The potential benefits of extra screening for glycated haemoglobin, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on donor health management and retention.

Background And Objectives: An extra health screening, including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was initiated for regular donors aged over 40 in Taiwan in November 2015. This study aimed to determine its benefits on donor health management and retention.

Materials And Methods: A stratified random mail survey was conducted among donors who received HbA1c, TC and LDL-C screening between November 2015 and June 2017 to investigate their awareness of the screening, medical histories and post-screening behaviours.

Projected Time for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Under Various Intervention Scenarios: Age-Period-Cohort Macrosimulation Study.

Background: The World Health Organization aims for the global elimination of cervical cancer, necessitating modeling studies to forecast long-term outcomes.

Objective: This paper introduces a macrosimulation framework using age-period-cohort modeling and population attributable fractions to predict the timeline for eliminating cervical cancer in Taiwan.

Methods: Data for cervical cancer cases from 1997 to 2016 were obtained from the Taiwan Cancer Registry.

Insights into the diversity of blood donation practice across Asia: How blood collection agencies adapt donor criteria and processes to their population.

Background And Objectives: Securing an adequate blood supply relies on accurate knowledge of blood donors and donation practices. As published evidence on Asian populations is sparse, this study aims to gather up-to-date information on blood donors and donation practices in Asia to assist planning and strategy development.

Materials And Methods: Ten blood collection agencies (BCAs) provided 12 months' data on donors who met eligibility criteria or were deferred, as well as details of their donation practices.

Detrimental effects of fresh frozen plasma transfusions on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Perioperative fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is commonly transfused to patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its impacts in this population remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association of perioperative FFP transfusion with short-term and long-term outcomes in these patients.

Methods: We retrospectively identified and retrieved clinical data for HCC patients undergoing liver resection between March, 2007 and December, 2016.

Dengue Virus Ribonucleic Acid Detection Rates in Blood Donors Correlate With Local Infection Incidences During a Dengue Outbreak in Taiwan.

Background: Evidence for mitigation of transfusion-transmitted dengue informed by surveillance data is lacking. In this study, we evaluated the risk of positive dengue viral (DENV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) from blood transfusions during a large outbreak in Taiwan.

Methods: Serum collected from blood donors living in districts experiencing the dengue epidemic were tested for DENV RNA using a qualitative transcription-mediated nucleic acid amplification assay (TMA).

An imbalance in blood collection and demand is anticipated to occur in the near future in Taiwan.

Due to excessive clinical blood usage and a rapidly aging population, an impending blood shortage in Taiwan is inevitable. This study aimed to determine the potential blood deficit in Taiwan in 2030. The numbers of units of whole blood (WB) donated and red blood cells (RBC) transfused will increase from 1,182,973 to 1,115,803 in 2018 to 1,230,500 and 1,250,760 in 2030, respectively.

Secular Trends and Geographic Maps of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among 4 Million Blood Donors in Taiwan from 1999 to 2017.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan was approximately 4% a decade ago, much higher than the worldwide average. This study aimed to assess the HCV burden among 4 million voluntary blood donors after 2 decades of prevention and treatment policies. We retrieved screening results for anti-HCV and HCV RNA from the Database for Evaluating Voluntary Taiwanese Eligible Donors.

Secular trends in the distribution of allogeneic blood components in Taiwan.

Recent blood distribution profiles for transfusions in Taiwan have not been comprehensively documented. This study aimed to analyze trends in red blood cell (RBC), platelet, and plasma distribution rates, and compares these profiles with those in other countries. The distribution rates of RBC, platelets, and plasma in Taiwan during 2015 were 47.

Risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or invasive cancers in ASCUS women with different management: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the progression risk of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) with different clinical managements.

Methods: Women with their first diagnosis of ASCUS cytology were retrieved from the national cervical cancer screening database and linked to the national health insurance research database to identify the management of these women. The incidences of developing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 and invasive cervical cancer (CIN3+) were calculated, and the hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Clinical management and risk reduction in women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion cytology: A population-based cohort study.

We analyzed the management and risk of subsequent cervical intraepithelial neoplasm 3 (CIN3) and invasive cervical cancer in women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) cytology. A total of 53,293 women with a new diagnosis of cytologic LSIL were identified in Taiwan's national cervical screening registration database. Based on the retrieved clinical management data, the incidence of subsequent CIN3+ lesions was determined, and the hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Survival benefit of patients with early-stage ovarian carcinoma treated with paclitaxel chemotherapeutic regimens.

Objective: Adjuvant chemotherapy was introduced in patients with early-stage ovarian cancer (OC). The benefit of standard chemotherapeutic regimens including taxane has not been established.

Methods: Patients with early-stage OC from the National Health Insurance Research database of Taiwan who received platinum plus cyclophosphamide (CP) or platinum plus paclitaxel (PT) for 3-6 cycles were recruited, and the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined.

Risk Factors of Hypersensitivity to Carboplatin in Patients with Gynecologic Malignancies.

We evaluated the prevalence of and risk factors for hypersensitivity reactions related to carboplatin, which is commonly used to treat gynecological malignancies. All women with pathologically documented ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer treated with carboplatin alone or a carboplatin-based combination chemotherapy regimen at a single hospital between January 2006 and December 2013 were retrospectively recruited. We analyzed the incidence, characteristics, risk factors, management, and outcomes of carboplatin-related hypersensitivity reactions among these patients.

Screening frequency and histologic type influence the efficacy of cervical cancer screening: A nationwide cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of age, screening interval, and histologic type on the effect of Pap smears in cervical cancer screening.

Materials And Methods: Data were retrieved from the Taiwan National Cancer Registry and Cervical Cancer Screening Registration System for the period from 2002 to 2010. Age, Pap smear interval, FIGO stage, and histology were further analyzed.

Clinical performance of multiplex high-risk e6 mrna expression in comparison with hpv dna subtypes for the identification of women at risk of cervical cancer.

We compared multiplex E6 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) tests using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA subtypes using a MY11/GP6+ PCR-based reverse-blot assay to identify cervical intraepithelial neoplasias of grade 2 or worse (CIN2+). In total, 684 women were studied, of whom 377 (55%) were diagnosed with CIN2+ histologically. The specificity of HPV mRNA to predict histological CIN2+ was higher than that of HPV DNA (81.

Screening frequency and atypical cells and the prediction of cervical cancer risk.

Objective: To evaluate the screening efficacy and importance of atypical squamous cells and atypical glandular cells in predicting subsequent cervical cancer risk.

Methods: This national cohort study in Taiwan analyzed associations between Pap test screening frequency and findings in 1995-2000 and subsequent risk of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma after 2002. Women aged 30 years or older in 1995 without a cervical cancer history were included.

Fusion protein vaccines targeting two tumor antigens generate synergistic anti-tumor effects.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been consistently implicated in causing several kinds of malignancies, and two HPV oncogenes, E6 and E7, represent two potential target antigens for cancer vaccines. We developed two fusion protein vaccines, PE(ΔIII)/E6 and PE(ΔIII)/E7 by targeting these two tumor antigens to test whether a combination of two fusion proteins can generate more potent anti-tumor effects than a single fusion protein.

Materials And Methods: In vivo antitumor effects including preventive, therapeutic, and antibody depletion experiments were performed.