Metformin and the Risk of Anemia of Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This retrospective cohort study determines whether metformin monotherapy or combination therapies can decrease anemia risk in the progress of advanced chronic kidney disease for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The data set was obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database, containing 1 million randomly selected beneficiaries. After matching, 9303 pairs (1:1) of metformin users and nonusers were acquired.

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and the Delay of Insulin Use in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Taiwan: A Nationwide Study.

Introduction: Patients with type 2 diabetes are widely prescribed metformin for controlling blood glucose levels to avoid related comorbidities. In Taiwan, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is also commonly used, especially Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (LWDHW), which has been reported to delay the occurrence of kidney failure. However, the effect of combinational therapy of TCM and oral antidiabetic drugs is still unclear.

The dynamics of patient visits to traditional Chinese medicine during the 2019 coronavirus pandemic.

Background: Large-scale epidemics have changed people's medical behavior, and patients tend to delay non-urgent medical needs. However, the impact of the pandemic on the use of complementary and alternative medicine remains unknown.

Methods: This retrospective study aimed to analyze the changes in the number of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patients and examine the epidemic prevention policy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Metformin Treatment Is Associated with a Decreased Risk of Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between metformin use and the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to investigate the effect of metformin dosage on reducing the incidence of DR.

Methods: The study population included patients with newly diagnosed T2DM, who were aged ≥20 years and prescribed with antidiabetic drug therapy lasting ≥90 days, as identified using the National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2012. We matched metformin users and nonusers by a propensity score.

Chinese herbal products and the reduction of risk of breast cancer among females with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan: A case-control study.

Women with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. In Taiwan, traditional Chinese medicine is widely used to treat diabetes; however, its precise influence has not been empirically tested.The objective of the case-control study is to estimate the effect on the risk of breast cancer of using traditional Chinese medicine for women with type 2 diabetes.

Demographic and medication characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine users among colorectal cancer survivors: A nationwide database study in Taiwan.

Chinese herbal product (CHP) is the major type of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and widely used to relief the symptom of colorectal cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze the utilization of CHP for treating patients with colorectal cancer in Taiwan. The usage of CHP, frequency of services, and prescription pattern for colorectal cancer were analyzed from a randomly sampled cohort of 1 million beneficiaries from the National Health Insurance Research Database.

Detection of a negative correlation between prescription of Chinese herbal products containing coumestrol, genistein or daidzein and risk of subsequent endometrial cancer among tamoxifen-treated female breast cancer survivors in Taiwan between 1998 and 2008: A population-based study.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Tamoxifen users sometimes seek complementary and alternative medicine advice for treatment of a variety of illness and co-administer with phytoestrogen-containing herbs, resulting in an increasing concern of its influence in subsequent endometrial cancer risk. Our study aims to determine the prevalence of Chinese herbal products containing coumestrol, genistein, or daidzein and their association with subsequent endometrial cancer risk among tamoxifen-treated breast cancer survivors in Taiwan.

Methods: We selected all patients who were newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and received tamoxifen treatment between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2008, from the National Health Insurance Research Database.

The Prescription Pattern of Chinese Herbal Products Containing Ginseng among Tamoxifen-Treated Female Breast Cancer Survivors in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study.

Background. The purpose of our study is to analyze the association between prescribed Chinese herbal products (CHPs) containing Ginseng and the risk of endometrial cancer among tamoxifen (TMX) users and to identify any possible interactive effects between Ginseng and TMX with respect to preventing the development of subsequent endometrial cancer in an estrogen-dependent breast cancer population in Taiwan. Methods.

Demographic and medication characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine users among dementia patients in Taiwan: a nationwide database study.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Few studies have reported on the utilization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) among dementia patients. The aim of the present study is to analyze factors associated with TCM users in the dementia populations and to investigate the medical conditions related to TCM visits.

Materials And Methods: A total of 18,141 dementia patients were screened from the one million sample of the National Health Insurance Research Database.

The prescription pattern of Chinese herbal products that contain dang-qui and risk of endometrial cancer among tamoxifen-treated female breast cancer survivors in Taiwan: a population-based study.

Purpose: The increased practice of traditional Chinese medicine worldwide has raised concerns regarding herb-drug interactions. We analyzed the usage of Chinese herbal products containing dang-qui and investigated whether dang-qui therapy increases endometrial cancer risk among tamoxifen-treated breast cancer survivors in Taiwan.

Methods: All patients newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer who received tamoxifen treatment from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2008 were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database.

Integrating traditional Chinese medicine healthcare into diabetes care by reducing the risk of developing kidney failure among type 2 diabetic patients: a population-based case control study.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Our previous study indicated that the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Liu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan, which consists of six type of herbs, namely Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC., root, dried; Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc.

The use of Chinese herbal products and its influence on tamoxifen induced endometrial cancer risk among female breast cancer patients: a population-based study.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The increased practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) worldwide has raised concerns regarding herb-drug interactions. The purpose of our study was to analyze the use of Chinese herbal products (CHPs) and to estimate the influence of the use of CHP on tamoxifen induced endometrial cancer risk among female breast cancer patients in Taiwan.

Methods: All patients newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer receiving tamoxifen treatment from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2008 were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database.

Concurrent Use in Taiwan of Chinese Herbal Medicine Therapies among Hormone Users Aged 55 Years to 79 Years and Its Association with Breast Cancer Risk: A Population-Based Study.

Background. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the concurrent use of Chinese herbal products (CHPs) among women aged 55 to 79 years who had also been prescribed hormonal therapies (HT) and its association with breast cancer risk. Methods.

Prescription profile of Chinese herbal products containing coumestrol, genestein, and/or daidzein among female users: an analysis of national health insurance data in Taiwan between 1997 and 2007.

Background: Some Chinese herbs contain several kinds of phytoestrogens, and these herbs are commonly prescribed in Taiwan. Phytoestrogens may influence the effects of estrogen in females, although their activities are weak. This study aims to identify the risk and analyze the prescription profile of commonly used phytoestrogenic herbs in Taiwan.

The traditional chinese medicine prescription pattern of endometriosis patients in taiwan: a population-based study.

Background. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), when given for symptom relief, has gained widespread popularity among women with endometriosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the utilization of TCM among women with endometriosis in Taiwan.

Prescription pattern of chinese herbal products for breast cancer in taiwan: a population-based study.

Background. Chinese herbal products (CHPs) given as a therapy for symptom relief have gained widespread popularity among women with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the utilization of CHP among women with breast cancer in Taiwan.

Increased risk for invasive breast cancer associated with hormonal therapy: a nation-wide random sample of 65,723 women followed from 1997 to 2008.

Background: Hormonal therapy (HT) either estrogen alone (E-alone) or estrogen plus progesterone (E+P) appears to increase the risk for breast cancer in Western countries. However, limited information is available on the association between HT and breast cancer in Asian women characterized mainly by dietary phytoestrogens intake and low prevalence of contraceptive pills prescription.

Methodology: A total of 65,723 women (20-79 years of age) without cancer or the use of Chinese herbal products were recruited from a nation-wide one-million representative sample of the National Health Insurance of Taiwan and followed from 1997 to 2008.