Effect modification of glycemic control on association of lung function with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in persons with type 2 diabetes - A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Poor glucose control might deteriorate the impaired pulmonary function, which can ultimately lead to mortality. However, few studies have examined the effect modification of glucose control on the association between pulmonary function and mortality. This study aimed to examine the association of pulmonary function with mortality and determine the effect modification of glycemic level on the association of pulmonary function with mortality in persons with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes: a Mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: Observational studies support the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) level and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with diabetes. The research question regarding whether the relationship between serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level and DN is causal lacks experimental evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the causality between hsCRP and DN based on Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Risk prediction of nephropathy by integrating clinical and genetic information among adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major healthcare challenge. We developed and internally and externally validated a risk prediction model of DN by integrating clinical factors and SNPs from genes of multiple CKD-related pathways in the Han Chinese population.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1526 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated into derivation (n = 1019) or validation (n = 507) sets.

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups affect physical performances in Han older adults: an 8-year follow-up prospective cohort study.

Aim: The objective of this study was to explore the association between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups and physical performances in Han older adults.

Methods: This study was an 8-year follow-up prospective cohort study. A total of 104 Han older adults completed the measurements of the 6-min walk test, grip strength and mitochondrial DNA sequencing.

Independent associations of urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio and serum cystatin C with carotid intima-media thickness in community-living Taiwanese adults.

Background: Renal function is a key factor of cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) has been widely used as a marker of early subclinical atherosclerosis. The determinants of cystatin C, a novel marker of renal function, have not been extensively studied in the Asian population.

Interactions among IGF-1, AKT2, FOXO1, and FOXO3 variations and between genes and physical activities on physical performance in community-dwelling elders.

This study assessed the interactions among IGF-1, AKT2, FOXO1, and FOXO3 variations and the interactions of gene and physical activity on handgrip strength, arm muscle mass-adjusted handgrip (armGrip), gait speed (GS), timed up and go (TUG), and leg press strength (LPS). Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) containing three IGF-1 SNPs (rs6214, rs5742692, and rs35767), two AKT2 SNPs (rs892119 and rs35817154), two FOXO1 SNPs (rs17446593 and rs10507486), and two FOXO3 SNPs (rs9480865 and rs2153960) were genotyped in 472 unrelated elders with a mean age of 73.8 years.

Effects of concurrent aerobic and resistance exercise in frail and pre-frail older adults: A randomized trial of supervised versus home-based programs.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of supervised and home-based exercise programs on older people with frailty or pre-frailty.

Methods: A total of 146 community-dwelling participants aged 65 and older who were prefrail or frail were randomly allocated into supervised exercise (N = 74) and home exercise (N = 72) groups. The 3-month supervised exercise training consisted of 3 exercise sessions per week, was performed at a hospital and supervised by a physical therapist.

Subclinical Atherosclerosis Markers of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Carotid Plaques, Carotid Stenosis, and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Adults.

Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque, and stenosis are widely used as early surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and strong predictors of future deaths and cardiovascular events. Albuminuria is an indicator of generalized endothelial dysfunction that speeds up atherosclerosis. However, previous studies reporting these associations cannot rule out the confounding effect of albuminuria.

Cognitive function and its transitions in predicting all-cause mortality among urban community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Cognitive impairment is accompanied with high rates of comorbid conditions, leading ultimately to death. Few studies examine the relation between cognitive transition and mortality, especially in Asian population. This study evaluated baseline cognition and cognitive transition in relation to all-cause mortality among community-dwelling older adults.

Evaluation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in 6 candidate genes and carotid intima-media thickness in community-dwelling residents.

Evidence suggests the existence of association between a large panel of modifiable biomarkers representing inflammation, coagulation, paraoxonase, and endothelial activation pathways and carotid atherosclerosis. Thus, this study investigated whether CRP, FGA, FGB, FGG, PON1, and EDNRA gene variants affected plasma hs-CRP, fibrinogen levels, and thickness of carotid intima media thickness (IMT). Nineteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms of CRP, FGA, FGB, FGG, PON1, and EDNRA genes were examined in 480 participants from 160 families.

Important gene-gene interaction of TNF-α and VDR on osteoporosis in community-dwelling elders.

Gene effects on osteoporosis have been studied separately and may have been masked by gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. We evaluated gene-gene and gene-physical activity interactions of the variants of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes on osteoporosis. A total of 472 elders were included.

Combined Effects of Having Sleep Problems and Taking Sleeping Pills on the Skeletal Muscle Mass and Performance of Community-Dwelling Elders.

This study aimed to explore the combined effects of having sleep problems and taking sleeping pills on the skeletal muscle mass and performance of community-dwelling elders. A total of 826 participants who have complete information regarding dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry examination, questionnaire, and physical performance tests were included. The status of having sleep problems and taking sleeping pills was assessed with a self-reported questionnaire.

Relationship among urinary advanced glycation-end products, skeletal muscle mass and physical performance in community-dwelling older adults.

Aim: Advanced glycation end-products are important factors in muscle function and physical performance among older adults. However, the association between sarcopenia and urinary carboxymethyl-lysine (uCML) levels remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship among uCML levels, skeletal muscle mass, physical performance and sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults.

Frailty, transition in frailty status and all-cause mortality in older adults of a Taichung community-based population.

Background: Previous studies have reported the associations of frailty phenotype or its components with mortality. However, studies that explored the effects of transition in frailty status on mortality were far less in Asian or Chinese. The aim of this study was to evaluate baseline frailty status and one-year change of frailty status in relation to all-cause mortality in Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults who participated in the Taichung Community Health Study for Elders.

Gene-physical activity interactions in lower extremity performance: inflammatory genes CRP, TNF-α, and LTA in community-dwelling elders.

We assessed gene-gene and gene-physical activity interactions of polymorphisms in C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and lymphotoxin α (LTA) genes on lower extremity performance in community-dwelling elders in Taiwan. Five SNPs (rs1205, rs1130864, rs1800947, rs2794520, and rs3093059) of CRP gene, three SNPs (rs909253, rs1041981, and rs2239704) of LTA gene, and three SNPs (rs3093662, rs1800629, and rs1799964) of TNF-α gene of 472 unrelated elders were genotyped. Lower extremity performance included timed up-and-go test (TUG), walking speed, weight-adjusted leg press (waLP), and timed chair stand (TCS).

The joint association of insulin sensitivity and physical activity on the skeletal muscle mass and performance in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Many well-known risk factors that may lead to sarcopenia are already discovered. However, their combined effects on sarcopenia components remain unclear. This study aims to explore the joint association of physical activity and insulin sensitivity on skeletal muscle mass and performance of Taiwanese elder people from a metropolitan community.

Associations of TNF-α and IL-6 polymorphisms with osteoporosis through joint effects and interactions with LEPR gene in Taiwan: Taichung Community Health Study for Elders (TCHS-E).

Osteoporosis (OST) is a complex multifactorial disease considered to result from interactions of multiple gene and environmental factors. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 are pleiotropic cytokines essential for bone remodeling; and hormone leptin has immunomodulatory effects that stimulate the synthesis of IL-6 and TNF-α. Leptin is involved in the modulation of bone growth and turnover; and its actions are bound by leptin receptor (LEPR).

Joint effect of gene-physical activity and the interactions among CRP, TNF-α, and LTA polymorphisms on serum CRP, TNF-α levels, and handgrip strength in community-dwelling elders in Taiwan - TCHS-E.

This study assesses interactions of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) gene polymorphisms with C-reactive protein (CRP) or lymphotoxin α (LTA) gene on serum CRP and TNF-α levels and handgrip strength. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs2794520, rs1205, rs1130864, rs1800947, and rs3093059 in CRP; rs1799964, rs1800629, and rs3093662 in TNF-α; and rs2239704, rs909253, and rs1041981 in LTA, were genotyped in 472 unrelated elders (mean age 73.8 years).

Association of Sarcopenic Obesity with Higher Serum High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels in Chinese Older Males--A Community-Based Study (Taichung Community Health Study-Elderly, TCHS-E).

The prevalence of obesity and sarcopenia is high among the elderly. The simultaneous occurrence of these two disorders results in sarcopenic obesity. Research suggests that inflammation has an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity and sarcopenia.

Associations of EDNRA and EDN1 polymorphisms with carotid intima media thickness through interactions with gender, regular exercise, and obesity in subjects in Taiwan: Taichung Community Health Study (TCHS).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interacted association between EDNRA and EDN1 polymorphisms and gender, regular exercise, and obesity status on carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in community- dwelling subjects of the Taichung Community Health Study. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs rs1395821, rs1878406, rs5333, rs1800541, and rs5370) of the EDNRA and EDN1 gene were examined in 480 participants from 160 families. The IMT protocol involves scanning the common carotid arteries (CCAs), the carotid bifurcations (bulb), and the origins (first 1 cm) of the internal carotid arteries (ICAs).

Insulinlike Growth Factor-1 and Its Binding Protein-3 Polymorphisms Predict Circulating IGF-1 Level and Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass in Chinese Elderly.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the polymorphisms of insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) genes could affect the circulating IGF-1 level. Moreover, the serum IGF-1 level was correlated with muscle size.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effect of polymorphisms of IGF1, IGFBP3, and IGFBP5 genes on appendicular skeletal muscle mass in Taiwanese older adults in a metropolitan area.