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Consumers are exposed to a range of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) via food. The potential adverse health effect of MOH varies widely. Since infant formula (IF) is the major food source for infants, it is necessary to understand MOH exposure and consequent health impact. In the present study, occurrence data of 42 IF samples and food consumption data of 0–6 months infants from China National Food Consumption Survey in 2015 were linked to evaluate the dietary exposure to MOH of 0–6 months infants in China. Ordinary consumers (who purchased IF for 0–6 months infants in different packaging type randomly), packaging type loyal- and brand loyal-consumers were selected as three representative populations. For ordinary consumers and packaging-loyal consumers, dietary exposure to MOH was estimated both deterministically and probabilistically. For brand-loyal consumers, point-estimation was used as the exposure assessment method. Due to toxicological gaps for MOHs, it was inappropriate to derive health-based guidance value and perform the robust human health risk assessment. MOE approach was used to characterise MOSH risk. The no-observed-adverse-effect level for induction of liver microgranulomas, 19 mg/kg BW per day, was used as a reference point for calculating margins of exposure (MOEs) for MOSH exposure. Although first exposure occurs in babies, there are no relevant toxicology studies. All MOE values for different scenarios were higher than 100. There are no dose-response data on the carcinogenicity of MOAH mixtures and hence it is not possible to establish a reference point to calculate the MOE and characterise its risk. Therefore, it is not possible to draw conclusions about the full nature of possible concerns for infants aged 0–6 months. This study evaluates by a probabilistic approach the dietary intake of Chinese infants aged 0–6 months to MOH for the first time and describes the associated uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing interest in application of nonviral vectors for drug delivery, diagnosis, and imaging, progress has been made in the field of nonviral vector gene therapy in China. Nanobiotechnology studies are important to the development plan for China's research priorities in the 21st century; the National 973 Plan and 'Strategic Priority Research Program' classify nanobiotechnology as a special project and give priority to supporting its development. From 2000 to 2017, many articles on nonviral vector gene therapy were published, and cancer gene therapy is one of the most active and important gene therapy research fields. Although the use of nonviral vectors for gene therapy faces enormous problems, Chinese scientists have also begun to realize both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. However, a nonviral gene therapy drug has yet to be approved for sale. Therefore, more work is needed in this field. The present review examines the progress and challenges of nonviral gene therapy in China. Efforts to optimize nonviral vectors with structural modifications and gene delivery systems are described, and clinical translation challenges are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%, as current significant implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) indication for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in heart failure (HF) patients, has been widely recognised to be inefficient. Improvement of patient selection for low LVEF (≤35%) is needed to optimise deployment of ICD. Most of the existing prediction models are not appropriate to identify ICD candidates at high risk of SCD in HF patients with low LVEF. Compared with traditional statistical analysis, machine learning (ML) can employ computer algorithms to identify patterns in large datasets, analyse rules automatically and build both linear and non-linear models in order to make data-driven predictions. This study is aimed to develop and validate new models using ML to improve the prediction of SCD in HF patients with low LVEF., Methods and Analysis: We will conduct a retroprospective, multicentre, observational registry of Chinese HF patients with low LVEF. The HF patients with LVEF ≤35% after optimised medication at least 3 months will be enrolled in this study. The primary endpoints are all-cause death and SCD. The secondary endpoints are malignant arrhythmia, sudden cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and rehospitalisation due to HF. The baseline demographic, clinical, biological, electrophysiological, social and psychological variables will be collected. Both ML and traditional multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models will be developed and compared in the prediction of SCD. Moreover, the ML model will be validated in a prospective study., Ethics and Dissemination: The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (2017-SR-06). All results of this study will be published in international peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant conferences., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR-POC-17011842; Pre-results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Currently, there are approximately 170 million hyperuricemia patients in China. Conventional drug therapy has limited clinical benefits and may induce serious side effects. Enzyme replacement therapy has attracted much attention owing to its advantages of strong specificity, small dosage, and remarkable curative effect. Uricase is an efficient oxidase, which can oxidize uric acid to allantoin and hydrogen peroxide, to reduce the uric acid level. In this study, we used a mild biomimetic method to prepare a novel uricase and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) loaded CaHPO₄ nanoflower (uricase&HRP-CaHPO₄ nanoflower). The nanoflower was then integrated with a hyaluronic acid dissolvable microneedle system (uricase&HRP-CaHPO₄ @HA MN) to achieve transdermal drug delivery for the treatment of hyperuricemia, which has high patient compliance. In this system, the stability and catalytic activity of uricase could be improved by the CaHPO₄ nanoflower, and HRP could decompose the hydrogen peroxide to accelerate the reaction of uricase. An in vivo study demonstrated that the uricase&HRP-CaHPO₄ @HA MN could effectively reduce the uric acid level of blood as intravenous injection without side effects. Thus, this uricase&HRP-CaHPO₄ @HA MN can facilitate transcutaneous hyperuricemia treatment and provide a new alternative for the exploration of clinical treatment of hyperuricemia.