J Formos Med Assoc
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Most patients with end-stage renal disease (ERSD) visiting our hospital for hemodialysis treatment during the SARS outbreak wore an N95 mask. Data on the physiological stress imposed by the wearing of N95 masks remains limited. This study investigated the physiological impact of wearing an N95 mask during hemodialysis (HD) on patients with ESRD. ⋯ Wearing an N95 mask for 4 hours during HD significantly reduced PaO2 and increased respiratory adverse effects in ESRD patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A comparative study of etanercept plus methotrexate and methotrexate alone in Taiwanese patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
Etanercept (Enbrel), a recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor fusion protein, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of etanercept in combination with methotrexate (MTX) and MTX alone in Taiwanese patients with active RA. ⋯ Etanercept in combination with MTX was well tolerated and provided significantly more clinical benefit than MTX alone in Taiwanese patients with active RA.
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Case Reports
Charcoal hemoperfusion in an elderly man with life-threatening adverse reactions due to poor metabolism of phenytoin.
A 77-year-old man presented with dizziness and ataxia after 7-day treatment of phenytoin 100 mg 3 times daily for prophylaxis of post-traumatic seizure. Thrombocytopenia and hematuria were found incipiently and supportive measures were employed. ⋯ Neutropenia and fever developed and thus antibiotics and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor were administered. Although charcoal hemoperfusion is generally not applied in cases of phenytoin overdose, this method was successfully used to enhance the removal of phenytoin in our patient.