Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following pneumonia: A population-based Cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been linked to several conditions, including infections, immune system changes, or emotional stress. Our study aimed to assess the risk of CFS after a pneumonia diagnosis using data from National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. METHODS: In this nested case-control study, we identified 2,000,000 adult patients from a nationwide population-based health insurance claims database spanning from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2017. Each case diagnosed with a pathogenic infection was matched with a corresponding control using propensity scores. We excluded individuals under 20 years of age, those with a history of pathogenic infections before the index date, or those with more than one potential pathogen. To estimate hazard ratios (HR) and the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) with their respective 95 % confidence intervals (CI), we applied univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. The multivariable analysis incorporated adjustments for age, sex, and comorbidity-related confounders. RESULTS: The relationship between infection and the subsequent risk of CFS was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The incidence density rates were 6.13 and 8.70 per 1000 person-years among the non-pulmonary infection and pulmonary infection populations, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.4, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.32-1.5). Patients infected with Pseudomonas, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and influenza virus exhibited a significantly higher risk of CFS than those without these pathogens (p < 0.05). Additionally, patients with pneumonia had a significantly increased risk of thromboembolism compare with control group (p < 0.05).

Changes in Preexisting Temporomandibular Joint Clicking after Orthognathic Surgery in Patients with Mandibular Prognathism.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in preexisting temporomandibular joint (TMJ) clicking and the new incidence of TMJ clicking after orthognathic surgery. A total of 60 patients (30 men and 30 women) with mandibular prognathism underwent intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) for a mandibular setback. The setback amount and TMJ clicking symptoms (preoperative and one year postoperative) were recorded. To assess the risk of new incidence of TMJ clicking in asymptomatic patients, the cutoff value for postoperative mandibular setback was set at 8 mm. The left and right mandibular setbacks were 11.1 and 10.9 mm in men, respectively, and 10.7 and 10.0 mm in women, respectively. Thus, no difference in setback amount on either side was observed between the sexes. The improvement rate in patients with preexisting TMJ clicking was 69.2% (18 of 26 sides); the postoperative improvement rates were 71.4% (setback amount > 8 mm) and 60% (setback amount ≤ 8 mm). IVRO may reduce the severity of preexisting TMJ clicking. A high setback amount (>8 mm) may not be associated with a considerable increase in the risk of postoperative TMJ clicking.

Clinical significance of postoperative skeletal relapse in the treatment of mandibular prognathism: Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Postoperative skeletal relapse is the most important issue in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. This study aimed to investigate clinical skeletal relapse (≥2 mm) after mandibular setback surgery (intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy: IVRO) using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) analysis. METHODS: Serial cephalograms of 40 patients with mandibular prognathism were obtained at different time points: (1) before surgery (T1), (2) immediately after surgery (T2), and (3) at least with a 2-year follow-up postoperatively (T3). The menton (Me) was used as the landmark for measuring the amount of mandibular setback and postoperative skeletal relapse. Postoperative stability (T32) was divided into groups A and B by skeletal relapse ≥2 mm and <2 mm, respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to determine the cut-off point for mandibular setback. RESULTS: At the immediate surgical setback (T21), the amount of setback in group A (15.55 mm) was significantly larger than in group B (10.97 mm). Group A (T32) showed a significant relapse (4.07 mm), while group B showed a significant posterior drift (1.23 mm). The amount of setback had the highest AUC area (0.788). The cut-off point was 14.1 mm (T21) that would lead to a clinical relapse of 2 mm (T32). CONCLUSION: In IVRO, the postoperative mandibular positions reveal posterior drift and anterior displacement (relapse). The experience of clinical observation and patient perception of postoperative skeletal relapse was ≥2 mm. In the ROC curve analysis, the cut-off point of setback was 14.1 mm.

Retrospective analysis of primary intraosseous malignancies in mandible and maxilla in a population of Taiwanese patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Due to the rarity and diversity of primary intraosseous malignancies in jawbones, we aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological features and discuss the findings of our collected cases with the literatures. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients (2000-2020) diagnosed with primary central malignancies of jawbones were selected from the database of Oral Pathology Department in our institution. Clinical features, radiographic appearance, and histopathological diagnosis of the 29 cases were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients aged between 19 and 84 years (average, 57.4 years) with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1 were included. The most frequent site was the mandibular body and ramus, followed by the posterior maxilla and mandibular symphysis. The most common diagnosis was osteogenic sarcoma (n = 13), followed by odontogenic carcinoma (n = 7), hematologic malignancies (n = 5), salivary gland malignancies (n = 2), and neurogenic sarcomas (n = 2). The most frequent symptoms were swelling, pain, paresthesia of lower lip, and mobile tooth. Radiographically, they usually presented as ill-defined osteolytic to osteoblastic lesions depending on the amount of ossification. Wide excision comprising partial maxillectomy and segmental mandibulectomy were the most common therapeutic methods. CONCLUSION: Despite the rarity of primary central malignancies in jawbones, the clinical features may mimic infectious process or benign lesions. Detailed history-taking, clinical and imaging examination and awareness of the patient's signs and symptoms combining with the histopathological inspection are important for early diagnosis and improved prognosis. The current data contributes a useful basis for clinical investigation regarding intraosseous malignancies occurring in the jawbones.

Two-thirds anteroposterior ramus length is the preferred osteotomy point for intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the mandibular canal of ramus and design a suitable osteotomy line for intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients were classified into class I, II, and III skeletal pattern groups. When extended from the horizontal base plane (0 mm, mandibular foramen [MF]), with a 2-mm section interval, to 10 mm above and 10 mm below the MF, the following landmarks were identified: external oblique ridge (EOR), posterior border of the ramus (PBR), and posterior lateral cortex of ramus (PLC): IVRO osteotomy point. RESULTS: In the base plane (0-mm plane), the EOR-PBR distance of class III (34.78 mm) and the IOR-PBR distance of class II (32.72 mm) were significantly higher than those of class I (32.95 mm and 30.03 mm). Compared to the EOR-PLC distance, the designed osteotomy point (two-thirds EOR-PBR length) has a 3.49-mm safe zone at the base plane and ranging from 0.89 mm (+ 10-mm plane) to 8.37 mm (- 10-mm plane). CONCLUSIONS: The position at two-thirds EOR-PBR length (anteroposterior diameter of the ramus) can serve as a reference distance for the IVRO osteotomy position. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mandibular setback operations for treating mandibular prognathism mainly include sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and IVRO. IVRO has a markedly lower incidence of postoperative lower lip paraesthesia than SSRO. Our design presented a reference point for identification during IVRO, to prevent damage to the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle.

Investigation of Immediate Postoperative Pain following Orthognathic Surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare postintervention pain related to orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery. Material and Methods. One hundred patients who received only orthodontic treatment are the nonsurgical group. One hundred other patients were separated equally into the following four orthognathic surgical subgroups. The visual analog scale (VAS) score was used to measure postoperative pain. Patient- and operation-related factors were compared among the four surgical subgroups. The null hypothesis was that there was no difference between orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery in terms of posttreatment pain. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the nonsurgical and surgical groups for gender (P = 0.780) or age (P = 0.473). The VAS scores of the nonsurgical group (mean: 3.59) were significantly (P = 0.007) higher than those of the surgical group (mean: 3.06). The null hypothesis was rejected. Within the surgical subgroups, no significant differences were observed between the men and women for age, operation time, blood loss volume, or blood laboratory values. CONCLUSIONS: The VAS scores of the orthodontic (nonsurgical) group were significantly higher than those of the surgical group. No significant differences in VAS scores were found between the four surgical subgroups.

miR­375/Yes­associated protein axis regulates IL­6 and TGF­ß expression, which is involved in the cisplatin­induced resistance of liver cancer cells.

Chemotherapy resistance is one of the major challenges in the treatment of liver cancer (LC). The present study aimed to investigate the potential roles of Yes­associated protein (YAP), the core component of the Hippo signaling pathway, in chemoresistance of LC. YAP expression and its function in chemoresistance of LC cells were investigated. It was revealed that the expression levels and nuclear localization of YAP were increased in cisplatin (CDDP)­resistant LC (LC/CDDP) cells. The targeted inhibition of YAP using small interfering RNA or an inhibitor restored the CDDP sensitivity of LC cells. YAP overexpression was discovered to be essential for the increase of IL­6 and TGF­ß expression levels in LC/CDDP cells. Furthermore, it was identified that increased mRNA stability was the primary reason for the upregulation of YAP expression in LC/CDDP cells, which was due to the downregulation of microRNA (miR)­375 expression in LC/CDDP cells. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that the miR­375/YAP axis may regulate the expression levels of IL­6 and TGF­ß, which may subsequently be involved in the CDDP resistance of LC cells. The current results indicated that the targeted inhibition of this axis and signaling pathway may be helpful in overcoming CDDP resistance.

Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy in the Shortest Buccal Bone Marrow Distances of the Mandible on the Coronal Plane.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the relationship between the shortest buccal bone marrow of the ramus and skeletal patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using cone-beam computed tomography data (specifically, the A point-nasion-B point (ANB) angle), we divided patients into three groups as follows: skeletal class I (0° < ANB < 4°), class II (ANB: ≥4°), and class III (ANB: ≤0°). Sixteen vertical sections in the coronal plane were taken starting from slice 0 (original intact mandibular canal) anteriorly at 2 mm intervals to slice 15 (30 mm). The thickness of the mandible (M) and shortest buccal bone marrow (SBM) were measured. The data of SBM were divided into two groups (SBM ≥ 1 mm and SBM < 1 mm). For each skeletal pattern, an SBM value < 1 mm was considered to indicate a high possibility of postoperative nerve paresthesia and bad split. RESULTS: The three skeletal pattern groups also did not significantly differ in their M values for all sections. The mean SBM values of class III (0.91-2.11 mm) at 6-16 mm anterior to the mandibular foramen were significantly smaller than those of class II (1.53-3.17 mm). Comparing the occurrence ratio of SBM < 1 mm, the highest and lowest probabilities in class III (55% and 21.7%, respectively) were significantly larger at 6-20 mm anterior to the mandibular foramen than those in class II (28.3% and 5%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Class III had a significantly shorter SBM distance and higher SBM occurrence probability than class II at the mandibular ramus region, implying that class III participants are more likely than class II participants to have nerve paresthesia and bad split after sagittal split ramus osteotomy.

Genetic susceptibility of hypertension-induced kidney disease.

Hypertension is the second leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after diabetes mellitus. The significant differences in the incidence of hypertensive ESRD between different patient populations worldwide and patients with and without family history indicate that genetic determinants play an important role in the onset and progression of this disease. Recent studies have identified genetic variants and pathways that may contribute to the alteration of renal function. Mechanisms involved include affecting renal hemodynamics (the myogenic and tubuloglomerular feedback responses); increasing the production of reactive oxygen species in the tubules; altering immune cell function; changing the number, structure, and function of podocytes that directly cause glomerular damage. Studies with hypertensive animal models using substitution mapping and gene knockout strategies have identified multiple candidate genes associated with the development of hypertension and subsequent renal injury. Genome-wide association studies have implicated genetic variants in UMOD, MYH9, APOL-1, SHROOM3, RAB38, and DAB2 have a higher risk for ESRD in hypertensive patients. These findings provide genetic evidence of potential novel targets for drug development and gene therapy to design individualized treatment of hypertension and related renal injury.

Clinical manifestations of oral lymphomas - Retrospective study of 15 cases in a Taiwanese population and a review of 592 cases from the literature.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Due to the rarity of oral lymphoma (OL), we aimed to evaluate the clinical features of OL and discuss these findings in light of the literature. METHODS: English language literature (1980-2019) related to OL was searched in two electronic databases. Patients (2000-2019) diagnosed with OL were also selected from the database of the Oral Pathology Department in our institution. The clinical features, radiographic appearance, and histopathological diagnosis in these selected cases from publications and our institution were then analyzed. RESULTS: 607 cases of OL (15 in our institution and 592 from literature) in patients aged between 0 and 92 years (average, 51.8 years) with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1 were included. The most common diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 205), followed by Burkitt lymphoma (n = 72) and T-cell lymphoma (n = 37). The most frequent site was the gingiva, followed by palate, maxilla, mandible, tongue and buccal mucosa. The most frequent symptoms were swelling, ulceration, paresthesia, mobile tooth and pain. Radiographic findings included ill-defined osteolytic lesion, thickening of the periodontal ligament, loss of lamina dura and tooth displacement. CONCLUSION: Despite the rarity of extranodal lymphomas in oral cavity, their occurrence may be part of disseminated disease. Detailed history-taking, clinical and imaging examination and awareness of the patient's signs and symptoms are important for early diagnosis and an improved prognosis. The current data form a useful basis for clinical investigation and teaching regarding lymphoma occurring in the oral cavity.

The correlation between surgical reference points: antilingula, lingula, and mandibular foramen.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate and determine the anatomical relationship between the antilingula, lingula, and mandibular foramen using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: CBCT images of 90 participants (180 mandibular ramus) were collected. The locations of and distances between the antilingula, lingual, and mandibular foramen according to side (right and left) and skeletal patterns were measured and then evaluated by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Only 27 participants (15%) had bilateral distinct antilingula, lingula, and mandibular foramen. The antilingula was located anteriorly (4.28 mm and 3.59 mm) and above (1.99 mm and 8.52 mm) the lingula and mandibular foramen. The lingula was behind (0.69 mm) and above (6.53 mm) the mandibular foramen. Skeletal Class III was anterior and inferior to Class II and Class I in the antilingula, lingula, and mandibular foramen. Considering the correlations of landmarks, we found that the lingula was strongly correlated with the mandibular foramen on the X axis (r = 0.757) and Y-axis (r = 0.878). CONCLUSION: The antilingula is located anteriorly and above the lingula and mandibular foramen. The lingula is behind and above the mandibular foramen. The osteotomy line of orthognathic surgery can only be safely designed through actual measurement of the locations of the antilingula, lingula, and mandibular foramen.

Developing Mobile Support System for Augmented Reality in Clinical Constraint Teaching.

It's always been a big topic how to improve the efficiency of education. Reply teaching and image teaching had always performed better than text book. Furthermore, adapting AR technology will be a great add-on to reinforce it. That's the main purpose of this project.

Mobile Augmented Reality as Usability to Enhance Nurse Prevent Violence Learning Satisfaction.

Violence in hospitals, nurses are at high risk of patient's aggression in the workplace. This learning course application Mobile Augmented Reality to enhance nurse to prevent violence skill. Increasingly, mobile technologies introduced and integrated into classroom teaching and clinical applications. Improving the quality of learning course and providing new experiences for nurses.

TGF-ß1 and IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms as risk factors for oral cancer in Taiwanese.

Cytokine production capacity varies among individuals and depends on cytokine gene polymorphisms. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1) plays a significant role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of epithelial cells. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is an immunoregulatory cytokine with biological functions of anti-inflammation, immunosuppression, allergy, and anti-agenesis. The two cytokines are supposed to play an important role in carcinogenesis. The association between cytokine gene polymorphisms with oral cancer (OC) was investigated. We studied the association between the polymorphism in TGF-ß1 (G to C polymorphism at codon 25 <+915>) and IL-10 (-1082 G/A, -819 C/T, and -592 C/A) and the risk of OC in patients (n = 162) and healthy controls (n = 118) in Taiwan. All genotyping experiments were performed using the polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method. It was found that the codon 25 GC genotype of TGF-ß1 is significantly higher in frequency in patients with OC compared with a healthy control group (p < 0.0001). People with the GC genotype in codon 25 had an 11.09-fold increased risk of OC [odds ratio (OR) = 11.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 6.16-113.23]. IL-10 polymorphisms in -819 and -592 positions correlated with the risk of OC (p < 0.0001). The IL-10 -592 C allele-containing genotypes posed an increased risk of OC (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.11-2.91). People with the CT genotype in IL-10 -819 had a 3.32-fold increased risk of OC (OR = 3.32; 95% CI = 1.64-6.94). The results suggest that polymorphisms in TGF-ß1 and IL-10 may have a significant influence on the development of OC.