625 results match your criteria: "and Tzu Chi University[Affiliation]"

Women commonly experience urinary tract infection (UTI) recurrence. However, there is no effective tool for predicting recurrent UTI after the first UTI episode. Hence, this study aimed to investigate potential urinary inflammatory biomarkers and specific biomarkers for predicting UTI recurrence or persistence after antibiotic treatment in women.

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Validation of the Laryngeal Cognitive-affective Tool in a Taiwanese Population.

J Clin Gastroenterol

December 2024

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.

Background And Aim: The laryngeal cognitive-affective tool (LCAT) was recently validated in the US to assess laryngeal-specific hypervigilance and anxiety. The aim of this study was to examine LCAT validity in the Taiwanese population.

Methods: This prospective single-center study enrolled adults from Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital with laryngeal symptoms for >6 months.

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Article Synopsis
  • Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a complex condition often accompanied by pelvic floor muscle pain (PFMP), particularly in women.
  • A study of 92 women found that 85.8% had PFMP, which correlated with worse symptoms, more sexual issues, and additional health problems, but not with certain bladder parameters like wall thickness.
  • The findings suggest that while PFMP is common in IC/BPS patients and linked to higher symptom severity, it does not impact bladder capacity or specific cystoscopic grades.
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Introduction: The COuGH RefluX score has been validated to predict likelihood of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms (LPS) using parameters of Cough, Overweight, Globus, Hiatal Hernia, Regurgitation, and male seX. This study aimed to assess the real-world value of the COuGH RefluX score in predicting proton pump inhibitor (PPI) response in LPS patients.

Methods: Patients with LPS for >3 months were prospectively enrolled, and assessed using the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring.

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Background: Transvenous coil embolization (TVCE) is a common and effective treatment for cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (CSDAVFs). However, some patients may experience residual fistulas or worsening visual symptoms after the procedure. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of transvenous coil and Onyx embolization (TVCOE) with TVCE in treating CSDAVFs.

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Satisfaction with bladder management in community-dwelling patients with chronic spinal cord injury.

J Formos Med Assoc

November 2024

Department of Urology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
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Laparoscopic myomectomy without uterine manipulator for maintaining endometrial cavity integrity.

Heliyon

October 2024

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.

Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated the impact of using a uterine manipulator during laparoscopic myomectomy on the integrity of the endometrial cavity and overall surgical outcomes.
  • Data from 50 women who underwent the procedure were analyzed, comparing outcomes between those with manipulators (30 participants) and those without (20 participants).
  • Key findings indicated that while using a manipulator led to fewer abdominal ports, it also resulted in a significantly higher rate of endometrial cavity breaches, suggesting that avoiding a manipulator may better preserve fertility.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the importance of recruiting and retaining nurses in a challenging workforce environment, emphasizing the significance of addressing job stress and enhancing mental resilience through mindfulness practices.
  • Thirty-one newly graduated nurses participated in an 8-week mindfulness program, and their experiences were analyzed through focus group discussions to understand the impact of mindfulness on their stress levels.
  • Five key themes emerged from the findings, highlighting challenges faced by nurses in managing workplace stress, the benefits of mindfulness training, and the necessity for supportive workplace environments to improve nurse retention.
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Article Synopsis
  • * Data was collected from patients who underwent these surgeries at a hospital in Taiwan over a nine-year period, analyzing pre- and post-operative improvements using Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) scores.
  • * The findings indicated that both surgical methods resulted in significant improvements, but there were no major differences in outcomes or estimated blood loss, although PVR took longer to perform.
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Background: Capsaicin-containing red pepper sauce suspension augments esophageal contraction amplitude on conventional manometry. This study used high-resolution manometry (HRM) to investigate if capsaicin infusion modulates segmental esophageal smooth muscle peristalsis in healthy adults.

Methods: Sixteen healthy volunteers (mean age 37 years, 14 male) underwent HRM for the evaluation of primary peristalsis and secondary peristalsis using slow and rapid air distensions.

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The Pathomechanism and Current Treatments for Chronic Interstitial Cystitis and Bladder Pain Syndrome.

Biomedicines

September 2024

Department of Urology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan.

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic and debilitating condition characterized by symptoms such as bladder pain, frequent urination, and nocturia. Pain is typically perceived in the lower abdomen, pelvic floor, or urethra, causing significant discomfort and impacting quality of life. Due to the similarity of its symptoms with those of overactive bladder and acute bacterial cystitis, patients often face misdiagnosis and delayed appropriate treatment.

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The Lyon Score: A Novel Reflux Scoring System Based on the Lyon Consensus 2.0 That Associates With Treatment Outcome From Antireflux Therapy.

Am J Gastroenterol

September 2024

Kenneth C. Griffin Esophageal Center, Northwestern Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to enhance the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and predict treatment outcomes using a new scoring system called the Lyon score, based on esophageal test parameters.
  • A prediction score was developed from endoscopy and pH-impedance metrics, showing strong performance in a cohort of patients, with an AUC of 0.819 for predicting a 50% reduction in symptoms.
  • The Lyon score effectively differentiates reflux types and indicates how likely patients are to respond to antireflux therapy, outperforming existing scores in certain cohorts.
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Effects of dexmedetomidine versus propofol on outcomes in critically ill patients with different sedation depths: a propensity score-weighted cohort study.

Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med

December 2024

Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien 970, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Objective: We explored the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) versus propofol on outcomes in critically ill patients and to assess whether these effects are dissimilar under different sedation depths.

Methods: A stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting cohort study was conducted using data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database from 2008 to 2019. Adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients who were administered DEX or propofol as the primary sedative were identified.

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Neural stem cells derived from α-synuclein-knockdown iPS cells alleviate Parkinson's disease.

Cell Death Discov

September 2024

Neuroscience and Brain Disease Center, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan.

Article Synopsis
  • Stem cells can help replace damaged cells and may lead to new treatments for diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
  • Researchers are using a special type of stem cells called iPS cells that are created from patients' own cells, which is good for both safety and ethics.
  • A study showed that using these stem cells to improve the movement and lifespan of mice with a type of Parkinson's disease could be a promising new treatment.
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Efficacy of jing Si herbal tea in functional dyspepsia: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

J Formos Med Assoc

September 2024

Department of Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is prevalent worldwide and is associated with gastrointestinal inflammation, mucosal anomalies, and shifts in microbiota metabolites like short chain fatty acids. This study assesses the efficacy of Jing Si herbal tea (JSHT) in alleviating FD symptoms, psychological distress, and influencing metabolites.

Methods: Adults with FD based on Rome IV criteria were included.

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Dysfunctional voiding (DV) is an abnormal urethral sphincter activity during voiding in neurologically normal individuals. Urethral sphincter botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection has been used to treat DV, but the results have not been completely satisfactory. This study investigated the neurological characteristics of women with DV using the lower urinary tract electrophysiology (EP) study and the therapeutic efficacy of BoNT-A injection.

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Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, causing dysuria and affecting patients' well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a urethral sphincter botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection in patients with SCI and dysuria. This was a retrospective study including 118 patients with SCI who underwent a urethral BoNT-A injection following a standardized protocol for refractory voiding dysfunction.

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The prognostic value of central pathology review in upper urinary tract cancer (UTUC) remains inadequately addressed in existing literature. In this study, we conducted an extensive central pathology review and presented its influence on multi-center UTUC studies. We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy or segmental resection for UTUC to determine eligibility for central pathology review.

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Striated esophageal muscle contraction (SEC) is important for pharyngeal swallowing and deglutition augmentation against aspiration. Its clinical relevance is unclear in patients with ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). In this study, we aimed to characterize and compare SEC in consecutive patients with and without IEM.

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Objective: Aortic dissection, a rare but serious condition, requires timely diagnosis and treatment.

Case Report: A case report involving a 33-year-old female with Stanford type B aortic dissection at 32 + 3 weeks gestational age highlights the importance of being alert to the symptoms and signs of this condition, particularly in patients with hypertension or a history of connective tissue disorders. The case report suggests a delivery first strategy followed by TEVAR procedure as the preferred approach for managing aortic dissection in pregnancy.

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Background: Diagnosing underlying causes of nonneurogenic male lower urinary tract symptoms associated with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) is challenging. Video-urodynamic studies (VUDS) and pressure-flow studies (PFS) are both invasive diagnostic methods for BOO. VUDS can more precisely differentiate etiologies of male BOO, such as benign prostatic obstruction, primary bladder neck obstruction, and dysfunctional voiding, potentially outperforming PFS.

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Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) is common in patients with central nervous system (CNS) lesions. Cases of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), Parkinson's disease, dementia, and other intracranial lesions develop poor bladder control with or without urinary difficulty due to loss of cortical perception of bladder filling sensation and poor coordination of urethral sphincter relaxation during reflex micturition. Patients with CNS lesions usually have overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, including urgency, frequency, incontinence, voiding symptoms of dysuria, large postvoid residual volume, and retention.

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Objectives: Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) such as stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) can be managed through conservative treatments, such as conservative management involving biofeedback (BF) and electrostimulation. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of conservative treatments on PFDs.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted.

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Background/aims: Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is common in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and can be associated with poor esophageal contraction reserve on multiple rapid swallows. Alterations in the esophageal microbiome have been reported in GERD, but the relationship to presence or absence of contraction reserve in IEM patients has not been evaluated. We aim to investigate whether contraction reserve influences esophageal microbiome alterations in patients with GERD and IEM.

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