Rs1347093 regulates microRNA-216/-217 expression and is associated with pancreatic cancer risk.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1347093 shows statistically significant association with lung cancer risk, but there is no further rs1347093 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) effect information. SNP rs1347093 is located in microRNA-216/-217 (miR-216/-217) locus. In addition, miR-216/-217 have pancreas-enriched expressions.

Heterogenous liver parenchymal enhancement in CT is a favorable prognosis of HCC after hepatic resection.

This study aimed to define the role of heterogeneity of liver parenchymal enhancement on computed tomography (CT) in the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatic resection. The medical records of patients with HCCs and who had undergone hepatic resection were retrospectively reviewed. The standard deviation (SD) of three different enhanced CT scan images was used to estimate the heterogeneity of liver parenchymal enhancement: SD of > 5.

The Clinical Dilemma of Esophagogastroduodenoscopy for Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Cardiovascular Disease Patients: A Nationwide-Based Retrospective Study.

Performing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in recently occurring peri-coronary artery disease (CAD) accident settings is always a dilemma. This study used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to identify patients with CAD and gastrointestinal bleeding who had received EGD or not between 2000 and 2013.The final population included in this study was 15,147 individuals, with 3801 individuals having received EGD (study cohort group) and 11,346 individuals not having received EGD (comparison cohort group).

Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Thyroid Cancer Patients Increases the Risk of Long-Term Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Analysis.

(1) Background: The study aimed to investigate the association between radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment and long-term gastrointestinal disorders including ulcers, atrophic gastritis, and secondary malignant neoplasm of the stomach in patients with thyroid cancer. (2) Methods: The data of the study were extracted from the National Health Insurance Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan between 2000 to 2015. Patients of ages older than 20 with thyroid cancer after thyroidectomy were included and divided into groups with RAI (study cohort) and without RAI (comparison cohort).

Epidemiological Survey of Different Treatments for Choledocholithiasis in Taiwan: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Analysis.

(1) Background: Open, laparoscopic, and endoscopic choledocholithotomy (OC, LC, and EC, respectively) are accepted choledocholithiasis treatment modalities. However, an assessment of the nationwide trends in their outcomes is lacking. This nationwide population-based analysis evaluated treatment outcomes of choledocholithiasis in Taiwan; (2) Methods: A total of 13,139,306 individuals were randomly enrolled from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) between 2000 to 2013 for cohort analysis.

Impact of endoscopic sedation on gastric polyp detection: A one-center retrospective observational study.

Sedation esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) has become more prevalent in many countries. However, owing to the limitation of health insurance payment for sedation EGD in Taiwan, non-sedation EGD still accounts for the majority of cases. This study was aimed to explore the differences between the sedation and non-sedation groups in terms of endoscopic findings, such as detection rate of gastric polyp of any size, number of detected gastric polyps, and location of the gastric polyps detected.

Clinical outcomes of bortezomib-based therapy in Taiwanese patients with multiple myeloma: A nationwide population-based study and a single-institute analysis.

Purpose: In a retrospective cohort study, we report the current epidemiology of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and analyze the real-world clinical outcomes of bortezomib-based therapy.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was mainly designed to evaluate the characteristics, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors of patients with MM who received bortezomib-based therapy. We identified 5,726 patients in Taiwan with MM newly diagnosed between 2007 and 2015.

Impact of hemodialysis on the prognosis of multiple myeloma: A nationwide population-based study and single-institute analysis.

Myeloma-associated kidney disease (MRKD) occurs in ≤40% patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The impact of hemodialysis (HD) on patients with MM was investigated. Between 2000 and 2010, a total of 1,610 patients in Taiwan were enrolled from the National Health Institute Research Database.

Exploring the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and pancreatic cancer by computed tomographic survey.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose in an early stage, and has the highest mortality of all types of cancer. Obesity, high body mass index, and increased abdominal girth are established risk factors. Some studies have postulated that there is a correlation between organ steatosis and pancreatic cancer.