Investigating the causal associations between five anthropometric indicators and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND Although the etiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has not been thoroughly understood,the emerging roles of anthropometric indicators in assessing and predicting the risk of NAFLD have been highlighted by accumulating evidence.AIM To evaluate the causal relationships between five anthropometric indicators and NAFLD employing Mendelian randomization(MR)design.METHODS The Anthropometric Consortium provided genetic exposure data for five anthropometric indicators,including hip circumference(HC),waist circumference(WC),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR),body mass index(BMI),and body fat percentage(BF).Genetic outcome data for NAFLD were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank and FinnGen Consortium.Genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms were chosen as instrumental variables.Univariable MR(UVMR)and multivariable MR(MVMR)designs with analytical approaches,including inverse variance weighted(IVW),MR-Egger,weighted median(WM),and weighted mode methods,were used to assess the causal relationships between anthropometric indicators and NAFLD.RESULTS Causal relationships were revealed by UVMR,indicating that a higher risk of NAFLD was associated with a perunit increase in WC[IVW:odds ratio(OR)=2.67,95%CI:1.42-5.02,P=2.25×10^(−3)],and BF was causally associated with an increased risk of NAFLD(WM:OR=2.23,95%CI:1.07-4.66,P=0.033).The presence of causal effects of WC on the decreased risk of NAFLD was supported by MVMR after adjusting for BMI and smoking.However,no causal association between BF and NAFLD was observed.In addition,other causal relationships of HC,WHR(BMI adjusted),and BMI with the risk of NAFLD were not retained after FDR correction.CONCLUSION This study establishes a causal relationship,indicating that an increase in WC is associated with a higher risk of NAFLD.This demonstrates that a suitable decrease in WC is advantageous for preventing NAFLD.

Quality indicators in respiratory therapy

Quality indicators in healthcare refer to measurable and quantifiable parameters used to assess and monitor the performance,effectiveness,and safety of healthcare services.These indicators provide a systematic way to evaluate the quality of care offered,and thereby to identify areas for improvement and to ensure that patient care meets established standards and best practices.Respiratory therapists play a vital role in areas of clinical administration such as infection control practices and quality improvement initiatives.Quality indicators serve as essential metrics for respiratory therapy departments to assess and enhance the overall quality of care.By systematically tracking and analyzing indicators related to infection control,treatment effectiveness,and adherence to protocols,respiratory care practitioners can identify areas to improve and implement evidence-based changes.This article reviewed how to identify,implement,and monitor quality indicators specific to the respiratory therapy departments to set benchmarks and enhance patient outcomes.

Progress in the Study of Laboratory Indicators Related to Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the more common gastrointestinal diseases in clinics and is characterized by rapid progression, many complications, and high mortality. When it develops into severe pancreatitis, its prognosis is poor. Therefore, early assessment of the degree of inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the treatment plan and prognosis of patients. More and more studies have shown that the levels of D-dimer (D-D), angiotensin-2 (Ang-2), phosphate, heparin-binding protein (HBP), retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4), and osteoblastic protein (OPN) are closely related to the severity of acute pan-creatitis and can be used as effective indicators for early assessment of AP. In this paper, the research progress of the above indicators in assessing the severity of AP is summarized.

Evidence-Based Nursing Practice of Reducing Immune-Related Skin Toxicity of Tumor Patients Guided by Sensitive Indicators

Purpose research on nursing sensitive indicators in tumor Patients application effect in immune-related skin toxicity management. Method select our hospital April to June, 202360 cases patients with immune therapy settings as the control group. August-October, 2023 60 cases the patients treated with immune therapy were the experimental group. The control group adopted regular nursing methods, while the experimental group sensitive Indicators, evidence-based give preventive care. The social situation, psychological state, physical function, quality of life score, incidence of skin toxicity caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors, moderate and above of the two groups of patients were compared. Incidence of skin toxicity. Result: experience group SAS score, SDS score higher than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05);The incidence of skin toxic reactions caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors and the incidence of moderate and above skin toxic reactions in the experimental group are lower than those in the control group, and the difference is statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: sensitive indicator guidance evidence-based preventive care can reduce the degree of immune-related skin toxicity, improve the psychological state and quality of life of tumor patients treated with immune therapy and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions, improve nursing quality and patient satisfaction.

Study on Temperature Disaster Indicators of Passion Fruit in Southwest Fujian, China

In China, meteorological forecasting relies on meteorological data obtained from regional and national stations. However, there were discrepancies between the data collected from the meteorological station at the passion fruit growing base and the data from regional and national stations. Consequently, the high and low temperature disaster indicators determined by the meteorological station at the passion fruit growing base cannot be applied to meteorological forecasting. To address this issue and facilitate the monitoring and early warning of high and low temperature disasters in passion fruit cultivation in Fujian, China, we used multi-source hourly temperature data (including the data from meteorological observation stations in passion fruit growing bases, the nearest regional stations, and national surface conventional meteorological observation stations) in three cities in southwestern Fujian (Longyan, Sanming, and Zhangzhou) spanning the years 2020 to 2022. By employing comprehensive statistical analysis methods (0.5 interval division and Cumulative frequency), we identified that passion fruit in southwestern Fujian was susceptible to high temperature disasters during the blooming-fruiting period, as well as low temperature disasters during the sprouting period. Consequently, we developed high and low temperature disaster indicators based on data from regional and national stations for different phenological periods of passion fruit in this region.

Optimization Management of Industrial Organizations Based on Performance Indicators

This paper proposes an intelligent management system (IMS) to help managers in their delicate and tedious task of exploiting the plethora of data (indicators) contained in management dashboards. This system is based on intelligent agents, ontologies and data mining. It is implemented by PASSI (Process for Agent Societies Specification and Implementation) methods for agent design and implementation, the Methodology for Knowledge Modeling and Hot-Winters for data prediction. Intelligent agents not only track indicators but also store the knowledge of managers within the company. Ontologies are used to manage the representation and presentation aspects of knowledge. Data mining makes it possible to: make the most of all available data;model the industrial process of data selection, exploration and modeling;and transform behaviors into predictive indicators. An instance of the IMS named SYGISS, currently in operation within a large brewery organization, allows us to observe very interesting results: the extraction of indicators is done in less than 5 minutes whereas manual extraction used to take 14 days;the generation of dashboards is instantaneous whereas it used to take 12 hours;the interpretation of indicators is instantaneous whereas it used to take a day;forecasts are possible and are done in less than 5 minutes whereas they did not exist with the old management. These important contributions help to optimize the management of this organization.

Development and Application of Integrated Indicators for Assessing Healthcare Waste Management Systems in Kenyan Hospitals

Healthcare waste management (HCWM) is an important aspect of healthcare delivery globally because of its hazardous and infectious components that have potential for adverse health and environmental impacts. The paper introduces a set of indicators for assessing HCWM systems in hospitals. These indicators are: HCWM policies and standard operating procedures, management and oversight, logistics and budget support, training and occupational health and safety, and treatment, disposal and waste treatment equipment housing. By plotting a mark on a continuum which is defined as good and poor on the extremes and is connected with all other marks in a spoke arrangement, it’s possible to describe a baseline for HCWM in any specific hospital. This baseline can be used to improve awareness of the actors and policy-makers, compare the same hospital at a different point in time, to compare observations by different evaluators and to track improvements. Results suggest that in Kenya, the application of such indicators is useful for evaluating which priorities should be addressed to improve outcomes in HCWM systems. Systematic sampling technique was used to identify and collect data by use of observational checklist, interviews, visual verification and review of documents and a HCWM assessment tool. The objective is to suggest an integrated management tool as a method to identify prevailing problems with a HCWM system. The method can be replicated in other contexts worldwide, with a focus on the developing world. The integrated indicators focus on management of HCW and not its potential impact on human health and environment, an area recognized to be critical for future research.

Does financial development moderate the link between technological innovation and environmental indicators?An advanced panel analysis

This study analyzes the role of financial development(FD)on the impact of technologi-cal innovation(TI)on six environmental quality indicators for the 25 economies that are part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for the period from 2000 to 2019.We use a two-step dynamic generalized method of moments approach to understand this relationship.The results show that FD augments the posi-tive effects of TI on four of the six environmental indicators,namely ecological foot-print,adjusted net savings,pressure on nature,and environmental performance.However,no significant effects on environmental sustainability and environmental vulnerability indices were found.When considering all of the environmental quality indicators,TI appears to enhance environmental quality.We find evidence to support the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve in the context of each environmen-tal indicator and economic growth.Moreover,FD and energy consumption appear to accelerate environmental degradation.Based on these results,FD should be viewed as an important parameter in designing policies for innovation to achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions.Highlights.Technological innovation and environmental quality nexus is studied.The moderating role of financial development is analyzed.Six different environmental quality indicators are used for OECD countries.Financial development intensifies the environmental benefits of innovation.•The EKC hypothesis is confirmed for all six environmental indicators.

The Influence of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment on the Quality of Life and Laboratory Indicators of Patients with Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia

Objective: To investigate the influence of integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment on the quality of life and laboratory indicators of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). Methods: A prospective, self-controlled study was conducted to analyze the changes in corresponding laboratory indicators and quality of life in 75 confirmed COVID-19 patients treated with integrated Chinese and Western medicine in our hospital during the early stage, middle stage, recovery period, and two weeks after discharge. The effectiveness and safety of the treatment regimen were evaluated in conjunction with the time for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid conversion, disease progression, and adverse reactions. Results: The PLT levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those in the recovery period in 75 patients. The CRP levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those after discharge for 2 weeks. The TBIL, IBTL, and DHIL levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those in the middle stage. The K+ levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those in the recovery period and after discharge for 2 weeks. The LYMGH levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those in the recovery period and after discharge for 2 weeks. The TP and ALB levels in the initial stage were higher than those in the middle stage and the recovery period. The LDH levels, scores of daily activity limitation, scores of respiratory distress symptoms, scores of psychological emotions, CT imaging scores, and positive rate of nucleic acid were significantly lower than those in the recovery period and after discharge for 2 weeks. The AG, CK, CK-MB, and α-HBDH levels in the initial stage were significantly higher than those in the recovery period. However, the AMY level in the initial stage was significantly lower than that in the recovery period and after discharge for 2 weeks (p Conclusion: Integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment has a significant impact on laboratory indicators such as PLT, LYMGH, CRP, TBIL, IBTL, DHIL, TP, ALB, K+, AG, LDH, CK, CK-MB, α-HBDH, AMY, CT imaging, and 2019-nCoV nucleic acid in COVID-19 patients. It has good clinical efficacy and safety, and can improve the quality of life of patients.

Determination of Main Design Indicators of Patrol Road in Nature Reserves

In principle,nature reserves are managed and controlled according to the core area and the general control area.At present,there is no relevant design specification for the design system of patrol road in various protected areas.This paper analyzed the factors to be considered in determining the grade,horizontal and vertical design indicators,and cross section indicators of the patrol road in the protected area,and came up with the corresponding design indicators and parameters,so as to provide a certain reference for the subsequent patrol road design.

Effect of Storage Time on Main Quality Indicators of Cotton

The quality indicators of cotton will change during storage.Taking the 5.89 million t of Xinjiang cotton from 2016 to 2021 as a sample,this paper analyzed the main fiber quality indicator data of warehouse-in and warehouse-out cotton for storage of 1.5,3.0,4.0,5.0,6.0,and 7.0 years.It was found that the color grade of cotton decreased with the extension of storage time.The cotton with storage time of 5.0 years mainly changed from white cotton grade 2 and white cotton grade 3 to light yellow stained cotton grade 1 and yellow stained cotton grade 1.Among them,the increase of light yellow stained cotton grade 1 was the largest,and the change to yellow stained cotton grade 1 was the largest at the storage 6.0-7.0 years.In addition,there were no significant changes in moisture regain,Micronaire value,upper half mean length,length uniformity index and fiber strength.

Establishing Standardized Nursing Quality Sensitive Indicators

This is a pilot research project was prepared to assess the impact of implementing essential standardized nursing quality sensitive indicators in monitoring, evaluating, and controlling the nursing services and activities which implemented in daily nursing care works with the patients in a health institute, aiming for emphasizing the concept of “nursing quality sensitive indicators” which is valuable to elaborate nursing care performance, and for continuous upgrading of daily nursing care, which hopefully will result in more beneficial outcomes, and lesser negative or undesirable outcomes in all aspects of nursing care, and consequently the health care process, particularly regarding patient safety, patient satisfaction and nursing performance improvement. This pilot research project for the essential standardized nursing quality sensitive indicators was applied in intensive care unit (ICU) department in Qurayyat general hospital, and resulted in excellent improvement of all outcomes correlated with the essential standardized nursing quality sensitive indicators. These essential standardized nursing quality sensitive indicators are hopefully be accepted and accredited by the higher health authorities as standardized nursing quality sensitive indicators in health institutes.

Understanding Patients’ Symptoms Management Using Objective and Subjective Indicators among Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Descriptive statistics have been used to document the high prevalence of sleep disorders, fatigue, and pain in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objectives: To describe day-to-day variations in sleep indicators, physical activity level, pain, and fatigue measured using objective and subjective indicators in lupus patients with sleep disorders. Methods: We selected three patients with sleep disorders, measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (≥9), out of 20 participants followed up for 4 weeks. We compared the self-rated quality of life (QoL) measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) with that of objectively measured sleep indicators monitored using the Nemuri scan. The detailed data collection methods have been previously published. Results: The sleep status generated by the Nemuri scan revealed that Case A with a flare and Case B without a flare required frequent daytime rest. The PSQI sleep duration and sleep latency were generally in agreement with the monitored data, although the PSQI failed to capture the complexity of sleep disorders, particularly the fluctuations in the quality of sleep indicators. Patient C approximately 4 hours on weekdays and 10 hours on Saturday nights. All three cases had high fatigue levels, and their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity duration was less than one-half of duration that recommended by the World Health Association. Conclusion: Visual display for objective monitoring of sleep quality is an excellent tool for understanding patients who require frequent resting and irregular sleep indicators. Objective monitoring of sleep quality, along with self-rated pain and fatigue, promotes an understanding of how patients with SLE cope with severe symptoms.

Monitoring of Sleep Indicators, Physical Activity, Pain, and Fatigue in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Relations among These Variables: A Pilot Study

Background: Poor sleep, fatigue, and pain are major health problems in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, only cross-sectional surveys on these health outcomes have been conducted, and the association between day-to-day fluctuations remains unknown. Objectives: We aimed to characterize daily fluctuations in sleep quality, physical activity, pain, and fatigue in patients with SLE. Method: Exploratory study with a cross-sectional design. Two rheumatology centers (a university hospital and a prefectural hospital) in Japan between September 2017 and May 2019. The sample size was set to 20. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Sleep and physical activity were measured with monitoring devices;pain and fatigue levels were recorded daily during the 4-week period. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Short Form Health Survey-12, the Japanese version of the Lupus Patient Outcome, and SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 were collected at the start and end of the study. Descriptive statistics and coefficients of variation (CV) were tabulated to examine daily fluctuations. Pearson correlation coefficients were obtained for monitored variables. Results: The mean age was 43.7 ± 8.5 years, and the mean SLE duration was 16.0 ± 7.2 years. The mean moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) duration was 7.8 ± 5.8 min/day, and the mean total sleep duration was 391.8 ± 65.3 min, with a mean sleep efficiency of 88.6% ± 6.1%. Daily fluctuations were high for leaving the bed frequency, MVPA duration, pain, and waking after sleep onset. Seventeen participants showed correlations between some of the variables, such as fatigue or longer MVPA duration and poorer sleep outcomes;longer sleep latency and increased frequency of leaving the bed;and higher physical activity and increased pain and fatigue. Conclusion: The quality of sleep and fatigue fluctuated daily, and correlations existed between these variables, as well as for pain and physical activity. The impact of MVPA duration on pain and fatigue is of concern as increased physical activity may worsen the quality of life patients with SLE. The monitoring of sleep and physical activity using the device seems feasible for SLE symptom management.

Using the Delphi method to propose foods for special medical purposes health effect evaluation indicators

Objective:The Delphi method was used to propose health effect evaluation indicators to assess foods for special medical purposes(FSMPs).This lays the foundation for the formation of a big data model for human health testing,as well as a big data platform for the health and safety evaluation of special medical foods.Methods:The Delphi method was used to conduct two rounds of expert consultation on the constructed FSMP health effect evaluation indicators.Results:Ten major items were identified after two rounds of expert consultation.Among these,there were 10 primary entries,32 secondary entries,50 tertiary entries,and 28 quaternary entries.Conclusion:The complete list of evaluation indicators contains 10 entries,which can comprehensively and systematically monitor adverse reactions to the use of FSMPs.The present findings lay the foundation for a big data platform to evaluate the health and safety of special foods.

喜马拉雅东部库曲锂铍花岗质伟晶岩的稀有金属矿物学研究

在喜马拉雅造山带已发现普士拉、热曲、吉隆、洛扎等多个岩体中花岗岩-伟晶岩与锂铍等稀有金属成矿作用相关,并有大规模的锂辉石伟晶岩(含细晶岩)产出。喜马拉雅东部的库曲岩体也发现了锂辉石伟晶岩出露,主要侵入到主体白云母花岗岩中。本次研究对库曲岩体中不同类型的花岗质伟晶岩进行了详细的岩相学、矿物学和年代学的研究。根据不同矿物组合和产出位置,将库曲伟晶岩分为四类:广泛分布的伟晶岩I,主要包含长石-石英-白云母;岩体西部桑玉村出露伟晶岩II(包含钠长石-石英-白云母带和细粒钠长石带)和伟晶岩III(锂辉石-钠长石-石英带);岩体东部出露细晶岩脉。库曲伟晶岩都含不同体积百分比的石榴石和电气石,以及典型的稀有金属矿物如绿柱石、铌铁矿族矿物和少量锡石。独居石和铌铁矿族矿物的U(-Th)-Pb同位素年代学结果显示库曲伟晶岩主要形成于~25Ma,还存在稍晚一期的岩浆活动,细晶岩形成于~14Ma。同时代的伟晶岩I、II和III全岩成分呈现出明显的变化趋势,K_(2)O/Na_(2)O、Zr/Hf和Nb/Ta比值、REE总量和Eu/Eu^(*)呈降低趋势,而稀有金属(Li、Be、Nb、Ta、Rb和Cs)含量逐渐增加。矿物的成分变化趋势更明显,从伟晶岩I到III中白云母的K/Rb比值和MgO含量明显降低,电气石向更富集Li、石榴子石和铌铁矿族矿物向更富集Mn(在伟晶岩III中分别接近锰铝榴石和铌/钽锰矿端元组分)、绿柱石向更富集Li-Cs的方向变化。伟晶岩III中锡石含量相对增加,常与锂辉石共生。细晶岩脉的矿物学特征介于伟晶岩I和II之间。综合上述研究显示库曲伟晶岩是花岗质岩浆分异演化的最终产物,矿物是伟晶岩形成过程和分异程度的有效指示剂,库曲的稀有金属成矿作用显示出Be、Be-Nb-Ta(-Sn)、Li-Be-Nb-Ta-Sn(岩体最边缘)矿化的变化趋势。锂辉石是库曲伟晶岩中主要的原生锂矿物,次生的锂辉石和石英后成合晶可能是在富锂流体中形成的,而不是透锂长石降温过程中形成的,这与库曲伟晶岩侵入到白云母花岗岩的产状相符。

国内外食品快速检测方法评价技术研究

相比于国外成熟的快速检测方法评价技术体系,我国的评价技术体系发展滞后且有较多问题,严重制约了快检行业的发展。本文主要从验证方法、性能指标、测试要求等方面对各个评价技术体系做了对比分析。同时梳理了国内不同监管部门的评价技术体系发展与侧重,以期为我国食品快速检测方法确认政策和技术研究提供良好的借鉴,引导食品快速检测方法及产品的评价标准进一步规范,形成完善的科学评价方法和评价技术体系,促进我国食品安全及快速检测行业的健康发展。

不同直插型基质对3种盆栽菊花生长的影响以及综合评价

为提高盆栽菊花(Chrysanthemum morifolium)扦插繁殖的成活率,提高菊花生产效率,以既有扦插基质又有营养基质的直插型基质代替传统栽培基质,设置了12种不同扦插基质,配合前期筛选的营养基质,扦插培养3种盆栽菊花‘辉煌’‘波尔多红’‘黄芙蓉’。测量其生长、生理以及光合指标,并利用主成分分析和隶属函数对不同直插型基质的盆栽菊花生长效果进行综合评价。结果表明:扦插基质为Z1(河沙)、Z2(珍珠岩)、Z3(蛭石)时,3个盆栽菊花品种的株高、茎粗、冠幅及花期等生长指标更具优势。‘辉煌’‘波尔多红’‘黄芙蓉’在Z2处理中的综合评价指数最高,分别为0.999、0.940、1.000,说明其育苗效果最好,可作为最佳直插型基质,其次为Z1、Z3处理。而扦插基质中,椰糠、稻壳和泥炭体积占比较大时,并不利于盆栽菊花的生长。

京津冀城市群城市韧性时空演变特征及空间差异研究——基于改进的PSR框架

基于改进的“压力—状态—响应”研究框架、组合权重模型、Dagum基尼系数对京津冀城市群2001—2020年的城市韧性时序演变特征及其空间差异进行实证研究。结果表明:(1)时序演变上,京津冀城市群城市韧性水平在研究区间内总体呈波动式上升的趋势,存在明显的阶梯式失衡现象;(2)空间分布上,京津冀城市群高韧性区域由点到面、由中部至南北部进行蔓延,总体呈现“北京—天津双核驱动,中北强南弱”的韧性格局;(3)区域差异来源上,京津冀城市群城市韧性区域间不均衡现象突出而区域内发展较为均衡,区域间差异是京津冀城市群城市韧性总体差异的主要来源。

某医院大型医疗设备绩效评价案例分析

以某医院能谱CT为例,遵循相对明确的原则,采用德尔菲法和层次分析法相结合,选定经济指标、技术指标、临床应用指标、社会因素指标和教学科研指标等五项指标,制定大型医疗设备绩效评价实施方案,并进行能谱CT的绩效评价,得出结论并进行分析。