BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases. AIM: To determine the relationship between overall or abdominal obesity and various metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: The medical records of participants undergoing examination from January 2000 to December 2002 were analysed. Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) for overall obesity and waist circumference (WC; cm) indicating abdominal obesity were measured. Four groups were studied: (1) BMI < 27kg/m2, WC: female < 80cm or male < 90cm; (2) BMI > or = 27kg/m2, WC: female < 80cm or male < 90cm; (3) BMI < 27kg/m2, WC: female > or = 80cm or male > or = 90cm; (4) BMI > or = 27kg/m2, WC: female > or = 80cm or male > or = 90cm. RESULTS: There were 1,342 (44%) females and 1,711 males aged 20-87 years. The prevalence of overall obesity was 20.4% and abdominal obesity was 48%. Obese subjects had more metabolic abnormalities than non-obese in terms of risk of hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, high level of LDL, low level of HDL, high ratio of TC/HDL, hyperuricaemia and fatty liver. CONCLUSIONS: As overall and abdominal obesity may predict clustering of metabolic abnormalities we suggest that BMI and WC are convenient methods for assessing metabolic abnormalities in primary healthcare settings.

Abdominal Fat↗

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Congenital acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (M7) with chromosomal t(1;22)(p13;q13) translocation in a set of identical twins.

Chromosomal translocations at t(1;22)(p13;q13) have been reported to occur in a number of infants with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. A set of female twins with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia are reported with this unique translocation of 1p13 to 22q13. The twins presented at 2 months of age with fever and poor feeding and subsequently developed progressive hepatosplenomegaly. One twin died before treatment could be started; the other became septicemic 5 days after initiation of chemotherapy and eventually died.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

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Clinical analysis of a dysentery outbreak in Taichung.

In September 1993, we collected 207 patients due to dysentery, who visited the Department of Pediatrics at China Medical College Hospital. In our report, 67.6% of these patients were amebic dysentery, 19.3% were combined infection with amebic and Shigella sonnei dysentery, and 13.1% were Shigella sonnei dysentery. Therefore, amebic dysentery was the predominant cause during this outbreak. The clinical features of this outbreak were, in descending order, watery stool, fever, abdominal pain, mucinous stool and bloody stool. No concurrent liver abscess was discerned. Because there had not been such a clustering of dysentery in Taichung for so many years, we thought that travel to endemic areas might have been the underlying predisposing cause. Most of the school water supplying system was ground water, which might have been contaminated by a few patients returning from endemic areas. We thought that fecal-oral route by contaminated water might have been the primary transmission route.

Adolescent↗

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Hypercholesterolemia and its correlates in Taiwanese elderly people.

BACKGROUND: Our study used data collected in Chung-Shing-Shin-Tseun community in Taiwan in May 1998 to evaluate the relationship between hypercholesterolemia and the cardiovascular and sociodemographic risk factors in elderly people. METHODS: Individuals aged 65 and over were recruited as study subjects. A total of 1,093 persons, out of 1,774 registered residents, were contacted in face-to-face interview. The response rate was 61.6 percent. However, only 586 respondents took blood tests and completed questionnaires. Analysis in this study was based on these 586 subjects. The t-test, chi-square analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used to study the significant correlates of hypercholesterolemia. RESULTS: Our results showed that 66 percent were men and 34 percent were women. The mean age was 73.1 +/- 5.3 years. The mean total cholesterol value was 5.1 +/- 1 mmol/l in elderly men and 5.5 +/- 1.3 mmol/l in elderly women. The proportions of hypercholesterolemia were 43.7 percent in elderly men and 59.6 percent in elderly women. After controlling the other covariates, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the significant related factors of hypercholesterolemia were age, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperuricemia. No significant association was found between hypercholesterolemia and gender, obesity, high systolic pressure, high diastolic pressure, hyperglycemia, educational level, retirement status, or marital status. CONCLUSION: Hypercholesterolemia is significantly associated with hypertriglyceridemia and hyperuricemia in elderly people. It is important to determine other metabolic disorders if one metabolic disorder is disclosed.

Age Distribution↗

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Epidemiology of obesity in elderly people.

Our study used data collected at Chung-Shing-Shin-Tseun community in Taiwan in May 1998 to evaluate the relationship between obesity and the cardiovascular and sociodemographic risk factors in elderly people. Individuals aged 65 and over were recruited as study subjects. A total of 1093 persons, out of 1774 registered residents, were contacted in face-to-face interview. The response rate was 61.6 percent. However only 586 respondents took blood tests and completed questionnaires. Analysis in this study was based on these 586 subjects. The chi-square analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to study the significant correlates of obesity. Our results showed that 66 percent were men and 34 percent were women. The mean age was 73.1 +/- 5.3 years. The overweight proportions were 24.8 percent in elderly men and 29.7 percent in elderly women. The obesity proportions were 12.7 percent in elderly men and 11.5 percent in elderly women. After controlling the other covariates, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that overweight and obesity were associated with hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia. In conclusions, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is high in Taiwanese elderly people. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate other metabolic disorders if one metabolic abnormality is observed.

Aged↗

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Mucocele of the appendix with hematuria.

Mucocele of the appendix, a nonspecific and descriptive term for an abnormal mucous accumulation within the appendiceal lumen, regardless of the underlying cause, is a rare clinical disease that is not usual as a consideration in the differential diagnosis of right lower quadrant lesions. The reported prevalence of mucocele of the appendix in appendectomy specimens is 0.2-0.3 percent. Hematuria due to mucocele of the appendix is extremely rare. Up to now, only few cases of such condition have been recorded in the literature. We describe a woman who experienced intermittent episodes of right lower quadrant pain and hematuria. Abdominal exploration incidentally displayed mucocele of the appendix. No evidence of other lesions was found. The patient was still in good health after operation. This case highlights mucocele of the appendix as a consideration in the differential diagnosis of right lower quadrant pain with hematuria.

Aged↗

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Hypertension and its related factors in Taiwanese elderly people.

BACKGROUND: Our study used data collected in Chung-Hsing Village in May 1998 to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and its correlates in Taiwanese elderly people. METHODS: All of individuals aged 65 and over were recruited as study subjects. A total of 1,093 persons, out of 1,774 registered residents, were contacted by face-to-face interview The response rate was 61.6 percent. However, only 586 respondents had blood tests and completed questionnaires. Analysis in this study was based on these 586 subjects. In order to study the significant correlates of hypertension, the t-test, chi-square analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used. RESULTS: Our results showed that 66 percent were men and 34 percent were women. The mean age was 73.1 +/- 5.3 years. The proportions of hypertension were 53.09 percent in men and 56.06 percent in women (p > 0.05). After controlling the other covariates, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the significant related factors of hypertension were obesity (OR = 1.88, 95 percent CI = 1.06-3.34, p < 0.05) and renalfunction impairment (OR = 1.69, 95 percent CI = 1.02-2.80, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypertension was high in elderly people. Hypertension is significantly associated with obesity and renalfunction impairment in elderly people.

Age Distribution↗

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Epidemiology of hyperuricemia in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Our study used data collected in Chung-Hsing Village to evaluate the relationship between hyperuricemia and the cardiovascular risk factors and the socio-demographic factors in the elderly in May 1998. METHODS: All individuals aged 65 and over were studied. A total of 1093 subjects, out of 1774 registered residents, were contacted by face-to-face interview. The response rate was 61.6 percent. However only 586 respondents had blood tests and completed questionnaires. Analysis in this study was based on these 586 subjects. To study the significant correlates of hyperuricemia, t- test, two-way ANOVA, chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used. RESULTS: Our results showed that 66 percent were men and 34 percent were women. The mean age was 73.1+/-5.3 years. The proportions of hyperuricemia were 57.3 percent in men and 40.9 percent in women (p < .01). In chi-square test, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, renal function impairment, retirement status and marital status were related to hyperuricemia. After controlling the other covariates, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the significant related factors of hyperuricemia were hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and renal function impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperuricemia is often found in the elderly. Hyperuricemia is more common in elderly men than in elderly women. A large-scale investigation will be suggested in the future to address causal-effect issues between hyperuricemia and hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or renalfunction impairment.

Aged↗

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Association between obesity and hyperlipidemia among children.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to show the association between obesity and hyperlipidemia among the children. METHODS: In March 2000, while conducting a comprehensive health examination, we analyzed 2011 children from the first grade of primary schools in Taichung City in Taiwan. To study the association between obesity and hyperlipidemia, the t test, chi-square analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used. RESULTS: There were 1057 boys (52.56 percent) and 954 girls (47.44 percent). The mean age was 7.27 +/- 0.46 years. The proportion of overweight was 11.07 percent in boys and 11.64 percent in girls. The proportion of obesity was 14.19 percent in boys and 12.89 percent in girls. After controlling the other covariates, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that overweight was associated with a low level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Obesity was associated with hypertriglyceridemia, a high level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a low level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings disclosed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was high in childhood. Early intervention to control and prevent childhood obesity might be warranted. Obesity was associated with hyperlipidemia in children. A wide-scale survey will be suggested in the future to establish causal-effect issues between obesiyy and hyperlipidemia.

Body Weight↗