Exposure to Heavy Metals and Serum Adiponectin Levels among Workers: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study.

The workers exposed to metal fumes had an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, which was correlated with decreased serum adiponectin. Thus, we aimed to explore whether heavy metal exposure affects the adiponectin level. There were 96 male workers recruited from a shipyard at baseline.

Calf circumference and risk of cardiovascular disease.

Aim: Calf circumference (CC) is an anthropometric parameter that is easily obtained. Increasingly, research has shown that CC related to cardiovascular events. We aimed to determine the correlation between CC and Framingham risk score (FRS) for the 10-year cardiovascular disease risk assessment in Taiwanese elderly aged ≥65 years.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites and mortality risk in an adult population.

Occupational polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure has been shown to increase the risk of various cancers and may be associated with carcinogenic mortality. However, no study has explored the relationship between environmental PAH exposure and mortality in general population. The aim of our study was to explore the association between PAH exposure and all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in a general US adult population.

Examining the association between serum phosphate levels and leukocyte telomere length.

Accelerated telomere attrition is related to various diseases, and multiple factors have been reported to influence telomere length. However, little attention has focused on the relationship between serum phosphate levels and mean telomere length. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between serum phosphate levels and mean telomere length in the US general population.

Association between Serum Calcium and Risk of Cardiometabolic Disease among Community-dwelling Adults in Taiwan.

Serum calcium, although only comprising 1% of total body calcium, is involved in intracellular signal pathways, vascular dilatation/constriction, and muscle contraction, which are crucial for insulin secretion, cholesterol catabolism, and blood pressure regulation. As far as we know, research on the relationship between serum calcium level and metabolic syndrome (MetS), diabetes, and hypertension in one longitudinal study is rare. Owing to the crucial role of serum calcium in human cardiometabolic physiology and lack of related study so far, this study aims to describe the relationship between serum calcium level and the incidence of MetS, diabetes, and hypertension.

The relationship between lead and cadmium levels and functional dependence among elderly participants.

The adverse impacts of lead and cadmium exposure on health outcomes have been reported in the past. Few studies have been conducted on the relationship between lead and cadmium exposures and disability. We evaluated whether lead and cadmium exposures were associated with functional dependence including the total number of disabilities, activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), leisure and social activities (LSA), lower extremity mobility (LEM), and general physical activities (GPA) in an elderly population.

Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and bone turnover in adults.

Background: Cigarette smoking is a risk factor of osteoporosis and bone fracture. Tobacco smoke contains several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Thus, we hypothesized that environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure is associated with bone loss and fracture risk.

Urinary biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the association with hearing threshold shifts in the United States adults.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are regarded as environmental pollutants that contribute to several adverse health outcomes. There is no research evidence to support a connection between PAH exposure and hearing loss. Our study aimed to determine the association between PAH exposure and hearing threshold shifts using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset.

Metabolic syndrome and semen quality in adult population.

Background: Male obesity is suggested to impact negatively on male fertility and semen quality in numerous studies. However, previous literatures regarding health effects of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) on semen quality are rare and inconsistent. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between MetS and sperm parameters in a Taiwanese reproductive-age male population.

Body Fat Percentage in Relation to Lung Function in Individuals with Normal Weight Obesity.

Accumulating evidence indicates the association between obesity and lung function. However, no previous study has examined whether obesity affects lung function in normal weight participants with high body fat. We hypothesized that subjects with normal weight obesity (NWO) were inversely associated with lung function in Taiwan.

Examining the association between vestibular function and lower extremity circumference in an aged population.

Aim: To explore the association between vestibular dysfunction and specific anthropometric parameters.

Methods: The results from 2420 participants of the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included for the evaluation of vestibular dysfunction using the Romberg test of standing balance and anthropometric measurements, including waist circumference, thigh circumference, calf circumference (CC), waist-to-thigh ratio (WTR) and waist-to-calf ratio (WCR). Passing the balance test was defined as participants keeping their balance for 30 s while in the standing position with their eyes closed.

Fat-to-muscle ratio is a useful index for cardiometabolic risks: A population-based observational study.

Metabolic disorders are prevalent worldwide and have recently become public health problems recently. Previous studies have proposed different body composition indices for predicting future cardiovascular risks. We hypothesized an association among fat-to-muscle ratio (FMR), metabolic syndrome (MetS), hypertension (HTN), prediabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and cardiovascular risk in an adult population.

Crosssectional Assessment of Bone Mass Density in Adults with Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Osteoporosis is one of the major complications in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infection. However, few studies had examined the relationship between hepatic viral infection with bone loss. Our aim was to investigate the association between hepatic viral infection with bone mineral density (BMD) in a cross-sectional study.

Helicobacter pylori infection increases risk of incident metabolic syndrome and diabetes: A cohort study.

Emerging studies have shed light on the association between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and cardiometabolic risk. However, there is no evidence to support a causal link for the relationship in the general population. Our aim was to determine whether HP infection is associated with the risks of incident type II diabetes mellitus (DM) in a population-based cohort consisting of adults from the general population.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and risk of disability among an elderly population.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants. Exposure to PAHs is associated with several adverse health outcomes. However, no previous study has examined the relationship between PAH exposure and functional dependence in an elderly population.

Peripheral fat distribution versus waist circumference for predicting mortality in metabolic syndrome.

Objective: To elucidate whether the peripheral fat (PF)-combined definition of metabolic syndrome (MetS) would show a better predictive ability for cause-specific mortality than the common MetS.

Methods: Data were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 through 2002. We investigated three types of MetS including waist circumference MetS (WCMetS), PFMetS, and PF-combined definition of MetS.

Exploring the link between metabolic syndrome and risk of dysmobility syndrome in elderly population.

Dysmobility syndrome (DMS) was considered as a comprehensive approach to evaluate the condition of musculoskeletal system and adverse health problems in older population. The objective of our study was to examine the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and DMS in a U.S.

Detrimental association between betel nut chewing and colorectal polyps in adult populations.

Adverse systemic effect caused by betel nut had been reported for decades. Our aim was to determine whether betel nut had detrimental impact on the development of colorectal polyps in general population. Participants who attended health examinations at the Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) from 2010 to 2016 were included in the study.

Association of Percentage Body Fat and Metabolic Health in Offspring of Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases.

Family history was one of the major risk factors for developing adverse health outcomes such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN). Our aim was to examine the relationship between different family histories and cardiometabolic events, including DM, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and HTN. Participants who attended the health examinations at the Tri-Service General Hospital from 2010 to 2016 were enrolled in the study and were categorized into four groups by representing different family history.

Predictability of cardiorespiratory fitness on the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus in Taiwan adults: Preliminary analysis of a cohort study.

Objective: To explore the prediction of aerobic exercise and resistance training on incidental metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes in a Taiwanese cohort.

Methods: The participant underwent annual health examinations and physical fitness tests, including 2-min push-up, 2-min sit-up, and endurance 3000-m none weight-bearing running exercise test from 2013 to 2015, were recruited. The cohort study involved 27,787 participants aged ≥20years in military services.