J Formos Med Assoc
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Perceived pain for orthodontic patients with conventional brackets or self-ligating brackets over 1 month period: A single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial.
The objective of this 2-arm parallel trial was to test the superiority of self-ligating brackets (SLB) over conventional brackets (CB) in terms of perceived pain for orthodontic patients. ⋯ The results of this study indicated no evidence that the pain intensity differs between CB and SLB at 4 h, 24 h, 3 days, 1 week and 1 month.
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This study sought to elucidate the mechanism by which losartan inhibits blood pressure (BP) elevation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). ⋯ The study results showed that the reduction of BP elevation by losartan in SHRs occurs through the suppression of LARG expression and MYPT-1 phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells.
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The application of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) reduces the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in comparison with vitamin K antagonist (VKA). However, the features and outcomes of NOAC-associated ICH are still unclear, especially for Asian populations. ⋯ There were no significant differences in initial ICH volume, 90-day mortality, or functional outcomes between NOAC and VKA-associated ICH in Asians.
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The major dose-limiting toxicity of ribavirin is hemolytic anemia. We investigated the incidence, risk factors and impact on virological response of anemia in chronic hepatitis C genotype 2 patients receiving sofosbuvir plus ribavirin therapy. ⋯ Severe anemia was not uncommon during sofosbuvir plus ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C genotype 2 patients. Careful monitoring of anemia is necessary in patients with chronic kidney disease and low baseline hemoglobin level and platelet count.
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Patients with cancer are eligible for hospice care when their life expectancy is 180 days or shorter. This study investigated the prognostic factors of patients with cancer and sepsis who were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) to assist with clinical decisions of hospice care. ⋯ APACHE II score and the cancer control status may be the prognostic factors for critically ill patients with cancer and sepsis, and they may be helpful for evaluating hospice care.