Background Air pollution exposure has a significant impact on maternal and child health. However, the research on the association between ambient ozone (O₃) exposure during pregnancy and the risk of premature birth in newborns is limited, and the conclusions are inconsistent. Objective To investigate the association of ambient O₃ exposure during pregnancy with the risk of preterm birth in Guangdong Province. Methods Data of pregnant women in Guangzhou from 2013 to 2019 and Foshan from 2018 to 2023 were collected, and O₃ concentrations during different trimesters were assessed according to maternal residential addresses. Bilinear interpolation was used to evaluate the concentrations of air pollution. A cohort study design was adopted in our study. Restricted cubic spline curves were used to evaluate the exposure-response relationship between O₃ exposure and preterm birth risk and explore potential exposure threshold of O₃. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of O₃ exposure with preterm birth. Results A total of 702 924 pregnant women were included in this study, of whom 43 051 (6.12%) were preterm. The average O₃ exposure concentrations of pregnant women during the first, second, third, and whole trimesters were 95.51, 97.51, 100.60, and 97.87 μg·m⁻³, respectively. We observed J-shaped associations between O₃ exposure and preterm birth risk during the second, third, and whole trimesters of pregnancy using restricted cubic spline curves. This study found that there were threshold concentrations between O₃ exposure and preterm birth risk during different gestational periods, and the threshold concentrations in the first, second, third, and whole trimesters were 112.32, 99.83, 111.74, and 112.46 μg·m⁻³, respectively. During the second, third, and whole trimesters of pregnancy, after adjusting for maternal age, baby sex, pre-pregnancy body mass index, mode of delivery, baby birth weight, gestational diabetes, and gestational hypertension, the odds ratios (OR) of preterm birth were 1.02 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.04), 1.02 (95%CI: 1.00, 1.03), and 1.17 (95%CI: 1.13, 1.21) for each 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in O₃ concentration above the O₃ threshold. No significant association was found between O₃ exposure and the risk of preterm birth during the first trimester. Conclusion There is a nonlinear association between the risk of preterm birth and O₃ exposure during pregnancy, and higher concentrations of O₃ exposure during pregnancy are associated with the risk of preterm birth. Above the O₃ threshold concentration during pregnancy, especially during the second, third, and whole trimesters, the risk of preterm birth elevates with the increase of O₃ exposure concentrations.

Objective To investigate the current status and analyze the factors affecting the osteoporosis knowledge among orthopedic nurses,and to provide references for improving osteoporosis knowledge among orthopedic nurses.Methods We investigated 5 681 orthopedic nurses from 621 hospitals in 31 provinces(autonomous regions/municipalities)using a convenient sampling method from September 2023 to November 2023.We collected information using a general information questionnaire and osteoporosis knowledge assessment tool.We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors.Results A total of 5 204 orthopedic nurses were included.The total mean score of osteoporosis knowledge assessment tool of nurses was[13.00(12.00,14.00)],and 23.48％nurses had a low level of osteoporosis awareness.Logistic regression analysis showed that the age,title and position of the nurses,location of the hospital,the level of the hospital,whether to conduct the fracture liaison service/to set up the refracture prevention team,whether to use calcium tablets/vitamin D,whether to carry out anti-osteoporosis drug therapy,and whether to conduct topical lectures on osteoporosis or secondary fractures,were the factors that affected orthopedic nurses'knowledge of osteoporosis(P＜0.05).Conclusion The osteoporosis knowledge of orthopedic nurses needs to be improved.Nursing managers should carry out personalized interventions from both hospital and nurse levels to improve the osteoporosis knowledge of orthopedic nurses in our country.

Objective A cross-sectional survey on the postoperative home care status and barriers was conducted among elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures nationwide,in order to provide a basis for promoting the improvement of standardized home care for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures.Methods From October to November 2023,a survey on the current situation and barriers of home environment protection was conducted among elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures in the orthopedic wards of 594 hospitals across 31 provinces(autonomous regions/municipalities directly under the central government)using a convenience sampling method.Results A total of 14,349 questionnaires were distributed,and 12,496 valid questionnaires were collected,resulting in an effective response rate of 87.09％.Among the patients,5,502 cases(44.03％)had implemented home-based prevention and treatment of osteoporosis before the fracture.2 095(16.77％)of the patients experienced a subsequent fracture,of which 65.11％of the patients who experienced a subsequent fracture received medication intervention after the initial fracture,while 19.86％of the patients who experienced a subsequent fracture did not comply with the treatment for osteoporosis after the initial fracture.Additionally,77.66％(n=1 627/2 095)of the patients received community medical services after the initial fracture.Barriers to care factors in the home environment after fracture from the patient's perspective presented the complexity of the social-ecological system model in 6 dimensions at 2 levels:micro(basic personal situation,physiological factors,psychological factors,and behavioural factors),and meso(social support factors,and healthcare worker factors).Conclusion In the vast majority of elderly patients in China,before osteoporotic fracture,home-based measures to prevent osteoporosis have not been adequately implemented;after the initial osteoporotic fracture,the pathway of re-fracture prevention and management in the patient's home environment is not yet complete and its popularity needs to be improved;the barriers to home care faced by elderly patients with osteoporotic fracture are complex.It is recommended to promote effective linkages among hospitals,community health centres and families to strengthen the closed-loop management of re-fracture prevention and management.

Objective To investigate the current status and analyze the factors affecting the osteoporosis knowledge among orthopedic nurses,and to provide references for improving osteoporosis knowledge among orthopedic nurses.Methods We investigated 5 681 orthopedic nurses from 621 hospitals in 31 provinces(autonomous regions/municipalities)using a convenient sampling method from September 2023 to November 2023.We collected information using a general information questionnaire and osteoporosis knowledge assessment tool.We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors.Results A total of 5 204 orthopedic nurses were included.The total mean score of osteoporosis knowledge assessment tool of nurses was[13.00(12.00,14.00)],and 23.48％nurses had a low level of osteoporosis awareness.Logistic regression analysis showed that the age,title and position of the nurses,location of the hospital,the level of the hospital,whether to conduct the fracture liaison service/to set up the refracture prevention team,whether to use calcium tablets/vitamin D,whether to carry out anti-osteoporosis drug therapy,and whether to conduct topical lectures on osteoporosis or secondary fractures,were the factors that affected orthopedic nurses'knowledge of osteoporosis(P＜0.05).Conclusion The osteoporosis knowledge of orthopedic nurses needs to be improved.Nursing managers should carry out personalized interventions from both hospital and nurse levels to improve the osteoporosis knowledge of orthopedic nurses in our country.

Objective A cross-sectional survey on the postoperative home care status and barriers was conducted among elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures nationwide,in order to provide a basis for promoting the improvement of standardized home care for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures.Methods From October to November 2023,a survey on the current situation and barriers of home environment protection was conducted among elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures in the orthopedic wards of 594 hospitals across 31 provinces(autonomous regions/municipalities directly under the central government)using a convenience sampling method.Results A total of 14,349 questionnaires were distributed,and 12,496 valid questionnaires were collected,resulting in an effective response rate of 87.09％.Among the patients,5,502 cases(44.03％)had implemented home-based prevention and treatment of osteoporosis before the fracture.2 095(16.77％)of the patients experienced a subsequent fracture,of which 65.11％of the patients who experienced a subsequent fracture received medication intervention after the initial fracture,while 19.86％of the patients who experienced a subsequent fracture did not comply with the treatment for osteoporosis after the initial fracture.Additionally,77.66％(n=1 627/2 095)of the patients received community medical services after the initial fracture.Barriers to care factors in the home environment after fracture from the patient's perspective presented the complexity of the social-ecological system model in 6 dimensions at 2 levels:micro(basic personal situation,physiological factors,psychological factors,and behavioural factors),and meso(social support factors,and healthcare worker factors).Conclusion In the vast majority of elderly patients in China,before osteoporotic fracture,home-based measures to prevent osteoporosis have not been adequately implemented;after the initial osteoporotic fracture,the pathway of re-fracture prevention and management in the patient's home environment is not yet complete and its popularity needs to be improved;the barriers to home care faced by elderly patients with osteoporotic fracture are complex.It is recommended to promote effective linkages among hospitals,community health centres and families to strengthen the closed-loop management of re-fracture prevention and management.

Objective:To apply digital analysis to quantify hyperechogenicity of substantia nigra, and explore its clinical value for diagnosis of Parkinson′s disease (PD).Methods:The cross-sectional study included 652 PD patients (PD group) and 99 healthy controls (healthy control group) from November 2017 to October 2020 in Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. All subjects underwent transcranial sonography. The diagnostic accuracy of substantia nigra hyperechogenicity using digital analysis was compared with that in a manual measurement in PD. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to explore its diagnosis value in PD.Results:There were 482 subjects including 400 in the PD group and 82 in the healthy control group, whose quantified results of substantia nigra hyperechogenicity could be used for analysis. The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of the quantified larger substantia nigra hyperechoic region detection for diagnosing PD was 0.858 (95% CI 0.805-0.910), the sensitivity was 87.8%, and the specificity was 73.2%, consistent with that of doctors (area under the curve: 0.884). Further more, among these PD patients, there was no correlation between larger substantia nigra hyperechogenicity and age, age of onset, course of disease, non-motor symptoms, and motor symptoms (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Digital analysis was used to quantify the changes in substantia nigra hyperechogenicity in this seudy. The results showed that diagnostic accuracy for PD based on digital analysis was consistent with that of experienced clinicians.

[Abstract] [Objective] To assess the effect of a centrifugal haemocyte separator on platelet counts in patients with neurological immune-mediated disorders during/after therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). [Methods] This study included 189 patients (108 females and 81 males) who were treated in the department of neurology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, from March 2021 to March 2022. A total of 820 TPE treatments were carried out. Each patient received 2 to 5 TPEs, with each TPE amounting to the patient's plasma volume. The peripheral blood cell counts of the patients were evaluated before TPE and after 2 to 5 TPEs. [Results] The duration of a single TPE in this study was 94(84,107) minutes, and the actual volume of a single TPE replacement was 2 456(2 142, 2 785) mL. The number of patients who underwent TPE for 2, 3, 4, and 5 sessions was 17, 28, 18, and 126, respectively. The platelet (PLT) counts of the patients before and after the TPE were 195×10⁹/L (range:150 to 245) and 220×10⁹/L (range:170 to 270), respectively (P<0.05). Consequently, the overall PLT counts exhibited a significant decrease from baseline following TPE, yet the PLT counts remained within the normal range after TPE. Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that platelet loss did not correlate with the duration of TPE (ρ=0.037), the age of the patient (ρ=0.015), or the volume of the single replacement fluid (ρ=0.034), P>0.05, weakly correlated with the number of TPE sessions (ρ=0.017), and moderately correlated with the PLT counts before TPEs (ρ=0.446). [Conclusion] The TPE procedure exhibited a measurable impact on the patients' platelet levels, but the platelet counts remained within the normal range, therefore did not interfere with the patients' subsequent treatment protocols. The decrease in platelet level was correlated with the baseline platelet level before treatment and the number of TPE sessions.

Objective:To explore the relationship between blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio and frailty in the elderly aged ≥65 years in 8 longevity areas in China.Methods:Participants were recruited from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study. Based on baseline information about blood urea nitrogen and risk for frailty obtained at follow-up of the participants, blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio was classified according to quintiles, Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze the association between blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio and frailty.Results:A total of 1 562 participants aged (81.0±17.0) years were included, in whom 814 (52.1%) were men, and 258 frailty events occurred during a mean follow-up of (3.73±1.43) years. Cox proportional hazards model showed that after adjusting for relevant confounders, compared with the participants in the lowest quintile group ( Q1), the risk for frailty decreased by 36%, 44%, and 40% in the participants in the third quintile group ( Q3), the fourth quintile group ( Q4) and the highest quintile group ( Q5) respectively [hazard ratio ( HR)=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.94; HR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.38-0.84; HR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.41-0.88]. The risk for frailty decreased by 20% for every unit standard deviation increase in blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio ( HR=0.80, 95% CI: 0.70-0.91). Moreover, blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio and the risk for frailty showed a nearly linear dose-response relationship. Conclusions:The increase in blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio was associated with higher risk for frailty. Maintaining high blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio is important for the prevention of frailty in the elderly.

Objective To examine the current state of care services for geriatric osteoporotic fractures in Chinese hospitals and to provide a basis for the improvement of these services and the formulation of related policies.Methods In September to November 2023,a stratified convenience sampling method was used to investigate the implementation of care services for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures in 621 hospitals across 31 provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities)in China.A self-designed questionnaire was utilized for this purpose.Results A total of 621 hospitals participated in the survey,with 432(69.57%)tertiary hospitals and 189(30.43%)secondary hospitals.Over 95%of hospitals provided health education on diet,medication,fall prevention,and early functional exercise for elderly fracture patients.Less than 80%of hospitals provide specialized training on osteoporosis treatment and secondary fracture prevention for medical staff.Only 263 hospitals(42.35%)routinely conduct bone density tests for patients over 50 years old with fractures,while 221 hospitals(35.59%)routinely conduct bone metabolic biochemical tests for such patients.Less than 50%of hospitals provide specialized services,such as geriatric osteoporotic fracture clinics,for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures.Additionally,39.77%of hospital departments have not developed postoperative care plans for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures.The lack of specialized care teams(91.63%),insufficient investment in care resources(88.08%),and the absence of policy support(77.45%)are identified as the primary factors impeding the provision of care services for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures in hospitals.Although some care services in tertiary hospitals are superior to those in secondary hospitals(P<0.05),they are still far from adequate.Conclusion The development of care services for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures in Chinese hospitals needs improvement.It is recommended to further standardize and enhance the content and methods of health education,intensify clinical assessments related to osteoporosis in elderly fracture patients,improve the professional care capabilities of medical staff,and at the same time,the state should introduce relevant policies to support and promote the construction and development of hospital care services for elderly osteoporotic fracture patients.

Quantity is the key factor to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medicines. It is very important to study and determine the traditional measuring units and their quantity values of Tibetan medicine. Based on the literature records of Tibetan medicine and combined with modern experimental verification and investigation research, this study determined the reference, name, and conversion rate of traditional measuring units of Tibetan medicine. Meanwhile, through large sample sampling and repeated quantification of refe-rence of basic units, its weight and volume were clarified. The modern SI volume and weight unit values corresponding to the traditional volume and weight units of Tibetan medicine were deduced, and the correctness, reliability, and practicability of these determination results were demonstrated. This study also put forward some specific suggestions and reference values for formulating the standards of measuring units of weight and volume of Tibetan medicine. It is of great significance in guiding the processing, production, and clinical treatment of Tibetan medicine, and promoting the standardization and standardized development of Tibetan medicine.
Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Reproducibility of Results