J Formos Med Assoc
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Multicenter Study
Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6, 12, and 24 months of age in preterm infants with very low birth weights in Taiwan.
To identify perinatal antecedents associated with neurodevelopmental impairment for very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants at ages 6, 12, and 24 months and the stability of neurodevelopmental assessments. ⋯ Multiple perinatal risk factors are associated with poor MDI and PDI scores among VLBW preterm infants. Six-month developmental assessments exhibited low sensitivity and positive predictive values for outcomes at 24 months.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Antibiotic choice for the management of preterm premature rupture of membranes in Taiwanese women.
Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is one of the most common causes of preterm birth. Antibiotic treatment is recommended to prolong the pregnancy course and reduce fetal morbidity in women with PPROM. However, the guidelines for antibiotic selection are based on studies done years ago, mostly in Western countries, which may not reflect the geographic, temporal, and ethnic variation in microbial colonization and infection in other parts of the world. We aimed to understand whether the antibiotics recommended by the current guidelines were sufficient to eradicate the majority of pathogens involved. ⋯ The most appropriate antibiotic therapy for PPROM was a combination of 1 g azithromycin given orally on admission plus a third-generation cephalosporin administered intravenously in the first 48 hours and followed by amoxicillin 500 mg per os for another five days. This recommended antibiotic regimen for women with PPROM needs further study under a randomized clinical trial with a larger study population to evaluate its efficacy.
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Given the complex metabolic pathway of antiretroviral therapy (ART), polypharmacy may increase the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Therefore, we investigated the frequency of DDIs during ART exposure to improve medical care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ⋯ Our study showed a low prevalence of contraindicated DDIs in the HIV population; however, more attention should be paid to a high proportion of potential DDIs. Strategies to avoid these DDIs should be implemented if possible. Further research that focuses on the long-term clinical impact of potential DDIs is warranted.
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Our previous study demonstrated that indirect revascularization is effective in the treatment of adult moyamoya patients. This prospective study aims to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of indirect revascularization in moyamoya patients in middle adulthood. ⋯ Indirect revascularization is a safe method with satisfactory long-term results in moyamoya patient in middle adulthood.
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The long-term disease course and efficacy of maintenance therapies have rarely been investigated in Asian patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). ⋯ Limited form disease and older age at disease onset are associated with a lower relapse rate in NMOSD. Compared to no maintenance therapy, rituximab and immunosuppressant significantly reduce the relapse risks.