Independent risk factors for developing COPD in pulmonary tuberculosis patients (n = 3176) and control subjects (n = 15880), by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

<p>Independent risk factors for developing COPD in pulmonary tuberculosis patients (n = 3176) and control subjects (n = 15880), by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.</p

Clinical characteristics of subjects at the initial study date.

<p>Abbreviation: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.</p><p>Data were either number (%) or mean ± SD.</p

Impact of pulmonary TB on developing COPD in sensitivity analyses.

<p>Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; TB, tuberculosis.</p

SMART: Statistical Metabolomics AnalysisAn R Tool

Metabolomics data provide unprecedented opportunities to decipher metabolic mechanisms by analyzing hundreds to thousands of metabolites. Data quality concerns and complex batch effects in metabolomics must be appropriately addressed through statistical analysis. This study developed an integrated analysis tool for metabolomics studies to streamline the complete analysis flow from initial data preprocessing to downstream association analysis. We developed Statistical Metabolomics AnalysisAn R Tool (SMART), which can analyze input files with different formats, visually represent various types of data features, implement peak alignment and annotation, conduct quality control for samples and peaks, explore batch effects, and perform association analysis. A pharmacometabolomics study of antihypertensive medication was conducted and data were analyzed using SMART. Neuromedin N was identified as a metabolite significantly associated with angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors in our metabolome-wide association analysis (<i>p</i> = 1.56 × 10^–4 in an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with an adjustment for unknown latent groups and <i>p</i> = 1.02 × 10^–4 in an ANCOVA with an adjustment for hidden substructures). This endogenous neuropeptide is highly related to neurotensin and neuromedin U, which are involved in blood pressure regulation and smooth muscle contraction. The SMART software, a user guide, and example data can be downloaded from http://www.stat.sinica.edu.tw/hsinchou/metabolomics/SMART.htm

Curves of time to onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among tuberculosis and control groups.

<p>Curves of time to onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among tuberculosis and control groups.</p

Curves of time to onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among TB patients with different delays in anti-tuberculous treatment.

<p>Curves of time to onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among TB patients with different delays in anti-tuberculous treatment.</p

Case selection flow chart.

<p>The selection of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and age- and sex-matched control subjects from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005.</p

Prescription of antitussives, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-specific medication, and spirometry in tuberculosis patients and control subjects.

<p>Prescription data aggregated every 6 months from the individual initial study date and presented as mean (circle) and 95% confidence interval (error bar).</p