ObjectiveIt is controversial whether the mode of delivery is associated with developmental outcome, and little was known about growth and development of cesarean children in poor rural areas in China. We aim to measure the development of both cesarean and vaginal-delivered children by Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) and explore the association between mode of delivery and developmental outcome in poor rural areas in China.MethodsData were collected from a cross-sectional community-based survey, which recruited 1,755 vaginal delivered and cesarean children ages 1 to 59 months in eight counties of China. Caregivers of those children completed the Chinese version of ASQ-3 (ASQ-C) while physical examination andquestionnaires on socio-demographic and neonatal characteristics were conducted. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to measure the association between developmental delay and mode of delivery as well as each socio-demographic factor, respectively, after adjusting other socio-demographic characteristics.ResultsThe prevalence of suspected overall developmental delay was 23.4% in the cesarean group, compared with 21.3% in the vaginal delivered group, yet without statistical difference (p < 0.05). Developmental delay was also not significantly different between cesarean and vaginal delivered group in five ASQ domains of communication (7.7% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.949), fine motor (7.0% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.538), gross motor (8.5% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.154), problem solving (7.2% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.722) and personal social (8.0% vs. 7.9%, p = 0.960).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that cesarean delivery does not increase or decrease the risk of suspected developmental in children delay as compared with vaginal delivery.

Background: Epidemiological studies about cardiovascular disease in rural areas of developing countries are rare. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and influencing factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in Chinese rural population. Methods: 39,259 subjects (15,490 males) aged 18–79 years were enrolled from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. Age-standardized prevalence was calculated according to Chinese 6th Population Census. Associations between risk factors and diseases were estimated by the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals with generalized linear mixed model. Results: Among the participants, 1,734 with CHD and 2,642 with stroke were identified. Crude prevalence of CHD was 4.42%, and prevalence in male (4.01%) was significantly lower than female (4.68%). Corresponding age-standardized prevalence was 2.23% (2.05% for male and 2.37% for female). Crude prevalence of stroke was 6.73%, and in male (7.92%) was higher than female (5.95%). Age-standardized prevalence was 2.98% (3.42% for male and 2.69% for female). The results identified that old age, female, smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were positively associated with CHD. Being Female and a higher level of physical activity were negatively related to stroke, while old age, high-risk drinking, and chronic disease were positively related to stroke. Conclusion: CHD and stroke were not rare in Chinese rural area. Healthy lifestyles and control of chronic disease should be improved to curb the epidemic of cardiovascular disease among rural population. Clinical Trial Registration: The Henan Rural Cohort Study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=11375 .

Background Sleeping mattress parameters significantly influence sleeping comfort and health, as reflected by the extensive investigations of sleeping support biomechanics to prevent sleep-related musculoskeletal problems. Methodology Herein, we review the current trends, research methodologies, and determinants of mattress biomechanics research, summarizing evidence published since 2008. In particular, we scrutinize 18 articles dealing with the development of new designs, recommendation criteria, instruments/methods of spine alignment evaluation, and comparative evaluation of different designs. Results The review demonstrated that mattress designs have strived for customization, regional features, and real-time active control to adapt to the biomechanical features of different body builds and postures. However, the suggested threshold or target values for desirable spine alignment and body pressure distribution during sleep cannot yet be justified in view of the lack of sufficient evidence. Conclusions It is necessary to formulate standard objectives and protocols for carrying out mattress evaluation.

BackgroundOsteoporosis is a common, complex disease of bone with a strong heritable component, characterized by low bone mineral density, microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue and an increased risk of fracture. Due to limited drug selection for osteoporosis and increasing morbidity, mortality of osteoporotic fractures, osteoporosis has become a major health burden in aging societies. Current researches for identifying specific loci or genes involved in osteoporosis contribute to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and the development of better diagnosis, prevention and treatment strategies. However, little is known about how most causal genes work and interact to influence osteoporosis. Therefore, it is greatly significant to collect and analyze the studies involved in osteoporosis-related genes. Unfortunately, the information about all these osteoporosis-related genes is scattered in a large amount of extensive literature. Currently, there is no specialized database for easily accessing relevant information about osteoporosis-related genes and miRNAs.MethodsWe extracted data from literature abstracts in PubMed by text-mining and manual curation. Moreover, a local MySQL database containing all the data was developed with PHP on a Windows server.ResultsOsteoporosAtlas (http://biokb.ncpsb.org/osteoporosis/), the first specialized database for easily accessing relevant information such as osteoporosis-related genes and miRNAs, was constructed and served for researchers. OsteoporosAtlas enables users to retrieve, browse and download osteoporosis-related genes and miRNAs. Gene ontology and pathway analyses were integrated into OsteoporosAtlas. It currently includes 617 human encoding genes, 131 human non-coding miRNAs, and 128 functional roles. We think that OsteoporosAtlas will be an important bioinformatics resource to facilitate a better understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and developing better diagnosis, prevention and treatment strategies.

BackgroundTo investigate whether SUA is associated with NAFLD in men and women with T2DM.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled patients with T2DM at Shanxi High-Tech Development Zone Central Hospital (June 2011 to September 2017). Patients were stratified according to gender and presence/absence of NAFLD. Parameters associated with NAFLD were identified using multivariate stepwise linear regression and univariate/multivariate logistic regression.ResultsAmong 597 patients (325 males) enrolled, 352 had NAFLD. SUA was higher in the NAFLD group than in the non-NAFLD group for both men and women (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that body mass index (positively), triglycerides (positively) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (negatively) were independently related to SUA (P < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression revealed increased odds of NAFLD for SUA tertiles 2 (P = 0.022) and 3 (P = 0.001) in women and tertile 3 (P = 0.039) in men. After adjustment for multiple clinical parameters, SUA tertiles were significantly associated with NAFLD for tertile 3 in women (P = 0.014), although there were trends toward associations for tertile 2 in women (P = 0.074) and tertiles 2 and 3 in men (P = 0.085 and 0.054, respectively).ConclusionSUA is not independently associated with NAFLD in men or women with T2DM after rigorous adjustment for other metabolic parameters.

BackgroundThe existence of a particular threshold of hypoxia severity, beyond which neuropsychological functioning is compromised, is unclear. We investigated the neurocognitive profile related to conflict control in healthy young Tibetans born and living at three different altitudes (2,700 m, 3,700 m, and 4,500 m) in Tibet to investigate the existence of this threshold.MethodsUsing event-related potentials (ERPs), the conflict control functions of individuals in the three altitude groups were investigated by means of a flanker task, using congruent and incongruent stimuli. The data were analyzed using mixed-model analyses of variance.ResultsAlthough effect of altitude was not significant at a behavioral level (p 0.05), the ERPs showed cognitive conflict modulation. The N2 difference wave (for incongruent minus congruent conditions) was smaller in the 4,500-m group than in the groups living below 4,000 m (p < 0.05). The study’s findings suggest that the influence of high altitude in the conflict monitoring stage becomes significant above 4,000 m. Thus, the altitude threshold for impairment of cognition may be 4,000 m.