Effects of regular exercise on blood rheology.

Regular physical activity (RPA) promotes cardiovascular health but its effects on blood flow and rheology characteristics remain unclear. This study compared hemorheological parameters between healthy adults who regularly jogged (n = 35) and sedentary controls (n = 35). Participants in the RPA group showed significantly lower fibrinogen levels, C-reactive protein concentrations, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and red blood cell aggregation (all p < 0.

SPP1+ tumor-associated macrophages define a high-risk subgroup and inform personalized therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Recently, contrary to attacking cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment (TME) with genomic stability and vulnerable nature has emerged as promising therapeutic targets in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Within TME ecosystem, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a pivotal role in tumor evasion and progression of HCC. However, their clinical and therapeutic implications remain unexplored.

Discovery of FLF-15 as a novel selective inhibitor of ADAM17 to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis.

The poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mainly due to its high metastatic properties. Hence, metastasis inhibition might provide a reliable strategy for HCC treatment. As its pivotal role in the tumor cell proliferation, survival and metastasis, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) has become an attractive target for cancer therapy.

Independent tuning of free spectral range in thin-film lithium niobate microring resonators.

In conventional traveling-wave optical cavities, the free spectral range (FSR) and the resonance frequencies are inherently linked, limiting the ability to control the FSR independently. This work presents a systematic investigation of techniques to tune the waveguide dispersion in thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) microring resonators (MRRs), enabling independent control of the FSR without affecting a specific resonance. We experimentally characterize and compare the effects of electro-optic and thermo-optic tuning on the FSR and resonance wavelengths, revealing the difference in tuning waveguide mode dispersion between distinct mechanisms.

Protein interactions, network pharmacology, and machine learning work together to predict genes linked to mitochondrial dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

This study looked at possible targets for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition marked by thickening of the ventricular wall, primarily in the left ventricle. We employed differential gene analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) on samples. We then carried out an enrichment analysis.

Remimazolam induced cytotoxicity mediated through multiple stress pathways and acted synergistically with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The primary treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involves surgical removal of the primary tumor, but this creates a favorable environment for the proliferation and spread of residual and circulating cancer cells. The development of remimazolam-based balanced anesthesia is crucial for future antitumor applications. It is important to understand the mechanisms of cytotoxicity for HCC in detail.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of pain management among Taiwanese physicians in a reformed 2-year postgraduate training programme: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Background: Taiwan implemented a reformed 6-year medical education in 2013, with a subsequent 2-year postgraduate training programme starting in August 2019. This study investigated the perceptions of acute and chronic pain management in postgraduate physicians.

Methods: In late July 2023, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted of Taiwanese physicians who had almost completed their postgraduate 2-year or 1-year training and those who were starting a postgraduate programme in early August 2023.

The Potency of Cytotoxic Mechanisms of Local Anesthetics in Human Chondrocyte Cells.

Local anesthetics are commonly used in various clinical settings for both prevention and symptom relief. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that intra-articular injections of local anesthetics achieve high success rates in orthopedic practices. However, several widely used local anesthetics, including bupivacaine, lidocaine, and ropivacaine, have been shown to exhibit toxicity to chondrocytes, with the underlying mechanisms of chondrotoxicity remaining poorly understood.

Free Water MRI of White Matter in Wilson's Disease.

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is susceptible to partial volume effects from free water, which can be corrected by using bi-tensor free water imaging (FWI). This approach may improve the evaluation of microstructural changes associated with Wilson's disease (WD).

Purpose: To investigate microstructural changes in white matter of WD using DTI and FWI.

Neuroimaging Correlates with Clinical Severity in Wilson Disease: A Multiparametric Quantitative Brain MRI.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies have reported metal accumulation and microstructure changes in deep gray nuclei (DGN) in Wilson disease (WD). However, there are limited studies that investigate whether there is metal accumulation and microstructure changes in DGN of patients with WD with normal-appearing routine MRI. This study aimed to evaluate multiparametric changes in DGN of WD and whether the findings correlate with clinical severity in patients with WD.

Assessment of opioid knowledge and attitudes among senior medical students in Taiwan's pain education curriculum: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Introduction: While the opioid crisis has been a significant concern in North America, Taiwan has not encountered a similar crisis. This study investigated medical students' perceptions of opioid therapy for chronic pain management in Taiwan.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among third- and fourth-year medical students who had completed an 18-hour pain medicine curriculum, in comparison with those who did not take the course in Mar 2022 and May 2023.

The synergistic mechanisms of propofol with cisplatin or doxorubicin in human ovarian cancer cells.

Background: Most ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to poor outcomes and a relatively low 5-year survival rate. While tumor resection in the early stages can be highly effective, recurrence following primary treatment remains a significant cause of mortality. Propofol is a commonly used intravenous anesthetic agent in cancer resection surgery.

Electro-optically tunable optical delay on a lithium niobate photonic chip.

An approach for continuous tuning of on-chip optical delay with a microring resonator is proposed and demonstrated. By introducing an electro-optically tunable waveguide coupler, the bus waveguide to the resonance coupling can be effectively tuned from the under-coupling regime to the over-coupling regime. The optical delay is experimentally characterized by measuring the relative phase shift between lasers and shows a large dynamic range of delay from -600 to 600 ps and an efficient tuning of delay from -430 to -180 ps and from 40 to 240 ps by only a 5 V voltage.

CTSD upregulation as a key driver of spinal ligament abnormalities in spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis (SS) is frequently caused by spinal ligament abnormalities, such as ossification and hypertrophy, which narrow the spinal canal and compress the spinal cord or nerve roots, leading to myelopathy or sciatic symptoms; however, the underlying pathological mechanism is poorly understood, hampering the development of effective nonsurgical treatments. Our study aims to investigate the role of co-expression hub genes in patients with spinal ligament ossification and hypertrophy. To achieve this, we conducted an integrated analysis by combining RNA-seq data of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and microarray profiles of hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum (HLF), consistently pinpointing CTSD as an upregulated hub gene in both OPLL and HLF.

Stable and wavelength-tunable multiwavelength laser for high-rate measurement device independent quantum key distribution.

Measurement device independent quantum key distribution (MDI QKD) has attracted growing attention for its immunity to attacks at the measurement unit, but its unique structure limits the secret key rate. Utilizing the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technique and reducing error rates are effective strategies for enhancing the secret key rate. Reducing error rates often requires active feedback control of wavelengths using precise external references.

Risk Factors of Mortality and Long-Term Survival in Burn Patients With/Without Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A 16 Year Real-World Study.

Burn patients face cardiopulmonary failure risks, with recent observational studies suggesting promising outcomes for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). However, the effectiveness and long-term survival remain unclear. Our study aims to assess mortality risk factors and long-term survival in burn patients with and without ECMO.

Incorporating machine learning and PPI networks to identify mitochondrial fission-related immune markers in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a disease characterised by inflammation and progressive vasodilatation, for novel gene-targeted therapeutic loci.

Methods: To do this, we used weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential gene analysis on samples from the GEO database. Additionally, we carried out enrichment analysis and determined that the blue module was of interest.

Inflammatory Biomarkers and Blood Physical Property Transformations Following On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the hemorheological and inflammatory changes before and after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, as factors such as hypothermia, hemodilution, transfusion, and other variables affect blood viscosity and inflammation during the procedure.

Methods: A total of 25 patients who underwent CABG surgery were enrolled in this study. Whole blood was collected just before the CABG (D), 2 days after surgery (D), and 5 days after surgery (D).

Experimental Demonstration of Fully Passive Quantum Key Distribution.

The passive approach to quantum key distribution (QKD) consists of removing all active modulation from the users' devices, a highly desirable countermeasure to get rid of modulator side channels. Nevertheless, active modulation has not been completely removed in QKD systems so far, due to both theoretical and practical limitations. In this Letter, we present a fully passive time-bin encoding QKD system and report on the successful implementation of a modulator-free QKD link.

Apoptosis, Proliferation, and Autophagy Are Involved in Local Anesthetic-Induced Cytotoxicity of Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Breast cancer accounts for almost one quarter of all female cancers worldwide, and more than 90% of those who are diagnosed with breast cancer undergo mastectomy or breast conservation surgery. Local anesthetics effectively inhibit the invasion of cancer cells at concentrations that are used in surgical procedures. The limited treatment options for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) demonstrate unmet clinical needs.

Prescription Opioid Use among Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain before and after the COVID-19 Outbreak in Taiwan: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak disrupted medical access for patients receiving chronic opioid therapy. This study investigated their prescription opioid dosages before and after the 2020 outbreak in Taiwan.

Methods: A prospective questionnaire survey was conducted among registered outpatients receiving long-term opioids before July 2019 in Taiwan.

Antecedents, Consequences, and the Role of Third Parties in the Trust Repair Process: Evidence Taken from Orthodontics.

Orthodontic treatment has popularized in Taiwan. Healthcare institutions can be responsive in their coping strategies and determine whether third-party intervention should take place involving medical disputes related to orthodontics in order to repair patient trust. This study draws on orthodontic treatment to explore the effect of various trust repair strategies employed by healthcare institutions and third-party involvement positively affecting outcomes related to trust repair.