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Analysis of the comprehensibility of chemical hazard communication tools at the industrial workplace

Ta GC, Mokhtar MB, Mohd Mokhtar HA, Ismail AB, Abu Yazid MF

Ind Health, 2010;48(6):835-44.
PMID: 20616463

Chemical classification and labelling systems may be roughly similar from one country to another but there are significant differences too. In order to harmonize various chemical classification systems and ultimately provide consistent chemical hazard communication tools worldwide, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Several countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia, are now in the process of implementing GHS. It is essential to ascertain the comprehensibility of chemical hazard communication tools that are described in the GHS documents, namely the chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Comprehensibility Testing (CT) was carried out with a mixed group of industrial workers in Malaysia (n=150) and factors that influence the comprehensibility were analysed using one-way ANOVA. The ability of the respondents to retrieve information from the SDS was also tested in this study. The findings show that almost all the GHS pictograms meet the ISO comprehension criteria and it is concluded that the underlying core elements that enhance comprehension of GHS pictograms and which are also essential in developing competent persons in the use of SDS are training and education.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Annotated checklist of eels (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) from Taiwan

Ho HC, Smith DG, Mccosker JE, Hibino Y, Loh KH, Tighe KA, et al.

Zootaxa, 2015;4060:140-89.
PMID: 26701598 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4060.1.16

An annotated checklist of eels, orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes, occurring in Taiwanese waters is presented. The checklist is the result of a series of systematic studies conducted by the authors in the past few years. The eel fauna of Taiwan is one of the richest in the world with a total of 206 species in 74 genera and 13 families in Anguilliformes and a single species in Saccopharyngiformes. The most species-rich families are the Muraenidae with 71 species, followed by the Ophichthidae with 60 species, the Congridae with 29 species, and the Synaphobranchidae with 17 species. Moreover, three genera and 42 species have been described based on at least one type specimen collected from Taiwan. Of these, 36 species are recognized as valid and 23 species are known only from Taiwanese waters at present. Historical records of all Taiwanese eel species are reviewed by examining the original descriptions and figures, vouchers, as well as the recently collected specimens, where available. This represents the first detailed checklist of eels from Taiwanese waters.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Fulltext Anxiety symptoms and preventive measures during the COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan

Wong LP, Hung CC, Alias H, Lee TS

BMC Psychiatry, 2020 07 16;20(1):376.
PMID: 32677926 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02786-8

BACKGROUND: It is hypothesized that anxiety and behavioral responses are intense at the beginning of an epidemic. The objective of this study was to investigate anxiety symptoms and use of preventive measures against COVID-19. The study also compared the association between preventive measures and anxiety symptoms during the week immediately preceding the study and those symptoms and measures at the beginning of the outbreak.
METHODS: A cross-sectional population survey using an online questionnaire commenced on 14 February 2020. The study participants were residents of Taiwan ages 20 to 70 years. The 6-item state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) was used to assess anxiety symptoms. The questions about preventive measures asked participants about their personal protection, cough etiquette, contact precautions, voluntary quarantine, and prompt reporting. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the factors influencing an increase in the preventive measures scores.
RESULTS: Of a total of 3555 completed responses, a total of 52.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 50.4-53.7) of the respondents reported moderate to severe levels of anxiety symptoms in the past week, whereas 48.8% (95%CI 47.2-50.5) reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms at the beginning of the outbreak. With a higher score indicating greater anxiety, the median scores for anxiety symptoms in the past week and at the beginning of the outbreak were 46.7 (IQR [interquartile range] 36.7-53.3) and 43.3 (IQR 36.7-53.3), respectively. The median scores for the preventive measures taken in the past week and at the beginning of the outbreak were 26.0 (IQR 21.0-30.0) and 24.0 (IQR 19.0-28.0), respectively, out of a maximum score of 36. In the multivariable analysis, an increased anxiety symptom score from the beginning of the outbreak to the past week (adjusted OR = 7.38, 95%CI 6.28-8.66) was a strongly significant determinant of an increased preventive measures score in the past week compared with the score at the beginning of the outbreak.
CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and preventive measures scores were high and increased with the epidemic rate. Higher anxiety was associated with an increased use of preventive measures against COVID-19.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan/epidemiology
Fulltext Application of Antrodia camphorata Promotes Rat's Wound Healing In Vivo and Facilitates Fibroblast Cell Proliferation In Vitro

Amin ZA, Ali HM, Alshawsh MA, Darvish PH, Abdulla MA

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2015;2015:317693.
PMID: 26557855 DOI: 10.1155/2015/317693

Antrodia camphorata is a parasitic fungus from Taiwan, it has been documented to possess a variety of pharmacological and biological activities. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of Antrodia camphorata ethanol extract to accelerate the rate of wound healing closure and histology of wound area in experimental rats. The safety of Antrodia camphorata was determined in vivo by the acute toxicity test and in vitro by fibroblast cell proliferation assay. The scratch assay was used to evaluate the in vitro wound healing in fibroblast cells and the excision model of wound healing was tested in vivo using four groups of adult Sprague Dawley rats. Our results showed that wound treated with Antrodia camphorata extract and intrasite gel significantly accelerates the rate of wound healing closure than those treated with the vehicle. Wounds dressed with Antrodia camphorata extract showed remarkably less scar width at wound closure and granulation tissue contained less inflammatory cell and more fibroblast compared to wounds treated with the vehicle. Masson's trichrom stain showed granulation tissue containing more collagen and less inflammatory cell in Antrodia camphorata treated wounds. In conclusion, Antrodia camphorata extract significantly enhanced the rate of the wound enclosure in rats and promotes the in vitro healing through fibroblast cell proliferation.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group Expert Consensus Statement on Optimal Management of Stage III NSCLC

Tan WL, Chua KLM, Lin CC, Lee VHF, Tho LM, Chan AW, et al.

J Thorac Oncol, 2020 03;15(3):324-343.
PMID: 31733357 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.10.022

Stage III NSCLC represents a heterogeneous disease for which optimal treatment continues to pose a clinical challenge. Recent changes in the American Joint Commission on Cancer staging to the eighth edition has led to a shift in TNM stage grouping and redefined the subcategories (IIIA-C) in stage III NSCLC for better prognostication. Although concurrent chemoradiotherapy has remained standard-of-care for stage III NSCLC for almost 2 decades, contemporary considerations include the impact of different molecular subsets of NSCLC, and the roles of tyrosine kinase inhibitors post-definitive therapy and of immune checkpoint inhibitors following chemoradiotherapy. With rapid evolution of diagnostic algorithms and expanding treatment options, the need for interdisciplinary input involving multiple specialists (medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, pathologists and thoracic surgeons) has become increasingly important. The unique demographics of Asian NSCLC pose further challenges when applying clinical trial data into clinical practice. This includes differences in smoking rates, prevalence of oncogenic driver mutations, and access to health care resources including molecular testing, prompting the need for critical review of existing data and identification of current gaps. In this expert consensus statement by the Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group, an interdisciplinary group of experts representing Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Mainland China was convened. Standard clinical practices for stage III NSCLC across different Asian countries were discussed from initial diagnosis and staging through to multi-modality approaches including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Fulltext Assessing the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 during the first five months in the Western Pacific Region

Yeoh EK, Chong KC, Chiew CJ, Lee VJ, Ng CW, Hashimoto H, et al.

One Health, 2021 Jun;12:100213.
PMID: 33506086 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100213

While most countries in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) had similar trajectories of COVID-19 from January to May, their implementations of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) differed by transmission stages. To offer a better understanding for an implementation of multidisciplinary policies in COVID-19 control, we compared the impact of NPIs by assessing the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 in different phases of the epidemic during the first five months in WPR. In this study, we estimated the piecewise instantaneous reproduction number (R
t
) and the reporting delay-adjusted case-fatality ratio (dCFR) of COVID-19 in seven WPR jurisdictions: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Japan, Malaysia, Shanghai, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. According to the results, implementing NPIs was associated with an apparent reduction of the piecewise R
t
in two epidemic waves in general. However, large cluster outbreaks raised the piecewise R
t
to a high level. We also observed relaxing the NPIs could result in an increase of R
t
. The estimated dCFR ranged from 0.09% to 1.59% among the jurisdictions, except in Japan where an estimate of 5.31% might be due to low testing efforts. To conclude, in conjunction with border control measures to reduce influx of imported cases which might cause local outbreaks, other NPIs including social distancing measures along with case finding by rapid tests are also necessary to prevent potential large cluster outbreaks and transmissions from undetected cases. A comparatively lower CFR may reflect the health system capacity of these jurisdictions. In order to keep track of sustained disease transmission due to resumption of economic activities, a close monitoring of disease transmissibility is recommended in the relaxation phase. The report of transmission of SARS CoV-2 to pets in Hong Kong and to mink in farm outbreaks highlight for the control of COVID-19 and emerging infectious disease, the One Health approach is critical in understanding and accounting for how human, animals and environment health are intricately connected.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Assessment of collagen-coated anterior mesh through morphology and clinical outcomes in pelvic reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse

Lo TS, Tan YL, Khanuengkitkong S, Dass AK, Cortes EF, Wu PY

J Minim Invasive Gynecol, 2014 Sep-Oct;21(5):753-61.
PMID: 24607796 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmig.2014.02.013

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the morphologic features of anterior armed transobturator collagen-coated polypropylene mesh and its clinical outcomes in pelvic reconstructive surgery to treat pelvic organ prolapse.
DESIGN: Evidence obtained from several timed series with intervention (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).
SETTING: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, China.
PATIENTS: Between April 2010 and October 2012, 70 patients underwent surgery to treat symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse, stage III/IV according to the POP-Q (Pelvic Organ Quantification System).
INTERVENTION: Anterior armed transobturator collagen-coated mesh.
MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Morphologic findings and clinical outcome were measured. Morphologic features were assessed via 2-dimensional introital ultrasonography and Doppler studies. Clinical outcome was measured via subjective and objective outcome. Objective outcome was assessed via the 9-point site-specific staging method of the International Continence Society Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification before the operation and at 1-year postoperative follow-up. Subjective outcome was based on 4 validated questionnaires: the 6-item UDI-6 (Urogenital Distress Inventory), the 7-item IIQ-7 (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire), the 6-item POPDI-6 (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6), and the 12-item PISQ-12 (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire), at baseline and at 12 months after the operation. Data were obtained for 65 patients who underwent the combined surgery and were able to comply with follow-up for >1 year. Ultrasound studies reveal that mesh length tends to shorten and decrease in thickness over the 1-year follow-up. Vagina thickness also was reduced. Neovascularization through the mesh was observed in <8.5% of patients in the first month and at 1 year, and was evident in approximately 83%. The mesh exposure rate was 6.4%. The recorded objective cure was 90.8% (59 of 65 patients), and subjective cure was 89.2% (58 of 65 patients) at mean (SD) follow-up of 19.40 (10.98) months. At 2 years, UDI-6, IIQ-7, and POPDI-6 scores were all significantly decreased (p < .001), whereas the PISQ-12 score was significantly increased (p = .01).
CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound features suggest that the degeneration of collagen barrier may be longer than expected and that integration of collagen-coated mesh could occur up to 1 year. A substantially good clinical outcome was noted.
KEYWORDS: Anterior vaginal mesh; Collagen-coated mesh; Morphology; Outcome; Pelvic organ prolapse

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Fulltext Association between intrauterine growth restriction and patent ductus arteriosus: Use of a dichorionic twin pregnancy model

Yang CY, Hoong MF, Li CS, Li WF, You SH, Lee YC, et al.

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol, 2021 May;60(3):517-522.
PMID: 33966739 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2021.03.023

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the incidence of fetuses with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and Hemodynamically significant PDA (Hs-PDA) in dichorionic twins (DC) with selective IUGR.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational cohort study and retrospective case assessment, involved twins born at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan between 2013 and 2018. DC twins with selective IUGR (sIUGR) were defined as the presence of a birth weight discordance of >25% and a smaller twin with a birth weight below the tenth percentile. PDA was diagnosed using echocardiography between postnatal day 3 and 7. Hs-PDA was defined as PDA plus increased pulmonary circulation, poor systemic perfusion, cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, or hypotension requiring pharmacotherapeutic intervention.
RESULT: A total of 1187 twins were delivered during the study period, and 53 DC twins with selective IUGR were included in this study. DC twins with PDA have higher rate of preterm birth, lower gestational age of delivery, and lower mean birth weight of both twins compared with DC twins without PDA. In a comparison of the sIUGR twin with the appropriate for gestational age co-twin, both the incidences of PDA (28.30% vs. 7.55%, respectively; P = 0.003) and Hs-PDA (24.53% vs. 5.66%, respectively; P = 0.002) were higher in sIUGR fetuses than in the appropriate for gestational age co-twins. Small gestational age of delivery was the only variable to predict PDA and Hs-PDA [p = 0.002, Odds ratio = 0.57 (0.39-0.82), p = 0.009, Odds ratio = 0.71 (0.55-0.92), respectively].
CONCLUSION: An analysis of dichorionic twins with sIUGR indicated that IUGR increased the risk of PDA and hemodynamically significant PDA.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Fulltext Association between prehospital time and outcome of trauma patients in 4 Asian countries: A cross-national, multicenter cohort study

Chen CH, Shin SD, Sun JT, Jamaluddin SF, Tanaka H, Song KJ, et al.

PLoS Med, 2020 10;17(10):e1003360.
PMID: 33022018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003360

BACKGROUND: Whether rapid transportation can benefit patients with trauma remains controversial. We determined the association between prehospital time and outcome to explore the concept of the "golden hour" for injured patients.
METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of trauma patients transported from the scene to hospitals by emergency medical service (EMS) from January 1, 2016, to November 30, 2018, using data from the Pan-Asia Trauma Outcomes Study (PATOS) database. Prehospital time intervals were categorized into response time (RT), scene to hospital time (SH), and total prehospital time (TPT). The outcomes were 30-day mortality and functional status at hospital discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the association of prehospital time and outcomes to adjust for factors including age, sex, mechanism and type of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and prehospital interventions. Overall, 24,365 patients from 4 countries (645 patients from Japan, 16,476 patients from Korea, 5,358 patients from Malaysia, and 1,886 patients from Taiwan) were included in the analysis. Among included patients, the median age was 45 years (lower quartile [Q1]-upper quartile [Q3]: 25-62), and 15,498 (63.6%) patients were male. Median (Q1-Q3) RT, SH, and TPT were 20 (Q1-Q3: 12-39), 21 (Q1-Q3: 16-29), and 47 (Q1-Q3: 32-60) minutes, respectively. In all, 280 patients (1.1%) died within 30 days after injury. Prehospital time intervals were not associated with 30-day mortality. The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) per 10 minutes of RT, SH, and TPT were 0.99 (95% CI 0.92-1.06, p = 0.740), 1.08 (95% CI 1.00-1.17, p = 0.065), and 1.03 (95% CI 0.98-1.09, p = 0.236), respectively. However, long prehospital time was detrimental to functional survival. The aORs of RT, SH, and TPT per 10-minute delay were 1.06 (95% CI 1.04-1.08, p < 0.001), 1.05 (95% CI 1.01-1.08, p = 0.007), and 1.06 (95% CI 1.04-1.08, p < 0.001), respectively. The key limitation of our study is the missing data inherent to the retrospective design. Another major limitation is the aggregate nature of the data from different countries and unaccounted confounders such as in-hospital management.
CONCLUSIONS: Longer prehospital time was not associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality, but it may be associated with increased risk of poor functional outcomes in injured patients. This finding supports the concept of the "golden hour" for trauma patients during prehospital care in the countries studied.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Fulltext Association of the lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) with health-related quality of life in a multinational prospective study

Golder V, Kandane-Rathnayake R, Hoi AY, Huq M, Louthrenoo W, An Y, et al.

Arthritis Res Ther, 2017 03 20;19(1):62.
PMID: 28320433 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-017-1256-6

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with significant impairment of health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Recently, meeting a definition of a lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS), analogous to low disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis, was preliminarily validated as associated with protection from damage accrual. The LLDAS definition has not been previously evaluated for association with patient-reported outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether LLDAS is associated with better HR-QoL, and examine predictors of HR-QoL, in a large multiethnic, multinational cohort of patients with SLE.
METHODS: HR-QoL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form health survey (SF-36v2) in a prospective study of 1422 patients. Disease status was measured using the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI-2 K), physician global assessment (PGA) and LLDAS.
RESULTS: Significant differences in SF-36 domain scores were found between patients stratified by ethnic group, education level and damage score, and with the presence of active musculoskeletal or cutaneous manifestations. In multiple linear regression analysis, Asian ethnicity (p Taiwan, Thailand)

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Fulltext Associations of Problematic Internet Use, Weight-Related Self-Stigma, and Nomophobia with Physical Activity: Findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia

Liu W, Chen JS, Gan WY, Poon WC, Tung SEH, Lee LJ, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Sep 25;19(19).
PMID: 36231435 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912135

Insufficient physical activity is a common problem for university students because they may engage in sedentary lifestyle owing to excessive time spent on their smartphones and social media use. This may result in problematic internet use (PIU) and nomophobia (fear of not having a mobile phone). Moreover, prior evidence shows that weight-related self-stigma is an important factor contributing to low physical activity. Therefore, the present study examined the associations between PIU, nomophobia, and physical activity among university students across mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Participants (3135 mainland Chinese, 600 Taiwanese, and 622 Malaysian) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS), Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMPQ), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The measurement invariance of the assessed questionnaires was supported across the three regions. The present findings analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling showed that (i) greater nomophobia was associated with higher levels of physical activity, (ii) greater weight-related self-stigma was associated with higher levels of physical activity, and (iii) greater nomophobia was associated with greater weight-related self-stigma. Although the present findings suggest the possibility that experiencing some level of nomophobia or weight-related self-stigma appears to help improve physical activity, it is not recommended that these be encouraged, but reducing PIU should be targeted as a means to improve physical activity.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Asia: a review from 1999 to 2004

Chang KF, Fang GC, Chen JC, Wu YS

Environ Pollut, 2006 Aug;142(3):388-96.
PMID: 16343719

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in both gaseous and particulate phases. These compounds are considered to be atmospheric contaminants and are human carcinogens. Many studies have monitored atmospheric particulate and gaseous phases of PAH in Asia over the past 5 years. This work compares and discusses different sample collection, pretreatment and analytical methods. The main PAH sources are traffic exhausts (AcPy, FL, Flu, PA, Pyr, CHR, BeP) and industrial emissions (BaP, BaA, PER, BeP, COR, CYC). PAH concentrations are highest in areas of traffic, followed by the urban sites, and lowest in rural sites. Meteorological conditions, such as temperature, wind speed and humidity, strongly affect PAH concentrations at all sampling sites. This work elucidates the characteristics, sources and distribution, and the healthy impacts of atmospheric PAH species in Asia.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Author's reply to editorial comment to sex among Asian men and women: The global better sex survey in Asia

Tan HM

International Journal of Urology, 2009;16:515.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2009.02295.x
Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Biogas production from beverage factory wastewater in a mobile bioenergy station

Lin CY, Lay CH, Chew KW, Nomanbhay S, Gu RL, Chang SH, et al.

Chemosphere, 2021 Feb;264(Pt 2):128564.
PMID: 33065325 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128564

Recently, the production of renewable biogas such as biohydrogen and biomethane from wastewaters through anaerobic fermentation has gained worldwide attention. In the present study, a mobile bioenergy generation station had been constructed based on a high-efficiency hydrogenesis & methanogenesis technology (HyMeTek) developed by Feng Chia University, Taiwan. The substrate was a beverage wastewater having chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of 1200 mg/L. This bioenergy station had a feedstock tank (3.8 m3), a nutrient tank (0.8 m3), an acidogenesis tank (AT, 2 m3), two methanogenesis tanks (MT, 4 m3 for each), a membrane bioreactor and a control room. Biogas production rate, methane concentration, COD removal efficiencies, energy efficiency and economical interest of the plant were assessed. The peak total methane production rates for AT (at hydraulic retention time, HRT, 4 h) and MT (at HRT 8 h) were 430 and 7 mL/L·d, respectively. A strategy of shortening HRT was a promising method to enhance biogas quality and energy efficiency. This mobile bioenergy system has commercial potential because it could bring good economic benefit of initial rate of return (58.84%) and payback time (2.68 y).

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Birth Cohort Consortium of Asia: Current and Future Perspectives

Kishi R, Zhang JJ, Ha EH, Chen PC, Tian Y, Xia Y, et al.

Epidemiology, 2017 10;28 Suppl 1:S19-S34.
PMID: 29028672 DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000698

BACKGROUND: The environmental health of children is one of the great global health concerns. Exposures in utero and throughout development can have major consequences on later health. However, environmental risks or disease burdens vary from region to region. Birth cohort studies are ideal for investigating different environmental risks.
METHODS: The principal investigators of three birth cohorts in Asia including the Taiwan Birth Panel Study (TBPS), the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health Study (MOCEH), and the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children' Health (Hokkaido Study) coestablished the Birth Cohort Consortium of Asia (BiCCA) in 2011. Through a series of five PI meetings, the enrolment criteria, aim of the consortium, and a first-phase inventory were confirmed.
RESULTS: To date, 23 birth cohorts have been established in 10 Asian countries, consisting of approximately 70,000 study subjects in the BiCCA. This article provides the study framework, environmental exposure and health outcome assessments, as well as maternal and infant characteristics of the participating cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS: The BiCCA provides a unique and reliable source of birth cohort information in Asian countries. Further scientific cooperation is ongoing to identify specific regional environmental threats and improve the health of children in Asia.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Boys or girls? Parents' preferences and sex control

Williamson NE

Popul Bull, 1978 Jan;33(1):1-35.
PMID: 12260443
Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Cervix Cancer Research Network (CCRN): Improving Access to Cervix Cancer Trials on a Global Scale

Gaffney D, Small B, Kitchener H, Young Ryu S, Viswanathan A, Trimble T, et al.

Int. J. Gynecol. Cancer, 2016 Nov;26(9):1690-1693.
PMID: 30814204 DOI: 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000823

Eighty-seven percent of cervix cancer occurs in less-developed regions of the world, and there is up to an 18-fold difference in mortality rate for cervix cancer depending on the region of the world. The Cervix Cancer Research Network (CCRN) was founded through the Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup with the aim of improving access to clinical trials in cervix cancer worldwide, and in so doing improving standards of care. The CCRN recently held its first international educational symposium in Bangkok. Sixty-two participants attended from 16 different countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Columbia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. The focus of this symposium was to evaluate progress, to promote new clinical trials for the CCRN, and to provide education regarding the role of brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Change in level of classroom lighting at a special education school distortion of vision and comparison of lighting at different lighting conditions

Wan Nur ‘Amirah Ibrahim, Zainora Mohammed, Norliza Mohamad Fadzil, Sumithira Narayanasamy, Mohd ‘Izzuddin Hairol

Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:1835-1842.

Illumination is one of the important physical aspects that influences comfortability during learning session particularly
among visually impaired students. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in illumination level in classrooms
during learning session at Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas (SMPK), Setapak. The second objective was to compare
the illumination level in the classrooms under three different lighting conditions: daylight only, with additional artificial
light and with removal of obstructions to daylight. Illumination levels in 17 classrooms was measured at one hour interval,
between 8 am to 1 pm for the first stage and 19 classrooms under three different lighting conditions from 11 am to 12 noon
for the second stage, using ILM1335 (ISO-TECH, Taiwan) digital luxmeter. Illumination level increased significantly from
8 am to 11 am (One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA: F(2.14, 34.26)=76.49, p<0 .001) and was maximum at 1 pm. The
illumination level was highest for the condition of daylight with additional artificial light (One-Way Repeated Measures
ANOVA: F(2,34)=110.51, p<0.001) compared to other conditions. Illumination levels for daylight without obstruction
was significantly higher than daylight only (pairwise comparison: p=0.001). Classroom illumination level was lowest
in the early morning. However, classroom illumination can be increased either by removing the obstructions to daylight
or with additional artificial lighting.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Characterization of Cryptocaryon irritans, a parasite isolated from marine fishes in Taiwan

Yambot AV, Song YL, Sung HH

Dis Aquat Organ, 2003 Mar 31;54(2):147-56.
PMID: 12747640

The ciliated protozoan parasite Cryptocaryon irritans infecting marine fishes in Taiwan is described. Developmental characteristics and sequences of the ribosomal DNA regions such as part of 18 S, the entire first internal transcribed spacer, and part of 5.8 S of various Taiwan isolates of C. irritans were investigated. A total of 5 isolates was obtained from different fish-host species and localities, the majority from cultured fish species. C. irritans from Taiwan is able to shift its developmental characteristics, i.e. from non-adherent to adherent tomonts, from individualistic to aggregate-forming tomonts, from infection of the gills only to infection of the gills and body. Thus, it is not possible to classify strains of C. irritans on the basis of these parameters. Premature tomonts that developed from dead fishes were able to produce theronts that could infect fish host. Isolates from Pingtung and the USA had identical nucleotide sequences while an isolate from Malaysia was identical to an Israel isolate. Percentage variation among pairs of Taiwan isolates showed a higher degree of variation than isolate sequences listed in GenBank. Sequence analysis revealed highly aberrant isolates in Taiwan, and a phylogenetic tree distinguished a marine and a low-salinity variant. C. irritans from marine fishes in Taiwan, therefore, display some characteristics not previously reported. Since manipulation of salinity in brackishwater ponds and marine cage sites is not feasible, there is a need to develop new strategies for the control and prevention of cryptocaryoniasis.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan
Fulltext Chemical composition changes of two water apple (Syzygium samaragense)

Rosnah, S., Wong, W.K., Noraziah, M., Osman, H.

International Food Research Journal, 2012;19(1):167-174.
MyJurnal

Changes in physical properties (weight, size, colour and weight loss) and chemical properties (proximate analysis, TSS, pH, freezing point, total acidity and sugar content) of two water apple (Syzgium samaragense) cultivars, Semarang Rose and Kristal Taiwan were evaluated during ripening at 10°C and 50% RH. The results showed that the Kristal Taiwan cultivar was larger in size and weight but smaller in length compared to Semarang Rose. The Semarang Rose cultivar was sweeter than Kristal Taiwan. In this study, data obtained suggests that the water apple fruit can be stored at cold storage until 19 days.

Matched MeSH terms: Taiwan

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