Whole Exome Sequencing Facilitates Early Diagnosis of Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome: A Case Series.

Background: Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is a rare X-linked recessive metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the gene, resulting in hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) deficiency. Early diagnosis is critical for optimizing management and improving outcomes. This study presents a case series of three Taiwanese patients diagnosed at a single medical center.

Long-Term Determinants of Depression Mood: A 19-Year Follow Up of 2344 Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

This study explores depression changes and influencing factors in middle-aged and older individuals, focusing on different cognitive function states. This cohort study uses panel data from seven waves of the nationally representative Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (1996-2015) with 2344 participants aged 50 or above. Data analysis was conducted from 25 January 2023 to 4 May 2023.

Insulin Resistance and Bone Mineral Density: A Comprehensive Examination Using UK Biobank Data.

The association between insulin resistance (IR) and bone mineral density (BMD) remains contentious. The aim of this study is to assess the predictive capability of the Triglyceride and Glucose (TyG) index concerning changes in bone mineral density, encompassing both deterioration and improvement. This study analyzed data from the UK Biobank, encompassing 2527 participants after exclusions.

Predictive modeling and interpretative analysis of risks of instability in patients with Myasthenia Gravis requiring intensive care unit admission.

Objective: Myasthenia gravis (MG), a low-prevalence autoimmune disorder characterized by clinical heterogeneity and unpredictable disease fluctuations, presents significant risks of acute exacerbations requiring intensive care. These crises contribute substantially to patient morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to develop and validate machine-learning models for predicting intensive care unit (ICU) admission risk among patients with MG-related disease instability.

Healthcare utilization and costs for patients with Parkinson's disease in Taiwan.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) exerts a considerable burden on the elderly. Studies on long-term costs for Parkinson's disease patients in Taiwan are not available.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the medical resource utilization and medical costs including drug costs for PD patients in Taiwan over up to 15 years of follow-up.

Development and Testing of the Hypertensive Nephropathy Self-Care Knowledge Scale.

There is currently no scale to measure the self-care knowledge of patients with hypertensive nephropathy. This study aimed to develop the Hypertensive Nephropathy Self-Care Knowledge (HN-SCK) scale for these patients and to test its reliability and validity. A methodological study was conducted in two stages.

Exploring the application of machine learning to identify the correlations between phthalate esters and disease: enhancing nursing assessments.

Background: Health risks associated with phthalate esters depend on exposure level, individual sensitivities, and other contributing factors.

Purpose: This study employed artificial intelligence algorithms while applying data mining techniques to identify correlations between phthalate esters [di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, DEHP], lifestyle factors, and disease outcomes.

Methods: We conducted exploratory analysis using demographic and laboratory data collected from the Taiwan Biobank.

Predictive biosignatures for hospitalization in patients with virologically confirmed COVID-19.

Background: COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, presents with varying severity among individuals. Both viral and host factors can influence the severity of acute and chronic COVID-19, with chronic COVID-19 commonly referred to as long COVID. SARS-CoV-2 infection can be properly diagnosed by performing real-time reverse transcription PCR analysis of nasal swab samples.

Exploring the behavioural determinants of compliance in resilient high-caries-risk patients who improved caries severity.

Background: The caries severity in childhood may predict caries conditions in the future and even in adulthood in caries risk models. Nevertheless, the rate of recurrent caries after treatment of severe early childhood caries is high and correlated with behavioural factors, rather than clinical indicators. Compliance with the caries control programme has been demonstrated to prevent root caries development in head and neck cancer patients, suggesting that compliance with treatment protocols is a more important key to bringing about successful outcomes than treatment protocols themselves.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Good Death Index from Patients with Terminal Cancer's Perspectives: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Patients with terminal illness often experience significant physical and mental suffering. This distress affects the patients themselves, as they endure the pain of their condition and their family members, who are affected by the patient's situation and medical decisions. Furthermore, exploring the patients' and their families' concepts of a "good death" is crucial for reflecting on the value of life and for planning treatment or care models (such as advance care planning).

Effectiveness of a nurse practitioner-led collaborative health care model on self-care, functional status, rehospitalization and medical costs in heart failure patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Heart failure is a serious and common condition that has garnered significant attention in the global public health domain. It often results in impaired function and reduced cardiac function status, leading to difficulties in self-care and diminished quality of life. To effectively address these complex challenges, the collaborative health care model has been proposed.

Does the role of family meetings important at the end-of-life? A retrospective national study in Taiwan.

Background: Numerous studies have pointed out the benefits of family meetings, but it is unclear who uses family meetings and what the effects are on use of the end-of-life care.

Aim: The purposes of this study were to explore which characteristics are associated with the use of the family meeting and what effects the family meeting has on end-of-life care.

Design: A retrospective observational study using 2012-2017 data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims database, cancer registry, and death registry.

Enhancing Nurse Practitioners' Emergency Care Competency and Self-Efficacy Through Experiential Learning: A Single-Group Repeated Measures Study.

Background/objective: Nurse practitioners serve a vital role as first responders in emergencies. This study investigated the effectiveness of experiential learning in enhancing emergency care competency and self-efficacy among nurse practitioners.

Methods: A single-group repeated measures design was implemented from June to August 2023 at a regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan, involving 95 nurse practitioners and NP trainees.

Performance of the novel ANTWERP score in predicting heart function improvement after atrial fibrillation ablation in Asian patients with heart failure.

Background: Previous research has demonstrated that atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation improves heart function variably among patients. We proposed that the ANTWERP score, which was validated in a European group of patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who had AF ablation, would be valid in an Asian group as well. The purpose of the study is to examine how well a new scoring system (the ANTWERP score) can predict heart function improvement after atrial fibrillation ablation in Asian patients with heart failure.

Returning to School After a Life-Altering Disruption: A Qualitative Study of Childhood Hematologic Malignancies Survivors and Parents.

After completing treatment, hematologic malignancy survivors face a critical phase of reintegrating into society. This study explored how survivors and their parents gradually returned to daily life, using grounded theory and in-depth interviews with 13 survivors and 16 parents. Data were analyzed revealed that hematologic malignancy survivors and their parents needed time to gradually return to daily life after a life-altering disruption after completing treatment.

Retracted articles in scientific literature: A bibliometric analysis from 2003 to 2022 using the Web of Science.

Retractions serve a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and accuracy of scientific literature. There has been growing interest in understanding the patterns behind retractions. This bibliometric study analyzed retracted articles published between 2003 and 2022, indexed by the Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection database.

[Care Needs of Elderly Patients With Cancer Receiving Treatment].

Cancer incidence is closely related to age. With the sharp increase in the elderly population in recent decades, the number of older adults with cancer has increased each year. Compared to middle-aged patients, older adults with cancer have relatively more-complex health problems during treatment, with aging, debilitation, comorbidities, cognitive dysfunction, and polytherapy important factors affecting the benefit received by these patients from their treatment.

Changes in nutritional status and fatigue and their associations with quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer after surgery: A 12-month longitudinal study.

Objective: This study examined changes in nutritional status, fatigue, and quality of life, and identified longitudinal factors influencing changes in quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer before and 12 months after surgery.

Methods: A longitudinal, correlational, single-group study was conducted on 89 patients with operable pancreatic cancer in Taiwan. Data were collected preoperatively (T0) and at 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 (T3) months post-surgery using questionnaires- Mini Nutritional Assessment, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General-and through bioelectrical impedance analysis, handgrip strength measurement, and the 30-s sit-to-stand test.

Stress coping and resilience of frontline nurses under the emergency infectious disease pandemic: A latent class analysis.

Aim: This study aimed to classify coping strategies and resilience among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients using latent class analysis (LCA), and to compare variations across these subgroups.

Background: The pandemic of emerging infectious diseases is a traumatic stressor for frontline nurses, potentially leading to compassion fatigue. Effective coping strategies and resilience were essential for managing stress, but their nuanced classification and outcomes remain unclear.

Factors Influencing Health Literacy Among Migrants in Taiwan.

Introduction: With increasing migration from the Asian countries, enhancing migrant health literacy in Taiwan is crucial. This study addresses a significant gap in health literacy research, particularly concerning immigrants of both genders and from diverse countries. Its purpose is to assess health literacy levels among migrants and identify associated factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of this issue.

A ferritin-related dietary pattern is positively associated with iron status but negatively associated with vitamin D status in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Vitamin D supplementation positively impacts anemia, but the relationship between a ferritin-related dietary pattern, iron parameters, and vitamin D in anemia is unclear.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2017-2019 National Nutrition and Health Survey, including 1423 pregnant women over 15 years old. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a 24-hour dietary recall.

Fluid intake impact on heart failure: Systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Background: Heart failure (HF) management lacks clarity regarding fluid balance strategies, with some studies suggesting potential benefits of liberal fluid intake. This review aims to evaluate both unrestricted and restricted fluid intake, including sodium restriction, in adult HF.

Methods: A thorough search of electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library, identified relevant studies examining fluid intake effects on adult heart failure patients, categorized by liberal or restricted intake, with subgroup analysis on sodium restriction.