Tsan Yang

Uric acid level as a risk marker for metabolic syndrome: A Chinese cohort study

OBJECTIVE Despite some epidemiologic research demonstrating a positive relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), prospective data on SUA as a predictor of MetS incidence are limited. METHODS The authors examined SUA as a risk marker for incident MetS in a prospective study of 3857 subjects who were free of MetS at baseline recruitment. Hyperuricemia was defined as SUA ≥7.7 mg/dL for men and ≥6.6 mg/dL for women. The MetS was defined according to a unified criteria set by several major organizations. RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 5.41 years, 476 participants developed MetS. A significantly stepwise increase in the incidence of MetS across tertiles of SUA was observed in the whole group (p for trend <0.001). Among women, this association was more robust than in men. After adjustment for age, variations of blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL-C, glucose, and waist circumference, females in the middle and upper tertiles of SUA had significantly higher risk of developing MetS when compared with subjects in the lowest tertile [adjusted-HR (95% CI) was 1.67 (1.12-2.49) and 3.18 (2.20-4.60), respectively; p for trend <0.001]. Overall, hyperuricemia was a significantly independent risk determinant for MetS in women, but it was a non-significant factor for MetS mediating waist circumference and serum triglycerides in men. CONCLUSION SUA concentration is more closely associated with MetS in females than in males. Future investigations are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in the sex-related association between SUA concentration and MetS risk.

Anthropometric measures, plasma adiponectin, and breast cancer risk

Adiponectin is a peptide hormone secreted exclusively by adipocytes, and obesity is an established risk factor for breast cancer. We have, thus, evaluated the associations of anthropometric measures of adiposity and adiponectin with the development of breast cancer in a case-control study. Questionnaire information, anthropometric measures, and blood samples were taken before treatment from 244 incident cases with breast cancer, including 141 premenopausal and 103 postmenopausal cases, and 244 controls admitted for health examination at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei between 2004 and 2005. Plasma levels of adiponectin were measured by RIA. The relationship between anthropometric measures of adiposity and breast cancer risk was modified by menopausal status, with a significant increase in risk observed in postmenopausal but not premenopausal women. Moreover, a fairly robust inverse association of adiponectin with the risk was observed only in postmenopausal women (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.23-0.97), but not in premenopausal women. Additionally, the plasma adiponectin levels tended to be inversely associated with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (adjusted OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.27-0.98) but not ER-negative breast tumors. Furthermore, the associations of adiponectin with breast cancer risk overall and by menopausal and ER status remained after adjustment for obesity indices. These results suggest that adiponectin may have an independent role in breast carcinogenesis, particularly in the postmenopausal and ER-positive breast cancer risk.

Uric acid concentration as a risk marker for blood pressure progression and incident hypertension: a Chinese cohort study.

OBJECTIVE Little is known about serum uric acid (SUA) role for hypertension in the Asian countries with low cardiovascular events. We aimed to explore the relationship in a comprehensive Chinese cohort. METHODS Participants in the Taiwanese Survey on Prevalences of Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, and Hyperlipidemia (TwSHHH) who were free of hypertension at baseline recruitment in 2002 (n=3257) were evaluated for the longitudinal association between baseline SUA and blood pressure progression (BPP) and incident hypertension. RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 5.41 years, 1119 persons (34.3%) had experienced progression to a higher blood pressure stage and 496 persons (15.2%) had developed hypertension. In multivariate analyses, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] comparing the highest and lowest SUA quartiles were 1.78 (1.11-2.02, P for trend .004) for BPP and 1.68 (1.23-2.04, P for trend .028) for incident hypertension. The positively graded relationships between SUA concentration and blood pressure outcomes were observed in both males and females. More interestingly, a statistically significant trend for increasing risk of BPP and incident hypertension across SUA quartiles was most pronounced in participants with abdominal obesity. CONCLUSION We concluded that SUA level was an independent predictor of blood pressure progression and incident hypertension in a Chinese population.

Impact of metabolic syndrome on the incidence of chronic kidney disease: a Chinese cohort study.

Aim:  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major culprit in cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Western populations. We studied the longitudinal association between MetS and incident CKD in Chinese adults.

Association between Hyperuricemia and Metabolic Syndrome: An Epidemiological Study of a Labor Force Population in Taiwan

The increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become an important issue worldwide. Metabolic comorbidities of hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia are shown as important risk factors for incident gout. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hyperuricemia and MetS. This is a cross-sectional study. The effective sample included 21,544 individuals who received worker health examinations at a local teaching hospital in Changhua County from 2008~2012. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to investigate the influences of hyperuricemia on MetS. The results showed that individuals with MetS had significantly higher blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, waist circumference, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than those without MetS (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed hyperuricemia to be an important factor of MetS. The risk of developing MetS is higher with high levels of serum uric acid (SUA) and the odds ratio (OR) of having MetS is 4.98 times higher for Tertile 3 than for Tertile 1 (95% CI = 4.16–5.97) and 4 times higher for Quartile 4 than for Quartile 1 (95% CI = 3.59–4.46). In conclusion, males are more likely to develop MetS than females, and the risk of having MetS increases with age and SUA concentration.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and factors associated with quality of dialysis among hemodialysis patients in Southern Taiwan.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among hemodialysis patients and factors associated with quality of dialysis. Methods: Data were collected from 377 long-term hemodialysis patients who received hemodialysis treatment from clinics in Tainan and Kaohsiung between November 2009 and February 2010. MetS was defined using criteria set by the adult treatment panel III (ATP-III). But, the cutpoint of waist circumference has been modified to adjust for Asian populations. The measurement of Kt/V was used as an indicator of the quality of dialysis. A below 1.4 Kt/V was considered poor dialysis quality. Results: Results showed that the prevalence of MetS among the chronic hemodialysis patients in this sample was 61.0%. Logistic regression results identified that the quality of dialysis in females was better than that in males (odds ratio (OR)=7.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.52-25.31). Better quality dialysis was associated with older age, longer treatment time, and increased blood flow rate (OR=1.49, 13.63, and 1.35, respectively). However, for every one kilogram increase in weight, the quality of dialysis decreased by 13 percents (OR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.83-0.92). Conclusions: MetS is common among hemodialysis patients. The prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycaemia were significantly higher among hemodialysis patients. Quality of dialysis related to gender, age, weight, and the dialysis prescription (treatment time and blood flow rate).

Joint effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ genetic polymorphisms and estrogen-related risk factors on breast cancer risk: results from a case–control study in Taiwan

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has been linked with possible antineoplastic effects in colorectal carcinogenesis. However, data for the possible link between PPARγ and breast cancer risk are sparse. We assessed the association of three polymorphisms in PPARγ (rs10865710 [C-681T], rs1805192 [Pro12Ala], and rs3856806 [C1431T]) with the risk of breast cancer in an ethnic Chinese female population in Taiwan. In addition, interactions with estrogen exposures were also explored. Genotypes for the PPARγ polymorphisms were determined on 291 incident breast cancer cases and 589 matched controls by fluorogenic 5′-nuclease assay. The at-risk haplotypes were defined according to the three polymorphisms in the following order: C-681T, Pro12Ala, and C1431T, which include CCT, GGT, and GGC. In addition, a critical period of estrogen exposure was estimated by the interval between age at menarche and age at first full-term pregnancy. Overall, there was no evidence of a significant impact of individual polymorphisms of PPARγ on breast cancer risk. However, the haplotype analysis revealed that women harboring at-risk haplotypes showed a significant 67% increase in breast cancer risk [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–2.52]. Furthermore, there was a significant joint effect of estrogen exposure-related factors and at-risk haplotypes of PPARγ on breast cancer risk (adjusted OR 4.04; 95% CI 1.89–8.65), particularly in premenopausal women. The present study implicates a role for PPARγ in breast cancer risk. Mechanistic studies to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying PPARγ’s effects should be pursued in future investigations.

Dietary Intake of Vitamin B6 and Risk of Breast Cancer in Taiwanese Women

Background B vitamins, including vitamin B6, are coenzymes that are important for DNA integrity and stability. Deficiencies in B vitamins may promote tumor carcinogenesis. Methods We examined the association of dietary vitamin B6 intake with overall breast cancer risk and breast cancers stratified by hormone receptor status. This case-control study included 391 breast cancer cases and 782 control subjects enrolled at the Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. Energy-adjusted intake of vitamin B6 was derived from a food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression. Results As compared with women in the lowest tertile, the multivariate-adjusted ORs for breast cancer among women in the second and highest tertiles of vitamin B6 intake were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.64–2.52) and 0.64 (0.26–0.92), respectively. In addition, higher vitamin B6 intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing ER-negative breast tumors. Conclusions Our findings suggest that higher intake of vitamin B6 is associated with a reduction in breast cancer risk, particularly ER-negative tumors.

DNA Methylation Combinations in Adjacent Normal Colon Tissue Predict Cancer Recurrence: Evidence from a Clinical Cohort Study

Accumulating evidence has suggested the requirement for further stratification of patients in the same tumor stage according to molecular factors. We evaluate the combination of cancer stage and DNA methylation status as an indicator of the risk of recurrence and mortality among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). A cohort study of 215 patients with CRC (mean age 64.32 years; 50.5% of men) from Tri-Service General Hospital in Taiwan examined the association between cancer stage and risk of CRC recurrence and mortality. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze patient methylation status and clinical information at study entry, and their associations with CRC recurrence and mortality during follow-up. The advanced stage patients with p16, hMLH1, and MGMT methylation were associated with higher risk of CRC recurrence compared with the local stage patients with unmethylation status in tumor tissues, with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 9.64 (2.92–31.81), 8.29 (3.40–20.22), and 11.83 (3.49–40.12), respectively. When analyzing normal tissues, we observed similar risk of CRC recurrence with adjusted HRs (95% CI) of 10.85 (4.06–28.96), 9.04 (3.79–21.54), and 12.61 (4.90–32.44), respectively. For combined analyses, the risk of recurrence in the patients in advanced stage with DNA methylation in both normal and tumor tissues, compared with local stage with unmethylation, was increased with adjusted HR (95% CI) of 9.37 (3.36–26.09). In the advanced stage patients, methylation status and tissue subtype were associated with increased risk of 5-year cumulative CRC recurrence (p < 0.001). This study demonstrates that clustering DNA methylation status according to cancer stage and tissue subtype is critical for the assessment of risk of recurrence in CRC patients and also indicated an underlying mechanism.

The Link of Self-Reported Insomnia Symptoms and Sleep Duration with Metabolic Syndrome: A Chinese Population-Based Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The aims of this study are to investigate the relationships of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with insomnia symptoms and sleep duration in a Chinese adult population. METHODS Data from a nationwide epidemiological survey conducted on residents from randomly selected districts in Taiwan in 2007 were used for this cross-sectional population-based study. A total of 4,197 participants were included in this study. Insomnia symptoms, including difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakening (EMA), were assessed using the Insomnia Self-Assessment Inventory questionnaire. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based upon their reported sleep duration (< 7, 7-8, and ≥ 9 h per night). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) derived from multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate the study aims. RESULTS The endorsement of DIS and DMS were cross-sectionally associated with the MetS after adjustment for sleep duration (OR [95% CI] was 1.24 [1.01-1.51] and 1.28 [1.02-1.61], respectively). In addition, short sleep duration was significantly associated with the prevalence of MetS independent of insomnia symptoms (OR [95% CI] was 1.54 [1.05-2.47]). However, there was no significant combined effect of insomnia symptoms and sleep duration on the prevalence of MetS. CONCLUSIONS The current investigation shows that short sleep duration and insomnia symptoms, specifically DIS and DMS, were significant correlates of MetS. These findings should be replicated in prospective studies using both sleep duration and sleep quality measures.