Effectiveness of a nutrition education intervention using simulation videos and encouragement of parental involvement for elementary school students.

This study aims to develop a nutrition education intervention to promote healthy eating, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention on healthy eating knowledge, attitude and behaviour among elementary students. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two elementary schools in Taiwan. The intervention course design included simulation videos, lectures, and the after-school learning worksheet designed for parental involvement.

Adolescent Use of Dating Applications and the Associations with Online Victimization and Psychological Distress.

In this study, we examined the relationships between the use of online dating applications (apps), online victimization, and psychosocial distress among adolescents. This study was conducted in 2020. A sample of 2595 seventh-grade students from 30 Taiwanese middle schools was surveyed.

Effectiveness of a Web-Based Intervention for Preventing Substance Use in Young Adults in Taiwan: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Substance use has been one of the most alarming public health problems worldwide, particularly among younger generations.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a web-based substance use prevention intervention targeted at adults aged 20-29 years.

Methods: The intervention materials comprised 5 sets of infographics and 1 animation, all of which focused on mixed themes: (1) the concept of substance use and its harmful effects on health; (2) misinformation regarding new psychoactive substances; (3) regulation of illicit drugs, particularly marijuana; (4) the brain disease model of addiction; (5) critical thinking skills that improve health literacy; and (6) decision-making and communication skills that help people refuse illegal drugs.

Using Patient Profiles for Sustained Diabetes Management Among People With Type 2 Diabetes.

Introduction: Our objective was to evaluate the association between patient profiles and sustained diabetes management (SDM) among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We collected HbA values recorded from 2014 through 2020 for 570 patients in a hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, and calculated a standard level based on an HbA level less than 7.0% to determine SDM.

Exploring experiences of binge-watching and perceived addictiveness among binge-watchers: a qualitative study.

Background: Recent advances in technology and the Internet have led to the emergence of a phenomenon known as binge-watching. This qualitative study aims to explore experiences and perceptions of binge-watching behavior. The criteria of behavioral addiction were used to examine the characteristics of binge-watching behavior.

Modest association between health literacy and risk for peripheral vascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Health literacy plays a crucial role in managing chronic health conditions. Previous studies have revealed the positive relationship between health literacy and diabetes knowledge but few studies have focused on peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in diabetes in relation to health literacy in diabetes management. This study investigated the relationship between the risk for PVD and health literacy level with other determining factors among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Students' perceptions of school sugar-free, food and exercise environments enhance healthy eating and physical activity.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between students' perceptions of their school policies and environments (i.e. sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) free policy, plain water drinking, vegetables and fruit eating campaign, outdoor physical activity initiative, and the SH150 programme (exercise 150 min/week at school)) and their dietary behaviours and physical activity.

Survival and Treatment of Lung Cancer in Taiwan between 2010 and 2016.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, and its incidence is still growing in Taiwan. This study investigated the prognostic factors of overall survival between 2010 and 2016 in Taiwan.

Methods: Data from 2010 to 2016 was collected from the Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR).

Associations of Problematic Binge-Watching with Depression, Social Interaction Anxiety, and Loneliness.

Background: Binge-watching refers to the watching of several episodes of a TV series or program in rapid succession. This study aims to investigate the associations of binge-watching behavior with depression, social interaction anxiety, and loneliness risks among adults in Taiwan.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in October 2018, in which data from 1488 participants were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising four valid and reliable scales: the Center for Epidemiologic Studied Depression Scale (CES-D), the Chinese version of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS-C), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (version 3), and the Problematic Series Watching Scale (PSWS).

Patients with spontaneous pneumothorax have a higher risk of developing lung cancer: A STROBE-compliant article.

Lung cancer is a common malignancy worldwide, and risk factors include bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, smoking, and air pollution. These are also risk factors for spontaneous pneumothorax, a benign disease. We hypothesized that patients who experience a spontaneous pneumothorax have a greater risk to develop lung cancer, and designed a study to determine if this is so.

Baicalein inhibits matrix metalloproteinase 1 expression via activation of TRPV1-Ca-ERK pathway in ultraviolet B-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts.

Increased matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) expression is a feature of photo-aged skin. We investigated the effects of baicalein and sulphoraphane on ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation-induced MMP-1 expression and apoptosis using human dermal fibroblasts. UVB irradiation not only increased MMP-1 expression, but also caused apoptosis.

Consumption of Energy Drinks among Undergraduate Students in Taiwan: Related Factors and Associations with Substance Use.

: This study aimed to investigate the consumption of energy drinks and associated factors among undergraduate students in Taiwan. : Data came from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2015. Eligible participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing use and perceptions of energy drinks, tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut.

Comparative risk of chronic kidney diseases in patients with urolithiasis and urological interventions: a longitudinal population-based study.

Large cohort studies on whether any association existed between urological interventions for urolithiasis and the development of CKD are lacking. From claims data of the National Health Insurance (NHI) program of Taiwan, we identified 54,433 patients newly diagnosed with urolithiasis during 1998-2010. For each case, four individuals without urolithiasis were randomly selected and frequency matched by age, sex, and diagnosis year.

Association Between Kidney Stones and Risk of Stroke: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Nephrolithiasis is highly prevalent and has been associated with vascular diseases such as cardiovascular events. Few studies have comprehensively associated renal stones with stroke.This study explored whether patients with renal stones were at a higher stroke risk than those without renal stones.

Risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in female breast cancer patients treated with morphine: A retrospective population-based time-dependent cohort study.

Aims: We aimed to examine whether morphine treatment is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in female breast cancer patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database for Catastrophic Illness Patients in Taiwan. A total of 31,112 women with breast cancer without T2DM history during the period 2000-2005 were identified, divided into morphine and non-morphine users (8071 and 23,041 patients, respectively), and the hazard ratios of newly diagnosed T2DM during the period 2005-2010 were calculated.

Association Between Chronic Osteomyelitis and Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Inflammation, which initiates endothelial dysfunction, vascular atherosclerosis, and oxidative stress, may negatively influence renal function and accelerate the development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The role of chronic osteomyelitis (COM), a chronic inflammatory disease, in the development of ESRD has not been investigated. This study explored whether patients with COM have a higher risk of ESRD than that of patients without COM.

Increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage among patients with chronic osteomyelitis.

Object: Inflammation may provoke cerebral arteriolar ectasia, inducing microaneurysm formation and further promoting intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Chronic osteomyelitis (COM) is an inflammatory disorder for which study of its role in ICH is lacking. This study explored whether COM increases the risk of ICH.

Diabetic polyneuropathy and the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy: a nationwide, population-based study.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: From 1997 to 2010, we identified 5031 newly diagnosed DPN patients and 20 124 controls matched for sex, age, and index year. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of DR between the DPN patients and the non-DPN group.

Increased depression risk among patients with chronic osteomyelitis.

Objective: Inflammatory processes, which provoke alternations of neurotransmitter metabolism, neuroendocrine function, and neuroplasticity in the brain, might promote depression. In depression patients who do not exhibit risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease and dementia, particularly in young people, inflammation is a likely risk factor for depression. We explored whether chronic osteomyelitis (COM), a chronic inflammatory disease, increases depression risk.

Atopic diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus: an epidemiological study of the risks and correlations.

Both atopic diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are immune disorders that may lead to physical complications or multi-system comorbidities. This population-based case-control study was designed to evaluate the risk of SLE associated with atopic diseases. Using a national insurance claims dataset in Taiwan, we identified 1673 patients newly diagnosed with SLE and 6692 randomly selected controls frequency matched for gender, age and index date.

Pulmonary embolism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population-based cohort study.

Background: To evaluate the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Taiwan.

Methods: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study using data retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (2000 to 2008), which contains 99% of Taiwanese healthcare data. The evaluations included 355,878 COPD patients and 355,878 non-COPD patients for comparison.

Splenectomy in trauma patients is associated with an increased risk of postoperative type II diabetes: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Animal studies indicate that splenocytes may act as precursors of β-islet secretory cells in the pancreas. This study aimed to assess the risk of postoperative type II diabetes after splenectomy in trauma patients.

Methods: We used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance hospitalized claims.

Benzodiazepine use and risk of stroke: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between benzodiazepine (BZD) use and risk of incident stroke by utilizing data from 2000 to 2003 from the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan.

Methods: Study subjects consisted of 38,671 patients with new BZD use and 38,663 people without BZD use who were frequency-matched for age, sex and baseline comorbidity with BZD users. All subjects had no history of stroke.

Nationwide population-based cohort study on the association of acute coronary syndrome in patients with malignancies.

Aims/introduction: Patients with malignancy are suggestive of having a tendency toward an association with vascular thrombosis risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between malignancy and the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: We used data from the National Health Insurance (NHI) system of Taiwan to assess the issue.

Pneumococcal pneumonia infection is associated with end-stage renal disease in adult hospitalized patients.

Pneumococcal disease leads to renal complications ranging from persistent proteinuria to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in pediatric patients. However, long-term renal effects after pneumococcal pneumonia infection in adult patients remains largely unknown. To evaluate this we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study consisting of 18,733 adult patients at the time of pneumococcal pneumonia diagnosis, using claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) with a comparison cohort of 73,409 age- and gender-matched patients without pneumococcal pneumonia.