Association of Coracoacromial Ligament Degeneration With Rotator Cuff Tear Patterns and Retear Rate.

Background: Coracoacromial ligament (CAL) degeneration is thought to be a factor in external impingement in bursal-sided rotator cuff tears, but CAL release is associated with adverse effects.

Purpose: To investigate the association between CAL degeneration and the patterns of massive rotator cuff tears using multiple modalities and to assess the effect of CAL degeneration on supraspinatus tendon retear rates.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Postnatal corticosteroid treatment as a risk factor for false positivity in severe combined immunodeficiency newborn screening.

From 2011, 37 children were referred to a hospital due to low levels of T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) from newborn screening. Among them, three children were immunologically characterized and followed up to show that postnatal corticosteroid usage may be among the causes of false positivity in TRECs screening.

Association Between Medial Displacement of the Middle Glenohumeral Ligament and Subscapularis Tear Severity.

Background: The intraoperative invisible middle glenohumeral ligament (MGHL) test has been shown to be associated with a subscapularis tendon retraction. However, the preoperative location of the MGHL and its association with subscapularis tear severity has not been evaluated.

Purpose: To determine (1) the interrater reliability for identification and position of the MGHL, (2) any association between the MGHL position and subscapularis tears, and (3) the cutoff point at which MGHL position can predict subscapularis tear severity.

Comparison of Biomechanical Failure Loads Between Tape-Type and Conventional Sutures in Internal Knotless Anchor-Based Constructs.

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of tape-type sutures, whether internal knotless anchors can consistently affix tape-type sutures has not been thoroughly investigated.

Purpose: To evaluate whether substituting tape-type sutures for conventional sutures influences the suture-holding strength of internal knotless anchors.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Biomechanical comparisons of hook plate and screw fixations in split-type greater tuberosity fractures of the humerus.

Background: Screws and plate are commonly utilized for the fixation of split-type humeral greater tuberosity (GT) fractures. However, the mechanical properties of these 2 types of fixation methods have not been compared directly. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the classic 2 screws fixation with hook locking plate from a mechanical perspective.

Assessment of sagittal spinopelvic parameters in a Taiwanese population with spondylolysis by the EOS imaging system: a retrospective radiological analysis.

Background: The impact of sagittal spinopelvic alignment on spondylolysis is well established in Caucasian populations. However, prior studies suggest that people from different ethnological backgrounds showed divergence, and a few studies that focused on Asian populations reported conflicting results. The aim of this study is to use the EOS imaging system to evaluate the spinopelvic parameters of spondylolysis patients, and their relationship with spondylolisthesis, disc degeneration, and age in a Taiwanese population.

Radiographic greater tuberosity spurs and narrow acromiohumeral intervals are associated with advanced retraction of the supraspinatus tendon in patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears.

Background: Degenerative signs on shoulder radiographs, including spur formation and narrow acromiohumeral intervals (AHIs), have been recognized as indicative of atrophic and fat-infiltrated rotator cuff muscles. Past studies have demonstrated that patients with poor quality muscles are prone to retraction of the supraspinatus tendon and failure to repair. However, the association between radiographic signs and tendon retraction has never been elucidated in previous literature.

Trends in survival, neonatal morbidity and neurodevelopmental outcome of very preterm infants in Tainan, Southern Taiwan, 1995-2016.

Background: Using regression modeling analysis to investigate the breakpoints of the trends in survival-without-major-neonatal-morbidities (MNM) or -without-neurodevelopmental- impairment (NDI) by year and gestational age (GA) in preterm infants.

Methods: We enrolled 2237 preterm infants (GA < 32 weeks) in Tainan, Taiwan. The trends in survival-without-MNM or -without-NDI by year (1995-2016) and GA (23-31 weeks), and the epochs and GA ranges with distinct changes were examined.

Vasculoprotective effects of , and decoction via the NOXs-ROS-NF-κB pathway in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background And Aim: , and decoction (CJID) is efficacious for hypertension. NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) oxidase (NOX)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation modulates nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation and thus mediates hypertension-induced vascular remodeling. This research aims to investigate the anti-remodeling effect of CJID through the mechanism of NOXs-ROS-NF-κB pathway in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Intravenous Administration of Tranexamic Acid Significantly Improved Clarity of the Visual Field in Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery. A Prospective, Double-Blind, and Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To determine whether intravenous administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) before shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery can improve arthroscopy visual clarity.

Methods: This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study. From May 2016 to April 2018, patients requiring arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the TXA group.

Fate of distal aorta after acute type A aortic dissection repair: Change and persistency of postoperative false lumen status.

Background: The role of false lumen patency related to aortic growth, re-interventions, and post-discharge mortality in the chronic phase of repaired type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD) remains controversial. We investigated the role of postoperative false lumen patency during long-term follow-up.

Methods: Based on postoperative CT images of 70 candidates, 58 eligible patients without alteration of false lumen status were assigned into three groups: complete patency, partial patency, and complete thrombosis.

Association of injury pattern and entrapment location inside damaged buildings in the 2016 Taiwan earthquake.

Background/purpose: To explore the association of patient injury patterns and entrapped locations inside damaged buildings in the 2016 Taiwan earthquake.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Tainan incident registry system. Residents inside nine conjunctive, 16-story (49.

Correction to: Superior biomechanical properties and tying time with the modified Prusik knot and Wittstein suture loop to the Krackow stitch.

Due to an error during the production process, the legend.

Indonesian herbal medicine prevents hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy by diminishing NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidative stress.

Indonesian herbal medicine , and decoction (CJID) are known to be efficacious for hypertension. Oxidative stress plays an important role in hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy (H-LVH). This study evaluated whether CJID inhibit cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) through mechanism of oxidative stress-related cardiac-NADPH oxidase (NOXs) pathway: NOX1, NOX2 and NOX4.

Superior biomechanical properties and tying time with the modified Prusik knot and Wittstein suture loop to the Krackow stitch.

Introduction: The purposes of the study were to compare (1) the biomechanical properties of the modified Prusik knot, Wittstein suture loop, and Krackow stitch fixation, and (2) the knot tying times for tendon graft fixation among the Krackow stitch, modified rolling hitch, modified Prusik knot, and Wittstein suture loop.

Materials And Methods: First, 33 fresh-frozen porcine flexor profundus tendons were randomly divided into three groups of 11 specimens. The experimental procedure was designed to assess elongation of the suture-tendon construct across the modified Prusik knot, Wittstein suture loop, and the Krackow stitch.

Prevalence of hand syndromes among patients with diabetes mellitus in Taiwan: A population-based study.

Background: Population-based data for diabetic hand syndrome (DHS) are limited. The aim of the present epidemiological study was to estimate the overall and cause-specific prevalence and rate ratio (RR) of DHS in patients with diabetes.

Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study based on a random sample of 57 093 diabetics and matched controls, both identified from Taiwan National Health Insurance claims in 2010.

Pregnancy-associated mortality in Taiwan, 2004-2011.

Objective: Pregnancy-associated death is defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as "a death of a woman while pregnant or within 1 year of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the cause of death." We sought to determine pregnancy-associated mortality ratio (PAMR) in Taiwan and to compare the cause of death pattern with other countries to assess the national health status of Taiwanese women.

Materials And Methods: We linked four nationwide population-based data sets (birth registration, birth notification, National Health Insurance claims, and cause of death mortality) from 2004 to 2011 to identify women aged 15-49 years that died from pregnancy-associated deaths.

Underreporting of maternal mortality in Taiwan: A data linkage study.

Objective: This study examined the extent to which maternal mortality in Taiwan is underreported in officially published mortality statistics.

Materials And Methods: We used National Health Insurance claims data collected from two million samples, which were linked with the officially published mortality data, to identify women aged 15-49 years, who were admitted to a hospital with pregnancy-related diagnoses during 2000-2009 and died during the pregnancy or within 42 days after the termination of pregnancy.

Results: Based on these linked data, we identified 26 maternal deaths, only nine of which were reported in the original officially published mortality data; thus, the rate of underreporting was 65% [(26 - 9)/26].

EBV-associated Burkitt lymphoma in Taiwan is not age-related.

This study retrospectively investigated 54 cases of sporadic Burkitt lymphoma in Taiwan with histopathology review, immunohistochemistry, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in situ hybridization (EBER) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The great majority revealed typical immunophenotype and 89% (47/53) cases expressed myc protein. EBER was positive in 20% (11/54) of cases, more frequently with nodal presentation, but not significantly associated with age (pediatric vs.

Maternal Mortality in Taiwan: A Nationwide Data Linkage Study.

Background: To examine the changes in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and causes of maternal death in Taiwan based on nationwide linked data sets.

Methods: We linked four population-based data sets (birth registration, birth notification, National Health Insurance inpatient claims, and cause of death mortality data) to identify maternal deaths for 2004-2011. Subsequently, we calculated the MMR (deaths per 100,000 live births) and the proportion of direct and indirect causes of maternal death by maternal age and year.

Hepatic angiosarcoma may have fair survival nowadays.

Hepatic angiosarcoma (HAS) is rare but often fatal. A review of literature in 1979 found that only 3% of the 70 patients lived for more than 2 years, but the survival might have been improved over the years. We conducted a retrospective study and reviewed the medical records of patients who visited a teaching hospital in Taiwan from January 2000 to August 2010 and had pathological proof of HAS.