J Formos Med Assoc
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Both vestibular schwannoma (VS) and Meniere's disease (MD) patients underwent hydrops MRI to clarify the relationship between VS and endolymphatic hydrops (EH). ⋯ A very low (6%) rate of VS in EH patients indicates that VS in EH patients may be coincidental. In contrast, EH was identified in 18% prevalence of VS patients, mirroring the 22% prevalence of cochlear EH demonstrated in VS donors through histopathological studies.
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National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) has demonstrated exceptional resilience and adaptability in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the outbreak in early 2020, NTUH has been at the forefront of Taiwan's healthcare system, taking proactive measures to prepare for and manage the pandemic. The hospital swiftly established dedicated outpatient clinics and wards, which were crucial in isolating and treating COVID-19 patients. ⋯ NTUH also shared its pandemic prevention experience internationally, participating in video conferences to discuss its preventive measures and best practices. In caring for frontline healthcare workers, NTUH established interdisciplinary care teams to provide psychological support, assistance with basic daily needs, and effective social, psychological, and mental health support programs. In conclusion, NTUH demonstrated efficient response capabilities and care for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing valuable insights for future challenges in dealing with emerging infectious diseases.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan's pediatric healthcare system faced its most severe shortage of pediatric residents in history. This review investigates the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to this shortage. Between 2020 and 2023, the recruitment rate of pediatric residents dropped by 27.3%, increasing workloads for attending pediatricians and may worsening health outcomes for pediatric patients. ⋯ Systemic recommendations include increasing health expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic production (GDP) and amending the NHI Act to eliminate the global budget payment system. Managing the resulting increase in financial responsibility could involve raising tax revenue as a percentage of GDP. Implementing these measures could strengthen the pediatric healthcare system and prevent a collapse of pediatric inpatient care.
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This paper examines the resilience of Taiwan's oral healthcare system in response to COVID-19, focusing on pre-pandemic conditions, pandemic impacts, and policy recommendations for future resilience. In Taiwan, oral diseases were prevalent, with 80.48% of adults affected by periodontitis in 2016, and 65.43% of 5-year-old children experiencing dental caries. Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) covers over 99% of the population, providing comprehensive dental care. ⋯ Strengthen hierarchy of oral healthcare system: Balance dental resources across regions, and improve referrals between hospital and clinics; 2. Provide integrated patient-centered care: Integrate oral health into disease prevention and offer comprehensive services across all stages of life; 3. Integrate digital technology: Promote teledentistry and leverage Taiwan's strengths in information and communication technology (ICT).
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The advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has revolutionized hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, enabling most HCV-infected patients to achieve a sustained viral response (SVR) easily and safely in a short period. On the other hand, it is gradually being recognized that a significant proportion of patients are still at risk of developing de novo and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even after HCV elimination, and therefore, elucidation of the risk of de novo and recurrent HCC, investigation of its molecular basis, and construction of accurate prediction models are emerging as new important clinical topics. In this review, we present recent advances regarding these issues.