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Background: To examine the risk factors associated with mortality in individuals suffering from acute diquat poisoning and to develop an effective prediction model using clinical data. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on the clinical records of 107 individuals who were hospitalized for acute diquat poisoning at a tertiary hospital in Sichuan Province between January 2017 and September 30, 2023, and further categorized into survivor and nonsurvivor groups based on their mortality status within 30 days of poisoning. The patient's demographic information, symptoms within 24 h of admission, and details of the initial clinical ancillary examination, as well as the APACHE II score, were documented. The model was developed using backward stepwise logistic regression, and its performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, Brier scores, decision curve analysis curves, and bootstrap replicates for internal validation. Results: Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that blood pressure (hypertension, OR 19.73, 95% CI 5.71–68.16; hypotension, OR 61.38, 95% CI 7.40–509.51), white blood count (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.20–1.52), red cell distribution width-standard deviation (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.38), and glomerular filtration rate (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.97) were identified as independent risk factors for mortality in patients with diquat. Subsequently, a nomogram with an area under the curve of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.93–1) was developed. Internal bootstrap resampling (1000 repetitions) confirmed the model's adequate discriminatory power, with an area under the curve of 0.97. Decision curve analysis demonstrated greater net gains for the nomogram, while the clinical impact curves indicated greater predictive validity. Conclusion: The nomogram model developed in this study using available clinical data enhances the prediction of risk for DQ patients and has the potential to provide valuable clinical insights to guide patient treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Although ambient temperature has been linked with injury incidence, there have been few nationwide studies to quantify the temperature-related risk and burden of cause-specific injury hospitalizations. Additionally, the impact of human-induced climate change to injury burden remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives are to examine the associations between ambient temperature and injury hospitalizations from various causes and to quantify the contribution of human-induced warming to the heat-related burden. METHODS: We collected injury hospitalization data from a nationwide hospital-based registry in China during 2000–2019. Using a time-stratified case-crossover design, we investigated the associations between daily mean temperature (°C) and cause-specific injury hospitalizations. We also quantified the burden of heat-related injuries under the scenarios with and without anthropogenic forcing, using the Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project to assess the contribution of human-induced warming. RESULTS: Our study included a total of 988,087 patients with hospitalization records for injuries. Overall, compared to the temperature at minimum risk of hospitalization (-12:1°C), the relative risk of hospitalization at extreme hot temperature (30.8°C, 97.5th percentile) was 1.18 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 1.22], with an approximately linear association between temperature and hospitalization. Vulnerability to heat-related injuries was more pronounced among males, young (<18 years of age) or middle-aged (45–64 years of age) individuals, and those living in the North. The heatrelated attributable fraction increased from 23.2% in the 2000s to 23.6% in the 2010s, with a corresponding increase in the contribution of humaninduced change over time. In the 2010s, the heat-related attributable fractions for specific causes of injury ranged from 12.4% to 54.4%, with humaninduced change accounting for 6.7% to 10.6% of the burden. DISCUSSION: This nationwide study presents new evidence of significant associations between temperature and cause-specific injury hospitalizations in China and highlights the increasing contribution of human-induced warming to the injury burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cases of an unknown disease exhibiting the clinical features of limb gangrene, blisters, ulceration, and exfoliation have been reported in Daping village (DV) in southwestern China. However, the pathogenesis is unknown and has puzzled doctors for many years. A preliminary study on heavy metals and symptoms indicated that arsenic might pose the greatest threat to the health of local residents. Here, to explore the sources of and factors influencing arsenic enrichment in DV, whose residents exhibit signs of arsenic poisoning, the As contents in soil, water, and plants were systematically measured. The results indicated high As contents in plant and soil samples obtained from the area, and the source of As may be linked to the weathering of black shale rock. Ingestion of soil and consumption of plants were the two main As exposure pathways among children and adults, respectively, and children exhibited a higher health risk than adults. We presume and emphasize that when extreme drought events occur, humans might face unusual risks resulting from exposure to toxic elements and the direct consumption of highly polluted water. Our study provides a new perspective and sheds light on the environmental geochemistry and health links of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food-borne toxocariasis caused by the consumption of raw meat or liver has occasionally been reported from East Asia. We treated a 38-year-old Japanese man who was infected with Toxocara in China and underwent a four-week treatment with albendazole. The liver and lung lesions disappeared after the treatment, suggesting that the treatment was successful. One month after the end of the treatment, the patient relapsed, and albendazole was administered again for eight weeks. The patient has remained relapse-free for one year. Although toxocariasis can heal spontaneously, in some cases, such as the present case, the disease relapses even after long-term treatment. In conclusion, different durations of treatment are recommended by various guidelines, and the duration of treatment needs to be modified with each case, considering the response to the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkholderia gladioli pv. cocovenenans (B. cocovenenans) and its lethal toxin, bongkrekic acid (BA), have been causing frequent incidents of food poisoning in China, resulting in increased attention. The toxin is produced by B. cocovenenans under appropriate temperature and humidity, and mainly targets the inner mitochondrial membrane to cause toxic effects. At present, there are methods available for detecting BA, but the detoxification mechanism is not perfect. This review summarizes the naming process, biological characteristics, toxin production conditions, and sources of B. cocovenenans, as well as the physical and chemical properties, poisoning mechanism, clinical presentation, detection methods, and detoxification of BA. Additionally, the review provides recommendations for preventing bongkrekic acid poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tapertail anchovy Coilia brachygnathus, a commercially important species mainly distributed along the mid‐lower Chang‐Jiang basin, is by far the most dominant species in Lake Honghu. To figure out its success in this semiclosed lake, some basic biological parameters of this anchovy were analysed based on samples seasonally collected from October 2020 to December 2021. The results demonstrated that the age classes of fished individuals varied from 0.5 to 3.5, with the majority (97.36%) being between 0.5 and 3 years old. The size at 50% maturity of 17.2 cm total length (TL) for females and 19.0 cm TL for males corresponded to 1 and 1.6 years, respectively. Coilia brachygnathus has a short life span, early sexual maturity and a relatively fast growth rate. The flourishing of the fish in the lake is mainly attributed to its short life span, early maturity, fast growth rate, closed fishing, pelagic spawners, the availability of plenty of food and low predation effect on it. Age 3.5 year occurs in an extremely small percentage of the total (<3%), indicating that a large number of larger‐sized or older fish died after spawning, which is probably one of the major sources of water pollution if the closed fishing measure is adopted in Lake Honghu. Thus, individuals older than 2 years or more than 20.0 cm TL should be harvested. These findings have important management implications for the fish resources in Lake Honghu and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amatoxins and phallotoxins are toxic cyclopeptides found in the genus Amanita and are among the predominant causes of foodborne sickness and poisoning-related fatalities in China. This study introduces and validates a simple, rapid and cost-effective ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination and quantification of α-amanitin, β-amanitin, γ-amanitin, phallisacin, phallacidin and phalloidin in human blood and urine. Quick therapeutic decision-making is supported by a 9 min chromatographic separation performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) using a gradient of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-grade water and methanol:0.005% formic acid. The analyte limit of quantification was 1–3 ng/mL in blood and 0.5–2 ng/mL in urine. Calibrations curves, prepared by spiking drug-free blood and urine, demonstrated acceptable linearity with mean correlation coefficients (r) greater than 0.99 for all phallotoxins and amatoxins. Acceptable intraday and interday precision (relative standard deviation <15%) and accuracy (bias, −4.8% to 13.0% for blood and—9.0% to 14.7% for urine) were achieved. The validated method was successfully applied to analyze 9 blood samples and 2 urine samples testing positive for amatoxins and/or phallotoxins. Amatoxins and/or phallotoxins were identified in each whole blood sample at a range of 1.12–5.63 ng/mL and in two urine samples from 1.01–9.27 ng/mL. The method has the benefits of simple sample preparation (protein precipitation) and wide analyte coverage, making it suitable for emergency quantitative surveillance toxicological analysis in clinics and forensic poisoning practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While statistics from hospitals showed that the proportion of self-harm or attempted suicide kept growing among children and adolescents aged 6–17 attending the emergency department, cases of self-harm or attempted suicide dissimulated as accidents received scant attention or were neglected. This study aimed to examine associations between unintentional injuries subtypes and deliberate self-harm behaviors from a school-based large-scale survey. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Anhui, China, between November 2022 to January 2023. A total of 28,013 students (aged 11–17, 5th–12th grade) from 35 primary schools, 27 middle schools, and 6 high schools were included for the present study. Unintentional injuries in the past year of children and adolescents reported by parents. Self-harm behaviors in the past year of children and adolescents was measured with one question reported by students. Children and adolescents whose parents reported their contacts with sharp instruments demonstrated the highest risk for self-harm behaviors, followed by poisoning, exposure to electric current, falls, vehicle and traffic injuries, accidental drowning and submersion, and eating foreign bodies. And these associations distributed differently among children and adolescents reporting different frequencies of self-harm behaviors. Thus, we urge attention from parents, child caregivers, and teachers on children and adolescents experiencing certain types of unintentional injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mushroom poisoning is a major public health issue in China. The integration of medical resources from different institutes of different levels is crucial in reducing the harm of mushroom poisoning. However, few studies have provided comprehensive implementation procedures and postimplementation effectiveness evaluations. To reduce the harm caused by mushroom poisoning, a network system for the prevention and treatment of mushroom poisoning (NSPTMP) was established in Chuxiong, Yunnan Province, a high-risk area for mushroom poisoning. Methods: The NSPTMP consists of three types of institutions, namely, centers for disease prevention, hospitals, and health administration departments, with each kind of institution comprising prefecture, county/city, town, and village levels. After three years of implementation, the network was evaluated by comparing the indices before and after network implementation using data from the "Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System" and 17 hospitals in Chuxiong. The indices included the fatalities caused by mushroom poisoning, the composition ratios of different types of mushrooms for both outpatients and inpatients and the hospitalization rates. Results: Compared to the average fatality rate of mushroom poisoning from 2015 to 2017, the average fatality rate from 2018 to 2020 significantly decreased from 0.57 to 0.06% (P < 0.001). Regarding the poisonous genus containing lethal mushrooms, the outpatient and inpatient composition ratios significantly decreased for Amanita (9.36–2.91% and 57.23–17.68%, respectively) and Russula (15.27–8.41%) (P < 0.05). Regarding poisonous mushrooms that caused mild symptoms, the outpatient and inpatient composition ratios significantly increased for Scleroderma (5.13–13.90% and 2.89–18.90%, respectively) and Boletaceae (19.08–31.71%) (P < 0.05), and the hospitalization rates significantly increased for Scleroderma (6.33–18.02%) and Boletaceae (5.65–12.71%) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the NSPTMP effectively reduced the harm caused by mushroom poisoning. In addition to the integration of medical resources, the development of poisonous mushroom identification, hierarchical treatment systems in hospitals, public education, and professional training also played important roles in improving the system's effectiveness. The establishment and evaluation of the NSPTMP in Chuxiong Prefecture can provide valuable insights and serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges in managing mushroom poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aconitine is a crucial toxic component in Chinese herbal medicines such as Aconitum, Aconitum coreanum, and Aconitum soongaricum. The poisoning symptoms of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system caused by it are relatively common in China, and there are many studies on cardiovascular system diseases caused by aconitine. However, the specific mechanism of neurotoxicity induced by aconitine is still unclear. This study explored the effect and mechanism of mitochondrial calcium uniporter on mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder in aconitine poisoning hippocampal neurons. The results showed that after treatment with 400μmol/L aconitine, mitochondrial energy metabolism was abnormal in rat hippocampal neuron cells, the expression of MCU in mitochondria was up-regulated, calcium overload in mitochondria, ATP production decreased, and mitochondrial membrane potential Changes, increased expression of the apoptosis gene Cleaved-Caspase-3. After treatment with the MCU agonist spermine, mitochondrial energy metabolism was significantly abnormal, and cell apoptosis was increased considerably. However, pretreatment with calcium ion channel inhibitor Ruthenium Red (RR) effectively promoted the generation of ATP, thereby improving mitochondrial energy metabolism disorders and reducing cell apoptosis. These results suggest that aconitine induces mitochondrial energy metabolism dysfunction in hippocampal neurons, which may be related to the increased expression of MCU. [Display omitted] • Aconitine affects mitochondrial energy metabolism by inducing mitochondrial calcium overload and inhibiting ATP production. • Aconitine induces mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder by enhancing MCU signaling pathway. • Aconitine increases the apoptosis of HT22 cells by enhancing the MCU signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Jurassic Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (T-OAE, ca. 183 Ma) was accompanied by a major biotic turnover in the oceans and substantial vegetation change on land. The marine biotic crisis has been attributed to several triggers, e.g., anoxia, warming, ocean acidification, yet the processes underlying the collapse of the terrestrial ecosystem are poorly understood. New high-resolution geochemical and palynological data across the T-OAE from a lacustrine succession in North China reveal elevated occurrences of spore dwarfism, asymmetrical Classopollis tetrads, and aberrant spores coeval with increases in heavy metal (Hg, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, As) abundances. The occurrence of teratological spores and pollen in multiple plant groups suggests overall vegetation-scale ecological pressure. Our data indicate that the combination of a widespread floral crisis with higher terrestrial organic matter oxidation and decomposition, enhanced hydrological cycle, and coeval large-scale volcanism resulted in higher concentrations of toxic heavy metals in terrestrial ecosystems. These heavy metals could poison plants, causing mutations and disrupting their reproductive cycle, and making them more vulnerable to secondary stresses such as climatic extremes and/or habitat shifts, eventually leading to widespread collapse across all terrestrial trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pruritus is identified as an adverse drug reaction to arsenic trioxide, but the association of arsenic exposure with pruritus has not been investigated. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Shimen, China. A Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to confirm the causal relationship between genetically predicted percentages of monomethylated arsenic (MMA%) and dimethylated arsenic (DMA%) in urine with chronic pruritus in UK Biobank. A case–control study was then conducted to determine the biomarker for pruritus. Arsenite‐treated mice were used to confirm the biomarker, and von Frey test was used to induce scratching bouts. Last, a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted to test the efficacy of naloxone in arsenic‐exposed patients with pruritus in Shimen. Results: Hair arsenic (μg/g) showed a dose–response relationship with the intensity of itch in 1079 participants, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.11 for moderate‐to‐severe itch (p = 0.012). The Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed the causal relationship, with ORs of 1.043 for MMA% (p = 0.029) and 0.904 for DMA% (p = 0.077) above versus under median. Serum β‐endorphin was identified as a significant biomarker for the intensity of itch (p < 0.001). Consistently, treatment with arsenite upregulated the level of β‐endorphin (p = 0.002) and induced scratching bouts (p < 0.001) in mice. The randomized controlled trial in 126 participants showed that treatment with sublingual naloxone significantly relieved the intensity of itch in arsenic‐exposed participants in 2 weeks (β = −0.98, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Arsenic exposure is associated with pruritus, and β‐endorphin serves as a biomarker of pruritus. Naloxone relieves pruritus in patients with arseniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the extensive use of the pesticide chlorfenapyr has led to an increase in chlorfenapyr poisoning. However, there are limited reports on chlorfenapyr poisoning, and most of them are fatal cases. This study retrospectively analyzed four patients admitted to the emergency room after chlorfenapyr intake and detected different concentrations of chlorfenapyr in their plasma. Among them, one patient died and three patients survived. Case 1 suffered respiratory and circulatory failure with a deep coma shortly after oral administration of 100 mL of a the chlorfenapyr-containing mixture and died 30 min after admission. Case 2 experienced transient nausea and vomiting after oral administration of chlorfenapyr (50 mL). The patient had normal laboratory results and was discharged with no further treatment. Case 3 developed nausea and vomiting and a light coma after taking 30 mL of chlorfenapyr orally. He underwent blood perfusion and plasma exchange in the intensive care unit (ICU) and was discharged with recovery. A two-week follow-up visit, however, revealed hyperhidrosis. Case 4 (advanced age with severe underlying disease) developed a light coma after oral intake of 30 mL of chlorfenapyr. Subsequently, pulmonary infection and gastrointestinal bleeding were developed. The patient experienced blood perfusion and mechanical ventilation in the ICU and finally survived after treatment. The present study provides the basic information, plasma concentration of toxins, onset of poisoning and treatment process of the four patients mentioned above, providing novel insights into the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chlorfenapyr poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mushroom Amanita exitialis is reported to cause acute liver injury. It is found in Southern China, and has been previously associated with a high incidence of mortality. We described a series of 10 patients with Amanita exitialis poisoning admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) in April 2022. Patient demographics, clinical features, laboratory results, therapeutic interventions, and outcome data were collected. Among the 10 patients, 9 survived, while 1 died. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the first to appear (average latency period, 11 ± 4.2 h). Diarrhea was the most common clinical symptom (average duration, 4.4 days). Abdominal distention was an important sign, especially in severely-ill patients. Thrombocytopenia occurred on day 2 after mushroom ingestion and persisted for 3–4 days. Alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin peaked on days 2–3. Amanita exitialis poisoning is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms and liver injury. In the patient who died, acute hepatic failure led to hepatic encephalopathy and cerebral edema. Abdominal distension accompanied by thrombocytopenia was common in critically ill patients in this outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate hand-washing among chefs is a major contributor to outbreaks of foodborne illnesses originating in restaurants. Previous studies have found that mental health influences hygiene behaviors among food handlers, who have a high rate of job burnout. However, it is still unclear whether job burnout leads to restaurant kitchen chefs' poor hand washing behaviors (HWBs). In this study, we interviewed 453 restaurant kitchen chefs in Jiangsu Province, China regarding job burnout and HWBs during the summer (July-August) of 2020. The aims were to investigate job burnout (an individual internal motivation factor), identify determinants of job burnout, and examine the association between job burnout and HWBs. Variance analysis, post hoc multiple comparisons, linear regression models, and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the response data. This study revealed that chef age and the scale of the restaurant were significantly and negatively associated with reduced professional efficacy. Combined cuisine and pastry chefs had a more positive perception of their own professional efficacy than the other kitchen chefs, whereas the incidence of exhaustion was significantly higher in pastry chefs than in cuisine chefs and kitchen hands. Reduced professional efficacy was significantly and negatively associated with HWBs for all chefs. To improve the level of hand hygiene among chefs, measures should be taken to enhance chefs' professional efficacy. Furthermore, close attention should be paid to chefs in small-scale restaurants, younger chefs, cuisine chefs, pastry chefs, and kitchen hands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the prognostic value of blood creatinine levels in patients with paraquat (PQ) poisoning has been studied for a long time, the results are still controversial. Therefore, we performed the first meta-analysis to comprehensively assess the value of blood creatinine in predicting the prognosis of patients with PQ poisoning. We searched PubMed, EMBase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Online Journals to identify all relevant papers published up to June 2022. Data were extracted for pooled analysis, heterogeneity testing, sensitivity analysis, publication bias analysis, and subgroup analysis. Ultimately, 10 studies involving 862 patients were included. The I2 of diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of this study were all greater than 50%, which showed the existence of heterogeneity in this study, and a random effects model was used for the combination of the above five effect sizes. Pooled analysis showed a high predictive value of blood creatinine for prognosis of PQ poisoning [pooled DOR:22.92, 95% confidence interval (CI):15.62–33.65, P < 0.001]. The combined sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were 86% (95% CI: 0.79–0.91), 78% (95% CI: 0.69–0.86), 4.01 (95% CI: 2.81–5.71), and 0.17 (95% CI: 0.12–0.25), respectively. Deeks publication bias test revealed there was publication bias. Sensitivity analysis showed no significant differences in the estimates of impact. Serum creatinine is an effective predictor of mortality in patients with PQ poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snakebite is a global public health concern, which often occurs in tropical and subtropical underdeveloped areas, but it is often neglected. In the southern China, Naja naja atra (Chinese cobra) is a common venomous snake that causes swelling and necrosis of local tissues, even amputation and death. Currently, the main therapy is the administration of Naja atra antivenom, which greatly reduces mortality. However, the antivenom is not particularly effective in the improvement of local tissue necrosis. Clinically, antivenom is mainly administered intravenously. We speculated that the method of injection influences the efficacy of antivenom. In this study, the rabbit model was used to explore the effects of different antivenom injection methods on systemic and local poisoning symptoms. If topical injection of antivenom contributes to ameliorate tissue necrosis, then we need to reconsider the use of Naja atra antivenom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) has been widely cultured in China, and ammonia stress has become one of the important reasons limiting the development of largemouth bass' farming. However, the response of largemouth bass to ammonia stress is still to be investigated. In addition, N-carbamylglutamate has been considered as a potential anti-stress additive in terrestrial animals. Currently, it remains to be explored whether N-carbamylglutamate can enhance fish resistance under environmental stress. Our findings in this study could enrich our understanding of the responses in largemouth bass under ammonia stress and help us solve the existing problem of environmental stress in largemouth bass culture. Ammonia is a common environmental limiting factor in aquaculture. To investigate the effects of ammonia stress and explore the protective effect of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) on Micropterus salmoides (M. salmoides), tissue sections and parameters related to oxidative stress and the inflammatory response in M. salmoides were carried out during the ammonia stress test and feeding test. The results demonstrated that the LC50 for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h under ammonia stress in M. salmoides were 25.78 mg/L, 24.40 mg/L, 21.90 mg/L, and 19.61 mg/L, respectively. Under ammonia stress, the structures of the tissues were damaged, and the GSH content decreased, while the MDA content increased with the increase in stress time and ammonia concentration. The NO content fluctuated significantly after the ammonia nitrogen stress. In the 15-day feeding test, with the increased NCG addition amount and feeding time, the GSH content increased while the MDA and NO contents decreased gradually in the NCG addition groups (NL group: 150 mg/kg; NM group: 450 mg/kg; NH group: 750 mg/kg) when compared with their control group (CK group: 0 mg/kg). In the ammonia toxicology test after feeding, the damage to each tissue was alleviated in the NL, NM, and NH groups, and the contents of GSH, MDA, and NO in most tissues of the NH group were significantly different from those in the CK group. The results suggested that ammonia stress caused tissue damage in M. salmoides, provoking oxidative stress and inflammatory response. The addition of NCG to the feed enhances the anti-ammonia ability of M. salmoides. Moreover, the gill and liver might be the target organs of ammonia toxicity, and the brain and kidney might be the primary sites where NCG exerts its effects. Our findings could help us to find feasible ways to solve the existing problem of environmental stress in M. salmoides culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a public health concern in developing countries especially in China with a high disease burden. We aimed to focus on non-occupational CO poisoning caused by household coal heating secular trends based on registry data in Jinan, China, and we aim to provide further evidence and suggestions for public health policy. We analyzed the occurrence and development trend and assess the spatial–temporal epidemiological characteristics of non-occupational CO poisoning caused by household coal heating in Jinan between 2007 and 2021. Among total of 6588 CO poisoning, 5616 cases (85.25%) and 180 deaths caused by household coal heating was identified during study period. The cumulative incidence rate was 5.78 per 100,000 person-years and the mortality rate was 0.19 per 100,000 person-years. The incidence in urban areas (6.55 per 100,000 person-years) was higher than rural areas (5.04 per 100,000 person-years), and there was a statistical difference between urban and rural (P < 0.001) (P < 0.001). The poisoning time point mainly occurs in the sleep stage. In Jinan, socioeconomic status, accessibility to health services and rural status are determinants for CO poisoning incidence and mortality. Implementation of urban and rural central heating renovation is an effective way to further reduce the disease burden of CO poisoning in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne bongkrekic acid (BA) poisoning is a fatal foodborne disease in China. From 2010–2020, a total of 19 BA poisoning outbreaks were reported to the China National Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System. These outbreaks involved 146 illnesses, 139 hospitalizations, and 43 deaths, with a case-fatality rate of 29.5%. Approximately 73.3% of the outbreaks occurred in South and Southwest China. Homemade fermented corn flour products, tremella, and sweet potato flour and corn flour products (jelly) caused more early outbreaks, and novel vehicles (wet rice noodles and Auricularia auricula) were associated with later outbreaks in the study period. Outbreaks most frequently occurred at home (79.0%) and in restaurants (21.0%). The prohibition of traditional processed homemade fermented corn flour products and improvement in bongkrekic acid poisoning case identification and early treatment have resulted in a reduction in the case-fatality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NO x emitted from coal combustion can cause great harm to the environment and human health. The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) deNO x technology is a mature commercial deNO x technology, of which the SCR catalyst is the core. In China, the SCR deNO x technology has covered almost every coal-fired power plant since the 13th Five-Year Plan. Due to the complex and harsh working environment at the operating site, these catalysts will face the deactivation and replacement. This paper presents a comprehensive and systematic review of commercial V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 SCR catalyst from three aspects, including composition and deNO x characteristics, poisoning, and regeneration, based on studies published in the recent years. It has an important guiding significance for the poisoning study and regeneration technology development of commercial SCR catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russula subnigricans is now one of the leading lethal mushroom species in China, with a mortality rate of more than 50%. The typical clinical manifestation of Russula subnigricans poisoning is rhabdomyolysis, and we are unaware of previous reports of Russula subnigricans-associated hemolysis. Herein we report a cluster of five patients with confirmed Russula subnigricans poisoning. Four of the patients who ingested sun-dried Russula subnigricans never developed rhabdomyolysis. However, in one patient, acute hemolysis developed on the second day following ingestion and was associated with a fall in hemoglobin concentration and a rise in unconjugated bilirubin concentration. Further investigation revealed that the patient had glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. This case cluster suggests that the toxin of Russula subnigricans could cause hemolysis in a susceptible patient and warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent cadmium exposure poses significant health risks to the Chinese population, underscored by its prevalence as an environmental contaminant. This study leverages a machine-learning model, fed with a comprehensive dataset of environmental and socio-economic factors, to delineate trends in cadmium exposure from 1980 to 2040. We uncovered that urinary cadmium levels peaked at 1.09 μg/g Cr in the mid-2000 s. Encouragingly, a decline is projected to 0.92 μg/g Cr by 2025, tapering further to 0.87 μg/g Cr by 2040. Despite this trend, regions heavily influenced by industrialization, such as Hunan and Guizhou, as well as industrial counties in Jilin, report stubbornly high levels of exposure. Our demographic analysis reveals a higher vulnerability among adults & adolescents over 14, with males displaying elevated cadmium concentrations. Alarmingly, the projected data suggests that by 2040, an estimated 41% of the population will endure exposure beyond the safety threshold set by the European Food Safety Authority. Our research indicates disproportionate cadmium exposure impacts, necessitating targeted interventions and policy reforms to protect vulnerable groups and public health in China. [Display omitted] • Machine learning maps Cd exposure, offers comprehensive view across China. • Shifting diets from Cd-rich rice reduces exposure risks. • Our cost-effective approach offers a global blueprint for cadmium management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive screening of harmful chemical drugs in food is an essential analytical tool in the investigation of food poisoning. Meanwhile, determining harmful chemical drugs in biological matrices is a supplement to support the screening results in food. In this study, we developed a screening method for 315 harmful chemical drugs in food and biological matrices based on ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry. The food and gastric juice sample was extracted by 1.0% formic acid acetonitrile and acetonitrile, respectively, and cleaned up by a C18 sorbent. Urine and serum were directly extracted by 1.0 % formic acid acetonitrile. Then the data was acquired and screened for drugs using a self‐built library. The recovery, accuracy, and limit of quantitation for methodology were investigated. The method was validated by other three laboratories in different areas in China using different mass spectrometric techniques. For screening, the coefficient of variation of the retention times was below 5%. The recoveries for the drugs in nine matrices were 70–120%. At last, the developed method was applied to a real incident, demonstrating its suitability for the sensitive and fast screening of harmful chemical drugs in food and biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paddy soils in some areas of southern China are contaminated by arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd), threatening human health via the consumption of As- and/or Cd-tainted rice. To date, a quantitative understanding of how soil characteristics control As and Cd accumulation in rice grains under field conditions is still deficient. Based on 31 paired soil-grain samples collected in southern China, we statistically explored which soil parameter or parameter combination from various soil analyses best estimates As and Cd in rice. We found that CaCl2 extraction of field-moist soil collected at rice harvest provided the best estimation (R2adj = 0.47–0.60) for grain Cd followed by dry soil CaCl2 extraction (R2adj = 0.38–0.49), where CaCl2 extractable Cd from moist or dry soil was the dominant soil parameter. Compared to soil totals, parameters from neither dry soil ascorbate-citrate extraction nor anoxic soil incubation improved model performance for grain As (R2adj ≤ 0.44), despite their closer relevance to soil redox conditions during plant As uptake. A key role of soil-available sulfur in controlling grain As was suggested by our models. Our approach and results may help develop potential soil amendment strategies for decreasing As and/or Cd accumulation from soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited information is available on the epidemiological characteristics of major causes of death in the last 18 years. In this study, we investigated the epidemiological characteristics of the top 5 causes of death in China from 2000 to 2017. Data were obtained from the 18-year reports of Ministry of Health and analyzed by Grid Search Method, Permutation test, and log-linear regression model. The top 5 consistent causes of death, malignant tumor, cerebrovascular disease, heart trouble, respiratory disease, trauma and toxicosis accounted for 82.6% in 2000, 86.49% in 2017 in urban areas and 83.31% in 2000, 88.34% in 2017 in rural areas. The increasing trends (P < 0.05) of proportions of death of malignant tumor, cerebrovascular disease, and heart trouble have average annual percent change (AAPC) = 0.5%, 0.3%, 2.4% in urban areas and 1.7%, 1.5%, 4.3% in rural areas. The AAPCs of respiratory disease are − 1.4% in urban areas and − 3.6% in rural areas. Cardio-cerebrovascular disease increased (Urban: 39.02% to 43.56%, AAPC = 1.3%, P < 0.05; Rural: 32.03% to 45.91%, AAPC = 2.7%, P < 0.05) steeply from 2000 to 2017 which are higher than that of malignant tumor (P < 0.05). The top 5 causes of death in China accounted for more than 85% of all deaths in 2017, in which cardio-cerebrovascular disease accounted for the largest proportion with the steepest increasing trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Averaged 1422.91 ng/g THg and 3.152 ng/g MeHg were detected in the landfill. • THg and MeHg have higher concentrations in the middle layer (10–15 m). • The hgcAB gene were detected in most samples. • Archaea Methanofollis accounted for mercury methylation in landfills. • THg was positively (p < 0.05) correlated with MeHg and hgcA. Landfills harbor ideal conditions for microbial mercury methylation. However, the levels and distribution of mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg), potential microbial Hg methylation, and their linkage within landfills are largely unknown. In the present study, total mercury (THg), MeHg, the Hg methylation gene (hgcA) and mer operon were quantified in 30 waste samples from different depths (0–30 m) at 5 locations within a large-scale landfill in China. The average concentrations of THg and MeHg in the solid waste samples were 1422.91 ng/g and 3.15 ng/g, respectively. THg (up to 14405.29 ng/g) and MeHg (up to 10.42 ng/g) have high concentrations in the middle part (10–15 m) along the depth profiles. The concentration of THg was strongly positively (both p < 0.05) correlated with the MeHg concentration and the relative abundance of hgcA , indicating that the THg concentration can play an important role in microbial Hg methylation. The hgcA genes were detected in most samples and mer operon were detected in all samples. Combined hgcA qPCR and metagenomics data showed that Archaea Methanofollis may mainly account for Hg methylation within landfills. These findings provide fundamental knowledge on Hg cycles in landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide poisoning prevention has become a public health issue of great concern. We estimated the association between temperature and attributable risk of pesticide poisoning using 3,545 pesticide poisoning cases in Qingdao China from June 2007 to July 2018. A distributed lag non-linear model was applied to estimate the temperature-pesticide poisoning associated with the assessment of attributable number and fraction. The hot temperature is responsible for the pesticide poisoning incidence, with backward and forward attributable fractions, respectively, 7.79% and 7.61%. Most of the pesticide poisoning burden (backward attributable fraction 5.30% and forward attributable fraction 5.06%) was caused by mild hot (22°C-26°C), whereas the burden due to extreme hot (27°C-31°C) was small (backward attributable fraction 2.94% and forward attributable fraction 2.69%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia stress is one of the most common, detrimental toxicants in the aquaculture environment. Procambarus clarkii, is an important aquaculture species that has high production and economic values in China. This study performed transcriptomic analysis of hepatopancreas from P. clarkii treated with ammonia-stress to investigate the effects of ammonia exposure on apoptosis, oxidative stress, and immune response. A total of 3,956 differentially expressed genes (2,562 up-regulated and 1,394 down-regulated genes) were identified in the ammonia stress group. Then, the genes (i.e., C type lectin, cathepsin, chitinase, and cytochrome P450) and pathways (i.e., autophagy, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism pathway, and AMPK pathway) related to immune were found to be significantly up-regulated, which confirmed that P. clarkii may promote immune defense to counteract ammonia toxicity. Our results will be helpful to understand the mechanism of aquatic toxicology induced by ammonia in P. clarkii. Highlights : 1. In this research, we demonstrated the effects of ammonia exposure on immune response, oxidative stress and apoptosis in Procambarus clarkii. 2. Procambarus clarkii can strengthen immune defense to cope with ammonia stress by upregulating immune-related genes and pathways. 3. Although procambarus clarkii had immune defense to cope with ammonia stress, high concentrations of ammonia still had immune damage to procambarus clarkii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, low-temperature SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) denitrification technology has been popularized in non-power industries and has played an important role in the control of industrial flue gas NOx emissions in China. Currently, the most commonly used catalysts in industry are V2O5-WO3(MoO3)/TiO2, MnO2-based catalysts, CeO2-based catalysts, MnO2-CeO2 catalysts and zeolite SCR catalysts. The flue gas emitted during industrial combustion usually contains SO2, moisture and alkali metals, which can affect the service life of SCR catalysts. This paper summarizes the mechanism of catalyst poisoning and aims to reduce the negative effect of NH4HSO4 on the activity of the SCR catalyst at low temperatures in industrial applications. It also presents the outstanding achievements of domestic companies in denitrification in the non-power industry in recent years. Much progress has been made in the research and application of low-temperature NH3-SCR, and with the renewed demand for deeper NOx treatments, new technologies with lower energy consumption and more functions need to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russula senecis, a common poisonous mushroom, is widely distributed in China. Mushroom poisoning is becoming a major threat to human health and its rate is increasing worldwide. For the first time, we developed a set of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays based on a real-time fluorescence and a visualization method to detect R. senecis, and the visual LAMP reaction system was optimized to further shorten the reaction time. Both real-time LAMP and visual LAMP could detect as low as 3.2 pg of genomic DNA. In addition, fried and digested mushrooms were used to validate the proposed LAMP method, and mushroom mixtures with as low as 1% of the target species could be successfully detected, indicating that the LAMP assays established in this study had good applicability and could be used for clinical sample detection and forensic identification. Furthermore, the LAMP assays were proven to be comparable to the real-time PCR method. Key points: • A set of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays based on real-time fluorescence and visualization to detect Russula senecis was developed. • Both real-time LAMP and visual LAMP can be used to detect genomic DNA at concentrations as low as 3.2 pg. • By simulating mushroom processing and digestion in gastric juice, LAMP assays were proved to have good applicability and could be used for clinical diagnosis and forensic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Severe environmental pollution and contaminants left in the environment due to the abuse of chemicals, such as methylmercury, are associated with an increasing number of embryonic disorders. Ultrasound imaging has been widely used to investigate embryonic development malformation and dysorganoplasia in both research and clinics. However, this technique is limited by its low contrast and lacking functional parameters such as the ability to measure blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) and hemoglobin content (HbT) in tissues, measures that could be early vital indicators for embryonic development abnormality. Herein, we proposed combining two highly complementary techniques into a photoacoustic-ultrasound (PA-US) dual-modality imaging approach to noninvasively detect early mouse embryo abnormalities caused by methylmercury chloride (MMC) in real time. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the use of PA-US dual-modality imaging for noninvasive detection of embryonic toxicity at different stages of growth following prenatal MMC exposure. Additionally, we compared the PA-US imagining results to traditional histological methods to determine whether this noninvasive method could detect early developmental defects in utero. METHODS: Different dosages of MMC were administrated to pregnant mice by gavage to establish models of different levels of embryonic malformation. Ultrasound, photoacoustic signal intensity (PSI), blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), and hemoglobin content (HbT) were quantified in all experimental groups. Furthermore, the embryos were sectioned and examined for pathological changes. RESULTS: Using PA-US imaging, we detected differences in PSI, SaO2, HbT, and heart volume at embryonic day (E)14.5 and E11.5 for low and high dosages of MMC, respectively. More important, our results showed that differences between control and treated embryos identified by in utero PAUS imaging were consistent with those identified in ex vivo embryos using histological methods. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that noninvasive dual-modality PA-US is a promising strategy for detecting developmental toxicology in the uterus. Overall, this study presents a new approach for detecting embryonic toxicities, which could be crucial in clinics when diagnosing aberrant embryonic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Considerable variation of metal levels was observed among different fish species. • Concentrations of Fe, Pb and Hg were significantly positively related to δ15N ratio. • Fishes showed a clear biological dilution effect for Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb and Hg. • There is no potential health risk for ordinary fish consumers in Dongting Lake. We measured the concentrations of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg, and the stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) in 87 fish samples within 12 economic fish species collected from the Dongting Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in China. With few exceptions in concentration of Cr, most of fish species showed lower concentrations of the 8 metals than legislation thresholds. Piscivorous fishes had significantly higher values of δ15N (possessing higher trophic level) and metal concentrations than planktivorous and herbivorous fishes. Moreover, demersal fishes showed higher concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb than pelagic and benthopelagic fishes. We found positive correlations between concentrations of Fe, Pb and Hg and δ15N ratio, confirming the biomagnification of the three metals through trophic transfer. In contrast, fishes showed clear growth dilution effect for Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb and Hg, indicated by the negative correlations between their concentrations and fish weight or length. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that growth dilution and biomagnification effects simultaneously governed the metal concentrations in fish muscle, and the two effects' importance varied among different metals. The human health risk assessment indicated that all 8 metals gave target hazard quotient (THQ) values < 1.0, i.e., the estimated daily intake (EDI) of metals did not exceed the oral reference dose (RfD), indicating a safe consumption of these fish species for consumer. Our study provides comprehensive approaches to better understand the determining processes and potential risk of heavy metals in freshwater lake fishes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4- tert butylphenol (4-tBP), a toxic environmental pollutant estrogen, received widespread attention due to its widespread presence, environmental persistence, and toxic effect. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) is the most important freshwater economic animal in China and is also a model animal for the study on molecular mechanisms of poisoning. Head kidney is a target organ attacked by environmental pollutants. Here, we established a common carp 4-tBP poisoning model. The results showed that exposure to 4-tBP resulted in mitochondrial damage, endoplasmic reticulum damage, and apoptotic damage in head kidneys of common carps using microstructure and ultrastructure observations, as well as TUNEL kit methods. Furthermore, we found at transcriptional level from three perspectives that 4-tBP induced apoptosis in common carp head kidney cells: Hippo pathway, mitochondrial pathway, and ER stress. Hippo pathway formed a complex network, in which LATS1 was a core gene. It's noteworthy that Hippo pathway triggered mitochondrial pathway through YAP/NR4A1/Bcl-2 and YAP/BIRC5/Caspase-9 pathways under 4-tBP-induced apoptosis. PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-Caspase-3 pathway was involved in 4-tBP-induced apoptosis via ER stress. Moreover, miR-203a mediated 4-tBP-induced apoptosis through targeting MST1, MAP4K4, and NR4A1. In addition, 4-tBP disrupted balance between oxidants and antioxidants, and caused oxidative stress, and oxidative stress mediated ER stress under 4-tBP-caused apoptosis via via H 2 O 2 -PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-Caspase-3 pathway. miR-203a and oxidative stress participated in 4-tBP-induced apoptosis in common carp head kidney cells. For the first time, we found that Hippo pathway took part in molecular mechanism of fish poisoning, which needs to be investigated in the future. Our research provided foundational knowledge for exploring toxic effects of estrogen on fish and provided new insights into a theoretical basis for safety risk assessment for humans and fish, which deserves further profound exploration in the future. Moreover, the insights we generated help inform new strategies for preventing toxic injury in fish. [Display omitted] • Apoptosis: miR-203a, Hippo and mitochondria pathways, oxidative stress, and ER stress. • Hippo pathway took part in molecular mechanism of apoptosis via a complex network. • Mitochondria partook in Hippo pathway-mediated apoptosis via YAP/NR4A1/Bcl-2 and YAP/BIRC5/Caspase-9 pathways. • Oxidative stress triggered ER stress-mediated apoptosis via H 2 O 2 -PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-Caspase-3 pathway. • SAV1, MOB1, NF2, and Bik were involved in molecular mechanism of animal poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Amanita exitialis , deadliest mushroom in China. • New conventional and real-time PCR for A. exitialis detection developed. • Method is efficient, accurate, sensitive, user-friendly, and requires 40 min. Amanita exitialis , a deadly mushroom found in eastern Asia, causes the highest death rates among all poisonous mushrooms in China. The aim of the present study was to develop an efficient, accurate, and user-friendly PCR-based method for identifying A. exitialis that could facilitate the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of associated food poisoning. A. exitialis -specific primers and probes were designed based on the internal transcribed spacer region variations of 27 mushroom species. Specificity was confirmed using conventional and real-time PCR for 23 non-target mushroom species, including morphologically similar and closely related species. Compared to conventional PCR, real-time PCR was more sensitive (detectable DNA concentration: 1.36 × 10−2 ng/μL vs. 1.36 × 10−3) and efficient (analysis time: 1 h vs. 40 min). Furthermore, the real-time PCR results could be immediately visualized using amplification curve analysis. The results present two robust PCR-based methods for A. exitialis identification that can facilitate food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N 2)-fixing legumes can be used for phytoremediation of toxic heavy metal Mercury (Hg) contaminated soil, but N 2 -fixation highly relies on phosphorus (P) availability for nodule formation and functioning. Here, we characterized the significance of P deficiency for Hg accumulation and toxicity in woody legume plants. Consequences for foliar and root traits of rhizobia inoculation, Hg exposure (+Hg) and low P (-P) supply, individually and in combination were characterized at both the metabolite and transcriptome levels in seedlings of two Robinia pseudoacacia L. provenances originating from contrasting climate and soil backgrounds, i.e., GS in northwest and the DB in northeast China. Our results reveal that depleted P mitigates the toxicity of Hg at the transcriptional level. In leaves of Robinia depleted P reduced oxidative stress and improved the utilization strategy of C, N and P nutrition; in roots depleted P regulated the expression of genes scavenging oxidative stress and promoting cell membrane synthesis. Rhizobia inoculation significantly improved the performance of both Robinia provenances under individual and combined +Hg and -P by promoting photosynthesis, increasing foliar N and P content and reducing H 2 O 2 and MDA accumulation despite enhanced Hg uptake. DB plants developed more nodules, had higher biomass and accumulated higher Hg amounts than GS plants and thus are suggested as the high potential Robinia provenance for future phytoremediation of Hg contaminated soils with P deficiency. Soil pollution and nutrient depletion constitute serious threats for human and environmental health. However, information on the responses of plants to combined Hg pollution and P depletion has so far not been reported, at both, the metabolite and transcriptome levels. In the present study, we characterized the interaction of Hg exposure with P depletion in Robinia -rhizobia associations of two Robinia provenances originating from different environments at the metabolic and transcriptional levels. Provenance-specific differences in Robinia performance upon rhizobia inoculation at Hg and low P exposure were identified. From these results we recommend one of the two Robinia provenances for future remediation of Hg contaminated soils with low P content. [Display omitted] • P depletion showed antagonistic effects when combined with Hg exposure on Robinia-rhizobia symbiosis. • Rhizobia inoculation improved plant performance under combined Hg and depleted P. • Provenance-specific responses of Robinia plants. • Mechanisms in physiological and transcriptional levels were reported. • The DB provenance is feasible than GS for phytoremediation of Hg exposure in P-depleted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endemic arsenic poisoning and fluorosis caused by primary high arsenic (As) and high fluoride (F−) groundwater have become one of the most serious environmental geological problems faced by the international society. High As and high F− groundwater exists in Neogene confined aquifers in Guide basin, with concentrations of 355 μg/L and 5.67 mg/L, respectively, and showing a co-occurrence phenomenon of As and F− in the groundwater. This poses a double threat to the health of tens of thousands of local residents. In this study, based on the systematic collection of groundwater and borehole sediment samples, analysis of hydrochemistry and isotope indexes, combined with laboratory tests, purpose of this study is to reveal the migration rule and co-enrichment mechanism of As and F− in aquifers, and finally establish a hydrogeochemical conceptual model of the enrichment process of As and F−. The main conclusions are as follows: hydrochemical type of unconfined and confined groundwater in Guide basin is Ca–Na–HCO 3 and Na–Cl–HCO 3 type, respectively. Main minerals in sediments are quartz and plagioclase. Concentrations of As and F− are lower in unconfined groundwater, but higher in confined groundwater, and which show a gradual increasing trend along the groundwater flow path. The mineralization of natural organic matter in confined aquifer causes iron and manganese oxide minerals containing As to dissolve gradually, which leads to the gradual release of As into groundwater. Large amount of HCO 3 − produced by mineralization of organic matter precipitate with Ca2+ in groundwater, resulting in reduction of Ca2+ content, promoting the dissolution of fluoride-containing minerals such as fluorite (CaF 2), and continuously releasing F− into groundwater. Meanwhile, competitive adsorption reactions in confined aquifers causes more As and F− to be released from mineral surface into groundwater, which gradually migrate and accumulate along groundwater flow. Finally, it is established that a conceptual model for the formation of high As and F− groundwater in the confined aquifer of Guide basin. The research results not only help to improve our understanding of the formation and evolution of groundwater with high As and F− with similar geological background, but also provide scientific basis for rational development and utilization of groundwater, and prevention and control of chronic As and F− poisoning in local and similar areas. • Natural co-occurrence of high-As and F− groundwater occurs in the Guide basin. • Along the flow path, contents of As and F− increase gradually in groundwater. • High-As and F− groundwater is characterized by low Ca2+ and high Na+, pH, HCO 3 −. • Degradation of NOM promotes the reductive dissolution of As-containing iron oxide. • Precipitation of CaCO 3 causes dissolution of CaF 2 and increases F− concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated seasonal variations in spatial distribution, mobilization kinetic and toxicity risk of arsenic (As) in sediments of three representative ecological lakes in Lake Taihu. Results suggested that the bioavailability and mobility of As in sediments depended on the lake ecological types and seasonal changes. At the algal-type zones and macrophyte-type zones, elevated As concentrations were observed in April and July, while these occurred at the transition areas in July and October. The diffusion flux of soluble As ranged from 0.03 to 3.03 ng/cm2/d, indicating sediments acted as a source of As. Reductive dissolution of As-bearing iron/manganese-oxides was the key driver of sediment As remobilization. However, labile S(-II) caused by the degradations of algae and macrophytes buffered sediment As release at the algal-type and macrophyte-type zones. Furthermore, the resupply ratio was less than 1 at three ecological lakes, indicating the resupply As capacity of sediment solid phase was partially sustained case. The risk quotient values were higher than 1 at the algal-type zones and transition areas in July, thereby, the adverse effects of As should not be ignored. This suggested that it is urgently need to be specifically monitored and managed for As contamination in sediments across multi-ecological lakes. [Display omitted] • As distribution in sediments are dependent on the lake types and seasonal changes. • Seasonal warming and low DO concentrations lead to increases in As mobility. • Increases in labile S(-II) in sediments can buffer the mobility and release of As. • High As ecotoxicological risk occurs at algal-type lake zones and transition areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Arsenic exposure can lead to skin lesions and multiple organ damage, which are not easily reversible and for which there is no effective therapeutics. Identification of reliable epigenetic markers is essential for early recognition of arsenic poisoning risk. Anomalous DNA methylation of immune homeostasis regulator FOXP3 is a critical mechanism for triggering arsenic poisoning. This study aims to explore the value of FOXP3 methylation in the identification of arsenic poisoning risk. Methods: 88 arsenic poisoning subjects and 41 references were recruited. Urinary arsenic contents and FOXP3 methylation in PBLCs was measured by ICP-MS and pyrosequencing, respectively. Results: The results showed that the elevated FOXP3 methylation in PBLCs were associated with the increased levels of urinary arsenic and were positively associated with the increased risk of arsenic poisoning and its progression. The result of mediation analysis revealed that 24.3% of the effect of arsenic exposure on the risk of arsenic poisoning was mediated by increased FOXP3 methylation. Additionally, we constructed a nomogram model with FOXP3 methylation as an epigenetic predictor to assess the probability of individual arsenic poisoning. The model showed a robust ability in the discrimination of arsenic poisoning risk, with an area under receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.897(0.845–0.949) and more than 70% accuracy. The calibration curves and the Harrell concordance index showed that the consistency rate between the probability predicted by the nomogram model and the actual probability is 89.7%. Conclusions: Taken together, we found the great potential of FOXP3 methylation for the identification of arsenic poisoning risk and provided a new approach to the application of epigenetic markers in accurately quantifying the risk of adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to determine the chemical composition of the essential oils of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl leaves (CCPL) from 5 different habitats in China by GC-MS, and to evaluate their antimicrobial activities against 3 foodborne pathogens, using a paper disc diffusion method. A total of 30 compounds were identified with a predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes, including linalool (42.65%-96.47%), eucalyptol (39.07%-55.35%) and camphor (26.08%) as well as monoterpene hydrocarbons such as sabinene (6.18%-12.93%) and α-terpineol (8.19%-13.81%). Through cluster analysis, CCPL from 5 different habitats can be well divided into 2 categories. Combining with principal component analysis, the habitats can be better correlated with the chemical constituents of the essential oils. The antimicrobial activities of 5 extracted essential oils against 2 gram-negative bacteria and one gram-positive bacteria were assessed. It showed that the essential oil extracted from the CCPL harvested in Jinxi had the strongest antibacterial property. The results of this study provided basis for resource identification of CCPL and quality difference identification of essential oils. Research on the antibacterial properties of several pathogenic strains has proved its application value as a natural food preservative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is a chronic, deforming, endemic osteochondropathy that begins in patients as young as 2-3 years of age. The pathogenesis of KBD remains unclear, although selenium (Se) deficiency and T-2 toxin food contamination are both linked to the disease. In the present study, we evaluated transforming growth factor-β receptor (TGF-βR I and II) levels in clinical samples of KBD and in pre-clinical disease models.Methods: Human specimens were obtained from the hand phalanges of eight donors with KBD and eight control donors. Animal models of the disease were established using Sprague-Dawley rats, which were fed an Se-deficient diet for 4 weeks and later administered the T-2 toxin. Cartilage cellularity and morphology were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Expression and localization of TGF-βRI and II were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining and western blotting.Results: In the KBD samples, chondral necrosis was detected based on cartilage cell disappearance and alkalinity loss in the matrix ground substance. In the necrotic areas, TGF-βRI and II staining were strong. Positive percentages of TGF-βRI and II staining were higher in the cartilage samples of KBD donors than in those of control donors. TGF-βRI and II staining was also increased in cartilage samples from rats administered T-2 toxin or fed on Se-deficient plus T-2 toxin diets.Conclusion: TGF-βRI and II may be involved in the pathophysiology of KBD. This study provides new insights into the pathways that contribute to KBD development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diphenidol (DPN) is a nonphenothiazinic antivertigo and antiemetic drug that has been widely used in clinical practice in China because of its good antivertigo curative effect, minimal side effects and high safety. In recent years, there have been some cases of sporadic suicide and accidental poisoning related to DPN. Hence, a validated method for the determination of DPN in biological samples by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS-MS) was developed. The method is characterized by the use of a simple, fast and inexpensive liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) for sample preparation, a rapid run time (5 min) and a low required sample volume (0.1 mL or 0.1 g). The lower limits of quantitation (LLOQs) were 0.05 ng/mL and 0.3 ng/g for blood and liver tissue, respectively. The method was shown to be linear over a concentration range of 0.05–200 ng/mL (blood) and 0.3–400 ng/g (liver). The accuracy was in the range of 92.77–112.75%. The relative standard deviations of the intraday and interday imprecisions were in the range of 3.22% to 12.17%, and the recoveries were in the range of 58.75–95.27%. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to the detection and quantification of DPN in 15 real forensic cases. The postmortem concentration range of heart blood was 0.87–99 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emetic Bacillus cereus strains produce a potent cereulide cytotoxin, which can cause acute and fatal cases of food poisoning. We isolated 18 emetic B. cereus strains from a food poisoning event, and from clinical and non‐random food surveillance in China and phenotypic characteristics of haemolysis, starch hydrolysis, salicin fermentation, gelatin liquefaction, cytotoxicity, and susceptibility to antibiotics were assessed. All isolates were positive for haemolysis and gelatin liquefaction, and negative for starch hydrolysis and salicin fermentation. Their haemolytic potentials were intermediate to Bacillus anthracis and B. cereus ATCC 14579 (a non‐emetic strain). All isolates were cytotoxic to CHO, Hep‐2, and Vero cells, and were sensitive to ampicillin. The homogeneous phenotypes of emetic isolates from China are similar to the corresponding traits of European and Japanese isolates that have been characterized, suggesting highly similar phenotypes of emetic B. cereus worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steam reforming (SR) is a process for converting transportation fuels into hydrogen-rich gas, which can be fed to SOFCs for on-board power supplies. Herein, we prepare Mg x Ni 1-x O (0.5

Arsenic-contaminated sediment of Lake Yangzonghai (Yunnan province, China) and its overlying water was used to investigate the effects of phosphate ion (PO43−) and microbial activity on the migration of arsenic in the sediment. The results showed that the competitive adsorption of PO43− was the primary factor for the release of arsenic from the sediment to the overlying water, while microbial activity played a minor role in promoting the reductive dissolution of iron/arsenic (hydro) oxides. The reductive dissolution of ferrous ion (Fe2+) occurred in the initial stage, and partly contributed to the increase of arsenic concentration in the overlying water. The increase of PO43− concentration in the overlying water enhanced the mobility and biological toxicity of the arsenic in the sediment. After PO43− in the overlying water was depleted, arsenic in the overlying water could be adsorbed and precipitated again by iron salts, resulting in the decrease of arsenic concentration in the overlying water. The study implies that among those arsenic-contaminated lakes, eutrophication will aggravate the risks of secondary pollution of arsenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we provided an overview of the prevalence, control, and prevention of water-borne arsenicosis in China during 2001–2016. Random sampling was continuously performed during 2001–2010 to find villages having high levels of arsenic (>50 µg/L) in drinking water. The high-arsenic-exposure villages with more geographically dispersed water supplies were subsequently analyzed for characteristics of arsenic distribution, and villages with relatively large populations were investigated for arsenicosis. The results showed that among 32,673,677 inhabitants in 36,820 villages, 1,894,587 inhabitants in 2,476 villages were at risk of high arsenic exposure. Among the 33,318 drinking water sources surveyed in 625 high-arsenic-exposure villages, 9,807 drinking water sources that contained high levels of arsenic (>50 µg/L) were identified. The overall prevalence rate of arsenicosis was 1.93%. Further, some representative villages were chosen to monitor arsenicosis annually, showing that the prevalence rate of arsenicosis was lower in villages with arsenic-safe water supplies than in villages without arsenic-safe water supplies. To the best of our knowledge, this report provides the most comprehensive assessment of the distribution of high arsenic exposure and arsenicosis in China until now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury exposure from broken thermometers is still common in China. Here, we report a 2-year-old girl with elevated mercury concentrations in her blood and urine due to improper debridement after pricked by a broken thermometer. She underwent the first debridement at a local hospital, but radiographs showed a dot-like mercury deposit turned into multiple dispersed beads in her wrist tissue. Although the patient had no signs or symptoms of mercury poisoning, her blood and urinary mercury concentrations were significantly elevated. Several radio-opaque densities remained in her hand until a second debridement. At 2 years follow-up, her mercury concentrations in blood and urine and her hand radiograph were normal. Careful debridement after injury by broken thermometer is important in order to remove mercury in tissues and to prevent its dispersion and further absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute paraquat poisoning resulting from multiple organ failure usually has a high mortality rate. Liver and kidney, as the key oranges of paraquat detoxification and elimination, their injuries may suppress toxin excretion and enhance the toxicity of paraquat in other organs and worsen the prognosis. Therefore, we intended to explore the prognostic value of liver and kidney function parameters, and further evaluate their correlation with a more stable index urine‐to‐plasma paraquat (urine paraquat concentrations/plasma paraquat concentrations) instead of considering paraquat concentrations in plasma or urine alone. The study included 33 patients with acute paraquat poisoning admitted to four centres in China from January 2018 to December 2019. Seventeen patients (10 male/7 female) survived, whereas 16 patients (7 male/9 female, 48.48%) died from paraquat poisoning. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) represent liver and kidney function parameters, respectively. The ratio of urine‐to‐plasma paraquat is negatively correlated with ALT (r = −0.94, P = 0.02) and BUN (r = −0.82, P = 0.03). For receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, ALT, BUN and urine‐to‐plasma paraquat have an AUC over 0.80. The study shows that the functional indexes of liver and kidney, as well as the ratio of urine‐to‐plasma paraquat, could be considered for evaluating the extent of organ injury and excretion rate of paraquat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study is aimed at determining the predictive value of the gray-matter–white-matter ratio (GWR) on brain computed tomography for delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (DEACMP). Methods. This retrospective cohort study reviewed 352 patients with acute CO poisoning and who underwent the brain computed tomography test. These patients were admitted to Cangzhou Central Hospital from May 2010 to May 2020. The patients were divided into the DEACMP (n = 16) and non-DEACMP (n = 336) groups. Pearson's correlation coefficients were computed for correlation analysis. The predictive value of GWR for DEACMP was evaluated by using logistic regression analysis and receiver operator characteristic curves. Results. The morbidity of DEACMP was 4.5% (16/352). The GWR-basal ganglia, GWR-cerebrum, and GWR-average in the DEACMP group were lower than those in the non-DEACMP group. Correlation analysis indicated that GWR-basal ganglia (r = 0.276 ; P < 0.001), GWR-cerebrum (r = 0.163 ; P = 0.002), and GWR-average (r = 0.20 0; P < 0.001) were correlated with DEACMP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that reduced GWR-basal ganglia, GWR-cerebrum, and GWR-average were independent risk factors (P < 0.001 ; P = 0.008 ; P = 0.001 ; respectively). Compared with GWR-cerebrum and GWR-average, GWR-basal ganglia had a higher area under the curve of 0.881 (95% confidence interval: 0.783–0.983) with sensitivity and specificity of 93.8% and 68.7%, respectively. The cut-off value of GWR-basal ganglia was 1.055. Conclusion. GWR, especially GWR-basal ganglia, is an early useful predictor for DEACMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]