Acute and long COVID-19 symptoms and associated factors in the omicron-dominant period: a nationwide survey via the online platform Wenjuanxing in China.

BACKGROUNDS: To our knowledge, there is no available nationwide data on omicron symptom patterns in China mainland. We aim to determine the acute and long COVID-19 symptoms in the omicron-dominant period and to evaluate its association with risk factors. METHODS: We designed a cross-sectional nationwide study and data about self-reported symptoms were collected by an online platform named Wenjuanxing. Eligible participants were aged 25-65 years and were symptomatic. In this study, the ratios of the number of people of different ages and genders were weighted by the data from the Seventh National Census (2020 years), and validated by a published nationwide representative study through comparing smoking rates. Descriptive indicators were calculated for demographic characteristics, diagnosis ways, and duration time, acute symptoms, hospitalization, severity and long COVID-19 symptoms. And, the associations between risk factors and acute and long COVID-19 symptoms were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 32,528 individuals diagnosed as COVID-19 infection from October 1, 2022 to February 21, 2023 were included. The first three acute symptoms of COVID-19 infection were fever (69.90%), headache (62.63%), and sore throat (54.29%), respectively. The hospitalization rate within 7 days was 3.07% and symptoms disappearance rate within 21 days was 68.84%, respectively. Among 3983 COVID-19 patients with 3 months or more time difference between first infection and participation into the study, the long COVID-19 rate was 19.68% and the primary symptoms were muscle weakness (19.39%), headache (17.98%) and smell/taste disorder (15.18%). Age groups, smoking, marriage status and vaccination were risk factors for numbers of acute phase symptoms and long COVID-19 symptoms. Lastly, female and current smokers also showed more numbers of symptoms during acute infection period. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese mainland, our respondent indicated that current smokers and women were associated with acute COVID-19 symptoms, which should be treated with caution due to the lack of representative.

Real-World Treatment Adherence to Smoking Cessation Medications and Association with Treatment Outcome - 27 Centers, China, 2017-2022.

What is already known about this topic?: Medication non-adherence significantly impedes smoking cessation efforts. While effective smoking cessation medications are accessible in China, real-world adherence and its correlation with treatment outcomes remain largely unexplored. What is added by this report?: From December 2017 to January 2022, 1,120 participants were recruited from 27 centers in all seven geographical regions of China. Results revealed that only 38.2% of smokers adhered to the prescribed 12-week smoking cessation treatment and those with a higher education level were more likely to be adherent. In addition, smokers with good adherence were more likely to successfully quit smoking. What are the implications for public health practice?: The data obtained could enhance our understanding of smoking cessation practices in China. Improving adherence is a crucial strategy to enhance the effectiveness of smoking cessation treatments and management provided to smokers.

Efficacy of varenicline or bupropion and its association with nicotine metabolite ratio among smokers with COPD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nicotine metabolic ratio (NMR) has been associated with nicotine metabolism and smoking characteristics. However, there are few studies on the potential association between NMR and smoking cessation efficacy in smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China or elsewhere. METHODS: This study was a stratified block randomized controlled trial for smoking cessation in Chinese smokers with COPD. NMR was used as a stratification factor; slow metabolizers were defined as those with NMR <0.31, and normal metabolizers as those with NMR ≥0.31. Participants were randomly assigned to the varenicline or bupropion group. Follow-up visits were conducted at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 24 weeks. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-four participants were recruited and analysed from February 2019 to June 2022. In normal metabolizers, the 9-12 weeks continuous abstinence rate of varenicline (43.1%) was higher than in bupropion (23.5%) (OR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.05-5.78, p = 0.038). There was no significant difference in abstinence rates between treatment groups in slow metabolizers (54.1% vs. 45.9%, OR = 1.39, 95% CI 0.68-2.83, p = 0.366). For slow metabolizers, the total score of side effects in the varenicline group was significantly higher than the bupropion group (p = 0.048), while there was no significant difference in side effects between groups for normal metabolizers (p = 0.360). CONCLUSION: Varenicline showed better efficacy than bupropion in normal metabolizers, and bupropion showed equivalent efficacy in slow metabolizers with less side effects. According to our study, NMR provides a better justification for both scientific research and tailoring optimal pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among smokers in COPD.

Prevalence of cigarette use and addiction among Chinese females by age and province: Findings from nationwide China Health Literacy Survey during 2018-19.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cigarette smoking among women is significantly different from that of men, however, cigarette use by women is little known. The study aims to describe cigarette use prevalence and patterns among Chinese females by age and province. METHODS: This study was based on the 2018 China Health Literacy Survey (2018 CHLS), a nationally representative cross-sectional study, and our analysis included 43,319 female participants aged 20-69 with valid data. The prevalence of cigarette use was estimated overall by sociodemographic factors and weighted based on the census population data. The logistic regression model was conducted to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk factors associated with cigarette use and dependency. RESULTS: In China, the estimated female current cigarette use prevalence was 1.85%, with over half of the population suffering from tobacco dependence (7.34 million). Jilin Province has the highest cigarette prevalence among women (10.59%), while Fujian Province has the lowest (0.27%). Participants over 60 years old (aOR=1.61, 95%CI=1.20-2.14), single (aOR=1.54, 95%CI=1.07-2.21), with primary education (aOR=1.93, 95%CI=1.47-2.52) were more likely to smoke. The age of smoking initiation among women intergenerational advanced, and compared to the cigarette users without tobacco dependence, those who have tobacco dependence start smoking earlier in all age groups (25.69 years vs. 19.36 years, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The cigarette use prevalence among Chinese women was 1.85%, and there are significant differences among provinces. We noted a trend of women initiating smoking at increasingly younger ages, particularly among those with tobacco dependence.

Real-world tobacco cessation practice in China: findings from the prospective, nationwide multicenter China National Tobacco Cessation Cohort Study (CNTCCS).

Background: Tobacco cessation is proven to be the most effective and cost-effective strategy for smokers to reduce their risk of smoking-related disease and premature death. Providing effective, efficient, safe, and patient-centred tobacco cessation treatment to reach those who need them is a significant challenge. To date, only a few nationwide studies in China have assessed the overall clinical care practice and treatment outcome of tobacco cessation. Methods: This a prospective, nationwide, multicenter, cohort study covering all Eastern China, Northwest China, Central China, North China, Southwest China, Northeast China, and South China. Participants who were current smokers aged 18-85 years attending clinic for smoking cessation were included. All the participants were treated with 3-month cessation treatment and followed up for 3 months. Data were collected prospectively using online system. The primary outcome was 7-day point abstinence rate at 24 weeks, validated biochemically by an expired carbon monoxide level of less than 10 ppm. The participants lost to follow-up or not providing validation were included as non-abstainers. Findings: A representative sample of 3557 participants were recruited and 2943 participants were included into this analysis. These participants had mean age of 53.05 years, and 94.8% were males, with 75.8% showing symptoms of tobacco dependence. A total of 965 (32.8%) participants were treated with Bupropion + behavioural counselling, followed by 935 (31.8%) with behavioural counselling, 778 (26.4%) with Varenicline + behavioural counselling, 135 (4.6%) with alternative treatments + behavioural counselling, and 130 (4.4%) with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) + behavioural counselling. After 3-month treatment and 3-month follow-up, 21.74% of the participants quit smoking at 24 weeks. In the multivariable-adjusted analyses, quitting smoking was significantly associated with female, higher socioeconomic status, poor health condition, different treatment received, and less smoking intensity. The tobacco cessation treatment varied widely across different areas of China. In particular, the areas with higher usage of cessation medication were associated with better cessation treatment outcome. Interpretation: The CNTCCS is the first large-scale nationwide cohort study of smoking cessation in China. Rich data collected from this prospective cohort study provided the opportunity to evaluate the clinical practice of tobacco cessation treatment in China. Funding: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Initiative for Innovative Medicine (CAMS 2021-I2M-1-010), Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Key Program (2022ZXJ03C02), and National Key R&D Program of China (grant no. 2017YFC1309400).

Mobile Phone-Based Interventions for Smoking Cessation Among Young People: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Mobile phone-based cessation interventions have emerged as a promising alternative for smoking cessation, while evidence of the efficacy of mobile phone-based smoking cessation programs among young people is mixed. Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of mobile phone-based interventions compared to usual practice or assessment-only controls on smoking cessation in young people. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science on March 8, 2023. We included randomized controlled trials that examined the efficacy of mobile phone-based interventions on smoking cessation in young people (age ≤30 years). The risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane Risk of Bias 2. Results: A total of 13 eligible studies, comprising 27,240 participants, were included in this analysis. The age range of the participants was between 16 and 30 years. Nine studies were SMS text messaging interventions, and 4 studies were app-based interventions. The duration of the smoking cessation intervention varied from 5 days to 6 months. The included studies were conducted in the following countries: the United States, China, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, and Thailand. The meta-analysis revealed that SMS text messaging interventions significantly improved continuous abstinence rates compared to inactive control conditions (risk ratio [RR] 1.51, 95% CI 1.24-1.84). The subgroup analysis showed pooled RRs of 1.90 (95% CI 1.29-2.81), 1.64 (95% CI 1.23-2.18), and 1.35 (95% CI 1.04-1.76) for continuous abstinence at the 1-, 3-, and 6- month follow-up, respectively. Pooling across 7 studies, SMS text messaging interventions showed efficacy in promoting 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA), with an RR of 1.83 (95% CI 1.34-2.48). The subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant impact at the 1- and 3-month follow-ups, with pooled RRs of 1.72 (95% CI 1.13-2.63) and 2.54 (95% CI 2.05-3.14), respectively, compared to inactive control conditions. However, at the 6-month follow-up, the efficacy of SMS text messaging interventions in promoting 7-day PPA was not statistically significant (RR 1.45, 95% CI 0.92-2.28). In contrast, app-based interventions did not show significant efficacy in promoting continuous abstinence or 7-day PPA. However, it is important to note that the evidence for app-based interventions was limited. Conclusions: SMS text messaging-based smoking cessation interventions compared to inactive controls were associated with abstinence among young people and could be considered a viable option for smoking cessation in this population. More research is needed on smoking cessation apps, especially apps that target young people. Future research should focus on identifying the most effective mobile phone-based cessation approaches and on developing strategies to increase their uptake and intention.

Analysis of polyhalogenated carbazoles and two related compounds in earthworms using a modified QuEChERS method with GC/MS and GC/MS/MS.

A precise analytical method based on QuEChERS has been proposed for the concurrent determination of 11 polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs), benzocarbazole (BZCZ), and 9H-carbazoles (CZ). The quantification was confirmed by gas chromatography using triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (Shimadzu GC-MS/MS-TQ8040) and gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (Agilent 7890A-5973 GC-MS). The developed method was validated by testing the following parameters: linearity, instrument limit of detection (LOD), instrument limit of quantification (LOQ), method limit of detection (MLD), method limit of quantification (MLQ), matrix effect (ME), accuracy, and precision. All compounds showed good linearity in the range of 0.005-0.2 µg/mL with correlation coefficients higher than 0.992. The method demonstrated satisfactory recoveries (ranging from 71.21 to 105.04%) for most of the compounds with relative standard deviation precision (RSD) < 10.46%, except 3-BCZ (Recovery = 67.53%, RSD = 2.83%). The values of LOD and LOQ varied from 0.05 to 0.24 ng and 0.14 to 0.92 ng, respectively, while those of MLD and MLQ ranged from 0.02 to 0.12 ng/g wet weight (ww) and 0.07 to 0.45 ng/g ww, respectively. The developed method represents a reliable tool for the routine analysis of PHCZ congeners in invertebrate animals.

Utilization and Effectiveness of a Message-Based Tobacco Cessation Program (mCessation) in the Chinese General Population: Longitudinal, Real-world Study.

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials on text message interventions for smoking cessation have shown they are effective and recommended for tobacco control. However, the effectiveness in real-world settings is largely unknown, especially in low- and middle-income countries. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide real-world evidence about the utilization and effectiveness of a message-based tobacco cessation program (mCessation) in China. METHODS: From May 2021 to September 2022, 16,746 people from the general population participated in the mCessation program provided by the World Health Organization. All participants received text messages on smoking cessation via instant messaging for 6 months, and they were also required to report smoking status. We randomly selected 2500 participants and interviewed them by telephone to determine the 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate at 6 months. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze population characteristics and abstinence rate. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore risk factors for the abstinence rate. RESULTS: Among the 2500 participants, the mean age was 35 years, and most (2407/2500, 96.20%) were male. The prevalence of tobacco dependence and light degree of tobacco dependence were 85.70% (2142/2500) and 89.10% (2228/2500), respectively. For respondents (953/2500, 38.10%), the 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate at 6 months was 21.90% (209/953). Participants older than 40 years or with tobacco dependence had significantly higher abstinence rates than those who were younger than 30 years old (odds ratio [OR] 1.77, 95% CI 1.06-3.29) or without dependence (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.08-2.51), respectively. However, married people or heavily dependent smokers tended to find it more difficult to successfully quit smoking compared with unmarried people (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.34-0.93) or lightly dependent smokers (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.02-0.98), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world setting, mCessation China was generally acceptable to men and lightly dependent smokers, and it could help 1 in 5 smokers aged 18 years to 67 years quit smoking. However, strategies to increase awareness of young and married adults may improve implementation and abstinence rates.

Prevalence of tobacco dependence and associated factors in China: Findings from nationwide China Health Literacy Survey during 2018-19.

Background: Tobacco dependence is the key barrier to successful smoking cessation. However, little is known about its prevalence, sociodemographic characteristics and determinants. We aimed to estimate the prevalence, associated factors and burden of tobacco dependence in China. Methods: During 2018-2019, the nationally representative 2018 China Health Literacy Survey (2018 CHLS) invited 87,708 participants to participate using a multistage stratified sampling method from 31 provinces (or equivalent) in mainland China, and 84,839 participants aged 20-69 with valid data were included in the analysis. We diagnosed tobacco dependence based on international criteria (ICD-10, DSM-4) and tailored to Chinese population according to China Clinical Guideline for Tobacco Cessation (2015 version). The prevalence of tobacco dependence was estimated overall and by sociodemographic factors. The Logistic regression was conducted to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for tobacco dependence and success of smoking cessation (being ex-smokers), with different levels of adjustment. These were used to estimate the total number of adults who were tobacco dependent in China. Findings: In China, the estimated prevalence of current smoking was 25.1%, significantly higher in men than in women (47.6% vs 1.9%). The prevalence of current smoking varied approximately 3-fold (12.9% to 37.9%) across 31 provinces of China. Among general population aged 20-69 years, the prevalence of tobacco dependence was 13.1% (95% CI:12.2-14.1). Among current smokers, the prevalence of tobacco dependence was 49.7% (46.5-52.9%), with no difference between men and women (49.7% vs 50.8%). The prevalence of tobacco dependence was associated significantly with smoking intensity, defined by pack-years (1.62 [1.54-1.70] per 10 pack-years), cigarettes smoked per day (2.01 [1.78, 2.27] per 10 cigarettes), and smoking starting age (0.93 [0.90, 0.97] per 5 years). Given smoking intensity, the prevalence of tobacco dependence also varied by age, gender, certain socioeconomic status and regions. Compared with those without tobacco dependence, ever smokers with tobacco dependence were less likely to be ex-smokers (2.88, 2.59-3.21). In China, 183.5 (170.4-197.4) million adults (177.5 million were men) were tobacco dependent in 2018. Interpretation: In China, tobacco dependence is highly prevalent, with approximately half of current smokers being addictive, highlighting the need for coordinated effort to improve awareness, diagnosis and treatment of tobacco dependence. Funding: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Initiative for Innovative Medicine (CAMS 2021-I2M-1-010), National Key R&D Program of China (grant no 2017YFC1309400), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no 81720108001). Note: Chinese translation of abstract is available in appendix section.

The experience of tobacco withdrawal symptoms among current smokers and ex-smokers in the general population: Findings from nationwide China Health Literacy Survey during 2018-19.

Objective: To clarify the extent to which smokers in the general population experience tobacco withdrawal symptoms and whether such experience differs in those who continue to smoke and those who stopped smoking. Methods: We included relevant questions in the nationally-representative China Health Literacy Survey (CHLS) conducted in 2018-2019. Among 87,028 participants, there were 22,115 ever-smokers aged 20-69 years who provided information on their smoking history and their experience of tobacco withdrawal symptoms. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to explore the association between withdrawal symptoms and other variables. Results: Among ever-smokers, there were 19,643 (88.8%) current smokers and 2,472 (11.2%) ex-smokers. Among current smokers, 61.3% reported having tried to quit smoking in the past. Overall, 61.1% of current smokers reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms: 69.9% of those who tried to quit smoking in the past and 47.5% of those who did not. A lower proportion of ex-smokers experienced withdrawal symptoms (46.3%) and the difference remained significant after controlling for demographic characteristics (OR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.62-1.93, P < 0.001). The most commonly reported withdrawal symptoms in both current smokers and ex-smokers were craving, restlessness and anxiety. In the multivariable-adjusted analyses, those who experienced withdrawal symptoms when they tried to quit smoking (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.86-2.27) were less likely to successfully quit. Conclusions: The clinical picture of the tobacco withdrawal syndrome is the same in current smokers and in ex-smokers, but ex-smokers are less likely to have experienced it. The experience of discomfort when unable to smoke is common and seems likely to be a major factor contributing to maintaining smoking behavior not just among individuals seeking help with quitting smoking, but among smokers generally.

Differential Refractive Index Sensor Based on Coupled Plasmon Waveguide Resonance in the C-Band.

We proposed a differential fiber-optic refractive index sensor based on coupled plasmon waveguide resonance (CPWR) in the C-band. The sensor head is a BK7 prism coated with ITO/Au/ITO/TiO2 film. CPWR is excited on the film by the S-polarized components of an incident light. The narrow absorption peak of CPWR makes it possible to realize dual-wavelength differential intensity (DI) interrogation by using only one incident point. To implement DI interrogation, we used a DWDM component to sample the lights with central wavelengths of 1529.55 and 1561.42 nm from the lights reflected back by the sensor head. The intensities of the dual-wavelength lights varied oppositely within the measurement range of refractive index, thus, a steep slope was produced as the refractive index of the sample increased. The experimental results show that the sensitivity is 32.15/RIUs within the measurement range from 1.3584 to 1.3689 and the resolution reaches 9.3 × 10-6 RIUs. Benefiting from the single incident point scheme, the proposed sensor would be easier to calibrate in bio-chemical sensing applications. Moreover, this sensing method is expected to be applied to retro-reflecting SPR sensors with tapered fiber tip to achieve better resolution than wavelength interrogation.

Distribution and flux of organochlorine pesticides in sediment from Prydz Bay, Antarctic: Implication of sources and trends.

Surface sediments were collected from Prydz Bay, Antarctica to investigate the distribution patterns, origins, annual fluxes, and trends of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the marginal sea of polar areas. The concentrations of OCPs ranged from 0.80 to 7.90 ng/g dry weight, with dichlorodiphenytrichloroethanes (DDTs) as the main components. Levels of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and DDTs in sediment from Prydz Bay were comparable to the majority of marine sediment worldwide. The distributions of OCPs were characterized by a distinct "quasi-concentric circle" pattern, which has significantly positive relationship with total organic carbon (TOC) of sediment and controlled by the local hydrodynamic conditions and sources of organic matter. Source apportionment demonstrated that HCHs and chlordanes in Prydz Bay were mainly derived from the long range atmospheric transport (LRAT) of these compounds from off regions. However, current inputs of DDT-based compounds and lindane are suggested to exist either as a result of the LART from the neighbouring countries or re-emission from melting glacier. The annual sedimentary fluxes of OCPs were 0.007 to 7.12 pg/cm2/yr, about one to three orders of magnitude lower than some data from the Arctic areas. Based on a rough calculation of r-HCH, only 0.3-1.5% of the air-seawater net deposition would be buried in sediment, implying a long active lifetime of OCPs in Antarctica. We preliminarily indicate an increase of OCP contamination in Antarctic environment afterwards when considering the possible occurrence of "fresh" sources and low proportion of sedimentary sink.

APOE E4 is associated with hyperlipidemia and obesity in elderly schizophrenic patients.

Obesity is a critical issue in patients with schizophrenia, which is considered to be brought about by both environmental and genetic factors. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphisms might be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, however, the effect of APOE gene polymorphism on obesity has never been investigated in Chinese aging with schizophrenia. This cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of obesity on cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in elderly participants with schizophrenia. At the same time, we also discussed the inner link between APOE E4 and obesity. 301 elderly participants with schizophrenia and 156 normal controls were included in the study. Their cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and APOE gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence of obesity in elderly schizophrenic patients and healthy controls accounted for 15.9% (48/301) and 10.3% (16/156), respectively, with no statistically significant difference. By using stepwise linear regression analysis, we found that elevated fasting blood glucose, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were risk factors for obesity in elderly schizophrenic patients. Although there was no direct correlation between APOE E4 and obesity in patients with schizophrenia, it was significantly correlated with hyperlipemia(r = - 0.154, p = 0.008), suggesting that APOE E4 may induce obesity in elderly patients with schizophrenia through hyperlipemia, However, the above conclusions do not apply to the normal elderly. What's more, we did not find a link between obesity and cognitive function or mental symptoms for both patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. APOE E4 is associated with hyperlipidemia in elderly schizophrenic patients, which may be a risk factor for obesity, however, the above conclusion does not apply to the normal elderly.

Adherence and Efficacy of Smoking Cessation Treatment Among Patients with COPD in China.

BACKGROUND: Smoking cessation is a key intervention for all smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Poor treatment adherence is a challenge in clinical practice that might contribute to the lower efficacy of medication (eg, oral drug). However, it is unclear what factors will influence adherence among smokers with COPD. METHODS: This study was based on an open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT) of varenicline and bupropion for smoking cessation among patients with COPD in China. The medication was given for 12 weeks, and visits and assessments were conducted at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 24. We assessed whether the adherence to smoking cessation treatment affects the smoking cessation efficacy and evaluated predictors of adherence. RESULTS: A total of 136 participants were recruited from February 2019 to June 2020, and analyzed using the intention-to-treat (ITT) method. In this study, 48.5% (66/136) of the total participants had good adherence to smoking cessation, and good adherence significantly improved the efficacy of smoking cessation (OR=9.60, 95% CI 4.02-22.96, P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, nationality, education, and marital status, we found older age, higher education level, having more previous quitting attempts, stronger self-efficacy and preparation in quitting smoking, recognizing hazards of smoking, longer duration of COPD, and higher St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores were relevant to good adherence (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: To our best knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate adherence to smoking cessation treatment among patients with COPD in China. Our study found that good adherence to smoking cessation treatment significantly improved the smoking cessation efficacy, and predictors of adherence were evaluated. We call on the medical community to pay attention to the adherence to smoking cessation among patients with COPD.

Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Catheter for Transradial Cerebral Angiography.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel catheter for right radial artery approach cerebral angiography. METHODS: Patients from the Neurology Department of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University who underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography of either the left vertebral artery dominant type or balanced type were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients were treated between February 2016 and December 2017, of whom 44 were excluded based on study exclusion criteria and 123 were enrolled in the present analysis. Bilateral subclavian artery catheterization and bilateral common carotid artery catheterization were conducted successfully in all 123 patients. The success rate of selective catheterization of the left vertebral artery was 87.8% (108/123). The success rate of selective catheterization of the right vertebral artery using the novel catheter was 89.0% (73/82). The average fluoroscopy time was 6.5 ± 3.4 min, the average operation duration was 47 ± 3.7 (range 50-90) min, and the average dosage of contrast agent was 112.3 ± 8.1 mL. One patient exhibited an absence of pulse in the punctual radial artery after the removal of the arterial compression band, but there was no evidence of ischemia of the distal hand. One patient who was undergoing dual anti-platelet drug treatment suffered from bleeding at the puncture point when deflated for 2 hr after operation; this patient was re-pressurized and re-timed. CONCLUSIONS: This novel catheter improved the success rate of selective left vertebral artery catheterization, and allowed for simplification of the relevant surgical steps. The controllability of this novel catheter was satisfactory, and its associated surgical risk was found to be low.

Nursing resources and major immobility complications among bedridden patients: A multicenter descriptive study in China.

BACKGROUND: Being bedridden, which is a common clinical phenomenon, causes a series of complications related to immobilization. Effective management of immobility complications requires a reasonable allocation of nursing resources. Unit-level evidence about the relationship between nursing resources and immobility complications is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into nursing resources in China and explore the relationship between nursing resources and the incidence of major immobility complications among bedridden patients. The major immobility complications included in our study were pressure ulcers, deep vein thrombosis, pneumonia and urinary tract infection. DESIGN: A nationwide, multicenter, cross-sectional survey. SETTING: From November 2015 to June 2016, 18 hospitals (six tertiary and 12 secondary) from six provinces and cities in different geographic regions (eastern, southern, western, northern and central) in China participated in our study. PARTICIPANT: Intensive care units, internal medicine and surgery wards with high proportions of bedridden patients were chosen as investigation sites. Of the total of 23,637 available patients in the selected wards, 19,530 were recruited. METHODS: Data on nursing resources and ward characteristics were collected mainly by questionnaire. The incidence of major immobility complications among bedridden patients was measured by trained investigators. Data on patient characteristics were collected from the patient record system of each hospital. Multilevel regression analysis was used to estimate the impact of nursing resources on the incidence of major immobility complications, adjusting for patient and ward characteristics. RESULTS: The study included 23,637 patients in 213 wards, and 19,530 were recruited. The incidence of the four complications was 0.77% (pressure ulcers), 0.82% (deep vein thrombosis), 3.39% (pneumonia) and 0.86% (urinary tract infection), and the overall incidence of major immobility complications was 5.41%. The incidence of major immobility complications was higher in wards not attaining the target bed-to-nurse ratios than in those that met these criteria (ß = 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02-0.87; OR = 1.553, 95% CI: 1.002-2.387). The incidence of major immobility complications was negatively associated with the proportion of nurses with intermediate or senior job titles (ß = -2.12, 95% CI: -3.78 to -0.45; OR = 0.120, 95% CI: 0.023-0.638). However, the incidence of major immobility complications was unexpectedly positively associated with the proportion of nurses with a bachelor's degree or higher (ß = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.31-1.81; OR = 2.886, 95% CI: 1.363-6.110). CONCLUSIONS: Sufficient nurse staffing and higher professional titles of nurses might contribute to reducing the incidence of major immobility complications. Nurse experience was not related to the incidence of major immobility complications. However, the association between nurse education level and the incidence of major immobility complications requires further investigation. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: More nurses,especially nurses with higher professional titles may reduce the incidence of major immobility complications.

The Effect of Vascular Morphology on Selective Left Vertebral Artery Catheterization in Right-sided Radial Artery Cerebral Angiography.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine, via retrospective study, the effects of vascular morphology and related factors on the success of selective arterial catheterization of the left vertebral artery when approached via right-sided radial artery cerebral angiography. METHODS: Patients who had undergone diagnostic cerebral angiography were enrolled, and their medical history, catheter type, and vessel morphology were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 205 patients were enrolled in this study from February 2014 to December 2015. After exclusion according to defined criteria, 161 patients were incorporated into the final analysis. Selective catheterization of the bilateral subclavian artery and the bilateral common carotid artery were conducted successfully in all patients, and the success rate of selective catheterization of the left vertebral artery was 82.0%. The success rate of the left vertebral artery catheterization was positively correlated with the angle between the left vertebral artery and the left subclavicular artery (P < 0.001), with 90° serving as a demarcation point, and this was higher in patients without innominate artery distortion (90.2-75.0%), although this finding was not statistically significant. However, the morphology of the aortic artery did not affect the success rate of selective catheterization of the left vertebral artery (P = 0.189), and there was no significant difference (P = 0.231) in the success rate of selective catheterization if the left vertebral artery was predominant (91.0%, 81/89) or balanced (84.7%, 61/72). A total of 0.9% (2/161) of the patients experienced surgery-related complications. Both these patients exhibited bleeding at the puncture point when they were deflated 2 hr after the operation. They were pressurized and depressurization was again conducted for an appropriate period of time. CONCLUSIONS: The angle between the left vertebral artery and the left subclavicular artery is the primary vessel-associated morphological factor affecting the success rate of selective catheterization of the left vertebral artery in the right-sided radial artery cerebral angiography, while innominate artery distortion also had some more limited impact on this success rate.

Nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications among bedridden patients: A prospective multicentre study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications (pressure ulcers, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and urinary tract infections) and explore the correlation of nurses' knowledge and attitudes with the incidence of these complications. BACKGROUND: Immobility complications have adverse consequences, and effective management requires appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills. Evidence about nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding immobility complications is lacking. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 3,903 nurses and 21,333 bedridden patients from 25 hospitals in China were surveyed. Nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications were assessed using researcher-developed questionnaires. The content validity, reliability and internal consistency of the questionnaires were validated through expert review and a pilot study. The incidence of major immobility complications among bedridden patients from selected wards was surveyed by trained investigators. Correlations between knowledge, attitudes and the incidence of major immobility complications were evaluated with multilevel regression models. RESULTS: Mean knowledge scores were 64.07% for pressure ulcers, 72.92% for deep vein thrombosis, 76.54% for pneumonia and 83.30% for urinary tract infections. Mean attitude scores for these complications were 86.25%, 84.31%, 85.00% and 84.53%, respectively. Knowledge and attitude scores were significantly higher among nurses with older age, longer employment duration, higher education level, previous training experience and those working in tertiary hospitals or critical care units. Nurses' knowledge about pressure ulcers was negatively related to the incidence of pressure ulcers, and attitude towards pneumonia was negatively correlated with the incidence of pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Clinical nurses have relatively positive attitudes but inadequate knowledge regarding major immobility complications. Improved knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications may contribute to reducing these complications. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nursing managers should implement measures to improve nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications to reduce the incidence of these complications in bedridden patients.

Naringenin reduces oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial dysfunction via activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in neurons.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are considered to be major contributing factors in the development and progression of many neurodegenerative diseases. Naringenin (NAR) is an abundant flavanone in the Citrus genus and has been found to exert antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic effects. However, the potential underlying mechanism of its antioxidant effects remains unclear. In the present study, the authors investigated the antioxidant effect of NAR on neurons in vitro. Neurons isolated from the brains of Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, model group, NAR-L group, NAR-M group and NAR-H group. The model group received hypoxia and re-oxygenation treatment, and the NAR-L, NAR-M and NAR-H groups received 20, 40 and 80 µM NAR, respectively. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in each group were detected by chloromethyl-2',7'dichlorodihydro fluorescein diacetate staining, and differences in mitochondrial dysfunction were analyzed through measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (∆ψm), adenine nucleotide translocase transport activity and adenine nucleotide levels. MTT and flow cytometry assays were also used to analyze cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the effects of NAR on the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway were investigated using small interfering RNA methods. The authors detected an increased accumulation of ROS in the model group, and high-dose NAR could significantly reduce the levels of ROS. Furthermore, NAR could improve mitochondrial dysfunction, as indicated by increased levels of high-energy phosphates, enhanced mitochondrial ANT transport activity and increased mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, NAR increased cell viability and decreased the rate of cell apoptosis. NAR also increased the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream target genes. These findings demonstrated that NAR could reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial dysfunction via activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in neurons.

The Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway Mediates the Antagonist Effect of L-Arginine On Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is the most common cause of acute renal injury. I/R-induced oxidative stress is involved in the development of acute renal injury, which can be reversed by supplementation with L-arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide (NO). This study was conducted to evaluate alterations in the expression of transcription factors [nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1)] and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in the kidney of I/R-induced injury rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h. Group 1, Sham; group 2, I/R; group 3, L-arginine; and group 4, L-arginine+zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP). The levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum nitric oxide (NO), histic malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined, and the expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, NF-κB, and HSP70 were evaluated. RESULTS: The treatment of rats with L-arginine produced a significant reduction in the levels of BUN, Scr, MDA and a significant enhancement in the level of NO and in the activity of SOD compared to renal I/R groups. The expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and HSP70 were strongly increased, and the expression of NF-κB and production of ROS were significantly decreased in the L-arginine group compared to that of the I/R group. ZnPP increased renal damage and displayed effects opposite to those of L-arginine. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that L-arginine/NO reduces renal dysfunction associated with I/R of the kidney and may act as a trigger to regulate the NF-κB, HSP70 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling cascades.