Differences in End-of-Life Care Between Patients Who Died of Cancer Diseases and Those Who Died of Noncancer Diseases.

Patients with advanced noncancer diseases or advanced cancer diseases may experience similar symptom burdens during the end of their lives. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in receiving hospice care service and in receiving aggressive end-of-life care between patients who died of cancer diseases and those who died of noncancer diseases. This cross-sectional population-based study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Microforceps-Assisted Transscleral Fixation of Intraocular Lens.

Purpose: This study presents a novel technique for intraocular lens (IOL) fixation. The technique can be used on single-piece acrylic IOLs and can manage patients who are either with aphakia or with a dislocated IOL.

Methods: One end of the Gore-Tex suture is tied into the optic-haptic junction of the IOL.

Palliative Family Conference Reduces the Risk of Death in Intensive Care Units and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation at End of Life.

Palliative family conference (PFC) was included in the reimbursement of National Health Insurance to promote palliative care in Taiwan in 2012. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PFC on death in intensive care unit (ICU) and receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within three days before death. This is a cross-sectional study.

Necessity of Local Modification for Deep Learning Algorithms to Predict Diabetic Retinopathy.

Deep learning (DL) algorithms are used to diagnose diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, most of these algorithms have been trained using global data or data from patients of a single region. Using different model architectures (e.

The effect of home visits on healthcare resource utilisation.

Background And Objectives: Home visits may change patients' healthcare resource utilisation, including hospital admission, medications, outpatient and emergency room visits. The aim of the present study was to report changes in healthcare resource utilisation after the provision of home healthcare services.

Method: This was a multicentre follow-up study.

PLGA nanoparticles containing Lingzhi extracts rescue corneal epithelial cells from oxidative damage.

Oxidative stress-related ocular surface epithelial damage can be initiated by ambient oxygen, UV radiation, and chemical burns. The oxidative damage to cornea can lead to inflammation and even vision loss. Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a Chinese herbal drug and has been shown to prevent chronic diseases in clinical practices and has been proven to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Use and Cost-Effectiveness of a Telehealth Service at a Centralized COVID-19 Quarantine Center in Taiwan: Cohort Study.

Background: Telehealth is a recommended method for monitoring the progression of nonsevere infections in patients with COVID-19. However, telehealth has not been widely implemented to monitor SARS-CoV-2 infection in quarantined individuals. Moreover, studies on the cost-effectiveness of quarantine measures during the COVID-19 pandemic are scarce.

The presence and impact of herpes virus DNA in recipient cornea and aqueous humor on graft survival following penetrating keratoplasty.

Background/purpose: Reactivation of herpes viruses poses threat to corneal graft survival. This study evaluated the presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV type 2 (HSV-2), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in recipient corneas and the aqueous humor of patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), and the impact on graft survival.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 90 eyes of 71 patients underwent PKP between 2008 and 2016.

Expression Profiling of Exosomal miRNAs Derived from the Aqueous Humor of Myopia Patients.

Myopia is the most common refractive disorder in Eastern Asia. The development of myopia is associated with the cooperation of various ocular tissues. Exosomes in the aqueous humor (AH) have been implicated to modulate intracellular communications by transferring exosomal miRNAs and proteins between cells.

A Worldwide Bibliometric Analysis of Publications on Advance Care Planning in the Past 3 Decades.

Background: In recent decades, issues related to end-of-life care and advance care planning (ACP) have attracted popular attention. Advance care planning has been broadly discussed as one of the potential solutions to protect a patient's rights, autonomy, and dignity at the end of life. To better understand publishing on this topic, we conducted this study to demonstrate the worldwide research productivity, trends, and citations of ACP in the past 3 decades by bibliometric analysis.

Difference in frequency and outcome of geriatric emergency department utilization between urban and rural areas.

Background: Elderly people are susceptible to develop multiple chronic diseases and are thus likely to utilize the emergency department (ED). Access to health care and health outcomes may differ between rural and urban areas. This study aims to compare the frequency and outcome of geriatric ED utilization between urban and rural areas.

Artificial intelligence-based decision-making for age-related macular degeneration.

Artificial intelligence (AI) based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has a great potential to enhance medical workflow and improve health care quality. Of particular interest is practical implementation of such AI-based software as a cloud-based tool aimed for telemedicine, the practice of providing medical care from a distance using electronic interfaces. In this study, we used a dataset of labeled 35,900 optical coherence tomography (OCT) images obtained from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients and used them to train three types of CNNs to perform AMD diagnosis.

A Novel Machine Learning Algorithm to Automatically Predict Visual Outcomes in Intravitreal Ranibizumab-Treated Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are one type of artificial intelligence. Here, we use an ANN-based machine learning algorithm to automatically predict visual outcomes after ranibizumab treatment in diabetic macular edema.

Methods: Patient data were used to optimize ANNs for regression calculation.

Clinical Course and Treatment Response of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease: An 8-Year Experience.

Purpose: To report the clinical course and treatment response in a cohort of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) from a single referral center in Taiwan.

Design: Case series.

Methods: All NMOSD patients who received treatment and follow-up checks at National Taiwan University Hospital for at least 2 years between January 2008 and December 2016 were recruited.

Elevation of serum oxidative stress in patients with retina vein occlusions.

Purpose: Retina vein occlusion (RVO) is a visual-threatening retinal disease that causes irreversible impaired quality of life. The contribution of oxidative stress behind clinical course of RVO was rarely investigated. The study aimed to measure the serum oxidative biomarker in patients with RVO to investigate further physical response.

Update on ocular myasthenia gravis in Taiwan.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease involving the neuromuscular junction. Autoantibodies to the acetylcholine receptor or, less frequently, to muscle-specific kinase, attack against the postsynaptic junctional proteins, resulting in fluctuating and variable weakness of muscles. Extraocular, levator palpebrae superioris, and orbicularis oculi muscles are particularly susceptible.

Intraocular lens opacification after Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.

Compared with conventional penetrating keratoplasty, Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) more effectively maintain global integrity and rapid vision rehabilitation with less ocular surface disorders in patients with endothelial dysfunction. Here, we report a case of a 76-year-old woman who experienced opacification of a hydrophilic intraocular lens (IOL) approximately 10 months after DSAEK. The patient with no history of systemic disease developed pseudophakic bullous keratopathy in the right eye 2 years after undergoing cataract surgery.

Intraocular pressure monitoring by rebound tonometry in children with myopia.

Background/purpose: Topical atropine treatment is generally accepted to retard the progression of myopia, but it is associated with side effects such as photophobia and elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP measurements in children are challenging. The traditional applanation tonometry by direct contact with the cornea will require patient's cooperation.

Factors predicting a home death among home palliative care recipients.

Awareness of factors affecting the place of death could improve communication between healthcare providers and patients and their families regarding patient preferences and the feasibility of dying in the preferred place.This study aimed to evaluate factors predicting home death among home palliative care recipients.This is a population-based study using a national representative sample retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research Database.

Risk factors for myopia progression in second-grade primary school children in Taipei: a population-based cohort study.

Purpose: To evaluate the 1-year progression of myopia and associated risk factors in second-grade primary school children.

Methods: The myopia investigation study in Taipei provided semiannual visual acuity testing and cycloplegic refraction for all second-grade primary school children (mean age: 7.49 years) in Taipei who provided parental consent.