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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a well-known complication after rituximab-based chemotherapy in patients with B cell lymphoma (BCL) who have resolved HBV infection. This retrospective cohort study used electronic medical records from the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. There were 128 patients with BCL and resolved HBV infection treated with 1st-line rituximab-containing therapy from 2008 to 2013. No patient received antiviral prophylaxis. Patients with high pretreatment hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs titer ≥100 mIU/mL), had significantly less HBV reactivation (2.0%, 1/49) than patients with low (10–100 mIU/mL, 10.8%, 4/37) or negative anti-HBs (<10 mIU/mL, 23.8%, 10/42) (p = 0.001). No patient in the high group vs. 1 (2.7%) low group vs. 6 (14.3%) negative group developed HBV-related hepatitis (p = 0.002). Patients with high pretreatment anti-HBs have a low risk of HBV-related complications and may not require antiviral prophylaxis. We propose an algorithm for the management of HBV reactivation risk in BCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a substantial amount of destination image research has been performed, few researchers have explored image perception gaps between tourists and government promotions. This study examines the perception gap between blogs and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) promotions by introducing a four-quadrant diagnostic tool: the Perception-Promotion Matrix (PPM). This case study collected data from 168 domestic and 64 international blogs, and 70 Chinese and 36 English official Kaohsiung City promotional websites to investigate image gap. The findings revealed significant “Tourist Infrastructure” image perception gaps, both from domestic and international traveler perspectives. The PPM suggests Kaohsiung City DMOs successfully promote an image of culture by hosting events and festivals. However, analysis indicates failure on the part of these DMOs to promote an image of Kaohsiung as an Ocean capital. Recommendations resulting from this study are provided for Kaohsiung City DMO consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Phthalate esters (PAEs) have known widely being used in plastic products leading to being ubiquitous in the environment by easy to release from those products. This study aims to understand the impact of heavy rainfall on the concentration of PAEs in surface sediments of the Salt River in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and its potential ecological risks on aquatic organisms. The potential ecological risk assessment of sediment PAEs is based on the total risk quotient (TRQ) method. The total concentration of 10 PAEs (∑PAE10) in sediments of the Salt River is 333–13,615 ng/g dw, with an average of 4212 ± 3753 ng/g dw. Before the rainy season, the ∑PAE10 concentration in sediments at the outlets of domestic sewage in upstream was 9768–13,615 ng/g dw, which were relatively higher than other sites (542–3721 ng/g dw). During the rainy season, the ∑PAE10 concentration was 2820–12,041 ng/g dw, which was 1–11 times higher than that determined before the rainy season. After the rainy season, the ∑PAE10 concentration recorded was 530–6652 ng/g dw, which is 1–11 times lower than the value obtained during the rainy season. PAEs in sediments of the Salt River may have low to moderate potential risks to algae, crustaceans, and fish. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) are the main PAE that poses a potential risk to algae and crustaceans, and to fish respectively, whose values of risk quotient accounts for 40–69% of the TRQ value. The distribution of TRQ values for these aquatic organisms show a decreasing trend of PAEs level with respect to the rainy season: during the rainy season > after the rainy season > before the rainy season. Heavy rainfall may cause more serious pollution in sediments and increase the exposure risk of PAEs to aquatic organisms. [Display omitted] • Long-chain PAEs as plasticizers are the dominant PAEs in the surface sediments. • PAEs in sediments may mainly come from the release of plastic products in daily life. • Heavy rainfall may increase the exposed risk of PAEs to aquatic organisms. • DEHP and DiBP are the main PAEs that pose potential risks to aquatic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]