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Background Smart bracelets are increasingly used in chronic disease management, which help improve patient adherence and motivation to exercise interventions, but more evidence for their long-term effectiveness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the community needs to be explored. Objective To develop an intervention model for community-dwelling type 2 diabetes patients using smart bracelets, and to assess its long-term effectiveness in these patients. Methods From July to August 2018, this study selected 11 community health institutions from 11 districts of Guangzhou (one from each district) as study settings. And from each setting, 10-15 T2DM patients were selected (intervention group), and were compared to sex-matched and age-matched (+/- two years) T2DM patients (control group). The intervention was carried out from September 2018 to August 2019 in two groups, both received standardized health management services provided by the family physician team and underwent the exercise prescribed by an exercise prescriber. The intervention group additionally received health monitoring and management via wearing a smart bracelet, and set personalized exercise challenge goals under the guidance of an exercise prescriber. The score of the Chinese version of Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure (SDSCA-C), comprehensive assessment indicators, and attainment rates of key glycemic indicators were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention. Results Ninety-two patients in the control group and 144 patients in the intervention group completed one-year intervention and follow-up. After the intervention, the subscale scores of dietary management and foot care management and the total score of SDSCA-C increased notably in the intervention group (P0.05). Two groups had no statistically significant differences in all comprehensive assessment indicators at baseline (P>0.05). After one year of intervention, besides a decrease was found in total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B in both groups, a reduction was found in waist circumference in the intervention group, and in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triacylglycerol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the control group (P

Because antibiotics are regularly used for chicken, food safety is of utmost importance, and health experts pay attention to the effect antibiotics could have on human health. This study examines [...]

Mechanical hill wet-seeded rice machine is beneficial for establishing and growing uniform rows of seedlings. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of the establishment of furrows on growth, lodging and yield, and their relationships with root traits. In this study, field experiments were conducted during 2012 and 2013 using two super rice varieties (hybrid rice Peizataifeng and inbred rice Yuxiangyouzhan) under three furrow establishment treatments (T1, both water and seed furrows were established by the machine; T2, only seed furrows were established by the machine; and T3, neither water nor seed furrows were established by the machine). Lodging index, lodging-related traits, grain yield, above-ground dry weight and root traits were measured. The results showed that the lodging index was significantly affected by the treatments with furrows (T1 and T2). The strongest lodging resistance was detected in the mechanical hill wet-seeded rice with furrow treatment (T1) in both 2012 and 2013. Lodging resistance was strongly related to the breaking resistance. No significant difference was found in grain yield or dry weight of the mechanical hill wet-seeded rice. Therefore, the mechanical hill wet-seeded rice with furrow treatment increased rice lodging resistance, which was related to root traits.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FXYD domain-containing ion transport regulator 6 (FXYD6) mRNA and protein in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues with cirrhosis, the corresponding paracancerous tissues and the normal liver tissues, and to explore the clinical significance of FXYD6 expression in HBV-related HCC with cirrhosis.

Leisure activities, particularly physically and cognitively stimulating leisure activities, mitigate cognitive decline. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between mahjong playing, leisure physical activity, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Older adults with and without MCI were recruited (n = 489, healthy group; and n = 187, MCI group). The regression results showed that years of mahjong playing (odds ratio = 0.595, 95% confidence interval [0.376, 0.961], p =.032) and physical activity (odds ratio = 0.572, 95% confidence interval [0.381, 0.849], p =.012) were associated with reduced odds of having MCI after adjusting for a series of covariates. Leisure physical activity and mahjong playing interacted with each other and produced combined effects on the odds of having MCI. Combined cognitive and physical interventions may produce larger benefits on cognition than either intervention alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa) (DSR) is gaining increasing acceptance worldwide because it saves both time and labor. A covering treatment is a simple method to improve early plant growth under direct-seeding conditions. Herein, field experiments were conducted to study the effects of different powdered organic covering materials, i.e., organic fertilizer, seedling substrate, nutrient soil A, and nutrient soil B. In addition, the effects of different covering thicknesses were studied, including 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm, on the germination and early growth of DSR varieties. The two rice varieties Wufengyou 286 and Zhongjiazao 17 were used for this study. The seedling substrate at 15 mm and nutrient soil A at 5 mm covering thickness significantly increased the rate of germination of Wufengyou 286 by 43.93% and 40.26%, respectively, compared to the control treatment. Organic fertilizer, seedling substrate, and nutrient soil A at covering thicknesses of 5 mm significantly increased the germination rate by 42.57%, 38.62%, and 40.10%, respectively, compared to the control. Notably, all the treatments increased the emergence rate, with Wufengyou 286 exhibiting the most pronounced effect. The seedling substrate at 10 mm covering thickness significantly increased the rate of emergence of Wufengyou286 by 15.42% compared to the control. Similarly, the seedling substrate at 10 mm covering thickness gave the best results by increasing the rate of emergence of Zhongjiazao 17 by 10.85% compared to the control. On average, the rate of emergence of Wufengyou 286 and Zhongjiazao 17 under the experimental treatment increased by 11.81% and 6.45%, respectively, compared to the control. The appropriate cover treatment enhanced the early growth of DSR by improving its morphological attributes, such as plant height and dry weight, and regulating the physio-biochemical responses, such as the production of antioxidants and photosynthetic pigments. The seedling growth rate of both varieties decreased as the thickness increased. This study elucidated the effects of different covering materials on the early growth of DSR, which can further guide their actual production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]