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Reproductive outcomes, prenatal healthcare utilization, and predictors Among the justice-involved young women who used drugs: A population-based data linkage study in Taiwan
No full text[[abstract]]Aim: For women who use drugs, pregnancy and having a child may pose a potential challenge to the healthcare and child protection systems. The present study aimed to investigate the extent to which sociodemographic- and prosecution factors are associated with reproductive outcomes and prenatal care utilization among young women in contact with the criminal justice system in Taiwan. Methods: Building upon the 2011-2015 National Police Criminal Records, we identified 4,601 women aged 18-29 and recently arrested for the use of schedule II drugs (mostly amphetamine and marijuana). Via data linkage with the Nationwide Integrated Illegal Drugs, National Health Insurance, the Birth Reporting Databases, and the Household Registration Database, we retrieved sociodemographic characteristics and subsequent prosecution records, pregnancy episodes, child delivery, and prenatal healthcare. Cox proportional hazard models and logistic regression were used to evaluate the association estimates. Results: One-third of young drug users became pregnant within three years of being arrested; 7.3% had 2+ episodes of pregnancy. Younger age (18-24) (aHR= 1.26~1.69), having 1+ young child in the household (aHR= 1.21~1.47), and the pending prosecution status significantly increased the hazard of pregnancy. For the first-episode pregnancy (n=1367), only two-thirds ended up with live births (n=907). Recidivism was found to increase the odds of having a live birth by 28% yet lower the odds of prenatal visits in the first trimester by 52%. Conclusions: For the drug-involved women in contact with the criminal justice system, the prosecution process may present an important window of intervention opportunities for integrated addiction and contraception services.
Exposure characteristics and relationship between per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and recurrent pregnancy loss in women: Taiwan Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Environmental Study (TREPLES)
No full text[[abstract]]Study question: How the reproductive-aged women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) through exposure to emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has not been evaluated. Summary answer: This is the first comprehensive investigation exploring the relationship between various lifestyle exposure characteristics of PFAS and the occurrence of RPL in the Taiwanese women. What is known already: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) refers to a clinically diagnosed medical condition in the women with a history of two or more consecutive miscarriages characterized by the termination of pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. Although the exact mechanism underlying RPL occurrence still needs to be evaluated, previous studies have suggested various associated mechanisms including the interactions between immunological, environmental, and genetic responses leading to RPL complications. Environmental exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as PFAS has been known to cause adverse pregnancy outcomes in women. However, their association with RPL occurrence based on the exposure characteristics in Taiwanese remains unclear. Study design, size, duration: The study constituted a case-control design from an established Taiwan Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Environmental Study (TREPLES) cohort (August 2013 – October 2023) in Taiwan (N = 446) comprised of clinically diagnosed female (aged 20-50 years) RPL patients (n = 342) and health controls (n = 104) during their obstetric consultation. Urine samples were collected from participants to quantify PFAS and exposure characteristics including demographic information and lifestyle habits were collected using a retrospective questionnaire. Participants/materials, setting, methods: Urine samples collected from participants (N = 446) were used to quantify 21 PFAS and their metabolites using the LC-MS/MS platform following stringent quality control procedures. Exposure characteristics of participants comprising their demographic information, lifestyle, and dietary habits acquired through questionnaires were used to compare their associations between RPL and control group. Descriptive statistics, group-wise comparison, and multivariate regression models were employed to evaluate the relationship between various exposure characteristics of PFAS and RPL occurrence among Taiwanese. Main results and the role of chance: Participants in the RPL group had a significantly higher (p = 0.025) mean age (years), 34.8±4.42 vs. control 33.9±4.79. BMI (Kg/m2) also varied significantly (p = 0.036) between RPL 22.8(3.51) vs. control 23.3±3.16. About 59% of women in RPL group underwent treatment for infertility compared to the control group (25%), (p < 0.001). Among various lifestyle factors, the response (yes/no) against passive smoking status and personal care products (PCPs) usage varied significantly between the RPL (p = 0.026), vs. control (p = 0.026) respectively. Among the dietary habits, high consumption of unpeeled fruits (p = 0.004), melons (p = 0.002), dried tofu (p = 0.037), and nuts (p = 0.001) varied significantly in RPL vs. control. A significant association between median (P25,P75) PFDA levels (ng/mL) [0.31(0.21,0.39)] was observed for individuals with coffee drinking while levels of PFBA and 3-PFOS were significantly associated with packed hot food consumption in cartons [0.11(0.05,0.17)] and [0.93(ND,2.20)] respectively. Levels of PFBS and PFHxS were significantly associated with the use of PCPs [0.28(0.12,0.43)] and [1.89(0.94,2.66)] respectively. While body wash usage was significantly associated with PFBA [0.12(0.05,0.17)], PFHpA [0.16(0.06,0.25)], and PFNA [0.65(0.52,0.75)]. PFDoDA, 4-PFOS and 6-PFOS levels were in a significant relationship with use of lotion [0.18(0.06,0.31)], [0.29(ND,1.93)], and [0.44(ND,1.89)] respectively and cosmetic usage was significantly associated with high PFHpA [0.14(0.06,0.24) and PFHxS [1.55(0.85,2.39)]. Limitations, reasons for caution: The study’s case-control design limits establishing causal relationships between various exposure characteristics, PFAS exposure, and RPL occurrence in Taiwanese women. Relying on the single-spot urine may infer bias in the result’s interpretation. Further, the concurrent effects of various other unknown EDCs and their effects on RPL should not be ignored. Wider implications of the findings: Findings from the study emphasize the need for more comprehensive investigations involving multiple tests and large sample sizes to elucidate the results. The results also highlight the need for developing public health strategies to minimize PFAS exposure among reproductive-aged women along with the potential implications in policies for chemical regulations
Experimental evaluation of the tribological properties of rigid gas-permeable contact lens under different lubricants
No full text[[abstract]]Myopia patients wear rigid gas-permeable contact lenses during the day to achieve normal vision, but they might feel uncomfortable, since they are made of hard materials that can cause inappropriate friction and adhesion. These forces affect the biological tissues of the cornea and eyelid. In this study, an in vitro rigid gas-permeable contact lens friction testing method was established to mimic the friction between the eyelid and the rigid contact lens. The lens was rubbed against a gelatin membrane to investigate the tribological properties of artificial tear, saline, and two kinds of care solutions using a dedicated experimental setup. The viscosity, pH value, and surface tension of each lubricant was also analyzed. The friction coefficient of the artificial tear solution was the highest: 0.18 for its static friction and 0.09 for its dynamic friction. In contrast, polysaccharide-containing care solution demonstrated the lowest friction coefficient. The viscosity of artificial tear solutions ranged from 0.97 +/- 00 to 1.15 +/- 0.16 mPas, when the shear rate was increased from 19.2 to 192 1/s, while it ranged from 2.26 +/- 1.12 to 2.91 +/- 0.00 for polysaccharide-containing care solution. Although the physical-chemical properties of various lubricants could not explain the distinct tribological outcomes, the in vitro tribological testing method for rigid gas-permeable lenses was successfully established in this study
Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A cohort study
No full text[[abstract]]BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately one-third of adults and may progress to advanced fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Epidemiologic studies linking air pollution to NAFLD incidence remain limited. This study examined associations between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and NAFLD incidence. METHODS: The study included 62 660 adults in Taiwan undergoing health examinations from 1996 to 2016. NAFLD was diagnosed through liver ultrasonography; individual characteristics and medical history were obtained from questionnaires. Residential township data estimated exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). Time-dependent Cox regression was conducted to assess associations between air pollution and NAFLD incidence. RESULTS: The overall NAFLD incidence was 53.0 cases per 1000 person-years. Adjusted models showed positive associations between air pollutants and NAFLD. Compared with low exposure to both PM2.5 and NO2, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for high exposure to both was 1.25 (1.19-1.31). Similarly, compared with low exposure to both PM2.5 and CO, the adjusted HR (95% CI) was 1.12 (1.07-1.17) for low PM2.5 and high CO, and 1.28 (1.22-1.33) for high exposure to both. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and traffic-related air pollutants, including NO2 and CO, may increase the risk of developing NAFLD
Enterovirus 71, an emerging virus
No full text[[abstract]]This chapter provides an overview of the 68 types of enterovirus serotypes including the 3 polioviruses, 29 coxsackieviruses, and 32 echoviruses. Enteroviruses are no longer differentiated into these three different groups, and beginning with enterovirus 68, they were named numerically in sequence. Aseptic meningitis, along with less specific respiratory, gastrointestinal, or other skin manifestations, may accompany enterovirus infections. One of the characteristics of Enterovirus 71 (EV 71) outbreaks is that other enteroviruses frequently cocirculate with EV 71. This outbreak was characterized by cocirculation of a number of other enteroviruses, the most prominent one being coxsackievirus A16. There were 226 coxsackievirus A16 isolates, of which 28% were from inpatients and 37% were from outpatients. Significantly more EV 71 isolates were from inpatients and significantly more coxsackievirus A16 isolates were from outpatients. EV 71 can cause large epidemics, and most recently these have occurred in the Far East. These outbreaks are frequently mixtures of EV 71 and other viruses such as coxsackievirus A16, but serious disease and fatalities are caused only by EV 71. Hallmark clinical manifestations are hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), flaccid paralysis, brain stem encephalitis, and pulmonary edema. EV 71 must be diagnosed by specific virologic procedures
High-efficiency single-cell collection method
No full text[[abstract]]This invention provides a high-efficient single-cell collection method using a specially designed collection well and collection pipet tip for particle/cell collection from the collection well. The structures of the collection well and pipet tip eliminate fluidic dead volume in the collection, resulting in all (or most) of the particles/cells can be brought into the collection pipette tip with the flow. The advantages of this invention in cell manipulation include high cell collection efficiency, low cell damage and easy operation procedure
Selective particles transfer from one device to another
No full text[[abstract]]A target particle transferring device is disclosed, which comprises: (a) a substrate with a thickness of T and a width of W, having top and bottom portions, the top portion having a top surface and the bottom portion having a bottom surface; (b) a notch structure formed in the bottom portion of the substrate, comprising: a groove with a width of W1, located at a distance oft below the top surface of the substrate, wherein the groove is formed in the bottom portion from the bottom surface extending toward the top portion; and (c) a target substrate portion with a width of W2 and a thickness of T, located in the top and bottom portions of the substrate and being surrounded by the groove. Methods of transferring a target particle from one device to another is also disclosed
用于吸收油脂的中孔洞硅奈米粒子
No full text[[abstract]]本发明公开了一种包含有效量的中孔洞硅奈米粒子(MSNs)组成物的用途，以用于避免及/或治疗有需要的受试者的脂肪痢(steatorrhea)。也揭露了一种组成物的用途用于露出液态油脂至中孔洞硅奈米粒子并造成液态油脂胶化及/或固化，或一种组成物的用途用于露出在受试者的肠中的液体食用油脂至中孔洞硅奈米粒子并造成在受试者的肠中的液体食用油脂胶化及/或固化，或一种组成物的用途用于降低液体食用油脂的肠吸收
[[alternative]]Precision control of large-scale green synthesis of biodegradable gold nanodandelions as potential radiotheranostics
No full text[[abstract]]本發明係關於一種新型可代謝花狀金奈米粒子(Gold Nanodandelion,GND)，具有以下特點：(1)可綠色合成方法放大合成，單粒徑分散性高，產率約100%；(2)具細胞/生理降解性；(3)可精確控制GND形狀，大小和花瓣數量；(4)高效放射診斷及治療包括明顯的比傳統球形金奈米粒子更好的增強CT對比度和X射線誘導之ROS生成
[[alternative]]Sub-nanometer gold sticker and methods for protecting against endotoxin-induced sepsis thereof
No full text[[abstract]]一種亞奈米金貼紙以及其抑制內毒素誘發敗血症之方法，其中該亞奈米金貼紙包括一層狀金奈米團簇結構並具有作為膠黏劑的烷基修飾，由於脂質A(lipid A)是內毒素的毒性成分，會誘發敗血症，藉由該亞奈米金貼紙結合至脂多醣(LPS)的脂質A，縮短脂質A羥鏈間的間距，導致脂多醣活性下降甚至失去活性，進一步本發明透過該亞奈米金貼紙抑制內毒素的活性、抑制促進細胞發炎因子，以及增加臨界微胞濃度，進而抑制脂多醣非層狀聚合，保護感染者免受內毒素誘發敗血症