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BackgroundIn the last several years, research related to social determinants of health (SDH) has begun to resonate in the medical, behavioral, social and political sciences arena. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between SDH and depression, and to provide new evidences and clues for depression control and prevention.Methodology/principal findingsThis research was a cross-sectional survey executed door to door from October 2006 to April 2008, with a sample of 3,738 individuals aged 18 and older in rural China. The three variables of SDH were socioeconomic status (years of schooling and self-reported economic status of family), social cohesion and negative life events. Demographic variables and self-perceived physical health were taken as potential confounders. The cross-table analysis showed that variations in levels of depression were associated with variations in SDH, and logistic regression analysis confirmed the association even after adjusting for potential confounding variables.ConclusionsAlthough there were some limitations, the current study provides initial evidence of the importance of SDH in depression. Findings indicate that social inequity and the role of policy action emphasized by SDH should be considered high priorities when addressing the issue of depression. In addition, cell-to-society and pill-to-policy approaches should be encouraged in the future.

This study presents a thermo-economic assessment of three low-global-warming-potential (GWP) substitutes, R1233zd(E), R1234ze(Z) and R1234ze(E), for R245fa used in organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems, considering two models with different heat sources. The exhaust heat from a diesel generator is served as heat source of Model I, while the waste heat of exhaust and jacket cooling water are used as heat source of Model II. It is noted that the working pressure of R1234ze(E) is much higher than that of R1233zd(E), R1234ze(Z) and R245fa in a fixed evaporation-temperature range. Furthermore, the system using R1234ze(E) has the minimum net power output for Model I, while it turns into the maximum net power output for Model II. In addition, both R1234ze(Z) and R1233zd(E) can be used as good alternative working fluids for R245fa because R1234ze(Z), R1233zd(E) and R245fa have close working pressures, maximum net power outputs, and minimum levelized energy costs. Compared to Model I, LECmin of R1233ed(E) and R1234ze(Z) are reduced by 10.8 % and 9.9 % and PBmin of R1233ed(E) and R1234ze(Z) are reduced by 11.5 % and 10.1 %, respectively, in Model II. However, R1233zd(E) has the highest minimum payback period for both Model I and Model II among the four working fluids investigated.

The purpose of the present study was to find the optimal threshold of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in Chinese individuals.A total of 8 391 subjects (including 2 133 men and 6 258 women) aged 40-90 years with gradable retinal photographs were recruited. The relationship between HbA1c and diabetic retinopathy (DR) was examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to find the optimal threshold of HbA1c in screening DR and diagnosing diabetes.HbA1c values in patients with DR were significantly higher than in those with no DR. The ROC curve for HbA1c had an area under the curve of 0.881 (95%CI 0.857-0.905; P = 0.000). HbA1c at a cutoff of 6.5% had a high sensitivity (80.6%) and specificity (86.9%) for detecting DR.HbA1c can be used to diagnose diabetes in a Chinese population, and the optimal HbA1c cutoff point for diagnosis is 6.5%.