J Formos Med Assoc
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Case Reports
A new reportable disease is born: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control's response to emerging Zika virus infection.
Zika virus infection, usually a mild disease transmitted through the bite of Aedes mosquitos, has been reported to be possibly associated with microcephaly and neurologic complications. Taiwan's first imported case of Zika virus infection was found through fever screening at airport entry in January 2016. No virus was isolated from patient's blood taken during acute illness; however, PCR products showed that the virus was of Asian lineage closely related to virus from Cambodia. ⋯ Besides the first imported case, no additional cases of Zika virus infection have been identified. Furthermore, no significant increase in the number of microcephaly or Guillain- Barré Syndrome has been observed in Taiwan. To date, there have been no autochthonous transmissions of Zika virus infection.
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Extended hormonal therapy with tamoxifen for > 5 years has improved disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to identify the HR-positive breast cancer women who need adjuvant tamoxifen for > 5 years. ⋯ Our findings suggest that HR-positive breast cancer women either aged < 40 years or with positive lymph node status were justified in continuing with tamoxifen therapy for > 5 years.
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The time required to reach oxygenation equilibrium after positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) adjustments in mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is unclear. We used electrical impedance tomography to elucidate gas distribution and factors related to oxygenation status following PEEP in patients with ARDS. ⋯ Late improvements in oxygenation following PEEP escalation are probably due to slow recruitment in ventilated ARDS patients. Electrical impedance tomography may be an appropriate tool to assess recruitment and oxygenation status in patients with changes in PEEP.
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Lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (CT) has been reported to reduce lung cancer-specific mortality for smokers at high risk. However, despite different characteristics of lung cancer in Asia, there are few data concerning this specific population for screening. We aim to analyze the performance of lung cancer screening with low-dose CT concurrent with chest radiography in Taiwan, with reference to international experience. ⋯ Low-dose CT is effective to detect early lung cancers. Further establishment of selection criteria for lung cancer screening, specifically for Asian individuals, is definitely warranted.
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Comparative Study
Patients receiving comprehensive periodontal treatment have better clinical outcomes than patients receiving conventional periodontal treatment.
In Taiwan, more than 90% of people aged 35-44 years have periodontal disease. To reduce periodontal disease in Taiwanese people, the National Health Insurance (NHI) system included the comprehensive periodontal treatment project (CPTP) in 2010. The CPTP mainly emphasizes oral hygiene instruction, plaque control, and check-up compliance, with the goal of providing complete, continual, and high-quality periodontal care to patients. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the patients receiving comprehensive periodontal treatment had better clinical outcomes than those receiving conventional periodontal treatment. ⋯ We conclude that the patients receiving comprehensive periodontal treatment have better clinical outcomes than the patients receiving conventional periodontal treatment.