J Formos Med Assoc
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Multicenter Study
Low dose tranexamic acid reduces blood transfusion rate after total knee arthroplasty: A population-based study in Taiwan.
Previous reports, mostly small clinical trials conducted in USA or Europe, indicated that tranexamic acid (TXA) would be effective for reducing blood transfusions after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, large scale studies are needed regarding the effectiveness and safety issue of complication events following TKA, especially for the Asian population. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TXA use based on data from an elderly population in Taiwan. ⋯ The use of perioperative TXA was an efficient strategy to prevent blood loss after TKA.
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Observational Study
Risk factors for complications following immediate tissue expander based breast reconstruction in Taiwanese population.
Breast cancer patients in Asia show considerable disparities from Caucasian patients, such as younger age of onset and lower rates of smoking, obesity, and diabetes. Findings of prior studies regarding risk factors associated with complications in tissue expander may not hold for Asian populations, since most of these studies involved Caucasian patients. In this study, we surveyed risk factors in the Taiwanese population, providing additional evidence about the important differences and discuss the implications for clinical practice. ⋯ We provided evidence that racial disparities have an impact on the risk factors for complications associated with tissue expander breast reconstruction. BMI≥24 kg/m2 was the only risk factor significantly associated with complications. Clinically, BMI≥24 kg/m2, rather than the standard definition of obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2), may be a more suitable cutoff point for risk in patients of Asian ethnicity.
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There is compelling epidemiological evidence that links air pollution to increased risk of mortality from cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer. We quantified the burden of mortality attributable to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) among the Taiwanese population in 2014 at the national and subnational levels. ⋯ Ambient PM2.5 pollution is a major mortality risk factor in Taiwan. Aggressive and multisectorial intervention strategies are urgently needed to bring down the impact of air pollution on environment and health.
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Anti-gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and anti-thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) have not yet been reported in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). This study mainly assessed the frequencies of the presence of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA in different types of RAS patients. ⋯ We conclude that approximately one-third RAS patients may have GPCA/TGA/TMA positivity in their sera. Because some GPCA-positive patients may develop pernicious anemia, autoimmune atrophic gastritis, and gastric carcinoma, and some TGA/TMA-positive patients may have thyroid dysfunction such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, these patients should be referred to doctors for further management.
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Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are deemed as the driving force of tumorigenesis in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). In this study, we investigated the chemotherapeutic effect of sulforaphane, a dietary component from broccoli sprouts, on targeting OSCC-CSCs. ⋯ These lines of evidence suggest that sulforaphane can suppress the cancer stemness and tumor-initiating properties in OSCC-CSCs both in vitro and in vivo.