Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
-
Civilian gunshot wounds to the brain are relatively rare, and a much-neglected subject in Taiwan. We present our experience with 16 patients who sustained gunshot wounds to the brain, and then identify factors determining the respective outcomes. ⋯ GCS score on admission, and the extent of brain injury as visualized by CT scan, seem to be the 2 most significant predictors of outcome in cranio-cerebral gunshot wounds. Patients with a GCS score of more than 8, or brain lesions limited to a single lobe of the brain, may benefit from aggressive management.
-
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging viral infectious disease. We report our experience in treating SARS patients. ⋯ All patients with probable SARS who were admitted to hospital presented with fever and lymphopenia. While the efficacy of different treatments could not be evaluated from this retrospective study, a higher value of C-reactive protein was associated with the development of respiratory failure and subsequent intubation.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A randomized, controlled, clinical study of thymosin alpha-1 versus interferon-alpha in [corrected] patients with chronic hepatitis B lacking HBeAg in China [corrected].
This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of thymosin-alphal (T-alpha1) with that of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in patients with chronic hepatitis B who were positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B envelope antibody (anti-HBe). ⋯ These results suggest that a 6-month course of T-alpha1 therapy is effective and safe in patients with anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B; T-alpha1 can reduce HBV replication in such patients. Compared with IFN-alpha, T-alpha1 is better tolerated and seems to induce a gradual and more sustained normalization of ALT and loss of HBV DNA. Combination therapy with T-alpha1 and IFN-alpha or nucleoside analogs for hepatitis B warrants further study.
-
This study was designed to assess the diagnostic value and clinical benefits of lumbar zygapophyseal joint injections in patients with chronic lower back pain. ⋯ Lumbar zygapophyseal joint injections, as a useful diagnostic tool for facet joint syndrome, could also have useful palliative effects in the management of chronic lower back pain.