Primary Sjögren's syndrome and risk of ischemic stroke: a nationwide study.

Few studies are available on the risk of ischemic stroke after a diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS). This study investigated whether PSS increased the risk of ischemic stroke in a large, nationwide cohort. Data for 4,276 patients who were newly diagnosed with PSS from 2000 to 2006 and who did not have a stroke prior to diagnosis of PSS were obtained from the Registry of Catastrophic Illness in Taiwan.

Cytodiagnostic aspects of lung adenocarcinoma manifesting with micropapillary pattern in sputum: a case report of potential diagnostic pitfall.

The micropapillary pattern of lung adenocarcinoma was discussed in the 2004 World Health Organization classification and is now proposed as a distinct pattern in the new International Multidisciplinary Classification of Lung Adenocarcinoma Guidelines. The micropapillary pattern is histologically characterized by papillary tufts lacking a central fibrovascular core and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Herein, we report the cytological features of lung adenocarcinoma with the micropapillary pattern in a sputum specimen.

Hemoglobin adducts as biomarkers of estrogen homeostasis: elevation of estrogenquinones as a risk factor for developing breast cancer in Taiwanese women.

The aim of this study was to establish a methodology to analyze estrogen quinone-derived adducts, including 17β-estradiol-2,3-quinone (E2-2,3-Q) and 17β-estradiol-3,4-quinone (E2-3,4-Q), in human hemoglobin (Hb). The methodology was then used to measure the levels of these adducts in Hb derived from female breast cancer patients (n=143) as well as controls (n=147) in Taiwan. Our result confirmed that both E2-2,3-Q- and E2-3,4-Q-derived adducts, including E2-2,3-Q-4-S-Hb and E2-3,4-Q-2-S-Hb, were detected in all breast cancer patients with median levels at 434 (215-1472) and 913 (559-2384) (pmol/g), respectively.

A pilot study of an illness management and recovery program in discharged patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Accumulated evidence supports the effectiveness of equipping chronically ill patients with illness management knowledge and skills. The Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) program developed by the United States government has been widely adopted for persons with mental illness. However, few studies support its effectiveness in patients with schizophrenia.

Factors affecting the use of anti-amoebiasis protective measures among Taiwan immigrants returning to amoebiasis-endemic regions.

Objective: To investigate the predictors of use of anti-amoebiasis protective measures (AAPMs) among Taiwan immigrants returning to their country of origin, using the Health Belief Model (HBM) to guide the investigation.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Between March and May 2011, all permanent immigrants originating from amoebiasis-endemic countries who received services at the immigrant service centres in Taipei or Tainan and who reported that they had returned to their country of origin within the past five years were enrolled in the study.

Langerhans Cell Sarcoma in a Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Patient Undergoing Imatinib Mesylate Therapy: A Case Study and Review of the Literature.

Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS) is a rare malignancy requiring differential diagnosis from other high-grade nonhematologic and hematologic tumors. The pathogenesis of LCS remains unknown. Notably, LCS and its benign counterpart, Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), are frequently associated with other malignancies.

Development of a chip-based multiplexed immunoassay using liposomal nanovesicles and its application in the detection of pathogens causing female lower genital tract infections.

Objective: Cervicovaginitis is a highly prevalent disease that is a burden on healthcare globally. Immediate and adequate treatment can eradicate the infection and block subsequent complications. The feasibility of achip-based multiplexed immunoassay using liposomal nanovesicles was tested.

Streptococcus sanguinis meningitis following endoscopic ligation for oesophageal variceal haemorrhage.

We report a case of acute purulent meningitis caused by Streptococcus sanguinis after endoscopic ligation for oesophageal variceal haemorrhage in a cirrhotic patient without preceding symptoms of meningitis. Initial treatment with flomoxef failed. The patient was cured after 20 days of intravenous penicillin G.

Updated diagnosis and treatment of childhood tuberculosis.

Background: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) accounts for a significant proportion of the global tuberculosis disease burden. However, current and previous efforts to develop better diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive interventions have focused on TB in adults, and childhood TB has been relatively neglected. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations for childhood TB with an emphasis on intrathoracic disease.

Typical and atypical clinical presentation of uterine myomas.

Myoma is the most common benign neoplasm that can occur in the female reproductive system, most frequently seen in women in their 50s. Although the majority of myomas are asymptomatic, some patients have symptoms and/or signs of varying degrees. Typical myoma-related symptoms or signs include: (1) menstrual disturbances like menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea and intermenstrual bleeding, (2) pelvic pain unrelated to menstruation, (3) compression symptoms, similar to a sensation of bloatedness, urinary frequency and constipation, (4) subfertility status such as recurrent abortion, preterm labor, dystocia with an increased incidence of Cesarean section, and postpartum hemorrhage, and (5) cosmetic problems due to increased abdominal girth However, there are undoubtedly some clinical presentations secondary to uterine myomas are not so specific, such as: (1) uncommon compression-related symptoms, (2) cardiac symptom and atypical symptoms secondary to vascular involvement or dissemination, (3) abdominal symptoms mimicking pelvic carcinomatosis, (4) dyspnea, (5) pruritus, (6) hiccup or internal bleeding, and (7) vaginal protruding mass or uterine inversion.

Rotavirus infection and the current status of rotavirus vaccines.

Among children, rotaviruses are the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis worldwide and of diarrheal deaths in developing countries. Current vaccines (e.g.

Changes in blood pressure and related autonomic function during cervical traction in healthy women.

Cervical traction is a physical therapy procedure frequently used to treat cervical disk lesions, cervical spondylosis, and cervical facet joint lesions. We have observed rare cases of side effects in elderly patients, but not in women younger than 30 years.In this pilot study, 96 young women were randomly divided into 3 groups to study the effect of cervical traction with different traction weights on blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, and correlated autonomic adjustment.

[New opportunities for nursing in the future of intermediate care].

Intermediate care is an important focus of the Taiwan Government, domestic diagnosis groups, and the Ten-Year Long-Term Care Project. The objective of intermediate care is to bridge acute and long-term care in order to deliver more comprehensive healthcare to the population. It is an emerging healthcare service model.

Inhibition of insulin degrading enzyme by racecadotril in the brain of Wistar rats.

Racecadotril is an enkephalinase inhibitor used to treat abdominal discomfort in the clinic. The blood-glucose lowering action of racecadotril has been observed in rats; however, the mechanisms remain obscure. 8-week-old Wistar rats were intravenously injected with racecadotril and the levels of insulin in the brain were measured.

Metformin can activate imidazoline I-2 receptors to lower plasma glucose in type 1-like diabetic rats.

Metformin is widely used in clinic for handling the diabetic disorders. However, action mechanisms of metformin remain obscure. It has recently been indicated that guanidinium derivatives are ligands to activate type-2 imidazoline receptors (I-2 receptors) that can improve diabetes through increment in skeletal muscle glucose uptake.

Polymorphisms of human nonmetastatic clone 23 type 1 gene and neoplastic lesions of uterine cervix.

Hypothesis: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in promoter of human nonmetastatic clone 23 type 1 (nm23-H1) may affect their binding with transcription factors and affect promoter activity as well as gene transcription. Therefore, we investigated the impact of the nm23-H1 gene polymorphisms on the neoplastic lesions of uterine cervix in mid-Taiwan women (women who live in the central area of Taiwan). We expected that women with different genotypes in nm23-H1 polymorphisms, such as rs34214448, rs16949649, or rs2302254, may have different incidences of cervical neoplasia.

Protective effects of luteolin against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury involves inhibition of MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways in neutrophils.

Aim: To investigate whether luteolin, the major polyphenolic components of Lonicera japonica, has beneficial effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and to determine whether the protective mechanism involves anti-inflammatory effects on neutrophils.

Methods: ALI was induced with intratracheal instillation of LPS in mice. The level of ALI was determined by measuring the cell count and protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid.

Therapeutic effects of low-level laser on lateral epicondylitis from differential interventions of Chinese-Western medicine: systematic review.

Background: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a conservative treatment for lateral epicondylitis (LE), but it is also an alternative intervention between the very different approaches of Chinese and Western medicine.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to systematically review and meta-analyze the therapeutic effects of LLLT on LE.

Methods: We searched several electronic databases, including Medline, PubMed, and CINAHL, and explored studies that were randomized controlled trials on the therapeutic effects of LLLT on LE from 1990 to February 2009.

Injection in the cervical facet joint for shoulder pain with myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle.

The goal of this double-blinded, randomized, controlled study was to confirm the effectiveness of the cervical facet joint injection in treating shoulder pain with the myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle secondary to cervical facet lesion. Eighty-nine patients with chronic unilateral shoulder pain due to myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle received an injection to the C4-5 facet joint in the experimental group and to the corresponding unilateral multifidi muscle in the control group. Subjective pain intensity and pressure pain threshold of the myofascial trigger point were assessed, and the prevalence of endplate noise in the myofascial trigger point region was measured in 28 patients before, immediately after, and 1 month after the injection.

Remote effects of dry needling on the irritability of the myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle.

Objective: To investigate the remote effect of dry needling on the irritability of a myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle.

Design: Thirty-five patients with active myofascial trigger points in upper trapezius muscles were randomly divided into two groups: 18 patients in the control group received sham needling, and 17 patients in the dry-needling group received dry needling into the myofascial trigger point in the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle. The subjective pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, and range of motion of the neck were assessed before and immediately after the treatment.

Treatment of volar Barton's fractures: comparison between two common surgical techniques.

Background: Volar Barton's fractures are not uncommon but more convincing treatment methods are still controversial. Currently, open reduction with buttress plating or closed reduction with external fixation and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation have achieved most support.

Methods: Twenty-three consecutive volar Barton's fractures treated with either open reduction and buttress plate fixation (12 cases) or closed reduction with external fixation and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation (11 cases) were compared retrospectively.

Increasing ornithine decarboxylase activity is another way of prolactin preventing methotrexate-induced apoptosis: crosstalk between ODC and BCL-2.

Prolactin has more than 300 separate functions including affecting mammary growth, differentiation, secretion and anti-apoptosis. In the previous studies, prolactin induced Bcl-2 expression to prevent apoptosis and also provoked the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Our previous data showed that ODC overexpression upregulates Bcl-2 and prevents tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)- and methotrexate (MTX)-induced apoptosis.

Perforated peptic ulcer in an infant.

We describe a case of perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) in a 9-month-old boy. Abdominal distension was the first clinical sign of PPU. Before he developed abdominal distension, the patient had suffered from an upper respiratory tract infection with fever for about 2 weeks, which was treated intermittently with ibuprofen.