Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitor Roflumilast Attenuates Pulmonary Air Emboli-Induced Lung Injury.

Background: Pulmonary air embolism (PAE)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) can be caused by massive air entry into the lung circulation. PAE can occur during diving, aviation, and some iatrogenic invasive procedures. PAE-induced ALI presents with severe inflammation, hypoxia, and pulmonary hypertension, and it is a serious complication resulting in significant morbidity and mortality.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor attenuates ischemia-reperfusion induced acute lung injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is implicated in several clinical conditions including lung transplantation, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, re-expansion of collapsed lung from pneumothorax or pleural effusion and etc. IR-induced ALI remains a challenge in the current treatment. Carbonic anhydrase has important physiological function and influences on transport of CO2.

Experimental chronic kidney disease attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury in an ex vivo rat lung model.

Lung ischemia reperfusion injury (LIRI) is one of important complications following lung transplant and cardiopulmonary bypass. Although patients on hemodialysis are still excluded as lung transplant donors because of the possible effects of renal failure on the lungs, increased organ demand has led us to evaluate the influence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on LIRI. A CKD model was induced by feeding Sprague-Dawley rats an adenine-rich (0.

Inhibition of Na-K-Cl cotransporter isoform 1 reduces lung injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion.

Objectives: Ischemia-reperfusion acute lung injury is characterized by increased vascular permeability, lung edema, and neutrophil sequestration. Ischemia-reperfusion acute lung injury occurs in lung transplantation and other major surgical procedures. Effective regulation of alveolar fluid balance is critical for pulmonary edema.

Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antibody Suppresses ERK and NF-κB Activation in Ischemia-Reperfusion Lung Injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is implicated in several clinical conditions like lung transplantation, acute pulmonary embolism after thrombolytic therapy, re-expansion of collapsed lung from pneumothorax or pleural effusion, cardiopulmonary bypass and etc. Because mortality remains high despite advanced medical care, prevention and treatment are important clinical issues for IR-induced ALI. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a controversial role in ALI.

Positive end-expiratory pressure attenuates positional effect after thoracotomy.

Context: Thoracotomy is a common procedure. However, thoracotomy leads to lung atelectasis and deteriorates pulmonary gas exchange in operated side. Therefore, different positions with operated side lowermost or uppermost may lead to different gas exchange after thoracotomy.

Ethnic-specific prevalence of hepatitis B/C virus infection in Pin-Jen, Taiwan.

Objectives: The study aimed to estimate prevalence rate of hepatitis B/C virus infection by three ethnic groups including Hakka, Minnan, and Mainlander in Taiwan where there was a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: We enrolled a total of 5007 people aged 30 years or older who participated in Li-Shin Out-Reaching Neighboring Screening (LIONS) project in 2004-2005 in Pin-Jen township of Taoyuan county. The ethnic group was classified in the current study by using the criteria on the basis of the ethnicity of mother of participants.

Effectiveness evaluation of bar code implementation in hospital -- an illustration of out-patient pharmacy information system.

We implement a bar code medication system in a region hospital in out-patient pharmacy. We record the data before and after this system on-line. To compare the data, we find this system makes the medication error going down.

The effectiveness of hospital-based diabetes case management: an example from a northern Taiwan regional hospital.

The aim of this study was to design, implement and evaluate disease outcomes at a regional hospital- based case management program of care for patients with type 2 diabetes. A medical team and practice guidelines were established in line with the health insurance strategy of Taiwan's Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care for Diabetes (2003 edition). Also, a set of self-care booklets was designed suitable for use by the subject group.

Marked elevation of liver transaminases after high-dose fluvastatin unmasks chronic hepatitis C: safety and re-challenge.

The statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, have emerged as the drugs of choice for patients with dyslipidemia and have been shown to reduce major cardiovascular adverse events in large-scale clinical trials for both primary and secondary prevention. Statins are generally safe; however, the results of clinical trials do demonstrate possibilities of significant adverse effects in liver and muscle. Moreover, the numbers from the trials may not reflect the real situation in daily practice because individuals at increased risk for hepatotoxicity are usually deliberately and carefully excluded in clinical trials.

Fetal gender screening by ultrasound at 11 to 13(+6) weeks.

Background: To survey the accuracy of fetal gender determination during first trimester screening and scan for congenital anomalies.

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed on 496 singleton pregnancies at the first trimester ultrasound screening. The doctor was a certified sonographer of first trimester screening by the Fetal Medicine Foundation(FMF).

Transthoracic echocardiographic diagnosis of a type C interrupted aortic arch in an adult.

Interrupted aortic arch is the complete loss of luminal continuity between the ascending aorta and the descending aorta and accounts for 1% of all congenital heart disease. Of the affected patients, 75% die within the first month of life and about 90% within the first year if not surgically treated. We report a case of an echocardiographic diagnosis of a type C interrupted aortic arch in an adult who presented with exertional dyspnea and angina after a recent coronary event.

Uterine rupture due to traumatic assisted fundal pressure.

Objective: Uterine rupture is potentially a life-threatening condition for both mother and infant. In this article, we report a rare occurrence of uterine rupture due to traumatic assisted fundal pressure associated with hydrops fetalis and shoulder dystocia.

Case Report: A 29-year-old woman was admitted for termination of pregnancy at 34 weeks' gestation because of fetal hydrops.

Thrombolytic therapy in acute cerebral infarction complicating diagnostic cardiac catheterization.

Diagnostic and interventional percutaneous coronary catheterization is associated with stroke. Many of such strokes are asymptomatic, but some are devastating. Once the diagnosis of acute cerebral infarction is confirmed, thrombolytic therapy should be administrated within the time window of 3 hours.

Rapid detection and identification of clinically important bacteria by high-resolution melting analysis after broad-range ribosomal RNA real-time PCR.

Background: Broad-range PCR provides valuable information for detecting bacterial infections. This study assesses the combined use of broad-range real-time PCR and high-resolution melting analysis for rapid detection and identification of clinically important bacteria.

Methods: We subjected 46 bacterial culture colonies representing 25 clinically important bacterial species to LightCycler real-time PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene in the presence of LCGreen I fluorescent dye.

Progression of white matter lesions and hemorrhages in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Objective: To determine the rate of progression of white matter lesions and hemorrhages in a cohort with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).

Methods: The authors analyzed data from 26 patients with possible (3) or probable (23) CAA, diagnosed by the Boston Criteria. Brain maps of white matter hyperintensities, normalized to head size (nWMH), were created by blinded computer-assisted segmentation of MRI images obtained at baseline and after a median follow-up interval of 1.

Risk factors for central venous catheter-related infections in general surgery.

Background And Purpose: Central venous catheter (CVC) infection is a common problem during hospitalization and nosocomial bloodstream infection in these patients is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health care cost. This prospective study examined the risk factors of CVC-related infections.

Methods: During a 6-month period, a total of 281 patients who underwent central venous catheterization after general surgery were enrolled.

Predictive model for congenital muscular torticollis: analysis of 1021 infants with sonography.

Objective: To construct a predictive model to foretell congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) on the basis of clinical correlates.

Design: Correlation study.

Setting: Regional hospital.

Changes of the cardiac architectures and functions for chronic hemodialysis patients with dry weight determined by echocardiography.

Background/aims: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has long been known as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular deaths, in both dialysis and general populations. Numerous factors influence the pathophysiology of LVH. However, extracellular fluid may have a particularly important influence on this impact.

Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children.

This retrospective study analyzed the clinical, bacteriological, and radiological features of pediatric patients with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. Eighty-four patients with septic arthritis and 39 with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis were enrolled. Their age ranged from 13 days to 17 years.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in a child: report of one case.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is uncommon in children. We report a 3-year-old girl who was presented with acute pale-looking appearance, hemoptysis, hematemesis and shortness of breath. This patient was confirmed to have pulmonary hemorrhage by the presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using a flexible bronchoscope.

Postoperative pain relief in primigravida caesarean section patients--combination of intrathecal morphine and epinephrine.

Background: Uterine contraction is less severe in primigravida patients. Intrathecal coadministration of morphine and epinephrine may provide an easy way of postcaesarean pain control.

Methods: Twenty-eight primigravida patients who requested postcaesarean pain control were studied for the effectiveness of coadministration of intrathecal morphine and epinephrine.

Free medialis pedis flap as a coverage and flow-through flap in hand and digit reconstruction.

Background: Skin and soft-tissue defects of the hand and digit present a challenge for the hand surgeon especially in meeting the reconstructive needs of thickness, texture, color matching, and sensation. It becomes an even bigger challenge to reconstruct the defect in a devascularized finger with segmental loss of the neurovascular bundle. We use the relatively new flap, the medialis pedis flap, to solve the above conditions and compare it with traditional flaps.