Hypertension is becoming an important health problem in many countries. The 'small baby syndrome hypothesis' suggests that an inverse linear relationship exists between birth weight and later risk of hypertension; however, this relationship is under debate. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the association between birth weight and subsequent blood pressure. Among 78 studies reporting on the association between birth weight and subsequent blood pressure, 20 articles (reporting 27 original studies) were eligible for inclusion. Low birth weight (< 2500 g) compared with birth weight greater than 2500 g was associated with an increased risk of hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13, 1.30); high birth weight (> 4000 g) compared with birth weight less than 4000 g was associated with a decreased risk of hypertension (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.71, 0.86). When low birth weight (< 2500 g) was compared with birth weight greater than 2500 g, mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased by 2.28 mmHg (95% CI 1.24, 3.33); when high birth weight (> 4000 g) was compared with birth weight less than 4000 g, mean SBP decreased by 2.08 mmHg (95% CI -2.98, -1.17). These findings indicate that there is an inverse linear association between birth weight and later risk of hypertension, and that this association primarily exists between birth weight and SBP.

Neither positively linear nor J- or U-shaped relations exist between birth weight and overweight/obesity in adults. It is high birth weight, not low birth weight, that is associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity in adults.

These findings suggested that there was a positive correlation between Chinese traditional dietary pattern and healthy BMI and BMD and that this same association existed between calcium food pattern and BMD in Chinese freshmen. In contrast, the Western-style diet was negatively correlated with healthy BMI in Chinese freshmen.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a mobile health smartphone application to support self-management programmes on quality of life, self-management behaviour and exercise and smoking cessation behaviour in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design: A randomised controlled, single-blind trial, was carried out from November 2017 to February 2019, which included 78 participants admitted with COPD to the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University in Guizhou. The study participants were randomised into intervention ( n = 39) and control groups ( n = 39). Methods: Participants in the intervention group undertook a mobile medical application-based programme in addition to routine care, and participants in the control group received only routine care. The outcome measures were health-related quality of life evaluated by the COPD Assessment-Test, self-management behaviour using the COPD Self-Management Scale and physical activity and smoking behaviour were measured using a self-designed questionnaire. Data collection was conducted at baseline, third month, sixth month and 12th months. Results: Thirty-five participants in the intervention group and 33 in the control group completed the study. Compared to the control group, participants in the intervention group showed statistically significant improvement in the COPD -Assessment -Test scores ( P < 0.01) and in all domains of the COPD Self-Management Scale scores ( P < 0.01) at 12th 12 months. Improvements in the COPD -Assessment -Test scores by 4.3 and 0.3 units, and in the total scores of the COPD Self-Management Scale total score by 23.01 and 2.28 units, respectively, were observed in the intervention and control groups, respectively over the 12-month study period. Meanwhile, the mobile health application programme also improved participants’ exercise and smoking cessation behaviour. Conclusions: The mobile health smartphone application to support self-management programmes was effective in improving health-related quality of life and self-management behaviour in patients with COPD. Trial registration: This study was registered in Chinese clinicaltrials.gov

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Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led self-management program on outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design: A randomized controlled, single-blind trial, carried out from October 2017 to December 2018, included 154 participants admitted with COPD to the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University in Guizhou, (randomized into intervention (n = 77) and control groups (n = 77)). Materials and Methods: Participants in the intervention group underwent a nurseled self-management program in addition to routine care, and participants of the control group received only routine care. The main outcome measures were COPDrelated readmission and emergency department visits, the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) test for measurement of exercise capacity, the St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for measurement of health-related quality of life, and the COPD Transitional Care Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (CTCPSQ) for measurement of satisfaction. Data collection was conducted at baseline (T1) and after 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 12 mo (T4). FindingsCompared to the control group, participants in the intervention group showed significantly fewer COPD-related hospital admissions (P = 0.03) and emergency department visits (P = 0.001) and higher total CTCPSQ scores (P = 0.001) at 12 mo.Meanwhile, analysis of variance showed a significantly greater improvement in exercise capacity and health status over time in the nurse-led program group than in the control group, P < 0.001. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the nurse-led self-management program was effective in decreasing hospital readmissions and emergency department visits and improving exercise capacity, health-related quality of life and satisfaction for patients with COPD.

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Negative ion air purifiers (NIAPs), as a less costly alternative to the HEPA filtration, have been increasingly deployed in China and potentially elsewhere. While reducing indoor concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), NIAPs generate massive amounts of negative ions that may be of health concern. We performed week‐long interventions with NIAPs in the dormitories of 56 healthy college students living in Beijing. In a randomized order, each student underwent a true and a sham NIAP session. Cardiorespiratory outcomes were measured before and after each session. The use of true NIAPs reduced indoor PM2.5 concentrations significantly, while notably increased negative ion levels. Increases in PM2.5 and negative ion (NI) exposure were independently associated with increased urinary concentration of malondialdehyde, a biomarker of systemic oxidative stress, resulting in a null net effect of NIAP on malondialdehyde. Likewise, no significant net effects of NIAPs were observed for other outcomes indicative of lung function, vascular tone, arterial stiffness, and inflammation. Our findings suggest that negative ions, possibly along with their reaction products with the room air constituents, adversely affect health. The downsides do not support the use of NIAPs as a health‐based mitigation strategy to reduce PM2.5 exposure, especially in residences with PM2.5 concentrations that are not extremely high.