Objective To investigate the change of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide ( NT-proBNP) levels in plasma of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) at exertion. Methods Pulmonary function testing, increamental and constant cycle ergometer exercise testing were performed in 19 patients with stable COPD and 10 healthy subjects. Arterial blood gas analysis were measured at rest and maximal exertion in incremental testing. Venous blood samples were drawn both at rest and maximal exercise in constant-load exercise testing and NT-proBNP levels were measured. Results NT-proBNP levels did not change significantly during exercise in the patients with stable COPD[ ( 4803. 86 ±1027. 07 ) ng/L vs ( 4572. 39 ±1243. 33 ) ng /L, P = 0. 542 ] and the control group [ ( 4303. 18 ±771. 74) ng/L vs ( 4475. 71 ±1025. 50) ng /L, P = 0. 676] . NT-proBNP levels were not correlated with parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Conclusion The factors other than cardiac function may contribute to the exercise intolerance in stable COPD patients without heart failure.
ObjectiveTo describe the status of epilepsy inpatients healthcare service in tertiary public hospitals in China by the data collected from the Hospital Quality Monitoring System.MethodsA population-based study was conducted with data of hospitalized patients collected from the Hospital Quality Monitoring System between 2015 and 2017. Diagnoses were identified by International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision codes for epilepsy (G40). The information of demographic characteristics, costs, payment methods, and discharge status were extracted and analyzed annually to make cross-sectional studies.ResultsA total of 329 241 hospitalized epilepsy patients from 585 tertiary public hospitals were identified. The average age of the patients was 31.74 and male patients accounted for 60.00% of the total. The proportion of patients covered by the national basic medical insurance in the three years was 50.15%, and that in the year 2015, 2016, and 2017 was 49.03%, 49.79%, and 51.80%, respectively; the proportion of patients with full self-payment was 30.40%. The average length of hospital stay was 6.65 d, the average cost for each stay was 7 985.53 yuan, the average self-payed cost for each stay was 3 979.62 yuan. In terms of the discharge way of the patients, 88.02% discharged following doctors’ advice, 0.40% were transferred to another hospital with doctors’ advice, and 6.59% discharged against doctors’ advice. The in-hospital mortality in the three years was 0.16%, and that in the year 2015, 2016, and 2017 was 0.19%, 0.16%, and 0.12%, respectively.ConclusionThe study shows that the in-hospital mortality rate of epilepsy inpatients in the tertiary public hospitals in China decreased gradually from 2015 to 2017, the coverage rate of national basic medical insurance increased year by year, and there is still room for further improvement.
ObjectiveTo analyze the quality of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included in the systematic review in the anti-infection field in the elderly.MethodsA comprehensive and systematic literature search in PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, The Cochrane Library, WanFang Data, VIP and CBM was conducted to collect systematic review or meta-analysis which involoved anti-infection RCTs in the elderly from inception to February 17th, 2020. The results of Cochrane risk of bias assessment of the included RCTs were analyzed.ResultsA total of 8 systematic reviews were included, involving 19 RCTs and 6 735 participants. The sample size of the RCTs ranged from 23 to 2538, and the published date were from 1980 to 2020. The included RCTs focused on postoperative infection, urinary tract infection, Clostridium Difficile infection and so on. The included RCTs had methodological quality issues. Among the assessment results of low risk of bias, the domains of selection bias (random sequence generation) and selection bias (allocation hiding) had the lowest proportion (47.3%, 36.8%). Among the assessment results of unclear risk of bias, the domains of selection bias (random sequence generation) and selection bias (allocation hiding) had the highest proportion (42.1%, 52.6%). Among the assessment results of high risk of bias, the domains of measurement bias and performance bias had the highest proportion (21.1%, 21.1%).ConclusionsThe quality of RCTs in the field of anti-infection in the elderly requires further improvement. High-quality anti-infection RCTs for the elderly should be developed in future to better guide clinical practice.