DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE TAIWAN CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION INDEX

In this study, we use Smith-Sebasto & Fortner’s (1994) Environmental Action Internal Control Index (EAICI) as a framework to develop, and validate a useful instrument for assessing environmental attitudes and behavior among elementary and middle school children within the Taiwanese context. We dub the new instrument the Taiwan Children’s Environmental Action Index (TCEAI). Our findings suggest that the TCEAI displays substantial internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=.92), moderately positive correlations with self-report measures of environmentally responsible behavior (R = .35 to .46, p < .01), and few threats to validity by age or gender. The results suggest that the TCEAI may be used to elicit important dimensions of environmental attitudes and to predict environmentally responsible behavior for elementary and middle school children in Taiwan. Practical implications are discussed

Treat high cervical spinal arteriovenous malformation with Cyberknife radiosurgery

This paper describes the use of CyberKnife radiosurgery in the treatment of accidentally found cervical spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM). We present the case of a patient with cervical spinal AVM, who developed progressive neck pain, gait disturbance, urine and stool incontinence 2 weeks after the fell down accident. The patient underwent CyberKnife radiosurgery. After CyberKnife radiosurgery for 2 years, the patient′s neck pain diminished and was able to keep the walk without any assistance. The management of cervical spinal AVM varies. This patient demonstrated a successful treatment of cervical spinal AVM with CyberKnife radiosurgery

Ovarian cancers arising from endometriosis: A microenvironmental biomarker study including ER, HNF1ß, p53, PTEN, BAF250a, and COX-2

Background: The microenvironmental biomarkers of different subtypes of ovarian cancers arising from endometriosis have not been studied in Taiwan. Their expression can help in understanding the carcinogenic mechanism. Methods: Our study used immunohistochemistry to compare the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 beta (HNF1ß), p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), BAF250a, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) among 79 cases of endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers, including 40 (50%) clear cell carcinomas (CCCs), 33 (41%) endometrioid (EM) adenocarcinomas, four (5%) serous carcinomas, one adenosquamous carcinoma, and one adenosarcoma. Results: Positive stainings for ER, HNF1ß, p53, and COX-2 were identified in 34 (43%), 30 (38%), 10 (13%), and 44 (56%) cases. Loss of PTEN and BAF250a were noted in 29 (37%) and 37 (47%) cases. The expression of ER was reversely correlated with that of HNF1ß (rho = −0.417, p < 0.001) and correlated with p53 (rho = 0.284, p = 0.011). ER positivity was commonly identified in EM adenocarcinomas (91%), and rarely in CCCs (8%) and serous carcinoma (0%; p < 0.001). By contrast, HNF1ß expression was frequently noted in CCCs (65%) and serous carcinomas (50%), but less in EM adenocarcinoma (6%; p < 0.001). All staining results were similar between atypical endometriosis glandular epithelium and contiguous malignant parts. Only nine cases showed 10 minor differences (10/474, 2%) in ER, HNF1ß, and BAF250a. For the staining patterns of p53, COX-2, and PTEN, there was no difference between the invasive and precursor parts. Conclusion: Our results supported the suggestion that estrogen-dependent ovarian cancer arising from endometriosis is substantially more associated with EM adenocarcinoma than CCCs. The positive HNF1ß staining was a frequent finding in CCCs, but not in EM adenocarcinoma. The similar staining patterns of atypical endometriosis glandular cells with the invasive parts confirmed their precursor status

Postoperative radiotherapy alone is as effective as postoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with pT4aN0 gingival cancer with negative surgical margins

Background and purpose: This study compared the survival outcomes following postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and postoperative radiotherapy (RT) alone for patients with gingival cancer with negative surgical margins and only bone invasion. Materials and methods: Of the 2579 gingival cancer cases reviewed from 2002 to 2018, 156 were enrolled in the study (CCRT: 63 patients; RT: 93 patients). The primary endpoints were the impact of adjuvant treatment (RT vs. CCRT) on overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on surgical margins (<5 mm vs. ≥ 5 mm) and different adjuvant treatments (RT vs. CCRT). Results: Median follow-up time, age, and invasion depth were 88.5 months, 57 years, and 14 mm, respectively. More patients undergoing adjuvant CCRT had surgical margins < 5 mm (47.6% vs. 21.5%, p < 0.01) than those undergoing RT. No significant difference was observed in the 5-year OS, LRRFS, and DMFS of patients undergoing adjuvant RT and CCRT. Although adjuvant RT alone and CCRT provided similar local control for patients with surgical margins ≥ 5 mm, worse LRRFS trends were observed in patients with surgical margins < 5 mm (hazards ratio, 6.15, 95% confidence interval 0.92–41.13, p = 0.06). Conclusion: Postoperative RT alone may be effective for patients with gingival cancer with negative surgical margins (≥5 mm) and only bone invasion, while postoperative CCRT may result in better LRRFS than RT alone for patients with surgical margins < 5 mm

Correlates of Attitudes Toward Homosexuality and Intention to Care for Homosexual People Among Psychiatric Nurses in Southern Taiwan

This study examined the association between attitudes toward homosexual individuals and intention to provide care and demographic and occupational factors, sexual orientation, knowledge about homosexuality, and experiences of contact with homosexual people among psychiatric nurses in southern Taiwan. In total, 133 psychiatric nurses from a medical center, three regional teaching hospitals, and one psychiatric hospital in southern Taiwan were recruited into this study. Their attitudes toward homosexual people as recorded on the Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Questionnaire, intention to provide care to homosexual individuals, and related factors were examined. The results revealed that psychiatric nurses who had a bachelor's or master's degree, higher level of knowledge about homosexuality, and friends or relatives with a homosexual orientation had a more positive attitude toward homosexuality. These psychiatric nurses, with more positive attitudes, and who worked in the medical center or regional teaching hospitals had a higher intention to care for homosexual people. The factors related to attitudes toward homosexuality and intention to care for homosexual people identified in this study should be taken into consideration when intervening in psychiatric nurses' attitudes toward homosexuality and intention to care for homosexual people