Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

Excessive sodium/salt intake is the leading dietary risk factor for the loss of healthy life in the Chinese population. The "Healthy China 2030" Action Plan set the goal of reducing salt intake by 20% by 2030. However, salt intake in China is still at a very high level in the world, with adults reaching 11 g/d, more than twice the recommended limit of 5 g/d. The current policies and action plans of China have targeted catering workers, children, adolescents, and home chefs in salt, oil, and sugar reduction actions. However, there are still obvious deficiencies in the coordinated promotion and implementation. This study, therefore, proposed a set of comprehensive strategies (named CHRPS that is composed of communication and education, salt reduction in home cooking, salt reduction in restaurants, reducing salt content in pre-packaged food, and surveillance and evaluation) and key implementation points for further deepening the salt reduction action in China. These strategies were developed based on the main sources of dietary sodium for Chinese residents, the status of "knowledge, attitude and practice" in salt reduction, evidence of effective intervention measures, existing policies and requirements, and the salt reduction strategies of the World Health Organization and experience from some other countries. As a scientific reference, the CHRPS strategies will help the government and relevant organizations quickly implement salt reduction work and facilitate the earlier realization of China's salt reduction goal.
Adult ; Child ; Adolescent ; Humans ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; Sodium, Dietary ; Diet ; Food ; China

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Simendan/therapeutic use* ; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Peptide Fragments ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis

Objective:To summarize the effect of one and a half ventricle repair in the treatment of Ebstein’s Anomaly.Methods:The data of 149 patients diagnosed with Ebstein’s Anomaly and received with surgical treatment in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Department of Beijing Anzhen Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2010 to December 2018 were continuously collected, and the survival rate, reoperation rate and tricuspid regurgitation were followed up in the medium-long term.Results:There were 68 males and 81 females, with a median age of 5.58 years. Patients were divided into Biventricular repair group and one and a half ventricle repair group. The operative age was significantly younger in the one and a half ventricle repair group (4.15 years vs. 6.71 years, P=0.019). There were also significant differences in patiens’ body length[(107.70±31.28)cm vs. (123.20±35.22)cm, P=0.014]and body weight[(19.69±12.22)kg vs. (29.65±20.41)kg, P=0.001], between the two groups, which may be related to the severity of the disease and the need for early surgical intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in preoperative cyanosis, hemoglobin level, cardiac function, arrhythmia, and common cardiac malformations such as atrial septal defect. Notably, the proportion of preoperatively complicated pulmonary stenosis (10.81% vs. 1.79%, P=0.016) and right ventricular dysplasia (16.22% vs. 3.57%, P=0.008) was significantly higher in the one and a half ventricle repair group. In intraoperative and postoperative indicators, as one and a half ventricle repair under the collateral circulation, extracorporeal circulation time was slightly longer [(125.51±37.35)min vs. (100.44±25.24)min, P<0.001], and other indicators such as aortic cross-clamp time, endotracheal intubation time, length of hospital stay, and mid-term follow-up results, including mid-term mortality, reoperation rate, cardiac function and valvular regurgitation, there was no significant difference between the two groups. However, the proportion of hospital mortality in half ventricular therapy group was slightly higher, which may be related to the poor right heart function and postoperative recovery difficulties. Conclusion:Good follow-up results have been achieved in the treatment of two surgical therapy. Patients with right ventricular dysplasia and pulmonary artery stenosis should be paid more attention to. Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular development should be evaluated before surgery to make preparations for one and a half ventricle repair.

Objective To discuss ⁷Be and a 77.2 keV full-energy peak with short half-life found in the water sample from the 3D water phantom of a proton therapy system. Methods We measured the water sample from the 3D water phantom of a proton therapy system according to Determination of Radionuclides in Water by Gamma Spectrometry (GB/T 16140—2018). Results The activity concentration of ⁷Be in the water sample was 1.30 × 10¹ Bq·L⁻¹ on December 24, 2018; 4.3 × 10¹ Bq·L⁻¹ on March 22, 2019; and 1.41 × 10¹ Bq·L⁻¹ at the time of sampling on December 19, 2018. On December 24, 2018, the net peak area of the 77.2 keV full-energy peak in the sample was 683 ± 45, and the measurement time was 26123.02 s; on March 22, 2019, the net peak area decreased to the background level of 194 ± 49, and the measurement time was 86400.00 s. Conclusion In the 3D water phantom of the proton therapy system, ⁷Be can be generated from the spallation reaction between high-energy neutrons and oxygen in water. In addition, we find a full-energy peak at 77.2 keV with short half-life. The activity concentration of ⁷Be in the water sample is lower than the exemption level, but the activity concentration at sampling may not be the maximum activity concentration in the process of quality control. The inductive radionuclide ⁷Be produced in the 3D water phantom should be identified and properly evaluated in the assessment of occupational radiation hazards of proton therapy system.

Objective:The study seeks to explore the factors influencing the psychological status and sleep quality of medical workers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in order to provide data sources and theoretical basis for the development of relevant psychological intervention programs.Methods:Employing the convenience sampling method, general information questionnaire (age, gender, marital status, educational background, job status, etc.), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire, epidemic stress index scale, and sleep quality questionnaire were distributed to medical staff between February 18 and April 3, 2020, using the PEM mental health care platform of by ZhongShengKaiXin for medical staff issued. Descriptive, single factor, and correlation analyses, as well as multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data.Results:Overall, 24, 845 questionnaires were collected from 23 provinces, of which 24, 687 were valid, with a recovery rate of 99.36%. The findings showed that the proportion of medical personnel with symptoms of anxiety and depression was 50.58% and 51.37%, respectively; 16.11% had poor or very poor anti-stress ability; and 71.78% reported poor or very poor sleep quality. There was a positive correlation between anxiety, depression, anti-stress ability, and sleep quality ( P<0.05). Anxiety was positively correlated with depression, stress tolerance, and sleep quality( r=0.787, 0.667, and 0.486, all P<0.001); depression was positively correlated with stress tolerance and sleep quality ( r=0.709 and 0.586, both P<0.001); and stress tolerance was positively correlated with sleep quality ( r=0.452, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis results showed that age, gender, marital status, educational background, professional title, job status, and participation influenced the anxiety levels of medical personnel in the backdrop of the pandemic ( P<0.001). Depression levels of medical staff were influenced by gender, educational background, job position, and participation ( P<0.001), while gender, marital status, educational background, job position, and participation influenced the stress tolerance levels ( P<0.001). The sleep quality of medical workers was influenced by age, gender, job position, participation in the fight against the pandemic, and professional title ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, medical staff reported poor mental health status and sleep quality, which can be attributed to diverse factors. The research findings can be useful for assisting medical staff to strengthen their self-cognition, while also providing certain psychological counseling data and theoretical basis for management departments.

Objective: The relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and glycemic indices, including plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload glucose (2h-PG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), remains inconclusive. We aimed to explore the associations between glycemic indices and SUA levels in the general Chinese population. Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional analysis using the first follow-up survey data from The China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort Study. A total of 105,922 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 40 years underwent the oral glucose tolerance test and uric acid assessment. The nonlinear relationships between glycemic indices and SUA levels were explored using generalized additive models. Results: A total of 30,941 men and 62,361 women were eligible for the current analysis. Generalized additive models verified the inverted U-shaped association between glycemic indices and SUA levels, but with different inflection points in men and women. The thresholds for FPG, 2h-PG, and HbA1c for men and women were 6.5/8.0 mmol/L, 11.0/14.0 mmol/L, and 6.1/6.5, respectively (SUA levels increased with increasing glycemic indices before the inflection points and then eventually decreased with further increases in the glycemic indices). Conclusion An inverted U-shaped association was observed between major glycemic indices and uric acid levels in both sexes, while the inflection points were reached earlier in men than in women.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Glucose/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus/blood* ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glycated Hemoglobin A/analysis* ; Glycemic Index ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid/blood*

Objective To explore the distribution of lactate and base excess in children with Tetralogy of Fallot in perio-perative period, its dynamic variation and its relationship with prognosis.Methods Perioperative arterial lactate level was dy-namically monitored in 1 552 children with tetralogy of Fallot.According to the prognosis, 1 505 subjects were assigned to sur-vive group, and 47 subjects to nonsurvive group.The lactate and base excess levels of all subjects were collected after induction (T1), after protamine administration(T2), and 24 h(T3) after surgery in the intensive care unit(ICU).Results The pa-tients who could not survive showed significant elevated lactate levels as compared to patients who survived after surgery [(7.91 ±5.76)mmol/L vs.(1.20 ±0.51)mmol/L, P＜0.05].However, in nonsurvivors, the BE value decreased signifi-cantly in the ICU period in comparison to survivors[(－1.91 ±5.09)mmol/L vs.(2.52 ±2.85)mmol/L, P＜0.05].Logis-tic regression analysis was performed, indicating the elevated lactate and depressed base excess levels measured 24 h after sur-gery were independent risk factors.Conclusion The dynamic monitoring of lactate and base excess levels in the perioperative period in patients with tetralogy of Fallot were sensitive indicators to assess severity , to guide treatments, and for the prognosis. In the perioperative period, when the lactate increased and(or) base excess levels decreased, the mortality rate increased as well.lactate and base excess levels measured 24 h after surgery in the ICU were independent risk factors that significantly in-creased the mortality rate.

AIM: To compare fungal culture and in vivo confocal microscopy ( IVCM ) in the diagnosis of non- primary fungal keratitis.?METHODS:The clinical data of 31 cases (31 eyes) with non- primary fungaI keratitis from September 2016 to February 2017 in our HospitaI were retrospectiveIy reviewed. The positive rate of the two methods was compared by chi-square test.?RESULTS: The positive rate by fungal culture was 58％(18/31 ) and IVCM was 19％ ( 6/31 ); the positive rate comparison difference was statistically significant between fungal culture and IVCM (x2=7. 56,P<0. 01). In the 13 eyes with positive culture results, 2 eyes were positive by IVCM;in the 25 positive IVCM eyes, 14 eyes were positive in culture.?CONCLUSION: The positive rate of fungal culture in non-primary fungal keratitis is higher than that of IVCM. Fungal culture is an essential auxiliary examination in the diagnosis of non - primary fungal keratitis. With the characteristics of fast, noninvasive and repeatable, IVCM also plays an important role in the diagnosis of non-primary fungal keratitis. The combination of the two methods can improve the positive rate of diagnosis.