J Formos Med Assoc
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Voice therapy is frequently recommended as the first-line treatment for benign voice disorders. This study investigated the clinical effectiveness of voice therapy and the prognostic factors of treatment outcomes. ⋯ Voice therapy is effective for patients with vocal nodules, polyps, and MTD. Adherence to voice therapy and occupational vocal demand are significant prognostic factors for treatment outcomes.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Long-term cognitive and multimodal imaging outcomes after carotid artery stenting vs intensive medication alone for severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis.
Severe carotid stenosis is associated with cognitive impairment, which may be attributed to asymptomatic microembolism and/or chronic hypoperfusion. We aim to evaluate the long-term cognitive and brain connectivity outcomes of carotid artery stenting (CAS) for asymptomatic ≥70% stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA). ⋯ For asymptomatic extracranial carotid steno-occlusion, successful carotid revascularization in addition to intensive medical treatment may potentially benefit cognitive reserve and connectivity strength which are partly attributed to restoration of non-critical hypoperfusion.
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Three first-line epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are widely available to treat advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutation. However, studies comparing efficacy or effectiveness of these EGFR TKIs came out with inconclusive results. ⋯ Afatinib, compared with gefitinib, might provide better effectiveness as the first-line targeted therapy for patients of advanced lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutation.
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Observational Study
Identification and management of contraindicated drug-drug interactions through pharmaceutical care programs: Experience in direct-acting antivirals therapy.
To investigate the impact of pharmaceutical care programs for the management of contraindicated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy. ⋯ The implementation of pharmaceutical care programs in DAA therapy provides a favorable outcome and substantial cost avoidance.
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Risk factors associated with longer stays in cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit after CABG.
Monitoring ICU length of stay (LOS) after CABG and examining its risk factors can guide initiatives on the improvement of care. But few have evaluated this issue to include personal and clinical factors, and demands of ICU care. This study applied Donabedian model to identify risk factors for longer ICU stays after CABG. Lifestyle, clinical factors during and after CABG, TISS were viewed as structure factors, and infection and organ failures during ICU did as process factors. ⋯ Further quality improvement initiatives to shorten ICU stay after CABG may include the promotion of a smoking cessation program in clinical practice, and better management of the manpower allocation, infection control and renal failure.