OBJECTIVE: The results of limited studies on the relationship between environmental pollution and dementia have been contradictory. We analyzed the combined effects of PM _2.5 and smoking on the prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment in an elderly community-dwelling Chinese population. METHODS: We assessed 24,117 individuals along with the annual average PM _2.5 concentrations from 2012 to 2016. Dementia was confirmed in the baseline survey at a qualified clinical facility, and newly suspected dementia was assessed in 2017, after excluding cases of suspected dementia in 2015. National census data were used to weight the sample data to reflect the entire population in China, with multiple logistic regression performed to analyze the combined effects of PM _2.5 and smoking frequency on dementia and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Individuals exposed to the highest PM _2.5 concentration and smoked daily were at higher risk of dementia than those in the lowest PM _2.5 concentration group ( OR, 1.603; 95% CI [1.626-1.635], P < 0.0001) and in the nonsmoking group ( OR, 1.248; 95% CI [1.244-1.252]; P < 0.0001). Moderate PM _2.5 exposure and occasional smoking together increased the short-term risk of cognitive impairment. High-level PM _2.5 exposure and smoking were associated with an increased risk of dementia, so more efforts are needed to reduce this risk through environmental protection and antismoking campaigns. CONCLUSION High-level PM _2.5 exposure and smoking were associated with an increased risk of dementia. Lowering the ambient PM _2.5, and smoking cessation are recommended to promote health.
Humans ; Dementia/etiology* ; Male ; Aged ; Female ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Smoking/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged

Objective To establish an evaluation criterion for high-quality nursing services in comprehensive hospitals of Grade Three in Guangdong Province and provide references for promoting the evaluation of high quality nursing services and standardising high quality nursing services.Methods Based on literature review,brainstorming and references of relevant domestic systems,standards and policies,a pool of evaluation index items and a preliminary questionnaire were constructed.Delphi method was used for two rounds of expert consultations on evaluation indicators.Results The positive coefficients of the two rounds of expert consultations were of 80.00%and 91.67%,respectively,with the authority coefficients both at 0.93.The Kendall coordination coefficients for hospital part were 0.128 and 0.116 respectively,for ward part were 0.193 and 0.107 with statistical differences(both P＜0.001).The evaluation criteria for high-quality nursing services in general hospitals above the third level in Guangdong Province involved in nursing services of hospitals and wards.There were 8 primary indicators,22 secondary indicators and 65 tertiary indicators in the nursing services at hospital part,and 9 primary indicators,23 secondary indicators and 50 tertiary indicators in the nursing services at ward part.Conclusions The evaluation criteria for high-quality nursing services in comprehensive hospitals above the third level in Guangdong Province,established in this study,are scientifically valid and reliable.They allow improvement of management system for the high-quality nursing services as well as guide the healthy development of high-quality nursing services.

Objective To analyze the correlation between irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)as well as its subtypes and gallbladder stone.Methods Collected the clinical data of 556 patients who were treated in Department of Gastroenterology of the Sixth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2019 to March 2023.The patients were divided into IBS group(n=161)and non-IBS group(n=395).The subjects were investigated by questionnaire,physical examination and blood examination,and the data of gender,age,height,weight,blood pressure and blood biochemical indexes were obtained and compared between two groups.The relation between gallbladder stone and IBS were evaluated by logistic regression analysis.Results There were 90 cases of gallbladder stone in the total population,accounting for 16.2%,including 37 cases of gallbladder stone in IBS group(23.0%)and 53 cases in non-IBS group(13.4%).The prevalence rate of gallbladder stone in IBS group was significantly higher than that in non-IBS group(P<0.05).There were 6 cases of gallbladder muddy stones(3.7%)in IBS group and 3 cases(0.8%)in non-IBS group.And the prevalence rate of gallbladder muddy stones in IBS group was also significantly higher than that in non-IBS group(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that the age,BMI,total bile acids(TBA),total cholesterol(TC)and combined IBS were independently related to the occurrence of gallbladder stone(P<0.05).In the 161 IBS patients,there were 114 cases of diarrhea-predominant IBS(IBS-D group),including 26 cases(22.8%)of gallbladder stone in IBS-diarrhea(IBS-D,n=114)group and 47 cases of constipation-predominant IBS(IBS-C group),including 11 cases(23.4%)of gallbladder stone.And there were 53 cases(13.4%)of gallbladder stone in the non-IBS group(n=395).Further analysis showed that the prevalence rate of gallbladder stone in IBS-D group was significantly higher than that in non-IBS group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in gallbladder stone prevalence rate between IBS-C group and non-IBS group(P>0.05).Conclusions There is a correlation between IBS and gallbladder stones.In addition,among the two subtypes of IBS,IBS-D patients may have an increased risk of gallbladder stone compared with non-IBS patients.

BACKGROUND: The effects of acupuncture have varied in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and there are many factors that influence treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes, with conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors and their impact on the treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes. METHODS: Acupuncture RCTs were searched from 7 databases including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2019. Eligible studies must compare acupuncture to no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting lists, and report at least 1 patient-important outcome. A multi-level meta-regression was conducted using a 3-level robust mixed model and univariate analyses were performed for all independent variables, even those excluded from the multivariable model due to collinearities. We used thresholds of 0.2 and 0.4 for the difference of standardized mean differences (SMDs), categorising them as small (<0.2), moderate (0.2-0.4), or large (>0.4) effects. RESULTS: The pain construct analysis involved 211 effect estimates from 153 studies and 14 independent variables. High-frequency acupuncture treatment sessions produced larger effects compared to low-frequency sessions [large magnitude, the difference of adjusted SMDs 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.84; P=0.02]. The non-pain symptoms construct analysis comprised 323 effect estimates from 231 studies and 15 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture showed moderately larger effects when compared to non-penetrating acupuncture (0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). The function construct analysis included 495 effect estimates from 274 studies and 14 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture and the flexible acupuncture regimen showed moderately larger effects, compared to non-penetrating acupuncture and fixed regimen, respectively (0.40, 95% CI 0 to 0.80; P=0.05; 0.29, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS High-frequency acupuncture sessions appear to be a more effective approach to managing painful symptoms. Penetrating acupuncture demonstrated greater effect in relieving non-painful symptoms. Both penetrating acupuncture type and flexible acupuncture regimen were linked to significant treatment effects in function outcomes. Future studies should consider the factors that are significantly associated with the effects of acupuncture in patient-important outcomes.
Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Pain ; Pain Management ; China

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of double beam double tunnel enhanced reconstruction technique in the treatment of knee anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)training injuries.Methods Twenty-nine cases of ACL injury of knee joint from January 2021 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.All the cases were underwent ligament reconstruc-tion surgery.Cases were grouped by surgical technique:there were 14 patients in conventional reconstruction group,including 13 males and 1 female,aged from 22 to 31 years old with an average of(27.07±7.28)years old,autogenous hamstring tendon was used for ligament reconstruction.There were 15 patients in the enhanced reconstruction group,including 13 males and 2 females,aged from 25 to 34 years old with an average of(29.06±4.23)years old,double tunnel ligament reconstruction,the autogenous hamstring muscle was used as the anteromedial bundle,and the posterolateral bundle was replaced by a high-strength line.The difference between knee tibial anterior distance,Lysholm score,International Knee Literature Committee(IKDC)subjective score,Tegner motor level score and visual analog scale(VAS)at 6th and 12th months after the surgery,limb symmetry index(LSI)were recorded at the last follow-up and surgery-related adverse effects during follow-up.Results All patients were followed up,ranged from 13 to 15 months with an average of(13.7±0.8)months.There were no serious adverse reactions related to surgery during the period.There was no statistical difference between the preoperative general data and the observation index of the two groups(P＞0.05).The difference in tibial anterior distance at 6 and 12 months in the enhanced re-construction group(1.45±0.62)mm and(1.74±0.78)mm which were lower those that in the conventional reconstruction group(2.42±0.60)mm and(2.51±0.63)mm(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in postoperative Lysholm score,Tegner motor level score,IKDC score,VAS,and limb symmetry index at the last follow-up(P＞0.05).Conclusion The enhanced recon-struction technique can more effectively maintain the stability of the knee joint and has no significant effect on the postoperative knee joint function compared with the traditional ligament reconstruction technique.The short-term curative effect is satisfac-tory,and it is suitable for the group with high sports demand.

This study investigated the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi,Anaplasma phagocy tophilum,Rickettsia typhi,Orientia tsutsugamushi,Leptospira interrogans,Francisella tularensis,and Babesia spp.in small mammals in the Qinghai plateau region,to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of local zoonotic diseases.Small mammals were cap-tured with snap traps at six sampling sites in the Qinghai plateau region.Liver,spleen,and kidney tissues were collected for detection of six bacterial pathogens with real-time PCR.Conventional PCR(cPCR)was used for Babesia detection,and the positive PCR products were sequenced and analyzed.The differences in pathogen detection rates among species and habitats were analyzed with x2 test or Fisher's exact test.In to-tal,235 small mammals from 15 species were captured.B.burgdorferi,L.interrogans,and Babesia were detected in 11 spe-cies of small mammals,whereas A.phagocytophilum,R.typhi,O.tsutsugamushi,and F.tularensis were not detected.B.burgdorferi was detected in 41 small mammals from nine species(Cricetulus longicaudatus,Apodemus peninsulae,Ochotona curzoniae,Mus m usc ulus,Meriones meridians,Microtus arvalis,Cricetidae,Ochotona cansus,and Allactaga sibirica),with an infection rate of 17.45％(41/235).L.interrogans was detected in eight small mammals from four species(C.longicaudatus,M.musculus,M.arvalis,and Microtus oeconomus),with an infection rate of 3.40％(8/235).Babesia was detected in only one Mustela altaica,with an infection rate of 0.85％(1/235).Statistically significant differences were ob-served in the detection rates of pathogens among small mammal species(x2=200.54,P＜0.05).Among habitats,the detection rate of B.burgdorferi was highest in the forest(Fisher's exact test,P＜0.05).B.burgdorferi and L.interrogans co-infection was observed in three M.arvalis and two C.longicaudatus.In addition,one Babesia sequence was obtained,which clustered with Babesia vulpes in the phylogenetic tree.B.burgdorferi,L.interrogans,and Babesia were the main pathogens prevalent in small mammals in the Qinghai plateau region and have potential to cause human diseases.Local authori-ties should strengthen the surveillance of corresponding zoonotic diseases,and formulate corresponding prevention and control measures.

Based on high-resolution magnetic resonance tube wall imaging,reverse medical engineering modeling techniques are used to obtain individualized intracranial artery models of high prevalence in ischemic stroke.Three types of intracranial artery models,including Newtonian fluid model,non-Newtonian fluid model and non-Newtonian fluid with two-phase flow model,are established for transient numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics method.The hemodynamic parameters such as blood flow field,wall shear stress distribution and erythrocyte volume distribution are analyzed to investigate the possible mechanisms involved in the formation and progression of intracranial atherosclerosis.It is found that blood flow velocity increased significantly at the end of the internal carotid artery and the middle cerebral artery.Low-speed vortex flow and disturbed flow appear in the local vessels.The difference in blood flow velocity between the center and the edge of the wall is large,with an obvious low-flow velocity area on the outer side.A clear central core area is formed in the stenotic wall under the action of high-speed blood flow,resulting in thinner edge layer and lower erythrocyte volume fraction.The combination of low erythrocyte distribution in the edge layer and low flow velocity on the outer side of the wall exacerbates endothelial cell necrosis,hypoxia,endothelial dysfunction,and leads to atherosclerosis.Compared with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid models,non-Newtonian fluid with two-phase flow model has greater variability for hemodynamic parameters and shows higher fidelity in simulating blood flow,which provides a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the report quality, methodological quality and evidence quality of the systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) of acupuncture for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: The SRs/MAs of acupuncture for IVF-ET were searched electronically from databases of CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, from inception of each database to September 27th, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the literature and extracted the data. Using PRISMA statement, the AMSTAR 2 scale and the GRADE system, the report quality, methodological quality and evidence quality of the included SRs/MAs were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 28 SRs/MAs were included, with PRISMA scores ranging from 8.5 points to 27 points. The problems of report quality focused on protocol and registration, retrieval, risk of bias in studies, additional analysis, limitations and funding. The methodological quality of included studies was generally low, reflecting on items 2, 3, 7, 10, 12 and 16. A total of 85 outcome indexes were included in the GRADE system for evidence grade evaluation. Most of the evidences were low or very low in quality. The reasons for the downgrade were related to study limitations, inconsistency, imprecision and publication bias. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture therapy improves the outcomes of IVF-ET, but the methodological quality and evidence quality of related SRs/MAs are low. It is recommended to conduct more high-quality studies in the future to provide more reliable evidences.
Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Databases, Factual ; Embryo Transfer ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Publication Bias ; Systematic Reviews as Topic

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of serological indicators and evaluate the diagnostic value of a new established combined serological model on identifying the minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:This prospective multicenter study enrolled 263 compensated cirrhotic patients from 23 hospitals in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China between October 2021 and August 2022. Clinical data and laboratory test results were collected, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was calculated. Ammonia level was corrected to the upper limit of normal (AMM-ULN) by the baseline blood ammonia measurements/upper limit of the normal reference value. MHE was diagnosed by combined abnormal number connection test-A and abnormal digit symbol test as suggested by Guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis. The patients were randomly divided (7∶3) into training set ( n=185) and validation set ( n=78) based on caret package of R language. Logistic regression was used to establish a combined model of MHE diagnosis. The diagnostic performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve. The internal verification was carried out by the Bootstrap method ( n=200). AUC comparisons were achieved using the Delong test. Results:In the training set, prevalence of MHE was 37.8% (70/185). There were statistically significant differences in AMM-ULN, albumin, platelet, alkaline phosphatase, international normalized ratio, MELD score and education between non-MHE group and MHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AMM-ULN [odds ratio ( OR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.05-3.14, P=0.038] and MELD score ( OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.20, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for MHE, and the AUC for predicting MHE were 0.663, 0.625, respectively. Compared with the use of blood AMM-ULN and MELD score alone, the AUC of the combined model of AMM-ULN, MELD score and education exhibited better predictive performance in determining the presence of MHE was 0.755, the specificity and sensitivity was 85.2% and 55.7%, respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ( P=0.733). The AUC for internal validation of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.752. In the validation set, the AUC of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.794, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration ( P=0.841). Conclusion:Use of the combined model including AMM-ULN, MELD score and education could improve the predictive efficiency of MHE among patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Background and Objectives: Osteoblasts are derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and playimportant role in bone remodeling. While our previous studies have investigated the cell subtypes and heterogeneity in osteoblasts and BMMSCs separately, cell-to-cell communications between osteoblasts and BMMSCs in vivo in humans have not been characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular communication between human primary osteoblasts and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Methods: and Results: To investigate the cell-to-cell communications between osteoblasts and BMMSCs and identifynew cell subtypes, we performed a systematic integration analysis with our single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) transcriptomes data from BMMSCs and osteoblasts. We successfully identified a novel preosteoblasts subtype which highly expressed ATF3, CCL2, CXCL2 and IRF1. Biological functional annotations of the transcriptomes suggested that the novel preosteoblasts subtype may inhibit osteoblasts differentiation, maintain cells to a less differentiated status and recruit osteoclasts. Ligand-receptor interaction analysis showed strong interaction between mature osteoblasts and BMMSCs. Meanwhile, we found FZD1 was highly expressed in BMMSCs of osteogenic differentiation direction. WIF1 and SFRP4, which were highly expressed in mature osteoblasts were reported to inhibit osteogenic differentiation. We speculated that WIF1 and sFRP4 expressed in mature osteoblasts inhibited the binding of FZD1 to Wnt ligand in BMMSCs, thereby further inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs. Conclusions Our study provided a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of osteogenic cells. At the single cell level, this study provided insights into the cell-to-cell communications between BMMSCs and osteoblasts and mature osteoblasts may mediate negative feedback regulation of osteogenesis process.