Fluorinated Hexa-Peri-Hexabenzocoronene Derivatives-Modified CNT Scaffolds Enabling Ultrahigh Capacitance in Hierarchical NiCu-LDH Hybrid Supercapacitors.

Achieving high capacitance while maintaining rapid charge transport and structural stability remains a major challenge in the design of battery-type supercapacitor electrodes. Herein, a molecularly engineered strategy is presented for constructing hierarchical hybrid electrodes by integrating petal-like NiCu-LDH nanosheets onto 3D HBC-x (x = H, F, OMe)-functionalized CNT paper via a one-step hydrothermal process. The incorporation of HBC effectively mitigates CNT agglomeration and constructs an interconnected conductive framework that enhances charge transport, shortens ion diffusion paths, and reduces internal resistance.

Cytoreductive Surgery with Radical Pleurectomy/Decortication and Intraoperative photodynamic therapy as a treatment for Stage IVa and pleural recurrence thymic tumors.

Background: Managing stage IV thymoma with pleural spread or recurrence remains a complex clinical challenge. While complete resection is considered essential for achieving long-term survival, its feasibility and outcomes vary. Inspired by surgical strategies used in malignant pleural mesothelioma, we applied a multimodal approach combining extensive thymectomy, cytoreductive lung-preserving pleurectomy/decortication, and intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT) to enhance local control and survival outcomes.

Impact of tenofovir entecavir treatment on progression of chronic hepatitis B: A nationwide cohort study.

Background & Aims: Conflicting evidence exists on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving tenofovir entecavir. We assessed the impacts of the two drugs on the clinical trajectory of CHB at a population level.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide cohort study using data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, including 55,885 patients with CHB who were treatment-naïve aged 30-75 years receiving tenofovir (n = 17,137) or entecavir (n = 38,748) monotherapy for ≥3 months between November 2009 and December 2020, and followed until December 2022.

A novel application of the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) among end-stage heart failure patients awaiting heart transplantation.

Background: Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) measure immune responses to pathogen-specific antigens such as tuberculosis. However, the assay hinges on a functional immune system. Whether IGRAs can be used to identify heart transplant candidates with impaired immunity and worse prognosis is not known.

Renal arterial pseudoaneurysm after robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy: a single-center analysis.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm (RAP) after robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RaPN), identify predictive factors, and evaluate endovascular management.

Methods: The institutional RaPN database was retrospectively reviewed, and data from December 2009 to June 2021 were used. Computed tomography angiography was used to diagnose RAP.

Host Genetic Factors and Clinical Comorbidities Associated With Tuberculosis Risk.

HLA influence the immune response, shaping genetic susceptibility or resistance to tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to investigate the associations of host genetics and comorbidities with TB infection in Taiwanese populations. This retrospective case-control study utilised data from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative.

Chitosan-Based Antibacterial Bioceramic Materials for Dental Pulp Capping.

Conventional clinical approaches for regenerative endodontic procedures, root canal therapy, and vital pulp therapy often lack sufficient antimicrobial efficacy, thereby increasing the risk of post-treatment apical periodontitis. To overcome this limitation, a series of antimicrobial powders (referred to as the AC series) was synthesized through a chemical reaction between tricalcium silicate (CS) powder and chitosan solution pretreated with acetic acid. Following this, the AC powders were subsequently physically blended with additional CS to enhance the mechanical properties, thereby developing a chitosan-based bioceramic composite, named the AC-C series.

Can artificial intelligence with multimodal imaging outperform traditional methods in predicting age-related macular degeneration progression? A systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis.

Purpose: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, and its prevalence is expected to rise with aging populations. Early prediction of AMD progression is critical for effective management. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in in detecting and predicting progression of AMD.

Trajectory of serial amniotic fluid index measurements is associated with fetal growth, birth weight and neonatal adiposity.

Objective: Amniotic fluid volume, measured in terms of the amniotic fluid index (AFI), is used widely in prenatal care to assess fetal health and development. We investigated whether distinct longitudinal AFI trajectories exist during pregnancy and their association with fetal growth.

Methods: This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial included singleton pregnancies without pre-existing or gestational diabetes mellitus that received prenatal care at National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei and its Hsin-Chu Branch in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Far infrared therapy improves the vascular function of lower extremities in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients commonly experience peripheral vascular dysfunction due to multiple risk factors for stenosis. Far infrared radiation (FIR) causes vasodilation and enhances the circulation of vascular access. The effect of FIR on the peripheral vascular system remains uncertain.

High-Fructose High-Fat Diet Renders the Retina More Susceptible to Blue Light Photodamage in Mice.

Retinal degeneration is associated with dietary factors and environmental light exposure. This study investigated the effects of a high-fructose high-fat (HFHF) diet on susceptibility to blue light (BL)-induced retinal damage. Male ICR mice were randomized into three groups: control, BL alone, and BL plus HFHF diet (BL + HFHF).

LOC100506691 Is an Oncogenic Long Noncoding RNA that Promotes Growth and Motility of Lung Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Lung cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Understanding the detailed mechanisms of lung carcinogenesis can improve the survival rates of patients with lung cancer. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are large (>200 nucleotides) noncoding RNAs that play a key role in various types of human cancer by regulating the proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.

Retrieving Proton Beam Information Using Stitching-Based Detector Technique and Intelligent Reconstruction Algorithms.

In view of the great need for quality assurance in radiotherapy, this paper proposes a stitching-based detector (SBD) technique and a set of intelligent algorithms that can reconstruct the information of projected particle beams. The reconstructed information includes the intensity, sigma value, and location of the maximum intensity of the beam under test. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed technique and algorithms, this research study adopts the pencil beam scanning (PBS) form of proton beam therapy (PBT) as an example.

Decision Tree Modeling to Predict Myopia Progression in Children Treated with Atropine: Toward Precision Ophthalmology.

: Myopia is a growing global health concern, especially among school-aged children in East Asia. Topical atropine is a key treatment for pediatric myopia control, but individual responses vary, with some children showing rapid progression despite higher doses. This retrospective observational study aims to develop an interpretable machine learning model to predict individualized treatment responses and support personalized clinical decisions, based on data collected over a 3-year period without a control group.

The Comparison of Insulin Resistance Between Normal and Early Menopause Women Younger than Fifty Years Old by Machine Learning Methods.

: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is on the rise, and insulin resistance (IR) is one of the key risk factors for developing T2D. This paper seeks to identify risk factors for IR in women with normal menstrual cycles (NM) and early menopausal women (EM). : EM women between 30 and 50 years old were compared with an NM control group.

GroEL Accelerates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation by Induction of M1 Polarization in Macrophages.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease characterized by chronic inflammation, extracellular matrix degradation, and smooth muscle cell apoptosis. (), a key periodontal pathogen, has been implicated in the progression of cardiovascular diseases, including AAA, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of GroEL, a bacterial heat shock protein 60 homolog derived from , in AAA development.

Association Between Serum per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Iron Status Biomarkers in a Representative Sample of U.S. Adults: NHANES 2013-2018.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a class of man-made compounds widely utilized in manufacturing everyday consumer products. Experimental studies indicate that PFAS may interfere with iron regulation by hindering absorption or inducing oxidative stress. Nonetheless, epidemiological studies examining the association between PFAS exposure and a broad spectrum of iron-related biomarkers remain scarce.

Association Between Different Patterns of Opioid and Benzodiazepine Use and Risks of Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

: In 2016, the U.S. FDA warned against concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepines (BZDs) due to risks of respiratory depression and death.

Using Machine Learning to Detect Factors That Affect Homocysteine in Healthy Elderly Taiwanese Men.

: Homocysteine (Hcy) is a sulfur-containing amino acid crucial for various physiological processes, with elevated levels linked to cardiovascular and neurological adverse conditions. Various factors contribute to high Hcy, and past studies of impact factors relied on traditional statistical methods. Recently, machine learning (ML) techniques have greatly improved and are now widely applied in medical research.

The Cervical Lymph Node Positive Metastatic Probability Is a Significant Predictor of Survival for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A Nationwide Study.

Background/objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of lymph node density (LND) and the log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using a nationwide database.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Taiwan Cancer Registry to identify patients diagnosed with OSCC who underwent surgery for both the primary tumor and neck dissection. Clinicopathological variables were collected, and survival outcomes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.

Association of maternal infections, antibiotic use, and cesarean delivery with the risk of early-onset sepsis: a nationwide population-based study in full-term neonates.

Background: Neonatal sepsis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns worldwide. Although the implementation of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) has led to changes in the microbiological landscape of early-onset sepsis (EOS), the incidence among full-term neonates has not declined as expected. This underscores the ongoing need to identify and understand maternal and neonatal risk factors to inform more effective prevention strategies.

Imipenem-induced outer membrane vesicles from Elizabethkingia anophelis inhibit biofilm formation and shift nosocomial pathogen dynamics.

Elizabethkingia anophelis is an emerging multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogen that can cause severe nosocomial infections. Although multidrug resistance complicates the clinical management of E. anophelis, the ecological impact of stress responses, including antibiotic pressure, is unclear.

Commissural Fiber Disruption Is Associated With Symptom Onset in Cerebral Autosomal-Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy.

Background: Extensive white matter hyperintensities are a hallmark of cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), a monogenic small-vessel disease caused by pathogenic variants. This study aimed to assess microstructural white matter integrity in symptomatic and premanifest CADASIL individuals utilizing peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD), a diffusion tensor imaging-based metric.

Methods: A total of 161 participants were recruited, including 60 patients with symptomatic CADASIL, 67 preclinical variant carriers, and 34 healthy controls.