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Background Although theophylline has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, the therapeutic use of theophylline before sepsis is unknown. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of theophylline on COPD patients presenting with sepsis. Methods This nationwide, population-based, propensity score-matched analysis used data from the linked administrative databases of Taiwan's National Health Insurance program. Patients with COPD who were hospitalized for sepsis between 2000 and 2011 were divided into theophylline users and non-users. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The secondary outcome was in-hospital death, intensive care unit admission, and need for mechanical ventilation. Cox proportional hazard model and conditional logistic regression were used to calculate the risk between groups. Results A propensity score-matched cohort of 51,801 theophylline users and 51,801 non-users was included. Compared with non-users, the 30-day (HR 0.931, 95% CI 0.910–0.953), 180-day (HR 0.930, 95% CI 0.914–0.946), 365-day (HR 0.944, 95% CI 0.929–0.960) and overall mortality (HR 0.965, 95% CI 0.952–0.979) were all significantly lower in theophylline users. Additionally, the theophylline users also had lower risk of in-hospital death (OR 0.895, 95% CI 0.873–0.918) and need for mechanical ventilation (OR 0.972, 95% CI 0.949–0.997). Conclusions Theophylline use is associated with a lower risk of sepsis-related mortality in COPD patients. Pre-hospital theophylline use may be protective to COPD patients with sepsis.

Background and objective Recent observational studies have shown that sleep apnoea (SA) is associated with increased risk of incident CKD. However, the contribution of SA relative to common traditional CKD risk factors remains unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate the long-term risk of incident CKD events following SA diagnosis and compare the relative contributions of SA, diabetes and hypertension. Methods Data were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database during the period between 2000 and 2010 for this retrospective cohort study. The cohorts are composed of patients (age ≥ 20 years) newly diagnosed with SA and matched subjects without SA. The two cohorts were followed until the occurrence of CKD, death or the end of 2010. Results The sample is composed of 43 434 individuals (8687 patients with SA and 34 747 matched non-SA subjects). A total of 157 new CKD events in patients with SA and 298 events in the matched non-SA cohort were recorded during a mean follow-up period of 3.9 years (incidence rates, 4.5 and 2.2/per 1000 person-years). The risk of CKD development was greater among patients with SA than in the matched non-SA cohort (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.58, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.29–1.94). The contribution of SA to the CKD hazard was similar to that of hypertension (aHR 1.17, 95% CI: 0.68–2.01, P = 0.56), whereas that of diabetes remained significantly higher (aHR 2.17, 95% CI: 1.21–3.90, P = 0.01). Conclusion SA was associated with an increase in the risk of CKD incidence similar to that of hypertension. See Editorial, page 578

In a large observational database study of add-on treatments to metformin, the addition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors was associated with a lower risk for all-cause mortality, stroke...

This research, based on the technical energy of lighting, integrates its application with various product design ideas and introduces OLED technology into different fields to develop new product features and values. This research also use HDT (Human Design Technology) to search user's requirements and check design items of drinking water equipment. The results of this study summarize several application design types: 1. Large Size screen information display application, 2. Improve the illumination design of night instruction, 3. Using OLED high color rendering technology to change the appearance of color products. As for the future product application of OLED technology, this study proposed two points for future research recommendations: 1. For the product surface screen, OLED can provide more diversification of display space technology applications; 2. It's necessary to improve the OLED in the long-term display color decline and the Imprinting phenomenon, in order to implement the application of the product design.

Modern wars have prohibited people from communication with one another for a long time. This separation has actually caused corporate governance problems. As an example, if a significant enough portion of shareholders cannot attend a shareholders’ meeting and vote, not only can no lawful resolutions be made due to mandatory quorum requirements, but those shareholders are easily oppressed by controlling shareholders. How can the law protect the property rights of shareholders who cannot attend such meetings while upholding efficient corporate governance? In this paper, we took the experience of the Chinese Civil War as an example to answer the questions. We did archival work on ad hoc legislation in 1964 and its amendment in 1992 in response to this situation. In addition, we scrutinized the solutions proposed during the legislative process, analysed them from a legal and economics perspective, and offer our own proposal. We found that the 1992 amendment freezes shareholders’ voting rights and deducts their shares when calculating the total number of shares. The involuntary non-voting stock policy deviates from the “one share one vote” principle and causes oppression indirectly; thus, it is obviously not an appropriate measure. We propose that auctioning those shares would be a more efficient and property-right-protective alternative to adopt.

Summary Objective The potential association between healthcare workers (HCWs) and the risk of clinically active tuberculosis (TB) in countries with intermediate TB burdens remains unclear. Methods A nationwide, population-based cohort study was performed by using Taiwan National Health Insurance Database during 2000–2010. We included HCWs and non-HCWs without history of tuberculosis matched at a 1:1 ratio according to age, sex, monthly income, underlying comorbidities, and concomitant medications. All subjects were followed from the date of enrollment until TB occurrence, death, or 31 December 2010. Results The study population comprised 11,811 healthcare workers and 11,811 matched subjects. 62 HCWs and 38 control subjects developed TB during a median follow-up period of 9.4 years. The incidence of TB was higher among HCWs than among matched subjects (61.08 vs . 37.81 per 100,000 person-years). The risk of TB was also greater among HCWs (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–2.43), particularly for pulmonary TB in comparison with extrapulmonary TB (aHR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.02–2.39). Among different job categories of HCWs, we found that only nurses had a significantly increased risk of developing TB (aHR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.37–4.72) compared to the matched cohort. Conclusions HCWs are associated independently with a higher risk of developing TB in this intermediate-burden country. Therefore, the importance of TB surveillance among HCWs should be emphasized.

Background— Substantial infective endocarditis (IE)–related morbidity and mortality may occur even after successful treatment. However, no previous study has explored long-term hard end points (ie, stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiovascular death) in addition to all-cause mortality in IE survivors. Methods and Results— A nationwide population-based cohort study was conducted among IE survivors identified with the use of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database during 2000 to 2009. IE survivors were defined as those who survived after discharge from first hospitalization with a diagnosis of IE. A total of 10 116 IE survivors were identified. IE survivors were matched to control subjects without IE at a 1:1 ratio through the use of propensity scores. The primary outcomes were stroke, myocardial infarction, readmission for heart failure, and sudden cardiac death or ventricular arrhythmia. The secondary outcomes were repeat IE and all-cause mortality. Compared with the matched cohort, IE survivors had higher risks of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40–1.80), hemorrhagic stroke (aHR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.90–2.96), myocardial infarction (aHR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17–1.79), readmission for heart failure (aHR, 2.24; 95% CI, 2.05–2.43), sudden death or ventricular arrhythmia (aHR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.44–1.98), and all-cause death (aHR, 2.27; 95% CI, 2.14–2.40). Risk factors for repeat IE were older age, male sex, drug abuse, and valvular replacement after an initial episode of IE. Conclusion— Despite treatment, the risk of long-term major adverse cardiac events was substantially increased in IE survivors.

Background Relevant clinical studies have been small and have not convincingly demonstrated whether the perioperative initiation of beta‐blockers should be considered in patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing noncardiac surgery. Methods and Results In this nationwide propensity score–matched study, we included patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing noncardiac surgery between 2000 and 2011 from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients were classified as beta‐blocker and non–beta‐blocker cohorts. We further stratified beta‐blocker users into cardioprotective beta‐blocker (atenolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, or carvedilol) and other beta‐blocker users. To investigate time of initiation of beta‐blocker use, initiation time was stratified into 2 periods (>30 and ≤30 days preoperatively). The outcomes of interest were in‐hospital and 30‐day mortality. After propensity score matching, we identified 50 952 beta‐blocker users and 50 952 matched controls. Compared with non–beta‐blocker users, cardioprotective beta‐blocker users were associated with lower risks of in‐hospital (odds ratio 0.75, 95% CI 0.68–0.82) and 30‐day (odds ratio 0.75, 95% CI 0.70–0.81) mortality. Among initiation times, only the use of cardioprotective beta‐blockers for >30 days was associated with decreased risk of in‐hospital (odds ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.65–0.78) and 30‐day (odds ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.66–0.78) mortality. Of note, use of other beta‐blockers for ≤30 days before surgery was associated with increased risk of both in‐hospital and 30‐day mortality. Conclusions The use of cardioprotective beta‐blockers for >30 days before surgery was associated with reduced mortality risk, whereas short‐term use of beta‐blockers was not associated with differences in mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND We aimed to examine the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with CKD discharged after sepsis. METHODS Using the data on CKD patients from Taiwan9s National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified sepsis subjects who survived between 2000 and 2010, and each survivor was propensity-score-matched to one nonsepsis hospitalized controls.Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios of clinical outcomes, including major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause death and hospitalization for heart failure. RESULTS Among 66,961 sepsis survivors,. sepsis survivors in comparison to matched hospitalized nonsepsis control subjects, had greater risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (HR, 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–1.38), myocardial infarction (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.32–1.47) ischemic stroke (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.40–1.52), all-cause mortality (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.54–1.58), and hospitalization for heart failure (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.51–1.59). CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight that sepsis in CKD population was associated with significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events among survivors.

An 89-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to intermittent anterior chest wall pain for > 1 month. A chest radiograph obtained on November 9, 2004, demonstrated a mass with an irregular border, inside a thin-walled cavity, located in the superior segment of the left lower lobe. A chest CT scan revealed an irregular thin-walled cavity, 5.9 × 5.4 × 4 cm in size, with an air-crescent sign in the superior segment of the left lower lobe, and an intracavitary fungus ball-like mass. A bronchoscopic examination was performed, revealing only external compression of the left lower lobe bronchial lumen. Cultures from both the brushing cytology and brushing fungus specimens were negative. Since the patient was a heavy smoker and the chest radiograph obtained 23 months before had revealed no active pulmonary lesion, neoplastic growth was still highly suspected. Thus, an 18 F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography study was performed on November 25, and a mass with a slightly increased standard uptake value (3.17; cutoff value, 2.5) was found. He received a left lower lobe lobectomy on December 23, and a tumor with many septum-like structures connecting the surrounding pulmonary parenchymal tissue was found in the superior segment of the left lower lobe. The final pathologic diagnosis was adenocarcinoma of the lung (pT2N0M0). Thus, even though the chest radiograph and chest CT scan showed a typical air-crescent sign ( ie , mass inside a cavity) favoring a mycetoma, the physician should still keep in mind that lung cancer may also unusually present in this way.

article i nfo Background:Guidelinesforhypertensionmanagementrecommendeitherangiotensin-convertingenzymeinhib- itors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) as first-line therapies for diabetes population. No head- to-head trial has been conducted to determine the priority of ACEI/ARB use for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in diabetes mellitus. Methods: Data on patients with newly diagnosed diabetes treated with ACEIs or ARBs were collected from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database for the period 2000-2010. A total of 30,777 ARB users and 21,436 ACEI users were identified. One ARB user was matched to one ACEI user by propensity score. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and as-treated (AT) models were used. The primary outcomes were myocardial infarc- tion, ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were hospitalization for acute kidney in- jury and hyperkalemia. Findings: Compared with ACEI users (n = 21,436), ARB users (n = 30,777) showed no significant difference in the outcomes of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio (HR): 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80 to 1.07), ische- mic stroke (HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.04), or all-cause mortality (HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.01) in the ITT anal- ysis. The risks of hospitalization for acute kidney injury and hyperkalemia also did not differ between groups. ACEI and ARB use also had similar effects on MACEs and adverse effects in the AT analysis. Conclusions: This large cohort study supports the comparative effectiveness of ACEIs and ARBs in terms of MACE outcomes in patients with incident diabetes.

Our aim was to describe the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on the status and chemotherapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who had entered clinical trials, and to review how to differentiate the signs and symptoms of SARS from lung cancer and its treatment-related toxicities. A prospective case series involving 79 NSCLC patients who were enrolled in clinical trials undergoing chemotherapy at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, between April 1 and July 15, 2003, was studied. Whether or not there existed a delay, omission, or refusal of scheduled chemotherapy, was recorded. Whether or not our patients had been suspected of or treated as having SARS, was recorded. The patients filled out questionnaires regarding lung cancer treatment and the risk of getting SARS from the hospital. Among these patients, five were placed in an isolation unit to rule out SARS infection during this period of time, and no patient was documented to have suffered from a SARS infection after examinations. Of 373 scheduled chemotherapy injections in 79 patients, a delay in treatment occurred only 10 times. Three patients refused further chemotherapy because of a fear of getting SARS if they visited the hospital. Fifty-eight patients responded to our questionnaires. Thirty-seven patients (63.8%) were afraid of visiting hospital during this SARS infection period. Twenty-one patients (36.2%) felt that a SARS infection was more severe and fatal than their lung cancer. In conclusion, SARS is a new disease entity that is highly contagious. Its clinical manifestations overlap with the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. Thus, a clear differentiation between the two conditions is needed, especially for those patients who are under active anti-cancer treatment.

Although statins have been shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects, their pleiotropic benefits on sepsis remain a matter of debate. In addition, the influence of statin potency on sepsis-related mortality has never been explored. The aim of our study was to determine the sepsis outcomes of low- and high-potency statin users and non-users.This nationwide, population-based, propensity score-matched analysis used data from the linked administrative databases of Taiwan's National Health Insurance program. Patients were hospitalized for sepsis between 2000 and 2010. All-cause mortality and major adverse consequences of sepsis, such as in-hospital death, intensive care unit admission, shock events, and the use of mechanical ventilation, were assessed. Patients were divided into high-potency statin users (at least 10 mg rosuvastatin, at least 20 mg atorvastatin, or at least 40 mg simvastatin), low-potency statin users (all other statin treatments), and non-users.A propensity score-matched cohort of 27,792 statin users and 27,792 non-users was included. Of 27,792 statin users, 9,785 (35.2 %) were treated with high-potency statins and 18,007 (64.8 %) were treated with low-potency statins. The 1-year mortality risk was significantly lower among both low-potency [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.89, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.85-0.93] and high-potency (aHR 0.80, 95 % CI 0.75-0.86) statin users compared with non-users. The risks of mortality and adverse consequences of sepsis were lower among high-potency than among low-potency statin users.High-potency statin use is associated with a lower risk of sepsis-related mortality compared with low-potency statin use.

The aim of our study was to determine whether pre-emptive statin therapy was associated with improved outcome of infective endocarditis (IE). We conducted a nationwide, population-based, propensity score-matched cohort study with the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. All patients with IE between January 2000 and December 2010 were enrolled. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome included all-cause mortality within the first 3 months, 6 months, and one year after the diagnosis of IE. Among 13,584 patients with IE, we applied propensity score-matching on a 1:4 ratio, in which 370 statin users were matched to 1,480 statin non-users. Compared with statin non-users, statin users had a significantly lower risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–0.86). The reduction in mortality from IE remained significant for follow-up 3 months (aHR 0.68, 95% CI, 0.53–0.88), 6 months (aHR 0.73, 95% CI, 0.58–0.91), and 12 months (aHR 0.68, 95% CI, 0.55–0.84). Statin therapy was associated with a reduced risk of ICU admission rates, shock events, the need for mechanical ventilation, but not significantly with the need for heart valvular replacement surgery. In conclusion, our study found that statin therapy is associated with a reduced risk of in-hospital and subsequent mortality of IE.

This paper analytically evaluates the strength of microcomponents fabricated using both wet and dry etching techniques. A finite element model (nanometer meshed) coupled with a macroscopically accepted energy criterion is used to predict the strength of four different microridge structures (geometries). Agreement between analytical predictions and experimental data on single crystal silicon is excellent and validates the use of macroscopic models to predict the strength of micromachined components fabricated with a wide range of processes. The model is used to evaluate design parameters such as the influence of height and ridge material on strength properties. The analytical portion of the study suggests that optimum ridge height exists to maximize the strength and by choosing tougher materials, the strength of the ridges may be improved by an order of magnitude. However, the significant strength improvement is not validated experimentally. The simulation results confirm that the geometries rather than etching flaws are critical issues when dealing with strength of micromachined components. Furthermore, standard macroscopic methods can be used to predict the strength of MEMS components at the micron size level.

Renin and aldosterone activity levels are low in elderly patients, raising concerns about the benefits and risks of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) use. However, data from direct comparisons of the effects of ACEIs on ARBs in the elderly population remain inconclusive. In this nationwide study, all patients aged ≥ 70 years were retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database for the period 2000 to 2009 and were followed up until the end of 2010. The ARB cohort (12,347 patients who continuously used ARBs for ≥ 90 days) was matched to ACEI cohort using high-dimensional propensity score (hdPS). Intention-to-treat (ITT) and as-treated (AT) analyses were conducted. In the ITT analysis, after considering death as a competing risk, the ACEI cohort had similar risks of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR] 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79–1.06), ischemic stroke (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.90–1.07), and heart failure (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.83–1.04) compared with the ARB cohort. No difference in adverse effects, such as acute kidney injury (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.89–1.09) and hyperkalemia (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.87–1.20), was observed between cohorts. AT analysis produced similar results to those of ITT analysis. We were unable to demonstrate a survival difference between cohorts (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.88–1.21) after considering drug discontinuation as a competing risk in AT analysis. Our study supports the notion that ACEI and ARB users have similar risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), even in elderly populations.

Purpose – The purpose of this chapter is to examine the issues of outsourcing and corresponding policy interventions by the government. Design/methodology/approach – This chapter begins with a situation in which no government interventions are allowed, and examine the government of the North, when it is allowed to intervene, can choose one of the three options: (a) to limit the quantity of each type of variety of the foreign intermediate inputs to be imported; (b) to limit the number of varieties of the foreign intermediate inputs to be imported; and (c) to impose a tariff on the imported intermediate inputs. Findings – For each policy, the optimal intervention is derived. Originality/value – The analysis can be used to examine the argument for restricting outsourcing.

It has been reported that in vitro uridine (Urd) can reverse azidothymidine (AZT) cytotoxicity without decreasing anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity. Our studies in mice have shown that daily oral doses of benzylacyclouridine (BAU), an inhibitor of Urd breakdown, also reduces AZT hematologic toxicity, presumably by elevating the plasma concentration of Urd. We now extend these murine studies and report the effect of various doses of exogenous Urd, various doses of BAU, or the combination of BAU and Urd, administered daily, on AZT-induced toxicity. In mice receiving concomitant AZT, daily doses of Urd of 1,000 to 2,000 mg/kg increase peripheral reticulocytes and slightly reduce AZT-induced hematologic toxicity. However, the range of effective doses is narrow, and higher doses of Urd (greater than 3,000 mg/kg/d) significantly enhance hematologic toxicity. At its most effective dose, (2,000 mg/kg/d), Urd produces 28% mortality. In contrast, BAU doses up to 300 mg/kg/d reduced AZT-related hematologic toxicity in a dose-dependent manner without mortality. Higher daily doses of BAU and the combination of BAU with low doses of Urd were not more effective. Studies conducted in mice infected with the Rauscher murine leukemia virus (RLV) indicate that BAU does not impair the antiretroviral effect of AZT when administered at doses that reduce AZT-induced anemia and leukopenia. These findings may be significant for the treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology and is uncommon in Taiwan. No cases of familial sarcoidosis have been reported in Taiwan. In this article, we report a mother and son pair who had sarcoidosis. The 56-year-old mother sought medical help for chronic cough for 3 months in 1993. Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were demonstrated on chest computed tomography. Besides, two small erythematous papules on her face were observed. Mediastinoscopic biopsy and skin biopsy showed non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. Sarcoidosis was thus diagnosed. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-typing of the patient was HLA-A2, A11, B35, B39, CW4, CW7, DR8 and DQ6. Eleven years later, her son was also diagnosed with sarcoidosis proved by mediastinoscopic biopsy. His HLA-typing was HLA-A2, A24, B39, B48, CW7, CW8, DR8 and DQ6. This is the first report of familial sarcoidosis in Chinese people. More cases are needed for further investigation of genetic predisposition among Chinese people.

Redington Shores is located on the west coast of Florida on the barrier island, Sandy Key, in Pinellas County. A detached offshore breakwater, located to the west of Redington Shores, was constructed in 1986. The breakwater was designed by the US Army Engineer District, Jacksonville, to control beach erosion and re- duce beach nourishment requirements. This paper presents the beach response at Redington Shores to this breakwater. Initial shoreline response described in Dean and Pope (1987) for the pre- and post-construction period, september 1984 to November 1986, is summarized. The subsequent shoreline changes monitored and documented by the Jacksonville District (US Army Corps of Engineers 1989) for the post-construction period, April 1986 to February 1988, and the post- renourishment shoreline response data are analyzed and interpreted along with the regional wave climate.

Discussions and comparisons are provided of dynamic breaking wave forces on vertical walls predicted by Minikin and Goda methods. Normalized wave forces computed by both methods are plotted as functions of water depth to deepwater wavelength ration, seabed slope, and superstructure and foundation dimension ratio. The results exhibit distinctly different characteristics of the two predictive methods. The Minikin method is more conservative than the Goda method for large depth to wavelength ratio. With long wave or shallow water depth, the Goda method predicts conservative forces.