Purpose: To assess the association between serum testosterone (T) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in different age groups in Taiwanese men. Materials and Methods: Male participants, regardless of age or any underlying disease, were identified from MJ Health Screening Center in Taiwan from 2007 to 2016 for this crosssectional study. They were divided into three groups according to age, and further classified according to MS diagnosis. Basic patient characteristics with relevant parameters were obtained. One-way ANOVA of mean T values between different numbers of measures that exceeds the cut-off values of MS components was performed to assess the relationship of T and MS. Logistic regression analysis was also used to estimate the risk for MS with each increment in T, age, and BMI. Results: A total of 4,931 men were included. The MS group had significantly lower serum T levels compared to the non-MS group in each age group. The one-way ANOVA found the mean value of T was significantly higher in patients without MS component (6.19±2.12 ng/ mL) than those with 1-5 MS components (with one MS component: 5.48±2.13 ng/mL, two MS components: 4.93±2.03 ng/mL, three MS components: 4.37±1.60 ng/mL, four MS components: 4.13±2.89 ng/mL, five MS components: 3.74±1.27 ng/mL, and P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the patients with three components and the patients with four or five components. Logistic regression models with age stratification showed T with lower odds ratio (OR) for MS after adjusting for BMI in those ≥65 years old (OR=0.693; 95% CI=0.559-0.858; P<0.001); 50-64 years old (OR=0.868; 95% CI=0.802-0.940; P<0.001) and <50 years old (OR=0.810; 95% CI=0.758-0.865; P<0.001). Conclusion: Lower serum T was strongly associated with MS, with the predictive value increasing with age in Taiwanese men.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between haemorrhoids and Graves’ disease (GD).SettingUsing the nationwide data from Taiwan’s Longitudinal Health Insurance Database.ParticipantsWe conducted a retrospective study, stratified patients by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification disease code and compared the incidence rate of GD between patients with and without haemorrhoids. The study period was from 2000 to 2010, with exclusion of patients with diagnosed haemorrhoids before 2000 or after 2009, and we analysed the HR of GD in the univariable and multivariable models as well as the cumulative incidence curves of GD by using Kaplan-Meier curves.ResultThis study included 13 165 and 52 660 patients with and without haemorrhoids, respectively. The mean follow-up duration was approximately 6 years. The incidence rate of GD was 1.57 and 1.13 per 1000 person-years in patients with and without haemorrhoids, respectively. The area under the cumulative incidence curve of GD in patients with haemorrhoids was higher than that of patients without haemorrhoids. The risk of GD increased by 1.39 times (95% CI 1.13 to 1.71) in patients with haemorrhoids compared with patients without haemorrhoids. In the subgroup analysis, women with haemorrhoids had a higher risk of GD (adjusted HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.83). Patients with haemorrhoids aged 30–39 years were more likely to develop GD (adjusted HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.18 to 2.55).ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that patients with haemorrhoids may have an increased risk of GD compared with other potential confounding factors.