Terminally ill patients' and their relatives' experiences and behaviors regarding complementary and alternative medicine utilization in hospice palliative inpatient care units: a cross-sectional, multicenter survey.

Background: Terminally ill patients often experience exacerbations of diseases that render mainstream medicine ineffective in relieving symptoms, prompting attempts at complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This study collected data from terminally ill patients and their relatives to determine differences between CAM use, behavioral patterns, and perceptions of health information about CAM.

Methods: A cross-sectional design using a self-administered questionnaire was adopted.

Professionals' experiences and attitudes toward use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in hospice palliative inpatient care units: A multicenter survey in Taiwan.

Background: Medical staff may have difficulties in using conventional medicine to manage symptoms among terminally ill patients, including adverse effects of the treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as a complementary or alternative medicine, and has been increasingly used in the field of palliative medicine in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of and attitudes toward using TCM among palliative care professionals, and to provide preliminary information about its use in palliative care.

Modifiable risk factors related to burnout levels in the medical workplace in Taiwan: cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To detect the combined effects of lifestyle factors on work-related burnout (WB) and to analyse the impact of the number of weekend catch-up sleep hours on burnout risk in a medical workplace.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Hospital-based survey in Taiwan.

High exposure to statins decrease the risk of new-onset dementia: A nationwide population-based longitudinal cohort study.

Several studies have shown that statin users have a lower risk of new-onset dementia (NOD) compared nonusers. However, other studies have shown opposite results. In this study, we investigated the association between the use of statins and the development of NOD.

Antihyperglycemic drugs use and new-onset atrial fibrillation: A population-based nested case control study.

Currently, the potential risk of atrial fibrillation associated with antihyperglycemic drug use has been a topic of considerable interest. However, it remains uncertain whether different classes of antihyperglycemic drug therapy are associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation risk. Here, we investigated the association between different classes of antihyperglycemic drugs and new-onset atrial fibrillation (NAF).

Risk of major comorbidities among workers with hemophilia: A 14-year population-based study.

Multiple comorbidities, especially musculoskeletal dysfunction and cerebrovascular disease, remain barriers to normal social participation among persons with hemophilia (PWH). However, the relative health effects of such comorbidities on workers with hemophilia have seldom been explored. In this study, we investigated the incidence of comorbidities and their risk factors among workers with hemophilia.

High-potency statins but not all statins decrease the risk of new-onset osteoporotic fractures: a nationwide population-based longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Statins have been linked to new-onset osteoporotic fractures (NOFs), and different statins may alter the risk for the development of NOFs.

Aim: In this study, we investigated the association between different statins and the development of NOFs.

Patients And Methods: This was a longitudinal cohort study performed using data from claim forms submitted to the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance, including case patients with NOFs from January 2004 to December 2013 and non-NOF subjects.

The prescribing trend of oral antidiabetic agents for type 2 diabetes in Taiwan: An 8-year population-based study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prescription trend and pattern of oral antidiabetic (OAD) medications, which are extensively used worldwide for treating type 2 diabetes, in 2 age groups.In this population-based study, data obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan, were analyzed to investigate the prescription trend of all types of OAD medications during 2005 to 2012. We used descriptive statistics to demonstrate the trend of prescription patterns stratified by age (aged 65 years and above or younger than 65).

Antihyperglycemic drugs use and new-onset atrial fibrillation in elderly patients.

Background: Antihyperglycemic drugs have been linked to new-onset atrial fibrillation (NAF). However, the effect of the different classes of antihyperglycemic drugs on the development of NAF in elderly patients has not been well studied. In this study, we investigated the association between different classes of antihyperglycemic drugs and NAF in elderly patients.

Long-term Effects of Antihypertensive Drug Use and New-onset Osteoporotic Fracture in Elderly Patients: A Population-based Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: Antihypertensive drugs have been linked to new-onset osteoporotic fracture (NOF), and different classes of antihypertensive drugs may alter the risk for the development of NOF; however, the classic effect of different antihypertensive drugs on the development of NOF in the elderly has not been well studied during long-term follow-up.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the association between different classic antihypertensives and the development of NOF in the elderly. This was a longitudinal cohort study performed using data from claim forms submitted to the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance in Central Taiwan, China including case patients with NOF aged 65-80 years from January 2002 to December 2012 and non-NOF controls.

Antihypertensive Drug Use and New-Onset Diabetes in Female Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Population-based Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Antihypertensives have been linked to new-onset diabetes (NOD) and different classes of antihypertensives may alter the risk for the development of NOD; however, the effect of different antihypertensives on the development of NOD in women with hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been well studied. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between usage of different antihypertensive drugs and the development of NOD in female patients with hypertension and CAD.Data in this retrospective cohort study were obtained from claim forms submitted to the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance in central Taiwan during the period 2006-2011.

Current systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A review of the literature.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common form of human cancer worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. The strategies of various treatments for HCC depend on the stage of tumor, the status of patient's performance and the reserved hepatic function. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system is currently used most for patients with HCC.

Long-term effect of antihypertensive drugs on the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation: a longitudinal cohort study.

Antihypertensive drugs have been linked to new-onset atrial fibrillation (NAF); however, the way in which these drugs affect the development of NAF in hypertensive patients has not been thoroughly examined. Herein, we report a population-based study in which we investigated the relationship between antihypertensive drug therapy and the risk of NAF. The population sample consisted of 47 682 hypertensive patients identified from claim forms provided to the central regional branch of the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan between January 2005 and December 2010.

TIMP-3 -1296 T>C and TIMP-4 -55 T>C gene polymorphisms play a role in the susceptibility of hepatocellular carcinoma among women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic impact of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C (rs9619311) and TIMP-4 -55 T>C (rs3755724) gene polymorphisms on the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 759 subjects, including 530 healthy controls and 229 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, were recruited in this study. Allelic discrimination of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C (rs9619311) and TIMP-4 -55 T>C (rs3755724) polymorphisms was assessed with the ABI StepOne™ Real-Time PCR System.

Molecular typing and epidemiology of Clostridium difficile in respiratory care wards of central Taiwan.

Background/purpose: In industrialized countries, Clostridium difficile is the major cause of nosocomial diarrhea. This study involved a broad overview of baseline epidemiology for C. difficile in Taiwan.

Statins and new-onset diabetes: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Statins have been linked to new-onset diabetes (NOD); however, the effect of statins on the development of NOD in patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia has not been well studied.

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the association between statins and NOD.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study performed by using data from claim forms provided to the central regional branch of the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan from July 2006 to December 2009.

The long-term effect of statins on the risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus in elderly Taiwanese patients with hypertension and dyslipidaemia: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Background: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been linked to new-onset diabetes (NOD). Individual statins may differ in the extent to which they increase the risk for NOD; however, the effect of statins on the development of NOD in elderly hypertensive and dyslipidaemic patients has not been well studied.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relative risk for NOD among elderly (age ≥65 years) hypertensive and dyslipidaemic Taiwanese patients who received different statins.

Baicalein inhibits the migration and invasive properties of human hepatoma cells.

Flavonoids have been demonstrated to exert health benefits in humans. We investigated whether the flavonoid baicalein would inhibit the adhesion, migration, invasion, and growth of human hepatoma cell lines, and we also investigated its mechanism of action. The separate effects of baicalein and baicalin on the viability of HA22T/VGH and SK-Hep1 cells were investigated for 24h.

Antihypertensive drugs and new-onset diabetes: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Antihypertensive drugs have been linked to new-onset diabetes (NOD); however, data on the effect of these drugs on the development of NOD in hypertensive patients has not been well determined. We aimed to investigate the association between antihypertensive drugs and NOD. This was a retrospective cohort study performed using data from claim forms provided to the central region branch of the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan from January 2002 to December 2007.

The relationship between antihypertensive combination therapies comprising diuretics and/or beta-blockers and the risk of new-onset diabetes: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

We investigate the associations of antihypertensive drugs in double and triple combination regimens comprising diuretics and/or beta-blockers on the development of new-onset diabetes (NOD). This study was a retrospective cohort study carried out using data from claim forms provided to the central regional branch of the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) in Taiwan from January 2001 to December 2006. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) of NOD associated with antihypertensive combination therapy use; non-NOD individuals served as the reference group.

Long-term effects of antihypertensive drugs on the risk of new-onset diabetes in elderly Taiwanese hypertensives.

Antihypertensive drugs have been linked to new-onset diabetes (NOD); however, the effects of these drugs on the development of NOD in elderly Taiwanese hypertensive patients have not been well determined. We examined the association between antihypertensive drug therapy and the risk of NOD in a population-based study. The sample consisted of 8,638 elderly hypertensive patients.