Ventilation or aerosol extraction: comparing the efficacy of directional air purifiers, HEPA evacuators and negative-pressure environments.

Background: This study evaluated aerosol exposure during various respiratory activities (breathing, tachypnea, coughing, and oxygen therapy) in environments with directional air purifiers (DAPs), HEPA evacuators, and standard negative pressure (SNP) rooms to explore potential alternatives for addressing isolation room shortages.

Methods: Aerosol exposure was measured during various breathing conditions (normal, tachypnea, coughing, and recovery) with non-rebreather masks (NRMs) and nasal cannulas. The study analysed aerosol velocity and concentrations at the head, trunk and feet of a mannequin across settings including DAP, HEPA evacuator, SNP room, their combinations, and a reference group without intervention.

Forty years of HIV infection and AIDS in Taiwan: Reflection on the past and looking toward the future.

We review the epidemiology, policies, and control programs of HIV infection in Taiwan in the past 40 years since the first case of HIV infection was diagnosed in 1984. With the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Taiwan in 1997, the incidences of HIV-related opportunistic illnesses and mortality have significantly declined. However, despite improved access to HIV testing and treatment, late presentation of HIV infection remains common.

Intraocular pressure and optical coherence tomography concerning visual field outcomes in "green" patients: An observational study.

This study investigates the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP), optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters, and visual field (VF) outcomes in 'Green' patients-those with normal OCT findings but potential VF abnormalities. Understanding this relationship is crucial for improving early detection and management strategies for glaucoma, especially in patients who show functional loss despite normal structural findings on OCT. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Taipei City Hospital, Renai Branch, Taiwan, from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2023.

Alterations of Gut Microbiome Composition and Function Pre- and Post-Adenotonsillectomy in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Importance: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is linked with alterations in the gut microbiome. The influence of adenotonsillectomy (AT), a primary intervention for OSA, on gut microbiota dynamics relative to disease severity remains to be elucidated.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of OSA severity and AT on the gut microbiome in pediatric patients.

Automatic localization and deep convolutional generative adversarial network-based classification of focal liver lesions in computed tomography images: A preliminary study.

Background And Aim: Computed tomography of the abdomen exhibits subtle and complex features of liver lesions, subjectively interpreted by physicians. We developed a deep learning-based localization and classification (DLLC) system for focal liver lesions (FLLs) in computed tomography imaging that could assist physicians in more robust clinical decision-making.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study (approval no.

Changes in plasma biomarkers differentiate clinical stages of Alzheimer's disease using immunomagnetic reduction assays.

Background: Many groups have been using immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) for assaying plasma amyloid-β 1-40 (Aβ) peptide, Aβ peptide and total tau protein (T-Tau) in cognitively normal controls (NC), patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD). Tremendous results have been independently reported.

Objective: We used traditional knowledge databases (e.

Precision medicine in diabetes prediction: Exploring a subgroup-specific biomarker strategy for risk stratification.

Introduction: The early detection of high-risk individuals is crucial to delay and reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we aimed to explore the performance of a novel subgroup-specific biomarker strategy in the prediction of incident diabetes.

Materials And Methods: In the Taiwan Lifestyle Cohort Study, adult subjects without diabetes were included and followed for the incidence of diabetes in 2006-2019.

Notoginsenoside R1 Attenuates Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity by Inducing Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression and Suppressing Oxidative Stress.

Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity occurs in approximately half of patients treated with cisplatin, and pediatric patients are more likely to be affected than adults. The oxidative stress elicited by cisplatin is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of ototoxicity. Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), the main bioactive compound of saponins, has antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects.

Acquired bla carried by a conjugative transposon or duplicated intrinsic bla mediates cefiderocol resistance in Elizabethkingia anophelis clinical isolates.

Objectives: Elizabethkingia spp. are resistant to multiple antibiotics. This study aimed to determine in vitro and in vivo activities of cefiderocol against Elizabethkingia spp.

Plasma neurofilament light chain levels are associated with delirium tremens in patients with alcohol use disorder.

Delirium tremens (DT) is the most severe and life-threatening manifestation of alcohol withdrawal. Prompt identification and treatment are crucial in the clinical management of DT, but laboratory markers in this context are still lacking. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been proposed as a novel blood marker of neuroaxonal pathology.

The Optimal Dosage and Duration of Metformin for Prevention and Treatment of Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Weight gain and metabolic complications are substantial adverse effects associated with second-generation antipsychotics. However, comprehensive guidelines for managing antipsychotic-induced weight gain are lacking.

Methods: This review included all double-blind, placebo-controlled studies investigating metformin's effectiveness in addressing antipsychotic-related weight gain.

Is it safe to treat osteoporotic burst thoracolumbar fracture using percutaneous vertebroplasty? A minimum of 5-year follow-up study.

Background Context: Percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic burst fractures remains controversial. A previous study has shown that an osteoporotic burst fracture with asymptomatic spinal canal compromise is not a contraindication for percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Purpose: To determine whether these outcomes persist over a long term, we continued to observe patients in their short-term study over a long-term period.

Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine for patients with depression: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Results on whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) ameliorates depression in patients with psychiatric problems, such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, remain inconsistent, and several new studies have recently been published. Thus, we conducted an uptodated meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of NAC against depression.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials where NAC was used to treat depression.

Intraosseous and Intravenous Epinephrine Administration Routes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Survival and Neurologic Outcomes.

Background: The rate of survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest varies depending on the timeliness and effectiveness of prehospital interventions. This study was conducted to compare out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes between intravenous and intraosseous routes and between upper and lower extremity routes for drug administration.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analyzed data (collected using the Utstein template) from 1220 patients who had experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Taiwan's Taoyuan City between January 2021 and August 2023.

Frequency of limitations statements in original research articles of United States leading medical journals: A meta-research protocol.

Background: Limitation declarations are commonly deemed essential to uphold intellectual humility for scientific research, but little has been reported about the limitation statements in published original research articles. This meta-research study aims to investigate the trends of limitation statements among three leading general medical journals in the US.

Methods: This cross-sectional study will compile a data set of full-length original research articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Annals of Internal Medicine between 2002 and 2022.

Addition of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to Pre-DAA FIB-4 does not increase prediction value for de novo liver complications in hepatitis C.

Background And Aims: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) achieve high sustained virologic response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C patients; yet a proportion of patients still experience de novo liver complications after SVR. Identification of risk factors is clinically important. FIB-4 index is a useful noninvasive tool to assess fibrosis, while neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker for systemic inflammation.

Characteristics, utilization of reproductive health services and AI prediction among Taiwanese adolescent mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Although adolescent birth rates have declined globally, the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent mothers remains an area of specific concern, and these were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates characteristics, utilization of reproductive health services (RHS) and artificial intelligence (AI) prediction during the pandemic.

Methods: We conducted an exploratory study using data for 2020-2022 from the Taipei City Government Health Bureau.