A systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes between dusting and fragmentation in retrograde intrarenal surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Comparing stone-free rates and associated outcome measures between two surgical modalities of lithotripsy fragmentation and removal or spontaneous passage of dust during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). METHODS: In March 2023, we conducted a literature search in several widely used databases worldwide, including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. We only considered English articles and excluded pediatric patients. Reviews and protocols without any published data were excluded. We also excluded articles with conference abstracts and irrelevant content. We used the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method and random-effects models to assess inverse variances and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mean differences in categorical variables. The results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Our final meta-analysis included nine articles, comprising two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and seven cohort studies. The total number of patients included in these studies was 1326, and all studies used holmium laser lithotripsy. The pooled analysis of the dust and fragmentation groups showed that the fragmentation group had a higher stone-free rate (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.41 - 0.89; p = 0.01); the dust group had a shorter operative time (WMD - 11.6 min; 95% CI - 19.56 - -3.63; p = 0.004); and the dust group had a higher retreatment rate (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.31 - 3.13; p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of length of hospital stay, overall complications, or postoperative fever. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that both procedures could be safely and effectively used for upper ureteral and renal calculi lithotripsy, the dust group had potential advantages over the fragmentation group in terms of the operation time, and the fragmentation group had certain advantages in terms of stone-free rate and retreatment rate.

The association between the dietary pattern in abdominal obesity based on visceral fat index and dyslipidaemia in the Henan Rural Cohort Study.

The present study aimed to explore the association between dietary patterns in abdominal obesity obtained by reduced-rank regression (RRR) with visceral fat index (VFI) as a dependent variable and dyslipidemia in rural adults in Henan, China. A total of 29538 people aged 18-79 were selected from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. RRR analysis was used to identify dietary patterns; logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline regression models were applied to analyze the association between dietary patterns in abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia. VFI was used as a mediator to estimate the mediation effect. The dietary pattern in abdominal obesity was characterized by high carbohydrate and red meat intake and low consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. After full adjustment, the highest quartile of dietary pattern scores was significantly associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia (OR: 1·33, 95 % CI 1·23-1·44, Ptrend < 0·001), there was a non-linear dose-response relationship between them (Poverall-association < 0·001, Pnon-lin-association = 0·022). The result was similar in dose-response between the dietary pattern scores and VFI. The indirect effect partially mediated by VFI was significant (OR: 1·07, 95 % CI 1·06-1·08). VIF explained approximately 53·3 % of odds of dyslipidemia related to the dietary pattern. Abdominal obesity dietary pattern scores positively affected VFI and dyslipidemia; there was a dose-response in both relationships. Dyslipidemia progression increased with higher abdominal obesity dietary pattern scores. In addition, VFI played a partial mediating role in relationship between abdominal obesity dietary pattern and dyslipidemia.

Prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease and diabetic kidney disease in a central Chinese urban population: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate and update the current prevalence of and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in a central Chinese urban population. METHODS: From December 2017 to June 2018, a total of 5231 subjects were randomly enrolled from 3 communities in 3 districts of Zhengzhou. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min.1.73m2 or urinary albumin to creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g (albuminuria). Diabetic subjects with systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg, albuminuria or an eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were classified as having DKD. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing lifestyle and relevant medical history, and blood and urine specimens were taken. Serum creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and urinary albumin were assessed. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalences of CKD and DKD were calculated, and risk factors associated with the presence of reduced eGFR, albuminuria, DKD, severity of albuminuria and progression of reduced renal function were analyzed by binary and ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall adjusted prevalence of CKD was 16.8% (15.8-17.8%) and that of DKD was 3.5% (3.0-4.0%). Decreased renal function was detected in 132 participants (2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5-3.2%), whereas albuminuria was found in 858 participants (14.9, 95% CI: 13.9-15.9%). In all participants with diabetes, the prevalence of reduced eGFR was 6.3% (95% CI = 3.9-8.6%) and that of albuminuria was 45.3% (95% CI = 40.4-50.1%). The overall prevalence of CKD in participants with diabetes was 48.0% (95% CI = 43.1-52.9%). The results of the binary and ordinal logistic regression indicated that the factors independently associated with a higher risk of reduced eGFR and albuminuria were older age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, overweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows the current prevalence of CKD and DKD in residents of Central China. The high prevalence suggests an urgent need to implement interventions to relieve the high burden of CKD and DKD in China.

Association of TCF7L2 and GCG Gene Variants with Insulin Secretion, Insulin Resistance, and Obesity in New-onset Diabetes.

This cohort study was designed to evaluate the association of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) and proglucagon gene (GCG) variants with disordered glucose metabolism and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a rural adult Chinese population. A total of 7,751 non-T2DM participants ⋝18 years old genotyped at baseline were recruited. The same questionnaire interview and physical and blood biochemical examinations were performed at both baseline and follow-up. During a median 6 years of follow-up, T2DM developed in 227 participants. After adjustment for potential contributory factors, nominally significant associations were seen between TT genotype and the recessive model of TCF7L2 rs7903146 and increased risk of T2DM [hazard ratio (HR)=4.068, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.270-13.026; HR=4.051, 95% CI: 1.268-12.946, respectively]. The TT genotype of rs7903146 was also significantly associated with higher fasting plasma insulin level and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in case of new-onset diabetes. In addition, the TCF7L2 rs290487 TT genotype was associated with abdominal obesity and the GCG rs12104705 CC genotype was associated with both general obesity and abdominal obesity in case of new-onset diabetes.

Resting heart rate as a marker for identifying the risk of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Fast resting heart rate might increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, it is unclear whether resting heart rate could be used to predict the risk of undiagnosed T2DM. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to examine the association between resting heart rate and undiagnosed T2DM, and evaluate the feasibility of using resting heart rate as a marker for identifying the risk of undiagnosed T2DM. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Resting heart rate and relevant covariates were collected and measured. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure blood glucose using the modified hexokinase enzymatic method. Predictive performance was analyzed by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: This study included 16, 636 subjects from rural communities aged 35-78 years. Resting heart rate was significantly associated with undiagnosed T2DM in both genders. For resting heart rate categories of <60, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 beats/min, adjusted odds ratios for undiagnosed T2DM were 1.04, 2.32, 3.66 and 1.05, 1.57, 2.98 in male and female subjects, respectively. For male subjects, resting heart rate ≥70 beats/min could predict undiagnosed T2DM with 76.56% sensitivity and 48.64% specificity. For female subjects, the optimum cut-off point was ≥79 beats/min with 49.72% sensitivity and 67.53% specificity. The area under the ROC curve for predicting undiagnosed T2DM was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.64-0.66) and 0.61(95% CI: 0.60-0.62) in male and female subjects, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fast resting heart rate is associated with an increased risk of undiagnosed T2DM in male and female subjects. However, resting heart rate as a marker has limited potential for screening those at high risk of undiagnosed T2DM in adults living in rural areas.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of perineal hydrodissection in perioperative, oncologic, and functional outcomes for patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

This study aims to compare the perioperative, oncological, and functional outcomes of perineal hydrodissection (HD) with standard treatment (ST) in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. We performed an exhaustive search in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, seeking English-language studies relevant to our research question, with a cutoff date of April 2024. The pooled results were assessed using the weighted mean differences (WMDs), standardized mean differences (SMDs), and odds ratios (ORs) metrics. We also performed a sensitivity analysis. The meta-analysis was conducted utilizing Stata/MP version 18 software. The study was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD 42024536400). We included a total of five studies (three RCTs and two retrospective studies). According to the data from the Meta-analysis, the HD group showed positive effects in promoting urinary continence (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.36, 5.12; p = 0.004 < 0.05) and erectile function (SMD 0.92, 95%CI 0.56, 1.27; p < 0.05) within 3 months after surgery. However, no notable disparities were observed in terms of operative time, estimated blood loss, bilateral nerve-sparing rate, or the rate of positive surgical margin. Perineal hydrodissection can be safely applied in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), offering a distinct advantage in functional outcomes compared to those who undergo standard robot-assisted prostatectomy alone.

Comparative analysis of perioperative outcomes in obese patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) versus open radical prostatectomy (ORP): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the perioperative outcomes associated with robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RARP) versus open radical prostatectomy (ORP) in the obese population diagnosed with prostate cancer. We performed a comprehensive search in key databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, encompassing studies of all languages, with a final search date of April 2024. We also omitted articles that consisted of conference abstracts and content that was not pertinent to our study. The aggregated outcomes were evaluated utilizing the metrics of weighted mean differences (WMDs) and odds ratios (ORs). A sensitivity analysis was also integrated into our assessment. The meta-analysis was facilitated by employing Stata/MP version 18 software. Additionally, the study was duly registered with PROSPERO under the identifier: CRD 42024540216. This meta-analysis, which included five trials, shows that compared to ORP, RARP is associated with a reduced estimated blood loss (EBL) (WMD -445.77, 95%CI -866.08, -25.45; p = 0.038), a decreased transfusion rate (OR 0.17, 95%CI 0.13, 0.21; p < 0.001), and a diminished overall complication rate (OR 0.71, 95%CI 0.58, 0.86; p = 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in operative time (OT) (WMD 1.88, 95%CI -46.53, 50.28; p = 0.939) or length of stay (LOS) (WMD -0.41, 95%CI -1.07, 0.25; p = 0.221). Among patients with obesity and prostate cancer, RARP demonstrates advantages over ORP by reducing estimated blood loss, transfusion requirements, and the incidence of complications. Notably, there were no significant differences in operative duration and hospital stay between the two surgical approaches. These findings suggest that RARP could be a preferable surgical option for obese individuals with prostate cancer.

Perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes after ablation or partial nephrectomy for solitary renal tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative trials.

Objectives: The perioperative, functional, and oncological outcomes of patients with solitary small renal tumors (SRMs) treated with ablation (AT) or partial nephrectomy (PN) remain controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of these two surgical techniques. Methods: In April 2023, we conducted a literature search in several widely used databases worldwide, including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. Review Manager was used to compare various parameters. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022377157). Results: Our final meta-analysis included 13 cohort studies with a total of 2,107 patients. Compared to partial nephrectomy (PN), ablation (AT) had shorter hospital stays (WMD -2.37 days, 95% CI -3.05 to -1.69; p < 0.00001), shorter operating times (WMD -57.06 min, 95% CI -88.92 to -25.19; p = 0.0004), less postoperative creatinine increases (WMD -0.17 mg/dL, 95% CI -0.29 to -0.05; p = 0.006), less postoperative glomerular filtration rate decreases (WMD -9.84 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI -14.25 to -5.44; p < 0.0001), less postoperative new-onset chronic kidney disease (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.71; p = 0.005), and less intraoperative blood loss (WMD -285.92 ml, 95% CI -428.44 to -143.40; p < 0.0001). The transfusion rate was lower in the ablation group (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.51; p = 0.001). The risk of local recurrence was higher in the ablation group (OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.27 to 6.89; p = 0.01), while the risk of distant metastasis was higher in the partial nephrectomy group (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.28 to 6.18; p = 0.01). The intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were lower in the ablation group (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.62; p = 0.004 and OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.38; p < 0.00001, respectively). However, overall survival, postoperative dialysis rate, and tumor-specific survival were not different between the two groups. Conclusions: Our data suggest that ablation and partial nephrectomy are equally safe and effective in the treatment of small solitary kidney tumors and are better options for patients with poor preoperative physical condition or poor renal function.

Efficacy and safety of transurethral thulium laser enucleation versus robot-assisted prostatectomy for large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To compare perioperative outcomes between Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and robotic-assisted simple pasta-ectomy (RASP)for large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia(> 80 ml). In August 2023, we undertook a comprehensive search of major global databases including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, focusing solely on articles written in English. Studies that were merely reviews or protocols without any specific published data were omitted. Furthermore, articles that comprised conference abstracts or content not pertinent to our subject of study were also disregarded. To calculate the inverse variances and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for categorical variables' mean differences, we employed the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel approach along with random-effects models. The findings were denoted in the form of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. A p-value less than 0.05 was deemed to indicate statistical significance. Our finalized meta-analysis incorporated six articles, including one randomized controlled trial (RCT) and five cohort studies. These studies accounted for a total of 1218 patients, 944 of whom underwent Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) and 274 who underwent Robotic-Assisted Simple Prostatectomy (RASP). The pooled analysis from these six papers demonstrated that compared to RASP, HoLEP had a shorter hospital stay, shorter catheterization duration, and a lower blood transfusion rate. Moreover, HoLEP patients exhibited a smaller reduction in postoperative hemoglobin levels. Statistically, there were no significant differences between the two procedures regarding operative time, postoperative PSA, the weight of prostate specimens, IPSS, Qmax, PVR, QoL, and postoperative complications. (HoLEP) and (RASP) are both effective and safe procedures for treating large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia. HoLEP, with its benefits of shorter catheterization and hospitalization duration, lesser decline in postoperative hemoglobin, and reduced blood transfusion needs, stands as a preferred choice for treating extensive prostate enlargement. However, further validation through more high-quality clinical randomized trials is required.

Cardiovascular Adverse Events Associated With New-Generation Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors (ARPI) for Prostate Cancer: A Disproportionality Analysis Based on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

BACKGROUND: The potential cardiovascular adverse events associated with new-generation androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPI) in the treatment of prostate cancer remain unclear. We aimed to assess the pharmacovigilance (PV), reporting rate, severity, and reaction outcomes of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) related to new-generation ARPI for prostate cancer reported to the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). METHODS: We analyzed reports of cardiovascular adverse events associated with drug therapy for prostate cancer submitted to FAERS between January 2014 and December 2022. Three primary new-generation ARPIs were identified: abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, and apalutamide. Our primary composite endpoint was the PV of MACE caused by ARPIs in the treatment of prostate cancer, and the secondary endpoint was PV of other cardiovascular events. The software implemented was STATA 17.0 MP. RESULTS: A total of 278,031 suspected drug-adverse event pairs related to drug treatment in patients with prostate cancer were identified, of which 10,861 reports were cardiovascular events, including 5800 reports of MACE and 5061 reports of other cardiovascular events. The majority of these cardiovascular adverse event reports came from the United States (36.6%) and were mostly older men (age 76.0 ± 8.6 years). Compared with enzalutamide, the constituent ratio of MACE caused by abiraterone acetate and apalutamide was significantly increased, but the incidence of severe MACE decreased significantly. The PV signal regarding MACE was detected in abiraterone acetate and apalutamide but not in enzalutamide. CONCLUSION: Abiraterone acetate and apalutamide presumably are associated with a higher risk of MACE than enzalutamide in new-generation ARPI for prostate cancer. More extensive prospective studies and more extended follow-up periods need to confirm this further.

Erectile function, urinary continence and oncologic outcomes of neurovascular bundle sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The nerve-sparing (NS) effect of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) on patients with a high-risk prostate cancer remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the urinary continence, erectile function and oncology outcomes of the nerve-sparing and non-nerve-sparing (NNS) group during RARP surgeries. Methods: We systematically searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science to identify relevant studies published in English up to December 2022. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used as a quality evaluation tool to evaluate the quality of the literature parameters involved, including urinary continence, erectile function and oncologic outcomes, which were compared using the Stata 15.1 software (StataSE, USA). Results: A total of 8 cohort studies involving 2499 patients were included. A meta-analysis of results showed that the NS group was beneficial to the recovery of urinary continence (RR 0.46, 95%CI 0.22, 0.96; p=0.045<0.05) and erectile function (RR 0.32, 95%CI 0.16, 0.63; p=0.001<0.05) 12 months after surgeries, which showed a better oncological outcome (RR 1.31, 95%CI 1.01, 1.69; p=0.01<0.05). Conclusions: The current study results indicate that intraoperative NS during RARP is beneficial to long-term postoperative functional recovery and tumor prognosis of patients with high-risk prostate cancers. Due to interstudy interferences, the results should be interpreted with caution. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42022384647.

Perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy previous transurethral resection of prostate: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative trials.

The influence of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) on patients who have previously undergone transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) versus TURP-naive patients is still debatable. The present study aimed to compare perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes of RARP between TURP and Non-TURP groups. We systematically searched the databases such as Science, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library database to identify relevant studies published in English up to August 2022. Review Manager was used to compare various parameters. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022378126). Eight comparative trials with a total of 4186 participants were conducted. The TURP group had a longer operative time (WMD 22.22 min, 95% CI 8.48, 35.95; p = 0.002), a longer catheterization time (WMD 1.32 day, 95% CI 0.37, 2.26; p = 0.006), a higher estimated blood loss (WMD 23.86 mL, 95% CI 2.81, 44.90; p = 0.03), and higher bladder neck reconstruction rate (OR 8.02, 95% CI 3.07, 20.93; p < 0.0001). Moreover, the positive surgical margin (PSM) was higher in the TURP group (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.12, 1.98 p = 0.007). However, there was no difference between the two groups regarding the length of hospital stay, transfusion rates, nerve-sparing status, complication rates, long-term continence, potency rates and biochemical recurrence (BCR). Performing RARP on patients who have previously undergone TURP is a safe procedure. Furthermore, the current findings demonstrated that the TURP group had comparable oncologic and long-term functional outcomes to the Non-TURP group.

Association of AGTR1 gene methylation and its genetic variant in Chinese farmer with hypertension: A case-control study.

The objective was to determine the potential associations of the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1) gene polymorphism, methylation, and lipid metabolism in Chinese farmers with hypertension. A case-control study was conducted in Wuzhi county of Henan province in China in 2013 to 2014. A total of 1034 local residents (35-74 years, 386 hypertensive cases, and 648 normotensive subjects) were enrolled in this study. Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein were measured using automatic chemistry analyzer. The AGTR1 gene promoter methylation level was measured using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction method. The single nucleotide polymorphism rs275653 was genotyped with TaqMan probe assay at an applied biosystems platform. The gender, body mass index (BMI), TG, TC, and family history of hypertension in the hypertension group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < .05). No significant difference was observed in the distribution of AGTR1 rs275653 polymorphism in the hypertension and controls (P > .05). The AGTR1 gene methylation in subjects carrying different genotypes was not significantly observed (P > .05). The logistic regression analysis found the AGTR1 gene methylation level was negative correlation with hypertension in the present study (odds ratio, 0.946, 95% confidence interval, 0.896-0.999) through adjusting for age, gender, BMI, education, smoking, alcohol drinking, fruit and vegetable intake, pickles intake, and family history of hypertension. The association of AGTR1 gene hypomethylation and essential hypertension was observed in Chinese farmers; no significant difference was observed in the distribution of AGTR1 rs275653 polymorphism.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Its Related Factors in Survivors of Stroke in Rural China: A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Stroke is a major health threat and the leading cause of mortality and disability in China. The aims of this study were to identify the possible influencing factors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its domain-specific contents in stroke patients in rural areas in China. Methods: A total of 1,709 stroke patients aged 36-79 years from the baseline data of Henan Rural Cohort study (n = 39,259) were included in the cross-sectional study. The Chinese version of the European Quality of Life Five Dimension (including mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L) and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to evaluate HRQoL in stroke patients. Tobit regression models, generalized linear models and binary logistic regression models were constructed to determine potential influencing factors of the EQ-5D utility index, as well as influencing factors of each domain and VAS score. Results: The mean utility index and VAS scores of stroke patients were 0.885 (SD, 0.204), and 68.39 (SD, 17.31), respectively. Pain/discomfort (PD, 35.2%) and mobility (MO, 30.4%) were the most frequently reported issues. Regression models revealed that illiterate; a low monthly income; low physical activity intensity; and diabetes, anxiety, depression, or poor sleep quality were significantly associated with lower utility index and VAS scores among stroke patients. In addition, patients with stroke who were older, female, drinking, smoking, and consuming a high-fat diet, had a higher BMI, and lived with a stroke for a longer time, were also significantly associated with different dimensions of the EQ-5D. Conclusion: Patients with stroke in rural areas in China had a low HRQoL. Factors associated with the EQ-5D utility index as well as each domain and VAS score, need to be considered by health providers in rural areas. Patients with stroke in rural areas need to be included in national basic public medical services and managed systematically by medical institutions.

Health-related quality of life and its related factors in coronary heart disease patients: results from the Henan Rural Cohort study.

The aims were to identify the possible influencing factors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its domain-specific scores in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 1247 patients with CHD from the Henan Rural Cohort Study (n = 39,259) were included in this study. The Chinese version of the European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five level scale (EQ-5D-5L) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to evaluate HRQoL in patients with CHD. Tobit regression, generalized linear models and binary logistic regression were applied to determine the potential factors influencing the EQ-5D utility, as well as each domain, and the VAS. CHD patients had lower per capita monthly actual income, and higher rates of diabetes mellitus, stroke, anxiety and poor sleep quality, which significantly decreased EQ-5D index and VAS scores. In addition, sex, older age, education, not having a spouse, ever drinking alcohol, a high-fat diet, physical activity, hypertension and depression affected the various domain-specific EQ-5D scores in CHD patients. CHD patients in rural areas have a lower HRQoL. Factors associated with the EQ-5D index, including each domain, and the VAS need attention. CHD patients in rural areas need to be managed systematically.

Association of Serum Glucocorticoids with Various Blood Pressure Indices in Patients with Dysglycemia and Hypertension: the Henan Rural Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To our knowledge, no definitive conclusion has been reached regarding the relationship between glucocorticoids and hypertension. Here, we aimed to explore the characteristics of glucocorticoids in participants with dysglycemia and hypertension, and to analyze their association with blood pressure indicators. METHODS: The participants of this study were from the Henan Rural Cohort study. A total of 1,688 patients 18-79 years of age were included in the matched case control study after application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistical methods were used to analyze the association between glucocorticoids and various indices of blood pressure, through approaches such as logistic regression analysis, trend tests, linear regression, and restricted cubic regression. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 552 patients with dysglycemia and hypertension (32.7%). The patients with co-morbidities had higher levels of serum cortisol ( P = 0.009) and deoxycortisol ( P < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) for dysglycemia with hypertension were 1.55 (1.18, 2.04) for the highest tertile of Ln-cortisol compared with the lowest tertile. Additionally, the highest Ln-deoxycortisol levels were associated with increased prevalence of dysglycemia with hypertension by 159% (95% confidence interval: 122%, 207%). CONCLUSIONS: Serum deoxycortisol was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure, mean blood pressure, and mean proportional arterial pressure. Glucocorticoids (deoxycortisol and cortisol) increase the risk of hypertension in people with dysglycemia, particularly in those with T2DM.

Association between two functional polymorphisms of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 and colorectal cancer risk in a Chinese population.

Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) are modulated by functional variants of IGFBP3 and therefore may be associated with higher risk of colorectal cancer development. However, few studies have investigated the role of IGFBP3 polymorphisms in colorectal cancer in Chinese individuals. In this study, two common polymorphisms of IGFBP3 were determined by the Taqman genotyping platform in 202 Chinese colorectal cancer cases diagnosed between 2006 and 2008 and 212 cancer-free population controls. Data showed that the genotype distribution of G2133C (rs2864746), but not A-202C (rs2864744), was significantly different between cancer cases and controls. Unconditional logistic regression analyses revealed that participants carrying the G2133C GC heterozygote or CC homozygote had a significant 1.55-fold increased risk of colorectal cancer development in an allele dose-responsive manner. However, there was no evidence of a dose-effect relationship between number of variants and risk for CRC occurrence. Data suggest that the exon 1 G2133C missense variant of IGFBP3 may be a susceptibility factor for colorectal cancer in Chinese subjects. Larger studies are warranted to validate our findings in a Chinese population.

Association of platelet-derived growth factor-D gene polymorphism with ischemic stroke in a Chinese case-control study.

Stroke is a multiple genetic disease. Platelet-derived growth factor-D has been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, suggesting possible association between platelet-derived growth factor-D and the development of ischemic stroke. However, little information on the relationship between platelet-derived growth factor-D and stroke is currently available. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between platelet-derived growth factor-D genetic variation and the risk of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study with 309 ischemic stroke patients and 309 sex and age (<5 years)-matched controls. DNA was extracted from the whole blood of each participant. Platelet-derived growth factor-D C/G polymorphism at position +3166 (rs7950273) was detected by TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Overall, the combined rates of platelet-derived growth factor- D CG and GG are 51% in patients in contrast with 46% in controls. There were no significant differences in the genotype frequencies of platelet-derived growth factor-D +3166 polymorphisms between the patients and controls with history or family history of hypertension or diabetes (P = 0.770). However, among people without history or family history of hypertension or diabetes, platelet-derived growth factor-D CG/GG is significantly more frequently expressed in patients (60%) than in controls (43%) (odds ratio 1.97; 95% confidence interval 1.19-3.26). This significant association holds after adjustment for age, sex, smoking and alcohol intaking (odds ratio 1.86; 95% confidence interval 1.11-3.10) (P = 0.018). Our study found that the G allele of rs7950273 of the platelet-derived growth factor-D gene is associated with higher risk of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population without history or family history of hypertension or diabetes. Future studies with larger and ethnically diverse populations are needed to further evaluate the platelet-derived growth factor-D polymorphism and stroke association, as well as its pathophysiological mechanisms.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale in mainland China.

The aim of this study was to translate the HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale (HIV-ASES) and evaluate its reliability and validity in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in mainland China. The original HIV-ASES was translated from English into Chinese and adapted for cultural context according to cross-cultural adaptation guidelines. A cross-sectional survey investigating 1742 PLWHIV receiving antiretroviral treatment was conducted. Exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation confirmed the presence of two factors with an accumulated contribution rate of 58.357%. Furthermore, confirmatory factor analysis revealed the model's goodness-of-fit index. The comparative fit index was greater than 0.9 and the overall efficacy of the model was satisfactory. The Cronbach α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.876 (95% CI: 0.868-0.885), and the correlation coefficient of each item and the total was 0.536-0.660 ( P < 0.01). The Chinese version of the HIV-ASES has high reliability and validity; however, the individual item requires some adjustment.