Taipei Veterans General Hospital

About: Taipei Veterans General Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Taipei, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 11878 authors who have published 16478 publications receiving 363424 citations. The organization is also known as: Táiběi Róngmín Zǒngyī Yuàn.

Screw loosening in the Dynesys stabilization system: Radiographic evidence and effect on outcomes

Abstract: Object Dynamic stabilization systems are used to stabilize degenerative lumbar spondylosis. Loosening of the pedicle screws in such nonfusion implants is predictable. This retrospective study evaluated the incidence of screw loosening and its effect on clinical outcomes. Methods Charts, radiographic films, and medical records of 71 consecutive patients who underwent decompression using Dynesys dynamic stabilization for 1- or 2-level lumbar spondylosis were reviewed. Radiographic films were evaluated and compared to detect screw loosening. A visual analog scale (VAS) for back pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used for measuring clinical outcome. Statistical analysis was conducted using the chisquare test and Student t-test. Results The 71 patients in the study sample had a mean age of 59.2 ± 11.65 years (range 23–80 years), with slight female predominance (39 women, 32 men). The mean follow-up duration was 16.6 months (range 8–29 months). There were loose screws in 14 of 71 patients (19.7%)...

Cefuroxime-impregnated cement at primary total knee arthroplasty in diabetes mellitus: A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMISED STUDY

Abstract: We have performed a prospective single-blinded randomised study to evaluate the role of antibiotic-impregnated cement in the prevention of deep infection at primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with diabetes mellitus. We studied prospectively 78 arthroplasties performed for osteoarthritis in such patients. They were randomly separated into two groups. In group 1 (41 knees), cefuroxime-impregnated cement was used while in group 2 (37 knees) cefuroxime was not added to the cement. The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management was the same for both groups. The mean follow-up was 50 months (26 to 88). There were no cases of deep infection in group 1, but five (13.5%) occurred in group 2 (p = 0.021). We conclude that cefuroxime-impregnated cement is effective in the prevention of deep infection at primary TKA in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Distinct angiogenesis roles and surface markers of early and late endothelial progenitor cells revealed by functional group analyses

Abstract: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a fundamental role in post-natal vascular repair. Currently EPCs are defined as either early and late EPCs based on their biological properties and their time of appearance during in vitro culture. EPCs are rare and therefore optimizing isolation and culture is required before they can be applied as part of clinical therapies. We compared the gene profiles of early/late EPCs to their ancestors CD133+ or CD34+ stem cells and to matured endothelial cells pinpointing novel biomarkers and stemness genes. Late EPCs were enriched with proliferation and angiogenesis genes, participating in endothelial tubulogenesis and hence neovascularization. Early EPCs expressed abundant inflammatory cytokines and paracrine angiogenic factors, thereby promoting angiogenesis in a paracrine manner. Transcription factors involved in EPC stemness were pinpointed in early EPCs (MAF/MAFB) and in late EPCs (GATA6/IRF6). The detailed mRNA expression profiles and functional module analysis for different EPCs will help the development of novel therapeutic modalities targeting cardiovascular disease, tumor angiogenesis and various ischemia-related diseases.

Patterns of ambulatory care utilization in Taiwan

Abstract: We used the insurance claims of a representative cohort to quantify the patterns of ambulatory care visits, especially the doctor-shopping phenomenon, in Taiwan. The ambulatory visit files of the 200,000-person cohort datasets from the National Health Insurance Research Database in 2002 were analyzed. Only a visit with physician consultation would be considered. We computed the visit patterns both by visit count and by patient count. In 2002, there were 182,474 eligible people with 2,443,003 physician consultations. During the year, 87.4% of the cohort had visited physician clinics and 57.5% had visited hospital-based outpatient or emergency departments. On average, a person had 13.4 physician consultations and consulted 3.4 specialties, 5.2 physicians, and 3.9 healthcare facilities in a year. In 2002, 17.3% of the cohort had ever visited different healthcare facilities on the same day; 23.5% had ever visited physicians of the same specialty at different healthcare facilities within 7 days and the percentage of second visits was 3.8% of all visits. Besides, 7.6% of the cohort had visited two or more specialties at the same facility on the same day, and such visits make up 2.5% of all visits. The people in Taiwan did visit the physicians and outpatient departments frequently. Many patients not only consulted several physicians of different specialties and at different healthcare facilities during the year, but also switched the physicians and facilities quickly. An effective referral system with efficient data exchange between facilities might be the solution.