Co-morbidities in psoriasis: a hospital-based case-control study.

Background: Recent researches show that psoriasis is frequently associated with systemic co-morbidities.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify possible associated co-morbidities in psoriatic patients stratified by age and sex.

Methods: In this retrospective hospital-based case-control study, patients diagnosed as psoriasis at the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan between January 2008 and December 2009 were enrolled as cases and classified into severe and mild based on their use of systemic therapy.

Protective effects of estrogen on ischemia/reperfusion-induced bladder dysfunction in female rabbits.

Objective: The present study investigated the effects of ovarian hormone depletion and estrogen administration on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced bladder damage in female rabbits.

Methods: Female New Zealand white rabbits were divided into five groups. A sham surgical procedure was performed on rabbits in group 1.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma from skin or soft tissue: suggestion of treatment from multinational retrospective analysis.

Background: Clinical features and outcomes of extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) arising from extranasal sites are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to study the prognosis and treatment outcome of skin/soft tissue primary ENKL.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 48 patients with skin/soft tissue primary ENKL diagnosed from 1993 to 2010.

[Reflections on fostering a gender friendly environment in nursing education].

Gender mainstreaming is a worldwide issue. The United Nations and World Health Organization have emphasized the importance of incorporating gender perspectives and gender equity into government policy decisions. In traditional nursing education, females and female nurses play increasingly important, albeit still silent, roles in traditionally patriarchal working places.

Effects of flow rate on delivery of bubble continuous positive airway pressure in an in vitro model.

Background: There has been concern over the effect of vigorous bubbling on the delivery pressure during the operation of the bubble nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system. We investigated the relationship between intra-tubing pressure changes and flow rates in a closed bubble CPAP system in vitro.

Methods: Using an experimental (in vitro) model, the distal connecting tube of the CPAP system was immersed under the water seal to a depth of 5 cm.

Quality of life and its predictors for middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The purpose of this study was to explore the quality of life, and its predictors among middle-aged and elderly patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. 131 participants of age 40 or above were recruited from an outpatients department in one medical center in southern Taiwan. The study had a cross-sectional design; each participant was administered structured questionnaires, including the Diabetes Self-Care Behavior Scale, the Social Support Scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF).

[A conceptual analysis of professional commitment].

Professional Commitment is an attitude, and it is the core and spirit of professionalism. In addition to increasing personal stability in the profession, it also enables individuals to reach their professional goals in general. Because nurses usually have more opportunities than other health care professionals to be in contact with patients, patients receive most of their information about health care from nurses.