Association of Serum Levels of Zinc, Copper, and Iron with Risk of Metabolic Syndrome.

The association between serum concentrations of zinc, copper, or iron and the risk of metabolic syndrome are inconclusive. Therefore, we conduct a case-control study to explore the relationship between serum levels of zinc, copper, or iron and metabolic syndrome as well as each metabolic factor and insulin resistance. We enrolled 1165 adults, aged ≥ 40 (65.8 ± 10) years in a hospital-based population to compare the serum levels of zinc, copper, and iron between subjects with and without metabolic syndrome by using multivariate logistic regression analyses. The least square means were computed by general linear models to compare serum concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron in relation to the number of metabolic factors. The mean serum concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron were 941.91 ± 333.63 µg/L, 1043.45 ± 306.36 µg/L, and 1246.83 ± 538.13 µg/L, respectively. The odds ratios (ORs) of metabolic syndrome for the highest versus the lowest quartile were 5.83 (95% CI: 3.35-10.12; p for trend < 0.001) for zinc, 2.02 (95% CI: 1.25-3.25; p for trend: 0.013) for copper, and 2.11 (95% CI: 1.24-3.62; p for trend: 0.021) for iron after adjusting for age, sex, personal habits, body mass index, and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance. Additionally, the serum zinc, copper, and iron concentrations increased as the number of metabolic factors rose (p for trend < 0.001). This was the first study to clearly demonstrate that higher serum levels of zinc, copper, and iron were associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome and the number of metabolic factors independent of BMI and insulin resistance.

The utility of visceral fat level measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis in predicting metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adipose tissue dysfunction contributes to metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the association between visceral fat level measured by bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) and MetS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited Taiwanese volunteers aged ≥20 years between 2012 and 2014. Anthropometric measurements and plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles were collected after at least 8 h of fasting. Insulin resistance was calculated by the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Visceral fat level (VFL, ranges: 1-59) and trunk fat percentage were measured through by the Body Composition Analyzer TANITA AB 140 Viscan. RESULTS: A total of 1086 volunteers (mean age = 44.2 ± 13.2 years) were enrolled. Multiple regression analyses showed that triglycerides levels and blood pressure increased while high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased with VFL in both genders (p < 0.05). Increased HOMA-IR and VFL had a synergistic effect on MetS. Higher VFL was independently associated with MetS in both men (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.19-1.48) and women (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.17-1.39). CONCLUSIONS: Higher VFL is associated with MetS and its components. The portable BIA machine is easily applicable and useful tool to measure visceral fat in the community setting.

Chronic Viral Hepatitis Signifies the Association of Premixed Insulin Analogues with Liver Cancer Risks: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

This study sought to determine whether chronic hepatitis B or C would modify the association between insulin analogues and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risks. We conducted a nationwide nested case-control study for HCC cases and matched controls from 2003 to 2013 among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients on any antidiabetic agents in Taiwan before and after exclusion of chronic viral hepatitis, respectively. A total of 5832 and 1237 HCC cases were identified before and after exclusion of chronic viral hepatitis, respectively. Incident HCC risks were positively associated with any use of premixed insulin analogues (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.27; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.55) among total participants, especially among current users (adjusted OR, 1.45; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.89). However, the association between HCC occurrence and premixed insulin analogues diminished among participants without chronic viral hepatitis (adjusted OR, 1.35; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.98). We also observed a significant multiplicative interaction between chronic viral hepatitis and premixed insulin analogues on HCC risks (P = 0.010). Conclusions: Chronic viral hepatitis signifies the role of premixed insulin analogues in HCC oncogenesis. We recommend a closer liver surveillance among patients prescribed premixed insulin analogues with concomitant chronic viral hepatitis.

Impact of a home health care program for disabled patients in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of home health care (HHC) for disabled patients.We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study. A total of 5838 disabled patients with HHC were identified to match by propensity score with 15,829 disabled patients without HHC receiving tube or catheter care (tracheostomy tube, nasogastric tube, urinary catheter, cystostomy tube, nephrostomy tube) or stage 3 or 4 pressure sore care from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database between 2005 and 2009. After 1:1 matching, 2901 subjects in the HHC group and 2901 subjects in the non-HHC group were selected and analyzed. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to compare the risk of health outcomes (rate of hospitalization and emergency services use) and the healthcare expenditure between the 2 groups.Compared to those in the non-HHC group, the patients in the HHC group had significantly higher risk for hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] = 18.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.62-21.75, P < .001) and emergency services use (OR = 3.72, 95% CI: 3.32-4.17, P < .001) 1 year before the index date. However, 1 year after the index date, the risk for hospitalization (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.41-1.83, P < .001) and emergency services use (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.30, P < .05) attenuated significantly. Regarding the comparison of total healthcare expenditure 1 year before and after the index date, our study showed an insignificant decrease of US$1.5 per person per day and a significant increase of US$5.2 per person per day (P < .001) in the HHC and non-HHC groups, respectively.The HHC for disabled patients has a potential role to reduce hospitalization and emergency services use. Besides, the improvement of healthcare quality through HHC was not accompanied by increased healthcare expenditure. The clinical impact of HHC emphasizes the importance for public health officials to promote HHC model to meet the needs of disabled patients.

Increased risk for major depressive disorder in severely obese patients after bariatric surgery - a 12-year nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is associated with a significant improvement in depressive mood in the initial postoperative years, but the maintenance of the improvement is under debate. AIM: To explore the association between bariatric surgery and major depressive disorder (MDD) in a 12-year nationwide cohort study. METHOD: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we identified 2302 patients who underwent bariatric surgery in 2001-2009. These patients were matched by propensity score to 6493 obese patients who did not receive bariatric surgery. We followed the surgical and control cohorts until death, any diagnosis of MDD or 31 December 2012. We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to calculate the relative risk of MDD in those who received bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Overall, there was a 1.70-fold (95% CI: 1.27-2.27) higher risk of MDD in the surgical group. Subjects receiving malabsorptive procedures showed a higher risk of MDD (3.01, 95% CI: 1.78-5.09) than those receiving restrictive procedures (1.51, 95% CI: 1.10-2.07). Stratified by follow-up period, there was a higher risk of MDD in the surgical group (2.92, 95% CI: 1.75-4.88) than in the restrictive group four years after bariatric surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery was significantly associated with an elevated risk of MDD. KEY MESSAGES Bariatric surgery is associated with a significant improvement in depressive mood in the initial postoperative years, but the improvement is not maintained. Less is known about the relationship between bariatric surgery and risk of major depressive disorder. This was the first nationwide cohort study which found that bariatric surgery was significantly associated with an elevated risk of MDD (aHR: 1.70; CI: 1.27-2.27), mainly with malabsorptive procedures (aHR: 3.01; CI: 1.78-5.09) and at time points more than four years after surgery (aHR: 2.92; CI: 1.75-4.88) compared with the risk in matched controls. These findings imply an association between long-term malabsorption and the postoperative incidence of MDD. Long-term malabsorption might be related to the incidence of major depressive disorder after bariatric surgery. The possible causal relationship between nutritional deficiency after bariatric surgery and major depressive disorder warrants further investigation.

High serum selenium levels are associated with increased risk for diabetes mellitus independent of central obesity and insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE: Selenium is an essential micronutrient for human health. Although many observational and interventional studies have examined the associations between selenium and diabetes mellitus, the findings were inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum selenium levels and prevalence of diabetes, and correlated the relationship to insulin resistance and central obesity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a hospital-based case-control study of 847 adults aged more than 40 years (diabetes: non-diabetes =1:2) in Northern Taiwan. Serum selenium was measured by an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The association between serum selenium and diabetes was examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, current smoking, current drinking, and physical activity, the ORs (95% CI, p value) of having diabetes in the second (Q2), third (Q3), and fourth (Q4) selenium quartile groups were 1.24 (95% CI 0.78 to 1.98, p>0.05), 1.90 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.97, p<0.05), and 5.11 (95% CI 3.27 to 8.00, p<0.001), respectively, compared with the first (Q1) quartile group. Further adjustments for waist circumference and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) largely removed the association of serum selenium levels with diabetes but not in the highest quartile (compared with Q1, Q3: 1.57, 95% CI 0.91 to 2.70, Q4: 3.79, 95% CI 2.17 to 6.32). CONCLUSIONS: We found that serum selenium levels were positively associated with prevalence of diabetes. This is the first human study to link insulin resistance and central obesity to the association between selenium and diabetes. Furthermore, the association between selenium and diabetes was independent of insulin resistance and central obesity at high serum selenium levels. The mechanism behind warrants further confirmation.

Effectiveness of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine on diabetic elderly.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) is recommended for prevention of pneumonia. However, the effectiveness of PPV23 remains unclear in the older diabetic patients who usually have compromised immune function.We used data extracted from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2000 to 2009 to conduct a population-based retrospective cohort study, comparing the incidence of pneumococcal diseases among PPV23-vaccinated and propensity-score matched PPV23-unvaccinated groups in diabetic elderly. The primary outcome was invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs), and the secondary outcomes were medical utilization.PPV23-vaccinated group had reduced risks of IPD (adjusted OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78-0.94), respiratory failure (0.84, 0.77-0.93), and shorter length of hospitalization (-1.27 ±â€Š0.19 days, P value: 0.0012). In flu-vaccinated group, subjects who received PPV23 had reduced risks of IPD, hospitalization, and respiratory failure; had shorter lengths of hospitalization; and less medical costs, than those without receiving PPV23. In not flu-vaccinated group, PPV23 vaccination was associated with reduced risks of IPD and respiratory failure. Receiving both vaccines could bring better protection in IPD, hospitalization, visits of emergency department, and respiratory failure.PPV23 vaccination was effective in prevention of pneumococcal diseases and reduction of medical utilization in diabetic elderly aged 75 and more. Receiving both vaccines resulted in better outcomes than PPV vaccination alone.

Women with abnormal screening mammography lost to follow-up: An experience from Taiwan.

Breast cancer has the highest incidence among all cancers for women in Taiwan. The current screening policy in Taiwan suggested a biennial mammography for all women 40 to 69 years of age. A recommendation for additional testing is recommended for women with a BI-RADS result of 0 or 4; a request made via postal mail. Approximately 20% of high-risk patients do not receive additional follow-up. Therefore, we aimed to explore the causes of these patients being lost to follow-up, despite an abnormal mammogram. Two questionnaires were designed separately according to the conceptual framework of the Health Belief Model. Study participants, women who received a screening mammography at the National Taiwan University Hospital in 2011 with a BI-RAD of 0 or 4, were interviewed via telephone. The dependent variable was receipt of follow-up or not. The analyses were performed by using χ tests and logistic regression models. In total, 528 women were enrolled in the study: 51.2% in BI-RADS 0 group and 56.6% in BI-RADS 4, respectively. In the BI-RADS 0 group, those patients who received a follow-up examination cited the most likely causes to be physician suggestion, health implications, and concerns regarding breast cancer. Patients who did not receive a follow-up examination cited a lack of time and a perception of good personal health as primary reasons. In the BI-RADS 4 group, those patients who received a follow-up examination cited the physician's recommendation and a recognition of the importance of follow-up examinations. Patients who did not receive a follow-up examination cited having received follow-up at another hospital and a desire for a second opinion. In the BI-RADS 0 group, multivariate analysis showed that patients with higher scores in the "perceived benefits" domain were statistically more likely to receive a follow-up examination. There was no significant difference in perceived threats, perceived barriers, action cues, or self-efficacy between groups. We conclude that additional education to raise breast cancer awareness in the general public and healthcare providers will be needed to improve the rate of follow-up examinations after an abnormal screening mammogram.

Fracture Risk After Bariatric Surgery: A 12-Year Nationwide Cohort Study.

Bariatric surgery has been shown to impair bone health. This study aimed to investigate the fracture risk in patients after bariatric surgery versus propensity score-matched controls. The authors used the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan and identified 2064 patients who underwent bariatric surgery during 2001 to 2009. These patients were matched to 5027 obese patients who did not receive bariatric surgery, using propensity score matching accounting for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and the year morbid obesity was diagnosed. The authors followed the surgical and control cohorts to death, any diagnosis of fracture, or December 31, 2012, whichever occurred first. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate relative rates of fractures in the surgical group and control group. At the end of the 12-year study period, there were 183 fractures in the surgical group (mean follow-up 4.8 years) and 374 fractures in the matched control group (mean follow-up 4.9 years). Overall, there was a 1.21-fold [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.43] significantly increased risk of fracture in the surgical group compared with the control group. Stratified by surgical procedures, malabsorptive procedures showed a significantly higher fracture risk (1.47, 95% CI: 1.01-2.15). The Kaplan-Meier estimated fracture rates were 1.60% at 1 year, 2.37% at 2 years, 1.69% at 5 years, and 2.06% after 5 years for the surgical patients, compared with 1.51%, 1.65%, 1.53%, and 1.42%, respectively, for the matched controls. Adjusted analysis showed a trend towards an increased fracture risk, 1 to 2 years after bariatric surgery. (1.42, 95% CI: 0.99-2.05). Bariatric surgery was significantly associated with an increased risk of fractures, mainly with malabsorptive procedures, with a trend of an increased fracture risk 1 to 2 years after surgery. These results provide further evidence for the adverse effects of bariatric surgery on the risk of fractures.

The relationship between pain management and psychospiritual distress in patients with advanced cancer following admission to a palliative care unit.

BACKGROUND: Although many cross-sectional studies have demonstrated the association between cancer pain and psychospiritual distress, the time-dependent relationship has not been fully explored. For that reason, this study aims to investigate the time-dependent relationship between psychospiritual distress and cancer pain management in advanced cancer patients. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study. Two hundred thirty-seven advanced cancer patients were recruited from a palliative care unit in Taiwan. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved at admission. Pain and psychospiritual distress (i.e.: anxiety, depression, anger, level of family and social support, fear of death) were assessed upon admission and one week later, by using a "Symptom Reporting Form". Patients were divided into two groups according to the pain status one week post-admission (improved versus not improved groups). RESULTS: One hundred sixty-three (68.8 %) patients were assigned to the improved group, and 74 (31.2 %) patients were assigned to the not improved group. There were no differences in the psychospiritual variables between groups upon admission. In overall patients, all psychospiritual variables improved one week post-admission, but the improvement of depression and family/social support in the not improved group was not significant. Consistent with this, for depression scores, there was a statistically significant pain group x time interaction effect detected, meaning that the pain group effect on depression scores was dependent on time. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated a time-dependent relationship between depression and pain management in advanced cancer patients. Our results suggest that poor pain management may be associated with intractable depression. The inclusion of interventions that effectively improve psychospiritual distress may contribute to pain management strategies for advanced cancer patients.