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Improvement of nutrition and health status has been observed in the modern China, but marginal nutrient status remains in some subpopulations. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of multivitamin-multimineral-phytochemical supplement on nutrient status in healthy Chinese adults. A total of 297 healthy men and women aged between 20-60 y old enrolled an 8-wk randomized double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Nutrient status such as vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, folate, α- and γ-tocopherol (TC), and carotenoids were determined at day 1 and 56. Acute response on vitamin C, TC and carotenoids status was also determined at day 56 2 hours after consuming the last dose of study product with a meal comprising one serving of deep fried bread and water. Results showed that there was no difference in nutrient status before supplementation and significant improvement in vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, C, folate, α-TC, and β-carotene status was observed in the supplement group after the intervention. Significant acute response on vitamin C status was also observed in the supplement group. This study demonstrated that multivitamin-multimineral-phytochemical supplementation could effectively improved nutrient status in healthy Chinese. This outcome may have a significant impact on the dynamic of nutrition and health status in healthy Chinese. [Authors (ZJ, KL) shared same amount of work.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. Atypical presentations of Q fever can cause diagnostic difficulty or be misdiagnosed. Here we compared the clinical and diagnostic features of Q fever endocarditis and endocarditis caused by other bacteria to identify features of Q fever endocarditis that might facilitate early diagnosis. Methodology: This was a retrospective case-control study of eight cases of Q fever endocarditis diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China and 24 age- and gender-matched patients diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis over the same period. Clinical and laboratory data were collected and compared between groups. Results: The median time interval between symptoms and diagnosis was significantly longer in the case group than the control group (8.0 months (IQR 7.0-16.0) vs. 4.0 months (IQR 1.0-7.0); p = 0.002). Patients in case group had significantly lower white blood cell counts (5.8 ± 2.4 × 109/L vs. 10.0 ± 3.4 × 109/L; p = 0.003), percentage of neutrophil (62.4 ± 14.7% vs. 79.1 ± 9.2%; p = 0.014), high-sensitivity C-creative protein levels (21.1 mg/L (IQR 18.5-32.8) vs. 45.3 mg/L (IQR 32.9-54.3); p = 0.038), and platelet counts (133 ± 73 vs. 229 ± 65; p = 0.001) but higher levels of rheumatoid factor (104.3 U/L (IQR 99.0-132.8) vs. 10.2 U/L (IQR 6.9-32.5); p = 0.011) than controls. Elevated creatinine (50.0% vs. 12.5%; p = 0.047) and liver enzymes (50.0% vs. 0%; p = 0.002) were more common in cases than controls. Q fever endocarditis was less frequently diagnosed than controls before cardiac surgery (62.5% vs. 100%; p = 0.011), with negative blood cultures in all cases. Conclusions: The diagnosis of Q fever endocarditis can easily be delayed compared to other causes of infectious endocarditis. Patients with chronic fever and new valve dysfunction require careful assessment, especially when presenting with negative blood cultures and high rheumatoid factor levels. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of these patients should include routine serological testing for C. burnetii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]