To understand the current state of social isolation among the elderly and its relationship with health-related quality of life, as well as to explore the mediating role of loneliness in this relationship.

A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among 1 349 elderly individuals in Yangzhou using cluster random sampling. Social isolation was measured through three questions regarding social contact, loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (short version), and health-related quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to match elderly individuals with and without social isolation in a 1:1 ratio without replacement.The mediating effect of loneliness was tested using Monte Carlo simulation analysis.

A total of 718 elderly individuals were included in the study after matching. Social isolation was negatively correlated with health-related quality of life (β=-0.016, 95%CI: -0.030 to -0.002, P<0.05) and positively correlated with loneliness (β=0.142, 95%CI: 0.047 to 0.237, P<0.01). Loneliness acted as a complete mediator in the pathway between social isolation and health-related quality of life among the elderly (β=-0.005, 95%CI: -0.008 to -0.001, P<0.01), with the indirect effect accounting for 31.25% of the total effect.

Social isolation indirectly affects the health-related quality of life of the elderly by increasing their feelings of loneliness. More opportunities for social participation should be provided to the elderly to reduce their loneliness and, consequently, improve their overall quality of life.

To investigate the correlation between the triglyceride glucose product index (TyG) and kidney stones.

Based on the annual health check-up data of employees from a construction company in Hubei in 2022, subjects were divided into kidney stone group (n=854) and non-kidney stone group (n=1 636) according to the presence of kidney stones. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the correlation between the TyG index and the risk of kidney stones.

A total of 2 490 subjects were included in the study. The kidney stone group had higher levels of age, body mass index (BMI), TyG index, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose compared to the non-kidney stone group (P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that the risk of kidney stones for the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th quartiles of the TyG index was 1.071 times (OR=1.071, 95%CI: 0.822-1.394, P < 0.612), 1.174 times (OR=1.174, 95%CI: 0.886-1.556, P < 0.263), and 1.851 times (OR=1.851, 95%CI: 1.342-2.553, P < 0.001) that of the first quartile, respectively. Higher TyG index levels were associated with an increased risk of kidney stones (χ²=37.146, P < 0.001), indicating that the TyG index was a risk factor for the occurrence of kidney stones with a significant linear relationship. Subgroup analysis revealed that in overweight and obese populations (OR=1.494, 95%CI: 1.245-1.794, P < 0.001) and in populations with hyperlipidemia (OR=2.047, 95%CI: 1.606-2.61,P < 0.001), the TyG index remained positively correlated with the risk of kidney stones (P < 0.05).

A higher TyG index is associated with an increased risk of kidney stones, and early intervention in insulin resistance may help improve or reduce the incidence risk of kidney stones.

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of public health emergencies in Yunnan Province’s border areas in recent years, providing a scientific basis for effective prevention and control measures.

Data on public health emergencies reported in 25 border counties (cities) of Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2022 were collected through the “China Disease Prevention and Control Information System-Public Health Emergency Reporting Management System”. Descriptive epidemiological methods were employed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics.

From 2012 to 2022, a total of 452 public health emergencies were reported in Yunnan Province’s border areas, with 31 020 cases and 110 deaths, resulting in an overall incidence rate of 0.94% and a case fatality rate of 0.35%. The primary types of events were infectious disease outbreaks (75.2%) and food poisoning (22.1%). The peak periods for infectious disease outbreaks were June and November, while food poisoning peaked from May to July. The leading causes of events were chickenpox (21.0%), COVID-19 (17.7%), and wild mushroom poisoning (9.5%), with wild mushroom poisoning accounting for the most deaths (53 cases, 48.2%). Schools (47.7%) and communities/villages (27.7%) were the main locations for infectious disease outbreaks. Dehong Prefecture reported 192 events, constituting 42.7% of the total, with 13 644 cases, representing 44.0% of the total cases. Twelve (48.0%) border counties (cities) reported 16 public health emergencies caused by imported infectious diseases, primarily from Myanmar (93.7%) and Laos (6.3%). Main diseases included dengue fever (31.3%), COVID-19 (31.3%), and chikungunya (18.8%), with a peak period for imported infectious disease-related events from July to September.

The reported public health emergencies in Yunnan Province’s border areas are mainly due to infectious disease outbreaks and food poisoning, with peak seasons in summer and winter. Major causes include chickenpox, COVID-19, and dengue fever, while the leading cause of death is wild mushroom poisoning. Schools and communities are critical locations for the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. It is recommended that border areas strengthen monitoring, early warning, and risk assessment for key diseases and vectors, with particular attention to cross-border disease prevention and control in regions adjacent to Myanmar.

To explore a method for monitoring the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage in Shenzhen using digital PCR, enabling real-time detection of viral nucleic acids in sewage and reflecting the epidemiological status of COVID-19 infections in the population through nucleic acid concentration.

A digital PCR detection system for SARS-CoV-2 in sewage was established, and its minimum detection limit was determined. From April to July 2023, 24-hour composite sewage samples were collected twice weekly from the inflow of six sewage treatment plants in Nanshan and Futian districts of Shenzhen. The modified polyethylene glycol precipitation method was used for viral concentration enrichment, followed by quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids using the established reverse transcription digital PCR (RT-dPCR) method. Concurrently, data on COVID-19 infection cases in the monitored sewage areas were collected for correlation analysis with the nucleic acid concentrations in the sewage.

The RT-dPCR method for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection was successfully established, with a minimum detection limit of 1.00 copies/μl. A total of 162 sewage samples were collected from April to July 2023, with a positive detection rate of 96.3% for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids. The concentration of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids in Nanshan district ranged from 1.00×10³ to 1.08×10⁶ copies/L, while in Futian district it ranged from 1.44×10³ to 1.40×10⁶ copies/L, with peak concentrations observed on May 16. Correlation analysis indicated a significant association between sewage SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid concentrations and the number of COVID-19 infection cases in the population (Nanshan district r=0.77, P<0.001; Futian district r=0.80, P<0.001).

The digital PCR method is suitable for the quantitative detection of low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids in sewage, allowing for real-time monitoring of the COVID-19 epidemic, thus providing a scientific basis for public health management and intervention.

To analyze the coupling coordination relationship between the construction achievements of the 39 tight-knit county medical community pilot counties in Guangxi and the regional economic development levels in 2022.

The coupling coordination degree model was used to analyze the coupling coordination degree of the two systems. Moran I index was employed to conduct spatial correlation analysis of the coupling coordination degree.

Among the pilot counties, five counties (12.82%) exhibited a moderate coordination type between the construction achievements and regional economic development levels; 21 counties (53.85%) were in a barely coordinated state; and 13 counties (33.33%) showed moderate disorder.The global Moran I index was 0.542.

The coupling coordination degree of the two systems needs improvement; the achievements of the medical community construction are generally ahead of the regional economic development levels; there are regional disparities in coupling coordination degree, and mutual cooperation among the pilot counties in advancing the medical community construction is weak. It is recommended to strengthen cooperation and communication, promote high-quality regional economic development, and facilitate the rational allocation of quality medical and health resources.

To explore the parallel mediating effects of life satisfaction and parent-child relationship satisfaction on the relationship between daily living activity ability and depression in elderly patients with chronic respiratory diseases, providing references for improving their quality of life.

Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2020 were used, involving patients aged 60 and older with chronic respiratory diseases. The PROCESS 4.1 macro was employed to analyze the mediating effects between daily living activity ability and depression, and the bias-corrected nonparametric percentile Bootstrap method was used to validate the mediating variables.

Impaired daily living activity ability was negatively correlated with parent-child relationship satisfaction (r=-0.08, P < 0.01) and life satisfaction (r=-0.16, P <0.001), while positively correlated with depression (r=0.35, P < 0.001). The mediating effect analysis indicated that the total effect value of daily living activity ability on depression was 0.231 (95%CI: 0.600-0.944), with a direct effect value of 0.183(95%CI: 0.451-0.773). Life satisfaction and parent-child relationship satisfaction played parallel mediating roles between daily living activity ability and depression, with mediating effect values of 0.040 (95%CI: 0.018-0.062) and 0.009 (95%CI: 0.002-0.017), respectively. The total mediating effect accounted for 20.78% (95%CI: 0.023-0.074) of the overall effect.

There is a relationship between daily living activity ability and depression in elderly patients with chronic respiratory diseases.Life satisfaction and parent-child relationship satisfaction serve as parallel mediators in this relationship. Focusing on improving daily living activity ability and enhancing life satisfaction and parent-child relationship satisfaction may help alleviate depression in older patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

To explore the association between social activities and hypertension in individuals aged ≥ 45 in China, providing new intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the fifth national survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2020.Demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and indicators of social activities of the study subjects were included. The association between seven types of social activities and hypertension among middle-aged and elderly individuals was analyzed using χ² tests and multivariate logistic regression.

A total of 19 213 middle-aged and elderly individuals were included, comprising 10 159 men and 9 054 women, with a median age of 63 years (ranging from 55 to 70 years). The prevalence of hypertension was 40.08% (7 702/19 213). Logistic regression analysis indicated that after adjusting for all confounding factors, visiting neighbors and socializing with friends (OR=1.08, 95%CI: 1.01-1.15, P=0.022) and participating in volunteer or charity activities (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.04-1.46, P=0.016) were positively associated with the risk of hypertension. Conversely, activities such as dancing, exercising, or practicing Qigong in parks or other venues were negatively associated with the risk of hypertension (OR=0.88, 95%CI: 0.78-1.00, P=0.044).

Participation in different social activities is associated with hypertension. It is recommended to encourage middle-aged and elderly individuals to actively engage in health-promoting social activities to reduce the risk of hypertension, thereby providing scientific guidance for achieving “Healthy China 2030”.

To analyze suspected adverse events following immunization (AEFI) of poliomyelitis vaccination (PV) in Anhui Province from 2020 to 2023.

Data on adverse events following immunization (AEFI) were collected through the AEFI monitoring module of the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. These included cases related to the bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV), inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine made from Sabin strains (sIPV), inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), and the combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus, and Haemophiles influenza type b vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib). The number of vaccine doses administered was obtained from the Anhui Immunization Program Information Management System. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the incidence and characteristics of AEFI reports.

A total of 3 036 cases of AEFI related to poliomyelitis vaccination were reported in Anhui Province from 2020 to 2023, with an overall incidence rate of 38.37 per 100 000 doses. The incidence rates for bOPV, IPV-Sabin, IPV-Salk, and DTaP-IPV-Hib were 17.47, 47.86, 33.29, and 82.11 per 100 000 doses, respectively. General reactions accounted for 94.57% of cases, while abnormal reactions constituted 4.97%. The male-to-female ratio was 1.31:1. Among general reactions, the incidence rates for high fever (axillary temperature ≥ 38.6°C), local swelling (diameter > 2.5 cm), and local induration (diameter > 2.5 cm) were 8.67, 7.22, and 4.41 per 100 000 doses, respectively. For abnormal reactions, the incidence rates for allergic rashes and other diseases were 1.43 and 0.48 per 100 000 doses, respectively.

From 2020 to 2023,AEFI related to poliomyelitis vaccination in Anhui Province were predominantly general reactions, with abnormal reactions being rare.

To analyze the pilot policies for long-term care insurance and provide recommendations for optimizing these policies.

Utilizing the PMC index model, we constructed nine primary variable indicators and 45 secondary variable indicators to evaluate long-term care insurance policies.

Common issues across various regions included insufficient policy levels, unclear policy timelines, and inadequate incentive and constraint mechanisms.

It is necessary to elevate policy levels and further enhance the government’s coordination and collaboration, clarify policy timelines to achieve an organic integration of short, medium, and long-term planning, and improve incentive and constraint measures to effectively increase participation in insurance.

To analyze the financing and utilization of preventive service costs in Guizhou Province from 2016 to 2022, providing reference for improving the resilience and sustainability of preventive funding structures and optimizing the functional structure of preventive services.

Based on the System of Health Accounts 2011 (SHA2011), this study analyzes the preventive service costs in Guizhou Province from the dimensions of total preventive service costs, financing schemes, service functions, and institutional flows.

The preventive service costs in Guizhou Province were 3.72 billion yuan in 2016, increasing to 10.056 billion yuan by 2022, with the proportion of these costs in recurrent health expenditures rising from 5.07% to 8.49%. In 2020, the proportion of expenditures on infectious disease prevention and control increased to 14.71%,while the shares for chronic disease management, child health services, and maternal health care decreased. Over the seven years, government programs and household health expenditures declined, while corporate financing significantly increased. The proportion of preventive service costs attributed to hospitals and grassroots medical institutions rose annually from 48.59% to 67.29%.

From 2016 to 2022, the preventive service costs and their share of recurrent health expenditures in Guizhou Province increased; however, the phenomenon of “less attention on prevention and much attention on treatment” remains evident. Hospitals, grassroots medical institutions, and public health agencies are the primary providers of various preventive services, reflecting a trend of “medical care supporting prevention”. The proportion of personal cash expenditures in preventive service costs gradually decreased, but government and social health funding remains insufficient, and the financing structure is vulnerable to short-term and long-term external factors.