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Diabetic retinopathy (DR), which can cause vision loss, may progress faster with poor glycemic control and oxidative stress. This study aims to examine how dietary patterns and glycemic control biomarkers relate to retinopathy risk in type 2 diabetes patients. In this study, we enrolled diabetic patients with retinopathy (DR) (n = 136) and without retinopathy (no DR) (n = 466) from a cohort of participants in the "Blood Pressure Control to Reduce the Risk of Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy Study". Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and malondialdehyde were defined as elevated when their levels reached ≥8.5% and ≥2/3 (16.2 μm), respectively. Dietary data were collected by a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. Elevated HbA1c was significantly correlated with increased risk of DR (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.14–3.93, p = 0.017). In subjects with a high animal protein and processed food dietary pattern (≥highest tertile score) or a low vegetable intake pattern (

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an oral self-care education intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in Taiwanese undergraduates. Participants: We recruited 63 and 90 students in the experimental group (EG) and comparison group (CG), respectively, from a medical university. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed. The EG received health education and a brief action and coping planning intervention. Results: The EG was significantly more likely to brush for more than 3 minutes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.52), use the modified Bass brushing technique (aOR = 7.81), and floss (aOR = 21.21) at the 2-week follow-up than was the CG. At the 6-week follow-up, the combined effect of high action and coping planning with high perceived power for predicting floss use was observed in the EG (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Intervention may promote periodontal-disease-preventing behaviors in undergraduates, particularly for achieving adherence to daily flossing.

Aims Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with arrhythmias and cardiovascular mortality. Arrhythmogenesis in MetS results from atrial structural and electrical remodelling. The small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) currents modulate atrial repolarization and may influence atrial arrhythmogenicity. This study investigated the regulation of SK current perturbed by a high-fat diet (HFD) to mimic MetS. Methods and results Thirty mice were divided into two groups that were fed with normal chow (CTL) and HFD for 4 months. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were used to detect cardiac electrical and structure remodelling. Atrial action potential duration (APD) and calcium transient duration (CaTD) were measured by optical mapping of Langendorff-perfused mice hearts. Atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and duration were assessed by burst pacing. Whole-cell patch clamp was performed in primarily isolated atrial myocytes for SK current density. The SK current density is higher in atrial myocytes from HFD than in CTL mice (P ≤ 0.037). The RNA and protein expression of SK channels are increased in HFD mice (P ≤ 0.041 and P ≤ 0.011, respectively). Action potential duration is shortened in HFD compared with CTL (P ≤ 0.015). The shortening of the atrial APD in HFD is reversed by the application of 100 nM apamin (P ≤ 0.043). Compared with CTL, CaTD is greater in HFD atria (P ≤ 0.029). Calcium transient decay (Tau) is significantly higher in HFD than in CTL (P = 0.001). Both APD and CaTD alternans thresholds were higher in HFD (P ≤ 0.043), along with higher inducibility and longer duration of AF in HFD (P ≤ 0.023). Conclusion Up-regulation of apamin-sensitive SK currents plays a partial role in the atrial arrhythmogenicity of HFD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents who perceive easy access to tobacco are more likely to acquire cigarettes and experience smoking. This study assesses area disparities in perceptions of access to tobacco and cigarette purchasing experiences among schoolchildren. Methods: Data on children's tobacco-related variables were obtained from the Control of School-Aged Children Smoking Study Survey in Taiwan. A stratified random sample of 65 primary schools was included. Polytomous logistic regression analyzed factors associated with tobacco accessibility and purchasing experiences. Results: More than half of the children reported that tobacco retailers often or always sold cigarettes to them. Rural and mountainous children were more likely to have access to cigarettes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]?=?2.01 and 3.01, respectively) and have cigarette purchasing experiences (AOR?=?3.06 and 13.76, respectively). Cigarette purchasing from retailers (AOR?=?1.84) was significantly associated with children's perceptions of access to tobacco. The factors associated with cigarette purchasing experiences were families smoking (AOR?=?8.90), peers smoking (AOR?=?2.22), frequent exposure to entertainer smoking on TV and in films (AOR?=?2.15), and perceived access to tobacco (AOR?=?1.51). Conclusions: The health department should strictly enforce laws regarding retailers selling tobacco to underage, particularly in remote areas. Schools can reinforce tobacco-use prevention messages.