BACKGROUND: Recent studies have provided compelling evidence that exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) can adversely affect human health. We aim to explore the potential impact of BFRs on adiposity and central obesity. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) cycles conducted between 2009 and 2014 was used to study the connections between variables. After filtering, we analyzed a sample of 4,110 adults aged 20 years and above. Our goal was to examine the potential association between BFRs and consequences and investigate the part played by oxidative stress and inflammatory markers as intermediaries. To achieve this, we used advanced statistical methods such as weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile-based g-computation (QGC), and the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS: The findings showed that among the examined chemicals, exposure to PBDE85 (weight: 41%), PBDE100 (24%), and PBB153 (23%) may be the dominant contributors to general obesity risk. Upon controlling for all variables that could impact the results, it was found that the QGC outcomes indicated a positive correlation between exposure to mixtures of brominated flame retardants and the occurrence of abdominal obesity (OR = 1.187, 95% CI: 1.056-1.334, p = 0.004). Significant contributions were made by PBDE85 (52%), PBB153 (27%), and PBDE100 (21%). Mediation analysis shows that lymphatic cells (LC) and albumin (ALB) partially mediate the link between brominated flame retardants and obesity. The results of BKMR are generally consistent with those of WQS and QGC. CONCLUSION At a population level, our research has revealed a noteworthy correlation between BFRs and obesity. However, further investigation is required through prospective cohort studies and in-depth mechanistic exploratory studies.
Humans ; Flame Retardants/adverse effects* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Inflammation/epidemiology* ; Obesity/chemically induced* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Mediation Analysis ; Young Adult ; United States/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/adverse effects*

Objective:To explore the relationship between the hypertensive snowbirds′ length of migratory stay and their blood pressure control and blood pressure levels.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A population of snowbirds with hypertension was recruited between October and November 2022, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect their self-measured blood pressure and length of stay in Hainan Province. The blood pressure control status is determined based on self-measured blood pressure. According to the self-measured blood pressure to determine whether the blood pressure was well controlled. The associations between snowbirds′ length of stay and their blood pressure control as well as their self-measured blood pressure were analyzed using restricted cubic splines.Results:A total of 362 research subjects were included, 169(46.7%) of whom were male, and their age was (69.7±7.0) years old. The participants′ self-measured systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were (129.1±16.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (78.9±10.1) mmHg, respectively. Overall, 174 (48.1%) participants attained adequate blood pressure control. The median length of stay in Wuzhishan City was 7(6, 7) months. There was an inverted U-shaped association between snowbirds′ length of stay and blood pressure control (overall: P=0.023; nonlinearity: P=0.014), where participants with a length of stay of 7 months had the highest rate of blood pressure control. There is a U-shaped curve relationship between length of stay and systolic blood pressure (overall: P=0.001; nonlinearity: P=0.033), and a linear negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure ( β=-1.19, P=0.003). Conclusions:Compared with hypertensive snowbirds with too long or too short lengths of stay, snowbirds who stayed in Wuzhishan City for seven months have better blood pressure control, and systolic blood pressure is also lower.

Objective:To construct a nomogram model for predicting frailty in elderly hypertensive patients, and to evaluate the discrimination and consistency of the model.Methods:A total of 317 patients with essential hypertension who were admitted to Hebei Eighth People′s Hospital from February 2021 to June 2022 were taken, they were divided into modeling group (190 cases) and verification group (127 cases) according to the proportion of 6∶4, the patients in the modeling group were divided into the asthenic group (45 cases) and the non asthenic group (145 cases) according to whether the patients in the modeling group had asthenia. The nomograph model was constructed based on the results of Logistic analysis.Results:The age, obesity or overweight ratio, diabetes ratio and systolic blood pressure in the frail group were significantly higher than those in the non-frail group: (76.25 ± 3.64)years vs.(70.44 ± 3.82) years, 51.11%(23/45) vs. 24.83%(36/145), 46.67%(21/45) vs. 17.24%(25/145), (156.46 ± 18.64) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (143.25 ± 12.38) mmHg, and the mini-nutrition assessment summary form (MNA-SF) score was significantly lower than that in the non-frail group: (11.45 ± 2.06) scores vs. (13.12 ± 1.22) scores, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). Logistic results showed that age, body mass index, diabetes, and systolic blood pressure were the risk factors for frailty ( P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluation showed that the area under the curve (AUC) in the modeling group was 0.998, and AUC in the validation group was 0.954. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed: modeling group χ2 = 6.18, P = 0.627; validation group χ2 = 6.58, P = 0.582. Conclusions:The nomogram prediction model of frailty risk in elderly hypertensive patients has good consistency and differentiation

BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies have indicated that Shexiang Baoxin Pill (MUSKARDIA) has a coronary artery dilation effect and increases the coronary blood flow, relieving the symptoms of angina. This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of MUSKARDIA on patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: This was a subgroup analysis of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IV trial. CAD patients with a medical history of DM or baseline fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥7.0 mmol/L were grouped according to the treatment (standard therapy plus MUSKARDIA or placebo). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), which was the composite outcome of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. The secondary outcome was the composite outcome of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure, and coronary angioplasty. RESULTS: MACEs occurred in 2.6% (9/340) and 4.8% (18/376) of patients in the MUSKARDIA and placebo groups, respectively ( P  = 0.192). Secondary composite outcome was significantly less frequent with MUSKARDIA than with placebo (15.3% [52/340] vs . 22.6% [85/376], P  = 0.017). Risk of MACEs (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31-1.57) was comparable between two groups. In patients with uncontrolled DM (≥4 measurements of FBG ≥7 mmol/L in five times of follow-up), the risk of secondary outcome was significantly lower with MUSKARDIA (5/83, 6.0%) than with placebo (15/91, 16.5%) (HR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.13-0.95). CONCLUSION: As an add-on to standard therapy, MUSKARDIA shows a trend of reduced MACEs in patients with stable CAD and DM. Furthermore, MUSKARDIA may reduce the frequency of all-cause death, hospitalization, and coronary angioplasty in this population, especially in those with uncontrolled DM. TRIAL REGISTRATION ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR-TRC-12003513.
Humans ; Coronary Artery Disease/complications* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Myocardial Infarction/complications* ; Stroke/epidemiology*

Objective:To explore the current situation of nursing human caring in hospital wards and analyze its influencing factors, so as to facilitate the development of nursing human caring practice.Methods:From July to November 2022, a total of 107 hospitals were surveyed through stratified convenience sampling method, and 4 072 ward nursing managers were recruited to finish the general information questionnaire and the ward nursing human caring status questionnaire. The general information included the region, class and type of the hospital, etc. The ward nursing human caring status questionnaire included 38 items in 5 dimensions of nursing human caring system and process, humanistic quality and training of nursing staff, humanistic environment and facilities, human caring procedures and measures, and human caring quality evaluation and improvement, with a full score of 190 points. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general data, independent samples t-test, ANOVA and correlation analysis were used to analyze the factors influencing the current status of nursing human caring in the ward, while multiple linear regression analysis was used to conduct a multivariate analysis. Results:The score of nursing human caring in hospital wards was 156.91±27.78. Whether the hospital had carried out nursing human caring pilot(demonstration) wards, whether the ward had previously been a hospital nursing human caring pilot(demonstration) nursing unit, the type of ward, and whether nursing managers had participated in human caring training were the influencing factors of the implication of nursing humanistic caring in wards( P<0.05). Conclusions:The practice of nursing human caring in hospital wards is at a good level, but needs to be further strengthened. Nursing managers should take systematically strategies to promote the development of nursing human caring practice.

Objective To investigate the effects of Osteoking on hyperglycemia and regulating gut microbiota in db/db mice.Methods Wildtype mice were used as the control group,and db/db mice were randomly divided into model and Osteoking groups.After intragastric administration for 12 weeks,fasting blood glucose and serum glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin levels were measured,changes in intestinal microflora were determined,and functional pathways related to intestinal microflora in mice were predicted by 16S rDNA sequencing.Results Compared with the model group,Osteoking decreased fasting blood glucose(P<0.01),serum glycosylated hemoglobin(P<0.01),and the insulin resistance index(P<0.01),and increased insulin content(P<0.01)in db/db mice.Osteoking increased the abundance of beneficial intestinal microflora and decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria.Moreover,the abundance of Marvinbryantia was increased.Osteoking alleviated the decrease in metabolism of D-arginine and D-ornithine,sphingolipid,and galactose metabolism(P<0.05)and inhibited lysine degradation,the sulfur relay system,and propanoate metabolism(P<0.05).Conclusions Osteoking has hypoglycemic properties and improves the intestinal microflora imbalance in db/db mice.

Objective:To investigate the effects of sustained low-efficiency hemodialysis combined with hemoperfusion on routine blood indicators and inflammatory factors in patients with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.Methods:Eighty-six patients with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury who received treatment in Yantai Laiyang Central Hospital from April 2018 to April 2021 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 43 cases in each group. All patients received conventional supportive treatment. The control group received continuous renal replacement therapy and the observation group received sustained low-efficiency dialysis combined with hemoperfusion. Before and after treatment, routine blood indicators [hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, albumin (Alb)], inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), procalcitonin PCT)], renal function indicators [serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN)], The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, length of hospital stay, and 28-day mortality rate were compared between the two groups.Results:Before treatment, there were no significant differences in Hb, WBC count, PLT count, Alb, IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, PCT, Scr, BUN, and APACHE II score between the two groups ( t = 0.04, 0.95, 0.23, 0.67, 1.54, 0.75, 0.98, 0.23, 1.04, 0.44, 0.07, all P > 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of Hb and Alb in each group were significantly increased compared with those before treatment. After treatment, serum levels of Hb and Alb in the observation group were (105.29 ± 15.80) g/L, (39.25 ± 7.87) g/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than (98.55 ± 12.93) g/L and (33.38 ± 7.29) g/L in the control group ( t = 2.16, 3.58, both P < 0.05). After treatment, WBC count, PLT count, IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, PCT, Scr, and BUN levels, and APACHE II score in each group were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment. After treatment, WBC count, PLT count, IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, PCT, Scr, and BUN levels, and APACHE II score in the observation group were (10.28 ± 1.87) × 10 9/L, (129.32 ± 14.79) × 10 9/L, (59.00 ± 12.77) μg/L, (22.41 ± 5.01) mg/L, (28.41 ± 4.77) μg/L, (18.41 ± 2.78) μg/L, (162.01 ± 21.04) μmol/L, (7.38 ± 1.17) mmol/L, (11.28 ± 3.60) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than (12.32 ± 2.27) × 10 9/L, (137.39 ± 18.30) × 10 9/L, (79.35 ± 14.36) μg/L, (29.31 ± 6.37) mg/L, (34.33 ± 5.38) μg/L, (22.32 ± 3.35) μg/L, (184.06 ± 24.03) μmol/L, (9.87 ± 1.66) mmol/L, (14.65 ± 3.38) points in the control group ( t = 4.54, 2.24, 6.94, 5.58, 5.39, 5.89, 4.52, 8.03, 4.47, all P < 0.05). The length of intensive care unit stay in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group [(11.63 ± 2.18) days vs. (14.07 ± 2.71) days, t = 4.60, P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality rate between the two groups ( χ2 = 1.36, P > 0.05). Conclusion:Sustained low-efficiency dialysis combined with hemoperfusion is effective on sepsis-induced acute kidney injury. The combined therapy can improve routine blood indicators, inhibit inflammatory reactions, promote renal function recovery, and decrease the mortality rate to a certain degree.

Objective:To investigate the relations between enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) and cognitive impairment in patients with acute mild ischemic stroke.Methods:A total of 234 patients with acute mild ischemic stroke admitted to our hospital from October 2019 to June 2021 were chosen in our study. According to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores 7 d after admission, these patients were divided into normal cognitive function group (MoCA scores≥26) and cognitive impairment group (MoCA scores<26). The clinical data and imaging data of patients from the 2 groups were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors for post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlations of severity degrees of EPVS of basal ganglia with MoCA total scores and each cognitive domain scores in patients from cognitive impairment group.Results:Among the 234 patients, 73 (31.2%) had normal cognitive function and 161 (68.8%) had cognitive impairment. As compared with normal cognitive function group, patients from cognitive impairment group had significantly older age, significantly less years of education, statistically higher fasting blood glucose level, significantly higher proportion of patients with moderate and severe basal ganglia EPVS, and significantly higher proportion of patients with white matter lesion (WML) grading 2 and 3 ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, years of education, basal ganglia EPVS and WML grading were independent influencing factors for PSCI ( OR=1.049, 95%CI: 1.007-1.093, P=0.021; OR=0.910, 95%CI: 0.832-0.995, P=0.039; OR=0.760, 95%CI: 1.176-2.637, P=0.006; OR=2.270, 95%CI: 1.219-4.228, P=0.010). Correlation analysis showed that the severity degrees of basal ganglia EPVS were negatively correlated with MoCA scores, and scores of visual space and executive ability scale, attention scale, language scale and delayed recall scale ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Acute mild ischemic stroke patients with older age, less years of education, severer basal ganglia EPVS and higher WML grading trends to have cognitive impairment; basal ganglia EPVS mainly affects the cognitive domains of visual space and executive ability, attention, language, and delayed recall.

Objective:To evaluate the role of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis in hyperoxia-induced injury to alveolar epithelial cells typeⅡ(AECⅡ) in rats.Methods:Rat AECⅡcell lines (RLE-6TN) were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n=18 each) using a random number table method: nomoxia group (group C), hyperoxia group (group H), and hyperoxia plus ruthenium red group (group HR). The cell lines were cultured in a conventional incubator for 4 h in group C. The cell lines were incubated in an incubator with 90% O 2 for 4 h in group H. In group HR, ruthenium red 2 μmol/L was added first, and then the cell lines were incubated in an incubator with 90% O 2 for 4 h. After the treatment, the Ca 2+ concentrations in mitochondria were measured using the mitochondrial Ca 2+ specific fluorescent probe Rhod-2-AM, the ROS level was measured using the fluorescent probe DCFH-DA, and the cell morphology and mitochondrial ultrastructure were observed. Results:Compared with group C, the Ca 2+ concentrations in mitochondria and ROS level were significantly increased in H and HR groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group H, the Ca 2+ concentrations in mitochondria and ROS level were significantly decreased in group HR ( P<0.05). Compared group C, the cell volume was reduced, the morphology was shrunken round, the cell arrangement was loose, the mitochondrial double-layer membrane structure was broken, and the mitochondrial cristal fragments were observed in group H. Compared with group H, the cell morphology was significantly improved, and the slight damage to mitochondrial double-layer membrane structure was found, and the structure of mitochondrial cristae was normal in group HR. Conclusion:Mitochondrial calcium homeostasis is involved in the pathophysiological process of hyperoxia-induced injury to AECⅡ in rats.