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The potential therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) have now been confirmed in various human and animal-disease models. However, the effects of H 2 on the physiological function in a normal state have been largely neglected. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) intake and hydrogen inhalation (HI) are the most common used methods for hydrogen administration, the difference in the effects between HRW intake and HI remains elusive. In the present study, the body weight and 13 serum biochemical parameters were monitored during the six-month hydrogen intervention, all these parameters were significantly altered by oral intake of HRW or HI. Among the 13 parameters, the most striking alterations induced by hydrogen treatment were observed in serum myocardial enzymes spectrum. The results also showed that the changes in these parameters occurred at different time points, and the alterations in most of the parameters were much more significant in HI than HRW. The results of this study provides the basic data for the mechanism research and application of molecular hydrogen in the future.

Objective: To investigate the extent of exposure of non-smoking pregnant women to passive smoking; to undertake interventions on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of those women toward passive smoking; and to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions., Methods: A total of 128 non-smoking pregnant women participated in the survey. Their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards passive smoking were measured by a self-administered questionnaire. A sixteen-week intervention was undertaken., Results: The knowledge and attitudes of the non-smoking pregnant women towards passive smoking improved significantly, as well as their attempts to avoid exposure to the passive smoking brought by their smoking husbands or other family members. Telephone counseling, booklets and doctors' advices were the most acceptable approaches of health education., Conclusion: The comprehensive interventions are effective for improving the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of non-smoking women toward passive smoking.

Little is known about the characteristics of particulate matter emissions from vehicles in China, although such information is critical in source apportionment modeling, emission inventories, and health effect studies. In this paper, we report a comprehensive characterization of PM2.5 emissions in the Zhujiang Tunnel in the Pearl River Delta region of China. The chemical speciation included elemental carbon, organic carbon, inorganic ions, trace elements, and organic compounds. The emission factors of individual species and their relative distributions were obtained for a mixed fleet of heavy-duty vehicles (19.8%) and light-duty vehicles (80.2%). In addition, separate emission factors of PM2.5 mass, elemental carbon, and organic matter for heavy-duty vehicles and light-duty vehicles also were derived. As compared to the results of other tunnel studies previously conducted, we found that the abundances and distributions of the trace elements in PM2.5 emissions were more varied. In contrast, the characteristics of the trace organic compounds in the PM2.5 emissions in our study were consistent with characteristics found in other tunnel studies and dynamometer tests. Our results suggested that vehicular PM2.5 emissions of organic compounds are less influenced by the geographic area and fleet composition and thereby are more suitable for use in aerosol source apportionment modeling implemented across extensive regions.