PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS OVER 50 YEARS OLD IN CHINA

Objective To investigate the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in China type 2 diabetic patients and to demonstrate the relationships between putative risk factors and PAD. Methods In total 1 397 type 2 diabetic patients aged 50 years and older were enrolled and determined ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 15 Class III Grade A hospitals in 7 major cities of China. Results Mean patient age was 63.7±8.2 years and mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 9.39±7.4 years. Two hundreds and seventy-two (19.47%) patients were diagnosed as PAD by ABI <0.9, 122 (18.37%) in male and 150 (20.46%) in female. PAD patients had a significantly longer duration of diabetes mellitus, higher hemoglobin Alc, and a significantly lower mean body mass index than non-PAD ones. Aging, smoking, and systolic blood pressure were found to be positively related with the prevalence of PAD. In terms of lipid profiles, no variable was found to relate with PAD. Notably, baPWV showed as the same significant guiding index for PAD, almost matched with ABI. Conclusions PAD is a common complication in China type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, PAD screening and treatment should be emphasized for diabetic patients with high risk factors.

MAFLD vs.NAFLD:shared features and potential changes in epidemiology,pathophysiology,diagnosis,and pharmacotherapy

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide,placing an increasing burden on human health.NAFLD is a complex multifactorial disease involving genetic,metabolic,and environmental factors.It is closely associated with metabolic syndrome,obesity,and type 2 diabetes,of which insulin resistance is the main pathophysiological mechanism.Over the past few decades,investigation of the pathogenesis,diagnosis,and treatments has revealed different aspects of NAFLD,challenging the accuracy of definition and therapeutic strategy for the clinical practice.Recently,experts reach a consensus that NAFLD does not reflect the current knowledge,and metabolic(dysfunction)associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is suggested as a more appropriate term.The new definition puts increased emphasis on the important role of metabolic dysfunction in it.Herein,the shared features and potential changes in epidemiology,pathophysiology,diagnosis,and pharmacotherapy of the newly defined MAFLD,as compared with the formerly defined NAFLD,are reviewed for updating our understanding.

Epidemiological Status of Chronic Diabetic Complications in China

With the booming development of industrialization and urbanization, popularization of high calorie diet and sedentary lifestyle, and the rapid growth of aging, the prevalence of diabetes increased nearly 10 times during the past three decades in China.

3ehavioral Analysis of Chinese Adult Patients with Type 1 Diabetes on Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose

Background： The information-motivation-behavioral skills （IMB） model of health behavior is an effective tool to evaluate the behavior of diabetes self-management. The purpose of this study was to explore behavioral factors affecting the practice of self-monitoring of blood glucose （SMBG） within the frame of IMB model of health behavioral among adult patients with type 1 diabetes in a single diabetes clinic in China. Methods： A questionnaire with three subscales on SMBG information, motivation, and behavioral skills based on IMB model was developed. Validity and reliability of the measures were examined and guaranteed. Adult patients with type 1 diabetes visiting our diabetes clinic from January to March 2012 （n = 55） were consecutively interviewed. The self-completion questionnaires were administered and finished at face-to-face interviews among these patients. Both descriptive and correlational analyses were made. Results： Fifty-five patients finished the questionnaires, with the median duration of diabetes 4.5 years and the median of SMBG frequency 2.00. Specific SMBG information deficits, motivation obstacles, and behavioral skill limitations were identified in a substantial proportion of participants. Scores of SMBG motivation （r - 0.299, P = 0.026） and behavioral skills （r = 0.425, P = 0.001） were significantly correlated with SMBG frequency. The multiple correlation of SMBG information, SMBG motivation, and SMBG behavioral skills with SMBG frequency was R - 0.411 （R2 = 0.169, P = 0.023）. Conclusions： Adult patients with type 1 diabetes in our clinic had substantial SMBG information deficits, motivation obstacles, and skill limitations. This information provided potential-focused education targets for diabetes health-care providers.

Semen parameters in men recovered from COVID-19

The novel coronavirus disease(COVID-19)pandemic is emerging as a global health threat and shows a higher risk for men than women.Thus far,the studies on andrological consequences of COVID-19 are limited.To ascertain the consequences of COVID-19 on sperm parameters after recovery,we recruited 41 reproductive-aged male patients who had recovered from COVID-19,and analyzed their semen parameters and serum sex hormones at a median time of 56 days after hospital discharge.For longitudinal analysis,a second sampling was obtained from 22 of the 41 patients after a median time interval of 29 days from first sampling.Compared with controls who had not suffered from COVID-19,the total sperm count,sperm concentration,and percentages of motile and progressively motile spermatozoa in the patients were significantly lower at first sampling,while sperm vitality and morphology were not affected.The total sperm count,sperm concentration,and number of motile spermatozoa per ejaculate were significantly increased and the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was reduced at the second sampling compared with those at first in the 22 patients examined.Though there were higher prolactin and lower progesterone levels in patients at first sampling than those in controls,no significant alterations were detected for any sex hormones examined over time following COVID-19 recovery in the 22 patients.Although it should be interpreted carefully,these findings indicate an adverse but potentially reversible consequence of COVID-19 on sperm quality.

A confirmed asymptomatic carrier of 2019 novel coronavirus

Since December 2019,the outbreak of infection caused by 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV)has become a major public health emergency worldwide.Approximately 40%of the confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV infection(judged by positivity of viral RNA testing)were initially asymptomatic but later developed overt clinical symptoms of coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19).[1]A presumed asymptomatic carrier of 2019-nCoV was also reported.[2]But her infection of 2019-nCoV was not fully confirmed.As far as we know,confirmed 2019-nCoV carriers but without overt clinical symptoms have been not yet reported.