Sugar Content and Warning Criteria Evaluation for Popular Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Taipei, Taiwan.

Sugar intake may increase the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dental caries. In Taiwan, people frequently consume sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). This study explored the energy and sugar content of Taiwanese SSBs and evaluated them using the Chilean warning label system (>70 kcal/100 mL and >5 g sugar/100 mL) and the World Health Organization (WHO) sugar guideline (≤25 g sugar). A total of 341 SSBs with volumes ≤600 mL were analyzed. No significant differences were observed in sugar per serving among different types of SSBs, but a great variation in portion size (i.e., package size for individual consumption) was noted. The energy and sugar ratios per serving were lower in soft drinks and coffee and tea containing >1 serving than in those containing only one serving. The calorie and sugar ratios per portion were higher in all types of SSBs containing >1 serving per portion than in those containing exactly one serving. Approximately 70.0% of Taiwanese SSBs were classified as high sugar according to the Chilean criteria, and 41.6% of SSBs exceeded the WHO guideline. Moreover, 40.8% of SSBs that were not considered as high sugar according to the Chilean criteria contained >25 g sugar per portion. For individual consumption, it is more clear that nutrition labeling is based on portion rather than serving. Evaluating SSBs on sugar/portion rather than sugar/100 mL will help consumers make better choices.

Smartphone and home-based liquid crystal sensor for rapid screening of acute myocardial infarction by naked-eye observation and image analysis.

An early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or thrombosis is complicated in patients with non-diagnostic features. AMI or thrombosis patients with chest pain are unintentionally discharged and have increased mortality. The study aimed to develop a smartphone biomedical sensor as a rapid test for AMI or thrombosis by naked-eye observation. The system was built on dimethyloctadecyl [3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride (DMOAP)-coated glass substrates, which refers to a nematic liquid crystal (LC)-binding antibody. One of the main biomolecules, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), is a substance in blood in people whose bodies are vulnerable to suffering a myocardial infarction or thrombosis. The other medium, LC, is a sensing biomaterial as an earlier detection method of ameliorating the disadvantages of older methods. Results revealed that the density of cTnI was positively correlated with the coefficient of light transmittance, and it has a high chance of being developed as a point-of-care device for a home inspection as it can be operated with a smartphone. As discussed above, the nematic LC is an effective and innovative healthcare method as a rapid test for diagnosis of AMI or thrombosis related diseases by naked-eye observation.

Klebsiella pneumoniae Orbital Cellulitis: Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes in a Tertiary Medical Center in Taiwan.

PURPOSE: To report six cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae orbital cellulitis without preceding endophthalmitis. METHOD: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: We reported four females and two males admitted to our hospital for Klebsiella pneumoniae orbital cellulitis proven by computed tomographies and bacterial cultures from May 1995 to March 2017. Proptosis, conjunctival congestion, and chemosis and limitation of ocular motility were present in all six patients. Four patients had decreased visual acuities, and three of them recovered completely after treatment. The origin of the infection was sinus in four patients, skin wound in one patient, and sepsis presumably caused by a dental procedure in one patient. Three of all six patients had underlying diabetes mellitus. Two patients had orbital cellulitis before they were diagnosed of diabetes during hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Diabetes may be a risk factor of Klebsiella pneumoniae orbital cellulitis, especially for those of nonsinus origin.