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Aim: Numerous evidence suggests that diabetes increases the risk of cognitive impairment. This study aimed to develop and validate a multivariable risk score model to identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1256 inpatients (age: 57.5 ± 11.2 years) with T2DM in a tertiary care hospital in China. MCI was diagnosed according to the criteria recommended by the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association Workgroup, and a MoCA score of 19– 25 indicated MCI. Participants were randomly allocated into the derivation and validation sets at 7:3 ratio. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors for MCI in the derivation set. A scoring system based on the predictors' beta coefficient was developed. Predictive ability of the risk score was tested by discrimination and calibration methods. Results: Totally 880 (285 with MCI, 32.4%) and 376 (167 with MCI, 33.8%) patients were allocated in the derivation and validation set, respectively. Age, education, HbA1c, self-reported history of severe hypoglycemia, and microvascular disease were identified as predictors for MCI and constituted the risk score. The AUCs (95% CI) of the risk score were 0.751 (0.717, 0.784) in derivation set and 0.776 (0.727, 0.824) in validation set. The risk score showed good apparent calibration of observed and predicted MCI probabilities and was capable of stratifying individuals into 3 risk categories by two cut-off points (low risk: ≤ 3, medium risk: 4– 13, and high risk ≥ 14). Conclusion: The risk score based on age, education, HbA1c, self-reported history of severe hypoglycemia, and microvascular disease can effectively assess MCI risk in adults with T2DM at different age. It can serve as a practical prescreening tool for early detection of MCI in daily diabetes care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The efficacy of Kuntai capsule combined with letrozole (LE) in improving ovarian function of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been evaluated before, but there is still a lack of evidence-based support for the regulation of sex hormone levels. In recent years, new randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have been reported on the effect of combined therapy on regulating sex hormone levels. Objective: We aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of Kuntai capsule combined with LE in the treatment of PCOS. Methods: A search across the China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang database, PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and Embase was conducted on Kuntai capsule combined with LE in the treatment of PCOS. The time of the self-built database was up to April 30, 2021. RCTs of LE in the control group and LE combined with Kuntai capsule in the experimental group were selected. RevMan5.3 software was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 17 studies were gathered, which included 1,684 patients. The meta-analysis results showed that the total effective rate of the combined group was 93.36% and that of the LE group was 78.15%. The improvement in the ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, number of mature follicles, endometrial thickness, cervical mucus score, and serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL) in the combined group was consistent with the results of a previous meta-analysis and was better than that in the LE group (p < 0.05). In addition, the combination group was better than the LE group in regulating the levels of estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) (p < 0.05). There were no adverse drug reactions in the two groups during treatment. Conclusion: As a type of pure traditional Chinese medicine preparation, Kuntai capsule combined with LE had a better effect than LE alone in the treatment of PCOS, with advantages mainly reflected in enhancing ovarian function and regulating the levels of sex hormones in vivo , among others, but the value of combined therapy still needs to be verified by more high-quality RCTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish the HPLC detection method for anatoxin-a in drinking water., Methods: 1L water was collected, respectively, from raw and finished water in A and B water-plants provided source water by Qingcaosha Reservoir. Water samples were filtered by GF/C membrane, and then intracellular and dissolved anatoxin-a were enriched by weak cation-exchange (WCX) packing, respectively. The optimal ratio of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) versus methanol for elution was determined. HPLC was employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of anatoxin-a in water., Results: Methanol containing 0.2% TFA had an optimal elution effect. The linear range of standard curve was 0.01-5 microg/ml and R2 value was 0.9999. The detection limit of anatoxin-a was 2.9 ng/L in water sample. The spiked recovery rates and the relative standard deviation (RSD%) were 75.2% - 100.6% and 6.38% - 8.76%, respectively. When detected continuously for six days, the average values were consistent with the true values, and RSD% of intra- and inter-day was among 1.60% - 8.90%. Anatoxin-a was detectable in raw water of both water-plants. 0.028 microg/L anatoxin-a of A water-plant and 0.137 microg/L anatoxin-a of B water-plant. Anatoxin-a was un-detectable in finished water of both water-plants., Conclusion: The current method can satisfy the detection of traces of anatoxin-a in drinking water and be used for continuous batch detection because of the low detection limit, high recovery rate and accuracy, good stability and reliability. More attention should be paid to surveillances of Qingcaosha Reservoir and raw and finished water from it, in order to prevent potential danger of Anatoxin-a on human health.