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Background and Objectives: ESRD in the young represents a heavy burden to patients, families, and health care systems. This nationwide retrospective study characterized the incidence of ESRD and analyzed diagnoses associated with renal survival in the young population in Taiwan., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Through use of Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, the population of young patients (age<30 years, including children and young adults) with ESRD between January 1998 and December 2009 were enrolled. The medical claims were used to derive the date when the cause of ESRD was first determined. The medical data were reviewed and the renal survival time (time from first diagnosis of the cause to the start of ESRD) was calculated by experts, including clinical physicians and a large-database specialist., Results: The incidence rate of ESRD in the young population was high compared with the worldwide rate at 21.1 per million person-years, whereas the incidence in the pediatric group was still similar to that in other countries at 10.3 per million person-years. A total of 2304 patients with new-onset ESRD and identified renal diseases during the study period were enrolled. All preschool-age patients (100%) began receiving peritoneal dialysis as their initial treatment for ESRD. The leading causes, which varied by sex and onset age, were glomerulonephropathy followed by hypertension for the young adult group and glomerulonephropathy followed by congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) for the pediatric group. Renal survival was cause-dependent. The median overall renal survival duration was 0.8 year (interquartile range [IQR], 0.7-3.5 years). CAKUT-related ESRD had the longest progression time (median renal survival, 16.0 years; IQR, 10.7-23.5 years); glomerulonephropathy progressed more rapidly into ESRD and had the shortest median renal survival of 0.5 year (IQR, 0.1-2.7 years)., Conclusions: The incidence and causes of ESRD greatly differ between pediatric patients and young adults. Moreover, renal survival in the young population markedly varies depending on the cause of renal disease.

The association between osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated. Higher cardiovascular risk has also been correlated with vertebral fractures. However, the association between osteoporotic vertebral fracture and the possibly higher risk of stroke remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk, and type of stroke in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture. Patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture were identified (n = 380) and 10 age- and sex-matched controls per case (comparison group, n = 3795) were chosen from a nationwide representative cohort of 999,997 people from 1998 to 2005. Both groups were followed-up for stroke events for 3 years, matched by propensity scores with adjustments for covariates such as comorbidities (ie, hypertension, diabetes, arrhythmia, or coronary heart diseases) and exposure to medications (ie, aspirin, lipid lowering drug, or nitrates), and assessed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. The incidence rate of stroke in the osteoporotic vertebral fracture group (37.5 per 1000 person-years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 27.5-51.2) was significantly higher than in the comparison group (14.0 per 1000 person-years; 95% CI, 12.0-16.4, p < 0.001). Stroke was more likely to occur in the osteoporotic vertebral fracture patients than in the normal controls (crude hazard ratio [HR] 2.68, 95% CI 1.89-3.79, p < 0.001; adjusted HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.90-3.86, p < 0.001). In conclusion, patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture have a higher risk of stroke (ie, both ischemic and hemorrhagic) and require stroke prevention strategies., (Copyright © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.)

Asthma is one of the most common allergic respiratory diseases around the world and places great burden on medical payment. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is commonly used for Taiwanese children to control diseases. The aim of this study is to analyze the CHM prescriptions for asthmatic children by using a nationwide clinical database. The National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) was used to perform this study. Medical records from 1997 to 2009 with diagnosis with asthma made for children aged 6 to 18 were included into the analysis. Association rule mining and social network analysis were used to analyze the prevalence of single CHM and its combinations. Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang (MXGST) was the most commonly used herbal formula (HF) (20.2% of all prescriptions), followed by Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang (13.1%) and Xing-Su-San (12.8%). Zhe Bei Mu is the most frequently used single herb (SH) (14.6%), followed by Xing Ren (10.7%). MXGST was commonly used with Zhe Bei Mu (3.5%) and other single herbs capable of dispelling phlegm. Besides, MXGST was the core formula to relieve asthma. Further studies about efficacy and drug safety are needed for the CHM commonly used for asthma based on the result of this study.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and risk of stroke after lumbar spinal fusion surgery., Method: Study subjects were identified from a nationwide cohort of 1 million people from 2000 to 2005 and were divided into the lumbar spinal fusion group (n = 2,015), who received posterior lumbar spinal fusion surgery, and the comparison group (n = 16,120) composed of age-, sex-, and propensity score-matched control subjects. The matching process was intended to adjust for demographics, comorbidities, and other immeasurable covariates to minimize selection bias. All subjects were followed up for 3 years for stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed., Results: The overall incidence rate of stroke in the cohort was 9.99 per 1,000 person-year. The lumbar spinal fusion group was less likely to have any stroke (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.83, p = 0.293), hemorrhagic stroke (adjusted HR = 0.74, p = 0.739) and ischemic stroke (adjusted HR = 0.81, p = 0.250) than the comparison group, but without significance., Conclusions: Three years post-operatively, patients who received lumbar spinal fusion had stroke incidence rates similar to those without surgery. Posterior lumbar spinal fusion surgery is not associated with increased risks for any kind of stroke.

Background Context: Postoperative stroke is a rare complication of spinal fusion surgery, but its relevant risk and incidence remain unclear., Purpose: To investigate the incidence and risk of stroke after spinal fusion surgery., Study Design: Cohort study., Patient Sample: All study subjects were extracted from a nationwide representative cohort of one million people from 2000 to 2005., Outcome Measures: Stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic, during the study period., Methods: An exposure group of 2,249 subjects who received spinal fusion surgery during the study period was compared with 2,203 control subjects matched by age, sex, and propensity score. All were followed up for 3 years for all kinds of stroke. Demographics, comorbidities, and nonmeasurable covariates were matched between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed, with adjustments by Cox regression model., Results: There were 4,452 subjects, including 2,249 spinal fusion patients and 2,203 controls, who were followed up for 12,967 person-years. The incidence rates of any, hemorrhagic, and ischemic strokes were 9.95, 1.21, and 8.86, respectively, per 1,000 person-years in the spinal fusion group and 11.5, 1.69, and 9.93, respectively, in the comparison group. Patients who received spinal fusion surgery were less likely to have any stroke (crude hazard ratio [HR]=0.87, p=.393), hemorrhagic stroke (HR=0.72, p=.473), and ischemic stroke (HR=0.89, p=.582) than the comparison group but without statistical significance. After adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and medications, there were still no significant differences for risks of any, hemorrhagic, and ischemic strokes (adjusted HR=0.89, 1.36, and 0.87; p=.522, .553, and .477, respectively) in the spinal fusion group., Conclusions: Patients receiving spinal fusion surgery have similar incidence rates of having a stroke within 3 years postoperation as those without surgery. Risks of any postoperative stroke are similar or insignificantly lower in the spinal fusion group., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Traditional chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the most commonly used complementary and alternative medicines. However, there is a paucity of epidemiologic reports on features of pediatric TCM users. As TCM services are fully reimbursed by National Health Insurance in Taiwan, this study used a nationwide cohort database to investigate demographics, diseases patterns, and parents' characteristics of pediatric TCM users., Methods: Children aged <12 years were extracted from the National Health Insurance Research Database for analysis. These pediatric TCM users' demographics, medical conditions, and reasons for medical services were compared with users of Western medicine by Poisson regression. Children who did not use any medical services were excluded., Results: Of 107,337 children who were enrolled and followed up in 2005, 19,669 children (18.3%) used TCM. Compared with Western medicine-only users, school-age children (aged 6-12 years), preschool age children (3-5 years), and toddlers (1-2 years) were more likely to use TCM than infants (<1 year; rate ratio = 4.47, 3.66 and 2.59, respectively; P < .001 for all). Parental factors were associated with more TCM use, including female gender, age >35 years, past experience with TCM, and higher income levels. Allergic reactions and respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and musculoskeletal problems were also associated with higher TCM use., Conclusions: The use of TCM was correlated with both patient and parental factors, among which children's age and parental TCM use were the most prominent. Additional studies on the efficacy of TCM are warranted.

The optimal treatment strategy for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) depends on symptoms and is uncertain. Whether the risk of spinal cord injury (SCI) is increased in patients with cervical spinal stenosis or myelopathy caused by OPLL remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of SCI in patients with OPLL of the cervical spine when managed with conservative treatment (no surgery). Study subjects were identified from a nationwide cohort of 26,544,883 people from 1998 to 2005 and were divided into the OPLL group (n=265), who were hospitalized for OPLL but had conservative treatment (no surgery), and the comparison group (n=5339), composed of age- and sex-matched people. Until the end of 2008, a total of 5604 subjects were followed-up for 34,723.5 person-years. The propensity score method was used to adjust for covariates. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed. The incidence rate of cervical SCI in the OPLL group was found to be significantly higher than in the comparison group (4.81 versus 0.18 per 1000 person-years; p<0.001). Cervical SCI was more likely to happen in the OPLL group than in the comparison group (crude hazard ratio [HR] 25.64; p<0.001). After adjustments, the OPLL group had a 32.16-fold (p<0.001) higher risk for cervical SCI. Disability caused by SCI had an even higher risk (HR=110.72, adjusted HR=104.78; p<0.001) for the OPLL group. Therefore, cervical SCI and related disabilities are more likely to happen in OPLL patients, who should be cautioned for subsequent SCI if treated conservatively.

Background: Few studies focus on pediatric spinal cord injury (SCI) and there is little information regarding the cause, anatomic level, and high risk population of SCI in children. This study aims to investigate the incidence and risk factors of pediatric SCI., Methods: A nationwide cohort of 8.7 million children aged<18 years in an 11-year period was analyzed for causes, age at injury, anatomic sites, disability, and familial socio-economic factors. Incidence rates and Cox regression analysis were conducted., Results: A total of 4949 SCI patients were analyzed. The incidence rates of cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and other SCI were 4.06, 0.34, 0.75, and 0.85 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The proportional composition of gender, age, and socio-economic status of SCI patients were significantly different than those of non-SCI patients (all p<0.001). Male children were significantly more likely to have SCI than females in both the cervical and the other SCI groups [Incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 2.03 and 1.52; both p<0.001]. Young adults and teenagers were also significantly more likely to have SCI than pre-school age children in the cervical SCI (IRR = 28.55 and 10.50, both p<0.001) and other SCI groups (IRR = 18.8 and 7.47, both p<0.001). Children in families of lower socio-economic status were also significantly more likely to have SCI (p<0.05)., Conclusions: In the pediatric population, the overall SCI incidence rate is 5.99 per 100,000 person-years, with traumatic cervical SCI accounting for the majority. The incidence rate increases abruptly in male teenagers. Gender, age, and socio-economic status are independent risk factors that should be considered.

Background: Though the pathology of optic pathway tumor is mostly pilocytic astrocytoma, the benign tumor behaves like malignant tumor because total resection is not feasible. Adjuvant chemotherapy might be a reasonable strategy for management of these low grade tumors which keep growing. We evaluate the responsiveness of optic pathway tumor to cisplatin-based chemotherapy., Methods: Patients with unresectable and progressive optic pathway tumors received conventional chemotherapy including cisplatin, etoposide, and vinblastine were enrolled in this study from 1992 to 2007. Patients treated with radiotherapy previously were excluded. Brain MRI was performed every 3 months to evaluate the objective response to chemotherapy., Results: There are seven girls and nine boys enrolled in this study. The median age at diagnosis was 30 months old (range from 3 months to 11 years old). The median follow-up duration was 81.5 months (range from 24 months to 14.5 years). The pathology showed pilocytic astrocytomas in 11 patients, astrocytoma in one patient, and anaplastic astrocytomas in two patients. The 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) is 100%, 12-month PFS is 81.3%, 3-year PFS is 71.4% and 5-year PFS is 55.5% respectively. The toxicity of the cisplatin-based chemotherapy showed mild bone marrow suppression in 13 patients (81.3%), infection in nine patients (56.3%), gastrointestinal discomfort in seven patients (43.8%), renal insufficiency in two patient (12.5%), cerebral salt wasting syndrome with hyponatremia in one patient (6.25%) and high pitch hearing loss in two patients (12.5%)., Conclusion: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is an effective regimen for control of progressive optic pathway tumors.

Harlequin ichthyosis (HI) is the most devastating form of skin disorder, which is inherited as autosomal recessive trait related to consanguineous marriage. Although prenatal examination has become scheduled and convenient throughout Taiwan, an unexpected case of HI in a male premature infant born at 32 weeks of gestation was presented. The parents were healthy, neither relatives nor having history of congenital abnormality. We report our management and the massive impact left on both parents. We believe this is an extremely rare case in Taiwan.

Salmonella enterica serotype Panama is capable of causing severe infection in children and is often transmitted via contaminated food. Here, we present the first documented case of serotype Panama infection that was acquired through the consumption of contaminated breast milk. The mother excreted the organism asymptomatically for at least 2 weeks.