BACKGROUND: The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) is a major concern for medication safety as it may entail more harm than potential benefits for older adults. This study aimed to explore the prescribing rate, healthcare utilization, and expenditure of older adults using PIMs in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using a national representative database of all medical insurance beneficiaries across China, extracting ambulatory visit records of adults aged 65 years and above between 2015 and 2017. Descriptive analysis was conducted to measure the rate of patients exposed to PIM, prescribing rate of each PIM, average annual outpatient visits per patient, average total medication costs for each visit, average annual cost of PIMs for each patient, and average annual medication costs for each patient. Generalized linear model with logit link function and binomial distribution was used to examine the adjusted associations between PIMs and independent variables. RESULTS: In total, 845,278 (33.2%) participants were identified to be exposed to at least one PIM. Patients aged 75-84 years (38.1%, 969,809/2,545,430) and ≥85 years (37.9%, 964,718/2,545,430) were more likely to be prescribed with PIMs. Beneficiaries of the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) and living in eastern and southern regions were more frequently prescribed with PIMs. Compared with patients without PIM exposure (7.5 visits, drug cost of RMB 1545.0 Yuan), patients with PIM exposure showed higher adjusted average annual number of outpatient visits (10.7 visits, β = 3.228, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.196-3.261) and higher annual drug costs (RMB 2461.8 Yuan, Coef. = 916.864, 95% CI = RMB 906.292-927.436 Yuan). CONCLUSIONS The results showed that the use of PIM among older adults was common in China. This study suggests that the use of PIM could be considered as a clear target, pending multidimensional efforts, to promote rational prescribing for older adults.
Humans ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Aged, 80 and over ; Male ; Female ; China ; Inappropriate Prescribing/economics* ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data* ; Potentially Inappropriate Medication List/statistics & numerical data* ; Health Expenditures/statistics & numerical data*

Objective:To investigate the current status of vascular access team building and analysis its related factors in hemodialysis centers in China.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional survey. Using a convenience sampling method, a questionnaire was designed to investigate the clinical practice of vascular access teams in 527 hemodialysis centers in China from March to April 2022. The related factors of the formation of vascular access teams and the setting up of vascular access coordinators (VAC) were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression method.Results:A total of 506 valid questionnaires were recovered, with a recovery rate of 96.02%. There were 247 (48.81%) and 193 (38.14%) hemodialysis centers respectively across China that had built vascular access teams and set up VAC. Hemodialysis centers with more than 10 years of practice had higher rate of implementation than those in hemodialysis centers with practice years less or equal than 10 years in developing standardized procedures for vascular access management ( χ 2=8.288, P=0.004), holding continuous quality improvement meetings on vascular access ( χ 2=8.210, P=0.004), establishing vascular access teams ( χ 2=33.805, P<0.001) and setting up vascular access coordinators ( χ 2=16.038, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of dialysis machines ( OR=2.221, 95% CI 1.118-4.415, P=0.023), the number of patients on dialysis( OR=2.946, 95% CI 1.375-6.310, P=0.005), and the establishment of VAC positions ( OR=9.463, 95% CI 5.307-16.874, P<0.001), and the standardized vascular access management process ( OR=3.383, 95% CI 2.012-5.687, P<0.001) were the related factors of vascular access team building. The related factors of setting up a VAC position in hemodialysis center were opening vascular access clinic ( OR=2.704,95% CI 1.382-5.290, P=0.004), the formation of a vascular access team ( OR=9.464, 95% CI 5.312-16.860, P<0.001), and constructing standardized procedures for vascular access management ( OR=3.663, 95% CI 2.243-5.982, P<0.001). Conclusion:The implementation rates of vascular access team and VAC position in hemodialysis centers were 48.81% and 38.14%, respectively. The number of dialysis machines, the number of patients on dialysis, the standardized procedures for vascular access management, the vascular access clinic, the vascular access team, and the VAC position were the relevant factors of the team building for vascular access.

Objective:To investigate the current status of vascular access team building and analysis its related factors in hemodialysis centers in China.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional survey. Using a convenience sampling method, a questionnaire was designed to investigate the clinical practice of vascular access teams in 527 hemodialysis centers in China from March to April 2022. The related factors of the formation of vascular access teams and the setting up of vascular access coordinators (VAC) were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression method.Results:A total of 506 valid questionnaires were recovered, with a recovery rate of 96.02%. There were 247 (48.81%) and 193 (38.14%) hemodialysis centers respectively across China that had built vascular access teams and set up VAC. Hemodialysis centers with more than 10 years of practice had higher rate of implementation than those in hemodialysis centers with practice years less or equal than 10 years in developing standardized procedures for vascular access management ( χ 2=8.288, P=0.004), holding continuous quality improvement meetings on vascular access ( χ 2=8.210, P=0.004), establishing vascular access teams ( χ 2=33.805, P<0.001) and setting up vascular access coordinators ( χ 2=16.038, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of dialysis machines ( OR=2.221, 95% CI 1.118-4.415, P=0.023), the number of patients on dialysis( OR=2.946, 95% CI 1.375-6.310, P=0.005), and the establishment of VAC positions ( OR=9.463, 95% CI 5.307-16.874, P<0.001), and the standardized vascular access management process ( OR=3.383, 95% CI 2.012-5.687, P<0.001) were the related factors of vascular access team building. The related factors of setting up a VAC position in hemodialysis center were opening vascular access clinic ( OR=2.704,95% CI 1.382-5.290, P=0.004), the formation of a vascular access team ( OR=9.464, 95% CI 5.312-16.860, P<0.001), and constructing standardized procedures for vascular access management ( OR=3.663, 95% CI 2.243-5.982, P<0.001). Conclusion:The implementation rates of vascular access team and VAC position in hemodialysis centers were 48.81% and 38.14%, respectively. The number of dialysis machines, the number of patients on dialysis, the standardized procedures for vascular access management, the vascular access clinic, the vascular access team, and the VAC position were the relevant factors of the team building for vascular access.

Objective To establish a simultaneous detection approach for 34 emerging contaminants(ECs)in tap water by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS).Human health risk assessment was performed according to the detection results from 43 tap water samples.Methods Tap water samples were concentrated and extracted by solid phase extraction,and then blown to near dry by nitrogen at 40℃.The sample extracts were dissolved in methanol-water solution(95:5,VN)to 0.5 mL for analyzing.Agilent Jet Stream Electrospray Ionization(AJS ESI)and the multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)mode were performed for MS to acquire the data of 34 ECs.A database including precursor ion,product ion and retention times was established accordingly.Results The average linear correlation coefficients(r)of 34 kinds of ECs was 0.995 9.The limits of detection were 0.01～0.60 ng/L and the recoveries were between 60.7％and 119.8％.The intra-group precisions were between 0.05％～9.89％and the intra-day precisions were between 0.20％～14.40％for the spiked samples.The method was applied to analyze 43 tap water samples and a total of 15 ECs were detected.According to the results,the detection rate of caffeine was the highest(84％),and the concentration range was ND～74.42 ng/L.Among all the ECs detected,1,2,3-benzotriazole had the highest concentration(ND～361.15 ng/L),where detection rate was 44％.Humans may be exposed to these ECs by drinking the tap water.The human health risk assessments of 12 kinds of ECs were carried out,however,the estimated risk was negligible(risk quotient＜0.01).Conclusion The method is simple,highly sensitive and selective,and could meet the detection needs of ECs at trace level in tap water.There was no human health risk posed for ECs identified in 43 tap water samples analyzed by this method.

In recent years,significant progress has been made in the study of endometrial epitheli-al organoids in the field of reproduction.Traditional two-dimensional cell culture models and animal ex-periments fail to accurately replicate the three-di-mensional structure and physiological functions of the endometrium,limiting the in-depth exploration of its normal physiological mechanisms and related disease mechanisms.Emerging organoid technolo-gies have provided new avenues for research.These organoids,formed by self-organization of stem cells or progenitor cells in a three-dimensional culture system,faithfully recapitulate the character-istics of endometrial glands in situ.Not only can these organoid models mimic the changes in the endometrium at different stages of the menstrual cycle,but they can also simulate the interaction be-tween the fertilized embryo and the endometrium.Moreover,organoid systems have become essential tools for fundamental research in the field of repro-duction and for disease research,including studies related to reproductive biology,drug screening and development,disease mechanism exploration,drug action mechanisms,drug combination therapies,and targeted therapies.These studies have provid-ed novel insights and methods for a deeper under-standing of the biological properties of the endome-trium,its disease mechanisms,and the develop-ment of therapeutic strategies for related disorders.

Acute high altitude disease (AHAD) is a general term for a series of clinical reactions that occur when the body fails to adapt to the low-pressure hypoxic environment of high altitudes. Mild cases can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea and vomiting, while more severe cases can lead to life-threatening conditions such as pulmonary edema, cerebral edema and other critical conditions that can be fatal. With the increasing demand for high altitudes deployment, understanding the common preventive measures of AHAD can reduce its morbidity or mortality to a certain extent, which is of great benefit to those who reside temporarily at high altitudes. In recent years, as people's health awareness has improved, there has been a growing attention towards non-pharmacological methods of disease prevention. At the same time, non-pharmacological therapy has significant therapeutic effects in preventing and treating high-altitude diseases, which has attracted the attention of researchers in this field. This review summarizes the major non-pharmacological preventive components of modern medicine and outlines the current non-pharmacological approaches to AHAD from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, intending to serve clinical purposes and improve the onset and prognosis of AHAD.

Objectives:To investigate the intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)evaluated efficacy of the"L-sandwich"technique in the percutaneous coronary intervention treatment of true bifurcation lesions of coronary artery. Methods:Ninety-nine patients with true bifurcation lesions(medina type 1.1.1)of the coronary arteries were divided into the L-sandwich group(n=38),the double-stent group(n=32),and the main vessel(MV)single-stent with side branch(SB)drug-coated balloon(DCB)only group(n=29).The primary study endpoint was the loss of late lumen area(LLAL)in the MV,SB ostium and SB shaft at 12 months,and the secondary endpoints were minimum lumen area(MLA)at each site and major adverse cardiac events(MACE)at 12 months.As this is a proof-of-concept study,statistical analyses were performed in the as-treated(AT)analysis set. Results:At 12-month follow-up,there was no statistically significant difference in the MV LLAL among patients in the"L-sandwich"technique group,the double stent technique group,and the MV DES with SB DCB technique group([0.12±0.42]mm2 vs.[0.07±0.38]mm2 vs.[-0.01±0.31]mm2,P=0.419).Similarly,there was no statistically significant difference in the LLAL at the SB shaft([-0.11±0.45]mm2 vs.[-0.10±0.28]mm2 vs.[0.24±1.04]mm2,P=0.078],with the maximum LLAL observed in the double stent technique group and the minimum in the"L-sandwich"technique group([-0.48±0.78]mm2 vs.[0.45±0.64]mm2 vs.[0.14±1.37]mm2,P<0.001).The MV MLA was similar among the three groups([8.39±1.65]mm2 vs.[8.28±0.98]mm2 vs.[8.02±1.37]mm2,P=0.565),while the maximum MLA at the SB ostium was observed in the double stent technique group and the minimum in the MV DES with SB DCB group([5.08±0.74]mm2 vs.[5.63±0.80]mm2 vs.[3.57±1.35]mm2,P<0.001).In terms of MLA at the SB shaft,the"L-sandwich"technique group was similar to the double stent technique group,while the MV DES with SB DCB group exhibited the minimum MLA([5.94±0.72]mm2 vs.[5.86±0.59]mm2 vs.[3.74±1.07]mm2,P<0.001).Two patients in the double stent technique group underwent target vessel revascularization,there was no MACE in the other two groups(P=0.118). Conclusions:The"L-sandwich"technique is safe and feasible for the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions.Compared with double-stent group,the SB ostium has a smaller LLAL at the time of review,and there is no significant difference in the MLA of each site,and the operation steps are significantly simplified.Use of the"L-sandwich"technique is associated with a better branching benefit compared with MV single-stent group.The"L-sandwich"technique could be used as a remedial procedure for severe entrapment in the setting of branching with DCB alone.

Objective Based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS),a nontarget screening strategy was adopted in analyzing and identifying emerging pollutants(EPs)in tap water across the country,and studying its spatial and temporal distribution characteristics.Methods After extracting tap water samples by solid phase extraction,mobile phases(0.1%aqueous formic acid and methanol solutions)was used to elute the sample on a C18 chromatographic column.The nontarget screening strategy was used to acquire the MS information in full scan mode.We extracted and analyzed the chromatographic and mass spectral peaks,then searched the spectral library to compare the exact mass numbers,and the secondary MS/MS spectra fragment ion information was compared one by one.Finally,the retention time and the mass spectrum data of candidate EPs were identified and analyzed with the data of standard samples.then quantified by the internal standard method.Results A total of 135 EPs were initially screened from tap water across the country and 24 with high chromatographic peak response were finally selected and verified by standard products,including 6 pharmaceuticals,13 pesticides,3 industrial compounds and 2 food additives.Nine of them showed detection rates of more than 60%,such as canrenone,medroxyprogesterone,hydrocortisone acetate,etc.The concentrations of detected pollutants range from ND 422.63 ng/L.And the four contaminants with higher average concentrations were canrenone,medroxyprogesterone,hydrocortisone acetate and tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate.Conclusion In this study,a nontarget strategy based on UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS was adopted to screen potential unknown pollutants with no-standards,and explored the overall contamination status of tap water samples.This contributed to more comprehensive understanding of the EPs distribution,and provided technical support for monitoring the EPs in tap water.

Objective To investigate the practice and barriers to functional monitoring of autogenous arteriove-nous fistula(AVF)in hemodialysis centers in China.Methods Using convenience sampling,from March to April 2022,a questionnaire was designed based on the literature of AVF functional monitoring,and a total of 527 hemodialysis centers in China were investigated from 3 aspects,including monitoring process and system,monitoring method and cont ent,and monitoring team construction.Results 506 questionnaires were effectively recovered,with a recovery rate of 96.02％.The implementation rate of the 12 entries of AVF functional monitoring ranged from 12.65％～79.84％,with an overall score of(4.97±3.03).The scores had statistically significant differences in 6 admin-istrative regions of China in monitoring process and system,monitoring method and content,and monitoring team building,as well as the total scores(P＜0.001).Barriers were centered on management specification,human resource allocation,professional training,and healthcare costs.Conclusion Hospital administrators should construct and per-fect the relevant management system according to the scale and actual situation of different hemodialysis centers,strengthen the supervision of AVF functional monitoring as well as the personalised management of monitoring pro-tocols,and promote the development of a multidisciplinary cooperation model for vascular access.

Objective Based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS),a nontarget screening strategy was adopted in analyzing and identifying emerging pollutants(EPs)in tap water across the country,and studying its spatial and temporal distribution characteristics.Methods After extracting tap water samples by solid phase extraction,mobile phases(0.1%aqueous formic acid and methanol solutions)was used to elute the sample on a C18 chromatographic column.The nontarget screening strategy was used to acquire the MS information in full scan mode.We extracted and analyzed the chromatographic and mass spectral peaks,then searched the spectral library to compare the exact mass numbers,and the secondary MS/MS spectra fragment ion information was compared one by one.Finally,the retention time and the mass spectrum data of candidate EPs were identified and analyzed with the data of standard samples.then quantified by the internal standard method.Results A total of 135 EPs were initially screened from tap water across the country and 24 with high chromatographic peak response were finally selected and verified by standard products,including 6 pharmaceuticals,13 pesticides,3 industrial compounds and 2 food additives.Nine of them showed detection rates of more than 60%,such as canrenone,medroxyprogesterone,hydrocortisone acetate,etc.The concentrations of detected pollutants range from ND 422.63 ng/L.And the four contaminants with higher average concentrations were canrenone,medroxyprogesterone,hydrocortisone acetate and tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate.Conclusion In this study,a nontarget strategy based on UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS was adopted to screen potential unknown pollutants with no-standards,and explored the overall contamination status of tap water samples.This contributed to more comprehensive understanding of the EPs distribution,and provided technical support for monitoring the EPs in tap water.