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This study aimed to systematically review and critically appraise the literature describing the phonetic characteristics and accuracy of the consonants, vowels and tones produced by Mandarin-speaking children with cochlear implants (CIs). The protocol in this review was designed in conformity with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. EBSCOhost, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, ProQuest Central databases were searched for relevant articles which met the inclusion criteria. A total of 18 journal papers were included in this review. The results revealed that Mandarin-speaking children with CIs perform consistently more poorly in their production of consonants, in particular on fricatives, have a smaller and less well-defined vowel space, and exhibit greater difficulties in tone realisation, notably T2 and T3, when compared to their normal-hearing (NH) peers. The results from acoustic and accuracy analyses are negatively correlated with CI implantation age, but largely positively correlated with hearing age. Findings of this review highlight the factors that influence consonant, vowel and tone production in Mandarin-speaking children with CIs, thereby providing critical information for clinicians and researchers working with this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite suicide in younger population having become a severe public health issue, information on the prevalence of suicidality among Chinese children and adolescents is still limited. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and suicide attempts in Chinese children and adolescents aged under 18 years. A meta-analysis was conducted based on English and Chinese publications from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020 using random-effects models. Based on 132 eligible studies with a combined total of 1,103,309 Chinese children and adolescents below 18 years old, the pooled prevalence of the overall suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and suicide attempts were 15.4% (95% CI [14.3, 16.6]), 6.4% (95% CI [5.5, 7.4]) and 3.5% (95% CI [3.1, 4.1]), respectively. The subgroup analyses showed that there were significant variations of prevalence of suicidal risks across genders, school stages, and geographical areas in mainland China. It was the first systematic review and meta-analysis to show suicidality among younger population aged below 18 years is prevalent in mainland China. This study suggests that gender-age-region-specific prevention and intervention programs should be urgently needed to reduce suicidal risks among Chinese children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes were invented in China, and most of the world's e-cigarettes have been produced in China. However, awareness and use of e-cigarettes in China are lower than in Europe and America. Against the backdrop of the increasing use of e-cigarettes, the supervision of e-cigarettes in China has been almost non-existent. METHODS A literature search was carried out in five popular Chinese and English databases. These databases were PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan-fang database. RESULTS Twenty-one studies were identified, and a comprehensive analysis of e-cigarette awareness ratio was conducted for different regions of China and according to gender, age group, and smoking status. We also examined e-cigarette use and associated risk factors, and the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation. In 2015, the prevalence of 'ever use' and 'current use' of e-cigarettes in China were 3.1% and 0.5%, respectively. The review indicates that the awareness ratio of e-cigarettes was about 66% in Hong Kong, whereas the ratio for Tianjin was lower (43.6%). Online sales were the main channel for selling e-cigarettes to 80% of the users. Awareness of e-cigarettes has been increasing in China. Awareness was higher in men compared to women in all age groups. Nevertheless, e-cigarette use in China was lower than in developed countries. E-cigarette users were more likely to try to quit smoking, but the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation is still unclear. Governance is necessary for e-cigarette use and marketing effort. CONCLUSIONS This study investigated the awareness and use of e-cigarettes in China and the existing regulations for e-cigarette use and marketing. The lack of regulations for e-cigarette use and the unrestricted practice encourage the increase in adoption of e-cigarettes and misconceptions of the benefits of using e-cigarettes. Hence, it is crucial that the government of China prioritize the establishment and implementation of regulations for e-cigarette use and marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke survivors might perceive their quality of life (QoL) as being affected even years after onset. The purpose of this review was to go through the literature to identify factors related to QoL for persons with stroke in China and Western countries for possible similarities and differences in their respective cultural views. Method: A narrative literature review was conducted on the papers identified by searching PubMed, EBSCO/CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data that published up to November 2016. Factors predicting QoL after stroke were extracted, and comparisons were made between Chinese and Western studies respecting cultural aspects. Results: A total of 43 articles were included in this review, with 31 conducted in Western countries and 12 in China. Predictors of QoL included Demographic factors: age, gender, marital status, education level, socioeconomic status; Clinically related factors: severity of stroke, physical function, depression/anxiety, cognitive impairment, incontinence and other comorbidities; Environmental factors: residential status, social support, social participation; and Individual factors: coping strategies and self‐perception. Being married and resident at home might be associated with the perception of QoL differently between Chinese and Western survivors. Conclusions: Most predictors of QoL in stroke survivors were the same in China and the Western countries. However, their QoL might be predicted differently regarding to the individualistic and collectivistic cultural differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical distancing and contact restrictions have been implemented in most countries and territories due to the rapid spread of SARS‐CoV‐2. This has caused physical, emotional, and psychological distress for adults living in the community. Diversified telehealth interventions have been widely applied in health care and have proven to be cost‐effective and well accepted by patients and health professionals. Currently, the effectiveness of telehealth interventions on psychological outcomes and quality of life among community adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic remains unclear. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library from 2019 to October 2022. Twenty‐five randomized controlled trials with 3228 subjects were finally included in this review. Two independent reviewers performed the screening, extraction of key data points, and appraisal of the methodological quality. There were positive effects of telehealth interventions on anxiety, stress, loneliness, and well‐being among community adults. Participants who were women or older adults were more likely to recover from negative emotions, increase well‐being, and improve quality of life. The real‐time and interactive interventions and remote cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) may be better choices during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Based on the findings of this review, health professionals have more options and alternatives for delivering telehealth interventions in the future. Rigorously designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with higher statistical power and long‐term follow‐up should be conducted in the future to strengthen the currently weak evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: A meta‐analysis was carried out to review and identify correlates of stigma in poststroke patients. Background: Patients suffer from impaired physical functions and sequelae of stroke. Stroke‐related stigma hinders the recovery process and produces poorer clinical outcomes of stroke, leading to compromised quality of life. Design: A systematic review and meta‐analysis was reported by following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Review Methods: Nine databases were searched from their inception to May 2021 to identify studies focused on the relationships among demographics, disease‐related factors, psychosocial factors and poststroke stigma. Included studies were assessed by using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) scale. The statistical software R studios were used to perform statistical analysis. Results: Nineteen studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Four demographic factors (age, caregiver, residence, monthly income), seven stroke‐related characteristics (type of stroke, mRS, ADLs, stroke duration, recurrence, sequelae, chronic disease comorbidity) and three psychosocial factors (depression, social support, quality of life) showed significant associations with stroke‐related stigma. Conclusions: The results of our study can serve as a foundation for designing interventions to reduce stigma and improve the overall quality of life of poststroke patients and may produce positive clinical outcomes. Healthcare professionals should be aware of stroke patients who are characterised by correlates of stigma. Relevance to clinical practice Poststroke patients showed a moderate‐to‐high level of stigma, and this issue warrants more attention. This review provides a preliminary foundation for healthcare professionals to develop interventions to address stroke‐related stigma by focusing on demographic, disease‐related and psychosocial factors. Additionally, stigma identification should be a part of clinical nursing evaluation. The involvement of clinical and community nursing is very important to screen stroke‐related stigma and pay attention to this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Summarize the existing evidence regarding the prevalence and risk factors of frailty in stroke patients. Design: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Participants: Stroke patients in hospitals or communities. Methods: We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis using articles available in 8 databases, including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and Weipu Database (VIP) from January 1990 to April 2022. Studies were quality rated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality tool. Results: A total of 24 studies involving 30,423 participants were identified. The prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in stroke patients was 27% (95%CI: 0.23–0.31) and 47.9% (95%CI: 0.43–0.53). Female gender (OR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.63–1.91), advanced age (MD = 6.73, 95%CI: 3.55–9.91), diabetes (OR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.06–1.69), hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.46, 95%CI: 1.04–2.04), atrial fibrillation (OR = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.01–1.82), National Institutes of Stroke Scale (NIHSS) admission scores (MD = 2.27, 95%CI: 1.72–2.81) were risk factors of frailty in stroke patients. Conclusions: Frailty was more prevalent in stroke patients. Female gender, advanced age, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, and National Institutes of Stroke Scale (NIHSS) admission scores were identified as risk factors for frailty in stroke patients. In the future, medical staff should pay attention to the early screening of frailty in high-risk groups and provide information on its prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is becoming a global public health problem and associated with multiple diseases. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize the pooled prevalence of HUA in mainland China and delineate its demographic, regional, and temporal trends over the past two decades. Systematic literature searches of PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the Wanfang digital database were conducted to screen studies published from 1 January 2000 to 31 August 2019, reporting the prevalence of HUA in mainland China. The search strings were ('hyperuricemia' OR 'hyperuricaemia' OR 'uric acid') AND ('prevalence' OR 'epidemiology') AND 'China'. Article quality was appraised quantitatively from 11 items. Before formal meta-analysis, age-standardized prevalence was transformed. The random-effects model was applied to synthesize the pooled prevalence due to its high heterogeneity. Then we stratified the prevalence estimates by age, gender, area, nationality, and publication year for subgroup analysis. Totally 177 eligible studies with a whole population of 2,277,712 were included in the present meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence in mainland China was estimated at 16.4% (95% CI: 15.3%~17.6%). In studies with the onset age at 20 ~ 29 years old, males had a twice times higher HUA prevalence than females (21.5% vs. 8.9%). The prevalence of HUA was 13.7% (11.8%~15.7%) in people aged 15~ years old, 16.5% in 30~ (14.8%~18.4%), 17.9% in 40~ (16.4%~19.5%), 19.4% in 50~ (17.8%~21.0%), 20.5% in 60~ (18.8%~22.3%), and 24.9% in over 70 (22.9%~27.1%). Stratified by regions, southern (25.5%) and southwestern (21.2%) China shared the highest prevalence, and the lowest prevalence was observed in the northwest (12.6%). From 2001 to 2017, the prevalence estimates of HUA steadily climbed from 8.5% to 18.4% with minor fluctuations. Multiple regression revealed that HUA prevalence was positively correlated to the larger sample size, area, advanced onset age, and published year. The last two decades witnessed the rapid growth prevalence of HUA in China. Early screening and personalized health education for HUA need to be given enough attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) brings major challenges to the health care workers (HCWs). This study is to determine the risk factors for MDR‐TB, latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and tuberculosis (TB) disease among HCWs in China. Methods: A meta‐analysis was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for MDR‐TB, LTBI, and TB disease among HCWs using a random‐effects model, and the pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used as effect indicators. Results: We identified 46 eligible studies and found eight factors were associated with MDR. The ORs with 95% CI are migrant population 1.96 (95% CI, 1.50–2.57), low family income 2.23 (95% CI, 1.74–2.85), retreatment 7.22 (95% CI, 5.63–9.26), anti‐TB treatment history 5.65 (95% CI, 4.80–6.65), multiple episodes of treatment 3.28 (95% CI, 2.60–4.13), adverse reactions 3.48 (95% CI, 2.54–4.76), interrupted treatment 3.18 (95% CI, 2.60–3.89), and lung cavities 1.42 (95% CI, 1.14–1.77). Work duration as a HCW for 5 years and above increased the risk of LTBI and TB. HCWs aged 30 years and above were more susceptible to TB (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.37–2.09). Conclusion: The risk factors for MDR‐TB in China are possibly migrant population, low family income, retreatment, anti‐TB treatment history, adverse reactions, interrupted treatment, and lung cavities. Longer work duration and greater age are risk factors for LTBI and TB among HCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the cross-cultural psychosocial effect of clef palate and lip in non-Anglo populations. The study made use of the data from four studies of controlled study and empirical designs to estimate the effect size using Cohen's D and confidence intervals. The result of the study shows that men with cleft palate and lip are more prone to psychosocial issues as compared to women.