INTRODUCTION Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious sleep disorder characterized by repetitive episodes of paused or shallow breathing during sleep. Patients with OSA often have excessive daytime sleepiness. The role of cigarette smoking in OSA remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between cigarette smoking and OSA. METHODS In this retrospective chart review, we reviewed 18-month sleep laboratory charts in central Taiwan. We collected data regarding sleep, current cigarette smoking status, sex, age, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, and polysomnographic sleep parameters. In total, 733 subjects were recruited; among these, 151 were smokers and 582 were nonsmokers. RESULTS Smokers had significantly higher apnea-hypopnea index (p<0.001) for non-rapid eye movement sleep stage, higher apnea-hypopnea index (p<0.001) for total sleep time, and higher snore frequency (p<0.001) in t-test analysis. They also demonstrated higher Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores, shorter sleep times, lower percentage of slow-wave (deep) sleep, and longer snore times. However, no significant association was found between cigarette smoking and OSA after adjusting for sex, age, and BMI (OR=1.02, 95% CI: 0.66-1.57). CONCLUSIONS We did not find any significant association between cigarette smoking and OSA after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI. Further well-designed prospective controlled cohort studies might clarify the relationship between cigarette smoking and OSA.

With decreasing mortality, the quality of life, spiritual needs, and mental health of breast cancer patients have become increasingly important. Demoralization is a poor prognostic factor for cancer patients. The extent of demoralization in breast cancer patients and its association with these factors remains unclear. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Taiwanese medical center. We enrolled 121 participants (34 with high demoralization and 87 with low demoralization, as per the Mandarin Version of Demoralization Scale). High demoralization was associated with reduced quality of life, sleep quality, and spiritual interests. Multivariate analyses revealed that the scores of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire ≥ 62.5 (OR = 0.21, p = 0.002) and Spiritual Interests Related to Illness Tool Chinese Version ≥ 3.66 (OR = 0.11, p < 0.001) were associated with low demoralization. Demoralized patients with depression had a poorer quality of life and sleep quality. Although not statistically significant, depressed and demoralized participants were at a higher risk of suicide. Cancer patients with both depression and demoralization had the worst prognosis. Breast cancer patients exhibited demoralization when they had unmet bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs. An early assessment of demoralization may improve holistic healthcare for breast cancer patients.

Non-clinical schizotypy was found to be related to poorer Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test (WCST) performance, but the results were inconsistent. Two subgroups, the higher negative–higher positive and the lower negative–lower positive (15 vs 16), were selected from the top and the bottom quartiles of negative and positive scale scores of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) completed by 177 healthy volunteers, respectively. The higher negative–higher positive SPQ score subgroup had significantly poorer performance regarding the completed categories of WCST than the lower negative–lower positive SPQ score subgroup. Subjects with higher non-clinical schizotypy trait showed relatively mild cognitive dysfunction.

Introduction. Individuals with substance use disorders, particularly those with alcohol use disorder (AUD), have a high risk of suicide. Therefore, identifying risk factors for suicide in these individuals is crucial. Methods. This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of individuals with AUD who participated in an alcohol treatment program in central Taiwan during 2019–2020. We collected data using the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and a suicidal ideation question. Furthermore, we collected information on several related variables, namely, sex, age, marital status, years in school, employment status, family history of alcohol problems, age at first exposure to alcohol, duration of alcohol use, history of alcohol cessation, history of domestic violence, and history of drunk driving. In total, 136 individuals were recruited to participate in this study. Results. The suicidal ideation group had significantly younger participants, a higher proportion of women, a higher proportion of participants with a history of domestic violence, a greater severity of alcohol addiction (based on both AUDIT and MAST scores), higher depression scores, higher anxiety scores, less social support, a lower quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)), and poorer sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) compared with the nonsuicidal ideation group. The suicidal ideation score was correlated with the AUDIT score after age, and BDI, BAI, WHOQOL, and PSQI scores were controlled for ( ). Conclusion. Individuals with higher AUDIT scores visiting a clinic for alcohol treatment might have a higher risk of suicidal ideation. Therefore, clinicians should pay close attention to the suicidal ideation problem in this population. Furthermore, appropriate medication or management programs for suicide prevention should be considered.