Mucosal integrity and acid sensitivity predict proton pump inhibitor response in patients with heartburn and normal acid exposure.

Background: Patients with typical reflux symptoms and normal acid exposure time (AET) are classified as either reflux hypersensitivity (RH) or functional heartburn (FH), some of whom respond to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). We determined if esophageal psychophysiological parameters predict PPI response in symptomatic RH and FH patients.

Methods: We prospectively recruited adults with heartburn diagnosed with RH or FH on 24-h impedance-pH monitoring off PPI.

Performance of ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 in the Taiwan National Pharmacist Licensing Examination: Comparative Evaluation Study.

Background: OpenAI released versions ChatGPT-3.5 and GPT-4 between 2022 and 2023. GPT-3.

Exploring the perspectives of early-stage postoperative glioblastoma patients and their caregivers on end-of-life care planning: An exploratory qualitative interview study.

Aim: Compare the convergent and divergent viewpoints of early-stage postoperative patients with glioblastoma and their caregivers on end-of-life care planning in Taiwan.

Background: Decision-making capacity in patients with glioblastoma may be compromised as disease progresses, making early future care planning essential to ensure that the provided care aligns with patients' goals. However, within many Asian cultures, the tendency to avoid discussions about death can lead patients to feel hesitant about addressing end-of-life care options.

The impact of psychological resilience on professional commitment among caregiving students in Taiwan: A cross-sectional study.

Aim/objective: To explore the impact of psychological resilience and its dimensions on professional commitment among caregiving students in Taiwan.

Background: Professional commitment is crucial in caregiving professions, yet its relationship with psychological resilience among caregiving students in Taiwan remains underexplored. Understanding this relationship can guide educational strategies to enhance students' professional commitment.

Nurse's perspective: Evaluating importance and satisfaction with hospital patient infotainment terminal.

Background: The Patient Infotainment Terminal (PIT) plays a pivotal role in Smart Health, enabling hospitals to actively pursue the objective of fostering Shared Decision-Making. By providing General information, Medical information, and Entertainment options, the system fosters effective patient-clinician communication and significantly elevates the standard of care.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate how registered nurses utilized the PIT and prioritized functions based on their perception of importance and satisfaction to find out high-importance but low-satisfaction PIT functions.

The mediating role of health literacy for COVID-19 between preventive behaviors and quality of life.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly developed around the world. Plenty of health information about the virus was available from multiple media platforms, but such information was not always accurate. Identifying misinformation depends on an individual's health literacy.

Development of a Clinically Applicable Deep Learning System Based on Sparse Training Data to Accurately Detect Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage from Non-enhanced Head Computed Tomography.

Non-enhanced head computed tomography is widely used for patients presenting with head trauma or stroke, given acute intracranial hemorrhage significantly influences clinical decision-making. This study aimed to develop a deep learning algorithm, referred to as DeepCT, to detect acute intracranial hemorrhage on non-enhanced head computed tomography images and evaluate its clinical applicability. We retrospectively collected 1,815 computed tomography image sets from a single center for model training.

Therapeutic effects of probiotics on symptoms of irritability/emotional lability associated with neurodevelopmental conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials.

Objectives: The current study aimed at investigating the efficacies of probiotics in alleviating the symptoms of irritability/emotional lability in individuals with a neurodevelopmental condition.

Methods: Randomized placebo-controlled trials were identified through searching major electronic databases from inception to December, 2023. The outcome of interests included improvements in the symptoms of irritability/emotional lability.

Genome skimming for improved phylogenetics of Taiwanese phasmids (Insecta: Phasmatodea).

Taiwan, a relatively young continental island, harbors a high proportion of endemic phasmids, reflecting its unique evolutionary history. However, a comprehensive phylogenetic framework to clarify these phasmids is still lacking. In this study, we sequenced ten of eleven valid genera and two undescribed species of Taiwanese phasmids (total 16 species) using the genome-skimming approach.

Brief Report: Preventing Infusion-related Reactions With Intravenous Amivantamab: Results From SKIPPirr, a Phase 2 Study.

Introduction: Amivantamab, an EGFR-MET bispecific antibody, is approved for multiple indications in EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as monotherapy or combined with other agents. Intravenous amivantamab is associated with a 67% infusion-related reactions (IRR) rate.

Methods: The phase 2 SKIPPirr study (NCT05663866) enrolled patients with EGFR-mutated (Ex19del/L858R) advanced NSCLC after progression on osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy who received intravenous amivantamab plus oral lazertinib (amivantamab-lazertinib), a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Assessing water status in rice plants in water-deficient environments using thermal imaging.

Background: Rice is a staple food for the global population. However, extreme weather events threaten the stability of the water supply for agriculture, posing a critical challenge to the stability of the food supply. The use of technology to assess the water status of rice plants enables the precise management of agricultural water resources.

Assessing the capacity to implement the international health regulations to control COVID-19 at points of entry in Eswatini.

Introduction: Significant challenges to implementing international health regulations (IHR) at points of entry (PoEs) have been highlighted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Better assessment of the capacities of the PoEs may promote focused interventions. This study aimed to assess the capacities and practices at PoEs.

Optimizing skull base defect repair: leveraging the reused nasoseptal flap as a reliable material.

Purpose: The escalating number of endoscopic skull base procedures necessitates exploring additional materials to reduce postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in revision or staged surgeries. This study evaluates the effectiveness of reused nasoseptal flaps (NSFs) in such clinical scenarios.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who previously underwent surgery involving NSFs and later had revision or secondary skull base surgeries via endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) at a tertiary medical center.

The 40S ribosomal subunit recycling complex modulates mitochondrial dynamics and endoplasmic reticulum - mitochondria tethering at mitochondrial fission/fusion hotspots.

The 40S ribosomal subunit recycling pathway is an integral link in the cellular quality control network, occurring after translational errors have been corrected by the ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) machinery. Despite our understanding of its role, the impact of translation quality control on cellular metabolism remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal a conserved role of the 40S ribosomal subunit recycling (USP10-G3BP1) complex in regulating mitochondrial dynamics and function.

Rapid iPSC-derived neuromuscular junction model uncovers motor neuron dominance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cytopathy.

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is essential for transmitting signals from motor neurons (MNs) to skeletal muscles (SKMs), and its dysfunction can lead to severe motor disorders. However, our understanding of the NMJ is limited by the absence of accurate human models. Although human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived models have advanced NMJ research, their application is constrained by challenges such as limited differentiation efficiency, lengthy generation times, and cryopreservation difficulties.

Epidemiology, Treatment Outcomes, and Prognosis of Myelodysplastic Syndromes/Neoplasms in Taiwan: Real-World Insights and Trends.

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms (MDS) are a diverse group of clonal myeloid disorders. Advances in molecular technology lead to the development of new classification systems. However, large-scale epidemiological studies on MDS in Asian countries are currently scarce.

Validation of Muscle Ultrasound Speckle Tracking and the Effect of Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Biceps Femoris Displacement.

Objective: This study aimed to validate the ultrasound speckle tracking (UST) algorithm, determine the optimal probe location by comparing normalized cross-correlation (NCC) values of muscle displacement at two locations (proximal vs. middle) of the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) using the UST, and investigate the effects of Nordic hamstring curl exercise (NHE) training on BFlh displacement.

Methods: UST efficacy was verified with ex vivo uniaxial testing of porcine leg muscles.

Platelet extracellular vesicles-loaded hydrogel bandages for personalized wound care.

Autologous or allogeneic platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) show potential in enhancing tissue recovery and healing chronic wounds. pEVs promote neovascularization and cell migration while reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and scarring. However, their efficacy in clinical settings is challenged by their susceptibility to washout by wound exudate.

Detecting asymptomatic cement pulmonary embolisms following vertebral augmentation using dual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography.

Background And Purpose: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) pulmonary angiography can reliably detect cement pulmonary embolisms (CPEs) and parenchymal perfusion defects. This prospective observational study investigated CPEs in asymptomatic patients using DECT.

Methods: We enrolled 42 patients who underwent vertebroplasty or received cement screws for vertebral augmentation, examining them using spinal computed tomography and DECT pulmonary angiography.