Serum uric acid is associated with incident metabolic syndrome independent of body shape index and body roundness index in healthy individuals.

Background And Aims: Elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels, body shape index (BSI) and body roundness index (BRI) were associated with incident metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to investigate the relationship among the SUA level, BSI, and BRI on the incidence of MetS.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively included 6221 healthy individuals from annual health exams at our hospital between 2016/1/1 and 2016/12/31.

Serum Uric Acid may be Associated with Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Military Individuals.

Introduction: We investigated the correlation and association between serum uric acid (SUA) and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) criteria in military individuals.

Material And Methods: We prospectively enrolled military individuals who visited our hospital for evaluation of electrocardiographic abnormalities detected at an annual health exam between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019. Hyperuricemia was defined as an SUA level ≥7 mg/dL in men and ≥6 mg/dL in women.

Baseline Hemoglobin Levels Associated with One-Year Mortality in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Background: The association between hemoglobin (Hb) levels and mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the mortality among STEMI patients with anemia or erythrocytosis, and further establish the relationship between mortality and the increment of Hb level.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2012, 951 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a medical center in Northern Taiwan were enrolled in our study, including 535 patients with normal Hb level, 148 with anemia (male Hb ≤ 13 g/dl, female ≤ 12) and 268 with erythrocytosis (male Hb ≥ 16, female ≥ 15).

Differential patterns of effects of age and sex on metabolic syndrome in Taiwan: implication for the inadequate internal consistency of the current criteria.

Aims: Current criteria of metabolic syndrome (MetS) give equal weight to each component and apply mostly the same cut-off values to all ages. The contribution of each component to MetS and the effects of age and sex on each component and MetS were explored.

Methods: We carried out a survey on residents aged 40-74 years of the northern coastal area of Taiwan.

The Impact of Metabolic Syndrome, Homocysteine, and B Vitamins on Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in Hypertensive Patients.

Objectives: To examine the correlation between metabolic syndrome (MS), plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) level, and serum B vitamin levels on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in hypertensive patients.

Methods: A total of 73 medically treated hypertensive patients (42 men, mean age 70.7 years), fasted for 10 hours, and provided fasting blood samples for measurement of plasma tHcy, serum folic acid, and serum vitamin B12 levels.

Role ambiguity, employee gender, and workplace friendship.

The importance of workplace friendship is recognized by researchers and practitioners, but its antecedents with respect to work roles are not well understood. Employees' gender might moderate a relationship between work roles and friendships. Data from a survey of 221 international tourist hotel employees showed that a key aspect of job support, role ambiguity, was negatively related to having workplace friendships.

Taiwan quality indicator project and hospital productivity growth.

The Taiwan Quality Indicator Project (TQIP) is a quality management program that measures and monitors the healthcare quality of hospitals in Taiwan. This paper examines the impact of TQIP participation on hospital productivity growth with the application of the Malmquist productivity change index based on data envelopment analysis (DEA). Analyzing operations data from 31 TQIP regional hospitals over the period 1998-2004, we find that TQIP hospitals improved their productivity in the post-TQIP period.

Evaluation of computer-assisted instruction in histology: effect of interaction on learning outcome.

The purpose of this study was to determine better strategies for the design and use of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in health science subjects that require visual learning. Evaluation of current use of CAI was focused on three CD-based modules developed to teach histological images to beginning medical students at multiple sites. For internal control, students' learning outcomes and perceived effectiveness were analyzed with their demographic characteristics, computer attitude, computer experience, and learning behaviors being considered.