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Abstract Objective This study aimed to examine prospective associations of different intensity levels and types of physical activity (PA) in early pregnancy with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) among Chinese pregnant women. Methods A total of 6284 pregnant women were included from the Tongji-Shuangliu Birth Cohort. Household/caregiving, occupational, sports/exercise and transportation activities during early pregnancy were investigated by the pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ), and the diagnosis of PROM was ascertained during the whole pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the associations between PA and PROM. Results Among the 6284 pregnant women, 1246 were identified to have PROM (19.8%). Women undertaking the highest level (3 third tertile) of PA during pregnancy appeared to have a lower risk of PROM [OR = 0.68, 95%CI 0.58–0.80) when compared to those at the lowest tertile of PA. Similarly, women with increased levels of light intensity activity, moderate-vigorous intensive, household/caregiving activity and meeting exercise guidelines during pregnancy were associated with reduced risks of PROM (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.59–0.81, OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.60–0.82, OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.53–0.73 and OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.70–0.97, respectively). Conclusions High levels of PA of different intensities and PA of household/caregiving activities and meeting exercise guidelines during the first trimester were associated with a lower incidence of PROM. Trial registration The data of human participants in this study were conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China ([2017] No. S225). All participants provided written informed consent prior to enrollment. A statement to confirm that all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

Background Obesity is a major public health issue in China and around the world. While acupuncture is often used in clinical practice, there is a lack of conclusive evidence for its weight-loss effect. Thus we will conduct a parallel, randomised, sham-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for treating obesity.Methods and analysis A total of 160 eligible participants with obesity will be randomly assigned to the verum acupuncture group or sham acupuncture group at a ratio of 1:1. All participants will be treated three times a week for a duration of 12 weeks, and followed up for another 16 weeks. The primary outcome is the percentage change in body weight from baseline to Week 12. The secondary outcomes include body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BF%), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated haemoglobin A1c, blood lipids, and physical functioning score on the Short Form 36 Health Survey. Other secondary outcomes including psychological and social functions will also be evaluated using the body image scale, psychological function scale, and social function scale of the BODY-Q, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. BMI, WC, BF% and blood pressure will be evaluated at Week 0, 4, 8, 12 and 28. Other secondary outcomes will be measured at Week 0, 12 and 28, respectively. Adverse events will be recorded in detail during the trial.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval of this trial was granted by the Ethics Committee of Chengdu Sport University (2023–102). Written informed consent will be obtained from study participants before enrolment. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200062092).

Lucaogou Formation in the Santanghu Basin is a special lacustrine fine-grained sedimentary deposits rich in volcanic debris and carbonate, with abundant shale oil resources. However, understanding of shale oil characteristics and genesis remains unclear. Lithofacies, sedimentary environment, and formation mechanisms of tuffaceous shale oil are investigated based on core and thin section observations, X-ray diffraction, field emission SEM and geochemical analysis. Results show that three mixed lithofacies types are developed in Lucaogou Formation: blocky tuff, laminated tuffaceous dolomite, and laminated dolomitic tuff. These lithofacies types are characterized by high content of felsic and dolostone, widespread organic matter, and low clay content. Formation of tuffaceous shale oil sweet spots is primarily influenced by four factors: inputting of volcanic ash as a high-quality source rocks and reservoirs provides good material basis; devitrification of volcanic glass, calcitization, and dissolution are crucial for formation of reservoirs; expulsion of source rocks with high-abundance organic matter expulsion facilitates migration and accumulation of hydrocarbon in adjacent reservoirs; fracture development improves reservoir permeability to form highly productive sweet spots. By analyzing characteristics and genesis of tuffaceous shale oil, the main controlling factors of reservoir physical property and oil saturation are clarified, which is of great significance for selection of shale oil exploration zones.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a ubiquitous brain cell degeneration disease and presents a significant therapeutic challenge. By injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the left medial forebrain bundle, rats were made to exhibit PD-like symptoms and treated by intranasal administration of a low-dose (2 × 105) or high-dose (1 × 106) human neural stem cells (hNSCs). Apomorphine-induced rotation test, stepping test, and open field test were implemented to evaluate the motor behavior and high-performance liquid chromatography was carried out to detect dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid in the striatum of rats. Animals injected with 6-OHDA showed significant motor function deficits and damaged dopaminergic system compared to the control group, which can be restored by hNSCs treatment. Treatment with hNSCs significantly increased the tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cell count in the substantia nigra of PD animals. Moreover, the levels of neurotransmitters exhibited a significant decline in the striatum tissue of animals injected with 6-OHDA when compared to that of the control group. However, transplantation of hNSCs significantly elevated the concentration of DA and DOPAC in the injured side of the striatum. Our study offered experimental evidence to support prospects of hNSCs for clinical application as a cell-based therapy for PD.

In future regenerative medicine, far-infrared radiation (FIR) may be an essential component of optical therapy. Many studies have confirmed or validated the efficacy and safety of FIR in various diseases, benefiting from new insights into FIR mechanisms and the excellent performance of many applications. However, the lack of consensus on the biological effects and therapeutic parameters of FIR limits its practical applications in the clinic. In this review, the definition, characteristics, and underlying principles of the FIR are systematically illustrated. We outline the therapeutic parameters of FIR, including the wavelength range, power density, irradiation time, and distance. In addition, the biological effects, potential molecular mechanisms, and preclinical and clinical applications of FIR are discussed. Furthermore, the future development and applications of FIR are described in this review. By applying optimal therapeutic parameters, FIR can influence various cells, animal models, and patients, eliciting diverse underlying mechanisms and offering therapeutic potential for many diseases. FIR could represent a superior alternative with broad prospects for application in future regenerative medicine.

Background Comprehensive blood lipoprotein profiles and their association with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) among racially and geographically diverse populations remain understudied. Methods and Results We conducted nested case–control studies of CHD among 3438 individuals (1719 pairs), including 1084 White Americans (542 pairs), 1244 Black Americans (622 pairs), and 1110 Chinese adults (555 pairs). We examined 36 plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins, measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, with incident CHD among all participants and subgroups by demographics, lifestyle, and metabolic health status using conditional or unconditional logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders. Conventionally measured blood lipids, that is, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, were each associated with incident CHD, with odds ratios (ORs) being 1.33, 1.32, 1.24, and 0.79 per 1‐SD increase among all participants. Seventeen lipoprotein biomarkers showed numerically stronger associations than conventional lipids, with ORs per 1‐SD among all participants ranging from 1.35 to 1.57 and a negative OR of 0.78 (all false discovery rate

Background In 2009, a workplace‐based hypertension management program was launched among men with hypertension in the Kailuan study. This program involved monitoring blood pressure semimonthly, providing free antihypertensive medications, and offering personalized health consultations. However, the cost‐effectiveness of this program remains unclear. Methods and Results This analysis included 12 240 participants, with 6120 in each of the management and control groups. Using a microsimulation model derived from 10‐year follow‐up data, we estimated costs, quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), life‐years, and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for workplace‐based management compared with routine care in both the study period and over a lifetime. Analyses are conducted from the societal perspective. Over the 10‐year follow‐up, patients in the management group experienced an average gain of 0.06 QALYs with associated incremental costs of $633.17 (4366.85 RMB). Projecting over a lifetime, the management group was estimated to increase by 0.88 QALYs or 0.92 life‐years compared with the control group, with an incremental cost of $1638.64 (11 301.37 RMB). This results in an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of $1855.47 per QALY gained and $1780.27 per life‐year gained, respectively, when comparing workplace‐based management with routine care. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, with a threshold willingness‐to‐pay of $30 765 per QALY (3 times 2019 gross domestic product per capita), the management group showed a 100% likelihood of being cost‐effective in 10 000 samples. Conclusions Workplace‐based management, compared with routine care for Chinese men with hypertension, could be cost‐effective both during the study period and over a lifetime, and might be considered in working populations in China and elsewhere.