Antepartum urinary tract infection and postpartum depression in Taiwan - a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in pregnant women due to anatomic and physiologic changes in the female urinary tract during pregnancy, and antepartum UTIs can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes that may induce mental stress. There have only been a few studies, however, investigating antepartum UTIs and mental stress. As such, the present study was conducted in order to investigate the association between antepartum UTIs and postpartum depression (PPD). METHODS: We used data from the 2000-2013 National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. Data regarding a total of 55,087 singleton pregnancies was utilized, including data regarding 406 women who were newly diagnosed with PPD in the first 6 months postpartum. The associations between PPD and antepartum UTIs or other risk factors were examined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The logistic regression analysis results indicated that PPD was associated with antepartum UTIs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.07-1.65). Furthermore, the risk of PPD was higher in women with an upper antepartum UTI (aOR 2.97 (1.31, 6.77) than in those with a lower antepartum UTI (aOR 1.21 (1.02, 1.58)). CONCLUSIONS: Antepartum UTIs, particularly upper antepartum UTIs, are significantly associated with PPD. This information may encourage physicians to pay greater attention to the mental health of women who have suffered upper UTIs during their pregnancies.

Incidence of autoimmune diseases in patients with scabies: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

Scabies is a commonly occurring infectious immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. Immune-mediated inflammatory processes are also observed in autoimmune diseases. There have been very few previous studies; however, that have investigated the possible association between scabies and autoimmune diseases. To address this research gap, we conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study that included a total of 4481 scabies patients and 16,559 control subjects matched by gender, age, insured region, urbanization and income. We tracked both cohorts for a 7-year period to identify the incidence of autoimmune diseases in both groups during that follow-up period. Relatedly, a Cox regression analysis was performed to calculate and compare the hazard ratio (HR) for autoimmune diseases of both groups. An overall increased risk for 19 autoimmune diseases was observed in the scabies patients, with an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.14 (95% CI 1.04-1.25). Compared with the control group, the scabies patients exhibited increased risks of hypersensitivity vasculitis (aHR 5.44, 95% CI 1.64-18.07), dermatomyositis (aHR 4.91, 95% CI 1.80-13.38), polyarteritis nodosa (aHR 2.89, 95% CI 1.46-5.73), systemic lupus erythematosus (aHR 2.73, 95% CI 1.33-5.64), psoriasis (aHR 2.31, 95% CI 1.85-2.88), myasthenia gravis (aHR 2.01, 95% CI 1.31-3.12), type 1 diabetes mellitus (aHR 1.93, 95% CI 1.53-2.44), pernicious anemia (aHR 1.92, 95% CI 1.42-2.61), and rheumatoid arthritis (aHR 1.43, 95% CI 1.12-1.83). In conclusion, the associations between scabies and a variety of autoimmune diseases may exist. Further studies are needed to clarify the shared etiologies and relationships between scabies and autoimmune diseases.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on clinical outcomes of hospitalization due to influenza in children: A propensity score-matched analysis of the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have explored the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and clinical outcomes of influenza in adults, whereas limited research examined this relationship in pediatric populations. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of OSA on the outcomes of pediatric influenza hospitalizations. METHODS: This was a population-based, retrospective study. Data of children aged 1-19 years hospitalized for influenza infection were extracted from the United States (US) Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database 2005-2018. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses determined associations between OSA, length of stay (LOS), total hospital costs, pneumonia, and life-threatening events. RESULTS: After propensity-score matching, a total of 2100 children were analyzed. The logistic analysis revealed that children with OSA had a significantly increased LOS (ß = 2.29 days; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.01-3.57, p < .001) and total hospital costs (ß = 26.06 thousand dollars; 95% CI: 6.62-45.51, p = .009), and higher odds of pneumonia (aged 6-10 years: odds ratio [OR] = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.01-2.27, p = .043; aged ≥ 11 years: OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.33-2.53, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: During influenza admissions, children with OSA had longer LOS, higher hospital costs, and an increased risk of pneumonia compared to those without OSA. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing and managing OSA in influenza-related infections among children.

Potential Treatments for Epiglottic Collapse in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: How Modified Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy Help?

OBJECTIVE: In patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), epiglottic collapse (EC) constitutes a major factor in the failure of continuous positive airway pressure therapy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. This study explored treatments that can improve EC in patients with OSA through drug-induced sleep endoscopy with target-controlled infusion (TCI-DISE). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary center. METHODS: This study screened 352 OSA patients who underwent TCI-DISE between 2016 and 2022. Fifty-four patients with EC were included in the final analysis. EC severity was assessed multiple times through TCI-DISE with different interventions. RESULTS: The application of these interventions in patients with anteroposterior epiglottic collapse (apEC) led to a significant decrease in apEC severity from total to partial or no obstruction in 60.0% of patients by head rotation, in 53.6% by mouth closure, in 47.4% who received oral appliances (OA), and in 28.0% who received intermittent negative airway pressure (iNAP). With simultaneous head rotation, apEC severity decreased more significantly from total to partial or no obstruction in 77.8% of patients by mouth closure, in 70.3% who received OA, and in 68.0% who received iNAP. Lateral epiglottic collapse (latEC) severity decreased in 53.8% of patients after OA use and in 61.5% of patients with OA use and head rotation. CONCLUSION: This study identified head rotation with mouth closure as the most effective treatment for apEC through TCI-DISE. Patients with latEC had higher weight, apnea-hypopnea index, and body mass index compared with patients with apEC. OA use with head rotation appeared more effective in latEC through TCI-DISE.

Thrombomodulin mediates the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Thrombomodulin (TM), a natural anticoagulation factor, maintains circulation homeostasis in endothelial cells. TM has additional roles in modulating inflammation, thrombosis, and carcinogenesis. However, there is little information on the role of TM in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer. RNA silencing and cDNA expression vectors were used to manipulate target gene expression in ovarian cancer cells. Cell growth and migration were evaluated by an MTT assay, a wound-healing migration assay, a transwell migration assay, and a biosensor system. In this study, we found that TM silencing may enhance the growth rate of cells. The migratory ability of ovarian cancer cells was enhanced dramatically after TM silencing. TM overexpression in ovarian cells suppressed the proliferation and migration capability. Furthermore, we found that skov-3 cells treated with TM shRNA expressed high levels of fibronectin and vimentin and that the expression of these markers correlated positively with their migratory ability. Our results demonstrate that TM expression may regulate cell growth and migration in ovarian cancer cells. This finding suggests that TM may be a novel prognostic and therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Association between the hepatitis B and C viruses and metabolic diseases in patients stratified by age.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B/C viruses cause liver disease and metabolic disturbances. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between hepatitis B/C infection and metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: In total, 26,305 subjects were included in this multicentre, cross-sectional study. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body mass index and waist circumference were measured. Total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose and uric acid were determined, and hepatitis B serum antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies were assayed using commercial kits. RESULTS: MS was diagnosed in 2712 (23.0%) females, including 131 and 166 positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV respectively. In the men, 4594 (31.6%) were diagnosed with MS, including 326 positive for HBsAg and 131 positive for anti-HCV. No significant difference in the prevalence of MS was identified in any group, except men and women >45 years who were anti-HCV positive. Various metabolic alterations in both men and women >45 years were noted, including waist circumference, body mass index, fasting blood glucose and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Notably, high- and low-density lipoproteins were significantly lower in positive subjects compared to those weakly positive and/or negative for anti-HCV. CONCLUSIONS: There were obvious metabolic derangements in patients coinflicted with MS and hepatitis C infections, particularly those >45 years of age. There is a pressing need to identify strategies to improve/resolve metabolic derangements to maximize sustained virological response rates in patients infected with HCV (and potentially HBV).

The association of leptin and C-reactive protein with the cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome score in Taiwanese adults.

BACKGROUND: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and leptin levels have been independently associated with the cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of the present study was to determine if their serum levels were associated with cardiovascular risk factors or metabolic syndrome as well as their correlation in the Taiwanese population. METHODS: This retrospective study included 999 subjects (> 18 y), who underwent a physical examination in Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou and Chiayi in Taiwan. The associations between CRP and/or leptin levels and cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome were determined using independent two sample t-tests to detect gender differences and chi-square tests to evaluate differences in frequencies. To compare the means of the variables measured among the four groups (high and low leptin and high and low CRP), analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. RESULTS: Both CRP and leptin levels were independently associated with several cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and metabolic syndrome in both men and women (P < 0.05). In addition, a positive correlation between leptin and CRP levels was observed in both genders. Both high-CRP and high-leptin were associated with high blood glucose, waist circumference and serum triglyceride. Whereas increased metabolic syndrome incidence was observed in males with elevated leptin regardless of CRP levels, females with elevated CRP or leptin had increased incidence of metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Both leptin and CRP levels were associated with cardiovascular risk factors as well as metabolic syndrome score in both men and women although gender-specific differences were observed. Thus, CRP and leptin may represent useful biomarkers for predicting the onset of cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRB/CGMH 100-3514B.

Effect of Modified Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty without Tonsillectomy on Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Polysomnographic Outcome and Correlation with Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a common procedure for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is usually initiated with the resection of palatine tonsils. Because tonsillectomy potentially contributes to complications, minimally invasive upper airway surgeries have been proposed for OSA therapy. Whether tonsillectomy is always essential for UPPP remains unclear, particularly for patients with small tonsils. The purpose of this study was to present the effect of modified UPPP without tonsillectomy (UPsT) on patients with OSA and attempt to select the candidates for this procedure. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with OSA, with tonsil size of grade 0-2, and with only retropalatal obstruction in drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The patients underwent UPsT at a tertiary center from November 2017 to December 2019. The sleep study was performed before and at least 3 months after surgery. The demographics, surgical outcomes, and staging patterns of preoperative DISE were recorded. The correlation between surgical outcome and DISE was also established. RESULTS: A total of 22 adults with an average age of 46.5 years [interquartile range: 40 to 60 years] completed the follow-up study. Their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and Epworth sleepiness scale values improved significantly after surgery. Of the 17 patients with partial collapse and complete anteroposterior collapse (APC) at the velum, 16 presented good responses to UPsT. However, among the five patients with complete concentric collapse (CCC), only two (2/5, 40%) satisfied the criteria for surgical success. Furthermore, their follow-up AHI values were significantly higher than those of patients without CCC in DISE. CONCLUSION: UPsT was demonstrated to be an effective therapy for patients with OSA who had small tonsils and retropalatal obstruction in DISE. CCC in sleep endoscopy indicates a poorer surgical outcome than does complete APC and partial collapse at the velum.

Post-Operative Sleep Endoscopy with Target-Controlled Infusion After Palatopharyngoplasty for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Anatomical and Polysomnographic Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The findings of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) are not always correlated with the outcome of upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and whether multilevel surgery is truly required in treating multilevel obstruction identified in preoperative DISE remains an issue. We attempted to compare DISE findings before and after palatopharyngoplasty in patients with OSA because changes in DISE may be beneficial to better understand polysomnographic and anatomical outcomes. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study for 34 patients with moderate to severe OSA who underwent palatopharyngoplasty at a tertiary care center from 2016 to 2018. We recorded the patients' demographic characteristics, procedures, and surgical outcomes and compared the preoperative and postoperative DISE staging patterns. RESULTS: The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) values of 34 adults improved significantly after surgery (40.6 ± 23.3 versus 25.6 ± 20.6, P < 0.001). The majority of patients, 26/34, had preoperative complete concentric collapse at the velum, and for most (20/26, 77%) there was a change of the collapse pattern into anteroposterior collapse postoperatively. Patients with postoperative velar collapse had higher follow-up AHI values than those who without (27.8 ± 21.9 versus 15.2 ± 7.7, P = 0.023). Patients with preoperative complete tongue base collapse had higher follow-up AHI values than did those with no or partial collapse (40.6 ± 21.0 versus 21.0 ± 18.6, P = 0.017). Patients with postoperative complete tongue base collapse also had higher follow-up AHI values than the others (42.7 ± 22.1 versus 18.5 ± 15.4, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Palatopharyngoplasty could change the collapse pattern at the velum in most patients. Preoperative and postoperative complete tongue base collapse and postoperative velar collapse identified in TCI-DISE were associated with relatively poor outcomes.

Novel Intraoral Negative Airway Pressure in Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy with Target-Controlled Infusion.

BACKGROUND: In intermittent negative airway pressure (iNAP) therapy, soft tissues are reshaped into a forward-resting position, thus reducing airway obstruction during sleep. This study investigated the effect of iNAP therapy that was administered during drug-induced sleep endoscopy with target-controlled infusion (TCI-DISE) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) intolerant of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. METHODS: This prospective case series study included 92 patients with polysomnography (PSG)-confirmed OSA who underwent TCI-DISE with iNAP from January 2018 to February 2020 at a tertiary referral hospital. Upper airway obstruction was evaluated and scored using the velum, oropharynx, tongue base, and epiglottis (VOTE) classification. Obstruction severity was assessed multiple times with the patient in the supine position with or without lateral rotation of the head and the application of iNAP therapy, respectively. RESULTS: After the application of iNAP therapy in the supine position, obstruction severity decreased significantly: from complete or partial obstruction to partial or no obstruction in 37, 12, and 36 patients (40.2%, 13%, and 39%, respectively) with velar obstruction, oropharyngeal, and tongue base obstruction, respectively. After simultaneously applying iNAP therapy with head rotation, obstruction severity decreased in 47, 43, and 19 patients (51%, 47%, and 21%, respectively) with velar, tongue base, and epiglottic obstruction, respectively. CONCLUSION: In TCI-DISE, we found that iNAP therapy relieved velar, oropharyngeal, and tongue base obstruction in the supine position in some patients. Moreover, iNAP therapy can be combined with positional therapy to alleviate velar, tongue base, and epiglottic obstruction in some patients. TCI-DISE can also be used to screen the possible responders for iNAP therapy because it is less time consuming than PSG.

Increased risk of pernicious anemia following scabies: a nationwide population-based matched-cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Scabies is a common and annoying disorder. Pernicious anemia (PA) is a serious disease which, when untreated, leads to death. Mounting evidence suggests that immune-mediated inflammatory processes play a role in the pathophysiology of both diseases. The relationship between these two diseases has not been investigated. We conducted this study to explore the potential relationship between scabies and PA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This nationwide, population-based study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. In total, 5,407 patients with scabies were identified as a study group and 20,089 matched patients were randomly selected as a control group. We tracked patients in both groups for a 7-year period to identify the incidence of PA. The demographic characteristics and comorbidities of the patients were analyzed, and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratios for PA. RESULTS: Of the 25,496 patients in this study, 183 (0.7%) patients with newly diagnosed PA were identified during the 7-year follow-up period; 71 of 5,407 (1.3%) from the scabies group and 112 of 20,089 (0.6%) from the control group. Patients with scabies had a higher risk of subsequent PA, with a crude hazard ratio of 2.368. After adjusting for covariates, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.51 (95% confidence interval: 1.09-2.08). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated an increased risk of PA (adjusted hazard ratio 1.51) among patients with scabies. Immune-mediated inflammatory processes may contribute to this association. Further studies are warranted to investigate the entire pathological mechanisms between these two diseases. Physicians should pay attention to patients with history of scabies presented with anemia. Further confirmative tests of PA may contribute to correct diagnosis and initiation of vitamin B12 supplement.

The effects of climate factors on scabies. A 14-year population-based study in Taiwan.

Scabies is a common infectious disease and can cause severe outbreaks if not controlled quickly. Besides personal contact history, environmental factors are also important. This study analyzed the effects of environmental climate factors on the incidence of scabies in Taiwan. We conducted a 14-year nationwide population-based study: a total of 14,883 patients with scabies infestation were enrolled. Monthly climate data were collected from Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau, including data on temperature, relative humidity, total rainfall, total rain days, and total sunshine hours. The linear relationships between these climate factors and scabies infestations or other risk factors were examined by Pearson's correlation analysis. Overall, the incidence of scabies was negatively correlated with temperature (γ = -0.152, p < 0.001), while being positively correlated with humidity (γ = 0.192, p < 0.001). This useful information may provide evidence for lowering humidity at nursing facilities, hospitals, and military camps with scabies infestations, which may help to reduce its spread and prevent outbreaks.

The relationship between economic conditions and postpartum depression in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding mothers' economic conditions and postpartum depression (PPD) is important for determining how they will take care of themselves and their infants during the postnatal period, especially for low-income families. This study examined the relationship between economic conditions and PPD to elucidate the effect of economic contraction on PPD. METHODS: Our population-based nationwide study used 2000-2013 the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. A total of 1240 newly diagnosed PPD patients were recruited. We used the database of the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics of Executive Yuan of Taiwan for national economic indicators. The correlation between economic indicators and PPD was examined. RESULTS: The PPD incidence was positively correlated with yearly unemployment rate, consumer price index, and gross domestic product. During the great recession of 2008-2009, PPD was positively correlated with inflation rate. Consumer price index had a positive correlation with PPD incidence per month when comparing PPD in 2010 with the economic indicators during the great recession. LIMITATIONS: As this retrospective study evaluated macroeconomic indicators, it is unclear whether the macroeconomic indicators' effect on PPD totally reflects the effect of true personal economic status on PPD. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between PPD and economic conditions. This study shows that mothers' familial environment plays an important role in the development of PPD. The impact of the worldwide economic downturn of the great recession on women is persistent. This useful finding may give health policy planners a hint of early discovering and dealing with PPD when worldwide economic downturn.

Evaluation of Thioperamide Effects Using Rat's Trachea Model.

OBJECTIVES: Thioperamide is used as an antagonist to the histamine H3 receptor. During administration of the drug, the trachea may be affected via nasal or oral inhalation. This study was to determine the effects of thioperamide on the trachea of rats in vitro. METHODS: We tested the effectiveness of thioperamide on isolated rat trachea submersed in Kreb's solution in a muscle bath. Changes in tracheal contractility in response to the application of parasympathetic mimetic agents were measured. The following assessments of thioperamide were performed: 1) effect on tracheal smooth muscle resting tension; 2) effect on contraction caused by 10(-6) M methacholine as a parasympathetic mimetic; 3) effect of the drug on electrically-induced tracheal smooth muscle contractions. RESULTS: Thioperamide induced a significant relaxation response at a preparation concentration up to 10(-4) M. The drug also inhibited the electrical field stimulation induced spike contraction. However, thioperamide alone had a minimal effect on the basal tension of the trachea at increasing concentrations. CONCLUSION: The study indicated that high concentrations of thioperamide might actually antagonize cholinergic receptors and block parasympathetic function of the trachea.