Konjac glucomannan-based hydrogels with tunable mechanical strength and frictional resistance for biomedical applications.

Hydrogels with favorable biocompatibility are regarded as ideal biomedical materials. However, their poor mechanical and tribological properties limit their further clinical applications. Konjac glucomannan (KGM), a safe natural polysaccharide, has the potential to bridge this gap by regulating the mechanical and tribological properties of hydrogels.

Comparative Efficacy of P-CAB vs Proton Pump Inhibitors for Grade C/D Esophagitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Los Angeles grade C/D esophagitis is a severe manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease that require active treatment and close follow-up. Potassium competitive acid blockers (P-CAB) are promising alternatives to proton pump inhibitors (PPI). We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of P-CAB and PPI in healing grade C/D esophagitis to aid clinical decision-making.

The Disease Spectrum and Natural History of Patients With Abdominal Bloating or Distension: A Longitudinal Study.

Background/aims: Abdominal bloating or distension (AB/D) is a common complaint in the outpatient of gastroenterology department. Since the potential contributors are numerous and complex, a longitudinal study on the disease spectrum and natural history of patients was performed to better understand the key factors of AB/D.

Methods: Consecutive patients with the chief complaint of AB/D referred to the outpatient clinic were screened.

Inequalities in the Access to Health Services Among Older Migrants: Evidence From the China Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey.

To identify differences in healthcare use between older migrant workers (OMWs) and older migrants (OMs) and explore associated factors and paths of healthcare use. The data came from the 2015 China Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey (CMDMS). CMDMS used a multi-stage stratified probability proportionate to size method as the sampling technique and conducted a desk review.

The economic burden of malaria inpatients and its determinants during China's elimination stage.

Background: Malaria burden is still worrisome, while empirical evidence from malaria-eliminated countries including China may provide inspiration for the world.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate China's malaria hospitalization costs and explore its determinants.

Methods: Stratified multistage sampling across provincial, municipal, and county hospitals was conducted in 2017.

Satisfaction as a Mediator and Its Interaction With Adherence to Labor Analgesia Protocols: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Chinese Medical Personnel.

Background: Although the Chinese promotion of labor analgesia began in 2018 to improve maternal health, high-quality medical care is difficult to provide to pregnant women when medical staff cannot implement standard labor analgesia procedures. This study aims to examine medical personnel's adherence to labor analgesia protocols and to explore the relationships among adherence, satisfaction, and other factors.

Methods: The data were from a national cross-sectional dataset ( = 13,944) of the 2020 Chinese Labor Analgesia Pilot Evaluation Project.

Mapping Maternal Health in the New Media Environment: A Scientometric Analysis.

Background: The new media provides a convenient platform to access, use and exchange health information. And as a special group of health care, maternal health care is still of international concern due to their high mortality rate. Scientific research is a good way to provide advice on how to improve maternal health through stringent reasoning and accurate data.

Preventive behaviours and family inequalities during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in China.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an international public health threat, and people's participation in disease-related preventive behaviours is the key to controlling infectious diseases. This study aimed to assess the differences in adopting preventive behaviours among populations to explore potential individual and household factors and inequalities within families.

Methods: This online survey was conducted in April 2020.

Effective Tacrolimus Treatment for Patients with Non-Severe Aplastic Anemia That is Refractory/Intolerant to Cyclosporine A: A Retrospective Study.

Background: For symptomatic non-severe aplastic anemia (NSAA) patients who cannot afford anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), tacrolimus (FK) may be an option if these patients do not respond or become tolerant to cyclosporine A (CsA).

Methods: We enrolled 101 NSAA patients who were refractory or intolerant to CsA with no chance of HSCT or ATG treatment and treated these patients with tacrolimus for at least 6 months, with follow-up for at least one year.

Results: The overall response rate (ORR) was 38.

Tacrolimus is effective in relapsed/refractory autoimmune cytopenias: results of a single-center retrospective study.

Background: The standard therapies for autoimmune cytopenias, including idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and Evans syndrome (ES), are corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin G. However, the recurrence rate is high.

Method: Data from 80 patients with ITP, AIHA and ES who were refractory to corticosteroids/relapsed and were treated with tacrolimus from January 2018 to January 2019 in Peking Union Medical Colleague Hospital were reviewed retrospectively.

Hereditary intrinsic factor deficiency in China caused by a novel mutation in the intrinsic factor gene-a case report.

Background: Hereditary intrinsic factor deficiency is a rare disease characterized by cobalamin deficiency with the lack of gastric intrinsic factor because of gastric intrinsic factor (GIF) mutations. Patients usually present with cobalamin deficiency without gastroscopy abnormality and intrinsic factor antibodies.

Case Presentation: A Chinese patient presented with recurrent severe anemia since age 2 with low cobalamin level and a mild elevation of indirect bilirubin.

Ankylosing spondylitis complicating Turner syndrome: Two case reports and a literature review.

Rationale: Turner syndrome (TS) is an anomaly caused by loss of part of or all the X chromosomes. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an HLA-B27-associated autoimmune disease with a male predominance. It is widely accepted that TS patients are at higher risk of autoimmune diseases, but AS in TS patients has only rarely been reported.

Correction to: prediction of thrombosis risk in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

The authors determined an error in the affiliation section; it was captured as Department of Hematology, Peking Union Hospital, CAMS & PUMC, Beijing 100,730, China. The correct affiliation should be Department of Hematology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.

Prediction of thrombosis risk in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired hemolytic disease with thrombosis as a major complication. The mechanism of thrombosis and related risk factors in PNH patients are still not well characterized. We retrospectively enrolled 99 patients with newly diagnosed PNH at our institute from 2011 to 2016.

Hospitalization risks related to vascular access type among incident US hemodialysis patients.

Background: The excess morbidity and mortality related to catheter utilization at and immediately following dialysis initiation may simply be a proxy for poor prognosis. We examined hospitalization burden related to vascular access (VA) type among incident patients who received some predialysis care.

Methods: We identified a random sample of incident US Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study hemodialysis patients (1996-2004) who reported predialysis nephrologist care.

Conversion of vascular access type among incident hemodialysis patients: description and association with mortality.

Background: Limited data exist describing vascular access conversions during the first year on dialysis therapy or the effect of converting to and from a catheter on subsequent mortality risk.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting & Participants: We studied a random sample of incident US hemodialysis patients (initiated long-term dialysis < 30 days before study entry) in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS; 1996-2004).

A comparison of patient outcomes and quality of life in persons with neurogenic bowel: standard bowel care program vs colostomy.

Background/objective: The purpose of this study was to compare patient outcomes and quality of life for people with neurogenic bowel using either a standard bowel care program or colostomy.

Methods: We analyzed survey data from a national sample, comparing outcomes between veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) who perform bowel care programs vs individuals with colostomies. This study is part of a larger study to evaluate clinical practice guideline implementation in SCI.

Development and evaluation of a multifaceted ergonomics program to prevent injuries associated with patient handling tasks.

Problem Statement: Nurses have one of the highest rates of work-related musculoskeletal injury of any profession. Over the past 30 years, efforts to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders in nurses have been largely unsuccessful.

Specific Aims: The primary goal of this program was to create safer working environments for nursing staff who provide direct patient care.

Social class and heart disease mortality among African Americans.

The purpose of the present study was to examine variation in heart disease death rates by the social class of decedents. The term, "social class" refers to a complex set of phenomena such as control over economic resources, social status, and power relative to others in society. The target population for this study was African-American adults aged 35-74 years old who resided in the United States during the years 1996-1997.