J Formos Med Assoc
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Observational Study
The impact of ambient temperature on HbA1c in Taiwanese type 2 diabetic patients: The most vulnerable subgroup.
The relationship between temperature variability and HbA1c has been reported in Caucasians, but not for Asians of Taiwanese origin. This study investigated the impact of temperature on HbA1c in various groups of Taiwanese with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan. ⋯ Our study suggests cold weather may adversely affect HbA1c levels in Taiwanese people with type 2 diabetes, especially in people under 65 years old, people with diabetes for longer than 6 years, and those with a BMI < 24.
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Observational Study
Selection of empirical antibiotics for health care-associated pneumonia via integration of pneumonia severity index and risk factors of drug-resistant pathogens.
The pneumonia severity index (PSI) both contains some risk factors of drug-resistant pathogens (DRPs) and represents the severity of health care-associated pneumonia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the PSI could be used to predict DRPs and whether there were risk factors beyond the PSI. ⋯ The findings suggested that PSI plus risk factors predicted the risk of DRPs. PSI II had a low risk of DRPs and could be treated as community-acquired pneumonia. Antibiotics of PSI III and IV with risk factors could be targeted DRPs. PSI V with wound care had a higher risk of MRSA, and empirical anti-MRSA antibiotics could be added.
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Observational Study
Improved performance of new prenotification criteria for acute stroke patients.
We aim to evaluate the accuracy of the new prehospital notification criteria for patients with potential acute stroke in the prehospital setting. ⋯ The accuracy of the new prehospital stroke criteria has higher PPV and specificity compared to previous CPSS validation studies.
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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.