J Formos Med Assoc
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The association between herpetic/bacterial co-infection and periodontal diseases has been reported. However, how interactions between herpesviruses and periodontal bacteria dampen periodontal inflammation is still unclear. This study determined effects of co-infection with oral bacteria, including Streptococcus sanguinis, Fusobacterium nucleatum or Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-infected oral epithelial cells. ⋯ In contrast to S. sanguinis and F. nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans enhanced the yield of HSV-1. Either HSV-1 or A. actinomycetemcomitans may be benefited from co-infection, in aspects of increases in production of viral and bacterial DNA as well as reductions in cytokine secretion. These findings echoed with previous clinical studies showing co-infection of HSV and A. actinomycetemcomitans in patients with aggressive periodontitis.
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Meta Analysis
The association of changes of sleep architecture related to donepezil: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Donepezil had been recognized to have impact on sleep quality in demented patients. However, there was insufficient evidences about the actual effect of donepezil in the sleep architectures. Our meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the changes of sleep architectures related to donepezil use. ⋯ Our meta-analysis provided detailed changes of sleep architectures related to donepezil treatment. Further larger sample size studies with stricter control of potential moderators are needed to clarify these issues.
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In patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), the left atrial appendage occluder (LAAO) is an alternative treatment for stroke prevention. However, the long-term outcomes in Asia was generally unknown. ⋯ This long-term follow-up study shows that percutaneous closure of LAA is a safe and technically feasible procedure with satisfactory outcomes in Asia. The procedure success rate, efficacy and adverse event were similar to those reported in the Caucasian populations.
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Efficacy and cost-effectiveness analysis of post-acute care for elderly patients with hip fractures.
Hip fractures are associated with physical dysfunction, and poor quality of life in the elderly. Post-acute care (PAC) would facilitate functional recovery in patients with hip fractures after surgeries. Taiwan has proposed a nationwide PAC program for hip fractures since 2017, but little has been known about its effectiveness. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the PAC program for hip fracture patients in Taiwan. ⋯ Both PAC programs would significantly improve the physical function and quality of life in patients with hip fractures. However, the home-based PAC provided the best CER for BI and EQ-5D.