Clinical Relevancies of Sarcopenic Obesity in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MASLD).

Aim: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is associated with adverse outcomes in diseased patients. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and risks associated with SO, with a focus on the impact of SO on cardiovascular risk in patients with MASLD.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients with MASLD were prospectively enrolled.

A Comprehensive Review on Exploring the Potential of Phytochemicals and Biogenic Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogenic Bacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating global health concern that results in approximately 700,000 deaths annually owing to drug-resistant infections. It compromises the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, as well as fundamental medical procedures, such as surgery and cancer treatment. Phytochemicals, natural plant constituents, and biogenic nanoparticles synthesized through biological processes are pharmacological alternatives for supplementing or replacing traditional antibiotics.

Composite microRNA-genetic risk score model links to migraine and implicates its pathogenesis.

The neurobiological mechanisms driving the ictal-interictal fluctuations and the chronification of migraine remain elusive. We aimed to construct a composite genetic-microRNA model that could reflect the dynamic perturbations of the disease course and inform the pathogenesis of migraine. We prospectively recruited four groups of participants, including interictal episodic migraine (i.

Effects of a home-based multicomponent exercise programme on frailty in postcardiac surgery patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Aims: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of a home-based multicomponent exercise programme on frailty in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: A convenience sample of 92 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at two medical centres in Taiwan were recruited and randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 46) and control (n = 46) groups. The intervention group underwent a 12-week home-based multicomponent exercise programme, including individual nursing consultation, home-based exercise intervention, nutritional assessment and guidance, and continuous support.

DNA methylation at birth and IgE trajectories from birth to adolescence, different patterns between White and Asian.

Aim: We aim to assess association of DNA methylation (DNAm) at birth with total immunoglobulin E (IgE) trajectories from birth to late adolescence and whether such association is ethnicity-specific.

Methods: We examined the association of total IgE trajectories from birth to late adolescence with DNAm at birth in two independent birth cohorts, the Isle of wight birth cohort (IOWBC) in UK ( = 796; White) and the maternal and infant cohort study (MICS) in Taiwan ( = 60; Asian). Biological pathways and methylation quantitative trait loci (methQTL) for associated Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine sites were studied.

Intercellular TIMP-1-CD63 signaling directs the evolution of immune escape and metastasis in KRAS-mutated pancreatic cancer cells.

Background And Aims: Oncogenic KRAS mutations are present in approximately 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, Kras mutation alone is insufficient to transform precancerous cells into metastatic PDAC. This study investigates how KRAS-mutated epithelial cells acquire the capacity to escape senescence or even immune clearance, thereby progressing to advanced PDAC.

Comparative In vitro antibacterial activity of nemonoxacin and other fluoroquinolones in correlation with resistant mechanisms in contemporary methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus blood isolates in Taiwan.

Background: Nemonoxacin is a new quinolone with an antibacterial efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Certain sequence types (STs) have been emerging in Taiwan, including fluoroquinolone-resistant ST8/USA300. It's an urgent need to determine nemonoxacin susceptibility against ST8/USA300 and other emerging lineages, if any.

Resilience, coping strategies, and disaster experience: a path analysis of preparedness and avoidance in Taiwan.

Background: This study investigates the relationships between resilience dimensions, coping strategies, and prior disaster experience, focusing on disaster preparedness and avoidance behaviors in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 550 participants were surveyed, with 57.82% being female and the majority aged between 21 and 40 years.

Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) complex associated with torpedo retinopathy following COVID-19 recombinant mRNA vaccination: a case report of a rare clinical presentation.

Background: While vaccination remains crucial in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, several ocular adverse events has been reported, including Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy (AZOOR) complex.

Case Presentation: A 31-year-old female presented declined best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and flashes in both eyes three days following second recombinant mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna). Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) illustrated speckled hyper-AF lesions surrounding right eye torpedo maculopathy site and hyper-AF lesions in the left macula.

YOLOSeg with applications to wafer die particle defect segmentation.

This study develops the you only look once segmentation (YOLOSeg), an end-to-end instance segmentation model, with applications to segment small particle defects embedded on a wafer die. YOLOSeg uses YOLOv5s as the basis and extends a UNet-like structure to form the segmentation head. YOLOSeg can predict not only bounding boxes of particle defects but also the corresponding bounding polygons.

Optimal dose and type of exercise improve walking velocity in adults with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

To examine the dose-response relationship between specific types of exercise for improving walking velocity in Parkinson's disease (PD). This systematic review and network meta-analysis included searches of PubMed, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from inception until February 18th, 2024. Data analysis was performed using R software with the MBNMA and RJAGS packages.

Undoped ruthenium oxide as a stable catalyst for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction.

Reducing green hydrogen production cost is critical for its widespread application. Proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers are among the most promising technologies, and significant research has been focused on developing more active, durable, and cost-effective catalysts to replace expensive iridium in the anode. Ruthenium oxide is a leading alternative while its stability is inadequate.

Exploring health influences and the moderating role of authentic leadership in workplace bullying: A cross-sectional study among hospital nurses.

Aim: This study explored the relationship between workplace bullying, authentic leadership, workplace friendship and nurses' health conditions and identified the predictors of nurses' health. It also explored whether authentic leadership moderated the impact of workplace bullying on their health.

Methods: This study used a cross-sectional and correlational design following the STROBE guidelines.

Safety and Feasibility of Robotic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy With Immediate Direct-to-Implant Reconstruction - Insights From the One of the Largest Centers in Asia.

Background: The use of robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy (R-NSM) with immediate direct-to-implant (DTI) reconstruction in treatment of breast cancer has been a controversial topic. The adoption of robotic surgery in breast cancer treatment has gained traction globally due to its minimally invasive nature, potential for improved cosmetic outcomes and better intraoperative visualization. This study provides insights on safety and feasibility robotic mastectomy at one of the largest centers in Asia.

Low-positive controls for monitoring progesterone receptor immunohistochemical staining.

Aims: Progesterone receptor (PR) is a crucial prognostic marker in breast cancer. However, achieving consistent results in PR immunohistochemistry (IHC) remains challenging due to the lack of well-defined low-positive controls. This study aimed to identify benign tissues with consistent low-level PR expression to serve as ideal controls for IHC.

The Crane Technique in Cortical Bone Trajectory Screw Lumbar Fusion: Efficacy and Predictors of Spondylolisthesis Reduction.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of the Crane reduction technique in midline lumbar fusion (MIDLF) with cortical bone trajectory screws for treating degenerative spondylolisthesis, and to identify factors affecting the reduction rate.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 87 patients (64 female and 23 male) with L4-5 degenerative spondylolisthesis who underwent MIDLF and the Crane technique. Patients were categorizing using the spondylolisthesis Meyerding classification system into Grade I (59 patients) and Grade II (28 patients) groups and compared for demographics, radiographic parameters, and the spondylolisthesis reduction rate.

Assessing the impact of marine litter hotspot on atmospheric microplastics: A study of a coastal village.

Marine litter and microplastics (MPs) represent pressing environmental challenges; however, the impact of marine litter on airborne MPs near marine litter hotspot remains unexplored. In this study, we simultaneously collected airborne MPs, weather factors, and air pollutants in a village near a marine litter hotspot across different seasons in Taiwan. Multiple methods were employed to evaluate whether the marine litter hotspot was a source of airborne MPs.

Outcomes after medical treatment for primary aldosteronism: an international consensus and analysis of treatment response in an international cohort.

Background: Primary aldosteronism can be treated medically but there is no standardised method to evaluate treatment outcomes. We aimed to develop criteria for assessing the outcomes of targeted medical treatment of primary aldosteronism, analyse outcomes across an international cohort, and identify factors associated with a complete treatment response.

Methods: An international panel of 31 primary aldosteronism experts used the Delphi method to reach consensus on the definition of complete, partial, or absent biochemical and clinical outcomes of medical treatment of primary aldosteronism.

Aspirin after completion of standard adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer (ASCOLT): an international, multicentre, phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Aspirin is a simple, globally available medication that has been shown to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of aspirin in the secondary prevention of colorectal cancer.

Methods: This phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 66 centres across 11 countries and territories (ten in Asia-Pacific; one in the Middle East).

Microexon in action: How tiny fragments in a protein tune function, drive disease.

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of proteins can regulate function through phase separation. In a recent article in Nature, Garcia-Cabau et al. reveal that including or excluding a microexon within the IDR of CPEB4 alters its condensation properties, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying autism spectrum disorder.

Pathological and biochemical effects of polyethylene microplastic exposure in hydrothermal vent crab, Xenograpsus testudinatus.

Microplastic pollution significantly threatens marine ecosystems, including those with unique adaptations. This study evaluates the implications of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on the hydrothermal vent crab, Xenograpsus testudinatus. Crabs were exposed to varying fluorescent green polyethylene microspheres (FGPE) concentrations for 7 days.

Investigating macro marine litter and beach cleanliness along Southern Vietnam beaches.

Plastic contamination is a major issue for marine ecosystems, with macro-litter posing a growing threat globally. This study assesses macro-marine litter on Vung Tau beaches, Southern Vietnam, providing baseline data for marine litter pollution and identifying critical action plans for plastic control. Survey results showed litter density ranging from 0.