Depression and risk of venous thromboembolism: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between depression and the risk of subsequent venous thromboembolism (VTE) development.

Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort analysis by using data for the period of 2000 to 2011 from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 of Taiwan. A depression cohort comprising 35,274 patients and a nondepression cohort comprising 70,548 patients matched according to sex, age, and index year with no history of VTE were evaluated.

Higher-dose uses of zolpidem will increase the subsequent risk of developing benign brain tumors.

This study identified 37,810 patients with anxiety or sleep disorder (mean age=53.2 years, SD=16.0 years) who had zolpidem prescribed for at least 2 months from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2009.

Association between perfluoroalkyl substances and reproductive hormones in adolescents and young adults.

Background: Few studies have explored the association between perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and reproductive hormones in adolescents and young adults.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association of PFAS with reproductive hormones in adolescents and young adults.

Methods: We recruited 540 subjects aged 12-30 years from a 1992 to 2000 mass urine screening population and established a cohort from 2006 to 2008 via invitations by mail or/and telephone.

Appendicitis as an early manifestation of subsequent malignancy: an asian population study.

Background & Aims: Cancer risk after appendectomy in patients with appendicitis remains unclear. This study examined the role of appendicitis as an early manifestation harbingering the distant malignancy.

Methods: From the insurance claims data of Taiwan, we identified a cohort of 130,374 patients newly received appendectomy from 2000-2009, without cancer diagnosis.

Subsequent Cancer Risk of Women Receiving Hysterosalpingography: A Nationwide Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

The objective of this study was to estimate the subsequent cancer risk of women after receiving hysterosalpingography (HSG) by conducting a nationwide retrospective cohort study. We identified a study cohort of 4,371 patients who had had a HSG examination and a comparison cohort of 17,484 women without HSG examination between 1998 and 2005. Both cohorts were followed up with until the end of 2010 to measure the incidence of cancer.

The risk of erectile dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) seemed high; however, large scale of population-based study was absent. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan. The cohort included 29,042 male patients who were newly diagnosed with COPD.

Occurrence of common allergic diseases in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Clinical and immunological studies have consistently shown a possible link between atopy and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). However, whether allergic diseases occur after INS develops is unknown.

Methods: From Taiwan's National Health Insurance database, 1340 children with newly diagnosed INS and 5360 non-INS matched controls were identified in 2000-2007.

Comparison of Subdural Hematoma Risk between Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients with ESRD.

Background And Objectives: This study compared the risk of subdural hematoma (SDH) and subsequent mortality in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with ESRD.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Claims data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Administration Research Database in Taiwan. This retrospective cohort study comprised 10,136 PD patients and 10,136 HD patients with newly diagnosed ESRD from 1998 to 2010.

Statins are associated with a reduced risk of cholangiocarcinoma: a population-based case-control study.

Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary liver cancer in the world. Due to the lack of effective treatments, the survival rate of CCA is low and it is usually considered difficult to diagnose early. To date, no effective strategies for the prevention of CCA have been developed.

Gynecological malignancy risk in colorectal cancer survivors: A population-based cohort study.

Purpose: This study was carried out to assess the risk of gynecological malignancy in colorectal cancer survivors using a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Method: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan, we identified 37,176 patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed in 1998-2009, aged 20 years and above, without other cancer history. We also randomly selected 148,700 women without any cancer in the comparison cohort, frequency matched by age and diagnosis date.

5α-Reductase inhibitors increase acute coronary syndrome risk in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.

Background: This study explored the possible association between the use of two typical 5ARIs (finasteride and dutasteride) and the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: From the claims data of the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) Taiwan, we identified 1843 ACS cases among BPH patients and randomly selected 7330 controls without ACS, with a similar mean age of 73 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis estimated the odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for the relationship between the 5ARIs medications and ACS risk.

The risk of depression in patients with cholelithiasis before and after cholecystectomy: a population-based cohort study.

The association between cholelithiasis and depression remains unclear. We examined the risk of depression in patients with cholelithiasis. From the National Health Insurance population claims data of Taiwan, we identified 14071 newly diagnosed cholelithiasis patients (4969 symptomatic and 9102 asymptomatic) from 2000 to 2010.

A nation-wide population-based study of inguinal hernia repair incidence and age-stratified recurrence in an Asian population.

Purpose: It has been estimated in the UK that 27 % of men and 3 % of women will undergo an inguinal hernia repair (IHR) during their lifetimes. However, no epidemiologic study investigating IHR has been performed to date in an Asian population. The present study explored the incidence and recurrence of IHR in an Asian population using a nation-wide population-based dataset in Taiwan.

Association between zolpidem use and glaucoma risk: a Taiwanese population-based case-control study.

Background: To date, the relationship between zolpidem use and subsequent risk of glaucoma in a Taiwanese population has not been assessed.

Methods: We used data from the National Health Insurance system to investigate whether zolpidem use was related to glaucoma risk. A 1:4 matched case-control study was conducted.

Association between appendectomy and subsequent colorectal cancer development: an Asian population study.

Objectives: The appendix may modulate colon microbiota and bowel inflammation. We investigated whether appendectomy alters colorectal cancer risk.

Methods: We identified a cohort of 75,979 patients who underwent appendectomy between 1997 and 1999 based on the insurance claims of Taiwan.

Risk of cataract for people with tuberculosis: results from a population-based cohort study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease involving multiple organs, including the eyes. We examined the risk of cataract among patients with TB using population data.

Method: Using data from the National Health Insurance (NHI) system of Taiwan, we established a TB cohort with 6994 patients newly diagnosed between 2000 and 2010.

Low estimated glomerular filtration rate is associated with poor outcomes in patients who suffered a large artery atherosclerosis stroke.

Objectives: The relationship between low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the outcome of ischemic stroke remains controversial, despite the close association between kidney dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

Methods: This study conducted subgroup analysis using data from the prospective Taiwan Stroke Registry to investigate the relationship between eGFR at the time of admission and 6-month functional outcomes in patients with the large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) subtype of acute ischemic stroke. Stroke severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and outcomes were defined as modified Rankin Scale and mortality status at 6 months post stroke.

The risk of asthma in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a population-based cohort study.

Background: The relationship between asthma and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is controversial. We examined the risk of asthma among AS patients in a nationwide population.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance (NHI) system of Taiwan.

Risk of Parkinson's disease following zolpidem use: a retrospective, population-based cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of long-term zolpidem use on the incidence of developing Parkinson's disease.

Method: 2,961 subjects who used zolpidem for the first time longer than 3 months between 1998 and 2000 were identified in the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan. Subjects without a history of zolpidem use were randomly selected as a comparison cohort and frequency matched to zolpidem users based on age, sex, and index date.

Mortality and cost of radiation therapy for oesophageal cancer according to hospital accreditation level: a nationwide population-based study.

This study examined and analysed the relationship between the cost-effectiveness and outcome of radiotherapy for oesophageal cancer among hospitals with varying accreditation levels. We selected 428 oesophageal cancer patients from medical and non-medical centres using the National Health Insurance Research Database, which is maintained by the Taiwanese National Health Research Institutes, and compared their medical expenditure and the outcome of their radiotherapy treatment. In this study cohort of patients with oesophageal cancer, 278 patients were treated in medical centres (mean age: 60.

Survival outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a nationwide analysis of 13 407 patients in Taiwan.

Objectives: We reported the contemporary survival outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and analysed the factors affecting survival.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

Increased risk of osteoporosis in patients with depression: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between depression and risk of subsequent osteoporosis development.

Participants And Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 of Taiwan. We included 32,978 patients in the depression cohort and 131,912 patients in the no-depression cohort between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2008, and calculated the incidence rates of newly diagnosed osteoporosis.

Silencing of hypoxia-inducible tumor suppressor lysyl oxidase gene by promoter methylation activates carbonic anhydrase IX in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is an oxidative enzyme known to initiate the cross-linking of collagens and elastin, and suggested recently as a tumor suppressor for several tumor types including lung, pancreatic and gastric cancers. Previously we showed that LOX is strongly induced upon hypoxia in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines CNE2 and HONE1 but only slightly in HK1 and not in C666-1. Here, we further studied the regulatory mechanism and functions of LOX in NPC.