Chinese Science Research Articles

Visualization analysis of CBL application in Chinese and international medical education based on big data mining

ObjectiveTo employ big data mining to provide a visualization analysis of Case-Based Learning (CBL) application in Chinese and international medical education, with the aim of observing the potential applications of CBL.MethodsAll included literature was obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection database, Chinese core periodicals database, Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index (CSSCI), Chinese Science Citation Database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wangfang Database, and CQVIP Database. CiteSpace software (6.1.6R6) was used to conduct an in-depth investigation from four perspectives: quantitative analysis of literature, network analysis of co-occurring authors, network analysis of co-occurring research institutions, keyword clustering and burst analysis.ResultsA total of 721 Chinese articles and 537 English articles were included, demonstrating an exponential growth trend. Notably, no author exhibited a prolific publication rate within a short timeframe. Bursting keywords in English literature encompassed topics related to students' learning, teaching curriculum, methods, and location. In contrast, Chinese literature focused on students' learning, teaching methods, courses, application fields as well as national policy and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (MOE) guidance. The keyword clusters include research on care, community practice, special projects and groups, teaching methods, and capacity development of participants in English literature. For Chinese literature, the clusters include research national policy guidance, teaching reform, mode and evaluation and various disciplines.ConclusionCBL holds immense potential for implementation across diverse disciplines, community practices, and special projects within medical education. The practical application of CBL is continuously evolving in response to changing times and can be seamlessly integrated into different contexts influenced by environmental factors and policies.

Fiscal policies for innovation in China: challenges of the transition to an ecosystem approach

ABSTRACT In light of recent decisions to strengthen the governance of science and technology in China, this study examines fiscal policies designed to promote innovation. The article shows that the reforms undertaken by the Chinese state has broadened the policy mix of fiscal support instruments with a transition from a top-down linear model to a market-based national innovation ecosystem approach. This ecosystem approach features increased funding for basic research and infrastructure for advanced research, together with targeted subsidies for joint research and development (R&D) in whole-of-the nation projects. Moreover, local governments have increased their support through tax incentives related to R&D and high-tech enterprises, and capital investments through industrial guidance funds. Nevertheless, the article’s analysis also indicates that this policy mix continues to encounter challenges in the implementation of policy instruments and the headwinds of geopolitical tensions, as illustrated by a case study of the mix of fiscal support for scientific research and technological innovation in the semiconductor sector and value chain.

Moderate Nitrogen Application Synergistically Improved Yield and Quality of Nanjing Series japonica Rice Varieties with Good Taste

Nanjing series japonica rice varieties developed by the Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China have the characteristics of an excellent taste quality, high yield, and good resistance. They are widely promoted and applied in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China’s japonica rice planting areas. In response to the problem of the lack of coordination between nitrogen fertilizer management measures and variety characteristics in production, which makes it difficult to synergistically improve yield and quality, this study adopted a split-plot experimental design to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer application on yield and rice quality of Nanjing series japonica rice varieties. In 2021, four nitrogen application rates of 0 (N1), 150 (N2), 300 (N3), and 450 (N4) kg hm−2 (all pure nitrogen) were set up, and in 2022, four treatments of 120 (N1), 180 (N2), 240 (N3), and 300 (N4) kg hm−2 were set up, all with nitrogen application rate as the main plot factor and variety as the sub-plot factor. The results showed that the differences between the different nitrogen fertilizer treatments were significant at the 5% or 1% level, except for the milled rice rate, head rice rate, peak viscosity, setback viscosity, and paste temperature in 2021 and panicle number, grain number per panicle, all Rapid Visco-analyzer (RVA) characteristic values, and amylose content in 2022. With an increase in the nitrogen application rate, the number of panicles, grain number per panicle, and yield increased. Either the rates of brown rice, milled rice, or head rice and chalky grains or chalkiness showed an increase trend. The peak viscosity, hot viscosity, final viscosity, and breakdown viscosity decreased, while the setback viscosity increased. For the quality of cooked rice, the hardness increased, appearance, viscosity, and balance decreased, protein content increased, and taste value decreased. The interaction between nitrogen application rate and variety was significant at p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 only for yield components, processing quality, and rice protein content in 2021 and for eating and cooking quality, appearance quality, and peak viscosity in 2022. Other traits were not significant. The comprehensive results from two years of experiments showed that, under the conditions of this experiment, a nitrogen application rate of 240–300 kg hm−2 could improve the quality of rice in the Nanjing series varieties while maintaining a high yield. The results of this experiment have a guiding significance for the high-yield and high-quality cultivation of excellent-tasting Nanjing series japonica rice.

Eficacia y seguridad de la terapia biológica en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Crohn: una revisión exhaustiva de metanálisis y revisiones sistemáticas.

Eficacia y seguridad de la terapia biológica en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Crohn: una revisión exhaustiva de metanálisis y revisiones sistemáticas.

Prediction models for adjacent vertebral fractures after vertebral augmentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To systematically review published studies on risk prediction models for adjacent vertebral fractures (AVF) after vertebral augmentation (VA), thereby providing a reference for constructing and improving such models. PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Database, and SinoMed were searched from their inception to July 13, 2024. The Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) was used to assess the risk of bias and applicability of the prediction model studies; STATA 15.0 software was used to perform a meta-analysis on the area under the curve (AUC) values of the model validation and the common predictors used in model construction. A total of 13 studies were included, establishing 13 risk prediction models, with a total sample size of 3,083 patients. The AUC values of the included models ranged from 0.72 to 0.988. Of the included studies, 11 conducted internal validation, while two performed external validation. According to the PROBAST evaluation, all 13 studies exhibited a high risk of bias, yet demonstrated good applicability. The results of meta-analysis showed that the combined AUC value for the 5 validation models was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.97). Notably, bone cement leakage (OR = 5.75, 95% CI: 3.43 ~ 9.60), age (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.05 ~ 1.36), and a history of vertebral fractures (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.64 ~ 4.13) were identified as significant high-risk factors for AVF after VA. The risk prediction models for AVF after VA performed well, but exhibited a high risk of bias. It is recommended that future studies should consider selecting more appropriate machine learning algorithms and conducting large-sample, multicenter studies. Meanwhile, healthcare providers should focus on patients with bone cement leakage, advanced age, and a previous history of vertebral fractures, remaining vigilant for the potential occurrence of AVF.

The Impact of Technology Innovation Output on Firm Value of Technology Innovation SMEs in China

With the advent of the big data era, technological innovation has become the driving force behind the expansion of technology innovation SMEs. Where feasible, enterprises must rely on the development of technology innovation SMEs as soon as possible to strengthen their national power and achieve sustainable development. Understanding the relationship between technological innovation output and firm value is crucial for developing R&D budgets and guiding some strategic decisions of top managers in firms. This article research the impact of technological innovation output on the firm value of technology innovation SMEs, this study is based on the data from 2019 to 2023 of the listed enterprises in China's Science and Technology Innovation Board (STAR MARKET), and regression analyses are technological innovation outputs (Intangible assets and Patent) and firm value. It was found that technological innovation output has a negative effect on firm value. This effect is equally applicable to companies of different age of establishment, especially for companies with a shorter period of establishment; the negative effect is more prominent.

Towards a Knowledge History of Chinese Law: An Introduction to the History of Chinese Administrative Law Science, Its Pioneering Actors, and Knowledge of Normativity

Towards a Knowledge History of Chinese Law: An Introduction to the History of Chinese Administrative Law Science, Its Pioneering Actors, and Knowledge of Normativity

Effects of nurse-led telephone interventions on HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: a Meta-analysis-based evaluation of follow-up protocols

BackgroundTelephone interventions are promising for managing glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, optimal follow-up parameters, such as frequency, duration, content, and intervals, are yet to be standardized. This meta-analysis assesses the effectiveness of nurse-led telephone interventions in controlling HbA1c levels, with subgroup analyses based on these variables to provide evidence-based recommendations.MethodsSearches were conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) until February 2024. Study quality was evaluated using Cochrane risk of bias criteria, and data were analyzed with RevMan 5.4.ResultsThirteen studies, including 2,294 T2DM patients, showed that nurse-led telephone interventions significantly reduced HbA1c levels [MD = -0.59, 95% CI (-0.85, -0.34), P < 0.00001, Tau² = 0.15, I² = 87%]. Subgroup analyses indicated that protocols comprising 16 follow-ups [MD = -0.92, 95% CI (-1.71, -0.12), P = 0.02], each lasting 20–25 min [MD = -1.23, 95% CI (-1.63, -0.83), P < 0.001] with half a month intervals [MD = -1.29, 95% CI (-2.43, -0.15), P = 0.03] covering medication, diet, exercise, and glucose monitoring, were the most effective. Protocols involving 12 follow-ups [MD = -0.87, 95% CI (-1.28, -0.46), P < 0.001], each lasting 10–15 min [MD = -0.54, 95% CI (-1.02, -0.06), P = 0.03] at weekly intervals [MD = -0.93, 95% CI (-1.68, -0.17), P = 0.02], also demonstrated significant improvement. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot, Egger’s Test (P = 0.108), and Begg’s Test (P = 0.199), which indicated no significant bias.ConclusionsNurse-led telephone follow-ups effectively enhance HbA1c control in T2DM patients. While subgroup findings suggest optimal protocols, individual needs should guide intervention customization. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to validate these results.Registration NumberPROSPERO: CRD42024578866.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese classical prescriptions for dilated cardiomyopathy: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis

BackgroundChinese classical prescriptions (CCPs) are commonly utilized in China as an adjuvant treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Nevertheless, there was insufficient systematic evidence data to show the advantages of CCPs plus current conventional therapy (CT) against DCM. This network meta-analysis (NMA) sought to evaluate and prioritize the six different CCP types’ respective efficacies for DCM.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted from the databases’ inception to November 30, 2024, to extract RCTs that addressed the use of CCPs in conjunction with CT for DCM. The databases included PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science Periodical Database (CSPD), Chinese Citation Database (CCD), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and ClinicalTrials.gov. The Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included RCTs. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probability values was employed to rank the relative efficacy. Bayesian network meta-analysis was applied to evaluate the efficacy of various CCPs. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024586365).ResultsFollowing the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 27 eligible RCTs involving 2019 patients were included. The evaluated outcomes included clinical effectiveness rate (CER), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac output (CO), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and six-min walk test (6MWT). According to the NMA, Zhigancao decoction (ZGCD), Zhenwu decoction (ZWD), Shenfu decoction (SFD), Shengmai powder (SMP), Yangxin decoction (YXD), and Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHW) in addition to CT considerably enhanced DCM treatment outcomes when compared to CT alone. SMP + CT (MD = 12.75, 95%CI 8.28–17.22) showed the highest probability of being the best treatment on account of the enhancement of LVEF. SFD + CT was most likely to be the optimal intervention for LVEDD decrease (MD = -4.68, 95%CI -8.73 to -0.62). YXD + CT (MD = -4.47, 95%CI -4.47 to -4.47) had the highest likelihood of being the optimal therapy for reducing LVESD. ZGCD + CT seemed to be the most promising intervention on the improvement in hs-CRP (MD = -2.82, 95%CI -3.60 to -2.04) and 6MWT (MD = 141.00, 95%CI 136.57 to 145.43). However, the optimal CCP for improving BNP and CO could not be identified based on the present studies. No significant adverse events emerged in the included studies.ConclusionThis NMA indicated that adding CCPs to current CT treatment had a favorable effect on DCM. In light of the clinical efficacy and other outcomes, SMP + CT, SFD + CT, YXD + CT, and ZGCD + CT demonstrated a preferred improvement in patients with DCM when combined. Furthermore, additional larger RCTs with longer follow-up periods and standardized outcome reporting are required to give more solid evidence to support our findings due to the small sample size of the current studies and the presence of risk of bias.

Lifestyles and their relative contribution to biological aging across multiple-organ systems: Change analysis from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study

Background:Biological aging exhibits heterogeneity across multi-organ systems. However, it remains unclear how is lifestyle associated with overall and organ-specific aging and which factors contribute most in Southwest China.Methods:This study involved 8396 participants who completed two surveys from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study. The healthy lifestyle index (HLI) was developed using five lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise, and sleep. The comprehensive and organ-specific biological ages (BAs) were calculated using the Klemera–Doubal method based on longitudinal clinical laboratory measurements, and validation were conducted to select BA reflecting related diseases. Fixed effects model was used to examine the associations between HLI or its components and the acceleration of validated BAs. We further evaluated the relative contribution of lifestyle components to comprehension and organ systems BAs using quantile G-computation.Results:About two-thirds of participants changed HLI scores between surveys. After validation, three organ-specific BAs (the cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and liver BAs) were identified as reflective of specific diseases and included in further analyses with the comprehensive BA. The health alterations in HLI showed a protective association with the acceleration of all BAs, with a mean shift of –0.19 (95% CI −0.34, –0.03) in the comprehensive BA acceleration. Diet and smoking were the major contributors to overall negative associations of five lifestyle factors, with the comprehensive BA and metabolic BA accounting for 24% and 55% respectively.Conclusions:Healthy lifestyle changes were inversely related to comprehensive and organ-specific biological aging in Southwest China, with diet and smoking contributing most to comprehensive and metabolic BA separately. Our findings highlight the potential of lifestyle interventions to decelerate aging and identify intervention targets to limit organ-specific aging in less-developed regions.Funding:This work was primarily supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82273740) and Sichuan Science and Technology Program (Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province, Grant No. 2024NSFSC0552). The CMEC study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFC0907305, 2017YFC0907300). The sponsors had no role in the design, analysis, interpretation, or writing of this article.

Lifestyles and their relative contribution to biological aging across multiple-organ systems: Change analysis from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study.

Biological aging exhibits heterogeneity across multi-organ systems. However, it remains unclear how is lifestyle associated with overall and organ-specific aging and which factors contribute most in Southwest China. This study involved 8396 participants who completed two surveys from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study. The healthy lifestyle index (HLI) was developed using five lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise, and sleep. The comprehensive and organ-specific biological ages (BAs) were calculated using the Klemera-Doubal method based on longitudinal clinical laboratory measurements, and validation were conducted to select BA reflecting related diseases. Fixed effects model was used to examine the associations between HLI or its components and the acceleration of validated BAs. We further evaluated the relative contribution of lifestyle components to comprehension and organ systems BAs using quantile G-computation. About two-thirds of participants changed HLI scores between surveys. After validation, three organ-specific BAs (the cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and liver BAs) were identified as reflective of specific diseases and included in further analyses with the comprehensive BA. The health alterations in HLI showed a protective association with the acceleration of all BAs, with a mean shift of -0.19 (95% CI -0.34, -0.03) in the comprehensive BA acceleration. Diet and smoking were the major contributors to overall negative associations of five lifestyle factors, with the comprehensive BA and metabolic BA accounting for 24% and 55% respectively. Healthy lifestyle changes were inversely related to comprehensive and organ-specific biological aging in Southwest China, with diet and smoking contributing most to comprehensive and metabolic BA separately. Our findings highlight the potential of lifestyle interventions to decelerate aging and identify intervention targets to limit organ-specific aging in less-developed regions. This work was primarily supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82273740) and Sichuan Science and Technology Program (Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province, Grant No. 2024NSFSC0552). The CMEC study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFC0907305, 2017YFC0907300). The sponsors had no role in the design, analysis, interpretation, or writing of this article.

Chinese‐style policy transfer: Adaptive niche cultivation in the genesis of China's science funding system

AbstractThere has been little agreement on the relationship between differences in political regimes and effective policy transfer. This study extends policy transfer theory by exploring China's policy transfer approaches for institutional adaptation during the process of acquiring and localizing foreign policy knowledge, and further focusing on the under‐explored approach of adaptive niche cultivation with an in‐depth case study on the genesis of the science funding system in China. Our findings reveal that the Chinese government has adopted investigation‐based, evaluation‐based, and expert‐driven transfer modes to acquire foreign policy knowledge based on its assessment of the clarity of policy issues and needs. Beyond policy pilot rooted in central–local dynamics and the emphasis on foreign policy knowledge effectiveness, the shielding‐nurturing‐empowering multifunctional role of the adaptive niche cultivation—shaped by the power dynamics between policy makers and experts—offers a useful approach for the Chinese government to realize effective policy transfer in expertise‐reliant fields. This study provides new insights into toolkits that policy makers can use to draw foreign lessons even with differences in political regimes.

Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Post-COVID-19 Insomnia: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, leading to a range of persistent sequelae referred to as post-COVID-19 condition or "long COVID" that continue to affect patients worldwide. Among these sequelae, post-COVID-19 insomnia (PCI) has emerged as a significant issue. Conventional treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacological interventions, face limitations such as variable efficacy, potential side effects, and substantial costs. Recently, acupuncture has gained traction due to its efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and safety profile. This study aims to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review evaluating the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of PCI to delineate the optimal modality, intervention frequency, and duration for achieving the most beneficial outcomes, thereby providing a comprehensive understanding of acupuncture's role in managing PCI, contributing to evidence-based clinical practice, and informing clinical decision-making. Electronic searches will be performed in 12 databases from inception to October 2024 without language restrictions. This includes both English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, OVID and Scopus), as well as Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-Fang Data, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Duxiu Database and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Center). Randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for PCI will be included. Primary outcomes will include the response rate and insomnia severity; secondary outcomes will include the Traditional Chinese Medicine Symptom Scale (TCMSS) and adverse event rates. Data synthesis will use risk ratios for dichotomous data and mean differences for continuous data. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment will be conducted independently by 2 reviewers. Methodological quality of eligible studies will be evaluated following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 6.3). Meta-analysis will be performed with RevMan 5.3. Based on the data on response rate, insomnia severity, TCMSS score, and adverse event rates, this study will provide an evidence-based review of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCI treatment. This systematic review will present the current evidence for acupuncture for PCI, aiming to inform clinical practices and decision-making and to enhance the understanding of acupuncture's role in managing PCI. Furthermore, it will identify research gaps and suggest potential areas for future investigation. PROSPERO CRD42024499284; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=499284. DERR1-10.2196/69417.

The altering landscape of US–China science collaboration: from convergence to divergence

International research collaboration has exhibited a significant trend towards convergence in recent decades. The US and China have notably intensified their collaboration across diverse scientific disciplines, solidifying their status as the leading contributors to global scientific knowledge production. However, recent reports indicate a potential decline in their collaboration, despite the overall trend of increasing global scientific convergence. Understanding the intricate interplay between collaboration and disparity within the US–China relationship is vital for academics and policymakers, as it can provide insights into the future trajectory of global science collaboration. Despite its significance, there is a lack of comprehensive quantitative evidence that captures the changes in their collaboration across disciplines and over time. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study examines the evolving landscape of interaction between the US and China over recent decades. This investigation employs two approaches, one based on paper identifiers and the other on researcher identifiers, both obtained from bibliometric data sourced from OpenAlex. Our findings reveal the unique and dynamic nature of the US–China relationship, characterised by a collaboration pattern initially marked by rapid convergence and a recent phase of divergence.

Critical appraisal of methodological quality and completeness of reporting in Chinese social science systematic reviews with meta-analysis: A systematic review.

A systematic review is a type of literature review that uses rigorous methods to synthesize evidence from multiple studies on a specific topic. It is widely used in academia, including medical and social science research. Social science is an academic discipline that focuses on human behaviour and society. However, consensus regarding the standards and criteria for conducting and reporting systematic reviews in social science is lacking. Previous studies have found that the quality of systematic reviews in social science varies depending on the topic, database, and country. This study evaluates the completeness of reporting and methodological quality of intervention and non-intervention systematic reviews in social science in China. Additionally, we explore factors that may influence quality. We searched three major Chinese electronic databases-CNKI, VIP, and Wangfang-for intervention and non-intervention reviews in social science published in Chinese journals from 1 January 2009 to 2 December 2022. We included intervention and non-intervention reviews; however, we excluded overviews, qualitative syntheses, integrative reviews, rapid reviews, and evidence syntheses/summaries. We also excluded meta-analyses that used advanced methods (e.g., cross-sectional, cumulative, Bayesian, structural equation, or network meta-analyses) or that focused on instrument validation. We extracted data using a coding form with publication information and study content characteristics. This study conducted pilot extraction and quality assessment with four authors and formal extraction and assessment with two groups of four authors each. PRISMA2020 and MOOSE were used to evaluate the reporting completeness of intervention and non-intervention reviews. AMSTAR-2 and DART tools were adopted to assess their methodological quality. We described the characteristics of the included reviews with frequencies and percentages. We used SPSS (version 26.0) to conduct a linear regression analysis and ANOVA to explore the factors that may influence both completeness of reporting and methodological quality. We included 1176 systematic reviews with meta-analyses published in Chinese journals between 2009 and 2022. The top three fields of publication were psychology (417, 35.5%), education (388, 33.0%), and management science (264, 22.4%). Four hundred and thirty-two intervention reviews were included. The overall completeness of reporting in PRISMA and compliance rate of the methodological process in AMSTAT-2 were 49.9% and 45.5%, respectively. Intervention reviews published in Chinese Social Science Citation Index (CSSCI) journals had lower reporting completeness than those published in non-CSSCI journals (46.7% vs. 51.1%), similar to methodological quality (39.6% vs. 47.9%). A few reviews reported the details on registration (0.2%), rationality of study selection criteria (1.6%), sources of funding for primary studies (0.2%), reporting bias assessment (2.8%), certainty of evidence assessment (1.2%), and sensitivity analysis (107, 24.8%). Seven hundred and forty-four non-intervention reviews were included. The overall completeness of reporting in MOOSE and compliance rate of the methodological process in DART were 51.8% and 50.5%, respectively. Non-intervention reviews published in CSSCI journals had higher reporting completeness than those published in non-CSSCI journals (53.3% vs. 50.3%); however, there was no difference in methodological quality (51.0% vs. 50.0%). Most reviews did not report the process and results of selection (80.8%), and 58.9% of reviews did not describe the process of data extraction; only 9.5% assessed the quality of included studies; while none of the reviews examined bias by confounding, outcome reporting bias, and loss to follow-up. An improving trend over time was observed for both intervention and non-intervention reviews in completeness of reporting and methodological quality (PRISMA: β = 0.24, p < 0.01; AMSTAR-2: β = 0.17, p < 0.01; MOOSE: β = 0.34, p < 0.01; DART: β = 0.30, p < 0.01). The number of authors and financial support also have a positive effect on quality. Completeness of reporting and methodological quality were low in both intervention and non-intervention reviews in Chinese social sciences, especially regarding registration, protocol, risk of bias assessment, and data and code sharing. The sources of literature, number of authors, publication year, and funding source declarations were identified as factors that may influence the quality of reviews. More rigorous standards and guidelines for conducting and reporting reviews are required in social science research as well as more support and incentives for reviewers to adhere to them.

Risk prediction models for dental caries in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to systematically evaluate published predictive models for dental caries in children and adolescents.DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Data sourcesComprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Web...

Incidence and risk factors of delayed facial paralysis after vestibular schwannoma resection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Incidence and risk factors of delayed facial paralysis after vestibular schwannoma resection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Related factors of cognitive frailty among older adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

The correlation between diabetes and cognitive frailty is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to explore the related factors of cognitive frailty in older adults with type 2 diabetes, and to provide new ideas for realising healthy ageing of diabetic patients. The survey was conducted at Mianyang Central Hospital affiliated to University of Electronic Science and Technology of China from January 15 to June 30, 2024. The subjects were older adults with type 2 diabetes aged 60 years or older. Cognitive frailty was assessed using Fried's phenotype and Mini-Mental State Examination. Statistical analysis and plotting were conducted using SPSS 25.0 and R 4.3.3. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to reduce the dimensionality of 30 clinical features collected, and the unimportant factors were initially screened out. The important factors with non-zero coefficients identified by LASSO regression were included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore the factors influencing cognitive frailty in older diabetic patients. This study included 301 older persons with type 2 diabetes. Among them, 91 (30.2%) cases of cognitive frailty occurred. Related factors for cognitive frailty in older adults with type 2 diabetes include: age (odds ratio (OR) = 6.417, 95% CI: 1.882-21.876, P = 0.003), hypomnesia (OR = 2,985, 95%CI: 1.143-7.797, P = 0.026), depression (OR = 9.926, 95%CI: 4.117-23.934, P < 0.001), diabetic retinopathy (OR = 6.489, 95%CI: 1.969-21.384, P = 0.002), history of diabetic ketoacidosis (OR = 12.024, 95%CI: 1.724-83.872, P = 0.012). The prevalence of cognitive frailty in older persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus was higher. It was closely related to age, hypomnesia, depression, diabetic retinopathy and history of diabetic ketoacidosis. Early detection of the risk and effective intervention can reduce the incidence of adverse events and improve the quality of life of patients.

Radiological features and internal fixation strategies of atlantoaxial dislocation combined with atlas occipitalization.

Patients with atlantoaxial dislocation combined with atlas occipitalization often present with variations in the anatomy of the vertebral artery and bone, posing potential risks during the implantation of the C2 pedicle screws during surgery. Based on comprehensive preoperative imaging evaluation, this study investigates the blood supply, course, and relationship with bone of the vertebral artery in patients with atlantoaxial dislocation combined with atlas occipitalization, aiming to provide reference for safe implantation of internal fixation. Imaging data of 77 patients with atlantoaxial dislocation combined with atlas occipitalization from October 2015 to December 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China were collected, including CT, CT angiography, and MRI. The blood supply, course, and relationship with surrounding structure of the vertebral artery were analyzed using PACS and RadiAnt software. There were 18 males and 59 females, with an average age of 48.5 ± 10.5 years (range: 17-71 years). Forty-one cases (53.2%) were associated with congenital C2-3 fusion(Klippel-Feil syndrome). Vertebral artery blood supply was predominantly unilateral (including single blood supply) in 56 cases (72.7%), with left-sided predominance (62.5%). Segment V3 course variations of the vertebral artery were common, with 47 cases (35.6%) not entering the transverse foramen of C1. High-riding vertebral arteries were present in 36 cases (46.8%), with 22 cases (61.1%) associated with congenital C2-3 fusion. The average width of the axis pedicle on the high-riding side was 2.13 ± 1.2mm, and the height of the isthmus was ≤ 5mm, with an average of 2.55 ± 1.07mm. There was a loose gap on the lateral side of the vertebral artery within the transverse foramen, with an average of 2.1mm, and the corresponding width of the subarachnoid space on the inner side of the axis pedicle was 3.48mm. Comprehensive preoperative imaging evaluation can reduce the risk of vertebral artery injury during surgery in patients with congenital atlantoaxial dislocation combined with atlas occipitalization, and provide feasible and optimized internal fixation solutions.

Predicting the risk of pulmonary infection after kidney transplantation using machine learning methods: a retrospective cohort study.

Pulmonary infection is the most common and serious complication after kidney transplantation that affects the survival of the transplanted kidney and the quality of life of patients. This study aims to construct a machine learning model for predicting the risk of pulmonary infection after kidney transplantation. We recruited 857 kidney transplant recipients from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2021, in the Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China. First, the distribution of baseline characteristics between patients with and without postoperative pulmonary infections was analyzed. Subsequently, six machine learning models were constructed to predict the risk of postoperative pulmonary infections. Finally, these models were subjected to external validation using an independent cohort. The performance of themodels was evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Among kidney transplant recipients, a total of 186 individuals developed pneumonia, with 144 cases in the training cohort and 42 cases in the external validation cohort. The AUC range of the six machine learning models for predicting the risk of postoperative pulmonary infection was 0.758-0.822 for the training cohort and 0.642-0.795 for the testing cohort. Among the models assessed, the gradient boosting machine demonstrated the most favorable predictive accuracy. Our study has developed a predictive model for assessing the risk of pulmonary infection after kidney transplantation, thereby providing a valuable foundation for the effective management of kidney transplant recipients.