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Objective To validate the World Health Organization (WHO) non-laboratory-based cardiovascular disease risk prediction model in regions of China. Methods We performed an external validation of the WHO model for East Asia using the data set of China Kadoorie Biobank, an ongoing cohort study with 512 725 participants recruited from 10 regions of China from 2004-2008. We also recalculated the recalibration parameters for the WHO model in each region and evaluated the predictive performance of the model before and after recalibration. We assessed discrimination performance by Harrell's C index. Findings We included 412 225 participants aged 40-79 years. During a median follow-up of11 years, 58 035 and 41 262 incident cardiovascular disease cases were recorded in women and men, respectively. Harrell's C of the WHO model was 0.682 in women and 0.700 in men but varied among regions. The WHO model underestimated the 10-year cardiovascular disease risk in most regions. After recalibration in each region, discrimination and calibration were both improved in the overall population. Harrell's C increased from 0.674 to 0.749 in women and from 0.698 to 0.753 in men. The ratios of predicted to observed cases before and after recalibration were 0.189 and 1.027 in women and 0.543 and 1.089 in men. Conclusion The WHO model for East Asia yielded moderate discrimination for cardiovascular disease in the Chinese population and had limited prediction for cardiovascular disease risk in different regions in China. Recalibration for diverse regions greatly improved discrimination and calibration in the overall population. Objectif Valider le modele de prevision hors laboratoire des risques de maladies cardiovasculaires de l'Organisation mondiale de la Sante (OMS) dans plusieurs regions de Chine. Methodes Nous avons effectue une validation externe du modele de l'OMS pour l'Asie orientale en nous fondant sur l'ensemble de donnees de la China Kadoorie Biobank, une etude de cohorte en cours qui compte 512 725 participants recrutes dans dix regions de Chine entre 2004 et 2008. Nous avons egalement recalcule les parametres de recalibrage du modele de l'OMS dans chaque region, et mesure les performances previsionnelles de ce dernier avant et apres recalibrage. Enfin, nous avons evalue ses capacites de discrimination selon l'index C de Harrell. Resultats Nous avons inclus 412 225 participants ages de 40 a 79 ans. Sur un suivi median de 11 ans, 58 035 cas de maladies cardiovasculaires ont ete enregistres chez les femmes et 41 262 chez les hommes. Le modele de l'OMS affichait un index C de Harrell de 0,682 pour les femmes et de 0,700 pour les hommes, mais variait d'une region a l'autre. En outre, il sous-estimait les risques de maladies cardiovasculaires sur dix ans dans la plupart des regions. Un recalibrage pour chacune d'elles a permis d'optimiser la discrimination et le calibrage pour la population dans son ensemble. Lindex C de Harrell est passe de 0,674 a 0,749 pour les femmes et de 0,698 a 0,753 pour les hommes. Le ratio entre cas prevus et cas observes avant et apres recalibrage s'elevait a 0,189 et 1,027 chez les femmes, contre 0,543 et 1,089 chez les hommes. Conclusion Le modele de l'OMS pour l'Asie orientale a revele des taux de discrimination moderes en termes de maladies cardiovasculaires au sein de la population chinoise, et ses performances previsionnelles en la matiere sont limitees dans diverses regions du pays. Un recalibrage en fonction des regions a permis d'ameliorer considerablement la discrimination et le calibrage pour la population generale. Objetivo Validar el modelo de prediccion del riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares sin pruebas de laboratorio de la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud (OMS) en regiones de China. Metodos Se realizo una validacion externa del modelo de la OMS para Asia Oriental a partir del conjunto de datos del China Kadoorie Biobank, un estudio de cohortes en curso con 512 725 participantes seleccionados en 10 regiones de China entre 2004 y 2008. Tambien se volvieron a calcular los parametros de recalibracion para el modelo de la OMS en cada region y se evaluo el rendimiento predictivo del modelo antes y despues de la recalibracion. Asimismo, se evaluo el rendimiento discriminatorio mediante el indice C de Harrell. Resultados Se incluyeron 412 225 participantes de entre 40 y 79 anos. Durante una mediana de seguimiento de 11 anos, se registraron 58 035 y 41 262 casos nuevos de enfermedades cardiovasculares en mujeres y hombres, respectivamente. El indice C de Harrell del modelo de la OMS fue de 0,682 en mujeres y 0,700 en hombres, pero vario entre regiones. El modelo de la OMS subestimo el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular a 10 anos en la mayoria de las regiones. Tras la recalibracion en cada region, tanto la discriminacion como la calibracion mejoraron en toda la poblacion. El indice C de Harrell aumento de 0,674 a 0,749 en las mujeres y de 0,698 a 0,753 en los hombres. Los cocientes entre los casos predichos y los observados antes y despues del recalibrado fueron de 0,189 y 1,027 en las mujeres y de 0,543 y 1,089 en los hombres. Conclusion El modelo de la OMS para Asia Oriental arrojo una discriminacion moderada para las enfermedades cardiovasculares en la poblacion china y tuvo una prediccion limitada para el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares en diferentes regiones de China. La recalibracion para diversas regiones mejoro considerablemente la discriminacion y la calibracion en la poblacion general., Introduction Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease and stroke, are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. (1) Risk prediction models are important tools for identifying high-risk individuals who [...]

A nationwide survey in China found that skin diseases are common among college students, with a prevalence rate of 60.1%. Acne was the most common skin disease, followed by eczema, androgenetic alopecia, chronic urticaria, and rosacea. The study estimated that the overall burden of skin disease was 667.0 years lived with disabilities (YLDs) per 100,000, with noncommunicable skin diseases accounting for the majority of the burden. The study emphasized the need for accurate data to inform policymakers and recommended prioritizing the prevention, screening, and management of noncommunicable skin diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Pruritus is identified as an adverse drug reaction to arsenic trioxide, but the association of arsenic exposure with pruritus has not been investigated. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Shimen, China. A Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to confirm the causal relationship between genetically predicted percentages of monomethylated arsenic (MMA%) and dimethylated arsenic (DMA%) in urine with chronic pruritus in UK Biobank. A case–control study was then conducted to determine the biomarker for pruritus. Arsenite‐treated mice were used to confirm the biomarker, and von Frey test was used to induce scratching bouts. Last, a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted to test the efficacy of naloxone in arsenic‐exposed patients with pruritus in Shimen. Results: Hair arsenic (μg/g) showed a dose–response relationship with the intensity of itch in 1079 participants, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.11 for moderate‐to‐severe itch (p = 0.012). The Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed the causal relationship, with ORs of 1.043 for MMA% (p = 0.029) and 0.904 for DMA% (p = 0.077) above versus under median. Serum β‐endorphin was identified as a significant biomarker for the intensity of itch (p < 0.001). Consistently, treatment with arsenite upregulated the level of β‐endorphin (p = 0.002) and induced scratching bouts (p < 0.001) in mice. The randomized controlled trial in 126 participants showed that treatment with sublingual naloxone significantly relieved the intensity of itch in arsenic‐exposed participants in 2 weeks (β = −0.98, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Arsenic exposure is associated with pruritus, and β‐endorphin serves as a biomarker of pruritus. Naloxone relieves pruritus in patients with arseniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the clinical characteristics of skin disorders among hospitalized patients before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, a retrospective study was conducted based on hospitalized patients with skin diseases from Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, the largest hospital in the south‐central region of China, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021. A total of 3039 hospitalized patients were enrolled in the study, including 1681 patients in the prepandemic group and 1358 patients in the pandemic group. The total number of hospitalized patients in the pandemic group decreased by 19.2%, with an increased proportion of patients over 60 years of age (39.8% vs. 35.8%). Moreover, compared with the prepandemic group, there were decreases in the occurrence of most skin diseases in the pandemic group, but the proportions of keratinolytic carcinoma (6.6% vs. 5.2%), dermatitis (24.0% vs. 18.9%), and psoriasis (18.0% vs. 14.8%) were higher in the pandemic group. In addition, longer hospital stays (β = 0.07, SE = 0.02, P = 1.35 × 10−3) and higher hospital costs (β = 0.06, SE = 0.03, p = 0.031) were found in the pandemic group through general linear models, even after the corresponding adjustment. In summary, the COVID‐19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on patients with skin diseases, with fewer hospitalized patients, increased proportions of older patients, longer hospital stays, and increased hospital costs. These findings will facilitate better preparation for the most effective response to future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Resting heart rate (RHR) has been associated with risks of mortality and multiple chronic diseases. Previous studies, predominantly conducted in Europeans, have reported 91 independent variants associated with RHR and its genetic correlations with several cardiometabolic traits. Studies from East Asians are lacking. Methods We performed a GWAS for RHR in 87,701 participants aged 30-79 years from China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB). A linear mixed model was used under an additive model. Replication was conducted in 37,251 Chinese participants from CKB and UK Biobank. We conducted LD score regression to quantify genetic correlations across RHR and 11 cardiometabolic traits. Results Only 50 previously reported variants were replicated in CKB (=0.025). We identified ten novel loci associated with RHR (P <5 × 10-8), of which 50 candidate genes were prioritized. RHR showed significant genetic correlations with diastolic blood pressure (rg=0.258, P =5.71 × 10−10), mean arterial pressure (rg=0.225, P =3.08 × 10−8), systolic blood pressure (rg=0.170, P =4.92 × 10−5), plasma glucose (rg=0.197, P =0.003), total cholesterol (rg=0.287, P =0.012), and high-density lipoprotein (rg=0.246, P =0.030). Conclusions We identified ten novel loci associated with RHR in a large Asian cohort. The identified genetic correlations of RHR with blood pressure, glucose, and lipids indicate previously reported association of RHR with risk of all-cause death might be mediated via its correlations with cardiometabolic traits. Key messages Ten novel loci associated with RHR were identified in the Chinese population. RHR showed significant genetic correlations with blood pressure, glucose and lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]