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[Display omitted] • Four selected wild edible fern species from Northeast China were analyzed. • These edible ferns are rich in protein, polysaccharides, and various mineral elements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc.) • The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Osmunda cinnamomea were significantly higher than the other species. • Twenty-nine phenolic and related compounds were detected in four edible ferns using LC-MS. Ferns are one of the prevalent species of wild edible plants but one of the least explored terrestrial plants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the nutrient composition, polyphenol profile and antioxidative properties of four wild edible ferns commonly utilized in northeastern China. We studied the content of ash, polysaccharide, protein, fat and mineral elements of the samples. Furthermore, the samples were found to have good total phenolic and total flavonoid contents and some level of antioxidant capacity as determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline) 6-sufonic acid (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). They also exhibited different specific accumulation of polyphenol profiles, estimated by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Significance analysis revealed a significant correlation between individual phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of the ferns. The results of the study suggest that wild edible ferns are rich in nutritional value and have potential as a natural source of antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Coronary atherosclerosis, the most common form of coronary artery disease (CAD), is characterized by accumulation of lipid in the walls of coronary arteries. Recent data from clinical trials have showed that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has causal role in the pathogenesis and development of coronary atherosclerosis. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is an important regulator of plasma HDL-C. Several genetic mutations in the CETP gene were found to be associated with HDL-C levels. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the association of HDL-C-related CETP polymorphisms and risk of coronary atherosclerosis. Methods We investigated the association of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (rs1800775, rs708272, rs5882, rs1532624, rs1864163, rs7499892, and rs9989419) in the CETP gene with the risk of coronary atherosclerosis and levels of HDL-C in a case-control study in China. Included in the study were 420 patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 424 healthy controls. SNP genotyping was performed by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay and serum lipid levels were measured by standard laboratory methods. Results Carriers of the AA and GA + AA genotypes of rs708272 had significant lower risks of coronary atherosclerosis (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36-0.85, p = 0.003; OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.50-0.90, p = 0.007, respectively) compared to those with GG genotype. These relations remained significant after adjustment for confounding effects of age, smoking, diabetes and hypertension. The rs1800775 polymorphism was significantly associated with serum levels of HDL-C in healthy controls (p = 0.04). Besides, rs708272 was in close linkage disequilibrium (LD) with rs1800775 in this study. Conclusions Our findings indicated that CETP rs708272 may be associated with the risk of coronary atherosclerosis and rs1800775 may influence serum HDL-C levels in healthy controls in Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare coronary lesions in mainland Chinese and Australians using coronary angiography (CAG). Methods and results: 6251 suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) patients (3021 Chinese patients from Nanjing and 3230 Australian patients from Sydney) who underwent a CAG between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2003, were studied. Of these, 69.4% Chinese and 75.5% Australians were diagnosed with CHD. The incidences of both left main coronary artery (LM) and left anterior descending branch (LAD) lesions in Australians were higher than that for Chinese of the same gender. In the same age range, above 40, Gensini scores of Australians were significantly higher than those of Chinese. Conclusion: In both Chinese and Australians, men had more severe coronary lesions than women. Comparison among different age ranges in the 2 ethnic groups shows that Australians typically have artery lesions more than 10 years earlier than mainland Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil P, soil fungi change in poplar shelterbelts compared with farmland, and the driving pathway-related mechanism. [Display omitted] • TP in poplar shelterbelts reduced by 27.75% compared with farmlands. • Shelterbelt reduced TP mainly in macroaggregates and HCl-Pi. • Shelterbelt-induced ECM fungi increased and stability of fungal network decreased. • Shelterbelt decreased P in macroaggregates via changes in fungal community structure. • Shelterbelt changed content of leaching fraction-P through soil pH and tree growth. Phosphorus (P) is an indispensable element for all life on Earth, and clarifying soil P components can favor the precise management of soil nutrients. This paper hypothesized that soil total P (TP) and P components in different aggregates and leachable fractions differed between poplar shelterbelts and farmlands. Such changes were strongly associated with fungal variations. Total 24 soil samples were collected from 0 to 40 cm soil layers in 12 pairs of poplar shelterbelts and neighboring farmlands in four sites in Northeast China Plain. The soil P was determined in three soil aggregates (macroaggregates, microaggregates, and silt + clay) and nine sequential leachable fractions (H 2 O-Pi, NaHCO 3 -Pi, NaHCO 3 -Po, NaOH-Pi, NaOH-Po, HCl-Pi, conc. HCl-Pi, conc. HCl-Po, and Re-P), and soil fungi in bulk soils were analyzed by Illumina sequencing. Our data revealed that poplar shelterbelts had 27.75% lower soil TP than neighboring farmlands, mainly occurring in macroaggregates (0.25–2 mm) with no changes in microaggregates and silt + clay. In leachable P fractions, reduced TP was caused by changes in HCl-Pi contributed 47.8%, and NaOH-Pi contributed 34.2% (low or medium plant-available). Poplar shelterbelts decreased the soil fungi diversity and network relations with fewer nodes, edges, and modularity but contained more ectomycorrhizal and less pathogenic fungi than farmlands. The macroaggregates P reduction was mainly driven by fungal community changes, while the fraction-P changes were more closely related to soil pH and tree growth of poplar trees. Our findings highlighted high P depletion from poplars, possible risks for plant availability, and soil fungi roles in the China shelterbelt program, supporting the evaluation and management of soil P-related nutrients in the farmland afforesting system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of China's urbanization and industrialization, air pollution has become a major environmental problem. Retrospective data analysis of 6564 patients who underwent IVF-ET in the center for reproductive medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2015 to 2020. Different stages were selected from 90 days before oocyte retrieval to 35 days after transfer and divided into five exposure periods. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between six ambient air pollutants (PM 2.5 , PM 10 , NO 2 , SO 2 , CO and O 3) and the IVF-ET pregnancy outcome. The results showed that air pollutants can significantly affect the IVF pregnancy outcome. The harmful effects of ambient air pollutants are more obvious in the patients aged < 35 years, single embryo transfer and cleavage stage embryo transfer. • Air pollution can affect the pregnancy outcome of in vitro fertilization. • Female younger than 35 years old are more vulnerable to ambient air pollutants. • Single-embryo-transfer patients are sensitive in endometrial transformation period. • Pregnancy outcome are less likely to be affected in blastocyst-transfer patients. • Different protection strategies should be considered for different population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare coronary lesions in mainland Chinese and Australians using coronary angiography (CAG)., Methods and Results: 6251 suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) patients (3021 Chinese patients from Nanjing and 3230 Australian patients from Sydney) who underwent a CAG between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2003, were studied. Of these, 69.4% Chinese and 75.5% Australians were diagnosed with CHD. The incidences of both left main coronary artery (LM) and left anterior descending branch (LAD) lesions in Australians were higher than that for Chinese of the same gender. In the same age range, above 40, Gensini scores of Australians were significantly higher than those of Chinese., Conclusion: In both Chinese and Australians, men had more severe coronary lesions than women. Comparison among different age ranges in the 2 ethnic groups shows that Australians typically have artery lesions more than 10 years earlier than mainland Chinese.

Objective: To compare coronary lesion characteristics by coronary angiography (CAG) between yellows and whites., Methods: CAG results of 3021 Chinese patients, defined as yellows, from Nanjing and 3230 Australian patients, defined as whites, from Sydney were analyzed. The coronary artery lesion was evaluated by the number and location of coronary lesion and Gensini scores., Results: (1) Coronary stenosis was diagnosed in 69.4% Chinese patients and 75.5% in Australians. The involved coronary arteries were left anterior descending branch, right coronary artery, left circumflex branch and left main coronary artery in a descending order in both Chinese and Australians. (2) The incidences of three-vessel disease and left main disease of yellows were significantly lower than that of whites in both male (29.8% vs. 34.0% and 9.6% vs. 14.2%) and female patients (15.8% vs. 26.2% and 4.9% vs. 11.6%) respectively, all P < 0.05. (3) There was an age-dependent Gensini scores increase in both yellows and whites patients and Gensini scores at age 40 and more of whites were significantly higher than those of yellows in comparable age groups., Conclusion: The incidences of three-vessel disease and left main disease as well as Gensini score were significantly higher in Australian patients than those of Chinese patients.