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Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an important role in the formation of ground-level ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), and they have been key issues in current air pollution prevention and control in China. Considerable attention has been paid to industrial activities due to their large and relatively complex VOCs emissions. The present research aims to provide a comprehensive review on whole-process control of industrial VOCs, which mainly includes source reduction, collection enhancement and end-pipe treatments. Lower VOCs materials including water-borne ones are the keys to source substitution in industries related to coating and solvent usage, leak detection and repair (LDAR) should be regarded as an efficient means of source reduction in refining, petrochemical and other chemical industries. Several types of VOCs collection methods such as gas-collecting hoods, airtight partitions and others are discussed, and airtight collection at negative pressure yields the best collection efficiency. Current end-pipe treatments like UV oxidation, low-temperature plasma, activated carbon adsorption, combustion, biodegradation, and adsorption-combustion are discussed in detail. Finally, several recommendations are made for future advanced treatment and policy development in industrial VOCs emission control. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Employing the Unit Soil Carbon Amount (USCA) approach, soil carbon storage was calculated across the Northeast Plain of China based on the Multi-purpose Regional Geochemical Survey conducted in 2004–2006 (MRGS). The results indicated that the soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in topsoil (0–0.2 m), subsoil (0–1 m) and deep soil (0–1.8 m) was 768.1Mt, 2978.4Mt and 3729.2Mt with densities of 3327.8t/km2, 12,904.7t/km2 and 16,157.5t/km2, respectively. These values were consistent with national averages, whereas the soil carbon densities showed a clear increasing trend from the southern area of the Northeast Plain (Liaoning), to the middle (Jilin) and the northern Plain (Heilongjiang) — particularly in terms of topsoil carbon density, which increased from 2284.2, to 3436.7 and 3861.5t/km2, respectively. In comparison to carbon data obtained from the Second National Soil Survey in 1984–1986 (SNSS), the topsoil SOC storage values from the MRGS were found to have decreased by 320.59Mt (29.4%), with an average annual decline of 16.0Mt (l.73%) over the 20 years. In the southern, middle and northern areas of the plain, soil carbon densities decreased by 1060.6t/km2, 1646.4t/km2 and 1300.2t/km2, respectively, with an average value of 1389.0t/km2 for the whole plain. These findings indicate that the decrease in soil carbon density varied according to the different ecosystems and land-use types. Therefore, ratios of soil carbon density were calculated in order to study the carbon dynamic balance between ecosystems, and to further explore distribution characteristics, as well as the sequestration potential of SOC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: We have updated the guideline for preventing and managing perioperative infection in China, given the global issues with antimicrobial resistance and the need to optimize antimicrobial usage and improve hospital infection control levels., Methods: We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence for prevention and management of perioperative infection, based on the concepts of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The strength of recommendations was graded and voted using the Delphi method and the nominal group technique. Revisions were made to the guidelines in response to feedback from the experts., Results: There were 17 questions prepared, for which 37 recommendations were made. According to the GRADE system, we evaluated the body of evidence for each clinical question. Based on the meta-analysis results, recommendations were graded using the Delphi method to generate useful information., Conclusions: This guideline provides evidence to perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis that increased the rational use of prophylactic antimicrobial use, with substantial improvement in the risk-benefit trade-off., (© 2023 Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Purpose: To discuss the effects of dydrogesterone combined with letrozole on the effectiveness, sex hormone levels, and serological indicators in patients with endometriosis. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020213172)., Methods: We searched relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP Database. The standardized mean differences (SMDs), the mean differences (MDs), or odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were computed to be outcome indicators, including total effectiveness, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) level, Carbohydrate Antigen 125 (CA125) level, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) level, estrogen (E2) level, progesterone (P) level, interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) level., Results: A total of 19 RCTs involving 1,591 patients were included in this study. Our results showed that letrozole combined with dydrogesterone can significantly reduce the levels of VEGF (SMD -2.23, 95% CI -2.39 to -2.07; p < 0.00001), CA125 (MD -10.53, 95% CI -11.19 to -9.88; p < 0.00001), E2 (SMD -1.64, 95% CI -1.81 to -1.47; p < 0.00001), P (MD -5.11, 95% CI -6.26 to -3.96; p < 0.00001), IL-6 (MD -4.41, 95% CI -5.16 to -3.67; p < 0.00001), and TNF-a (MD -5.67, 95% CI -6.34 to -5.00; p < 0.00001) in patients with endometriosis compared with the control group. In addition, the results indicated that total effectiveness was significantly higher in the experiment group (OR 6.21, 95% CI 4.17 to 9.24; p < 0.00001) compared to the control. However, there was no significant difference between FSH and LH levels in both groups ( p > 0.05)., Conclusion: This combination therapy can effectively decrease the levels of VEGF, CA125, E2, P, IL-6, and TNF-a and increase the total effectiveness when comparing with the control group., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 Shumei Sun et al.)

Background: The importance of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in Chinese hospitals is not clearly delineated. Thus we sought to assess the prevalence of MDRO in Chinese intensive care units (ICUs)., Methods: Prospective study of inpatients admitted consecutively to eight ICUs in four Chinese cities in 2009-10. Admission and weekly screenings were performed by using selective media for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For the two latters, resistance to ceftazidime defined MDRO. Backward logistic regression models were designed to assess factors independently associated with MDRO carriage on admission and MDRO acquisition within ICUs., Results: 686 patients were included, and the MDRO prevalence rate on admission was 30.5 % (32.7 % for ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae, 3.2 % for MRSA). Antibiotic treatment prior to ICU admission was independently associated with carriage on admission (OR: 1.4) in multivariate analysis. A total of 104 patients acquired ≥1 MDRO in ICU (overall attack rate: 23.7 %; 14.9 % for ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae, and 5.1 % for MRSA). The MDRO attack rate increased from 13.2 % in the first week to 82.1 % for ICU stay > 3 weeks. Duration of antibiotic exposure (OR: 1.16; 1.1-1.2) and prior antibiotic treatment before ICU (OR: 2.1; 1.1-3.3) were associated with MDRO acquisition in multivariate analysis. The MDRO prevalence rate on ICU discharge was 51.2 % and the global prevalence density rate 71 per 1000 hospital-days., Conclusion: More than one out of two patients was MDRO carrier on ICU discharge in Chinese hospitals. This is the result of the combination of a high MDRO prevalence rate on ICU admission and a high MDRO acquisition rate within ICU.