Examining the influence of PM-bound metallic elements and potential sources on stroke emergency department visits: A case-crossover study in Taiwan.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of short-term exposure PM and PM-bound metallic elements on stroke-related emergency department visits. Using a case-crossover design, data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) identified 25,055 stroke-related emergency department visits and matched them with 50,110 control days from 2017 to 2020 in six selected study areas in Taiwan. Environmental exposure data included PM monitoring date and 35 PM-bound metallic elements from these areas.

Climate Change Projections for Stroke Incidence in Taiwan: Impact of 2 °C and 4 °C Global Warming Level.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish the exposure-lag-response effect between daily maximum temperature and stroke-related emergency department visits and to project heat-induced stroke impacts under global warming levels (GWL) of 2 °C and 4 °C.

Methods: Stroke-related emergency department visits in Taiwan from 2001 to 2020 were identified using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The study population consisted of 1,100,074 initial stroke cases matched with 2,200,148 non-stroke controls.

Assessing the impact of specific PM-Bound metallic elements on asthma emergency department visits: A case-crossover study in Taiwan.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the specific PM-bound metallic elements that contribute to asthma emergency department visits by using a case-crossover study design.

Methods: This study analyzed data from 11,410 asthma emergency department visits as case group and 22,820 non-asthma onset dates occurring one week and two weeks preceding the case day as controls from 2017 to 2020. PM monitoring data and 35 PM.

Longitudinal assessment of oxidative stress markers and their relationship with exposure to PM and its bound metals in healthy participants.

Objective: Exposure to ambient PM and its bound metals poses a risk to health and disease, via, in part, oxidative stress response. A variety of oxidative stress markers have been used as markers of response, but their relevance to environmental exposure remains to be established. We evaluated, longitudinally, a battery of oxidative stress markers and their relationship with the exposure of PM and its bound metals in a panel of healthy participants.

Assessing the effectiveness of mitigating pesticide-related disease risk among pesticide-spraying drone operators in Taiwan.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of pesticide poisoning, liver and renal failure, dermatitis, respiratory problems, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, keratitis, and epilepsy among pesticide-spraying personnel and to assess the effectiveness of a new method of aerial pesticide application in reducing this risk.

Methods: A total of 2268 pesticide spraying operators (1651 ground-based field crop operators and 617 aerial pesticide spraying drone operators) who passed the national certification examination between 2010 and 2020 in Taiwan were included. Ground-based operators served as the positive control group, while 2463 farmer controls were matched from the Farmers' Health Insurance database as the negative control group.

Cancer risks in a population-based study of agricultural workers: results from the Taiwan's Farmers and Health Cohort study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess cancer risk among agricultural workers compared to the general population.

Methods: The study utilized data from Farmers' Health Insurance (FHI) in Taiwan, which enrolled agricultural workers (N=1 175 149). The enrolled workers were matched to a general population (N=1 175 149) of the same age, gender, township, and enrollment year.

Occupational health surveillance and detection of emerging occupational diseases among Taiwan farmers, through analysis of national-based farmers' and medico-administrative databases.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify occupational injuries and diseases associated with agriculture in Asia, to provide a reference for prevention and hypotheses for future research.

Methods: We matched data on agricultural workers (n = 963,124) enrolled in Taiwan's national Farmers Health Insurance since its inception in 1989, to general population controls of the same age, gender, and township. The study population was linked to the National Health Insurance Research Database from 2001 to 2016 for inpatient cases.

Return to Work and Mortality in Breast Cancer Survivors: A 11-Year Longitudinal Study.

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women, and it is a major cause of cancer death around the world. With the development of diagnostic methods and improvements in treatment methods, the incidence rate of breast cancer and the number of breast cancer survivors continue to simultaneously increase. We used national registry database to analyze the features that affect employment and return to work among breast cancer survivors.

The association of job fatigue with mental disorders among bus drivers.

Objective: Mental disorders are a global problem with growing importance. However, the contribution of work factors to the development of mental disorders is inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the impact of fatigue and job stress on mental disorders in a prospective cohort of bus drivers.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation-mediated vascular toxicity of ambient fine particulate matter: contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and osteopontin as a biomarker.

Background: Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM) is associated with vascular diseases. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM are highly hazardous; however, the contribution of PM-bound PAHs to PM-associated vascular diseases remains unclear. The ToxCast high-throughput in vitro screening database indicates that some PM-bound PAHs activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).

Identification of a High-Risk Group of New-Onset Cardiovascular Disease in Occupational Drivers by Analyzing Heart Rate Variability.

Purpose: This cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of noninvasive heart rate variability (HRV) analysis to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease over a period of 8 years.

Methods: Personal and working characteristics were collected before biochemistry examinations and 5 min HRV tests from the Taiwan Bus Driver Cohort Study (TBDCS) in 2005. This study eventually identified 161 drivers with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 627 without between 2005 and 2012.

The Fact of Return to Work in Cervical Cancer Survivors and the Impact of Survival Rate: An 11-Year Follow-Up Study.

The aim of the current cohort study was to explore the relationship between return to work (RTW) after cervical cancer treatment and different medical and occupational covariates. We also investigated the effect of RTW on all-cause mortality and survival outcomes of cervical cancer survivors. Data were collected between 2004 and 2015 from the database of the Taiwan Cancer Registry, Labor Insurance Database, and National Health Insurance Research Database.

Investigation on returning to work in liver cancer survivors in Taiwan: a 5-year follow-up study.

Background: Primary liver cancer is the fifth most common malignancy and limits patients' quality of life and working ability. Return to work after cancer treatment is an important step in social recovery. In addition, return to work represents the recovery of financial ability and improvements in self-confidence.

Return to Work in Survivors With Occupational Cancers.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the change in employment status in survivors with occupational cancers at the time of diagnosis until 2 years.

Methods: In this study, we included 382 occupational cancer workers from Labor Insurance Database. After applying exclusion criteria, 86 workers in 2004 to 2015 were included.

Life expectancy estimations and determinants of return to work among cancer survivors over a 7-year period.

Due to advances in medical science and technology, the number of cancer survivors continues to increase. The workplace needs and employment difficulties cancer survivors face after treatment need to be addressed to protect these individuals' right to work and to maintain the overall labor force of the country. We conducted a retrospective cohort study with a follow-up period from 2004 to 2010.

Study Protocol for Radiation Exposure and Cancer Risk Assessment: The Taiwan Nuclear Power Plants and Epidemiology Cohort Study (TNPECS).

Background: This cohort was established to evaluate whether 38-year radiation exposure (since the start of nuclear reactor operations) is related to cancer risk in residents near three nuclear power plants (NPPs).

Methods: This cohort study enrolled all residents who lived within 8 km of any of the three NPPs in Taiwan from 1978 to 2016 (n = 214,502; person-years = 4,660,189). The control population (n = 257,475; person-years = 6,282,390) from three towns comprised all residents having lived more than 15 km from all three NPPs.

Risk factors for return to work in colorectal cancer survivors.

Background: The increasing incidence of colorectal cancer among individuals in the productive age-group has adversely affected the labor force and increased healthcare expenses in recent years. Return to work (RTW) is an important issue for these patients. In this study, we explored the factors that influence RTW and investigated the influence of RTW on survival outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer.

Exposure profiles of workers from indium tin oxide target manufacturing and recycling factories in Taiwan.

Indium tin oxide exposure poses a potential health risk, but the exposure assessment in occupational setting remains incomplete and continues to be a significant challenge. To this end, we investigated the association of work type, airborne indium concentration, respirable fraction of total indium, and cumulative indium exposure index (CEI) with the levels of plasma indium (P-In) and urinary indium (U-In) among 302 indium tin oxide target manufacturing and recycling workers in Taiwan. We observed that recycling-crushing produced the highest concentrations of total indium (area: 2084.

Lipid peroxidation metabolites associated with biomarkers of inflammation and oxidation stress in workers handling carbon nanotubes and metal oxide nanoparticles.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of lipid peroxidation with occupational exposure to different types of nanomaterials (NMs). In this cross-sectional study, urine and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples were collected from 80 NM-handling workers [30 workers handling nano-titanium oxide (nano-TiO), 28 handling nano-silicon dioxide (nano-SiO), 22 handling carbon nanotubes (CNTs)], and 69 controls (office workers) from 2010 to 2012. Urinary 8-isoPGF, 2,3 dinor-8-isoPGF, PGF, and EBC 8-iso PGF were measured as lipid peroxidation biomarkers in 2013.

Verification and Evaluation of a Visual Reaction System for Badminton Training.

The two aims of this study were (1) designing and developing an affordable visual reaction system for badminton training that monitors and provides instant feedback on agility; and (2) to measure and improve the footwork and movement of badminton players and output useful reference data. Ten junior high school badminton players were invited to serve as the subjects of this study. They participated in a three-week (nine sessions) training program.

Assessment of resident doses near nuclear power plants in Taiwan for epidemiology study.

Dose assessments were required for the epidemiological study of residents living near nuclear power plants. In the present work, environmental pathway models have been applied to estimate radiation doses to residents living near the nuclear power plants in Taiwan. Best estimates of doses were made for residents by their age groups in different compass sectors centered at the nuclear power plants.

Examining relationship between occupational acid exposure and oral health in workplace.

Background: Acid mist can suspend in the air and enter the body via skin contact, the respiratory tract, or even oral intake, which pose various health hazards. Previous studies have shown that occupational exposure to acid mist or acidic solutions is a major risk factor for oral diseases. However, the findings are inconsistent and do not consider individual factors and lifestyles that may cause the same oral diseases.

Longitudinal follow-up of health effects among workers handling engineered nanomaterials: a panel study.

Background: Although no human illness to date is confirmed to be attributed to engineered nanoparticles, occupational epidemiological studies are needed to verify the health effects of nanoparticles. This study used a repeated measures design to explore the potential adverse health effects of workers handling nanomaterials.

Methods: Study population was 206 nanomaterial-handling workers and 108 unexposed controls, who were recruited from 14 nanotechnology plants.

Trajectories of returning to work and its impact on survival in survivors with oral cancer: A 5-year follow-up study.

Background: A return to work (RTW) is a challenge for survivors of oral cancer. Further light could be shed on the RTW of patients with oral cancer, which remains largely uninvestigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the trajectories of RTW and their impact on survival in workers with oral cancer.

Effects of nanoparticles exposure and PON1 genotype on heart rate variability.

Objectives: This study was to assess the association between different NPs exposure and PON1 genotype on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters among workers.

Methods: This study included 235 non-CVD subjects handled to nanomaterials (NM) and 185 non-exposed controls without CVD from 14 NM plants. All participants completed short-term HRV measurements, and were collected blood specimens to measure PON1 activities and the genotype of the PON1 Q192R polymorphism.