Taipei Veterans General Hospital

About: Taipei Veterans General Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Taipei, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 11878 authors who have published 16478 publications receiving 363424 citations. The organization is also known as: Táiběi Róngmín Zǒngyī Yuàn.

Impact of radiotherapy for pediatric CNS atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (single institute experience).

Abstract: Purpose: To assess outcomes and prognostic factors in radiotherapy of pediatric central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT). Methods and Materials: Seventeen patients with central nervous system AT/RT were retrospectively reviewed after curative radiotherapy as primary or adjuvant therapy between January 1990 and December 2003. Overall and failure-free survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The log–rank method was used to compare the effects of dosage (>50 Gy or ≤50 Gy) and treatment duration (>45 days or ≤45 days). Multivariate analysis was performed for prognostic factors. Results: Median overall survival and failure-free survival were 17 and 11 months, respectively. The 3 longest-surviving patients were older, underwent gross tumor removal, and completed both craniospinal and focal boost irradiation. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between the following: overall survival and performance status ( p = 0.019), failure-free survival and total irradiation dose ( p = 0.037), time interval between surgery and radiotherapy initiation ( p = 0.031), and time interval between surgery and radiotherapy end point ( p = 0.047). Conclusion: Radiotherapy is crucial in the treatment of AT/RT. We recommend initiating radiotherapy immediately postoperatively and before systemic chemotherapy in pediatric patients ≥3 years of age.

Outcomes of Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke in Chinese Patients The Taiwan Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke (TTT-AIS) Study

Abstract: Background and Purpose— The safety and efficacy of alteplase for ischemic stroke has not been examined in Chinese patients. We assessed the safety and efficacy of alteplase for acute ischemic stroke in daily clinical practice in Taiwan. Methods— A prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted in Taiwan from December 2004 to July 2008. Eligible patients (241) receiving alteplase were recruited and divided into 2 groups: standard dose (0.90±0.02 mg/kg, n=125) and lower dose (0.72±0.07 mg/kg, n=116). Primary outcome measures were safety: symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and death within 3 months. The secondary outcome measure was efficacy a modified Rankin scale of 0 to 2 after 3 months. Results— The standard-dose group had higher rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage using National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study, and Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-Monitoring Study definitions (10.4% versus 5.2%, 8.0% versus 2.6%...

Risk of dementia after anaesthesia and surgery

Abstract: Background The potential relationship between anaesthesia, surgery and onset of dementia remains elusive. Aims To determine whether the risk of dementia increases after surgery with anaesthesia, and to evaluate possible associations among age, mode of anaesthesia, type of surgery and risk of dementia. Method The study cohort comprised patients aged 50 years and older who were anaesthetised for the first time since 1995 between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2007, and a control group of randomly selected patients matched for age and gender. Patients were followed until 31 December 2010 to identify the emergence of dementia. Results Relative to the control group, patients who underwent anaesthesia and surgery exhibited an increased risk of dementia (hazard ratio = 1.99) and a reduced mean interval to dementia diagnosis. The risk of dementia increased in patients who received intravenous or intramuscular anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia and general anaesthesia. Conclusions The results of our nationwide, population-based study suggest that patients who undergo anaesthesia and surgery may be at increased risk of dementia.