1.The Use of Speech in Screening for Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
Si-Wen WANG ; Xiao-Xiao YIN ; Lin-Lin GAO ; Wen-Jun GUI ; Qiao-Xia HU ; Qiong LOU ; Qin-Wen WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):456-463
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that severely affects the health of the elderly, marked by its incurability, high prevalence, and extended latency period. The current approach to AD prevention and treatment emphasizes early detection and intervention, particularly during the pre-AD stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which provides an optimal “window of opportunity” for intervention. Clinical detection methods for MCI, such as cerebrospinal fluid monitoring, genetic testing, and imaging diagnostics, are invasive and costly, limiting their broad clinical application. Speech, as a vital cognitive output, offers a new perspective and tool for computer-assisted analysis and screening of cognitive decline. This is because elderly individuals with cognitive decline exhibit distinct characteristics in semantic and audio information, such as reduced lexical richness, decreased speech coherence and conciseness, and declines in speech rate, voice rhythm, and hesitation rates. The objective presence of these semantic and audio characteristics lays the groundwork for computer-based screening of cognitive decline. Speech information is primarily sourced from databases or collected through tasks involving spontaneous speech, semantic fluency, and reading, followed by analysis using computer models. Spontaneous language tasks include dialogues/interviews, event descriptions, narrative recall, and picture descriptions. Semantic fluency tasks assess controlled retrieval of vocabulary items, requiring participants to extract information at the word level during lexical search. Reading tasks involve participants reading a passage aloud. Summarizing past research, the speech characteristics of the elderly can be divided into two major categories: semantic information and audio information. Semantic information focuses on the meaning of speech across different tasks, highlighting differences in vocabulary and text content in cognitive impairment. Overall, discourse pragmatic disorders in AD can be studied along three dimensions: cohesion, coherence, and conciseness. Cohesion mainly examines the use of vocabulary by participants, with a reduction in the use of nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adjectives in AD patients. Coherence assesses the ability of participants to maintain topics, with a decrease in the number of subordinate clauses in AD patients. Conciseness evaluates the information density of participants, with AD patients producing shorter texts with less information compared to normal elderly individuals. Audio information focuses on acoustic features that are difficult for the human ear to detect. There is a significant degradation in temporal parameters in the later stages of cognitive impairment; AD patients require more time to read the same paragraph, have longer vocalization times, and produce more pauses or silent parts in their spontaneous speech signals compared to normal individuals. Researchers have extracted audio and speech features, developing independent systems for each set of features, achieving an accuracy rate of 82% for both, which increases to 86% when both types of features are combined, demonstrating the advantage of integrating audio and speech information. Currently, deep learning and machine learning are the main methods used for information analysis. The overall diagnostic accuracy rate for AD exceeds 80%, and the diagnostic accuracy rate for MCI also exceeds 80%, indicating significant potential. Deep learning techniques require substantial data support, necessitating future expansion of database scale and continuous algorithm upgrades to transition from laboratory research to practical product implementation.
2.Association of physical activity and screen time with emotional and behavioral problems among first year middle school students in one district of Shanghai
YIN Cancan, LUO Chunyan, YAN Qiong, QI Yue, YUE Guizhen
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(3):386-390
Objective:
To investigate the association of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and screen time (ST) with emotional and behavioral problems in middle school students, so as to provide a basis for improving the mental health level of adolescents.
Methods:
Four public junior high schools in Jinshan District, Shanghai were selected by random cluster method from September 19 to October 18, 2023, with 779 first grade students included. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), as well as physical activity and screen time were collected. Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between MVPA, ST and different dimensions of emotional and behavioral problems.
Results:
Students with MVPA<60 min/d accounted for 82.4%, and with ST>2 h/d accounted for 29.5%. The abnormal rate of SDQ dimensions among students ranged from 6.8 % to 19.3%, with the highest abnormal rate observed in behavioral problems. The results of binary Logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with high level of MVPA, students with low level of MVPA had a significantly increased risk of developing problems in prosocial behavior [ OR (95% CI )=2.16(1.37-3.41), P <0.05]. Compared with low level ST, students with high level had an increased risk of experiencing emotional symptoms, behavioral problems and peer interaction problems [ OR (95% CI )=2.00(1.25-3.22), 2.00(1.41-2.84), and 1.69(1.22-2.33), P <0.05]. Compared with high MVPA and low ST, students with low MVPA and high ST had an increased risk of developing problems in the dimensions of conduct problems, prosocial behavior, and overall difficulty score [ OR (95% CI )=1.92(1.13-3.23), 2.73(1.56-4.77), and 2.07(1.19-3.60), P <0.05].
Conclusions
Physical activity and screen time are related to emotional and behavioral problems in middle school students. Insufficient physical activity time and excessive screen time might increase the risk of emotional and behavioral problems. Interventions can be administered on physical activity and screen time among adolescents to promote their mental health.
3.Analysis of the incidence and relevant factors of visual acuity abnormalities in preschool children undergoing kindergarten entrance physical examinations in Shannan City, Xizang, 2022
Sangzhu LABA ; Zhuoma QIONG ; Fei YANG ; Zhuoga SUOLANG ; Ruiqi ZHANG ; Jun CHEN ; Hui YIN ; Hong ZHOU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(6):535-539
ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence and relevant factors of visual acuity abnormalities in preschool children undergoing kindergarten entrance physical examinations in Shannan City, Xizang, in 2022, so as to formulate policies for protecting children’s visual acuity and provide a basis for optimizing the children’s health service system in this region. MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among the children undergoing kindergarten entrance physical examinations in Shannan City in 2022. A diopter examination was performed for these children, and a questionnaire survey was administered to their caregivers. Additionally, factors affecting children’s visual acuity abnormalities were analyzed using the χ² test and binary logistic regression analysis. ResultsA total of 759 children were included in the analysis, with an incidence rate for visual acuity abnormalities of 11.20%. Univariate analysis showed that statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence rate for visual acuity abnormalities among preschool children in terms of different family monthly income (χ²=17.395, P<0.001), father’s education level (χ²=5.133, P=0.023), postnatal vitamin A and D supplementation (χ²=9.575, P=0.008), and feeding method within the first 6 months after birth (χ²=9.330, P=0.009). Multivariate analysis results indicated that family monthly income <5 000 yuan (OR=2.599, P=0.003), insufficient postnatal vitamin A and D supplementation (OR=1.912, P=0.011), and formula feeding (OR=2.131, P=0.010) were relevant factors for abnormal visual development in children. ConclusionThe incidence of visual acuity abnormalities in preschool children in Shannan City is slightly higher than that previously reported in other regions of Xizang. The occurrence of visual acuity abnormalities in children is related to factors such as family monthly income, postnatal vitamin A and D supplementation, and feeding method within the first 6 months after birth. Future interventions should be strengthened on the promotion and dissemination of knowledge related to eye use, such as improve parental awareness of eye care, promote timely vitamin A and D supplementation and encourage breast feeding for children after birth, more specifically, attentions need to be focused on the visual acuity problems of children from low-income families to safeguard the visual health in preschool children in Shannan City, Xizang.
4.Distribution and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial strains isolated from blood samples in a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Shenzhen
Xutao ZHENG ; Rimei ZHANG ; Qiong DUAN ; Shanru LIN ; Jialing TANG ; Lingfan YIN
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2024;24(4):442-447
Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance of the bacterial strains isolated from blood samples of inpatients in Longgang Hospital,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.Methods The bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test results for the strains isolated from 2018 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Results A total of 910 strains of bacteria were isolated from blood samples,of which 63.2%(575/910)were gram-negative bacteria and 36.8%(335/910)were gram-positive bacteria.Escherichia coli,coagulase-negative Staphylococcus,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Staphylococcus aureus,and Enterococcus spp.were the top 5 pathogens.In the past 5 years,no carbapenem-resistant strains of E.coli or K.pneumoniae were found in the blood samples of the inpatients.A.baumannii had a resistance rate of 11.8%to carbapenems.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in S.aureus,S.epidermidis and other Staphylococcus species was 16.7%,75.0%and 55.5%,respectively.No vancomycin-or linezolid-resistant staphylococcual isolates were found.No strains of Enterococcus faecalis or Enterococcus faecium were found resistant to high concentrations of gentamicin,linezolid,or vancomycin.Conclusions The bacteria isolated from blood samples in Longgang Hospital were mainly gram-negative bacteria.Carbapenem-resistant strain was identified in the strains of A.baumannii.Bacterial resistance surveillance should be strengthened for the isolates from blood samples and other specimens from the site of infection.Antimicrobial agents should be used rationally to prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria.
5.Research progress on the management of symptom in adult patients with hematological malignancies during chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy
Yin CHENG ; Jiali YAN ; Qiong CHENG ; Aiyun JIN ; Xiaoyu ZHOU ; Shuyi DING
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(31):2467-2473
This paper reviews the main symptom clusters, assessment tools, influencing factors, intervention and prospect for the management of symptom clusters associated with chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy in adult patients with hematological malignancies, in order to provide references for medical staff to enhance the scientificity of symptom management and nursing service quality.
6.Two cases of neonatal Legionella pneumonia
Yin-Zhi LIU ; Rong ZHANG ; Jing-Jing XIE ; Qiong GUO ; Cai-Xia ZHAN ; Meng-Yu CHEN ; Jun-Shuai LI ; Xiao-Ming PENG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2024;26(9):986-988
Patient 1,a 12-day-old female infant,presented with fever,cough,dyspnea,and elevated infection markers,requiring respiratory support.Metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed Legionella pneumophila(LP),leading to diagnoses of LP pneumonia and LP sepsis.The patient was treated with erythromycin for 15 days and azithromycin for 5 days,resulting in recovery and discharge.Patient 2,an 11-day-old female infant,presented with dyspnea,fever,elevated infection markers,and multiple organ dysfunction,requiring mechanical ventilation.mNGS of blood and cerebrospinal fluid indicated LP,leading to diagnoses of LP pneumonia,LP sepsis,and LP intracranial infection.The patient was treated with erythromycin for 19 days and was discharged after recovery.Neonatal LP pneumonia lacks specific clinical symptoms,and azithromycin is the preferred antimicrobial agent.The use of mNGS can provide early and definitive diagnosis for severe neonatal pneumonia of unknown origin.
7.Effects of α7nAChR on CD11b and inflammatory cytokines in mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome
SUN Qiong ; YU Yanmei ; LIU Fan ; YIN Zongbao
China Tropical Medicine 2024;24(1):82-
Objective To investigate the effects of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) on CD11b, IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mice. Methods A total of 40 healthy and clean male Balb/C mice (6 weeks old) were randomly divided into normal group (N group), normal saline control group (NS group), ARDS group (A group), and ARDS mice treated with nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist after bilateral cervical vagotomy group (J group), with 10 mice in each group. The right lung structure of mice in each group was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, the lung tissue wet weight/body weight ratio (LWW/DW ratio) was detected, and the percentage of CD11b in the alveolar lavage fluid of mice was detected by flow cytometry. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of IL-1β mRNA, IL-18 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA in left lung tissue. Serum IL-18 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and double antibody sandwich method. Results HE staining of the right lung of mice in group N and NS showed normal structure, while the lung interstitial of mice in group A showed a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated, alveolar wall thickened, alveolar structure destroyed and alveolar cavity fused. The alveolar structure of mice in group J was intact, with a little damage and alveolar cavity. The percentage of CD11b in alveolar lavage fluid in group A was higher than that in the other three groups, and the difference was statistically significant compared with group N, NS and J, respectively (P<0.05). The expressions of IL-1β mRNA, IL-18 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA in the left lung of mice in group J were statistically significant compared with those in group N, NS and A (P<0.05), and the serum IL-18 level of mice in group A was higher than that in the other three groups, and the differences were statistically significant compared with groups N, NS and J, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusions Activation of α7nAChR can directly inhibit the release of CD11b in lung tissue and reduce the accumulation of inflammatory factors. Simultaneously, it can also directly inhibit the expression of IL-β1 mRNA, IL-18 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA in lung tissue and the release of IL-18, thus inhibiting the inflammatory response of ARDS and alleviating the pathological changes of ARDS.
8.Association between dietary habits and sleep duration among middle school students in Shanghai
YIN Xiaoya, ZHAI Yani, YUAN Linlin, YAN Qiong, ZHOU Xinyi, LUO Chunyan, SUN Lijing
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(8):1140-1143
Objective:
To explore the association between dietary behaviors and sleep duration among middle school students in Shanghai, so as to provide reference for interventions targeting insufficient sleep.
Methods:
From May to June 2021, a stratified cluster random sampling method was employed to select a sample of 10-17yearold middle school students for monitoring their healthrisk behaviors. A total of 5 538 valid questionnaires were collected. The survey included items such as daily sleep duration, weekly consumption of sugary beverages, freshly squeezed fruit juice, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fried foods, milk and yogurt, breakfast habits, and frequency of eating outside. Statistical analysis was conducted using Chisquare test, Wilcoxon ranksum test, and multivariable Logistic regression model.
Results:
About 73.7% of middle school students reported insufficient sleep in Shanghai. There was a positive correlation between the average daily consumption of fresh fruits and breakfast consumption with sleep duration. In other words, a higher frequency of consuming fresh fruits (OR=1.29) and eating breakfast (OR=1.07) were associated with a higher likelihood of sufficient sleep. Conversely, there was a negative correlation between the frequency of consuming desserts (OR=0.78) and fried foods (OR=0.88) and sleep duration (P<0.05).
Conclusions
Increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and maintaining regular breakfast habits while reducing the intake of fried foods can contribute to achieving sufficient sleep among middle school students. When implementing interventions to improve sleep among middle school students, promoting healthy and balanced diets can be considered as one of the intervention strategies.
9.Clinical Analysis of Sangxing Zhike Prescription for the Treatment of Postinfectious Cough of Warm Dryness Invading the Lung Type
Zi-Xing LIU ; Yin-He DENG ; Meng-Zhao LI ; Yu-Jing CHEN ; Qiong LIU
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(4):856-861
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Sangxing Zhike Prescription in treating postinfectious cough(PIC)of warm dryness invading the lung type.Methods A total of 66 PIC patients with warm dryness invading the lung type who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to June 2022 were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 33 patients in each group.The treatment group was given Sangxing Zhike Prescription combined with Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsules,and the control group was given Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsules combined with Chinese medicine placebo.The course of treatment covered 7 days.The changes in the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)scores of the severity of cough,the scores of cough symptom,and the scores of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety in the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)During the trial,one case fell off from the treatment group and 4 cases fell off from the control group,and eventually 61 cases completed the observation,of which 32 cases were in the treatment group and 29 cases were in the control group.(2)After 7 days of treatment,the total effective rate of the treatment group was 84.38%(27/32)and that of the control group was 58.62%(17/29),and the intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P<0.05).(3)After treatment,the VAS scores of the severity of cough,and the scores of daytime cough,nighttime cough of the Cough Symptom Score Scale as well as the overall cough scores in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the reduction of the VAS scores and the overall cough symptom scores in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.05).(4)After treatment,obvious improvement was presented in the scores of TCM symptoms of cough,throat itching,dry throat,foreign body sensation in the throat,sore throat and pharyngeal signs as well as total TCM syndrome scores in the treatment group when compared with the pre-treatment period(P<0.01),whereas in the control group,only the scores of cough,throat itching,dry throat,and sore throat and the total TCM syndrome scores were improved compared with the pre-treatment period(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The post-treatment intergroup comparison showed that the treatment group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the scores of throat itching,foreign body sensation in the throat,and pharyngeal signs as well as total TCM syndrome scores(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(5)During the treatment process,no significant adverse reactions occurred in both groups,or no abnormal changes were shown in the safety indexes such as blood routine test,liver and kidney functions of the patients.Conclusion Sangxing Zhike Prescription combined with Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsules exerts certain effect in treating patients with PIC of warm dryness invading the lung type,and its efficacy is significantly superior to that of Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsules treatment alone with relatively high safety profile.
10.Detection of colorectal advanced neoplasms among the cancer screening population in urban areas of Henan Province and analysis on its influencing factors
Lanwei GUO ; Liyang ZHENG ; Qiong CHEN ; Yin LIU ; Huifang XU ; Ruihua KANG ; Hong WANG ; Xiaoyang WANG ; Shuzheng LIU ; Shaokai ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2024;46(8):794-800
Objective:To analyze the detection of colorectal advanced neoplasms in the population who underwent colonoscopy screening in Henan Province as part of the Urban China Cancer Screening Program and its influencing factors.Methods:A cross-sectional study design was employed. Based on the Cancer Screening Program conducted in Henan Province, the study enrolled 7 454 urban residents who manifested no symptoms and were recruited from eight cities in the province, including Zhengzhou, Zhumadian, Anyang, Luoyang, Nanyang, Jiaozuo, Xinxiang, and Puyang from October 2013 to October 2019, and participated in colonoscopy screening. The χ 2 test was used to compare the detection rates of colorectal advanced neoplasms among participants with different characteristics, and a multivariate logistic stepwise regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the detection rates. Results:A total of 7 454 subjects underwent colonoscopy screening, and 112 cases of colorectal advanced neoplasms were detected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that older age, smoking, higher meat intake, history of diabetes, and family history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative were risk factors for colorectal advanced neoplasms. The detection rate was significantly higher in people aged 60-74 years compared with those aged 40-49 years, with an odds ratio ( OR) of 2.04 (95% CI: 1.23-3.38).The rates were higher in people who smoked than those who did not smoke, with an OR of 2.21 (95% CI: 1.48-3.31), and in people who consumed more meat than those who consumed less, with an OR of 1.53 (95% CI: 1.04-2.26). Those with diabetes had a higher detection rate compared with those without, with an OR of 1.69 (95% CI: 1.07-2.69), and those with a first-degree family history of colorectal cancer had a higher detection rate than those without, with an OR of 1.64 (95% CI: 1.09-2.46). Conclusion:The detection rate of colorectal advanced neoplasms through colonoscopy screening in Henan Province covered by the Urban China Cancer Screening Program is 1.50%. Older age, smoking, higher meat intake, history of diabetes, and family history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative are identified as risk factors for colorectal advanced neoplasms.


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