Metformin in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus: dose-dependent dementia risk reduction.

This study aimed to investigate the controversial association between metformin use and diabetes-associated dementia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and evaluate the potential protective effects of metformin, as well as its intensity of use and dose-dependency, against dementia in this population. The study used a time-dependent Cox hazards model to evaluate the effect of metformin use on the incidence of dementia. The case group included elderly patients with T2DM (≥60 years old) who received metformin, while the control group consisted of elderly patients with T2DM who did not receive metformin during the follow-up period. Our analysis revealed a significant reduction in the risk of dementia among elderly individuals using metformin, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.34 (95% confidence interval: 0.33 to 0.36). Notably, metformin users with a daily intensity of 1 defined daily dose (DDD) or higher had a lower risk of dementia, with an adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.46 (0.22 to 0.6), compared to those with a daily intensity of <1 DDD. Additionally, the analysis of cumulative DDDs of metformin showed a dose-response relationship, with progressively lower adjusted hazard ratio across quartiles (0.15, 0.21, 0.28, and 0.53 for quartiles 4, 3, 2 and 1, respectively), compared to never metformin users (P for trend < 0.0001). Metformin use in elderly patients with T2DM is significantly associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of dementia. Notably, the protective effect of metformin demonstrates a dose-dependent relationship, with higher daily and cumulative dosages of metformin showing a greater risk reduction.

Prognostic factors for survival in unresectable stage III EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma: impact of pre-CCRT PET-CT.

PURPOSE: To assess the survival impact of pre-concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) staging with positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) in patients with unresectable epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Patients with unresectable stage IIIA-IIIC EGFR mutation-positive adenocarcinoma undergoing definitive CCRT were divided into two groups: those who received PET-CT staging prior to CCRT and those with other staging methods. Survival outcomes were compared after propensity score matching. RESULTS: Analysis of 11 856 patients (5928 in each group) showed that PET-CT staging was associated with improved survival (adjusted HR of all-cause mortality: 0.74, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.79). Other prognostic factors included male sex, age group, clinical stage, adjuvant treatment, smoking status, Charlson Comorbidity Index score and treatment setting. CONCLUSION: Pre-CCRT staging with PET-CT in patients with unresectable EGFR mutation-positive adenocarcinoma of clinical stage IIIA-IIIC was associated with enhanced survival. Independent prognostic factors were also identified.

Early childhood general anesthesia and risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between early childhood exposure to general anesthesia (GA) and the risk of developing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is still uncertain and previous studies have presented conflicting results. This population-based cohort study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between GA exposure and ADHD risk using propensity score matching (PSM) in a large sample size. METHODS: The study included 15,072 children aged 0-3 years who received GA and were hospitalized for more than 1 day in Taiwan from 2004 to 2014. The nonexposed group was randomly selected through 1:1 PSM from the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database (TMCHD). The primary objectives of this study were to determine the incidence rates (IR) and incidence rate ratios (IRR) of ADHD in the two cohorts, employing Poisson regression models. RESULTS: The GA group and non-GA group each comprised 7,536 patients. The IR of ADHD was higher in the GA group (122.45 per 10,000 person-years) than in the non-GA group (64.15 per 10,000 person-years), and the IRR of ADHD in the GA group was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.55). The study found that the number of times of exposure to GA, duration of exposure, male gender, and central nervous system surgery were significant risk factors for ADHD in the future. CONCLUSIONS: This study's findings suggest that there is a significant correlation between early childhood exposure to GA and the risk of developing ADHD, and GA may be an important risk factor for ADHD in children undergoing surgery. The study also identified several risk factors for ADHD, including the number of times of exposure to GA, duration of exposure, male gender, and central nervous system surgery.

Metformin monotherapy versus predominantly older non-metformin antidiabetic medications for cerebrovascular risk in early type 2 diabetes management.

AIM: Choosing the initial treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D) is pivotal, requiring consideration of solid clinical evidence and patient characteristics. Despite metformin's historical preference, its efficacy in preventing cerebrovascular events lacked empirical validation. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between first-line monotherapy (metformin or non-metformin antidiabetic medications) and cerebrovascular complications in patients with T2D without diabetic complications. METHODS: We analysed 9090 patients with T2D without complications who were prescribed either metformin or non-metformin medications as initial therapy. Propensity score matching ensured group comparability. Cox regression analyses, stratified by initial metformin use, assessed cerebrovascular disease risk, adjusting for multiple covariates and using competing risk analysis. Metformin exposure was measured using cumulative defined daily doses. RESULTS: Metformin users had a significantly lower crude incidence of cerebrovascular diseases compared with non-users (p < .0001). Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) consistently showed an association between metformin use and a lower risk of overall cerebrovascular diseases (aHRs: 0.67-0.69) and severe events (aHRs: 0.67-0.69). The association with reduced risk of mild cerebrovascular diseases was significant across all models (aHRs: 0.73-0.74). Higher cumulative defined daily doses of metformin correlated with reduced cerebrovascular risk (incidence rate ratio: 0.62-0.94, p < .0001), indicating a dose-dependent effect. CONCLUSION: Metformin monotherapy is associated with a reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases in early-stage T2D, highlighting its dose-dependent efficacy. However, the observed benefits might also be influenced by baseline differences and the increased risks associated with other medications, such as sulphonylureas. These findings emphasize the need for personalized diabetes management, particularly in mitigating cerebrovascular risk in early T2D stages.

Improved postoperative outcomes in pediatric major surgery: evidence from hospital volume analysis.

This study aimed to examine the association between hospital volume and postoperative outcomes in pediatric major surgery using a nationwide database. The study included pediatric patients who underwent first major elective inpatient surgery and hospitalization for more than 1 day. The results showed no significant difference in the risk of 30-day postoperative mortality based on hospital volume. However, patients in the middle- and high-volume groups had significantly lower rates of 30-day major complications, particularly deep wound infection. In terms of 90-day postoperative outcomes, patients in the high-volume group had a significantly lower risk of mortality and lower rates of major complications, particularly deep wound infection, pneumonia, and septicemia.  Conclusions: The study suggests that pediatric patients undergoing major surgery in high and middle-volume groups have better outcomes in terms of major complications compared to the low-volume group. What is Known: • Limited evidence exists on the connection between hospital volume and pediatric surgery outcomes. What is New: • A Taiwan-based study, using national data, found that high and middle hospital-volume groups experienced significantly lower rates of major complications within 30 and 90 days after surgery. • High-volume hospitals demonstrated a substantial decrease in the risk of 90-day postoperative mortality. • The study underscores the importance of specialized pediatric surgical centers and advocates for clear guidelines for hospital selection, potentially improving outcomes and informing future health policies.

Adverse postoperative outcomes in elderly patients with sarcopenia.

PURPOSE: No study has compared 30-day and 90-day adverse postoperative outcomes between old-age patients with and those without sarcopenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We categorize elderly patients receiving major surgery into two groups according to the presence or absence of preoperative sarcopenia that were matched at a 1:4 ratio through propensity score matching (PSM). We analyzed 30-day or 90-day adverse postoperative outcomes and mortality in patients with and without sarcopenia receiving major surgery. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the patients with preoperative sarcopenia were at significantly higher risk of 30-day postoperative mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]. = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI]. = 1.03-1.52) and 30-day major complications such as postoperative pneumonia (aOR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.00-1.40), postoperative bleeding (aOR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.04-4.57), septicemia (aOR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.03-1.66), and overall complications (aOR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.00-1.46). In addition, surgical patients with sarcopenia were at significantly higher risk of 90-day postoperative mortality (aOR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.29-1.74) and 90-day major complications such as pneumonia (aOR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.10-1.47), postoperative bleeding (aOR = 1.90; 95% CI = 1.04-3.48), septicemia (aOR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.28-1.82), and overall complications (aOR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.08-1.42). CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for 30-day and 90-day adverse postoperative outcomes such as pneumonia, postoperative bleeding, and septicemia and increases 30-day and 90-day postoperative mortality among patients receiving major surgery. No study has compared 30-day and 90-day adverse postoperative outcomes between patients with and those without sarcopenia. We conducted a propensity score?matched (PSM) population-based cohort study to investigate the adverse postoperative outcomes and mortality in patients undergoing major elective surgery with preoperative sarcopenia versus those without preoperative sarcopenia. We demonstrated that sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for 30-day and 90-day adverse postoperative outcomes, such as postoperative pneumonia, bleeding, septicemia, and mortality after major surgery. Therefore, surgeons and anesthesiologists should attempt to correct preoperative sarcopenia, swallowing function, and respiratory muscle training before elective surgery to reduce postoperative complications that contribute to the decrease in surgical mortality.

Protective Effects of Different Classes, Intensity, Cumulative Dose-Dependent of Statins Against Primary Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effects of different statin classes, intensity, and cumulative dose-dependent against primary ischemic stroke in patients with T2DM. RECENT FINDINGS: The Cox hazards model was used to evaluate statin use on primary ischemic stroke. Case group: T2DM patients who received statins; control group: T2DM patients who received no statins during the follow-up. Adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for primary ischemic stroke was 0.45 (95% CI: 0.44 to 0.46). Cox regression analysis showed significant reductions in primary ischemic stroke incidence in users of different statin classes. Corresponding aHRs (95% CI) were 0.09 to 0.79 for pitavastatin, rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, and lovastatin. Multivariate analyses indicated significant reductions in primary ischemic stroke incidence for patients who received different cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) per year (cDDD-year). Corresponding aHRs (95% CI) were 0.17 to 0.77 for quartiles 4 to 1 of cDDD-years, respectively (P for trend < .0001). Optimal intensity daily dose of statin use was 0.89 DDD with the lowest aHR of primary ischemic stroke compared with other DDDs. Persistent statin use reduces the risk of primary ischemic stroke in T2DM patients. Higher cDDD-year values are associated with higher reductions in primary ischemic stroke risk in T2DM patients.

Protective effects of statins on the incidence of NAFLD-related decompensated cirrhosis in T2DM.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and poses a significant threat to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic dysregulation. Statins exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antithrombotic effects that target mechanisms underlying NAFLD. However, the protective effects of the different doses, intensities and types of statins on the incidence of NAFLD-related decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC) in patients with T2DM remain unclear. METHODS: This study used the data of patients with T2DM who were non-HBV and non-HCV carriers from a national population database to examine the protective effects of statin use on DLC incidence through propensity score matching. The incidence rate (IR) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of DLC in patients with T2DM with or without statin use were calculated. RESULTS: A higher cumulative dose and specific types of statins, namely rosuvastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin and fluvastatin, reduced the risk of DLC in patients with T2DM. Statin use was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of DLC (HR: .65, 95% CI: .61-.70). The optimal daily intensity of statin use with the lowest risk of DLC was .88 defined daily dose (DDD). CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed the protective effects of specific types of statins on DLC risk in patients with T2DM and indicated a dose-response relationship. Additional studies are warranted to understand the specific mechanisms of action of different types of statins and their effect on DLC risk in patients with T2DM.

Long-term outcomes of statin dose, class, and use intensity on primary prevention of cardiovascular mortality: a national T2DM cohort study.

PURPOSE: To investigate how statins reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in a dose-, class-, and use intensity-dependent manner. METHODS: We used an inverse probability of treatment-weighted Cox hazards model, with statin use status as a time-dependent variable, to estimate the effects of statin use on cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: Adjusted hazard ratio [aHR; 95% confidence interval (CI)] for cardiovascular mortality was 0.41 (0.39-0.42). Compared with nonusers, pitavastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, fluvastatin, and lovastatin users demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality [aHRs (95% CIs) = 0.11 (0.06, 0.22), 0.35 (0.32, 0.39), 0.36 (0.34, 0.38), 0.39 (0.36, 0.41), 0.42 (0.40, 0.44), 0.46 (0.43, 0.49), and 0.52 (0.48, 0.56), respectively]. In Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 of cDDD-year, our multivariate analysis demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality [aHRs (95% CIs) = 0.63 (0.6, 0.65), 0.44 (0.42, 0.46), 0.33 (0.31, 0.35), and 0.17 (0.16, 0.19), respectively; P for trend < 0.0001]. The optimal statin dose daily was 0.86 DDD, with the lowest aHR for cardiovascular mortality of 0.43. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent statin use can reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients with T2DM; in particular, the higher is the cDDD-year of statin, the lower is the cardiovascular mortality. The optimal statin dose daily was 0.86 DDD. The priority of protective effects on mortality are pitavastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, fluvastatin, and lovastatin for the statin users compared with non-statin users.

Dementia risk amongst older adults with hip fracture receiving general anaesthesia or regional anaesthesia: a propensity-score-matched population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies have indicated that anaesthesia is an independent risk factor for dementia, but the clinical associations between dementia and different types of general anaesthesia or regional anaesthesia remain unclear. We conducted a population-based cohort study using propensity-score matching to compare dementia incidence in patients included in the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database who received various anaesthetic types for hip fracture surgery. METHODS: Patients aged ≥65 yr who received elective hip fracture surgery from 2002 to 2019 were divided into three groups receiving either inhalational anaesthesia (GA), total intravenous anaesthesia-general anaesthesia (TIVA-GA), or regional anaesthesia (RA), and matched in a 1:1 ratio. The incidence rates of dementia were then determined. RESULTS: Propensity-score matching yielded 89 338 patients in each group (N=268 014). Dementia incidence rates in the inhalational GA, TIVA-GA, and RA groups were 4821, 3400, and 2692 per 100 000 person-years, respectively. The dementia incidence rate ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) for inhalational GA to TIVA-GA was 1.19 (1.14-1.25), for inhalational GA to RA was 1.51 (1.15-1.66), and for TIVA-GA to RA was 1.28 (1.09-1.51). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate ratios of dementia amongst older adults undergoing hip fracture surgery were higher for those receiving general anaesthesia than for those receiving regional anaesthesia, with inhalational anaesthesia associated with a higher incidence rate ratio for dementia than total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA).

Prevalence of and relevant factors for depression and anxiety symptoms among pregnant women on the eastern seaboard of China in the post-COVID-19 era: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal depression and anxiety symptoms may have negative consequences for both mothers and offspring, and upward trends in the prevalence of these symptoms were especially apparent during the COVID-19 epidemic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of and relevant factors influencing depressive and anxiety symptoms in Chinese pregnant women in the post-COVID-19 era. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of 1,963 pregnant women in Jiangsu Province, using a cross-sectional design, and collected their general demographic data. The nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) was used to evaluate depression symptoms, and the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) was used to measure anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: The prevalence of reported antenatal depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and depression combined with anxiety symptoms was 25.2%, 27.9%, and 18.6%, respectively. Of the respondents, the prevalence of moderate to severe depression, and anxiety was 7.9% and 7.7%, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age, low level of education, rural area, unemployment, pregnancy complications, poor marital relationship, and fair household income were positively association with both depressive and anxiety symptoms (all P < 0.05). The proportion of women reporting anxiety symptoms in the third trimester was 1.91-fold higher than in first trimester. Parity was a relevant factor for depression and anxiety symptoms (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the post-COVID-19 era, the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in pregnant women was higher than expected, and it is vital to establish hospital, community, and family psychological health screening systems based on relevant factors and enhance early preventive measures.

Survival effect of pretreatment FDG-PET-CT on nasopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Accurate staging is the first step for optimal treatment selection in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this propensity-score-matched, population-based cohort study, we investigated the survival effects of pretreatment 8-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18FDG-PET-CT) on patients with NPC. METHODS: We included patients with stage I-IVA NPC receiving radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy and categorized them into two 1:1 propensity score-matched groups according to whether or not they underwent pretreatment 18FDG-PET-CT and compared their outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 10,756 patients, propensity score matching yielded 4366 patients in each group. According to multivariable Cox regression analyses, the most prominent correlation between pretreatment 18FDG-PET-CT and all-cause death was observed in patients with stage II NPC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-0.90; P = .0433), followed by patients with stage III NPC (aHR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94; P = .0071) and patients with stage IVA NPC (aHR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.97; P = .0091). This association was not significant in patients with stage I NPC (aHR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.75-1.93; P = .4426). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment 18FDG-PET-CT is associated with longer survival in patients with clinical stage II-IVA NPC but not in stage I NPC.

Chronic pain following elective surgery under general anesthesia in older adults.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between age and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) in patients who underwent elective surgery under general anesthesia, with a focus on long-term postsurgical analgesic use. To our knowledge, no previous study has examined this relationship in detail between older and younger patients. METHODS: We conducted a propensity score-matched (PSM) study to compare the rates of long-term (3 or 6 months) postoperative analgesic use between older adult (≥ 65 years) and younger (< 65 years) patients. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the use of analgesics as a surrogate indicator of CPSP. RESULTS: The PSM analysis included 62,784 surgical patients (31,392 in each group). Three months after surgery, the rates of analgesic use were significantly higher in the older age group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-1.49) as well as for opioid use specifically (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.29-1.39). Six months after surgery, the rates of analgesic use remained higher in the older age group (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.47-1.58), and similarly for opioid use specifically (aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.36-1.48). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that older adults have higher rates of long-term analgesic use for CPSP after elective surgery under general anesthesia. This study highlights the importance of addressing CPSP in older adult patients and considering age-related factors when managing postoperative pain.

Use of Preoperative FDG PET/CT and Survival of Patients with Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background The added value of preoperative PET/CT for the overall survival of patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. Purpose To investigate the association of the use of preoperative PET/CT on survival of patients with resectable stage I-IIIB NSCLC. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, patients with resectable stage I-IIIB NSCLC who underwent thoracic surgery from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018, from the Taiwan Cancer Registry were included. The last follow-up date was December 31, 2019. Patients were categorized into two groups according to whether they underwent preoperative metabolic imaging with fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT. Patients who did not undergo preoperative imaging were used as the control group. The primary outcome of interest was all-cause mortality. Patients in both groups were propensity score matched at a ratio of 1:1. Matching variables used were sex, age, histologic findings, American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage, cT stage, cN stage, current and past smoker history, adjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant chemoradiation, Charlson comorbidity index, and hospital type. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Results In the matched cohort, 6754 patients (3349 men, mean age ± SD: 64 years ± 11) underwent PET/CT and 6754 did not (3362 men, mean age: 64 years ± 11). In adjusted analysis, patients with stage IIIA or IIIB NSCLC and preoperative PET/CT had a lower risk of death versus those without PET/CT (for stage IIIA: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.90 [95% CI: 0.79, 0.94], P = .02; for stage IIIB: HR = 0.80 [95% CI: 0.71, 0.90], P < .01). There was no improvement in a lower risk of death for patients with stage I-II NSCLC (after multivariable adjustment, the HR was 1.19 [95% CI: 0.89, 1.30], P = .65). Conclusion Use of preoperative PET/CT was associated with lower risk of death in patients with stage IIIA-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer compared with those without preoperative PET/CT. © RSNA, 2022 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Effect of Preexisting Sarcopenia on Acute and Late Postoperative Pneumonia Among Patients With Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Whether preexisting sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for postoperative pneumonia (POP) for patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a propensity score-matched population-based cohort study to compare the risk of acute and late POP for patients with sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic OCSCC who underwent curative surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included patients with OCSCC who underwent curative surgery and categorized them into 2 groups depending on whether they had preexisting sarcopenia. The patients in the sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic groups were matched at a ratio of 2:1. RESULTS: The matching process yielded 16,257 patients (10,822 without sarcopenia and 5,435 with sarcopenia). In multivariate Cox regression analyses, the adjusted hazard ratio of POP for the group with OCSCC with preexisting sarcopenia was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.14-1.26; P<.0001) compared with the nonsarcopenic group. Among the patients with OCSCC who received curative surgery, those in the sarcopenic group exhibited a higher POP risk than those in the nonsarcopenic group for the following postoperative time periods: 31st to 90th day, 91st day to first year, first to second year, second to third year, third to fourth year, and fourth to fifth year. CONCLUSIONS: The high incidence of pneumonia persists for a long time in patients with OCSCC who receive curative surgery; this high incidence may even persist for 5 years after surgery, especially in patients with sarcopenia. For susceptible patients who are at risk for OCSCC, sarcopenia prevention measures (eg, exercise and early nutrition intervention) should be implemented.

Driving effects and transfer prediction of heavy metal(loid)s in contaminated courtyard gardens using redundancy analysis and multilayer perceptron.

The distribution and migration of heavy metal(loid)s in the soil-vegetable systems of courtyard gardens near mining areas have rarely been investigated, leading to potential food safety risks for residents. Moreover, the existing research is mainly focused on the total content of heavy metal(loid)s (tMetals) rather than the bioavailable contents (aMetals). In this study, 26 and 28 pairs of soil and vegetable samples were collected from the courtyard gardens near the Realgar mine in Baiyun Town and the lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) mine in Shuikoushan Town, respectively. The tMetal and aMetal of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), Pb, chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), Zn, manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca) in the samples were analyzed in this study. The results showed that courtyard gardens were polluted by various heavy metal(loid)s at varying degrees. The bioavailabilities of different metals varied significantly, among which Cd has the highest bioavailability (> 30%). In the transfer process of heavy metal(loid)s, the transfer rate (Tf) was ranked as soil-roots (1.50) > stems-leaves (1.07) > roots-stems (0.46) > stems-fruits (0.33). Redundancy analysis was used to evaluate the driving effects, and the results revealed that aCa, aZn, and aFe in soil could inhibit the absorption of aCd by plant roots. Soil organic matter was the inhibiting factor regarding the transfer of aAs and aCu, whereas it was also the promoting factor for transferring aPb, aNi, and aCr. Furthermore, the multilayer perceptron (MLP) could effectively predict the Tf of heavy metal(loid)s based on the aMetal. The R2 values of the MLP were ranked as follows: 0.91 for As, 0.88 for Zn, 0.85 for Hg, 0.83 for Cu, 0.79 for Cr, 0.66 for Cd, 0.65 for Pb, and 0.52 for Ni. This study emphasizes the aMetal-based ecological characteristics and prediction ability. The study results are significant for guiding residents to strategize appropriate crop planting and ensure the safe production and consumption of vegetables.

Preterm birth trend in Taiwan from 2001 to 2009.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the trends and risk factors of preterm birth from all the women who delivered during 2001-2009 in Taiwan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the preterm birth rates, the proportions of obstetric antecedents and risk factors in the population of pregnant women and neonatal Apgar scores according to the National Medical Birth Register database from 2001 to 2009. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals for risk factors of preterm birth were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. The obstetric antecedents of preterm birth for singletons were stratified by spontaneous preterm labor and indicated preterm delivery (labor induction or elective cesarean delivery). RESULTS: The preterm birth rate was 8.56% with the majority (89.76%) delivered between 32 and 37 weeks of gestation. A 0.07% annual increase (P < 0.001) in preterm delivery was observed. The greatest risk factors were multiple pregnancies (OR > 20), followed by medical complications (OR > 2.8), congenital malformations (OR > 2), teen pregnancies (OR > 1), and advanced maternal age (OR > 1). Specifically, singleton preterm births comprised 57.3% spontaneous labor and 42.7% indicated delivery. There was a 0.5% annual increase (P < 0.001) in indicated delivery. Incidence of neonates with poor Apgar scores (<7) was significantly different between those with and without medical complications (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The preterm birth rate increased significantly from 2001 to 2009 and multiple pregnancies were the most important contributing factor. Most of the singleton preterm births resulted from spontaneous labor, but the proportion of indicated deliveries increased.

The influence of advanced age on long-term postsurgical analgesic use in patients receiving neuraxial anaesthesia for elective surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between age and long-term postsurgical analgesic use in patients who underwent elective surgery with neuraxial anaesthesia. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from 2015 to 2019. SETTING: National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. PATIENTS: A total of 12,810 patients (6405 younger and 6405 older) matched using propensity score matching. INTERVENTIONS: Older (≥65 years). MEASUREMENTS: The use of long-term (3 or 6 months) postoperative analgesics, including opioids, as a surrogate marker of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) was analysed using logistic regression. MAIN RESULTS: After 3 months of surgery, older adults had higher use of all analgesics (odds ratio [OR] = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.03-1.28) and opioids (OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.09-1.28) compared to younger patients. Similar results were observed after 6 months of surgery (all analgesic use: OR = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.03-1.20; opioid use: OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.07-1.81). CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest that older adults are more likely to experience CPSP and have increased use of long-term analgesics, including opioids, after undergoing elective surgery with neuraxial anaesthesia. The study highlights the need for improved pain management strategies for older adults after surgery. SIGNIFICANCE: Older age is an independent risk factor for long-term analgesic use after surgery under neuraxial anaesthesiaanesthesia, indicating an increased risk for chronic postsurgical pain.

Sarcopenia and diabetes-induced dementia risk.

This study aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia independently increases the risk of diabetes-induced dementia in elderly individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study cohort consisted of a large sample of elderly individuals aged 60 years and above, who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus between 2008 and 2018. To minimize potential bias and achieve covariate balance between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups, we employed propensity score matching. Various statistical analyses, including Cox regression models to assess dementia risk and associations, competing risk analysis to account for mortality and Poisson regression analysis for incidence rates, were used. Before propensity score matching, the study included 406 573 elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, with 20 674 in the sarcopenia group. Following propensity score matching, the analysis included a total of 41 294 individuals, with 20 647 in the sarcopenia group and 20 647 in the non-sarcopenia group. Prior to propensity score matching, elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with sarcopenia exhibited a significantly higher risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.17). After propensity score matching, the risk remained significant (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.21). Incidence rates of dementia were notably higher in the sarcopenia group both before and after propensity score matching, underscoring the importance of sarcopenia as an independent risk factor. Our study highlights sarcopenia as an independent risk factor for diabetes-induced dementia in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Advanced age, female gender, lower income levels, rural residency, higher adapted diabetes complication severity index and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores and various comorbidities were associated with increased dementia risk. Notably, the use of statins was linked to a reduced risk of dementia. This research underscores the need to identify and address modifiable risk factors for dementia in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions and healthcare policies.

Protective Effects Against Dementia Undergo Different Statin Type, Intensity, and Cumulative Dose in Older Adult Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between statin use and dementia risk in older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). It also assessed the impact of various statin types, dosage intensity, and cumulative doses on dementia risk. DESIGN: Employing the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) Cox hazards model, this research explored the influence of statin utilization on dementia incidence. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study included older adult T2DM patients aged 60 years or older who received statins (case group) and those who did not (control group) during the follow-up period. METHODS: The IPTW Cox hazards model quantified the association between statin use and dementia incidence. Subgroup analyses investigated different statin types, usage intensity, and cumulative dose-dependent relationships with dementia risk, measured by adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with corresponding 95% CIs. RESULTS: Statin users experienced a significant reduction in dementia risk (aHR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.46-0.48). Subgroup analysis using IPTW Cox regression revealed varying dementia incidence reductions among users of different statin types, with aHRs (95% CIs) ranging from 0.09 to 0.69. Multivariate analyses unveiled a dose-dependent relationship, showing reduced dementia incidence based on cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) per year. The corresponding aHRs (95% CIs) were 0.20 to 0.72 across quartiles 4 to 1 of cDDD-years, with a significant trend (P < .001). The optimal daily statin use was 0.88 defined daily doses (DDDs), associated with the lowest dementia risk. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Statins significantly reduced dementia risk in older adult T2DM patients. Higher cumulative defined daily doses (cDDD-years) were linked to more substantial risk reductions. This research underscores the clinical benefits of statin use in preventing dementia in this population and calls for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms. It also raises the possibility of influencing policy decisions to manage dementia risk in this vulnerable group.