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Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) is proposed in China as a major X-ray mission for the next decade. It is designed to be highly focused scientifically, with two primary objectives: (1) detecting X-ray emission from hot baryons in intergalactic medium and circumgalactic medium (CGM), and characterizing their physical and chemical properties; (2) studying, based on the observations, the accretion and feedback processes that are thought to be highly relevant to the heating and chemical enrichment of the baryons in the CGM. Because of very low densities, the signal is expected to be very weak and thus technically difficult to detect. On the other hand, the spectrum of the emission is expected to be line rich, so it would be effective for detecting the hot baryons in bright emission lines. For that, an instrument with high spectral resolution, large effective area and large field of view (FoV) would be required. HUBS will couple a TES-based X-ray imaging spectrometer to a large FoV X-ray telescope to satisfy these requirements. A preliminary design of HUBS is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa (ADNEX) model in the preoperative diagnosis of adnexal masses using data from a gynecological oncology center in China.Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective diagnostic accuracy study based on ultrasound data collected prospectively, between May and December 2017, from 278 patients with at least one adnexal (ovarian, paraovarian or tubal) mass. Clinical and pathologic information, serum CA 125 level and ultrasonographic findings were collected. All patients underwent surgery and the histopathological diagnosis was used as reference standard. The final diagnosis was classified into five tumor types according to the ADNEX model: benign ovarian tumor, borderline ovarian tumor (BOT), Stage-I ovarian cancer (OC), Stages-II-IV OC and ovarian metastasis. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the ADNEX model, with and without inclusion of CA 125 level in the model.Results: Of the 278 women included, 203 (73.0%) had a benign ovarian tumor and 75 (27.0%) had a malignant ovarian tumor, including 18 (6.5%) with BOT, 17 (6.1%) with Stage-I OC, 32 (11.5%) with Stages-II-IV OC and eight (2.9%) with ovarian metastasis. The performance of the IOTA ADNEX model was good for discriminating between benign and malignant tumors, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.91-0.97) when CA 125 was included in the model and AUC of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.90-0.96) without CA 125. The AUC values of the model including CA 125 ranged between 0.61 and 0.99 for distinguishing between the different types of tumor, and it showed excellent performance in discriminating between a benign ovarian tumor and Stages-II-IV OC, with an AUC of 0.99 (95% CI, 0.97-1.00). The performance of the model was less effective at distinguishing between BOT and Stage-I OC and between Stages-II-IV OC and ovarian metastasis, with AUC values of 0.61 (95% CI, 0.43-0.77) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.62-0.90), respectively. Although inclusion of CA 125 did not alter the performance of the ADNEX model in discriminating between benign and malignant lesions (AUC of 0.94 and 0.93 with and without CA 125 level, respectively; P = 0.54), the inclusion of CA 125 in the model improved its performance in discriminating between Stage-I OC and Stages-II-IV OC (AUC increased from 0.81 to 0.92; P = 0.04) and between Stages-II-IV OC and metastatic cancer (AUC increased from 0.58 to 0.78; P = 0.01).Conclusions: The IOTA ADNEX model showed good to excellent performance in distinguishing between benign and malignant adnexal masses and between the different types of ovarian tumor in a Chinese setting. Based on our findings, the ADNEX model has high value in clinical practice and can aid in the preoperative diagnosis of patients with an adnexal mass. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the rapid development in economics, subway systems have been constructed in many big cities of China. Computer evacuation models developed overseas are commonly applied in working out safety management scheme. However, input evacuation parameters are not compiled from surveying passenger behavior in China. In fact, very few studies were conducted on justifying such parameters. Staircases in subway stations, particularly those connecting the platform and the ticket hall, are identified as the ‘bottleneck’ during evacuation in the subway stations. The maximum upstairs speed and the average minimum width of staircase utilized per person are the two key parameters affecting the evacuation through the staircase. Effect of varying these two parameters will be studied in this paper by taking two subway stations in China as examples. Evacuation performance is predicted with the software buildingEXODUS. The default values in the software are used and adjusted through field survey. Effect of varying either or both of the two parameters is discussed. The possible causes on the differences and the factors to affect such effect are explored. It is found that changing both parameters simultaneously would reduce the overall evacuation time by 50%. The effect of varying the two parameters on the overall evacuation performance of the whole station depends also on the occupancy density in the station; and the travel distance from the outlet of the staircase between the platform and the ticket hall to the inlet of the staircase between the ticket hall and the ground surface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Here we report the first example of a thallium-only deposit, which was discovered in the northeast margin of the Yangtze block, eastern China, in the transition zone between the Yangtze Block, North China Block and Dabie orogenic belt. Ore from the Xiangquan deposit will be mined, ore-dressed and smelted independently for thallium. The ore deposit is hosted in Lower Ordovician micrite, calcilutite and marl within the Dalongwang Mountain Xiao Mountain anticline. The ore zones are fold and fault controlled. Thallium occurs mainly in pyrite but minor amounts form as lorandite (TlAsS2) and hutchinsonite (TlFeS2). Fluid inclusion studies of two stages of fluorite intimately associated with ore-forming pyrite yielded homogenization temperatures of 120 to 220 °C with a salinity of 1.5 to 6.0 equivalent wt.% NaCl. Thallium was originally derived by hydrothermal emanations onto the sea floor and deposited in calcareous sediments. Subsequently in the Early Cretaceous (Yanshanian period) these source beds were reworked to form thallium enriched minerals in hydrothermal veins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To take into account reasonably the safety requirements of the disabled on emergency evacuation in the design, usage, management and emergency response of public places, the authors of this paper organized on-site experiments for 100 disabled individuals (40 people with no supporting tools, 20 people using a single crutch and 40 people two crutches) and 17 healthy people at a subway station in Beijing. The experiments were designed to measure the unimpeded free walking speed of the participants during horizontal and stair ascending/descending movement, and to assess the possible impact of passage width on movement speed. Based on the results of the tests, the authors systematically analyzed the speed variation patterns with disability grade, gender and passage width. The validity of the value of an important parameter for evacuation safety design in the prescribed fire codes in mainland China, the width of a single stream of people, is assessed. Finally the results of the experiments are compared with that from other researches to identify the similarities and differences between them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate possible correlations between molecular alterations and tumor location in Chinese patients with oligodendroglial tumors. Methods: A series of 105 gliomas, including 42 oligoastrocytomas, and two control groups of 28 oligodendrogliomas and 35 astrocytomas, were retrospectively reviewed. In each case, the radiologic picture and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 1p and 19q detected by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) were analyzed. Correlations between molecular profile and tumor location were made by chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Oligodendroglial tumors located in the nontemporal lobes were significantly more likely to have combination of LOH 1p and LOH 19q than tumors arising in the insula, temporal lobe, and temporal with another lobe (p =0.001). Subgroup analysis confirmed this finding in oligodendrogliomas (p =0.006), but the difference did not reach significance in the oligoastrocytoma group, although the trend was similar (p =0.067). In contrast to the oligodendroglial tumors, we detected no association between molecular alterations and location for diffuse astrocytomas. Conclusion: We conclude that molecular subsets of oligodendroglial tumors may arise preferentially in certain lobes of the brain, with tumors having LOH 1p and LOH 19q occurring most frequently in the nontemporal lobes. These findings suggest that molecular subsets of oligodendroglial tumors may arise from site-specific precursor cells, which has provided some information for the current management of these neoplasms in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study explored the factors influencing health behaviours during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China. The impact of perceived stress and positive perception of interventions on health behaviours in China were assessed using the extended information-motivation-behaviour skills (IMB) model. Cross-sectional survey. The Questionstar online survey tool was used to construct a structured questionnaire based on the IMB model. Between 14 and 22 February 2020, during the peak of COVID-19 epidemic in China, 2449 participants were recruited by snowball sampling on WeChat and Tencent QQ social media platforms in China. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, and structural equation modelling was performed to evaluate the extended IMB model. Health behaviours were assessed using a scoring system (total score range: 8–40); the average health behaviour score in this study was 34.62 ± 4.44. The term 'health risk stress' refers to the impact that perceived stress has on health, and this was experienced by 39.9% of participants. Only 35.9% of participants answered all seven questions on COVID-19 information correctly. The final model showed that information, motivation, behavioural skills, heath risk stress and positive perception of interventions had significant direct effects on health behaviours. Health behaviours were positively associated with the positive perception of interventions but negatively associated with health risk stress. Behavioural skills had the greatest impact on health behaviours. In the face of public health emergencies, the extended IMB model has been used as a theoretical framework to construct more effective interventions. The government should pay attention to publicity and guidance, strengthen positive interactions with the public and disclose relevant information in a timely manner to gain trust and to maintain the positive public perception of the interventions. In terms of health education, the government should focus on behavioural skills, promptly rectify ineffective prevention information and raise awareness about the disease to relieve stress and anxiety in the population. • Information, motivation, behavioural skills and positive perception of interventions were positive factors on health behaviours. • Health risk stress (i.e. the impact that perceived stress has on health) was negative factor on health behaviours. • Behavioural skills were the most important factor influencing health behaviour. • Of all residents, 39.9% of residents experienced health risk stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The norovirus (NoV) genome is diverse. Therefore, this study explored the epidemiological characteristics and genetic features of NoV in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, from 2011 to 2022 to clarify the genetic diversity in this region. Stool samples were screened for NoV and then sequenced and genotyped. In total, 1,788 of 13,083 specimens were NoV -positive (13.67%); 204 (1.56%) and 1,584 (12.11%) cases were GI and GII, respectively. Additionally, 559 were NoV infection with other viruses (4.27%), primarily with rotavirus (277/559, 49.55%). The NoV incidence rate was the highest among children aged 0-2 years (18.09%, 1054/5,828) and lowest among adults aged 45-64 years (110/1,495, 7.36%); it was also higher in the winter and spring than in the other seasons. GI.3[P3] was the dominant GI genotype. The dominant GII genotype changed roughly every two years. In the GII group, GII.4 was the most common genotype (46.79%), followed by GII.3 (21.34%), GII.2 (12.34%), and GII.17 (9.77%). There were three variants of GII.4 Den Haag, GII.4 New Orleans and GII.4 Sydney identified in the detected GII.4 strains, with GII.4 Sydney dominating. The GII.4 (87.36%), GII.3 (86.35%), and GII.2 (72.92%) strains were primarily detected in children, whereas it was the GII.17 (52.63%) strain in adults. Overall, the NoV genotypes in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were diverse. Primarily, GII groups were dominant, but this changed over time., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The microbial community colonized on microplastics (MPs), known as the 'plastisphere', has attracted extensive concern owing to its environmental implications. Coastal salt marshes, which are crucial ecological assets, are considered sinks for MPs. Despite their strong spatial heterogeneity, there is limited information on plastisphere across diverse environments in coastal salt marshes. Herein, a 1-year field experiment was conducted at three sites in the Yancheng salt marsh in China. This included two sites in the intertidal zone, bare flat (BF) and Spartina alterniflora vegetation area (SA), and one site in the supratidal zone, Phragmites australis vegetation area (PA). Petroleum-based MPs (polyethylene and expanded polystyrene) and bio-based MPs (polylactic acid and polybutylene succinate) were employed. The results revealed significant differences in bacterial community composition between the plastisphere and sediment at all three sites examined, and the species enriched in the plastisphere exhibited location-specific characteristics. Overall, the largest difference was observed at the SA site, whereas the smallest difference was observed at the BF site. Furthermore, the MP polymer types influenced the composition of the bacterial communities in the plastisphere, also exhibiting location-specific characteristics, with the most pronounced impact observed at the PA site and the least at the BF site. The polybutylene succinate plastisphere bacterial communities at the SA and PA sites were quite different from the plastispheres from the other three MP polymer types. Co-occurrence network analyses suggested that the bacterial community network in the BF plastisphere exhibited the highest complexity, whereas the network in the SA plastisphere showed relatively sparse interactions. Null model analyses underscored the predominant role of deterministic processes in shaping the assembly of plastisphere bacterial communities across all three sites, with a more pronounced influence observed in the intertidal zone than in the supratidal zone. This study enriches our understanding of the plastisphere in coastal salt marshes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate disparities in clinical profiles and autoantibody patterns between patients with and without neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) in a cohort and to identify risk factors associated with NPSLE in the Chinese population., Methods: SLE patients were retrospectively reviewed from two tertiary hospitals. The relationships between NPSLE and immunological biomarkers were explored., Results: Among the 945 SLE patients, 75 (7.94%) were diagnosed with NPSLE. The most prevalent NP manifestations involved cognitive disorder (30.67%), headache (26.67%), seizure disorder (26.67%), and psychosis (26.67%).We observed significant associations between psychosis and anti-β2GPI antibodies (F = 6.092, p = 0.015), polyneuropathy and anti-Scl70 antibodies (F = 20.161, p < 0.001), demyelinating syndrome and anti-cardiolipin antibodies (F = 6.637, p = 0.011), myasthenia gravis and anti-RNP (F = 5.864, p = 0.017), and anti-Smith antibodies (F = 5.096, p = 0.026). Multivariate logistics analysis showed that anti-prothrombin (aPT) IgM antibodies (OR = 10.985, CI 1.279-94.343, p = 0.029), age (OR = 1.169, CI 1.032-1.325, p = 0.014), and serum creatinine (SCr) (OR = 1.014, CI 1.003-1.025, p = 0.009) were independent risk factors of NPSLE, while anti-Sjogren syndrome antigen B (SSB) antibodies (OR 0.023, CI 0.002-0.622, p = 0.023) and high complement C3 (OR = 0.001, CI 0-0.045, p < 0.001) indicated reduced risk of NPSLE., Conclusion: Various neuropsychiatric manifestations in SLE were found to be correlated with specific autoantibodies. Independent risk factors for NPSLE included aPT IgM antibodies, age, and elevated serum creatinine, while the absence of anti-SSB antibodies and low complement C3 levels were associated with increased risk., Key Points: •Significant associations were found between specific autoantibodies and neuropsychiatric symptoms, shedding light on potential biomarkers for predicting and understanding NPSLE. •The study identifies independent risk factors for NPSLE in the Chinese population, including the presence of anti-prothrombin IgM antibodies, older age, elevated serum creatinine, and lower complement C3 levels., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

Objective: To investigate the relationship between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level and early pregnancy loss in patients who underwent their first embryo transfer by hormone replacement therapy-frozen-thawed embryo transfer (HRT-FET) and analyze the threshold effect., Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on pregnant women undergoing HRT-FET at the Reproductive Medical Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021. The patients were divided into four groups based on AMH concentration according to the Poseidon criteria: group A (≤1 μg/L), group B (1-≤2 μg/L), group C (2-≤6 μg/L), and group D (>6 μg/L). Univariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, smooth curve fitting, and threshold effect analysis were applied to investigate the influence of AMH on the outcome of early pregnancy loss in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and HRT-FET cycles., Results: Of the 6597 pregnant women, early pregnancy loss occurred in 893, giving an early pregnancy loss rate of 13.54%. Univariate regression analysis demonstrated that age, female body mass index, AMH, antral follicle count, endometrial thickness at endometrial transformation day, total retrieved oocyte number, number of pregnancies, duration of infertility, type of infertility, and the number of embryos transferred were all factors influencing the early pregnancy loss rate (P < 0.050). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounders, further stratified the analysis of patients of different ages. With group A as the control group, the results showed that when age was younger than 35 years, the pregnancy loss rates in groups B, C, and D were lower than that in group A, with statistical significance (P < 0.050); when age was 35 years or older, there was no statistically significant difference in outcome indicators between the groups (P > 0.050). A threshold effect analysis revealed that the AMH threshold was 2.83 μg/L. When the AMH concentration was less than 2.83 μg/L, the early pregnancy loss rate decreased significantly with increasing AMH concentration; the early pregnancy loss rate decreased by 21% for each unit increase in AMH (odds ratio 0.79; 95% confidence interval 0.71-0.88; P < 0.001); when the AMH concentration was 2.83 μg/L or more, there was no statistical difference in the change in early pregnancy loss rate (odds ratio 1.01; 95% confidence interval 0.99-1.03; P = 0.383)., Conclusion: For pregnant women after their first embryo transfer, there is a curvilinear relationship between the influences of AMH levels on early pregnancy loss rates in patients younger than 35 years. When the AMH level was less than 2.83 μg/L, the early pregnancy loss rate declined significantly with increasing AMH levels., (© 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) represents a significant economic zone with a diverse financial landscape. Understanding the spatial distribution of financial resources within this area is crucial for promoting balanced economic growth and financial development. This study investigates the spatial patterns of financial agglomeration in the GBA, identifying key influencing factors and assessing their impact on the region's financial landscape. We employ the entropy value method to evaluate financial agglomeration levels across the GBA's cities. Additionally, we use spatial econometric techniques to analyze the spatial correlations and the Geo-Detector model to determine the primary factors influencing financial agglomeration. The analysis reveals an overall increase in financial agglomeration, with significant disparities among cities. Key factors driving this agglomeration include transportation infrastructure, overseas trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and technological advancements. Hong Kong and Shenzhen display notable unevenness in the distribution of financial industries. The interplay between finance, technology, and industrial sectors suggests considerable development potential. Understanding and optimizing the spatial distribution of financial resources is essential for fostering high-quality financial development and sustainable economic growth in the GBA. This study provides insights that can inform policy decisions aimed at enhancing financial integration and cooperation within the region., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Wei et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective: This study aimed to understand the health of workers exposed to occupational noise and explore the influencing factors related to workers' health, especially the impact of noise on workers' hearing. This work can provide a basis for formulating relevant measures for occupational noise prevention and control in the future., Methods: On the basis of the key occupational disease monitoring project in Chongqing, China, in 2021, the data of 1125 workers exposed to occupational noise were analyzed. Data included demographic information, occupational history, clinical physical examination information, and noise detection information of the working environment. Chi-square test and multifactorial logistic regression were used for statistical analysis., Results: The prevalence rates of abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure (BP), and pure tone audiometry (PTA) were 21.9% (246/1125), 27.8% (313/1125), and 18.0% (202/1125), respectively. Male workers accounted for 78.8%. Compared with male workers, female workers had a lower prevalence of abnormal PTA (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.16-0.50). Workers working in medium enterprises had a lower prevalence of abnormal BP than workers in micro enterprises (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.19-0.66). The prevalence of abnormal BP and PTA of workers increased with age. After adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, the prevalence of abnormal ECG of mining workers was higher than that of manufacturing workers (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.07-2.24), and the prevalence of abnormal PTA had a rising trend with the increase in noise exposure value., Conclusion: Noise-exposed workers have a high prevalence of abnormal ECG, BP, and PTA, and factors such as age, enterprise size, and workplace noise exposure are correlated with the aberrant health of workers. Governments, enterprises, and individuals need to attach great importance to the possible adverse effects of noise. They must also actively adopt various effective measures to protect the occupational safety and health of workers., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Jin et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection (CRPA-BSI) and identify predictors of outcomes among patients with P. aeruginosa bloodstream infection (PA-BSI)., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with PA-BSI at Henan Cancer Hospital from 2013 to 2022., Results: Among the 503 incidences analysed, 15.1% of them were CRPA strains. Age, ANC < 100/mmc, receiving antifungal prophylaxis, exposure to carbapenems within the previous 90 days to onset of BSI, and allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) were associated with the development of CRPA-BSI. CRPA-BSI patients experienced significantly higher 28-day mortality rates compared to those with carbapenem-susceptible P. aeruginosa bloodstream infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age at BSI, active stage of haematological disease, procalcitonin levels, prior corticosteroid treatment, isolation of CRPA, and septic shock as independent predictors of 28-day mortality., Conclusions: Risk factors for CRPA-BSI include age, ANC < 100/mmc, antifungal prophylaxis, exposure to carbapenems, and allo-HSCT. Additionally, age at BSI, active haematological disease, procalcitonin levels, prior corticosteroid treatment, CRPA isolation, and septic shock contribute to increased mortality rates among patients with PA-BSI., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: China has experienced unprecedented transformations unseen in a century and is gradually progressing toward an emerging superpower. The epidemiological trends of digestive diseases in the United States (the US) have significant prescient effects on China., Methods: We extracted data on 18 digestive diseases from the Global Burden of Diseases 2019 Data Resource. Linear regression analysis conducted by the JoinPoint software assessed the average annual percentage change of the burden. We performed subgroup analyses based on sex and age group., Results: In 2019, there were 836.01 and 180.91 million new cases of digestive diseases in China and the US, causing 1558.01 and 339.54 thousand deaths. The age-standardized incidence rates of digestive diseases in China and the US were 58417.87/100,000 and 55018.65/100,000 respectively, resulting in age-standardized mortality rates of 81.52/100,000 and 60.88/100,000. The rates in China annually decreased by 2.149% for mortality and 2.611% for disability-adjusted life of year (DALY). The mortality and DALY rates of the US, respectively, had average annual percentage changes of -0.219 and -0.251. Enteric infections and cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases accounted for the highest incidence and prevalence in both counties, respectively. The burden of multiple digestive diseases exhibited notable sex disparities. The middle-old persons had higher age-standardized prevalence rates., Conclusion: China bore a greater burden of digestive diseases, and the evolving patterns were more noticeable. Targeted interventions and urgent measures should be taken in both countries to address the specific burden of digestive diseases based on their different epidemic degree., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Peng, Xu, Huang, Shi, Wang, Chen, Zhang, Shi, Peng, Yuan and Tang.)

There is sufficient evidence suggesting that exposure to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] can cause a decline in lung function and the onset of lung diseases. However, no studies have yet explored the underlying mechanisms of these effects from various perspectives such as systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular senescence, simultaneously. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 304 workers engaged in chromate production and processing in China. Urine was used for detection of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), while RNA and DNA extraction from peripheral blood cells was used for detection of mRNA, telomere length, and ribosomal DNA copy numbers (rDNA CNs). A 2.7-fold elevation in blood chromate (Cr) corresponded to a 7.86% (95% CI: 2.57%, 13.42%) rise in urinary 8-OHdG and a 4.14% (0.02%, 8.42%) increase in urinary 8-iso-PGF2α, indicating that exposure to chromates can cause oxidative stress. Furthermore, strong correlations emerged between blood Cr concentration and mRNA levels of P16, P21, TP53, and P15 in the cellular senescence pathway. Simultaneously, a 2.7-fold elevation in blood Cr associated with a -5.47% (-8.72%, -2.1%) change in telomere length, while rDNA CNs (5S, 5.8S, 18S, and 28S) changed by -3.91% (-7.99%, 0.34%), -9.4% (-15.73%, -2.6%), -8.06% (-14.01%, -1.69%), and -5.86% (-10.67%, -0.78%), respectively. Structural equation model highlighted that cellular senescence exerted significant indirect effects on Cr(VI)-associated lung function decline, with a mediation proportion of 23.3%. This study provided data supporting for 8-iso-PGF2α, telomere length, and rDNA CNs as novel biomarkers of chromate exposure, emphasizing the significant role of cellular senescence in the mechanism underlying chromate-induced lung function decline., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: In recent years, the kidney function after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) has gradually become a hot spot that arouse extensive attention.Our study is aimed to evaluate the incidence and predictors of acute kidney recovery (AKR) after TAVR., Methods: A total of 102 patients undergoing TAVR in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from June 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled in our study. Patients were divided into AKR group ( n = 54), unchanged group ( n = 40) and acute kidney injury (AKI) group ( n = 8) based on the percent change of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences in general clinical characteristics and other related indicators between the three groups to analyze the risk factors of AKR., Results: The incidence of AKR was 53% (54/102) after TAVR. Multivariate analysis showed that the incidence of age and proportion of severe NYHA class (III or IV) was significantly higher in the AKR group while renal dysfunction (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) was lower. Besides, fluid management/volume therapy was significantly different among the three groups., Conclusions: AKR is a generalizable phenomenon occurring frequently after TAVR. The age, proportion of severe NYHA class and the baseline renal function are independent predictors of AKR events in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been present globally for more than three years, and cross-border transmission has played an important role in its spread. Currently, most predictions of COVID-19 spread are limited to a country (or a region), and models for cross-border transmission risk assessment remain lacking. Information on imported COVID-19 cases reported from March 2020 to June 2022 was collected from the National Health Commission of China, and COVID-19 epidemic data of the countries of origin of the imported cases were collected on data websites such as WHO and Our World in Data. It is proposed to establish a prediction model suitable for the prevention and control of overseas importation of COVID-19. Firstly, the SIR model was used to fit the epidemic infection status of the countries where the cases were exported, and most of the r2 values of the fitted curves obtained were above 0.75, which indicated that the SIR model could well fit different countries and the infection status of the region. After fitting the epidemic infection status data of overseas exporting countries, on this basis, a SIR-multiple linear regression overseas import risk prediction combination model was established, which can predict the risk of overseas case importation, and the established overseas import risk model overall P <0.05, the adjusted R2 = 0.7, indicating that the SIR-multivariate linear regression overseas import risk prediction combination model can obtain better prediction results. Our model effectively estimates the risk of imported cases of COVID-19 from abroad., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Hospital Examination Reservation System (HERS) was designed for reducing appointment examination waiting time and enhancing patients' medical satisfaction in China, but implementing HERS would encounter many difficulties. This study would investigate the factors that influence patients' utilization of HERS through UTAUT2, and provide valuable insights for hospital managements to drive the effective implementation of HERS. It is helpful for improving patients' medical satisfaction., Methods: We conducted a survey through the Sojump platform, targeting patients were who have already used HERS. We collected questionnaire information related to factors behavior intention, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy. Subsequently, we employed a structural equation model to analyze the factors influencing patients' utilization of HERS., Results: A total of 394 valid questionnaires were collected. Habit was the main direct positive factor influencing the behavioral intention of HERS (β = 0.593; 95%CI: 0.072, 1.944; P = 0.002), followed by patient innovation (β = 0.269; 95%CI: 0.002, 0.443; P < 0.001), effort expectancy (β = 0.239; 95%CI: -0.022, 0.478; P = 0.048). Patient innovation and facilitating conditions also have an indirect effect on behavioral intention. Perceived privacy exposure has a significantly negative effect on behavioral intention (β=-0.138; 95%CI: -0.225, -0.047; P < 0.001). The above variables explained 56.7% of the variation in behavioral intention., Conclusions: When HERS is implemented in hospitals, managements should arrange volunteers to guide patients to bring up the habit and solve the using difficulties, and managements could invite patients with high innovation to recommend HERS to others, what's more, it is a valid way to retain the old form of appointment to pass the transition period to the new system. HERS utilization and patients' medical satisfaction will be enhanced through the guidance of hospital management means., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: In China, lung cancer remains the cancer with the highest incidence and mortality rate. Among early-stage lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD), the micropapillary (MPP) component is prevalent and typically exhibits high aggressiveness, significantly correlating with early metastasis, lymphatic infiltration, and reduced five-year survival rates. Therefore, the study is to explore the similarities and differences between MPP and non-micropapillary (non-MPP) components in malignant pulmonary nodules characterized by GGOs in early-stage LUAD, identify unique mutational features of the MPP component and analyze the relationship between the ZNF469 gene, a member of the zinc-finger protein family, and the prognosis of early-stage LUAD, as well as its correlation with immune infiltration., Methods: A total of 31 malignant pulmonary nodules of LUAD were collected and dissected into paired MPP and non-MPP components using microdissection. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the components of early-stage malignant pulmonary nodules. Mutational signatures analysis was conducted using R packages such as maftools, Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF), and Sigminer to unveil the genomic mutational characteristics unique to MPP components in invasive LUAD compared to other tumor tissues. Furthermore, we explored the expression of the ZNF469 gene in LUAD using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to investigate its potential association with the prognosis. We also investigated gene interaction networks and signaling pathways related to ZNF469 in LUAD using the GeneMANIA database and conducted Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Lastly, we analyzed the correlation between ZNF469 gene expression and levels of immune cell infiltration in LUAD using the TIMER and TISIDB databases., Results: MPP components exhibited a higher number of genomic variations, particularly the 13th COSMIC (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer) mutational signature characterized by the activity of the cytidine deaminase APOBEC family, which was unique to MPP components compared to non-MPP components in tumor tissues. This suggests the potential involvement of APOBEC in the progression of MPP components in early-stage LUAD. Additionally, MPP samples with high similarity to APOBEC signature displayed a higher tumor mutational burden (TMB), indicating that these patients may be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. The expression of ZNF469 was significantly upregulated in LUAD compared to normal tissue, and was associated with poor prognosis in LUAD patients (P<0.05). Gene interaction network analysis and GO/KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that COL6A1, COL1A1, COL1A2, TGFB2, MMP2, COL8A2 and C2CD4C interacted with ZNF469 and were mainly involved in encoding collagen proteins and participating in the constitution of extracellular matrix. ZNF469 expression was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration in LUAD (P<0.05)., Conclusions: The study has unveiled distinctive mutational signatures in the MPP components of early-stage invasive LUAD in the Asian population. Furthermore, we have identified that the elevated expression of mutated ZNF469 impacts the prognosis and immune infiltration in LUAD, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in LUAD.

Since the large-scale outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) in 2010, caused by the genotype 2 (G2) variant of the porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV), pig farms in China, even those vaccinated with the G2b vaccine, have experienced infections from the G2a variant, leading to significant economic losses. This study successfully isolated the G2a strain DY2020 from positive small intestine contents (SICs) by blind passage on Vero cells for four generations. The SICs were taken from Daye, Hubei Province, China. The biological characteristics were identified by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The growth kinetics of the strain on Vero cells were detected by TCID 50 , and the virus titre could reach 10 7.35 TCID 50 ml -1 (SD: 5.07×10 6 ). The pathogenicity towards colostrum-deprived piglets was conducted by assessing faecal viral shedding, morphometric analysis of intestinal lesions, and immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that DY2020 was highly virulent to colostrum-deprived piglets, with severe watery diarrhoea and other clinical symptoms appeared at 6 h post-infection (h p.i.), and all died within 30 h. Pathological tissue examination results showed that the lesions mainly occurred in the intestines of piglets, causing pathological changes such as shortening of intestinal villi. In summary, the discovery of the G2a strain DY2020 in this study is of great significance for understanding Hubei PEDV and provides an important theoretical basis for the development of new efficient PEDV vaccines.

A meta-analysis was performed to assess the effects of different regenerative technologies and materials on wound healing after surgical endodontic therapy and provide a reference for surgical endodontic treatment. We searched for studies on the use of regenerative technologies and materials in surgical endodontic therapy via PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Data from the time of database creation to December 2022. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted information based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and evaluated the quality of the included studies. A meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4. The results showed that the use of regenerative technologies and materials significantly reduced wound healing failures (risk ratio [RR]: 0.30, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.22-0.40, p < 0.001). Moreover, autologous platelet concentrations (APCs) (RR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.15-0.53, p < 0.001) and collagen membrane plus bovine-derived hydroxyapatite (RR: 0.27, 95% CI. 0.12-0.61, p = 0.002) were more effective in improving wound healing failure rates than collagen membrane alone (RR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.20-1.25, p = 0.140). Our findings showed that APCs, as well as collagen membrane plus bovine-derived hydroxyapatite, significantly improved wound healing after surgical endodontic therapy. In contrast, collagen membrane alone did not significantly improve wound healing outcomes. However, currently available studies vary significantly in sample size and methodologies. Hence, high-quality randomised controlled studies with large sample sizes are necessary to validate our findings., (© 2023 The Authors. International Wound Journal published by Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Monochamus carolinensis is an important vector of pinewood nematodes in North America that is under quarantine in several countries worldwide. The distribution of M. carolinensis was previously thought to be limited to North America; however, we discovered it during trapping in China in 2022. Using this discovery and information regarding the area of origin, we applied a machine-learning algorithm based on the maximum entropy principle to predict the current and future (2050s, 2070s) potential distribution areas of M. carolinensis using bioclimatic variables., Results: The biological suitability of M. carolinensis was mainly driven by precipitation factors (BIO18, BIO15, BIO19), with 87.18% of the potential distribution areas located in South America, Asia, North America and Africa. Future potential distribution areas of M. carolinensis are predicted to expand to high latitudes, with an average increase of 10 245 874.88 km 2 , and only 6.89% of the current suitable areas will become unsuitable. The potential distribution areas in 2070 are largest under the SSP585 scenario, with a 41.40% predicted increase (52 309 803.61 km 2 ) above the current distribution, mainly reflecting an increase of the marginally and highly suitable areas., Conclusion: The determination of dominant climatic factors and potential distribution areas will help provide an early warning for an M. carolinensis invasion, as well as provide a scientific basis for the spread and outbreak, facilitating development of effective governmental prevention and control measures. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

G3P (Matthijnssens et al., 2008b [9]) is a rare combination of human rotavirus VP7/VP4 genotypes with a complex evolutionary pattern but limited related studies. Detailed genomic characterisation and genetic evolutionary analyses of G3P (Matthijnssens et al., 2008b [9]) rotaviruses have helped to enhance our understanding of rotavirus diversity. For the first time, we detected two human G3P (Matthijnssens et al., 2008b [9]) Rotavirus A (RVA) strains, RVA/Human-tc/CHN/2020999/2020/G3P (Matthijnssens et al., 2008b [9]) and RVA/Human-wt/CHN/23582009/2023/G3P (Matthijnssens et al., 2008b [9]), in diarrhoea patients from the Ningxia region of China, and carried out a whole-genome analysis of these strains. 2,020,999 and 23,582,009 have identical gene constellations: G3-P[9]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T3-E3-H3, and this genotypic constellation was reported first time in China. They are closely related in 11 genome segments. The genotypes of these two strains are different from the human RVA strains L621 and E2451, which are only G3P (Matthijnssens et al., 2008b [9]) strains reported so far in China, but are identical to those of the Thai feline strain Meesuk and the Korean human strain CAU12-2-51.Phylogenetic analysis showed that the VP6, VP1-VP3, and NSP2 genes of the two strains in this study clustered with human/bovine and feline/bovine rotavirus strains to form a sublineage distinct from the common DS-1-like G2 human rotavirus. In contrast, the VP7, VP4, NSP1, and NSP3-NSP5 gene segments were closely associated with human/feline rotavirus and feline rotavirus strains. These findings suggest that the evolutionary origin of the G3P (Matthijnssens et al., 2008b [9]) human rotavirus found in Ningxia, China, is consistent with the Meesuk and CAU12-2-51 strains， may have arisen through reassortment between uncommon human/bovine， feline/bovine rotavirus strains and human/feline， feline rotaviruses. However, VP1-VP2 gene segments did not have the same lineage as strains Meesuk and CAU12-2-51, suggesting that these genes might be derived from additional reassortment event., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

While the GII.4 norovirus was the predominant genotype, non-GII.4 genotype was increasingly focused since the non-GII.4 genotype caused regional epidemics. In this study, the detection rate was16.51% (183/1108) in Ningxia from January to December 2020. Among identified genotypes, GII.4[P31] and GII.4[P16] were the dominant genotypes (n = 20 and 18, respectively) while GII.6[P7] was the main type (n = 6) in non-GII.4 strains which was mainly detected in from May to July. The whole genome sequences of the norovirus diarrhea samples identified as GII.6 [P7] with Ct ≤ 30 collected in 2020 were determined. In this study, the complete genome sequences of norovirus strains PL20-044 and QTX20-071 were identified and analyzed phylogenetically. Phylogenetic analysis of the ORF1and ORF2 regions showed that these strains evolved from the GII·P7-GII.6 strains detected in recent years from different country. The results showed that PL20-044 had intra-type recombination with GII·P7-GII.6c and GII·P7-GII.6a, while QTX20-071 had intre-type recombination within GII·P7-GII.6a. The evolutionary rates of the RdRp gene region of the GII·P7 genotype and the VP1 gene region of the GII.6 genotype were 2.91 × 10 -3 (95%HPDs2.32-3.51 × 10 -3 ) and 2.61 × 10 -3 (95%HPDs2.14-3.11 × 10 -3 ) substitutions/site/year, respectively. Comparative analysis of the amino acid mutation sites in VP1 with the GII·P7-GII.6a strains before 1997, the later detected strains have changed in aa131 and aa354. Moreover, PL20-044 strains showed special mutations at aa316 and aa395. These results help to understand the norovirus genotype circulating in the human population in Ningxia, and discover the evolutionary characteristics of the GII·P7-GII.6 strain., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organization that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or king in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Group A rotaviruses (RVA) are the primary pathogens of acute gastroenteritis. Currently, two live attenuated RVA vaccines, LLR and RotaTeq, have been introduced into mainland China but are not included in the national immunization program. Because of the unknown genetic evolution of group A rotavirus in an all-age population in Ningxia, China, we monitored the epidemiological characteristics and circulating genotypes of RVA as a reference for developing vaccine strategies., Methods: We conducted seven years of consecutive surveillance of RVA based on stool samples from patients with acute gastroenteritis in sentinel hospitals in Ningxia, China, from 2015 to 2021. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was used to detect RVA in stool samples. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of VP7, VP4 and NSP4 genes were performed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and nucleotide sequence determination., Results: RVA was detected in 16.58% (1436/8662) of 8662 stool samples. The positive rates were 7.17% (201/2805) and 21.09% (1235/5857) in adults and children, respectively. The most affected age group was infants and children aged 12-23 months, with a positive rate of 29.53% (p < 0.05). A significant winter/spring seasonality was observed. 23.29% positive rate in 2020 was the highest in 7 years (p < 0.05). The region with the highest positive rate in the adult group was Yinchuan, and the children's group was Guyuan. A total of 9 genotype combinations were found to be distributed in Ningxia. The dominant genotype combinations in this region gradually changed from G9P[8]-E1, G3P[8]-E1, G1P[8]-E1 to G9P[8]-E1, G9P[8]-E2, and G3P[8]-E2 during these seven years. Rare strains (e.g., G9P[4]-E1, G3P[9]-E3 and G1P[8]-E2) were occasionally detected during the study., Conclusions: During the study period, changes in the significant RVA circulating genotype combinations and the emergence of reassortment strains were observed, particularly the emergence and prevalence of G9P[8]-E2, G3P[8]-E2 reassortants in the region. These results indicate the importance of continuous monitoring of the molecular evolution and recombination characteristics of RVA, and should not be limited to G/P genotyping but should consider multi-gene fragment co-analysis and whole genome sequencing., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

With the wide application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in clinical practice, more and more legal problems need to be solved. At present, although the legal status of AI is still controversial in academic and practical circles, its infringement risk in clinical diagnosis and surgery cannot be avoided. On the basis of the distinction between strong and weak AI liability subjects, those who meet the requirements of infringement, damage consequence, causal relationship, subjective fault, etc., can constitute tort liability, but the existence of exemption causes can also exempt liability. In addition to the ex post accountability of tort liability, it is also necessary to establish a complete administrative legal regulation system. At present, China needs to explore and establish the classification registration system, compulsory insurance system and reserve system of AI as soon as possible, so as to strengthen the legal regulation of the whole process of AI clinical application before, during and after the event.

Soil microbial responses to environmental stress remain a critical question in microbial ecology. The content of cyclopropane fatty acid (CFA) in cytomembrane has been widely used to evaluate environmental stress on microorganisms. Here, we used CFA to investigate the ecological suitability of microbial communities and found a stimulating impact of CFA on microbial activities during wetland reclamation in Sanjiang Plain, Northeastern China. The seasonality of environmental stress resulted in the fluctuation of CFA content in the soil, which suppressed microbial activities due to nutrient loss upon wetland reclamation. After land conversion, the aggravation of temperature stress to microbes increased the CFA content by 5 % (autumn) to 163 % (winter), which led to the suppression of microbial activities by 7 %-47 %. By contrast, the warmer soil temperature and permeability decreased the CFA content by 3 % to 41 % and consequently aggravated the microbial reduction by 15 %-72 % in spring and summer. Complex microbial communities of 1300 CFA-produced species were identified using a sequencing approach, suggesting that soil nutrients dominated the differentiation in these microbial community structures. Further analysis with structural equation modeling highlighted the important function of CFA content to environmental stress and the stimulating influence of CFA induced by environmental stress on microbial activities. Our study shows the biological mechanisms of seasonal CFA content for microbial adaption to environmental stress under wetland reclamation. It advances our knowledge of microbial physiology affecting soil element cycling caused by anthropogenic activities., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Women aged 18-49 years are women of childbearing age. Their nutrition knowledge (NK) is not only related to their physical health but also affects the diet quality of the entire family and the health status of the next generation. Studies that assess the NK level of women of childbearing age using representative data in China are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the NK level of Chinese women aged 18-49 years and explore influencing factors at both the individual and provincial levels. Data were from the Chinese Nutrition and Health Knowledge Survey 2021. A total of 38,065 females aged 18-49 years were included in the analysis. A face-to-face validated standard questionnaire was used to collect NK from respondents. The full score of the questionnaire was 100. Respondents who scored higher than 75 were considered to have NK. The Rao-Scott chi-square test was used to compare the differences in the NK awareness rate between or among the subgroups. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to explore influencing factors at the individual and provincial levels. All analyses accounted for complex sample design including clustering, stratification, and sample weights. The mean score of NK among Chinese women aged 18-49 years was 65.1 ± 11.8, and the awareness rate was 20.9% (95% CI: 19.6-22.3%). Among the five dimensions, the awareness rate of food safety was the highest (74.0%, 95% CI: 72.8-75.3%), and the dietary recommendation was the lowest (16.4%, 95% CI: 15.3-17.5%). The two-level logistic regression model analysis revealed that at the individual level, age, education level, occupation, chronic disease status and residence were the main influencing factors of the NK level. At the provincial level, the region and the female illiteracy rate were associated with the NK level. Dependent children ratio, per capita income, and health expenditure were not significantly associated with the NK level. The model accounted for 58.8% of the variance in the NK level. The NK level of Chinese women aged 18-49 years was low. Knowledge of dietary recommendations was weakest. Both individual and provincial-level factors were associated with the NK level. There is an urgent need to strengthen nutrition education actions for enhancing the NK of reproductive-age women effectively to improve their dietary behaviors.

While non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been widely studied, the pathophysiology of lean NAFLD, the critical NAFLD subgroup, remains elusive. This study aimed to clarify the association between polymorphisms of GCKR, waist circumference, and the odds of lean NAFLD in the elderly Chinese Han population who live in the Zhangjiang community center of Shanghai, China. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs1260326, rs780093, and rs780094, were genotyped in MassARRAY Analyzer. The association between SNPs with waist circumference in five genetic models was analyzed and rechecked by the logistic regression analysis. Mediation models were established to evaluate whether the waist circumstance can mediate the association between SNPs and lean NAFLD. In this study, the frequency of the C allele of rs1260326, rs780093, and rs780094 was significantly lower in lean NAFLD individuals than in lean non-NAFLD ones. The association between rs1260326 in GCKR and the odds of lean NAFLD was mediated via waist circumference after adjusting gender and age in the elderly Chinese Han population (β = 1.196, R 2  = 0.043, p = 0.020). For the first time, this study examined the mediating effect of waist circumference on the association between rs1260326 in GCKR and the odds of lean NAFLD (β = 0.0515, 95% CI 0.0107-0.0900, p = 0.004). It may contribute to illustrating the pathogenesis of lean NAFLD and indicate that waist circumference management might improve lean NAFLD control., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The evaluation of soil quality can provide new insights into the sustainable management of forests. This study investigated the effects of three types of forest management intensities (non-management (CK), extensive management (EM), and intensive management (IM)), and five management durations (0, 3, 8, 15, and 20 years) on the soil quality of a Carya dabieshanensis forest. Further, minimum data sets (MDS) and optimized minimum data sets (OMDS) were established to evaluate the soil quality index (SQI). A total of 20 soil indicators representing its physical, chemical, and biological properties were measured for the 0-30 cm layer. Using one-way ANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA), the total data set (TDS), the minimum data set (MDS), and optimized minimum data set (OMDS) were established. The MDS and OMDS contained three (alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN), and pH) and four (total phosphorus (TP), soil organic carbon (SOC), AN, and bulk density (BD)) soil indicators, respectively. The SQI derived from the OMDS and TDS exhibited a stronger correlation (r = 0.94, p < 0.01), which was suitable for evaluating the soil quality of the C. dabieshanensis forest. The evaluation results revealed that the soil quality was highest during the early stage of intensive management (IM-3), and the SQI of each soil layer was 0.81 ± 0.13, 0.47 ± 0.11, and 0.38 ± 0.07, respectively. With extended management times, the degree of soil acidification increased, and the nutrient content decreased. Compared with the untreated forest land the soil pH, SOC, and TP decreased by 2.64-6.24%, 29.43-33.04%, and 43.63-47.27%, respectively, following 20 years of management, while the SQI of each soil layer decreased to 0.35 ± 0.09, 0.16 ± 0.02 and 0.12 ± 0.06, respectively. In contrast to extensive management, the soil quality deteriorated more rapidly under longer management and intensive supervision. The OMDS established in this study provides a reference for the assessment of soil quality in C. dabieshanensis forests. In addition, it is suggested that the managers of C. dabieshanensis forests should implement measures such as increasing the amount of P-rich organic fertilizer and restoring vegetation to increase soil nutrient resources for the gradual restoration of soil quality., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 positive (anti-MDA5+) DM has a close relationship with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD) and is associated with high mortality. However, data regarding the time-dependent risk of RPILD and deaths during disease progression are limited. We conducted this study to investigate whether the risk of RPILD and death were time-dependent or not in anti-MDA5+ DM., Methods: We assessed a cohort of 272 patients with anti-MDA5+ DM. The clinical characteristics of patients with anti-MDA5+ were collected, and COX regression was used to analyse independent risk factors for RPILD and death. We also described changes in risk of RPILD and death over time and their potential clinical implications., Results: There were 272 anti-MDA5+ DM patients enrolled in this study. According to the multivariate cox regression analysis, short disease course, high CRP level, anti-Ro52 positive and anti-MDA5 titre (++∼+++) were independent risk factors of RPILD. High creatine kinase level, high CRP level and RPILD were independent risk factors for death, and >90% RPILD and 84% mortality occurred in the first 6 months after disease onset. Notably, the first 3 months is a particularly high-risk period, with 50% of RPILD and 46% of deaths occurring. Hazards regarding RPILD and mortality diminished over time during a median follow-up of 12 months., Conclusion: These results suggest significant, time-dependent changes in RPILD and mortality risk in anti-MDA5+ DM patients, providing a cut-off time window to estimate disease progression and poor prognosis., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Aim: This study aimed to examine the differences in health status between patients with confirmed COVID-19 and those suspected (other diagnosis) and to identify nursing diagnoses using a structured checklist from a hospital in China., Design: Cross-sectional study design was used., Methods: One hundred sixty COVID-19 confirmed, and suspected patients were conveniently selected. A structured survey and checklist were utilized. Independent t test and chi-square test were employed to compare the mean between patients with confirmed coronavirus infection and others. A two-sided p-value of .05 or less is considered statistically significant., Results: The study yielded a response rate of 93.6%. The result indicated that patients with confirmed coronavirus infection have a higher proportion of perceived General Health Status than inpatients with suspected (other) diagnoses. The finding also indicated that ineffective airway clearance, hyperthermia, imbalanced nutrition less than body requirement and sleep pattern disturbance were the main nursing diagnoses identified., (© 2022 The Authors. Nursing Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: To provide useful insights into measles elimination progress in China, measles surveillance data were reviewed, and the transmission patterns of measles viruses circulating in China during 1993-2021 were analyzed., Methods: Measles incidence data from the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention were analyzed. A total of 17 570 strains were obtained from 30 of 31 provinces in mainland China during 1993-2021. The recommended genotyping window was amplified. Genotyping analysis was conducted for comparison with the reference strains. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to identify genetic relationships among different lineages within the genotypes., Results: With high coverage of routine immunization and intensive supplementary immunization activities, measles incidence has shown a downward trend since 1993, despite 2 resurgences, reaching a historic low level in 2020-2021 (average 0.5 per million). During 1993-2021, 9 genotypes including domestic genotype H1; imported genotypes B3, D4, D8, D9, D11, G3, and H2; and vaccine-associated genotype A were identified. Among them, the genotype H1 strain circulated endemically in China for more than 25 years; the last strain was detected in Yunnan Province in September 2019. Multiple imported genotypes have been identified since 2009 showing different transmission patterns. Since April 2020, no imported strains have been detected, while vaccine-associated genotype A continues to be detected., Conclusions: The evidence of low incidence during 2020-2021 and virological surveillance data in this study confirm that China is currently approaching measles elimination., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: No reported conflicts of interest. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: The medical financial burden has become a key limitation to accessing healthcare in rural areas of China as healthcare expenses continue to rise. To ensure that low-income people have access to basic healthcare services, China has implemented medical financial assistance (MFA) policy, which provides social health insurance and medical cash assistance for low-income people., Methods: Using data from the 2014 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), the propensity score matching (PSM) method was applied to estimate the impact of MFA on healthcare expenses and the medical financial burden., Results: Empirical results showed that the total annual healthcare expenditure of MFA beneficiaries is significantly higher than that of non-beneficiaries after matching. Although low-income individuals are now covered by MFA, neither the out-of-pocket expenditure to per capita household non-food expenditure ratio nor the likelihood of catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) decrease significantly., Conclusion: Medical financial assistance (MFA) has reduced the inequality in healthcare utilization to a certain extent by improving access to healthcare for low-income people. However, people with low income still face a heavy medical financial burden even when they are covered by MFA. Policymakers should pay attention to raising the standards of MFA in rural areas and providing higher subsidies for the reasonable healthcare expenditures of low-income people., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Chen, Gao, Yuan and Zhao.)

Trichiurus japonicus is an economically valuable species in the East China Sea, whose allowable capture size varies with fishing effort in different years. To clarify the optimum capture size for T. japonicus in the East China Sea, we collected samples and data from T. japonicus targeting fishing gears such as trawls, canvas spreader stow nets and longlines from 2016 to 2020. We estimated growth and mortality parameters using the FiSAT II software, and calculated the size limit standards for capture. The results showed that the inflection point of anal length, the critical anal length and the anal length of one-year-old T. japonicus was 382.84, 397.12, and 216.05 mm, respectively. The anal length of maturity was 230.38 mm, and the minimum capture size (anal length) was 219.23 mm. Based on the yield per recruitment analysis using Beverton-Holt model, the current fishery reference points were under overfishing condition ( t c =0.38 a, F catches in the East China Sea if the suggested minimum capture size was substantially higher, which might be non-practical for local fishermen. Therefore, we suggested 220 mm as the capture size limit, which was close to the anal length of one-year-old fish and the anal length of maturity.T. japonicus catches in the East China Sea if the suggested minimum capture size was substantially higher, which might be non-practical for local fishermen. Therefore, we suggested 220 mm as the capture size limit, which was close to the anal length of one-year-old fish and the anal length of maturity.

The aim was to investigate the bioequivalence of 2 orally administered edoxaban 60-mg tablets and the food effects on the pharmacokinetics of edoxaban. Sixty-four healthy Chinese subjects participated in this open-label, randomized, 2-sequence, 4-period, crossover study. All subjects randomly received 60-mg generic (test) or branded (reference) edoxaban tablet in each period. Plasma edoxaban concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic parameters maximum concentration (C max ) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were compared to assess bioequivalence. The geometric least-squares mean ratios for C max , AUC from time 0 to the last measurable time point (AUC 0-t ), and AUC from time 0 extrapolated to infinity (AUC 0-∞ ) were 97.0%, 95.4%, and 96.1%, respectively, in the fasting test, and 98.6%, 100.0%, and 99.8%, respectively, in the fed test. Food increased exposure and prolonged the time to maximum concentration of edoxaban. Both formulations displayed comparable safety profiles, with no serious adverse events reported. The 2 products of edoxaban tablets are bioequivalent and safe in healthy Chinese volunteers. Food may have a modest effect on the pharmacokinetic properties of edoxaban., (© 2022, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tickborne bandavirus mainly transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in East Asia, mostly in rural areas. As of April 2022, the amplifying host involved in the natural transmission of SFTSV remained unidentified. Our epidemiologic field survey conducted in endemic areas in China showed that hedgehogs were widely distributed, had heavy tick infestations, and had high SFTSV seroprevalence and RNA prevalence. After experimental infection of Erinaceus amurensis and Atelerix albiventris hedgehogs with SFTSV, we detected robust but transitory viremias that lasted for 9-11 days. We completed the SFTSV transmission cycle between hedgehogs and nymph and adult H. longicornis ticks under laboratory conditions with 100% efficiency. Furthermore, naive H. longicornis ticks could be infected by SFTSV-positive ticks co-feeding on naive hedgehogs; we confirmed transstadial transmission of SFTSV. Our study suggests that the hedgehogs are a notable wildlife amplifying host of SFTSV in China.

Background: Research on myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab)-associated disease (MOGAD) among Chinese children is relatively rare. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and analyze the clinical characteristics and prognoses of Chinese children with acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADSs) who tested positive or negative for MOG-Ab., Methods: The clinical data of children with MOGAD who were treated in the Department of Neurology at Shanghai Children's Hospital from January 2017 to October 2021 were retrospectively collected., Results: Among 90 children with ADSs, 30 were MOG-Ab-positive, and 60 were MOG-Ab-negative. MOG-Ab-positive children experienced more prodromal infections than did MOG-Ab-negative children (P < 0.05). Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis was the most common ADSs in both groups. There were ten cases of a rebound increase in MOG-Ab titers. There were significant differences in the MOG titer-related prognosis and disease time course between the disease relapse group and the non-relapse group (P < 0.01). Among the MOG-Ab-positive patients, the most affected brain areas detected via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were the temporal lobe, cerebellar hemispheres, brainstem, and periventricular lesions. The most common shapes of the lesions were commas, triangles, or patches. The average improvement time based on brain MRI was much longer in MOG-Ab-positive than in MOG-Ab-negative children (P < 0.05). The initial treatment time correlated with the disease time course, and the prognosis may be affected by the disease time course and serum MOG-Ab titer (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The clinical characteristics and imaging features of ADSs differed between MOG-Ab-positive and MOG-Ab-negative children. In addition to existing treatment plans, additional diagnoses and treatment plans should be developed to reduce recurrence and improve the prognoses of children with MOGAD., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: To analyze the age distribution of nutrition and health knowledge level of Chinese residents aged 18-64., Methods: A total of 102 398 residents aged 18-64 were selected from 302 survey sites in China by multi-stage cluster random sampling method, a total of 98 567 respondents were included in the study. Both mean and rate were calculated by complex sampling weighting., Results: The nutrition and health knowledge score of residents aged 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years old in China were(65.1±11.4) points, (64.6±11.7) points, (64.7±12.0) points, (62.2±12.8) points and(59.5±13.3) points. The nutrition and health knowledge awareness rates were 20.3%, 19.1%, 20.3%, 16.9% and 12.1%, respectively(P&lt;0.001). A decreasing trend in all dimensions and overall nutrition and health knowledge with increasing age was found(β&lt;0, P&#95;(trend)&lt;0.001). This trend was also reflected across gender or regions. While the trend of nutrition and health knowledge level with age varies with different literacy levels. Differences in knowledge points with positive response rates &lt;30% by age groups., Conclusion: The level of nutrition and health knowledge among Chinese adult residents of all ages is relatively low in 2021, but the knowledge shortcomings are different.

Objective: To analyze the knowledge level and related factors related to dietary recommendations for Chinese residents aged 18-64 years in 2021., Methods: A multi-stage cluster random sampling was used to select 302 survey sites across the country, there were 102 398 people surveyed, with 98 567 valid questionnaires, 49.4% male and 41.9% urban, and an average age of(38.5±12.2) years. A standardized questionnaire certified by experts and evaluated for reliability and validity was used to conduct the face-to-face survey. The questionnaire was scored out of 100 points; dietary recommendation-related knowledge was scored out of 30 points, and a score of 22.5 points or above was judged as acquiring relevant knowledge. Descriptive statistics were used to report the values of relevant knowledge level of respondents with different characteristics, and univariate and multi-variate Logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing relevant knowledge level., Results: The average score of dietary recommendation-related knowledge was(17.9±4.2), and the knowledge awareness rate was 14.7%. The five knowledge points with the lowest correct rates were the recommended intakes of soybeans and products(21.1%), added sugars(22.6%), milk(25.5%), food groups(27.6%), and cooking oils(31.4%) and the recommended intakes of fruits and salt were also less correct(56.9% and 58.5%). Multi-variate analysis revealed that the knowledge of dietary recommendations was lower among residents in rural(OR=0.945, 95%CI 0.944-0.945), central(OR=0.863, 95%CI 0.863-0.864) and western(OR=0.983, 95%CI 0.982-0.983) areas, those with chronic diseases(OR=0.784, 95%CI 0.783-0.784) and those who did not know about chronic diseases(OR=0.694, 95%CI 0.694-0.694) compared to the counterparts; female(OR=1.090, 95%CI 1.090-1.091) had a higher knowledge rate compared to male. The awareness rate of residents increased with the level of education, and the trend was statistically significant(P&lt;0.001)., Conclusion: The level of knowledge related to dietary recommendations for the adult population in China in 2021 is low, especially for the recommended intake of dairy, soybeans and products, and cooking oils, and the knowledge level of men, rural, central and western, and less educated populations is even lower.

Objective: To explore the geographical distribution of nutrition and health knowledge among 18-64 years old adults in China., Methods: A total of 102 398 residents aged 18-64 from 302 survey sites were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling method, a total of 98 567 respondents were included in the study. Both mean and rate were calculated by complex sampling weighting., Results: The nutrition and health knowledge score in eastern region(65.5±12.0) was higher than that in central(62.4±11.9) and western(61.4±12.9), and the score in northern region(63.9±11.8) was higher than that in southern(63.1±12.8). In the seven geographical regions, the highest score was in north(65.8±11.4), and the lowest score was in northwest(61.6±12.2). The awareness rate of nutrition and health in eastern region(22.4%) was higher than that in central(14.7%) and western(14.9%), the highest awareness rate among the seven geographic regions was in east(23.2%), followed by north(22.5%) and the lowest was in northwest(13.2%). There were also differences in nutritional health knowledge levels of residents in different regions in the five dimensions(P&lt;0.001). Northwest China had the lowest awareness of food characteristics and nutrition and disease dimensions, South China had the lowest awareness of dietary recommendations and food choices dimensions, and Southwest China had the lowest awareness of food safety dimensions., Conclusion: The level of nutrition and health knowledge of Chinese adults have large geographical differences.

This study aims to investigate the dosage pattern, efficacy, and safety of sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) in Chinese heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients regarding real-world settings. Patients from 27 centers with a confirmed diagnosis of HFrEF and initiated Sac/Val treatment were enrolled. The primary objective was to evaluate the dosage pattern and change of heart failure status. In a final cohort of 983 patients, outpatient Sac/Val treatment demonstrated a similar beneficial effect in NT-proBNP and cardiac function. After initiating the treatment, overall and sub-population showed similar safety and efficacy. Patients who received a higher dose of Sac/Val (&gt; 200 mg/d) demonstrated better improvement in LV function and reduction of NT-proBNP regardless of adjustment. Among Chinese HFrEF patients, Sac/Val showed a comparable reduction in NT-proBNP and improvement in cardiac function. Data further support guideline recommendations of Sac/Val in Chinese population. Optimal up-titration might provide further benefits. Further long-term and prognostic studies are needed., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The genetic factors contributing to primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a rare autosomal recessive disorder, remain elusive for ~20%-35% of patients with complex and abnormal clinical phenotypes. Our study aimed to identify causative variants of PCD-associated pathogenic candidate genes using whole-exome sequencing (WES). All patients were diagnosed with PCD based on clinical phenotype or transmission electron microscopy images of cilia. WES and bioinformatic analysis were then conducted on patients with PCD. Identified candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. Pathogenicity of candidate variants was then evaluated using in silico software and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) database. In total, 13 rare variants were identified in patients with PCD, among which were three homozygous causative variants (including one splicing variant) in the PCD-associated genes CCDC40 and DNAI1. Moreover, two stop-gain heterozygous variants of DNAAF3 and DNAH1 were classified as pathogenic variants based on the ACMG criteria. This study identified novel potential pathogenic genetic factors associated with PCD. Noteworthy, the patients with PCD carried multiple rare causative gene variants, thereby suggesting that known causative genes along with other functional genes should be considered for such heterogeneous genetic disorders., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Marine microplastic pollution has become a major global concern in recent years and the fate of microplastics in the ocean is a hot issue of research. We investigated microplastic pollution in surface sediments in the northern South China Sea to explore its distribution characteristics and influencing factors across the continental shelf, continental slope, and deep-sea environments. It was found that the microplastic abundance of surface sediments was 130.56 ± 40.48 items/kg. The average abundance of microplastics in all three topographic areas gradually decreased with increasing distance offshore. However, the differences in microplastic diversity indices between the three areas were not significant and were higher than those in other seas of the world, indicating that the waters of the northern South China Sea are rich in microplastics from complex sources, with more pollution input channels. In the continental shelf, fibrous and low density microplastics accounted for the largest amount, with a low degree of microplastic aging, and were mostly transported by suspended-load. These microplastics were mainly influenced by human activities. In the deep sea, microplastics with higher density were the most abundant and the number of fibrous microplastics was fewer, while the average size was larger, mainly influenced by the bottom currents. These microplastics underwent long-term bedload transport. In the continental slope, the main factors affecting the distribution of microplastics were more complex. In addition to pollution by human activities, the slope also receives microplastic materials carried by bottom currents; therefore, the composition of microplastics in the slope combines those characteristics of microplastics in both the continental shelf and deep-sea areas. The findings of this study indicate that the South China Sea is affected by complex pollution sources under the dual effects of human activities and natural conditions; in particular, the pollution situation in the deep-sea area needs extensive attention., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: With China's aging and declining fertility rate, the importance of population quality is increasing. As the main force of the labor market in the future, the Chinese government tries to promote the development of adolescents by increasing the financial investment in compulsory education, so as to improve the future population quality of China and enhance the national competitiveness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between financial investment in compulsory education and the health of Chinese adolescents., Methods: This study specifically uses data obtained from China Education Panel Survey (CEPS). The data were nationally representative, which covered families, schools, and communities. For the CEPS data obtained, the 2013-2014 school year was the baseline, and two cohorts of 7th and 9th graders were the starting point of the survey. In the 2014-2015 school year, 8th-grade students who participated in the baseline survey (7th-grade students in the 2013-2014 school year) were followed up. Since the second period only began to investigate the data on financial investment in compulsory education, this article uses the data from the 2014-2015 academic year for research. OLS and Ordered Probit models were used to investigate the impact of financial investment in compulsory education on adolescent health., Results: With the doubling of financial investment in compulsory education, self-rated health increased by 0.021, frequency of illness decreased by 0.03, the number of sick leave days decreased by 0.207, and depression decreased by 0.191. The heterogeneity analysis shows that compared to only-child, high-income and nonagricultural groups, the financial investment in compulsory education has a greater impact on the health of adolescents with the characteristics of agriculture hukou, non-only-child and low-income families. Further analysis of the impact mechanism shows that financial investment in compulsory education exerts a significant influence on the health of adolescents by easing family budget constraints, improving school sports facilities, and increasing the expected return of health investment and social capital., Conclusions: Financial investment in compulsory education can enhance the health of adolescents, and vulnerable groups benefit more, which is conducive to promoting health equity., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS) is a kind of epileptic encephalopathy with high genetic heterogeneity. The most common pathogenic gene for EIMFS is potassium sodium-activated channel subfamily T member 1 (KCNT1). Using Sendai virus-mediated reprogramming, we established an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a five-month-old Chinese girl with heterozygous missense mutation (c.2800 G>A) in the KCNT1 gene. The iPSCs were stable during amplification, expressed pluripotent genes, maintained a normal karyotype, and showed characteristics of the three germs layers in an in vitro differentiation assay., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Following rapid growth, China's economy is entering a period of high-quality economic growth. High-quality economic development has a profound impact on China's current economic development. It can be said that the improvement of economic quality is an inevitable choice for China's new stage of economic development. From this point of view, promoting high-quality economic development has become an important practical issue in my country's current economic and social development. As the integration and innovation of digital technology and taxation, the blessing of digital technology maximizes integration and precision, which can effectively meet the needs of higher stages of economic development. Perfect and inclusive development has become an important support for sustainable and healthy economic development. At present, behind the rapid economic growth, human economic activities have led to the emergence of an ecological and environmental crisis. The growth mode characterized by high input, high consumption support, and high emissions has resulted in insufficient supply of regional ecological and environmental resources, pollution, and damage to the ecological environment and also intensified. Therefore, this paper first examines the concept of digital finance and its enlightenment to economic development, and believes that digital finance has a good role in promoting economic development. Second, an evaluation model for the relationship between environmental environment and economic development is established, and an evaluation index system is obtained. Finally, through the comprehensive evaluation and analysis of economic development and ecological environment, it is concluded that in the era of digital finance, the level of regional economic development has been greatly improved, and my country's regional economic development has been greatly improved, which is significantly faster than my country's ecological environment improvement level., Competing Interests: The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest regarding this work., (Copyright © 2022 Feng Yuan.)