The characteristics of and risk factors associated with incarcerated sex offenders in Taiwan.

This article presents the demographic characteristics of a sample of Taiwanese sex offenders, examines the rate of sexual recidivism in Taiwan, and describes which factors distinguish recidivists from non-recidivists. This article assesses the recidivism rate of a sample of 503 male sex offenders incarcerated from 1999 to 2004. The sample is divided into two groups: non-recidivists (88.

Haemorrhagic bullae associated with a chicken scratch.

Complicated skin and soft tissue infection caused by a chicken scratch has rarely been reported. A 3-year-old boy who developed haemorrhagic bullae and necrotising fasciitis following a chicken scratch is reported. Morganella morganii and enterococci were cultured from the aspirate.

Small supernumerary marker chromosome originating from chromosome 10 associated with an apparently normal phenotype.

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) originating from chromosome 10 are rare. Only seven cases have been documented, and among those three cases were diagnosed prenatally. We reported on another prenatal diagnosis of a de novo mosaic sSMC in an apparently normal female fetus whose mother had conceived with assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures.

Fatal spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and necrotizing fasciitis with bacteraemia caused by Bacillus cereus in a patient with cirrhosis.

We report a case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and necrotizing fasciitis caused by Bacillus cereus in a cirrhotic patient without preceding disruption of skin or symptoms of gastroenteritis. This rapidly fatal infection due to B. cereus adds to the long list of aetiologies of infectious complications among patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Acute confusional state in type 2 diabetic patient: non-convulsive status epilepticus.

The etiology of acute confusional state in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is broad, including hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, electrolyte imbalance as hyponatremia or hypercalcemia, cerebrovascular disease and drug intoxication among others. Herein, we present an 80-year-old female type 2 diabetic patient in an acute confusional state due to non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). Timely electroencephalogram at an emergency department when available is the only tool for the diagnosis of NCSE when clinically suspected.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated cerebral infarction in a child.

The central nervous system's involvement is the most common reported extra-pulmonary manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, and stroke was one of the most special situations. We presented a 4-year-old child who presented with acute stroke on the third day of the onset of Mycoplasma respiratory tract infection. Brain magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated that occlusion of bilateral internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries above the level of the first cervical vertebrate which is not been reported previously.

Effects on blood glucose, insulin, lipid and proatherosclerotic parameters in stable type 2 diabetic subjects during an oral fat challenge.

Background: Restriction of fat intake has been effective in improving insulin sensitivity in obese and type 2 diabetic subjects, but what effects the recommended diet (less than 30% of total calories from fat) have not been elucidated in subjects with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of oral fat challenge, composing 30% calories of a meal, on blood glucose, insulin, lipid, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

Design And Methods: Blood glucose, insulin, lipid, leptin, TNF-alpha and PAI-1 were compared in 14 type 2 diabetic patients and 10 normal subjects after an oral fat challenge upto 2 hours (fasting, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, 90 min and 120 min).

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis undergoing whole lung lavage in south Taiwan--a case report.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is rarely seen in Taiwan. According to the literature the incidence is one in two million with a male to female ratio of 3 to 1. The pathohistology of PAP is associated with the filling of the alveoli by a proteinaceous material.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus found after anesthesia--a case report.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterized by insidious onset and gradual development of the triad of gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence. Nausea, vomiting, and signs of increased intracranial pressure do not occur. A 71-year-old male patient was scheduled for total knee replacement due to osteoarthritis of right knee joint.

Intra-extracranial hemangiopericytoma: clinical manifestations, histopathological features, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

Background: Intra-extracranial hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) are rare vascular neoplasms. This paper reports the clinical manifestations, histopathological features, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of HPCs.

Methods: We reviewed three patients with intracranial HPC and one patient with HPC of the scalp who were surgically treated at Taichung Veterans General Hospital between 1989 and 1999.

Transient renal glycosuria in a patient with acute pyelonephritis.

Glycosuria was detected in a 37-year-old Chinese woman by a urinary examination in a local clinic with clinical evidence of acute pyelonephritis (APN). Transient glycosuria is an unusual complication of acute pyelonephritis in non-diabetic patients. As there is growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the population worldwide, it must be recognized that mistaken diagnosis of diabetes mellitus by glycosuria may predispose patients to an unfavorable hypoglycemic episode.

Short stature in a 46,XX male adolescent.

We describe a patient with a 46,XX karyotype who was assessed because of short stature and a subnormal rate of linear growth. The patient had normal male external genitalia. Endocrinologic analysis revealed elevated levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone but an exaggerated gonadotropin response to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation.

Treatment of DMARDs-resistant rheumatoid arthritis with minocycline: a local experience among the Chinese.

We report a local experience with minocycline (100 mg b.i.d.

Renal vein thrombosis in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors associated with renal vein thrombosis (RVT) in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Data on clinical symptoms, renal biopsy, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome profile, and serological examinations of lupus features were examined retrospectively in six patients with RVT confirmed by angiography from a total of 625 patients with SLE over a 14 year period (1982-1996).

Results: The lupus patients with RVT did not have acute symptoms of severe flank pain, haematuria, and oligouria.

Squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus with diffuse mucin-secreting component: a clinicopathologic study.

Background: Primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with a diffuse mucin-secreting component are not common, and the cases reported are few. The nomenclature for this group of tumors is complex and the histogenesis of these tumors is confused. Therefore, further investigation is needed.

Carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract in Chinese of Taiwan: an analysis of fifty cases.

Background: Gastrointestinal carcinoids are uncommon and potentially metastasizing neoplasms. Many series have been reported but few of them concern Chinese people. In this paper we present data on 50 Chinese with gastrointestinal carcinoids, living in Taiwan, to analyze their clinical features and prognostic factors.

Systemic lupus erythematosus with intussusception: a case report.

A 19-year-old male with systemic lupus erythematosus, had initially presented three years previous by malar rash and nephritis. In the past 2 weeks, he experienced bloody diarrhea and lower abdominal pain. Intussusceptions of the distal to the terminal ileum, terminal ileum to cecum and cecum to ascending colon were proved via exploratory laparotomy.

[Ulcerative colitis in Taichung Veterans General Hospital: a clinical study].

This report concerns 34 patients of ulcerative colitis admitted to Taichung Veterans General Hospital, from 1983 to 1994. Among them 26 were male and 8 were female. The age at onset were mostly from 50 to 60.

Effect of coffee on solid-phase gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of coffee on solid phase gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Twenty-one NUD patients with an endoscopic negative finding or superficial gastritis were included in this study. Radionuclide labeled solid meals were used to assess the gastric emptying times (GET) of the stomach.