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The virulence of genotype I (GI) Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is under debate. We investigated differences in the virulence of GI and GIII JEV by calculating asymptomatic ratios based on serologic studies during GI- and GIII-JEV endemic periods. The results suggested equal virulence of GI and GIII JEV among humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Puerperae exhibit generally poor sleep quality. Previous studies have shown auricular acupressure as effective in improving the sleep problems of nurses, college students, and elderly indigenous Taiwanese women. However, no study has yet examined the effectiveness of auricular acupressure in improving the sleep quality of postpartum women. Purpose: To explore the efficacy of auricular acupressure (AA) on puerperae who were affected by sleep disturbance. Methods: A prospective quasi-experimental design was used and 60 puerperae with insomnia who scored at least 5 on the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI) were recruited at one postpartum centre (a "doing-the-month" care centre) in northern Taiwan. The experimental group (n = 30) received pasted auricular magnetic beads and acupressure on the Shenmen, Xin, and Shen points. The control group (n = 30) received general nursing directions about insomnia only. All participants were assessed using the CPSQI prior to the intervention and on the 21st post-intervention day. The intervention effects were analysed using the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE). Results: After three weeks of the AA intervention, the mean global CPSQI score had decreased significantly more in the experimental group than in the control group (p < .05). Furthermore, experimental-group participants reported better sleep quality (p < .05), longer total sleep time (p <. 001) and lower sleep disturbance (p < .05) than their control-group peers. Conclusions / Implications for Practice: The present pilot study found complementary AA to be an effective intervention for treating puerperae with insomnia. This non-pharmacological and nonintrusive intervention for improving sleep disturbance in puerperae promotes the quality of sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 15 wine cakes from various sources were collected for the investigation of whitening and moisturizing effects. The fatty acid and free amino acid contents of the wine cakes were analyzed. The results showed that flattened yellow wine cake had the highest free amino acid contents (630 mg/100 g) among all the wine cakes tested. In addition, the fatty acid content of the wine cakes was higher than that of Japanese sake wine. Since the fatty acids and amino acids of wine cake are similar to the natural moisturizing factors and the intercellular lipids in the human epidermis, the wine cakes could be applied as cosmetic humectants. The ethanolic extracts of wine cakes were subjected to tests for the inhibition zones of tyrosinase, the inhibition rates on tyrosinase activity, and inhibition of DOPA quinone synthesis via BI6 melanoma cell. The inhibition zones of tyrosinase caused by grain sorghum wine cakes and yellow wine cakes were larger than that of arbutin. Reduction of the inhibition rate on tyrosinase activity was in the following order: dry grain sorghum wine cake, flattened yellow wine cake, wet grain sorghum wine cake, dry yellow wine cake and wet yellow wine cake. Moreover, in the tests for inhibition of DOPA quinone synthesis, higher inhibitions were shown for dry grain sorghum wine cake by 1.03-fold, wet grain sorghum wine cake by 0.74-fold, dry yellow wine cake by 0.62-fold, wet yellow wine cake by 0.94-fold, and sake wine cake by 0.78-fold, when compared with arbutin. Our results of the three in vitro inhibition tests for tyrosinase activity indicated that grain sorghum wine cakes and yellow wine cakes can be developed for use as skin-whitening agents and humectants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the effectiveness of an exercise program on reducing levels of fatigue and depression among postpartum women who were "doing-the-month" in a maternity center in Taiwan. Previous studies related to postpartum have focused on depression rather than women's feelings of fatigue, and no study related to exercise has previously been conducted in a Taiwan maternity center. A low-intensity exercise program was specifically designed and administered to 31 subjects in the study's intervention group. Another 30 subjects (the control group) followed a traditional, non-physically active postpartum care regimen. Those in the intervention group were required to participate in at least 6 exercise program sessions during their one month postpartum stay. All subjects were asked to fill out a fatigue and depression questionnaire before and after the program. A Fatigue Symptom Checklist (FSC) was used to measure fatigue, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD) was used to confirm the development of depression. Results showed statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of fatigue levels, with statistical improvements (p < .05) registered by the intervention group in terms of levels of physical and psychological fatigue and fatigue symptoms. However, no significant changes in depression between the two groups were found. Study results demonstrate that a low-intensity exercise program can offer a good platform for clinicians and researchers to help reduce fatigue in postpartum women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]