Body Mass Index is Associated with blood pressure and vital capacity in medical students.

BACKGROUND: The widely reported associations between body mass index (BMI) and various chronic diseases, such as hypertension and asthma, have garnered significant attention. Nonetheless, there remains a dearth of research dedicated to understanding the health impacts of medical school on the students, who experience considerable academic pressure. In that context, this study was driven by the goal of investigating the intricate interplay between BMI, blood pressure (BP), and vital capacity among medical students. METHODS: This study included a cohort of 843 medical students enrolled at Southern Medical University who were selected through random cluster sampling. Within this cohort, measurements of height, weight, BP, and vital capacity were taken. Subsequently, both BMI and vital capacity index (VCI) were calculated for each participant. By categorizing the subjects into four groups according to BMI classifications, a comprehensive analysis that included correlation assessments and binomial logistic regression was conducted. RESULTS: Within the participant pool, 9.4% and 3.8% of participants were classified as overweight and obese, respectively. Additionally, the prevalence of prehypertension, hypertension, and poor VCI was 18.1%, 2.7%, and 13.5%, respectively. Notably, male students exhibited a higher prevalence of the aforementioned health issues than their female counterparts. Correlation analysis revealed that BMI displayed positive associations with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and vital capacity (r = 0.372, 0.257, 0.428; P < 0.001). However, an inverse correlation emerged between BMI and VCI (r = -0.284, P < 0.001). Further analysis revealed that overweight and obese individuals faced an elevated risk of high blood pressure ([OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.15-3.67] and [OR 5.44, 95% CI 2.28-13.02], respectively) compared to their normal-weight counterparts. Moreover, these groups also exhibited a higher risk of poor VCI ([OR 5.25, 95% CI 3.04-9.06] and [OR 15.61, 95% CI 6.81-35.81], respectively), while underweight subjects experienced a reduced risk ([OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.07-0.52]). CONCLUSIONS: BMI demonstrated a notably strong positive correlation with both BP and vital capacity and a negative correlation with VCI. Therefore, for medical students as well as the daily health care of patients, weight control is recommended to better combat obesity-related diseases, for example, cardiopulmonary diseases, gout and diabetes.

Establishment and validation of the prediction model for postoperative delirium risk factors in older patients after total knee arthroplasty: A retrospective study.

This study aimed to establish an effective predictive model for postoperative delirium (POD) risk assessment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in older patients. The clinical data of 446 older patients undergoing TKA in the Orthopedics Department of our University from January to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the POD risk prediction model of older patients after TKA was established. Finally, 446 patients were included, which were divided into training group (n = 313) and verification group (n = 133). Logistic regression method was used to select meaningful predictors. The prediction model was constructed with nomographs, and the model was evaluated with correction curve and receiver operating characteristic curve. The logistic regression analysis showed that age, educational level, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, accompaniment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, accompaniment of cerebral stroke, postoperative hypoxemia, long operation time, and postoperative pain were independent risk factors for POD after TKA (P < .05). The nomogram prediction model established. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of the model group and the validation group were 0.954 and 0.931, respectively. The calibration curve of the prediction model has a high consistency between the 2 groups. The occurrence of POD was associated with age, educational level, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, accompaniment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, accompaniment of cerebral stroke, postoperative hypoxemia, long operation time, and postoperative pain in TKA patients.

Influence of health education based on the transtheoretical model on kinesiophobia levels and rehabilitation outcomes in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of health education based on the transtheoretical model in reducing symptoms of kinesiophobia and enhancing rehabilitation outcomes among elderly patients post-total knee arthroplasty. Methods: Elderly patients post-knee replacement surgery were randomly divided into a control group, which received standard health education, and an experimental group, which received transtheoretical model-based health education. The intervention commenced on the day after surgery and continued for a duration of six months. Assessments of kinesiophobia scores, rehabilitation self-efficacy, and knee function were conducted before the intervention, and then at one, three, and six months postoperatively. Results: Between January 2022 and December 2022, 130 elderly patients who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled and subsequently randomly assigned into two groups of equal size. Comparable baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups The experimental group demonstrated lower kinesiophobia scores and higher scores in rehabilitation self-efficacy and knee function at one, three, and six months following surgery, compared to the control group. Conclusion: Health education based on a transtheoretical model reduces the symptoms of kinesiophobia and enhances rehabilitation self-efficacy and knee functions in elderly patients after knee replacement surgery.

Application of national early warning score in assessing postoperative illness severity in elderly patients with gastrointestinal illnesses.

BACKGROUND: Population aging is a social problem that is being faced in most countries. OBJECTIVE: To apply the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) for an early warning on the vital signs and consciousness of elderly patients who are hospitalized in the gastrointestinal surgical department and to provide a reference for early detection of changes in illness severity in elderly patients by studying the correlation between NEWS value and changes in illness severity. METHODS: We enrolled 528 elderly patients who were hospitalized in the gastrointestinal surgical department of a tertiary grade A hospital in Guizhou Province between June 2020 and May 2021, to analyze how NEWS max value correlates with illness severity and obtain the optimal NEWS cutoff value for both potentially critically ill and critically ill elderly patients using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in NEWS values between elderly patients with various illness severities (P< 0.05). NEWS values correlated positively with illness severity (r= 0.605, P< 0.001). Based on the ROC curve, early warning trigger values for NEWS to identify potentially critically ill, critically ill and terminally ill elderly patients were 6, 7 and 8, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for potentially critically ill, critically ill and terminally ill elderly patients was 0.907, 0.921 and 0.939, respectively. NEWS performed better in detecting patient illness severity than Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) in AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and Youden's index, with statistically significant differences (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: An early warning on the vital signs and consciousness of hospitalized elderly patients using NEWS can facilitate advanced detection of changes in illness severity of elderly patients by medical staff and enable timely treatment, thus significantly lowering the risks of illness deterioration.

Preparation of a Dmap-Catalysis Lignin Epoxide and the Study of Its High Mechanical-Strength Epoxy Resins with High-Biomass Content.

The depletion of limited petroleum resources used for the fabrication of epoxy resins calls for the development of biomass-based epoxides as promising alternatives to petroleum-derived epoxides. However, it is challenging to obtain an epoxy resin with both high lignin content and excellent mechanical performance. Herein, a 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-lignin epoxide with a certain epoxy value and a small molecular weight is obtained by the catalysis of DMAP for the macromolecular lignin. It was discovered that compared to the prepared composite resin of benzyltriethylammonium chloride (BTEAC)-lignin epoxide, there is a better low-temperature storage modulus for the DMAP-lignin epoxide resin and its composite resins with high-biomass contents, and higher tensile strength for its composite resins. In particular, the DMAP-lignin epoxide/ bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) (DB) composite resin with DMAP-lignin epoxide replacement of 80 wt% BADGE, containing up to 58.0 wt% the lignin epoxide, exhibits the tensile strength of 76.3 ± 3.2 MPa. Its tensile strength is 110.2% of BTEAC-lignin epoxide/BADGE (BB) composite resins and is comparable to that of petroleum-based epoxy resins. There are good application prospects for the DB composite resin in the engineering plastics, functional composite, grouting, and other fields.

A self-supported electrode for supercapacitors based on nanocellulose/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polypyrrole composite.

A robust self-supported electrode based on nanocellulose fibers (CNF), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT), and polypyrrole (PPy) was prepared by a facile combination of ultrasonic dispersion and consequent in situ polymerization. In addition, the feasibility of utilizing this ternary composite as an electrode for supercapacitors was studied. The results revealed that the obtained CNF/CNT/PPy composite exhibited a large specific capacitance of 200.8 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1. Equally important, the electrode capacitance retained about 90% of its initial value after 5000 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 1 A g-1, which thus demonstrated its excellent cycling stability. The simple integration route and outstanding electrochemical properties distinguish this new composite as a prospective candidate for use as a high-performance electrode in supercapacitors.

The Design of Elderly Fracture Rehabilitation Software Based on "Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model".

Guided by the information-motivation-behavioral skills IMB) model theoryan application software with the man-machine interactive unity is designed for meeting the elderly fracture patients' rehabilitation. The software is based on the present situation and rehabilitation needs of elderly patients with fracture rehabilitation training. It provides professional guidance and rehabilitation intervention, influences the rehabilitation behavior of elderly fracture patients from information and motivation factors, and promotes the quality of the implementation of active rehabilitation.