The rate of ADHD diagnosis was far lower than the prevalence rate (7.5%) identified in a previous community study using face-to-face interviews. Approximately 40-50% of the youths with ADHD did not receive any medications. These findings are not consistent with a systematic public opinion about overdiagnosis or overmedication of ADHD in Taiwan.

This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the associations between the polymorphisms of guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit β-3 (GNB3) C825T and metabolic disturbance in bipolar II disorder (BP-II) patients being treated with valproate (VPA). A 100 BP-II patients received a 12-week course of VPA treatment, and their body weight and metabolic indices were measured. At baseline, the GNB3 C825T polymorphisms were associated with the triglyceride level (P=0.032) in BP-II patients. During the VPA treatment course, the polymorphisms were not only associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (P-values=0.009 and 0.001, respectively), but also with total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein and leptin levels (P-values=0.004, 0.002, 0.031 and 0.015, respectively). Patients with the TT genotype had a lower BMI, smaller waist circumference, and lower levels of lipids and leptin than those with the CT or CC genotypes undergoing the VPA treatment course.

Determining the onset of diabetes based on blood glucose (BG) levels can be challenging in mouse models, as thresholds can vary from 200 to 400 mg/dl in one or two consecutive tests. Urine glucose (UG) levels can be detected non-invasively as another criterion of diabetic condition, but it is considered a lagging indicator due to physiological downstream from BG. In this study, we demonstrate that the lagging period is practically unnoticeable in spontaneously model of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice which develop autoimmune diabetes randomly from 12 to 32 weeks of age. After comprehensive measurements across entire onset window in 60 female NOD mice, we concluded that BG measurements before UG reaches 250 mg/l contribute nearly nothing to diabetic identification. Refined protocol encompasses UG survey twice-weekly to select positive candidates for further intensive BG measurements is recommended and tested in another batch of 60 mice. This protocol precisely identified every newly onset individual with average BG of 350 mg/dl which is lower than conventional once-weekly BG survey alone around 400 mg/dl. Moreover, intensive measurements near onset indicate two BG+ within four days can serve as a refined onset criterion, allowing for dynamic arrangement of sampling time to make the process even more efficient in practice. From 3R perspectives, this protocol potentially saves dozens of bleeding procedures in one individual mouse and hundreds of lancets, BG strips, labors, and unnecessary animal suffering during batch screening that serve as a convenient alternative for newly onset identification of diabetes.

Objective Fasciocutaneous free flap based on the peroneal artery (boneless version) is an option in our practice for head and neck reconstruction. However, the associated donor-site morbidity has rarely been discussed. Thus, this study investigated the long-term patient-reported donor-site morbidity associated with peroneal flaps. Methods In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, 39 patients who underwent a free peroneal flap were enrolled. We evaluated donor-site morbidity with a modified questionnaire from Enneking et al. and Bodde et al. Results Patient-reported daily life limitation was relatively low (5/39; 12.9%). Donor-site morbidities, namely pain (4/39; 10.3%), sensory disturbance (9/39; 23.1%), and walking limitation (9/39; 23.1%) were reported; most were rated minimal in severity. Among patients with walking limitation, muscle weakness (3/39; 7.7%), ankle instability (6/39; 15.4%), and gait alternation (6/39; 15.4%) were reported. Six patients developed claw toe. Conclusion Balancing successful reconstruction and donor-site morbidity is challenging. This long-term patient-reported survey revealed that harvesting peroneal flaps resulted in minimal or minor donor-site morbidity with no obvious impacts on the patients’ daily quality of life. Although free radial forearm flaps and anterolateral thigh flaps are standard, free peroneal flaps have been proven reliable, with acceptable donor-site morbidity.