Medicine
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Observational Study
Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells Are Associated With Prognosis of Gastric Cancer.
Immune cells contribute to determining the prognosis of gastric cancer. However, their exact role is less clear. We determined the prognostic significance of different immune cells in intratumoral tissue (T), stromal tissue (S), and adjacent normal tissue (N) of 166 gastric cancer cases and their interactions, including CD3+, CD4+, CD8, CD57+, CD68+, CD66b+, and Foxp3+ cells, and established an effective prognostic nomogram based on the immune reactions. ⋯ The calibration curve for likelihood of survival demonstrated favorable consistency between predictive value of the nomogram and actual observation. The C-index (0.83, 95% CI: 0.78 to 0.87) of our nomogram for predicting prognosis was significantly higher than that of TNM staging system (0.70). Collectively, high TCD68+/SCD68+ ratio and TCD8+/TFoxp3+ ratio were associated with improved overall survival, whereas high density of TFoxp3+ cells and TCD66b+/SCD66b+ ratio demonstrated poor overall survival, which are promising independent predictors for overall survival in gastric cancer.
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Observational Study
Epidemiology and Medication Utilization Pattern of Aortic Dissection in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study.
Acute aortic dissection (AD) is a catastrophic condition associated with a high rate of mortality. However, current epidemiological information regarding AD remains sparse. The objective of the present study was to investigate the current epidemiological profile and medication utilization patterns associated with aortic dissection in Taiwan. ⋯ The annual trends revealed statistically significant increases in the numbers and percentages of prevalence, incidence, and mortality. Changes in patients' drug utilization in patterns were observed after AD diagnosis. Our study provides a local profile that supports further in-depth analyses in AD-affected populations.
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Observational Study
Hepatitis C Virus Infection Associated With an Increased Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Population-Based Cohort Study.
The association between the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke has been previously investigated. However, the association between the HCV infection and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been extensively discussed. Using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000), we selected 3686 patients with newly diagnosed HCV infection. ⋯ After adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities, the risk of DVT remained significantly higher in the HCV group than in the non-HCV group (adjusted HR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.03-3.73). The overall incidence density rates of PE in the HCV and non-HCV groups were not significantly different (crude HR = 2.20; 95% CI = 0.94-5.14). HCV infection is associated with the risk of DVT in a long-term follow-up period.
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Observational Study
Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Gastric Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.
Improvements in therapeutic modalities have prolonged the survival of gastric cancer patients. Comorbidities such as thromboembolic events that emerge as a result of disease complexities and/or treatments received have not been considered. The objectives of this study are to examine the relationship between gastric cancer and ischemic stroke, and to determine predictive risk factors. ⋯ Independent risk factors of ischemic stroke in gastric cancer patients included age, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, dyslipidemia, and having received major surgery for gastric cancer. Our findings suggest the importance of stroke surveillance and prevention strategies in high-risk patients. Having received major surgery for gastric cancer is a significant risk factor in these patients.
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Observational Study
Increased Risk of Chronic Sinusitis in Adults With Gastroesophgeal Reflux Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.
Although gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been reported to coexist with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), it remains controversial whether it increases risk of CRS in adults. This study accesses risk of CRS in adults with newly diagnosed GERD. We identified 15,807 adult patients with newly diagnosed GERD from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database for January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2009. ⋯ After adjustment, those with GERD were found to have a 2.36 times greater risk of CRS (95% confidence interval = 2.08-2.68; P < .001). Risk of this CRS without nasal polyps was higher than the disease with polyps (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.48 vs 1.85). The individuals with GERD in this study were at significantly greater risk of CRS, most often without nasal polyps.