Effectiveness of Respiratory Muscle Training in Pompe Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Pompe disease is a rare metabolic myopathy caused by the lack or deficiency of the lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase, resulting in skeletal muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy. The disease varies by onset age and genetic mutations and is categorized into infantile-onset and late-onset Pompe disease. Respiratory muscle weakness may persist regardless enzyme replacement therapy.

Association of stress hormones and the risk of cardiovascular diseases systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The roles of endogenous stress hormones (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol) in cardiovascular diseases have been discussed. However, the higher versus lower level of stress hormones in relation to cardiovascular risks remained uncertain.

Methods: We searched databases from their inception to 31, March 2023.

A Rare Autochthonous Case of Hepatic Hydatid Cyst in the Non-Endemic Region of Taiwan.

BACKGROUND Hepatic hydatid cyst disease, caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus, is endemic in certain rural areas of the world, but not in most of East Asia outside Mainland China. In Taiwan, only one autochthonous case has been reported over the past 40 years. We present the case of an urban 91-year-old female patient without international travel history for more than 40 years.

How renal toxins respond to renal function deterioration and oral toxic adsorbent in pH-controlled releasing capsule.

The number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing. Oral toxin adsorbents may provide some value. Several uremic toxins, including indoxyl sulfate (IS), p-cresol (PCS), acrolein, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and inflammation markers (interleukin 6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha) have been shown to be related to CKD progression.

Routine image-enhanced endoscopic surveillance for metachronous esophageal squamous cell neoplasms in head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell neoplasms (ESCNs) are common second primary tumors in patients with head and neck cancer. Image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) with Lugol chromoendoscopy or magnifying narrow-band imaging both increase the detection of early ESCNs. No evidence-based ESCN surveillance program for head and neck cancer patients without a history of synchronous ESCNs exists.

Efficacy of combined ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation with hyaluronic acid and physical therapy in patients with adhesive capsulitis: A randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of combining ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation with hyaluronic acid and physical therapy compared with physical therapy alone in patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Design: A prospective, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Single medical centre.

Application of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Neuropathic Pain: A Narrative Review.

Neuropathic pain, affecting 6.9-10% of the general population, has a negative impact on patients' quality of life and potentially leads to functional impairment and disability. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)-a safe, indirect and non-invasive technique-has been increasingly applied for treating neuropathic pain.

Exercise-induced myocardial ischemia presenting as exercise intolerance after carbon monoxide intoxication and smoke inhalation Injury: case report.

Background: Carbon monoxide intoxication and smoke inhalation injury can lead to severe disorders, and the current literature has elaborated on the importance of major cardiopulmonary impairment. Exercise intolerance has seldom been discussed, particular in patient with low cardiovascular risk.

Case Presentation: Two young male fire survivors who presented with exercise intolerance after CO intoxication and smoke inhalation injury.

Comparative Effectiveness of Corticosteroid Dosages for Ultrasound-Guided Glenohumeral Joint Hydrodilatation in Adhesive Capsulitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of hydrodilatation with 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide (TA) compared with the same procedure with 10 mg TA in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the shoulders.

Design: Prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial with 12 weeks of follow-up.

Setting: Tertiary care rehabilitation center.

The Effects of Interactive eBooks on Dyspnea Assessment and Management among Emergency Medical Technicians: A Repeated-Measures Analysis.

Dyspnea is a common emergency requiring urgent care, and a variety of factors may mislead emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Typically, EMT education uses traditional lectures with paper books. The effect of interactive eBooks on EMT learning has not been explored.

En-face polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography to characterize early-stage esophageal cancer and determine tumor margin.

Current imaging tools are insufficiently sensitive to the early diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The application of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) to detect tumor-stroma interaction is an interesting issue in cancer diagnosis. In this translational study, we found that en-face PS-OCT effectively characterizes protruding, flat, and depressive type ESCC regardless of animal or human specimens.

Antiperistaltic effect and safety of L-menthol for esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the elderly with contraindication to hyoscine-N-butylbromide.

Hyoscine-N-butylbromide (HBB) is the most used antiperistaltic agent during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). However, almost half of the elderly have a contraindication to HBB. We aimed to evaluate L-menthol's antiperistaltic effect and safety for EGD in the elderly with contraindication to HBB.

Multimodal In-training Examination in an Emergency Medicine Residency Training Program: A Longitudinal Observational Study.

Background: In-training examination (ITE) has been widely adopted as an assessment tool to measure residents' competency. We incorporated different formats of assessments into the emergency medicine (EM) residency training program to form a multimodal, multistation ITE. This study was conducted to examine the cost and effectiveness of its different testing formats.

A study of correlations between metabolic syndrome factors and osteosarcopenic adiposity.

Background: Aging reduces the quality and strength of bones and muscles and increases body fat, which can lead to the simultaneous occurrence of sarcopenia, osteopenia, and adiposity, a condition referred to as OsteoSarcopenic Adiposity (OSA). While previous studies have demonstrated that metabolic syndrome is associated with sarcopenia, osteopenia, and adiposity, the relationship between metabolic syndrome and OSA remains largely unknown.

Methods: We analyzed data for a sample of middle-aged individuals from a Health Management Center database, which was collected in 2016-2018.

High-fidelity simulation is associated with good discriminability in emergency medicine residents' in-training examinations.

In-training examinations (ITEs), arranged during residency training, evaluate the residents' performances periodically. There is limited literature focusing on the effectiveness of resident ITEs in the format of simulation-based examinations, as compared to traditional oral or written tests. Our primary objective is to investigate the effectiveness and discriminative ability of high-fidelity simulation compared with other measurement formats in emergency medicine (EM) residency training program.

Risk factor analysis of allergic rhinitis in 6-8 year-old children in Taipei.

The incidence of allergic rhinitis (AR) has increased rapidly in Taiwan during the past 30 years; however, potential risk factors of AR have yet to be examined. The purpose of this study is to explore the prevalence, personal and environmental risk factors of rhinitis. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 26418 first graders (6-8 years old) in Taipei with a response rate of 94.

Risk factors of falls and the gender differences in older adults with diabetes at outpatient clinics.

Aims: To explore the risk factors of falls and the gender differences based on demographic and disease characteristics, physical capability, and fear of falling in older adults with diabetes visiting outpatient clinics in Taiwan.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Methods: A total of 485 patients with type 2 diabetes aged between 65 and 80 years were recruited from three endocrine outpatient clinics in Taiwan.

The role of albumin-bilirubin grade in determining the outcomes of patients with very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and with a single tumor <2 cm in size are classified as having Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0 HCC. We aimed to investigate the role of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade in predicting outcomes in patients with BCLC stage 0 HCC.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with BCLC stage 0 HCC in Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2007 to 2015.

Detection of Oral Dysplastic and Early Cancerous Lesions by Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography.

Detection of oral dysplastic and early-stage cancerous lesions is difficult with the current tools. Half of oral cancers are diagnosed in a late stage. Detection of early stromal change to predict malignant transformation is a new direction in the diagnosis of early-stage oral cancer.