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Aim: This paper aims to investigate the humanistic care ability among surgical nurses in China and identify its statistically significant influencing factors. Design: A cross‐sectional, descriptive and correlational design was used. Methods: A total of 210 surgical nurses were recruited from a tertiary public hospital in Wuhu, Anhui Province. Four with incomplete responses were excluded, leaving 206 participants for data analysis. Variables were measured using the general questionnaire, caring ability inventory (CAI), and General Self‐Efficacy Scale (GSES). Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify the statistically significant influencing factors of participants' humanistic caring ability. Results: The overall average score of the CAI was 190.14 (SD = 19.24), and the average scores for the three dimensions of cognitive, courage, and patience were 70.46 (SD = 7.77), 62.12 (SD = 8.47) and 57.56 (SD = 6.02), respectively. The overall average score of the GSES was 26.05 (SD = 5.77). Professional attitude, perceived care from the department head nurse, perceived care from colleagues and self‐efficacy were the statistically significant factors influencing the humanistic care ability of surgical nurses (R2 = 0.45, adjusted R2 = 0.44, F = 40.64, p < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the current status of caesarean delivery (CD) in China, propose reference CD rates for China overall, and by regions, investigate the main indications for CDs and identify possible areas for safe reduction. Design: A multicentre cross‐sectional study. Setting: A total of 94 hospitals across 23 provinces in China. Population: A total of 73 977 randomly selected deliveries. Methods: We used a modified Robson classification to characterise CDs in subgroups and by regions, and the World Health Organization (WHO) C‐Model to calculate reference CD rates. Main outcome measures: CD rates in China. Results: In 2015–2016, the overall CD rate in China was 38.9% (95% CI 38.6–39.3%). Considering the obstetric characteristics of the population, the multivariable model‐based reference CD rate was estimated at 28.5% (95% CI 28.3–28.8%). Accordingly, an absolute reduction of 10.4% (or 26.7% relative reduction) may be considered. The CD rate varied substantially by region. Previous CD was the most common indication in all regions, accounting for 38.2% of all CDs, followed by maternal request (9.8%), labour dystocia (8.3%), fetal distress (7.7%) and malpresentation (7.6%). Overall, 12.7% of women had prelabour CDs, contributing to 32.8% of the total CDs. Conclusions: Nearly 39% of births were delivered by caesarean in China but a reduction of this rate by a quarter may be considered attainable. Repeat CD contributed more than one‐third of the total CDs. Given the large variation in maternal characteristics, region‐specific or even hospital‐specific reference CD rates are needed for precision management of CD. The caesarean rate in 2015–2016 in China was 38.9%, whereas the reference rate was 28.5%. The caesarean rate in 2015–2016 in China was 38.9%, whereas the reference rate was 28.5%. Linked article This article is commented on by M Varner, p. 148 in this issue. To view this mini commentary visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16953. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lanreotide autogel is a somatostatin analog (SSA) approved for the treatment of acromegaly in 73 countries worldwide; however, it is not yet approved in China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lanreotide autogel compared with lanreotide 40 mg prolonged release (PR) in Chinese patients with active acromegaly. Methods: LANTERN was a phase 3, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority study. Patients with active acromegaly who had undergone surgery ≥3 months prior, or were unlikely or unable to undergo surgery, were treated with lanreotide autogel 60/90/120 mg (monthly deep subcutaneous injection) or lanreotide 40 mg PR (intramuscular injection every 7, 10, or 14 days) for 32 weeks. Primary endpoint was mean change-from-baseline in age-adjusted insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) standard deviation scores (SDS) at the end-of-study. Secondary endpoints included: growth hormone (GH) levels ≤2.5 μg/L or ≤ 1.0 μg/L, ≥20% reduction in tumor volume (TV) and safety. Results: In total, 128 patients were randomized and received study treatment. Lanreotide autogel was non-inferior to lanreotide 40 mg PR: treatment difference (95% CI) for IGF-1 SDS between groups was − 0.32 (− 0.74, 0.11; per protocol population) and − 0.27 (− 0.63, 0.09; intention-to-treat [ITT] population), respectively. Reductions in IGF-1 (− 6.453 vs − 7.003) and GH levels (− 9.548 μg/L vs − 13.182 μg/L), and the proportion of patients with ≥1 acromegaly symptom (− 20.3% vs − 32.5%) were observed from baseline to end-of-study in lanreotide autogel and lanreotide 40 mg PR groups, respectively. In the lanreotide autogel group, 45.5% (25/55) patients achieved ≥20% reduction in TV compared with 50.9% (25/53) in lanreotide 40 mg PR group (ITT). Safety profiles were similar in both treatment groups. Conclusions: Lanreotide autogel was non-inferior to lanreotide 40 mg PR in Chinese patients with active acromegaly after 32 weeks of treatment. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02493517 (9 July 2015); prospectively registered on chinadrugtrials.org.cn: CTR20140698 (24 October 2014). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many illicit drugs have been linked to cardiovascular diseases, but large epidemiological studies are still needed to unveil the full effect of their use on the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between illicit drug use and the prevalence of abnormal arterial stiffness in young and middle-aged illicit drug users. In total, 1247 illicit drug users and 107 non-illicit drug users were recruited for the Cardiovascular Damage Study, and 731 illicit drug users and 55 nonillicit drug users completed the cross-sectional analysis. Data was collected using questionnaires and a noninvasive vascular screening device. The value of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) varied in a statistically significant manner depending on the type and duration of illicit drug use. The prevalence of abnormal baPWV varied significantly among different illicit drug user groups (χ2 = 10.69, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, sex, and the type of illicit drug used were crucial risk factors for abnormal baPWV. Older male narcotic drug users were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal baPWV. The main risk factors of arterial stiffness in young and middle-aged drug users were age, sex, and the type of illicit drug used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders among elderly subjects. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the association between soybeans consumption and depressive symptoms among older residents in rural Northeast China. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: A representative sample of the rural Northeast residents. Participants: This survey was conducted from July 2012 to August 2013 which randomly selected and examined a total of 1717 residents aged = 65 years from the rural Northeast China. Measurements: All participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Information on demographic and lifestyle characteristics and blood biochemical indexes were collected by well-trained personnel. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly was 8.9%. Women had significantly higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than men (13.3% vs.4.6%, P<0.001). Individuals consuming soybeans =4times/week had statically lower possibility to have depressive symptoms than those rarely consuming (3.6%vs. 12.5%, P<0.05). In addition to some conventional risk factors like sex, annual income, educational status, current smoking and chronic diseases status were associated with depressive symptoms, proper sleep duration (7-8h/d) [OR(95%CI):0.28(0.15,0.53)] and frequently consumption of soybeans or soybean products [OR (95%CI): 0.36 (0.15,0.87) for 2-3times/week and OR (95%CI):0.50 (0.34,0.74) for =4times/week] significantly decreased the risk of depressive symptoms among elderly in rural Northeast China. Conclusion: Women had significantly higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than men in rural China. Individuals who rarely consume soybeans or soybean products are more likely to suffer depressive symptoms. Rural elderly residents should be cautiously screened to prevent or treat depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6 PD) deficiency is highly prevalent in southern China. The aim of this study is to assess the extent of this disease in Chinese neonates and determine its molecular characteristics using a novel molecular screening method. Methods A total of 2500 neonates were routinely screened for G6 PD deficiency using a modified fluorescent spot test ( FST). PCR-high-resolution melting ( HRM) analysis was then used for the molecular assay. Results The overall incidence of G6 PD deficiency was 2.68% in our study cohort. Frequency in male population was 3.22% (44 neonates of 1365 male neonates), and in female population was 2.03% (23 neonates of 1135 female neonates). Of the 67 newborns suspected to be G6 PD deficient based on FST (44 males, 23 females), 58 of 67 (87%) were detected with gene alterations. Seven kinds of mutations [c.95A>G, c.392G>T, c.493A>G, c.871G>A, c.1360C>T, c.1376G>T, and c.1388G>A] were identified by HRM analysis. Conclusion Routine newborn screening in Chaozhou, China with a relatively high prevalence of G6 PD deficiency is justified and meets the World Health Organization recommendation. The usage of molecular diagnosis can favor the detection of heterozygotes which can be a supplement to regular newborn screening and useful for premarital and prenatal diagnosis for G6 PD deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To clarify the diabetes prevalence trends among the rural population in northern China. Methods All eligible permanent residents aged ≥ 35 years in selected rural villages of Liaoning province were invited to participate in the study. A total of 11 600 people completed all questionnaires and were included in the study. The response rate was 85.3%. Fasting plasma glucose levels were measured after at least 12 h of fasting and diabetes was diagnosed according to WHO criteria, i.e. fasting plasma glucose ≥ 7 mmol/l and/or being on treatment for diabetes. Impaired fasting glucose was defined according to the 1997 and the 2010 American Diabetes Association ( ADA) criteria (6.1-6.9 and 5.6-6.9 mmol/l, respectively). Previous diagnoses of diabetes were assessed on the basis of self-reports. Results The prevalence of diabetes among adults in the rural population was 10.6% (10.0% in men and 11.1% in women). The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 13.0 and 36.1% according to the 1997 and the 2010 ADA criteria, respectively. The prevalence of previously diagnosed diabetes was 4.3% among the whole population (3.3% in men and 5.1% in women). The prevalence of previously diagnosed diabetes was 34.8% in men and 50.2% in women. Only 29.6% of men and 42% of women with diabetes had taken oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin to lower their blood sugar. In multivariate analysis, age, drinking habits, BMI, dyslipidaemia and family history of diabetes were identified as independent risk factors for diabetes, and occupational physical activity, smoking and lean meat intake were identified as independent protective factors for diabetes. Conclusions The prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose were found to be high in this rural population. Although the rate of treatment of people with diabetes has increased, the glycaemic control rate was still at a low level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous acid (HONO) plays a key role in atmospheric chemistry by influencing the budget of hydroxyl radical (OH). In this study, a two-month measurement of HONO and related quantities were analyzed during a biomass burning season in 2012 at a suburban site in the western Yangtze River delta, eastern China. An overall high HONO concentration with the mean value of 0.76 ppbv (0.01 ppbv to 5.95 ppbv) was observed. During biomass burning (BB) periods, both HONO concentration and HONO/NO2 ratio were enhanced significantly (more than a factor of 2, p<0.01) compared with non-biomass burning (non-BB) periods. A correlation analysis showed that the HONO in BB plumes was more correlated with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) than that with potassium (a tracer of BB). Estimation by the method of potassium tracing suggests a maximum contribution of 17 ± 12% from BB emission to the observed HONO concentrations, and the other over 80% of the observed nighttime HONO concentrations during BB periods were secondarily produced by the heterogeneous conversion of NO2. The NO2-to-HONO conversion rate (CHONO) in BB plumes was almost twice as that in non-BB plumes (0.0062 hr-1 vs. 0.0032 hr-1). Given that the residence time of the BB air masses was lower than that of non-BB air masses, these results suggest BB aerosols have higher NO2 conversion potentials to form HONO than non-BB aerosols. A further analysis based on comparing the surface area at similar particle mass levels and HONO/NO2 ratios at similar surface area levels suggested larger specific surface areas and higher NO2 conversion efficiencies of BB aerosols. A mixed plume of BB and anthropogenic fossil fuel (FF) emissions was observed on 10 June with even higher HONO concentrations and HONO/NO2 ratios. The strong HONO production potential (high HONO/NO2 to PM2.5 ratio) was accompanied with a high sulfate concentration in this plume, suggesting a promotion of mixed aerosols to the HONO formation. In summary, our study suggests an important role of BB in atmospheric chemistry by affecting the HONO budget. This can be especially important in eastern China, where agricultural burning plumes are inevitably mixed with urban and industrial pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lost circulation is a serious problem. A new fuzzy ball working fluid was developed by using SDS, SDBS, PAC, HES, and PAM. Ball-type stuff that has an air pocket inside and fluff outside can be identified in the fluid, which was termed by the authors the fuzzy ball. The engineering properties of the fuzzy ball working fluid show that it can meet working requirements. Plugging experiments confirm the capability of automatically plugging different sizes lost paths. Thus, the working fluid can be used for both traditional operations and lost circulation prevention. It has been applied in more than 10 wells in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the level and distribution of 220Rn concentrations in soil-gas in the high-radiation-background area, an 220Rn survey was carried out for the first time using a RAD7 portable radon monitor at 67 locations covering a total area of 1800 km2 in the South of China. 220Rn concentrations were significantly different from that in the surface areas covered by the weathered granite of Yanshan Period or Quaternary sediments. The 220Rn concentrations varied between 6.65 and 461 kBq m−3 and the averages were 294.42±81.36 and 23.30±25.84 kBq m−3 for weathered granite products and sediments, respectively. A high positive correlation between 220Rn concentrations and 232Th activity concentrations was found. 220Rn concentrations had no statistically significant variations from depths of 20–140 cm with an interval of 20 cm. It is worth paying attention to the problem of such a high soil 220Rn concentration in Zhuhai City and Zhongshan City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Triplophysa huapingensis, is described from the Hongshuihe River, Guangxi, China. The new species is distinguished from other species of Triplophysa by the following combination of characters: body covered with scales, lateral line complete, eyes not degenerate, dorsal fin truncate, caudal fin forked, tip of pelvic fin not reaching anus, eight branched rays of dorsal fin, six branched rays of pelvic fin, 16 branched rays of caudal fin, grey and black diffused blotches on dorsal and lateral head and body. A key to all recorded species of Triplophysa in the Xijiang River system is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lin M, Wang Q, Zheng L, Huang Y, Lin F, Lin CP, Yang LY. Prevalence and molecular characterization of abnormal hemoglobin in eastern Guangdong of southern China. Abnormal hemoglobins (Hbs) are the most commonly inherited disorders in humans. Their frequency and types change considerably with geographic location and ethnic group. To investigate the molecular epidemiological characterization of abnormal Hbs in eastern Guangdong of southern China, a total of 11,450 'healthy' subjects were subjected to hemoglobin electrophoresis screening. Samples of EDTA-K2 blood with abnormal Hbs were analyzed by CELL-DYN1700 blood analyzer; thalassemia genotypes and Hb E variant were identified by gap-PCR and/or reverse dot blot (RDB). The genotypes of Hb variants were detected by PCR and sequencing. The incidence of abnormal Hbs was 0.358%(41/11,450) in Chaozhou, including 12.2% (5/41) Hb J, 4.9% (2/41) Hb K, 9.7% (4/41) Hb Q, 31.7% (13/41) Hb G/D and 41.5% (17/41) Hb E. Eight types of Hb variants were found, including 3 cases of Hb J-Bangkok, 2 cases of Hb J-Wenchang-Wuming, 2 cases of Hb New York, 4 cases of Hb Q-Thailand, 5 cases of Hb G-Waimanalo, 4 cases of Hb Ottawa, 4 cases of Hb G-Chinese and 17 cases of Hb E. In comparison with other areas of Guangdong, Chaozhou had a different pattern of abnormal Hbs with a high prevalence of Hb G/D. This study describes the prevalence and molecular characterization of abnormal Hbs in eastern Guangdong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:To evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and incident hypertension in a cohort of rural women in the Chinese population.Subjects/Methods:A population-based sample of 11 468 rural Chinese women aged 35 years and free from hypertension at baseline were followed-up from 2004–2006 to 2008. We calculated BMI from measured weight and height. Incident hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) 140 mm Hg, diastolic BP90 mm Hg or current use of antihypertensive medications.Results:During a median follow-up of 28 months, 2666 participants developed hypertension. Higher baseline BMI, even within the ‘normal’ range, was consistently associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Compared with participants in the lowest BMI quintile (18.5–21.1 kg/m2), the multivariable-adjusted relative risks (95% confidence interval) of developing hypertension for women with a BMI of 21.2 to 22.4, 22.5 to 23.7, 23.8 to 25.4 and 25.4 kg/m2 were 1.200 (1.058–1.361), 1.250 (1.100–1.419), 1.466 (1.291–1.666) and 1.785 (1.584–2.012), respectively (P for trend, <0.001). Further adjustment for baseline BP did not substantially alter these results. We found similar associations using other BMI categories and after excluding women with smoking history at baseline. The pattern of association also existed among old women (age 55 years).Conclusions:In this large cohort, we found a strong gradient association between higher BMI and increased risk of hypertension, even among older women within the normal BMI range. Clinicians should emphasize the importance of weight management for the primary prevention of hypertension in rural women in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the safety and pharmacokinetics of bromotetrandrine (BrTet, W198), a novel inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), after single-dose i.v. infusion in healthy Chinese volunteers. Methods: We conducted a randomized, dose-escalating, phase I clinical study for that purpose. Thirty healthy subjects received BrTet at the doses of 10, 20 or 30 mg/m2 by i.v. infusion. Plasma and urine concentrations of bromotetrandrine were determined by using a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method. AUC was calculated by the trapezoidal rule extrapolation method. Cmax, Tmax, t1/2α, t1/2β, Cl and Vd were compiled from the plasma concentration–time data. Results: Bromotetrandrine was generally well tolerated at all doses. No serious or severe adverse events were found in the study. The pharmacokinetic parameters of BrTet after single i.v. infusion doses of BrTet 10, 20 and 30 mg/m2 were as follows: Tmax were 1·5 h in three groups, Cmax were 24·79, 39·59 and 64·31 μg/L, t1/2α were 0·37, 0·29 and 0·30 h, t1/2β were 62·88, 56·45 and 52·20 h. AUC0–194h were 345·83, 688·15 and 1096·28 μg h/L, Cl were 23·68, 25·69 and 25·66 L h/m2, Vd were 157·73,156·96 and 140·73 L/m2. In urine, the total eliminate rate of originate compound was 0·61 ± 0·19%. Conclusions: This study suggested that bromotetrandrine was well tolerated in healthy volunteers within the dose range evaluated. The pharmacokinetics parameters of bromotetrandrine indicated that the compound was rapidly distributed and accumulated in the tissues, and slowly cleared from plasma, which supported the use of BrTet for a once or twice dosing per chemotherapy cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The factors associated with hypertension awareness, treatment and control were studied in 45 925 rural Chinese aged ⩾35 years. Of all hypertensives (n=17 355), 29.5% were aware of their condition, 20.2% were receiving treatment and only 0.9% had their blood pressure (BP) adequately controlled, and most hypertensives in rural China did not comprehend the fatalness of high BP. Results indicate that more attention is needed in improving the cognitional level of hypertensive fatalness and more effort is also needed in promoting hypertension awareness, treatment and control among all hypertensives in rural China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the tissue distribution and depuration of microcystin toxins in bighead carp in China. The authors analyzed microcystins in the muscle, kidney, intestine, gallbladder, and spleen samples using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. After microcystin intraperitoneal injections, the authors found the toxins primarily in the liver, gallbladder, and intestines of the fish. The elimination of microcystin-LR occurred at the intestine while microcystin-RR degraded in the liver after entering the blood system.

This article discusses the seasonal variations of cyanobacterial blooms of Microcystis in Lake Xingyun in China, and the effects of biological and physicochemical factors on microcystin dynamics. According to the authors, Microcystis produces heptatoxin microcystins generally affected by various environmental factors such as temperature, light, salinity, nutrients, trace elements, pH and nutrient contents in cells. They found that no significant correlation between microcystins and water temperature during algal blooms and little effect of Microcystis biomass. They conclude that the factors which effect Microcystis biomass are not the same as those which influence microcystins production.

No abstract available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystins (MC) production by cyanobacteria results from cyanobacterial blooms caused by abundant nutrients and favorable conditions for cyanobacterial growth. There have been only a few reports on the relationships between MC concentrations and the N and P concentrations in natural waterbodies. An indirect effect of total phosphorous (TP) on MC concentration through influencing cyanobacteria biomass or the size of MC-producing cyanobacteria was indicated or proposed (Kotak, 2000; Chorus 2001). However, The information is very limited and field evidences are also inadequate. Such studies are still lacking in Chinese lakes in spite of the abundant presence of cyanobacteria blooms in many eutrophic lakes in China. Lake Lianhuahu (30° 33'N, 114° 16'E) is a small shallow lake with a gate connected to the Yangtze River in the subtropical Wuhan City, China. The surface area of the lake is about 0.02 km² with an average depth of 1.2m. It has been seriously eutrophicated due to sewage input. Cyanobacteria bloom occurred regularly in the warm seasons each year. The main purposes of this paper are (1) to describe the variations of intracellular and extracellular MC in cyanobacteria in the shallow hypereutrophic lake during cyanobacteria blooms, and (2) to discuss the possible mechanisms underlying these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study to describe the seasonal and vertical variation of acid volatile sulfide and simultaneously extracted metals levels in the sediments of three stations with different trophic levels in Lake Donghu in China. It also discusses the possible mechanisms underlining these patterns with emphasis on the possible effects of organic matter. Sediment cores were taken at three stations in Lake Donghu. The cores were collected by a stainless steel tube. The cores were tightly sealed in home made tubes and were stored in the dark at a temperature of 4&degree; Celsius until further analysis, which is usually carried out within three days after sampling.

In China, the PoYang Lake area, is a famous bird sanctuary. We used an Airborne Imaging Spectrometer to make a detailed investigation, and collected field spectra in order to learn its environmental condition. In this paper, we focus only on the spectral mixture model study, adopting a nonlinear spectral mixture model to modify the field spectra collected from the PoYang Lake area. The calculated results demonstrated that the nonlinear spectral mixture model adopted in this paper is better than the linear spectral mixture model in the prediction of the spectral mixture problem. This model may be helpful for extracting correct information of soil, rock, vegetation from the Airborne Imaging Spectrometer data acquired from PoYang Lake area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the detection of stem blight diseases on the eleocharis dulcis herbaceous plant in China, casued by fungus phoma bellidis.

In May of 2008, the wide occurrence of Emilia sonchifolia plants with yellow vein symptoms was observed in the Chinese province of Fujian. Symptomatic plants were infected with Emilia yellow vein virus (EmYVV) (Yang et al., 2008). Subsequently, the presence of thickhead plants (Crassocephalum crepidioides) showing foliar yellow vein symptoms was noticed in proximity to symptomatic E. sonchifolia. Total DNA was extracted from symptomatic C. crepidioides leaves and tested by rolling circle amplification (Haible et al., 2006). Amplification products were digested by the restriction enzyme EcoRI for 30 min. Restriction products (2.7 kb) were then cloned and sequenced. Comparison of DNA sequences by Clustal V analysis revealed the occurrence of EmYVV and an isolate denoted Fz12 was selected for further sequence analysis. The genome of EmYVV isolate Fz12 was 2,726 nt in size and had the typical genomic organization of begomoviral DNA-A (Gen-Bank accession No. JQ247188). A BLAST analysis of the NCBI database disclosed that isolate Fz12 had the highest nucleotide sequence identity (99.67%) with that of an EmYVV isolate from E. sonchifolia (GenBank accession No. EU377539). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the natural occurrence of EmYVV in C. crepidioides, a common weed species in the People's Republic of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the blight on the leaves of garlic observed in Dangyang County in Hubei Province, China from autumn 2004 to spring 2007. The plant disease initially manifested small and white lesions which eventually progressed to apical necrosis that lasted until the leaves withered. Using potato sugar agar (PSA), isolations were made. Pieces of autoclaved filter paper were placed on the agar to induce sporulation. The fungus was identified as Stemphylium solani based on Elli. Sequences in GenBank were compared based on the genomic data extracted from three isolates which showed 99% similarity with S. solani. Pathogenicity tests indicate that the leaf blights were caused by S. botryosum, S. vesicarium (Boiteux et al, 1994) or Cladosporuim echinulatum (Pal and Basuchaudry, 1976).

The article reports of leaf spot caused by Curvularia verruculosa on Cynodon sp. in Hubei, China. Curvularia leaf spot affects many species of grasses worldwide and is commonly caused by Curvularia eragrostidis, C. geniculata, C. intermedia, C. inaequalis, C. lunata, C. pallescens, C. protuberata or C. trifolii. Pathogenicity was tested by inoculating field-grown plants. Ten stems, 12 cm long, were placed in Petri plates layered with moist tissue paper. Each stem was inoculated with two 5-mm-diameter mycelial plugs and the plates were incubated at 25° C, under continuous fluorescent light.

The purpose of this research was to assess the validity and reliability of a Natural Language Processing (NLP)-assisted algorithm for NIHSS scoring in China. Linear regression and the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the level of agreement between NLP-assisted scores and EMR scores. Results A total of 275 cases were identified with NIHSS score recorded in EMR and developed the retrospective score with NLP system. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: The Woxi W–Sb–Au deposit in Hunan, South China is hosted by Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks, a turbiditic sequence of graywacke, siltstone, sandy slate and slate. The deposit has two principal styles of mineralization: stratiform and stockwork. The stratiform ores, which account for about 75% of the total proven ore reserves, are composed predominantly of interbedded, massive to laminated Au-bearing quartz, stibnite, scheelite, pyrite, and silty clays. Fine layering, at the macro- to microscale, is the most striking feature of the ores, with individual mm- to cm-scale bands traceable over distances of several meters to a few hundred meters along strike. Structures indicative of soft-sediment deformation due to slumping and synsedimentary sliding are commonly observed in the banded ores and the barren quartz–carbonate beds in the adjacent host rocks. The stockwork mineralization accounts for about 25% of the total ore reserves and is restricted to a 3–10m-thick zone immediately beneath the stratiform ores. It is characterized by numerous quartz+pyrite±scheelite stringer veins that are either subparallel or near perpendicular to the overlying stratiform ore layers. Alteration at Woxi occurs as semiconformable, tabular blankets asymmetrically enveloping the orebodies along their entire length, and, is dominated by a quartz+sericite+chlorite±carbonate assemblage. The footwall alteration is generally more intense and somewhat thicker than the hanging-wall alteration. Geochemical data show that, with distance above and below the mineralized horizons, contents of W, Au, As, and Sb systematically decrease, whereas concentrations of other trace elements such as Hf, Sc, Th, Ta, Y, Zr, Nb and REEs gradually increase. This may reflect a decreasing hydrothermal input in the sediments and an increasing dominance of detrital and seawater-derived components. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of both bulk ores and individual minerals are comparable to those of many SEDEX-type deposits and associated exhalites, implying similar mineralizing fluids for these deposits. Sulfides from the ore have negative and variable δ 34S values (from −12.3‰ to −1.2‰), suggesting a dominant sulfur contribution of bacterial sulfate reduction. A syngenetic (SEDEX) model is thus proposed for the formation of the Woxi deposit. Convective seawater circulated through the sediment pile and episodically vented metalliferous hydrothermal fluids onto the sea floor. Each exhalative episode was preceded by a period dominated by chemical and turbiditic sedimentation (footwall alteration blanket), followed by a peak release of hot metalliferous brines (stratiform ores and associated stringers), and terminated by a waning influx of hydrothermal fluids accompanying burial by later turbidites (hanging-wall alteration blanket). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) in the pig genome represents a potential infectious risk in xenotransplantation. Chinese miniature pigs have been considered to be potential organ donors in China. However, an adequate level of information on PERV from Chinese miniature pigs has not been available. We established an SYBR Green I-based real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for estimating copy numbers of PERV integrated in the host genome. The assay was 100-fold more sensitive compared with conventional PCR. We also evaluated the specificity and reproducibility of the assay. We statistically analyzed the difference in PERV copy numbers integrated into the genomes of Wuzhishan pigs versus Bama minipigs. This approach will be useful to screen donor pigs as well as to examine clinical samples from human subjects treated with porcine xenotransplantation products for evidence of PERV transmission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To compare the treatment cost of two gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa), leuprolide 11.25 mg 3-month (3M) depot and goserelin 3.6 mg 1-month (1M) implant, as adjuvant endocrine therapy in post-mastectomy, premenopausal women with early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who are at moderate-to-high risk of recurrence in China. Direct medical costs included cost of GnRHa, injection-related office visits, other endocrine therapies (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors), and breast cancer monitoring tests. Difference in GnRHa costs (¥1,296,094) was the main driver of direct medical cost savings while the difference in office visit and injection fees was small (¥53,415). [Extracted from the article]

The construction land expansion (CLE) in China, based on the occupation of cultivated land, has resulted in a notable alteration of the landscape of cultivated land, leading to an increase in cultivated land fragmentation (CLF) in China. However, previous studies have devoted minimal attention to CLF due to CLE, thereby constraining the coordination of CLE and cultivated land conservation. Accordingly, the study examined the impact mechanism of CLE on CLF utilizing land use/cover datasets and the geographically weighted regression model from 2000 to 2020 in China. The findings indicate that a considerable amount of cultivated land was converted into construction land. The extent of CLF increased from 0.352 in 2000 to 0.383 in 2020, with the majority of this expansion occurring in the urban-rural fringe. CLE, in conjunction with the expansion of construction land in terms of both area and shape, has evolved from a phenomenon confined to individual cities to one that is characterized by regional expansion. The impact of CLE on CLF was found to be spatially heterogeneous over the study period, with an overall weakening trend. In highly urbanized areas, CLE typically promoted CLF, in contrast to low urbanized areas. The area growth and form complexity of the construction land caused by CLE promoted CLF over most regions. Different levels of land urbanization were identified as the primary contributor to the above results. The study findings support decision-making on food production improvement and construction land control., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: All our research complies with ethical guidelines, including compliance with the legal requirements of the research country. Consent to participate: The authors of this paper have participated in the entire process of this article, including conceptualization, paper ideas, methods, writing, and review. Consent to publication: The participant has consented to the submission of the case report to the journal. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The development of students' core disciplinary competencies is crucial to the quality of talent cultivation against the background of China's New Engineering Education initiative. We condensed a literacy-ability-knowledge model of the core competence structure of university students based on the results of a survey and then applied this model with a special focus on competence structures. We coded the core competency indicators of the course area using a software engineering course as an example to construct a map of the core competencies of the course (area). New teaching and instruction methods to promote the development of students' core competencies were then explored. Finally, to shape core subject competence, we suggest building a course recommendation system that aligns with an employment guidance service based on the certification of core subject competence to realize a new mode of cultivating competence., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Zheng, Ge. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the moderated mediation mechanism of the relationships among perceived stress, psychological distress, experiential avoidance and trait mindfulness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in China., Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional approach to gather data from 458 HCC patients undergoing TACE. Participants completed self-report measures assessing psychological distress, perceived stress, experiential avoidance and trait mindfulness. Mediation and moderation analyses are carried out in SPSS macro PROCESS., Results: Perceived stress could affect psychological distress and experiential avoidance could mediate this relationship (mediation effect = 0.041, [95%CI=(0.027, 0.056)]). Trait mindfulness played a role as a moderator in the direct and indirect effect of perceived stress on psychological distress., Conclusion: Our findings underscore the vital role of experiential avoidance and trait mindfulness to relieve psychological distress, and provide practical implications for mental health intervention programs of HCC patients undergoing TACE., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Written informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in the study. This study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration, and the ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committees of Nursing of School, Jilin University, Changchun, China (approval ID: 2019112001). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Screening of malignant hematological diseases is of great importance for their diagnosis and subsequent treatment. This study constructed an optimal screening model for malignant hematological diseases based on routine blood cell parameters., Methods: The venous blood samples of 1751 patients collected from 10 tertiary hospitals in China were divided into a training set (1223 cases) and a validation set (528 cases). In addition to the clinical diagnostic information of the samples in the training set, 26 blood cell parameters including morphological parameters were selected using manual screening and filtering to construct eight machine learning models. These models were used to identify hematological malignancies among the validation set., Results: Comparison of the discrimination, calibration and clinical detection performance of the eight machine learning models revealed that the artificial neural network (ANN) model performed the optimal in identifying malignant haematological diseases in the validation set (528 cases), with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 0.906, 0.857, 0.832 and 0.884, respectively., Conclusion: The ANN model constructed can be used for screening of malignant hematological diseases, especially in primary hospitals that lack comprehensive diagnosis, and this ANN model will help patients to get diagnosis and treatment of malignant hematological diseases as early as possible., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Nanfang Hospital, and informed consent was obtained from each patient (ethical approval number: NFCC-2022–352). Consent for publication: All authors have agreed to publish this manuscript. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

The Chinese guidelines for ultrasound-guided thermal ablation of thyroid nodules (2024 edition) were jointly initiated by the Ultrasound Committee of Chinese Medical Association, the Interventional Ultrasound Committee of Chinese Association of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, the Ultrasonic Intervention Committee of Chinese Colleges of Interventionalists, and the Oncological Intervention Committee of Chinese Research Hospital Association; 37 multidisciplinary experts in interventional ultrasound, ultrasound medicine, endocrinology, and thyroid surgery participated in the compilation of this guide, which expanded the depth and breadth of the perspective and enhanced the authority of the guide. Based on the systematic review of literature related to ultrasound-guided thermal ablation of thyroid nodules and the professional opinions of experts, the guidelines define the indications and contraindications of thermal ablation, including pre-ablation evaluation and preparation, thermal ablation techniques and operational procedures, post-ablation follow-up, therapeutic effect evaluation, complication prevention and treatment, and the writing of medical documents for ablation. According to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE), a total of 17 objective and comprehensive recommendations were given. The publication and promotion of this guideline will play a positive role in promoting the standardization of ultrasound-guided thermal ablation of thyroid nodules., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The presence of acute kidney injury (AKI) significantly increases in-hospital mortality risk for cirrhotic patients. Early prognosis prediction for these patients is crucial. We aimed to develop and validate a machine learning model for in-hospital mortality prediction for cirrhotic patients with AKI., Methods: Data from cirrhotic patients with AKI hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020 were used to train and validate an extreme Gradient Boosting model to predict in-hospital mortality risk. The Boruta algorithm was used for variable selection. The optimal model was selected and named as PHM-CPA (Prediction of in-Hospital Mortality for Cirrhotic Patients with AKI). The PHM-CPA model was then externally validated in patients from eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) and Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III dataset (MIMIC). The predictive performance of PHM-CPA model was compared with that of logistic regression (LR) model and 25 previously reported models., Results: A total of 519 cirrhotic patients with AKI were enrolled in model training cohort, of whom 118 (23%) died during hospitalization. Fifteen variables from common laboratory tests were selected to develop the PHM-CPA model. The PHM-CPA model achieved an AUROC of 0.816 (95% CI, 0.763-0.861) in the internal validation cohort and 0.787 (95% CI, 0.745-0.830) in the external validation cohort. The PHM-CPA model consistently outperformed the LR model and 25 previously reported models., Conclusion: We developed and validated the PHM-CPA model, comprising readily available clinical variables, which demonstrated superior performance and calibration in predicting in-hospital mortality for cirrhotic patients with AKI., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest that pertain to this work., (Copyright © 2024 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

For large, open-air lithic cultural heritage, colonization is an inevitable process. This study examines the dual impact of colonization on the Leshan Giant Buddha's sandstone monuments, focusing on both biodeterioration and protection. Over three years, we conducted field surveys and monitored biocrusts (bryophytes, lichens, and biofilms) on these monuments, observing significant biodeterioration primarily due to mechanical exfoliation and acid corrosion. To assess the potential of biota in conserving sandstone monuments, we replicated biotic crust colonization on laboratory sandstone samples. In the laboratory, we observed biomineral formation, primarily calcium carbonate, on the rock specimen surfaces after two years. Comparative analysis with control samples showed that biocolonization notably changed the rock's hydrophobicity, surface hardness, and weight loss, indicating a protective effect. Further analyses using XRD, SEM-EDS, and transcriptomics identified carbonic anhydrase as a key enzyme in the biomineralization process. Our findings suggest that under controlled conditions, biocolonization can be steered towards bioprotection, offering new strategies for the in-situ preservation of open-air lithic cultural heritage., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

In heterosexual populations, self-objectification is associated with self-sexualizing appearance behaviors. This study examined the relationship between self-objectification and self-sexualizing appearance behaviors and the moderating effect of butch/androgynous/femme sexual self-label identification in Chinese bisexual and lesbian females. We recruited 637 bisexual and lesbian females to complete an online questionnaire that asked about demographic information and feminine and masculine self-sexualizing appearance behaviors and measured the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale. Feminine self-sexualizing appearance behaviors include wearing high heels, short skirts, low-cut outfits, skinny clothes and makeup. Masculine self-sexualizing appearance behaviors include wearing short hair and binding breasts. Femme-identified females scored higher on body surveillance than did butch- and androgynous-identified females. Butch-identified females reported having more masculine self-sexualizing behaviors, whereas femme-identified females reported having more feminine self-sexualizing appearance behaviors. Sexual self-label identification moderated the relationship between self-objectification and feminine self-sexualizing behaviors. Body surveillance was significantly associated with feminine self-sexualizing behaviors in femme- and androgynous-identified females but not in butch-identified females. Body shame was negatively associated with feminine self-sexualizing appearance behaviors in androgynous-identified females. The current findings highlight the role of sexual self-label identification in self-objectification among Chinese bisexual and lesbian females. The findings imply the heterogeneousness of self-objectification among Chinese bisexual and lesbian females.

Although epidemiological evidence has linked maternal exposure to air pollution with adverse birth outcomes, the association between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and the risk of total birth defects in highly polluted developing regions remains limited. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between maternal exposure to PM 2.5 before and during pregnancy and the occurrence of birth defects. This study included 16,080 births with birth defects and 567,483 controls born between 2014 and 2019 in 14 cities in Liaoning Province, China. The assessment of exposure was conducted using satellite-based PM 2.5 data at a spatial resolution of 1 km. Participants were classified into four subgroups based on their exposure to PM 2.5 before and during pregnancy. The association between maternal exposure to PM 2.5 , and the risk of birth defects, was estimated using logistic regression models. For each 10 μg/m³ increase in PM 2.5 , the odds ratios of birth defects were 1.68 (95% CI: 1.65, 1.70) and 2.41 (95% CI: 2.36, 2.45) during the preconception period and pregnancy, respectively. We observed a J-shaped association between maternal PM 2.5 exposure during both the preconception period and pregnancy and the risk of total birth defects. Mothers exposed to elevated levels of PM 2.5 during both the preconception period and pregnancy exhibited the highest risk of total birth defects (odds ratio: 4.43, 95% CI: 4.17, 4.71). Our findings illustrated that maternal exposure to PM 2.5 before and during pregnancy was associated with increased risks of birth defects and underscored the potential health benefits of reducing air pollution exposure during the preconception period and pregnancy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

An essential aspect of improving market openness, fostering investor trust, and allowing the establishment and implementation of sustainable development policies lies in enhancing the disclosure quality of new energy firms. This study examines the influence of corporate governance on the disclosure quality of new energy companies listed on the Chinese A-share market. The analysis is conducted using a two-way fixed-effects model and particularly focuses on the role of green transformation in this relationship. Research indicates that the use of corporate governance practices may significantly enhance the level of transparency in new energy enterprises. An examination of heterogeneity reveals that the impact of corporate governance on the quality of disclosure in new energy companies is more pronounced in organizations that have a greater size, fewer financial constraints, and are in different stages of development or decline. An examination of the mechanism demonstrates that corporate governance may facilitate the transition towards environmentally friendly practices and improve the amount, quality, and durability of green technology innovation. This, in turn, significantly enhances the quality of reported information. Furthermore, the threshold analysis reveals that under green transition values less than 0.2704, corporate governance hinders the disclosure quality of new energy companies. Conversely, corporate governance enhances the disclosure quality of new energy companies only when the green transition value exceeds 0.2704. The present research offers empirical findings about the influence of corporate governance on the quality of disclosure in new energy firms and provides theoretical support for the enhancement of corporate governance structure and the facilitation of the green transition., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The consensus on whether acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) benefit from complete revascularization during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear., Aims: This study aims to assess the impact of multivessel PCI (MV-PCI) versus culprit-vessel-only PCI (CV-PCI) on in-hospital outcomes in a Chinese population., Methods: We evaluated STEMI patients with MVD undergoing PCI, registered in the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome (CCC-ACS) project, from November 2014 to December 2019. Using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and multivariable Cox regression, we compared the incidence of in-hospital Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) and other adverse clinical outcomes between the MV-PCI and CV-PCI groups., Results: Among 8138 patients included, 840 (10.3%) underwent MV-PCI, and 7298 (89.7%) underwent CV-PCI. MV-PCI was associated with higher in-hospital MACE (2.0% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.005), all-cause mortality (1.7% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.003), and contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) (13.6% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.002), after IPTW adjustment. The multivariable Cox analysis further validated the increased risks associated with MV-PCI., Conclusion: In the Chinese STEMI population with MVD, participating in the CCC-ACS project, MV-PCI during primary PCI was linked to higher in-hospital adverse events compared to CV-PCI. These findings advocate for a cautious approach to MV-PCI in this setting, suggesting a potential preference for a staged PCI strategy for nonculprit vessels., Trial Registration: The information of clinical trial registration for CCC-ACS project can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02306616., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To analyze trends of antibiotic consumption and expenditure in Chinese stomatology hospitals between 2014 and 2018 with a longitudinal study design, and show the impacts of the comprehensive policy on dental antibiotic use in China., Subject and Methods: Consumption was quantified as the number of daily defined doses (DDDs) and expenditure as the procurement costs, using medical institutions' drug procurement data from the Chinese Monitoring Network for Rational Use of Drugs. Descriptive statistics was employed and the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was calculated to show the average annual growth rate., Results: Between 2014 and 2018, overall antibiotic consumption increased from 842.6 thousand DDDs to 1376.7 thousand DDDs (p < 0.001) and expenditure increased from 11.6 million RMB to 20.9 million RMB (p < 0.001), where other β-lactam antibacterials accounted for the largest proportion of total consumption (37.1%-50.1%) and expenditure (52.9%-66.6%), and also increase the largest (CAGR = 18.4%, p < 0.001). The proportion of oral antibiotics was nearly 9 times of parenteral antibiotics in consumption (CAGR = 0.3%, p = 0.023) and only 2 times in expenditure (CAGR = -1.7%, p = 0.112). The non-restricted group accounted for more than 90% of consumption (CAGR = 0.6%, p < 0.001). In 2018, oral first-generation cephalosporins (22.8%), oral imidazole derivatives (22.3%), and oral second-generation cephalosporins (19.2%) were the most frequently used antibiotic classification, while parenteral second-generation cephalosporins were top one (19.8%) for expenditure. At chemical substance levels, the consumption of oral cefradine ranked top one (21.4%) and parenteral cefuroxime accounted for the largest proportion of expenditure (14.5%) in 2018. Oral cefradine, oral metronidazole, and oral cefaclor were the top three frequently consumed antibiotics throughout the five years., Conclusions: Despite the potential antibiotic overuse, the comprehensive antibiotic stewardship regulations of China got a satisfactory and better performance in dental practices. More effort is needed to establish more explicit guidelines to improve antibiotic stewardship, such as priority recommending amoxicillin and its derivatives for endodontic infections., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) and its shedding product (soluble ACE-2 [sACE-2]) are implicated in adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the relationship between sACE-2 and stroke recurrence is unknown. Herein, we examined the relationship of sACE-2 with stroke recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack., Methods: Data were obtained from the Third China National Stroke Registry (CNSR-III). Eligible cases consisted of 494 patients who developed recurrent stroke within 1-year follow-up, and 494 controls were selected using age- and sex-matched with a 1:1 case-control ratio. Conditional logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between sACE-2 and recurrent stroke. The main outcomes were recurrent stroke within 1 year., Results: Among 988 patients included in this study, the median (interquartile range) of sACE-2 was 25.17 (12.29-45.56) ng/mL. After adjustment for conventional confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) in the highest quartile versus the lowest quartile was 1.68 (1.12-2.53) for recurrent stroke within 1-year follow-up. Subgroup analysis showed that the association between elevated plasma level of sACE-2 and stroke recurrence was significant in patients with higher systemic inflammation, as indicated by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥ 2 mg/L (adjusted OR: 2.33 [95% CI, 1.15-4.72]) and neutrophil counts ≥ median (adjusted OR: 2.66 [95% CI, 1.35-5.23]) but not significant in patients with lower systemic inflammation., Discussion/conclusion: Elevated plasma sACE-2 concentration was associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke., Introduction: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) and its shedding product (soluble ACE-2 [sACE-2]) are implicated in adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the relationship between sACE-2 and stroke recurrence is unknown. Herein, we examined the relationship of sACE-2 with stroke recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack., Methods: Data were obtained from the Third China National Stroke Registry (CNSR-III). Eligible cases consisted of 494 patients who developed recurrent stroke within 1-year follow-up, and 494 controls were selected using age- and sex-matched with a 1:1 case-control ratio. Conditional logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between sACE-2 and recurrent stroke. The main outcomes were recurrent stroke within 1 year., Results: Among 988 patients included in this study, the median (interquartile range) of sACE-2 was 25.17 (12.29-45.56) ng/mL. After adjustment for conventional confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) in the highest quartile versus the lowest quartile was 1.68 (1.12-2.53) for recurrent stroke within 1-year follow-up. Subgroup analysis showed that the association between elevated plasma level of sACE-2 and stroke recurrence was significant in patients with higher systemic inflammation, as indicated by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥ 2 mg/L (adjusted OR: 2.33 [95% CI, 1.15-4.72]) and neutrophil counts ≥ median (adjusted OR: 2.66 [95% CI, 1.35-5.23]) but not significant in patients with lower systemic inflammation., Discussion/conclusion: Elevated plasma sACE-2 concentration was associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Aims/Background Given the strong association between relative wall thickness (RWT) and cardiovascular dysfunction, this study aims to explore RWT as a novel cardiovascular indicator to predict the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) after lung cancer surgery and guide clinical interventions. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed 170 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer in Nanjing First Hospital, China, between January 2022 and December 2023. Patients were divided into AKI group (n = 52) and non-AKI group (n = 118) based on the occurrence of AKI. Univariate analysis was performed to identify factors affecting the development of AKI in patients undergoing VATS for lung cancer. Moreover, multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine influencing factors. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationships between variables, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to assess predictive ability. Results There were no statistically significant differences in gender, comorbidities, smoking history, tumor location, Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) Staging System, tumor differentiation, neutrophil count, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, creatinine, urea nitrogen, intraoperative blood loss, and operation time ( p > 0.05). The comparison of age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score, mean arterial pressure, and RWT between the two groups showed statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age, APACHE II score, mean arterial pressure, and RWT significantly influenced the development of AKI in patients undergoing VATS for lung cancer ( p < 0.05). RWT was negatively correlated with mean arterial pressure ( r = -0.558, p < 0.05), and positively correlated with age and APACHE II Score ( r = 0.573, 0.520, p < 0.05). Moreover, AKI showed a positive correlation with age, APACHE II Score, and RWT ( r = 0.726, 0.685, 0.772, p < 0.05), and a negative correlation with mean arterial pressure ( r = -0.724, p < 0.05). ROC analysis revealed that the area under the predicted curve for RWT was 0.864, and the standard error was 0.030 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.805~0.923), with a Youden index of 0.55. At this time, the sensitivity was 87.29% and the specificity was 67.31%. Conclusion RWT shows excellent predictive value for postoperative AKI in patients undergoing VATS for lung cancer.

Estuary harbors the active sediment denitrification and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emission, while the knowledge of environmental controls on the denitrification-derived N 2 O yield remains underexplored. Here, we quantitatively assess the potential and in situ rates of N 2 O production during sediment denitrification in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), China. Organic matter determines the product stoichiometry and capacity of nitrogen removal. In particular, labile organic matter (LOM) reduces N 2 O yield via enhancing the complete coupled nitrification-denitrification. Our results reveal that the chain processes, primary production-LOM settling-sedimentary respiration-coupled nitrification-denitrification, control the sediment denitrification and N 2 O production, linking the carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles in the atmosphere-water column-sediment continuum. The PRE sediments serve as nitrogen removal hotspots but with low efficiency (~25 % of riverine input) and strong N 2 O release (~66 % of daily sea-air N 2 O efflux). These findings contribute to policy makers to develop knowledge-based management actions for achieving sustainable coastal environments and mitigating N 2 O emission., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the occurrence status, sources, and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from three typical mangrove areas in Guangxi Province, China. Results showed that the PAH content in the three studied regions ranged from 39.76 ng·g -1 to 164.93 ng·g -1 , and the average concentration was 92.87 ng·g -1 . The PAHs that were detected were mainly 3-ring and 4-ring. The source of PAHs, as traced by the diagnostic ratio method and principal component analysis, was mainly from combustion. The toxicity risk assessment showed that the content of all PAHs was lower than the Effects Range Low (ERL), and the potential ecological risk was low. The toxicity equivalent (TEQ BaP ) content ranged from 4.75 ng·g -1 to 19.20 ng·g -1 , with an average of 12.08 ng·g -1 . Overall, the ecological risk of PAHs in mangrove sediments in Guangxi is considered low., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Simnotrelvir has demonstrated potent anti-viral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In a Phase II/III study, Simnotrelvir plus ritonavir (S/R, co-packaged) shortened the time to the resolution of symptoms in adult COVID-19 patients. However, real-world data on effectiveness of simnotrelvir/ritonavir against SARS-CoV-2 during XBB variant surges are still limited., Study Design and Methods: This was a nationwide, multicenter, prospective, observational real-world study at 42 sites in China. Adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 and at disease onset were eligible for participation. Patients were grouped in S/R group (treated with S/R) and control group (not receiving oral antivirals for COVID-19). The primary endpoint was the COVID-19-related hospitalization or all-cause mortality within 28 days. Secondary endpoints included the time from confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection to negative conversion, and the time to resolution of COVID-19 symptoms. Besides, serious adverse events (SAE), adverse drug reactions (ADR) and combined medication were reported. Propensity Score-Matched (PSM) analysis (1:1) was performed for adjustment for baseline variables. Hazard ratios (HR) and adjusted risk ratios (aRR) were estimated using the Cox and Modified Poisson regression, respectively., Results: Between June 6, 2023, and December 27, 2023, 3522 patients were enrolled. S/R was associated with a reduced incidence of COVID-19-related hospitalization (6/1896 [0.3%] vs. 43/1408 [3.1%]; HR: 0.110, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.043 to 0.283, p < 0.001 vs control), consistently with the results after PSM (4/1381 [0.3%] in S/R vs. 40/1381 patients [2.9%]; aRR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.29; P < 0.001). No deaths occurred in both S/R and control groups. Matched Patients over 65 and patients with risk factors who received S/R achieved significantly reduced risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization (aRR: 0.032; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.268; aRR: 0.034; 95% CI: 0.005, 0.252, respectively; all P < 0.001). Furthermore, S/R shortened the median time to viral clearance by 1 day (6.0 vs 7.0 days; 95% CI: -2.0 to -1.0; P < 0.001) and reduced the median time to symptom resolution by 2 days (8.0 days vs 10.0 days; 95% CI: -2.0 to -1.0; P < 0.001). Besides, the proportion of patients in the S/R group using combined medication was significantly lower than that in the control group (30.2% vs 49.4%). Subgroup analysis showed potential protective effect of S/R in the elderly and patients with more than 1 risk factor., Conclusion: In real world, S/R significantly reduced the incidence of COVID-19-related hospitalization, demonstrated favorable safety profiles, and less use of combined medication., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Ammonia oxidizers are key players in the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. However, in critical ecological zones such as estuaries, especially those affected by widespread anthropogenic dam control, our understanding of their occurrence, ecological performance, and survival strategies remains elusive. Here, we sampled sediments along the Haihe River-Estuary continuum in China, controlled by the Haihe Tidal Gate, and employed a combination of biochemical and metagenomic approaches to investigate the abundance, activity, and composition of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and complete ammonia oxidizers (comammox). We also conducted an extensive comparison of the salinity adaptation mechanisms of different ammonia oxidizers. We found that AOB (57.55 ± 11.46 %) dominated the nitrification process upstream of the tidal gate, while comammox (68.22 ± 14.42 %) played the major role downstream. Redundancy analysis results showed that total nitrogen, ammonium, and salinity were the primary factors influencing the abundance, activity, and contribution of ammonia oxidizers. The abundance and activity of AOB were significantly positively correlated with ammonium. KEGG annotation results showed that AOA Nitrososphaera, AOB Nitrosomonas, and comammox Nitrospira had 7, 31, and 22 genes associated to salinity adaptation, respectively, and were capable of employing both the "salt-in" and "salt-out" strategies. Metagenome assembly results indicated that comammox outperformed AOA primarily in compatible solute accumulation; AOA can synthesize glutamate, whereas comammox Nitrospira can additionally synthesize glycine betaine, choline, and trehalose. The tidal gate caused sharp shifts in ammonium (from 4.10 ± 3.28 mg·kg -1 to 0.45 ± 0.10 mg·kg -1 ) and salinity (from 1.64 ± 0.48 ppt to 3.26 ± 0.89 ppt), playing a dominant role in driving niche differentiation of ammonia oxidizers along the Haihe River-Estuary continuum. These findings provide profound insights into the nitrogen cycle in freshwater-saltwater transition zones, especially in today's world where estuaries are widely controlled by tidal gates., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Improper management of biogas residue (BR) can reduce sustainability in the food waste treatment industry. To address this issue, a comprehensive evaluation framework, based on emergy analysis, carbon emissions and economic analysis, is proposed in this study, to explore how different BR disposal practices affect the comprehensive performance of the industry. A food waste treatment plant in Henan Province, China (anaerobic digestion (AD) + BR landfilling: Scenario 1 [S1]), and two alternative scenarios (S2: AD + BR incineration; S3: AD + BR composting) are investigated as a case study. Compared with S1, S2 and S3 reduce carbon emission intensity by 16.93 % and 22.92 %, respectively; S2 enhances environmental sustainability by 48.63 % while S3 reduces the environmental sustainability by 11.64 %. Furthermore, S2 and S3 improve economic benefits by 8.70 % and 43.48 %, respectively. Generally, S2 and S3 increase the system coordination degree by 9.35 and 9.52 times, respectively. Therefore, BR management should be devoted to improving the resource structure in the future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)