J Formos Med Assoc
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Unimpaired activities of daily living (ADL) is essential for the diagnosis of normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment. However, diagnosis according to this concept is difficult to apply to patients comorbid with motor dysfunction. We aim to use a novel ADL questionnaire for operationally diagnosing unimpaired ADL in vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND). ⋯ Our study showed that HAI-ADL provides an operational determinates unimpaired ADL which is necessary for the diagnosis of VCIND. The predictive value for progression to dementia was proved by a long-term follow-up analysis of the research cohort.
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The COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which developed into a pandemic in 2020, has become a major healthcare challenge for governments and healthcare workers worldwide. Despite several medical treatment protocols having been established, a comprehensive rehabilitation program that can promote functional recovery is still frequently ignored. An online consensus meeting of an expert panel comprising members of the Taiwan Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation was held to provide recommendations for rehabilitation protocols in each of the five COVID-19 stages, namely (1) outpatients with mild disease and no risk factors, (2) outpatients with mild disease and epidemiological risk factors, (3) hospitalized patients with moderate to severe disease, (4) ventilator-supported patients with clear cognitive function, and (5) ventilator-supported patients with impaired cognitive function. Apart from medications and life support care, a proper rehabilitation protocol that facilitates recovery from COVID-19 needs to be established and emphasized in clinical practice.
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This study aimed to evaluate geographic variations and differences in the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia between Taiwan's townships. ⋯ Geographic variations exist in the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia. Our findings indicate that the prevention and treatment services in these high prevalence areas should be a priority.
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In advanced or high-grade prostate cancer (PCa), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is usually elevated, however, some patients may present with low initial PSA (iPSA) levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether different iPSA levels were associated with dissimilar clinical outcomes among men with high-grade PCa and advanced disease after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RaLRP). ⋯ In patients with high-grade locally-advanced PCa, a low iPSA level was associated with a higher risk of disease progression, but not with biochemical recurrence. In this unique population, serum PSA may not be a reliable marker to detect disease progression. Monitoring of these patients may warrant other biomarkers or imaging.
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The aim of this study was to determine the value of drug-induced sleep ultrasonography (DISU) for evaluating tongue base thickness (TBT) from the awake state to drug-induced sleep, to further understand the impact of dynamic changes in TBT in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients. ⋯ Our findings validate the use of DISU in objectively assessing the tongue base collapse in OSA patients. It provides a convenient and non-invasive way to evaluate the upper airway changes in OSA patients in the future.