J Formos Med Assoc
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Limited data are available on the role of illicit non-injecting drug use in a prolonged HIV outbreak that predominantly affected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Taiwan since 2006. We aimed to assess associations between specific types of drug use and incident HIV infections in this outbreak. ⋯ Non-opioid recreational drugs use is associated with incident HIV infection in this prolonged HIV outbreak. There is an urgent need to formulate an effective public health response to mitigate the risk.
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This study measured the acceleration magnitude using a dummy model filled with various air-material ratios to elucidate the mechanism of resonance effect on ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP). ⋯ The mechanism for eliciting oVEMP is via the first-order bone vibration coupled with the second-order resonance effect. Both percentage of air volume (i.e. frontal sinus) and density of filling media (i.e. skull property) may contribute to the resonance effect, which then increases the acceleration magnitude so as to enhance the elicitation of oVEMP.
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The status of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can wax and wane over time in children. However, the factors affecting its incidence and remission remain elusive. We aimed to investigate NAFLD incidence, remission and predicting factors in obese children. ⋯ Obese children with increasing BMI are more likely to develop NAFLD and those with decreasing BMI are more likely to have NAFLD remission.
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Sphingolipids are major constituents of eukaryotic cell membranes and play key roles in cellular regulatory processes. Our recent results in an experimental stroke animal model demonstrated changes in sphingolipids in response to acute ischemic brain injury. This study aimed to investigate the plasma levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramides in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients and their associations with functional outcomes. ⋯ Our study supported the dynamic metabolism of sphingolipids after the occurrence of AIS. Ceramides could be potential prognostic markers for patients with AIS.
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This study was to perform an economic evaluation to understand clinical outcomes and health resource use between hip fracture patients receiving hospital-based postfracture fracture liaison service (FLS) care and those receiving usual care (UC) in Taiwan. ⋯ FLS care was cost-effective in reducing refracture occurrence days for patients initially diagnosed with hip fractures.