Therapeutic effects of probiotics on symptoms of irritability/emotional lability associated with neurodevelopmental conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials.

Objectives: The current study aimed at investigating the efficacies of probiotics in alleviating the symptoms of irritability/emotional lability in individuals with a neurodevelopmental condition.

Methods: Randomized placebo-controlled trials were identified through searching major electronic databases from inception to December, 2023. The outcome of interests included improvements in the symptoms of irritability/emotional lability.

Malnutrition and Frailty Are Associated with a Higher Risk of Prolonged Hospitalization and Mortality in Hospitalized Older Adults.

Malnutrition and frailty are independent risk factors of prolonged hospitalization and mortality, respectively. However, the combined association of these conditions with the risk of prolonged hospitalization and mortality in hospitalized elderly patients remains unclear. Our object was to investigate the combined association of malnutrition and frailty on the risk of prolonged hospitalization and mortality in hospitalized elderly patients.

Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Therapeutic Signaling in Spinal Cord Injury.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI). These nanosized vesicles possess unique properties such as low immunogenicity and the ability to cross biological barriers, making them ideal carriers for delivering bioactive molecules to injured tissues. MSC-EVs have been demonstrated to exert multiple beneficial effects in SCI, including reducing inflammation, promoting neuroprotection, and enhancing axonal regeneration.

Impact of Dataset Size on 3D CNN Performance in Intracranial Hemorrhage Classification.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sample size on the development of a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3DCNN) model for predicting the binary classification of three types of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH): intraparenchymal, subarachnoid, and subdural (IPH, SAH, SDH, respectively). During the training, we compiled all images of each brain computed tomography scan into a single 3D image, which was then fed into the model to classify the presence of ICH. We divided the non-hemorrhage quantities into 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, and 150 and the ICH quantities into 20, 30, 40, and 50.

Short-term and long-term outcomes of acute severe ulcerative colitis in Taiwan: a multicenter study with pre- and post-biologics comparison.

Background/aims: Data from Asia regarding the short-term and long-term outcomes for acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) are limited. We assessed the outcomes of ASUC, identified the risk factors for colectomy, and compared colectomy rates between the pre-biologics and post-biologics eras in Taiwan.

Methods: The patients with an ASUC diagnosis between January 2013 and March 2022 at 5 tertiary medical centers were retrospectively analyzed.

Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for heart failure after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery.

Purpose: Spine surgery, particularly deformity correction, is associated with a high risk of peri-operative or post-operative complications, and these complications can lead to catastrophic consequences. This case report will present the etiology and treatment process of the peri-operative cardiac arrest during scoliosis correction surgery.

Method: In this report, we present a case of cardiac arrest during posterior correction surgery in a 17-year-old female patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

[Application of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Hypertension Management].

Hypertension is a common disease both globally and in Taiwan that poses significant health risks. According to Taiwan's Health Promotion Administration, abnormal blood pressure is prevalent in up to 80% of the adult population aged 65 and above. Hypertension is associated with serious health issues such as cerebrovascular diseases, renal failure, and cardiovascular diseases, and ranks as the seventh leading cause of death in Taiwan.

[Using Therapeutic Play to Increase the Oral Administration Adherence Rate of Preschool Pediatric Inpatients].

Background & Problems: Oral administration is the most common mode of medical treatment for pediatric patients. Although over 98% of the patients in the targeted pediatric unit require oral medication, the oral administration adherence rate in 2022 was 43.9%.

[The Effectiveness of a Pap Smear Screening Practical Skills Training Program for Nurse-Midwifery Students].

Background: Pap smear screenings effectively reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. However, the effectiveness of practical teaching strategies for this procedure is seldom discussed.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Pap smear screening training approach using the two strategies of classroom simulation and practical community screening demonstrations.

Real-world efficacy and safety of universal 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C with early chronic kidney disease or pre-end-stage renal disease: Insights from a nationwide hepatisis C virus registry in Taiwan.

An 8-week regimen of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is recommended for treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In alignment with the Taiwanese government's objective to eliminate hepatitis C by 2025, this study aimed to provide real-world evidence on the use of this regimen in treatment-naïve patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by using data from the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver HCV Registry (TACR). CKD was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.

A real-world study to evaluate effectiveness of mepolizumab in treating severe asthma in Taiwan (REMIT).

Background: REMIT is the first real-world study of mepolizumab effectiveness in patients with severe asthma (SA) in Taiwan.

Objectives: The primary objective evaluated changes in clinically significant exacerbations (CSEs; defined as use of oral corticosteroids (OCS) or emergency department (ED) visits and/or hospitalizations) in the 12 months pre- and post-mepolizumab treatment. Secondary objectives assessed changes in the number of CSEs requiring ED visits/hospitalizations and daily maintenance OCS (mOCS) dosage 12 months pre- and post-mepolizumab treatment.

Pathological and biochemical effects of polyethylene microplastic exposure in hydrothermal vent crab, Xenograpsus testudinatus.

Microplastic pollution significantly threatens marine ecosystems, including those with unique adaptations. This study evaluates the implications of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on the hydrothermal vent crab, Xenograpsus testudinatus. Crabs were exposed to varying fluorescent green polyethylene microspheres (FGPE) concentrations for 7 days.

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.

Plasma Hepatic Transaminases and Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome Before Midlife in Military Adults: A CHIEF Cohort Study.

Background: Plasma AST and ALT may reflect the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) severity and have been associated with the risk of MetS in middle- or old-aged individuals.

Aims: This study aimed to examine the associations of plasma hepatic aspartate and alanine transaminases (AST and ALT) levels with incident metabolic syndrome (MetS) in young adults, which have not been verified before.

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify the association between plasma hepatic transaminases and the incidence of new-onset MetS among young adults.

Associations of Chronic Hepatitis B and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases with New-Onset Metabolic Syndrome in Military Personnel before Midlife: A Cohort Study.

Background: Hepatic inflammation, e.g., Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases (NAFLD) and the severe form of steatohepatitis (NASH), has been associated with a higher risk of MetS in the general population.

The Optimal Dosage and Duration of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation in Heart Failure Management: Evidence from a Network Meta-Analysis.

Heart failure is a progressive condition associated with a high mortality rate. Despite advancements in treatment, many patients continue to experience less-than-ideal outcomes. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been studied as a potential supplementary therapy for heart failure, but the optimal dosage and duration of supplementation remain unclear.

Too Much of a Good Thing: Updated Current Management and Perinatal Outcomes of Polyhydramnios.

Amniotic fluid assessment is crucial in prenatal ultrasound to monitor fetal conditions, with polyhydramnios, characterized by excessive amniotic fluid, affecting 1%-2% of pregnancies. Polyhydramnios is linked to complications such as placental abruption, preterm labor, congenital anomalies, and postpartum hemorrhage, emphasizing the need for early detection and management. While idiopathic causes account for 60%-70% of cases, other causes include impaired fetal swallowing and increased urine production due to maternal, fetal, and placental conditions.

Cemiplimab in recurrent cervical cancer: Final analysis of overall survival in the phase III EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9 trial.

Aim: Cemiplimab has demonstrated significantly longer survival than physician's choice of chemotherapy in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. We report the final survival analysis from the phase III randomized study (EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9).

Methods: Cemiplimab (n = 304) or chemotherapy (n = 304) were administered every 3 weeks.

Optimal nitrite degradation by isolated Bacillus subtilis sp. N4 and applied for intensive aquaculture water quality management with immobilized strains.

The toxicity of nitrite is an issue that cannot be overlooked in nitrogen pollution within aquaculture. A highly efficient bacterium capable of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification was screened from natto, and its 16S rRNA gene sequence was compared to existing records, confirming its identification as Bacillus subtilis sp. N4.

Polypoid endometriosis in a young female with systemic lupus erythematosus, mimicking ovarian and pelvic malignancy, a case report.

Objective: Polypoid endometriosis is a rare mass-like variant of endometriosis. Mass-like content with indistinct margins between the uterus and pelvic side wall mimics characteristics of pelvic malignancy. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has also been associated with higher incidences of endometriosis.