Background The inflammatory response plays essential roles in the pathological process and prognosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This research investigated the predictive value of the neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) for PD. Methods Patients with PD (n = 98) were divided into three groups according to disease duration: < 6 years (n = 55), 6–10 years (n = 29) and > 10 years (n = 14). Based on the classification system of Hoehn and Yahr, grades 1 ~ 2.5 were considered early-stage PD (n = 44), and grades 3 ~ 5 were considered advanced-stage PD (n = 54). In addition, healthy subjects (n = 98) matched to the above PD patients in the same period were selected as the control group. Differences in the NHR, NLR, MHR and other indicators among the groups were evaluated. Results Smoking, drinking, the neutrophil count and the NHR and NLR were remarkably greater and hypertension, index of body mass, the lymphocyte count, and the levels of cholesterol in total, triglycerides, lipoprotein cholesterol with low density and uric acid were sharply lower in the PD group compared with in the control group. Analysis of multifactor logistic regression indicated that the NHR (odds ratio (adjusted OR) = 1.576, 95% CI: 1.053 ~ 2.358, P = 0.027) and NLR (adjusted OR = 1.734, 95% CI: 1.046 ~ 2.876, P = 0.033) were factors of risk for PD, while the MHR was not significantly correlated with PD. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) for the prediction of PD by the NHR and NLR were 0.654 (95% CI: 0.583 ~ 0.721, P = 0.0001) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.62 ~ 0.754, P < 0.0001), respectively, and the optimal cutoff values were 1.848 × 109/mmol and 2.62 × 109/mmol. Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated that the NHR was correlated with the disease duration significantly negatively and that the MHR was positively correlated with disease severity. Conclusions In summary, the NHR not only has strong predictive value for PD but is also closely related to disease duration. The NHR may be a better prediction for the long-period clinical results in PD patients than the MHR and NLR. Trial registration Clinical medical reserach center project of Qinghai Province (2017-SF-L1).

Chronic hypobaric hypoxia in high-altitude areas can affect the functions of the heart, 1 cerebrovascular system, and respiratory system, impair cognition, accelerate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, seriously affect the normal physiological function of body systems, and even cause systemic diseases. 2 Qinghai Province is located in northwestern China, with an average elevation of more than 3200 meters. Its natural hypobaric hypoxic environment provides a unique advantage for studying neurological diseases caused by chronic hypoxia. In recent years, with the increase in construction on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the need for development in the western region of China, a large number of engineers, scholars, and other relevant personnel from low-altitude areas have entered the plateau, which is likely to cause prominent public health problems with regard to the neurological system in the plateau area of China.Therefore, the study of neurological diseases caused by chronic hypobaric hypoxic environments has broad prospects.To date, research investigating neurological diseases caused by chronic hypoxia in international academic research has mainly focuses on the fields of cerebrovascular diseases, brain cognitive function, and nervous system degenerative diseases. 3 However, few studies have investigated the relationship between chronic hypoxia and epilepsy. In addition, the treatment of epilepsy focuses on the control of symptoms after the onset of epilepsy, 4 and there is a lack of in-depth studies on the early prevention and treatment of epilepsy and the geographical characteristics of its onset. Acute hypoxia can lead to epileptic seizures, and its clinical manifestations

Background: Although the monocyte/high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) has been shown to be a potential marker of inflammatory of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, there are few studies on its relationships with the degree of intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis and the stenosis distribution.Methods: In total, 271 patients were admitted for digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination and were classified into a non-stenosis group and a stenosis group. (1) The two groups were compared and the arteries were categorized according to the degree of intracranial or extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (if ≥two branches were stenotic, the artery with the most severe stenosis was used). (2) Clinical baseline data and laboratory indexes of patients grouped according to stenosis location (intracranial vs. extracranial) were collected.Results: (1) MHR × 102 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.119, p &lt; 0.001], age (OR = 1.057, p = 0.007), and lymphocyte count (OR = 0.273, p = 0.002) significantly affected the presence of cerebral atherosclerotic stenosis, with an MHR area of 0.82 under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and an optimal diagnostic value of 0.486. Analyses of the moderate, mild, and severe stenosis groups showed that MHR × 102 (OR = 1.07, p &lt; 0.001) significantly affected the severity of stenosis in patients. (2) In the analysis of stenosis at different sites, the rate of extracranial artery stenosis in patients who smoked (OR = 3.86, p = 0.023) and had a reduced lymphocyte level (OR = 0.202, p = 0.001) was remarkably greater than that in patients who smoked (OR = 3.86, p = 0.023). With increasing age, the rate of extracranial artery stenosis raised sharply. With the increase in the MHR level, the stenosis rate of each group was highly greater than that of the non-stenosis group.Conclusion: The MHR has a predictive value for the diagnosis of extracranial and intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis and is correlated with the degree and distribution of stenosis.Trial Registration: Clinical Medical Research Center Project of Qinghai Province (2017-SF-L1). Qinghai Provincial Health Commission Project (Grant #2020-wjzdx-29).

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Background and objectivesThe epidemiology of stroke at high altitudes has not been extensively studied, especially at heights of 4000 m and above. Thus, stroke prevention and treatment at high altitudes are challenging. We conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of stroke, the detection rate of individuals at high risk of stroke and the risk factors for stroke in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China, a high altitude plateau that inhabits approximately 15 million people.DesignA population-based cross-sectional study in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.SettingData were collected from participants through face-to-face screening using a primary screening table. The table relied on the China National Stroke Screening and Prevention Project.ParticipantsA total of 10 700 residents aged ≥40 years and living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau for more than 6 months participated from January 2019 to December 2021.Main outcome measuresThe primary screening table included basic demographic information, medical history information, personal lifestyle habits and physical examination information.ResultsA total of 10 056 people were included in the analysis. The prevalence of stroke was 2.3% (95% CI 2.0% to 2.6%), and the detection rate of individuals at high risk of stroke was 26.2% (95% CI 25.3% to 27.0%). The prevalence of stroke and the detection rate of individuals at high risk of stroke increased with altitude (p<0.01), and the prevalence of stroke at high altitudes was almost 2.2 times that at mid-altitudes (p<0.01). After full adjustments, age, residence, hypertension, family history of stroke and smoking were significantly associated with stroke (p<0.05).ConclusionsThe prevalence of stroke, the related risk factors and the detection rate of high-risk individuals were clarified. The prevalence rates of hypertension, overweight or obesity and diabetes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were all higher than the Chinese average. Higher-altitude exposure may be an independent risk factor for stroke.

In this paper, a gain-scheduled equivalent-cascade internal-model-control (IMC) tuning method for water level control system of nuclear steam generator is presented. First, a water level control system for a steam generator is transferred into an equivalent cascade-feedforward control system. Second, analytical tuning rules for the equivalent cascade control system are derived based on the IMC-(proportional-integral-derivative) PID method, which can simultaneously tune the primary/secondary loops and avoid the re-identification step. Finally, gain scheduling is performed to eliminate the influence of process nonlinearity. The experimental results of nuclear simulation platform have demonstrated the superiority of the proposed tuning method.

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Purpose This study aims to build an indigenous Chinese management model based on Chinese culture. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts new institutionalism as its theoretical foundation, examines the core values of Chinese civilization in retrospect and identifies the key features of a Chinese management model. In this study, the authors develop a “glacier model” and test its reliability with the Haier Group. Findings This study proposes a new definition for a management model: a knowledge system based on institutional civilization that reflects management theory and practice. It analyzes the institutional environment of Chinese civilization: the recessive bottom-most layers are CBTLG (Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, legalism and Guan theory) and MDSX (Mao Zedong thought, Deng Xiaoping theory, scientific thoughts of development and Xi Jinping thought), the dominant principles are “Socialism and Mixed Economy” and the core values of Chinese culture compose the layer between them. This study concludes that the distinguishing features of Chinese management are harmonious management, the order-diversity pattern and Tai Chi management. Research limitations/implications This paper only discussed the management model of China. Based on the conclusions of this paper, in the future, researchers comparative studies on Chinese management and other countries’ management models with glacier model. By so doing, people can have a more comprehensive understanding of management models of different cultures. Practical implications The management characteristics contained in Chinese culture can provide more abundant knowledge for understanding current organizational management issues. A better understanding of the characteristics of a Chinese management model based on Chinese civilization is conducive to foreign investment or cross-cultural cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises. Originality/value This study provides a new perspective in studying Chinese management. The theoretical values of the glacier model are as follows: it is rooted in a Chinese management context; it makes up for the insufficiency in the current study of institutionalism; and it guides cross-cultural communication and management. The authors hope that the study attracts the attention of more scholars. Any civilization of any region or country can construct its own management model using the frame of the glacier model.