Retrospective cohort study on the factors influencing poor prognosis in young and middle-aged patients with pulmonary tuberculosis / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To conduct a retrospective cohort study on the influencing factors of poor prognosis of young and middle-aged patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods Selecting 426 young and middle-aged patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in our hospital from January to December 2018 as the research subjects. Collecting the social demography information of all patients and the information of potential factors affecting the prognosis (allergy history, smoking history, drinking history, BMI level, disease information, treatment information, etc.) and discussing the factors affecting the prognosis of young and middle-aged pulmonary tuberculosis patients and their effects. Results The average age of 426 patients was (41.93±5.17) years old, the average BMI of them was (21.97±3.15) kg/m2, and an average course of disease of them was (2.76±0.99) years. There was no significant difference in the basic sexual information between men and women. In this study, a total of 128 patients with poor prognosis were retrospectively followed up, including 90 males and 38 females. The detection rate of males was significantly higher than that of females (χ2=16.976, P2=18.850, P2=38.924, P2=127.207, P2=32.566, P2=16.715, P2=17.315, P2=16.976，P1 and P1 and P<0.05; Regular treatment still showed potential protective factors, with an HR of 0.408, P<0.05. Conclusion: Male, emaciated body type, disease course ≥ 5 years, smoking history, number of lung field lesions ≥ 3, presence of pulmonary cavities and comorbidities are potential risk factors, while regular treatment suggests potential protective factors. Conclusion More targeted disease control and management should be implemented for middle-aged and young patients with pulmonary tuberculosis based on the aforementioned influencing factors to improve their prognosis.

Genomic analysis and biomarker discovery of thymic cancer based on whole exome sequencing: A retrospective cohort study / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To examined gene mutations in thymic carcinoma (TC) patients and to explore prognostic correlates and potential targets for therapy. Methods We retrospectively included TC patients in Sichuan Cancer Hospital between January 2015 and Febuary 2021.Whole-exome sequencing was performed on tumor tissues from TC patients and their control peripheral blood samples, and the raw data were subjected to bioinformatics analysis and statistical analysis. Results We finally included 24 TC patients with 16 males and 8 females at a median age of 55 (42-74) years. The highest frequency of single nucleotide mutations in this cohort were in the TTN gene (42%), HSPG2 (29%), and OBSCN (29%). Higher frequency of copy number variations occurred in ZNF276 gene (54%, loss), BEND3 (50%, loss), DHODH (50%, loss), and VAC14 (50%, loss). Microsatellite instability (MSI) phenotype was found in 25% of the patients, and the mean tumor mutation burden (TMB) was 9.86. Conclusion This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the mutation profile of thymic carcinoma in China to date. The mutation frequencies of TTN, OBSCN, and ZNF276 genes were high. The biomarker analysis suggests that patients may benefit from immunotherapy and have a long effective survival.

Cohort studies in public health practice and their significance / 上海预防医学

Cohort studies play an important role in elucidating the association between risk factors and diseases， and are widely used in etiology research， the assessment of disease prognosis， understanding the natural history of diseases， and the surveillance following the market release of new drugs. The data produced by cohort studies possess great scientific value and can provide essential evidence for public health practice. A well-conceived scientific design is a prerequisite to conducting a cohort study， and the design should focus on aspects such as sample size， selection of exposed and non-exposed populations， follow-up procedures， outcome assessments， research duration， and the choice of analytical indicators and methods. Cohort studies have become an important way to obtain scientific evidence. Internationally renowned population-based cohorts， such as China Kadoorie biobank and the Framingham heart study cohort， have provided a wealth of scientifically valuable evidence for promoting human health. The quality of data produced by a cohort study is extremely important， and a cohort study should continuously incorporate new technologies and methods to provide objective， accurate， and reliable means to determine exposure and outcomes， as well as control for bias. Cohort studies have great potential for application and will continue to provide abundant high-quality scientific evidence for the development of strategies and measures to enhance human health.

The Effect of Modified Shugan Dingji Decoction （疏肝定悸汤） on the Occurrence of Endpoint Events in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation of Liver Constraint and Qi Stagnation： A Retrospective Cohort Study / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze the effect of modified Shugan Dingji Decoction （疏肝定悸汤） on the occurrence of endpoint events in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation of liver constraint and qi stagnation. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using the electronic medical record database of Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to screen and include patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation of liver constraint and qi stagnation from January 1st， 2018， to December 31th， 2021. The included patients were divided into an exposure group and a non-exposure group， each consisting of 100 cases， based on whether they received modified Shugan Dingji Decoction. General information of the patients including age， gender， body mass index， duration of illness and comorbidities， medication history， cardiac structure and function indicators such as left atrial diameter， left ventricular end-diastolic diameter， stroke volume and ejection fraction， and the occurrence of endpoint events assessed through 24-hour dynamic electrocardiography or electrocardiogram to determine the recurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were collected. Kaplan-Meier （K-M） curves and Log-Rank tests were used to conduct survival analysis on the occurrence of endpoint events in the two groups of patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to analyze the impact of various factors on entry into endpoint events. Additionally， a safety assessment was performed by comparing liver and kidney function indicators before and after treatment. ResultsIn the non-exposure group， a total of 49 cases （49.0%） experienced endpoint events， while in the exposure group， there were 26 cases （26.0%）. The Log-rank test indicated significant difference between the two groups （χ2=11.211， P=0.001）. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that age， duration of illness， hypertension， diabetes， chronic heart failure， left atrial diameter， stroke volume， and the use of modified Shugan Dingji Decoction may be the influencing factors for the occurrence of endpoint events in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation of liver constraint and qi stagnation （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of endpoint events in the exposure group was significantly lower than that in the non-exposure group （P＜0.01）. Patients with a duration of illness ＞12 months had a significantly higher risk of endpoint events compared to those with a duration of illness ≤12 months （P＜0.01）. Patients without concomitant hypertension had a lower risk of endpoint events compared to those with hypertension （P＜0.05）. Patients with left atrial diameter ＞40 mm had significantly higher risk of endpoint events than those with left atrial diameter ≤40 mm （P＜0.01）. There was no statistically significant difference in liver and kidney function indicators between the two groups before and after treatment （P＞0.05）. ConclusionThe use of modified Shugan Dingji Decoction is a protective factor for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation of liver constraint and qi stagnation， which can help to reduce the recurrence and progression of atrial fibrillation. Long duration of illness， concomitant hypertension， and enlarged left atrial diameter are risk factors for patients to experience endpoint events.

Not only baseline but cumulative exposure of remnant cholesterol predicts the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIM@#Remnant cholesterol (remnant-C) mediates the progression of major adverse cardiovascular events. It is unclear whether remnant-C, and particularly cumulative exposure to remnant-C, is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to explore whether remnant-C, not only baseline but cumulative exposure, can be used to independently evaluate the risk of NAFLD.@*METHODS@#This study included 1 cohort totaling 21,958 subjects without NAFLD at baseline who underwent at least 2 repeated health checkups and 1 sub-cohort totaling 2,649 subjects restricted to those individuals with at least 4 examinations and no history of NAFLD until Exam 3. Cumulative remnant-C was calculated as a timeweighted model for each examination multiplied by the time between the 2 examinations divided the whole duration. Cox regression models were performed to estimate the association between baseline and cumulative exposure to remnant-C and incident NAFLD.@*RESULTS@#After multivariable adjustment, compared with the quintile 1 of baseline remnant-C, individuals with higher quintiles demonstrated significantly higher risks for NAFLD (hazard ratio [HR] 1.48, 95%CI 1.31-1.67 for quintile 2; HR 2.07, 95%CI 1.85-2.33 for quintile 3; HR 2.55, 95%CI 2.27-2.88 for quintile 4). Similarly, high cumulative remnant-C quintiles were significantly associated with higher risks for NAFLD (HR 3.43, 95%CI 1.95-6.05 for quintile 2; HR 4.25, 95%CI 2.44-7.40 for quintile 3; HR 6.29, 95%CI 3.59-10.99 for quintile 4), compared with the quintile 1.@*CONCLUSION@#Elevated levels of baseline and cumulative remnant-C were independently associated with incident NAFLD. Monitoring immediate levels and longitudinal trends of remnant-C may need to be emphasized in adults as part of NAFLD prevention strategy.

Sociodemographic inequalities in the incidence of COVID-19 in National Household Sample Survey cohort, Brazil, 2020 / Desigualdades sociodemográficas na incidência de COVID-19 em coorte da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios, Brasil, 2020

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the association between sociodemographic factors and the time until the occurrence of new cases of COVID-19 and positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil, during the period from May to November 2020, based on a cohort of Brazilians participating in the COVID-19 National Household Sample Survey. Methods: A concurrent and closed cohort was created using monthly data from the PNAD COVID-19, carried out via telephone survey. A new case was defined based on the report of the occurrence of a flu-like syndrome, associated with loss of smell or taste; and positivity was defined based on the report of a positive test, among those who reported having been tested. Cox regression models were applied to verify associations. The analyzes took into account sample weighting, calibrated for age, gender and education distribution. Results: The cumulative incidence of cases in the overall fixed cohort was 2.4%, while that of positive tests in the fixed tested cohort was 27.1%. Higher incidences were observed in the North region, in females, in residents of urban areas and in individuals with black skin color. New positive tests occurred more frequently in individuals with less education and healthcare workers. Conclusion: The importance of prospective national surveys is highlighted, contributing to detailed analyzes of social inequalities in reports focused on public health policies.

RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre fatores sociodemográficos e o tempo até a ocorrência de novos casos de COVID-19 e de testes positivos para Sars-CoV-2 no Brasil, durante o período de maio a novembro de 2020, com base em uma coorte dos brasileiros participantes da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios COVID-19. Métodos: Foi constituída uma coorte concorrente e fechada utilizando dados mensais da Pnad COVID-19, realizada por inquérito telefônico. Um caso novo foi definido com base no relato da ocorrência de um quadro de síndrome gripal, associado à perda de olfato ou paladar; e a positividade foi definida com base no relato de um teste positivo, entre os que referiram ter sido testados. Foram aplicados modelos de regressão de Cox para verificar associações, considerando a ponderação amostral, calibrada para a distribuição etária, de sexos e de escolaridade. Resultados: A incidência acumulada de casos na coorte fixa geral foi de 2,4%, enquanto a de testes positivos na coorte fixa testada foi de 27,1%. Verificou-se maiores riscos nas regiões Centro-Oeste, Norte e Nordeste, entre mulheres, residentes em áreas urbanas, pessoas com escolaridade até o ensino médio, com a cor da pele declarada como preta e trabalhadores da área da saúde. Indivíduos com menor escolaridade e profissionais de saúde apresentaram maior frequência de novos testes positivos. Novos testes positivos ocorreram com maior frequência em indivíduos com menor escolaridade e trabalhadores da área da saúde. Conclusão: Foram observados riscos desiguais entre os estratos populacionais comparados. Destaca-se a importância da realização de inquéritos nacionais prospectivos na investigação de iniquidades em saúde.

A spatial case-control study on symptomatic and inapparent primary dengue infections in an endemic city in Brazil

ABSTRACT We conducted a spatial case-control study nested in a dengue incidence cohort to explore the role of the spatial and socioeconomic factors in the proportion of symptomatic (cases) and inapparent primary dengue virus infections (controls). Cohort participants were children and adolescents (2 to 16 years of age) at the beginning of the follow-up. Case definitions were, for symptomatic cases, fever plus a positive lab result for acute dengue (NS1, RT-PCR, ELISA IgM/IgG), and for inapparent infection a positive result for dengue IgG (ELISA) in subjects without symptoms and with a previously negative result at baseline. The covariates included sociodemographic factors, residential location, and socioeconomic context variables of the census tracts of residence of cases and controls. We used principal component analysis to reduce the contextual covariates, with the component values assigned to each one based on their residences. The data were modeled in a Bayesian context, considering the spatial dependence. The final sample consisted of 692 children, 274 cases and 418 controls, from the first year of follow-up (2014-2015). Being male, older age, higher educational level of the head of the family and having a larger number of rooms in the household were associated with a greater chance of presenting dengue symptomatic infection at the individual level. The contextual covariates were not associated with the outcome. Inapparent dengue infection has extensive epidemiological consequences. Relying solely on notifications of symptomatic dengue infections underestimates the number of cases, preserves a silent source of the disease, potentially spreading the virus to unaffected areas.

Assessing a cut-off point for the diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding using the Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire (MBQ): a validation and cultural translation study with Brazilian women

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common condition, and the Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire (MBQ) is used for its assessment. OBJECTIVES: To translate, assess the cut-off point for diagnosis, and explore psychometric properties of the MBQ for use in Brazilian Portuguese. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study including 200 women (100 with and 100 without AUB) at a tertiary referral center. METHODS: MBQ translation involved a pilot-testing phase, instrument adjustment, data collection, and back-translation. Cut-off point was obtained using receiver operating curve analysis. Menstrual patterns, impact on quality of life due to AUB, internal consistency, test-retest, responsiveness, and discriminant validity were assessed. For construct validity, the Pictorial Blood Assessment Chart (PBAC) and World Health Organization Quality of Life - abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF) were applied. RESULTS: Women with AUB were older, had higher body mass indices, and had a worse quality of life during menstruation. Regarding the MBQ's psychometric variables, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was > 0.70 in all analyses, high intraclass correlation coefficient was found in both groups; no ceiling and floor effects were observed, and construct validity was demonstrated (correlation between MBQ score, PBAC score, and clinical menstrual cycle data). No difference between MBQ and PBAC scores were perceived after the test-retest. Significant differences were found between MBQ and PBAC scores before and after treatment. An MBQ score ≥ 24 was associated with a high probability of AUB; accuracy of 98%. CONCLUSION: The MBQ is a reliable questionnaire for Brazilian women. The cut-off ≥ 24 shows high accuracy to discriminate AUB.

Association between prediabetes and risk of cancer / 预防医学

Objective @#To examine the association between prediabetes and the risk of cancer, so as to provide insights into precision cancer prevention. @*Methods@#Based on the project of Early Screening and Comprehensive Interventions among Population at A High Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Changning District, Shanghai Municipality, baseline data were captured from permanent community residents at ages of 35 to 75 years from 2016 to 2019, including demographics, physical examinations, previous medical history and used of medications. The development of cancers was used as a outcome measure, and the follow-up was terminated by May 2021. The development of cancer was collected through the Changning Cancer Registration System, and the association between prediabetes and the risk of cancer was examined using a multivariable logistic regression model. @*Results@#A total of 9 503 participants were finally included, with a mean age of (57.12±10.89) years. The participants included 2 167 cases with prediabetes (22.80%) and 7 336 individuals with normal glucose (77.20%), and included 3 713 men (39.07%) and 5 790 women (60.93%). A total of 114 new cases with cancers were diagnosed until the final follow-up, including 37 cases among prediabetic patients (1.71%) and 77 cases among participants with normal blood glucose (1.05%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment for age, gender, marital status, educational level, family annual income, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, hypertension, administration of antihypertensive agents, dyslipidemia, administration of lipid-lowering agents and medical history of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, a higher risk of cancers was detected among prediabetic patients than among participants with normal blood glucose (OR=1.528, 95%CI: 1.025-2.277), and prediabetes had no significant interactions with age, gender, smoking or alcohol consumption (all P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#Prediabetes is statistically associated with the risk of cancer.

Bibliometrics and visual analysis based on blood donor cohort study / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To analyze the relevant studies on blood donor cohort and explore the current research status, research hotspots and development trends of blood donor cohort studies abroad. 【Methods】 Based on the Web of Science Core Collection, the literature related to blood donor cohort was searched. After screening and data processing, bibliometric analysis was carried out from the volume of literature trends, disciplines, authors, institutional distribution and other aspects of the included literature. At the same time, CiteSpace 5.6R5 software was used to carry out visual analysis of countries/regions, literature co-citation, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering and keyword emergence. Results A total of 672 papers (654 research papers, 18 review papers) were included. The total number of papers published in the field of blood donor cohort study showed a steady upward trend since 1991, the fastest growth was between 2019 and 2020. The top three cited authors were Kaaks R (1 301 citations), Rinaldi S (1 186 citations) and Riboli E (1 130 citations); the top three institutions were RLUK library in the UK, the University of California and the University of Copenhagen; the top three countries/regions in the volume of literature were the United States (176 papers), Germany (64 papers) and France (54 papers), and they all co-operated closely with other countries. The top five keywords were "blood donor" , "prevalence" , "infection" , "risk" and "antibody" . A total of 19 clusters were obtained by keyword cluster analysis, it was reflected in the immune mechanism and prevalence of blood-borne diseases, the relationship between blood donation behavior and non-communicable disease and its influencing factors, and the classification of the characteristics of blood donors. "Non-hepatitis B" was the keyword with the greatest burst intensity. The keywords that have burst out in recent years and continue to this day include "donation" , "seroprev-alence" , "donor" and "management" . Conclusion At present, the cohort study of blood donors has been paid more and more attention in the world, and its research trends mainly focus on the study of transfusion-transmitted disease risk. However, more researches begin to pay attention to the health problems and influencing factors of blood donors or recipients, which provides the research ideas and directions for establishing cohort study among blood donors in China.

Effects of Modified Sanhuang Powder （加味三黄散） Combined with Cold Compression on Swelling and Pain after Knee Arthroscopy： A Retrospective Cohort Study / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of topical application of Modified Sanhuang Powder （加味三黄散， MSP） combined with cold compression versus cold compression alone on swelling and pain after knee arthroscopy through a retrospective cohort study. MethodsMedical records of 134 patients with knee arthroscopy-induced knee swelling and pain were divided into non-exposure group （51 cases） and exposure group （83 cases） based on whether they used MSP for external application after surgery. The non-exposure group received simple cold compression therapy in addition to functional exercise and routine treatment after surgery， while the exposure group received topical MSP on the basis of what were given in the non-exposure group. The Visual Analog Scale （VAS） scores were compared between the two groups before and 7 days after treatment， and knee swelling measurements were taken before and 3， 5， and 7 days after treatment. The clinical effective rate was compared between the two groups. ResultsThe VAS scores in both groups were lower after treatment （P＜0.05）， and the exposure group had lower scores than the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）. On the 3rd， 5th， and 7th days of treatment， the scores on swelling at 2 cm above the superior pole of the patella， at the midline of the patella， and 5 cm below the inferior pole of the patella significantly decreased after treatment in both groups （P＜0.05）， and the exposure group had lower scores than the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）. The total clinical effective rate in the exposure group was 91.56% （76/83）， which was higher than 78.43% （40/51） in the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionTopical application of MSP combined with cold compression is effective in relieving postoperative swelling and pain after knee arthroscopy and is superior to cold compress alone.

A cohort study on the correlation between serum uric acid trajectory and the progression of renal function in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), and it is a main cause for chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease (ESRD). It is important to find out the factors that cause the progression of renal function. The study aims to explore the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) trajectory and the progression of renal function in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).@*METHODS@#A total of 846 patients with T2DM, who were admitted to the Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, from January 2009 to December 2021 and met the criteria of baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)≥60 mL/(min·1.73 m2), were selected as the research subjects. The SUA data of multiple measurements were collected and identified as different SUA trajectories by group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). According to the SUA trajectories, the patients were divided into a low trajectory group (105 cases), a middle trajectory group (396 cases), a middle high trajectory group (278 cases), and a high trajectory group (67 cases). Cox regression analysis was used to examine the effect of SUA trajectory on the progression of renal function in patients with T2DM. Subgroup analysis was performed by sex, age, course of disease, body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).@*RESULTS@#The median follow-up was 4.8 years. At the end of follow-up, 158 patients had different degrees of decline in renal function. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors by Cox regression analysis, the risks of eGFR<60 mL/(min·1.73 m2), eGFR reduction rate≥50%, serum creatinine (Scr) doubling and composite endpoint (eGFR reduction rate≥50%, Scr doubling or ESRD) in the high trajectory group were significantly higher than those in the low trajectory group, with HR of 3.84 (95% CI 1.83 to 8.05), 6.90 (95% CI 2.27 to 20.96), 6.29 (95% CI 2.03 to 19.52), and 8.04 (95% CI 2.68 to 24.18), respectively. There was no significant difference in the risk of ESRD among the above 4 groups (all P>0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that: compared with the low trajectory group, the risks of eGFR<60 mL/(min·1.73 m2) in patients with high trajectory in the subgroup of male, female, age<65 years, course of disease<10 years, BMI≥24 kg/m2 and HbA1c≥7% were increased (all P<0.05). The SUA trajectory had no interaction with sex, age, course of disease, BMI and HbA1c (all interactive P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The high SUA trajectory increases the risk for progression of renal function in patients with T2DM. Long-term longitudinal changes of SUA should be paid attention to.

Correlation between traditional Chinese medicine and reduced risk of readmission in rheumatoid arthritis patients with hypoproteinemia:a retrospective cohort study / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to explore the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and reduced risk of readmission in patients having rheumatoid arthritis with hypoproteinemia(RA-H). A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 2 437 rheumatoid arthritis patients in the information system database of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from 2014 to 2021, and 476 of them were found to have hypoproteinemia. The patients were divided into TCM users and non-TCM users by propensity score matching. Exposure was defined as the use of oral Chinese patent medicine or herbal decoction for ≥1 month. Cox regression analysis was performed to explore the risk factors of clinical indicators of rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, the use of TCM during hospitalization was analyzed, and analysis of association rules was conducted to investigate the correlation between TCM, improvement of indicators and readmission of patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted to compare the readmission rate of TCM users and non-TCM users. It was found the readmission rate of RA-H patients was significantly higher than that of RA patients. By propensity score matching, 232 RA-H patients were divided into TCM group(116 cases) and non-TCM group(116 cases). Compared with the conditions in the non-TCM group, the readmission rate of the TCM group was lowered(P<0.01), and the readmission rate of middle-aged and elderly patients was higher than that of young patients(P<0.01). Old age was a risk factor for readmission of RA-H patients, while TCM, albumin(ALB) and total protein(TP) were the protective factors. During hospitalization, the TCMs used for RA-H patients were mainly divided into types of activating blood and resolving stasis, relaxing sinew and dredging collaterals, clearing heat and detoxifying, and invigorating spleen and resolving dampness. The improvement of rheumatoid factor(RF), immunoglobulin G(IgG), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP) and ALB was closely related to TCM. On the basis of western medicine treatment, the application of TCM could reduce the readmission rate of RA-H patients, and longer use of TCM indicated lower readmission rate.

Effects of acupuncture on hemorrhagic transformation and motor function in stroke patients after intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA: a prospective cohort study / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of the Xingnao Kaiqiao (regaining consciousness and opening orifices) acupuncture on hemorrhagic transformation and limb motor function after intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in stroke patients.@*METHODS@#A total of 130 stroke patients after rt-PA thrombolytic were divided into an acupuncture group (58 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a non-acupuncture group (72 cases, 7 cases dropped off) according to whether they received acupuncture treatment. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match each group, with 38 patients in each group. The patients in the non-acupuncture group received rt-PA thrombolytic therapy and western medical basic treatment. In addition to the basic treatment, the patients in the acupuncture group received Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture at Shuigou (GV 26), bilateral Neiguan (PC 6), and ipsilateral Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Chize (LU 5), once a day for 14 days. The incidence of hemorrhagic transformation within 30 days after onset was compared between the two groups. The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) score and activities of daily living (ADL) score were observed at baseline and 30 days, 6 months, 1 year after onset in the two groups. The disability rate at 6 months and 1 year after onset was recorded, and safety was evaluated in both groups.@*RESULTS@#The incidence of hemorrhagic transformation in the acupuncture group was 5.3% (2/38), which was lower than 21.1% (8/38) in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.05). At 30 days, 6 month, and 1 year after onset, the FMA and ADL scores of both groups were higher than those at baseline (P<0.01), and the scores in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.01). The disability rate in the acupuncture group at 1 year after onset was 10.5% (4/38), which was lower than 28.9% (11/38) in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture method could reduce the incidence of hemorrhagic transformation in stroke patients after intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA, improve their motor function and daily living ability, and reduce the long-term disability rate.

Effect of Synergistic Treatment with Qingjin Huazhuo Formula （清金化浊方） on Thrombotic Events in Hospitalized Patients of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Phlegm Heat Stasis Obstructing in the Lung Syndrome： A Retrospective Cohort Study / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo analyze the effect and possible mechanism of the synergistic treatment with Qingjin Huazhuo Formula （清金化浊方， QHF） on the occurrence of thrombotic events in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （AECOPD） and phlegm heat stasis obstructing in the lung syndrome. MethodsIn a retrospective cohort study， 305 AECOPD inpatients with the syndrome of phlegm heat stasis obstructing in the lung were included. According to whether using QHF （the course of treatment ≥ 7 days）， they were divided into the exposure group （193 cases） and the non-exposure group （112 cases）. Totally， 109 pairs of cases were obtained by 1∶1 propensity score matching （PSM）. After matching， the occurrence of thrombotic events during hospitalization， the remission of main symptoms or signs （including cough， expectoration， wheezing， cyanosis） after 10 days （±3 days） of treatment， and the difference of the indicators including D-dimer， percentage of neutrophils （NEUT%）， C-reactive protein （CRP）， arterial partial pressure of oxygen （PaO2）， and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide （PaCO2） before treatment and after 10 days （±3 days） of treatment during the first auxiliary examination. ResultsAfter matching， the incidence of thrombotic events during hospitalization in the exposure group （5 cases， 4.59%） were lower than that of the non-exposure group （15 cases， 13.76%， P＜0.05）. The exposure factor that taking QHF for 7 days or above was a protective factor for thrombotic events in AECOPD hospitalized patients with phlegm heat stasis obstructing in the lung syndrome （RR = 0.333， 95% CI 0.126 to 0.885）. The remission rates of cough （100/109， 91.74%）， expectoration （103/109， 94.50%）， wheezing （102/109， 93.58%）， and cyanosis （97/109， 88.99%） in the exposure group were significantly higher than those in the non-exposure group （90/109， 82.57%； 94/109， 86.24%； 89/109， 81.65%； 86/109， 78.90%） after treatment （P＜0.05）. After treatment， the levels of D-dimer， NEUT%， CRP and PaCO2 in both groups significantly decreased （all P＜0.05）， and the level of PaO2 significantly increased （P＜0.05）. The difference of the levels of D-dimer， NEUT% and PaO2 in the exposure group before and after treatment were larger than those in the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）， while the pre-post difference of CRP and PaCO2 were not significantly different between the two groups （P＞0.05）. ConclusionThe synergistic treatment with QHF can effectively reduce the occurrence of thrombotic events， alleviate the clinical symptoms or signs such as cough， expectoration， wheezing， and cyanosis， and can improve lung function in hospita-lized patients with AECOPD and phlegm heat stasis obstructing in the lung syndrome. Its mechanism may be related to improving blood coagulation and inflammatory status.

Metformin use and risk of ischemic stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes: A cohort study / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the association between the use of metformin and the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes.@*METHODS@#A prospective cohort study was designed from the Fangshan family cohort in Beijing. According to metformin use at baseline, 2 625 patients with type 2 diabetes in Fangshan, Beijing were divided into metformin group or non-metformin group and the incidence of ischemic stroke between the different groups during follow-up was estimated and compared by Cox proportional hazard regression model. The participants with metformin were first compared with all the parti-cipants who did not use metformin, and then were further compared with those who did not use hypoglycemic agents and those who used other hypoglycemic agents.@*RESULTS@#The patients with type 2 diabetes were with an average age of (59.5±8.7) years, and 41.9% of them were male. The median follow-up time was 4.5 years. A total of 84 patients developed ischemic stroke during follow-up, with a crude incidence of 6.4 (95%CI: 5.0-7.7) per 1 000 person-years. Among all the participants, 1 149 (43.8%) took metformin, 1 476 (56.2%) were metformin non-users, including 593 (22.6%) used other hypoglycemic agents, and 883 (33.6%) did not use any hypoglycemic agents. Compared with metformin non-users, the Hazard ratio (HR) for ischemic stroke in metformin users was 0.58 (95%CI: 0.36-0.93; P = 0.024). Compared with other hypoglycemic agents, HR was 0.48 (95%CI: 0.28-0.84; P < 0.01); Compared with the group without hypoglycemic agents, HR was 0.65 (95%CI: 0.37-1.13; P=0.13). The association between metformin and ischemic stroke was statistically significant in the patients ≥ 60 years old compared with all the metformin non-users and those who used other hypoglycemic agents (HR: 0.48, 95%CI: 0.25-0.92; P < 0.05). Metformin use was associated with a lower incidence of ischemic stroke in the patients with good glycemic control (0.32, 95%CI: 0.13-0.77; P < 0.05). In the patients with poor glycemic control, and the association was not statistically significant (HR: 0.97, 95%CI: 0.53-1.79; P>0.05). There was an interaction between glycemic control and metformin use on incidence of ischemic stroke (Pinteraction < 0.05). The results of the sensitivity analysis were consistent with the results in the main analysis.@*CONCLUSION@#Among patients with type 2 diabetic in rural areas of northern China, metformin use was associated with lower incidence of ischemic stroke, especially in patients older than 60 years. There was an interaction between glycemic control and metformin use in the incidence of ischemic stroke.

Association between Tub Bathing Frequency and Onset of Depression in Older Adults: A Six-Year Cohort Study from the JAGES Project / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  Background: The traditional Japanese style of soaking in a hot bath is a lifestyle custom for many citizens, no study had ever investigated the association between bathing as a lifestyle practice and the onset of long-term depression. Through a large-scale six-year longitudinal study, we aimed to determine whether tub bathing as a lifestyle custom plays a role in preventing the onset of long-term depression.  Methods: Of 11,882 individuals who responded to surveys conducted in 2010 and 2016 as part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (the JAGES) project, we analyzed 6,452 and 6,465 individuals for whom information was available regarding summer bathing frequency and winter bathing frequency, respectively; all of these individuals were independent, had a Geriatric Depression Scale (hereafter, “GDS”) score of ≤4, and did not suffer from depression. The cohort study involved dividing participants into a group of those who bathed 0-6 times a week and a group of those who bathed ≥7 times a week and determining the percentages of individuals who developed depression based on their GDS scores six years later. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine odds ratios for the association between depression onset and tub bathing.   Results: For individuals who tub bathed ≥7 times a week, the odds ratios for depression onset versus individuals who bathed 0-6 times a week in summer and winter were 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.64-1.10) and 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.98), respectively. Tub bathing ≥7 times a week in winter significantly reduced the risk of depression onset.  Conclusions: New-onset depression was shown to be infrequent in older adults who bathe in a tub frequently. Tub bathing was suggested to potentially contribute to the prevention of depression in the elderly.

Correlation of traditional Chinese medicine to reduced re-admission risk in ankylosing spondylitis patients with dampness-heat syndrome: a retrospective cohort study / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to analyze the impact of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) on the risk of re-admission for ankylosing spondylitis(AS) patients with dampness-heat syndrome. In this study, a telephone follow-up was conducted on 1 295 AS inpatients, and after screening and exclusions, 1 044 successfully followed-up patients were included. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using propensity score matching(PSM), and a Cox proportional risk model was employed to assess the effect of various factors on the risk of re-admission for AS patients with dampness-heat syndrome. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze the effect of TCM intervention time on re-admission. The incidence rate of dampness-heat syndrome in AS patients was found to be 51.3% in this study. After 1∶1 PSM, 385 AS patients with dampness-heat syndrome and 385 AS patients without dampness-heat syndrome were included for analysis. The results indicated that the re-admission rate was higher for patients with dampness-heat syndrome compared with those without dampness-heat syndrome(P<0.05). AS patients with dampness-heat syndrome in the TCM group had a lower admission rate than those in the non-TCM group(P=0.01). The cox proportional risk model demonstrated that TCM was an independent protective factor, as it reduced the risk of re-admission by 35%(HR=0.35, 95%CI[0.26, 0.95], P<0.05). Moreover, the subgroup with high exposure(time to use Chinese medicine >12 months) had a significantly lower risk of re-admission than that with low TCM exposure(time to use Chinese medicine ≤12 months). The re-admission rate for AS patients with dampness-heat syndrome was higher than that without dampness-heat syndrome, and TCM was identified as a protective factor in reducing the risk of re-admission. Furthermore, a longer duration of TCM intervention was associated with a lower risk of re-admission.

National Vaccine Coverage Survey 2020: methods and operational aspects / Inquérito Nacional de Cobertura Vacinal 2020: métodos e aspectos operacionais

ABSTRACT Objective: The national vaccination coverage survey on full vaccination at 12 and 24 months of age was carried out to investigate drops in coverage as of 2016. Methods: A sample of 37,836 live births from the 2017 or 2018 cohorts living in capital cities, the Federal District, and 12 inner cities with 100 thousand inhabitants were followed for the first 24 months through vaccine record cards. Census tracts stratified according to socioeconomic levels had the same number of children included in each stratum. Coverage for each vaccine, full vaccination at 12 and 24 months and number of doses administered, valid and timely, were calculated. Family, maternal and child factors associated with coverage were surveyed. The reasons for not vaccinating analyzed were: medical contraindications, access difficulties, problems with the program, and vaccine hesitancy. Results: Preliminary results showed that less than 1% of children were not vaccinated, full coverage was less than 75% at all capitals and the Federal District, vaccines requiring more than one dose progressively lost coverage, and there were inequalities among socioeconomic strata, favorable to the highest level in some cities and to the lowest in others. Conclusion: There was an actual reduction in full vaccination in all capitals and the Federal District for children born in 2017 and 2018, showing a deteriorating implementation of the National Immunization Program from 2017 to 2019. The survey did not measure the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have further reduced vaccination coverage.

RESUMO Objetivo: Inquérito nacional de cobertura vacinal aos 12 e 24 meses de idade foi realizado para investigar as quedas nas coberturas a partir de 2016. Métodos: Amostra de 37.836 nascidos vivos das coortes de 2017 e 2018 residentes nas capitais, Distrito Federal (DF) e 12 cidades com mais de 100 mil habitantes, acompanhados nos primeiros 24 meses por registros nas cadernetas de vacinação. Setores censitários foram estratificados segundo condições socioeconômicas, e o mesmo número de crianças foi incluído para cada estrato. Calcularem-se coberturas vacinais de cada vacina e coberturas completas aos 12 e 24 meses, doses aplicadas, válidas e oportunas. Fatores familiares, maternos e da criança associados à cobertura foram pesquisados. Os motivos para não vacinar analisados foram: contraindicações médicas, dificuldades de acesso, problemas no funcionamento do programa e hesitação vacinal. Resultados: Os resultados preliminares mostram que menos de 1% das crianças não foram vacinadas, as coberturas pelo esquema completo são menores que 75% em todas as capitais e no DF, as vacinas com mais de uma dose perdem cobertura progressivamente, há diferenças entre os estratos socioeconômicos, favoráveis aos estratos mais altos em algumas cidades e aos estratos mais baixos em outras. Conclusão: Houve realmente redução da cobertura vacinal em todas as capitais e no DF para as crianças nascidas em 2017 e 2018, denotando piora na execução do Programa Nacional de Imunizações durante os anos de 2017 a 2019. O inquérito realizado não mensurou os impactos da pandemia de COVID-19 que podem ter reduzido ainda mais as coberturas vacinais.

Arrival time at a referral hospital and functional disability of people with stroke: a cohort study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major cause of death and functional disability worldwide. Knowledge of the associated factors is essential for defining education, management, and healthcare strategies. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between arrival time at a neurology referral hospital (ATRH) and functional disability in patients with ischemic stroke 90 days after the event. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study conducted at a public institution of higher education in Brazil. METHODS: This study included 241 people aged ≥ 18 years who presented ischemic stroke. The exclusion criteria were death, inability to communicate without companions who could answer the research questions, and > 10 days since ictus. Disability was assessed using the Rankin score (mR). Variables for which associations showed a P value ≤ 0.20 in bivariate analysis were tested as modifiers between ATRH and disability. Significant interaction terms were used for multivariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with all variables, arriving at the complete model and adjusted beta measures. The confounding variables were included in the robust logistic regression model, and Akaike's Information Criterion was adopted to choose the final model. The Poisson model assumes a statistical significance of 5% and risk correction. RESULTS: Most participants (56.0%) arrived at the hospital within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, and 51.7% presented with mRs of 3 to 5 after 90 days of ictus. In the multivariate model, ATRH ≥ 4.5 hours and females were associated with more significant disability. CONCLUSIONS: Arrival at the referral hospital 4.5 hours after the onset of symptoms or wake-up stroke was an independent predictor of a high degree of functional disability.