A psychoneuroimmunological underpinnings of the relationship between childhood trauma, loneliness, and depression in older adults.

Depression is highly prevalent among older people globally. It is well known that childhood trauma and loneliness are significant risk factors for depression, and neural alterations in the default mode network and immunological dysregulation (e.g.

High-Burden and Self-Efficacy Are Associated with Quality of Life in Family Caregivers in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Family caregivers care for their family members with diseases and encounter significant changes in their daily lives, but few studies have explored it.

Aim: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the quality of life in family caregivers.

Design: This study adopted a cross-sectional design.

Effect of dopant-induced local vibration modes on pressure-driven structural phase transition in Mn- and Co-doped ZnO.

laser Raman spectroscopy was performed on pristine ZnO, ZnMnO, and ZnCoO at pressures up to 18.6, 18.4, and 13.

Mediation Effects of Sleep Efficiency and Total Sleep Time of PSG and Apathy in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults With Childhood Trauma: A Community-Based Study.

Background: Childhood trauma is linked to sleep quality and mental health in adults. However, there is limited research exploring their connections in older adults. We aimed to investigate whether childhood trauma leads to a higher occurrence of adverse sleep patterns and mental problems and whether sleep mediates these effects.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mortality Rates From Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases in Taiwan: An Interventional Time Series Study.

Objectives: To examine whether the likelihood of death from non-communicable diseases nationwide was heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Data on mortality caused by seven leading non-communicable chronic diseases from 2011 to 2022 were extracted from Taiwan's Death Registry. Monthly standardized mortality rates were analyzed using an intervention time series model.

Accelerated peripheral nerve repair using surface-modified biomaterials for targeted capture of glial-derived growth factors post-neurorrhaphy.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) commonly leads to motor or sensory dysfunction, with nerve grafts being the standard treatment for neurorrhaphy. Despite advancements in biomaterials for nerve-tissue engineering, the rate of nerve regeneration remains slow. Therefore, this study aims to improve further the understanding of the impact of syndecan-3 (SDC3)-modified small intestine submucosa (SIS) on nerve reconstruction by employing two advanced approaches: cation recruitment and local growth factor delivery.

Better objective sleep quality is associated with higher gut microbiota richness in older adults.

Aging is associated with disrupted sleep patterns, such as fragmented sleep and reduced efficiency, leading to negative health outcomes. There is evidence of a bidirectional relationship between sleep and gut microbiota, which plays a key role in the gut-brain axis and overall health. However, studies on this relationship in older adults have limited generalizability and show conflicting results, highlighting the need for further research.

An Approach for Personalized Dynamic Assessment of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression Using Joint Model.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses significant challenges to public health and healthcare systems, demanding a comprehensive understanding of its progressive nature. Prior methods have often fallen short in capturing the dynamic and individual variability of renal function. This study aims to address this gap by introducing a novel approach for the individualized assessment of CKD progression.

Combined Plasma DHA-Containing Phosphatidylcholine PCaa C38:6 and Tetradecanoyl-Carnitine as an Early Biomarker for Assessing the Mortality Risk among Sarcopenic Patients.

The coming of the hyper-aged society in Taiwan prompts us to investigate the relationship between the metabolic status of sarcopenic patients and their most adverse outcome-death. We studied the association between any plasma metabolites and the risk for mortality among older Taiwanese sarcopenic patients. We applied a targeted metabolomic approach to study the plasma metabolites of adults aged ≥65 years, and identified the metabolic signature predictive of the mortality of sarcopenic patients who died within a 5.

Ultralow Auger-Assisted Interlayer Exciton Annihilation in WS/WSe Moiré Heterobilayers.

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) heterobilayers have emerged as a promising platform for exploring solid-state quantum simulators and many-body quantum phenomena. Their type II band alignment, combined with the moiré superlattice, inevitably leads to nontrivial exciton interactions and dynamics. Here, we unveil the distinct Auger annihilation processes for delocalized interlayer excitons in WS/WSe moiré heterobilayers.

Plasma acylcarnitine in elderly Taiwanese: as biomarkers of possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia.

Background: Sarcopenia is defined as the disease of muscle loss and dysfunction. The prevalence of sarcopenia is strongly age-dependent. It could bring about disability, hospitalization, and mortality.

Impact of an immersive virtual reality simulator education program on nursing students' intravenous injection administration: A mixed methods study.

Background: Undergraduate nursing students often face limited opportunities to gain hands-on experience in performing invasive procedures and techniques. Immersive media tools may be helpful in training and enhancing skill development among nursing students.

Objectives: The specific aims of this study were threefold: (1) to describe the development process of an intravenous injection virtual reality simulator (IIVRS) program, (2) to determine the effect of the IIVRS program on intravenous injection knowledge, and (3) to examine the acceptability, learning motivation, and experience of the IIVRS program among nursing students.

Effects of Oxygen Pressure on the Microstructures and Nanomechanical Properties of Samarium-Doped BiFeO Thin Films.

In this study, samarium (Sm-10at%)-doped BiFeO (SmBFO) thin films were grown on platinum-coated glass substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to unveil the correlation between the microstructures and nanomechanical properties of the films. The PLD-derived SmBFO thin films were prepared under various oxygen partial pressures () of 10, 30, and 50 mTorr at a substrate temperature of 600 °C. The scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed a surface morphology consisting of densely packed grains, although the size distribution varied with the .

Impact of cerebral collateral flow on stroke outcomes after carotid stenting.

Objective: Internal carotid artery stenosis is a main contributor to recurrent ischemic stroke. This study aimed to evaluate associations between recurrent stroke and changes in prestenting flow direction in the primary collaterals or both primary and secondary collaterals, and the potential interaction between extra- and intracranial arteries.

Methods: This longitudinal study recruited stroke patients without intracranial stenosis who underwent right-side carotid stenting between 2011 and 2019.

Improved Survival Analyses Based on Characterized Time-Dependent Covariates to Predict Individual Chronic Kidney Disease Progression.

Kidney diseases can cause severe morbidity, mortality, and health burden. Determining the risk factors associated with kidney damage and deterioration has become a priority for the prevention and treatment of kidney disease. This study followed 497 patients with stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were treated at the ward of Taipei Veterans General Hospital from January 2006 to 2019 in Taiwan.

Can chronic kidney disease staging early predict outcome of large-artery ischemic stroke with impaired renal function?

Background: Ischemic stroke poses a major threat to human beings, and a prompt intravenous thrombolytic management remains the gold standard protocol for stroke sufferers. Although the role of thrombolytic therapy (r-tPA) for ischemic stroke patients and those with underlying impaired renal function has been advocated as effective treating strategy, there is still a lack of investigation as to finding out baseline important variables that are capable of early outcome prediction.

Objectives: In this project, we hypothesize that the change of clinical chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging (delta stage = CKD stage after 3-month follow-up - CKD stage at admission) could serve as a crucial predictor of the prognosis of patients.

Ophthalmic artery flow direction change predicts recurrence of ischemic stroke after carotid stenting: a longitudinal observational study.

Background And Purpose: The implantation of carotid artery stents prevents recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with carotid stenosis. This study aimed to investigate associations between change of ophthalmic artery flow (COAF) post carotid stenting and recurrent ischemic stroke, as well as the link toward the anterior and posterior circulations and patients' prognosis after carotid stenting.

Methods: This retrospective, longitudinal cohort study recruited 87 left side carotid stenosed ischemic stroke patients undergoing left side carotid stenting between year of 2009 and 2013, and patients were followed up to 9 years after carotid procedures.

The role of extracranial carotid duplex in predicting functional outcome in first time lacunae strokes.

Background: Stroke is the third largest cause of death both worldwide and in Taiwan. Among the various stroke subtypes, lacunae strokes account for 20 to 30% of the total stroke population. Through vigorous risk control factors, the effective prevention and the long-term functional outcome remains are yet to be investigated.

The Microstructures and Characteristics of NiO Films: Effects of Substrate Temperature.

The influence of the substrate temperature on the structural, surface morphological, optical and nanomechanical properties of NiO films deposited on glass substrates using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Visible spectroscopy and nanoindentation, respectively. The results indicate that the substrate temperature exhibits significant influences on both the grain texturing orientation and surface morphology of the films. Namely, the dominant crystallographic orientation of the films switches from (111) to (200) accompanied by progressively roughening of the surface when the substrate temperature is increased from 300 °C to 500 °C.

Machine Learning Models for the Prediction of Renal Failure in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This study assessed the feasibility of five separate machine learning (ML) classifiers for predicting disease progression in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study enrolled 858 patients with CKD treated at a veteran's hospital in Taiwan. After classification into early and advanced stages, patient demographics and laboratory data were processed and used to predict progression to renal failure and important features for optimal prediction were identified.

Functional outcome prediction of ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation accepting post-acute care training.

Background: Ischemic stroke poses a major threat to human health and represents the third leading cause of death worldwide and in Taiwan. Post-acute care (PAC) training has been reported to be beneficial for post-index stroke events. However, knowledge is still lacking on the outcome of stroke events with cardiac origin.

The age factor influencing long-term physical functionality in stroke patients undergoing intra-arterial thrombectomy treatment.

The treatment of acute ischemic stroke is heavily time-dependent, and even though, with the most efficient treatment, the long-term functional outcome is still highly variable. In this current study, the authors selected acute ischemic stroke patients who were qualified for intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and followed by intra-arterial thrombectomy. With primary outcome defined by the functional level in a 1-year follow-up, we hypothesize that patients with older age are at a disadvantage in post-stroke recovery.