J Formos Med Assoc
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Acute urinary bladder distension (AUBD) can activate bladder mechanical afferent and renal sympathetic nerves, which contributes to renal vasoconstriction. We hypothesized that AUBD-induced renal sympathetic activation may contribute to inflammatory responses and end-organ damage via activation of angiotensin-II-receptor-mediated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and leukocyte infiltration in the kidney. ⋯ Acute urinary retention enhances renal sympathetic activity, which causes renal vasoconstriction and increases oxidative stress, adhesion-molecule expression and leukocyte infiltration in the rat kidney via the angiotensin II type 1 receptor pathway.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Combination of low-dose nalbuphine and morphine in patient-controlled analgesia decreases incidence of opioid-related side effects.
The addition of ultra-low-dose naloxone to patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine reduces opioid-related side effects. Nalbuphine, a mixed opioid agonist-antagonist, may be able to attenuate opioid-related side effects. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of combined low-dose nalbuphine and morphine in PCA for postoperative pain control after gynecological surgery. ⋯ Combination of low-dose nalbuphine and morphine in PCA decreases the incidence of opioid-related nausea, without affecting the analgesia and PCA requirement. This novel combination can improve the quality of PCA used for postoperative pain control after gynecological surgery.
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Few studies have compared methods of suicide used by women in different countries. This study compared methods used by women in South Korea, Taiwan, Sweden and the United States. ⋯ Different countries contrast greatly in the agents used in suicide by poisoning but not in patterns of violent methods used.
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In 2003, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak resulted in 8096 probable cases and 774 deaths in 26 countries. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of the SARS outbreak on hospitalization for chronic ambulatory-care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs) in Taiwan. ⋯ Admission rates for most ACSCs, except for diabetes, did not change in the post-SARS period. The reductions in outpatient utilization during the SARS outbreak did not appear to affect adversely admissions for most ACSCs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, comparative study of human anti-TNF antibody adalimumab in combination with methotrexate and methotrexate alone in Taiwanese patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.
Adalimumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, which is effective in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of adalimumab plus methotrexate (MTX) and MTX alone in Taiwanese patients with active RA. ⋯ Adalimumab in combination with MTX is well tolerated and provides significantly more clinical benefits than MTX alone in Taiwanese patients with active RA.