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Few studies investigated the effects of exposure to NO2on health status in the Chinese floating population. The present cross-sectional study evaluated the association of ambient NO2with health status in a floating population in China. Data on 168961 floating individuals in 338 cities were obtained from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey. The association between exposure to NO2and self-related health (SRH) status was assessed by binary logistic regression analysis, both in the entire subject cohort and in subgroups assorted by socioeconomic levels and demographic characteristics. The robustness of the associations between NO2exposure and health status was evaluated by sensitivity analyses. Each grade increment of annual average NO2exposure was found to increase the risk of poor SRH by 2.4% in the floating population (odds ratio [OR] = 1.024, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.011–1.038). When subgrouped by age, subjects in the floating population aged 31–49 years had the highest NO2associated health risk (OR = 1.036, 95% CI: 1.018–1.054). When subgrouped by per capita gross domestic product (PGDP), subjects in regions with mid-level PDGP had the highest NO2associated SRH (OR = 1.116, 95% CI: 1.091–1.141). These findings indicated that exposure to NO2increases the risk of poor SRH in the floating population, with individuals aged 31–49 years and those living in mid-level PGDP regions being more sensitive to the adverse effects of NO2. More effective strategies to reduce air pollution may improve the health status of the floating population in China.

In this paper, a novel multi-frame track-before-detect algorithm is proposed, which is based on root label clustering to reduce the high computational complexity arising by observation area expansion and clutter/noise density increase. A criterion of track extrapolation is used to construct state transition set, root label is marked by state transition set to obtain the distribution information of multiple targets in measurement space, then measurement plots of multi-frame are divided into several clusters, and finally multi-frame track-before-detect algorithm is implemented in each cluster. The computational complexity can be reduced by employing the proposed algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can accurately detect multiple targets in close proximity and reduce the number of false tracks.

Ca2+ influx through the L-type Ca2+ channels is the primary pathway for triggering the Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). However, several observations have shown that Ca2+ influx via the reverse mode of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger current (INa-Ca) could also trigger the Ca2+ release. The aim of the present study was to quantitate the role of this alternative pathway of Ca2+ influx using a mathematical model. In our model 20% of the fast sodium channels and the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger molecules are located in the restricted subspace between the sarcolemma and the SR where triggering of the calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) takes place. After determining the strengths of the alternative triggers with simulated voltage-clamps in varied membrane voltages and resting [Na]i values, we studied the CICR in simulated action potentials, where fast sodium channel current contributes [Na]i of the subspace. In low initial [Na]i the Ca2+ influx via the L-type Ca2+ channels is the major trigger for Ca2+ release from the SR, and the Ca2+ influx via the reverse mode of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger cannot trigger the CICR. However, depending on the initial [Na]i, the contribution of the Ca2+ entry via the exchanger may account for 25% (at [Na]i=10mM) to nearly 100% ([Na]i=30mM) of the trigger Ca2+. The shift of the main trigger from L-type calcium channels to the exchanger reduced the delay between the action potential upstroke and the intracellular calcium transient. This may contribute to the function of the myocyte in physiological situations where [Na]i is elevated. These main results remain the same when using different estimates for the most crucial parameters in the modeling or different models for the exchanger.

ABSTRACTBackgroundChronic disease multimorbidity has become a major challenge for health systems. While a lot of research has evaluated the direct economic burden of multimorbidity on health care utilization and cost, little attention has been given to the impacts on work productivity and functional limitations, as indirect indicators of disease burden.ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the prevalence of multimorbidity among Chinese adults and its impact on functional disability and work productivity. It also investigates urban-rural differences in these relationships.MethodThis study utilized the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2015, including 11,176 participants aged 45 years and older. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect of multimorbidity on functional disability (i.e. ADL: activities of daily life; IADL: instrumental activities of daily life), and work productivity loss due to health problems. Negative binomial regression models were used to assess the association of multimorbidity with sickness absences from agricultural work and employed non-agricultural work.Results68.8% of total participants in CHARLS had multimorbidity in China in 2015. Rural residents with multimorbidity reported higher proportions of physical functions and days of sick leave than urban residents. Multimorbidity was positively associated with ADL limitation (odds ratio 1.924, 95% CI 1.656–2.236), IADL limitation (1.522, 1.326–1.748), limited work due to health problems (1.868, 1.601–2.178) and days of sick leave (for agricultural work, incidence rate ratio 1.676, 95% CI 1.390–2.020; for employed non-agricultural work, 2.418, 1.245–4.696). For the rural group, the impact of multimorbidity on functional limitations and work productivity loss (except for early retirement), was less than the urban group.ConclusionsMultimorbidity poses significant challenges for functional health and work productivity These have significant negative economic consequences for individuals, the Chinese health system and the society.

Aims C-11 acetate PET imaging allows quantification of myocardial oxidative metabolism. We sought to assess the reproducibility of such analysis with the Carimas software. Methods and results The myocardial oxygen consumption rate was assessed via a kmono index—the clearance rate constant of a mono-exponential function fitted to a C-11 acetate clearance curve. Two observers of different experience levels—a novice and an expert—analysed 53 C-11 acetate PET studies—each study twice. These results were compared using Bland–Altman (BA) plots with the global kmono-s obtained earlier with a validated reference method. We also assessed intra- and interobserver reproducibility on global, regional, and segmental [17-segment model (AHA)] levels—a linear mixed model for the repeated measures was fitted to our data—using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and differences between repeats and the observers. Carimas kmono values were lower than the reference—by 10.7% in the novice and by 9.6% in the expert, and were in substantial agreement with it—R2 values were 0.944 and 0.943 correspondingly; the coefficients of repeatability—1.96 SD of biases in BA plots—were 11.2% in both the observers. The intra- and interobserver ICCs were high on global and regional levels—above 0.99 in the novice and 0.96 in the expert. The intra- and interobserver differences were low on global and regional levels, the most pronounced being the left anterior descending artery (LAD) interobserver difference of 2.2%. Conclusion The study showed extremely good reproducibility—both intra- and interobserver—for C-11 acetate PET analysis of myocardial oxidative metabolism.

Aims Absolute quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) with 15O-water cardiac positron emission tomography (PET)/CT has recently demonstrated to hold promising diagnostic value for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, methodological differences in utilized analysis software packages (SP) could affect generated MBF values, potentially prohibiting widespread clinical applicability of obtained normal thresholds. The aim of this study was to compare two validated non-commercial SP, Carimas and Cardiac VUer, for the quantification of MBF using 15O-water PET. Methods and results One hundred patients with intermediate likelihood of CAD and scanned in academic centres in Amsterdam (n = 50) and Turku (n = 50) were included in the study. Patients underwent a 15O-water PET/CT scan during rest and vasodilator stress based on clinical indications. A single observer, blinded from clinical results and with no prior experience in either SP, analysed all patients twice with both SP. Reproducibility of each SP was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Intersoftware agreement was assessed using paired t-tests and linear regression. ICC was excellent for each SP for both global and regional MBF (ICC >0.90). Global MBF was comparable between Carimas and Cardiac VUer during rest (1.02 ± 0.28 vs. 0.99 ± 0.23 mL min–1g−1, respectively, P = 0.07), and slightly higher for Carimas during stress (2.73 ± 0.82 vs. 2.63 ± 0.84 mL min−1g−1, respectively, P = 0.01). At a regional level, for resting conditions small (<10%) but significant discrepancies were noted in each vascular territory while for stress MBF, a significant difference was only observed for the LAD region. Differences between SP for the LAD territory were abolished after exclusion of the distal apical segment, which is susceptible to spillover artefacts. An excellent correlation between MBF values was found for global (r = 0.96) and regional MBF (r > 0.94 for all). Conclusion For global and regional MBF, Carimas and Cardiac VUer showed excellent agreement and intra-observer reproducibility. These results confirm that, for patients with intermediate likelihood of CAD, these validated SP are interchangeable and can be utilized for routine clinical practice of 15O-water cardiac PET.