J Formos Med Assoc
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The recreational drug γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a central nervous system depressant, and can produce euphoria at low doses. GHB is a controlled substance in Taiwan. However, the organic solvents γ-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BD), which are unregulated, may be used as an alternative source of GHB. ⋯ All patients used GBL to evade conviction. Although patients recovered with supportive care, respiratory failure and cardiac arrest occurred after GHB/GBL use. It is important to legislate GBL and BD as controlled chemical substances in Taiwan.
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Flat foot can alter the lower limb alignment and cause knee and back pain. To explore the association between flat foot and spinal degeneration. ⋯ Flat foot was found to be an independent risk factor for subsequent spinal DJD.
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This large-scale nationwide population-based study aimed to determine the recurrence rate and risk factors for recurrence after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). ⋯ In Taiwan, the 1-year recurrence rate was 13.7% after VATS for PSP. Younger age and the use of NSAIDs, especially ketorolac, were significant risk factors for short- and long-term recurrence after VATS for PSP.
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To analyze the amount of variation in these risk-adjusted adverse outcomes corresponding to the care of premature births. In addition, hospitals were ranked according to their unadjusted and adjusted rates, and we assessed the degree of concordance between these rankings. Finally, the correlations of hospital-adjusted adverse outcomes were also tested. ⋯ The results of the TPFN show that there is room to improve performance in terms of large variations in NEC and IVH. Furthermore, risk adjustment is important, especially for mortality, since the ranks for mortality have the lowest concordance. Finally, we cannot generate a conclusion regarding whether a hospital is high in quality if we only take 1 or 2 adverse outcomes as profiling measures because only a few of the risk-adjusted rates between outcomes were significantly correlated.
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Concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are not uncommon in at-risk populations, for which control requires integrated testing, treatment and prevention. ⋯ HIV-positive participants had a high prevalence of CT and/or NG, especially those coinfected with viral hepatitis and syphilis. Our results strongly support integrated STI services in the population.