J Formos Med Assoc
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
The impact of comorbidities, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and drug toxicities on quality of life in lung cancer patients receiving EGFR-TKI therapy.
Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are used as the standard first-line treatment for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the impact of comorbidities and treatment toxicities on quality of life (QoL) was seldom investigated. ⋯ Diarrhea, anorexia, skin pain, and pruritus may cause a deterioration in QoL in patients receiving EGFR-TKI therapy. NLR may be a potential predictive factor for QoL impairment. Aggressive management and close monitoring for these clinical factors are crucial to improve QoL.
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Observational Study
Clinical implications of frailty in peritoneal dialysis patients - A prospective observational study.
Frailty is an age-related condition that predicts adverse outcomes. The study was aimed to investigate the clinical implications of frailty evolution in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). ⋯ Frailty is a common medical condition in PD patients, and the status of which can be stabilized or improved in new-onset, young patients at least over the short term. Compared with frailty, certain comorbidities (diabetes and gout) and undernutrition appeared to be more robust in the prediction of adverse outcomes.
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The percentage of and factors associated with the regression of Barrett's esophagus (BE) or its characteristic intestinal metaplasia (IM) remain unclear, and conflicting results have been reported because of diverse regression and sampling error definitions. Thus, we investigated the rates of IM regression, sampling error, and associated factors. ⋯ In our patients with short-segment BE, 11.9% experienced regression of IM. Prolonged proton-pump inhibitors treatment was associated with regression. An insufficient biopsy number was related to a missed IM, which may be eliminated by maintaining biopsy number/maximal-length (cm) ratio ≥2.25.
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We aimed to explore the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for PTCL-NOS patients in the real world. ⋯ PTCL-NOS patients have a dismal prognosis in Taiwan. Novel agents may improve the outcomes of PTCL-NOS patients. The usefulness of the novel prognostic index for PTCL-NOS needs further validation.
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The benefit of injection laryngoplasty (IL) on voice for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) is supported increasingly in literatures, yet less is known for swallowing. Also, prevalence of patient-reported dysphagia is substantially higher than instrumental studies. This prospective study focused on swallowing outcomes, with predetermined flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) protocol that simulates daily life situation. ⋯ Maintaining swallowing function suitable for social environment is important. Our results demonstrated the feasibility of the predetermined FEES protocol, and positive effects of IL on both voice and swallowing outcomes.