Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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Tracheobronchial (TB) lumen narrowing may require prolonged positive-pressure ventilation, endotracheal tube intubation or even surgical interventions. Therapeutic flexible bronchoscopy (TFB) of balloon-expandable metallic stent (BEMS) placement and subsequent forceps, laser and balloon dilatation management might be less invasive and helpful. This study aimed to analyse the placement, follow-up management with TFB and long-term outcomes in small infants with BEMS. ⋯ BEMSs are practical and effective in selected small infants with benign TB narrowing and can be safely implanted and managed with TFB, and finally retrieved by RE.
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Meta Analysis
Traditional Chinese acupuncture and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, is a form of alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body commonly for pain relief. To date, the role of traditional Chinese acupuncture in mood disorders in the postpartum period is unclear. Thus, this study aimed to review the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with postpartum depression (PPD). ⋯ Traditional Chinese acupuncture seems to be effective in improving some symptoms of PPD, although the evidence is uncertain. Therefore, further studies following standardized guidelines with a low risk of bias are needed to confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of PPD.
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Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6b (TNFRSF6B), was recently identified as a novel biomarker for predicting progression of kidney diseases with potential immune modulation. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current evidence related to DcR3 in kidney diseases and to compare the differences between human and animal studies both in vivo and in vitro. High serum DcR3 predicts the occurrence of peritonitis in patients receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis and is positively correlated with inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and adhesion molecules in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). ⋯ DcR3-mediated effects in vitro could be surveyed via over-expressing DcR3 or addition of recombinant DcR3. Fc, and CD68-driven DcR3 transgenic mice are suitable for investigating systemic effect in vivo. Inhibition of DcR3 expression in human may be a promising approach for pathomechanism.
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Accurate assessment of breast volume is an essential component of preoperative planning in one-stage immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) for achieving breast symmetry and a satisfactory cosmetic outcome. In this study, we compared breast volume estimation using three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the accuracy of breast volume measurements. Further, a 3D printing mold for facilitating autologous breast reconstruction intraoperatively is described. ⋯ Using 3D surface image to evaluate breast shape and volume is a quick, effective, and convenient method. The accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability of 3D surface imaging were comparable with MRI in our study. In addition, 3D-printed molds can achieve better symmetry and aesthetic outcomes in immediate autologous breast reconstructions.
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Based on the previously published results, 12 weeks of sofosbuvir (SOF) 400 mg/day plus ribavirin (RBV), the current direct antiviral agent regimen reimbursed by Bureau-of National-Health-Insurance (BNHI) of Taiwan for genotype-2 chronic hepatitis C (CHC), is suboptimal in efficacy, especially for difficult-to-treat subpopulations such as liver cirrhosis, previous interferon (IFN) treatment failure, and high viral-load. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SOF plus daclatasvir (DCV) for Taiwanese genotype-2 CHC patients. ⋯ Our real-world cohort of Taiwan showed that a 12-week SOF/DCV-based treatment was well-tolerated and highly effective for genotype-2 CHC patients with or without liver cirrhosis.