Diagnostic and prognostic value of systemic immune-inflammation index for heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIncreasing evidence has indicated the potential correlation between Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) and the incidence and prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). However, the association remains unraveled in the existing research.MethodsA literature search was systematically conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from their respective inceptions to July 2024, aiming to identify studies investigating the association between SII and both the incidence and clinical outcomes of HF patients. The primary outcomes included incidence and mortality rates, which were assessed using risk ratios (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). To assess the robustness of the findings and to identify potential sources of heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were conducted. Meta-analyses were carried out using Review Manager (v5.4) and STATA (v15.0).ResultsFifteen studies comprising 77,917 patients were included. The pooled data demonstrated no significant association between SII and the incidence of HF (RR = 1.22, 95%CI: 0.92–1.62; p = 0.16). However, a significant correlation was identified between elevated SII and increased mortality risk (RR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.29–1.61; p < 0.00001). Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed the association between SII and mortality in patients with HF was not influenced by sample size, age, country, study design, or ejection fraction. In contrast, the association between SII and incidence of HF was affected by country, while no significant effect was observed in the other subgroups.ConclusionAs a reliable biomarker, SII exhibits significant efficacy in prognostic evaluation for HF patients and provides valuable insights to inform clinical decision-making in the HF population.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/myprospero, PROSPERO CRD42024582003

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine external washing in the treatment of postoperative wound of diabetes complicated with anal fistula: Study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial

Introduction: Anal fistula is one of the commonest ailments seen by anorectal surgeons as surgery is currently the preferred treatment for it. Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor that can lead to slow wound healing after anal fistula surgery. Because of the large postoperative wound surface of anal fistula, patients with diabetes can have an increased probability of wound infection, which makes it hard to heal. There is an extensive clinical experience for wound healing in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Jiedu Shengji decoction (JSD) is a widely used external washing decoction in clinical practice. However, the current evidence on it is still insufficient. Therefore, we report this carefully designed clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of JSD in the treatment of postoperative wounds in diabetic patients with anal fistula.Methods and analysis: This study was designed to be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial. There were 60 eligible participants who were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to the intervention and placebo groups. Both groups received the same standard treatment. The intervention group was given external washing decoction of TCM (JSD), while the placebo group was given the placebo made of excipients and flavoring agents. The main outcome measures include wound healing, distribution of wound pathogens, levels of inflammatory mediators, and blood glucose. The secondary outcome measures included lipids, the quality of the life evaluation scale (Short-Form Health Survey 36). Assessments were performed before the start of the study, at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks after the intervention, and at 8th, 12th, and 16th follow-up weeks.Discussion: The clinical study we proposed will be the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial study to assess the efficacy and safety of TCM external washing (JSD) in the treatment of postoperative wounds in diabetic patients with anal fistula.Ethics and dissemination: The Medical Ethics Committee of Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine has reviewed this study protocol and gave its approval and consent on 17 March, 2022 (Ethical Review Number: 2022KL-018)

Efficacy and safety of Danggui Niantong Decoction in patients with gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Danggui Niantong Decoction (DGNT) systematically on gout treating.Methods: This study was registered in PROSPERO, and the registration number was CRD42021271607. By the end of December, 2022, literature research was conducted among eight electronic databases. Main results of this study were blood uric acid (BUA) and Creactive protein (CRP). Secondary outcomes were erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum creatinine (Scr), urinary protein quantified at 24 h (Upro), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Study screening, data collection, as well as quality assessment were performed by two reviewers independently, and analysis was completed using Stata (SE15.0) and Review Manager (5.4).Results: A total number of 13 studies were included in our meta-analysis (n = 1,094 participants). Results showed DGNT combined with conventional western medicine (CWM) was more effective than WM alone in BUA (weighted mean differences (WMD) = −3.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−50.36, −32.59], p = 0.000), CRP (WMD = −41.48, 95% CI [−4.32, −2.66], p = 0.017), ESR (WMD = −6.23, 95% CI [−9.28, −3.17], p = 0.019), Scr (WMD = −18.64, 95% CI [−23.09, −14.19], p = 0.001), Upro (WMD = −0.72, 95% CI [−0.91, −0.53], p = 0.000), and IL-8 (WMD = −4.77, 95% CI [−11.48, 1.94], p = 0.000). None of the adverse effects noted were severe, and no life-threatening event was reported.Conclusion: This study shows that DGNT combined with CWM seems to have an effective clinical therapeutic potential. In addition, it also provides a scientific basis for better clinical application of DGNT in the future.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021271607; Identifier: PROSPERO, CRD42021271607

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Impact of music therapy on mental health for patients with COVID-19: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysi

Enhancing Visual Perception in Sports Environments: A Virtual Reality and Machine Learning Approach

The sports environment plays a crucial role in shaping the physical and mental well-being of individuals engaged in sports activities. Understanding how environmental factors and emotional experiences influence sports perceptions is essential for advancing public health research and guiding optimal design interventions. However, existing studies in this field often rely on subjective evaluations, lack objective validation, and fail to provide practical insights for design applications. To address these gaps, this study adopts a data-driven approach. Quantitative data were collected to explore the visual environment of badminton courts using eye-tracking technology and a semantic differential questionnaire. The relationships between environmental factors—such as illuminance (IL), height (Ht), roof saturation (RSa), roof slope (RS), backwall saturation (BSa), and natural materials proportion on the backwall (BN)—and sports perception (W) were analyzed. Furthermore, this study identifies the best-performing machine learning model for predicting sports perception, which is subsequently integrated with a genetic algorithm to optimize environmental design thresholds. These findings provide actionable insights for creating sports environments that enhance user experience and support public health objectives

What Kind of Relationship Between Government and Business Can Stimulate Regional Green Innovation Development?—Analysis Based on Mixed Methods

China’s economic development has had adverse effects on the environment. Nevertheless, the Chinese government is optimistic about its ability to achieve a harmonious balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability. To this end, the government promotes, guides, and supports green innovation through the provision of policies and the creation of a conducive environment. Enterprises play a vital role in implementing and advancing green innovation, making them essential to realizing green development through their innovative capabilities. The relationship between government and business acts as a bridge between these two entities, fostering a synergistic effect that is crucial for achieving this objective. This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature on government–business relationships and green innovation, both domestically and internationally. Utilizing data envelopment analysis, it accurately measures the green innovation efficiency of 292 prefectural-level cities in China. The paper then employs a combination of a qualitative comparative analysis and a requisite condition analysis to establish the causal link between government–business relationships and green innovation development. Our detailed analysis of the data has identified three modes of driving green innovation: ‘government service-oriented’, ‘policy support-oriented’, and ‘pro- and clean-oriented’. These modes correspond to the developmental trajectories of China’s first, second, and third–fourth–fifth-tier cities, respectively. This paper offers policy recommendations for the systematic reform and optimization of government–business relationships in China. These recommendations are grounded in the three dimensions of the government–business relationship and consider the current conditions of cities at various stages of economic development. The findings and recommendations presented in this paper can serve as valuable insights for policymakers and businesses alike, providing guidance for future initiatives aimed at fostering a more sustainable economy