Intrinsic capacity decline as a predictor of functional disability in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the predictive value of intrinsic capacity decline on functional disability among the elderly. DESIGN: Meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Wanfang Database, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Weipu Database (VIP), and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) were searched for relevant studies published from the inception until June 1, 2024. Stata 17.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. The methodological quality was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. The overall quality of evidence used GRADE guidelines to assess. A study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023475461). RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 8 cohort studies including 9744 elderly people. Functional disability including ADL disability (n = 6) and IADL disability (n = 7). The results showed that intrinsic capacity decline could predict ADL disability (HR = 1.08, 95 %CI 1.04-1.12; I2 = 98.2 %, P < 0.001) and IADL disability (HR = 1.11, 95 %CI 1.05-1.17; I2 = 96.4 %, P < 0.001). The overall risk of bias was low. And the grade of evidence that assessed by GRADE guidelines was rated as moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Intrinsic capacity decline is a predictor of functional disability in the elderly. Therefore, screening intrinsic capacity decline has important clinical implications for early identifying the risk of functional disability, which contributes to providing individualized interventions ahead of potential functional disability for the elderly, thereby preventing functional disability, improving the quality of life and promoting healthy aging.

Selective admission policy of medical undergraduates in western China: applicants' real attitudes to the choice of a rural medical career.

INTRODUCTION: Since 2010, the Chinese government has been introducing selective admission policy to recruit rural students for 5-year western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine undergraduate education in order to improve rural townships' medical services system in western China. This study aimed to analyse the selective admission policy in western China from the perspective of medical students' attitudes towards rural career choice. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted and an anonymous questionnaire was used to investigate a sample of medical undergraduates chosen under the selective admission policy. RESULTS: The results indicate that medical undergraduates' enthusiasm to work in rural areas was very limited in Gansu province, western China. Extrinsic motivation played a more important role in rural career choice than intrinsic motivation. The students' attitudes were affected by socioeconomic and cultural conditions, which determined their personal and professional environment. Course major and family economic conditions were associated with their self-decisions. CONCLUSION: Further educational intervention should emphasise the students' humanistic inner qualities and recognition of professional value. Further policy adjustment should considered, for example improving social policy-based regional character and national development strategies.

Association between Short-Term Exposure to Air Pollution and Dyslipidemias among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Northwest China: A Population-Based Study.

Air pollution exposure may play an adverse role in diabetes. However, little data are available directly evaluating the effects of air pollution exposure in blood lipids of which dysfunction has been linked to diabetes or its complications. We aimed to evaluate the association between air pollution and lipids level among type 2 diabetic patients in Northwest China. We performed a population-based study of 3912 type 2 diabetes patients in an ongoing cohort study in China. Both spline and multiple linear regressions analysis were used to examine the association between short-term exposure to PM10, SO2, NO2 and total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). By spline analyses, we observed that the relationship between SO2 and HDL-C and LDL-C was shown to be non-linear (p_non-lin-association = 0.0162 and 0.000). An inverted U-shaped non-linear relationship between NO2 and LDL-C was found (p_non-lin-association < 0.0001). A J-shaped non-linear relationship between PM10 and TC, HDL-C (p_non-lin-association = 0.0173, 0.0367) was also revealed. In linear regression analyses, a 10 µg/m³ increment in SO2 was associated with 1.31% (95% CI: 0.40-2.12%), 3.52% (95% CI: 1.07-6.03%) and 7.53% (95% CI: 5.98-9.09%) increase in TC, TG and LDL-C, respectively. A 10 µg/m³ increment in PM10 was associated with 0.45% (95% CI: 0.08-0.82%), 0.29% (95% CI: 0.10-0.49%) and 0.83% (95% CI: 0.21-1.45%) increase in TC, HDL-C and LDL-C, respectively. For NO2, an increment of 10 µg/m³ was statistically associated with -3.55% (95% CI: -6.40-0.61%) and 39.01% (95% CI: 31.43-47.03%) increase in HDL-C and LDL-C. The adverse effects of air pollutants on lipid levels were greater in female and elder people. Further, we found SO2 and NO2 played a more evident role in lipid levels in warm season, while PM10 appeared stronger in cold season. The findings suggest that exposure to air pollution has adverse effects on lipid levels among type 2 diabetes patients, and vulnerable people may pay more attention on severe air pollution days.

[Disease burden of gastric cancer in Jinchang cohort].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the current status of disease burden caused by gastric cancer in Jinchang cohort. METHODS: In this historical cohort study, the data of gastric cancer deaths from 2001 to 2013 and the medical records of gastric cancer cases from 2001 to 2010 in Jinchang cohort were collected to analyze the mortality, potential years of life lost (PYLL), working PYLL (WPYLL) associated with gastric cancer, and the medical expenditure data were used to evaluate the direct economic burden. Spearman correlation analysis and the average growth rate were used to describe the change trend of disease burden of gastric cancer. RESULTS: A total of 213 gastric cancer deaths occurred in Jinchang cohort from 2001 to 2013. The average annual crude mortality rate of gastric cancer was 38.30 per 100,000 in Jinchang cohort during 2001-2013 and no obvious change was observed. The crude mortality rate in males was 6.84 times higher than that in females. Gastric cancer death mainly occurred in age group 50-79 years (82.62%), while the mortality rates was increasing among the people under 50 years with an average annual increase rate of 0.77%. The annual average PYLL (APYLL) and average WPYLL (AWPYLL) caused by gastric cancer decreased by 8.43% and 10.46%, respectively. No obvious change in medical expenditure of gastric cancer cases was observed in Jinchang Cohort during 2001-2010, and the medical expenditure and average daily cost of hospitalization were 8102.23 Yuan, and 463.45 Yuan per capita, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of disease for gastric cancer was heavy in Jinchang cohort. The PYLL and WPYLL had no change, while the APYLL and AWPYLL showed a increasing trend during the last ten years. Direct economic burden of inpatients with gastric cancer had no change.

[Spatial clustering of hand-foot-mouth disease in Gansu, 2012].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the spatial distribution and spatial clustering of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in Gansu, 2012. METHODS: Spatial autocorrelation and Spatial scanning analysis were used to conduct spatial statistical analyses for the HFMD at the county/district level. RESULTS: HFMD cases did not show a random distribution but with significant spatial aggregation. When Local Autocorrelation analysis was applied at the county/district level, with nine hot spot areas as Jiayuguan, Yumen, Dunhuang, Jinta, Suzhou, Chengguan, Anning, Xigu and Gaolan, were discovered. Four statistically significant HFMD clusters were identified by spatial scan statistics. CONCLUSION: HFMD was noticed geographically clustered in Gansu in 2012. Results from this study indicated that the spatial autocorrelation and spatial scanning analysis could effectively detect the areas which presenting significant clusters. Cluster Detection System (CDS) could provide evidence for the development of an effective measure concerning the prevention and control of HFMD.

Etiological epidemiology of viral diarrhea on the basis of sentinel surveillance in children younger than 5 years in Gansu, northwest China, 2009-2013.

To explore the etiological spectrum of diarrhea and its epidemiological characteristics in diarrhea symptoms surveillance cases younger than 5 years from 2009 to 2013 in Gansu province, northwest China. Systematic diarrhea symptoms surveillance were conducted in 27 sentinel sites in Gansu province and outpatients with three or more loose, watery, or sticky pus stools per day were defined as surveillance cases. All stool specimens were tested for Rotavirus, Human calicivirus, Adenovirus, and Astrovirus. Totally, 1,119 cases (51.54%) were identified as any enteric virus. The average isolation rate of Rotavirus was 51.13%, Astrovirus was 10.84%, Adenovirus was 6.94%, and Human calicivirus was 6.60% (P < 0.01). Rotavirus was identified with the highest frequency among these enteric pathogens except in 2011, with a notable downward trend over time (P < 0.01). Rotavirus A was the most proportion in rotavirus, G3P[8] and G9P[8] were the most common combination. Rotavirus mixed Human calicivirus infections was the most common mixed infected patterns. Viral-positive rate was higher among children aged group of 0-12 and 13-24 months (P < 0.01, respectively). The isolation rates of four enteric viral pathogens showed a similar distinct seasonal variation with a higher rate in spring, autumn, and winter months. Rotavirus was the major epidemiological viral pathogen in diarrhea symptom surveillance cases in Gansu province, northwest China, during period 2009-2013. Seasonal and age-related variations were observed in enteric viral pathogen isolation rate. The comprehensive and continuous surveillance is needed to identify the prevalence of different enteric viral pathogens.