Genetically predicted childhood obesity and adult atrial fibrillation: A mendelian randomization study

Background and aimsIt is unclear whether the association of childhood obesity with adult atrial fibrillation observed in observational studies reflects causal effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of childhood obesity with adult atrial fibrillation using genetic instruments.Methods and resultsWe used a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design to evaluate the association between childhood obesity and adult atrial fibrillation. Two sets of genetic variants (15 single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] for childhood body mass index [BMI] and 12 SNPs for dichotomous childhood obesity) were selected as instruments. Summary data on SNP-childhood obesity and SNP-atrial fibrillation associations were obtained from recently published genome-wide association studies. Effect estimates were evaluated using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) methods. Other MR analyses, including MR-Egger, simple and weighted median, weighted MBE and MR-PRESSO methods were performed in sensitivity analyses.The IVW models showed that both a genetically predicted one-standard deviation increase in childhood BMI (kg/m²) and higher log-odds of childhood obesity were associated with a substantial increase in the risk of atrial fibrillation (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11–1.34, P < 0.001; OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04–1.14, P < 0.001). MR-Egger regression showed no evidence of genetic pleiotropy for childhood BMI (intercept = 0.000, 95% CI: ?0.024 to 0.023), but for childhood obesity (intercept = ?0.036, 95% CI: ?0.057 to ?0.015). Similar results were observed using leave-one-out and other MR methods in sensitivity analyses.ConclusionsThis MR analysis found a consistent association between genetically predicted childhood obesity and an increased risk of adult atrial fibrillation. Further research is warranted to validate our findings.     

Identifying developmental disability in national surveys: Addressing the knowledge gap with special education histories

BackgroundIn the United States nearly 20% of children ages 12–17 have developmental disorders. Some attain population-based developmental milestones after a delay, or increase functioning through special education, medication, technology, or therapy. Others have severe lasting impairments. An indicator identifying those groups in surveys of adults could help shape policies to improve lives.HypothesesWe hypothesized that survey histories of special education could indicate functional status levels.MethodsData were from the nationally representative Panel Study of Income Dynamics (1997–2017, n = 2745). With measures of diagnoses, behaviors, functional status, service use, and adult outcomes, we tested three special education groups as indicators of: (1) no impairment (no special education), (2) disorders, developmental diagnoses that adversely affect educational performance, but with development after a period of delay or only moderate disability, indicated by transfer from special education; and (3) severe lasting disability, the diagnoses combined with life-long needs for supports or services, with limitations in areas including self-care, mobility, and capacity for independent living, indicated by special education in the individual's final year of school.ResultsAcross the special education groups, from no impairment to severe lasting disability, there were trends of: increasing severe and lasting disability (respectively 4.8%, 35.6%, 76.4%); increasing special services use (13.5%, 43.1%, 83.7%); increasing severe emotional disorders (2.3%, 11.3%, 17.9%); lower percentages attaining at least an associate's degree by age 25 (42.1%, 20.7%, and 8.9%); and more chronic diseases.ConclusionsSpecial education histories provide a useful indicator of developmental disability impairment levels in adults.     

American Cancer Society nutrition and physical activity guideline for cancer survivors

The overall 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined is now 68%, and there are over 16.9 million survivors in the United States. Evidence from laboratory and observational studies suggests that factors such as diet, physical activity, and obesity may affect risk for recurrence and overall survival after a cancer diagnosis. The purpose of this American Cancer Society guideline is to provide evidence-based, cancer-specific recommendations for anthropometric parameters, physical activity, diet, and alcohol intake for reducing recurrence and cancer-specific and overall mortality. The audiences for this guideline are health care providers caring for cancer survivors as well as cancer survivors and their families. The guideline is intended to serve as a resource for informing American Cancer Society programs, health policy, and the media. Sources of evidence that form the basis of this guideline are systematic literature reviews, meta-analyses, pooled analyses of cohort studies, and large randomized clinical trials published since 2012. Recommendations for nutrition and physical activity during cancer treatment, informed by current practice, large cancer care organizations, and reviews of other expert bodies, are also presented. To provide additional context for the guidelines, the authors also include information on the relationship between health-related behaviors and comorbidities, long-term sequelae and patient-reported outcomes, and health disparities, with attention to enabling survivors' ability to adhere to recommendations. Approaches to meet survivors' needs are addressed as well as clinical care coordination and resources for nutrition and physical activity counseling after a cancer diagnosis.     

Patient characteristics,anaesthetic workload and techniques in the UK: an analysis from the 7th National Audit Project (NAP7) activity survey

Detailed contemporary knowledge of the characteristics of the surgical population, national anaesthetic workload, anaesthetic techniques and behaviours are essential to monitor productivity, inform policy and direct research themes. Every 3–4 years, the Royal College of Anaesthetists, as part of its National Audit Projects (NAP), performs a snapshot activity survey in all UK hospitals delivering anaesthesia, collecting patient-level encounter data from all cases under the care of an anaesthetist. During November 2021, as part of NAP7, anaesthetists recorded details of all cases undertaken over 4 days at their site through an online survey capturing anonymous patient characteristics and anaesthetic details. Of 416 hospital sites invited to participate, 352 (85%) completed the activity survey. From these, 24,177 reports were returned, of which 24,172 (99%) were included in the final dataset. The work patterns by day of the week, time of day and surgical specialty were similar to previous NAP activity surveys. However, in non-obstetric patients, between NAP5 (2013) and NAP7 (2021) activity surveys, the estimated median age of patients increased by 2.3 years from median (IQR) of 50.5 (28.4–69.1) to 52.8 (32.1–69.2) years. The median (IQR) BMI increased from 24.9 (21.5–29.5) to 26.7 (22.3–31.7) kg.m^–2. The proportion of patients who scored as ASA physical status 1 decreased from 37% in NAP5 to 24% in NAP7. The use of total intravenous anaesthesia increased from 8% of general anaesthesia cases to 26% between NAP5 and NAP7. Some changes may reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anaesthetic population, though patients with confirmed COVID-19 accounted for only 149 (1%) cases. These data show a rising burden of age, obesity and comorbidity in patients requiring anaesthesia care, likely to impact UK peri-operative services significantly.     

健脾益肝方对非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者脂肪分布及脂代谢的影响

目的:探讨健脾益肝方对非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)患者脂肪分布及脂代谢的影响。方法:将80例NAFLD患者随机分为对照组和治疗组各40例。两组患者均在多学科联合管理下给予个体化的饮食、运动等生活方式指导,治疗组患者在此基础上加用健脾益肝方,疗程均为3个月。通过生物电阻抗技术测量患者治疗前后脂肪质量及分布,定期监测肝肾功能、血脂指标。比较两组患者肥胖、脂肪分布、血脂指标变化。结果:治疗组患者有效率为97.5%,明显高于对照组的82.5%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗组患者BMI、BFP、WHR、TC、TG及LDL-C水平明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);治疗组患者躯干及内脏脂肪沉积改善明显优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论:生活方式干预联合健脾益肝方治疗NAFLD患者能显著改善患者的肥胖及脂代谢紊乱,并且与躯干和内脏脂肪质量的下降密切相关。     

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to transplant in neonates with fatal pulmonary conditions: A review

Neonates with progressive respiratory failure should be referred early for subspecialty evaluation and lung transplantation consideration. ECMO should be considered for patients with severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction and a high likelihood of death while on maximal medical therapy, either in the setting of reversible medical conditions or while awaiting lung transplantation. While ECMO offers hope to neonates that experience clinical deterioration while awaiting transplant, the risks and benefits of this intervention should be considered on an individual basis. Owing to the small number of infant lung transplants performed yearly, large studies examining the outcomes of various bridging techniques in this age group do not exist. Multiple single-centre experiences of transplanted neonates have been described and currently serve as guidance for transplant teams. Future investigation of outcomes specific to neonatal transplant recipients bridged with advanced devices is needed.     

六君子汤加味联合奥利司他治疗脾虚湿阻证单纯性肥胖症临床研究

目的:观察六君子汤加味联合奥利司他治疗脾虚湿阻证单纯性肥胖症的临床疗效及对血清瘦素(leptin)和脂联素(ADPN)水平的调节作用。方法:将80例患者随机分为对照组40例和观察组40例,对照组口服奥利司他治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上加用六君子汤加味治疗,2组均连续治疗12周;观察比较2组脾虚湿阻证证候评分、肥胖指征、临床疗效及血清leptin、ADPN水平。结果:总有效率观察组为95.00%,对照组为75.00%,2组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,2组患者浮肿、疲乏无力、肢体困重、纳差、腹满等脾虚湿阻证证候评分较治疗前明显下降(P<0.05),且观察组上述各项评分均低于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗后,2组患者体质量、体质量指数(BMI)、体脂含量(FAT)值均较治疗前明显下降(P<0.05),且观察组上述各指标改善较对照组更显著(P<0.05)。治疗后,2组血清leptin水平均较治疗前降低(P<0.05),ADPN水平升高(P<0.05);且观察组两项指标改善较对照组更显著(P<0.05)。结论:六君子汤加味联合联合奥利司他治疗脾虚湿阻证单纯性肥胖症疗效显著,调节leptin、ADPN水平可能是其作用机制之一。