Int J Med Sci
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Background: A multitude of studies have presented inconsistent outcomes regarding the association between maternal folic acid (FA) and/or multivitamin (MV) supplementation and congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring. This study aimed to estimate supplementation time and CHD based on a prospective China birth cohort study (CBCS). Methods: In the CBCS, 114,670 singleton pregnant women who had pregnancy outcomes until August 2021 and responded to the early pregnancy questionnaire were recruited. ⋯ The pooled RR from the forest plot was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.95-1.01), which is consistent with the findings of this study. Furthermore, the results remained approximately the same in the stratification or sensitivity analyses in different datasets, including performing 1:1 or 1:2 propensity score matching. Conclusions: The present study suggests that FA or MV supplementation before or during early pregnancy may not influence the risk of offspring developing CHD.
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Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are both major health burdens worldwide. There is a suspected link between the two conditions, but the nature of the relationship is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of T2DM in patients with HBV, compared to matched non-HBV patients. ⋯ Through multivariate analysis, we identified age, obesity, smoking, and specific HBV-related parameters, such as chronic active disease or evidence of advanced fibrosis at presentation, as independent risk factors for T2DM in HBV patients. Conclusions: This study revealed a higher prevalence of T2DM in HBV patients compared to controls, and identified specific risk factors associated with T2DM in HBV patients. Enhanced screening and management of metabolic risk factors should be considered in this population.
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Background: The relationship between maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) remains uncertain. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study based on the China Birth Cohort Study (CBCS). 36,256 women were included at 6 to 13+6 gestation from February 2018 to December 2020. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate the association between thyroid function and HDP/BP. ⋯ TSH and TPOAb positivity were significantly and positively associated with systolic pressure (TSH: β 0.02, 95% CI 0.07-0.26; TPOAb positivity: β 0.02, 95% CI 0.12-0.98) and diastolic pressure (TSH: β 0.02, 95% CI 0.02-0.17; TPOAb positivity: β 0.02, 95% CI 0.06-0.75). Subgroup analyses suggested that the association between TSH and diastolic pressure was stronger in those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (P = 0.014). Conclusions: Our founds suggest that high TSH and TPOAb positivity in the first trimester are associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia or eclampsia.
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Background: Antiepileptics and antidepressants are frequently prescribed for chronic pain, but their efficacy and potential adverse effects raise concerns, including dependency issues. Increased prescriptions, sometimes fraudulent, prompted reclassification of antiepileptics in some countries. Our aim is to comprehend opinions, perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes towards co-analgesics from online discussions on X (formerly known as Twitter), offering insights closer to reality than conventional surveys. ⋯ Non-medical content included challenges in dispensing (25%), complaints about high costs (15%), and trivialization of medication use (10%). Conclusions: This study offers valuable insights into public perceptions of co-analgesics. Findings aid in designing public health communications to raise awareness of associated risks, urging both healthcare providers and the public to optimize drug use.
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Background: The finger photoplethysmography fitness index (PPGF), a marker of peripheral vascular function, has been linked to heart rate (HR) variability. However, the influence of acute HR changes on resting PPGF, a purported indicator of local blood flow, remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to determine the influence of acute HR changes on resting PPGF. ⋯ Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that PPGF accurately reflects local blood flow, unaffected by short-term HR variations. This study supports the use of PPGF as a reliable marker for vascular health and age assessment, even in individuals with fluctuating HR, such as older adults with multiple comorbidities. Further research is warranted to establish the applicability of PPGF in younger, healthier populations.