Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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The prevalence of adult cochlear implant (CI) surgery is increasing. However, the relevant adult CI data in Taiwan are insufficient due to the relatively small number of adult implant patients. The two main factors hindering adult implantation are the high cost of the surgery itself and inadequate knowledge regarding the effectiveness of CI for hearing and suppression of tinnitus. Here, we present data regarding adult CI outcomes from a single tertiary hospital. ⋯ This study confirmed that CI can improve speech perception (words and sentences), physical health, mental health, social interaction, and self-esteem in adult patients with profound hearing loss. CI also significantly alleviated tinnitus. The outcomes of ES, DS, and PB tests at 3 months post-CI were non-inferior to other longer post-CI periods and could be utilized as references for recovery and evaluation of prognosis.
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Identifying the risk factors for complications may alert the physicians and help them adjust their plans before performing computed tomography-guided lung biopsies. Reportedly, a pleura-nodule distance longer than 2.0 cm is a strong predictor for pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage. However, the rate and risk factors of biopsy-associated complications in subpleural lesions have not been assessed. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage in subpleural lesions ≤2.0 cm in depth. ⋯ For subpleural lesions ≤2.0 cm in depth, a puncture route having a shorter needle path and passing through the lung parenchyma with higher attenuation may reduce the risk of biopsy-associated pneumothorax ≥1 cm. A higher needle-pleura angle may reduce the risk of pulmonary hemorrhage ≥2 cm in the short axis.
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Liver cirrhosis is characterized by liver fibrosis and pathological angiogenesis, which results in hyperdynamic circulation, portal-systemic collateral vascular formation, and abnormal angiogenesis. Lycopene is a nutrient mostly found in tomatoes. The beneficial effects of lycopene include anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-fibrosis, and anti-angiogenesis; however, the association between liver cirrhosis and pathological angiogenesis has yet to be studied. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lycopene on biliary cirrhotic rats. ⋯ Lycopene ameliorated liver fibrosis, hyperdynamic circulation, and pathological angiogenesis in biliary cirrhotic rats, possibly through the modulation of intrahepatic Akt/PI3K/eNOS and VEGFR-2 pathways.
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Microsporidial stromal keratitis is an increasingly well-known vision-threatening disease. A large proportion of cases are initially misdiagnosed as herpes simplex keratitis and treated with topical steroids. In most of such cases, medical treatment failed, and corneal transplantation was required. ⋯ Histopathological examination revealed numerous microsporidial spores that had colonized in the mid and deep stroma, where few inflammatory cells were observed. These findings explain the variable microsporidial susceptibility to chlorhexidine, suggesting the crucial role of host immunity. In cases of host immunity, topical chlorhexidine may represent a promising option for the treatment of microsporidial stromal keratitis.
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To compare the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with sorafenib and drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with or without hepatic arteriovenous shunt (HAVS). ⋯ For advanced HCC, combination therapy had equal efficacy and safety in patients with HAVS compared to those without HAVS, indicating that DEB-TACE is an optional and effective treatment in these patients.