Genome-wide association study of primary dysmenorrhea in the Taiwan Biobank validates associations near the NGF and IL1 gene loci.

Using the Taiwan Biobank, we aimed to identify traits and genetic variations that could predispose Han Chinese women to primary dysmenorrhea. Cases of primary dysmenorrhea included those who self-reported "frequent dysmenorrhea" in a dysmenorrhea-related Taiwan Biobank questionnaire, and those who have been diagnosed with severe dysmenorrhea by a physician. Controls were those without self-reported dysmenorrhea.

Use of Calcium Channel Blockers and Risk of Active Tuberculosis Disease: A Population-Based Analysis.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are known to reduce the availability of iron-an important mineral for intracellular pathogens. Nonetheless, whether the use of CCBs modifies the risk of active tuberculosis in the clinical setting remains unclear. To determine whether CCBs may modify the risk of active tuberculosis disease, we conducted a nested case-control study using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan between January 1999 and December 2011.

Temporal trend and survival impact of infection source among patients with sepsis: a nationwide study.

Background: To determine the temporal trends of incidence and outcome based on different sources of sepsis using a nationwide administrative database.

Methods: From 2002 to 2012, the entire Taiwan's health insurance claims data of emergency-treated and hospital-treated sepsis were analysed for incidence and mortality trends. The information about patients with sepsis and sources of sepsis was identified using a set of validated International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, clinical modification (ICD-9-CM) codes.

Web-Based Dashboard for the Interactive Visualization and Analysis of National Risk-Standardized Mortality Rates of Sepsis in the US.

Sepsis mortality is heavily influenced by the quality of care in hospitals. Comparing risk-standardized mortality rate (RSMR) of sepsis patients in different states in the United States has potentially important clinical and policy implications. In the current study, we aimed to compare national sepsis RSMR using an interactive web-based dashboard.

Impact of post-sepsis cardiovascular complications on mortality in sepsis survivors: a population-based study.

Background: It remains unclear whether sepsis-related cardiovascular complications have an adverse impact on survival independent of pre-existing comorbidities. To investigate the survival impact of post-sepsis cardiovascular complications among sepsis survivors, we conducted a population-based study using the National Health Insurance Database of Taiwan.

Methods: We identified sepsis patients from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan using ICD-9-CM codes involving infection and organ dysfunction between 2000 and 2011.

Combining procalcitonin with the qSOFA and sepsis mortality prediction.

To investigate whether procalcitonin (PCT) can improve the performance of quick sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score in predicting sepsis mortality, we conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study with independent validation in a prospectively collected cohort in 3 tertiary medical centers. Patients with presumed sepsis were included. Serum PCT levels were measured at admission.

Risk Factors for Myocardial Infarction and Stroke Among Sepsis Survivors: A Competing Risks Analysis.

Objectives: Predictors for post-sepsis myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke are yet to be identified due to the competing risk of death.

Methods: This study included all hospitalized patients with sepsis from National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan between 2000 and 2011. The primary outcome was the first occurrence of MI and stroke requiring hospitalization within 180 days following hospital discharge from the index sepsis episode.

Fluoroquinolone use and serious arrhythmias: A nationwide case-crossover study.

Aim: Fluoroquinolones have been associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and even sudden cardiac death. We aimed to assess the temporal relationship of fluoroquinolone use and serious arrhythmias via a case-crossover analysis of a large cohort of serious arrhythmias patients.

Methods: In a national administrative database, we compare the distributions of fluoroquinolone exposure for the same patient across a 30-day period before the serious arrhythmia event and 5 randomly selected 30-day periods before the serious arrhythmia event.

Integrative Genome-Wide Association Studies of eQTL and GWAS Data for Gout Disease Susceptibility.

There is a paucity of genome-wide association study on Han Chinese gout patients. We performed a genome-wide association meta-analysis on two Taiwanese cohorts consisting of 758 gout cases and 14166 controls of Han Chinese ancestry. All the participants were recruited from the Taiwan Biobank.

Comparison of outcome and cost between the open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgical treatments for colon cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis using nationwide hospital record database.

Background: There are limited studies that compare the cost and outcome of robotic-assisted surgery to open and laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer treatment. We aimed to compare the three surgical modalities for colon cancer treatment.

Methods: We performed a cohort study using the population-based Nationwide Inpatient Sample database.

Oral Fluoroquinolone and the Risk of Aortic Dissection.

Background: Previous studies raised safety concerns on the association between fluoroquinolone treatment and serious collagen disorders, aortic aneurysm and dissection (AA/AD).

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate this association via a case-crossover analysis in a large national administrative database.

Methods: A case-crossover design was used to compare the distributions of fluoroquinolone exposure for the same patient across a 60-day period before the AA/AD event (hazard period) and 1 randomly selected 60-day period (referent period) between 60 to 180 days before the AA/AD events.

Susceptible period for cardiovascular complications in patients recovering from sepsis.

Background: Patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications while recovering from sepsis. We aimed to study the temporal change and susceptible periods for cardiovascular complications in patients recovering from sepsis by using a national database.

Methods: In this retrospective population-based cohort study, patients with sepsis were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Pentoxifylline decreases post-operative intra-abdominal adhesion formation in an animal model.

Background: Intra-abdominal adhesions develop after nearly every abdominal surgery, commonly causing female infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and small bowel obstruction. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a methylxanthine compound with immunomodulatory and antifibrotic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PTX can reduce post-operative intra-abdominal adhesion formation via collagen deposition, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) level, inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis.

Epidemiology of Emergency Department Sepsis: A National Cohort Study Between 2001 and 2012.

The aim of this study is to examine the incidence trend of sepsis over 11 years and compared mortality outcomes among Taiwanese patients with sepsis admitted from emergency department (ED) and non-ED routes. We used a nationwide health insurance database from Taiwan, which comprise of 23 million beneficiaries. Patients with sepsis were identified by ICD-9 CM codes for infection and organ dysfunction from 2001 to 2012.

Nationwide Trend of Sepsis: A Comparison Among Octogenarians, Elderly, and Young Adults.

Objective: We aimed to compare the sepsis incidence, mortality rates, and primary sites of infection among adult, elderly, and octogenarian patients with sepsis.

Design: Population-based cohort study.

Setting: The entire health insurance claims data of Taiwan, which enrolled 99.

A Population-Based Cohort Study on the Drug-Specific Effect of Statins on Sepsis Outcome.

Background: Whether statin treatment, proved by recent experimental studies to have an antimicrobial activity, exerts a drug- or a class-specific effect in sepsis remains unknown.

Methods: Short-term mortality in patients with sepsis was analyzed using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Use of statins was defined as the cumulative use of a specific statin (atorvastatin, simvastatin, or rosuvastatin) for > 30 days prior to the index sepsis admission.

Administration of Hypertonic Solutions for Hemorrhagic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical Trials.

Background: Several clinical trials on hypertonic fluid administration have been completed, but the results have been inconclusive. The objective of this study is to summarize current evidence for treating hypovolemic patients with hypertonic solutions by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Major electronic databases were searched from inception through June 2014.

Risk of gastrointestinal perforation in patients taking oral fluoroquinolone therapy: An analysis of nationally representative cohort.

Background: Fluoroquinolone is a commonly prescribed antimicrobial agent, and up to 20% of its users registers adverse gastroenterological symptoms. We aimed to evaluate the association between use of fluoroquinolone and gastrointestinal tract perforation.

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study on a national health insurance claims database between 1998 and 2011.

Adult sepsis - A nationwide study of trends and outcomes in a population of 23 million people.

Objectives: To determine the trend of incidence and outcome of sepsis based on a nationwide administrative database.

Methods: We analyzed the incidence and mortality of both emergency department treated and hospital treated sepsis from 2002 through 2012 using the entire health insurance claims data of Taiwan. The national health insurance covers 99% of residents in Taiwan.

Preadmission Use of Calcium Channel Blocking Agents Is Associated With Improved Outcomes in Patients With Sepsis: A Population-Based Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Objectives: Use of calcium channel blockers has been found to improve sepsis outcomes in animal studies and one clinical study. This study determines whether the use of calcium channel blockers is associated with a decreased risk of mortality in patients with sepsis.

Design: Population-based matched cohort study.

Trends and Outcomes of Surgical Treatment for Colorectal Cancer between 2004 and 2012- an Analysis using National Inpatient Database.

Limited data are available for the epidemiology and outcome of colorectal cancer in relation to the three main surgical treatment modalities (open, laparoscopic and robotic). Using the US National Inpatient Sample database from 2004 to 2012, we identified 1,265,684 hospitalized colorectal cancer patients. Over the 9 year period, there was a 13.