Background This study was performed to compare different surgical approaches in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. Methods We conducted a literature search to identify and analyze papers published from January 1966 to April 2018 relevant to comparison of the anterior, posterior, and anterior combined with posterior approaches in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis of the thoracic and lumbar regions. Results Twenty-five studies involving 2295 patients were identified in this systematic review. The operative time was significantly longer in the anterior combined with posterior approach than in the other two approaches. Blood loss was significantly greater in the anterior combined with posterior approach (1125.0 ± 275.5 mL) than in the posterior approach (710.4 ± 192.4 mL). The difference in correction of the kyphosis angle among the three procedures was not significant. The overall surgical and transthoracic complications were significantly lower in the posterior approach. The clinical outcome of all patients improved, but there was no significant difference among the three procedures. Conclusions Blood loss, overall surgical and transthoracic complications, and the operative time are different among the three approaches. Therefore, different factors must be carefully assessed in deciding among the three procedures.

Chinese clinical biobanks were built rapidly in grade A tertiary hospitals. However, the general information of biorepositories in China remained largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the size, collections, biospecimens distribution and other characteristics of Chinese biobanks in grade A tertiary hospitals. In 2018, we launched a national survey among biobank leaders to provide a comprehensive understanding of Chinese grade A tertiary hospital biobanks. A total of 70 biobank managers or directors completed an online questionnaire to collect information about the biorepositories. Nearly 20% of biobanks stored over one million specimens, while almost one-third of biobanks stored 50–200,000 specimens. In general, plasma and serum were the specimens most commonly stored. For the use of collections, biospecimens were most commonly applied by internal clinical departments. Further analyses revealed that the large-scale biobanks were characterized by earlier establishment, more types of specimens in storage and distribution compared with small-scale biobanks. Moreover, specimens in large-scale biobanks were more commonly used for basic research (62.86% vs. 34.29%, P = 0.017) and clinical research (57.14% vs. 28.57%, P = 0.016). Large-scale biobanks also had more opportunities to cooperate with domestic research institutes (34.29% vs. 5.71%, P = 0.003). Our survey revealed diversity in collections, distribution and utilization of biospecimens among Chinese grade A tertiary hospital biobanks. Although the biobanks had relatively large collections, the underutilization of stored biospecimens and lack of sharing could hamper clinical and biological research.

Aims: To evaluate the relationship between newly diagnosed diabetes or prediabetes and depressive symptoms among individuals with risk factors for diabetes in China.We also investigated the associations of depressive symptoms with pancreatic β-cell function and insulin resistance. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the Shanghai High-Risk Diabetic Screen (SHiDS) project. Between 2014 and 2017, a total of 1728 participants were enrolled in this study and underwent an oral glucose tolerance test to screen for diabetes and prediabetes. Insulin resistance was evaluated using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and the modified Matsuda index. Pancreatic β-cell function was calculated using the homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function, Stumvoll firstand second-phase indexes. Elevated depressive symptoms were determined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10). Results: The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms in the total study population was 4.8% (83 of 1728). Compared with the normal glucose tolerance group, individuals with newly diagnosed diabetes were less likely to have elevated depressive symptoms even after controlling for potential confounders [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.68; P = 0.002]. However, prediabetes was not associated with depressive symptoms. The odds for elevated depressive symptoms were increased in individuals with higher levels of the Stumvoll first-phase index. No association was observed between depressive symptoms and insulin resistance. Conclusion: Elevated depressive symptoms were less prevalent in Chinese individuals with newly diagnosed diabetes among a high-risk population for diabetes. How to cite this article: Xu J, Bian Z, Zhang Y, et al. Depressive symptoms in Chinese adults with risk factors for diabetes: the Shanghai High-Risk Diabetic Screen (SHiDS) study. Diabetic Medicine.

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IntroductionThe relationship between tea consumption and glucose metabolism remains controversial. This study investigated the associations of tea consumption with impaired glucose regulation, insulin secretion and sensitivity in Shanghai High-risk Diabetic Screen project.Research design and methodsA total of 2337 Chinese subjects were enrolled in the study from 2014 to 2019. Each participant conducted a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with five-point glucose and insulin level examined. They also completed a nurse-administered standard questionnaire including tea, coffee, and alcohol consumption, smoking habit, physical activity, education, sleep quality, etc.ResultsThe result showed that tea consumption was positively associated with plasma glucose levels during OGTT after adjusting for confounder (Ps <0.05) and was associated with worsening glucose tolerance (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01–1.44; p=0.034). Strong tea consumption or long-term tea intake (>10 years) had an increased risk of glucose intolerance (all p<0.05). These associations did not vary in participants drinking green tea. In addition, insulin secretion indexes were decreased 7.0%–13.0% in tea consumption group. Logistic regression analysis showed that tea consumption was independently associated with lower insulin secretion (homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68–0.97; p=0.021); Stumvoll first-phase index (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68–0.97; p=0.020)) in a fully adjusted model. Green tea consumption showed a negative association with insulin secretion (HOMA-β (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62–0.96; p=0.019)).ConclusionsTea intake is associated with an increased risk of glucose intolerance in a large high-risk diabetic Chinese population. Habitual tea consumption subjects might have lower pancreatic β-cell function.

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Biobanks are important research infrastructure developed rapidly by Chinese hospitals. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between the comprehensive research competitiveness of hospitals and the development of hospital biobanks. In 2018, we conducted a national survey among Chinese biobank managers and directors. An online questionnaire was used to collect data of biobank characteristics. Of the 70 academic hospital biobanks responded to our survey, 49 of their hospitals were listed in the Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics (STEM) and 46 of their hospitals were listed in the Fudan Hospital Rankings, respectively, in 2018. Hospital scores from the STEM and Fudan Hospital Rankings were identified from their official websites. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations of STEM scores and Fudan Hospital Rankings with the scale of biobanks. The overall STEM score, Scientific and Technological Output, and Academic Impact in hospitals with large‐scale biobanks were 48.35%, 55.16%, and 58.65% higher than those with small‐scale biobanks, respectively. The scale of biobanks was positively associated with STEM score (β = 0.367, p = 0.009), Scientific and Technological Output (β = 0.441, p = 0.001), and Academic Impact (β = 0.304, p = 0.044) after adjustment for potential confounders. For Fudan Hospital Rankings, the comprehensive score and sustainable development ability score were higher in hospitals with large‐scale biobanks. Further analyses showed that the scale of the biobanks was positively associated with a higher comprehensive score (β = 0.313, p = 0.037) and a sustainable development ability score (β = 0.463, p < 0.001). The scale of hospital biobanks was positively associated with the research competitiveness of Chinese hospitals.