ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and the severity of acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis in elderly patients.MethodsThe clinical data of 216 elderly patients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis admitted from January 2015 to October of 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The severity of acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis in the elderly was evaluated by bronchiectasis severity index (BSI) score. Meanwhile, 50 elderly people receiving qualified medical examination were collected as a healthy control group in the same period. The distributions of BSI score, RDW, procalcitonin (PCT), neutrophil percentage (NEU%) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were described in the patients with different risk degree. The severity of acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis in the elderly was evaluated by BSI. The patients were divided into three groups by BSI score: a low risk group, a middle risk group, and a high risk group. The indexes were described including the distribution of stratified BSI score, RDW, PCT, NEU%, CRP at different risk levels. The correlation of each index was analyzed by Spearman correlation. The threshold value of RDW was calculated by general linear regression, and the influencing factors of BSI score were analyzed by multivariate linear regression analysis.ResultsThe higher the risk stratification, the higher the BSI score, RDW, PCT, NEU% and CRP were. RDW was positively correlated with PCT, NEU% and CRP (r values were 0.425, 0.311, 0.177, respectively, P<0.05). BSI score was positively correlated with RDW, PCT, NEU%, and CRP (r values were 0.425, 0.394, 0.650, 0.578, respectively, P<0.05). RDW was positively correlated with PSI score (r=0.425, P<0.05). The thresholds of RDW were 11.45% and 14.03%. Multiple linear regression showed that RDW, PCT, NEU% and CRP were all influential factors of BSI score and explained 52.3% of the total mutation rate.ConclusionRDW is related to the severity of acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis in the elderly, and can predict the severity of acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis in the elderly.
Objective To investigate the risk factors of childhood leukaemia. Methods Questionnaire about risk factors of childhood leukaemia was devised and used. We surveyed and analyzed the relevant risk factors of 143 cases of leukaemia children in Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2008 to February 2009, comparing with 108 hospitalized cases without leukaemia during the same period. The significant factors were identified by single factor analysis. Then multi-factors conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results In the single factor analysis, 12 of 26 indexes were statistically significant (Plt;0.05), while in the multi-factors logistic regression analysis, there were 8 of 12 indexes with significance (Plt;0.05), which of those are frequent infection history, house decoration, family history of cancer, maternal childbearing age, and history of contact with paint, leather shoes, radiation and pesticides. Conclusion The 8 indexes as listed above are closely related to the pathogeny of leukaemia and may be the distinguished risk factors of childhood leukaemia.
Objective To explore the correlation between adverse pregnancy outcomes and previous bearing status. Methods The related information of pregnant and postnatal women was extracted from 6825 hospitalized records in two general hospitals and one special hospital, which were selected by the method of cluster sampling, and the related rate and correlation analyses were calculated. Results Women who had abortion history were much easier to cause adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to those who had no abortion history, with the incidence rates of 16.83% and 13.31%, respectively; the incidence rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes of women who ever had zero, one, and two or more than twice of delivery were 14.14%, 16.34% and 22.78%, respectively; the rates of women on their third or more than third, second, first or zero pregnancy were 49.14%, 18.05%, 14.22% and 12.88%, respectively; and the rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes of women with abnormal and normal gestation history were 31.06% and 14.21%, respectively. Conclusion The previous abortion, delivery times and abnormal gestation history are highly related to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, in order to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is necessary to make an effective family planning and decrease abortion and pregnancy.
In the process of robot-assisted training for upper limb rehabilitation, a passive training strategy is usually used for stroke patients with flaccid paralysis. In order to stimulate the patient’s active rehabilitation willingness, the rehabilitation therapist will use the robot-assisted training strategy for patients who gradually have the ability to generate active force. This study proposed a motor function assessment technology for human upper-limb based on fuzzy recognition on interaction force and human-robot interaction control strategy based on assistance-as-needed. A passive training mode based on the calculated torque controller and an assisted training mode combined with the potential energy field were designed, and then the interactive force information collected by the three-dimensional force sensor during the training process was imported into the fuzzy inference system, the degree of active participation σ was proposed, and the corresponding assisted strategy algorithms were designed to realize the adaptive adjustment of the two modes. The significant correlation between the degree of active participation σ and the surface electromyography signals (sEMG) was found through the experiments, and the method had a shorter response time compared to a control strategy that only adjusted the mode through the magnitude of interaction force, making the robot safer during the training process.
Objective To systematically review the association between prothrombin gene G20210A mutation and the risk of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Methods Databases including PubMed, Springer, Google Scholar, The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2016), CNKI, WanFang Data and CBM were searched for case-control studies concerning the association between prothrombin gene G20210A mutation and cerebral venous thrombosis risk from inception to January 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software and Stata 12.0 software. Results A total of 26 case-control studies were included, involving 1 361 CVT cases and 6 323 controls. The results of meta-analysis showed that: there was a significant association between prothrombin gene G20210A mutation and CVT risk (OR=4.56, 95% CI 3.51 to 5.93,P<0.000 01). Sensitivity analysis showed no significant publication bias was detected confirmed the stability of results. Subgroup analysis showed that G20210A mutation increased CVT risk in adults (OR=5.02, 95% CI 3.81 to 6.60,P<0.000 01), but not in children (OR=1.99, 95% CI 0.83 to 4.79,P=0.12). Conclusion Prothrombin gene G20210A mutation can significantly increase the CVT risk. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, the above results are needed to be validated by more high quality studies.
ObjectiveTo explore whether the vaginal environment changes of pregnant women were correlated with pathogenesis of fungal vaginitis. MethodsWe selected 166 women in their early pregnancy in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic between July 2011 and July 2012 as the study objects (excluding fungal vaginitis patients already confirmed). Two important indicators of changes in pH and the amount of vaginal lactobacilli were chosen to determine changes in the vaginal environment. Using prospective study method, by checking changes in the vaginal environment, the objects were divided into two groups: 96 were in the changing environment group, and 70 were in the normal environment group. Sixty seven of them had a pH value lower or equal to 4.0, and 99 higher than 4.0. Fifty-eight of them had a reduced amount of lactobacillus, and 108 had a normal amount of lactobacillus. The rate of fungal vaginitis in each group was counted. ResultsThe morbidity rate in patients whose pH value was lower than or equal to 4.0 was 17.9% (12/67), while it was 6.1% (6/99) in patients with a pH value higher than 4.0, and the difference was significant (χ2=5.804, P=0.016). The morbidity rate in patients with a reduced amount of lactobacillus was 25.9% (15/58), and it was 2.8% (3/108) in patients with normal lactobacillus, and the difference was also significant (χ2=20.800, P=0.000). The morbidity rate for patients with changing vaginal environment was 16.7% (16/96), and for those with normal environment was 2.9% (2/70), and the difference was significant (χ2=7.985, P=0.005). In those with normal lactobacillus, the reduction of pH value was not correlated with the occurrence of fungal vaginitis (χ2=0.000, P=1.000). ConclusionThe vaginal environment changes during pregnancy (pH value decrease and Lactobacillus decrease) are associated with the incidence of fungal vaginitis, and it can be prevented and treated based on this phenomenon.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between TLR5 rs5744174 gene polymorphism and Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.MethodsOne-hundred and six patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia admitted to this hospital from January 2014 to October 2018 were selected as an observation group, and 85 healthy subjects were selected as a control group during the same period. The clinical and pathological data of the subjects were collected, polymorphism of TLR5 rs5744174 gene was analyzed by PCR and sequencing, and the relationships between cell classification count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and TLR5 rs5744174 gene polymorphism in the patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia were analyzed.ResultsThere were significant differences in age, smoking, alcoholism, diabetes and the other general data between the observation group and the control group (P<0.05). The distribution of TLR5 rs5744174 genotype in the observation group and the control group was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test level (χ2=16.89 for the observation group, χ2=10.76 for the control group, both P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the distribution frequency of TLR5 rs5744174 (C < T) genotype and allele between the two groups (P>0.05). There were significant differences in the proportion of diabetes mellitus among the three genotypes (CC, CT, TT) of the patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia (P<0.05). The percentage of neutrophils and CRP levels in BALF were significantly different (P<0.05).ConclusionThe polymorphism of TLR5 rs5744174 gene may not be related to the occurrence of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, but is related to the proportion of complicated diabetes mellitus, the percentage of neutrophils and the level of CRP in patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, which may affect the degree of inflammation.
Objective To explore the correlation of risk factors affecting the L2-4BMD level in patients with post-menopausal osteoporosis. Methods Ninety-two patients with post-menopausal osteoporosis were surveyed with a retrospective questionnaire. We used the findings to set up a multiple stepwise regression model and perform correlation analysis with L2-4BMD levels as the dependent variable and risk factors as the independent variables. Results Assuming that age has a definite effect on the L2-4BMD level of menopausal women, menopausal age limit, history of milk drinking, menopausal age, menarche age, fracture history and bend-back entered into the multiple stepwise regression equation. Conclusions Menopausal age limit, history of milk drinking, menopausal age, menarche age, fracture history, and bend-back influence patients with menopausal osteoporosis.The menopausal age limit is especially important. Awareness of the risk factors of osteoporosis should be raised.
ObjectiveTo explore the possible association between early injury assessment indexes and the length of stay (LOS) in first-line hospitals, in order to help the hospitals take advantage of resource effectively and transfer victims reasonably during earthquakes. MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the medical information of 3 576 traumatic patients injured in the Wenchuan Earthquake who were transferred to 242 first-line medical institutes between 14:28, May 12th and 14:30, May 19th in 2008. Three kinds of 15 variables were extracted for the analysis, including gender, age, heart or lung disease, pre-hospital time, head injury, trunk injury, open injury, crush injury, asphyxia, body temperature, heart rate, respiration, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and Glasgow coma score. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with LOS. ResultsThe multiple linear regression analysis showed that age as well as other six factors affected LOS significantly (P<0.05). The partial regression coefficients of age, pre-hospital time, head injury, trunk injury, crush injury, complication of cardiac or pulmonary disease, and Glasgow coma score were -0.062, 0.157, 3.703, 4.111, 12.602, 14.762 and -1.312, respectively. ConclusionsEarthquake trauma patients with older age, long pre-hospital time, head injury, trunk injury, heart or lung disease, crush injury, and lower Glasgow coma score are at increased risk for extended LOS.
The metacor, which is developed based on the classical frequentist theory, is a specified package for performing meta-analysis of correlation coefficients in R software. This package was officially launched in 2011. Based on the DerSimonian-Laird method and Olkin-Pratt method, correlation coefficients can be directly pooled by using this package. The metacor package also can be used to draw the forest plot and is easy to use; however, it still needs to be improved. This paper briefly introduced how to perform a meta-analysis of correlation coefficients using the metacor package in R software through an example.