Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. CD is rare in Taiwan and other Asian countries, but its prevalence and incidence have been steadily increasing. A steering committee was established by the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease to formulate statements on the diagnosis and management of CD taking into account currently available evidence and the expert opinion of the committee. Thorough clinical, endoscopic, and histological assessments are required for accurate diagnosis of CD. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are complementary to endoscopic evaluation for disease staging and detecting complications. The goals of CD management are to induce and maintain remission, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life. Corticosteroids are the mainstay for inducing re-mission. Immunomodulating and biologic therapies should be used to maintain remission. Patients should be evaluated for hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis infection prior to treatment and receive regular surveillance for cancer. These consensus statements are based on current local evidence with consideration of factors, and could be serve as concise and practical guidelines for supporting clinicians in the management of patients with CD in Taiwan.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Therapy ; Consensus* ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Disease Management ; Expert Testimony ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Taiwan* ; Tuberculosis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic mucosal inflammation of the colon, and the prevalence and incidence of UC have been steadily increasing in Taiwan. A steering committee was established by the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease to formulate statements on the diagnosis and management of UC taking into account currently available evidence and the expert opinion of the committee. Accurate diagnosis of UC requires thorough clinical, endoscopic, and histological assessment and careful exclusion of differential diagnoses, particularly infectious colitis. The goals of UC therapy are to induce and maintain remission, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life. As outlined in the recommended treatment algorithm, choice of treatment is dictated by severity, extent, and course of disease. Patients should be evaluated for hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis infection prior to immunosuppressive treatment, especially with steroids and biologic agents, and should be regularly monitored for reactivation of latent infection. These consensus statements are also based on current local evidence with consideration of factors, and could be serve as concise and practical guidelines for supporting clinicians in the management of UC in Taiwan.
Biological Factors ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon ; Consensus* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Management ; Expert Testimony ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Steroids ; Taiwan* ; Tuberculosis ; Ulcer*

Objective To investigate the correlation between different postoperative serum cortisol cut-off values measured in different periods and the long-term outcomes in patients with Cushing's disease (CD). Methods The clinical data of 102 CD patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 1985 to July 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. The differences of long-term outcomes were compared between patients with cortisol levels below 2 μg/dl (2 μg/dl group) and levels between 2 and 5 μg/dl (5 μg/dl group) in the 1postoperative day and 3 and 6 months after surgery. Results The mean follow-up duration was (10.7±1.7) years (range:5-29.1 years). Among these 102 patients,the disease was cured in 74 patients (72.5%) and recurred in 28 patients (27.5%). On the 1postoperative day,there were 63 patients in the 2 μg/dl group,in which 48 patients (76.2%) achieved long-term cure;there were 39 patients in the 5 μg/dl group,in which 26 (66.7%) achieved long-term cure. The difference was not statistically significant (χ=1.097,P=0.295). Three months after TSS,the long-term cure rate was 84.2% (48/57) in the 2 μg/dl group,which was significantly higher than that (65.0%,26/40) in the 5 μg/dl group (χ=4.795,P=0.029). Six months after TSS,the long-term cure rate was 88.7% (47/53) in the 2 μg/dl group,which was significantly higher than that(69.2%,27/39) in the 5 μg/dl group(χ=5.400,P=0.020). Conclusion The serum cortisol level of below 2 μg/dl is more useful than 2-5 μg/dl 3 months and 6 months after surgery in predicting the prognosis of CD patients.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion ; blood ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of p15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT genes combined detection in the early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS).

METHODSThe methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect the methylation of the above-mentioned 4 genes in 67 patients with MDS. The value of 4 gene combined detection in the early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of patients with MDS was compared and anazlyzed.

RESULTSThe methylation rates of p15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT genes in 67 patients with MDS were 37.3%, 35.8%, 47.8% and 52.2%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The accordance rates of p15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT single detection for diagnosis of MDS were 37.3%,35.8%,47.8% and 52.2%, respectively, meanswhile the accordance rate of above-mentioned 4 gene combined detection for diagnosis of MDS was 82.1%, which was significantly higher than that of single gene detection(P<0.001). The methylation of ≥2 genes in relatively high risk group was significantly higher than that in relatively low risk group (P<0.05). The median survival time of MDS patients was 18(13.3, 22.7) months; the median survival time in relatively low risk group was significantly longer than that in relatively high risk group [27(20.3,33.7) months vs 9(5.9,12.1) months] (P<0.05). The survival time of MDS patients with different risks displayed the trend of shorting feature along with increasing of methylated genes (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined detection of above menthioned 4 genes can improve the accuracy of early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation for MDS patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ketogenic diet (KD) on neurobehavioral development, emotional and social behaviors, and life ability in children with global developmental delay (GDD).

METHODSA prospective case-control study was performed for hospitalized children with GDD, who were randomly divided into KD treatment group (n=40) and conventional treatment group (n=37). The children in both groups were given comprehensive rehabilitation training, and those in the KD treatment group were given modified Atkins diet in addition to the comprehensive rehabilitation training. The children in both groups were assessed with the Gesell Developmental Scale, Chinese version of Urban Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (CITSEA)/Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and Infants-Junior High School Students' Social Life Abilities Scale (S-M scale) before treatment and after 3, 6, and 9 months of treatment. The two groups were compared in terms of the improvements in neurobehavioral development, emotional and social behaviors, and social life ability.

RESULTSAfter 3, 6, and 9 months of treatment, the KD treatment group had significantly greater improvements in the scores of the adaptive, fine motor, and language quotients of the Gesell Developmental Scale compared with the conventional treatment group (P<0.05); the KD treatment group had significantly greater improvements in CITSEA/CBCL scores than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The KD treatment group had a greater improvement in the score of the S-M scale after 9 months of treatment (P<0.05). During the KD treatment, 6 children experienced diarrhea and 1 experienced mild urinary stones.

CONCLUSIONSKD can improve the neurobehavioral development and behavioral and emotional behaviors in children with GDD, and it has few adverse effects.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Developmental Disabilities ; diet therapy ; psychology ; Diet, Ketogenic ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy and safety of Shuanghuang Shengbai Granule (, SSG), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on myelosuppression of cancer patients caused by chemotherapy.

METHODSA total of 330 patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (220 cases, analysed 209 cases) and the control group (110 cases, analysed 102 cases) with a 2:1 ratio by envelope method. The patients in the treatment group at the first day of chemotherapy started to take SSG for 14 days, while the patients in the control group took Leucogon Tablets. The changes of the blood routine, clinical symptoms and immune function in both groups were observed for safety and efficacy evaluation.

RESULTSAt the 7th day of chemotherapy, the white blood cells (WBCs) level in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the WBCs rate in the normal range accounted for 50.2% in the treatment group, the myelosuppression of WBCs and neutrophil were mainly grade I, while 8.1% and 5.7% of patients emerged grade III and grade IV myelosuppression, respectively. The incidence of myelosuppression of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of Chinese medicine syndrome in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (84.2% vs. 72.5%, P<0.05). The immune cell levels in both groups were maintained in the normal range. Compared with that before treatment, the levels of CD3and CD4cells were significantly increased in the treatment group after treatment (P<0.05). The discrepancy of CD3and CD4cell activity before and after treatment in both groups were significantly different (P<0.05). No obvious adverse event occurred in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSSG had a protection effect on bone marrow suppression, and alleviated the clinical symptoms together with clinical safety.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Granulocyte Precursor Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Pancytopenia ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the methylation status of p15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT genes in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) and to explore the prognostic significance of gene methylation.

METHODSMethylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect the methylation of the above-mentioned 4 genes in 67 patients with MDS and 18 patients with iron-deficient anemia as controls. The gene methylation status of MDS patients and its effect on prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSThe methylation rates of p15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT in 67 MDS patients were 37.3%, 35.8%, 47.8% and 52.2%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The methylation status of p15, SOCS1 was increased along with the increase of International Prognostic Scoring System(IPSS) scores (P<0.05), and ≥2 genes was more frequent in relatively high risk groups (P<0.05). The median overall survival time of patients with and without methylation were 15 and 21 months, respectively (P<0.05). Patients showing methylation of SOCS1 had a significantly shorter survival time in relatively low risk groups(P<0.05), meanwhile SOCS1, p15 and methylations of ≥2 genes had significantly shorter survival time in relatively high risk groups(P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, SOCS1 and p15 were negative prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONp15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT are higher hypermethylated genes in MDS. The methylations of SOCS1 and p15 are independent prognostic factor for overall survival in MDS.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between position of head, cervical curvature type and associated cervical balance parameters in a neutral looking-forward posture.

METHODSCervical lateral X-rays of 60 patients with cervical spondylosis were selected from January to December 2015. There were 22 males and 38 females with an average age of (35.5±10.9) years old. The measured parameters included cervical curvature type, McGregor slope, C2 lower end plate slope, T1 slope, center of gravity to C7 sagittal vertical offset (CG-C7 SVA), and C2 to C7 sagittal vertical offset (C2-C7 SVA). The parameters were analyzed using Spearman correlation.

RESULTSThe cervical curvature type was significantly correlated with C2 lower endplate slope, C0-C2 angle (total degree of C2 lower endplate slope plus McGregor slope), CG-C7 SVA and T1 slope (<0.05), but it was not significantly correlated McGregor slope (>0.05). C2 lower endplate slope and C2-C7 SVA (r=0.87) were significantly (<0.05) correlated with CG-C7 SVA (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere was certain some relationship among position of head, cervical curvature type and associated cervical balance parameters in a neutral looking-forward posture. The center of gravity of the head would backwards shift following faced upward. A position of extension with posterior-shifting of the head would suggest that it may be accompanied with a relatively normal lordosis of the cervical spine. Some patients with abnormal curvature showed slightly bended head in the natural posture. Health education toward these people would be meaningful to restore the balance of their neck.

Objective To investigate the effect of intravenous dexmedetomidine injection(1 μg/kg)on the intubating conditions after inhalation induction with sevoflurane 8% and nitrous oxide(NO)50% in children. Methods Totally 122 patients aged 4-10 years with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statusⅠ undergoing elective plastic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided to dexmedetomidine group(intraveneously injected with dexmedetomidine 1μg/kg)and control group(injected with normal saline)by using the random sampling table.On arrival of the operating room,anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane 8% and NO 50% in oxygen 50%.When the patient became unconscious,the intravenous cannula 24was inserted on the dorsum of hand.One minute later,laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were performed.The intubating conditions were assessed by the scoring system in the previous study. Results The rates of acceptable conditions were 97% and 90% in dexmedetomidine group and in control group(P=0.143),and the rates of excellent conditions were 82% and 67%(P=0.04),respectively.In dexmedetomidine group,there were no signifi-cant differences of mean arterial presser and heart rate between the time-point of before intubation and the time-point of immediately after intubation.Conclusion Intravenous bolus of dexmedetomidine(1 μg/kg)can effectively improve the intubating conditions after inhalation induction of sevoflurane 8% and NO 50% in children and make the hemodynamics more stable during tracheal intubation.