J Formos Med Assoc
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Practice Guideline
Taiwanese dermatological association (TDA) consensus for the management of pemphigus.
Pemphigus is an uncommon but life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease characterized by the presence of antibodies against desmogleins. Without effective treatment, pemphigus can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Existing consensus statements on pemphigus management from international medical groups provide varying guidelines, especially on treatment. ⋯ The meeting reviewed the available consensus statements from international dermatology groups, including the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), and the International Bullous Diseases Consensus Group. Using these guidelines as a basis for discussion and consensus formulation, these experts formulated their consensus statement that provides practical, concise but comprehensive recommendations as to the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of pemphigus patients in Taiwan. This consensus serves as a clinical reference for physicians for the management of pemphigus in Taiwan or wherever it may be applicable.
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The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), involving multiple components of clinical assessments, is challenging. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS-G), one of the standardized and validated instruments for ASD diagnostic evaluation, has been widely used in many countries. With the preparation of the Mandarin version of the ADOS-G (Mandarin-ADOS-G), this study aims to examine its psychometric properties, including reliability and validity. ⋯ The Mandarin-ADOS-G is a reliable and valid instrument for assisting the diagnosis of ASD in the Mandarin-speaking population.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of the relationship between cognitive function and future falls in Chinese community-dwelling older adults with and without diabetes mellitus.
The aim of this study was to determine whether cognitive function is associated with future falls in older patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared with those without DM. Cognitive function was divided into several domains to further analyze. ⋯ Our study found that in patients with DM, cognitive function is related to future falls. Not only overall cognitive function, but also orientation to place and registration were all associated with future falls in older adults with DM. When completing the fall risk assessment of elderly patients with DM, clinicians should give more attention to the testing of cognitive function.
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The S100 family proteins are involved in a variety of important biological processes, most notably immune and inflammatory responses. Their dysregulation also plays a role in the pathogenesis of human cancers. S100A4, also known as metastasin, has long been regarded as a biological marker in tumor progression and metastasis in multiple solid cancers, but its clinical significance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not been extensively studied. ⋯ This study provides evidence that S100A4 overexpression serves as a poor prognostic biomarker in AML, holds potential to guide treatment planning in the clinic, and indicates novel therapeutic directions.