Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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Dexamethasone (DEX) implant has been shown to improve visual and anatomic function in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of DEX implant between refractory and naive eyes with DME. ⋯ To our knowledge, this was the first study comparing DEX implant between treatment-naive and refractory Asian patients with DME. Intravitreal DEX implant can effectively treat refractory and treatment-naive patients with DME. In addition, superior visual outcomes were observed in the naive group comparing to the refractory group following DEX implant treatment in Taiwanese pseudophakic eyes with DME.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) set out to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, a goal Taiwan might achieve before 2025. Using effective direct antiviral agents (DAAs) against chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Taiwan, the treatment of CHC has been initiated in rural areas. Here, we aimed to elucidate the clinical and virological characteristics of HCV infection, and the treatment efficacy of DAAs in patients from Pingtung county in southern Taiwan. ⋯ We demonstrated that DAA therapy can achieve a 98.7% SVR rate among CHC patients in Pingtung county of southern Taiwan, with a relative higher prevalence of genotype 6. The most important factor attributed to genotype 6 infection was PWID.
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Supplemental oxygen is often required to treat preterm infants with respiratory disorders. Experimental studies have demonstrated that hyperoxia results in the disruption of intestinal and neuronal plasticity and myelination of the brain. The association between the neonatal hyperoxia and changes of phenotypes in gut microbiota and in behaviors is not clear to date. ⋯ Neonatal hyperoxia during the first week of life altered gut microbiota and reduced brain myelination that might associate with the deficits of social interaction and motor coordination in adolescent mice.