Cardiovascular Outcomes Associated with Cholinesterase Inhibitor Use in Individuals at High Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are widely prescribed for dementia, but their effects on cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk populations remain unclear.

Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate the association between ChEI use and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality among individuals with high cardiovascular risk.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan from 2001 to 2022.

Impact of rapid temperature fluctuations on acute stroke risk: a nationwide case-crossover study from 2001 to 2020.

Background: Climate factors greatly affect cardiovascular health, with stroke ranking among serious global concerns. However, the impact of rapid temperature fluctuations on stroke risk remains underexplored. Given Taiwan's aging population and the intensifying effects of climate change, understanding influence of ambient temperatures on stroke risk is crucial for public health protection.

Would internal iliac artery occlusion cause gestational hypertension in the following pregnancy? A population-based study from 2008 to 2017.

Objective: In animal models, internal iliac artery occlusion caused gestational hypertension; however, whether this phenomena occurs in humans is still unknown.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Birth Certificate Application of Taiwan and linked to the National Health Insurance Research Database and Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database from 2008 to 2017. Women who underwent internal iliac artery occlusion before pregnant were identified according to diagnosis and procedure codes.

Impact of heart rate on eGFR decline in ischemic stroke patients.

Background: Resting heart rate is a potent predictor of various renal outcomes. However, the decline rate of renal function in ischemic stroke patients is not well defined. We tested the association of heart rate with estimated eGFR decline and the composite renal outcomes in patients with recent ischemic stroke.

Association between cytokines and progression-free survival in ovarian cancer following CRS/HIPEC treatment.

Background: The benefit of cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains uncertain. This study investigated the relationship between serum cytokines, particularly monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a key inflammatory mediator, and recurrence risk in EOC patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC.

Methods: From January 2018 to January 2023, serum cytokine levels were analyzed in 34 EOC patients (17 primary, 17 recurrent) before and after CRS/HIPEC using MILLIPLEX Magnetic Bead Panels.

Enhancing Europium Adsorption Effect of Fe on Several Geological Materials by Applying XANES, EXAFS, and Wavelet Transform Techniques.

This study conducted adsorption experiments using Europium (Eu(III)) on geological materials collected from Taiwan. Batch tests on argillite, basalt, granite, and biotite showed that argillite and basalt exhibited strong adsorption reactions with Eu. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis also clearly indicated differences before and after adsorption.

Climate Change Projections for Stroke Incidence in Taiwan: Impact of 2 °C and 4 °C Global Warming Level.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish the exposure-lag-response effect between daily maximum temperature and stroke-related emergency department visits and to project heat-induced stroke impacts under global warming levels (GWL) of 2 °C and 4 °C.

Methods: Stroke-related emergency department visits in Taiwan from 2001 to 2020 were identified using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The study population consisted of 1,100,074 initial stroke cases matched with 2,200,148 non-stroke controls.

Associations between the time interval from myomectomy to subsequent pregnancy and the obstetric outcomes: A population-based cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the associations between time interval from myomectomy to pregnancy (TIMP) and subsequent pregnancy and obstetric complications, and to explore whether these associations vary according to maternal age at birth.

Methods: A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted from 2008 to 2017. Data were extracted from the National Health Insurance Research Database and the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database, comprising 2024 379 births from 1 391 856 pregnancies.

Does repetitive dilatation and curettage or hysteroscopic biopsy in patients treated with progestins for endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma affect subsequent fetomaternal outcomes? A population-based study using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.

Objective: To investigate the impact of repeated dilatation and curettage or hysteroscopic biopsy on fetomaternal outcomes in patients receiving progestin treatment for endometrial hyperplasia or early-stage carcinoma.

Method: This was a population-based study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2009 and 2017 of women who gave birth and had a history of endometrial hyperplasia and early-stage carcinoma treated with progestins. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reflecting the association between repeated procedures and fetomaternal outcomes.

Neonatal and pregnancy complications following maternal depression or antidepressant exposure: A population-based, retrospective birth cohort study.

Objectives: Depression is common during pregnancy, and antidepressants are often prescribed for treatment. However, depression and antidepressant use both increase the risk of neonatal and pregnancy complications. To separately evaluate the effects of antidepressant use and the underlying depression on pregnancy and neonatal complications by using a robust statistical method to control for confounding by indication.

Association between initial in-hospital heart rate and glycemic control in patients with acute ischemic stroke and diabetes mellitus.

Background: A high resting heart rate (HR) has been associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus. This study explored the association between initial in-hospital HR and glycemic control in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and diabetes mellitus.

Methods: We analyzed data from 4,715 patients with AIS and type 2 diabetes mellitus enrolled in the Chang Gung Research Database between January 2010 and September 2018.

Descriptive Study of Mastitis in Postpartum Women in Taiwan: Incidence and Related Factors.

Mastitis is a common disorder among postpartum women. The discomfort and pain caused by mastitis may lead to the discontinuation of breastfeeding. Large-scale epidemiological studies examining mastitis are limited.

Initial In-Hospital Visit-to-Visit Heart Rate Variability Is Associated with Higher Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: To evaluate the association between the visit-to-visit heart rate variability and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: We analyzed the data of 8179 patients with AIS. Patients without AF on 12-lead electrocardiography underwent further 24 h Holter monitoring.

Ultraselective Extraction Reprocessing of TcO/ReO with a Promising Carbamic Acid Extractant System.

With the development of nuclear energy, the reprocessing of TcO/ReO has become a very difficult problem due to environmental issues such as high output, long life, and easy leakage. In this study, three extraction systems containing carbamic acid were introduced into the reprocessing of TcO/ReO for the first time. The results involving one of the three results show that -[,-di(2-ethylhexyl) aminocarbonylmethyl] glycine (D2EHAG) has ultrahigh selectivity for removal to TcO/ReO.

Study on Tritium and Iodine Species Transport through Porous Granite: A Non-Sorption Effect by Anion Exclusion.

The safety of deep geological repositories is important in the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). In this study, advection−dispersion experiments were designed to build a transport model through a calibration/validation process, and the transport behavior of tritiated water (HTO) and various iodine species (iodide: I− and iodate: IO3−) was studied on a dynamic compacted granite column. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) were plotted under various flow rates (1−5 mL/min).

Development and Validation of a Novel Score for Predicting Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Atrial fibrillation (AF)-whether paroxysmal or sustained-increases the risk of stroke. We developed and validated a risk score for identifying patients at risk of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A total of 6033 patients with AIS who received 24 h Holter monitoring were identified in the Chang Gung Research Database.

Association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and risk of peripheral artery disease in diabetes mellitus: Propensity score matching and landmark analysis.

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the bidirectional hemostatic effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on the risk of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. However, no previous study has focused on the relationship between SSRI and the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in diabetes mellitus (DM). We sought to evaluate the association between SSRIs and the PAD risk in individuals with DM.

An Improved Speciation Method Combining IC with ICPOES and Its Application to Iodide and Iodate Diffusion Behavior in Compacted Bentonite Clay.

An accurate and effective method combining ion chromatography (IC) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied in this work to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze individual and co-existing iodide (I) and iodate (IO) at various concentrations. More specifically, a very strong linear relationship for the peak area for the co-existing I and IO ions was reached, and a high resolution value between two peaks was observed, which proves the effectiveness of our combined IC-ICP-OES method at analyzing iodine species. We observed lower accessible porosity for the diffusion of both I and IO in samples of bentonite clay using IC-ICP-OES detection methods, where the effective diffusion coefficient varied based on the anion exclusion effect and the size of the diffusing molecules.

Pathogens and Prognosis of Deep Neck Infection in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: To examine the pathogenic bacterial spectra and prognosis of deep neck infection (DNI) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with DNI between 2004 and 2015 in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were enrolled and divided into three groups, namely ESRD-DNI, chronic kidney disease (CKD)-DNI, and non-CKD-DNI.

Pediatric thalassemic patients have higher incidence of asthma: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Patients with hemoglobinopathies have been reported to have higher rates of pulmonary complications. Few studies have investigated the association between thalassemia and asthma in children.

Methods: We used the data of one million individuals randomly selected from the Registry for Beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Research Database.

Initial in-hospital heart rate is associated with long-term survival in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Aims: Increased heart rate has been associated with stroke risk and outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the long-term prognostic value of initial in-hospital heart rate in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: We analyzed data from 21,655 patients with AIS enrolled (January 2010-September 2018) in the Chang Gung Research Database.

High Risk of Peritonsillar Abscess in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients: A Nationwide Real-World Cohort Study.

Background: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is an infectious emergency in the head and neck, and patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have an immunocompromised status. However, no relevant research has focused on the ESRD-PTA relationship. This study explored PTA in ESRD patients and their prognosis.