J Formos Med Assoc
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Mutations in the neurofilament light polypeptide gene (NEFL) are an uncommon cause of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). The aim of this study is to elucidate the clinical characteristics and genetic spectrum of NEFL-related neuropathy in a Taiwanese CMT cohort. ⋯ NEFL mutations account for 1.8% (9/508) of the CMT patients in Taiwan. The present study delineates the clinical and genetic characteristics of NEFL-related neuropathy in Taiwan, and highlights that ulnar MNCV above 25 m/s and CNS involvement may serve as diagnostic clues for NEFL-related neuropathy.
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The use of a continuous lumbar drain (LD) for the treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), and malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, is correlated with clinical outcome. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between LD placement and MDA level after aSAH. ⋯ The intrathecal MDA level at day 7 after aSAH can be an effective outcome indicator in modified Fisher's grade III/IV aSAH. Continuous CSF drainage via a LD can decrease the intrathecal MDA level and improve the functional outcome.
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Practice Guideline
The 2020 Taiwan Stroke Society guidelines for blood pressure control at the acute stage of ischemic stroke.
The 2020 Taiwan Stroke Society (TSS) guidelines for blood pressure (BP) control related to ischemic stroke update the 2015 TSS BP guidelines. The early management of acute ischemic stroke has evolved rapidly in the previous two decades. Since the publication of the previous version of the TSS BP guidelines, many studies have addressed BP management in ischemic stroke. ⋯ Consequently, the 2020 guidelines are updating and providing recommendations on BP control for the treatment and prevention of ischemic stroke based on new evidence. The present study encompasses the most important chapter of the 2020 Taiwan BP guidelines: BP control at the acute stage of ischemic stroke. We incorporated the most updated evidence regarding BP control at the acute stage of ischemic stroke in patients receiving or not receiving acute reperfusion therapy and provided specific recommendations for different treatment subgroups accordingly.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenges pediatric health globally by limited medical accessibility. In response to COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan, public restrictions were applied and the Level 3 alert was announced from May to July in 2021 for local outbreak. This study aims to analyze patients' clinical features and outcomes in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) during the COVID-19 epidemic with the Level 3 alert in Taiwan. ⋯ During the COVID-19 epidemic with strict public restrictions, critically ill patients admitted to the PICU decreased but had increased disease severity, prolonged length of stay in the PICU, and higher mortality, reflecting the impact of quarantine and limited medical access.
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Multicenter Study
Outcomes of pediatric patients supported with ventricular assist devices single center experience.
There has been a remarkable increase in the number of pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD) implanted over the past decade. Asian pediatric heart centers had not participated in the multicenter registries among the Western countries. This article aimed to report the outcomes of pediatric VAD in our hospital. ⋯ We demonstrated a favorable outcome in pediatric patients supported with VAD at our institution.