Low back pain in medical workers and its influencing factors.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of occupational lower back pain (OLBP) among medical workers and identify the contributing factors. METHODS: An electronic questionnaire was distributed to medical workers at Yuebei People's Hospital to gather information on various factors, including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), length of employment, job role, education level, professional title, marital status, fertility status, frequency of night shift, weight lifting daily, duration of daily standing at work, frequency of bending, work-related stress, experience with low back protection training, and frequency of waist exercises. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with OLBP in medical workers. RESULTS: Out of the 98 medical workers surveyed, 67 experienced OLBP (68.37%). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that working for more than 5 years, holding a nursing position, and lacking training in low back protection were significant risk factors for developing OLBP in medical workers (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: OLBP is a prevalent issue among medical workers, and various factors such as length of employment, job role, and training in low back protection can influence its occurrence.

Ability of the coronary angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance to predict microvascular obstruction in patients with ST-segment elevation.

Background: The coronary angiography-derived index of microvascular resistance (caIMR) correlates well with the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), which predicts microvascular obstruction (MVO). However, the relationship between caIMR and MVO remains unclear. Aim: To evaluate the predictive ability of caIMR of MVO after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: CaIMR was calculated using computational flow and pressure simulation in patients with STEMI in whom MVO status had been assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) after successful primary percutaneous intervention at Peking University First Hospital between December 2016 and August 2019. The clinical, biochemical, echocardiographic, and CMR characteristics were assessed according to MVO status. The predictive value of the clinical parameters and caIMR was evaluated. Results: Fifty-three eligible patients were divided into an MVO group (n = 32) and a no-MVO group (n = 21). The caIMR tended to be higher in the MVO group (41.6 U vs. 30.1 U; p = 0.136). CaIMR and peak cardiac troponin-I (cTNI) were independent predictors of MVO (per 1-U increment in caIMR: odds ratio [OR] 1.044, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.004-1.086, p = 0.030; per 1 ng/L increase in peak cTNI: OR 1.018, 95% CI 1.003-1.033, p = 0.022). In receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, when a cut-off value of 45.17 U was used, caIMR had some ability to predict MVO (area under the curve 0.622, 95% CI 0.478-0.752, p = 0.127). Conclusions: CaIMR and peak cTNI were independent predictors of short-term MVO in patients with STEMI who had undergone successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention and may help to identify those at high risk of MVO.

Discontinuation of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Discontinuation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the potential danger has been reported in several studies. However, a comprehensive analysis has not been conducted. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the effects of discontinuation of RAS inhibitors in CKD. METHOD: Relevant studies up to November 30, 2022, were identified in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Efficacy outcomes included the composite of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Results were combined using a random-effects or fixed-effects model, and sensitivity analysis used the leave-one-out method. RESULTS: Six observational studies and one randomized clinical trial including 244,979 patients met the inclusion criteria. Pooled data demonstrated that discontinuation of RAS inhibitors was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.23-1.63), cardiovascular event risk (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.17-1.22), and ESKD (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.49). In sensitivity analyses, the risk for ESKD was reduced. Subgroup analysis showed that the risk of mortality was more pronounced in patients with eGFR above 30 mL/min/m2 and in patients with hyperkalemia-related discontinuation. In contrast, patients with eGFR below 30 mL/min/m2 were at great risk of cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: The discontinuation of RAS inhibitors in patients with CKD was associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. These data suggest that RAS inhibitors should be continued in CKD if the clinical situation allows.

Case Report: Combination of Pressure Guidewire and Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Drug-Coated Balloon Revascularization for Renal Artery Fibromuscular Dysplasia.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is the second common cause of renovascular hypertension. With the advent of endovascular therapy, angiography has become a diagnostic gold standard for FMD. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) by reflecting in vivo histology may improve diagnostic and classification accuracy. Renal fractional flow reserve (rFFR), measured by pressure guidewire, may distinguish the patients who may benefit from revascularization by identifying physiologically significant stenoses. However, the role of usage of both OCT and rFFR is not well-studied. We herein report a 17-year-old male with renovascular hypertension due to FMD. Angioplasty of drug-coated balloon (DCB) guided by OCT and FFR favorably achieved blood pressure (BP) control. In conclusion, the utility of both OCT and FFR may be useful for the appropriate selection of patients with renal FMD.

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Bufei Granule on Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Based on Existing Evidence.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Bufei granule on stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We retrieved data from PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CNKI, Wanfang, and WeiPu (VIP) for studies focusing on whether the TCM Bufei granule would be effective in treating stable COPD. No language restriction and blinding were used. All trials involved were examined based on the standards of the Cochrane Handbook, and Review Manager 5.3 software was applied for analyzing data. We included four studies involving 599 patients with stable COPD. When compared to placebo treatment, TCM Bufei granule intervention exhibited improvement in the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.70; range, 0.50-0.91; I 2 = 0%), forced vital capacity (FVC) (SMD = 0.43; range, 0.23-0.62; I 2 = 0%), FEV1 percentage of predicted value (FEV1%) (SMD = 0.57; range, 0.38-0.76; I 2 = 4%), and FEV1/FVC (SMD = 0.69; range, 0.50-0.87; I 2 = 0%). There was a statistically significant difference in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores between the TCM Bufei granule and placebo treatments (SMD = -1.29; range, -2.32 to -0.26, I 2 = 97%). None of the studies reported any adverse events. Therefore, TCM Bufei granule intervention could help in improving the lung function and quality of life in patients with stable COPD.