The Efficacy and Safety of Intrapancreatic Bile Duct Resection Applied in Type I of Congenital Bile Duct Dilation: A Multi-center Control Cohort Study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of radical extrahepatic cyst excision including the intrapancreatic bile duct (REC) and subtotal extrahepatic cyst excision preserving the intrapancreatic bile duct (SEC) in treating Todani type I congenital bile duct dilation (CBD) with intrapancreatic bile duct involvement (I-IPBD).

Background: The application of REC and SEC in I-IPBD remains debated.

Methods: The multicenter study recruited I-IPBDs who underwent REC or SEC from 5 centers between 2006 and 2024.

Depth of Liver Invasion as a Novel Predictor for Outcome of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

The current American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) pT classification was inaccurate in predicting prognosis for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). This study aimed to propose a novel classification based on the depth of liver invasion (DOLI) of pCCA. Patients who underwent major hepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy for pCCA between January 2015 and June 2023 were reviewed retrospectively.

Does artificial intelligence redefine nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio threshold for diagnosing high-grade urothelial carcinoma?

Background: The Paris System (TPS) introduced standardized nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio thresholds for urine cytology to improve high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) detection, but these criteria remain subjective. This study used AIxURO, an artificial intelligence-based model, to measure N/C ratio and nuclear area to identify abnormal cells in whole slide images (WSIs).

Methods: A total of 106 urine cytology slides from 46 lower urinary tract (LUT) and 60 upper urinary tract (UUT) cancer cases, diagnosed as atypical urothelial cell (15.

Unveiling chromatin dynamics with virtual epigenome.

The three-dimensional organization of chromatin is essential for gene regulation and cellular function, with epigenome playing a key role. Hi-C methods have expanded our understanding of chromatin interactions, but their high cost and complexity limit their use. Existing models for predicting chromatin interactions rely on limited ChIP-seq inputs, reducing their accuracy and generalizability.

Artificial intelligence algorithms enhance urine cytology reporting confidence in postoperative follow-up for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Purpose: In Taiwan, the incidence of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UTUC) is high and intravesical recurrence is approximately 22%-47%. Thus, postoperative cystoscopy and urine cytology follow-up, which require experienced cytologists, are needed. The AIxURO system aligns with The Paris System (TPS) guidelines for reporting urinary cytology.

An Artificial Intelligence-assisted Diagnostic System Improves Upper Urine Tract Cytology Diagnosis.

Background/aim: To evaluate efficacy of the AIxURO system, a deep learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) tool, in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of urine cytology for diagnosing upper urinary tract cancers.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and eighty-five cytology samples of upper urine tract were collected and categorized according to The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS), yielding 168 negative for High-Grade Urothelial Carcinoma (NHGUC), 14 atypical urothelial cells (AUC), 2 suspicious for high-grade urothelial carcinoma (SHGUC), and 1 high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC). The AIxURO system, trained on annotated cytology images, was employed to analyze these samples.

Employment status and depressive symptoms in taiwanese older adults: an 11-year prospective cohort study.

Background: Taiwan became an aged society in March 2018, and it is expected to become a super-aged society by 2025. The trend of increasing proportions of older adults continuing to work is inevitable. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of employment on the mental health of older adults.

Evaluating artificial intelligence-enhanced digital urine cytology for bladder cancer diagnosis.

Background: This study evaluated the diagnostic effectiveness of the AIxURO platform, an artificial intelligence-based tool, to support urine cytology for bladder cancer management, which typically requires experienced cytopathologists and substantial diagnosis time.

Methods: One cytopathologist and two cytotechnologists reviewed 116 urine cytology slides and corresponding whole-slide images (WSIs) from urology patients. They used three diagnostic modalities: microscopy, WSI review, and AIxURO, per The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) criteria.

Evaluating Urine Cytology Slide Digitization Efficiency: A Comparative Study Using an Artificial Intelligence-Based Heuristic Scanning Simulation and Multiple Z-Plane Scanning.

Introduction: Digitizing cytology slides presents challenges because of their three-dimensional features and uneven cell distribution. While multi-Z-plane scan is a prevalent solution, its adoption in clinical digital cytopathology is hindered by prolonged scanning times, increased image file sizes, and the requirement for cytopathologists to review multiple Z-plane images.

Methods: This study presents heuristic scan as a novel solution, using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based approach specifically designed for cytology slide scanning as an alternative to the multi-Z-plane scan.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children is related to maternal screen time during early childhood in Taiwan: a national prospective cohort study.

Background: It is unclear to familial screen time in early childhood is associated with the subsequent diagnosis of attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Our study is to evaluate the association between screen time during early childhood in families and the incidence of ADHD.

Methods: We conducted a population-based birth cohort study by using the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study, which recruited 24 200 mother-child pairs when children were 6 months old.

A Portable System to Monitor Saliva Conductivity for Dehydration Diagnosis and Kidney Healthcare.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a major issue in long-term healthcare. It is caused by recurrent kidney injury, which is possible induced by dehydration and heat stress. Therefore, it is important to access the dehydration diagnosis on fields.

Immobilized rolling circle amplification on extended-gate field-effect transistors with integrated readout circuits for early detection of platelet-derived growth factor.

Detection of tumor-related proteins with high specificity and sensitivity is important for early diagnosis and prognosis of cancers. While protein sensors based on antibodies are not easy to keep for a long time, aptamers (single-stranded DNA) are found to be a good alternative for recognizing tumor-related protein specifically. This study investigates the feasibility of employing aptamers to recognize the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) specifically and subsequently triggering rolling circle amplification (RCA) of DNAs on extended-gate field-effect transistors (EGFETs) to enhance the sensitivity.

Intracellular Delivery by Shape Anisotropic Magnetic Particle-Induced Cell Membrane Cuts.

Introducing functional macromolecules into a variety of living cells is challenging but important for biology research and cell-based therapies. We report a novel cell delivery platform based on rotating shape anisotropic magnetic particles (SAMPs), which make very small cuts on cell membranes for macromolecule delivery with high efficiency and high survivability. SAMP delivery is performed by placing commercially available nickel powder onto cells grown in standard cell culture dishes.

Guidance of neural regeneration on the biomimetic nanostructured matrix.

Biomimetic materials are used for creating microsystems to control cell growth spatially and elicit specific cellular responses by combining complex biomolecules with nanostructured surfaces. Intercellular cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions in biomimetic materials have demonstrated potential in the development of drug discovery platforms and regeneration medicine. In this study, we developed a biomimetic nanostructured matrix by using various ECM molecular layers to create a biomimetic and biocompatible environment for realizing neuronal guidance in neural regeneration medicine.

Facile synthesis of radial-like macroporous superparamagnetic chitosan spheres with in-situ co-precipitation and gelation of ferro-gels.

Macroporous chitosan spheres encapsulating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by a facile and effective one-step fabrication process. Ferro-gels containing ferrous cations, ferric cations and chitosan were dropped into a sodium hydroxide solution through a syringe pump. In addition, a sodium hydroxide solution was employed for both gelation (chitosan) and co-precipitation (ferrous cations and ferric cations) of the ferro-gels.

Functionalization, re-functionalization and rejuvenation of ssDNA nanotemplates.

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with repetitive sequence was demonstrated to be a versatile nanotemplate for introducing biological activity in a self-assembled manner. Re-functionalization and rejuvenation of the ssDNA nanotemplate were achieved under mild biological conditions without using high temperature and strong alkaline treatment to denature DNA.

Use of a doxycycline-enrofloxacin-metronidazole combination with/without diminazene diaceturate to treat naturally occurring canine babesiosis caused by Babesia gibsoni.

Canine babesiosis is an important worldwide, tick-borne disease caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. Babesia gibsoni is the predominant species that causes canine babesiosis in Taipei, Taiwan. It is a small pleomorphic intraerythrocytic parasite that can cause erythrocyte destruction and hemolytic anemia.

Droplet-based Microtexture Biochip System for Triglycerides and Methanol Measurement.

A droplet-based microfluidic system was developed for biochemical assays of triglycerides and methanol as potential applications in medical rapid diagnostics and food safety. We present a novel platform to manipulate biology reaction droplets with features of self-moving, self-mixing, and self-positioning toward the detection spot. The driving force comes from the gradient of surface tension force generated by the hydrophobic microtexture PDMS surface.

Spatial and temporal profile of haloperidol-induced immediate-early gene expression and phosphoCREB binding in the dorsal and ventral striatum of amphetamine-sensitized rats.

To determine if D(2) dopamine receptor-mediated nuclear signaling is altered during the development of amphetamine sensitization, we examined the expression of immediate-early gene (IEG) products, Fos, Jun, and Fos-related antigen (FRA), in both controls and amphetamine-sensitized rats after a challenge with the D(2) antagonist haloperidol. When chronic saline- or amphetamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.