Treatment of Focal Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum by Percutaneous Posterolateral Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery Under Local Anesthesia: A Case Series Study.

Introduction: Minimally invasive techniques, such as percutaneous endoscopic discectomy, are increasingly utilized for treating focal thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF), where their safety and efficacy needs to be further confirmed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous posterolateral transforaminal endoscopic surgery under local anesthesia for treating focal TOLF.

Methods: This case series study reviewed medical records of 12 cases diagnosed with focal TOLF who underwent percutaneous posterolateral transforaminal endoscopic surgery under local anesthesia from December 2016 to July 2019 at Fuzhou Second Hospital.

Evaluating cancer patients' experiences with doctor-patient communication in Taiwan: development and validation of a new assessment instrument.

Introduction: Effective communication between doctors and patients is crucial for the well-being of individuals diagnosed with cancer. This study aimed to develop and validate a cancer-specific Doctor-Patient Communication Satisfaction Scale (DPCSS-Cancer) from the patients' perspective.

Methods: Initial items were generated through literature review.

Effectiveness of a Protocol Intervention for Aspiration Pneumonia Prevention in Patients With Esophageal Cancer During Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy: A Randomized Control Trial.

Background: Dysphagia is a leading cause of aspiration pneumonia and negatively affects tolerance of chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to assess a protocol for preventing the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia for adult patients with esophageal cancer experiencing swallowing dysfunction.

Methods: This study tested a dysphagia intervention that included high-risk patients confirmed by the Eating Assessment Tool questionnaire and Water Swallowing Test.

Abnormal GRHL2 Methylation Confers Malignant Progression to Acute Leukemia.

Purpose: Abnormal methylation of Grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2) is associated with a substantial role in the malignant phenotype of tumor patients. Our present research is aimed at studying the abnormal expression of GRHL2 and the association of methylation in patients with acute leukemia and its relationship with prognosis.

Materials And Methods: We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for detecting the aberrant expression level of GRHL2 in 60 patients with acute leukemia and 60 normal controls.

[Isoquinoline alkaloids from two species of Thalictrum genus plants].

The chemical constituents from the roots of Thalictrum cultratum and T. baicalense were investigated. By various isolation methods, such as silica gel, aluminium oxide, ODS, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies, and semi-preparative HPLC, 11 simple isoquinoline alkaloids were isolated from the ethanol extract of the roots of these two plants, including a new compound, named dehydrothalflavine(1), and ten known ones(2-11): N-methylcorydaline(2), N-methylthalidaldine(3), thaliflavine(4), oxyhydrastinine(5), noroxyhydrastinine(6), dimethoxyisoquinolone(7), thalactamine(8), dehydronoroxyhydrastinine(9), 6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline(10), and isopicnarrhine(11).

[Exploration of Distress Symptoms and Medical Interventions in Patients With Terminal Cancer in Hospice Shared Care].

Background: Hospice shared care is a model of care widely used in patients with terminal cancer. Appropriate interventions to improve related symptoms should be provided during disease progression through the end of life.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the related symptoms and to compare symptom severity before and after the implementation of hospice shared care and medical care interventions.

Serum netrin-1 concentrations are associated with clinical outcome in acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Netrin-1 is an axon guidance protein, which can inhibit inflammatory reaction and stabilize the blood-brain barrier to protect against experimental brain injury. We evaluated the concentration of netrin-1 in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients and explored whether netrin-1 is a potential prognostic biomarker for ICH.

Methods: This study recruited a total of 126 ICH patients and 126 healthy controls.

Hand-foot syndrome and its impact on daily activities in breast cancer patients receiving docetaxel-based chemotherapy.

Purpose: Breast cancer patients who undergo docetaxel-based chemotherapy regimens can have hand-foot syndrome (HFS), which negatively impacts their ability to perform daily activities. The purpose of the study was to assess, in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: the perceived levels of HFS-related symptoms of the feet, hands or fingers; and HFS-related restrictions in daily activities; as well as to identify factors associated with these symptoms and restrictions.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined breast cancer patients who received docetaxel-based chemotherapy from the general surgery outpatient department and oncology outpatient department of a medical center in northern Taiwan.

[Driveline Wound Care: Key to the Long-Term Use of Implantable Ventricular Assist Devices].

Heart failure is a complicated chronic disease. Although numerous new medications are used to treat and improve the quality of life of patients with heart failure, the final treatment for terminal heart failure still relies heavily on heart transplants. However, as the number of heart donations is limited, many health institutions implant mechanical assist devices to perform heart functions temporarily.

Factors impacting on discordance with treatment plan in head and neck cancer patients: a retrospective, population-based cohort study.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to identify the factors and reasons impacting discordance with the treatment plan in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and compare the differences between the concordance group and the discordance group.

Methods: This secondary analysis was conducted from population-based data from Taiwan collected from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors related to discordance with the treatment plan.

Symptom clustering in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Aims: To: (a) explore the prevalence of the symptoms perceived by patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus; (b) identify the symptom clusters occurring in patients with childhood-onset Systemic lupus erythematosus; and (c) examine the association of the burden of each symptom cluster with sleep quality and depression.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that may result in patients' perception of various symptoms, with possible negative effects on their quality of life. Understanding the prevalence of symptoms perceived by childhood-onset Systemic lupus erythematosus patients and the disease's symptom clusters may be helpful in managing such burdensome symptoms.

Transforaminal en bloc resection for the treatment of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum: Retrospective cohort study.

Background: Our purpose is to introduce transforaminal en bloc resection for the treatment of thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum, and report outcomes of the procedure.

Patients And Methods: The record of patients with symptomatic thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum who received transforaminal en block resection from October 2010 to September 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes were Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) lower extremity motor dysfunction and sphincter dysfunction scores.

Clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of terminally ill patients undergoing withdrawal of mechanical ventilation.

Background: Withdrawal of mechanical ventilation is an important, but rarely explored issue in Asia during end-of-life care. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of terminally ill patients undergoing withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in Taiwan.

Methods: One-hundred-thirty-five terminally ill patients who had mechanical ventilation withdrawn between 2013 and 2016, from a medical center in Taiwan, were enrolled.

Clinical Factors Associated With Adherence to the Premedication Protocol for Withdrawal of Mechanical Ventilation in Terminally Ill Patients: A 4-Year Experience at a Single Medical Center in Asia.

Purpose: Data on end-of-life care practices in Asia are scarce. This study aimed to analyze the clinical factors associated with the recommended premedication protocol for mechanical ventilation withdrawal, in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 135 terminally ill patients who had mechanical ventilation withdrawn between 2013 and 2016 from a single medical center in Taiwan were enrolled.

Colorectal cancer in Taiwan: A case-control retrospective analysis of the impact of a case management programme on refusal and discontinuation of treatment.

Aims: The purposes of this study were to identify the impact of a case management programme on the related factors of refusing treatment or discontinuing treatment in Taiwanese colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Side effects of anti-cancer treatments are associated with refusing treatment and discontinuing treatment.

Design: This case-control study, longitudinal database and secondary analysis of population-based data was conducted from 2009-2012.

Older age impacts on survival outcome in patients receiving curative surgery for solid cancer.

Background: Given the global increase in aging populations and cancer incidence, understanding the influence of age on postoperative outcome after cancer surgery is imperative. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of age on survival outcome in solid cancer patients receiving curative surgery.

Methods: A total of 37,288 patients receiving curative surgeries for solid cancers between 2007 and 2012 at four affiliated Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were included in the study.

Health-related quality of life and satisfaction with case management in cancer survivors.

Aims And Objectives: To (i) investigate the characteristics of health-related quality of life and satisfaction with case management and (ii) to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life in cancer survivors.

Background: The level of health-related quality of life can reflect treatment efficacy and satisfaction with cancer care.

Design: A cross-sectional study design was adopted.

Comparison of Allograft and Autograft in Lumbar Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Unlabelled: Purpose/Aim of the study: The purpose of this analysis was to compare the clinical outcomes of vertebral fusion with allograft versus autograft bone.

Materials And Methods: Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched until July 27, 2015 using the keywords: lumbar vertebrae, surgery, spondylolisthesis, bone transplantation, allograft, autograft. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two-arm prospective studies, retrospective studies, and cohort studies comparing the results of autograft and allograft in patients receiving lumbar spinal fusion.

Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy Versus Conventional Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy in Obese Patients.

Objective: To compare the operative outcomes of obese patients undergoing laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy or standard laparoscopic (LAP) retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy.

Methods: Between September 2011 and April 2015, 51 obese patients underwent LESS retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy and their operative outcomes were compared with 65 obese patients who underwent standard retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy by the same surgeon. In the LESS group, a single-port access was positioned in the lumbar incision.

Topiramate attenuates early brain injury following subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats via duplex protection against inflammation and neuronal cell death.

Early brain injury (EBI) following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) insults contributes to the poor prognosis and high mortality observed in SAH patients. Topiramate (TPM) is a novel, broad-spectrum, antiepileptic drug with a reported protective effect against several brain injuries. The current study aimed to investigate the potential of TPM for neuroprotection against EBI after SAH and the possible dose-dependency of this effect.

The effect of abdominal massage in reducing malignant ascites symptoms.

As many as 50% of end-stage cancer patients will develop ascites and associated symptoms, including pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, loss of appetite, dyspnea, perceived abdominal bloating, and immobility. Abdominal massage may stimulate lymph return to the venous system and reduce ascites-related symptoms. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of abdominal massage in reducing these symptoms and reducing ascites itself as reflected in body weight.

Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic surgery for far lateral lumbar intervertebral disk herniation.

Far lateral lumbar intervertebral disk herniation (FLLIDH) most commonly occurs far lateral to the intervertebral facet at L3-L4 and L4-L5 and accounts for 3.8% of all lumbar disk herniations. Traditional surgery for FLLIDH involves massive surgical trauma, damage to the spinal structure, and instability of the lumbar spine.

Education and psychological support meet the supportive care needs of Taiwanese women three months after surgery for newly diagnosed breast cancer: a non-randomised quasi-experimental study.

Background: Few studies have comprehensively examined the effectiveness of information and psychosocial support on all dimensions of cancer patients' supportive care needs.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of education and psychological support on anxiety, symptom distress, social support, and unmet supportive care needs of Taiwanese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer over 3 months after surgery.

Design: Two-group, non-randomised quasi-experimental design.