Publications by authors named "El-Wui Loh"
Introduction: The minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) that adopts paramedian incisions and tubular retractors to perform the decompression and interbody fusion has been widely used in the surgery for lumber degenerative disease (LDD). Bilateral pedicle screw fixation (BPSF) and unilateral pedicle screw fixation (UPSF) are the primary fixing techniques in MIS-TLIF. We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy and safety between UPSF and BPSF in patients undergoing MIS-TLIF surgery for LDD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lag screw fixation (LSF) or locking plate fixation (LPF) are both recommended for the treatment of medial malleolar fractures (MMFs). However, no standard has been established for attaining optimal surgical treatment or functional recovery. We hypothesized that LPF for MMFs would result in superior outcomes compared to LSF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Insufficient data available for older patients with breast cancer complicates decision-making regarding optimal treatment. A systematic review that uses real-world data is required for assessing the effectiveness and potential adverse effects of various therapies for this age group of patients.
Methods: Databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched.
Background: The optimal treatment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) remains uncertain. This systematic review aimed to comprehensively investigate the efficacy and safety of four palliative treatments for malignant GOO: gastrojejunostomy, endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE), stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy (PGJ), and endoscopic stenting.
Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, ClinicalTrials.
Background: Corneal neovascularization (CoNV) is the second major cause of blindness. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, , bevacizumab, have been used to prevent CoNV.
Aim: We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to examine the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF in CoNV.
Article Synopsis
- Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer, and the study evaluates breast-conserving therapy (BCT) as an alternative to mastectomy for patients responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
- The analysis reviewed 17 studies, showing similar local recurrence rates and 5-year survival rates for patients undergoing BCT and those undergoing mastectomy.
- Despite promising results for BCT, concerns about the low sentinel lymph node detection rate and high false-negative rate indicate a need for more extensive clinical studies.
Objective: Thyroid nodules are common and sometimes associated with cosmetic issues. Surgical treatment has several disadvantages, including visible scarring. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a recent noninvasive treatment for thyroid nodules.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Holistic health care considers all aspects of patient care, namely the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects. To assess which patient needs are unmet, a screening questionnaire covering the four aforementioned aspects is required. Therefore, the Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care (SPARC), a multidimensional, self-reported questionnaire designed to screen patients regardless of diagnosis, was developed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - Proximal humerus fractures can severely impact function if not correctly treated, with the greater tuberosity's (GT) condition playing a key role in recovery outcomes; this study aims to assess the link between GT complications and patient prognosis.
- - A retrospective study of 387 patients who underwent surgical fixation from 2019-2021 identified 94 suitable cases, comparing demographics and clinical outcomes among matched groups.
- - Findings indicate that both GT resorption/malreduction and obesity significantly affect post-operative recovery, highlighting the need for careful surgical planning and comprehensive post-operative care for better outcomes.
Background: Intubation is an essential procedure in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials and studies comparing the performance of video laryngoscope (VL) and direct laryngoscope (DL) in endotracheal intubation (ETI) during CPR in cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients.
Methods: We searched the PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases.
Objective: Predicting disease relapse and early intervention could reduce symptom severity. We attempted to identify potential indicators that predict the duration to next admission for an acute affective episode in patients with bipolar I disorder.
Methods: We mathematically defined the duration to next psychiatric admission and performed single-variate regressions using historical data of 101 patients with bipolar I disorder to screen for potential variables for further multivariate regressions.
Effects of quetiapine on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol
February 2023
Article Synopsis
- - Quetiapine, an off-label antipsychotic, has shown to improve sleep quality and total sleep time in various populations compared to placebo, with the most effective results observed in individuals with general anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and healthy participants.
- - The study conducted a meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials, indicating that the drug's efficacy varied with dosage, demonstrating improved sleep outcomes primarily at doses of 50 mg and 150 mg, but adverse events were common among users.
- - While quetiapine can be beneficial for sleep, caution is advised, particularly for older adults, due to variability in results and the potential for significant side effects; initial dosages should be carefully monitored, especially in the
Role of air pollutants in dengue fever incidence: evidence from two southern cities in Taiwan.
Pathog Glob Health
September 2023
Air pollution may be involved in spreading dengue fever (DF) besides rainfalls and warmer temperatures. While particulate matter (PM), especially those with diameter of 10 μm (PM10) or 2.5 μm or less (PM25), and NO2 increase the risk of coronavirus 2 infection, their roles in triggering DF remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhey protein (WP) can increase insulin secretion, produce an incretin effect, delay gastric emptying, and regulate appetite, resulting in improved glycemic control. We hypothesized that WP supplementation is associated with postprandial glycemia regulation in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and conducted a quantitative meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to test this hypothesis. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus databases, and the ClinicalTrials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: Prolonged tracheostomy tube placement leads to depression, communicative inconvenience, reduced life quality, and health complications. We retrospectively examined the effects of a modified Singh's algorithm (MOSA) care bundle in tracheostomy tube removal in patients with neurological sequelae.
Methods: We retrieved medical records of 22 tracheostomized patients admitted to our early rehabilitation ward from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020 and compared their clinical outcomes before and after the MOSA introduction.
Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT)-induced mucocutaneous side effects remain a clinical challenge in cancer patients. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a key molecule in tissue regeneration, may relieve these side effects. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of HA on RT-induced side effects in patients with cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: Perinatal negative emotions are common in parturient women, but the problems are often ignored. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effectiveness of aromatherapy for intrapartum anxiety (IPA) and postpartum emotional symptoms (PES).
Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, and ClinicalTrials.
Article Synopsis
- Procedural sedation helps ease discomfort and anxiety in patients but can lead to problems like airway obstruction and low oxygen levels.
- This systematic review compared high-flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO) to standard oxygen therapy in adult patients during sedation, focusing on whether HFNO prevents low oxygen saturation.
- Results showed that patients using HFNO had a significantly lower risk of experiencing low oxygen levels and maintained higher overall oxygen saturation compared to those using standard oxygen therapy.
Article Synopsis
- A meta-analysis explored whether omentectomy (removal of the omentum) is beneficial during gastrectomy for gastric cancer compared to preserving the omentum.
- The analysis included nine studies with 3,561 patients and found no significant differences in overall survival, relapse-free survival, or recurrence rates between the two approaches.
- Additionally, preserving the omentum led to shorter surgery times and less blood loss, suggesting that omentectomy might not be necessary.
Objective: Surgery for head and neck cancers are associated with significant preoperative stress. We investigated the effects of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on postoperative pain, fatigue, and vital signs in patients with head and neck cancers.
Methods: All patients were hospitalized and randomly assigned to intervention or usual care groups.
The intracellular microRNAs that negatively regulate Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathways in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, that the distribution of these microRNAs in exosomes could be a biomarker of central nervous system diseases is just beginning to be explored. In the present study, we isolated serum exosomes from patients with MDD and healthy controls to explore the levels of exosomal microRNAs, including let-7e, miR-21-5p, miR-223, miR-145, miR-146a, and miR-155.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: A rise of endogenous oxytocin (OT) is associated with anxiety and meal size reduction, and the effects of intranasal OT (INOT) have been examined in the management of food intake and craving. However, the discrepancy INOT effects in different disease populations are not entirely clear.
Research Design And Methods: Updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess how shared decision making (SDM), using patient decision aids, affects mothers' feelings of decisional conflict and regret regarding postpartum infant care choices.
- Researchers randomized 196 pregnant women into SDM and classic groups and evaluated their decision-making experiences after delivery using specific scales to measure decisional conflict and regret.
- Results showed that the SDM group felt more confident and sure about their choices compared to the classic group, but there was no significant difference in decisional regret or care choice preferences between the groups.