J Formos Med Assoc
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To investigate the clinical characteristics of intraocular lymphoma and to evaluate two protocols of intravitreal methotrexate injection. ⋯ Intravitreal methotrexate is an effective and repeatable treatment for intraocular lymphoma. A new protocol with reduced frequency of intravitreal injections as shown in this study could potentially produce similar results without a worse prognosis, along with a decrease in the incidence of keratitis.
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The status of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can wax and wane over time in children. However, the factors affecting its incidence and remission remain elusive. We aimed to investigate NAFLD incidence, remission and predicting factors in obese children. ⋯ Obese children with increasing BMI are more likely to develop NAFLD and those with decreasing BMI are more likely to have NAFLD remission.
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Sphingolipids are major constituents of eukaryotic cell membranes and play key roles in cellular regulatory processes. Our recent results in an experimental stroke animal model demonstrated changes in sphingolipids in response to acute ischemic brain injury. This study aimed to investigate the plasma levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramides in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients and their associations with functional outcomes. ⋯ Our study supported the dynamic metabolism of sphingolipids after the occurrence of AIS. Ceramides could be potential prognostic markers for patients with AIS.
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Dental pulp fibroblasts can protect dental pulp from microbial invasion. However, little is known about the interaction between pulp fibroblasts and the immune cells. In this study, the production of proinflammatory cytokines related to inflammatory cell recruitment was evaluated in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated human dental pulp fibroblasts (HDPFs). The role of TNF-α-stimulated HDPFs in the cell fusion under inflammatory process was determined with the cell co-culture with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). ⋯ Our results indicate that under the stimulation of TNF-α, HDPFs may amplify inflammatory response by cytokines production, which in turn can modulate the differentiation of immune cells.
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This study was to perform an economic evaluation to understand clinical outcomes and health resource use between hip fracture patients receiving hospital-based postfracture fracture liaison service (FLS) care and those receiving usual care (UC) in Taiwan. ⋯ FLS care was cost-effective in reducing refracture occurrence days for patients initially diagnosed with hip fractures.