Temperature variation and the incidence of cluster headache periods: A nationwide population study

Cephalalgia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 656-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y-Jung Lee ◽  
Yung-Tai Chen ◽  
Shuo-Ming Ou ◽  
Szu-Yuan Li ◽  
Albert C Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Meteorological Factors ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Case Crossover ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽  
Central Weather Bureau ◽  
The Impact

Background Cluster headache (CH) is well known to show a seasonal predilection; however, the impact of temperature and other meteorological factors on cluster periods (or bouts) has not been established. Methods This nationwide survey included 758 patients with episodic CH retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2005 to 2009. Corresponding meteorological recordings were obtained from the Central Weather Bureau. A case-crossover study design was used to investigate the association between cluster periods and meteorological factors. Results A total of 2452 episodes of cluster periods were recorded. The cluster periods were most frequent in the autumn and least frequent in the winter. Seasonal changes from winter to spring and from autumn to winter also increased the frequency of cluster periods. The risk of cluster periods increased when there was a higher mean temperature on event days (odds ratio (OR), 1.014, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.005–1.023, p = 0.003) or within seven to 56 days. Either an increase or a decrease in temperature (0.05℃/day) following a warm period (mean temperature ≥26℃) was associated with the onset of cluster periods. In contrast, a greater increase in temperature (0.15℃/day) following a cold period (mean temperature < 21℃) was needed to evoke cluster periods. No such associations were found following moderate periods (21℃ ≤mean temperature <26℃). Discussion Our study shows that temperature is associated with precipitating or priming cluster periods. The influence depends on the temperature of the preceding periods.

scholarly journals A Multifactorial Evaluation of the Effects of Air Pollution and Meteorological Factors on Asthma Exacerbation

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 4010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Ren Yu ◽  
Chun-Hung Richard Lin ◽  
Jui-Hsiu Tsai ◽  
Yun-Ting Hsieh ◽  
Ti-An Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Meteorological Factors ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Crossover Analysis ◽  
Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽  
Comprehensive Study

In the real world, dynamic changes in air pollutants and meteorological factors coexist simultaneously. Studies identifying the effects of individual pollutants on acute exacerbation (AE) of asthma may overlook the health effects of the overall combination. A comprehensive study examining the influence of air pollution and meteorological factors is required. Asthma AE data from emergency room visits were collected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Complete monitoring data for air pollutants (SO2; NO2; O3; CO; PM2.5; PM10) and meteorological factors were collected from the Environmental Protection Agency monitoring stations. A bi-directional case-crossover analysis was used to investigate the effects of air pollution and meteorological factors on asthma AE. Among age group divisions, a 1 °C temperature increase was a protective factor for asthma ER visits with OR = 0.981 (95% CI, 0.971–0.991) and 0.985 (95% CI, 0.975–0.994) for pediatric and adult patients, respectively. Children, especially younger females, are more susceptible to asthma AE due to the effects of outdoor air pollution than adults. Meteorological factors are important modulators for asthma AE in both asthmatic children and adults. When studying the effects of air pollution on asthma AE, meteorological factors should be considered.

The Effect of Weather on Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Prescription: Seasonal Variation in PD Dialysate Utilization

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzen-Wen Chen ◽  
Szu-Yuan Li ◽  
Tzeng-Ji Chen ◽  
Yu-Chun Chen ◽  
Chiu-Ling Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Cyclic Pattern ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
The Relationship

♦ BackgroundThere have been no reports on peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution utilization since this treatment was developed in the 1920s. The aim of the present investigation was to investigate if weather affects PD prescription.♦ Study Design and MethodsThis 10-year observational study used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Setting and Participants: Claims for different concentrate PD dialysate were analyzed monthly. 2.5% and 4.25% PD solutes were defined as hypertonic solutions. Predictor: Monthly outdoor mean temperature. Outcome and Measurement: The relationship between monthly mean of PD dialysate utilization and monthly outdoor temperature was analyzed by linear regression. Monthly mean PD dialysate utilization amount in 4 quarters was analyzed by ANOVA.♦ ResultsDuring the 10-year study period, a clear seasonal variation in PD dialysate was observed. This seasonal variation was present regardless of age, gender, and the presence of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Monthly mean temperature was positively correlated to 1.5% dialysate utilization amount ( r = 0.559, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated to 2.5% ( r = –0.533, p < 0.001) and 4.25% ( r= –0.410, p < 0.001) dialysate utilization amount. In longitudinal follow-up, hypertonic PD fluid utilization was higher in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients from the beginning of treatment. Thereafter, it increased rapidly and reached a plateau within 1 year. Limitations: Analysis of ultrafiltration amount, blood pressure, and body weight was unfeasible due to the nature of the database.♦ ConclusionsThe utilization of differential strengths of PD solutions has a seasonal cyclic pattern, with more hypertonic PD solution utilized in winter and more hypotonic PD solution in summer.

scholarly journals Impact of Urbanization and Sunlight Exposure on Cataract Incidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 8137
Author(s):  
Wan-Syuan Yu ◽  
Chia-Hui Wang ◽  
Nai-Wen Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Sunlight Exposure ◽  
Exposure Data ◽  
Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽  
Impact Of Urbanization ◽  
Central Weather Bureau ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insurance Database

The impact of urbanization on cataract incidence is still inconclusive. This study aimed to examine the association of urbanization and sunlight exposure with cataract incidence using a nationwide population-based database in Taiwan. The researchers used data retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database from 2001 to 2010 (LHID2010). The LHID2010 consists of medical claims data for reimbursement for 1 million individuals randomly selected from all enrollees (N = 23.25 million) in the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) program in 2010. For adults aged over 40, we identified a total of 3080 people diagnosed with senile cataracts (ICD-9:360) and 393,241 people without senile cataracts in the LHID2010. In addition, sunlight exposure data between 2001 and 2011 were obtained from 28 meteorological stations of the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau. Logistic regression was performed to test the hypothesis. When controlled for the confounding factors, such as demographic factors, comorbidities, and sunlight exposure, the logistic regression results showed that those living in highly urbanized areas are more likely to suffer from senile cataracts (p < 0.001).

scholarly journals Risk of acute exacerbation between acetaminophen and ibuprofen in children with asthma

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin-Shien Fu ◽  
Che-Chen Lin ◽  
Chia-Yi Wei ◽  
Ching-Heng Lin ◽  
Yung-Chieh Huang
Keyword(s):  
Asthma Exacerbation ◽  
Persistent Asthma ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Pediatric Practice ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Children With Asthma ◽  
Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ibuprofen Group

Background Antipyretics are widely prescribed in pediatric practice. Some reports have mentioned that acetaminophen and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs may negatively affect asthma control by causing asthma exacerbation (AE). However, many confounding factors can also influence the risks. We assessed the impact of using acetaminophen or ibuprofen on AE in asthmatic children, especially those with strong risk factors. Methods We used the 2010 Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and identified 983 children with persistent asthma aged 1–5 years old; among them, 591 used acetaminophen alone and 392 used ibuprofen alone in 2010. Then, we analyzed the risk of AE over 52 weeks in the patients with and without severe AE in the previous year. Results The ibuprofen group had a higher risk of an emergency room (ER) visit or hospitalization for AE (odds ratio (OR) = 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.17–3.76], P = 0.01). Among asthmatic children who had severe AE in the previous year, the risk of AE was higher in the ibuprofen group than in the acetaminophen group (OR = 3.28, 95% CI [1.30–8.29], P = 0.01), where as among those who did not, the risks of AE were similar between the acetaminophen and ibuprofen groups (OR = 1.52, 95% CI [0.71–3.25], P = 0.28). Conclusions Among young asthmatic children, use of ibuprofen was associated with a higher risk of AE than acetaminophen, if they had severe AE with ER visit or hospitalization in the previous year. Pediatricians should use antipyretics among children with asthma after a full evaluation of the risk.

scholarly journals Chronic Pain Increases the Risk of Dementia: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. E849-E856
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain (CP) may increase the risk of cognitive impairment; however, the association between CP and dementia is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, we conducted this study to clarify the association between CP and dementia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: Nationwide population based. METHODS: This study recruited 27,792 patients (>= 50 years) with CP from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2015, as the study cohort. The comparison cohort consists of patients without CP who were matched 1:1 for age, gender, and index date with the study cohort. A comparison of the risk of dementia between the two cohorts was performed by following up until 2015. RESULTS: The prevalence of CP was 13.4% in the population aged >= 50 years. Patients with CP had a higher risk of dementia than those without CP (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]: 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-1.26). Compared with the other age subgroups, the 50-64 years age group with CP had the highest risk of dementia (AHR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.14-1.43). The impact of CP on the increased risk of dementia was more prominent in the younger age subgroup and decreased with aging. The increased risk of dementia in patients with CP was persistent, even following up for more than 5 years (AHR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.12-1.26). LIMITATIONS: Using “analgesics use at least 3 months” as the surrogate criteria of CP may underestimate the diagnosis of CP. CONCLUSIONS: CP was associated with a higher risk of dementia, especially in the 50-64 years age group. Early treatment of CP for the prevention of dementia is suggested. KEY WORDS: Chronic pain. cognitive impairment, dementia

scholarly journals The impact of cancer development on the risk of mycobacterial diseases among rheumatoid arthritis patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (12) ◽  
pp. 2482-2490 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-W. PAN ◽  
Y.-F. YEN ◽  
Y. R. KOU ◽  
P.-H. CHUANG ◽  
J.-Y. FENG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Cancer Development ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Mycobacterial Diseases ◽  
Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽  
Independent Risk Factors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Necrosis Factor

SUMMARYMycobacterial diseases are prevalent in cancer and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, especially those receiving tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor (TNFi). However, the impact of cancer development on the risk of mycobacterial diseases among RA patients is unknown. Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were used to conduct a retrospective study to assess the occurrence of mycobacterial diseases in RA patients developing cancer (cancer-positive), those using TNFi (TNFi-exposure), those with cancer and using TNFi (cancer-TNFi-comb), and those without cancer and not using TNFi (cancer-TNFi-free). Cancer and TNFi exposure were time-dependent, and independent risk factors of mycobacterial diseases were assessed by Cox regression. Among 1344 RA patients diagnosed during 2000–2013, 68 (5·1%) developed cancer before their end points. The incidence rates of mycobacterial diseases in the cancer-positive (n = 56), TNFi-exposure (n = 290), cancer-TNFi-comb (n = 12), and cancer-TNFi-free (n = 986) subgroups were 6·7, 2·0, 7·6, and 1·3 per 1000 person-years, respectively. As compared with the cancer-TNFi-free group, the risk for mycobacterial diseases increased for the TNFi-exposure group (adjusted HR = 3·6, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1·1–11·5, P = 0·032) and remained high for cancer-positive (adjusted HR = 14·6, 95% CI 3·3–63·7, P < 0·001) after adjustment. This study suggested that cancer development increased the risk of mycobacterial diseases in RA patients, and risk assessment for this subgroup should be considered.

Ferro-nanofluid squeeze film lubrication with heat transfer

2021 ◽  
pp. 135065012110276
Author(s):  
Manimegalai Kavarthalai ◽  
Vimala Ponnuswamy
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Rate ◽  
Contact Time ◽  
Transfer Rate ◽  
Fluid Layer ◽  
Darcy Law ◽  
Squeeze Film ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
Special Cases ◽  
The Impact

A theoretical study of a squeezing ferro-nanofluid flow including thermal effects is carried out with application to bearings and articular cartilages. A representational geometry of the thin layer of a ferro-nanofluid squeezed between a flat rigid disk and a thin porous bed is considered. The flow behaviours and heat transfer in the fluid and porous regions are investigated. The mathematical problem is formulated based on the Neuringer–Rosensweig model for ferro-nanofluids in the fluid region including an external magnetic field, Darcy law for the porous region and Beavers–Joseph slip condition at the fluid–porous interface. The expressions for velocity, fluid film thickness, contact time, fluid flux, streamlines, pathlines, mean temperature and heat transfer rate in the fluid and porous regions are obtained by using a perturbation method. An asymptotic solution for the fluid layer thickness is also presented. The problem is also solved by a numerical method and the results by asymptotic analysis, perturbation and numerical methods are obtained assuming a constant force squeezing state and are compared. It is shown that the results obtained by all the methods agree well with each other. The effects of various parameters such as Darcy number, Beavers–Joseph constant and magnetization parameter on the flow behaviours, contact time, mean temperature and heat transfer rate are investigated. The novel results showing the impact of using ferro-nanofluids in the two applications under consideration are presented. The results under special cases are further compared with the existing results in the literature and are found to agree well.

Didactic education in paediatric cardiology during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national fellow survey

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Madhusudan Ganigara ◽  
Chetan Sharma ◽  
Fernando Molina Berganza ◽  
Krittika Joshi ◽  
Andrew D. Blaufox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Paediatric Cardiology ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on medical educational curricula. We aimed to examine the impact of these unprecedented changes on the formal education of paediatric cardiology fellows through a nationwide survey. A REDCap™-based voluntary anonymous survey was sent to all current paediatric cardiology fellows in the United States of America in May, 2020. Of 143 respondents, 121 were categorical fellows, representing over one-fourth of all categorical paediatric cardiology fellows in the United States of America. Nearly all (140/143, 97.9%) respondents utilised online learning during the pandemic, with 134 (93.7%) reporting an increase in use compared to pre-pandemic. The percentage of respondents reporting curriculum supplementation with outside lectures increased from 11.9 to 88.8% during the pandemic. Respondents considered online learning to be “equally or more effective” than in-person lectures in convenience (133/142, 93.7%), improving fellow attendance (132/142, 93.0%), improving non-fellow attendance (126/143, 88.1%), and meeting individual learning needs (101/143, 70.6%). The pandemic positively affected the lecture curriculum of 83 respondents (58.0%), with 35 (24.5%) reporting no change and 25 (17.5%) reporting a negative effect. A positive effect was most noted by those whose programmes utilised supplemental outside lectures (62.2 versus 25.0%, p = 0.004) and those whose lecture frequency did not decrease (65.1 versus 5.9%, p < 0.001). Restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly increased utilisation of online learning platforms by medical training programmes. This survey reveals that an online lecture curriculum, despite inherent obstacles, offers advantages that may mitigate some negative consequences of the pandemic on fellowship education.

scholarly journals Seasonal feeding plasticity can facilitate coexistence of dominant omnivores in Neotropical streams

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayara P. Neves ◽  
Pavel Kratina ◽  
Rosilene L. Delariva ◽  
J. Iwan Jones ◽  
Clarice B. Fialho
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Diet Overlap ◽  
Isotopic Niche ◽  
Neotropical Streams ◽  
Feeding Plasticity ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCoexistence of ecomorphologically similar species in diverse Neotropical ecosystems has been a focus of long-term debate among ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Such coexistence can be promoted by trophic plasticity and seasonal changes in omnivorous feeding. We combined stomach content and stable isotope analyses to determine how seasonal variation in resource availability influences the consumption and assimilation of resources by two syntopic fish species, Psalidodon aff. gymnodontus and P. bifasciatus, in the Lower Iguaçu basin. We also tested the impact of seasonality on trophic niche breadth and diet overlap of these two dominant omnivores. Seasonal changes in resource availability strongly influenced the consumption and assimilation of resources by the two fish species. Both species exhibited high levels of omnivory, characterized by high diversity of allochthonous resources in the wet season. Terrestrial invertebrates were the main component of diet during this season. However, in the dry season, both species reduced their isotopic niches, indicating diet specialization. High diet overlap was observed in both seasons, but the isotopic niche overlap was smaller in the dry season. Substantial reduction in the isotopic niche of P. bifascistus and a shift toward aquatic invertebrates can facilitate coexistence during this season of resource shortage. Feeding plasticity allows omnivorous fish to adjust their trophic niches according to seasonality, promoting the exploitation of different resources during periods of greater resource diversity. This seasonal variation could be an important mechanism that contributes to the resource partitioning and coexistence of dominant omnivores in Neotropical streams.

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