Triceps skinfold thickness trajectories and the risk of all-cause mortality:A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND The measurement of triceps skinfold(TSF)thickness serves as a noninvasive metric for evaluating subcutaneous fat distribution.Despite its clinical utility,the TSF thickness trajectories and their correlation with overall mortality have not been thoroughly investigated.AIM To explore TSF thickness trajectories of Chinese adults and to examine their associations with all-cause mortality.METHODS This study encompassed a cohort of 14747 adults sourced from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.Latent class trajectory modeling was employed to identify distinct trajectories of TSF thickness.Subjects were classified into subgroups reflective of their respective TSF thickness trajectory.We utilized multivariate Cox regression analyses and mediation examinations to explore the link between TSF thickness trajectory and overall mortality,including contributory factors.RESULTS Upon adjustment for multiple confounding factors,we discerned that males in the‘Class 2:Thin-stable’and‘Class 3:Thin-moderate’TSF thickness trajectories exhibited a markedly reduced risk of mortality from all causes in comparison to the‘Class 1:Extremely thin’subgroup.In the mediation analyses,the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index was found to be a partial intermediary in the relationship between TSF thickness trajectories and mortality.For females,a lower TSF thickness pattern was significantly predictive of elevated all-cause mortality risk exclusively within the non-elderly cohort.CONCLUSION In males and non-elderly females,lower TSF thickness trajectories are significantly predictive of heightened mortality risk,independent of single-point TSF thickness,body mass index,and waist circumference.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and the risk of infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome trials

BACKGROUND Since adverse events during treatment affect adherence and subsequent glycemic control,understanding the safety profile of oral anti-diabetic drugs is imperative for type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)therapy.AIM To evaluate the risk of infection in patients with T2DM treated with dipeptidyl-peptidase 4(DPP-4)inhibitors.METHODS Electronic databases were searched.The selection criteria included randomized controlled trials focused on cardiovascular outcomes.In these studies,the effects of DPP-4 inhibitors were directly compared to those of either other active anti-diabetic treatments or placebo.Six trials involving 53616 patients were deemed eligible.We calculated aggregate relative risks employing both random-effects and fixed-effects approaches,contingent upon the context.RESULTS The application of DPP-4 inhibitors showed no significant link to the overall infection risk[0.98(0.95,1.02)]or the risk of serious infections[0.96(0.85,1.08)],additionally,no significant associations were found with opportunistic infections[0.69(0.46,1.04)],site-specific infections[respiratory infection 0.99(0.96,1.03),urinary tract infections 1.02(0.95,1.10),abdominal and gastrointestinal infections 1.02(0.83,1.25),skin structure and soft tissue infections 0.81(0.60,1.09),bone infections 0.96(0.68,1.36),and bloodstream infections 0.97(0.80,1.18)].CONCLUSION This meta-analysis of data from cardiovascular outcome trials revealed no heightened infection risk in patients undergoing DPP-4 inhibitor therapy compared to control cohorts.

Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain infection in China:A national multicenter survey of 35,566 individuals

Objective:This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the epidemiology of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to COVID-19 in China.Methods:This study was conducted by 45 tertiary Grade-A hospitals in China.Online and offline questionnaire data were obtained from patients infected with COVID-19 between December 28,2022,and February 21,2023.The collected information included basic demographics,medical history,smoking and drinking history,vaccination history,changes in olfactory and gustatory functions before and after infection,and other postinfection symptoms,as well as the duration and improvement status of olfactory and gustatory disorders.Results:Complete questionnaires were obtained from 35,566 subjects.The overall incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunction was 67.75%.Being female or being a cigarette smoker increased the likelihood of developing olfactory and taste dysfunction.Having received four doses of the vaccine or having good oral health or being a alcohol drinker decreased the risk of such dysfunction.Before infection,the average olfactory and taste VAS scores were 8.41 and 8.51,respectively;after infection,they decreased to 3.69 and 4.29 and recovered to 5.83 and 6.55 by the time of the survey.The median duration of dysosmia and dysgeusia was 15 and 12 days,respectively,with 0.5%of patients having symptoms lasting for more than 28 days.The overall self-reported improvement rate was 59.16%.Recovery was higher in males,never smokers,those who received two or three vaccine doses,and those that had never experienced dental health issues,or chronic accompanying symptoms.Conclusions:The incidence of dysosmia and dysgeusia following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is high in China.Incidence and prognosis are influenced by several factors,including sex,SARS-CoV-2 vaccination,history of head-facial trauma,nasal and oral health status,smoking and drinking history,and the persistence of accompanying symptoms.