Background and Objectives: The impact of off-hours admission (such as weekends, nighttime, and non-working hours) vs. regular hours (weekdays and daytime working hours) on the mortality risk of patients undergoing surgery for type A aortic dissection (TAAD) repair is still uncertain. To address this uncertainty, we undertook a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. We aimed to assess the potential link between off-hours admission and the risk of mortality in patients undergoing TAAD repair surgery. Methods: We conducted a thorough search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases, covering the period from their inception to May 20, 2023. Our inclusion criteria encompassed all studies that examined the potential relationship between off-hour admission and mortality in individuals who had undergone surgery for TAAD repair. The odds ratios (ORs) were extracted and combined utilizing a random effects model for our synthesis. Results: Nine studies with 16,501 patients undergoing TAAD repair surgery were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, patients who underwent surgery during the weekend had higher in-hospital mortality (pooled OR, 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–1.75; p=0.002) than those treated on weekdays. However, the mortality risks among patients who underwent TAAD surgery during nighttime and non-working hours were not significantly elevated compared to daytime and working hours admission. Conclusions Weekend surgery for TAAD was associated with a higher in-hospital mortality risk than weekday surgery. However, further studies are warranted to identify and develop strategies to improve the quality of round-the-clock care for patients with TAAD.

AIM: To analyze the screening status of neonatal fundus disease and the related influencing factors of common fundus retinal hemorrhage in Longhua District of Shenzhen, so as to provide references for the prevention, screening and intervention of neonatal fundus disease in clinical practice.METHODS: A total of 3 101 neonates who received fundus screening in the People's Hospital of Longhua, Shenzen from September 2019 to October 2022 were selected as research objects. The screening results were summarized, and the risk factors for neonatal retinal hemorrhage were analyzed by Logistic regression model.RESULTS: The detection rate of neonatal fundus abnormalities was 12.71%, and the detection rate of neonatal retinal hemorrhage was the highest(12.19%). The other types of fundus abnormalities included periretinal white focus, chromatosis, pigment shedding, choroid coloboma and nystagmus. Hemorrhage grade I accounted for the largest proportion of 378 neonates with retinal hemorrhage(75.66%). Follow-up found that different grades of retinal hemorrhage could be automatically absorbed over time without excessive intervention. Logistic analysis suggested that spontaneous delivery [OR=3.180, 95%CI(1.543～6.555)], twin pregnancy [OR=2.119, 95%CI(1.121～4.007)] and umbilical cord round the neck [OR=1.547, 95%CI(1.239～1.930)] were risk factors affecting neonatal retinal hemorrhage.CONCLUSION: Retinal hemorrhage is the most common type of fundus abnormalities in neonates. Spontaneous delivery, twin pregnancy and umbilical cord around the neck are risk factors of retinal hemorrhage. It is recommended that pay attention to the above factors and choose appropriate intervention means to avoid serious fundus complications.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual development in Chinese children. Methods: A nationwide multicenter and population-based large cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China from January 2017 to December 2018. Data on sex, age, height, weight were collected, BMI was calculated and sexual characteristics were analyzed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on age, including ages 3-<6 years, 6-<10 years, 10-<15 years and 15-<18 years. Multiple Logistic regression models were used for evaluating the associations of BMI with sexual development in children. Dichotomous Logistic regression was used to compare the differences in the distribution of early and non-early puberty among normal weight, overweight and obese groups. Curves were drawn to analyze the relationship between the percentage of early puberty and BMI distribution in girls and boys at different Tanner stages. Results: A total of 208 179 healthy children (96 471 girls and 111 708 boys) were enrolled in this study. The OR values of B2, B3 and B4+ in overweight girls were 1.72 (95%CI: 1.56-1.89), 3.19 (95%CI: 2.86-3.57), 7.14 (95%CI: 6.33-8.05) and in obese girls were 2.05 (95%CI: 1.88-2.24), 4.98 (95%CI: 4.49-5.53), 11.21 (95%CI: 9.98-12.59), respectively; while the OR values of G2, G3, G4+ in overweight boys were 1.27 (95%CI: 1.17-1.38), 1.52 (95%CI: 1.36-1.70), 1.88 (95%CI: 1.66-2.14) and in obese boys were 1.27 (95%CI: 1.17-1.37), 1.59 (95%CI: 1.43-1.78), and 1.93 (95%CI: 1.70-2.18) (compared with normal weight Tanner 1 group,all P<0.01). Analysis in different age groups found that OR values of obese girls at B2 stage and boys at G2 stage were 2.02 (95%CI: 1.06-3.86) and 2.32 (95%CI:1.05-5.12) in preschool children aged 3-<6 years, respectively (both P<0.05). And in the age group of 6-10 years, overweight girls had a 5.45-fold risk and obese girls had a 12.54-fold risk of B3 stage compared to girls with normal BMI. Compared with normal weight children, the risk of early puberty was 2.67 times higher in overweight girls, 3.63 times higher in obese girls, and 1.22 times higher in overweight boys, 1.35 times higher in obese boys (all P<0.01). Among the children at each Tanner stages, the percentage of early puberty increased with the increase of BMI, from 5.7% (80/1 397), 16.1% (48/299), 13.8% (27/195) to 25.7% (198/769), 65.1% (209/321), 65.4% (157/240) in girls aged 8-<9, 10-<11 and 11-<12 years, and 6.6% (34/513), 18.7% (51/273), 21.6% (57/264) to 13.3% (96/722), 46.4% (140/302), 47.5% (105/221) in boys aged 9-<10, 12-<13 and 13-<14 years, respectively. Conclusions: BMI is positively correlated with sexual development in both Chinese boys and girls, and the correlation is stronger in girls. Obesity is a risk factor for precocious puberty in preschool children aged 3-<6 years, and 6-<10 years of age is a high risk period for early development in obese girls.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/epidemiology* ; Overweight/epidemiology* ; Puberty ; Puberty, Precocious ; Sexual Development

Background/Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. While existing studies have examined cardiac remodeling in NAFLD, there has been less emphasis on the development of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. We sought to conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the prevalence, risk factors, and degree of risk increment of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke in NAFLD. Methods: Embase and Medline were searched for articles relating to NAFLD, carotid atherosclerosis, and stroke. Proportional data was analysed using a generalized linear mixed model. Pairwise meta-analysis was conducted to obtain odds ratio or weighted mean difference for comparison between patients with and without NAFLD. Results: From pooled analysis of 30 studies involving 7,951 patients with NAFLD, 35.02% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.36–43.53%) had carotid atherosclerosis with an odds ratio of 3.20 (95% CI, 2.37–4.32; P<0.0001). Pooled analysis of 25,839 patients with NAFLD found the prevalence of stroke to be 5.04% (95% CI, 2.74–9.09%) with an odds ratio of 1.88 (95% CI, 1.23–2.88; P=0.02) compared to non-NAFLD. The degree of steatosis assessed by ultrasonography in NAFLD was closely associated with risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. Older age significantly increased the risk of developing carotid atherosclerosis, but not stroke in NAFLD. Conclusions This meta-analysis shows that a stepwise increment of steatosis of NAFLD can significantly increase the risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke development in NAFLD. Patients more than a third sufferred from carotid atherosclerosis and routine assessment of carotid atherosclerosis is quintessential in NAFLD.

Background: and Purpose Mutations in the FIG4 gene have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) type 11 in Caucasian populations. The purpose of this study was to identify FIG4 variants in a cohort of 15 familial ALS (FALS) indexes and 275 sporadic ALS (SALS) patients of Han Chinese origin. Methods: All 23 exons of FIG4 were sequenced using targeted next-generation sequencing.An extensive literature review was performed to detect genotype-phenotype associations of FIG4 mutations. Results: No FIG4 variants were identified in the FALS patients. One novel heterozygous missense variant (c.352G>T [p.D118Y]) and one novel heterozygous nonsense variant (c.2158G>T [p.E720X]) in FIG4 were identified in two SALS patients. The p.E720X variant is interpreted as likely pathogenic while the p.D118Y variant is a variant of uncertain significance. The patient carrying the p.E720X mutation developed lower-limb-onset slowly progressive ALS, and survived for 11.5 years. The patient harboring the FIG4 p.D118Y variant also presented with progressive ALS, with the score on the ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised (ALSFRS-R) decreasing by 0.4 per month. The rate of decrease in the ALSFRS-R scores from symptom onset to diagnosis seemed to be lower in the patients carrying FIG4 variants than the no-FIG4-mutation ALS patients in this study. Conclusions Our findings suggest that ALS patients carrying FIG4 mutations are not common in the Chinese population and are more likely to exhibit slow progression.

Objective:To observe the effects of modified Liuwei Dihuangtang on serum fibroblast growth factor 23 （FGF23）， full-length intact parathyroid hormone （iPTH）， and 1，25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ ［1，25（OH）₂D₃］ levels and Klotho and FGF23 protein expression in renal and bone tissues of rats exposed to high phosphorus combined with adenine， so as to explore the mechanism of modified Liuwei Dihuangtang against renal osteopathy. Method:One hundred and thirty healthy adult SD rats were randomly divided into five groups， namely normal group（n=10），high phosphorus group（n=30），model group（n=30），modified Liuwei Dihuangtang group（n=30） ， and calcitriol group（n=30），and rats in each group were further classified based on three time points， namely 8，10， and 12 weeks. Rats in the normal group were fed with normal diet， the ones in the high phosphorus group with high phosphorus diet， and those in the other groups with adenine and high phosphorus diet for inducing renal osteopathy. Rats in the normal group，high phosphorus group， and model group were intragastrically administered with distilled water （10 mL·kg^-1·d^-1），the ones in the modified Liuwei Dihuangtang group with modified Liuwei Dihuangtang （2.556 g·kg^-1·d^-1） ， and those in the calcitriol group with calcitriol （0.09 μg·kg^-1·d^-1）. Result:Compared with the normal group and high phosphorus group at the weeks of 8，10 and 12，the model group displayed significantly elevated blood urea nitrogen（BUN），serum creatinine（SCr），serum phosphorus，iPTH，FGF23，renal interstitial fibrosis score， and FGF23 expression in renal and bone tissues， but lowered serum calcium and 1，25（OH）₂D₃ and Klotho protein expression in renal and bone tissues（P<0.05 ，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group at the weeks of 8，10 and 12， the modified Liuwei Dihuangtang and calcitriol both significantly decreased the serum BUN，SCr，serum phosphorus，iPTH， FGF23， tubulointerstitial semi-quantitative score， and FGF23 expression in renal and bone tissues， while increased the serum calcium，1，25（OH）₂D₃， and Klotho protein expression in renal and bone tissues （P<0.05，P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in the above-mentioned indexes between the modified Liuwei Dihuangtang group and the calcitriol group at the same time point. Conclusion:Klotho-FGF23 axis is probably involved in renal osteopathy. The modified Liuwei Dihuangtang effectively improves renal function，alleviates pathological changes in renal and bone tissues，and regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism to protect the bone， which is related to its regulation of Klotho-FGF23 axis.

Objective:To investigate the status of height and weight of 3-18-year-old children and adolescents in urban China, and to provide a basis for establishing puberty phase specific curves for age-specific height and age-specific weight.Methods:A cross-sectional survey of 218 185 children and adolescents aged 3-18 years in urban China was conducted by using the method of stratified random cluster sampling from January 2017 to December 2019. The sampling areas included 12 provinces municipalities in China and autonomous regions in total. Data were collected on weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference and secondary sexual characteristics. The generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS) was employed to establish percentile reference values and growth curves of height and weight for boys and girls aged 3-18 years. Wilcoxon rank sum test was applied to compare the P 50 value of height and weight between children of each Tanner stage and children of the same age ignoring the different puberty phase. Results:The 3rd, 50th, and 97th percentile curves for height and weight for age were developed for boys and girls aged 3-18 years. The 3rd, 50th, and 97th percentile curves for age-specific height and age-specific weight for each puberty phase were developed for boys and girls. Compared with all children ignoring the different puberty phase, boys aged 9 and over and girls aged 7 and over who are at Tanner stage 1 showed shorter height and lighter weight than those of the same age group (all P<0.01), the difference ranges of height at P 50 are -4.0 to -0.6 cm for boys, and -4.4 to 0.5 cm for girls; the difference ranges of weight are -4.8 to 0.4 kg for boys, and -4.0 to -0.3 kg for girls; children at Tanner stage 2 & 3 initially were taller and heavier than those of the same age group; and later grew shorter and lighter than those of the same age group, the two sets of curves cross over; boys aged 16 and under and girl aged under 14 who are at Tanner stage 4 were taller and heavier than those of the same age group (all P<0.01), the difference ranges of height at P 50 are 0.2 to 10.0 cm for boys, and 0.2 to 9.4 cm for girls; the difference ranges of weight at P 50 are 0.7 to 10.9 kg for boys, and 1.0 to 11.2 kg for girls, and the differences showed narrowing trend with age. Conclusion:The puberty phase specific growth curves of age-specific height and age-specific weight for boys and girls aged 3-18 years are established, it is useful for clinical work to evaluate physical development of children at different puberty phases.

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

AIM: To observe the clinical effects of different methods of internal limiting membrane peeling in vitrectomy in treatment of idiopathic macular hole(IMH)with macular hole closure index(MHCI)<0.7.

METHODS: Totally 88 patients(88 eyes)with MHCI<0.7 IMH admitted from May 2014 to May 2017 were randomly divided into group A(44 eyes underwent extended internal limiting membrane dissection)and group B(44 eyes underwent standard internal limiting membrane dissection). The closure of macular hole, best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central scotoma and complications were observed between the two groups.

RESULTS: At 6mo after operation, the closure rate of macular hole in group A was significantly higher than that in group B(91% vs 75%, P<0.05). At 6mo after operation, BCVA in group A was better than that in group B(0.47±0.05 vs 0.74±0.14, P<0.05). The percentage of central scotoma eyes was lower than that in group B(4% vs 23%, P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups(11% vs 9%, P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Extended internal limiting membrane dissection is more effective than standard internal limiting membrane dissection in the treatment of IMH with MHCI < 0.7, and the former is better for the recovery of retinal function.

AIM: To investigate the clinical effect of scleral buckling surgery combined with 23G vitrectomy in treatment of intraocular foreign body with retinal detachment.

METHODS: Totally 72 cases of patients with intraocular foreign bodies and retinal detachment admitted from January 2014 to January 2018 were selected and divided into the control group(36 cases)and the observation group(36 cases)by random number table method. The patients in the control group were treated with 23G vitrectomy surgery while patients in the observation group were treated with scleral buckling surgery on the basis of the treatment in the control group. The changes of intraocular pressure(IOP)and visual acuity, successful reset, recurrence and complications were observed before operation and 3mo after silicone oil was removed.

RESULTS: There was no difference in IOP and BCVA between the two groups before operation(P>0.05). Three months after silicone oil was removed, IOP and BCVA in two groups were significantly improved compared with those before operation(P<0.05). There was no difference between the two groups(P>0.05). The success rates of one-time anatomical reduction in the observation group and the control group were respectively 97% and 81%(P<0.05). The recurrence rates of the observation group and the control group were respectively 6% and 25%(P<0.05). The incidence of complications was 22% in the observation group and 31% in the control group(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The treatment of scleral buckling combined with 23G vitrectomy in the treatment of intraocular foreign body with retinal detachment can significantly improve the IOP and visual acuity of patients, improve the success rate of reduction, reduce recurrence, and have high safety.