Search

Background: Domestic cats are important companion animals in modern society that live closely with their owners. Mislabeling of pet food can not only harm pets but also cause issues in areas such as religious beliefs and natural resource management. Currently, the cat food market is booming. However, despite the risk that mislabeling poses to cats and humans, few studies have focused on species misrepresentation in cat food products. Methods: To address this issue, we used DNA barcoding, a highly effective identification methodology that can be applied to even highly processed products. We targeted a short segment (~85 basepairs) of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA (16S) gene as a barcode and employed Sanger or next generation sequencing (NGS) to inspect 138 canned cat food products in the Taiwanese market. Results: We discovered that the majority of mislabeling incidents were related to replacement of tuna with other species. Moreover, our metabarcoding revealed that numerous undeclared ingredients were present in all examined canned products. One product contained CITES Appendix II-listed shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). Overall, we uncovered a mislabeling rate of at least 28.99%. To verify cases of mislabeling, an official standardized list of vernacular names, along with the corresponding scientific species names, as well as a dependable barcoding reference sequence database are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two mosquitofishes, the western, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard, 1853) and eastern, G. holbrooki Girard, 1859, species, were treated as a single lineage from 1882 to 1988. Here, we assess whether the mosquitofish introduced into Taiwan in 1911 for mosquito control really was G. affinis, as documented, or G. holbrooki or a combination of both. Using mitochondrial cytochrome b as a genetic marker, we sequenced 78 mosquitofish specimens sampled from around Taiwan and found only one haplotype. Our phylogenetic analyses support that only the western mosquitofish (G. affinis) has invaded Taiwan. However, since G. holbrooki is present in the Taiwanese aquarium market, future invasion by the eastern mosquitofish is very likely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults often experience functional decline following acute medical care. This functional decline may lead to permanent disability, which will increase the burden on the medical and long-term care systems, families, and society as a whole. Post-acute care aims to promote the functional recovery of older adults, prevent unnecessary hospital readmission, and avoid premature admission to a long-term care facility. Research has shown that post-acute care is a cost-effective service model, with both the hospital-athome and community hospital post-acute care models being highly effective. This paper describes the post-acute care models of the United States and the United Kingdom and uses the example of Taiwan's highly effective post-acute care system to explain the benefits and importance of post-acute care. In the face of rapid demographic aging and smaller household size, a post-acute care system can lower medical costs and improve the health of older adults after hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the all-cause (ICD-9 000-999) and cardiovascular diseases (ICD- 9 390-459) mortality risks associated with regional ambient temperatures in Taiwan between 2000 and 2008. Methods: We applied the distributed lag non-linear model to estimate the 8-day cumulative mortality risks associated with high temperatures during the hot season (May- October) and 26-day cumulative mortality risks associated with low temperatures during the cold season (November-April) in 7 study areas. Area cause-specific mortality risks were estimated in association with daily average temperatures at Z±1 and ±2 and by study season. Results: The mortality risks in Taiwan were greater from low temperatures than hot temperatures, especially for mortality from cardiovascular diseases. The mortality risk associated low temperatures was highest in the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli area, with relative risks of 2.21 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-3.67) for all-cause and 4.09 (95% CI: 1.39-12.03) for cardiovascular diseases. High temperatures also elevated the all-cause mortality, but not cardiovascular diseases mortality, in the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan and Kaohsiung-Pingtung areas. In contrast, extremely high temperatures were associated with cardiovascular diseases mortality in the Hualien-Taitung area only. Conclusions: Cumulative all-cause and cardiovascular diseases mortality risks for high and low temperatures are various among regions in Taiwan. This study provides the reference for a temperature-health warning and response system for the local health authority in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the prevalence, incidence, and hospitalization for chronic airway obstruction (CAO) conducted to a population cohort from the National Health Insurance in Taiwan. The chronological trends of CAO and the relationships between the CAO severity and age, sex, urbanization, and hospitalization and comorbidity for the population of 40 years old or older are presented. In effect, patient care are being promoted, and a proper pathway for detection of CAO are provided.

Background: Conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cholecystectomy leads to the loss of the advantages of this minimally invasive procedure and significantly increases length of hospital stay as well as cost. The conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy is more frequent among patients with acute cholecystitis and in elderly patients. This study evaluated whether fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy could lower the conversion rate in geriatric patients with acute cholecystitis. Materials and Methods: During a twelve-month period, 112 patients (36 of them age 65 years or older) underwent fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in a tertiary care university hospital in central Taiwan. Results: The conversion rate in the elderly patients was 2.7% (1/36). No major perioperative complications were observed. Minor complications—port-site infection and subhepatic fluid collection—occurred in two patients (5.5%). Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a fundus-first approach is a safe, effective operative procedure for elderly patients with acute cholecystitis when performed by an experienced laparoendoscopic surgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]