Factors associated with elevated ALT in an international HIV/HBV co-infected cohort on long-term HAART

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection increases the risk for ALT elevations in HIV-HBV co-infected patients during the first year of HAART; however, there is limited data on the prevalence of ALT elevations with prolonged HAART in this patient group.

Methods/Principal findings

To identify factors associated with ALT elevations in an HIV-HBV co-infected cohort receiving prolonged HAART, data from 143 co-infected patients on HAART enrolled in an international HIV-HBV co-infected cohort where ALT measurements were obtained every 6 months was analysed. A person-visit analysis was used to determine frequency of ALT elevation (≥2.5×ULN) at each visit. Factors associated with ALT elevation were determined using multivariate logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to account for correlated data. The median time on HAART at the end of follow-up was 5.6 years (range 0.4–13.3) years. During follow-up, median ALT was 36 U/L with 10.6% of person-visits classified as having ALT elevation. Most ALT elevations were grade 2 (86.5%), with only 13.5% of all ALT elevations grade 3 or higher. Univariate associations with ALT elevation (p<0.05) included history of AIDS, HBV DNA ≥2,000 IU/ml, HBeAg positive, study visit CD4 <200 cells/ml and nadir CD4 <200 cells/ml. In the multivariate analysis, only study visit CD4 <200 cells/ml (OR 2.07, 95%CI 1.04–4.11, p = 0.04) and HBeAg positive status (OR 2.22, 95%CI 1.03–4.79, p = 0.04) were independently associated with ALT elevation.

Conclusions

In this HIV-HBV co-infected cohort, elevated ALT after >1 year of HAART was uncommon, and severe ALT elevations were rare. HIV-HBV co-infected patients on long-term HAART who are either HBeAg positive or have a CD4 count of <200 cells/ml are at increased risk for ALT elevations.     

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A7 polymorphisms are associated with liver cirrhosis

Variations in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A7 gene have been found to be related to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis is not dissimilar to that of HCC, we hypothesized that UGT1A7 genetic polymorphisms may be associated with liver cirrhosis. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was utilized to determine UGT for 1A7 genotypes for the 159 patients with liver cirrhosis and 263 gender/age matched controls. Simple logistic regression analysis revealed that significant risk factors for liver cirrhosis were (1) hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, (2) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, (3) HBV infection plus HCV infection and (4) low-activity UGT1A7 genotypes. The results of further multivariate logistic regression confirmed these associations. Interaction of low-activity UGT1A7 genotypes and HBV (or HCV) infection produced an additive effect upon the risk for the development of liver cirrhosis [observed odds ratio (OR) (54.59) greater than the expected OR (18.05)]. UGT1A7 low/low genotype was also related to advanced liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh classes C and/or B) (OR = 7.50, P = 0.009). This study demonstrates the novel findings that carriage of low-activity UGT1A7 genotypes represents a risk factor for the development and functional severity of liver cirrhosis.     

Hepatitis B virus infection among street youths in Montreal

BACKGROUND: Street youths are at high risk for many health problems, including sexually transmitted diseases and bloodborne infections. The authors conducted a cross-sectional anonymous study from December 1995 to September 1996 involving street youths in Montreal to estimate the prevalence of risk behaviours for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and of markers of past and present HBV infection. METHODS: Participants were 437 youths aged 14 to 25 meeting specific criteria for itinerancy who were recruited in collaboration with the 20 major street youth agencies in Montreal. Sociodemographic and lifetime risk factor data were obtained during a structured interview, and a blood sample was taken to test for HBV markers (hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen). Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 19.5 years; 69.3% (303/437) were males. Many subjects had high-risk behaviours: 45.8% (200/437) had injected drugs, 24.5% (107/436) had engaged in prostitution, and 8.7% (38/437) reported having a sexual partner with a history of unspecified hepatitis. The prevalence rate for one or both HBV markers was 9.2% (40/434) (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.7%-12.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being over 18 years of age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.5, 95% CI 1.8-11.7), having injected drugs (adjusted OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.5-8.3) and having had a sexual partner who had unspecified hepatitis (adjusted OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3-7.5) were all associated with HBV infection. INTERPRETATION: Street youths are at high risk for HBV infection. Early and complete HBV vaccination among this vulnerable population is urgently needed.     

Caspase-1、OPN在慢加急性乙型肝炎肝衰竭患者血清中的表达及其临床意义

摘要 目的：探讨半胱氨酸蛋白酶-1 (Caspase-1)、骨桥蛋白（OPN）在慢加急性乙型肝炎肝衰竭（HBV-ACLF）患者血清中的表达及其临床意义。方法：选择2020年6月至2022年6月中国人民解放军联勤保障部队第九七Ο医院收治的86例HBV-ACLF患者（HBV-ACLF组）;另选取同时段接诊的58例慢性HBV感染患者（CHB组）;收集同时间段60例体检的健康志愿者（对照组）。检测所有受试者血清Caspase-1、OPN、肝功能指标水平,探讨HBV-ACLF患者血清Caspase-1、OPN水平与肝功能指标的相关性,单因素分析及Logistic多元逐步回归分析影响HBV-ACLF患者预后的危险因素。结果：三组血清Caspase-1、OPN、肝功能指标水平比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。HBV-ACLF组、CHB组血清Caspase-1、OPN、丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、总胆红素（TBIL）水平高于对照组（P＜0.05）,白蛋白（Alb）、胆碱酯酶（CHE）水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）,HBV-ACLF组血清Caspase-1、OPN 、ALT 、AST 、TBIL水平高于CHB组（P＜0.05）,Alb、CHE水平低于CHB组（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关分析显示,HBV-ACLF患者血清Caspase-1、OPN水平均与ALT、AST、TBIL呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与Alb、CHE呈负相关（P＜0.05）。单因素分析显示,HBV-ACLF患者预后与肝硬化、肝性脑病、腹膜炎发生率、终末期肝病评分模型（MELD）评分、白细胞计数（WBC）、血小板计数（PLT）、肌酐（Cr）、国际标准化比值（INR）、TBIL、HBV-DNA载量（HBV-DNA）、Caspase-1、OPN有关（P＜0.05）;而与年龄、性别、血红蛋白（HGB）、BUN、ALT、AST、CHE、Alb无关（P>0.05）。Logistic多元逐步回归分析模型结果显示,HBV-DNA、MELD评分、Caspase-1、OPN是影响HBV-ACLF患者预后的危险因素（P＜0.05）。结论：HBV-ACLF患者血清Caspase-1、OPN水平呈异常高表达,且Caspase-1、OPN高表达水平与肝功能恶化和不良临床结局有关,可为HBV-ACLF患者病情进展及预后评估提供依据。     

江苏北部某村农民高血压的危险因素及控制情况分析

目的:研究江苏北部某村农民高血压的危险因素及控制情况,为农村高血压疾病的防控提供更多的参考依据。方法:选择2018年1月~2018年12月江苏北部某村124名农民高血压患者作为观察组,124名非高血压人群作为对照组,通过应用单因素和多因素分析方法分析其高血压发病的主要危险因素,并统计其血压控制情况。结果:单因素分析结果显示超重或肥胖(OR=6.038,P<0.001)、高盐饮食(OR=6.167,P<0.001)、高油饮食(OR=9.626,P=0.002)、家族史(OR=8.008,P<0.001)、缺乏体育锻炼(OR=4.202,P<0.001)、吸烟(OR=3.067,P<0.001)等因素与该村农民高血压发生显著相关。多因素分析结果显示超重或肥胖(Exp(B)=3.931,P<0.001)、家族史(Exp(B)=6.212,P<0.001)、高盐饮食(Exp(B)=2.257,P<0.001)、缺乏体育锻炼(Exp(B)=3.393,P=0.007)、吸烟(Exp(B)=2.513,P=0.018)是该村农民高血压发生的危险因素。124例高血压患者的血压控制率为47.58%(59/124),不同性别和年龄段农民高血压患者的血压控制率比较无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:高血压发病是遗传因素和生活习惯共同作用的结果,超重或肥胖、高盐饮食、缺乏体育锻炼、吸烟是农村地区高血压发病的危险因素。农村高血压的控制情况一般,需引起重视。     

Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus type 16/18 infection among women with normal cytology: risk factor analysis and implications for screening and prophylaxis

Objective: To determine the prevalence of high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) 16/18 infection of uterine cervix among women in the reproductive age group, with cytologically normal cervical (Pap) smears; to analyse the risk factors for HR‐HPV acquisition and to address their implications for cervical cancer screening and prophylaxis in a low resource setting. Methods: Cervical samples from 769 cytologically negative women (age 18–45 years) attending a tertiary care centre in Delhi were subjected to HPV DNA testing and HR‐HPV 16/18 and low‐risk (LR)‐HPV 6/11 sub‐typing by polymerase chain reaction. Univariate risk factor analysis was carried out in HR‐HPV positive (n = 86) versus HR‐HPV negative women (n = 683) by chi‐square test. Results: The overall HPV prevalence among cytologically normal women was 16.6%. HR‐HPV16 was detected in 10.1%, whereas HPV18 was detected in 1% of women. HR‐HPV 16/18 comprised 67% of the total HPV positives. There was no decline in HR‐HPV positivity with age, and women aged 40–44 years were at significantly increased risk for HR‐HPV prevalence (P = 0.03). Statistically significant associations of HR‐HPV infection were found with risk factors such as high parity (P = 0.04), cervicitis/hypertrophic cervix (P = 0.01), unhealthy cervix (P = 0.04), rural residence (P = 0.03), low socioeconomic status (P = 0.01) and illiteracy (P = 0.07). Conclusions: Although the sample size was small, based on the observation that HR‐HPV 16 and 18 contributed significantly to the overall HPV prevalence in our setting, we speculate that testing/prophylaxis for these prevalent high‐risk types could perhaps make cervical cancer screening and preventive programmes cost‐effective. Larger community‐based studies on HPV prevalence and persistence are required to validate these findings before definitive recommendations can be made to the policy makers.     

Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among women in Connecticut

Several hereditary syndromes characterized by defective DNA repair are associated with high risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). To explore whether common polymorphisms in DNA repair genes affect risk of NHL in the general population, we evaluated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair genes and risk of NHL in a population-based case–control study among women in Connecticut. A total of 518 NHL cases and 597 controls recruited into the study provided a biologic sample. Thirty-two SNPs in 18 genes involved in several DNA repair pathways were genotyped. Genotype data were analyzed by unconditional logistic regression adjusting for age and race. SNPs in four genes (ERCC5, ERCC2, WRN, and BRCA1) were associated with altered risk of NHL and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the major B cell subtype. In particular, ERCC5 Asp1104His was associated with increased risk of NHL overall (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.13–1.88; P = 0.004), DLBCL (OR: 1.44; 95% CI: 0.99–2.09; P = 0.058), and also T cell lymphoma. WRN Cys1367Arg was associated with decreased risk of NHL overall (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.56–0.91; P = 0.007) and DLBCL (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.45–0.95; P = 0.024), as well as follicular and marginal zone lymphomas. Genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair genes, particularly ERCC5 and WRN, may play a role in the pathogenesis of NHL, especially for DLBCL. Further work is needed to extend these findings by carrying out extended haplotype analyses of these and related genes and to replicate the observations in other studies.     

细菌性阴道病合并人乳头瘤病毒感染的影响因素

目的 分析细菌性阴道病（BV）合并人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染的影响因素,为预防BV合并HPV感染的发生提供参考依据。方法 收集2017年2月至2017年12月就诊于天津中医药大学第一附属医院符合标准的妇女,观察组为HPV合并BV感染的患者,对照组为健康妇女,通过问卷调查研究两组妇女一般情况的差异性。结果 共纳入204名研究对象,其中观察组78例,对照组126例。观察组中HPV感染以单型感染居多,共46例,占59.0%;观察组以高危型别感染居多,共70例,占89.7%。通过单因素回归分析可得年龄≥40岁（P=0.000,OR＝3.795）、初次性生活年龄＜20岁（P=0.011,OR＝2.914）、性伴侣数≥2（P=0.036,OR＝2.005）、每周性生活次数＜2次（P=0.029,OR＝1.927）、妊娠次数≥2（P=0.000,OR＝2.920）是导致HPV合并BV感染的影响因素。多因素非条件logistic回归分析结果显示年龄≥40岁（P=0.001,OR＝3.880）、初次性生活年龄＜20岁（P=0.018,OR＝3.127）、性伴数≥2个（P=0.021,OR＝2.595）、妊娠次数≥2（P=0.030,OR＝2.303）是HPV合并BV的独立影响因素。结论 年龄大、初次性生活年龄小、性伴侣个数多、妊娠次数多为HPV合并BV的独立危险因素,临床中应做好知识普及工作,预防HPV合并BV的发生。     

高血压患者饮食习惯、传统制剂服用现状调查及其影响因素分析

目的:调查高血压患者饮食习惯以及传统制剂服用现状,并分析饮食习惯与高血压患病的关系以及传统制剂服用的影响因素。方法:按照简单随机抽样法,采用自制调查问卷对呼和浩特市3个镇共8个行政村成年常住农村村民进行问卷调查,调查内容包括人口学特征、饮食习惯等内容,并采用多因素logistic回归分析饮食习惯与高血压患病的关系以及高血压患者传统制剂服用的影响因素。结果:呼和浩特市高血压患病率为22.68%。多因素logistic回归结果显示,较高的BMI、高血压家族史、饮酒史、泡菜咸菜、油炸食品、红肉(猪/牛/羊肉)/动物内脏、海产品是高血压独立危险因素(OR=1.257、1.451、1.358、1.317、1.108、1.146、1.373,P<0.05),奶制品、豆制品、新鲜果蔬是高血压保护因素(OR=0.797、0.868、0.903,P<0.05)。高血压患者传统制剂服用率为16.90%。多因素logistic回归结果显示,年龄≥60岁、文化程度高中以下、不了解高血压知识是高血压患者传统制剂服用的危险因素(OR=1.342、1.545、1.142,P<0.05)。结论:呼和浩特市农村成年村民高血压患病率较高,不良饮食习惯(饮食偏咸、油腻等)是高血压独立危险因素,高龄、文化程度低、不了解高血压知识的高血压患者传统制剂服用率较高,应加强农村居民合理膳食、保持均衡饮食习惯的宣传教育以及农村高血压患者用药规范。     

Safety of biologic and nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy in veterans with rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis B virus infection: a retrospective cohort study

IntroductionWe evaluated the safety of current treatment regimens for patients with RA and HBV in a large US cohort.MethodsWe identified biologic and nonbiologic treatment episodes of RA patients using 1997 to 2011 national data from the US Veterans Health Administration. Eligible episodes had evidence of HBV infection (HBV surface antigen, HBV core antibody, HBV e-antibody and/or HBV DNA) and had a baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) <1.5 times the upper limit of laboratory normal within 90 days prior to initiation of a new biologic or nonbiologic DMARD. The main outcome of interest was hepatotoxicity, defined as ALT elevation >100 IU/mL. Results were reported as the cumulative incidence of treatment episodes achieving hepatotoxicity at 3, 6 and 12 months post biologic exposure.ResultsFive hundred sixty-six unique RA patients with HBV contributed 959 treatment episodes. Mean age was 62.1 ± 10.3 years; 91.8% were male. Hepatotoxicity was uncommon, with 26 events identified among 959 episodes (2.7%) within 12 months. Hepatotoxicity was comparable between biologic and nonbiologic DMARDs (2.6% vs. 2.8%, P = 0.87). The median time between HBV screening and starting a new RA drug was 504 days (IQR 144, 1,163). Follow-up HBV testing occurred among 14 hepatotoxicity episodes (53.8%) at a median of 202 days (IQR 82, 716) from the date of ALT elevation. A total of 146 (15.2%) treatment episodes received at least one test for HBV DNA at any point in the observation period.ConclusionsAmong US veterans with RA and HBV the risk of hepatotoxicity is low (2.7%), and comparable between biologic and nonbiologic DMARDS (2.8% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.87). HBV testing associated with DMARD initiation or hepatotoxicity was infrequent.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0628-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

妊娠高血压视网膜病变影响因素分析及血管内皮功能检测的临床意义

目的:探讨妊娠高血压视网膜病变的影响因素及血管内皮功能检测的临床意义。方法:前瞻性选取2017年1月~2018年12月期间湖北省妇幼保健院收治的150例妊娠高血压视网膜病变患者作为观察组,根据国际通用的Duker-Elder眼底分期标准分为Ⅰ期组69例,Ⅱ期组57例,Ⅲ期组24例。选取同时期该院收治的妊娠高血压无视网膜病变患者40例为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清胰岛素样生长因子(IGF-1)、内皮素-1(ET-1)水平,采用Pearson相关性分析IGF-1和ET-1水平与病变程度的相关性,采用多因素Logistic回归分析妊娠高血压视网膜病变的影响因素。结果:随着Duker-Elder眼底分期的增加,血清ET-1水平呈不断升高趋势,IGF-1水平呈不断下降趋势(P<0.05)。Pearson相关性分析显示,病变程度与血清IGF-1水平呈负相关,而与ET-1水平呈正相关(P<0.05)。单因素分析结果显示,妊娠高血压视网膜病变的发生与病程、孕周、血压、体质量、蛋白尿、红细胞压积有关(P<0.05),而与年龄无关(P>0.05)。Logistic回归分析结果显示,病程>3W、血压≥160/110 mm Hg、体质量>85kg、蛋白尿为+++、红细胞压积>0.35均是妊娠高血压视网膜病变发生的独立危险因素(P<0.05),而孕周>28W则是其保护因素(P<0.05)。结论:妊娠高血压视网膜病变患者存在IGF-1、ET-1的异常表达,且其表达水平与病变程度息息相关。血压、病程、蛋白尿、体质量、红细胞压积均是妊娠高血压视网膜病变发生的独立危险因素,孕周则是其保护因素。     

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii Infection among Healthy Blood Donors in Taiwan

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic, zoonotic pathogen with a worldwide distribution. There are large variations in the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in different regions of the world. Although toxoplasmosis became a notifiable communicable disease in Taiwan in 2007, little is known about its epidemiology among the general population. This cross-sectional study aimed to survey the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and its risk factors among healthy blood donors in Taiwan. Through collaborating with the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation, a total of 1,783 healthy blood donors from all six-branch blood service centers participated in this study. The blood samples were tested for the presence of T. gondii antibodies and DNA using enzyme immunoassays and real-time PCR, respectively. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on risk factors for T. gondii infection. Of the 1,783 participants, 166 (9.3%) tested positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG, while 5 (0.28%) tested positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM. The five IgM positive donors had high avidity antibodies suggestive of past infection. No active parasitemia was detected by real-time PCR assays. Multivariate logistic regression showed that undercooked pork meat consumption (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–6.5), raw mussels consumption (adjusted OR = 5.3; 95% CI: 1.5–19.1), having a cat in the household (adjusted OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2–3.2), a lower education level (adjusted OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.3), and donation place in eastern Taiwan (adjusted OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.6–3.9) were independent risk factors for Toxoplasma seropositivity. These findings provide information on the seroprevalence and epidemiology of T. gondii infection among healthy blood donors in Taiwan.     

LRRK2 R1628P increases risk of Parkinson’s disease: replication evidence

We showed that the frequency of a LRRK2 variant (c.4883G > C, R1628P) was higher in Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared to controls (8.4 vs. 3.4%, P = 0.046, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.6). In the multivariate logistic regression (with adjustments made for the effect of age, age of onset, and gender), the heterozygous R1628P genotype was associated with an increased risk of PD compared to controls (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.4– 7.9, P = 0.007). We provided an independent confirmation that the R1628P variant increases the risk of PD among Chinese.     

老年骨科手术患者麻醉后认知功能障碍的多因素分析及模型预测初步研究

摘要 目的：探讨分析影响老年骨科手术患者麻醉后的认知功能障碍的因素并建立预测模型。方法：将2016年1月至2019年1月于我院骨科行手术的227例老年患者根据术后认知功能障碍评分分为认知障碍组及无障碍组,比较两组一般资料及手术方式、麻醉方式等手术相关因素,使用多因素Logistic回归模型分析影响术后认知功能障碍发生的因素,使用R软件建立出现认知功能障碍的列线图预测模型,并验证其效能。结果：术后共有65例患者出现认知功能障碍,认知障碍组患者的年龄、行全麻的患者比例、术中失血量、手术时间及出现术后并发症患者比例均明显高于无障碍组,而术中血压及应用超前镇痛患者比例均明显低于无障碍组（均P＜0.05）;而两组患者性别、BMI及手术部位等指标则无明显差异（均P＞0.05）;多因素Logistic回归分析示高龄、全麻、术中失血量过多、过长手术时间及术后出现并发症均是老年骨科手术患者术后出现认知障碍的独立危险因素（OR=1.077,3.796,3.826,1.712,6.937;均P＜0.05）;而术中高收缩压、舒张压及术前给予超前镇痛是术后出现认知功能障碍的保护因素（OR=0.953,0.913,0.333;均P＜0.05）;列线图预测认知功能障碍发生的一致性指数（C-index）为0.904（95%Cl 0.862~0.961）。结论：高龄、全麻、无超前镇痛、手术时间过长、术中失血量过多、术中低血压及术后出现并发症是出现术后认知功能障碍的危险因素,基于此构建的列线图可有效对术后认知功能障碍进行预测,具有较好的临床应用价值。     

Prevalence and Trend of Major Transfusion-Transmissible Infections among Blood Donors in Western China, 2005 through 2010

BackgroundThe prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) in blood donations is important for evaluating blood safety and potential risks to the population. This study investigated the prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in Western China and suggested measures for policy-makers.MethodsThe screening results of 66,311 donations between 2005 and 2010 from a central blood center in Western China were analyzed. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections were expressed in percentages for the entire study group as well as groups by demographic characteristics and donation frequency, with differences analyzed using Fisher''s exact or Chi-square test. Logistic regression was performed to identify the influencing factors of the detected results.Results1,769 (2.67%, 95% CI 2.55–2.79%) of the donated blood had serological evidence of infection with at least one pathogen and 44 (0.07%, 95% CI 0.05–0.09%) showed evidence of multiple infections. The seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis infections was 0.87% (95% CI 0.80–0.94%), 0.86% (95% CI 0.79–0.93%), 0.31% (95% CI 0.26–0.35%), and 0.70% (95% CI 0.64–0.76%) respectively. Trend analysis for the prevalence of TTIs showed a significant increase from 2.44% to 3.71% (χ² = 100.72, p = 0.00) over this 6-year period. The positive rates for TTIs varied along demographic lines. The top three risk factors in test-positive donors were identified as age, education level and donation frequency. The older age group and lower educated group were linked to a higher prevalence of TTIs. A decreasing prevalence was associated with an increasing frequency of blood donations (χ2 = 562.78, p = 0.00).ConclusionsHepatitis B and C were found most, and often in conjunction with syphilis. These were the primary threats to blood safety. The high positivity rate and the increasing prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in Western China call for further actions.     

Association between polygenic liability for schizophrenia and substance involvement: A nationwide population‐based study in Taiwan

Schizophrenia and substance involvement frequently co‐occur in individuals, and a bidirectional relationship between the two has been proposed; shared underlying genetic factors could be an alternative explanation. This study investigated the genetic overlap between schizophrenia and substance involvement, including tobacco, alcohol and betel nut use. The study subjects were recruited from the Taiwan Biobank, and genome‐wide genotyping data was available for 18 327 participants without schizophrenia. We calculated the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium‐derived polygenic risk score (PRS) for schizophrenia in each participant. The significance of the schizophrenia PRS associated with substance involvement was evaluated using a regression model with adjustments for gender, age and population stratification components. The modified effect of gender or birth decade was also explored. The schizophrenia PRS was positively associated with lifetime tobacco smoking in women (OR in per SD increase in PRS = 1.12 with 95% CI 1.04‐1.20, P = .002), but not in men (OR = 0.99 with 95% CI 0.95‐1.04, P = .74), and the gender‐PRS interaction reached significance (P = .006). The OR between PRS and lifetime tobacco smoking increased with the birth decade (P of birth decade‐PRS interaction = .0002). In women, OR increased from 0.97 (P = .85) for subjects with a birth decade before 1950 to 1.21 (P = .04) for subjects with a birth decade after 1980; in men, the corresponding OR increased from 0.88 (P = .04) to 1.13 (P = .11). There was no association between schizophrenia PRS and alcohol/betel nut use phenotypes. This study provides evidence for the genetic overlap between schizophrenia and tobacco use in women, and this overlap was stronger in the younger population.     

Risk Factors for Bartonella species Infection in Blood Donors from Southeast Brazil

Bacteria from the genus Bartonella are emerging blood-borne bacteria, capable of causing long-lasting infection in marine and terrestrial mammals, including humans. Bartonella are generally well adapted to their main host, causing persistent infection without clinical manifestation. However, these organisms may cause severe disease in natural or accidental hosts. In humans, Bartonella species have been detected from sick patients presented with diverse disease manifestations, including cat scratch disease, trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis, endocarditis, polyarthritis, or granulomatous inflammatory disease. However, with the advances in diagnostic methods, subclinical bloodstream infection in humans has been reported, with the potential for transmission through blood transfusion been recently investigated by our group. The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with Bartonella species infection in asymptomatic blood donors presented at a major blood bank in Southeastern Brazil. Five hundred blood donors were randomly enrolled and tested for Bartonella species infection by specialized blood cultured coupled with high-sensitive PCR assays. Epidemiological questionnaires were designed to cover major potential risk factors, such as age, gender, ethnicity, contact with companion animals, livestock, or wild animals, bites from insects or animal, economical status, among other factors. Based on multivariate logistic regression, bloodstream infection with B. henselae or B. clarridgeiae was associated with cat contact (adjusted OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.1–9.6) or history of tick bite (adjusted OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.3–13.4). These risk factors should be considered during donor screening, as bacteremia by these Bartonella species may not be detected by traditional laboratory screening methods, and it may be transmitted by blood transfusion.     

Outdoor artificial light at night,obesity, and sleep health: Cross-sectional analysis in the KoGES study

Obesity is a common disorder with many complications. Although chronodisruption plays a role in obesity, few epidemiological studies have investigated the association between artificial light at night (ALAN) and obesity. Since sleep health is related to both obesity and ALAN, we investigated the association between outdoor ALAN and obesity after adjusting for sleep health. We also investigated the association between outdoor ALAN and sleep health. This cross-sectional survey included 8526 adults, 39–70 years of age, who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Outdoor ALAN data were obtained from satellite images provided by the US Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. We obtained individual data regarding outdoor ALAN; body mass index; depression; and sleep health including sleep duration, mid-sleep time, and insomnia; and other demographic data including age, sex, educational level, type of residential building, monthly household income, alcohol consumption, smoking status and consumption of caffeine or alcohol before sleep. A logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between outdoor ALAN and obesity. The prevalence of obesity differed significantly according to sex (women 47% versus men 39%, p < 0.001) and outdoor ALAN (high 55% versus low 40%, p < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between high outdoor ALAN and obesity (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–1.35, p < 0.001). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that high outdoor ALAN was significantly associated with obesity after adjusting for age and sex (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14–1.37, p < 0.001) and even after controlling for various other confounding factors including age, sex, educational level, type of residential building, monthly household income, alcohol consumption, smoking, consumption of caffeine or alcohol before sleep, delayed sleep pattern, short sleep duration and habitual snoring (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.06–1.36, p = 0.003). The findings of our study provide epidemiological evidence that outdoor ALAN is significantly related to obesity.     

成人脊柱畸形患者矫正术后力学性并发症发生率及其危险因素分析

摘要 目的：研究成人脊柱畸形患者矫正手术后力学性并发症的发生率以及影响其发生的危险因素。方法：纳入2016年6月到2020年6月在我院接受脊柱畸形矫正术的患者80例,术后对所有患者进行为期12个月的随访。根据患者术后随访期间是否出现力学性并发症分为力学并发症组和无力学并发症组,调查两组患者年龄、BMI、术中失血量、手术时间、合并神经损伤、术中截骨、性别、主弯角度、矫正率、手术史、入路以及疾病类型等病历资料,并通过单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析成人脊柱畸形矫正术后发生力学性并发症的独立危险因素。结果：80例脊柱畸形矫正术患者术后发生力学性并发症患者18例（22.50 %）,分别为内固定失败4例、近端交界性失败5例、远端交界性失败4例以及术后冠状面失平衡5例。单因素分析结果表明,手术时间（OR=6.924,P=0.015）、年龄（OR=2.803,P=0.011）、矫正率（OR=3.215,P=0.032）、合并神经损伤（OR=1.629,P=0.021）、术中截骨术（OR=5.876,P=0.005）以及手术史（OR=1.692,P=0.043）与成人脊柱畸形矫正术后力学性并发症的发生有关。多因素Logistic回归分析结果表明,手术时间（OR=2.265,P=0.002）、年龄（OR=4.035,P<0.001）、合并神经损伤（OR=3.024,P=0.003）以及术中截骨术（OR=3.982,P<0.001）是成人脊柱畸形矫正术后发生力学性并发症的独立危险因素。结论：成年脊柱畸形患者矫正术后易发生力学性并发症,手术时间较长、年龄较大、合并神经损伤以及术中截骨术均会增加其发生风险。     

Race, childhood insulin, childhood caloric intake, and class 3 obesity at age 24: 14-year prospective study of schoolgirls

The prevalence of Class 3 obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m²) has more than doubled in the past 25 years. In a 14‐year prospective study from age 10 to 24 of a biracial schoolgirl cohort (293 black, 256 white), we assessed childhood correlates of Class 3 BMI at age 24. Of 42 girls with Class 3 BMI at age 24, 36 (86%) were black. By logistic regression, significant explanatory variables of Class 3 BMI at age 24 included top decile waist circumference at age 11 (odds ratio (OR) 5.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3–13.9, P = 0.0002), age 10 BMI ≥ the Center for Disease Control (CDC) 2000 top 15% (OR 7.0, 95% CI 2.5–19.3, P = 0.0002), and a three‐way interaction between race, childhood insulin, and average caloric intake from age 10 to age 19 (for each unit increase, OR 1.7 95% CI 1.3–2.2, P = 0.0003). Age 10 BMI, age 11 waist circumference, and interaction of race, childhood insulin, and childhood caloric intake predict Class 3 obesity in young adulthood, facilitating childhood identification of girls at high risk for developing Class 3 obesity.