Objective:To investigate the distribution of health literacy(HL)levels and the association of HL with proactive personality in patients with permanent colostomy.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure...Objective:To investigate the distribution of health literacy(HL)levels and the association of HL with proactive personality in patients with permanent colostomy.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure proactive personality and HL using validated scales.A total of 172 patients with permanent colostomy were selected from January 2021 to May 2022 in Yantai City,China.Descriptive statistics,t-test,ANOVA,Pearson correlation analysis,and multiple linear regression analysis techniques were used.Results:The results obtained from the study showed that the HL status of the participants was moderate.The correlation between participants’total HL scores and proactive personality scores was 0.417(P-value<0.001).In addition,HL showed statistically significant differences according to education level,place of residence,profession,and average monthly household income.Conclusions:This study showed that patients with higher proactive personality scores had higher HL.The key stakeholders require several positive strategies to improve the HL of patients with permanent colostomy by cultivating their proactive personalities,and these important policies will help to improve patient health and quality of life.展开更多
Features of structure and propagation of the 30 to SO day atmospheric oscillations are investigated using the ECMWF analysis of 1980-1983. Evidence is provided to confirm the characteristics of the oscillation in the ...Features of structure and propagation of the 30 to SO day atmospheric oscillations are investigated using the ECMWF analysis of 1980-1983. Evidence is provided to confirm the characteristics of the oscillation in the equatorial region. Those in the mid-high latitudes, however, are revealed to be very different from the tropics and pose a strong barotropic structure. Horizontal coherence shows teleconnection patterns which can be identified as EAP and PNA. The wind field of the specified time scale of the oscillation appears as long-lived vortices and vortex pairs. Mid-latitude perturbations propagate clearly westwards, especially during the winter season. In the high latitudes, they propagate westwards in the winter but eastwards in the summer. Meridional propagations are rather different from region to region.展开更多
In this part, the temporal evolution and interaction across the equator of 30-50 day oscillation in the atmosphere are investigated further. The annual variation of 30-50 day oscillation is quite obvious in the mid-hi...In this part, the temporal evolution and interaction across the equator of 30-50 day oscillation in the atmosphere are investigated further. The annual variation of 30-50 day oscillation is quite obvious in the mid-high latitudes. In the tropical atmosphere, the obvious interannual variation is an important property for temporal evolution of 30-50 day oscillation. The low-frequency wavetrain across the equator over the central Pacific and central Atlantic area, the movement of the long-lived low-frequency system across the equator and the meridional wind component across the equator will obviously show the interaction of 30-50 day oscillation in the atmosphere across the equator.展开更多
BACKGROUND Osteoporosis with vertebral compression fractures is increasingly common in the elderly population.Cement augmentation is one of the effective surgical treatments for these patients.Currently,there are seve...BACKGROUND Osteoporosis with vertebral compression fractures is increasingly common in the elderly population.Cement augmentation is one of the effective surgical treatments for these patients.Currently,there are several different types of cement augmentation treatments.No studies have compared the safety and efficacy of different cement augmentation types for the treatment of such fractures;thus,we retrospectively compared vertebroplasty,balloon kyphoplasty,and kyphoplasty with SpineJack or an intravertebral expandable pillar.AIM To compare the postoperative safety and efficacy of each surgical intervention in treating vertebral compression fractures.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 354 patients with acute vertebral compression fractures,defined as signal changes in the T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging,and randomly divided the patients into five groups.Their visual analog scale scores for pain,kyphotic angle,average body height,rate of cement leakage,and occurrence of adjacent vertebral compression fractures were followed for 1 year.One-way analysis of variance,the post hoc Bonferroni test,and Fisher exact probability test were used for statistical analyses.RESULTS All pain scores significantly improved 12 mo postoperatively;however,there was no significant difference between the groups(P=0.325).Kyphoplasty with SpineJack significantly reduced the kyphotic angle(P=0.028)and restored the height of the vertebral body(P=0.02).The rate of adjacent compression fractures was the highest in the vertebroplasty group,with a statistically significant difference according to the Fisher exact probability test(P=0.02).The treatment with the lowest cement leakage rate cannot be identified because of the small sample size;however,kyphoplasty with SpineJack,an IVEP,and vesselplasty resulted in lower rates of cement leakage than balloon kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.CONCLUSION Kyphoplasty with SpineJack has good outcomes in kyphotic angle reduction and body height restoration.Vertebroplasty has the highest cement leakage rate and adjacent compression fracture occurrence.展开更多
Objective To investigate the relationships between erythrocyte membrane n-6：n-3 PUFAs ratio and blood lipids and high sensitivity C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）. Methods The Chinese and a observational study consisted...Objective To investigate the relationships between erythrocyte membrane n-6：n-3 PUFAs ratio and blood lipids and high sensitivity C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）. Methods The Chinese and a observational study consisted of a population-based cross-sectiona subsequent 1-year follow-up study of 171 subjects with the fasting cholesterol of 5.13-8.00 mmol/L. study of 456 plasma total Results In the cross-sectional analysis, plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-c） had a significant and negative association with the erythrocyte membrane n-6：n-3 PUFAs ratio （P for trend=0.019） after adjusting for sex, age and total PUFA percentage. In the follow-up study, 171 subjects were categorized into quartiles by the changes of n-6：n-3 ratio in erythrocyte membrane （△=month 12-month 0）. In the top quartile whose ratios of n-6：n-3 increased by an average of 1.25 during the follow-up, the LDL-c-lowering extent was 3.3 times of that in the lowest quartile whose ratios of n-6：n-3 decreased by an average of 1.13 （-1.07 mmol/L v.s. -0.32 mmol/L）. The hsCRP decreased by 0.11 mg/dL in the lowest quartile while increasing by 0.10 mg/dL in the top quartile （P for difference=0.052）. Conclusion Our results suggested that the balance between n-6 and n-3 fatty acids may optimize the cardiovascular benefits from dietary PUFAs.展开更多
Background Patients undergoing intensive care are exposed to risk factors for hearing impairment.This study assessed the worse changes in pure tone average(PTA)thresholds after intensive care and identified the factor...Background Patients undergoing intensive care are exposed to risk factors for hearing impairment.This study assessed the worse changes in pure tone average(PTA)thresholds after intensive care and identified the factors associated with worse hearing function.Methods We conducted a single-centre retrospective study,and included adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)of Kurashiki Central Hospital between January 2014 and September 2019,who had regular pure tone audiometry performed before and after ICU admission.Correlations between changes in PTA threshold and patient characteristics,were evaluated.The included ears were classified as those with worse hearing(>10 dB increase in the PTA threshold)and those without worse hearing,and the baseline characteristics were compared.Results During the study period,125 ears of 71 patients(male:female ratio,35:36;mean age,72.5±12.3 years)met the eligibility criteria.Age,sex,and the use of furosemide were not correlated with changes in PTA threshold.Univariate analysis showed that ears with worse hearing were associated with a lower serum platelet count than ears without worse hearing(153±85×10^(9)/L vs.206±85×10^(9)/L,respectively;P=0.010),and the rate of planned ICU admission(elective surgery)was higher in the worse hearing group(57.1% vs.28.8%,respectively;p=0.011).Conclusions Age,sex,and the use of furosemide did not have adversely affect hearing function.Low serum platelet count and planned admission appear to be risk factors for worse hearing.展开更多
Recently we read the article entitled“Outcomes of different minimally invasive surgical treatments for vertebral compression fractures:An observational study”.This was an observational study that reviewed the safety...Recently we read the article entitled“Outcomes of different minimally invasive surgical treatments for vertebral compression fractures:An observational study”.This was an observational study that reviewed the safety and efficacy of different cement augmentation modalities for vertebral compression fractures under osteoporotic condition.Overall,this is a valuable study that can provide a reference for clinical practice.On the other hand,we also noticed some points in the article and are willing to share our views.Further studies with a higher level of evidence can add more knowledge regarding relevant concerns.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To present and analyze treatmentsand clinical outcomes of Chinese patients with influenza-like illness.METHODS: We conducted a multi-site observational study from December 2009 to April 2010. Patients with ...OBJECTIVE: To present and analyze treatmentsand clinical outcomes of Chinese patients with influenza-like illness.METHODS: We conducted a multi-site observational study from December 2009 to April 2010. Patients with influenza-like illness from 45 hospitals were enrolled. Patients received Chinese herbal medicine(CHM), conventional treatments, or CHM plus conventional treatments(combination treatment) according to the guidelines for influenza A/H1 N1 2009 in China. The primary outcomes were the time to alleviation of symptoms and the incidence of complications. The secondary outcomes were the time until becoming afebrile, incidence of severe illness, testing negative on an influenza A viral test, and total medical fees.RESULTS: In total, 5967 patients were enrolled. The percentages of patients prescribed CHM alone, conventional treatment, and combination treatment were 27.8%, 5.1%, and 67.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the time to alleviation of symptoms, incidence of complications,time to becoming afebrile, or rate of severe illness among the CHM, conventional, and combination treatment groups. The rates of testing negative on the influenza virus A rapid test and H1 N1 virus test were 90.3% and 76.3%, respectively. However,significant differences were found in the total medical fees among the three groups: CHM treatments were more economical than the other two treatments.CONCLUSION: The efficacy of CHM for influenza-like illness was not different from that of conventional treatments, but it was more economical.展开更多
Background:Treatment is an important component of a comprehensive cancer control approach and its outcomes strongly depend on infrastructure,equipment,human and financial resources available.Therefore it is imperative...Background:Treatment is an important component of a comprehensive cancer control approach and its outcomes strongly depend on infrastructure,equipment,human and financial resources available.Therefore it is imperative to generate evidence-based tools to assist health policy makers from low resourced countries in planning efficient and equitable treatment services for a defined population based on what it is feasible to these settings.Methods:The intended cancer spe-cific treatment planned and written in the patients’medical record(treatment prescription)of untreated adult cancer cases(≥18 years of age),excluding non-melanoma skin cancer,was recorded in a chronological way from 1 January 2012 onwards in a group of eight comprehensive cancer centres located in middle income countries and offering the main modalities of cancer treatment(surgery,medical oncology and radiotherapy).Results:A total of 17,713 medical records were reviewed,of which 7106(54.2%)met the eligibility criteria.Prescription of main cancer treatment modalities were distributed as follows:57.6%for chemotherapy(n=4093),56.8%for surgery(n=4038),and 46.8%for radiotherapy(n=3327).There was a predominance of plans consisting of combined treatment modalities over monotherapy(55.2%versus 44.8%).At the time of diagnosis 54.3%of the cancer cases had disease that had spread beyond the primary site,41.2%were considered as having local disease and in 4.5%of the cases the information on disease extension was unknown.Conclusions:The results obtained should be seen as an approximation of cancer treatment service demand based on what it is currently practiced and therefore feasible in developing countries,particularly in middle income countries.展开更多
Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsist...Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsistent.It remains unclear whether these associations are causal.Methods We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching for observational studies on the association between IBD and dementia.Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis based on summary genome-wide association studies(GWASs)was performed.Genetic correlation and Bayesian colocalization analyses were used to provide robust genetic evidence.Results Ten observational studies involving 80,565,688 participants were included in this metaanalysis.IBD was significantly associated with dementia(risk ratio[RR]=1.36,95%CI=1.04-1.78;I2=84.8%)and VD(RR=2.60,95%CI=1.18-5.70;only one study),but not with AD(RR=2.00,95%CI=0.96-4.13;I^(2)=99.8%).MR analyses did not supported significant causal associations of IBD with dementia(dementia:odds ratio[OR]=1.01,95%CI=0.98-1.03;AD:OR=0.98,95%CI=0.95-1.01;VD:OR=1.02,95%CI=0.97-1.07).In addition,genetic correlation and co-localization analyses did not reveal any genetic associations between IBD and dementia.Conclusion Our study did not provide genetic evidence for a causal association between IBD and dementia risk.The increased risk of dementia observed in observational studies may be attributed to unobserved confounding factors or detection bias.展开更多
Ischemic stroke is a devastating,life altering event which can severely reduce patient quality of life.Despite years of research there have been minimal therapeutic advances.Endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs),stem cel...Ischemic stroke is a devastating,life altering event which can severely reduce patient quality of life.Despite years of research there have been minimal therapeutic advances.Endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs),stem cells involved in both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis,may be a potential therapeutic target.After a stroke,EPCs migrate to the site of ischemic injury to repair cerebrovascular damage,and their numbers and functional capacity may determine patients'outcome.This study aims to determine whether the number of circulating EPCs and their functional aspects may be used as biomarkers to identify the type(cortical or lacunar)and/or severity of ischemic stroke.The study will also investigate if there are any differences in these characteristics between healthy volunteers over and under 65 years of age.100 stroke patients(50 lacunar and 50 cortical strokes)will be recruited in this prospective,observational case-controlled study.Blood samples will be taken from stroke patients at baseline(within 48 hours of stroke)and days 7,30 and90.EPCs will be counted with flow cytometry.The plasma levels of pro-and anti-angiogenic factors and inflammatory cytokines will also be determined.Outgrowth endothelial cells will be cultured to be used in tube formation,migration and proliferation functional assays.Primary outcome is disability or dependence on day 90 after stroke,assessed by the modified Rankin Scale.Secondary outcomes are changes in circulating EPC numbers and/or functional capacity between patient and healthy volunteers,between patient subgroups and between elderly and young healthy volunteers.Recruitment started in February 2017,167 participants have been recruited.Recruitment will end in November 2019.West Midlands-Coventry&Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee approved this study(REC number:16/WM/0304)on September8,2016.Protocol version:2.0.The Bayraktutan Dunhill Medical Trust EPC Study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov(NCT02980354)on November 15,2016.This study will determine whether the number of EPCs can be used as a prognostic or diagnostic marker for ischemic strokes and is a step towards discovering if transplantation of EPCs may aid patient recovery.展开更多
Based on the long-term marine ship observation data, records of meteorological stations and High-Reflective Cloud(HRC) data by satellite remote sensing , this paper has studied the circulation patterns and variability...Based on the long-term marine ship observation data, records of meteorological stations and High-Reflective Cloud(HRC) data by satellite remote sensing , this paper has studied the circulation patterns and variability in elements during onset and the established periods of the South China Sea(SCS) southwest(SW) monsoon. The averaged date of the onset SW monsoon in the SCS occurs in the middle of May climatologically. The corresponding date for the northern part is little earlier (May 12) and those for the southern parts are little later (May 20). The interannual range of the onset dates is about one month. Following the onset of the SW monsoon, the cloud amount and the precipitation increase while the convection activities enhance over the SCS. But there is a strong spatial heterogeneity within the domain. After onset of the SW monsoon the strong convective area moves northwards, while the SCS rain band moves to the center and north. Sea surface temperature(SST) increases rapidly before the onset and the leading time is about one month. The increment of SST supplies heat and vapor for the onset. From April to May the surface heat fluxes display obvious changes, e.g., latent heat exchange and evaporation enhancement. It is one of the reasons why the SW monsoon bursts firstly in the SCS.展开更多
In the Research Article“Correlation of PCSK1 with nonalco-holic fatty liver disease in a Han Chinese population:A case-control observational study”,the authors have identified some errors in the financial support in...In the Research Article“Correlation of PCSK1 with nonalco-holic fatty liver disease in a Han Chinese population:A case-control observational study”,the authors have identified some errors in the financial support information[1].The correct funding information for this paper is as follows:This work was supported by Innovation Funding in Shanghai(Nos.20JC1418600 and 18JC1413100),the National Nature Science Foundation of China(Nos.82071262 and 81671326),Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(Nos.20ZR1427200,20511101900,and 21ZR1433000),Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(No.2017SHZDZX01),the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project(No.B205),and Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(cstc2021jcyj-msxmX0674).展开更多
Background:The global rise in angina pectoris,a symptom of coronary artery disease,is primarily attributed to an aging population and increasing prevalence of comorbidities.This study aims to assess the efficacy and s...Background:The global rise in angina pectoris,a symptom of coronary artery disease,is primarily attributed to an aging population and increasing prevalence of comorbidities.This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of Dazhu Hongjingtian injection(DZHJTI)as an adjunct treatment for both stable and unstable angina,thereby addressing a significant gap in current cardiac care research.Methods:This comprehensive study involves 2 parallel prospective cohorts across 28 medical centers in China,enrolling 1500 patients with stable angina and 2000 with unstable angina.Participants are randomized into 2 groups:one receiving the DZHJTI alongside standard therapy and the other receiving standard therapy alone.The study employs advanced statistical methods like Subgroup Analysis and Marginal Mean Weighting Through Stratification to analyze data accurately.Discussion:The primary outcome of this study is the reduction in the frequency of angina attacks posttreatment.Secondary outcomes include the evaluation of patient well-being through clinical measures such as nitrate dosage requirements,vital sign stability,electrocardiogram changes,and laboratory data.Patient-reported outcomes from targeted questionnaires will also be assessed to understand the impact on quality of life.The study’s results are expected to contribute significantly to the understanding of DZHJTI’s role in treating angina pectoris,potentially influencing future treatment guidelines.展开更多
Objective To introduce the design of observational trials under real-world study(RWS),and to provide guidance for clinical development of new research trials and reference for real-world researchers.Methods Relevant l...Objective To introduce the design of observational trials under real-world study(RWS),and to provide guidance for clinical development of new research trials and reference for real-world researchers.Methods Relevant literature of RWS and observational experiments at home and abroad were reviewed and analyzed,and then the design of observational studies was summarized under RWS.Results and Conclusion The data and information provided in observational studies not only help to further verify the clinical study results obtained by randomized controlled trial(RCT)in clinical practice,but also objectively reflect the real situation in the process of clinical research and application.展开更多
BACKGROUND Sex education was introduced early in foreign countries.For example,there is a more systematic sex education system abroad,which can better achieve the popularization of sex education.China's sex educat...BACKGROUND Sex education was introduced early in foreign countries.For example,there is a more systematic sex education system abroad,which can better achieve the popularization of sex education.China's sex education started relatively late,yet there are many problems in the development of sex education in China;for example,college students lack knowledge of sexuality.AIM To explore the perception of sex education among medical college students.METHODS Students majoring in medicine in a medical school were selected as the survey subjects.Anonymous online questionnaires were used to conduct the survey,and the results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism,SPSS,Microsoft Excel,and other software.The questionnaire was administered to understand the source of sexual knowledge,sexual responsibility,mastery of sexual knowledge,and distress caused by sexual problems.RESULTS Most students majoring in medicine had no formal sex education,lacked sexual knowledge,or had a biased understanding of sexual responsibility.This study analyzed future research trends in sex education based on relevant achievements in the Chinese context and abroad to further realize the practical significance and value of sex education popularization in China and provide recommendations for parents and schools at different levels.CONCLUSION Sex education should be conducted among college students,and medical colleges and universities should strengthen scientific sex education.展开更多
Using atmospheric observational data from 1998 to 2013,station rainfall data,TRMM（Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission） data,as well as annual statistics for the plateau vortex and shear line,the joint activity featu...Using atmospheric observational data from 1998 to 2013,station rainfall data,TRMM（Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission） data,as well as annual statistics for the plateau vortex and shear line,the joint activity features of sustained departure plateau vortexes（SDPVs） and southwest vortexes（SWVs） are analyzed.Some new and useful observational facts and understanding are obtained about the joint activities of the two types of vortex.The results show that：（1） The joint active period of the two vortexes is from May to August,and mostly in June and July.（2） The SDPVs of the partnership mainly originate near Zaduo,while the SWVs come from Jiulong.（3） Most of the two vortexes move in almost the same direction,moving eastward together with the low trough.The SDPVs mainly act in the area to the north of the Yangtze River,while the SWVs are situated across the Yangtze River valley.（4） The joint activity of the two vortexes often produces sustained regional heavy rainfall to the south of the Yellow River,influencing wide areas of China,and even as far as the Korean Peninsula,Japan and Vietnam.（5） Most of the two vortexes are baroclinic or cold vortexes,and they both become strengthened in terms of their joint activity.（6） When the two vortexes move over the sea,their central pressure descends and their rainfall increases,especially for SWVs.（7） The two vortexes might spin over the same area simultaneously when there are tropical cyclones in the eastern and southern seas of China,or move southward together if a tropical cyclone appears near Hainan Island.展开更多
To estimate the true treatment effect on a censored outcome in observational studies, potential confounding effect and complex heterogeneity in the treatment assignment have to be properly adjusted. In this article, w...To estimate the true treatment effect on a censored outcome in observational studies, potential confounding effect and complex heterogeneity in the treatment assignment have to be properly adjusted. In this article, we demonstrate that the partial least squares method could be a valuable tool in this regard. It is showed that the partial least squares method not only can adequately account for the heterogeneity in treatment assignment, but also be robust to treatment assignment model misspecifications. Numerical results show that the partial least squares estimator is more efficient and robust. A real data set is analyzed to illustrate the proposed method.展开更多
AIM： To assess the effectiveness and safety of ranibizumab 0.5 mg in Taiwan Residents patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy（PCV） by performing a retrospective exploratory subgroup analysis of the REAL stu...AIM： To assess the effectiveness and safety of ranibizumab 0.5 mg in Taiwan Residents patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy（PCV） by performing a retrospective exploratory subgroup analysis of the REAL study.METHODS： REAL was a 12-month, observational, prospective, non-interventional phase IV post-marketing surveillance study conducted at 9 centers in Taiwan. The study collected data as part of the routine patient visits from the medical records of patients with neovascular agerelated macular degeneration treated with ranibizumab 0.5 mg according to local standard medical practice and local label and/or reimbursement guidelines. The presence of PCV at baseline was determined using indocy received prior tanine green angiography. RESULTS： At baseline, PCV was diagnosed in 64 of the 303 enrolled patients（21.1%）. Of these, 41 patients（64.1%） hadreatment; 15（23.4%） patients had received ranibizumab. The intent-to-treat population included 58 patients; 47（80%） who received ranibizumab and 11（20%） who received ranibizumab plus photodynamic therapy（PDT; 9 patients received once, 2 patients received twice）. Bevacizumab was used as a concomitant medication in a similar percentage of patients who received ranibizumab（43%, n=20） or ranibizumab plus PDT（45%, n=5）. In patients who received ranibizumab, visual acuity（VA） at baseline was 50.1±12.9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, and the gain at month 12 was 1.1±17.8 letters. In patients who received ranibizumab plus PDT, VA at baseline was 51.4±15.9 letters, and there was a marked gain in VA at month 12（14.0±9.2 letters, P=0.0009）. In the intent-totreat population, the reduction in central retinal subfield thickness from baseline at month 12 was 69.6±122.6 μm（baseline： 310.8±109.8 μm, P=0.0004）. The safety results were consistent with the well-characterized safety profile of ranibizumab.CONCLUSION： In real-world settings, ranibizumab 0.5 mg treatment for 12 mo results in maintenance of VA and reduction in central retinal subfield thickness in Taiwan Residents patients with PCV. Improvements in VA are observed in patients who received ranibizumab plus PDT. There are no new safety findings.展开更多
Objective:Acupotomy is a modern acupuncture method that includes modern surgical methods.Since acupotomy is relatively more invasive than filiform acupuncture treatment,it is important to establish the safety profile ...Objective:Acupotomy is a modern acupuncture method that includes modern surgical methods.Since acupotomy is relatively more invasive than filiform acupuncture treatment,it is important to establish the safety profile of this practice.To justify further large-scale prospective observational studies,this preliminary study was performed to assess the feasibility of the approach and investigate the safety profile and factors potentially associated with adverse events(AEs).Methods:This was a prospective pilot study that assessed the feasibility of a large-scale forthcoming safety study on acupotomy treatment in a real-world setting.The feasibility(call response rate,dropout rate,response rate for each variable and recruitment per month)and safety profile(incidence,type,severity and causality of AEs,and factors potentially associated with AEs)were measured.Results:A total of 28 participants joined the study from January to May 2018.A follow-up assessment was achieved in 258(1185 treatment points)out of 261 sessions(1214 treatment points).The response rate via telephone on the day after treatment was 87.3%.There were 8 systemic AEs in all the sessions(8/258;3.11%)and 27 local AEs on the total points treated(27/1185;2.28%).Severe AEs did not occur.Total AE and local AE occurrence were associated with blade width and the number of needle stimulations per treatment point.Conclusion:The findings suggest that it could be feasible to analyze the safety of acupotomy in a realworld setting.Moreover,the primary data on some relevant AEs could be determined.We are planning large-scale prospective studies based on these findings.Trial registration:Clinical Research Information Service(CRIS)KCT0002849(https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/11487).展开更多
文摘Objective:To investigate the distribution of health literacy(HL)levels and the association of HL with proactive personality in patients with permanent colostomy.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure proactive personality and HL using validated scales.A total of 172 patients with permanent colostomy were selected from January 2021 to May 2022 in Yantai City,China.Descriptive statistics,t-test,ANOVA,Pearson correlation analysis,and multiple linear regression analysis techniques were used.Results:The results obtained from the study showed that the HL status of the participants was moderate.The correlation between participants’total HL scores and proactive personality scores was 0.417(P-value<0.001).In addition,HL showed statistically significant differences according to education level,place of residence,profession,and average monthly household income.Conclusions:This study showed that patients with higher proactive personality scores had higher HL.The key stakeholders require several positive strategies to improve the HL of patients with permanent colostomy by cultivating their proactive personalities,and these important policies will help to improve patient health and quality of life.
文摘Features of structure and propagation of the 30 to SO day atmospheric oscillations are investigated using the ECMWF analysis of 1980-1983. Evidence is provided to confirm the characteristics of the oscillation in the equatorial region. Those in the mid-high latitudes, however, are revealed to be very different from the tropics and pose a strong barotropic structure. Horizontal coherence shows teleconnection patterns which can be identified as EAP and PNA. The wind field of the specified time scale of the oscillation appears as long-lived vortices and vortex pairs. Mid-latitude perturbations propagate clearly westwards, especially during the winter season. In the high latitudes, they propagate westwards in the winter but eastwards in the summer. Meridional propagations are rather different from region to region.
基金This study was supported in part by National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘In this part, the temporal evolution and interaction across the equator of 30-50 day oscillation in the atmosphere are investigated further. The annual variation of 30-50 day oscillation is quite obvious in the mid-high latitudes. In the tropical atmosphere, the obvious interannual variation is an important property for temporal evolution of 30-50 day oscillation. The low-frequency wavetrain across the equator over the central Pacific and central Atlantic area, the movement of the long-lived low-frequency system across the equator and the meridional wind component across the equator will obviously show the interaction of 30-50 day oscillation in the atmosphere across the equator.
文摘BACKGROUND Osteoporosis with vertebral compression fractures is increasingly common in the elderly population.Cement augmentation is one of the effective surgical treatments for these patients.Currently,there are several different types of cement augmentation treatments.No studies have compared the safety and efficacy of different cement augmentation types for the treatment of such fractures;thus,we retrospectively compared vertebroplasty,balloon kyphoplasty,and kyphoplasty with SpineJack or an intravertebral expandable pillar.AIM To compare the postoperative safety and efficacy of each surgical intervention in treating vertebral compression fractures.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 354 patients with acute vertebral compression fractures,defined as signal changes in the T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging,and randomly divided the patients into five groups.Their visual analog scale scores for pain,kyphotic angle,average body height,rate of cement leakage,and occurrence of adjacent vertebral compression fractures were followed for 1 year.One-way analysis of variance,the post hoc Bonferroni test,and Fisher exact probability test were used for statistical analyses.RESULTS All pain scores significantly improved 12 mo postoperatively;however,there was no significant difference between the groups(P=0.325).Kyphoplasty with SpineJack significantly reduced the kyphotic angle(P=0.028)and restored the height of the vertebral body(P=0.02).The rate of adjacent compression fractures was the highest in the vertebroplasty group,with a statistically significant difference according to the Fisher exact probability test(P=0.02).The treatment with the lowest cement leakage rate cannot be identified because of the small sample size;however,kyphoplasty with SpineJack,an IVEP,and vesselplasty resulted in lower rates of cement leakage than balloon kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.CONCLUSION Kyphoplasty with SpineJack has good outcomes in kyphotic angle reduction and body height restoration.Vertebroplasty has the highest cement leakage rate and adjacent compression fracture occurrence.
基金supported by research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30872102)the Diet Nutrition Research & Communication Grant of Danone Institute China (DIC2008‐12)
文摘Objective To investigate the relationships between erythrocyte membrane n-6：n-3 PUFAs ratio and blood lipids and high sensitivity C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）. Methods The Chinese and a observational study consisted of a population-based cross-sectiona subsequent 1-year follow-up study of 171 subjects with the fasting cholesterol of 5.13-8.00 mmol/L. study of 456 plasma total Results In the cross-sectional analysis, plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-c） had a significant and negative association with the erythrocyte membrane n-6：n-3 PUFAs ratio （P for trend=0.019） after adjusting for sex, age and total PUFA percentage. In the follow-up study, 171 subjects were categorized into quartiles by the changes of n-6：n-3 ratio in erythrocyte membrane （△=month 12-month 0）. In the top quartile whose ratios of n-6：n-3 increased by an average of 1.25 during the follow-up, the LDL-c-lowering extent was 3.3 times of that in the lowest quartile whose ratios of n-6：n-3 decreased by an average of 1.13 （-1.07 mmol/L v.s. -0.32 mmol/L）. The hsCRP decreased by 0.11 mg/dL in the lowest quartile while increasing by 0.10 mg/dL in the top quartile （P for difference=0.052）. Conclusion Our results suggested that the balance between n-6 and n-3 fatty acids may optimize the cardiovascular benefits from dietary PUFAs.
文摘Background Patients undergoing intensive care are exposed to risk factors for hearing impairment.This study assessed the worse changes in pure tone average(PTA)thresholds after intensive care and identified the factors associated with worse hearing function.Methods We conducted a single-centre retrospective study,and included adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)of Kurashiki Central Hospital between January 2014 and September 2019,who had regular pure tone audiometry performed before and after ICU admission.Correlations between changes in PTA threshold and patient characteristics,were evaluated.The included ears were classified as those with worse hearing(>10 dB increase in the PTA threshold)and those without worse hearing,and the baseline characteristics were compared.Results During the study period,125 ears of 71 patients(male:female ratio,35:36;mean age,72.5±12.3 years)met the eligibility criteria.Age,sex,and the use of furosemide were not correlated with changes in PTA threshold.Univariate analysis showed that ears with worse hearing were associated with a lower serum platelet count than ears without worse hearing(153±85×10^(9)/L vs.206±85×10^(9)/L,respectively;P=0.010),and the rate of planned ICU admission(elective surgery)was higher in the worse hearing group(57.1% vs.28.8%,respectively;p=0.011).Conclusions Age,sex,and the use of furosemide did not have adversely affect hearing function.Low serum platelet count and planned admission appear to be risk factors for worse hearing.
文摘Recently we read the article entitled“Outcomes of different minimally invasive surgical treatments for vertebral compression fractures:An observational study”.This was an observational study that reviewed the safety and efficacy of different cement augmentation modalities for vertebral compression fractures under osteoporotic condition.Overall,this is a valuable study that can provide a reference for clinical practice.On the other hand,we also noticed some points in the article and are willing to share our views.Further studies with a higher level of evidence can add more knowledge regarding relevant concerns.
基金Supported by the National Special Program of TCM of China:Clinical Research on H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine(No.200907001-2B)Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(No.2017B030314166)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To present and analyze treatmentsand clinical outcomes of Chinese patients with influenza-like illness.METHODS: We conducted a multi-site observational study from December 2009 to April 2010. Patients with influenza-like illness from 45 hospitals were enrolled. Patients received Chinese herbal medicine(CHM), conventional treatments, or CHM plus conventional treatments(combination treatment) according to the guidelines for influenza A/H1 N1 2009 in China. The primary outcomes were the time to alleviation of symptoms and the incidence of complications. The secondary outcomes were the time until becoming afebrile, incidence of severe illness, testing negative on an influenza A viral test, and total medical fees.RESULTS: In total, 5967 patients were enrolled. The percentages of patients prescribed CHM alone, conventional treatment, and combination treatment were 27.8%, 5.1%, and 67.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the time to alleviation of symptoms, incidence of complications,time to becoming afebrile, or rate of severe illness among the CHM, conventional, and combination treatment groups. The rates of testing negative on the influenza virus A rapid test and H1 N1 virus test were 90.3% and 76.3%, respectively. However,significant differences were found in the total medical fees among the three groups: CHM treatments were more economical than the other two treatments.CONCLUSION: The efficacy of CHM for influenza-like illness was not different from that of conventional treatments, but it was more economical.
文摘Background:Treatment is an important component of a comprehensive cancer control approach and its outcomes strongly depend on infrastructure,equipment,human and financial resources available.Therefore it is imperative to generate evidence-based tools to assist health policy makers from low resourced countries in planning efficient and equitable treatment services for a defined population based on what it is feasible to these settings.Methods:The intended cancer spe-cific treatment planned and written in the patients’medical record(treatment prescription)of untreated adult cancer cases(≥18 years of age),excluding non-melanoma skin cancer,was recorded in a chronological way from 1 January 2012 onwards in a group of eight comprehensive cancer centres located in middle income countries and offering the main modalities of cancer treatment(surgery,medical oncology and radiotherapy).Results:A total of 17,713 medical records were reviewed,of which 7106(54.2%)met the eligibility criteria.Prescription of main cancer treatment modalities were distributed as follows:57.6%for chemotherapy(n=4093),56.8%for surgery(n=4038),and 46.8%for radiotherapy(n=3327).There was a predominance of plans consisting of combined treatment modalities over monotherapy(55.2%versus 44.8%).At the time of diagnosis 54.3%of the cancer cases had disease that had spread beyond the primary site,41.2%were considered as having local disease and in 4.5%of the cases the information on disease extension was unknown.Conclusions:The results obtained should be seen as an approximation of cancer treatment service demand based on what it is currently practiced and therefore feasible in developing countries,particularly in middle income countries.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M703366)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(Grant No.KQTD20190929172835662).
文摘Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsistent.It remains unclear whether these associations are causal.Methods We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching for observational studies on the association between IBD and dementia.Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis based on summary genome-wide association studies(GWASs)was performed.Genetic correlation and Bayesian colocalization analyses were used to provide robust genetic evidence.Results Ten observational studies involving 80,565,688 participants were included in this metaanalysis.IBD was significantly associated with dementia(risk ratio[RR]=1.36,95%CI=1.04-1.78;I2=84.8%)and VD(RR=2.60,95%CI=1.18-5.70;only one study),but not with AD(RR=2.00,95%CI=0.96-4.13;I^(2)=99.8%).MR analyses did not supported significant causal associations of IBD with dementia(dementia:odds ratio[OR]=1.01,95%CI=0.98-1.03;AD:OR=0.98,95%CI=0.95-1.01;VD:OR=1.02,95%CI=0.97-1.07).In addition,genetic correlation and co-localization analyses did not reveal any genetic associations between IBD and dementia.Conclusion Our study did not provide genetic evidence for a causal association between IBD and dementia risk.The increased risk of dementia observed in observational studies may be attributed to unobserved confounding factors or detection bias.
基金supported by a grant to Dr Ulvi Bayraktutan from The Dunhill Medical Trust(R459/0216)
文摘Ischemic stroke is a devastating,life altering event which can severely reduce patient quality of life.Despite years of research there have been minimal therapeutic advances.Endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs),stem cells involved in both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis,may be a potential therapeutic target.After a stroke,EPCs migrate to the site of ischemic injury to repair cerebrovascular damage,and their numbers and functional capacity may determine patients'outcome.This study aims to determine whether the number of circulating EPCs and their functional aspects may be used as biomarkers to identify the type(cortical or lacunar)and/or severity of ischemic stroke.The study will also investigate if there are any differences in these characteristics between healthy volunteers over and under 65 years of age.100 stroke patients(50 lacunar and 50 cortical strokes)will be recruited in this prospective,observational case-controlled study.Blood samples will be taken from stroke patients at baseline(within 48 hours of stroke)and days 7,30 and90.EPCs will be counted with flow cytometry.The plasma levels of pro-and anti-angiogenic factors and inflammatory cytokines will also be determined.Outgrowth endothelial cells will be cultured to be used in tube formation,migration and proliferation functional assays.Primary outcome is disability or dependence on day 90 after stroke,assessed by the modified Rankin Scale.Secondary outcomes are changes in circulating EPC numbers and/or functional capacity between patient and healthy volunteers,between patient subgroups and between elderly and young healthy volunteers.Recruitment started in February 2017,167 participants have been recruited.Recruitment will end in November 2019.West Midlands-Coventry&Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee approved this study(REC number:16/WM/0304)on September8,2016.Protocol version:2.0.The Bayraktutan Dunhill Medical Trust EPC Study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov(NCT02980354)on November 15,2016.This study will determine whether the number of EPCs can be used as a prognostic or diagnostic marker for ischemic strokes and is a step towards discovering if transplantation of EPCs may aid patient recovery.
文摘Based on the long-term marine ship observation data, records of meteorological stations and High-Reflective Cloud(HRC) data by satellite remote sensing , this paper has studied the circulation patterns and variability in elements during onset and the established periods of the South China Sea(SCS) southwest(SW) monsoon. The averaged date of the onset SW monsoon in the SCS occurs in the middle of May climatologically. The corresponding date for the northern part is little earlier (May 12) and those for the southern parts are little later (May 20). The interannual range of the onset dates is about one month. Following the onset of the SW monsoon, the cloud amount and the precipitation increase while the convection activities enhance over the SCS. But there is a strong spatial heterogeneity within the domain. After onset of the SW monsoon the strong convective area moves northwards, while the SCS rain band moves to the center and north. Sea surface temperature(SST) increases rapidly before the onset and the leading time is about one month. The increment of SST supplies heat and vapor for the onset. From April to May the surface heat fluxes display obvious changes, e.g., latent heat exchange and evaporation enhancement. It is one of the reasons why the SW monsoon bursts firstly in the SCS.
文摘In the Research Article“Correlation of PCSK1 with nonalco-holic fatty liver disease in a Han Chinese population:A case-control observational study”,the authors have identified some errors in the financial support information[1].The correct funding information for this paper is as follows:This work was supported by Innovation Funding in Shanghai(Nos.20JC1418600 and 18JC1413100),the National Nature Science Foundation of China(Nos.82071262 and 81671326),Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(Nos.20ZR1427200,20511101900,and 21ZR1433000),Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(No.2017SHZDZX01),the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project(No.B205),and Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(cstc2021jcyj-msxmX0674).
基金the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Innovation Fund(No.CI2021A00702-3)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82174532)2022 Qi Huang Young Scholar programme of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(Z0841,Z0865).
文摘Background:The global rise in angina pectoris,a symptom of coronary artery disease,is primarily attributed to an aging population and increasing prevalence of comorbidities.This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of Dazhu Hongjingtian injection(DZHJTI)as an adjunct treatment for both stable and unstable angina,thereby addressing a significant gap in current cardiac care research.Methods:This comprehensive study involves 2 parallel prospective cohorts across 28 medical centers in China,enrolling 1500 patients with stable angina and 2000 with unstable angina.Participants are randomized into 2 groups:one receiving the DZHJTI alongside standard therapy and the other receiving standard therapy alone.The study employs advanced statistical methods like Subgroup Analysis and Marginal Mean Weighting Through Stratification to analyze data accurately.Discussion:The primary outcome of this study is the reduction in the frequency of angina attacks posttreatment.Secondary outcomes include the evaluation of patient well-being through clinical measures such as nitrate dosage requirements,vital sign stability,electrocardiogram changes,and laboratory data.Patient-reported outcomes from targeted questionnaires will also be assessed to understand the impact on quality of life.The study’s results are expected to contribute significantly to the understanding of DZHJTI’s role in treating angina pectoris,potentially influencing future treatment guidelines.
文摘Objective To introduce the design of observational trials under real-world study(RWS),and to provide guidance for clinical development of new research trials and reference for real-world researchers.Methods Relevant literature of RWS and observational experiments at home and abroad were reviewed and analyzed,and then the design of observational studies was summarized under RWS.Results and Conclusion The data and information provided in observational studies not only help to further verify the clinical study results obtained by randomized controlled trial(RCT)in clinical practice,but also objectively reflect the real situation in the process of clinical research and application.
基金Supported by Scientific Research Project of College Students in Liaoning Province,No.S202410164004.
文摘BACKGROUND Sex education was introduced early in foreign countries.For example,there is a more systematic sex education system abroad,which can better achieve the popularization of sex education.China's sex education started relatively late,yet there are many problems in the development of sex education in China;for example,college students lack knowledge of sexuality.AIM To explore the perception of sex education among medical college students.METHODS Students majoring in medicine in a medical school were selected as the survey subjects.Anonymous online questionnaires were used to conduct the survey,and the results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism,SPSS,Microsoft Excel,and other software.The questionnaire was administered to understand the source of sexual knowledge,sexual responsibility,mastery of sexual knowledge,and distress caused by sexual problems.RESULTS Most students majoring in medicine had no formal sex education,lacked sexual knowledge,or had a biased understanding of sexual responsibility.This study analyzed future research trends in sex education based on relevant achievements in the Chinese context and abroad to further realize the practical significance and value of sex education popularization in China and provide recommendations for parents and schools at different levels.CONCLUSION Sex education should be conducted among college students,and medical colleges and universities should strengthen scientific sex education.
基金supported by project funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.91332715 and 41275052)the National Key Foundation Development Study Developing(973)Programme(Grant No.2012CB417202)
文摘Using atmospheric observational data from 1998 to 2013,station rainfall data,TRMM（Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission） data,as well as annual statistics for the plateau vortex and shear line,the joint activity features of sustained departure plateau vortexes（SDPVs） and southwest vortexes（SWVs） are analyzed.Some new and useful observational facts and understanding are obtained about the joint activities of the two types of vortex.The results show that：（1） The joint active period of the two vortexes is from May to August,and mostly in June and July.（2） The SDPVs of the partnership mainly originate near Zaduo,while the SWVs come from Jiulong.（3） Most of the two vortexes move in almost the same direction,moving eastward together with the low trough.The SDPVs mainly act in the area to the north of the Yangtze River,while the SWVs are situated across the Yangtze River valley.（4） The joint activity of the two vortexes often produces sustained regional heavy rainfall to the south of the Yellow River,influencing wide areas of China,and even as far as the Korean Peninsula,Japan and Vietnam.（5） Most of the two vortexes are baroclinic or cold vortexes,and they both become strengthened in terms of their joint activity.（6） When the two vortexes move over the sea,their central pressure descends and their rainfall increases,especially for SWVs.（7） The two vortexes might spin over the same area simultaneously when there are tropical cyclones in the eastern and southern seas of China,or move southward together if a tropical cyclone appears near Hainan Island.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(11501578,11701571)
文摘To estimate the true treatment effect on a censored outcome in observational studies, potential confounding effect and complex heterogeneity in the treatment assignment have to be properly adjusted. In this article, we demonstrate that the partial least squares method could be a valuable tool in this regard. It is showed that the partial least squares method not only can adequately account for the heterogeneity in treatment assignment, but also be robust to treatment assignment model misspecifications. Numerical results show that the partial least squares estimator is more efficient and robust. A real data set is analyzed to illustrate the proposed method.
文摘AIM： To assess the effectiveness and safety of ranibizumab 0.5 mg in Taiwan Residents patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy（PCV） by performing a retrospective exploratory subgroup analysis of the REAL study.METHODS： REAL was a 12-month, observational, prospective, non-interventional phase IV post-marketing surveillance study conducted at 9 centers in Taiwan. The study collected data as part of the routine patient visits from the medical records of patients with neovascular agerelated macular degeneration treated with ranibizumab 0.5 mg according to local standard medical practice and local label and/or reimbursement guidelines. The presence of PCV at baseline was determined using indocy received prior tanine green angiography. RESULTS： At baseline, PCV was diagnosed in 64 of the 303 enrolled patients（21.1%）. Of these, 41 patients（64.1%） hadreatment; 15（23.4%） patients had received ranibizumab. The intent-to-treat population included 58 patients; 47（80%） who received ranibizumab and 11（20%） who received ranibizumab plus photodynamic therapy（PDT; 9 patients received once, 2 patients received twice）. Bevacizumab was used as a concomitant medication in a similar percentage of patients who received ranibizumab（43%, n=20） or ranibizumab plus PDT（45%, n=5）. In patients who received ranibizumab, visual acuity（VA） at baseline was 50.1±12.9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, and the gain at month 12 was 1.1±17.8 letters. In patients who received ranibizumab plus PDT, VA at baseline was 51.4±15.9 letters, and there was a marked gain in VA at month 12（14.0±9.2 letters, P=0.0009）. In the intent-totreat population, the reduction in central retinal subfield thickness from baseline at month 12 was 69.6±122.6 μm（baseline： 310.8±109.8 μm, P=0.0004）. The safety results were consistent with the well-characterized safety profile of ranibizumab.CONCLUSION： In real-world settings, ranibizumab 0.5 mg treatment for 12 mo results in maintenance of VA and reduction in central retinal subfield thickness in Taiwan Residents patients with PCV. Improvements in VA are observed in patients who received ranibizumab plus PDT. There are no new safety findings.
基金funded by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine(No.K18121)supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korea Government(Ministry of Science and ICT)(No.NRF-2022R1C1C2008738)。
文摘Objective:Acupotomy is a modern acupuncture method that includes modern surgical methods.Since acupotomy is relatively more invasive than filiform acupuncture treatment,it is important to establish the safety profile of this practice.To justify further large-scale prospective observational studies,this preliminary study was performed to assess the feasibility of the approach and investigate the safety profile and factors potentially associated with adverse events(AEs).Methods:This was a prospective pilot study that assessed the feasibility of a large-scale forthcoming safety study on acupotomy treatment in a real-world setting.The feasibility(call response rate,dropout rate,response rate for each variable and recruitment per month)and safety profile(incidence,type,severity and causality of AEs,and factors potentially associated with AEs)were measured.Results:A total of 28 participants joined the study from January to May 2018.A follow-up assessment was achieved in 258(1185 treatment points)out of 261 sessions(1214 treatment points).The response rate via telephone on the day after treatment was 87.3%.There were 8 systemic AEs in all the sessions(8/258;3.11%)and 27 local AEs on the total points treated(27/1185;2.28%).Severe AEs did not occur.Total AE and local AE occurrence were associated with blade width and the number of needle stimulations per treatment point.Conclusion:The findings suggest that it could be feasible to analyze the safety of acupotomy in a realworld setting.Moreover,the primary data on some relevant AEs could be determined.We are planning large-scale prospective studies based on these findings.Trial registration:Clinical Research Information Service(CRIS)KCT0002849(https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/11487).
