Distribution and variability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) across three categories of wastewater treatment plants in Kaohsiung, the industrial hub of Taiwan.

Paired surface wastewater samples from seven wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, were analyzed to quantify environmental PFAS loadings. Seventeen per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were analyzed, whereby WWTPs 1-4, treating domestic discharges, exhibited relatively low concentrations of 10.5-46.

Postbiotic Sodium Butyrate Mitigates Hypertension and Kidney Dysfunction in Juvenile Rats Exposed to Microplastics.

Background: Plastic production has led to widespread microplastic (MP) pollution, with children more vulnerable to MPs than adults. However, the mechanisms linking MP exposure to hypertension and kidney disease in children remain unclear. This study explored whether sodium butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, could mitigate MP-induced hypertension and kidney damage in juvenile rats.

Protective Effect of Resveratrol on Kidney Disease and Hypertension Against Microplastics Exposure in Male Juvenile Rats.

Global pollution stems from the degradation of plastic waste, leading to the generation of microplastics (MPs). While environmental pollutants increase the risk of developing hypertension and kidney disease, the effects of MP exposure on these conditions in children remain unclear. Resveratrol, a phenolic compound known for its antihypertensive and renoprotective properties, has gained attention as a potential nutraceutical.

Effect of Purified Resveratrol Butyrate Ester Monomers against Hypertension after Maternal High-Fructose Intake in Adult Offspring.

Background: Offspring hypertension arising from adverse maternal conditions can be mitigated through dietary nutritional supplementation, including resveratrol. Previously, we identified derivatives of resveratrol butyrate ester (RBE), specifically 3,4'-di-O-butanoylresveratrol (ED2) and 3-O-butanoylresveratrol (ED4), demonstrating their superior antioxidant capabilities compared to RBE itself. This study sought to assess the protective impact of maternal supplementation with ED2 or ED4 on offspring hypertension in a rat model subjected to a high-fructose (HF) diet during pregnancy and lactation.

Different impacts of physical activity on health in urban and rural older adults.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the impact of physical activity on health among older adults in urban and rural areas in Taiwan.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design and data were analyzed from 2015 to 2019 from the Hualien County Health Bureau. Participants were divided into urban (n = 4780) and rural groups (n = 4983), and logistic regression models were employed to examine how physical activity relates to their health condition in urban and rural older adults.

Chondroitin Sulfate Ameliorates Hypertension in Male Offspring Rat Born to Mothers Fed an Adenine Diet.

Pregnant women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face increased risks of adverse outcomes in their adult offspring. Offspring rats born to dams fed an adenine diet develop hypertension, coinciding with dysregulated hydrogen sulfide (HS) and nitric oxide (NO) pathways, as well as alterations in gut microbiota. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a multifunctional food known for its diverse bioactivities.

Resveratrol Propionate Ester Supplement Exerts Antihypertensive Effect in Juvenile Rats Exposed to an Adenine Diet via Gut Microbiota Modulation.

Resveratrol, acting as a prebiotic, and propionate, functioning as a postbiotic, hold promise for preventing hypertension in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Previously, we employed propionate to enhance the bioavailability of resveratrol through esterification, resulting in the production of a resveratrol propionate ester (RPE) mixture. In this study, we purified 3-O-propanoylresveratrol (RPE2) and 3,4'-di-O-propanoylresveratrol (RPE4) and investigated their protective effects in a juvenile rat adenine-induced CKD model.

Effects of aromatherapy with essential oil massage on the sleep quality of critical care nurses: A randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of an essential oil massage on the sleep quality of the critical care nurses. A randomized controlled trial with single blind was conducted. A total of 112 critical care nurses were recruited.

[Applying a Sleep Care Bundle to Improve Quality of Sleep in Patients in the Intensive Care Unit].

Background & Problems: Poor sleep quality during hospitalization may lead to post-hospital symptoms and increase readmission rates and mortality. Patients in our intensive care unit (ICU) reported low mean scores on the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) during their third and fifth days of hospitalization (49.7 mm and 51.

Lessons from the MOHW compensation pilot program on birth incidents: First step and looking forward.

Objective: In Taiwan, the number of medical disputes and litigation has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. The seriousness of medical disputes continuing grows in clinical practice, especially in obstetricians. This study provided a possible solution to the medical dispute litigation issue.

Microwave-Assisted Multicomponent Synthesis of Dihydroquinoxalinones on Soluble Polymer Support.

A one-pot and two-step reaction of four components, including aldehydes, Fmoc-protected α-amino acid, isocyanide, and soluble polymer-supported 4-fluoro-3-amino benzoate ester, was developed for an efficient synthesis of dihydroquinoxalinones under microwave irradiation. Fmoc deprotection followed by intramolecular cyclization of the diamide gave a facile access to novel bicyclic quinoxalin-2-ones. On the basis of this approach, a new route to synthesize this privileged scaffold from the diamide intermediate was designed and accomplished with high yields.

The effects of Tai-Chi in conjunction with thera-band resistance exercise on functional fitness and muscle strength among community-based older people.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Tai-Chi in conjunction with thera-band resistance exercise on functional fitness and muscle strength in community-based older people.

Background: Tai-Chi is known to improve functional fitness in older people. Tai-Chi is usually performed with free hands without resistance training and usually focuses on training lower limbs.

Relationships among affective factors and preferred engagement in science-related activities.

This study investigated how affective factors impact participation in science learning using structural equation modeling. Using a dataset from Taiwan, a model was obtained that showed the relationships among science-related interest, enjoyment, self-efficacy, self-concept, competency, leisure time engagement, and future interest in science. The paths relating to engagement and future interest were much stronger for interest and enjoyment than for self-efficacy and self-concept.

[A controlled study on the treatment of acute progressive cerebral infarction by continuous anticoagulation with small doses of heparin].

Objective: To discuss the treatment of acute progressive cerebral infarction by continuous anticoagulation with small doses of heparin.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical research was conducted. Three hundred and fifty-one patients were randomly divided into three groups.

Traceless synthesis of diketopiperazine fused tetrahydro-β-carbolines on soluble polymer support.

The Pictet-Spengler reaction, using polyethylene glycol immobilized tryptophan ester with a variety of ketones, was achieved by refluxing condition in acidic chloroform. The linear as well as cyclic ketones were employed. All the ketones were reacted within 6-8 h to furnish soluble polymer-supported tetrahydro-β-carboline in good yields.

Mediating roles of social support on poststroke depression and quality of life in patients with ischemic stroke.

Aims: The purposes of this study were to examine the associations among social support, poststroke depression and quality of life among patients with first-time ischemic stroke and to further test the impact of the dimensions of social support on poststroke depression and quality of life. The proposed models included mediation hypotheses to examine the mediating roles of social support.

Background: Although considerable attention has recently been devoted to explaining why poststroke depression and poor quality of life are frequent concomitants of stroke, little empirical work has been conducted to test predictions based on these models, especially in Taiwan.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of angular bis-benzimidazole derivatives under microwave irradiation.

Pharmaceutically interesting, angular bis-benzimidazoles with three appendages have been synthesized successfully through a diversity-oriented approach with soluble support under microwave irradiation. Polymer immobilized o-phenylenediamine was selectively N-acylated with 2-chloro-3-nitrobenzoic acid in a primary aromatic amino moiety. The obtained amide was cyclized to benzimidazole in an acidic condition, and subsequently nucleophilic aromatic substitution with different amines was performed.

[The HPLC fingerprint analysis of Fructus citri].

Objective: To study and establish the fingerprint of raw Fructus Citri by phased high performance liquid chromatography.

Method: The chromatographic conditions were as follows: a Kromasil C18 column was used; the mobile phase was composed of methanol and acetic-water(3.1:100, v/v) with gradient elution; the flow rate was 1.

Lightwand-guided endotracheal intubation performed by the nondominant hand is feasible.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of lightwand-guided endotracheal intubation (LWEI) performed using either the right (dominant) or left (nondominant) hand. Two hundred and forty patients aged 21-64 years, with a Mallampati airway classification grade of I-II and undergoing endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia, were enrolled in this randomized and controlled study. Induction of anesthesia was initiated by intravenous administration of fentanyl (2 microg/kg) and thiopentone (5 mg/kg), and tracheal intubation was facilitated by intravenous atracurium (0.

Copper halide-bridged ruthenium telluride carbonyl complexes: discovery of the semiconducting cluster chain polymer {[PPh4]2[Te2Ru4(CO)10Cu4Br2Cl2].THF}infinity.

A new series of Te-Ru-Cu carbonyl complexes was prepared by the reaction of K(2)TeO(3) with [Ru(3)(CO)(12)] in MeOH followed by treatment with PPh(4)X (X=Br, Cl) and [Cu(MeCN)(4)]BF(4) or CuX (X=Br, Cl) in MeCN. When the reaction mixture of K(2)TeO(3) and [Ru(3)(CO)(12)] was first treated with PPh(4)X followed by the addition of [Cu(MeCN)(4)]BF(4), doubly CuX-bridged Te(2)Ru(4)-based octahedral clusters [PPh(4)](2)[Te(2)Ru(4)(CO)(10)Cu(2)X(2)] (X=Br, [PPh(4)](2)[1]; X=Cl, [PPh(4)](2)[2]) were obtained. When the reaction mixture of K(2)TeO(3) and [Ru(3)(CO)(12)] was treated with PPh(4)X (X=Br, Cl) followed by the addition of CuX (X=Br, Cl), three different types of CuX-bridged Te-Ru carbonyl clusters were obtained.

Coat color-tagged green mouse with EGFP expressed from the RNA polymerase II promoter.

Laborious molecular genotyping and variegated gene expression are two widely encountered issues for transgenic mouse studies. To facilitate genotyping in the FVB/N albino background and to reduce variegated expression, we successfully generated double-tagged transgenic mice for direct visual genotyping with the coat color phenotype derived from tyrosinase cDNA driven by the tyrosinase promoter and with simultaneous high enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression driven by the promoter of RNA polymerase II large subunit gene. Incorporation of insulator into a transgene construct achieved high efficiency of transgene expression in more than 90% of the founders.