Rare complication of varicella-zoster virus infection: a case report of vernet syndrome in clinical and radiological evidence.

Vernet syndrome is a neurological disorder rarely seen in association with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection in ear. This report presents a 61-year-old man demonstrating neuropathy of cranial nerve XI, X, and XI. Subsequent serological and radiological examinations revealed Vernet syndrome due to VZV infection, a rare complication of a common infection.

Enhanced renoprotective effects of combined glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Real-world evidence.

Introduction: Developing a more effective treatment for the global impact of diabetic kidney disease is crucial. This study examined the renoprotective effects of combining glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) compared to SGLT2is alone in type 2 diabetes (DM).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network.

Sonography-Guided Endovascular Retrieval of Fractured Angiocatheter in Brachial Artery: A Case Report.

Background: The insertion of an angiocatheter into a peripheral artery for continuous hemodynamic monitoring is a widely employed clinical practice. Fracture of a angiocatheter retained in an artery, though infrequent, presents a challenge in clinical management, particularly in critically ill patients. Surgical exploration for retrieval is generally required, as fluoroscopy-guided endovascular methods are precluded due to the radiolucency of catheters.

Depression and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Mediation Analysis of Handgrip Strength and Demoralization.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease impacting the physical function and mental health of sufferers. Depression is known to negatively impact quality of life, whereas handgrip strength and demoralization are important factors affecting physical and mental health. Lower handgrip strength has been associated with sarcopenia and higher risk of hospitalization in patients and higher workloads for nurse caregivers.

Ultrasound Imaging for Preoperative Assessment of Schwannomas in the Palm: A Case Report.

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the hand are rare occurrences. Among them, schwannomas are benign tumors originating from peripheral nerves. In this case report, we presented a patient with schwannomas in the palm, examined using ultrasound for preoperative assessment and was confirmed by pathological specimen.

Accelerated versus conventional corneal collagen cross-linking for keratoconus: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: To systematically compare the effectiveness of conventional corneal collagen cross-linking (CCXL) protocols and accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking (ACXL) protocols in cases with progressive keratoconus.

Methods: The Cochrane library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Outcomes were clinical results and changes in corneal properties.

Effects of Resilience and Personal Accomplishment on the Relationship Between Quality of Work Life and Turnover Intention Among Newly Employed Nurses.

Background: Turnover among newly employed nurses is an indicator of workforce stability in healthcare organizations. The factors influencing turnover intention in this group are complex and differ by generation. The relationships among variables including work-life quality, personal accomplishment, resilience, and turnover intention have been explored separately.

Hyperthermia reduces cancer cell invasion and combats chemoresistance and immune evasion in human bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common malignancy and its most prevalent type is urothelial carcinoma, which accounts for ~90% of all cases of BC. The current treatment options for BC are limited, which necessitates the development of alternative treatment strategies. Hyperthermia (HT), as an adjuvant cancer therapy, is known to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Development and psychometric testing of the Perception of Childbirth Environment Scale in Taiwan.

Background: Previous research has shown that women's perceptions of their childbirth environment are critical in ensuring that they feel supported and in facilitating physiological childbirth.

Aim: To develop and validate the Perception of Childbirth Environment Scale (PCES) for expectant mothers.

Methods: The PCES was developed based on findings from a scoping review and a qualitative study on childbirth environments conducted by the authors.

Bioinformatics Analysis and Experimental Validation of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Against Iopromide-induced Injury in HEK-293 Cells Anti-oxidative and Anti-inflammation Pathways.

Background/aim: The administration of contrast agents can adversely affect kidney function. Nevertheless, the nephrotoxicity of iopromide in human renal cells, potential therapeutic agents, and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated.

Materials And Methods: The proliferation of HEK-293 kidney cells was assessed using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay.

Robot-assisted congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair in adults: A case series.

Rationale: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare condition predominantly affecting neonates, with only a few cases remaining undetected until adulthood. Surgical repair is the primary treatment approach for adults with confirmed CDH. Traditionally, these procedures include laparotomy, thoracotomy, and minimally invasive techniques such as thoracoscopy and laparoscopy.

Nimbolide Induces Cell Apoptosis via Mediating ER Stress-Regulated Apoptotic Signaling in Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) poses a significant health challenge in Asia, with current therapeutic strategies failing to improve the survival rates for OSCC patients sufficiently. To elucidate the effects of Nimbolide on OSCC cell proliferation and apoptosis, we performed a series of experiments, including cell proliferation assays, annexin V/PI assays, and cell cycle analysis. We further investigated nimbolide's role in modulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial dysfunction using flow cytometry.

Brain structural network modular and connectivity alterations in subtypes of patients with migraine and medication overuse headache.

Migraine, one of the most prevalent and debilitating neurological disorders, can be classified based on attack frequency into episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM). Medication overuse headache (MOH), a type of chronic headache, arises when painkillers are overused by individuals with untreated or inadequately treated headaches. This study compares regional cortical morphological alterations and brain structural network changes among these headache subgroups.

Morphological changes of cerebral gray matter in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 using fractal dimension analysis.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), or Machado-Joseph disease, presents as a cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS) and represents the predominant SCA genotype in Taiwan. Beyond cerebellar involvement, SCA3 patients exhibit cerebral atrophy. While prior neurodegenerative disease studies relied on voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for brain atrophy assessment, its qualitative nature limits individual and region-specific evaluations.

Comparative long-term oncological outcomes of intraoperative radiotherapy vs. whole-breast irradiation in early breast cancer: a single institute study.

Background: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and whole breast irradiation (WBI) are both effective adjuvant radiotherapy methods for ductal carcinoma (DCIS) or early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS). We aim to evaluate the long-term oncological efficacy and refine patient selection criteria based on our findings.

Methods: Female patients who underwent either IORT or WBI from January 2016 to December 2019, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were collected.

Improving lung function capacity in patients with chronotropic incompetence using closed loop stimulation: A randomized crossover study.

Background: Chronotropic incompetence (CI) severely limits exercise tolerance due to impaired heart rate responses. This study investigated whether pacemaker with closed-loop stimulation (DDD-CLS) pacing, which provides rate acceleration in response to exertion, could enhance lung function and cardiopulmonary capacity compared pacemaker without CLS pacing in patients with CI.

Methods: This randomized crossover trial included 32 patients with CI who were compared to each CLS and DDD pacing over 2 months.

Machine learning localization to identify the epileptogenic side in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Background: Mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is the most common pathology associated with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) in adults. Most atrophic hippocampi can be identified using MRI based on standard epilepsy protocols; however, difficulties can arise in cases where sclerotic changes in the hippocampus are subtle or non-epilepsy-specific protocols have been implemented. In such cases, quantitative methods, such as T1-weighted axial series MRIs, are valuable additional tools to complement epilepsy-specific protocols.

The potential benefits of extra screening for glycated haemoglobin, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on donor health management and retention.

Background And Objectives: An extra health screening, including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was initiated for regular donors aged over 40 in Taiwan in November 2015. This study aimed to determine its benefits on donor health management and retention.

Materials And Methods: A stratified random mail survey was conducted among donors who received HbA1c, TC and LDL-C screening between November 2015 and June 2017 to investigate their awareness of the screening, medical histories and post-screening behaviours.

Effect of the geometry and severity of left ventricular hypertrophy on cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a vital risk factor for mortality of dialysis patients. The association of the geometry and severity of LVH with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients remains unknown. This study investigated clinical outcomes among HD patients with different LVH geometric patterns and severity.

Helmet Ventilation in a Child with COVID-19 and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: In pediatric patients with severe COVID-19, if the respiratory support provided using high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) becomes insufficient, no definitive evidence exists to support the escalation to noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or mechanical ventilation (MV). . A 9-year-old boy being treated with face mask-delivered biphasic positive airway pressure ventilation developed fever, tachypnea, and frequent desaturation.