J Formos Med Assoc
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Ultrasonography is used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) according to various criteria. This diagnostic meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonography for diagnosing CTS, focusing on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve (MN) at the inlet of the carpal tunnel and regional variations in diagnostic thresholds between Asian and non-Asian populations. ⋯ Ultrasonography is a reliable diagnostic method for CTS, with distinct optimal cutoff values observed between Asian and non-Asian populations. Therefore, population-specific diagnostic criteria for CTS are recommended.
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Multicenter Study
Neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in Taiwan: A cross-section, multicenter study.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a global public health threat since December 2019. This study aims to investigate the neurological characteristics and risk factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwanese children, using data from a collaborative registry. ⋯ Neurological complications are common in pediatric COVID-19. Visual hallucination, seizure, behavior change, myoclonic jerk, decreased GCS, and hypoglycemia at admission are the most important warning signs of severe neurological involvement such as encephalitis/ADEM.
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Clinical Trial
Effect of cranial electrotherapy stimulation as an add-on therapy on late-life generalized anxiety disorder: An open-label study.
Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is beneficial in reducing anxiety in psychiatric patients. However, no studies have reported on elderly patients with generalized anxiety disorders (GAD). This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a 6-week CES intervention for late-life GAD. ⋯ CES clinically reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and may improve sleep quality in late-life GAD. Future randomized controlled study is needed.
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Although sporadic case reports have demonstrated successful management of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) by anti-IL-5 therapy, larger-scale monocentric studies for the efficacy of mepolizumab (MEP), an IL-5 monoclonal antibody, are still lacking in Taiwan. ⋯ In this retrospective study, induction therapy with a 12-month 100 mg MEP quadri-weekly subcutaneous injection regimen demonstrates the efficacy and safety for active and relapsing EGPA patients.