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In China, the main sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) planting areas can be found in the low-latitude plateau (21° N–25° N, 97° E–106° E), which has most of the natural ecological types. However, there is limited information on the climate conditions of this region and their influence on sugarcane yield and sucrose content. Monthly variations in the main climate factors, namely, average air temperature (AAT), average relative humidity (ARH), average rainfall amount (ARA), and average sunshine duration (ASD), from 2000 to 2019 and sugarcane yield and sucrose content of 26 major sugarcane-producing areas from 2001/2002 to 2018/2019 were collected from the low-latitude plateau in Yunnan for studying the impact of climate variations on sugarcane yield and sucrose content. The results showed that AAT in the mid-growth season had a significant positive correlation with sucrose content (p < 0.05), and AAT in the late-growth season had a very significant positive correlation with sucrose content (p < 0.01). ARH in the mid-growth season had a significant positive correlation with sugarcane yield (p < 0.05). ARA in the early-growth season showed a significant positive correlation with sugarcane yield (p < 0.05). ASD in the late-growth season had a significant positive correlation with sugarcane yield (p < 0.05) and sucrose content (p < 0.01). The rainy and humid sugarcane areas were characterized by high ARA and ARH during the entire growth period, low AAT and ASD in the mid-growth season, and low AAT in the late-growth season, contributing to a high sugarcane yield, but not a high sucrose content. The low temperature and sunshine semi-humid sugarcane areas were characterized by the lowest AAT in the early and middle stages of sugarcane growth, less ASD in the early and middle stages, and less ARA in the early and late stages, which are unfavorable for sugarcane yield and sucrose content. The high temperature and humidity sugarcane areas were characterized by higher AAT and ARA, and moderate ASD during the entire growth period, resulting in good sugarcane growth potential and contributing to the sugarcane yield and sucrose content. The semi-humid and multi-sunshine sugarcane areas were characterized by the lowest ARH in the entire growth period, the lowest ARA in the middle and late seasons, and the longest ASD, contributing to an increase in sucrose content. The humid and sunny areas were characterized by the longest ASD and high ARH in the early and late seasons of sugarcane growth and moderate AAT and ARA during the entire growth season, which are beneficial for high sugarcane yield and sucrose content. Overall, these findings suggest that the sugarcane variety layout should be based on the climate type (of which there are five in the plateau), and corresponding cultivation practices should be used to compensate for the climatic conditions in various growth stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to analyze the applicability of the World Health Organization's exclusionary guidelines for Urinary creatinine (Ucr) in the general Chinese population, and to identify Ucr related factors. We conduct a cross-sectional study using baseline data from 21,167 participants in the China National Human Biomonitoring Program. Mixed linear models and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to analyze the associations between explanatory variables and Ucr concentration. The geometric mean and median concentrations of Ucr in the general Chinese population were 0.90 g/L and 1.01 g/L, respectively. And 9.36% samples were outside 0.3–3.0 g/L, including 7.83% below the lower limit and 1.53% above the upper limit. Middle age, male, obesity, smoking, higher frequency of red meat consumption and chronic kidney disease were associated significantly with higher concentrations of Ucr. Results of the RCS showed Ucr was positively and linearly associated with body mass index, inversely and linearly associated with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides level, and glomerular filtration rate, and were non-linearly associated with triiodothyronine. The age- and gender-specific cut-off values of Ucr that determine the validity of urine samples in the general Chinese population were recommended. To avoid introducing bias into epidemiologic associations, the potential predictors of Ucr observed in the current study should be considered when using Ucr to adjust for variations in urine dilution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have reported inverse associations between certain healthy lifestyle factors and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but limited evidence showed the synergistic effect of those lifestyles. This study examined the relationship of a combination of lifestyles, expressed as Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS), with NAFLD.Design: A community-based cross-sectional study. Questionnaires and body assessments were used to collect data on the six-item HLS (ranging from 0 to 6, where higher scores indicate better health). The HLS consists of non-smoking (no active or passive smoking), normal BMI (18·5-23·9 kg/m2), physical activity (moderate or vigorous physical activity ≥ 150 min/week), healthy diet pattern, good sleep (no insomnia or <6 months) and no anxiety (Self-rating Anxiety Scale < 50), one point each. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography.Setting: Guangzhou, China.Participants: Two thousand nine hundred and eighty-one participants aged 40-75 years.Results: The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 50·8 %. After adjusting for potential covariates, HLS was associated with lower presence of NAFLD. The OR of NAFLD for subjects with higher HLS (3, 4, 5-6 v. 0-1 points) were 0·68 (95 % CI 0·51, 0·91), 0·58 (95 % CI 0·43, 0·78) and 0·35 (95 % CI 0·25, 0·51), respectively (P-values < 0·05). Among the six items, BMI and physical activity were the strongest contributors. Sensitivity analyses showed that the association was more significant after weighting the HLS. The beneficial association remained after excluding any one of the six components or replacing BMI with waist circumference.Conclusions: Higher HLS was associated with lower presence of NAFLD, suggesting that a healthy lifestyle pattern might be beneficial to liver health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence regarding alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment is controversial. Whether cessation of drinking alcohol by non-dependent drinkers alters the risk of cognitive impairment remains unknown. This study prospectively evaluated the potential association between the history of lifetime alcohol cessation and risk of cognitive impairment. This study included 15,758 participants age 65 years or older, selected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) that covered 23 provinces in China. Current alcohol use status, duration of alcohol cessation, and alcohol consumption before abstinence were self-reported by participants; cognitive function was evaluated using Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE). Cause-specific hazard models and restricted cubic splines were applied to estimate the effect of alcohol use on cognitive impairment. Among the 15,758 participants, mean (± SD) age was 82.8 years (± 11.9 years), and 7,199 (45.7%) were males. During a mean of 3.9 years of follow-up, 3,404 cases were identified as cognitive impairment. Compared with current drinkers, alcohol cessation of five to nine years [adjusted HR , 0.79 (95% CI : 0.66–0.96)] and more than nine years [adjusted HR , 0.82 (95% CI : 0.69–0.98)] were associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment. A longer duration of alcohol cessation was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment assessed by MMSE. Alcohol cessation is never late for older adults to prevent cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence of the trend of the incidence of activities of daily living (ADL) disability among Chinese older people is limited. We aimed to investigate the time trends and potential risk factors for the incidence of ADL disability among Chinese older people (≥65 years).Methods: We established two consecutive and nonoverlapping cohorts (6,857 participants in the 2002 cohort and 5,589 participants in the 2008 cohort) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. ADL disability was defined as the need for assistance with at least one essential activity (dressing, bathing, toileting, eating, indoor activities, and continence). Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify factors associated with the trend in the incidence of ADL disability from 2002 to 2014.Results: The incidence (per 1,000 person-years) of ADL disability decreased significantly from 64.2 in the 2002 cohort to 46.6 in the 2008 cohort (p < .001), and decreasing trends in the incidence of ADL disability were observed for all sex, age, and residence subgroups (all p < .001), even after adjusting for multiple potential confounding factors. Moreover, we found that adjustment for sociodemographic, lifestyle information, and cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke) explained less of the decline in ADL disability during the period from 2002 to 2014.Conclusion: The incidence of ADL disability among the older adults in China appears to have decreased during the study period, and this finding cannot be explained by existing sociodemographic and lifestyle information and cardiovascular risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the trends in impairment regarding activities of daily living (ADL), physical performance, and cognitive function among the oldest-old (those aged 80 and older) in China between 1998 and 2014.Methods: We used data on 34,297 oldest-old individuals from the seven waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study. We estimated age, period, and cohort effects on the prevalence of self-reported ADL impairment, tested physical performance and cognitive function impairment using the age-period-cohort model.Results: Regarding age, the prevalence of ADL, physical performance, and cognitive function impairment were highest in the centenarians, but they did not increase with age in this population. Among the literate subgroup, the prevalence of cognitive impairment increased more rapidly with age than that in the illiterate subgroup. Regarding period, the prevalence of self-reported and tested physical impairment slowly increased between 1998 and 2014, but cognitive impairment remained stable. Regarding cohort, ADL impairment continuously decreased. However, physical and cognitive impairment remained stable after a brief decline in the early birth cohorts.Conclusions: The results suggest that the age effect is still the most obvious effect regarding several types of functional impairment. The likelihood of a younger person experiencing functional impairment may not change significantly, but ADL is likely to be amenable to improvement resulting from improved medical and social care. Therefore, increased care for the oldest-old may considerably improve their quality of life, particularly regarding their basic ADL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The associations between the number of natural teeth/denture use and all-cause mortality remain unclear due to lake of investigation for the potential interaction between tooth loss and denture use and for the potential changes in these exposures over time in older adults. We undertake this study to evaluate the associations of the number of natural teeth and/or denture use with mortality in Chinese elderly. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 36,283 older adults (median age: 90). The number of natural teeth and denture use were collected with structured questionnaire. We evaluated hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for demographic factors, education, income, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Results: We documented 25,857 deaths during 145,947 person-years of observation. Compared to those with 20+ teeth, tooth loss was associated with a gradual increase in mortality, with an adjusted HR of 1.14 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.23) for those with 10–19 teeth, 1.23 (95% CI, 1.15 to 1.31) for those with 1–9 teeth, and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.26 to 1.44) for those without natural teeth. Denture use was associated with lower risk of mortality (adjusted HR 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.84). Subgroup analyses indicated that the benefit of denture use was greater in men than in women (P = 0.02) and tended to decrease with age (P < 0.001). The effects of denture use did not differ among various degrees of tooth loss (P = 0.17). Conclusions: Tooth loss was associated with an increased risk of mortality in older adults. Denture use provided a protective effect against death for all degrees of tooth loss however, this effect appeared to be modified by sex and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the role of specific leisure activities in affecting cognitive functions. We aim to examine the associations of specific leisure activities with the risk of cognitive impairment among oldest-old people in China.Methods: This community-based prospective cohort study included 10,741 cognitively normal Chinese individuals aged 80 years or older (median age 88 years) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to estimate the effects of specific leisure activities on cognitive impairment outcome.Results: During a median follow-up time of 3.4 years (41,760 person-years), 2,894 participants developed cognitive impairment. Compared to those who "never" engaged in watching TV or listening to radio, reading books or newspapers, and playing cards or mah-jong, those who engaged in such activities "almost every day" reduced their risk of cognitive impairment, the fully-adjusted hazard ratios were 0.56 (0.51-0.61), 0.64 (0.53-0.78), and 0.70 (0.56-0.86), respectively. The association between the risk of cognitive impairment and watching TV and listening to the radio, playing cards or mah-jong, and reading books or newspapers were stronger among those who had two or more years of education. Moreover, the association between risk of cognitive impairment and watching TV and listening to radio was stronger in men than in women.Conclusions: In conclusion, a greater frequency of TV watching or radio listening, reading books or newspapers, and playing cards or mah-jong may decrease the risk of cognitive impairment among the oldest-old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive impairment is a major contributor to mortality among the elderly. However, the relationship between cognitive impairment evaluated by educational levels and mortality and the trend between cognitive impairment and mortality with time are unclear. We aim to evaluate the differences in associations of cognitive impairment, taking the stratification by educational levels into account, with all-cause mortality and further explore the relationship of cognitive impairment with mortality in different age and sex groups in two cohorts ascertained 6 years apart in China.Methods: A total of 13,906 and 13,873 Chinese elderly aged 65 years and older were included in the 2002-2008 and 2008-2014 cohorts from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Mortality data was ascertained from interviews with family members or relatives of participants. Cognitive function, evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), were defined by different cut-offs taking educational background into account. Cox models were used to explore the relationship of cognitive impairment with mortality.Results: For the 2002-2008 and 2008-2014 cohorts, 55,277 and 53,267 person-years were followed up, and the mean (SD) age were 86.5 (11.6) and 87.2 (11.3) years, respectively. Compared to normal cognition, cognitive impairment was independently associated with higher mortality risk after controlling for potential confounders, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-1.39) in 2002-2008 cohort and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.19-1.32) in 2008-2014 cohort, stratified by educational levels. The trend of cognitive impairment with all-cause mortality risk decreased from 2002 to 2008 to 2008-2014 cohort, while no significant interaction of cognitive impairment with cohort for all-cause mortality was observed. The associations of cognitive impairment and mortality were decreased with age in the two cohorts.Conclusions: Cognitive impairment evaluated by different cut-offs were associated with increased risk of mortality, especially among those aged 65-79 years in the two cohorts; this advocates that periodic screening for cognitive impairment among the elderly is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High concentrations of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], a marker of circulating vitamin D, have been associated with a lower risk of mortality in epidemiologic studies of multiple populations, but the association for Chinese adults aged ≥80 y (oldest old) remains unclear.Objective: We investigated the association between plasma [25(OH)D] concentration and all-cause mortality among Chinese adults aged ≥80 y.Design: The present study is a prospective cohort study of 2185 Chinese older adults (median age: 93 y). Prospective all-cause mortality data were analyzed for survival in relation to plasma 25(OH)D using Cox proportional hazards regression models, with adjustments for potential sociodemographic and lifestyle confounders and biomarkers. The associations were measured with HR and 95% CIs.Results: The median plasma 25(OH)D concentration was 34.4 nmol/L at baseline. Over the 5466 person-year follow-up period, 1100 deaths were identified. Men and women were analyzed together as no effect modification by sex was found. After adjusting for multiple potential confounders, the risk of all-cause mortality decreased as the plasma 25(OH)D concentration increased (P-trend <0.01). Compared with the lowest age-specific quartile of plasma 25(OH)D, the adjusted HRs for mortality for the second, third, and fourth age-specific quartiles were 0.72 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.90), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.93), and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.81), respectively. The observed associations were broadly consistent across age and other subgroups. Sensitivity analyses generated similar results after excluding participants who died within 2 y of follow-up or after further adjustment for ethnicity and chronic diseases.Conclusions: A higher plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among Chinese adults aged ≥80 y. This observed inverse association warrants further investigation in randomized controlled trials testing vitamin D supplementation in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To in vestigate potential gender differences in the odds of overweight/obese, weight-related perceptions, and behaviors among Chinese school children. Methods Height, weight, and a survey of weight-related perceptions and behaviors were measured in a nationally representative survey of 12,811 children in primary schools in China. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess gender differences, adjusting for confounders. Results Boys had higher odds of being overweight/obese compared to girls within both urban [adjusted odds ratio ( OR ) 2.30, 95% CI 2.00 to 2.65] and rural areas ( OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.20). Girls reported healthier diets (e.g., daily vegetables OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.85) whereas boys consumed fried food ( OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.38) and sugar-sweetened drinks more often ( OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.65). Gender differences included higher odds of boys perceiving themselves as overweight if they had more highly educated mothers ( OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.68), less educated fathers ( OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.99), and if they frequently consumed carbonated drinks ( OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.05). Conclusion Childhood obesity prevention in China should be gender-focused, particularly for boys who reported an unhealthier diet but were less likely to see they were fat, even though more boys were overweight or obese than girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aims to assess the status of successful aging (SA) in longevity areas in China and explore multiple factors associated with SA among the young-old and oldest-old. Methods A total of 2296 elderly people aged 65 and older were interviewed in the longevity areas sub-sample of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2012. Baseline assessments included a researcher-administered questionnaire, physical examination, and laboratory testing. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with SA. Results The prevalence of SA was 38.81% in the CLHLS in 2012. There were significant differences between ages groups, with SA compromising 56.85% among ≥65 years group and 20.31% among ≥100 years group (χ 2 trend =126.73, P <0.01). The prevalence of SA among females was 33.59%, which was significantly lower than that among males (45.58%) (χ 2 gender =33.65, P <0.05). In the regression analysis, having anemia (OR=0.744, 95% CI: 0.609–0.910), poor lifestyle (OR=0.697, 95% CI: 0.568-0.854), poor sleep quality (OR=0.558, 95% CI: 0.456–0.682), and central obesity (OR=0.684, 95% CI: 0.556–0.841) were the main factors associated with SA. The promoting SA rate decreased as age increased, and the group of 65-79 years had higher odds than the other age group. Conclusion Preventing central obesity, improving sleep quality and promoting healthy lifestyle may contribute to achieve SA among the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a risk factor for survival in middle-aged individuals, but conflicting evidence exists on the relationship between LDL-C and all-cause mortality among the elderly. The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between LDL-C and all-cause mortality among Chinese oldest old (aged 80 and older) in a prospective cohort study. Methods LDL-C concentration was measured at baseline and all-cause mortality was calculated over a 3-year period. Multiple statistical models were used to adjust for demographic and biological covariates. Results During three years of follow-up, 447 of 935 participants died, and the overall all-cause mortality was 49.8%. Each 1 mmol/L increase of LDL-C concentration corresponded to a 19% decrease in 3-year all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71–0.92). The crude HR for abnormally higher LDL-C concentration (≥3.37 mmol/L) was 0.65 (0.41–1.03); and the adjusted HR was statistically significant around 0.60 (0.37–0.95) when adjusted for different sets of confounding factors. Results of sensitivity analysis also showed a significant association between higher LDL-C and lower mortality risk. Conclusions Among the Chinese oldest old, higher LDL-C level was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality. Our findings suggested the necessity of re-evaluating the optimal level of LDL-C among the oldest old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree size distributions have long been of interest to ecologists and foresters because they reflect fundamental demographic processes. Previous studies have assumed that size distributions are often associated with population trends or with the degree of shade tolerance. We tested these associations for 31 tree species in a 20 ha plot in a Dinghushan south subtropical forest in China. These species varied widely in growth form and shade-tolerance. We used 2005 and 2010 census data from that plot. We found that 23 species had reversed J shaped size distributions, and eight species had unimodal size distributions in 2005. On average, modal species had lower recruitment rates than reversed J species, while showing no significant difference in mortality rates, per capita population growth rates or shade-tolerance. We compared the observed size distributions with the equilibrium distributions projected from observed size-dependent growth and mortality. We found that observed distributions generally had the same shape as predicted equilibrium distributions in both unimodal and reversed J species, but there were statistically significant, important quantitative differences between observed and projected equilibrium size distributions in most species, suggesting that these populations are not at equilibrium and that this forest is changing over time. Almost all modal species had U-shaped size-dependent mortality and/or growth functions, with turning points of both mortality and growth at intermediate size classes close to the peak in the size distribution. These results show that modal size distributions do not necessarily indicate either population decline or shade-intolerance. Instead, the modal species in our study were characterized by a life history strategy of relatively strong conservatism in an intermediate size class, leading to very low growth and mortality in that size class, and thus to a peak in the size distribution at intermediate sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmful algal blooms (HABs), eutrophication, and internal pollutant sources from sediment, represent serious problems for public health, water quality, and ecological restoration worldwide. Previous studies have indicated that Modified Local Soil (MLS) technology is an efficient and cost-effective method to flocculate the HABs from water and settle them onto sediment. Additionally, MLS capping treatment can reduce the resuspension of algae flocs from the sediment, and convert the algal cells, along with any excessive nutrients in-situ into fertilisers for the restoration of submerged macrophytes in shallow water systems. Furthermore, the capping treatment using oxygen nanobubble-MLS materials can also mitigate sediment anoxia, causing a reduction in the release of internal pollutants, such as nutrients and greenhouse gases. This paper reviews and quantifies the main features of MLS by investigating the effect of MLS treatment in five pilot-scale whole-pond field experiments carried out in Lake Tai, South China, and in Cetian Reservoir in Datong city, North China. Data obtained from field monitoring showed that the algae-dominated waters transform into a macrophyte-dominated state within four months of MLS treatment in shallow water systems. The sediment-water nutrient fluxes were substantially reduced, whilst water quality (TN, TP, and transparency) and biodiversity were significantly improved in the treatment ponds, compared to the control ponds within a duration ranging from one day to three years. The sediment anoxia remediation effect by oxygen nanobubble-MLS treatment may further contribute to deep water hypoxia remediation and eutrophication control. Combined with the integrated management of external loads control, MLS technology can provide an environmentally friendly geo-engineering method to accelerate ecological restoration and control eutrophication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant Jinchuan nickel-copper-platinum-group element (PGE) deposit is hosted by two individual sub-vertical intrusions, referred to as the western and eastern intrusions (including segment II-W and segment II-E). Exactly how the Jinchuan deposit was formed by a system of sub-vertical magma conduits is still not well understood. This paper reports new major elements, trace elements and PGEs data from the Jinchuan deposit to study the formation mechanism of sulfide ores with different textures and their relationship with the magma conduit system. Our study shows that the PGE tenors of disseminated and net-textured sulfide in segment II-E are significantly lower than segment II-W and the western intrusion, but the Cu/Pd ratios are opposite. In addition, net-textured sulfides in segment II-W show a negative correlation between IPGE (Ir, Ru and Rh) and PPGE (Pt and Pd) in contrast to the positive correlation in segment II-E and the western intrusion. These features indicate the parental magma sources of the western intrusion, segment II-W and segment II-E were originally three different surges of PGE-depleted magma. Modeling of parental magma in the western intrusion, segment II-W and segment II-E suggests that they were formed by the same initial picritic basalt (100 ppm Cu, 1 ppb Ir and 10 ppb Pd) with different prior sulfide segregations (0.0075%, 0.0085% and 0.011%). The three parts of Jinchuan sulfides show that the Pt/Pd and (Pt + Pd)/(Ir + Ru + Rh) ratios decrease from section III-5 toward both sides in the western intrusion and decrease from section II-14 toward all sides, whereas no regular spatial variations occur in segment II-E, showing the different fractionation processes of sulfide melt. The massive sulfides in the western intrusion and segment II-E experienced a ~20% to 40% and ~40% to 60% fractionation of sulfide melt, respectively. We propose that the Jinchuan deposit was generated in a metallogenic system of multiple magma conduits, where sulfides entrained in parental magma experienced different amounts of prior removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives To investigate the association between late-life blood pressure and the incidence of cognitive impairment in older adults. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Community-living older adults from 22 provinces in China. Participants We included 12,281 cognitively normal [Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ≥ 24] older adults (median age: 81 years) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Eligible participants must have baseline blood pressure data and have 1 or more follow-up cognitive assessments. Measurements Baseline systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured by trained internists. Cognitive function was evaluated by MMSE. We considered mild/moderate/severe cognitive impairment (MMSE <24, and MMSE decline ≥3) as the primary outcome. Results The participants with hypertension had a significantly higher risk of mild/moderate/severe cognitive impairment (hazard ratio [HR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.24). Overall, the associations with cognitive impairment seem to be hockey stick–shaped for SBP and linear for DBP, though the estimated effects for low SBP/DBP were less precise. High SBP was associated with a gradual increase in the risk of mild/moderate/severe cognitive impairment (P trend <.001). Compared with SBP 120 to 129 mmHg, the adjusted HR was 1.17 (95% CI 1.07-1.29) for SBP 130 to 139 mmHg, increased to 1.54 (95% CI 1.35-1.75) for SBP ≥180 mmHg. Analyses for high DBP showed the same increasing pattern, with an adjusted HR of 1.09 (95% CI 1.01-1.18) for DBP 90 to 99 mmHg and 1.19 (95% CI 1.02-1.38) for DBP ≥110 mmHg, as compared with DBP 70 to 79 mmHg. Conclusion Late-life high blood pressure was independently associated with cognitive impairment in cognitively normal Chinese older adults. Prevention and management of high blood pressure may have substantial benefits for cognition among older adults in view of the high prevalence of hypertension in this rapidly growing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Higher or lower blood pressure may relate to cognitive impairment, whereas the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive impairment among the elderly is not well-studied. The study objective was to determine whether blood pressure is associated with cognitive impairment in the elderly, and, if so, to accurately describe the association. Design Cross-sectional data from the sixth wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) conducted in 2011. Setting Community-based setting in longevity areas in China. Participants A total of 7144 Chinese elderly aged 65 years and older were included in the sample. Measures Systolic blood pressures (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) were measured, pulse pressure (PP) was calculated as (SBP) − (DBP) and mean arterial pressures (MAP) was calculated as 1/3(SBP) + 2/3(DBP). Cognitive function was assessed via a validated Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results Based on the results of generalized additive models (GAMs), U-shaped associations were identified between cognitive impairment and SBP, DBP, PP, and MAP. The cutpoints at which risk for cognitive impairment (MMSE <24) was minimized were determined by quadratic models as 141 mm Hg, 85 mm Hg, 62 mm Hg, and 103 mm Hg, respectively. In the logistic models, U-shaped associations remained for SBP, DBP, and MAP but not PP. Below the identified cutpoints, each 1-mm Hg decrease in blood pressure corresponded to 0.7%, 1.1%, and 1.1% greater risk in the risk of cognitive impairment, respectively. Above the cutpoints, each 1-mm Hg increase in blood pressure corresponded to 1.2%, 1.8%, and 2.1% greater risk of cognitive impairment for SBP, DBP, and MAP, respectively. Conclusion A U-shaped association between blood pressure and cognitive function in an elderly Chinese population was found. Recognition of these instances is important in identifying the high-risk population for cognitive impairment and to individualize blood pressure management for cognitive impairment prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A few studies of Western populations have found inconsistent results regarding the associations between vitamin D status and physical function. We explored the association between circulating vitamin D status [plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D] and incident activities of daily living (ADL) disability among Chinese older adults. Community-based longitudinal cohort study. A total of 2453 men and women (median age 84.0 years) in 7 Chinese longevity areas were included. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident ADL, with adjustments for potential sociodemographic, and lifestyle confounders and biomarkers. Because there was a statistically significant interaction between plasma 25(OH)D and sex in relation to incident ADL, men and women were analyzed separately. The median concentrations of plasma 25(OH)D were 46.6 nmol/L and 36.4 nmol/L for men and women, respectively. Compared with the lowest quartile in the fully adjusted model, the HR for incident ADL disability for the highest quartile was 0.55 (95% CI 0.36–0.85) for women; for men, a null association was indicated (HR highest vs lowest 0.61, 95% CI 0.37–1.00). However, when using the recommended circulating 25(OH)D thresholds by the US Institute of Medicine, those with vitamin D sufficiency (≥50 nmol/L) had better ADL disability prognoses than those with vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmol/L) in both sexes (men HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.28–0.72; women HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37–0.90). The relationship between plasma 25(OH)D concentration and incident ADL disability was sex-specific among Chinese older adults. However, participants with recommended vitamin D sufficiency may have better disability prognoses in both sexes, suggesting that the recommended 25(OH)D concentration for bone health may extend to functional outcomes such as ADL disability in Chinese older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate associations between leisure activities, examining each activity separately and in combination, and all-cause mortality among the Chinese oldest-old (≥80 years) population. Prospective cohort study. Community-living, the oldest-old from 22 provinces in China. We included 30,070 Chinese individuals aged ≥80 years (mean age: 92.7 years) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 1998 to 2014. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate relationships between leisure activities and all-cause mortality, adjusting for covariates including sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, self-reported medical history, and other potential confounders. During 110,278 person-years of follow-up, 23,661 deaths were documented. Participants who engaged in watching TV or listening to the radio, playing cards or mah-jong, reading books or newspapers, gardening, keeping domestic animals or pets, or attending religious activities "almost every day" had a significantly lower mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratios ranged from 0.82 to 0.89; P <.01 for all) than did participants who "never" engaged in those activities. Furthermore, engagement in multiple leisure activities was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality (P for the trend <.001). Frequent participation in leisure activities might help decrease the risk of death in the Chinese oldest-old population. This finding has important implications for public health policy and encourages the incorporation of a broad range of leisure activities into the daily lives of oldest-old individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have focused on clustering of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours among primary school children and potential associations with perceived and actual weight status. An index was constructed from adding up 13 unhealthy behaviours measured by survey responses. Multilevel linear regressions were used to analyse associations between child personal characteristics, perceived and actual weight status with the unhealthy lifestyle index among 11,157 children in primary schools across China. Parental and area factors were also taken into account, including education, weight status, physical activity, urban/rural and area socioeconomic circumstances. The unhealthy lifestyle index normally distributed, with 84.5% of children reporting between 2 and 6 unhealthy behaviours. Boys reported more unhealthy behaviours compared with girls (coefficient 0.32, 95%CI 0.26 to 0.37) and children in urban areas had fewer unhealthy behaviours than their rural counterparts (-0.29, 95%CI -0.56 to -0.03). An interaction revealed stronger 'protective' effects of living in cities for girls than boys, which were not explained by differences in child overweight/obesity. More unhealthy behaviours were characteristic of children in more affluent areas, and of those born to mothers and/or fathers with lower educational attainment. Children who perceived themselves as overweight or underweight both scored higher on the unhealthy lifestyle index. Unhealthy behaviours that could increase the risk of childhood obesity are common among Chinese primary school children, particularly among boys in cities, those in more affluent areas and with parents with lower education. There was no effect of actual weight status on number of unhealthy behaviours. Perceived, but not actual weight status, was also a significant correlate of unhealthy behaviours. Clustering of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours that could increase the risk of childhood obesity are common among Chinese primary school children, particularly among boys in cities, those in more affluent areas and with parents with lower education. Perceived, but not actual weight status, was also a significant correlate of unhealthy lifestyle. This has important implications for public health because understanding clustering of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours can be used to assist in the development of targeted obesity prevention initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild birds play a critical role in avian influenza virus (AIV) ecology and some outbreaks of avian influenza in human originate from wild birds, suggesting that epidemiological surveillance and interspecies-transmission analysis of AIVs in wild birds are critical. Since 2019, we have performed sampling in Yancheng Wetland along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Totally, 2054 fecal swabs were collected and one H3N8, two H3N1, one H10N8, and three H10N1 were isolated. Three H3 gene of AIVs we isolated belonged to Eurasian lineage, but the four H10 gene clustered into North American lineage. What's more, the H3 and the foreign H10 gene had generated novel reassortants in Yancheng wetland. Receptor binding assay indicated that nearly all strains, except D369/H10N1, presented a dual receptor-binding profile and bound to avian-type receptor preferentially. In animal experiment, all isolates could infect mice without prior adaptation and induce histopathological changes in mice lungs, moreover, all H3 subtype AIVs obviously triggered weight loss of mice. In addition to lung and turbinate, D322/H3N1, D338/H3N8, D211/H10N8 and D266/H10N1 could spread to brain and kidney or liver or spleen, showing a wider range of tissue tropism. Multiple mutants associated with mammalian adaptation were also detected in all isolates according to molecular analysis. These findings revealed that H3 and H10 AIVs circulating in wild birds in Yancheng Wetland underwent complex reassortment and increased mammalian adaptation, which highlighted the necessity to monitor the diverse reassortment of AIVs in wild birds and evaluate the risks of H3 and H10 viruses to human health. • H3 and H10 subtype of AIVs were isolated in migratory birds in Jiangsu Province. • North American lineage H10 gene were the first time discovered in Jiangsu Province. • H3 and H10 gene had generated novel reassortants. • All AIVs isolated in this study could infect mice without prior adaptation. • Some AIV isolates could be detected in brain, kidney, liver or spleen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a heterogeneous disease with seven major psoriasis susceptibility loci reported so far on chromosomes 1p, 1q, 3q, 4q, 6p, 17q, and 19p, respectively. To investigate the psoriasis susceptibility loci in Chinese Hans, a genome-wide scan was performed with two-point and multipoint parametric and nonparametric linkage analyses in 61 multiplex families. These families were Chinese Hans residing in east and south-east China, comprising 189 affected and 166 unaffected individuals. We detected evidence for linkage at 6p21 (PSORS1) with nonparametric linkage scores > 3 in the range of 39.9–62.3 cM and a maximum multipoint nonparametric linkage score of 4.58 (p=0.000032). Parametric analysis revealed a maximum two-point heterogeneity lod score of 4.30 with 58% as the proportion of linked families (α) and a maximum multipoint heterogeneity lod score of 4.25 (α=53%) under the assumption of a dominant model. We could not confirm a previous reported locus (PSORS3) on distal chromosome 4q; however, a region of highly suggestive linkage was identified proximal to this proposed locus. Multipoint nonparametric analysis demonstrated nonparametric linkage scores > 3 throughout a region between 152.5 cM and 165.1 cM (from pter) with a maximum peak of 3.69 (p=0.00033) at 157.9 cM, which locates D4S413. A maximum multipoint heterogeneity lod score of 2.31 (α=46%) was reached at 163.1 cM. With two-point parametric linkage analysis, we observed the highest lod score of 2.43 and heterogeneity lod score of 3.94 (α=77%) at marker D4S1597. Our results showed that chromosomes 6p and 4q may contain genes involved in the susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris in a Chinese Han population. Other regions with weaker evidence for linkage could also hide minor susceptibility genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The obesity paradox has been reported among older adults. However, whether the favorable effect of obesity is dependent on metabolic status remains largely unknown. We aimed to explore the association of metabolic obesity phenotypes and their changes with all-cause mortality among the Chinese oldest-old population., Methods: This prospective cohort study included 1207 Chinese oldest old (mean age: 91.8 years). Metabolic obesity phenotypes were determined by central obesity and metabolic status, and participants were classified into metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO), metabolically healthy non-obesity (MHN), and metabolically unhealthy non-obesity (MUN). The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated by Cox regression models., Results: During 5.3 years of follow-up, 640 deaths were documented. Compared with non-obesity, obesity was associated with a decreased mortality risk among participants with metabolically healthy (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.63-0.91) while this association was insignificant among metabolically unhealthy. Compared to MHO, MHN (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06-1.53) and MUN (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.10-2.02) were significantly associated with an increased mortality risk. Compared to those with stable MHO, those transited from MHO to MUO demonstrated a higher mortality risk (HR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.06-3.11)., Conclusions: MHO predicts better survival among the Chinese oldest-old population. These findings suggest that ensuring optimal management of metabolic health is beneficial and taking caution in weight loss based on the individual body weight for the metabolically healthy oldest-old adults., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Dietary diversity has been suggested as a potential preventive measure against frailty in older adults, but the effect of changes in dietary diversity on frailty is unclear. This study was conducted to examine the association between the dietary diversity score (DDS) and frailty among older Chinese adults., Methods: A total of 12,457 adults aged 65 years or older were enrolled from three consecutive and nonoverlapping cohorts from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (the 2002 cohort, the 2005 cohort, and the 2008 cohort). DDS was calculated based on nine predefined food groups, and DDS changes were assessed by comparing scores at baseline and the first follow-up survey. We used 39 self-reported health items to assess frailty. Cox proportional hazard models were performed to examine the association between DDS change patterns and frailty., Results: Participants with low-to-low DDS had the highest frailty incidence (111.1/1000 person-years), while high-to-high DDS had the lowest (41.1/1000 person-years). Compared to the high-to-high group of overall DDS pattern, participants in other DDS change patterns had a higher risk of frailty (HRs ranged from 1.25 to 2.15). Similar associations were observed for plant-based and animal-based DDS. Compared to stable DDS changes, participants with an extreme decline in DDS had an increased risk of frailty, with HRs of 1.38 (1.24, 1.53), 1.31 (1.19, 1.44), and 1.29 (1.16, 1.43) for overall, plant-based, and animal-based DDS, respectively., Conclusions: Maintaining a lower DDS or having a large reduction in DDS was associated with a higher risk of frailty among Chinese older adults. These findings highlight the importance of improving a diverse diet across old age for preventing frailty in later life., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the associations of changes in social isolation, loneliness, or both, with cognitive function., Methods: Data were from 7299 older adults in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. We defined four change patterns (no, incident, transient, and persistent) for social isolation and loneliness, and created nine-category variable to represent the joint changes. Tobit regression models and Cox models were performed., Results: Incident, transient, and persistent social isolation or loneliness may accelerate cognitive decline (p < 0.05). Incident, transient, and persistent social isolation were associated with higher cognitive impairment risk, while only persistent loneliness was associated with higher cognitive impairment risk (p < 0.001). Notably, short-term or persistent social isolation was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and incident cognitive impairment, regardless of different loneliness change status (p < 0.05)., Discussion: Short-term or persistent social isolation and persistent loneliness may be a salient risk factor for cognitive decline and cognitive impairment., Highlights: Incident, transient, and persistent social isolation were associated with accelerated cognitive decline and higher cognitive impairment risk. Persistent loneliness was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and higher cognitive impairment risk. Short-term or persistent social isolation with concurrent different loneliness change status accelerated cognitive decline and higher cognitive impairment risk., (© 2024 The Author(s). Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)

Background: The association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and all-cause mortality for the oldest-old (aged 80 years or older) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations between hsCRP concentrations and the risks of all-cause mortality, and further identify the potential modifying factors affecting these associations among the oldest-old., Methods: This prospective, community-based cohort study included 2,206 participants aged 80 years or older (median age 93.0 years) from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidential intervals (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality according to hsCRP quartiles and recommendation for relative risk categories of hsCRP levels (< 1.0, 1.0-3.0, and > 3.0 mg/L), with adjustment for sociodemographic information, lifestyle, physical examination, medical history, and other potential confounders., Results: During a median follow-up period of 3.1 years (IQR: 1.6-3.9 years), 1,106 deaths were verified. After full adjustment for potential confounders, a higher hsCRP concentration was positively associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality ( P for trend < 0.001). Compared with the lowest quartile, the fully adjusted HRs of the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 1.17 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.46), 1.28 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.61), and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.87), respectively. The association of hsCRP with all-cause mortality was modified by smoking status ( P for interaction = 0.011), an increased risk of hsCRP with all-cause mortality showed among non-current smokers (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.28), but no significance was observed in current smokers (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.18)., Conclusions: Our study indicated that elevated hsCRP concentrations were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality among Chinese oldest-old. Future studies investigating additional factors of disease and aging processes are needed to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Chen, Li, Yang, Cao, Cheng, Zhao, Zhang, Lv, Li, Zhou, Li, Qu, Yin, Liu, Wu, Shi and Mao.)

Objective: To evaluate the associations of sarcopenia, handgrip strength and calf circumference with cognitive impairment among Chinese older adults., Methods: Totally 2,525 older adults were recruited from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study. Cognitive impairment was assessed by the Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination. Handgrip strength was calculated from the means of the right and left hand values. Calf circumference was measured at the site of maximum circumference of the non-dominant leg. The formula developed by Ishii was used to define sarcopenia. Multiple logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations of sarcopenia, handgrip strength, and calf circumference with cognitive impairment., Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 34.36%. The adjusted odds ratio ( OR ) for cognitive impairment in individuals with sarcopenia was 2.55 [95% confidence interval (95% CI ): 1.86-3.50]. Compared with individuals in the first quartile (Q 1 ) of calf circumference, the adjusted OR s in the second, third, and fourth quartiles (Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 ) were 0.75 (95% CI : 0.58-0.96), 0.59 (95% CI : 0.44-0.79), and 0.62 (95% CI : 0.45-0.8), respectively. Compared with individuals in Q 1 of handgrip strength, the adjusted OR s for Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 were 0.49 (95% CI : 0.38-0.62), 0.31 (95% CI : 0.23-0.41), and 0.30 (95% CI : 0.21-0.44), respectively., Conclusion: Sarcopenia, identified by low handgrip strength and low calf circumference, was positively associated with cognitive impairment., (Copyright © 2021 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)

Background: Candidate genes of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) pathway increased risk of frailty, but the extent and whether can be offset by exercises was unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between aerobic exercises and incident frailty regardless of NMJ pathway-related genetic risk., Methods: A cohort study on participants from Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey was conducted from 2008 to 2011. A total of 7006 participants (mean age of 80.6 ± 10.3 years) without frailty at baseline were interviewed to record aerobic exercise status, and 4053 individuals among them submitted saliva samples. NMJ pathway-related genes were genotyped and weighted genetic risk scores were constructed., Results: During a median follow-up of 3.1 years (19 634 person-years), there were 1345 cases (19.2%) of incident frailty. Persistent aerobic exercises were associated with a 26% lesser frailty risk [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64-0.85]. This association was stronger in a subgroup of 1552 longevous participants (age between 90 and 111 years, adjusted HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.60-0.87). High genetic risk was associated with a 35% increased risk of frailty (adjusted HR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.16-1.58). Of the participants with high genetic risk and no persistent aerobic exercises, there was a 59% increased risk of frailty (adjusted HR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.20-2.09). HRs for the risk of frailty increased from the low genetic risk with persistent aerobic exercise to high genetic risk without persistent aerobic exercise (P trend <0.001)., Conclusions: Both aerobic exercises and NMJ pathway-related genetic risk were significantly associated with frailty. Persistent aerobic exercises can partly offset NMJ pathway-related genetic risk to frailty in elderly people., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders.)

Ratooning is an important cultivation practice in sugarcane production around the world, with underground buds on the remaining stalk acting as the source for establishment of a subsequent ratoon crop. However, the optimal depth of cutting during harvest in terms of yield and root growth remains unknown. We carried out a two-year field study to determine the effects of three cutting depths (0, 5 and 10 cm below the surface) ratoon cane root and yield. Results showed that cutting to a depth of 5 cm increased the root fresh weight and root volume by 21-59% and 41-127%, respectively, compared to cutting depths of 0 and 10 cm. Remarkably, cutting to a depth of 5 cm also had a significant effect on the development of fine roots, which is closely linked to cane yield. The effect was particularly noticeable in terms of two root traits, root volume and the surface area of roots with a diameter of 1.0-2.0mm, and root length and the number of root tips in roots with a diameter of 0-0.5mm. As a result, a cutting depth of 5 cm below the surface increased cane yield by 43 and 28% compared to depths of 0 and 10 cm below the surface, respectively. Overall, these findings suggest that a cutting depth of 5 cm is optimal in terms of sugarcane yield, largely due to the enhanced effect on root traits, especially the development of fine roots. These findings will help optimize sugarcane ratoon management and improve the ratoon cycle., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Importance: Body mass index (BMI) shows a U-shaped association with impaired physical functioning among adults; the association is reduced or eliminated with aging., Objective: To examine whether BMI is associated with subsequent disability in activities of daily living (ADL) in Chinese adults age 80 years or older., Design, Setting, and Participants: Data were obtained on 16 022 adults age 80 years or older who were able to perform ADL independently at baseline from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study, a community-based prospective cohort study conducted in 23 provinces of China. The study was initiated in 1998, with follow-up and recruitment of new participants in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, and 2014., Main Outcomes and Measures: Disability in ADL was defined as dependence in eating, toileting, bathing, dressing, indoor activities, and/or continence., Results: Among the 16 022 participants, 45.2% were men and 54.8% were women, with a mean (SD) age of 92.2 (7.2) years and a mean (SD) BMI (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 19.3 (3.8). During 70 606 person-years of follow-up, 8113 participants with disability in ADL were identified. Cox proportional hazards regression models with penalized splines showed that BMI was linearly associated with disability in ADL: each 1-kg/m2 increase in BMI corresponded to a 4.5% decrease in the risk of disability in ADL. In comparison with individuals in the fourth quintile for BMI, the adjusted hazard ratio for disability in ADL was 1.38 (95% CI, 1.29-1.48) in the first quintile, 1.37 (95% CI, 1.28-1.47) in the second quintile, 1.11 (95% CI, 1.04-1.19) in the third quintile, and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.79-0.91) in the fifth quintile (P < .001 for trend). When BMI was categorized by Chinese guidelines, the underweight group (BMI <18.5) showed significantly increased risk of disability in ADL (hazard ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.28-1.41) and the overweight or obese group (BMI ≥24.0) showed significantly decreased risk of disability in ADL (hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78-0.91) compared with the normal weight group (BMI 18.5 to <24.0) (P < .001 for trend)., Conclusions and Relevance: Higher BMI was associated with a lower risk of disability in ADL among Chinese adults age 80 years or older, which suggests that current recommendations for BMI may need to be revisited. More attention should be paid on underweight, rather than overweight or obesity, for the prevention of disability in ADL after age 80 years.

Objective: Current international and national guidelines for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) have been recommended to all adults. However, whether recommendations applied to the oldest old (aged 80+) is poorly known. The study objective was to investigate the relation of BMI and WC with 3-year all-cause mortality among the oldest old., Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 4361 Chinese oldest old (mean age 91.8) participated in this community-based prospective cohort study., Measurements: BMI and WC were measured at baseline in 2011 and were used as continuous variables and as categorized variables by recommendations or by tertiles. Adjusted, sex-stratified Cox models with penalized splines and Cox models were constructed to explore the association., Results: Greater BMI and WC were linearly associated with lower mortality risk in both genders. The mortality risk was the lowest in overweight or obese participants (BMI ≥ 24.0) and was lower in participants with abdominal obesity. Compared to the upper tertile, those in the middle and lower tertile of BMI had a higher risk of mortality for men [hazard ratio (HR): 1.23 (1.02-1.48) and 1.53 (1.28-1.82)] and for women [HR: 1.21 (1.03-1.41) and 1.35 (1.15-1.58)]; it was also found in participants in the middle and lower tertile of WC for men [HR: 1.21 (1.01-1.46) and 1.41 (1.18-1.69)] and for women [HR: 1.35 (1.15-1.58) and 1.55 (1.32-1.81)] (all the P values for trend <.001). These findings were robust in further sensitivity analyses or when using propensity score matching, in subgroup analyses, or in octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians., Conclusions: In Chinese oldest old, both higher BMI and higher WC predict better survival in both genders. The finding suggests optimal BMI and WC may be sensitive to age, thus, the current recommendations for the oldest old may need to be revisited., (Copyright © 2018 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Background: The effect of posterior condylar offset (PCO) on maximal flexion of the knee after TKA is controversial. Another parameter, the posterior condylar offset ratio (PCOR), has been recently introduced to describe the posterior condylar geometry. This study measured the posterior femoral condyle geometry of a Chinese population and compared with those of a Western population published in the literature., Methods: We measured the PCO and PCOR of 100 Chinese knees (50 males, 50 females). The distances from the anterior and posterior femoral shaft cortex line to the most posterior femoral condyle tangent line were defined as the anterior-posterior dimension (ACP) and posterior condylar offset (PCO). The PCOR was calculated as PCO/ACP. The measured PCO and PCOR were compared to those of a Western population reported in the literature., Results: The PCOs were 25.80±2.71 and 27.32±2.34 mm for the Chinese females and males, respectively, where the PCO of the females was significantly smaller than that of the males (p<0.05). The PCORs were 0.47±0.04 and 0.46±0.03 for the Chinese females and males, respectively, where the PCORs were similar among the Chinese males and females (p>0.05)., Conclusions: While the PCO of the Chinese females was smaller than that of the males, their PCORs were similar. Compared to the data of a Western population reported in literature, the PCO of the Chinese population is significantly smaller, but the PCOR is significantly larger., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To explore the relationship of migration and oxidative DNA damage by comparative study of oxidative DNA damage effects on people with different years of migration among Xinjiang Hasake ethnicity in Shenzhen., Methods: Sixty Hasake residents in Shenzhen were selected, and were divided into three groups (n=20) according to the years of migration. Major changes of their life style were investigated. 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) levels in urine were analyzed, and comet assay of peripheral blood lymphocytes conducted., Results: When comparing with the group having a shorter than 1 year of stay,a significant decrease of oliveira tail moment and tail/head length in comet assay in the >3 years group (P < 0.05) was observed 8-OH-dG level decreased significantly in 1-3 years group (P < 0.05) and >3 years group (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Our results suggested that life style changes which related to migration might reduce DNA damage in Hasake nationalities.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia whose molecular etiology is poorly understood. We studied a family with hereditary persistent AF and identified the causative mutation (S140G) in the KCNQ1 (KvLQT1) gene on chromosome 11p15.5. The KCNQ1 gene encodes the pore-forming alpha subunit of the cardiac I(Ks) channel (KCNQ1/KCNE1), the KCNQ1/KCNE2 and the KCNQ1/KCNE3 potassium channels. Functional analysis of the S140G mutant revealed a gain-of-function effect on the KCNQ1/KCNE1 and the KCNQ1/KCNE2 currents, which contrasts with the dominant negative or loss-of-function effects of the KCNQ1 mutations previously identified in patients with long QT syndrome. Thus, the S140G mutation is likely to initiate and maintain AF by reducing action potential duration and effective refractory period in atrial myocytes.