Association between serum transferrin saturation levels and heart failure in adults aged ≥40 years: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES (2017-2020.03).

Background: Limited data are available regarding the association between serum transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels and heart failure (HF). Methods: We utilized data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017- 2020.03 for analysis. Data on TAST, HF and covariates were extracted and analyzed. Weighted logistic regression and subgroup analysis were used to explore the independent association between TSAT and HF. Furthermore, interaction tests were also carried out to evaluate the strata differences. We subsequently assessed whether there was a non-linear relationship between the 2 using Restricted cubic spline (RCS) and threshold effect models. Result: A total of 282 (3.87%) participants were identified to have HF. Among the total population, participants with HF had significantly lower TSAT levels compared to those without HF (24.63 vs. 27.95, P = 0.001). After fully adjusting for potential confounders, weighted multiple logistic regression models revealed a 2.6% reduced in the risk of HF when each unit of TSAT increased. There was also a negative association between elevated TSAT and developed risk of HF in the quartile groups (Q1 OR:1.00; Q2 OR: 0.924 [95%CI:0.593,1.440]; Q3 OR: 0.515 [95%CI:0.298,0.891]; Q4 OR:0.411 [95%CI:0.201,0.839]). The subgroup analysis results remained consistent across strata, with a strong negative correlation between TSAT and HF. Interaction tests showed no dependence on gender, age, Body Mass Index, race, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, ratio of family income to poverty and education for this negative association between TSAT and HF (all p for interaction >0.05). The RCS and threshold effect models indicated a linear negative correlation between TSAT and HF, which was more pronounced when TSAT under 40%. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest a consistent and negative association between TSAT levels and the presence of HF among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.

Using Fe/H2O2-modified biochar to realize field-scale Sb/As stabilization and soil structure improvement in an Sb smelting site.

Antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) released from the Sb smelting activities pose a major environmental risk and ecological degradation in Sb smelting sites. Here the effects of Fe/H2O2 modified biochar (Fe@H2O2-BC) on the synchronous stabilization of Sb/As and the improvement of soil structure in a typical Sb smelting site in Southern China based on a 1-year field experiment were studied. Application of ≥1 % (w/w) Fe@H2O2-BC could stably decrease the leaching concentrations of Sb and As of the polluted soils to Environmental quality standards for surface water Chinese Level III (GB3838-2002). Compared to the untreated soils, the stabilization efficiency of soil Sb and As treated by Fe@H2O2-BC reached 90.7 % ~ 95.7 % and 89.6 % ~ 90.8 %, respectively. The residue fractions of Sb/As in the soils increased obviously, and the bio-availability of Sb/As decreased by 65.0-95.6 % and 91.1-96.0 %, respectively. Moreover, Fe@H2O2-BC addition elevated soil organic carbon content, increased soil porosity, and improved water retention capacity, indicating the positive effects on soil structure and functions. Advanced mineral identification and characterization systems showed that Sb/As usually occurred in Fe-bearing minerals and stabilized by surface complexation and co-precipitation. The findings demonstrated that 1 % (w/w) Fe@H2O2-BC was appropriate to Sb/As stabilization and soil function recovery following field conditions, which provided potential application for ecological restoration in Sb smelting sites.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Duloxetine and Gabapentin in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) is a common chronic pain condition affecting diabetic patients and has growing importance because of the increasing prevalence of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pain is the most troublesome symptom of DPNP, increasingly recognized as an important and independent feature of DPNP. This meta-analysis aims to compare the efficacy and safety of duloxetine and gabapentin in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) and therefore to provide evidence-based medicine for clinical treatment. Methods: Relevant randomized controlled trials on duloxetine versus gabapentin for DPNP were searched from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database from database inception to October 2021. The data were analyzed by RevMan 5.3 software. Results: Seven studies were included. The results showed that, at the end of the study, duloxetine was significantly superior to gabapentin in terms of the incidence of adverse reactions (RR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45-0.79, P < 0.01), sleep interference score (SMD = -0.35, 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.08, P < 0.05), but no significant differences in VAS score (SMD = -0.14, 95% CI: -0.31-0.03, P > 0.05), overall response rate (RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.92-1.20, P > 0.05), and clinical global impression of change (SMD = 0.07, 95% CI: -0.20-0.35, P > 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with gabapentin, duloxetine has no obvious advantage in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuralgia, but it has less side effects and significantly higher safety.

Effect of nursing mode under the seamless connection between operating room and ward on severe traumatic brain injury patients in coma.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to test the effects of the nursing mode under the seamless connection between operating room and ward on severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) patients in coma period. METHODS: Totally, 120 STBI inpatients in coma admitted to our hospital from June 2018 to June 2019 were recruited and equally randomized into a study group and a control group. The control group underwent routine neurosurgery nursing, while the study group received nursing with seamless connection between the operating room and the ward. Clinical effects of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: No significant differences were shown in terms of gender ratio, age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, clinical manifestations and residence between the two groups of patients (P > 0.05); the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of the two groups of patients after nursing were significantly higher than those before nursing (P < 0.001), and the GCS score of patients in the study group after nursing was found to be higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001); no discernable difference in Barthel index between the two groups of patients after one week of nursing was observed (P > 0.05), and the Barthel index of the patients in the study group after 1 month and 2 months of nursing was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.001); neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and myelin basic protein (MBP) in the study group after nursing were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.001); the total clinical effective rate of the study group was found to be significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05); for the recovery time, the study group performed better than the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The nursing with seamless connection between operating room and ward has the potential to improve the degree of coma in STBI patients and their activities of daily living.

[Nursing of advanced schistosomiasis patients: a report of 52 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reasonable nursing interventions of advanced schistosomiasis patients. METHODS: The medical records of 52 advanced schistosomiasis patients hospitalized from 2008 to 2013 were collected, and the nursing interventions were summarized. RESULTS: The 52 cases of advanced schistosomiasis included 38 men and 14 women, with a mean age of 65.8 years (57-75 years). Totally 53.8% of the subjects were schistosome positive by IHA test, 67.3% positive by ELISA, and 21.2% positive of HBsAg. There were 13 cases of ascites type, 34 cases of megalosplenia type, and 5 cases of dwarfism type of advanced schistosomiasis. Following the therapy together with nursing interventions, 73.1% achieved clinical cure, 23.1% achieved stable, and 3.8% achieved improvement. The major nursing interventions involved basic nursing, diet nursing, treatment nursing, physiological nursing and surgical nursing. CONCLUSION: The scientific and reasonable nursing interventions can improve the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis in advanced schistosomiasis patients, as well as improve their quality of life.