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In this study, we investigated the oenological performance of key yeast populations previously identified from apricot wine fermentation, aiming to obtain indigenous starters suitable for apricot wine production. Twenty-one isolates were characterized physiologically, and two isolates each of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia kudriavzevii were selected for laboratory-scale fermentations. Results showed that S. cerevisiae S9 exhibited significantly higher sugar consumption than S2 and CECA strains, with the former demonstrating a fructophilic character. Mixed fermentations of P. kudriavzevii N11 and N12 resulted in lower citric acid content (decreasing by 12–25 %) and higher glycerol levels (increasing by 12–47 %) compared to pure fermentation. In the mixed fermentation, indigenous S. cerevisiae species supported the survival of P. kudriavzevii, effectively enhancing the fruity esters and terpenes content of apricot wine. This study provides technical support for screening specialized starters for apricot wine production.

Grape maturity and yeast strains are crucial to determining young wine quality. This study evaluates the impact of three grape maturity levels with sugar contents of 22, 25, and 28°Brix combined with two S. cerevisiae strains selected from distinct terroirs on the Cabernet Sauvignon wine profile in the Ningxia Qingtongxia region in China. Physicochemical parameters and volatile aroma compounds were analyzed and quantitative descriptive analysis was performed on wine samples. The results indicated that berry ripeness primarily influenced physicochemical profiles, while aroma characteristics were affected by both grape maturity and yeast strain. Some esters and higher alcohols increased with grape maturity. Late-harvest wines scored significantly higher in aroma and taste quality than early-harvest wines. The CECA strain yielded wines with elevated medium-chain ester levels, reduced higher alcohols, improved balance and purity, and enhanced the typical aroma of blackberry, spice, and dark chocolate.

In this paper, the effects of three postharvest treatments (aerobic,vacuum,vacuum+1-MCP) on browning, active oxygen metabolism and saccharides during storage of deastringent persimmon were researched. Meanwhile, the correlations between browning and other indexes were analyzed. BI of vacuum and vacuum+1-MCP was lower than that in aerobic group, and the browning degree in vacuum+1-MCP group was the lowest. The SOD and APX activities of the three kinds of persimmon treated after harvest decreased and increased respectively, and the SOD activities of the vacuum group were the lowest，the APX activities under vacuum and vacuum+1-MCP conditions were higher than that in aerobic group. At vacuum and vacuum+1-MCP conditions，the increase of CAT activity of persimmon was inhibited, and the accumulation of H2O2 was reduced, with lower ability to inhibit hydroxyl radical and ascorbic acid content. The reducing sugar content of persimmon in vacuum and vacuum+1-MCP groups was lower than that in aerobic group, and the increase in vacuum+1-MCP group was the slowest, from 14.10% at the beginning of storage to 14.87% on 12 d. The pectin content of persimmon in vacuum+1-MCP group decreased slowly. Correlation analysis showed that the correlations between browning and various indexes under different postharharvest treatments were different. The persimmon BI was always negatively correlated with pectin, meanwhile positively correlated with reducing sugar. It can be concluded that vacuum and vacuum+1-MCP conditions are more conducive to inhibiting the browning of persimmon after deastringent.

Phthalates are positioned as potential risk factors for health-related diseases. However, the effects of exposure to phthalates on accelerated aging and the potential modifications of physical activity remain unclear. A total of 2317 participants containing complete study-related information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2010 were included in the current study. We used two indicators, the Klemera-Doubal method biological age acceleration (BioAgeAccel) and phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel), to assess the accelerated aging status of the subjects. Multiple linear regression (single pollutant models), weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, Quantile g-computation, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were utilized to explore the associations between urinary phthalate metabolites and accelerated aging. Three groups of physical activity with different intensities were used to evaluate the modifying effects on the above associations. Results indicated that most phthalate metabolites were significantly associated with BioAgeAccel and PhenoAgeAccel, with effect values (β) ranging from 0.16 to 0.21 and 0.16–0.37, respectively. The WQS indices were positively associated with BioAgeAccel (0.33, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.54) and PhenoAgeAccel (0.50, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.82). Quantile g-computation indicated that phthalate mixtures were associated with accelerated aging, with effect values of 0.15 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.28) for BioAgeAccel and 0.39 (95% CI: 0.12, 0.67) for PhenoAgeAccel respectively. The BKMR models indicated a significant positive association between the concentrations of urinary phthalate mixtures with the two indicators. In addition, we found that most phthalate metabolites showed the strongest effects on accelerated aging in the no physical activity group and that the effects decreased gradually with increasing levels of physical activity (P < 0.05 for trend). Similar results were also observed in the mixed exposure models (WQS and Quantile g-computation). This study indicates that phthalates exposure is associated with accelerated aging, while physical activity may be a crucial barrier against phthalates exposure-related aging.

In this study, effects of four single factors which including slice thickness, frying temperature, frying time and deoilling time on the quality of persimmon chips under low-temperature vacuum frying were analyzed. According to the Box-Behnken test principle, the processing technology of persimmon chips under low-temperature vacuum frying was further optimized by taking crispness and chromatic aberration ΔE of persimmon chips as response values. Meanwhile, the physicochemical composition, microbiological index and microstructure of the final product were further researched. The results showed that all of frying temperature, frying time, deoiling time and slice thickness affected the crispness and chromatic aberration of persimmon chips, the optimal technology of vacuum frying persimmon chips at low temperature was determined by response surface optimization experiment and then actual correction were as follows: Deoiling time of 5 min, frying time of 50 min, frying temperature of 80 ℃ and thickness 5.5 mm. Under these conditions, the crispness, ΔE, water content, oil content, titrable acid and VC content of persimmon chips respective was 858.97 g, 17.28, 2.60%, 22.53%, 0.34 g/L and 31.20 mg/100 g. The persimmon chips were golden in color and complete in shape, and the inside of the chips presented a honeycomb-like porous and loose structure, the product had a crisp taste, and the microbial indicators met the health requirements. This research could provide technical support for the development of low-temperature vacuum frying persimmon chips.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between uric acid and the incidence of thyroid nodules (TNs) in health examinees in Anhui province for early intervention on TNs incidence. MethodsTotally 3 151 adults having regular health examinations at the Health Management Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University during January 2017 – September 2021 were recruited for a retrospective follow-up study and the enrollees had no TNs and other thyroid diseases and renal insufficiency but had complete information on laboratory detections at the enrollment. The incidence of TNs among the participants was observed until September 30, 2021. The relationship between uric acid and TNs incidence was analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models. ResultsAll participants completed the study, with a total follow-up of 7 251.03 person-years and an average follow-up of 2.30 ± 0.84 person-years. During the follow-up period, 605 incidents of TNs were observed and the TNs incidence density was 83.44/1 000 person-years and the cumulative incidence rate of TNs was 19.20%. Among the participants with low, normal, and high uric acid, the observed number of TNs incidence were 184, 277, and 144, with incidence densities (1/1 000 person-years) of 102.57, 75.34, and 80.88, respectively. The results of the univariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that the participants with low uric acid were at an increased risk (hazard risk [HR] = 1.352, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.122 – 1.629) of TNs incidence compared to the participants with normal uric acid. After adjusting for gender, age, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, glomerular filtration rate, serum alanine aminotransferase, serum triiodothyronine, and the presence of hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the risk of TNs increased (HR = 1.278, 95%CI: 1.029 – 1.585) in the participants with high uric acid compared to that in the participants with normal uric acid. Subgroup analysis results revealed that the participants with both higher uric acid and following characteristics had an increased risk of TNs incidence: being female (HR = 1.886, 95%CI: 1.080 – 3.294), aged ≥ 60 years (HR = 1.461, 95%CI: 1.021 – 2.091), suffering from hypertension (HR = 1.604, 95%CI: 1.150 – 2.238), with hypertriglyceridemia (HR = 1.761, 95%CI: 1.010 – 3.072), and having low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HR = 1.530, 95%CI: 1.075 – 2.179) in comparison with the participants with those characteristics but normal uric acid.ConclusionHigh uric acid is associated with the increased risk of TNs among health examinees in Anhui province and the increased risk is much higher in the high uric acid sufferers being female, aged ≥ 60 years, with hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, or low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

ObjectiveRecent studies suggest air pollution as an underlying factor to kidney disease. However, there is still limited knowledge about the short-term correlation between glomerulonephritis (GN) and air pollution. Thus, we aim to fill this research gap by investigating the short-term correlation between GN clinical visits and air pollution exposure.MethodsBetween 2015 and 2019, daily GN visit data from two grade A tertiary hospitals in Hefei City were collected, along with corresponding air pollution and meteorological data. A generalized linear model integrated with a distributed lag nonlinear model was employed to analyze the relationship between GN visits and air pollutants. Moreover, we incorporated a dual pollutant model to account for the combined effects of multiple pollutants. Furthermore, subgroup analyses were performed to identify vulnerable populations based on gender, age, and season.ResultsThe association between 23,475 GN visits and air pollutants was assessed, and significant positive associations were found between CO and NO2 exposure and GN visit risk. The single-day lagged effect model for CO showed increased risks for GN visits from lag0 (RR: 1.129, 95% CI: 1.031–1.236) to lag2 (RR: 1.034, 95% CI: 1.011–1.022), with the highest risk at lag0. In contrast, NO2 displayed a more persistent impact (lag1–lag4) on GN visit risk, peaking at lag2 (RR: 1.017, 95% CI: 1.011–1.022). Within the dual-pollutant model, the significance persisted for both CO and NO2 after adjusting for each other. Subgroup analyses showed that the cumulative harm of CO was greater in the cold-season and older adult groups. Meanwhile, the female group was more vulnerable to the harmful effects of cumulative exposure to NO2.ConclusionOur study indicated that CO and NO2 exposure can raise the risk of GN visits, and female and older adult populations exhibited greater susceptibility.

Real-time monitoring of microbial dynamics during fermentation is essential for wine quality control. This study developed a method that combines the fluorescent dye propidium monoazide (PMA) with CELL-qPCR, which can distinguish between dead and live microbes for Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. This method could detect the quantity of microbes efficiently and rapidly without DNA extraction during wine fermentation. The results showed that (1) the PMA-CELL-qPCR enumeration method developed for L. plantarum was optimized for PMA treatment concentration, PMA detection sensitivity and multiple conditions of sample pretreatment in wine environment, and the optimized method can accurately quantify 104–108 CFU/mL of the target strain (L. plantarum) in multiple matrices; (2) when the concentration of dead bacteria in the system is 104 times higher than the concentration of live bacteria, there is an error of 0.5–1 lg CFU/mL in the detection results. The optimized sample pretreatment method in wine can effectively reduce the inhibitory components in the qPCR reaction system; (3) the optimized PMA-CELL-qPCR method was used to monitor the dynamic changes of L. plantarum during the fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon wine, and the results were consistent with the plate counting method. In conclusion, the live bacteria quantification method developed in this study for PMA-CELL-qPCR in L. plantarum wines is accurate in quantification and simple in operation, and can be used as a means to accurately monitor microbial dynamics in wine and other fruit wines.

In this paper, the effects of three kinds of microwave (MVD, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 min) and hot air (HAD) drying at 60 ℃ on the drying characteristics and quality of jasmine were compared and analyzed. The results showed that in microwave drying stage, the water content of jasmine decreased rapidly, which accelerated the moisture decline in jasmine in hot air drying stage. The water-soluble extract, hydroxyl radical inhibitory ability, total amino acid and essential amino acid content of jasmine flower dried by combined microwave and hot air drying were higher than those of HAD group. The color and peak area of total volatile components, benzyl alcohol and α-fendene and of jasmine flowers in MVD2.0+HAD and MVD2.5+HAD groups were higher than those in HAD, which indicated that the typical fragrance of jasmine dried by MVD1.5+HAD and MVD2.0+HAD could be better retained. The difference of volatile components of jasmine dried by combined microwave and hot air drying could be distinguished by LDA analysis in electronic nose. In conclusion, jasmine dried by MVD2.0+HAD had the best quality.

The effects of heat pump drying, microwave drying and vacuum freeze drying on the color, powder properties, amino acid components and volatile components in mulberry leaf powder were compared and analyzed. The results showed that L* and b*were the highest, while a* was the lowest of mulberry leaf powder dried by vacuum freeze drying. Wettability, water holding capacity and oil holding capacity of mulberry leaf powder dried by microwave drying were the worst, while solubility and bulk density were the strongest. Meanwhile wettability, hygroscopicity, water holding capacity and oil holding capacity of mulberry leaf powder dried by vacuum freeze drying were the highest , and the lowest bulk density. The content of total amino acids, essential amino acids and proportions of essential amino acids in microwave dried mulberry leaf powder were 11.68 mg/g, 3.40 mg/g and 29.11%. The contents and relative contents of sweet amino acids, aromatic amino acids and bitter amino acids in microwave drying were higher than others. Microwave drying and vacuum freeze drying were similar in the volatile components of mulberry leaf powder, with high content of alcohols and aldehydes. In conclusion, vacuum freeze dried mulberry leaf powder had better physical characteristics and volatile aroma components, while microwave drying was more suitable for industrial processing of mulberry leaf powder.

Abstract Aim To evaluate the prevalence and influencing factors of anxiety and depression symptoms in surgical nurses during the COVID‐19 epidemic in Anhui, China. Methods A cross‐sectional, multic'entre quantitative study was conducted among surgical nurses in Anhui province. SAS, SDS and SSRS scales were used for the investigation. Data were collected between 3 March 2020 to 19 March 2020. Results A total of 3,492 surgical nurses completed the survey. The average level of anxiety and depression of surgical nurses were higher than that of the Chinese norm. Levels of social support for surgical nurses were significantly negatively associated with the degree of anxiety and depression. Fertility status, participation in care for COVID‐19 patients, likelihood of being infected with COVID‐19 and social support were significantly influencing surgical nurses’ anxiety degree. Similarly, these characteristics were significantly associated with the odds of depression symptoms in surgical nurses. Conclusion These findings suggest that targeted psychological interventions to promote mental health of surgical nurses need to be immediately implemented.

IntroductionPsoriasis is a common skin disease that seriously affects patients' quality of life. The association of air pollutants with psoriasis, and the extent of their effects remains unclear.MethodsBased on a distributed lag non-linear model, this study explored the short-term effects of air pollutants on outpatients with psoriasis in Hefei, China, between 2015 and 2019 by analyzing the exposure–lag–response relationship, after controlling for confounding influences such as meteorological factors, long-term trends, day of the week, and holidays. Stratified analyses were performed for patients of different ages and genders.ResultsThe maximum relative risks of psoriasis outpatients' exposure to SO2, NO2, and O3 were 1.023 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.004–1.043), 1.170 (95% CI: 1.046–1.307), and 1.059 (95% CI: 1.030–1.090), respectively. An increase of 10 μg/m3 of NO2 was associated with a 2.1% (95% CI: 0.7–3.5%) increase in outpatients with psoriasis, and a decrease of 10 μg/m3 of O3 was associated with an 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4–1.2%) increase in outpatients with psoriasis. Stratified analyses showed that male subjects were more sensitive to a change in meteorological factors, while female subjects and outpatients with psoriasis aged 0–17 years old were more sensitive to a change in air pollutants.DiscussionShort-term air pollutant exposures were associated with outpatients having psoriasis, suggesting that patients and high-risk people with psoriasis should reduce their time spent outside and improve their skin protection gear when air quality is poor.

This study identified and tested fruit-isolated Metschnikowia yeasts against three major postharvest citrus pathogens, namely, Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, and Geotrichum citri-aurantii, and further evaluated the impact of FeCl3 on the biocontrol efficiency of pulcherrimin-producing M. pulcherrima strains. Based on the characterization of the pigmented halo surrounding the colonies and the analysis of the D1/D2 domain of 26S rDNA, a total of 46 Metschnikowia sp. were screened and identified. All 46 Metschnikowia strains significantly inhibited the hyphal growth of Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, and Geotrichum citri-aurantii, and effectively controlled the development of green mold, blue mold and sour rot of citrus fruit. The introduction of exogenous FeCl3 at certain concentrations did not significantly impact the pulcherriminic acid (PA) production of pigmented M. pulcherrima strains, but notably diminished the size of pigmented zones and the biocontrol efficacy against the three pathogens. Iron deficiency sensitivity experiments revealed that P. digitatum and P. italicum exhibited higher sensitivity compared to G. citri-aurantii, indicating that iron dependence varied among the three pathogens. These results suggested that M. pulcherrima strains, capable of producing high yields of PA, possessed great potential for use as biocontrol agents against postharvest citrus diseases. The biocontrol efficacy of these yeasts is mainly attributed to their ability to competitively deplete iron ions in a shared environment, with the magnitude of their pigmented halo directly correlating to their antagonistic capability. It is worth noting that the level of sensitivity of pathogens to iron deficiency might also affect the biocontrol effect of pulcherrimin-producing M. pulcherrima.

Abstract Background HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key component of HIV combination prevention strategies and has the potential to decrease the incidence of HIV in men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to evaluate levels of PrEP acceptability and explore factors associated with willingness to use PrEP among MSM in Liuzhou, China. Methods Between November 2017 and May 2019, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 829 MSM. The study participants were recruited through a nonprobability sampling method. The participants’ demographics, HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual behaviors, drug use and HIV test history were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with willingness to use PrEP. Results A total of 829 MSM completed the survey, and 30.28% (95% CI 27.3–33.4) were willing to use PrEP. In multivariate logistic regression, factors associated with a higher willingness to use PrEP included Zhuang or Han ethnic origin, recruitment through peer introduction or gay venues, pursuit of a higher education level, previous HIV testing and oral sex with a man. Conversely, having casual sex in the past 6 months was associated with a lower willingness to use PrEP. Conclusions MSM in Liuzhou reported a relatively low level of willingness to use PrEP. The results indicate the need for effective education, targeted intervention, and implementation strategies to promote PrEP acceptance among MSM.

Background: A large body of evidence has linked air pollution and temperature with chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence and hospitalizations. However, most studies have focused on the influence of heat stress on CKD prevalence, and the potential effect modification of temperature on the association between air pollution and CKD has not been well-investigated. In this study, we examined the associations of the whole temperature spectrum and air pollution with CKD-related hospital visits and explored whether temperature modifies the short-term association of air pollution with CKD-related hospital visits. Methods and findings: We collected 40 276 CKD-related hospital visits from the first Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Anhui Provincial Hospital in Hefei, China, during 2015–2019. A two-stage time-series design was conducted to investigate the associations of air pollution and daily mean temperature with CKD-related hospital visits. First, we estimated the associations between air pollution and CKD-related hospital visits as well as temperature and CKD-related hospital visits. Second, we analyzed the associations of air pollution with CKD hospital visits at different temperatures. We found that NO2 exposure and low temperature were associated with an increased risk of CKD-related hospital visits. Low temperature enhanced the association between NO2 exposure and CKD-related hospital visits, with an increase of 4.30% (95% CI: 2.47–5.92%) per 10 μg/m3 increment in NO2 at low temperature. Effect modification of the association between NO2 and the risk of CKD-related hospital visits was stronger at low temperature across the whole population. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that low temperature–related chronic kidney damage should be of immediate public health concern. Impact of NO2 exposure on the risk of CKD–related hospital visits may increase under the low temperature, which suggests the need for NO2 exposure mitigation strategies in the context of climate change and an enhanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying the temperature variance of air pollution effect to help reduce the magnitude of the CKD burden on the healthcare systems.

Background. Ultrasonography (US) is the most common method of identifying thyroid nodules, but US images require an experienced surgeon for identification. Many artificial intelligence (AI) techniques such as computer-aided diagnostic systems (CAD), deep learning (DL), and machine learning (ML) have been used to assist in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but whether AI techniques can improve the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid nodules still needs to be explored. Objective. To clarify the accuracy of AI-based thyroid nodule US images for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods. A search strategy of “subject terms + key words” was used to search PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine (CBM), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for studies on AI-assisted diagnosis of thyroid nodules based on US images. The summarized receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and the pooled sensitivity and specificity were used to assess the performance of the diagnostic tests. The quality assessment of diagnostics accuracy studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. The Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15 were used to process the data. Subgroup analysis was based on the integrity of data collection. Results. A total of 25 studies with 17,429 US images of thyroid nodules were included. AI-assisted diagnostic techniques had better diagnostic efficacy in the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules: sensitivity 0.88 (95% CI: (0.85–0.90)), specificity 0.81 (95% CI: 0.74–0.86), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) 30 (95% CI: 19–46). The SROC curve indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89–0.94). Threshold effect analysis showed a Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.17

This study aimed to develop functional fruit wines using whole fruit, pulp, and peels from green bananas. The boiled banana homogenates were mixed with cane sugar before wine fermentation. Quality parameters, phenolic compounds, flavor components, and antioxidative properties of the green banana peel wine (GBPW), green banana pulp wine (GBMW), and whole banana wine (GBW) were determined. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the phytochemical compounds in three wines, and the flavor components were further analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The flavor components and in vitro antioxidant activities were, respectively, determined using the relative odor activity value and the orthogonal projections on latent structure discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA). In vitro antioxidative capacities for these wines were evaluated using antioxidant chemical assays and cell culture methods. The total phenolic and total tannin content of the GBPW, GBMW, and GBW showed reducing trends with increasing fermentation days, whereas the total flavonoid content of the wine samples exhibited downward trends. The antioxidant capacities of the three wine samples were higher than those of the raw fruit samples, except for the metal chelation rate (%). Additionally, the main flavor component in the wine samples was 3-methyl-1-butanol. Its percentages in the GBPW, GBMW, and GBW were 72.02%, 54.04%, and 76.49%, respectively. The OPLS-DA results indicated that the three wines presented significantly different antioxidant activities. The cell-culture-based antioxidant analysis showed that these wine samples had protective effects against the oxidative stress of the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide. This study provided a theoretical basis for defining the antioxidant characteristics of banana wines and expanding novel channels for using banana peels to develop nutraceuticals.

Recent large-scale genetic association studies have identified that several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on X chromosome are correlated with risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Chinese population. The aim of this study was to estimate association between these loci and clinical features in female patients with SLE. Six SNPs identified in previous studies were genotyped. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated with adjusting for potential confounding factors. A total of 772 SLE patients were included in the final analysis. The data showed that 3 SNPs (rs5914778, rs3853839 and rs1059702) were marginally associated with several clinical subphenotypes. Furthermore, consistent associations were also found in two independent cohorts. However, the cumulative genetic risk score (GRS) was not associated with clinical manifestations as well as the disease activity index at disease diagnosis. In summary, genetic variants in X-linked genes may be potentially associated with presence of specific clinical feature. Further studies in distinct ethnical populations are required to clarify the association between these loci and presence of SLE clinical features.

Abstract Background The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Anhui Province of eastern China remain uncertain. The present study provides the first estimate of the prevalence and risk factors of COPD in Anhui. Methods A population-based survey was conducted in a representative sample of population aged 40 years or older in 2015. COPD was diagnosed based on 2017 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. Results A total of 2770 participants had reliable post-bronchodilator results and were included in the final analysis. The overall prevalence of COPD was 9.8% (95% CI: 8.2, 11.7). Prevalence was higher in men (14.8, 95% CI: 12.6, 17.2) than it was in women (5.2, 95% CI: 3.1, 8.7). Among adults with COPD, 45.0% (95% CI: 39.1, 51.0) had moderate or severe disease (GOLD stage II-IV), 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2, 2.9) reported that they had a previous pulmonary function test, and only 0.4% (95% CI: 0.1, 2.6) knew their diagnosis of COPD. Risk factors for COPD included older age (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.08), male sex (OR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.22, 3.33), current smoking status (OR 2.63, 95% CI: 1.86, 3.73), primary school or lower education (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.31), family history of lung disease (OR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.93), and indoor exposure to coal for cooking or heating (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.15). In addition, people in north region has a significantly higher risk for developing COPD than people in south region of Anhui (OR 1.98, 95% CI:1.44, 2.71). Conclusions COPD is prevalent in Anhui and the prevalence is highest in north region. Strategies aiming at prevention, early detection and treatment of COPD are urgently needed to reduce COPD-related burden.

Abstract Background It is well established that the risks of insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus are elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. However, the relationship between SLE pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is still obscure. We perform the present systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the relationship between GDM and SLE pregnancy. Methods According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, relevant studies were carefully retrieved through PubMed, Cochrane library and Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database and China Biology Medicine database from inception till 30 August 2018. GDM risk ratio (RR) of pregnant SLE patients versus controls was calculated to evaluate the association between GDM and SLE. Pooled RRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random effects model by R software. Results The literature retrieval identified 339 potential studies in total, and five studies containing 3432 pregnant participants with 248 GDM events were included finally. Pooled analysis found that the risk of GDM were not significant increased in SLE patients compared to controls (RR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.49 to 2.41, Z = 0.19 and P = 0.848). Nevertheless, meta-regression identified that glucocorticoids use and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies positive of SLE patients were positively associated with the risk of GDM. Conclusions Our meta-analysis demonstrated that SLE pregnancy may not increase the risk of GDM, but the steroid use during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of GDM. Further large prospective and basic immunologic studies should be implemented for exploring the mechanism underlying glucocorticoids use and GDM.

Hexi Corridor is an excellent region for high-quality wines in China, but the characteristic and style of red wine from this region is unclear. To elucidate the regional style of red wines from Hexi Corridor, the aroma properties of red wines made from 16 different varieties/clones of grapes were comprehensively analyzed using HS-SPME-GC-MS, sensory evaluation, odor activity value method, and partial least squares regression analyses. We identified 52 aroma compounds and found that floral and black berry provided a good reference for shaping red wine style and selecting related varieties in Hexi Corridor region. Ethyl caproate, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, ethyl 9-decenoate, and hexyl alcohol, which were the characteristic aroma substances of Hexi Corridor red wines, had positive effects on the floral aroma of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Malbec wines. Hexyl alcohol and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol also contributed to the black berry and spice aromas, while isobutyl acetate opposed the expression of these aromas of Malbec and Cabernet Franc wines. These results showed that the sensory characteristics of floral and black berry are of vital significance in shaping the red wine style of Hexi Corridor, among which ethyl caproate, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, ethyl 9-decenoate, and hexyl alcohol are important contributors.

Insufficient acidity in grape berries from warm climate regions has been exacerbated due to global warming, thereby becoming a major concern for winemaking. The wine lactic acid bacterium Lactiplantibacillus plantarum has potential to ameliorate wine acidity by producing lactic acid from hexose metabolism, but its impact on wine compositions and sensory outcomes is not well studied. Here, we evaluated acidification and fermentation performance of indigenous L. plantarum in two inoculation regimes (i.e., reverse inoculation and co-inoculation) by conducting pilot-scale vinification using Cabernet Sauvignon with low acidity. Important parameters of the bio-acidified wines, including fermentation kinetics, basic oenological parameters, volatile and sensory profile were compared to those in wines produced by single Saccharomyces cerevisiae with/without chemical acidification. Total titratable acidity in L. plantarum wines were either comparable or significantly higher compared to the chemical acidification control. Chemical profiling reviewed remarkable differences in certain organic acids and major volatile compounds, especially an up to a five-fold, six-fold, and nine-fold increase in lactic acid, ethyl lactate and isoamyl lactate, respectively. Changes in chemical compositions of the bio-acidified wines resulted in differentiated sensory perception compared to the control wines. Except having higher scores for “wine acidity”, the flavour profile of the bio-acidified wines was shifted towards “jammy fruit” and “butter” aromas. Together, these findings highlighted the applicability of using L. plantarum to induce biological acidification along with modulation of wine flavour.

ObjectiveMoyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic occlusive cerebrovascular disease with unknown etiology, sharing many similar clinical symptoms with other vascular disorders. This study aimed to investigate gene dysregulation in peripheral blood of MMD and compare it with other vascular disorders.MethodsTranscriptomic profiles of 12 MMD patients and 8 healthy controls were obtained using RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and several were validated by quantitative real-time PCR in independent samples. Biological pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs and deconvolution of leukocyte subsets in peripheral blood were performed. Expression profiles for other vascular diseases were downloaded from public database and consistent DEGs were calculated. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to compare gene dysregulation pattern between MMD and other vascular diseases.ResultsA total of 533 DEGs were identified for MMD. Up-regulated genes were mainly involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, whereas down-regulated genes were primarily associated with inflammatory and immune responses. As for cell populations, significantly increased naïve B cells and naïve CD4 cells as well as obviously decreased resting natural killer cells were observed in peripheral blood of MMD patients. GSEA analysis indicated that only up-regulated genes of ischemic stroke and down-regulated genes of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction were enriched in up-regulated and down-regulated genes of MMD, respectively.ConclusionDysregulated genes in peripheral blood of MMD mainly played key roles in ECM organization, inflammatory and immune responses. This gene dysregulation pattern was specific compared with other vascular diseases. Besides, naïve B cells, naïve CD4 cells and resting natural killer cells were aberrantly disrupted in peripheral blood of MMD patients. These results will help elucidate the complicated pathogenic mechanism of MMD.

Peripheral blood is an attractive source for the discovery of disease biomarkers. Gene expression profiling of whole blood or its components has been widely conducted for various diseases. However, due to population heterogeneity and the dynamic nature of gene expression, certain biomarkers discovered from blood transcriptome studies could not be replicated in independent studies. In the meantime, it's also important to know whether a reliable biomarker is shared by several diseases or specific to certain health conditions. We hypothesized that common mechanism of immune response in blood may be shared by different diseases. Under this hypothesis, we surveyed publicly available transcriptome data on infectious and autoimmune diseases derived from peripheral blood. We examined to which extent common gene dys-regulation existed in different diseases. We also investigated whether the commonly dys-regulated genes could serve as reliable biomarkers. First, we found that a limited number of genes are frequently dys-regulated in infectious and autoimmune diseases, from which we selected 10 genes co-dysregulated in viral infections and another set of 10 genes co-dysregulated in bacterial infections. In addition to its ability to distinguish viral infections from bacterial infections, these 20 genes could assist in disease classification and monitoring of treatment effect for several infectious and autoimmune diseases. In some cases, a single gene is sufficient to serve this purpose. It was interesting that dys-regulation of these 20 genes were also observed in other types of diseases including cancer and stroke where certain genes could also serve as biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this set of 20 genes could also be used in continuous monitoring of personal health. The rich information from these commonly dys-regulated genes may find its wide application in clinical practice and personal healthcare. More validation studies and in-depth investigations are warranted in the future.

OBJECTIVE:The paper examines whether out-of-pocket health care expenditure also has regional discrepancies, comparing to the equity between urban and rural areas, and across households. METHOD:Sampled data were derived from Urban Household Survey and Rural Household Survey data for 2011/2012 for Anhui Province, and 11049 households were included in this study. The study compared differences in out-of-pocket expenditure on health care between regions (urban vs. rural areas) and years (2011 vs. 2012) using two-sample t-test, and also investigated the degree of inequality using Lorenz and concentration curves. RESULT:Approximately 5% and 8% of total household consumption expenditure was spent on health care for urban and rural populations, respectively. In 2012, the wealthiest 20% of urban and rural population contributed 49.7% and 55.8% of urban and rural total health expenditure respectively, while the poorest 20% took only 4.7% and 4.4%. The concentration curve for out-of-pocket expenditure in 2012 fell below the corresponding concentration curve for 2011 for both urban and rural areas, and the difference between curves for rural areas was greater than that for urban areas. CONCLUSION:A substantial and increasing gap in health care expenditures existed between urban and rural areas in Anhui. The health care financing inequality merits ample attention, with need for policymaking to focus on improving the accessibility to essential health care services, particularly for rural and poor residents. This study may provide useful information on low income areas of China.