The association between body mass index and osteoporosis in a Taiwanese population: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

This study investigates the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and osteoporosis utilizing data from the Taiwan Biobank. Initially, a comprehensive analysis of 119,009 participants enrolled from 2008 to 2019 was conducted to assess the association between BMI and osteoporosis prevalence. Subsequently, a longitudinal cohort of 24,507 participants, initially free from osteoporosis, underwent regular follow-ups every 2-4 years to analyze the risk of osteoporosis development, which was a subset of the main cohort. Participants were categorized into four BMI groups: underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m2), overweight (24 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 27 kg/m2), and obese groups (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2). A T-score ≤ - 2.5 standard deviations below that of a young adult was defined as osteoporosis. Overall, 556 (14.1%), 5332 (9.1%), 2600 (8.1%) and 1620 (6.7%) of the participants in the underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese groups, respectively, had osteoporosis. A higher prevalence of osteoporosis was noted in the underweight group compared with the normal weight group (odds ratio [OR], 2.20; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.99 to 2.43; p value < 0.001) in multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, in the longitudinal cohort during a mean follow-up of 47 months, incident osteoporosis was found in 61 (9%), 881 (7.2%), 401 (5.8%) and 213 (4.6%) participants in the underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese groups, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that the risk of incident osteoporosis was higher in the underweight group than in the normal weight group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.63; 95% CI 1.26 to 2.12; p value < 0.001). Our results suggest that BMI is associated with both the prevalence and the incidence of osteoporosis. In addition, underweight is an independent risk factor for developing osteoporosis. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining normal weight for optimal bone health.

Secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Smoking is the most important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), however evidence from large-scale studies on whether secondhand smoke (SHS) increases the risk of COPD is still lacking. We conducted this large longitudinal study to investigate the association between SHS and the development of COPD. This is a longitudinal study. Data on 6519 subjects who were never-smokers, had no history of COPD, and had complete lung function records were extracted from the Taiwan Biobank. They were divided into two groups according to SHS exposure: no exposure and exposure groups. Data were collected when participants enrolled in the study and during regular follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between SHS and the risk of developing COPD. At 48 months of follow-up, 260 (4%) participants in the no exposure group and 34 (7%) participants in the exposure group developed COPD. The RR of incident COPD development was significantly higher in the exposure group than that in the no exposure group after adjusting for confounders (RR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.14; P value = 0.031). There is a dose-response relationship between the duration of exposure to SHS and the risk of incident COPD, which demonstrates that an additional hour of exposure to SHS per week was associated with a 1.03-fold increased likelihood of developing COPD after adjusting for confounders (RR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.05; P value = 0.027). SHS exposure contributes to the development of COPD. This finding can help raise awareness of the harms of SHS and provide a reference for formulating anti-smoking policies.

Identifying the role of MTHFD1L in prostate cancer progression from genetic analysis and experimental validation.

One-carbon metabolism plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis as it supplies the one-carbon units necessary for nucleotide synthesis, epigenetic regulation, and redox metabolism, ensuring the rapid proliferation of cancer cells. However, their roles in prostate cancer progression remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the association between genetic variants in the one-carbon metabolism pathway and clinical outcomes in patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. The associations of 130 single-nucleotide polymorphisms located within 14 genes involved in the one-carbon metabolism pathway with cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival, and progression-free survival were assessed using Cox regression in 630 patients with prostate cancer. Subsequently, functional studies were performed using prostate cancer cell lines. After adjusting for covariates and multiple testing, MTHFD1L rs2073190 was found to be significantly associated with CSS (P = 0.000184). Further pooled analysis of multiple datasets demonstrated that MTHFD1L was upregulated in prostate cancer and increased MTHFD1L expression was positively correlated with tumor aggressiveness and poor patient prognosis. Functionally, MTHFD1L knockdown suppressed prostate cancer cell proliferation and colony formation. RNA sequencing and pathway analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were predominantly enriched in the cell cycle pathway. In conclusion, genetic variants in MTHFD1L of one-carbon metabolism may serve as promising predictors, and our findings offer valuable insights into the underlying genetic mechanisms of prostate cancer progression.

Integrated analysis identifies GABRB3 as a biomarker in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Treatment failure following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) presents a significant challenge in the management of advanced prostate cancer. Thus, understanding the genetic factors influencing this process could facilitate the development of personalized treatments and innovative therapeutic strategies. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in controlling cell growth and tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that genetic variants within this pathway may affect the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing ADT for prostate cancer. METHODS: We genotyped 399 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 28 core PI3K/AKT pathway genes in a cohort of 630 patients with prostate cancer undergoing ADT. We assessed the potential association of the SNPs with patient survival. Functional analyses of the implicated genes were also performed to evaluate their effects on prostate cancer. RESULTS: After multivariate Cox regression analysis and multiple testing correction, GABRB3 rs12591845 exhibited the most significant association with both overall and cancer-specific survivals (P < 0.003). A comprehensive pooled analysis of 16 independent gene expression datasets revealed elevated expression of GABRB3 in prostate cancer tissues compared to that in normal tissues (P < 0.001). Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis unveiled differential enrichment of pathways such as myogenesis, interferon γ and α responses, and the MYC proto-oncogene pathway in tumors with elevated GABRB3 expression, implying a role for GABRB3 in prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that rs12591845 could potentially serve as a valuable prognostic indicator for patients undergoing ADT. The potential role of GABRB3 in promoting prostate tumorigenesis is also highlighted.

The association between alcohol, betel nut, and cigarette use with hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may cause chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It has been reported to associate with habits including alcohol, betel nut and cigarette use. We aimed to investigate the association between alcohol, betel nut, and cigarette use with HCV infection in Taiwan and to explore their effects. A total of 121,421 participants were enrolled from the Taiwan Biobank. They were stratified into two groups according to whether they had (n = 2750; 2.3%) or did not have (n = 118,671; 97.7%) HCV infection. All participants were also classified into four groups according to the number of habits, including a history of alcohol drinking, betel nut chewing, and cigarette smoking. There were 85,406 (no habit), 24,299 (one habit), 8659 (two habits), and 3057 (three habits) participants in the four groups, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that the participants who had an alcohol drinking history (odds ratio [OR] 1.568; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.388-1.773; p < 0.001), betel nut chewing history (OR 1.664; 95% CI 1.445-1.917; p < 0.001), cigarette smoking history (OR 1.387; 95% CI 1.254-1.535; p < 0.001), were significantly associated with HCV infection. Furthermore, the participants were classified into four groups according to the number of habits as follows: 85,406 (no habit), 24,299 (one habit), 8659 (two habits), and 3057 (three habits). The HCV infection rates in these four groups were 2.11%, 2.14%, 3.23%, and 4.78%, respectively. Compared to the participants with no or one habit, those with two habits had a higher HCV infection rate (all p < 0.001). In addition, compared to the participants who had no, one or two habits, those who had three habits also had higher HCV infection rates (all p < 0.001). The participants who had three habits had the highest prevalence of HCV infection. In an era when most HCV can be cured, understanding the epidemiology link between habits and HCV may help the case finding.

Penile squamous cell carcinoma originating from a silicone granuloma.

Penile enlargement has been a controversial issue throughout history. We presented a patient who had undergone a procedure involving the injection of subcutaneous liquid silicone over the penile shaft four years prior. He developed long-term negative consequences from inflammatory granulomas. The patient's condition worsened over time, causing pain and impairing his sexual function. Eventually, he was diagnosed with penile SCC caused by chronic inflammation. Although it is rare, it is important to be aware of this probability because, compared to penile granuloma resection for symptom relief, penile SCC requires a comprehensive survey and more aggressive surgical intervention.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is an early predictor for testosterone deficiency in aging men without metabolic syndrome.

Background and aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a valuable marker for identifying individuals at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction, liver-related complications, and cardiovascular disease. However, the association between MAFLD and testosterone deficiency (TD) in aging men remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between MAFLD and the risk of TD in aging Taiwanese men, with a specific focus on those without metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: A free health screening program was conducted for Taiwanese men aged over 40 years in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Participants underwent physical examinations, completed questionnaires regarding demographics, medical history, and clinical symptoms of TD, and provided 20-mL whole blood samples for biochemical, adipocytokine, and hormonal evaluations. Fatty liver index was used to evaluate the risk of fatty liver. Diagnostic criteria for MAFLD included fatty liver along with overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes, or evidence of metabolic dysregulation. Results: A total of 631 men (mean age: 54.4 ± 8.4 years) were enrolled. The prevalence rates of TD and MetS were significantly higher in men with MAFLD compared to those without (both p < 0.001). Additionally, the presence of MAFLD showed a significant correlation with adipocytokines associated with insulin resistance, such as adiponectin, leptin, and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) levels (all p < 0.001). Among men without MetS, those with MAFLD had a 3.89- and 4.74-fold higher risk of total testosterone < 300 ng/dL and TD, respectively, after adjusting for potential covariates. Conclusion: MAFLD is associated with an elevated risk of TD in aging Taiwanese men, particularly in the absence of MetS. This finding suggests that MAFLD could serve as an early predictor of TD, facilitating the identification of high-risk individuals and enabling timely interventions. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms linking MAFLD, TD, and MetS in diverse populations.

CYBA as a Potential Biomarker for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Evidence from an Integrated Genetic Analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Oxidative stress plays an important role in various pathogenic processes, and disruption in the coordinated production of NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived reactive oxygen species has been associated with carcinogenesis. However, little is known about whether genetic variants in NOX can contribute to the development of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by analysing the association of 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the phagocyte NOX genes, CYBA and CYBB, with RCC risk and tumour characteristics in 630 RCC patients and controls. Differential gene expression and patient prognosis analyses were performed using gene expression data obtained from public databases. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis and multiple testing corrections revealed the A allele of rs7195830 in CYBA to be a significant risk allele for RCC, compared to the G allele [odds ratio (OR)=1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.27-2.26, p<0.001]. A pooled analysis of 17 renal cancer gene expression datasets revealed a higher CYBA expression in RCC than in normal tissues. Moreover, high CYBA expression was associated with advanced tumour characteristics and worse patient prognosis. CONCLUSION: CYBA might play an oncogenic role in RCC and serve as a predictive indicator of patient prognosis.

Association between Menopause, Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and Metabolic Syndrome.

(1) Background: We aimed to explore the associations between menopause, postmenopausal hormone therapy, and metabolic syndrome in a large community-based group of Asian women. (2) Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which we enrolled women aged 30 to 70 years with sufficient information about menopausal status from the Taiwan Biobank. The definition for metabolic syndrome used in this study aligns with the Bureau of Health Promotion's (Taiwan) proposed definition. (3) Results: A total of 17,460 women were recruited. The postmenopausal group had a higher metabolic syndrome prevalence (30% vs. 14%) and 1.17 times higher odds ratio (OR) than the premenopausal group (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02 to 1.33). Regarding the types of menopause, surgical menopause was associated with metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.20 to 1.63); however, natural menopause was not associated with metabolic syndrome. Interestingly, postmenopausal hormone therapy was associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome in the women with natural menopause (OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.70 to 0.89), but not in those with surgical menopause. (4) Conclusions: Our results suggest that menopause is associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome, while postmenopausal hormone therapy is associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women with natural menopause.

The impact of secondhand smoke on the development of kidney stone disease is not inferior to that of smoking: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use and secondhand smoke (SHS) are risk factors of kidney stone disease (KSD). The hypothesis is that tobacco produces chemicals that increase oxidative stress and vasopressin, which leads to decreased urine output, and contributes to stone formation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of smoking and SHS on the development of KSD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed a total of 25,256 volunteers with no history of KSD participated in the Taiwan Biobank. The presence of underlying and follow-up KSD was surveyed by a self-administrated questionnaire. They were classified into three groups on the basis of smoking and SHS exposure, accessed with survey questionnaires; never-smokers with no SHS exposure, never-smokers with SHS exposure and ever-smokers groups. RESULTS: KSD was noted in 352 (2.0%), 50 (3.3%) and 240 (4.1%) subjects in the never-smokers with no SHS exposure, never-smokers with SHS exposure and ever-smokers groups, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 4 years. The odds ratio (OR) of KSD was higher in the never-smokers with SHS exposure (OR, 1.622; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.225 to 2.255) and ever-smokers groups (OR, 1.282; 95% CI, 1.044 to 1.574) than in the never-smokers with no SHS exposure group after adjustment of confounders. In addition, never-smokers with SHS exposure had similar effects on the development of KSD than ever-smokers (OR, 1.223; 95% CI, 0.852 to 1.756). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that both smoking and SHS are a risk factor for developing KSD and that the impact of SHS is not inferior to that of smoking. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUHIRB-E(I)-20,210,058).

Sex difference in the associations among risk factors with depression in a large Taiwanese population study.

Background: Depression is a common psychiatric health issue affecting an estimated 5% of adults worldwide, and it can lead to disability and increased economic burden. Consequently, identifying the factors associated with depression as early as possible is a vital issue. The aim of this study was to explore these associations in a large cohort of 121,601 Taiwanese participants in the Taiwan Biobank, and also to identify sex differences in the associations. Methods: The study cohort included 77,902 women and 43,699 men (mean age, 49.9 ± 11.0 years), who were further classified into those with depression (n = 4,362; 3.6%) and those without depression (n = 117,239; 96.4%). Results: The results of multivariable analysis showed that female sex (vs. male sex; odds ratio = 2.578; 95% confidence interval = 2.319-2.866; p < 0.001) was significantly associated with depression. Older age, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, low systolic blood pressure (SBP), smoking history, living alone, low glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high triglycerides, and low uric acid were significantly associated with depression in the men. In the women, older age, DM, hypertension, low SBP, smoking history, alcohol history, education level of middle and high school (vs. lower than elementary school), living alone, high body mass index (BMI), menopause, low HbA1c, high triglycerides, high total cholesterol, low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and low uric acid were significantly associated with depression. Further, there were significant interactions between sex and DM (p = 0.047), smoking history (p < 0.001), alcohol use (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.022), triglyceride (p = 0.033), eGFR (p = 0.001), and uric acid (p = 0.004) on depression. Conclusion: In conclusion, our results showed sex differences in depression, and the women were significantly associated with depression compared to men. Furthermore, we also found sex differences among the risk factors associated with depression.

ATP8B1: A prognostic prostate cancer biomarker identified via genetic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Controlling the asymmetric distribution of phospholipids across biological membranes plays a pivotal role in the life cycle of cells; one of the most important contributors that maintain this lipid asymmetry are phospholipid-transporting adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases). Although sufficient information regarding their association with cancer exists, there is limited evidence linking the genetic variants of phospholipid-transporting ATPase family genes to prostate cancer in humans. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the association of 222 haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in eight phospholipid-transporting ATPase genes with cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) of 630 patients treated with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer. RESULTS: After multivariate Cox regression analysis and multiple testing correction, we found that ATP8B1 rs7239484 was remarkably associated with CSS and OS after ADT. A pooled analysis of multiple independent gene-expression datasets demonstrated that ATP8B1 was under-expressed in tumor tissues and that a higher ATP8B1 expression was associated with a better patient prognosis. Moreover, we established highly invasive sublines using two human prostate cancer cell lines to mimic cancer progression traits in vitro. The expression of ATP8B1 was consistently downregulated in both highly invasive sublines. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that rs7239484 is a prognostic factor for patients treated with ADT and that ATP8B1 can potentially attenuate prostate cancer progression.

The association between menopause, postmenopausal hormone therapy, and kidney stone disease in Taiwanese women.

PURPOSE: The association between menopause, postmenopausal hormone therapy, and kidney stone disease has long been a topic of discussion and is still unclear. Moreover, most previous research has focused on Caucasians. Therefore, we aimed to explore this issue in an Asian population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled female participants aged between 30 and 70 years from the Taiwan Biobank. The presence of kidney stone disease (KSD) was defined through a self-reported questionnaire. The participants were divided into two groups according to the presence of menopause; premenopausal and postmenopausal groups. The associations among menopause, postmenopausal hormone therapy, and KSD were examined using binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 17,460 women with available information were recruited, including 5976 in the premenopausal group and 11,484 in the postmenopausal group. Compared to the premenopausal group, the postmenopausal group had a significantly higher prevalence of KSD (3% vs. 6%). The odds ratio for KSD was higher in the postmenopausal group than in the premenopausal group (odds ratio = 1.50; 95% confidence interval = 1.17-1.92) after adjusting for confounders. We also examined associations between the type of menopause (natural and surgical) and KSD, and found that both types of menopause were associated with KSD in age-adjusted and multivariable models. Compared with those who had never received postmenopausal hormone therapy, those who had received postmenopausal hormone therapy were not associated with a higher risk of KSD. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that natural and surgical menopause were associated with KSD. However, we found no association between the postmenopausal hormone therapy and KSD in the postmenopausal women.

A Genome-Wide Association Study of Metabolic Syndrome in the Taiwanese Population.

The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic factors associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) by conducting a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) in Taiwan, addressing the limited data on Asian populations compared to Western populations. Using data from the Taiwan Biobank, comprehensive clinical and genetic information from 107,230 Taiwanese individuals was analyzed. Genotyping data from the TWB1.0 and TWB2.0 chips, including over 650,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were utilized. Genotype imputation using the 1000 Genomes Project was performed, resulting in more than 9 million SNPs. MetS was defined based on a modified version of the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Among all participants (mean age: 50 years), 23% met the MetS definition. GWAS analysis identified 549 SNPs significantly associated with MetS, collectively mapping to 10 genomic risk loci. Notable risk loci included rs1004558, rs3812316, rs326, rs4486200, rs2954038, rs10830963, rs662799, rs62033400, rs183130, and rs34342646. Gene-set analysis revealed 22 associated genes: CETP, LPL, APOA5, SIK3, ZPR1, APOC1, BUD13, MLXIPL, TOMM40, GCK, YKT6, RPS6KB1, FTO, VMP1, TUBD1, BCL7B, C19orf80 (ANGPTL8), SIDT2, SENP7, PAFAH1B2, DOCK6, and FOXA2. This study identified genomic risk loci for MetS in a large Taiwanese population through a comprehensive GWAS approach. These associations provide novel insights into the genetic basis of MetS and hold promise for the potential discovery of clinical biomarkers.

Sex difference in the associations among risk factors with hepatitis B and C infections in a large Taiwanese population study.

Background: The prevalence rates of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV/HCV) infection are high in Taiwan, and both are common causes of chronic liver disease and its related complications. Therefore, the early detection of factors associated with HBV/HCV infection is important. The aim of this study was to explore these factors in a large cohort of Taiwanese participants in the Taiwan Biobank, and also to identify sex differences in these risk factors. Methods: It was an observational cohort study. The study enrolled 121,421 participants, and divided into four groups according to the presence or absence of HBV or HCV infection. Associations between risk factors with HBV or HCV infection were examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean age of the 121,421 enrolled participants (43,636 men and 77,785 women) was 49.9 ± 11.0 years. The participants were stratified into four groups according to those with (n = 13,804; 11.4%) and without HBV infection (n = 107,617; 88.6%), and those with (n = 2,750; 2.3%) and without HCV infection (n = 118,671; 97.7%). Multivariable analysis revealed that male sex [vs. female sex; odds ratio [OR] = 1.346; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.282-1.414; p < 0.001] was significantly associated with HBV infection, whereas female sex (vs. male sex; OR = 0.642; 95% CI = 0.575-0.716; p < 0.001) was significantly associated with HCV infection. Furthermore, there were significant interactions between sex and age (p < 0.001), body mass index (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.002), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.024), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.012) on HBV infection. There were also significant interactions between sex and age (p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.010), fasting glucose (p = 0.031), and uric acid (p = 0.001) on HCV infection. Conclusion: In conclusion, sex differences were found among the risk factors for HBV and HCV infections in a large cohort of Taiwanese volunteers. When dealing with hepatitis B and hepatitis C, the physicians may need to pay attention to the differences between men and women to do different treatments.

Living alone is associated with a higher prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in a population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Living alone has been linked to poor mental health, however large-scale epidemiological studies on the association between living alone and psychiatric morbidity including depression and anxiety are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate this issue in a large Taiwanese cohort. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 121,601 volunteers from 29 community recruitment stations in Taiwan and divided them into two groups based on whether or not they lived alone. Psychiatric morbidity was defined as a Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item score ≥ 3, Patient Health Questionnaire 2-item score ≥ 3, or self-reported depression. Logistic regression was used to explore the associations between living alone and psychiatric morbidity. Results: The participants who lived alone had a higher prevalence of psychiatric morbidity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.608, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.473 to 1.755] after adjusting for potential confounders. In a subgroup analysis, married subjects who lived alone and divorce/separation (OR = 2.013, 95% CI = 1.763 to 2.299) or widowing (OR = 1.750, 95% CI = 1.373 to 2.229) were more likely to have psychiatric morbidity than those who were married and not living alone. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that living alone is a risk factor for psychiatric morbidity, especially for married subjects who live alone in concordance with divorce, separation, or the death of a spouse.

Chronic kidney disease and its association with cataracts-A cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Introduction: We aim to explore the association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cataracts. Methods: A total of 121,380 participants with adequate information collected from 29 community-based recruitment centers since 2008 were analyzed. The association between CKD and self-reported diagnosed cataracts was examined in a cross-sectional cohort and was validated in a longitudinal cohort of 25,263 participants without cataracts at baseline. Results and discussion: Of all participants, cataracts occurred in 503/1,947 (26%) and 10,464/119,433 (9%) subjects in the CKD and non-CKD groups, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that CKD was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of self-reported diagnosed cataracts. In the validation cohort, a higher incidence of cataracts was also noted in the CKD group (65/317, 21%) compared to the non-CKD group (1,964/24,252, 8%) during a mean 47-month follow-up. After adjusting for confounders, subjects with CKD had a 1.498-fold higher risk of incident cataracts than those without CKD (95% confidence interval = 1.114 to 2.013, p value = 0.007). We found that CKD was associated with a higher prevalence of cataracts as well as incident cataracts, which suggests CKD patients and their primary physicians should be aware of this disease and can provide a clue for further exploration of the possible mechanisms and treatments.

Living alone decreased calcaneus ultrasound T-score in a large Taiwanese population follow-up study.

Background: Osteoporosis is associated with many serious health conditions that have a severely negative impact on quality of life, as well as higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Due to the aging society and low birth rate in Taiwan, an increasing number of people are living alone. This longitudinal study was aimed to assess the relationship between living alone and calcaneus ultrasound T-score in a large cohort in Taiwan. Methods: A total of 118,853 participants enrolled in the Taiwan Biobank since 2008 to 2016, who had complete calcaneus ultrasound examinations were collected in the baseline study. Of these participants, 26,850 received complete follow-up measurements after a median of 4 years. The T-score (g/cm2) of the calcaneus in the non-dominant foot was measured using ultrasound. Changes in the calcaneus ultrasound T-score (ΔT-score) were calculated as follow-up T-score minus baseline T-score. We analyzed these data in 2022. We used multivariable linear regression analysis to investigate correlation between living alone with baseline T-score and ΔT-score. We also carried out separate analyses for men and women. Results: The mean age of the participants was 49.89 ± 10.95 years, and multivariable analysis showed that living alone was significantly correlated to low baseline T-score in whole cohort (ß = -0.040; p = 0.012) and women (ß = -0.055; p = 0.023). Furthermore, living alone (coefficient ß = -0.049; p = 0.048) was significantly correlated to a low ΔT-score after 4 years of follow-up. Conclusion: In this large population-based longitudinal study, living alone may be related to low baseline calcaneus ultrasound T-score and ΔT-score. Adopting long-term community-based care policies to increase the activity of people living alone may help to prevent osteoporosis and decrease the risk of fractures in Taiwan.

Genetic Analysis Implicates Dysregulation of SHANK2 in Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression.

SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains (SHANK) is a family of scaffold proteins that were first identified to be involved in balancing synaptic transmission via regulation of intracellular signalling crosstalk and have been linked to various cancers. However, the role of the SHANK genes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether genetic variants in SHANK family genes affect the risk of RCC and survival of patients. A genetic association study was conducted using logistic regression and Cox regression analyses, followed by the correction for a false discovery rate (FDR), in 630 patients with RCC and controls. A pooled analysis was further performed to summarise the clinical relevance of SHANK gene expression in RCC. After adjustment for known risk factors and the FDR, the SHANK2 rs10792565 T allele was found to be associated with an increased risk of RCC (adjusted odds ratio = 1.79, 95% confidence interval = 1.32-2.44, p = 1.96 × 10-4, q = 0.030), whereas no significant association was found with RCC survival. A pooled analysis of 19 independent studies, comprising 1509 RCC and 414 adjacent normal tissues, showed that the expression of SHANK2 was significantly lower in RCC than in normal tissues (p < 0.001). Furthermore, low expression of SHANK2 was correlated with an advanced stage and poor prognosis for patients with clear cell and papillary RCC. This study suggests that SHANK2 rs10792565 is associated with an increased risk of RCC and that SHANK2 may play a role in RCC progression.

Habitual Tea Consumption and Risk of Cataracts: A Longitudinal Study.

We aimed to investigate the association between habitual tea consumption and the risk of developing cataracts in a large community-based cohort study. We prospectively collected volunteers from 29 recruitment centers that were ≧ 55 years old with no history of cataracts at the beginning of the study. There were 12,080 participants with available information in our study and were divided into two groups according to habitual tea consumption; non-tea-drinking and tea-drinking groups. The mean age was 59 years. Compared to the non-tea-drinking group, the tea-drinking group had a significantly lower incidence of developing cataracts (15.5% vs 12.1%) during follow-up of 46 months. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, the relative risk (RR) of incident cataracts was lower in the tea-drinking group than the non-tea-drinking group (RR = 0.848; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.751 to 0.957). Participants with ≧ 2 cups per day were associated with almost 16% reduction in the risk of developing cataracts compared with the non-tea-drinking group (RR = 0.844; 95% CI = 0.741 to 0.961). Our study suggests that habitual tea consumption can reduce the incidence of cataracts and raises the possibility that the tea content may slow the progression of cataracts.