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  1. Article ; Online: A randomized, double-blind water taste test to evaluate the equivalence of taste between tap water and filtered water in the Taipei metropolis

    Jing-Rong Jhuang / Wen-Chung Lee / Chang-Chuan Chan

    Scientific Reports, Vol 10, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    2020  Volume 8

    Abstract: Abstract High water quality and sufficient water availability are the main concerns of water users. Promoting the efficient use of tap water can contribute to sustainable drinking water management and progress towards Sustainable Development Goals. In ... ...

    Abstract Abstract High water quality and sufficient water availability are the main concerns of water users. Promoting the efficient use of tap water can contribute to sustainable drinking water management and progress towards Sustainable Development Goals. In many metropolises, water suppliers treat municipal water with appropriate treatment processes and well-maintained distribution infrastructure. Under this circumstance, it is acceptable that municipal water can be a source of drinking water. The presence of residual chlorine in tap water, connected to municipal water supply, inactivates pathogenic microorganisms and prevents recontamination. However, adding chlorine to tap water may affect the organoleptic properties of drinking water. On the other hand, the use of point-of-use (POU) water dispensers, which provides an additional treatment step on tap water, is not energy-efficient. A randomized, double-blind water taste test was conducted in the Taipei metropolis to assess whether tap water from public drinking fountains and filtered water from POU water dispensers have similar organoleptic properties. An odds ratio (OR) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to measure the participants’ ability to distinguish between the two water varieties. A five-region hypothesis test was conducted to test the OR, and a 95% bootstrap confidence interval of the AUC was calculated. The results of the study showed that the 95% five-region confidence interval of OR equal to (0.5, 1.49), and the 95% bootstrap confidence interval of AUC equal to (0.42, 0.56). These results implied that people in the Taipei metropolis could not distinguish between tap water and filtered water. It is recommended that more drinking fountains be installed and maintained fully functional and clean to achieve excellence in tap water access.
    Keywords Medicine ; R ; Science ; Q
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-08-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Nature Publishing Group
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  2. Article ; Online: Association between ambient air pollution exposure and insomnia among adults in Taipei City

    Liang-Ju Tsai / Tzu-Hsuen Yuan / Ruei-Hao Shie / Ching-Han Chiang / Chang-Chuan Chan

    Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    2022  Volume 11

    Abstract: Abstract Ambient air pollution was known to cause central nervous system diseases and depressive symptoms. In this study, we examined the associations between air pollution exposure and the prevalence of insomnia in Taipei City of Taiwan. We applied the ... ...

    Abstract Abstract Ambient air pollution was known to cause central nervous system diseases and depressive symptoms. In this study, we examined the associations between air pollution exposure and the prevalence of insomnia in Taipei City of Taiwan. We applied the health information system of electrical medical records of Taipei City Hospital to collect a total of 5108 study subjects (insomniacs N = 912 and non-insomniacs N = 4196) over 18 years old from the family medicine and internal medicine outpatients of six branches of Taipei City Hospital. These patients were grouped into insomniacs and non-insomniacs following the primary insomnia diagnosis (ICD9:780.52, 780.54, 307.41, 307.42, ICD10: G47.00, G47.01, G47.09, F51.01, F51.09) and the prescription times of anxiolytics and hypnotics. We estimated one-year average concentrations of PM2.5, ozone, and NOx before the first date of insomnia diagnosis and the last date of outpatient visit for insomniacs and non-insomniacs, respectively, by using the data of nearest air quality monitoring stations relative to study subjects’ residential addresses. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the independent effects of air pollution concentrations on the risk of insomnia. One-year average PM2.5, ozone, and NOx levels for insomniacs was significantly higher than those of non-insomniacs. After adjusting for confounding factors, increase each 1(μg/m3) in one-year average PM2.5 showed a statistically significant association with insomnia (the odds ratio 1.610, 95% CI [1.562,1.660]). As to multi pollutants, one-year average PM2.5 (1.624, [1.570, 1.681] and ozone (1.198, [1.094, 1.311]) exposure showed a significant association with insomnia. Subgroup analysis revealed that the influence of PM2.5 and ozone on insomnia have significant risks in people with major chronic disease. This study demonstrated a positive association between PM2.5 and ozone exposure and the prevalence of hypnotic-treated insomnia. Especially, the people with major chronic diseases were with obvious ...
    Keywords Medicine ; R ; Science ; Q
    Subject code 333
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Nature Portfolio
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  3. Article ; Online: Association between faecal haemoglobin concentration and the risk of cardiovascular diseases among Taiwanese adults in a community-based screening cohort

    Kuo-Liong Chien / Ting-Yu Lin / Chang-Chuan Chan / Li-Sheng Chen

    BMJ Open, Vol 10, Iss

    2020  Volume 6

    Abstract: Objectives The role of faecal haemoglobin as a colorectal cancer screening tool has been demonstrated. However, the association between the faecal haemoglobin concentration and the risk of cardiovascular disease events and deaths is still unclear.Design ... ...

    Abstract Objectives The role of faecal haemoglobin as a colorectal cancer screening tool has been demonstrated. However, the association between the faecal haemoglobin concentration and the risk of cardiovascular disease events and deaths is still unclear.Design Cohort study design.Setting Population-based organised integrated service screening in Keelung City, TaiwanParticipants A total of 33 355 healthy individuals aged over 40 years who were free of cardiovascular disease at study entry were followed up.Main outcomes and measures Newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease events and deaths.Results After a median follow-up of 2.39 years, a total of 2768 participants developed cardiovascular events, and after a median follow-up of 8.43 years, 317 cases of cardiovascular deaths occurred. The risk of cardiovascular disease increased with baseline faecal haemoglobin in a dose–response manner, yielding a significant elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in parallel with the incremental concentration of faecal haemoglobin (adjusted HRs=1.04, 1.10, 1.40 and 1.23 for faecal haemoglobin concentrations of 1–19, 20–49, 50–99 and ≥100 ng/mL, trend test, p<0.0001, as compared with the reference group with undetectable faecal haemoglobin concentrations). A similar pattern was observed for the risk of cardiovascular disease deaths. In addition, the faecal haemoglobin improved the prediction performance of the model for the risk of cardiovascular diseases; the integrated discrimination improvement was 0.3% (p<0.001) for cardiovascular events and 0.1% (p=0.020) for cardiovascular deaths.Conclusions Our data support that faecal haemoglobin concentrations may be associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The biological mechanisms underlying the role of faecal haemoglobin as health outcomes should be investigated.
    Keywords Medicine ; R
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  4. Article ; Online: Mortality, morbidity, and risk factors in Taiwan, 1990–2017

    Yun-Chun Wu / Wei-Cheng Lo / Tsung-Hsueh Lu / Shu-Sen Chang / Hsien-Ho Lin / Chang-Chuan Chan

    Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, Vol 120, Iss 6, Pp 1340-

    findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

    2021  Volume 1349

    Abstract: Background: Taiwan has implemented a national health insurance system since 1995 with high coverage and utilization rate. However, the health care system in Taiwan is facing immense challenges due to rapid population ageing. We have evaluated the ... ...

    Abstract Background: Taiwan has implemented a national health insurance system since 1995 with high coverage and utilization rate. However, the health care system in Taiwan is facing immense challenges due to rapid population ageing. We have evaluated the landscape of population health by revisiting the results of GBD 2017 study. Methods: Taiwan vital registration data (1980–2016) and Taiwan national health insurance database (2016) were used. We also conducted benchmarking comparisons with selected countries in East Asia from 1990 to 2017. Results: The age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates decreased by one-quarter from 1990 to 2017; however, progress was relatively slow compared to the comparator countries and has been stagnant recently. The Social-demographic Index (SDI) level in Taiwan in 2017 was 0.86, which is similar to Japan, Singapore, and South Korea in 2017, while the SDI level of China in 2017 was similar to that of Taiwan (0.69) in 1990. Although Taiwan's SDI reached the same level as those in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea in 2017, modifiable risk factors still contributed to nearly half of Taiwan's total disease burden. Five leading risk factors (high fasting plasma glucose, high body-mass index, alcohol use, illicit drug use, and impaired kidney function) accounted for a higher DALY rate in Taiwan than comparator countries in 2017. Conclusion: Taiwan made marked progress in health from 1990 to 2017. However, interventions targeted on major modifiable disease risk factors should be prioritized to realize the full potential of heath improvement in the process of rapid socioeconomic development.
    Keywords Disease burden ; Epidemiological transition ; Modifiable risk factors ; Public health ; Health policy ; Medicine (General) ; R5-920
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  5. Article ; Online: Relationship between renal function and metal exposure of residents living near the No. 6 Naphtha Cracking Complex

    Tzu-Hsuen Yuan / Ming-Jie Jhuang / Yen-Po Yeh / Yi-Hsuan Chen / Sasha Lu / Chang-Chuan Chan

    Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, Vol 120, Iss 10, Pp 1845-

    A cross-sectional study

    2021  Volume 1854

    Abstract: Background/Purpose: Heavy metals impair renal function, causing chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the petrochemical industry is one of the major environmental metal emission sources. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between renal function ...

    Abstract Background/Purpose: Heavy metals impair renal function, causing chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the petrochemical industry is one of the major environmental metal emission sources. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between renal function and metal exposure among the Taiwanese residents living near a petrochemical industry site. Methods: We recruited residents near the No. 6 Naphtha Cracking Complex, and they were categorized into a high-exposure (HE) group (N = 190) in Taisi Village and a low-exposure (LE) group (N = 1184) in other villages of Dacheng Township in Changhua County of Taiwan. The urinary nickel, chromium, and vanadium levels of the study subjects were measured and the levels were standardized by urine creatinine, and the estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) were calculated to estimate renal function by one-time health data. Linear regression models were applied to illustrate the correlations between the distance to the complex and urinary metal levels and renal function; linear and logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the associations between urinary metal levels and renal function indicators. Results: The study subjects living closer to the petrochemical complex had significantly higher urinary nickel, chromium, and vanadium levels and worse renal function than study subjects living farther away. The urinary nickel and chromium levels of the study subjects were associated with their renal function indicators. When the subject's urinary nickel level increased 1-fold, the eGFR level significantly decreased by 0.820 ml/min/1.73 m2. Conclusion: Residents living closer to the petrochemical industry were exposed to higher metal levels and had worse renal function, and the nickel exposure of residents was potentially related to their decline in renal function.
    Keywords Petrochemical industry ; Heavy metal ; Renal function ; Medicine (General) ; R5-920
    Subject code 616
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-10-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  6. Article ; Online: Progression from Pneumonia to ARDS as a Predictor for Fatal COVID-19.

    Hsu, Chen-Yang / Lai, Chao-Chih / Yeh, Yen-Po / Chang-Chuan, Chan / Chen, Hsiu-His

    Journal of infection and public health

    2020  Volume 14, Issue 4, Page(s) 504–507

    Abstract: There is a serious concern over the variation of case fatality of COVID-19 patients that reflects the preparedness of the medical care system in response to the surge of pneumonia patients. We aimed to quantify the disease spectrum of COVID-19 on which ... ...

    Abstract There is a serious concern over the variation of case fatality of COVID-19 patients that reflects the preparedness of the medical care system in response to the surge of pneumonia patients. We aimed to quantify the disease spectrum of COVID-19 on which we are based to develop a key indicator on the probability of progression from pneumonia to acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS) for fatal COVID-19. The retrospective cohort on 12 countries that have already experienced the epidemic of COVID-19 with available open data on the conformed cases with detailed information on mild respiratory disease (MRD), pneumonia, ARDS, and deaths were used. The pooled estimates from three countries with detailed information were 73% from MRD to pneumonia and 27% from MRD to recovery and the case-fatality rate of ARDS was 43%. The progression from pneumonia to ARDS varied from 3% to 63%. These key estimates were highly associated with the case fatality rates reported for each country with a statistically significant positive relationship (adjusted R
    MeSH term(s) COVID-19/mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Internationality ; Pneumonia/virology ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/virology ; Retrospective Studies
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-12-30
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2467587-8
    ISSN 1876-035X ; 1876-0341
    ISSN (online) 1876-035X
    ISSN 1876-0341
    DOI 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.12.026
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  7. Article ; Online: County-Wide Mortality Assessments Attributable to PM 2.5 Emissions from Coal Consumption in Taiwan

    Chia-Pin Chio / Wei-Cheng Lo / Ben-Jei Tsuang / Chieh-Chun Hu / Kai-Chen Ku / Yi-Sheng Wang / Yung-Jen Chen / Hsien-Ho Lin / Chang-Chuan Chan

    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 19, Iss 1599, p

    2022  Volume 1599

    Abstract: Over one-third of energy is generated from coal consumption in Taiwan. In order to estimate the health impact assessment attributable to PM 2.5 concentrations emitted from coal consumption in Taiwan. We applied a Gaussian trajectory transfer-coefficient ... ...

    Abstract Over one-third of energy is generated from coal consumption in Taiwan. In order to estimate the health impact assessment attributable to PM 2.5 concentrations emitted from coal consumption in Taiwan. We applied a Gaussian trajectory transfer-coefficient model to obtain county-wide PM 2.5 exposures from coal consumption, which includes coal-fired power plants and combined heat and power plants. Next, we calculated the mortality burden attributable to PM 2.5 emitted by coal consumption using the comparative risk assessment framework developed by the Global Burden of Disease study. Based on county-level data, the average PM 2.5 emissions from coal-fired plants in Taiwan was estimated at 2.03 ± 1.29 (range: 0.32–5.64) μg/m 3 . With PM 2.5 increments greater than 0.1 μg/m 3 , there were as many as 16 counties and 66 air quality monitoring stations affected by coal-fired plants and 6 counties and 18 monitoring stations affected by combined heat and power plants. The maximum distances affected by coal-fired and combined heat and power plants were 272 km and 157 km, respectively. Our findings show that more counties were affected by coal-fired plants than by combined heat and power plants with significant increments of PM 2.5 emissions. We estimated that 359.6 (95% CI: 334.8–384.9) annual adult deaths and 124.4 (95% CI: 116.4–132.3) annual premature deaths were attributable to PM 2.5 emitted by coal-fired plants in Taiwan. Even in six counties without power plants, there were 75.8 (95% CI: 60.1–91.5) deaths and 25.8 (95%CI: 20.7–30.9) premature deaths annually attributable to PM 2.5 emitted from neighboring coal-fired plants. This study presents a precise and effective integrated approach for assessing air pollution and the health impacts of coal-fired and combined heat and power plants.
    Keywords fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) ; global burden of disease (GBD) ; coal-fired power plant (CP) ; combined heat and power plant (CHP) ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 670 ; 580
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  8. Article ; Online: Emission-Related Heavy Metal Associated with Oxidative Stress in Children

    Brittany Killian / Tzu-Hsuen Yuan / Cheng-Hsien Tsai / Tina H. T. Chiu / Yi-Hsuan Chen / Chang-Chuan Chan

    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 17, Iss 3920, p

    Effect of Antioxidant Intake

    2020  Volume 3920

    Abstract: Heavy metals, the common pollutants emitted from industrial activities, are believed to cause harmful effects, partially through the mechanism of elevated oxidative stress, and antioxidant intake has been hypothesized to provide a potential protective ... ...

    Abstract Heavy metals, the common pollutants emitted from industrial activities, are believed to cause harmful effects, partially through the mechanism of elevated oxidative stress, and antioxidant intake has been hypothesized to provide a potential protective effect against oxidative stress. This study aims to investigate the heavy metal exposure and the associated oxidative damage of young children living near a petrochemical complex and to assess the protective effect of antioxidant intake. There were 168 children recruited from the kindergartens near a huge petrochemical complex, with 87 as the high exposure group and 81 as the low exposure group. Urinary concentrations of eleven metals were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and four biomarkers of oxidative stress were measured in urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The food frequency questionnaire was collected to assess participants’ intake of antioxidants. Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the predictors of metals for oxidative stress and to measure the beneficial effect of antioxidants. Weighted quantile sum regression was performed to determine the contributors among metals to the oxidative stress. Results showed that high exposure group had significantly higher concentrations of chromium, manganese, nickel, arsenic, strontium, cadmium, and lead when compared to those in low exposure group. There was no obviously difference on the total antioxidant intake and dietary profile between two groups. The elevated levels of two oxidative stress markers were significantly associated with most of the urinary metal concentrations in all study subjects after adjusting confounders, while no significant association was found between oxidative stress and antioxidant intake. Among the metals, mercury and strontium showed the dominated contributions for elevated levels of oxidative stress. It concluded that higher metal exposure was associated with elevated oxidative stress but with no protective effect by ...
    Keywords heavy metals ; young children ; oxidative stress ; antioxidants ; industrial pollution ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 500
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  9. Article ; Online: Urban Open Space Is Associated with Better Renal Function of Adult Residents in New Taipei City

    Jien-Wen Chien / Ya-Ru Yang / Szu-Ying Chen / Yu-Jun Chang / Chang-Chuan Chan

    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 16, Iss 13, p

    2019  Volume 2436

    Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the association between proximity to open space and adult renal function. This was a cross-sectional study. Adult residents of Taipei metropolis were recruited in the analysis. The proximity of each subject to open ...

    Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore the association between proximity to open space and adult renal function. This was a cross-sectional study. Adult residents of Taipei metropolis were recruited in the analysis. The proximity of each subject to open space was measured using the Geographic Information System. Residents were divided into two groups: with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD). We made univariable comparisons between the two groups. The logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio of CKD. Forest plot was used to examine the effect of interaction between distance to open space and subgroup variable on CKD. A total number of 21,656 subjects with mean age 53.6 years were enrolled in the study. Of the subjects, 2226 (10.28%) had CKD. The mean and standard deviation of distance to open space were 117.23 m and 80.19 m, respectively. Every 100 m distance to open space was associated with an odds ratio of 1.071 for CKD. Subgroup analysis revealed that residents of female, without hypertension, or without impaired fasting glucose (IFG) living more than 200 m from open spaces have greater odds of CKD than those living less than 200 m. Conclusions: Proximity to open space was associated with a lower prevalence of CKD among adults in Taiwan. Such association was enhanced among females and healthy adults without hypertension or impaired fasting glucose (IFG).
    Keywords open spaces 2 ; CKD 3 ; renal function ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 710
    Language English
    Publishing date 2019-07-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  10. Article ; Online: Burden of disease attributable to ambient fine particulate matter exposure in Taiwan

    Wei-Cheng Lo / Ruei-Hao Shie / Chang-Chuan Chan / Hsien-Ho Lin

    Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, Vol 116, Iss 1, Pp 32-

    2017  Volume 40

    Abstract: There is compelling epidemiological evidence that links air pollution to increased risk of mortality from cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer. We quantified the burden of mortality attributable to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) among the ... ...

    Abstract There is compelling epidemiological evidence that links air pollution to increased risk of mortality from cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer. We quantified the burden of mortality attributable to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) among the Taiwanese population in 2014 at the national and subnational levels. Methods: Subnational PM2.5 exposure levels were obtained from Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Network. Relative risks were derived from a previously developed exposure-response model. Population attributable fraction for cause-specific mortality was estimated at the county level using the estimated ambient PM2.5 concentrations and the relative risk functions. Results: In 2014, PM2.5 accounted for 6282 deaths [95% confidence interval (CI), 5716–6847], from ischemic heart disease (2244 deaths; 95% CI, 2015–2473), stroke (2140 deaths; 95% CI, 1760–2520), lung cancer (1252 deaths; 95% CI, 995–1509), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (645 deaths; 95% CI, 418–872). Nationally, the population attributable mortality fraction of PM2.5 for the four disease causes was 18.6% (95% CI, 16.9–20.3%). Substantial geographic variation in PM2.5 attributable mortality fraction was found; the percentage of deaths attributable to PM2.5 ranged from 8.7% in Hualian County to 21.8% in Yunlin County. In terms of absolute number of deaths, New Taipei and Kaohsiung cities had the largest number of deaths associated with PM2.5 (874 and 829 deaths, respectively) among all cities and counties. Conclusion: Ambient PM2.5 pollution is a major mortality risk factor in Taiwan. Aggressive and multisectorial intervention strategies are urgently needed to bring down the impact of air pollution on environment and health.
    Keywords ambient fine particulate matter ; burden of disease ; subnational analysis ; Medicine (General) ; R5-920
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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