Physician wellbeing in a national rehabilitation hospital, a qualitative study utilizing Maslow's hierarchy of needs as a framework for analysis.

Background: Globally, healthcare systems are experiencing a workforce crisis which has been exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic. Numerous reports have documented the deterioration of healthcare professional wellbeing with burnout being called the new pandemic. Rehabilitation Medicine Physicians are among the most likely specialties to experience burnout.

Emerging strategies for nitric oxide production and their topical application as nanodressings to promote diabetic wound healing.

The challenges associated with prolonged healing or non-healing of chronic diabetic wounds contribute significantly to the increased incidence of lower limb amputation. A pivotal factor in the impediment of healing is the reduced production of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) due to the hyperglycemic microenvironment typical of chronic diabetes. While both endogenous and exogenous NO have been shown to promote the healing process of diabetic wounds, the direct application of NO in wound management is limited due to its gaseous nature and the risk of explosive release.

λ-cyhalothrin induced sex-specific inflammation, glia activation and GABAergic interneuron disruption in the hippocampus of rats.

Background: Glia mediated neuroinflammation and degeneration of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons are some of the hall marks of pyrethroid neurotoxicity. Here we investigated the sex specific responses of inflammatory cytokines, microglia, astrocyte and parvalbumin positive inhibitory GABAergic interneurons to λ-cyhalothrin (LCT) exposures in rats.

Methods: Equal numbers of male and female rats were given oral corn oil, 2 mg/kg.

CT-sensitized nanoprobe for effective early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Early diagnosis is critical for providing a timely window for effective therapy in pulmonary fibrosis (PF); however, achieving this remains a significant challenge. The distinct honeycombing patterns observed in computed tomography (CT) for the primary diagnosis of PF are typically only visible in patients with moderate to severe disease, often leading to missed opportunities for early intervention. In this study, we developed a nanoprobe designed to accumulate at fibroblastic foci and loaded with the CT sensitizer iodide to enable effective early diagnosis of PF.

Defective Slc7a7 transport reduces erythropoietin compromising erythropoiesis.

Background: Lysinuric protein intolerance is a rare autosomal disorder caused by mutations in the Slc7a7 gene that lead to impaired transport of neutral and basic amino acids. The gold standard treatment for lysinuric protein intolerance involves a low-protein diet and citrulline supplementation. While this approach partially improves cationic amino acid plasma levels and alleviates some symptoms, long-term treatment is suggested to be detrimental and may lead to life-threatening complications characterized by a wide range of hematological and immunological abnormalities.

Are medical school preclinical tests biased for sex and race? A differential item functioning analysis.

Background: A common practice in assessment development, fundamental for fairness and consequently the validity of test score interpretations and uses, is to ascertain whether test items function equally across test-taker groups. Accordingly, we conducted differential item functioning (DIF) analysis, a psychometric procedure for detecting potential item bias, for three preclinical medical school foundational courses based on students' sex and race.

Methods: The sample included 520, 519, and 344 medical students for anatomy, histology, and physiology, respectively, collected from 2018 to 2020.

Investigating BLS instructors' ability to evaluate CPR performance: focus on compression depth, rate, and recoil.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) presents significant challenges with low survival rates, emphasizing the need for effective bystander CPR training. In Basic Life Support (BLS) training, the role of instructors is pivotal as they assess and correct learners' cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques to ensure proficiency in life-saving skills. This study evaluates the concordance between CPR quality assessments by Basic Life Support (BLS) instructors and those determined through Quantitative CPR (QCPR) devices, utilizing data from BLS courses conducted at National Cheng Kung University Hospital from October 2017 to April 2018.

Critical factors influencing live birth rates in fresh embryo transfer for IVF: insights from cluster ensemble algorithms.

Infertility has emerged as a significant global health concern. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) assists numerous infertile couples in conceiving, yet some experience repeated, unsuccessful cycles. This study aims to identify the pivotal clinical factors influencing the success of fresh embryo transfer of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Optimization of the intron sequences combined with the CMV promoter increases recombinant protein expression in CHO cells.

To meet the requirements of the biopharmaceutical industry, improving the yield of recombination therapeutic protein (RTP) from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells is necessary. The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter is widely used for RTP expression in CHO cells. To further improve RTP production, we truncated the human CMV intron and further evaluated the effect of four synthetic introns, including ctEF-1α first, EF-1α first, chimeric, and β-globin introns combined with the CMV promoter on recombinant expression levels in transient and stably recombinant CHO cells.

Hsa_circ_0001304 promotes vascular neointimal hyperplasia accompanied by autophagy activation.

Aberrant autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is associated with the progression of vascular remodeling diseases caused by neointimal hyperplasia. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced vascular remodeling is accompanied by autophagy activation, however, the involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) remains unclear. Here, we show the role of PDGF-BB-regulated hsa_circ_0001304 (circ-1304) in neointimal hyperplasia and its potential involvement in VSMC autophagy, while also elucidating the potential mechanisms.

SP-1-activated LINC01016 overexpression promotes gastric cancer invasion and metastasis through inhibiting EIF4A3-mediated MMP9 mRNA decay.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators during gastric cancer (GC) development and may be viable treatment targets. In the present study, we showed that the expression of the long intergenic noncoding RNA 01016 (LINC01016) is significantly higher in GC tissues with lymph node metastasis (LNM) than those without LNM. LINC01016 overexpression predicts a poorer relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

pH-sensitive nano-drug delivery systems dual-target endothelial cells and macrophages for enhanced treatment of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by vascular endothelial dysfunction. In the early stage of the disease, endothelial cell injury induces the infiltration of inflammatory macrophages, which secrete large amounts of inflammatory factors, further aggravating endothelial cell dysfunction and exacerbating the disease. Therefore, it is promising for co-targeting endothelial cells and macrophages further regulating the inflammatory microenvironment and endothelial cell function for effective treatment.

Mitochondrial dysfunction-driven AMPK-p53 axis activation underpins the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of sulfane sulfur.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer, notoriously refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Historically, sulfane sulfur-based compounds have been explored for the treatment of HCC, but their efficacy has been underwhelming. We recently reported a novel sulfane sulfur donor, PSCP, which exhibited improved chemical stability and structural malleability.

A miniaturized colorimetric-photoacoustic dual-mode device for point-of-care testing of ascorbic acid and ascorbate oxidase.

Background: Real-time and rapid detection of ingredients in food has important significance for food safety. However, traditional detection methods not only require bulky and costly instruments but also are often based on single-mode analysis, limiting their accuracy and applications in point-of-care testing. Herein, an integrated and miniaturized dual-mode device based on colorimetric and photoacoustic (PA) principles is developed, using Au@Ag nanoparticles (Au@AgNPs) as signal probe and ascorbic acid (AA) and ascorbate oxidase (AAO) as analytes.

Frozen versus fresh embryo transfer in women with low prognosis for in vitro fertilisation treatment: pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that a freeze-all strategy would increase the chance of live birth compared with fresh embryo transfer in women with low prognosis for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

Design: Pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Nine academic fertility centres in China.

Burden of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Asia from 1990 to 2021.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the disease burden of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Asia.

Material And Methods: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 data evaluated NPC metrics by sex, and age in Asia. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to assess the trends of NPC burden.

Cas12a Is Competitive for Gene Editing in the Malaria parasites.

Malaria, caused by the Plasmodium parasites, has always been one of the worst infectious diseases that threaten human health, making it necessary for us to study the genetic function and physiological mechanisms of Plasmodium parasites from the molecular level to find more effective ways of addressing the increasingly pressing threat. The CRISPR (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated protein) is an RNA-guided adaptive immune system, which has been extensively developed and used as a genome editing tool in many organisms, including Plasmodium parasites. However, due to the physiological characteristics and special genomic characteristics of Plasmodium parasites, most of the tools currently used for genome editing of Plasmodium parasites have not met expectations.

Constraint-induced movement therapy combined with intermittent theta-burst stimulation improve synaptic plasticity by inhibiting neutrophils extracellular traps formation in ipsilateral primary motor cortex of stroke rats.

The effect of Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) or Intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) alone is limited in improving motor function after a stroke. In this study, we explored the efficacy and possible mechanisms in combination of CIMT and iTBS through behavioral evaluation, RNA sequencing, Golgi staining, transmission electronic microscope (TEM), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), western blotting (WB) and immunofluorescence. Firstly, we observed that combination therapy is safe and effective, and it can significantly reduce the number of immature dendritic spines and increase the number of functional dendritic spines, the amount of glutamate (Glu) and the expression of Glu1 receptor (Glu1R).

Significance of TYMS Polymorphism rs3819102 as a Prognostic Marker for Nonsmoking Lung Cancer Patients of the Han Ethnicity in China.

Introduction: With high incidence and mortality rates, lung cancer is now one of the most common cancers in the world. The 5-year survival rate of lung cancer patients is very low, and predicting the prognosis of lung cancer patients and using it to develop treatment strategies and interventions is important for prolonging the survival time of patients. Folate metabolism involves various aspects such as methylation of DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, etc.

NOD-like receptor protein 3 inhibition by MCC950 improves the cognitive function of rats with sepsis-associated encephalopathy.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of MCC950 in a rat model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Adult male rats were randomly assigned to 12 groups according to the surgery or treatment received and evaluation times. The SAE model was established using the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) method.

Hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase: A biomarker for authentication of death from mechanical asphyxia.

Death from mechanical asphyxia (DMA) refers to death from acute respiratory disorder caused by mechanical violence. Due to the absence of characteristic signs in corpses, it has been rather challenging to achieve the precise authentication of DMA. In this research, human pulmonary samples were collected and grouped according to different causes of death in search of potential biomarkers of DMA.

The secreted protease ADAMTS18 links early isoform transformation and maturation of glomerular basement membrane macromolecules to the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier.

The glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) has a unique spatial structure, including porous capillary endothelial cells, glomerular basal membrane (GBM) and highly specialized podocytes. This special structure is essential for the hemofiltration process of nephrons. GBM is the central meshwork structure of GFB formed by the assembly and fusion of various extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules, such as laminins and collagens, which undergo isoform transformation and maturation that may require precise regulation by metalloproteinases.

Formin protein DAAM1 positively regulates PD-L1 expression via mediating the JAK1/STAT1 axis in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis1 (DAAM1) is a member of the evolutionarily conserved Formin family and plays a significant role in the malignant progression of various human cancers. This study aims to explore the clinical and biological significance of DAAM1 in pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Multiple public datasets and an in-house cohort were utilized to assess the clinical relevance of DAAM1 in pancreatic cancer.

Medical Student Musculoskeletal Knowledge: Examining the Impact and Value of an Orthopaedic Surgery Clerkship Using the Freedman and Bernstein Examination.

Purpose: Given the importance of musculoskeletal knowledge but the limited orthopaedic instruction offered in medical school, our Orthopaedic Surgery Department developed a three-week clerkship for interested students. This study assesses the clerkship's impact on medical student musculoskeletal knowledge through administration of the Freedman and Bernstein Basic Cognitive Musculoskeletal Examination.

Methods: Medical students enrolled in the orthopaedic surgery clerkship between February 2019 and May 2024 were asked to participate in pre- and post-clerkship surveys using the Freedman and Bernstein Basic Cognitive Musculoskeletal Examination.

Anti-inflammatory coupled anti-angiogenic airway stent effectively suppresses tracheal in-stents restenosis.

Excessive vascularization during tracheal in-stent restenosis (TISR) is a significant but frequently overlooked issue. We developed an anti-inflammatory coupled anti-angiogenic airway stent (PAGL) incorporating anlotinib hydrochloride and silver nanoparticles using advanced electrospinning technology. PAGL exhibited hydrophobic surface properties, exceptional mechanical strength, and appropriate drug-release kinetics.