J Formos Med Assoc
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Taiwan government has provided population-based fluoride varnish application services for all preschool children since July 2004. This study investigated the association providing such services on dental caries experiences among schoolchildren. ⋯ This study revealed that children receiving 3 or more services were associated with a 36% decreased risk of having untreated caries in primary dentition, but these children were mainly in the low-risk group. These results illustrate real data that provides dentists and policymakers with valuable information.
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Influenza is frequently complicated with bacterial co-infection. This study aimed to disclose the significance of Streptococcus pneumoniae co-infection in children with influenza. ⋯ Compared to influenza alone, patients with S. pneumoniae co-infection had more morbidities and mortalities. Pneumococcal co-infection is considered when influenza patients have lower SpO2, lower platelet counts, higher CRP, lower serum sodium, and more radiographic patches and consolidations on admission.
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Sleep disturbance and psychological distress are among the most prevalent comorbidities of tinnitus. We aimed to clarify the dose-response effects of these phenomena with tinnitus severity. ⋯ Old age, daytime sleepiness, and psychological distress are highly associated with tinnitus severity among patients with sleep difficulty. Management of sleep disturbance and psychological distress is necessary to control tinnitus.
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Nasality outcome in unilateral chronic rhinosinusitis following functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
In this study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of abnormal nasality in patients with unilateral rhinosinusitis and their nasality outcomes following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). ⋯ Although only one side of the nasal airway was involved, one-third of the patients reported abnormal nasality. In patients with more disease severity who underwent wide opening surgery, the nasalance significantly increased 1 year after FESS. The increase in the objective nasalance score was corresponded to a significant improvement of subjective self-reported nasality assessment postoperatively.
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In many patients, low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer reveals asymptomatic pulmonary nodules. Lung resection surgery may be indicated in these patients; however, distinguishing malignancies from benign lesions preoperatively can be challenging. ⋯ Lung resection surgery is an aggressive but safe and feasible method for diagnosing MTB- or NTM-associated pulmonary nodules, and, potentially, an effective therapeutic tool for patients with undiagnosed MTB- or NTM-associated pulmonary nodules.