Association between cognitive function and body composition in older adults: data from NHANES (1999-2002).

Aim: To investigate the association between cognitive function and body composition in older adults.

Methods: We collected data on 2080 older adults (>60 years of age) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 1999-2000 and 2001-2002. Candidate variables included: demographic data (sex, age, race, education level, marital status, poverty-to-income ratio), alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, total bone mineral density, and total fat mass.

A specific type of irregular ring-and-hub network structure and the average shortest distance of its rings.

Ring-and-hub network structure is very common in the real world, while that neighboring rings may sometimes share nodes or line segments makes this structure irregular. In this paper, we modify Dorogovtsev-Mendes model and its subsequent models to analytically estimate the average distance between nodes on the same ring in irregular ring-and-hub networks. In order to observe the accuracy of our modified model, we develop an algorithm to generate irregular ring-and-hub networks by computer.

The effects of nutritional support team intervention on postoperative immune function, nutritional statuses, inflammatory responses, clinical outcomes of elderly patients with gastric cancer.

Background: To explore the effects of nutrition support team (NST) intervention on elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: The elderly GC patients (tumor stage I/II/III), admitted to our department from January 2015 to September 2021, were retrospectively analyzed and divided into NST group and traditional nutrition (TN) group according to nutritional management methods. The immune, inflammatory, nutrition-related indices, postoperative recovery and long-term prognosis of two groups were analyzed.

A bottom-up simulation on competition of online interpersonal communication platforms.

The competition of interpersonal communication platforms is a complex process affected by various factors. This paper aims to simulate and analyze this process from a bottom-up perspective. Individual platform selection serves as the micro-foundation for the study.

History and status quo of higher public health education in China.

This purpose of the study is to systematically understand the development history and influencing factors of higher public health education in China. We extensively collected the public health education-related literature in China, summarized the general framework, historical origin, and development mode of the existing public health education system, and discussed the potential development tendency. Public health education in China changed with the development of higher medical education and higher education in China.

Surgical Management and Adjuvant Therapy for Patients With Neurological Deficits From Vertebral Hemangiomas: A Meta-Analysis.

Study Design: Meta-analysis.

Objective: To understand the benefits and limitations of surgical management and adjuvant therapies for patients presenting with neurological deficits from vertebral hemangiomas (VH).

Summary Of Background Data: VH is the most common benign spine tumor but rarely causes symptoms.

Accuracy of a 3-Dimensionally Printed Navigational Template for Localizing Small Pulmonary Nodules: A Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Localization of small lung nodules are challenging because of the difficulty of nodule recognition during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Using 3-dimensional (3-D) printing technology, a navigational template was recently created to assist percutaneous lung nodule localization; however, the efficacy and safety of this template have not yet been evaluated.

Objective: To assess the noninferiority of the efficacy and safety of a 3-D-printed navigational template guide for localizing small peripheral lung nodules.

Intermolecular hydrogen bonding-mediated synthesis of high-quality photoluminescent carbon dots for label-free fluorometric detection of Fe ions.

Hydrogen bonding interactions guided supramolecular self-assembly has been widely studied, which played important roles in the field of nanotechnology and nanodevices. Herein, an effective intermolecular hydrogen bonding mediated heating-up synthesis of high-quality fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) is developed based on hydrogen-bonding between trimesic acid and urea. Upon optimizing the hydrogen-bonding interaction, high quality of CDs with high monodispersity and stability could be obtained.

The predictive value of CT-based radiomics in differentiating indolent from invasive lung adenocarcinoma in patients with pulmonary nodules.

Objectives: Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) are assumed to be indolent lung adenocarcinoma with excellent prognosis. We aim to identify these lesions from invasive adenocarcinoma (IA) by a radiomics approach.

Methods: This retrospective study was approved by institutional review board with a waiver of informed consent.

Soil heavy metal pollution and risk assessment associated with the Zn-Pb mining region in Yunnan, Southwest China.

The environmental assessment and identification of sources of heavy metals in Zn-Pb ore deposits are important steps for the effective prevention of subsequent contamination and for the development of corrective measures. The concentrations of eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in soils from 40 sampling points around the Jinding Zn-Pb mine in Yunnan, China, were analyzed. An environmental quality assessment of the obtained data was performed using five different contamination and pollution indexes.

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers on cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Heart failure (HF) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Multiple trials over the past several years have examined the effects of both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in the treatment of left ventricular dysfunction, both acutely after myocardial infarction and in chronic heart failure. Yet, there is still confusion regarding the relative efficacy of rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition.

Nanospherical like reduced graphene oxide decorated TiO2 nanoparticles: an advanced catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Modification of titanium dioxide (TiO2) for H2 generation is a grand challenge due to its high chemical inertness, large bandgap, narrow light-response range and rapid recombination of electrons and holes. Herein, we report a simple process to prepare nanospherical like reduced graphene oxide (NS-rGO) decorated TiO2 nanoparticles (NS-rGO/TiO2) as photocatalysts. This modified TiO2 sample exhibits remarkably significant improvement on visible light absorption, narrow band gap and efficient charge collection and separation.

A Preliminary Investigation of Normal Pancreas and Acute Pancreatitis Elasticity Using Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTQ) Imaging.

Background: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the use of elastometry in healthy volunteers and patients with acute pancreatitis using virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) imaging technology performed on the pancreas.

Material And Methods: We enrolled 210 healthy volunteers and 44 acute pancreatitis patients in the study between March 2012 and June 2013. Healthy subjects were divided into 3 groups: young (18-30 years), middle-aged (30-50 years), and elderly (>50 years).

Using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity to screen for metabolic syndrome in community populations.

The aim of this study is to investigate the viability of using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as a primary tool to screen metabolic syndrome (MetS), and to explore the risk factors of MetS in community populations. A total of 1914 subjects completed medical examination in Shanghai. BaPWV was significantly associated with the components of MetS.

Can we early diagnose metabolic syndrome using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in community population?

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) increased recently and there was still not a screening index to predict MetS. The aim of this study was to estimate whether brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a novel marker for systemic arterial stiffness, could predict MetS in Chinese community population.

Methods: A total of 2 191 participants were recruited and underwent medical examination including 1 455 men and 756 women from June 2011 to January 2012.

Does drug-eluting bead transcatheter arterial chemoembolization improve the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma? A meta-analysis.

Background: Drug eluting beads (DEB) are relatively new embolic agents that allow sustained release of chemotherapeutic agents in a localized fashion to the tumor. This technique is associated with reduced systemic side effects relative to systemic chemotherapy and an increase in the dose of antineoplastic agent delivered to the lesion. The meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of DEB-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the management of hepatocellular cancer.

Diagnostic value of virtual touch tissue quantification for breast lesions with different size.

Purpose: To evaluate diagnostic value of the virtual touch tissue quantification (VTTQ) for breast lesions with different sizes.

Materials And Methods: Patients with 206 breast lesions were categorized into three groups according to lesion size (<10 mm, 10-20 mm, and >20 mm). Breast lesions were examined by conventional ultrasound and VTTQ, and shear wave velocity (SWV) of each lesion and adjacent normal breast tissue were measured.

Transperineal ultrasound-guided 12-core prostate biopsy: an extended approach to diagnose transition zone prostate tumors.

Objective: Transperineal ultrasound-guided (TPUS) 12-core prostate biopsy was evaluated as an initial strategy for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, The distribution of prostate cancer lesions was assessed with zone-specific biopsy.

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2012, 287 patients underwent TPUS-guided 12-core prostate biopsy. Multiple cores were obtained from both the peripheral zone (PZ) and the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate.

Lower socioeconomic status is associated with worse outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Rationale: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) confers a heightened risk of common cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and increased mortality. The association of SES with outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is less clear.

Objectives: To determine the association between SES and outcomes in patients with PAH.

Diagnostic value of ankle-brachial index in peripheral arterial disease: a meta-analysis.

Background: In a previous review, we reported that ankle brachial index (ABI) ≤ 0.90 could reliably identify patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Since then, more studies have been published which may extend the power of a meta-analysis of studies of diagnostic accuracy of the ABI.

Association between risk factors and left ventricular remodeling in middle-aged and aged population: a community-based study.

Background: Left ventricular remodeling plays a vital role in the progression of heart failure and contributes to the clinical and symptomatic deterioration.

Method: We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional study in the middle-aged and geriatric population to assess various potential risk factors for predicting left ventricular enlargement (LVE) and hypertrophy (LVH). LVE was defined by indexing left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole to height and LVH was defined in the light of calculation of left ventricular mass index.

Three-dimensional morphological characteristics measurement of ankle joint based on computed tomography image post-processing.

Background: As precise positioning of ankle radiography is not possible, quantitative measurement of all syndesmotic parameters on repeated ankle X-ray films may be of little value. The purpose of this study was to provide a set of scientific and objective evaluation criteria for assessing the quality of ankle fracture reduction accurately and reliably by an intelligent combining three-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) measurement model.

Methods: From June 2008 to March 2011, all the thin-slice CT images of 100 cases (50 males and 50 females) with normal ankle joint scanned by 16-slice spiral CT were collected.

Prehypertension: a meta-analysis of the epidemiology, risk factors, and predictors of progression.

We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of prehypertension, as well as the predictors of progression from prehypertension to hypertension. To do this, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, after unrestricted searches of PubMed and The Cochrane Library through September 2010. In addition, we reviewed references, major textbooks, and review articles.

Sensitivity and specificity of the ankle--brachial index to diagnose peripheral artery disease: a structured review.

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a simple, inexpensive diagnostic test for peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, it has shown variable accuracy for identification of significant stenosis. The authors performed a structured review of the sensitivity and specificity of ABI ≤ 0.