J Formos Med Assoc
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Chinese are more sensitive to beta-blockers than Caucasians. However, data regarding beta-blocker therapy in heart failure (HF) patients in Taiwan are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the improvement of left ventricular function and the potential predictors of response to beta-blocker therapy in Taiwanese HF patients. ⋯ We demonstrated the therapeutic effects of beta-blockers in Taiwanese HF patients with a dose lower than what has been reported in Western people. Moreover, patients with the etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy or lower baseline LVEF predicted a greater LVEF improvement. The beta1-adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms were not responsible for the difference in sensitivity to beta-blockers in this Taiwanese population.
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Fentanyl is regularly used in clinical anesthesia practice but fentanyl-induced cough (FIC) will sometimes bother anesthesiologists. This study was designed to examine the effect of intravenous (IV) dexamethasone (DEX) on FIC. ⋯ DEX (10 mg, IV) 5 minutes prior to fentanyl injection reduces the incidence of FIC and can be an ideal premedicant for general anesthesia induction.