ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Prior research has focused on the relationship between weight change and incidence of metabolic syndrome. Change in body mass index (BMI), components of metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome status were investigated over 1 year of follow-up. METHODS: Subjects with metabolic syndrome from a community health screening project were recruited. Logistic regression was used to analyse the disappearance or remission of metabolic syndrome during 1 year according to changes in BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). RESULTS: The study included 490 subjects with metabolic syndrome. After 1 year, metabolic syndrome had disappeared in 30.0% (147/490) of subjects. Decreased triglycerides, blood pressure and HDL-C were significantly associated with the 1-year disappearance of metabolic syndrome, whereas BMI, waist circumference and FPG levels were not. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term weight reduction has no impact on the status of metabolic syndrome. The disappearance of metabolic syndrome was common during a 1-year follow-up. This finding might impact on the treatment and management of people with metabolic syndrome.
Subject(s)
Metabolic Syndrome/blood , Weight Loss , Adult , Aged , Blood Glucose , Blood Pressure , Body Composition , Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Female , Humans , Lipoproteins, HDL/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Triglycerides/blood , Waist CircumferenceABSTRACT
Occupational disease is often underestimated and only a few formal reports have been published in Taiwan. This study reports of a group of workers with asbestos-induced-disease, pleural plaque in Taiwan. Pleural plaque is a marker of exposure to asbestos. The disease was found in chest radiographs of five boiler room workers in a sugar refining factory. The chest radiographs of 248 current workers in that plant were reviewed, and none of them was found to have pleural plaques. The storage of asbestos and the long-time use of mixed asbestos cement for insulation of the inner wall of the stove and pipes were found in the factory. The authors believe that the pleural plaques might be resulted from occupational exposure to asbestos. It is suggested that the use of asbestos should be prohibited, step by step, and regular follow-up of the workers with an asbestos exposure history is required.
Subject(s)
Asbestos/adverse effects , Occupational Exposure , Pleural Diseases/etiology , Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pleural Diseases/diagnostic imaging , RadiographyABSTRACT
The present study was designed to evaluate the clinical availability of family Apgar index in Chinese people. From August 1987 to February 1988, 113 samples from 45 Chinese families were collected from our record family patients. The family members who were over 12 years of age were asked to complete a family Apgar questionnaire and CHQ during a family visit. The patients age, sex, marital status, education, religion, family role, socioeconomic status were also recorded. The result showed that there was no significant correlation between the family Apgar scores and all of the patient's characteristics (sex, age, marital status, education, religion, family role, socioeconomic status) except the score of CHQ. It is suggested that the family Apgar index is a simple and useful instrument to screen out family dysfunctional patients in daily office practice.
