Background: Partial splenic embolization (PSE) has been proposed in patients with cirrhotic hypersplenism in cases when thrombocytopenia causes clinical manifestations or if there are contraindications to subsequent therapeutic procedures. We provide a retrospective review of the safety and favorable treatment results of 80% splenic embolization in patients with cirrhotic hypersplenism in our institute. Methods: Thirteen consecutive patients with cirrhotic hypersplenism were included in a 4-year study period. The indications for PSE were as follows: percutaneous treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 3), transarterial chemoembolization plus hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for HCC (n = 2), preparation for major surgery (n = 5), and severe purpura (n = 3). PSE was performed with up to 80% reduction of splenic blood flow by radiological intervention. A tight protocol of prophylactic antibiotics was introduced. Patient demographics, procedure-related complication, and efficacy of PSE were analyzed. Results: The mean follow-up time was 26.1 ± 12.3 months. All the patients tolerated the procedure. The minor complication of postembolization syndromes such as fever and abdominal pain occurred in 38.5% and 61.5% of patients, respectively. Only a major complication of transient ascites needs diuretic therapy occurred in two patients. Pre-PSE platelet count was 35,077 ± 11,049/mm³, and it significantly increased 1 week after PSE, with a mean increase of platelet count to 384% of pre-PSE level (P < 0.001). The effect of PSE sustained to maintain the platelet count significantly at a mean level of 112,636 ± 33,341/mm³, 114,571 ± 30,696/mm³, and 118,000 ± 31,035/mm³ at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Conclusion: Our series demonstrated that 80% PSE is a safe and effective method to treat patients with cirrhotic hypersplenism. It could not only increase the platelet count within a short period of time but also maintain it at an acceptable level for a long duration. Under a tight protocol of prophylactic antibiotic and delicate technique of PSE, there was no any septic complication developed in our series.

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Scrotal wounds are most often related to infection or allergy and are generally identified in urology clinics. Topical medications, which are generally applied initially to the wound, can assist with spontaneous healing without any sequelae. However, further workup is sometimes required if the wound does not heal properly. Herein, we present two cases which were finally diagnosed as traumatic scrotal anal fistulae, for which surgical excision was clearly indicated.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the long-term rates of and treatment options for recurrence of bilateral primary inguinal hernias following various hernia repair methods, namely, open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR) without mesh, OIHR with mesh (OIHR-M), and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR). Materials and Methods: Data in this retrospective study were retrieved from the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. All adult patients who underwent primary bilateral inguinal hernia repair were selected from this database using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic and procedure codes. Results: From 2000 to 2010, 13,636 adult patients underwent elective bilateral inguinal hernia repair, with a median follow-up of 63.95 months. The risk of recurrence was significantly lower in the LIHR group than in the OIHR group (hazard ratio [HR] =0.691,P = 0.003) and was similar to that in the OIHR-M group (HR = 1.187,P = 0.184). The median recurrence-free period was 28.93 months. After recurrence, 52.6% of patients underwent repair at the same hospital, and 35.5% of patients were operated on by the same surgeons. The LIHR group had a significantly shorter median recurrent period than did the other groups (OIHR, OIHR-M, and LIHR: 33.83, 23.33, 16.56 months, respectively;P < 0.001). Moreover, recurrence occurred in a significantly higher proportion of patients who were treated by the same surgeon (OIHR vs. OIHR-M vs. LIHR = 31.8% vs. 40.1% vs. 48.6%,P < 0.001). Conclusions: In this large cohort study, the recurrence risk was significantly lower in the LIHR group than in the OIHR group and was similar to that in the OIHR-M group, for primary bilateral hernia repair. In addition, the LIHR group experienced similar mortality as the other groups but lower readmission rates. Moreover, the proportion of LIHR patients treated by the same doctor was significantly higher than that of traditional hernia repair patients. In short, LIHR is a reliable procedure and may offer an improved surgical experience for bilateral primary inguinal hernia repair.

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Background: Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate (TRUS-P) biopsy is the standard diagnostic procedure for patients with suspected prostate cancer. However, infectious complications can occur. Purpose: To analyze the patients from a single institution who were hospitalized for infectious complications after TRUS-P biopsy. Materials and Methods: From 2003 to 2012, 985 TRUS-P biopsy procedures were performed in a medical center in Northern Taiwan; among these, 28 patients were admitted for infectious complications following the procedure. A retrospective review of the medical records was performed, and data regarding the demographics, details of infectious complications, and hospital course of these patients were collected. Results: The median age of the patients was 62 (27–82) years; the comorbidity rate was 57.1% (16/28); the admission rate was 2.8% (28/985). The most common causative pathogen was Escherichia coli. More than half of the cultured E. coli were not resistant to fluoroquinolones. The median hospital stay was 6 (3–16) days, and one patient was admitted to the intensive care unit. No mortality was observed in this study. Although the number of biopsies increased, no obvious increasing trend in the number of hospitalizations was noted in recent years. Conclusion: TRUS-P biopsy can be safely performed, and no obvious increasing trend in infectious complications and resistant strains has been observed in recent years.

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection commonly occurs after major organ transplantation. It mostly presents gastrointestinal tract symptoms in clinical manifestation. Dermatologic lesion as a main presenting feature for posttransplantation CMV is very rare. Here, we report a case of CMV infection predominated by skin ulcers in genitalia and perianal area in a 59-year-old female who received renal transplantation 3 months ago. She had initially been treated with both oral and topical antibiotics for suspicious bacterial or fungus infection without response. Subsequent serological study proved positive CMV infection. After treatment of ganciclovir and valganciclovir for 2 weeks, respectively, the skin ulcers healed gradually. This case report suggests that CMV-induced skin infection should be concerned in the diagnosis of poor healing skin ulcers in patients received organ transplantation.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of second-line versus first-line antibiotics in the prevention of postoperative fever after tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Methods: Three hundred consecutive tubeless PCNL procedures performed at our hospital between August 2010 and December 2013 were enrolled in this study. The efficacy of second-line antibiotics in the prevention PCNL-related urinary traction was reviewed by retrospective chart review. Results: The overall postoperative fever rate was 12% (36 of 300 procedures). The second-line antibiotic prophylaxis was provided in 32 procedures according to preoperative urine culture data or physician's judgment. The first-line prophylactic antibiotic was used in 268 procedures with postoperative fever in 29 procedures (10.8%). The second-line prophylactic antibiotic was used in 32 procedures with postoperative fever in seven procedures (21.9%). No significance difference of postoperative fever rate between first-line or second-line prophylactic antibiotic was found (P = 0.069). Conclusions: The second-line prophylactic antibiotic use for tubeless PCNL does not offer additional benefit over the first-line prophylactic antibiotic in the prevention of postoperative fever or shortening of the postoperative hospital stay.

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The Southwest coastal plain of Taiwan is an endemic area of arsenic contamination. Residents who lived there before the 1970s and who used raw groundwater for drinking have a higher risk of arsenic poisoning. In 1968, Tseng et al. described Blackfoot disease as a peripheral vascular disease caused by chronic exposure to arsenic, thereby introducing the concept of arsenic-induced systemic illness in Taiwan. Multiple Bowen's disease (BD) is one of the characteristic consequences of chronic arsenic poisoning and it usually presents as cutaneous carcinoma in situ. Multiple BD can also be associated with squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin, as well as lung, liver, gastrointestinal, and bladder cancers. We encountered a 79-year-old male from Yun-Lin, a county in Southwest Taiwan, who presented with a progressing tumor in his right anterior chest wall. In addition, numerous keratoses and scaly skin lesions were noted on his trunk and extremities, some of which were combined with erosions. The patient was diagnosed with chronic arsenic poisoning with multiple BD and the huge tumor was confirmed as an epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

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