Environmental pollution is a significant public health challenge worldwide, and investigating the causal relationship between environmental exposure and population health outcomes is a key objective of environmental epidemiology research. In recent years, the complexity of environmental exposures has increasingly come to the forefront, making it challenging for observational studies that dominate environmental epidemiology to accurately estimate causal effects. Causal inference methods are particularly advantageous in controlling for confounding factors, thus holding great potential in environmental epidemiology research. Researchers can use appropriate causal inference methods to simulate the process of randomization, providing strong support for revealing the causal relationship between environmental exposure and health outcomes. However, there is a lack of reviews on the application of causal inference methods in environmental epidemiology studies in China. Therefore, this study introduced the basic principles of common causal inference statistical methods in environmental epidemiology, summarized the applicable conditions, advantages and disadvantages of various methods, and provided R software implementation codes for these methods, aiming to offer guidance for optimizing research design and practicing causal inference statistical methods.

Objective To evaluate the short-term effects of comprehensive health management interventions for stroke high-risk population screening on the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke, and to provide reference and basis for improving and exploring health management and prevention strategies for stroke high-risk population. Methods From 2018 to 2022, 13 community health service centers in Jiading District, Shanghai were selected in the present study. Based on information push platform, stroke risk assessment and health intervention follow-up were conducted for community residents through convenience sampling. The residents were divided into a full course intervention group (intervention group) and a routine intervention group (control group) according to different health intervention measures and forms. The incidence of ischemic stroke in the two groups of survey subjects was tracked within 36 months. Results A total of 52144 subjects were included in the study. The total number of patients in the full course intervention group was 14227, with an incidence density of 577.32/100 000 (556.49/100 000-598.12/100 000), which was lower than that of the conventional intervention group (37 917), with an incidence density of 1 485.47/100 000 (1 464.99/100 000-1 505.94/100 000) (χ²=2490.212, P<0.001). The relative risk of the full course intervention group was 0.39, and the relative risk of stroke risk factors in the full course intervention group from low to high was 0.33, 0.43, 0.45, and 0.49, respectively. The incidence density of males in the full course intervention group was 660.76 (627.46/100 000 - 694.05/100 000), with a relative risk of 0.43, and the incidence density of female patients was 509.71/100 000 (483.37/100 000 - 536.05/100 000), with a relative risk of 0.35. The overall incidence density of the population under 62 years old gourp, 62-75 years old group and over 75 years old group was 197.45/100 000 (173.09/100 000 -221.80/100 000), 608.36/100 000 (580.19/100 000-636.54/100 000), and 1 025.06/100 000 (958.51/100 000-1 091.61/100 000), with relative risks of 0.51, 0.44, and 0.38, respectively. Conclusion Comprehensive health management measures can effectively reduce the short-term risk of ischemic stroke, and should be further promoted and improved to enhance the effectiveness of stroke prevention and control.

AIM: To investigate the influence of relevant inflammatory markers in peripheral blood on the progression of neovascular glaucoma(NVG)secondary to diabetic retinopathy(DR)patients.METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of NVG: those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)alone(PDR group, n=148)and those with NVG secondary to PDR(NVG secondary to PDR group, n=142). Peripheral blood inflammatory markers were evaluated, including white blood cell-related indices, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index(SII). The distinctions in peripheral blood inflammatory markers between the two groups of patients and their relationships with NVG secondary to PDR were analyzed.RESULTS:No statistically significant differences were observed in basic characteristics between the two groups, confirming their comparability. However, significant differences were found in eosinophil percentage and MLR between the PDR group and the NVG secondary to PDR group(all P<0.05), with both values being significantly higher in the NVG secondary to PDR group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the eosinophil percentage and the MLR were factors influencing the development of patients with NVG secondary to PDR.CONCLUSION: Eosinophil percentage and MLR may be associated with the progression of PDR to NVG, and could serve as potential predictive markers for NVG development in PDR patients.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), a treasure of the Chinese nation, contains abundant chemical components and demonstrates unique pharmacological activities, showing important values in clinical applications. With profound connotations and broad application prospects, TCM urgently needs us to further explore and conduct systematic research. Puerarin is a small-molecule natural isoflavonoid carbon glycoside extracted from plants of Pueraria. It is also the main active ingredient of Puerariae Lobata Radix, a Chinese herbal medicine with both medicinal and edible values. Puerarin has a variety of pharmacological effects such as blood pressure-lowering, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-ischemia-reperfusion injury, antithrombotic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, liver-protecting, nerve cell-protecting, and intestinal microbiota-regulating effects. It is also an active ingredient that has been widely studied. This article comprehensively reviews the research progress in the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of puerarin over the years, aiming to provide references and theoretical support for the in-depth research and development as well as clinical application of puerarin.
Isoflavones/chemistry* ; Humans ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Pueraria/chemistry*

Liver being substantial Yin and functional Yang maintain normal function of Qi， blood and meridians. In clinical practice， it is often found that pan-vascular lesions with atherosclerosis as the predominant pathological change often co-occur with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease（MAFLD）. MAFLD leads to increased risk and worse prognosis for many pan-vascular diseases， including cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation of energy homeostasis disrupts the hepatic homeostasis of body use， and representative drugs to improve metabolism， such as metformin， sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors， and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists， not only have a clear cardiovascular benefit， potential improvement of MAFLD has also been demonstrated. The liver stores blood and the heart pumps blood， and liver diseases affect the heart， that's why the unsmoothness of vessels appears. So the treatment should from the standpoint of liver， restoring liver function， soothing the liver and nourishing heart， activating blood and dredging meridian. It is of great significance to explore in depth the pathogenesis and treatment of pan-vascular lesions caused by MAFLD， and to restore the energy homeostasis by adjusting the balance of liver Yin and Yang.

Liver being substantial Yin and functional Yang maintain normal function of Qi， blood and meridians. In clinical practice， it is often found that pan-vascular lesions with atherosclerosis as the predominant pathological change often co-occur with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease（MAFLD）. MAFLD leads to increased risk and worse prognosis for many pan-vascular diseases， including cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation of energy homeostasis disrupts the hepatic homeostasis of body use， and representative drugs to improve metabolism， such as metformin， sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors， and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists， not only have a clear cardiovascular benefit， potential improvement of MAFLD has also been demonstrated. The liver stores blood and the heart pumps blood， and liver diseases affect the heart， that's why the unsmoothness of vessels appears. So the treatment should from the standpoint of liver， restoring liver function， soothing the liver and nourishing heart， activating blood and dredging meridian. It is of great significance to explore in depth the pathogenesis and treatment of pan-vascular lesions caused by MAFLD， and to restore the energy homeostasis by adjusting the balance of liver Yin and Yang.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluated clinical efficacy of Kirschner's needle and elastic intramedullary nail fixation in treating proximal humeral fractures in children by Meta-analysis. METHODS: Literature on the treatment of proximal humeral fractures in children with Kirschler needles and elastic intramedullary nails published on Wanfang, VIP, CNKI and China biology medicine (CBM), PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched from the establishment of databases to October, 2023. Literature extraction, management and data entry were performed by Endnote X9 and Excel 2019, and Meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.3 software. The operation time, hospital stay, fracture healing time, shoulder joint extension range of motion, disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand(DASH) questionnaire score, Neer score or Constant-Murley score and complications were compared between two groups. RESULTS: A total of 7 literatures were included, 1 was prospective study, 6 were retrospective cohort study. There were 521 children, 264 children in Kirschner wire group and 257 children in elastic intramedullary nail fixation group. The results of Meta analysis showed operation time[WMD=-12.61, 95%CI(-24.89, -0.33), P=0.04], fracture healing time[WMD=-0.26, 95%CI(-0.49, -0.02), P=0.03], total complication rate [OR=6.83, 95%CI(3.33, 14.01), P<0.001], nail tract infection rate[OR=6.77, 95%CI(1.72, 26.69), P=0.006] and displacement fracture rate[OR=3.57, 95%CI(1.35, 9.44), P=0.01] between two groups had statistically differences(P>0.05), while there were no statistically significant difference in comparison of hospital stay, shoulder joint extension range of motion, DASH, Neer score, Constant-Murley score, and incidence of skin irritation between two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Kirschner's needle internal fixation has a short operation time and simple operation, but it has a higher incidence of complications compared with elastic nail internal fixation technique. In terms of efficacy and safety, elastic intramedullary nail fixation is one of the options for the treatment of proximal humeral fractures in children.
Humans ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/instrumentation* ; Child ; Shoulder Fractures/physiopathology* ; Bone Nails ; Bone Wires ; Male ; Needles ; Female

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the application value of thromboelastography (TEG) in assessing coagulation function in children with severe hemophilia A (HA) after emicizumab (EMI) therapy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and TEG testing results of 17 children with severe HA before and after EMI treatment at Shenzhen Children's Hospital from January 2023 to July 2024. Correlation analysis was conducted between coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) equivalent activity and reaction time (R value) measured by TEG. RESULTS: After EMI treatment, the mean bleeding rate for children with severe HA was 1.6 events per year, with 15 children (88%) without spontaneous bleeding or joint bleeding. The children with severe HA showed a significant reduction in APTT after EMI treatment (P<0.05), with a significantly shorter APTT than the normal control group (P<0.05). There was no correlation between APTT and FVIII equivalent activity after treatment (P>0.05). After EMI treatment, TEG parameters, including R value, kinetic time, alpha angle (α), maximum amplitude, clot strength, and coagulation index, shifted from a hypocoagulable state before treatment to a nearly normal state after treatment (P<0.05). The R value demonstrated a strong negative correlation with FVIII equivalent activity (r=-0.758, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The bleeding condition of children with severe HA can be effectively controlled after EMI treatment. Routine APTT testing cannot reflect true coagulation function, whereas TEG testing is clinically valuable in assessing the coagulation function of children with severe HA undergoing EMI treatment.
Humans ; Thrombelastography ; Hemophilia A/physiopathology* ; Male ; Child ; Antibodies, Bispecific/therapeutic use* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use* ; Blood Coagulation/drug effects* ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Adolescent ; Infant

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in promoting platelet engraftment after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children, compared with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 53 pediatric patients who underwent allo-HSCT at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from April 2023 to August 2024. Based on medications used during the periengraftment period, patients were divided into two groups: the avatrombopag group (n=15) and the rhTPO group (n=38). RESULTS: At days 14, 30, and 60 post-transplant, platelet engraftment was achieved in 20% (3/15), 60% (9/15), and 93% (14/15) of patients in the avatrombopag group, and in 39% (15/38), 82% (31/38), and 97% (37/38) in the rhTPO group, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in platelet engraftment rates at each time point, cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment, overall survival, and relapse-free survival (all P>0.05). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that acute graft-versus-host disease was an independent risk factor for delayed platelet engraftment (P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS In children undergoing allo-HSCT, avatrombopag effectively promotes platelet engraftment, with efficacy and safety comparable to rhTPO, and represents a viable therapeutic option.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Adolescent ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Blood Platelets/drug effects* ; Thiazoles/therapeutic use* ; Thrombopoietin/therapeutic use* ; Thiophenes

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) for short-term efficacy and prognosis in newly treated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). METHODS: The general data, laboratory indicators, disease stage and other clinical data of 91 newly treated PTCL patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2015 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the patients were stratified into groups based on these cutoffs to compare clinical features and short-term efficacy between the different groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors affecting overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were 45.30 and 1.74×10⁹/L, respectively. Patients in different PNI groups showed statistically significant differences in age, Ann Arbor stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, international prognostic index (IPI), prognostic index for PTCL-not otherwise specified (PIT), pathological subtypes, and complete response (CR) rate (P < 0.05). PTCL patients in different SIRI groups exhibited significant differences in Ann Arbor stage, LDH level, IPI score, PIT score, and CR rate (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥60 years old (OR =2.750), Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ (OR =5.200), IPI score ≥2 (OR =7.650), low PNI (OR =3.296), and high SIRI (OR =3.130) were independent risk factors affecting treatment efficacy in PTCL patients (P < 0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that low PNI and elevated β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) levels were independent risk factors affecting OS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION PNI and SIRI have certain application value in evaluating short-term efficacy and prognosis in patients with PTCL. Compared with SIRI, PNI demonstrates greater predictive value for patient prognosis.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Nutrition Assessment ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Inflammation