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Abstract Background We explored if the administration of fluoxetine, recognized for its potential in adipocyte browning, entails a differential risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in comparison to other SSRI medications. Methods Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from 2000 to 2013, we conducted a retrospective cohort study. The exposure cohort comprised individuals prescribed fluoxetine for over 90 days (n = 2,228). Conversely, those administered other SSRIs (excluding fluoxetine) for a duration surpassing 90 days were designated as the non-exposed cohort (n = 8,912). CHD incidence served as our primary outcome measure, and we employed Cox proportional hazards models to scrutinize the relationship between fluoxetine exposure and CHD development rates. Results Compared with the non-exposed cohort, the fluoxetine use had a significantly decreased 21% risk of developing CHD in the exposed cohort (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.79%, 95% confidence interval: 0.68–0.92). Noticeably, results indicated that there was an inverse association between the fluoxetine exposure and the risk of CHD, regardless of whether men, women or other age groups. Conclusion Our findings suggest that clinical use of fluoxetine was associated with a 21% reduced risk of CHD relative to other SSRI prescriptions.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent form of arthritis worldwide. Intra-articular stromal vascular fraction (SVF) injections are a potential therapeutic option for patients with OA. This study aims to assess the effects of intra-articular SVF injections on knee OA. Ten patients with knee OA participated in this study. After administering them with intra-articular SVF injections, their outcomes were evaluated using various questionnaires. MRI T2 mapping was conducted and compared before the intervention and 6 months after. All the data underwent analysis using various tests. Significant differences were observed in the change of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, VAS, and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score between pre-intervention and 6 months post-intervention. The T2 values were significantly lower in the anterior superficial layer of the medial femoral cartilage and middle superficial layer of the lateral femoral cartilage. However, no positive effects were observed in any other regions of the knee cartilage. This study revealed significant differences between the pre- and 6-month post-intervention questionnaires. However, the T2 values did not show consistent changes across all regions of the knee cartilage. Despite positive effects in two regions, the degenerative process appeared to continue in other regions during the tracking period.

Background: Thyroid cancer incidence has increased globally in recent decades, especially in females, although its trends in Taiwan have not been studied extensively. This study aimed to investigate changes in female incidence and possible causes of thyroid cancer in Taiwan. Methods: Using the Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) Database, age-standardized incidence rates, age-specific incidence rates and birth cohorts were calculated. Correlation between female thyroid cancer incidence and cohort fertility rates were examined. Results: Thyroid cancer incidence increased in Taiwanese female, with age-adjusted rates per 100,000 people increasing from 7.37 during 1995–1999 to 20.53 during 2015–2019; the annual percentage change (APC) was 5.9% (95% CI, 5.3–6.5). Age-specific incidence rates increased with age, with peak rates occurring at younger ages. The APCs in the 50–54 age group were the highest (6.8%, 95% CI, 6.1–7.5). Incidence rates also increased with later birth cohorts. We observed a significant negative correlation between thyroid cancer incidence and fertility rates in the same birth cohort. Conclusions: We hypothesize that overdiagnosis may be a main reason for the rapidly increasing thyroid cancer incidence in Taiwanese females. Notably, we observed a strong negative correlation between fertility and thyroid cancer incidence. However, our study is limited by the absence of individual-level cancer data in the TCR database. These associations with fertility will be an important subject for future thyroid cancer research.

Objective: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), particularly its exudative form, is a primary cause of vision impairment in older adults. As diabetes becomes increasingly prevalent in aging, it is crucial to explore the potential relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and AMD. This study aimed to assess the risk of developing overall, non-exudative, and exudative AMD in individuals with DR compared to those without retinopathy (non-DR) based on a nationwide population study in Taiwan. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database (NHIRD) (2000–2013). A total of 3413 patients were placed in the study group (DR) and 13,652 in the control group (non-DR) for analysis. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for the development of AMD, adjusting for confounding factors, such as age, sex, and comorbid conditions. Results: Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated a significantly higher cumulative incidence of AMD in the DR group compared to the non-DR group (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Adjusted analyses revealed that individuals with DR faced a greater risk of overall AMD, with an aHR of 3.50 (95% CI = 3.10–3.95). For senile (unspecified) AMD, the aHR was 3.45 (95% CI = 3.04–3.92); for non-exudative senile AMD, it was 2.92 (95% CI = 2.08–4.09); and for exudative AMD, the aHR was 3.92 (95% CI = 2.51–6.14). Conclusion: DR is a significant risk factor for both overall, senile, exudative, and non-exudative AMD, even after adjusting for demographic and comorbid conditions. DR patients tend to have a higher prevalence of vascular comorbidities; however, our findings indicate that the ocular pathologies inherent to DR might have a more significant impact on the progression to AMD. Early detection and appropriate treatment of AMD is critically important among DR patients.

This paper describes the gender disparities in the potential creation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) for China. Using the latest available data, social accounting matrix for 149 sectors, combined with employment satellite accounts based on China's seventh census published in 2022, we analyse gender disparities in the potential job creation from the RCEP. The results show that the RCEP will potentially create more than 4.08 million jobs in China, with a particularly large increase in low-value-added sectors such as agriculture, light industry and low-end manufacturing. Imports are likely to create more jobs than exports. The potential job creation for females is more than 1.58 million, which is still 910,000 less than for males. While the RCEP may create jobs for females, it may expand the gender and skills disparities. The increased rate of tertiary education for Chinese females has not resulted in significant gains in current female employment. Therefore, measures to reduce taxes on imports and exports, share the cost of childbirth between employer and husband, and upgrade industries to create more high-skilled jobs are important to address the gender disparity in employment in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motive of the study is to examine real effective exchange rates (REER) for Dutch disease effect (DDE) and evaluate the favourite exchange rate regime (ERR) for oil exporters, besides considering the time effect and development stages. This study included yearly data from 2001 to 2010 for 51 oil‐exporting nations. For empirical estimation, this study employed the dynamic panel threshold model. The study deduced that a nonlinear relationship in net oil‐exporting countries. The findings revealed that oil‐exporting countries experiencing a reduction in non‐oil exports if the real exchange rate (RER) exceeds than 3% (from the previous year), validating the Dutch disease phenomenon in oil‐exporting countries. Moreover, exposure to this threat increases with a fixed ERR, developing countries and early periods of exporting oil. Specifically, the results of the study contribute to empirical knowledge in economic sciences and provide useful insights into political implications and strategic planning for policymakers in oil‐exporting countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the fact that social work is an emotionally demanding profession that may generate negative consequences on social workers and their job performance. Drawing on Conservation of Resource Theory and Broaden and Build Theory, we scrutinize the influence of psychological capital on job performance via work engagement as mediator. Despite being crucial, there is a dearth of research on the factors that consider the positive aspects of social work and influence social workers' performance, particularly in Palestine. The findings acquired from 433 social workers unveiled that psychological capital had a favorable influence on their engagement in work, which in turn had a significant positive association with job performance. Besides, we discovered that the association between psychological capital and job performance was positively mediated by work engagement. Thereby, this study fills the theoretical gap within the social work literature. A further discussion of the findings, contributions, and future directions is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]