J Formos Med Assoc
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In a recent study, we found that baicalin exhibited a potent analgesic effect on carrageenan-evoked thermal hyperalgesia. The underlining mechanisms may be associated with inhibition of inflammatory mediator overproduction, including proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In the present study, we examined the effect of baicalin on the antinociceptive effect of morphine and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn in neuropathic pain rats. ⋯ The present findings suggest that baicalin can ameliorate neuropathic pain by suppressing HDAC1 expression and preventing histone-H3 acetylation in the spinal cord dorsal horn of SNL rats.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
New 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 does not increase blood loss during major abdominal surgery - a randomized, controlled trial.
Ideal fluid management during surgery still poses a clinical dilemma gauging the benefits and adverse effects. This randomized controlled trial compared the tissue perfusion and coagulation profiles under clinically equivalent hydroxyethyl starch (HES 130/0.4) and lactated Ringer's solution (LR). ⋯ HES 130/0.4 is a more efficient intravascular volume expander to maintain tissue perfusion than conventional crystalloid. Transient hypocoagulability induced by HES 130/0.4 does not warrant excessive blood loss and blood transfusion.
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To investigate the prevalence of common viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in hospitalized infants with acute bronchiolitis and study the relationship between bronchiolitis and meteorological conditions. ⋯ Although respiratory syncytial virus was the most frequent pathogen in patients in whom bronchiolitis was diagnosed, other pathogens, including newly identified viruses and MP, also play important roles in infants with bronchiolitis. Different respiratory pathogens have different traits in response to certain meteorological conditions.
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Code stroke systems are widely implemented to expedite acute stroke treatment. Although this system requires considerable resources, so far no reimbursement has been provided by the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) in Taiwan. We investigated how often a code stroke was initiated and the percentage of patients treated with intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator, and draw attention to the resulting mismatch. ⋯ The majority of code stroke patients were stroke patients; however, most of them could not be treated with thrombolytic therapy. These findings underscore the need for further support from the BNHI in order for health-care providers to implement the code stroke systems successfully.
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The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is a region-specific functional outcome measure designed for patients with lower extremity musculoskeletal dysfunction. In this study, a Taiwan Chinese version was adapted and its validity and reliability were tested. ⋯ The Taiwan Chinese version of the LEFS questionnaire is a valid and reliable measure of health status for patients with lower extremity disorders.