J Formos Med Assoc
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Immunogenicity and safety of heterologous mRNA-1273/MVC-COV1901 vaccination versus homologous mRNA1273 vaccination: A randomized, double-blind controlled study.
MVC-COV1901 is a protein vaccine based on the same SARS-CoV-2 strain used in mRNA vaccine mRNA-1273. Data are lacking on immunogenicity and safety of MVC-COV1901 as heterologous boost for people already received one dose of mRNA-1273. ⋯ Our results show that heterologous boost with MVC-COV1901 yielded an inferior immunogenicity but significantly fewer adverse events, compared with homologous boost with mRNA-1273. In people experienced severe adverse events after prime dose of mRNA-1273, as well as in periods when the supply of mRNA-1273 is limited, MVC-COV1901 could serve as an acceptable alternative heterologous boost.
-
To assess whether the number of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants treated annually in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Taiwan affects the mortality and morbidity of this patient population. ⋯ The mortality risk was higher among ELBW infants admitted to NICUs with a low annual patient volume. This may emphasize the importance of systematically referring patients from these vulnerable populations to appropriate care settings.
-
Thirty-day hospital readmission rate significantly raised with advanced age. The performance of existing predictive models for readmission risk remained uncertain in the oldest population. We aimed to examine the effect of geriatric conditions and multimorbidity on readmission risk among older adults aged 80 and over. ⋯ In addition to multimorbidity, history of falls and frailty were associated with higher hospital readmission risk in the oldest.
-
Neonatal jaundice might result brain insults. Both autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are developmental disorders, which might result from early brain injury at neonatal period. We aimed to explore the association between neonatal jaundice treated with phototherapy and the ASD or ADHD. ⋯ Neonatal jaundice correlated with the ASD and ADHD. The associations were significant in infants of both sexes and with birth weights larger than 2500 grams.
-
Since government-provided annual cervical cytology testing for all Taiwanese women aged 30 years or older became available in 1995, both cervical cancer incidence and death have decreased significantly. However, with the 2018 introduction of the national immunization program for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in all schoolgirls aged 13-15 years old, the positive predictive value of cytology testing is expected to decrease with rising vaccination rates, and therefore a transition to more sensitive HPV-based testing may be needed. ⋯ The recommendations include concrete suggestions regarding testing procedures, standards, accreditation, monitoring, promotion, and implementation. It is hoped that comprehensive preparation and management of this transition will enable Taiwan to repeat the previous successes of the cervical cytology testing program.