Improving small-scale fishermen's subjective well-being in Indonesia: Does the internet use play a role?

The expansion of Internet access from urban to rural and coastal areas has changed all aspects of life, including lifestyles and work practices. Although several studies have shown that Internet use is essential in the fisheries sector, more information about the link between Internet usage and subjective well-being among small-scale fishermen is needed. This study is the first attempt to investigate the effect of Internet use on subjective well-being, particularly for small-scale fishers.

In-hospital mortality predictors among hospitalized adults and those with chronic kidney disease with dengue.

Background: Accurately identifying risk factors that predict fatality in dengue is crucial for patient triage and clinical management. Our objective was to identify predictors of death associated with dengue and investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who died from dengue.

Methods: A multicenter longitudinal observation study conducted from 2008 to 2019.

Transumbilical Silicone Implant Breast Augmentation.

Summary: In transumbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) with prefilled silicone implants, technical challenges remain to accommodate more implant options and dissection planes. The authors aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of TUBA using various types of prefilled silicone implants (TUSBA) and its applicability for subglandular, subfascial, dual-plane implantation. In the early stage, TUSBA was primarily performed using endoscope-assisted blunt dissection, and later converted to full endoscopy dissection to achieve better results.

Comparative of clinical performance between next-generation sequencing and standard blood culture diagnostic method in patients suffering from sepsis.

Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a massively unbiased sequencing technology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of NGS-based approach in the detection of microorganisms from septic patients and compare with results of blood culture (BC).

Methods: The observational and non-interventional study was conducted from April 2019 to August 2019.

Cryptococcus gattii Infection as the Major Clinical Manifestation in Patients with Autoantibodies Against Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor.

Purpose: Anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor autoantibodies (anti-GM-CSF Abs) are a predisposing factor for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) and Cryptococcus gattii cryptococcosis. This study aimed to investigate clinical manifestations in anti-GM-CSF Ab-positive patients with C. gattii cryptococcosis and analyze the properties of anti-GM-CSF Abs derived from these patients and patients with PAP.

Prediction of Mandibular Advancement Device Response Using CPAP Pressure in Different Polysomnographic Phenotypes.

Objective: Both continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) pressure and polysomnographic phenotypes have been associated with mandibular advancement device (MAD) treatment response, but the precise relationship has not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that utilizing CPAP pressure would predict the MAD response in treatment-naïve patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the MAD response would be associated with two polysomnographic phenotypes, including sleep stage dependency and positional dependency.

Methods: OSA treatment-naïve patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15/h who declined CPAP treatment and received MAD treatment for 3-6 months were enrolled.

Clinicopathological Manifestations and Immune Phenotypes in Adult-Onset Immunodeficiency with Anti-interferon-γ Autoantibodies.

Purpose: Anti-interferon (IFN)-γ autoantibodies (anti-IFN-γ Abs) is an emerging adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome. Immune dysfunction in this distinct disorder remains to be clarified.

Methods: We prospectively collected blood samples of 20 patients with anti-IFN-γ Abs and 40 healthy normal subjects.

BatchBMD as an Efficient and Accurate Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Report Generator.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is the gold standard for evaluating Bone Mineral Density (BMD); however, a typical BMD report is generated in a time-inefficient manner and is prone to error. We developed a rule-based automated reporting system, BatchBMD, that accelerates DXA reporting while improving its accuracy over current systems. BatchBMD generates a structured report, customized to the specific clinical purpose.

Clinical Characteristics and Predictors of Mortality in Critically Ill Influenza Adult Patients.

Severe influenza is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the clinical outcomes of critically ill influenza patients. In this retrospective study, we enrolled critically ill adult patients with influenza at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

Support vector machine prediction of obstructive sleep apnea in a large-scale Chinese clinical sample.

Study Objectives: Polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but it is costly and access is often limited. The aim of this study is to develop a clinically useful support vector machine (SVM)-based prediction model to identify patients with high probability of OSA for nonsleep specialist physician in clinical practice.

Methods: The SVM model was developed using the features routinely collected at the clinical evaluation from 6,875 Chinese patients referred to sleep clinics for suspected OSA.

Impaired production of immune mediators in dengue virus type 2-infected mononuclear cells of adults with end stage renal disease.

Chronic kidney disease is an epidemiologically identified risk factor for development of severe dengue in dengue-affected patients. However, available data on the immune pathogenesis in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients affected by dengue is insufficient. We performed an in vitro study to evaluate the sequential immunological reactions and viral load in dengue virus type 2-infected mononuclear cells of patients with ESRD (n = 34) and in healthy controls (n = 30).

Prognostic Factors in Adult Patients with Dengue: Developing Risk Scoring Models and Emphasizing Factors Associated with Death ≤7 Days after Illness Onset and ≤3 Days after Presentation.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is a threat to global health. However, information relating to mortality ≤7 days after dengue onset and ≤3 days after presentation is limited. We retrospectively analyzed 1086 adults with dengue during a 12-year period.

Characteristics and predictors for gastrointestinal hemorrhage among adult patients with dengue virus infection: Emphasizing the impact of existing comorbid disease(s).

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a leading cause of death in dengue. This study aims to identify predictors for GI bleeding in adult dengue patients, emphasizing the impact of existing comorbid disease(s).

Methods: Of 1300 adults with dengue virus infection, 175 (mean age, 56.

Increased Mortality in Seasonal H3N2 Patients Compared with those with Pandemic 2009 H1N1 in Taiwan, 2009-2010.

We conducted a retrospective study to compare clinical and laboratory findings between 1) severe influenza A and mild influenza A and 2) pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pdm09 A/H1) and seasonal H3N2 (A/H3) from 2009 to 2010. A total of 526 (mean age, 13.6 years; 447 pdm09 A/H1, 79 seasonal A/H3) patients were included, 41 (7.

The efficacy of F-FDG PET/CT and Ga SPECT/CT in diagnosing fever of unknown origin.

Objective: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a diagnostic challenge. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) and gallium-67 single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (Ga SPECT/CT) in diagnosing FUO.

Methods: A total of 68 patients with FUO underwent F-FDG PET/CT and Ga SPECT/CT from January 2013 through May 2016.

Disseminated Cryptococcosis Due to Anti-Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Autoantibodies in the Absence of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis.

Introduction: Autoantibodies to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) can cause acquired pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). Cases of acquired PAP susceptible to typical respiratory pathogens and opportunistic infections have been reported. Anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies have been reported in a few patients with cryptococcal meningitis.

Clinical manifestations, course, and outcome of patients with neutralizing anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies and disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infections.

Neutralizing anti-interferon-γ autoantibody (nAIGA)-associated immunodeficiency is an emerging medical issue worldwide. In the present study, we describe and discuss the clinical features and outcomes of patients with nAIGAs and disseminated infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria (dNTM).We thoroughly reviewed the medical records of all patients.

Use of simple clinical and laboratory predictors to differentiate influenza from dengue and other febrile illnesses in the emergency room.

Background: Clinical differentiation of influenza from dengue and other febrile illnesses (OFI) is difficult, and available rapid diagnostic tests have limited sensitivity.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study to compare clinical and laboratory findings between (i) influenza and dengue and (ii) influenza and OFI.

Results: Of 849 enrolled patients, the mean time between illness onset and hospital presentation was 1.

Comparison of serological response to doxycycline versus benzathine penicillin G in the treatment of early syphilis in HIV-infected patients: a multi-center observational study.

Background: While doxycycline is recommended as an alternative treatment of syphilis in patients with penicillin allergy or intolerance, clinical studies to compare serological response to doxycycline versus benzathine penicillin in treatment of early syphilis among HIV-infected patients remain sparse.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of HIV-infected patients with early syphilis who received doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 14 days (doxycycline group) and those who received 1 dose of benzathine penicillin (2.4 million units) (penicillin group) between 2007 and 2013.

One dose versus three weekly doses of benzathine penicillin G for patients co-infected with HIV and early syphilis: a multicenter, prospective observational study.

Background: One dose of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) has been recommended for HIV-infected patients with early syphilis (primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis) in the sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, but clinical data to support such a recommendation are limited.

Methods: We prospectively observed the serological response to 1 or 3 weekly doses of BPG in HIV-infected adults who sought treatment of early syphilis at 8 hospitals around Taiwan. Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titers were followed every 3-6 months after treatment.

Evaluation of macrolide resistance and enhanced molecular typing of Treponema pallidum in patients with syphilis in Taiwan: a prospective multicenter study.

Studies of macrolide resistance mutations and molecular typing using the newly proposed enhanced typing system for Treponema pallidum isolates obtained from HIV-infected patients in the Asia-Pacific region are scarce. Between September 2009 and December 2011, we conducted a survey to detect T. pallidum using a PCR assay using clinical specimens from patients with syphilis at six major designated hospitals for HIV care in Taiwan.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality in patients with meningitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin minimal inhibitory concentrations against these isolates.

Background/purpose: Bacterial meningitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is uncommon but has a high mortality rate. The aims of this study were to better understand the clinical manifestations of S. aureus meningitis, to identify the risk factors for mortality in the affected patients, and to determine the levels of vancomycin minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against these pathogens.