J Formos Med Assoc
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Observational Study
Safety and efficacy of early varenicline prescription in hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction: East Asian population.
Smoking is a strong risk factor for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Varenicline is commonly used as a smoking cessation medication, but little is known about its usage in patients with AMI, particularly in hospitalized patients. ⋯ This study may represent the first report on the safety and efficacy of early initiation of varenicline treatment in East Asian population hospitalized due to AMI who recently underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.
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Surgical resection is a curative therapy for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, HCC recurrence is not uncommon. Identifying outcome predictors helps to manage the disease. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) may predict the development of HCC, but its role to predict the outcomes after surgical resection of HCC was unclear. This study aimed to investigate pre-operative GGT levels for outcome prediction in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC. ⋯ Pre-operative GGT levels ≥38 U/L independently predict high risks of HCC recurrence and all-cause mortality in HBV-related HCC patients receiving surgical resection.
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Review Practice Guideline
Prevention and management of tuberculosis in solid organ transplantation: A consensus statement of the transplantation society of Taiwan.
Solid organ transplant recipients have an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). Due to the use of immunosuppressants, the incidence of TB among solid organ transplant recipients has been consistently reported to be higher than that among the general population. TB frequently develops within the first year after transplantation when a high level of immunosuppression is maintained. ⋯ However, strategy to mitigate the risk of TB among solid organ transplant recipients has not yet been established in Taiwan. To address the challenges of TB among solid organ transplant recipients, a working group of the Transplantation Society of Taiwan was established. The working group searched literatures on TB among solid organ transplant recipients as well as guidelines and recommendations, and proposed interventions to strengthen TB prevention and care among solid organ transplant recipients.