Journal of Southern Medical University 

About: Journal of Southern Medical University is an academic journal published by Editorial of Southern Medical University. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Apoptosis. It has an ISSN identifier of 1673-4254. Over the lifetime, 4531 publications have been published receiving 12546 citations. The journal is also known as: Journal of Southern Medical University.

[Mental health status and its influencing factors among college students during the epidemic of COVID-19]

Abstract: Objective To investigate the mental health status of college students during the epidemic of COVID-19 and identify the factors influencing the mental health of the students. Methods Using a general questionnaire, a self-designed new coronavirus pneumonia knowledge and cognitive behavior questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), we conducted an internet-based questionnaire survey of 3881 college students in Guangdong Province. A multinomial-logistic regression model was used to analyze the collected data. Results The survey showed that 69.47% of the college students had a high level of awareness of COVID-19; the overall incidence of anxiety was 26.60%, and the incidences of mild, moderate and severe anxiety were 23.19%, 2.71%, and 0.70%, respectively. Depressive emotions were detected in 21.16% of the students, and the incidences of mild, moderate, and moderate-to-severe depression were 16.98%, 3.17%, and 1.01%, respectively. The results of multivariate analysis showed that an older age was associated with a higher level of awareness of COVID-19 and greater changes in future health behaviors were associated with less anxiety and depression among the students. The students currently in rural areas, of non-medical majors, and reporting half of their information concerning the epidemic being negative were more likely to have anxiety; female gender, residence in suburbs, a drinking history, and excessive negative information concerning the epidemic were all associated with the likeliness of depression. Conclusions The college students have different levels of anxiety and depression during the epidemic. Depression and anxiety are closely related, but the factors contributing to different levels of such emotions can be different, and colleges and related departments are urged to provide precision mental health education for college students.

Propensity score matching in SPSS

Abstract: Objective To realize propensity score matching in PS Matching module of SPSS and interpret the analysis results. Methods The R software and plug-in that could link with the corresponding versions of SPSS and propensity score matching package were installed. A PS matching module was added in the SPSS interface, and its use was demonstrated with test data. Results Score estimation and nearest neighbor matching was achieved with the PS matching module, and the results of qualitative and quantitative statistical description and evaluation were presented in the form of a graph matching. Conclusion Propensity score matching can be accomplished conveniently using SPSS software.

Risk factors for anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To identify the risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage following an anterior resection for rectal cancer. METHODS Between June, 1999 and June, 2009, 628 patients underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer. A retrospective study of the cases was performed to identify the risk factors for anastomotic leakage following the resection. RESULTS The overall incidence rate of anatomic leak was 8.6% (54/628) in these patients. A low albumin level (less than 35 g/L), diabetes, absence of a protective stoma, a distance less than 7 cm from the tumor to the anal edge, and a tumor diameter over 5 cm were identified as the risk factors for anastomotic leakage after anterior resection. CONCLUSION For patients at a high risk for anastomotic leakage, a protective stoma can significantly decrease the rate of clinical leaks and subsequent reoperation after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

[An increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio is an early warning signal of severe COVID-19]

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To identify the biomarkers as early warning signals for severe COVID-19. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 63 patients with COVID- 19 from Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, including 32 moderate cases and 31 severe cases. The demographic data, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations and laboratory test results were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors that predicted the severity of COVID-19. The receiver- operating characteristic curve (ROC) of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was calculated, and the area under the curve (AUC) was determined to estimate the optimal threshold of NLR for predicting severe cases of COVID-19. RESULTS: The patients with moderate and server COVID-19 showed significant differences in the rate of diabetes, NLR, serum amyloid A (SSA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum albumin (ALB) levels (P < 0.05). The co- morbidity of diabetes, NLR, SSA and CRP were found to positively correlate and ALB to inversely correlate with the severity of COVID-19 (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR was an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 (OR=1.264, 95% CI: 1.046-1.526, P=0.015) with an AUC of 0.831 (95% CI: 0.730-0.932), an optimal diagnostic threshold of 4.795, a sensitivity of 0.839, and a specificity of 0.750. CONCLUSIONS: An increased NLR can serve as an early warning signal of severe COVID-19.

Epidemiology of dengue fever in China since 1978

Abstract: Since 1978, dengue fever occurred endemically and epidemically every 4 to 7 years in China, affecting commonly people aged between 20 and 60 years with similar incidences in males and females. Four serotypes of dengue virus have been identified in China, with DENV-1 as the predominant serotype. The incidence of dengue fever became gradually decreased after 1997 but increased significantly in the recent two years, especially in 2014, where, up to November, a total of 44894 cases had been reported in Guangdong Province. In this review, the authors summarize the epidemiology, geographical and population distribution of dengue fever in China since 1978 and analyze the factors contributing to the outbreak in 2014.