Genetic predisposition of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a population-based genome-wide association study.

Background/purpose: Although metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has been proposed to replace the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with new diagnostic criteria since 2023, the genetic predisposition of MASLD remains to be explored.

Methods: Participants with data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the Taiwan Biobank database were collected. Patients with missing data, positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and alcohol drinking history were excluded.

Amivantamab Plus Lazertinib in Patients With EGFR-mutant Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) After Progression on Osimertinib and Platinum-based Chemotherapy: Results From CHRYSALIS-2 Cohort A.

Introduction: Treatment options for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with disease progression on/after osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy are limited.

Methods: CHRYSALIS-2 Cohort A evaluated amivantamab+lazertinib in patients with EGFR exon 19 deletion- or L858R-mutated NSCLC with disease progression on/after osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy. Primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR).

Feruloylacetone and Its Analog Demethoxyferuloylacetone Mitigate Obesity-Related Muscle Atrophy and Insulin Resistance in Mice.

Obesity-induced muscle alterations, such as inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and myosteatosis, lead to a decline in muscle mass and function, often resulting in sarcopenic obesity. Currently, there are no definitive treatments for sarcopenic obesity beyond lifestyle changes and dietary supplementation. Feruloylacetone (FER), a thermal degradation product of curcumin, and its analog demethoxyferuloylacetone (DFER), derived from the thermal degradation of bisdemethoxycurcumin, have shown potential antiobesity effects in previous studies.

Embracing New Love: Why Customers Are Loyal to Plant Extract-Based Skin-Care Cosmetics.

Background: In recent years, increases in consumer awareness regarding health and the environment have enhanced their willingness to purchase plant extract-based skin-care products. Although the skin-care product industry has paid increasing attention to consumer behavior in recent years, few studies have investigated customer loyalty to this type of product; in-depth research is urgently required to fill this gap.

Aims: This study investigated Taiwanese skin-care products derived from plant extracts by identifying the relationships between consumer prior experience, involvement, perceived value, and loyalty.

Lessons from COVID-19 in Taiwan's long-term care facilities: A narrative review.

The coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted long-term care facilities (LTCFs), revealing vulnerabilities due to residents' advanced age, comorbidities, and facility infrastructures. In Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Control Center implemented a range of strategies to protect LTCF residents. These included early containment measures to allow time for preparing pharmaceutical intervention, the establishment of infection prevention and control guidelines, the implementation of comprehensive screening and testing protocols, the prioritization of vaccination for both residents and staff, and the expansion of the national stockpile of oral antiviral agents.

Proximity to petrochemical industry and risk of childhood asthma occurrence.

Adverse effects on the respiratory system were associated with intensive petroleum-related industrial activities. The study aimed to assess the impact of petrochemical exposure on childhood asthma using various surrogate indices. A singleton birth cohort from 2004 to 2017 was conducted, leveraging two linked nationwide databases in Taiwan.

Aromatic compounds and organic acids identified from Ganoderma formosanum exhibit synergistic anti-melanogenic effects.

This study reveals the anti-tyrosinase activity of Ganoderma formosanum extracts, pinpointing compounds including gluconic acid, mesalamine, L-pyroglutamic acid, esculetin, 5-hydroxyindole, and salicylic acid, as effective melanin production inhibitors in melanoma cells and zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, multiple molecular docking simulations provided insights into interactions between the identified compounds and tyrosinase, increasing binding affinity up to -16.36 kcal/mol.

Development and industrial application of geographical origin identification for Taiwanese oolong tea.

Taiwanese oolong tea is renowned for its excellent quality and enjoys a prestigious reputation both domestically and internationally. In recent years, there has been an issue with imported Taiwanese-style oolong tea being sold as genuine Taiwanese oolong tea, which has adversely affected the brand value of Taiwanese oolong tea. In this study, samples of domestic oolong tea (Taiwanese oolong tea) and Taiwanese-style oolong tea produced abroad (including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, etc.

Sedimentary co-exposure to bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and titanium dioxide nanoparticles aggravate ecotoxicity and ecological risks through disrupted bioenergetics in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Emerging contaminants in estuarine sediments, such as bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO), pose ecotoxicological risks that may be exacerbated by co-contamination. This study investigated the impacts of DEHP, nTiO, and their combinations at environmentally relevant concentrations (1, 10, and 100 μg/g) on the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in estuarine-like sediment (14.25‰ salinity).

A mutant ASXL1-BAP1-EHMT complex contributes to heterochromatin dysfunction in clonal hematopoiesis and chronic monomyelocytic leukemia.

is one of the three most frequently mutated genes in age-related clonal hematopoiesis (CH), alongside and (. CH can progress to myeloid malignancies including chronic monomyelocytic leukemia (CMML) and is also strongly associated with inflammatory cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in humans. DNMT3A and TET2 regulate DNA methylation and demethylation pathways, respectively, and loss-of-function mutations in these genes reduce DNA methylation in heterochromatin, allowing derepression of silenced elements in heterochromatin.

Regulation of swelling behaviour while preserving bulk modulus in hydrogels surface grafting.

This study presents a novel approach to control "linked property changes" in hydrogels. Specifically, we controlled the swelling behaviour without altering the bulk elastic modulus by grafting polymers selectively into the surface region of the gels, while varying the graft amount.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Abnormal brain inflammation is an important feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation is highly related to immune cell activation. Homeostasis of immune cell activity regulation is crucial for CNS autoimmune response.

Exhaled Breath Analysis Using a Novel Electronic Nose for Different Respiratory Disease Entities.

Purpose: Electronic noses (eNose) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are two important breath analysis approaches for differentiating between respiratory diseases. We evaluated the performance of a novel electronic nose for different respiratory diseases, and exhaled breath samples from patients were analyzed by GC-MS.

Materials And Methods: Patients with lung cancer, pneumonia, structural lung diseases, and healthy controls were recruited (May 2019-July 2022).

Versatile Stimuli-Responsive Controlled Release of Pinanediol-Caged Boronic Esters for Spatiotemporal and Nitroreductase-Selective Glucose Bioimaging.

Boronic acids have been widely applied in various biological fields, particularly achieving significant practical progress in boronic acid-based glucose sensing. However, boronic acids exhibit nonspecific binding to other nucleophiles, and the inherent lability of boronic esters in biological systems limits their further applications. Herein, we developed a stimuli-responsive controllable caging strategy to achieve photoresponsive spatiotemporally and nitroreductase-responsive cancer cell-selective glucose sensing.

Exploring Rehabilitation Protocols for Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: Insights from a Scoping Review.

Objectives: The primary repair of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has re-emerged as a treatment for acute ruptures. While numerous studies have investigated rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction, few have focused on primary repair. We aimed to describe the rehabilitation protocols for primary ACL repair, and to identify knowledge gaps and differences between primary ACL repair and reconstruction.

Evaluation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and urine non-transferrin-bound iron concentrations in cats with chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) regulate gene transcription, which aids hypoxia adaptation while promoting renal fibrosis. Non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) is a catalytic form of iron that can lead to oxidative damage. However, NTBI in cat biofluids has rarely been evaluated.

Dual-Driven Activation of High-Valence States in Prussian Blue Analogues Via Graphene-Quantum Dots and Ozone-Induced Surface Restructuring for Superior Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalyst.

Electrochemical water splitting is a pivotal process for sustainable hydrogen energy production, relying on efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts, particularly in acidic environments, where both high activity and durability are crucial. Despite the favorable kinetics of platinum (Pt)-based materials, their performance is hindered under harsh conditions, driving the search for alternatives. Due to their unique structural characteristic, Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) emerge as attractive candidates for designing efficient HER electrocatalysts.

Downregulation of PAX1 in OSCC Enhances Stemness and Immunosuppression via IFIT1 and PD-L1 Pathways.

Objective: Our study investigated how arecoline-induced extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion suppresses PAX1 protein production through DNA hypermethylation and examined whether PAX1 downregulation enhances cancer stemness and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment.

Materials And Methods: EVs were isolated from SAS/TW2.6 cancer cell lines using ultracentrifugation and identified using transmission electron microscopy.

Risk factors, urodynamic characteristics, and distress associated with nocturnal enuresis in overactive bladder -wet women.

Patients with overactive bladder syndrome-wet (OAB-wet) experience urgency urinary incontinence, particularly urinary frequency and nocturia. Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is less addressed among OAB-wet patients. The study evaluated the prevalence of NE, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), urodynamic factors, and social factors in OAB-wet patient.

LiZrF protective layer enabled high-voltage LiCoO positive electrode in sulfide all-solid-state batteries.

The application of high-voltage positive electrode materials in sulfide all-solid-state lithium batteries is hindered by the limited oxidation potential of sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes (SSEs). Consequently, surface coating on positive electrode materials is widely applied to alleviate detrimental interfacial reactions. However, most coating layers also react with sulfide-based SSEs, generating electronic conductors and causing gradual interface degradation and capacity fading.