J Formos Med Assoc
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Although many studies have examined the reasons for repeated use of emergency medical service (EMS), little information is available concerning repeated ambulance use in Taiwan. This study evaluated the characteristics of repeated EMS ambulance use in an urban EMS system in Taiwan. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that the characteristics of repeat users of EMS transport differ from those of single users. Characteristics of service time, reason for transport, and interval to each subsequent call varied among different groups of users. Studies of repeat use under a wider range of conditions such as in rural EMS systems and after implementation of a priority-dispatch system are needed to determine the implications of repeated ambulance use.
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This study examined the relationship between maternal weight and serum marker concentrations (alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] and human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG]) to develop a weight-correction formula for second-trimester Down syndrome screening in Taiwan. ⋯ The present study has developed a race-specific weight-correction formula for Taiwanese women. This formula is expected to be helpful in second-trimester Down syndrome screening programs in Taiwan.
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Leptin is important in the regulation of fat mass and body weight. Adipose tissue not only secretes leptin but also serves as a site of action for leptin. This study was designed to examine the relationships among tissue expression of leptin receptors, serum leptin, and body mass index. ⋯ HuB219.1 is the major isoform of leptin receptor expressed in human omental adipose tissue. Our findings suggest that the shorter leptin receptor isoforms in human omental adipose tissue might play an important role in body weight control. Further studies on the inter-relationship between leptin concentrations and multiple leptin receptor isoforms are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism of obesity.
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To retrospectively assess the risk of locoregional recurrence (LRR) and analyze the prognostic factors of this pattern of failure in patients with breast cancer and one to three positive axillary lymph nodes treated with modified radical mastectomy (MRM) without adjuvant radiotherapy. ⋯ LRR after mastectomy is a substantial clinical problem, despite the use of adjuvant chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. Further randomized trials of postmastectomy radiotherapy for patients with one to three positive axillary nodes and specific risk factors are urgently needed to determine its potential benefit in locoregional control and survival, especially for young and ER-negative patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Impact of Helicobacter pylori antimicrobial resistance on the outcome of 1-week lansoprazole-based triple therapy.
To determine the effect of Helicobacter pylori antimicrobial resistance on the efficacy of different proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapies. ⋯ The results indicate that H. pylori antimicrobial resistance is relevant to the success of eradication. The high MR but low CR and AR prevalence among H. pylori isolates in this study suggests that PPI-based triple therapy including amoxicillin and clarithromycin may achieve the most favorable eradication rate.