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Background: Disaster-related psychiatric disorders (DRPD) present a significant challenge to mental health professionals, yet there is a notable lack of emphasis on the preparedness of psychiatrists in managing these conditions within postgraduate medical education. Methods: This study utilized a questionnaire to collect data from psychiatrists, focusing on their prior involvement in managing DRPD, perceived competence, medication preferences, and factors influencing their experiences in handling such disorders. Analysis included distribution and ranking of variables, alongside cross-analysis examining associations between demographic factors (age, gender, hospital levels, years of practice, board certification) and treatment experiences, as well as readiness for in-hospital or outside-hospital mobilization in DRPD management. Results: One hundred and three Taiwanese psychiatrists participated in the study, with the majority reporting involvement in managing DRPD (71.8%), particularly in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Antidepressants, specifically serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors, were commonly preferred for DRPD treatment, including PTSD and depression. Psychiatrists aged over 40, with more than 10 years of practice, and hold the board-certified status, showed greater experiences for outside- or inside- the hospital mobilization in DRPD management. Conclusion: Findings suggest that within post-graduate medical education, Taiwanese psychiatrists demonstrate significant experience, willingness, and capacity to effectively manage DRPD. However, there is a need to integrate comprehensive training on disaster psychiatry into post-graduate psychiatric education programs to further enhance preparedness and optimize outcomes in managing these challenging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this study, the structure and evolution of a coastal barrier jet (CBJ) along the east coast of Taiwan is documented using operational Doppler radars. The formation of the CBJ was controlled by the flow regime associated with the approaching Typhoon Haitang (2005). The CBJ persisted for 6 h and was approximately 140 km long and 25 km wide. The northern branch of the CBJ had stronger winds with maximum wind speed 49-52ms-1, a greater vertical extent with jet core between 1.0 and 2.5 km in height, and a more persistent jet signal than the southern branch with maximum wind speed 43-46ms-1 and jet core between 1.0 and 2.0 km. We investigated the terrain blocking effect leading to the CBJ formation using an idealized simulation. A vortex resembling Haitang is constructed based on circulation retrieved from generalized velocity track display (GVTD) technique. The result of a no-terrain simulation reveals wind speed 10-22ms-1 lower than the observed Doppler velocity. The difference suggests the enhanced wind speed along the coast was most likely due to the terrain blocking effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized Internet big data to investigate the effects of positive and negative emotions in electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) on the stock price and trading volume of listed companies, from a behavioral finance perspective. The study was conducted for three months from June 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014. The ten most representative stocks in Taiwan's electronics industry were selected, with 182,769 values of data obtained from Internet big data. The results revealed that total eWOM had a significant correlation with, and impact on, stock trading volume. Both the net and net negative eWOM had correlation with, and impact on, stock price, and both exhibited predictive effects, which could be used as a reference to assist investors and securities firms in their prediction of stock price and trading volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The mental health of military personnel varies as a result of different cultural, political, and administrative factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychological morbidity and quality of life of military personnel in Taiwan. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study utilized the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, brief version, Taiwan version, the General Health Questionnaire-12, Chinese version, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in several military units. Results: More than half of the subjects (55.3%) identified themselves as mentally unhealthy on the General Health Questionnaire-12, Chinese version; however, a higher percentage of officers perceived themselves as healthy (57.4%) than did noncommissioned officers (38.5%) or enlisted men (42.2%). Officers also had higher total quality of life (QOL) scores (83.98) than did enlisted men (79.67). Scores on the VAS also varied: officers: 72.5; noncommissioned officers: 67.7; and enlisted men: 66.3. The VAS and QOL were positively correlated with perceived mental health among these military personnel. Conclusion: Our subjects had higher rates of perceiving themselves as mentally unhealthy compared to the general population. Those of higher rank perceived themselves as having better mental health and QOL. Improving mental health could result in a better QOL in the military. The VAS may be a useful tool for the rapid screening of self-reported mental health, which may be suitable in cases of stressful missions, such as in disaster rescue; however, more studies are needed to determine the optimal cut-off point of this measurement tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological data concerning the association between diabetes and the subsequent development of gastric cancer are controversial. This population-based retrospective cohort study investigated the subsequent risk of gastric cancer for diabetic patients. Methods: From claims data of the universal health insurance of Taiwan, we identified 19,625 persons aged ≥20 years newly diagnosed with diabetes during 2000-2005. A comparison group ( n = 78,500), frequency matched by age, sex, and calendar year, was randomly selected from people without diabetes. Incidence and hazard ratios (HR) of gastric cancer were ascertained during the follow-up period until 2008. We also explored associations of antidiabetic medicines with the incidence of gastric cancer. Results: During the follow-up period, 47 subjects in the diabetic group and 216 subjects in the comparison group suffered gastric cancer, with the incidence rates of 4.34 and 4.86 per 10,000 person-years, respectively. During the first 4 years after diabetes diagnosis, the incidence of gastric cancer was relatively low in diabetic patients [adjusted HR = 0.63; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.42-0.97]. However, after that time, the diabetic group had a 76 % (95 % CI = 1.06-2.91) higher risk of developing gastric cancer than the comparison group. In diabetic patients, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors were associated with a significantly decreased risk of gastric cancer (adjusted HR = 0.38; 95 % CI = 0.15-0.96). Conclusions: Our findings suggested that the association between diabetes and subsequent risk of gastric cancer may vary over time. Increased risk of gastric cancer was observed in patients with longer duration of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: As the number of terminal cancer patients increases, several care models have been adopted to provide better care quality and reduce medical expenditure. This study compared inpatient medical expenditure and family satisfaction in a hospice ward (HW) and general ward (GW) for terminal cancer patients in Taiwan.Methods: We enrolled terminal cancer patients who were admitted and died during the same admission period in a tertiary care hospital in Taiwan from January 2003 to December 2005. These patients were allocated into three groups: inpatient care in HW alone; inpatient care in GW alone; and inpatient care in mixed group (initially in GW, then transferred to HW). Inpatient medical expenditure and family satisfaction were compared between the three groups.Results: A total of 1942 patients were recruited and allocated into HW (n = 292), GW (n = 1511) and mixed (n = 139) groups. The average medical expenditure per person or per inpatient day was lower in the HW than the GW or mixed group. Subjects who had ever been admitted to the intensive care unit or received cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the GW or mixed groups required more expenditure on medical care than that in the HW group. Daily medical expenditure in the HW group also was much lower than that in the GW and mixed groups, based on length of stay and cancer type. The family satisfaction score was significantly higher in the mixed and/or HW group than the GW group.Conclusion: For terminal cancer patients, hospice care can improve family satisfaction while reducing medical expenditure in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) was associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: The case–control study was conducted to analyze the database between 2000 and 2013. Patients aged 20 to 84 years with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis were selected as the cases (n = 8593). Participants without pulmonary tuberculosis were selected as the controls (n = 43 472). Patients who never had a prescription for SSRIs were defined as never use. Those who ever had a prescription for SSRIs were defined as ever use. Results: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of pulmonary tuberculosis was 1.03 for patients with ever use of SSRIs (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-1.14), compared to never use. The adjusted OR of pulmonary tuberculosis was 1.00 for patients with increasing cumulative duration of SSRI use for every 1 month (95% CI: 0.99-1.00), compared to never use. The adjusted OR of pulmonary tuberculosis was 0.99 for patients with increasing cumulative dosage of SSRI use for every 1 mg (95% CI: 0.99-1.00), compared to never use. Conclusion: No significant association can be detected between SSRI use and pulmonary tuberculosis in Taiwan. No duration-dependent effect or dose-dependent effect of SSRIs use can be detected on the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Little is known about the acute effects of furosemide use on the risk of hip fracture. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between furosemide use and acute risk of hip fracture in older people in Taiwan. Methods We carried out a retrospective nationwide case-control study using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. A total of 4523 older adults aged ≥65 years with newly diagnosed hip fracture from 2000 to 2013 were identified as the cases. Additionally, 4523 older adults aged ≥65 years without hip fracture were randomly selected as the controls. The cases and the controls were matched by sex, age, comorbidities, and index year and month of hip fracture diagnosis. Furosemide use was defined as 'current,' 'recent' or 'past' if the furosemide prescription was filled <3 months, 3-6 months or ≥6 months before the date of hip fracture diagnosis, respectively. The unconditional logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the relative risk of hip fracture associated with furosemide use. Results After adjustment for potential covariables, the adjusted odds ratios of hip fracture were 1.30 for participants with current use of furosemide (95% CI 1.14-1.48), 1.23 for participants with recent use of furosemide (95% CI 0.98-1.53) and 1.08 for participants with past use of furosemide (95% CI 0.90-1.30), compared with non-users. Conclusions Current use of furosemide is associated with a 30% increased odds of hip fracture in older people in Taiwan. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2552-2558. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the dataset from one medical center in Taiwan to explore the prevalence of dyslipidemia, which included 2695 subjects receiving private health checkups in 2003-2004. The overall prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 53.3% in men and 48.2% in women (P = 0.008). The overall prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 29.3% in men and 13.7% in women (P < 0.001). The overall prevalence of elevated LDL level was 50.7% in men and 37.9% in women (P < 0.001). The overall prevalence of low HDL level was 47.4% in men and 53% in women (P = 0.004). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A population-based case-control study investigated possible association between statin use and risk of hip fracture among the elderly in Taiwan.The Taiwan National Health Insurance Program database was used to identify 7464 subjects aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed hip fracture in 2000 to 2013. An additional 7464 subjects aged 65 years or older without hip fracture were randomly selected as the control group. Hip fracture cases and controls were matched for sex, age, comorbidities, and index year of hip fracture diagnosis. Statin use was defined as "current," "recent," or "past" if the patient's statin prescription was respectively filled <3, 3 to 6, or ≥6 months before the date of the hip fracture. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for hip fracture associated with statin use was estimated using the logistic regression model.The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the odds of current statin use in cases with hip fracture were lower than the odds of current statin use in subjects without hip fracture (adjusted OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.65, 0.82).The odds of current statin use in cases with hip fracture were lower than the odds of current statin use in subjects without hip fracture in elderly people in Taiwan.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been associated with the cancer risk. This study investigated relationship between DM and esophageal cancer using Taiwan's insurance data., Methods: We identified 549 patients with esophageal cancer newly diagnosed in 2000-2009 and randomly selected 2196 controls without any cancer, frequency matched by sex, age and diagnosis year of cases. Logistic regression model estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of esophageal cancer associated with DM, sex, age. co-morbidities and medications., Results: Cases were more prevalent than controls for alcoholism and esophageal disorders and using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors but not DM. Esophageal cancer had no association with DM (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.71-1.37), but significantly associated with alcoholism (OR 14.1, 95% CI 7.87-25.4), esophageal ulcer (OR 10.1, 95% CI 5.70-17.9), esophageal reflux (OR 3.47, 95% CI 2.14-5.26) and uses of NSAIDs (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.80-4.13). An elevated risk of esophageal cancer appeared in DM patients taking insulin (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.08-6.15) or sulfonyurea (OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.16-12.5)., Conclusions: Patients with DM are not at higher risk for esophagus cancer. However, esophageal disorders and anti-diabetic drugs are associated with the risk of the disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more prevalent in Taiwan than in most countries. This population-based cohort study evaluated the dementia risk associated with CKD., Methods: Using claims data of 1,000,000 insured residents covered in the universal health insurance of Taiwan, we selected 37049 adults with CKD newly diagnosed from 2000-2006 as the CKD cohort. We also randomly selected 74098 persons free from CKD and other kidney diseases, frequency matched with age, sex and the date of CKD diagnosed. Incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) of dementia were evaluated by the end of 2009., Results: Subjects in the CKD cohort were more prevalent with comorbidities than those in the non-CKD cohort (p <0.0001). The dementia incidence was higher in the CKD cohort than in the non-CKD cohort (9.30 vs. 5.55 per 1,000 person-years), with an overall HR of 1.41 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.32-1.50), controlling for sex, age, comorbidities and medicaitions. The risk was similar in men and women but increased sharply with age to an HR of 133 (95% CI, 68.9-256) for the elderly. However, the age-specific CKD cohort to non-CKD cohort incidence rate ratio decreased with age, with the highest ratio of 16.0 (95% CI, 2.00-128) in the youngest group. Among comorbidities and medications, alcoholism and taking benzodiazepines were also associated with dementia with elevated adjusted HRs of 3.05 (95% CI 2.17-4.28) and 1.23 (95% CI 1.14-1.32), respectively., Conclusions: Patients with CKD could have an elevated dementia risk. CKD patients with comorbidity deserve attention to prevent dementia.