A rare epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation in small cell lung carcinoma patients.

Aim: Activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are predominantly detected in pulmonary adenocarcinoma and have been reported in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) for decades. This retrospective single-center study aimed to determine the frequency and types of EGFR mutations in SCLC in Taiwan.

Methods: This study comprises a consecutive cohort of 161 patients histologically diagnosed with SCLC between January 1992 and August 2014 at the Department of Pathology in Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.

Histopathologic Findings Associated With Matrix Metalloproteinases Proceeding to Recurrence of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Adolescents.

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is potentially life-threatening, and its recurrence is always a serious problem. Pathological examination provides molecular insights into the pathophysiology of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. To investigate the association of histopathologic features of primary spontaneous pneumothorax with matrix metalloproteinase expression and their relevance to the recurrence.

Survival of Patients with Lung Cancer in the Setting of Liver Cirrhosis: A Multicenter Propensity Score Matching Study.

Purpose: The survival outcome of lung cancer patients with coexisting liver cirrhosis has thus far received limited attention in the literature. In this study, we evaluated whether liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for the survival of patients with lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, propensity-matched study of lung cancer patients with and without liver cirrhosis.

Polygenic Panels Predicting the Susceptibility of Multiple Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancer in Oral Cancer Patients.

Head and neck cancer was closely related with habitual use of cigarette and alcohol. Those cancer patients are susceptible to develop multiple primary tumors (MPTs). In this study, we utilized the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) array (Affymetrix Axion Genome-Wide TWB 2.

Radial artery harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery-Endoscopic or open method? A meta-analysis.

We analyzed the clinical outcomes of open radial artery harvesting (OAH) and endoscopic radial artery harvesting (EAH) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We designed this meta-analysis conducted using Pubmed, Medline, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. Articles with comparisons of OAH and EAH undergoing CABG were included.

Using an incentive spirometer reduces pulmonary complications in patients with traumatic rib fractures: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: An incentive spirometer (IS) is a mechanical device that promotes lung expansion. It is commonly used to prevent postoperative lung atelectasis and decrease pulmonary complications after cardiac, lung, or abdominal surgery. This study explored its effect on lung function and pulmonary complication rates in patients with rib fractures.

Alcohol-metabolizing Enzymes' Gene Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Multiple Head and Neck Cancers.

Multiple primary tumors (MPT), especially in the hypopharynx and esophagus, are challenging in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Alcohol and alcohol-metabolizing genes were reported to be related to upper digestive tract cancers. Here, we investigated whether the genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes (ADH1B, ADH1C, and ALDH2) affected patients' susceptibility to developing MPTs.

Lung cancer outcome in the setting of chronic kidney disease: Does the glomerular filtration estimation formula matter?

Background: The survival outcomes of lung cancer patients with coexisting chronic kidney disease (CKD) reported in the literature have been conflicting. We evaluate whether the survival of lung cancer patients with and without CKD differ significantly using two different formulas.

Methods: A retrospective, multicenter, propensity-matched study of lung cancer patients with and without CKD was conducted.

The Protein Expression of PDL1 Is Highly Correlated with Those of eIF2 and ATF4 in Lung Cancer.

Introduction: The expression of programmed death 1 (PD1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PDL1) can be induced by the interferon (IFN)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. The PD1/PDL1 reverse signaling can activate the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2)/activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) pathway which in turn regulates the expression of IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 7 and IFN. The eIF2/ATF4 pathway is responsible for the integrated stress response (ISR) of unfolded protein response (UPR) which can affect immune cell function in tumor microenvironment.

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in adolescents with primary spontaneous pneumothorax for surgical intervention.

Objective: To determine gene expression profiles associated with bullae formation in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax and to identify candidate genes associated with surgical intervention.

Methods: Twenty-four adolescents with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were enrolled prospectively. A global gene expression analysis of 9 paired lung biopsies (lesion and normal adjacent sites) was performed to identify differentially expressed genes associated with spontaneous pneumothorax.

Initiation of antiplatelet medication after surgical thrombectomy jeopardized arteriovenous graft longevity.

Introduction: The efficacy of antiplatelet agents in preventing thrombosis in newly formed arteriovenous graft (AVG) in hemodialysis (HD) patients has been extensively examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of initiation of antiplatelet medications on preventing AVG thrombosis recurrence after surgical thrombectomy for acute occlusion in HD patients. Whether post-operatively antiplatelet medications have protective effects on the patency or longevity of AVG after surgical thrombectomy in HD patients has not been investigated.

The risk of diabetic renal function impairment in the first decade after diagnosed of diabetes mellitus is correlated with high variability of visit-to-visit systolic and diastolic blood pressure: a case control study.

Background: The variability of visit-to-visit (VVV) in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is proved as a predictor of renal function deterioration in patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the variability in SBP and the magnitude of renal function impairment for normal renal function patients in the first 10-years diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 789 patients who were first diagnosed with diabetes mellitus during 2000-2002 and regularly followed for 10 years with a total of 53,284 clinic visits.

A simple weighted scoring system to guide surgical decision-making in patients with parapneumonic pleural effusion.

Background: The selection of ideal candidates for surgical intervention among patients with parapneumonic pleural effusion remains challenging. In this retrospective study, we sought to identify the main predictors of surgical treatment and devise a simple scoring system to guide surgical decision-making.

Method: Between 2005 and 2014, we identified 276 patients with parapneumonic pleural effusion.

High Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Variability Is Correlated with the Occurrence of Peripheral Arterial Disease in the First Decade following a Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A New Biomarker from Old Measurement.

. To assess whether the visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure (BP) is a risk factor of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) 10 years after diagnosis. .

Effects of Antiplatelet Medication on Arteriovenous Fistula Patency After Surgical Thrombectomy.

Objectives: To study the effect of antiplatelet agents on preventing arteriovenous (AV) fistulae thrombosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients after surgical thrombectomy (ST) for acute AV fistulae occlusion. Whether post-operative antiplatelet drugs have similar effects on the patency of AV fistula after surgical thrombectomy in patients with end-stage renal disease who undergo HD has not been investigated.

Design, Materials And Methods: We employed the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 1999 to 2010 to assess the recurrent occlusion requiring ST and longevity of AV fistula after ST in 1049 patients on regular HD, with or without antiplatelet drugs.

Electrocautery device does not provide adequate pulmonary vessel sealing in transumbilical anatomic pulmonary lobectomy.

Introduction: Safe pulmonary vessel sealing device plays a crucial role in anatomic lung resection. In 2014, we reported high rates of massive bleeding complications during transumbilical lobectomy in a canine model due to difficulty in managing the pulmonary vessel with an endostapler. In this animal survival series, we aimed to evaluate the outcome of pulmonary vessel sealing with an electrocautery device to simplify the transumbilical thoracic surgery.

Transumbilical Thoracoscopy Versus Conventional Thoracoscopy for Lung Wedge Resection: Safety and Efficacy in a Live Canine Model.

Purpose: Transumbilical single-port surgery has been associated with less postoperative pain and offers better cosmetic outcomes than conventional 3-port laparoscopic surgery. This study compares the safety and efficacy of transumbilical thoracoscopy and conventional thoracoscopy for lung wedge resection.

Methods: The animals (n = 16) were randomly assigned to the transumbilical thoracoscopic approach group (n = 8) or conventional thoracoscopic approach group (n = 8).

Long-term outcomes after thoracoscopic resection of stage I and II thymoma: a propensity-matched study.

Purpose: The use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in patients with thymoma remains controversial. We sought to evaluate the perioperative and oncological outcomes after VATS resection for stage I and II thymoma and to compare the outcomes with those obtained after median sternotomy (MST).

Methods: Between 1991 and 2007, a total of 140 patients with stage I and II thymoma underwent surgery at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Factors associated with proceeding to surgical intervention and recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax in adolescent patients.

Unlabelled: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is not uncommon, and its recurrence is often a challenging clinical problem. Surgical management and predisposing factors for the recurrence of PSP, however, have not yet been well elucidated in adolescent patients. The major aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with proceeding to surgical intervention and recurrence of PSP in adolescents.

Bronchoscopic finding determined outcome after chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer patients with airway invasion.

Background: We studied whether the bronchoscopic findings could be help to predict outcome after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with airway invasion by esophageal cancer.

Method: Between 2000 and 2010, we retrospectively investigated esophageal cancer patients with T4 disease due to airway invasion who had received CRT as first line treatment. Airway invasion is defined as infiltration of the tracheobronchial wall or protruded intraluminal growth on bronchoscopy.

Feasibility of transumbilical surgical lung biopsy and pericardial window creation.

Background: To date there are no practical platforms for performing natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in the thoracic cavity. This study evaluates the feasibility of transumbilical thoracosopy for lung biopsy and pericardial window creation.

Methods: Eleven dogs (6 in the nonsurvival group and 5 in the survival group) were used for this study.

Carvedilol treatment after myocardial infarct decreases cardiomyocytic apoptosis in the peri-infarct zone during cardioplegia-induced cardiac arrest.

Objective: In this study, experiments were designed to determine which parts and how carvedilol provided protection of the failed hearts under cardioplegia-induced hypoxia/reperfusion (H/R) insult.

Background: Carvedilol could improve the perioperative and postoperative prognosis of the heart failure patients. The mechanism of carvedilol in prevention of the occurrence of cardiomyocytic apoptosis and preservation of cardiac function had been rarely studied.

Comparison of hemodynamic and inflammatory changes between transoral and transthoracic thoracoscopic surgery.

Background: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopy has been developed for abdominal surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to compare the surgical outcome between a novel transoral approach and a standard transthoracic approach for the thoracic cavity in a canine model.

Methods: Twenty-eight dogs were assigned to transoral (n = 14) or standard thoracoscopy (n = 14).