Preoperative tyrosine kinase inhibitors risks bowel anastomotic healing in patients with advanced primary and recurrent/metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors--- A rose has its thorns.

Background: The combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and surgery has created a paradigm shift for advanced primary and metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). However, the associated surgical morbidity rate is reportedly high, which we hypothesized is attributable to the adverse effects of the previous use of TKIs on bowel anastomosis healing.

Methods: A total of 613 GIST patients with (n = 108) and without (n = 505) preoperative TKI treatment were enrolled.

Butyrate Stimulates Histone H3 Acetylation, 8-Isoprostane Production, RANKL Expression, and Regulated Osteoprotegerin Expression/Secretion in MG-63 Osteoblastic Cells.

Butyric acid as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor is produced by a number of periodontal and root canal microorganisms (such as , , etc.). Butyric acid may affect the biological activities of periodontal/periapical cells such as osteoblasts, periodontal ligament cells, etc.

Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis in Long-Termed Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Background: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare but serious clinical complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with high mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics of patients with EPS and to search for possible factors useful for EPS prevention and early diagnosis.

Method: This retrospective study was performed in a single dialysis center in Taiwan between August 1990 and April 2014.

Prognostic Factors in Adult Patients with Dengue: Developing Risk Scoring Models and Emphasizing Factors Associated with Death ≤7 Days after Illness Onset and ≤3 Days after Presentation.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is a threat to global health. However, information relating to mortality ≤7 days after dengue onset and ≤3 days after presentation is limited. We retrospectively analyzed 1086 adults with dengue during a 12-year period.

Diabetic patients suffering dengue are at risk for development of dengue shock syndrome/severe dengue: Emphasizing the impacts of co-existing comorbidity(ies) and glycemic control on dengue severity.

Background/purpose: The impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) on clinical severity of dengue has not been fully understood. We aimed to assess risk factors for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)/dengue shock syndrome (DSS) and severe dengue (SD) (defined based on the World Health Organization 1997 and 2009 dengue classifications), and additionally identify, among DM2 patients, who are at risk for developing DHF/DSS and severe dengue.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of dengue patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2010.

Phase III study of cisplatin with or without S-1 in patients with stage IVB, recurrent, or persistent cervical cancer.

Background: This open-label phase III trial evaluated efficacy and safety of S-1 plus cisplatin vs. cisplatin alone as first-line chemotherapy in patients with stage IVB, recurrent, or persistent cervical cancer.

Methods: Patients were randomised (1:1) to S-1 plus cisplatin (study group) or cisplatin alone (control group).

MONARCH 3: Abemaciclib As Initial Therapy for Advanced Breast Cancer.

Purpose Abemaciclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitor, demonstrated efficacy as monotherapy and in combination with fulvestrant in women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer previously treated with endocrine therapy. Methods MONARCH 3 is a double-blind, randomized phase III study of abemaciclib or placebo plus a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor in 493 postmenopausal women with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer who had no prior systemic therapy in the advanced setting. Patients received abemaciclib or placebo (150 mg twice daily continuous schedule) plus either 1 mg anastrozole or 2.

Impact of Detection Method and Accompanying Ductal Carcinoma in Situ on Prognosis of T1a,bN0 Breast Cancer.

T1a,bN0 breast cancer is not easily detected. Before mammography became widespread, most cases were discovered only after the development of symptoms. The presence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) affects the detectability of associated invasive cancer; however, the prognostic value of concomitant DCIS is controversial.

Inhibition of osteoporosis by the αvβ3 integrin antagonist of rhodostomin variants.

Integrins are heterodimeric cell surface receptors that mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction. The vitronectin and osteopontin receptor αvβ3 integrin has increased expression levels and is implicated in the adhesion, activation, and migration of osteoclasts on the bone surface as well as osteoclast polarization. αvβ3 integrin plays an important role in osteoclast differentiation and resorption.

The Osteosarcoradionecrosis as an Unfavorable Result Following Head and Neck Tumor Ablation and Microsurgical Reconstruction.

Osteoradionecrosis is preferably called osteosarcoradionecrosis to adequately cover the scope of the problem: multitissue necrosis. The changes following radiotherapy and leading to necrosis are further classified into 2 phases based on improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms. The reversible-damage phase could respond to the medical treatment, while the irreversible damage phase or osteosarcoradionecrosis may benefit from complete resection and free flap reconstruction.

The Critical Role of Early Dengue Surveillance and Limitations of Clinical Reporting - Implications for Non-Endemic Countries.

The increasing dengue burden and epidemic severity worldwide have highlighted the need to improve surveillance. In non-endemic areas such as Taiwan, where outbreaks start mostly with imported cases from Southeast Asia, a closer examination of surveillance dynamics to detect cases early is necessary. To evaluate problems with dengue surveillance and investigate the involvement of different factors at various epidemic stages, we investigated 632 laboratory-confirmed indigenous dengue cases in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan during 2009-2010.

Expression profile of microRNA-200 family in cholangiocarcinoma arising from choledochal cyst.

Background And Aim: The risk of cholangiocarcinoma (cCC) arising from choledochal cyst (CC-CC) is imminent, if the latter not treated appropriately in time. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is considered a critical step for various solid cancers, which is regulated by the microRNA-200 (miR-200) family. The aim of this study was to assess the role of miR-200 family in the pathogenesis of CC-CC.

Utility of C-Reactive Protein Levels for Early Prediction of Dengue Severity in Adults.

Dengue has broad clinical presentation with unpredictable clinical evolution and outcome. We aimed to evaluate the utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels for distinguishing between mild and severe cases in the early phase of the dengue illness. We retrospectively evaluated adults with dengue from 2006 to 2014, according to 1997 and 2009 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for severity.

Mixed serum-deprived and normal adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells against acute lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Background: This study hypothesized that combined serum-deprived (Sd) and healthy (He) adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADMSC) therapy is superior to either alone in reducing acute lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (ALIRI).

Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n = 30) were equally randomized into group 1 (sham control), group 2 (ALIRI + culture medium), group 3 (ALIRI + intravenous autologous 1.2 × 10(6) He-ADMSCs at 30 minute, 6 h, and 24 h following lung ischemia/reperfusion for 45 minutes/72 hours, respectively), group 4 (ALIRI + 1.

Refinement of the myocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of frontonasal fistula defects.

Background: Frontonasal fistulas can lead to life-threatening intracranial infections. Our refinement of the myocutaneous anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap for treating these fistulas is described.

Methods: A retrospective review of the microsurgical treatment of frontonasal fistulas is presented.

Primary surgery versus primary radiation therapy for FIGO stages I-II small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: A retrospective Taiwanese Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

Objective: To evaluate the role of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy in the management of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (SCCC) through a retrospective study of Taiwanese Gynecologic Oncology Group.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records and histological files of 144 patients with FIGO stages IA-IIB SCCC treated in 11 main hospitals in Taiwan from 1987 to 2009.

Results: There were 110 patients receiving primary surgery and 34 primary radiation therapy.

Predictors of underestimation of malignancy after image-guided core needle biopsy diagnosis of flat epithelial atypia or atypical ductal hyperplasia.

Flat epithelial atypia (FEA) and atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) are precursors of breast malignancy. Management of FEA or ADH after image-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate malignancy underestimation rates after FEA or ADH diagnosis using image-guided CNB and to identify clinical characteristics and imaging features associated with malignancy as well as identify cases with low underestimation rates that may be treatable by observation only.

Effect of coexistent carpal tunnel abnormality on sensory conduction findings in polyneuropathy.

Objectives: To investigate the change of pattern of sensory conduction findings in polyneuropathy with coexistent carpal tunnel abnormality (CTAbN).

Methods: We reviewed sensory conduction findings of 46 patients with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) and 66 with diabetic polyneuropathy (DP). Both groups were categorized into those with and without CTAbN according to transcarpal median sensory conduction velocities.

Using pneumo-computerized tomography as a quantitative assessment of result in submucous fibrosis patients treated with surgical release and free flap reconstruction.

Objective: This study investigates the efficacy of oral submucous fibrosis release and free flap reconstruction.

Study Design: Pneumo-computerized tomography (pneumo-CT) was used to evaluate postoperative changes in the buccal vestibular volume during maximum blowing.

Methods: From March 2003 to November 2008, 9 patients underwent 18 microvascular flap reconstructions after oral submucous fibrosis release.

Trend in vancomycin susceptibility and correlation with molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus causing invasive infections in Taiwan: results from the Tigecycline in vitro Surveillance in Taiwan (TIST) study, 2006-2010.

This study was intended to investigate the trend in vancomycin susceptibility and correlation with molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing invasive infections. A total of 670 MRSA isolates were collected from patients with invasive infections as part of bacterial collection in the Tigecycline in vitro Surveillance in Taiwan (TIST) from 2006 to 2010. MICs of the isolates to vancomycin were determined using the agar dilution method.

The association of uremic toxins and inflammation in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients and is associated with chronic inflammation. Elevation of uremic toxins, particular protein-bound uremic toxins, is a possible cause of hyper-inflammation in hemodialysis patients. But the association between uremic toxins and inflammatory markers in hemodialysis is still unclear.

Chronic kidney disease stage is a modulator on the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and coronary vasospastic angina.

The prevalence of coronary vasospasm and also the factors associated with coronary vasospasm in CKD is still unclear. In this cross-sectional study of 859 consecutive CKD patients with angina pectoris received coronary catheterization, we evaluated the factors associated with coronary vasospasm. Patients with vasospasm were older and had higher peripheral blood white cell counts, higher peripheral blood monocyte cell counts, higher haemoglobin levels, higher hs-CRP levels, and lower levels of serum creatinine than patients without vasospasm.

Transgenic mice expressing mutant Pinin exhibit muscular dystrophy, nebulin deficiency and elevated expression of slow-type muscle fiber genes.

Pinin (Pnn) is a nuclear speckle-associated SR-like protein. The N-terminal region of the Pnn protein sequence is highly conserved from mammals to insects, but the C-terminal RS domain-containing region is absent in lower species. The N-terminal coiled-coil domain (CCD) is, therefore, of interest not only from a functional point of view, but also from an evolutionarily standpoint.