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Objective: To investigate whether Naoxueshu Oral Liquid (NXS) could promote hematoma absorption in post-craniotomy hematoma (PCH) patients. Methods: This is an open-label, multicenter, and randomized controlled trial conducted at 9 hospitals in China. Patients aged 18–80 years with post-craniotomy supratentorial hematoma volume ranging from 10 to 30 mL or post-craniotomy infratentorial hematoma volume less than 10 mL, or intraventricular hemorrhage following cranial surgery were enrolled. They were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the NXS (10 mL thrice daily for 15 days) or control groups using a randomization code table. Standard medical care was administered in both groups. The primary outcome was the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. The secondary outcomes included the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7, the absolute reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7 and 15, and the change in neurological function from day 1 to day 7 and 15. The safety was closely monitored throughout the study. Moreover, subgroup analysis was performed based on age, gender, history of diabetes, and etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned between March 30, 2018 and April 15, 2020. One patient was lost to follow-up in the control group. Finally, there were 119 patients (60 in the NXS group and 59 in the control group) included in the analysis. In the full analysis set (FAS) analysis, the NXS group had a greater percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15 than the control group [median (Q1, Q3): 85% (71%, 97%) vs. 76% (53%, 93%), P<0.05]. The secondary outcomes showed no statistical significance between two groups, either in FAS or per-protocol set (P>0.05). Furthermore, no adverse events were reported during the study. In the FAS analysis, the NXS group exhibited a higher percentage reduction in hematoma volume on day 15 in the following subgroups: male patients, patients younger than 65 years, patients without diabetes, or those with initial cranial surgery due to ICH (all P<0.05). Conclusions: The administration of NXS demonstrated the potential to promote the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. This intervention was found to be safe and feasible. The response to NXS may be influenced by patient characteristics. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800017981) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug exposure during pregnancy lacks global fetal safety data. The maternal drug exposure birth cohort (DEBC) study, a prospective longitudinal investigation, aims to explore the correlation of maternal drug exposure during pregnancy with pregnancy outcomes, and establish a human biospecimen biobank. Here we describe the process of establishing DEBC and show that the drug exposure rate in the first trimester of pregnant women in DEBC (n = 112,986) is 30.70%. Among the drugs used, dydrogesterone and progesterone have the highest exposure rates, which are 11.97% and 10.82%, respectively. The overall incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes is 13.49%. Dydrogesterone exposure during the first trimester is correlated with higher incidences of stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects, along with a lower incidence of miscarriage/abortion. Due to the limitations of this cohort study, causative conclusions cannot be drawn. Further follow-up and in-depth data analysis are planned for future studies. Drug exposure during pregnancy lacks sufficient fetal safety information world-widely. Here, the authors report the establishment a multi-center birth cohort to explore the correlation of maternal drug exposure during pregnancy with pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this research was to stratify the level of frailty to examine the risk factors associated with reversible cognitive frailty (RCF) and potentially reversible cognitive frailty (PRCF) in nursing homes to provide a basis for hierarchical management in different stages of frailty. Methods: The study was a cross‐sectional study conducted from September to November 2022; 504 people were selected by stratified random sampling after convenience selection from the Home for the Aged Guangzhou. The structured questionnaire survey was conducted through face‐to‐face interviews using the general data questionnaire, Fried Frailty Phenotype, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale. Results: In total, 452 individuals were included for analysis. A total of 229 cases (50.7%) were PRCF, 70 (15.5%) were RCF. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that in pre‐frailty, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐15) score (odds ratio (OR) 1.802; 95% CI 1.308–2.483), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) score (0.352; 0.135–0.918) and energy (0.288; 0.110–0.755) were influencing factors of RCF. GDS‐15 score (1.805; 1.320–2.468), IADL score (0.268; 0.105–0.682), energy (0.377; 0.150–0.947), lack of intellectual activity (6.118; 1.067–35.070), admission time(>3 years) (9.969; 1.893–52.495) and low education (3.465; 1.211–9.912) were influencing factors of PRCF. However, RCF with frailty was associated with the Short‐Form Mini‐Nutritional Assessment (MNA‐SF) score (0.301; 0.123–0.739) and low education time (0 ~ 12 years) (0.021; 0.001–0.826). PRCF with frailty was associated with age (1.327; 1.081–1.629) and weekly exercise time (0.987; 0.979–0.995). Conclusions: The prevalence of RCF and PRCF was high among pre‐frail and frail older adults in nursing homes. Different levels of frailty had different influencing factors for RCF and PRCF. Depression, daily living ability, energy, intellectual activity, admission time, education level, nutrition status, age and exercise time were associated with RCF and PRCF. Hierarchical management and intervention should be implemented for different stages of frailty to prevent or delay the progression of cognitive frailty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jiangsu Birth Cohort (JBC) is a research study in China that examines the health outcomes of families who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment compared to families with spontaneous pregnancies. The cohort consists of over 7,600 ART-treated families and nearly 15,000 families with spontaneous pregnancies. Data on health were collected through questionnaires, medical records, and biospecimens from both parents and children. The study aims to assess the health and well-being of children conceived through ART and determine any factors that may contribute to elevated risks. The data from the study are available for research purposes. [Extracted from the article]

Engineering competitions have emerged as challenging and motivating forms of practical educational activities worldwide. However, differences exist in the perception. development and operation of engineering competitions across ditTerent cultural contexts. Guided by Activity Theory, this study constructed a basic activity model for engineering competitions, focusing on two dimensions: resource flow and rule constraints. A comparative case study was conducted to examine engineering competitions in China and the United States from a horizontal perspective, considering the two dimensions. The findings reveal shared similarities in the emphasis on engineering design competitions and consistent evaluation factors for similar types of competitions. As for the differences, engineering competitions in China are predominantly driven by national policies. with a primary focus on the electronic information field. Participants and communities prioritize competition results, which has led to a well-established institutionalized resource flow system, high participation rates, and extensive involvement in universities. However. excessive motivation can sometimes lead to utilitarian problems. Conversely, engineering competitions in the United States are primarily driven by engineering professional societies and encompass a broader range of fields. Participants and communities prioritize competition processes, but the attitudes towards engineering competitions vary among universities and competitions. The noninstitutionalized resource input may result in unequal access to competition opportunities, especially for financially disadvantaged students. In conclusion, recommendations for optimizing engineering competitions as a tool for enhancing the engineering students' abilities and professional development were given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (SSTIs) Surveillance Network of S. aureus In Pediatrics in China was established in 2009 to routinely report epidemiological changes. We aimed to monitor the present antibiotic sensitivity and molecular characteristics of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from SSTIs in children nationwide and track the changes over the past decade. Methods: Patients diagnosed with SSTIs from the dermatology departments of 22 tertiary pediatric hospitals in seven geographical regions of China were recruited continuously from May 2019 to August 2021. S. aureus was isolated, and its sensitivity to 15 antimicrobials was evaluated using the broth microdilution method. The molecular characteristics of the MRSA isolates were determined through multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing. The presence of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene (pvl) was determined. Results: The detection rate of S. aureus was 62.57% (1379/2204), among which MRSA accounted for 14.79% (204/1379), significantly higher than the result in previous study in 2009-2011 (2.58%, 44/1075). Compared with previous study, the sensitivity to cephalosporins and fusidic acid decreased to varying degrees, while that to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, penicillin, and tetracycline increased significantly. The sensitivity to mupirocin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TRISUL), and rifampicin still maintained at a high level (97.90%, 99.35% and 96.66% respectively). The leading multidrug resistance pattern of MRSA and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were erythromycin-clindamycin-tetracycline (55.84%; 43/77)and erythromycin-clindamycin-chloramphenicol (27.85%, 44/158) respectively. 12 high-level mupirocin-resistant strains were detected, and notable differences in geographical distribution and seasonal variation were observed. The main types of MRSA were ST121 (46.08%, 94/204), followed by ST59 (19.61%, 40/204). SCCmec V (65.69%, 134/204) and SCCmec IV (31.86%, 65/204) were dominant epidemic types. ST121-V, ST59-IV, and ST22-V were the most prevalent clones nationwide. The detection rate of pvl had increased markedly from 9.09% (4/44) in 2009-2011 to 22.55% (46/204) in 2019-2021 (P<0.05). Conclusion: The antibiotic sensitivity and molecular characteristics of S. aureus from pediatric SSTIs has changed significantly over the past decade. To standardize medical care, provide timely and reasonable clinical treatment, and effectively manage infection control, Chinese pediatric SSTIs guidelines are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common clinical disease with high mortality. Rujin Jiedu powder (RJJD) has been clinically utilized for the treatment of ALI in China, but the active constituents in RJJD and its protective mechanisms against ALI are still unclear. Methodology: ALI mice were established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS to test the effectiveness of RJJD in treating ALI. Histopathologic analysis was used to assess the extent of lung injury. An MPO (myeloperoxidase) activity assay was used to evaluate neutrophil infiltration. Network pharmacology was used to explore the potential targets of RJJD against ALI. Immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining were performed to detect apoptotic cells in lung tissues. RAW264.7 and BEAS-2B cells were used to explore the protective mechanisms of RJJD and its components on ALI in vitro. The inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-18) in serum, BALF and cell supernatant were assayed using ELISA. Western blotting was performed to detect apoptosis-related markers in lung tissues and BEAS-2B cells. Results: RJJD ameliorated pathological injury and neutrophil infiltration in the lungs of ALI mice and decreased the levels of inflammatory factors in serum and BALF. Network pharmacology investigations suggested that RJJD treated ALI via regulating apoptotic signaling pathways, with AKT1 and CASP3 as crucial targets and PI3K-AKT signaling as the main pathway. Meanwhile, baicalein, daidzein, quercetin and luteolin were identified as key constituents in RJJD targeting on the above crucial targets. Experimental investigations showed that RJJD significantly upregulated the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2, downregulated the expression of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 in ALI mice, and attenuated lung tissue apoptosis. Four active constituents in RJJD (baicalein, daidzein, quercetin and luteolin) inhibited the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPSinduced RAW264.7 cells. Among these components, daidzein and luteolin activated the PI3K-AKT pathway and downregulated the expression of apoptosis-related markers induced by LPS in BEAS-2B cells. Conclusion: RJJD alleviates the inflammatory storm and prevents apoptosis in the lungs of ALI mice. The mechanism of RJJD in treating ALI is related to the activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of RJJD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A course has been created to examine the ways in which China and the West have approached human health and medicine. Though fundamentally different, these two systems are complementary in a number of ways. This course is a model for a global science course in an educational initiative that incorporates Asian themes into science and engineering courses. The course is designed around an active-learning platform that has as major components: team research projects, oral presentations, role play, and peer-review. The students investigate concepts of scientific proof, clinical efficacy, and the functional structure of two very different systems of health and medical care. (Contains 4 tables.)

Introduction: Six species of alfalfa commonly found in northern China were collected in the present study. Methods: The chemical composition and epiphytic microbial communities during the ensiling were analyzed; and their effects on fermentation quality and silage bacterial communities were assessed. The effects of physicochemical characteristics of alfalfa on the bacterial community were also investigated in terms of nutritional sources of microbial growth and reproduction. Results and discussion: The results showed that the chemical composition was significantly different in various alfalfa varieties, yet, the dominant genera attached to each variety of alfalfa was similar, except for pantoea (p<0.05). After ensiling, both the fermentation quality and microbial community changed obviously (p<0.05). Specifically, ZM2 had lower pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) content but higher LA content than other varieties of alfalfa silage. Beneficial bacteria such as Lentilactobacillus and Lactiplantibacillus were predominant in ZM2, which accounted for the higher fermentation quality. Significant correlations between the chemical composition of silage, fermentation quality and bacterial communities composition were observed. Moreover, variations in bacteria community structure during the fermentation of alfalfa were mainly influenced by water-soluble carbohydrates (36.79%) and dry matter (21.77%). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study revealed the influence of chemical composition on microbial community and fermentation quality, laying the groundwork for future studies on high-quality silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the major cause of huge economic losses to the pig industry in China. The present study was performed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of PRRSV in two provinces (Hunan and Hebei) in China in 2021. The results revealed the high prevalence of PRRSV in the healthy and diseased pigs in Hunan and Hebei province. The PRRSV lineages prevalent in Hunan and Hebei province were diverse, while the NADC30-like (sublineage 1.8) and HP-PRRSV (sublineage 8.7) strains predominated. Moreover, four PRRSV strains were isolated in this study, and a novel sublineage 1.8 strain recombinant from the NADC30-like strain and JXA1 (or MLV)-like strain was confirmed via investigating its complete genomic characteristics. In summary, this study has offered the latest information on the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of PRRSV in Hunan and Hebei province, which would be beneficial for PRRS control in the future. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a significant threat to the pig industry in China. However, the epidemiological characteristics of PRRSV after the outbreak of African swine fever in China were not thoroughly investigated. In the present study, the serological and epidemiological investigations of PRRSV in pigs from the Hunan and Hebei provinces of China were assessed. The results showed that 73.12% (95% CI 71.74–74.49) of pigs were positive for PRRSV-special antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Out of 5799 samples, 482 (8.31%, 95% CI 7.60–9.02) samples were positive for PRRSV nucleic acids. The positive rates of PRRSV in healthy pigs from farms and slaughterhouses were 2.27% (47/2072) and 7.70% (217/2818), which were lower than that in diseased pigs (23.98%, 218/909). Furthermore, the full-length OFR5 gene sequences of 43 PRRSV strains were sequenced and analysed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 43 isolates were classified into three lineages, namely lineage 1 (n = 24), lineage 8 (n = 15), and lineage 3 (n = 4). Lineage 1 could be further divided into sublineage 1.5 (n = 2) and sublineage 1.8 (n = 22), and lineage 8 was classified into sublineage 8.1 (n = 3) and sublineage 8.7 (n = 12). Collectively, our findings revealed the severe prevalence of PRRSV in the Hunan and Hebei provinces, where sublineage 1.8 and sublineage 8.7 predominated. The present study provides the update information of the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of PRRSV in the investigated regions, which will be beneficial for PRRS control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and enteric parasite co-infection not only aggravates the clinical symptoms of parasites but also accelerates acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) progression. However, co-infection research on men who have sex with men (MSM), the predominant high-risk population of HIV/AIDS in China, is still limited. In this study, we investigated the epidemiology of enteric parasites, risk factors, and associations with clinical significance in an MSM HIV/AIDS population in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China. Methods: We recruited 308 MSMs HIV/AIDS patients and 199 HIV-negative individuals in two designated AIDS hospitals in Heilongjiang between April 2016 and July 2017. Fresh stool samples were collected. DNA extraction, molecular identification, and genotyping of Cryptosporidium species, Entamoeba histolytica, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis hominis were performed. Fourteen diarrhea-related pathogens were examined to exclude the influence of other bacterial pathogens on diarrhea incidence. Results: 31.5% of MSM HIV/AIDS participants were infected with at least one parasite species, a significantly higher proportion than that found in the HIV-negative individuals (2.5%). E. bieneusi presented the highest prevalence, followed by B. hominis, E. histolytica, Cryptosporidium spp., and C. cayetanensis. Warm seasons were the risk factor for parasitic infections in this population [odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.47–4.57]. In addition, these individuals showed a higher proportion (35.8%) of present diarrhea (PD) compared with men who have sex with women (MSW) with HIV/AIDS (16.7%). The infection proportions of both Cryptosporidium spp. and E. histolytica were significantly higher in the PD. E. bieneusi infection was more prevalent in the historic diarrhea (HD) group. CD4+ T cell counts in the MSM patients with the above three parasites were significantly lower. New species and genotypes were found, and MSM patients had a wider range of species or genotypes. Conclusions: Enteric parasitic infection was prevalent in the MSM HIV/AIDS population, especially in patients with present diarrhea during warm seasons. E. histolytica and B. hominis should also be considered high-risk parasites for opportunistic infections in AIDS patients in addition to Cryptosporidium spp. Author summary: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and enteric parasite co-infection not only aggravates the clinical symptoms of parasites but also accelerates acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) progression. In China, despite a large number of HIV-infected people, the data regarding co-infection with enteric intracellular parasites in this population is still sparse. In the present study, we investigated the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Cyclospora cayetanensis in 384 HIV/AIDS including 308 MSM HIV/AIDS populations in two designated AIDS hospitals in Heilongjiang Province, North-East China between April 2016 and July 2017 by polymerase chain reaction. We also try to track the possible sources, risk factors, and any associations, with clinical significance, of human parasitic infections. Such knowledge will provide insights into prognosis, treatment, and preventive strategies against infections with such pathogens. The findings in this study have important implications for public health, the control of AIDS progression and control of parasitic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous limited studies have identified that Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) isolates circulating in China possess distinct molecular features and high rates of erythromycin-resistance (ER). Their evolution and potential impact on the prevention and control of global pertussis are worthy of attention. Methods: The present cross-sectional study involved 311 non-duplicate and unrelated B. pertussis strains isolated from Chinese children from 2017 to 2019. Their antimicrobial susceptibilities were assessed using both E-test strips and Kirby-Bauer (KB) disk diffusion methods. Seven virulence-related genes (ptxA, ptxC, ptxP, prn, fim2, fim3, and tcfA2) and the A2047G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene were detected by PCR. Based on the susceptibilities and genotypes, 50 isolates were selected for multi-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) typing and whole-genome sequencing. Results: A total of 311 B. pertussis strains were isolated from children with a median age of 4 months (interquartile range: 2-9 months). Strains carrying the ptxP1 allele were more frequent (84.9%, 264/311), were always ER (except for one strain), and were mainly related to ptxA1/ptxC1/prn1 alleles (99.6%, 263/264). The remaining 47 (15.1%) strains carried the ptxP3 allele, mainly harboring the ptxA1/ptxC2/prn2 alleles (93.6%, 44/47), and were sensitive to erythromycin (except for two strains). The two ERptxP3 isolates were first identified in China, belonged to MT27 and MT28 according to MLVA, and were classified into sub-lineage IVd by phylogenetic analysis of their genome sequences. This sub-lineage also includes many strains carrying the ptxP3 allele spreading in developed countries. For each tested antimicrobial, the susceptibilities judged by KB disks were consistent with those determined by E-test strips. Conclusion: The present results reveal that B. pertussis strains with the ptxP1-ER profile still dominate in China, and a few strains carrying the ptxP3 allele have acquired the A2047G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene and the ER phenotype. The surveillance of the drug susceptibility of B. pertussis is necessary for all countries, and the KB disk method can be adopted as a screening test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of preterm birth (PTB) and the risk factors for different gestational age subgroups of preterm birth in China. Methods: We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study encompassing all singleton live births (24+0 to 41+6 weeks) with completed data in 23 provinces in China from 2010 to 2017 during investigation period. We compared both the preterm group (24+0 to 36+6 weeks) and preterm subgroups (>32 weeks, 32+0 to 33+6 weeks, and 34+0 to 36+6 weeks) with the term group (37+0 to 41+6 weeks). We collected information on maternal and fetal characteristics from medical records. Logistic regression was use. Results: The prevalence of PTB was 7.4% (15,833/215,254) in singleton births. After adjusting for maternal age, parity, and potential risk factors in univariate analysis, the high-risk factors for PTB at >32 weeks were placental abruption (aOR=41.52; 95% CI, 25.89-66.58), placenta previa (aOR=40.04; 95% CI, 32.00-50.09), chorioamnionitis (aOR=11.06; 95% CI, 8.738-14.02), and hypertension disorders in pregnancy (HDP) (aOR=3.564; 95% CI, 2.9304.335). Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) was significantly associated with PTB at 34-36 weeks (aOR=5.763; 95% CI, 5.049-6.577), particularly with spontaneous PTB (a0R=10.04; 95% CI, 8.79-11.47). Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was significantly associated with PTB at 34-36 weeks only (aOR=1.156; 95% CI, 1.054-1.267). Conclusion: Placental abruption, placenta previa, chorioamnionitis, and HDP were more predictive of early PTB; GDM and ICP were more predictive of late PTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of freezing rock mechanical properties is getting more and more urgent because of coal mine construction in western China. Particle discrete element method (DEM) can describe discontinuous medium problem mathematically. In order to reveal the mechanical failure mechanism of frozen fine sandstone, the uniaxial compressive strength test of frozen fine sandstone was carried out, and then, DEM was used to simulate the uniaxial test of frozen fine sandstone. Furthermore, the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology was used to obtain pore distribution of the freezing sandstone. Finally, the results of NMR test and discrete element simulation were combined to reveal the microscopic mechanism of mechanical change in freezing fine sandstone. The DEM results show that the strength of frozen fine sandstone increases with the decrease of temperature. With the decrease of temperatures, strain softening occurs in frozen sandstone, which indicates that the discrete element simulation results are in good agreement with the uniaxial test results. Therefore, DEM can be used to simulate the mechanical behavior of frozen fine sandstone. At the same time, the DEM results also indicate that the formation and development of the shear band are the precursor of the failure of the sample. Furthermore, the NMR test confirms that temperature has a great impact on the pore distribution of sandstone. With the decrease of temperature, the pore ice content increases greatly, which induces a great decrease in NMR porosity and a vast decrease in the proportion of large and medium pores in all pores. Meanwhile, with the growth of the cohesion induced by increasing ice content, the uniaxial compressive strength increases macroscopically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the relationships among self‐efficacy, information literacy, social support and career success of clinical nurses and identify factors influencing clinical nurses' career success in northwestern China. Background: Understanding the influencing factors of career success is important for the professional development of nurses and the improvement of clinical nursing quality. Many influencing factors of career success have been identified, but there is no large‐scale research on the relationships among self‐efficacy, information literacy, social support and career success of clinical nurses based on Kaleidoscope Career Model. Studies examining the association of the four factors remain limited. Methods: A total of 3011 clinical nurses from 30 hospitals in northwestern China were selected in the cross‐sectional survey, and the response rate was 94.71%. The clinical nurses completed the online self‐report questionnaires including self‐efficacy, information literacy, social support rating scale and career success scale. The data were analysed by SPSS23.0 statistical software using t test, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression. Structural equation model (SEM) was used to analyse the influencing factors of career success using Mplus 8.3. Results: The career success of clinical nurses in northwestern China was at a medium level. The linear multivariate regression analysis showed that self‐efficacy (β =.513), social support (β =.230), information support (β =.106), information consciousness (β = −.097), information knowledge (β =.067), information ethics (β = −.053), hospital grade (β =.118), marital status (β = −.071) and age (β = −.037) entered regression equation of clinical nurses' career success (all P <.05). SEM results showed that the career success was negatively correlated with demographic characteristics and positively correlated with social support and self‐efficacy. Conclusion: Demographic characteristics, self‐efficacy, social support and information literacy are the influencing factors of nurses' career success, which should be considered in the process of promoting nurses' career success. Implications for nursing management: Nursing managers need to acknowledge the significance of nurses' career success both for the realization of their own value and for the improvement of clinical nursing quality. They should encourage nurses to enhance self‐efficacy and render more social support through incentive policies and foster nurses' information literacy through information technology training so as to improve their career success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk of fetal loss is higher among ≥35-year-olds than younger women. The present study aimed to explore the causes and factors influencing fetal loss in advanced maternal age (AMA).Methods: AMA women with singleton fetuses (< 14 gestational weeks) who underwent their first prenatal examination in the Obstetrics Department of Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from December 2018 to June 2020 were included in this cohort study. Those who terminated the pregnancy before 14 gestational weeks were excluded. A baseline survey was conducted, and follow-up was carried out until the termination of the pregnancy. Clinical data were extracted to analyse the causes of fetal loss among them. In the nested case-control study, the AMA women with fetal loss were enrolled as the case group, and women without fetal loss in the same period were enrolled as the control group, in a 1:2 ratio matched by age and gestational weeks. Logistic regression models were used to analyse the factors influencing fetal loss.Results: A total of 239 women with fetal loss and 478 controls were enrolled. The causes of fetal loss were most often fetal factors, followed by maternal factors, umbilical cord factors, and placental factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that junior high school education and below (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.19-12.02), senior high school education (aOR = 4.91, 95% CI: 2.09-11.54), residence in a rural area (aOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.92-4.25), unemployment (aOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.20-2.71), spontaneous abortion history (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.26-2.80), preterm birth history (aOR = 11.08, 95% CI: 2.90-42.26), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR = 7.20, 95% CI: 2.24-23.12), and preterm premature rupture of membranes (aOR = 4.12, 95% CI: 1.53-11.11) were risk factors for fetal loss.Conclusions: Low educational level, unemployment, abnormal pregnancy/labor history, and pregnancy complications were correlated with the incidence of fetal loss in AMA. Thus, early identification as well as a targeted intervention, should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to explore the incidence of hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the influence of hypoglycemia on the specific quality of life in T2DM patients.Methods: It was a comparative cross-sectional study consisting of 519 T2DM patients in Xi'an, China and patients were investigated by self-reported hypoglycemia and specific quality of life questionnaires from September 2019 to January 2020. Descriptive analysis, t-test, Chi-square test, hierarchical regression analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis were applied to assess the influence of hypoglycemia on the specific quality of life.Results: The incidence of hypoglycemia in T2DM patients was 32.18%. The mean score of specific quality of life in diabetes without hypoglycemia was 57.33 ± 15.36 and was 61.56 ± 17.50 in those with hypoglycemia, which indicated that hypoglycemia had a serious impact on the quality of life of diabetics (t = - 5.172, p = 0.000). In the Univariate analysis of specific quality of life, age, education background, marital status, living status, duration of diabetes, monthly income per capita were independent and significant factors associated with specific quality of life of two groups of T2DM patients (p < 0.05). In the hierarchical regression analysis, the duration of the diabetes more than 11 years and the frequency of hypoglycemia more than 6 times in half a year entered the equation of specific quality of life of 519 diabetics respectively (p < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, age, marital status and income all entered the regression equation of quality of life of the two groups (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Hypoglycemia will have a serious impact on the quality of life of T2DM patients. In order to improve the living quality in diabetics, effective measurements should be taken to strengthen the management of blood glucose and to avoid hypoglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015 stated that every effort should be made to provide cesarean delivery (CD) for women in need. In China, the two-child policy largely prompts the number of advanced age childbirth, which raises the possibility of an increasing number of women who need a c-section. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in the overall and medical indication-classified CD rates in the era of the two-child policy in Jiangsu, China.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 291,448 women who delivered in 11 hospitals in Jiangsu province between 2012 and 2019 was conducted. Medical cesarean indication for each woman was ascertained by manually reviewing the medical records. The 291,448 women were divided into two subgroups according to the presence of the indications: the indicated group (7.80%) and the non-indicated group (92.20%). We then fitted joinpoint regression and log-binomial regression models to estimate trends in the CD rates across the study period.Results: The overall CD rate was observed with a declining trend from 52.51% in 2012-2015 to 49.76% in 2016-2019 (adjusted RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.91-0.93; P < 0.001), along with an annual percentage change (APC) to be - 1.0 (95% CI, - 2.1 to 0.0) across the period. The participants were then divided into two subgroups according to the presence of medical CD indications: the indicated group (7.80%) and the non-indicated group (92.20%).We found the declining trend was most pronounced in the non-indicated group, with the CD rates decreased from 50.02% in 2012-2015 to 46.27% in 2016-2019 (adjusted RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.89-0.90; P < 0.001). By contrast, we observed a steady trend in the CD rate of the indicated group, which maintained from 87.47% in 2012-2015 to 86.57% in 2016-2019 (P = 0.448). In the indicated group, a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes was revealed for those women who delivered vaginally as compared with those who received c-section. We further investigated that women with following specific indications had a higher proportion of vaginal delivery, i.e., pregnancy complications, fetal macrosomia, and pregnancy complicated with tumor (34.70%, 10.84%, and 16.34%, respectively). Women with the above 3 indications were observed with a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes if delivered vaginally. The incidence rates of the medical indications among the general population increased considerably over the 8-year period (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Although the overall CD rate apparently decreased in the recent years, along with the decline of the unnecessary CD rate, a considerable proportion of indicated women were not provided with CD service in Jiangsu, China. Instead of targeting the overall CD rate, we need to take actions to reduce unnecessary CD rate and provide adequate c-section service for women with indications, particularly for those with underlying diseases and suspected fetal macrosomia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and nonhepatocellular cancers remains inconclusive. This large case‐control study aimed to assess the associations between HBV infection status and multiple cancers. Cases (n = 50 392) and controls (n = 11 361) were consecutively recruited from 2008 to 2016 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Multivariable adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using logistic regression by adjusting age and gender. A meta‐analysis based on published studies was also performed to verify the associations. Of these, 12.1% of cases and 5.5% of controls were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositive. We observed significant associations between HBsAg seropositivity and esophagus cancer (aOR [95% CI] = 1.32 [1.13‐1.54]), stomach cancer (1.46 [1.30‐1.65]), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; 39.11 [35.08‐43.59]), intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (ICC and ECC; 3.83 [2.58‐5.67] and 1.72 [1.28‐2.31]), pancreatic cancer (PaC; 1.37 [1.13‐1.65]), non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; 1.88 [1.61‐2.20]) and leukemia (11.48 [4.05‐32.56]). Additionally, compared to participants with HBsAg−/anti‐HBs−/anti‐HBc−, participants with HBsAg−/anti‐HBs−/anti‐HBc+, indicating past HBV‐infected, had an increased risk of esophagus cancer (aOR [95% CI] = 1.46 [1.24‐1.73]), stomach cancer (1.20 [1.04‐1.39]), HCC (4.80 [3.95‐5.84]) and leukemia (15.62 [2.05‐119.17]). Then the overall meta‐analysis also verified that HBsAg seropositivity was significantly associated with stomach cancer (OR [95% CI] = 1.23 [1.14‐1.33]), ICC (4.05 [2.78‐5.90]), ECC (1.73 [1.30‐2.30]), PaC (1.26 [1.09‐1.46]), NHL (1.95 [1.55‐2.44]) and leukemia (1.54 [1.26‐1.88]). In conclusion, both our case‐control study and meta‐analysis confirmed the significant association of HBsAg seropositivity with stomach cancer, ICC, ECC, PaC, NHL and leukemia. Of note, our findings also suggested that the risk of stomach cancer elevated for people whoever exposed to HBV. What's new?: Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an important cause of hepatocelluar carcinoma and may be linked to certain non‐hepatocellular cancers as well, including colon cancer and stomach cancer. This case‐control investigation of cancer patients in China shows that positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is significantly higher in cancer patients overall than in controls. Among Chinese patients, HBsAg seropositivity was associated particularly with stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia. These observations were consistent with meta‐analysis of previous studies exploring possible associations between HBV and non‐hepatocellular cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of cancer patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is steadily rising. Little is known about the nutritional status of this population. This study characterized the nutritional status and survival of cancer patients with diabetes compared with those without diabetes. Methods: A total of 8247 cancer patients were prospectively enrolled from 72 hospitals in China and followed until August 2019. A global estimation of the nutritional status was performed for each participant using standardized tools. The outcomes were cancer‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Results: The incidence of diabetes was 7.6% in the whole population. In comparison with the non‐DM group, the DM group had greater body weight, but a similar fat‐free mass, a lower handgrip strength and a decreased Karnofsky performance score. A higher proportion of patients with diabetes were overweight/obese as indicated by BMI. The percentage of patients who were at risk of malnutrition (evaluated by PG‐SGA) was higher in the DM group (score ≥ 4, 56.7% vs 52.9%). Patients with DM showed a worse CSS (4‐year CSS, 62% vs 73%) and OS (4‐year OS 39% vs 52%). Diabetes was associated with an increased risk of both cancer‐specific (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.282, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.070‐1.536) and overall (HR = 1.206, 95% CI 1.040‐1.399) mortality. Conclusions: Cancer patients with diabetes had a larger body mass but lower muscle strength, poorer performance status and higher incidence of malnourishment. Diabetes was associated with compromised survival. Tailored nutritional intervention is necessary for this subpopulation of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: The assessment of nutritional status and the quality of life in patients with gastric cancer has become one of the important goals of current clinical treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status in hospitalized gastric cancer patients by using patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) and to analyze the influence of nutritional status on the patients' quality of life (QOL).Methods: We reviewed the pathological diagnosis of gastric cancer for 2322 hospitalized patients using PG-SGA to assess their nutritional status and collected data on clinical symptoms, the anthropometric parameters (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference (MAC), triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF), and hand-grip strength (HGS). We also collected laboratory data (prealbumin, albumin, hemoglobin) within 48 h after the patient was admitted to the hospital. The 30-item European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used for QOL assessment in all patients.Results: By using PG-SGA, we found 80.4% of the patients were malnourished (score ≥ 4) and 45.1% of the patients required urgent nutritional support (score ≥ 9). In univariate analysis, old age (> 65 years, p < 0.001), female (p = 0.007), residence in a village (p = 0.004), a lower level of education (p < 0.001), and self-paying (p < 0.001) were indicated as risk factors of patients with gastric cancer to be suffering from severe malnutrition. There was a negative correlation between PG-SGA and various nutritional parameters (p < 0.05). The quality of life was significantly different in gastric cancer patients with different nutritional status (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Malnutrition of hospitalized patients with gastric cancer in China is common and seriously affects the patients' quality of life. The nutritional status should be evaluated in a timely manner and reasonable nutritional intervention should be provided as soon as possible. The PG-SGA was fit for using as a clinical nutrition assessment method, being worthy of clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare but devastating complication after total joint arthroplasty. There is a paucity of data on the incidence and prevalence of periprosthetic infection in mainland China. This study aimed to analyze the rates of surgical revision after arthroplasty due to PJI and the procedures followed in Beijing, China. Methods: The study involved a retrospective multicenter cross-sectional survey of patients undergoing revisions for periprosthetic infection after hip/knee arthroplasty at nine hospitals in Beijing from 2014 to 2016. Age, gender, body mass index, primary diagnosis, comorbidity, primary surgery, treatment methods, and post-revision complications were analyzed. Results: A total of 38,319 hip/knee arthroplasties and 366 (0.96%) revisions for PJI were identified. Of these, 161 (161/14,110; 1.14%) revisions involved hip arthroplasty, whereas 205 (205/24,209; 0.85%) revisions were due to knee arthroplasty. Procedures for revisions of infected hip included 7 (4.3%) cases of open debridement and prosthesis retention, 32 (19.9%) cases of one-stage exchange, 121 (75.2%) cases of two-stage exchange, and 1 (0.007%) case of hip dissection. As for the infected knee, the procedures included 45 (22.0%) cases of open debridement and prosthesis retention, 13 (6.3%) cases of one-stage exchange, 143 (69.8%) cases of two-stage exchange, and 4 (0.02%) cases of knee fusion. Conclusions: The study found the rates of revision due to PJI to be low. Nonetheless, the incidence of PJI in mainland China could be higher and calls for more elaborate studies in geographically and socioeconomically diverse health institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the government of China, reported cases of pertussis have increased remarkably and are still increasing. To determine the genetic relatedness of Bordetella pertussis strains, we compared multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) results for isolates from China with those from Western countries. Among 335 isolates from China, the most common virulence-associated genotype was ptxA1/ptxC1/ptxP1/prn1/fim2-1/fim3A/tcfA2, which was more frequent among isolates from northern than southern China. Isolates of this genotype were highly resistant to erythromycin. We identified 36 ptxP3 strains mainly harboring ptxA1 and prn2 (35/36); ptxP3 strains were sensitive to erythromycin and were less frequently from northern China. For all isolates, the sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim MIC was low, indicating that this drug should be recommended for patients infected with erythromycin-resistant B. pertussis. MLVA of 150 clinical isolates identified 13 MLVA types, including 3 predominant types. Our results show that isolates circulating in China differ from those in Western countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tongde County is located in the southeast of Qinghai Province, China, harboring rich yak genetic resources. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the Tongde yak (Bos grunniens) was firstly sequenced using Illumina sequencing technique and the corresponding sequence characterization was identified. Our results showed that the mitogenome of Tongde yak is a circular molecule with 16,323 bp length consisting of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes) and a non-coding control region (D-loop), which is consistent with most bovine species. The overall nucleotide composition was found as: A (33.72%), T (27.27%), C (25.80%), and G (13.21%), respectively, yielding a higher AT content (60.99%). The complete mitogenome sequence of Tongde yak would provide useful information for further studies on its genetic resource conservation and molecular breeding programmes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A built-middle PV Trombe wall (MPVTW) system was designed and constructed. • The comparative experiments between the MPVTW and EPVTW are carried out. • Simulation models for two types PVTW systems are proposed and validated. • Parametric study is performed using a validated mathematical model. A built-middle PV Trombe wall (MPVTW) with solar PV panel installed in the middle of the air channel is proposed, designed, and manufactured in the present study. Comparative tests with the traditional built-external PV Trombe wall (EPVTW) were conducted in Hefei (117°E, 32°N), China to evaluate the performance of the MPVTW system. The average electrical and thermal efficiencies of the MPVTW system were measured as approximately 12.0% and 38.2%, respectively. The average value of the total efficiency of the MPVTW system was 10.83% higher than that of the EPVTW system. In addition, the effects of different parameters (i.e. channel height, the PV cells coverage ratio, and the PV cells position) on the energy performance of the MPVTW system were investigated by using the validated simulation model. The results show that the variations of these parameters have significant effects on thermal performance, but have little effect on electricity efficiency. The present study also found that when the distance (between the glass cover and PV module) was in the range of 12 mm–30 mm, the optimum values of total efficiency, thermal efficiency and electricity efficiency were 57.3%, 38.3% and 12.0%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater pollution is controlled by many anthropogenic processes, and source apportionment is particularly difficult in cases with multiple superimposed anthropogenic influences. Forty-three shallow groundwater samples in the Hun River alluvial fan were collected and 15 parameters comprising Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, NH4+, NO3−, NO2−, F−, SO42−, PO43−, Cl−, COD, TDS, CN− and HCO3− were studied using principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis (FA), coupled with the absolute principal-component-score multiple-linear-regression (APCS-MLR) receptor model. The relationship among land-use types, hydrochemical composition and change of the groundwater quality from natural and anthropogenic sources was demonstrated. The results show that the four major potential pollution sources were water–rock interaction, agricultural fertilizer pollution, geological background and domestic and industrial wastewater; the contribution was 36.4%, 24.1%, 14.7% and 11.8%, respectively. The high-concentration areas were mainly located in the western and northwestern areas, especially in the downstream portion of the Hun River. Rapid economic development and the acceleration of urbanization led to an increase in industrial sewage effluent with complex and changeable composition. The variation of land-use type and evolution of the spatial distribution of the pollution sources in the groundwater show good consistency, which demonstrate that PCA/FA coupled with APCS-MLR is a versatile tool for comprehensive source apportionment of groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last deglaciation is of great interest because Northern Hemisphere climate has gone through several abrupt changes. We present an n-alkane and compound-specific carbon isotope record of the last deglaciation from the annually laminated sedimentary sequence of Lake Xiaolongwan, northeastern China. The n-alkane distribution suggests that the sparsely distributed vegetation prior to 14.7 ka BP, changed to wood plants and aquatic macrophytes in the early Bølling-Allerød, and was followed by a broadleaved deciduous forest after 11.4 ka BP. In this forest region, where the vegetation is dominated by C3 plants, the compound-specific δC value of the long-chain n-alkanes ( nC, nC and nC) is interpreted as a proxy of effective precipitation, while temperature might play a minor secondary role. The positive δC values during the Bølling-Allerød suggest a dry-warm climatic condition, while the negative δC at 13.0-11.4 ka BP indicates a cold-wet climate during the Younger Dryas in this region. Two periods with lower δC occurred at 16.1-16.5 and 17.3-17.7 ka BP and could be associated with the Heinrich event-1a and the Heinrich event-1b, respectively. The synchroneity between the biomarker time series in Lake Xiaolongwan and the δO record from the Greenland ice core suggest the dominance of high latitude processes on regional monsoon evolution from the last glacial, the Bølling-Allerød, the Younger Dryas to early Holocene. Regionally, the Okhotsk High might have played an important role for abrupt changes during the glacial/interglacial transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Congenital heart disease ( CHD) is one of the most common birth defects in newborns. The etiology of CHD has remained largely unknown, but it is assumed to result from the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors. Recent investigations have detected potentially pathogenic copy number variations ( CNV) in a proportion of patients with CHD. The present case-control study evaluated whether CNV in the GATA4 and NKX2-5 genes contribute to the pathogenesis of CHD in Chinese fetuses ( n = 117), by comparing them with non- CHD control subjects ( n = 100). Methods Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification with the P311A probe mixture was used to detect CNV. Results The normalized signals were within the normal range for all exons in all CHD patients and non- CHD control subjects. Of the 117 CHD patients, three had a deletion of 22q11, and two had a duplication of 22q11. Conclusions There was no evidence of a role for NKX2-5 and GATA4 CNV in fetal CHD; therefore, these CNV may not be common in fetal CHD in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A recent meta-analysis of several genome-wide association studies identified six new susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in individuals of the European ancestry. We aimed to replicate the associations between these SNPs and the risk of AF in a Chinese Han population. Methods We genotyped six SNPs (rs3903239 in PRRX1, rs3807989 in CAV1, rs10821415 in C9orf3, rs10824026 in SYNPO2L, rs1152591 in SYNE2, and rs7164883 in HCN4) using the middle-throughput iPLEX Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in logistic regression models. Results We enrolled a total of 1,593 Chinese Han origin individuals in the study, including 597 AF patients and 996 non-AF controls. Among the six SNPs analyzed in the study, the SNP rs3807989 in CAV1 on chromosome 7q31 was found to be significantly associated with a decreased risk of AF (crude OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.64-0.89, P = 0.001; adjusted OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.63-0.89, P = 0.001). There were no significant associations between the other five loci and AF risk. Conclusion Our results confirmed that CAV1 rs3807989 may contribute to a decreased AF risk in Chinese Han populations. However, further validation studies with different ethnic backgrounds and biological function analyses are warranted to confirm our finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are in charge of cellular protein synthesis and have additional domains that function in a versatile manner beyond translation. Eight core ARSs (EPRS, MRS, QRS, RRS, IRS, LRS, KRS, DRS) combined with three nonenzymatic components form a complex known as multisynthetase complex (MSC).We hypothesize that the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the eight core ARS coding genes might influence the susceptibility of sporadic congenital heart disease (CHD). Thus, we conducted a case-control study of 984 CHD cases and 2953 non-CHD controls in the Chinese Han population to evaluate the associations of 16 potentially functional SNPs within the eight ARS coding genes with the risk of CHD. We observed significant associations with the risk of CHD for rs1061248 [G/A; odds ratio (OR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.81–0.99; P = 3.81×10−2], rs2230301 [A/C; OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.60–0.90, P = 3.81×10−2], rs1061160 [G/A; OR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.06–1.31; P = 3.53×10−3] and rs5030754 [G/A; OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.11–1.75; P = 4.47×10−3] of EPRS gene. After multiple comparisons, rs1061248 conferred no predisposition to CHD. Additionally, a combined analysis showed a significant dosage-response effect of CHD risk among individuals carrying the different number of risk alleles (Ptrend = 5.00×10−4). Compared with individuals with “0–2” risk allele, those carrying “3”, “4” or “5 or more” risk alleles had a 0.97-, 1.25- or 1.38-fold increased risk of CHD, respectively. These findings indicate that genetic variants of the EPRS gene may influence the individual susceptibility to CHD in the Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the psychometric properties of Chinese-version short-form 10-item CES-D (i.e., CESD-10) in clinical depression patients and non-clinical college students by structural equation modeling approach. Several statistical procedures are applied to investigate the psychometric properties of CESD-10. First, the single factor model of CESD-10 shows merely mediocre fit due to 'error term correlations'. The two pairs of error term correlations indicate that CESD-10 has redundant items and negative-worded effect. The revised model, based on the modification index, demonstrates good fit, and is adopted for subsequent analysis. Results of the SEM-based method show that configure invariance holds, while weak factorial invariance is not supported. A comparison the psychometric properties of the two groups shows that the clinical sample has better reliability, while the non-clinical sample has superior factorial validity. This finding confirms that the Chinese-version CESD-10 is most appropriate for the nonclinical, general population, although it is also valid for the clinically depressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students developmental orientation refers to a series of direction services provided by schools to promote students to have an all-round and personalized development, an idea that has been widely practiced in numerous countries and areas, and become one of the three functions of school education. The initial student orientation starts from occupation guidance. And after several decades of innovation and advances, it has experienced great changes and extension in content, ideas, models and personnel. In China, even though there are so far some explorations, there are still a lot of issues in high schools that demand solutions, such as lack of the relevant policies and laws, weak in scientificality, and fragile in professionality. This paper aims to put forward the relevant measures for the problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocabulary is considered a vital core in learning a language. As the cornerstone of language acquisition, vocabulary acquisition exerts direct influence on language competence and sociability. So it is with Business English teaching. However, due to the specific features of BE lexis, China' BE teachers and learners are faced with spectacular embarrassments. This paper analyzes the present situation and makes proposals to improve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal temperature variability over longer timescales could offer new insights into understanding different forcing factors and response processes in the climate system. Here we report an alkenone-based temperature reconstruction for growing season over the past 1600 years from the varved sediment in Lake Sihailongwan, northeastern China. The most notable cold spells occurred during the periods ad 480–860, ad 1260–1300, ad 1510–1570 and ad 1800–1900 with a temperature decrease of about 1°C compared with the 20th century. Based on the historical evidence such as ‘snow or frost in the summertime’ and ‘no ice during the wintertime’, we compile extreme cold summer events and warm winter events over the past 1600 years. The ‘Little Ice Age’ time period experienced more extreme cold summer/warm winter events, while the ‘Medieval Warm Period’ had milder winters. Comparatively, the natural proxy data show a general similar pattern with historical documents at decadal time scales, except for between ad 1620 and 1720. Our results show multidecadal to centennial variations in seasonal temperature, possibly caused by interactions of external natural forcing and atmosphere–ocean circulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An Orthogonal design is applied to the optimization of ISSR-PCR reaction system for Fusarium oxysporum Schl. The effect of the five main factors was tested. A most suitable ISSR-PCR reaction system for Fusarium oxysporum Schl. was established. The optimized reaction system consists of 20 ng template DNA, 1 U Taq DNA polymerase, 0.4μmol/L primer, 0.2 mmol/L dNTPs, 4.0 mmol/L Mg2+ and 2.5μL 10× buffer. Optimal annealing temperature was decided by different primers. 2 primers with stable amplification and rich polymorphism for ISSR were selected. Based on the optimizing, 30 isolated strains from Hebei were tested in order to analyse the genetic diversity between of Fusarium oxysporum Schl. The isolated 30 strains were clustered into 2 genetic line-ages at 0. 86 genetic similarity. The genetic lineages of 30 strains showed no obvious relation with their geographical originals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The B9, CRF07•BC and CRF01•AE are the predominant HIV-1 subtypes in China. It is essential to determine their baseline susceptibility to HIV entry inhibitors before these drugs are used in China. Methodology/Principal Findings: The baseline susceptibility of 14 representative HIV-1 isolates (5 CRF07•BC, 4 CRF01•AE, and 5 B9), most of which were R5 viruses, obtained from drug-naïve patients to HIV entry inhibitors, including two fusion inhibitors (enfuvirtide and C34), two CCR5 antagonists (maraviroc and TAK779) and one CXCR4 antagonist (AMD3100), were determined by virus inhibition assay. The sequences of their env genes were amplified and analyzed. These isolates possessed similar susceptibility to C34, but they exhibited different sensitivity to enfuvirtide, maraviroc or TAK779. CRF07•BC isolates, which carried polymorphisms of A578T and V583I in the N-terminal heptad repeat and E630Q, E662A, K665S, A667K and S668N in the C-terminal heptad repeat of gp41, were about 5-fold less sensitive than B9 and CRF01•AE isolates to enfuvirtide. Subtype B9 isolates with a unique polymorphism site of F317W in V3 loop, were about 4- to 5-fold more sensitive than CRF07•BC and CRF01•AE isolates to maraviroc and TAK779. AMD3100 at the concentration as high as 5 μM exhibited no significant inhibitory activity against any of the isolates tested. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there are significant differences in baseline susceptibility to HIV entry inhibitors among the predominant HIV-1 subtypes in China and the differences may partly result from the naturally occurring polymorphisms in these subtypes. This study provides useful information for rational design of optimal therapeutic regimens for HIV-1- infected patients in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) is a key protein in regulation of cell cycle at the G1-to-S transition phase and is essential for regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and transcriptional control. We hypothesized that the CCND1 G870A polymorphism is associated with risk of bladder cancer. The CCND1 G870A polymorphism was genotyped in a hospital-based case-control study of 402 bladder cancer cases and 402 control subjects using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Unconditional univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between the CCND1 G870A polymorphism and bladder cancer risk. A significantly increased risk of bladder cancer was associated with the combined variant CCND1 870GA/AA genotypes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-2.20) compared with the GG genotype, particularly among subgroups of age ≥65 years (1.74; 1.06-2.88), men (1.67; 1.15-2.44), and smokers (1.82; 1.12-2.93). Further, the G870A polymorphism was significantly associated with risk of developing superficial bladder cancer (grade 1). In addition, a meta-analysis of the G870A polymorphism and bladder cancer risk showed that the variant 870GA/AA genotypes were associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer in Asians, but not in Caucasians, which was consistent with the results of our study. The CCND1 G870A polymorphism may be a marker for the development of bladder cancer in Chinese populations. Larger studies are required to validate these findings in diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of foreign direct investment location - specifically whether firms enter a particular market or not. Drawing from the ecology and institutional theories, the paper identifies firms' own past (behavioral inertia) and rivals' past choices (behavioral mimicry) as key determinants of location selection. The paper identifies the differences between developing country multinationals (MNCs) and developed country MNCs and their (differences)' implications for the relative influence of mimetic versus inertial forces. Design/methodology/approach - A unique and comprehensive database about the location choices of 204 Chinese firms between 1992 and 2005 was constructed and conditional logistic regressions were deployed to assess the direct effects of behavioral inertia/mimicry, and the moderating effect of host country environment, on the location choices of the sampled firms. Findings - The paper finds that behavioral inertia has a stronger impact on the location decisions of Chinese MNCs than behavioral mimicry. It also finds that the host country's institutions, openness, and policy stability moderate the relationship between behavioral mimicry and inertia, on one hand, and location choice, on the other hand, possibly because of these factors' influence on the level of perceived uncertainty. Originality/value - This is the first paper modeling the simultaneous effects of behavioral inertia and mimicry on location choice and the moderating effect of host country environment on these relationships. The strong empirical support for all the predictions lends credence to the conceptual foundations of the hypothesized relationships. The focus on developing country MNCs, which possess several distinctive characteristics, and the unique dataset, should also enhance the paper's appeal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, two genome-wide association studies identified a significant association between the prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) rs2294008 (C>T) polymorphism and risk of diffuse-type of gastric cancer in Asians and bladder cancer in Caucasians, respectively. PSCA has been reported highly expressed in bladder cancer and been considered as a useful marker for diagnosis and progression of bladder cancer. To determine whether rs2294008 polymorphism is associated with risk of bladder cancer in Chinese populations, we conducted a hospital-based case–control study of 581 cases and 580 controls. Sixteen normal bladder tissues adjacent to tumors were used to evaluate the functionality of this polymorphism. We genotyped the rs2294008 polymorphism and assessed its association with risk of bladder cancer and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in normal bladder tissues. A significant increased risk of bladder cancer was found for rs2294008 CT/TT genotypes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.75) compared with the CC genotype. Furthermore, analysis of PSCA mRNA expression identified a clear correlation of rs2294008 with expression levels of PSCA mRNA. These results indicated that the rs2294008 polymorphism of PSCA gene may play a role in bladder cancer carcinogenesis and it could be served as a biomarker for genetic susceptibility to bladder cancer in Chinese populations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: HIV-1 CRF07_BC recombinant previously circulated mainly among the intravenous drug users (IDUs) in Xinjiang province of China and is currently spreading in the entire country. The aim of this study is to characterize the genotypic and phenotypic properties of HIV-1 CRF07_BC isolates in comparison with those of the subtype B' (Thailand B) which is prevalent in the former plasma donors (FPDs) in China. Results: Twelve HIV-1 CRF07_BC variants were isolated from the blood of the HIV-1-infected IDUs in Xinjiang province, and 20 subtype B' isolates were obtained from the FPDs in Anhui and Shanxi provinces of China. All the CRF07_BC viruses utilized CCR5 co-receptor, whereas 12 subtype B' viruses were R5-tropic, and the remaining B' isolates were dual (R5X4) tropic. CRF07_BC viruses had lower net charge value in the V3 loop and exhibited slower replication kinetics than subtype B' viruses. The number and location of the potential N-linked glycosylation sites in V1/V2 and the C2 region of the CRF07_BC viruses were significantly different from those of the subtype B' viruses. Conclusion: The HIV-1 CRF07_BC recombinant strains with relatively lower net charges in the V3 loop exclusively utilize CCR5 co-receptor for infection and exhibit slow replication kinetics in the primary target cells, suggesting that CRF07_BC may be superior over B' and other HIV-1 subtypes in initiating infection in high-risk population. These findings have molecular implications for the adaptive evolution of HIV-1 circulating in China and the design of tailored therapeutic strategy for treatment of HIV-1 CRF07_BC infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active commuting as a contributor to daily physical activity is beneficial for cardiovascular health, but leads to more chances of exposure to ambient air pollution. This study aimed to investigate associations between active commuting to work with cardiovascular disease (CVD), mortality and life expectancy among general Chinese adults, and to further evaluate the modification effect of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) exposure on these associations. We included 76,176 Chinese adults without CVD from three large cohorts of the Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China project. Information about commuting mode and physical activity were collected by unified questionnaire. Satellite-based PM 2.5 concentrations at 1-km spatial resolution was used for estimating PM 2.5 exposure of participants. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD incidence, mortality and all-cause mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Multiplicative interaction term of commuting mode and PM 2.5 level was tested to investigate potential effect modification. During 448,499 person-years of follow-up, 2230 CVD events and 2777 all-cause deaths were recorded. Compared with the non-active commuters, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of CVD incidence and all-cause mortality were 0.95(0.85–1.05) and 0.79(0.72–0.87) for walking commuters, respectively. Corresponding HRs (95% CIs) for cycling commuters were 0.71(0.62–0.82) and 0.67(0.59–0.76). Active commuters over 45 years old were estimated to have more CVD-free years and life expectancy than non-active commuters under lower PM 2.5 concentration. However, these beneficial effects of active commuting were alleviated or counteracted by long-term exposure to high PM 2.5 concentration. Significant multiplicative interaction of commuting mode and PM 2.5 level was showed in all-cause mortality, with the lowest risk observed in cycling participants exposed to lower level of PM 2.5. Active commuting was associated with lower risk of CVD, all-cause mortality, and longer life expectancy among Chinese adults under ambient settings with lower PM 2.5 level. It will be valuable to encourage active commuting among adults and develop stringent strategies on ambient PM 2.5 pollution control for prevention of CVD and prolongation of life expectancy. • Active commuters had lower risks of CVD and mortality in China. • Postpone of CVD and longer life expectancy was showed in active commuters. • High PM 2.5 reduced the cardiovascular benefits of active commuting. • Active commuting modes and actions on air quality control should be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turnover of talents in West China enterprises seriously hinders their development. Therefore, the establishment of scientific human resource system is rather important. On the basis of survey to some West China enterprises, this paper analyzes the needs of employees, discovers that there are differences between the need hierarchy of these employees and the classic need theories, and studies the changes in need hierarchy and need strength among different employee groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participative action research can appear both strange and familiar in the People's Republic of China. China has a distinctive intellectual history, a specifically Chinese approach to citizen participation, and a growing interest in international forms of action research. For more than 30 years, participative approaches have been used in rural and community health in China, although these activities usually lack explicit reflective learning. Much of Chinese education follows authoritarian Confucian traditions. Transformation of Chinese education through action research is recently receiving official recognition as it is expected to develop creativity based on reflective thinking. There is also evidence that action research is bringing organizational and professional development to Chinese public administration, and enhancing rural health. While China has established a few centres of action research education cooperation from the West, it is inevitable that Chinese forms of action research will develop. The challenge for the international community of action researchers is to build open communication with Chinese action researchers to help the development of a Chinese way of conducting action research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Although HIV-1 infection is prevalent in many regions in China, it remains largely unknown on the biological characteristics of dominant circulating isolates. This study was designed to isolate the circulating viral strains from different prevalent regions and to characterize their biological properties and neutralization sensitivity. Methods Primary viruses were isolated from fresh PBMCs using the traditional co-culture method and their capacity of inducing syncytium was tested in MT-2 cells. Meanwhile, their coreceptor usage was determined with two cell lines: Magi and GHOST (3) stably expressing CD4 and the chemokine receptor CCR5 or CXCR4. Furthermore, the sensitivity of these viruses to neutralization by HIV-1-infected patients' plasma which were highly active to neutralize SF33 strain, was quantified in GHOST cell-based neutralization assay. Results Six primary viral strains were isolated from 4 separated regions. Isolates LTG0213, LTG0214 and XVS032691 induced syncytia in MT-2 cells, and used CXCR4 as coreceptor. Isolates XJN0021, XJN0091, or SHXDC0041 did not induce syncytia, and used CCR5 as coreceptor. Overall neutralization sensitivity differed among four representative strains: HIV-1 XVS03261>LTG0214>XJN0091≈SHXDC0041. Conclusion The neutralization sensitivity of HIV isolates is linked with the phenotype of isolates, in which syncytium-inducing (SI) or CXCR4-tropic (X4) viruses are more easily neutralized than non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) or CCR5-tropic (R5) viruses. The genetic subtypes based on the phylogeny of env sequences are not classical neutralization serotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : Esophageal cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in China. Patients with esophageal cancer are more likely to suffer from malnutrition. The purpose of this study is to assess nutritional status of patients with esophageal cancer from multiple perspectives and analyze the risk factors. Methods : A total of 1482 esophageal cancer patients were enrolled in the study. We investigated the Scored Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) scores, NRS-2002 scores, Karnofsky performance status scores, anthropometric, and laboratory indicators of patients. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the risk factors of nutritional status. Results : PG-SGA (≥4) and NRS-2002 (≥3) showed the incidence of malnutrition were 76% and 50%, respectively. In the patients with PG-SGA score ≥4, the proportion of patients who did not receive any nutritional support was 60%. The incidence of malnutrition in females was significantly higher than that in males. Besides, abnormality rates of Red blood cell (P < 0.001), MAC (P = 0.037), and MAMC (P < 0.001) in males was significantly higher than that in females, while abnormality rates of TSF (P < 0.001) was lower than that in females. After adjusted with the other potential risk factors listed, unconditional logistic regression analysis indicated smoking (odds ratio: 2.868, 95% confidence interval: 1.660-4.954), drinking (OR: 1.726, 95% CI: 1.099-2.712), family history (OR: 1.840, 95% CI: 1.132-2.992), radiotherapy or chemotherapy (OR: 1.594, 95% CI: 1.065-2.387), and pathological stage (OR: 2.263, 95% CI: 1.084-4.726) might be the risk factors of nutritional status, while nutritional support can reduce the risk of malnutrition. Conclusion : Effective nutritional risk assessment methods and nutritional intervention measures can be adopted according to the research data to improve quality of life of esophageal cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which determined how much bacterial culturing would aid the diagnosis of infantile pertussis in China. Method; Results; Discussion.

Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinskaja is an indigenous and multifunction tree species in China, but it is mainly used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredients. To make a comprehensive evaluation on its bioactive metabolites, antioxidant and antitumor potentials of C. paliurus leaves, the leaf samples were collected from 15 geographic locations (natural populations) throughout its distribution areas. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and colorimetric methods were used to detect the contents of bioactive metabolites. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and reducing power assays. The antiproliferative activity on different cancer cell types was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Contents of bioactive metabolites, and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities in the extracts were significantly affected by solvent and population. In most cases, the contents of flavonoids and triterpenoids, and the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities in the ethanol extracts were higher than the water extracts. The best scavenging capacity of DPPH (IC50 = 0.34 mg/mL) and ABTS (IC50 = 0.50 mg/mL) radical occurred in the ethanol extracts of S15 and S7 population respectively, while the strongest reducing power (EC50 = 0.71 mg/mL) was achieved in the ethanol extracts of S14 population. The antiproliferation effects of C. paliurus extracts on cancer cells varied with different cell types. The HeLa cell was the most sensitive to C. paliurus extracts, and their IC50 values of the ethanol extracts varied from 0.13 to 0.42 mg/mL among C. paliurus populations. Redundancy analysis showed that total polyphenol had the greatest contribution to the antioxidant activity, but total flavonoid was mostly responsible for the antiproliferation effects. These results would provide important scientific evidences not only for developing C. paliurus as a potent antioxidant and antitumor reagent, but also for obtaining the higher yield of bioactive compounds in the C. paliurus plantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Submicroscopic chromosomal imbalance is associated with an increased nuchal translucency (NT). Most previous research has recommended the use of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for prenatal diagnosis if the NT ≥ 3.5 mm. However, there is no current global consensus on the cutoff value for CMA. In this study, we aimed to discuss the fetuses with smaller increased NT which was between cutoff value of NT for karyotype analysis (NT of 2.5 mm in China) and the recommended cutoff value for CMA (NT of 3.5 mm) whether should be excluded from CMA test. Methods: Singleton pregnant women (N = 192) who had undergone invasive procedures owing to an increased NT (NT ≥ 2.5 mm) were enrolled. Fetal cells were collected and subjected to single nucleotide polymorphism array and karyotype analyses simultaneously. Cases were excluded if the karyotype analysis indicated aneuploidy and apparent structural aberrations. Results: Fourteen cases of aneuploidy and four cases of structural abnormalities were excluded. Of the remaining 174 cases, 119 fetuses had NTs of 2.5–3.4 mm, and 55 fetuses with NT ≥ 3.5 mm. Eleven copy number variants (CNVs) were identified. In fetuses with smaller NTs, six (6/119, 5.9%) variations were detected, including two (2/119, 1.6%) clinically significant CNVs (pathogenic or likely pathogenic CNV), one  likely benign CNV, two variants unknown significance, and one incidental CNV. Five (5/55, 9.1%) variations were found in fetuses with NT ≥ 3.5 mm. Among these CNVs, three (3/55, 5.5%) cases had clinically significant CNVs, and two had likely benign CNV. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of all CNVs and clinically significant CNVs in the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: CMA improved the diagnostic yield of chromosomal aberrations for fetuses with NTs of 2.5–3.4 mm and apparently normal karyotype, regardless of whether other ultrasonic abnormalities were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional integrated energy systems (RIES) can economically and efficiently use regional renewable energy resources, of which energy storage is an important means to solve the uncertainty of renewable energy output, but traditional electrochemical energy storage is only single electrical energy storage, and the energy efficiency level is low. Hydrogen energy storage has the advantages of large energy storage capacity, long storage time, clean and pollution-free, and can realize the synergistic and efficient utilization of electricity and thermal power. Based on this, this paper proposes a synergistic planning method for an integrated energy system with hydrogen storage taking into account the coupled use of electric-thermal energy, which effectively reduces the system carbon emission and improves the comprehensive energy efficiency level. Firstly, this paper constructs an electric-thermal coupling model of the hydrogen energy storage unit and proposes an optimization strategy for the integrated energy system containing hydrogen storage taking into account the utilization of electricity and thermal power. Secondly, a planning optimization model with the lowest economy and carbon emission and the highest comprehensive energy efficiency was constructed. Third, the CSPO-GE optimization algorithm is proposed for solving the problem, which significantly improves the solution efficiency. Finally, a planning optimization simulation of RIES for a residential community W in northern China verifies the effectiveness of the model and method proposed in this paper. The comparative analysis of the three schemes shows that compared with the integrated energy system with conventional electrochemical energy storage and heat storage tank as the main form of energy storage and the integrated energy system with only hydrogen storage, the integrated energy system with hydrogen storage and heat storage tank can reduce carbon emissions by 43.8% and 7.61%, respectively, and improve the integrated energy efficiency level by 337.14% and 14.44%. • An electrothermal coupled production strategy based on dynamic equilibrium feedback regulation is proposed. • A hydrogen-containing RIES planning and optimization model considering economy-environment-efficiency is constructed. • A multi-objective chaotic particle swarm algorithm (CPSO-GE) based on greedy and elite retention strategies is proposed • The impact of cost variation of hydrogen storage devices on the economics of integrated energy systems is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]