Medicine
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Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) caused by Enterovirus A71, complicated by cardiopulmonary failure, is associated with a high mortality rate despite intensive treatment. To date, there is a paucity of clinical management data, regarding the use of extracorporeal life support (VA-ECMO) for Enterovirus-A71 associated cardiopulmonary failure reported. ⋯ Our study highlights that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and CRRT can enhance the survival outcomes of patients with severe HFMD with cardiopulmonary failure complications. Furthermore, we propose specific indications for the initiation of VA-ECMO.
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There are studies on the effect of low-dose amitriptyline on pain control, but there is a lack of studies on the use of amitriptyline for chronic pain and the factors associated with the prescription of traditional doses. We used a national sample cohort of patients aged ≥ 18 years who were prescribed amitriptyline along with chronic pain, without psychiatric disorders, between 2002 to 2015. We categorized the prescriptions into 2 groups according to the daily dose: low doses (≤25 mg) and traditional doses (>25 mg). ⋯ The prevalence of prescriptions and proportion of traditional doses of amitriptyline tended to decrease during the study period. Male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.13); age 65-80 years (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.08-1.16), especially ≥ 80 years (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.45-1.65); headaches (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.10-1.27), receiving medical aids (OR 2.58, 95% CI 2.46-2.71); and being prescribed benzodiazepines or zolpidem concomitantly (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.15) were significantly associated with traditional dose prescriptions of amitriptyline. Although traditional dose prescriptions of amitriptyline have been declining, close monitoring is still required in the presence of the above-mentioned factors.
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It has a long history of preventing and treating disease using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In recent years, it has been widely used in adjuvant therapies of in vitro fertilization - embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in China. To observe the effect and safety of Shoutai Wan on pregnancy outcomes after IVF-ET. ⋯ The results of this retrospective cohort study revealed that Shoutaiwan combined with luteal support treatment can significantly decreased the miscarriage rate in pregnancy undergoing IVF-FET compared to the group accepted only luteal support treatment (P = .001). Meanwhile, St during pregnancy did not affect fetal birth weight (P = .354), and there was no adverse event in the St group reported, which confirmed the safety of TCM for fetus protection during pregnancy. This study not only provides evidences for the clinical administration of Shoutai Wan in IVF-ET, but also provides a novel direction for basic research into the subsequent innovative application of TCM.
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Case Reports
Atrial flutter complicating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): A rare case report.
This case report addresses a unique instance of atrial flutter complicating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), contributing a novel addition to the medical literature. The co-occurrence of these conditions sheds light on a rare clinical scenario that requires careful consideration. ⋯ This case highlights the importance of recognizing and managing the intricate relationship between cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial flutter and respiratory complications like ARDS. The successful management of this patient underscores the value of multidisciplinary collaboration and tailored therapeutic interventions. Practitioners should remain vigilant for such rare complications and consider this case a reminder of the potential complexities that can arise in critical care scenarios.
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Case Reports
The Brunner adenoma of the duodenum with positive fecal occult blood and anemia: A case report.
Brunner gland adenoma (BGA) is a rare benign duodenal tumor that is an adenomatoid lesion in nature rather than an actual tumor. Patients with different adenoma sizes have various clinical manifestations with nonspecific clinical symptoms. Here, We report a case of BGA with black stool and anemia as the primary manifestations. ⋯ Brunner adenoma of the duodenum is a rare benign duodenum tumor. This report paper describes a case of BGA with black stool and anemia as the primary manifestations, followed by endoscopic resection and treatment. The literature on Brunner adenoma of the duodenum has been analyzed and discussed. Clinicians should pay attention to differentiating the disease based on atypical symptoms.