Epidemiology of Takayasu arteritis in Shanghai: A hospital-based study and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a rare large vessel vasculitis, and epidemiological data on TAK are lacking in China. Thus, we designed this study to estimate the TAK prevalence and incidence in residential Shanghai, China. METHODS: Data on diagnosed TAK cases aged over 16 years were retrieved from 22 tertiary hospitals in Shanghai through hospital electronic medical record systems between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017 to estimate the prevalence and incidence. A systematic literature review based on searches in PubMed, Ovid-Medline, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was performed to summarize TAK distribution across the world. RESULTS: In total 102 TAK patients, with 64% female, were identified. The point prevalence (2015-2017) was 7.01 (95% CI 5.65-8.37) cases per million, and the mean annual incidence was 2.33 (1.97-3.21) cases per million. The average age of TAK patients was 44 ± 16 years, with the highest prevalence (11.59 [9.23-19.50] cases per million) and incidence (3.55 [0.72 3.74] cases per million) in the 16 to 34 years population. Seventeen reports were included in the system review, showing that the epidemiology of TAK varied greatly across the world. The incidence and prevalence were both relatively higher in Asian countries, with the prevalence ranging 3.3-40 cases per million and annual incidence ranging 0.34-2.4 cases per million. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and incidence of TAK in Shanghai was at moderate to high levels among the previous reports. The disease burden varied globally among racial populations.

The risk factors for nosocomial infection in chinese patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in shanghai.

Objective. To analyse the potential risk factors of nosocomial infections in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A total of 2452 active RA patients at Hospitals in Shanghai between January 2009 and February 2011 were analyzed. Their demographic and clinical characteristics were compared with those without infection, and the potential risk factors were determined by logistic regression analysis. Results. Multivariate analysis indicated the gender (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.53-0.92), duration in hospital (OR = 1.03 , 95%CI 1.01-1.05), number of organs involved (OR = 0.82, 95%CI 0.72-0.92), number of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs ((DMARDs) (OR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.061-1.40)), corticosteroid therapy (OR = 1.02, 95%CI 1.01-1.03), peripheral white blood cell counts ((WBC) (OR = 1.04, 95%CI 1.00-1.08)), levels of serum albumin (OR = 0.98, 95%CI 0.97-0.99), and C-reactive protein ((CRP) (OR = 1.03 , 95%CI 1.01-1.04)) that were significantly associated with the risk of infections. Conclusion. The female patients, longer hospital stay, more organs involved, more DMARDs, corticosteroid usage, high counts of WBC, lower serum albumin, and higher serum CRP were independent risk factors of infections in active RA patients.

[Clinical study on Fufang Sishen Decoction in treating arrhythmia after virus myocarditis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Fufang Sishen Decoction (FFSSD) on arrhythmia after virus myocarditis. METHODS: One hundred and two cases of arrhythmia after virus myocarditis were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group was treated with FFSSD, 6 g, b.i.d.; and the control group with propafenone, 150 mg, q 8 h. The therapeutic effects were observed in 4 weeks. RESULTS: The total anti-arrhythmia effects of FFSSD and propafenone were 71.9% and 78.9% respectively (P>0.05). FFSSD took effects relatively slowly with mild and lasting effect. CONCLUSION: The curative effect of FFSSD in treating arrhythmia after virus myocarditis is confirmed. FFSSD has no obvious side effects.