Prophylactic Versus Reactive Megestrol Acetate Use for Critical Body Weight Loss in Patients with Pharyngeal and Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.

This study compared the effects of megestrol acetate (MA) prophylactic (p-MA) versus reactive (r-MA) use for critical body-weight loss (>5% from baseline) during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with advanced pharyngolaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (PLSCC). Patients receiving CCRT alone in two phase-II trials were included for analyses. Both the p-MA and r-MA cohorts received the same treatment protocol at the same institution, and the critical body-weight loss, survival, and adverse event profiles were compared.

Scaphoid Plate Osteosynthesis in Complex Fractures and Wrist Trauma: A Case Series.

Introduction Treatment of scaphoid fracture is challenging due to its unique blood supply and geometry. Traditionally, a headless compression screw is the standard treatment for unstable scaphoid fracture. Some fractures are complex, for example, comminution with bone loss.

Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Associated with Improved Overall Survival in Resected Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Era.

Background: The prognosis of patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is particularly poor in those who were staged as ypT3/T4 and/or ypN+. This study investigated whether adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was associated with improved clinical outcomes in these patients.

Methods: we identified patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who were staged as ypT3/T4 and/or ypN+ after being treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy between the years 2013 and 2019.

Maintenance tegafur-plus-uracil after adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy may improve outcome for resected oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with extranodal extension.

Objectives: To evaluate whether tegafur-uracil maintenance (UFTm) following postoperation adjuvant cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) may reduce distant metastasis in patients with resected oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with pathologic extranodal extension (pENE+).

Methods: A retrospective comparison was conducted between two cohorts of patients with resected pENE+ OSCC who completed adjuvant CCRT between March 2015 and December 2017, including one cohort of a phase II trial using UFTm and a trial-eligible but off-protocol cohort without using UFTm (non-UFTm) after their adjuvant CCRT. The UFTm trial enrolled patients without relapse within 2 months after the end of adjuvant CCRT and administered UFT 400 mg/day for 1 year.

Simple Stepwise Approach to Differentiate Cyst-Like Soft-Tissue Masses by Using Time-Resolved Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

This retrospective study aimed to differentiate cyst-like musculoskeletal soft-tissue masses by using time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). During May 2015 to November 2019, patients with cyst-like soft-tissue masses examined through contrast-enhanced MRI followed by histologic diagnosis were included. The masses were classified into vascular lesions, solid lesions, and true cysts.

Oestrogen actions contribute to female gender-specific risks in the development of lung carcinoma.

Lung cancer is increasing in incidence particularly among women, associated with a global change in smoking habits. Steroid hormones, particularly oestrogen exert an influence on tumour progression in tissues where their target receptor is expressed. Oestrogen receptor, particularly ERβ is highly expressed in the lung and becomes more highly expressed in lung carcinogenesis.

Review of emerging biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the era of immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Background: Biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) emerge rapidly in recent years, especially for new targeted therapies and immunotherapies.

Methods: Recent, relevant peer-reviewed evidence were critically reviewed and summarized.

Results: This review article briefly introduces essential biomarker concepts, including purposes and classifications (predictive, prognostic, and diagnostic markers), and the phases of biomarker development.

Baseline multicentric tumors, distant recurrences and leptomeningeal dissemination predict poor survival in patients with recurrent glioblastomas receiving bevacizumab.

Purpose: There are no widely accepted MRI markers that predict treatment outcomes of bevacizumab among patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GB). We aimed to determine if conventional MRI features of recurrent GB predict survival of patients receiving bevacizumab.

Methods: Patients with recurrent GB were retrospectively included if they received bevacizumab monotherapy between 2008 and 2017 after failure of standard treatment.

Hand-foot skin reaction predicts treatment outcome of pazopanib in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma: A multicenter study in the Asian population.

Aim: Pazopanib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor used as a standard treatment for chemotherapy-refractory recurrent or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pazopanib for treatment of metastatic soft tissue sarcoma in the Asian population.

Methods: Fifty patients with chemotherapy-refractory recurrent or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma, who had received pazopanib treatment between 2015 and 2016 were enrolled.

Female sex, good performance status, and bevacizumab-induced hypertension associated with survival benefit in Asian patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with bevacizumab.

Aim: The goals of this study were to assess the activity and safety profile of bevacizumab in Taiwan Chinese patients with recurrent glioblastoma, to determine whether their response differed from that reported in other clinical trials, and to examine potential prognostic factors for survival.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients who received bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma between 2012 and 2015. Twelve predefined variables and the outcomes of our cohort were analyzed.

Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula with Pulmonary Hypertension - To Close or Not to Close?

Unlabelled: A 37-year-old female presented to our facility suffering from exertional dyspnea for 2-3 months. Her chest x-ray showed a nodular shadow in the right lower lung, and chest CT revealed a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF). Subsequent echocardiographic examination detected no intra-cardiac shunt but did indicate pulmonary hypertension as evidenced by a tricuspid regurgitation flow velocity of 4.

Accordion Stent Deformation upon Retrieval of a Side-Branch Protective Guidewire.

Unlabelled: In this case we herein report a dangerous complication from primary percutaneous coronary intervention, where an unnoticed loop of the guidewire was inadvertently made around the stent during provisional stenting. Since the guidewire and the stent were entangled, efforts to retrieve the guidewire only exacerbated the problem by compressing the stent like an accordion. We review those factors that may have influenced stent compression in our case, as well as possible ways to avoid it from occurring in the future.

Giant Cell Tumors of the Bone With Pulmonary Metastasis.

Giant cell tumors of the bone are benign but locally aggressive, and they rarely metastasize to the lungs. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the clinical presentation, long-term outcomes, and treatment of pulmonary metastasis of these tumors. Between 1991 and 2004, a total of 168 patients with giant cell tumors of the bone were treated at the authors' institution, 7 of whom developed lung metastasis.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Resected Oral Cavity Cancer and Simultaneous Second Primary Malignancies.

Objectives: Simultaneous second primary tumors (SSPT) are not uncommon in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) living in areas where the habit of betel quid chewing is widespread. We sought to identify the main prognostic factors in OSCC patients with SSPT and incorporate them into a risk stratification scheme.

Methods: A total of 1822 consecutive patients with primary OSCC treated between January 1996 and February 2014 were analyzed for the presence of SSPT.

Biologically inspired band-edge laser action from semiconductor with dipole-forbidden band-gap transition.

A new approach is proposed to light up band-edge stimulated emission arising from a semiconductor with dipole-forbidden band-gap transition. To illustrate our working principle, here we demonstrate the feasibility on the composite of SnO2 nanowires (NWs) and chicken albumen. SnO2 NWs, which merely emit visible defect emission, are observed to generate a strong ultraviolet fluorescence centered at 387 nm assisted by chicken albumen at room temperature.

Modified biweekly oxaliplatin and capecitabine for advanced gastric cancer: a retrospective analysis from a medical center.

Background: We modified 3-week XELOX regimen with oxaliplatin to 85 mg/m 2 on Day 1 and capecitabine 1000 mg/m 2 BID for 10 days every 14 days to be more practical in clinical practice for advanced gastric cancer. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate the safety profile and efficacy of the modified oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) regimen as the first-line treatment for patients with advanced gastric cancer in a medical center in Taiwan.

Methods: From March 2009 to December 2010, among the 614 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer in a medical center, 49 patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with oxaliplatin (85 mg/m 2 ) on Day 1 and capecitabine (1000 mg/m 2 BID) for 10 days every 2 weeks (mXELOX).

Genotoxic Klebsiella pneumoniae in Taiwan.

Background: Colibactin is a nonribosomal peptide-polyketide synthesized by multi-enzyme complexes encoded by the pks gene cluster. Colibactin-producing Escherichia coli have been demonstrated to induce host DNA damage and promote colorectal cancer (CRC) development. In Taiwan, the occurrence of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) has been suggested to correlate with an increasing risk of CRC, and Klebsiella pneumoniae is the predominant PLA pathogen in Taiwan.

Preparation and characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate/polycaprolactone nanocomposites.

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)/polycaprolactone (PCL)/stearate Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites were prepared via solution casting intercalation method. Coprecipitation method was used to prepare the anionic clay Mg-Al LDH from nitrate salt solution. Modification of nitrate anions by stearate anions between the LDH layers via ion exchange reaction.

Cisplatin, tegafur-uracil and leucovorin plus mitomycin C: an acceptably effective and toxic regimen for patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: This prospective phase II clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin, oral tegafur-uracil, leucovorin, and mitomycin C in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: Patients with histologically proven non-keratinizing or undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were prospectively enrolled from April 2002 to June 2005. Cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) on day 1, 22 and mitomycin C 6 mg/m(2) on day 1 were administered.

Geographic differences in outcomes in outpatients with established atherothrombotic disease: results from the REACH Registry.

Aims: There are major differences in the prevalence and management of patients with atherothrombotic disease including coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) across different geographical regions. There is, however, little data allowing comparisons of management and outcomes across broad geographic regions. We aimed to describe geographical differences in baseline characteristics, management and outcomes in stable outpatients with established atherothrombotic disease.

Efficacy of postoperative oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapy after curative resection of synchronous liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Background: Postoperative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy improves survival after resection of synchronous liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRLM). We retrospectively assessed the efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy with a modern regimen containing of oxaliplatin or irinotecan after curative resection of synchronous CRLM.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-two patients who received postoperative chemotherapy following curative resection of synchronous CRLM were analyzed.

Predictive factors for do-not-resuscitate designation among terminally ill cancer patients receiving care from a palliative care consultation service.

Context: Since the development of palliative care in the 1980s, "do not resuscitate" (DNR) has been promoted worldwide to avoid unnecessary resuscitation in terminally ill cancer patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a palliative care consultation service (PCCS) on DNR designation and to identify a subgroup of patients who would potentially benefit from care by the PCCS with respect to DNR designation.

Methods: In total, 2995 terminally ill cancer patients (with a predicted life expectancy of less than six months by clinician estimate) who received care by the PCCS between January 2006 and December 2010 at a single medical center in Taiwan were selected.

Age, male gender, and atrial fibrillation predict lower extremity amputation or revascularization in patients with peripheral artery diseases: a population-based investigation.

By using the National Health Insurance (NHI) claim data of Taiwan, we sought to determine the predictors for nontraumatic lower extremity amputation (LEA) or peripheral revascularization procedures (PRP) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). From the NHI claim data, we identified 12,206 patients with newly diagnosed PAD between 1998 and 2008, and followed them up to 2008. We explored the age, gender, and whether the patients had concomitant comorbid conditions, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, hospitalization for coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), or heart failure (HF), and whether they were taking cilostazol at the time of recruitment.