Breast cancer is the main form of cancer affecting women and the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality in women. The aim of this study was to explore regular mammography screening in Hualien women and to identify the factors that influence its uptake based on a health belief model. This cross-sectional study was performed between July 2012 and December 2012. A total of 776 women aged 45-69 years were enrolled in the study. The results of crude and adjusted analyses showed that there were significant differences in the prevalence of regular mammography screening, which were related to different age groups, residence areas, educational levels, hormone replacement therapy status, and history of breast cancer. Women in the older age groups, with a higher educational level, in receipt of hormone replacement therapy, and with a personal history of breast cancer had significantly higher odds ratios for regular mammography screening (2.75, 1.68, 1.75, and 1.98, respectively; all p < 0.05).

Background Autologous platelet concentrates are currently widely used across different areas of regenerative medicine in order to enhance the wound healing process. Although several protocols for platelet concentrates are available, their application remains difficult due to different protocols leading to distinct products with vary potential biological uses. In this study, we attempted to make a platelet patch (PP) using mixtures of platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection and platelet rich fibrin (PRF) to promote wound repair and regeneration. Results Experiments were performed using a full-thickness wound model in mini-pigs. Autologous PRP, PRF and PP were prepared immediately before creating four full-thickness skin wounds in pigs. We quantified concentrations of platelets, thrombin and various growth factors to ensure that the desired effect can be produced. After surgery, hydrocolloid dressing, PRP injection, PRF and PP was applied to experimentally induced wounds. Application efficacy was evaluated by measurement of wound sizes and histological examination. The results indicated that all wounds showed a significant size reduction. Wound repair efficacy in response to PP treatment exhibited enhanced re-epithelialization compared to PRP and PRF ( P < 0.05) and higher wound contraction than did PRF application ( P < 0.05). Another aspect, experiment using DsRed transgenic pigs as blood donors demonstrated that leucocytes in PP were incorporated into the wound bed at the end of the study, suggesting that leucocytes activity is stimulated in response to PP application. Safety of the experimental processes was also confirmed by examination of organ biopsies. Conclusions We used a mini-pig model to evaluate the efficacy of lab-made PP on induced full-thickness wound healing. Results demonstrated that application of one piece of PP was enough to obtain comparable efficacy versus general utilization of PRP or PRF for wound care. We also demonstrated that leucocytes in PP were incorporated into the wound bed and no safety concerns have been found in the whole experiment. This study provides a novel and feasible method for veterinary or clinical wound care.

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Aims The effects of subthalamic nucleus (STN)‐deep brain stimulation (DBS) on brain topological metrics, functional connectivity (FC), and white matter integrity were studied in levodopa‐treated Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients before and after DBS. Methods Clinical assessment, resting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed pre‐ and post‐DBS in 15 PD patients, using a within‐subject design. The rs‐fMRI identified brain network topological metric and FC changes using graph‐theory‐ and seed‐based methods. White matter integrity was determined by DTI and tract‐based spatial statistics. Results Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS‐ III) scores were significantly improved by 35.3% (p < 0.01) after DBS in PD patients, compared with pre‐DBS patients without medication. Post‐DBS PD patients showed a significant decrease in the graph‐theory‐based degree and cost in the middle temporal gyrus and temporo‐occipital part‐Right. Changes in FC were seen in four brain regions, and a decrease in white matter integrity was seen in the left anterior corona radiata. The topological metrics changes were correlated with Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI‐II) and the FC changes with UPDRS‐III scores. Conclusion STN‐DBS modulated graph‐theoretical metrics, FC, and white matter integrity. Brain connectivity changes observed with multi‐modal imaging were also associated with postoperative clinical improvement. These findings suggest that the effects of STN‐DBS are caused by brain network alterations.

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During intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), hematoma formation at the site of blood vessel damage results in local mechanical injury. Subsequently, erythrocytes lyse to release hemoglobin and heme, which act as neurotoxins and induce inflammation and secondary brain injury, resulting in severe neurological deficits. Accelerating hematoma resorption and mitigating hematoma-induced brain edema by modulating immune cells has potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for functional recovery after ICH. Here, we show that intracerebroventricular administration of recombinant human cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (rhCDNF) accelerates hemorrhagic lesion resolution, reduces peri-focal edema, and improves neurological outcomes in an animal model of collagenase-induced ICH. We demonstrate that CDNF acts on microglia/macrophages in the hemorrhagic striatum by promoting scavenger receptor expression, enhancing erythrophagocytosis and increasing anti-inflammatory mediators while suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Administration of rhCDNF results in upregulation of the Nrf2-HO-1 pathway, but alleviation of oxidative stress and unfolded protein responses in the perihematomal area. Finally, we demonstrate that intravenous delivery of rhCDNF has beneficial effects in an animal model of ICH and that systemic application promotes scavenging by the brain’s myeloid cells for the treatment of ICH.

Most of the recent studies have used fixed tube current while few investigators use automatic current selection (ACS) with iterative reconstruction (IR) techniques to reduce effective dose (ED) to < 1 mSv in low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCCT). We investigated whether image quality of lungs as produced by a fixed tube current (FTC) of 35 mAs can be maintained with ED < 1 mSv produced by ACS with IR techniques in LDCCT. A total of 32 participants were included. The LDCCT was performed by a FTC 35 mAs (with a kilovoltage peak of 120 kVp) in 16 participants (Group A), and by a DoseRight ACS in 16 participants (Group B). Their images were improved by IR technique. The ED was estimated by multiplying the individual dose length product (DLP) by the dose conversion factor. The image quality was assessed by the CT number, noise levels, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the regions of interest in the apex, upper lobe, and lower lobe of lung regions in the CT images. A t-test was used to evaluate the LDCCT image quality between the groups. The ED was significantly 49.2% lower in Group B than in Group A (0.71 ± 0.05 mSv vs 1.40 ± 0.02 mSv, P < .001). However, noise level, SNR, and CNR were not significantly different between Groups A and B, indicating the image quality was similar between two groups, or our setting parameters for DoseRight ACS with IR technique can achieve the image quality as good as obtained on the FTC 35 mAs with IR techniques. Our results suggest that the DoseRight ACS with IR technique reduces ED to lower than 1 mSv (averagely 0.71 mSv) yet maintains an image quality as good as produced by FTC 35 mAs with IR technique in normal BMI persons. The ACS setup thus is more preferable than the FTC to achieve the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle.

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