J Formos Med Assoc
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We assessed the effect of smoking on death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China by employing a large population-based, case-spouse control study design using data from a nationwide survey of mortality. ⋯ A case-spouse control study, as an alternative design, is valid and feasible in utilizing information from population-based, retrospective mortality survey data for an analytical epidemiological study of disease etiology.
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The remission and resolution criteria for schizophrenia were defined by the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group in 2005, using eight core items of the positive and negative symptoms scale for schizophrenia. Subsequent studies of Caucasians have reported similar remission/resolution rates of approximately one-third. However, the remission/resolution rate in Chinese patients has not previously been reported. The present study assessed symptom resolution rates and associated factors among medicated and clinically stable Chinese schizophrenia patients. ⋯ Consistent with studies of Caucasian patients, one-third of clinically stable Chinese patients met the resolution criteria, as well as having fewer general side effects, better global functioning and subjective well-being.
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Malignant transformation of intracranial epidermoid cyst (EC) is very rare, and when it does occur, the clinical course is aggressive. We present an unusual case of natural malignant transformation of an intracranial EC, without a history of surgery. A 61-year-old woman was diagnosed with an EC in the right cerebellopontine angle and prepontine cistern 6 years before the operation described in this report. ⋯ The patient died on postoperative day 36 from brainstem infarction, chemical meningitis, and hydrocephalus. Spontaneous rupture of the EC could have contributed to the malignant transformation. This could have been avoided by early removal of the EC.