Longitudinal associations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with metabolic syndrome in the Chinese population: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, most studies only reveal the relationship between baseline high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The relationship between dynamic changes in HDL-c or LDL-c and MetS remains unclear. We aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between the dynamic changes in HDL-c or LDL-c and MetS. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: The Medical Centre of the Second Hospital affiliated with Dalian Medical University from 2010 to 2016. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 4542 individuals who were initially MetS-free and completed at least two follow-up examinations as part of the longitudinal population were included. METHODS: The Joint Interim Statement criteria 2009 were used to define MetS. We used the Joint model to estimate the relative risks (RRs) of incident MetS. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of MetS was 17.81% and was 14.86% in men and 5.36% in women during the 7 years of follow-up. In the Joint models, the RRs of the longitudinal decrease in HDL-c and the longitudinal increase in LDL-c for the development of MetS were 18.8781-fold (95% CI 12.5156 to 28.4900) and 1.3929-fold (95% CI 1.2283 to 1.5795), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight that the dynamic longitudinal decrement of HDL-c or the increment of LDL-c is associated with an elevated risk of MetS.

Birth defects data from surveillance hospitals in Dalian city, China, 2006-2010.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to disclose characteristics of birth defects in perinatal infants in Dalian and provide an epidemiological basis for controlling birth defects. METHODS: Data used in this study were collected from surveillance hospitals in Dalian during 2006-2010. Comparison analysis and trend analysis were conducted by performing Chi-square tests. RESULTS: The perinatal prevalence of birth defects from 2006 to 2010 was 101.14 per 10 000 live births and was decreased by about 29% from 115.49 per 10 000 live births in 2006 to 81.16 per 10 000 live births in 2010. The prevalence in urban was higher than that in rural areas significantly. The three leading birth defects were congenital heart disease, cleft lip and/or palate, and polydactyly or syndactyly. About 572 cases identified by antenatal diagnosis were terminated pregnancy before 28 weeks of gestation, so the prevalence of birth defects would decrease from 126.29/10 000 to 101.14/10 000. CONCLUSIONS: Dalian has experienced a decreasing temporal trend of birth defects' prevalence; however, it is still confronted with the challenge to reduce the prevalence of birth defects. Congenital heart diseases are the focus to prevent birth defects. It is necessary to keep the surveillance system function properly, provide preconception health care service extensively, and improve the ability of prenatal diagnosis.

[Cost-effectiveness analysis on the once-in-a-lifetime cervical cancer screening program for women living in rural and urban areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of once-in-a-lifetime cervical cancer screening program and to predict the optimal modality for its operation on women living in rural and urban areas of China, based on Markov modeling and simulation. METHODS: Three modalities including visual inspection with acetic acid plus Lugol's iodine (VIA/VILI), conventional Pap Smear (Pap Smear), and simple HPV DNA testing (careHPV) were hypothesized for the rural cohort, whereas other five modalities including Pap Smear, liquid-based cytology (LBC), simple HPV DNA testing (careHPV), Hybrid Capture 2 HPV DNA testing (HC2), and LBC plus HC2 (LBC + HC2) were tested for the urban cohort. A Markov model was constructed based on the factors as natural history, screening, diagnosis and treatment on cervical cancer using data related to the epidemics and the costs from rural and urban areas of the country. Long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness were predicted through simulation of the model. RESULTS: Compared to the non-screening scenario, the amount of life years saved were 277.97 - 2727.53 and 134.02 - 1446.84 years per 100 000 women, respectively, for different cohorts in rural and urban areas. The cost-effectiveness ratios were 1520.99 - 2453.74 and 3847.35 - 44 570.35 RMB per life year saved, respectively, for different cohorts in rural and urban areas. The incremental cost-effective ratio for careHPV starting from 40 years old (careHPV@40) and careHPV from 30 years old (careHPV@30) dominated other strategies for the rural cohort, while careHPV@40, careHPV@30, HC2 from 30 years old (HC2@30), and LBC + HC2 from 30 years old (LBC + HC2@30) were dominant for the urban cohort. CONCLUSION: All eight once-in-a-lifetime cervical cancer screening modalities were cost-effective based on our model. In particular, careHPV screening starting from 40 years old seemed to be the most cost-effective one for women living in both rural and urban areas.

Selective transurethral resection of the prostate combined with transurethral incision of the bladder neck for bladder outlet obstruction in patients with small volume benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH): a prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has a high failure rate in patients with small volume benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). We describe and report the results of an alternative surgical method, selective transurethral resection of the prostate (STURP) in combination with transurethral incision of the bladder neck (TUIBN). METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive TURP or STRUP+TUIBN in combination with TUIBN. Maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), voided volume, and post voiding residual volume (PVR) were assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Efficacy of treatment was assessed by lower urinary tract symptoms and IPSS. RESULTS: Sixty three patients received STRUP+TUIBN and 61 received TURP. Surgical time, amount of prostate tissue resected, and blood loss was the same in both groups (all, p>0.05). The mean duration of follow-up was 9.02 and 8.53 months in patients receiving TURP and STRUP+TUIBN, respectively. At 6 months postoperatively, IPSS was 4.26±1.22 and 4.18±1.47 in patients receiving TURP and STRUP+TUIBN, respectively (p>0.05), and the Qmax in patients receiving STRUP+TUIBN was markedly higher than in those receiving TURP (28.28±6.46 mL/s vs. 21.59±7.14 mL/s; p<0.05). Bladder neck contracture and urinary tract infections were observed in 3 and 5 patients receiving TURP, respectively, and none in STURP. CONCLUSIONS: STRUP+TUIBN may offer a more effective and safer alternative to TURP for small volume BPH patients.

[Report of 3162 cases of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate and review].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and outcomes of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for patients with symptomatic enlarged prostate after 11 years of experience. METHODS: The 3162 evaluable patients treated with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate at our institution between August 2001 and August 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Study variables included International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, maximum urinary flow rate, and incidence of complications. RESULTS: HoLEP were performed successfully completed, not patients which occurs as electric cutting syndrome. The operation time was (60.8 ± 18.4) minutes; average resection of prostate quality was (45.4 ± 24.4) g. The hemoglobin reduce though surgery was (1.81 ± 0.93) g/L; percentage of red blood cell change was 1.24% ± 0.43%, and sodium blood drop was (1.14 ± 0.35) mmol/L. Postoperative patients of hospital stay (3.1 ± 1.1) days, average time of indwelling catheter time was (2.3 ± 0.8) days. Patients were followed up for 6-131 months time, an average of 32.4 months. Postoperative patients with international prostate symptom score progressive declined. The quality of life score was 2.2 ± 1.7, and it less than preoperative (5.7 ± 3.3, t = 2.447, P < 0.01). The time of follow-up droped further, and postoperative comparative differences have statistical significance (t = 2.179, 2.228, 2.306 and 2.365, P < 0.05). The maximum urinary flow rate also improved (P < 0.05). Postoperative complications included bladder neck contracture (4 cases), urinary tract infection (107 cases), urethral stricture (11 cases) and urinary incontinence (11 cases). The 11 patients reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: HoLEP treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia could achieve the advantages of open surgery the same effect. It had fewer damage, faster recovery, fewer complications, and is a good treatment option.

[Effectiveness and health economic analysis of strategies on cervical cancer screening and early diagnosis and treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the appropriate strategies which are suitable for the areas with diverse health and economic resource settings in China by estimating the life outcomes and cost-effectiveness of several cervical cancer screening strategies. METHODS: Markov model was used to calculate the long-term effectiveness, utility, benefit and cost among screened and unscreened cohorts in rural and urban areas, and then analyses of cost-effectiveness, cost-utility and cost-benefit were performed. The assessed screening strategies were acetic acid of visual inspection combined with Lugol's iodine staining (VIA/VILI), conventional Pap smear and simple HPV DNA testing (careHPV) in rural areas, and conventional Pap smear, simple HPV DNA testing (careHPV), HPV DNA testing (HC2) and liquid-based cytology (LBC) alone or combined with HPV DNA testing (LBC+HC2) in urban areas. We estimated the life outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the above screening strategies at one-year, 3-year and 5-year intervals. RESULTS: All of the screening strategies were effective to decrease cervical cancer mortality and to increase life years, with a trend of shorter screening interval having better effectiveness. However, no matter in urban or rural areas, compared with careHPV testing at 5-year interval, the costs of other screening strategies were 1.28 - 13.86 folds, 1.31 - 14.14 folds, and 1.27 - 12.80 folds higher to avoid one death, to save a year of life, and a QALY, and the benefit per cost of other screening strategies was 9.9%-90.2%. CONCLUSIONS: careHPV testing at 5-year interval has the best cost-effectiveness performance and the highest benefit-cost ratio with the moderate life outcomes. It is the optimal cervical cancer screening strategy to be generalized in our country. careHPV testing at 3 years interval can be considered in more developed areas to achieve better effectiveness.

Dynamic anthropometric changes in children as shown by longitudinal data for 2004-2009 from the city of Dalian, China.

BACKGROUND: The physical development of children and adolescents always attracts widespread attention in society. AIM: The goal of the present study was to systematically analyse the dynamic changes in some anthropometric characteristics among primary school age children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using a longitudinal study design, this study monitored physical growth annually in 933 pupils of Dalian, China, from 2004-2009.Longitudinal multi-level modelling (mixed model) was used to analyse the trajectory of growth from ages 7-12 years by gender. Height, weight and BMI were transformed into Z-scores relative to the WHO 2007 references. RESULTS: Height, weight and BMI were all higher for boys than for girls. Due to the interaction of age and gender, boys and girls exhibited different growth models. Average heights and weights for children of 7-12 years old in Dalian were higher than the WHO 2007 references. BMI z-scores for boys were significantly greater than the WHO 2007 references. CONCLUSION: Height, weight and BMI z-scores among boys and girls of 7-12 years old in Dalian were generally greater than the WHO standards. The major reasons for the differences may be due to rapid socioeconomic development and improvements in nutrition and living conditions.

B-vitamin consumption and the prevalence of diabetes and obesity among the US adults: population based ecological study.

BACKGROUND: The global increased prevalence of obesity and diabetes occurred after the worldwide spread of B-vitamins fortification, in which whether long-term exposure to high level of B vitamins plays a role is unknown. Our aim was to examine the relationships between B-vitamins consumption and the obesity and diabetes prevalence. METHODS: This population based ecological study was conducted to examine possible associations between the consumption of the B vitamins and macronutrients and the obesity and diabetes prevalence in the US population using the per capita consumption data from the US Economic Research Service and the prevalence data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: The prevalences of diabetes and adult obesity were highly correlated with per capita consumption of niacin, thiamin and riboflavin with a 26-and 10-year lag, respectively (R2 = 0.952, 0.917 and 0.83 for diabetes, respectively, and R2 = 0.964, 0.975 and 0.935 for obesity, respectively). The diabetes prevalence increased with the obesity prevalence with a 16-year lag (R2 = 0.975). The relationships between the diabetes or obesity prevalence and per capita niacin consumption were similar both in different age groups and in male and female populations. The prevalence of adult obesity and diabetes was highly correlated with the grain contribution to niacin (R2 = 0.925 and 0.901, respectively), with a 10-and 26-year lag, respectively. The prevalence of obesity in US adults during 1971-2004 increased in parallel with the increase in carbohydrate consumption with a 10-year lag. The per capita energy and protein consumptions positively correlated with the obesity prevalence with a one-year lag. Moreover, there was an 11-year lag relationship between per capita energy and protein consumption and the consumption of niacin, thiamin and riboflavin (R2 = 0.932, 0.923 and 0.849 for energy, respectively, and R2 = 0.922, 0.878 and 0.787 for protein, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to high level of the B vitamins may be involved in the increased prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the US in the past 50 years. The possible roles of B-vitamins fortification and excess niacin consumption in the increased prevalence of obesity and diabetes were discussed.

[Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate].

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), as a new hi-tech introduced from abroad, may bring about exactly the same results as open surgery, and is even superior to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), especially in handling the front prostate, with its advantages of minimal invasiveness, better safety, shorter operation time, less blood loss, and quicker recovery, which can be achieved through peeling off the prostate alongside the external sphincter and getting it removed in three parts or as a whole. So far, the author has accomplished more than 3 000 surgeries using this technique, without any serious complications. Any patient that can accept anesthesia and endoscopic surgery can be treated by HoLEP. This article presents an overview of the methods, skills and key points of HoLEP, gives a comprehensive analysis of HoLEP based on the anatomic features of the internal and external prostate, and offers a detailed introduction of the requirements of the operator, criteria for the accomplishment of the operation, and prevention and management of surgical damages.

Chronic niacin overload may be involved in the increased prevalence of obesity in US children.

AIM: To investigate nicotinamide's action on glucose metabolism, and the association between niacin consumption and obesity prevalence. METHODS: Dynamic nicotinamide's effect on plasma hydrogen peroxide and glucose metabolism was investigated using oral glucose tolerance tests with or without nicotinamide in the same five healthy subjects. Lag-regression analysis was used to examine the association between the niacin consumption and the obesity prevalence among US children using the data from the Economic Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture and from US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the control oral glucose tolerance test, the 1-h plasma hydrogen peroxide (1.4 +/- 0.1 micromol/L vs 1.6 +/- 0.1 micromol/L, P = 0.016) and insulin levels (247.1 +/- 129.0 pmol/L vs 452.6 +/- 181.8 pmol/L, P = 0.028) were significantly higher, and the 3-h blood glucose was significantly lower (5.8 +/- 1.2 mmol/L vs 4.5 +/- 1.1 mmol/L, P = 0.002) after co-administration of glucose and 300 mg nicotinamide. The obesity prevalence among American children increased with the increasing per capita niacin consumption, the increasing grain contribution to niacin due to niacin-fortification, and the increasing niacin-fortified ready-to-eat cereal consumption, with a 10-year lag. The regression analyses showed that the obesity prevalence in the US children of all age groups was determined by niacin consumption (R(2) = 0.814, 0.961 and 0.94 for 2-5 years, 6-11 years and 12-19 years age groups, respectively). CONCLUSION: The appetite-stimulating effect of nicotinamide appears to involve oxidative stress. Excess niacin consumption may be a major factor in the increased obesity prevalence in US children.