[Association of Body Mass Index and Risk Stratification of Thyroid Nodules in a Multi-center Healthy Population].

Objective To investigate the relationship between body mass index(BMI)and risk levels of thyroid nodules in a multi-center healthy population. Methods A total of 6070 subjects were enrolled from five medical physical examination centers in China from January 2015 to December 2017. All the participants'general information and parameters were recorded. Thyroid nodules were detected by color Doppler ultrasonography. All ultrasound doctors received uniform training before study. Results Among all the subjects,5773(95.1%;with 4274 nodules identified in 2833 subjects)were from northern China and 297(4.9%,with 183 nodules identified in 158 subjects)from central China(χ2=1.923,P=0.092). The nodules were single in 1479 of 2991 subjects(49.4%)and multiple in 1512 subjects(50.6%). Nodules larger than 1 cm accounted for 13.3% and nodules smaller than 1 cm accounted for 86.7%. Compared with the non-thyroid nodule group,the thyroid nodule group had significantly more women(χ2=156.36,P=0.000),older age(t=-18.768,P=0.000),and higher fasting blood glucose(FBG) level(t=-3.808,P=0.000). Among all the nodules,the prevalence rates of benign,very-low-risk,low-risk,moderate risk,and high risk were 4.5%,6.6%,85.0%,0.1%,and 3.7%,respectively,according to the ATA guidelines. Notably,there were 4291 nodules at moderate or lower risks and 166 nodules at high risk. Compared with the former,patients with high-risk nodules had significantly lower BMI(χ2=25.161,P=0.000)and high FBG(t=3.357,P=0.000). Multivariate non-conditional Logistic regression showed low BMI(OR=2.900,95%CI:1.461-5.783,P=0.002)and high FBG level(OR=0.803,95%CI:0.675-0.955,P=0.013)were independent risk factors for high-risk nodules. Compared with subjects with normal weight or obese populations,subjects with low BMI had significantly higher detection rate of high-risk nodules(χ2=25.16,P=0.000). In ≥55 year-old group,significantly more high-risk nodules were detected in low BMI group(χ2=44.868,P=0.000). Conclusion Low weight is associated with high-risk thyroid nodules among people ≥55 years old.

A study of the application of EZSCAN in pilots and in the general population.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate EZSCAN detection in pilots and the general population, and determine the significance of EZSCAN detection in the identification of a pilot's health. METHODS: A total of 87 cases of non-diabetic Air Force pilots (pilot group) and 49 cases from the general population without diabetes were collected. These two groups of subjects underwent EZSCAN detection, as well as the detection of blood glucose, lipid and uric acid levels. RESULTS: Subjects in the pilot group had the highest detection rate of no risk and the lowest detection rate of high risk, while the general population had the highest detection rate of high risk, followed by low risk. The difference in diabetic risk between these two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Various indicators were compared according to different risk levels. In the no risk group, age, BMI and the triglyceride of pilots were lower than in the general population; and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In high risk group, BMI and blood uric acid of pilots were lower than in the general population; and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BMI and blood uric acid are positively correlated to diabetic risk. The EZSCAN detection system can be used for assessment of pilot's diabetic risk, and has certain significance in a pilot's health identification.

Observation of influences of mental health promotion and mental intervention on mental health status of professionals.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influences of mental health promotion and mental intervention on mental health status of professionals. METHOD: 2878 professionals for physical examination were selected and randomly divided into treatment group and control group, with 1443 professionals and 1435 professionals, respectively. Then, the difference of mental health status before and after mental intervention between two groups was compared. RESULTS: In treatment group, the proportion of people with healthy mental and modest pressure after mental intervention was higher than that before mental intervention and that in control group after mental intervention (P<0.01); the proportion of people with psychological sub-heath and moderate pressure after mental intervention was significantly lower than that before mental intervention and that in control group after mental intervention (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in mental health status in control group before and after mental intervention (P>0.05). Mental health consciousness, health status, self pressure-relief capability, job satisfaction, and happiness index of professionals were up to 63.3%~78.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health promotion and mental intervention may significantly improve mental health status of professionals.

Plasma soluble vascular adhesion protein-1 concentration correlates with arterial stiffness: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is related to inflammation, oxidative stress, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and endothelial dysfunction. Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is both as an adhesion molecule involving in inflammation and as an amine oxidase producing aldehyde and hydrogen peroxide involved in protein cross-linking, oxidative stress and endothelial injury. OBJECTIVE: We explored the associations of plasma soluble VAP-1 (sVAP-1) with arterial stiffness. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Health Examination Center at the General Hospital of the Air Force in Beijing, China. SUBJECTS: 568 Han Chinese healthy persons living in Beijing (aged 50.7 ± 8.0 years). METHODS: sVAP-1 concentration was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Arterial stiffness was measured as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) on both left and right sides of the examinees, and the larger and the mean values were recorded. Cardiovascular risk factors were investigated. RESULTS: sVAP-1 was significantly associated with maximal or mean baPWV in subjects of age ≥ 60 years after adjusting for baPWV-related confounders (ß=36.922, p<0.05 or ß=32.512, p<0.05) or after adjusting for all the variables (ß=37.924, p<0.05 or ß=33.193, p<0.05), but not in subjects of age <60 years. sVAP-1 had an independent and positive correlation with age (r=0.222, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma sVAP-1, increased with age, is associated with arterial stiffness in older individuals. VAP-1 may be important mechanism for vascular aging.

[Changes in heart rate and blood pressure under push pull maneuver simulated on a tilt table].

Objective. Push-pull maneuver (PPM) was simulated using a tilt table to assess detailed cardiovascular responses and the simulation model. Method. Ten healthy fighter pilots were exposed to 3 times transition of body position of head-up tilt (HUT) for 1 min-->head-down tilt (HDT) for 10 s, 15 s and 20 s respectively-->HUT for 1 min in randomized sequences. The rate of tilt table rotation was 45 degrees /s. Heart-level arterial blood pressure was monitored with 4 s intervals, and HR was continuously monitored by ECG. Result. HR and BP fell significantly during HDT compared with those during HUT; upon subsequent HUT, HR and BP were significantly less than those during previous HUT, except BP at 11-15 s. Conclusion. Cardiovascular responses to PPM can be simulated with a tilt table. It is suggested that the tilt table model is valid in simulating the PPM.

[A study of insertion/delation polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene in pilots].

In order to understand insertion/delation (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene in pilots,and to explore the relationship between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and the performance of the pilots, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the genotypes for an I/D polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene in 118 pilots and 96 healthy subjects as controls. The result showed that the I/D polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene was categorized into three genotypes: two deletion alleles (genotype DD), heterozygous alleles (genotype ID), and two insertion alleles (genotype II). The genotype II and I allele frequency were significantly higher in pilots (44.07% and 0.65) than that in healthy subjects (31.25% and 0.52). It is suggested that I gene of ACE may play a role in performance of the pilots.