Indirect Radiological Signs of Hollow Organ Perforation.

Hollow organ perforation is a serious and common abdominal emergency. The diagnosis depends on history taking, physical examination, and radiological fi ndings. We reported a hollow organ perforation patient with only indirect radiological signs of the heterogenous enhanced lesion between the stomach, duodenum, and liver over initial abdominal computed tomography.

Oxygen-sensitive T2* magnetic resonance imaging to correlate heart function and ischemic etiology of post-hospitalized chronic heart failure patients.

Purpose: Myocardial oxygenation imaging is a field-of-interest but its clinical utility largely unexplored. We aimed to investigate the myocardial oxygenation status via T2* imaging and compared with the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in chronic heart failure (HF) patients after hospitalization. Also, we sought to compare the differences in myocardial oxygenation status among patients with ischemic HF, non-ischemic HF and controls.

Early-onset eczema is associated with increased milk sensitization and risk of rhinitis and asthma in early childhood.

Background: Atopic eczema and food allergy most commonly occur in the early childhood. However, the relationships between eczema onset and their relevance to the occurrence of atopic diseases relating to allergen sensitization remain unclear.

Methods: We investigated 186 children who were followed up regularly at the clinic for 4 years in a birth cohort study.

Association of elevated blood serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and body composition with chronic kidney disease: A population-based study in Taiwan.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is associated with an increase in all-cause mortality. Studies regarding association among various body compositions in different inflamed states and the risk of CKD were rare. We aimed to evaluate the relationship among body composition, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level, and the risk of CKD.

Low Mother-to-Child CCL22 Chemokine Levels Are Inversely Related to Mite Sensitization and Asthma in Early Childhood.

Few studies have addressed the mother-to-child transmission of Th2 immunity and the impact on the development of atopic diseases in early childhood. We investigated 186 children who were followed-up regularly for 4 years in a birth cohort study. The levels of Th2 related chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 17 (CCL17) and CCL22 were quantified in cord blood and at 1.

Longitudinal vitamin D deficiency is inversely related to mite sensitization in early childhood.

Background: There are few studies addressing the longitudinal analysis of vitamin D deficiency and its impact on the development of atopic diseases in early childhood.

Methods: We investigated 155 children who regularly followed up at our clinic for 5 years as subjects enrolled in a birth cohort study. The pattern of vitamin D levels from birth to 5 years of age was clustered using K-means method in R software.

Visceral Adiposity Index as a Predictor of Chronic Kidney Disease in a Relatively Healthy Population in Taiwan.

Objectives: Abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Visceral adiposity index (VAI), a simple formula representing visceral adipose dysfunction, has already been proven to have a strong correlation with various cardiometabolic disorders. Limited studies are available regarding the relationship between VAI and renal function decline.

Risk of incident active tuberculosis disease in patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a population-based study.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world's most devastating public health threats. Our goal is to evaluate whether the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) affect the risk of new incident active TB disease.

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control analysis by using a 1 million longitudinally followed cohort, from Taiwan's national health insurance research database.

Multiple concomitant oral cavity cancers: Incidence, management, and outcomes.

Background: Little is known about the appropriate treatment and long-term survival of patients with multiple concomitant oral cavity cancers (MOC). The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological features of MOC, to compare the prognosis of MOC patients with that of patients with single oral cavity cancers (SOC), and to describe reconstructive options based on the concept of economy in autologous tissue transfer.

Methods: Data from 603 patients diagnosed with at least one squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity who underwent surgery for primary oral cavity cancers between 2006 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively to identify MOC patients.

High cord blood CCL22/CXCL10 chemokine ratios precede allergic sensitization in early childhood.

Atopic diseases are known to be characterized by a T helper (Th) 2-skewed immunity; however, there are few studies addressing the Th1/Th2 immunity at birth related to the development of atopic diseases in early childhood. We investigated 186 children followed up regularly at the clinic for 4 years in a birth cohort study. The Th1-associated CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)-10, CXCL11, and the Th2-associated CC chemokine ligand (CCL)-17 and CCL22 were quantified in cord blood by multiplex Luminex kits.

Exclusive or Partial Breastfeeding for 6 Months Is Associated With Reduced Milk Sensitization and Risk of Eczema in Early Childhood: The PATCH Birth Cohort Study.

There is insufficient evidence to confirm the association between breastfeeding and allergic outcomes later in life. This study aimed to determine the relationships between different breastfeeding patterns and allergen sensitizations and risk of developing atopic diseases in early childhood. A total of 186 children from a birth cohort in the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children study for a 4-year follow-up period were enrolled.

Depression: An important factor associated with disability among patients with chronic low back pain.

Objective: The study aimed to compare the associations of pain indices, depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms with disability among outpatients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Method: Consecutive orthopedics outpatients with CLBP in a medical center were enrolled. The Oswestry Disability Index and physical functioning and role limitations-physical of the Short-Form 36 were used as disability indices.

Maternal vitamin D levels are inversely related to allergic sensitization and atopic diseases in early childhood.

Background: There are few studies addressing the impact of maternal vitamin D status on the vitamin D levels in offspring, their sensitization to common allergens and atopic disease development.

Methods: Children aged 0 through 4 yr from a birth cohort in the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children (PATCH) study were enrolled. Time series of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured in maternal blood before delivery, cord blood, and at age 1.

Low cord blood vitamin D levels are associated with increased milk sensitization in early childhood.

Background: The association between vitamin D status at birth and allergen sensitizations is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cord blood vitamin D status with allergen sensitizations and the development of atopic diseases in early childhood.

Methods: Children aged 0 through 4 yr from a birth cohort in the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children (PATCH) study were enrolled.

The progress of emergency medicine in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong: perspective from publications in Emergency Medicine Journals, 1992-2011.

Study Objective: The progress of emergency medicine (EM) in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong was evaluated from the perspective of publications in EM journals.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. All articles published from 1992 to 2011 in all journals in the EM category in the 2010 Journal Citation Reports (JCR) were included.

Analysis of plasma multiplex cytokines for children with febrile seizures and severe acute encephalitis.

We investigated the plasma cytokine profiles of children with febrile seizures or severe acute encephalitis using multiplex cytometry to evaluate the role of cytokines in these diseases. Interleukin-6, -10, -12p70, -17A, -2, -4, -5, -9, -13, -22, and -1β, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured in the plasma from children with febrile seizures (n = 9) or severe acute encephalitis (n = 21). In multivariate analysis, interleukin-6 was significantly increased in the plasma of the febrile seizure patients compared to those with severe acute encephalitis, suggesting that interleukin-6 is activated during the acute stage of a febrile seizure.

Role of procalcitonin in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis: a meta-analysis.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a diagnostic challenge. We aimed to systemically summarize the current evidence on the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) in identifying IE.

Methods: We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane database, and reference lists of relevant articles with no language restrictions through September 2012 and selected studies that reported the diagnostic performance of PCT alone or compare with other biomarkers to diagnose IE.

Clinical features of peritonsillar abscess in children.

Background: Peritonsillar abscess is an acute infection located between the capsule of the palatine tonsil and the superior constrictor muscle of the pharynx. The reports regarding pediatric cases have been scanty.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the patients less than 18 years of age hospitalized at a medical center with a final diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess from January 1999 through December 2009.

Paraurethral striated muscular structures and pelvic floor muscles contribute to resting urethral closure pressure in rats.

Introduction And Hypothesis: We investigated physiological functions of the extraordinary muscular structure in the paraurethral area with pelvic floor muscle and the impact of these muscular structures on the resting maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) in rats.

Methods: Sixteen female Wister rats were divided into four groups: Groups I and II rats received 5 and 2.5 IU botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A), respectively, injected into the bilateral paraurethral striated muscles.