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Aim: To explore the relationship between serum 25(OH)D level and pregnancy outcomes (clinical pregnancy rate [CPR] and live birth rate [LBR]) in Chinese women receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)‐embryo transfer (ET) (IVF/ICSI‐ET). Methods: A total of 612 patients included in the study were divided into four cohorts according to serum 25(OH)D with the threshold of 20 ng/ml, 25 ng/ml, 30 ng/ml, and retrospectively analyzed. Results: None of the baseline characteristics of participants was significantly different in the four cohorts except gravid status. The trend of 25(OH)D concentration was positively correlated with CPR and LBR. The younger (age: p < 0.001 both in CPR and LBR) women with primary infertility (infertility type: p = 0.004 in LBR) were more likely to get a better pregnancy outcome under the same 25(OH)D concentration stages. As shown on heatmap plots, CPR, and LBR were significantly increased for 25(OH)D concentrations above 30.00 ng/ml and women younger than 30 years old. The adjusted binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) showed that there existed a nonlinear positive correlation between 25(OH)D concentration and pregnancy outcome (CPR and LBR) (Pnonlinear < 0.001, respectively). The women with a sufficient 25(OH)D concentration (30 ng/ml) had 1.07 (clinical pregnancy) and 1.05 (live birth) times higher successful birth outcomes compared to women with an insufficient 25(OH)D concentration (25 ng/ml). (OR25 ng/ml, ref = 30 ng/ml [95% CI] = 0.935 [0.932–0.938] and 0.947 [0.945–0.950], p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: In Chinese women receiving IVF/ICSI‐ET, the serum level of 25(OH)D demonstrated a nonlinear positive correlation with pregnancy outcomes (CPR and LBR), with stronger correlations above 25 ng/ml and worse yields below 30 ng/ml. However, it could not yet be considered different in distinct ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To predict the trend of AIDS in specific age groups and to determine the objective population for AIDS screening, this study explored the three transmission routes and characterized each patient group using the APC model based on the whole, local, and immigrant populations in Zhejiang, China.Methods: The data recruited in this paper was obtained from the national Comprehensive AIDS Prevention and Control Information System - Antiviral Therapy Management database and the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System and the Statistical Yearbook of Zhejiang, China. An APC model was used to estimate the impact of age, period, and cohort on the incidence of AIDS, as well as to predict the AIDS incidence in specific age groups based on different sexes with different transmission routes.Results: The AIDS incidence peaked in males aged 20-35 years; the incidence of males was higher than that of females due to the impact of period; obvious cohort effect was observed among the immigrants. In the whole and local populations, the incidences of males in all age groups and females in both the 35-year-old group and the whole age group were predicted to increase sharply in 5 years. In the immigrant population, the AIDS incidences in both sexes in all age groups were expected to increase significantly in 5 years. Under the influence of period, the incidence of AIDS via homosexual transmission in the whole population and the local population increased and remained stable after 2015. At the same time, the incidence of AIDS transmitted by homosexual and heterosexual routes in the immigrants also showed an increasing trend.Conclusions: The results elucidate that there are sex differences in AIDS incidence, and the incidence of AIDS through various transmission routes in all groups is predicted to exhibit an upward trend in the 5 years to come. Effective intervention strategies should be developed and implemented by the public health departments in Zhejiang to control the epidemic of AIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid increase of the vehicle population in the Guanzhong Plain (GZP), the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emitted by vehicles has an impact on regional air quality and public health. The spatial distribution of primary and secondary PM2.5 concentrations from vehicles in GZP in January and July 2017 was simulated in this study by using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and the California Puff (CALPUFF) air quality model. The contributions of vehicle-related emission sources to total PM2.5 concentrations were also calculated. The results show that although the emissions of primary PM2.5, NOx, and SO2 in July were greater than those in January, the hourly average concentrations of primary and secondary PM2.5 in January were significantly higher than those in July. The highest concentrations of primary and total PM2.5 were mostly located in the urban areas of Xi'an and Xianyang in the central region of GZP. The contributions of exhaust emissions, secondary nitrates, brake wear, tire wear, and secondary sulfate to the total PM2.5 concentrations in GZP were 50.37%, 34.76%, 10.79%, 4.06%, and 0.04% in January and 71.91%, 11.14%, 11.89%, 5.03%, and 0.03% in July, respectively. These results will help us to further control PM2.5 pollution caused by vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common glomerulonephritic diseases in the world. Several lines of evidence have suggested that dyslipidemia is related to the disease progression and prognosis of IgAN. However, the study is scarce on the clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of IgAN with dyslipidemia., Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 234 patients with biopsy-proven idiopathic IgAN at the Department of Nephrology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, between January 2015 and June 2021. The participants were divided into dyslipidemia (n = 119) and non-dyslipidemia (n = 115), and the dyslipidemia group was also divided into the following 4 groups: hypertriglyceridemia group, hypercholesterolemia group, mixed hyperlipidemia group, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol group. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation., Results: The prevalence of dyslipidemia in IgAN patients in our center was 50.9% (119/234). The patients with dyslipidemia presented with higher systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, serum creatinine, uric acid, hemoglobin, proteinuria, and eGFR (p &lt; 0.05). Proportions of males, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease stage 2∼5 were also higher in the dyslipidemia group (p &lt; 0.05). Similarly, the pathological characteristics performed were worse in the dyslipidemia group. Most dyslipidemia patients had a higher percentage of mesangial hypercellularity (M1) and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T1∼2) in the Oxford Classification's scoring system (p &lt; 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 2.397, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.051-5.469, p = 0.038) and proteinuria (OR = 1.000, 95% CI: 1.000-1.001, p = 0.035) were possible risk factors for dyslipidemia. A total of 13 patients (13.8%) in the dyslipidemia group had an endpoint event, of which 6 patients (6.4%) had a ≥50% decrease in eGFR from baseline and 7 patients (7.4%) reached the end-stage renal disease stage. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that patients in the dyslipidemia group had a worse outcome than those in the non-dyslipidemia group (log-rank test, p = 0.048)., Conclusions: IgAN patients with dyslipidemia presented more severe clinicopathological characteristics. Male gender and proteinuria are significantly associated with the occurrence of dyslipidemia in IgAN patients. Patients in the dyslipidemia group had a worse prognosis than those in the non-dyslipidemia group, which may be essential for the disease management of IgAN and help identify the high-risk patients., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

As critical precursors of tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) largely influence air quality in urban environments. In this study, measurements of 102 VOCs at all five major cities in the Guanzhong Plain (GZP) were conducted during Sep.09-Oct. 13, 2017 (autumn) and Nov. 14, 2017-Jan. 19, 2018 (winter) to investigate the characteristics of VOCs and their roles in O 3 and SOA formation. The average concentrations of total VOCs (TVOCs) at Xi'an (XA), Weinan (WN), Xianyang (XY), Tongchuan (TC), and Baoji (BJ) sites were in the range of 55.2-110.2 ppbv in autumn and 42.4-74.3 ppbv in winter. TVOCs concentrations were reduced by 22.4%-43.5% from autumn to winter at XA, WN and BJ. Comparatively low concentrations of TVOCs were observed in XY and TC, ranging from 53.5 to 62.7 ppbv across the sampling period. Alkanes were the major components at all sites, accounting for 26.4%-48.9% of the TVOCs during the sampling campaign, followed by aromatics (4.2%-26.4%). The average concentration of acetylene increased by a factor of up to 4.8 from autumn to winter, indicating the fuel combustion in winter heating period significantly impacted on VOCs composition in the GZP. The OH radical loss rate and maximum incremental reactivity method were employed to determine photochemical reactivities and ozone formation potentials (OFPs) of VOCs, respectively. The VOCs in XA and WN exhibited the highest reactivities in O 3 formation, with the OFP of 168-273 ppbv and the OH loss rates of 19.3-40.8 s -1 . Alkenes and aromatics primarily related to on-road and industrial emissions contributed 57.8%-76.3% to the total OFP. The contribution of aromatics to the SOA formation at all sites reached 94.1%-98.6%. Considering the potential source-area of VOCs, regional transport of VOCs occurred within the GZP cities., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Frequent ozone and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) pollution have been occurring in the Guanzhong Plain in China. To effectively control the tropospheric ozone and PM 2.5 pollution, this study performed measurements of 102 VOCs species from Sep.19-25 (autumn) and Nov.27-Dec. 8, 2017 (winter) at Weinan in the central Guanzhong Plain. The total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) concentrations were 95.8 ± 30.6 ppbv in autumn and 74.4 ± 37.1 ppbv in winter. Alkanes were the most abundant group in both of autumn and winter, accounting for 33.5% and 39.6% of TVOCs concentrations, respectively. The levels of aromatics and oxygenated VOCs were higher in autumn than in winter, mainly due to changes in industrial activities and combustion strength. Photochemical reactivities and ozone formation potentials (OFPs) of VOCs were calculated by applying the OH radical loss rate (L OH ) and maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) method, respectively. Results showed that Alkenes and aromatics were the key VOCs in term ozone formation in Weinan, which together contributed 59.6% ̶ 65.3% to the total L OH and OFP. Secondary organic aerosol formation potentials (SOAFP) of the measured VOCs were investigated by employing the fractional aerosol coefficient (FAC) method. Aromatics contributed 94.9% and 96.2% to the total SOAFP in autumn and winter, respectively. The regional transport effects on VOCs and ozone formation were investigated by using trajectory analysis and potential source contribution function (PSCF). Results showed that regional anthropogenic sources from industrial cities (Tongchuan, Xi'an city) and biogenic sources from Qinling Mountain influenced VOCs levels and OFP at Weinan. Future studies need to emphasize on meteorological factors and sources that impact on VOCs concentrations in Weinan., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To investigate the genetic diversity, spatiotemporal dynamics, and transmission networks of HIV-1 CRF55&#95;01B epidemic in China. A total of 209 partial pol gene sequences of HIV-1 CRF55&#95;01B were sampled during 2007-2015 from 7 provinces of China. Phylogenetic analyses and trait diffusion process of these sequences were performed using Bayesian methods. Distance-based molecular network analyses were performed to infer putative relationships. Characteristics of genetically linked individuals were analyzed. Our study identified that HIV-1 CRF55&#95;01B likely originated among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangdong province in January 2003 (April 2000-April 2005), and that Guangdong province and MSM are major hubs for the spread of the HIV-1 CRF55&#95;01B epidemic in China. A Bayesian Skygrid plot revealed that the effective population size of HIV-1 CRF55&#95;01B experienced increased phase followed by a plateau. All sequences from persons of unknown risk clustered within groups who reported MSM risk. This could be because Chinese MSM may not report such risk due to HIV/AIDS-related stigmatization and discrimination. This study inferred the transmission dynamics of the HIV-1 CRF55&#95;01B epidemic in China at high resolution. The methods developed in this study may be critical for designing effective HIV prevention strategies in China and beyond.

To evaluate the mortality risk in the HIV-positive population, we conducted an observational cohort study involving routine data collection of HIV-positive patients who presented at HIV clinics and multiple treatment centers throughout Guangxi province, Southern China in 2011. The patients were screened for tuberculosis (TB) and tested for hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infections yearly. Following the registration, the cohort was followed up for a 60-month period till the end-point (December 31, 2015). Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for mortality after adjusting for confounding factors stratified by patients' sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. HRs were compared within risk-factor levels. With the median follow-up of 3.7-person years for each individual, 5,398 (37.8%) (of 14,293 patients with HIV/AIDS) died; among whom, 78.4% were antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve; 43.6% presented late; and 12.2% and 3.3% of patients had Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and HBV and HCV co-infection, respectively. Of individuals with CD4 counts, those with CD4 count >350 cells/μL formed 14.0% of those who died. Furthermore, gender [multivariable HR (95% CI):1.94 (1.68-2.25)], Han ethnicity [2.15 (1.07-4.32)], illiteracy [3.28 (1.96-5.5)], elementary education [2.91 (1.8-4.72)], late presentation [2.89 (2.46-3.39)], and MTB co-infection [1.28 (1.10-1.49)] strongly increased the all-cause mortality risk of HIV-positive individuals. The HR for ART-based stratification was 0.08 (0.07-0.09); and for HBV and HCV co-infection, HR was 1.02 (0.86-1.21). The findings emphasized that accessibility to HIV testing among high-risk populations and screening for viral hepatitis and TB co-infection are important for the survival of HIV-positive individuals. Initiating early ART, even for individuals with higher CD4 counts, is advisable to help increase the prolongation of lives within the community., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.), the progenitor of Asian cultivated rice (O. sativa L.), is endangered due to habitat loss. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the genetic diversity of wild rice species in isolated populations and to develop a core collection of representative genotypes for ex situ conservation. We collected 885 wild rice accessions from eight geographically distinct regions and transplanted these accessions in a protected conservation garden over a period of almost two decades. We evaluated these accessions for 13 morphological or phenological traits and genotyped them for 36 DNA markers evenly distributed on the 12 chromosomes. The coefficient of variation of quantitative traits was 0.56 and ranged from 0.37 to 1.06. SSR markers detected 206 different alleles with an average of 6 alleles per locus. The mean polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.64 in all populations, indicating that the marker loci have a high level of polymorphism and genetic diversity in all populations. Phylogenetic analyses based on morphological and molecular data revealed remarkable differences in the genetic diversity of common wild rice populations. The results showed that the Zengcheng, Gaozhou, and Suixi populations possess higher levels of genetic diversity, whereas the Huilai and Boluo populations have lower levels of genetic diversity than do the other populations. Based on their genetic distance, 130 accessions were selected as a core collection that retained over 90% of the alleles at the 36 marker loci. This genetically diverse core collection will be a useful resource for genomic studies of rice and for initiatives aimed at developing rice with improved agronomic traits.