The Clinical Study of a New Management Model Using Mobile Health for Senile Hypertension

Objective: To evaluate a new management model using mobile health for senile hypertension. Methods: This medical service combined traditional medical treatment with Mobile Health. We use it to explore a new and effective model of elderly hypertension management and the most effective and lowest cost management crowd. According to the randomized controlled design of trial, 105 old hypertensive patients participated in the study voluntarily in the Qingdao Municipal Hospital were randomly divided into the experimental group (75 cases) and control group (30 cases). Experimental group is divided into geriatric specialist group (25 cases), general practitioner group (25 cases) and nurse group (25 cases). Blood pressure was administered in experimental (with the new model) and control groups (with the traditional model) for 2 months to compare their blood pressure and the decrease of them. Results: Blood pressure was compared between the two groups before and after administration. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of experimental group is 162.44 ± 13.970 mmHg before administration. SBP of experimental group is 147.69 ± 13.509 mmHg after administration, the difference is statistically significant (P = 0.000). The diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of experimental group is 91.58 ± 10.822 mmHg before administration. DBP of experimental group is 84.64 ± 10.412 mmHg after administration, P = 0.003. SBP of control group is 159.93 ± 15.238 mmHg before administration. The systolic blood pressure of control group is 152.33 ± 14.115 (mmHg) after administration. P is 0.167 (P > 0.05). The difference was not statistically significant. DBP of control group is 94.73 ± 12.401 (mmHg) before administration. DBP of control group is 90.60 ± 11.115 (mmHg) after administration. P is 0.345 (P > 0.05). The difference was not statistically significant. The decrease of SBP of geriatric specialist group, general practitioner group and nurse group is 18.40 ± 11.764 mmHg, 14.47 ± 9.44 mmHg, 10.80 ± 6.026 mmHg. The difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The decrease of DBP of geriatric specialist group, general practitioner group and nurse group is 9.33 ± 7.451 mmHg vs. 5.33 ± 6.287 mmHg vs. 6.13 ± 5.069 mmHg (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The new model is effective and it works well for controlling blood pressure of elderly hypertensive patients. Especially with the doctors and patients’ families, the management effect has been obviously improved. Medical interventions make the new model more scientific. The management of geriatric specialists, general practitioners and nurses is equally valid.

A Study on the Feasibility of Total Quality Management Model and the Awareness and Attitude of the Managers of Health Care

Total Quality Management is not just an admirable phenomenon but it is any client’s right and can be done through contribution of the staff and the managers as well as the client’s of an organization. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the feasibility of TQM model and the attitude of the managers of health field of Yazd medical sciences university towards it. The present study was a descriptive and analytical one which was cross-section ally conducted from 2010 to 2011. The population under study consisted of the managers of the unit of staff vice-chancellor for health and treatment, the managers of health system and centers of cities and also the managers of Yazd’s public hospitals. 64 people were chosen using the formula for calculating the number of samples. A questionnaire with 48 questions was used. The questionnaire’s validity was approved by the faculty members whose major is management and its reliability by using α-cronbach 87%. To analyze the data, the software SPSS V.17 was used. Scoring method was based on likert. The findings of the study show that, considering feasibility of TQM, there is a significant relation between the awareness and attitude of the managers of health and treatment field on one side and the variables, age and University degree, on the other side p = 0.001. Considering binary logistic regression and the results obtained in the form of inter and backward stepwise, the most important factors affecting the feasibility of TQM among the managers of health and treatment field are the level of awareness and attitude with the predicted accuracy 79.3% and 87.9% respectively.

Going toward Green Hospital by Sustainable Healthcare Waste Management: Segregation, Treatment and Safe Disposal

Hospitals have always been the focal point of social systems identity. Thus, they acte as the mirror of the community and should be responsible for it. Hospitals have been recognized as a significant source of contamination all around the world, therefore helping to endanger public health on an unintentional process. Although, the main mission of the hospital is to promote human health, it cannot be assumed as an island apart from its urban environment. “Green Hospital”, as an approach to address environmental challenges and to meet communities need in health issues, has emerged recently as a try to improve the health, in line with its main mission. In this approach, all the environmental aspects of waste management are important and to be addressed. Hospitals’ administrators can manage wastes disposal through composting, recycling and better supplying methods (downsizing packaging, using reusable products instead of disposables and using recycled products). This article is a review of the subject matter, in nature, using many library and online sources;it discusses about the need to move towards the green hospital approach, the administration and leadership role in its establishment, the environmental impact of hospital operations and assessment of the effects, wastes management and control, and also the methods in wastes disposal and treatment.

The Economic Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Healthcare: A Literature Review

Background: This review delves into the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on healthcare, which is a crucial aspect considering the increasing costs of healthcare worldwide. While there is potential for AI to enhance healthcare delivery and efficiency, there are still uncertainties surrounding its effectiveness, value, and broader adoption. This comprehensive literature review aims to explore and synthesize existing knowledge on the economic impact of AI in healthcare. The primary objective of this review is to understand the potential cost savings and efficiency improvements associated with the deployment of AI in healthcare settings. By highlighting the economic implications of AI, this review seeks to offer insights into the value proposition of investing in AI technologies for stakeholders such as healthcare providers, payers, and policymakers. Methods: To conduct this review, we conducted a search of literature from 2020 to 2023 across three databases: PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. We specifically focused on studies that discuss the impacts of AI in healthcare and include cost evaluations, using combinations of keywords related to AI, economics, healthcare, and cost evaluation. The inclusion criteria were studies that conducted some form of economic evaluation related to AI in healthcare settings, while exclusion criteria were studies without a cost evaluation component. Data extraction and quality assessment using the CASP checklist were undertaken on the final set of included studies. Results: After screening studies, we identified 10 out of a total of 28 studies and reports that met our criteria of outlining any form of economic impact and evaluation of AI in healthcare settings. Based on our findings, implementing AI in healthcare could potentially lead to cost savings. Several studies suggest savings ranging from $200 billion to $360 billion in the United States alone. The use of AI in healthcare sectors such as ophthalmology, radiology and disease screening has shown positive economic impacts. Conclusion: While AI has potential for cost savings and efficiency improvements, in healthcare settings, it’s crucial to conduct detailed context specific cost evaluations to optimize the adoption and implementation strategies of AI.

Colorectal cancer’s burden attributable to a diet high in processed meat in the Belt and Road Initiative countries

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)plays a significant role in morbidity,mortality,and economic cost in the Belt and Road Initiative(“B and R”)countries.In addition,these countries have a substantial consumption of processed meat.However,the burden and trend of CRC in relation to the consumption of a diet high in processed meat(DHPM-CRC)in these“B and R”countries remain unknown.AIM To analyze the burden and trend of DHPM-CRC in the“B and R”countries from 1990 to 2019.METHODS We used the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study to collate information regarding the burden of DHPM-CRC.Numbers and age-standardized rates(ASRs)of deaths along with the disability-adjusted life years(DALYs)were determined among the“B and R”countries in 1990 and 2019.Using joinpoint regression analysis,the average annual percent change(AAPC)was used to analyze the temporal trends of age-standardized DALYs rate(ASDALR)from 1990 to 2019 and in the final decade(2010–2019).RESULTS We found geographical differences in the burden of DHPM-CRC among“B and R”countries,with the three highest-ranking countries being the Russian Federation,China,and Ukraine in 1990,and China,the Russian Federation,and Poland in 2019.The burden of DHPM-CRC generally increased in most member countries from 1990 to 2019(all P<0.05).The absolute number of deaths and DALYs in DHPM-CRC were 3151.15[95%uncertainty interval(UI)665.74-5696.64]and 83249.31(95%UI 15628.64-151956.31)in China in 2019.However,the number of deaths(2627.57-2528.51)and DALYs(65867.39-55378.65)for DHPM-CRC in the Russian Federation has declined.The fastest increase in ASDALR for DHPM-CRC was observed in Vietnam,Southeast Asia,with an AAPC value of 3.90%[95%confidence interval(CI):3.63%-4.16%],whereas the fastest decline was observed in Kyrgyzstan,Central Asia,with an AAPC value of-2.05%(95%CI:-2.37%to-1.73%).A substantial upward trend in ASR of mortality,years lived with disability,years of life lost,and DALYs from DHPM-CRC changes in 1990-2019 and the final decade(2010-2019)for most Maritime Silk Route members in East Asia,South Asia,Southeast Asia,North Africa,and the Middle East,as well as Central Europe,while those of the most Land Silk Route members in Central Asia and Eastern Europe have decreased markedly(all P<0.05).The ASDALR for DHPM-CRC increased more in males than in females(all P<0.05).For those aged 50-74 years,the ASDALR for DHPM-CRC in 40 members exhibited an increasing trend,except for 20 members,including 7 members in Central Asia,Maldives,and 12 high or high-middle social development index(SDI)members in other regions(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION The burden of DHPM-CRC varies substantially across“B and R”countries and threatens public health.Relevant evidence-based policies and interventions tailored to the different trends of countries in SDIs or Silk Routes should be adopted to reduce the future burden of CRC in“B and R”countries via extensive collaboration.

Self-assembly of differentiated dental pulp stem cells facilitates spheroid human dental organoid formation and prevascularization

BACKGROUND The self-assembly of solid organs from stem cells has the potential to greatly expand the applicability of regenerative medicine.Stem cells can self-organise into microsized organ units,partially modelling tissue function and regeneration.Dental pulp organoids have been used to recapitulate the processes of tooth development and related diseases.However,the lack of vasculature limits the utility of dental pulp organoids.AIM To improve survival and aid in recovery after stem cell transplantation,we demonstrated the three-dimensional(3D)self-assembly of adult stem cell-human dental pulp stem cells(hDPSCs)and endothelial cells(ECs)into a novel type of spheroid-shaped dental pulp organoid in vitro under hypoxia and conditioned medium(CM).METHODS During culture,primary hDPSCs were induced to differentiate into ECs by exposing them to a hypoxic environment and CM.The hypoxic pretreated hDPSCs were then mixed with ECs at specific ratios and conditioned in a 3D environment to produce prevascularized dental pulp organoids.The biological characteristics of the organoids were analysed,and the regulatory pathways associated with angiogenesis were studied.RESULTS The combination of these two agents resulted in prevascularized human dental pulp organoids(Vorganoids)that more closely resembled dental pulp tissue in terms of morphology and function.Single-cell RNA sequencing of dental pulp tissue and RNA sequencing of Vorganoids were integrated to analyse key regulatory pathways associated with angiogenesis.The biomarkers forkhead box protein O1 and fibroblast growth factor 2 were identified to be involved in the regulation of Vorganoids.CONCLUSION In this innovative study,we effectively established an in vitro model of Vorganoids and used it to elucidate new mechanisms of angiogenesis during regeneration,facilitating the development of clinical treatment strategies.

Efficacy and safety of bamlanivimab in patients with COVID-19:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)have shown clinical benefits against coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).Several studies have reported the use of bamlanivimab as a promising treatment option for COVID-19.AIM To synthesize the latest evidence for the efficacy and safety of bamlanivimab alone in the treatment of adult patients with COVID-19.METHODS A literature search was conducted in PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,medRxiv,and Google Scholar using“SARS-CoV-2”,“COVID-19”,“LY-CoV555”,and“Bamlanivimab”keywords up to January 25,2023.The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane bias tools.The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 3.0 was used to analyze the data.RESULTS A total of 30 studies involving 47368 patients were included.A significant difference was observed between the bamlanivimab and standard of care/placebo groups in terms of mortality rate[risk ratio(RR)=50,95%confidence interval(CI):0.36-0.70],hospitalization rate(RR=0.51;95%CI:0.39-0.68),and emergency department(ED)visits(RR=0.69;95%CI:0.47-0.99);while the two groups exhibited no significant difference in terms of intensive care unit(ICU)admission(P>0.05).Compared to other mAbs,bamlanivimab was associated with a higher rate of hospitalization(RR=1.44;95%CI:1.07-1.94).However,no significant difference was detected between the bamlanivimab and other mAbs groups in terms of mortality rate,ICU admission,and ED(P>0.05).The incidence of any adverse events was similar between the bamlanivimab and control groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Although the results suggest the efficacy and safety of bamlanivimab in COVID-19 patients,further research is required to confirm the efficacy of this drug for the current circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.

An Investigation on the Barriers and Facilitators of the Implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR)

The application of technology in health care, in the form of electronic health records (EHR), is the most important and necessary issue in order to improve the quality of health care, and studies have shown that, not only is it a way to integrate information and represent the condition of patients, and a dynamic source for health care, however it leads to gain access to clinical information and records, electronic communications, comprehensive training and management, and ultimately enhancing the public health;the aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the implementation of EHR, which are known as barriers and facilitators. The research is conducted in the form of a review research, and with the help of the Keywords of EHR;barriers and facilitators, articles, from 2008 to 2013, were searched and studied in the Internet-databases. The results of the studies show that the most effective factors include: efficiency, motivation, management, and the participation of end users. Factors such as technical aspects ease of use, available resources, and human resources, have limited effects. And security and privacy, the expected output, lack of time, and workload have relative effects, and also the relation between the patient and clinical staff, has no effects in the process of implementing EHR.

A Comparative Assessment of Patient Safety Culture between Iranian Selected Hospitals and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Report

Establishing a culture of patient safety can be effective in reducing the incidence of medical errors and solving concerns of safety inadequacy in health systems. The purpose of this study was to assess the culture of patient safety in the selected hospitals, and compare the results with published reports of AHRQ. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of BPUMS. The subjects signed the informed consent form to participle in the study. Confidentiality was maintained throughout the study reports. Cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012;the study sample was composed of 364 staffs working at two selected hospitals affiliated to Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture was used to collect data. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the data. No reports of events in both studied hospitals and benchmark were accounted for the most of the reported errors, although this indicator in studied hospitals was nearly 23% higher than that of the benchmark report. The highest patient safety grade in studied hospitals and benchmark was “acceptable” and “very good”, respectively. The highest percentage of positive response to patient safety dimension was organization learning and then teamwork within units in studied hospitals. Teamwork within units also was the highest average percent in benchmark report. Non-punitive response to errors had the lowest positive percentage of participant responses in both studies. To achieve the patient safety culture, we do not need to blame individual and apply punitive approach when errors occur. This makes person accept responsibility for their actions honestly and report errors in a timely manner to prevent reoccurrence of similar errors.

Evaluation of International Standards of Management of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) in Khorasan Razavi Hospitals from the Perspective of Managers

The general goal of the management of communication and information technology (MCIT) in the health sector, is to accelerate collecting, achieving and supporting the health system processes, and effective decision-making for managing this system;because preparing and providing health care services for society is very complex, and highly dependent on the information system. The aim of this investigation is to determine the mean scores of the possibility of implementing the MCIT standards in Khorasan Razavi hospitals, from the perspective of managers. This was a cross sectional descriptive-analytic study conducted in two steps in all hospitals. In the first step, the applicability of the standards in hospitals was studied. In the second step, the current status of hospitals was compared with international standards MCIT. In order to determine the validity of the questionnaires, opinions of professors and experts were acquired. Regarding the reliability, the SPSS V. 12 calculated the value of Cronbach’s to be 0.95 for the first questionnaire and 0.86 for the second questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistic tests of one way ANOVA and t-test. The level of significance was fixed at 0.5. In the 16 hospitals studied, the mean and standard deviation of MCIT were (57.25 ± 13.74). The MCIT standards are applicable in hospitals of Khorasan Razavi according to half (49.4%) of managers;nonetheless, their application requires greater efforts by the hospitals.

Self Evaluation in Department of Communicable Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Self evaluation is a process that defines and collects required data to judge about decision making issues at educational system on whether the educational department is fit to educate students? The objective of this study was determining the quality of the structural elements of the department of Communicable Diseases & determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to improve the quality of activities in the department under research. Materials and Methods: The employed method was Mixed methods (qualitative & quantitative research), on the basis of 10 procedural steps and within 8 sections dealing with evaluated factors;such as 1) organizational and management structure 2) scientific board members 3) students 4) Manpower 5) Space of educational research and health care 6) Equipment 7) curriculum 8) satisfaction of graduates, which were studied using 61 criteria and 172 indicators. Five-point Likert Scale was used for the responses in the questionnaire (1 - 1.75 = undesirable, to 4.2 - 5 completely desirable). Finally the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics indices and the assessment software of the Educational Development Center of TUMS. The instruments used in this method included assessment software, interview, observation and self-prepared questionnaire which consisted of 7 questionnaires and 2 check lists. Finding: The results of the research showed that general average of 8 investigating sections was 56.9% as a rather desirable research work. Conclusions: Therefore, it was concluded that function of the educational management in that group was directly in line with evaluation process, but continuing the process of evaluation seems necessary.

Evaluation of Comparative Management of Expanded Program Immunization for Children in Iran and in the World

Background: EPI is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions that have already been identified. Mass vaccination is one of the most effective public health strategies that lead to a dramatic reduction in the incidence of many infectious diseases. This is a descriptive study (eco-logical exploratory) where data about the status of routine immunization of children under 6 years in 6 selected countries in terms of the routine immunization programs in each country, the coverage and reported cases of vaccine-preventable diseases from 2006 to 2008 were collected assuming that each country is a representative of a Continent;data about the status of Iran were also collected and a comparative study was performed in the next step. It is worth mentioning that selecting these countries was according to health experts to consolidate the data. Collection tools are data of international (WHO and UNICEF) and national organizations of the above countries. In all countries surveyed, triple vaccine, vaccines of polio, hepatitis B, measles, rubella and mumps are part of the routine immunization program for children under the age of 6 years, with the explanation that in South Africa only measles vaccine is injected instead of measles, rubella and mumps vaccines. The coverage rate of the vaccine and other vaccines in Iran was the best compared to other countries. This represents the widespread activity of health care systems of the country in the field of vaccination and tireless efforts of healthcare workers and health centers.

Female Genital Cut in Relation to Its Value and Health Risks among the Kisii of Western Kenya

Background: The practice of female genital cutting as a cultural obligation is widespread in Kenya but there is little consensus about its effects on health. Some of the health risks associated with female genital cut range from minor and short-term to major and long-term effects including pain, bleeding, infections, and, in the extreme, death. Female genital cut is widespread among the Kisii but there is no adequate information about how it is currently practised and the value people attach to it. Objective: The objective was to establish the value of female genital cut as well as the health risks associated with the practice among the Kisii community of western Kenya. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which employed a mixed method approach to generate both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data were obtained from a randomly selected sample of 373 respondents while quantitative data were generated from focus group discussions as well as key informants interviews. Results: The Kisii consider female genital cut a cultural identifier inherited from past generations and whose main value is a rite of passage from girlhood to womanhood. Majority (63%) had heard of the health risks associated with female genital cut including transmission of infections, excessive bleeding and pain. But most of the community did not seem to know the long-term health consequences associated with female genital cut. Even though knowledge on the campaigns to eradicate the practice was found to be wide spread, the community’s response toward the campaigns was less than positive. Conclusions: The authors conclude that female genital cut continues to persist in this community because of its value as a rite of passage, which currently has no substitute. This cultural demand by far outweighs the health risks associated with female genital cut, which are being mitigated through medicalization of the practice. For intervention programmes to succeed a more culturally sensitive campaign that is acceptable or appropriate alternative rite of passage is required.

A Nested Case-Control Study to Explore the Association between Immunoglobulin G N-glycans and Ischemic Stroke

Objective This study prospectively investigates the association between immunoglobulin G(IgG)N-glycan traits and ischemic stroke(IS) risk.Methods A nested case-control study was conducted in the China suboptimal health cohort study,which recruited 4,313 individuals in 2013–2014. Cases were identified as patients diagnosed with IS, and controls were 1:1 matched by age and sex with cases. Ig G N-glycans in baseline plasma samples were analyzed.Results A total of 99 IS cases and 99 controls were included, and 24 directly measured glycan peaks(GPs) were separated from Ig G N-glycans. In directly measured GPs, GP4, GP9, GP21, GP22, GP23, and GP24 were associated with the risk of IS in men after adjusting for age, waist and hip circumference,obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Derived glycan traits representing decreased galactosylation and sialylation were associated with IS in men(FBG2S2/(FBG2 + FBG2S1 + FBG2S2): odds ratio(OR) = 0.92, 95% confidence interval(CI): 0.87–0.97;G1n: OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63–0.87;G0n: OR =1.12, 95% CI: 1.03–1.22). However, these associations were not found among women.Conclusion This study validated that altered Ig G N-glycan traits were associated with incident IS in men, suggesting that sex discrepancies might exist in these associations.

Zyxin promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via the activation of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a common malignancy that is driven by multiple genes and pathways.The aim of this study was to investigate the role and specific mechanism of the actin-interacting protein zyxin(ZYX)in HCC.We found that the expression of ZYX was significantly higher in HCC tissues compared to that in normal liver tissues.In addition,overexpression of ZYX in hepatoma cell lines(PLC/PRF/5,HCCLM3)enhanced their proliferation,migration and invasion,whereas ZYX knockdown had the opposite effects(SK HEP-1,Huh-7).Furthermore,the change in the expression levels of ZYX also altered that of proteins related to cell cycle,migration and invasion.Similar results were obtained with xenograft models.The AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is one of the key mediators of cancer development.While ZYX overexpression upregulated the levels of phosphorylated AKT/mTOR proteins,its knockdown had the opposite effect.In addition,the AKT inhibitor MK2206 neutralized the pro-oncogenic effects of ZYX on the HCC cells,whereas the AKT activator SC79 restored the proliferation,migration and invasion of HCC cells with ZYX knockdown.Taken together,ZYX promotes the malignant progression of HCC by activating AKT/mTOR signaling pathway,and is a potential therapeutic target in HCC.

Animal models for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis:Are current models good enough?

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody(ANCA)-associated vasculitis(AAV)is a rare and severe systemic autoimmune disease characterized by pauci-immune necrotizing inflammation of small blood vessels.AAV involves multiple organ systems throughout the body.Our knowledge of the pathogenesis of AAV has increased considerably in recent years,involving cellular,molecular and genetic factors.Because of the controlled environment with no other confounding factors,animal models are beneficial for studying the mechanistic details of disease development and for providing novel therapeutic targets with fewer toxic side effects.However,the complexity and heterogeneity of AAV make it very difficult to establish a single animal model that can fully represent the entire clinical spectrum found in patients.The aim of this review is to overview the current status of animal models for AAV,outline the pros and cons of methods,and propose potential directions for future research.

Canonical transient receptor potential channel 1 aggravates myocardial ischemia-and-reperfusion injury by upregulating reactive oxygen species

The canonical transient receptor potential channel(TRPC)proteins form Ca^(2+)-permeable cation channels that are involved in various heart diseases.However,the roles of specific TRPC proteins in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion(I/R)injury remain poorly understood.We observed that TRPC1 and TRPC6 were highly expressed in the area at risk(AAR)in a coronary artery ligation induced I/R model.Trpc1/mice exhibited improved cardiac function,lower serum Troponin T and serum creatine kinase level,smaller infarct volume,less fibrotic scars,and fewer apoptotic cells after myocardial-I/R than wild-type or Trpc6/mice.Cardiomyocyte-specific knockdown of Trpc1 using adeno-associated virus 9 mitigated myocardial I/R injury.Furthermore,Trpc1 deficiency protected adult mouse ventricular myocytes(AMVMs)and HL-1 cells from death during hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R)injury.RNA-sequencing-based transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of genes related to reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation in Trpc1/cardiomyocytes.Among these genes,oxoglutarate dehydrogenase-like(Ogdhl)was markedly downregulated.Moreover,Trpc1 deficiency impaired the calcineurin(CaN)/nuclear factorkappa B(NF-kB)signaling pathway in AMVMs.Suppression of this pathway inhibited Ogdhl upregulation and ROS generation in HL-1 cells under H/R conditions.Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed NF-kB binding to the Ogdhl promoter.The cardioprotective effect of Trpc1 deficiency was canceled out by overexpression of NF-kB and Ogdhl in cardiomyocytes.In conclusion,our findings reveal that TRPC1 is upregulated in the AAR following myocardial I/R,leading to increased Ca^(2+) influx into associated cardiomyocytes.Subsequently,this upregulates Ogdhl expression through the CaN/NF-kB signaling pathway,ultimately exacerbating ROS production and aggravating myocardial I/R injury.

Association of obesity with Helicobacter pylori infection: A retrospective study

AIM To explore the association between Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection and obesity/weight gain in a Chinese population.METHODS Our primary outcome was the change in body mass index(BMI). The generalized linear models were used to explore the association between H. pylori infection and the change of BMI, and the logistic regression models were used to explore the association between H. pylori infection and obesity.RESULTS A total of 3039 subjects were recruited and analyzed, of which 12.8% were obese. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 53.9%(1639/3039) overall and 54.6%(212/388) in the obese subjects. The change of BMI in the H. pylori(+) group was not significantly higher than that in the H. pylori(-) group after adjustment for potential confounding factors [RR = 0.988, 95%CI:0.924-1.057, P = 0.729]. The prevalence of obesity decreased 1.1% in the H. pylori(+) group and 0.5% in the H. pylori(-) group. The RR of H. pylori infection for obesity was 0.831(95%CI: 0.577-1.197, P = 0.321) after the adjustment.CONCLUSION H. pylori infection was not associated with overweight/obesity observed from the retrospective study in this Chinese population.

Bariatric surgery in old age:a comparative study of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy in an Asia centre of excellence

Bariatric surgery has been proved to be the safest and efficient procedure in treating morbid obese patients,but data is still lacking in the elderly population.The aim of our study was to compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass（LRYGB） and sleeve gastrectomy（LSG） in patients aged more than 55 years.We performed2 a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database.All patients with body mass index（BMI） §32 kg/mand aged more than 55 years undergoing LRYGB or LSG in BMI Surgery Centre,E-Da Hospital between January 2008 and December 2011 with at least one year of follow up were included for the analysis.Demography,peri-operative data,weight loss and surgical complications were all recorded and analyzed.Mean age and BMI of these 68 patients22（22 males and 46 female） were 58.8 years（55-79 years） and 39.5 kg/m（32.00-60.40 kg/m）.LRYGB was performed in 44 patients and LSG in 24 patients.The two groups were comparable in their preoperative BMI,American Society of Anaesthesia（ASA） score and gender distribution.LSG patients were significantly older than patients receiving LRYGB.The proportion of type 2 diabetes preoperatively was significantly higher in LRYGB patients as compared to LSG patients（88.63% vs.50%; P,0.01）.The prevalence of other co-morbidities was similar and comparable2 between the groups.Mean BMI in the LRYGB and LSG groups at the end of 1 year were 28.8 kg/mand228.2 kg/m,respectively,and there was no statistically significant difference in mean percentage of excess weight loss（%EWL） at 1 year.The percentage of resolution of diabetes was significantly higher in LRYGB（69.2%） as compared to LSG（33.3%）.On the other hand,there was no statistical difference in the percentage of resolution of hypertension,hyperlipidemia and fatty liver hepatitis.The overall morbidity and re-operation rate was higher in LRYGB patients.In morbidly elderly patients,both surgeries achieved good weight loss and resolution of comorbidities.LRYGB is superior to LSG in terms of diabetes remission but carries higher complication rates even at high volume centres.

Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma: Controversies to be addressed

Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma(CHC) accounts for 0.4%-14.2% of primary liver cancer cases and possesses pathological features of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Since this disease was first described and classified in 1949, the classification of CHC has continuously evolved. The latest definition and classification of CHC by the World Health Organization is based on the speculation that CHC arises from hepatic progenitor cells. However, there is no evidence demonstrating the common origin of different components of CHC. Furthermore, the definition of CHC subtypes is still ambiguous and the identification of CHC subtype when a single tumor contains many components has remained unresolved. In addition, there is no summary on the newly recognized histopathology features or the contribution of CHC components to prognosis and outcome of this disease. Here we provide a review of the current literature to address these questions.