Effects of mild-warming moxibustion on Bcl-2 and PKC expressions of peripheral blood in elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-aging effects of mild-warming moxibustion on Bcl-2 and PKC expression in peripheral blood and general symptoms in elderly people. METHODS: A total of 61 elderly people and 30 non-elderly people were enrolled. The total effective rate of mild-warming moxibustion was assessed by symptom scores, and Bcl-2 and PKC expression in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the mild-warming moxibustion group was significantly higher than in the blank control group (P < 0.01). Bcl-2 and PKC expression rates in peripheral blood in the blank control group were lower than in the normal control group (< 0.01), but higher after mild-warming moxibustion (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The anti-aging effects of mild-warming moxibustion may be due to increased Bcl-2 and PKC expression in peripheral blood in aged people.

Variations in length of stay among survived very preterm infants admitted to Chinese neonatal intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe length of stay (LOS) to discharge and site variations among very preterm infants (VPIs) admitted to 57 Chinese neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and to investigate factors associated with LOS for VPIs. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study enrolled all infants < 32 weeks' gestation and admitted to 57 NICUs which had participated in the Chinese Neonatal Network, within 7 days after birth in 2019. Exclusion criteria included major congenital anomalies, NICU deaths, discharge against medical advice, transfer to non-participating hospitals, and missing discharge date. Two multivariable linear models were used to estimate the association of infant characteristics and LOS. RESULTS: A total of 6580 infants were included in our study. The overall median LOS was 46 days [interquartile range (IQR): 35-60], and the median corrected gestational age at discharge was 36 weeks (IQR: 35-38). LOS and corrected gestational age at discharge increased with decreasing gestational age. The median corrected gestational age at discharge for infants at 24 weeks, 25 weeks, 26 weeks, 27-28 weeks, and 29-31 weeks were 41 weeks, 39 weeks, 38 weeks, 37 weeks and 36 weeks, respectively. Significant site variation of LOS was identified with observed median LOS from 33 to 71 days in different hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided concurrent estimates of LOS for VPIs which survived in Chinese NICUs that could be used as references for medical staff and parents. Large variation of LOS independent of infant characteristics existed, indicating variation of care practices requiring further investigation and quality improvement.