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1.
Postgrad Med J ; 2024 Mar 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38507113

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite previous concerns about ocular side effects related to amiodarone, the relationship between amiodarone and cataract remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential association between amiodarone use and the subsequent risk of cataract, taking into account potential confounders. METHODS: This population-based, active comparator-controlled cohort study utilized the data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance program and involved adults over 40 years old between 2001 and 2013. We analyzed 12 055 new amiodarone users and contrasted them with a propafenone user cohort. The primary outcome was the incidence of cataract. Inverse-probability treatment-weighting (IPTW) was further used to eliminate the potential confounding effects, and Cox proportional-hazard regression analyses were performed to calculate the risk of cataract. Serial subgroup analyses were also performed. RESULTS: In the main analysis, amiodarone users did not exhibit a significant causal relationship in both full cohort [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.994, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.913-1.082] and IPTW cohort (IPTW-aHR 0.977, 95% CI: 0.900-1.060). Furthermore, it is important to highlight a significantly reduced risk of cataract among patients with heart failure (IPTW-aHR 0.708, 95% CI: 0.554-0.905) and during the 2-year follow-up period (IPTW-aHR 0.889, 95% CI: 0.794-0.996), implying potential advantages linked to the use of amiodarone. CONCLUSIONS: The study found no increased risk of cataract with amiodarone, one of the most frequently used antiarrhythmic medications, compared to the use of propafenone. Future research is recommended to explore potential mechanisms and their implications for clinical practice.

2.
BMC Cardiovasc Disord ; 23(1): 375, 2023 07 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37507664

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We evaluated hyperglycemia-associated mortality in the Taiwanese population by conducting a 10-year retrospective cohort study. METHODS: From 2007 to 2017, all participants, regardless of their age or underlying diseases, were identified at a Health Screening Center in Taiwan. Overall, 114,534 participants were included in the analysis. They were classified into three subgroups according to glycemia and smoking status by combining survival for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time, age, and body mass index (BMI) were 8.14 ± 2.22 years, 40.95 ± 12.14 years, and 23.24 ± 3.65 kg/m2, respectively. The cumulative death rate increased from 0.9% in the normal fasting blood glucose(FBG) subgroup to approximately 6% in the diabetes FBG subgroup. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, waist circumference(WC), and smoking status, the hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause, cancer, and heart disease mortality in the diabetes mellitus(DM) subgroup was 1.560, 1.381, and 1.828, respectively.HR was 0.989 in all-cause, 0.940 in cancer, and 1.326 in heart disease in the pre-DM subgroup. CONCLUSION: Being tested for pre-DM is related to a higher risk of death from heart disease in the Taiwanese population at baseline. Therefore, cardiovascular risk must be actively measured among diabetes patients every visit.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus , Heart Diseases , Prediabetic State , Humans , Follow-Up Studies , Risk Factors , Retrospective Studies , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Prediabetic State/diagnosis , Prediabetic State/epidemiology , Body Mass Index
3.
Diabetol Metab Syndr ; 15(1): 103, 2023 May 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37198661

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diabetes with co-existing bone fragility or osteoporosis is common in elderly patients, whereas is frequently underestimated. METHODS: We conducted dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) with 7-site skinfold (SF) and dominant hand grip strength measurements among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) to assess their gender-specific associations. A total of 103 patients with T2DM (60 females and 43 males), aged between 50 and 80 years (median 68.0 years) were enrolled and 45 non-DM females were also included to compare with T2DM females. RESULTS: Our results revealed osteoporosis was negatively correlated with grip strength in both genders, negatively correlated with lean mass solely in males and negatively correlated with fat mass (particular the gynoid fat mass and thigh SF thickness) in females. Via performing multivariable stepwise logistic regression, we identified grip strength in both genders and thigh SF thickness in females as predictors for osteoporosis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis further disclosed 20.5 mm female thigh skinfold thickness, 18.1 kg female grip strength and 29.0 kg male grip strength as reasonable cutoff levels for predicting osteoporosis in the Taiwanese patients with T2DM. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T2DM presented gender-specific associations between osteoporosis, body composition and grip strength. Grip strength and thigh SF thickness might serve as predictors for detection of osteoporosis in patients with T2DM.

4.
J Clin Med ; 11(10)2022 May 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35628869

ABSTRACT

Gout is a common systemic inflammatory disease with a male predominance. This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum total testosterone level and hyperuricemia. Data on 1899 men, collected from 2007 to 2017, were included in the analysis. Serum testosterone and urate (SU) were measured on enrolment. The primary endpoints were SU levels ≥ 7 mg/dL and ≥9 mg/dL. On enrolment, participants had a mean age of 45.6 years and mean total testosterone and SU levels of 510 ng/dL and 6.6 mg/dL, respectively. The mean total testosterone levels were 533 and 470 ng/dL in patients with SU levels < 7 mg/dL and ≥7 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.001); and 515 and 425 ng/dL in patients with SU levels < 9 mg/dL and ≥9 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, body mass index, creatinine, serum lipid, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, low testosterone level (<400 ng/dL) was significantly associated with an SU level ≥ 7 mg/dL (hazard ratio: 1.182, 95% confidence interval: 1.005−1.39) and ≥9 mg/dL (hazard ratio: 1.905, 95% confidence interval: 1.239−2.928). In men, a low testosterone level may be associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia.

5.
Front Cardiovasc Med ; 9: 869251, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35498035

ABSTRACT

Low testosterone levels are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease; however, most previous studies assessed the relationship of testosterone levels with a history of cardiovascular (CV) events rather than with CV risk prediction scores consequently neglecting the effect of testosterone on CV risk in healthy young individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between testosterone levels and predict the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease. This retrospective cohort study was conducted through a large medical health examination system in four metropolises in Taiwan. Two risk scores were used to predict the 10-year cardiovascular risk of participants: the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) (2008) and the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) Risk Estimator (2013). Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the correlation of testosterone level reduction with the increase in predicted CV risk. We used the MJ Health Research Foundation database to collect reports of 125,414 individuals who underwent medical checkups between 2007 and 2016. The final sample size included 1,253 male participants. A reduction in testosterone level between two subsequent medical checkups was associated with higher CV risk estimated by the FRS and ASCVD Risk Estimator in young participants aged 30-49 years (OR = 0.804, 95% CI: 0.711-0.909, p < 0.01 and OR = 0.841, 95% CI: 0.742-0.953, p < 0.01, respectively). Reduction in total testosterone levels increases CV risk in men aged 30 to 49 years, while the CV risk is not influenced by low testosterone levels at baseline.

6.
PLoS One ; 17(3): e0265629, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35320301

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Aging-related hypogonadism in men is related to the deterioration of overall health. Those with this disease rarely receive treatment. The hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype is a tool for predicting abnormalities of cardiovascular metabolism. However, the relationship between the HTGW phenotype and hypogonadism remains undetermined. This study aimed to determine the association between HTGW phenotype and hypogonadism in different age groups. METHODS: Data of this cross-sectional study were obtained from MJ Health Screening Center in Taiwan from 2007 to 2016. The HTGW phenotype was divided into four categories based on whether the waist circumference (WC) and triglyceride levels were normal. WC of <90 cm and triglyceride level of <150 mg/dL were defined as normal. Hypogonadism was defined as a testosterone level of <300 ng/dL. RESULTS: Overall, 6442 male participants were divided into three age groups: <50, 50-64, and ≥65 years (n = 4135, 1958, and 349; age groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The overall prevalence of hypogonadism was 10.6%. In group 1, participants with HTGW (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.354-2.896) had a higher risk of hypogonadism than those with normal WC and normal triglyceride levels after adjustment for body mass index and fasting blood glucose level. In group 2, participants with HTGW (odds ratio, 1.873; 95% CI, 1.099-3.193) had an increased risk of hypogonadism after adjustment for body mass index, fasting blood glucose level, Cholesterol levels, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, low-density lipoprptein (LDL) levels and smoking status. However, no relationship was observed between HTGW phenotype and hypogonadism in group 3. CONCLUSION: HTGW phenotype was highly associated with hypogonadism in Taiwanese adult men. More attention should be paid to men aged <50 years with HTGW.


Subject(s)
Hypertriglyceridemic Waist , Hypogonadism , Blood Glucose , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Hypertriglyceridemic Waist/complications , Hypertriglyceridemic Waist/epidemiology , Hypogonadism/complications , Hypogonadism/epidemiology , Male , Phenotype , Risk Factors , Triglycerides , Waist Circumference
7.
J Diabetes Res ; 2021: 1347588, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34966822

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate whether waist circumference (WC) or hyperglycemia is more closely associated with hypogonadism in middle-aged men. Research Design and Methods. This cross-sectional study analyzed male participants under 65 years old from the MJ Health Screening Center in Taiwan from 2007 to 2016. Basic patient characteristics with relevant parameters were obtained. We used the chi-square test to perform a correlation analysis for HbA1c and WC between participants with and without hypogonadism. A one-way ANOVA with post hoc Scheffe's method was applied to compare the mean testosterone (T) among the HbAlc and WC groups (normal blood sugar with normal WC (NBSNW), abnormal blood sugar with normal WC (ABSNW), normal blood sugar with abnormal WC (NBSAW), and abnormal blood sugar with abnormal waist circumference (ABSAW)). RESULTS: The 5,680 participants were divided into two groups based on the presence (n = 599) or absence of hypogonadism (n = 5,081), which was defined as total testosterone (TT) < 300 ng/dL. The mean TT of group NBSAW (443.71 ± 220.59 ng/dl) was significantly lower than that of group ABSNW (506.64 ± 191.08 ng/dl, p < 0.001). Moreover, the mean TT of group ABSAW (398.89 ± 146.24 ng/dl) was significantly lower than that of group ABSNW (506.64 ± 191.08 ng/dl, p < 0.001). The ORs after adjusting for BMI, TG, HDL, SBP, and DBP were statistically significant when comparing NBSAW vs. NBSNW (OR = 2.846; 95%CI = 2.266-3.575; p < 0.001), ABSNW vs. NDNW (OR = 1.693; 95%CI = 1.309-2.189; p < 0.001), and ABSAW vs. NBSNW (OR = 4.613; 95%CI = 3.634-5.856; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The current study showed that WC should be the risk factor that is more closely associated with hypogonadism than hyperglycemia in middle-aged men.


Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/analysis , Body Mass Index , Glycated Hemoglobin/analysis , Hyperglycemia/diagnosis , Hypogonadism/diagnosis , Obesity/diagnosis , Testosterone/blood , Waist Circumference , Adult , Age Factors , Biomarkers/blood , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Hyperglycemia/blood , Hyperglycemia/epidemiology , Hypogonadism/blood , Hypogonadism/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/epidemiology , Prognosis , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Sex Factors , Taiwan/epidemiology
8.
Adv Mater ; 33(35): e2008032, 2021 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34297444

ABSTRACT

Highly efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules are in urgent demand for solid-state lighting and full-color displays. Here, the design and synthesis of three triarylamine-pyridine-carbonitrile-based TADF compounds, TPAPPC, TPAmPPC, and tTPAmPPC, are shown. They exhibit excellent photoluminescence quantum yields of 79-100% with small ΔEST values, fast reverse intersystem crossing (RISC), and high horizontal dipole ratios (Θ//  = 86-88%) in the thin films leading to the enhancement of device light outcoupling. Consequently, a green organic light-emitting diode (OLED) based on TPAmPPC shows a high average external quantum efficiency of 38.8 ± 0.6%, a current efficiency of 130.1 ± 2.1 cd A-1 , and a power efficiency of 136.3 ± 2.2 lm W-1 . The highest device efficiency of 39.8% appears to be record-breaking among TADF-based OLEDs to date. In addition, the TPAmPPC-based device shows superior operation lifetime and high-temperature resistance. It is worth noting that the TPA-PPC-based materials have excellent optical properties and the potential for making them strong candidates for TADF practical application.

9.
Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes ; 14: 3337-3344, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34321900

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the blood glucose and renal function, determine the prevalence of hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus (DM) and renal disease (nephropathy), and investigate the association between hyperglycemia/DM and renal disease in patients with viral hepatitis (VH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 491 subjects were included in the study. Patients with VH were further divided into the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and HBV-HCV co-infection subgroups. Fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glycated albumin (GA), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), creatinine (Cr), and cystatin C (Cys C) levels were measured. Urine microalbumin levels were also assessed. Formulas for estimated average glucose calculated using glycated albumin(eAG(GA)), estimated average glucose calculated using HbA1c (eAG(HbA1c)), and estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated using cystatin C (eGFRcys) were used to evaluate the average glucose and renal function. RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperglycemia/DM and renal disease was significantly higher in the VH group, especially in the HCV subgroup. The prevalence of renal disease was significantly higher in patients with VH with eAG(GA) ≥200 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: Our study used multiple parameters to evaluate blood glucose and renal function in patients with VH and found that hyperglycemia/DM and renal disease are closely associated with VH, especially in subjects with HCV infection. Patients with VH, especially those with HCV infection and hyperglycemia/DM, were particularly vulnerable to renal disease.

11.
Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes ; 14: 99-106, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33469327

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the association between serum testosterone (T) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in different age groups in Taiwanese men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male participants, regardless of age or any underlying disease, were identified from MJ Health Screening Center in Taiwan from 2007 to 2016 for this cross-sectional study. They were divided into three groups according to age, and further classified according to MS diagnosis. Basic patient characteristics with relevant parameters were obtained. One-way ANOVA of mean T values between different numbers of measures that exceeds the cut-off values of MS components was performed to assess the relationship of T and MS. Logistic regression analysis was also used to estimate the risk for MS with each increment in T, age, and BMI. RESULTS: A total of 4,931 men were included. The MS group had significantly lower serum T levels compared to the non-MS group in each age group. The one-way ANOVA found the mean value of T was significantly higher in patients without MS component (6.19±2.12 ng/mL) than those with 1-5 MS components (with one MS component: 5.48±2.13 ng/mL, two MS components: 4.93±2.03 ng/mL, three MS components: 4.37±1.60 ng/mL, four MS components: 4.13±2.89 ng/mL, five MS components: 3.74±1.27 ng/mL, and P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the patients with three components and the patients with four or five components. Logistic regression models with age stratification showed T with lower odds ratio (OR) for MS after adjusting for BMI in those ≥65 years old (OR=0.693; 95% CI=0.559-0.858; P<0.001); 50-64 years old (OR=0.868; 95% CI=0.802-0.940; P<0.001) and <50 years old (OR=0.810; 95% CI=0.758-0.865; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Lower serum T was strongly associated with MS, with the predictive value increasing with age in Taiwanese men.

12.
Front Public Health ; 9: 779192, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35096739

ABSTRACT

Background: Little epidemiological research has investigated the associations of air pollutant exposure over various time windows with older adults' symptoms of depression. This study aimed to analyze the relationships of long- and short-term ambient air pollution exposure (to coarse particulate matter, O3, SO2, CO, and NOx) with depressive symptoms in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A sample of older adults (n = 1,956) was recruited from a nationally representative multiple-wave study (Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging). Between 1996 and 2007, four waves of surveys investigated depressive symptoms by using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression questionnaire. We approximated air pollutant concentrations from 1995 to 2007 by using daily concentration data for five air pollutants at air quality monitoring stations in the administrative zone of participants' residences. after adjusting for covariates, we applied generalized linear mixed models to analyze associations for different exposure windows (7-, 14-, 21-, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 180-day and 1-year moving averages). Results: In a one-pollutant model, long- and short-term exposure to CO and NOx was associated with heightened risks of depressive symptoms; the odds ratio and corresponding 95% confidence interval for each interquartile range (IQR) increment in CO at 7-, 14-, 21-, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 180-day and 1-year moving averages were 1.232 (1.116, 1.361), 1.237 (1.136, 1.348), 1.216 (1.128, 1.311), 1.231 (1.133, 1.338), 1.224 (1.124, 1.332), 1.192 (1.106, 1.285), 1.228 (1.122, 1.344), and 1.180 (1.102, 1.265), respectively. Those for each IQR increment in NOx were 1.312 (1.158, 1.488), 1.274 (1.162, 1.398), 1.295 (1.178, 1.432), 1.310 (1.186, 1.447), 1.345 (1.209, 1.496), 1.348 (1.210, 1.501), 1.324 (1.192, 1.471), and 1.219 (1.130, 1.314), respectively. The exposure to PM10, O3, and SO2 over various windows were not significant. In the two-pollutant model, only the associations of NOx exposure with depressive symptoms remained robust after adjustment for any other pollutant. Conclusions: Exposure to traffic-associated air pollutants could increase depression risks among older adults.


Subject(s)
Air Pollutants , Aged , Aging , Air Pollutants/adverse effects , Air Pollutants/analysis , Depression/epidemiology , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Taiwan/epidemiology
13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32021346

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between changes in abdominal adipose tissue and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in men with obesity after a weight reduction program (WRP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult men with obesity and MetS were recruited for this prospective single-arm intervention study. Participants consumed an energy-restricted diet of 1200 kcal/day and performed 50-mins aerobic exercise daily for 12 weeks. Changes in the components of MetS were recorded. Changes in subcutaneous abdominal fat area (SAFA) and intra-abdominal fat area (IAFA) at the umbilicus level were determined using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: A total of 30 men (mean age, 42.3 ± 10.0 years; body mass index, 33.7 ± 4.1 kg/m2) were included in this study. A moderate (8.0%) weight reduction occurred. Reversion of MetS was observed in 15 (50%) participants after the WRP. There was significant reduction in SAFA (68.3 ± 20.2 vs. 51.5 ± 18.6 cm2; P < 0.001) and IAFA (96.3 ± 15.6 vs. 86.0 ± 16.5 cm2; P < 0.001); the magnitude of reduction was greater for SAFA than for IAFA (-16.8 ± 7.7 vs. -10.3 ± 8.3 cm2; P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a reduction in IAFA to be an independent factor to decrease the risk of persistent MetS after WRP by adjustment for age, baseline IAFA, and change in SAFA (odds ratio = 0.25, 95% confidence interval: 0.07-0.95, P = 0.041). Reduction in SAFA was not significantly associated with the reversion of MetS (P = 0.411). CONCLUSION: Reduction in IAFA via a 12-week WRP may help reverse MetS in men with obesity and MetS.

14.
Ageing Soc ; 38(10): 2082-2096, 2018 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30210180

ABSTRACT

This longitudinal study evaluated the direct effects of providing/receiving family support on mortality in older adults with different living arrangements in Taiwan. All data analysed were obtained from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging, 1996-2007, of residents aged ⩾67 years (1,492 men and 1,177 women) and Taiwan's National Death Register. Living arrangements were divided into living alone, living only with spouse, living with family and living with others. Support was mainly defined as family support divided into two categories: providing and receiving. The effect of providing/receiving family support on the mortality of older adults was evaluated using Cox regression analysed by living arrangement. Participants living with their families had lower educational levels (illiterate or elementary school) and more disability in both activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. However, they provided more family support than those in other living arrangements. After adjusting for several potentially confounding variables, including background characteristics, economic status and various health status measures, results showed that older adults living with their families and providing support had an 11 per cent lower mortality rate (Hazard ratio = 0.89; 95 per cent confidence interval = 0.83-0.96; p = 0.0018). In conclusion, we found that, when living with family, the lives of older adults can be extended by providing support, clearly supporting the old adage 'it is more blessing to give than to receive'. Older adults wanting to extend their lives can be encouraged to provide more help to their families.

15.
Eur Geriatr Med ; 9(5): 679-685, 2018 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34654228

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association between providing or receiving family support and risk of mortality in non-frail, pre-frail and frail older people. METHODS: Data were obtained from Taiwan's Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA) from 1996 to 2007 for 2186 people (1207 males; 979 females) aged ≥ 67 years at the time of 1996 follow-up survey. These older adults were categorized as being non-frail (normal), pre-frail, and frail, with frailty defined as the presence of three or more of the following criteria: shrinking, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low physical activity. Cox regression analysis was used to examine the association between the people's providing family support or their receiving family support on mortality, after adjustment for several demographic and health status covariates. RESULTS: The participants (55.9% male) had an average age of 73.8 (SD 5.5) years. In total, 886 (40.5%) were classified as non-frail, 886 (40.5%) as pre-frail and 414 (19.9%) as frail. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between providing family support and lower mortality rates in the non-frail older adults (hazard ratio 0.913; 95% confidence interval 0.855-0.975; p = 0.0063). This association was also significant in the younger (67-74 years old) pre-frail males but not females after adjustment. No significant association was found between receiving family support and mortality risk regardless of the frailty status, age, or gender. CONCLUSIONS: Providing family support to others may prolong life expectancy of the pre-frail older adults.

16.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr ; 60(2): 317-21, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25481486

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of social support on mortality among the aged people with major diseases or ADL disabilities. METHOD: In this prospective cohort study, data were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging from 1996 to 2007. Data for 1297 males and 1666 females aged ≥65 years were collected. The participants were divided into having major diseases or ADL disability or none. Subjects received financial, instrumental, and emotional support, and they actively provided instrumental and emotional support to others. The effect of the association between providing and receiving social support on mortality was examined using Cox regression analysis after adjusting several covariates. RESULTS: Results showed a significant finding that providing instrumental support can lower mortality rates in the aged people [Hazard ratio (HR)=0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.66-0.90; p=0.0009] and those with major diseases or impairment of activities of daily living [Hazard ratio (HR)=0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.50-0.78; p≤0.0001] after adjusting for several covariates. Providing instrumental social support to others may prolong life expectancy in the aged people and even those with major diseases or those facing difficulties performing ADL. CONCLUSION: Based on the finding, we should encourage older adults who have major diseases or ADL disabilities to be supporting providers especially in providing instrumental social support.


Subject(s)
Chronic Disease/mortality , Disabled Persons/statistics & numerical data , Mortality , Social Support , Activities of Daily Living , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Taiwan/epidemiology
17.
Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol ; 45(2): 176-9, 2006 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17197364

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Here, we present a case of ACTH-dependent pituitary macroadenoma (Cushing's disease) resulting in secondary amenorrhea mimicking polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). CASE REPORT: A 20-year-old nulligravid woman had been suffering from oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, and moderate hirsutism since the age of 18 years. She visited a gynecologic clinic where PCOS was impressed according to the clinical manifestation and ultrasound finding. The patient responded to medication in the 1st year, but gradually failed to induce menses. She was advised to visit the endocrinology department for secondary amenorrhea and endocrine survey. Physical examination revealed central obesity, supraclavicle fatpad, abdominal striae, and myopathy of four limbs. Endocrine studies revealed: serum prolactin 21 ng/mL (3.0-20 ng/mL), FSH 5.69 mIU/mL (3.4-10.0 mIU/mL), LH 1.01 mIU/mL (1.1-11.6 mIU/mL), E2 < 20 pg/mL (follicular phase 53-258 pg/mL), ACTH 110 pg/mL (0-46.0 pg/mL), cortisol 26.7 microg/dL at 8 a.m. (5.0-25 microg/dL), cortisol 21.3 microg/dL at 11 p.m. (half of normal morning value). Right pituitary macroadenoma was diagnosed through a series of dexamethasone tests and MRI. The patient received staging surgery including transsphenoidal adenomectomy and right frontotemporal craniotomy. As a result, the patient's physical condition gradually improved, and her menstrual cycle became regular with medication after the operation in the outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSION: PCOS is a common disease resulting in secondary amenorrhea. However, Cushing's syndrome resulting from pituitary macroadenoma should also be considered. Therefore, a careful history, observation, physical examination, and endocrine studies can differentiate between patients with PCOS and Cushing's disease.


Subject(s)
ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/complications , ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/diagnosis , Amenorrhea/etiology , Pituitary Neoplasms/complications , Pituitary Neoplasms/diagnosis , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/diagnosis , ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/pathology , ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/surgery , Adult , Craniotomy , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Pituitary Neoplasms/pathology , Pituitary Neoplasms/surgery
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