Association of Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Health-Related Behaviors in Stroke Patients

Association between daily screen time and risk of stroke among middle-aged and elderly people: research based on China health and nutrition survey

Background

We aimed to explore the independent associations between screen time and the risk of stroke among Chinese adults based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS).

Methods

Data on Chinese adults aged older than 40 years from the CHNS in during 2004-2009 were selected. A total of 4,587 individuals were included in 2009, including screen time and the risk of stroke. Simultaneously, we traced the previous screen time to 2004 for those with outcome measures in 2009 (n = 2,100). Basic information, lifestyle, and screen behavior were obtained through face-to-face interviews and self-completed questionnaires. Anthropometric data collected included blood pressure, body weight, height, hip circumference, and waist circumference. Fasting blood was obtained for measurements of lipid and glucose levels. Cross-sectional analysis and cohort analysis were both performed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Of all participants, 3,004 (65.49%) participants spent more than 2 h per day on screen time. Taking the men who spent less than 2 h on screen per day as reference, the crude odds ratio (OR) of the high risk of stroke was 1.53 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20-1.95] for the men who spent 2-3 h per day on screen and 2.37 (95% CI, 1.78-3.16) for the men who spent more than 3 h per day on screen. This difference remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors. No association was observed among women. However, in the cohort analysis with screen time in 2006 as the independent variable, the association between screen time and stroke risk was found both in men [OR, 1.83 (95% CI, 1.19-2.82)] and women [OR, 1.48 (95% CI, 1.10-1.99)]).

Conclusion

We found that the high screen time was associated with an increased stroke risk, which was pronounced in men, warranting a universal need to limit screen time in order to improve health.

Photodynamic Therapy for X-ray-Induced Radiation-Resistant Cancer Cells

Radiotherapy, in which X-rays are commonly used, is one of the most effective procedures for treating cancer. However, some cancer cells become resistant to radiation therapy, leading to poor prognosis. Therefore, a new therapeutic method is required to prevent cancer cells from acquiring radiation resistance. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment that uses photosensitizers, such as porphyrin compounds, and low-powered laser irradiation. We previously reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from mitochondria induce the expression of a porphyrin transporter (HCP1) and that laser irradiation enhances the cytotoxic effect. In addition, X-ray irradiation induces the production of mitochondrial ROS. Therefore, radioresistant cancer cells established with continuous X-ray irradiation would also overexpress ROS, and photodynamic therapy could be an effective therapeutic method. In this study, we established radioresistant cancer cells and examined the therapeutic effects and mechanisms with photodynamic therapy. We confirmed that X-ray-resistant cells showed overgeneration of mitochondrial ROS and elevated expression of HCP1, which led to the active accumulation of porphyrin and an increase in cytotoxicity with laser irradiation. Thus, photodynamic therapy is a promising treatment for X-ray-resistant cancers.

Effect of physical activity on coronary heart disease risk factors among firefighters: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Physical activity interventions have been used for various health conditions, including cardiovascular disease. However, the literature is still limited regarding the effect of physical activity on coronary heart disease among firefighters.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The review will be conducted according to recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and PRISMA Protocol guidelines. This scoping review will provide a synthesis of current evidence on the effects of physical activity on coronary heart disease among firefighters. Search strategies will be performed in the following databases: Cochrane database, PubMed, Medline, (EbscoHost), Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL (EBSCO), SAGE journals, ScienceDirect and Scopus. We will include literature in the English language that are full-text peer-reviewed articles from inception to November 2021. Screening of (titles, abstracts and full text of potential articles) will be done by two independent authors using EndNote V.9 software tool. A standardised data extraction form will be designed for the extraction. Two authors will independently extract the data from the selected articles and all differences will be discussed by an invited third reviewer if a consensus cannot be reached. The primary outcomes will be the impact of physical fitness on firefighters experiencing coronary artery disease. This information can assist policy-makers in decision-making related to the use of physical activity in firefighters experiencing coronary heart disease.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical clearance has been obtained from the University ethics committee and the City of Cape Town. The findings will be disseminated through publications and the physical activity guidelines will be submitted to the Fire Departments within the City of Cape Town. Data analysis will start on 1 April 2023.