Spousal correlations for nine psychiatric disorders are consistent across cultures and persistent over generations.

Trait similarities between spouses are a key factor that shapes the landscape of complex human traits. The driving force behind the spousal correlations can increase the overall prevalence of disorders, influence occurrences of comorbidities and bias estimations of genetic architectures. However, there is a lack of large-scale studies examining cultural differences and generational trends in spousal correlations for psychiatric disorders.

Education as a Modifier of Genetic Influence on Cognitive Ability in Older Adults.

Whether education modifies genetic influences on cognition has not been fully explored, especially in non-European populations. Using the older adult cohort from the Taiwan Biobank of East Asian populations, this study aimed to investigate the modifying effect of education on the association of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele and polygenic scores (PGS) for Alzheimer's disease (PGS), cognitive performance (PGS), education attainment (PGS), and schizophrenia (PGS) with cognitive ability. Participants aged > 60 years were included in this cohort study.

Prenatal and childhood infections and risk of epilepsy.

Infections in utero and early childhood are associated with an increased epilepsy risk; however, confounding by familial predisposition has not been adequately accounted for in previous studies. We aimed to assess the epilepsy risk attributable to infections in utero and early childhood by performing population-based and sibling-comparison analyses to account for residual and unmeasured familial confounding factors. This nationwide birth cohort study included 2,609,289 individuals born 2001-2016 in Taiwan.

Paternal age, de novo mutation, and age at onset among co-affected schizophrenia sib-pairs: whole-genome sequencing in multiplex families.

Whether delaying fatherhood leads to more mutations, thereby resulting in adverse psychiatric outcomes in offspring, remains under debate. No study has directly examined the role of de novo mutations (DNMs) between paternal age and offspring psychiatric outcomes. This study aimed to explore the association between paternal age, the number of DNMs, and age at onset of schizophrenia by sequencing the whole genome of multiplex schizophrenia families.

Incorporating Polygenic Liability and Family History for Predicting Psychiatric Diseases in the Taiwan Biobank.

Background: In this study, we investigated the interplay between molecular measures of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) and conventional measures of family history (FH) on the risk of 4 psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BPD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in community samples of East Asian populations. We examined the individual and joint associations and the relative contributions of PRS and FH and evaluated the potential of combining transdiagnostic PRSs and FHs to improve risk prediction.

Methods: The genotyping of 106,581 unrelated participants from the Taiwan Biobank was linked to the National Health Insurance Research Database to retrieve information on ICD-defined diseases and FH.

Association between infant feeding and ADHD development in childhood: a birth cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Infant feeding plays a vital role in neurodevelopment, and a lack of breastfeeding and complementary feeding may increase the risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, empirical evidence on this relationship remains uncertain, as most studies are based on cross-sectional designs. Therefore, this study aimed to examine this temporal relationship using longitudinal data from a birth cohort.

Familial coaggregation and shared genetic influence between major depressive disorder and gynecological diseases.

The mechanism underlying the co-occurrence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and gynecological diseases remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the familial co-aggregation and shared genetic loading between MDD and gynecological diseases, namely dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, uterine leiomyomas (UL), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Overall, 2,121,632 females born 1970-1999 with parental information were enrolled from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD); 25,142 same-sex twins and 951,779 persons with full-sibling(s) were selected.

Discovery and prioritization of genetic determinants of kidney function in 297,355 individuals from Taiwan and Japan.

Current genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for kidney function lack ancestral diversity, limiting the applicability to broader populations. The East-Asian population is especially under-represented, despite having the highest global burden of end-stage kidney disease. We conducted a meta-analysis of multiple GWASs (n = 244,952) on estimated glomerular filtration rate and a replication dataset (n = 27,058) from Taiwan and Japan.

Assortative mating across nine psychiatric disorders is consistent and persistent over cultures and generations.

Emerging evidence has shown that assortative mating (AM) is a key factor that shapes the landscape of complex human traits. It can increase the overall prevalence of disorders, influence occurrences of comorbidities, and bias estimation of genetic architectures. However, there is lack of large-scale studies to examine the cultural differences and the generational trends of AM for psychiatric disorders.

Your height affects your health: genetic determinants and health-related outcomes in Taiwan.

Background: Height is an important anthropometric measurement and is associated with many health-related outcomes. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified hundreds of genetic loci associated with height, mainly in individuals of European ancestry.

Methods: We performed genome-wide association analyses and replicated previously reported GWAS-determined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Taiwanese Han population (Taiwan Biobank; n = 67,452).

A Study to Evaluate Accuracy and Validity of the EFAI Computer-Aided Bone Age Diagnosis System Compared With Qualified Physicians.

Study Objectives: In previous research, we built a deep neural network model based on Inception-Resnet-v2 to predict bone age (EFAI-BAA). The primary objective of the study was to determine if the EFAI-BAA was substantially concordant with the qualified physicians in assessing bone ages. The secondary objective of the study was to determine if the EFAI-BAA was no different in the clinical rating (advanced, normal, or delayed) with the qualified physicians.

Analysis of Variants and Graves' Disease and Its Comorbidities Using a High Resolution Imputation System to Examine Electronic Medical Health Records.

Hyperthyroidism is a prevalent endocrine disorder, and genetics play a major role in the development of thyroid-associated diseases. In particular, the inheritance of HLA has been demonstrated to induce the highest susceptibility to Graves' disease (GD). However, thus far, no studies have reported the contribution of HLA to the development of GD and the complications that follow.

Report of clinical bone age assessment using deep learning for an Asian population in Taiwan.

Introduction: A deep learning-based automatic bone age identification system (ABAIs) was introduced in medical imaging. This ABAIs enhanced accurate, consistent, and timely clinical diagnostics and enlightened research fields of deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging.

Aim: The goal of this study was to use the Deep Neural Network (DNN) model to assess bone age in months based on a database of pediatric left-hand radiographs.

Genetic factors of idiopathic central precocious puberty and their polygenic risk in early puberty.

Objective,: To investigate the genetic characteristics of idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) and validate its polygenic risk for early puberty.

Design And Methods: A bootstrap subsampling and genome-wide association study were performed on Taiwanese Han Chinese girls comprising 321 ICPP patients and 148 controls. Using previous GWAS data on pubertal timing, a replication study was performed.

Timing, Dosage, and Adherence of Antiretroviral Therapy and Risk of Osteoporosis in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Taiwan: A Nested Case-Control Study.

The progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is delayed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, long-term ART is associated with adverse effects. Osteoporosis is one of the adverse effects and is a multifactorial systemic skeletal disease associated with bone fragility and an increased risk of fracture.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Usage Reduces Overall Mortality in HIV-Infected Patients With Osteoporosis or Fractures.

The survival of patients with HIV has greatly improved, due to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). However, long-term HIV survivors often develop serious bone abnormalities, possibly due to the interplay of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, HIV ad ART. We evaluated in a nation-wide study in Taiwan the effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on overall mortality in HIV patients with osteoporosis or fractures.

Genetic risk score constructed from common genetic variants is associated with cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) experience a two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified T2DM susceptibility genetic variants. Interestingly, the genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disease risk in T2DM Han Chinese remain to be elucidated.

Genome-Wide and Candidate Gene Association Analyses Identify a 14-SNP Combination for Hypertension in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: High blood pressure is common and comorbid with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Almost 50% of patients with T2D have high blood pressure. Patients with both conditions of hypertension (HTN) and T2D are at risk for cardiovascular diseases and mortality.

Decreased overall mortality rate with Chinese herbal medicine usage in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis in Taiwan.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is one of the main causes of the morbidity and mortality in liver diseases. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has long been used for the clinical treatment of liver diseases. This study was designed to explore the usage frequency and prescription patterns of CHM for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and to evaluate the long-term effects of CHM on overall mortality.

Lower rates of mortality, readmission and reoperation in patients receiving acupuncture after hip fracture: a population-based analysis.

Background: Studies on the effects of acupuncture on mortality and complication rates in hip fracture patients are limited by small sample size and short follow-up time. We aimed to assess the associations of acupuncture use with mortality, readmission and reoperation rates in hip fracture patients using a longitudinal population-based database.

Methods: A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted using data for the years 1996-2012 from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Protective effects and network analysis of natural compounds obtained from Radix dipsaci, Eucommiae cortex, and Rhizoma drynariae against RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Osteoporosis is one of the most common bone diseases; it is characterized by bone loss and is a risk factor for hip fracture. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) and their related natural compounds have been used for treating many diseases, including bone diseases, since ancient times in China and are regarded as a cost-effective complementary therapy.

Aim Of The Study: The goal of this study was to investigate the osteoprotective mechanisms of these three Chinese herbs and their related natural compounds.

Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicines on the Risk of Overall Mortality, Readmission, and Reoperation in Hip Fracture Patients.

Hip fracture is a major public health concern, with high incidence rates in the elderly worldwide. Hip fractures are associated with increased medical costs, patient dependency on families, and higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is typically characterized as cost-effective and suitable for long-term use with few side effects.

Network analysis and mechanisms of action of Chinese herb-related natural compounds in lung cancer cells.

Background: Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are a resource of natural compounds (ingredients) and their potential chemical derivatives with anticancer properties, some of which are already in clinical use. Bei-Mu (BM), Jie-Geng (JG), and Mai-Men-Dong-Tang (MMDT) are important CHMs prescribed for patients with lung cancer that have improved the survival rate.

Hypothesis/purpose: The aim of this study was to systemically investigate the mechanisms of action of these CHM products in lung cancer cells.