The long-term effects of cardiometabolic risk factors on mortality and life expectancy: evidence from a health check-up cohort study.

Objective: Cardiometabolic risk factors significantly contribute to disease burden. This study explored the effects of hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), and hyperlipidemia (HLP) on mortality. It stratified findings by age group and comorbidity severity using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score.

Development of an individualized stable and force-reducing lower-limb exoskeleton.

In this study, an individualized and stable passive-control lower-limb exoskeleton robot was developed. Users' joint angles and the center of pressure (CoP) of one of their soles were input into a convolutional neural network (CNN)-long short-term memory (LSTM) model to evaluate and adjust the exoskeleton control scheme. The CNN-LSTM model predicted the fitness of the control scheme and output the results to the exoskeleton robot, which modified its control parameters accordingly to enhance walking stability.

Association of Well-Being in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Enhanced Personal Health and Social Support: A Nationally Representative Cohort Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between multidimensional factors, such as environment, health status, behavior, social support, and the well-being of middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: This study utilized data from 2 waves of the nationally representative Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging Survey Report (TLSA) conducted in 2015 and 2019. The TLSA assesses socioeconomic status, physical and health status, the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5 index), and social support.

Physical frailty and oral health as risk factors for low bone density in community-dwelling residents.

This study aimed to explore the association between bone mineral density and physical frailty including nutrition, muscle mass, and oral function. We included participants aged 35-80 years and examined their bone mineral density, serum albumin level, body composition, and variance of hue (VOH) of two-colored gum. We also used the geriatric oral health assessment index (GOHAI).

Evaluating the Effectiveness of School Closure in COVID-19-Related Syndromes From Community-Based Syndromic Surveillance: Longitudinal Observational Study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a school closure policy was adopted to prevent cluster transmission in schools and subsequent household transmission. However, the effectiveness of school closure is not consistent in studies conducted in different countries.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the association between school closure and the daily standardized incidence of COVID-19-related syndromes in an outpatient syndromic surveillance system.

Sensitivity analysis of selection bias: a graphical display by bias-correction index.

Background: In observational studies, how the magnitude of potential selection bias in a sensitivity analysis can be quantified is rarely discussed. The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitivity analysis strategy by using the bias-correction index (BCI) approach for quantifying the influence and direction of selection bias.

Methods: We used a BCI, a function of selection probabilities conditional on outcome and covariates, with different selection bias scenarios in a logistic regression setting.

Digital oral health biomarkers for early detection of cognitive decline.

Background: Oral health could influence cognitive function by stimulating brain activity and blood flow. The quantified oral status from oral inflammation, frailty and masticatory performance were rarely applied to the cognitive function screening. We aimed to adopt non-invasive digital biomarkers to quantify oral health and employ machine learning algorithms to detect cognitive decline in the community.

Preliminary study on the application of bioimpedance analysis to measure the psoas major muscle in older adults.

For the assessment of sarcopenia or other geriatric frailty syndromes, psoas major area may be one of the primary indicators. Aim to develop and cross-validate the psoas cross-sectional area estimation equation of L3-L4 of the elderly over 60 years old by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Ninety-two older adults with normal mobility were enrolled (47 females, 45 males), and were randomly divided into a modeling group (MG, n = 62) and validation group (VG, n = 30).

The Effectiveness of Whole-Body Vibration and Heat Therapy on the Muscle Strength, Flexibility, and Balance Abilities of Elderly Groups.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a novel exercise training measure that promotes the muscle strength, flexibility, and balance abilities of elderly groups. The feasibility and applicability of 20-30 min (lowering a heat pack at 73 °C by wrapping it in multiple layers of towels to 40-43 °C before it touched the skin) thermotherapy are increasingly being demonstrated by applications and clinical trials. Studies show that it increases the flexibility of macules and ligament.

Assessment of Standing Multi-Frequency Bioimpedance Analyzer to Measure Body Composition of the Whole Body and Limbs in Elite Male Wrestlers.

We investigated differences in body composition measurements for the whole body and limb segments in elite male wrestlers between results of multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analyses (MF) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Sixty-six elite male wrestlers from Taiwan were recruited. Wrestlers' body fat percentage (PBF), whole body fat-free mass (FFM), whole body lean soft tissue mass (LSTM), and fat-free mass of arms, legs and trunk (FM, FFM, FFM) were measured by MF and DXA, and analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot.

analysis combined with sagittal abdominal diameter for abdominal subcutaneous fat measurement.

Abdominal subcutaneous fat tissue (ASFT) is an independent predictor of mortality. This prospective observational study aimed to establish a rapid, safe, and convenient estimation equation for abdominal subcutaneous fat area (SFA) using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) combined with sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD). A total of 520 adult subjects were recruited and were randomly divided into 2/3 ( = 346) and 1/3 ( = 174) to form a modeling group (MG) and a validation group (VG), respectively.

Environmental and personal factors for osteoporosis or osteopenia from a large health check-up database: a retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Osteoporosis is an important public health issue in aging societies because of its associated morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life. The study aims to identify the association of low bone mineral density, including osteoporosis and osteopenia, with environmental and personal factors.

Methods: The data of participants aged ≥ 20 years with multiple visits were obtained from a health check-up database in Taiwan from 2008 to 2016.

A multicenter study to compare the effectiveness of the inpatient post acute care program versus traditional rehabilitation for stroke survivors.

There is insufficient evidence to prove the effect of the Post-acute Care (PAC) program on post-stroke recovery. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the PAC versus traditional inpatient rehabilitation (non-PAC) for middle- and old-aged stroke survivors. This multicenter cohort study enrolled 334 stroke patients admitted for post-stroke rehabilitation.

Is 20 Hz Whole-Body Vibration Training Better for Older Individuals than 40 Hz?

In recent years, whole-body vibration (WBV) training has been used as a training method in health promotion. This study attempted to use WBV at three different frequencies (20, 30, and 40 Hz) with subjects from different age groups to analyze the activation of the rectus femoris muscle. The subjects included 47 females and 51 males with an average age of 45.

Association between local spatial accessibility of dental care services and dental care quality.

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the allocation of dental resources and explore access to dental care in Taiwan. In addition, we tried to understand the spatiotemporal characteristics of dental care quality and analyze the relationship between dental care quality and areas with deficiencies in dental resources.

Methods: The study used a two-step floating catchment area to calculate the dental resources accessibility and explore the spatiotemporal distributions of dental care quality.

Impact of physical distancing policy on reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 globally: Perspective from government's response and residents' compliance.

Background: COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2020. Various physical distancing interventions were introduced to flatten the epidemic curve and reduce the disease burden. We evaluated the impacts of policy stringency and residents' compliance on time-varying reproduction number in 17 countries.

Longitudinal changes in physical and mental health of older adults with chronic hepatitis B infection: Trajectories and predictors.

Despite the increasing health burden of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in aging populations, little is known about the course of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes. We aimed to assess individual-level longitudinal HRQoL changes in elderly patients with CHB and to examine their correlates. A prospective 5.

Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation with suture mucopexy compared with LigaSure™-assisted pile excision for the treatment of grade III hemorrhoids: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation and stapled hemorrhoidopexy have been used in surgical practices to avoid post-hemorrhoidectomy pain. Our study compared Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation with suture mucopexy (DGHAL-SM) and ligature-assisted pile excision (LAP) for greater than three grades of internal hemorrhoids.

Methods: Eighty patients with greater than 3 grades of internal hemorrhoids were selected (age range: 20-28 years; average age: 23 years) between January and June 2015.

Standing 8-Electrode Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis as an Alternative Method to Estimate Visceral Fat Area and Body Fat Mass in Athletes.

Purpose: To investigate the potential of standing 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for assessing visceral fat area (VFA) and body fat mass (BFM) in athletes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 95 subjects (50 males and 45 females) were recruited. VFA and BFM measurements were obtained using three standing 8-electrode BIA devices, InBody230, InBody770, and IOI353.

Therapeutic effects of acupuncture on sensory ataxia after a cerebral hemorrhage: A case report.

Introduction: Sensory ataxia is a dysfunction of dynamic balance due to impairment of sensory input into the control of movement. The sequelae of stroke, such as hemiplegia, somatosensory impairment, and impaired balance may cause significant disability and may affect patients' quality of life. In addition to rehabilitation programs, acupuncture therapy has been applied to stroke patients and is recommended as a complementary therapy in stroke rehabilitation.

EPS8 regulates an NLRP3 inflammasome-independent caspase-1 activation pathway in monosodium urate crystal-treated RAW264.7 macrophages.

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis caused by the phagocytosis of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition in joints. NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-dependent caspase-1 activation is implicated in the processing of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which is the major effector cytokine in the acute inflammatory response of gout. Mechanisms underlying caspase-1 activation remain unclear.

Prediction and discrimination of skeletal muscle function by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis using a standing impedance analyzer in healthy Taiwanese adults.

Background: Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) has been used for prediction of muscle performance. However, little is known about BIVA in Asian adults, and even less is known about using standing BIVA devices. Standing impedance analyzer allows quicker and more convenient way to gather data than conventional supine analyzer and is more suitable for clinical practice.