J Formos Med Assoc
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Esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) is a medical emergency in patients with portal hypertension (PHT). However, studies on the long-term outcomes of prophylactic endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in pediatric-onset PHT are lacking. ⋯ Primary prophylactic EVL, despite reducing acute EVB, may not change overall survival and biliary atresia transplant-free survival. APRI > 1.24 may predict EV presence at the first EGD and help to schedule a surveillance EGD. Higher direct bilirubin and lower albumin levels at the first EVL may relate to long-term mortality.
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To assess ocular involvement in sarcoidosis and to analyze the manifestations of ocular sarcoidosis (OS) in Taiwan. ⋯ Uveitis is an early sign of sarcoidosis and it might result in several complications. The overall visual outcomes were good if patients received proper treatment. Both poor initial vision and females that tended to have more severe complications were associated with poor outcome.
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Comparative Study
Comparison between the use of hypofractionated and conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in early breast cancer: A single-center real-world study in Taiwan.
This study aimed to analyze the long-term outcomes of hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (WBI) (HF-WBI) compared with those of conventionally fractionated WBI (CF-WBI) for early breast cancer treated with breast-conservation surgery (BCS) and adjuvant WBI in Taiwan. ⋯ HF-WBI had similar IBTR, OS and toxicity to CF-WBI.
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Recent studies showed that Histone deacetylases 6 (HDAC6) inhibitors could improve arthritis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rodent models, whereas lower HDAC6 expression was observed in RA patients' synovial fibroblasts, raising the concerns to use HDAC6 inhibitors to treat RA patients. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of HDAC6 mRNA expression and promoter methylation in RA. ⋯ The HDAC6 mRNA expression and promoter methylation were lower in RA patients. Both HDAC6 mRNA expression level and promoter hypomethylation were associated the susceptibility of RA. HDAC6 inhibitors seem not proper for RA patients' treatment.
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During pandemics like SARS-CoV-2, healthcare providers' well-being and morale are in particular at stake. Burnout may substantially hinder the well-being and morale of healthcare providers, challenging our efforts at disease containment. This study investigated the relationship between perceived COVID-19 stigma and burnout symptoms among physicians and nurses. We further aimed to identify potential factors that may moderate this relationship, including profession, clinical contact with COVID-19 patients, and prior experience with 2003 SARS-CoV-1. ⋯ The study results suggest that COVID-19 stigma may contribute to burnout among physicians and nurses, and this relation may not vary across clinical roles and experiences but profession.