The effectiveness of an oral hygiene program combined with health-promoting counseling for rural adults with cardiometabolic risks: A quasi-experimental design.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of an oral hygiene program combined with home-phone health promoting counseling for rural adults with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases. Evidence indicates that the poor oral hygiene and unhealthy lifestyles are closely related to metabolic syndrome.

The effectiveness of a pay for performance program on diabetes care in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based longitudinal study.

Over the past two decades, studies have widely examined the effectiveness of pay-for-performance (P4P) programs by conducting biochemical tests and assessing complications; however, the reported effectiveness of such programs among participants selected through purposeful sampling is controversial. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to analyze the effectiveness of a P4P program on patients' prognoses, including hospitalization for chronic diabetic complications, and all-cause mortality during specific follow-up years by using a nationwide population-based database in Taiwan. Based on 125,315 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patient cohort during 2002-2006, two control sets were designed by propensity-score-matching strategy according to participation of P4P program and followed up to 2012.

Serum aminotransferase ratio is independently correlated with hepatosteatosis in patients with HCV: a cross-sectional observational study.

Objectives: The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is significant in hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers due to multiple mechanisms, and this worsens the progression of chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and death. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) ratio correlates with the status of hepatosteatosis.

Design: A cross-sectional observational study.

The relationship between type 2 diabetic patients' early medical care-seeking consistency to the same clinician and health care system and their clinical outcomes.

The literature has demonstrated that the continuity of diabetes care can lower medical service utilization and expenses. However, few studies have examined the effects of patients' medical care-seeking behaviors in the early stage after the diagnosis of diabetes on their long-term prognoses. This study aimed to examine the association of medical care-seeking behavior in the first year following diabetes diagnosis on the occurrence of diabetes-related complications among patients in Taiwan.

Screening for pulmonary tuberculosis in type 2 diabetes elderly: a cross-sectional study in a community hospital.

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the major infectious diseases in Taiwan. It has an especially high prevalence in diabetes patients, in whom it is usually asymptomatic and are more likely to result in drug-resistant tuberculosis. The aim of the study was to aggressively screen high risk diabetic elderly, identify the prevalence of tuberculosis and its determinants.

Pulse pressure and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument are independently associated with asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease among type 2 diabetes community residents: a community-based screening program in Taiwan.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the major manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis and plays an important role in low-extremity amputation in type 2 diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and risk factors for asymptomatic PAD in type 2 diabetic community residents.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 552 type 2 diabetic adults (232 men and 320 women) without subjective symptoms of intermittent claudication.

The impact of hepatitis C infection on ischemic heart disease via ischemic electrocardiogram.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious disease worldwide and it leads to several serious hepatic sequels. Some studies find possible correlation between HCV and ischemic heart disease in retrospective observations. Based on lacked community-based evidence, the study aims to assess correlation between ischemic heart disease and chronic HCV infection via electrocardiogram (ECG) because its abnormalities is strongly associating with cardiovascular disease mortality.

Factors associated with numbers of remaining teeth among type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Aims And Objectives: To explore the factors associated with the numbers of remaining teeth among type 2 diabetes community residents.

Background: Promoting oral health is an important nursing role for patients with diabetes, especially in disadvantaged areas. However, limited research has been carried out on the relationship between numbers of remaining teeth, diabetes-related biomarkers and personal oral hygiene among diabetic rural residents.

Alcohol, betel-nut and cigarette consumption are negatively associated with health promoting behaviors in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Oral cancer is the 2nd most common cause of death due to cancer in the south-western coastal region of Taiwan; the standardized mortality of oral cancer is higher than elsewhere in the world. According to the evidence, alcohol, betel-nut and cigarette (ABC) consumption cause oral, nasopharyngeal and related cancers. This study describes the relationships between ABC consumers and health promoting behaviors among community adults living around an area with a high prevalence of oral cancer.

Misperception among rural diabetic residents: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Aims: To evaluate the self-perception of diabetes control associated with physical indicators and with practicing exercise and a healthy diet, among rural residents.

Background: It remains unclear whether a subject's self-perception of diabetes control increases its deleterious effects.

Design: Cross-sectional, correlational.

Begin with the real-world patients of non-goal-achieved hypercholesterolemia in taiwan through the ezetimibe/simvastatin tablet - The BRAVO Study.

Objective: To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a combination of 10 mg ezetimibe and 20 mg simvastatin in Taiwanese patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Research Design And Methods: A prospective, open-label, multi-center, hospital-based cohort study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a single tablet combination of ezetimibe/simvastatin for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Taiwanese adults without low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal achievement, based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, were treated with ezetimibe/simvastatin once daily for 6 weeks.

Characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in community-acquired and nosocomial infections in diabetic patients.

Background: Although diabetes mellitus is known as a major risk factor for Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, the differences in clinical characteristics between community-acquired and nosocomial K. pneumoniae bacteremia in diabetic patients have been rarely reported.

Methods: This retrospective analysis enrolled 193 adult diabetic patients with K.

Canine islet isolation, cryopreservation, and transplantation to nude mice.

Background: Successful human islet transplantation has led to insulin independence in type 1 diabetes. Dogs constitute an animal model for preclinical studies. We present our recent experience in canine islet isolation, cryopreservation and transplantation.