Through a clearer understanding of the role of peer support in resilience among ED nurses, healthcare managers should provide and enhance their peer support to intensify their resilience for prevention of consequences of workplace violence.

Artificial knee joints play a critical role in improving the quality of life of the elderly and those with knee injuries. Such knee joints are fabricated using a composite material consisting of metal alloy particles and polymer resin and are generally produced using the metal powder injection molding (MIM) process. However, if the local powder concentration of the molded product is too low, the mechanical properties and aesthetic appearance of the joint are severely degraded. Similarly, if the product undergoes excessive shrinkage following removal from the mold, the dimensional accuracy will fail to meet the design specifications. Accordingly, the present study applies a hybrid approach based on the Taguchi robust design methodology and gray relation analysis (GRA) theory to determine the optimal MIM processing conditions that simultaneously maximize the powder concentration uniformity while minimizing the volume shrinkage. The feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated by means of CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) mold flow simulations. The results show that while the robust Taguchi design method enables the optimal processing parameters that maximize the powder concentration uniformity and minimize the volume shrinkage to be individually determined, the hybrid Taguchi–GRA method enables both quality measures to be optimized simultaneously.

Background: Pneumoconiosis has considerable comorbidities, most notably pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between pneumoconiosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is largely unknown. The present study aimed to use a retrospective cohort study design to further clarify the association between pneumoconiosis and subsequent CKD risk. Methods: This is a nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study that used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Database. Between 2008 and 2018, 17,952 newly diagnosed patients were included in the pneumoconiosis cohort, while 71,808 individuals without pneumoconiosis were included in the comparison cohort, with a propensity score matching for age, gender, and date of pneumoconiosis diagnosis. The development of CKD was monitored until the end of 2019. The risk was assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results: After controlling for age, gender, and comorbidity, the overall incidence of CKD was 1.69-fold higher in the pneumoconiosis cohort than in the comparison cohort (19.71 vs. 11.76 per 1000 person-years, respectively, p < 0.001), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.83 (95% confidence interval: 1.73–1.93). Stratified analyses by age group, gender, and presence of comorbidity revealed that the adjusted hazard ratios of CKD associated with pneumoconiosis remained significant (8/9). Furthermore, pneumoconiosis and tri-high (hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia) interact positively with CKD development (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with pneumoconiosis had a significantly higher risk of developing CKD than those without. Pneumoconiosis combined with hypertension, hyperglycemia, or hyperlipidemia would increase the risk even further. More studies are required to understand the possible pathophysiological mechanisms.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) may induce systemic inflammation, potentially increasing cancer susceptibility. However, the link between CP and extra-pancreatic cancer remains underexplored. Employing Taiwanese National Health Insurance Database data from 2000 to 2017, we compared 5394 CP patients with 21,576 non-CP individuals through propensity score matching. CP patients exhibited a significantly higher cancer risk (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 1.32 for females and 1.68 for males) and cumulative incidence (p < 0.001) compared to non-CP individuals. CP showed notable associations with pancreatic (aHR = 3.51), liver (aHR = 1.62), stomach (aHR = 2.01), and other cancers (aHR = 2.09). In terms of liver cancer, CP was significantly associated with patients without viral hepatitis, regardless of gender (aHR = 2.01 for women; aHR = 1.54 for men). No significant cancer occurrences were observed within the first year following CP diagnosis. Pancreatic or liver cancer developed in approximately half of CP patients within 2–3 years, while gastric cancer in male CP patients predominantly occurred around the fifth year after diagnosis. These findings inform potential cancer-screening plans for CP patients.