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Background: A key outcome in coronary heart disease (CHD) is Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and family functioning is important in the management of CHD. But few studies have examined both together, and little is known about them among inpatients with CHD in less developed areas of China. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the HRQoL and family functioning status of inpatients with CHD in Lanzhou from Northwest China, and identify the factors that affect their HRQoL.Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted in 224 CHD inpatients at one major hospital. Sociodemographic data and disease information of CHD inpatients were collected by face-to-face using a structured questionnaire and data were also obtained from patient medical records. HRQoL was measured using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). Family functioning was measured using the family APGAR index. Multiple binary logistic regression analysis (MBLRA) was used to explore potential risk factors associated with HRQoL, and Pearson's correlations were used to assess the relationship between family functioning and HRQoL.Results: The overall, physical and psychosocial SIP scores were 25.03 ± 8.52, 18.61 ± 9.90 and 28.08 ± 9.64, respectively. The total family APGAR score was 6.11 ± 2.45. MBLRA found older age, poorer cardiac function and more severe disease were associated with poorer HRQoL, while better family functioning, higher monthly income, and urban living were associated with better HRQoL. Family functioning was weakly to moderately correlated with total and psychosocial HRQoL.Conclusions: Older and less affluent inpatients with lower educational level, less family support and more severe CHD have poorest quality of life, and health care providers should consider interventions to support them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our study aimed to explore the association between maternal iron supplementation and newborn birth weight (BW) in Shaanxi Province using quantile regression (QR). Method: The data used in this study were derived from a large cross-sectional survey of a population in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China. A total of 28,209 women and their infants were selected using a stratified multistage random sampling method. The effect of iron supplementation on the newborn BW was assessed by a multiple linear regression model and QR. Results: A total of 5.15% of the women took iron supplements during pregnancy. Multiple linear regression showed that the iron supplementation during pregnancy had positive effects on the BW, with an average increase of 43.07 g (β = 43.07, t = 3.55, and p < 0.001). The QR showed that the iron supplementation during pregnancy was associated with an increased newborn BW from very low to higher percentiles (quantiles: 0 ~ 0.40), with the β ranging from 136.51 to 43.86. As the percentiles of the BW increased, the neonatal BW gain gradually declined in the iron supplementation group compared with the group that did not receive iron supplementation (quantiles: 0 ~ 0.40, with the β ranging from 136.51 to 43.86). Iron supplementation was more effective among women who suffered from anemia during pregnancy (β = 45.84, t = 2.05, and p = 0.04; quantiles: 0 ~ 0.15, 0.30, 0.80, with β ranging from 150.00 to 39.29) than it was in any other group (β = 38.18, t = 2.62, and p = 0.009; quantiles: 0 ~ 0.15, with β ranging from 133.33 to 28.32). Conclusions: Iron supplementation during pregnancy is associated with an increased newborn BW, and the effect was more obvious in the newborns with the lower BW and newborns whose mothers suffered from anemia during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While the cities in China in which spinal cord injury (SCI) studies have been conducted previously are at the forefront of medical care, northwest China is relatively underdeveloped economically, and the epidemiological characteristics of SCI have rarely been reported in this region. Methods: The SCI epidemiological survey software developed was used to analyze the data of patients treated with SCI from 2014 to 2018. The sociodemographic characteristics of patients, including name, age, sex, and occupation, were recorded. The following medical record data, obtained from physical and radiographic examinations, were included in the study: data on the cause of injury, fracture location, associated injuries, and level of injury. Neurological function was evaluated using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. In addition, the treatment and complications during hospitalization were documented. Results: A total of 3487 patients with SCI with a mean age of 39.5 ± 11.2 years were identified in this study, and the male to female ratio was 2.57:1. The primary cause of SCI was falls (low falls 47.75%, high falls 37.31%), followed by traffic accidents (8.98%), and impact with falling objects (4.39%). Of all patients, 1786 patients (51.22%) had complications and other injuries. According to the ASIA impairment scale, the numbers of grade A, B, C, and D injuries were 747 (21.42%), 688 (19.73%), 618 (17.72%), and 1434 (41.12%), respectively. During the hospitalization period, a total of 1341 patients experienced complications, with a percentage of 38.46%. Among all complications, pulmonary infection was the most common (437, 32.59%), followed by hyponatremia (326, 24.31%), bedsores (219, 16.33%), urinary tract infection (168, 12.53%), deep venous thrombosis (157, 11.71%), and others (34, 2.53%). Notably, among 3487 patients with SCI, only 528 patients (15.14%) received long-term rehabilitation treatment. Conclusion: The incidence of SCI in northwest China was on the rise with higher proportion in males; fall and the MCVs were the primary causes of SCI. The occupations most threatened by SCI are farmers and workers. The investigation and analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of SCI in respiratory complications are important factors leading to death after SCI, especially when the SCI occurs in the cervical spinal cord. Finally, the significance of SCI rehabilitation should be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyperuricemia predisposes to gout, which may result in tophi, kidney stones, or urate nephropathy even kidney failure. Many metabolic risk factors and disorders has been recognized as a key risk factor contributing to development of hyperuricemia. Aim: To determine the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its association with adiposity and dyslipidemia. Methods: We recruited non-hospitalized participants (aged ≥35 years) in Xinjiang, a northwest part of China based on the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS 2008–2012). Information of general health status, seafood or internal organs intake and history of disease were obtained by using an interview-based questionnaire. The levels of serum uric acid (sUA) and creatinine and lipid profiles were measured. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to assess the association between prevalence of hyperuricemia and adiposity and dyslipidemia. Results: This study recruited 16,611 participants, and 14,618 was included (mean age of 50.5 ± 12.6 years, 46.6% was males). The study population comprised three ethnic groups with 39.4% of Han, 32.6% of Uygur and 28% of Kazakh Chinese. The overall prevalence of hyperuricemia was 9.1% (95% CI: 8.6 to 9.6) and it was11.8% in men was 6.7% in women. The three ethnic groups also had different hyperuricemia prevalence with 15.4% in Han, 4.6% in Uygur and 5.5% in Kazakh Chinese, which corresponding to a respective mean sUA levels of 306.2 ± 86.9, 249.4 ± 76.1 and 259.8 ± 78.7 μmol/L. Participants with diabetes, hypertension or hypertriglyceridemia and higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) had higher levels of sUA (P < 0.001 respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, gender, ethnicity, drinking, obesity, waist circumference, TG (≥2.26 mmol/L), TC (≥6.22 mmol/L) are major risk factors for hyperuricemia. Compared to the 35–44-year age group [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1], the risk of hyperuricemia increased 1.61-fold in the 65–74-year age group (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.34–1.91; P < 0.001), and 1.71-fold in the 75- and older age group (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.27–2.29; P < 0.001). There was a 1.45-fold higher risk of hyperuricemia in men (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24–1.68; P < 0.001) compared to women. Further, the risk of hyperuricemia increased significantly with drinking (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.16–1.61; P < 0.001), overweight (AOR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.06–1.48; P = 0.01), obesity (AOR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.10–1.49; P < 0.001), waist circumference (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.24–1.78; P < 0.001), TC (≥6.22 mmol/L, AOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.19–1.75; P < 0.001), TG (≥2.26 mmol/L, AOR = 2.74; 95% CI: 2.39–3.14; P < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings documented that the hyperuricemia is prevalent in the economically developing regions of northwest China. Hyperuricemia is associated with advanced age, male ender and general metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. Obesity and dyslipidemia increase the risk of hyperuricemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rickettsia spp. belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG) cause infections in humans, domestic animals and wildlife. At least five SFG rickettsial species have been reported in China, but the occurrence of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and R. massiliae in ticks has not been characterized to date. Findings: A total of 114 adult ticks were collected from sheep in Yining County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in northwest China. The ticks were identified from morphological and molecular characteristics. All samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and six genetic markers were used to determine the Rickettsia spp. in the ticks. The ticks collected were identified as Rhipicephalus turanicus. Three different lineages of Rh. turanicus from Yining County were discovered on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA and cox1. Twenty-one of the 114 samples (18.42%) were positive for rickettsial agents. Phylogenetic analysis based on six genetic sequences showed that three rickettsial species were present, namely: R. aeschlimannii (19.05%, 4/21), R. massiliae (19.05%, 4/21) and R. sibirica variant (61.90%, 13/21), which is clustered in the clade of R. sibirica subsp. sibirica. Conclusions: This is the first description of R. aeschlimannii and R. massiliae in China. R. massiliae, R. aeschlimannii and R. sibirica variant co-circulate in the region of the China-Kazakhstan border, in northwest China. Rickettsial agents in ticks of the genus Rhipicephalus from migrant birds, transported livestock, wildlife and human beings should be investigated further in the region of the China-Central Asian border. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the genus Halomonas are halophilic and their flexible adaption to changes of salinity and temperature brings considerable potential biotechnology applications, such as degradation of organic pollutants and enzyme production. The type strain Halomonas lutea YIM 91125T was isolated from a hypersaline lake in China. The genome of strain YIM 91125T becomes the twelfth species sequenced in Halomonas, and the thirteenth species sequenced in Halomonadaceae. We described the features of H. lutea YIM 91125T, together with the high quality draft genome sequence and annotation of its type strain. The 4,533,090 bp long genome of strain YIM 91125T with its 4,284 protein-coding and 84 RNA genes is a part of Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: the one thousand microbial genomes (KMG-I) project. From the viewpoint of comparative genomics, H. lutea has a larger genome size and more specific genes, which indicated acquisition of function bringing better adaption to its environment. DDH analysis demonstrated that H. lutea is a distinctive species, and halophilic features and nitrogen metabolism related genes were discovered in its genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and patterns of failure in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in Northwest China. Methods and materials: From January 2006 to December 2009, 138 NPC patients were treated at Xijing Hospital. Of them, 25 cases with stage I-II received IMRT only, 113 cases with stage III-IVb received IMRT plus accomplished platinum-based chemotherapy. The IMRT prescribed dose was PTV 68-74 Gy to gross disease in nasopharynx and 66-72 Gy to positive lymph nodes in 30-33 fractions, and high risk and low risk region PTV was 60-63 Gy and 50.4~56 Gy in 30~33 and 28 fractions respectively. Plasma Epstein Barr virus (EBV) DNA load was measured before treatment. The clinical toxicities, outcomes and patterns of failure were observed. Results: The median follow up time was 23 months (range 2 to 53 months). EBV infection positive was only 15.9%. Overall disease failure developed in 36 patients, 99% belonged to stage III/IV disease. Among these, there were 26 distant metastases, 6 local recurrence, and 4 regional recurrence. The 3-year local control rate(LCR), distant metastasis-free survival (MFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and the overall survival (OS) was 93.9%, 79.5%, 70% and 83.1% respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that age and anemia pre-radiotherapy were independent predictors for OS. Conclusion: IMRT with or without chemotherapy can improve the long term survival of NPC patients in Northwest China. Distant metastasis becomes the main cause of treatment failure. Age and anemia before radiotherapy were the main prognosis factors of NPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human health is closely related with the quality of drinking water. Various chemical pollutants in the drinking water can cause great risk to human health. Shizuishan city is an important coal-based industrial city where residents mainly rely on groundwater. In order to protect the safety of water supply, based on the sample survey, health risk assessment model recommended by the Unites States Environmental Protection Agency was adopted to assess the health risks of groundwater in the region. During the study, total 25 groundwater samples were colleted from drinking water supply wells and many parameters such as Cr6+, fluoride, arsenide, volatile phenol and cyanide were examined according to standard procedures recommended by Chinese Ministry of Water Resources. Evaluation results showed that the greatest risk value due to non-carcinogenic pollutants was caused by fluoride, while the greatest health risk due to chemical carcinogenic pollutants was primarily caused by Cr6+, the second was arsenide. The health risk due to chemical carcinogens was 3 magnitudes larger than that caused by non-carcinogenic pollutants, which indicated that chemical carcinogens were the primary pollutants in the drinking groundwater. The total health risk level was within the acceptable level proposed by Unites States Environmental Protection Agency, but exceeded the acceptable level recommended by International Commission on Radiologic Protection which meant that the groundwater needs pretreatment before consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, surveys of Toxoplasma gondii infection in dogs have been reported worldwide, including China. However, little is known about the prevalence of T. gondii in pet dogs in Northwest China. In the present study, the prevalence of T. gondii in pet dogs in Lanzhou, China was investigated using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Results: In this survey, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 28 of 259 (10.81%) pet dogs, with MAT titers of 1:20 in 14 dogs, 1:40 in nine, 1:80 in four, and 1:160 or higher in one dog. The prevalence ranged from 6.67% to 16.67% among dogs of different ages, with low rates in young pet dogs, and high rates in older pet dogs. The seroprevalence in dogs >3 years old was higher than that in dogs ≤1 years old, but the difference was not statistically significant (P >0.05). The seroprevalence in male dogs was 12.50% (17 of 136), and in female dogs it was 8.94% (11 of 123), but the difference was not statistically significant (P >0.05). Conclusions: A high prevalence of T. gondii infection was found in pet dogs in Lanzhou, Northwest China, which has implications for public health in this region. In order to reduce the risk of exposure to T. gondii, further measures and essential control strategies should be carried out rationally in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with extremely unfavorable prognosis among infants can do great damage to individuals and bring tremendous social-economic burden. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographic and ocular characteristics of infants who presented with stage 5 ROP in order to identify reasons why they have become blind, and to identify contributing factors in order to focus great attention on the current ROP program and to inspire more effort in ROP screening in middle income countries.Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive infants with stage 5 ROP from December 2010 to December 2016 in Department of Ophthalmology, Xijing Hospital. Various parameters retrieved included birthweight, gestational age, age at initial examination, postmenstrual age, screening details, check-up details and reasons for consultation. Ocular findings were recorded and also detected by ultrasonography.Results: A retrospective review of 20 consecutive infants with stage 5 ROP are included. Mean birthweight was1712.3 ± 512.97 g and mean gestational age at birth was 32.1 ± 2.21 weeks. Median age at first consultancy was 9.7 month. Median postmenstrual age first consultancy was 52 weeks. All infants were never screened for ROP before they came to the referral center. Of twenty stage 5 ROP infants, 13 cases presented with bilateral stage 5 features. Of the 40 eyes of 20 infants, 33 eyes were diagnosed as stage 5. Leukocoric pupil, closed funnel configuration of retinal detachment (RD), posterior synechia, extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation and retinal folds were the most significant indicators of bad prognosis. Ten eyes appeared no fixation to light, while 30 eyes exhibited following to light or following to toys.Conclusions: Our study shows that in relatively less-developed regions of China, more needs to be done to spread awareness about the disease among pediatricians, neonatologists and ophthalmologists as well as parents of premature infants. Thus, a comprehensive control system which is a whole network of propaganda, screening, treatment and follow-up are encouraged especially in less developed areas in China as well as worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]