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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Effects of Music Intervention on Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Fatigue Among Patients With Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To determine the effects of music intervention on quality of life, anxiety, and fatigue among patients with breast cancer.

Sample & Setting: 170 individuals from the general surgery unit of Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

Methods & Variables: Individuals who had received a mastectomy were randomly assigned to a treatment group or control group.

Pelvic congestion syndrome analysis through quantitative 2-dimensional phase-contrast MRI: a promising vision from an observational cohort study.

Background: To examine the application of quantitative 2-dimensional phase-contrast MRI (2D PC-MRI) for treating patients with pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS).

Materials And Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis by using quantitative 2D PC-MRI data enrolled between April 2017 and September 2023. In addition, 32 healthy female controls (HCs) were included.

Tennis player actions dataset for human pose estimation.

Tennis is a popular sport, and integrating modern technological advancements can greatly enhance player training. Human pose estimation has seen substantial developments recently, driven by progress in deep learning. The dataset described in this paper was compiled from videos of researchers' friend playing tennis.

Para table tennis improves psychological/mental and cardiovascular health in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Background: Although rehabilitation exercise is known to be beneficial for cardiovascular and mental health, it remains a daunting challenge for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who rely on wheelchairs for mobility.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a 4-week para table tennis program in enhancing self-efficacy and health outcomes in adults with SCI.

Methods: A total of 39 SCI patients were included and divided into the experimental group (n = 18, a 4-week para table tennis training program) and the control group (n = 21).

Exploring the impact of digital concept mapping methods on nurse students' learning anxiety, learning motivation.

Unlabelled: In involuntary distance education, like during epidemics and wars, students often feel heightened learning anxiety, impacting outcomes. Despite innovative teaching methods, many face hurdles in distance learning. We want to propose specific strategies to solve learning difficulties in distance education.

The Role of AKR1B10 in Lung Cancer Malignancy Induced by Sublethal Doses of Chemotherapeutic Drugs.

Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone in lung cancer treatment, yet emerging evidence suggests that sublethal low doses may inadvertently enhance the malignancy. This study investigates the paradoxical effects of sublethal low-dose chemotherapy on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, emphasizing the role of Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10). We found that sublethal doses of chemotherapy unexpectedly increased cancer cell migration approximately 2-fold and invasion approximately threefold, potentially promoting metastasis.

On the Association Between Demographic Structural Change and the Effectiveness of Nurse Staffing Policy for Inpatient Care: Evidence from Taiwan.

Purpose: This study investigates the influence of demographic changes on the effectiveness of hospital nurse staffing policy, measured by the cumulative response of inpatient care quality to adjustments in hospital nurse staffing levels in Taiwan.

Methods: The research design utilized in this study aligns with the observational time-series methodology, and a total of 99 monthly time-series observations were collected from multiple databases administered by the Taiwan government over the period from January 2015 to March 2023. Specifically, the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive and autoregressive distributed lag models were employed to investigate the association between age distribution and nurse staffing policy effectiveness.

Developing a Motion Sensor-Based Game to Support Frozen Shoulder Rehabilitation in Older Adults through a Participatory Design Approach.

Although some serious games have been developed for physical therapy, little work has been conducted through a participatory design approach. Therefore, a game prototype was developed, which involved related stakeholders in the design process. The iterative participatory design process was adopted with the input of 18 patients with frozen shoulder symptoms, 4 health professionals, 2 game designers, and 5 researchers in an iterative process to design, test, and evaluate the game prototype.

Disc Height and Angle Changes on Radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Anterior or Posterior Percutaneous Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy.

: Cervical disc herniation (CDH) leads to pain, numbness, and potential disability. Percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) offers an anterior or posterior approach. This study aims to compare postoperative disc height and angle changes one year after PECD, considering both approaches.

The risk of herpes zoster is positively associated with obesity, especially morbid obesity.

This study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and herpes zoster (HZ) occurrence. This study used data covering 2 million people in Taiwan in 2000, which were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database. The cohort study observed aged 20-100 years with obesity from 2000 to 2017 (tracking to 2018).

Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp9 ssDNA-Binding Activity and Cytotoxic Effects on H838, H1975, and A549 Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells: Exploring the Potential of Leaf Extract for Pulmonary Disease Treatment.

Carnivorous pitcher plants from the genus are renowned for their ethnobotanical uses. This research explores the therapeutic potential of leaf extract against nonstructural protein 9 (Nsp9) of SARS-CoV-2 and in treating human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines. Nsp9, essential for SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication, was expressed and purified, and its interaction with ssDNA was assessed.

Complement decay-accelerating factor inhibits inflammation-induced myopia development.

Myopia is regarded as a worldwide epidemic ocular disease, has been proved related to inflammation. CD55, also known as decay-accelerating factor (DAF) can modulate the activation of complement through inhibiting the formation of complement 3 convertase and its dysregulation is involved in various inflammatory diseases. To investigate the association between CD55 and myopia, and to test whether CD55 can inhibit myopia development by suppressing inflammation in the eye, we use three different animal models including monocular form-deprivation myopia, myopia induced by TNF-α administration and allergic conjunctivitis animal model to reveal the CD55 in myopia development.

The Comparison of Lifestyles, Mental Risks, and Physical Indices among Individuals with Ultra-High Risk of Psychosis, Patients with Schizophrenia, and the General Public.

(1) Background: Early interventions may effectively reduce the risk of mental disorders in individuals with ultra-high risk. Specifying the health needs of individuals with ultra-high risk is crucial before the implementation of successful early intervention. This study aimed to explore the differences in lifestyles, mental risks, and physical indices among individuals with ultra-high risk, patients with schizophrenia, and healthy subjects.