OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and relevant factors on the echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

METHODA cross-sectional study was conducted among the hypertensive patients in an urban community.

RESULTSThe prevalence of LVH was 29.2% in 1 686 hypertensive patients, with 25.4% in males and 34.5% in females, respectively. The prevalence was significantly higher in females than in males (chi(2) = 16.17, P < 0.01). The rate was increasing with age and significantly higher prevalence was observed in 45-, 55-, 65- age groups of females (P < 0.05). Moreover, elevated systolic blood pressure and higher BMI were related to the LVH in hypertensive patients, while higher education level seemed a protective factor.

CONCLUSIONThese results implied that a comprehensive intervention should be taken in the prevention of LVH.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Echocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; physiopathology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; blood ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Urban Population

Objective:To investigate the additional value of unenhanced computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors and non-neoplastic lesions.Methods:A total of 237 cases [140 males and 97 females; (49±16) years old; including 48 cases of low-grade glioma, 134 cases of high-grade glioma, 38 cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma, 9 cases of medulloblastoma, 5 cases of germinoma, and 3 cases of central neurocytoma] of brain tumors (diffuse gliomas and non-glial tumors) diagnosed by biopsy or surgery and pathology in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2016 to October 2020 were collected retrospectively. Sixty-six cases [46 males and 20 females; (42±13) years old; including 12 cases of abscesses, 5 cases of infarcts, 33 cases of demyelinating lesions, 11 cases of autoimmune encephalitis, and 5 cases of central nervous system vasculitis] of brain non-neoplastic lesions were confirmed by biopsy or clinic. All patients underwent routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and unenhanced CT before the treatment. The images were reviewed by two neuroradiologists together blind to the final diagnosis with and without CT images respectively. The diagnostic results and reliability scores were recorded, and the accuracy of the two evaluations was compared.Results:CT hyperattenuation exhibited a higher specificity (95%) than conventional MRI scan (86%), and a lower diagnostic sensitivity (34% vs 86%). Compared to MRI alone, the combined modality of MRI and unenhanced CT significantly improved diagnostic accuracy (94% vs 86%). Additionally, the CT attenuation ratio of non-neoplastic lesions was significantly lower than that of neoplastic lesions [0.69 (0.61,0.78) and 1.14 (1.00,1.25), W=2 123, P<0.05]. The CT attenuation ratio in the non-glial origin tumor group was significantly higher than that in the diffuse glioma group [1.28 (1.18,1.41) and 1.13 (0.97,1.21), W=1 858, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups of diffuse glioma [1.11 (0.99,1.20) vs 1.16 (1.09,1.24), P>0.05 (Nemenyi test)]. However, both were significantly higher than that of grade Ⅱgroup of diffuse glioma [0.89 (0.76,1.07), P<0.05 (Nemenyi test)]. No significant difference was observed between astrocytic tumors and oligodendroglial tumors at the same grade. Conclusions:Hyperattenuation on unenhanced CT is highly specific for the diagnosis of brain tumors. Unenhanced CT plus MRI is more accurate for distinguishing the two entities in hypoattenuation lesion on unenhanced CT.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among family members, and analyze associated risk factors. Methods:The current investigation was a cross-sectional study. The Qinghai region was stratified into urban areas, agricultural areas, and pastoral areas. The urban areas of Xining City, the agricultural areas of Haidong City, and the pastoral areas of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture were selected. A total of 396 resident families (1 131 people) who underwent health checkups from 2021 to 2022 in the above areas were included in the survey study. Questionnaires were administered and H. pylori infection was detected using the 13C-urea breath test. Numerical data were expressed as cases and percentages, and the Chi-square test was used to compare differences in H. pylori infection rates in the populations and families in each group. Multifactorial logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for H. pylori infection, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Qinghai province was 52.8% (597/1 131) and the prevalence of H. pylori infection in households was 80.6% (319/396). In H. pylori-positive households with at least 1 infected spouse, 40.4% (36/89) had only 1 infected spouse, and in 59.6% (53/89) both spouses were infected. In analysis of children infected by parents with H. pylori, 20.0% (9/45) of households had fathers and children infected, 48.9% (22/45) had mothers and children infected, and 31.1% (14/45) had both parents and children infected. In univariate analysis there was a statistically significant difference in the overall comparison of H. pylori infection rates among families with different numbers of people living together ( χ2=11.12, P=0.004), and between-group comparisons suggested that H. pylori infection rates were higher in families with 4 or 5 people and more than 5 people living together than in families with 2 or 3 people living together. The H. pylori infection rate was higher in families that did not use serving chopsticks and spoons during family meals than in families that did use serving chopsticks and spoons ( χ2=6.12, P=0.013). In multifactorial logistic regression analyses the number of people living together in a family and whether or not serving chopsticks and spoons were used at family meals were associated with H. pylori infection ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The H. pylori infection rate in families in Qinghai Province is high, and there is a clear association with family aggregation. It is more common for both members of a couple to be infected, and H. pylori infection of a mother has a greater effect on the children′s infection status than H. pylori infection of a father. The infection rate of H. pylori was lower in families that used serving chopsticks and spoons during dinner gatherings, and the fewer the number of people living together in the family, the lower the H. pylori infection rate.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the heritabilities of serum luteinizing hormone(LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in twin boys, and to study the genetic contributions to gonadotropin-gonadal axis.

METHODSA total of 51 pairs of male twins, 35 monozygotic (MZ) and 16 dizygotic(DZ) aged 5 to 11 years, were investigated. Serum gonadotropin and sex hormone were measured by radioimmunoassay. The twin zygosity was verified by determination of short tandem repeat amplified fragment length polymorphism systems. The genetic analysis was performed using intraclass correlation coefficient method.

RESULTSThe intraclass correlation coefficient was greater in the MZ twins than in the DZ twins. The estimated heritabilities were respectively LH 0.51, FSH 0.32, T 0.81, E2 0.41.

CONCLUSIONGenetic factors are major determinants of gonadotropin-gonadal axis in boys.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Gonadotropins ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and the risk factors of Helicobacter pylori( H. pylori) infection in Qinghai Province with a multi-center cross-sectional study. Methods:From May to December in 2021, stratified sampling was conducted in Xining City, Haidong agricultural district, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture by 20 centers, including the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Qinghai Red Cross Hospital and Qinghai Renji Hospital, etc. A questionnaire survey was carried out among the individuals undergoing routine health checkups. The questionnaire included general information, lifestyle and family history, etc. 13C-urea breath test was performed to diagnose H. pylori infection. Chi-square test, trend Chi-square test, segmentation method and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis. Results:The infection rate of H. pylori in Qinghai area was 53.6% (2 531/4 724). The age distribution of infection was statistically significant ( χ2=15.95, P=0.007), the infection rate in individuals aged 15 to<30 was higher than that of individuals aged 60 to< 75 (57.6%, 626/1 086 vs.49.5%, 231/467), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=8.83, P=0.003). With the increase of age, the infection rate decreased in female over 30 years old ( χ2trend=5.89, P=0.015). There were statistically significant differences in H. pylori infection rate among different ethnic groups ( χ2=28.13, P<0.001); the infection rate of Tibetan population was higher than that of Han population (62.9%, 313/498 vs. 51.5%, 1 804/3 503), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=22.56, P<0.001). The H. pylori infection rate in people living at an altitude >3 500 m was higher than that of people living at an altitude between 1 500 m and 3 500 m (61.8%, 327/529 vs. 52.5%, 2 204/4 195), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=16.25, P<0.001). Compared with those without corresponding habits, the infection rate of H. pylori was higher in smokers (62.1%, 1 081/1 740 vs. 48.6%, 1 450/2 984), in people who had the habit of eating hand grabbed mutton (55.4%, 967/1 744 vs. 52.5%, 1 564/2 980), raw garlic (55.5%, 968/1 744 vs. 52.4%, 1 563/2 980), spicy food (55.6%, 1 471/2 647 vs. 51.0%, 1 060/2 077), sweet food (55.2%, 1 187/2 149 vs. 52.2%, 1 344/2 575), the infection rate of tea drinkers was lower (50.5%, 1 135/2 247 vs. 56.4%, 1 396/2 477), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=80.94, 3.89, 9.63, 4.36, 4.13 and 16.19, all P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that Tibetan ( OR=1.379, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.120 to 1.699), the Hui people ( OR=1.362, 95% CI 1.117 to 1.662), living at an altitude over 3 500 m ( OR=1.355, 95% CI 1.107 to 1.657), smoking ( OR=1.847, 95% CI 1.629 to 2.094), and spicy food ( OR=1.224, 95% CI 1.084 to 1.382) were independent risk factors of H. pylori infection (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The infection rate of H. pylori in Qinghai Province is higher than the average level in inland China. The infection rate of people with different ages, nationalities, altitudes of residence, occupations, living and eating habits were different. The infection rate of female over 30 years old is decreasing year by year. The infection risk is high in Hui people and Tibetan, spicy food lovers, smokers and people living at an altitude >3 500 m.

Objective To explore the relationship between socioeconomic status and the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in retirees from a community in Shanghai. Methods Observational study involved 9 943 retirees aged 50 and over in Shanghai. Both single factor and multi-factor analyses methods were used to describe the correlation between factors as:educational level,marital status,annual household income and risk of hypertension,coronary heart disease,stroke etc. A new defined compound index was used to assess the relevance of socioeconomic status on the risk of cardiovascular diseases,based on logistic regression model. Results After adjusted for age,the risk of cardiovascular diseases in these retirees was influenced by socioeconomic status. In general, opponent correlations in education levels and prevalence of hypertension were found between female and male. Compared with those having received college or higher education,the risk of hypertension increased in females when the education level declined,with OR as 1.08(95%CI:0.89-1.30). For those having had senior high school junior high school or elementary education,the risks of hypertension were 1.26(95%CI:1.05-1.51),1.34(95%CI:1.08-1.65),0.72(95%CI:0.59-0.87),0.78 (95%CI:0.64-0.94),and 0.70(95%CI:0.52-0.92)for males,respectively. The risk of cardiovascular diseases increased with annual household income. Compared with high level of socioeconomic status, lower socioeconomic status might decline the risk of cardiovascular diseases in males by approximately 30%,with OR for medium being 0.72(95%CI:0.61-0.84)and for lower ones it was 0.70(95%CI:0.57-0.87). However,similar correlations were not found in females. No significant relationship was found between marital status and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in this study. Conclusion The risks of cardiovascular diseases varied with different socioeconomic status, indicating that tailored interventions should be conducted in different socioeconomic groups.

Objective To investigate both genetic and environmental influences on the exercise participation and sedentary behavior in Qingdao,Shandong province and 326 in Lishui, Zhejiang province. Methods 568 twin pairs,including 242 in Qingdao and 326 in Lishui,were studied. Exercise participation was measured by two questions on the frequency and intensity and then divided into two groups. Sedentary behavior was measured by one question as‘how long do you spend on sitting every day’. Variance component models based on twins was used to estimate the genetic and environmental factors on these traits. Results The average age in monozygotic twins was(41.14 ± 10.11)while in dizygotic twins it was(41.23 ± 9.89). Genetic factors accounted 78%(35%-96%)and 59%(0-94%)for exercise participation variance in Qingdao and Lishui in people aged between 20 and 40. However,there were no heritability noticed on physical activity in people older than 40 years of age. Rates of heritability on sedentary behavior in Qingdao and Lishui were 68%(59%-75%)and 32%(7%-62%),respectively. Conclusion Results from the study suggested that sedentary behavior in Chinese people was influenced by genetic factors,which could also explain much of the exercise participation variance in people aged between 20 and 40.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between socioeconomic status and the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in retirees from a community in Shanghai.

METHODSObservational study involved 9 943 retirees aged 50 and over in Shanghai. Both single factor and multi-factor analyses methods were used to describe the correlation between factors as:educational level, marital status, annual household income and risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke etc. A new defined compound index was used to assess the relevance of socioeconomic status on the risk of cardiovascular diseases, based on logistic regression model.

RESULTSAfter adjusted for age, the risk of cardiovascular diseases in these retirees was influenced by socioeconomic status. In general, opponent correlations in education levels and prevalence of hypertension were found between female and male. Compared with those having received college or higher education, the risk of hypertension increased in females when the education level declined, with OR as 1.08 (95% CI:0.89-1.30). For those having had senior high school junior high school or elementary education, the risks of hypertension were 1.26 (95%CI:1.05-1.51), 1.34 (95%CI:1.08-1.65), 0.72 (95%CI:0.59-0.87),0.78 (95%CI:0.64-0.94), and 0.70 (95%CI:0.52-0.92) for males, respectively. The risk of cardiovascular diseases increased with annual household income. Compared with high level of socioeconomic status, lower socioeconomic status might decline the risk of cardiovascular diseases in males by approximately 30%, with OR for medium being 0.72 (95%CI:0.61-0.84) and for lower ones it was 0.70 (95% CI:0.57-0.87). However, similar correlations were not found in females. No significant relationship was found between marital status and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in this study.

CONCLUSIONThe risks of cardiovascular diseases varied with different socioeconomic status, indicating that tailored interventions should be conducted in different socioeconomic groups.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Social Class ; Socioeconomic Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate both genetic and environmental influences on the exercise participation and sedentary behavior in Qingdao, Shandong province and 326 in Lishui, Zhejiang province.

METHODS568 twin pairs, including 242 in Qingdao and 326 in Lishui, were studied. Exercise participation was measured by two questions on the frequency and intensity and then divided into two groups. Sedentary behavior was measured by one question as 'how long do you spend on sitting every day'. Variance component models based on twins was used to estimate the genetic and environmental factors on these traits.

RESULTSThe average age in monozygotic twins was (41.14 ± 10.11)while in dizygotic twins it was (41.23 ± 9.89). Genetic factors accounted 78% (35%-96%) and 59% (0-94%) for exercise participation variance in Qingdao and Lishui in people aged between 20 and 40. However, there were no heritability noticed on physical activity in people older than 40 years of age. Rates of heritability on sedentary behavior in Qingdao and Lishui were 68% (59%-75%) and 32% (7%-62%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONResults from the study suggested that sedentary behavior in Chinese people was influenced by genetic factors, which could also explain much of the exercise participation variance in people aged between 20 and 40.

Adult ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Exercise ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sedentary Lifestyle ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Twins ; genetics ; Young Adult