Identification of ferroptosis-related signature predicting prognosis and therapeutic responses in pancreatic cancer.

Ferroptosis plays a role in tumorigenesis by affecting lipid peroxidation and metabolic pathways; however, its prognostic or therapeutic relevance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed a prognostic ferroptosis-related gene (FRG)-based risk model using cohorts of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), proposing plausible therapeutics. Differentially expressed FRGs between tumors from TCGA-PAAD and normal pancreatic tissues from Genotype-Tissue Expression were analyzed to construct a prognostic risk model using univariate and multivariate Cox regression and LASSO analyses.

Prognostic significance of HS2ST1 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Heparan sulfate 2-O-sulfotransferase 1 (HS2ST1) catalyzes the sulfation of glucuronic acid residues in heparan sulfate proteoglycans, enabling these proteoglycans to interact with numerous ligands within tumor microenvironments. However, the prognostic role of HS2ST1 expression in cancer remains unclear.

Objective: This investigated HS2ST1 expression levels and their prognostic significance in various cancer types, demonstrated the prognostic value of HS2ST1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and identified molecular signatures associated with HS2ST1 expression.

Secular Trends in the Incidence, Prevalence, and Medications for Epilepsy from 2007 to 2015 in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Patients with epilepsy have a higher mortality rate than the general population. Up-to-date estimates of epilepsy incidence, prevalence, and medication use are critical to assist policymaking.

Methods: Using the National Taiwan Insurance Research Database, the standardized incidence and prevalence of epilepsy were estimated in each calendar year from 2007 to 2015.

The impact of hospital, surgeon, and patient characteristics on digit replantation decision: A national population study.

Background: Traumatic finger amputations cause a substantial burden to health care system. The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiology of traumatic finger amputations, the incidence of replantation attempts and to examine the patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics that were associated with replantation attempts.

Methods: We examined 49,469 patients with traumatic digit amputations from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan.

The Impact of Pre-Referral Advanced Diagnostic Testing on Wait Time to See a Hand Surgeon for Common Upper-Extremity Conditions.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the use of pre- and post-referral advanced diagnostic testing among patients with 3 common hand conditions, rates of subsequent tests, and differences in wait time to see a hand surgeon.

Methods: We analyzed a single academic tertiary care center administrative database of encounters from 2006 to 2015 to identify adult patients who were referred to a hand surgeon for 3 conditions (carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS], soft tissue masses [STM], and joint pain [JP]). We recorded patient characteristics, use and timing of diagnostic tests, and wait time for the initial hand surgeon evaluation.

Impact of urate-lowering drugs on the progression and recovery from chronic kidney disease among gout patients.

Background: This study investigates the association between exposure to urate-lowering drugs (ULDs) and progression and recovery from chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We identified 5860 incident gout patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 2012 to 2015. Propensity score (PS)-weighted Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for CKD progression and improvement.

Pathology Evaluation of Reduction Mammaplasty Specimens and Subsequent Diagnosis of Malignant Breast Disease: A Claims-Based Analysis.

Background: This study aimed to measure the use of pathology evaluation of breast specimens among patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty and assess rates of new diagnoses of breast disease and associated cost.

Methods: We analyzed the Truven MarketScan Databases from 2009 to 2015 to identify adult female patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty for macromastia. We recorded patient age, rates of obtaining pathology evaluation, new diagnoses of benign or malignant breast disease after pathology evaluation, and total cost for the surgery encounter.

Increased Risk of Dementia in Patients with Craniofacial Trauma: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: The role of maxillofacial trauma in dementia risk is not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between craniofacial trauma, including facial bone fracture and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and dementia.

Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 501,889 adults who had had ≥1 medical record of craniofacial trauma between 2000 and 2010 and did not have a dementia diagnosis at baseline.

Risk Factors for Undergoing Elective Abdominal Contouring Surgery Shortly After Hospitalization.

Background: Having posthospital syndrome (PHS) at the time of an elective surgery increases the risk of postoperative adverse outcomes. The purpose of this article was to identify incidence and risk factors for having PHS at the time of abdominal contouring surgeries.

Methods: Insurance claims from the Truven MarketScan Databases were used to identify patients who underwent outpatient abdominoplasty, liposuction, or panniculectomy between April 2010 and August 2015.

Temporal relationships between systemic lupus erythematosus and comorbidities.

Objective: To examine the burden of comorbidities prior to and after the diagnosis of SLE and its impact on mortality.

Methods: We identified 1605 incident cases of SLE and 6284 matched controls from the UK primary care. The risks of comorbidities before (prevalence; odds ratios) and after SLE diagnosis (incidence; hazard ratios) and the impact of comorbidities at diagnosis on all-cause mortality were estimated.

Variation in the Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures in the United States: 2010 to 2015.

Background: It remains unknown whether treatment trends for distal radius fracture have changed in light of value-based care initiatives during recent years. The authors aimed to characterize modern practice patterns for distal radius fracture management.

Methods: Truven MarketScan databases from 2009 to 2015 were used to extract demographic characteristics, geographic location, and comorbidities for patients receiving treatment for a distal radius fracture.

Use of Preoperative Mammography During Evaluation for Nononcologic Breast Reduction Surgery.

This population-based study assesses the use of preoperative mammography and subsequent rates of diagnostic tests and breast disease among women undergoing evaluation for macromastia.

Impact of Economic Downturn on the Surgical Volumes of Common Hand Procedures.

Background: Economic conditions affect surgical volumes, particularly for elective procedures. In this study, the authors aimed to identify the effects of the 2008 U.S.

Postoperative Ketorolac in Breast and Body Contouring Procedures: A Nationwide Claims Analysis.

Background: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are useful alternatives to narcotics for analgesia. However, concerns remain regarding their safety. The authors evaluated ketorolac use and complications.

Effect of Posthospital Syndrome on Health Care Utilization After Abdominal Contouring Surgery.

Background: Posthospital syndrome (PHS) is a transient condition after acute hospitalizations when patients are physiologically deconditioned. The objective of this study was to determine if having PHS at the time of abdominal contouring surgery increased the incidence of postoperative adverse medical events.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in the MarketScan Databases who underwent outpatient functional or cosmetic abdominal contouring surgery (ie, abdominoplasty, liposuction, or panniculectomy) from April 2010 to August 2015.

Unplanned Emergency Department Visits within 30 Days of Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Unplanned emergency department visits are often overlooked as an indicator of care quality. The authors' objectives were to (1) determine the rate of 30-day emergency department visits following mastectomy with or without immediate reconstruction, (2) perform a risk analysis of potential factors associated with emergency department return, and (3) assess for potentially preventable visits with a focus on returns for pain.

Methods: Using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data, the authors identified adult women who underwent mastectomy with or without reconstruction.

Graft outcomes following immunosuppressive therapy with different combinations in kidney transplant recipients: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Immunosuppression plays an essential role to overcome immune-related allograft rejection, but it also causes some nephrotoxicity. This study aimed to investigate how the immunosuppressant combinations affect graft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: A nationwide population-based cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database was conducted.

The Effect of Impactful Articles on Clinical Practice in the United States: Corticosteroid Injection for Patients with Lateral Epicondylitis.

Background: Following publication of high-level evidence demonstrating that it is not an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis, a reduction in the corticosteroid injection rate would be expected. The authors aimed to clarify current clinical practice pattern for lateral epicondylitis and identify factors that influence the introduction of evidence into clinical practice.

Methods: In this administrative claims analysis, the authors used 2009 to 2015 Truven MarketScan data to extract claims for corticosteroid injection, physical therapy, platelet-rich plasma injection, and surgery for lateral epicondylitis.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis after Immediate Breast Reconstruction: The Reality of Its Efficacy.

Background: Numerous techniques are used to prevent infection after immediate implant-based breast reconstruction. Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is commonly prescribed to decrease the risk of reconstructive failure, despite conflicting evidence regarding its effectiveness. The authors studied whether postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis decreases the risk of infection-related explantation in the setting of immediate prosthesis-based breast reconstruction.

Hydroxychloroquine and risk of cancer in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome: propensity score matched landmark analysis.

Hydroxychloroquine inhibits systemic inflammation and autophagy and may thus have antineoplastic effects [1]. We investigated the effect of hydroxychloroquine on cancer risk in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome(pSS). We used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database to compare cancer incidence between incident pSS patients with or without at least 6-month hydroxychloroquine use within a 1- or 3-year period.

Nationwide cohort study on the epidemiology and survival outcomes of thyroid cancer.

In the past three decades, the thyroid cancer incidence has surged globally. Herein, the Taiwan National Health Insurance database was used to identify thyroid cancer patients and to estimate the prevalence and incidence of thyroid cancer during 1997-2012. The Taiwan Cancer Registry and the National Death Registry databases were crosslinked to obtain information on the histological subtypes and survival rates.

Cardiovascular disease risk in patients receiving organ transplantation: a national cohort study.

Although organ transplantation is the definitive treatment for end-stage organ failure, the post-transplant outcomes can be substantially influenced by cardiovascular complications. A national cohort study was performed to estimate risks of cardiovascular diseases in those with heart, lung, kidney, and liver transplantation. This cohort study consisted of 5978 solid organ transplantations identified using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database.

Epidemiology of Anaphylactic Shock and its Related Mortality in Hospital Patients in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Anaphylactic shock is potentially life-threatening. However, there is a paucity of data about its incidence and associated mortality, particularly in Asian populations. We aimed to investigate the epidemiology of anaphylactic shock and its related mortality after the hospitalization of patients in the general population of Taiwan.