Cross-Sectional Study to Identify Potential Risk Factors for Eczema within the Common Household Environment in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Much attention has been focused on environmental risk factors and their roles in eczema development. In this regard, the specific eczema risk factors in Taiwan were relatively unknown. As such, this study investigated the common indoor risk factors present in Taiwanese households. AIMS: To discuss the effects of several indoor risk factors on the prevalence of atopic eczema in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study was performed in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, using both survey investigation and fungal culturing. A total of 998 participants were enrolled in the survey, with 513 participants selected for fungal culture. Risks of atopic eczema were calculated as odds ratios for various risk factors using logistic regression. The correlation between potential risk factors and the fungal level was analyzed with linear regression. RESULTS: Pet and house plants have an adjusted odds ratio of 1.434 (95% CL: 1.011-2.033) and 1.820 (95% CL: 1.229-2.696), respectively. Additionally, smoking was shown to possess an odds ratio of 1.461 (95% CL: 1.064-2.006). Wood wall has an adjusted odds ratio of 2.143 (95% CL: 1.235-3.658). Frequent bedroom shower use (ß = 0.254) and hours of opened windows (ß = 0.106) have shown significant positive associations with indoor fungal level. CONCLUSION: Pets, house plants, and smoking were concluded to be major risk factors for atopic eczema. Wood wall remained controversial due to its limited sample size and possible confounders. Bedroom shower and window-opening have been shown to increase mold growth, but the lack of association with eczema suggested other allergens besides mold to be the primary eczema trigger.

Correlation between Novel Potential Indoor Risk Factors and Frequency of Doctor's Visit for Respiratory Problem in Taiwan's Tropical Environment.

BACKGROUND: With a global rising trend in prevalence of allergic diseases, more attention has been paid to investigation of environmental risk factors. Many risk factors have so far been identified. However, novel risk factors specific to Taiwanese environment and lifestyle were still relatively unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential effects of a number of little-known indoor risk factors on the frequency of doctor's visit for respiratory problems in context of Taiwanese environment and lifestyle. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study was performed on a 861 participants around Kaohsiung area, Taiwan. Survey investigation was employed to assess the household environment and the frequency of doctor's visit for respiratory problems. RESULTS: Participants who performed "daily cleaning" was shown to have a significantly (p=0.007) higher mean number of doctor's visits in comparison to those who did not. Similar observation was made for participants who periodically took out beddings (p=0.042). Age had a significant positive correlation (linear regression ß 0.089) with frequency of respiratory problems. CONCLUSION: The habit of daily cleaning was implicated as a potential indoor risk factor due to the unique nature of Taiwanese cleaning habit and close contact with cleaning supplies, which could serve as chemical irritants. Bedding takeout was predicted to be an indicator of chronic allergies rather than an actual risk factor. However, both were controversial in their role as potential indoor risk factor, and required further examination.

A cross-sectional study into the correlation of common household risk factors and allergic rhinitis in Taiwan's tropical environment.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effect of lesser-known potential risk factors, such as bedroom showers, on the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. METHOD: A cross-sectional, population-based study was performed using both survey and fungal culturing in southern Taiwan. There were 998 participants enrolled in the survey, and 513 sets of fungal culture obtained. With score for allergic rhinitis (SFAR) more than 7, the patient was defined to have allergic rhinitis. Risks of allergic rhinitis were calculated as odds ratios for various predicted risk factors by logistic regression. Correlation between predicted risk factors and fungal level were examined with linear regression. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratio of frequently using bedroom shower to having allergic rhinitis was 1.572 (95% confidence interval: 1.090-2.265), and 0.962 for people with older age to have AR (95% confidence interval: 0.949-0.976). As to the 24-hour fungal level, the standardized coefficient was 0.254 for frequent use of bedroom shower, and 0.106 for window open hours. CONCLUSIONS: Use of bedroom shower is a potential risk factor for allergic rhinitis development.

Initial Factors Influencing Duration of Hospital Stay in Adult Patients With Peritonsillar Abscess.

OBJECTIVES: To review cases of peritonsillar abscess and investigate the initial clinical factors that may influence the duration of hospitalization. To determine the predictive factors of prolonged hospital stay in adult patients with peritonsillar abscess. METHODS: Subjects were adults hospitalized with peritonsillar abscess. We retrospectively reviewed 377 medical records from 1990 to 2013 in a tertiary medical center in southern Taiwan. The association between clinical characteristics and the length of hospital stay was analyzed with independent t-test, univariate linear regression and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean duration of hospitalization was 6.2±6.0 days. With univariate linear regression, a prolonged hospital stay was associated with several variables, including female gender, older ages, nonsmoking status, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, band forms in white blood cell (WBC) counts, and lower hemoglobin levels. With multiple linear regression analysis, four independent predictors of hospital stay were noted: years of age (P<0.001), history of diabetes mellitus (P<0.001), ratio of band form WBC (P<0.001), and hemoglobin levels (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In adult patients with peritonsillar abscess, older ages, history of diabetes mellitus, band forms in WBC counts and lower hemoglobin levels were independent predictors of longer hospitalization.

Features of a giant cell tumour of the parotid gland: A case report.

A giant cell tumour (GCT) is a benign tumour that commonly arises in the distal end of the long bones. Extraosseous GCTs have been reported in a number of organs, but it is rare for a GCT to present in the parotid gland. Therefore, primary GCTs of the parotid gland (GCTPs) are extremely rare. Although GCTPs have been identified as benign soft-tissue tumours, they have a highly malignant potential and poor prognosis. In the present case, we report a 58-year-old male patient presenting with non-tender mass over the left preauricular area for 11 months. The final pathology report revealed a rare case of a GCTP that was treated by parotidectomy and adjuvant radiation therapy. The patient had no recurrence after 2 years of follow-up.

NAT2 slow acetylation haplotypes are associated with the increased risk of betel quid-related oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: NAT2, the most important phase II metabolic enzyme for betel quid (BQ), might modify the risk of BQ-related oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in Taiwan. STUDY DESIGN: PCR-RFLP and TaqMan assay were conducted for genotyping of NAT2 in 172 OPSCC cases and 170 healthy controls who habitually chewed BQ. RESULTS: The genotypic and allelic type of T341C and C481T in NAT2 are associated with the risk of OPSCC. There were linear trends between increased risk of OPSCC and slowness of NAT2 acetylation haplotypes (P = .017), especially for young subjects (P < .001), light BQ chewers (P = .005), light smokers (P = .023), and alcohol drinkers (P = .001). The interactions on risk of OPSCC were found for NAT2 acetylation haplotypes with status of age, BQ chewing, and alcohol drinking. CONCLUSIONS: The NAT2 acetylation haplotypes might be genetic markers for risk of BQ-related OPSCC.

Primary tumor volume of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: significance for recurrence and survival.

BACKGROUND: Primary tumor volume (PTV) is known to be a significant prognostic factor in malignant tumor. There have been several studies of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) relating tumor volume to treatment outcome. Our study was designed to evaluate the effect of PTV on treatment outcomes in NPC treated with radiotherapy (RT)/concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or CCRT with adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 100 cases with newly diagnosed NPC who were treated with RT/CCRT or CCRT with adjuvant chemotherapy from 2002 to 2006. Magnetic resonance imaging-derived PTV was calculated using the summation-of-area technique. Kaplan-Meier plots and the log-rank test were used to estimate tumor recurrence (locoregional, distant, or both) and overall survival. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the prognostic impact of PTV. RESULTS: The median PTV was 12.94 mL. PTV remained an independent prognostic factor for distant metastasis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; p=0.03), for any relapse (HR, 1.04; p=0.02), and for overall survival (HR, 1.09; p<0.001) in multivariate analysis. In the large tumor volume group (PTV>15 mL), patients' metastasis-free survival rates, with and without adjuvant chemotherapy, were 100% and 68.3%, respectively (p=0.002). Their 3-year recurrence-free survival rates, with and without adjuvant chemotherapy, were 94.1% and 69.6%, respectively (p=0.006). In the small tumor volume group (PTV 15 mL) was associated with more recurrence and poor survival rate, and it was suggested that these high-risk patients should benefit from CCRT followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

Primary tumor volume of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: prognostic significance for recurrence and survival rate.

We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the effect of primary tumor volume on treatment outcomes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who were treated with radiotherapy (RT)/concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or CCRT with adjuvant chemotherapy. A total of 106 patients with newly diagnosed NPC were enrolled in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived primary tumor volume [gross tumor volume of the primary and involved retropharyngeal nodes (GTV-P)] was calculated. All patients received a total dose of 70-75 Gy. Forty-three patients (40.6%) received CCRT and 28 patients (26.4%) received CCRT with adjuvant chemotherapy. The median of primary tumor volume was 13.8 ml. Using T stage as covariate, primary tumor volume remained an independent prognostic factor for distant metastasis [hazard ratio (HR) 1.036; P=0.04), for any relapse (HR 1.03; P=0.03) and overall survival (HR 1.08; P=0.0001). In the large tumor volume group (GTV-P > 15 ml), the 3-year metastasis-free survival rate, with and without adjuvant chemotherapy, was 100 and 69.2%, respectively (P=0.014). Their 3-year recurrence-free survival rate, with and without adjuvant chemotherapy, was 94.7 and 66.7%, respectively (P=0.035). This phenomenon was not observed in NPC patients with small tumor volume (GTV-P