Long-term effects of a lay health advisor intervention on immigrant children's dental caries and maternal preventive behaviour: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: An oral health disparity exists between native and immigrant children in Taiwan. This study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of a lay health advisor (LHA) intervention on immigrant children's dental caries and maternal preventive behaviours.

Methods: Fifty-one immigrant mother-child pairs were randomly assigned to LHA intervention (n = 23) and control (n = 28) groups.

Contribution of insulin resistance to the relationship between sugar-sweetened beverage intake and a constellation of cardiometabolic abnormalities in adolescents.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a pathophysiological construct that derives a series of metabolic disturbances that promote cardiometabolic dysfunction. This study evaluated mediating and modifying effects of homeostatic model assessment-based IR (HOMA-IR) on the association between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and a constellation of adolescent cardiometabolic abnormalities.

Methods: Comprehensive data on sociodemographics, diet, physical activity, and anthropometric and biochemical parameters for 1454 adolescents were obtained from a large-scale representative study for adolescent metabolic syndrome (MetS) conducted in Taiwan.

Characteristic-Grouped Adiposity Indicators for Identifying Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents: Develop and Valid Risk Screening Tools Using Dual Population.

A simple, robust, and characterized adiposity indicator may be appropriate to be used as a risk screening tool for identifying metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents. This study used dual adolescent populations to develop and validate efficient adiposity indicators from 12 characterized candidates for identifying MetS that may occur during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Data from the adolescent Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan ( = 1920, 12-18 years) and the multilevel Risk Profiles for adolescent MetS study ( = 2727, 12-16 years) were respectively used as training and validation datasets.

Rapid quantification of isomeric and dehalogenated impurities in pharmaceutical raw materials using MRR spectroscopy.

We demonstrate the application of molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectroscopy to quantify regioisomeric, dehalogenated, and enantiomeric impurities in two raw materials used in the synthesis of a HIV integrase inhibitor, cabotegravir. Characterization of these raw material impurities is important due to their ability to introduce structurally similar impurities into the final drug product. MRR, due to its high resolution and selectivity to small changes in molecular structure, can perform these measurements rapidly and without the need for developing a chromatographic separation method.

The association between sugar-sweetened beverages intake, body mass index, and inflammation in US adults.

Objectives: This study aims to (1) assess the associations between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and (2) evaluate the modifying effect of body mass index (BMI) on the association between SSB consumption and CRP levels.

Methods: A total of 6856 eligible adults were selected from the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Average quantity of SSB consumption was calculated from 2-day 24-h dietary recalls.

Race and socioeconomic effect on sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in the Louisiana Osteoporosis Study (LOS).

Background: Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are emerging public health issues. True prevalence rates are unknown and estimates differ substantially between studies. No large-scale single study has compared prevalence rates between whites, blacks, Asians, and Hispanics, as we intend to do here.

Perceived pain for orthodontic patients with conventional brackets or self-ligating brackets over 1 month period: A single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background/purpose: The objective of this 2-arm parallel trial was to test the superiority of self-ligating brackets (SLB) over conventional brackets (CB) in terms of perceived pain for orthodontic patients.

Methods: Patients about to undergo treatment were included to fixed appliance placed with CB or SLB. Eligibility criteria included malocclusion patients whose age between 12 to 40 years and suitable for orthodontic fixed appliance treatment.

Clustering of Metabolic Risk Components and Associated Lifestyle Factors: A Nationwide Adolescent Study in Taiwan.

Clustering of metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk components in childhood has been linked to a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. By using data from the 2010⁻2011 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan, this study investigated epidemic patterns and correlates for the clustering of MetS risk components. A total of 1920 adolescents aged 12⁻18 years were included in this study.

Oral health-related quality of life in orthodontic patients during initial therapy with conventional brackets or self-ligating brackets.

Background/purpose: The self-ligating brackets (SLB) have been introduced in modern orthodontic treatment in recent years for malocclusion patients. This study was conducted to compare two treatments, conventional brackets (CB) and SLB, in malocclusion to determine which treatment will provide better oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) outcomes.

Materials And Methods: The research involved a prospective randomized clinical trial, composed of two sets of questionnaires, Short Form-36 (SF-36T) and oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14T), concerning HRQoL and OHRQoL.

Evaluating the effect of a community-based lay health advisor training curriculum to address immigrant children's caries disparities.

Previous programs had not designed the culturally adequate Lay Health Advisor (LHA) oral health training curriculum for medically underserved population. We evaluated the effects of LHA training curriculum for addressing immigrant children's caries disparities in their access to dental care. We used a pre/post-test study design.

Trend and factors associated with healthcare use and costs in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a decade experience of a universal health insurance program.

Background: Little is known about how a universal National Health Insurance program with cost-containment strategies affect costs and quality of diabetes care.

Objectives: To examine the trends of healthcare use and costs for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Taiwan over the last decade, and to identify factors associated with high healthcare cost and poor diabetes care.

Research Design: We delineated the pattern of healthcare use and costs for T2DM in 2000-2010.

Role of nicotine dependence on the relationship between variants in the nicotinic receptor genes and risk of lung adenocarcinoma.

Several variations in the nicotinic receptor genes have been identified to be associated with both lung cancer risk and smoking in the genome-wide association (GWA) studies. However, the relationships among these three factors (genetic variants, nicotine dependence, and lung cancer) remain unclear. In an attempt to elucidate these relationships, we applied mediation analysis to quantify the impact of nicotine dependence on the association between the nicotinic receptor genetic variants and lung adenocarcinoma risk.

Area disparity in children's perceptions of access to tobacco and cigarette purchasing experiences in Taiwan.

Background: Adolescents who perceive easy access to tobacco are more likely to acquire cigarettes and experience smoking. This study assesses area disparities in perceptions of access to tobacco and cigarette purchasing experiences among schoolchildren.

Methods: Data on children's tobacco-related variables were obtained from the Control of School-Aged Children Smoking Study Survey in Taiwan.

Immigrant-native differences in caries-related knowledge, attitude, and oral health behaviors: a cross-sectional study in Taiwan.

Background: With the growing number of transnational marriages in Taiwan, oral health disparities have become a public health issue. This study assessed immigrant-native differences in oral health behaviors of urban mothers and their children.

Methods: We used the baseline data of an oral health promotion program to examine the immigrant-native differences in caries-related knowledge, attitude, and oral health behaviors.

Workplace physical activity interventions: a systematic review.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of workplace interventions in improving physical activity.

Data Source: EBSCO research database (and all subdatabases).

Study Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria: Articles were published from 2000 to 2010 in English, had appropriate designs, and measured employees' physical activity, energy consumption, and/or body mass index (BMI) as primary outcomes.

Who tended to continue smoking after cancer diagnosis: the national health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2008.

Background: It has been estimated that there are approximately 12 million cancer survivors in the United States. Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis is linked to adverse effects among cancer survivors on overall survival, treatment effectiveness, and quality of life. Little is known about who is more likely to quit smoking after his/her cancer diagnosis.

Poverty increases type 2 diabetes incidence and inequality of care despite universal health coverage.

Objective: The discrepancy of diabetes incidence and care between socioeconomic statuses has seldom been studied concurrently in nations with universal health coverage. We aimed to delineate whether income disparity is associated with diabetes incidence and inequality of care under a national health insurance (NHI) program in Asia.

Research Design And Methods: From the Taiwan NHI database in 2000, a representative cohort aged ≥20 years and free of diabetes (n = 600,662) were followed up until 2005.

Analysis of influential factors associated with the smoking behavior of aboriginal schoolchildren in remote Taiwanese mountainous areas.

Background: A disparity in smoking behavior exists between the general and minority populations residing in Taiwan's mountainous areas. This study analyzed individual and environmental factors associated with children's smoking behavior in these areas of Taiwan.

Methods: In this school-based study, data on smoking behavior and related factors for mountain-dwelling students were obtained from the 2008 and 2009 Control of School-aged Children Smoking Study surveys.

Smoking beliefs and behavior among youth in South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Background: Beliefs about smoking are important predictors of smoking behavior among adolescents, and adolescents who hold positive beliefs about the benefits of smoking are at an increased risk of smoking initiation. An alarming fact is the rising smoking prevalence in Asian countries, particularly the increasing trend in smoking during adolescence.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined smoking beliefs and behavior among a nationally representative sample of youth in South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Household secondhand smoke exposure of elementary schoolchildren in Southern Taiwan and factors associated with their confidence in avoiding exposure: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Exposure to household Secondhand Smoke (SHS) poses a major health threat to children after an indoor smoking ban was imposed in Taiwan. This study aimed to assess the household SHS exposure in elementary school children in southern Taiwan and the factors associated with their avoidance of SHS exposure before and after the implementation of Taiwan's new Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act in 2009.

Methods: In this cross-sectional school-based study, data on household SHS exposure, avoidance of SHS and related variables was obtained from the 2008 and 2009 Control of School-aged Children Smoking Study Survey.

Second-hand smoke exposure and the factors associated with avoidance behavior among the mothers of pre-school children: a school-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Second-hand Smoke (SHS) exposure is a significant public health problem that may be responsible for serious health hazards for child. This study aimed to examine the exposure status of SHS and the factors associated with SHS avoidance behavior among the mothers of pre-school children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to obtain a sample of the mothers of pre-school children (n = 1,020) in 30 registered kindergartens in eastern Taiwan.

Disparities in smoking and cessation status among cancer survivors and non-cancer individuals: a population-based study from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Introduction: Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis is a critical problem. This study examined smoking prevalence among all and specific cancer survivors, and compared demographic profiles of the current smokers between cancer and non-cancer individuals.

Methods: We used data from 2,188 cancer survivors and 22,441 non-cancer individuals who participated in the 10-year National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2008).

A multilevel-based study of school policy for tobacco control in relation to cigarette smoking among children in elementary schools: gender differences.

The aim was to comprehensively examine school-based tobacco policy status, implementation and students' perceived smoking at school in regard to gender-specific differences in smoking behavior. We conducted a multilevel-based study to assess two-level effects for smoking among 2350 grades three to six students in 26 randomly selected elementary schools in southern Taiwan. A series of multilevel models were analyzed separately for male and female students.

Enhancing the detection sensitivity of trace analysis of pharmaceutical genotoxic impurities by chemical derivatization and coordination ion spray-mass spectrometry.

Many pharmaceutical genotoxic impurities are neutral molecules. Trace level analysis of these neutral analytes is hampered by their poor ionization efficiency in mass spectrometry (MS). Two analytical approaches including chemical derivatization and coordination ion spray-MS were developed to enhance neutral analyte detection sensitivity.

Analytical control of genotoxic impurities in the pazopanib hydrochloride manufacturing process.

Pharmaceutical regulatory agencies are increasingly concerned with trace-level genotoxic impurities in drug substances, requiring manufacturers to deliver innovative approaches for their analysis and control. The need to control most genotoxic impurities in the low ppm level relative to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), combined with the often reactive and labile nature of genotoxic impurities, poses significant analytical challenges. Therefore, sophisticated analytical methodologies are often developed to test and control genotoxic impurities in drug substances.