Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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Nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy reduces the risk of disease progression in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients. However, the risk of liver decompensation, hepatic failure, and mortality after discontinuation of NA therapy remains unknown. ⋯ NA continuous therapy is associated with reduced risks of liver decompensation, hepatic failure, and overall mortality.
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Observational Study
Impact of disease-specific care certification on clinical outcome and healthcare performance of myocardial infarction in Taiwan.
The relationship between certification for specific disease care and clinical outcome was not well known. Previous studies regarding the effect of certification for acute stroke centers were limited by their cross-sectional design. This study aimed to investigate the effect of disease-specific care (DSC) certification on healthcare performance and clinical outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). ⋯ The current study demonstrated the beneficial effect of DSC certification on clinical outcome of AMI probably mediated through quality improvement during the healthcare process.
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Burns that affect ≥20% of the total body surface area (TBSA) trigger a major inflammatory response in addition to capillary leakage and loss of serum proteins including albumin. Persistent hypoalbuminemia is therefore common in major burn patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether human albumin solutions can benefit major burn patients with persistent hypoalbuminemia. ⋯ The administration of large amounts of albumin supplements for the correction of prolonged hypoalbuminemia in major burn patients had no significant benefits on mortality.
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Esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) are serious congenital anomalies with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic and therapeutic fiberoptic endoscopy has been used in children to evaluate and manage trachea-esophageal anomalies. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors and the role of fiberoptic bronchoesophagoscopy (FB) in managing children with EA and TEF. ⋯ Delayed (>48-hour old) or no surgical reconstruction was significantly related to mortality in children with congenital EA and TEF. Preoperative and postoperative FB evaluations helped to facilitate diagnoses and nonsurgical managements and resolve the patients' tracheoesophageal problems.
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Mucinous gastric carcinoma (MGC) is rare and often associated with an advanced stage. The clinicopathological features and prognosis of MGC and non-MGC (NMGC) are controversial. ⋯ MGC itself was not an independent prognostic factor of worse survival. MGC was correlated with higher PD-L1 expression than NMGC, which may have a clinical impact on the treatment of MGC in the future.