BACKGROUND: Effective interventions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic require an understanding of patients' knowledge and perceptions that influence their behaviour. Our study assessed knowledge of COVID-19 among kidney transplant recipients and donors, hitherto unevaluated. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 325 kidney transplant recipients and 172 donors between 1 May 2020 and 30 June 2020. The survey questionnaire assessed knowledge levels of COVID-19, sociodemographic data, health status, psychosocial impact of COVID-19 and precautionary behaviours during the pandemic. RESULTS: The mean COVID-19 knowledge score of the study population was 7.5 (standard deviation: 2.2) out of 10. The mean score was significantly higher among kidney recipients compared to kidney donors (7.9 [1.9] vs. 6.7 [2.6]; P <0.001). Younger age (21-49 vs. ≥50 years) and higher education (diploma and higher vs. secondary and lower) were associated with significantly higher knowledge scores in donors, but not among recipients ( P -interactions ≤0.01). In both kidney recipients and donors, financial concerns and/or social isolation were associated with lower knowledge levels. CONCLUSIONS Concerted efforts are needed to improve COVID-19 knowledge in kidney transplant recipients and donors, particularly older donors, donors with lower education and patients with financial concerns or feelings of social isolation. Intensive patient education may mitigate the impact of education levels on COVID-19 knowledge levels.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Transplant Recipients/psychology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue Donors/psychology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Pandemics

Obesity is a major global public health challenge and a leading cause of multiple metabolic disorders,including hypertension and diabetes.In China,more than half of the adult population is overweight or obese.While anti-obesity pharmacotherapies(such as GLP-1 receptor agonists)and bariatric surgery have both advanced rapidly,strategies for integrating these two modalities remain unclear.In particular,controversies persist regarding surgical eligibility after drug discontinuation,and standardized clinical guidelines are lacking.In July 2025,the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders released the world's first statement focusing on"metabolic bariatric surgery after pharmacotherapy-induced weight loss",which emphasizes the chronic disease model of obesity management and clarifies the synergistic relationship between pharmacotherapy and surgery.This article interprets the statement from the perspectives of treatment strategies,surgical eligibility,and drug-surgery coordination,aiming to provide evidence-based reference for clinicians and to promote standardized,integrated obesity management.

Objectives:To summarize the relevant evidence of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring management in critically ill patients and provide evidence-based basis for strengthening the standardization and accuracy of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring by clinical medical staff.Methods:We searched UpToDate,British Medical Journal Best Practice Database,The UK National Institute of Clinical Medicine guideline library,PubMed,Embase,American Society of Critical Care Medicine,American Association of Critical Care Nurses,Wanfang database,China Knowledge Network,SinoMed and other databases to collect relevant clinical decisions,guidelines,best practices,evidence summaries,systematic reviews,expert consensuses and randomized controlled trials related to non-invasive cardiac output monitoring management.The search period is from the inception to August 2023.After screening and quality evaluation by the evidence-based team,relevant evidence that meets the standards was extracted.Results:A total of 11 articles were obtained,including 7 systematic reviews,4 expert consensus.Finally,20 best evidences were obtained about the non-invasive cardiac output monitoring management in critically ill patients,including the patients suitable for non-invasive cardiac output monitoring,correlation with the invasive cardiac output monitoring,and the source of error in the monitoring process,involving 5 aspects such as monitoring population,clinical application,interference factors,precautions and personnel training.Conclusions:Clinical medical staffshould strengthen the training of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring technology in critically ill patients,and appropriate practical evidence should be selected in combination with the specific clinical situation to improve the application standardization and measurement accuracy of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring in critically ill patients.

Objective:To conduct an occupational hygiene investigation and simulated sampling and testing on welding positions in a company in a certain province, and to perform a simulated analysis of the concentration of occupational hazard factors in workers suspected of occupational asthma.Methods:In November 2023, the investigation and analysis of workers' exposure to occupational hazard factors were carried out through occupational hygiene surveys, laboratory simulated sampling and testing, and a combination of qualitative and quantitative detection methods.Results:Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) was present in the workplace air of the employer. TDI was detected in the raw materials provided by the workers. Laboratory simulations of the production process and working conditions at the position were conducted with sampling at different distances, revealing a maximum TDI concentration of 0.49 mg/m 3 and a minimum concentration of 0.01 mg/m 3. The results showed that the closer the sampling distance was to the breathing zone, the more significantly the TDI concentration increased. The laboratory simulated sampling and testing results were highly consistent with the on-site sampling and testing results from a testing agency in Beijing. Conclusion:The occupational hazard factor TDI is present in the workers' workplace, and TDI may be the cause of the suspected occupational asthma in the workers.

AIM To investigate the improvement effects of Poria cocos polysaccharides(PCPs)on mouse nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS Forty-eight C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the simvastatin group(4 mg/kg)and the high,medium and low dose PCPs groups(200,100 and 50 mg/kg),with 8 mice in each group.The NAFLD model was reproduced by 16 weeks feeding of high-fat and high-cholesterol diet,followed by 8 weeks administration of corresponding drug by gavage.The mice had their body mass and liver coefficient assessed;their levels of hepatic free fatty acid(FFA),and serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GT)and malondialdehyde(MDA)detected;their hepatic pathological changes and lipid deposition observed using HE staining,NAFLD activity score(NAS)and oil red O staining;and their hepatic protein expressions of Akt,mTOR,p-Akt,p-mTOR and SREBP-1c detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the blank group,the model group demonstrated all increased body weight,liver coefficient,hepatic FFA level,and serum TC,TG,LDL-C,AST,ALT,γ-GT,MDA,IL-1β and TNF-α.levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased HDL-C level and activities of SOD and GSH-Px(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);more obvious hepatic pathological damage as revealed by increased NAS score(P＜0.01)and increased lipid deposition area(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with high or medium dose PCPs,or simvastatin displayed decreased body weight,liver coefficient,hepatic FFA level,and serum TC,TG,LDL-C,AST,ALT,γ-GT,MDA,IL-1β and TNF-α levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);increased HDL-C level and SOD,GSH-Px activities(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased hepatic pathological damage as revealed by the decreased NAS score and lipid deposition area(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased hepatic protein expressions of p-Akt,p-mTOR and SREBP-1c protein(P＜0.05)as well.CONCLUSION PCPs can improve mouse NAFLD,and its mechanism may lie in their function in reversing abnormal lipid metabolism via Akt/mTOR/SREBP-1c signaling pathway.

Obesity is a major global public health challenge and a leading cause of multiple metabolic disorders,including hypertension and diabetes.In China,more than half of the adult population is overweight or obese.While anti-obesity pharmacotherapies(such as GLP-1 receptor agonists)and bariatric surgery have both advanced rapidly,strategies for integrating these two modalities remain unclear.In particular,controversies persist regarding surgical eligibility after drug discontinuation,and standardized clinical guidelines are lacking.In July 2025,the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders released the world's first statement focusing on"metabolic bariatric surgery after pharmacotherapy-induced weight loss",which emphasizes the chronic disease model of obesity management and clarifies the synergistic relationship between pharmacotherapy and surgery.This article interprets the statement from the perspectives of treatment strategies,surgical eligibility,and drug-surgery coordination,aiming to provide evidence-based reference for clinicians and to promote standardized,integrated obesity management.

AIM To investigate the improvement effects of Poria cocos polysaccharides(PCPs)on mouse nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS Forty-eight C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the simvastatin group(4 mg/kg)and the high,medium and low dose PCPs groups(200,100 and 50 mg/kg),with 8 mice in each group.The NAFLD model was reproduced by 16 weeks feeding of high-fat and high-cholesterol diet,followed by 8 weeks administration of corresponding drug by gavage.The mice had their body mass and liver coefficient assessed;their levels of hepatic free fatty acid(FFA),and serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GT)and malondialdehyde(MDA)detected;their hepatic pathological changes and lipid deposition observed using HE staining,NAFLD activity score(NAS)and oil red O staining;and their hepatic protein expressions of Akt,mTOR,p-Akt,p-mTOR and SREBP-1c detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the blank group,the model group demonstrated all increased body weight,liver coefficient,hepatic FFA level,and serum TC,TG,LDL-C,AST,ALT,γ-GT,MDA,IL-1β and TNF-α.levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased HDL-C level and activities of SOD and GSH-Px(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);more obvious hepatic pathological damage as revealed by increased NAS score(P＜0.01)and increased lipid deposition area(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with high or medium dose PCPs,or simvastatin displayed decreased body weight,liver coefficient,hepatic FFA level,and serum TC,TG,LDL-C,AST,ALT,γ-GT,MDA,IL-1β and TNF-α levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);increased HDL-C level and SOD,GSH-Px activities(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased hepatic pathological damage as revealed by the decreased NAS score and lipid deposition area(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased hepatic protein expressions of p-Akt,p-mTOR and SREBP-1c protein(P＜0.05)as well.CONCLUSION PCPs can improve mouse NAFLD,and its mechanism may lie in their function in reversing abnormal lipid metabolism via Akt/mTOR/SREBP-1c signaling pathway.

Objectives:To summarize the relevant evidence of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring management in critically ill patients and provide evidence-based basis for strengthening the standardization and accuracy of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring by clinical medical staff.Methods:We searched UpToDate,British Medical Journal Best Practice Database,The UK National Institute of Clinical Medicine guideline library,PubMed,Embase,American Society of Critical Care Medicine,American Association of Critical Care Nurses,Wanfang database,China Knowledge Network,SinoMed and other databases to collect relevant clinical decisions,guidelines,best practices,evidence summaries,systematic reviews,expert consensuses and randomized controlled trials related to non-invasive cardiac output monitoring management.The search period is from the inception to August 2023.After screening and quality evaluation by the evidence-based team,relevant evidence that meets the standards was extracted.Results:A total of 11 articles were obtained,including 7 systematic reviews,4 expert consensus.Finally,20 best evidences were obtained about the non-invasive cardiac output monitoring management in critically ill patients,including the patients suitable for non-invasive cardiac output monitoring,correlation with the invasive cardiac output monitoring,and the source of error in the monitoring process,involving 5 aspects such as monitoring population,clinical application,interference factors,precautions and personnel training.Conclusions:Clinical medical staffshould strengthen the training of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring technology in critically ill patients,and appropriate practical evidence should be selected in combination with the specific clinical situation to improve the application standardization and measurement accuracy of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring in critically ill patients.

Objective:To conduct an occupational hygiene investigation and simulated sampling and testing on welding positions in a company in a certain province, and to perform a simulated analysis of the concentration of occupational hazard factors in workers suspected of occupational asthma.Methods:In November 2023, the investigation and analysis of workers' exposure to occupational hazard factors were carried out through occupational hygiene surveys, laboratory simulated sampling and testing, and a combination of qualitative and quantitative detection methods.Results:Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) was present in the workplace air of the employer. TDI was detected in the raw materials provided by the workers. Laboratory simulations of the production process and working conditions at the position were conducted with sampling at different distances, revealing a maximum TDI concentration of 0.49 mg/m 3 and a minimum concentration of 0.01 mg/m 3. The results showed that the closer the sampling distance was to the breathing zone, the more significantly the TDI concentration increased. The laboratory simulated sampling and testing results were highly consistent with the on-site sampling and testing results from a testing agency in Beijing. Conclusion:The occupational hazard factor TDI is present in the workers' workplace, and TDI may be the cause of the suspected occupational asthma in the workers.

Aim To study the effect of menthol on hypobaric hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension and explore the underlying mechanism in mice. Methods 10 to 12 weeks old wild type (WT) mice and TRPM8 gene knockout (TRPM8