About the Authors

Wei-Chih Kan

Affiliations Department of Nephrology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan, Southern Taiwan University, Tainan, Taiwan

Jhi-Joung Wang

Affiliation Department of Medical Research Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan

Shuo-Yu Wang

Affiliation Department of Pediatrics, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan

Yih-Min Sun

Affiliation Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan

Chien-Ya Hung

Affiliation Department of Food Nutrition, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan

Chin-Chen Chu

Affiliation Department of Medical Research Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan

Chin-Li Lu

Affiliation Department of Medical Research Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan

Shih-Feng Weng

Affiliation Department of Medical Research Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan

Chung-Ching Chio

Affiliation Department of Neurological Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan

Chih-Chiang Chien

ccchien58@yahoo.com.tw

Affiliations Department of Nephrology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, Department of Food Nutrition, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: WCK JJW C.C. Chien. Performed the experiments: WCK C.C. Chien JJW SYW CYH YMS C.C. Chu C.C. Chio. Analyzed the data: WCK C.C. Chien CLL SFW. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: C.C. Chien CLL SFW. Wrote the paper: WCK C.C. Chien. We are grateful to the staff in Professor Jhi-Joung Wang's Department of Medical Research, especially Chin-Li Lu and Shih-Feng Weng, who helped with statistical analyses.