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Simple Summary: This research investigates how personal and health-related factors impact the quality of life of head and neck cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy and surgery. By studying 150 patients—60 with nasopharyngeal cancer and 90 with oral cavity cancer—researchers utilized a specific survey to assess the effects of various elements, including cancer type, age, gender, relationship status, education, and employment. Findings revealed that cancer type, treatment history, and employment status significantly influenced quality of life. Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer reported better social and functional outcomes than those with oral cavity cancer. Additionally, unemployment was correlated with lower quality of life, while having a partner and undergoing certain surgeries positively impacted outcomes. These insights can aid research efforts to better support cancer survivors and customize treatment approaches for improved well-being. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sociodemographic and clinical variables in survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiotherapy, with or without surgery. Materials and Methods: HRQoL was measured using the functional assessment of cancer therapy—head and neck (FACT-H&N) in a cross-sectional survey involving 150 patients. Of these, 60 had nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), treated exclusively with radiotherapy, while 90 had oral cavity squamous cell cancer (OSCC), undergoing radical surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Key variables included cancer type, age, gender, partnership status, education, and employment, with additional clinical variables assessed in patients with OSCC. Statistical analyses included multiple regression, ANOVA, and t-tests to explore relationships between variables and HRQoL. Results: Cancer type, surgical treatment, and employment status emerged as significant independent predictors of HRQoL in HNC patients. Patients with NPC reported better HRQoL on three FACT-H&N subscales—social/family well-being, functional well-being, and additional concerns—compared to patients with OSCC. Unemployed individuals exhibited lower HRQoL on four subscales. In patients with OSCC, partnership status and segmental mandibulectomy were found to predict HRQoL independently. Conclusions: This study concludes that cancer type, surgical intervention, and employment status notably influence HRQoL among HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy. In addition, partnership status is a key factor affecting HRQoL in patients with OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) share similar symptoms, such as poor sleep quality, irritability, and poor concentration during daily activities. This study aims to investigate the proportion of undiagnosed SDB and its impacts on anxiety severity and autonomic function in newly diagnosed, sedative-free GAD patients. Methods: This prospective case-control study included newly diagnosed GAD patients and control participants with matched age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) in Taiwan. All participants completed questionnaires for sleep and mood symptoms and a resting 5-min heart rate variability (HRV) examination during enrollment. The participants also used a home sleep apnea test to detect SDB. An oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ≥ 5 was considered indicative of SDB. Results: In total, 56 controls and 47 newly diagnosed GAD participants (mean age 55.31 ± 12.36 years, mean BMI 23.41 ± 3.42 kg/m²) were included. There was no significant difference in the proportion of undiagnosed SDB in the control and sedative-free GAD groups (46.43 vs. 51.06%). Sedative-free GAD patients with SDB scored significantly higher on Beck Anxiety Inventory (23.83 ± 11.54) than those without SDB (16.52 ± 10.61) (p < 0.001). Both control and sedative-free GAD groups with SDB had worse global autonomic function than the control group without SDB, as evidenced by the HRV results (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Average age 55 years and mean BMI 23 kg/m² patients with GAD and matched controls had an undiagnosed SDB prevalence of approximately 50%. SDB correlated with worsening anxiety severity and reduced cardiac autonomic function. Moreover, age and BMI were considered major risk factors for predicting undiagnosed SDB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview with Taiwanese author Li Ang is presented. When asked about her reactions on the comments of Song Zelai that her previous writing was dark, she says that in the past she was not concerned about the theme of her works because she was only particular about the things that moved her. She explains the factors which triggered her to write dark-themed stories. She presents her insights about the potential cause of her controversy in Taiwan.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) causes both upper and lower respiratory tract infection worldwide. Because little is known about the estimated level of exposure to hMPV in Taiwan, data for 1999 are presented. One thousand one hundred twenty sera from otherwise healthy community-based subjects aged 1 month to 99 years were tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the proportion of seropositive individuals was 68.1%. Moreover, 53.2% of preschool children were seronegative, whereas 88.3% of school-aged individuals and 93.7% of adults had antibodies to hMPV. In summary, the present study provides an earlier evidence of a high rate of exposure to hMPV characterized the seroprevalence among Taiwanese individuals in 1999. In addition, our findings suggest that preschool children in particular would benefit from vaccination against hMPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study assessed changes in sleep-related symptoms and polysomnographic parameters after nasal surgery for nasal obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) adults in Taiwan. Methods: A total of 66 patients with OSA and chronic nasal obstruction were recruited (surgical, n = 44; control, n = 22). Nasal surgery alone was the treatment in surgical patients. Outcomes were measured in a Snore Outcome Survey (SOS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), rhinomanometry, and polysomnographic parameters at baseline and again after 3 months. Results: Significantly improved nasal resistance as measured by the SOS and ESS were found only in the surgical group (all, p < 0.001). Both groups revealed insignificant changes in polysomnographic parameters. The patients with lower body weight index, less daytime sleepiness, and lower tongue position had a better success rate than the others (50% versus 3%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although nasal surgery relieved snoring and daytime sleepiness, it had variable effects on polysomnographic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complications of thyroidectomy are the most frequent cause of unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP) in Taiwan. Autologous fat injection for UVCP is a well-established procedure for temporary symptom relief. The aims of this study were to identify the long-term residual fat volume by 3-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) and to investigate the voice outcome. Methods: During this cross-sectional study, 28 consecutive patients who had undergone lipoinjection surgery for symptomatic UVCP resulting from thyroidectomy were enrolled. They received 3-D CT evaluations of the larynx and upper airway after lipoinjection surgery to assess the residual fat volume. Results: The mean duration from lipoinjection surgery to 3-D CT study was 26 months (range, 12–58). The mean residual fat volume remained consistent (0.39 ± 0.35 mL; range, 0.01–1.6). The maximal phonation time, s/z ratio, jitter, and harmonic-to-noise ratio were significantly improved during follow-up. Conclusion: Injected fat can survive chronically and provide clinically important improvement in voice in the patients with throidectomy-induced UVCP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: While the prognostic role of surgical margins in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma is well-established, the optimal cutoff values for margin status remain controversial. This study addressed this issue in a large sample of 13,768 patients included in a nationwide registry in Taiwan. The identification of the most suitable cutoff value for surgical margins was conducted using 5-year local control as the outcome of interest. On analyzing the margin status—categorized as 0, 0.1–4 and > 4 mm—the 5-year outcomes were as follows: local control, 87, 89 and 92%; disease-specific survival, 57, 76 and 81%; overall survival, 47, 67 and 74%, respectively. Collectively, these data indicate that a margin status >4 mm can be considered as adequate. (1) Background: The optimal cutoff value that maximizes the prognostic value of surgical margins in patients with resected oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma has not yet been identified. (2) Methods: Data for this study were retrieved from the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database. A total of 13,768 Taiwanese patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma were identified and stratified according to different margin statuses (0, 0.1–4 and > 4 mm). The five-year local control, disease-specific survival and overall survival rates were the main outcome measures. (3) Results: The 5-year local control, disease-specific survival and overall survival rates of patients with close margins (0 and 0.1–4 mm) were significantly lower than those observed in patients with clear margins (> 4 mm; all p values < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, margin status, depth of invasion and extra-nodal extension were identified as independent adverse prognostic factors for 5-year local control. (4) Conclusions: A thorough assessment of surgical margins can provide a reliable prognostic prediction in patients with OCSCC. This has potential implications for treatment approaches tailored to the individual level. The achievement of clear margins (>4 mm) should be considered a key surgical goal to improve outcomes in this patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza A virus contains eight RNA segments and encodes 10 viral proteins. However, an 11th protein, called PB1-F2, was found in A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1). This novel protein is translated from an alternative open reading fame (ORF) in the PB1 gene. We analyzed the PB1 gene of 42 recent influenza A isolates in Taiwan including 24 H1N1 and 18 H3N2 strains. One H1N1 isolate and 17 H3N2 isolates contained the entire PB1-F2 ORF of 90 residues, three amino acids (aa) longer than the PB1-F2 of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 at the C terminal. The one remaining H3N2 isolate encoded e truncated PB1-F2 with 79 residues. The other 23 H1N1 isolates contained o truncated PB1-F2 of 57 ma. Phylogenetic analysis of both the HA and the PB1 genes showed that they shared similar clustering of these Taiwanese isolates, suggesting that no obvious reassortment occurred between the two genomic segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection involves the development of gastric cancer and may be associated with laryngeal cancer. However, laryngeal H. pylori infection in Taiwanese patients with newly diagnosed laryngeal cancer has not been reported. This study was aimed to investigate the possible association between laryngeal H. pylori infection and laryngeal cancer in Taiwan and perform a systematic review of previous reports in other countries. An analysis of 105 patients with laryngeal lesions found the positive rates of H. pylori DNA (determined by polymerase chain reaction) and antigen (determined by immunohistochemistry) of the laryngeal lesions were relatively low (vocal polyps: 3% and 3%; vocal fold leukoplakia: 0% and 0%; laryngeal cancers: 0% and 2%). Furthermore, H. pylori-associated laryngopharyngeal reflux and the expression of E-cadherin and CD1d (determined by immunohistochemistry) were comparable among the three subgroups. Fifteen studies were involved in the systematic review of the digital literature database, distributed to February 2021. The data of patients with laryngeal cancer and controls showed that the laryngeal H. pylori infection rates were 29.4% and 16.7%, respectively. Although current evidence supported that laryngeal H. pylori infection was associated with laryngeal cancer globally, it might not play a role in the development of laryngeal cancer in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Epstein–Barr virus DNA positivity, age ≥ 55 years, cigarette smoking, and high BCL-2, B2M, and CD161 expression were identified as independent risk factors for primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. A high EBER signal and low CD3 expression significantly and independently predicted local recurrence and disease-free survival within five years. The information obtained in this study improves our understanding of viral infections in laryngeal cancer, and may guide future prevention, treatment, and follow-up strategies. Mounting molecular evidence supports Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) involvement in the pathogenesis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC); however, the epidemiological data are inconsistent. In this retrospective case-control study, we aimed to determine whether EBV infection underlies the risk and prognosis of LSCC. The prevalence of EBV infection, as analyzed using an EBV DNA polymerase chain reaction assay, was significantly higher in 42 Taiwanese patients with newly diagnosed primary LSCC, compared to 39 age- and sex-matched control patients without cancer (48% vs. 19%). Furthermore, most of the EBER signals detected using in situ hybridization were localized to the nuclei of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. In multivariate analysis, EBV DNA positivity, age ≥ 55 years, cigarette smoking, and high BCL-2, B2M, and CD161 expression (assessed using immunohistochemistry) were identified as independent risk factors for LSCC. Furthermore, five-year local recurrence and disease-free survival rates were 34% and 58%, respectively, with a high EBER signal and low CD3 expression independently predicting five-year local recurrence and disease-free survival. Our comprehensive profiling data accurately identified patients at risk for LSCC development, local recurrence, or disease-free survival. The information obtained in this study improves our understanding of EBV infection in LSCC, and may guide precision medicine for patients with LSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognostic significance of margin-to-depth ratio (MDR) in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) remains unclear, particularly in comparison to traditional margin status. We aimed to examine the association between MDR and clinical outcomes in a large Taiwanese cohort., Methods: A total of 18,324 patients with first primary OCSCC were categorized by margin status: positive (1013), <5 mm (8371), and ≥ 5 mm (8940). Disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) served as the main outcome measures., Results: After excluding patients with positive margins (MDR = 0), the optimal MDR cutoff value for DSS and OS was 0.6. Patients with MDR > 0.6 showed significantly better 5-year DSS and OS rates (87 %, 81 %) compared to those with MDR ≤ 0.6 (71 %, 63 %) and MDR = 0 (53 %, 43 %). Multivariable analysis identified MDR ≤ 0.6 as independently associated with both DSS and OS in the entire cohort (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.34/1.32). This finding was consistent in the subgroups with surgical margins < 5 mm (HR = 1.39 for DSS and 1.38 for OS) and margins ≥ 5 mm (HR = 1.21 for both DSS and OS). In subgroups with surgical margins < 5 mm and ≥ 5 mm, an MDR > 0.6 was associated with better survival outcomes., Conclusions: An MDR (cutoff: 0.6) is independently associated with prognosis in OCSCC, offering improved risk stratification compared to margin status alone. While MDR may guide surgical margin modification, further research is needed to determine whether MDR could serve as a postoperative indicator for adjuvant therapy in patients with close or clear margins., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The evidence for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) with extra-nodal extension (ENE) in National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines is derived from patients with head and neck cancer. The guidelines further suggest a radiation dose ranging from 6000 to 6600 cGy. In this nationwide study, we sought to evaluate the prognostic significance of adjuvant therapy and the specific radiation dosage in Taiwanese patients with pure OCSCC and ENE., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1577 OCSCC patients with ENE who underwent resection and received adjuvant CRT or radiotherapy (RT) between January 2011 and December 2020 was conducted., Results: Multivariable analysis revealed that adjuvant RT, more than four pathologically positive nodes, and radiation dosage below 6000 cGy were independent risk factors for unfavorable 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS). Comparing patients who received CRT (n = 1453) to those treated with RT (n = 124) before and after propensity score (PS) matching, the 5-year outcomes were as follows: before PS matching, DSS (54% versus 30%, p < 0.0001), OS (42% versus 18%, p < 0.0001); after PS matching (n = 111 in each group), DSS (52% versus 30%, p = 0.0016), OS (38% versus 21%, p = 0.0019). For patients who underwent CRT, the 5-year outcomes for different radiation dose groups (6600 - 7000 cGy, n = 1155 versus 6000 - 6500 cGy, n = 199) were as follows: before PS matching, DSS (52% versus 54%, p = 0.1904), OS (43% versus 46%, p = 0.1610); after PS matching (n = 199 in each group), DSS (55% versus 54%, p = 0.8374), OS (46.5% versus 46.3%, p = 0.7578)., Conclusions: For OCSCC patients with ENE, our study shows CRT improved survivals than RT alone, underscoring the clinical significance of chemotherapy. Patients undergoing CRT with irradiation doses ranging from 6000 to 6500 cGy exhibited comparable survival outcomes to those receiving doses of 6600-7000 cGy. This observation suggests that irradiation doses exceeding the 6600 cGy may not confer the survival advantage in these patients. Further research is needed to confirm our results and explore the optimal irradiation dose for managing these patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: While surgery remains the primary treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), induction chemotherapy (IC) can be used as a bridging or neoadjuvant therapy. This nationwide study in Taiwan examines the survival outcomes of OCSCC patients who received IC before surgery., Methods: We analyzed data from 29,891 patients with OCSCC. Of these, 29,058 initially underwent surgery (OP group), whereas 833 received IC before surgery (IC + OP group). A propensity score (PS)-matched analysis (4, 1 ratio, 3260 vs. 815 patients) was performed considering tumor subsite, sex, age, Charlson comorbidity index, clinical T1-T4b tumors, clinical N0-3 disease, and clinical stage I-IV., Results: In the PS-matched cohort, the 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 65% and 57%, respectively. When comparing the OP and IC + OP groups, the 5-year DSS rates were 66% and 62%, respectively (p = 0.1162). Additionally, the 5-year OS rates were 57% and 56%, respectively (p = 0.9917). No significant intergroup differences in survival were observed for specific subgroups with cT4a tumors, cT4b tumors, cN3 disease, pT4b tumors, and pN3 disease. However, for patients with pT4a tumors, the OP group demonstrated superior 5-year outcomes compared to the IC + OP group, with a DSS of 62% versus 52% (p = 0.0006) and an OS of 53% versus 44% (p = 0.0060). Notably, patients with cT2-3, cN1, and c-Stage II disease in the IC + OP group were significantly more likely to achieve pT0-1 status (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Following PS matching, the IC + OP group generally exhibited similar prognosis to the OP group. However, for pT4a tumors, the OP group showed superior 5-year outcomes. While IC may not universally improve survival, it could be advantageous for patients who respond positively to the treatment., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: To compare the clinical outcomes of two treatment modalities, initial surgery and primary definitive radiotherapy (RT), in Taiwanese patients diagnosed with cT1-2N0M0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC)., Methods: Between 2011 and 2019, we analyzed data for 13,542 cT1-2N0M0 patients who underwent initial surgery (n = 13,542) or definitive RT with a dosage of at least 6600 cGy (n = 145) for the treatment of OCSCC. To account for baseline differences, we employed propensity score (PS) matching, resulting in two well-balanced study groups (initial surgery, n = 580; definitive RT, n = 145)., Results: Before PS matching, the 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 88% for the surgery group and 58% for the RT group. After PS matching, the 5-year DSS rates of the two groups were 86% and 58%, respectively. Similarly, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates before PS matching were 80% for the surgery group and 36% for the RT group, whereas after PS matching, they were 73% and 36%, respectively. All these differences were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). A multivariable analysis identified treatment with RT, older age, stage II tumors, and a higher burden of comorbidities as independent risk factors for both DSS and OS. We also examined the 5-year outcomes for various subgroups (margin ≥5 mm, margin <5 mm, positive margins, RT combined with chemotherapy, and RT alone) as follows: DSS, 89%/88%/79%/63%/51%, respectively, p < 0.0001; OS, 82%/79%/68%/39%/32%, respectively, p < 0.0001., Conclusions: In Taiwanese patients with cT1-2N0M0 OCSCC, a remarkably low proportion (1.1%) completed definitive RT. A significant survival disparity of 30% was observed between patients who underwent initial surgery and those who received definitive RT. Interestingly, even patients from the surgical group with positive surgical margins exhibited a significantly superior survival compared to those in the definitive RT group., (© 2024 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: This large-scale cohort study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of Taiwanese patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper versus lower gum., Methods: Between 2004 and 2017, we identified 4244 patients with first primary SCC of the gum (694 upper gum; 3550 lower gum) who were treated with surgery either with or without adjuvant therapy. Of them, 1990 patients (329 upper gum; 1661 lower gum) enrolled from 2011 to 2017 had a higher number of histopathological variables and entered subgroup analyses. Five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) rates served as outcome measures., Results: The 5-year DSS and OS rates of patients with upper gum SCC were lower than those of cases with lower gum SCC (65%/74%, p < 0.0001; and 55%/65%, respectively, p < 0.0001). Compared with lower gum SCC, upper gum SCC had a higher prevalence of the following variables: female sex, age ≥ 65 years, pNx (without neck dissection), no-betel chewing (2011-2017), no-smoking (2011-2017), and margin status ≤ 4 mm (positive and close margins, 2011-2017). On multivariable analysis, gum subsite (upper versus lower), age (≥65 versus < 65 years), pT (T3 - 4 versus T1 - 2), pN (N1 - 3 versus N0/Nx), depth (≥10 mm versus < 10 mm, 2011-2017), ENE (present versus absent, 2011-2017), and margins (≤4 mm versus > 4 mm 2011-2017, only DSS) were identified as independent adverse prognostic factors for 5-year DSS and OS., Conclusions: Compared to lower gum SCC, upper gum SCC had less favorable 5-year outcomes. Wide resection margins are recommended to improve prognosis of upper gum SCC., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

(1) Background: Sleep apnea may be a risk factor for deep neck infection (DNI). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of sleep apnea on DNI. (2) Methods: In this first nationwide retrospective cohort study on the sleep apnea-DNI correlation, we obtained data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005, a subset of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients who were newly diagnosed with sleep apnea between 1997 and 2012 were identified, and patients without sleep apnea were matched at a 1:4 ratio in age, sex, socioeconomic status, and urbanization level. The primary outcome of this study was DNI occurrence. The treatment modalities for sleep apnea and the comorbidities that occurred during the study period were also analyzed. (3) Results: Our sleep apnea and comparison (non-sleep apnea) cohorts comprised 6114 and 24,456 patients, respectively. We compared the cumulative incidence of DNI between these cohorts and found a greater incidence of DNI in the sleep apnea cohort ( p < 0.001). A strong sleep apnea-DNI association was found following analysis via the adjusted Cox proportional-hazards model (full model hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-2.28; p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, sleep apnea increased DNI risk in men, in those aged < 50 years, and in those without diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease, liver cirrhosis, autoimmune disease, obesity, tonsillectomy, or adenotonsillectomy. (4) Conclusions: Our results confirmed sleep apnea to be an independent risk factor for DNI. Physicians should be aware of the potential occurrence of DNI in patients with sleep apnea.

Objective: To assess the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with or without treatment based on real-world evidence., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with OSA during 1997-2012 were identified using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Patients without OSA were randomly selected and matched in a 1:4 ratio by age, sex, urbanization level, and income. All patients were followed up until death or the end of 2013. The primary outcome was AD occurrence., Results: This study included 3,978 OSA patients and 15,912 non-OSA patients. OSA was independently and significantly associated with a higher incidence of AD in an adjusted Cox proportional hazard model (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-3.56). The average period of AD detection from the time of OSA occurrence was 5.44 years (standard deviation: 2.96). Subgroup analyses revealed that the effect of OSA remained significant in patients aged ≥60 years, male subgroups, patients without CPAP or surgical treatment, and patients without pharmacological therapies. Patients with OSA who received treatment (continuous positive airway pressure or surgery) exhibited a significantly reduced risk of AD compared with those without treatment (incidence rate ratio 0.23, 95% CI, 0.06-0.98)., Conclusion: OSA is independently associated with an increased risk of AD. Treatment for OSA reduces the AD risk in OSA patients. AD irreversibility renders OSA as a potential modifiable target for slowing or preventing the process of AD development., Level of Evidence: IV Laryngoscope, 130:2292-2298, 2020., (© 2020 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with adverse health outcomes; however, little is known about the diversity of this population. This retrospective study aims to investigate age-related differences in the anthropometric and clinical features of this population. A total of 253 Taiwanese children (70 (27.7%) girls and 183 (72.3%) boys) with OSA were reviewed. Their median age, body mass index (BMI) z-score, and apnea-hypopnea index were 6.9 years, 0.87, and 9.5 events/h, respectively. The cohort was divided into three subgroups: 'preschoolers' (≥2 and <6 years), 'school-age children' (≥6 and <10 years), and 'adolescents (≥10 and <18 years)'. The percentage of the male sex, BMI z-score, neck circumference, systolic blood pressure z-score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio tended to increase with age. Adenoid grades tended to decrease with age. Overall, disease severity was independently correlated with neck circumference, tonsil size, and adenoid grade. Increased neck circumference and tonsillar hypertrophy were the most influential factors for younger children, whereas adenoidal hypertrophy became more important at an older age. In conclusion, gender prevalence ratio, anthropometric measures, and clinical features varied with age, and the pathogenic drivers were not necessarily the same as the aggravating ones.

Background/purpose: To examine whether the prevalence rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in Taiwanese patients with primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is different from that in those with a vocal polyp (VP) or vocal fold leukoplakia (VFL)., Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited 41 consecutive patients with primary LSCC and 27 and 20 patients with VP and VFL, respectively. The HPV L1 gene in surgical specimens was detected using polymerase chain reaction. High-risk HPV DNA in tissue microarray specimens was detected using in situ hybridization. Expression of p16 INK4a in tissue microarray specimens was determined through immunohistochemistry., Results: The prevalence of HPV L1 DNA in the LSCC group was equivalent to that in the VP and VFL groups (7.3% vs. 7.4% vs. 10.0%; P = 0.929; effect size = 0.20). High-risk HPV DNA detected using in situ hybridization was relatively rare in all groups (2.6% vs. 5.3% vs. 0.0%; P = 0.636; effect size = 0.81). The prevalence of p16 INK4a positivity was significantly lower in the LSCC group than in the VP and VFL groups (5.1% vs. 58.8% vs. 14.3%; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis results revealed that age ≥65 years (adjusted odds ratio, 4.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-13.91; P = 0.024) and p16 INK4a positivity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.53; P = 0.006) were LSCC risk factors., Conclusion: HPV infection is uncommon in Taiwanese patients with LSCC and seems not to be associated with an increased LSCC risk. Larger sample size is warranted for further study., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Study Objectives: Previous research revealed a positive correlation between endothelial cell injury (indicated by albuminuria) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, little else has been revealed about acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with OSA., Methods: This prospective study recruited consecutive patients undergoing overnight polysomnography for evaluation of sleep apnea. Patients in whom any major disease or recent infection had been previously diagnosed were excluded. Ultimately, data from 75 patients with apnea-hypopnea indices of 5 or more were analyzed. Baseline values for the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), serum levels for three markers of AKI (cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL], interleukin-18 [IL-18]), and polysomnography data were recorded and analyzed. Patients then were followed for 6 months of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment., Results: At baseline, UACRs were greater in patients with more severe OSA ( P = .005, r = .329). All three serum markers of AKI (cystatin C, NGAL, and IL-18) studied were positively correlated with OSA severity, and two (cystatin C and IL-18) were positively correlated with the frequency of oxygen desaturation during sleep. However, none of the AKI markers had positive correlations with UACR. After 6 months of CPAP treatment, UACR and IL-18 were decreased significantly in patients with good adherence., Conclusions: Albuminuria and levels of three serum markers of AKI (cystatin C, NGAL, IL-18) were positively correlated with OSA severity, and good adherence with CPAP treatment decreased albuminuria and interleukin-18 levels. These results may provide additional tools for assessing early renal injury in patients with OSA., (© 2019 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

The outcomes of second primary oropharyngeal cancer (SPOPC) may not be determined by oropharyngeal cancer but from the other index cancer as well. The management of (SPOPC) remains inconclusive and limited. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) to maximize the functional outcomes without reducing oncologic effect is suggested as the primary treatment for selected oropharyngeal cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of TORS for the management of SPOPC. Patients who underwent TORS from January 2011 to June 2015 at a tertian referral center in Taiwan were recruited. Loco-regional status, overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and postoperative functional status were evaluated. Fifteen patients received TORS for SPOPC with curative intent, including eleven with tongue-base carcinomas, and four with tonsil carcinomas. One case was terminated because of inadequate exposure and the other 14 cases were completed with negative pathologic margins. Two-year OS and DSS were 53 and 77%, respectively. Patients with SPOPC occurring within 6 months had poorer outcomes (p = 0.044). The median time to feeding-tube removal was 5 days, and one patient had long-term gastric-tube dependence. Patients of age <65 years with synchronous SPOPC and esophageal cancer as the other index cancer were significant worse in oncologic outcomes. We concluded that TORS is a feasible alternative treatment in selected patients with SPOPC. Patients with metachronous T1-2 SPOPC without an esophageal primary can achieve excellent survival after TORS, while TORS can maximize functional preservation with limited destruction in patients with low life expectancy.

Aims: Childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) affects not only the children's physical health, but also their mental development, behavioral problems and learning difficulties. Therefore, an early diagnosis is important. However, the assessment tools of polysomnography are demanding. The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Questionnaire-18 (OSA-18) is designed to screen OSA and has good reliability and validity. The goal of this study was to validate the Chinese version of the OSA-18, to analyze the frequency of symptoms and find the most common symptoms of OSA in Taiwanese children., Methods: We validated the OSA-18 in an ethnic Chinese group and compared the treatment outcomes to show the sensitivity of the questionnaire. The caregivers completed the questionnaire twice at an interval of 4 weeks to test reliability. In the validation study, we included 88 OSA children. The OSA-18 and follow-up polysomnography were performed before and 6 months after adenotonsillectomy., Results: Results showed the excellent test-retest reliability (r = 0.84**) of the OSA-18. There was a statistically significant correlation between the OSA-18 and, respectively, the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (r = 0.29*), and the Hypopnea Index (r = 0.29*). Quality of life showed a significant correlation with the Apnea Index (r = 0.43**), central apnea count (r = 0.50***), and mixed apnea count (r = 0.36*). The cut-off point of the OSA-18 total scores for detecting pediatric OSA in children aged 6-12 years was 66. The common symptoms of pediatric OSA were poor attention span, loud snoring, caregiver worried about child's health, difficulty awakening, and mouth breathing., Conclusions: Our results show that the Chinese version of the OSA-18 is a reliable and valid instrument. The questionnaire also showed improvement in the quality of life of OSA children post-adenotonsillectomy., (© 2015 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2015 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are deemed to play a role in the pathogenesis of oral cavity cancer (OCC). However, their exact prevalence and clinical significance remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the prevalence and prognostic value of HPV infections in a large sample of Taiwanese OCC patients.This study was designed as a retrospective cohort study. Between 2004 and 2011, we identified 1002 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed OCC who were scheduled for standard treatment. HPV genotyping was performed in tumor specimens using polymerase chain reaction-based HPV blots. To investigate the temporal trends of HPV infections and their impact on 5-year overall survival (OS), patients were divided into 2 cohorts according to calendar periods: "2004 cohort" (2004-2007; n = 466) and "2008 cohort" (2008-2011; n = 536). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were also used to identify the independent predictors of OS in the 2 cohorts. A weighted risk score was assigned to each factor based on the range of their corresponding hazard ratios and validated in both cohorts using the c-statistic.The overall prevalence of HPV infections was 19%, with a trend toward decreasing rates from 2004 to 2011. In patients without risky oral habits, the 5-year OS rate of HPV-positive patients was significantly lower than that of HPV-negative cases (49% vs 80%; P = 0.021). In the 2004 cohort, multivariate analysis identified HPV16, pathological T3/T4, pathological N1/N2, and extracapsular spread as independent adverse prognostic factors for OS. In the 2008 cohort, pathological N1/N2, pathological stage III/IV, and histological tumor depth >8 mm were identified as independent adverse prognostic factors. Using a weighted grading system incorporating HPV16 infection, we devised a prognostic index that identified 4 distinct risk categories with 5-year OS rates ranging from 25% to 89% (c-statistic = 0.76) in the 2004 cohort. The validity of the index was internally confirmed in the 2008 cohort (c-statistic = 0.71).We conclude that HPV infections are common in Taiwanese OCC patients and predict 5-year OS. If independently validated, our composite prognostic score comprising HPV16 infection may be useful for allocating OCC patients to risk-adapted therapies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Objectives/hypothesis: Vocal cord leukoplakia is a clinical diagnosis that comprises a spectrum of benignities, premalignancies, and malignancies. Accurate recordings of the visual characteristics of the affected area are important for communication between physicians and are helpful in further management. The objective of this study was to determine the laryngoscopic characteristics among patients with vocal cord leukoplakia and the reliability of examinations between different raters., Study Design: Retrospective chart review conducted in a tertiary referral center in Taiwan., Methods: From January 2010 to April 2013, 107 consecutive patients with vocal leukoplakia who had accepted excisional biopsy were recruited and classified into two groups according to histologic findings. The patients without clear preoperative flexible laryngoscope images stored in the picture archiving and communication system were excluded. There were 68 patients who met the inclusion criteria, and the preoperative laryngoscope images were reviewed by two laryngologists. The inter-rater reliabilities of the recordings were assessed. Correlation between the variables and histologic classification was also performed., Results: The inter-rater reliability of the assessment was significant in the recordings of color, texture, size, hyperemia, thickness, and symmetry (κ = 0.267 to 0.573, P < .05) but not in vocal cord edema. The laryngoscopic findings including color, texture, size, and hyperemia were associated with the grade of dysplasia (P < .05)., Conclusions: The specific proposed laryngoscopic characteristics are consistent in the recordings between raters and can be potentially used for stratifying patients' risk., Level of Evidence: 4., (© 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an oncogenic virus causing oropharyngeal cancers and resulting in a favorable outcome after the treatment. The role of HPV in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains ambiguous., Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of HPV infection on disease control among patients with OSCC following radical surgery with radiation-based adjuvant therapy., Patients and Method: We prospectively followed 173 patients with advanced OSCC (96% were stage III/IV) who had undergone radical surgery and adjuvant therapy between 2004 and 2006. They were followed between surgery and death or up to 60 months. Surgical specimens were examined using a PCR-based HPV blot test. The primary endpoints were the risk of relapse and the time to relapse; the secondary endpoints were disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival., Results: The prevalence of HPV-positive OSCC was 22%; HPV-16 (9%) and HPV-18 (7%) were the genotypes most commonly encountered. Solitary HPV-16 infection was a poor predictor of 5-year distant metastases (hazard ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-8.0; P = 0.005), disease-free survival (P = 0.037), disease-specific survival (P = 0.006), and overall survival (P = 0.010), whereas HPV-18 infection had no impact on 5-year outcomes. The rate of 5-year distant metastases was significantly higher in the HPV-16 or level IV/V metastasis group compared with both the extracapsular spread or tumor depth ≥ 11-mm group and patients without risk factors (P<0.001)., Conclusions: HPV infections in advanced OSCC patients are not uncommon and clinically relevant. Compared with HPV-16-negative advanced OSCC patients, those with a single HPV-16 infection are at higher risk of distant metastases and poor survival despite undergoing radiation-based adjuvant therapy and require a more aggressive adjuvant treatment and a more thorough follow-up.

The aim of this study was to document receptive and expressive language levels and reading skills achieved by Mandarin-speaking children who had received cochlear implants (CIs) and used them for 4.75-7.42 years. The effects of possible associated factors were also analyzed. Standardized Mandarin language and reading tests were administered to 39 prelingually deaf children with Nucleus 24 devices. The Mandarin Chinese version of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test was used to assess their receptive vocabulary knowledge and the Revised Primary School Language Assessment Test for their receptive and expressive language skills. The Graded Chinese Character Recognition Test was used to test their written word recognition ability and the Reading Comprehension Test for their reading comprehension ability. Raw scores from both language and reading measurements were compared to normative data of nor- mal-hearing children to obtain standard scores. The results showed that the mean standard score for receptive vocabulary measurement and the mean T scores for the receptive language, expressive language and total language measurement were all in the low-average range in comparison to the normative sample. In contrast, the mean T scores for word and text reading comprehension were almost the same as for their age-matched hearing counterparts. Among all children with CIs, 75.7% scored within or above the normal range of their age-matched hearing peers on receptive vocabulary measurement. For total language, Chinese word recognition and reading scores, 71.8, 77 and 82% of children with CIs were age appropriate, respectively. A strong correlation was found between language and reading skills. Age at implantation and sentence perception scores account for 37% of variance for total language outcome. Sentence perception scores and preimplantation residual hearing were revealed to be associated with the outcome of reading comprehension. We concluded that by using standard tests, the language development and reading skill of Mandarin-speaking children who use CIs from a young age appear to fall within the normal range of their hearing age mates, at least after 4.8-7.4 years of experience. However, to fully evaluate the fine linguistic skills of these subjects, a more detailed study and longer follow-up period are needed., (Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: To evaluate the clinical factors predicting the significantly elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations, defined herein as hs-CRP > or = 3 mg/L, in adult males with untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)., Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Tertiary referral center., Subjects and Methods: Sixty-five consecutive male patients with newly diagnosed OSAS were enrolled to receive complete medical history review, physical examination, in-laboratory overnight polysomnography, and hs-CRP test. The patients had no current or history of cardiovascular disease. The patients had a mean age of 38.2 +/- 9.9 years, body mass index (BMI) of 27.4 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) of 11.3 +/- 4.6. The serum levels of hs-CRP were assessed using peripheral venous blood samples., Results: Twenty-three percent of the overall patients had significantly elevated serum levels of hs-CRP. The increase of hs-CRP correlated fairly with BMI, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), tonsil size, and ESS (r = 0.450, 0.398, 0.393, and 0.300, respectively; all P < or = 0.05) after adjustment for conventional coronary heart disease risk factors. However, only the AHI could predict for significantly elevated hs-CRP after stepwise multiple linear regression (R(2) = 0.251, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Patients in this study with hs-CRP > or = 3 mg/L were more prevalent in the severe OSAS group. This observation suggests that the severe OSAS patients need to have their cardiovascular statuses evaluated by use of an hs-CRP screening test., (2010 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) causes both upper and lower respiratory tract infection worldwide. Because little is known about the estimated level of exposure to hMPV in Taiwan, data for 1999 are presented. One thousand one hundred twenty sera from otherwise healthy community-based subjects aged 1 month to 99 years were tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the proportion of seropositive individuals was 68.1%. Moreover, 53.2% of preschool children were seronegative, whereas 88.3% of school-aged individuals and 93.7% of adults had antibodies to hMPV. In summary, the present study provides an earlier evidence of a high rate of exposure to hMPV characterized the seroprevalence among Taiwanese individuals in 1999. In addition, our findings suggest that preschool children in particular would benefit from vaccination against hMPV.

Objectives: Papillomas of the larynx include solitary laryngeal papilloma and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. This study investigated the incidence of malignant transformation and assessed possible risk factors for laryngeal papillomas., Study Design: A prospective, longitudinal study., Methods: Twenty-six consecutive laryngeal papilloma patients were prospectively studied for 5 or more years, and each patient was periodically examined at 3 to 6 month intervals. A detailed epidemiologic questionnaire was administered at the initial visit. After enrollment, tissue obtained during each laryngeal surgery was examined by polymerase chain reaction assay for human papilloma virus (HPV) and typing., Results: During 237 person-years of follow-up, six new, pathologically confirmed cases of laryngeal carcinoma were ascertained (incidence 2.5/100 person-years), and all were associated with HPV-6 or HPV-11. Malignant transformation revealed no correlation with the following: age less than 3 years at diagnosis, sex, history of tobacco use, history of alcohol consumption, family history of laryngeal cancer, or type of laryngeal papilloma. Laryngeal papilloma without demonstrable HPV DNA was the only significant risk factor for malignant transformation (P < .05). The cumulative risk of malignant transformation in subjects without demonstrable HPV DNA was significantly higher than that in HPV-positive patients (relative risk, 8.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-60.3; P = .05)., Conclusions: A relatively high incidence of malignant transformation of laryngeal papilloma was noted in Taiwanese patients. Patients without demonstrable HPV DNA require more frequent follow-up and may benefit from anti-HPV vaccinations.

Influenza A virus contains eight RNA segments and encodes 10 viral proteins. However, an 11th protein, called PB1-F2, was found in A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1). This novel protein is translated from an alternative open reading frame (ORF) in the PB1 gene. We analyzed the PB1 gene of 42 recent influenza A isolates in Taiwan, including 24 H1N1 and 18 H3N2 strains. One H1N1 isolate and 17 H3N2 isolates contained the entire PB1-F2 ORF of 90 residues, three amino acids (aa) longer than the PB1-F2 of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 at the C terminal. The one remaining H3N2 isolate encoded a truncated PB1-F2 with 79 residues. The other 23 H1N1 isolates contained a truncated PB1-F2 of 57 aa. Phylogenetic analysis of both the HA and the PB1 genes showed that they shared similar clustering of these Taiwanese isolates, suggesting that no obvious reassortment occurred between the two genomic segments.