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Online courses have been widely used in all levels of education during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the effectiveness of a dentist continuing education (DCE) course through the online devices in Taiwan. The practicing dentists who participated in the online course of dental radiation technology for DCE offered by the Taiwan Dental Association (TWDA) in October 2022 and in March 2023 were enrolled in this study. The composition of participating dentists was confirmed by the public inquiry system and their learning effectiveness was evaluated by a questionnaire-based survey after the online DCE class. All participating dentists (132 in October 2022 and 117 in March 2023) obtained consistent good learning outcomes in this online DCE course. Of these 249 dentists, there were 170 (68.27%) males and 79 (31.73%) females, 127 (51.00%) dental specialists and 122 (49.00%) general dentists, as well as 50 (20.08%) hospital dentists and 199 (79.92%) clinic dentists. The participation rates for this course of practicing dentists in non-municipalities (4.70%), counties (3.88%), eastern region (8.08%), and outlying islands (3.60%) were much higher than those in municipalities (0.79%), cities (1.16%), and the western region including the northern region (0.88%), central region (1.96%), and southern region (1.94%), respectively. The participating dentists express positive feedback on the online DCE courses, and the online DCE courses can reduce the urban-rural gap in dental education resources. The use of online DCE courses in dental education will be a future trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Taiwan, dental radiology has a long history of development. However, there are very few dental radiology curricula in Taiwan's dental education system. This study explored preliminarily the dental radiology course designed for dentist continuing education in Taiwan. This study used the method of dental radiology education survey by questionnaire to evaluate participating dentists' learning outcomes by assessing their perceptions of the dental radiology course. In this study, 117 participating dentists filled out the questionnaires completely after the class of dentist continuing education. The results showed that most of participating dentists agreed that dental radiology courses were rare in dental school curriculum and dentist continuing education. Moreover, most of participating dentists found this course to be helpful in raising their basic knowledge and skill about dental radiology, their attitude towards dental radiology, and their interest in further learning of dental radiology. They were satisfied with the course. The degree of agreement for each question was high, and all the mean scores for each question were between 4.53 and 4.77. The numbers (rates) of respondents who answered as agree were between 105 and 113 (between 89.74% and 96.58%). The dental radiology course contributed to an increase in dentists' basic knowledge and skill about dental radiology and their awareness and understanding of the importance of dental radiology. Considering the effectiveness of the dental radiology course on dentists' basic knowledge/skill and attitude of dental radiology, this model shows promise for further use in dentist continuing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases in children worldwide, especially in Taiwan. This study investigated dental professionally topical fluoride application (PTFA) and children's dental use for dental caries under the National Health Insurance (NHI) system in Taiwan from 2008 to 2021. The population data and medical records of the NHI system were obtained from the websites of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, respectively. The dental PTFA services and dental use indicators for dental caries were analyzed from 2008 to 2021. The number of out-patient visits for dental PTFA services increased from 221,675 in 2008 to 1,078,099 in 2021. The total increase of the out-patient visits was 856,424 with a total increase rate of 386.34%. The one-year increase was 65,879 with a one-year increase rate of 29.72%. Among the 3 age groups of children, their dental use indicators almost presented decreasing trends from 2008 to 2021. Moreover, in general, the dental use indicators showed a negative correlation with the number of the overall out-patient visits for dental PTFA services from 2008 to 2021. In Taiwan, there is a negative correlation between the dental use indicators in NHI system and the number of the overall out-patient visits for dental PTFA services from 2008 to 2021. However, the problem of dental caries in children is still serious and there is still a space for improvement in the oral health education for child caregivers and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Taiwan, the formal education for cultivating medical radiation technologists began in 1965. However, there are very few dental radiology curricula in Taiwan's medical radiology schools. We investigated mainly the appearance of dental radiology education for medical radiology students in Taiwan. We used documentary analysis, a survey of dental radiology education, and secondary data analysis in this study to find the appearance of Taiwan's dental radiology education for medical radiology students. There were currently ten medical radiology schools. Among them, five offered independent curricula in their subject schedules and another five had dental radiology education included in their general medical radiology curricula. Of the 53 dental radiology teaching hospitals, 21 (39.62%) were medical centers and 25 (47.17%) were regional hospitals, and these large hospitals were concentrated in the northern region of Taiwan. These large dental radiology teaching hospitals offered more training hours of dental radiology internship for medical radiology students and had a higher availability for the medical radiology students. In Taiwan, the current status of dental radiology curricula in the medical radiology schools is indeed seriously insufficient. A dental radiology education system should be established in the future, including the innovative dental radiology curricula developed for medical radiology students and more dental radiology curricula designed for dental students. This in turn can create new career options for medical radiology students and new practice directions for medical radiation technologists, and then expand their potential involvement in dental radiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the effects of the Protestant work ethic and performance feedback on intrinsic motivation in a sample of Taiwanese university students. Divides subjects into three groups according to work ethic measurement: high, intermediate, and low. Suggests students with a low work ethic exert more effort when challenged. (NL)

Promoting dementia‐friendly communities is an important strategy for improving quality of life for people with dementia and dementia‐family caregivers. The process of building dementia‐friendly communities should include all people living in the community. The objective of this study was to compare perceived dementia friendliness in the community among people with dementia, family caregivers, service providers, and the general public. In Taiwan, we surveyed 60 people with dementia, 140 family caregivers, and 200 members of the general public face to face, with 200 service providers surveyed by mail. Participants completed the Perceived Community Dementia Friendliness measure, consisting of seven subscales: care services, community members, community environment, community interactions, transportation, hospitals, and stores and organisations. This measure has acceptable convergent validity, construct validity, and internal consistency reliability for use in Taiwan. Differences in perceived dementia friendliness were examined by chi‐square tests/analysis of variance. Among the seven subscales, hospitals were rated with good dementia friendliness by 70% of people with dementia (n = 42); however, care services were rated poor by 23.3% of people with dementia (n = 14). Hospitals were also rated with good dementia friendliness by 39.2% of family caregivers (n = 54). Care services were rated as having good dementia friendliness by 43.5% of service providers (n = 87) and 47% of the general public (n = 86). Furthermore, community interactions were rated as good by small percentages of family caregivers (11.4%, n = 16), service providers (22.2%, n = 44), and the general public (30.9%, n = 58). Family caregivers, service providers, and the general public rated hospitals with the highest mean dementia‐friendliness score and community interactions with the lowest. Perceived community‐dementia friendliness among participants with dementia differed from that of participants without. People with dementia prioritised improving care services, while people without dementia rated facilitating community interactions as more vital. These differences provide vital insights into understanding the policies and administration of dementia‐friendly communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia causes cognitive and memory difficulties which can reduce the driving safety of the individuals. The decision‐making process for driving retirement is challenging, and yet limited guidance is available. Objectives: This article reports the development of the Taiwanese version of dementia and driving decision aid (DDDA) and the evaluation from stakeholders through a dementia and driving education programme. Methods: A multi‐method approach was adopted using a pre‐test, post‐test survey and focus group interviews. A total of 154 healthcare professionals, family caregivers and people with dementia participated education programme, and 12 experts attended the focus group discussion. The survey included demographics, knowledge, confidence, competence and awareness of using DDDA. Participants completed a survey prior and immediately after the education programme. We translated a 32‐page interactive DDDA booklet from the original English version to Mandarin. The education programme consisted of three‐hour dementia and driving education module delivered both face‐to‐face and online. Results: The majority of participants described the booklet as balanced (91.7%) with the information presented in a 'good' or 'excellent' manner (93.4%). Most participants (85.3%) felt that DDDA helps them in making decisions about driving. Five themes were extracted from the focus group interview: (1) approach targeted to people with dementia, (2) specific content and additional information, (3) culturally appropriate modification, (4) having the right to drive and (5) booklet dissemination. The knowledge, confidence, competence and awareness of using the DDDA increased significantly (p < 0.001) after the education programmes. Conclusion: We anticipate that use of the DDDA booklet will raise awareness of this social and health issue among the general public and facilitate collaborations with clinicians, municipalities and related organisations in providing a decision‐making resource material for those with people living with dementia and their families. This study was not a clinical trial and the focus of this study was development and evaluation of the DDDA booklet. As mentioned in the methods section, participants were invited to attend the education program and provided their thoughts on the DDDA booklet based on their satisfaction level. Moreover, the education program was a one‐day, workshop type program. This study was neither "prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health‐related interventions" nor "to evaluate the effects on health outcomes", according to the definition of clinical trial by WHO. Therefore, we did not consider this study was a clinical trial. Implications for practice: There is an urgent need for supporting people with dementia and their families to negotiate the complex decision‐making involved in deciding to change their approach to driving. The DDDA booklet can fill an important gap in service delivery to people with dementia who are adjusting to life without driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Advanced Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: To fill the gap in knowledge about associations of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly, we explored associations of comorbid DM, HTN, and/or MCI with HRQoL.Methods: Data for this study were from a population-based cross-sectional survey of elderly Taiwanese (≥ 65 years old). Participants (N = 4,634; 47.9% male) were categorized into eight chronic-illness groups: DM only (n = 224); HTN only (n = 1226); DM and HTN (n = 365); MCI only (n = 497); DM and MCI (n = 58); HTN and MCI (n = 303); DM, HTN, and MCI (n = 101); and none (healthy; n = 1860). Associations were examined between the eight chronic-illness groups and HRQoL (measured by EQ-5D scores) using binary logistic regression analyses and generalized linear models adjusted for covariates. Index scores were calculated from EQ-5D scores using Taiwan's general population-preference weights.Results: Compared to the healthy group, after adjusting covariates, MCI alone or with other comorbidities was significantly, negatively associated with HRQoL. Among all chronic-illness groups, comorbid DM, HTN, and MCI exhibited the lowest HRQoL. After adjusting covariates, between-group odds ratios for index scores were significant when comparing comorbid DM and MCI to DM only, comparing comorbid HTN and MCI to HTN only and comorbid DM, comparing HTN and MCI to comorbid DM and HTN, suggesting that MCI additively affects HRQoL.Conclusions: HRQoL of older Taiwanese adults was negatively associated with having MCI. Thus, clinicians managing older persons with chronic illnesses should assess their cognitive function to identify high-risk groups needing HRQoL assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the associations of cognitive status with specific/overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older stroke survivors in Taiwan. Method: A subsample of 592 older stroke survivors in a nationwide population-based survey of cognitive-dysfunction prevalencewas analyzed. HRQoL was assessed using the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D). Results: Stroke survivors with dementia were 5.60 times more likely to have mobility problems, 12.20 times to have self-care problems, 16.61 times to have problems in usual activities, 4.31 times to have pain/discomfort, and 3.28 times to have anxiety/depression than stroke survivors with normal cognitive function. Stroke survivors with mild cognitive dysfunction (MCD) were 2.57 times more likely to have mobility problems, 3.17 times to have self-care problems, 3.31 times to have problems in usual activities, 2.11 times to have pain/discomfort, and 2.35 times to have anxiety/depression than those with normal cognitive function. Both dementia (b = −15.13, p <.001) and MCD (b = −6.24, p <.001) significantly contributed to lower EQ-5D VAS; both dementia (b = −.15, p <.001) and MCD (b = −.10, p <.001) significantly contributed to lower EQ-5D index. Conclusion: Dementia and MCD strongly predicted worse overall and specific HRQoL dimensions, especially self-care and usual activities for older stroke survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Comorbid medical diseases are highly prevalent in the geriatric population, imposing hardship on healthcare services for demented individuals. Dementia also complicates clinical care for other co-existing medical conditions. This study investigated the comorbidities associated with dementia in the elderly population aged 65 years and over in Taiwan. Methods: We conducted a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional survey; participants were selected by computerized random sampling from all 19 Taiwan counties between December 2011 and March 2013. After exclusion of incomplete or erroneous data, 8,456 subjects were enrolled. Of them, 6,183 were cognitively normal (control group), 1,576 had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 697 had dementia. We collected information about types of comorbidities (i.e., vascular risk factors, lung diseases, liver diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and cancers), Charlson comorbidity index score, and demographic variables to compare subjects with normal cognition, MCI, and dementia. Results: Regardless of the cognitive condition, over 60% of the individuals in each group had at least one comorbid disease. The proportion of subjects possessing at least three comorbidities was higher in those with cognitive impairment (MCI 20.9%, dementia 27.3%) than in control group (15%). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities. The mean number of comorbidities and Charlson comorbidity index score were greater in MCI and dementia groups than in control group. Logistic regression demonstrated that the comorbidities significantly associated with MCI and dementia were cerebrovascular disease (OR 3.35, CI 2.62–4.28), cirrhosis (OR 3.29, CI 1.29–8.41), asthma (OR 1.56, CI 1.07–2.27), and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.24, CI 1.07–1.44). Conclusion: Multiple medical comorbid diseases are common in older adults, especially in those with cognitive impairment. Cerebrovascular disease, cirrhosis, asthma, and diabetes mellitus are important contributors to cognitive deterioration in the elderly. Efforts to lower cumulative medical burden in the geriatric population may benefit cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence of an association between lifestyle and marital status and risk of dementia is limited in Asia. Methods: In this nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey, participants were selected by computerized random sampling from all 19 counties in Taiwan. A total of 10432 residents were assessed by a door-to-door in-person survey, among whom 7035 were normal and 929 were diagnosed with dementia using the criteria recommended by National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association. Premorbid lifestyle habits and demographic data including marital status were compared between normal subjects and participants with dementia. Results: After adjustment for age, gender, education, body mass index, smoking, drinking, marital status, sleep habits, exercise, social engagement and co-morbidities including hypertension, diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases, an increased risk for dementia was found in people with widow or widower status (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.15–1.77) and people who used to take a nap in the afternoon (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.02–1.72). Decreased risk was found in people with the habit of regular exercise (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.09–0.16), adequate night sleep (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.39–0.76) and regular social engagement (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.36–0.77). Conclusions: Our results provide preliminary evidence of possible risk-reduction effects for dementia, including regular exercise even in modest amounts, social engagement and adequate night sleep, whereas people with the widow/widower status or who used to take an afternoon nap might have increased risk of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing population of dementia patients produces substantial societal impacts. We assessed the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and all-cause dementia, including very mild dementia (VMD), in Taiwan. In a nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey, participants were selected by computerized random sampling from all 19 Taiwan counties and were enrolled between December 2011 and March 2013. Cases were identified through in-person interviews based on the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association clinical criteria. Demographic data and histories involving mental status and function in daily living were collected. The principal objective assessments were the Taiwanese Mental Status Examination and Clinical Dementia Rating. In all, 10,432 people aged 65 years or older (mean age 76.2±6.7, 52.3% women) were interviewed. The age-adjusted prevalence of all-cause dementia was 8.04% (95% CI 7.47–8.61), including a 3.25% (95% CI 2.89–3.61) prevalence of VMD; that of MCI was 18.76% (95% CI 17.91–19.61). Women had a higher prevalence than men of both all-cause dementia (9.71% vs. 6.36%) and MCI (21.63% vs. 15.57%). MCI affects a considerable portion of the population aged 65 and above in Taiwan. The inclusion of VMD yields dementia prevalence rates higher than those previously reported from Taiwan. Old age, female gender, and a low educational level are significant associated factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Microbiology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Screening or diagnosis for the elderly with dementia in rural regions might be delayed and underestimated due to limited utilization of healthcare resources. This study aimed to evaluate the disparities of prevalence and risk factors of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia between urban and rural residence., Methods: In this nationwide door-to-door survey, 10,432 participants aged 65 years and more were selected through computerized random sampling from all administrative districts in Taiwan and were assessed using an in-person interview. We calculated the prevalence of MCI and dementia, with their risk factors examined using multivariable logistic regression., Results: The prevalence of dementia in rural, suburban, and urban areas among the elderly was 8.69% (95% CI, 8.68-8.69), 6.63% (95% CI, 6.62-6.63), and 4.46% (95% CI, 4.46-4.47), respectively. A similar rural-suburban-urban gradient relationship on the dementia prevalence was observed in any age and sex group. The rural:urban ratio was higher in women than in men for both MCI and dementia. Urbanization remained to be an independent factor for both MCI and dementia after adjustment for age, gender, education, lifestyle, and health status. The beneficial effects of exercise on dementia were more evident in rural areas than in urban ones., Conclusion: Significantly higher prevalence of MCI and dementia were found in rural areas than in urban ones, especially for women. The odds of risk factors for MCI and dementia varied by urbanization status. Focus on the rural-urban inequality and the modification of associated factors specifically for different urbanization levels are needed.

Background: The driving safety of persons with dementia (PwD) is an important public-health issue worldwide. Driving is closely related to personal autonomy, self-esteem, and independence. When PwD lose their driving privileges, this may lead to negative effects on mental health., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between driving cessation and mental health in PwD., Methods: A cross-sectional design with convenient sampling was used, Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Participants were all PwDs who were recruited from a medical center in northern Taiwan., Results: A total of 78 PwD were recruited. Two-fifths (41%) of the participants were still driving, with motorcycle the most common vehicle used. The participants who had retired from driving were older, and most did not have a spouse, were less socially active, had a lower mean level of functional ability, and perceived a lower association between driving and quality of life. Driving cessation was found to be positively correlated with age and the instrumental activities of daily living. Depression and anxiety levels in former drivers were higher than in current drivers, although the differences were not significant., Conclusions / Implications for Practice: Among PwD, depression and anxiety is higher in former drivers. It is suggested that a prospective study should be conducted, that driving safety issues for PwD should be addressed in public health education, and that standards of driving safety for PwD should be developed and enacted.

Background: The 2017 high blood pressure (BP) clinical practice guideline reported by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association put forward new categories of BP. This study aimed to assess the applicability of the new guideline in a nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) population., Methods: This is a nationwide, multicenter, cross-sectional study with a large sample. A total of 8927 nondialysis CKD patients in 61 tertiary hospitals in all 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of China (except Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) were analyzed. The categories of BP were defined as normal BP (<120/80 mmHg), elevated BP [systolic BP (SBP) 120-130 and diastolic BP (DBP) <80 mmHg], and Stage 1 (SBP 130-139 or DBP 80-89 mmHg) and Stage 2 (SBP ≥140 or DBP ≥90 mmHg) hypertension. The prevalence and control of hypertension were estimated using a new definition, and the association between the main target organs' injury and new categories of BP was analyzed., Results: The prevalence, awareness and treatment of hypertension in nondialysis CKD patients were 79.8, 72.4 and 68.3%, respectively. Approximately 11.9% had BP <130/80 mmHg and 6.6% had BP <120/80 mmHg. Subgroups by categories of BP had significant differences in age, sex, body mass index category, primary cause and CKD stage (P < 0.001). After multivariable adjustment, only Stage 2 hypertension was associated with decreased renal function [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-3.0, P < 0.001], cardiovascular disease (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.1, P = 0.001) and cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-5.8, P = 0.015)., Conclusions: Using the new definition of hypertension, the higher prevalence and lower control of hypertension were shown in nondialysis CKD participants. More studies are necessary to confirm the applicability of new categories of BP in CKD population because only Stage 2 hypertension showed statistical association with the main target organs' injury., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.)

Background: To examine the relationships between cognitive dysfunction status and quality of life., Methods: Secondary analysis of a nationwide population-based survey (≥65 years) in Taiwan. The 5-dimension EuroQoL questionnaire (EQ-5D) was completed by 10 013 participants., Results: Participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; odds ratio = 4.88), very mild dementia (VMD; 7.96), or dementia (32.85) were more likely than those with normal cognition to report self-care problems. Participants with MCI (3.86), VMD (9.26), or dementia (31.61) were more likely to have usual-activity problems, and those with MCI (3.04), VMD (3.82), or dementia (9.23) were more likely to have mobility problems. Participants with MCI (2.10 and 2.14), VMD (2.77 and 2.18), or dementia (3.04 and 3.02) were more likely to report pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression., Conclusion: Dementia was negatively associated with EQ-5D, especially self-care, usual activities, and mobility. Mild cognitive impairment or VMD was also negatively associated, with VMD more negatively associated. Developing interventions for patients with specific cognitive dysfunctions is critical.

Background: Polypharmacy, defined as the concomitant use of 5 or more medications, has a documented negative association with cognitive impairment such as delirium and is associated, potentially, with a higher risk of dementia. However, whether polypharmacy contributes to increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or decreased cognitive capacity requires further investigation. This nationwide population survey investigated the association among polypharmacy, MCI, and dementia., Methods: Through random sampling based on the proportion of all Taiwan counties, subjects were recruited and received in-person interviews between December 2011 and March 2013. Demographic data and clinical information included medical histories, medication use, and mental status measured by the Taiwanese Mini-Mental State Examination (TMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). Data on lifestyle and habits were collected, and subjects were distributed to cognitively normal, MCI, or all-cause dementia groups based on criteria by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association., Results: A total of 7,422 people aged 65 years or older were recruited. After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, education, medical comorbidities, and lifestyle and habits, polypharmacy was associated with a 1.75-fold increased odds of MCI and 2.33-fold increased odds of dementia. Polypharmacy was associated with a 0.51-point decrease in TMSE scores (P = .001) and a 0.10-point increase in CDR score (P < .001). Additionally, for those without specific vascular comorbidities, polypharmacy had a greatly more negative impact on cognitive capacity., Conclusions: Polypharmacy is common in the elderly and is associated with significantly lower cognitive capacity and higher risks of MCI and dementia, especially for persons without diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or cerebrovascular diseases., (© Copyright 2018 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.)

Background: many people living with dementia remain underdiagnosed and unrecognised. Screening strategies are important for early detection., Objective: to examine whether the Lawton's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, compared with other cognitive screening tools-the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Ascertain Dementia 8-item Informant Questionnaire (AD8)-can identify older (≥ 65 years) adults with dementia., Design: population-based cross-sectional observational study., Setting: all 19 counties in Taiwan., Participants: community-dwelling older adults (n = 10,340; mean age 74.87 ± 6.03)., Methods: all participants underwent a structured in-person interview. Dementia was identified using National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association core clinical criteria for all-cause dementia. Receiver operator characteristic curves were used to determine the discriminant abilities of the IADL scale, MMSE and AD8 to differentiate participants with and without dementia., Results: we identified 917 (8.9%) participants with dementia, and 9,423 (91.1%) participants without. The discriminant abilities of the MMSE, AD8 and IADL scale (cutoff score: 6/7; area under curve = 0.925; sensitivity = 89%; specificity = 81%; positive likelihood ratio = 4.75; accuracy = 0.82) were comparable. Combining IADL with AD8 scores significantly improved overall accuracy: specificity = 93%; positive likelihood ratio = 11.74; accuracy = 0.92., Conclusions: our findings support using IADL scale to screen older community-dwelling residents for dementia: it has discriminant power comparable to that of the AD8 and MMSE. Combining the IADL and the AD8 improves specificity., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

A new isolate of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema taiwanensis n. sp., was isolated from soil in Pingtung County, Taiwan. This new species could be characterized and distinguished from other related species by its morphological characters, morphometrics, and phylogenetic analysis. The body length and distance from anterior end to nerve ring of infective juveniles is 1012 (983-1045) µm and 124 (120-127) µm, lateral field formula 2, 6, 7, 8, 2, and the tail length 90 (79-96) µm without dorsal constriction in tail region. The first generation males of S. taiwanensis n. sp. are characterized by spicule shape, smooth blade tip, 23 genital papillae (11 pairs and 1 single papilla), spicule length of 94 (89-99) µm and gubernaculum length of 68 (65-70) µm. Females from the first generation of S. taiwanensis n. sp. have no epiptygmata and a slightly developed post-anal swelling. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS and D2D3 regions of rDNA showed that S. taiwanensis n. sp. belongs to the Longicaudum-clade and comprises a monophyletic group with S. guangdongense and S. longicaudum. The new isolate is described as a novel species according to morphological and phylogenetic analyses.

Spodoptera litura (F.) is an important pest of numerous agro-economic crops, including green manure cover crops. In Taiwan, sesbania (Sesbanin roxburghii Merr.), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), and rapeseed (Brassicae campestris L. variety chinensis) are the most popular green manure crops; sesbania and sunn hemp are commonly planted in warm seasons, whereas rapeseed is grown in the winter. In this study, life-table data for S. litura reared on these three green manures were collected to evaluate their roles as refuges of this pest. The net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, and finite rate of increase of S. litura were the highest when reared on sesbania (1428.1 offspring, 0.2327 d(-1), 1.2621 d(-1)), followed by sunn hemp (778.4 offspring, 0.2070 d(-1), 1.2300 d(-1)) and rapeseed (737.6 offspring, 0.2040 d(-1), 1.2263 d(-1)). The high growth rates on these green manure crops show that they can serve as potential breeding sites for S. litura. Population projection demonstrated the rapid growth of S. litura on sesbania, sunn hemp, and rapeseed as well. Because most growers have traditionally ignored pest management in green manure fields, the mass emergence of S. litura in these fields may cause unexpected infestations in nearby vegetable, corn, and peanut crops. This study shows that the use of green manures as sources of nutrients should be critically reassessed and an area-wide pest management program should be instituted by taking the population of S. litura in green manure fields into consideration.

A symbiotic bacterium of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema abbasi, isolated from Taiwan, determined to be a species of Xenorhabdus based on its physiological and biochemical characteristics has been determined to be similar to Xenorhabdus indica of S. abbasi Oman isolate as based on sequence analyses of 16S rDNA.

Objective: To assess the epidemiology of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection among men attending an STD clinic in Taipei, Taiwan., Study: Between July 2004 and June 2005, a total of 426 first-void urine specimens from male patients were tested for C. trachomatis by using a urine-based PCR DNA amplification assay., Results: The overall prevalence of genital C. trachomatis infection was 16.4%. Youth, current symptoms, the presence of N. gonorrhoeae infection, and inconsistent use of condoms were positively associated with C. trachomatis infection. The most common chlamydia strain present was genotype E, followed by D and Da, F, K, J, G, and H., Conclusions: C. trachomatis genital infection was prevalent among male patients attending a STD clinic in Taipei. Young Taiwanese men attending STD clinics should be counselled on condom use.

Background: The main objective of this study is to examine the epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection amongst patients (473 men, 180 women) seen two hospitals in Taiwan., Methods: Between July 2004 and June 2005, a total of 653 patients provided first-void urine samples for examination of CT using PCR assay., Results: The overall prevalence of CT infection was 18.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.3-19.5). Prevalence for men and women were 16.7 % (95% CI 15.3-18.0%) and 22.8% (95% CI 17.5-28.1%), respectively. Age group-specific prevalence was 25.7% (95% CI 22.5-28.9%) in < 20 year olds, 23.5% (95% CI 20.3-26.7%) in 20-24 year olds, 22.3% (95% CI 18.9-25.7%) in 25-30 year olds, and 11.5% (95% CI 10.3-12.7%) in > 30 year olds. Independent risk factors for chlamydial infection included younger age (aged < or = 30 years) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.44; 95% CI 1.52-3.84; p < 0.001), inconsistent condom use (AOR = 2.01; 95% CI 1.32-3.06; p < 0.001), being symptomatic (dysuria, urethral discharge) at the time of testing (AOR = 1.84; 95% CI 1.21-2.80; p < 0.001), and having N. gonorrhoeae infection (AOR = 3.82; 95% CI 2.20-6.58; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Genital chlamydial infection is an important sexually transmitted disease in Taiwan. Young Taiwanese persons attending a STD clinic should be screened for CT infection and counselled on condom use.

Here we reported the first case in Taiwan of human intestinal myiasis caused by larvae of Telmatoscopus albipunctatus. The 21-year-old male patient experienced gastroenteritis and anal itching. During the patient's first hospital visit the doctor suspected Enterobius infection. After treatment with anthelmintic mebendazole, 5 live larvae were passed out in the feces. Symptoms were resolved a few days later. The larvae were brown and slender, measuring approximately 10 mm in length. The worms were located in the intestine. Subsequent examination showed that the cause was an infestation of larvae of T. albipunctatus. The patient was likely infected by ingestion of eggs or early-stage larvae in contaminated food.

In Taiwan, to measure the quality of life (QOL) of elderly Chinese, one must rely on instruments developed in other Chinese or Western populations and not specifically for the elderly. The purpose of this study is to understand the components of QOL for elderly Chinese from Taiwan living in residential homes or in their communities. Forty-four elderly men and women divided into six focus groups were interviewed on video tape and the resultant recording was analyzed qualitatively by six independent researchers. The study yielded 15 QOL domains grouped into six dimensions: physical health (physical well-being, impact of illness, medical care), psychological health (mood states, life attitude and retrospection, philosophy of living, self-efficacy), social function (connectedness, exercise and leisure activities, social activities and services), living environment (living environment and arrangements, institutional factors), economic status, and religion and death (religion, death). For elderly Chinese in Taiwan, positive and negative life domains are equally important in the perception of life quality; person-environment interaction is a major consideration in the evaluation of QOL; family ties are an important component of QOL; traditional Chinese beliefs exert a positive influence on perceived QOL; and social functioning and vitality have a different meaning in Chinese compared to Western cultures.