Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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Hypoxic events and cardiac arrest may cause brain damage in critical infants. This study investigated cerebral tissue oxygenation and oxygen extraction in a piglet model of hypoxic events, cardiac arrest and effects of resuscitation. ⋯ Noninvasive monitoring of rScO2 and evaluating FTOE changes during hypoxia and resuscitation may help clinicians evaluate brain tissue oxygenation and viability.
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Mixed germ cell tumors with non-germ cell malignant components rarely occur in the anterior mediastinum. We report a case of a 34-year-old man who presented with an anterior mediastinum mass. ⋯ Pathologic examination of the excised specimen showed predominantly malignant ganglioneuroma and small residual foci of teratoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a malignant ganglioneuroma arising from mediastinal mixed germ cell tumor.
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Whether decompressive hemicraniectomy is an appropriate treatment for malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction is still a controversial issue. The aims of our study were to determine survival rate and functional out-come and to determine factors associated with survival rates and functional outcome in patients with malignant MCA infarction. ⋯ Decompressive hemicraniectomy may be a useful procedure in patients with malignant MCA infarction. Age, clinical signs of herniation and timing of surgery were the prognostic factors associated with mortality and functional outcome.
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Previous surveys of home care patients in Taiwan have primarily concentrated on patients' status and needs. The aim of this study was to review the actual health care utilization of home care patients during the course of 1 year. ⋯ The home care agency of the hospital should pay more attention to provision of comprehensive care and review of drug prescribing.
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We report the case of a 36-year-old woman who developed right upper and lower limb paralysis with sensory deficit after sedative drug overdose with prolonged immobilization. Due to the initial motor and sensory deficit pattern, brachial plexus injury or C8/T1 radiculopathy was suspected. Subsequent nerve conduction study/electromyography proved the lesion level to be brachial plexus. ⋯ As it is easy to develop complications such as muscle atrophy and joint contracture during the paralytic period of brachial plexopathy and lumbosacral plexopathy, early intervention with rehabilitation is necessary to ensure that the future limb function of the patient can be recovered. Our patient had suspected gluteal compartment syndrome that developed after prolonged compression, with the complication of concomitant lumbosacral plexus injury and brachial plexus injury, which is rarely reported in the literature. A satisfactory outcome was achieved with nonsurgical management.