Objective We aimed to explore the association between obesity and depression and the role of systemic inflammation in older adults.Methods Adults ≥ 65 years old (n = 1,973) were interviewed at baseline in 2018 and 1,459 were followed up in 2021. General and abdominal obesity were assessed, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured at baseline. Depression status was assessed at baseline and at follow-up. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between obesity and the incidence of depression and worsening of depressive symptoms, as well as the relationship between obesity and CRP levels. The associations of CRP levels with the geriatric depression scale, as well as with its three dimensions, were investigated using multiple linear regressions.Results General obesity was associated with worsening depression symptoms and incident depression, with an odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 1.53 (1.13–2.12) and 1.80 (1.23–2.63), especially among old male subjects, with OR (95% CI) of 2.12 (1.25–3.58) and 2.24 (1.22–4.11), respectively; however, no significant relationship was observed between abdominal obesity and depression. In addition, general obesity was associated with high levels of CRP, with OR (95% CI) of 2.58 (1.75–3.81), especially in subjects free of depression at baseline, with OR (95% CI) of 3.15 (1.97–5.04), and CRP levels were positively correlated with a score of specific dimension (life satisfaction) of depression, P < 0.05.Conclusion General obesity, rather than abdominal obesity, was associated with worsening depressive symptoms and incident depression, which can be partly explained by the systemic inflammatory response, and the impact of obesity on depression should be taken more seriously in the older male population.
Objective The study aimed to estimate the benchmark dose (BMD) of coke oven emissions (COEs) exposure based on mitochondrial damage with the mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) as a biomarker.Methods A total of 782 subjects were recruited, including 238 controls and 544 exposed workers. The mtDNAcn of peripheral leukocytes was detected through the real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Three BMD approaches were used to calculate the BMD of COEs exposure based on the mitochondrial damage and its 95% confidence lower limit (BMDL).Results The mtDNAcn of the exposure group was lower than that of the control group (0.60 ± 0.29 vs. 1.03 ± 0.31; P < 0.001). A dose–response relationship was shown between the mtDNAcn damage and COEs. Using the Benchmark Dose Software, the occupational exposure limits (OELs) for COEs exposure in males was 0.00190 mg/m3. The OELs for COEs exposure using the BBMD were 0.00170 mg/m3 for the total population, 0.00158 mg/m3 for males, and 0.00174 mg/m3 for females. In possible risk obtained from animal studies (PROAST), the OELs of the total population, males, and females were 0.00184, 0.00178, and 0.00192 mg/m3, respectively.Conclusion Based on our conservative estimate, the BMDL of mitochondrial damage caused by COEs is 0.002 mg/m3. This value will provide a benchmark for determining possible OELs.
Objective This study aims to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the combined chemotherapy regimen containing Bedaquiline (BR) and the conventional treatment regimen (CR, not containing Bedaquiline) for the treatment of adults with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in China. Methods A combination of a decision tree and a Markov model was developed to estimate the cost and effects of MDR patients in BR and CR within ten years. The model parameter data were synthesized from the literature, the national TB surveillance information system, and consultation with experts. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of BR vs. CR was determined. Results BR (vs. CR) had a higher sputum culture conversion rate and cure rate and prevented many premature deaths (decreased by 12.8%), thereby obtaining more quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) (increased by 2.31 years). The per capita cost in BR was as high as 138,000 yuan, roughly double that of CR. The ICER for BR was 33,700 yuan/QALY, which was lower than China’s 1× per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 (72,400 yuan). Conclusion BR is shown to be cost effective. When the unit price of Bedaquiline reaches or falls below 57.21 yuan per unit, BR is expected to be the dominant strategy in China over CR.
Objective Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is often associated with bone marrow infiltration, and 2-deoxy-2-(18F) fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) has potential diagnostic significance for bone marrow infiltration in DLBCL.Methods A total of 102 patients diagnosed with DLBCL between September 2019 and August 2022 were included. Bone marrow biopsy and 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations were performed at the time of initial diagnosis. Kappa tests were used to evaluate the agreement of 18F-FDG PET/CT with the gold standard, and the imaging features of DLBCL bone marrow infiltration on PET/CT were described.Results The total detection rate of bone marrow infiltration was not significantly different between PET/CT and primary bone marrow biopsy (P = 0.302) or between the two bone marrow biopsies (P = 0.826). The sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index of PET/CT for the diagnosis of DLBCL bone marrow infiltration were 0.923 (95% CI, 0.759−0.979), 0.934 (95% CI, 0.855−0.972), and 0.857, respectively.Conclusion18F-FDG PET/CT has a comparable efficiency in the diagnosis of DLBCL bone marrow infiltration. PET/CT-guided bone marrow biopsy can reduce the misdiagnosis of DLBCL bone marrow infiltration.
Objective Current clinical evidence on the effects of home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) on improving blood pressure control comes entirely from developed countries. Thus, we performed this randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether HBPT plus support (patient education and clinician remote hypertension management) improves blood pressure control more than usual care (UC) in the Chinese population.Methods This single-center, randomized controlled study was conducted in Beijing, China. Patients aged 30–75 years were eligible for enrolment if they had blood pressure [systolic (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg; or SBP ≥ 130 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 80 mmHg with diabetes]. We recruited 190 patients randomized to either the HBPT or the UC groups for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were blood pressure reduction and the proportion of patients achieving the target blood pressure.Results Totally, 172 patients completed the study, the HBPT plus support group (n = 84), and the UC group (n = 88). Patients in the plus support group showed a greater reduction in mean ambulatory blood pressure than those in the UC group. The plus support group had a significantly higher proportion of patients who achieved the target blood pressure and maintained a dipper blood pressure pattern at the 12th week of follow-up. Additionally, the patients in the plus support group showed lower blood pressure variability and higher drug adherence than those in the UC group.Conclusion HBPT plus additional support results in greater blood pressure reduction, better blood pressure control, a higher proportion of dipper blood pressure patterns, lower blood pressure variability, and higher drug adherence than UC. The development of telemedicine may be the cornerstone of hypertension management in primary care.
Objective This study assesses the impact of smoke-free legislation on the incidence rate for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke in Shenzhen. Methods Data on ischemic (n = 72,945) and hemorrhagic (n = 18,659) stroke and AMI (n = 17,431) incidence covering about 12 million people in Shenzhen from 2012 to 2016 were used. Immediate and gradual changes in incidence rates were analyzed using segmented Poisson regression. Results Following the smoke-free legislation, a 9% (95% CI: 3%–15%) immediate reduction was observed in AMI incidence, especially in men (8%, 95% CI: 1%–14%) and in those aged 65 years and older (17%, 95% CI: 9%–25%). The gradual annual benefits were observed only in hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke incidence, with a 7% (95% CI: 2%–11%) and 6% (95% CI: 4%–8%) decrease per year, respectively. This health effect extended gradually to the 50–64 age group. In addition, neither the immediate nor gradual decrease in stroke and AMI incidence rates did not show statistical significance among the 35–49 age group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Smoke-free legislation was enforced well in Shenzhen, which would generate good experiences for other cities to enact and enforce smoke-free laws. This study also provided more evidence of the health benefits of smoke-free laws on stroke and AMI.
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