J Formos Med Assoc
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Esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) is a medical emergency in patients with portal hypertension (PHT). However, studies on the long-term outcomes of prophylactic endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in pediatric-onset PHT are lacking. ⋯ Primary prophylactic EVL, despite reducing acute EVB, may not change overall survival and biliary atresia transplant-free survival. APRI > 1.24 may predict EV presence at the first EGD and help to schedule a surveillance EGD. Higher direct bilirubin and lower albumin levels at the first EVL may relate to long-term mortality.
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To assess ocular involvement in sarcoidosis and to analyze the manifestations of ocular sarcoidosis (OS) in Taiwan. ⋯ Uveitis is an early sign of sarcoidosis and it might result in several complications. The overall visual outcomes were good if patients received proper treatment. Both poor initial vision and females that tended to have more severe complications were associated with poor outcome.
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As a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, many intellectual property (IP) owners have signed on to the "Open COVID Pledge", an agreement that makes corporate and university IP available free of charge for the purpose of facilitating the development of technologies that will end the pandemic and minimize the impact of disease. Joining this pledge is relatively straightforward for already-disclosed IPs. However, few, if any, has considered how to encourage owners of "non-disclosed patent applications" and "trade secrets" to sign on to this meaningful pledge. In other words, so far there is no proposal to extend the Open COVID Pledge for confidential pending patents and trade secrets. ⋯ This paper offers a way forward to guide pledgers and implementers who are interested in supporting the effort by addressing some of the issues associated with the free sharing of non-disclosed patent applications and trade secrets in the fight against COVID-19.
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Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) was associated with a lower prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The impact of CHB on the link between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and related virological implications remain unclear. ⋯ The data showed that HBV interferes with fatty liver disease and modulates its related T2D risk, offering additional insight into the interplay between NAFLD and CHB.
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This study aims to explore the clinical correlates of myocardial deformations using speckle-tracking algorithm and to determine the prognostic utility of such measures in asymptomatic ethnic Chinese population. ⋯ GLS improved risk stratification of four-tiered classification of LVH in asymptomatic ethnic Chinese.