The influence of demographic and lifestyle factors on blood donation delay among student population: a retrospective study.

Objective: This study analysed blood donation deferral trends, reasons and demographic/lifestyle characteristics among students in Huzhou City. The aim was to understand the health status of students and reduce the deferral rate. Methods: Data on blood donation deferral among students in Huzhou City from 2018 to 2022 were collected and analysed. Deferral trends and main reasons were investigated. Using demographic and lifestyle data from 2,619 cases in 2022, a risk prediction model for deferral was constructed. Results: The deferral rate among students in Huzhou City from 2018 to 2022 was 12.60% (p = 0.000, 95%CI: 12.14-13.06%), showing a significant increasing trend. Temporary deferral was the main reason, with alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood pressure (BP) and haemoglobin (Hb) as the main deferral factors. ALT had a deferral rate of 5.23% (4.92-5.53%), BP 3.30% (3.06-3.55%), and Hb 2.92% (2.68-3.15%). Demographic and lifestyle characteristics in 2022 showed no significant differences between education level, household registration and deferral rate (p > 0.05). However, age, sex, blood donation history, sleep quality, diet and mental state had variable effects on ALT, BP, and Hb deferrals (p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that sex, blood donation history, sleep quality, diet and mental status were independent risk factors for ALT deferral (p < 0.05), with odds ratios (ORs) of 5.057, 2.735, 1.594, 3.679, and 1.957, respectively. Age, blood donation history, sleep quality and mental state were independent risk factors for BP deferral (p < 0.05), with ORs of 0.256, 3.658, 6.042, and 1.812, respectively. Gender, blood donation history and diet were independent risk factors for Hb deferral (p < 0.05), with ORs of 0.244, 0.542, and 3.103, respectively. Conclusion: Students' health problems require attention. Effective health education should improve self-health management and pre-donation health behaviour to encourage regular blood donation.

Morphometric features of gastric mucosa in atrophic gastritis: A different pattern between corpus and antrum.

Atrophic gastritis can cause mucosa thinning, while detailed metrological evidence is lacking. We aimed to compare the morphological features of full-thickness gastric mucosa in antrum and corpus and evaluate the diagnostic performance for atrophy. Gastric cancer patients were prospectively enrolled (N = 401). Full-thickness gastric mucosa was obtained. Foveolar length, glandular length and musculus mucosae thickness were measured. Pathological assessment was conducted using the visual analogue scale of the updated Sydney system. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated for different atrophy degrees. In corpus mucosa, foveolar length and musculus mucosae thickness were positively correlated with the atrophy degree (spearman's correlation coefficient [rs] = 0.231 and 0.224, respectively, P < .05); glandular length and total mucosal thickness were negatively correlated (rs = -0.399 and -0.114, respectively, P < .05). Total mucosal thickness did not correlate with antral atrophy degree (P = .107). The AUCs of total mucosal thickness for corpus and antral atrophy were 0.570 (P < .05) and 0.592 (P < .05), respectively. The AUCs for corpus atrophy, moderate and severe, and severe atrophy were 0.570 (P < .05), 0.571 (P = .003), and 0.584 (P = .006), respectively. The corresponding AUCs for antral atrophy were 0.592 (P = .010), 0.548 (P = .140), and 0.521 (P = .533), respectively. The tendency for mucosal thickness to thin with atrophy occurred in the corpus rather than in the antrum. The diagnostic performance of corpus and antral mucosal thickness was limited for atrophy.

Nonlinear Effects of the Built Environment on Light Physical Activity among Older Adults: The Case of Lanzhou, China.

The aging of the population is increasing the load on the healthcare system, and enhancing light physical activity among older adults can alleviate this problem. This study used medical examination data from 1773 older adults in Lanzhou city (China) and adopted the random forest model to investigate the effect of the built environment on the duration of light physical activity of older adults. The results showed that streetscape greenery has the most significant impact on older adults' light physical activity; greenery can be assessed in a hierarchy of areas; population density and land-use mix only have a positive effect on older adults' light physical activity up to a certain point but a negative effect beyond that point; and a greater distance to the park within 1 km is associated with a longer time spent on light physical activity. Therefore, we conclude that the built environment's impact is only positive within a specific range. Changes in the intervention of environmental variables can be observed visually by calculating the relative importance of the nonlinearity of built environment elements with partial dependency plots. These results provide a reasonable reference indicator for age-friendly community planning.

Left abdominal wall proliferative myositis resection and patch repair: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Proliferative myositis is a rare benign tumor that is typically self-limiting and does not become malignant. It can be cured by simple resection without reported recurrence. Due to its rapid growth, hard structure and ill-defined borders, it can however be mistaken for malignant tumors such as sarcomas. CASE SUMMARY: We investigate the case of a 64-year-old male with proliferative myositis of the abdominal wall, who was preoperatively administered a needle aspiration biopsy and given a simple excision and patch repair. We then compared it with other similar cases to determine the effectiveness of this treatment method. CONCLUSION: Resection with follow-up observation has shown to be an effective treatment method for proliferative myositis. To avoid unnecessarily extended or destructive resection, a thorough and conclusive diagnosis is crucial, which requires adequate imaging and pathological knowledge.

Differences in the Correlation between the Built Environment and Walking, Moderate, and Vigorous Physical Activity among the Elderly in Low- and High-Income Areas.

Studies have proved that activity and fitness behaviors are closely related to the quality of life and health status of the elderly. However, different intensities of physical activity (PA)-walking, moderate PA, and vigorous PA-have different correlations with the built environment (BE). This study combines the high and low socioeconomic status (SES) of Guangzhou to establish two types of BE models. The physical activity time of 600 elderly people was collected from questionnaires. Through ArcGIS software, 300 m, 500 m, 800 m, and 1000 m buffer zones were identified, and the land use diversity, street design, population density, distance to destination, distance to public transportation-the five Ds of the BE-were measured. SPSS software was adopted to analyze the correlation between the BE and PA. Results: The PA of people living in low-SES areas was more dependent on the BE, whereas the correlation may be limited in high SES areas. Moreover, in low SES areas, walking was negatively correlated with street connectivity; moderate PA was positively correlated with street connectivity and the shortest distance to the subway station, but negatively correlated with the density of entertainment points of interest (POIs). Studying the relevant factors of the environment can propose better strategies to improve the initiative of the elderly to engage in PA.

Research on the Difference Between Recreational Walking and Transport Walking Among the Elderly in Mega Cities With Different Density Zones: The Case of Guangzhou City.

Walking is the easiest method of physical activity for older people, and current research has demonstrated that the built environment is differently associated with recreational and transport walking. This study modelled the environmental characteristics of three different building density zones in Guangzhou city at low, medium, and high densities, and examined the differences in walking among older people in the three zones. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to investigate the recreational and transport walking time of older people aged 65 years and above for the past week, for a total of three density zones (N = 597) and was analysed as a dependent variable. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to identify 300, 500, 800, and 1,000 m buffers and to assess differences between recreational and transport walking in terms of the built environment [e.g., land-use mix, street connectivity, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data]. The data were processed and validated using the SPSS software to calculate Pearson's correlation models and stepwise regression models between recreation and transit walking and the built environment. The results found that land use mix and NDVI were positively correlated with transport walking in low-density areas and that transport walking was negatively correlated with roadway mediated centrality (BtE) and Point-of-Interest (PoI) density. Moreover, recreational walking in medium density areas was negatively correlated with self-rated health, road intersection density, and PoI density while positively correlated with educational attainment, population density, land use mix, street connectivity, PoIs density, and NDVI. Transport walking was negatively correlated with land-use mix, number of road crossings while positively correlated with commercial PoI density. Street connectivity, road intersection density, DNVI, and recreational walking in high-density areas showed negative correlations. Moreover, the built environment of older people in Guangzhou differed between recreational and transport walking at different densities. The richness of PoIs has different effects on different types of walking.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Japanese buttercup Ranunculus japonicus Thunb.

Ranunculus japonicus is an important medicinal herb widely used in East Asia. In this study, we report the first complete chloroplast genome sequence of Ranunculus japonicus using next-generation sequencing technology. The chloroplast genome size of R. japonicus was 156,981 bp. A total of 129 genes were included, consisting 84 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. Thirteen protein-coding genes had intron (ycf3 gene, rps12 gene, rps12 gene, clpP gene contained two introns). A further phylogenomic analysis of Ranunculaceae, including 10 taxa, was conducted for assessing the placement of R. japonicus. It will provide valuable genetic information for this medicinally important species.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of wild Japanese pepper Tubocapsicum anomalum Makino (Solanaceae).

As an important medicinal herb, no complete organelle molecular data has been reported for Tubocapsicum anomalum. In this study, the first complete chloroplast genome of Tubocapsicum anomalum Makino was sequenced and assembled. The genome is 155,802 bp in length and contained 124 encoded genes in total, including 75 protein-coding genes, 10 ribosomal RNA genes, and 39 transfer RNA genes. The phylogenomic analysis showed that Tubocapsicum anomalum was closely related to Withania somnifera according the current sampling extent.

The complete chloroplast genome of balsam aster (Aster ageratoides Turcz. var. scaberulus (Miq.) Ling., Asteraceae).

The first complete chloroplast genome of Aster ageratoides Turcz. var. scaberulus (Miq.) Ling. is reported in this study. The total chloroplast genome size of A. ageratoides var. scaberulus was 153,071 bp and comprised of a large single-copy region (LSC with 84,896 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC with 18,269 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IR with 24,953 bp). A total of 122 genes were included in the genome, including 83 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. Eleven protein-coding genes had intron (ycf3, clpP and rps12 gene contained two introns. Further phylogenomic analysis of Asteraceae, including 13 taxa, was conducted for the placement of A. ageratoides var. scaberulus.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose corticosteroids for acute respiratory distress syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting results regarding whether corticosteroids have better efficacy than placebo in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. Therefore, we aim to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids in adult ARDS patients. METHODS: The databases, including Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, were searched from their inception to May 2, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies were selected to assess the use of corticosteroids in adult ARDS patients. The quality of the results was judged by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The inverse-variance method with random or fixed effects modeling was used to compute pooled odds ratio (OR), standardized mean difference (SMD), and their 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Eight eligible RCTs and six cohort studies were included. The use of corticosteroids was associated with reduced mortality (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.43-0.76, I2=35.1%, P=0.148) in ARDS patients, and the result was confirmed in the included cohort studies (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27-0.95, I2=66.7%, P=0.010). The subgroup analysis stratified by the initiation time and duration of corticosteroid use showed that early ARDS and prolonged corticosteroid use had significant survival benefits in the RCTs. The low-dose corticosteroid use was also associated with significantly more ventilator-free days and a reduced rate of new infections in ARDS patients. CONCLUSIONS: The low-dose corticosteroid therapy may be safe and reduce mortality, especially in patients with prolonged treatment and early ARDS.

COVID-19 and early-stage lung cancer both featuring ground-glass opacities: a propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: Radiological manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) featured ground-glass opacities (GGOs), especially in the early stage, which might create confusion in differential diagnosis with early lung cancer. We aimed to specify the radiological characteristics of COVID-19 and early lung cancer and to unveil the discrepancy between them. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-seven COVID-19 patients and 374 early lung cancer patients from four hospitals in China were retrospectively enrolled. Epidemiological, clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics were compared between the two groups using propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis. RESULTS: COVID-19 patients had more distinct symptoms, tended to be younger (P<0.0001), male (P<0.0001), and had a higher body mass index (P=0.014). After 1:1 PSM, 121 matched pairs were identified. Regarding radiological characteristics, patients with a single lesion accounted for 17% in COVID-19 and 89% in lung cancer (P<0.0001). Most lesions were peripherally found in both groups. Lesions in COVID-19 involved more lobes (median 3.5 vs. 1; P<0.0001) and segments (median 6 vs. 1; P<0.0001) and tended to have multiple types (67%) with patchy form (54%). Early lung cancer was more likely to have a single type (92%) with oval form (66%). Also, COVID-19 and early lung cancer either had some distinctive features on computed tomography (CT) images. CONCLUSIONS: Both COVID-19 and early lung cancers showed GGOs, with similar but independent features. The imaging characteristics should be fully understood and combined with epidemiological history, pathogen detection, laboratory tests, short-term CT reexamination, and pathological results to aid differential diagnosis.

Full use of factors promoting catalytic performance of chitosan supported manganese porphyrin.

In order to make full use of the impact of internal and external factors on the performance of title catalyst for ethyl benzene oxidation, the key internal influencing factors on the catalytic performance were modulated by coordinating and grafting manganese porphyrin to mesoporous and macroporous chitosan, and the important external factors (i.e. oxidation reaction conditions) were optimized using Response Surface Methodology. Under the Response Surface Methodology optimized oxidation reaction conditions (176.56 °C, 0.59 MPa, and 0.25 mg amount of manganese porphyrin), the catalyst could be used at least five times. The ethyl benzene conversion, catalyst turnover numbers, and yields reached up to 51.2%, 4.37 × 106 and 36.4% in average, respectively. Compared with the other optimized oxidation reaction conditions, the corresponding values increased 17%, 26% and 53%. Relative to the manganese porphyrin, the catalytic performance and efficiency of the immobilized catalyst had notably increased.

Efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for sepsis: a meta-analysis of preclinical studies.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have reported that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has beneficial effects in experimental models of sepsis. However, this finding remains inconclusive. This study was performed to systematically determine the connection between MSC therapy and mortality in sepsis animal models by pooling and analyzing data from newly published studies. METHODS: A detailed search of related studies from 2009 to 2019 was conducted in four databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. After browsing and filtering out articles that met the inclusion criteria for statistical analysis, the inverse variance method of the fixed effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Twenty-nine animal studies, including 1266 animals, were identified. None of the studies was judged to have a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis demonstrated that MSC therapy was related to a significantly lower mortality rate (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.22-0.38, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses performed based on the MSC injection dose (< 1.0 × 106 cells, OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.20-0.56, P < 0.001; 1.0 × 106 cells, OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.16-0.35, P < 0.001) and injection time (< 1 h, OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.13-0.45, P < 0.001; 1 h, OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.17-0.46, P < 0.001) demonstrated that treatment with MSCs significantly reduced the mortality rate of animals with sepsis. CONCLUSION: This up-to-date meta-analysis showed a connection between MSC therapy and lower mortality in sepsis animal models, supporting the potential therapeutic effect of MSC treatment in future clinical trials. The results in this study contradict a previous meta-analysis with regards to the ideal dose of MSC therapy. Thus, further research is required to support these findings.

[Clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 in children aged <18 years in Jiangxi, China: an analysis of 23 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children aged <18 years. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed from the medical data of 23 children, aged from 3 months to 17 years and 8 months, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Jiangxi, China from January 21 to February 29, 2020. RESULTS: Of the 23 children with COVID-19, 17 had family aggregation. Three children (13%) had asymptomatic infection, 6 (26%) had mild type, and 14 (61%) had common type. Among these 23 children, 16 (70%) had fever, 11 (48%) had cough, 8 (35%) had fever and cough, and 8 (35%) had wet rales in the lungs. The period from disease onset or the first nucleic acid-positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 to the virus nucleic acid negative conversion was 6-24 days (median 12 days). Of the 23 children, 3 had a reduction in total leukocyte count, 2 had a reduction in lymphocytes, 2 had an increase in C-reactive protein, and 2 had an increase in D-dimer. Abnormal pulmonary CT findings were observed in 12 children, among whom 9 had patchy ground-glass opacities in both lungs. All 23 children received antiviral therapy and were recovered. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 in children aged <18 years often occurs with family aggregation, with no specific clinical manifestation and laboratory examination results. Most of these children have mild symptoms and a good prognosis. Epidemiological history is of particular importance in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in children aged <18 years.

Effect of low high-density lipoprotein levels on mortality of septic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: An increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is well associated with a decreased cardiovascular risk, especially atherosclerosis. Recent studies suggest that lower levels of HDL may also be associated with an increased risk of sepsis and an increased rate of mortality in septic patients. However, this conclusion remains controversial. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched from inception to September 30, 2019. All studies were conducted to evaluate the correlation of lipoprotein levels and the risk and outcomes of sepsis in adult patients. The primary outcomes were the risk and mortality of sepsis. RESULTS: Seven studies comprising 791 patients were included. Lower levels of HDL had no marked relevance with the risk of sepsis (odds radio [OR] for each 1 mg/dL increase, 0.94; 95% CI 0.86-1.02; P=0.078), whereas lower HDL levels were related to an increased mortality rate in septic patients (OR for below about median HDL levels, 2.00; 95% CI 1.23-3.24; P=0.005). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis did not reveal a significant association between lower HDL levels and an increase in the risk of sepsis, whereas it showed that lower HDL levels are associated with a higher mortality rate in septic adult patients. These findings suggest that HDL may be considered as a promising factor for the prevention and treatment of sepsis in the future.