Assessing the association between a sedentary lifestyle and prevalence of primary osteoporosis: a community-based cross-sectional study among Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES: To reveal the association between a sedentary lifestyle and the prevalence of primary osteoporosis (POP). DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. SETTING: This study was conducted in communities in Hefei city, Anhui province, China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1346 residents aged 40 and above underwent POP screening via calcaneus ultrasound bone mineral density (BMD) testing and completed a questionnaire survey. OUTCOME MEASURES: The average daily sitting time was included in the study variable and used to assess sedentary behaviour. The 15 control variables included general information, dietary information and life behaviour information. Logistic regression was used to analyse the association between the POP prevalence and study or control variables in different models. RESULTS: 1346 participants were finally included in the study. According to the 15 control variables, the crude model and 4 models were established. The analysis revealed that the average daily sitting time showed a significant correlation with the prevalence of POP in the crude model (OR=2.02, 95% CI=1.74 to 2.36, p<0.001), Model 1 (OR=2.65, 95% CI=2.21 to 3.17, p<0.001), Model 2 (OR=2.63, 95% CI=2.19 to 3.15, p<0.001), Model 3 (OR=2.62, 95% CI=2.18 to 3.15, p<0.001) and Model 4 (OR=2.58, 95% CI=2.14 to 3.11, p<0.001). Besides, gender, age and body mass index showed a significant correlation with the POP prevalence in all models. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a potential association between a sedentary lifestyle and the prevalence of POP within the Chinese population. Modifying sedentary behaviours could contribute to a reduction in POP risk. However, longitudinal cohort studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis in the future.

Lack of Association Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and the Risk of Thyroid Nodule Types: A Multicenter Case-Control Study in China.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is high worldwide, while numerous research has focused on unraveling the relationship between H. pylori infection and extragastric diseases. Although H. pylori infection has been associated with thyroid diseases, including thyroid nodule (TN), the relationship has mainly focused on potential physiological mechanisms and has not been validated by large population epidemiological investigations. Therefore, we thus designed a case-control study comprising participants who received regular health examination between 2017 and 2019. The cases and controls were diagnosed via ultrasound, while TN types were classified according to the guidelines of the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS). Moreover, H. pylori infection was determined by C14 urea breath test, while its relationship with TN type risk and severity was analyzed using binary and ordinal logistic regression analyses. A total of 43,411 participants, including 13,036 TN patients and 30,375 controls, were finally recruited in the study. The crude odds ratio (OR) was 1.07 in Model 1 (95% CI = 1.03-1.14) without adjustment compared to the H. pylori non-infection group. However, it was negative in Model 2 (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.97-1.06) after being adjusted for gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure and in Model 3 (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.97-1.06) after being adjusted for total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein on the basis of Model 2. Control variables, including gender, age, BMI, and diastolic pressure, were significantly correlated with the risk of TN types. Additionally, ordinal logistic regression results revealed that H. pylori infection was positively correlated with malignant differentiation of TN (Model 1: OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02-1.11), while Model 2 and Model 3 showed negative results (Model 2: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.96-1.06; Model 3: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.96-1.05). In conclusion, H. pylori infection was not significantly associated with both TN type risk and severity of its malignant differentiation. These findings provide relevant insights for correcting possible misconceptions regarding TN type pathogenesis and will help guide optimization of therapeutic strategies for thyroid diseases.

A Cross-sectional Study Assessing Predictors of Essential Medicines Prescribing Behavior Based on Information-motivation-behavioral Skills Model among County Hospitals in Anhui, China.

BACKGROUND: The self-consciousness and practicality of preferentially prescribed essential medicines (EMs) are not high enough in county hospitals. The purposes of this study were to use the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model to identify the predictors of essential medicines prescribing behavior (EMPB) among doctors and to examine the association between demographic variables, IMB, and EMPB. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess predictive relationships among demographic variables and IMB model variables using an anonymous questionnaire administered in nine county hospitals of Anhui province. A structural equation model was constructed for the IMB model to test the instruments using analysis of moment structures 17.0. RESULTS: A total of 732 participants completed the survey. The average age of the participants was 37.7 ± 8.9 years old (range: 22-67 years old). The correct rate of information was 90.64%. The average scores of the motivation and behavioral skills were 45.46 ± 7.34 (hundred mark system: 75.77) and 19.92 ± 3.44 (hundred mark system: 79.68), respectively. Approximately half (50.8%) of respondents reported that the proportion of EM prescription was below 60%. The final revised model indicated a good fit to the data (χ2 /df = 4.146, goodness of fit index = 0.948, comparative fit index = 0.938, root mean square error of approximation = 0.066). More work experience (ß = 0.153, P < 0.001) and behavioral skills (ß = 0.449, P < 0.001) predicted more EMPB. Higher income predicted less information (ß = -0.197, P < 0.001) and motivation (ß = -0.204, P < 0.001). Behavioral skills were positively predicted by information (ß = 0.135, P < 0.001) and motivation (ß = 0.742, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study predicted some factors of EMPB, and specified the relationships among the model variables. The utilization rate of EM was not high enough. Motivation and behavior skills were crucial factors affecting EMPB. The influence of demographic variables, such as income and work experience, on EMPB should be fully appreciated. Comprehensive intervention measures should be implemented from multiple perspectives.

[The analysis of consistency between digital radiography and high-kV chest radiographs in diagnosis pneumoconiosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the consistency between DR and high-kV chest radiographs in diagnosis of pneumoconiosis and to explore the feasibility of DR chest radiograph in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis. METHODS: Twenty five coal miners were examined with DR and high-kV chest radiographs at the same time. Image post-processing parameters (density, contrast, etc.) were set to ensure the quality of DR chest radiograph in Philips Essenta DR machine. In order to avoid the repetitive numbers, 50 chest radiographs were numbered at random. Pneumoconiosis diagnosis was conducted by six independent certified occupational physicians of pneumoconiosis by blind method. The consistency between 2 kinds of chest films was assessed. RESULTS: All chest radiographs (25 cases, 50 chest films) were excellent. The diagnosis results of six readers on the 15 pairs of DR and high-kV chest radiographies were summarized. For high-kV chest radiographs, the consistency of pneumoconiosis classification for 12 pairs of readers was more than 68%, the consistency of total density for 11 pairs of readers was more than 68%. For DR chest radiographs, the consistency of pneumoconiosis classification for 13 pairs of readers was more than 60%, the consistency of total density for 14 pairs of readers was more than 60%. The consistency of pneumoconiosis classification between two chest radiographs was 72% (value: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.46-0.92), the consistency of total density between two chest radiographs was 80% (value: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61-0.95). CONCLUSION: When the chest radiograph quality was good and the difference of reading films was low, there was a good consistency of pneumoconiosis diagnosis between DR chest radiographs and high-kV chest radiographs.

Gynecomastia in 38 children: etiology and treatment / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the etiology and treatment of gynecomastia in male children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 38 boys with gynecomastia at ages of 2-14 years were retrospectively studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 38 cases, 17 cases were identified as adolescent breast hyperplasia, 2 cases were relevant to primary disease, 4 cases were caused by ingestion of drugs containing hormone, and 15 cases did not show identifiable causes and were diagnosed as idiopathic gynecomastia. For the 3 children with breast development in B3 stage, oral rupixiao was administered (1.34 g, tid) for one month. For 16 children at ages of over 12 years with breast development in B2 stage and with obvious clinical symptoms, oral rupixiao was administered (1.34 g, tid) for 3-5 days. The other patients did not receive drug treatment. In a one month to one year follow-up, most of the patients recovered well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The etiology of gynecomastia in male children includes adolescent breast hyperplasia, ingestion of drugs containing hormone and secondary causes. Most gynecomastia can be attributed to physiological reasons. Only a few children with obvious clinical symptoms need drug treatment.</p>