Doctors promote ‘traffic light’ system to assess liver health

Doctors promote ‘traffic light’ system to assess liver health

2026-03-20

Nearly 7 million people in Taiwan suffer from fatty liver disease, making it the most common type of liver disease in the country. The condition is also highly associated with cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. But now there are new breakthroughs in treatment. The Advancing Clinical Treatment of Liver Disease association, or ACT-LD, has introduced a “traffic light” system of metabolic indicators to help the public to assess their liver health.

Indulging in sugary and fatty foods is a common pitfall for many. And with stagnant lifestyles that prioritize lying down over sitting and sitting over standing, be careful—you might be at risk of developing fatty liver disease.

Kao Jia-horng
ACT-LD president
In Taiwan, about one-third of people have fatty liver disease. Of them, approximately 10% will develop inflammation associated with fatty liver. We know that inflammation is a key stop on the way to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Therefore, as soon as there’s inflammation, you should go consult a specialist.

There are nearly 7 million people in Taiwan with fatty liver disease, making it the most common liver affliction in Taiwan. It’s also a critical indicator for serious cardiovascular disease and liver cancer. For people with liver fibrosis, there has long been a lack of effective treatments. But fortunately, new medical breakthroughs have emerged.

Liu Chun-jen
NTU Hospital physician
After Phase III large-scale clinical trials, it has been confirmed that this treatment can effectively improve inflammation associated with fatty tissue and fibrosis scarring. In February, we obtained a trial permit from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This is a significant breakthrough.

Fatty liver inflammation often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, making it easy to miss the optimal treatment window. To help people take an active role in monitoring their liver health, check out ACT-LD’s traffic light system for metabolic indicators.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#liverdisease #fattyliverdisease #health #publichealth #cirrhosis #doctors #ACT-LD #livercancer

全台近700萬人脂肪肝 "紅黃綠燈行動分級"判斷肝臟健康

2026-03-20

全台脂肪肝患者逼近700萬人，不僅是國內最常見的肝臟疾病，也與心血管疾病、肝硬化甚至肝癌高度相關，現在醫療上有了新突破，台灣肝病醫療策進會，也推出紅、黃、綠燈行動分級，列出代謝指標，協助民眾有效判斷肝臟健康。

高糖、高油，一不小心放縱進食，現代人的通病還有，能坐就不站，能躺就不坐，生活習慣不良，小心脂肪肝找上門。

[[台灣肝病策進會會長高嘉宏]]
“在台灣可能大概有，三分之一的人是有脂肪肝，這裡面大概有接近十個百分比，可能會出現脂肪肝炎，我們也知道說脂肪肝炎，就是邁向這個脂肪肝硬化，跟肝癌的非常重要的一步，所以一旦有這個脂肪肝炎的時候，那就應該要去找，這個專科醫師做這個諮詢”

全台脂肪肝患者逼近700萬人，不只是國人最常見肝病，也是心血管重症與肝癌的危機指標，針對肝纖維化患者，過去長期缺乏治療有效藥物，好在現在醫療上有了新的突破。

[[台大醫學院內科部教授劉俊人]]
“經過第三期大型的臨床試驗，實際上已經證實可以用來改善跟脂肪相關的發炎，還有纖維結疤的情形，二月也順利拿到這個衛福部的一個試用的一個許可證，這是一個非常大的突破”

脂肪肝炎早期沒有明顯症狀，可能因此錯過治療黃金時機，台灣肝病醫療策進會，也推出紅、黃、綠燈行動，列出代謝指標，幫助民眾一起把關，肝臟健康。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

Related News

US intel report says Beijing not planning 2027 Taiwan attack

2026-03-20

Two woman in hospital after bus driver slams on brakes

What began as an ordinary morning bus ride in Keelung quickly turned into a frightening scene, with three elderly women lying injured on the floor. The incident happened after passengers calmly boarded a bus at a busy stop. Older passengers were slowly making their way down the aisle, searching for a seat, when a sudden violent jolt sent them flying. The driver had slammed on the brakes to avoid crashing into a minibus, and in an instant, chaos erupted inside the bus. Two women were sent to the hospital, and one remains there under observation.

Passengers hop on and off the bus at the stop. The bus begins to drive off and several elderly women slowly head to their seats when…

A sudden brake causes a commotion and three women are flung to the ground like bowling pins. One of them, wearing pink, can’t even get up. Noticing something was wrong, the driver went to check up on the passengers. From the swinging handles, you can see it was a powerful lurch.

Passenger
Witnessed scene
There were two old ladies on the floor. They fell when the bus braked. They were taken away by ambulance. Drivers shouldn’t drive too fast near the bus stops. Older people aren’t too steady, and if they aren’t holding on, they could fall.

So what actually happened? This bus servicing route 104 was departing from Erxin Xunhuan Station on Thursday morning when it suddenly had to brake to avoid crashing into a minibus. The abrupt stop caused three women to fall to the ground. Two of them were sent to the hospital with injuries. One of them has been discharged but the other remains under observation.

Chang Ching-wen
Keelung Bus Management Office
There are safety precautions in place. Passengers are advised to firmly hold onto the handrails while riding the bus.

Police took statements from people involved and officers are investigating whether the issue is to be blamed on the bus driver or the minibus that cut them off. The bus operator says they will cover all medical expenses.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #bus #publictransport #keelung #busrider

2026-03-20

Down Syndrome Foundation brings Mazu to Taipei Main for 9 days

The Mazu from Beigang Chaotian Temple is on a surprise visit to Taipei, where she will stay for nine days at Taipei Main Station. She made the journey at the invitation of the Down Syndrome Foundation. With World Down Syndrome Day this Saturday, and Mazu’s birthday pilgrimage in coming weeks, the foundation hopes to raise awareness about the condition while giving people with disabilities the chance to worship the Beigang Mazu without having to travel all the way to Yunlin.

Amid roaring drums and gongs, Qianliyan and Shunfeng’er lead the procession, followed by Mazu from Beigang Chaotian Temple. Priests chant prayers and perform the Five Offerings ritual to install Mazu. It’s as lively as it gets.

Wu Jui-lin
FTV reporter
The Mazu from Beigang Chaotian Temple made a surprise visit to Taipei, where she will stay at Taipei Main Station for nine days in a row. Besides letting everyone walk under her palanquin, she’s here for another reason.

The main figurine of Mazu at Beigang Chaotian Temple has made the trip north to stay at Taipei Main Station to bless and support an exhibition held by the Down Syndrome Foundation. The exhibit features artworks and cute versions of guardian deities including Mazu, Wenchang Dijun and Nezha made by people with Down syndrome. Organizers hope the big crows that pass through the station will take a look at the exhibition and better understand their condition.

One highlight of the exhibition is that you can actually pass under Mazu’s palanquin right on site. It will be held at a height of 1.5m, so that people with different needs can pass through. There are seven sessions per day from March 21 to March 29, and you need to get a numbered ticket to take part.

Lin Cheng-hsia
Down Syndrome Foundation
We wanted to give people with disabilities an opportunity to worship Mazu without having to travel to Beigang. We hope to promote inclusivity, and make a big impact here at Taipei Main Station.

Mazu’s birthday occurs on the third lunar month of the traditional lunisolar calendar. Ahead of Mazu’s pilgrimage in coming weeks, the foundation hopes that bringing Mazu north can help raise awareness about Down syndrome.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#downsyndrome #awareness #diversity #mazu #taipei

2026-03-20

Police officer’s quick CPR saves driver after accident

2026-03-20

Huge flight of swallows makes racket, terrorizes pedestrians near Yuanli hospital

Miaoli’s Yuanli Township has a street known for what locals call “golden rain.” But don’t be fooled—it’s not a nice as it sounds. It’s actually the natural result of having thousands of swallows flying above, scaring pedestrians away from walking underneath. Although Taipower moved the power line to the nearby hospital underground, the birds just moved to another one around 200 meters away, vexing everyone nearby with their endless chirping.

The air is dense with swooping birds, serving as a warning to pedestrians to stay away from the danger zone underneath.

Every evening, a huge flight of swallows gathers in the skies above Heping and Datong roads in Miaoli’s Yuanli Township, bringing their “golden rain” with them. Everyone passing by adopts the same posture: hand over head, walking briskly past.

Member of public
Living with swallows
They used to come from May to October, but they’re earlier this year. They arrived in February.

The residents are fed up. It’s not like they haven’t tried to do something about it. They even got Taipower to bury the power lines at the original danger zone in front of the hospital.

Hung Huang-chi
Yuanli Representative Council chair
Taipower agreed right away and there were no issues with the land. Construction is almost done now.

Although their perch was taken away, the swallows weren’t deterred—they just found another spot. If you zoom in on the scaffolding at the front of the hospital, you can see rows of birds standing like sentinels along a city wall. The only power line left at a nearby street corner has no spots left. The fruit vendors below have been driven mad by the droppings.

Fruit vendor
Annoyed by birds
They poop on your head. Look, we’re all wearing hats. I use bottle rockets to scare them away, but they always come back after a while.

Not even bottle rockets can drive away these thousands of swallows. So what’s so special about these 500 meters along Yuanli’s Heping Road?

Chang Wei
Miaoli forestry conservation chief
Some of them come because there’s a large drainage ditch nearby as a food source, so they’ll eat the small insects over there.

Local agriculture officials said the lights here attract insects, which are food for the swallows. Wherever there’s food, they’ll gather. The city has installed boards beneath their nests, but the problem of “golden rain” continues to frustrate the authorities and residents alike.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Miaoli #swallows #birds #birddroppings #dangerzone #Yuanli #powerlines #wildlife

2026-03-20

3D-printed device restores normal life to cancer patient

For years, the 68-year-old Ms. Liao relied on a nasogastric tube to eat, unable to share meals with her family and reluctant to go out. But with the help of 3D printing technology, a medical team created a custom barrier plate to separate her oral and nasal cavities. Now she can eat normally without food leaking from her nostrils, finally freeing her from life with a feeding tube.

This video instructs medical personnel on how to insert a nasogastric tube to help patients eat. But it’s not very comfortable, and some people unconsciously pull it out. It also affects social interactions.

Ms. Liao
Patient
Other people would always stare at me, so I got shy and scared. I wear a mask and don’t like to go out. It made me less outgoing, and I closed myself off more.

After an oral infection related to lymphoma left her with a hole connecting her mouth and nasal cavity, 68-year-old Ms. Liao relied on a nasogastric tube to eat for eight years. With her cancer now under control, doctors fitted her with a barrier plate that allowed the tube to be removed, freeing her from needing it ever again.

The new device, known as a digital obturator, fits inside her mouth so Ms. Liao can eat and drink normally. Unlike traditional obturators, which rely on manual impressions, are complex and time-consuming to produce, and have a higher risk of error, the digital version can effectively meet patients’ needs.

Huang Yi-fang
Dentistry department director
The process used to take two to four weeks, but now the digital obturator can be made in just two to four hours. In the outpatient clinic we confirm that water doesn’t flow out the patient’s nostrils when they drink through their mouth, then we ask them to remove the nasogastric tube.

Chen Chien-tsung
Hospital committee vice chair
This technology won a national innovation award last year. Using medical 3D printing and more, the medical team combines the latest technologies.

Restoring patients’ quality of life like this requires the joint efforts of ENT doctors, plastic surgeons, and rehabilitation specialists. Thanks to the latest technologies, medical teams are helping patients like Ms. Liao live a normal life.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#medicine #technology #ChangGungMemorialHospital #health #patient #qualityoflife #hospital

2026-03-20

Pet tortoise wears socks for daily walks outside

2026-03-20

New mirrored area in Kaohsiung Station becomes dancers’ dream

2026-03-20

Suspected infant trafficking victim fights to restore Taiwan nationality

A Taiwan-born woman who was adopted by an Australian family has been rejected from restoring her Taiwanese nationality. Vanessa Miles was adopted as a baby 46 years ago as part of what she suspects was a transnational baby trafficking ring. She recently came to Taiwan to look for her biological mother, only to find that her Taiwanese identity had been revoked. Despite holding a Taiwanese passport and birth certificate, she has been unable to obtain official recognition from the Ministry of the Interior. Let’s hear from her.

Vanessa Miles
Looking for biological mother
But I am a daughter of Taiwan. I was born in Taiwan. I came to Taiwan and submitted my DNA for comparison. After returning to Australia empty-handed, I applied at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney to renew my passport. After several months of waiting, I was advised that the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were unable to agree on processing and approving my application. Whether the information in my papers in real or not does not change the fact that I was born in Taiwan and exited Taiwan as a baby. I am a victim, sold to another country as a small baby, without any say in the matter and now the government has effectively erased my existence.

Liu Shyh-fang
Minister of the Interior
The relevant civil affairs and public health and welfare units are verifying whether the birth certificate and nationality documents provided by Vanessa are authentic. There is the concern of forgery, so if the documents can’t be confirmed conclusively, we may recommend DNA testing. That is to say, to match her up with her biological mother or father in Taiwan and establish her identity that way. If that verification is successful, restoring her ROC Taiwan nationality should not be a big problem.

There are several factors that are complicating Ms. Miles’ case, starting with the suspicions of human trafficking, the removal of her household registration by her grandfather and the fact that her original ID number is now being used by someone else. Though Ms. Miles holds a valid Taiwanese passport, she is not officially recognized as a Taiwanese national. According to the Nationality Act, if at least one parent holds ROC Taiwan nationality at the time of their child’s birth, the child would be considered a national based on bloodline. Amid all the contradictions and uncertainties, Ms. Miles has decided to speak up about her situation

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#nationality #baby #adoption #taiwan #vanessamiles #taiwan #australia

2026-03-20