J Formos Med Assoc
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Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is a rare disorder characterized by scarce adipose tissue. This disease is distributed worldwide, but little is known about these patients in the Chinese population. Here, we delineate the phenotype and prognosis of CGL in our cohort. ⋯ Our findings highlight the uniqueness of the genotype and phenotype in our cohort. Further long-term surveillance for comorbidities is necessary for early detection and management of these patients.
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To investigate the knowledge and learning ability of glaucoma patients regarding their anti-glaucoma topical medications. ⋯ The knowledge of glaucoma patients regarding their prescribed medication was deficient in Taiwan. Physician effort could improve knowledge on the prescribed drugs. Patient-centered education should be considered, targeting elderly individuals, illiterate individuals, and those with loss of visual function to increase compliance with glaucoma medication.
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Influenza A/H3N2 viruses are characterized by highly mutated RNA genomes. In this study, we focused on tracing the phylodynamics of Taiwanese strains over the past four decades. ⋯ We comprehensively investigated the evolutionary history of Taiwanese strains in 1979-2017. An epidemic caution could thus be raised if genetic diversity was found to have peaked. An example showed a newly-discovered cluster in 2016-2017 strains featuring a mutation N31S together with HA-160 quasispecies. Phylogeographic analysis, moreover, provided useful insights in tracing the possible source and migrations of these epidemics around the world. We demonstrated that Asian destinations including Taiwan were the immediate followers, while U.S. continent was predicted the origin of two summer epidemics in 2007 and 2009.
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To identify the underlying genetic cause of a Taiwanese family with autosomal dominant cerulean cataract. ⋯ Here we identify the first Taiwanese cerulean cataract family carrying a CRYBB2_Q155X mutation.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Do patients benefit more from robot assisted approach than conventional laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy? A meta-analysis of perioperative and economic outcomes.
Robotic approach has improved the ergonomics of conventional laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP), but whether patients benefit more from robot assisted distal pancreatectomy (RADP) is still controversial. This meta-analysis aims to compare the perioperative and economic outcomes of RADP with LDP. ⋯ RADP showed a slight technical advantage. But whether this benefit is worth twofold cost should be considered by patient's individuation.