The current literature regarding the influence of the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) on Hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout is insufficient. This study sought to examine the correlation between VAI and the prevalence of HUA and gout. This cross-sectional analysis employed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2007 and 2018. Our survey data originated from the United States, with the study population consisting of U.S. adults. Visceral adiposity was evaluated using the VAI score, HUA was determined by serum uric acid concentrations, and gout was diagnosed by pertinent questionnaires. Logistic regression models were employed to investigate the relationship between VAI and the prevalence of HUA and gout. We additionally utilized restricted cubic splines (RCS), subgroup and sensitivity analyses, receiver operating characteristic curves, and threshold analysis to corroborate the findings. A total of 14,262 adult participants were included, consisting of 3025 individuals with HUA and 668 with gout. The prevalence of HUA and gout was 21.21% and 4.68%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between increasing VAI and a higher prevalence of both HUA and gout. Stratifying VAI into quartiles revealed that those in the highest quartile exhibited a markedly greater prevalence of HUA and gout relative to those in the lowest quartile, with odds ratios (ORs) of 4.17 (95% CI 3.64–4.78) and 2.04 (95% CI 1.57–2.64), respectively. The non-linear association between VAI and both situations was revealed by RCS. Threshold analysis determined 3.520 as the pivotal tipping point for HUA and 3.568 for gout. In all subgroup, increased VAI was strongly correlated with the occurrence of gout. The sensitivity analysis validated the reliability of these findings. Our investigation demonstrates a significant correlation between elevated VAI levels and a higher prevalence of HUA and gout. Maintaining optimal VAI levels may serve as a useful strategy for the prevention and management of both disorders.

Background: The benefits of acupuncture on primary insomnia (PI) have been well established in previous studies. However, different acupuncture dosages may lead to controversy over its efficacy. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between the dose and efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of PI.Methods: Seven databases were searched from inception until May 30, 2024. The included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with acupuncture for PI on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were divided into three categories according to the therapeutic dose of acupuncture (frequency, session, and course): low dosage, medium dosage, and high dosage. The correlation between the dose and the effect of treatment was analyzed. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan v.5.4 and Stata 16.0 software.Results: A total of 56 studies were included. There were 17 sham acupuncture-controlled RCTs that are notable because of their high quality. Overall, the effect on the reduction of the PSQI scores varied across the different acupuncture dosages. For the frequency of acupuncture, the results showed a significant improvement in the moderate frequency (three sessions per week) and high frequency (five to seven sessions per week) categories. With regard to the acupuncture session, it was shown that moderate session (12–20 sessions) and high session (24–30 sessions) had better effects on the reduction of the PSQI scores, with low session (≤10 sessions) being not significant. For the acupuncture course, there were no differences in the short course (≤2 weeks) and the long course (>4 weeks) between the acupuncture group and the control group. Medium course (3–4 weeks) was considered as the optimal course. In addition, there were no differences between acupuncture and SATV (sham acupuncture therapy at verum points) on the same acupuncture points in the PSQI scores. The results of GRADE assessment demonstrated that the level of evidence was very low to moderate, probably due to the poor methodological quality and the substantial heterogeneity among studies.Conclusions: A dose–effect relationship was found between the acupuncture dose and the PSQI scores. Although sham acupuncture needling at the same points as those in acupuncture may not be a true placebo control, this was utilized in a minority of studies. Collectively, the data suggest that at least three sessions per week for 3–4 weeks and a total of at least 12 acupuncture sessions would be the optimal clinical response.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, identifier CRD42024560078.

Background: Depressive disorders are highly prevalent and disabling mental illnesses among women of childbearing age (WCBA), especially with the surge in prevalence following the COVID-19 pandemic, but evidence on their burden remains insufficient. This study provides a thorough analysis of the burden of depressive disorders among WCBA at global, regional and national levels.Methods: This study utilized data from Global burden of disease (GBD) 2021 to evaluate the trends in incidence, prevalence, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) of depressive disorders among WCBA from 1990 to 2021. Data was stratified by time, age, region, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Moreover, this study utilized a range of analytical methods, including estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), Joinpoint regression, decomposition analysis and predictive modeling (Nordpred method).Results: Depressive disorders in WCBA constitute a growing global health crisis, marked by a notable rise in absolute cases, accompanied by a slight downward age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDALYR). In 2021, there were 133.25 million incident cases, 121.24 million prevalent cases, and 21.04 million DALYs. In 2021, the global ASIR, ASPR, and ASDALYR were 6,808.01 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 5,049.99 to 9,106.66) per 100,000, 6173.45 (95% UI: 4,883.27 to 7,781.73) per 100,000, and 1,073.50 (95% UI: 686.73 to 1,562.48) per 100,000. High SDI region had the highest ASIR, ASPR, and ASDALYR. Furthermore, High-income North America exhibited the highest ASIR, ASPR and ASDALYR. Joinpoint regression analysis yielded a pronounced increase in ASIR subsequent to 2019. Nordpred predictive model demonstrated an upward trend in the ASIR, ASPR and ASDALYR of depressive disorders among WCBA by 2046.Conclusion: Depressive disorders among WCBA show a globally rising burden, particularly in high SDI region, with a notable post-2019 increase. This underscores an urgent need for tailored public health action alleviate the growing mental health burden, particularly among WCBA.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the key factors contributing to global morbidity and mortality. Women of childbearing age (WCBA) represent a high-risk population for HIV/AIDS, presenting a substantial challenge to global public health systems. A comprehensive understanding of the AIDS burden in this demographic is essential for developing targeted screening and treatment strategies to effectively control mother-to-child transmission.Methods: Utilizing GBD 2021 data, this study systematically evaluated epidemiological trends in HIV/AIDS incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among WCBA. The analysis employed a multidimensional stratification approach, examining temporal patterns, age distributions, geographic variations, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Additionally, a comprehensive analytical approach was employed, which included the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), Joinpoint regression, decomposition analysis, and predictive modeling using the Nordpred method. Decomposition analysis quantified contributions from population growth, aging, and epidemiological changes.Results: From 1990 to 2021, the numbers of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs of HIV/AIDS among WCBA increased significantly. In 2021, the global age-standardized rates for incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), mortality (ASMR), and DALYs (ASDALYR) were 34.73 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 30.03 to 40.54) per 100,000, 830.87 (95% UI: 784.57 to 884.29) per 100,000, 13.39 (95% UI: 10.34 to 17.56) per 100,000, and 829.75 (95% UI: 658.24 to 1,063.9) per 100,000, respectively. ASIR showed a downward trend, while ASPR exhibited an upward trend. Geographically, the highest persistent burden was observed in Sub-Saharan Africa. High-middle SDI region, Eastern Europe, and Pakistan had the fastest growth in incidence. Decomposition analysis showed that the increase in HIV/AIDS indicators among WCBA was mainly caused by population, and epidemiological changes. Nordpred analysis predicts modest decline in ASIR, ASPR, and ASMR by 2046.Conclusion: From 1990 to 2021, substantial rise in incident cases, prevalent cases, mortality, and DALYs has established HIV/AIDS among WCBA as a critical global public health burden. This burden exhibits marked disparities across geographic regions, countries, and age groups. In high-burden areas, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, public health practitioners must strengthen international cooperation and prioritize expanding HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy access, women’s empowerment, and removing socio-cultural barriers.

Background: Meniere’s disease (MD) is an idiopathic chronic inner ear disease that seriously impacts patients’ physical and mental health. Medications may be effective for a proportion of patients, and additional effective treatments are still needed. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for MD.Methods: Eight databases were systematically searched from their inception to June 1, 2024, to identify randomized clinical trials on acupuncture treatment for MD. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool was used to assess the risk of bias in included studies, and meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.4 and Stata 16.0 software.Results: Six studies were included in this review. The treatment group received acupuncture or acupuncture combined with Western medicine, while the control group was treated with Western medicine. The treatment group was superior to the control group in terms of efficacy rate (RR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.11–1.29; p < 0.0001). The treatment group reduced dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) (MD: 6.94; 95% CI: 1.58–12.30; p = 0.01), tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) (MD: 6.52; 95% CI: 0.77–12.27; p = 0.03), stuffy ear visual analog scale (VAS) (MD: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.54–1.20; p < 0.0001) and pure tone audiometry score (MD: 6.57; 95% CI: 5.62–7.51; p < 0.0001) to a greater degree than those of the control group. There were some methodological shortcomings in the included studies, including failure to implement blinding, inappropriate outcome measures, and heterogeneity of clinical interventions, such as selected acupoints, acupuncture sessions, and therapist techniques.Conclusion: Acupuncture may improve the symptoms of vertigo, tinnitus, ear fullness and hearing loss in patients with MD. However, due to the lack of literature included in this study and methodological weaknesses like randomization, blinding, and clinical heterogeneity, more well-designed long-term follow-up RCTs are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/(CRD42024549261).