Combining serum inflammatory markers and clinical factors to predict survival in metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Despite the revolutionary impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC), the clinical utility of reliable prognostic biomarkers to foresee survival outcomes remains underexplored.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prognostic significance of serum inflammatory markers in mUC patients undergoing ICI therapy.

Design: This is a retrospective, multicenter study.

Hypoalbuminemia is Associated with Higher 90-Day Mortality and Poor Prognosis in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Liver Cirrhosis Receiving Radiotherapy-Based Therapy.

Background: Liver cirrhosis (LC) is common among patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) due to shared etiologic factor, alcohol. For non-metastatic ESCC (nmESCC) patients with cirrhosis, surgery is often contraindicated or associated with high morbidity, therefore radiotherapy-based therapy was commonly applied. This study aims to investigate prognosticators for overall survival (OS) in nmESCC and cirrhotic patients receiving radiotherapy-based therapy.

The impact of preoperative nutritional status on postoperative outcomes: an insight from Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in elderly pancreaticoduodenectomy patients.

Background: Malnutrition is not uncommon among the elderly undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and is related to increased complications. Previous studies have shown that the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) predicts outcomes in various populations. Nevertheless, the research exploring the correlation between GNRI and postoperative outcomes in PD is scarce.

The impact of body mass index on survival endpoints among patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A real-world multicenter analysis.

Background: Studies on the correlation between high body mass index (BMI) and extended survival among patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been made, although findings have shown variability. Our research explored the phenomenon of the "obesity paradox" in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) undergoing treatment with ICIs.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with mUC who received a minimum of one cycle of ICI treatment at two medical centers in Taiwan from September 2015 to January 2023.

Enhancing Spiritual Well-Being, Physical Activity, and Happiness in Hospitalized Older Adult Patients with Swallowing Difficulties: A Comparative Study of Thickeners and Swallowing Exercises.

Swallowing difficulties often occur in older adult patients during acute hospitalization, leading to reduced nutritional intake, increased frailty, and various psychosocial challenges. This randomized controlled study aimed to assess the effects of two interventions, thickeners and swallowing exercises, on the spiritual well-being, physical activity, and happiness of older adult patients with swallowing difficulties during acute hospitalization from October 2019 to August 2020. Sample size calculation was performed using a conservative estimate approach, resulting in an estimate-required sample size of 42 participants.

The Effects of Silver-Releasing Foam Dressings on Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication in diabetic patients and lead to high morbidity and mortality. Numerous dressings have been developed to facilitate wound healing of DFUs. This study investigated the wound healing efficacy of silver-releasing foam dressings versus silver-containing cream in managing outpatients with DFUs.

Long-term outcome and prognostic factors of single-dose Radioiodine Therapy in patients with Graves' disease.

Background/purpose: Few studies exist investigating the effectiveness of radioiodine (RAI) therapy for hyperthyroidism patients in Asia. We herein investigated the real-world efficacy of single-dose RAI therapy in Taiwanese patients with Graves' disease (GD).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 243 patients with GD recorded between 1989 and 2016 in a tertiary referral hospital.

Association between Pro12Ala polymorphism and albuminuria in type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Aims/introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a complication of diabetes mellitus that is characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function, which results in increased levels of albumin in the urine. The Pro12Ala polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 gene has been confirmed to improve insulin sensitivity, but its association with susceptibility to DN in patients with type 2 diabetes remains inconclusive.

Materials And Methods: To examine whether the Pro12Ala polymorphism leads to the development of DN, a case-control study was carried out in 554 patients with type 2 diabetes.

Impact of baseline body mass index status on glucose lowering and weight change during sitagliptin treatment for type 2 diabetics.

Aims: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of sitagliptin in Taiwanese diabetic subjects with different baseline BMI status.

Methods: This was a single-center, hospital-based, retrospective chart review in subjects (n=1874) with type 2 diabetes who received sitagliptin. Subjects were classified into subgroups depending upon their baseline BMI by Taiwan national weight classification: normal (BMI<24kg/m(2)) (n=504), overweight (BMI: 24-27kg/m(2)) (n=615), and obese (BMI⩾27kg/m(2)) (n=755).

Colchicine Significantly Reduces Incident Cancer in Gout Male Patients: A 12-Year Cohort Study.

Patients with gout are more likely to develop most cancers than subjects without gout. Colchicine has been used for the treatment and prevention of gouty arthritis and has been reported to have an anticancer effect in vitro. However, to date no study has evaluated the relationship between colchicine use and incident cancers in patients with gout.

Sleep and breathing in premature infants at 6 months post-natal age.

Background: Poor sleep contributes to the developmental problems seen in preterm infants. We evaluated sleep problems in preterm infants 6 months of post-gestational age using the subjective Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ) and objective sleep tests. We also compared the sleep of premature infants with that of full-term infants.

Decreased gastric motility in type II diabetic patients.

Background: To differentiate gastric motility and sensation between type II diabetic patients and controls and explore different expressions of gastric motility peptides.

Methods: Eleven type II diabetic patients and health volunteers of similar age and body mass index were invited. All underwent transabdominal ultrasound for gastric motility and visual analogue scales.

Type 2 diabetes: an independent risk factor for tuberculosis: a nationwide population-based study.

Objective: Tuberculosis continues to be a major global health problem. We wanted to investigate whether Type 2 diabetes was a risk factor for tuberculosis in an Asian population.

Methods: From Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we collected data from 31,237 female patients with type 2 diabetes and 92,642 female controls and 32,493 male patients with type 2 diabetes and 96,977 male controls.

Clinical Characteristics of Endogenous Cushing's Syndrome at a Medical Center in Southern Taiwan.

From January 1987 to December 2011, over a total of 25 years, 84 patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS) were identified at a medical center in southern Taiwan. We observed a higher incidence of ACTH-independent CS (75%) than ACTH-dependent CS (25%). A higher incidence of adrenocortical adenoma (58.

Adherence to osteoporosis regimens among men and analysis of risk factors of poor compliance: a 2-year analytical review.

Background: To investigate adherence and patient-specific factors associated with poor compliance with osteoporosis regimens among men.

Methods: In this retrospective chart review study, we collected data on male patients with osteoporosis treated in accordance with therapeutic recommendations. Adherence was determined by the compliance and persistence of those patients who had been dispensed an osteoporosis regimen after an index prescription.

Acute blood glucose fluctuations can decrease blood glutathione and adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Glutathione appears to have apparent antioxidant activity to counter regulate hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress. Adiponectin also plays a role in the suppression of the metabolic derangements in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to determine whether blood glucose fluctuations can alter blood levels of glutathione and adiponectin.

Adherence to anti-osteoporotic regimens in a Southern Taiwanese population treated according to guidelines: a hospital-based study.

Aim: This study was designed to investigate adherence to anti-osteoporotic regimens in a population following therapeutic guidelines; and to assess whether this experience differs from that in other administrative surveys.

Methods: We reviewed an outpatient database to retrieve information on prescription of anti-osteoporotic medications at a medical centre in Taiwan from 2001 to 2007. Adherence was determined by compliance and persistence.

The influence of self-monitoring blood glucose frequency on the oscillation of hemoglobin A1c and chronic complications.

Background: A fluctuating blood glucose level is one of the risks of chronic complications in diabetes. Previous studies indicated that hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values apparently improved after initiation of self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG). The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the frequency of SMBG, long-term fluctuatation of HbA1c, and risks of chronic complications in diabetes.

Long-term outcomes of distant metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Background:   The aim of this study was to identify the prognostic factors of long-term survival and optimal therapeutic protocol for patients with distant metastasis secondary to differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).

Methods:   A retrospective review of 1665 patients with DTC treated at a regional tertiary hospital in Taiwan between 1986 and 2010 was performed. Among them, 207 patients were found to have distant metastasis.

Sequential follow-up of serum thyroglobulin and whole body scan in thyroid cancer patients without initial metastasis.

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of whole body scan (WBS) and serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement after thyroxine withdrawal during sequential follow-ups in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Design: Two hundred and sixty-five consecutive DTC patients were enrolled. They were previously treated with near-total thyroidectomy and I-131 remnant ablation, without initial metastases or Tg antibodies.

Orlistat for obesity: benefits beyond weight loss.

Orlistat lowers lipids and improves insulin sensitivity, but its effect on other metabolic syndrome related parameters is not known. To assess its influence on adiponectin, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and other metabolic syndrome related parameters, this study enrolled 106 participants in a weight-reduction program and categorized them into a group of 51 who had been treated with orlistat 360 mg/day for one year and a group of 55 age and sex and body mass index (BMI) matched controls. The orlistat group had greater changes in BMI, % body fat (% BF), waist circumference, and insulin resistance, hs-CRP, leptin and adiponectin levels after one year on the program than the controls.

Bone mineral density in women receiving thyroxine suppressive therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: Most patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma have an excellent prognosis and are likely to live long enough to be subjected to osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the consequences of treatment with a supraphysiological dose of levothyroxine (l-T4) on bone mineral density (BMD) in Taiwanese women with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Methods: A total of 69 (44 premenopausal, 25 postmenopausal) Taiwanese women with differentiated thyroid cancer were included in this retrospective study.

Serum leptin concentrations of patients with sequential thyroid function changes.

Background: Leptin, a recently discovered protein produced in adipocytes, regulates body weight by suppressing food intake and/or increasing energy expenditure. Thyroid hormones, which increase the basal metabolic rate and thermogenesis, have been reported to be one of leptin's regulating factors because alternations in thyroid status might lead to compensatory changes in circulating leptin.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of sequential changes in thyroid function on serum leptin levels.