J Formos Med Assoc
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The approved standard dose of pembrolizumab (200 mg administrated every 3 weeks) for cancer treatment imposes a significant financial burden on patients. However, no study has analyzed the clinical outcomes of low-dose pembrolizumab among individuals diagnosed with gynecologic cancer. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of a low-dose pembrolizumab regimen in real-world clinical practice. ⋯ Low-dose pembrolizumab may be a cost-effective and safe treatment option without compromising clinical outcomes in patients with refractory gynecologic cancers.
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Loneliness is a critical issue affecting the general population. Current evidence from national surveys of loneliness is scarce. The study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of loneliness and its associating suicide risks in Taiwan. ⋯ Nearly one in ten Taiwanese people felt lonely before and during COVID-19. Loneliness was closely linked with various suicide risk factors such as lifetime suicide ideation and attempt or future intention. Although psychological distress and suicide risk were not increased during COVID-19, maintaining trustful relationships to seek support appeared to be critical to prevent the risks of loneliness or suicide.
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Increased uses rather an extensive misuse of antibiotics due to easy availability and easy access have resulted in antibiotic resistance as a global crisis. The speed of discovery of new antibiotics has slowed down recently. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the rate of increase in resistance against the presently available antibiotics, or else many infections may be left untreatable or difficult to be treated due to the high prevalence of resistance. ⋯ Hence, recent molecular methods like qPCR can be used for detection. In this review, we present an overview of various methods useful for the detection of antibiotic resistance, with emphasis on their advantages and limitations. The review also emphasizes qPCR to be the most preferred method out of all because of various advantageous factors.
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In patients with noncardioembolic acute minor ischemic stroke (AMIS), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin plus clopidogrel within 24 h after stroke onset was more effective than aspirin alone. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of DAPT in AMIS patients with an onset-to-door time (OTDT) of more than 24 h. ⋯ In patients with AMIS and an OTDT of more than 24 h, DAPT was associated with a favorable outcome at 90 days.
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Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a novel disease associated with COVID-19. The COVID-19 epidemic peaked in May 2022 in Taiwan, and we encountered our first case of MIS-C in late May 2022. We aimed to present patients' clinical manifestations and identify risk factors for shock. ⋯ MIS-C patients with high initial procalcitonin levels have higher risks of experiencing shock and may need ICU admission.