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(Taiwan English News / Comprehensive report by Huang Ziti) Is surgery really the best treatment for prostate (prostate) cancer patients? A more than ten-year follow-up study shows that active tracking may be a better choice.

Associated PressAccording to reports, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (National Institute for Health and Care Research) commissioned an external study to divide patients with localized prostate cancer, that is, without metastasis to the lymph nodes, into three groups to explore the possibility of surgery. Removal of tumors, radiation therapy, and tracking are three options that are better than others. It turned out that there was not much difference.

The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the 11th.

The study began in 1999. A total of 1,600 British men with localized prostate cancer participated in the study and were randomly divided into three groups: surgery, radiotherapy, and follow-up. The follow-up group had regular blood draws, and some still had surgery or radiation therapy afterwards. Because most prostate cancers progress slowly, research took many years.

After 15 years, it was found that the survival rate of all patients was quite high, reaching 97%, which can be said to be quite exciting news. After all, treatment may cause sexual problems or urinary incontinence, and patients are not without reason to fear.

During this period, the mortality rates of each group were the follow-up group (3.1%), the radiotherapy group (2.9%), and the operation group (2.2%). Statistically, there was no significant difference. In terms of cancer cell spread, follow-up group (9.4%), radiotherapy group (5%), surgery group (4.7%).

However, since the research started more than ten years ago, the tracking technology is now better, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genetic testing have made great progress. Experts believe that it is possible to detect and intervene immediately when cancer cells are deteriorating and before they spread. As far as the United States is concerned, about 60% of low-risk patients currently choose the active tracking method.

The importance of this research lies in the fact that patients who are diagnosed with cancer and do not know what to do should not panic. They should consider the benefits and disadvantages of various therapies, and do not make a sudden decision to “treat” the tumor, perhaps through active treatment first. Just track it. Of course, the lead author of the study, Freddie Hamdy of the University of Oxford, emphasized that a small number of high-risk patients or patients with other serious diseases still need immediate intervention.

Prostate cancer surgery-free 15-year long-term study: Active follow-up is effective

(Taiwan English News/Comprehensive foreign report by Zhu Mingzhu) According to the new recommendations issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this Thursday (9th), regardless of whether there is a risk of infection, it is recommended that adults receive type B at least once in their lives. Hepatitis testing. This is the first time the CDC has updated its guidelines on liver B screening since 2008.

Hepatitis B and C are the main causes of chronic liver disease for hundreds of millions of people around the world, and are also the most common causes of cirrhosis, liver cancer and hepatitis-related deaths. Therefore, to eradicate liver diseases must start with increasing the screening rate.

Hepatitis B is a global disease. Since the main route of infection is that the blood and body fluids infected by the hepatitis B virus enter the human body through the skin or mucous membranes, it can be divided into mother-to-child transmission and horizontal infection. Therefore, in the past, the CDC only recommended screening for high-risk groups, including injecting drug users, pregnant women, and HIV-infected people.

But now this change proves that it is no longer enough to appeal to high-risk groups for screening. After all, active screening and timely treatment during the hepatitis stage can greatly reduce liver damage, and reduce the risk of hepatitis and death.

In addition, CDC has added three high-risk groups for hepatitis B, including prison inmates, inmates in detention facilities (whether they are in custody or have been released from prison); those with a history of sexually transmitted infections or multiple sexual partners; and those with a history of hepatitis C infection. of patients.

The CDC stated that do not ignore valuable screening opportunities because of misunderstandings or fear of being stigmatized. Most liver diseases have no obvious symptoms, and people are prone to delay seeking medical treatment due to lack of vigilance.

【Encyclopedia of Liver B】

In Taiwan, chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer are mainly caused by hepatitis B and C virus infection, but about two-thirds of the carriers do not know that they are carriers, and the liver has no nerves, so they often wait until Seek medical attention only at the end stage of liver disease.

After infection with hepatitis, the incubation period is about 3 months. Most people are asymptomatic, but a small number of people will have abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, general weakness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (such as yellow skin and whites of eyes), tea-colored urine, etc. situation. Chronic carriers often have no symptoms or only appear easily tired and tired.

The National Health Service began in August 2008 to provide people who were born after the 55th year of the Republic of China (inclusive) and aged 45 and above, with adult preventive health care services, to receive one-time hepatitis B and C screening services for life. Since June 1, 2018 At first, people with aboriginal status aged 40 to 60 can be combined with adult preventive health care services and receive life-long hepatitis B and C screening services.

Those who do not meet the qualifications for adult preventive health care examinations and have not yet undergone hepatitis B and C screening can use the adult preventive health care services provided by the National Health Service (every 3 years for 40-60 years old, and once a year for those over 65 years old 1 time), carry out liver function “GPT, GOT and other items” checks, and those who have abnormal liver function can receive the necessary viral hepatitis test, follow-up and treatment according to the doctor’s advice, so as to avoid becoming chronic Liver disease and cirrhosis.

Two-thirds are hepatitis B carriers without knowing that the US CDC has added 3 high-risk groups, calling on adults to be screened

(Taiwan English News/Comprehensive foreign report by Zhu Mingzhu) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a measles warning last Friday (3rd). Institutes and people with relevant footprints are on alert.

The CDC stated that according to a report from the Kentucky Department of Health on February 24, a person with a history of overseas travel and who had not been vaccinated against measles was diagnosed with measles. After the epidemic investigation, it was found that the case not only had a history of overseas travel, but also went to a large religious gathering at Asbury University in the United States on February 17 and 18. It is understood that the participants came from other states and countries, with a total of about 20,000 people.

Due to the large number of participants, it is not ruled out that there are still people who have not been listed and are at risk of infection. CDD appealed through the official website of “Health Alert Network Advisory” (Health Alert Network Advisory), and participated in this large-scale event on February 17 and 18. People attending religious gatherings, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against measles, should self-quarantine and monitor symptoms for 21 days after their last exposure to avoid spreading measles to others.

In addition, the CDC recommends that people who have not been fully vaccinated should be fully vaccinated as soon as possible after self-isolation, and calls on medical institutions to be more vigilant. If people seeking medical treatment develop measles-related symptoms, they should immediately report to the local health unit. Quickly carry out relevant inspections.

Measles is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the air, droplets or contact with nasopharyngeal secretions of patients. The incubation period is long. It takes about 21 days from the beginning of infection to the rash. The initial symptoms are easily confused with colds. Prodromal symptoms include fever , rhinitis, conjunctivitis (photophobia, watery eyes, red eyes), cough, etc.; a rash will appear 3 to 4 days after the prodromal symptoms, and more severe cases will be complicated by otitis media, pneumonia or encephalitis.

As for how to prevent the threat of measles? The CDC stated that the protective power of two full doses of the MMR vaccine can reach 97%, but to achieve herd immunity, the vaccine coverage must reach 95%. Vaccination is the most efficient and simple method of prevention, so the CDC urges the public to complete the vaccine as soon as possible. Receive 2 doses of MMR vaccine.

Due to the raging COVID-19 epidemic, measles vaccination coverage has declined. On November 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint report warning that measles (Measles) The epidemic will be an “imminent threat” globally.

Measles explosion at religious gathering in Kentucky, USA threatened 20,000 participants from all states and countries