Survey of breast cancer mammography screening behaviors in Eastern Taiwan based on a health belief model.

Breast cancer is the main form of cancer affecting women and the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality in women. The aim of this study was to explore regular mammography screening in Hualien women and to identify the factors that influence its uptake based on a health belief model. This cross-sectional study was performed between July 2012 and December 2012.

Patterns of ambulatory medical care utilization and rheumatologist consultation predating the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus: a national population-based study.

Objective: To investigate the records of ambulatory medical care from patients predating the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using nationwide, population-based claims data.

Methods: The frequencies and costs of ambulatory medical care utilization in 337 newly-diagnosed SLE cases between 2004 and 2010, identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, were compared with 1,348 controls who were frequency matched for sex, age, and the catastrophic illness certificate application year of the cases.

Results: Patients with SLE had a median frequency of ambulatory medical care utilization compared with controls one year prior to the index date (22 vs.

Non-family support for breastfeeding maintenance among career women in Taiwan: a qualitative study.

The purpose of the study was to describe the influence of non-family-based support on breastfeeding practices among career women in Taiwan during the first four postnatal months. A qualitative, case study approach was used to investigate the phenomenon. A purposive sample of 14 women was recruited and took part in two to three in-depth interviews.

Increased utilisation of eye disorder-related ambulatory medical services prior to the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome in female patients: a longitudinal population-based study in Taiwan.

Objectives: To investigate the utilisation of eye disorder-related ambulatory medical services prior to the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome in female Taiwanese patients.

Design: A nationwide, population-based case-control study.

Setting: Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Integrating social capital theory, social cognitive theory, and the technology acceptance model to explore a behavioral model of telehealth systems.

Telehealth has become an increasingly applied solution to delivering health care to rural and underserved areas by remote health care professionals. This study integrated social capital theory, social cognitive theory, and the technology acceptance model (TAM) to develop a comprehensive behavioral model for analyzing the relationships among social capital factors (social capital theory), technological factors (TAM), and system self-efficacy (social cognitive theory) in telehealth. The proposed framework was validated with 365 respondents from Nantou County, located in Central Taiwan.

Antrodia cinnamomea profoundly exalted the reversion of activated hepatic stellate cells by the alteration of cellular proteins.

The direct modulation of Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) on the prominent role of liver fibrosis-hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in situ remains unclear. Firstly, the administration of A. cinnamomea mycelial extract (ACME) could improve liver morphology and histological changes including collagen formation and GPT activity in the liver of thioacetamide (TAA)-injured rats.

The effects of light therapy on depression and sleep disruption in older adults in a long-term care facility.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of light therapy on depression and sleep disruption in older adults residing in a long-term care facility. Psychological morbidity is a problem commonly seen in older adults residing in long-term care facilities. Limited research has addressed the effect of light therapy on depression in this population.

Ginseng is useful to enhance cardiac contractility in animals.

Ginseng has been shown to be effective on cardiac dysfunction. Recent evidence has highlighted the mediation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in cardiac function. Thus, we are interested to investigate the role of PPARδ in ginseng-induced modification of cardiac contractility.

Experience of a smoking cessation program among high school students in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, the prevalence of smoking among teenagers has led to a required smoking cessation program in schools. Students caught smoking in school are required to participate in a weekly smoking cessation class. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of high school students in a smoking cessation program.

Translation and validation of an instrument for measuring the suitability of health educational materials in Taiwan: suitability assessment of materials.

Background: It is essential to provide readily comprehensible health information to the public to increase healthy behaviors and improve outcomes. Researchers in English-speaking countries possess well-developed instruments to evaluate the suitability of health education materials. However, few of these instruments are available for use in Chinese-language environments.

Chinese adolescents' attitudes toward sexual relationships and premarital sex: implications for promoting sexual health.

This study was designed to explore Taiwanese school students' attitudes toward sexual relationships and premarital sex. This was an exploratory descriptive, qualitative study. Focus groups (N = 8) were conducted with 47 adolescents from three high schools in Taiwan.

Efficacy of swaddling and heel warming on pain response to heel stick in neonates: a randomised control trial.

Aims And Objectives: To determine the efficacy of swaddling and heel warming on pain response in neonates following heel stick.

Background: Swaddling has been suggested to reduce pain response in neonates during heel stick. Heel warming is also often performed for drawing blood easily before heel stick.

Influences of satisfaction with telecare and family trust in older Taiwanese people.

The level of trust given towards telecare by the family members of older people using the service is extremely important. Family trust may be an influential factor in deciding whether to use such services. This study focuses on older people's satisfaction with telecare and examines their family's trust in telecare services.

Antihyperglycemic action of rhodiola-aqeous extract in type1-like diabetic rats.

Background: Rhodiola rosea (Rhodiola) is a plant in the Crassulaceae family that grows in cold regions of the world. It is mainly used in clinics as an adaptogen. Recently, it has been mentioned that Rhodiola increases plasma β-endorphin to lower blood pressure.

L-3,4-Dihydroxy-6-[F-18]fluorophenylalanine positron emission tomography demonstrating dopaminergic system abnormality in the brains of obsessive-compulsive disorder patients.

Aim: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic disabling neuropsychiatric disorder. Current treatment modalities, such as pharmacological and behavioral methods, are sometimes unsatisfactory. The mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway is supposed to have a role in the pathogenesis of OCD.

Adverse events among nurse aides in long-term care facilities in Taiwan.

The study investigated the relationship between the incidence of adverse events and related factors among nurse aides in long-term settings in Taiwan. Of 213 nurse aides, 54.93% experienced an adverse event during the previous year.

The cardioprotective effect of hypertonic saline is associated with inhibitory effect on macrophage migration inhibitory factor in sepsis.

Sepsis can cause myocardial dysfunction, which contributes to the high mortality of sepsis. Hypertonic saline (HS) has been reported to increase myocardial contractility in sepsis. In the present study, mechanisms of action of HS resuscitation (4 mL of 7.

Using adenovirus armed short hairpin RNA targeting transforming growth factor β1 inhibits melanoma growth and metastasis in an ex vivo animal model.

The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is the key molecule implicated in impaired immune function in human patients with malignant melanoma. TGF-β can promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in advanced stages of melanoma. Blocking these tumor-promoting effects of TGF-β provides a potentially important therapeutic strategy for the treatment of melanoma.

The development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid and sensitive detection of abalone herpesvirus DNA.

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for the detection of abalone herpesvirus DNA. Two pairs of primers were designed, based on the sequence of the DNA polymerase gene of abalone herpesvirus. The reaction temperature and time were optimized to 63°C and 60min, respectively.

Calcitriol decreases TGF-β1 and angiotensin II production and protects against chlorhexide digluconate-induced liver peritoneal fibrosis in rats.

Peritoneal fibrosis is a major complication of peritoneal dialysis that can lead to ultrafiltration failure. This study investigates the protective effects of calcitriol on chlorhexidine digluconate-induced peritoneal fibrosis in rats. Peritoneal fibrosis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by daily administration of 0.

Telecare for diabetes mellitus: case managers' experiences.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that, if not treated promptly and appropriately, can cause complex health complications and mortality. Changes in societal structure have fostered an increase in the incidence of diabetes and made the traditional hospital visit model less efficient for meeting the care needs of these patients. The care models that apply technology, such as telecare or so-called telehealth, may be useful in working with diabetes patients.

Providing hospice home care to the terminally ill elderly people with cancer in Taiwan: family experiences and needs.

We explored caregivers' experiences and needs when providing hospice home care to their terminally ill elderly patients with cancer in Taiwan for 1 year. A total of 44 caregivers were interviewed using a semistructured interview once monthly during hospice home care visits until the patients' deaths. Content analysis of the interviews revealed 5 themes, hoping for a cure, experiencing fluctuating emotions, accepting the patient's dying, regarding the patient's death as a good death, and needing emotional support and information.

Searching for reintegration: life experiences of people with schizophrenia.

Aims And Objectives: This study aimed to understand how people with chronic schizophrenia live with their illness experiences.

Background: Schizophrenic clients in Taiwan have reported ineffective community care. As a long-term deteriorating disorder, schizophrenia represents an important issue for healthcare providers.

Cancer risk from medical radiation procedures for coronary artery disease: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

To assess the risk of cancer incidence after medical radiation exposure for coronary artery disease (CAD), a retrospective cohort study was conducted based on Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Patients with CAD were identified according to the International Classification of Diseases code, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), and their records of medical radiation procedures were collected from 1997 to 2010. A total of 18,697 subjects with radiation exposure from cardiac imaging or therapeutic procedures for CAD were enrolled, and 19,109 subjects receiving cardiac diagnostic procedures without radiation were adopted as the control group.