[A study of the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome in drivers].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in drivers in Chengde city. METHODS: The prevalence of snoring and OSAHS in drivers was investigated by a questionnaire, and some of the drivers with more severe snoring were also evaluated by polysomnographic study. RESULTS: Among the 718 investigated drivers, never snoring was reported in 68.3% (490/718), mild snoring in 31.7% (228/718), and moderate and severe snoring in 16.6% (119/718). The prevalence of snoring increased with age. The prevalence of snoring was higher in males (33.6%) than in females (15.3%). When their knowledge of snoring was evaluated, 43.2% (310/718) thought snoring was not a disease, 16.7% (120/718) considered snoring as a disease but needed no treatment, 40.1% (228/718) considered it as a disease and needed treatment but only 1 had ever received treatment. If AHI > or = 5/h was used as the diagnostic criteria, the prevalence of OSAHS in the drivers was 12.3% (28/228); and if Epworth Sleepiness Scoring (ESS > or = 9) was combined, the prevalence of OSAHS was 4.1% (9/228). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of snoring in drivers was 31.7%, and the prevalence of OSAHS was 4.1%. Drivers need to be informed of the potential harm of OSAHS on their work.

Analysis of the risk factors for influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia.

Pneumonia is the most common complication of influenza A (H1N1). However, there has been no identification of any single initial symptom as an independent risk factor. In 2009, 206 patients were diagnosed with H1N1 in the Chengde area, China and they were assembled in the Chengde Hospital for Infectious Diseases. The diagnosis and treatment were performed in accordance with the Protocol for Diagnosis and Treatment of Influenza A (H1N1) (2009, third edition), issued by the General Office of the Ministry of Health, with detailed records by the medical staff assigned by the Bureau of Health of the Chengde government. All the patients had viral nucleic acid-positive throat swabs detected with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Based on the final imaging findings, patients were divided into the pneumonia and non-pneumonia groups for this case control study. The univariate analysis demonstrated that the ratios of patients aged 0-5 and ≥45 years, with underlying diseases, with initial symptoms including cough, expectoration and dyspnea and with onset-to-treatment interval of >48 h were higher in the pneumonia compared to the non-pneumonia group (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.018, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age 0-5 years, presence of underlying diseases, expectoration as the initial symptom and onset-to-treatment interval of >48 h were the independent risk factors for pneumonia with relative odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of 6.120 and 1.779-21.088, 11.188 and 2.021-61.935, 5.263 and 2.042-13.562, and 22.873 and 6.110-85.631, respectively (P<0.01). Therefore, it is recommended that patients with H1N1 presenting with expectoration as the initial symptom be treated with caution during influenza pandemics.

[Radial artery recurrent branch of styloid process bone flap transfer for treatment of scaphoid nonunion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of radial artery recurrent branch of the styloid process bone flap transfer for treatment of scaphoid nonunion. METHODS: From 2002 to 2007, 18 patients with scaphoid nonunion included 12 males and 16 females with an average age of 31.2 years old ranging from l8 to 51 years. Time from injury to operation was 8 to 26 months (averaged 12.5 months). Radial bone flap blood supply by radial artery recurrent branch of styloid process was embedded in retrograde scaphoid shift distance at both ends, Kirschner wire fixed on the bone flap and bone fractures, and the radial styloid process was resected. Cast gypsum immobilization in a neutral place of wrist were performed for 6 to 8 weeks, the rehabilitation of physical therapy and functional exercise were performed after removal. Kirschner wire were removed after X-ray showed fracture healing. RESULTS: Among them, 15 cases were followed-up for from 8 to 25 months (means 13 months). All fractures healed. The healing time was 8 to 12 weeks. According to adult forearm fracture evaluation of Anderson the results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 1. CONCLUSION: The radial artery recurrent branch of styloid process bone flap has a wealth of blood circulation, can make free grafting of the creeping substitution process directly into the healing process.

[Epidemiologic study on the relationship between smoking and sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how smoking was affecting the prevalence of sleep apnea/ hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) among adults aged over 30 years in Chengde city of Hebei province. METHODS: 1168 subjects, over 30 years of age were derived from a random sample from a community-based population in Shuangqiao district of Chengde city. All subjects responded to a questionnaire at their own houses regarding their habits of snoring and smoking. 1168 subjects (95.2%) answered the questions satisfactorily. RESULTS: (1) Among the smoking groups, the prevalence of snoring was 69.09%, higher than that in the nonsmoking groups 45.07% (P = 0.000). (2) In males, the smoking group had a higher prevalence (69.72%) of snoring than in the nonsmoking group (60.80%, P = 0.033). (3) Females in the smoking group had a higher prevalence of snoring (61.80%) than in the nonsmoking group (39.70%, P = 0.011). (4) The prevalence of snoring in males (60.80%) was significantly higher than that in females (39.70%, P = 0.000). (5) The prevalence (69.72%) of snoring in smoking males was similar to that in smoking females (61.80%, P = 0.336). (6) Data from logistic regression analysis indicated that smoking was one of the factors affecting snoring. (7) According to the degree of snoring, 127 moderate and severe snorers were measured by portable PSG for a whole night and the prevalence of SAHS was estimated. According to the AHI > or = 5 and the ESS > or = 9 cutoff-points, the prevalence rates of SAHS in smoking groups were both significantly higher than that in nonsmoking groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Smoking and snoring among adults aged over 30 years had correlation in our city.