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Objective: We aim to investigate the species composition of ticks and the pathogen characteristics they carry in the Argun port area of the China–Russia border. Materials and Methods: Ticks were collected in surrounding grassland, mixed forest land, and other different habitats around the Argun port area at the Sino-Russian Border of Inner Mongolia in China in April 2019. The presence of 16 potential pathogens, including Yersinia Pestis, Francisella tularensis, Coxiella burnetii (Cb), Anaplasma sp. (Ap), spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFG Rk), Borrelia sp. (Bl), Leptospira, Bartonella spp., Babesia, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Bhanja virus, West Nile Virus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus, Hantaan virus, and bocavirus (boca) was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. The DNA and amino acid sequences of tick-borne pathogens were compared for homology, and the phylogenetic trees were constructed by using Mega and Lasergene software. Results: A total of 210 ticks were collected and they belonged to three species: Dermacentor nuttalli, Ixodes persulcatus, and Haemaphysalis verticalis. Among them, 165 (78.57%) ticks tested positive for 5 pathogens, namely Ap, SFG Rk, Cb, Bl, and boca. Fifteen (7.14%) ticks were detected coinfection with two pathogens, and none were coinfected with three or more pathogens. Conclusion: This study shows the prevalence of at least five tick-borne pathogens in Argun, and there is a risk of coinfection by two pathogens in one tick. This study reveals the great importance of controlling tick-borne diseases in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we surveyed the ascomycetes from bamboo of Phyllostachys across Sichuan Province, China. A biphasic approach based on morphological characteristics and multigene phylogeny confirmed seven species, including one new genus, two new species, and five new host record species. A novel genus Paralloneottiosporina is introduced to accommodate Pa. sichuanensis that was collected from leaves of Phyllostachys violascens. Moreover, the newly introduced species Bifusisporella sichuanensis was isolated from leaves of P. edulis, and five species were newly recorded on bamboos, four species belonging to Apiospora, viz. Ap. yunnana, Ap. neosubglobosa, Ap. jiangxiensis, and Ap. hydei, and the last species, Seriascoma yunnanense, isolated from dead culms of P. heterocycla. Morphologically similar and phylogenetically related taxa were compared. Comprehensive descriptions, color photo plates of micromorphology are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of myelinated retinal nerve fibre (MRNF) in a large teleophthalmology system. Methods: All records between January 2015 and December 2015 from Daheng Prust teleophthalmology system were reviewed by 2 ophthalmologists independently. MRNF was classified into continuous group and discontinuous group according to the relationship between MRNF patches and optic disc. The number, total area and location of MRNF patches were analysed. Concomitant ocular diseases were documented. Results: Out of 51469 subjects, MRNF was detected in 304 eyes of 263 subjects with a prevalence rate of 0.51 ± 7.1% per subject and 0.30 ± 5.4% per eye. Among 304 eyes with MRNF, 239 (78.6%) eyes were in continuous group and 65 (21.4%) eyes were in discontinuous group. Single MRNF patch was found in 249 (81.9%) eyes and multiple MRNF patches were found in 55 (18.1%) eyes. MRNF of small size was found in 150 (49.3%) eyes. The ratios of multiple MRNF patches and small-sized MRNF in the continuous group were significantly higher than those in the discontinuous group (P =.014 and P <.001). In continuous group, the MRNF patches were located most frequently in the superior region (68.6%) of the optic disc; In discontinuous group, the MRNF patches were located most frequently in the inferotemporal region (38.5%) of the retina. Epiretinal membrane (12 eyes, 3.9%) was the most common concomitant ocular disease. Conclusion: MRNF is uncommon in China. MRNF usually presents unilaterally and as a single small whitish patch that is connected with optic disc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent evidence has linked early repolarisation pattern (ERP) to sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients without structural heart disease. However, no studies have clarified the prognostic value of ERP in people at high risk for atherosclerotic heart disease.Methods: We prospectively assessed the prognostic significance of ERP on ECGs in a community-based population of 18 231 subjects with atherosclerotic risk factors (49.3% men, mean age 64.0 years). Mean follow-up was 7.6 years. Cox models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for possible confounding factors.Results: Compared with those without ERP, subjects with ERP had a significantly increased risk of developing SCD (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.82), death from coronary heart disease (CHD) (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.22) and death from any cause (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.50). ERP was not associated with an increased risk of non-sudden CHD death and non-CHD death. ERP with J wave pattern in inferior leads, high amplitude of J wave pattern, notching configuration and horizontal or descending ST segment indicated a higher risk for SCD. ERP was associated with an absolute risk increase of 52.3 additional SCDs per 100 000 person-years in the population at high risk for atherosclerotic heart disease.Conclusions: ERP is associated with a significantly increased risk for SCD, CHD death and death from any cause in people with atherosclerotic risk factors. The observed association between ERP and all-cause mortality appears to be driven by an association with CHD death, in particular SCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To study the retinal oxygen saturation in normal eyes of Chinese adolescents. Methods Performing retinal oximetry with the Oxymap T1 Retinal Oximeter in healthy children and adolescents (aged 5-18 years old), we measured the arterial (SaO2) and venular (SvO2) oxygen saturation and the arteriovenous difference in oxygen saturation (Sa- vO2). Results The study included 122 individuals with a mean age of 13.0 ± 2.9 years (range: 5-18 years) and a mean refractive error of −3.25 ± 2.49 dioptres (range:−8.88 to +3.13 dioptres). Mean SaO2, SvO2 and Sa- vO2 was 85.5 ± 7.1%, 48.2 ± 5.5% and 37.3 ± 6.5%, respectively. Mean SaO2 was significantly (p < 0.001) the lowest in the inferotemporal quadrant (79.1 ± 9.0%), followed by the superotemporal quadrant (83.4 ± 9.7%), the inferonasal quadrant (90.4 ± 10.6%) and the superonasal quadrant (93.4 ± 10.8%). In a similar manner, the values of the SvO2 were the lowest (p < 0.001) in the inferotemporal quadrant (42.1 ± 8.3%), followed by the superotemporal quadrant (47.8 ± 7.2%), the inferonasal quadrant (52.3 ± 8.4%) and the superonasal quadrant (55.1 ± 7.6%). Arteriovenous difference in oxygen saturation (Sa-vO2) did not differ significantly (all p > 0.05) between the fundus quadrants. In multiple linear regression analysis, SaO2 increased (regression coefficient r2 = 0.28) with older age (standardized regression coefficient β: 0.23; p = 0.01) and more myopic refractive error ( β: −0.39; p < 0.001). Higher SvO2 was significantly correlated with more myopic refractive error ( β: −0.46; p < 0.001; r2 = 0.20), while Sa- vO2 increased significantly only with older age in the multivariate analysis ( β: 0.26; p = 0.01; r2 = 0.07). Conclusions Our study provides normative data for Chinese children and adolescents who showed lower values than adults for SaO2 and SvO2. SaO2 increased with older age and higher myopic refractive error, SvO2 increased with higher myopic refractive error, and Sa- vO2 increased with older age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess associations among outdoor activity, ocular biometric parameters, and myopia among grade 1 and grade 4 primary students in Beijing. Design: School-based, cross-sectional study. Participants: A total of 382 grade 1 and 299 grade 4 children participated in the study. Methods: The children underwent a comprehensive eye examination, including ocular biometry by optical low-coherence reflectometry and noncycloplegic refractometry. Parents and children participated in a detailed interview, including questions on time spent indoors and outdoors. Main Outcome Measures: Factors associated with myopia. Results: The study included 681 children, with 382 (56.1%) students from grade 1 (mean age, 6.3±0.5 years; range, 5–8 years) and 299 students from grade 4 (mean age, 9.4±0.7 years; range, 8–13 years); 370 students (54.3%) lived in the urban region. The mean daily time spent outdoors was 1.6±0.8 hours (range, 0.5–5.1 hours). In multivariate analysis, axial length was significantly associated with older age (P<0.001; standardized β coefficient, 0.28), taller body height (P = 0.001; β, 0.18), maternal myopia (P = 0.03; β, 0.09), and urban region of habitation (P<0.001; β, −0.21), or alternatively to the region of habitation, with less time spent outdoors (P = 0.001; β, −0.16) and more time spent indoors studying (P = 0.02; β, 0.10). The axial length-to-corneal curvature radius ratio was associated with older age, urban region of habitation, maternal and paternal myopia, and paternal level of education. Presence of myopia (defined as refractive error ≤−1 diopters in the right eye) was associated with older age (P<0.001; odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–1.69), maternal myopia (P<0.001; OR, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.94–5.35), and urban region of habitation (P<0.001; OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.11–0.26), or alternatively to the region of habitation, with less time spent outdoors (P<0.001; OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.21–0.48) and more time spent indoors studying (P<0.001; OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09–1.75). Conclusions: Less outdoor activity, more indoor studying, older age, maternal myopia, and urban region of habitation were associated with longer ocular axial length and myopia in grade 1 and grade 4 primary school children in Greater Beijing. Remaining outdoors more (e.g., during school) may reduce the high prevalence of myopia in the young generation in Beijing. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Numerous Pb–Zn and Fe ore deposits occur in the volcanic–sedimentary basins along the southern Chinese Altay Mountains. The mineralization of these deposits is hosted by Early–Middle Devonian volcanics and sedimentary rocks and is directly associated with skarns. The genesis of these deposits is uncertain or hotly debated. This study considers the Sawusi Pb–Zn deposit from the southern Chinese Altay. The host rock of the Sawusi deposit is rhyolitic crystal tuff with intercalated bands of Fe–Mn calcic carbonates and a small amount of rhyolite within the upper section of the Early Devonian Kangbutiebao Formation. On the basis of a field investigation, the petrographic features of the skarn were described. Detailed electron microprobe analysis was performed on the skarn minerals, and the O, H and C isotopic compositions of quartz and its fluid inclusions were determined. Petrographic observation revealed a progressively intensifying alteration from the tuff and its intercalated bands to the stratiform skarn characterized by alternate bands of dark garnet–biotite skarn and light grunerite–biotite skarn. Mineral–chemical analysis shows that the stratiform skarn of the Sawusi deposit consists mainly of spessartine, almandine, Mn-rich grunerite, biotite and Fe–Mn calcic carbonate minerals. A mass balance consideration of the cations in the skarn minerals suggests that the stratiform skarn formed through dimetasomatism between the tuff and intercalated bands of sedimentary Fe–Mn calcic carbonates; however, the scale of the metasomatism is limited to a few centimeters. Laser 40Ar/39Ar dating was performed on the skarn grunerite, yielding an isochron age of 412±15Ma. The 40Ar/39Ar age is identical, within analytical error, to the zircon U–Pb age (401±2.7Ma) of the rhyolite from the Kangbutiebao Formation that hosts the skarn and Pb–Zn mineralization, and the age (401±3.1Ma) of the Biesisala porphyry, Sawusi deposit. The O, H and C isotopic compositions show that the ore-forming fluid includes two components. One is H2O–CO2, which has volatilized from carbonate and dehydrated from tuff, and the other is meteoric-derived surface water carrying minor meteoric CO2 or organic matter-derived CO2. Therefore, the stratiform skarn and Pb–Zn mineralization of the Sawusi deposit are quite different from the contact-metasomatic skarn and related deposits, and suggest a volcanic exhalation–sedimentation origin instead. This study has broad relevance to the Pb–Zn and Fe deposits along the southern Altay Mountains in the areas of ore genesis study and ore prospecting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Professional staff engaged in medical education research was important for enhancing the quality of medical education. Aim: To look at the current condition of professional staff in medical education research units in China. Methods: A total of 46 related-to-insiders in 46 medical schools completed a questionnaire including the affiliation and mission and activities of the units, and the number and characteristics of the professional staff. Results: Of the 46 schools, 24 (52.2%) had independent medical education research units. Of the 170 staff in the 24 units (mean = 7.1), 43.5% achieved Bachelor's degree or less and 61.8% had senior-level title, 27.6% middle-level title, and 10.6% junior-level title. Of the 24 units, 4.2% did not have any full-time professional staff, 16.7% had 1-2 full-time professional staff, 4.1% did not have any professional staff achieved Master's degree and above, and 87.5% cited educational research, 70.8% program evaluation, 58.3% sponsoring journals 54.2% teaching, 45.8% teacher evaluation, 41.7% faculty development, and 33.3% student evaluation in their mission and activities statements. Conclusion: The professional staff in medical education research units were insufficient in China. The composition of their education and professional title should be improved. The mission of the units was too narrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the life satisfaction and its predictors between the empty-nest and not-empty-nest elderly. A semi-structured questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics, physical health, and the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI), UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was administered to 275 empty-nest and 315 not-empty-nest rural elderly in a Chinese county. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of LSI score. The empty-nest elderly had lower life satisfaction, lower income, poorer relationships with children, less social support, higher prevalence of chronic diseases, and more feelings of depression and loneliness compared to the not-empty-nest elderly. “Empty-nest status” was negatively related with life satisfaction. Depression was the strongest predictor of life satisfaction in both groups. The second strongest predictor was loneliness among the empty-nest group, while it was chronic diseases among the not-empty-nest group. Marital status and income were correlated with life satisfaction only among the empty-nest elderly. The empty-nest elderly were likely to have mental health problems and to feel unsatisfied with their life. These findings also emphasize the importance of mental health as the determinant of life satisfaction among the empty-nest elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study included 17 401 normal Han urban children aged 1-20 years from five cities in China in 2005. The skeletal maturity scores were assessed by the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) method, and the smoothed centiles curves of scores (TW3-Chinese RUS and TW3-Chinese Carpal) were calculated using the LMS method. The skeletal maturity of the Chinese is approximately the same as Europeans in childhood, but the extent of TW3-RUS skeletal maturity advance in puberty and the ages of complete maturity of TW-Carpals are evidently more advanced in the Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri (VBRB) is usually used to focus other drugs effect on liver in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, no sufficient scientific data are available to support this concept. In this paper, the liver targeting enhancing effect of VBRB on rhein was investigated. 432 of rats were divided into two large groups according to the dose of rhein, low dose group of rhein (LDGR) and high dose group of rhein (HDGR). In each group, the rats were further divided into four subgroups, rhein control and rhein co-administered with three different doses of VBRB peroral. Concentrations of rhein and its metabolite in different tissues were determined by HPLC. Compared to the control group, VBRB significantly increased the distribution of both rhein and its metabolite in liver and meanwhile decreased their distribution in other tissues, indicating a strong liver targeting enhancing effect. This liver targeting effect of VBRB depended on the dose of VBRB and rhein. Low and high dose of VBRB had a more strong effect than medium dose in HDGR; high dose of rhein was more sensitive than low dose of rhein (P <0.05). Rhein existed in two forms after peroral administration in vivo. It was found that the liver targeting effect of VBRB was more remarkable with the native form of rhein compared to its derivative form. The results of this paper demonstrated that co-administration with VBRB is a simple and efficiencient method for liver targeting therapy, and the meridine guide theory of TCM was credible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new cold neutron triple axis spectrometer named Kunpeng at the China Mianyang Research Reactor (CMRR), Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics has been constructed and fully tested. It can be typically used to study magnetic excitations, spin and lattice dynamics in condensed matter physics. In this contribution we present its main features and the first experimental data to demonstrate its performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports show that an early repolarization pattern (ERP) is associated with a higher incidence of sudden cardiac death in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Sporadic case studies have pointed out that ERP might be related to obstructive CAD.In consecutive patients who had undergone coronary angiography, we investigated the relationship between ERP and obstructive CAD by evaluating its association with coronary artery stenosis.The study population consisted of 3785 patients (59.9% men; mean age 63.1 years) with or without obstructive CAD. Adjusting for major cardiovascular risk factors, ERP was significantly associated with obstructive CAD (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.24 [95% CI 1.70-2.95]) with an incremental predictive value (ROC AUC 0.76 versus 0.71, P = 0.02; NRI 55.3%, P < 0.001; IDI = 0.05, P = 0.008), specifically in subjects with low risk and intermediate risk. ERP also significantly improved the predictive value for multi-vessel disease (AUC: 0.77 versus 0.72, P = 0.02 for two-vessel disease; 0.79 versus 0.73, P = 0.04 for three-vessel disease). ERP was consistently associated with stenoses of 3 main coronary arteries.ERP is associated with significant increased risk for obstructive CAD.Further studies are warranted to confirm our results and to elucidate the specific pathogenic mechanisms.

A facultatively anaerobic and Gram-negative bacterium, designated strain PLHSC7-2 T , was isolated from the gut of sea cucumber Apostichopusjaponicus that had been collected from the coastal area of Yantai, China. The cells were rod-shaped and motile by means of polar flagella. The novel isolate grew optimally at 28-30 °C, in the presence of 2.0-3.0 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0-7.5. The sole respiratory quinone was Q-8 and the major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and C17 : 0. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PLHSC7-2 T was phylogenetically affiliated with the genus Motilimonas, and exhibited sequence similarity of 96.2 % toMotilimonas eburnea YH6 T . The DNA G+C content was 45.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic , phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, strain PLHSC7-2 T (=MCCC 1K03522 T =KCTC 62589 T ) was classified as a novel species within the genus Motilimonas, for which the name Motilimonas pumila sp. nov. is proposed.

Background: Transmission of infection through international travel is a growing health issue, and the frequency of imported infection is increasing in China. We aimed to quantify the total number of infections imported into mainland China by arriving travellers., Methods: We actively surveyed arriving travellers at all 272 international entry-exit ports in mainland China. Suspected cases were detected through fever screening, medical inspection, self-declaration, and reporting by on-board staff. Participants completed a standardised questionnaire with questions about demographics, their travel itinerary (including detailed information about all countries or regions visited), and clinical manifestations. Nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum samples, faecal samples, vomitus, blood, and serum were collected as appropriate for diagnoses. Diagnosis was made by specific laboratory tests according to the national technical guidelines. Infections were classified as respiratory, gastrointestinal, vector-borne, blood-transmitted and sex-transmitted, or mucocutaneous. We divided arriving travellers into two groups: travellers coming from countries other than China, and travellers coming from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. We integrated surveillance data for 2014-16, calculated incidences of travel-related infections, and compared the frequency of infections among subgroups., Findings: Between Jan 1, 2014, and Dec 31, 2016, 22 797 cases were identified among 805 993 392 arriving travellers-an overall incidence of 28·3 per million. 45 pathogens were detected in participants: 18 respiratory (19 662 cases), ten gastrointestinal (189 cases), seven vector-borne (831 cases), seven blood-transmitted and sex-transmitted (1531 cases), and three mucocutaneous (584 cases). Both the overall number and incidence of infection were more than five times higher in 2016 than in 2014. Case numbers and incidences also varied substantially by province, autonomous region, and municipality. Overall, 17 643 (77%) infections were detected by fever screening, but 753 (49%) blood-transmitted and sex-transmitted infections were identified through medical inspection. 14 305 (73%) cases of respiratory infection and 96 (51%) of gastrointestinal infections were in tourists. Tuberculosis, hepatitis A virus, vector-borne, and blood-transmitted and sex-transmitted infections were common among Chinese labourers who worked abroad. Dengue and malaria were most commonly diagnosed in travellers arriving from Africa. 12 126 (93%) of the 12 985 cases arriving from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan were respiratory infections. Hand, foot, and mouth disease accounted for 2·90% of infections in travellers from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan and 0·31% of infections in international travellers., Interpretation: This report is the first to characterise the profile of travel-related infections among arriving travellers in mainland China. Our findings should increase public awareness of the potential risk of imported infections, and help health-care providers to make evidence-based health recommendations to travellers., Funding: The Natural Science Foundation of China., (Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

A yellow-pigmented bacterial strain (JR1 T ) isolated from a sediment sample was subjected to a taxonomic study, based on phenotypic, genetic and physiological characterization. Here, we describe the cultivation and characteristics of strain JR1 T , a novel member of the genus Carboxylicivirga in the family Marinilabiliaceae. Cells of strain JR1 T were rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and facultatively anaerobic. The temperature range for growth was 15-42 °C (optimum, 33 °C) and the pH range for growth was pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.0-7.5). Growth occurred in the presence of 0.0-10.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2.0-3.0 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis produced results with 97.4 % similarity to Carboxylicivirga taeanensisMEBiC 08903 T , 96.8 % similarity to Carboxylicivirga mesophilaMEBiC 07026 T , 94.9 % similarity to Carboxylicivirga linearis FB218 T and 94.6 % similarity to Carboxylicivirga flava Q15 T . The DNA G+C content was 42.3 mol% and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C17 : 1ω6c and iso-C17 : 0-3OH. The major polar lipids detected were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids; the major respiratory quinone detected was MK-7. The results of the phenotypical, phylogenetic and biochemical analyses between the study strain and some related type strains indicated that this strain represent a novel species of the genus Carboxylicivirga within the family Marinilabiliaceae, for which the name Carboxylicivirga sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JR1 T (=MCCC 1K03323 T =KCTC 52869 T ).

Purpose: To assess the development and enlargement of the parapapillary gamma zone in school children., Methods: This school-based prospective longitudinal study included Chinese children attending grade 1 in 2011 and returning for yearly follow-up examinations until 2016. These examinations consisted of a comprehensive ocular examination with biometry and color fundus photographs. The parents underwent a standardized interview. The parapapillary gamma zone was defined as the area with visible sclera at the temporal optic disc margin, and the optic disc itself was measured on fundus photographs., Results: The study included 294 children (mean age in 2016, 11.4 ± 0.5 years [range, 10-13 years]; mean axial length, 24.1 ± 1.1 mm [range, 21.13-27.29 mm]). In multivariate analysis, larger increases in the gamma zone area during the study period were correlated (coefficient of determination for bivariate analysis [r2], r2 = 0.69) with larger increases in the vertical-to-horizontal disc diameter ratios (P < 0.001; standardized regression coefficient beta [beta], 0.53; nonstandardized regression coefficient B [B], 4.05; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 3.37-4.73), larger axial elongation (P < 0.001; beta, 0.32; B, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.26-0.47), a larger vertical disc diameter at baseline (P < 0.001; beta, 0.22; B, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.62-1.33), a larger gamma zone area at baseline (P < 0.001; beta, 0.14; B, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.17-0.64), and more time spent indoors studying (P = 0.015; beta, 0.10; B, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02-0.17)., Conclusions: The development and enlargement of the gamma zone in the temporal parapapillary region were associated with an optic disc rotation around the vertical disc axis as indicated by an increasing vertical-to-horizontal disc diameter ratio. These morphologic findings fit with the notion of a backward pull of the temporal peripapillary sclera through the optic nerve dura mater in axially elongated eyes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the ovality of the optic disc and its associations with myopia-related factors in primary school children in Beijing., Methods: This longitudinal school-based study included 382 grade 1 children and 299 grade 4 children who were followed for 2 years. Study participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination including autorefractometry, ocular biometry, and fundus photography., Results: Fundus photographs were available for 562 children (82.5%). The mean optic disc ovality (maximal-to-minimal disc diameter) was 1.17 ± 0.29 (range, 1.00-1.50). Oval discs defined by an ovality of ≥ 1.33 were detected in 37 children (prevalence: 6.6%; 95% confidence interval: 4.5-8.6). In multivariate linear regression analysis, higher optic disc ovality index was significantly associated with older age (P = 0.001), female sex (P = 0.005), larger parapapillary beta zone (P < 0.001), and shorter time spent indoors with studying (P = 0.003) and was marginally significant (P = 0.057), with greater increase in myopic refractive error from 2011 to 2013. From 2011 to 2013, myopic refractive error increased in the oval optic disc group by 1.03 ± 0.99 diopters compared to 0.67 ± 1.31 diopters in the nonoval disc group., Conclusions: The prevalence of oval optic discs in Beijing school children was markedly higher than in the elderly Beijing Eye Study population (6.6% vs. 0.36%), paralleling the higher prevalence of myopia in school children. The association between oval optic discs and less time spent indoors with studying after adjusting for longitudinal change in myopic refractive error, age, sex and parapapillary beta zone may warrant further exploration of external factors associated with oval optic discs.

Background: To investigate the clinical characteristics and analyze risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in hospitalized infants with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs)., Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of infants with RSV-associated ALRIs between March 1st, 2011 and February 29th, 2012 was conducted. Subjects were followed up over the phone or by outpatient visit six and twelve months after discharge., Results: Among 913 RSV-associated ALRIs infants, 288 (31.5%) had severe infections, which accounted for 4.2% of hospitalized children. The hospital RSV mortality rate was 1.0%. The proportions of cases with tachypnea, apnea, cyanosis, and fine rales were significantly higher in the severe ALRIs group (all P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that low-birth-weight [1.698 (1.028-2.805)], age less than 3 months old [3.385 (2.174-5.271)], congenital heart disease [1.667 (1.149-2.418)], bronchopulmonary dysplasia [8.505 (1.731-41.780)], and airway abnormalities [2.246 (1.008-5.005)] were independent risk factors for severe ALRIs. The incidence of bronchitis, pneumonia and readmission in the severe group was significantly higher than that of the non-severe group during the one-year follow-up (all P<0.001)., Conclusions: Younger age, low birth weight and underlying disease are associated with severe RSVassociated ALRIs. Furthermore, severe RSV infections may be associated with a higher frequency of subsequent bronchitis, pneumonia and re-hospitalization in the following year.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of myopia in school children in Greater Beijing., Methods: The Beijing Childhood Eye Study was a school-based cross-sectional study. One school of each level (primary, junior high, senior high) was randomly selected from nine randomly selected districts of Greater Beijing. The children underwent non-cycloplegic refractometry and their parents an interview., Results: Of 16 771 eligible students, 15 066 (89.8%) children with a mean age of 13.2 ± 3.4 years (range: 7-18 years) participated. Prevalence of myopia defined as refractive error of ≤-0.50 diopters (D), ≤-1.00 D, ≤-6.00 D and ≤-8.00 D in the right eye was 64.9 ± 0.4%, 53.0 ± 0.4%, 4.3 ± 0.2% and 1.0 ± 0.1% respectively. In multivariate analysis, prevalence of myopia was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with higher age, female gender, urban region and school type. Prevalence of myopia of ≤-1.00 D and of ≤-8.0 D increased from 9.7% and 0% in 7 year olds, respectively, to 74.2% and 1.8% in 17- or 18 year olds respectively. The latter figure was already similar (p = 0.39) to the prevalence of high myopia in the elderly Beijing Eye Study population (1.6%). In a subset of 1082 children undergoing cycloplegia, difference in refractive error between prior to and after cycloplegia was 0.31 ± 0.47 diopters., Conclusions: On the basis of previous investigations from China, our study indicated an ongoing myopic shift in the young generation. Since the prevalence of high myopia in children aged 17 or 18 years was already similar to the one in the elderly Beijing population, the data prognosticate an increase in vision threatening high myopia in the future adult population.

Background: The functions of cytoskeleton-associated membrane protein 4 (CKAP4), one kind of type II transmembrane protein, are associated with the palmitoyl acyltransferase DHHC2. The objective of the current study was to investigate CKAP4/DHHC2 expression and its prognostic significance in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)., Methods: Two independent cohorts of 416 patients with HCC were enrolled. All the patients included had defined clinicopathologic and follow-up data. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical assay, CKAP4 and DHHC2 expression were evaluated. The association between CKAP4/DHHC2 expression and HCC-specific disease-free survival and overall survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves, the log-rank test, and Multivariate Cox regression analyses., Results: The data documented that CKAP4 expression was much higher in HCC tumor tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues and its expression was significantly correlated with tumor size, intrahepatic metastases, portal venous invasion, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage of disease in 2 cohorts of patients. On survival analysis, patients with high CKAP4 expression appeared to have a favorable overall survival and a longer disease-free survival compared with those with low expression. DHHC2 expression was also examined in tissue microarray analysis by immunohistochemistry and the results demonstrated that 87.6% of the cases had low expression of DHHC2. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that a high level of DHHC2 expression predicted favorable overall survival and disease-free survival rates in both the training cohort and validation set. Furthermore, the combination of CKAP4 and DHHC2 was found to have a more powerful efficiency in prognosis prediction than either one alone., Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to demonstrate that the expression of CKAP4 and its palmitoyl acyltransferase DHHC2 correlates with disease progression and metastasis in patients with HCC and may provide prognostic and therapeutic value., (© 2014 American Cancer Society.)

Purpose: To investigate prevalence and size of parapapillary alpha zone and beta zone and associations with myopia-related factors in primary school children in Beijing., Methods: The school-based study included 382 grade-1 children and 299 grade-4 children. The children underwent a comprehensive eye examination and the parents, an interview. The examination was repeated after 1 year., Results: Beta zone (prevalence: 44.5% ± 2.1%; mean area: 0.17 ± 0.29 mm(2)) was significantly associated with more time spent indoors with studying (P = 0.004; standardized correlation coefficient β: 0.14; regression coefficient B: 0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.09) after adjusting for longer axial length (P < 0.001; β: 0.22; B: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.10), more myopic refractive error (P < 0.001; β: -0.29; B: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.09, -0.04), region of habitation (P = 0.03; β: 0.11; B: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.14), and vertical disc diameter (P = 0.03; β: 0.10; B: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.30). As a corollary, indoors studying time was associated with larger area of beta zone (P = 0.01; β: 0.11; B: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.54) after adjusting for higher axial length/corneal curvature radius ratio (AL/CC; P = 0.006; β: 0.12; B: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.27, 1.62) and urban region of habitation (P < 0.001; β: -0.44; B: -0.75; 95% CI: -0.89, -0.61). An increase in AL/CC ratio at 1-year follow-up was associated with more indoors studying time (P = 0.04; β: 0.10; B: 0.01; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.01) and larger beta zone area (P < 0.001; β: 0.19; B: 0.04; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.05) after adjusting for axial length (P < 0.001; β: -0.21; B: -0.01; 95% CI: -0.02, -0.01)., Conclusions: Larger parapapillary beta zone area was associated with more indoors studying time after adjustment for axial length, refractive error, and region of habitation, and reversely, more indoors studying time was associated with larger beta zone in multivariate analysis. The results could indicate that parapapillary beta zone is associated with external factors-dependent development of myopia.

Purpose: To assess whether a change in myopia related oculometric parameters of primary school children in Beijing was associated with indoors and outdoors activity., Methods: The longitudinal school-based study included school children who were examined in 2011 and who were re-examined in 2012. The children underwent a comprehensive eye examination including ocular biometry by optical low-coherence reflectometry and non-cycloplegic refractometry. Parents and children had a detailed interview including questions on time spent indoors and outdoors., Results: Out of 681 students examined at baseline, 643 (94.4%) returned for follow-up examination. Within the one-year period, mean time spent daily outdoors increased by 0.4±0.9 hours, mean axial length by 0.26±0.49 mm, the ratio of axial length divided by anterior corneal curvature (AL/CC) by 0.03±0.06, and myopic refractive error by -0.06±0.89 diopters. In multivariate analysis, elongation of axial length was significantly associated with less total time spent outdoors (P = 0.02; standardized coefficient beta -0.12) and more time spent indoors with studying (P = 0.007; beta: 0.14) after adjustment for maternal myopia (P = 0.02; beta: 0.12). An increase in AL/CC was significantly associated with less time spent outdoors (P = 0.01; beta:-0.12) after adjustment for paternal myopia (P = 0.003; beta: 0.15) and if region of habitation was excludedors for leisure (P = 0.006; beta:-0.13), with less total time spent outdoors (P = 0.04; beta:-0.10), or with more time spent i. An increase in myopic refractive error, after adjustment for age, was significantly associated with less time spent outdo ndoors with studying (P = 0.005; beta: 0.13)., Conclusions: A change in oculometric parameters indicating an increase in myopia was significantly associated with less time spent outdoors and more time spent indoors in school children in Greater Beijing within a study period of one year. Our study provides additional information on the potentially helpful role of outdoors activity in the prevention of myopia. Public health care measures such as school agendas may potentially take it into account.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care in community health centers and self-management behaviors and glycemic control and to examine the relationship between Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care in community health centers and the utilization of community health centers for monitoring and treating diabetes among the patients with type 2 diabetes., Methods: A questionnaire including self-management behaviors, glycemic control, Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care in community health centers and the most often utilized medical institutions for monitoring and treating diabetes (community health centers vs. hospitals) was administered to 960 patients with type 2 diabetes in Shanghai, China. The relationships between Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and self-management behaviors, self-management behaviors and glycemic control, Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and glycemic control, Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and the most often utilized medical institutions for monitoring and treating diabetes were examined., Results: Wilcoxon rank sum tests showed that the high scores of total Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and five subscales in community health centers were positively related to almost all the proper self-management behaviors and good glycemic control (p<0.05). Almost all of the proper self-management behaviors were positively related to good glycemic control (p<0.01). High summary score of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care was positively associated with the utilization of community health centers for monitoring and treating diabetes (p<0.001)., Conclusions: Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (implementation of the Chronic Care Model) in community health centers was associated with patients' self-management behaviors and glycemic control, and finally was associated with the utilization of community health centers for monitoring and treating diabetes.

Based on the remote sensing images of 54 water quality monitoring stations within the Suzi River watershed, the riparian buffer zones at 6 scales were constructed by ArcGIS, and the 8 landscape indices at landscape and class levels were calculated with FRAGSTATS software. A correlation analysis on the landscape indices and river water quality was made from the viewpoints of landscape space pattern and composition. In the watershed, the landscape pattern in different riparian buffer zones had different effects on the river water quality. When the distance of the buffer zones was less than 300 m, the main landscape types were dry land, construction land, and paddy filed, and their area ratio, patch number, patch density, maximum patch index, maximum shape index, and aggregation index were higher. In these buffer zones, farmlands had higher connectedness, and thus, had greater effects on the river water quality. When the distance of the buffer zones was more than 300 m, forest land had a larger area ratio and a higher connectedness, which would benefit the improvement of river water quality to some extent. In the watershed, farmland and construction land played a key role in affecting the river water quality.

Objective: To study the infection status of Leptospira in rodents on Heixiazi island Heilongjiang province in 2011., Methods: A total of 356 rodents were captured by night trap on the Heixiazi island from April to October 2011. The kidney tissue samples were collected by asepsis operation and the genomic DNA were extracted from them. Leptospira strains were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification of the 482 bp 23 S rDNA gene. Fifteen PCR products selected by the month were purified and sequenced by the methods of Sanger dideoxy, the sequences then compared with other Leptospira strains in Genebank, and phylogenetic analyses were drafted by software Mega 4.0., Results: Among 356 rodents, the dominant species were Clethrionomys rutilus (39.3%, 140/356) and Apodemus agrarius (36.0%, 128/356). The infection rate of Leptospira was 11.0%, with 39 rodent samples detected positive. All the rodent species were infected except for Rattus norvegicus. The infection rate was 9.4% (12/128) in Apodemus agrarius, 12.9%(18/140) in Clethrionomys rutilus, 10.8%(7/65) in Microtus fortis Buchner. No significant difference was found between the infection rate and the species of rodents by chi square test(χ(2) = 1.92, P > 0.05). Among months, the infection rate was 5.6% (4/72) in May, 8.8% (5/57) in June, 12.8% (5/39) in July, 9.8% (5/51) in August, 33.3% (11/33) in September, 22.5% (9/40) in October,but no infection in April. There was significant difference in infection in different months (χ(2) = 32.92, P < 0.05). All the Leptospira in rodents on the Heixiazi island were in the same phylogenetic branch with a high similarity of 97.1%-99.6%, close with the Australia strain U90865 by the similarity above 96.3%., Conclusion: Leptospira is probably prevalent in rodents on the Heixiazi island, and the phylogene of the strains were similar. The infection rate in rodents was significantly different in months but not in hosts.

The present study aimed to investigate deltamethrin resistance in Culex pipiens pallens (C. pipiens pallens) mosquitoes and its correlation with knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations. In addition, mosquito‑resistance testing methods were analyzed. Using specific primers in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific (AS)-PCR, kdr gene sequences isolated from wild C. pipiens pallens mosquitoes were sequenced. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between the mutations and deltamethrin resistance. A kdr allelic gene was cloned and sequenced. Analysis of the DNA sequences revealed the presence of two point mutations at the L1014 residue in the IIS6 transmembrane segment of the voltage‑gated sodium channel (VGSC): L1014F, TTA→TTT, replacing a leucine (L) with a phenylalanine (F); L1014S, TTA→TCA, replacing leucine (L) with serine (S). Two alternative kdr-like mutations, L1014F and L1014S, were identified to be positively correlated with the deltamethrin-resistant phenotype. In addition a novel mutation, TCT, was identified in the VGSC of C. pipiens pallens. PCR and AS-PCR yielded consistent results with respect to mosquito resistance. However, the detection rate of PCR was higher than that of AS-PCR. Further studies are required to determine the specific resistance mechanism. PCR and AS-PCR demonstrated suitability for mosquito resistance field tests, however, the former method may be superior to the latter.

Coxsackieviruses A10 (CV-A10) and A6 (CV-A6) have been associated with increasingly occurred sporadic hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) cases and outbreak events globally. However, our understanding of epidemiological and genetic characteristics of these new agents remains far from complete. This study was to explore the circulation of CV-A10 and CV-A6 in HFMD and their genetic characteristics in China. A hospital based surveillance was performed in three heavily inflicted regions with HFMD from March 2009 to August 2011. Feces samples were collected from children with clinical diagnosis of HFMD. The detection and genotyping of enteroviruses was performed by real-time PCR and sequencing of 5'UTR/VP1 regions. Phylogenetic analysis and selection pressure were performed based on the VP1 sequences. Logistic regression model was used to identify the effect of predominant enterovirus serotypes in causing severe HFMD. The results showed 92.0% of 1748 feces samples were detected positive for enterovirus, with the most frequently presented serotypes as EV-71 (944, 54.0%) and CV-A16 (451, 25.8%). CV-A10 and CV-A6 were detected as a sole pathogen in 82 (4.7%) and 44 (2.5%) cases, respectively. Infection with CV-A10 and EV-71 were independently associated with high risk of severe HFMD (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.40-5.06; OR = 4.81, 95% CI: 3.07-7.53), when adjusted for age and sex. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that distinct geographic and temporal origins correlated with the gene clusters based on VP1 sequences. An overall ω value of the VP1 was 0.046 for CV-A10 and 0.047 for CV-A6, and no positively selected site was detected in VP1 of both CV-A10 and CV-A6, indicating that purifying selection shaped the evolution of CV-A10 and CV-A6. Our study demonstrates variety of enterovirus genotypes as viral pathogens in causing HFMD in China. CV-A10 and CV-A6 were co-circulating together with EV-71 and CV-A16 in recent years. CV-A10 infection might also be independently associated with severe HFMD.

Purpose: To assess factors associated with myopia in school children in rural and urban parts of Greater Beijing., Methods: The Beijing Pedriatic Eye Study was a population-based cross-sectional study, in which one school of each level (primary, junior high, senior high) was randomly selected from nine randomly selected districts out of 18 districts of Greater Beijing. The children underwent non-cylcoplegic refractometry and their parents an interview., Results: Of 16,771 eligible students, 15,066 (89.8%) children (7,769 (51.6%) girls) participated, with 8,860 (58.8%) participants living in the rural region. Mean age was 13.2±3.4 years (range:7-18 years). In multivariate analysis, prevalence of myopia (defined as ≤-1.00 diopters) was associated with higher age (Odds ratio(OR):1.37; 95% confidence interval(CI):1.35,1.39), female gender (OR:1.35;95%CI:1.25,1.47), key school type (OR:0.77;95%CI: 0.70,0.85), higher family income (OR:1.04;95%CI:1.01,1.07), parental myopia (OR:1.46;95%CI:1.40,1.53), dim reading illumination (OR:0.93;95%CI: 0.88,0.98), longer daily studying duration (OR:1.10;95%CI:1.06,1.15), shorter duration of watching television (or computer) (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.89,0.97), higher self-reported protein intake (OR:0.94;95%CI:0.90,0.99), feeling well about life and status (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.89,0.98), and feeling tired or dizzy (OR:0.94;95%CI:0.91,0.97). Prevalence of high myopia (defined as ≤-6.00 diopters) was associated with higher age (OR:1.43;95%CI:1.38, 1.48), key school type (OR:0.61;95%CI:0.49,0.74), family income (OR:1.07;95%CI:1.02,1.13), parental myopia (OR:1.65;95%CI:1.54,1.76), dim reading illumination (OR:0.86;95%CI:0.77,0.96), less rest during studying (OR:1.18;95%CI:1.10,1.27), feeling well about life and studying (OR:0.88;95%CI: 0.81,0.96) and feeling dizzy or tired (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.87,0.99). Prevalence of high myopia (defined as ≤-8.00 diopters) was significantly associated with higher age (OR:1.39;95%CI:1.31,1.48;), key school type (OR:0.61;95%CI:0.42,0.88) and parental myopia (OR:1.87;95%CI:1.66,2.12)., Conclusions: Myopia in school children in Greater Beijing was associated with higher age, female gender, school type, parental myopia, higher socioeconomic background, dim reading illumination, longer daily studying duration, less rest during study, shorter duration of watching television (or computer), higher self-reported protein intake, feeling well about life and status, and feeling tired and dizzy.

Prophylaxis and treatment with oseltamivir effectively controlled a community outbreak of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in China. The genetic makeup of strains of different generations seemed to be stable. Travel in confined settings might accelerate the transmission of pandemic influenza in a community outbreak.

Background: In early September 2009, an outbreak of influenza occurred at a college campus in Beijing, China, in which both pandemic H1N1 and seasonal H3N2 viruses were detected., Methods: Outbreak investigation was performed in the campus. Epidemiologic, clinical data were collected by interviewing patients and retrieving medical records. Individual contact tracing was performed for detailed contact information. Viruses were identified by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays followed by sequence analysis. The hemagglutination inhibition test was used to detect antibodies to both viruses for paired serum samples., Results: Forty of 45 people with influenza-like illness had laboratory-confirmed influenza A infection; 22 of these 40 people were infected with pandemic H1N1 virus, 12 were infected with seasonal H3N2 virus, and 6 were coinfected with both viruses. In the subsequent generation of cases with mixed infection, we detected pandemic H1N1 virus infection more often than seasonal H3N2 virus infection. The clinical patterns were essentially similar for patients with different virus infections. No substantial differences in sequences were observed in either pandemic H1N1 or seasonal H3N2 virus between patients with mixed and single infection. Sequence analyses revealed that all of the detected viruses were susceptible to oseltamivir but resistant to adamantane. Hemagglutination inhibition tests of paired serum samples confirmed mixed infection in the outbreak., Conclusions: Cocirculation of pandemic H1N1 virus and seasonal H3N2 virus led to a mixed infection in patients. Pandemic H1N1 virus, however, took prevalence over seasonal influenza virus in the course of transmission. Therefore, competitive circulation of seasonal influenza A virus with the pandemic H1N1 virus seems less likely.

To elucidate the importance of the norovirus and other enteric viruses, and the difference of the genetic relatedness on norovirus between the outbreak and sporadic cases, a total of 557 stool samples, consisting of 503 sporadic cases and 54 samples of 4 outbreaks were collected and tested for norovirus and other enteric viruses in Beijing, China, July 2007-June 2008. The data showed norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus, and sapovirus, were detected in 26.6%, 6.1%, 1.8%, and 0.5%, respectively. Norovirus was detected almost throughout the surveillance period, norovirus co-infecting with rotavirus, astrovirus, and sapovirus, respectively, were identified both in outbreak and the sporadic cases. GII.4/2006 was identified as the predominant strain circulating both in outbreak and sporadic cases. The results showed that norovirus was rather the important agent than other enteric viruses affected adults with acute gastroenteritis; no significant genetic relatedness of the dominant strains was found between the outbreak and sporadic cases.

Background: Following the rapid increase of migrant workers in China, the number of "absent migrant parents" children is also rising fast. The "absent migrant parents" children might have an insecure relationship with their parents, have a different view of them, and be prone to have the feeling of loneliness. The purpose of the study was to compare the self-concept and loneliness between the "absent migrant parents" children and comparison children, to examine the relationship between self-concept and loneliness among the two groups, and to study the predictors of self-concept among the two groups., Methods: Participants were 230 "absent migrant parents" children and 250 comparison children in the rural area of a county, China. The self-concept and loneliness of children were assessed using Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale and Childhood Loneliness Scale., Results: The "absent migrant parents" children were more likely to dislike their parents or be uncertain whether they like their parents, and they reported less time spent in physical and leisure time activities, higher loneliness and lower self-concept in comparison with the comparison children. Loneliness was significantly negatively correlated with all the dimensions of self-concept among the two groups. Regression analysis showed that self-concept was positively related to the relationship with parents and guardians and time spent in physical and leisure activities among the "absent migrant parents" children. The same factors (except the relationship with guardians) were found for self-concept among the comparison children., Conclusions: The "absent migrant parents" children were more inclined to have lower self-concept and higher loneliness. The lower self-concept seemed to contribute to the higher loneliness of the "absent migrant parents" children. The lower self-concept of the "absent migrant parents" children was mainly related with their relationship with parents and guardians. The acceptance and support from their parents could not be fully replaced by that from their guardians.

Objective: The determination of skeletal maturity has an important role in pediatric clinical practice, especially in relation to endocrinological problems and growth disorders, and it is frequently useful in diagnosis and monitoring treatment. It has been suggested that the difference between radius, ulna and short bonse (RUS) and carpal may be of differential diagnostic significance. However, no data on comparison among bone ages of Chinese children are available. The differences between TW3-Chinese RUS (TW3-C RUS) and TW3-Chinese Carpal (TW3-C Carpal) bone age of Chinese children were observed in this study to provide references for skeletal development estimation., Methods: Totally 9408 Han healthy children (5066 boys, 4302 girls) aged 1.5 - 13.5 years from 5 cities of China were enrolled in this study. The bone ages of the children were estimated by TW3-C RUS and TW3-C Carpal. The Z score curves of the differences between them were fitted by BCPE distribution and the goodness-of-fit of Box-Cox power exponential distribution (BCPE) models were assessed by Q-test and percents of cases of sample below the fitted percentile curves., Results: The means of the differences between TW3-C RUS and TW3-C Carpal were -0.19 - 0.17 over the age 2.0 - 13.5 years in boys and -0.12 - 0.13 from age 1.5 - 11.5 years in girls. The standard deviations were respectively 0.47 - 1.01 years for boys and 0.49 - 0.82 years for girls. The degrees of freedom, with respect to the parameter curves from BCPE distribution, were selected and the percentile curves were fitted by BCPE. The differences between percents of cases below the fitted percentile curves and expected values were all under 0.66%, exception of difference for 90th percentile in girls., Conclusions: The differences between TW3-C RUS and TW3-C Carpal varied with age, the standard deviations increased gradually before 4.5 years of age in boys and 4 years of age in girls, and afterwards the variations decreased steadily until the TW3-C Carpal has reached full maturity. However, there was sex diversity in the extent of the variations. The differences between TW3-C RUS and TW3-C Carpal for boys were evidently greater than that for girls. The sex difference decreased progressively after 10 years. The proposed Z scores curves charts should provide reference for clinical practice.

Objective: To estimate whether loneliness was associated with quality of life and examined the influence of socio-economic factors in the empty nest elderly., Methods: The 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS) were used to assess the quality of life and loneliness for 275 empty nest and 315 not empty nest rural elders in a county, China. T tests, Pearson's correlations and linear regression analysis were used to examine the difference in SF-36 and UCLA-LS scores, correlations of the two scores between the two groups, and socio-economic determinants of loneliness among the empty nest elders., Results: Empty nest group, in comparison with not empty nest group, had higher level of loneliness (95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.361 to -.335), lower physical (95% CI = .228 to 6.044) and mental (95% CI = .866 to 6.380) scores. Loneliness was negatively correlated with all the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey scales in both groups. Social supports and income were negatively associated with loneliness, whereas education level and being single were positively associated with loneliness for the empty nest group., Conclusions: Reducing the level of loneliness may be helpful to improve the quality of life for the empty nest elders.

Objective: To explore the relationship between Chlamydia pneumonia (CP) infection and hypertension as well as the interaction of traditional risk factors and CP infections on hypertension in Chinese Mongolian population., Methods: 1430 inhabitants living in Tongliao city, Inner Mongolia were selected as research subjects, including 488 hypertensives and 942 normotensives. Enzyme-linked immunoassay technique was used to test CP IgG antibody in the blood serum and SPSS 13.0 Microsoft was used to analyze the data., Results: The prevalence rates of hypertension were significantly different between CP IgG positive and negative groups, However, the trend was attenuated after adjusting age, sex, drinking, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia. The CP infection rate was significant different in diastolic blood pressure groups, which was significantly higher in 80-84 mm Hg than that in the lowest DBP group. The interaction of chronic CP infection and other traditional risk factors were associated with hypertension in Chinese Mongolian ethnic groups. The ranking with significant sequence from high to low were BMI, dyslipidemia, alcohol intake, sex and age., Conclusion: CP infection was not related to hypertension in Chinese Mongolian ethnic groups but the interaction with other traditional risk factors would increase the risk of developing hypertension.