Reduction in healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a healthcare crisis in China and continues to wreak havoc across the world. This paper evaluated COVID-19's impact on national and regional healthcare service utilisation and expenditure in China.

Methods: Using a big data approach, we collected data from 300 million bank card transactions to measure individual healthcare expenditure and utilisation in mainland China.

Prevalence and associated factors of poor sleep quality among Chinese returning workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a severe global crisis which has resulted in many public health problems. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and its related factors among employees who returned to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Our online cross-sectional study included 2,410 participants aged ≥17 years in Deqing and Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China from 5th to 14th March 2020.

Modification effects of T2DM-susceptible SNPs on the reduction of blood glucose in response to lifestyle interventions.

In recent years, it has been demonstrated that some susceptible gene loci of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are not only associated with the susceptibility risk of T2DM, but also the modifying effects of lifestyle interventions. To further explore the modifying effects of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the onset of T2DM and the reduction of blood glucose in response to lifestyle interventions among the high-risk population, we performed a lifestyle intervention study in two Deqing rural communities during the period from June to December in 2017. The intensive lifestyle interventions were conducted among the study subjects of the intervention group while those in the control group only received conventional and general health education.

Recurrent gain-of-function USP8 mutations in Cushing's disease.

Cushing's disease, also known as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenomas (PAs) that cause excess cortisol production, accounts for up to 85% of corticotrophin-dependent Cushing's syndrome cases. However, the genetic alterations in this disease are unclear. Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing of DNA derived from 12 ACTH-secreting PAs and matched blood samples, which revealed three types of somatic mutations in a candidate gene, USP8 (encoding ubiquitin-specific protease 8), exclusively in exon 14 in 8 of 12 ACTH-secreting PAs.

[Study on the relationship of the haplotypes of programmed cell death 1 gene and ultraviolet history with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To investigate the relationship of gene polymorphisms of programmed cell death 1 gene (PDCD1) and ultraviolet history with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among the Han population in the southern region of yangtze river in China.

Methods: With a case control design, a total of 159 SLE cases and 159 controls were enrolled in this study, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PDCD1 gene were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). With the aid of the logistic regression model, the effect of gene polymorphism, environmental factor and the interaction between gene and environment were fitted under the recessive, dominant, additive and codominant mode, respectively.

How do type 2 diabetes mellitus-related chronic complications impact direct medical cost in four major cities of urban China?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the direct medical costs of type 2 diabetes mellitus with or without complications, and to determine the economic impact of complications on type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of prevalent type 2 diabetes carried out in four major cities of China. The study populations were 1530 outpatients and 524 inpatients from clinics or wards of a total of 20 hospitals, using a two-phase subject enrollment process, by face-to-face interview with a unique questionnaire.

[The impact of complication on quality of life among diabetic patients in urban China].

Objective: To explore the impact of chronic complications of type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) on quality of life (QOL) among T2DM outpatients in urban China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 1524 T2DM outpatients recruited from 15 hospitals in 4 major cities of China. Questionnaire interviews were used to collect data on general characters and complications of T2DM.

[Using satisfaction questionnaire status version (DTSQs) to study on the reliability, construct validity and responsiveness of diabetes treatment among Chinese diabetic outpatients].

Objective: Using 'diabetes treatment satisfaction questionnaire status version (DTSQs)' to evaluate the reliability, validity and responsiveness, among Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outpatients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 749 T2DM outpatients from seven hospitals in Guangzhou and Shanghai, China. The DTSQs was self-administered by patients, under the help from interviewers for those having difficulties in reading.

Aberrant DNA methylation of P16, MGMT, and hMLH1 genes in combination with MTHFR C677T genetic polymorphism in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

To explore the role of aberrant hypermethylation of cancer-related genes, such as P16, MGMT, and hMLH1, in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) as well as its relation to dietary folate intake and MTHFR C677T polymorphism, we conducted a molecular epidemiologic study in China. One hundred and twenty-five histologically confirmed ESCC patients having undergone surgery in the Yangzhong People's Hospital between January 2005 and March 2006 were recruited. The aberrant CpG island hypermethylation of P16, MGMT, and hMLH1 genes could be found in cancer tissues with frequency of about 88.

The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms in patients with somatic disorders in urban China: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients with somatic diseases in urban China.

Method: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in four major cities of China from June to August in 2004. There were 2111 eligible subjects with Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Epilepsy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Functional Dyspepsia, and Menopausal Syndrome, and 317 Post-natal women were recruited from general hospitals.

[A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms in neurological patients from four cities in China].

Objective: To describe the prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms in patients with some neurological diseases in the general hospitals of major cities in China.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four big cities in China in 2004. 1197 eligible subjects with Stroke, Parkinson's disease and Epilepsy were recruited from the outpatient or inpatient departments within three months.

[Study on risk factors of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms in patients with coronary heart disease in general hospitals of urban China].

Objective: To explore the risk factors of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the general hospital of main cities in China.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four main cities in China in 2004. 359 CHD patients were recruited continually during six months from the outpatient and inpatient department of 7 tertiary hospitals.

[Study on the identification of HIV/AIDS and its surveillance system in rural areas of central China].

Objective: To explore the effective strategies for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) surveillance and identification in rural areas of central China.

Methods: In a selected rural prefecture area of central China, an epidemiological investigation was conducted for all reported HIV/AIDS cases. A historical and analytic review was performed, with particular interests in examining the HIV epidemic reporting and identification system.

[Improved case finding by using sputum examination in pulmonary tuberculosis suspects with clinical symptoms].

Objective: To investigate more effective methods in case finding of tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: Sputum examination for TB suspects was applied on the basis of traditional chest X-ray screening. TB suspects with cough more than 3 weeks were subjected to a sputum examination firstly.

Relationship between ambient air pollution and daily mortality of SARS in Beijing.

Objective: To study the relationship between ambient air pollution and daily mortality of SARS in Beijing.

Methods: The approach of time-series Poisson regression was used to assess the relationship between daily SARS mortality, ambient air pollution, and other factors from April 25 to May 31, 2003 in Beijing.

Results: An increase of each 10 microg/m3 over a 5-day moving average of PM10, SO2 and NO2 corresponded to 1.

[Pedigree study of pathological myopia].

90 pedigrees including 1822 individuals were investigated and analyzed to find out the genetic mode of pathological myopia in Chinese population. 169 screened nuclear pedigrees from the total were divided into two groups according to mating mode, Affected * Normal or Normal * Normal. Simple segregation analysis on A * N and N * N pedigrees was performed respectively.