Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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A 41-year-old man received an electrophysiological study (EPS) and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) in our hospital. Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) with hypotension developed 9 hours after these procedures. ⋯ An adequate observation time after RFCA and clinical alertness are necessary for immediate diagnosis and treatment. Emergent catheter-directed therapy may be of benefit in some patients with acute massive PE.
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Preventing and managing hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health issue worldwide, and Taiwan is one of the countries where viral hepatitis is most endemic. Previous studies have shown that patients with serious mental illnesses have a higher risk for hepatitis infection. We investigated the prevalence of HBV and HCV among institutionalized patients with chronic schizophrenia in Taiwan. ⋯ Our study showed that the prevalences of HBV and HCV among institutionalized patients with chronic schizophrenia were no higher than the prevalences in the general population in Taiwan. The commodious environment and medical resources of the hospital where the patients were living might have prevented an elevation of HBV and HCV infection in those with schizophrenia, supplementing the continuing benefits from the HBV vaccination that was introduced in 1984.
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TRIM29 belongs to the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family. It has been reported to be up-regulated or be down-regulated in many cancer types, suggesting the oncogenic function of TRIM29 may be depend on different molecular signaling pathway. It was found that β-catenin function (a key molecule in the Wnt signaling pathway) was required for TRIM29's oncogenic effects. TRIM29 gene expression was also found to be heterogeneous in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtypes. In this study, the possible associations of TRIM29 expression with clinicopathological factors, prognosis, and β-catenin in human NSCLC were analyzed. ⋯ We considered that TRIM29 may play a reference role in distinguish poorly differentiated AC and SC of NSCLC, combining with CK5/6 and CK7, and it could improve postoperative assessment and have the reference value for clinical treatment. The interaction between TRIM29 and β-catenin may participate in the development of lung SC.
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To add or not to add? An empirical study on droperidol and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.
Droperidol is commonly added to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) regimens as an antiemetic agent. Although some studies have demonstrated its safety and efficacy, it is not clear whether adding droperidol to IVPCA infusate without an extra loading dose can effectively reduce the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in real-life clinical settings. ⋯ A loading dose should be considered on the 1st postoperative day. Our study suggests just how beneficial droperidol can be to IVPCA users in practical clinical settings, showing that droperidol can reduce with some significance the amount and severity of nausea suffered by patients postoperatively, even if the frequency of patient vomiting remains unchanged.
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This study investigated the impact of hospice care on end-of-life elderly patients with lung cancer in Taiwan. ⋯ Hospice care has provided a humane and cost-efficient pathway for end-of-life elderly patients with lung cancer. Parenteral nutrition/hydration should be limited for terminal care patients. Opioids should be promoted for the relief of pain and dyspnea in acute ward care. Family physicians and radiation oncologists play important roles in hospice care. Compared with the prevalence of hospice care in the United Kingdom and other developed countries, hospice care in Taiwan is in the position to be expanded.