Usefulness of preprocedural 3-dimensional computed tomography planning in assisting one-stage pulmonary veins isolation with concomitant left atrial appendage occlusion procedure: A pilot study.

Background: The optimal imaging modality for selecting the device size in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing one-stop left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with concomitant pulmonary vein isolation (PVi) remains undefined. We compared preprocedural 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) with intra-procedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and left atrial appendage (LAA) angiography in guiding one-stage PVi and LAAO.

Methods: We measured the LAA ostium diameter using an interactive 3D CT system with a central line-based approach and compared these measurements with those from intra-procedural TEE and angiography, and the actual device size.

Effects of different warm-up methods on 50-meter breaststroke swimming performance.

Purpose: To examine the effects of different warm-up methods on 50 m breaststroke performance in both breaststroke specialists and individual medley swimmers.

Methods: 18 swimmers (breaststroke group: 9, individual medley group: 9) who met the qualification standards for the National Intercollegiate Athletic Games participated in this study. Each participant completed four different warm-up protocols (a conventional 1,400 m warm-up and a 700 m conventional warm-up that integrated tubing-assisted (TA), paddle (PD), or squat (SQ) warm-ups) over four separate days.

Elafibranor: A promising therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis and gut barrier dysfunction in alcohol-associated liver disease.

This article discusses the recent study written by Koizumi . Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality, which is driven by complex mechanisms, including lipid accumulation, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses exacerbated by gut barrier dysfunction. The study explored the therapeutic potential of elafibranor, a dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/delta agonist.

Prognostic Value of Pretreatment Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) in Rectal Cancer Treated with Preoperative Short-Course Radiotherapy with Delayed Surgery or Long-Course Radiotherapy.

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of the pretreatment serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level in patients with rectal cancer treated by preoperative short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) followed by chemotherapy and delayed surgery.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred and sixty-six consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma without distant metastasis receiving preoperative radiotherapy were enrolled. Group 1 patients (n=144) received long-course radiotherapy (LCRT) with 50.

Initial clinical experience with [Lu]Lu-PNT2002 radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: dosimetry, safety, and efficacy from the lead-in cohort of the SPLASH trial.

Introduction: SPLASH (NCT04647526) is a multicenter phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of [Lu]Lu-PNT2002 radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This study leveraged a lead-in phase to assess tissue dosimetry and evaluate preliminary safety and efficacy, prior to expansion into a randomized phase. Here we report those results.

Evaluation of positions of four lingula shapes for mandibular ramus surgery.

Background: The lingula is an important landmark for conducting certain mandibular surgery procedures, such as sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO). The purpose of this study was to investigate the location of the lingula in both horizontal and vertical planes among four different shapes of the mandibular ramus.

Methods: Ninety patients, 60 female and 30 male, underwent cone beam computed tomography scans to evaluate the measurements of the lingula tip (Li) in relation to the anterior border (AB), posterior border (PB), sigmoid notch (SN), and inferior border (IB) of the ramus.

Freehand Apple-peeling Technique for Recycled Skin Graft Harvesting in a Case of Buttock Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that often necessitates extensive surgery when medical treatment fails, particularly in advanced stages. Traditional surgical approaches, including flaps and skin grafts, are effective for tissue coverage but can lead to vascular complications and recurrence of HS. This study introduces a novel technique, the apple-peeling procedure, combined with negative pressure wound therapy at -50 mm Hg for 5 days postoperatively.

and hybrid approach to unveil triterpenoids from leaves as potential compounds for inhibiting Nrf2.

Cancer is a leading global health concern, with over 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths reported in 2022. Chemotherapy remains a widely used treatment, but drug resistance, which affects up to 90% of treatment outcomes, significantly hampers its effectiveness.

Efficacy of a hydrogen-oxygen generator in treating cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in rats.

Current treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common respiratory condition, include oxygen therapy and steroids for temporary relief. In this study, we established a rat model of cigarette smoke (CS)-induced COPD and investigated the benefits of a hydrogen-oxygen generator in this model. CS-exposed rats were treated using either a hydrogen-oxygen generator or a steroid.

Low-Frequency Cyclic Stretch Upregulates the Expression of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 in Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells to Inhibit the Resistin-Induced Interleukin-20 Expression.

Background: Resistin may connect obesity and intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) and is linked with chronic inflammation. Furthermore, human IDD is characterized by high expression of interleukin-20 (IL-20). The response of human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells to tensile forces depends on both the duration and magnitude of the force applied.

Assessment of Vertebral Bone Marrow Perfusion, Fat/Water Content, and Trabecular Bone Changes Using Multimodal MRI and Micro-CT in a Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Disturbances in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis resulting from chronic kidney disease (CKD) may lead to atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels, potentially altering bone marrow perfusion. Our study aimed to investigate vertebral bone marrow perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI with a pharmacokinetic model. We also measured possible changes in water and fat content and bony trabeculae using T2* quantification, MR spectroscopy (MRS), and microcomputed tomography (μCT).

Cellulase from for biofuel application: enzymatic characterization and inhibition tolerance investigation.

Halophilic bacteria are promising candidates for biofuel production because of their efficient cellulose degradation. Their cellulases exhibit high activity, even in the presence of inhibitors and under extreme conditions, making them ideal for biorefinery applications. In this study, we isolated a strain of (Kadal6) from decomposed cotton cloth on a Rameshwaram seashore.

Update on the treatment navigation for functional cure of chronic hepatitis B: expert consensus 2.0.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements.

[Application of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Hypertension Management].

Hypertension is a common disease both globally and in Taiwan that poses significant health risks. According to Taiwan's Health Promotion Administration, abnormal blood pressure is prevalent in up to 80% of the adult population aged 65 and above. Hypertension is associated with serious health issues such as cerebrovascular diseases, renal failure, and cardiovascular diseases, and ranks as the seventh leading cause of death in Taiwan.

[Development and Application of Family Management in Nursing Care].

The concept of family management has gained increasing acceptance in the United States for over two decades and is today applied in care worldwide. However, this concept is still largely novel to clinical professionals in Taiwan. This article was written to present the history and current application of family management to promote greater recognition of the related opportunities and potentials in the nursing field.

[Using Therapeutic Play to Increase the Oral Administration Adherence Rate of Preschool Pediatric Inpatients].

Background & Problems: Oral administration is the most common mode of medical treatment for pediatric patients. Although over 98% of the patients in the targeted pediatric unit require oral medication, the oral administration adherence rate in 2022 was 43.9%.

[Reducing the Invalid Alarm Rate for Fetal Heartbeat Monitoring in High-Risk Pregnancies in the Delivery Room].

Background & Problems: Fetal heartbeat (FHB) monitoring is used to monitor the condition of a fetus in the uterus and estimate the expected time of delivery. It is crucial to accurately and comprehensively monitor fetal heart beats in high-risk pregnancies. However, invalid alarms frequently occur in clinical environments, easily promoting alarm fatigue among nurses and causing anxiety and distrust in the laboring women and their families.

[Effects of a Steno Diabetes Dialogue Card-Based Intervention on Self-Perceived Health, Health Literacy, and Glycemic Control in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Living in the Community].

Background: The process of aging is associated with the deterioration of normal body functions as well as lower health awareness due to a reduced ability to acquire and understand health-related information. The subjects of this study were older adults with diabetes mellitus living in community settings. Visual-learning-based Steno diabetes dialogue cards were used to strengthen the learning and knowledge absorption capabilities of the subjects to improve diabetes health knowledge and increase compliance with blood sugar control protocols to achieve blood sugar control goals and delay / reduce the severity of complications.

[Factors Influencing Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Employees With Metabolic Syndrome: An Example of a District Hospital in Northern Taiwan].

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder shown to be significantly correlated with metabolic syndrome (MS). Healthcare professionals affected by both MS and OSA may suffer from poor sleep quality, raising potential concerns about patient safety. Currently, there remains a gap in research specifically addressing the relationship between MS and OSA in healthcare professionals.

[The Effectiveness of a Pap Smear Screening Practical Skills Training Program for Nurse-Midwifery Students].

Background: Pap smear screenings effectively reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. However, the effectiveness of practical teaching strategies for this procedure is seldom discussed.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Pap smear screening training approach using the two strategies of classroom simulation and practical community screening demonstrations.

[Transitioning From a Pilot Program of Home Care for Acute Symptoms to Long-Term Care Services Planning].

The Ministry of Health and Welfare's "Pilot Program of Home Care for Acute Symptoms", launched in 2024, and complementary measures for long-term care services are introduced in this article. The goal of the pilot program is to provide appropriate home medical care to specific emergency patients as an alternative to hospitalization, allowing the extension of emergency care from hospitals to home and residential institutions and connecting long-term care resources during and after acute care. Given that many of those targeted by the pilot program are individuals with mobility issues or who require long-term care, and thus subject to higher levels of treatment difficulty and care service demand, the Ministry has relaxed the rules initially set for this program.

[Age-Friendly Health Care: An Example of Providing Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) in Pingtung County, Taiwan].

Population aging has become a prevalent societal trend in the 21st century, giving rise to intricate challenges for healthcare systems. Taiwan is expected to become a "super-aging society" in 2025. In 2020, the Health Promotion Administration, referencing World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on integrated care for older people (ICOPE), began promoting person-centered functional assessments for older adults to prevent and delay disability, reduce reliance on formal healthcare, and promote healthy aging, aging in place, and active aging.

[New Directions in Elderly Care Workforce Nurturing: Cross-Professional Collaboration From a Social Co-Care Perspective, Drawing Insights From Japan's Elderly Care Experience].

The increasingly severe issue of societal aging worldwide has prompted the reevaluation of elderly-care strategies and related workforce development. This paper was developed to explore new directions in elderly care workforce development from the perspective of social co-care. The current state and challenges of elderly care personnel in Taiwan are analyzed, emphasizing the importance of cross-professional collaboration to enhancing elderly care quality.