Nontuberculous mycobacteria peri-prosthetic joint infection: An outcome analysis for two stage revision arthroplasty.

Purpose: Nontuberculous mycobacteria periprosthetic joint infection (NTMPJI) is a rare complication of hip or knee joint arthroplasty. The experience for outcomes of NTMPJI treatment is still limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of hip or knee nontuberculous mycobacteria periprosthetic joint infection following treatment with two-stage exchange arthroplasty.

Comorbidities of systemic lupus erythematosus prior to and following diagnosis in different age-at-onset groups.

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a female-dominated autoimmune disease that can occur at any age and has a diverse course. The clinical manifestation of this disease can vary depending on the patient's age at onset. The aim of this study was to characterise the comorbidities at the time of SLE diagnosis and after in different age groups.

Factors Associated With Undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Overweight and Obese High-Tech Employees: A Multisite Cross-Sectional Study.

Being overweight or obese is regarded as crucial risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aimed to determine the influencing factors of overweight and obese employees with OSA in high-tech workplaces. A cross-sectional study design was employed.

Association between Clinical Factors and Surgical Outcomes for Patients with Persistent Allergic Rhinitis.

While septoplasty with turbinoplasty is commonly performed for patients with nasal obstruction, no study has addressed its efficacy and related determinants in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and various symptoms. This study aimed to identify potential factors associated with surgical outcomes in patients with persistent AR (PAR) who underwent septoplasty with turbinoplasty. We prospectively recruited patients with PAR and positive allergy test results for surgical treatment.

Tracheal reconstruction with pedicled tandem grafts engineered by a radial stretch bioreactor.

The engineering of tracheal substitutes is pivotal in improving tracheal reconstruction. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of biomechanical stimulation on tissue engineering tracheal cartilage by mimicking the trachea motion through a novel radial stretching bioreactor, which enables to dynamically change the diameter of the hollow cylindrical implants. Applying our bioreactor, we demonstrated that chondrocytes seeded on the surface of Poly (ε-caprolactone) scaffold respond to mechanical stimulation by improvement of infiltration into implants and upregulation of cartilage-specific genes.

Clinical Significance of Frailty on Treatment Outcome in Nongeriatric Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and Esophageal Cancer Undergoing Curative-Intent Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Whether the prevalence of frailty and its clinical significance are relevant to treatment outcomes in younger (aged < 65 years) cancer patients remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of frailty on treatment outcomes in younger cancer patients with head and neck and esophageal malignancy.

Material And Methods: This multicenter prospective study recruited 502 patients with locally advanced head and neck and esophageal cancer during 2016-2017 in Taiwan, aged 20-64 years who received curative-intent concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) as first-line antitumor treatment.

Older age and varus alignment lead to early failure in treating patellofemoral osteoarthritis with Fulkerson osteotomy.

It is unclear the risk factors for the failure of modified Fulkerson osteotomy. We retrospectively reviewed 40 patients who underwent the modified Fulkerson osteotomy from 1998 to 2015. There were 4 males and 36 females.

Rescue embolization with direct coil delivery from dual-lumen balloon microcatheter.

Background: Balloon microcatheters are widely used for endovascular treatment. However, no reports on direct coil embolization from dual-lumen balloon microcatheters are available in the literature. This report is the first description of direct coil embolization using this type of balloon microcatheter for looming bleeding emergencies.

The correlation between lipoprotein associated phospholipase A and central overweight status.

Objective: Being overweight is associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A (Lp-PLA) can independently predict the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study is aimed to investigate whether Lp-PLA was associated with an overweight status.

Ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in stent-assisted coil embolization of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Background: Dual antiplatelet therapy is widely used for stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) to prevent thromboembolic events (TEs). Compared to clopidogrel associated with aspirin, knowledge of the safety and efficacy of ticagrelor is lacking in large studies to date.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2018 with at least one year of follow-up in a single institution and systemic review.

Diagnosis of a single gallbladder with double cystic ducts and dominant accessory duct draining into the right hepatic duct: a case report.

Biliary anomalies are a high risk for biliary injury during surgery, and although a biliary anomaly is occasionally encountered, variations in cystic ducts are rare. A preoperative diagnosis is highly valuable in facilitating surgical procedures and avoiding surgical complications. Herein, the case of a 67-year-old female patient with acute cholecystitis, in which preoperative fluoroscopic cholangiography clearly demonstrated a single gallbladder with double cystic ducts, is presented.

Venous Thromboembolism and Critical Limb Events in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Little is known about whether venous thromboembolism (VTE) causes worse critical limb events in populations with atrial fibrillation (AF). A retrospective cohort study using claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance program between 2001 and 2013 compared AF patients with or without VTE. Outcomes were percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), amputation, systemic thromboembolism, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, ischemic stroke, and acute myocardial infarction.

A case series of intra-articular diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee: Prognosis of complete synovectomy under arthroscopic surgery.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome and prognosis of complete synovectomy performed under arthroscopic surgery in the treatment of diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (DPVNS) of the knee.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 7 cases (6 female and 1 male) diagnosed with diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (DPVNS) of knee from 2013 to 2017. All of these cases were treated with knee arthroscopy-assisted complete synovectomy.

Endoscopic-Assisted Oropharyngectomy for Early Oropharyngeal Cancer in Trismus Patients.

: Management of the early-stage oropharyngeal carcinoma in trismus patients underlying with multiple head and neck cancer history is a clinical challenge because minimal invasive surgery such as transoral robotic surgery or transoral laser microsurgery is contraindicated, while open surgery or concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) wound cause long-term adverse effect. Therefore, we developed a novel endoscopic surgical approach for these patients. : Four patients were enrolled for endoscopic-assisted oropharyngectomy.

Synthetic cathinone poisoning from ingestion of drug-laced "instant coffee packets" in Taiwan.

Background: Synthetic cathinone abuse is a global health issue. Synthetic cathinones emerged in Taiwan in 2009, and their prevalence rapidly rose. They are usually made into "instant coffee packets," and these so-called "toxic coffee packets" may also contain psychoactive drugs other than synthetic cathinones.

Incidental Findings on Whole-body Computed Tomography in Major Trauma Patients: Who and What?

Purpose: Whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) scans are frequently used for trauma patients, and sometimes, nontraumatic findings are observed. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients with nontraumatic findings on WBCT.

Methods: From 2013 to 2016, adult trauma patients who underwent WBCT were enrolled.

Comparison of the Functional Success of Fat Myringoplasty and Perifascial Areolar Tympanoplasty in Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery.

Objectives: We compared the functional outcomes of fat myringoplasty and areolar tympanoplasty through a small postauricular incision in patients who underwent transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES).

Methods: The study included patients who underwent myringoplasty or type I tympanoplasty using TEES in our Department of Otolaryngology between April 2016 and May 2019. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the type of graft material used, which was selected based on the available amount of subcutaneous fat and the surgeon's experience.

Three-Dimensional Computer-Assisted Single-Splint 2-Jaw Cleft Orthognathic Surgery: Toward Patient-Centered Surgical Rationale.

Skeletally mature patients with cleft lip and palate commonly present with skeletofacial deformities characterized by varying degrees of intrinsic and acquired dentoskeletal and soft tissue abnormalities. These abnormalities are associated with scarring from previous surgeries and the asymmetric midline and facial contour that impose challenges for adequate reconstruction. These patients frequently require 2-jaw orthognathic surgery to improve occlusal function and for correction of facial deformities.

Increased incidence, morbidity, and mortality in cirrhotic patients with hip fractures: A nationwide population-based study.

Objectives: Hip fractures mostly require surgical treatment and are associated with increased health-care costs and mortality rates. Patients with cirrhosis have low bone marrow density and inferior immune status which contribute to a higher fracture rate and higher surgical complication rate. This population-based study evaluated the prevalence, complication, and mortality rates due to hip fractures in cirrhotic patients.

Comparison of patient survival and technique survival between continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and automated peritoneal dialysis.

Background: This retrospective cohort study compared patient survival and technique survival between patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) using recent data at a single tertiary medical center in Taiwan.

Methods: From medical records, we identified incident 459 CAPD patients and 266 APD patients on dialysis for at least 90 days and aged more than 18 years to estimate mortality and technique failure rates, and related hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) from 2007 to 2018.

Results: There were more women (52.

Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Mortality in Children With Acute Encephalitis Who Present to the Emergency Department.

Acute encephalitis is an important pediatric emergency that tends to be associated with neurological morbidity, critical illness, and mortality. Few data have specifically focused on evaluating various early clinical parameters in the pediatric emergency department as candidate predictors of mortality. The present retrospective study assessed the clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging findings of children with acute encephalitis who presented to the emergency department.

Vascular Reactivity Index as an Effective Predictor of Mortality in Children With Refractory Septic Shock.

Background: Vasoplegia is vascular hyporesponsiveness to vasopressors and is an important phenomenon in children with refractory septic shock. This study aimed to develop an objective formula correlated with vasoplegia and evaluate the predictive power for mortality in children with refractory septic shock.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed children with refractory septic shock admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and monitored their hemodynamics via a pulse index continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) system.

Inferior Vena Cava Volume Is an Independent Predictor of Massive Transfusion in Patients With Trauma.

Objectives: Early adequate resuscitation of patients with trauma is crucial in preventing shock and early mortality. Thus, we aimed to determine the performance of the inferior vena cava (IVC) volume and other risk factors and scores in predicting massive transfusion and mortality.

Methods: We included all patients with trauma who underwent computed tomography (CT) scan of the torso, which included the abdominal area, in our emergency department (ED) from January 2014 to January 2017.