J Formos Med Assoc
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Comparative Study
Applicability of the Chinese version of the Prodromal Questionnaire.
Early detection and intervention of psychosis is clinically important. This study aimed to test the applicability of the Chinese version of the Prodromal Questionnaire (CPQ) for identifying prodromal states of psychosis. ⋯ Applicability of the CPQ was demonstrated by its high reliability and good ability to discriminate between clinical patients and a comparison group. The 35-item positive symptom subscale can be useful alone in general mental health settings for screening psychotic cases.
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We aimed to standardize the normal reference value of red blood cell (RBC) counts in Chinese presenile women using an underlying scientific basis. ⋯ If geographical values are obtained in a certain area, the normal RBC reference value in presenile women in this area can be obtained using the regression equation.
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There is a lack of data regarding the occurrence of hemothorax in medical intensive care units (ICUs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, comorbidity and prognostic factors of hemothorax in medical ICU patients. ⋯ Chronic kidney disease was the most common comorbidity associated with hemothorax. Patients with chronic kidney disease might require close observation for hemothorax after invasive procedures, such as thoracentesis and chest tube thoracostomy. Prolonged prothrombin time and decreased hemoglobin level might be of prognostic value for critically ill patients with hemothorax.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of epidural neuraxial blockade-dependent sedation on the Ramsay Sedation Scale and the composite auditory evoked potentials index in surgical intensive care patients.
Peripheral deafferentation induced by neuraxial anesthesia reduces the degree of cortical arousal. This study investigated whether epidural analgesia blockade decreased sedation, as measured by the rapidly extracted auditory evoked potentials index, A-line autoregressive index (AAI) and Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) in sedated surgical intensive care patients, and looked at whether this was a concentration-dependent effect of lidocaine. ⋯ Epidural lidocaine analgesia could potentiate sedation in patients evaluated by the AAI, but had no effect on the RSS. The present study suggests that the AAI could provide an objective and more precise index than the RSS in evaluation of sedation level in patients who are undergoing epidural pain management in the intensive care unit.
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Case Reports
Giant cell (Temporal) arteritis with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: a biopsy-proven case in Taiwan.
Giant cell arteritis with arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy has rarely been diagnosed in Taiwan. Recently, we encountered a 76-year-old Taiwanese patient who presented with right visual impairment and marked pale swelling of his right disc. ⋯ Biopsy of his right superficial temporal artery revealed a granulomatous inflammation with multinucleated giant cell infiltration. This was a biopsy-proven case of giant cell arteritis with arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and indicated that although rare, this disease could occur in patients in Taiwan.