Cutaneous lupus erythematosus and its association with systemic lupus erythematosus: A nationwide population-based cohort study in Korea

Although lupus erythematosus is known to be more common among women of color, the study populations in previous reports were predominantly Caucasian and there is scarce information on Asian patients. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study using a nationwide population-based cohort in South Korea. The average annual incidence of cutaneous lupus was 4.36/100 000. Among 634 patients with cutaneous lupus, 20.8% had systemic disease: cutaneous lupus was diagnosed before systemic lupus in 4.26% and after systemic lupus in 8.52%. More female patients than male patients developed systemic lupus erythematosus. The average time to progression to systemic lupus was 1.53 ± 1.46 years.     

Body mass index in psoriatic patients with or without familial psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The occurrence of psoriasis in family members indicates a genetic predisposition, while obesity is also a major contributor to psoriasis. We examined whether patients with versus without familial psoriasis were obese at the onset of psoriasis. Clinical information, including age at onset, age at first visit and body mass index (BMI) at first visit, was extracted from the Fukuoka University Psoriasis Registry. To compare BMI, patients aged 10 years or older who visited the clinic within 3 years of onset were selected. Familial psoriasis was observed in 27 patients (15 male, 12 female) out of 428 individuals (264 male, 164 female) with psoriasis, accounting for 6.3% of cases. Age at onset was younger for both men and women with familial psoriasis (34 ± 17 and 40 ± 15 years, respectively) relative to those with non-familial psoriasis (48 ± 19 and 53 ± 19 years, respectively). We examined age- and sex-adjusted average values of BMI at initial presentation after onset of psoriasis, finding that patients with familial psoriasis had lower BMI (22.0 kg/m² [95% confidence interval, 21.8–22.4]) than those with non-familial psoriasis (23.2 [23.1–23.3], P < 0.001). Individuals with a family history of psoriasis should be considered to be at risk for developing the disease even if obesity is not present.     

Use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of rosacea: A nationwide population-based study

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are commonly used drugs. However, little is known about the association between PPI use and rosacea. This study aimed to investigate the association between PPI use and rosacea risk. Patients with prior PPI therapy, including 1067 rosacea cases and 4268 matched controls, were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. The cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) was used to quantify the PPI use. Logistic regression was used for the analyses. After adjustment for potential confounders, PPI use with cDDD of more than 365 was significantly associated with an increased risk of rosacea (odds ratio [OR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–2.15). Rosacea risk was significantly associated with PPI use of cDDD of more than 365 in women (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.08–2.46) but not in men. Stratified by PPI indications, risk of rosacea was significantly associated with PPI use of cDDD of more than 365 for peptic ulcer (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.12–2.21). In conclusion, prolonged PPI use was associated with an increased risk of rosacea, particularly in women and patients with peptic ulcers.     

Epidemiological,demographic and clinical data on chronic viral hepatitis C in Tuscany

Background: Recent introduction of direct antiviral agents (DAAs) has completely changed the scenario regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. Certain countries’ economic health programs prioritize DAAs according to specific clinical features of HCV-infected patients. The aim of this study was to define epidemiological, demographic and clinical characteristics of HCV-infected patients in the Tuscany region of central Italy.

Methods: We enrolled HCV patients with chronic viral hepatitis who were referred to the outpatient services of 16 hospitals in Tuscany from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015. Case report forms contained patient information including main demographic data, blood chemistry data, viral hepatitis markers, instrumental evaluations (liver biopsy or transient elastometry, liver ultrasound), eligibility for DAAs, and liver transplantation or therapy already in progress.

Results: Of all patients considered, 2919 HCV patients were enrolled (mean age: 57.44?±?15.15; 54% males, 46% females). All routes of transmission were well represented (intravenous drug use in 20.7%; nosocomial/dental care in 20.6%; and coagulation factors/blood transfusions in 13.3%). Diabetes was the highest represented comorbidity (20.8%), followed by metabolic syndrome (15.5%) and ischemic heart disease (6.2%). The most prevalent HCV genotypes were 1b (47.4%) and 2 (16.5%). In the whole cohort of patients, 32.8% were cirrhotic (40 patients were listed for liver transplantation). Signs of portal hypertension were present mostly in the group older than 45 years (92.3%). Extrahepatic HCV-related diseases were present in 13.3% of cases (cryoglobulinemic syndrome in 58.3% and B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 10.5%).

Conclusions: Our study provides evidence of a high prevalence of epidemiological changes in HCV infection with a major prevalence of advanced liver disease, such as portal hypertension, in this elderly cohort of patients.     

长沙市新型冠状病毒肺炎流行特征分析

目的 了解长沙市新型冠状病毒肺炎(coronavirus disease 2019,COVID-19)流行特征,为疫情防控提供依据。方法 采用描述流行病学方法对长沙市2020年1月1日—3月6日期间的新型冠状病毒肺炎流行特征进行分析。结果 2020年1月1日—3月6日期间长沙市累计报告新型冠状病毒肺炎确诊病例242例,重症率15.70%;长沙市每日报告确诊病例数自2月3日以来整体呈下降趋势。209例出院病例的住院天数为5~37 d,平均住院天数为(16.91±7.32)d;发病以30~50岁年龄组为主(23.95%),50岁以上人群的重症率最高(26.26%, χ²=14.124,P=0.001),职业以家务及待业(16.53%)和离退人员(15.70%)为主;主要临床表现为发热(65.70%)、干咳(41.74%)和乏力(33.06%)。结论 新型冠状病毒肺炎发病数虽呈下降趋势,但随着人员流动的增加,需加强防控措施防止疫情反弹。     

Worldwide Prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Meta-Analyses of 11 Million Subjects

BackgroundDespite the greater prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in subjects with ischemic heart disease (IHD), premature IHD, and severe hypercholesterolemia (low-density lipoprotein ≥190 mg/dl), overall prevalence estimates are not available.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to provide worldwide estimates of FH prevalence in subjects with IHD, premature IHD, and severe hypercholesterolemia compared with those in the general population.MethodsIn this systematic review and meta-analyses, Embase, PubMed, and the Web of Science were searched until June 3, 2019, for peer-reviewed papers and conference abstracts reporting heterozygous FH prevalence in nonfounder populations, revealing 104 studies eligible for inclusion.ResultsEstimates of FH prevalence were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses and were 0.32% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26% to 0.39% [corresponding to 1:313]) among 10,921,310 unique subjects in the general population (33,036 patients with FH) on the basis of 44 studies, 3.2% (95% CI: 2.2% to 4.3% [1:31]) among 84,479 unique subjects with IHD (2,103 patients with FH) on the basis of 28 studies, 6.7% (95% CI: 4.9% to 8.7% [1:15]) among 31,316 unique subjects with premature IHD (1,471 patients with FH) on the basis of 32 studies, and 7.2% (95% CI: 4.6% to 10.8% [1:14]) among 17,728 unique subjects with severe hypercholesterolemia (920 patients with FH) on the basis of 7 studies. FH prevalence in the general population was similar using genetic versus clinical diagnoses. Seventeen of 195 countries (9%) in the world have reported FH prevalence for the general population, leaving 178 (91%) countries in the world with unknown prevalence.ConclusionsCompared with 1:313 among subjects in the general population, FH prevalence is 10-fold higher among those with IHD, 20-fold higher among those with premature IHD, and 23-fold higher among those with severe hypercholesterolemia. The prevalence of FH is unknown in 90% of countries in the world.     

Epidemiologic Characteristics of Work-related Eye Injuries and Risk Factors Associated with Severe Eye Injuries: A Registry-based Multicentre Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Work-related eye injuries have been reported with a variety of epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. We aimed to identify epidemiologic characteristics of work-related eye injuries and risk factors associated with severe injury in a large metropolitan city.