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The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic disrupts synchronized lifestyles and influences an individual's health status. However, Taiwan has limited studies on the impact of the epidemic on the health and lifestyle of its citizens. This study aims to investigate the impact on lifestyle and health status during the first wave of 2019 coronavirus disease in Taiwan. The 2008 to 2021 Taiwan Biobank database was adopted in this study, covering 29,572 participants and was designed into 3 time periods, Episodes 1, 2, and 3. The definition of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is based on the strict ministry of health and welfare. Logistic regression model was used to explore related risk factors. Prevalence rates of MetS were 16.5%, 17.0%, and 18.7% during Episodes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. When compared to the pre-pandemic prevalence of MetS, the odds ratios increased by 1.19 [95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.02-1.38] during the nationwide Level 3 epidemic alert, particularly, in male aged 45 to 64 years old and females aged under 45 years old by 1.56 (95% CI: 1.14-2.13) and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.22-2.92), respectively. During pandemic, sweeping influences on Taiwanese health status, especially in the labor force, may provide a lesson in health promotion policy at a specific age., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Hyaluronan (HA), glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate are widely consumed as dietary supplements for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of a dietary liquid supplement mixture containing HA, glucosamine, and chondroitin in patients with knee OA who had moderate knee pain (visual analogue scale of 4-6 points)., Methods: This was a short-term, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Subjects were allocated to administer either a bottle of 20 mL supplement mixture (50 mg HA plus 750 mg glucosamine plus 250 mg chondroitin, namely A + HA) or placebo once daily for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), Chinese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and incidence of adverse event were evaluated at the end of week 8. Efficacy analyses were conducted in the modified intent-to-treat population., Results: Of the 80 subjects in the modified intent-to-treat population, 39 received A + HA while 41 received placebo. After 8 weeks of treatment, the A + HA group failed to demonstrate a significant symptomatic efficacy and quality of life improvement in terms of Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, SF-36, and Chinese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as compared to the placebo group. However, the mean changes in most of the SF-36 scale scores were numerically higher in the A + HA group than in the placebo group. No treatment-related adverse event was reported in both groups., Conclusions: This present study found that the combination of liquid low molecular weight HA, glucosamine, and chondroitin oral supplement did not effectively improve knee OA pain and symptoms after short-term use in knee OA patients with moderate knee pain. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the intrinsic limitation of the study design., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Abstract: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) may lead to a poor life quality and was associated with cardiovascular mortality in patients under hemodialysis. This study investigated the autonomic nerve and cardiovascular function in the IDH episodes.In this case-control study, 70 end stage renal disease patients (198 visits) were recruited. Pulse wave analysis and heart rate variability were evaluated before hemodialysis. Two definitions of IDH were confirmed by medical records. IDH-f indicated a drop of systolic blood pressure or mean arterial pressure, accompanied with symptoms; IDH-n indicated a low nadir systolic pressure during the hemodialysis. All parameters were evaluated for the possible predisposing factors under each definition.A total of 24 IDH-f and 37 IDH-n were noted in 177 visits. For both definitions, central pulse pressure seemed to be a consistent predisposing factor. Furthermore, lower sympathetic activity (odds ratio [OR] 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35-0.87), lower pulse pressure (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.92-0.98), and higher augmentation index (OR 17.36; 95% CI 1.48-204.10) were the possible predisposing factors for IDH-f. On the contrary, lower mean arterial pressure (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.78-0.98) was identified as the possible factor for IDH-n.It was suggested that the lower central pulse pressure and sympathetic activity might be involved in the development of IDH., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The popularity of dietary supplements for knee osteoarthritis (OA) management is on the rise; however, their effects are still debated., Methods: This study aimed to investigate the effect of an oral low molecular weight liquid hyaluronic acid supplement in the treatment of knee OA patients with mild knee pain (visual analogue scale [VAS] ≤ 3) in Taiwan population. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Forty-seven subjects were enrolled and randomly allocated to either the A+HA or the placebo groups. The subjects were required to drink a bottle contained 20 mL of A+HA or placebo daily throughout an 8-week study period. The efficacy was assessed by using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36)., Results: At Week 8, significant reductions from baseline in the WOMAC pain (-2.6 ± 1.68, P < .0001), stiffness (-1.2 ± 1.50, P = .007), physical function (-5.8 ± 4.39, P < .0001), and total (-9.4 ± 5.82, P < .0001) scores were observed in the A+HA group but not in the placebo group. Significant differences in the mean change of WOMAC scores from baseline at Week 8 between groups were detected (P < .01). At Week 8, the A+HA group also showed significant improvements in SF-36 physical functioning (2.7 ± 3.10, P = .001) and bodily pain (0.7 ± 1.50, P < .05) domains. Although the A+HA group had a higher increase in the SF-36 total score than the placebo group but the difference was not statistically significant (2.1 ± 12.75 vs 0.3 ± 19.66, P = .12)., Conclusions: Oral administration of low molecular weight liquid HA appeared to be effective for knee OA patients with mild knee pain (VAS ≤ 3) in the relief of knee OA symptoms, particularly in pain and physical function.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04352322., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Introduction: Using mobile phones for communication in emergency departments is a common practice; however, several studies have demonstrated that they may act as vectors for bacteria and viruses. This study evaluated the effectiveness of plastic wrapping in decreasing bacterial contamination on mobile phone surfaces., Method: We used culture dishes and a luminometer to detect bacterial colonies and contamination on the phone surfaces., Result: Our experiment showed that bacterial colonies exist on mobile phones before and after work. We found that wiping with 75% alcohol sanitizers effectively reduces the number of colonies on either a mobile phone or a temporary plastic covering. In addition, we found that bacterial colonies do not contaminate or adhere to plastic wrap any easier than to mobile phones., Conclusion: These results demonstrated the effectiveness of plastic wrap for protecting mobile phone surfaces against bacterial colonization. In addition, applying a layer of plastic wrap protects the phone from potential damage due to the alcohol.

Whether periodontitis is a risk factor for developing bipolar disorders (BD) has not been investigated. We aimed to determine whether periodontitis is associated with the subsequent development of BD and examine the risk factors for BD among patients with periodontitis.Using ambulatory and inpatient claims data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), we identified 12,337 patients who were aged at least 20 years and newly diagnosed with periodontitis between 2000 and 2004. The date of the first claim with a periodontitis diagnosis was set as the index date. For each patient with periodontitis, 4 subjects without a history of periodontitis were randomly selected from the NHIRD and frequency-matched with the patients with periodontitis according to sex, age (in 5-year bands), and index year.The periodontitis group had a mean age of 44.0 ± 13.7 years and slight predominance of men (51.3%). Compared with the subjects without periodontitis, the patients with periodontitis had higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, head injury, major depressive disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma (P < .001). The incidence rate of BD was higher in the periodontitis group than in the non-periodontitis group (2.74 vs 1.46 per 1000 person-year), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.82 (95% confidence interval = 1.59-2.08) after adjustment for sex, age, and comorbidities.The patients with periodontitis exhibited a significantly higher risk of developing BD. Keep the better oral hygiene to reduce periodontitis might be a preventive strategy for BD.

Background: The efficacy and safety of buprenorphine transdermal patch (BTP) has been well established in chronic pain, but data regarding acute postoperative pain relief is still very limited. Therefore, we design a prospective, randomized, controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the BTP for postoperative analgesia in total hip arthroplasty., Methods: This study is designed as a single-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Group A receives a 10 mg patch of buprenorphine at the conclusion of surgery which is continued for 14 days. Group B receives a conventional analgesic regimen, that is, IV paracetamol 1 mg every 8 hours alternating with parenteral tramadol 50 mg every 8 hours for the first 2 postoperative days followed by oral administration of the same drug still the end of 2 weeks. A total of 160 patients are needed with an allowance for 10% drop-out. The primary outcome of this noninferiority study is opioid consumption within the first 24 hours following surgery. The secondary outcomes included numerical rating scale scores at rest, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and patient satisfaction., Results: This trial is expected to be the largest randomized trial assessing the efficacy of BTP after primary total hip arthroplasty and powered to detect a potential difference in the primary outcome., Trial Registration Number: This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry5524).

The coexistence of low back pain (LBP) and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) has often been noted clinically. However, studies of the association between these two conditions involving a large population with longitudinal evidences are lacking. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the association between LBP and TMD in a nationwide-matched cohort population with a 15-year follow-up.Data of 65,121 patients newly diagnosed with LBP were analyzed, along with those of 195,363 (1:3) sex- and age-matched controls. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to determine TMD risk between the LBP and non-LBP groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used for determining the cumulative risk of first-onset TMD between groups, with a 15-year follow-up.The LBP group was more likely to develop first-onset TMD (adjusted hazards ratio (HR) = 1.561, P < .001), after adjusting for demographic variables and comorbidities. The risk factors for TMD were LBP, young age, higher insured premium, and osteoporosis. In the subgroup analysis, the LBP group had a higher risk of TMD than the non-LBP group in all stratifications.LBP is the risk factor contributing to the development of first-onset TMD. Therefore, clinicians should be reminded to manage LBP disorders concurrently when treating TMD.

The commonly used vaccine for adults with a high risk of pneumonia is 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). However, its effectiveness in patients with colorectal cancer has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of PPSV23 in reducing the risk of pneumonia among elderly patients with colorectal cancer.A total of 120,605 newly diagnosed patients with colorectal cancer were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 1996 and 2010. Of these patients, 18,468 were 75 years or older in 2007 to 2010, and 3515 received PPSV23. People aged 75 years or older have been considered eligible for receiving PPSV23 vaccination in Taiwan since 2007. The specific "vaccination period" of October 2008 to December 2008 was used to minimize the potential immortal time bias. Therefore, 893 patients who received PPSV23 outside this vaccination period or died before 2009 and 2960 unvaccinated patients who died before 2009 were excluded. After the propensity score was matched with a 1:3 ratio, 2622 vaccinated patients and 7866 unvaccinated patients were recruited. A multivariate log-linear Poisson regression model was performed and adjusted for potential confounders, including influenza vaccination, vaccination period, cancer treatment modalities, comorbidities, and sociodemographic variables.After 2 years of follow-up, the incidence rate of the pneumonia hospitalization of the vaccinated patients was significantly lower than that of the unvaccinated patients at 85.53 per 1000 person-years (PYs) of the former and 92.38 per 1000 PYs of the latter. The proportions of patients who had 2, 3, and >3 pneumonia hospitalizations per year were consistently lower in the vaccinated group than in the unvaccinated group (1.9% vs 2.0%, 0.5% vs 0.9%, and 0.7% vs 1.1%, respectively). After adjustment for covariates was made, PPSV23 vaccine was significantly associated with a reduced risk of pneumonia hospitalization, with an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 0.88 (P = .040). The overall pneumonia-free survival rate was also significantly higher in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients (P = .001).PPSV23 vaccination was associated with a significantly reduced rate of pneumonia hospitalization in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is a common comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the coexistence of COPD and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) has been clinically noted. The present study aimed to investigate whether VCF increases the risk of TMD in patients with COPD.With a follow-up period of 15 years, this retrospective, population-based longitudinal cohort study enrolled sex- and age-matched COPD patients with and without VCF (1:3) who were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 2000 to 2015. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the risk of TMD in COPD patients with and without VCF. The cumulative risk of TMD between groups was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.The risk factors for TMD in patients with COPD were VCF, osteoporosis, and winter season. The COPD with VCF group was more likely to develop TMD (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.011, P < .001) than the COPD without VCF group after adjustment for sex, age, variables, and comorbidities. In the subgroup analysis, the COPD with VCF group had a higher risk of TMD than the COPD without VCF group in almost all stratifications.COPD patients with VCF are at a higher risk of developing TMD. Clinicians taking care of patients with COPD should be aware of the occurrence of TMD as a comorbidity.

Background: Effective treatment of low back pain (LBP) originating in the lumbar and sacroiliac joints is difficult to achieve. The objective of the current study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) neurotomy versus conservative nonsurgical approaches for the management of chronic lumbar and sacroiliac joint pain., Methods: The PICOS framework was adhered to (P [population]: patients with a history of chronic function-limiting lumbar and sacroiliac joint pain lasting at least 6 months; I [intervention]: RF neurotomy; C [comparator]: other nonsurgical treatments; O [outcomes]: the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), measurement for pain, and a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire; S [study design]: meta-analysis). Two trained investigators systematically searched Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Knowledge databases for relevant studies published in English through March 2019., Results: Patients treated with RF neurotomy (n = 528) had significantly greater improvement in ODI scores, pain scores and QoL measured by EQ-5D compared with controls (n = 457); however, significant heterogeneity was observed when data were pooled from eligible studies. In subgroup analyses, patients who received RF neurotomy had a significantly greater improvement in ODI scores compared with those with sham treatment. Patients treated with RF achieved significantly greater improvement in pain scores compared with controls who received sham treatment or medical treatment. In a subgroup analysis of pain in the sacroiliac joint and in lumbar facet joints, the RF neurotomy group achieved a significantly greater improvement in ODI score and pain scores compared with the control group. The ODI score and pain score were improved after 2 months of follow up in the analyses stratified by follow-up duration., Conclusions: Use of RF neurotomy as an intervention for chronic lumbar and sacroiliac joint pain led to improved function; however, larger, more directly comparable studies are needed to confirm this study's findings.

Background: laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold standard surgery for benign gallbladder diseases. Metal clips are conventionally used to secure the cystic duct and artery, while monopolar electrocautery (ME) predominates during laparoscopic dissection. ultrasonic scalpel (US) has already been explored for sealing the cystic duct and artery as a sole instrument, which has been regarded as a reasonable alternative to clips. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of US versus clips for securing the cystic duct during LC., Methods: We identified eligible studies in PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and SpringerLink up to 1st May 2018, together with the reference lists of original studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14.0. Q-based chi-square test and the I statistics were utilized to assess heterogeneity among the included studies. A P-value below .05 was set for statistical significance. Forest plots of combined Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were also generated., Results: Eight studies met eligibility criteria in this meta-analysis eventually. A total of 1131 patients were included, of whom 529 were contained in the US group, compared to 602 in the clips group, which showed a significant difference (P = .025) without substantial statistical heterogeneity (I = 0.0%). No statistical significance was revealed regarding age (I = 0.0%, P = .957), and sex (I = 0.0%, P = .578) between both groups. The operative time and hospital stay in the US group were significantly shorter than that in the clips group, with I = 95.0%, P = .000 and I = 72.8%, P = .005, respectively. Concerning conversion (I = 48.6%, P = .084), perforation (I = 12.0%, P = .338), along with bile leakage (I = 0.0% P = .594), and overall morbidity (I = 19.1%, P = .289), comparison between both groups exhibited no statistical significance., Conclusions: US enabled shorter operative time and hospital stay during LC, compared with clips. Additionally, US was comparable to clips regarding conversion, perforation, along with bile leakage and overall morbidity. Therefore, our meta-analysis concluded that US is clinically superior to the conventional clips in some aspects, or is at least as safe and effective as them, concerning closure of the cystic duct and artery.

This study aims to compare the effect of repaglinide and metformin among Chinese patients with newly diagnosed diabetes, and explore the possible mechanisms by which repaglinide alters insulin secretion.Sixty subjects with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 10.0% were randomly selected to receive repaglinide or metformin monotherapy for 15 weeks. Blood glucose levels, glycemic variability, β-cell function, and first-phase insulin secretion were compared between these 2 groups at baseline and at 15 weeks. Mouse insulinoma (MIN-6) cells were divided into 3 groups: low glucose, high glucose, and repaglinide 50 nm groups. Cells and cell culture mediums were collected at different timepoints. The expression of pericentrin (PCNT), F-actin, and insulin were tested with immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.All glycemic parameters and variability indexes significantly decreased from baseline to 15 weeks, while no significant difference was found between these 2 groups at baseline or at 15 weeks. Furthermore, there was no significant difference found in fasting insulin and postprandial insulin at baseline and at 15 weeks, while homeostasis model assessment β significantly increased. The first-phase glucose and insulin secretion of the intravenous glucose tolerance test improved in both groups, especially in the repaglinide group. Insulin, PCNT, and F-actin expression in MIN-6 cells decreased after 15 minutes of stimulation with repaglinide, while no difference was observed at 2, 6, and 12 hours. The insulin levels of the cell medium in the repaglinide group remained significantly higher at all timepoints.This study manifests that repaglinide has a noninferiority effect on the glycemic parameters of Chinese patients with newly diagnosed diabetes, when compared with metformin. The PCNT-F-actin pathway plays an important role in the repaglinide regulation process of on-demand insulin secretion.

Rationale: Perineural injection with dextrose could be a novel intervention for peripheral entrapment neuropathy. However, this intervention has not been reported for treating radial nerve palsy (RNP). Here, we present a case with RNP having outstanding improvement after 2 sessions of ultrasound-guided perineural injection with 5% dextrose (D5W)., Patient Concerns: A 62-year-old woman presented with difficulty and weakness in extension of her left wrist and fingers after she slept with the arm compressed against her body., Diagnoses: On the basis of the findings of electrophysiological study and ultrasonography, the RNP with axonal injury was diagnosed., Interventions: Initially, the patient received 2-months conservative treatments without any improvement. Two sessions of ultrasound-guided perineural injection with total 15cc D5W with an interval of 1 month were performed 2 months after symptom onset., Outcomes: A noteworthy improvement in sensory and motor functions was observed after ultrasound-guided perineural injection with D5W., Lessons: This case shows that ultrasound-guided perineural injection with D5W may be an effective and novel intervention for RNP.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfae) remain a therapeutic challenge. This study aimed to evaluate mortality from BSIs due to VREfae in Central Taiwan.We retrospectively analyzed patients with significant VREfae BSIs in the Changhua Christian Hospital System between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014.Of the 152 patients with Enterococcal BSI, 56 patients (36.8%) were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) at the onset of BSI and 20 (13.2%) patients were associated with polymicrobial bacteremia. VREfae BSI was observed in 36 (23.7%) patients. Van A (100%) is the prevalence genotype, and ST 17 (41.7%) is the predominant ST type among 36 VREfae isolates during the study period. The 30-day mortality rate was 13.2% (20/152). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the onset of VREfae BSI in the ICU (odds ratio [OR] = 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7-10.0, P = .002) was a significant risk factor for 30-day mortality, whereas an appropriate antimicrobial therapy was a protective factor for 30-day mortality (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.14-0.79, P = .013).Our results underscore the need to assist patients who are admitted to ICUs with VREfae BSIs. We emphasize the use of an appropriate antimicrobial therapy for VREfae BSI with the aim to treat more patients with these infections.

Radiotherapy (RT) is useful in managing cancer diseases. In clinical practice, early initiation of RT is crucial for enhancing tumor control. But, delivering precise RT requires a series of pre-RT working processes in a tight staff-cooperation manner. In this regard, using information system to conduct e-control and e-alerts has been suggested to improve practice effectiveness; however, this effect is not well defined in a real-world RT setting.We designed an information system to perform e-control and e-alerts for the whole process of pre-RT workflow to shorten processing time, to improve overall staff satisfaction, and to enhance working confidence.A quality-improving study conducted in a large RT center.Externally validated data were retrospectively analyzed for comparison before (from Sep. 2012 to Dec. 2012, n = 223) and after (from Sep. 2013 to Dec. 2013, n = 240) implementation of pre-RT e-control and e-alerts.Applying the e-control with delay-working e-alerts in pre-RT workflow was the main intervention.Nine workstations were identified in pre-RT workflow. The primary outcome measure was the processing time in each pre-RT workstations before and after implementing the e-control and e-alerts. Secondary measures were staff-working confidence and near-missing cases during the process of pre-RT workflow.After implementing e-control, overall processing time of pre-RT workflow was shortened from 12.2 days to 8.9 days (P < .001). Follow-up data (till Jul. 2016) showed a durable effect of 9.2 days, being still below the predefined threshold of <10 days.Using a multidisciplinary-cooperating information system is useful to conduct e-control and e-alerts in the whole process of pre-RT workflow. Clinical effectiveness, staff satisfaction, and working confidence are able to be enhanced obviously.

Background: Frequent multidisciplinary communication is essential in conducting daily radiotherapy (RT) practice. However, traditional oral or paper-based communication has limitations. E-communication has been suggested, but its effects are still not well demarcated in the field of radiation oncology., Objects: In our web-based integrated information platform, we constructed a ping-pong-type e-communication function to transfer specific notations among multidisciplinary RT staffs. The purpose was to test whether applying this e-communication can increase effectiveness of multidisciplinary cooperation when compared with oral or paper-based practice. Staff satisfaction and clinical benefits were also demonstrated., Design and Setting: A real-world quality-improving study was conducted in a large center of radiation oncology., Participants and Dataset Used: Before and after applying multidisciplinary e-communication (from 2014 to 2015), clinical RT staffs were surveyed for their user experience and satisfaction (n = 23). For measuring clinical effectiveness, a secondary database of irradiated head and neck cancer patients was re-analyzed for comparing RT toxicities (n = 402)., Interventions: Applying ping-pong-type multidisciplinary reflective e-communication was the main intervention., Outcome Measures: For measuring staff satisfaction, eight domains were surveyed, such as timeliness, convenience, and completeness. For measuring clinical effectiveness of multidisciplinary cooperation, event rates of severe (i.e., grade 3-4) RT mucositis and dermatitis were recorded., Results: Overall, when compared with oral communication only, e-communication demonstrated multiple benefits, particularly on notation-review convenience (2.00 ± 1.76 vs 9.19 ± 0.81; P < 0.0001).When compared with paper-based practice, e-communication showed statistically significant benefits on all eight domains, especially on notation-review convenience (5.05 ± 2.11 vs 9.19 ± 0.81; P < 0.0001) and convenience of feedback notation (4.81 ± 1.72 vs 8.76 ± 1.09; P < 0.0001).Moreover, staff satisfaction was gradually increased from oral (3.57 ± 1.94), paper-based (5.57 ± 2.06), to e-communication (8.76 ± 0.70; P < 0.0001). Secondary measurement confirmed these observations.Before and after facilitating multidisciplinary cooperation by using e-communication, severe (i.e., grade 3-4) mucositis and dermatitis were decreased from 21.7% to 10% then to 5.1%., Conclusions: Replacing oral or paper-based practice with e-communication is useful in facilitating RT multidisciplinary teamwork. Staff satisfaction and clinical effectiveness can be increased.

Background: Clinically, elderly patients with unresectable bulky hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are difficult to manage, especially in those with co-infections of hepatitis B and C virus. Herein, we reported such a case treated with radiotherapy (RT) by using combined simultaneously integrated inner-escalated boost and volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (SIEB-VMAT). After RT, significant symptoms alleviation and durable tumor control were observed., Case Summary: At presentation, an 85-year-old male patient complained abdominal distention/pain, poor appetite, and swelling over bilateral lower limbs for 1 month. On physical examination, a jaundice pattern was noted. Laboratory studies showed impaired liver and renal function. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a 12.5-cm bulky tumor over the caudate lobe of the liver. Biopsy was done, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was reported histopathologically. As a result, AJCC stage IIIA (cT3aN0M0) and BCLC stage C were classified. Surgery, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), trans-catheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and sorafenib were not recommended because of his old age, central bulky tumor, and a bleeding tendency. Thus, RT with SIEB-VMAT technique was given alternatively. RT was delivered in 26 fractions, with dose gradience as follows: 39 Gy on the outer Plan Target Volume (PTV), 52 Gy in the middle PTV, and 57.2 Gy in the inner PTV. Unexpectedly, cyproheptadine (a newly recognized potential anti-HCC agent) was retrospectively found to be prescribed for alleviating skin itching and allergic rhinitis since the last 2 weeks of the RT course (2 mg by mouth Q12h for 24 months).After RT, significant symptoms alleviation and tumor volume reduction were observed for 32 months till multiple bone metastases. Before and after RT, a large tumor volume reduction rate of 88.7% was observed (from 608.4 c.c. to 68.7 c.c.). No severe treatment toxicity was noted during and after RT. The patient died due to aspiration pneumonia with septic shock at 4 months after bone metastases identified., Conclusions: SIEB-VMAT physically demonstrated double benefits of intratumor dose escalation and extra-tumor dose attenuation. Significant tumor regression and symptoms alleviation were observed in this elderly patient with unresectable bulky HCC. Further prospective randomized trials are encouraged to demarcate effective size of SIEB-VMAT with or without cyproheptadine.

Recently, studies have reported that extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a safe, noninvasive, alternative treatment for spasticity. However, the effect of ESWT on spasticity cannot be determined, because most studies to date have enrolled small patient numbers and have lacked placebo-controlled groups and/or long-term follow-up. In addition, whether varying the number of ESWT sessions would affect the duration of the therapeutic effect has not been investigated in a single study. Hence, we performed a prospective, randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate the long-term effect of radial ESWT (rESWT) in patients with poststroke spasticity and surveyed the outcome of functional activity.Sixty patients were randomized into 3 groups. Group A patients received 1 session of rESWT per week for 3 consecutive weeks; group B patients received a single session of rESWT; group C patients received one session of sham rESWT per week for 3 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome was Modified Ashworth Scale of hand and wrist, whereas the secondary outcomes were Fugl-Meyer Assessment of hand function and wrist control. Evaluations were performed before the first rESWT treatment and immediately 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after the last session of rESWT.Compared to the control group, the significant reduction in spasticity of hand and wrist lasted at least 16 and 8 weeks in group A and B, respectively. Three sessions of rESWT had a longer-lasting effect than one session. Furthermore, the reduction in spasticity after 3 sessions of rESWT may be beneficial for hand function and wrist control and the effect was maintained for 16 and 12 weeks, respectively.rESWT may be valuable in decreasing spasticity of the hand and wrist with accompanying enhancement of wrist control and hand function in chronic stroke patients.

There is insufficient evidence to confirm the association between breastfeeding and allergic outcomes later in life. This study aimed to determine the relationships between different breastfeeding patterns and allergen sensitizations and risk of developing atopic diseases in early childhood. A total of 186 children from a birth cohort in the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children study for a 4-year follow-up period were enrolled. Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and specific IgE antibodies against food and inhalant allergens were measured sequentially at 6 months as well as at 1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 years of age. A significantly lower prevalence of milk sensitization was found in children at ages 1 and 1.5 years who were exclusively or partially breastfed for ≥6 months. Breastfeeding ≥6 months was significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing eczema but not allergic rhinitis and asthma at ages 1 and 2 years. Compared with exclusive breastfeeding ≥6 months, partial breastfeeding <6 months was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing eczema at ages 1 and 2 years. As with exclusive breastfeeding, partial breastfeeding for at least 6 months appears to be associated with a reduced prevalence of milk sensitization as well as a reduced risk of developing eczema in early childhood.

A number of cardiac fluoroscopic interventions have increased rapidly worldwide over the past decade. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stent implantation have become increasingly popular, and these advancements have allowed patients to receive repetitive treatments for restenosis. However, these advancements also significantly increase radiation exposure that may lead to higher cumulative doses of radiation. In the present study, a nationwide population-based case-controlled study was used to explore the risk of leukemia after cardiac angiographic fluoroscopic intervention.A total of 5026 patients with leukemia and 100,520 control patients matched for age and sex (1:20) by a propensity score method without any cancer history were enrolled using the Registry Data for Catastrophic Illness and the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan between 2008 and 2010. All subjects were retrospectively surveyed (from year 2000) to determine receipt of cardiac fluoroscopic interventions. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression models, and estimated crude and adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval).After adjusting for age, gender, and comorbidities, PTCA was found to be associated with an increased risk of leukemia with an adjusted OR of 1.566 (95% CI, 1.282-1.912), whereas coronary angiography alone without PTCA and cardiac electrophysiologic study were not. Our results also showed that an increased frequency of PTCA and coronary angiography was associated with a higher risk of leukemia (adjusted OR: 1.326 to 1.530 [all P < 0.05]). Gender subgroup analyses demonstrated that men were associated with a higher risk of leukemia compared with women.These results provide additional data in the quantification of the long-term health effects of radiation exposure derived from the cardiac fluoroscopic diagnostic and therapeutic intervention. PTCA alone or PTCA with coronary angiography was associated with an elevated risk of leukemia. Continued follow-up of existing cohorts will be valuable to help assess lifetime risks of cancer., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Compression fracture of the vertebral body is common in the older patients. The possible etiology like osteoporosis or cancer metastasis should be included as a possibility in the differential diagnosis for severe back pain, to prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment. More severe fractures can cause significant pain, leading to inability to perform activities of daily living, and life-threatening in the older patient.We report a rare case of a 61-year-old man suffering from severe lower back pain and intermittent abdominal fullness. He came to our clinic, where muscle power was normal, but could not stand up or change posture because of severe back pain. Plain film and magnetic resonance imaging of lumbar spine both revealed osteoblastic lesion at L2 spine. Abdomen computed tomography showed a mass at the pancreatic body. The pancreatic cancer with osteoblastic metastasis was diagnosed. After receiving multimodality therapy such as percutaneous vertebroplasty and pain controlling, we provided effective palliation of symptoms, aggressive rehabilitation program, and better quality of life.Our case highlights the benefits of multidisciplinary cancer treatment for such patient, preventing the complications such as immobilization accompanied with adverse effects like musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. All clinicians should be informed of the clinical findings to provide patients with suitable therapies and surveys.

Although numerous studies have investigated gender-related differences in patients who have had an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), few studies have examined the gender-related differences among inpatients receiving Phase I inpatient cardiac rehabilitation following AMI.Using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, this study analyzed 6713 adult patients who received inpatient cardiac rehabilitation following AMI between 2002 and 2011. The differences in comorbidity, medical service use, and prognosis between the male and female patients were analyzed to determine whether the comorbidities affecting their prognoses differed.Female patients accounted for 23.18% of the sample, had a higher average age, and exhibited severe comorbidities; furthermore, they had significantly more days of hospitalization and days in an intensive care unit than did male patients. The gender-related differences in hospital mortality rate and 30-day mortality rate were nonsignificant, but female patients exhibited a significantly higher 1-year mortality rate. Moreover, the risk for 1-year mortality was higher among female patients with moderate or severe renal disease (odds ratio: 1.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-2.92) than among their male counterparts. However, the 1-year mortality rate for the female patients did not increase after all risk factors were adjusted.Gender-related differences in age, comorbidity, and prognosis were confirmed in AMI patients receiving Phase I inpatient cardiac rehabilitation. In addition, gender-related differences were observed in the comorbidity risk factors affecting prognosis. However, being female did not affect the prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

To evaluate effectiveness of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) inoculated during defined "vaccination period," first 6 months post cancer diagnosis (ie, an anti-cancer treatment period), in elderly lung cancer patients on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) hospitalization incidence.This was a nationwide population-based cohort study of 157 newly diagnosed elderly lung cancer patients receiving PPSV23 during "vaccination period", and 628 age and sex one-to-one matched controls enrolled in the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan between 2007 and 2010. All patients were ≥75 years old and still survival post "vaccination period." Incidence density (ID) of all-cause inpatient CAP and cumulative survival risk were analyzed by multivariate Poisson regression and Kaplan-Meier method, respectively.After a 4-year follow-up, IDs of all-cause inpatient CAP for vaccination and control cohorts were 297 and 444 per 1000 PYs, respectively. Less vaccinated patients had CAP incidence density >1 time per PY (12.7% vs 21.2%) than non-vaccinated patients. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, like influenza vaccination, comorbidities, cancer treatment modalities, and socioeconomic status, adjusted inpatient CAP incidence rate in PPSV23 vaccination cohort was 0.74 times lower than control cohort (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.740, P = 0.0339). Two-year cumulative CAP hospitalization rates and overall survival rates were 37.1% vs. 55.4%, and 46.6% vs. 26.2%, respectively, for lung cancer patients with and without PPSV23 (both P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that for elderly lung cancer patients not ever receiving influenza vaccine, PPSV23 still had trend to reduce all-cause inpatient CAP.For elderly lung cancer patients aged ≥75 years, PPSV23 inoculated during anti-cancer treatment period could reduce CAP hospitalizations and improve survival.