Innovative project to improve the accessibility of advanced wound care among chronic wound patients in Yunlin County, Taiwan: "Fight Out to CARE".

Yunlin County, Taiwan, faces healthcare challenges given its super-aged population, limited medical accessibility, and a rise in chronic wounds. To address these issues, we introduced the "Fight Out to CARE" project, dispatching wound nurses to patients' locations to perform Cleansing, Avoidance, Removal, and Enhancement (CARE) under tele-supervision from a plastic surgeon. The program was conducted weekly in 2018 and twice monthly in 2019 for 53 weeks.

Significant reduction in full-thickness pressure injuries through the quality improvement project that implements alternating pressure air mattresses.

To assess a quality improvement project using alternating pressure air mattresses' impact on reducing full-thickness pressure injuries by enhancing setting accuracy and device utilization. We retrospectively evaluated adult acute care unit patients with inclusion criteria (Braden scores ≤12 or existing full-thickness pressure injuries) between May 2020 and August 2023. A wound team attempted to enhance the accuracy, utilization and effectiveness of alternating pressure air mattress implementation.

The relationship between pulse pressure with plasma PCSK9 and interleukin-6 among patients with acute ischemic stroke and dyslipidemia.

Background And Purpose: A high plasma concentration of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 is characteristic of a prothrombotic state in cardiovascular diseases. Elevated inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6, are associated with worse outcomes after ischemic stroke. We aimed to study the role of plasma PCSK9 and IL-6 in acute ischemic stroke with dyslipidemia.

Reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification assay for rapid detection of the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 H275Y mutation that confers oseltamivir resistance.

The emergence of the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus with the NA-H275Y mutation, which confers oseltamivir resistance, must be monitored, especially in patients undergoing neuraminidase inhibitor treatment. In this study, we developed a reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification assay that has high sensitivity (detection limit: 1.0 × 10 copies/μL) and specificity for detecting the oseltamivir-resistant H275Y mutation; the assay is performed within 30 min at a constant temperature of 39° Celsius using an isothermal device.

Association of cyclophilin A level and pulse pressure in predicting recurrence of cerebral infarction.

Cyclophilin A (CypA), secreted from vascular smooth muscle cells and inflammatory cells in response to oxidative stress, promotes vascular atherosclerosis and development of carotid stenosis. Increased concentration of plasma CypA in acute cerebral infarction was demonstrated clinically. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact between CypA level and outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Cyclophilin A: A Predictive Biomarker of Carotid Stenosis in Cerebral Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Cyclophilin A plays a pathogenic role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, which can be assessed by measuring carotid intima-media thickness. The primary aim of this study was to examine the interaction between plasma Cyclophilin A level and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Method: Plasma concentration of Cyclophilin A was measured on admission in 66 consecutive patients who had been hospitalized for acute cerebral stroke and in 52 case-control subjects without a history of acute stroke.

Patients with Cerebral Stroke Have an Increased Risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Medical complications following stroke often result in significant morbidity. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) between patients with stroke and those without stroke in Taiwan.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Clinical analysis of hyperkalemia after esophagectomy: A case report.

Rationale: The occurrence of hyperkalemia after esophagectomy is clinically rare. Patients who underwent esophagectomy often have a serum potassium level due to perioperative reduced intake, fluids loss, consumption and other reasons. These patients often require the artificial administration of potassium.

Increased risk of concurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease among patients with Sjögren's syndrome: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Little data is available on the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome.

Methods: We identified 4650 Sjögren's syndrome patients between 2000 and 2011 from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Each Sjögren's syndrome patient was matched to 4 controls based on age, sex, and index year, and all subjects were followed up from the index date to December 31, 2011.

High prevalence of herpes zoster in patients with depression.

Objective: Patients diagnosed with depression are at an elevated risk of physical illness. Researchers have noted that depression negatively affects immune function and leads to increased susceptibility to infection, including herpes zoster. Few epidemiologic studies have been conducted on whether patients with depression are at a higher risk of herpes zoster.

Adverse events of monoclonal antibodies used for cancer therapy.

In 1997, the first monoclonal antibody (MoAb), the chimeric anti-CD20 molecule rituximab, was approved by the US Food and Drug administration for use in cancer patients. Since then, the panel of MoAbs that are approved by international regulatory agencies for the treatment of hematopoietic and solid malignancies has continued to expand, currently encompassing a stunning amount of 20 distinct molecules for 11 targets. We provide a brief scientific background on the use of MoAbs in cancer therapy, review all types of monoclonal antibodies-related adverse events (e.

Topotecan combined with Ifosfamide, Etoposide, and L-asparaginase (TIEL) regimen improves outcomes in aggressive T-cell lymphoma.

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a new regimen consisting of Topotecan, Ifosfamide, Etoposide, and L-asparaginase (TIEL) in treating aggressive T-cell lymphoma. Twenty-four patients were included in the research, eighteen males and six females. Half of the patients were in stages III and IV, and nearly half of them experienced failure of at least one regimen.

The association of peptic ulcer and schizophrenia: a population-based study.

Background: The association of schizophrenia with peptic ulcer is not conclusive. In the last 30years, there has been little evaluation of peptic ulcer among schizophrenia patients.

Methods: To explore the relation of peptic ulcer and schizophrenia during this new phase, we used the data from Taiwan insurance claims, identified 1496 schizophrenia patients (ICD-9-CM: 295) and selected 5984 non-schizophrenia controls that were frequency-matched by sex, age, and index year with schizophrenia patients during the years 1998-2001.

Patients with epilepsy are at an increased risk of subsequent stroke: a population-based cohort study.

Purpose: Epilepsy is well known as a disorder in poststroke patients. However, studies that have investigated the association between epilepsy and the risk of subsequent stroke are limited. This population-based study investigated the incidence and risk of stroke in patients with epilepsy by using the Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data.

Cyclophilin-A: a novel biomarker for untreated male essential hypertension.

Vascular cytokines, total nitrite, and cyclophilin-A (CyP-A) may be related to the pathogenesis of untreated hypertension. Forty males with normotensive and untreated essential hypertension were recruited in this cytokines survey. Body mass index (BMI), hyperlipidemia, and plasma CyP-A were increased in the hypertensive group (p < 0.

Folfox4 regimen administered through combined hepatic arterial and systemic infusion for treatment of colorectal cancer with unresectable liver metastases.

Background: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastases is under evaluation because of the high target dose and low general toxicity. To investigate the efficacy and safety of a Folfox4 regimen administered through a combined hepatic arterial and systemic infusion for the first-line treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) with unresectable liver metastases.

Methods: Twenty-seven CRC patients with unresectable hepatic metastases and no prior chemotherapy were enrolled into the study.

Endostar combined with chemotherapy for treatment of metastatic colorectal and gastric cancer: a pilot study.

Background: Antiangiogenesis is a promising field of cancer therapy. Endostar, a novel recombinant human endostatin, is one of the few approved drugs acting as angiogenesis inhibitors of cancer in China. However, there are few clinical studies about Endostar in gastrointestinal cancer.

[Comparative study on two types of 3S and P-loops digestive reconstruction after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer].

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of 3S-type and P-loops digestive reconstruction after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods: From February 2005 to February 2009, 85 cases underwent total gastrectomy in The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology. Two types of digestive reconstruction were performed with 3S-type jejunum(n=46) and P-loops Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy(n=39).

The risk of temporomandibular disorder in patients with depression: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: This study used a population-based retrospective cohort design to examine whether depression is a risk factor of temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Methods: From a universal insurance database, we identified 7587 patients who are newly diagnosed individuals with depression in 2000 and 2001. A total of 30,197 comparison subjects were randomly selected from a nondepression cohort.

Schizophrenia patients at higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia: a population-based study.

Objective: This study investigates risks of developing diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and hyperlipidemia in treating schizophrenia with first- and second-generation antipsychotics (FGA and SGA, respectively).

Methods: We established two study sets, each consisting of patients with schizophrenia and without schizophrenia, from the insurance claims from 1997 to 2000. Study set I had 1631 patients taking FGA and 6524 non-schizophrenia controls; the other had 1224 patients taking SGA and 4896 controls.

[Clinical pathological characteristics and treatment patterns of breast cancer in elderly women].

Objective: To summarize the clinical pathological characteristics and treatment patterns of breast cancer in elderly women.

Methods: A total of 87 patients (≥ 60 years) admitted to our hospital between January and December 2007 were included in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into 60-69-year group and ≥ 70-year group, and their clinical pathological data and treatment modes were summarized and compared.

[Comparison of the therapeutic effects of paclitaxel liposome-5-Fu versus paclitaxel-5-Fu on 67 patients with advanced gastric cancer].

Objective: To explore the efficacy, time to disease progression (TTP), overall survival (OS) and toxicity of paclitaxel liposome versus paclitaxel combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: The therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy with either of the two regimens for 67 cases of naïve advanced gastric cancer was analyzed. Among them, 31 patients in the paclitaxel liposome-5-Fu group received paclitaxel liposome 175 mg/m(2) d1, CF 200 mg/m(2) d1, 5-Fu 2.

[Long-term effects of androgen combined with low dose all-trans-retinoic acid on myelodysplastic syndrome: follow-up of 60 cases].

Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of androgen combined with low dose all-trans-retinoic acid on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Methods: Sixty-two MDS patients, 48 with RA, 2 of RAS, 9 with RA with excess of blasts (RAEB), 2 with RAEB-transformation (RAEB-t ), and 1 with chronic myelogenous-monocytic leukemia (CMML) according to the FAB subtype standard, received stanazolol (6 mg/d) or danazol (600 mg/d) and low dose all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA 10 mg/d). Three months later the treatment was discontinued on 22 patients that showed ineffective and 2 more patients withdrew from the treatment due to exacerbation.

[Efficacy and safety of combination of irinotecan and capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan combined with xeloda (CAPIRI regimen) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin.

Methods: Totally 38 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin were enrolled. Patients received xeloda 1 000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on day 1 to 14 and intravenous irinotecan 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8 every 3 weeks.