J Formos Med Assoc
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Critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rare but devastating complication of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in children and adolescents. This study aimed to assess the risk factors for, and evaluate the vaccine effectiveness against, critical COVID-19 during the 2022 Omicron Surge in Taiwan. ⋯ Underlying diseases are the major risk factors for critical COVID-19 among children and adolescents during the Omicron Surge. The two-dose COVID-19 vaccination is highly effective against critical diseases.
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To investigate the association between patient-to-physician ratios, a measure of physician workload, and various patient outcomes in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Higher patient-to-physician ratios are associated with worse outcomes for ED patients. Our findings suggest that maintaining ratios below 10 may be ideal for optimizing care quality, while ratios exceeding 20 pose significant risks to patients.
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Infertility and the economic burden of treatment can impose considerable psychosocial stress with negative consequences for the quality of life for all involved. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of government subsidies for infertility treatment on the quality of life among infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. ⋯ The government subsidy for infertility treatment was negatively correlated with clinical and live birth rates while positively correlated with quality of life.
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Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR) has proven to be effective in refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT). We report the long-term results in first Asian series of STAR for refractory VT in a group of Taiwanese. ⋯ In patients with medication and catheter ablation refractory VT, STAR is associated with a marked acute reduction in the burden of VT. The acute response of VT burden reduction helps to bridge patients to the next treatment step of heart failure, including medical optimization or surgical management, and enhance clinical outcomes.