Comparison Between Aspirin and Clopidogrel in Secondary Stroke Prevention Based on Real-World Data.

Background Clopidogrel was thought to be superior to aspirin for secondary prevention of vascular diseases in clinical trials. In this study we assessed the safety and efficacy of clopidogrel versus aspirin in real-world practice by using the Taiwan Stroke Registry. Methods and Results Patients with ischemic stroke (2006-2016) on aspirin or clopidogrel for secondary stroke prevention were identified in the Taiwan Stroke Registry.

Successful repair of neonatal tricuspid regurgitation due to chordae rupture.

Neonatal rupture of the chordae of tricuspid valve with severe regurgitation is rare and disastrous. We report on a full-term female neonate presented with cyanosis caused by severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) due to anterior leaflet chordal rupture. After initial stabilization by prostaglandin E1 infusion, successful early repair was achieved with artificial chordae implantation.

Hyperpigmentation as a peculiar presentation of mycosis fungoides.

Hyperpigmented mycosis fungoides is an extremely rare subtype of mycosis fungoides. It presents as multiple pigmented macules and patches without poikilodermatous changes and characterized by a CD8+ phenotype on immunohistochemistry. This report describes a typical case of hyperpigmented mycosis fungoides in a 62-year-old woman, who presented with a 7-year history of multiple hyperpigmented macules and patches on the trunk and right leg with progression over this half a year.

Ambiguous presentation of Mycobacterium avium complex-associated Rasmussen aneurysm.

A 77-year-old man with a progressively dry cough (two months duration) was admitted with hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed left lingular lobe consolidation and one thick-walled cavity lesion over the left lower lobe, which was accompanied by satellite micro-nodules in a tree-in-bud pattern. CT-guided biopsy confirmed mycobacterial infection, and subsequent culture yielded Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC).

Lentiviral vector-encoded microRNA-based shRNA-mediated gene knockdown of -methyl-D-aspartate receptors in skin reduces pain.

Background And Purpose: RNA polymerase II promoters that drive the expression of rationally designed primary microRNA-based shRNA, for example, shRNAmir, can produce more potent gene knockdown than RNA polymerase III promoters. Antagonists of peripheral methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that do not interfere with central glutamate processing would prevent the development of adverse central nervous system effects. Thus, in this study, we examined the effects of gene silencing and antinociception on formalin- and Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced pain in rats by subcutaneously injecting a lentiviral vector encoding a shRNAmir that targets the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor.

Urinary tract infection in infants caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli: comparison between urban and rural hospitals.

Background: Community-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is an emerging problem. Compared with urban infants, rural infants may encounter different distributions of community-acquired resistant strains and various barriers to efficient management.

Methods: A retrospective survey and comparison was conducted for infants with UTI caused by ESBL-producing E.

Primary extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma of bronchus and lung: A case report and review of literature.

Primary pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is very rare. It represents less than 1% of all NHL, and 0.5-1% of all primary pulmonary malignancies.

Characteristics of CTX-M Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Multiple Rivers in Southern Taiwan.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli sequence type ST131 has emerged as the leading cause of community-acquired urinary tract infections and bacteremia worldwide. Whether environmental water is a potential reservoir of these strains remains unclear. River water samples were collected from 40 stations in southern Taiwan from February to August 2014.

Effectiveness of a neck stretching intervention on nurses' primary headaches.

This study examined the effects of a neck stretching exercise intervention on nurses' primary headaches. Using a pretest and posttest two-group design, a total of 60 female staff nurses employed by a medical center in Taiwan were selected by convenience sampling. Participants in the experimental group (N=30) practiced neck stretching exercises while experiencing headaches.

Effect of sertraline on Ca²⁺ fluxes in rabbit corneal epithelial cells.

The effect of sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), on cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺](i)) in a rabbit corneal epithelial cell line (SIRC) is unclear. This study explored whether sertraline changed basal [Ca²⁺](i) levels in suspended SIRC cells by using fura-2 as a Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescent dye. Sertraline at concentrations between 10-100 μM increased [Ca²⁺](i) in a concentration-dependent manner.

Interrelationship of postoperative delirium and cognitive impairment and their impact on the functional status in older patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The impact of postoperative delirium on post-discharge functional status of older patients remains unclear, and little is known regarding the interrelationship between cognitive impairment and post-operative delirium. Therefore, the main purpose was to evaluate the post-discharge functional status of patients who experience delirium after undergoing orthopaedic surgery and the interrelationship of postoperative delirium with underlying cognitive impairment.

Method: This prospective cohort study, conducted at a tertiary care medical center from April 2011 to March 2012, enrolled all subjects aged over 60 years who were admitted for orthopaedic surgery.

How early should VATS be performed for retained haemothorax in blunt chest trauma?

Background: Blunt chest injury is not uncommon in trauma patients. Haemothorax and pneumothorax may occur in these patients, and some of them will develop retained pleural collections. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become an appropriate method for treating these complications, but the optimal timing for performing the surgery and its effects on outcome are not clearly understood.

Helicobacter pylori sensitizes TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis in human gastric epithelial cells through regulation of FLIP.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Apoptosis induced by microbial infections is implicated in the pathogenesis of H.

Intensification of a chemical burn injury by a warming device combined with the tissue pressure in the operating room.

A 19-year-old girl suffered an unexpected gasoline-associated chemical burn injury that may have been intensified by a warming device and tissue pressure in the operating room. Anesthesiologists should be aware that serious skin injury may result from combination of cutaneous exposure to hydrocarbons, especially when warming devices are simultaneously used.

Susceptibility-weighted imaging in patients with pyogenic brain abscesses at 1.5T: characteristics of the abscess capsule.

Background And Purpose: SWI is a high-resolution 3D, fully velocity-compensated gradient-echo sequence that uses both magnitude and phase data. The purpose of this study was to investigate the phase behavior of the capsule of pyogenic brain abscesses with noncontrast SWI.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen patients with pyogenic brain abscesses were studied at 1.

Acute community-acquired osteoarticular infections in children: high incidence of concomitant bone and joint involvement.

Background/purpose: Pediatric acute osteoarticular infections remain a challenging clinical issue for physicians. This paper provides recent clinical experiences on acute community-acquired osteoarticular infections in children in Taiwan.

Methods: Children with acute community-acquired osteoarticular infections admitted to hospital were retrospectively reviewed and the findings compared with related infections in Taiwan published during the past 10 years.

Comparison of 0.052-inch coils vs amplatzer duct occluder for transcatheter closure of moderate to large patent ductus arteriosus.

Background: Percutaneous device closure is now the widely accepted management technique for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). In the present study, current practice of closing moderate to large PDA using the Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO) was compared with the previous experience using 0.052-inch coils.

Clinical results of percutaneous closure of large secundum atrial septal defects in children using the Amplatzer septal occluder.

We reviewed our experience using the Amplatzer septal occluder (AGA Medical, Golden Valley, MN, USA) to close large, secundum-type atrial septal defects (ASDs) in children. Between June 2002 and December 2005, 52 patients (mean age 13.5 +/- 8.

Clinical application of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and intravenous immunoglobulin for enterovirus encephalitis.

Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive procedure for the diagnosis of enteroviruses, it has never been systemically applied to the treatment of enteroviral encephalitis using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). We conducted a 2-year randomized, controlled comparison of reverse transcription (RT)-PCR of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with traditional viral isolation to guide IVIg treatment. Seventy-five patients were enrolled and classified into three groups: one group with clinical manifestations of enteroviral infections and two without.

Overexpression of p27kip1 in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Objectives: Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes have important regulatory roles during cell cycle progression and can be used as prognostic markers in various kinds of malignant tumors. This study investigated the expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, Rb, p27(kip1), and cyclin D1 by immunostains in bladder tumors, especially urothelial papilloma, papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential, and low and high grade urothelial carcinoma, to see if their expression is associated with classification or grading of the urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Method: Nuclear expression of PCNA, p53, Rb, p27(kip1), and cyclin D1 was determined immunohistochemically in a series of 89 urinary bladder tumor specimens, including 13 papilloma, 15 urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential, 17 low grade urothelial carcinoma, and 44 high grade urothelial carcinoma.