The blood lead levels of outpatients aged 1-18 years from Lu'an, China, 2012-2014

Antibiotics in elderly Chinese population and their relations with hypertension and pulse pressure

Although antibiotic exposure in the general population has been well documented by a biomonitoring approach, epidemiologic data on the relationships between urinary antibiotic burden in the elderly with blood pressure (BP) are still lacking. The current study revealed thirty-four antibiotics in urine specimens from 990 elderly patients in Lu'an City, China, with detection frequencies ranging from 0.2 to 35.5%. Among the elderly, the prevalence of hypertension was 72.0%, and 12 antibiotics were detected in more than 10% of individuals with hypertension. The elderly with hypertension had the maximum daily exposure (5450.45 μg/kg/day) to fluoroquinolones (FQs). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant associations of BP and pulse pressure (PP) with exposure to specific antibiotics. The estimated β values (95% confidence interval) of associations with systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the right arm were 4.42 (1.15, 7.69) for FQs, 4.26 (0.52, 8.01) for the preferred as human antibiotics (PHAs), and 3.48 (0.20, 6.77) for the mixtures (FQs + tetracyclines [TCs] (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1)), respectively. Increased concentrations of TCs were associated with decreased diastolic BP (DBP; tertile 3: -1.75 [-3.39, -0.12]) for the right arm. Higher levels of FQs (tertile 3: 4.28 [1.02, 7.54]), PHAs (tertile 3: 4.25 [0.49, 8.01]), and FQs + TCs (tertile 3: 3.99 [0.71, 7.26]) were associated with increased SBP, and an increase in DBP for FQs (tertile 3: 1.82 [0.22, 3.42]) was shown in the left arm. Also, higher urinary concentrations of FQs (tertile 3: 3.18 [0.53, 5.82]), PHAs (tertile 3: 3.42 [0.40, 6.45]), and FQs + TCs (tertile 3: 3.06 [0.40, 5.72]) were related to increased PP, whereas a decline in PP for TCs (tertile 2: -2.93 [-5.60, -0.25]) in the right arm. And increased concentrations of penicillin V (tertile 3: 5.31 [1.53, 9.10]) and FQs + TCs (tertile 3: 2.84 [0.19, 5.49]) were related to higher PP in the left arm. By utilizing restricted cubic splines, our current study revealed a potential nonlinear dose-response association between FQ exposure and hypertension risk. In conclusion, this investigation is the first to present antibiotic exposure using a biomonitoring approach, and informs understanding of impacts of antibiotic residues, as emerging hazardous pollutants, on the hypertension risk in the elderly.

Blood lead levels of Chinese children from 1991 to 2020: Based on Monte Carlo simulation

Chinese children have been exposed to high level of lead due to polluted air, dust, contaminated foods and water, etc. In this research, we investigated published blood lead levels (BLLs) reflecting 1,057,832 Chinese children aged at 0-12 and teenagers aged at 13-18 in the past 30 years (1991-2020). The data mining and estimation were performed innovatively by Monte Carlo simulation to remedy the skewed distribution-induced bias. The temporal trend of Chinese children's BLLs showed an obvious decrease in the past decades from 88.74 μg/L (Geometric SD = 4.09) during 1991-1995 to 27.32 μg/L (Geometric SD = 4.18) during 2016-2020. This study also indicated that children's BLLs of Yunnan, Guizhou, Shanxi were at relatively high levels and most provinces showed a downward trend. Chinese boys aged at 1-18 years old had higher BLLs (GM: 44.03 μg/L) compared to girls (GM: 41.32 μg/L) (p < 0.001). At different age groups, Chinese children's BLLs were 42.04 μg/L (1-3 years old), 52.88 μg/L (4-6 years old), 50.49 μg/L (7 and above years old), respectively. Although the BLLs of Chinese children exhibited a continuous declined trend in the past 30 years, it was still higher than that in developed countries, which indicated that more efforts are needed in children's BLLs control.

Seasonal Variation of Blood Calcium Levels in Children Aged 1-10

BACKGROUND

In this study, the associations of seasons with blood calcium levels in children aged 1-10 have not been evaluated.

METHODS

In 2012-2014, whole blood samples were collected from 2,562 children and calcium concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The associations of seasons with calcium levels were analyzed by multivariable regression.

RESULTS

The mean value of calcium concentrations was 1.61 ± 0.13 mmol/l and the overall deficiency was 29.3%. Overall, compared to those in winter, children in spring and summer had significant lower calcium concentrations that decreased by 1.2% (β = -0.012; 95% CI: -0.021, -0.002) and 1.4% (β = -0.014; 95% CI: -0.023, -0.005), respectively; and corresponding higher calcium deficiencies than those in spring, summer, and autumn with odds ratios (OR) were 1.93 (95% CI: 1.39, 2.66), 1.65 (95% CI: 1.21, 2.24), and 1.57 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.15), respectively. Moreover, this seasonality was more significant in girls in whom calcium concentration in summer decreased by 1.9% (β = -0.019; 95% CI: -0.036, -0.003) and OR for calcium deficiencies in summer was 2.46 (1.38-4.41), compared to the girls in winter.

CONCLUSIONS

The seasons have significant association with blood calcium levels, especially in girls. However, the impact of this seasonality on children's health is still unknown.