Temporal change in minimum mortality temperature under changing climate: A multicountry multicommunity observational study spanning 1986-2015.

Background: The minimum mortality temperature (MMT) or MMT percentile (MMTP) is an indicator of population susceptibility to nonoptimum temperatures. MMT and MMTP change over time; however, the changing directions show region-wide heterogeneity. We examined the heterogeneity of temporal changes in MMT and MMTP across multiple communities and in multiple countries.

Long-term exposure to NO and PM and the occurrence of chronic kidney disease among patients with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan.

Background: Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) frequently exhibit chronic kidney disease (CKD) which may be caused by environmental hazards such as exposure to air pollutants. However, limited research has explored the effects of prolonged exposure to air pollutants on CKD development in this population. This study examines the relationship between long-term exposure to air pollutants and CKD incidence in a longitudinal cohort of individuals with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan METHODS: Between 2003 and 2005, we recruited 1316 T2D patients (693 females [52.

Utilizing Artificial Neural Networks for Establishing Hearing-Loss Predicting Models Based on a Longitudinal Dataset and Their Implications for Managing the Hearing Conservation Program.

Background: Though the artificial neural network (ANN) technique has been used to predict noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), the established prediction models have primarily relied on cross-sectional datasets, and hence, they may not comprehensively capture the chronic nature of NIHL as a disease linked to long-term noise exposure among workers.

Methods: A comprehensive dataset was utilized, encompassing eight-year longitudinal personal hearing threshold levels (HTLs) as well as information on seven personal variables and two environmental variables to establish NIHL predicting models through the ANN technique. Three subdatasets were extracted from the afirementioned comprehensive dataset to assess the advantages of the present study in NIHL predictions.

Concatenated ScaA and TSA56 Surface Antigen Sequences Reflect Genome-Scale Phylogeny of : An Analysis Including Two Genomes from Taiwan.

is an obligate intracellular bacterium associated with trombiculid mites and is the causative agent of scrub typhus, a life-threatening febrile disease. Strain typing of is based on its immunodominant surface antigen, 56-kDa type-specific antigen (TSA56). However, TSA56 gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis is only partially congruent with core genome-based phylogenetic analysis.

Adaptation behaviors modify the effects of body fat on heat-related symptoms among Taiwanese elderly.

Background: The aging process increases body fat and susceptibility to heat-related illnesses. The relationship between body composition and symptoms associated with exposure to extreme heat among the elderly is unclear. Additionally, the influence of individual adaptive behaviors in mitigating these risks has not been adequately explored.

Heat-related cardiorespiratory mortality: Effect modification by air pollution across 482 cities from 24 countries.

Background: Evidence on the potential interactive effects of heat and ambient air pollution on cause-specific mortality is inconclusive and limited to selected locations.

Objectives: We investigated the effects of heat on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality and its modification by air pollution during summer months (six consecutive hottest months) in 482 locations across 24 countries.

Methods: Location-specific daily death counts and exposure data (e.

Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution and the Occurrence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Taiwan.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a major contributor to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, has been linked with exposure to air pollution. However, the relationship between air pollutants and the five components of MetS [abdominal obesity, elevated triglyceride, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), elevated blood pressure, and elevated fasting blood glucose levels], has not been clearly described.

Objective: We examined the association between long-term exposure to air pollutants and the occurrence of MetS and its components by using a longitudinal cohort in Taiwan.

Associations Between Extreme Temperatures and Cardiovascular Cause-Specific Mortality: Results From 27 Countries.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Existing studies on the association between temperatures and cardiovascular deaths have been limited in geographic zones and have generally considered associations with total cardiovascular deaths rather than cause-specific cardiovascular deaths.

Methods: We used unified data collection protocols within the Multi-Country Multi-City Collaborative Network to assemble a database of daily counts of specific cardiovascular causes of death from 567 cities in 27 countries across 5 continents in overlapping periods ranging from 1979 to 2019.

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.

Incomplete off-duty work hours and sleep quality among firefighters: a cross-sectional study, Taiwan.

Objective: We examined whether firefighters in Taiwan have a sleep problem and investigated the related factors of poor sleep quality.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2123 male shift firefighters in the Greater Taipei area were invited, and 37.7% of them satisfactorily completed the questionnaire online.

Air pollution enhance the progression of restrictive lung function impairment and diffusion capacity reduction: an elderly cohort study.

Background: Some evidences have shown the association between air pollution exposure and the development of interstitial lung diseases. However, the effect of air pollution on the progression of restrictive ventilatory impairment and diffusion capacity reduction is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution on the change rates of total lung capacity, residual volume, and diffusion capacity among the elderly.

Coarse Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality: A Global Study in 205 Cities.

The associations between ambient coarse particulate matter (PM) and daily mortality are not fully understood on a global scale. To evaluate the short-term associations between PM and total, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality across multiple countries/regions worldwide. We collected daily mortality (total, cardiovascular, and respiratory) and air pollution data from 205 cities in 20 countries/regions.

Hospital factors that predict intention of health care workers to leave their job during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: To identify factors responsible for hospital health care workers' intention to leave their job during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: A cross-sectional study was performed.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was delivered to solicit hospital health care workers' demographics, intention to leave, workplace environment, and changes related to COVID-19 from July to November 2020 in Taiwan.

Geographical Variations of the Minimum Mortality Temperature at a Global Scale: A Multicountry Study.

Background: Minimum mortality temperature (MMT) is an important indicator to assess the temperature-mortality association, indicating long-term adaptation to local climate. Limited evidence about the geographical variability of the MMT is available at a global scale.

Methods: We collected data from 658 communities in 43 countries under different climates.

Differential Mortality Risks Associated With PM2.5 Components: A Multi-Country, Multi-City Study.

Background: The association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and mortality widely differs between as well as within countries. Differences in PM2.

Contribution of Visible Surface Mold to Airborne Fungal Concentration as Assessed by Digital Image Quantification.

The rapid monitoring of total fungi, including air and surface fungal profiling, is an important issue. Here, we applied air and surface sampling, combined with digital image quantification of surface mold spots, to evaluate the contribution of surface fungi to airborne fungal concentrations. , , , and yeast often appeared in the air or on wall surfaces during sampling.

Short sleep and chronic neck and shoulder discomfort in nurses.

Objective: Short sleep duration is common among nurses. Sleep restriction has been associated with musculoskeletal discomfort. However, studies on the effect of short sleep duration on chronic neck and shoulder discomfort in nurses have been lacking.

Ambient carbon monoxide and daily mortality: a global time-series study in 337 cities.

Background: Epidemiological evidence on short-term association between ambient carbon monoxide (CO) and mortality is inconclusive and limited to single cities, regions, or countries. Generalisation of results from previous studies is hindered by potential publication bias and different modelling approaches. We therefore assessed the association between short-term exposure to ambient CO and daily mortality in a multicity, multicountry setting.

Short term associations of ambient nitrogen dioxide with daily total, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality: multilocation analysis in 398 cities.

Objective: To evaluate the short term associations between nitrogen dioxide (NO) and total, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality across multiple countries/regions worldwide, using a uniform analytical protocol.

Design: Two stage, time series approach, with overdispersed generalised linear models and multilevel meta-analysis.

Setting: 398 cities in 22 low to high income countries/regions.

Prenatal exposure to air pollutants and childhood atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis adopting machine learning approaches: 14-year follow-up birth cohort study.

The incidence of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic rhinitis (AR) is increasing. This warrants development of measures to predict and prevent these conditions. We aimed to investigate the predictive ability of a spectrum of data mining methods to predict childhood AD and AR using longitudinal birth cohort data.

Projections of excess mortality related to diurnal temperature range under climate change scenarios: a multi-country modelling study.

Background: Various retrospective studies have reported on the increase of mortality risk due to higher diurnal temperature range (DTR). This study projects the effect of DTR on future mortality across 445 communities in 20 countries and regions.

Methods: DTR-related mortality risk was estimated on the basis of the historical daily time-series of mortality and weather factors from Jan 1, 1985, to Dec 31, 2015, with data for 445 communities across 20 countries and regions, from the Multi-Country Multi-City Collaborative Research Network.

Occupational and Non-occupational Injuries Can Result in Prolonged Augmentation of Psychiatric Disorders.

Background: The long-term effects of occupational injury (OI) on psychiatric diseases are unclear. This study assessed and compared the effects of OI, no injury (control), and non-OI (NOI) on the development of psychiatric diseases.

Methods: We used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to investigate the incidence of psychiatric disorders in OI, NOI, and control groups.