Neurobehavioral disorders among children born to mothers exposed to illicit substances during pregnancy.

Background: Exposure to illicit substances during pregnancy may have long-term impacts on children's neurodevelopment. This study explores subsequent risks for intellectual disability, autistic disorders, and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in children born to mothers exposed to illicit substances before or during pregnancy.

Methods: We identified women with illicit drug use by linking the police records from the "Substance Abuse Control Databases" and Taiwan Birth Registration and Birth Notification records from 2004 to 2014.

Substance use before or during pregnancy and the risk of child mortality, perinatal morbidities and congenital anomalies.

Aims: We aimed to investigate child mortality, perinatal morbidities and congenital anomalies born by women with substance misuse during or before pregnancy (DP or BP).

Methods: Taiwan Birth Registration from 2004 to 2014 linking Integrated Illicit Drug Databases used to include substance misuse participates. Children born by mothers convicted of substance misuse DP or BP were the substance-exposed cohort.

A dosimetric analysis of rectal hydrogel spacer use in patients with recurrent prostate cancer undergoing salvage high-dose-rate brachytherapy.

Purpose: We hypothesize rectal hydrogel spacer (RHS) improves rectal dosimetry in patients undergoing salvage high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) for intact, recurrent prostate cancer (PC).

Methods And Materials: A prospectively collected institutional database was queried for recurrent PC patients treated with salvage HDR-BT from September 2015 to November 2021. Patients were offered RHS beginning June 2019.

A global spatial analysis of factors associated with case and mortality rates for coronavirus disease 2019 during the first year of the pandemic.

Background: A increasing number of studies have revealed associations between country-level determinants and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. This ecological study was conducted to analyze country-level parameters related to COVID-19 infections and deaths during the first year of the pandemic.

Methods: The examined predictors comprised demographics, economic factors, disease prevalence and healthcare system status, and the relevant data were obtained from public databases.

Factors Associated with Reconstruction Failure and Major Complications After Postmastectomy Radiation to a Reconstructed Breast.

Purpose: Postmastectomy radiation therapy is known to increase risk of complications in the reconstruction setting. We aim to identify the variables associated with reconstruction failure and other major complications.

Methods And Materials: A prospectively collected institutional database was queried for patients with up to stage IIIC breast cancer treated from 2000 to 2017, undergoing mastectomy, immediate implant or autologous tissue reconstruction, and radiation to the reconstructed breast within 1 year of surgery.

Osteoradionecrosis rate in oropharynx cancer treated with dose volume histogram based constraints.

Objectives: Mandibular dose constraints are designed to limit high dose to small volumes to avoid osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Based upon a published experience, intermediate-dose constraints were introduced but have not been independently validated. We hypothesize that these constraints lower ORN rate without compromising other organs at risk (OAR).

Pathogenesis and Amelioration of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis.

Oral mucositis (OM) causes significant detriment to patient quality of life. Despite advances in RT, chemotherapy, and surgery for HNC which have led to improved local control and survival, management of certain toxicities such as OM have not kept pace. Numerous strategies have emerged with demonstrable benefit in preventing severe OM.

Adverse Events Reported by Patients With Cancer After Administration of a 2-Dose mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine.

Background: Most safety and efficacy trials of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines excluded patients with cancer, yet these patients are more likely than healthy individuals to contract SARS-CoV-2 and more likely to become seriously ill after infection. Our objective was to record short-term adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with cancer, to compare the magnitude and duration of these reactions with those of patients without cancer, and to determine whether adverse reactions are related to active cancer therapy.

Patients And Methods: A prospective, single-institution observational study was performed at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Strategies for supplying face masks to the population of Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The use of face masks has become ubiquitous in Taiwan during the early COVID-19 pandemic. A name-based rationing system was established to enable the population of Taiwan to purchase face masks. This study is to assess the extent and fairness of face mask supply to the public in Taiwan.

Diltiazem Does Not Prevent Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Thoracoscopic Lobectomy.

Objective: Thoracoscopic lobectomy is associated with lower rates of adverse events compared to thoracotomy. Despite this, postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in at least 10% of patients. Our objective is to determine if prophylaxis with diltiazem significantly reduced POAF events.

Exploring prior diseases associated with pancreatic cancer.

Background Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the most deadly forms of cancer; however, the risk factors of PC have yet to be sufficiently identified. In the present study, we sought to screen all prior diseases associated with PC incidence concurrently and construct pathways for the diseases. Materials and methods This total population-based case-control study used data collected from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database for the period covering 1997-2013.

Methylphenidate and TBI in ADHD and co-occurring epilepsy and mental disorders: a self-controlled case series study.

It is suggested that medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) links to lower risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Little is known about whether the beneficial effect of methylphenidate is persistent in individuals with other comorbid mental disorders and epilepsy. We identified 90,634 participants who were less than 18 years old and diagnosed with ADHD from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2013.

Prison sentencing increases the risk of unemployment among illegal heroin users in Taiwan.

Background: Previous studies have rarely explored the effect of type of sentencing on employment status among illegal heroin users, therefore, we aims to examine the association of the sentencing types and employment outcomes among illegal heroin users in Taiwan.

Methods: Participants with illegal heroin use were identified through the national prison register system and deferred prosecution system: 2406 with deferred prosecutions, 4741 with observation and rehabilitation, 15 compulsory rehabilitation and 1958 sentenced to prison in calendar 2011. Logistic regression models were built to estimate the effect of sentencing type on unemployment status at 2 years after release.

Pelvic Reirradiation Utilizing Pulsed Low-dose Rate Radiation Therapy.

Pulsed low-dose rate radiation therapy has been shown to reduce normal tissue damage while decreasing DNA damage repair in tumor cells. In a cohort of patients treated with palliative or definitive pelvic reirradiation using pulsed low-dose rate radiation therapy, we observed substantial local control and low rates of toxicity.

Methylphenidate and the risk of burn injury among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Aims: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with a higher risk of burn injury than in the normal population. Nevertheless, the influence of methylphenidate (MPH) on the risk of burn injury remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study analysed the effect of MPH on the risk of burn injury in children with ADHD.

Methylphenidate and mortality in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: population-based cohort study.

Background: Little is known about methylphenidate (MPH) use and mortality outcomes.

Aims: To investigate the association between MPH use and mortality among children with an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.

Method: This population-based cohort study analysed data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

Association Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Risk of Burn Injury: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study.

Purpose: Literature suggests that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with a high risk of unintentional injury. However, few studies have focused on whether risk of burn injury is relatively high among patients with ADHD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ADHD affects the risk of burn injury.

Relevant Work Factors Associated with Voice Disorders in Early Childhood Teachers: A Comparison between Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers in Yancheng, China.

Early childhood teachers consist of kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the lower grades. Young children at school may increase the vocal load of these teachers. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of voice disorders and the associated factors in early childhood teachers, and to determine if differences exist between kindergarten and elementary school teachers.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Mortality Risk in Taiwan.

Importance: Few studies have investigated levels of mortality in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and findings have been inconsistent and lacking information on specific causes of deaths.

Objective: To investigate the association between ADHD and causes of death in Taiwan.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A nationwide population-based cohort study was conducted using a cross-national Taiwanese registry.

Association of Hearing Loss With Dementia.

Importance: Hearing loss (HL) may be a modifiable risk factor for dementia, and longitudinal studies are needed to examine the association of HL and dementia.

Objective: To investigate the association of HL with incident dementia in Taiwanese adults in the general population.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cohort study collected data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.

Surgical excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, external-beam radiotherapy, or brachytherapy for indolent skin cancer: An international meta-analysis of 58 studies with 21,000 patients.

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the cosmesis and recurrence rates of conventional excision (CE), Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), or brachytherapy (BT), for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Methods: Population, Intervention, Control, Outcome, Study Design (PICOS), Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) methods were used to identify studies on PubMed (from 1985 to 2018), including patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T1-T2N0 basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas and ≥10 months follow-up who received CE, MMS, EBRT, or BT. The primary endpoint was cosmesis, classified as "good," "fair," or "poor.