Pirfenidone to prevent fibrosis in acute respiratory distress syndrome: The PIONEER study protocol.

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis is a major complication of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Pirfenidone is an approved treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It may attenuate ARDS-related fibrosis and decrease the need for prolonged ventilation.

Simultaneously enhanced alginate-based hydrogel self-recovery and mechanical strength upon intramolecular nodes and nanoparticulate joints.

The lack of self-recovery features and mechanical toughness has fundamentally limited the practical applications of ionic single-network hydrogels. Due to strong ionic interactions with Zr cation crosslinkers, intramolecular crosslinking nodes are found to evolve via the folding of alginate segments, revolutionizing alginate hydrogels with substantial self-recovery capability and enhanced mechanical strength. Although being restricted by like-charge repulsion still, this new crosslinking mechanism triples the reachable tensile strain of alginate/polyacrylamide double-network hydrogels, and largely improves self-recovery efficiency.

Comparing the Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin in Patients with Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Real-World Study.

Background: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), a rare stroke variant, poses treatment challenges, especially in young individuals. While guidelines recommend heparin followed by warfarin, warfarin has limitations. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) offer a potential alternative, but evidence on their use in CVT management is limited.

Early-Life Risks of Central Precocious Puberty.

Objectives: To investigate the factors in early life that may contribute to central precocious puberty (CPP) METHODS: The study utilized data from the Taiwan Puberty Longitudinal Study (TPLS), including 2,241 children under pubertal assessment and a questionnaire of risk factors. We analyzed associations using Fitting Generalized Linear Models in R.

Results: Among the 2,241 children examined, 745 had CPP.

Impacts of D-aspartate on the aggregation kinetics and structural polymorphism of amyloid β peptide 1-42.

Isomerization of L-aspartate (L-Asp) into D-aspartate (D-Asp) occurs naturally in proteins at a rate that is much faster than that of other amino acid types. Accumulation of D-Asp is age-dependent, which could alter protein structures and, therefore, functions. Site-specific introduction of D-Asp can accelerate aggregation kinetics of a variety of proteins associated with misfolding diseases.

Pericentriolar material 1 aggregation maintains cell survival upon prolonged replication stress.

The centrosome is essential for maintaining cell shape and facilitating cell division. Thus, precise control of centrosome copy numbers is crucial for proper chromosome segregation. Pericentriolar material 1 (PCM1) is a scaffold component of centriolar satellites-electron-dense granules dispersed around the centrosome-that regulate the centrosome or primary cilia.

Phylogeny, species delimitation, and biogeographical history of Bredia.

Species delimitation in plants is sometimes challenging due to morphological convergence, interspecific gene flow, and historically limited sampling. Bredia Blume as currently defined comprises 27 species and has been resolved as monophyletic in previous phylogenomic studies. However, relationships among several major lineages in the genus remain elusive, and the species boundaries of some problematic taxa have not been tested.

Correlating Migrainous Features With Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Vestibular Migraine.

Objective: This study aimed to find biomarkers for assessing migrainous features, that is, migrainous headache, sensitivity to sound and light (phono- and photophobia) and visual aura in vestibular migraine (VM) patients.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: University hospital.

The association of different body weight classes and survival outcomes in patients with cervical cancer.

Background: The relationship between different weight class and mortality risk remained uncertain in cervical cancer patients. Thus, we conducted the study to assess the association between different body weight classes and survival outcomes in patients with cervical cancer.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including 6908 cervical cancer patients from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database.

AI integrations with lung cancer screening: Considerations in developing AI in a public health setting.

Lung cancer screening implementation has led to expanded imaging of the chest in older, tobacco-exposed populations. Growing numbers of screening cases are also found to have CT-detectable emphysema or elevated levels of coronary calcium, indicating the presence of coronary artery disease. Early interventions based on these additional findings, especially with coronary calcium, are emerging and follow established protocols.

Insights into nutrients recovery from food waste liquid Digestate: A critical review and systematic analysis.

This review paper presents a critical analysis of global research on the liquid fraction of food waste (FW) digestate. The study found that research on FW liquid fraction management accounted for 43% of the literature, followed by treatment methods (26%) and physical-chemical characterization (22%). By 2023, China led in scientific production on FW liquid fraction, contributing 46%, followed by Poland with 10% and the USA with 8%.

Factors influencing the perceived usability of line pay: An extended technology acceptance model approach.

Taiwan has distinguished itself amidst the transformative shift in global finance, driven by the proliferation of mobile payment systems, with its high smartphone penetration and advanced digital infrastructure. This study examined the factors influencing consumer attitudes and behaviors toward Line Pay, a key player in Taiwan's mobile payment ecosystem. Utilizing an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research integrated additional variables such as social influence, trust, security, and environmental concerns, offering a comprehensive framework to understand user adoption dynamics.

Liver and atherosclerotic risk of alcohol consumption in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Background/purpose: A new disease name, "Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD)" was proposed in 2023. Within this algorithm, combined metabolic and alcoholic liver disease (MetALD) was named as a new specific subgroup. The clinical profiles and outcomes of MetALD patients are unknown.

Is Multiwavelength Photobiomodulation Effective and Safe for Age-Related Macular Degeneration? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the complications and effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy with sham treatment in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of visual impairment in older adults, with current treatments primarily focusing on symptom management. PBM therapy is emerging as a potential intervention to improve clinical and anatomical outcomes in patients with AMD, necessitating a comparative analysis with sham treatment to determine its efficacy and safety.

Lower body mass index is associated with the achievement of target LDL in patients using PCSK9 inhibitors in Taiwan.

Objective: Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are a standard therapy for patients who respond poorly to or cannot tolerate statins. However, identifying responders to PCSK9 inhibitors remains unclear. This study investigates the characteristics of patients who achieve target LDL-C reduction (< 70 mg/dl) after PCSK9 inhibitor therapy.

Long-term mortality impact of postoperative hyperactive delirium in older hip fracture surgery patients.

Background: Postoperative hyperactive delirium is a common and serious complication in older patients undergoing surgery, but the association between delirium and mortality remains controversial. Compared to other delirium subtypes, hyperactive delirium is characterized by more overt clinical manifestations, facilitating accurate detection and evaluation. This study aimed to clarify this association by comparing long-term mortality between patients with and without postoperative hyperactive delirium, using propensity score matching for robust analysis.

Detection and co-occurrence of Acanthamoeba and Klebsiella pneumoniae in freshwater river systems of Taichung, Taiwan.

Background: This study focuses on the detection and co-occurrence of Acanthamoeba and Klebsiella pneumoniae in freshwater river systems. Both microorganisms are known for their pathogenic potential, with Acanthamoeba capable of causing infections such as amoebic keratitis, and K. pneumoniae being a common cause of community infections.

Forb diversity globally is harmed by nutrient enrichment but can be rescued by large mammalian herbivory.

Forbs ("wildflowers") are important contributors to grassland biodiversity but are vulnerable to environmental changes. In a factorial experiment at 94 sites on 6 continents, we test the global generality of several broad predictions: (1) Forb cover and richness decline under nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen enrichment. (2) Forb cover and richness increase under herbivory by large mammals.

Language and motor plasticity in toddlerhood and early preschool as predictors of intelligence in late preschool.

Background: Early language and motor development may influence cognitive function in a cascading manner later in life. This study aimed to explore the impact of language and motor plasticity during toddlerhood and early preschool years on intelligence in late preschool, with an additional consideration of the influence of ASD and ADHD diagnoses.

Methods: We retrospectively collected medical chart from 423 children aged 2-5 years (316 boys and 107 girls; mean age at Time 1: 3.

YAP-mediated DDX3X confers resistance to ferroptosis in breast cancer cells by reducing lipid peroxidation.

Metabolic shifts in cancer cells were found to participate in tumorigenesis, especially driving chemotherapeutic resistance. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death induced by excessive accumulations of iron and lipid peroxidation. Susceptibility to ferroptosis can be intrinsically regulated by various cellular metabolic pathways.

Smoking negatively impacts ocular surface health and corneal nerve metrics.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of smoking on ocular surface through comprehensive analysis of corneal nerves, corneal epithelium, dendritic cells (DCs), and clinical assessments.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 250 healthy smokers and 272 healthy non-smokers. Patients' smoking status and duration were recorded.