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Objective: This study investigated the association of circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in adults. Methods: This nationwide cohort involved 23,810 Chinese adults attending annual health evaluations. Serum 25(OH)D levels, MetS status, and covariates were determined at each examination. Among them, 8146, 3310, and 1971 completed two, three, and more than three evaluations, respectively. A hybrid mixed-effects and Cox regression model was employed to determine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships. Results: The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MetS were significantly lower in individuals within quartile 4 (vs. 1) of serum 25(OH)D for both between-individual (0.43 [0.35, 0.52]) and within-individual comparisons (0.60 [0.50, 0.73]), respectively (all p-trends < 0.001). Among the MetS components, the corresponding ORs (95% CI) in between- and within-individual comparisons were 0.40 (0.29, 0.54) and 0.26 (0.19, 0.36) for abdominal obesity, 0.49 (0.41, 0.58) and 0.78 (0.66, 0.93) for high triglycerides, 0.70 (0.59, 0.82) and 0.75 (0.64, 0.87) for hypertriglyceridemia, 0.48 (0.39, 0.59) and 0.87 (0.71, 1.07) for low HDL cholesterol, and 0.92 (0.76, 1.12) and 0.49 (0.41, 0.59) for hypertension, respectively. Decreased hazard ratios (95% CIs) in quartile 4 (vs. 1) of 25(OH)D were found for MetS (0.80 [0.65, 1.00]), high triglycerides (0.76 [0.62, 0.92]), abdominal obesity (0.77 [0.63, 0.96]), and low HDL cholesterol (0.64 [0.50, 0.81]). Conclusions: Decreased concentrations of serum 25(OH)D correlate significantly to a heightened MetS risk and specific components. Our findings underscore the potential preventive function of circulating vitamin D concerning metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PCL-based biodegradable shape-memory polymers (SMPs) are limited in strength, which restricts their practical applications. In this study, a series of novel SMPs, composed of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN), and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), were synthesized and cross-linked using planar (benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, BTC) or non-planar (glycerol, GC) cross-linkers via the one-pot method. The influence of different kinds of cross-linkers and hard segments of copolyesters on the thermal properties, crystallization behavior, mechanical properties, shape-memory performance, and degradability was investigated by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, DSC, DMA, TGA, XRD, tensile test, intrinsic viscosity measurement, and in vitro enzymatic degradation test. The results indicate that the tensile strength of the copolyester can be significantly improved from 27.8 to 53.2 MPa by partially replacing PET with PEN while maintaining its shape-memory characteristics. Moreover, a small amount of cross-linking modification leads to higher temperature sensitivity, improved shape recovery rate at third round (Rr(3) = 99.1%), and biodegradability in the cross-linked PET/PEN/PCL shape-memory polymers. By changing the crystallization morphology and cross-linking forms of the material, we have developed a shape-memory polymer with both high strength and a high shape recovery rate, which provides a new strategy for the development of shape-memory materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy foods are crucial for adequate calcium intake in young children, but scarce data are available on the effects of formula milk on bone acquisition. This cluster-randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of the supplementation of formula milk on bone health in rural children accustomed to a low-calcium diet between September 2021 and September 2022. We recruited 196 healthy children aged 4–6 years from two kindergartens in Huining County, Northwest China. A class-based randomization was used to assign them to receive 60 g of formula milk powder containing 720 mg calcium and 4.5 µg vitamin D or 20–30 g of bread per day for 12 months, respectively. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at the left forearm and calcaneus, bone biomarkers, bone-related hormones/growth factors, and body measures were determined at baseline, 6, and 12 months. A total of 174 children completed the trial and were included in the analysis. Compared with the control group, formula milk intervention showed significant extra increments in BMD (3.77% and 6.66%) and BMC (4.55% and 5.76%) at the left forearm at 6th and 12th months post-intervention (all p < 0.001), respectively. Similar trends were observed in BMD (2.83%) and BMC (2.38%) in the left calcaneus at 6 months (p < 0.05). The milk intervention (vs. control) also showed significant changes in the serum concentrations of osteocalcin level (−7.59%, p = 0.012), 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D (+5.54%, p = 0.001), parathyroid hormone concentration (−15.22%, p = 0.003), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (+8.36%, p = 0.014). The percentage increases in height were 0.34%, 0.45%, and 0.42% higher in the milk group than in the control group after 3-, 6-, and 9-month intervention, respectively (p < 0.05). In summary, formula milk supplementation enhances bone acquisition at the left forearm in young Chinese children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to prospectively investigate the relationships between different types of dietary protein and changes in bone mass in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people. Dietary intakes were evaluated by means of a validated food frequency questionnaire. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using a dual-energy bone densitometer at multiple bone sites. Multivariable regression models were applied to investigate the associations of the participants' dietary intakes of total protein, intakes of protein from various sources, and amino acid intakes with the annualized changes in BMD during a 3-year follow-up. A total of 1987 participants aged 60.3 ± 4.9 years were included in the analyses. Multivariable linear regression results showed that dietary intakes of total protein, animal protein, and protein from white meat were positively correlated with BMD changes, with standardized coefficients (β) of 0.104, 0.073, and 0.074 at the femur neck (p < 0.01) and 0.118, 0.067, and 0.067 at the trochanter (p < 0.01), respectively. With each increase of 0.1g·kg−1·d−1 in animal protein and white meat protein intakes, the BMD losses were reduced by 5.40 and 9.24 mg/cm2 at the femur neck (p < 0.05) and 1.11 and 1.84 mg/cm2 at the trochanter (p < 0.01), respectively. Our prospective data, obtained from Chinese adults, showed that dietary total and animal protein, especially protein from white meat, could significantly reduce bone loss at the femur neck and trochanter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel method based on a dual-cavity fiber Fabry–Pérot interferometer (DCFFPI) for simultaneously measuring the thermo-optic coefficient (TOC) and thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of a polymer. The polymer is, by nature, highly responsive to temperature (T) in that its size (length, L) and refractive index (RI, n) are highly dependent on the thermal effect. When the optical length of the polymer cavity changes with T, it is difficult to distinguish whether there is a change in L or n, or both. The variation rates of L and n with a change in T were the TOC and TEC, respectively. Therefore, there was a cross-sensitivity between TOC and TEC in the polymer-based interferometer. The proposed DCFFPI, which cascades a polymer and an air cavity, can solve the above problem. The expansion of the polymer cavity is equal to the compression of the air cavity with the increase in T. By analyzing the individual optical spectra of the polymer and air cavities, the parameters of TOC and TEC can be determined at the same time. The simultaneous measurement of TOC and TEC with small measured deviations of 6 × 10−6 (°C−1) and 3.67 × 10−5 (°C−1) for the polymer NOA61 and 7 × 10−6 (°C−1) and 1.46 × 10−4 (°C−1) for the NOA65 can be achieved. Experimental results regarding the measured accuracy for the class of adhesive-based polymer are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and verify the usefulness of the proposed DCFFPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that dietary acid load (DAL) harms bone health, but the evidence is inconsistent and insufficient. This study examined the relationships between DAL and the risk of hip fracture. This case–control study contained 1070 pairs of 1:1 age-, city-, and gender-matched incident cases and controls (mean age, 71 years) recruited in Guangdong, China. Dietary information was collected using a validated 79-item food frequency questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. DAL was estimated based on established algorithms for the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP). Higher PRAL and NEAP were dose-dependently associated with a higher risk of hip fracture in both the conditional logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline analysis after adjusting for potential covariates. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios and 95% CI of hip fracture for tertiles 2 and 3 (vs. 1) of DAL were 1.63 (1.18, 2.25) and 1.92 (1.36, 2.71) for PRAL and 1.81 (1.30, 2.53) and 2.55 (1.76, 3.71) for NEAP in all participants (all p-trends < 0.001), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed more pronounced associations in participants with a lower body mass index. Our findings suggested positive associations between the estimated DAL and the risk of hip fractures in the elderly Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 45-year-old male presented with acute-onset left-sided weakness and slurred speech. Non-contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed cortical and internal border-zone infarcts compatible with stroke. A survey of ischemic stroke risk factors in young adults excluded coagulopathy, vasculitis, and cardiac disease. Nevertheless, neck-computed tomography angiography revealed a long-segmental narrowing of the right internal carotid artery with wall thickening and a "string-of-beads" appearance suspicious for fibromuscular dysplasia, which was confirmed on further angiography. His clinical condition stabilized after intensive medical therapy. This case demonstrates cerebrovascular fibromuscular dysplasia as a possible cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidence regarding the impact of the scores on healthy eating indices on the risk of cardiovascular events among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is limited. As such, in this study, we examined the associations of adherence to the Chinese and American dietary guidelines and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Chinese individuals with T2D. We conducted a 1:1 age- and sex-matched case–control study based on a Chinese population. We used a structured questionnaire and a validated 79-item food-frequency questionnaire to collect general information and dietary intake information, and calculated the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) and the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015). As participants, we enrolled a total of 419 pairs of hospital-based CVD cases and controls, all of whom had T2D. We found a significant inverse association between diet quality scores on the CHEI and HEI-2015 and the risk of CVD. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) per five-score increment were 0.68 (0.61, 0.76) in the CHEI and 0.60 (0.52, 0.70) in the HEI-2015. In stratified analyses, the protective associations remained significant in the subgroups of sex, BMI, smoking status, tea-drinking, hypertension state, dyslipidemia state, T2D duration, and medical nutrition therapy knowledge (all p < 0.05). These findings suggest that a higher CHEI or HEI-2015 score, representing a higher-quality diet relative to the most recent Chinese or American dietary guidelines, was associated with a decreased risk of CVD among Chinese patients with T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurogenic inflammation and central sensitization play a role in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We explore the molecular effects of low-intensity shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT) on central sensitization in a capsaicin-induced prostatitis rat model. Male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent intraprostatic capsaicin (10 mM, 0.1 cm3) injections. After injection, the prostate received Li-ESWT twice, one day apart. The L6 dorsal root ganglion (DRG)/spinal cord was harvested for histology and Western blotting on days 3 and 7. The brain blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional images were evaluated using 9.4 T fMRI before the Li-ESWT and one day after. Intraprostatic capsaicin injection induced increased NGF-, BDNF-, and COX-2-positive neurons in the L6 DRG and increased COX-2, NGF, BDNF, receptor Trk-A, and TRPV1 protein expression in the L6 DRG and the dorsal horn of the L6 spinal cord, whose effects were significantly downregulated after Li-ESWT on the prostate. Intraprostatic capsaicin injection increased activity of BOLD fMRI responses in brain regions associated with pain-related responses, such as the caudate putamen, periaqueductal gray, and thalamus, whose BOLD signals were reduced after Li-ESWT. These findings suggest a potential mechanism of Li-ESWT on modulation of peripheral and central sensitization for treating CP/CPPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personality disorders (PDs) are grouped into clusters A, B, and C. However, whether the three clusters of PDs have differences in comorbid mental disorders or gender distribution is still lacking sufficient evidence. We aim to investigate the distribution pattern across the three clusters of PDs with a population-based cohort study. This study used the Taiwan national database between 1995 and 2013 to examine the data of patients with cluster A PDs, cluster B PDs, or cluster C PDs. We compared the differences of psychiatric comorbidities classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition across the three clusters of PDs. Moreover, we formed gender subgroups of the three PDs to observe the discrepancy between male and female. Among the 9845 patients, those with cluster A PDs had the highest proportion of neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia and neurocognitive disorders, those with cluster B PDs demonstrated the largest percentage of bipolar disorders, trauma and stressor disorders, feeding and eating disorders, and substance and addictive disorders, and those with cluster C PDs had the greatest proportion of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorders, somatic symptom disorders, and sleep–wake disorders. The gender subgroups revealed significant male predominance in neurodevelopmental disorders and female predominance in sleep–wake disorders across all three clusters of PDs. Our findings support that some psychiatric comorbidities are more prevalent in specified cluster PDs and that gender differences exist across the three clusters of PDs. These results are an important reference for clinicians who are developing services that target real-world patients with PDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a common indication for liver transplantation (LT). Alcohol relapse after LT is associated with graft loss and worse prognosis. Over the past 20 years, the number and prevalence of living donor liver transplantations (LDLTs) have increased in Taiwan. The aims of this retrospective study are to analyze the incidence and risk factors of alcohol relapse after LT at a single center in Taiwan. A total of 98 patients with ALD who underwent LT from January 2012 to December 2018 were retrospectively evaluated by chart review. Pre-transplant characteristics as well as psychosocial and alcoholic history were used to test the possible associations among the risk factors studied and post-LT alcohol relapse. The incidence of post-LT alcohol relapse was 16.3%. The median duration of alcohol relapse after liver transplantation was 28.1 months (range: 1–89.4 months). The cumulative incidence was 12% and 19% at 1 year and 3 years after LT, respectively. The most powerful risk factors were a pre-LT abstinence period less than 6 months and younger age of starting alcohol. For predicting alcohol relapse, the accuracy rate of abstinence less than 6 months was up to 83.7%. In summary, pre-abstinence period plays a role in predicting post-LT alcohol relapse. Post-LT interventions should be considered specifically for the patients with short abstinence period. Long-term follow-up, patient-centered counseling, and enhancement of healthy lifestyle are suggested to prevent alcohol relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamines (including putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are small, cationic molecules that are necessary for cell proliferation and differentiation. Few studies have examined the association of dietary polyamines intake with colorectal cancer risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate total polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine intake in relation to colorectal cancer risk in China. In total, 2502 colorectal cancer cases and 2538 age-(5-year interval) and sex-matched controls were recruited from July 2010 to April 2019. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by multivariable unconditional logistic regression after adjustment for various potential confounding factors. Higher intake of total polyamine, putrescine and spermidine was significantly associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer. The adjusted ORs for the highest compared with the lowest quartile of intake were 0.60 (95% CI 0.50, 0.72; Ptrend < 0.001) for total polyamines, 0.35 (95% CI 0.29, 0.43; Ptrend < 0.001) for putrescine and 0.79 (95% CI 0.66, 0.95; Ptrend = 0.001) for spermidine, respectively. However, higher intake of spermine was associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer, with an adjusted OR of 1.58 (95% CI 1.29, 1.93; Ptrend < 0.001). This data indicate that higher intake of total polyamines, putrescine and spermidine, as well as lower intake of spermine, is associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saturated fatty acids with different chain lengths have different biological activities, but little is known about very-long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFAs). This study investigated the associations between the circulating VLCSFAs and cardiovascular health. This community-based cohort study included 2198 adults without carotid artery plaques (CAPs) at baseline. The percentage of baseline erythrocyte VLCSFA (arachidic acid (C20:0), behenic acid (C22:0), and lignoceric acid (C24:0)) was measured by gas chromatography. The presence of CAPs was determined at baseline and every 3 years thereafter by ultrasound examination. A meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the pooled associations between circulating VLCSFAs and the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). During a median of 7.2 years of follow-up, 573 women (35.1%) and 281 men (49.6%) were identified as CAP incident cases. VLCSFAs were inversely related with CAP risk in women (all p-trend <0.05) but not in men. Multivariate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CAPs for the highest (vs. lowest) quartile were 0.80 (0.63–1.01) for C20:0, 0.71 (0.56–0.89) for C22:0, 0.75 (0.59–0.94) for C24:0, and 0.69 (0.55–0.87) for total VLCSFAs in women. The pooled HRs (95% CIs) of CVDs for the highest (vs. lowest) circulating VLCSFAs from seven studies including 8592 participants and 3172 CVD events were 0.67 (0.57–0.79) for C20:0, 0.66 (0.48–0.90) for C22:0, and 0.57 (0.42–0.79) for C24:0, respectively. Our findings suggested that circulating VLCSFAs were inversely associated with cardiovascular health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet may modulate chronic inflammation. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) was associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in a Chinese population. A case-control study was conducted from July 2010 to April 2019, in Guangzhou, China. A total of 2502 eligible cases were recruited along with 2538 age- (5-year interval) and sex-matched controls. Dietary data derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire were used to calculate the energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) scores. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for colorectal cancer risk were estimated using unconditional logistic regression models. In this study, E-DII scores ranged from −5.96 (the most anti-inflammatory score) to +6.01 (the most pro-inflammatory score). A positive association was found between the E-DII and colorectal cancer risk, with the OR = 1.40 (95% CI 1.16, 1.68; Ptrend < 0.01) for the highest E-DII quartile compared with the lowest quartile after adjusting for potential confounders. When stratified based on cancer subsite, sex, body mass index, and smoking status, significant associations were not observed in women or underweight individuals. Results from this study confirmed that a higher E-DII score was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer in a Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of low energy shock wave (LESW) therapy on the changes of inflammatory molecules and pain reaction was studied in a capsaicin (10 mM, 0.1 cc) induced prostatitis model in rats. Intraprostatic capsaicin injection induced a pain reaction, including closing of the eyes, hypolocomotion, and tactile allodynia, which effects were ameliorated by LESW treatment. LESW therapy (2Hz, energy flux density of 0.12 mJ/mm2) at 200 and 300 shocks significantly decreased capsaicin-induced inflammatory reactions, reflected by a reduction of tissue edema and inflammatory cells, COX-2 and TNF-α stained positive cells, however, the therapeutic effects were not observed at 100 shocks treated group. Capsaicin-induced IL-1β, COX-2, IL-6, caspase-1, and NGF upregulation on day 3 and 7, while NALP1 and TNF-α upregulation was observed on day 7. LESW significantly suppressed the expression of IL-1β, COX-2, caspase-1, NGF on day 3 and IL-1β, TNF-α, COX-2, NALP1, caspase-1, NGF expression on day 7 in a dose-dependent fashion. LESW has no significant effect on IL-6 expression. Intraprostatic capsaicin injection activates inflammatory molecules and induces prostatic pain and hypersensitivity, which effects were suppressed by LESW. These findings might be the potential mechanisms of LESW therapy for nonbacterial prostatitis in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between circulating saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) is reported in Western populations with inconsistent results, while evidence from Asian populations is scarce. We aimed to examine the associations between erythrocyte SFAs and incident T2D in a Chinese population. Between 2008 and 2013, a total of 2683 participants, aged 40–75 years, free of diabetes were included in the present analyses. Incident T2D cases were ascertained during follow-up visits. Gas chromatography was used to measure erythrocyte fatty acids at baseline. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During 13,508 person years of follow-up, 216 T2D cases were identified. Compared with the first quartile, multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of the fourth quartile were 1.20 (0.82–1.76; p = 0.242) for myristic acid (14-carbon tail, zero double bonds; 14:0), 0.69 (0.48–0.99; p = 0.080) for palmitic acid (16:0), 1.49 (1.02–2.19; p = 0.047) for stearic acid (18:0), 1.46 (1.00–2.12; p = 0.035) for arachidic acid (20:0), 1.48 (0.99–2.22; p = 0.061) for behenic acid (22:0), and 1.08 (0.74–1.56; p = 0.913) for lignoceric acid (24:0). Our findings indicate that individual erythrocyte SFAs are associated with T2D in different directions, with 18:0 and 20:0 SFAs positively associated with the risk, whereas no convincing inverse association for 16:0 SFAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adherence to healthy dietary guidelines has been related to a lower risk of several cancers, but its role in primary liver cancer (PLC) has not been fully investigated, especially among Eastern populations. This study enrolled 720 PLC patients and 720 healthy controls who were frequency-matched by age and sex between September 2013 and October 2017 in South China. Dietary quality was assessed by the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) and the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015), which manifests as scores of adhering to the 2016 Dietary Guidelines for Chinese and adhering to the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, respectively. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. Higher scores in both the CHEI and HEI-2015 were associated with a lower risk of PLC (per 5-points increment of the total scores: OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.38–0.50 for CHEI; OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.40–0.55 for HEI-2015). The protective associations persisted significantly in the stratified analyses by sex, smoker status, alcohol consumption, HBV infection, and histological types of PLC, without statistical evidence for heterogeneity (p-interaction > 0.05). Closer adherence to the most recent dietary guidelines for Chinese or Americans may protect against PLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationships of fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM) with estimated hip bone strength in Chinese men aged 50-80 years (median value: 62.0 years). A cross-sectional study including 889 men was conducted in Guangzhou, China. Body composition and hip bone parameters were generated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The relationships of the LM index (LMI) and the FM index (FMI) with bone phenotypes were detected by generalised additive models and multiple linear regression. The associations between the FMI and the bone variables in LMI tertiles were further analysed. The FMI possessed a linear relationship with greater estimated hip bone strength after adjustment for the potential confounders ( p < 0.05). Linear relationships were also observed for the LMI with most bone phenotypes, except for the cross-sectional area ( p < 0.05). The contribution of the LMI (4.0%-12.8%) was greater than that of the FMI (2.0%-5.7%). The associations between the FMI and bone phenotypes became weaker after controlling for LMI. Further analyses showed that estimated bone strength ascended with FMI in the lowest LMI tertile ( p < 0.05), but not in the subgroups with a higher LMI. This study suggested that LM played a critical role in bone health in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men, and that the maintenance of adequate FM could help to promote bone acquisition in relatively thin men.

A UV-curable, flame-retardant monomer, DAPP (bis[di-acryloyloxyethyl]- p - tert -butyl-phenyl-phosphate), was synthesized based on BPDCP (4- tert -butylphenyl-dichloro phosphate) and HEA (2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate). DAPP was blended with regular bisphenol A epoxy acrylate (BAEA) in various ratios to yield various phosphorus contents. The TGA-IR (thermogravimetric analyzer interface with an infrared spectrometer) results demonstrate that compounding 30 mol % DAPP with BAEA significantly reduced the amount of released CO gas. In contrast, the peak intensity of CO₂ is independent of phosphorus content. The limiting oxygen index (LOI), reaching the saturated value of 26, and the heat release rate (HRR) measured using a cone-calorimeter, 156.43 KW/m², confirm the saturation point when 30 mol % DAPP was compounded into BAEA. A study of the kinetics of pyrolysis reveals that E a decreases as the phosphorus content increases. Both the TGA-IR and pyrolysis results reveal that the phosphorus compound DAPP is easily decomposed during the initial stage of burning to form an insulating layer, which inhibits further burning of the resin and the consequent release of other flammable gases.

This study aimed to elucidate the associations of age, BMI, and years of menstruation with proximal femur strength in Chinese postmenopausal women, which may improve the prediction of hip fracture risk. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1322 Chinese postmenopausal women recruited from communities. DXA images were used to generate bone mineral density (BMD) and geometric parameters, including cross-sectional area (CSA), outer diameter (OD), cortical thickness (CT), section modulus (SM), buckling ratio (BR) at the narrow neck (NN), intertrochanter (IT), and femoral shaft (FS). Relationships of age, BMI, and years of menstruation with bone phenotypes were analyzed with the adjustment of height, age at menarche, total daily physical activity, education, smoking status, calcium tablet intake, etc. Age was associated with lower BMD, CSA, CT, SM, and higher BR (p < 0.05), which indicated a weaker bone strength at the proximal femur. BMI and years of menstruation had the positive relationships with proximal femur strength (p < 0.05). Further analyses showed that the ranges of absolute value of change slope per year, per BMI or per year of menstruation were 0.14%-1.34%, 0.20%-2.70%, and 0.16%-0.98%, respectively. These results supported that bone strength deteriorated with aging and enhanced with higher BMI and longer time of years of menstruation in Chinese postmenopausal women.

In this study, chitosan (CS) grafted by glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC) to form GTMAC-CS was synthesized, chemically identified, and rheologically characterized. The Maxwell Model can be applied to closely simulate the dynamic rheological performance of the chitosan and the GTMAC-CS solutions, revealing a single relaxation time pertains to both systems. The crossover point of G' and G" shifted toward lower frequencies as the CS concentration increased but remained almost constant frequencies as the GTMAC-CS concentration increased, indicating the solubility of GTMAC-CS in water is good enough to diminish influence from the interaction among polymer chains so as to ensure the relaxation time is independent of the concentration. A frequency-concentration superposition master curve of the CS and GTMAC-CS solutions was subsequently proposed and well fitted with the experimental results. Finally, the sol-gel transition of CS is 8.5 weight % (wt %), while that of GTMAC-CS is 20 wt %, reconfirming the excellent water solubility of the latter.