Disease burden from foodborne illnesses in Taiwan, 2012-2015.

Background/purpose: Foodborne disease is a global health problem. We aim to provide the first national estimate on disease burden from foodborne illnesses in Taiwan.

Methods: We adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG) methodology framework, and used a hazard-based incidence approach to calculate disability-adjusted life year (DALY) lost to foodborne diseases.

Influence of Tea Consumption on the Development of Second Esophageal Neoplasm in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Alcohol is an important risk factor for the development of second esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) in head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. However, the influence of tea consumption is uncertain. We prospectively performed endoscopic screening in incident HNSCC patients to identify synchronous esophageal neoplasm.

Intake of potassium- and magnesium-enriched salt improves functional outcome after stroke: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind controlled trial.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and neurologic deficits. Management measures to improve neurologic outcomes are in great need. Our previous intervention trial in elderly subjects successfully used salt as a carrier for potassium, demonstrating a 41% reduction in cardiovascular mortality by switching to potassium-enriched salt.

Low-normal serum potassium is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause death in community-based elderly.

Background/purpose: Several studies have already reported that serum potassium (SK) correlated inversely with adverse events among patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease and impaired renal function; less is known about the prognostic value of SK at the normal range in community-based elderly individuals. This study aimed to examine whether low normal SK value was associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortalities in elderly people.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted using two independent elderly Taiwanese community cohorts that included 2065 individuals with relatively normal SK values (2.