J Formos Med Assoc
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To study the surgical outcome of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) for medically uncontrolled microbial keratitis at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan over a 14-year period. ⋯ TPK is valuable in the management of medically uncontrolled microbial keratitis, although the 1-year graft survival rate is unsatisfactory. TPK combined with intravitreal antibiotics and vitrectomy is also a beneficial treatment strategy for patients with endophthalmitis secondary to microbial keratitis.
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To investigate the role of microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation in liver cancer by assessing the miRNA profiles of human hepatic stem cells (HpSCs), marker-carrying human hepatoblastoma (HB) cells, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells vs. those of fetal hepatocytes. ⋯ Dysregulation of liver developmental miRNAs, which exert a tumor suppressant effect, in EpCAM-positive HpSCs may contribute to liver carcinogenesis by promoting the transformation of HpSCs to CSCs of HB and HCC.
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To investigate contemporary cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in Taiwanese patients with symptomatic low extremity peripheral artery disease treated with endovascular therapy. ⋯ Long-term survival and MACE-free rates were significantly worse in CLI patients than in claudicants. Malnutrition and inflammation were associated with long-term survival. CAD, low hematocrit, dialysis, CHF, and ambulatory status predicted future CV events.
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Most patients who undergo two-stage exchange arthroplasty surgery for total knee arthroplasty prosthetic joint infection (TKA-PJI) receive a six-week course of systemic antibiotic treatment after the first stage procedure. However, the optimal duration of therapy has not been conclusively determined. ⋯ After the first stage of resection arthroplasty for a two-stage exchange arthroplasty, a short course of antibiotic treatment had similar implant survival rates in comparison to the standard 6-week course. With radical debridement combined with an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer along with serial monitoring of the patient, a short course antibiotic treatment may be adequate in patients with TKA-PJI.