OBJECTIVES:To assess the efficacy of smartphone apps for smoking cessation (SC) used alone or combined with traditional interventions, and to determine whether apps based on psychological-behavioural theories (PBT) increase abstinence more than traditional behavioural apps. STUDY DESIGN:Systematic review and meta-analysis. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:We included randomised controlled trials of smartphone apps, used alone or combined with traditional interventions, for SC among current smokers aged ≥15 years who intended to quit. Comparisons included: no intervention, minimal SC support, traditional interventions and apps based on traditional behavioural interventions. INFORMATION SOURCES:Databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang) were searched up to 15 August 2025. RISK-OF-BIAS ROB ASSESSMENT:We assessed RoB using the Cochrane RoB Tool 2.0. SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS:We used random effects meta-analysis to estimate pooled effects and corresponding 95% CIs for each outcome across all comparisons. The primary outcome was 6-month continuous abstinence. Secondary outcomes included 3-month continuous abstinence and 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 1, 3 and 6 months. Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS:A total of 31 studies (12 802 participants) were included. Low-certainty evidence from four studies (1402 participants) suggests that smartphone apps used alone may improve 6-month continuous abstinence rate compared with no or minimal support (RR 2.85, 95% CI 1.61 to 5.05; I2=0%). When combined with traditional interventions, smartphone apps may increase 6-month continuous abstinence compared with traditional interventions alone (RR 1.98, 95% CI 1.24 to 3.16; I2=85.7%; 4 studies, 2163 participants; low-certainty evidence). Sub-comparison analyses indicated that, based on low-certainty evidence from three studies (1502 participants), smartphone apps combined with pharmacotherapy may improve 6-month continuous abstinence compared with pharmacotherapy alone (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.88; I2=86.0%). High-certainty evidence showed that PBT-based apps significantly increased 7-day PPA compared with traditional behavioural apps, both at 3 months (RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.42 to 2.00; I2=0%; 2 studies, 2565 participants) and at 6 months (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.54; I2=0%; 4 studies, 3258 participants). CONCLUSIONS:Smartphone apps may be effective for SC compared with no or minimal support. When combined with traditional interventions-especially pharmacotherapy-they may result in large increases in abstinence rates over traditional methods alone. PBT-based apps demonstrated potential for supporting SC. However, the overall evidence remains of low certainty due to limited sample sizes and methodological limitations. These findings are exploratory and necessitate confirmation through further high-quality trials with longer follow-up. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER:CRD42025640624.

Digital health interventions offer a promising opportunity to innovate traditional cessation services. Multi-component digital approaches show potential for greater effectiveness than traditional methods, though optimal integration strategies and engagement dynamics are still unclear. This study evaluated ‘Way to Quit’ (WQ)—a theory-guided, integrated modality based on WeChat (a popular social media platform)—compared with a quitline, with particular attention to long-term engagement and its impact on abstinence. A two-arm, open-label, randomised controlled trial was conducted in Beijing, China, from December 1, 2022 to June 13, 2024. We recruited adult smokers intending to quit within one month via online advertisements. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1; using various block sizes) to either a multicomponent WeChat-based intervention (WQ)—integrating a mini-programme (application-like service), a chat group (peer support) and an official account (information channel)—or telephone counselling (Quitline), both lasting four weeks (one pre-quit week and three post-quit weeks). All participants received a four-week supply of nicotine gum by mail for on-demand use. Follow-up assessments were completed at one, three, six, and twelve months after the initiation of the intervention via telephone or online. The primary outcome was biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at one month. Analyses followed a modified intention-to-treat (mITT) approach. A total of 460 adult smokers were enrolled and randomised (WQ: n = 230; Quitline: n = 230), with 414 included in the mITT analysis (WQ: 195; Quitline: 219). At one month, biochemically verified 7-day PPA was 41.5

Background Nutrition and dietary trials are often prone to bias, leading to inaccurate or questionable estimates of intervention efficacy. However, reports on quality management practices of well-controlled dietary trials are scarce. This study aims to introduce the quality management system of the Diet, ExerCIse and CarDiovascular hEalth-Diet Study and report its performance in ensuring study quality. Methods The quality management system consisted of a study coordinating center, trial governance, and quality control measures covering study design, conduct, and data analysis and reporting. Metrics for evaluating the performance of the system were collected throughout the whole trial development and conducted from September 2016 to June 2021, covering major activities at the coordinating center, study sites, and central laboratories, with a focus on the protocol amendments, protocol deviations (eligibility, fidelity, confounders management, loss to follow-up and outside-of-window visits, and blindness success), and measurement accuracy. Results Three amendments to the study protocol enhanced feasibility. All participants (265) met the eligibility criteria. Among them, only 3% were lost to the primary outcome follow-up measurement. More than 95% of participants completed the study, they consumed more than 96% of the study meals, and more than 94% of participants consumed more than 18 meals per week, with no between-group differences. Online monitoring of nutrient targets for the intervention diet showed that all targets were achieved except for the fiber intake, which was 4.3 g less on average. Only 3% experienced a body weight change greater than 2.0 kg, and 3% had medication changes which were not allowed by the study. James’ blinding index at the end of the study was 0.68. The end digits of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings were distributed equally. For laboratory measures, 100% of standard samples, 97% of blood-split samples, and 87% of urine-split samples had test results within the acceptable range. Only 1.4% of data items required queries, for which only 30% needed corrections. Discussion The Diet, ExerCIse and CarDiovascular hEalth-Diet Study quality management system provides a framework for conducting a high-quality dietary intervention clinical trial.

Introduction We evaluated the impact of heating conventional cigarettes with a novel heated tobacco product (HTP) device on biomarkers and cigarette use patterns in Chinese adult smokers unwilling to quit smoking.Aims and Methods In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 50 eligible participants were allocated to either control group (smoking conventional cigarettes) or HTP device group (switching to using heated conventional cigarettes by the HTP device). Participants in the HTP device group went through a 2-day run-in period and then used heated conventional cigarettes exclusively for 5 days, followed by flexible use for 14 days. Five biomarkers of exposure (BoEs) were measured at baseline and on day 7. Thirteen biomarkers of biological effect (BoBEs) were measured at baseline and on day 21. Safety, daily cigarette consumption, craving, withdrawal symptoms, and device acceptability, were assessed.Results BoE levels decreased by 26.4 % to 71.4% from baseline in the HTP device group, while BoBE levels did not significantly change in either group. In the HTP group, 56% exclusively used heated conventional cigarettes during the flexible use period, experiencing reduced cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while dual users consumed more cigarettes. Mild to moderate device-related reactions were reported in 36% of users. Satisfaction, taste, and harm reduction belief scores averaged 7.4, 6.6, and 8.7 (out of 10), respectively.Conclusions Switching to heated conventional cigarettes with the HTP device may reduce short-term exposure to smoke toxicants. However, it can lead to increased tobacco use among dual users. Further investigation is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/), ChiCTR2200065055, October 26, 2022.Implications This study is the first to evaluate the impact of heating conventional cigarettes with a novel HTP device on health-related biomarkers and cigarette use patterns among Chinese adult smokers. This novel HTP device can directly heat conventional cigarettes without the necessity for specifically designed tobacco products, avoiding the potential additive risks of traditional HTPs. If the results of this study could be further verified by randomized controlled clinical trials with larger sample sizes, this novel HTP device could serve as a short-term harm reduction alternative for smokers unwilling to quit.

BACKGROUND:Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been implicated in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the exact roles and underlying mechanisms of multi-kingdom gut microbiota, including bacteria, archaea, and fungi, in PAH remain largely unclear. METHODS:The shotgun metagenomics was used to analyse multi-kingdom gut microbial communities in patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) and healthy controls. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was performed to transfer gut microbiota from IPAH patients or monocrotaline (MCT)-PAH rats to normal rats and from normal rats to MCT-PAH rats. FINDINGS:Gut microbiota analysis revealed substantial alterations in the bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities in patients with IPAH compared with healthy controls. Notably, FMT from IPAH patients or MCT-PAH rats induced PAH phenotypes in recipient rats. More intriguingly, FMT from normal rats to MCT-PAH rats significantly ameliorated PAH symptoms; restored gut bacteria, archaea, and fungi composition; and shifted the plasma metabolite profiles of MCT-PAH rats toward those of normal rats. In parallel, RNA-sequencing analysis demonstrated the expression of genes involved in key signalling pathways related to PAH. A panel of multi-kingdom markers exhibited superior diagnostic accuracy compared with single-kingdom panels for IPAH. INTERPRETATION:Our findings established an association between multi-kingdom gut microbiota dysbiosis and PAH, thereby indicating the therapeutic potential of FMT in PAH. More importantly, apart from gut bacteria, gut archaea and fungi were also significantly associated with PAH pathogenesis, highlighting their indispensable role in PAH. FUNDING:This work was supported by Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Projects No. 2024ZD0531200, No. 2024ZD0531201 (Research on Prevention and Treatment of Cancer, Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Respiratory Diseases, and Metabolic Diseases), the National Natural Science Foundation of China of China (No. 82170302, 82370432), Financial Budgeting Project of Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine (Ysbz2025004, Ysbz2025007), National clinical key speciality construction project Cardiovascular Surgery, Reform and Development Program of Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine (Ggyfz202417, Ggyfz202501), Clinical Research Incubation Program of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University (CYFH202209).

Background Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular comorbidities are prevalent in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), but their impact on in-hospital outcomes and the risk of readmission remains unclear. This study aimed to describe the proportions of these comorbidities and assess their influence on patient outcomes.Methods Hospital admission records from 2013 to 2020 with a primary discharge diagnosis of AECOPD were retrieved from Beijing Public Health Information Centre database. Comorbidities were identified through discharge diagnoses, while in-hospital outcomes and subsequent readmissions were tracked. Logistic regression model, generalised linear model and subdistributional hazard model were used to evaluate the associations between comorbidities and adverse outcomes.Results Among 98 127 patients, cardiovascular comorbidities were present in 78.3% of cases and cerebrovascular comorbidities were present in 30.3% of cases. Patients with cardiovascular comorbidities or cerebrovascular comorbidities or both had prolonged length of stay (ORs: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.35; 1.20, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.32; 1.52, 95% CI: 1.44 to 1.60) and higher in-hospital mortality (ORs: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.19 to 1.62; 1.34, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.75; 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.48) compared with those without these conditions. Patients with cardiovascular comorbidities and those with both cardiovascular and cerebrovascular comorbidities were at increased risk of readmission (HRs: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.19; 1.19, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.25), whereas cerebrovascular comorbidities alone were not. The impact of individual comorbidity varied, with heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, arrhythmia, hypertension, ischaemic stroke and cerebrovascular sequelae showing positive associations with adverse outcomes, but the opposite was observed for peripheral arterial disease, arterial stenosis and other cerebrovascular diseases.Conclusion Most cardiovascular comorbidities and major cerebrovascular comorbidities are significant predictors of length of stay, in-hospital mortality and readmission in AECOPD patients. These findings highlight the need for targeted management strategies to improve outcomes in this high-risk population. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying these associations.

ImportanceSalt substitution has been reported to be a cost-saving sodium reduction strategy that has not yet been replicated in different contexts.ObjectiveTo estimate the cost-effectiveness of sodium reduction strategies within the DECIDE-Salt trial.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThe DECIDE-Salt trial cluster randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio 48 eldercare facilities in China into 4 groups for evaluation of 2 sodium reduction strategies for 2 years: 1 with both strategies, 2 with either strategy, and 1 with neither strategy. The trial was conducted from September 25, 2017, through October 24, 2020.InterventionsThe 2 intervention strategies were replacing regular salt with salt substitute and progressively restricting salt supply to kitchens.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcomes included per-participant costs of intervention implementation and medical treatments for hypertension and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) against mean reductions in systolic blood pressure, hypertension prevalence, MACE incidence, and mortality. The incremental cost-utility ratio was then assessed as the additional mean cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Analyses were conducted separately for each strategy, comparing groups assigned and not assigned the test strategy. Disease outcomes followed the intention-to-treat principle and adopted different models as appropriate. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore uncertainty, and data analyses were performed between August 13, 2022, and April 5, 2023.ResultsA total of 1612 participants (1230 males [76.3%]) with a mean (SD) age of 71.0 (9.5) years were enrolled. Replacing regular salt with salt substitute reduced mean systolic blood pressure by 7.14 (95% CI, 3.79-10.48) mm Hg, hypertension prevalence by 5.09 (95% CI, 0.37-9.80) percentage points, and cumulative MACEs by 2.27 (95% CI, 0.09-4.45) percentage points. At the end of the 2-year intervention, the mean cost was $25.95 less for the salt substitute group than the regular salt group due to substantial savings in health care costs for MACEs (mean [SD], $72.88 [$9.11] vs $111.18 [$13.90], respectively). Sensitivity analysis showed robust cost savings. By contrast, the salt restriction strategy did not show significant results. If the salt substitution strategy were rolled out to all eldercare facilities in China, 48 101 MACEs and 107 857 hypertension cases were estimated to be averted and $54 982 278 saved in the first 2 years.Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this cluster randomized clinical trial indicate that salt substitution may be a cost-saving strategy for hypertension control and cardiovascular disease prevention for residents of eldercare facilities in China. The substantial health benefit savings in preventing MACEs and moderate operating costs offer strong evidence to support the Chinese government and other countries in planning or implementing sodium intake reduction and salt substitute campaigns.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03290716

MethodsIn this case report, we present an in-depth narrative of a patient who was subjected to mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for an obstruction in the main trunk and bifurcation of the left middle cerebral artery subsequent to Infective Endocarditis (IE). Initial intervention using a solitary-stent technique proved to be ineffective; thus, we shifted to a dual-stent strategy, which successfully recanalized the compromised blood vessel.ResultsThe dual-stent retriever method can be especially advantageous for treating persistent clots that occur at arterial bifurcations resisting the efforts of a single-stent retriever during the MT process.ConclusionDual-stent thrombectomy increases the likelihood of clot extraction due to its ability to encompass a larger area of the thrombus within the stent’s framework, potentially improving the clinical outcomes.

Purpose:Patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) exhibit heterogeneous responses to corticosteroid treatment. We aimed to determine whether combining eosinophil levels with other routine clinical indicators can enhance the predictability of corticosteroid treatment outcomes and to come up with a scoring system.Patients and Methods:Consecutive patients admitted with AECOPD receiving corticosteroid treatment between July 2013 and March 2022 at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Data on patients' demographics, smoking status, hospitalization for AECOPD in the previous year, comorbidities, blood laboratory tests, in-hospital treatment and clinical outcomes were collected. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and backward logistic regression were used for predictor selection, and predictive nomograms were developed. The discrimination and calibration of the nomograms were assessed using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and calibration plots. Internal validation was performed using the 500-bootstrap method, and clinical utility was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA).Results:Among the 3254 patients included, 804 (24.7%) had treatment failure. A nomogram of eosinophils, platelets, C-reactive protein (CRP), low density lipoprotein cholesterol, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), hospitalization for AECOPD in the previous year, ischemic heart diseases and chronic hepatic disease was developed to predict treatment failure for patients with a smoking history. For patients without a smoking history, a nomogram of CRP, PNI, ischemic heart diseases and chronic hepatic disease was developed. Although the AUCs of these two nomograms were only 0.644 and 0.647 respectively, they were significantly superior to predictions based solely on blood eosinophil levels.Conclusion:We developed easy-to-use comprehensive nomograms utilizing readily available clinical biomarkers related to inflammation, nutrition and immunity, offering modestly enhanced predictive value for treatment outcomes in corticosteroid-treated patients with AECOPD. Further investigations into novel biomarkers and additional patient data are imperative to optimize the predictive performance.

INTRODUCTION:Accurate evaluation of exacerbation frequency is an essential part of COPD assessment. But relying on just the prior-year exacerbation history may not capture the full picture of risk given the inherent year-to-year fluctuations in exacerbation rates. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of models incorporating the 3-year exacerbation history based on electronic medical record. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This retrospective cohort study included 86,501 COPD hospitalized patients in Beijing from 2008 to 2014. The annual frequency of COPD exacerbation hospitalizations over a 3-year period after the index hospitalization was calculated, with patients segmented into seven distinct exacerbation trajectory groups. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the predictive capability of the 3-year exacerbation history for exacerbation readmission in the fourth year. Predictors included age, sex, comorbidities, and exacerbation hospitalization in previous 1-3 years. Model performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS:Of the studied patients, 56.5% were men, and the mean age (SD) was 73.8 (10.3) years. The overall readmission rate for COPD exacerbation was 0.31 per person-year, with only 3.8% of patients persistently readmitted over three consecutive years. The 3-year trajectory of exacerbation frequency was associated with exacerbation risk in the fourth year. Compared to just the prior year, the inclusion of a 3-year exacerbation hospitalization history notably improved prediction accuracy, with AUC elevating from 0.731 (0.724-0.739) to 0.786 (0.779-0.792). CONCLUSION:These results unveil the fluctuating nature of COPD exacerbation hospitalization frequency across years and demonstrate that integrating a more comprehensive 3-year exacerbation history significantly refines the prediction model for future risk, thus providing a more nuanced and actionable insight for clinical care.

Background Recent studies have suggested elevated blood eosinophils are independent predictors of response to corticosteroid therapy in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Smoking status has been shown to affect corticosteroid response. Whether the association between high blood eosinophils and corticosteroid treatment failure is modified by smoking has not been fully investigated so far.Objectives This study aimed to assess whether the association between high blood eosinophils and corticosteroid treatment failure is modified by smoking.Methods We included 3402 inpatients with AECOPD treated with corticosteroids at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from July 2013 to June 2021. Blood eosinophil counts were measured within 24 hours of admission. An eosinophil percentage ≥2% was considered as high eosinophilic. Smokers in this study were defined as current or former smokers. Treatment failure was defined as a worsening of AECOPD that led to adverse clinical outcomes or required further treatment or an extended hospital stay or hospitalisation following the exacerbation. Multivariate-adjusted logistic models were used to estimate the OR and 95% CI associated with treatment failure.Results There were 958 (28.2%) treatment failure events occurring. Patients with high eosinophils had a lower risk of treatment failure (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.87) than patients with low eosinophils. Compared with never smoking and low eosinophilic group, the ORs for treatment failure were 0.70 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.96) for never smoking and high eosinophilic group, 0.82 (95% CI 0.64 to 1.05) for smoking and low eosinophilic group and 0.62 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.81) for smoking and high eosinophilic group. Furthermore, there was no significant interaction between eosinophils and smoking status in relation to treatment failure (p for interaction=0.73). Similar results were obtained from multiple secondary outcomes and subgroup analyses.Conclusion Elevated blood eosinophils are associated with a lower rate of corticosteroid treatment failure, regardless of smoking status. Smoking does not modify the association between blood eosinophil level and corticosteroid treatment failure among inpatients with AECOPD.

BackgroundThis study aimed to synthesize the recommendations for prediction models in cardiovascular clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and assess the methodological quality of the relevant primary modeling studies.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature search of all available cardiovascular CPGs published between 2018 and 2023 that presented specific recommendations (whether in support or non-support) for at least one multivariable clinical prediction model. For the guideline-recommended models, the assessment of the methodological quality of their primary modeling studies was conducted using the Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST).ResultsIn total, 46 qualified cardiovascular CPGs were included, with 69 prediction models and 80 specific recommendations. Of the 80 specific recommendations, 74 supported 57 models (53 were fully recommended and 4 were conditionally recommended) in cardiovascular practice with moderate to strong strength. Most of the guideline-recommended models were focused on predicting prognosis outcomes (53/57, 93%) in primary and tertiary prevention, focusing primarily on long-term risk stratification and prognosis management. A total of 10 conditions and 7 types of target population were involved in the 57 models, while heart failure (14/57, 25%) and a general population with or without cardiovascular risk factor(s) (12/57, 21%) received the most attention from the guidelines. The assessment of the methodological quality of 57 primary studies on the development of the guideline-recommended models revealed that only 40% of the modeling studies had a low risk of bias (ROB). The causes of high ROB were mainly in the analysis and participant domains.ConclusionsGlobal cardiovascular CPGs presented an unduly positive appraisal of the existing prediction models in terms of ROB, leading to stronger recommendations than were warranted. Future cardiovascular practice may benefit from well-established clinical prediction models with better methodological quality and extensive external validation.

Introduction Corticosteroid is one of the most commonly used medications in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The increasing understanding of these side-effects of systematic corticosteroids and their better response to treatment among patients with COPD with higher blood eosinophil counts has led to an interest in a more targeted approach to systematic corticosteroid treatment. However, there is a lack of evidence from high-quality randomised controlled trial (RCT) studies about whether initial systematic corticosteroids should be given to patients with AECOPD with elevated eosinophilia. The aim of the present research was to test this hypothesis. Methods and analysis This is a multicentre, double-blind, superiority RCT in the respiratory departments of 12 general hospitals in China. It is anticipated that 456 patients with AECOPD with a blood eosinophil count >2% or >300 cells/µL at admission will be recruited. Eligible patients will be randomised (1:1) to the intervention group receiving 40 mg oral prednisone daily or identical-appearing placebo (control group) for five consecutive days. Follow-up visits are performed during hospitalisation, followed by clinic interviews on days 30, 60 and 90 after discharge. The primary outcome is treatment failure rates comprising requiring or receiving invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation, requiring or transferring to intensive care unit during the index hospitalisation, length of index hospitalisation longer than 14 days, death during the index hospitalisation or within 30 days after discharge and readmission with acute exacerbations of COPD within 30 days after discharge. The results of this trial will provide insight into the value of using blood eosinophil counts as a biomarker of eosinophilic exacerbation and initiating systematic corticosteroid treatment for patients with AECOPD with higher eosinophil levels. Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Institutional Review Board (approval number: 2020-KE-544) and the main results and secondary results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number NCT05059873.

Objective:This study sought to develop a WeChat mini-program for smoking cessation behavioral interventions (named the WQ mini-program) and evaluate its usability, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy among Chinese smokers.Methods:The WQ mini-program was designed based on behavioral change theories and clinical practice guidelines, and clinical smoking cessation experts participated in the development process. Fifty Chinese smokers and five software experts were involved in a single-arm trial. Smokers were asked to use the WQ mini-program at least once a day for 4 weeks and to complete a weekly online follow-up questionnaire. Software experts were asked to complete an online follow-up questionnaire after using all functions of the WQ mini-program. Primary outcomes were usability and acceptability of and satisfaction with the mini-program tested by the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). Self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) was used to evaluate its preliminary efficacy for smoking cessation. Optimization suggestions for the mini-program were collected from all participants through an open-ended question at the last follow-up and were analyzed by thematic analysis.Results:The mean SUS and MARS total scores for the WQ mini-program as evaluated by smokers were 82.1 ± 13.8 and 84.5 ± 3.3 and by software experts were 4.21 ± 0.32 and 4.27 ± 0.15, respectively. Most smokers reported being willing to recommend this mini-program to other smokers (85.4%) and would continue to use it (95.8%). The mean satisfaction score for the mini-program was 4.23 ± 0.69 (out of 5 points) among smokers. Self-reported 7-day PPA among smokers at the 4-week follow-up was 50% (25/50).Conclusions:This study demonstrated that the WQ mini-program would be a feasible and potentially effective method to encourage Chinese smokers to quit smoking. However, future research is needed to confirm its efficacy through a randomized controlled trial.

The VEST (Vest Prevention of Early Sudden Death Trial) showed a trend toward decreased sudden death and lower overall mortality with a wearable cardioverter-defibril-lator (WCD) in the postmyocardial infarction (post-MI) period. However, it is unclear which patients should receive WCD therapy. We aimed to identify the risk factors for arrhythmic death, all-cause mortality, and ventricular tachyarrhythmias requiring appro-priate shock to identify patients most likely to benefit from a WCD. The VEST trial included patients with acute MI with ejection fraction <= 35%. Using logistic regression, 7 risk factors were evaluated for association with arrhythmic death, all-cause mortality, and appropriate shock. Among 2,302 participants, 44 had arrhythmic death (1.9%) and 86 died of any cause (3.7%). Among 1,524 participants randomized to WCD, 20 experienced appropriate shock (1.3%) over 90 days. In the multivariable analyses, lower systolic blood pressure (SBP; odds ratio [OR] 1.64 per 10 mm Hg) and higher heart rate at discharge (OR 1.19 per 10 beats/min) were associated with arrhythmic death. Lower SBP (OR 1.37) and higher heart rate (OR 1.10) were associated with all-cause mortality. Higher heart rate (OR 1.20) was associated with appropriate shock. Patients with both SBP <= 100 and heart rate >= 100 were at increased odds of arrhythmic death (OR 4.82), all-cause mortality (OR 3.10), and appropriate shock (OR 6.13). In patients with acute MI and reduced ejec-tion fraction, lower SBP and higher heart rate at discharge were strongly associated with arrhythmic death and all-cause mortality. In conclusion, these risk factors identify a select group at high risk of adverse events in a setting where WCD therapy is reasonable.

BACKGROUND:Healthy diet is essential for cardiovascular disease risk management, but its effects among Chinese patients, whose diets differ from Western diets, remain largely unknown. METHODS:In this multicenter, patient- and outcome assessor-blind, randomized controlled feeding trial, 265 Chinese adults with baseline systolic blood pressure 130 to 159 mmHg were randomly assigned into Chinese heart-healthy (CHH) diet or usual diet for a 28-d intervention after a 7-d run-in period on usual diet. Blood lipids and glucose were measured from overnight fasting blood samples before and after the intervention. Ten-year cardiovascular disease risk was estimated using models previously developed and validated in Chinese. The changes in secondary outcomes of serum total cholesterol (TC), blood glucose, and 10-y cardiovascular disease risk over the intervention period were compared between intervention groups, adjusting for center, among participants with baseline and follow-up blood samples available. Sensitivity analyses were done with further adjustment for baseline values and covariables; missing data imputed; and among per-protocol population. RESULTS:Among 256 eligible participants (130 on CHH diet, 126 on control diet), 42% had hypercholesterolemia and 15% had diabetes at baseline. In the control group, TC and 10-y cardiovascular disease risk decreased after the intervention by 0.16 mmol/L and 0.91%, respectively, but blood glucose increased by 0.25 mmol/L. Compared with usual diet, the CHH diet lowered TC (-0.14 mmol/L, P = 0.017) and 10-y cardiovascular disease risk (-1.24%, P = 0.001) further. No effect on blood glucose was found. All sensitivity analyses confirmed the results on TC and 10-y cardiovascular disease risk, and analysis with multiple variables adjusted showed a borderline significant effect on blood glucose (-0.17 mmol/L, P = 0.051). The differences in intake of nutrients and food groups between intervention groups explained the results. CONCLUSIONS:The CHH diet reduced TC and 10-y cardiovascular disease risk and was likely to reduce blood glucose among Chinese adults with mild hypertension. Further studies with longer terms are warranted. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03882645.

Purpose: Blood eosinophil is a promising biomarker for phenotyping patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of eosinophil on short-and long-term outcomes stratified by corticosteroid treatment among AECOPD inpatients.Patients and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included patients hospitalized for AECOPD from July 2013 to June 2021 in Beijing, China. Clinical data were collected from electronic medical records. The blood eosinophil count was measured within 24h after admission. Eosinophilic AECOPD was defined as having an eosinophil percentage & GE; 2%. The study outcomes were length of stay (LOS), treatment failure, and AECOPD readmission risk within 3 years of discharge. Multivariable models were used to analyze the associations between blood eosinophil count and outcomes stratified by corticosteroid treatment during hospitalization.Results: A total of 2406 AECOPD patients were included. The median LOS of AECOPD patients was 10 (interquartile range: 8-14) days. The eosinophil percentage was negatively associated with LOS (P-trend=0.014). Compared with the non-eosinophilic AECOPD group, the eosinophilic group had a 58% lower risk of treatment failure (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.20-0.89) in patients treated with systemic corticosteroids, but no association was observed in those treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) only (OR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.60-1.52). The eosinophilic group had an increased risk of 90-day re-admission in patients treated with ICS only (HR=1.51, 95% CI: 1.00-2.29), but not in patients treated with systemic corticosteroids during hospitalization (HR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.39-1.15). No statistically significant results were found for 180-day, 1-year, or 3-year readmission risk.Conclusion: Elevated blood eosinophils in AECOPD were associated with shorter length of stay and improved response to treatment with systemic corticosteroids, but not inhaled corticosteroids. Our study suggested that a therapeutic approach of using systemic corticosteroid may benefit patients present with eosinophilic AECOPD.

Purpose To discover potential inflammatory biomarkers, which can compare favorably with traditional biomarkers, and their best cut-offs at first admission to predict clinical outcomes (short-term and long-term) and the risk of readmission among acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) patients. Patients and Methods Novel inflammatory biomarkers (such as the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet–lymphocyte ratio [PLR], etc.) were compared with traditional biomarkers by Pearson’s correlation test. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to judge the accuracy of these novel biomarkers to predict in-hospital mortality. Results Surviving AECOPD patients had lower NLR, PLR, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratios than non-survival patients (all P < 0.001). According to Pearson’s correlation test, there was a linear correlation between novel and traditional biomarkers (all P < 0.05). In terms of a single biomarker, the AUC value of NLR was the largest, which was not inferior to C-reactive protein (Z-P = 0.064), and superior to erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Z-P = 0.002) and other novel single inflammatory biomarkers (all Z-P < 0.05). The mortality of patients with NLR ≥ 4.43 was 2.308-fold higher than that of patients with NLR < 4.43. After dividing patients into a higher or lower NLR group, pooled results showed that patients with NLR ≥ 4.43 had a higher rate of treatment failure, intensive care unit admission, longer hospital length of stay, one-year mortality after the index hospitalization, and overall mortality than patients with NLR < 4.43 (all P < 0.001). Patients with NLR ≥ 4.43 were associated with higher and earlier first readmission due to AECOPD than patients with lower NLR. Conclusion NLR was the best to forecast the clinical prognosis and readmission risk among AECOPD patients, which was not inferior to CRP, and the best cut-off value of NLR was 4.43.

DECIDE-Diet trial was taken as a case to introduce the methods of blinding and blinding assessment for feeding trials, report the details of blinding, conduct a blinding survey and calculate Jame's BI and Bang's BI. Jame's BI was 0.683 (95% CI: 0.593~0.772). The Bang's BI for the intervention group was 0.340 (95% CI: 0.199~0.481), and for the control group was 0.086 (95% CI: -0.060~0.231). The blinding of the DECIDE)-Diet was generally successful, but the intervention group may infer their group to a certain extent. Feeding trials should report the details of blinding and consider blinding assessment.