Search

Kuan-Pei Lin,1 Ting-Kuang Yeh,1,2 Yu-Chuan Chuang,1 Li-An Wang,1 Yun-Ching Fu,3,4,* Po-Yu Liu1,4– 6,* 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 2Genomic Center for Infectious Diseases, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 3Children’s Medical Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 4Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; 5Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; 6Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yun-Ching Fu; Po-Yu Liu, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Section 4, Taiwan Blvd, Xitun District, Taichung City, 40705, Taiwan, Tel +886-4-2359-2525 ext.3110, Fax +886-4-2359-5046, Email yunchingfu@gmail.com; pyliu@tcvgh.gov.twAbstract: Infective endocarditis is a potentially fatal condition, and identifying the pathogen is crucial to optimizing antibiotic treatment. While a blood culture takes time and may yield negative results, it remains the gold standard for diagnosis, blood culture-negative endocarditis, which accounts for up to 20% of infective endocarditis cases, poses a clinical challenge with increasing mortality. To better understand the etiology of blood culture-negative infective endocarditis, we reviewed non-culture-based strategies and compared the results. Serology tests work best in limited pathogens, such as Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella infections. Most of the pathogens identified by broad-range PCR tests are Streptococcus spp, Staphylococcus spp and Propionibacterium spp. adding specific real-time PCR assays to the systematic PCR testing of patients with blood culture-negative endocarditis will increase the efficiency of diagnosis. Recently, metagenomic next-generation sequencing has also shown promising results.Keywords: endocarditis, diagnosis, serology, PCR, metagenomic sequencing, Streptococcus

Yu-Chuan Chuang,1 Kuan-Pei Lin,1 Li-An Wang,1 Ting-Kuang Yeh,2,3 Po-Yu Liu2– 6 1Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 2Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 3Genomic Center for Infectious Diseases, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 4Ph.D. in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; 5Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; 6Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, TaiwanCorrespondence: Po-Yu Liu, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Sec. 4, Taiwan Blvd., Xitun Dist, Taichung City, 407219, Taiwan, Tel +886 4 2359 2525, Email liupoyu@gmail.comAbstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common respiratory viruses. It not only affects young children but also the elderly and immunocompromised patients. After the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, a dramatic reduction in RSV activity was found, which coincided with the implementation of public health and social measures (PHSMs). However, the correlation is more complicated than we initially thought. After PHSMs were gradually lifted, a seasonality shift and a delayed RSV outbreak with greater number of infected patients were found in numerous countries, such as Israel, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, France, United States, and Japan. Several hypotheses and possible reasons explaining the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and RSV were mentioned. Since RSV vaccinations are still under investigation, administration of palivizumab should be considered in high-risk patients. In the post-COVID-19 era, greater attention should be paid to a further resurgence of RSV. In this narrative review, we conducted a thorough review of the current knowledge on the epidemiology of RSV during the COVID-19 era, the out-of-season outbreak of RSV, and the data on co-infection with RSV and SARS-CoV-2.Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, respiratory tract infection

Background: Sepsis is defined as a life‐threatening disease. Autophagy and the microbiome are increasingly connected with sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of autophagy and the possible mechanisms. Methods: The septic rat model was established by cecal ligation perforation (CLP). Rapamycin (Rap), 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA), and chloroquine (CQ) were administered to interfere autophagy. Western blot (WB) was used to detect the expression of key proteins in autophagy. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to identify the effect of autophagy on various organs. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the changes of the gut microbiota. Results: Rap significantly upregulated the expression of key autophagy proteins, and 3‐MA reduced the relative expression compared to the CLP group. The autophagic flux showed a corresponding trend. Interestingly, the autophagy inducer significantly decreased the mortality and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level in serum compared with the CLP group. Autophagy activation significantly improves the inflammatory response in sepsis. Histopathological sections showed that CLP destroyed the tight junctions between ileal epithelial cells, while autophagy induction reversed the damage. The sequencing results showed that autophagy activation increased the alpha diversity and alterted the composition and structure of gut microbiota. The abundance of Proteobacteria was markedly decreased in the Rap group, whereas Bacteroidetes was notably increased compared with the CLP group. Additionally, the protective effect of autophagy further changed the biomarkers in the microbial community. The top 35 functions in each sample were analyzed to obtain 18 genes including RNA synthesis, ATP binding and transport, chromosome assignment, osmotic polysaccharide transport, transcytosis, and methylation. Conclusion: Autophagy is able to improve inflammation and may directly or indirectly regulate the microbiota of septic rats. Autophagy may be an important target for future clinical interventions in the treatment of sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aimed to assess the uncertainty of the determination of diazepam content in fishing baits by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. By establishing a mathematical model and analyzing uncertainties from different sources, the experiment evaluated various uncertainty components. The results showed that the relative standard uncertainty of the measurement results was 4.55%, and the relative expanded uncertainty was 9.10%. The diazepam content in the sample should be expressed as (2.3.821±2.168) µg/kg (K=2). The study indicates that the measurement uncertainty of diazepam content in fishing baits is mainly attributed to the repeated measurements of the sample, the preparation of standard solution, and the weighing of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are few deep reduction technologies for endocrine disrupting toxicity(EDCs) in biochemical tailwater treatment, and conventional chlorine disinfection will cause increased biological toxicity, high operating cost and complex operation. In this paper, combining biochemical treatment with catalytic ozone oxidation treatment technology, a method for deep reduction and safe reuse of biochemical tail water endocrine disruption toxicity was proposed. Combined with pilot test results and demonstration projects, a process of “functional bacteria enhanced MBR+ozone catalytic oxidation” was constructed for deep reduction of endocrine disruption toxicity of biochemical tail water. The experimental results showed that the reduction rate of endocrine disruption toxicity in effluent water was 84.51%, and the average concentration was 0.8 ng/L, and the effluent met the requirements of the safety threshold of endocrine disruption toxicity and the safe discharge and reuse of biochemical tail water, it provides reference for the safe discharge and reuse of municipal sewage in the future.

C17H12O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 11.0333(13) Å, b = 15.7993(19) Å, c = 7.0619(9) Å, β = 92.302(2)∘, V = 1230.0(3) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0420, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1081, T = 298 K.

Objective To perform methodological validation of non-reduced capillary electrophoresis-sodium dodecyl sulfate (nrCE-SDS) for monoclonal antibodies, providing a reference for the methodological validation of corresponding quality control methods in the industry. Methods Samples were analyzed according to the general chapter ＜3127＞ determination method for monoclonal antibody molecular size variants in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2020 edition). Two laboratory technicians performed experiments over three days, using the same detection method daily to analyze the test samples, alongside comprehensive methodological validation. Results The method demonstrated good specificity, with the accuracy of the main peaks of all analytical samples reaching 98% to 102%, and the accuracy of total fragments and specific impurities reaching 70% to 130%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for repeatability and intermediate precision was ≤15%. The ranges for the main peak, total fragment, and specific impurity were ≥89.9%, 0.66% to 10.10%, and 0.36% to 4.80%, respectively.The limit of quantification of the method was 0.33%. Conclusion Full validation demonstrates good accuracy, precision, linearity, range, limit of quantification, and specificity of the method, providing a reference for the scientific and rational design of corresponding methodological validations.

To provide a scoping review of studies on factors affecting smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so as to provide a basis for healthcare professionals to intervene early in the process of cessation of smoking in patients with COPD, and to formulate personalized interventions for smoking cessation. Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology as a framework, searched databases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, China Biomedical Database, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ProQuest, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library to collect literature on factors influencing smoking cessation among COPD patients. The literature was screened, data extracted, and summarized accordingly. A total of 28 papers were included. The socio-demographic related factors affecting smoking cessation in patients with COPD were age, educational level, residence, marital status, occupational status, economic status, race, and sex; tobacco related factors included smoking index, smoking duration (years), cumulative smoking (packs/year), smoking intensity (packs/day), and tobacco addiction; disease related factors included mMRC score, GOLD level, severity of airflow restrictions, symptom, activity limitation due to lung problems, history of deterioration in outpatient care, receipt of COPD medication, receipt of lung CT, receipt of pulmonary function tests, receipt of surgery, and comorbid comorbidities; psychologically related factors included mental health status, quit smoking health beliefs, smoking cessation self-efficacy, motivation to quit smoking, stress, and adverse emotions; environmental/Interpersonal network related factors-included environmental impacts, social support, family support, tobacco control policies, and satisfaction with cessation care; and behavior related factors included alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, eating, physical activity, and have a hobby. Healthcare professionals should avoid critical education of COPD patients in the process of smoking cessation management, pay attention to the adverse effects of medication side effects on patients, emphasize the improvement of patients’ health beliefs and self-efficacy in smoking cessation, and help patients to establish a correct cognition of smoking cessation.

ObjectiveOvarian cancer, a leading cause of death among gynecological malignancies, often eludes early detection, leading to diagnoses at advanced stages. The objective of this bibliometric analysis is to map the landscape of ovarian cancer radiomics research from 2010 to 2024, emphasizing its growth, global contributions, and the impact of emerging technologies on early diagnosis and treatment strategies.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), focusing on publications related to radiomics and ovarian cancer within the specified period. Analytical tools such as VOSviewer and CiteSpace were employed to visualize trends, collaborations, and key contributions, while the R programming environment offered further statistical insights.ResultsFrom the initial dataset, 149 articles were selected, showing a significant increase in research output, especially in the years 2021-2023. The analysis revealed a dominant contribution from China, with significant inputs from England. Major institutional contributors included the University of Cambridge and GE Healthcare. ‘Frontiers in Oncology’ emerged as a crucial journal in the field, according to Bradford’s Law. Keyword analysis highlighted the focus on advanced imaging techniques and machine learning.ConclusionsThe steady growth in ovarian cancer radiomics research reflects its critical role in advancing diagnostic and prognostic methodologies, underscoring the potential of radiomics in the shift towards personalized medicine. Despite some methodological challenges, the field’s dynamic evolution suggests a promising future for radiomics in enhancing the accuracy of ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment, contributing to improved patient care and outcomes.

Objective To explore the effect of whole-process nutrition management based on Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB)model in elderly patients with esophageal cancer. Methods Elderly patients with esophageal cancer surgery admitted to the Thoracic Surgery Department of hospital from July 2022 to January 2023 were selected as the study objects. According to the exclusion standard, patients from July 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 were selected as the control group, with 37 participants. Patients from October 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023 were selected as the experimental group, with 38 participants. The control group received routine nutrition nursing management, while the experimental group took the whole process nutrition management based on IMB model on the basis of the control group. The postoperative recovery index, nutritional status, degree of fatigue, psychological status and nursing service satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results After intervention, the nutrition monitoring indexes (albumin, hemoglobin, retinol binding protein and BMI) in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group 7 days after operation and 1 month after discharge form hospital, with significant difference (P＜0. 05). There were significant differences in scores of Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale(Borg RPE) between the experimental group and the control group (P＜0. 05). The patient generated-subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) score of the experimental group before discharge and 1 month after operation was lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0. 05). The scores of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) indexes in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group before discharge and 1 month after discharge from hospital, with significant difference (P＜0. 05). There was no significant difference in the score of service attitude between the experimental group and the control group (P＞0. 05), but the scores of other items in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0. 05). Conclusion The whole-process nutrition management based on IMB model can effectively improve the nutritional status of elderly patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery and reduce their postoperative tiredness. It is also helpful to reduce the negative emotions of anxiety and depression and improve patients' satisfaction with nursing services. (目的 探讨基于信息-动机-行为技巧(IMB)模型的全程化营养管理在老年食管癌患者中应用效果。方法 选取2022年7月—2023年1月医院胸外科收治的老年食管癌手术患者为研究对象, 根据纳入和排除标准将2022年7月1日—9月30日收治的患者设为对照组(n=37), 将2022年10月1日—2023年1月31日收治患者设为对试验组(n=38)。对照组实施常规营养护理, 试验组在对照组基础上采取基于IMB模型的全程化营养管理。比较两组患者术后恢复指标、营养状况、疲乏程度、心理状况及护理服务满意度。结果 试验组术后7 d及出院后1个月营养监测指标中白蛋白、血红蛋白、视黄醇结合蛋白及体质指数(BMI)均优于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05); 试验组Borg主观用力程度分级量表(Borg RPE)评分与对照组比较, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。试验组出院前及术后1个月主观整体评估(PG-SGA)评分低于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。出院前及出院1个月, 试验组医院焦虑抑郁量表(HADS)各项指数评分均较对照组显著降低, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。试验组护士服务态度评分与对照组比较, 差异无统计学意义(P＞0. 05); 其他各项目试验组评分均高于照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。结论 基于IMB模型的全程化营养管理, 可有效改善老年食管癌手术患者营养状况, 降低患者术后疲劳程度, 有利于减轻患者焦虑、抑郁负面情绪, 提高患者对护理服务的满意度。)

The dental industry is substantially transformed, driven by technological advancements, shifting patient demographics, and evolving healthcare regulations. While clinical expertise remains a foundational aspect of dental practice, long-term success increasingly hinges on robust business and management acumen. This two-part series aims to equip dental practitioners with strategic planning tools to enhance practice management, starting with an in-depth exploration of the internal factors of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. By identifying and optimizing strengths—such as clinical expertise, innovative technology, patient-centric care, operational efficiency, and strong organizational culture—practitioners can enhance service quality, attract and retain patients, and drive practice profitability. Concurrently, addressing internal weaknesses—like high operational costs, outdated processes, limited marketing, inconsistent patient experiences, and dependence on a narrow patient base—ensures sustainable growth and improved operational resilience. Integrated frameworks, including the 7Ps of Marketing, Ansoff Matrix, and Porter’s Five Forces, further enhance strategic planning, offering a holistic approach to navigating the complexities of dental business management. This article provides actionable steps for dental professionals to leverage their internal capabilities, optimize performance, and achieve enduring practice success.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in dental practices is transforming traditional business management roles. This article examines the impact of AI on support staff positions such as practice managers, dental assistants, administrative personnel, and receptionists. By exploring current AI applications— including scheduling, billing, patient communication, inventory management, and marketing—the study assesses the benefits and challenges of AI adoption. It includes fundamental definitions of AI concepts to provide clarity. The article concludes that while AI enhances operational efficiency and patient service quality, the complete replacement of human staff is unlikely due to the interpersonal and complex nature of dental care. The discussion emphasizes the need for a strategic approach to AI integration, highlighting the evolving collaboration between humans and machines in the dental sector.

Objective To investigate the effects of electrochemically dealloying of Ti6Al4V abutments on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and to provide experimental evidence for surface modification of implant abutments. Methods The samples were divided into an NC group (negative control, no other treatment on a smooth surface), an NM-1 group (nanomesh-1, electrochemical dealloying treatment in 1 mol/L NaOH 1 h on 2 V voltage), and an NM-2 group (nanomesh-2, electrochemical dealloying treatment in 5 mol/L NaOH 1 h on 2 V voltage). The surface morphologies of the samples and the adhesion of HGFs on the sample surfaces were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface hydrophilicities of the samples were measured with a contact angle measuring instrument. The proliferation of HGFs on the different samples were evaluated with CCK-8, and the expression of adhesion-related genes, including collagen Ⅰ (COL1A1), collagen Ⅲ (COL3A1), fibronectin 1 (FN1), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), vinculin (VCL), integrin α2 (ITGA2), and integrin β1 (ITGB1), on the different samples was measured with qRT-PCR. The expression of vinculin on the surfaces of HGFs was observed via confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) after immunofluorescent staining. Collagen fiber secretion and syntheses of HGFs from different samples were evaluated via Sirius red staining. Results SEM revealed the formation of ordered and uniform three-dimensional mesh structures on the surfaces of the NM-1 and NM-2 groups, with grid diameters of approximately 30 nm for the NM-1 group and approximately 150 nm for the NM-2 group. Compared with that of the NC group, the water contact angles of the NM-1 group and NM-2 groups were significantly lower (P

This paper examines the implementation of the Ansoff Matrix, a well-established framework for strategic planning, in the management of dental businesses. It explores how the four growth strategies delineated by the matrix—market penetration, market development, product development, and diversification—can be effectively utilized by dental practices to expand and thrive within the evolving healthcare landscape.

In the evolving healthcare sector, dental practices face the imperative to adopt robust marketing strategies that attract and retain patients and optimize service delivery and operational efficiency. The 7 Ps of marketing—Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, and Physical evidence—constitute a comprehensive framework designed to address these multifaceted challenges. This framework not only aims to meet but exceed patient expectations, fostering practice growth and enhancing operational excellence. Each element of the 7 Ps plays a pivotal role in crafting a marketing strategy that is aligned with the core objectives of healthcare marketing and patient care standards. This commentary will analyse the application and the optimisation of the 7Ps framework in dental marketing and operational management.