OBJECTIVE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health concern in northwest China; however, the impact of particulate matter (PM) exposure during sand-dust storms (SDS) remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between PM exposure on SDS days and COPD hospitalization risk in arid regions. METHODS: Data on daily COPD hospitalizations were collected from 323 hospitals from 2018 to 2022, along with the corresponding air pollutant and meteorological data for each city in Gansu Province. Employing a space-time-stratified case-crossover design and conditional Poisson regression, we analyzed 265,379 COPD hospitalizations. RESULTS: PM exposure during SDS days significantly increased COPD hospitalization risk [relative risk ( RR) for PM _2.5, lag 3:1.028, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.021-1.034], particularly among men and the elderly, and during the cold season. The burden of PM exposure on COPD hospitalization was substantially high in Northwest China, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed a positive correlation between PM exposure during SDS episodes and elevated hospitalization rates for COPD in arid and semi-arid zones in China. This highlights the urgency of developing region-specific public health strategies to address adverse respiratory outcomes associated with SDS-related air quality deterioration.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/chemically induced* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Adult ; Sand ; Air Pollution

BACKGROUNDRecurrence or metastasis of myxomas is not rare and can lead to malignancy. We aimed to analyze the risk factors for postoperative cardiac myxoma recurrence and to summarize its clinical characteristics, treatments and classification.

METHODSThe clinical data of 5 patients with recurrent cardiac myxoma were retrospectively analyzed and our clinical experience was summarized. Moreover, the relevant literatures were reviewed.

RESULTSAll the five cases of primary myxomas were derived from atypical positions. One patient had early distant metastasis, one had family history, and two suffered malignant recurrence. The recurrence interval was (2.30 ± 2.16) years and the recurrent tumors were all found in different chambers from those of the corresponding primary tumors. Re-operation was performed after recurrence. One patient died of heart failure after malignant recurrence, and the other 4 cases had satisfactory therapeutic outcomes after re-operations. Our experience advocated a clinical classification of "typical" and "atypical" cardiac myxoma, the typical myxomas referred to the tumors locating at the left atria, with single pedicle, rooted at or around the fossa ovalis, involving no genetic causes, and the atypical myxomas included the familial tumors, tumors stemming from multiple chambers, rooted in abnormal positions of the left atrium, with evident genetic mutation, or with malignant tendency.

CONCLUSIONSPostoperative follow-up is of vital importance for patients with myxomas characterized by multi-chamber distribution, early distant metastasis, atypical origin, and family history. Once recurs, re-operation is necessary and should be performed immediately.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors