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1.
Support Care Cancer ; 28(8): 3801-3812, 2020 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31832822

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare febrile neutropenia (FN) incidence and hospitalization among breast cancer patients on docetaxel with no granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (GCSF) primary prophylaxis (PP), 4/5-day PP, or 7-day PP. METHODS: We identified 3916 breast cancer patients using docetaxel-cyclophosphamide (TC), doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide then docetaxel (AC-T), fluorouracil-epirubicin-cyclophosphamide then docetaxel (FEC-T), docetaxel-carboplatin-trastuzumab (TJH), or docetaxel-doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (TAC) from a hospital pharmacy dispensing database in Hong Kong between 2014 and 2016. Patients were offered GCSF within 5 days since administering docetaxel. Outcomes included FN incidence, time to first hospitalization, hospitalization rate, and duration. RESULTS: In TC regimen, FN incidence (with odds ratio, OR) of patients with no PP, 4/5-day PP, and 7-day PP was 21.69%, 7.95% (OR 0.31, p < 0.001), and 5.33% (OR 0.20, p < 0.001), respectively. In TJH regimen, FN incidence of patients with no PP, 4/5-day PP, and 7-day PP was 38.26%, 8.33% (OR 0.15, p < 0.001), and 8.57% (OR 0.15, p < 0.001), respectively. FN incidence of patients on AC-T regimen with no PP and 4/5-day PP was 20.93% and 6.84%, respectively (OR 0.28, p = 0.005); with FEC-T regimen, the incidence was 9.91% and 4.77%, respectively (OR 0.46, p = 0.035). Only 3.27% FN cases were not hospitalized. Mean (±standard deviation, SD) time to first hospitalization was 8.21 ± 2.44 days. Mean (±SD) duration of hospitalization for patients with no PP, 4/5-day PP, and 7-day PP was 4.66 ± 2.60, 4.37 ± 2.85, and 5.12 ± 2.97 days, respectively. CONCLUSION: GCSF prophylaxis in breast cancer patients on docetaxel could reduce FN incidence and hospitalization. 4/5-day PP demonstrated similar efficacy to 7-day PP with superior saving benefits on healthcare expenditure.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Breast Neoplasms/complications , Docetaxel/adverse effects , Febrile Neutropenia/etiology , Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/therapeutic use , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies
2.
J Viral Hepat ; 25(7): 874-877, 2018 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29431877

ABSTRACT

Indications of liver transplantation are extensive, but deceased donation does not meet the demand. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive grafts used to be discarded in the past. The aim of this study was to examine viral activity and outcome of HBsAg-positive deceased grafts transplanted to HBsAg-positive recipients. Eleven HBsAg-positive deceased grafts were transplanted to HBsAg-positive patients with acute liver failure (3 patients), hepatocellular carcinoma (6 patients) and repeatedly bleeding varices (2 patients). Postoperatively, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was treated by a combination of antiviral nucleoside and nucleotide analogues. HBV DNA and HBsAg were measured periodically. The median (interquartile) model of end-stage liver disease score for the recipients was 19 (16-32) with a range from 11 to 40. HBV DNA was detected in 6 patients with a range from 61 to 1083 IU/mL before transplantation. After transplantation, HBV DNA was detected in 4 patients in the first month and 2 patients in the 6th month and became undetectable for all patients at end of the first year. The quantitative HBsAg ranged from 0.86 to 241.1 IU/mL at 6 months and 0.34 to 238.5 IU/mL at 24 months (P = .135). Three of the patients died in the early phase, and the other patients were followed up for 40.0 ± 19.2 months with normal liver function. In conclusion, HBsAg-positive deceased liver grafts function well with minimal viral activity under treatment of combined antiviral nucleoside and nucleotide analogues. Use of HBsAg-positive deceased grafts is feasible and increases the donor pool to rescue dying patients.


Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy , Liver Transplantation , Nucleosides/therapeutic use , Nucleotides/therapeutic use , Transplant Recipients , Adult , Aged , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/surgery , DNA, Viral/blood , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Liver Failure, Acute/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Treatment Outcome
3.
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) ; 27(2): e12696, 2018 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28440587

ABSTRACT

Helping breast cancer patients who desire a pregnancy after cancer treatment is a vital issue. Little is known about the complex context of the decision to become pregnant after breast cancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to understand the risk-benefit perception of choosing conception or contraception after treatment in Taiwan. We applied grounded theory to guide this exploratory qualitative study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 16 breast cancer patients. Pregnancy was addressed in the context of cancer as a potentially life-threatening diagnosis and its treatment. The verbatim transcriptions were analysed using constant comparative analysis and methods of open, axial and selective coding. The core theme that described the risk perception of pregnancy among patients with breast cancer after treatment focused on "reaching the balance of life." Seven dimensions of risk-benefit perception of pregnancy, including perceived health status, safety, expected gain, harm, loading, support and time were explored among women treated for breast cancer. We found that women treated for breast cancer applied risk-benefit perceptions to decide whether to become pregnant. Implementing contextual counselling could help to decrease perceived barriers to choose pregnancy and increase the quality of pregnancy care.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Reproductive Health , Risk Assessment , Survivors , Adult , Decision Making , Female , Grounded Theory , Health Status , Humans , Middle Aged , Qualitative Research , Taiwan , Young Adult
4.
Scand J Med Sci Sports ; 25(2): 159-65, 2015 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25973471

ABSTRACT

The purposes of this study were to determine if (a) the log-transformed model can be applied to dynamic exercise and (b) the slope and y-intercept terms can provide additional information above and beyond the polynomial regression analyses. Eleven physically active individuals performed incremental cycle ergometry on a single occasion. Electromyographic electrodes were placed on the three superficial quadriceps muscles to record muscle activation during the exercise test. The patterns of responses for electromyographic amplitude vs power output were analyzed with polynomial and log-transformed regression models. The results of the polynomial regression for the composite data indicated that the best-fit model for the vastus lateralis muscle was linear (R(2) = 0.648, P < 0.0001), whereas the best-fit model for the rectus femoris (R(2) = 0.346, P = 0.013) and vastus medialis (R(2) = 0.764,P = 0.020) muscles was quadratic. One-way repeated measures analyses indicated no significant differences(P > 0.05) across the three superficial quadriceps muscles for the slope and y-intercept terms. These findings suggest that the log-transformed model may be a more versatile statistical approach to examining neuromuscular responses during dynamic exercise.


Subject(s)
Electromyography , Exercise/physiology , Models, Statistical , Quadriceps Muscle/physiology , Adult , Exercise Test , Female , Humans , Linear Models , Male , Regression Analysis , Young Adult
5.
J Fish Dis ; 37(8): 719-28, 2014 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24033791

ABSTRACT

A selective and differential medium termed 'LG agar' was developed for the isolation and presumptive identification of Lactococcus garvieae that results in black colonies with red halos. In this study, all 14 strains of L. garvieae and only 9 of the 148 strains representing 38 other species were able to grow on the LG agar. The nine viable strains on LG agar plates (including Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Lactococcus lactis, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio furnissii, Vibrio mimicus and Vibrio salmonicida) were further differentiated from L. garvieae by various colours or colony features. Colonies isolated from the mixing culture and the infected giant sea perch using LG agar plates were all positively identified as L. garvieae by conventional tests and 16S rDNA sequencing. Furthermore, LG agar discriminated capsulated strains of L. garvieae, which were believed to be correlated with pathogens of fish and shellfish, from non-capsulated ones by colony appearances. The specificity and differentiating ability of LG agar suggest that this medium displays considerable potential for primary isolation and presumptive identification of L. garvieae from pathological and environmental samples.


Subject(s)
Bacterial Capsules/physiology , Bacterial Typing Techniques/methods , Culture Media/chemistry , Lactococcus/physiology , Animals , Lactococcus/classification , Species Specificity
6.
Ann Oncol ; 24(6): 1675-9, 2013 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23406732

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the risk of benign brain tumors (BBTs) and malignant brain tumors (MBTs) associated with dental diagnostic X-ray, using a large population-based case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 4123 BBT cases and 16 492 controls without BBT (study 1) and 197 MBT cases and 788 controls without MBT (study 2) from Taiwan National Health Insurance claim data. The risks of both types of tumor were estimated in association with the frequency of received dental diagnostic X-ray. RESULTS: The mean ages were ~44.2 years in study 1 and 40.6 years in study 2. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of BBT increases as the frequency of received dental diagnostic X-ray increases. The BBT odds ratio increased from 1.33 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-1.44] for those with annual mean X-ray examination of less than one to 1.65 (95% CI 1.37-1.98) for those with three or more X-ray examinations, after controlling for comorbidities. No significant association was found between MBTs and dental diagnostic X-ray exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to dental diagnostic X-rays in oral and maxillofacial care increases the risk of BBTs, but not MBTs.


Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Brain Neoplasms/epidemiology , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/diagnosis , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/epidemiology , Population Surveillance , Radiography, Dental/adverse effects , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Population Surveillance/methods , Radiography, Dental/trends , Risk Factors , Taiwan/epidemiology , Young Adult
7.
Am J Transplant ; 12(6): 1511-8, 2012 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22390537

ABSTRACT

Left liver grafts have been widely utilized in adult liver transplantation (LT) and yielded acceptable results. However, the conventional orthotopic implantation of a left liver graft imposes the potential risk of perioperative vascular complications. We report herein an alternative modified technique for adult left liver LT and evaluate its feasibility in LT. In this study, 10 recipients had their left liver graft rotated 180°, and heterotopically implanted at the right subphrenic space, which we termed "left at right" liver transplantation (LAR-LT). The sequence of vascular and biliary reconstruction was performed as standard techniques, and no perioperative vascular complications related to LAR-LT were encountered. There were two mortalities in this series, one due to a small-for-size graft dysfunction and the other due to postoperative internal hemorrhage. Two recipients had biliary strictures that were successfully managed by percutaneous biliary dilatation and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing LAR-LT were also compared with patients undergoing conventional orthotopic left liver LT (n = 14). Although the results showed no significant difference between the two groups, according to our experience, the satisfactory outcome and easier technical reconstruction suggest that the LAR-LT modification could be a feasible alternative to left liver LT.


Subject(s)
Liver Transplantation , Adult , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Tissue Donors
9.
Int J Obes (Lond) ; 35(8): 1079-86, 2011 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21042322

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of comprehensive understanding about patterns of weight change from pregnancy to childbirth and beyond. We describe the trajectory of weight change pattern from pre-pregnancy to 6 months postpartum and examine demographical and perinatal variables that predict the weight change using the latent growth model (LGM). DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: This study used a longitudinal design. The study participants were 120 women whose body weights were measured at eight time points. RESULTS: The adjusted mean pre-pregnancy weight was 52.57 kg. When the weight growth rate for 10-13 weeks of pregnancy and pre-pregnancy weight was set to 1, the body-weight change rate was 2.20 during the second trimester, 2.14 during the third trimester, -2.90 during the period from the third trimester to 2-3 weeks postpartum, -0.08 during the period from 2-3 weeks to 4-5 weeks postpartum, -0.37 during the period from 4-5 weeks to 11-12 weeks postpartum, and -0.65 during the period from 11-12 weeks to 24-25 weeks postpartum. On average, body weight increased 26.54% (13.95 kg) from pre-pregnancy to 36-39 weeks of pregnancy and body weight remained 6.26% (3.29 kg) higher at 24-25 weeks postpartum compare with pre-pregnancy. In terms of factors related to body weight, age was positively associated with pre-pregnancy body weight. Parity had a negative effect on the change of body weight. Women who had an increased change rate in body weight had higher newborn birth weights. CONCLUSIONS: We found that weight change from pregnancy to postpartum followed a pattern that could be specified using the LGM approach. The women retained more than 6% of weight at 6 months postpartum compared with their pre-pregnancy weight.


Subject(s)
Body Weight , Breast Feeding/statistics & numerical data , Postpartum Period , Weight Gain , Adolescent , Adult , Body Mass Index , Body Weight/physiology , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Models, Biological , Postpartum Period/physiology , Pregnancy , Surveys and Questionnaires , Taiwan/epidemiology , Weight Gain/physiology , Young Adult
10.
J Viral Hepat ; 18(3): 193-9, 2011 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20367797

ABSTRACT

Non-cirrhotic patients having acute liver decompensation in flares of hepatitis B can recover spontaneously or die without liver transplantation. Criteria for identifying patients in need of liver transplantation are lacking. Fifty-one non-cirrhotic patients having acute liver decompensation in flares of hepatitis B were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups: group A patients (n=18) recovered from acute liver decompensation spontaneously; group B patients (n=22) died of acute liver failure; and group C patients (n=11) had liver transplantation. Model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores were evaluated to identify the criteria for liver transplantation. The cut-off point of MELD scores for liver transplantation was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Comparing group A and B patients, MELD score was an independent factor to predict prognosis. By analysing ROC curve, a MELD score>30 was the most optimal cut-off point to indicate liver transplantation; however, the false positive rate was 11.1%. By weekly measurement of MELD scores, subsequent increase in MELD scores could help to avoid false positives. Moreover, a MELD score>34 yielded 0% false positive rate and indicated the necessity of definite liver transplantation. For group C patients, ten of 11 patients were saved by liver transplantation. In conclusion, for the patients having acute liver decompensation in flares of hepatitis B, liver transplantation is definitely indicated by MELD scores>34. Liver transplantation is also indicated if the MELD score increases in the subsequent 1-2 weeks. Liver transplantation has a good outcome if performed on time.


Subject(s)
End Stage Liver Disease/surgery , Hepatitis B virus/immunology , Hepatitis B, Chronic/surgery , Liver Transplantation , Adult , End Stage Liver Disease/diagnosis , End Stage Liver Disease/immunology , Female , Hepatitis B, Chronic/immunology , Hepatitis B, Chronic/virology , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , ROC Curve , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment Outcome
11.
Haemophilia ; 17(1): 45-54, 2011 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20722742

ABSTRACT

This study compared secondary prophylaxis treatment with on-demand treatment for severe haemophilia A in Taiwan. Fifty patients from one medical centre were evaluated over a 5-year period. Differences in annual bleed rates and factor VIII (FVIII) utilization were assessed between patients receiving secondary prophylaxis and patients receiving FVIII concentrates on-demand. Results were then used as inputs in a pharmacoeconomic model to predict outcomes of future haemophilia therapy strategies in Taiwan. The median annual number of total bleeding episodes was significantly lower in the 13 (26%) patients who received secondary prophylaxis than in the 37 patients who received FVIII on-demand (7.76 vs. 31.91, P < 0.0001). The between-group difference in median annual factor VIII utilization was statistically significant (1824.41 IU kg(-1) for the prophylaxis group and 1324.81 IU kg(-1) for the on-demand group, P < 0.01). It was estimated that approximately $2 million (USD) per year would be added to the cost of treatment by having all severe haemophilia A patients in Taiwan receive secondary prophylaxis instead of on-demand therapy while 12,566 bleeding will be prevented. It is recommended that National Health Insurance officials utilize these data to evaluate the benefits of enhanced treatment strategies and before making substantial policy changes to haemophilia care in Taiwan.


Subject(s)
Factor VIII/administration & dosage , Factor VIII/economics , Health Care Costs/statistics & numerical data , Hemarthrosis/prevention & control , Hemophilia A/drug therapy , Hemophilia A/economics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Factor VIII/therapeutic use , Female , Hemarthrosis/economics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Economic , Retrospective Studies , Taiwan , Young Adult
12.
Lupus ; 20(11): 1211-3, 2011 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21693492

ABSTRACT

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an uncommon complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here we report a 52-year-old woman with flare up of lupus activity, manifesting as spontaneous cerebral and spinal SAH due to central nervous system vasculitis. The patient received external ventricular drainage for hydrocephalus and pulse steroid and intravenous cyclophosphamide therapies. Her neurological deficits gradually improved with only minimal gait unsteadiness at discharge. Although very rare, cerebral and spinal SAH related to vasculitis could be one of the presentations of SLE flare up.


Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System/etiology , Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/etiology , Angiography, Digital Subtraction , Back Pain/etiology , Female , Headache/etiology , Humans , Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System/diagnosis , Middle Aged , Spinal Diseases/diagnosis , Spinal Diseases/etiology , Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/diagnosis , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
13.
J Fish Dis ; 34(3): 227-34, 2011 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21306589

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we present a selective and differential medium, termed Vibrio alginolyticus (VAL) agar, developed for the isolation and identification of V. alginolyticus. The presence of bile salts, high salinity and high incubation temperature allows the selective growth of moderately halophilic Vibrio species. Differentiation of bacteria is achieved by identifying species capable of sucrose fermentation, made visible by the pH indicator bromocresol purple. In this study, all of the 26 strains of V. alginolyticus and only three of the 99 strains representing 30 species (including 19 Vibrio species) other than V. alginolyticus were able to grow in the VAL medium. The remaining three strains could be further differentiated from V. alginolyticus according to colour or the diameter of colonies produced on VAL agar plates. Colonies isolated from shellfish rearing water and infected shrimp through the use of VAL agar plates were all positively identified as V. alginolyticus by conventional tests and 16S rDNA sequencing. The testing of specificity and differentiation capability of VAL shows the potential of the agar as a medium for the primary isolation of V. alginolyticus from pathological and environmental samples.


Subject(s)
Bacterial Typing Techniques/methods , Culture Media , Vibrio alginolyticus/physiology , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Reproducibility of Results , Salinity , Sensitivity and Specificity , Shellfish/microbiology , Vibrio alginolyticus/growth & development , Vibrio alginolyticus/isolation & purification
14.
J Dairy Sci ; 94(11): 5393-404, 2011 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22032362

ABSTRACT

The use of evaporative cooling for mitigating heat stress in lactating cows in humid areas is controversial. In Taiwan, Holstein cow performance is significantly restricted by hot and humid weather. This study investigated the efficacy of using a tunnel-ventilated, water-padded freestall (TP) barn for reducing heat stress in lactating cows. From August to October 2006, 36 cows allocated in a 3×3 Latin square were raised in 3 barn cooling treatments: a conventional freestall barn with fans and sprinklers in the feed line (Fan+SP, control), a TP barn, and a TP barn with sprinkler cooling (TP+SP). Daytime air speeds in the 3 barns were 1.23, 2.38, and 2.06 m/s, respectively. Both TP barns were more efficient than the control in reducing the daytime temperature and temperature-humidity index. The barn temperature was <26°C for an extra 4.2h per day, but the relative humidity was >96% in both TP barns. Cows in both TP barns had higher respiration rates and skin temperatures at 0300 h than cows in the Fan+SP barn. The TP environment increased the cows' serum cholesterol level and the activities of alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase, but blood partial pressure of CO(2) was not affected. Vaginal temperature was persistently high in cows in the TP barn; in the 2 SP barns, it decreased 0.4 to 0.6°C following sprinkling and milking. The intake activity and rumen digestion of cows raised in the 3 environments were similar. Cows in both TP barns ingested more dry matter. Cows in the TP+SP barn tended to produce more milk than those in the Fan+SP barn (25.4 vs. 24.7 kg). Although heat stress was not completely alleviated in these 3 barns, the TP+SP treatment resolved the negative effect of a previous TP barn built in 2004 on intake and milk yield by increasing air speed and using sprinkler cooling. Thus, it is expected that TP+SP barns will be beneficial in regions with high humidity. Adequate air speed and sprinkler cooling are likely to be key factors for further study.


Subject(s)
Cattle/physiology , Dairying , Heat Stress Disorders/veterinary , Housing, Animal , Humidity , Lactation/physiology , Ventilation , Animals , Body Temperature , Dairying/instrumentation , Dairying/methods , Eating/physiology , Female , Heat Stress Disorders/prevention & control , Temperature , Ventilation/instrumentation , Ventilation/methods , Water
15.
J Viral Hepat ; 17(11): 770-7, 2010 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20337926

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation is universal and is a major cause of long-term graft failure. Improving the effectiveness of recurrent hepatitis C treatment is extremely important. We studied 35 anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients who underwent liver transplantation. Among the 35 patients, 25 patients had recurrent hepatitis C and received antiviral treatment. HCV RNA load after liver transplantation was increased by 3.68-fold. The antiviral treatment regimen comprised pegylated-interferon (180 µg) every 2 weeks and ribavirin at a dose of 200-400 mg every day. The treatment duration was flexible and individualized, and depended on viral response to treatment. The dosage of tacrolimus was decreased gradually to minimize immunocompromise. Median (interquartile) serum level of tacrolimus was 6.9 (6-8.9) ng/mL at initiation of treatment and 3.8 (3.6-5) ng/mL at the end of treatment. One patient (4.0%) was withdrawn from the study, and three patients (12%) died of infection during treatment. At end of treatment, 18 of 25 patients (72%) were negative for serum HCV RNA. After an additional 6 months following the end of treatment, 16 of the 25 patients (64%) had sustained viral response (SVR) and only two patients had HCV relapse. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 91.4%, 84.5% and 84.5% for all patients and 88.0%, 82.8% and 82.8% for the 25 patients who received antiviral therapy. In conclusion, recurrent HCV infection is an important issue in liver transplantation. The flexible regimen of antiviral therapy and individualized immunosuppressive agents that was applied in this study achieved a SVR rate of 64%.


Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage , Drug Therapy/methods , Hepatitis C/drug therapy , Liver Transplantation , Transplantation , Adult , Aged , Drug Monitoring/methods , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hepatitis C/mortality , Humans , Interferons/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , RNA, Viral/blood , Recurrence , Ribavirin/administration & dosage , Treatment Outcome , Viral Load
16.
J Cancer Surviv ; 14(4): 424-433, 2020 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32072434

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of dietary and physical activity (PA) interventions on generic and cancer-specific quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression levels among adult Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. METHODS: Two-hundred twenty-three adult CRC survivors within 1 year of completion of primary cancer treatment were randomized to receive dietary, PA or combined intervention, or usual care for a 12 monthduration, under a 2 (diet vs usual care) × 2 (PA vs usual care) factorial design. Generic and cancer-specific QoL was assessed using a Chinese version 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) scale, respectively. Anxiety and depression was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Linear mixed models were used for examining the intervention effects. RESULTS: Participants receiving dietary intervention experienced a significant improvement in the generic measure of QoL (SF-6D utility scores, mean difference 0.042, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.081) at 12 months, the cancer-specific QoL scores (mean difference 3.09, 95%CI 0.13 to 6.04), and levels of depression (P = 0.015) at both 12 and 24 months follow-up. Participants receiving PA intervention only demonstrated a significant improvement in SF-6D utility index (mean difference 0.039, 95%CI 0.002 to 0.077) and physical functioning (mean difference 2.85, 95%CI 1.00 to 4.70) at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intervention improved the generic and cancer-specific QoL and depression in CRC survivors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was prospectively registered on 17 October 2012 at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01708824). IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: CRC survivors can benefit from dietary interventions in alleviating depression and improving overall health-related QoL.


Subject(s)
Anxiety/therapy , Cancer Survivors/psychology , Colorectal Neoplasms/therapy , Depression/therapy , Diet/psychology , Exercise/psychology , Quality of Life/psychology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Colorectal Neoplasms/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Survivors
18.
Transplant Proc ; 40(8): 2486-8, 2008 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18929774

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease. However, the shortage of donors is still the major problem in most Asian countries. Using extended donor criteria may maximize the deceased donor pool, but some high-risk donors may show adverse recipient outcomes due to preexisting infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included deceased donor liver transplant patients from June 2002 through June 2007. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical manifestations of donors and recipients. The donors showed no definite infection at the time the organs were matched to the recipients. Routine sputum, urine, blood, and bile cultures were obtained from the donor during the perioperative period. According to the final reports of the cultures, the recipients divided into two groups: donor infection (DI) and no donor infection (NDI). RESULTS: This study included 59 donor and 72 recipients, including 34 who received a graft from a donor with a positive culture (47.2%) finally, defined as the DI groups, and 38 recipients (52.8%) as the NDI group. Most of them had positive sputum cultures, followed by urine cultures. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen. Using a stepwise logistical regression model to analyze the significant donor characteristics, donor admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for 7 days or longer (P < or = .0001), previous cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) (P = .036), and inotropic agents (P = .022) were the only three independent factors to predict donor infection. To compare the outcomes between DI and NDI groups, the days of recipient ICU or hospital admission, the 1-week or 1-month mortality rate, and the overall survival showed no significant difference between both groups. However, the hospital mortality rate was mildly higher in the DI group (P = .050). CONCLUSION: Donors with prolonged ICU admissions, rescue by CPCR, and use of inotropic agents carried an high risk of potential infections. Our data did not show a significant increase in adverse outcomes if the recipient received a graft from a potentially infected donor. However, there may be an increased risk of hospital mortality. We should be careful in using these potentially infected donors in selective recipients.


Subject(s)
Liver Transplantation/adverse effects , Postoperative Complications/classification , Staphylococcal Infections/transmission , Tissue Donors/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cadaver , Child , Female , Humans , Liver Failure/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Regression Analysis , Retrospective Studies
19.
Transplant Proc ; 40(8): 2542-5, 2008 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18929795

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine biliary complications in adult right-lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with duct-to-duct anastomosis (RL-LDLT-DD), evaluating the efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in the diagnosis and management of biliary complications following LDLT. METHODS: Ninety adult RL-LDLT-DD were performed from June 2004 to August 2007, including 21 (23.3%) cases of biliary complications. RESULTS: The endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatiography (ERCP) findings were stricture only (n = 8), stricture plus leakage (n = 9), and leakage only (n = 4). In the overall 13 cases of leakage, nine patients recovered after treatment by stent or endoscopic nasobiliary drainage. The time to resolution was 3.0 +/- 1.3 months with 2.2 +/- 1.3 endoscopic examinations. All bile duct complications were treated by ERC first. Among 17 cases with stricture, seven cases were successfully treated by endoscopy and three cases by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography plus stent (PTCS). In the other seven cases, the treatment was still ongoing in five cases and two subjects died during treatment. The mean time to stricture resolution 7.2 +/- 3.3 months with 3.9 +/- 1.4 endoscopic examinations. The results of 21 cases were 5/21 mortalities (23.8%), successful ERC treatment in 9/21; (42.9%), successful PTCS treatment in 3/21 (14.3%), and ongoing ERC treatment in 5/21, (23.8%), including one case with successful ERC treatment who died of lung infection postoperatively. During follow-up (13.1 +/- 9.9 months), there was no recurrence in the stricture or leak. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with the literature, RL-LDLT-DD without biliary drainage does not increase the incidence of biliary complications. From our study, ERC and PTC play a complementary roles in the treatment of bile duct complications.


Subject(s)
Gallbladder Diseases/surgery , Liver Transplantation/statistics & numerical data , Living Donors , Postoperative Complications/surgery , Adult , Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures/statistics & numerical data , Endoscopy , Gallbladder Diseases/etiology , Humans , Liver Transplantation/adverse effects , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors
20.
Sci Rep ; 8(1): 5731, 2018 04 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29636539

ABSTRACT

There has been evidence on the protective effects of diets high in fiber and low in red and processed meat (RPM), and physical activity (PA) against colorectal cancer (CRC) development, but that against CRC recurrence has been limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of a behavioral program comprising dietary and PA interventions in improving Chinese CRC survivors' lifestyle. A 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial of 223 CRC patients (82 females, mean age 65), randomly assigned to receive dietary, PA or both interventions, or usual care for 12 months, and assessed every 6 months for 24 months. Primary outcomes included two dietary and two PA targets. Secondary outcomes included changes in dietary consumptions and PA levels. Dietary interventions significantly increased the odds of achieving the targets of consuming less RPM at all time-points (OR 3.22-4.57, all p < 0.01) and refined grain (RG) at months 6 (OR 3.13, p = 0.002) and 24 (OR 2.19, p = 0.039), and reduced RPM (2.49-3.48 servings/week, all p < 0.01) and RG (0.31-0.5 servings/day, all p < 0.01) consumptions. Patients receiving PA interventions potentially spent more time on moderate-to-vigorous PA. This study demonstrated the efficacy of a behavioral program in improving dietary habits of Chinese CRC survivors.


Subject(s)
Cancer Survivors , Colorectal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Diet , Exercise , Quality of Life , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Colorectal Neoplasms/therapy , Female , Health Behavior , Humans , Life Style , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Public Health Surveillance
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