The Correlation of Hospital Operational Efficiency and Average Length of Stay in China: A Study Based on Provincial Level Data

Objective: To measure the hospital operation efficiency, study the correlation between average length of stay and hospital operation efficiency, analyze the importance of shortening average length of stay to the improvement of the hospital operation efficiency and put forward relevant policy suggestion. Methods: Based on China provincial panel data from 2003 to 2012, the hospital operation efficiencies are calculated using Super Efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis model, and the correlation between average length of stay and hospital operation efficiency is tested using Spearman rank correlation coefficient test. Results: From 2003 to 2012, the average of national hospital operation efficiency was increasing slowly and the hospital operations were inefficient in most of the areas. The national hospital operation efficiency is negatively correlated to the average length of stay. Conclusion: Measures should be taken to set average length of stay in a scientific and reasonable way, improve social and economic benefits based on the improvement of efficiency.

Progress in the Prevention and Treatment of AIDS Associated with Tuberculosis

Epidemiological studies have shown that infection with the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) is an influential risk factor for infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTb),the rapid progression of the initial infection to active tuberculosis(TB),and the reactivation of latent TB infection.MTb infection is also one of the most common opportunistic infections in people with HIV,including AIDS patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy.Given the prevalence of HIV infection,the incidence of TB infection,which had begun to decline,is facing a severe situation.HIV associated with TB exerts an immense burden on the public health-care system,especially in countries with high incidences of HIV infection.Therefore,the global policies for the prevention and control of TB should be revised.Moreover,an increased investment in TB control has to be guaranteed.The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent progress in the prevention,treatment,and control of HIV and TB co-infection.

Consumption of sugary beverages,genetic predisposition and the risk of depression:a prospective cohort study

Background The associations between sugary beverages and genetic predisposition to depression risk remain unclear.Aims This study aimed to investigate the associations of sugar-sweetened beverages(SSBs),artificially sweetened beverages(ASBs)and natural juices(NJs)with depression and to assess whether these associations were modified by genetic predisposition.Methods We used data from the UK Biobank of 180599 individuals aged 39-72 years who were depression-free at baseline.Dietary intake of SSBs,ASBs and NJs was accessed by a 24-hour dietary recall between 2009 and 2012.The Polygenic Risk Score for depression was estimated and categorised as low(lowest tertile),intermediate(tertile 2)and high(highest tertile),.Cox proportional hazard and substitution models were conducted to evaluate hazard ratios(HRs)and 95%Cls.Results Over the 12-year follow-up,4915 individuals developed depression.Higher consumption(>2 units/day)of SSBs(HR:1.26,95%CI 1.12 to 1.43)and ASBs(HR:1.40,95%Cl 1.23 to 1.60)were both associated with an increased risk of depression.However,moderate consumption(>0-1 units/day)of NJs was associated with a lower risk of depression(HR:0.89,95%CI 0.83 to 0.95).Furthermore,genetic predisposition did not modify these associations(p interaction>0.05).In substitution models,the HRs for depression risk were 0.94(95%CI 0.89 to 0.99)and 0.89(95%CI 0.85 to 0.94),respectively,when 1 unit/day of SSBs or ASBs was replaced by an equivalent intake of NJs.Conclusions Higher consumption of SSBs and ASBs was associated with an increased risk of depression;in contrast,moderate consumption of NJs was inversely associated with a lower risk of depression.In theory,substituting SSBs and ASBswith NJs would suppose a reduction of depression risk.

Opportunities and challenges of using big data for global health

The past two decades have witnessed the burgeoning of enormous digital technologies and data collected via countless channels.They are combined in numerous ways in different fields,including epidemiology,mHealth and modeling of health systems,with the intention to improve human health(e.g.,clinical decision support,electronic medical record management)[1-6].However,this is a new interdisciplinary area where no single scientific discipline knows how to take full advantage of these data and technologies to solve health problems[1].

Coagulation factors and the incidence of COVID-19 severity:Mendelian randomization analyses and supporting evidence

Dear Editor,The evolving pandemic of coronavirus disease 19(COVID-19),is arousing alarm to public health.According to epidemiological and observational investigations,coagulopathy was frequently seen in severe COVID-19 patients1.Some coagulation factors such as D-dimer,prothrombin time(PT);von Willebrand factor(VWF),platelet count,and fibrinogen were documented to be important predictors of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in many retrospective observational studies and were substantially discussed before(see Supplementary Notes),yet the causality from specific coagulation factors to the incidence of COVID-19 severity and the underlying mechanism remains elusive.