Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet is associated with erectile dysfunction in young Taiwanese men.

Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) is a protective or predisposing factor for many diseases; however, the relationship between CHHF and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate associations between CHHF and ED among young men of Southeast Asian origin. In this cross-sectional study, sexually active Taiwanese men aged 20-40 years were enrolled via an online questionnaire comprising general demographic information, comorbidities, subjective thermal sensations of their hands and feet in the past 6 months, and their erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Participants who reported cold sensation of hands and feet were classified to have CHHF; those with IIEF-5 score ≤ 21 were considered to have ED. Total 54.2% and 27.9% of participants had ED and CHHF, respectively. Men with CHHF were significantly younger, had lower body mass index and IIEF-5 scores (p < 0.001), and a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.033) along with higher prevalence of ED, psychiatric disorders, and insomnia (p < 0.001). After adjusting for predisposing factors of ED, CHHF (odds ratio 1.410, 95% confidence interval 1.159-1.714; p = 0.001) remained an independent predictor of ED. Thus, CHHF is independently associated with ED, affecting more than a quarter of young Taiwanese men. Autonomic dysregulation and subclinical endothelial dysfunction may be common pathophysiologies of CHHF and ED.

Effectiveness of extended antibiotic prophylaxis in implant-based breast reconstruction surgery: A meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Considerable research has been carried out on the postoperative benefits of extended antibiotic prophylaxis (EAP) in different surgical contexts, generating various results regarding its effectiveness. Some studies indicate positive outcomes, whereas others indicate no significant advantages. Our approach involves conducting a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a more nuanced understanding of the role of extended antibiotic use because of the lack of a consistent consensus. METHODS: A thorough search of the Cochrane Library, Embase, and MEDLINE electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. The metafor package in R software was used for meta-analysis. We collected risk ratios (RRs) for surgical site infection (SSI) in the EAP versus non-EAP groups from the included studies to assess the effects of EAP on reducing the risk of SSI. The meta-analysis used a random-effects model, and effect sizes were presented with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Fourteen studies, involving 12,572 patients who underwent implant-based reconstruction postmastectomy, were included. Pooling the results of the studies that used EAP until drain removal revealed no protective effect of EAP against SSI risk (RR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.60-1.18). Similarly, our analysis revealed no significant benefit of EAP in studies where EAP was not contingent on drain removal (RR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.46-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: EAP administration did not decrease the incidence of SSI in individuals undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction surgery postmastectomy.

Chronic Kidney Disease Among Agricultural Workers in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in agricultural communities is a significant public health issue. We aimed to investigate the epidemiology of CKD among Taiwanese farmers and its association with outdoor heat exposure. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted on participants in the National Adult Health Examination (NAHE) from 2012 to 2018. The farming occupation was identified through National Health Insurance data. The primary outcomes of interest were the development of CKD, defined as a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with diagnosis by physicians, and CKD of undetermined etiology (CKDu), defined as CKD excluding common traditional etiologies. We calculated the county-wide average ambient temperature from a climate reanalysis dataset (ERA5-Land). All CKD cases were matched 1:2 to non-CKD participants by age and biological sex. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) of CKD and CKDu for farmers and changes in mean ambient temperature (°C) before the examination. Results: We identified 844,412 farmers and 3,750,273 nonfarmers. Among 24.9% of farmers and 7.4% of nonfarmers with reduced kidney function, only 1 in 7 received a diagnosis of CKD. The farming occupation was independently predictive of CKDu (OR = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.001-1.18) but not CKD. Increased ambient temperature (°C) was associated with a higher risk of CKD (OR = 1.023, 95% CI = 1.017-1.029), with particularly strong associations observed among middle-aged participants and diabetics. Conclusions: Taiwanese farmers might have a higher risk of developing CKDu. Outdoor heat exposure is associated with the development of CKD, and middle-aged participants and those with diabetes are more vulnerable than the general population.

Adjuvant Sorafenib for Postoperative Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Macrovascular Invasion.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Taiwan. Some patients with HCC are diagnosed with macrovascular invasion (MVI), which is associated with a poorer prognosis. In Taiwan, sorafenib is the first-line therapy for patients with advanced HCC. However, the efficacy of adjuvant sorafenib therapy remains unclear for the subset of patients with HCC and MVI who are eligible for surgery. Therefore, we investigated the potential benefit of adjuvant sorafenib therapy for patients with HCC and MVI after surgery. Our study showed that the lack of improved PFS or OS of adjuvant sorafenib challenged the therapeutic benefit of postoperative sorafenib. Alcohol consumption and an α-fetoprotein level of ≥400 ng/mL were independent predictors of overall survival (OS); however, adjuvant sorafenib therapy was not a predictor of progression-free survival (PFS) or OS. In conclusion, our study indicated that adjuvant sorafenib therapy did not provide PFS or OS benefits in patients with HCC and MVI.