PBCS-ConvNeXt: Convolutional Network-Based Automatic Diagnosis of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver in Abdominal Ultrasound Images.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent chronic liver condition characterized by excessive hepatic fat accumulation. Early diagnosis is crucial as NAFLD can progress to more severe conditions like steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma without timely intervention. While liver biopsy remains the gold standard for NAFLD assessment, abdominal ultrasound (US) imaging has emerged as a widely adopted non-invasive modality due to convenience and low cost.

Facilitating students' critical thinking, metacognition and problem-solving tendencies in geriatric nursing class: A mixed-method study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in geriatric nursing classes for the design of older adult activities to educate students on how to pose clear questions, provide and identify potentially suitable daily activities for older adults.

Background: Researchers in various educational fields are increasingly employing GenAI tools such as ChatGPT for curriculum development and research. Question generation is an essential skill for all students to learn to acquire knowledge.

Application of deep learning in automated localization and interpretation of coronary artery calcification in oncological PET/CT scans.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a key marker of coronary artery disease (CAD) but is often underreported in cancer patients undergoing non-gated CT or PET/CT scans. Traditional CAC assessment requires gated CT scans, leading to increased radiation exposure and the need for specialized personnel. This study aims to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) method to automatically detect CAC from non-gated, freely-breathing, low-dose CT images obtained from positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans.

Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiac Mitochondrial Functions in Diabetic Heart: A Systematic Review.

A diabetic heart is characterized by fibrosis, autophagy, oxidative stress, and altered mitochondrial functions. For this review, three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science) were searched for articles written in English from September 2023 to April 2024. Studies that used exercise training for at least 3 weeks and which reported positive, negative, or no effects were included.

Machine learning identified novel players in lipid metabolism, endosomal trafficking, and iron metabolism of the ALS spinal cord.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Although genes causing familial cases have been identified, those of sporadic ALS, which occupies the majority of patients, are still elusive. In this study, we adopted machine learning to build binary classifiers based on the New York Genome Center (NYGC) ALS Consortium's RNA-seq data of the postmortem spinal cord of ALS and non-neurological disease control.

Epigenetic Modifications as Novel Therapeutic Strategies of Cancer Chemoprevention by Phytochemicals.

Purpose: Epigenetic modifications, such as aberrant DNA methylation, histone alterations, non-coding RNA remodeling, and modulation of transcription factors, are pivotal in the pathogenesis of diverse malignancies. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have the capacity to impact these epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, throughout the different stages of cancer development. Therefore, the aim of this review is to address the impact of.

Exploring the Phenomenon of Domestic Violence in Taiwan During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Complexity Theory Perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most significant public health events in human history. Domestic violence cases surged globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Taiwan, this trend was particularly evident, with a year-over-year increase in reported cases.

Enhancing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor with photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: A meta-analysis.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents administered as either monotherapy or combination with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) are the 2 dominant treatment for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV); however, controversies remain due to small sample sizes and inconsistency in prognosis from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In accordance with the PRISMA statement, we investigated the efficacy of PDT plus anti-VEGF combination with anti-VEGF monotherapy. This study was accepted by the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023471362).

Effectiveness of an e-book in enhancing knowledge, coping behaviors and preventive strategies for sexual harassment prevention among new nurses: A randomized controlled study.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive e-book in improving new nurses' knowledge, coping behaviors and preventive strategies for sexual harassment prevention, while also assessing its impact on learning motivation.

Background: Sexual harassment has a detrimental effect on nurses' physical and mental well-being, as well as on patient safety, with new nurses being particularly vulnerable.

Design: A single centre, randomized controlled study.

Effects of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Exercise Performance and Physiological Responses: A Systematic Review.

Background: Caffeine intake in the form of chewing gum is characterized by rapid absorption and utilization.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeinated chewing gum on exercise performance and physiological responses in a systematic review.

Methods: All articles were searched using the PubMed and Scopus databases to include articles published up to June 2024, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Evaluation and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol.

Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 [COVID-19] Pandemic on Post-Acute Care of Patients with Heart Failure and the Effectiveness of Vaccine Prevention.

Background: The Heart Failure Post-Acute Care [HF-PAC] program is a specialized healthcare program aimed at providing comprehensive care and support for patients with heart failure [HF] as they transition from acute hospital settings to home. But the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic on the HF-PAC program remains unknown. Furthermore, the effects of the comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination program on these patients with HF-PAC warrants further investigation.

Early prediction of radiotherapy outcomes in pharyngeal cancer using deep learning on baseline [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission Tomography/Computed tomography.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop an integrated segmentation-free deep learning (DL) framework to predict multiple aspects of radiotherapy outcome in pharyngeal cancer patients by analyzing pretreatment 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT).

Methods: We utilized baseline 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans from patients newly diagnosed with oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. The study cohort comprised 162 patients for training and 32 for validation, all of whom completed definitive chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy for organ-preservation.

Genistein inhibited endocytosis and fibrogenesis in keloid via CTGF signaling pathways.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate soy isoflavones' effect and potential use-specifically genistein-in treating human keloid fibroblast cells (KFs) and in a keloid tissue culture model.

Methods: To investigate the effects of genistein on keloid, a wound-healing assay was performed to detect cell migration. Flow cytometry was used to measure apoptosis.

Picture communication symbols and voice symbols: iconicity and preference among healthy older adults in Taiwan.

. Unaided (e.g.

Free-Weight Resistance Training Enhances Core Muscle Strength but Does Not Translate to Improved Athletic Performance in Adolescent Canoe/Kayak Athletes.

Background/objectives: While previous evidence has shown that using free weights for resistance training is a more practical approach to enhancing strength, there is a relatively low prevalence of free-weight resistance training among adolescent kayak/canoe athletes. Therefore, this study aims to assess the impact of free-weight resistance training on body composition and various performance factors among adolescent canoe/kayak athletes.

Methods: Twenty-seven young sprint kayakers and canoeists (14 ± 1 years; 164 ± 7 cm; 56 ± 8 kg) completed this study.

Antifatigue effect of okara protein hydrolysate supplementation during cycling exercise in men: a pre-post uncontrolled pilot study.

Background: Prolonged exercise usually leads to exercise fatigue, which has a negative short-term impact on exercise performance and metabolic rate; thus, fatigue needs to be resolved. Okara is a protein-rich residue of soy processing. Enzyme hydrolysis is known to increase the content of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which have been reported to confer benefits for exercise.

A Study of Knowledge and Recognition on Postoperative Delirium Among Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nurses.

Purpose: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a syndrome that often occurs after surgery. Nursing staff are the first-line personnel who have the most time and close contact with postoperative patients. If delirium is not recognized immediately, it will affect the patient's prognosis and increase clinical care requirements and health care costs.

Evaluating the Role of Vitamin D in Alleviating Chronic Pruritus: A Meta-Analysis.

Chronic pruritus is a distressing condition that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Recent research has increasingly focused on the potential role of vitamin D, given its immunomodulatory properties, in managing this condition. This meta-analysis seeks to systematically assess the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in alleviating chronic pruritus across diverse clinical contexts.

Tool, Threat, Tutor, Talk, and Trend: College Students' Attitudes toward ChatGPT.

The purposes of this study are to investigate college students' attitudes toward ChatGPT and to understand whether gender makes any difference in their attitudes. We developed the ChatGPT attitude scale (CAS) and administrated it to a sample of 516 Taiwan college students. Through an exploratory factor analysis, the 5-T (Tool, Tutor, Talk, Trend, and Threat) model of CAS was extracted and validated via confirmatory factor analysis.

Digital health literacy and its determinants among community dwelling elderly people in Taiwan.

Background: Digital Health Literacy (DHL) is crucial in navigating digital health environments, yet few studies focus on older adults.

Objective: Explore the associations of digital health information and resource utilization, IT-related social support, and barriers/enhancers to digital health service usage with DHL among older adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2022 to April 2023, involving 417 individuals over the age of 60 who were interviewed using an instrument for collecting data on DHL, social support, barriers/enhancers influencing use of digital health resources and personal/demographic data.

Analysis of Polymorphisms on the Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Asian Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a major form of liver cancer, is characterized by high lethality and a multifactorial etiology that includes hepatitis virus infections, lifestyle factors, and genetic predispositions. This study aimed to explore the impact of gene polymorphisms on the clinicopathological features of Taiwanese HCC patients, focusing on three specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs2188971, rs2188972, and rs8105767. Our cohort consisted of 438 HCC patients and 1193 control individuals.

Analysing lower limb motion and muscle activation in athletes with ankle instability during dual-task drop-jump.

This study investigates the impact of chronic ankle instability (CAI) on athletes' lower extremity mechanics during bounce drop-jump landings with divided attention. Thirty Division I physical education voluntarily participated in the study. They performed two sets of bounce drop jumps: one set with a divided attention task and the other without.

Effectiveness of Exercise on Fatigue for Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Exercise is the standard treatment for fatigue in heart failure (HF) patients. However, no study has investigated the effect of exercise on improving fatigue and HR-QoL in HF patients. Our study adhered to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and followed the PRISMA statement.