficacy and ACP engagement among older individuals receiving home-based medical care (HBMC) in Taiwan. Baseline data analysis of a nationwide cohort study.

Effect of virtual reality training on clinical skills of nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aim: To assess the effects of virtual reality training on the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains in nursing education among nursing students.

Background: The use of virtual reality in nursing education immerses students in realistic and interactive environments, greatly enhancing their learning experiences. However, research on its effectiveness in nursing education has shown inconsistent results, particularly regarding its impact on learner emotions related to clinical skills.

Tmax >4 s volume predicts stroke recurrence in symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis with optimal medical treatment.

Background: The time to maximum (Tmax) profile based on computed tomography perfusion (CTP) provides a quantitative assessment of cerebral hemodynamic compromise. We aimed to delineate the Tmax profile in stroke patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) and to investigate its predictive role in stroke recurrence after optimal medical treatment.

Methods: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke within 30 days attributed to 50%-99% ICAS were prospectively enrolled.

Comparing the Oncologic Outcomes of Proton Therapy and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: To compare the oncologic outcomes between proton therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients undergoing curative radiotherapy (RT).

Experimental Design: We studied HNSCC patients who underwent curative-intent RT from 2015 to 2019, comparing the oncologic outcomes of proton therapy and IMRT. Our national retrospective HNSCC cohort study involved three institutes with proton therapy and 17 institutes (medical center levels) with IMRT in Taiwan.

The Clinical and Sonographic Features of Cervical Muscle Involvement in Patients with Frozen Shoulder: A Retrospective Study.

: Frozen shoulder is a common shoulder disorder that often places limitations on the range of motion of the shoulder. The disease may induce neck pain due to overuse of the neck muscle in an attempt to compensate for lack of shoulder movement. In clinical practice, swelling and inflammation of the scalene and levator scapulae may be detected via sonography in patients with frozen shoulder.

Childhood anaesthesia and autism risk: population and murine study.

Early childhood exposure to general anaesthesia has been linked to potential changes in infant brain morphology and behaviour in preclinical studies, contributing to long-term behaviours associated with autism spectrum disorder. This study investigates the association between early childhood exposure to general anaesthesia and the risk of autism, using a population-based cohort study with matching for baseline characteristics and evaluates the effect of sevoflurane exposure on autism-like behaviour in mice, using the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database. Children aged 0-3 who received at least one exposure to general anaesthesia between 2004 and 2014 were matched 1:1 with children who were not exposed.

Metformin Use and Risk of Delirium in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Delirium is a precursor and risk factor for dementia, emphasizing the urgency of effective prevention and management strategies in older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Identifying long-term, safe, and effective medications to prevent diabetes-related delirium is crucial because of its significant impact on this population. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of metformin against delirium in older adults with T2D, using a competing risk analysis of death to provide a more accurate assessment.

Reward system neurodynamics during menstrual pain modulated by Val158Met polymorphisms.

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM), characterized by cyclic pain, may involve pain modulation within the reward system (RS). The Catechol-O-methyltransferase () Val158Met polymorphism, which significantly influences dopamine activity, is linked to the regulation of both acute and chronic pain. This study examines the differential neurodynamic modulation in the RS associated with Val158Met polymorphisms during menstrual pain among PDM subjects.

Surveillance of pathogenic yeasts in hospital environments in Taiwan in 2020.

Background: A predominate azole-resistant Candida tropicalis clade 4 genotype causing candidemia has been detected in not only Taiwan but also China, Singapore, and Australia. It can also be detected on fruit surfaces. In addition to determining distribution and drug susceptibilities of pathogenic yeasts in environments of intensive care units of 25 hospitals in Taiwan, we would also like to investigate whether the azole-resistant C.

Neural adaptation of the reward system in primary dysmenorrhea.

The brain's reward system (RS) reacts differently to pain and its alleviation. This study examined the correlation between RS activity and behavior during both painful and pain-free periods in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) to elucidate their varying responses throughout the menstrual cycle. Ninety-two individuals with PDM and 90 control participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) scans during their menstrual and peri-ovulatory phases.

Comparison of ultrasound- vs. landmark-guided injections for musculoskeletal pain: an umbrella review.

Objective: This umbrella review synthesizes systematic reviews and meta-analyses to reach a conclusion concerning the overall effectiveness of ultrasound-guided vs landmark-guided injections for treating musculoskeletal pain.

Design: Umbrella review.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched for relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses from inception to March 2024.

Clinical and socioeconomic factors predicting return-to-work times after cholecystectomy.

Background: Cholecystectomy, a type of surgery commonly performed globally, has possible mutual effects on the socioeconomic conditions of different countries due to various postoperative recovery times.

Aims: This study evaluated the medical and socioeconomic factors affecting delayed return-to-work (RTW) time after elective cholecystectomy.

Methods: This retrospective study analysed patients who underwent elective cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder diseases from January 2022 to April 2023.

Actively Targeting Redox-Responsive Multifunctional Micelles for Synergistic Chemotherapy of Cancer.

Stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles decorated with cancer biomarkers represent an optimal choice for drug delivery applications due to their ability to enhance therapeutic efficacy while mitigating adverse side effects. Accordingly, we synthesized a digoxin-modified novel multifunctional redox-responsive disulfide-linked poly(ethylene glycol--poly(lactic--glycolic acid) copolymer (Bi(Dig-PEG-PLGA)-S) for the targeted and controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer cells. Within the micellar aggregate, the disulfide bond confers redox responsiveness, while the presence of the digoxin moiety acts as a targeting agent and chemosensitizer for DOX.