J Formos Med Assoc
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Stroke is one of the most devastating complications after cardiac surgery. Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) has been reported to offer a lower risk of stroke. However, limited information was available on timing and mechanisms of stroke after OPCAB. We sought to assess the incidence, timing, and mechanisms of stroke after OPCAB. ⋯ The incidence of stroke after systematic OPCAB was low. Early and delayed strokes were equally distributed. Stroke mechanisms were predominantly embolic. Early and delayed stroke differed in their mechanisms. Early and delayed stroke should be considered as two separate entities and different preventive strategies should be applied in future intervention.
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There are few studies on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) reported from Taiwan and Asian countries. We conducted a prospective study to investigate the frequency of HIT in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries. ⋯ Our study is the first report on the rates of HIT in the setting of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in Taiwan and demonstrated no clinical HIT occurrence, despite the high frequency of HIT antibody in our cohort.
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Folic acid deficiency (FAD) may result in macrocytic anemia. This study assessed the hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in oral mucosal disease patients with FAD (defined as folic acid ≤ 6 ng/mL). ⋯ In addition to macrocytic anemia (2.0%), FAD patients may have concomitant normocytic (23.7%) or microcytic (11.1%) anemia.