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Calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD) was believed to be caused by aging-associated degenerative changes and passive calcium deposition. In recent years, it has been found that CAVD is an active pathological process, but the possible pathogenesis of CAVD has not been elucidated. During the development of CAVD, both innate and adaptive immune responses are activated, and increasing evidence suggests that inflammation plays a central role in the initiation and progression of the disease, in which the function of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is particularly important. TLRs play a crucial role in controlling infection and maintaining tissue homeostasis by identifying host derived molecules released after pathogen and tissue damage, acting as a sentinel for the innate immune system. This article provides an overview of the current concepts regarding the relationship between TLRs signaling and inflammation and calcification remodeling in the pathogenesis of CAVD. The above regulatory mechanisms can provide new targets and strategies for the treatment of CAVD.

Background: Clinical nutritionists are responsible for nutritional therapy in clinical practice, which significantly enhances patients' nutritional status. This study aims to develop and validate a competency evaluation scale to effectively assess the abilities of clinical nutritionists. Methods: The competency evaluation scale for clinical nutritionists was developed based on the iceberg model, utilizing literature review, semi-structured interviews, and the Delphi method. The weights of each indicator were calculated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the validity and reliability of the scale were confirmed through questionnaire surveys. Results: The competency evaluation scale of clinical nutritionists comprised five primary indicators, twelve secondary indicators, and sixty-six tertiary indicators. The primary indicators, including professional theoretical knowledge, professional practical skills, humanistic practice ability, interpersonal communication ability, and professional development capability, have respective weights of 0.2168, 0.2120, 0.2042, 0.2022, and 0.1649. The Cronbach's α coefficients of the five dimensions of the scale were 0.970, 0.978, 0.969, 0.962, and 0.947, respectively. The results of the Exploratory Factor Analysis showed that the prerequisites for factor analysis were satisfied. Additionally, Bartlett's test of sphericity yielded a significance level of p < 0.001, confirming the scale's reliability and validity. Conclusions: The competency evaluation scale for clinical nutritionists developed in this study is of high scientific reliability and validity, which provides assessment criteria for the training and assessment of clinical nutritionists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to examine the association between dietary Se intake and CVD risk in Chinese adults. Design: This prospective cohort study included adults above 20 years old in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), and they were followed up from 1997 to 2015 (n 16 030). Dietary data were retrieved from CHNS, and a 3-d, 24-h recall of food intake was used to assess the cumulative average intake of dietary Se, which was divided into quartiles. The Cox proportional hazards model was adopted to analyse the association between dietary Se intake and incident CVD risk. Setting: CHNS (1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015) Results: A total of 663 respondents developed CVD after being followed up for a mean of 9·9 years (median 9 years). The incidence of CVD was 4·3, 3·7, 4·6 and 4·0 per 1000 person-years across the quartiles of cumulative Se intake. After adjusting all potential factors, no significant associations were found between cumulative Se intake and CVD risk. No interactions were found between Se intake and income, urbanisation, sex, region, weight, hypertension and CVD risk. Conclusion: We found no association between dietary Se and CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the synergistic effect of coal-bed methane (CBM) extraction and utilization on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction in Shanxi Province. Using data from a survey of 87 CBM extraction firms and 61 CBM utilization firms, we draw abatement cost curves of methane emission reduction with the "Conserved Supply Curve (CSC)." Our findings show large diversity among the methane abatement costs of extraction firms, meanwhile cost diversity in the extraction step is mainly due to differences in extraction technologies, rather than mine types. Power generation is the main utilization option for CBM, with much smaller abatement cost diversity than in the extraction step. Most utilization projects are established near CBM sources, with small-scale equipment supplied by domestic vendors. We suggest Shanxi could introduce a carbon pricing mechanism to further encourage CBM extraction and increase its scale. Promoting technology standardization can reduce cost diversity among extraction firms, while developing CBM purifying firms can create standardized products and break the strong integration of extraction and utilization. Strengthening CBM transportation infrastructure can form a competitive market with multi-source supply upstream and efficient transportation downstream. Promoting joint research and development for domestic CBM utilization equipment can also improve its scale. • We analyze CBM extraction and utilization on GHG emissions reduction in Shanxi. • A survey of 87 CBM extraction firms and 61 CBM utilization firms is conducted. • Abatement cost curves of methane emission reduction is drawn. • Findings show large diversity among the methane abatement costs among firms. • Strengthen CBM transportation infrastructure can form a competitive market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]