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Mobile phones play an irreplaceable role in modern people’s lives. However, the radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation produced by mobile phones has also caused increasing concern. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation produced by mobile phones on semen parameters in 1634 men who underwent semen examination at the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. Analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression were used to explore differences among different groups. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results showed significant associations among different groups of daily mobile phone use time and daily duration of phone calls in the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa (P = 0.004 and P = 0.007), rapid progressively motile spermatozoa (P = 0.012 and P = 0.006) and total motile spermatozoa (P = 0.004 and P = 0.046). After adjustments for the confounding effects of age and body mass index by multiple linear regression, the results showed that the daily duration of mobile phone use had a negative effect on sperm motility. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between daily phone call duration and sperm motility. Therefore, the daily duration of mobile phone use may negatively affect sperm motility and impair male fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, the quality of clinical trials conducted in China has made considerable progress. However, clinical trials conducted in China still fall below the global average standard. The aim of this systematic review was to assess studies that investigated the quality of clinical trials conducted in China, summarize the issues, and provide suggestions for conducting high-quality clinical trials in China.Methods: We comprehensively searched studies that investigated the quality of clinical trials conducted in China in the following databases from inception to December 1, 2021: National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, WanFang Data, China Biology Medicine, PubMed, and Embase. We then analyzed the issues in clinical trial registration, ethics review, implementation, and reporting. SPSS 25.0 software was used for data analysis. The data synthesis was conducted using summary statistics and a narrative format.Results: A total of 90 studies were analyzed, there were 50 studies with 0-5 citation counts (55.56%), 18 studies with 5-10 citation counts (20%), 9 studies with 10-15 citation counts (10%), and 13 studies with more than 15 citation counts (14.44%). Eight (8.89%) studies were conducted by a supervision department, 38 (42.22%) by organizations with GCP qualification, and 44 (48.89%) by third parties. Additionally, there were some problems in the ethical review process of clinical trials, clinical trial registration process, clinical trial implementation process, and clinical trial reporting process.Conclusions: The current study shows that the quality problems of clinical trials in China still exist. The reported problems are related to the process of clinical trials, including ethical review, registration, implementation, reporting. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, the conclusions of this study need to be verified by high-quality studies.Review Registration: Not registerated in  PROSPERO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent evidence of genetics and metabonomics indicated a potential role of apolipoprotein M (ApoM) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we aimed to investigate the association between plasma ApoM with AD. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study recruited patients with AD (n = 67), age- and sex-matched cognitively normal (CN) controls (n = 73). After the data collection of demographic characteristics, lifestyle risk factors, and medical history, we examined and compared the plasma levels of ApoM, tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p-tau217) and neurofilament light (NfL). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the association of plasma ApoM with the presence of AD. The correlation analysis was used to explore the correlations between plasma ApoM with cognitive function [Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)], activities of daily living (ADL), and the representative blood-based biomarkers (plasma p-tau217 and NfL). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and Delong's test were used to determine the diagnostic power of plasma ApoM. Results: Plasma ApoM and its derived indicators (ratios of ApoM/TC, ApoM/TG, ApoM/HDL-C, and ApoM/LDL-C) were significantly higher in AD group than those in CN group (each p < 0.0001). After adjusted for the risk factors of AD, the plasma ApoM and its derived indicators were significantly associated with the presence of AD, respectively. ApoM (OR = 1.058, 95% CI: 1.027–1.090, p < 0.0001), ApoM/TC ratio (OR = 1.239, 95% CI: 1.120–1.372, p < 0.0001), ApoM/TG ratio (OR = 1.064, 95% CI: 1.035–1.095, p < 0.0001), ApoM/HDL-C ratio (OR = 1.069, 95% CI: 1.037–1.102, p < 0.0001), and ApoM/LDL-C ratio (OR = 1.064, 95% CI:1.023–1.106, p = 0.002). In total participants, plasma ApoM was significantly positively correlated with plasma p-tau217, plasma NfL, and ADL (each p < 0.0001) and significantly negatively correlated with MMSE and MoCA (each p < 0.0001), respectively. In further subgroup analyses, these associations remained in different APOE ϵ 4 status participants and sex subgroups. ApoM/TC ratio (ΔAUC = 0.056, p = 0.044) and ApoM/TG ratio (ΔAUC = 0.097, p = 0.011) had a statistically remarkably larger AUC than ApoM, respectively. The independent addition of ApoM and its derived indicators to the basic model [combining age, sex, APOE ϵ 4, and body mass index (BMI)] led to the significant improvement in diagnostic power, respectively (each p < 0.05). Conclusion: All the findings preliminarily uncovered the association between plasma ApoM and AD and provided more evidence of the potential of ApoM as a candidate biomarker of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is growing in China. Depression is a significant complication of T2DM, leading to poor management of T2DM. Thus, early detection and treatment of depression in patients with T2DM are essential and effective. Therefore, we plan to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the prevalence of depression in Chinese patients with T2DM and explore potential risk factors of depression in T2DM. Methods: We will search literatures recorded in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and WanFang Database from their inception onwards. We will manually search gray literatures, reference lists of identified studies, relevant websites, and consult experts in this field. We will include population-based, cross-sectional surveys that investigated the prevalence of depression in Chinese patients with T2DM or/and the possible risk factors of depression in T2DM. Two reviewers will screen studies, extract data, and evaluate risk of bias independently. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality methodology checklist will be used to assess the risk of bias. If feasible, we will conduct random effects meta-analysis of observational data to summarize the pooled prevalence, and use odds ratio for categorical data to explore potential risk factors. Prevalence estimates will be stratified according to age, gender, and other factors. Statistical heterogeneity will be estimated using Cochran's Q and I2 index. We will conduct meta-regression to investigate the potential sources of heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses to assess robustness of the synthesized results, and funnel plots and Egger's test to assess publication bias. Discussion: This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide comprehensive evidence of the prevalence and potential risk factors of depression in Chinese patients with T2DM. We expect to provide evidence for healthcare practitioners and policy makers to pay attention to the mental health of patients with T2DM. Our data will highlight the need and importance of early detection and intervention for depression in patients with T2DM. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020182979. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common cancers in economically developed countries and developing world. While dietary factors are associated with risk of CRC in the West and urban China, little is known about risk or protective factors in rural China. Methods: The Linxian General Population Nutrition Intervention Trial (NIT) cohort was established over 30 years ago to test whether daily multivitamin/mineral supplements could reduce the incidence and mortality of esophageal/gastric cardia cancer. The cohort included a total of 29,553 healthy participants 40–69 years old who were randomly assigned to supplements or placebos via a 24 fractional factorial study design. We examined risk factors for the development of CRC as well as the effects of four different nutritional factors (Factor A: retinol, zinc; B: riboflavin, niacin; C: ascorbic acid, molybdenum; D: selenium, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene,) on CRC incidence following 5.25 years of supplementation in this randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial. Results: CRC risk increased with age and height as well as piped water usage, family history of CRC, and consumption of foods cooked in oil, eggs, and fresh fruits. No effect on CRC was seen for any of these four intervention factors tested in both genders, but CRC was reduced 37% in females who received Factor D (selenium/alpha-tocopherol/beta-carotene) (RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.43–0.92, P = 0.016) compared to females who did not receive Factor D. Conclusions: In this undernourished rural Chinese population, CRC risk factors in this Chinese cohort showed both similarities and differences compared to Western and urban Asian Chinese populations. Intervention results suggested a potential benefit for women supplemented with selenium/alpha-tocopherol/beta-carotene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in China, however, publicly available, descriptive information on the clinical epidemiology of CRC is limited.Methods: Patients diagnosed with primary CRC during 2005 through 2014 were sampled from 13 tertiary hospitals in 9 provinces across China. Data related to sociodemographic characteristics, the use of diagnostic technology, treatment adoption, and expenditure were extracted from individual medical records.Results: In the full cohort of 8465 patients, the mean ± SD age at diagnosis was 59.3 ± 12.8 years, 57.2% were men, and 58.7% had rectal cancer. On average, 14.4% of patients were diagnosed with stage IV disease, and this proportion increased from 13.5% in 2005 to 20.5% in 2014 (P value for trend < .05). For diagnostic techniques, along with less use of x-rays (average, 81.6%; decreased from 90.0% to 65.7%), there were increases in the use of computed tomography (average, 70.4%; increased from 4.5% to 90.5%) and magnetic resonance imaging (average, 8.8%; increased from 0.1% to 20.4%) over the study period from 2005 to 2014. With regard to treatment, surgery alone was the most common (average, 50.1%), but its use decreased from 51.3% to 39.8% during 2005 through 2014; and the use of other treatments increased simultaneously, such as chemotherapy alone (average, 4.1%; increased from 4.1% to 11.9%). The average medical expenditure per patient was 66,291 Chinese Yuan (2014 value) and increased from 47,259 to 86,709 Chinese Yuan.Conclusions: The increasing proportion of late-stage diagnoses presents a challenge for CRC control in China. Changes in diagnostic and treatment options and increased expenditures are clearly illustrated in this study. Coupled with the recent introduction of screening initiatives, these data provide an understanding of changes over time and may form a benchmark for future related evaluations of CRC interventions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effect of commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the quality of traditional "Wanergao" for reasonable consuming guidance, the dominant microbes, physicochemical property, free amino acid content, texture, and sensory properties during fermentation of "Wanergao" were illustrated in this paper. Compared with the samples in the control group, "Wanergao" samples in the two groups that were subjected to S. cerevisiae inoculation had weaker acidity (the pH values dropped from 4.39 ± 0.08 to 4.36 ± 0.07 and 4.36 ± 0.07 within 2 h during fermentation), higher fermenting rate (volume increased from 100 ± 1.31 to 305 ± 4.61 and 316 ± 4.93 mL separately within 3 h), and the dominant lactic acid bacteria and yeast being leukonid and S. cerevisiae. More amylose, ethanol, and free amino acid were detected in "Wanergao" produced with S. cerevisiae inoculation compared with "Wanergao" produced by sourdough. The two kinds of "Wanergao" presented various hardness (2318 ± 112, 2279 ± 103), springiness (0.76 ± 0.03, 0.71 ± 0.03), chewiness (1.43 ± 0.05, 1.41 ± 0.06), and cohesiveness (0.68 ± 0.03, 0.62 ± 0.03) after fermentation. The result of sensory analysis revealed that "Wanergao" in the S. cerevisiae group had higher elasticity, aroma, and restoring force. The experiment demonstrated that "Wanergao" produced by using S. cerevisiae is a kind of fermented rice product with rich fragrance, high amount of nutrients, and strong elasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to explore the effect of red kojis on essential indices of Wanergao. The results showed that red koji‐inoculated Wanergao showed higher pH values (4.38 ± 0.06 and 4.39 ± 0.06) and lower TA values (1.61 ± 0.05 and 1.63 ± 0.05) compared to the control group. LAB and yeast in the starter culture group gradually increased to 7.57 ± 0.12, 7.64 ± 0.15 log cfu.g−1 and 8.59 ± 0.21, 8.64 ± 0.23 log cfu.g−1, respectively. During fermentation, the dominant microorganism was Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Compared to the Wanergao made using traditional backslopping, the red koji‐inoculated Wanergao contained more amylases, EAA and DAA contents compared to the control sample. The red kojis and control samples presented different hardness, chewiness, and cohesiveness, as well as similar values in springiness, gumminess, and adhesiveness. Sensory analysis also showed higher chewiness aroma and resilience of Wanergao in the starter culture group than in the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lower Cretaceous Huajiying Formation of the Sichakou Basin in northern Hebei Province, northern China contains key vertebrate taxa of the early Jehol Biota, e.g., Protopteryx fengningensis, Archaeornithura meemannae, Peipiaosteus fengningensis, and Eoconfuciusornis zhengi. This formation arguably documents the second-oldest bird-bearing horizon, producing the oldest fossil records of the two major Mesozoic avian groups Enantiornithes and Ornithuromorpha. Hence, precisely determining the depositional ages of the Huajiying Formation would advance our understanding of the evolutionary history of the Jehol Biota. Here we present secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) U-Pb zircon analysis results of eight interbedded tuff/tuffaceous sandstone samples from the Huajiying Formation. Our findings, combined with previous radiometric dates, suggest that the oldest enantiornithine and ornithuromorph birds in the Jehol Biota are ~129-131 Ma, and that the Jehol Biota most likely first appeared at ~135 Ma. This expands the biota's temporal distribution from late Valanginian to middle Aptian with a time span of about 15 My. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghrelin is a hormone produced in the oxyntic glands of the stomach. Previous work by our group has suggested that serum ghrelin concentrations are inversely associated with gastric and esophageal cancer risk. We measured ghrelin concentrations in the Linxian General Population Nutrition Intervention Trial (NIT), and the Shanghai Women's Health Study (SWHS). In NIT, we analyzed serum samples from 298 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases, 518 gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) cases, 258 gastric noncardia adenocarcinoma (GNCA) cases and 770 subcohort controls (case–cohort). In SWHS, we measured ghrelin in plasma samples from 249 GNCA cases and 498 matched controls (nested case–control). Ghrelin was measured using radioimmunoassay. In NIT and SWHS, low ghrelin concentrations were associated with an increased risk of developing GNCA and GCA. The hazard ratio (HR Q1:Q4) for GNCA in NIT was 1.35 (95% CI: 0.89–2.05; p‐trend = 0.02); the odds ratio in SWHS was 1.66 (95% CI: 1.02–2.70; p‐trend = 0.06). Low ghrelin was associated with a twofold increase of GCA (HR Q1:Q4 = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.45–2.77; p‐trend<0.001). In contrast, a lower risk of ESCC (NIT ESCC HR Q1:Q4 = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45–0.92; p‐trend = 0.02) was found in NIT. Low baseline ghrelin concentrations were associated with an increased risk for GNCA and GCA in the NIT and the SWHS. In contrast, low ghrelin concentrations at baseline were associated with a reduced risk of developing ESCC in the NIT. Ghrelin may be an early marker of future cancer risk for developing upper gastrointestinal cancer in regions of high incidence. What's new? Ghrelin, a stomach‐produced hormone, has numerous metabolic functions and possibly anti‐inflammatory properties. This is the first prospective epidemiologic study of circulating ghrelin conducted in China, a region with a very high burden of esophageal and gastric cancer. Low circulating ghrelin concentrations were associated with increased risk of both gastric noncardia adenocarcinoma and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, which was consistent with previous findings in a Finnish population. Alterations in serum ghrelin levels occurred over 10 years before the development of clinically‐evident gastric and esophageal cancers. The findings highlight Ghrelin as a potential early marker for upper gastrointestinal cancer risk in regions of high incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Treg cells-derived exosomes promote blood-spinal cord barrier repair and motor function recovery after spinal cord injury by delivering miR-2861" published in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. The correction addresses an error in the affiliations of the authors. The correct affiliations should be "The Affiliated Jiangsu Shengze Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of human anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China." The correction has been made to the original article. Springer Nature, the publisher, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

Background: This prospective study investigated the association between tooth loss and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer mortality in the Linxian Dysplasia Nutrition Intervention Trial Cohort. Methods: Subjects were categorized into three groups according to age at baseline. No missing teeth and less or greater than median tooth loss in each group was defined as none, moderate, and severe, respectively. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Through 30 September 2015, 541 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), 284 gastric cardia carcinoma (GCC), and 77 gastric non‐cardia carcinoma (GNCC) deaths occurred. In the six‐year follow‐up, severe tooth loss was associated with an increased risk of GCC mortality (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.06–2.18). In the 15‐year follow‐up, moderate tooth loss increased the ESCC mortality risk by 58% (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.06–2.35), while severe loss increased the GCC mortality risk by 30% (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.03–1.64). In the 30‐year follow‐up, moderate tooth loss increased the risk of ESCC mortality (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.01–1.76). In subjects aged < 55 at baseline and men, moderate tooth loss had 53% and 52% higher risks of ESCC mortality (HR<55 years 1.53, 95% CI 1.06–2.05; HRmen 1.52, 95% CI 1.01–2.28). No significant association was observed for GNCC in any subjects or subgroups. Conclusion: Moderate tooth loss increased the risk of ESCC mortality, particularly in younger subjects and men. Severe tooth loss increased the risk of GCC mortality. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A number of studies have demonstrated a J-shaped curve between blood pressure (BP) and all-cause mortality, but few studies have used longitudinal change in BP to study mortality in the Chinese population.Methods: We performed a 30-year follow-up study to examine the association between BP (at baseline and longitudinal change) and risk of mortality in the Linxian General Population Trial Cohort. At baseline, a total of 29 584 healthy adults were enrolled in the Linxian General Population Trial in 1985 and followed through to the end of 2014. The final analysis was restricted to 29 439 participants (55% women) after exclusion of outliers. We also examined the potential effects of BP trajectory patterns during the period of 1985-1999 on sequent risk of mortality. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs.Results: Compared with participants with normal BP, patients with prehypertension, stage 1, stage 2 or stage 3 hypertension had an increased risk of all-cause mortality, with HRs of 1.09 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.14), 1.34 (95% CI 1.28 to 1.40), 1.69 (95% CI 1.60 to 1.79) and 2.14 (95% CI 2.01 to 2.28), respectively. Relative to stable BP of normotension, having a rise in BP from normotension to hypertension or from prehypertension to hypertension both conferred an increased risk of total and cardiovascular disease and stroke mortality (total: HRs 1.22 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.34) and 1.36 (95% CI 1.23 to 1.51); cardiovascular disease: HRs 1.42 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.73) and 1.55 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.93); stroke: HRs 2.29 (95% CI 1.88 to 2.80) and 2.61 (95% CI 2.11 to 3.24), respectively).Conclusions: These findings emphasise that development of incident hypertension in middle age could increase the risk of total, cardiovascular disease and stroke mortality, and suggest that current BP targets could be revised.Trial Registration Number: NCT00342654;Post-results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 3 billion plastic bags are consumed in China every day, which brings great challenges to solid waste management. Although Chinese government has implemented the 'plastic ban' in 2008, many people still use plastic bags in their daily lives. This paper examines the determinants of plastic bags usage behaviour among 392 consumers in China from the perspective of the extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The extension is implemented by adding three variables: convenience, environmental concern and ethical belief. The empirical results indicate that consumers' attitude towards using plastic bags, subjective norm, perceived behaviour control and convenience are all statistically significantly and positively related to the intention to use plastic bags. Meanwhile, environmental concern and ethical belief have significant but negative effects on consumers' attitude and intention to use plastic bags. The attitude towards using plastic bags partially mediates the effects of consumers' environmental concern and ethical belief on their intention to use plastic bags. In addition, this study confirms the appropriateness of the TPB model and shows that the extended TPB model has good predictive power in understanding consumers' intention to use plastic bags. Based on these results, implications for policy makers and suggestions for further future study are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study was conducted to explore the association between oral leukoplakia (OL) and the risk of upper gastrointestinal cancer death in the Linxian General Population Trial Cohort. Methods A prospective cohort study of the Linxian General Population Trial Cohort was performed. Participants with OL were treated as an exposed group, and the remainder was selected as a control group. All subjects were followed monthly by village health workers and reviewed quarterly by the Linxian Cancer Registry. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were evaluated using proportional hazard and proportional subdistribution hazard models, respectively. Results Over a median of 27 years of observation, 29 476 subjects were followed-up. A total of 17 473 deaths occurred, including 2345 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), 1139 gastric cardia carcinoma, and 506 gastric non-cardia carcinoma deaths. Significant increased ESCC mortality was observed in subjects with OL (exposed 9.66% vs. unexposed 7.39%; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, subjects with OL had a 22% higher risk of death from ESCC (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.34; P = 0.0001) after adjusted covariates. In subjects aged ≤52 at the baseline, OL was significantly associated with an elevated risk of ESCC mortality (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.13-1.54 ; P = 0.0005). No significant associations were observed for gastric cardia carcinoma and non-cardia carcinoma mortality. Conclusions OL may increase the risk of ESCC mortality, especially in the younger population. These associations should be investigated in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacier albedo controls the surface energy budget, the variability of which affects the glacier surface melt rate and, in turn, impacts the mass balance of the glacier. During 2013 and 2014, spatial and temporal variations of albedo were investigated using 18 Landsat images of Urumqi Glacier No. 1. Factors influencing these spatiotemporal profiles were analyzed. An established retrieval process, including geolocation, radiometric calibration, atmospheric, topographic, and anisotropic correction and narrow- to broadband conversion, was applied for the first time to Landsat-8 images. Differences between Landsat image derived albedo values and albedo values measured using a handheld spectroradiometer ranged from −0.024 to 0.049. Spatial and temporal variations of surface albedo were significant, especially in the ablation area. The variability of the values of ice albedo ranged from 0.06 to 0.44 due to topographic effects and light-absorbing impurities. The results suggest that this retrieval method can be used to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of surface albedo from Landsat-8 images on mountain glaciers. Moreover, as constant albedo values for ice and snow cannot be assumed, the distribution of albedo was not completely dependent on altitude under conditions of more intense ablation, and by reason of light-absorbing impurities during the melt season. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As a new urban development pattern, the construction of sponge cities has been deeply integrated into the new urbanization and water safety strategy. Nanning City, as one of the first batch of experimental sponge cities in China, has undertaken exploration and practice on sponge city planning, construction, and management. The sponge city master plan of Nanning City establishes an urban ecological spatial pattern in order to protect the security of the sponge base. The sponge city construction strategy has also proposed an overall construction strategy of a sponge city in line with urban development features. Through the systematic analysis and planning, a "23+10+202" pattern of sponge city construction has been formed. "23" represents 23 drainage basins, in which major sponge facilities such as storage facilities, waterfront buffer zones, wetland parks, ecological rainwater corridor and sponge parks are allocated. "10" represents 10 sponge functional zones, which provide important reference for the establishment of sponge city construction index system. "202" represents 202 management units, which decomposes the general objective and provides technical support not only for sponge city construction and management, but also for the implementation of general objectives in the regulatory plan as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions have attracted wide attention due to their negative effects on haze air pollution and human health. Regulating household PM2.5-reduction behavior is a beneficial measure for PM2.5 emission control in urban areas. The current research examines the determinants that affect household PM2.5-reduction behavioral intention, and an integrative model of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), incorporated with Norm Activation Theory (NAM), was used. An effective sample of 418 urban households who lived in heavy haze areas of China was collected. The empirical results revealed that household attitude toward PM2.5-reduction, perceived behavioral control and descriptive norm all significantly affected PM2.5-reduction intention, while subjective norm was not. Furthermore, in addressing severe haze pollution, household environmental concern indirectly and significantly affects their moral norm and intention. In addition, there was a moderating effect of perceived behavioral control (stemming from TPB) on the relationship between household moral norm (stemming from NAM) and PM2.5-reduction intention. The results confirm the appropriateness of the integrative model in predicting household intention to participate in PM2.5-reduction behavior. Then, we discuss the implications for regulating household PM2.5-reduction behavior based on the determinants and provide suggestions for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China made remarkable progress in rural poverty alleviation. A major policy instrument is the County Level Poverty Alleviation Program, which has vast policy support but is also criticized for targeting errors, misuse of funds, and making poverty both shameful and attractive. Whether this program, or the country’s economic growth in general, is the main force in poverty reduction is the question addressed in this article, analyzing data for the 592 poor counties. The response to the economic growth–policy alleviation conundrum is that a push for social wellbeing and empowerment is needed together with economic growth to achieve major poverty improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To provide a comprehensive overview of temporal trends in cancer incidence during 1973-2010 in urban Shanghai.Methods: The estimated annual percent changes (EAPCs) for the whole period and for the time segments in age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were evaluated with Joinpoint analysis. Age-period-cohort (APC) models were modeled to examine the effects of age, period and birth cohort on cancer incidence.Results: The overall ASR decreased slightly and significantly in males (EAPC of -0.41) but increased significantly in females (EAPC of 0.57) during 1973-2010 in urban Shanghai. The incidence trend was not linear and varied by time segments. During the most recent 10 years (2001-2010), the ASR in males decreased by 1.65% per year and stabilized in females. Incidence rates continued to decline during 1973-2010 for esophagus, stomach, and liver cancer in both sexes, as well as male lung cancer and cervix cancer. It should be noted that it was the first time to document a significant decline in lung cancer incidence among males during 1973-2010 with EAPC of -0.58%, and a notable upward for cervix cancer since 1996 with EAPC of 8.94%. Unfavorable trends in incidence were observed for the most common cancer sites in the 38 years period: colorectum, gallbladder & biliary tract, pancreas, kidney, bladder, brain & central nervous system (CNS), thyroid, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), prostate, female breast, corpus uteri, and ovary. APC analysis showed age, period and birth cohort yielded different effects by cancer sites.Conclusions: The observed trends primarily reflect dramatic changes in socioeconomic development and lifestyles in urban Shanghai over the past four decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective. Incidence of and mortality rates for breast cancer continue to rise in the People's Republic of China. The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in characteristics of breast malignancies between China and the U.S. Methods. Data from 384,262 breast cancer patients registered in the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 2000 to 2010 were compared with 4,211 Chinese breast cancer patients registered in a Chinese database from 1999 to 2008. Outcomes included age, race, histology, tumor and node staging, laterality, surgical treatment method, and reconstruction. The Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare rates. Results. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common type of malignancy in the U.S. and China. The mean number of positive lymph nodes was higher in China (2.59 vs. 1.31, p < .001). Stage at diagnosis was higher in China (stage IIA vs. I, p < .001). Mean size of tumor at diagnosis was higher in China (32.63 vs. 21.57 mm). Mean age at diagnosis was lower in China (48.28 vs. 61.29 years, p < .001). Moreover, 2.0% of U.S. women underwent radical mastectomy compared with 12.5% in China, and 0.02% in China underwent reconstructive surgery. Conclusion. Chinese women were diagnosed at younger ages with higher stage and larger tumors and underwent more aggressive surgical treatment. Prospective trials should be conducted to address screening, surgical, and tumor discrepancies between China and the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Incidence rates of breast cancer continue to rise in the People's Republic of China. The purpose of this study was to describe Chinese trends in radical surgical modalities and influential imaging and demographic factors for breast malignancies. Materials and Methods. This study was a hospital-based, multicenter, 10-year (1999-2008), retrospective study. Descriptive statistical tests were used to illustrate information regarding radical surgical trends for the treatment of breast malignancies. Chi-square tests were used to assess effect of demographic factors in addition to imaging and pathological data on the specific surgical method. Results. A total of 4,211 patients were enrolled in the survey. Among them, 3,335 patients with stage 0 to stage III disease undergoing mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery (BCS) were included in the final analysis. The rate of BCS increased from 1.53% in 1999 to 11.88% in 2008. The rate of mastectomy declined over this time period, from 98.47% in 1999 to 88.12% in 2008, with increasing use of diagnostic imaging methods and pathological biopsies. A significantly greater percentage of patients with office work, high education levels, unmarried status, younger age, and early pathological stages preferred BCS compared with mastectomy. Conclusion. Rates of mastectomy in China remain elevated due to diagnosis at higher stages; however, because of increased use of diagnostic imaging, improvement of biopsy methods, and patient education, rates of less invasive lumpectomy are increasing and rates of mastectomy have decreased in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emission reduction could be achieved through extensive cooperation between relevant groups such as businesses, governments and consumers. Generally, carbon emissions stem from consumer behaviour. To tackle the increasingly serious energy crisis and climate change in China, it is thus vital to control carbon emissions generated by the country's urban consumers. From a consumption perspective, we utilize a self-organizing feature map model to analyse the spatial differentiation of per capita embedded carbon footprint (ECF) in urban China. We found that the spatial differentiation is significant with the per capita ECF of the east coastal area at a high level and that per capita disposable income is the key factor affecting ECF. Based on these findings, potential business opportunities to develop low-carbon products are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a large emerging economy, China is exploring to establish a carbon-pricing system to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The electricity sector which generates the greatest amount of China's carbon dioxide emissions should be covered by such a carbon-pricing system. The review of the three main stages of China's electricity market reforms shows that the degree of electricity marketization is relatively low, which might become an obstacle to carbon pricing. This paper develops theoretical and empirical models to analyze the impacts of carbon pricing on electricity supply under two scenarios, namely, marketization and regulation. It is concluded that the electricity market reform is a prerequisite for the development of carbon pricing. Without market-oriented reforms of electricity pricing in China, carbon pricing might lead to a shortage in electricity supply. Potential electricity market reforms to encourage market competition and promote market-oriented electricity pricing are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have investigated the association between body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer with consideration to estrogen/progesterone/human epidermal growth factor type 2 receptor status (ER/PR/HER2) in the breast tissue among Chinese pre- and post-menopausal women. Methods: Four thousand two hundred and eleven breast cancer patients were selected randomly from seven geographic regions of China from 1999 to 2008. Demographic data, risk factors, pathologic features, and biological receptor status of cases were collected from the medical charts. Chi-square test, fisher exact test, rank-correlation analysis, and multivariate logistic regression model were adopted to explore whether BMI differed according to biological receptor status in pre- and post-menopausal women. Results: Three thousand two hundred and eighty one eligible cases with BMI data were included. No statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics were found between the cases with BMI data and those without. In the rank-correlation analysis, the rates of PR+ and HER2+ were positively correlated with increasing BMI among post-menopausal women (rs BMI, PR+ = 0.867, P = 0.001; rs BMI, HER2+ = 0.636, P = 0.048), but the ER+ rates did not vary by increasing BMI. Controlling for confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression models with BMI<24 kg/m2 as the reference group were performed and found that BMI≥24 kg/m2 was only positively correlated with PR+ status among post-menopausal breast cancer cases (adjusted OR = 1.420, 95% CI: 1.116–1.808, Wald = 8.116, P = 0.004). Conclusions: Post-menopausal women with high BMI (≥24 kg/m2) have a higher proportion of PR+ breast cancer. In addition to effects mediated via the estrogen metabolism pathway, high BMI might increase the risk of breast cancer by other routes, which should be examined further in future etiological mechanism studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the factors affecting carbon emissions from the perspective of residential energy consumption. Specifically, through an index decomposition analysis (IDA), it examines the influence of social and economic factors on household carbon emissions in China's provinces. The results show that CO2 emissions associated with household consumption continued to grow during the decade of 2000-2010. In general, per capita consumption expenditure and the share of energy consumption expenditure in total consumption spending are two main factors contributing to an increase in residential carbon emissions, while the change of energy consumption structure and energy price mitigated the growth of carbon emissions. However, there are considerable regional differences. Therefore, Chinese government must consider the substantial contribution of residential consumption to carbon emissions when it aims to expand domestic consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DNA repair pathways help to maintain genomic integrity and therefore genetic variation in the pathways could affect the propensity to develop cancer. Selected germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the pathways have been associated with esophageal cancer and gastric cancer (GC) but few studies have comprehensively examined the pathway genes. We aimed to investigate associations between DNA repair pathway genes and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and GC, using data from a genome-wide association study in a Han Chinese population where ESCC and GC are the predominant cancers. In sum, 1942 ESCC cases, 1758 GC cases and 2111 controls from the Shanxi Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetics Project (discovery set) and the Linxian Nutrition Intervention Trials (replication set) were genotyped for 1675 SNPs in 170 DNA repair-related genes. Logistic regression models were applied to evaluate SNP-level associations. Gene- and pathway-level associations were determined using the resampling-based adaptive rank-truncated product approach. The DNA repair pathways overall were significantly associated with risk of ESCC (P = 6.37 × 10−4), but not with GC (P = 0.20). The most significant gene in ESCC was CHEK2 (P = 2.00 × 10−6) and in GC was CLK2 (P = 3.02 × 10−4). We observed several other genes significantly associated with either ESCC (SMUG1, TDG, TP53, GTF2H3, FEN1, POLQ, HEL308, RAD54B, MPG, FANCE and BRCA1) or GC risk (MRE11A, RAD54L and POLE) (P < 0.05). We provide evidence for an association between specific genes in the DNA repair pathways and the risk of ESCC and GC. Further studies are warranted to validate these associations and to investigate underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using value-added data, we examine regional income disparity in China's provinces during the period 1987-2008. We decompose the Gross Regional Product (GRP) of China's provinces into four value-added components: compensation of employees, operating surplus, depreciation of fixed assets, and net tax on production. We measure income disparity by the coefficient of variation (CV) and measure the contribution of these four components to disparity in GRP. The disparity in operating surplus and net tax on production shows decreasing tendencies, while the disparity in compensation of employees and depreciation of fixed assets increases. The CV for all components is thus almost identical. In addition, compensation of employees contributes increasingly to disparity in GRP and replaces the operating surplus as the primary source of income disparity among China's provinces. These results have arisen through improvements among low-income, predominantly rural, workers, and higher-income workers employed by direct foreign investors or business owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prospective epidemiologic data on the association between vitamin D and mortality are limited, particularly in Asian populations. Among subjects in Linxian, China, the authors aimed to test whether baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in a prospective cohort were associated with all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality rates over 24 years of follow-up (1986–2010). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in 1,101 subjects using an immunoassay. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Cox regression models that were adjusted for age, sex, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and hypertension. The 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile concentrations of 25(OH)D were 19.6, 31.9, and 48.4 nmol/L, respectively. During follow-up, 793 subjects died, including 279 who died of cerebrovascular accident, 217 who died of cancer, and 200 cardiovascular disease deaths. All-cause mortality was not associated with 25(OH)D concentrations using continuous models (for every 15 nmol/L, hazard ratio = 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.97, 1.05) or quartile models (fourth vs. first quartiles, hazard ratio = 1.06, 95% confidence interval: 0.87, 1.30; P for trend = 0.731). The authors also found no association with the cause-specific mortality outcomes. Results were similar for men and women. This study showed that prediagnostic serum 25(OH)D concentrations were not associated with all-cause or cause-specific mortality rates in this Chinese population who had low levels of vitamin D. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Reducing environmental pressure is a major concern for China but despite the improvements in energy efficiency, its gross carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have maintained an upward trend, consistent with the Jevons Paradox. A fundamental shift is thus needed at all levels, including the household. This paper explores the embedded carbon footprint (ECF) of Chinese urban households associated with activities, such as food, personal transport, communications, education, recreation, health and hygiene. It uses an input–output model for carbon emissions and 2003–2009 urban household data. The results show that the total ECF emission intensity increases when an individual''s consumption is higher than 10,000 Yuan (¥). Structural changes are further observed with consumption expenditure above ¥10,000: food, clothing and other survival-oriented emissions intensities as well as education, health and development-oriented emissions intensities reduce; transport, recreation, housing and enjoyment-oriented emissions intensities increase or remain stable and the total emissions intensity increases. Currently per capita consumption expenditure of Chinese urban residents exceeds ¥10,000 and as income continues to rise, China will remain on a high-carbon track. There is a need for better policies, management and behavioural change and the study provides some policy suggestions, including a carbon quota system to guide individual consumption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper applies the distribution dynamics method to study the per capita income disparity from 1990 to 2005 among the 75 cities and counties in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). The main conclusions are as follows: Firstly, the distribution of per capita income across the YRD has changed from being bi-modal to being positively skewed over the period 1990-2005; the income disparity lessened in the 8th Five-Year Plan, increased in the 9th Five-Year Plan, and then reduced again somewhat in the 10th Five-Year Plan. Secondly, the main contribution to disparity comes from the intra disparity of the Jiangsu region which is bi-modal over the period. Thirdly, the rich and poor cities developed independently and steadily at different speeds. Fourthly, convergence in the YRD is caused by the decline of the rich cities rather than progress by the poor cities. Finally, there is relative independence in the region's development, but over the long-term, the YRD indicates a trend of convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protopteiyx, a monotypic fossil bird discovered from the Sichakou basin in Fengning, Hebei, is the most primitive enantiornithine currently known. The bird-bearing strata do not contain the index fossils of the Yixian Formation in western Liaoning; the fish and bird fossils have more primitive features than the related forms found in the Vixian Formation, and the conchostracans are those usually distributed in the Dabeigou and Dadianzi formations in northern Hebei. Besides, the Protopteryx-bearing strata underlie the deposits bearing the index fossils of the Yixian Formation in the neighboring basin. Thus, it could be confirmed that the horizon of Protopteryx should be lower than the Yixian Formation, and is approximately equivalent to the Dadianzi Formation in northern Hebei. This is the lowest horizon of the known fossil birds in China and Mesozoic enantiornithine birds in the world. Accompanying Protopteryx, there are other birds, acipenseriform fishes, salamanders, and mammals, which compose the Peipiaosteus fengningensis-Protopteryx fengningensis assemblage. This new assemblage traces the vertebrate evolution history of the Jehol Biota back to 130.7 Ma before. It is suggested that the demarcation of the Jehol Biota should be based on the large-scale tectonic-sedimentary cycles, and Peipiaosteus, instead of Lycoptera, could be taken as the vertebrate representative of the Jehol Biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in most nations, the spectrum of cancer occurrence varies substantially worldwide. Most previous epidemiologic studies investigating cancer etiology were conducted in North American and western European countries that are relatively homogenous in terms of cancer spectrums and many lifestyle exposures. These limitations may have hindered these studies from evaluating some important etiologic hypotheses. From 1996 to 2000, the Shanghai Women's Health Study recruited 74,942 adult Chinese women from selected urban communities, with a 92% response rate. All participants completed a detailed baseline survey and anthropometrics. Approximately 88% of cohort members donated a urine sample (n = 65,755) and a blood (n = 56,832) or exfoliated buccal cell (n = 8,934) sample. Noteworthy characteristics of this cohort include low consumption of alcohol (1.9%) and use of tobacco (2.4%); high intake of fish (mean, 50.8 g/day), soy foods (mean, 142.3 g/day), and certain vegetables; low prevalence of obesity (5.1%); and nearly 100% employment outside the home. Currently, this cohort of women is being followed via biennial in-person recontact and periodic linkage to cancer and vital statistics registries. The resources from the cohort will be valuable in future studies of environmental exposures and biomarkers for the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, the authors evaluated the reproducibility and validity of the Shanghai Women's Health Study (SWHS) physical activity questionnaire (PAQ), which was administered in a cohort study of approximately 75,000 Chinese women aged 40-70 years. Reproducibility (2-year test-retest) was evaluated using kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Validity was evaluated by comparing Spearman correlations (r) for the SWHS PAQ with two criterion measures administered over a period of 12 months: four 7-day physical activity logs and up to 28 7-day PAQs. Women were recruited from the SWHS cohort (n = 200). Results indicated that the reproducibility of adolescent and adult exercise participation (κ = 0.85 and κ = 0.64, respectively) and years of adolescent exercise and adult exercise energy expenditure (ICC = 0.83 and ICC = 0.70, respectively) was reasonable. Reproducibility values for adult lifestyle activities were lower (ICC = 0.14-0.54). Significant correlations between the PAQ and criterion measures of adult exercise were observed for the first PAQ administration (physical activity log, r = 0.50; 7-day PAQ, r = 0.62) and the second PAQ administration (physical activity log, r = 0.74; 7-day PAQ, r = 0.80). Significant correlations between PAQ lifestyle activities and the 7-day PAQ were also noted (r = 0.33-0.88). These data indicate that the SWHS PAQ is a reproducible and valid measure of exercise behaviors and that it demonstrates utility in stratifying women by levels of important lifestyle activities (e.g., housework, walking, cycling). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High fruit and vegetable intake has been linked with a reduced risk of breast cancer, but evidence is not consistent. We investigated the associations of breast cancer risk with vegetables, fruits and related micronutrient intake in a population-based case–control study among Chinese women in Shanghai, where dietary patterns differ substantially from other study populations. Included in the study were 1,459 incident breast cancer cases and 1,556 frequency-matched controls. Usual dietary habits were assessed by in-person interviews. Logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to measure strength of the associations. There was no association between breast cancer risk and total vegetable intake. The risk of breast cancer declined, however, with increasing intake of dark yellow-orange vegetables (trend test, p = 0.02), Chinese white turnips (trend test, p ≤ 0.001), and certain dark green vegetables (trend test, p ≤ 0.001) with adjusted OR in the highest quintile being 0.79 (95% CI = 0.60–0.98), 0.67 (95% CI = 0.53–0.85) and 0.65 (95% CI = 0.51–0.83) respectively. Intake of fruits, except watermelons and apples, was inversely associated with breast cancer risk (p-values for trend tests ≤0.05). Our study suggests that high intake of certain vegetables and fruits may be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited epidemiological evidence suggests that calcium intake may be related to breast cancer risk. Data from a large, population-based, case-control study (n = 1,459 cases, 1,556 controls) conducted in Shanghai, China, between 1996 and 1998 were used to investigate the association between calcium intake and risk for breast cancer. Diet was assessed using a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) comparing all women combined in the highest to lowest deciles of total calcium intake was 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.46-1.20). Whereas calcium primarily derived from poultry was inversely associated with risk for breast cancer (comparing the highest to lowest quintile OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.55-0.93) with a statistically significant test for trend, calcium derived from milk, seafood, fruit, and vegetables was not associated with risk of breast cancer. Given that breast cancer is one of the top contributors to cancer incidence worldwide, even a moderate inverse association between calcium and breast cancer risk, if confirmed, could have important public health implications in breast cancer prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the correlation between soy food consumption and isoflavonoids excretion rate in the urine of women in Shanghai, China. Discussion on the inhibitory effects of isoflavones and the incidence of cancers in the area; Assessment of soy food consumption; Evidence of increased urinary excretion rate of isoflavonoids.

The article focuses on the achievements made by the Shanghai Suburban are in the movement to learn from Tachai in agriculture. According to the author the "Exhibition on the Movement to Learn from Tachai in Agriculture" held by Shanghai suburban area presents in a graphic and living way a most beautiful and up-to-date picture, which inspires people with courage and confidence. Over the vast plain from the coast of the East China Sea to the side of Tien-shan Lake and from Ch'ung-ming Island in the estuary of the Yangtze River to Chin-shan Spur of Hangchow Bay, blue rivers and green fields are seen everywhere. It is reported that for ten years grain output in the suburbs has exceeded the target set in the National Program for Agricultural Development and has been in excess of 1,000 chin per mou for eight years. The yield averaged 1,322 chin per mou in 1972, representing a 2.2 times increase as compared with 1949.

Background To evaluate the long-term effects of multivitamin supplementation on total and cause-specific mortality, overall and by gender and age groups. Methods The Linxian Dysplasia Nutrition Intervention Trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of multivitamins conducted in an under-nourished population of 3318 persons aged 40–69 years with esophageal squamous dysplasia in northern China for six years (1985–1991). Participants were followed for nearly 25 additional years after cessation of supplementation. Results For the combined over 30 year intervention and post-intervention observation period, multivitamin supplementation did not affect total mortality in all participants combined (2578 deaths, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.90–1.04), in men (1229 deaths, HR = 0.91, 0.81–1.02) or women (1349 deaths, HR = 1.02, 0.91–1.13), or in younger (1130 deaths, HR = 1.00, 0.89–1.12) or older participants (1448 deaths, HR = 0.93, 0.84–1.04). A borderline association was observed for total mortality among older men, especially for heart disease mortality. Multivitamin supplementation reduced esaphageal/cardia cancer mortality by 27% among younger men. No effects were observed for deaths from any cancer, heart and cerebrovascular disease in either all subjects or women subgroups. Conclusion Taking multivitamins did not reduce total mortality in this under-nourished population. Together with previous results from the well-nourished populations, there is no evidence for an effect of multivitamin supplementation on overall mortality in either under- or well-nourished populations. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to conduct clinical, genetic, and molecular analysis of Chinese patients with granular corneal dystrophy type I (CDGG1). Two large unrelated Chinese families with CDGG1 were clinically and genetically evaluated. Molecular genetic analysis was performed on DNA extracted from peripheral blood. Exons 4, 11, 12, and 14 of the human transforming growth factor beta-induced gene (TGFBI, formerly designated BIGH3) were amplified by PCR, scanned for mutations using the single-strand conformation polymorphism method, and the mutations identified by nucleotide sequencing. One family segregated the p.Ala546 > Asp mutation, and the other family had a p.Arg555 > Trp mutation. These missense mutations were not found in 53 unrelated, healthy individuals analyzed as controls. Clinical and genetic evaluations revealed the variable severity, symmetry, and age of onset in visual impairment in these families for different mutations. Penetrance of visual impairment in these families was 100 and 75, respectively. This study confirms that the p.Arg555 > Trp mutation is a frequent cause of CDGG1, and that the p.Ala546 > Asp mutation is also associated with this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Clinical profile of lung cancer has been changing over the ten years in China. • Squamous carcinoma took place of adenocarcinoma as the predominant pathology subtype. • Main imaging techniques were changing, and medical expenditure were increasing. • Main treatment options remained unchanged among lung cancer patients. Abstract Objectives This study aimed to explore the clinical profile and its trajectory of lung cancer on clinicopathological characteristics and medical service utilization in China. Methods Patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer in tertiary hospitals during 2005–14 were selected from seven geographic regions of China. Data on clinical characteristics and medical service utilization was extracted from medical record, and the ten-year trends were explored. Results A total of 7184 patients were included, the mean age was 58.3 years and the male-to-female-ratio was 2.7. From 2005 to 2014, the proportion of ≥60 year-old patients increased from 41.2% to 56.2% (p < 0.001). The smoking rate decreased from 62.9% to 51.1% (p < 0.001) and the proportion of females increased from 23.5% to 31.9% (p < 0.001). The proportion of advanced stage increased from 41.9% to 47.4% (p < 0.001). Adenocarcinoma's proportion increased from 36.4% to 53.5% (p < 0.001) while that of squamous carcinoma decreased from 45.4% to 34.4% (p < 0.001). The application of chest X-ray dropped from 50.2% to 31.0% (p < 0.001) but that of chest CT increased from 65.8% to 81.4% (p < 0.001). As two main treatment options, chemotherapy (p = 0.290) and surgery (p = 0.497) remained stable. The medical expenditure per patient increased from 40,508 to 66,020 Chinese Yuan (p < 0.001). Conclusions The sustaining high smoking exposure, increasing proportion of female patients, advancing clinical stage, shifting of predominant pathology and increasing medical expenditure demonstrate potential challenges and directions on lung cancer prevention and control in China. Despite substantial changes of clinical characteristics, main treatment options remained unchanged, which needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the complex mesoscale meteorological dynamics, deep basin topography and pollutants emissions, the Chengdu Plain (CDP) situated at west border of the Sichuan Basin (SCB) have suffered excessive ozone (O 3) pollution in the warm season. However, the meteorology-driven mechanism and associated dominant processes underlying the elevated O 3 levels are not well elucidated due to limited ambient measurements. Here, we adopted trace gases data measured by basin-wide network in combination with a high-resolution chemical transport model for characterizing a regional continuous O 3 episode occurred from 10 to 18 August 2019. The extensive monitoring network shapes a much-detailed evolution map of O 3 concentrations which depicts that O 3 hotspots extend from metropolitan areas to suburban areas across the CDP. It is found that both advection of O 3 -rich air masses in the residual layer (RL) and regional transport of O 3 and its precursors under prevailing winds exert profound influences on the elevation of ambient O 3 across the CDP. As the convective boundary layer is destroyed after sunrise, vertical mixing effects cause the entrainment of O 3 -rich air masses in RL to the surface, affecting the redistribution of surface O 3 concentration. In addition, process analysis (PA) and integrated source apportionment method (ISAM) results of the CMAQ model indicated that vertical transport and gas-phase chemistry were the main sources of O 3 during the day, while dry deposition and horizontal advection were the main sinks of surface O 3. O 3 transport by boundary condition (BCO) was the largest contributor to all urban O 3 concentrations in the CDP. Our findings highlight the regional transport mechanism of O 3 in SCB under complex topographic conditions and point out the physical and chemical causes and sources of typical summer O 3 pollution episodes in the SCB. [Display omitted] • Spatial evolution of O 3 was analyzed with an intensive urban monitoring dataset. • The prevailing wind fields govern the transport of O 3 in the residual layer. • Advanced modeling reveal the meteorology-driven mechanism of O 3 pollution. • Sources and geographic features determine spatial evolution in O 3 episode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated ozone (O 3) pollution in the warm season is an emerging environmental concern affecting global highly urbanized megacities. In southwestern China, full characterization of causes for O 3 pollution has been stymied by limited observations and the dominant factors that influence O 3 variability on a long-term basis still lack understanding. Herein, we identified O 3 variations and inferred trends in precursor emissions in Chengdu over 2013–2020 based on extensive ambient measurements, emission inventory, and satellite data. Numerical models were used to investigate the changes in meteorological variability and biogenic emissions. Trends of O 3 in urban areas show deterioration (+14.0% yr−1) between 2013 and 2016 followed by a slight decrease over 2017–2020, while O 3 levels in rural areas generally show a downward trend (−2.9% yr−1) during 2014–2020. Both emission inventory (−3.7% yr−1) and OMI satellite columns (−4.5% yr−1) depict strong decline trends in NO x emissions, while satellite HCHO columns exhibit a flattened downward trend of VOC emissions (−1.8% yr−1), which caused rural areas shifted from VOCs-limited to transitional or NO x -limited regime since 2016. Considering metropolitan Chengdu remains VOCs-limited regime over time, the existing regulatory framework involving simultaneous NO x and VOCs control would result in evident O 3 improvements in the near future. Despite benefits from anthropogenic emission reductions, we demonstrate that meteorological conditions and enhanced biogenic emissions over the warm season could partially or even fully offset effects attributed to emission changes, making the net effects obscure. This finding provides robust evidence of reductions in NO x and VOCs emission and informs effective O 3 mitigation policies for megacities which undergo similar emission pathways in Chengdu. [Display omitted] • This work presents long-term ambient O 3 and precursor emissions trends in Chengdu. • NO x emissions exhibit higher reduction magnitude than VOCs emissions. • The extent of VOCs-limited regime gradually shrinks in Chengdu. • Meteorological conditions and enhanced BVOC emissions offset decline of O 3 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper aims to assess the agricultural losses caused by the 2069 state-monitored heavily air polluting enterprises located in 899 Chinese counties. We examine the correlation between per capita number of state-monitored enterprises and other socio-economic indices to show the negative impacts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) industrial air pollution on agricultural development in the regions. Despite these enterprises being the main drivers of economic development in China's counties, surrounding agricultural land continues to be degraded because of the associated SO2 emissions. The cost of agricultural losses due to pollution is estimated at US$ 1.43 billion, representing 0.66% of the total agricultural value added of the 899 Chinese counties. The findings highlight the importance of cleaner production and have policy implications for dealing with industrial air pollution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin that contaminates corn in certain climates, has been demonstrated to cause hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in animal models. Whether a relationship between FB1 and HCC exists in humans is not known. To examine the hypothesis, we conducted case-control studies nested within two large cohorts in China; the Haimen City Cohort and the General Population Study of the Nutritional Intervention Trials cohort in Linxian. In the Haimen City Cohort, nail FB1 levels were determined in 271 HCC cases and 280 controls. In the General Population Nutritional Intervention Trial, nail FB1 levels were determined in 72 HCC cases and 147 controls. In each population, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) from logistic regression models estimated the association between measurable FB1 and HCC, adjusting for hepatitis B virus infection and other factors. A meta-analysis that included both populations was also conducted. The analysis revealed no statistically significant association between FB1 and HCC in either Haimen City (OR=1.10, 95%CI=0.64–1.89) or in Linxian (OR=1.47, 95%CI=0.70–3.07). Similarly, the pooled meta-analysis showed no statistically significant association between FB1 exposure and HCC (OR=1.22, 95%CI=0.79–1.89). These findings, although somewhat preliminary, do not support an associated between FB1 and HCC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Worldwide epidemiological studies have demonstrated that short-term associations of particulate matter (PM), might be further complicated by ambient temperatures, and increase human mortality. In China, among various PM indices, the health effects of black carbon (BC) are less understood due to the lack of data availability. Additionally, it is unclear how temperature modifies simultaneous and adverse effects of BC, and fine (PM size <2.5 μm; PM 2.5), and coarse particles (PM 2.5-10), on mortality outcomes. We adopted time-series Poisson generalized additive models to investigate temperature modifying effects on the association between three different PMs (BC, PM 2.5 , and PM 2.5-10) and mortality (non-accidental, respiratory and cardiovascular mortality) in Beijing, China, from 2010 to 2016. Average daily BC, PM 2.5 , and PM 2.5-10 concentrations were 4.95, 72.3, and 52.1 μg/m3, respectively, which were all significantly associated with daily mortality. High temperature strongly amplified effects of BC, PM 2.5 , and PM 2.5-10 on human mortality, especially BC effects that were most pronounced at >28 °C. Harmful effects were estimated for increases in non-accidental, respiratory, and cardiovascular mortality per interquartile increments in BC (4.11 μg/m3), PM 2.5 (62.37 μg/m3), and PM 2.5-10 (46.71 μg/m3) concentrations from the moving average of current and previous day (lag01) under high temperature (>28 °C). Mortality increases in non-accidental, respiratory, and cardiovascular categories were 5.12% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.79, 5.45), 7.41% (95%CI: 6.42, 8.40), and 6.36% (95%CI: 2.45, 10.3) for BC; 3.85% (95%CI: 3.27, 4.43), 6.64% (95%CI: 5.63, 7.65), and 4.54% (95%CI: 3.31, 5.78) for PM 2.5 ; and 2.56% (95%CI: 1.45, 3.67), 3.41% (95%CI: 1.53, 5.29), and 3.19% (95%CI: 2.44, 3.94), for PM 2.5-10 , respectively. These findings suggest that controlling the emission of ambient particles, especially BC, and improving air quality during summer would substantially benefit population health. Furthermore, BC should be considered as a crucial air quality indicator to reflect PM health risk. Image 1 • To test the synergistic effects of temperature and black carbon (BC) on mortality. • High temperature amplified the harmful effects of BC and PM on mortality. • The modifying effects of temperature on BC were different from that on PMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consensus guidelines of the Geriatric Society of Chinese Medical Association on the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the elderly was first published in 2011 and updated in 2016, with endorsement by Chinese Society of Geriatric Health Medicine. Since then, many important studies regarding the screening and treatment in the elderly population have been reported, necessitating this updated expert consensus guideline. The writing committee members comprehensively reviewed updated evidence pertaining to elderly patients with AF, and formulated this 2024 update. The highlighted issues focused on the following: screening for AF, geriatric comprehensive assessment, use of the Atrial fibrillation Better Care (ABC) pathway for the elderly patients, and special clinical settings related to elderly patients with AF. New recommendations addressing smart technology facilitated AF screening, ABC pathway based management, and optimal anticoagulation were developed, with a focus on the elderly., Competing Interests: G.Y.H.L. is a consultant and speaker for BMS/Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Anthos. No fees are received personally. He is a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator and co-PI of the AFFIRMO project on multimorbidity in AF (grant agreement No 899871), TARGET project on digital twins for personalised management of atrial fibrillation and stroke (grant agreement No 101136244) and ARISTOTELES project on artificial intelligence for management of chronic long term conditions (grant agreement No 101080189), which are all funded by the EU's Horizon Europe Research & Innovation programme. There is no competing interest from any other author., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Background: Post-traumatic related limb osteomyelitis (PTRLO) is a complex bone infection. Currently, there are no available microbial data on a national scale that can guide appropriate antibiotic selection, and explore the dynamic changes in dominant pathogens over time. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of PTRLO in China., Methods: The study was approved by the Institutional Research Board (IRB), and 3526 PTRLO patients were identified from 212 394 traumatic limb fracture patients at 21 hospitals between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2017. A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate the epidemiology of PTRLO, including changes in infection rate (IR), pathogens, infection risk factors and antibiotic resistance and sensitivity., Results: The IR of PTRLO increased gradually from 0.93 to 2.16% (Z=14.392, P <0.001). Monomicrobial infection (82.6%) was significantly higher than polymicrobial infection (17.4%) ( P <0.001). The IR of Gram-positive (GP) and Gram-negative (GN) pathogens showed a significant increase from the lowest 0.41% to the highest 1.15% (GP) or 1.62% (GN), respectively. However, the longitudinal trend of GP vs. GN's composition did not show any significance (Z=±1.1918, P >0.05). The most prevalent GP strains were Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (17.03%), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (10.46%), E. faecalis (5.19%) and S. epidermidis (4.87%). In contrast, the dominant strains GN strains were Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (10.92%), E. cloacae (10.34%), E. coli (9.47%), Acinetobacter Baumannii (7.92%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae (3.33%). In general, the high-risk factors for polymicrobial infection include opened-fracture (odds ratio, 2.223), hypoproteinemia (odds ratio, 2.328), and multiple fractures (odds ratio, 1.465). It is important to note that the antibiotics resistance and sensitivity analysis of the pathogens may be influenced by complications or comorbidities., Conclusions: This study provides the latest data of PTRLO in China and offers trustworthy guidelines for clinical practice. (China Clinical Trials.gov number, ChiCTR1800017597)., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between drinking water source and risk of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer, including esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC), in the Linxian General Population Nutrition Intervention Trial (NIT) cohort., Methods: In this study, we used data from the Linxian NIT cohort, which included 29,584 healthy adults aged 40 to 69 years. Subjects were enrolled in April 1986 and followed up until March 2016. Tap water drinking status and demographic characteristics were collected at baseline. Subjects who drank tap water were treated as the exposed group. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model., Results: A total of 5,463 cases of UGI cancer were identified during the 30-year follow-up period. After adjusting for multiple factors, the incidence rate of UGI cancer in participants who drank tap water was significantly lower compared with individuals in the control (HR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.97). A similar association was observed between tap water drinking and EC incidence (HR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82-0.97). The association between drinking tap water and risk of UGI cancer and EC incidence did not vary across the subgroup by age and gender (All P interaction  > 0.05). For EC incidence, an interaction effect was observed for riboflavin/niacin supplements and drinking water source (P interaction  = 0.03). No association was observed between drinking water source and GC incidence., Conclusions: In this prospective cohort study in Linxian, participants who drank tap water had a lower risk of EC incidence. As a source of drinking water, use of tap water may reduce the risk of EC by avoiding exposure to nitrate/nitrite. Measures should be taken to improve the quality of drinking water in high-incidence areas of EC., Trial Registration: The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00342654, 21/06/2006), and the trial name is Nutrition Intervention Trials in Linxian Follow-up Study., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Using data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study ( N = 3864), we examined the relationship between proximity to aging parents and depression among middle-aged (45-64 years) married individuals in China. Our study depicted and explained the declining coresident rate and showed a majority of adult children live separately from their parents. Children living in different households had higher levels of depression than coresident children, including those living adjacently. Furthermore, having a coresident spouse increased the levels of depression of sons living in an adjacent dwelling and in the same city, and reduced the levels of depression of daughters living farther away. More intergenerational economic support increased the levels of depression of daughters living in an adjacent dwelling. These findings may offer a reference for married adult children to reconstruct intergenerational proximity and adjust intergenerational relations.