The Induced Membrane Technique for the Management of Segmental Tibial Defect or Nonunion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To identify the predicting factors for union and infection after applying the induced membrane technique (IMT) for segmental tibial defects.

Methods: A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines. All databases were searched for articles published between January 2000 and February 2018 using the keywords "Masquelet technique" and "induced membrane technique.

Development of a prediction model for breast cancer based on the national cancer registry in Taiwan.

Background: This study aimed to develop a prognostic model to predict the breast cancer-specific survival and overall survival for breast cancer patients in Asia and to demonstrate a significant difference in clinical outcomes between Asian and non-Asian patients.

Methods: We developed our prognostic models by applying a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model to Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) data. A data-splitting strategy was used for internal validation, and a multivariable fractional polynomial approach was adopted for prognostic continuous variables.

Risk of hepatitis C virus related hepatocellular carcinoma between subjects with spontaneous and treatment-induced viral clearance.

Background/aims: Both spontaneous hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance and the achievement of sustained virological response (SVR) by anti-viral therapy greatly reduce the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current study aimed to compare the risk of HCC between the two patient groupsMethods: A total of 313 subjects with spontaneous HCV clearance (SC) and 564 age- and sex-matched patients in the treatment-induced SVR group were enrolled for analysis.

Results: Nineteen (2.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection and the risk for diabetes: a community-based prospective study.

Background: The association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the occurrence of type II diabetes remains controversial. Prospective studies are needed to assess its causal temporality.

Methods: A cohort of 21 559 adults enrolled from seven townships in Taiwan during 1991-1992 and followed till the end of 2010.

Polymorphisms near the IFNL3 Gene Associated with HCV RNA Spontaneous Clearance and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk.

The aims of this study were to investigate associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the genes IFNL2, IFNL3, and IFNL4 and spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to evaluate variants for their risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among subjects in whom spontaneous HCV RNA clearance did not occur. In the first study, 889 untreated anti-HCV-seropositive patients without HCC symptoms were followed from 1991 to 2005. The spontaneous HCV clearance rate was found to be 33.

High Serum Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Levels Predict Outcome in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Sorafenib.

Background: The TGF-β signaling pathway is crucial in the progression and metastasis of malignancies. We investigated whether the serum TGF-β1 level was related to the outcomes of patients treated with sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Experimental Design: We selected patients who had received sorafenib-containing regimens as first-line therapy for advanced HCC between 2007 and 2012.

Treatment efficacy differences of sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous disease. We explored whether any specific subgroups of patients may gain more survival benefits from sorafenib as the first-line therapy for advanced HCC.

Methods: PubMed and the Cochrane library were searched for phase III clinical trials that compared sorafenib with other treatments as first-line therapy for advanced HCC.

Clinical characteristics of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients with prolonged survival in the era of anti-angiogenic targeted-therapy.

Background: The prognosis of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poor despite treatment with sorafenib or other anti-angiogenic targeted-therapies. Patients with advanced HCC with prolonged survival may exhibit unique clinical characteristics.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C HCC, who were enrolled in six clinical trials for first-line anti-angiogenic targeted-therapy between May 2005 and December 2010 in a single Institute.

Prognosis of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who failed first-line systemic therapy.

Background & Aims: No approved therapy is available for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who fail first-line therapy. The prognosis of these patients, especially those eligible for clinical trials of second-line therapy, is unclear.

Methods: All patients who participated in clinical trials of first-line systemic therapy for metastatic or locally advanced HCC in a referral center of Taiwan between 2005 and 2011 were included.

Life expectancies and incidence rates of patients under prolonged mechanical ventilation: a population-based study during 1998 to 2007 in Taiwan.

Introduction: The present study examined the median survival, life expectancies, and cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) stratified by different underlying diseases.

Methods: According to the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, there were 8,906,406 individuals who obtained respiratory care during the period from 1997 to 2007. A random sample of this population was performed, and subjects who had continuously undergone mechanical ventilation for longer than 21 days were enrolled in the current study.