Community-based prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases

The Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China(2022)intricate landscape of cardiovascular health in China.This is the third section of the report with a specific focus on community-based prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases(CVD).This section of the report underscores the importance of initiatives outlined in the"Healthy China 2030 Plan,"emphasizing the comprehensive prevention and control strategy for chronic diseases.A key aspect of this plan involves the establishment of national demonstration areas aimed at comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases.By 2020,488 such areas had been set up across China,surpassing the initial target and covering a significant proportion of counties and districts.The report highlights the successful implementation of these strategies in Lishan district,Anshan city,where demonstration areas for comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases were launched in 2013.Over the course of seven years,the number of healthy units increased substantially,leading to improvements in managing risk factors for CVD among residents.Significant reductions in prevalence rates of overweight,obesity,smoking,passive smoking,and drinking were observed,along with the development of healthier behaviors among residents.Similarly,Qiaokou district in Wuhan City,designated as a national demonstration area in 2014,implemented comprehensive public health promotion initiatives.Notably,special clinics for hypertension intervention were established,contributing to an increase in self-reported rates of hypertension,a slight decrease in prevalence,and a remarkable improvement in the control rate among treated patients.Overall,these efforts underscore the effectiveness of community-based approaches in driving positive health outcomes and advancing the comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases,particularly cardiovascular diseases,in China.

Identification of Early Warning Signals of Infectious Diseases in Hospitals by Integrating Clinical Treatment and Disease Prevention

The global incidence of infectious diseases has increased in recent years,posing a significant threat to human health.Hospitals typically serve as frontline institutions for detecting infectious diseases.However,accurately identifying warning signals of infectious diseases in a timely manner,especially emerging infectious diseases,can be challenging.Consequently,there is a pressing need to integrate treatment and disease prevention data to conduct comprehensive analyses aimed at preventing and controlling infectious diseases within hospitals.This paper examines the role of medical data in the early identification of infectious diseases,explores early warning technologies for infectious disease recognition,and assesses monitoring and early warning mechanisms for infectious diseases.We propose that hospitals adopt novel multidimensional early warning technologies to mine and analyze medical data from various systems,in compliance with national strategies to integrate clinical treatment and disease prevention.Furthermore,hospitals should establish institution-specific,clinical-based early warning models for infectious diseases to actively monitor early signals and enhance preparedness for infectious disease prevention and control.

Effect of Health Management in Raising Awareness Rate of Disease Prevention and Treatment in Patients with Prehypertension

Objective: To analyze the effect of health management on improving the awareness rate of disease prevention and treatment in patients with prehypertension, so as to provide guidance for clinical management of patients with prehypertension. Methods: 108 patients diagnosed with prehypertension in our hospital were divided into a control group and an experimental group. The control group was not given management measures, while the experimental group was given health management. The incidence of hypertension and cognition level of hypertension knowledge were compared between the two groups after management. Results: The incidence of hypertension in the experimental group was 7.41% lower than that in the control group 29.63%. The cognitive level of hypertension in the patients (66.54 ± 1.25) was significantly higher than that in the patients without health management (41.45 ± 2.45), and P < 0.05;Conclusion: For patients with prehypertension, the implementation of health management is helpful to improve their cognition of hypertension, master related prevention knowledge, and reduce the incidence of hypertension.

Combination treatment of inflammatory bowel disease:Present status and future perspectives

The treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),especially those with severe or refractory disease,represents an important challenge for the clinical gastroenterologist.It seems to be no exaggeration to say that in these patients,not only the scientific background of the gastroenterologist is tested,but also the abundance of“gifts”that he should possess(insight,intuition,determ-ination,ability to take initiative,etc.)for the successful outcome of the treatment.In daily clinical practice,depending on the severity of the attack,IBD is treated with one or a combination of two or more pharmaceutical agents.These combin-ations include not only the first-line drugs(e.g.,mesalazine,corticosteroids,antibiotics,etc)but also second-and third-line drugs(immunosuppressants and biologic agents).It is a fact that despite the significant therapeutic advances there is still a significant percentage of patients who do not satisfactorily respond to the treatment applied.Therefore,a part of these patients are going to surgery.In recent years,several small-size clinical studies,reviews,and case reports have been published combining not only biological agents with other drugs(e.g.,immunosuppressants or corticosteroids)but also the combination of two biologi-cal agents simultaneously,especially in severe cases.In our opinion,it is at least a strange(and largely unexplained)fact that we often use combinations of drugs in a given patient although studies comparing the simultaneous administration of two or more drugs with monotherapy are very few.As mentioned above,there is a timid tendency in the literature to combine two biological agents in severe cases unresponsive to the applied treatment or patients with severe extraintestinal manifestations.The appropriate dosage,the duration of the administration,the suitable timing for checking the clinical and laboratory outcome,as well as the treatment side-effects,should be the subject of intense clinical research shortly.In this editorial,we attempt to summarize the existing data regarding the already applied combination therapies and to humbly formulate thoughts and suggestions for the future application of the combination treatment of biological agents in a well-defined category of patients.We suggest that the application of biomarkers and artificial intelligence could help in establishing new forms of treatment using the available modern drugs in patients with IBD resistant to treatment.

Beyond dentistry:could prevention and screening for neurodegenerative diseases start in the dental office?

The differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is complex and relies on clinical assessment,biomarker levels in cerebrospinal fluid,neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment.The efforts of the scientific community are focused on two aspects:a)the discovery of minimally invasive biomarkers;b)the discovery of early biomarkers that can predict the progression to clinical disease in the presymptomatic stage of a disease.Considering the impact of the number of patients affected by chronic neurodegenerative diseases on public health expenditures,early diagnosis seems to be a primary need of our society.

The Importance of Setting Treatment Goals for Cardiovascular Diseases

Background: Guidelines are issued by most major organizations that focus on a specific disease entity. Guidelines should be a significant help to the practicing physician who may not be up-to-date with the recent medical literature. Unfortunately, when conflicting guidelines for a specific disease are published, confusion results. Purpose: This article provides a suggested guideline outcome measure that would benefit the physician and patient. Methods: A review of 19 different guidelines for cardiovascular disease treatment is one example of the lack of specific outcomes that currently exist. The basic problem with most guidelines is that they do not state the expected end result (i.e., the benefit to the patient) if that guideline is followed. When guidelines use cardiovascular disease risk factors to dictate therapy, the end benefit is never stated so that the patient can make an appropriate choice of which (if any) guideline to follow. Results: A good example is guidelines published by the American Heart Association for reducing cardiovascular disease. These guidelines are risk factor based and only indicate that cardiovascular disease would be reduced if followed. No specific percentage in the reduction of the incidence of disease is given. In contrast, when elimination of the disease is the stated goal of the guideline, the end result is clear. To date, this goal has been stated by only one organization devoted to eliminating cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: Guidelines need to be written to provide the physician and the patient with a specific end point that is expected when the guideline is followed. Patient acceptance and compliance will be much improved if the patient knows the risk/benefit of following the guideline’s recommendations.

Surgical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease:From the gastroenterologist’s stand-point

Treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC)and Crohn’s disease(CD)represents,in the majority of cases,a real challenge to the gastroenterologist’s abilities and skills as well as a clinical test concerning his/her levels of medical knowledge and experience.During the last two decades,our pharmaceutical arsenal was significantly strengthened,especially after the introduction of the so-called biological agents,drugs which to a large extent not only improved the results of conservative treatment but also changed the natural history of the disease.However,colectomy is still necessary for some patients with severe UC although smaller compared to the past,precisely because of the improvements achieved in the available conservative treatment.Nevertheless,surgeries to treat colon dysplasia and cancer are increasing to some extent.At the same time,satisfactory improvements in surgical techniques,the pre-and post-operative care of patients,as well as the selection of the appropriate time for performing the surgery have been noticed.Regarding patients with CD,the improvement of conservative treatment did not significantly change the need for surgical treatment since two-thirds of patients need to undergo surgery at some point in the course of their disease.On the other hand,the outcome of the operation has improved through good preoperative care as well as the wide application of more conservative surgical techniques aimed at keeping as much of the bowel in situ as possible.This article discusses the indications for surgical management of UC patients from the gastroenterologist’s point of view,the results of the emerging new techniques such as transanal surgery and robotics,as well as alternative operations to the classic ileo-anal-pouch anastomosis.The author also discusses the basic principles of surgical management of patients with CD based on the results of the relevant literature.The self-evident is emphasized,that is,to achieve an excellent therapeutic result in patients with severe inflammatory bowel disease in today’s era;the close cooperation of gastroenterologists with surgeons,pathologists,imaging,and nutritionists is of paramount importance.

Interleukins in liver disease treatment

Cytokines play pleiotropic roles in human health and disease by regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.Interleukins(ILs),a large group of cytokines,can be divided into seven families,including IL-1,IL-2,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12,and IL-17 families.Here,we review the functions of ILs in the pathogenesis and resolution of liver diseases,such as liver inflammation(e.g.,IL-35),alcoholrelated liver disease(e.g.,IL-11),non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(e.g.,IL-22),liver fibrosis(e.g.,Il-17a),and liver cancer(e.g.,IL-8).Overall,IL-1 family members are implicated in liver inflammation induced by different etiologies,such as alcohol consumption,high-fat diet,and hepatitis viruses.IL-2 family members mainly regulate T lymphocyte and NK cell proliferation and activation,and the differentiation of T cells.IL-6 family cytokines play important roles in acute phase response in liver infection,liver regeneration,and metabolic regulation,as well as lymphocyte activation.IL-8,also known as CXCL8,is activated in chronic liver diseases,which is associated with the accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages.IL-10 family members contribute key roles to liver immune tolerance and immunosuppression in liver disease.IL-12 family cytokines influence T-cell differentiation and play an essential role in autoimmune liver disease.IL-17 subfamilies contribute to infection defense,liver inflammation,and Th17 cell differentiation.ILs interact with different type I and type II cytokine receptors to regulate intracellular signaling pathways that mediate their functions.However,most clinical studies are only performed to evaluate IL-mediated therapies on alcohol and hepatitis virus infection-induced hepatitis.More pre-clinical and clinical studies are required to evaluate IL-mediated monotherapy and synergistic therapies.

Low Birth Weight and Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnant Women in Lomé (Togo) in 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Since 2012, the World Health Organization has recommended intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) to prevent malaria-related complications in pregnant women. Ten years following these recommendations, we conducted this study to estimate the coverage for three doses of IPT-SP (IPT3) as well as the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), and its associated factors in Lomé (Togo) in 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2021. An exhaustive recruitment of women and their newborns was carried out in the maternity wards of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center. Data from antenatal consultations and clinical data of the newborns were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to determine factors associated with LBW. Results: A total of 252 mother-child pairs were included in this study. Median age of the mothers was 27 years, IQR [24-31]. More than a third (35.3%) of the mothers were primigravida. IPT3 coverage was 66.7% and 14.7% of newborns had a LBW. The prevalence of LBW was 33.3% [23.3-43.4] in women who had received fewer than 3 doses of IPT-SP and 5.4% [2.0-8.8] in those who had received at least 3 doses of IPT-SP (p Conclusion: Ten years following recommendations of the WHO on IPT-SP, malaria prevention based on IPT-SP is not optimal among pregnant women in Lomé, and the proportion of LBW children remains high. Actions to strengthen the three-dose IPT-SP policy are needed to prevent malaria and its consequences among newborns in Togo.

Influence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on response to antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Although hepatitis B virus infection is the leading cause of chronic liver injury globally,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is gradually gaining attention as another major chronic liver disease.The number of patients having chronic hepatitis B(CHB)with concomitant hepatic steatosis has increased.AIM To analyze the effect of NAFLD on the response to antiviral treatment in patients with CHB.METHODS Relevant English studies were systematically searched across PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,and Cochrane Library until October 2023.Studies in which the treatment outcomes were compared between patients with CHB only and those with CHB and hepatic steatosis were included.RESULTS Of the 2502 retrieved studies,11 articles were finally included.Biochemical response until 48 wk(OR=0.87,95%CI:0.50–1.53,P=0.000)and 96 wk(OR=0.35,95%CI:0.24–0.53,P=0.24)and virological response until 96 wk(OR=0.80,95%CI:0.43–1.49,P=0.097)were lower in patients with hepatic steatosis than in patients with CHB alone.CONCLUSION Hepatic steatosis lowers the biochemical response to antiviral treatment in patients with CHB.

Technical Points of Green Prevention and Control Technology of Major Diseases and Pests in Lixian Rhubarb(Rheum palmatum L.)

Based on different types of diseases,pests and weeds in the whole growth period of rhubarb(sowing period-harvesting period),the corresponding green prevention and control technology is proposed,aiming to further reduce the application amount of pesticides and fertilizers in the production of medicinal sources of Lixian rhubarb during the"14 th Five-Year Plan"period.The results will provide a theoretical basis for increasing the promotion and application of agricultural prevention and control(including disease-resistant varieties,ecological regulation),physical prevention and control,biological prevention and control measures,thus ensuring effective protection of the ecological environment,green,healthy and sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine agriculture in Longnan,and source quality of authentic medicinal materials.

Major Diseases and Pests of Blueberry in Guizhou Province and Progress in Their Prevention and Control

As the blueberry industry continues to evolve,the effective control of its diseases and pests has become an essential component of local agricultural development.This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the principal types of blueberry diseases and pests in Guizhou Province,along with the corresponding control measures,in order to serve as a valuable reference for blueberry growers.

Comprehensive Prevention and Control Technology of Vegetable Diseases and Pests in Shandong Province

An in-depth research and practice has been conducted on vegetable diseases and pests in Shandong Province,and the principles of comprehensive and ecological control of diseases and pests are put forward,including agricultural control measures such as crop rotation,field cleaning,fertilizer and water management,physical control measures such as catching and killing,trapping,blocking,photoelectric energy treatment,biological control measures such as the use of natural enemies,pathogenic microorganisms,other beneficial organisms and metabolites,and scientific and rational chemical control measures.Comprehensive prevention and control not only controls vegetable diseases and pests effectively,but also protects the ecological environment.

A Study of the Treatment of Disfiguring Diseases in the “Qian Jin Fang”

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been passed down for more than 2,000 years.TCM beauty products driven by the principles of identification and treatment with various dosage forms and exhibit mild and safe efficacy are bound to become a main component of the beauty industry in the future.Xu once commented that“Qian Jin Fang”is different from the traditional prescription system,which emphasizes the use of medicines.In this paper,we mainly selected the prescriptions for the treatment of disfigurement diseases such as acne,scarring,black dryness,face hyperpigmentation,black mole,and rosacea from the article titled,“Upper Seven Orifices Disease-Facial Medicine IX”in the Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang[1].By studying and analyzing the original composition of the formula,understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease,and exploring the characteristics of the formula concerning the efficacy of TCM,their properties,flavors,and meridians,we summarized the characteristics of the Qian Jin Fang.It is based on the external treatment of disfigurement diseases,with a wide variety of drugs,flexibility,and accuracy.This method draws upon analogies while utilizing excipients and harmonizers to focus on the combined healing approach of treatment and nourishment.

Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease from the Perspective of Liver Controlling Dispersion

The liver is in charge of distributing and regulating the movement of qi throughout the whole body,coordinating the transportation and transformation of the internal organs in the middle part of the body,promoting the biochemical circulation of qi,blood,and body fluids,and regulating emotions.Liver dysfunction can disrupt the transportation and transformation of qi,blood,and body fluids,causing phlegm turbidity,blood stasis,and other unwanted symptoms.Poor regulation of emotion further aggravates the accumulation of pathological substances,resulting in the obstruction of heart vessels,and ultimately coronary heart disease(CHD).Through regulating lipid metabolism,inflammatory reaction,vasoactive substances,platelet function,neuroendocrine,and other factors,liver controlling dispersing qi plays a comprehensive role in the prognosis of atherosclerosis,the primary cause of CHD.Therefore,it is recommended to treat CHD from the perspective of liver-controlling dispersion.

Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases in College Students

Objective:This paper aims to discuss the prevention and treatment strategies of gastrointestinal diseases in college students.Methods:A sample of 60 college students suffering from gastrointestinal diseases,from August 2021 to August 2022,was used to discuss the symptoms,causes,prevention strategies,and treatment strategies of gastrointestinal diseases based on questionnaire survey.Results:The high-incidence types of gastrointestinal diseases in college students mainly included chronic gastritis,acute gastritis,duodenal ulcer,and dyspepsia,which were closely related to mental state,diet,and living habits.Conclusion:There are many causes of gastrointestinal diseases in college students.During the period of active symptomatic treatment,it is necessary to focus on the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases in colleges and universities,correct the unhealthy lifestyle of students,and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal diseases.

Characteristics of 240 randomized controlled trials for adjusting constitution in preventive treatment of disease:A bibliometric analysis

Background:A growing number of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)have explored the significance of adjusting constitution for preventive treatment of disease in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).In this study,we sought to comprehensively analyze the characteristics of these RCTs.Methods:All RCTs related to constitutional adjustment and preventive treatment of disease were included in the study.Literature was screened searching seven databases,including Pubmed,Web of Science,Embase,SinoMed,CNKI,Chongqing VIP,and Wangfang Database,from inception to December 2018.Data pertaining to bibliometrics,participants,and interventions were extracted and analyzed.Results:Two hundred and forty papers were published between 2007 and 2018,involving 240 RCTs with 55977 total participants.Sample size in these RCTs ranged from 30 to 7800.Among them,59 RCTs addressed disease prevention prior to onset involving 11 healthy states of participants,mainly for general health or sub-health population(40.68%)using health care and non-drug therapy.In control the development of existing disease(n Z 174),59 diseases were involved.Based on the number of RCTs and sample sizes,diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus,primary hypertension,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,and hyperlipoproteinemia accounted for 51.15%of the total patients studied.Drug therapy as an intervention was frequently used.In preventing recurrence after recovery(n Z 7),over 4 kinds of health status in participants were involved.Drug therapy combined with health care was mostly used.Most RCTs reported positive outcomes,with only one reporting negative findings(1/240).Conclusion:The number of RCTs of constitutional adjustment on preventive treatment of disease has gradually increased since 2012.Participants and intervention measures from the above-mentioned types of RCTs exhibit their own characteristics.Future systematic reviews or meta-analyses on constitutional adjustment for preventive treatment of disease are warranted.

Preventive and therapeutic effect of long snake moxibustion on psoriasis with yang deficiency and external cold syndrome based on the theory of "treatment of winter disease in summer"

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with multiple layers of silvery white scales on the surface of erythema papule as the main clinical characteristics,of which yang-deficiency external cold psoriasis is refractory,recurrent and severe in winter and mild in summer,which has a great impact on patients'physical and mental health and quality of life.Traditional Chinese medicine has unique insights in the treatment of psoriasis,both curative effect and safety,have obvious advantages.Based on the concept of"winter disease and summer treatment",long-snake moxibustion gives full play to its functions of warming the kidney,invigorating the marrow,warming the meridians,activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis,so as to restore the deficiency of Yang in patients with psoriasis with external cold syndrome,enhance disease resistance,and prevent psoriasis recurrence or aggravation in winter.Therefore,based on the theory of"winter disease and summer treatment",this paper preliminarily discusses the mechanism of long-snake moxibustion in the prevention and treatment of psoriasis with external cold syndrome of Yang deficiency,and provides new ideas and directions for the prevention and treatment of psoriasis with traditional Chinese medicine.

Prevention and Treatment of “Epidemic Toxin, Pathogenic Dampness, and Lung Deficiency” after COVID-19 Recovery Based on the Theory of “Preventive Treatment of Diseases” in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Due to the sequelae and recurrence in patients with COVID-19 after recovery.This article,based on lire theory of“preventive treatment of diseases”in traditional Chinese medicine,winch believes that the three pathogenic factors of epidemic toxin,dampness,and lung deficiency are the fundamental causes of the recurrence of COVID-19.The treatment strategies are to remove pathogenic factors,strengthen qi,nourish yin,clear heat,moisten dryness,and at the same time,reinforce the lung,spleen and kidney,and soothe the liver.Through a variety of treatments such as oral administration,external treatment,and skin absorption,it provides a new idea and method for the management of the recurrence of COVID-19.

Prevention and Treatment of“Epidemic Toxin,Pathogenic Dampness,and Lung Deficiency”after COVID‑19 Recovery Based on the Theory of“Preventive Treatment of Diseases”in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Due to the sequelae and recurrence in patients with COVID-19 after recovery.This article,based on the theory of“preventive treatment of diseases”in traditional Chinese medicine,which believes that the three pathogenic factors of epidemic toxin,dampness,and lung deficiency are the fundamental causes of the recurrence of COVID‑19.The treatment strategies are to remove pathogenic factors,strengthen qi,nourish yin,clear heat,moisten dryness,and at the same time,reinforce the lung,spleen and kidney,and soothe the liver.Through a variety of treatments such as oral administration,external treatment,and skin absorption,it provides a new idea and method for the management of the recurrence of COVID‑19.