Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among middle-aged and elderly patients with diabetes mellitus, so as to provide evidence for the prevention of diabetic complications Methods: From September to December 2025, patients with diabetes mellitus aged ≥50 years from 6 counties (cities) in Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were selected as study participants using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Basic information, lifestyle behaviors and disease information were collected through questionnaires, physical examinations and laboratory tests. DR was diagnosed by ophthalmologists through fundus examinations. Factors affecting DR among middle-aged and elderly patients with diabetes mellitus were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1 278 middle-aged and elderly patients with diabetes mellitus were surveyed, with a mean age of (63.46±7.77) years. There were 649 males (50.78%) and 629 females (49.22%). A total of 277 patients were diagnosed with DR, with a prevalence of 21.67% (95%CI: 19.42%-23.93%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that patients with diabetes duration of ≥5 years (5-<10 years, OR=1.608, 95%CI: 1.095-2.361; ≥10 years, OR=2.289, 95%CI: 1.640-3.195), hypertension (OR=1.974, 95%CI: 1.463-2.664), dyslipidemia (OR=4.429, 95%CI: 3.021-6.493), and history of eye disease (OR=1.751, 95%CI: 1.275-2.404) had a higher risk of DR. Conclusions The prevalence of DR among middle-aged and elderly patients with diabetes mellitus was relatively high. Diabetes duration, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and history of eye disease were its influencing factors. It is necessary to strengthen the management of blood glucose, blood pressure and blood lipids, and regular fundus screening.

Objective:To learn about the iodine nutritional status and thyroid function of pregnant women in the areas of oral lipiodol pills in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang).Methods:In October 2019, using the probability proportionate to size sampling (PPS sampling) method, Aksu Prefecture (Aksu) of Xinjiang was divided into 5 sampling areas according to the directions of east, west, south, north and middle. One county was selected from each area, one township was selected from each county according to the directions of east, west, south, north and middle, and 20 pregnant women were selected from each township. The general demographic data of pregnant women were collected by questionnaires, and 24-hour urine samples, household salt samples and drinking water samples were collected for iodine detection, and serum samples were collected for thyroid function index detection.Results:A total of 555 pregnant women were investigated, including 121, 234 and 200 women in the early, middle and late pregnancy, with an average age of 26 years. Among them, the median of urinary iodine of women in early, middle and late pregnancy was 209.53, 204.27 and 225.29 μg/L, respectively, which was all in the appropriate state. The median of salt iodine was 24.70, 26.00 and 26.20 mg/kg, respectively, and the median of water iodine was 4.85, 3.30 and 4.85 μg/L, respectively. There were no significant difference in urinary iodine, salt iodine and water iodine during different pregnancy ( H= 1.61, 4.38, 2.63, P > 0.05). The prevalence rate of subclinical hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism in pregnant women was 4.32% (24/555), 0.54% (3/555) and 0.36% (2/555), respectively; and the highest prevalence rate was in the middle pregnancy, which was 7.26% (17/234), 1.28% (3/234) and 0.85% (2/234), respectively. The positive rate of autospecific antibody in pregnant women with normal thyroid function was 13.15% (73/555). The positive rate of thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin (TgAb) was 11.35% (63/555), 8.11% (45/555), respectively. After excluding the pregnant women with positive thyroid autospecific antibody, the range ( P2.5- P97.5) of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in different pregnancy were close to or slightly higher than the recommended reference value in the "Guideline on Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Diseases During Pregnancy and Postpartum (2nd ed)". Except that the P2.5 value of free thyroxine (FT 4) in early pregnancy was lower than the reference value, the FT 4 range in other pregnancy showed the same trend as that of TSH. The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that free triiodothyronine (FT 3) and FT 4, TPOAb and TgAb, TgAb and FT 4 were positively correlated ( r= 0.497, 0.504, 0.216, P < 0.05), and TSH and FT 3 was negatively correlated ( r = - 0.194, P < 0.05) in the early pregnancy; FT 3 and FT 4, TPOAb and TgAb were positively correlated in the middle and late pregnancy ( r = 0.188, 0.527, 0.177, 0.623, P < 0.05); TSH was negatively correlated with FT 3 in the late pregnancy ( r = - 0.165, P < 0.05); there was no correlation between urinary iodine and thyroid function indexes ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:The water iodine in the outer environment of the oral lipiodol pills area Aksu in Xinjiang is low, and the iodine nutrition level of pregnant women is appropriate. Except that the P2.5 value of FT 4 in the early pregnancy is lower than the reference value, the TSH range close to or of women during each pregnancy and the FT 4 range of women in the middle and late pregnancy are slightly higher than the reference value, which still need continuous monitoring.

Objective:The arsenic content of drinking water in Aksu Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (referred to as Xinjiang) was analyzed to understand the distribution of arsenic content and arsenic form of water in each county and city.Methods:In 2020, a total of 117 waterworks and villages (towns) under the jurisdiction of waterworks in 7 counties and 2 cities were randomly sampled, arsenic content in water was detected by atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and arsenic form in water was detected by liquid chromatography atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Results:A total of 626 water samples were collected, 614 water samples with water arsenic content < 0.01 mg/L, accounting for 98.08%; 12 water samples with water arsenic content 0.01 - < 0.05 mg/L, accounting for 1.92%; and there was no water sample with arsenic content ≥0.05 mg/L. The form of arsenic in excessive water sample in Aksu Prefecture was found to be five-valent arsenate. The arsenic content in the water of Awati County was the highest (0.004 6 mg/L).Conclusions:There are still some counties and cities with high arsenic content in water in Aksu Prefecture, and there are still hidden dangers of drinking-water brone endemic arsenism. Therefore, the water treatment technology should be improved or the water sources should be changed to prevent endemic arsenism.

Objective To evaluate the iodine nutritional condition among populations in Aksu after implementing free iodized salt in population of Xinjiang.Methods According to the National Iodine Deficiency Monitoring Programme (Revised),totally 45 villages (towns) of subordinated 8 counties and Aksu City,Xinjiang were selected for collecting salt samples.Meanwhile,in 27 villages (towns) primary schools,school-aged children (8-10 years old) were selected for collecting disposable urine samples,B ultrasound was used to check thyroid volume and intelligence (IQ) was evaluated by China Combined Raven Test (CRT).Pregnant women were sampled for collecting their disposable urine near the primary schools.Both the children and pregnant women were evaluated the iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) knowledge awareness by questionnaire.The urine iodine concentration was measured by the ammonium persulfate digestion-As-Ce catalytic spectrophotometer method.The salt iodine concentration was measured by the direct titrimetric method,and other kinds of iodine in salt were measured by referee method (GB/T 13025.7-2012).Results A total of 2 700 household salt samples were collected,the average of iodine concentration in household salt was (26.95 ± 5.10) mg/kg.The coverage of household iodized salt was 98.56％ (2 661/2 700).The coverage of edible iodized salt was 98.00％ (2 646/2 700).A total of 2 159 urine samples were collected,the median of urine iodine concentration (UIC) among school-aged children (8-10 years old) was 235.50 μg/L.The total goiter rate was 1.51％ (33/2 179) among children aged 8-10 years old.A total of 2 098 people were conducted IQ test,the average IQ was 88.03 ± 17.14.A total of 1 047 urine samples were collected,the median of UIC among pregnant women was 213.50 μg/L.The IDD knowledge awareness rate of children and women were 98.82％ (751/760) and 99.23％ (258/260),respectively.Conclusions The iodine nutrition is in an adequate range,awareness of IDD prevention is obviously improved among children which is representative of common people and pregnant women after implementing the free iodized salt in population of Xinjiang in Aksu.The policy of preventing IDD based on this policy has showed enormous effect.