The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Physical Restraint Among Patients Under Palliative Care in Taiwan.

Physical restraint for patients approaching their end of life may induce distress and impair dignity. Limited studies have been reported on the frequency and factors influencing restraint application during terminal phases of patients in hospital settings. We aimed to study the occurrence and factors that predict utilization of physical restraints in hospitalized terminally-ill adults.

Clinical and Imaging Characteristics to Discriminate Between Complicated and Uncomplicated Acute Cholecystitis: A Regression Model and Decision Tree Analysis.

: Acute complicated cholecystitis (ACC) is associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased morbidity, and higher mortality. However, objective imaging-based criteria to guide early clinical decision-making remain limited. This study aimed to develop a predictive scoring system integrating clinical characteristics, laboratory biomarkers, and computed tomography (CT) findings to facilitate the early identification of ACC in the emergency department (ED).

Environmental Gradients Linked to Human Impacts, Not Species Richness, Drive Regional Variation in Community Stability in Coral Reef Fishes.

The stabilising effect of biodiversity on aggregate community properties is well-established experimentally, but its importance in naturally assembled communities at larger scales requires considering its covariation with other biotic and abiotic factors. Here, we examine the diversity-stability relationship in a 27-year coral reef fish time series at 39 reefs spanning 10° latitude on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. We find that an apparent relationship between species richness and synchrony of population fluctuations is driven by these two variables' covariation with proximity to coastal influences.

Insights of the peroxychloroformyl radical ClC(O)OO microwave spectrum.

The exploration of Venus has received much attention in the past and will keep growing due to the starting of the NASA DAVINCI project. To explain the extremely low O : CO ratio observed in Venus' atmosphere, a chlorine-initiated CO oxidation catalytic cycle has been proposed. However, relevant studies on the key intermediates, such as the peroxychloroformyl radical (ClC(O)OO), are rare.

Pericholecystic Fat Stranding as a Predictive Factor of Length of Stays of Patients with Acute Cholecystitis: A Novel Scoring Model.

The 2018 Tokyo Guidelines (TG18) are used to classify the severity of acute cholecystitis (AC) but insufficient to predict the length of hospital stay (LOS). For patients with AC, clinical factors and computed tomography features, including our proposed grading system of pericholecystic fat stranding were used for predicting an LOS of ≥7 days in the logistic regression models. Our multivariable model showed age ≥ 65 years (OR: 2.

A robust inorganic binder against corrosion and peel-off stress in electrocatalysis.

Electrochemical binders used to immobilize electrocatalysts on electrodes are essential in all fields of electrochemistry. However, conventional organic-based binders like Nafion generally suffer from oxidative decomposition at high potentials on anodic electrodes and have high charge transport resistivity. This work proposes the use of acidic redox-assisted deposition to form cobalt manganese oxyhydroxides (CMOH) as a solid-state inorganic binder.

Analyzing Monthly Blood Test Data to Forecast 30-Day Hospital Readmissions among Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

: The increase in the global population of hemodialysis patients is linked to aging demographics and the prevalence of conditions such as arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. While previous research in hemodialysis has mainly focused on mortality predictions, there is a gap in studies targeting short-term hospitalization predictions using detailed, monthly blood test data. This study employs advanced data preprocessing and machine learning techniques to predict hospitalizations within a 30-day period among hemodialysis patients.

Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy of the ClSO radical.

Pure rotational transitions of the ClSO radical have been observed by Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy. a-type and b-type transitions, for both Cl and Cl isotopologues, were detected, and the observed very complicated fine and hyperfine components were assigned well. The intensities of the observed spectra of the two isotopologues correspond to the ratio of the isotope abundances of Cl and Cl.

Application of Machine Learning Techniques to Development of Emergency Medical Rapid Triage Prediction Models in Acute Care.

Given the critical and complex features of medical emergencies, it is essential to develop models that enable prompt and suitable clinical decision-making based on considerable information. Emergency nurses are responsible for categorizing and prioritizing injuries and illnesses on the frontlines of the emergency room. This study aims to create an Emergency Medical Rapid Triage and Prediction Assistance model using electronic medical records and machine learning techniques.

REST-repressed lncRNA LINC01801 induces neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer via transcriptional activation of autophagy.

The association between REST reduction and the development of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), a novel drug-resistant and lethal variant of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), is well established. To better understand the mechanisms underlying this process, we aimed to identify REST-repressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that promote neuroendocrine differentiation (NED), thus facilitating targeted therapy-induced resistance. In this study, we used data from REST knockdown RNA sequencing combined with siRNA screening to determine that LINC01801 was upregulated and played a crucial role in NED in prostate cancer (PCa).

Precision Heart Rate Estimation Using a PPG Sensor Patch Equipped with New Algorithms of Pre-Quality Checking and Hankel Decomposition.

A new method for accurately estimating heart rates based on a single photoplethysmography (PPG) signal and accelerations is proposed in this study, considering motion artifacts due to subjects' hand motions and walking. The method comprises two sub-algorithms: pre-quality checking and motion artifact removal (MAR) via Hankel decomposition. PPGs and accelerations were collected using a wearable device equipped with a PPG sensor patch and a 3-axis accelerometer.

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Medical Services to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in a Low-Incidence Urban City: An Observational Epidemiological Analysis.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system faced overwhelming challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, further information is required to determine how the pandemic affected the EMS response and the clinical outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in COVID-19 low-incidence cities. A retrospective study was conducted in Chiayi, Taiwan, a COVID-19 low-incidence urban city.

Risk factors for hemorrhagic complications following robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the risk factors for hemorrhagic complications in patients who underwent robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 260 patients who underwent robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy. Hemorrhagic complications were defined as bleeding, hematoma, or arteriovenous fistula requiring hemostatic medication, blood transfusion, or therapeutic intervention.

Evaluation of Topical and Subconjunctival Injection of Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery to Posterior Eye.

Posterior eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are difficult to treat due to ineffective drug delivery to affected areas. Intravitreal injection is the primary method for posterior eye drug delivery; however, it is usually accompanied by complications. Therefore, an effective and non-invasive method is required.

Volatility in coral cover erodes niche structure, but not diversity, in reef fish assemblages.

The world's coral reefs are experiencing increasing volatility in coral cover, largely because of anthropogenic environmental change, highlighting the need to understand how such volatility will influence the structure and dynamics of reef assemblages. These changes may influence not only richness or evenness but also the temporal stability of species' relative abundances (temporal beta-diversity). Here, we analyzed reef fish assemblage time series from the Great Barrier Reef to show that, overall, 75% of the variance in abundance among species was attributable to persistent differences in species' long-term mean abundances.

Validation of ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM Diagnostic Codes for Identifying Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in a National Health Insurance Claims Database.

Purpose: Taiwan's national health insurance (NHI) database is a valuable resource for large-scale epidemiological and long-term survival research for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We developed and validated case definition algorithms for OHCA based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnostic codes and billing codes for NHI reimbursement.

Patients And Methods: Claims data and medical records of all emergency department visits from 2010 to 2020 were retrieved from the hospital's research-based database.

Sequential detection of dopamine and L-DOPA by a 2,3-dopa-dioxygenase from Streptomyces sclerotialus.

A variety of enzyme-based colorimetric biosensors have been developed for clinical practice; however, these methods will only become cost-effective when they are able to process multiple samples with a high degree of sensitivity. In this study, a novel heat-stable enzyme, 2,3-dopa-dioxygenase from the thermophilic bacterium Streptomyces sclerotialus (SsDDO), was used in the development of a protein- and cell-based biosensor for the detection of L-DOPA for the first time. SsDDO catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of L-DOPA forms linear semialdehyde (AHMS) and cyclizes to a 3-carboxy-3-hydroxyallylidene-3,4-dihydropyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (CHAPCA).

Risk factors for pharmacotherapy for storage symptoms after transurethral resection of the prostate in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objectives: Postoperative persistence of storage symptoms after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is bothersome, and evidence of its cause is sparse. We sought to analyze risk factors for using antimuscarinics or beta-3 agonists after TURP in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients.

Methods: BPH patients who underwent TURP and were followed up for >6 months after surgery were retrospectively enrolled.

Development of Lutein-Containing Eye Drops for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common ophthalmological disease that decreases tear secretion and causes dryness, photophobia, pain, severe corneal rupture, and even blindness. Ocular and lacrimal gland inflammation is one of the pathological mechanisms underlying DES. Therefore, effective suppression of inflammation is a crucial strategy for the treatment of DES.

Effect of Temporal Difference on Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Retrospective Study from an Urban City of Taiwan.

Circadian pattern influence on the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has been demonstrated. However, the effect of temporal difference on the clinical outcomes of OHCA remains inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study in an urban city of Taiwan between January 2018 and December 2020 in order to investigate the relationship between temporal differences and the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), sustained (≥24 h) ROSC, and survival to discharge in patients with OHCA.

Predicting Unscheduled Emergency Department Return Visits Among Older Adults: Population-Based Retrospective Study.

Background: Unscheduled emergency department return visits (EDRVs) are key indicators for monitoring the quality of emergency medical care. A high return rate implies that the medical services provided by the emergency department (ED) failed to achieve the expected results of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Older adults are more susceptible to diseases and comorbidities than younger adults, and they exhibit unique and complex clinical characteristics that increase the difficulty of clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The Effect of Implementing Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Devices on Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients in an Urban City of Taiwan.

High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a key element in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation. Mechanical CPR devices have been developed to provide uninterrupted and high-quality CPR. Although human studies have shown controversial results in favor of mechanical CPR devices, their application in pre-hospital settings continues to increase.

Up-regulation of cofilin-1 in cell senescence associates with morphological change and p27 -mediated growth delay.

Morphological change is an explicit characteristic of cell senescence, but the underlying mechanisms remains to be addressed. Here, we demonstrated, after a survey of various actin-binding proteins, that the post-translational up-regulation of cofilin-1 was essential for the reduced rate of actin depolymerization morphological enlargement in senescent cells. Additionally, up-regulated cofilin-1 mainly existed in the serine-3 phosphorylated form, according to the 2D gel immunoblotting assay.