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  • Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,227 | Russia-Ukraine war News

    Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,227 | Russia-Ukraine war News

    Here are the key events on day 1,227 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

    Here is how things stand on Saturday, July 5 :

    Fighting

    • Russian air defences have downed dozens of Ukrainian drones in widely dispersed parts of the country, including two near the country’s second-largest city, Saint Petersburg, according to officials.
    • All external power lines supplying electricity to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine were down for several hours before being restored, the UN nuclear watchdog said.
    • Ukrainian authorities blamed Russian shelling for the power cut, adding that technicians had to take action to restore it.
    • Dutch and German intelligence agencies say that Russia is increasing its use of prohibited chemical weapons in Ukraine, including the World War I-era poison gas chloropicrin. Moscow denies this.

    Weapons

    • United States President Donald Trump said he discussed sending Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine in calls with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
    • A German government spokesman said the country was exploring the possibility of purchasing more Patriot air defence systems from the US for Ukraine.

    Politics and diplomacy

    • Trump said that he discussed sanctions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a Thursday call, who is worried about them and understands they might be forthcoming.
    • The US president repeated that he was “very unhappy” with his Russian counterpart, adding: “He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people – it is no good.”
    • Zelenskyy says he agreed with Trump, to work to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences, as concerns mounted in Kyiv over US military aid deliveries. The two leaders had a “very important and fruitful conversation” by phone on Friday, Zelenskyy said.
    • German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius will travel to Washington later this month for talks with his US counterpart about air defence systems, as well as production capacities, the ministry said.

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  • Canadian dollar inches up against Pak rupee – 5 July 2025

    Canadian dollar inches up against Pak rupee – 5 July 2025

    LAHORE – The buying rate of Canadian dollar moved up slightly as it stood at Rs208.6 in open market of Pakistan on Saturday, according to an online currency exchange portal.

    The private exchange companies are selling the Canadian Dollar for Rs213.6, reflecting its dominance over the local currency.

    The local currency rates reflect ongoing trend in the forex market influenced by regional demand, remittance inflows, and overall economic sentiments.

    How much is $1000 CAD in PKR?

    As of July 5, they buying rate of the Canadian dollar stands at Rs208.6. It means an individual can convert $1000 CAD for Rs208,600 in open market.

    Remittances play a crucial role in supporting the economies of developing countries. They provide a stable source of income for millions of families, helping them meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, and education.

    These funds also boost national foreign exchange reserves and contribute to poverty reduction. Unlike loans or aid, remittances flow directly to households, encouraging local spending and investment.

    In May 2025, overseas Pakistanis living in Canada sent $69.55 million in wake of the remittances.

    According to the SBP, the workers’ remittances from overseas to Pakistan, recording a significant growth of 28.8 percent during eleven months of fiscal year 2024-25, reached nearly US$ 35 billion in the period from July to May while monthly inflows in May increased to $ 3.69 billion.

    During May 2025, the workers’ remittances recorded an inflow of US$ 3.686 billion, depicting 16 percent growth over April 25 and 13.7 percent yearly increase against May 2024, the statistics showed.

    Currency exchange is a key component of the global economy and holds special importance for countries such as Pakistan.

    It refers to the process of converting one nation’s currency into another, which supports international trade, tourism, and investment.

    In Pakistan, exchange rates influence the value of the rupee compared to major currencies like the US dollar and UAE dirham. A stronger exchange rate makes imports cheaper and helps control inflation, while a weaker rate can boost exports.

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  • Post-cancer exercise plan lowers death and recurrence rates, according to a study |

    Post-cancer exercise plan lowers death and recurrence rates, according to a study |

    Regular exercise has numerous benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that cancer patients who participated in a structured exercise program had better outcomes, living longer without cancer recurrence and having a lower risk of death. The study’s findings suggest that exercise should be a key component of cancer treatment, helping patients live longer and healthier lives. By incorporating exercise into their care plan, cancer patients can potentially improve their survival rates and reduce the risk of recurrence of cancer.

    The study tells how regular exercise lowers the risk of cancer recurrence

    The clinical trial, conducted across multiple countries, followed nearly 900 patients diagnosed with stage II and stage III colon cancer. Participants had completed surgery and chemotherapy and were split into two groups: one group received structured exercise coaching twice monthly for the first six months, then monthly for three years, and the other group received usual care without specific exercise guidance.

    The results of the study were striking

    Those in the exercise group had a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence or developing a new cancer. More significantly, they had a 37% lower risk of death from any cause during an eight-year follow-up period. Cardiovascular fitness and endurance also improved in the exercise group, as shown by a better six-minute walk test and VO₂ max results.

    Experts suggest structured exercise should be a part of a cancer recovery plan

    As CNN spoke with Dr. Leana Wen, the potential for exercise to revolutionize cancer treatment became clear. The study’s findings are significant, showing that exercise can substantially reduce the risk of recurrent or new cancers and death. According to Dr. Wen, these results could change cancer treatment protocols. Currently, patients often receive general advice to exercise after treatment, but many don’t receive structured support. She suggests that patients should have “exercise prescriptions” and healthcare providers should track their progress. Insurance companies might also consider covering health coaching for cancer patients, potentially reducing the need for costly treatments.

    Why exercise helps fight cancer

    According to Dr. Leana Wen, exercise doesn’t just make you feel good, it alters your body at a cellular and hormonal level, helping to:

    • Regulate hormones like insulin and estrogen that are linked to cancer growth.
    • Reduce chronic inflammation, which contributes to cancer progression.
    • Enhance immune function, supporting your body’s ability to detect and destroy abnormal cells.
    • Support a healthy body weight, which is a major factor in cancer recurrence.
    • This multi-layered impact makes exercise a powerful, non-pharmacological tool for improving cancer outcomes.


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  • Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone makes 400m debut at Prefontaine Classic with eyes on the American record

    Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone makes 400m debut at Prefontaine Classic with eyes on the American record

    The stars are aligning for four-time Olympic gold medallist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ahead of her 2025 Prefontaine Classic (Eugene Diamond League) debut at Hayward Field in Oregon on Saturday, 5 July. Although, she won’t be competing in her signature 400m hurdles, where she holds the world record, but rather, flexing her sprint speed in the 400m flat.

    Though a non-Diamond League event, the 400m race is shaping up to be a marquee showdown as McLaughlin-Levrone looks to better her 48.74 second mark, which she set at Hayward Field during the 2023 U.S. Championships. A time that sits just 0.04 seconds off the American record of 48.70 seconds, set by Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006.

    At a pre-event press conference on 4 July, McLaughlin-Levrone was hesitant to talk about chasing records, instead offering praise for Richards-Ross: “It’s a great record. Sanya is an amazing athlete.” McLaughlin-Levrone added, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to run it free. It’s my first time, and I’m really hoping to go out there and execute it—I’ve got to focus on myself and see what happens.”

    In a lighthearted moment, the lane draw results were revealed during the press conference, and McLaughlin-Levrone lit up. “I hope it’s five,” she said. “I’ve had some great races in five.” She got her wish—lane five, the same lane at Hayward where she set her personal best in 2023.

    Her presence alone raises the stakes, but McLaughlin-Levrone will face heavy competition, including from her compatriots, NCAA outdoor champion Aaliyah Butler (49.26 SB) and Alexis Holmes, who raced on the gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team at Paris 2024 alongside hurdles legend. World Indoor Champion Amber Anning (49.96 SB), isn’t to be discounted either ahead of the hotly anticipated race.

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  • From Jurassic World Rebirth to Kae Tempest: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead | Culture

    From Jurassic World Rebirth to Kae Tempest: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead | Culture


    Going out: Cinema

    Jurassic World Rebirth
    Out now
    Forget Chris Pratt and the friendly velociraptors: this reboot of the dinofranchise returns to the premise that the beasties with the big sharp teeth are not to be trusted – and this time around we’ve got some mutant dinosaurs in the mix. Human stars include Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey.

    The Shrouds
    Out now
    The master of body horror is back – and a new David Cronenberg film is always cause for celebration. Now in his 80s, the Canadian auteur can always be relied upon to probe the deeper and darker parts of the human psyche, and his latest exploration of grief and dystopian technology, starring Vincent Cassel, is no exception.

    Jane Austen 250
    The Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford; 6 July to 20 August
    It is 250 years since the birth of one of the greatest comic novelists of all time. This season celebrates Austen’s big-screen outings and includes Love & Friendship, Pride & Prejudice (2005), Sense & Sensibility (1995) and – yes! – the spectacular Emma riff Clueless (1995).

    Hot Milk
    Out now
    The Booker-shortlisted novel is adapted for the big screen by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, with Fiona Shaw and Emma Mackey playing a mother and daughter who travel to a Spanish clinic hoping for a cure for the mother’s paralysis. Vicky Krieps also stars. Catherine Bray


    Going out: Gigs

    Hats entertainment … Confidence Man. Photograph: Julian Buchan

    TRNSMT
    Glasgow Green, 11 to 13 July
    It makes sense that this Glasgow three-day party is sponsored by an energy drink; you’ll need something to see you through the whiplash of its lineup. Rapper 50 Cent headlines on Friday, not long after Confidence Man, then Biffy Clyro helm the following day and Jade features on Sunday. Michael Cragg

    Sounds of the City
    Castleford Bowl, Manchester, 9 July to 12 July
    This annual city festival continues with grizzled US rock duo the Black Keys (9 Julynesday), followed by enduring British indie party-starters Bloc Party (10 Julysday) and returning hip-hop pair Rizzle Kicks on 11 July. Bingo Bango hitmakers Basement Jaxx close the party on 12 July. MC

    Berlioz: Te Deum
    Gloucester Cathedral, today
    The first major event of the Cheltenham music festival, 80 years old this year, takes place not in the spa town, but nine miles away. Gloucester Cathedral will be a suitably majestic venue for Berlioz’s great setting of the Latin hymn of praise, in which Adrian Partington will be conducting the British Sinfonietta. Andrew Clements

    Love Supreme festival
    Glynde Place, East Sussex, today4 & 5 July
    Now in its 12th year, the outdoor jazz festival continues to span many variations on contemporary jazz, funk, soul and electronica. Highlights include Jacob Collier’s only UK performance this year, and jazz stars Branford Marsalis, Lakecia Benjamin, Chucho Valdés, Avishai Cohen and many more. John Fordham


    Going out: Art

    Emily Kam Kngwarray’s Ntang Dreaming. Photograph: Emily Kam Kngwarray/Copyright Agency/DACS 2025

    Emily Kam Kngwarray
    Tate Modern, 10 July to 11 January
    This bold painter brought ancient traditions and memories to the forefront of modern art. Look at Kngwarray’s paintings – their fierce colours, pulsing with dots and trackways – through a lens of modernism and they resemble abstract art, especially Jackson Pollock. But each mark relates to the ancestral history of the Dreamtime.

    Lindsey Mendick
    Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, 9 July to 31 October
    Queen Elizabeth I visited Kenilworth Castle 450 years ago for a lavish series of entertainments. Mendick recreates these in its great hall with her mischievous mixture of ceramics and installation art, featuring women from classical mythology alongside Anne Boleyn, mother of Elizabeth I. They warn the great Tudor queen of coming dangers.

    Watteau
    British Museum, to 14 September
    The sensual yet ethereal art of Antoine Watteau creates a unique, imaginative world where sad clowns gaze at you wistfully and lovers picnic in softly depicted woodlands. It is a poetic fiction based on observation of reality. This exhibition of Watteau’s drawings takes you to the heart of his genius.

    Resistance
    National Galleries of Scotland: Modern Two, Edinburgh, to 4 January
    Steve McQueen’s intense and sharp eye shapes this survey of a century of protest. Photographs of rallies, marches and other collective acts from the era of the suffragettes to the Iraq war reveal nuance and pathos, with many powerful photographers including John Deakin, Fay Godwin and Humphrey Spender bearing witness. Jonathan Jones


    Going out: Stage

    Screen queen … Bebe Cave. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

    Bebe Cave
    Soho theatre, London, 10sday to 12 July
    The out-of-work actor to character comedian pipeline can be a busy one, but Cave turns Plan B into brilliance with her pastiches of onscreen heroines: her exceptional Instagram satire of period drama protagonists, and her latest full-length show, The Screen Test, in which she plays Betsy Bitterly, an aspiring starlet in Hollywood’s golden age. Rachel Aroesti

    Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus
    The Mount Without, Bristol, 9 & 10 July
    A brilliant solo by Belfast choreographer Oona Doherty. She used to perform it herself; now she trains up other dancers in the work’s particular, transformational physicality, embodying the oft-maligned character of the working-class male, veering between overconfident swagger and tightly wound tension. A truly original piece of dance. Lyndsey Winship

    Till the Stars Come Down
    Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, to 27 September
    Beth Steel’s meticulously observed and brilliantly funny new play is set in the East Midlands on the eve of a family wedding. What does the future hold for three sisters – and one exceptionally funny aunt – still so tightly bound to their home town’s history? Miriam Gillinson

    Big Big Sky
    New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme, to 24 July
    Tom Wells’s plays are always ones to savour; full of heart and sumptuous characters. His latest is set on the North Sea coastline, where the locals are shutting up shop for the winter – before one final visitor changes everything. MG

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    Staying in: Streaming

    All killer, no filler … Dexter: Resurrection. Photograph: Zach Dilgard/Paramount+/Showtime

    Dexter: Resurrection
    Paramount+, 11 July
    Last time we saw Michael C Hall’s vigilante murderer, he seemed like a goner – but this sequel reveals he actually survived the gunshot delivered by his son. Now recovered, Dexter’s hunt for his child is interrupted when he is recruited by a strange billionaire (Peter Dinklage) who is attempting to arrange a serial killer symposium.

    Too Much
    Netflix, 10 July
    Once upon a time, Lena Dunham met a musician in London – now the Girls creator has refashioned her real-life love story into a very promising romcom. The wildly funny Megan Stalter (Hacks) plays Jessica, a New Yorker who falls for singer-songwriter Felix (The White Lotus’s Will Sharpe). Richard E Grant and Emily Ratajkowski co-star.

    Poisoned
    Channel 4, 9 July, 9pm
    In 2021, 22-year-old Tom Parfett died after consuming poison he’d bought online. Tipped off by Tom’s bereaved father, Times journalist James Beal traced the substance to a Canadian chef – and discovered many more victims around the globe. This documentary recounts his investigation while grappling with the disturbing online suicide industry.

    The Trouble With Mr Doodle
    Channel 4, 9 July, 10pm
    Co-directed by Jaimie D’Cruz (Exit Through the Gift Shop), this film traces Sam Cox’s staggering rise from childhood drawing obsessive to one of Britain’s most lucrative artists – including the delusions and psychotic break he experienced while trying to doodle over the entirety of his Kent mansion. RA


    Staying in: Games

    Board silly … Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Photograph: Iron Galaxy

    Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
    Out 11 July; PC, PS4/5, Xbox; Switch 1/2
    Head back to the skatepark (above) with Activision’s second collection of classic Tony Hawk titles from the early 2000s. All the gnarly tricks and thrash metal music you remember, plus a smattering of new skaters and arenas to make it extra radical.

    Missile Command Delta
    Out July 8; PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox
    Atari’s revered airspace defence game returns, but this time as an intriguing turn-based strategy title, where you have to carefully manage your anti-missile arsenal while exploring the bunker you’re mysteriously trapped in. An unexpectedly timely cold war thriller. Keith Stuart


    Staying in: Albums

    Let’s dance … Nilufer Yanya. Photograph: Molly Daniel

    Nilüfer Yanya – Dancing Shoes EP
    Out now
    Less than a year after her third album, the excellent My Method Actor, Nilüfer Yanya teases her next chapter via this four-track EP. Over a lo-fi drum machine and eerie guitar figures Cold Heart floats about like In Rainbows-era Radiohead, while Where to Look’s atmospherics are eventually punctured by sonic implosion.

    Kesha – Period
    Out now
    After a protracted departure from her former label, Kesha unleashes her first album as an independent artist. Ricocheting between jacked-up pop, country EDM and, on the bonkers lead single Joyride, a hyperpop version of polka, Period feels like both a return to early Kesha and a brand new start.

    Double Virgo – Shakedown
    Out now
    Jezmi Tarik Fehmi and Sam Fenton, AKA two-thirds of London art-pop curios Bar Italia, return to their side-project for Shakedown, the duo’s third album. While not a million miles away from the mothership in terms of sound (both share a beguiling brittleness), songs such as Bemused have a stranger melodic sensibility.

    Kae Tempest – Self Titled
    Out now
    South London’s literary polymath – recording artist slots alongside spoken-word performer, poet, novelist and playwright – returns with the Fraser T Smith-produced Self Titled, which also features Neil Tennant, Young Fathers and Tawiah. Featuring Tempest’s poetic flow, the powerful Know Yourself is a dialogue with the past. MC


    Staying in: Brain food

    The Killing Call
    Podcast
    In 2022, promising Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala was murdered. Gangster Goldy Brar claimed responsibility but three years on, no one has been convicted and Brar is still on the run. This incisive five-part series (above) investigates.

    Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature
    Online
    The University of Florida’s Baldwin Library holds an extensive archive of charming children’s books from the 18th century onwards. Browse scans of everything from a collection of mysterious “Elfin Rhymes” to an illustrated 1871 Bible.

    Jaws @ 50
    Disney+, 11 July
    Celebrating a remarkable half-century since the release of the blockbuster that has led to shark phobias around the world, this film charts the chaos of its production, as well as a surprising legacy of shark conservation. Ammar Kalia

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  • U.S. researchers develop AI model to improve sudden cardiac death prediction – news.cgtn.com

    U.S. researchers develop AI model to improve sudden cardiac death prediction – news.cgtn.com

    1. U.S. researchers develop AI model to improve sudden cardiac death prediction  news.cgtn.com
    2. Multimodal AI to forecast arrhythmic death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy  Nature
    3. This Model Beats Docs at Predicting Sudden Cardiac Arrest  Medscape
    4. US researchers develop AI to better predict sudden cardiac death  tripuratimes.com
    5. AI predicts patients likely to die of sudden cardiac arrest  Johns Hopkins University

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  • Alex Horne becomes patron of Thames Valley Adventure Playground

    Alex Horne becomes patron of Thames Valley Adventure Playground

    Getty Images A picture of Alex Horne, who is looking at the camera, smiling. He is wearing a pink shirt with a grey jacket and has people stood behind him.Getty Images

    Alex Horne said he knew he had to be involved after a few minutes into his first visit

    Comedian and author Alex Horne has become a patron of a much-loved adventure playground used by people with special needs and their families.

    The Thames Valley Adventure Playground (TVAP), near Maidenhead, Berkshire, opened in 1982 and high profile supporters have included Sir Terry Wogan, who was also a patron, and Tim Brooke Taylor, a former president.

    Horne was approached by Lola, the daughter of the charity’s community outreach coordinator, Lucie Grange, who sent a letter that she had written on a typewriter.

    He said he knew within a few minutes into his first visit to the playground that he wanted to get involved.

    “It’s not often I receive a letter direct from an actual typewriter so that was a good start,” Horne said.

    “Then when I was shown around the playground by Lucie, I knew within a few minutes that I would have to get involved in some way.”

    TVAP/Google A general view picture of the adventure playground, with a swing and slide in view.TVAP/Google

    TVAP was first set up in 1982 and has gradually expanded

    “The commitment the whole team so clearly has to provide adventure and play for people who need those things the most was both powerful and persuasive.

    “So I’m as excited as anyone to have now joined that team and will hopefully be able to join in and make more fun happen before too long. Thanks again to Lola for the letter.”

    TVAP’s chairman Jim Wilks added: “Alex’s ethos aligns with our vision, and we look forward to working with him to raise both our profile and our funds, ensuring that we continue to provide an inspiring, inclusive environment for all our visitors and their families.”

    In January, TVAP said its visitors come from as far as Swindon and west London to use its specialist facilities.

    Mr Wilks said running it had been “tough” because of rising costs and that it had been forced to increase its prices for the first time since the Covid pandemic.

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  • Staffordshire’s Lichfield Festival announces this year’s headline acts

    Staffordshire’s Lichfield Festival announces this year’s headline acts

    Former Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley and folk group The Unthanks are among headline acts at this year’s Lichfield Festival, organisers have announced.

    The festival, which runs from 8 to 20 July, takes place across venues such as Lichfield Cathedral, St Michael’s Church, the Guildhall and Beacon Park.

    Organisers said the event, which it dubbed one of the country’s “most eclectic multi-arts festivals” would feature world-class artists and local voices from music, theatre, dance and comedy.

    The festival also included a world premiere of Gingerland, a new dance show created by Strictly Come Dancing dancer Neil Jones, a spokesperson added.

    On for two nights, the family-friendly comedy features a “dazzling cast of top professional dancers, with glamorous costumes and original music,” organisers added.

    Other artists headlining this year’s event include brass ensemble Black Dyke Band, Sam Every (Little) Big Band, choir Tenebrae and jazz artist Jacqui Dankworth.

    The 11-day festival will close with a candlelit concert by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason in Lichfield Cathedral.

    A new discounted ticket initiative was also launched this year, offering discounted prices for under 30s, carers, children and eligible community groups,

    Tickets and the full event programme have been listed on the festival’s website.

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  • Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Patients Undergoing Gastroin

    Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Patients Undergoing Gastroin

    Introduction

    Globally, diseases of the digestive system, including functional gastrointestinal disorders, gastritis, and peptic ulcers, are common and contribute significantly to both morbidity and mortality.1 Chronic gastritis affects over half of the world’s population, underscoring its widespread impact.2 Epidemiological studies suggest that the morbidity rate for peptic ulcers and associated disorders could be as high as 10%; however, recent years have shown a declining trend in incidence, particularly due to improved H. pylori eradication strategies and proton pump inhibitor use.3,4 The burden of gastrointestinal diseases remains high due to the prevalence of both benign conditions, such as acute and chronic gastroenteritis, and malignant diseases like colorectal and gastric cancers, which, while distinct, also represent major global public health concerns. These cancers rank as the third and fourth most common cancers globally, each causing approximately 800,000 deaths annually.5,6 These conditions lead to considerable pain and disability, while also placing a heavy financial strain on both families and society.

    Gastrointestinal endoscopy represents the gold standard for diagnosing and monitoring digestive diseases. While primarily performed under conscious sedation, this procedure can provoke significant anxiety and psychological distress in patients, potentially affecting both procedure outcomes and patient compliance with future screening recommendations.7 Despite its clinical benefits, gastrointestinal endoscopy can provoke anxiety, fear, and even stress reactions among patients, as reported in numerous studies.8,9 Endoscopy is primarily utilized in outpatient settings and is well-known for its effectiveness in diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal disorders.10 Given the increasing global incidence of digestive system diseases, the role of endoscopy is more critical than ever.11,12

    The KAP framework provides a structured approach to understanding how patients’ knowledge influences their attitudes and subsequent health behaviors. In the context of gastrointestinal endoscopy, this understanding is particularly crucial as patient preparation and cooperation directly impact procedure quality and diagnostic yield. It is based on the idea that knowledge has a beneficial effect on attitudes, which in turn influence behaviors.13,14 Inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes may lead to poor bowel preparation, increased anxiety, refusal to undergo the procedure, or reduced compliance with follow-up recommendations-factors that can significantly compromise diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes.9,15 With the increasing prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders, ranging from benign conditions such as gastritis to life-threatening cancers, there is a critical need to understand patient experiences and behaviors to enhance clinical outcomes. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool, often triggers anxiety and fear among patients, potentially affecting their willingness to undergo necessary procedures. This study is pivotal as it focuses on a patient group whose insights are crucial for the efficacy of endoscopic procedures and overall treatment success. By examining patients’ understanding, reactions, and adjustments post-endoscopy, healthcare providers can develop targeted communication strategies and support mechanisms that enhance patient comfort, increase engagement, and promote adherence. This approach ultimately leading to optimized healthcare resource utilization and improved health outcomes.

    Despite extensive research on the technology and effectiveness of endoscopy,16–18 studies delving into patient feedback post-examination remain limited. A recent narrative review by Minciullo et al (2022) summarized available tools for assessing patient satisfaction in digestive endoscopy, emphasizing its importance as a quality indicator.19 While that review primarily focused on satisfaction measurement, our study explores patients’ KAP, offering a broader behavioral and cognitive perspective that complements satisfaction-based evaluations. This study aimed to quantify patients’ knowledge levels regarding gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures; assess attitudes and psychological barriers towards endoscopic examination; evaluate adherence to pre- and post-procedure care instructions; and examine the connections between knowledge, attitudes, and practices to identify targeted intervention opportunities. These specific objectives will help address the current gap in understanding patient perspectives and guide the development of evidence-based educational programs. Therefore, herein, we sought to explore the KAP of patients toward gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Endoscopy Unit.

    Materials and Methods

    Study Design and Participants

    The required sample size was estimated using the formula for cross-sectional studies:20 n = Z² × P × (1 – P) / d², where n is the sample size, Z is the standard normal deviate at 95% confidence level (Z = 1.96), P is the expected proportion (assumed to be 50% for maximum variability), and d is the margin of error (set at 4%). Based on this formula, a minimum sample size of 384 was required. Considering potential non-response or invalid submissions, we distributed a larger number of questionnaires. Ultimately, 612 valid responses were obtained, meeting the minimum statistical power requirement.

    This cross-sectional study used a survey to collect data at the author’s Hospital from December 2023 to February 2024. Consecutive adult patients who were referred for diagnostic gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled using convenience sampling. To minimize heterogeneity, patients with a confirmed inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis or those undergoing therapeutic procedures were excluded. The research received approval from the Medical Ethics Committee of the author’s Hospital, and all the study participants provided informed consent.

    Inclusion criteria were the following: 1) those who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy (gastroscopy or colonoscopy); 2) those who voluntarily participated; 3) those who were conscious and able to cooperate.

    Exclusion criteria were the following: 1) those with critical condition; 2) those who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy for gastrointestinal bleeding; 3) those unable to complete the questionnaire for other reasons.

    Questionnaire

    The questionnaire was developed through a systematic review of relevant literature and current clinical practice guidelines. Content validity was established through an expert panel review by two gastroenterologists and two endoscopy nurses.21,22 Following the questionnaire’s design, a pilot study was carried out involving 76 participants, generating a Cronbach’s α coefficient = 0.912, indicative of good internal consistency. The final questionnaire included 4 dimensions: knowledge, attitude, practice, and demographic characteristics, comprising basic patient demographics, reasons for seeking medical care, daily routines, and dietary habits. The knowledge section consisted of 9 questions, with responses scored assigned 2 points for “complete understanding”, 1 point for “partial understanding”, and 0 for “lack of understanding”, generating a total score of 0 to 18. The attitude section consisted of 7 questions, rated on a five-point Likert scale from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”, with scores ranging from 5 points to 1 point and a total score range of 7 to 35. The practice section included 8 items, also rated on a five-point Likert scale from “always” to “never”, with values ranging from 5 points to 1 point and a total score of 8 to 40. According to Bloom’s cutoff, participants who scored > 80% of the total were classified as possessing satisfactory knowledge, constructive attitudes, and active practices, while those scoring between 60% and 80% were classified as possessing average levels in these dimensions. Scoring < 60% of the total suggested inadequate knowledge, negative attitudes, and passive behaviors.23

    The questionnaire was generated using the “Questionnaire Star” platform, after which a QR code was obtained, printed, and placed in the endoscopy room. After patients completed their endoscopy and fully regained consciousness, two specially trained nurses invited them to the endoscopy room to scan the QR code and complete the questionnaire. Patients scanned the QR code and completed the questionnaire using their phone, with each phone allowing only one submission of responses. Researchers will only provide clarifications about the questions without offering any hints for the answers. For elderly patients who cannot use a mobile phone, the nurses will record the patients’ answers and fill out the questionnaire on their behalf.

    To further evaluate the validity of the questionnaire, both content validity and construct validity were assessed. Content validity was established through expert review by two gastroenterologists and two endoscopy nurses. Construct validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (Supplementary Table 1). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test yielded a value of 0.913 (P < 0.001), indicating sampling adequacy. Model fit indices demonstrated good construct validity (CMIN/DF = 4.487; RMSEA = 0.076; IFI = 0.937; TLI = 0.929; CFI = 0.937), and all standardized factor loadings were statistically significant (P < 0.001). A CFA path diagram is presented in Supplementary Figure 1 to illustrate the measurement structure.

    Statistical Analysis

    Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Continuous data are reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and categorical data are expressed as n (%). Continuous data that were confirmed to follow a normal distribution were analyzed using independent-sample t-tests or one-way ANOVA. The Wilcoxon Mann–Whitney test or Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare continuous data with skewed distribution. The correlation among KAP was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, and interactions among KAP were explored using structural equation modeling (SEM) performed with AMOS version 26.0. A two-sided P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    Results

    Patients’ Characteristics

    Among a total of 744 collected questionnaires, 20 refused to participate in the study, 9 had a short response time (< 90 seconds), 13 had a logical conflict, and 80 were incomplete, resulting in 612 valid questionnaires, with a validity rate of 82.26%.

    Out of these 612 participants, 308 (50.33%) were filled out by males; the mean age of participants was 51.11 ± 12.61 years; 363 (62.42%) had a BMI in the normal range; 152 (24.84%) had poor dietary habits, 250 (40.85%) had heavy taste preference in their diets and 147 (24.02%) were frequently constipated. Meanwhile, 355 (58.01%) had their first gastroscopy, 561 (91.67%) opted for a painless procedure, and 308 (50.33%) had gastrointestinal polyps (Table 1). Among the 308 patients with polyps, the majority (225 cases, 73.1%) underwent painless enteroscopy alone, followed by 33 cases (10.7%) who received both painless enteroscopy and painless gastroscopy, and 29 cases (9.4%) with painless gastroscopy alone. This distribution, as visualized in the UpSet plot (Figure 1), indicates that painless colonoscopy was the predominant modality associated with polyp detection in this study. The reason for the endoscopy examination and results are shown in Figure 2. “Life stage screening” refers to routine health check-ups commonly recommended based on age or risk factors, such as colorectal cancer screening in adults over 50.

    Table 1 Demographic Characteristics, Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice

    Figure 1 UpSet plot showing the distribution of gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures among the 308 patients diagnosed with polyps.

    Figure 2 (A) Reasons for undergoing digestive endoscopy (including upper and lower GI procedures); “Life stage screening” refers to routine health check-ups. (B) Results of endoscopic examinations.

    Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice

    The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 11.66 ± 3.95 (possible range: 0–18), 29.79 ± 3.27 (possible range: 7–35), and 36.69 ± 4.99 (possible range: 8–40), separately. Knowledge scores varied depending on education (P < 0.001), monthly income (P = 0.010), alcohol consumption (P = 0.047), family history of gastric or colorectal cancer (immediate family) (P = 0.008), unexplained changes in bowel habits or fecal abnormalities (P = 0.002), number of gastroscopies (P < 0.001), and the number of polyps (P = 0.015). Attitude scores were more likely to vary depending on unexplained changes in bowel habits or fecal abnormalities (P = 0.049), number of gastroscopies (P = 0.047), presence of polyps (P = 0.015), and whether the polyp was >5 mm (P = 0.030). Practice scores varied depending on education (P = 0.020), monthly income (P < 0.010), number of gastroscopies (P = 0.015), and type of the current gastroenteroscopy (P < 0.001) (Table 1).

    For all the knowledge items, no more than 40% of the participants answered “Very well known”, while more than 60% chose “Heard of it”, indicating that while progress has been made, there remains ample opportunity for further improvement. Specifically, for “ Endoscopic examinations can assess different areas of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon.”, 70.1% chose “Heard of it” (K3). As for “This examination is typically used to diagnose gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcers, tumors, and inflammation.”, 69.77% chose “Heard of it” (K2) (Table 2).

    Table 2 Responses to the Knowledge Section

    For the attitude dimension, more than 90% of participants chose either “strongly agree” or “agree”, except for A1 and A3. Specifically, 23.37% and 23.53% were neutral on whether they felt nervous or anxious before the examination (A1) and whether they were worried about the safety and side effects of endoscopy (A3), respectively (Table 3).

    Table 3 Responses to the Attitude Section

    Responses on the practice revealed that > 70% of the participants chose “always” for all items except P2 and P3. Specifically, 68.63% of the participants were always fully aware of the endoscopy procedure and possible discomfort before the examination (P2), and 61.44% of the participants always raised concerns and questions about the procedure with the doctor prior to the examination (P3) (Table 4).

    Table 4 Responses to the Practice Section

    The Correlation and Interaction Among KAP

    The correlation analyses revealed statistically significant, weak to moderate positive correlations: knowledge was weakly correlated with attitude (r = 0.281, P < 0.001) and with practice (r = 0.148, P < 0.001), while attitude demonstrated a moderate correlation with practice (r = 0.370, P < 0.001) (Table 5).

    Table 5 Correlation Analysis

    The SEM model showed that the questionnaire fit the KAP model well (Figure 3 and Supplementary Table 2), and the analysis of direct and indirect effects showed that knowledge directly affected attitude (β = 0.397, P = 0.026) and attitude directly affected practice (β = 0.402, P = 0.007). Although the direct effect of knowledge on practice is not significant (β = 0.032, P = 0.568), knowledge has an indirect effect on practice through attitude (β = 0.159, P = 0.014) (Table 6).

    Table 6 Direct and Indirect Effects in SEM

    Figure 3 Structural Equation Model.

    Discussion

    Our findings reveal important knowledge gaps among patients undergoing diagnostic endoscopy, despite their generally positive attitudes and adherence to recommended practices. Notably, over 60% of participants reported only partially understanding basic endoscopic concepts, highlighting a critical need for enhanced pre-procedure education. Healthcare providers in the Endoscopy Unit should prioritize patient education to enhance their understanding of gastrointestinal endoscopy, ultimately improving their overall experience and outcomes.

    This study investigates the KAP of patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy, unveiling a paradoxical scenario in which patients display inadequate knowledge yet exhibit positive attitudes and proactive practices towards the procedure. Previous studies have explored patient involvement in gastrointestinal endoscopy from the patients’ viewpoints, revealing that patient participation typically varied from minimal to basic levels, it occasionally reached higher levels when staff actively involved patients in decision-making processes.24 These findings underscore the significant responsibility of endoscopy staff to recognize individual patient needs and enhance patient engagement. The results of the current study resonate with these observations, suggesting a consistent pattern across different settings.

    Significant disparities in KAP scores were noted across demographic and clinical variables. Notably, education level emerged as a pivotal factor, aligning with existing literature suggesting a positive association between higher education and health literacy.25,26 Individuals with higher levels of education typically exhibited better knowledge and practice scores, highlighting the essential part that education has in enhancing patient understanding and involvement in medical procedures. This highlights the necessity for focused educational initiatives designed for different backgrounds to effectively bridge knowledge gaps. Similarly, income level emerged as a significant determinant of KAP, corroborating prior research linking socioeconomic status with health outcomes.27,28 Higher-income groups exhibited better knowledge and practices, possibly because of enhanced access to healthcare resources and information dissemination channels. This highlights the significance of addressing socioeconomic disparities in healthcare delivery and designing interventions that are accessible and affordable for socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

    Patients with a family member diagnosed with stomach or colon cancer exhibited higher knowledge scores, likely due to several interconnected factors. Familial experiences of cancer diagnosis and treatment may have heightened awareness and understanding of gastrointestinal health conditions among these individuals. Additionally, the perceived susceptibility to similar health issues within the family may have motivated proactive information-seeking behaviors. Open communication patterns within families about health concerns, including genetic predispositions and disease experiences, likely facilitated the exchange of knowledge and support, contributing to greater awareness among patients. Moreover, the familial context may have increased exposure to healthcare services and screening programs, encouraging individuals to actively engage in preventive healthcare practices.29,30 Additionally, the positive relationship between the number of gastroscopies a patient underwent and KAP scores highlights how previous experiences influence patient engagement and empowerment. Patients undergoing repeated procedures demonstrated superior knowledge and practices, possibly attributed to familiarity with the process and ongoing education through healthcare interactions.31 This highlights the importance of continuity of care and patient-provider communication in fostering health literacy and promoting proactive healthcare behaviors over time.

    In the correlation analyses and SEM, the interaction among knowledge, attitudes, and practices was elucidated, revealing a pathway through which knowledge influences attitude, which in turn impacts practice. Although the direct impact of knowledge on practice was not significant, the indirect effect mediated by attitude highlights the crucial influence of patient perceptions and beliefs in shaping health-related behaviors. This underscores the importance of addressing not only factual knowledge but also attitudinal barriers in promoting behavior change and adherence to medical recommendations.32

    The results from the knowledge section reveal a substantial awareness of gastrointestinal endoscopy but also highlight specific gaps in understanding. Remarkably, the highest familiarity is with the requirement for patients to fast before the examination, which reflects a basic understanding that might stem from general pre-procedure instructions given in various medical contexts. Conversely, the concept of endoscopic examinations covering various parts of the gastrointestinal tract was among the least recognized. This could indicate a lack of detailed communication about the procedure’s scope, which is often not elaborated on unless directly relevant to the patient’s condition. Recommendations to improve patient knowledge could include providing comprehensive pre-procedural education materials covering all aspects of the endoscopic process, including detailed instructions on preparatory measures and post-examination care. Interactive educational sessions led by healthcare providers could also address patient queries and concerns in real-time, enhancing understanding and adherence to pre-procedural instructions.15,33

    The attitudes section illustrates a strong recognition of the importance of gastrointestinal endoscopy in detecting potential health issues, with significant agreement observed. This positive attitude is pivotal for patient compliance and procedural success. However, the results also show a notable percentage of respondents feeling nervous or anxious before the examination. This anxiety can adversely affect the preparation and cooperation needed during the procedure. To address these concerns, healthcare providers could implement pre-procedural counseling sessions focusing on anxiety management techniques and addressing patient-specific fears. Creating a supportive and reassuring environment during the examination through clear communication and empathetic care practices can also alleviate patient anxiety and enhance overall satisfaction with the procedure.33

    In the practice section, adherence to pre-examination preparations like dietary restrictions is notably high, indicating effective communication of these requirements. However, the least compliance was observed in discussing personal concerns and questions about the examination with doctors, which could hinder personalized care and lead to increased anxiety. These findings highlight the crucial need to enhance patient education and enable individuals to actively participate in their healthcare journey. Implementing personalized care plans and follow-up protocols tailored to individual patient needs can promote sustained engagement in recommended practices and enhance long-term health outcomes. Moreover, incorporating technology-based solutions like mobile apps or telehealth platforms can enhance communication between patients and healthcare providers, enabling ongoing support and monitoring outside of the clinical environment.34,35

    This study has important practical implications for routine clinical practice. Incorporating KAP assessments into standard pre-endoscopy evaluations may help identify patients with limited understanding or elevated anxiety, allowing for targeted educational interventions. Tailored communication strategies, such as illustrated booklets or video-based tools, could be developed to address specific knowledge gaps and improve psychological preparedness. To maximize impact, these efforts should go beyond conveying factual information and also aim to reinforce positive attitudes and encourage proactive health behaviors. Enhancing public awareness of the indications, diagnostic and therapeutic roles of endoscopy—and its value in the early detection of malignancies—may ultimately support more timely diagnoses and improved long-term outcomes in gastrointestinal health. Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of these approaches in improving patient comprehension, satisfaction, and procedural outcomes.

    Several limitations warrant consideration. First, our post-procedure questionnaire timing may have introduced recall bias and potentially overestimated patient knowledge due to pre-procedure education. Second, the heterogeneous study population, including both diagnostic and screening patients, limits the generalizability of our findings to specific patient subgroups. Third, our single-center design and convenience sampling method may not fully represent the broader patient population. Finally, self-reported data collection could introduce social desirability bias. Furthermore, the cross-sectional design of the study prevents the establishment of causality and temporal relationships between variables. Notwithstanding these limitations, the strengths of this paper are found in its thorough evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding gastrointestinal endoscopy among patients, as well as its utilization of both correlation and structural equation modeling analyses to explore the relationships between these variables, providing valuable insights for enhancing patient care and education within Endoscopy Units. In addition, while we analyzed the relationship between KAP and the number of gastroscopies, we did not assess colonoscopy frequency separately. Considering the high proportion of patients with polyps, this may have limited our ability to fully explore associations related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Additionally, indications and findings for upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies were not collected separately. This may have limited the interpretability of certain result distributions.

    Conclusion

    To conclude, patients in the Endoscopy Unit demonstrated limited knowledge, favorable attitudes, and proactive practices regarding gastrointestinal endoscopy. Specifically, knowledge gaps were most prominent in understanding the scope of endoscopic examination-including the anatomical regions visualized (eg, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon) and its diagnostic capabilities for conditions such as ulcers, tumors, and inflammation. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions that address these fundamental concepts to enhance patient comprehension, informed consent, and overall procedural cooperation, thereby improving clinical outcomes and satisfaction.

    Data Sharing Statement

    All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

    Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

    All procedures were performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Dongying People’s Hospital (DYYX-2023-182) All participants provided written informed consent prior to enrollment. For elderly participants requiring assistance with questionnaire completion, trained research nurses provided support while ensuring participant privacy and autonomy. The study was carried out in accordance with the applicable guidelines and regulations.

    Author Contributions

    All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

    Disclosure

    Lianmin Wei and Qing Niu are co-first authors for this study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

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  • Inflammatory Markers as Predictors of Diabetes Mellitus in Patients wi

    Inflammatory Markers as Predictors of Diabetes Mellitus in Patients wi

    Introduction

    As an ancient disease, tuberculosis (TB) has existed for thousands of years since the origin and evolution of mankind.1 Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is caused by the infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which primarily spreads among people through the air and affects the lung.2 PTB was classified as a Global Health Emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1993, and it was the world’s second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, after Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2022. According to the statistics of the WHO, the number of people who developed TB was approximately 10.6 million and the number of people newly diagnosed with TB was 7.5 million in 2022, of which TB patients newly diagnosed in China were approximately 748,000 (accounted for 7.1%),3 ranking third among the 30 countries with a high TB burden.4 Although the global incidence of TB has been well controlled, it still poses a severe challenge to global public health because of the poor prognosis caused by such as rising resistance rates and the severe complications. Currently, the epidemic situation of TB epidemics in China remains very serious. The risk factors for tuberculosis include overcrowding, poverty, malnutrition, and immunosuppression including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).5 Diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasingly being recognized as an independent risk factor for tuberculosis.6,7 DM is a chronic metabolic disease resulting from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.8,9 The main pathogenesis of DM is an absolute or relative reduction in insulin secretion, which affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, electrolytes, and water, resulting in chronic organ injury and dysfunction.10,11 DM epidemic has grown worldwide and is associated with high morbidity and mortality.12 During recent decades, the prevalence of DM has been sharply increased owing to an aging population, urbanization, physical inactivity and obesity caused by lifestyle changes.13 According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reports in 2019, the number of patients with DM worldwide was as high as 463 million, with the most rapid increase occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).14 Simultaneously, these countries face serious TB situations. The rising prevalence of diabetes may be contributed to the persistently high incidence of TB in countries with a high TB burden.

    The bidirectional association between PTB and DM is well established, and the relationship between them is bidirectional. Studies have shown that the overall risk of PTB in patients with DM is three times higher than in the general population,15,16 and the prevalence of DM among PTB patients ranges from 1.9% to as high as 35%.17 Nearly 80% of adult DM cases are expected to occur in developing countries, and the convergence of these two epidemics may lead to an increased incidence of PTB.18 The patients with PTB and DM lead to treatment failure, longer sputum conversion time to normal, relapse, increased risk of developing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and high mortality.19 According to the WHO PTB screening guidelines, uncontrolled diabetes doubles the risk of TB treatment failure, relapse, and death.20 There are significant challenges in the treatment and care of patients with DM and TB. Systematic evaluation of Asian countries showed that the prevalence of diabetes among PTB patients is between 5% and 50%, while the prevalence among DM patients in developing Asian countries is 1.8–9.5 times the general population.21 China has experienced the largest dual DM and TB epidemic globally, and DM combined with PTB poses a major public health problem. The incidence rates of DM and PTB comorbidity (PTB-DM) among Chinese individuals increased from 19.3% to 24.1%.22 Therefore, clarifying the diagnostic value of clinical laboratory indices for PTB-DM is of great clinical significance.

    Inflammation has long been identified as an essential component of both DM and TB.23,24 DM increases the risk of TB infection by inducing chronic inflammation and immune deficiency. TB infection aggravates abnormal blood glucose through inflammatory responses, forming a bidirectional worsening cycle of “DM-tuberculosis”. Inflammation is the core mechanism connecting diabetes and tuberculosis, running through the entire process of disease occurrence and development. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) have been found to be useful markers for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of TB,25,26 and DM related disease and prognosis.27–29 In addition, system immune inflammation index (SII) and system inflammation response index (SIRI) are two markers of system immune inflammation, and their links to DM are being revealed.30,31 However, the association between immunoinflammatory markers and PTB-DM remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether these immunoinflammatory markers and clinical features are associated with the risk of DM in patients with PTB. It would provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of PTB in patients with DM.

    Materials and Methods

    Study Population

    A total of 1106 patients with PTB were selected as the case group at Meizhou People’s Hospital between April 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively. During the study period, 326 cases with PTB (observation group) of DM patients with PTB were randomly selected, and compared with 780 PTB patients without DM during the same period (control group). PTB patients were diagnosed according to the criteria of “WS 288–2017 Pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosis”32 by microbiological diagnosis. The diagnostic criteria for T2DM were as follows: (1) There were typical clinical symptoms of DM (polydipsia, polydipsia, polyuria, polydipsia, and unexplained weight loss), and random intravenous plasma glucose ≥11.1mmol/L; or fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥7mmol/L; or blood glucose level at the 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test ≥11.1mmol/L.33 Patients with leukemia, HIV infection, septic shock, organ failure, malignancy, or mental disorders; those with diseases that can affect immune function, such as AIDS, malignant tumor, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, primary kidney disease, renal failure, blood disease, renal transplantation, gastrectomy, or use of hormones and immunosuppressants within four months were also excluded. Clinical data, including age, sex, cough, fever, respiratory symptoms, expectoration, and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, were collected from all study subjects. This study was approved by the Human Ethics Committee of Meizhou People’s Hospital.

    Data Collection

    Data on clinical characteristics, laboratory outcomes, and inflammation indices were systematically collected from the medical record system of Meizhou People’s Hospital. Clinical symptoms recorded included fever (defined as a body temperature ≥38°C, measured using a standard clinical thermometer), sputum production (assessed based on the presence and quantity of sputum, categorized as mild, moderate, or severe), shortness of breath/difficulty breathing (evaluated using clinical assessment tools such as the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale or the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale), and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (diagnosed based on clinical presentation, imaging studies, and laboratory confirmation). Laboratory outcomes included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), measured using the Westergren method and reported in millimeters per hour (mm/hr); C-reactive protein (CRP), quantified using high-sensitivity CRP assays and reported in milligrams per liter (mg/L); and complete blood count (CBC), analyzed using automated hematology analyzers to record absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), absolute monocyte count (AMC), and platelet count (reported as cells per microliter). Inflammation indices were calculated as follows: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR=ANC/ALC), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR=Platelet count/ALC), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR=AMC/ALC), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII=Platelet count × ANC/ALC), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI = AMC × ANC/ALC). These indices were used to assess systemic inflammation and immune response.

    Data Processing and Statistical Analysis

    SPSS 26.0 and GraphPad Prism software were used for the statistical analysis of the experimental data. Data with non-normal distributions were described as median and interquartile range (IQR) values, and evaluated using the Mann–Whitney U-test. Categorical variables were represented numerically and as percentages, and were compared using the chi-squared test. Univariate regression analysis (Pearson) and Spearman correlation analysis were used to analyze the relationship between the correlation test indicators. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff values of ESR, NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI for differentiating whether pulmonary tuberculosis patients developed DM or not, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated. In addition to the logistic regression model, a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to determine the diagnostic probability of PTB combined with DM. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.

    Results

    General Characteristics in PTB Patients with or without DM

    A total of 1106 patients diagnosed with PTB were enrolled, including 326 (29.5%) PTB patients with DM and 780 (70.5%) without DM. The clinical characteristics of the two patient groups of patients are shown in Table 1. The majority of PTB patients were male (84.6%), and most had no fever (83.7%) or shortness of breath/difficulty breathing (76.9%). There were 39 (3.5%) had concurrent extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The differences in gender distribution, age distribution, and clinical manifestations including fever, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, and expectoration, and extrapulmonary tuberculosis between the two groups were not statistically significant. The level of ESR (44.00 (22.00, 80.00) vs 30.00 (12.00, 54.00), p<0.001) was higher while the levels of NLR (4.61 (2.90, 7.64) vs 6.43 (3.62, 11.20), p<0.001), MLR (0.50 (0.31, 0.75) vs 0.64 (0.38, 1.00), p<0.001), PLR (197.38 (135.53, 299.16) vs 248.44 (149.74, 396.43), p<0.001), SII (1333.06 (712.37, 2289.35) vs 1603.72 (844.73, 3224.20), p<0.001), and SIRI (3.13 (1.73, 6.42) vs 3.93 (2.00, 8.79), p<0.001) were lower in PTB-DM patients than those in non-DM PTB patients.

    Table 1 Comparison of Clinical Features and Peripheral Blood Inflammatory Markers Between Non-DM PTB Group and PTB-DM Group

    Logistic Regression Analysis of Related Factors for DM in Patients with PTB

    Logistic regression analyses of the association between PTB-DM and related factors were performed (Table 2). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that PTB patients with DM were more likely to have a higher ESR (odds ratio (OR): 1.024, 95% CI: 1.018–1.30, p<0.001), lower levels of NLR (OR: 0.964, 95% CI 0.945–0.983, p<0.001), MLR (OR: 0.440, 95% CI 0.319–0.607, p<0.001), PLR (OR: 0.998, 95% CI: 0.998–0.999, p<0.001), and SIRI (OR: 0.965, 95% CI: 0.944–0.987, p=0.002). Clinical features such as gender, age, fever, expectoration, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and other blood indicators were not associated with DM in PTB patients. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that a high ESR (OR: 1.024, 95% CI: 1.018–1.030, p<0.001), low levels of MLR (OR: 0.352, 95% CI 0.145–0.856, p=0.021), and PLR (OR: 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995–0.999, p=0.003) were independent risk factors for DM in patients with PTB.

    Table 2 Logistic Regression Analysis of Related Factors for DM in Patients with PTB

    The Value of Different Indexes and Their Combined Detection in the Differential Diagnosis of PTB-DM

    To analyze the discriminating ability of these inflammatory parameters in the PTB-DM versus PTB groups, ROC curves for the related parameters were plotted (Figure 1). Results revealed the AUC value of ESR was 0.619 (95% CI: 0.590–0.648, cut-off value: 45.5), MLR was 0.600 (95% CI 0.570–0.629, cut-off value: 0.765), PLR was 0.584 (95% CI: 0.554–0.613, cut-off value: 239.615), ESR+MLR was 0.689 (95% CI: 0.661–0.716), ESR+PLR was 0.694 (95% CI: 0.666–0.721), MLR+PLR was 0.610 (95% CI: 0.574–0.645), and ESR+MLR+PLR was 0.712 (95% CI 0.685–0.739), respectively. The PTB-DM and PTB groups could be well discriminated by the combination of indicators ESR, MLR and PLR, with sensitivity and specificity of 63.8% and 70.6%, respectively. Table 3 presents the comprehensive features of ESR, MLR, and PLR for the diagnosis.

    Table 3 The Diagnostic Efficacy of ESR, MLR, PLR, and Their Combination on PTB-DM

    Figure 1 The ROC curve of ESR, MLR, PLR, and their combination on PTB-DM.

    Discussion

    This study compared the characteristics of the PTB patients with and without DM. Among the patients diagnosed with PTB, 29.5% had DM. The results showed that there were no significant differences in clinical manifestations including gender distribution, age distribution, fever, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, expectoration, and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. ESR was higher, while NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI were lower in PTB-DM patients than in non-DM PTB patients. In addition, high ESR and low MLR and PLR were independent risk factors for PTB-DM.

    The high prevalence of DM creates more pressure on the PTB burden. DM increases the risk of PTB, posing a significant threat to the public health, particularly, in countries with a high burden of both diseases.34 Thus, experts have raised concerns regarding the co-prevalence of PTB and DM. PTB patients with DM often have nutritional deficiency, leading to body injury and disease recurrence, which ultimately affects prognosis and increases the risk of mortality.22,35 In many studies on the Chinese population, male sex and advanced age were identified as factors associated with PTB with DM;36–38 however, in this study, age and gender were not statistically different. In addition, the presence of symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or extrapulmonary tuberculosis was similar between patients with and without DM. Therefore, we cannot estimate whether TB patients are at risk for diabetes based on simple clinical manifestations.

    Chronic infection with Mtb can induce hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and immune changes, which in turn cause changes in the proportion of lymphocyte and other cells.39 There is a correlation between the immune status (including ESR, NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI) and clinicopathological features of PTB patients,40 which are some of the more novel inflammatory markers currently available.41 ESR is a sensitive marker of the inflammatory response, and is often used to obtain information regarding disease progression and retrogression.42 The ESR value was significantly higher in tuberculosis patients with tuberculosis, and was even elevated in 98% of the patients.43,44 MLR has been proven to be associated with the diagnosis of PTB and the predictive value of MLR in patients with tuberculosis, and higher MLR levels are associated with more severe disease and poorer prognosis.45,46 The importance of PLR has been emphasized as a marker in some disorders such as non-small-cell lung cancer, acute coronary syndrome, end-stage renal disease, and so on.47,48 PLR could be developed as a valuable maker for identifying tuberculosis infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients,40 indicating that PLR is a convenient, and easily measured prognostic indicator. In this study, the inflammation index of ESR was significantly increased, MLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI were significantly decreased in the PTB patients with DM compared to those in PTB patients alone. Further regression analysis indicated that the ESR, MLR, and PLR were relevant factors for PTB-DM. It indicates that a higher ESR and lower MLR and PLR may indicate PTB-DM.

    However, these indicators fluctuate to a certain extent and do not have the significance of an independent diagnosis in patients with PTB-DM. Hence, these factors need to be combined to improve the diagnostic value of PTB complicated by DM. Thus, we analyzed the diagnostic efficacy of ESR, MLR, and PLR in PTB patients with DM, and found that ESR has low sensitivity and MLR has low specificity, while PLR has slightly higher sensitivity and specificity. In addition, we also analyzed the sensitivity and specificity of ESR, MLR, and PLR combined tests, and found that the combined tests of these indicators were superior to the single indicator in both sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the combined detection of ESR, MLR, and PLR is helpful in the differential diagnosis of PTB with DM and non-DM PTB. The results of this study provide a convenient method for clinicians to assess the risk of developing DM in patients with PTB.

    This study offers valuable insights into the relationship between hematological markers and DM in patients with PTB, though there are opportunities for further exploration. Firstly, the relationship between these indicators and the severity of DM has not been studied. Future research could investigate the association between inflammation markers (ESR, MLR, and PLR) and the severity of DM. Secondly, the research subjects included in this study were from a single medical structure. Due to the incomplete representativeness of the research subjects, the application of the results of this study in other populations was limited. So, expanding the study to multiple centers would provide a more diverse sample, enhancing the generalizability of the results. Thirdly, this study only analyzed the differences in ESR, NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI levels, and did not investigate the role of other factors in the occurrence of DM in patients with PTB, especially some confounding factors. Lastly, collecting data at multiple time points, rather than a single pre-treatment measure, would allow for a more comprehensive analysis of the dynamic changes in these hematological indicators and their clinical significance throughout the treatment process. Addressing these factors would provide a more complete understanding of the role of these markers in DM and PTB, which depends on more research in the future.

    Conclusion

    ESR, MLR, and PLR were associated with the risk of DM in patients with PTB. In particular, combined tests of these indicators were superior to the single indicator in both sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of DM among patients with PTB. It provides a convenient method for clinicians to assess the risk of developing DM in patients with PTB. Specifically, during the treatment of tuberculosis, it is necessary to closely monitor the changes in the patient’s blood sugar, adjust the diabetes treatment plan in a timely manner, and reduce the fluctuations in blood sugar caused by inflammation. Secondly, for pulmonary tuberculosis patients with abnormal inflammatory indicators, their association with diabetes should be emphasized. Through anti-inflammatory treatment or immunomodulatory measures, insulin resistance can be improved, immune balance can be regulated, and the risk of disease progression can be reduced.

    Data Sharing Statement

    The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

    Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

    The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Medicine, Meizhou People’s Hospital number. All participants signed informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

    Acknowledgments

    The author would like to thank other colleagues whom were not listed in the authorship of Meizhou People’s Hospital for their helpful comments on the manuscript.

    Author Contributions

    All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

    Funding

    This study was supported by the Science and Technology Program of Meizhou (Grant No.: 2019B0202001).

    Disclosure

    The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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