NICE’s recent guidelines on “the size of your waist” unfairly penalizes shorter people

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has just released its latest guidelines to assess and predict health risk, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Their latest advice is “Keep the size of your waist to less than half of your height”. We believe this advice is flawed and will seriously and unfairly penalize shorter people and lull taller people into a false sense of security. In this short communication, we provide this evidence. We consider this a serious oversight by NICE and feel strongly that this evidence needs to be made available in the public domain.     

Updated Trends,Disparities, and Clinical Impact of Neuroimaging Utilization in Ischemic Stroke in the Medicare Population: 2012 to 2019

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to update trends, investigate sociodemographic disparities, and evaluate the impact on mortality of stroke neuroimaging across the United States from 2012 to 2019.MethodsRetrospective cohort study using CMS Medicare 5% Research Identifiable Files, representing consecutive ischemic stroke emergency department or hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years. A total of 85,547 stroke episodes with demographic and clinical information were analyzed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests and logistic regression. Outcome measures were neuroimaging (CT angiography [CTA], CT perfusion [CTP], MRI, MR angiography [MRA]) utilization, acute treatment (endovascular thrombectomy [EVT] and intravenous thrombolysis [IVT]), and mortality while in the hospital and at 30 days and 1 year post discharge.ResultsSignificantly increasing utilization trends for CTA (250%), CTP (428%) and MRI (18%), and a decreasing trend for MRA (?33%) were observed from 2012 to 2019 (P < .0001). Controlling for covariates in the logistic regression models, CTA and CTP were significantly associated with higher EVT and IVT utilization. Although CTA, MRI, and MRA were associated with lower mortality, CTP was associated with higher mortality post discharge. Less neuroimaging was performed in rural patients; older patients (≥80 years) had lower utilization of CTA, MRI, and MRA; female patients had lower rates of CTA; and Black patients had lower utilization of CTA and CTP.ConclusionsCTA and CTP utilization increased in the Medicare ischemic stroke population from 2012 to 2019 and both were associated with greater EVT and IVT use. However, disparities exist in neuroimaging utilization across all demographic groups, and further understanding of the root causes of these disparities will be crucial to achieving equity in stroke care.     

A phase II,single-center,randomized, double-blind,parallel control clinical study evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of a two-dose schedule of serogroups ACYW meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine

BackgroundThis was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel control study evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of a two-dose schedule of serogroups ACYW meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine with tetanus toxoid (TT) conjugate protein, in infants and toddlers of 3–35 months old.Method720 participants were stratified according to the age of 3–5 months old, 6–11 months old, and 12–35 months old and randomly assigned with an equal ratio to two different dose groups, i.e., 40- and 20-μg doses. Blood samples were taken from all participants before the first vaccination and 30 days after the full-course vaccination to detect the serogroups ACYW meningococcal antibodies. All adverse events occurred within 30 days after vaccination of each dose, and serious adverse events occurred within six months after full-course vaccination were collected for safety evaluation. This study was registered at the China drug trial registration with the identifier CTR 20182031.ResultsAfter 30 days of full-course vaccination, 92.78 % (95 % CI: 85.70 %-100.00 %) showed the immune response against all serogroups in both high-dose and low-dose groups by rabbit serum bactericidal antibody assay (rSBA) and the geometric mean titer (GMT) of all serogroups showed a high level (74.6–505.8, 95 % CI: 56.4–615.7). However, no significant difference between different dose groups was observed (P > 0.05). The common local and systemic adverse events in both groups were redness (3 %-7%), and fever (26 %-65 %), respectively. In addition, the grade 3 adverse event related to the vaccine was fever (1.67 %-12.50 %). No serious adverse event was reported to be associate with the vaccination.ConclusionThe serogroups ACYW meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine was safe and effective in the population aged 3–35 months. The vaccine efficacy and safety of the 20-μg dose group were not less than that of the 40-μg dose group.     

Impact of overweight and obesity on US renal cell carcinoma incidence trends (1995-2018)

In the United States, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence and the prevalence of obesity, an established risk factor for RCC, have been increasing for several decades. RCC is more common among older individuals. We sought to quantify the contribution of excess adiposity to the rising incidence of RCC among individuals 60 years or older. National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study data (n = 453 859 participants, enrolled in 1995-1996, age at enrollment 50-71 years) were used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for RCC across body mass index categories and HRs associated with smoking. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated using estimated HRs and annual overweight/obesity prevalence from the National Health Interview Survey (1985-2008). PAF estimates were combined with RCC incidence from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-13 to calculate annual percent changes in RCC incidence attributable (and unrelated) to overweight/obesity. We found that between 1995 and 2018, among individuals aged 60 years and older, PAF for overweight/obesity increased from 18% to 29% for all RCCs. In comparison, the PAF for smoking declined from 12% to 9%. RCC incidence increased 1.8% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5%-2.1%) overall, while RCC incidence attributable to overweight/obesity increased 3.8% per year (95%CI 3.5%-4.2%) and RCC incidence unrelated to overweight/obesity increased 1.2% per year (95% CI 0.9%-1.4%). In conclusion, overweight/obesity appears to have contributed importantly to the rising incidence of RCC in the United States since the mid-1990s. Public health interventions focused on reducing overweight and obesity could help substantially in curbing this trend.     

Key Social Determinants to Narrow the Gap between Health-adjusted Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy in Megacities

ObjectiveImprovement in the quality of life is reflected in the narrowing of the gap between health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and life expectancy (LE). The effect of megacity expansion on narrowing the gap is rarely reported. This study aimed to disclose this potential relationship.MethodsAnnual life tables were constructed from identified death records and population counts from multiple administrative sources in Guangzhou, China, from 2010 to 2020. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate the temporal trend. Generalized principal component analysis and multilevel models were applied to examine the county-level association between the gap and social determinants.ResultsAlthough LE and HALE in megacities are increasing steadily, their gap is widening. Socio-economic and health services are guaranteed to narrow this gap. Increasing personal wealth, a growing number of newborns and healthy immigrants, high urbanization, and healthy aging have helped in narrowing this gap.ConclusionIn megacities, parallel LE and HALE growth should be highly considered to narrow their gap. Multiple social determinants need to be integrated as a whole to formulate public health plans.     

1972—2016年江苏省启东市胃癌死亡流行特征分析

目的分析江苏省启东市1972—2016年胃癌死亡流行特征。方法收集启东市1972—2016年恶性肿瘤死亡登记数据库及历年人口资料, 计算死亡率、中国人口标化率(中标率)、世界人口标化率(世标率)、35～64岁截缩率、0～74岁累积死亡率、累积死亡风险、变化百分比、死亡率年均变化百分比。结果 1972—2016年启东市胃癌死亡例数为15 863例, 占全部恶性肿瘤死亡例数的16.04%, 胃癌死亡率为31.37/10万, 中标率为12.97/10万, 世标率为21.39/10万, 35～64岁截缩死亡率为28.86/10万, 0～74岁累积死亡率为2.54%, 胃癌死亡累积风险为2.51%。男性死亡10 114例, 男性死亡率、中标率、世标率分别为40.53/10万、17.98/10万和30.13/10万;女性死亡5 749例, 女性死亡率、中标率、世标率分别为22.45/10万、8.52/10万和13.92/10万。25岁以下各年龄组的死亡率<1/10万, 死亡率随年龄的增长而升高, 50～岁组达到并超过人群的平均死亡率水平, 80～岁组达到死亡高峰。1972—2016年间胃癌死...     

从《温病条辨》探析吴鞠通儿科用药特点

吴鞠通著《温病条辨》倡三焦辨证,形成了以卫气营血、三焦为核心的温病辨证体系,其中卷六《解儿难》结合温病理论阐释了其对儿科疾病和治疗用药的独特见解。吴鞠通解小儿“纯阳”为“稚阳未充,稚阴未长”,其易于感邪、易于传变,治疗用药需谨慎。本文结合吴鞠通对小儿生理病理特点的认识,从谨慎选药、慎用苦寒、多甘少酸、巧用辛温、善用辛凉、重视脾胃、辅以食疗七个方面阐释吴鞠通儿科方面的用药特点,以期为儿科临床用药提供参考。     

2013-2017年ICU感染病原菌分布及耐药趋势分析

目的 分析重症监护病房(ICU)感染病原菌分布及其耐药趋势，为ICU有效预防与控制医院感染提供依据。方法 采用回顾性研究方法，收集我院2013-2017年综合ICU送检的25057份临床标本分离的病原菌进行细菌种类鉴定和药敏试验。结果 分离病原菌6938株，其中革兰阴性菌5513株(79.46%)，革兰阳性菌710株(10.23%)，真菌715株(10.31%)，排名前4位分别为鲍曼不动杆菌(31.65%)、肺炎克雷伯菌(15.90%)、铜绿假单胞菌(11.46%)和大肠埃希菌(6.31%)。真菌随着时间变化呈现下降后升高趋势，鲍曼不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌和大肠埃希菌呈现升高后下降趋势，而肺炎克雷伯菌呈现下降后升高趋势。分离出多重耐药菌1387株，前3位分别为鲍曼不动杆菌(84.21%)、肺炎克雷伯菌(8.22%)和铜绿假单胞菌(4.83%)。5年间多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌分布率均显著高于肺炎克雷伯菌和铜绿假单胞菌(P=0)，且在2016年检出率达最高，2013和2017年检出率最低；多重耐药肺炎克雷伯菌在2017年检出率达最高，2013年检出率最低；多重耐药铜绿假单胞菌5年间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 我院病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主，不同年份病原菌及其耐药性变化有所不同，应定期监测病原菌及其耐药性变迁，正确合理使用抗菌药物。