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The intake of each nutrient was calculated using the Chinese Food Composition Tables, by first multiplying the quantity (grams) of each food and beverage item consumed by their nutrient content per gram, and then adding the nutrient contributions from all food items. We also collected data on the intake of 110 food items by using a validated FFQ for most of the participants; this allowed us to explore the associations between intake of food items and nutrients, as well as dietary patterns and health outcomes. Key Features Only few large, prospective cohort studies on interaction between dietary and environmental exposures and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been conducted in Northeast China. Daily food intake The intake of food and beverage items was calculated by multiplying fitted portion sizes (according to sex, g/time) by the frequency at which each food and beverage item was consumed per day in the FFQ. [Extracted from the article]

Stimulus-responsive hydrogels are an important member of smart materials owing to their reversibility, soft/wet properties, and biocompatibility, which have a wide range of applications in the field of intelligent actuations. However, poor mechanical property and complicated fabrication process limit their further applications. Herein, we report a light-responsive tissue paper/hydrogel composite actuator which was developed by combining inkjet-printed tissue paper with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel through simple in situ polymerization. Due to the high strength of natural tissue paper and the strong interaction within the interface of the bilayer structure, the mechanical property of the composite actuator was highly enhanced, reaching 1.2 MPa of tensile strength. Furthermore, the light-responsive actuation of remote manipulation can be achieved because of the stamping graphite with high efficiency of photothermal conversion. Most importantly, we also made a few remotely controlled biomimetic actuating devices based on the near-infrared (NIR) light response of this composite actuator. This work provides a simple strategy for the construction of biomimetic anisotropic actuators and will inspire the exploration of new intelligent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physiological changes that occur during pregnancy can influence serum lipid levels and laboratory tests for renal function. Therefore, we established consecutive and reliable RIs for serum lipid and renal function indices for pregnant women in China throughout the entirety of pregnancy.Methods: We included 120 healthy pregnant women who underwent a naturally conceived and uncomplicated pregnancy and delivered a healthy singleton neonate. Serum samples were collected at ten time points (pre-pregnancy, gestational age ≤ 8 weeks (W), 8 W+1 to 12 W, 12 W+1 to 16 W, 16 W+1 to 20 W, 20 W+1 to 24 W, 24 W+1 to 28 W, 28 W+1 to 32 W, 32 W+1 to 36 W, and 36 W+1 to 40 W) and analyzed for ten common serum lipid and renal function analytes. RIs were calculated according to the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine recommendations and compared with the established RIs for healthy adult women.Results: During pregnancy, we observed significant increases in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein-A1 (Apo-A1), apolipoprotein-B (Apo-B), cystatin C (Cys-C), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We also observed clear reductions in urea, creatinine (Crea), and uric acid (UA). Compared with the previously established RIs, the most significant misclassifications were recorded for TG, Apo-A1, Crea, and eGFR.Conclusions: We successfully described key changes in serum lipid levels and renal function indices throughout pregnancy. It is important to establish RIs for blood indices in women undergoing normal pregnancies during different period of pregnancy to avoid the misdiagnosis of disease states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 ( HIF-1 ) is a transcriptional regulator that mediates cellular adaptive responses to hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is involved in the development of ascites syndrome (AS) in broiler chickens. Therefore, studying the effect of HIF-1α on the cellular transcriptome under hypoxic conditions will help to better understand the mechanism of HIF-1α in the development of AS in broilers. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression profile of the chicken fibroblast cell line (DF-1) under hypoxic conditions by RNA-seq. Additionally, we constructed the HIF-1α knockdown DF-1 cell line by using the RNAi method and analyzed the gene expression profile under hypoxic conditions. The results showed that exposure to hypoxia for 48 h had a significant impact on the expression of genes in the DF-1 cell line, which related to cell proliferation, stress response, and apoptosis. In addition, after HIF-1α knockdown more differential expression genes appeared than in wild-type cells, and the expression of most hypoxia-related genes was either down-regulated or remained unchanged. Pathway analysis results showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative phosphorylation. Our study obtained transcriptomic data from chicken fibroblasts at different hypoxic times and identified the potential regulatory network associated with HIF-1α. This data provides valuable support for understanding the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of HIF-1α in the development of AS in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify preoperative platelet indexes with prognostic value and to develop and validate nomograms for predicting the survival of endometrial cancer (EC) patients. A total of 1198 women who received primary surgical treatment between January 2008 and January 2017 were included in the study. Data were randomly divided into a training set (70%, N = 840) and an external validation set (30%, n = 358). Cox regression analysis was performed in the training cohort to identify independent prognostic factors and develop nomograms for survival rate prediction. High platelet count (PLT ≥350), high mean platelet volume (MPV ≥8.8) and low platelet distribution width (PDW <12.1) were independently associated with poor RFS and OS. PLT, MPV and PDW were thus incorporated in an innovative score called the platelet index score (PIS). The PIS was also an independent indicator, which was related to histology, lymph-vascular space invasion, lymph node involvement and FIGO stage (P = 0.007, P = 0.042, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, we developed and validated two nomograms based on Cox regression models. The discriminative ability and calibration of the nomograms revealed good predictive ability, as indicated by the C-indexes and calibration plots. Moreover, both the IDI and NRI were improved. Nomograms based on the PIS and clinicopathological features accurately predict recurrence-free survival and overall survival for EC patients. • Endometrial cancer patients with elevated preoperative PLT and MPV and reduced PDW show a worse prognosis. • We present a platelet index score system called the PIS based on PLT, MPV and PDW for prognosis prediction. • Use of these nomograms incorporating the PIS enables individualized counseling and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The burden of gout has been increasing globally. However, little is known about the global, regional and national distribution and time trend of this disease. We present a comprehensive analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 on gout burden estimates for 195 countries or territories between 1990 and 2017. Methods Age-standardized prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years of gout were reported between 1990 and 2017 in 195 countries and territories, and associations between these estimates and sociodemographic index (SDI) were further explored. Total and annual percent change between 1990 and 2017 were calculated to quantify the time trends of gout burden. Results Age-standardized prevalence rates (95% uncertainty interval) per 100 000 persons were 790.90 (706.10–881.90) and 253.49 (225.69–284.02) in 2017 in males and females, respectively. The annual percent change in age-standardized prevalence (males, 0.22%; females, 0.38%) and disability-adjusted life-years (males, 0.21%; females, 0.38%) of gout increased every year from 1990 to 2017, globally. The highest increase was detected in high-SDI countries, especially in high-income North America. A non-linear association was observed between burden of gout and SDI, with the lowest estimates of gout burden when SDI value was about 0.6. High BMI was the leading risk factor for the burden of gout. Conclusion These study results suggest a globally rising trajectory of gout burden between 1990 and 2017. More effective interventions, such as detailed and intensive dietary managements and other prevention strategies for reducing obesity, should be carried out to reverse this trend, especially in females and high-SDI countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of copper(II) ion is critical for water safety. Herein, a solid phase extraction (SPE) column filled with home-made sulfonated PS-DVB microspheres was adopted to eliminate interference from other co-existing ions. Meanwhile, 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) as colorimetric reactant was dispersed in polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and immobilized on the filter paper. The as-fabricated paper-based microfluidic analytical device (μPAD) combined with home-made SPE column was utilized for the selective and quantitative determination of copper(II) ion. The selectivity and sensitivity for copper(II) ion were significantly enhanced by SPE-combined μPAD. The sensor has a noticeable color change in the presence of copper(II) ion. The limit of detection was as low as 0.340 μM, which is much less than the drinking water guidelines in many countries and organizations. This technology is convenient and does not need any expensive instrumentation and professional skills. It is easily used to achieve rapid and on-site assessment of copper(II) ion in real-world situations. Image 1 • Solid phase extraction column filled with home-made sulfonated PS-DVB microspheres was adopted to eliminate interference from other co-existing ions. • 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol was used as colorimetric reactant. • The combination of SPE column and paper-based analytical device realized the selective and quantitative determination of copper(II) ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of separation and recovery of photocatalyst in water, the modification of TiO2 was studied as well as its immobilization and photocatalytic properties. To improve surface properties, TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and silylated by silane coupling agents to introduce a certain functional group. Supported on polyurethane (PU) membrane, TiO2 nanotubes were prepared to produce immobilized PU/TiO2. Catalysts were characterized and identified by means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that silylated TiO2 nanotubes were well grafted on the surface of the activated PU membrane. With a 300 W high pressure mercury lamp as light source, the photocatalytic activity and stability of immobilized PU/TiO2 were investigated with degrading methyl orange. It was showed that the target is degraded by immobilized PU/TiO2 with high activation and the catalytic performance is stable for a long time if catalyst is washed with ethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study established a LabVIEW-based virtual instrument system to measure optical activity through the communication of conventional optical instrument with computer via RS232 port. This system realized the functions for automatic acquisition, real-time display, data processing, results playback, and so forth. Therefore, it improved accuracy of the measurement results by avoiding the artificial operation, cumbersome data processing, and the artificial error in optical activity measurement. The system was applied to the analysis of the batch inspection on the sugar degree of honey. The results obtained were satisfying. Moreover, it showed advantages such as friendly man-machine dialogue, simple operation, and easily expanded functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most widely used tool for assessing dietary intake, the validity of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) should be evaluated before application. A comprehensive search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted for publications from January 2000 to April 1, 2020. Pooled estimates were calculated for correlation coefficients and mean differences for energy and 61 nutrients between FFQs and standard methods. The literature search identified 130 articles that included 21,494 participants. Subgroup analyses according to the number of administrations of the reference method, sample size, administration methods, FFQ items, reference periods, quality of the studies, gender, and regions were also performed. We conducted a meta-analysis by summarizing the available evidence to comprehensively assess the validity of FFQs stratified by the reference method type (24-hour recall (24HRs) and food records (FRs). We also performed subgroup analyses to examine the impact on the final summary estimates. After a meta-analysis of the FFQs' validity correlation coefficients of the included studies, this study showed that the range (median) of the validity coefficients of the 24HRs as reference methods was 0.220–0.770 (0.416), and for the FRs, it was 0.173–0.735 (0.373), which indicated that FFQs were suitable to assess the overall dietary intake in nutritional epidemiological studies. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the number of administrations of the reference method, administration mode, number of items, reference periods, sample size, and gender mainly affected the validity correlation of FFQs. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1966737. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Backgrounds: Short-segment or long-segment fixation is the most commonly used method for treating spinal tuberculosis with damage to a single motor segment (mono-segmental spinal tuberculosis). However, these methods incorporate several of the normal adjacent motor segments surrounding the damaged motor segments during surgery and subsequent healing, leaving them prone to adjacent segment degeneration. A single-segment fixation approach may offer an alternative solution for the surgical treatment of mono-segmental spinal tuberculosis. Patients and methods: 102 Retrospectively studied patients with mono-segmental spinal tuberculosis were divided into two groups: single-segment (the fixed/fused range was limited to only one damaged motion segment n =54) and short-segment (the fixed/fused range included both the damaged segment and the normal motion segment located above and below the damaged motion segment, respectively n =48). Responses to postoperative chemotherapy and changes in the Cobb angle for kyphosis, fusion time, and Frankel grading were recorded. Each patient''s quality of life and ability to return to work, as determined by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), were also evaluated. Results: At the end of the final follow-up, the degree of correction was 12.69±4.56° and 13.44±4.53° for the single-segment and short-segment groups, respectively, with a loss of 1.80±1.19° and 1.60±1.16°, respectively. The differences between the two groups were not significant (P >0.05). The average bone healing time was 4.4±0.9 months in the single-segment group and 4.4±1.0 months in the short-segment group. The Frankel grade for neurologic function returned to normal in >94% of patients. The ODI was 13.5±2.8 and 14.1±3.7 for the single-segment and short-segment groups, respectively. The rates of improvement were 64.0±5.5% and 65.9±4.9% for the single-segment and short-segment groups, respectively. The differences between the two groups were not significant (P >0.05). Conclusion: After bone fusion, single-segment fixation is effective in restoring and maintaining spinal stability and retains normal motion segment more than short-segment fixation approach. Strict adherence to the clinical indications must occur in order to optimize the overall outcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cyclohexoxy radical and its substitutes are intermediates of the combustion reaction in automobile engines, and hence play an important role in the atmospheric chemistry. Spectroscopic and conformational studies can provide convenient methods to monitor these species. In this work, we report the observation of the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) excitation spectrum of 1-methylcyclohexoxy, a tertiary ring alkoxy radical, in supersonic jet condition. The spectrum was assigned preliminarily to the chair-axial and chair-equatorial conformers of 1-methylcyclohexoxy. No C–O stretch progression was observed in 1-methylcyclohexoxy spectrum, which was different from t-butoxy. The short lifetime of excited state 1-methylcyclohexoxy and increased C–O bond length suggested a less stable excited state induced by the increased steric repulsion via methyl substitution on the alkoxy carbon. Dissociation rather than H transfer was suggested as the major nonradiative relaxation process, which competed with the fluorescence path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) sensitization exists in a considerable fraction of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients. Basophils have been implicated in the pathogenesis of CSU. This paper aimed to explore the relationship between allergic sensitization and basophil reactivity in CSU and the possible underlying mechanism. Methods: Basophil-enriched leukocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of 76 CSU patients and 9 healthy controls. Basophil CD63 and FcεRIα (the alpha subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor) expression in the blood samples with various house dust mite (HDM)-sIgE levels were determined by flow cytometry. Basophil reactivity and SHIP-1 (a molecule related to the IgE/FcεRI signaling pathway) expression were analyzed after stimulation with an HDM allergen or other stimuli. Results: HDM-sIgEstrong positive (≥3.5 kU/L) CSU patients had a significantly higher mean percentage of basophil CD63 and higher baseline levels of FcεRIα expressed by basophils than HDM-sIgEnormal (<0.35 kU/L) CSU patients and healthy controls; the same went for total serum IgE. After stimulation with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus peptidase 1 (Derp1) alone or together with Derp1-sIgE, the stimulation index of CD63 and levels of FcεRIα expressed by basophils in HDM-sIgEstrong positive CSU patients were significantly higher than those in HDM-sIgEnormal CSU patients and healthy controls. Significantly more SHIP-1 mRNA expression in HDM-sIgEstrong positive CSU patients was induced after the combined stimulation in comparison to other subjects. Conclusion: CSU patients with higher HDM-sIgE levels (≥3.5 kU/L) may have higher CD63 and FcεRIα expression on peripheral blood basophils. Peripheral blood basophils in these CSU patients are more responsive to HDM allergen stimulation. Higher HDM-sIgE levels among CSU patients may implicate higher basophil reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reproducibility of FFQs measures the consistency of the same subject at different time points. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the reproducibility of FFQs and factors related to reproducibility of FFQs. Methods and findings: A systematic literature review was performed before July 2020 using PubMed and Web of Science databases. Pooled intraclass and Spearman correlation coefficients (95% confidence interval) were calculated to assess the reproducibility of FFQs. Subgroup analyses based on characteristics of study populations, FFQs, or study design were performed to investigate factors related to the reproducibility of FFQs. A total of 123 studies comprising 20,542 participants were eligible for the meta-analysis. The pooled crude intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.499 to 0.803 and 0.499 to 0.723 for macronutrients and micronutrients, respectively. Energy-adjusted intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.420 to 0.803 and 0.507 to 0.712 for macronutrients and micronutrients, respectively. The pooled crude and energy-adjusted Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.548 to 0.851 and 0.441 to 0.793, respectively, for macronutrients; and from 0.573 to 0.828 and 0.510 to 0.744, respectively, for micronutrients. FFQs with more food items, 12 months as dietary recall interval (compared to less than 12 months), and a shorter time period between repeated FFQs resulted in superior FFQ reproducibility. Conclusions: In conclusion, FFQs with correlation coefficients greater than 0.5 for most nutrients may be considered a reliable tool to measure dietary intake. To develop FFQs with higher reproducibility, the number of food items and dietary recall interval should be taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the effect of transabdominal hysterectomy on the diversity of the intestinal flora in patients with uterine fibroids. Patients with uterine fibroids were selected from September 2018 to December 2018, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, and stool specimens were collected from patients before and after surgery. Results: High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to detect the changes in microbial community structure and diversity, and the effects of total hysterectomy on the intestinal flora were further analyzed. Estrogen levels decreased after trans-abdominal hysterectomy. High-throughput sequencing showed that after abdominal hysterectomy, the abundance and diversity of the intestinal flora decreased. The abundance changes were mainly due to Proteobacteria, where their abundance increased. Conclusions: Trans-abdominal hysterectomy changes the intestinal flora of the body by lowering the level of estrogen in the body, which reduces the diversity and abundance of the intestinal flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Is dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) associated with the odds of developing asthenozoospermia in Chinese men? SUMMARY ANSWER There is no statistically significant association between DTAC indices and the odds of developing asthenozoospermia. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Both diet and oxidative stress may be related to sperm quality; however, few studies have investigated the association between DTAC and sperm quality. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This case–control study was conducted from June 2020 to December 2020. Those diagnosed with asthenozoospermia were assigned to the case group, whereas those with normal sperm parameters were assigned to the control group. Data from a total of 553 cases and 586 controls were included in the final analysis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Men who had been referred to the infertility clinic of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were enrolled. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. DTAC was based on ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), total oxygen radical absorbance capacity (T-ORAC), hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORAC), lipophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (L-ORAC), total phenolics (TP), total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). Asthenozoospermia was defined according to the criteria published in the fifth edition of the World Health Organization laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE No significant association was observed between the DTAC indices and the odds of asthenozoospermia after multivariable adjustment (T3 vs T1, odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.73–1.33 for FRAP; OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.77–1.42 for T-ORAC; OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.65–1.18 for H-ORAC; OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.71–1.34 for L-ORAC; OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.76–1.39 for TP; OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.87–1.59 for TRAP; and OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.85–1.55 for TEAC). Both additive and multiplicative interaction analyses suggested that smoking might modify the association of T-ORAC with the odds of developing asthenozoospermia (relative excess risk due to interaction = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.07–0.83, attributable proportion due to interaction = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.07–0.84 for additive interaction; P  =   0.033 for multiplicative interaction). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Recall bias and protopathic bias were inevitable in this retrospective case–control study. The estimation accuracy of the DTAC indices may have also affected the findings. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically investigate whether an association exists between DTAC and the odds of developing asthenozoospermia. Although no significant association was found, this study provides novel information pertaining to the fields of nutrition and human reproduction. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the JieBangGuaShuai Project of Liaoning Province (2021JH1/10400050), the Shengjing Hospital Clinical Research Project (M0071), and the Outstanding Scientific Fund of Shengjing Hospital (M1150). All authors have no competing interests to disclose. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep is closely related to various diseases. Several meta-analyses have provided evidence of sleep and cancer, and yet the credibility of this evidence has not been comprehensively quantified. Thus, we conducted an umbrella review to quantify the evidence for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies on sleep characteristics (sleep duration, sleep quality, napping, bedtime, and wake-up time) and cancer-related outcomes. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science (Core Collection), and Embase databases were searched from inception until 29 July 2022. Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews, version 1, was used to evaluate the methodological quality of each eligible systematic review or meta-analysis. For each association, the summary effect with a 95% confidence interval was evaluated by fixed and random effects models. The 95% prediction interval, heterogeneity, small-study effects, and excess significance bias were also evaluated. Evidence of the associations from systematic reviews and meta-analyses was ranked based on the established criteria of published literature as convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or non-significant. Results: The umbrella review identified thirty meta-analyses on the aforementioned associations from six articles. The methodological quality of five articles was high or moderate. Suggestive evidence was found for associations between long sleep duration and a 21% increased risk of colorectal cancer, a 9% increased all-cancer mortality and a 65% increased mortality of lung cancer, and associations between short sleep duration and a 21% increased mortality of lung cancer. Additionally, the evidence of associations between short sleep duration and lung cancer mortality was upgraded to convincing, and between long sleep duration and lung cancer mortality was upgraded to highly suggestive, among the population reporting 24 h sleep duration. Conclusion: Abnormal sleep duration might be linked to several adverse cancer-related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore if pre-diagnosis sleep status is associated with overall survival (OS) of ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 853 OC patients newly diagnosed between 2015 and 2020. Sleep status was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Vital status of patients was obtained through active follow-up and linkage to medical records and cancer registry. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was utilized to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for aforementioned associations. Results: During the follow-up period (median: 37.57 months, interquartile: 25.00 to 50.17 months), 123 (18.39%) OC patients died. The HR (95%CI) for OS of OC was 2.13 (1.42–3.18) for sleeping after 22:00, compared with sleeping before 22:00; 2.43 (1.64–3.62) for poor sleep quality, compared to good sleep quality; 2.26 (1.37–3.72) for late bed-early rise and 1.93 (1.09–3.42) for late bed-late rise, compared with early bed-early rise; 0.40 (0.24–0.67) for night sleep duration of ≥7.5 h/day, compared with 7–7.5 h/day; 0.53 (0.29–0.98) for total sleep duration of ≥8 h/day, compared with 7.5–8 h/day. Further, the interaction effects were significant between residual lesions and wake-up time, night bedtime, sleep pattern, and between total sleep duration and menopausal status, parity. Additionally, there was a significant curvilinear association between PSQI score and OS (p nonlinear <0.05). Conclusions: Pre-diagnosis longer total and night sleep duration were associated with better OS, whereas later sleeping time, poor sleep quality, and bad sleep patterns were associated with poor OS among OC survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Age-related macular degeneration(AMD) has become a major cause of visual impairment worldwide, especially in the elderly. Estimates of incidence, progression rates, and risk factors of AMD vary among studies, complicating the understanding of its epidemiology. Methods: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, literature published up to March 1, 2021, was searched in both English and Chinese databases. Hierarchical Bayesian approaches were used to estimate pooled incidence, progression, and 95% credible intervals (CrIs). Results: Thirty studies were included. The pooled annual early and late AMD incidence rates were 1.59 (95% CrI: 1.18–2.11) and 0.23 (95% CrI: 0.14–0.34) per 100 person-years, respectively. The annual progression rate of AMD was 5.5 (95% CrI: 2.3–8.8) per 100 person-years. Smoking was an independent risk factor for both early and late AMD, whereas age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and alcohol consumption were risk factors for early AMD incidence only. The projected number of new cases of early and late AMD in 2050 would be 39.05 million (95% CrI: 23.12–63.57) and 6.41 million (95% CrI: 3.37–13.22), respectively. Conclusion: The prediction the number of new cases of AMD is not equal across the globe. Our findings indicate the need for more rigorous control and prevention measures in AMD focus on its risk factors for early intervention. The epidemiological estimates reported in this study could inform to identify effective strategies for preventing AMD worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To establish normative values and identify potential factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake using dual-energy CT (DECT).This retrospective study included participants without pancreatic diseases undergoing DECT at two institutions with different platforms. Their protocols both included arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PP), and equilibrium phase (EP), defined as 35 s–40 s, 60 s–70 s, and 150 s–180 s after injection of contrast agent, respectively. Both iodine concentration (IC) and normalised IC (NIC) were measured. Demographic features, local measurements of the pancreas and visceral fat area (VFA) were considered as potential factors influencing iodine uptake using multivariate linear regression analyses.A total of 562 participants (median age 58 years [interquartile range: 47–67], with 282 men) were evaluated. The mean IC differed significantly between two institutions (all p < 0.001) across three contrast-enhanced phases, while the mean NIC showed no significant differences (all p > 0.05). The mean values of NIC were 0.22 at AP, 0.43 at PP and 0.45 at EP. NICAP was independently affected by VFA (β = 0.362, p < 0.001), smoking (β = −0.240, p = 0.001), and type-II diabetes (β = −0.449, p < 0.001); NICPP by VFA (β = −0.301, p = 0.017) and smoking (β = −0.291, p < 0.001); and NICEP by smoking (β = −0.154, p = 0.10) and alcohol consumption (β = −0.350, p < 0.001) with statistical power values over 0.81.NIC values were consistent across institutions. Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and diabetes are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.This study has provided reference normative values, influential factors and effective normalisation methods of pancreatic iodine uptake in multiphase dual-energy CT for future studies in this area as a new biological marker.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Materials and methods: To establish normative values and identify potential factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake using dual-energy CT (DECT).This retrospective study included participants without pancreatic diseases undergoing DECT at two institutions with different platforms. Their protocols both included arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PP), and equilibrium phase (EP), defined as 35 s–40 s, 60 s–70 s, and 150 s–180 s after injection of contrast agent, respectively. Both iodine concentration (IC) and normalised IC (NIC) were measured. Demographic features, local measurements of the pancreas and visceral fat area (VFA) were considered as potential factors influencing iodine uptake using multivariate linear regression analyses.A total of 562 participants (median age 58 years [interquartile range: 47–67], with 282 men) were evaluated. The mean IC differed significantly between two institutions (all p < 0.001) across three contrast-enhanced phases, while the mean NIC showed no significant differences (all p > 0.05). The mean values of NIC were 0.22 at AP, 0.43 at PP and 0.45 at EP. NICAP was independently affected by VFA (β = 0.362, p < 0.001), smoking (β = −0.240, p = 0.001), and type-II diabetes (β = −0.449, p < 0.001); NICPP by VFA (β = −0.301, p = 0.017) and smoking (β = −0.291, p < 0.001); and NICEP by smoking (β = −0.154, p = 0.10) and alcohol consumption (β = −0.350, p < 0.001) with statistical power values over 0.81.NIC values were consistent across institutions. Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and diabetes are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.This study has provided reference normative values, influential factors and effective normalisation methods of pancreatic iodine uptake in multiphase dual-energy CT for future studies in this area as a new biological marker.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Results: To establish normative values and identify potential factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake using dual-energy CT (DECT).This retrospective study included participants without pancreatic diseases undergoing DECT at two institutions with different platforms. Their protocols both included arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PP), and equilibrium phase (EP), defined as 35 s–40 s, 60 s–70 s, and 150 s–180 s after injection of contrast agent, respectively. Both iodine concentration (IC) and normalised IC (NIC) were measured. Demographic features, local measurements of the pancreas and visceral fat area (VFA) were considered as potential factors influencing iodine uptake using multivariate linear regression analyses.A total of 562 participants (median age 58 years [interquartile range: 47–67], with 282 men) were evaluated. The mean IC differed significantly between two institutions (all p < 0.001) across three contrast-enhanced phases, while the mean NIC showed no significant differences (all p > 0.05). The mean values of NIC were 0.22 at AP, 0.43 at PP and 0.45 at EP. NICAP was independently affected by VFA (β = 0.362, p < 0.001), smoking (β = −0.240, p = 0.001), and type-II diabetes (β = −0.449, p < 0.001); NICPP by VFA (β = −0.301, p = 0.017) and smoking (β = −0.291, p < 0.001); and NICEP by smoking (β = −0.154, p = 0.10) and alcohol consumption (β = −0.350, p < 0.001) with statistical power values over 0.81.NIC values were consistent across institutions. Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and diabetes are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.This study has provided reference normative values, influential factors and effective normalisation methods of pancreatic iodine uptake in multiphase dual-energy CT for future studies in this area as a new biological marker.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Conclusion: To establish normative values and identify potential factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake using dual-energy CT (DECT).This retrospective study included participants without pancreatic diseases undergoing DECT at two institutions with different platforms. Their protocols both included arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PP), and equilibrium phase (EP), defined as 35 s–40 s, 60 s–70 s, and 150 s–180 s after injection of contrast agent, respectively. Both iodine concentration (IC) and normalised IC (NIC) were measured. Demographic features, local measurements of the pancreas and visceral fat area (VFA) were considered as potential factors influencing iodine uptake using multivariate linear regression analyses.A total of 562 participants (median age 58 years [interquartile range: 47–67], with 282 men) were evaluated. The mean IC differed significantly between two institutions (all p < 0.001) across three contrast-enhanced phases, while the mean NIC showed no significant differences (all p > 0.05). The mean values of NIC were 0.22 at AP, 0.43 at PP and 0.45 at EP. NICAP was independently affected by VFA (β = 0.362, p < 0.001), smoking (β = −0.240, p = 0.001), and type-II diabetes (β = −0.449, p < 0.001); NICPP by VFA (β = −0.301, p = 0.017) and smoking (β = −0.291, p < 0.001); and NICEP by smoking (β = −0.154, p = 0.10) and alcohol consumption (β = −0.350, p < 0.001) with statistical power values over 0.81.NIC values were consistent across institutions. Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and diabetes are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.This study has provided reference normative values, influential factors and effective normalisation methods of pancreatic iodine uptake in multiphase dual-energy CT for future studies in this area as a new biological marker.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Clinical relevance statement: To establish normative values and identify potential factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake using dual-energy CT (DECT).This retrospective study included participants without pancreatic diseases undergoing DECT at two institutions with different platforms. Their protocols both included arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PP), and equilibrium phase (EP), defined as 35 s–40 s, 60 s–70 s, and 150 s–180 s after injection of contrast agent, respectively. Both iodine concentration (IC) and normalised IC (NIC) were measured. Demographic features, local measurements of the pancreas and visceral fat area (VFA) were considered as potential factors influencing iodine uptake using multivariate linear regression analyses.A total of 562 participants (median age 58 years [interquartile range: 47–67], with 282 men) were evaluated. The mean IC differed significantly between two institutions (all p < 0.001) across three contrast-enhanced phases, while the mean NIC showed no significant differences (all p > 0.05). The mean values of NIC were 0.22 at AP, 0.43 at PP and 0.45 at EP. NICAP was independently affected by VFA (β = 0.362, p < 0.001), smoking (β = −0.240, p = 0.001), and type-II diabetes (β = −0.449, p < 0.001); NICPP by VFA (β = −0.301, p = 0.017) and smoking (β = −0.291, p < 0.001); and NICEP by smoking (β = −0.154, p = 0.10) and alcohol consumption (β = −0.350, p < 0.001) with statistical power values over 0.81.NIC values were consistent across institutions. Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and diabetes are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.This study has provided reference normative values, influential factors and effective normalisation methods of pancreatic iodine uptake in multiphase dual-energy CT for future studies in this area as a new biological marker.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Key Points: To establish normative values and identify potential factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake using dual-energy CT (DECT).This retrospective study included participants without pancreatic diseases undergoing DECT at two institutions with different platforms. Their protocols both included arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PP), and equilibrium phase (EP), defined as 35 s–40 s, 60 s–70 s, and 150 s–180 s after injection of contrast agent, respectively. Both iodine concentration (IC) and normalised IC (NIC) were measured. Demographic features, local measurements of the pancreas and visceral fat area (VFA) were considered as potential factors influencing iodine uptake using multivariate linear regression analyses.A total of 562 participants (median age 58 years [interquartile range: 47–67], with 282 men) were evaluated. The mean IC differed significantly between two institutions (all p < 0.001) across three contrast-enhanced phases, while the mean NIC showed no significant differences (all p > 0.05). The mean values of NIC were 0.22 at AP, 0.43 at PP and 0.45 at EP. NICAP was independently affected by VFA (β = 0.362, p < 0.001), smoking (β = −0.240, p = 0.001), and type-II diabetes (β = −0.449, p < 0.001); NICPP by VFA (β = −0.301, p = 0.017) and smoking (β = −0.291, p < 0.001); and NICEP by smoking (β = −0.154, p = 0.10) and alcohol consumption (β = −0.350, p < 0.001) with statistical power values over 0.81.NIC values were consistent across institutions. Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and diabetes are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.This study has provided reference normative values, influential factors and effective normalisation methods of pancreatic iodine uptake in multiphase dual-energy CT for future studies in this area as a new biological marker.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions.Evaluation of pancreatic iodine uptake measured by dual-energy CT is a promising method for future studies.Abdominal obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and sex are independent factors influencing pancreatic iodine uptake.Utility of normalised iodine concentration is necessary to ensure the consistency across different institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, no study has investigated whether dietary intake can modify this effect. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of dietary pattern modification on the association between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. Methods: A large prospective cohort study (n = 24,602) was conducted in China. NAFLD was diagnosed using liver ultrasonography considering alcohol consumption. Dietary data were assessed using a validated self‐administered food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Following a 93,873 person‐year follow‐up, 787 (3.20%) participants developed type 2 diabetes. In a multivariable adjusted model, compared with participants without NAFLD, the HR (95% CI) of incident type 2 diabetes for NAFLD patients was 3.04 (2.51, 3.68). On subgroup analyses, the adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of incident type 2 diabetes for NAFLD patients with low (≤median score) and high (>median score) vegetable pattern intakes were 4.08 (3.05, 5.46) and 2.38 (1.85, 3.07) (p for interaction <0.01), respectively. Higher vegetable intake was also found to attenuate the risk effect of phenotype groups of NAFLD on incident type 2 diabetes, especially in the lean NAFLD group. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that NAFLD is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes in the Chinese population. Notably, adherence to a dietary pattern rich in vegetables can attenuate this risk, especially in lean NAFLD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutting propagation rhizogenesis of Toona ciliata clone cutting orchard were studied, and the results were as follows: Rooting type included both callus rooting and cortex rooting. About 17 in 22 of clones were dominated by cortex rooting, accounting for the 77% of clones. There were 5 clones which occurred with both callus rooting and cortex rooting during rooting process. The rooting efficiency index (REI) showed a positive correlation with the rooting rate. Under natural temperature condition, keeping moisture and shading, we found that the highest survival rate occurred in early June, September, and October. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naples prognosis score (NPS) is a new immune and nutritional assessment method that can be used to predict tumor prognosis. This study aimed to identify whether NPS is an independent prognostic indicator of operable endometrial cancer (EC). We retrospectively analyzed 1038 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgery. Patients were grouped according to NPS (NPS group 0, n = 362; NPS group 1, n = 589; and NPS group 2, n = 87), and differences in clinical characteristics were compared among the groups. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan–Meier method, P values were calculated by log–rank test, and prognostic factors were assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression models. Serum albumin levels, total cholesterol levels, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte–monocyte ratio, total lymphocyte count, CA-125 levels, age, body mass index, FIGO stage, myometrial invasion depth, controlling nutritional status score, and systemic inflammation score were significantly different among the groups; significant differences in progression-free survival(PFS) and overall survival (OS) were also found. On multivariate analysis, NPS was identified as an independent prognostic factor for PFS (NPS group 0 vs. 1: aHR = 4.32, 95%CI = 1.133–16.47; NPS group 0 vs. 2: aHR = 21.336, 95%CI = 3.498–130.121) and OS (NPS group 0 vs. 1: aHR = 5.029, 95%CI = 1.638–15.441; NPS group 0 vs. 2: aHR = 20.789, 95%CI = 4.381–98.664). Moreover, NPS is an independent prognostic factor for PFS and OS in grade 2 or 3 EC (aHR = 7.768, 95%CI = 2.411–25.029 and aHR = 4.717, 95%CI = 1.794–12.407, respectively). High NPS is associated with poor PFS and OS and is a valuable independent prognostic factor in patients with EC. • High Naples prognosis score is associated with poor progression free survival and overall survival in patients with endometrial cancer. • Naples prognosis score is an independent prognostic factor for progression free survival and overall survival in grade 2/3 endometrial cancer. • Naples prognosis score may provide reference of personalized treatment and non-surgical treatment for patients with endometrial cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The preoperative peripheral blood neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) have been reported to be associated with the prognosis of various cancers but are always discussed separately. The aim of this study is to bring the combination of NLR, PLR and MLR into the prognostic assessment system of endometrial cancer (EC) and establish a nomogram to provide an objective prediction model for clinical decisions.Methods: A total of 1111 patients with EC who had accepted surgical treatment during 2013-2017 were involved in the analysis. Their NLR, PLR, and MLR levels were obtained from a routine blood examination within 2 weeks before operation. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to determine optimal cutoffs. Chi-square tests analysed the associations of the ratios with other clinicopathological variables. The prognostic value was indicated by overall survival (OS) via Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier analysis. R software was used to establish the nomogram based on the combination of NLR, PLR, MLR and other clinicopathological factors.Results: The median follow-up period was 40 months, and the median age was 56. The enrolled patients were stratified by cutoffs of 2.14 for NLR, 131.82 for PLR and 0.22 for MLR. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that high NLR over 2.14 (HR = 2.71, 95%CI = 1.83-4.02, P<0.001), high PLR over 131.82 (HR = 2.75, 95%CI = 1.90-3.97, P<0.001), and high MLR over 0.22 (HR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.20-2.45, P = 0.003) were significantly associated with worse OS. The combined indicator, high NLR + high PLR + high MLR (HR = 4.34, 95%CI = 2.54-7.42, P<0.001), showed the highest prognostic value. The Harrell's concordance index of the nomogram was 0.847 (95% CI = 0.804-0.890), showing good discrimination and calibration of this model.Conclusion: The combination of NLR, PLR, and MLR is a superior prognostic factor of EC. The nomogram involving the combination of NLR, PLR, MLR and other clinicopathological factors is recommended to predict OS for EC patients clinically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The health benefits of dietary fibre (DF) intake on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are controversial. Thus, this large cross-sectional study aimed to determine the associations between DF intake and the prevalence of newly-diagnosed NAFLD in a large general population. Methods: A total of 23,529 participants were enrolled in the analyses. Newly-diagnosed NAFLD was diagnosed according to liver ultrasonography and history of alcohol intake. DF intake was assessed using a validated self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the associations between DF intake and NAFLD. Results: In total, 18.81% (n = 4426) of the participants were newly diagnosed with NAFLD. Compared with the participants in the lowest quartile of DF intake, the ORs (95% CI) for the participants in the highest quartile were 0.81 (0.67, 0.97), 0.78 (0.62, 0.99), and 0.85 (0.62, 1.17) for all participants, men, and women, respectively. Compared with the participants in the lowest quartile of insoluble DF intake, the ORs (95% CI) for the participants in the highest quartile were 0.70 (0.58, 0.85), 0.60 (0.47, 0.76), and 0.95 (0.68, 1.32) in all participants, men, and women, respectively. No association was observed between soluble DF intake and NAFLD. DF from whole grain, soy foods, vegetables, and nuts but not fruits were negatively associated with NAFLD. Conclusions: A higher intake of insoluble DF is associated with lower prevalence of newly-diagnosed NAFLD in men. Moreover, intake DF from whole grain, soy foods, vegetables, and nuts, but not fruits have favorable effect on the prevalence of newly diagnosed NAFLD. Further cohort studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to validate this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objectives of this study are to test the psychometric properties of the safety attitudes and safety climate questionnaire Chinese simplified version (SAQ-CS), to test the safety attitudes of health professionals in tertiary hospitals in the Liaoning province and to explore the effects of demographic factors on safety attitudes.Methods: The SAQ-CS was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey in nine tertiary hospitals in Liaoning province.Results: Cronbach's alpha of each subscale of SAQ-CS were > 0.7, the values of GFI, TLI, and CFI were > 0.8, and RMSEA values ranged from 0.048-0.199. The mean of the safety attitudes of 2157 health professionals was 4.00, indicating a good safety attitude, with a positive response rate (% of items that scored ≥4) of 51.1%. The stress recognition subscale had the lowest score, with a mean of 2.73 and a positive response rate of 17.8%. A multiple linear regression equation revealed that demographic factors like gender, age, and training participation significantly affected the scores (βgender > 0.06, βage < - 0.08, βtraining < - 0.07, p < 0.05).Conclusions: The psychometric properties of SAQ-CS are good and stable. Health professionals rate teamwork climate, safety climate, perception of management, and work conditions in Liaoning province are perceived as good; however, the stress of the health professionals is poor. To improve safety attitudes, it is necessary to not only reduce the stress of health professionals, but also to pay more attention to men, older health professionals, and health professionals who have not participated in safety training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have reported that tea extract supplementation has potential benefits on the risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, no study has investigated the direct effect of daily tea consumption on the prevalence of NAFLD in the general population. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the associations between tea consumption and the prevalence of newly diagnosed NAFLD among Chinese adults.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was based on the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study. In total, 19,350 participants were enrolled in the analyses. Tea consumption was assessed via a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. NAFLD was diagnosed via liver ultrasonography and no history of heavy alcohol intake. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the associations between tea consumption and the prevalence of NAFLD.Results: Consumption of green tea, oolong tea, and black tea were positively associated with the prevalence of newly diagnosed NAFLD before adjustments. Compared with the participants who never drink tea, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of newly diagnosed NAFLD in the highest categories (≥ 1 cup/day) of green tea, oolong tea, black tea, and jasmine tea were 1.48 (1.33, 1.65), 1.50 (1.33, 1.68), and 1.28 (1.13, 1.46), and 1.36 (1.20, 1.54) before adjustments, respectively. However, no significant association was found between tea consumption and the prevalence of NAFLD after adjusting for socio-demographic, behavioural, anthropometric, dietary, and clinical confounding factors.Conclusion: There is no significant association between daily tea drinking and newly-diagnosed NAFLD in general Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aimed to identify coagulation markers with prognostic value in the setting of surgically treated endometrial cancer. Patients and methods: A total of 942 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgery were included in the study. The preoperative prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time activity (PTA), fibrinogen and D-dimer values were analyzed to determine their potential associations with clinicopathological characteristics. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, p-values were calculated using the log-rank text, and the prognostic factors were evaluated using Cox's proportional hazards regression model. Results: The preoperative plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations were significantly different among patients with different ages, pre/post-menopausal status, International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Association (FIGO) stage, tumor grade, depth of myometrial invasion, histological type and lymphatic vessel space invasion. Fibrinogen level was also asscoiated with body mass index (BMI) and comorbidities, and D-dimer level was asscoiated with preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. APTT was different in patients in pre/post-menopausal status and with or without comorbidities. PTA was asscoiated with BMI and lymphovascular invasion. TT was different between different age groups, different menopause status groups, as well as different FIGO stage groups. A multivariate analysis identified high fibrinogen levels (>3.25 g/L) as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (HR=1.807; 95% CI=1.003–3.253; p=0.049). Conclusion: High pretreatment fibrinogen levels are associated with poor overall survival and represent a valuable independent prognostic factor in patients with endometrial cancer. PT, aPTT, TT, PTA and D-dimer levels cannot be used as independent prognostic factors for endometrial cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulating charge transfer at the nanostructure interface of a S–scheme heterostructure is critical to the photocatalytic performance and practical application. Here, we design a novel S–scheme conjugated photocatalyst CdS/CNTs/Zn x Ag 1−x WO 4 (CZA/CN x) capable of accelerating antibiotic degradation under visible light. Experimental results showed that first-order kinetic constants of CZA/CN x were 1.59, 2.57, and 1.73 times that of CdS/Zn x Ag 1−x WO 4 for amoxicillin degradation, respectively. A series of characterization analysis demonstrated that delocalized π-bonds were existed in a whole composite system (S C–C C···C O) and its could produce a easily excited state of triplet state T 1 instead of lowest singlet excited state S 1 generated from the ground state (S 0). In situ XPS indicated that the electrons will migrate from CdS to ZA/CN x via conjugated redox pathway. Furthermore, this pathway of charge transfer is prevented from the opposite trend, which is depended on establishment of internal electric field and a Schottky barrier in S–scheme conjugated photocatalyst. The density functional theory calculation (DFT) revealed Fermi level of CdS and ZA x were −3.81 eV and −6.80 eV, indicating the conjugated redox pathway of electron transfer is feasible. The successful application of this S–scheme conjugated photocatalyst strategy provide a new direction of conjugated photocatalyst synthesis to address the increasing antibiotic contamination. • A novel S-scheme conjugated CZA/CN x photocatalyst was prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. • The CZA/CN x photocatalyst for antibiotic degradation is superior to the CZA x photocatalyst. • Delocalized π-bonds leaded dense distribution of energy levels and excite the higher energy state of triplet state T 1. • The possible charge transfer path were proposed for contact interface of CdS and ZA x. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Intelligent fault diagnosis methods are promising in dealing with mechanical big data owing to its efficiency in extracting discriminative features automatically. Sparse filtering (SF) is a simple and effective unsupervised feature extraction method aiming at optimizing the feature sparsity. However, the sparsity realized by SF is irregular and the features are unnecessarily discriminative for further classification. Hence, a simple and fast supervised feature extraction algorithm called supervised regularized sparse filtering (SRSF) is proposed, which explores a new way to optimize for sparsity. The supervised feature extraction is realized through fusing a novel parameterized sparse label matrix (PSLM) into the feature matrix to regular the sparsity. Meanwhile, a new objective function is developed together with it, and they work together to quicken the network convergence. In addition, SRSF can find out the specific frequencies from the learned weight matrix for each health condition innovatively, which connects the proposed method with traditional signal processing techniques. Furthermore, based on SRSF, a three-stage fault diagnosis network is developed. Experiments on a bearing case and a gearbox case are conducted separately to verify its effectiveness, and comparisons with the state of the art confirm its superiority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polo-like kinase 2 (Plk2) is a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family involved in cell-cycle regulation and cellular response to stresses. However, the alteration of Plk2 in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has not been well described. In the present study, we focused on the regulation of Plk2 regulation in response to ER stress. Plk2 expression was dramatically decreased under ER stress induced by brefeldin A (BFA), thapsigargin (TG), or tunicamycin (TM), and this down regulation of Plk2 expression was dependent on activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and C/EBP homology protein (CHOP). Luciferase activity analysis of the truncated Plk2 promoter indicated that regions from −2506 to −1806 and from −1002 to −830 of the Plk2 promoter were sensitive to BFA. Additionally, ChIP and ChIP Re-IP assays showed that CHOP and C/EBPα were assembled on the same region of Plk2 promoter. Notably, we identified two C/EBPα responsive elements at positions −2002 and −948, to which C/EBPα or CHOP binding was enhanced by BFA under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Finally, overexpression of Plk2 inhibits cell apoptosis and promotes cell proliferation in response to ER stress. In summary, these results demonstrated that ER stress plays a crucial role in Plk2 expression. CHOP may up-regulate DNA-binding affinities after BFA treatment, via recruiting C/EBPα to the upstream-promoter of Plk2. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of Plk2 regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PPy-coated P(NIPAM-ABP) electrospun nanofiber can provide high strength. • PPy-coating by in situ polymerization can provide high light-responsive. • The actuator owns ultrafast deformation and rapid recovery. • The actuator can realize various 3D programmable complex deformations. • We have explored new biomimetic devices based on the advantages of the actuator. Intelligent hydrogels are promising for biomimetic actuators, but acquiring actuations with both high speed and powerful force is still extremely difficult. Herein, a new robust polypyrrole (PPy)-coated copoly(isopropylacrylamide-4-benzoylphenyl acrylate) [P(NIPAM-ABP)] electrospun light-responsive hydrogel is explored. The (PPy)-coated P(NIPAM-ABP) hydrogel can be obtained via in-situ polymerization of pyrroles on the nanofiber-oriented electrospun P(NIPAM-ABP) hydrogel. Compared with original P(NIPAM-ABP) hydrogel, this PPy-coated P(NIPAM-ABP) hydrogel can integrate highly-enhanced mechanical strength (from 1.21 to 5.12 MPa of tensile strength) and ultrahigh-efficiency of photothermal conversion together. In addition, the orientation of P(NIPAM-ABP) nanofibers can still maintain well for programmable complex deformations. Consequently, the as-prepared robust bi-hydrogel actuator with ultrafast and complex deformations has been achieved, through bonding the PPy-P(NIPAM-ABP) hydrogel membrane with a polyethylene glycol diacrylate-cellulose nanofiber (PEGDA-CNF) composite hydrogel membrane via interfacial ultraviolet (UV) polymerization of PEGDA monomers. Several light-responsive biomimetic actuating devices have been achieved, which owning powerful force (can grab up 100 times of self-weight), rapid speed (1285.71°/s of folding) or precisely programmable complex deformations. Furthermore, two biomimetic devices with synergistic functions of the three advantages above have been explored, which can mimic the child's sit-up and the starfish's continuous crawling movement respectively. This work provides a robust remotely-controlled light-responsive hydrogel actuator with powerful force, ultrafast speed and programmable complex actuations, which will inspire the design and fabrication of novel soft biomimetic actuating materials and systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared light-responsive hydrogel actuator with complex deformations and remote precise control is fabricated from the natural bamboo. The resulting biomimetic bamboo/PNIPAM hydrogel actuator can be precisely designed to perform a variety of simulations. [Display omitted] • Biomimetic actuators based on anisotropic natural bamboo were prepared. • Nigrosine was first used to fabricate light-responsive hydrogel actuator. • The actuator exhibits outstanding programmability and remote-control performance. • The actuator can move freely on the water surface based on Marangoni effect. Near-infrared light-responsive hydrogels are one of the most important soft biomimetic actuators owing to their accuracy, remote control performance, and permeability. However, the complex deformations and materials of hydrogel actuators are still a serious challenge. Herein, we have developed a novel composite hydrogel actuator by combining natural bamboo sheet and nigrosine/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) composite hydrogel. The high-efficient photothermal conversion of the nigrosine/PNIPAM composite hydrogel sheet generates light-responsive actuation that is remotely controllable. Furthermore, the bamboo sheet with fiber-oriented structure can be cut at different angles, which facilitates programmable 3D complex deformations in the actuator. Accordingly, we have designed a series of biomimetic actuating devices, including simulations of butterfly antenna, Dendrobium , smart switch, and even a multi-step deformational biomimetic claw. In addition, we also explored a biomimetic insect with precisely-controlled fast movements on the water surface based on Marangoni effect. This work provides a simple but general strategy for fabricating biomimetic actuators and will inspire new designs for intelligent soft actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the mental health status of Chinese medical students in response to dramatic changes in their society and to assess its relationship to life events and family socio-economic status (SES). This was a cross-sectional study of 568 second year medical students in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. They completed the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to assess their mental health status, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC), family SES items and parental divorce. A total of 552 students (262 males and 290 females) completed the questionnaires. The means of six SCL-90-R scales were significantly lower than the previously reported data on Chinese university students. Scores on four subscales were significantly higher for male compared with female students. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the occupation and education of the fathers of female students were significantly associated with the summary index of SCL-90-R (General Symptomatic Index or GSI) and also with ASLEC scores. For male students, only the relationship with ASLEC scores was statistically significant. Seven of 27 life events measured by the ASLEC were significantly associated with GSI for males, and nine events were associated with GSI for females. The events were related to family financial status, academic stress and interpersonal relationships for both genders. In conclusion, our data underscore the importance of considering family history in addition to academic stressors, interpersonal relationships and gender differences, in attempts to secure the psychological well-being of Chinese medical students. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Isometric handgrip resistance exercise, a nonpharmacological lifestyle modification, has been recommended as a first-line treatment for hypertension. This study aimed to examine the relationship of handgrip strength to blood pressure and the risk of hypertension. Methods: The responses and examination of 4597 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed in this study. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were transformed to age- and sex-specific z-scores. Handgrip strength was adjusted by weight (kg) and converted to an age- and sex-specific z-score. The relationships of SBP and DBP to handgrip strength were analyzed by Pearson correlation test and multivariable linear regression. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the association between handgrip strength and prevalence of hypertension. Results: Handgrip strength was positively related to higher DBP in men and women. In men, logistic regression models revealed that increased handgrip strength was associated with higher risk of hypertension after adjusting for age, BMI, smoking and drinking status; OR was 1.24 (95%CI: 1.04–1.48). After stratifying on BMI, handgrip strength was significantly associated with higher risk of hypertensions after adjusting for age, BMI, smoking and drinking status in overweight and obese men; OR was 1.31 (95%CI: 1.05–1.63). No significant associations were observed in women. Conclusions: Increased handgrip strength is associated with higher DBP in men and women. In men, especially overweight and obese men, strong handgrip strength may be associated with higher risk of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]