Association between exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in lung cancer patients.

Background: Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are extensively distributed in our environment, prompting concerns about potential health hazards, including lung injuries resulting from OPFR exposure.

Methods: The present study recruited 125 lung cancer patients, assessing their exposure to 10 OPFR compounds through urine samples. The final analysis comprised 108 participants after excluding those lacking epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status and those with chronic kidney disease.

Association of Decreased Bone Density and Hyperlipidemia in a Taiwanese Older Adult Population.

Objective: This study aimed to determine if a combination of 2 abnormal lipid profiles revealed a stronger association with low bone mass than a single blood lipid abnormality alone.

Methods: This study enrolled 1373 participants who had received a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan from January 2016 to December 2016 in a medical center in southern Taiwan. Logistic regression was used to examine association between lipid profiles and osteopenia or osteoporosis after adjusting for covariates.

Liver-specific metastases as an independent prognostic factor in cancer patients receiving hospice care in hospital.

Background: Survival prediction is important in cancer patients receiving hospice care. Palliative prognostic index (PPI) and palliative prognostic (PaP) scores have been used to predict survival in cancer patients. However, cancer primary site with metastatic status, enteral feeding tubes, Foley catheter, tracheostomy, and treatment interventions are not considered in aforementioned tools.

The Pattern of Hemoglobin A1C Trajectories and Risk of Herpes Zoster Infection: A Follow-Up Study.

To investigate the risks of herpes zoster (HZ) infection among heterogeneous HbA1C trajectories of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, this cohort study used data from the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD), from the 10-year period of 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2017. We applied group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to identify the patterns of HbA1C trajectories, and multiple Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for the risk of HZ infection with adjustment of age, sex, and comorbidities. This study enrolled 121,999 subjects to perform the analysis.

Could prokinetic agents protect long-term nasogastric tube-dependent patients from being hospitalized for pneumonia? A nationwide population-based case-crossover study.

Background: Some studies have indicated that the use of prokinetic agents may reduce pneumonia risk in some populations. Nasogastric tube insertion is known to increase the risk of pneumonia because it disrupts lower esophageal sphincter function. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether prokinetic agents could protect long-term nasogastric tube-dependent patients in Taiwan from being hospitalized for pneumonia.

Effects of Hospice Care for Terminal Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Matched Cohort Study.

Head and neck cancer was the fourth-most common cause of cancer death among Taiwanese men in 2018. Hospice care has been proven to reduce the use of invasive medical interventions and expenditures in caring for cancer patients. This study examined the effects of hospice care for terminal head and neck cancer patients.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and bone mineral density: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can induce individual inflammatory and immune reactions which associated with extra-digestive disorders. Our aim is to investigate the association between H.

Basic and Clinical Evidence of an Alternative Method to Produce Vivo Nanofat.

Background: Fat grafting technologies are popularly used in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Due to its size limitation, it is hard to directly inject untreated fat tissue into the dermal layer. Nanofat, which was introduced by Tonnard, solves this problem by mechanically emulsifying fat tissue.