Different procedures are recommended for different sympathetic disorders according to the classification. The higher the level of sympathetic ganglion blockade, the higher is the regret rate. Therefore, for T2 and T3 ganglion, endoscopic thoracic sympathetic block by the clipping method is strongly recommended because of its reversibility.

No abstract

Our study suggests that surgery should be undertaken for PSHP as soon as possible after the clinical condition has stabilized. Under this strategy, VATS is an acceptable approach. It allows a shorter hospital stay and is exempt from unnecessary blood transfusion. Later complications, such as empyema and impaired lung reexpansion, can also be avoided.

The study showed that the preemptive video-assisted thoracic surgery for the contralateral blebs/bullae effectively prevented the contralateral occurrence.

Different from the current procedure of T(2) or T(3) sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis, T(4) sympathectomy would be a better and more effective procedure with minimal long-term complications.

Co-existence of CCND1 and VEGF overexpression would potentially assist in TNM staging systems to predict the prognosis of these patients who would benefit from intensive follow-up and therapeutic programs.

BACKGROUND: Increasing bodies of evidence suggest that metformin may be beneficial in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC), and a dose–response relationship has been reported. However, long-term epidemiological observations between the treatment period, cumulative dose, and intensity of metformin and CRC are rarely reported. The aim of this study was to identify the association between the effect of metformin and CRC development in a nationwide cohort study. METHODS: This nationwide population-based study examined a cohort of 1,000,000 patients randomly sampled from individuals enrolled in the Taiwan National Health Insurance system. Patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) between 1997 and 2007 were enrolled. A statistical variables, including the demographic data, treatment period, cumulative dose, and intensity of metformin use, was compared between patients developing CRC and those without CRC. RESULTS: This study included 47,597 patients. The mean follow-time was 7.17 ± 3.21 years. After adjustment, metformin use was an independent protective factor against CRC development (P < .001). Although the protective ability of metformin against CRC development was reduced during long-term therapy, the risk of CRC decreased progressively with a higher cumulative dose or higher intensity of metformin use (both P < .001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that metformin use significantly reduced the risk of CRC in a dose-dependent manner in patients with type 2 DM in the Taiwanese population. However, a gradual decline in medication adherence may reduce the protective ability of metformin against CRC development during long-term therapy.

No abstract