Shared decision-making and patient decision aids in choosing first-line targeted therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer in Taiwan.

INTRODUCTION: In Taiwan, given the discrepancy between current treatment guidelines and reimbursement options, patients might require a tool to support their decision-making process when selecting a regimen for metastatic colorectal cancer, especially therapeutic strategies, and subsequent costs, along with efficacy and safety outcomes. Therefore, we developed a patient decision aid (PDA) to support patients in choosing between treatment options recommended based on the current evidence and those reimbursed by the Taiwanese National Health Insurance. METHODS: By carefully reviewing the updated data and then interpreting the clinical tool, we conducted a needs assessment using a serial questionnaire to test for a step-by-step adjustment of the PDA. RESULTS: Patients, their relatives, and medical team members were most concerned about outcomes, such as overall survival, progression-free survival, objective response rate, tumor shrinkage to resectable status, total medical cost, severe gastrointestinal perforation, and severe skin reaction. After a serial alpha test for quality, we performed quantitative evaluation and beta tests, revealing average scores of more than 4 points (on a scale of 1-5) for both perceptibility and utility. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that PDAs are useful and supplement the shared decision-making practice, helping patients make decisions about preferences and consider the pros and cons of treatment regimens, along with insurance reimbursement options.

Snare Tip Is an Alternative Tool for Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection is typically performed by specialized knife, such as a dual knife. However, it is not covered by Taiwan's National Health Insurance. In the literature review, using a traditional snare tip for endoscopic submucosal dissection has been reported for stomach lesions only. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection using a snare tip. DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical using of a snare tip compared with a dual knife for colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection. Postoperative short- and long-term outcomes were investigated after the procedure. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a single tertiary care institution. PATIENTS: Patients who could not afford the expense of a specialized knife were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dissection time, dissection speed, and perioperative complications were used for short-term outcome measurement. Recurrence-free rate was used for long-term outcome measurement. RESULTS: Twenty-one lesions were in the snare tip group and 57 lesions in the dual knife group. The outcomes, including rate of en bloc resection, complication, local recurrence, and recurrence-free interval, between the 2 groups were similar. The mean resected specimen diameter in the dual knife group is larger than the snare tip group (p = 0.041). The dissection time of the snare tip group was shorter than the dual knife group (p = 0.025). However, the dissection speed was significantly slower in the snare tip group than in the dual knife group (p = 0.008). LIMITATIONS: This study was a retrospective and single doctor chart review in nature with a limited patient number. CONCLUSIONS: The snare tip is an alternative tool for colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection in a selected population without the support of specialized knives, such as the dual knife. Although the dissection speed is slower using a snare tip, it is still a recommended technique for developing country or low-income patients.

Maternal constipation is associated with allergic rhinitis in the offspring: A nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common atopic disease worldwide, and it was found that babies with constipation in their early life might have an increased risk of atopic diseases, including AR. Furthermore, recent studies also indicate that the maternal gut microbiota may influence babies. Thus, we extended the definition of early life in utero and evaluated the association between maternal constipation and the risk of AR in their babies. Using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, a subset of Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 102,820 constipated mothers and 102,820 matched controls between 2005 and 2015. Propensity score analysis was used to match birth year, child sex, birth weight, gestational age, mode of delivery, maternal comorbidities, and children antibiotics taken. Multiple Cox regression and subgroup analyzes were conducted to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio of childhood AR. The incidence of childhood AR was 83.47 per 1,000 person-years in constipated mothers. Adjusting children's sex, birth weight, gestational age, mode of delivery, maternal comorbidities, and children antibiotic use, the results showed that the children whose mothers had constipation had a 1.20-fold risk of AR compared to children of mothers without constipation. Maternal constipation was associated with an increased risk of AR. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to pregnant mothers with constipation.

Influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based study.

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and rheumatoid arthritis has been investigated, but the results remain controversial. This study aims to determine the association between the two diseases via a 17-year retrospective cohort study. Using the National Health Insurance Research Database, a nationwide population based in Taiwan, we identified 97,533 individuals with H. pylori infection and matched controls between 2000 and 2017 using propensity score matching at a 1:1 ratio. The adjusted hazard ratio of rheumatoid arthritis was determined by multiple Cox regression. The incidence rate of rheumatoid arthritis was 1.28 per 10,000 person-months in the H. pylori cohort, with a higher risk compared to the control group. In the < 30 years old subgroup, the risk was highest, especially in women < 30 years old with H. pylori infection. Patients with < 1 year follow-up showed 1.58 times higher susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals with follow-ups of 1-5 years and over 5 years demonstrated 1.43 and 1.44 times higher risks of rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. Our study showed H. pylori infection was associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Clinicians should note higher risk, especially < 30 years old. More research needed to understand underlying mechanism.

Mortality of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who received elective or emergent operation after exposure to bevacizumab: A nationwide database study.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment guidelines for colorectal cancer (CRC) indicate that surgical intervention within 4 weeks or 8 weeks after bevacizumab therapy might increase the risk of postoperative complications and mortality, especially in patients who received emergent operation. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between different surgical timings, emergent or elective surgery, and the risk of postoperative mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database and Taiwan Cancer Registry, we identified patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who underwent surgery within 1 year of receiving bevacizumab between January 2010 and December 2017. The primary outcomes were 30-day, 60-day, and in-hospital mortality; the secondary outcomes were hospital stay, 30-day readmission rate, and surgical complications. Multivariate analysis was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: This study included 2,047 patients. In the multivariate analysis, patients who underwent emergent operation and had higher Charlson scores had a significantly higher mortality rate. Patients with a longer interval to surgery, more cycles of bevacizumab treatment, and distal metastectomy had the opposite result. In subgroup analysis, patients who received emergent operation within 28 days had the highest surgical mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The interval to operation among mCRC patients who receive bevacizumab treatment should exceed 4 weeks to avoid additional risk of mortality whether patients receiving elective or emergent operation. Patients who received emergent operation within 28 days of bevcizumab infusion had the highest risk of mortality.

Suture granuloma mimicking local recurrence of colon cancer after open right hemicolectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Foreign body granuloma is a rare surgery-related complication that can masquerade as cancer recurrence during postoperative surveillance. It may therefore deceive clinicians and lead to unnecessary interventions. The case presented herein demonstrates how a foreign body granuloma can be misleading in preoperative radiological studies and why this condition should not be ignored in differential diagnoses during surveillance of patients with previous history of abdominal surgery of any kind. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of suture granuloma mistaken for recurrent colon cancer, including the clinical history, imaging data, and histopathological photographs. A 60-year-old man was followed up at our institution after open right hemicolectomy 2 years earlier for ascending colon carcinoma. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an infiltrative heterogeneous soft tissue lesion at the right mesenteric root, adjacent to the ileocolic anastomosis. Local recurrence was therefore suspected. We performed exploratory laparotomy, excised the tumor, and sent it for histopathological examination, which confirmed suture granuloma. CONCLUSIONS: Foreign body granuloma is a rare surgery-related complication that should be considered during surveillance following colectomy. Its radiological features may mimic recurrent lesions, thus misleading clinicians and causing unnecessary interventions or further complications.