Small Airway Dysfunction in Chronic Bronchitis with Preserved Pulmonary Function.

Impairment of pulmonary function was evaluated in chronic bronchitis patients with preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm). We retrospectively collected clinical data from 157 chronic bronchitis (CB) and 186 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients between October 2014 and September 2017. These patients were assigned to three groups: control (normal pulmonary function), PRISm (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]/forced vital capacity [FVC] ≥ 0.7, FEV1 < 80% of predicted value), and COPD (FEV1/FVC <0.7) groups. Because small airway function was the main focus, in the COPD group, only patients in accordance with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades 1 and 2 were included. Evaluation of pulmonary function (including impulse oscillometry) was performed and compared among these groups. Compared with the control group, the PRISm and COPD groups showed statistically significant differences in the predicted FEV1% (p < 0.001), maximal expiratory flow (MEF) 25% (p < 0.001), MEF50% (p < 0.001), maximal midexpiratory flow (MMEF) 25-75% (p < 0.001), residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC; p < 0.001), FVC% (p < 0.001), total respiratory resistance and proximal respiratory resistance (R5-R20; p < 0.001), respiratory system reactance at 5 Hz (X5; p < 0.001), resonant frequency (Fres; p < 0.001), and area of reactance (Ax; p < 0.001). However, the predicted FEV1% and RV/TLC were similar between the PRISm and COPD groups (p=0.992 and 0.122, respectively). PRISm is a nonspecific pattern of pulmonary function that indicates small airway dysfunction and may increase the risk of transformation to obstructive ventilation dysfunction. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-OCH-14004904.

Anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and related factors among Chinese population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

The sudden outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has deep and wide negative mental impacts on the public, and studies on the impact of COVID-19 on social and mental well-being are necessary. This study aimed to evaluate mental distress, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and its related risk factors in Chinese adults in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a large-scale cross-sectional design. A total of 2067 adult participants completed the online survey via REDcap from 1st to 15th of March 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and related risk factors, including self-efficacy, coping style, and social support, were measured using valid and reliable instruments. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. We found that 201 (9.7%) participants reported moderate-to-severe anxiety, 669 (33.8%) reported depression, and 368 (17.8%) reported symptoms of PTSD. Self-efficacy, coping style, and social support significantly affected anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 pandemic-related factors, low self-efficacy, low social support, and negative coping were predictors of mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study will help healthcare professionals carry out early predictions and identification of high-risk groups and provide appropriate interventions to target groups during public health emergencies that plague the world.

Role of the Emphysema Index Combined with the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test Score in the Evaluation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the emphysema index (EI) in distinguishing chronic bronchitis (CB) from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its role, combined with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, in the evaluation of COPD. Methods: A total of 92 patients with CB and 277 patients with COPD were enrolled in this study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed to evaluate whether the EI can preliminarily distinguish chronic bronchitis from COPD. Considering the heterogeneity of COPD, there might be missed diagnosis of some patients with bronchitis type when differentiating COPD patients only by EI. Therefore, patients with COPD were classified according to the CAT score and EI into four groups: Group 1 (EI < 16%, CAT < 10), Group 2 (EI < 16%, CAT ≥ 10), Group 3 (EI ≥ 16%, CAT < 10), and Group 4 (EI ≥ 16%, CAT ≥ 10). The records of pulmonary function and quantitative computed tomography findings were retrospectively analyzed. Results: ROC curve analysis showed that EI = 16.2% was the cutoff value for distinguishing COPD from CB. Groups 1 and 2 exhibited significantly higher maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) percent predicted (pred), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal midexpiratory flow of 25-75% pred, carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity (DLCO)/alveolar ventilation (VA), FEV1 % pred (p ≤ 0.013), and maximal expiratory flow 50% pred (all p < 0.05) than Group 4. FEV1/FVC and DLCO/VA were significantly lower in Group 3 than in Group 2 (p=0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). The residual volume/total lung capacity was higher in Group 3 than in Groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The combination of EI and CAT was effective in the evaluation of COPD.

Retraction Note to: Ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Retraction Note to: J Zhejiang Univ-Sci B (Biomed & Biotechnol) 2019 20(3):238-252. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1800122. The authors have retracted this article (Guo et al., 2019) because some data from the original literature had not been converted to appropriate units in the paper, which resulted in deviation of the meta-analysis results. For example, for the forest plot used to examine associations between PM10 exposure and the risk of adverse birth outcomes, the estimates from Brauer et al. (2008), Pedersen et al. (2013), Zhao et al. (2015), and Hansen et al. (2006) were on the originally reported scales of 1 µg/m3, 10 µg/m3, 10 µg/m3, and Inter Quartile Range, respectively. None of these estimates had been converted to 20 µg/m3 increase scale that was stated in the article. Similar problem exists in the analysis on associations between NO2 exposure and risk of adverse birth outcomes. Therefore, the results of the meta-analysis are misleading. All authors have agreed to this retraction and express their deepest apologies to the original authors, publishers, and readers.

Ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Several reviews have assessed the relationship between exposure to ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes during pregnancy, but the results remain controversial. The objective of this study was to assess this correlation quantitatively and to explore sources of heterogeneity. We included all published case-control or cohort studies that evaluated the correlation between ambient air pollution and low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA). Analytical methods and inclusion criteria were provided on the PROSPERO website (CRD42018085816). We evaluated pooled effects and heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses (grouped by exposure period, study settings, study design, exposure types, data source, Newcastle-Ottawa quality score (NOS), and adjustment for smoking or meteorological factors) were also conducted and publication bias was examined. The risk of bias in systematic reviews (ROBIS) tool was used to evaluate the overall risk of bias in this review. Forty studies met the inclusion criteria. We observed pooled odds ratios (ORs) of 1.03-1.21 for LBW and 0.97-1.06 for PTB when mothers were exposed to CO, NO2, NOx, O3, PM2.5, PM10, or SO2 throughout their pregnancy. For SGA, the pooled estimate was 1.02 in relation to NO2 concentrations. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis decreased the heterogeneity to some extent, such as the subgroups of continuous measures (OR=0.98 (0.97-0.99), I2=0.0%) and NOS>7 (OR=0.98 (0.97-0.99), I2=0.0%) in evaluating the association between PTB and NO2. This review was completed with a low risk of bias. High concentrations of air pollution were significantly related to the higher risk of adverse birth outcomes. However, the sources of heterogeneity among studies should be further explored.

Posterior atlantoaxial fusion with a screw-rod system: Allograft versus iliac crest autograft.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of allograft and iliac crest autograft in atlantoaxial fusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2012 and December 2012, 41 consecutive patients underwent posterior atlantoaxial fusion with a screw-rod fixation system in our spine center. The choice to use allograft or iliac crest autograft was made by the patient himself or herself after being informed about the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. In the allograft group, we used mixed material of morcellized demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft and local autograft for posterior atlantoaxial fusion. In the autograft group, we used the morcellized iliac crest autograft for fusion. Patients underwent regular follow up including CT scans and dynamic radiographs 6 months postoperatively and every 6 months thereafter until study completion or confirmation of fusion. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients underwent posterior atlantoaxial fusion with allograft, and 17 underwent fusion with autograft. All patients were followed up for at least 24 months. At the final follow-up visit, only two (8.3%) patients in the allograft group had confirmed posterior bony fusion on CT imaging while 15 (88.2%) patients in the autograft group had confirmed posterior bony fusion. None of the 41 patients had movement on the dynamic radiographs. CONCLUSIONS: Allograft is not reliable for posterior atlantoaxial fusion even with the rigid internal fixation of modern constructs. Autograft remains the first choice for atlantoaxial fusion despite the donor-site morbidity. The assessment of fusion based on a lack of movement on dynamic radiographs is not reliable. The confirmation of fusion should be based on the presence of bridging bone on CT imaging.