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Species functional traits can influence seed dispersal processes and consequently affect species' role in the mutualistic network. Although the effect of animal traits on the structure of the seed dispersal network is well explored, it remains poorly understood how plant and fruit traits contribute to the structure. We here studied the effects of plant and fruit traits on the structure of bird seed dispersal networks across different disturbed habitats in the Meihua Mountain National Nature Reserve, Southeastern China. During the study period, 16, 20, 13, and 15 bird species were recorded foraging on 10, 11, 12, and 8 plant species, resulting in 511, 312, 265, and 201 foraging events in the protected forest, natural forest, village, and bamboo forest, respectively. The composition of these seed dispersal networks is not primarily influenced by a specific group of bulbul species, but rather by the presence of an endangered plant species, Taxus chinensis. As we expected, the structure of the four networks was different among the four disturbed habitats. Furthermore, our results also showed tree height and canopy density were the most important plant traits for structuring the seed dispersal network, while sugar, amylase, dry matter, and alkaloids were identified as significant fruit traits. Overall, our findings highlight the value of integrating trait‐based ecology into the framework of the seed dispersal network and provide new insights for mutualistic network conservation in disturbed habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The China Surgery and Anaesthesia Cohort (CSAC) study was launched in July 2020 and is an ongoing prospective cohort study recruiting patients aged 40–65 years who underwent elective surgeries with general anaesthesia across four medical centres in China. The general objective of the CSAC study is to improve our understanding of the complex interaction between environmental and genetic components as well as to determine their effects on a wide range of interested surgery/anaesthesia-related outcomes. To achieve this goal, we collected enriched phenotypic data, e.g., sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, perioperative neuropsychological changes, anaesthesia- and surgery-related complications, and medical conditions, at recruitment, as well as through both active (at 1, 3, 7 days and 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery) and passive (for more than 1 year after surgery) follow-up assessments. We also obtained omics data from blood samples. In addition, COVID-19-related information was collected from all participants since January 2023, immediately after COVID-19 restrictions were eased in China. As of July 18, 2023, 12,766 participants (mean age = 52.40 years, 57.93% were female) completed baseline data collection (response rate = 94.68%), among which approximately 70% donated blood and hair samples. The follow-up rates within 12 months after surgery were > 92%. Our initial analyses have demonstrated the incidence of and risk factors for chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) among middle-aged Chinese individuals, which may prompt further mechanistic exploration and facilitate the development of effective interventions for preventing those conditions. Additional studies, such as genome-wide association analyses for identifying the genetic determinants of CPSP and POCD, are ongoing, and their findings will be released in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is urgent to make a rapid screening of infants at the highest risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) via some succinct postnatal biomarkers, such as Ureaplasma Urealyticum (UU) infection and chest radiograph images. Methods: A retrospective study was performed. Moderate to severe BPD or death was set as the main outcome. The association between putative variables and the main outcome were assessed by bivariate analyses and logistic regression. Results: A total of 134 infants were enrolled. Bivariate analyses showed the gestational age, birth weight, appearances of diffuse opacities or grid shadows/interstitial opacities or mass opacities or cystic lucencies on chest radiographic images, a ductal diameter ≥1.5 mm and whether UU infection was associated with BPD. After adjustment by logistic regression, the risk of BPD with gestational age, sex and specific chest-radiographic manifestations remained significant. Conclusions: Chest radiograph images (appearance of diffuse opacities or grid shadows/interstitial opacities or mass opacities or cystic lucencies) could provide a quick prediction of developing BPD in clinical practice, in addition to gestational age and sex. UU infection was not an independent risk factor for BPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bower's Berylmys (Berylmys bowersi) is one of the largest rodent species with a wide distribution range in southern China and the Indochinese Peninsula. The taxonomy and evolutionary history of the B. bowersi is still controversial and confusing. In this study, we used two mitochondrial (Cyt b and COI) and three nuclear (GHR, IRBP, and RAG1) genes to estimate the phylogeny, divergence times, and biogeographic history of B. bowersi. We also explored morphological variations among the specimens collected across China. Our phylogenetic analyses indicated that the traditional B. bowersi contains at least two species: B. bowersi and B. latouchei. Berylmys latouchei was considered a junior synonym of B. bowersi distributed in eastern China, which is confirmed to be distinguishable at specific level because of its larger size, relatively larger and whiter hind feet, and several cranial traits. The estimated split of B. bowersi and B. latouchei was at the early Pleistocene (ca. 2.00 Mya), which might be the outcome of the combined effects of climate change in the early Pleistocene and isolation by the Minjiang River. Our results highlight the Wuyi Mountains in northern Fujian, China, as a glacial refugia during the Pleistocene and call for more intensive surveys and systematic revisions of small mammals in eastern China. The Bowers Berylmys (Berylmys bowersi) is one of the largest rodent species with a wide distribution range in southern China and the Indochinese Peninsula. Our analyses indicated that the traditional B. bowersi is a species complex contains at least two species: B. bowersi and B. latouchei. Also, our results highlight the Wuyi Mountains as the glacial refugia in the Pleistocene and call for more intensive surveys and systematic revisions of small mammals in the eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-nitrosamines are widespread in various bodies of water, which is of great concern due to their carcinogenic risks and harmful mutagenic effects. Livestock rearing, domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewaters are the main sources of N-nitrosamines in environmental water. However, information on the amount of N-nitrosamines these different wastewaters contribute to environmental water is scarce. Here, we investigated eight N-nitrosamines and assessed their mass loadings in the Desheng River to quantify the contributions discharged from different anthropogenic activities. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) (< 1.6–18 ng/L), N-nitrosomethylethylamine (NMEA) (< 2.2 ng/L), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) (< 1.7–2.4 ng/L), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) (< 1.8–18 ng/L), N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) (< 2.0–3.5 ng/L), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) (< 2.2–2.5 ng/L), and N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine (NDBA) (< 3.3–16 ng/L) were detected. NDMA and NDBA were the dominant compounds contributing 89% and 92% to the total N-nitrosamine concentrations. The mean cumulative concentrations of N-nitrosamines in the livestock rearing area (26 ± 11 ng/L) and industrial area (24 ± 4.8 ng/L) were higher than those in the residential area (16 ± 6.3 ng/L) and farmland area (15 ± 5.1 ng/L). The mean concentration of N-nitrosamines in the tributaries (22 ng/L) was slightly higher than that in the mainstem (17 ng/L), probably due to the dilution effect of the mainstem. However, the mass loading assessment based on the river's flow and water concentrations suggested the negligible mass emission of N-nitrosamines into the mainstem from tributaries, which could be due to the small water flow of tributaries. The average mass loads of N-nitrosamines discharged into the mainstem were ranked as the livestock rearing area (742.7 g/d), industrial area (558.6 g/d), farmland area (93.9 g/d), and residential areas (83.2 g/d). In the livestock rearing, residential, and industrial area, NDMA (60.9%, 53.6%, and 46.7%) and NDBA (34.6%, 33.3%, and 44.9%) contributed the most mass loads; NDMA (23.4%), NDEA (15.8%), NPYR (10.1%), NPIP (12.8%), and NDBA (37.8%) contributed almost all the mass loads in the farmland area. Photodegradation amounts of NDMA (0.65 ~ 5.25 µg/(m3·day)), NDBA (0.37 ~ 0.91 µg/(m3·day)), and NDEA (0 ~ 0.66 µg/(m3·day)) were also calculated according to the mass loading. Quantifying the contribution of different anthropogenic activities to the river will provide important information for regional river water quality protection. Risk quotient (RQ) values showed the negligible ecological risks for fish, daphnid, and green algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whereas most studies to date have mainly concentrated on the comparison between high‐flux hemodialysis (HFHD) and hemodiafiltration (HDF), or HFHD and low‐flux hemodialysis (LFHD) in relation to the clearance of β2‐microglobulin (β2M) in HD patients, there have been few related to combined HFHD and HDF therapy. To compare the clearance of middle‐sized molecules as measured by β2M in HFHD versus LFHD and HDF. Methods: A prospective, single‐center, open‐label, observer‐blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University in China. Patients received either HFHD or LFHD and HDF 3 times a week with follow‐ups at one and 3 months. The primary endpoint was the clearance of β2M at 3 months. The secondary endpoints included hemodialysis‐related adverse events, changes in anemia, states of nutrition, and inflammatory indices. Results: After 3 months of treatment, the HFHD+HDF group achieved a higher satisfaction level than the LFHD+HDF group, with decreased serum β2M concentrations (34.493 ± 7.257 vs. 43.593 ± 9.036 mg/L, p < 0.001) and elevated red blood cell counts (3.959 ± 0.742 vs. 3.602 ± 0.578 × 1012/L, p = 0.015). Compared with baseline, both kinds of treatment led to increases in serum urea (t = −3.623, p = 0.001 vs. t = −4.240, p < 0.001), cholesterol (t = −2.511, p = 0.016 vs. t = −4.472, p < 0.001), and magnesium (t = −2.648, p = 0.011 vs. t = −3.561, p = 0.001). An elevated level of serum albumin (t = −2.683, p = 0.010) was observed only in the HFHD+HDF group. Conclusions: Combined therapy with HFHD and HDF has a beneficial effect on improving β2M clearance, red blood cell management, and nutrition status in HD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove forests are widely located along coastlines. They have been identified to be inimitable and dynamic ecosystems. This study investigated the trace metals in mangrove water and surface sediments of Nansha, Guangzhou, China. Zn (148.42 ± 247.47 μg L−1) was the most abundant metal in waters, followed by As (82.34 ± 118.95 μg L−1), Pb (22.96 ± 120.50 μg L−1), and Ni (19.42 ± 47.84 μg L−1). In sediments, the most abundant metal was Fe (27.04 ± 1.91 g kg−1), followed by Mn (1049.04 ± 364.11 mg kg−1), Zn (566.33 ± 244.37 mg kg−1), and Cr (106.9 ± 28.51 mg kg−1). Higher contents of trace metals were detected in vicinity areas of the river mouth. The results of pollution indexes, including contamination factor, enrichment factor, and geo-accumulation index, indicated the pollution of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in sediments. The Spearman correlation and cluster analysis were used to evaluate the metal sources. In water, the significant correlations among Zn and water chemical parameters (Na, Mg, K, Ca, conductivity, pH, and Cl) might indicate the natural source of Zn from the seawater. Water sampling sites in estuaries and coastal areas were clustered separately, which might indicate the influences of upstream water and the seawater, respectively. In sediments, the significant relationships among Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations were likely to imply the emissions from industries and exploitation of the Pb-Zn mine. The occurrence of Cr and Cu in sediments can be attributed to the spills of lubricants or oil. Cd in sediments could cause serious ecological risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a momentous policy tool for spatial management, urban administrative boundary expansion (UABE) significantly impacts resource reorganization and development modes. However, the environmental effects of UABE are easily ignored. Whether UABE can also impove the environmental quality in addition to its economic effects remains to be answered. To fill this gap, we took the city-county merger policy (CCMP) in China as quasi-experimental evidence and empirically investigated the impacts of CCMP on air pollution based on the difference-in-difference method. The impact mechanisms were also analyzed from a whole-process perspective. The results demonstrate that, apart from expanding the urban scale, UABE can improve urban air quality as well. Further analysis shows that the positive effect is mainly realized by source control and process management, rather than end-of-pipe treatment. Besides, the impacts of UABE on air pollution exhibit obvious spatial heterogeneous characteristics. We also reported that the environmental effects of UABE are largely dependent on governmental control, rather than market factors. According to the results above, flexible administrative boundary adjustment, strict government regulations, and effective market systems are required to realize the dual goals of environmental improvement and space optimization. [Display omitted] • We test the effects of urban administrative boundary expansion (UABE) by DID model. • Apart from economy, air quality can also be improved by UABE. • UABE controls air pollution from the source, rather than by terminal treatment. • The environmental effect of UABE largely depends on government control. • The impact of UABE on air pollution has significant spatial heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential denitrification (PD) rate, NO, NO, and N emission were determined after treatment with 50 mg NO−N kg soil using the acetylene inhibition method, and meanwhile abundance of four denitrifying genes (i.e., narG, nirK, norB, nosZ) was also investigated in subtropical soils of China. Soil samples were collected from conifer forest (C), shrub forest, and farmland. These soils were derived from Quaternary red earth and granite. The PD rate and N gas emissions significantly ( p < 0.05) differed between forest and farmland soils; abundance of denitrifying genes was also significantly affected by the land-use change. Correlation and multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that the PD rate was significantly ( p < 0.05) and positively correlated with soil pH but not with soil organic C and total N contents ( p > 0.05). The norB gene copies in farmland soils were significantly higher than in conifer and shrub forest soils ( p < 0.01). Both norB and nosZ gene copies were linearly correlated with soil pH, and the PD rate and N emission rate were significantly correlated with the abundance of norB ( p < 0.05). Probably, soil pH affected denitrifiers targeted by the norB gene, thus decreasing the reduction of NO and NO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can undergo long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) and deposit in remote areas. How persistent are POPs in remote areas? To answer this question, we measured two parent-DDTs and eight metabolites in soil and air along a transect in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, to quantitatively evaluate the degree of degradation of DDTs. DDTs were ubiquitous in soil and air with the total DDT concentrations (Σ 10 DDTs) ranging 37.7–70,100 pg g−1 dw and 3.4–175 pg m−3, respectively. The air-soil equilibrium status indicated that the forest/basin soil was a source for most DDTs, while the plateau soil was a sink receiving DDTs from the LRAT and photodegradation in the air (for metabolites). The metabolites accounted for avg. 64.1% of Σ 10 DDTs in soil, with avg. 93.2% from local degradation, implying the overall high degradation of DDTs. With the significant degradation, the continuous input via LRAT was deemed to be the main reason for the stable level (persistence) of POPs in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of source control for the risk management of POPs. POPs in the environment might decline rapidly due to a reduction in source input and significant degradation as indicated by our study. Image 1 • The fate of DDTs in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was quantitatively evaluated. • Forest/basin soil was a source, while plateau soil was a sink for DDTs. • Metabolites accounted for 64.1% of Σ 10 DDTs, with 93.2% from local degradation. • LRAT input is the main reason for stable POPs in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N -nitrosamines in water have drawn significant concerns for the health of water consumers due to their carcinogenic properties. N -nitrosamines are formed during disinfection of wastewater as well as different industrial and agricultural processes. This study characterized the N -nitrosamines compositions in eleven different wastewaters in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in Southeast China, and the spatial distributions and the abundances of N -nitrosamines in the Pearl River water were detected. The results indicated that five N -nitrosamines species, including N -nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N- nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), N -nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), N -nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) and N -nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) were found in the industrial wastewater samples in the PRD. Remarkably high concentrations of NDMA (up to 4000 ng/L) were found in the wastewaters from the textile printing and dyeing as well as the electroplating, whereas NDMA, NDEA and NMOR were detected in the domestic wastewaters at concentrations lower than 15 ng/L. Moreover, we found that certain treatment processes for the electroplating wastewater could form a significant amount of NDMA, NPYR and NMOR. Analyses of the Pearl River water samples showed occurrences of different N -nitrosamines species, including NDMA (5.7 ng/L), NDEA (1.7 ng/L), NPYR (2.2 ng/L), NMOR (2.2 ng/L) and NDBA (4.9 ng/L). The abundances of N -nitrosamines species varied spatially due to the inputs from the different sources. Thus, our study provides unique and valuable information for occurrences, abundances and source characteristics of N -nitrosamines in the PRD. Image 1 • The different regional wastewaters are characterized according to N -nitrosamines compositions. • Enrichment of certain N -nitrosamines species were found in the specific wastewaters. • Uneven spatial distributions of N -nitrosamines species observed in the Pearl River of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both preoperative psychological symptoms and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) are prevalent conditions and major concerns among surgery patients, with inconclusive associations. Based on the China Surgery and Anaesthesia Cohort (CSAC), we recruited 8350 surgery patients (40–65 yr old) from two medical centres between July 2020 and March 2023. Patients with preoperative psychological symptoms (i.e. anxiety, depression, stress reaction, and poor sleep quality) were identified using corresponding well-established scales. We then examined the associations of individual preoperative psychological symptoms and major patterns of preoperative psychological symptoms (identified by k -means clustering analysis) with CPSP, and different pain trajectories within 3 months. Lastly, mediation analyses were conducted to elucidate the mediating role of surgery/anaesthesia-related factors and the presence of 1-month postoperative psychological symptoms on the studied associations. We included 1302 (1302/8350, 15.6%) CPSP patients. When analysed separately, all studied preoperative psychological symptoms were associated with increased CPSP risk, with the most pronounced odds ratio noted for anxiety (1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–1.86). Compared with patients clustered in the minor symptom group, excess risk of CPSP and experiencing an increasing pain trajectory was increased among patients with preoperative psychological symptoms featured by sleep disturbances (odds ratio=1.46, 95% CI 1.25–1.70 for CPSP and 1.58, 95% CI 1.20–2.08 for increasing pain trajectory) and multiple psychological symptoms (1.84 [95% CI 1.48–2.28] and 4.34 [95% CI 3.20–5.88]). Mediation analyses revealed acute/subacute postsurgical pain and psychological symptoms existing 1 month after surgery as notable mediators of the observed associations. The presence of preoperative psychological symptoms might individually or jointly increase the risk of chronic postsurgical pain or experiencing deterioration in pain trajectory. Interventions for managing acute/subacute postsurgical pain and psychological symptoms at 1 month after surgery might help reduce such risk. ChiCTR2000034039. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Adjuvant therapy following curative resection has been shown to be associated with significant survival benefits in patients with gastric cancer (GC); however, this treatment is not available to some patients. The aim was to investigate factors associated with the receipt of adjuvant therapy among GC patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study including patients with stage IB‐IIIC gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative resection between November 2010 and July 2014. Patients were identified using a database from West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Univariate and multivariable analyses examined factors associated with adjuvant therapy receipt. Results: A total of 1,476 patients were included. Among these, 852 patients were eligible, with 157 patients not receiving adjuvant therapy. Age, education, income, residence, medical insurance, employment status and visiting an oncologist were independently associated with adjuvant therapy receipt by univariate analysis. After adjustment for other factors, medical insurance (p = 0.005), employment status (p = 0.008) and visiting an oncologist (p < 0.001) remained significantly correlated, and income was near the threshold of a significant difference (p = 0.050). Conclusion: Our study indicates that disparities do exist in determining the receipt of adjuvant therapy in GC patients according to income, insurance and employment status, and highlight the importance of visiting an oncologist postoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Life cycle assessment and comparison between EVs and GVs were performed. • The resource depletion and environmental impacts of the power system of EVs are higher. • The exhaust produced by GVs during the utilisation stage is the main contributor to urban air pollution. • The optimisation of electric power structures can reduce GWP, CO and CO 2 by 15%, 37% and 14%, respectively. • The increase of battery energy density by 100 Wh/kg can reduce the emissions of air pollutants by 14–20%. Abstract Under the pressure of the global demand for environmental protection, the Chinese government has placed significant importance to the development and application of electric vehicles (EVs). However, the energy-saving and emission-reduction features of EVs remain the subject of debate. The current study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) on the power system of a gasoline vehicle (GV) and two EVs powered by lithium–iron ferrous phosphate (LFP) battery and nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) lithium battery based on Chinese practical production data. Results show that EVs have larger abiotic depletion potential (ADP) and environmental impact comprehensive value than GVs during the life cycle. The comprehensive environmental load of the LFP power system is 376% higher than that of the GV power system, and the comprehensive environmental load of the NCM power system remains 119% higher than that of the GV power system. The amounts of CO 2 , PM 2.5–10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 and CO emissions from EVs are significantly lower than those from GVs with respect to Chinese energy-saving policies and actual emission-reduction techniques. In addition, sensitivity analysis results indicate that the optimisation of electric power structures can reduce GWP, CO and CO 2 by 15%, 37% and 14%, respectively. Additionally, the increase in battery energy density by 100 Wh/kg can reduce the emissions of air pollutants by 14–20%. Lastly, this study puts forward the following suggestions: optimise domestic energy structures, increase the proportion of clean energy, prioritise the promotion of the EVs in South China and increase battery energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Submerged macrophytes exhibited phosphorus stoichiometric homeostasis (H P). • H P value dictated submerged macrophyte community stability. • Eutrophication altered interspecific interactions among submerged macrophytes. • Decline of high- H P species reduced community stability. According to stoichiometric homeostasis theory, eutrophication is expected to increase the dominance of submerged macrophytes with low homeostatic regulation coefficients (H) relative to those with high H values, ultimately reducing macrophyte community stability. However, empirical evidence supporting this hypothesis is limited. In this study, we conducted a three-year tracking survey (seven sampling events) at 81 locations across three regions of Erhai Lake. We assessed the H values of submerged macrophyte species, revealing significant H values for phosphorus (P) and strong associations of H P values (range: 1.58–2.94) with species and community stability. Moreover, in plots simultaneously containing the dominant high- H P species, Potamogeton maackianus , and its low- H P counterpart, Ceratophyllum demersum , we explored the relationships among eutrophication, interspecific interaction shifts, and community dynamics. As the environmental P concentration increased, the dominance of P. maackianus decreased, while that of C. demersum increased. This shift coincided with reductions in community H P and stability. Our study underpins the effectiveness of H values for forecasting interspecific interactions among submerged macrophytes, thereby clarifying how eutrophication contributes to the decline in stability of the submerged macrophyte community. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Remarkably high NAs were decreased by 33–81 % after industrial WWTPs. • Fe-C electrolysis, ClO 2 oxidation, Fe/Al-based flocculation and activated sludge were effective. • Adsorption, degradation, and precursor deactivation were main removal mechanisms. • Electroplating and printing/dyeing wastewater significantly affect drinking water. • The high concentration diversity of NAs is a major challenge for water treatment. The discharge of industrial wastewater containing high concentrations of N -nitrosamines to the aquatic environment can impair downstream source waters and pose potential risks to human health. However, the transport and fate of N -nitrosamines in typical industrial wastewater treatment plants (IWWTPs) and the influence of these effluents on source water and drinking water are still unclear. This study investigated nine N -nitrosamines in four full-scale electroplating (E-) and printing/dyeing (PD-) IWWTPs, two drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) in the lower reaches of these IWWTPs, and the corresponding tap water in South China. The total concentrations of N -nitrosamines (∑NAs) were 382–10,600, 480–1920, 494–789, and 27.9–427 ng/L in influents, effluents, source water, and tap water, respectively. The compositions of N -nitrosamine species in different influents varied a lot, while N -nitrosodi-n-butylamine (NDBA) and N -nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) dominated in most of the effluents, source water, and tap water. More than 70 % N -nitrosamines were removed by wastewater treatment processes used in E-IWWTPs such as ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis (Fe/C-ME), while only about 50 % of N -nitrosamines were removed in PD-IWWTPs due to the use of chlorine reagent or other inefficient conventional processes such as flocculation by cationic amine-based polymers or bio-contact oxidation. Therefore, the mass fluxes of N -nitrosamines discharged from these industrial wastewaters to the environment in the selected two industrial towns were up to 14,700 mg/day. The results based on correlation and principal component analysis significantly demonstrated correlations between E-and PD-effluents and source water and tap water, suggesting that these effluents can serve as sources of N -nitrosamines to local drinking water systems. This study suggests that N -nitrosamines are prevalent in typical IWWTPs, which may infect drinking water systems. The findings of this study provide a basis data for the scientific evaluation of environmental processes of N -nitrosamines. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic wastewaters contaminated with N -nitrosamines pose a significant threat to river ecosystems worldwide, particularly in urban areas with riparian cities. Despite widespread concern, the precise impact of these contaminants on receiving river waters remains uncertain. This study investigated eight N -nitrosamines in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and their adjacent receiving river, the Lijiang River in Guilin City, Southwest China. By analyzing thirty wastewater samples from five full-scale WWTPs and twenty-three river water samples from Guilin, we quantified the mass loads of N -nitrosamines discharged into the surrounding watershed via domestic effluents. The results revealed that N -nitrosodimethylamine (10–60 ng/L), N -nitrosodiethylamine (3.4–22 ng/L), and N -nitrosopyrrolidine (not detected–4.5 ng/g) were predominant in influents, effluents, and sludge, respectively, with the overall removal efficiencies ranging from 17.7 to 65.6% during wastewater treatment. Cyclic activated sludge system and ultraviolet disinfection were effective in removing N -nitrosamines (rates of 59.6% and 24.3%), while chlorine dioxide disinfection promoted their formation. A total of 30.4 g/day of N -nitrosamine mass loads were observed in the Lijiang River water, with domestic effluents contributing about 31.3% (19.4 g/day), followed by livestock breeding wastewater (34.5%, 12.0 g/day), and unknown sources (24.7%, 7.5 g/day). These findings highlight the critical role of WWTPs in transporting N -nitrosamines to watersheds and emphasize the urgent need for further investigation into other potential sources of N -nitrosamine pollution within watersheds. [Display omitted] • The overall removal rates of ∑NAs in WWTPs ranged from 17.7 to 65.6%. • Approximately 11.5% of ∑NAs entered the sludge in WWTPs. • The removal rates for biotreatment were ranked as CASS > A/A/O > A/O. • WWTP effluents contributed 31.3% of N -nitrosamines to the watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Huixian karst wetland, situated in southwest China, is the largest karst wetland. Historically, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have negatively affected the aquatic environment and the health of surrounding residents. In this study, the pollution status and environmental fate of OCPs in multiple environmental media in the Huixian wetland were investigated. The 15 OCPs' total concentration ranges in lake water, ditch water, groundwater, and lake sediment were 46.8–306 ng·L−1, 77.8–251 ng·L−1, 26.0–233 ng·L−1, and 44.8–345 ng·g−1, respectively. The concentrations and proportions of the different OCPs demonstrated significant seasonality. Historical residues are the main source of OCPs in the region, as evidenced by the typical ratios of DDTs and HCHs. Karst regions are extremely vulnerable to environmental changes, as evidenced by the highly dynamic character of the karst wetland system and the rapid migration of multimodal OCPs in different media without considerable damage. According to the risk assessment, both the possible carcinogenic risk to sediments in the Huixian wetland and the ecological risk to water bodies were acceptable. In contrast, the consumption of lake water may put the local population at health risk, which is a cause of concern. [Display omitted] • The concentrations and proportions of the 15 OCPs varied seasonally. • HCHs had a greater ability to move around and scatter than DDTs from surface water to groundwater. • The sediments of Huixian wetlands serve as an important source of OCPs secondary pollution in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discharge of electroplating wastewater, containing high concentrations of N-nitrosamines, poses significant risks to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Karst aquatic environment is easily impacted by N-nitrosamines due to the fragile surface ecosystem. However, it's still unclear in understanding N-nitrosamine transformation in karst water systems. To explore the response and transport of nine N-nitrosamines in electroplating effluent within both karst surface water and groundwater, different river and groundwater samples were collected from both the upper and lower reaches of the effluent discharge areas in a typical karst industrial catchment in Southwest China. Results showed that the total average concentrations of N-nitrosamines (∑NAs) in electroplating effluent (1800 ng/L) was significantly higher than that in the receiving river water (130 ng/L) and groundwater (70 ng/L). The dynamic nature of karst aquifers resulted in comparable average concentrations of ∑NAs in groundwater (70 ng/L) and river water (79 ng/L) at this catchment. Based on the principal component analysis and multiple linear regression analysis, the electroplating effluent contributed 89% and 53% of N-nitrosamines to the river water and groundwater, respectively. The results based on the species sensitivity distribution model revealed N-nitrosodibutylamine as a particularly toxic compound to aquatic organisms. Furthermore, the average N-nitrosamine carcinogenic risk was significantly higher in lower groundwater reaches compared to upper reaches. This study represents a pioneering effort in considering specific N-nitrosamine properties in evaluating their toxicity and constructing species sensitivity curves. It underscores the significance of electroplating effluent as a primary N-nitrosamine source in aquatic environments, emphasizing their swift dissemination and significant accumulation in karst groundwater., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

N-nitrosamines in reservoir water have drawn significant attention because of their carcinogenic properties. Karst reservoirs containing dissolved organic matter (DOM) are important drinking water sources and are susceptible to contamination because of the fast flow of various contaminants. However, it remains unclear whether N-nitrosamines and their precursor, DOM, spread in karst reservoirs. Therefore, this study quantitatively investigated the occurrence and sources of N-nitrosamines based on DOM properties in three typical karst reservoirs and their corresponding tap water. The results showed that N-nitrosamines were widely spread, with detection frequencies > 85%. Similar dominant compounds, including N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosomethylethylamine, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, and N-nitrosodibutylamine, were observed in reservoirs and tap water, with average concentrations of 4.7-8.9 and 2.8-6.7 ng/L, respectively. The average carcinogenic risks caused by these N-nitrosamines were higher than the risk level of 10 -6 . Three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrix modeling revealed that DOM was composed of humus-like component 1 (C1) and protein-like component 2 (C2). Fluorescence indicators showed that DOM in reservoir water was mainly affected by exogenous pollution and algal growth, whereas in tap water, DOM was mainly affected by microbial growth with strong autopoietic properties. In the reservoir water, N-nitrosodiethylamine and N-nitrosopiperidine were significantly correlated with C2 and biological indicators, indicating their endogenously generated sources. Based on the principal component analysis and multiple linear regression methods, five sources of N-nitrosamines were identified: agricultural pollution, microbial sources, humus sources, degradation processes, and other factors, accounting for 46.8%, 36.1%, 7.82%, 8.26%, and 0.96%, respectively. For tap water, two sources, biological reaction processes, and water distribution systems, were identified, accounting for 75.7% and 24.3%, respectively. Overall, this study presents quantitative information on N-nitrosamines' sources based on DOM properties in typical karst reservoirs and tap water, providing a basis for the safety of drinking water for consumers., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Large quantities of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been used in tropical regions. The fate processes and risks of these legacy contaminants in the tropics are poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the occurrence of three classes of widely used OCPs and their metabolites in surface and core soil from five cities across Vietnam with a prevalent tropical monsoon climate and a long history of OCP application. We aimed to elucidate migration potentials, degradation conditions, and transformation pathways and assess current health risks of these contaminants. Generally, the concentrations of OCPs and metabolites in the soil core were slightly lower than those in surface soil except for hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers. 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), the sum of dicofol and 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone (p,p'-DBP), and 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane (p,p'-DDD) were the most abundant compounds in both surface and core soils. A uniform distribution of HCHs (the sum of α-, β-, γ-, and δ-HCH) at trace levels was found in almost all soils, serving as evidence of the lack of recent use of HCH pesticides. Higher concentrations of DDTs (the sum of DDT, DDD, and DDE) were observed in north-central Vietnamese soil, whereas appreciable concentrations of ENDs (the sum of α- and β-endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate) were only found in southern Vietnamese soils. Empirical diagnostic ratios indicated residuals of DDTs were mainly from technical DDT rather than dicofol, whereas aged HCHs could be explained by the mixture of lindane and technical HCH. Both historical applications and recent input explain DDTs and ENDs in Vietnamese soil. Total organic carbon performs well in preventing vertical migration of more hydrophobic DDTs and ENDs. The dominant transformation pathway of DDT in surface soil followed p,p'-DDE→2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1-chloroethylene or p,p'-DDMU→1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene or p,p'-DDNU→p,p'-DBP, whereas the amount of p,p'-DDMU converted from p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE is similar in soil core. Non-cancer risks of OCPs and metabolites in all soils and cancer risks of those chemicals in core soils were below the safety threshold, whereas a small proportion of surface soil exhibited potential cancer risk after considering the exposure pathway of vegetable intake. This study implied that organic matter in non-rainforest tropical deep soils still could hinder the leaching of hydrophobic organic contaminants as in subtropical and temperate soils. When lands with a history of OCP application are used for agricultural purposes, dietary-related risks need to be carefully assessed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The discharge of substantial amounts of N-nitrosamines-contained wastewater into receiving rivers can significantly deteriorate water quality, as these carcinogenic compounds can be easily transported into groundwater and drinking water systems. This study investigated the distribution of eight species of N-nitrosamines in river water, groundwater, and tap water located in the center of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. The results showed that three major N-nitrosamines, including N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), and N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA), with concentrations of up to 64 ng/L, were observed in river water, groundwater, and tap water, whereas the other compounds occurred sporadically. In river water and groundwater, high concentrations of NDMA, NDEA, N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR), and NDBA were found in industrial and residential lands as compared to agricultural lands owing to the influence of various human activities. The primary sources of N-nitrosamines in river water were industrial and domestic wastewater, and the infiltration of river water was responsible for the high levels of N-nitrosamines in groundwater. Among the target N-nitrosamines, NDEA and NMOR with long biodegradation half-lives (>4 days) and low LogK ow values (<1) displayed the highest potential for groundwater. N-nitrosamines in groundwater and tap water pose significant potential cancer risks to residents, especially children, and juveniles, with lifetime cancer risks of over 10 -4 , necessitating advanced water treatments for drinking water and critical controls on primary industrial discharge in urban areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The use of Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acid can induce the exchange of adenine and thymine in gene mutations and even cause liver cancer. To eliminate the harm of aristolochic acids (AAs) to humans, a rapid and robust method of AAs screening is a prerequisite. In this work, a facile and robust Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method was used for the qualitative and quantitative detection of AAs in Chinese medicinal herbal preparations based on the mandelic acid modified Ag nanoparticles SERS substrate. Qualitative and quantitative SERS detection of Aristolochic acid I (AAI) was achieved with a good linear relationship ranging from 0.2 - 120.0 μM and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 μM. The proposed method demonstrates a refined strategy for sensitivity analysis of AAs with the advantages of easy operation, time-saving, high sensitivity, and molecular specificity, making it a preferred platform for the screening of AAI in regular inspections of herbal products and regulatory supervision of the supply chain., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate occupational blood-borne pathogen exposure among dental nurses and their attitudes toward infected patients, as well as the effectiveness of the training course, to provide a scientific basis for improving the quality of safety management in the dental hospital., Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using questionnaires administered from November 2019 to December 2019 in three hospitals in Sichuan Province, China. Frequencies for answers were calculated and presented as percentages., Results: In total, 257 valid questionnaires were returned. Most (61.9%) nurses stated that they were involved in occupational exposure. Among them, 154 had experienced sharp injuries, and the syringe needle was the most common instrument for injuries (45.8%). Twenty-two individuals had mucosal exposure, and the proportion of eye exposure was the highest (90.9%). Only associations between training and mucosal membrane exposure were found; however, the relevance was weak ( r = 0.141). Of the participants, 86.4% felt morally responsible for taking care of patients with infectious diseases, and most (92.6%) said they would continue with this career., Conclusion: Occupational exposure, particularly to sharp injuries, was common in medical care among dental nurses; however, vocational training had little effect on their incidence. As dental nurses still have positive attitudes toward patients with infectious diseases, more effective training should be conducted., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Yuan, Shi, Chen, Ma, Liu, Liu and Yang.)

Long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) plays a crucial role in the occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in remote regions. When studying the LRAT of POPs on the Tibetan Plateau, westerly-controlled regions have received insufficient attention compared with regions influenced by the Indian monsoon or air flow from East Asia. We investigated the residual levels of POPs in soils from the eastern Pamirs and used air backward trajectory analysis to elucidate the influence of potential source regions via LRAT. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs, mainly comprising DDTs, HCHs, and HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, mainly comprising penta- and hexa-CBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, mainly comprising three- and four-ring) were detected at low concentrations of 40-1000,

Wastewater from certain industrial processes can be primary emission sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and fluorinated alternatives like chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates (Cl-PFESA). Two such industrial processes are electroplating and textile printing and dyeing (PD). This study focused on the fate of Cl-PFESA in wastewater from these two industrial processes, in comparison to other PFAS, as they went through different wastewater treatment plants located in southeast China. The total target PFAS concentrations were 520 ± 30 and 4200 ± 270 ng/L at the effluents of the PD WWTP and electroplating WWTP, respectively. Specifically, 6:2 Cl-PFESA (18%) and 8:2 Cl-PFESA (0.7%) were abundant in electroplating-wastewater. Cl-PFESA were also detected in PD wastewater but at trace concentrations and were likely present due to diffuse emissions. The dissolved-phase Cl-PFESA and PFAS mass flows through the WWTPs were fairly constant throughout both facilities. The majority of Cl-PFESA was captured by sludge sedimentation. However, there were individual treatment processes that could cause the wastewater concentrations to fluctuate, and also could lead to relative enrichment of specific Cl-PFESAs as indicated by the 6:2/8:2 Cl-PFESA ratios. Cl-PFESA and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids were more influenced by the investigated treatment processes than perfluorocarboxylic acids.

Aims: Sacubitril/valsartan significantly reduced heart failure (HF) hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality in a randomized controlled trial. However, little is known about real-world efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in Chinese patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We aimed to evaluate whether sacubitril/valsartan could improve cardiac function in Chinese patients with HFrEF in a tertiary hospital in China., Methods and Results: Patients with HFrEF receiving sacubitril/valsartan in our hospital between January 2018 and January 2020 were recruited in the present study. We retrospectively collected and analysed all clinical parameters at baseline and during follow-up. A total of 100 consecutive patients (73% male) with HFrEF were recruited in the present study. During a median follow-up period of 365 days [interquartile range (IQR), 346-378], a pronounced improvement of cardiac function was achieved. New York Heart Association classification was significantly improved (P < 0.001), and median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptides level significantly decreased from 3003 pg/mL (IQR, 1513-5404) to 2039 pg/mL (IQR, 921-3955) (P = 0.010). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 31 ± 6% to 38 ± 10% (P < 0.001) and median left ventricular end-diastolic diameter reduced from 63 mm (IQR, 59-67) to 60 mm (IQR, 55-68) (P = 0.001). Mean pulmonary arterial systolic pressure decreased significantly from 49 ± 13 mmHg to 44 ± 12 mmHg (P < 0.001) and median right ventricular end-diastolic diameter reduced from 23 mm (IQR, 21-26) to 22 mm (IQR, 20-25) (P = 0.030). After treatment with sacubitril/valsartan, mean estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly decreased (from 88.8 ± 22.4 mL/min to 71.8 ± 27.3 mL/min, P < 0.001). Median serum creatinine and median blood urea nitrogen levels significantly increased [from 0.9 mg/dL (IQR, 0.8-1.0) to 1.1 mg/dL (IQR, 0.9-1.3), P < 0.001, and from 6.8 mmol/L (IQR, 5.5-8.9) to 8.0 mmol/L (IQR, 6.6-10.3), P = 0.002, respectively]. The proportion of patients with chronic kidney disease Stage 3/4 increased significantly from 8% to 39% (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: In Chinese patients with HFrEF, sacubitril/valsartan treatment was associated with a pronounced improvement of cardiac function, but might be prone to a decrease in blood pressure and deterioration in renal function., (© 2021 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.)

Introduction: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a frequent and serious complication of maintaining haemodialysis (HD) patients and associated with subsequent cardiovascular events and higher mortality. Furosemide is commonly used in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients and can effectively manage the volume and blood pressure. However, these agents are often discontinued on initiation of dialysis. Two large observational studies have demonstrated that furosemide can lower the rate of IDH episodes. However, there is still no randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the efficacy and safety of furosemide for prevention of IDH in HD patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of furosemide in reducing IDH in HD patients with residual renal function., Methods and Analysis: A two-arm, parallel, multicente RCT will be conducted at 12 hospitals in China. An estimated sample of 560 HD patients will be recruited. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to treatment group (patients receive oral furosemide 80 mg/day; after a 2-week treatment, if their urine volume is less than 400 mL/day, the dose of furosemide is adjusted to 160 mg/day) and blank control group via a central randomisation system using 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is the occurrence of IDH. Outcome assessors and data analysts will be blinded and participants will be asked not to reveal their allocation to assessors. The outcome analyses will be performed both on the intention-to-treat, which includes all patients randomised, and per-protocol population, which includes eligible patients who adhere to the planned treatment and follow-ups., Ethics and Dissemination: The trial protocol has been approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of West China Hospital of Sichuan University (2019.385)Results will be presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2000039724., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Abstract: Enteroviruses is a group of positive single-stranded RNA viruses ubiquitous in the environment, which is a causative agent of epidemic diseases in children and infants. But data on neonates are still limited. The present study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of enterovirus infection in neonates and arise the awareness of this disease to general public.Between March 2018 and September 2019, data from all of the neonates diagnosed with enterovirus infection were collected and analyzed from neonatal intensive care unit of Zhangzhou Hospital in Fujian, China.A total of 23 neonates were enrolled. All of them presented with fever (100%), and some with rashes (39.1%). The incidence of aseptic meningitis was high (91.3%), but only a small proportion (28.6%) presented with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocytosis. The positive value for nucleic acid detection in CSF was significantly higher than throat swab (91.3% vs 43.5%, P = .007). Five of the infected neonates presented with aseptic meningitis (23.8%) underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging examination and no craniocerebral injuries were found. Subsequent follow-ups were performed in 15 of them (71.4%) and no neurological sequelae was found.Aseptic meningitis is a common type of enterovirus infection in neonates with a benign course. Nucleic acid detection of CSF has an important diagnostic value. Febrile neonates would be suggested to screen for enterovirus infection in addition to complete septic workup. An unnecessary initiation or earlier cessation of antibiotics could be considered in enterovirus infection, but that indications still need further studies to guarantee the safety., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The presence of some types of N-nitrosamines in water bodies is of great concern worldwide due to their carcinogenic risks and harmful mutagenic effects on human health. In the present study, eight N-nitrosamines and their formation potentials (FPs) were primarily investigated in Yangtze River surface water to evaluate their spatial distribution, mass loads, and ecological risks. The results showed that of the eight N-nitrosamines investigated, NDMA (<1.5-17 ng/L), NDEA (<1.4-9.5 ng/L), NDPA (1.0 ng/L), NMOR (<1.0-1.3 ng/L), NPIP (<2.1-3.7 ng/L), and NDBA (<3.6-30 ng/L) were detected. The FPs of NDMA (<27-130 ng/L), NDEA (<0.9-2.3 ng/L), NDPA (<1.2-1.9 ng/L), NPYR (<1.4-2.9 ng/L), NMOR (<1.0 ng/L), and NDBA (<1.1-14 ng/L) were significantly identified. NDBA was predominantly observed in surface water, while NDMA was noticeably detected in chloraminated water samples. It was estimated that approximately 5.4 t/y of N-nitrosamines were carried by the Yangtze River to the East China Sea, whereas the input flux of N-nitrosamine precursors was estimated to be approximately 69.5 t/y. Spatial variations were observed due to the input of N-nitrosamines from the upstream dams and lakes. The origin of N-nitrosamine precursors was not associated with the presence of sediment in river water. NDEA could be introduced into river water by the discharge of wastewater. NDBA and its precursors could originate from industrial and aquaculture activities. NDMA and its precursors could result from both of the aforementioned sources. Moreover, the wastewater discharge from small cities, pH value, wastewater treatment ratio, and dilution could be the key factors that influence the occurrence of N-nitrosamines along the Yangtze River. More attention should be paid to the cancer risks posed by N-nitrosamines. The ecological risks posed by N-nitrosamines in the Yangtze River can be ignored., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Since the outbreak of a cluster of patients with pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019, the disease was later officially named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), quickly spreading globally. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable during disasters and emergencies. Comprehensive and applicable emergency preparedness and response are definitely important methods to prevent and contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The rational allocation of pharmaceutical resources plays an important role in the medical emergency plan. This paper aimed to share experiences for the allocation of pharmaceutical resources in hospitals focusing primarily on women and children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDCA) is the most common form of invasive breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is widely used to analyze estrogen receptor 1 (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) that can help classify the tumor to guide the medical treatment. IHC examinations require experienced pathologists to provide interpretations that are subjective, thereby lowering the reproducibility of IHC-based diagnosis. In this study, we developed a 4-plex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for the simultaneous and quantitative analyses of estrogen receptor 1 ( ESR1 ), progesterone receptor ( PGR ), erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 ( ERBB2 ), and pumilio RNA binding family member 1 ( PUM1 ) expression levels in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples., Methods: We evaluated the sensitivity, reproducibility, and linear dynamic range of 4-plex ddPCR. We applied this method to analyze 95 FFPE samples from patients with breast IDCA and assessed the agreement rates between ddPCR and IHC to evaluate its potential in classifying breast cancer subtypes., Results: The limits of quantification (LOQ) were 25, 50, 50, and 50 copies per reaction for ERBB2 , ESR1 , PGR , and PUM1 , respectively. The dynamic ranges of ESR1 , PGR , and PUM1 extended over 50-1600 copies per reaction and those of ERBB2 from 25 to 1600 copies per reaction. The concordance correlation coefficients between 4-plex ddPCR and IHC were 96.8%, 91.5%, and 85.1% for ERBB2 , ESR1 , and PGR , respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve area under the curve values of 0.991, 0.977, and 0.920 were generated for ERBB2 , ESR1 , and PGR , respectively., Conclusions: Evaluation of breast cancer biomarker status by 4-plex ddPCR was highly concordant with IHC in this study., (© 2019 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.)

Background: Preptin is a novel hormone that is co-secreted with insulin and amylin from the pancreatic beta-cells. Preptin increases glucose-mediated insulin secretion, while the binding of endogenous preptin by antipreptin antibodies decreases glucose-mediated insulin secretion. Thus, it appears to act as a physiological amplifier of glucose-mediated insulin secretion. Aim. In this study, we investigate whether plasma preptin levels are different in non-diabetic subjects and patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Method: Fifty patients with T2DM, 56 subjects with IGT, and 54 sex- and age-matched normal controls participated in the study. Plasma preptin levels were measured with a radioimmunoassay. The relationships between plasma preptin levels and anthropometric and metabolic parameters were also assessed., Results: Plasma preptin levels were higher in patients with T2DM compared to patients with IGT and controls (456+/-14 versus 416+/-13 and 398+/-13 ng/L, P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Plasma preptin levels were lower in males than females (403+/-10 versus 432+/-10 ng/L, P<0.05). Fasting plasma preptin levels correlated positively with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r=0.20, P<0.01), triglyceride (TG) (r=0.24, P<0.01), total cholesterol (TC) (r=0.24, P<0.01), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (r=0.18, P<0.05), free fatty acids (FFA) (r=0.21, P<0.01), 2-h blood glucose after glucose overload (2hOGTT) (r=0.18, P<0.05), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1)c) (r=0.19, P<0.01), and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA(IR)) (r=0.13, P<0.05) in simple regression analysis of pooled data, while in multiple stepwise regression analysis, only DBP, TG, HDL-C, and FFA were independently related with plasma preptin levels., Conclusion: The present work suggests a potential role of preptin in the pathogenesis of T2DM.