UNASSIGNED: Nutritional status is closely associated with the prognosis of heart failure. This study aims to assess the relationship between the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and in-hospital mortality among patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in Jiangxi, China.
UNASSIGNED: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Multivariable Cox regression models and restricted cubic spline regression were employed to evaluate the relationship between the CONUT score and in-hospital mortality in ADHF patients from Jiangxi, China. The predictive value of the CONUT score for in-hospital mortality in ADHF patients was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify risk dependencies of the CONUT score in specific populations.
UNASSIGNED: The study included 1,230 ADHF patients, among whom 44 (3.58%) mortality events were recorded. After adjusting for confounding factors, a positive correlation was found between the CONUT score and the risk of in-hospital mortality in ADHF patients. Restricted cubic spline regression analysis indicated a non-linear relationship between the CONUT score and the risk of in-hospital mortality in ADHF patients, estimating a rapid increase in mortality risk when the CONUT score exceeded 5. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated a good predictive value of the CONUT score for all-cause mortality events in ADHF patients [area under the curve = 0.7625, optimal threshold = 5.5]. Additionally, a relatively higher risk associated with the CONUT score was observed in male patients and those with concomitant cerebral infarction.
UNASSIGNED: This study reveals a positive correlation between the CONUT score and the risk of in-hospital mortality in ADHF patients. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend maintaining a CONUT score below 5 for patients with ADHF in Jiangxi, China, as it may significantly contribute to reducing the risk of in-hospital all-cause mortality.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse the value of procalcitonin (PCT), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting postoperative ureteral stone complications of urogenic sepsis. The production of a clinical prediction model could provide additional direction to reduce the likelihood of postoperative urogenital sepsis.
METHODS: The clinical data of 520 patients with ureteral stones who underwent surgical treatment from January 2022, to September 2023, in the hospital were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into urogenic sepsis group (n = 42) and non-urogenic sepsis group (n = 478) in accordance with the occurrence of urogenic sepsis in the postoperative period. The peripheral blood PCT, PLR and NLR levels were collected within 24 h postoperatively in the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to evaluate the predictive value of PCT, PLR and NLR levels for postoperative urogenital sepsis in patients with ureteral stones.
RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that PCT (odds ratio (OR) = 4.25, 95% CI: 1.85-9.78), PLR (OR = 4.00, 95% CI: 1.78-9.05) and NLR (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.05-5.01) were risk factors for postoperative complication sepsis in patients with ureteral stones (p < 0.05). The ROC curves showed that the areas under the curve of PCT, PLR and NLR levels alone and in combination for predicting urogenic sepsis complications after emergency ureteral stone surgery were 0.683, 0.692, 0.611 and 0.799, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Urogenic sepsis leads to increased serum PCT, NLR and PLR levels in patients undergoing surgical treatment for ureteral stones. Physicians should pay close attention to these indices to provide further theoretical support for reducing postoperative urogenic sepsis.

UNASSIGNED: Smoking is a major risk factor for the group 3 PH. NT-proBNP is a biomarker for risk stratification in PH. This study aims to investigate the effects of smoking status and smoking index (SI) on group 3 PH and to evaluate the value of SI and SI combined with NT-proBNP in early diagnosis and prediction of disease severity.
UNASSIGNED: Four hundred patients with group 3 PH at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January 2020 and December 2021 were enrolled and divided into two groups: mild (30 mmHg ≤ pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP)≤50 mmHg) and non-mild (PASP >50 mmHg). The effect of smoking on group 3 PH was analyzed using univariate analysis, and logistic analysis was conducted to evaluate the risk of group 3 PH according to smoking status and SI. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to test the correlation between SI and the index of group 3 PH severity. The predictive value of SI was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
UNASSIGNED: Correlation and logistic analyses showed that SI was associated with PH severity. Smoking status (P=0.009) and SI (P=0.039) were independent risk factors for non-mild group 3 PH, and ROC showed that the predictive value of SI (AUC:0.596) for non-mild PH was better than that of the recognized pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (AUC:0.586). SI can be used as a single predictive marker. SI and NT-proBNP can be formulated as prediction models for screening non-mild clinical cases (AUC:0.628).
UNASSIGNED: SI is a potentially ideal non-invasive predictive marker for group 3 PH. SI and NT-proBNP could be used to develop a prediction model for screening non-mild PH cases. This can greatly improve the predictive specificity of the established PH marker, NT-proBNP.

UNASSIGNED: Pelvic floor complaints are common among women and often accompanied by sexual dysfunction and psychological burden. They are also associated with pregnancy and childbirth. However, not all women with these complaints receive help in pelvic physical therapy practice. This study explored if pregnancy, parity, pelvic floor complaints, sexual functioning, and psychological burden are predictive of receiving help in pelvic physical therapy practice.
UNASSIGNED: In a cross-sectional exploratory design, women completed an online survey about pelvic floor complaints, sexual function, and psychological burden. Binary logistic analysis was used to analyze the predictive value of the above-mentioned factors.
UNASSIGNED: Data from 542 participants were analyzed. Pregnancy and parity, PFC severity, psychological burden, and the interaction between pelvic floor complaints and psychological burden were significant predictors of receiving help. Against expectations, sexual functioning was not predictive of receiving help.
UNASSIGNED: Women\'s psychological burden is an important factor in determining if or when women receive help in PPT practice. More research is needed to unravel the role of sexual functioning in the context of pelvic floor complaints and women\'s psychological burden. More insight into this area of expertise could possibly improve and enhance pelvic health care for women with pelvic floor complaints.
Women with pelvic floor complaints may also experience sexual dysfunction and psychological burdens. Their complaints can be related to pregnancy and childbirth. However, not all women with pelvic floor complaints receive help in pelvic physical therapy practice. This study explored if pregnancy, childbirth, pelvic floor complaint severity, sexual functioning, and psychological burden predicted women’s help-seeking behavior in pelvic physical therapy practice. For that purpose, women were invited to complete an online survey; data from 542 participants were analyzed. Outcomes revealed that pregnancy, childbirth, and pelvic floor complaint severity predicted help-seeking behavior. Against expectations, sexual functioning did not predict this help-seeking behavior. Psychological burden turned out to be an important predictor. More research is needed to unravel the role of sexual functioning in the context of pelvic floor complaints and women’s psychological burden. Knowing more about these factors may improve and enhance pelvic health in many women.

OBJECTIVE: To validate self-reported hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy.
METHODS: Validation study.
METHODS: Large population-based cohort study in Norway: The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).
METHODS: The Trøndelag Health Study 2 and 3 (HUNT2 and HUNT3) included questions on gynaecological history. Women who answered questions regarding hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy were included. In total, 30 263 women were included from HUNT2 (1995-1997) and 23 138 from HUNT3 (2006-2008), of which 16 261 attended both HUNT2 and HUNT3.
METHODS: We compared self-reported hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy with electronic hospital procedure codes.
METHODS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of self-reported hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy, by comparing with hospital procedure codes.
RESULTS: Self-reported hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy in HUNT2 and/or HUNT3 both had specificity and negative predictive value above 99%. Self-reported hysterectomy had a sensitivity of 95.9%, and for bilateral oophorectomy sensitivity was 91.2%. Positive predictive value of self-reported hysterectomy was 85.8%, but for self-reported bilateral oophorectomy it was 65.4%.
CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported hysterectomy corresponded quite well with hospital data and can be used in epidemiological studies. Self-reported bilateral oophorectomy, on the other hand, had low positive predictive value, and results based on such data should be interpreted with caution. Women who report no previous hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy can safely be classified as unexposed to these surgeries.

BACKGROUND: Surveys using questionnaires to collect epidemiologic data may be subject to misclassification. Here, we analyzed a headache questionnaire to evaluate which questions led to a classification other than migraine.
METHODS: Anonymized surveys coupled with medical claims data from individuals 19-74 years old were obtained from DeSC Healthcare Inc. to examine proportions of patients with primary headache disorders (i.e.; migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache, and \"other headache disorders\"). Six criteria that determined migraine were used to explore how people with other headache disorders responded to these questions.
RESULTS: Among the 21480 respondents, 7331 (34.0%) reported having headaches. 691 (3.2%) respondents reported migraine, 1441 (6.7%) had tension-type headache, 21 (0.1%) had cluster headache, and 5208 (24.2%) reported other headache disorders. Responses of participants with other headache disorders were analyzed, and the top 3 criteria combined with \"Symptoms associated with headache\" were \"Site of pain\" (7.3%), \"Headache changes in severity during daily activities\" (6.4%), and the 3 criteria combined (8.8%). The symptoms associated with headache were \"Stiff shoulders\" (13.6%), \"Stiff neck\" (9.4%), or \"Nausea or vomiting\" (8.7%), Photophobia\" (3.3%) and \"Phonophobia\" (2.5%).
CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of migraine as diagnosed by questionnaire was much lower than expected while the prevalence of \"other headache\" was higher than expected. We believe the reason for this observation was due to misclassification, and resulted from the failure of the questionnaire to identify some features of migraine that would have been revealed by clinical history taking. Questionnaires should, therefore, be carefully designed, and doctors should be educated, on how to ask questions and record information when conducting semi-structured interviews with patients, to obtain more precise information about their symptoms, including photophobia and phonophobia.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the association between cartilage lesion-related features observed in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients\' first MRI examination and incident knee surgery within 5 years. Additionally, to assess the predictive value of these features for the incident knee surgery.
METHODS: We identified patients diagnosed with knee OA and treated at our institution between January 2015 and January 2018, and retrieved their baseline clinical data and first MRI examination films from the information system. Next, we proceeded to determine joint space narrowing grade, cartilage lesion size grade, cartilage full-thickness loss grade and cartilage lesion sum score for the medial and lateral compartments, respectively. Generalized linear regression models examined the association of these features with 5-year incident knee surgery. Positive and negative predictive values (PPVs and NPVs) were determined referring to 5-year incident knee surgery.
RESULTS: Totally, 878 participants (knees) were found eligible to form the study population. Within the 5 years, surgery was performed on 61 knees. None of the cartilage-related features had been found significantly associated with incident surgery. The results were similar for medial and lateral compartments. The PPVs were low for all the features.
CONCLUSIONS: Among symptomatic clinically diagnosed OA knees, cartilage lesions observed in the first MRI examinations were not found to be associated with the occurrence of joint surgery within a 5-year period. All these cartilage-related features appear to have no additional value in predicting 5-year incident joint surgery.

BACKGROUND: It is beneficial for society to discover the risk factors associated with surgery and to carry out some early interventions for patients with these risk factors. Few studies specifically explored the relationship between bone marrow lesions (BMLs) and long-term incident joint surgery.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between BML severity observed in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients\' first MRI examination and incident knee surgery within 5 years. Additionally, to assess the predictive value of BMLs for the incident knee surgery.
METHODS: Retrospective cohort study.
METHODS: We identified patients diagnosed with knee OA and treated at our institution between January 2015 and January 2018, and retrieved their baseline clinical data and first MRI examination films from the information system. Next, we proceeded to determine the Max BML grades, BML burden grades and Presence BML grades for the medial, lateral, patellofemoral, and total compartments, respectively. Multi-variable logistic regression models examined the association of the BML grades with 5-year incident knee surgery. Positive and negative predictive values (PPVs and NPVs) were determined for BML grades referring to 5-year incident knee surgery.
RESULTS: Totally, 1011 participants (knees) were found eligible to form the study population. Within the 5 years, surgery was performed on 74 knees. Max BML grade 2 and grade 3 of medial, patellofemoral and total compartments were strongly and significantly associated with incident surgery. None of the BML grades from lateral compartment was associated with incident surgery. The PPV was low and NPV was high for BMLs.
CONCLUSIONS: BMLs found in the first MRI examination were associated with 5-year incident joint surgery, except for those allocated in lateral compartments. The high NPVs imply that patients without BMLs have a low risk of requiring surgery within 5 years.

OBJECTIVE: Critical illness induces hypermetabolism and hypercatabolism, increasing nutrition risk (NR). Early NR identification is crucial for improving outcomes. We assessed four nutrition screening tools (NSTs) complementarity with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in critically ill patients.
METHODS: We conducted a comparative study using data from a cohort involving five intensive care units (ICUs), screening patients for NR using NRS-2002 and modified-NUTRIC tools, with three cutoffs (≥3, ≥4, ≥5), and malnutrition diagnosed by GLIM criteria. Our outcomes of interest included ICU and in-hospital mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), and ICU readmission. We examined accuracy metrics and complementarity between NSTs and GLIM criteria about clinical outcomes through logistic regression and Cox regression. We established a four-category independent variable: NR(-)/GLIM(-) as the reference, NR(-)/GLIM(+), NR(+)/GLIM(-), and NR(+)/GLIM(+).
RESULTS: Of the 377 patients analyzed (median age 64 years [interquartile range: 54-71] and 53.8% male), NR prevalence varied from 87% to 40.6%, whereas 64% presented malnutrition (GLIM criteria). NRS-2002 (score ≥4) showed superior accuracy for GLIM-based malnutrition. Multivariate analysis revealed mNUTRIC(+)/GLIM(+) increased >2 times in the likelihood of ICU and in-hospital mortality, ICU and hospital LOS, and ICU readmission compared with the reference group.
CONCLUSIONS: No NST exhibited satisfactory complementarity to the GLIM criteria in our study, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive nutrition assessment for all patients, irrespective of NR status. We recommend using mNUTRIC if the ICU team opts for nutrition screening, as it demonstrated superior prognostic value compared with NRS-2002, and applying GLIM criteria in all patients.

UNASSIGNED: The Systemic Immune Inflammation Index (SII), as a novel inflammation biomarker that comprehensively reflects the inflammatory and immune status of the body, has not been reported in studies on Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in children. This study aims to investigate whether SII can serve as an effective indicator for evaluating the condition of MPP.
UNASSIGNED: This study recruited a total of 304 hospitalized patients with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), including 78 patients with severe MPP (SMPP) and 226 patients with non-SMPP. Univariate analysis using chi-square test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U-test was conducted to analyze the clinical data of the patients. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the main risk factors for SMPP. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to evaluate the potential of using neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic immune response index (SIRI) to predict the severity of MPP.
UNASSIGNED: The ROC curve results show that patients with SII values ≥ 699.00 are more likely to develop severe MPP (sensitivity=0.876, specificity=0.987, AUC=0.940), and the predictive value of SII is significantly better than that of NLR, PLR, and SIRI. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicate that SII can serve as a major risk factor for distinguishing non-SMPP from SMPP.
UNASSIGNED: This study suggests that SII may be an effective indicator for predicting the severity of MPP in children. SII is more sensitive and specific than NLR, PLR, and SIRI in evaluating the condition of MPP.