Neuropsychiatric disorders in chronic hepatitis C patients after receiving interferon or direct-acting antivirals: a nationwide cohort study.

Data on the neuropsychological outcomes after receiving direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) among chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients have not been well-documented. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in incidence of neuropsychological disorders (NPDs) after treatment completion between CHC patients receiving interferon (IFN) therapy and DAA therapy. A nationwide retrospective cohort study was performed using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) between 2010 and 2018.

Trend patterns of HBsAg kinetics in chronic hepatitis B patients during nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy based on ARMA models.

Background: Trend pattern analysis are lacking for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) kinetics in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients during nucleos(t)ide analogue (Nuc) therapy. We evaluated the trend patterns of HBsAg kinetics by time series analysis and forecasting times to HBsAg seroclearance accordingly.

Methods: A total of 116 CHB patients with documented three-month HBsAg levels during the previous more than five years of Nuc therapy were included.

Monitoring by viral load and quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen in patients with hepatitis B virus infection receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Objectives: Hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients on immunosuppressive therapy is a critical issue. We aimed to verify the monitoring strategies of hepatitis B virus DNA and quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen in patients receiving therapies with moderate risk.

Methods: We enrolled 25 patients with autoimmune diseases receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells embedded in platelet-rich fibrin scaffolds promote angiogenesis, preserve heart function, and reduce left ventricular remodeling in rat acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) embedded in platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) can significant promote myocardial regeneration and repair after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Summary Background: With avoiding the needle-related complications, PRF-embedded autologous ADMSCs graft provides a new effective stem cell-based therapeutic strategy for myocardial repair.

Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided (n = 8 per group) into group 1 (sham-operated), group 2 (AMI by ligating left coronary artery), group 3 (AMI+ PRF), and group 4 (AMI+PRF-embedded autologous ADMSCs).

The compliance of doctors with viral hepatitis B screening and antiviral prophylaxis in cancer patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy using a hospital-based screening reminder system.

Background And Aim: Screenings for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antiviral prophylaxis are recommended for HBsAg-positive patients before the start of cytotoxic chemotherapy; however, compliance with these recommendations varies among doctors. We investigated the compliance of doctors with these recommendations using a reminder system and assessed the outcomes of HBsAg-positive patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Methods: Using a computer-assisted reminder system, doctors were alerted of both HBsAg screening and antiviral prophylaxis prior to prescribing chemotherapy.

Reducing TRPC1 Expression through Liposome-Mediated siRNA Delivery Markedly Attenuates Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Murine Model.

We tested the hypothesis that Lipofectamine siRNA delivery to deplete transient receptor potential cation channel (TRPC) 1 protein expression can suppress hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in mice. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were equally divided into group 1 (normal controls), group 2 (hypoxia), and group 3 (hypoxia + siRNA TRPC1). By day 28, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), number of muscularized arteries, right ventricle (RV), and lung weights were increased in group 2 than in group 1 and reduced in group 3 compared with group 2.

[A pilot study of the professional autonomy, job satisfaction, and related factors of nurses at a regional hospital].

Background: Professional autonomy often causes confusion in nursing staffs that limit their ability to perform to the best of their professional capabilities. Moreover, heavy and busy workloads reduce the energy available for work resulting in lower working efficiency and lower job satisfaction.

Purpose: This study explores the status and factors related to professional autonomy and job satisfaction in nurses.

Direct implantation versus platelet-rich fibrin-embedded adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in treating rat acute myocardial infarction.

Background: This study tested whether adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) embedded in platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) scaffold is superior to direct ADMSC implantation in improving left ventricular (LV) performance and reducing LV remodeling in a rat acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation.

Methods: Twenty-eight male adult Sprague Dawley rats equally divided into group 1 [sham control], group 2 (AMI only), group 3 (AMI+direct ADMSC implantation), and group 4 (AMI+PRF-embedded autologous ADMSC) were sacrificed on day 42 after AMI.

Results: LV systolic and diastolic dimensions and volumes, and infarct/fibrotic areas were highest in group 2, lowest in group 1 and significantly higher in group 3 than in group 4, whereas LV performance and LV fractional shortening exhibited a reversed pattern (p<0.

Real-world application of the roadmap model in chronic hepatitis B patients with telbivudine therapy.

Background: The roadmap concept provides a strategy to maximize hepatitis B virus suppression and minimize drug resistance by add-on or switching therapy in patients with a suboptimal response at Week 24. The efficacy of this strategy in routine clinical practice remains to be validated.

Objective: The aim of our study was to validate the roadmap concept in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, and to investigate the virologic efficacy and kinetics of quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) during telbivudine therapy in a real-world setting.

Dry eye after LASIK with a femtosecond laser or a mechanical microkeratome.

Purpose: Dry eye is the most common complication after LASIK procedure and is associated with corneal denervation. We conducted the study to compare dry eye parameters and corneal sensitivity (CS) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with a femtosecond laser (FS) or microkeratome (MK).

Methods: In this prospective, nonrandomized, comparative study, 87 consecutive patients with myopia were assigned to receive either LASIK surgery with an FS (n = 44) or MK-assisted LASIK surgery (n = 43).

Suppression of inflammatory response and endothelial nitric oxide synthase downregulation in hyperlipidaemic C57BL/6J mice by eugenosedin-A.

Objectives: Eugenosedin-A has been found to ameliorate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia in C57BL/6J mice. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of action of eugenosedin-A on endothelial function and inflammation in hyperlipidaemic mice.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two control groups and two treatment groups.

Evaluation of a Leadership Orientation Program in Taiwan: preceptorship and leader competencies of the new nurse manager.

The Leadership Orientation Program is designed to provide new nurse managers with the experience and support that assures them of a smooth transition from their current roles to being managers. The main objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the relationship that exists between a nursing preceptorship and a new nurse manager's competencies; it also attempted to establish a predictive model of leader competencies to improve the program. A descriptive cross-sectional research design and rigorous questionnaires were used in this study.

[The expanding role of home care nurses in long-term care].

This article was developed to discuss the expanding role of home care nurses in long-term care. Home care recipients included in the study were elderly, had chronic illness conditions, were experiencing ADL and IADL impairment, had been discharged from hospital, lived alone and tended to use home care services. Home care services funding from the National Health Care Insurance is limited to those clients with wounds, stomy, and indwelled catheters.

Job stress, achievement motivation and occupational burnout among male nurses.

Aim: This paper is a report of an exploration of job stress, achievement motivation and occupational burnout in male nurses and to identify predictors of occupational burnout.

Background: Since the Nightingale era, the nursing profession has been recognized as 'women's work'. The data indicate that there are more female nurses than male nurses in Taiwan.

Exploring the effect of sexual empowerment on sexual decision making in female adolescents.

Background: Traditional health education may not provide adequate sexual information to female adolescents. Sexual health education for female adolescents broadens opportunities for nurses to help female adolescents adopt appropriate sexual attitudes and make appropriate decisions.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the effect of sexual empowerment on sexual decision making in female adolescents.

Link between interleukin-10 level and outcome after ischemic stroke.

Objectives: The prognostic value of interleukin (IL)-10 in patients after acute ischemic stroke (IS) is not well understood. This study tested the hypothesis that serum levels of IL-10 are substantially increased after IS and predictive of IS outcome.

Methods: Serum IL-10 levels were examined 48 h after acute IS in 135 consecutive patients, and in 20 healthy and 30 at-risk controls.

Triterpenoids from Angiopteris palmiformis.

Two new fernane triterpenoids, 7alpha-hydroxyfern-8-en-11-one (1) and 11beta-hydroxyfern-8-en-7-one (2), and two new filicane triterpenoids, 3beta-hydroxyfilic-4(23)-ene (3) and filicenol (5), together with one known filicane-type triterpenoid, 3alpha-hydroxyfilic-4(23)-ene (4), were isolated from the methyl alcohol extract of the leaves of Angiopteris palmiformis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive analyses of their spectroscopic data (NMR, MS, IR) and comparison with spectroscopic data in the literature.

Ex situ bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil.

An innovative bioprocess method, Systematic Environmental Molecular Bioremediation Technology (SEMBT) that combines bioaugmentation and biostimulation with a molecular monitoring microarray biochip, was developed as an integrated bioremediation technology to treat S- and T-series biopiles by using the landfarming operation and reseeding process to enhance the bioremediation efficiency. After 28 days of the bioremediation process, diesel oil (TPH(C10-C28)) and fuel oil (TPH(C10-C40)) were degraded up to approximately 70% and 63% respectively in the S-series biopiles. When the bioaugmentation and biostimulation were applied in the beginning of bioremediation, the microbial concentration increased from approximately 10(5) to 10(6) CFU/g dry soil along with the TPH biodegradation.

The use of theory in qualitative approaches to research: application in end-of-life studies.

Aim: This paper is a report of an analysis of the use of theory in qualitative approaches to research as exemplified in qualitative end-of-life studies.

Background: Nurses researchers turn to theory to conceptualize research problems and guide investigations. However, researchers using qualitative approaches do not consistently articulate how theory has been applied, and no clear consensus exists regarding the appropriate application of theory in qualitative studies.

A comparison of quality of life and depression between female married immigrants and native married women in Taiwan.

Backgrounds: Immigration to Taiwan is often connected with marriage, resulting in the presence of so-called married immigrants or foreign brides.

Aims: To compare the quality of life (QOL) and prevalence of depression between female married immigrants and native married women.

Methods: Trained assistants used the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36) and the disaster-related psychological screening test (DRPST) to interview 1,602 married women who were 16-50 years of age.

Living with death and dying: the experience of Taiwanese hospice nurses.

Purpose/objectives: To explore and describe the experiences of Taiwanese nurses who care for dying patients in hospices, a relatively recent healthcare option in Taiwan.

Research Approach: Qualitative, hermeneutic, phenomenologic approach.

Setting: Six hospices in central and southern Taiwan.

The association of psychosocial factors and smoking with periodontal health in a community population.

Background And Objective: The association between psychosocial factors and periodontal disease has been widely reported and might be modified by smoking status. This study investigated the association of periodontal status with psychosocial factors and smoking in a community population.

Material And Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to a total of 1,764 civilian noninstitutional (general population excluding from nursing homes, sanitariums and hospitals) Taiwanese individuals to assess the presence and severity of psychosocial factors [using the 12-item Chinese health questionnaire (CHQ-12)], smoking habits and other related factors.

Role of stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha, level and value of circulating interleukin-10 and endothelial progenitor cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary angioplasty.

Background: The relationships among the circulating levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha, interleukin (IL)-10 and outcome were examined in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (ST-se AMI) undergoing primary coronary angioplasty.

Methods And Results: Circulating levels of IL-10, SDF-1alpha, and EPCs [defined by staining markers: CD31/CD34 (E(1)) and KDR/CD34 (E(2))] were examined by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. The IL-10 level was higher, whereas the circulating level of EPCs (E(1-2)) was lower (all P<0.

Eugenosedin-A prevents hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and lipid peroxidation in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet.

Objectives: Eugenosedin-A is a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) 5-HT(1B/2A) and alpha(1)/alpha(2)/beta(1)-adrenoceptor blocker with anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and free-radical scavenging activities. Previous reports demonstrated that 5-HT(2A) blockers could diminish hyperlipidaemia. This study therefore aimed to investigate the possible uses and mechanisms of eugenosedin-A and other agents in treating hyperlipidaemia.