Assessment of the causal relationship between inflammatory bowel diseases and chronic kidney diseases: A two-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization study among European population.

BACKGROUND: Kidney function can be impaired in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's diseases (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the causal relationship between IBD and chronic kidney diseases (CKD) remains unclear. METHODS: We determined the causal association between IBD and CKD by performing two-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Independent genetic variants were selected as instrumental variables (IVs) of the exposure from open-access genome-wide association studies (GWAS) among European ancestry. IVs-outcome estimates were extracted from three separate GWAS for IBD and two for CKD, respectively. Inverse-variance-weighted model was used as the primary MR method. The pleiotropic effect and heterogeneity were evaluated. For either direction, analyses were performed per outcome database and were subsequently meta-analysed. RESULTS: Genetically predicted IBD was associated with higher risk of CKD (OR: 1.045, 95% CI: 1.016-1.073, P = 0.002) by including 42 344 IBD cases and 229 164 controls. Further analyses showed genetic liability to CD increased the risk of CKD (OR: 1.057, 95% CI: 1.027-1.087, p < 0.001) whereas UC did not (OR: 0.999, 95% CI:0.969-1.031, p = 0.970). In contrast, genetically predicted CKD was not associated with IBD (OR: 1.010, 95% CI: 0.965-1.056, p = 0.676), UC (OR: 1.011, 95% CI: 0.948-1.078, p = 0.746) and CD (OR: 1.024; 95% CI: 0.963-1.089, p = 0.447). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that CD, but not UC, can increase the risk of CKD causally. CD, but not UC, can increase the risk of chronic kidney disease causally. These findings enhance our understanding of the differential impact of IBD subtypes on CKD. It may be necessary to monitor kidney function regularly in patients with CD.

A cross-sectional study on knowledge and behavior regarding medication usage among guardians of left-behind children: evidence from China.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge and behavior of medication use among guardians of left-behind children (LBC) and non-left-behind children (NLBC). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chengdu, the major city of southwestern China from May 2020 to August 2020. A logistic regression model was conducted to assess medication-related knowledge and behavior of guardians between the LBC group and NLBC group, adjusted for confounders. Stratified analysis was further performed. RESULTS: The overall mean scores for knowledge and for behavior were 20.22 (standard deviation = 4.472) and 15.77 (standard deviation = 3.604), respectively. No significant difference was found in medication-related knowledge and behavior scores between LBC and NLBC guardians (P > 0.05). A significant difference was only observed after adjusting for past medical history and history of present illness (HPI). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the awareness and behavior of medication use between guardians of LBC and NLBC in this study, having more contact with the doctor was an effective method of health education that could possibly improve their health literacy.

Analysis of pre-hospital delay in Chinese patients with diabetic foot ulcers: Based on 46 cases.

To study the causes of pre-hospital delay in Chinese patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). A retrospective study, investigating a case series of 46 DFUs treated at a single hospital, was conducted to evaluate wound condition, wound treatment, costs, and patients' complete medical records, and analyse the reasons causing the pre-hospital delay. We assessed 46 DFUs aged between 53 and 92 years old. The average pre-hospital delay was 5 months, with nearly 20% being delayed for more than 1 year. The average length of hospital stay in China was 21 days, with an average cost of $8672. Recurrence rate of DFUs was 21%, and three patients were recommended to transfer to upper-level hospital. Besides, the intervention was limited and homogenous and medical records were incomplete. Medical service users' limited understanding of diseases, high costs that patients need to afford, and unsatisfactory treatment by medical service providers are the main reasons for patients' delay in seeking treatment. Recommendations are offered to reduce the pre-hospital delay of Chinese patients with DFUs.

Clinical Decision Support Requirements for Ventricular Tachycardia Diagnosis Within the Frameworks of Knowledge and Practice: Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) diagnosis is challenging due to the similarity between VT and some forms of supraventricular tachycardia, complexity of clinical manifestations, heterogeneity of underlying diseases, and potential for life-threatening hemodynamic instability. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have emerged as promising tools to augment the diagnostic capabilities of cardiologists. However, a requirements analysis is acknowledged to be vital for the success of a CDSS, especially for complex clinical tasks such as VT diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to analyze the requirements for a VT diagnosis CDSS within the frameworks of knowledge and practice and to determine the clinical decision support (CDS) needs. METHODS: Our multidisciplinary team first conducted semistructured interviews with seven cardiologists related to the clinical challenges of VT and expected decision support. A questionnaire was designed by the multidisciplinary team based on the results of interviews. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: demographic information, knowledge assessment, practice assessment, and CDS needs. The practice section consisted of two simulated cases for a total score of 10 marks. Online questionnaires were disseminated to registered cardiologists across China from December 2022 to February 2023. The scores for the practice section were summarized as continuous variables, using the mean, median, and range. The knowledge and CDS needs sections were assessed using a 4-point Likert scale without a neutral option. Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to investigate the relationship between scores and practice years or specialty. RESULTS: Of the 687 cardiologists who completed the questionnaire, 567 responses were eligible for further analysis. The results of the knowledge assessment showed that 383 cardiologists (68%) lacked knowledge in diagnostic evaluation. The overall average score of the practice assessment was 6.11 (SD 0.55); the etiological diagnosis section had the highest overall scores (mean 6.74, SD 1.75), whereas the diagnostic evaluation section had the lowest scores (mean 5.78, SD 1.19). A majority of cardiologists (344/567, 60.7%) reported the need for a CDSS. There was a significant difference in practice competency scores between general cardiologists and arrhythmia specialists (P=.02). CONCLUSIONS: There was a notable deficiency in the knowledge and practice of VT among Chinese cardiologists. Specific knowledge and practice support requirements were identified, which provide a foundation for further development and optimization of a CDSS. Moreover, it is important to consider clinicians' specialization levels and years of practice for effective and personalized support.

The association between artificial light at night and gestational diabetes mellitus: A prospective cohort study from China.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) may be associated with diabetes. However, limited research explores the relationship between outdoor ALAN and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: We utilized data from a multilevel infant and early life cohort study conducted in Sichuan Province, China, between February 2018 and April 2021. A total of 9,120 participants were included in the final analysis. Outdoor ALAN exposure at participants' residential locations was estimated using time-varying satellite data, focusing on persistent night-time illumination at a scale of approximately 500x500m. The information about GDM was obtained from medical records. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines were employed to estimate the association between ALAN exposure during pregnancy and GDM. RESULTS: Among the total recruitments, 1,484 (16.27%) women were diagnosed with GDM. Compared to women without GDM, those with GDM had a significantly higher mean outdoor ALAN exposure during pregnancy (18.98 nW/cm2/sr1 vs 24.28 nW/cm2/sr1, P < 0.001). Results from multivariable logistic models showed that higher outdoor ALAN exposure during pregnancy could increase the risk of GDM (OR (95% CI) 1st+2nd trimesters ALAN = 1.253 (1.157-1.356)). Meanwhile, results from the restricted cubic spline further indicated a non-linear association between outdoor ALAN exposure during pregnancy and GDM. Generally, with the radiance of the first two trimesters of ALAN increasing to about 17.9 nW/cm2/sr1, outdoor ALAN exposure became a risk factor for GDM. However, when the radiance of ALAN reached about 40.7 nW/cm2/sr1, the continued increasing OR estimation (OR (95% CI) = 1.489 (1.223-1.814)) of outdoor ALAN changed to steady. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that high levels of outdoor ALAN exposure during pregnancy can be associated with an increased risk of GDM, and a non-linear relationship pattern might exist. These findings substantially augment existing evidence, positing outdoor ALAN as an emergent, modifiable risk factor for GDM.

Maternal Prenatal Depressive Symptoms and Fetal Growth During the Critical Rapid Growth Stage.

Importance: Fetal growth in the critical rapid growth stage (CRGS) before delivery, approximately between 30 to 37 gestational weeks, carries significant implications for subsequent overweight, obesity, and arterial health. Previous evidence has demonstrated the association between maternal depressive symptoms and fetal growth trajectories from early to late pregnancy, but there remains limited understanding of the association of these symptoms with the longitudinal fetal growth change within the CRGS. Objective: To investigate the association between maternal depressive symptoms and fetal growth during the CRGS before delivery. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective birth cohort study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020. Volunteer pregnant women were enrolled in their first trimester of prenatal visits. Women with severe disease before pregnancy and multiple births, fetuses with congenital anomalies, and preterm or postterm births were excluded. This multicenter study was based in 13 hospitals covering 81 counties across 12 cities in Sichuan Province, China. Follow-up visits were performed at the second trimester, the third trimester, and 24 hours after delivery. The analysis was conducted from January to May 2023. Exposures: Maternal depressive symptoms, as a continuous variable, measured by the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) at a median gestational week of 24 (range, 14 to 27) weeks of gestation. A higher score on the EPDS indicates worse depressive symptoms. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes included ultrasonography-measured biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), and abdominal circumference (AC), along with calculated estimated fetal weight (EFW). These parameters were evaluated longitudinally at a median gestational week of 30 (range, 28 to 32) and 37 (range, 35 to 39) weeks. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the associations between maternal depressive symptoms and fetal growth parameters. Results: A total of 2676 mother-offspring dyads were included, in which the mean (SD) age of mothers was 28.0 (4.4) years, and 1294 (48.4%) of the offspring were female. The median (IQR) maternal EPDS score was 5.0 (4.0 to 9.0). After adjustment for confounders, a significant correlation was found between a higher score of depressive symptoms in mothers and a slower rate of fetal growth across FL (ß = -0.40; 95% CI, -0.58 to -0.22), AC (ß = -1.97; 95% CI, -2.90 to -1.03), and EFW (ß = -50.11; 95% CI, -68.46 to -31.75). These associations were stronger in female fetuses or those with better family socioeconomic conditions. Conclusions and Relevance: In this prospective cohort study, maternal depressive symptoms were associated with slower fetal growth rate in the CRGS before delivery. Early screening for depressive disorders in pregnant women appears to be essential for fetal growth and later health.

The mediation effect of vitamin A and vitamin D supplement in the association between serum vitamin K levels and musculoskeletal disorders in preschool children.

Introduction: Vitamin K deficiency may elevate the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), whereas it lacks validation for pediatric populations and has uncertain dose recommendations. In this context, we hypothesized that serum vitamin K levels are associated with MSD in preschool children, and the widely used vitamin A and vitamin D supplements may mediate these associations based on potential mechanisms, which expects to provide guidance for future practice. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sichuan province in southwestern China, from January 2021 to May 2022. Serum levels of vitamin K1/K2 and 25(OH)D were determined using the high-performance liquid chromatography method, and the diagnosis of MSD was executed by clinicians. Overall and stratified logistic regression analysis based on categorized 25(OH)D levels were conducted to assess association between serum vitamin K levels and MSD prevalence after adjusting for confounders. Mediation analysis was further performed and vitamin A and D supplementation was regressed as the mediator. Results: A total of 6,368 children aged 0-6 years old were enrolled. MSD was identified in 1179 (18.51%) of the children, while 5,189 (81.49%) of them did not present such disorder. After adjusting confounders, a significant difference was found in serum vitamin K1 level between children in MSD and Non-MSD group (OR = 0.802, 95%CI 0.745-0.864). No significant difference was found in serum vitamin K2 level between the two groups (OR = 0.975, 95%CI 0.753-1.261). The association between vitamin K1 level and MSD prevalence was partly (36.8%) mediated by vitamin A and D supplementation. Conclusions: A low serum vitamin K1 level is connected with an increased risk of MSD among children, highlighting that vitamin A and D supplementation is a helpful intervention to prevent MSD in children with vitamin K deficiency.