Enhanced external counterpulsation increases coronary flow reserve in coronary microvascular disease.

OBJECTIVES: To investigates the outcomes of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) among coronary microvascular disease (CMD) patients. METHODS: Coronary microvascular disease patients were separated into the EECP (n=41) and control cohorts (n=42). Prior to and following the 4-week EECP program, coronary flow reserve (CFR) was recorded using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. The serum endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) contents were analyzed by ELISA. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina class. RESULTS: After four weeks, CFR was substantially enhanced in the EECP versus control cohort (p<0.05). Endothelin-1 was strongly diminished whereas eNOS was considerably upregulated in the EECP cohort. EECP also enhanced patients' SAQ scores and decreased the CCS angina class. CONCLUSION: Enhanced external counterpulsation may improve CFR and enhance the CMD patient QoL.

Chinese expert consensus on interventional diagnosis and management of acquired digestive-respiratory tract fistulas (second edition).

Acquired digestive-respiratory tract fistulas occur with abnormal communication between the respiratory tract and digestive tract caused by a variety of benign or malignant diseases, leading to the alimentary canal contents in the respiratory tract. Although various departments have been actively exploring advanced fistula closure techniques, including surgical methods and multimodal therapy, some of which have gotten good clinical effects, there are few large-scale evidence-based medical data to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment. The guidelines update the etiology, classification, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of acquired digestive-respiratory tract fistulas. It has been proved that the implantation of the respiratory and digestive stent is the most important and best treatment for acquired digestive-respiratory tract fistulas. The guidelines conduct an in-depth review of the current evidence and introduce in detail the selection of stents, implantation methods, postoperative management and efficacy evaluation.

The Vaccine Hesitancy Profiles and Determinants of Seasonal Influenza among Chinese Community Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This paper is an evaluation of seasonal influenza vaccination hesitancy (IVH) and its determinants among community HCWs in Chongqing, a city in southwest China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 1030 community HCWs with direct or indirect patient contact was conducted from July to September 2021 using a self-administered electronic questionnaire. Possible factors for IVH among community HCWs were investigated by multivariable logistic regression to yield adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Overall, 46.2% of community HCWs were vaccinated in the 2020-2021 season, while 65.8% of community HCWs had IVH. "Don't know the coverage in China" (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01-2.11; 40-year-old group OR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.92-4.76), "complacency" (OR: 4.55, 95% CI: 3.14-6.60) were positively related with having IVH. The community HCWs that had a history of influenza vaccination (OR: 0.67 95% CI: 0.48-0.95) and groups with confidence and convenience (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.06-0.12; OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.23-0.52, respectively) were more likely to completely accept vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Measures such as improving the awareness and knowledge of influenza and vaccination and expanding the free vaccination policy, combined with improving the convenience of the vaccination service, will promote increased seasonal influenza vaccination-coverage in community HCWs in Chongqing.

Optimal BMI cutoff points in obesity screening for Chinese college students.

Objective: An accurate BMI classification system specific to the population is of great value in health promotion. Existing studies have shown that the BMI recommended cut-off value for adults is not suitable for college students. Thus, the current study aims to identify optimal BMI cutoff points in obesity screening for Chinese college students. Methods: Anthropometric assessments were performed on 6,798 college students (Male = 3,408, Female = 3,390) from three universities in Jiangsu, China. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to establish the standardized models to estimate anthropometry for male and female students. Further indices were derived from the assessments, including body mass index (BMI), relative fat mass (RFM), obesity degree percentage (OBD%), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BF%). The anthropometric index with the highest correlation to the models for male and female students were selected as the gold standard for obesity screening. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to evaluate diagnostic value of each anthropometric index according to the area under curve (AUC). Youden index maximum points determined the optimal cutoff points with the highest accuracy in obesity screening. Results: The anthropometric models for both male and female students consisted of three factors. Vervaeck index was selected as the gold standard for obesity screening. By comparing AUC of the anthropometric indices, we found BMI provided the highest value in obesity screening. Further analysis based on Youden index identified the optimal BMI of 23.53 kg/m2 for male and 23.41 kg/m2 for female. Compared with the universal standard recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), the adjusted BMI criteria were characterized by high sensitivity as well as specificity. Conclusion: BMI is the most appropriate anthropometric index of obesity screening for Chinese college students. The optimal cutoff points were lower than the WHO reference. Evidence substantiated the adjusted BMI criteria as an effective approach to improve accuracy of obesity screening for this population.

Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis and management of acquired respiratory-digestive tract fistulas.

Acquired respiratory-digestive tract fistulas occur with abnormal communication between the airways and digestive tract, causing the interflow of gas and liquid. Despite advances in surgical methods and the development of multimodal therapy in recent years, patients with acquired respiratory-digestive tract fistulas continue to exhibit unfavorable clinical outcomes. Therefore, in order to guide clinical practice in China, the Respiratory and Cancer Intervention Alliance of the Beijing Health Promotion Association organized a group of experienced experts in the field to develop this consensus document. Based on a study of clinical application and expert experience in the diagnosis and management of acquired respiratory-digestive tract fistulas at home and abroad, an Expert Consensus was developed. The panelists recruited comprised experts in pulmonology, oncology, thoracic surgery, interventional radiology, and gastroenterology. PubMed, Chinese Biology Abstract, Chinese Academic Journal, and Wanfang databases were used to identify relevant articles. The guidelines address etiology, classification, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of acquired respiratory-digestive tract fistulas. The statements on treatment focus on the indications for different procedures, technical aspects, and preprocedural, post-procedural and complication management. The proposed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acquired respiratory-digestive tract fistulas are the first to be published by Chinese experts. These guidelines provide an in-depth review of the current evidence and standard of diagnosis and management.

Intravascular ultrasound-guided unprotected left main coronary artery stenting in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could improve clinical outcomes compared with angiography-guided PCI in the treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis (ULMCA) in the elderly. METHODS: This controlled study was carried out between October 2009 and September 2012, in Qinhuangdao First Hospital, Hebei Province, China. One hundred and twenty-three consecutive patients with ULMCA, aged 70 or older, were randomized to an IVUS-guided group and a control group. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE): death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularizations) were recorded after 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: The IVUS-guided group had a lower rate of 2-year MACE than the control group (13.1% versus 29.3%, p=0.031). The incidence of target lesion revascularization was lower in the IVUS-guided group than in the control group (9.1% versus 24%, p=0.045). However, there were no differences in death and myocardial infarction in the 2 groups. On Cox proportional hazard analysis, distal lesion was the independent predictor of MACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.99, confidence interval [CI]: 1.129-2.367; p=0.043); IVUS guidance was independent factor of survival free of MACE (HR: 0.414, CI: 0.129-0.867; p=0.033). CONCLUSION: The use of IVUS could reduce MACE in elderly patients undergoing ULMCA intervention.

Clinical outcomes of transradial unprotected left main coronary artery stenting in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term results in elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents for unprotected left main coronary artery disease by transradial approach. METHODS: This study took place in Qinhuangdao First Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China between October 2006 and December 2009. Seventy-nine elderly patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis, aged >70 years, that underwent drug-eluting stent were evaluated. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke or target lesion revascularizations) was recorded after 3 years of follow-up. RESULTS: After 3 years follow-up, the MACE free survival rate was 72.2%. Cardiac deaths occurred in 7.6% of patients. Myocardial infarction occurred in 5.1%, and target lesion revascularization in 13.9% of patients. Age and left main distal bifurcation were favorable predictors of MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous coronary intervention can be performed with good angiographic and clinical results through a transradial approach in the elderly. The long term survival suggests that PCI in ULMCA patients ≥ 70 years is safe and efficacious.