J Formos Med Assoc
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The study aimed to describe respiratory syncytial virus infections among hospitalized adults between January 2021 and February 2023 from a single medical center in Taiwan. Clinical information from infected patients with RSV was via medical charts review. ⋯ A quarter of infected patients required intensive care with overall mortality reached 26.3 % and the readmission rates within 30 days after was 15.8 %. Our study results suggests that RSV infections among adults could cause a substantial disease burden on healthcare systems.
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Patients with esophageal cancer who undergo minimally invasive esophagectomy are at risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy delivers humidified, warmed positive airway pressure but has not been applied routinely after surgery. Here, we aimed to compare high-flow nasal cannula and conventional oxygen therapy in patients with esophageal cancer during intensive care unit hospitalization 48 h postoperatively. ⋯ HFNCO therapy significantly reduced postoperative pulmonary complication incidence after elective MIE in patients with esophageal cancer without increasing the risk of anastomotic leakage.
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School-based cardiac screening is useful for identifying children and adolescents with a high risk of sudden cardiac death. However, because of challenges associated with cost, distance, and human resources, cardiac screening is not widely implemented, especially in rural areas with limited medical resources. This study aims to establish a cloud-based system suitable for mass cardiac screening of schoolchildren in rural areas with limited medical resources. ⋯ An innovative strategy combining a cloud-based cardiac screening system with remote consultation by crowdsourced experts was established. This system allows pediatric cardiologists to provide consultation and make reliable diagnoses. Combined with crowdsourcing, the system constitutes a viable approach for mass cardiac screening in children and adolescents living in rural areas with insufficient medical resources.
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Chronic fatigue root fracture describes a root fracture in a non-root canal treated (non-RCT) tooth. This study aimed to report the incidence and contributing factors of non-RCT teeth with chronic fatigue root fracture in a Taiwanese population. ⋯ The incidence of chronic fatigue root fracture is 0.76%. Both VRF and HRF occur mainly in aged males, in posterior teeth with attrition, and in teeth without restoration. Tooth position, cross-section root morphology, and terminal tooth are contributing factors related to chronic fatigue root fracture.
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Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which ultimately leads to liver cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains a significant disease burden worldwide. Despite the use of antiviral therapy (AVT) using oral nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUCs) with high genetic barriers, the risk of HCC development cannot be completely eliminated. Therefore, bi-annual surveillance of HCC using abdominal ultrasonography with or without tumor markers is recommended for at-risk populations. ⋯ Recently, non-invasive surrogate markers for liver fibrosis, such as vibration-controlled transient elastography, have been introduced as integral components of the equations, providing better predictive performance in general. Furthermore, beyond the conventional statistical methods that primarily depend on multi-variable Cox regression analyses based on the previous literature, newer techniques using artificial intelligence have also been applied in the design of HCC prediction models. Here, we aimed to review the HCC risk prediction models that were developed in the era of potent AVT and validated among independent cohorts to address the clinical unmet needs, as well as comment on future direction to establish the individual HCC risk more precisely.