J Formos Med Assoc
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Patients with hypervascular spinal tumors may have severe blood loss during tumor resection, which increases the risks of perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, the preoperative evaluation of tumor vascularity may be challenging; moreover, the reliability of the data obtained in conventional preoperative noninvasive imaging is debatable. In this study, we compared conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and subtraction computed tomography angiography (CTA) in terms of their performance in vascularity evaluation. The catheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA) technique was used as a reference standard. ⋯ Qualitative subtraction CTA offers the highest diagnostic value in evaluating spinal tumor vascularity, compared to quantitative CTA and MRI. Although conventional MRI may not be a reliable approach, certain MRI signs may have high specificity, which may be crucial for assessing spinal tumor vascularity.
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Vitamin D deficiency is associated with mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients. This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of enteral high-dose vitamin D supplementation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Asia. ⋯ NCT04292873, Registered, March 1, 2020.
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Current guidelines advocate for maintaining BP level below 180/105 mmHg during EVT, determining the safe lower boundary remains primarily consensus-driven by experts. This study aims to delve into the correlation between various targets of lower boundary for systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) during EVT and 3-month functional outcomes. ⋯ A SBP range above 130-140 mmHg could potentially serve as a safe lower boundary during EVT, while minimizing BP fluctuations may correlate with improved post-EVT functional outcomes.
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Whether adjuvant chemotherapy should be different for patients with stage II and III gastric cancer is unknown. ⋯ Although fluoropyrimidine monotherapy is feasible for stage II-IIIA disease, doublet chemotherapy is significantly associated with longer survival than monotherapy for stage IIIB-IIIC disease. S-1-containing regimens might lead to longer survival than non-S-1-containing chemotherapy in stage III gastric cancer.