Search

Background: On July 4, 2021, China officially introduced the drug patent linkage system, which has made more localized adjustments than have similar systems in the US and South Korea. This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of China's patent linkage system. Methods: For this study, we used the database of China's patent information registration platform for marketed drugs to capture all listed patents and patent certifications from June 25, 2021, to June 30, 2023. We used descriptive statistics for the above data to assess the impact of patent linkage on branded drug manufacturers, generic drug manufacturers, and the public's access to medicines. Results: During the study period, the patents of 632 branded drugs were listed, and 5058 ANDAs submitted patent certifications to the Registration Platform. Of these 632 branded drugs, 462 (73.1%) drugs were approved before the year of patent registration, and the average number of listed patents per drug was 1.8, with a standard deviation of 1.4. However, of these 5058 ANDAs, P1 certifications accounted for 85.1%, and P3 and P4 certifications accounted for 16% combined. In addition, according to the detailed statistics of P2 certifications, we found that the proportion of patent invalidation cases was 46.4%. The remaining validity of the patents corresponding to P3 certifications was longer, with a median value of 17 months, and the IQR was 10-30.75, ranging from − 2 to 204 months. Conclusions: China's patent linkage aims to promote the balance of multiple interests —innovation, imitation and public health—and has its own system characteristics. Patent listing and patent certification are the key indicators reflecting the implementation effect of the system. From the perspective of system outcomes, ANDAs have been connected to the patent linkage system in an orderly manner, but the growth of patent challenges is not obvious. Moreover, manufacturers of foreign branded drugs that have not yet entered the Chinese market need to pay more attention to the role of patent listing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mid‐May, 2019, the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda invaded Jiangxi Province, China, and caused extensive damage to corn crops. However, little attention has been given to the life‐history traits of the FAW. In the present study, we systematically investigated the life‐history traits of the newly invasive FAW on corn leaves at 19, 22, 25, 28, and 31°C under a photoperiod of LD 15:9 hr. The FAW thrived on the corn leaves with short developmental periods, high survival rates of larvae and pupae, very high mating success rates, and high fecundity. The pupal developmental stage was significantly longer in males than females at all temperatures, thus resulting in a protogyny phenomenon. The pupal weight was heaviest after a relatively shorter larval development stage at a higher temperature (25°C); thus, the FAW did not follow the temperature–size rule. Females were smaller than males, indicating sexual size dimorphism. A small proportion of females delayed their pre‐oviposition period and began to lay eggs on the 7th to 9th day after adult emergence. There were positive relationships between pupal weight and larval developmental time and between adult weight and fecundity. There was a negative relationship between fecundity and longevity. These findings can help us to predict the population dynamics of the FAW on corn and to develop a suitable and practical management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A nationwide spatial analysis on surface water pollutants and cancers integrating datasets was conducted. • Geographically weighted random forest addressed spatial heterogeneity for surface water pollutants. • Multiple pollutants of surface water spatially associated with digestive cancer incidence in China. Surface water pollution and digestive cancers are concerning environmental health issues. Multiple pollutants of surface water coexist within unique geospatial heterogeneous contexts of surface water flow, which can lead to complex patterns of impact on cancer incidence. This complexity has posed challenges to comprehensive assessment. In this study, we integrated nationwide surface water data of 21 pollutants collected from 3632 sections of nine large river basins and cancer incidence data for six digestive cancers covering 381.6 million people in China. Local Moran's I method was used to assess the patterns of spatial aggregation of each surface water pollutant separately to observe the local spatial nonstationarity and heterogeneity of the pollutant concentrations in different spatial areas. A geographically weighted random forest (GWRF) model, a spatial machine learning approach, was applied to address the spatial heterogeneity of the pollutants and assess their association with cancer incidence. Goodness-of-fit and overall performance of the GWRF model were assessed by the local statistics in the out-of-bag set, such as the mean local pseudo-R2, increase in mean squared error, and local residuals in each local model. Compared with the aspatial random forest model, the GWRF model had better performance (mean local pseudo-R2 ranged from 0.16 (gallbladder cancer) to 0.60 (pancreatic cancer)). Surface water pollution was associated with digestive cancer incidence mainly in the Songhua and Liaohe, Haihe, and Huaihe River Basins. By focusing on these areas, we identified key pollutants specific to different cancer types. Incidence of oesophageal, stomach, colorectal, gallbladder, and pancreatic cancer was associated with common pollutants such as fluoride and arsenic. Our assessment provides targets for the government and environmental health specialists to take tailored actions to control pollution and effectively prevent cancer incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the molecular basis of repeated evolution improves our ability to predict evolution across the tree of life. Only since the last decade has high‐throughput sequencing enabled comparative genome scans to thoroughly examine the repeatability of genetic changes driving repeated phenotypic evolution. The Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), and the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), are two closely related moths displaying repeatable phenological adaptation to a wide range of climates on two separate continents, largely manifesting as changes in the timing of diapause induction and termination across latitude. Candidate genes underlying diapause variation in North American ECB have been previously identified. Here, we sampled seven ACB populations across 23 degrees of latitude in China to elucidate the genetic basis of diapause variation and evolutionary mechanisms driving parallel clinal responses in the two species. Using pooled whole‐genome sequencing (Pool‐seq) data, population genomic analyses revealed hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) whose allele frequencies covaried with mean diapause phenotypes along the cline. Genes involved in circadian rhythm were over‐represented among candidate genes with strong signatures of spatially varying selection. Only one of two circadian clock genes associated with diapause evolution in ECB showed evidence of reuse in ACB (period [per]), but per alleles were not shared between species nor with their outgroup, implicating independent mutational paths. Nonetheless, evidence of adaptive introgression was discovered at putative diapause loci located elsewhere in the genome, suggesting that de novo mutations and introgression might both underlie the repeated phenological evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field survey was conducted to determine the relationship between Ralstonia solanacearum diversity and severity of bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants grown in plastic greenhouses. Both vegetative and reproductive stages of the plants were surveyed, and the symptoms were empirically categorized into five scales: 0 (asymptomatic): 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The bacterial wilt pathogen was isolated from infected plants at each disease scale; pathogenic characteristics and population densities of the bacterial strains were assessed. Two hundred and eighty-two isolates were identified as R. solanacearum, which were divided into three pathogenic types, virulent, avirulent and interim, using the attenuation index ( AI) method and a plant inoculation bioassay. Ralstonia solanacearum was detected in all asymptomatic and symptomatic tomato plants, with population numbers, ranging from 10.5 to 86.7 × 105 cfu/g. However, asymptomatic plants harboured only avirulent or interim R. solanacearum, whereas tomato plants displaying 1st or 2nd disease degree contained interim and virulent strains. Additionally, 3rd and 4th degree plants harboured only virulent strains. The disease was more severe in vegetative-stage plants (disease severity index ( DSI) 0.20) with higher total numbers of interim and virulent R. solanacearum strains than those in reproductive-stage plants ( DSI 0.12). Three pathotypes of R. solanacearum coexisted in a competitive growth system in the tomato field, and their distribution closely correlated with the severity of tomato bacterial wilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) was first reported to be the main subtype of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) in northern China in the 1990s. About 30 years has passed, and it is unknown whether the disease spectrum has changed over time in northern China. We aimed to study the epidemiological, clinical, and electrophysiological features of GBS in northern China in recent years. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of GBS patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University in northern China from 2015 to 2020. Results: A total of 294 patients with GBS were enrolled, with median age 53 years and 60.5% of participants being male, and a high incidence in summer and autumn. AMAN was still the predominant subtype in northern China (40.1%). The AMAN patients had shorter time to nadir, longer hospitalization time, and a more severe HFGS score at discharge than acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies (AIDP) (p < 0.05). With SPSS multivariable logistic regression analysis, we found the GBS disability score (at admission), dysphagia, and dysautonomia were independent risk factors for GBS patients requiring MV (p < 0.05). In comparison with other regions, the proportion of AMAN in northern China (40.1%) was higher than in eastern (35%) and southern (19%) China. Conclusions: AMAN is still the predominant subtype in northern China after 30 years, but there have been changes over time in the GBS spectrum since the 1990s. There are regional differences in GBS in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intensive field experiment was conducted at an urban and a rural site in Hong Kong to identify the influence of biomass burning emissions transported from distinct regions on ambient aerosol in coastal southeast China. Water-soluble ionic and carbonaceous species, specifically the biomass burning tracer levoglucosan, were analysed. Elevated levoglucosan concentrations with maxima of 91.5 and 133.7 ng m and overall average concentrations of 30 and 36 ng m were observed at the rural and urban sites, respectively. By combining the analysed meteorological data, backward trajectories, fire counts and Aerosol Index from the Earth Probe satellite, southwest China and the northern Philippines, together with the southeast China coast, were identified for the first time as source regions of the transported biomass burning particles at the surface level in rural Hong Kong. Occasional levoglucosan enhancements observed at urban Hong Kong were attributed to local incense and joss paper burning during the Ching-Ming festival period. The contributions of transported biomass burning emissions, especially from the northern Philippines, were estimated to account for 7.5% and 2.9% of OC and PM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social cognition has not previously been assessed in treatment-naive patients with chronic schizophrenia, in patients over 60 years of age, or in patients with less than 5 years of schooling. Methods: We revised a commonly used measure of social cognition, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), by expanding the instructions, using both self-completion and interviewer-completion versions (for illiterate respondents), and classifying each test administration as 'successfully completed' or 'incomplete'. The revised instrument (RMET-CV-R) was administered to 233 treatment-naive patients with chronic schizophrenia (UT), 154 treated controls with chronic schizophrenia (TC), and 259 healthy controls (HC) from rural communities in China. Results: In bivariate and multivariate analyses, successful completion rates and RMET-CV-R scores (percent correct judgments about emotion exhibited in 70 presented slides) were highest in HC, intermediate in TC, and lowest in UT (adjusted completion rates, 97.0, 72.4, and 49.9%, respectively; adjusted RMET-CV-R scores, 45.4, 38.5, and 34.6%, respectively; all p < 0.02). Stratified analyses by the method of administration (self-completed v. interviewer-completed) and by education and age ('educated-younger' v. 'undereducated-older') show the same relationship between groups (i.e. NC>TC>UT), though not all differences remain statistically significant. Conclusions: We find poorer social cognition in treatment-naive than in treated patients with chronic schizophrenia. The discriminant validity of RMET-CV-R in undereducated, older patients demonstrates the feasibility of administering revised versions of RMET to patients who may otherwise be considered ineligible due to education or age by changing the method of test administration and carefully assessing respondents' ability to complete the task successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There is a higher incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in selenium-deficient areas. • Mortality of SFTS is higher in severe selenium-deficient areas. • Insufficient serum selenium in humans is associated with poor prognosis in SFTS. Selenium deficiency can be associated with increased susceptibility to some viral infections and even more severe diseases. In this study, we aimed to examine whether this association applies to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). An observational study was conducted based on the data of 13,305 human SFTS cases reported in mainland China from 2010 to 2020. The associations among incidence, case fatality rate of SFTS, and crop selenium concentration at the county level were explored. The selenium level in a cohort of patients with SFTS was tested, and its relationship with clinical outcomes was evaluated. The association between selenium-deficient crops and the incidence rate of SFTS was confirmed by multivariate Poisson analysis, with an estimated incidence rate ratio (IRR, 95% confidence interval [CI]) of 4.549 (4.215−4.916) for moderate selenium-deficient counties and 16.002 (14.706−17.431) for severe selenium-deficient counties. In addition, a higher mortality rate was also observed in severe selenium-deficient counties with an IRR of 1.409 (95% CI: 1.061−1.909). A clinical study on 120 patients with SFTS showed an association between serum selenium deficiency and severe SFTS (odds ratio, OR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.00–8.67) or fatal SFTS (OR: 7.55; 95% CI: 1.14–50.16). Selenium deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to SFTS and poor clinical outcomes. This is special type of abstract that is so short and could be inserted after main abstract of article, as a blurb or inserted as annotations into a Table of contents [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life cycle of the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi in southeastern China is complex due to four options for adult development: summer diapause, winter diapause, prolonged diapsuse, and nondiapause. However, detailed information on the multi‐year emergence patterns of diapausing individuals in this beetle has not been documented. In this study, we monitored the adult emergence patterns of diapausing individuals and estimated the influence of the diapause‐inducing temperature and photoperiod on the incidence of prolonged diapause under seminatural conditions for several years. The duration of diapause for adults collected from the vegetable fields in different years varied from several months to 5 years. Approximately 25.9%–29.2% of individuals showed prolonged diapause (emergence more than 1 year after entering diapause) over the 5 years of observation. Furthermore, regardless of insect age, the emergence of diapausing adults from the soil always occurred between mid‐February and March in spring and between late August and mid‐October in autumn, when the host plants were available. The influence of diapause‐inducing temperatures (22, 25, and 28°C) combined with different photoperiods (L:D 12:12 h and L:D 14:10 h) on diapause duration was tested under seminatural conditions. Pairwise comparisons of diapause duration performed by the log‐rank test revealed that the low temperature of 22°C combined with the long photoperiod of L:D 14:10 h induced the longest diapause duration, whereas the low temperature of 22°C combined with the short photoperiod of L:D 12:12 h induced the highest proportion of prolonged diapause. This study indicates that C. bowringi adopts a multi‐year dormancy strategy to survive local environmental conditions and unpredictable risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing population and rapid change in the social environment, nurses in China are suffering from high rates of stress; however, the neural mechanism underlying this occupation related stress is largely unknown. In this study, mental status was determined for 81 nurses and 61 controls using the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL‐90) scale. A subgroup (n = 57) was further scanned by resting‐state functional MRI with two sessions. Based on the SCL‐90 scale, "somatic complaints" and "diet/sleeping" exhibited the most prominent difference between nurses and controls. This mental health change in nurses was further supported by the spatial independent component analysis on functional MRI data. First, dynamic functional connectome analysis identified two discrete connectivity configurations (States I and II). Controls had more time in the State I than II, while the nurses had more time in the State II than I. Second, nurses showed a similar static network topology as controls, but altered dynamic properties. Third, the symptom‐imaging correlation analysis suggested the functional alterations in nurses as potential imaging biomarkers indicating a high risk for "diet/sleeping" problems. In summary, this study emphasized the high risk of mental deficits in nurses and explored the underlying neural mechanism using dynamic brain connectome, which provided valuable information for future psychological intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ardisiae Japonicae Herba (AJH) is widely distributed in south region of Yangtze River basin of China, therefore, climate changes of different regions affect the accumulation of components content. In this study, we developed a simultaneous quantification of 31 bioactive components method based on UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion MS to illustrate the content difference of 31 components in the different parts of AJH from the different locations. Considering the complexity of the data obtained, one-way analysis of variance and multivariate statistical analysis were applied to process 31 components of AJH. Total content of 31 components in Jiangxi province and Huangshan city of Anhui province, in China, was higher than other locations in 16 batches whole herb. Moreover, the distribution of 11 components contents being statistical significance and higher contribution rate was followed: leaves > whole herb > caulis, which suggested that the medical values of leaves may be more significant than that of whole herb and caulis in clinical treatment. The quantitative analysis in the different parts of AJH from the different locations would provide the substantial basis for further quality control and a certain reference for the research on pharmacodynamic material basis and the selection of quality markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid hormone reference intervals are crucial for diagnosing and monitoring thyroid dysfunction during early pregnancy, and the dynamic change trend of thyroid hormones during pregnancy can assist clinicians to assess the thyroid function of pregnant women. This study aims to establish early pregnancy related thyroid hormones models and reference intervals for pregnant women. We established two derived databases: derived database* and derived database#. Reference individuals in database* were used to establish gestational age-specific reference intervals for thyroid hormones and early pregnancy related thyroid hormones models for pregnant women. Individuals in database# were apparently healthy non-pregnant women. The thyroid hormones levels of individuals in database# were compared with that of individuals in database* using nonparametric methods and the comparative confidence interval method. The differences in thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine between early pregnant and non-pregnant women were statistically significant (p<0.0001). The reference intervals of thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine for early pregnant women were 0.052–3.393 μIU/ml, 1.01–1.54 ng/dl, and 2.51–3.66 pg/ml, respectively. Results concerning thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine reference intervals of early pregnancy are comparable with those from other studies using the same detection platform. Early pregnancy related thyroid hormones models showed various change patterns with gestational age for thyroid hormones. Early pregnancy related thyroid hormones models and reference intervals for pregnant women were established, so as to provide accurate and reliable reference basis for the diagnosing and monitoring of maternal thyroid disfunction in early pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: A health industry standard recommending restrictive transfusion is to be in effect in China in April 2019. We aim to explore its potential economic and clinical impacts among surgical patients. Materials and Methods: A decision tree model was applied to compare cost‐effectiveness of current routine transfusion in China, a restrictive (transfusion at Hb < 8 g/dl or ischaemic symptoms) and a liberal (transfusion at Hb < 10 g/dl) strategy. Parameters were estimated from empirical data of 25 227 surgical inpatients aged ≥30 years in a multicenter study and supplemented by meta‐analysis when necessary. Results are shown for cardio‐cerebral‐vascular (CCV) surgery and non‐CCV (orthopaedics, general, thoracic) surgery separately. Results: Per 10 000 patients in routine, restrictive, liberal transfusion scenarios, total spending (transfusion and length of stay related) was 7·67, 7·58 and 9·39 million CNY (1 CNY × 0.157 = 1 US dollar) for CCV surgery and 6·35, 6·70 and 8·09 million CNY for non‐CCV surgery; infectious and severe complications numbered 354, 290, and 290 (CCV) and 315, 286, and 330 (non‐CCV), respectively. Acceptability curves showed high probabilities for restrictive strategy to be cost‐effective across a wide range of willingness‐to‐pay values. Such findings were mostly consistent in sensitivity and subgroup analyses except for patients with cardiac problems. Conclusion: We showed strong rationale, succeeding previous findings only in cardiac or joint procedures, to comply with the new standard as restrictive transfusion has high potential to save blood, secure safety, and is cost‐effective for a wide spectrum of surgical patients. Experiences should be further summarized to pave the way towards individualized transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) has become one of the most rapidly increasing malignancies in China during recent decades. The relationship between tobacco exposure and ECC epidemics is unclear; this study aimed to explore this relationship.Methods: We included 55,806 participants aged 30 years or older from the National Mortality and Smoking Survey of China. Smoking in participants and spouses was defined as 1 cigarette or more per day for up to 1 year. Spouses' smoking was taken as a measure of exposure to passive smoking. Smoking information in 1980 was ascertained and outcomes were defined as ECC mortality during 1986-1988.Results: We found that either passive or active smoking increased the risk of death from ECC by 20% (risk ratio [RR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.47), compared with no exposure to any tobacco. This risk was a notable 98% (RR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.49-2.64) for individuals exposed to passive plus active smoking. These findings were highly consistent among men and women. Pathology-based analyses showed dose-response relationships of ECC with pack-years for all types of smoking exposure (Ps for trend < 0.05); the RR reached 2.75 (95% CI, 1.20-6.30) in individuals exposed to combined smoking with the highest exposure dose. The findings were similar for non-pathology-based analysis.Conclusions: This study indicates that tobacco exposure increases ECC risk. Given the dramatic increase of exposure to secondhand smoke and patients with ECC, an inadequate provision of smoke-free environments could be contributing to ECC epidemics and could further challenge public health and medical services, based on the current disease spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress is one of the major environmental stressors challenging the global poultry industry. Identifying the genes responsible for heat tolerance is fundamentally important for direct breeding programs. To uncover the genetic basis underlying the ambient temperature adaptation of chickens, we analyzed a total of 59 whole genomes from indigenous chickens that inhabit South Asian tropical regions and temperate regions from Northern China. We applied F ST and π-ratio to scan selective sweeps and identified 34 genes with a signature of positive selection in chickens from tropical regions. Several of these genes are functionally implicated in metabolism (FABP2, RAMP3, SUGCT , and TSHR) and vascular smooth muscle contractility ( CAMK2 ), and they may be associated with adaptation to tropical regions. In particular, we found a missense mutation in thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (41020238:G>A) that shows significant differences in allele frequency between the chicken populations of the two regions. To evaluate whether the missense mutation in TSHR could enhance the heat tolerance of chickens, we constructed segregated chicken populations and conducted heat stress experiments using homozygous mutations (AA) and wild-type (GG) chickens. We found that GG chickens exhibited significantly higher concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase than AA chickens under heat stress (35 ± 1°C) conditions (P < 0.05). These results suggest that TSHR (41020238:G>A) can facilitate heat tolerance and adaptation to higher ambient temperature conditions in tropical climates. Overall, our results provide potential candidate genes for molecular breeding of heat-tolerant chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) are important causes of perioperative morbidity and mortality for elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Treatment and control rates for coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese patients are poorer than rates in western countries. However, no previous prospective study has focused on perioperative MACE in this population. Our aim was to ascertain the incidence and risk factors associated with MACEs in Chinese patients. Methods Consecutive CAD patients, aged ≥60 years, who underwent non-cardiac surgery at five medical centers in China, were prospectively enrolled. Clinical variables, including electrocardiogram and troponin I levels, were evaluated to estimate MACEs. The main outcome was occurrence of at least one perioperative MACE from admittance to 30 days after surgery, defined as any of the following complications: cardiac death, nonfatal cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and angina. MACE independent risk factors were based on the Andersen–Gill multiplicative intensity model. Results Of the 1422 patients recruited, 129 (9.1%) developed at least one MACE, and cardiac death occurred in 11 patients (0.8%). The independent risk factors contributing to postoperative MACE included age ≥75 years, female gender, history of MI, history of hypertension, high-risk surgery, intraoperative hypotension, and intraoperative hypoxemia. Conclusions The incidence of MACE in Chinese elderly patients with CAD who underwent non-cardiac surgery was 9.1%. Seven independent risk factors for a perioperative MACE were identified. Preventing intraoperative hypoxemia and hypotension may reduce the occurrence of MACE in these high risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There are scant data on serum lipid profile in the Yi people in China. The Yi farmers and migrants provide an unusual opportunity to estimate effects of environmental factors on serum lipid levels. We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Yi people to estimate prevalence of dyslipidemia and associated factors. It was found that prevalence of high total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), abnormal ratio of TC/HDL-C and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were 1.82%, 5.07%, 1.56%, 9.30% and 39.47%, respectively in the Yi farmers. And those in the Yi migrants were 4.81%, 22.21%, 3.24%, 26.56% and 40.53%. Prevalence of dyslipidemia increased with time period in the Yi farmers after their emigrating to urban areas for less than 25 years, except high TC. It was also found that prevalence of dyslipidemia of the Yi migrants increased with time period before their emigration, including hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C and high ratio of TC/HDL-C. Their body mass index (BMI), history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), gender, ever alcohol drinking and physical activity all were associated with dyslipidemia, but no factors associated with high LDL-C was found. In conclusion, all these results suggest that the Yi migrants have a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia than the Yi farmers do, which possibly can attribute to their urbanized lifestyles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) enters facultative diapause as fully-developed larvae in response to short-day conditions. As a consequence of geographical variation in photoperiodic response, moths from Nanchang (28°46′N, 115°50′E) enter diapause in response to short day-lengths (D strain), even at the high temperatures whereas moths from Ledong (18°47′N, 108°89′E) exhibit almost no diapause under the same conditions (N strain). In the present study, crosses between the two strains are used to evaluate the inheritance of diapause under different photoperiods at temperatures of 22, 25 and 28 °C. The moths, both reciprocal crosses and backcrosses, show a clear long-day response, similar to that of the D strain, suggesting that the photoperiodic response controlling diapause in this moth is heritable. However, the critical day-length for induction of diapause is shorter in hybrids than in the D strain. The N strain also shows a short-day photoperiodic response at the lower temperature of 22 °C, indicating that the N strain still has the capacity to enter a photoperiodically-induced diapause, depending on the rearing temperature. The incidence of diapause in all crosses is highest with D strain fathers or grandfathers and lowest with N strain fathers or grandfathers, indicating that the male parent has significantly more influence on the incidence of diapause of subsequent progeny than the female. The results obtained from all crosses under LD 12 : 12 h or LD 13 : 11 h photocycles at 25 °C show that inheritance of diapause in O. furnacalis does not fit an additive hypothesis and that the capacity for diapause is transmitted genetically in the manner of incomplete dominance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has been emerging as an important public problem over the past few decades, especially in Asian and Pacific regions. A national program on EV71 vaccine development against HFMD was initiated in China, in 2008, which called for a need for seroepidemiological study for the target population. Methodology/Principal Findings: This was a retrospective study conducted in Jiangsu Province, in October, 2010. We measured the neutralizing antibodies against EV71 and CoxA16 in a cohort of infants aged of 2, 7, 12, and 27-38 months and their mothers just before delivery. Series sera samples from 975 infants and 555 mothers were collected and analyzed. Questionnaires on the history of HFMD were completed in the survey. A total of 143 HFMD cases were collected, but only 11.2% were reported to the National Infectious Disease Information Management System. The level of maternal antibody titers decreased dramatically during the first 7 month and remained at a relatively low level thereafter. But it increased significantly from month 12 to months 27-38. The accumulate incidence density of HFMD demonstrated a significant increase after 14 months of age, resulting in a accumulate incidence density of 50.8/1000 person-years in survey period. Seropositivity of EV71 antibody in infants at the age of 2 months seems to demonstrate a protective effect against HFMD. Conclusions and Significance: High seropositive rate of EV71 and CoxA16 antibody was found in prenatal women in mainland China, and there is a need to enhance the HFMD case management and the current surveillance system. We suggest that infants aged between 6 to 14 months should have the first priority to receive EV71 vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the highest regions in the world, exerting profound influence on the large-scale atmospheric circulation of Asia and the global climate. Here we report ambient concentrations of black carbon (BC), aerosol mass (PM and PM) and associated carbonaceous species and water-soluble inorganic ions from a remote mountain site in the southeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau during spring, in order to characterize the major sources contributing to the ambient aerosol in the background atmosphere of Southeast Asia. Significant build-up of aerosol and BC concentrations was observed during a dry period, accompanied by the occurrence of fires and transport of pollution from the nearby regions of Southeast Asia and the northern part of the Indian Peninsula. The concentrations of BC, PM and PM mass reached maximum hourly values of 1470 ng m, 107 and 117 μg m, respectively. Organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and sulfate were the predominant aerosol components. OC showed strong correlations with EC ( R= 0.93 for PM and 0.74 for PM) and non-sea-salt potassium, especially in fine aerosol ( R= 0.95). In addition, the relative change rates of K against OC reached characteristically high values, highlighting the important contributions of biomass-burning smoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of multi-genotype polymorphisms with the stepwise progression of esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) and the possibility of predicting those at higher risk. Methods: A total of 1,004 subjects were recruited from Feicheng County, China, between Jan. 2004 and Dec. 2007 and examined by endoscopy for esophageal lesions. These subjects included 270 patients with basal cell hyperplasia (BCH), 262 patients with esophageal squamous cell dysplasia (ESCD), 226 patients with ESCC, and 246 controls with Lugol-voiding area but diagnosed as having normal esophageal squamous epithelial cells by histopathology. The genotypes for CYP2E1 G1259C, hOGG1 C326G, MTHFR C677T, MPO G463A, and ALDH2 allele genes were identified in blood samples collected from all participants. Results: The alleles ALDH2 and MTHFR C677T were critical for determining individual susceptibility to esophageal cancer. Compared to the ALDH 1*1 genotype, the ALDH 2*2 genotype was significantly associated with increased risks of BCH, ESCD, and ESCC. However, the TT genotype of MTHFR C677T only increased the risk of ESCC. Further analysis revealed that the combination of the high-risk genotypes 2*2/1*2 of ALDH 2 and TT/TC of MTHFR C677T increased the risk of BCH by 4.0 fold, of ESCD by 3.7 fold, and ESSC by 8.72 fold. The generalized odds ratio (ORG) of the two combined genotypes was 1.83 (95%CI: 1.55-2.16), indicating a strong genetic association with the risk of carcinogenic progression in the esophagus. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the genotypes ALDH2*2 and MTHFR 677TT conferred elevated risk for developing esophageal carcinoma and that the two susceptibility genotypes combined to synergistically increase the risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]