Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of reinforcing and reducing by acupuncturing at lower He-sea points along and against channel's direction in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Method Sixty-one GERD patients were randomized into a treatment group of 34 cases and a control group of 27 cases. The treatment group was intervened by reinforcing and reducing by acupuncturing at lower He-sea points along and against channel’s direction, while the control group was treated with oral administration of Omeprazole tablets. The two groups were intervened once a day, 4 weeks in total. The clinical efficacies in the two groups were compared based on the symptoms scores before and after the treatment.Result The total effective rate was 97.1% in the treatment group versus 85.2% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The relapse rate 6 months after the treatment was 16.7% in the treatment group versus 50.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Reinforcing and reducing by acupuncturing at lower He-sea points along and against channel’s direction is an effective approach in treating GERD.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of penetrative needling from "Baihui" (GV20) to "Qubin" (GB7) on neural stem cell proliferation and sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in subventricular zone (SVZ) in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) rats so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of ischemic injury of brain. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control, model, acupuncture and agonist (Purmorphamine, an activator of Shh signaling pathway) groups (n＝18 in each group, 6 for H．E. stain, 6 for examining neuronal cell proliferation, and 6 for immunohistochemistry). The ICH model was established by injecting autogenous blood (50 µL) into the right caudate nucleus. The neurological defect was scored with refe-rence to Bederson's method. Penetrative needling from GV20 to GB7 was performed by manipulating the needle for 6 min (repeated 3 times in 30 min), once daily for 7 days. Intraperitoneal injection of Purmorphamine (1 mg/mL, 1 mg/kg) was performed, once daily for 7 days. Histopathological changes of the hemorrhagic penumbra region were observed under microscope after H．E. stain, the newborn neural stem cell proliferation (BrdU＋/Nestin＋ double labeled cells) in the SVZ was observed by immunofluorescence after intraperitoneal injection of BrdU (50 mg/kg), and the expression of Shh and glioma-associated hemolog-1 (Gli1) detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After modeling, the neurological score and expression levels of Shh and Gil1 proteins were significantly increased in the model group relevant to the blank control group (P<0.001). Following the interventions, the neurological score was evidently decreased (P<0.05), while the number of BrdU＋/Nestin＋ double labeled cells and the expression levels of Shh and Gil1 proteins were significantly increased in both acupuncture and agonist groups in comparison with the model group (P<0.001). No significant differences were found between the acupuncture and agonist groups in down-regulating the neurological score and in up-regulating the number of BrdU＋/Nestin＋ double labeled cells and the expression of Shh and Gil1 proteins (P>0.05). Outcomes of H．E. stain showed obvious edema, disordered arrangement of cells, infiltration of inflammatory cells and red blood cells with glial cell hyperplasia around the hematoma area in the model group, which was relatively milder in both acupuncture and agonist groups such as in basic disappearance of edema and inflammatory reaction. CONCLUSION: Penetrative needling from GV20 to GB7 can obviously improve neurological function in ICH rats, which is related to its effects in activating Shh/Gil1 signaling and in further promoting neural stem cell proliferation in the SVZ region.

Objectives: Hip fracture is a global public concern exhibiting high mortality rates but often underrecognized. We compared the mortality rates, risk, and secular trend of hip fractures with common cancers in females and males, aiming to call attention to hip fractures. Methods: In 2010–2020, 193,767 patients with the first diagnosed hip fractures and the top 5 prevalent cancers in each sex and aged 50 years and above were included. Age-standardized mortality rates were adjusted to the WHO Standard Population and the sex-specific relative risk of mortality was computed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for potential confounders. The trend analyses used joinpoint regression to compute annual percent changes in age-standardized mortality rates. Results The 1-year and 5-year age-standardized mortality rates and sex-specific mortality risk of hip fracture are greater than those of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 to 0.97) and thyroid cancer (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.64) in females and prostate cancer (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.58) in males. Moreover, mortality rates in lung cancer, male liver cancer, female breast cancer, and male prostate cancer have decreased in the past decade. For hip fracture, the mortality rates have significantly decreased in females, while in males, we observed only a decreasing trend in 1-year hip fracture mortality, not in 5-year Conclusions: Hip fractures exhibit higher mortality compared to female breast and thyroid cancers and male prostate cancer. More attention is needed to enhance the management and prevention of hip fractures.

Objectives: Hip fracture is a global public concern exhibiting high mortality rates but often underrecognized. We compared the mortality rates, risk, and secular trend of hip fractures with common cancers in females and males, aiming to call attention to hip fractures. Methods: In 2010–2020, 193,767 patients with the first diagnosed hip fractures and the top 5 prevalent cancers in each sex and aged 50 years and above were included. Age-standardized mortality rates were adjusted to the WHO Standard Population and the sex-specific relative risk of mortality was computed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for potential confounders. The trend analyses used joinpoint regression to compute annual percent changes in age-standardized mortality rates. Results The 1-year and 5-year age-standardized mortality rates and sex-specific mortality risk of hip fracture are greater than those of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 to 0.97) and thyroid cancer (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.64) in females and prostate cancer (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.58) in males. Moreover, mortality rates in lung cancer, male liver cancer, female breast cancer, and male prostate cancer have decreased in the past decade. For hip fracture, the mortality rates have significantly decreased in females, while in males, we observed only a decreasing trend in 1-year hip fracture mortality, not in 5-year Conclusions: Hip fractures exhibit higher mortality compared to female breast and thyroid cancers and male prostate cancer. More attention is needed to enhance the management and prevention of hip fractures.

Objectives: Hip fracture is a global public concern exhibiting high mortality rates but often underrecognized. We compared the mortality rates, risk, and secular trend of hip fractures with common cancers in females and males, aiming to call attention to hip fractures. Methods: In 2010–2020, 193,767 patients with the first diagnosed hip fractures and the top 5 prevalent cancers in each sex and aged 50 years and above were included. Age-standardized mortality rates were adjusted to the WHO Standard Population and the sex-specific relative risk of mortality was computed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for potential confounders. The trend analyses used joinpoint regression to compute annual percent changes in age-standardized mortality rates. Results The 1-year and 5-year age-standardized mortality rates and sex-specific mortality risk of hip fracture are greater than those of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 to 0.97) and thyroid cancer (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.64) in females and prostate cancer (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.58) in males. Moreover, mortality rates in lung cancer, male liver cancer, female breast cancer, and male prostate cancer have decreased in the past decade. For hip fracture, the mortality rates have significantly decreased in females, while in males, we observed only a decreasing trend in 1-year hip fracture mortality, not in 5-year Conclusions: Hip fractures exhibit higher mortality compared to female breast and thyroid cancers and male prostate cancer. More attention is needed to enhance the management and prevention of hip fractures.

Objectives: Hip fracture is a global public concern exhibiting high mortality rates but often underrecognized. We compared the mortality rates, risk, and secular trend of hip fractures with common cancers in females and males, aiming to call attention to hip fractures. Methods: In 2010–2020, 193,767 patients with the first diagnosed hip fractures and the top 5 prevalent cancers in each sex and aged 50 years and above were included. Age-standardized mortality rates were adjusted to the WHO Standard Population and the sex-specific relative risk of mortality was computed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for potential confounders. The trend analyses used joinpoint regression to compute annual percent changes in age-standardized mortality rates. Results The 1-year and 5-year age-standardized mortality rates and sex-specific mortality risk of hip fracture are greater than those of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 to 0.97) and thyroid cancer (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.64) in females and prostate cancer (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.58) in males. Moreover, mortality rates in lung cancer, male liver cancer, female breast cancer, and male prostate cancer have decreased in the past decade. For hip fracture, the mortality rates have significantly decreased in females, while in males, we observed only a decreasing trend in 1-year hip fracture mortality, not in 5-year Conclusions: Hip fractures exhibit higher mortality compared to female breast and thyroid cancers and male prostate cancer. More attention is needed to enhance the management and prevention of hip fractures.

Objectives: Hip fracture is a global public concern exhibiting high mortality rates but often underrecognized. We compared the mortality rates, risk, and secular trend of hip fractures with common cancers in females and males, aiming to call attention to hip fractures. Methods: In 2010–2020, 193,767 patients with the first diagnosed hip fractures and the top 5 prevalent cancers in each sex and aged 50 years and above were included. Age-standardized mortality rates were adjusted to the WHO Standard Population and the sex-specific relative risk of mortality was computed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for potential confounders. The trend analyses used joinpoint regression to compute annual percent changes in age-standardized mortality rates. Results The 1-year and 5-year age-standardized mortality rates and sex-specific mortality risk of hip fracture are greater than those of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 to 0.97) and thyroid cancer (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.64) in females and prostate cancer (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.58) in males. Moreover, mortality rates in lung cancer, male liver cancer, female breast cancer, and male prostate cancer have decreased in the past decade. For hip fracture, the mortality rates have significantly decreased in females, while in males, we observed only a decreasing trend in 1-year hip fracture mortality, not in 5-year Conclusions: Hip fractures exhibit higher mortality compared to female breast and thyroid cancers and male prostate cancer. More attention is needed to enhance the management and prevention of hip fractures.

Diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment is one of the difficult problems in the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases.Any factor that causes functional and structural abnormalities in cerebral cortex can lead to cognitive impair-ment,which has a high incidence,a large number of patients and a heavy burden of disease.Because of the complexity of its pathogenesis,no effective preventive and curative measures have yet been taken.In recent years,many studies reveal that neu-roinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases related to cognitive impairment,which has become a re-search hotspot in this field.This article provides a summary of the role of neuroinflammation-related biomarkers in the patho-genesis of cognitive impairment and their regulatory mecha-nisms,with a view to providing a further theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment.

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) shares a complex relationship with bone metabolism and few studies investigated the effect of impaired bone health on the risk of T2DM. This study was conducted to investigate the association between hip fractures and the risk of incident T2DM. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using data from the real-world hip fracture cohort. Hong Kong Chinese patients aged ≥ 65 years without T2DM who were admitted to public hospitals due to a fall between 2008 and 2015 were included in the study. Patients who sustained falls with and without hip fractures were matched by propensity score (PS) at a 1:1 ratio. Competing risk regression was used to evaluate the association between hip fracture and incident T2DM, with death being the competing event. Results: A total of 23,314 hip fracture cases were matched to 23,314 controls. The median follow-up time was 5.09 years. The incidence rate of T2DM was 11.947 and 14.505 per 1000 person-years for the hip fracture and control group respectively. After accounting for the competing risk of death, the hip fracture group had a significantly lower risk of developing T2DM (HR: 0.771, 95% CI: 0.719–0.827). Similar results were observed in all subgroups after stratification by age and sex. Conclusions Hip fracture was found to be associated with a reduced risk of T2DM. These findings provide insight into the topic of bone and glucose metabolism and prompt further research in evaluating the role of bone health in the management of T2DM.

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to report the injury or disease patterns, challenges, key observations, and recommendations by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) team that embarked on an Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission in the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.

METHODSThe SAF medical team that provided HADR assistance to Nepal consisted of personnel from the SAF, Singapore¢s Ministry of Health and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal, the SAF medical team was assigned to the Gokarna district by the local health authorities. In addition to providing primary healthcare, the medical facility was equipped to perform resuscitation and minor procedures. We also assembled mobile medical teams (MMTs) that travelled to various remote areas of the country to deliver medical aid.

RESULTSA total of 3,014 patients were managed by the SAF medical team. Of these patients, 1,286 (42.7%) were men. 574 (19.0%) patients sustained earthquake-related injuries or illnesses, while 2,440 (81.0%) sustained non-earthquake-related injuries or illnesses. The team treated a total of 447 (77.9%) adults and 127 (22.1%) paediatric patients with earthquake-related injuries or illnesses. A significant number of patients developed exacerbations of underlying medical conditions. 2,161 (71.7%) patients were treated in our main facility in Gokarna, while 853 patients (28.3%) were treated by our MMTs.

CONCLUSIONThe ability to transport healthcare personnel and essential medical equipment within a short time allowed the SAF medical team to provide crucial medical care in the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brunei ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Emergency Medicine ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; Nepal ; Physical Examination ; Primary Health Care ; Relief Work ; Singapore