Osimertinib-related liver injury with successful osimertinib rechallenge: A case report.

Osimertinib is approved as the first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor (EGFR) mutation and for patients who develop EGFR T790M mutation during EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment and disease progression. Asymptomatic elevation of aminotransferase levels is commonly observed during TKI treatment; however, significant hepatotoxicity is infrequent. Here, we report a patient with osimertinib-related drug-induced liver injury who was successfully managed with osimertinib rechallenge.

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Performed by Gastroenterologists: Opportunistic Screening Strategy for Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancers.

Aim: Approximately 66% of head and neck cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. This prospective study aimed to detect newly diagnosed head and neck cancers using regular upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy with oral-pharynx-larynx examination. Methods: A total of 2,849 patients underwent UGI endoscopy with an additional oral-pharynx-larynx examination. Patients aged < 20 years, those who were pregnant, had a history of head and neck cancers, were undergoing emergency endoscopy, and had a poor laryngopharyngeal view were excluded. The symptoms, incidence, location, pathology, and stage of malignant neoplasms were investigated. Results: A total of 2,720 patients were enrolled. Endoscopically observable 23 abnormal findings (0.85%) included 18 (0.66%) benign lesions and 5 (0.18%) newly diagnosed malignant neoplasms. Notably, 4 (80%) of 5 patients with malignant neoplasms were diagnosed at an early stage (Stage 0, I, and II). Conclusions: UGI endoscopy with oral-pharynx-larynx examination can achieve opportunistic head neck cancer screening and is recommended for every patient in endoscopy units.

SPAK Deficiency Attenuates Chemotherapy-Induced Intestinal Mucositis.

INTRODUCTION: Ste20-related protein proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) affects cell proliferation, differentiation, and transformation, and sodium and chloride transport in the gut. However, its role in gut injury pathogenesis is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We determined the role of SPAK in chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis using in vivo and in vitro models. METHODS: Using SPAK-knockout (KO) mice, we evaluated the severity of intestinal mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by assessing body weight loss, histological changes in the intestinal mucosa, length of villi in the small intestine, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, proliferative indices, and apoptotic indices. We also evaluated changes in gut permeability and tight junction-associated protein expression. Changes in cell permeability, proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed in SPAK siRNA-transfected 5FU-treated IEC-6 cells. RESULTS: 5-FU-treated SPAK-KO mice exhibited milder intestinal mucositis, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, increased villus length, good maintenance of proliferative indices of villus cells, decreased apoptotic index of enterocytes, reduced gut permeability, and restoration of tight junction protein expression (vs. 5-FU-treated wild-type mice). Under in vitro conditions, siRNA-mediated SPAK-knockdown in IEC-6 cells decreased cell permeability and maintained homeostasis following 5-FU treatment. CONCLUSION: SPAK deficiency attenuated chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis by modulating gut permeability and tight junction-associated protein expression and maintaining gut homeostasis in murine small intestinal tissues following gut injury. The expression of SPAK may influence the pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis.

CRNDE-h transcript/miR-136-5p axis regulates interleukin enhancer binding factor 2 expression to promote hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation.

AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the hepatocyte. Interleukin enhancer binding factor 2 (ILF2) plays a role in the development of HCC. However, the regulatory mechanisms of ILF2 expression in HCC remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify ILF2-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) and to explore how they affect ILF2 expression in HCC. MAIN METHODS: The tissue specimens were collected from 25 HCC patients. The underlying regulatory mechanism of ILF2 expression in HCC progression was determined using luciferase reporter assay, quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and BrdU incorporation assay. KEY FINDINGS: Of predicted miRNA candidates (miR-122-5p, miR-425-5p, miR-136-5p, miR-7-5p, miR-421 and miR-543), a statistically significant inverse correlation by linear correlation analysis was observed between miR-136-5p and ILF2 mRNA expressions in patients with HCC (r = -0.627, P < 0.001). Further analysis demonstrated that ILF2 was directly regulated by miR-136-5p. In addition, we showed that long noncoding RNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed-h (lncRNA CRNDE-h) transcript expression was significantly up-regulated in HCC, and a miR-136-5p binding site was newly found in the lncRNA CRNDE-h transcript sequence using IntaRNA tool. In terms of mechanism, highly-expressed lncRNA CRNDE-h transcript can sponge miR-136-5p, thereby preventing it from interacting with target ILF2 mRNA while promoting the proliferation of HCC cells. SIGNIFICANCE: The lncRNA CRNDE-h/miR-136-5p/ILF2 axis plays a significant regulatory role in HCC progression, which may partly explain the pathogenic mechanisms of HCC and may provide promising potential targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HCC.

Two novel protocols for cleaning residual simethicone and fluid in patient-ready duodenoscopes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Approximately 42-95% of working channels have been reported to show the presence of residual fluid despite endoscope reprocessing. The aim of this study was to design two novel protocols for cleaning residual simethicone and demonstrate its efficiency by evaluating the residual fluid and cleanliness in the working channels of patient-ready duodenoscopes. METHODS: The designed protocol for cleaning residual simethicone was implemented in manual cleaning and/or high-level disinfection (HLD). The residual fluid inside the working channels was estimated by visual inspection. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) values were evaluated to determine cleanliness after manual cleaning. RESULTS: Manual cleaning with novel simethicone cleaning protocol demonstrated a significant decrease in fluid droplets (14.6 ± 29.9 vs 0 ± 0, P < 0.001) and ATP values (157 ± 196 relative light units [RLUs] vs 52 ± 41 RLUs, P = 0.031). HLD with simethicone cleaning protocol, using either enzymatic detergent with effective for cleaning simethicone or cleaning time set in the automatic endoscope reprocessor program for 8 min, demonstrated significant decrease in the number of fluid droplets. Follow-up after the implementation of the simethicone cleaning protocol showed a significant decrease in fluid droplets (37.4 ± 41.0 vs 2.1 ± 5.5, P = 0.003) and ATP values (271 ± 268 RLUs vs 82 ± 136 RLUs, P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Simethicone cleaning protocol is advantageous for significantly decreasing fluid droplets and ATP values within endoscope working channels. After manual cleaning with the simethicone cleaning protocol, in particular, no retained fluid droplet was observed in patient-ready duodenoscopes.

Taiwan nutritional consensus on the nutrition management for gastric cancer patients receiving gastrectomy.

Currently, consensus reports on the nutritional management for gastric cancer patients receiving gastric resection are lacking. The Gastroenterological Society of Taiwan therefore organized the Taiwan Gastric Cancer Nutritional Consensus Team to provide an overview of evidence and recommendations on nutritional support for gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy. This consensus statement on the nutritional support for gastric cancer patients has two major sections:(1)perioperative nutritional support; and (2)long-term postoperative nutritional care. Thirty Taiwan medical experts conducted a consensus conference, by a modified Delphi process, to modify the draft statements. The key statements included that preoperative nutritional status affects the incidence of operative complications and disease-specific survival in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy. Following gastrectomy, both early oral and enteral tube feeding can result in a shorter stay than total parenteral nutrition. Compared to late oral feeding, early oral feeding can reduce hospital stay in gastric cancer patients receiving gastrectomy without an increase in complication rate. Routine supplementation with vitamin B12 is indicated for gastric cancer patients undergoing a total gastrectomy. Both high-dose oral vitamin B12 supplementation and intramuscular administration of vitamin B12 are equally effective in the treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Impact of endoscopic sedation on gastric polyp detection: A one-center retrospective observational study.

Sedation esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) has become more prevalent in many countries. However, owing to the limitation of health insurance payment for sedation EGD in Taiwan, non-sedation EGD still accounts for the majority of cases. This study was aimed to explore the differences between the sedation and non-sedation groups in terms of endoscopic findings, such as detection rate of gastric polyp of any size, number of detected gastric polyps, and location of the gastric polyps detected.We enrolled 10,940 patients who underwent EGD between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 at the Tri-Service General Hospital; among the patients, 1900 received intravenous sedation (IVS) and 9040 did not. The data reviewed included demographics, parameters of the polyp (number, size, and location), and pathology.Compared with the non-sedation group, the sedation group had a higher overall polyp detection rate (P < .001); a greater number of detected polyps (Odds ratio 1.50, P = .007); and a higher detection rate of smaller polyps, such as fundic gland polyp, and hyperplastic polyp (P < .001). Among the pathological findings, gastric neuroendocrine tumor (NET) was detected using EGD in 2 cases and manifested as small polyps (<0.05 cm), and it showed significantly better detection rates in the sedation EGD group than in the non-sedation EGD group (P = .002).Sedation EGD could enhance a patients willingness and cooperation during EGD. Furthermore, sedation EGD increased the detection rates of small gastric polyps and was more likely to enable identification of unusual findings, such as gastric NET.

Upregulation of amphiregulin by retinoic acid and Wnt signalling promotes liver cancer cell proliferation.

Activated hepatic stellate cells promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Hepatic stellate cells play a key role in retinoid metabolism, and activation of stellate cells increases retinoic acid (RA) in the liver. However, the role of RA in HCC proliferation remains unclear. We aimed to analyse the mechanism of RA in HCC proliferation. Thirty-eight patients who had undergone hepatic resection for HCCs were recruited. Paired non-tumour tissues, adjacent and distal to HCCs, were collected, and the RA levels in the tissues were analysed. The mechanisms of RA and HCC proliferation were assessed in liver cancer cell lines by protein and gene expression analyses. Early recurrence of HCC was significantly higher in patients with a higher RA concentration than in those with a lower RA concentration in tissues adjacent to HCCs (61.1% vs. 20%, p = .010). RA promoted HCC cell proliferation and activated the expression of Amphiregulin, a growth factor in hepatocarcinogenesis. The promoter of Amphiregulin contained the binding sites of the RA receptor, RXRα. Wnt signalling also activated the expression of Amphiregulin, and the RA and Wnt pathways acted synergistically to increase the expression of Amphiregulin. Furthermore, RXRα interacted with ß-catenin and then translocated to the nucleus to activate Amphiregulin. An increased RA concentration in the tissues adjacent to the tumour was associated with an early recurrence of HCC. RA activated the expression of Amphiregulin, and then promoted HCC proliferation, which might partly contribute to early recurrence of HCC after hepatic resection.

Risk of ocular complications following radiation therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of ocular complications following radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: We adopted 1:1 propensity score matching and identified an NPC cohort (n = 736) and a comparison cohort (n = 736) that comprised non-NPC head and neck cancer patients who received radiotherapy in the National Health Insurance Research Database from 1997 to 2010. The follow-up period was terminated upon developing ocular complications (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM]360-379) or on December 31, 2010. RESULTS: After adjusting for the confounding factors of the study, the NPC cohort had a higher adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for developing ocular complications than the comparison cohort (adjusted HR = 2.786, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.805-4.112, P < 0.001). The NPC cohort was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing ocular complications compared with the comparison cohort within 12 and after 24 months of follow-up (P < 0.05). The most common associated ocular complications were optic nerve disorder and retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NPC might be at higher risk of developing ocular complications after radiotherapy than non-NPC head and neck cancer patients in Taiwan. Either further investigation or routine assessments by ophthalmological physician is recommended. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 130:1270-1277, 2020.

Enhanced manual cleaning efficacy of duodenoscope in endoscopy units: Results of a multicenter comprehensive quality control program.

BACKGROUND: Multiple outbreaks from contaminated duodenoscopes have been reported since 2008. This study assessed results of a multicenter comprehensive quality control (QC) program to enhance manual cleaning efficacy of duodenoscopes in endoscopy units. METHODS: Digestive Endoscopy Society of Taiwan implemented a QC program with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing of patient-used duodenoscopes in 2 rounds of on-site audit in endoscopy units. ATP samples were obtained from 5 different locations of the duodenoscope after manual cleaning. Duodenoscope exceeding ATP benchmark of 200 relative light units indicated inadequate manual cleaning. RESULTS: During the first round on-site audit, 12 hospitals and 27 patient-used duodenoscopes were analyzed. Distal end outer surface (29.6%), elevator mechanism (51.9%), distal attachment cap (59.3%), elevator wire channel (37.0%), and suction biopsy channel (37.0%) were inadequately cleaned. Overall, 19 (70.4%) duodenoscopes had inadequate manual cleaning, ranging widely from 0%-100% among endoscopy units. During the follow-up on-site audit, 32 patient-used duodenoscopes were analyzed, and 6 (18.8%) had inadequate manual cleaning. CONCLUSIONS: ATP tests may provide real-time feedback on the cleaning efficacy of patient-used duodenoscopes. Implementing a comprehensive QC program could enhance the efficacy of manual cleaning in endoscopy units.

The Risk of Erectile Dysfunction Following Pelvic Angiographic Embolization in Pelvic Fracture Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic fracture with hypovolemic shock is a known crucial injury in trauma patients. Pelvic fracture with vessel injury often leads to hemodynamic complications; in a trauma scenario, evidence of other systems being affected is often absent. Bleeding cessation and resuscitation are important for these types of trauma patients. For this purpose, pelvic angiographic embolization is frequently used. Multiple studies have reported that angiographic embolization may cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in hemodynamically stable patients with pelvic fracture. However, no study has evaluated a large patient cohort with a long-term follow-up. We hypothesized that angiographic embolization to control bleeding may compromise blood supply to the genitourinary organs or cause secondary neurogenic injury that increases the risk of ED. Our goal was to evaluate the risk of ED following pelvic fractures in male patients treated with pelvic angiographic embolization. METHODS: We used data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 1997 to 2010 provided by the Bureau of National Health Insurance of the Department of Health in Taiwan. We collected disease histories from inpatient files. The disease diagnoses were based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. These data were all deidentified, and we did not contact the patients. As such, informed consent was not needed. RESULTS: Eighty-five and 82,802 patients were included in the case and control cohorts, respectively. All patients were aged 15-45, and the proportion of pelvic fracture locations was equal between the groups. After investigating the causes of ED among male patients aged 15-45 with pelvic fractures using logistic regression analysis in a generalized estimating equations model and after adjusting for the influence of confounders, we found that these patients had high risks (odds ratio (OR): 32.637; 95% confidence interval: 14.137-75.346; P < 0.001) of developing ED post-angiographic embolization. CONCLUSIONS: Male patients in Taiwan with pelvic fractures who undergo angiographic embolization to control bleeding have a higher risk of ED than those who do not undergo the procedure. Physicians should practice caution and inform patients of this connection before the procedure.

Risk of gastric cancer following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is associated with increased risk of gastric cancer. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective study in Taiwan. Inpatient data from 1997 to 2010 were collected from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with age less than 20 years; those with histories of PEG before 2000; those with histories of cancers; and those diagnosed with gastric cancer before or within 6 months of the first PEG procedure were excluded. Finally, 3505 patients who underwent PEG were included (PEG cohort), along with 7010 randomly-selected individuals, matched by age, sex, and year of index date, as the control cohort. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, peptic ulcer, gastritis, hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease, risk of gastric cancer was significantly higher in the PEG cohort (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.31; 95% confidence interval, 4.12-6.00; p = 0.011). Patients with 2 or more PEG procedures were significantly associated with increasingly developing gastric cancer risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-3.85; p < 0.001). The possible hypothesis may be due to chronic inflammation caused by chemical and physical conditions of the tube. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PEG might be associated with a greater risk of subsequent gastric cancer in Taiwan. Physicians should be aware of the link when assessing patients with PEG.

Consensus and clinical recommendations for nutritional intervention for head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy in Taiwan.

Because of the anatomical location, patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) frequently experience dysphagia and malnutrition at the time of diagnosis and these conditions are often exacerbated after chemoradiotherapy. There is an emerging medical need to establish a consensus on nutritional intervention for these patients. A panel of 30 senior physicians and experts from multidisciplinary teams drafted clinical recommendations to improve the management of nutritional interventions in Taiwan and to provide updated treatment strategy recommendations in hope of improving the nutritional status of patients with HNC. This clinical review describes the resulting consensus document, including the impact of malnutrition on clinical outcomes, the role of prophylactic tube feeding, the choice of tube feeding, and the benefit of oral nutritional supplements in patients with HNC undergoing chemoradiotherapy. The outcomes of this review will support clinicians in their efforts to improve the nutritional status of patients with HNC.

Correction: Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein Down-Regulates p21Waf1/Cip1 and Inhibits Curcumin-Induced Apoptosis through MicroRNA-345 Targeting in Human Hepatoma Cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061089.].

The role of thiazolidinediones in hepatocellular carcinoma risk reduction: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. METHODS: We conducted a population-based case-control study in Taiwan based on data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 76,349 newly diagnosed DM patients were identified from claims between 2000 and 2010. Among diabetics, 3,026 and 12,104 patients respectively, received or did not receive TZDs. Comparison frequency was matched with age, sex, and index date, excluding those with cancer at baseline. The incidence of HCC at the end of 2010 and the risks associated with the presence of hepatitis B and C infections were analyzed. The effect of TZDs use on the reduction of HCC risk was also assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of HCC was lower in the TZD cohort compared with the non-TZD cohort (418.3 vs. 484.6 per 100,000 person-years), with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.53 (95% confidence interval = 0.38-0.77) using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression. In the stratified analysis, HCC risk reduction was greater for diabetics without the comorbidities of cirrhosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, end-stage renal disease, and hyperlipidemia, in the TZD cohort than in the non-TZD cohort. Male sex, cirrhosis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C were significant independent factors predicting HCC (HRs of 1.43, 13.96, 2.31, and 2.15, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the use of TZDs may reduce the risk of developing HCC among DM patients. Comorbidity with cirrhosis and/or hepatitis B/C infection appears to be associated with an extremely increased risk of developing HCC in this patient subset. These high-risk patients should be closely monitored.

HCV core inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell replicative senescence through downregulating microRNA-138 expression.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV core protein is considered as a positive regulator of telomerase activity. In this study, we focused on the deregulated microRNA-138 (miR-138) in HCV-associated HCC. Differential expression of miR-138 was determined by TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR. The target gene of miR-138 was verified by luciferase reporter assay, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blotting. Moreover, three assays based on telomerase activity, cell proliferation, and senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity were performed. The correlation analysis revealed a significantly negative correlation between miR-138 and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA expression in HCC. Further, we showed that mature HCV core protein of 173 amino acids, but not full-length form of 191 amino acids, suppressed miR-138 expression. TERT was verified as a direct target of miR-138 in HCC cells. Furthermore, TERT-targeting miR-138 supplementation can prevent HCV core protein from repressing HCC cell replicative senescence. Collectively, HCV core protein can enhance TERT protein expression through downregulating TERT-targeting miR-138 expression, which in turn inhibits HCC cell replicative senescence. This study may further help our understanding on the pathogenic mechanisms of HCV core protein in HCV-associated HCC development. KEY MESSAGE: miR-138 is downregulated in HCV-associated HCC. Mature HCV core protein plays a pathogenic role in suppressing miR-138 expression. Telomerase reverse transcriptase represents a direct target of miR-138 in HCC cells. miR-138 promotes HCC cell senescence, suggesting potential for HCC treatment.

An Investigation of the Outcomes of PGY Students' Cognition of and Persistent Behavior in Learning through the Intervention of the Flipped Classroom in Taiwan.

The Postgraduate Year (PGY) Program allows doctors-in-training to learn about the diagnosis, treatment and nursing of various common, general diseases. These items form the core curriculum and are mostly learned through caring for patients and clinical teaching. Doctors-in-training are evaluated for their knowledge through written tests or assignments, based on which the effectiveness of their training is also assessed; however, this generally produces a negative learning attitude among them. So we introduced the flipped classroom into PGY training program to change PGY students' learning behavior. Although the flipped classroom is highly valued and has been practiced by teachers in schools of various levels, very few attempts have been made until now to report the learning outcomes achieved through the flipped classroom by means of rigorous research methods. Therefore we tried to employed Ajzen and Fishbein's (1980) theory of reasoned action and Bandura's self-efficacy to predict and explain the participants' behavioral intention when participating in the core curriculum learning of the flipped classroom and to assess the change in students' learning behavior and learning effectiveness. From August 2013 to July 2014, 39 PGY students from the General Surgery of the Tri-Service General Hospital were selected as the participants of this study. The control group included 43 students of the previous year, that is, the year before the intervention of the flipped classroom. A comparative analysis was performed. The questionnaire's related matrices indicated highest correlation between self-efficacy and behavioral intention (r = 0.491, P < 0.01), followed by attitude (r = 0.365, P < 0.01) and subjective norms (r = 0.360, P < 0.01.) All three showed positive correlations with behavioral intention; among attitude, subjective norms, and self-efficacy, the pairwise correlations also reached significance level. The flipped classroom can indeed change PGY students' the learning behavior from "passive learning" to "active learning."

Outcome of nonsurgical intervention in patients with perforated peptic ulcers.

BACKGROUND: Although surgical intervention is the favorable treatment modality for perforated peptic ulcer, nonsurgical treatment is another option. The aim of this study is to analyze the results of conservative treatment for perforated peptic ulcer. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2014, 403 patients were admitted to our hospital for perforated peptic ulcer, and 383 patients underwent surgery, whereas 20 were allocated to conservative treatment. The results of nonsurgical intervention in these patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate of conservative treatment was 40%. Eleven patients remained hospitalized less than 2 weeks; among them, patients with a high (≥IV) American Society of Anesthesiologists class at admission had higher mortality than those with a low (

Trends regarding percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: A nationwide population-based study from 1997 to 2010.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is widely used in patients requiring long-term tube feeding. Traditional PEG studies usually focused on practical, technical, and ethical issues. There have been little epidemiological studies on PEG utilization and services in Asia. We evaluated the changes in PEG utilization, patient selection, patient characteristics, and medical service in Taiwan from 1997 to 2010.This retrospective study analyzed the data of patients admitted for PEG tube placement according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (procedure code 43.11) extracted from the National Health Insurance database between 1997 and 2010.From 1997 to 2010, the incidence of PEG increased from 0.1 to 3.8/10 population and incidence of PEG among aged patients increased from 0.9 to 19.0/10 population. Compared 1997-2004 to 2005-2010 periods, the percentage of cerebrovascular diseases decreased and esophageal cancer increased in the later period. PEG was mainly performed in male patients and at medical centers. Medical costs, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores, and post-PEG mortality rates were higher in the 2005-2010 period than in the 1997-2004 period.PEG procedures are being increasingly performed in Taiwan, and changes in patient selection were noted. The seriousness of accompanying diseases, medical costs, and post-PEG mortality rates in patients undergoing PEG has increased. The present findings may help in the implementation of PEG, relocation of medical resources, and improvement of PEG-related care.

Statistics and outlook of primary hepatic angiosarcoma based on clinical stage.

Hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare condition that has been associated with exposure to colloidal solutions of thorium dioxide, vinyl chloride, arsenic and radiation. Therapeutic guidelines have not been definitively established due to the small number of cases of this disease. The present study reviewed 28 cases of hepatic angiosarcoma from studies that had been published between January 2000 and December 2012, in addition to 6 cases diagnosed at Tri-Service General Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan). Clinical staging was based on American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for soft tissue sarcoma (2014). With a mean follow-up of 27.5 months (range, 0.27-102 months), 18% (6/34) of the patients survived. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 68.0±9.3, 42.1±10.2 and 32.7±9.8% for patients with stage I disease (mean follow-up, 32.7 months), whilst the 1- and 3-year survival rates were 33.3±15.7 and 22.2±13.9% for patients with stage IV disease (mean follow-up, 13.0 months). Determining an appropriate therapeutic strategy for this patient group is necessary. New studies encompassing larger patient populations are required in order to analyze and define standard prognostic parameters and to standardize a treatment approach for this extremely rare neoplasm.