Effects of Low-FODMAPS Diet on Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms and Gut Microbiome.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) suffer from abdominal pain, bloating, and abnormal defecation. Reducing the dietary intake of fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) has been shown to be beneficial in reducing IBS symptoms. However, diet modification plays an important role in the composition of colonic microbiota.

Seasonal variation of refractive error change among young schoolchildren in a population-based cohort study in Taipei.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between seasonal variation of daylight length and spherical equivalent (SE) progression among the schoolchildren participating in the Myopia Investigation Study in Taipei.

Methods: We used the first-year data from grade 2 schoolchildren who completed all the baseline and two follow-up examinations (n=6790). There were two 6-month intervals between visits over winter and summer, respectively.

Integrating Evidence-Based Community-Care Services to Improve Schizophrenia Outcomes: A Preliminary Trial.

This aim of this preliminary experimental study was to integrate effective evidence-based community-care services that are subjected to heavy caseloads, and to then examine the effects on individuals with schizophrenia. Using a cluster sampling method, four homecare nurses were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the comparison group. The nurses in the experimental group applied the following six identified effective elements: (1) established an alliance with their patients; (2) assessed patient-care needs; (3) considered both medical and social-care practices; (4) addressed patients' self-management of medication and their daily tasks; (5) provided crisis intervention; and (6) coordinated resources.

Comparison of single-incision mini-slings (Ajust) and standard transobturator midurethral slings (Align) in the management of female stress urinary incontinence: A 1-year follow-up.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of a new single-incision mini-sling (SIMS)-Ajust-compared with the standard transobturator midurethral sling (SMUS)-Align-for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 1, 2010 and August 31, 2012. Women with SUI who underwent either SMUS-Align or SIMS-Ajust were recruited.

Comparison of early-stage primary serous fallopian tube carcinomas and equivalent stage serous epithelial ovarian carcinomas.

Objective: To investigate the outcome of patients with early-stage primary fallopian tube carcinomas (PFTC) and those of patients with equivalent-stage serous epithelial ovarian carcinomas (SEOC).

Materials And Methods: A balanced and matched, case-control comparison was conducted in a university-based tertiary hospital database between 1978 and 2007. All PFTC and SEOC patients were treated with complete staging surgery followed by multiagent chemotherapy.

An increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in Taiwanese women with a new surgico-pathological diagnosis of endometriosis.

Background: Epidemiological evidence of relationships between endometriosis and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has been obtained mainly from Western countries. Our goal was to determine the risk of EOC due to endometriosis in Taiwanese women.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed by linking to the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan.

The protective role of carotenoids and polyphenols in patients with head and neck cancer.

Head and neck cancer is a critical global health problem and approximately 650,000 patients per year are diagnosed with this type of cancer. In addition, head and neck cancer exhibits a high recurrence rate, readily causing second primary cancers in other locations, often yielding a poor prognosis. Current medical and surgical treatment options result in considerable impairment of speaking and swallowing functions, with side effects such as nausea, vomiting, bone marrow suppression, and renal damage, thereby impairing patients' quality of life.

Primary fallopian tube cancer: domestic data and up-to-date review.

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is a rare gynecological malignancy with the following characteristics: its preoperative diagnosis is easy to miss or delay because of a lack of specific symptoms and signs; it is difficult to distinguish from serous epithelial ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal serous carcinoma during or even after operation because they have the same histopathological features; and there is uncertainty regarding the optimal management because of the lack of available standard guidelines. All of these factors contribute to the major challenge of undertaking a comprehensive study of this disease. To improve our understanding of this rare disease, the domestic data were summarized first.

Factors associated with future commitment and past history of human papilloma virus vaccination among female college students in northern Taiwan.

Objective: To investigate factors influencing commitment to human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination and prior vaccination among female college students in northern Taiwan.

Methods: A quota sample of 400 female college students was recruited from nine colleges in northern Taiwan during March 2013. Of these, 398 completed the self administered questionnaire which was designed based on the health promotion model.

Prognostic factors of primary fallopian tube cancer in a single institute in Taiwan.

Objective: To improve the understanding of primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) through an analysis of possible clinical and pathologic determinants of prognosis.

Methods: A retrospective review of the database of a tertiary hospital in Taiwan for 1978-2007 was conducted to identify patients with a diagnosis of PFTC and to evaluate the clinicopathologic features associated with PFTC outcome.

Results: Fifty-eight patients (mean age 62.

Uterine-sparing surgery for adenomyosis and/or adenomyoma.

Adenomyosis of the uterus is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue, including glands and stroma, situated at least 2.5 mm below the endometrial-myometrial junction and widely distributed within the myometrium layer of the uterus. There is no consensus on the appropriate treatment for symptomatic uterine adenomyosis in women who want to preserve their uterus, partly because adenomyosis is somewhat enigmatic in diagnosis and owing to its clinical significance.

Death and help expected from nurses when dying.

This project was undertaken to ascertain the perceptions of a group of Taiwan's fourth-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) students regarding death and help expected from nurses during the dying process. Within the Chinese culture, death is one of the most important life issues. However, in many Chinese societies it is difficult for people to reveal their deepest feelings to their significant others or loved ones.

Cancer diagnosis and prognosis in Taiwan: patient preferences versus experiences.

Considering the emphasis of nonmaleficence and beneficence and the relative power of family, there is a well-recognized suggestion that, in Asian culture, informing cancer patients about their diagnosis and prognosis should be modified according to the family's opinion. However, up until now, except in Japan, the argument that cancer patients from an Asian culture have different preferences about being informed of their diagnosis and prognosis has not been demonstrated by evidence-based studies especially by directly exploring cancer patients' preferences. The purpose of this study was to describe Taiwanese cancer patients' knowledge and experiences of being informed of their diagnosis and prognosis.