1.Incidence, Clinical Presentation, and Outcome of Hyperthyroidism in Children and Adolescents: A Single-Centre Study
Sivaneshwary Selvam ; Nurshadia Binti Samingan
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2026;41(S1):129-
Introduction:
Hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents, although uncommon, has significant effects on growth, neurodevelopment,
and quality of life. Local data in Malaysia are limited, and regional variations may influence disease presentation and
outcomes. This study aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of paediatric
hyperthyroidism at a tertiary centre.
Methodology:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Paediatric Endocrine Clinic, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, from
2014 to 2024. Patients aged below 18 years with confirmed hyperthyroidism were included. Demographic, clinical,
biochemical, and treatment data were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used, and associations were tested using chisquare and Fisher’s exact tests, with p <0.05 considered significant.
Results:
Forty-three patients were included, representing 9.7% of paediatric thyroid disorders. The cohort was predominantly
female (74.4%) and majority Malay, with a median age of 11.7 years. Most patients presented with typical features,
including palpitations (72.5%), goiter (62.5%), weight loss (45.0%), and heat intolerance (40.0%). However, atypical
presentations such as learning difficulties and psychological disturbances were also observed and, in some cases,
constituted the chief complaints. Notably, 82.5% of patients presented with severe thyrotoxicosis. Grave’s disease was the
predominant etiology. All patients received antithyroid drugs, mainly carbimazole, with 80.0% achieving disease control
and a median time to euthyroid state of 2 months. The duration of antithyroid drug therapy prior to cessation was shorter
than international recommendations, indicating a significant reduction in time to treatment completion. Relapse occurred
in 25.0% and was significantly associated with poor disease control (p = 0.014), while no significant associations were found
with demographic or biochemical factors. Definitive therapy was required in 35.0%, with older age, growth stunting, and
prior relapse identified as significant predictors (p <0.05).
Conclusion
Paediatric hyperthyroidism in this Malaysian cohort is predominantly due to Graves’ disease and frequently presents with
both classical and atypical manifestations, which may delay diagnosis. Despite a high proportion of severe thyrotoxicosis
at presentation, antithyroid drug therapy was effective, with a shorter duration to treatment cessation compared to
international standards. Poor disease control emerged as the strongest predictor of relapse, while older age, growth
stunting, and prior relapse predicted progression to definitive therapy. Early recognition and individualized management
are essential to optimize outcomes. Larger multicentre studies are needed to inform national clinical practice guidelines.
Adolescent
;
Child
;
Incidence
;
Hyperthyroidism
2.Impact of Triglyceride-Glucose Index on the Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(2):251-258
Objective To investigate the impact of the triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index on the risk of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Methods Based on the data from UK Biobank,participants were allocated into three groups,TyG1(≤4.564),TyG2(4.564-4.808),and TyG3(≥4.808),according to tertiles of the TyG index.Kaplan-Meier curves were established to analyze the cumulative incidence of IBD.Further,Cox proportional hazard regression was employed to analyze the hazard ratio(HR)and its 95% confidential interval(95%CI)of each group.The same analysis was conducted for different subtypes(ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)of IBD.Sensitive analysis based on the competing risk model was performed after excluding participants who were diagnosed within one year.Results A total of 116 423 participants were included in this study,with the median follow-up time of 12.56 years.The incidence densities of IBD in the TyG1,TyG2,and TyG3 groups were 4.47,5.94,and 6.50 per 10 000 person-year,respectively.The cumulative incidence of IBD increased with the rise in TyG,and Log-rank test results showed differences in cumulative incidence between groups(P<0.001).After adjusting the confounding factors,the HR(95%CI)of IBD in the TyG2 and TyG3 groups was 1.50(1.21-1.85)and 1.71(1.36-2.16),respectively.The results of the subgroup analysis after adjusting the confounding factors revealed that the HR(95%CI)of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in the TyG3 group was 1.48(1.16-1.74)and 2.27(1.51-3.42),respectively.The sensitive analysis yielded similar results after excluding participants who were diagnosed within one year.Conclusion A high TyG index indicates an increased risk of IBD and its subtypes.
Humans
;
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/blood*
;
Triglycerides/blood*
;
Incidence
;
Blood Glucose/analysis*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Risk Factors
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Crohn Disease/epidemiology*
3.Burden and Changing Trends of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in China From 1990 to 2021.
Jun TANG ; Nan ZHENG ; Yu-Xin YAN ; Nan ZHANG ; Xiao-Mei REN
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(4):575-581
Objective To analyze the changing trends of the burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)in China from 1990 to 2021 and provide a basis for formulating prevention and treatment strategies.Methods The standardized incidence rate,prevalence,mortality,and disability-adjusted life year(DALY)rate of NAFLD in China from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.The average annual percentage change of rate data was calculated by Joinpoint 4.2 and the age,period,and birth cohort effects of the prevalence and DALY rate were analyzed by the age-period-cohort model.Results Compared to 1990,the incidence rate and prevalence of NAFLD have been on the rise,while the mortality and DALY rate have been declining.The age effect curves of prevalence and DALY rate showed an upward trend followed by a downward trend for both males and females.With the period from 1992 to 1996 as the reference group,the period effect curve of prevalence showed a downward trend followed by an upward trend,being the lowest in the period from 2002 to 2006(RR=0.93).The period effect curve of DALY rate showed a downward trend from 1992 to 2011 and then tended to flatten out.With the period from 1972 to 1981 as the reference group,the birth cohort effect curve of prevalence showed a steady upward trend in the general population and both male and female populations.The birth cohort effect curve of DALY rate showed an overall upward trend followed by a downward trend,with the peak occurring in the birth cohort group between 1922 and 1931.The DALY rate of NAFLD caused by smoking and high fasting blood glucose has shown a downward trend since 2014,and fasting blood glucose gradually became the dominant factor as age increased.Conclusions From 1990 to 2021,NAFLD in China has shown a rising prevalence but a significantly declining DALY rate.This suggests that current prevention and control strategies are effective,and further efforts should be made to raise residents' health awareness in controlling the occurrence and development of NAFLD.
Humans
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Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/epidemiology*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Prevalence
;
Female
;
Male
;
Incidence
;
Disability-Adjusted Life Years
;
Middle Aged
;
Adult
4.Association Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and the Risk of Incident Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Ye LIAO ; Yun-Feng ZHOU ; Xiao-Rui ZHOU ; Xin HU ; Juan LIAO ; Lu LONG
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(3):402-407
Objective To investigate the association between gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)and the risk of incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and explore potential effect modifiers influencing this association.Methods Clinical data from 476 175 participants in the UK Biobank(2006-2010)were collected.A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the relationship between GERD and the risk of incident COPD.Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine potential modifiers of the primary findings.Results A total of 11 587(2.43%)new COPD cases were diagnosed.The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that GERD was associated with an increased risk of incident COPD(HR=1.59,95%CI=1.46-1.74,P<0.001).GERD was linked to a higher risk of incident COPD in individuals aged<60 years(P<0.001)and non-smokers(P=0.011).No association was observed between GERD and the risk of incident COPD in current smokers with a daily cigarette consumption<10 cigarettes(P=0.261).Conclusion GERD may increase the risk of incident COPD.
Humans
;
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology*
;
Gastroesophageal Reflux/epidemiology*
;
Middle Aged
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Incidence
;
Male
;
Risk Factors
;
Female
;
Aged
5.The Pathogenesis and Treatment Progress of Extramedullary Multiple Myeloma --Review.
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(2):612-615
Extramedullary disease (EMD) is an independent prognostic factor for multiple myeloma (MM). Compared with MM without EMD, MM with EMD has different genetic characteristics, with a higher incidence of high-risk chromosomal abnormalities, more complex genomic profile, and immunophenotypic features related to adhesion molecule and chemokine expression. The mutual regulation between myeloma cells and tumor microenvironment, including changes in immune environment, deposition of extracellular matrix, abnormal expression of adhesion molecules, and autocrine secretion of myeloma cells, is involved in the extramedullary migration of myeloma cells. Various immune-targeted therapies have improved the prognosis of extramedullary MM (EMM). This article reviews the genetic characteristics of EMM, important role of tumor microenvironment, and progress of treatment.
Multiple Myeloma/therapy*
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Prognosis
;
Incidence
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
;
Tumor Microenvironment
;
Extracellular Matrix/metabolism*
;
Cell Adhesion
;
Humans
;
Immunophenotyping
6.Association and Interaction between Multidimensional Lifestyle, Socioeconomic Status and the Incidence of Lung Cancer.
Haotian LIU ; Runhuang YANG ; Haiping ZHANG ; Shiyun LV ; Bo GAO ; Lixin TAO ; Yanxia LUO ; Xiuhua GUO
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(7):497-505
BACKGROUND:
The incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer remain on the rise, creating an urgent need for screening among high-risk populations and early prevention. This study aims to explore the association and interaction between multidimensional lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and the incidence of lung cancer, and to provide scientific evidence for screening high-risk populations and preventing lung cancer.
METHODS:
Healthy lifestyle score was constructed using information on smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, diet and sleep obtained through a questionnaire survey. Socioeconomic status was evaluated based on information on education, employment, and family income, and genetic testing data were used to assess the risk of genetic variation. A proportional hazards assumption test was conducted, and the Cox proportional hazards model was applied to analyze the associations between healthy lifestyle scores, socioeconomic status, and lung cancer, as well as the interactions among various factors, after adjusting for the risk of genetic variation, age, gender, diabetes, hypertension and the living environment score.
RESULTS:
A total of 245,538 samples that entered the cohort from March, 2006 to October, 2010 were included and followed up until December 31, 2022. The participants were divided into the case group (n=1472) and the control group (n=244,066). The analysis results showed that after adjusting for covariates, there was still an association between the healthy lifestyle score, socioeconomic status, and the incidence of lung cancer: compared with participants with a high healthy lifestyle score, the risk of lung cancer in participants with medium and low healthy lifestyle scores was significantly increased, with hazard ratios (HR) of 2.12 (95%CI: 1.86-2.41) and 3.36 (95%CI: 2.82-3.99) respectively; compared with participants with high socioeconomic status, the risk of lung cancer in participants with medium and low socioeconomic status was significantly increased, with HR of 1.29 (95%CI: 1.13-1.48) and 1.67 (95%CI: 1.46-1.90) respectively. Moreover, there were interactions between smoking status and socioeconomic status (Pfor interaction=0.05), as well as the other four lifestyle factors (Pfor interaction=0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
This study identified the association between multidimensional lifestyle factors and socioeconomic status with the incidence of lung cancer, as well as interactions between smoking and socioeconomic status and four other lifestyle factors, providing a scientific basis for screening and prevention in high-risk populations for lung cancer.
Humans
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Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology*
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Male
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Female
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Middle Aged
;
Incidence
;
Life Style
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Social Class
;
Aged
;
Adult
;
Risk Factors
7.Evaluating the impact of Carbon Emission Trading Policy on pan-cancer incidence among middle-aged and elderly populations: a quasi-natural experiment.
Chuang YANG ; Yiyuan SUN ; Yihan LI ; Lijun QIAN
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():43-43
BACKGROUND:
Cancer is a major public health concern, particularly among middle-aged and elderly populations, who are disproportionately affected by rising cancer incidence. Environmental pollution has been identified as a significant risk factor for cancer development. China's Carbon Emission Trading Policy (CETP), implemented in pilot regions since 2013, aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. This study evaluates the impact of CETP on pan-cancer incidence, with a focus on its effects on specific cancer types and vulnerable populations.
METHODS:
This quasi-natural experiment utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and environmental data from the China National Environmental Monitoring Center (2011-2018). A staggered difference-in-differences (DID) model was employed to estimate the impact of CETP on cancer incidence. Robustness tests, including parallel trend tests, placebo analysis, and entropy balancing, validated the findings. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the policy's heterogeneous effects based on gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and smoking status.
RESULTS:
CETP implementation significantly reduced the incidence of six cancer types: endometrial, cervical, gastric, esophageal, breast, and lung cancers. Overall, pan-cancer incidence significantly declined post-policy implementation (CETP × POST: -47.200, 95% CI: [-61.103, -33.296], p < 0.001). The policy demonstrated stronger effects in highly polluted areas and among individuals with poorer mental health. Subgroup analysis revealed that females, individuals with lower BMI, and non-smokers experienced more substantial benefits.
CONCLUSIONS
CETP significantly reduces cancer incidence by improving environmental quality and influencing mental health, with particularly strong effects observed among high-risk populations. This study highlights the important role of environmental economic policies in mitigating cancer burden and promoting public health. Future research should further explore the long-term impacts of this policy and its applicability across different national and regional contexts.
Humans
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Incidence
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Neoplasms/epidemiology*
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China/epidemiology*
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Middle Aged
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Female
;
Male
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Aged
;
Air Pollution/legislation & jurisprudence*
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Carbon/analysis*
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Longitudinal Studies
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Air Pollutants/analysis*
;
Environmental Exposure
8.Relationship between sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and older adults with normal weight in China: functional limitation plays a mediating role.
Hui CHENG ; Zhihui JIA ; Jiaheng CHEN ; Yao Jie XIE ; Jose HERNANDEZ ; Harry H X WANG
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():46-46
BACKGROUND:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the predominant cause of mortality in China. However, the mechanisms linking sarcopenia to CVD remain poorly understood, particularly in normal-weight populations. Individuals with the absence of overweight or obesity may tend to experience missed opportunities for timely intervention. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between sarcopenia and incidence of new-onset CVD in a normal-weight population, and to examine the mediating effect of functional limitation in this relationship.
METHODS:
We conducted a closed-cohort analysis using a nationwide sample of 4,147 middle-aged and older adults with normal weight in China. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to explore the associations of baseline sarcopenia with incident CVD. The difference method was applied to estimate the mediation proportion of functional limitation in this association.
RESULTS:
Over a mean follow-up period of 7.62 years, CVD occurred in 835 participants. In the multivariable-adjusted Cox model, individuals with sarcopenia exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of developing incident CVD compared to those without sarcopenia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-1.73, P < 0.001). Similar associations were observed for the incidence of heart disease and stroke. Functional limitation accounted for approximately 15.0% of the total effect of sarcopenia on incident CVD (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Sarcopenia exerts both direct and indirect effects on incident CVD among middle-aged and older adults who are normal weight, with functional limitation serving as a significant mediator. Interventions targeting both sarcopenia and functional limitation may offer a promising strategy for enhancing cardiovascular health in this population.
Humans
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Sarcopenia/complications*
;
China/epidemiology*
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Male
;
Female
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Middle Aged
;
Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology*
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Aged
;
Incidence
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Cohort Studies
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Proportional Hazards Models
;
Risk Factors
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Aged, 80 and over
;
Longitudinal Studies
9.The increased risk of exposure to fine particulate matter for depression incidence is mediated by elevated TNF-R1: the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study.
Ta-Yuan CHANG ; Ting-Yu ZHUANG ; Yun-Chieh YANG ; Chih-Cheng HSU ; Wan-Ju CHENG
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():49-49
BACKGROUND:
Depression among older adults is an important public health issue, and air and noise pollution have been found to contribute to exacerbation of depressive symptoms. This study examined the association of exposure to air and noise pollutants with clinically-newly-diagnosed depressive disorder. The mediating role of individual pro-inflammatory markers was explored.
METHODS:
We linked National Health Insurance claim data with 2998 healthy community-dwellers aged 55 and above who participated in the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study between 2009 and 2013. Newly diagnosed depressive disorder was identified using diagnostic codes from the medical claim data. Pollutants were estimated using nationwide land use regression, including PM2.5 and PM10, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and road traffic noise. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to examine the association between pollutants and newly developed depressive disorders. The mediating effect of serum pro-inflammatory biomarkers on the relationship was examined.
RESULTS:
Among the 2998 participants, 209 had newly diagnosed depressive disorders. In adjusted Cox proportional hazard models, one interquartile range increase in PM2.5 (8.53 µg/m3) was associated with a 17.5% increased hazard of developing depressive disorders. Other air pollutants and road traffic noise were not linearly associated with depressive disorder incidence. Levels of serum tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 mediated the relationship between PM2.5 and survival time to newly onset depressive disorder.
CONCLUSION
PM2.5 is related to an increased risk of newly developed depressive disorder among middle-aged and older adults, and the association is partially mediated by the pro-inflammatory marker TNF-R1.
Humans
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Particulate Matter/analysis*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Longitudinal Studies
;
Aged
;
Incidence
;
Air Pollutants/analysis*
;
Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*
;
Taiwan/epidemiology*
;
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I/blood*
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Biomarkers/blood*
;
Depression/epidemiology*
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Depressive Disorder/chemically induced*
;
Risk Factors
;
Air Pollution/adverse effects*
10.Bathing-related accidents requiring ambulance dispatches in relation to age and ambient temperature in Nagoya, Japan: differences between detached houses and apartment buildings.
Akihiko NARISADA ; Tomohiro UMEMURA ; Nauta YAMANAKA ; Kohta SUZUKI
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():72-72
BACKGROUND:
Previous studies have shown that old age and cold temperatures are risk factors for bathing-related accidents (BRAs) in Japan. The differences between outdoor and indoor temperatures are believed to depend on the housing type (detached houses or apartment buildings). This study aimed to investigate the associations between age, temperature, and BRAs according to housing type in Japan.
METHODS:
We included cases in which patients were transported by ambulance from domestic bathrooms between April 2016 and March 2022 in Nagoya city. Age-specific BRA incidence rates measured by 5-year age groups, temperature-specific age-adjusted standardized incidence rates (SIRs) for BRA calculated by temperature quintile groups, and the BRA risk regarding temperature based on a time-stratified case-crossover (CCO) design were compared between detached houses and apartment buildings.
RESULTS:
We observed 4,848 ambulance dispatches owing to BRAs (3,083 in detached houses and 1,765 in apartment buildings; SIR for detached houses compared to apartment buildings: 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-1.43). The ratio of detached houses to apartment buildings in the age-specific BRA incidence was almost the same in middle-aged people, but it significantly increased from the age of 70 years onward (incidence rate ratio for the 70-74-years age group: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.43-2.11). Temperature-specific SIR for detached houses compared to apartment buildings was not significantly different in the hottest temperature quintile but increased significantly in the other colder temperature quintiles (SIR in coldest quintile: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.47-1.66). BRA risk based on CCO design increased significantly with a decrease in temperature in detached houses (risk ratio [RR] for 3 °C: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.05-1.47), but not in apartment buildings (RR for 3 °C: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.86-1.34).
CONCLUSIONS
Detached houses had higher BRA incidence rates than apartments. Older age and lower temperatures, which are risk factors for BRAs, were more prevalent in detached houses than in apartment buildings. Thus, public health measures that focus on detached houses are necessary for preventing BRAs in Japan.
Humans
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Japan/epidemiology*
;
Aged
;
Middle Aged
;
Housing/statistics & numerical data*
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Baths/adverse effects*
;
Ambulances/statistics & numerical data*
;
Male
;
Adult
;
Female
;
Temperature
;
Incidence
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Aged, 80 and over
;
Young Adult
;
Age Factors
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Adolescent
;
Child, Preschool
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Infant
;
Child
;
Risk Factors
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Accidents, Home/statistics & numerical data*


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