Association of meteorological factors and air NO and O concentrations with acute exacerbation of elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We studied the combined effect of air pollutant concentrations and meteorological factors [e.g., temperature and atmospheric pressure (AP)] on the acute exacerbation of coronary obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 277 older patients with COPD (240 men and 37 women; average age, 75.

Association between soil heavy metals and fatty liver disease in men in Taiwan: a cross sectional study.

Objectives: Metabolic factors are major risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease although other factors may also contribute to development of fatty liver disease. We explored the association between exposure to soil heavy metals and prevalence of fatty liver disease.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from patients diagnosed with fatty liver disease in 2014 at the Health Evaluation Centre of Chang-Hua Christian Hospital (n=1137).

Influenza vaccination and the endurance against air pollution among elderly with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: Air pollution, weather condition and influenza are known risk factors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among elderly people. The influenza vaccine (IV) has been shown to reduce major cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was to compare resistance to air pollution and weather factors causing ACS between vaccinated and less-vaccinated elderly people.

Long-term Effects of Hepatitis B Immunization of Infants in Preventing Liver Cancer.

Background & Aims: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increases with age, but protective antibody responses decrease with time after infants are immunized against hepatitis B virus (HBV). We investigated whether immunization of infants against HBV prevents their developing HCC as adults. We also searched for strategies to maximize the cancer-preventive effects.

Use of dual knife for large pedunculated colorectal polyps.

Background: Endoscopic resection of large pedunculated colorectal polyps is technically difficult, especially when the polyps are so large that it is either not possible or too difficult to resect them using a conventional polypectomy snare.

Aim: To facilitate the removal of pedunculated colorectal polyps, we developed a new technique using a combination of a dual knife and preventive hemostatic procedures.

Methods: Nine patients (5 men and 4 women; mean age, 59.

Positive nuclear expression of KLF8 might be correlated with shorter survival in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Krűppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) is important in cell proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell migration, and invasion. Gastric adenocarcinoma is among the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. In this study, the clinicopathologic correlation of KLF8 expression with gastric adenocarcinoma in Taiwan was investigated.

Shared care combined with telecare improves glycemic control of diabetic patients in a rural underserved community.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of shared care combined with telecare in type 2 diabetic patients in an underserved community in Asia.

Research Design And Methods: In total, 95 patients with type 2 diabetes who had a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of >7% were recruited from six community health centers in remote areas in Changhua County, Taiwan. All patients were randomly divided into intervention (shared care combined with telecare) and usual-care groups and followed up for 6 months.

Decreased Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) expression may correlate with poor survival in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) play either anti- or pro-proliferation roles in different human cancers. Here, we investigated the expression of KLF4 in gastric cancers and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and overall survival. KLF4 expression was measured in 118 surgical specimens by immunohistochemical microarray assay.

Helicobacter pylori infection associated with high HbA1c and type 2 diabetes.

Background: Although the association between chronic Helicobacter pylori infection and type 2 diabetes has been suggested, findings have been inconsistent. This study evaluated the association between chronic H. pylori infection and glucose regulation.

Efficacy of copper-silver ionization for controlling fungal colonization in water distribution systems.

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of fungal colonization in water systems and to evaluate the effect of decreasing fungal colonization by a copper-silver ionization system. Environmental samples were collected for fungal culture prospectively during a 1-year period (2011-2012) at the study hospital. A total of 392 water samples were examined from five buildings on March 1, 2011 and February 29, 2012.

Novel use of the tip of a standard diathermic snare for endoscopic submucosal dissection of a large gastric adenomatous polyp.

This case report describes a 63-year-old man initially diagnosed as having a 2.5-cm gastric adenomatous polyp with low-grade dysplasia. In contrast to using conventional knives for endoscopic submucosal dissection, the standard diathermic snare tip was used as an alternative knife for endoscopic submucosal dissection of the lesion with successful en bloc resection.

Decreased mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid and increased oxidative damage in chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To determine whether alteration of the mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) copy number and its oxidative damage index (mtDNA(∆CT)) can be detected by analysis of peripheral blood cells in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients.

Methods: This study enrolled two groups of patients aged 40-60 years: a control group and an HCV-infected group in Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Changhua Christian Hospital. Patients with co-infection with hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus, autoimmune disease, malignant neoplasia, pregnancy, thyroid disease, or alcohol consumption > 40 g/d were excluded.

Pyogenic liver abscess and colorectal neoplasia: a case series.

Background: Colorectal neoplasia is occasionally associated with hepatic abscess. To identify cases, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all patients admitted to our hospital for liver abscess from 2004 to 2008.

Methods: Underlying disease was actively sought for all patients.

Oral versus intravenous proton pump inhibitors in preventing re-bleeding for patients with peptic ulcer bleeding after successful endoscopic therapy.

Background: High dose intravenous proton pump inhibitor after endoscopic therapy for peptic ulcer bleeding has been recommended as adjuvant therapy. Whether oral proton pump inhibitor can replace intravenous proton pump inhibitor in this setting is unknown. This study aims to compare the clinical efficacy of oral and intravenous proton pump inhibitor after endoscopic therapy.

Diagnosis and management of jejunoileal diverticular hemorrhage: a decade of experience.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and management of jejunoileal diverticular hemorrhage at Changhua Christian Hospital over the past decade.

Methods: A retrospective study on the clinical features, treatment and outcomes of the patients with jejunoileal diverticular hemorrhage diagnosed from January 2000 to December 2010 was conducted.

Results: Twenty-eight patients (male to female ratio 15:13) were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 73.

Clinical impact of multidetector computed tomography before double-balloon enteroscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical impact of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) before double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) for patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected cases with DBE and MDCT for overt OGIB was conducted from April 2004 to April 2010 at Changhua Christian Hospital. We evaluated the clinical impact of MDCT on the subsequent DBE examinations and the diagnostic yields of both MDCT and DBE respectively.

Use of hemostatic forceps as a preoperative rescue therapy for bleeding peptic ulcers.

Standard endoscopic management of bleeding peptic ulcers includes injection, thermal coagulation, or mechanical clipping. The use of hemostatic forceps has increased with the widespread use of endoscopic submucosal dissection to control bleeding. However, there are few reports on the use of hemostatic forceps to control bleeding peptic ulcers.

Expression of Krűppel-like factor 5 in gastric cancer and its clinical correlation in Taiwan.

Krűppel-like factors (KLFs), highly conserved zinc-finger proteins, play either anti- or pro-proliferation roles in different human cancers through regulating a wide range of genes' expression. Here, we investigated the expression of KLF5 in gastric cancers and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and overall survival rates. In this study, KLF5 expression was measured by an immunohistochemical microarray assay of tissue taken from 76 surgical specimens.

Profound transient thrombocytopenia associated with 90Yttrium microsphere therapy for inoperable hepatoma.

The use of Yttrium microspheres to treat unresectable hepatoma is increasing worldwide. Therapeutically, Yttrium microspheres show promising increases in survival and tumor response, as well as acceptable toxicities. Here, we report on a 67-year-old man with hepatitis C-related advanced-stage hepatoma.

The effect of periodic monitoring and feedback on screening colonoscopy withdrawal times, polyp detection rates, and patient satisfaction scores.

Background: Previous studies showed a correlation between mean withdrawal times during screening colonoscopy and polyp/neoplasia detection rates.

Objectives: To assess the effect of a monitoring and feedback program on withdrawal times, polyp/neoplasia detection rates, and patient satisfaction.

Design: Comparison of retrospective and prospective data.

Association of circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 with hepatocellular carcinoma: one cross-sectional correlation study.

Deregulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several malignancies. This study aimed to investigate the association of changes in circulating IGF-1 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The radioimmunoassay was used to analyze serum IGF-1 levels of 65 HCC patients and 165 healthy subjects.