Associations between prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances, hypomethylation of MEST imprinted gene and birth outcomes.

Prenatal perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure has been linked to adverse birth outcomes, but the underlying mechanism has yet to be elucidated. DNA methylation changes in mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST) imprinted gene may be a mechanism of the prenatal exposure effects of PFASs on fetal growth. The aim was to investigate the prenatal PFASs exposure effects on DNA methylation changes in MEST imprinted gene involved in fetal growth.

Association of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter (PM) with Elevated Fecal Hemoglobin Concentration and Colorectal Carcinogenesis: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

The roles of ambient fine particulate matter (PM) in the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been scarcely highlighted as there is short of empirical evidence regarding the influences of PM on multistep carcinogenic processes of CRC. A retrospective cohort design with multistate outcomes was envisaged by linking monthly average PM concentrations at 22 city/county level with large-scale cohorts of cancer-screened population to study the influences of PM on short-term inflammatory process and multistep carcinogenic processes of CRC. Our study included a nationwide CRC screening cohort of 4,628,995 aged 50-69 years who attended first screen between 2004 and 2009 and continued periodical screens until 2016.

Preparedness for containing COVID-19 outbreak in mass religious gathering with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).

Background: The COVID-19 outbreaks associated with mass religious gatherings which have the potential of invoking epidemics at large scale have been a great concern. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of outbreak in mass religious gathering and further to assess the preparedness of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for preventing COVID-19 outbreak in this context.

Methods: The risk of COVID-19 outbreak in mass religious gathering was evaluated by using secondary COVID-19 cases and reproductive numbers.

Continental transmission of emerging COVID-19 on the 38° north latitude.

Background: As COVID-19 has become a pandemic emerging infectious disease it is important to examine whether there was a spatiotemporal clustering phenomenon in the globe during the rapid spread after the first outbreak reported from southern China.

Materials And Methods: The open data on the number of COVID-19 cases reported at daily basis form the globe were used to assess the evolution of outbreaks with international air link on the same latitude and also including Taiwan. The dynamic Susceptible-Infected-Recovered model was used to evaluate continental transmission from December 2019 to March 2020 before the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic with basic reproductive number and effective reproductive number before and after containment measurements.

Gender difference in metabolic syndrome and incident colorectal adenoma: A prospective observational study (KCIS No.42).

This community-based study aimed to elucidate whether there is a gender difference in the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components on an elevated risk for incident colorectal adenoma.A prospective cohort study was conducted by enrolling 59,767 subjects aged 40 years or older between 2001 and 2009 in Keelung, Taiwan, to test this hypothesis, excluding those with a prior history of colorectal cancer and those with colorectal cancer diagnosed at the first screening. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the effect of MetS in terms of a dichotomous classification, each individual component and the number of components for males and females.

Elucidating bidirectional relationship between metabolic syndrome and elevated faecal haemoglobin concentration: a Taiwanese community-based cohort study.

Objectives: To elucidate the bidirectional temporal relationship between elevated faecal haemoglobin (f-Hb) concentration and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Design: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted by utilising data on community-based periodical screening for colorectal cancer with faecal immunochemical test (FIT) and health check-up for MetS.

Setting: Population-based organised integrated service screening in Keelung city, Taiwan.