Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Pulmonary Disease in Fuyang, China: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: We retrospectively review consecutive patients with nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) pulmonary disease reported from a designated hospital for infectious diseases in the Fuyang district of China to determine the clinical characteristics of these patients. Methods: This research enrolled 234 patients with NTM pulmonary disease between January 2018 and May 2023 in the Fuyang district of China. Data were collected from the electronic medical records. The NTM strain composition and clinical characteristics of NTM pulmonary disease were retrospectively analyzed. Results: 73 (31.20%) patients had previous tuberculosis (TB) or TB exposure history and bronchiectasis. Mixed NTM infection accounted for 12.39%. Mycobacterium intracellulare strain was detected in 132 patients (49.62%). Women were found to be more affected by Mycobacterium avium infection, and men by Mycobacterium abscessus infection. Mycobacterium avium (34.21%) and Mycobacterium abscessus (33.33%) strains were most common in people with previous TB or TB exposure history. Among respiratory tract-related diseases, patients with bronchiectasis had the highest isolation rate of Mycobacterium avium (55.36%). Women were susceptible to bronchiectasis (P <0.01). The median of mononuclear-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) was higher in men than in women (P < 0.01). The serum albumin (ALB) level was lower in patients with TB or TB exposure history than in those without TB history (P = 0.034). The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) was lower in patients with TB or TB exposure history than in those without tuberculosis history (P = 0.021). Patients with NTM lung disease were poorly treated. Conclusion: Clinical symptoms of the disease were not species-specific. Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium avium strains were predominant in the Fuyang district of China. Previous TB or TB exposure history immensely enhanced the risk of NTM disease.

Differences in the Quantitative HRCT Characteristics of Patients with Asthma, COPD and Asthma-COPD Overlap and Their Relationships with Pulmonary Function.

Purpose: We compared pulmonary function indices and quantitative CT parameters of airway remodeling, air trapping, and emphysema in asthmatic patients and patients with COPD and asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) and explored their relationships with airflow limitation. Patients and Methods: Patients with asthma (n=48), COPD (n=52), and ACO (n=30) and controls (n=54) who completed pulmonary function tests and HRCT scans were retrospectively enrolled in our study. Quantitative CT analysis software was used to assess emphysema (LAA%), airway wall dimensions (wall area (WA), luminal area (LA), and wall area percentage (WA%)), and air trapping ((relative volume change of -860 HU to -950 HU (RVC-860 to-950) and the expiration-to-inspiration ratio of the mean lung density (MLDE/I))). Differences in pulmonary function and HRCT parameters were compared among the groups. Spearman correlation analysis and regression analysis were utilized to explore structure‒function relationships. Results: The LAA% in COPD and ACO patients was significantly greater than that in asthmatic patients and controls. The WA% and WA in COPD and ACO patients were greater than those in controls, whereas the WA% and LA between asthmatic patients and controls reached statistical significance. The RVC-860 to -950 levels decreased in the following order: ACO, COPD, and asthma. RVC-860 to -950 independently predicted FEV1% in asthmatic patients; LAA% and MLDE/I in COPD patients; and LAA%, WA% and RVC-860 to -950 in ACO patients. Conclusion: Comparable emphysema was observed in patients with COPD and ACO but not in asthmatic patients. All patients exhibited proximal airway remodeling. The bronchi were thickened outward in COPD and ACO patients but are thickened inward in asthmatic patients. Furthermore, air trapping in ACO patients was the most severe among all the groups. Indirect lung densitometry measurements might be more predictive of the degree of airflow limitation than direct airway measurements in obstructive airway diseases.

Contactless vital signs monitoring in macaques using a mm-wave FMCW radar.

Heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR) play an important role in the study of complex behaviors and their physiological correlations in non-human primates (NHPs). However, collecting HR and RR information is often challenging, involving either invasive implants or tedious behavioral training, and there are currently few established simple and non-invasive techniques for HR and RR measurement in NHPs owing to their stress response or indocility. In this study, we employed a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar to design a novel contactless HR and RR monitoring system. The designed system can estimate HR and RR in real time by placing the FMCW radar on the cage and facing the chest of both awake and anesthetized macaques, the NHP investigated in this study. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms existing methods, with averaged absolute errors between the reference monitor and radar estimates of 0.77 beats per minute (bpm) and 1.29 respirations per minute (rpm) for HR and RR, respectively. In summary, we believe that the proposed non-invasive and contactless estimation method could be generalized as a HR and RR monitoring tool for NHPs. Furthermore, after modifying the radar signal-processing algorithms, it also shows promise for applications in other experimental animals for animal welfare, behavioral, neurological, and ethological research.

Characterization, hazard identification, and risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)-based food contact articles.

The chemical safety of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) based food contact articles (FCAs) has aroused increasing toxicological concerns in recent years, but the chemical characterization and associated risk assessment still remain inadequate as it fails to elucidate the distribution pattern and discern the potential genotoxic and carcinogenic hazards of the identified substances. Herein, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 50 batches of PBAT-based FCAs of representative categories and 10 batches of PLA and PBAT pellets were characterized, by which 237 VOCs of 10 chemical categories were identified and exhibited characteristic distribution patterns in the chemical spaces derived from their molecular descriptors. Chemical hazards associated with the identified VOCs were discerned by a hazard-driven classification scheme integrating hazard-related knowledge from multiple publicly available sources, and 34 VOCs were found to bear genotoxic or carcinogenic hazards and to feature higher average molecular weight than the other VOCs. Finally, the Risk and hazard quotient (HQ) calculated as the metrics of risk suggested that all identified VOCs posed acceptable risks (Risk<10-4 or HQ < 1), whereas oxolane, butyrolactone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, 2-butoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, and 1,2,3-trichloropropane posed non-negligible (Risk>10-6) genotoxic or carcinogenic risk and thus should be of prioritized concern to promote the chemical safety of PBAT-based FCAs.

Long-term impact of self-compassion training with core stability exercise on patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term effectiveness of self-compassion therapy (SCT) combined with core stability exercise (CSE) versus CSE alone in managing nonspecific chronic low back pain (NCLBP). METHODS: The combined group received SCT and CSE, while the exercise group only received CSE. Treatment was administered once weekly for four weeks, followed by one year of follow-up. The primary outcomes were changes in functional limitations (measured by Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire scores[RMDQ]) and self-reported back pain (measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale[NRS]) at 52 weeks, with assessments also conducted at 2, 4, and 16 weeks. RESULTS: 52 (83.9%) completed the follow-up assessments and were included in the analysis (42 women [80.8%]; mean [SD] age,35.3 [10.0] years). In the combined group, the baseline mean (SD) RMDQ score was 9.3 (4.1),5.7 (5.8) at 2 weeks, 3.8 (3.4) at 4 weeks, 3.8 (3.7) at 16 weeks, and 2.4 (2.7) at 52 weeks. For the exercise group, the RMDQ scores were 8.2 (3.3) at baseline, 6.2 (4.2) at 2 weeks, 5.5 (4.7) at 4 weeks, 4.4 (4.5) at 16 weeks, and 5.2 (5.6) at 52 weeks. The estimated mean difference between the groups at 52 weeks was -3.356 points (95% CI, -5.835 to -0.878; P = 0.009), favoring the combined group. NRS scores showed similar changes. CONCLUSION: The addition of self-compassion therapy enhances the long-term efficacy of core stability training for NCLBP (Preregistered at chictr.org.cn:ChiCTR2100042810).

Elevated triglycerides and low triiodothyronine: Key risk factors for coronary artery calcification in patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a well-established independent predictor of coronary heart disease, and patients with schizophrenia have significantly higher rates compared to the general population. We performed this study to examine the population-specific risk factors associated with CAC in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with schizophrenia who underwent low-dose chest CT scans between January 2020 and December 2021 were analyzed. Ordinary CAC scores and results of routine blood tests were obtained. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for potential risk factors in patients with and without CAC, while the negative binomial additive model was used to explore the dose-response relationship between risk factors and CAC score. RESULTS: Of the 916 patients, 233 (25.4 %) had CAC, while 683 (74.6 %) did not. After adjusting for confounding factors, higher triglyceride levels (OR = 1.20, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.04 to 1.38, p = 0.013) and low triiodothyronine levels (OR = 0.50, 95 % CI: 0.29 to 0.84; p = 0.010) were identified as risk factors for CAC. Both triglycerides (p = 0.021) and triiodothyronine (p = 0.010) were also found to have significant dose-response relationships with CAC scores according to the negative binomial additive model in the exploratory analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights elevated serum triglycerides and decreased triiodothyronine levels as population-specific risk factors for CAC in patients with schizophrenia, suggest the need for close monitoring of CAC in patients with schizophrenia and further prospective trials to provide additional evidence on this topic.

Potential causal links between long-term ambient particulate matter exposure and cardiovascular mortality: New evidence from a large community-based cohort in South China.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is associated with long-term particulate matter (PM) exposure. However, evidence from large, highly-exposed population cohort and observational-data-based causal inference approaches remains limited. AIMS: We examined the potential causal links between PM exposure and the CVD mortality in South China. METHODS: 580,757 participants were recruited during 2009-2015 and followed up through 2020. Satellite-based annual concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse (i.e., PM10 - PM2.5) at 1 km2 spatial resolution were estimated and assigned to each participant. Marginal structural Cox models with time-varying covariates, adjusted using inverse probability weighting, were developed to evaluate the association between prolonged PM exposure and CVD mortality. RESULTS: For overall CVD mortality, the hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval for each 1 µg/m3 increase in the annual average concentration of PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse were 1.033 (1.028-1.037), 1.028 (1.024-1.032), and 1.022 (1.012-1.033), respectively. All three PMs were linked to a higher mortality risk for myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease (IHD). The mortality risk of chronic IHD and hypertension was linked to PM2.5 and PM10. Significant association between PMcoarse and other heart disease mortality was also observed. The older, women, less-educated participants, or inactive participants exhibited particularly higher susceptibility. Participants who were generally exposed to PM10 concentrations below 70 µg/m3 were more vulnerable to PM2.5-, PM10- and PMcoarse-CVD mortality risks. CONCLUSION: This large cohort study provides evidence for the potential causal links between increased CVD mortality and ambient PM exposure, as well as socio-demographics linked to the highest vulnerability.

Trajectories of Efficacy and Cognitive Function During Electroconvulsive Therapy Course in Young Adults with Treatment-Resistant Depression.

Objective: Little is known about the effectiveness and cognitive side-effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in young adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The primary aim of this prospective longitudinal observational trial was to examine the clinical features and cognitive outcomes of young adults with TRD undergoing ECT. Methods: Changes in depressive symptoms and objective and subjective cognitive function were assessed using repeated evaluation at baseline, after each ECT session, and at one-month follow-up using the Montgomery-Äsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), Forward Digital Span Test (FDST), and part of the Columbia Subjective Side Effects Schedule. Results: Of 41 inpatients, 35 (85.4%) and 12 (29.3%) met the criteria for response and remission after ECT, respectively. The greatest clinical improvements occurred during the first 3-4 ECT sessions. While 34 patients reported subjective cognitive impairment increased with ECT, immediate and delayed memory (RBANS) significantly increased after ECT, consistent with FDST results. Objective cognition significantly improved during follow-up, but subjective cognition remained impaired. Conclusion: ECT is effective in young adults with TRD. Although subjective cognitive impairment increased during treatment, objective cognitive impairments were not observed.

Potential causal links between long-term ambient particulate matter exposure and cerebrovascular mortality: Insights from a large cohort in southern China.

Cohort studies conducted in North America and Europe have linked cerebrovascular mortality to long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM). However, limited evidence from large cohorts in high-exposure areas and the traditional approach of association assessment may cause residual confounding issues. In this study, we aimed to investigate the causal links between cerebrovascular mortality and long-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and PM2.5-10 in an ongoing cohort study with 580,757 participants in southern China. Using satellite-based estimates of PM concentration at a 1-km2 spatial resolution, we assigned exposure levels to each participant and used the marginal structural Cox model to assess the association between PM exposure and cerebrovascular mortality while accounting for time-varying covariates. We also explored the potential modification effects of sociodemographic and behavioral factors on the PM-health associations. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for overall cerebrovascular mortality were 1.041 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.034-1.049) and 1.032 (95% CI: 1.026-1.038) for each 1 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. Similar trends were observed in the mortality risk from stroke and ischemic stroke, with HRs ranging from 1.040 to 1.069 and 1.025 to 1.052, respectively, across 2 p.m. exposures. The impact of PM exposure was generally more apparent among women, participants with primary school diplomas and below, and the subgroup under low-exposure. Multiple sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results. In conclusion, this sizable prospective cohort study hypothesizes causal links between long-term PM exposure and cerebrovascular mortality, particularly among vulnerable participants, supporting the rationale for reducing PM concentration in China to reduce cerebrovascular mortality.

HRCT quantitative analysis of airway remodeling and airway trapping in the small airway asthma phenotype and its correlation with pulmonary function.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore whether large airway remodeling and small airway structural changes exist in subjects with small airway asthma phenotype and to evaluate the relationships between quantitative high-resolution computed tomography (qHRCT) parameters and lung function. METHODS: We enrolled 15 subjects with small airway asthma phenotype and 18 healthy controls. The two groups were matched by age, sex and body square area (BSA) with propensity score matching (PSM). Pulmonary function and qHRCT parameters [wall thickness (WT), wall area (WA), lumen area (LA), wall area percentage (WA%) of the 4th-6th generations in the right upper lobe apical segmental bronchus (RB1), adjusted by BSA, WT/BSA, WA/BSA, and LA/BSA, relative volume change -860 HU to -950 HU (RVC-860 to -950) and the expiration to inspiration ratio of mean lung density (MLDE/I)) were compared between the groups. Correlation analysis was employed to assess the relationship between qHRCT parameters and pulmonary function. RESULTS: The small airway asthma phenotype had significantly higher WA%, RVC-860 to -950 and MLDE/I and lower LA/BSA than the healthy control. Additionally, we found moderate to strong correlations between impulse oscillation (IOS) indices and WA6% and WT6/BSA. No significant correlation was found between bronchial parameters and air trapping parameters (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combining physiological tests with imaging approaches can lead to better evaluation of small airway disfunction (SAD) in asthmatic patients. Additionally, despite nonexistent airflow obstruction in patients with small airway asthma phenotype, large airway remodeling and small airway structural changes may appear simultaneously in the early stage of disease.