Whole exome sequencing-based homologous recombination deficiency test for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: The homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) test is an important tool for identifying patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) benefit from the treatment with poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi). Using whole exome sequencing (WES)-based platform can provide information of gene mutations and HRD score; however, the clinical value of WES-based HRD test was less validated in EOC.

Methods: We enrolled 40 patients with EOC in the training cohort and 23 in the validation cohort.

Arthroscopic all-inside wrapping repair of lateral meniscus bucket-handle tears: clinical and imaging outcomes.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the clinical and radiographic healing rates of the arthroscopic all-inside wrapping repair technique for lateral meniscus bucket-handle tears (LMBHTs).

Methods: This retrospective study examined patients diagnosed with LMBHTs who underwent all-inside wrapping repair with or without anterior cruciate reconstruction between 2012 and 2021. Patients with previous knee surgeries, multiligamentous knee injuries, or advanced osteoarthritis were excluded.

PrEP Disparities Among Transgender Feminine, Transgender Masculine, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Youth and Young Adults in the United States.

This study assessed disparities in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among transgender and gender expansive youth and young adults (N = 477) between 15 and 24 years old in the CARES (ATN 149) and TechStep (ATN 160) study protocols within the National Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN). Structural equation modeling was used to test mediation pathways between gender identity and PrEP uptake among the full sample and stratified by sex assigned at birth. Lifetime PrEP uptake was higher among those assigned male at birth (26%) versus assigned female at birth (9%), explained by greater structural and behavioral risks and perceived need for PrEP, especially among trans women.

Immobilization of biofunctional molecule with potential osteoinductive efficacy on titanium implant for promoting early-stage osseointegration.

In the present study, porcine-derived collagen type I was covalently immobilized on the surface of titanium (Ti) implants via carboxyl groups introduced by bonded p-vinylbenzoic acid to investigate its in vitro biocompatibility with gingival stem cells and in vivo bone regeneration behavior in the edentulous ridges of Lanyu small-ear pigs at weeks 2 and 6 (short-term effectiveness) through micro-computed tomography and histological analysis. Analytical results found that gingival stem cells showed effective adhesion and spreading on these collagen-immobilized implant surfaces. After 2 and 6 weeks of healing, significant differences in Hounsfield units were observed among the control (week 2 (674.

Examining the Construct Stability of the Family Medicine Certification Scale Between One-Day Exam and Longitudinal Assessment.

Purpose: To determine whether the construct of family medicine clinical decision making ability was invariant across modes of administration, the 1-day examination and the longitudinal assessment. We attempted to identify item characteristics associated with differences in difficulty across modes of administration.

Methods: The data were item difficulty calibrations based on examinee responses to the 1-day examination and the longitudinal assessment.

Caps-ac4C: an effective computational framework for identifying N4-acetylcytidine sites in human mRNA based on deep learning.

N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) is a crucial post-transcriptional modification in human mRNA, involving the acetylation of the nitrogen atom at the fourth position of cytidine. This modification, catalyzed by N-acetyltransferases such as NAT10, is primarily found in mRNA's coding regions and enhances translation efficiency and mRNA stability. ac4C is closely associated with various diseases, including cancer.

Exploring the Influence of PCBs Exposure on Neonatal Birth Outcomes and Neurobehavioral Development after 20 years of prohibition.

Despite polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been banned in Taiwan for two decades, epidemiological studies indicated that prenatal PCBs exposure may still affect newborns and their birth outcomes. The study aimed to investigate the association between PCB concentrations in umbilical cord blood and infants' birth outcomes and neurodevelopment. We recruited 100 pairs of mothers and infants, residing in Changhua and Yunlin countries in Taiwan from 2014-2016.

Ethyl caffeate modulates systemic and mucosal immune responses, growth performance, and disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂).

Hybrid groupers become one of the important aquatic animals, but gastric pathogen infection causes losses due to Vibrio sp. infections. Ethyl caffeate (EC), a naturally occurring antioxidant and antibacterial derived from medicinal plant.

Unlocking insights: Clinical associations from the largest 6-minute walk test collection via the my Heart Counts Cardiovascular Health Study, a fully digital smartphone platform.

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a prognostic sub-maximal exercise test used clinically as a measure of functional capacity. With the emergence of advanced sensors, 6MWTs are being performed remotely via smartphones and other devices. The My Heart Counts Cardiovascular Health Study is a smartphone application that serves as a digital platform for studies of human cardiovascular health, and has been used to perform 30,475 6MWTs on 8922 unique participants.

The protection of bisphenol A-modulated miRNAs and targets by natural products.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant with endocrine-disrupting functions. Identifying protective drugs and exploring the mechanisms against BPA are crucial in healthcare. Natural products exhibiting antioxidant properties are considered to be able to protect against BPA toxicity.

Hydrosilylation of porous silicon: Unusual possibilities and potential challenges.

Among the many types of surface modifications on porous silicon (pSi), hydrosilylation stands out to be an important approach due to the formation of highly stable surface linkage through Si-C bonding. Since its conceptualization in 1998, hydrosilylation had gradually gained popularity for pSi surface modifications and had become an important approach for stabilizing pSi surfaces especially for biological applications. Over the past decade, significant advancements have been made in the hydrosilylation process for modifying porous silicon (pSi) surfaces.

Comparative analysis of oncological and surgical outcomes of robotic versus conventional mastectomy for breast cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the surgical and oncological outcomes of robotic mastectomy (RM) and conventional mastectomy (CM) for breast cancer.

Methods: Our institutional registry of women with breast cancer who received RM between 2018 and 2023 and CM between 2016 and 2023 were reviewed. Propensity score matching of clinicopathological variables was used to match 123 RM patients with 123 CM patients.

Communicating with Stakeholders to Identify High-Impact Research Directions for Non-Targeted Analysis.

Non-targeted analysis (NTA) using high-resolution mass spectrometry without defined chemical targets has the potential to expand and improve chemical monitoring in many fields. Despite rapid advancements within the research community, NTA methods and data remain underutilized by many potential beneficiaries. To better understand barriers toward widespread adoption, the Best Practices for Non-Targeted Analysis (BP4NTA) working group conducted focus group meetings and follow-up surveys with scientists (n = 61) from various sectors (e.

Lipid Levels and Lung Cancer Risk: Findings from the Taiwan National Data Systems from 2012 to 2018.

Background: Lipids are known to be involved in carcinogenesis, but the associations between lipid profiles and different lung cancer histological classifications remain unknown.

Methods: Individuals who participated in national adult health surveillance from 2012 to 2018 were included. For patients who developed lung cancer during follow-up, a 1:2 control group of nonlung cancer participants was selected after matching.

Effect of composition, temperature, and grain size on mechanical behavior and deformation mechanism of lightweight magnesium alloy.

Context: To address the severe fuel crisis and environmental pollution, the use of lightweight metal materials, such as AZ alloy, represents an optimal solution. This study investigates the mechanical behavior and deformation mechanism of AZ alloys under uniaxial compressive using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The influence of various compositions, grain sizes (GSs), and temperatures on the compressive stress, the ultimate compressive strength (UCS), compressive yield stress (CYS), Young's modulus (E), shear strain, phase transformation, dislocation distribution, and total deformation length is thoroughly examined.

A pre-rule for the sequential probability ratio test in a between-item grid multidimensional computerized classification test.

The measurement efficiency of a grid multidimensional computerized classification test (grid MCCT), which makes a classification decision per dimension, can be improved by taking the correlations between the dimensions into account in the termination criterion. The higher the correlations, the better the improvement in measurement efficiency. However, a termination criterion utilizing inter-dimensional information (i.

Leveraging Model-Based Simulations to Optimize Extended Dosing of Leuprolide 6-Month Intramuscular Depot Formulation.

Background And Objective: A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist such as leuprolide is widely used to achieve sustained suppression of testosterone levels, which play a critical role in the treatment of prostate cancer. Recent advances in drug delivery systems have led to the development of long-acting depot formulations, such as the 6-month intramuscular (IM) leuprolide formulation, which aim to simplify dosing and improve convenience for both patients and healthcare providers. Exploring extended dosing intervals for such formulations represents a promising approach to further optimize treatment regimens, potentially balancing efficacy with patient-centered care.

Legalization of surrogacy? Opinions from more than 7700 residents in Taiwan.

This study explores Taiwanese' perspectives on the potential legalization of surrogacy, an issue with diverse legal stances globally. Conducted between 17 December 2023 and 1 January 2024, this mixed-methods cross-sectional study employed Knowledge and Attitudes of Legalizing Surrogacy (KALS) questionnaire. This instrument assessed opinions and ethical considerations on various aspects including ethics and children's rights, surrogate health, offspring welfare, and social justice.

Oxidation state of bioavailable dissolved organic matter influences bacterioplankton respiration and growth efficiency.

Oxygen consumption by oceanic microbes can predict respiration (CO production) but requires an assumed respiratory quotient (RQ; ΔO/ΔCO). Measured apparent RQs (ARQs) can be impacted by various processes, including nitrification and changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition, leading to discrepancies between ARQ and actual RQ. In DOM remineralization experiments conducted in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, ARQs averaged 1.

A robust output-feedback control scheme based on composite nonlinear feedback in singular uncertain delayed models.

Relying on composite nonlinear feedback, an output-feedback controller is robustly addressed in the singular models with uncertainties, disturbances and time-delays. For this purpose, an observer-based compensator is utilized to realize the purpose. In the presence of disturbance and uncertainty, it is demonstrated that the tracking error and the states of the overall system are ultimately bounded.

The Impact of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease on the Presence of Cerebral Microbleeds: A Case-Control Matched Study.

Rationale And Objectives: Individuals with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) can present with diverse renal and extra-renal manifestations. Large vessel anomalies, such as cerebral aneurysms, are potentially fatal extra-renal manifestations. However, limited research has been conducted on cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

AI integration into wavelength-based SPR biosensing: Advancements in spectroscopic analysis and detection.

Background: In recent years, employing deep learning methods in the biosensing area has significantly reduced data analysis time and enhanced data interpretation and prediction accuracy. In some SPR fields, research teams have further enhanced detection capabilities using deep learning techniques. However, the application of deep learning to spectroscopic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors has not been reported.

Preexisting multimorbidity predicts greater mortality risks related to long-term PM exposure.

Long-term health risk assessments related to ambient fine particulate matter (PM) exposure have been more limited to general population but not towards individuals suffering from multimorbidity. While both multimorbidity and PM are independently linked to elevated mortality risk, their combined effects and interactions remain practically unexplored. A cross-cohort analysis was undertaken on data from 3 prospective cohorts, initially enrolling 869038 adults aged ≥18 years followed up during 2005-2022.

Advancing Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Integrating Molecular Biomarkers and Emerging Technologies.

Cancer biomarkers can be derived from tumor cells or neighboring cells within the tumor microenvironment. Over the past few decades, various molecular markers, including DNA (mutations, copy number variations), RNA (mRNA, microRNA, circular RNA), proteins, and metabolites, have been identified with the aid of rapidly evolving technologies. Some of these markers have demonstrated potential clinical utility, while others have provided new insights into the deregulation of normal molecular and cellular processes that lead to tumorigenesis.

Healthcare Utilization One Year Before Sudden Cardiac Death in Taiwan.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the patterns of healthcare system utilization before sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Taiwan, and compare the patterns between patients treated at medical centers and non-center hospitals.

Methods: This descriptive multicenter retrospective cohort study recruited adult, nontraumatic SCD patients who were admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals between January 2017 and December 2022. Healthcare utilization patterns, such as outpatient visits, emergency department (ED) visits, short-term ED returns, and hospitalizations, were analyzed during the weeks prior to SCD.