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Purpose: To investigate the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy and to report the clinical features, management, and outcomes of ophthalmic irAEs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who received ICI therapy from January 2016 to September 2022 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and analyzed the incidence of systemic and ophthalmic adverse effects of this therapy. Results: Of 962 patients, 248 (25.8%) experienced irAEs. The first-year incidences of total irAEs and ophthalmic irAEs were 23.5% and 1.1%. The most common ICI received by the patients was pembrolizumab (373; 38.8%). Nearly half of the patients (477; 49.6%) had lung cancer. Combination therapy was associated with an increased incidence of irAEs without statistical significance. Patients with lung cancer presented with an increased incidence of total irAEs (p = 0.003) and ophthalmic irAEs (p = 0.032). Eleven patients had ophthalmic manifestations, including ophthalmoplegia (6/11), conjunctivitis (3/11), reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (RCCEP) (1/11), and orbital inflammation (1/11). Eight patients had concomitant extra-ophthalmic irAEs. Furthermore, ICIs were discontinued in nine patients, and most ophthalmic manifestations were well controlled with topical and systemic steroids. Ten patients were treated with intravenous or oral steroids. However, cancer progression occurred in five out of eleven patients after the interruption of ICIs. Conclusion: IrAEs are correlated with ICI regimens and underlying neoplasia. In our Chinese cohort, patients have a higher risk of ophthalmoplegia than uveitis. Early recognition and multidisciplinary consultation are crucial for optimal treatment of ophthalmic irAEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: The MBOAT7 rs641738 (C>T) variant has demonstrated an association with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in both adult and pediatric patients, while few studies have been conducted in elderly populations. Hence, a case-control study was undertaken to assess their correlation in elderly residents in a Beijing community. Materials and methods: A total of 1,287 participants were included. Medical history, abdominal ultrasound, and laboratory tests were recorded. Liver fat content and fibrosis stage were detected by Fibroscan. Genotyping of genomic DNA was performed using the 96.96 genotyping integrated fluidics circuit. Results: Of the recruited subjects, 638 subjects (56.60%) had NAFLD, and 398 subjects (35.28%) had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). T allele carriage was associated with higher ALT (p=0.005) and significant fibrosis in male NAFLD patients (p=0.005) compared to CC genotype. TT genotype was associated with reduced risk of metabolic syndrome (OR=0.589, 95%CI: 0.114-0.683, p=0.005) and type 2 diabetes (OR=0.804, 95%CI: 0.277-0.296, p=0.048) in NAFLD population when compared to the CC genotype. In addition, TT genotype was also associated with reduced risk of ASCVD (OR=0.570, 95% CI:0.340-0.953, p=0.032) and less obesity (OR=0.545, 95%CI: 0.346-0.856, p=0.008) in the whole population. Conclusion: MBOAT7 rs641738 (C>T) variant was associated with fibrosis in male NAFLD patients. The variant also reduced risk of metabolic traits and type 2 diabetes in NAFLD and ASCVD risk in Chinese elders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global Flow-following finite-volume Icosahedral Model (FIM), which was developed in the Global Systems Laboratory of NOAA/ESRL, has been coupled inline with aerosol and gas-phase chemistry schemes of different complexity using the chemistry and aerosol packages from WRF-Chem v3.7, named as FIM-Chem v1. The three chemistry schemes include 1) the simple aerosol modules from the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport model that includes only simplified sulfur chemistry, bulk aerosols, and sectional dust and sea salt modules (GOCART); 2) the photochemical gas-phase mechanism RACM coupled to GOCART to determine the impact of more realistic gas-phase chemistry on the GOCART aerosols simulations (RACM_GOCART); and 3) a further sophistication within the aerosol modules by replacing GOCART with a modal aerosol scheme that includes secondary organic aerosols (SOA) based on the VBS approach (RACM_SOA_VBS). FIM-Chem is able to simulate aerosol, gas-phase chemical species and SOA at various spatial resolutions with different levels of complexity and quantify the impact of aerosol on numerical weather predictions (NWP). We compare the results of RACM_GOCART and GOCART schemes which uses the default climatological model fields for OH, H2O2, and NO3. We find significant reductions of sulfate that are on the order of 40 % to 80 % over the eastern US and are up to 40 % near the Beijing region over China when using the RACM_GOCART scheme. We also evaluate the model performance by comparing with the Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom-1) aircraft measurements in 2016 summer. FIM-Chem shows good performance in capturing the aerosol and gas-phase tracers. The model predicted vertical profiles of biomass burning plumes and dust plumes off the western Africa are also reproduced reasonably well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban bio-retention system is meaningful in reducing rainfall runoff and enhancing infiltration capacity. But the moisture migration in bio-retention systems are not clear under climate change. The spatial and temporal distribution of moisture under different rainfall events in bio-retention systems are studied in this paper based on experimental data in Beijing. Richards model is introduced to simulate the spatial and temporal distribution of moisture including pressure head, hydraulic head and water content under different initial and boundary conditions. As a result, we found that from the depth of the node to the lower boundary, the values of pressure head and hydraulic head increase with depth and decrease with time, while the values of water content represent opposite trends relative to the distribution of pressure head and hydraulic head in bio-retention systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify risk factors associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 among students in Beijing, China, we conducted a case-control study. Participants (304 case-patients and 608 controls, age range 6-19 years) were interviewed by using a standardized questionnaire. We found that in addition to vaccination, nonpharmaceutical interventions appeared to be protective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continued spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of H5 and H7 subtypes and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses of H5, H7 and H9 subtypes in birds and the subsequent infections in humans pose an ongoing pandemic threat. It has been proposed that poultry workers are at higher risk of exposure to HPAI or LPAI viruses and subsequently infection due to their repeated exposure to chickens or domestic waterfowl. The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of antibodies against H5, H7 and H9 viruses amongst duck-related workers in Beijing, China and the risk factors associated with seropositivity. In March, 2011, 1741 participants were recruited from (1) commercial duckbreeding farms; (2) private duck-breeding farms; and (3) duck-slaughtering farms. Local villagers who bred ducks in their backyards were also recruited. A survey was administered by face-to-face interview, and blood samples were collected from subjects for antibody testing against H5, H7 and H9 viruses. We found that none of the subjects were seropositive for either H5 or H7 viruses, and only 0.7% (12/1741) had antibody against H9. A statistically significant difference in H9 antibody seroprevalence existed between the various categories of workers (P = 0.005), with the highest figures recorded amongst the villagers (1.7%). Independent risk factors associated with seropositivity toinfection with H9 virus included less frequent disinfection of worksite (OR, 5.13 [95% CI, 1.07-24.58]; P = 0.041; ≤ twice monthly versus>twice monthly) and handling ducks with wounds on hands (OR, 4.13 [95% CI, 1.26-13.57]; P = 0.019). Whilst the risk of infection with H5, H7 and H9 viruses appears to be low among duck-related workers in Beijing, China, ongoing monitoring of infection with the H9 virus is still warranted, especially amongst villagers who breed backyard ducks to monitor for any changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on employees position restructuring at Peking University Library in China. Reduction of unwanted positions; Enhancement of the responsibilities of selected positions; Improvement in library services and staff morale; User expectations.

Urban energy issues have attracted global attentions due to the key role in controlling climate change. As one of the world's largest metropolises, Beijing has been focusing on improving urban energy performances to achieve green transition and sustainable development during the past decades, for which purpose the measurement and decomposition of energy performance is of vital importance. In this paper, exergy is introduced as one of the indicators under the frame of index decomposition analysis. An hierarchical framework is constructed to reveal the contributions from different level of urban energy system to overall energy performance. Beijing's energy and exergy consumption and intensity are then analyzed and compared from the city and sector level during 2008–2017. Results suggest that Beijing's city and sector-level energy performance has been improving during the last 10 years and technical improvements contribute significantly from both energy and exergy perspectives. Meanwhile, changes from Beijing's industrial structure and energy supply structure display neutral contributions, which probably indicate the underestimation of structural contribution is caused under the IDA framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of epidemic characteristics of influenza activity pre– and post–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Beijing, China. Methods Epidemiologic data were collected from the influenza surveillance system in Beijing. We compared epidemic intensity, epidemic onset and duration, and influenza transmissibility during the 2022–2023 season with pre-COVID-19 seasons from 2014 to 2020. Results The overall incidence rate of influenza in the 2022–2023 season was significantly higher than that of the pre-COVID-19 period, with the record-high level of epidemic intensity in Beijing. The onset and duration of the influenza epidemic period in 2022–2023 season was notably later and shorter than that of the 2014–2020 seasons. Maximum daily instantaneous reproduction number (Rt) of the 2022–2023 season (Rt = 2.31) was much higher than that of the pre-COVID-19 period (Rt = 1.49). The incidence of influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) were the highest among children aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years, respectively, in the 2022–2023 season. Conclusions A late, intense, and short-term peak influenza activity was observed in the 2022–2023 season in Beijing. Children <15 years old were impacted the most by the interruption of influenza circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining continuous surveillance and developing targeted public health strategies of influenza is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the correlation between coping style, quality of life, and illness uncertainty in the family caregivers of patients with liver cancer. Methods: Employing convenience sampling, 210 family caregivers of patients with liver cancer who met the admission criteria were selected from a grade A infectious disease hospital in Beijing between January and December 2022. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Caregiver Quality of Life, and the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Family Members. This study analysed the correlations between coping styles, quality of life, and illness uncertainty in these caregivers. Results: The study found that family caregivers of patients with liver cancer had average scores for illness uncertainty (83.44 ± 11.86), coping style (33.19 ± 9.79; both positive [23.02 ± 6.81] and negative [10.17 ± 5.05]), and quality of life (169.53 ± 32.46). A negative association was observed between illness uncertainty in these caregivers and positive coping style (r = − 0.207, p = 0.003), physical status (r = − 0.182, p = 0.008), psychological status (r = − 0.200, p = 0.004), and social adaptation (r = − 0.229, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The study concludes that illness uncertainty in family caregivers of patients with liver cancer is at a moderate level. Furthermore, there is a notable correlation between illness uncertainty, coping style, and quality of life in these caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To develop and internally validate a novel predictive model for SDHB mutations in pheochromocytomas and retroperitoneal paragangliomas (PPGLs). Methods: Clinical data of patients with PPGLs who presented to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2013 to 2022 and underwent genetic testing were retrospectively collected. Variables were screened by backward stepwise and clinical significance and were used to construct multivariable logistic models in 50 newly generated datasets after the multiple imputation. Bootstrapping was used for internal validation. A corresponding nomogram was generated based on the model. Sensitivity analyses were also performed. Results: A total of 556 patients with PPGLs were included, of which 99 had a germline SDHB mutation. The prediction model revealed that younger age of onset [Odds ratio (OR): 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91-0.95], synchronous metastasis (OR: 6.43, 95% CI: 2.62-15.80), multiple lesion (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.09-0.54), retroperitoneal origin (OR: 5.72, 95% CI: 3.13-10.47), negative 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15-0.73), positive octreotide scintigraphy (OR: 3.24, 95% CI: 1.25-8.43), elevated 24h urinary dopamine (DA) (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 0.93-3.17), NE secretory type (OR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.22- 6.59), normal secretory function (OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.04-8.85) and larger tumor size (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.99-1.20) were predictors of SDHB mutations in PPGLs, and showed good and stable predictive performance with a mean area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.865 and coefficient of variation of 2.2%. Conclusions: This study provided a novel and useful tool for predicting SDHB mutations by integrating easily obtained clinical data. It may help clinicians select suitable genetic testing methods and make appropriate clinical decisions for these high-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Relapsing polychondritis (RP) with cardiac involvement may present with acute cardiovascular events, and may be associated with a negative prognosis. Herein, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of RP patients with cardiac involvement. Method: RP patients, hospitalized from December 2005 to December 2021 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), were screened. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to statistically analyze the clinical characteristics of these patients. Results: The incidence of cardiac involvement in inpatients with RP was 24.1%. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed age, central nervous system (CNS) involvement, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 6.41, and disease duration > 4 years as risk factors for cardiac involvement in RP. Conversely, the incidence of tracheobronchial and chest wall involvement was significantly lower in the group with cardiac involvement. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed that age, CNS involvement, NLR > 6.41, and disease duration > 4 years were independent factors for cardiac involvement. Subsequently, we identified five well-defined clinical patterns of RP, based on the involvement of different organs in our patients, and found that the heart-brain model was significantly mutually exclusive with the airway model. Conclusion: Occurrence of cardiac involvement in RP is associated with age, CNS involvement, NLR, and disease duration. It is mutually exclusive with airwayrelated involvement. Regular echocardiography and electrocardiography are necessary for patients with RP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We conducted this cross-sectional study to explore the mediating and predicting role of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) between psychological measures and quality of life (QOL) among Chinese breast cancer patients. Methods: Breast cancer patients were recruited from three clinics in Beijing. Screening tools included the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), the Health Anxiety Scale (Whiteley Index-8, WI-8), the Somatic Symptom Disorder B-Criteria Scale (SSD-12), the Fear of Cancer Recurrence scale (FCR-4), the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ-8), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B). Chi-square tests, nonparametric tests, mediating effect analysis, and linear regression analysis were used for the data analysis. Results: Among the 264 participants, 25.0% were screened positive for SSD. The patients with screened positive SSD had a lower performance status, and a greater number of patients with screened positive SSD received traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (p<0.05). Strong mediating effects of SSD were found between psychological measures and QOL among patients with breast cancer after adjusting for sociodemographic variables as covariates (p<0.001). The range of the percentage mediating effects was 25.67% (independent variable=PHQ-9) to 34.68% (independent variable=WI-8). Screened positive SSD predicted low QOL in physical (B=-0.476, p<0.001), social (B=-0.163, p<0.001), emotional (B=-0.304, p<0.001), and functional (B=-0.283, p<0.001) well-being, as well as substantial concerns caused by breast cancer (B=-0.354, p<0.001). Conclusion: Screened positive SSD had strong mediating effects between psychological factors and quality of life among breast cancer patients. Additionally, screened positive SSD was a significant predictor of lower QOL among breast cancer patients. Effective psychosocial interventions for improving QOL should consider the prevention and treatment of SSD or integrated SSD caring dimensions for breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was proposed to substitute NAFLD in 2020. This new term highlights the systematic metabolic disturbances that accompany fatty liver. We evaluated the correlations between MAFLD and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCA) based on a nationwide health examination population in China. Methods: We performed a nationwide cross-sectional population and a Beijing retrospective cohort from 2009 to 2017. SCA was defined as elevated carotid intima-media thickness. The multivariable logistic and Cox models were used to analyze the association between MAFLD and SCA. Results: 153,482 participants were included in the cross-sectional study. MAFLD was significantly associated with SCA in fully adjusted models, with an odds ratio of 1.66; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.62-1.70. This association was consistent in the cohort, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.31. The association between baseline MAFLD and incident SCA increased with hepatic steatosis severity. Subgroup analysis showed an interaction between age and MAFLD, with a higher risk in younger groups (HR:1.67, 95% CI: 1.17-2.40). Conclusion: In this large cross-section and cohort study, MAFLD was significantly associated with the presence and development of SCA. Further, the risk was higher among MAFLD individuals with high hepatic steatosis index and young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Identifying the patterns of rainstorms is essential for improving the precision and accuracy of flood forecasts and constructing flood disaster prevention systems. In this study, we used a manifold learning algorithm method of machine learning to analyze rainstorm patterns. We analyzed the spatial–temporal characteristics of heavy rain in Beijing and Shenzhen. The results showed a strong correlation between the spatial–temporal pattern of rainstorms and underlying topography in Beijing. However, in Shenzhen, the spatial–temporal distribution characteristics of rainstorms were more closely related to the source of water vapor causing the rainfall, and the variation in characteristics was more complex and diverse. This method may be used to quantitatively describe the development and dynamic spatial–temporal patterns of rainfall. In this study, we found that spatial–temporal rainfall distribution characteristics, extracted by machine learning technology could be explained by physical mechanisms consistent with the climatic characteristics and topographic conditions of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the temporal trend in anxiety and/or depression prevalence in patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in Beijing and their association with adverse outcomes. Materials and methods: Hospital admission records from 2004 to 2020 with a primary discharge diagnosis of AECOPD were retrieved from Beijing Public Health Information Centre database. The anxiety and depression were identified from discharge diagnoses of each record. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the temporal trend and calculate the annual percentage change (APC) for the prevalence of anxiety and/or depression. Generalized linear model was used to analyze the associations between anxiety and/or depression and patients' adverse outcomes. Results: A total of 382,125 records were included, most of which were male (66.0%) and aged ≥ 75 years (59.7%). Three segments in the temporal trend were observed, with a mild increase during 2004-2009 (APC: 5.9%, 95% CI: -14.9 to 31.7%), followed by a sharply increase during 2009-2012 (APC: 60.4%, 95% CI: 10.6 to 132.7%), then stabilized at about 3% during 2012-2020 (APC: 1.9%, 95% CI: -0.4 to 4.3%). On average, anxiety, and/or depression was more prevalent in females, the aged and those admitted in secondary hospitals (all P < 0.001). Patients with anxiety and/or depression had lower in-hospital mortality (IHM) (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63-0.88), but longer hospital stay (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.13), more medical costs (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.08-1.17) and higher risks of readmission for AECOPD at 30-, 90-, 180-day, and 1-year (ORs ranged from 1.22 to 1.51). Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety and/or depression in patients hospitalized for AECOPD in Beijing stabilized at approximately 3% after 2012. Anxiety and/or depression is associated with a heavier burden on patients, health care, and medical insurance systems. Appropriate diagnosis and effective treatment of anxiety and depression is crucial for patients with AECOPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The adrenal glands of patients with 17-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency (17OHD) synthesize excessive 11-deoxycorticosterone(DOC) and progesterone, and produce less amount of sex steroid production. Mineralocorticoids and sex hormones play an important role in regulating glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to describe the glucose metabolism in 17OHD patients diagnosed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). Design/methods: A total of 69 patients diagnosed with 17OHD after adolescence in PUMCH from 1995 to June in 2021. Among them 23 patients underwent a 3-hours oral glucose tolerance test (3hOGTT) after being diagnosed with 17OHD. Insulin response in patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were further compared between the study two groups with different kalemia status. Another 19 patients were followed up to 30 years and older. All clinical data were obtained from the hospital information system of PUMCH. Results: Baseline: (1) The average body mass index(BMI) of all patients at baseline was 20.3 ± 3.7kg/m². Twenty-three patients underwent 3hOGTT, of whom three were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and one with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Positive correlation between the ratio of progesterone to upper limit of normal range (P times) and hyperglycaemia was exist(r=0.707, P=0.005). (2) In 19 NGT patients, the insulin concentrations at 0 minute, results of the homeostasis model assessment for β-cell function and insulin resistance were lower in the hypokalaemia group than in the normal kalemia group(7.0 (5.8-13.2) vs 12.4(8.9-14.9) mIU/ml, P=0.017; 115.5(88.2-240.9) vs 253.1(177.2-305.8), P=0.048; 1.54(1.17-2.61) vs 2.47(1.91-2.98), P=0.022, respectively). Follow-up: Four patients had IGT, while seven patients had diabetes mellitus. Of the 19 patients, 11 had hyperglycaemia. P times was significantly higher(7.6 (5.0-11.0) vs 3.75(2.2-5.3), P=0.008) in hyperglycemia group than in the normal glucose group. Conclusions: Abnormal glucose metabolism was common in 17OHD patients, which was possibly associated with hypokalaemia and high progesterone levels. Routine monitoring on glucose metabolism in 17OHD patient should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine whether vascular index (VI; defined as the ratio of Doppler signal pixels to pixels in the total lesion) measured via superb microvascular imaging in breast cancer correlates with immunohistochemically defined subtype and is able to predict molecular subtypes. Methods: This prospective study involved 225 patients with 225 mass-type invasive breast cancers (mean size 2.6 ± 1.4 cm, range 0.4~5.9 cm) who underwent ultrasound and superb microvascular imaging (SMI) at Peking Union Medical College Hospital before breast surgery from December 2016 to June 2018. The correlations between primary tumor VI measured via SMI, clinicopathological findings, and molecular subtype were analyzed. The performance of VI for prediction of molecular subtypes in invasive breast cancer was investigated. Results: The median VI of the 225 tumors was 7.3% (4.2%~11.8%) (range 0%~54.4%). Among the subtypes of the 225 tumors, 41 (18.2%) were luminal A, 91 (40.4%) were luminal B human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2)-negative, 26 (11.6%) were luminal B HER-2-positive, 17 (7.6%) were HER-2-positive, and 50 (22.2%) were triple-negative, and the corresponding median VI values were 5.9% (2.6%~11.6%) (range 0%~47.1%), 7.3 (4.4%~10.5%) (range 0%~29.5%), 6.3% (3.9%~11.3%) (range 0.6%~22.2%), 8.2% (4.9%~15.6%) (range 0.9%~54.4%), and 9.2% (5.1%~15.3%) (range 0.7%~32.9%), respectively. Estrogen receptor (ER) negativity, higher tumor grade, and higher Ki-67 index (≥20%) were significantly associated with a higher VI value. Tumor size, ER status, and Ki-67 index were shown to independently influence VI. A cutoff value of 4.1% yielded 79.9% sensitivity and 41.5% specificity with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.58 for predicting that a tumor was of the luminal A subtype. A cutoff value of 16.4% yielded 30.0% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity with an AUC of 0.60 for predicting a triple-negative subtype. Conclusions: VI, as a quantitative index obtained by SMI examination, could reflect histologic vascular changes in invasive breast cancer and was found to be higher in more biologically aggressive breast tumors. VI shows a certain degree of correlation with the molecular subtype of invasive breast cancer and plays a limited role in predicting the luminal A with high sensitivity and triple-negative subtype with high specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients treated with immunotherapy in the real-world may have significantly different responses to those meeting inclusion criteria for random controlled clinical studies. There is a partial overlap in approved indications for the use of the different immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) currently available. A comprehensive assessment of the efficacy, safety and economic effects of various ICIs is a problem that clinicians need to address. Methods: Analyzed real-world data was collected from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who were treated with ICIs from hospitalized patients in the Lung Cancer Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2018 and 2021. The objectives were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different ICIs for the treatment of NSCLC in China and to investigate the factors affecting their curative effects. Results: Overall, 351 patients were included in the retrospective study. The median PFS for the NSCLC patient cohort treated with medication regimens that included ICIs was 9.5 months, with an ORR of 47.3%. There were no significant discrepancies in efficacy and safety between the different ICIs administered. Factors that had the greatest impact on the efficacy of ICIs were the disease stage, ECOG-PS scores and treatment lines. Gender, age, smoking history, PD-L1 TPS expression, history of targeted therapy and irAEs all had a degree of influence on patient prognosis. Conclusions: The study reports the experience of real-world usage of ICIs for the treatment of NSCLC patients in China. The results were generally consistent with those of clinical trials, while the efficacy and safety of different ICIs exhibited no statistically significant differences. Therefore, physicians can make a comprehensive choice based on the indications and cost of different ICIs and the preferences of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypoadiponectinemia has been associated with various cardiometabolic disease states. Previous studies in adults have shown that adiponectin levels were regulated by specific genetic and behavioral or lifestyle factors. However, little is known about the influence of these factors on adiponectin levels in children, particularly as mitigated by pubertal development. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 3,402 children aged 6-18 years from the Beijing Child and Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome (BCAMS) study. Pubertal progress was classified as prepubertal, midpuberty, and postpuberty. Six relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from previous genome-wide association studies of adiponectin in East Asians. Individual SNPs and two weighted genetic predisposition scores, as well as their interactions with 14 lifestyle factors, were analyzed to investigate their influence on adiponectin levels across puberty. The effect of these factors on adiponectin was analyzed using general linear models adjusted for age, sex, and BMI. Results: After adjustment for age, sex, and BMI, the associations between adiponectin levels and diet items, and diet score were significant at prepuberty or postpuberty, while the effect of exercise on adiponectin levels was more prominent at mid- and postpuberty. Walking to school was found to be associated with increased adiponectin levels throughout puberty. Meanwhile, the effect of WDR11-FGFR2 -rs3943077 was stronger at midpuberty (P = 0.002), and ADIPOQ -rs6773957 was more effective at postpuberty (P = 0.005), while CDH13 -rs4783244 showed the strongest association with adiponectin levels at all pubertal stages (all P < 3.24 × 10-15). We further found that effects of diet score (P interaction = 0.022) and exercise (P interaction = 0.049) were stronger in children with higher genetic risk of hypoadiponectinemia, while higher diet score and exercise frequency attenuated the differences in adiponectin levels among children with different genetic risks. Conclusions: Our study confirmed puberty modulates the associations between adiponectin, and genetic variants, lifestyle factors, and gene-by-lifestyle interactions. These findings provide new insight into puberty-specific lifestyle suggestions, especially in genetically susceptible individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimed to develop and validate a simplified FI for use in Chinese older population. Design: Longitudinal study. Setting and Participants: Data were drawn from the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging. The study was conducted in 2004 with 1808 participants evaluated using the CGA and was followed-up for 13 years. Mortality was recorded at 3, 5, 8, 10, and 13 years intervals. Measures: 27-Item, 50-item, and 68-item frailty indices were investigated. A Cox proportional hazards model and area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) were calculated to compare mortality predictions. Results: The FI was positively correlated with age in males (r = 0.174, P < 0.001) and females (r = 0.270, P < 0.001). The mean baseline FI was 0.225 ± 0.085 (range: 0.04– 0.56) as evaluated by the 27-item FI, 0.181 ± 0.117 (range: 0.02– 0.62) by the 50-item FI, and 0.167 ± 0.101 (range: 0.02– 0.59) by the 68-item FI. Cox regression models showed that mortality was significantly higher in frail people than in non-frail people for all 3 indices (p< 0.001). The AUCs of the 68-item FI, 50-item FI, and 27-item FI for predicting mortality were 0.720, 0.717, and 0.677, respectively (p< 0.001). Conclusion: The 27-item FI is reasonable to expect that the AUC of the indices with the higher items number is inferior to the performance of the indices with higher number of items (FI50 and FI68). But 27-item maybe used as a tool to identify frail older adults and predict mortality in clinical and primary care practices in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify the predictors of anatomical and functional outcomes following tympanoplasty. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: Patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) who underwent a tympanoplasty at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 were retrospectively included. Outcome measures included graft success and postoperative pure tone audiometry air‐bone gap (PTA‐ABG) at last follow‐up (≥6 months). PTA‐ABG and MERI were calculated. Descriptive, univariable, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the predictors of the graft and hearing outcomes. Results: During the study, 385 patients (167 male, 218 female, median age 44 years) undergoing 413 procedures were studied. Out of this, 219 ears underwent tympanoplasty, 45 ears had tympanoplasty with canal wall up mastoidectomy, and 149 ears had tympanoplasty with canal wall down mastoidectomy. At the last follow‐up, the overall graft success rate was 91.3% (377/413) and the overall hearing success rate was 40% (165/413). Multivariable analysis results showed that the obstructed aditus ad antrum (OR 2.67, 95%CI 1.13‐6.30; P =.025) was an independent prognostic factor for graft failures. Moreover, the obstructed aditus ad antrum (OR 2.18, 95%CI 1.16‐4.08; P =.015) and MERI >3 (OR 6.53, 95%CI 3.55‐12.02; P <.001) were independent predictors of hearing failures (PTA‐ABG > 20 dB). Conclusions: Aditus ad antrum patency was an independent predictor of both graft and hearing success among patients following tympanoplasty. MERI score greater than three was found to be a significant predictor of postoperative hearing and could serve as a useful tool for assisting clinicians in perioperative risk assessment. Level of Evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secondary circulation (SC) plays a vital role in the vertical exchange of meteorological variables and aerosol particles between the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and the free atmosphere. We show that, under favorable synoptic‐scale weather conditions aggravating PM2.5 pollution, heavy particle contaminations reduce wind speed in the low ABL via an aerosol feedback mechanism that perturbs the SCs. We examine the aerosol feedback impact on the reinforcement of SCs subject to heavy PM2.5 pollution occurring in Beijing and its surroundings in China. Results reveal that episodic and composite heavy PM2.5 events simulated by the aerosol feedback model runs reduce the ABL wind speeds and enhance the SC. We identify the SC signals by the differences of resultant wind speeds and PM2.5 concentrations between "feedback" and "nonfeedback" simulations under the presence of a hill topographic forcing, which is conducive to the vertical exchange of PM2.5 between the ABL and free atmosphere. Plain Language Summary: Vertical exchange of an air pollutant between the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and free atmosphere has been a major concern for the transfer of the pollutant out of the ABL. The secondary circulation (SC) provides one of the pathways for the vertical mixing of air pollutants. Following the classical SC formation mechanism in the ABL, in the present study, we demonstrate that heavy PM2.5 pollution reduces the wind speed and temperature near the surface via an aerosol feedback mechanism, which reinforces the SC. We carried out extensive model simulations of heavy PM2.5 pollution cases in Beijing and surrounding regions in China, subject to feedback and nonfeedback modeling scenarios. The differences between the feedback and nonfeedback model runs revealed enhanced SCs associated with heavy PM2.5 contamination. The reinforced SCs could also be discerned in the presence of hill topography. The results fill our knowledge gaps in the understanding of how and to what extent the aerosol feedback could contribute to the change in SCs, in addition to meteorological factors. Key Points: PM2.5 pollution tends to decrease near surface wind speed and temperature via an aerosol feedback mechanismDeclining wind speed near the surface over heavily polluted areas reinforces the secondary circulation (SC) in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL)Reinforced SC enhances PM2.5 vertical mixing between the ABL and free atmosphere [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We intended to investigate the clinical features of paediatric patients with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) and to examine the effectiveness of the L-DEP regimen before haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 35 patients with CAEBV at Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2016 to January 2020. The efficacy and adverse events of the L-DEP regimen were evaluated.Results: The median age of the 35 patients was 7.0 years old (range 2.5-17.5 years). Twenty-eight patients achieved a clinical response (80.0%, 22 in clinical CR, 6 in clinical PR) after L-DEP. In terms of virological response, 7 patients (20%) were assessed as having virological CR, and 23 patients (65.7%) had virological PR. Finally, 29 patients underwent allo-HSCT. The median survival time was 18 months (2-50 months). The 3-year overall survival rates in patients treated with chemotherapy only (n = 6) and chemotherapy followed by HSCT (n = 25) were 33.3% and 75.4%, respectively. After L-DEP 1st treatment and L-DEP 2nd treatment, the EBV-DNA loads in blood and plasma were significantly reduced compared with those before chemotherapy (median: 4.29 × 105 copies/ml vs. 1.84 × 106 copies/ml, Mann-Whitney U: P = 0.0004; 5.00 × 102 copies/ml vs. 3.17 × 103 copies/ml, Mann-Whitney U; P = 0.003; 2.27 × 105 copies/ml vs. 1.84 × 106 copies/ml, P = 0.0001; 5.00 × 102 copies/ml vs. 3.17 × 103 copies/ml, P = 0.003). Compared with the liver and spleen size before chemotherapy, the size of the liver and spleen shrank significantly after L-DEP 2nd (median 3.8 cm vs. 1.9 cm, P = 0.003; 3.8 cm vs. 0 cm, P < 0.008). In addition, after L-DEP treatment, there was no difference in the clinical or virological response rate regardless of HLH status (clinical response: 77.3% vs. 84.6%, P = 0.689; virological response: 90.9% vs. 76.9%, P = 0.337).Conclusion: The L-DEP regimen is an effective therapy in CAEBV for bridging to allo-HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which elicits a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, with the potential to lead to death. Although used as the standard method to screen patients for SARS-CoV-2 infection, real-time PCR has challenges in dealing with asymptomatic patients and those with an undetectable viral load. Serological tests are therefore considered potent diagnostic tools to complement real-time PCR-based diagnosis and are used for surveillance of seroprevalence in populations. However, the dynamics of the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 currently remain to be investigated. Here, through analysis of plasma samples from 84 patients with COVID-19, we observed that the response of virus-specific antibodies against three important antigens, RBD, N and S, dynamically changed over time and reached a peak 5–8 weeks after the onset of symptoms. The antibody responses were irrespective of sex. Severe cases were found to have higher levels of antibody response, larger numbers of inflammatory cells and C-reactive protein levels. Within the mild/moderate cases, pairwise comparison indicated moderate association between anti-RBD vs. anti-N, anti-RBD vs. anti-S1S2, and anti-N vs. anti-S1S2. Furthermore, the majority of cases could achieve IgM and IgG seroconversion at 2 weeks since the disease onset. Analysis of neutralizing antibodies indicated that these responses were able to last for more than 112 days but decline significantly after the peak. In summary, our findings demonstrate the longitudinally dynamic changes in antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2, which can contribute to the knowledge of humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection and are informative for future development of vaccine and antibody-based therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the clinical characteristics, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results, and prognostic factors of neuropsychiatric (NP) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; NPSLE) in a relatively large patient series in China.Methods: Data of patients with NPSLE at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) were collected retrospectively from June 2012 to June 2016. NPSLE patients were compared with 220 non-NPSLE patients. Survival rates were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Cranial MRI results were also studied.Results: Of the 194 included patients, sixteen subtypes of NPSLE were identified, and the most common manifestations were seizure (36.6%), acute confusional state (25.3%), and cerebral vascular disease (15.5%). Compared with the non-NPSLE group, NPSLE patients were significantly more likely to have typical lupus symptoms, higher Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) scores (P = 0.002), and positive rate of anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies (P = 0.008). Patients with seizure were more likely to have higher SLEDAI-2K scores and positive anti-β2GP1 than non-NPSLE patients. Sixteen patients died during follow-up. The most common cause of death was infection (37.5%). NPSLE significantly decreased survival rates of SLE patients. Patients with elevated serum creatinine (P = 0.001), hypocomplementemia (P = 0.031), and SLEDAI - 2K scores ≥ 15 (P = 0.014) had shorter survival periods. Eighty-two patients underwent detailed cranial MRI analysis; of these, 50 (61.0%) had abnormal results. Small vessel disease was the most common abnormal finding, followed by inflammatory-like lesions and large vessel disease.Conclusions: High disease activity and positive rate of anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies may be risk factors for NPSLE. NPSLE decreases survival rates of SLE patients. Renal insufficiency and high disease activity are predictive of poor prognoses for NPSLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish suggested gestational weight gain (GWG) using several distinct methods in a Chinese population. Methods: This study analyzed data from the medical records of singleton pregnancy women during 2011–2017 in Beijing, China. Suggested GWG was calculated using four distinct methods. In method 1, suggested GWG was identified by the interquartile method. Subsequently, risk models for small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) with respect to GWG were constructed. GWG was treated as a continuous variable in method 2, and as a categorized variable in methods 3 and 4. Results: An average GWG of 15.78 kg with a prevalence of LGA at 19.34% and SGA at 2.12% was observed among the 34,470 participants. Methods 1 and 2 did not yield clinically applicable results. The suggested GWGs were 11–17/11–16 kg, 9–19/9–15 kg, 4–12/4–10 kg, and 0–12/0–6 kg by method 3/method 4 for underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese women, respectively. The GWG range suggested by method 3 resulted in a larger proportion of participants (62.03%) within range, while the suggested GWG range by method 4 was associated with a lower risk of LGA compared to that conferred by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) criteria. Conclusion: This study suggests a modest GWG goal compared to IOM recommendations based on a large Chinese cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The increasing application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) will cause more checkpoint inhibitor‐related pneumonitis (CIP), which is a common cause of ICI‐related death. The clinical management of CIP needs further optimization. Methods: Patients who were managed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between February 2017 and December 2019 with a diagnosis of CIP were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data including clinical manifestations, radiologic data, laboratory and bronchoscopy results, treatments, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. The Mann–Whitney test was used to compare patients with and without co‐infections. Results: In total, 48 CIP cases in 42 patients were analyzed. The median time from the first dose of ICI to the onset of CIP was 1.9 months (range: 0.1–13.7). Grade 3–4 (G3–4) accounted for 30 cases (71.4%). The most common symptoms were cough (88.1%) and dyspnea (78.6%). The median starting dose of equivalent prednisone (EP) was 55 mg (range: 30–200) for all patients. The median total duration of glucocorticosteroids (GCS) treatment was 42.5 days (range: 15−89). Three patients (7.14%) died because of infection. A higher starting dose and longer duration of GCS (≥30 mg/day; p = 0.001) were associated with opportunistic infection. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed diverse and asymmetrical lesions. Twelve patients were re‐challenged, and six patients developed recurrent CIP. Conclusions: The clinical and imaging manifestations of CIP are various, and differential diagnosis of exclusion is essential. GCS at 1–2 mg/kg is feasible to treat CIP, but the duration of GCS ≥30 mg/day should be used with caution, given the high risk of acquired infections. Re‐challenges of ICI are feasible, but the recurrence of CIP needs to be closely monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The situation of sports products aggregation under e-commerce and internet of things mode reflects the features of sports commodity industry agglomeration and its future development prospects in this field. Taking China's e-commerce platforms, such as Taobao, Paipai, Suning etc. as research objects, after classified retrieval, statistics and analysis, it is considered that the delivering service places of Chinese sports products e-commerce and the internet of things mainly concentrated in the southeast coastal provinces and Beijing city; The well-known foreign sports brands occupy the middle and high-end market, while the sales of domestic traditional sports brand are poor; The equipment of outdoor exercise, leisure commodity and home fitness sale well, and consumers have a pursuit of improving performance, adding functions and cutting price. The future development prospect of sports products industry is: developing the outdoor sports and leisure industry vigorously to create the national high-end brand in this field; Turning the "extensive" development mode of the traditional sports products industry which pursues speed and quantity into the "intensive" development mode which pursues benefit and quality; Increasing the proportion of investment in research and development (R&D) to improve the market competitiveness of sports products from the aspects of environmental protection, economy, durability, comfort, beauty and multi-function; Enhancing the national self-confidence of sports brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading comprehension Question-Answering (QA) for College Entrance Examination (Gaokao in Chinese) is a challenging AI task because it requires effective representation to capture complicated semantic relations between the question and answers. In this paper, a novel method of Chinese Automatic Question-Answering based on a graph is proposed. The method first uses the Chinese FrameNet and discourse topic (paragraph topic sentence and author's opinion sentence) to construct the affinity matrix between the question and candidate sentences and then employs the algorithm based on the graph to iteratively calculate the importance of each sentence. At last, the top 6 candidate answer sentences are selected based on the ranking scores. The recall on Beijing College Entrance Examination in the recent twelve years is 67.86%, which verifies the effectiveness of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a traffic cyber physical system for urban road traffic signal control, which is referred to as UTSC-CPS. With this proposed system, managers and researchers can realize the construction and simulation of various types of traffic scenarios, the rapid development, and optimization of new control strategies and can apply effective control strategies to actual traffic management. The advantages of this new system include the following. Firstly, the fusion architecture of private cloud computing and edge computing is proposed for the first time, which effectively improves the performance of software and hardware of the urban road traffic signal control system and realizes information security perception and protection in cloud and equipment, respectively, within the fusion framework; secondly, using the concept of parallel system, the depth of real-time traffic control subsystem and real-time simulation subsystem is realized. Thirdly, the idea of virtual scene basic engine and strategy agent engine is put forward in the system design, which separates data from control strategy by designing a general control strategy API and helps researchers focus on control algorithm itself without paying attention to detection data and basic data. Finally, considering China, the system designs a general control strategy API to separate data from control strategy. Most of the popular communication protocols between signal controllers and detectors are private protocols. The standard protocol conversion middleware is skillfully designed, which decouples the field equipment from the system software and achieves the universality and reliability of the control strategy. To further demonstrate the advantages of the new system, we have carried out a one-year practical test in Weifang City, Shandong Province, China. The system has been proved in terms of stability, security, scalability, practicability and rapid practice, and verification of the new control strategy. At the same time, it proves the superiority of the simulation subsystem in the performance and simulation scale by comparing the different-scale road networks of Shunyi District in Beijing and Weifang City in Shandong Province. Further tests were conducted using real intersections, and the results were equally valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Twelve students experienced symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI) at a training base in Beijing from August 26 to August 30, 2015. We investigated the cause of this ARI outbreak.Methods: In partnership with the local center for disease control, we collected a total of twelve pharyngeal swab specimens as well as demographic information for the affected patients. We used multiplex real-time PCR to screen for sixteen common respiratory viruses in these samples. To isolate HAdV, we inoculated Hep-2 cells with the human adenovirus (HAdV)-positive samples and then carried out sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the hexon, fiber, and penton genes of the isolated adenoviruses. In addition, we analyzed the entire genome of one strain isolated from the index case to identify single-nucleotide substitutions.Results: We identified ten HAdV-positive students using multiplex real-time PCR. None of the students were co-infected with other viruses. We successfully isolated seven HAdV strains from the pharyngeal swab specimens. The coding sequences of the hexon, fiber, and penton genes of these seven HAdV strains were identical, suggesting that they represented seven strains from a single virus clone. One HAdV isolate obtained from the index case, BJDX-01-2015, was selected for whole genome analysis. From this isolate, we obtained a 34,774-nucleotide sequence. The genome of BJDX-01-2015 clustered with HAdV-B55 in phylogenetic analyses and had 99.97% identity with human adenovirus 55 isolate HAdV-B/CHN/BJ01/2011/55 (GenBank accession no. JX491639).Conclusions: We identified HAdV-B55 as the strain associated with the August 2015 ARI outbreak at a training base in Beijing. This was the first reported outbreak in Beijing due to HAdV-B55. Continuous surveillance of respiratory adenoviruses is urgently needed to understand the epidemiological and evolutionary features of HAdV-B55, and an epidemiological modeling approach may provide further insights into this emerging public health threat. Furthermore, the clinical laboratory data from this outbreak provides important reference for the clinical diagnosis and may ultimately aid in informing the development of strategies to control and prevent respiratory tract infections caused by HAdV-B55. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimed to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among older adults in Beijing, using three obesity assessment indicators: BMI, waist circumference, and BFP. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting and Participants: Data were obtained from the 2012 Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging, which used a stratified, sectional, random, and cluster sampling method. Methods: Questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were completed. Obesity was divided into four categories based on combinations of BMI and BFP: non-obese, muscle-type obesity, NWO and fatty obesity. Results: A total of 2393 community-dwelling older adults with an average age of 72.98± 8.09 years old were recruited. Of them, 1051 were male (43.92%) and 1245 were living in rural areas (52.03%). The prevalence of overweight and obesity among older people in Beijing was 35.5% and 16.1%, respectively. When the sample was divided according to obesity classification, the proportion of muscular obesity, NWO and adipose obesity was 14.7%, 10.7%, and 41.8%, respectively. The prevalence of central obesity was 62.3%. The prevalence of obesity decreased with age, but it was higher in females than in males as well as among individuals living in urban areas than in individuals living in rural areas. Conclusion: The prevalence of NWO was 10.7% among older adults in Beijing and increased with age. Older adults who are female or living in urban areas should be instructed to take measures aimed at reducing body fat and increasing muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on several unique datasets in Beijing, this article investigates the value of going green in the hotel industry by combining the traditional hedonic pricing model with the state‐of‐the‐art content analysis of online reviews. The results indicate that the rate of complaints about the indoor environmental quality of green hotels is roughly 19% lower than that for nongreen hotels. Hedonic regression analysis concludes that green hotels enjoy a significant room rate premium of 6.5% without reducing occupancy rates, mainly due to improved indoor environmental quality. Recognizing the presence of such cobenefits is likely to induce hoteliers to embrace green practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three Devonian magmatic rocks have been identified from the mid‐western part of the Yanshan Thrust‐and‐Fold Belt (YTFB). Here, we present new geochronological, Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic, and whole‐rock chemical data. Our new LA‐ICP‐MS U–Pb dating recognized syenite plutons of ca. 385 Ma, which include Laogongying, Shicheng, and Qiaomaiyu, respectively, around the Yunmeng Mountain in the Miyun–Huairou area of Beijing. Rocks from three plutons are characterized by low SiO2 and high alkali contents, especially high K2O, and they show syenite and foid syenite compositions. They display slight–middle light REE enrichment, no negative or positive Eu anomalies, strong depletion in Rb, Th, U, Nb, Ta, P, Zr, Hf, and Ti, enrichment in Ba, K, and Sr, low contents of Y and Yb, and high Sr/Y ratios. They have a relatively narrow range of isotopic compositions with initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios from 0.708203 to 0.710477, εNd(t) values from −12.26 to −13.28, and εHf(t) values from −19.92 to −17.96. This study shows the Middle Devonian intrusions were produced by fractional crystallization of a parental magma, which was derived by interaction between mantle‐derived alkaline magmas of a type I‐enriched mantle and pre‐existing continental crust. Tectonic background was likely emplaced in a back‐arc extension environment related to southward subduction of the Palaeo‐Asian oceanic plate or during the cessation of the subduction. Feldspar geothermometer and aluminium‐in‐hornblende barometry studies of the Middle Devonian plutons yielded emplacement temperature of ~700°C and pressure of ~6.5 kbar, indicating the emplacement depths of about 24 km. Combined with previous geobarometry results on the Middle Devonian plutons within the Inner Mongolia Palaeo‐uplift (IMPU) on the northern margin of the NCC, the strong uplift and exhumation the IMPU were identified during Middle Devonian to Late Triassic times. The exhumation was more than 4–5 km than those of the IMPU, resulting in widely absent of Palaeozoic strata within the YTFB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beijing, as the capital of China, suffers severe subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal. In this paper, the SBAS-InSAR technique was used to detect surface deformations in the Beijing plain. 47 scenes Envisat ASAR images obtained during June 2003 to August 2010, and 24 Radarsat-2 images obtained during November 2010 to December 2013 were employed to retrieve vertical deformation characteristic over this area. The deformation magnitude, evolution process and spatial distribution of representative targets that occurred during 11 years were retrieved. The vertical surface displacement rates during two periods were validated via leveling observations, which have an RMSE =1.15mm/a, which indicates that the two types of subsidence matched very well. The interferometric results revealed that the subsidence during the two periods show similar special distributions and have an uneven spatial-temporal trend. The scope and deformation rates of funnels continuously increased with from 2003 to 2013. Meanwhile, multiple expressways and urban ring roads spanned the subsidence funnel with sharp deformation rate, and showed different subsidence properties along their paths. Additionally, the spatial and temporal correlation analyses between the deformation measurements and the dynamic variation of groundwater pumping was also performed to explore the response relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) commonly occurs in intensive care units (ICUs), leading to adverse clinical outcomes and increasing costs. However, there are limited epidemiological data of AKI in the critically ill in Beijing, China.Methods: In this prospective cohort study in 30 ICUs, we screened the patients up to 10 days after ICU admission. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between AKI and non-AKI, renal replacement therapy (RRT) and non-RRT patients. Nomograms of logistic regression and Cox regression were performed to examine potential risk factors for AKI and mortality.Results: A total of 3107 patients were included in the final analysis. The incidence of AKI was 51.0%; stages 1 to 3 accounted for 23.1, 11.8, and 15.7%, respectively. The majority (87.6%) of patients with AKI developed AKI on the first 4 days after admission to the ICU. A total of 281 patients were treated with RRT. Continuous RRT with predilution, citrate for anticoagulation and femoral vein for vascular access was the most common RRT pattern (29.9%, 84 of 281). Patients with AKI were associated with longer ICU-LOS and higher mortality and costs (P<0.001). In patients treated with RRT, 78.6 and 28.5% of RRTs were dependent on the 7th and 28th days, respectively. The 28 day mortalities of non-AKI, AKI stages 1-3, and septic shock patients were 6.83, 15.04, 27.99, 45.18 and 36.5%, respectively.Conclusions: Approximately half of our ICU patients experienced AKI. The majority of patients with AKI developed AKI during the first 4 days after admission to the ICU. Continuous RRT with predilution, citrate for anticoagulation and femoral vein for vascular access was the most common RRT pattern in our ICUs. AKI was associated with a higher mortality and costs, incomplete kidney recovery and s series of adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid stratification and appropriate treatment on admission are critical to saving lives of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). None of the clinical prediction tools perform well when applied to all patients with acute PE. It may be important to integrate respiratory features into the 2014 European Society of Cardiology model. First, we aimed to assess the relationship between the arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FIO2) ratio and in-hospital mortality, determine the optimal cutoff value of PaO2/FIO2, and determine if this value, which is quick and easy to obtain on admission, is a predictor of in-hospital mortality in this population. Second, we aimed to evaluate the potential additional determinants including laboratory parameters that may affect the in-hospital mortality. We hypothesized that the PaO2/FiO2 ratio would be a clinical prediction tool for in-hospital mortality in patients with acute PE.Methods: A prospective single-center observational cohort study was conducted in Beijing Hospital from January 2010 to November 2017. Arterial blood gas analysis data captured on admission, clinical characteristics, risk factors, laboratory data, imaging findings, and in-hospital mortality were compared between survivors and non-survivors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for in-hospital mortality based on the PaO2/FiO2 value was determined, and the association between the parameters and in-hospital mortality was analyzed by using logistic regression analysis.Results: Body mass index, history of cancer, PaO2/FiO2 value, pulse rate, cardiac troponin I level, lactate dehydrogenase level, white blood cell count, D-dimer level, and risk stratification measurements differed between survivors and non-survivors. The optimal cutoff value of PaO2/FiO2 for predicting mortality was 265 (AUC = 0.765, P < 0.001). Only a PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 265 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.823-21.483, P = 0.004), history of cancer (95% CI 1.161-15.927, P = 0.029), and risk stratification (95% CI 1.047-16.957, P = 0.043) continued to be associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality of acute PE.Conclusion: A simple determination of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio at <265 may provide important information on admission about patients' in-hospital prognosis, and PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 265, history of cancer, and risk stratification are predictors of in-hospital mortality of acute PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have reported on the seroprevalence of antibodies against avian influenza A (H9N2) virus and the incidence of these infections in the northern China and among swine workers. Methods: We conducted a serological cohort study among people working with poultry or swine or the general population in Beijing, China. It comprised four cross‐sectional serological surveys in November 2013, April 2014, April 2015, and April 2016. Blood samples collected from the participants were tested for anti‐H9N2 antibodies using a hemagglutination‐inhibition (HI) assay. Multivariable Poisson regression model was then used to compare the person‐month incidence rates for H9N2 viral infections among the three groups, assessed by incidence rate ratio (IRR). Results: In the four cross‐sectional surveys, the highest seroprevalence of anti‐H9N2 antibodies (HI titer ≥ 80) was recorded in the poultry workers (2.77%, 19/685) in April 2016, while the lowest was recorded in the general population (0.09%, 1/1135) in April 2015. The highest incidence density rate for H9N2 infections across the whole study period was recorded among the poultry workers (3.75/1000 person‐months), followed by the swine workers (1.94/1000 person‐months) and the general population (1.78/1000 person‐months). Multivariable analysis showed that the poultry workers were at higher risk (IRR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.07‐5.48; P = 0.034) of contracting H9N2 virus than the general population. Conclusions: Although the seroprevalence of H9N2 antibodies was low in Beijing, the poultry workers were at higher risk of contracting H9N2 viral infections than the general population. Closer monitoring and strengthened protection measures for poultry workers are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate proteomic differences in duck breast muscle during the early postmortem storage period. The meat quality was evaluated at 0 hr and 24 hr postmortem at 4°C in Pekin ducks, black Muscovy ducks and Mule ducks. Differentially expressed proteins were detected by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF/TOF MS) at 0 hr and 24 hr postmortem in the three duck breeds. The results showed that 53 proteins spots were differentially expressed at 0 hr and 24 hr postmortem at 4°C in Pekin ducks, 75 spots in black Muscovy ducks, and 72 spots in Mule ducks. A total of 30 (10 spots for each breed) were selected for identification by mass spectrometry. Seven proteins were identified in Pekin ducks, eight in black Muscovy ducks and seven in Mule ducks. Moreover, the above results obtained by 2‐DE and MALDI‐TOF/TOF MS were confirmed by western blotting. To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide insights into the protein profiles of ducks during postmortem storage and provides a better understanding of the biochemical processes that contribute to duck meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]