J Formos Med Assoc
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Observational Study
Identification and management of contraindicated drug-drug interactions through pharmaceutical care programs: Experience in direct-acting antivirals therapy.
To investigate the impact of pharmaceutical care programs for the management of contraindicated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy. ⋯ The implementation of pharmaceutical care programs in DAA therapy provides a favorable outcome and substantial cost avoidance.
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Risk factors associated with longer stays in cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit after CABG.
Monitoring ICU length of stay (LOS) after CABG and examining its risk factors can guide initiatives on the improvement of care. But few have evaluated this issue to include personal and clinical factors, and demands of ICU care. This study applied Donabedian model to identify risk factors for longer ICU stays after CABG. Lifestyle, clinical factors during and after CABG, TISS were viewed as structure factors, and infection and organ failures during ICU did as process factors. ⋯ Further quality improvement initiatives to shorten ICU stay after CABG may include the promotion of a smoking cessation program in clinical practice, and better management of the manpower allocation, infection control and renal failure.
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Idiopathic (isolated) hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is a rare disease that can be classified as Kallmann syndrome (KS) or normosmic IHH (nIHH). This study investigated the phenotype and genotype of IHH in Taiwanese patients. ⋯ Whole exome sequencing is useful in patients with IHH, and we identified the SOX11 gene as a causal factor in this study. We described the clinical, hormonal, and molecular characteristics, and the treatment outcomes, of Taiwanese patients with IHH, which should aid therapeutic planning and further research.
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The unpredictable condition of cracked teeth warrants further investigation and clinical experiences. The purpose of this study was to collect and record data on demographics, clinical characteristics, different treatment modalities and survival of cracked teeth at 6-month, 1-year and 2-year recalls. ⋯ The absence of pre-operative palpation discomfort, spontaneous pain and minimal mobility, as well as the presence of pulp vitality were associated with higher survival rates of cracked teeth at all recall times. Results are useful for diagnosis and outcomes-based treatment planning of cracked teeth.
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To investigate the clinical characteristics of intraocular lymphoma and to evaluate two protocols of intravitreal methotrexate injection. ⋯ Intravitreal methotrexate is an effective and repeatable treatment for intraocular lymphoma. A new protocol with reduced frequency of intravitreal injections as shown in this study could potentially produce similar results without a worse prognosis, along with a decrease in the incidence of keratitis.