Publications by authors named "Yu-chung Wu"
The development of tumors is a highly complex process that entails numerous interactions and intricate relationships between the host immune system and cancer cells. It has been demonstrated in studies that the treatment response of patients can be correlated with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Consequently, the examination of diverse immune profiles within the TME can facilitate the elucidation of tumor development and the development of advantageous models for diagnoses and prognoses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFor exploring the reaction between the hydroxyl groups of lignin and boric acid under the alkaline condition, we study three proposed mechanisms for the formation of the anionic borate diester (ABDE) using the salicyl alcohol anion as the model compound by the density functional theory. ABDE has high flame retardancy and is a potentially practical application of lignin. The catalysis of sodium cation is found to enhance the deprotonation of the water cluster.
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- In Taiwan, a study called TALENT is examining the effectiveness of low-dose CT (LDCT) screening for lung cancer in never-smokers who have other risk factors, as nearly 60% of such patients are diagnosed at advanced stages.
- The study involved 17 medical centers and included individuals aged 55-75 who met specific eligibility criteria, like having never smoked or having a very limited smoking history, and certain risk factors for lung cancer.
- Preliminary results from a 1-year follow-up after the initial LDCT screenings were analyzed, focusing on the detection rates of lung cancer and using various statistical methods to evaluate the outcomes.
Background: Physical activity and daylight exposure predict rest-activity circadian rhythm (RACR) in patients with cancer. However, whether daylight exposure mediates the relationship between physical activity and RACR and the optimal amounts of physical activity and daylight that benefit RACR remain unclear.
Objectives: This study investigated the mediating role of daylight exposure and determined the dose-response relationship among daylight exposure, physical activity, and RACR in patients with cancer.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted on twelve Asian patients with various types of sarcoma who received interval-compressed chemotherapy, alternating between two specific drug regimens (VDC and IE), with support from filgrastim and carboplatin for certain cases.
- The treatment included a total of 129 cycles, with a median interval of 19 days between cycles, and showed that patients had manageable side effects, like neutropenia and low platelet counts, with a notable percentage experiencing fever.
- Out of the nine patients with measurable tumors, seven showed a positive response to the treatment, indicating that this chemotherapy approach is feasible for Asian children and young adults with sarcoma.
Introduction: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and their proliferative ability in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) were not well-investigated. We developed a protocol combining an efficient viable CTC isolation and in-vitro cultivation for the CTC enumeration and proliferation to evaluate their clinical significance.
Method: The peripheral blood of 124 treatment-naïve LUAD patients were processed by a CTC isolation microfluidics, DS platform, followed by in-vitro cultivation.
Background: Although considered one of the most important prognostic factors for lung cancer patients, the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of the newly diagnosed lung cancer population remains scarcely focused on in the literature. Therefore, we aimed to identify the determinants of HRQOL among newly diagnosed lung cancer patients in Taiwan.
Methods: Two hundred and fifty patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer were recruited from a medical center in northern Taiwan through convenience sampling.
Background: Although rest-activity circadian rhythm (RACR) disruption is associated with mortality in patients with cancer, few studies have examined the effect of RACR on patients with esophageal and gastric cancer.
Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of RACR.
Methods: This cross-sectional, single-site study included 276 patients with esophageal and gastric cancer recruited from chest-surgery and general-surgery outpatient departments.
Background: The optimal type of esophagectomy and extent of lymphadenectomy for patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remain controversial. We hypothesized that a more radical resection is associated with better survival.
Methods: Data of patients who received nCRT followed by resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma between 2012 and 2021 were analyzed.
Article Synopsis
- SABR (stereotactic ablative radiotherapy) is the standard treatment for elderly patients with inoperable early-stage lung cancer, especially common among Asians with EGFR mutations.
- A study at Taipei Veterans General Hospital reviewed 71 patients, finding that age (median 80 years) and EGFR mutation status did not significantly impact treatment outcomes or toxicity levels.
- Overall survival rates were high (97.2% at 1 year, 58.3% at 5 years), with only minor side effects observed, confirming that age and mutation status are not major factors in SABR effectiveness.
Lymph node metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, the optimal extent of lymph node dissection is still under debate. We specifically address several controversies regarding lymph node dissection, for example, recurrent laryngeal node lymphadenectomy, cervical lymphadenectomy, and thoracic duct resection, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: In this study, we examined predictors of exercise adherence, contamination and dropout in lung and oesophageal cancer patients who participated in two randomised controlled trials.
Methods: We used data on 188 lung and oesophageal cancer patients from two previous studies (intervention: moderate-intensity walking for 12 weeks). Baseline measurements included demographic variables, disease characteristics, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Bouchard 3-day physical activity (PA) record.
Article Synopsis
- * A study of 27 patients revealed that 16 developed brain metastases, prompting analysis of differences in their primary tumors through DNA and RNA sequencing.
- * RNA sequencing found 390 genes that differentiate brain-metastasizing tumors, and a specific gene expression signature could identify these tumors with high accuracy, indicating potential for developing targeted treatments based on tumor analysis.
International guidelines do not recommend surgery for the first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP), except in cases of persistent air leak, hemopneumothorax, bilateral pneumothorax, or occupations at risk. However, these recommendations have been challenged because of a significant reduction in the recurrence rate in emerging studies. We evaluated the rationale of recommendations by systematically reviewing RCTs and observational studies by using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Esophageal cancer patients experience severe symptoms and poor quality of life.
Objective: We examined the effects of a rehabilitation program on quality of life, sleep, rest-activity rhythms, anxiety, and depression of esophageal cancer patients.
Methods: Forty-four patients with esophageal cancer were randomly assigned to an experimental group, which underwent a 12-week brisk walking and diet education program, or a control group, which received standard care.
Background: The treatment for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often involves multi-modality treatment. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate whether multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion results in better patient survival.
Materials And Methods: MDT discussion was optional before February 2016 and was actively encouraged by the MDT committee beginning February 2016.
Article Synopsis
- Nicotine from tobacco smoke is known to cause cancer, particularly lung cancer, but the rise in lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) cases among non-smokers is not well understood.
- Research shows that low-dose nicotine can promote LAC growth both in lab experiments and in living organisms, with a significant focus on the α5-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α5-nAChR) found abundantly in LAC cell lines.
- High levels of α5-nAChR in LAC tumors are linked to poor survival rates, suggesting that environmental smoke's impact, even at low doses, may play a role in LAC progression through its interaction with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR
Background: Taiwan has witnessed a surge in the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), of which 40-60% metastasize. Continuous updating of cytoreductive strategies in metastatic CRC (mCRC) has contributed to median overall survival reaching 40 months. In this changing scenario, to standardize the approaches across Taiwan, a group of experts from the Taiwan Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (TSCRS) convened to establish evidence- and opinion-based recommendations for defining the criteria of "resectability" in mCRC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer, and pre-operative biopsy plays an important role to determine its major subtypes. As proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), American Thoracic Society (ATS), and European Respiratory Society (ERS) in 2011, the predominant histological subtype of adenocarcinoma is an indicator of outcomes and recurrence rate. However, the value of CT-guided core biopsy in predicting the predominant subtype and detecting the presence of an aggressive subtype of adenocarcinoma, peripheral sub-solid nodule, has less been discussed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lobectomy plus lymph node dissection is the standard treatment of early-stage lung cancer, but the low lymph node metastasis rate with ground-glass opacity (GGO) makes surgeons not perform lymphadenectomy. This study aimed to re-evaluate the lymph node metastasis rate of GGO to help make a clinical judgment.
Methods: We performed this retrospective study to enroll patients who received lung cancer surgery from 2011 to 2016.
Objectives: An optimal method for preoperative localization of small lung nodules is yet to be established, and there are few comparative studies in the literature. In the present study, we aimed to compare electromagnetic navigation-guided and computed tomography (CT)-guided methods of percutaneous transthoracic localization.
Methods: The clinical, radiographic, surgical and pathological data of patients who underwent electromagnetic navigation-guided localization (EMNGL) and CT-guided localization (CTGL) before uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) were reviewed.
Objective: To explore the relationship of exercise timing (exercising close to bedtime, exercising in daylight and maintaining fixed exercise schedule) with sleep quality, fatigue and rest-activity rhythms among lung cancer patients in Taiwan.
Methods: Results from 43 lung cancer patients who were assigned and adhered to the exercise intervention in a 12-week randomised controlled trial were analysed. The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered.
Background: The role of extracapsular lymph node involvement (ELNI) in esophageal cancer has not been fully investigated. We aim to assess its incidence and prognostic significance in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with and without neoadjuvant treatments.
Methods: Data of patients who underwent esophagectomy for ESCC in a single medical center was retrospectively reviewed.
Background: Thoracoscopic resection of small pulmonary nodules can be challenging, which highlights the importance of preoperative localization. We report our experience with electromagnetic navigation-guided localization.
Methods: The clinical, radiographic, surgical, and pathologic data of patients who underwent electromagnetic navigation-guided preoperative localization for pulmonary tumors smaller than 2 cm were reviewed.
Introduction: Digital thoracic drainage systems are a new technology in minimally invasive thoracic surgery. However, the criteria for chest tube removal in digital thoracic drainage systems have never been evaluated. We aim to investigate the incidence and predictive factors of complications and reinterventions after drainage tube removal in patients with a digital drainage system.
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