ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) combined with robot-assisted therapy on upper limb function of subacute stroke patients. MethodsFrom March, 2022 to March, 2023, 60 subacute stroke patients from Dushu Lake Hospital and the First People's Hospital of Kunshan were randomly divided into control group (n = 20), robot group (n = 20) and combined group (n = 20). All the groups received conventional treatments including medication, physical therapy and occupational therapy; the robot group received sham taVNS combined with hand robot-assisted therapy; while the combined group received taVNS combined with hand robot-assisted therapy, for four weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) and hand part, the root mean square (RMS) electromyography of the extensor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum muscles during contraction, and the latency and amplitude of transcranial magnetic stimulation motor-evoked potential (TMS-MEP) before and after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, the scores of FMA-UE and hand part, RMS of the extensor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum muscles, and latency and amplitude of TMS-MEP improved in all the groups (t > 2.099, P < 0.05); and they were the best in all indicators in the combined group (F > 9.106, P < 0.001). ConclusiontaVNS combined with robot-assisted therapy can promote central nervous system remodeling and further improve upper limb function in stroke patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of stroke in Songjiang District from 2017 to 2022, to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of stroke incidence, so as to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of stroke prevention and control policies. MethodsData of new stroke incidence from 2017 to 2022 in Songjiang District were obtained from the Shanghai Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction Registration and Reporting Information System. In addition, different classifications such as time of onset, gender, age group and types of stroke, were statistically analyzed. Statistical indicators, such as the number of incidence, crude incidence rate, standardized incidence rate and average age of incidence were calculated simultaneously. Joinpoint software were used to calculate the annual change percentage (APC) and the trend of stroke incidence in Songjiang District. ResultsFrom 2017 to 2022, the newly reported cases of stroke were 12 988 in Songjiang District, the crude incidence rate was 325.76/10⁵, and the standardized incidence rate was 127.58/10⁵. The crude incidence rate and standardized incidence rate in males were 363.45/10⁵ and 157.17/10⁵, respectively, but 288.68/10⁵ and 99.02/10⁵ in females. The mean age of onset was (73.12±11.75) years, of which the mean age of onset was (70.86±11.96) years for men and (75.91±10.85) years for women. The incidence of stroke increased with age, rising rapidly after 60 years and reaching a peak in the age group of ≥ 80 years old. The crude incidence rate and standardized incidence rate of stroke in Songjiang District showed a downward trend from 2017 to 2022, with an APC of -6.20% and -8.01%, respectively (P=0.018, 0.007). The newly reported stroke was dominated by ischemic stroke, accounting for 82.81% of the total cases, with a crude incidence rate of 269.77/10⁵ and a standardized rate of 103.84/10⁵. The incidence of stroke presented seasonal characteristics, with the highest incidence in winter, accounting for 26.11% of the whole year. ConclusionThe incidence rate of stroke in Songjiang District shows a declined trend, but the overall incidence is still at a high level. The situation of prevention and control is still serious, with a heavy disease burden. It is necessary to strengthen health education and disease management for the elderly.

ObjectivesTo investigate characteristics and influencing factors of short-term variation of systolic blood pressure of community hypertension patients in Shanghai. MethodsBased on the standardized blood pressure measurement data of hypertensive patients in Shanghai （2018‒2021） and the noninfectious chronic disease management system database， coefficient of variation of systolic blood pressure （CV_S） was described and the influencing factors were analyzed. ResultsAmong 112 680 community hypertension patients， males accounted for 46.87% with a median age of 69 years. CV_S was 0.038 6 ± 0.035 0. Generalized linear model analysis showed the following influencing factors of CV_S： gender， females were higher than males， B=0.032， P<0.001； age group， 60‒69 years， 70‒79 years old group， and ≥80 years groups were all higher than <50 years group， B=0.042， 0.056， and 0.074 respectively with P values of 0.020， 0.002， and <0.001 respectively； smoking， smoking cessation and smoking everyday was lower than never smoking， B=-0.032 and-0.028 respectively with P values of 0.023 and 0.007 respectively； systolic blood pressure， 140‒159 mmHg group， 160‒179 mmHg group， and ≥180 mmHg group were lower then <140 mmHg group， B=-0.039， -0.091， and -0.175 respectively with P values all <0.001； and measurement season， autumn was lower than spring， （B=-0.056， P<0.001）. The paired test showed that CV_S calculated from the three measurements was 1.04% higher than that calculated from the two measurements （P<0.001）. ConclusionThe coefficient of variation of systolic blood pressure of community hypertension patients in Shanghai has large variation， and was influenced by many factors.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of three screening questionnaires for COPD in the community residents of Songjiang District， Shanghai， and to provide a basis for selecting COPD screening questionnaire and process that are more suitable. MethodsCommunity residents aged 40 years or over were randomly selected from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank for the study with screening questionnaires and spirometry. Questionnaires included the COPD screening questionnaire （COPD-SQ）， the COPD population screener （COPD-PS） and the revised COPD diagnostic questionnaire （revised-CDQ）. Evaluation of the efficacy of these questionnaires was based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve （AUC） of the subjects. DeLong test was used to compare the accuracy of different questionnaires； Z test was used to compare the accuracy of different cut-off values for the same questionnaire. ResultsAmong 3 184 community residents， a total of 259 （8.1%） COPD patients were screened by spirometry. AUC values of these 3 screening questionnaires were >0.7 indicating that they were reliable COPD screening tools. The sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaires at the recommended cut-off values were COPD-SQ （63.7% and 72.2%）， COPD-PS （12.0% and 96.1%）， and revised CDQ （78.8% and 52.7%）， with the COPD-SQ having the highest screening accuracy （AUC=0.754）. The optimal and recommended cut-off values for the three questionnaires differed in this population， but the difference in accuracy was statistically significant only for COPD-PS. The optimal cut-off values for the three questionnaires differed between male and female， and the sensitivity and accuracy of COPD-SQ and COPD-PS improved when lower cut-off values were used for women. The AUC was greater when two questionnaires were utilized simultaneously for screening， but the differences were not statistically significant. ConclusionThe COPD-SQ is recommended for primary COPD screening； a lower cut-off value for women should be considered. The COPD screening questionnaire needs to be further improved for the early diagnosis and treatment of COPD patients.