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Education research is increasingly paying attention to students' cross-cultural adaption in Mainland China. As a special administrative region of China, educational systems and language of instruction of Macao are different from those of Mainland China. This study analyzes the cross-cultural adaptation of Macao students in Mainland China by using qualitative semi-structured interviews. The results show that study motivation, medium of instruction, and social integration are important factors determining how Macao students adapt to university programs. Failure to adapt to the language of instruction is the most direct, prominent, and enduring problem that Macao students encounter when studying in the Mainland. The current study's findings have practical implications for faculties who provide support and training to Macao students in Mainland China. The study discovers that strengthening the Mandarin language skills of Macao students is currently a priority.

Purpose: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is widely used in diabetes management and now recommended for diagnosis and risk assessment. Our research focused on investigating the optimal cutoff points of HbA1c for diagnosis of diabetes and prediabetes in Chinese breast cancer women, aiming to enhance early detection and tailor treatment strategies. Patients and Methods: This study involved 309 breast cancer women without diabetes history in China. Patients were categorized into groups of newly diagnosed diabetes, prediabetes, and normal glucose tolerance using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) according to the 2010 ADA criteria. HbA1c data were collected from all patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the effectiveness of the HbA1c screening. Results: Among the 309 breast cancer women without diabetes history, 96 (31.0%) were identified with diabetes and 130 (42.1%) had prediabetes according to OGTT, and the incidence of normal glucose tolerance was only 26.9% (83). ROC curve analysis, using OGTT as a reference, revealed that the area under the curve of 0.903 (P< 0.001, 95% CI, 0.867– 0.938) for HbA1c alone, indicating high accuracy. The optimal HbA1c cutoff for identifying diabetes was determined to be 6.0%, with a sensitivity of 78.1% and specificity of 86.4%. For prediabetes, the ROC curve for HbA1c alone showed that the area under the ROC curve of 0.703 (P< 0.001, 95% CI, 0.632– 0.774), with an optimal cutoff of 5.5% (sensitivity of 76.9% and specificity of 51.8%). Conclusion: The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes is very high in breast cancer women without diabetes history in China. The optimal cutoff points of HbA1c for identifying diabetes and prediabetes are 6.0% and 5.5% in Chinese breast cancer women, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chrysochroinae Laporte de Castelnau, 1835 is the very colourful subfamily of Buprestidae. There are 127 species and subspecies of the subfamily which have been recorded in China. New information: In this paper, we reported three genera, two subgenera and five species of the subfamily Chrysochroinae Laporte de Castelnau, 1835 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) which are all newly recorded from China. These reported taxa belong to two tribes and four genera: Chrysochroa (Chroodema) corbetti (Kerremans, 1893), Chrysochroa (Pyranthe) fulgens ephippigera White, 1843, Demochroa (Demoxantha) gratiosa indica Csiki, 1900, Xanthocata bonvouloirii (Deyrolle, 1861) (all the above four being Chrysochroini) and Cardiaspis mouhotii E. Saunders, 1866 (Dicercini). The five newly-recorded species are briefly described, illustrated and supplemented with relevant biological information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study has revealed that EphA7 was upregulated in patient-derived esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) xenografts with hyper-activated STAT3, but its mechanism was still unclear. To assess the association between EphA7 and STAT3, western blotting, immunofluorescence, ChIP assay, and qRT-PCR were conducted. Truncated mutation and luciferase assay were performed to examine the promoter activity of EphA7. CCK-8 assay and colony formation were performed to assess the proliferation of ESCC. Cell-derived xenograft models were established to evaluate the effects of EphA7 on ESCC tumor growth. RNA-seq analyses were used to assess the effects of EphA7 on related signals. In this study, EphA7 was found upregulated in ESCC cell lines with high STAT3 activation, and immunofluorescence also showed that EphA7 was co-localized with phospho-STAT3 in ESCC cells. Interestingly, suppressing STAT3 activation by the STAT3 inhibitor Stattic markedly inhibited the protein expression of EphA7 in ESCC cells, in contrast, activation of STAT3 by IL-6 obviously upregulated the protein expression of EphA7. Moreover, the transcription of EphA7 was also mediated by the activation of STAT3 in ESCC cells, and the −2000∼−1500 region was identified as the key promoter of EphA7. Our results also indicated that EphA7 enhanced the cell proliferation of ESCC, and silence of EphA7 significantly suppressed ESCC tumor growth. Moreover, EphA7 silence markedly abolished STAT3 activation-derived cell proliferation of ESCC. Additionally, RNA-seq analyses indicated that several tumor-related signaling pathways were significantly changed after EphA7 downregulation in ESCC cells. Our results showed that the transcriptional expression of EphA7 was increased by activated STAT3, and the STAT3 signaling may act through EphA7 to promote the development of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension caused by air pollution exposure is a growing concern in China. The association between air pollutant exposure and hypertension has been found to be potentiated by obesity, however, little is known about the processes mediating this association. This study investigated the association between fine particulate matter (aerodynamic equivalent diameter ≤ 2.5 microns, PM2.5) exposure and the prevalence of hypertension in a representative population in southern China and tested whether obesity mediated this association. Methods: A total of 14,308 adults from 48 communities/villages in southern China were selected from January 2015 to December 2015 using a stratified multistage random sampling method. Hourly PM2.5 measurements were collected from the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre. Restricted cubic splines were used to analyze the nonlinear dose-response relationship between PM2.5 exposure and hypertension risk. The mediating effect mechanism of obesity on PM2.5-associated hypertension was tested in a causal inference framework following the approach proposed by Imai and Keele. Results: A total of 20.7% (2966/14,308) of participants in the present study were diagnosed with hypertension. Nonlinear exposure-response analysis revealed that exposure to an annual mean PM2.5 concentration above 41.8 µg/m3 was associated with increased hypertension risk at an incremental gradient. 9.1% of the hypertension burden could be attributed to exposure to elevated annual average concentrations of PM2.5. It is noteworthy that an increased body fat percentage positively mediated 59.3% of the association between PM2.5 exposure and hypertension risk, whereas body mass index mediated 34.3% of this association. Conclusions: This study suggests that a significant portion of the estimated effect of exposure to PM2.5 on the risk of hypertension appears to be attributed to its effect on alterations in body composition and the development of obesity. These findings could inform intersectoral actions in future studies to protect populations with excessive fine particle exposure from developing hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing demand for critical metals (e.g., W-Sn, Li-Be-Nb-Ta, and rare earth elements [REEs]) to sustain the transition to green energy, yet it is unclear what controls the formation of such critical metal ore systems. Here, we focus on South China, which is well endowed with critical metals, and imaged its crustal architecture by zircon Hf isotopic mapping using 1096 zircon Hf isotope data sets for 1457 samples of Mesozoic granitoids and silicic volcanic rocks. We demonstrate that the crust is isotopically heterogeneous, characterized by spatial juxtaposition of ancient, reworked, and juvenile crustal domains. The granite-related W-Sn-Nb-Ta and REE deposits occur mainly in reworked crustal domains, where multiple stages of reworking and Mesozoic melting events likely resulted in the release of these metals into crust-derived magmas. Compared with W-Sn deposits, REE deposits occur mostly in strongly reworked crustal blocks with a juvenile input. The porphyry Cu-Au deposits are spatially confined to Cu-fertilized juvenile crustal domains, whereas U and Ag-Pb-Zn deposits occur predominantly in old crustal domains and at their margins. This study demonstrates the importance of isotopic mapping as a tool for characterizing crustal architecture and processes that lead to the formation of metal ore systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and food supply are vital for human survival when facing climate change. Site‐specific best management practices (BMPs) are being promoted for adoption globally as solutions. However, how SOC and crop yield are related to each other in responding to BMPs remains unknown. Here, path analysis based on meta‐analysis and machine learning was conducted to identify the effects and potential mechanisms of how the relationship between SOC and crop yield responds to site‐specific BMPs in China. The results showed that BMPs could significantly enhance SOC and maintain or increase crop yield. The maximum benefits in SOC (30.6%) and crop yield (79.8%) occurred in mineral fertilizer combined with organic inputs (MOF). Specifically, the optimal SOC and crop yield would be achieved when the areas were arid, soil pH was ≥7.3, initial SOC content was ≤10 g kg−1, duration was >10 years, and the nitrogen (N) input level was 100–200 kg ha−1. Further analysis revealed that the original SOC level and crop yield change showed an inverted V‐shaped structure. The association between the changes in SOC and crop yield might be linked to the positive role of the nutrient‐mediated effect. The results generally suggested that improving the SOC can strongly support better crop performance. Limitations in increasing crop yield still exist due to low original SOC level, and in regions where the excessive N inputs, inappropriate tillage or organic input is inadequate and could be diminished by optimizing BMPs in harmony with site‐specific conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the large-scale application of nitrogen fertilizers in the agricultural area, the karst area in southwest China is increasingly polluted by nitrogen. Understanding the distribution, transportation, and sources of nitrogen is the premise for effective pollution control in the catchment. The present study used the nitrogen and oxygen isotopes technique to explore the dynamic changes and sources of nitrates during rainfall in various land uses in a typical karst catchment in southwestern China. The results of hydrochemistry composition indicated that agricultural activities have caused the deterioration of water quality, while intensive rainfall during the wet season has played a positive role in promoting it. NO3−–N was the major inorganic N, accounting for 78.7 ± 21.6% (N = 38) of the total nitrogen. Dryland and paddy field provided a large amount of nitrogen for the water environment by rain, which contributed to high NO3−-N concentration in spring (6.1 ± 0.9 mg/L) and runoff (7.2 ± 0.9 mg/L) at the catchment outlet. Nitrate isotopic compositions (δ15N–NO3− and δ18O–NO3−) and water isotopes (δD and δ18O–H2O) revealed that isotopic composition in dryland and paddy field was mainly affected by nitrification. Source analysis showed that dryland and paddy field was dominated by chemical fertilizers and manure, while precipitation and soil organic nitrogen were the major sources in abandoned land, forest and shrub. This study highlighted that land management and nitrogen fertilizer application should be reasonable to reduce the risk of nitrogen surplus in the water environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the epidemiologic features of syndactyly (SD) in Chinese newborns. Methods: Using 2007–2019 data from the Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network, we conducted a prevalence analysis on overall, isolated and associated syndactyly according to birth year, maternal age, maternal residence, geographic region and infant sex, with special interests in time trends, perinatal outcomes and clinical phenotypes. Results: A total of 13,611 SD cases were identified among 24,157,719 births in the study period, yielding the prevalence of 5.63, 4.66 and 0.97 per 10,000 for overall, isolated, and associated SD, respectively. The prevalence of each type of SD exhibited an upward trend over the period. The prevalence of overall SD varied significantly by maternal residence (urban vs. rural, 6.69/10,000 vs. 4.35/10,000), maternal age (< 20 years, 5.43/10,000; 20–24 years, 5.03/10,000; 25–29 year, 5.65/10,000; 30–34 years, 6.07/10,000; ≥ 35 years, 5.76/10,000), geographic region (central, 5.07/10,000; east, 6.75/10,000; west, 5.12/10,000), and infant sex (male vs. female, 6.28/10,000 vs. 4.86/10,000). Newborns with associated SD were more likely to be born prematurely (29.2% vs. 10.6%) or with low birthweight (30.5% vs.9.8%) than those with isolated SD. The bilaterally, and unilaterally affected cases accounted for 18.4% and 76.7%, respectively. The feet were more frequently involved (64.3%) in those bilaterally affected cases, while right side preference (right vs left: 53.8% vs 46.2%) and upper limbs preference (hand vs foot: 50.8% vs 48.0%) were found in unilateral cases. Conclusions: The prevalence of syndactyly in China is on the rise and notably higher than that in other Asian and European countries, highlighting the importance of investigating the etiology, epidemiology, and clinical implications of this condition in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power generation does not emit greenhouse gases or pollutants, but there are some carbon emissions from the manufacturing, transportation, operation, and waste disposal of wind turbines. Directly driven permanent magnet and doubly fed asynchronous wind turbines currently have the largest market share in China, but few Chinese studies have compared their differences in carbon reduction potential. This paper uses life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantitatively analyze the full life cycle carbon emissions of the two wind turbines to determine which type of wind turbine has greater carbon reduction potential, obtaining the following results. (1) The full life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of 2.5 MW directly driven permanent magnet and doubly fed asynchronous wind turbines are 8.48 and 10.43 g CO2/kWh, respectively. The direct‐driven permanent magnet wind turbine is superior in terms of carbon reduction. (2) The stage with the greatest impact and the greatest difference between the two wind turbines in the full life cycle is the production stage, during which the carbon emissions of the directly driven permanent magnet and doubly fed asynchronous wind turbines are 1.045 × 106 and 1.210 × 106 kg, respectively. (3) According to sensitivity analysis, proper waste disposal and transportation can reduce carbon emissions from wind turbines. These research findings can be used to help achieve carbon peaking and neutrality goals, as well as the technological development of wind power enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the excessive exploitation of traditional energy sources, the attention paid to water energy has increased in recent years. As an important means to effectively utilize water energy, reservoirs play an important role in drinking water, irrigation, flood control, and drought resistance. However, utilizing reservoirs often led to water quality issues resulting from the interaction of nutrients and hydrological conditions, especially due to the special structure of karst areas. Because of the change of hydrological conditions by the effect of dam construction, the dynamic of water quality will be more obvious in karst areas with a fast exchange of water and contaminants between underground and surface streams. In the present study, the change in water quality of a karst reservoir, the Muzhu Reservoir in the Houzhai Catchment, was studied. Long-term monitored datasets (1981–2002) and water quality datasets of more recent years were used to assess the effect on the water quality of reservoir expansion from the underground reservoir to the surface reservoir in a karst area. Long-term series datasets had shown that the hydro-chemistry type had been changed from HCO3−·SO42−-Ca2+·Mg2+ type to HCO3−-Ca2+ type in the short term after the reservoir's expansion. The chemical components of water originating from a rock background reduced markedly after the reservoir's expansion, whereas the content of the anthropogenic contribution in the water decreased after the expansion, except in April and May. Isotopic characteristics showed that δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3− values were positively correlated before and after the reservoir expansion, but the slope of the linear regression before the expansion was 0.34, while the slope of the linear regression before the expansion was close to 0.7. This indicated that although denitrification and assimilation may occur simultaneously after the reservoir's expansion, the role of denitrification on nitrate removal decreased, which resulted in nitrate accumulation in the karst reservoir. The results highlighted that nitrate accumulation in karst reservoirs should be monitored to decrease nitrate concentration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of CO2 on the rheology and filtration loss of high-density potassium polysulfonate drilling fluid systems were studied, as well as the law of the contamination and the mechanism of contamination, on the performance of the systems after they are contaminated by CO2 in the one of natural gas area in southwest China and run out of control. The results show that there is a critical value of CO2 contamination: 5 932 mg/L for CO32- and 7 874 mg/L for HCO3-. When it is less than the critical value, CO2 can precipitate Ca2+ and promote hydration and dispersion, the clay dispersion state changes from coarse dispersion to fine dispersion, the particles become smaller, the Zeta potential increases, and the colloid stability of the drilling fluid is enhanced. After passing the critical value, the viscous shear increases sharply and the filtration loss becomes severely out of control. It has been shown that excessive CO2 pollution causes clay particles to aggregate, shifting from a fine dispersion state to a flocculation state, large clay particles form card-house structures, filter cake leakage channels increase, and colloid stability becomes worse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of CO2 on the rheology and filtration loss of high-density potassium polysulfonate drilling fluid systems were studied, as well as the law of the contamination and the mechanism of contamination, on the performance of the systems after they are contaminated by CO2 in the one of natural gas area in southwest China and run out of control. The results show that there is a critical value of CO2 contamination: 5 932 mg/L for CO32- and 7 874 mg/L for HCO3-. When it is less than the critical value, CO2 can precipitate Ca2+ and promote hydration and dispersion, the clay dispersion state changes from coarse dispersion to fine dispersion, the particles become smaller, the Zeta potential increases, and the colloid stability of the drilling fluid is enhanced. After passing the critical value, the viscous shear increases sharply and the filtration loss becomes severely out of control. It has been shown that excessive CO2 pollution causes clay particles to aggregate, shifting from a fine dispersion state to a flocculation state, large clay particles form card-house structures, filter cake leakage channels increase, and colloid stability becomes worse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can provide effective analgesia for abdominal surgery. However, it was questionable whether TAP had additional effect in the context of multimodal analgesia (MMA). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the additional analgesic effect of preoperative TAP block when added to MMA protocol in open gynecological surgery. Methods: In this prospective, randomized-controlled trial, 64 patients scheduled for open gynecological surgery were randomized to receive preoperative TAP block (Study group, n = 32) or placebo (Control group, n = 32) in addition to MMA protocol comprising dexamethasone, acetaminophen, flurbiprofen and celecoxib, and rescued morphine analgesia. The primary outcome was rescued morphine within 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, adverse effects, quality of recovery measured by 40-item quality of recovery questionnaire score (QoR-40) at 24 h, and quality of life measured with short-form health survey (SF − 36) on postoperative day (POD) 30. Results: The Study group had less rescued morphine than the control group within 24 h [5 (2–9) vs. 8.5 (5–12.8) mg, P = 0.013]. The Study group had lower pain scores at 1 h [3 (2–4) vs. 4 (3–5), P = 0.007], 2 h [3 (2–4) vs. 3.5 (3–5), P = 0.010] and 6 h [3 (2–3) vs. 3 (2.3–4), P = 0.028], lower incidence of nausea at 48 h (25.8% vs. 50%, P = 0.039), and higher satisfaction score [10 (10–10) vs. 10 (8–10), P = 0.041]. The SF-36 bodily pain score on POD 30 was higher in the Study group (59 ± 13 vs. 49 ± 16, P = 0.023). Conclusions: Preoperative TAP block had additional analgesic effect for open gynecological surgery when used as part of multimodal analgesia. Rescued morphine within 24 h was significantly reduced and the SF-36 bodily pain dimension at 30 days after surgery was significantly improved. Trial registration: www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2000040343, on Nov 28 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 12-y-old Himalayan black bear suddenly developed depression, anorexia, cough, and dyspnea and died at the Ordos Zoo, China. At autopsy, the mesenteric and cranial mediastinal lymph nodes (LNs) were enlarged; the largest cranial mediastinal LN was ~13 cm in diameter. Scattered-to-diffuse, rounded-or-oval, gray, firm 1–6-mm nodules were observed on the surfaces of the spleen, liver, lungs, and small intestine. Histologically, the enlarged cranial mediastinal and mesenteric LNs, spleen, small intestine, lungs, and liver contained dense populations of neoplastic lymphoid cells (NLCs). The NLCs were round-or-oval with small amounts of mildly eosinophilic cytoplasm and round-or-oval hyperchromatic nuclei with indistinct nucleoli; the mitotic count was 55 in 2.37 mm2. Immunohistochemically, cell membranes and the cytoplasm of NLCs were CD3+, CD79a−, CD20−, CD15−, CD30−, and CD45RA−; hence, the NLCs were derived from T lymphocytes. To our knowledge, T-cell lymphoma has not been reported previously in a Himalayan black bear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether the combination of Naoxintong Capsule with standard care could further reduce the recurrence of ischemic stroke without increasing the risk of severe bleeding. Methods: A total of 23 Chinese medical centers participated in this trial. Adult patients with a history of ischemic stroke were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio using a block design to receive either Naoxintong Capsule (1.2 g orally, twice a day) or placebo in addition to standard care. The primary endpoint was recurrence of ischemic stroke within 2 years. Secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, death due to recurrent ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality. The safety of drugs was monitored. Results were analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. Results: A total of 2,200 patients were enrolled from March 2015 to March 2016, of whom 143 and 158 in the Naoxintong and placebo groups were lost to follow-up, respectively. Compared with the placebo group, the recurrence rate of ischemic stroke within 2 years was significantly lower in the Naoxintong group [6.5% vs. 9.5%, hazard ratio (HR): 0.665, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.492-0.899, P=0.008]. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary outcomes and safety, including rates of severe hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage (P>0.05). Conclusion: The combination of Naoxintong Capsule with standard care reduced the 2-year stroke recurrence rate in patients with ischemic stroke without increasing the risk of severe hemorrhage in high-risk patients. (Trial registration No. NCT02334969) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential factors associated with adherence to colonoscopy among participants who were preliminarily screened positive in a community‐based colorectal cancer screening program in China. Methods: This study analyzed data from 1219 out of 6971 community residents who were identified as positive cases by the well‐validated high‐risk factor questionnaire (HRFQ) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) in the preliminary screening stage for colorectal neoplasms. Patients showing adherence to colonoscopy were defined as those who received positive results in a preliminary screening for colorectal neoplasms and later received a colonoscopy examination as required. The associations of social‐demographic factors, lifestyle behaviors, history of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and risk factors in the HRFQ with adherence to colonoscopy were evaluated using logistic regression models. Results: Among 1219 participants who preliminarily screened positive, the top five risk factors reported by the participants were chronic constipation (25.9%), hematochezia (23.5%), family history of CRC in first‐degree relatives (22.1%), chronic diarrhea (21.8%), and history of polyps (16.6%). Around 14.2% of participants who preliminarily screened positive reported three or more risk factors, and the proportion was 26.2% among participants who were positive according to both HRFQ and FIT. Among all participants who were preliminarily screened positive, the multivariable results showed that those who were married (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.25, p = 0.01), had chronic diarrhea (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.78, p = 0.047), and had a positive FIT (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.10, p < 0.001 for patients who were negative according to HRFQ but positive according to FIT; OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.33, 2.78, p = 0.002 for patients who were positive for both HRFQ and FIT) were more likely to adhere to colonoscopy, while participants with a history of cancer (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.79, p = 0.003) were less likely to adhere to colonoscopy. The results among participants who were tested positive according to only HRFQ were similar to those among all participants who were tested positive according to HRFQ or FIT. However, among participants who were tested positive according to only FIT, we only found that those who were married (OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.08, 5.90, p = 0.033) had a higher odds of adhering to colonoscopy, while those with a history of diabetes (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.96, p = 0.042) were less likely to adhere to colonoscopy. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence supporting the development of tailored interventional strategies that aim to improve adherence to colonoscopy for individuals with a high risk of colorectal neoplasms. Both barriers and facilitators associated with adherence to colonoscopy should be considered in supportive systems and health policies. However, further well‐designed prospective studies are warranted to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirostomum is a genus of large ciliates, and its species are distributed worldwide. However, there has been limited research conducted on their geographical distribution and genomics. We obtained nine samples of ciliates from eight regions in Liaoning Province, China, and conducted a study on their geographical distribution and characteristics. Morphological and second-generation high-throughput sequencing methods were applied to identify the species, and a phylogenetic tree was established to gain a deeper understanding of the geographical distribution and evolutionary relationships of Spirostomum in Northeast China. The results identified Spirostomum yagiui and Spirostomum subtilis as a newly recorded species in Northeast China region. There are now five species of Spirostomum that have been recorded in China, and new details on the genomic characteristics of Spirostomum yagiui were provided. In addition, this study also identified the main branches of Spirostomum teres and Spirostomum minus in northern China, and provided a theoretical basis for the existence of hidden species. Spirostomum yagiui is the first species in the family Spirostomidae to have undergone mitochondrial genome sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial humanism emphasizes the realistic demand orientation of urban space development, and the construction of urban leisure green space under the background of aging of population needs to effectively solve the short-board problem of adaptability for the elderly. Taking Huqiu Wetland Park in Suzhou as an example, based on the space-behavior interaction theory, the PSPL survey method of "public space-public life" and spatial syntax were integrated and applied to the simulation and optimization reconstruction of aging adaptability of walking space in urban leisure green space. The results show that based on the physiological and psychological characteristics, the elderly population has the selectivity to the walking space in urban leisure green space. The integration degree of green walking space network is highly correlated with the distribution and activity types of the elderly. The higher the integration degree, the higher the aggregation degree of the elderly, and the activity types are mainly social aggregation. The opening and closing of green walking space horizon affects the flow direction and stay choice of the elderly, and the activity types of the elderly are closely related to the complexity of horizon space and its degree of change. The walking distance of green space affects the spatial perception of the elderly, and most of them have poor perception. Strengthening the function agglomeration and service improvement of local walking space network is the key to optimization and reconstruction. The research results provide a spatial intelligence optimization plan based on behavior simulation for the reconstruction of walking space network in urban leisure green space, and also provide a new governance idea based on spatial humanism for the optimization and reconstruction of urban public space network in China in the new period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many local sheep breeds in China have poor meat quality. Increasing intramuscular fat (IMF) content can significantly improve the quality of mutton. However, the molecular mechanisms of intramuscular adipocyte formation and differentiation remain unclear. This study compared differences between preadipocytes and mature adipocytes by whole-transcriptome sequencing and constructed systematically regulatory networks according to the relationship predicted among the differentially expressed RNAs (DERs). Sequencing results showed that in this process, there were 1,196, 754, 100, and 17 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), respectively. Gene Ontology analysis showed that most DERs enriched in Cell Part, Cellular Process, Biological Regulation, and Binding terms. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis found that the DERs primarily focused on Focal adhesion, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways. Forty (40) DERs were randomly selected from the core regulatory network to verify the accuracy of the sequence data. The results of qPCR showed that the DER expression trend was consistent with sequence data. Four novel promising candidate miRNAs (miR-336, miR-422, miR-578, and miR-722) played crucial roles in adipocyte differentiation, and they also participated in multiple and important regulatory networks. We verified the expression pattern of the miRNAs and related pathways' members at five time points in the adipocyte differentiation process (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 days) by qPCR, including miR-336/ACSL4/LncRNA-MSTRG71379/circRNA0002331, miR-422/FOXO4/LncRNA-MSTRG54995/circRNA0000520, miR-578/IGF1/LncRNA-MSTRG102235/circRNA0002971, and miR-722/PDK4/LncRNA-MSTRG107440/circ RNA0002909. In this study, our data provided plenty of valuable candidate DERs and regulatory networks for researching the molecular mechanisms of sheep adipocyte differentiation and will assist studies in improving the IMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Most gastric cancer (GC) cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage in China. Because of its high morbidity and mortality, GC remains a major health crisis in China. Surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment for GC. Owing to being minimally invasive, laparoscopic radical gastrectomy has been widely used in various countries, especially in East Asia, since Kitano first reported the feasibility and safety of this technique. Although laparoscopic gastric surgery was introduced relatively late in China, Chinese surgeons have made unique contributions to the research and clinical practice of laparoscopic gastric surgery due to the large number of clinical cases. This review focuses on the progress in laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced stage GC in China, including reasonable approaches in different areas and oncologic efficacy of laparoscopic surgery, and introduce advanced technology to facilitate surgeons to rapidly overcome the learning curve in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: No specialized prognostic model for patients with gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis (GCPM) exists for intraoperative clinical decision making. This study aims to establish a new prognostic model to provide individual treatment decisions for patients with GCPM. Method: This retrospective analysis included 324 patients with GCPM diagnosed pathologically by laparoscopy from January 2007 to January 2018 who were randomly assigned to different sets (227 in the training set and 97 in the internal validation set). A nomogram was established from preoperative and intraoperative variables determined by a Cox model. The predictive ability and clinical applicability of the PM nomogram (PMN) were compared with the 15th Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma (JCGC) Staging Guidelines for PM (P1abc). Additional external validation was performed using a dataset (n = 39) from the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China. Results: The median survival time was 8 (range, 1–90) months. In the training set, each PMN substage had significantly different survival curves (P < 0.001), and the PMN was superior to the P1abc based on the results of time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve, C-index, Akaike information criterion and likelihood ratio chi-square analyses. In the internal and external validation sets, the PMN was also better than the P1abc in terms of its predictive ability. Of the PMN1 patients, those undergoing palliative resection had better overall survival (OS) than those undergoing exploratory surgery (P < 0.05). Among the patients undergoing exploratory surgery, those who received chemotherapy exhibited better OS than those who did not (P < 0.05). Among the patients who received palliative resection, only PMN1 patients exhibited better OS following chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We developed and validated a simple, specific PM model for patients with GCPM that can predict prognosis well and guide treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources are one of the important factors affecting the sustainable development of China. If we could fundamentally solve the water environmental problems, it will contribute to national security and social stability quite a lot. Based on the “driving force—pressure—state—impact— response—management” model, a water environment safety evaluation index system in China was constructed, and the water environment safety of 30 provinces and cities in China except for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Tibet was comprehensively evaluated by the entropy right Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, then the nuclear density function is adopted to analyze the dynamic trend of water environment safety evolution in China. The results show that: the response subsystem in the evaluation index system accounted for the largest proportion of urban water supply and drainage channel density index of the water environment safety contribution to the largest; China’s water environment safety level overall is low, Shanghai is the highest, Hainan is the lowest; Chinese provinces and cities water environment safety level steadily rising trend, the middle area of the right-tailing phenomenon is serious. To improve the safety of the water environment, a series of safeguards are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute aorta dissection (AD) is a fatal emergency, however, studies addressing the clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of acute AD in young adult patients aged under 45 years in China are very few. Methods: A retrospective study including 490 patients with acute AD as the final diagnosis was conducted. Patients' demographics, clinical characteristics, medical history, and laboratory and diagnostic imaging findings were retrieved from medical records. Results: The median age of young adult patients with acute AD was 38 years old with an interquartile range from 33 to 41. Male and smoker constituted 84.49% and 50.61% of the cohort, respectively. Hypertension was found in 54.49%, while Marfan syndrome was seen in 4.29% of the patients. Abrupt onset of chest or back pain was the most common symptoms (85.31%), while altered consciousness, coma and oliguria were less reported. Most patients (89.39%) were managed with surgical interventions. Typical complications (central nervous system complications, spinal cord ischemia, myocardial ischemia/infarction, mesenteric ischemia/infarction and acute renal failure) were seen in a small portion of treated patients during perioperative period. For in-hospital mortality there were 24 (∼5%) cases recorded. Correlation analysis indicated that perioperative complications were associated with the length of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (P < 0.0001), and mortality after surgery correlated history of prior cardiac surgery (P = 0.043). Conclusion: CPB and prior cardiac surgery were associated with perioperative complications and mortality after surgery, respectively. The findings are valuable to the further refinement of diagnosis and surgical management of patients with acute aortic dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address climate change, an assessment of carbon sequestration and emission reduction potential resulting from the current utilization of crop residues was conducted in China. In 2020, crop residue production increased to 737.5 × 106 tons with maize in Northeast China identified as the primary driver, compared to 2001. Currently, 82.3 % was collected and used either as fertilizer (62.3 %), feed (16.0 %), energy (9.6 %), cultural substrate (0.8 %), or raw materials (1.1 %). The comprehensive utilization of crop residue offered 62.6 × 106 t C eq yr−1 in offsetting carbon emissions, equal to 27.7 % of the nation's agricultural carbon emissions. Notably, 58.3 %, 22.2 %, and 19.5 % were contributed by used as fertilizer, feed, and energy, respectively. North China (27.0 %) and the Middle-Low Yangtze River (23.6 %) were the most important contributors. Therefore, vast potentials exist to achieve carbon neutrality through efficiency and judicious allocation of crop residue as a precious resource in China and the globe. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a citation analysis of the importance of journal material and interdisciplinary journals. It was conducted by Faculty in Departments of Surveying and mapping at Wuhan University in Wuhan, China between 1994 and 2003. In China, there are fifty surveying and mapping faculties distributed in over twenty universities, with 20,000 students. Citation analysis methods may be divided into global and local. This citation analysis of the publications of faculty at Wuhan University has been very important for the university librarians with responsibility for journal subscriptions and may provide useful information for collection development. The list of the most cited foreign journals may serve as a guide for faculty to identify journal titles for potential publications. At the same time, during this consultation process, the library staff may obtain beneficial views about collection development from faculty. The journals that were of higher citation frequency and lacking in the collection should be considered for subscription, and those of lower citation frequency should be considered for cancellation.

The Damoqujia gold deposit in the Jiaodong Peninsula in eastern China contains more than 60 t of gold and is hosted mainly by Mesozoic granitoids. The orebodies comprise pyrite–sericite–silica altered rocks and exhibit Jiaojia‐type mineralization. Although the Damoqujia deposit is an important gold producer in the Zhaoping Fault Zone, the age and tectonic setting of metallogenesis are poorly constrained. Here, we employ precise U–Pb dating of zircon and 40Ar/39Ar dating of hydrothermal sericite from the Damoqujia gold deposit to constrain the age of mineralization, which we integrate with previous studies to understand the tectonic setting of the deposit. The major intrusions exposed in the deposit are the Jurassic monzogranite to the west and the Cretaceous granodiorite to the east. Uranium–Pb dating of zircon from the monzogranite, granodiorite, pre‐ore hydrothermally altered lamprophyre dyke, and post‐ore unaltered gabbro–diorite dyke yield concordia ages of 160 ± 1, 130 ± 1, 125 ± 1, and 120 ± 1 Ma, respectively. Based on these geochronological data, we suggest that the age of gold mineralization at Damuqujia occurred at 124–121 Ma. Sericite from the auriferous quartz–pyrite veinlet in the Damoqujia deposit yields a plateau age of 122.8 ± 0.9 Ma, representing the precise age of gold mineralization. Our geochronological data indicate that gold mineralization occurred at 123 Ma and are consistent with the timing of the main gold mineralization event in the Jiaobei Terrane at 125–120 Ma. The geodynamic setting of the study area during this time is generally considered to have been dominated by subduction of the Palaeo‐Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent, with accompanying lithospheric delamination, asthenospheric upwelling, and intense craton destruction. The gold mineralization at Damoqujia was closely associated with continental extension during the Mesozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise and reliable long-term streamflow prediction contributes to water resources planning and management. Artificial neural network (ANN) have shown its remarkable ability in forecasting non-linear hydrological processes without involvement of complex, dynamic, hydrological and hydro-climatologic physical process in the water shed. To improve its non-stationary responses, decomposition methods are adopted as pre-processing methods in this study including Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) and Seasonal-Trend decomposition using Loess (STL). The original time sequence is decomposed to several components, which are then taken as the inputs of the ANN model. EMD and EEMD are data- adaptable methods, and thus the number of Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) might differ for different sequences, leading to the discrepancy of the input number for ANN model in training and predicting. Fisher's ordered clustering is thus used to classify the IMFs into a determined number of classes based on their frequency spectrum resulting from Maximum Entropy Spectral Analysis (MESA). The proposed methodology is applied on four important hydrological stations on the upper stream of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River in China, respectively, to forecast the streamflow of the next whole year with the historical daily data of the past 6 years. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies of the monthly prediction are higher than 0.85 for all of the four cases, and various indicators indicates that the proposed hybrid method of STL-ANN performs better than other compared methods. The highlights of this study lies in that only historical daily streamflow data is used to derive an accurate long-term prediction by data mining based on decomposition technology and mapping relationships between the decomposed components and the original sequence in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The systematics of the subgenus Eothenomys (Cricetidae: Arvicolinae) is controversial because of the morphological similarity among species and the incomplete sampling of taxa. Here, we gather specimens of Oriental voles from throughout their distributions. We sequence and analyse two mitochondrial and three nuclear gene segments. A principal components analysis serves to evaluate morphological variation among taxa of the subgenera Eothenomys and Ermites. Our analyses support recent revisions on the systematics of Eothenomys as follows: (1) Eothenomys melanogaster colurnus requires elevation to a valid species; (2) subgenus Eothenomys includes the species Eothenomys colurnus, E. cachinus, E. eleusis, E. fidelis, E. melanogaster, E. miletus and an unidentified taxon; (3) Eothenomys melanogaster libonotus and E. miletus confinii are junior synonyms of E. cachinus ; Eothenomys melanogaster kanoi is a junior synonym of E. colurnus ; and (4) one unidentified taxon of subgenus Eothenomys and three unidentified taxa of subgenus Ermites constitute new species, which we describe as Eothenomys shimianensis sp. nov. E. jinyangensis sp. nov. E. meiguensis sp. nov. and E. luojishanensis sp. nov. respectively. Our analyses indicate that the teeth of Oriental voles present extensive heteromorphosis. A species of subgenus Eothenomys from an isolated area may possess two or three tooth patterns. The three unidentified species of subgenus Ermites are ecological sky-island species whose origins are attributable to rapid adaptive evolution caused by ecosystem isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have investigated the use of dexmedetomidine in patients with a high risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following gynaecological laparoscopic surgery.Objective: To investigate if the intra-operative use of dexmedetomidine could reduce the incidence of PONV in this patient population.Design: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Setting: A tertiary hospital in Beijing, China.Patients: 130 adult patients scheduled for gynaecological laparoscopic surgery.Interventions: Patients in the dexmedetomidine group (Dex group, n = 65) received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg kg over 10 min) before induction of anaesthesia, followed by a continuous infusion (0.1 μg kg h) until the end of surgery. Patients in the control group (Ctrl group, n = 65) received volume-matched normal saline. Propofol and remifentanil were used for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with morphine was provided after surgery.Main Outcome Measures: The incidence of 24-h PONV.Results: The incidence of nausea within the first 2 postoperative hours was lower in the Dex group than in the Ctrl group [0% (0/65) vs. 9% (6/65), P = 0.037]. The overall incidence of PONV within the first 2 postoperative hours was slightly lower in the Dex group than in the Ctrl group, but the difference was not statistically significant [5% (3/65) vs. 14% (9/65), P = 0.069]. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the incidence of 24-h PONV.Conclusion: For adult patients undergoing gynaecological laparoscopic surgery, supplemental use of dexmedetomidine during general anaesthesia reduced the incidence of early postoperative nausea but not vomiting within the 24 h after surgery.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IPR-15006914. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is now in the process of building its national carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS). Data are the foundation for the design and operation of an ETS. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the data requirements for China's national ETS construction and the existing ETS-related data for enterprises in China. In doing so, it identifies the underlying data gap in building China's national ETS in terms of data availability and data quality. Based on the experiences of international ETSs, and experiences at national and pilot levels in China, we propose two short-term strategies and four long-term solutions to meet the challenges from technical and management perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Little has been reported about the demographic and clinical features of major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid dysthymia in Chinese patients. This study examined the frequency of comorbid dysthymia in Chinese MDD patients together with the demographic and clinical correlates and prescribing patterns of psychotropic drugs. Methods Consecutively collected sample of 1178 patients with MDD were examined in 13 major psychiatric hospitals in China. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and psychotropic drugs prescriptions were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. The diagnosis of dysthymia was established using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Medications ascertained included antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers. Results One hundred and three (8.7%) patients fulfilled criteria for dysthymia. In multiple logistic regression analyses, compared to non-dysthymia counterparts, MDD patients with dysthymia had more depressive episodes with atypical features including increased appetite, sleep, and weight gain, more frequent lifetime depressive episodes, and less likelihood of family history of psychiatric disorders. There was no significant difference in the pattern of psychotropic prescription between the 2 groups. Conclusions There are important differences in the demographic and clinical features of comorbid dysthymia in Chinese MDD patients compared with previous reports. The clinical profile found in this study has implications for treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), which has led to millions of attacks and several outbreaks across the world and become more predominant in Asia-Pacific Region, especially in Mainland China, is caused by several Human Enteroviruses including new enterovirus, coxsakievirus and echovirus. In recent years, much research has focused on the epidemiological characteristics of HFMD. In this article, multiple characteristics of HFMD such as basic epidemiology, etiology and molecular epidemiology; influencing factors; detection; and surveillance are reviewed, as these can be help protect high risks groups, prevalence prediction and policy making for disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acupuncture is considered to be an effective and safe treatment for obese and overweight patients, although high-quality evidence regarding the effects of acupuncture on obesity are not conclusive. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture plus lifestyle modification for treating obese and overweight patients, in comparison with lifestyle modification alone in China.Methods/design: To compare the effectiveness of acupuncture plus lifestyle modification, a 2-armed, controlled trial with randomization using minimization will be conducted on 150 simple obesity and overweight patients, aged 18-50 years, for a 36-week study duration. All patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups and will receive either acupuncture plus lifestyle modification or lifestyle modification alone. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline and at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks during treatment as well as at 6-week, 12-week, and 24-week follow-up. The primary endpoint is change of body mass index (BMI) during the 12th week. Secondary endpoints are body weight; waist-to-hip ratio; biochemical tests including serum cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels; and answers to the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lite Version (IWQOL-Lite). Statistical analyses will be based on the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle. The main endpoint will be analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and the objective outcome results will be analyzed by logistic regression analysis. To avoid potential confounding factors, additional sensitivity analyses will be conducted following these statistical analyses.Discussion: This trial is the first to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture plus lifestyle modification for treating obesity relative to lifestyle modification treatment alone by using a pragmatic study design. We hope that the results of this study will contribute to advancing the current methodology of acupuncture trials for obesity and will facilitate the application of useful acupuncture strategies in real-world clinical settings.Trial Registration: ChiCTR-TRC- 12002762 . The date of registration is 31 October 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By reviewing and analyzing relative literature on functional gastrointestinal disorders from the last decade on China's National Knowledge Internet, it was found that acupuncture and medication combined had a definite and lasting clinical effect in the treatment of these diseases. On the basis of reviewing the relative studies, the features and laws of this therapy was concluded. Further thoughts on this combined strategy are also given from the aspect of diagnosis, treatment, and so on. There are 25 references in total. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical compositions of soil samples are multivariate in nature and provide datasets suitable for the application of multivariate factor analytical techniques. One of the analytical techniques, the positive matrix factorization (PMF), uses a weighted least square by fitting the data matrix to determine the weights of the sources based on the error estimates of each data point. In this research, PMF was employed to apportion the sources of heavy metals in 104 soil samples taken within a 1-km radius of a lead battery plant contaminated site in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China. The site is heavily contaminated with high concentrations of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). PMF successfully partitioned the variances into sources related to soil background, agronomic practices, and the lead battery plants combined with a geostatistical approach. It was estimated that the lead battery plants and the agronomic practices contributed 55.37 and 29.28 %, respectively, for soil Pb of the total source. Soil Cd mainly came from the lead battery plants (65.92 %), followed by the agronomic practices (21.65 %), and soil parent materials (12.43 %). This research indicates that PMF combined with geostatistics is a useful tool for source identification and apportionment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency and feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with Sonovue in assessing of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) following ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA). Patients and methods. Seventy-nine patients (60 males and 19 females) with 83 lesions (mean size 3.2±1.6 cm) were treated by US-guided percutaneous MWA. The CEUS results of the third day after the ablation were compared with the synchronous contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results and biopsy pathological results. The follow-up was performed by CEUS and CT/MRI after 1, 3, 6 months and every 6 months subsequently. The combination of clinical follow-up results and CT/MRI imaging findings was the reference standard of CEUS results for evaluating the therapeutic effect. The identification of residual or recurrence tumour was assessed by two blinded radiologists. Results. On the third day after MWA, CEUS showed 68 of 83 lesions (68/83, 81.9%) successfully ablated and 15 of 83 (18.1%) with residual tumours. Among residual tumours, 13 (86.7%) were confirmed by contrast-enhanced CT/MRI findings and biopsy results. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value of CEUS evaluating the short-term MWA effectiveness were 100%, 97.1%, 97.6%, 86.7% and 100%, respectively. During the six years follow-up (median 26 months), the CEUS showed recurrence in 7 patients, and six of them achieved consistent results on CEUS and CT/MRI imaging. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value for CEUS evaluating long-term MWA effectiveness were 85.7%, 98.7%, 97.6%, 85.7% and 98.7%, respectively. Conclusions. The post-procedural CEUS demonstrated as an effective and feasible method in evaluating a therapeutic effect of RCCs following MWA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Bipolar disorder ( BD) is frequently misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder ( MDD), which may lead to inappropriate treatment and poor outcomes. This study aimed to compare demographic and clinical features between patients with MDD and those with BD, but being misdiagnosed as MDD, in China. Methods A total of 1487 patients diagnosed with MDD were consecutively evaluated in 13 psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric units of general hospitals nationwide in China. The patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview ( MINI) was used to establish DSM- IV diagnoses, and identify patients with MDD and those with BD, but being misdiagnosed with MDD. Results The proportions of BD (all types), bipolar I disorder ( BD-I), and bipolar II disorder ( BD- II) misdiagnosed as MDD in clinical practice were 20.8%, 7.9%, and 12.8%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that compared to MDD patients, BD-I was characterized by more atypical depressive features (increased appetite, increased sleep, and weight gain) [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.2-3.2], more psychotic symptoms ( OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.5), more lifetime depressive episodes ( OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.1-1.2), and earlier age of onset ( OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.9-0.99); BD- II was characterized by more psychotic symptoms ( OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.4-3.1) and earlier age of onset ( OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.9-0.97). In addition, compared to BD- II patients, BD-I patients were characterized by more frequent depressive episodes per year ( OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5-6.6). Conclusions Depressive episodes in the context of BD-I and BD- II, among those who were misclassified as MDD, present some different clinical features compared to MDD. This finding should be taken into account in guiding diagnostic practices in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Bipolar disorder (BD) is frequently misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD), which may lead to inappropriate treatment and poor outcomes. This study aimed to examine prescribing patterns of antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers in BD patients misdiagnosed with MDD in China. Methods A total of 1487 patients originally diagnosed with MDD were consecutively screened for diagnostic revision in 13 psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric units of general hospitals in China nationwide. The patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to establish DSM-IV diagnoses. Data on psychotropic prescriptions were collected by a review of medical records. Results Three hundred and nine of the 1487 patients (20.8%) fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for BD; 118 (7.9%) for BD-I and 191 (12.8%) for BD-II on the MINI. Of the BD patients ( n = 309), 227 (73.5%) received any use of antidepressants, 73 (23.6%) antipsychotics and 33 (10.7%) mood stabilizers. In multiple logistic regression analyses, compared with those with MDD, patients with BD-I were more likely to receive antidepressants (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8, p = 0.02), antipsychotics (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.04-2.5, p = 0.04) and mood stabilizers (OR 3.9, 95% CI 2.1-7.2, p < 0.001), whereas patients with BD-II were more likely to receive mood stabilizers (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.4, p = 0.003). There was no difference in the use of antidepressants (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.5, p = 0.7) and antipsychotics (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.9, p = 0.2) between BD-II and MDD. In addition, there was no difference between BD-I and BD-II in any use of antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. Conclusions The prescription of antidepressants for BD patients misdiagnosed with MDD is very common, and only a very small proportion of patients received guideline-concordant treatment. Considering the potentially hazardous effects of inappropriate pharmacotherapy in this population, continuing education and training addressing the correct diagnosis of BD and rational use of psychotropic medications are needed in China. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has been reported to be associated with autoimmune and pro-inflammatory response, and genetic polymorphisms of candidate genes involved in autoimmune and pro-inflammatory response may influence the susceptibility to NHL. To evaluate the role of such genetic variations in risk of NHL, we conducted a casecontrol study of 514 NHL patients and 557 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population. Method: We used the Taqman assay to genotype six potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in six previously reported inflammation and immune-related genes (TNF rs1799964T>C, LTA rs1800683G>A, IL-10 rs1800872T>G, LEP rs2167270G>A, LEPR rs1327118C>G, TNFAIP8 rs1045241C>T). Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: We observed a significantly increased risk of NHL associated with the TNFAIP8 rs1045241C>T polymorphism (adjusted OR = 3.03; 95% CI = 1.68-5.45 for TT vs. CC and adjusted OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.53-2.69 for CT/TT vs. CC). The risk associated with the T allele was more evident in subgroups of 40-60 year-old, non-smokers or light-smokers (less than 25 pack-years), and subjects with normal weight or overweight. Risk for both B and T cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was elevated for CT/TT genotypes (adjusted OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.41-2.70 for B cell NHL and adjusted OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.49- 3.30 for T cell NHL), particularly for DLBCL (adjusted OR = 2.01, 95%CI = 1.41-2.85) and FL (adjusted OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.17- 5.45). These risks were not observed for variant genotypes of other five SNPs compared with their common homozygous genotypes. Conclusions: The polymorphism of TNFAIP8 rs1045241C.T may contribute to NHL susceptibility in a Chinese population. Further large-scale and well-designed studies are needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer used in industrial and diverse consumer products. Animal studies indicate DEHP caused developmental, reproductive, and hepatic toxicities. However, human studies of the potential effects of DEHP are limited. Methods: The exposed site with a history of over 20 years of waste plastic recycling was located in Hunan Province, China. The reference site without known DEHP pollution source was about 50 km far away from the exposed site. In this study, 181 workers working in plastic waste recycling and 160 gender-age matched farmers were recruited. DEHP concentrations in water and cultivated soil samples, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and micronuclei frequency in human capillary blood lymphocytes were analyzed. Results: Mean levels of DEHP were greater in environment at the recycling site than at reference site (industry wastewater for the exposed: 42.43 μg/l; well water: 14.20 vs. 0.79 μg/l, pond water: 135.68 vs. 0.37 μg/l, cultivated soil: 13.07 vs. 0.81 mg/kg, p < 0.05 for all). The workers had higher median levels of MDA (3.80 vs. 3.14 nmol/ml) and urinary 8-OHdG (340.37 vs. 268.18 μmol/mol creatinine) and decreased SOD activities (112.15 vs. 123.82 U/ml) than the reference group ( p < 0.01 for all). Multivariate analysis revealed that the history of working in waste plastic recycling was an independent risk factor for the increased urinary 8-OHdG levels in the male workers ( p < 0.01). Conclusions: The occupational DEHP exposure might contribute to oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid damage in the male workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, arid desert ecosystems in northwest China, covering one-fourth the country's land surface, have experienced a rapid decline in plant species diversity, productivity and soil carbon stock owing to degradation by overgrazing. In this study, plant community composition, diversity and productivity, as well as soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, were monitored over 26 years from 1981 to 2006 in a severely degraded Haloxylon ammodendron-dominated shrubland where livestock densities were reduced from 4-5 to 1-2 dry sheep equivalent ha. The objective was to assess long-term grazing effects on vegetation and soil C and N accumulation dynamics. Results showed that the reduction of grazing pressure significantly increased vegetation cover, plant diversity and productivity, resulting primarily from an increase in livestock-preferred species. Controlled grazing also led to marked increases in soil C and N stocks in the top 30 cm of soil. This increase was strongly associated with increased plant species richness, vegetation cover and biomass production. Averaged over 26 years, soil C and N accumulated at rates of 89.9 g C and 8.4 g N m year, respectively, but rates of C and N accumulation varied greatly at different time periods. The greatest species regeneration occurred in the first 8 years, but the largest C and N accumulation took place during years 9-18, with a time-lag in response to changes in vegetation. Our results provide insights into the long-term recovery patterns of different ecosystem components from the influence of prolonged overgrazing disturbance that cannot be inferred from a short-term study. The findings are important for assessing the resilience of these livestock-disturbed desert ecosystems and developing a more effective strategy for the management of this important biome from a long-term perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Although herbs have long been alternatively applied for cancer treatment in China, its treatment effects and their potential mechanisms have not been sufficiently investigated. The chinese herb Spatholobus suberectus (SS) is commonly prescribed to cancer patients. In this study, the anti-cancer effect of SS and its molecular mechanisms have been investigated. Materials and methods: The effect of SS on cell proliferation was studied by cell growth assay and flow cytometry on breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and colon cancer cell line HT-29. The role of SS in apoptosis was studied by flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation assay and mitochondrial membrane potential assay. Expression of proteins associated with cell cycle and apoptosis was determined by Western blot analysis. The in vivo effect of SS was tested in nude mouse cancer xenografts. Results: Cell growth assay showed that SS effectively inhibits tumor cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis showed that SS could arrest the cell cycle at G2/M checkpoint, which is associated with DNA damage and activation of phosphor-Chk1/Chk2. The pro-apoptotic effect of SS was demonstrated by Annexin V-PI staining and mitochondrial membrane potential assay. In vivo experiments show that the efficiency of SS alone group was superior to docetaxel or to docetaxel and SS combined. No obvious body weight loss or blood toxicity was observed in SS tested animals. Conclusions: Our data demonstrates that SS is a potential herb for cancer treatment by inhibiting tumor growth via induction of apoptosis and arrest of the cell cycle at G2/M phase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Please cite this paper as: Wang et al. (2010) Emergency surveillance of influenza during 2009 in the Chinese city of Qingdao. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 5(1), 53-59. In April, 2009, a new influenza pandemic caused by a swine-origin H1N1 subtype influenza virus was imminent. We thereby carried out an emergency surveillance study in a Chinese city of Qingdao. Pharyngeal swab samples were collected from four targeted groups and tested by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Each laboratory-confirmed pandemic H1N1 case or cluster was investigated, and the hemagglutinin genes of some of the viruses were sequenced and analyzed. A total of 140 pandemic H1N1 cases including 92 from 7 clusters were identified in the four targeted groups. None of them developed into severe infections. Meanwhile, 103 cases of seasonal influenza (98 H3N2 and 5 H1N1) and 10 clusters of seasonal H3N2 influenza were also identified. Among them, 38 pandemic H1N1 and two seasonal H3N2 influenza cases were air travellers, suggesting that air travel facilitates the spread of pandemic and seasonal influenza even in the northern hemisphere summer. In addition, it was found that pandemic H1N1 and seasonal H3N2 influenza viruses co-circulated in two clusters. No significant mutations were found in the hemagglutinin gene sequences of pandemic H1N1 viruses, but the seasonal H3N2 influenza viruses have become genetically distinguishable from those circulating in 2007-2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface soils from Guiyu, China (an intense e-waste processing center) were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and variations in composition of the resident bacterial communities. Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene showed that e-waste pollution altered the bacterial community structure by promoting changes in species composition and species richness. Bacterial diversity was not decreased at e-waste open-burning sites, compared with a non e-waste site (reservoir site), due to flourishing of possible POPs-consuming bacterial cohorts. PAH-incubated experiments confirmed that different levels of PAHs might affect the bacterial community by suppressing or favoring certain groups of bacteria, for instance, uncultured Clostridium sp. and Massilia sp., respectively. Taxonomic analysis indicated β-proteobacteria and Firmicutes were abundant bacterial lineages in PAH-polluted soils. This study is the first reporting bacterial community structures at e-waste processing sites, and indicated that crude processing of e-waste has become a biohazard to the terrestrial environment warranting more extensive studies of microbial communities at e-waste polluted environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the protective role of crocetin, a natural antioxidant, against cytotoxicity produced by exposure to norepinephrine (NE) in primary cultured rat cardiac myocytes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ in cells were evaluated by fluorescence microplate reader using 6-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorofluorescein and fluoro-3-acetoxymethyl ester, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was quantified using thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and contents of glutathione (GSH) were detected by xanthine/xanthime oxidase-mediated ferricytochrome c reduction assay, and recycling effection of glutathione disulfide with GSH reductase and NADPH, respectively. The apoptotic cells were assayed by fluorescein diacetate (FDA)-ethidium bromide (EB) two-staining method. Intracellular accumulation of ROS, Ca2+, and products of lipid peroxidation resulting from NE were significantly reduced by crocetin. Preincubation of primary cultured rat cardiac myocytes with crocetin remarkably prevented the decrease in SOD activity and quantities of GSH induced by NE. The percentage of NE-induced apoptosis in the cells was decreased by FDA-EB two-staining assay after pretreated with crocetin. The results showed that crocetin may ameliorate NE-induced injury in cardiac myocytes by enhanced SOD activity and increased quantities of GSH, decreased lipid peroxidation and Ca2+ in cells, and apoptosis death ratio that may represent the cellular mechanisms for its cardioprotective role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]