Tri-Service General Hospital

About: Tri-Service 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 2940 authors who have published 2582 publications receiving 54807 citations. The organization is also known as: Sānjūn Zǒngyīyuàn.

Biomarker Analyses and Final Overall Survival Results From a Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label, First-Line Study of Gefitinib Versus Carboplatin/Paclitaxel in Clinically Selected Patients With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Asia (IPASS)

Abstract: Purpose The results of the Iressa Pan-Asia Study (IPASS), which compared gefitinib and carboplatin/paclitaxel in previously untreated never-smokers and light ex-smokers with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma were published previously. This report presents overall survival (OS) and efficacy according to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) biomarker status. Patients and Methods In all, 1,217 patients were randomly assigned. Biomarkers analyzed were EGFR mutation (amplification mutation refractory system; 437 patients evaluable), EGFR gene copy number (fluorescent in situ hybridization; 406 patients evaluable), and EGFR protein expression (immunohistochemistry; 365 patients evaluable). OS analysis was performed at 78% maturity. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess biomarker status by randomly assigned treatment interactions for progression-free survival (PFS) and OS. Results OS (954 deaths) was similar for gefitinib and carboplatin/paclitaxel with no significant difference between treatmen...

Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess: a new invasive syndrome.

Abstract: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a well known human nosocomial pathogen. Most community-acquired K pneumoniae infections cause pneumonia or urinary tract infections. During the past two decades, however, a distinct invasive syndrome that causes liver abscesses has been increasingly reported in Asia, and this syndrome is emerging as a global disease. In this Review, we summarise the clinical presentation and management as well the microbiological aspects of this invasive disease. Diabetes mellitus and two specific capsular types in the bacterium predispose a patient to the development of liver abscesses and the following metastatic complications: bacteraemia, meningitis, endophthalmitis, and necrotising fasciitis. For patients with this invasive syndrome, appropriate antimicrobial treatment combined with percutaneous drainage of liver abscesses increases their chances of survival. Rapid detection of the hypervirulent strain that causes this syndrome allows earlier diagnosis and treatment, thus minimising the occurrence of sequelae and improving clinical outcomes.

Peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa): an advance in the treatment of hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B.

Abstract: Current therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have a number of limitations, and better treatment options are needed. Peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) is superior to conventional interferon alpha-2a in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. This is the first report on peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) in the treatment of CHB. In this phase II study, 194 patients with CHB not previously treated with conventional interferon-alpha were randomized to receive weekly subcutaneous doses of peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) 90, 180 or 270 microg, or conventional interferon alpha-2a 4.5 MIU three times weekly. Twenty-four weeks of therapy were followed by 24 weeks of treatment-free follow-up. All subjects were assessed for loss of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), presence of hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBe), suppression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and normalization of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) after follow-up. At the end of follow-up, HBeAg was cleared in 37, 35 and 29% of patients receiving peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) 90, 180 and 270 microg, respectively, compared with 25% of patients on conventional interferon alpha-2a. The combined response (HBeAg loss, HBV DNA suppression, and ALT normalization) of all peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) doses combined was twice that achieved with conventional interferon alpha-2a (24%vs 12%; P = 0.036). All treatment groups were similar with respect to frequency and severity of adverse events. These results indicate that peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) is superior in efficacy to conventional interferon alpha-2a in chronic hepatitis B based on clearance of HBeAg, suppression of HBV DNA, and normalization of ALT.