J Formos Med Assoc
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Suicide is a huge global health burden. High suicide rates with a low prevalence of major depressive disorder were reported in East Asia. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of suicidal behaviors in relation to the demographic characteristics and major depressive disorder in Taiwan. ⋯ Despite low prevalence, major depressive disorder remained a significant risk factor for suicidal behaviors in Taiwan.
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Case Reports
The successful rehabilitation of a 75-year-old female with debilitating long COVID: A case report.
A 75-year-old previously healthy female became severely ill, functionally dependent, and required long-term home oxygen therapy, after recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with acute respiratory failure and extensive pulmonary fibrosis. After two months of respiratory muscle training and a comprehensive cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program, her dyspnea, physical performance, pulmonary function parameters, and activities of daily living rapidly improved. This Case highlights the importance of a timely active rehabilitation program for COVID-19 survivors experiencing the long-term effects of coronavirus (long COVID).
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Orthostatic myoclonus (OM) is myoclonic jerks in both legs during standing. It may relate to gait unsteadiness and may be associated with various diagnoses, including neurodegenerative, systemic, and musculoskeletal diseases. Diagnosis is based on the surface electromyography (SEMG). ⋯ OM is a syndrome instead of a diagnosis. It is more prevalent in the elderly with gait disturbance and patients will not necessarily fall. It is associated with central and peripheral nerve system disorders, systemic diseases, and medication use. We hypothesize that OM is a pathological disintegration of motor circuit.
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The intergenic SNP rs10865331 at 2p15 was identified as a major risk factor for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) susceptibility in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). B3GNT2 gene regulates polylactosamine synthesis is potentially functionally relevant to AS disease development. We investigated whether SNP rs10865331 and two B3GNT2 SNPs (rs11900673 and rs1136151) are associated with AS susceptibility and disease severity in Taiwanese. ⋯ Our data suggest that B3GNT2 gene may contribute to AS development and affect AS severity by interacting with HLA-B27 in Taiwanese.