BackgroundSeafarers have reported impaired health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Social support might increase HRQOL, but little is known about this association among Chinese seafarers. The aim of this study was to describe social support and explore its association with HRQOL among Chinese seafarers.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in the ports of Nantong and Rugao, China, from April to December 2013. A total of 917 Chinese seafarers were interviewed on social support, mental distress, perceived occupational stress, and HRQOL using the following self-administered questionnaires: The Social Support Rating Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, Occupational Stress Questionnaire, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Hierarchical linear regression modelling was used to analyze the association between seafarers’ subjective level of social support and their HRQOL.ResultsOf the 917 male Chinese seafarers included in the study, 40.7% perceived high levels of social support, and 39.1% were highly satisfied with their overall quality of life (QOL). Hierarchical regression analysis showed significant associations between level of social support and all health dimensions in the WHOQOL-BREF, even after adjusting for depressive symptoms, occupational stress, occupational activities, sleep duration, and other relevant covariates. Compared with the medium or low level social support group, seafarers with a high level of social support had better QOL scores in the general facet health and QOL (β = 2.43, p<0.05), and the physical health (β = 3.23, p<0.001), psychological health (β = 5.56, p<0.001), social relation (β = 6.07, p<0.001), and environment domains (β = 4.27, p<0.001). In addition, depression, occupational stress, occupational activities, and sleep duration were found to be determinants of seafarers’ HRQOL.ConclusionsChinese seafarers have poorer HRQOL than the general population, but social support has a significant positive effect on their HRQOL. Efforts to improve social support should be undertaken.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) varies worldwide due to genetic and environmental factors. A population-based cross-sectional study, with 37,582 participants recruited in Nantong, China in 2007-2008 (stage I) and 2013 (stage II). Socio-demographic, lifestyle factors, disease history and fasting blood sample were collected. The prevalence of MS was much higher in 2013 (42.6%) than that in 2007-2008 (21.6%), which was significantly higher in older people in both stages. Participants with two or more familial history of diseases were associated with a higher MS prevalence compared to those who didn’t have familial history of diseases. Total physical activity (PA) was associated with 24 and 19% decreased risk of MS in men and women. Occupational PA in moderate and vigorous intensity was associated with a 25%-45% decreased risk of MS. Female smokers who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day or over 25 years were associated with 96 and 74% increased MS risk, respectively. The highest quartile of rice wine consumption was associated with a lower risk of MS with OR of 0.63 in women, compared with female non-drinkers. These findings indicated that PA and rice wine are two protective factors in MS prevention in rural areas of East China.

Background Whether repeat surgical resection (RSR) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a better option for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection for primary HCC remains controversial. This study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of RSR versus RFA in the treatment of recurrent HCC at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0/A after resection of primary HCC. Methods The patients treated by RSR (n=57) or RFA (n=51) for recurrent BCLC stage 0/A HCC in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University and Third Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical University from January 2008 to March 2018 were included. The general condition, clinicopathological characteristics, and survival were analyzed, and the baseline features and long-term survival were compared between two groups. Results The baseline characteristics were comparable between two groups. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 96.5%, 80.9%, and 60.6% in RSR group, respectively, and 96.1%, 76.8%, and 59.4% in RFA group, respectively (P=0.48). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates after treatment for recurrent HCC were 78.9%, 50.5%, and 29.7% in RSR group, respectively, and 80.3%, 50.9%, and 26.0% in RFA group, respectively (P=0.67). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 68.4%, 39.4%, and 26.6% in RSR group, respectively, and 62.8%, 32.8%, and 20.4% in RFA group, respectively (P=0.55). The incidence of treatment-related complications was significantly higher in the RSR than in the RFA group (42.11% vs. 11.76%, P<0.001). The median hospital stay was significantly shorter in the RFA than in the RSR group (3 vs. 9 days, P<0.001). Conclusions RSR and RFA have similar survival benefits in the treatment of recurrent BCLC stage 0/A HCC. RFA is superior to RSR in terms of hospital stay and incidence of treatment-related complications.

MS: Metabolic syndrome; WC: Waist circumference; TG: Triglycerides; HDL-c: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; BP: Blood pressure; SBP: Systolic blood pressure, DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; PA: Physical activity; JIS: Joint Interim Statement; CVD: Cardiovascular disease; ATP III: US Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program, the Adult Treatment Panel; IDF: International Diabetes Federation; IPAQ: International Physical Activity Questionnaire; BMI: Body mass index; CDC: the Nantong Centers for Disease Control; OR: Odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; SD: Standard deviation; IQR: Interquartile range.

We evaluated how metabolic disorders affected antihypertension therapy. 2,912 rural Chinese patients with hypertension who provided blood samples, demographic and clinical data at baseline and after 1 year of antihypertension therapy were evaluated. At baseline, 1,515 patients (52.0%) were already receiving drug therapy and 11.4% of them had controlled blood pressure (BP). After 1 year, all 2,912 patients were receiving antihypertension therapy that was administered by community physicians, and 59.42% of them had controlled BP. Central obesity and abnormal triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose were associated with 15–70% higher risks of uncontrolled hypertension. Metabolic syndrome using the JIS criteria was associated with poor BP control (odds ratio: 1.71 and 1.54 for the baseline and follow-up datasets, respectively). The risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased with the number of metabolic disorders (p for trend <0.01). The presence of ≥3 metabolic disorder factors was associated with higher risks of poor BP control. The associations of metabolic factors and uncontrolled hypertension were stronger for the standard and modified ATP III criteria, compared to the IDF and JIS criteria. Metabolic factors were associated with less effective antihypertension therapy, and all definitions of metabolic syndrome helped identify patients with elevated risks of uncontrolled hypertension.