Effects of early palliative care intervention on medical resource use among end-of-life patients.

Background: In Taiwan, as the population ages, palliative care services (PCS) have expanded significantly to include comprehensive benefit plans for critically ill individuals, supported by reimbursements from the National Health Insurance program. However, incorporating palliative care into the medical management of these patients presents several challenges. We aim to evaluate the effects of palliative care interventions on medical resources in end-of-life scenarios, to promote earlier palliative care access and provide high-quality healthcare services for patients.

Exploring the association between chronic prostatitis and the risk of herpes zoster in a cohort study in Taiwan.

Objective: The aim of the cohort research was to study the association between chronic prostatitis and the probability of herpes zoster in Taiwan.

Methods: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan, we selected male persons newly diagnosed with chronic prostatitis aged 20-84 years between 2013 and 2020. These male persons were then matched with a non-prostatitis group who did not have a diagnosis of prostatitis by using 1:1 propensity score matching on age and relevant comorbidities.

Association Between Coronary Artery Disease and Herpes Zoster: A Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and herpes zoster represent significant health burdens, and their potential interrelationships remain understudied. This cohort study aimed to address the existing knowledge gap by systematically exploring whether people with CAD are at increased risk for developing herpes zoster.

Methods: Using the 2006-2015 claims data of the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan, we identified participants aged ≥20 years with a new diagnosis of CAD as the CAD group.

Risk of gout flare after medication: prescription symmetry sequence analysis.

Objectives: The research aimed to study the following questions: (1) five well-known gout-related medications were selected to test the validity of the prescription symmetry sequence analysis in Taiwan; (2) four exploratory medications were selected to test their relation to gout flares.

Methods: We utilized the 2003-2017 dataset of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program containing all claims data with 2 million beneficiaries as a data source. In order to explore the temporal association, we designed a scenario of medication-induced gout flares.

Thiazide-associated hyponatremia increases the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among elderly Taiwanese patients.

Background: Thiazide-associated hyponatremia (TAH) has been supposed to increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the elderly. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association of TAH with the risk of MACE in elderly Taiwanese patients.

Methods: Data from the longitudinal generation tracking database (LGTD 2010) of the Health and Welfare Data Science Center (HWDC) were retrospectively assessed.

Risk of Cervical Dizziness in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis.

Importance: The dizziness associated with cervical spondylosis is a controversial topic given that many experts believe that cervical spondylosis is a common cause of dizziness, whereas others do not believe it exists.

Objective: To compare the risk of dizziness between patients with cervical spondylosis and matched controls (ie, patients with lumbar spondylosis after propensity score matching [PSM]).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study used medical claims data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan for patients 60 years or older with cervical or lumbar spondylosis newly diagnosed in any outpatient department between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015.

Survival outcomes of beta-blocker usage in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Clinical trials investigating the effects of beta-blockers (BBs) on cancer are underway. Evidence from preclinical research suggests that BBs could serve as anticancer agents and immune boosters. There is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of BB use on clinical outcomes in patients with breast cancer.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors use and the risk of gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the relationship between use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and the risk of gout among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A systemic review and meta-analysis were designed by reviewing articles published between 2000 January 1 and 2022 December 31 using PubMed system and Web of Science system based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The end point of interest was gout (including gout flares, gout events, starting uric-acid lowering therapy and starting anti-gout drugs use) among patients with T2DM using SGLT2i versus not using SGLT2i.

Clinical impact of tetracyclines and/or proton pump inhibitors on the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: This retrospective cohort study examined the impact of tetracyclines (TCs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) alone or in combination on the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Patients with NSCLC treated with gefitinib or erlotinib for at least 1 week between January 2009 and October 2021 were enrolled and divided into four groups based on the presence/absence of TC and/or PPI in the therapeutic regimen: TC-/PPI-, TC + /PPI-, TC-/PPI + , TC + /PPI + . Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively.

The risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease associated with benzbromarone use in gout people: A retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Epidemiological studies have shown that people having hyperuricemia are at increased risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. This research aimed to study the relation of ischemic cerebrovascular disease with benzbromarone use among persons with gout-related disorders. This was a retrospective cohort design utilizing a 2003 to 2015 national health insurance database in Taiwan.

Worsening Rhinosinusitis as a Prognostic Factor for Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study.

Rhinosinusitis is common in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Our study aimed to explore the role of rhinosinusitis severity in NPC prognosis. Medical records and radiologic examinations of 90 patients with NPC at a single medical center from 2009−2016 were retrospectively analyzed.

Vestibular paroxysmia: Long-term clinical outcome after treatment.

Objective: To study the long-term treatment outcome of vestibular paroxysmia (VP).

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral hospital.

Allopurinol Use and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.

Objective: To assess whether there is a relation between allopurinol use and the probability of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in persons with gout and/or hyperuricemia.

Methods: According to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a meta-analysis was performed by searching literature published from 2000 to 2021 in two electronic databases (Ebscohost and PubMed). The end point was set as a new diagnosis ofT2DM between people with the use of allopurinol and people with non-use of allopurinol.

Automated nystagmus detection: Accuracy of slow-phase and quick-phase algorithms to determine the presence of nystagmus.

Purpose: To verify the accuracy of automated nystagmus detection algorithms.

Method: Video-oculography (VOG) plots were analyzed from consecutive patients with dizziness presenting to a neurology clinic. Data were recorded for 30 s in upright position with fixation block.

Comparison of Shunt Outcomes for Nonbacterial Infection Hydrocephalus with Common Hydrocephalus Etiologies: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Background: Shunting is an established treatment for hydrocephalus, yet reports on shunt outcomes for nonbacterial infection (NBI) hydrocephalus are limited. Furthermore, comparison of mechanisms and rates of failure for shunted NBI hydrocephalus versus more typical etiologies remains undetermined.

Methods: Patients who underwent shunting for hydrocephalus at 2 centers (1995-2020) were included.

A meta-analysis of allopurinol therapy and the risk of prostate cancer.

Objective:: The aim of the study was to investigate the risk of prostate cancer among people with gout and/or hyperuricemia who used allopurinol and who did not use allopurinol.

Methods:: We conducted a meta-analysis to identify the cohort and case-control studies by searching PubMed and Web of Science. We used the random-effects model to calculate the pooled risk ratio with 95% confidence interval for the risk of prostate cancer associated with allopurinol treatment.

Appendicular Fracture and Polytrauma Correlate with Outcome of Spinal Cord Injury: A Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Spinal Cord Injury Study.

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) frequently occur in combination with other major organ injuries, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and injuries to the chest, abdomen, and musculoskeletal system (e.g., extremity, pelvic, and spine fractures).

A Head-To-Head Comparison of Benzbromarone and Allopurinol on the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in People With Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia.

The study aimed to thoroughly address the influence of benzbromarone and allopurinol on the risk of the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in people with asymptomatic hyperuricemia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the 2000-2015 national dataset containing all claims data of 23 million beneficiaries in Taiwan. Subjects who already had diabetes mellitus, gout-related diseases, and any cancer prior to the index date were excluded.