Biomass chitosan/sodium alginate colorimetric imprinting hydrogels with integrated capture and visualization detection for cadmium(II)

Due to Cd(II) with highly toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative, the discharge of it into the environment brings serious pollution. Developing strategies that are efficient, low-cost, pollution-free and specific to removing Cd(II) from wastewater is therefore of great urgency and prime importance. A novel chitosan/sodium alginate ionic imprinting(IICA) hydrogels with specific adsorption capacity for Cd(II) was prepared through freeze-thaw and ion imprinting, and finally the colorimetric sensor (IICAS) was prepared via introducing Rhodamine B(RhB) and Victoria blue(VBB) by immersion to achieve visual detection of Cd(II). The IICA hydrogels with imprinted hole structure had higher adsorption capacity and better specific selectivity for Cd(II). As well as internal diffusion, coordination, ion exchange, and hydrogen bonding influenced the adsorption rate. Moreover, the IICAS exhibited good selective detection ability and linearity for Cd(II) with the fitted correlation coefficient (R2) = 0.98, limit of detection (LOD) = 35 nmol/L. Combined with the smartphone platform, portable and quantitative detection of Cd(II) can be achieved, Within the 0-100 mg/L range, R2 remained 0.94, and LOD was 75 nmol/L. This strategy of preparing a novel whole biomass IICAS integrating capture and visual detection provides a new insight into the construction of a promising candidate sensor for the removal and detection of Cd(II).

Presence of carbazole and polyhalogenated carbazoles in human urine

Exposure to carbazole (CZ) and polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) may pose a threat to human health, owing to their potential dioxin-like toxicity. Until now, the presence of these chemicals in the human urine from the general population is still unclear. Human urine samples (n = 210) were taken from the general population in Quzhou, China in this study, and were analyzed for CZ and 14 PHCZs. CZ and nine PHCZs were detected in collected human urine. CZ (detection frequency 100 %), 3-chlorocarbazole (3-CCZ; 88 %), 3,6-dichlorocarbzole (36-CCZ; 84 %), and 3-bromocarbazole (3-BCZ; 80 %) were more frequently detected. Among detected PHCZs, 3-CCZ (mean 0.49 ng/mL, < LOD-4.3 ng/mL) had comparatively higher urinary levels, followed by 3-BCZ (0.30 ng/L, < LOD-1.9 ng/mL) and 36-CCZ (0.20 ng/L, < LOD-1.4 ng/mL). Urinary concentrations of CZ in male participants (1.3 ± 0.26 ng/mL) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that in female participants (0.92 ± 0.24 ng/mL). No obvious trend in urinary concentrations with the age of participants was found for CZ and detected PHCZs. The mean daily excretion was found highest for CZ (31 ng/kg bw/day), followed by 3-CCZ (19 ng/kg bw/day) and 3-BCZ (8.5 ng/kg bw/day). This study provides the first data, to our knowledge, on the presence and levels of CZ and PHCZs in human urine, which is necessary for conducting the human exposure risk assessment.

An observed nocturnal ozone transport event in the Sichuan Basin, Southwestern China

The ozone (O3) pollution in China drew lots of attention in recent years, and the Sichuan Basin (SCB) was one of the regions confronting worsening O3 pollution problem. Many previous studies have shown that regional transport is an important contributor to O3 pollution. However, very few features of the O3 profile during transport have been reported, especially in the border regions between different administrative divisions. In this study, we conducted tethered balloon soundings in SCB during the summer of 2020 and captured a nocturnal O3 transport event during the campaign. Vertically, the O3 transport occurred in the bottom of the residual layer, between 200 and 500 m above ground level. Horizontally, the transport pathway was directed from southeast to northwest based on the analysis of the wind field and air mass trajectories. The effect of transport in the residual layer on the surface O3 concentration was related to the spatial distribution of O3. For cities with high O3 concentrations in the upwind region, the transport process would bring clean air masses and abate pollution. For downwind lightly polluted cities, the transport process would slow down the decreasing or even increase the surface O3 concentration during the night. We provided observational facts on the profile features of a transboundary O3 transport event between two provincial administrative divisions, which implicated the importance of joint prevention and control measures. However, the sounding parameters were limited and the quantitative analysis was preliminary, more integrated, and thorough studies of this topic were called for in the future.

Predictive effect of net water uptake on futile recanalisation in patients with acute large-vessel occlusion stroke

AIM

To determine whether net water uptake (NWU) based on automated software evaluation could predict futile recanalisation in patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion (LVO).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with acute anterior circulation LVO undergoing mechanical thrombectomy in Jinling Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. NWU and other baseline data were evaluated by performing univariate and multivariate analyses. The primary endpoint was 90-day modified Rankin scale score ≥3. A nomogram to predict poor clinical outcomes was developed based on multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 135 patients who underwent thrombectomy with a TICI grade ≥2b were enrolled. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following factors were identified as independent predictors of futile recanalisation: age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.055, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.004-1.110, p=0.035), female (OR: 0.289, 95 % CI: 0.098-0.850, p=0.024), hypertension (OR: 3.182, 95 % CI: 1.160-8.728, p=0.025), high blood glucose level (OR: 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.087-1.701, p=0.007), admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (OR: 1.082, 95 % CI: 1.003-1.168, p=0.043), and NWU (OR: 1.312, 95 % CI: 1.038-1.659, p=0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

NWU based on Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography (CT) Score (ASPECTS) could be used to predict the occurrence of futile recanalisation in patients with acute anterior circulation LVO ischaemic stroke.

[A multicenter study on respiratory pathogen detection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children]

Objective: To analyze the status of respiratory pathogen detection and the clinical features in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Methods: A prospective, multicenter study was conducted to collect clinical data, including medical history, laboratory examinations and multiplex PCR tests of children diagnosed with MPP from 4 hospitals in China between November 15th and December 20th, 2023. The multiplex PCR results and clinical characteristics of MPP children in different regions were analyzed. The children were divided into severe and mild groups according to the severity of the disease. Patients in the severe group were further divided into Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) alone and Multi-pathogen co-detection groups based on whether other pathogens were detected besides MP, to analyze the influence of respiratory pathogen co-detection rate on the severity of the disease. Mann-Whitney rank sum test and Chi-square test were used to compare data between independent groups. Results: A total of 298 children, 136 males and 162 females, were enrolled in this study, including 204 children in the severe group with an onset age of 7.0 (6.0, 8.0) years, and 94 children in the mild group with an onset age of 6.5 (4.0, 7.8) years. The level of C-reactive protein, D-dimer, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher (10.0 (5.0, 18.0) vs. 5.0 (5.0, 7.5) mg/L, 0.6 (0.4, 1.1) vs. 0.5 (0.3, 0.6) mg/L, 337 (286, 431) vs. 314 (271, 393) U/L, Z=2.02, 2.50, 3.05, all P<0.05), and the length of hospitalization was significantly longer in the severe group compared with those in mild group (6.0 (6.0, 7.0) vs. 5.0 (4.0, 6.0) d, Z=4.37, P<0.05). The time from onset to admission in severe MPP children was significantly shorter than that in mild MPP children (6.0 (5.0, 9.5) vs. 9.0 (7.0, 13.0) d, Z=2.23, P=0.026). All patients completed the multiplex PCR test, with 142 cases (47.7%) MPP children detected with 21 pathogens including adenovirus 25 cases (8.4%), human coronavirus 23 cases (7.7%), rhinovirus 21 cases (7.0%), Streptococcus pneumoniae 21 cases (7.0%), influenza A virus 18 cases (6.0%). The pathogens with the highest detection rates in Tianjin, Shanghai, Wenzhou and Chengdu were Staphylococcus aureus at 10.7% (8/75), adenovirus at 13.0% (10/77), adenovirus at 15.3% (9/59), and both rhinovirus and Haemophilus influenzae at 11.5% (10/87) each. The multi-pathogen co-detection rate in severe MPP children was significantly higher than that in mild MPP group (52.9% (108/204) vs. 36.2% (34/94), χ²=10.62,P=0.005). Among severe MPP children, there are 89 cases in the multi-pathogen co-detection group and 73 cases in the simple MPP group. The levels of LDH, D-dimer and neutrophil counts in the multi-pathogen co-detection group were significantly higher than those in the simple MPP group (348 (284, 422) vs. 307 (270, 358) U/L, 0.8 (0.5, 1.5) vs. 0.6 (0.4, 1.0) mg/L, 4.99 (3.66, 6.89)×109 vs. 4.06 (2.91, 5.65)×109/L, Z=5.17, 4.99, 6.11, all P<0.05). Conclusions: The co-detection rate of respiratory pathogens, LDH and D-dimer in children with severe MPP were higher than those with mild MPP. Among severe MPP children the stress response of children in co-detection group was more serious than that of children with simple MPP.

Associations between urinary concentrations of benzothiazole, benzotriazole, and their derivatives and lung cancer: A nested case-control study

Benzothiazole (BTH), benzotriazole (BTR), and their respective derivatives (BTHs and BTRs) are emerging environmental pollutants with widespread human exposure and oncogenic potential. Studies have demonstrated adverse effects of exposure to certain BTHs and BTRs on the respiratory system. However, no study has examined the associations between exposure to BTHs and BTRs and lung cancer risk. We aimed to examine the associations between urinary concentrations of BTHs and BTRs and the risk of lung cancer in the general population from Quzhou, China. We conducted a nested case-control study in an ongoing prospective Quzhou Environmental Exposure and Human Health (QEEHH) cohort, involving 20, 694 participants who provided urine samples during April 2019-July 2020. With monthly follow-up until November 2022, 212 lung cancer cases were recruited and 1:1 matched with healthy controls based on age and sex. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of lung cancer risk associated with urinary BTHs and BTRs concentrations using conditional logistic regression models after controlling for potential covariates. We also examined effect modification by several covariates, including sex, socioeconomic status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and dietary habit. Creatinine-corrected urinary BTH and 2-hydroxy-benzothiazole (2-OH-BTH) levels were significantly associated with the risk of lung cancer, after adjusting for a variety of covariates. Participants in the highest quartile of BTH had a 95% higher risk of lung cancer, compared with those in the lowest quartile (adjusted OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.08-3.49; p for trend = 0.01). Participants with higher levels of urinary 2-OH-BTH had an 83% higher risk of lung cancer than those with lower levels (adjusted OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.16-2.88; p for trend = 0.01). Exposure to elevated levels of BTH and 2-OH-BTH may be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. These associations were not modified by socio-demographic characteristics.

Occurrence of p-phenylenediamine antioxidants in human urine

General populations are widely exposed to various p-phenylenediamine antioxidants (PPDs). N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), a typical p-phenylenediamine antioxidant, has been detected in human urine samples. However, the occurrence of other widely used PPDs in human urine is still unclear. This study comprehensively characterized the occurrence of 9 PPDs in human urine from 151 Chinese adults. Our results showed that all target PPDs were detected in human urine samples, with the total concentrations of PPDs ranging from 0.41 to 38 ng/mL. PPDs in human urine was dominated by 6PPD (mean 1.2 ng/mL, range < LOD - 3.8 ng/mL), followed by N-phenyl-N'-cyclohexyl-p-phenylenediamine (CPPD; 0.85 ng/mL, Collapse

Key Words

• 6PPD
• Human exposure
• Human urine
• PPDs
• Synthetic antioxidants

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MESH Headings

• Adult
• Humans
• Male
• Female
• Antioxidants
• Phenylenediamines
• Nitro Compounds

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Affiliation(s)

Weili Mao Department of Pharmacy, Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang 324000, PR China
Hangbiao Jin Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, PR China; Innovation Research Center of Advanced Environmental Technology, Eco-Industrial Innovation Institute ZJUT, Quzhou, Zhejiang 324400, PR China
Ruyue Guo Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, PR China
Ping Chen Department of Pharmacy, Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang 324000, PR China
Songyang Zhong Department of Pharmacy, Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang 324000, PR China
Xilin Wu Department of Pharmacy, Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang 324000, PR China.

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Occurrence and partitioning of p-phenylenediamine antioxidants and their quinone derivatives in water and sediment

p-Phenylenediamine antioxidants (PPDs) and PPDs-derived quinones (PPDQs) may pose a threat to the river ecosystem. However, the knowledge on the occurrence and environmental behaviors of PPDs and PPDQs in the natural river environment remains unknown. In this study, we collected paired water (n = 30) and sediment samples (n = 30) from Jiaojiang River, China and analyzed them for nine PPDs and seven PPDQs. Our results showed that target PPDs and PPDQs are frequently detected in water samples, with the dominance of N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD; mean 12 ng/L, range 4.0-72 ng/L) and 6PPD-derived quinone (6PPDQ; 7.0 ng/L, Collapse

Key Words

• PPDQs
• PPDs
• Partitioning
• Sediment
• Water

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MESH Headings Collapse

Grants Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Jianqiang Zhu Department of Environmental Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318000, PR China
Ruyue Guo Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, PR China
Fangfang Ren Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, PR China
Shengtao Jiang Department of Environmental Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318000, PR China
Hangbiao Jin Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, PR China; Innovation Research Center of Advanced Environmental Technology, Eco-Industrial Innovation Institute ZJUT, Quzhou, Zhejiang 324400, PR China.

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Distribution of parabens and 4-HB in human blood

Human blood has been commonly and routinely analyzed to determine internal human exposure to parabens. However, data on the occurrence of parabens and their common metabolite, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB), in different human blood matrixes is still limited. In this study, 139 pairs of serum and whole blood samples were collected from Chinese adults, and then analyzed them for 5 parabens and 4-HB. Methylparaben (MeP) and propylparaben (PrP) were consistently the predominant parabens in human serum (mean 2.3 and 2.1 ng/mL, respectively) and whole blood (1.9 and 1.3 ng/mL, respectively). Mean concentrations of 4-HB in human serum and whole blood were 7.7 and 12 ng/mL, respectively. Concentrations of parabens, except benzylparaben (BzP), and 4-HB in human serum were significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with that in whole blood. Distribution pattern of parabens and 4-HB in human blood was evaluated, for the first time, based on their partitioning between human serum and whole blood (Kp). Mean Kp values of parabens, except BzP, increased with the alkyl chain length from 0.83 to 1.6. BzP (mean 1.4) had a comparable mean Kp value to PrP (mean 1.4). Among target analytes, 4-HB had the lowest mean Kp value (0.75). These data are important to select appropriate blood matrixes for conducting human exposure assessment and epidemiological studies on parabens.

Occurrence of p-phenylenediamine antioxidants (PPDs) and PPDs-derived quinones in indoor dust

The p-phenylenediamine antioxidants (PPDs) have been widely detected in various dust samples. Nevertheless, the knowledge on occurrence of their environmental transformation products, PPD-derived quinones (PPDQs), in indoor dust remains limited. In this study, indoor dust samples (n = 97) were collected from Hangzhou, China, and analyzed for PPDs and PPDQs. Results showed that nine PPDs were detected in indoor dust samples, with the total concentrations of 1.7-223 ng/g. N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD, mean 17 ng/g) was the predominant PPDs in indoor dust, followed by N, N'-di(o-tolyl)-p-phenylenediamine (DTPD, 8.6 ng/g) and N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-(p-tolyl)-p-phenylenediamine (DMTPD, 4.7 ng/g). Five PPDQs were detected in indoor dust samples. Among detected PPDQs, 6PPDQ (14 ng/g, 0.33-82 ng/g) had the highest mean concentration, followed by DTPDQ (5.9 ng/g, < LOD-31 ng/g) and DPPDQ (2.2 ng/g, < LOD-11 ng/g). We also estimated the daily intake (DI) of PPDs and PPDQs through indoor dust ingestion. Infants had higher mean DIs of PPDs and PPDQs than children and adults. Notably, to our knowledge, this study first reports the occurrence of three novel PPDs and four novel PPDQs in indoor dust samples. More studies are needed to reveal the potential human health risks of exposure to these newly identified chemicals.

[A multi-dimensional analysis of pollen broadcasting concerns in Chinese population: a large-scale multi-center cross-sectional survey]

Objective: To investigate the concern about pollen broadcasting in Chinese population from multiple dimensions and to understand the information about allergic rhinitis (AR) in China by analyzing related factors. Methods: From March 1 to September 30, 2022, a large-scale multi-center cross-sectional survey was conducted based on the Questionnaire Star platform in 21 Chinese hospitals. A total of 7 056 subjects from 7 regions in China: Northeast, North, East, Central, South, Southwest, and Northwest China were included. Basic characteristics (including social demographic characteristics and disease characteristics of AR patients), concern about pollen broadcasting, the willingness of pollen-induced AR (PiAR) patients to receive pollen broadcasting, and the treatment satisfaction rate of AR patients were collected. The chi-square test, multivariate linear regression model, and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the concern about pollen broadcasting in the Chinese population and related factors from multiple dimensions. Results: Among 7 056 subjects, 23.02% were concerned about pollen broadcasting. Among 3 176 self-reported AR and 1 019 PiAR patients, 25.60% and 39.16% were concerned about pollen broadcasting, respectively, which was higher than that of non-AR or non-PiAR subjects (χ2 value was 21.74 and 175.11, respectively, both P<0.001). Among AR patients, the proportion of spring and autumn allergen-positive patients concerned about pollen broadcasting was higher than that in perennial allergen-positive patients (χ2 value was 20.90 and 19.51, respectively, both P<0.001). The proportion of AR patients with asthma, sinusitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases was higher than those without complications (χ2 value was 50.83, 21.97, 56.78, 7.62, respectively, all P<0.05). The proportion of AR patients in North China who could find pollen broadcasting locally was 31.01%, significantly higher than those in other regions (all P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression model analysis showed that among PiAR patients, those with higher per capita household income and higher AR disease cognition levels had been concerned about pollen broadcasting in the past, and those complicated with allergic conjunctivitis had stronger intention to receive pollen broadcasting (B value was 0.24, 0.13, 0.66, 0.47, respectively, all P<0.05). The higher the disease cognition level of PiAR patients, the stronger their willingness to actively participate in treatment (R2=0.72, P<0.001). Only 18.89% of AR patients felt satisfied with the treatment effect. Logistic regression analysis showed that in AR patients, the treatment satisfaction rate was significantly higher among those concerned about pollen broadcasting compared to those who were not (OR=1.83, P<0.001). Conclusions: Currently, the dissemination of pollen broadcasting in China is hindered by various factors such as disease cognition level. The treatment satisfaction among AR patients remains unsatisfactory.

Occurrence of microplastics in Antarctic fishes: Abundance, size, shape, and polymer composition

Presence of microplastics (MPs) in Antarctic ecosystems has attracted global attention, due to the potential threat to the Antarctic marine organisms. However, data on the occurrence of MPs in Antarctic fishes remains very limited. This study investigated the abundance and characteristics of MPs in four species of Antarctic fish (n = 114). The highest mean abundance of MPs was detected in Trematomus eulepidotus (1.7 ± 0.61 items/individual), followed by that in Chionodraco rastrospinosus (1.4 ± 0.26 items/individual), Notolepis coatsi (1.1 ± 0.57 items/individual), and Electrona carlsbergi (0.72 ± 0.19 items/individual). MPs in Notolepis coatsi (mean 747 μm) had the highest mean size, followed by that in Trematomus eulepidotus (653 μm), Chionodraco rastrospinosus (629 μm), and Electrona carlsbergi (473 μm). This is possibly attributed to the feeding habits and egestion behaviors of different Antarctic fishes. Fiber was consistently the predominant shape of MPs in Trematomus eulepidotus, Chionodraco rastrospinosus, and Electrona carlsbergi, accounting for 82 %, 76 %, and 60 % of total items of MPs, respectively. Polypropylene, polyamide, and polyethylene were the predominant polymer composition of MPs in Antarctic fishes, collectively contributed 63-86 % of total items of MPs. This may be because these types of MPs have been widely used in global household materials. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study examining the occurrence of MPs in Antarctic fishes. This study provides fundamental data for evaluating the risks of MP exposure for Antarctic fishes.

Superhydrophobic and Photocatalytic Synergistic Self-Cleaning Coating Constructed by Hierarchically Structured Flower-like Hollow SiO2@TiO2 Spheres with Oxygen Vacancies

The self-cleaning coating has both superhydrophobic physical and photocatalytic chemical self-cleaning properties, which has attracted the wide attention of researchers in recent years. First, the flower-like hollow SiO2@TiO2 spheres with oxygen vacancies (rFHSTs) were prepared by the liquid-phase reduction method, in which several different functional components were integrated. Meanwhile, the influence mechanisms of the physical structure and chemical composition on the photocatalytic properties are discussed in detail. The results proved that rFHSTs exhibited the enhanced photoresponse range and photocatalytic degradation performance in visible light because of the synergistic effect of the microstructure (internal cavity, 3D flower-like nanosheet), SiO2/TiO2 heterojunction structure, and oxygen vacancies. After that, superhydrophobic modified rFHSTs were used as fillers to fabricate PVA/PFDTS-rFHSTs composite coatings with both physical and chemical self-cleaning properties. The self-cleaning performances and principles of the composite coating were examined and explored. The results showed that the low surface energy of the hydrophobic chain segment, the inherent particle effect, and the photocatalytic activity of rFHSTs were responsible for the superhydrophobic and photocatalytic effects, finally endowing the composite coating with self-cleaning performance. In short, this study is profound for the development and application of self-cleaning coatings with both physical and chemical performances.

Effects of adverse childhood experiences on the Charlson comorbidity index in US adults

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this article was to explore the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and to provide valuable information for public health professionals and policymakers to improve quality of life and reduce mortality.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data pooled from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

METHODS

This study involved 102,393 US adult participants from the 2020 BRFSS. The zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) and mixed graphical model (MGM) models were used to explore the effect of ACEs on CCI and the interaction between ACEs.

RESULTS

In the count part of the model (CCI ≥0), sexual abuse had the strongest association with CCI (relative risk [RR] = 1.111, P < 0.001). In the logit part of the model (CCI = 0), the likelihood of having CCI equal to 0 decreased by 23.0% for household substance abuse, which was the highest percentage decrease for all ACEs. Compared to those with ACE scores equal to 0, individuals with ACE scores ≥4 have an expected CCI RR of 1.222, and the likelihood of having CCI equal to 0 decreased by 50.2%. Household substance abuse and incarceration history in the home had the strongest association among interactions of ACEs (0.85).

CONCLUSIONS

Associations between ACEs and CCI were observed in this study, and these associations differed between genders. The findings of this study provide data to design strategies for disease prevention and improvement of quality of life.

[Problems and pitfalls of the hepatocyte-specific contrast agent gadoxetate disodium for assessing the main criteria of LI-RADS version 2018]

Although main criteria like non-rim enhancement in the arterial phase, non-peripheral washout, enhancing envelope, lesion size, and threshold growth have definitions and interpretations in the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System, there are still some problems and pitfalls that clinicians and radiologists need to understand and avoid when assessing the main criteria based on gadoxetate disodium in clinical work-up. This article reviews the existing problems and current solutions in the assessment of the main criteria based on the hepatic contrast agent gadoxetate disodium.

[The value of cell free DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis]

Objective: To detect the cell-free DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Cf-TB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM), and to assess the diagnostic value of this method for TBM. Methods: We prospectively included patients with suspected meningitis from the Department of Tuberculosis, Beijing Chest Hospital, Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and Department of Neurology, 263 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army from September 2019 to March 2022. A total of 189 patients were included in this study. Among them, 116 were male and 73 were female, aged from 7 to 85 years, with an average of (38.5±19.1) years. The CSF specimens of the patients were collected for Cf-TB, MTB culture and Xpert MTB/RIF. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis and the difference was statistically significant with P<0.05. Results: Among the 189 patients, there were 127 patients in the TBM group and 62 patients in the non-TBM group. The sensitivity of Cf-TB was 50.4% (95%CI 41.4%-59.3%), the specificity was 100% (95%CI 92.7%-100.0%), the positive predictive value was 100% (95%CI 92.9%-100.0%), and the negative predictive value was 49.6% (95%CI 40.6%-58.6%). Using clinical diagnosis as the gold standard, the sensitivity of Cf-TB was 50.4% (64/127), which was significantly higher than that of MTB culture (8.7%, 11/127) and Xpert MTB/RIF (15.7%,20/127) (all P<0.001). Using etiology as the gold standard, the sensitivity of Cf-TB was 72.7% (24/33), which was significantly higher than that of MTB culture [33.3%, 11/33, (χ²=10.28, P=0.001)] and was similar to Xpert MTB/RIF (60.6%, 20/33) (χ²=1.091, P=0.296). Conclusion: The sensitivity of the Cf-TB test was significantly higher than that of CSF MTB culture and Xpert MTB/RIF. Cf-TB may provide evidence for earlier diagnosis and treatment of TBM.

Enhancing the antitumor immunosurveillance of PD-L1-targeted gene therapy for metastatic melanoma using cationized Panax Notoginseng polysaccharide

Improved curative effects with reduced toxicity has always been the ultimate goal of gene delivery vectors for tumor immunotherapy. Panax notoginseng polysaccharide (PNP), a natural plant-derived macromolecule, not only has antitumor immune activity but also has the typical structural characteristics useful for gene delivery. In this work, positively charged polyethyleneimine (PEI) was directly grafted to the backbone of PNP to induced its charge reversal and generate a functional gene vector (PNP-PEI). Moreover, a short hairpin RNA targeting the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was loaded into PNP-PEI to generate a potentially therapeutic nanoparticle (PNP-PEI/shPD-L1). In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that PNP-PEI could efficiently carry the therapeutic shPD-L1 into tumor cells and that PNP-PEI/shPD-L1 could significantly inhibit the expression of PD-L1 and growth of B16-F10 cells. Noteworthily, treatment with PNP-PEI reversed the phenotype of macrophages from M2 to M1 subtype and promoted dendritic cell maturation, which encouraged the host immunity and enhanced the therapeutic antitumor effects. In summary, this study describes a PNP-based gene delivery vector and highlights the beneficial immunopotentiating therapeutic outcomes of PNP-PEI for tumor immunotherapy.

Diagnostic value of pleural fluid SMRP, CA125, MMP-7, and MMP-9 in malignant pleural effusion

This study aimed to investigate the clinical value of mesothelin soluble related peptide (SMRP), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in benign and malignant pleural exudative effusion. A total of 105 adult patients with pleural exudative effusion admitted in our hospital from December 2019 to December 2020 were selected. Patients were divided into the benign group (n = 60) and the malignant group (n = 45) according to their condition. The levels of SMRP, CA125, MMP-7, and MMP-9 in the pleural effusion were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to analyze the individual and combined predictive value of SMRP, MMP-7, MMP-9, and CA125 levels. In the malignant group, the SMRP, CA125, MMP-7, and MMP-9 levels were all significantly higher than those in benign group (P = .01). The detection efficiency of the 4 indicators in the combined diagnosis were higher than that of single index and combination of any 2 indices. There was a moderate positive correlation between SMRP and CA125 and MMP-7 in malignant pleural effusion. The correlation between MMP-7 and MMP-9 was moderately positive. The diagnostic efficacy of SMRP combined with CA125, MMP-7, and MMP-9 in pleural effusion for malignant pleural effusion and BPE are better than single index, which has certain clinical values for the selection of early intervention scheme for BPE patients.

Female mouse model of diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin and high-carbohydrate high-fat diet

With the improvement of people's living standards and rapid economic development, the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing in most parts of the world. DM presents an important potential threat to human health. In the present study, a model of diabetes in female mice was established, and fasting blood glucose was detected at week 4, after which the biochemical profiles were evaluated by histopathological analysis. The success rate of modeling in the normal control (NC) group and the low/ middle/high-dose streptozotocin (STZ) group were 0, 0, 25% and 60%, respectively. In the middle-dose and high-dose STZ groups, the liver index was increased significantly compared with the NC group (p⟨0.05). The blood biochemical indicators of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in three STZ injection groups were as follows: alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase in middle- and high-dose STZ groups, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and serum creatinine in the high-dose STZ group, and blood urea nitrogen in the middle-dose STZ group were significantly increased (p⟨0.05). The level of total triglycerides was lower, obviously, in the high-dose STZ group than in the NC group (p⟨0.05). The mice showed marked steatosis, green-dyed fiber tissue coloring in varying degrees, and the contour of the hepatic lobules basically disappeared in STZ injection groups. The results suggest that to establish a diabetes model for female ICR mice, the optimum dose of STZ is 100 mg/kg.

Rectifying cow infertility under heat stress by immunization against inhibin and supplementation of progesterone

This study was undertaken for the development of novel techniques that are based on immunoneutralization of inhibin bioactivity to improve Holstein cow fertility. A series of 4 experiments were carried out on 2 farms that were located in subtropical or temperate regions, to test the effects of immunization against inhibin alpha subunit on cow fertility under varying degrees of heat stress conditions. Though immunization against inhibin alone improved conception rate (CR) after TAI moderately in cows under mild heat stress conditions, the treatment plus progesterone supplementation substantially enhanced CR in the range of 25 to 35 percentages from severe heat stress to comfortable weather conditions. There existed an additive effect between immunization against inhibin and progesterone supplementation that maximally enhanced CR. Further, immunization against inhibin increased both FSH and activin A concentrations in blood during both follicular and luteal phases. It also significantly increased blood concentrations of E2 in the follicular phase but decreased P4 concentrations during the early pregnancy. However, interferon-tau concentrations in blood around the time of pregnancy recognition were doubled in the inhibin immunized cows. In conclusion, immunization against inhibin plus P4 treatment enhances ovarian follicle and the subsequent early embryo developments that help to greatly improve the fertility of Holstein dairy cows.

[Preparation and roles of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel in healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds with bacterial colonization in mice]

Objective: To prepare the modified hyaluronic acid viscous hydrogel loaded with sliver particles and to explore the roles and mechanism of the hydrogel in healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds with bacterial colonization in mice. Methods: The experimental research method was adopted. Dopamine modified hyaluronic acid (HA-DA) and phenylboric acid modified hyaluronic acid (HA-PBA) were prepared, and their characteristic peaks were detected by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Different mass of acrylamides was added to HA-DA and HA-PBA to prepare the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 10%, 15%, and 20%. The gelation of the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20% was observed in the state of tilt and inversion at 37 ℃, and the storage modulus and loss modulus of the above 3 kinds of viscous hydrogels were detected by rotational rheometer. The sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel was prepared by adding nano silver ions to the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20%. The concentration of silver ions released by sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and the cumulative release rate of silver ion was calculated (n=5). The mouse fibroblasts L929 were divided into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group, viscous hydrogel group, and sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group, which were dealt correspondingly, and the cell survival was detected by cell counting kit 8 method after 1, 2, and 3 d of culture (n=5). Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected, and forty-eight full-thickness skin defect wounds were inflicted and inoculated with the mixture of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in the back of the mice, with two wounds in each mouse. The wounds were divided into normal saline group, viscous hydrogel group, and sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group, which were dealt correspondingly, with 16 wounds in each group, and two wounds in each mouse were divided into different groups. On post injury day (PID) 3, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing was observed and the wound healing rate was calculated. On PID 3, the colony forming units of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in wounds were observed and counted. On PID 14, the epithelized epidermal thickness and the optical density of collagen fiber in wounds were observed and analyzed after hematoxylin eosin staining and Masson staining, respectively. On PID 3, 7, and 10, the expressions of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor β₁ (TGF-β₁), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The number of wounds in each index detecting at each time point was four. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, and Bonferroni correction. Results: The characteristic peaks of HA-PBA were detected at the wave numbers of 1 369 and 1 425 cm^-1, indicating that phenylboric acid had been successfully grafted on hyaluronic acid, and the characteristic peaks of HA-DA were detected at the wave numbers of 1 516 and 1 431 cm^-1, indicating that dopamine had been successfully grafted on hyaluronic acid. The viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20% maintained the stable and no-flow condition of gelation in the state of tilt and inversion at 37 ℃. The storage modulus and loss modulus of the viscous hydrogel increased with the increase of acrylamide content, the storage modulus and loss modulus of the 3 kinds of viscous hydrogels had no obvious changes with the increase of the oscillation frequency or time, and the storage modulus of the 3 kinds of acrylamide hydrogels were greater than the loss modulus. The release of silver ion in the sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel lasted for 7 days, and the cumulative release rate of silver ion was up to 65%. After 1, 2, and 3 d of culture, the cell survival rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly lower than those in PBS group and viscous hydrogel group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while after 1 d of culture, the cell survival rate in viscous hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in PBS group (P<0.01). With extension of time after injury, the wounds of mice in the 3 groups shrank gradually. On PID 3, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were (53.0±3.6)%, (75.3±6.9)%, (93.3±1.2)%, and (96.7±0.8)%, which were significantly higher than (21.8±6.4)%, (53.9±8.2)%, (72.0±7.8)%, and (92.5±0.4)% in normal saline group (P<0.01). On PID 3 and 14, the wound healing rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than (43.5±2.4)% and (94.1±1.5)% in viscous hydrogel group (P<0.05). On PID 3 and 10, the wound healing rates in viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group (P<0.01). On PID 3, the colony forming units of two bacteria in wound of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly less than those in normal saline group and viscous hydrogel group (P<0.01), while the colony forming units of two bacteria in wound of viscous hydrogel group were significantly less than those in normal saline group (P<0.05). On PID 14, the wounds were basically epithelialized and the epidermis was thicker, with collagen protein content being increased significantly and more orderly arranged collagen in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group compared with those in the other 2 groups. On PID 14, the epidermal thickness in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly increased compared with that in the other two groups (P<0.05), and the optical density of collagen fiber was significantly increased compared with those in normal saline group (P<0.05). On PID 3, the expressions of TGF-β₁ and VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the expression of VEGF in wounds of viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in normal saline group (P<0.01). On PID 7, the expression of TGF-β₁ in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in the other 2 groups (P<0.01), and the expression of VEGF was significantly higher than that in normal saline group (P<0.01). On PID 10, the expression of TNF-α in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in normal saline group (P<0.05), the expressions of TGF-β₁ and VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the expression of VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in viscous hydrogel group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel prepared in this study has good stability and elasticity, which can continuously release silver ions and help to accelerate the healing of full-thickness defect wounds with bacterial colonization in mice. Besides, the sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel has low biological toxicity and can promote re-epithelialization, collagen deposition as well as angiogenesis of wounds, which may be related to the infiltration and regression of inflammatory cells.

NAA10 promotes proliferation of renal cell carcinoma by upregulating UPK1B

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to illustrate the role of NAA10 in aggravating the malignant progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by upregulating UPK1B.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

NAA10 levels in RCC tissues and paracancerous tissues were detected. Thereafter, the potential relationship between NAA10 level and clinical parameters of RCC patients was analyzed. After knockdown of NAA10, changes in proliferative potential of 786-O and Caki-1 cells were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Finally, the regulatory role of NAA10 in the downstream gene UPK1B and the involvement of UPK1B in the development of RCC were determined via rescue experiments.

RESULTS

NAA10 was upregulated in RCC tissues than paracancerous tissues. Tumor staging was much worse in RCC patients expressing a higher level of NAA10. Knockdown of NAA10 inhibited proliferative potential and downregulated UPK1B in RCC cells. Besides, NAA10 level was identified to be positively linked to UPK1B level in RCC tissues. At last, overexpression of UPK1B was able to abolish the inhibitory effect of silenced NAA10 on RCC proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

NAA10 level is closely linked to tumor staging and poor prognosis in RCC patients. NAA10 aggravates the malignant progression of RCC by upregulating UPK1B and may be a specific biomarker in RCC.

Hypoxia-Induced LXRα Contributes to the Migration and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells

Gastric cancer is characterized by the presence of high invasion ability, hypoxia and chemoresistance. Previous studies reported that liver X receptor α (LXRα) was involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of gastric cancer cells. However, hypoxia-mediated EMT and the role of LXRα in gastric cancer remained elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that LXRa mRNA and protein levels were up-regulated by hypoxia treatment and LXRα played an important role in HIF-1 dimer induced-EMT. The putative HIF-1α binding site was identified in the LXRa promoter. Expression of LXRα and HIF-1α was significantly up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues compared to that in normal tissues. More importantly, we noticed that the expression of LXRα and HIF-1α was significantly correlated. Taken together, these data suggested that LXRα is regulated by the activity and accumulation of HIF-1α and contributes to EMT of gastric cancer cells. This suggests that targeting LXRα might be a potential approach for improving survival of gastric cancer patients.

[The characteristics and citation analysis of the publications in National Medical Journal of China during 2016]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics and citations of articles in National Medical Journal of China (NMJC) during 2016, and to discuss the academic level and quality of the journal. Methods: All the literature published in NMJC during 2016 were retrieved through the Chinese Medical Citation index, and the citation frequency data in China's core journals of science and technology from January 2017 to December 2018 was obtained through Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China. The citation status of articles published in NMJC was statistically analyzed by the method of literature metrology. The main indicators included the citation rate of articles published in each year, the citation frequency of all articles, the citation status of individual papers and authors, the regional and high-yield institution distribution of cited authors, and the main citation journals. Results: In 2016, a total of 962 articles were published in 22 columns of NMJC. The total number of published pages was 3 940, and the average number of articles was 4.09 pages. A total of 28 key topics have been published. The total citation was 2 077 times, with 2.16 times per paper. Among them, 322 papers were not cited, accounting for 33.47%. The maximum citation frequency of a single paper was 66 times. There were good citations in the columns of Guidelines, Epidemiology, New technology and methods, Clinical research and Editorial. Oncology, neurology/psychiatry, imaging/ultrasound/radiology, respiratory medicine and orthopedics accounted for a large part [40.43% (389 articles)]. Articles in neurosurgery, respiratory medicine, preventive medicine and gastrointestinal surgery were all cited with high frequency (all ≥2.75 times/article). A total of 483(50.21%) articles had obtained fund support, and the rate (68.12%) of them cited was slightly higher than that of articles without fund support (64.93%). A total of 23 articles were cited ≥10 times, and 16 first authors were cited ≥10 times. In addation, 26 corresponding authors were cited ≥10 times and 10 institutions were cited more than 15 times. The authors of the cited papers were distributed in 29 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government), and there were more articles and higher total citation frequency in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Tianjin. From 2017 to 2018, papers published in NMJC were cited 2 077 times by a total of 490 journals. Conclusions: The guidelines published in NMJC is highly cited. The editorial department should adjust the column setting timely, strengthen the planning of key topic selection and the solicitation and publicity of excellent papers, and further improve the influence of the magazine.

[Current trend of breast cancer neoadjuvant treatment in China: a cross-sectional study]

Objective: To investigate the current trend of breast cancer neoadjuvant therapy and provide reference for the improvement of breast cancer clinical guideline in the future. Methods: Questionnaires of cross-sectional survey were sent to 110 hospitals (breast cancer surgery quantity surpassing 200) between July 2018 and September 2018. The stages and subtypes, therapeutic regimen, treatment assession, operation choice and preforming of patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy were recorded. Results: Neoadjuvant treatment has been performed in all of the 110 hospitals. The total number of breast patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy was about 14 550 (17.0% in surgical patients) in 2017. For all of the neoadjuvant patients, the proportion of stageⅡ patients was less than 30% in 81 hospitals, and the proportion of stage Ⅲ was more than 50% in 84 hospitals. The numbers of estrogen receptor (ER) (+ )/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) (-), ER (-)/HER-2 (+ ) and triple negative subtype breast cancer patients were 3 550 (24.4%), 6 024 (41.4%) and 4 991 (34.3%), respectively. Patient's scruples of relatively delayed operation and weak will of breast conservation after neoadjuvant therapy were the majority reasons for neoadjuvant therapy restriction. Anthracycline followed by taxane was the most usual neoadjuvant therapeutic regimens in 53.6% hospitals, and anthracycline plus taxane was the first choice in 42.7% hospitals. Chemotherapy with targeting therapy was recommended to HER-2 positive neoadjuvant patients in 80.9% hospitals. To assess treatment outcome of neoadjuvant treatment, 42.7% hospitals used MRI in more than 50% patients while the usage rate of MRI was less than 20% in 37.3% hospitals. The proportions of hospital using repeat-marking, tattoo and metal clip as the first method to identify the primary tumor region and lymph nodes were 60.0%, 29.1% and 10.9%, respectively. Breast-conservation rate after neoadjuvant therapy was less than 20% in 87.3% hospitals. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer is widely performed in most hospitals in China, while the proportion of neoadjuvant treatment in patients with operable breast cancer is still low. Meanwhile, the idea of achieving de-escalation operation through neoadjuvant treatment is not promoted and the therapeutic evaluation method of neoadjuvant treatment needs further studies to improve.

Association of C1q/TNF-related protein-9 (CTRP9) level with obstructive sleep apnea in patients with coronary artery disease

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is closely related to the incidence and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD), but the mechanisms linking OSA and CAD are unclear. C1q/TNF-related protein-9 (CTRP9) is a novel adipokine that protects the heart against ischemic injury and ameliorates cardiac remodeling.

Purpose

We aimed to ascertain the clinical relevance of CTRP9 with OSA prevalence in patients with CAD.

Methods

From August 2016 to March 2019, consecutive eligible patients with CAD (n=154; angina pectoris, n=88; acute myocardial infarction [AMI], n=66) underwent cardiorespiratory polygraphy during hospitalization. OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15 events h–1. Plasma CTRP9 concentrations were measured by ELISA method.

Results

OSA was present in 89 patients (57.8%). CTRP9 levels were significantly decreased in the OSA group than in the non-OSA group (4.7 [4.1–5.2] ng/mL vs. 4.9 [4.4–6.0] ng/mL, P=0.003). The difference between groups was only observed in patients with AMI (3.0 [2.3–4.9] vs. 4.5 [3.2–7.9], P=0.009), but not in patients with AP (5.0 [4.7–5.3] ng/mL vs. 5.1 [4.7–5.9] ng/mL, P=0.571) (Figure 1). Correlation analysis showed that CTRP9 levels were negatively correlated with AHI (r=−0.238, P=0.003) and oxygen desaturation index (r=−0.234, P=0.004), and positively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.251, P=0.004) in all subjects. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender (OR 3.099, 95% CI 1.029–9.330, P=0.044), body mass index (OR 1.148, 95% CI 1.040–1.268, P=0.006), and CTRP9 levels (OR 0.726, 95% CI 0.592–0.890, P=0.002) were independently associated with the prevalence of OSA.

Conclusions

Plasma CTRP9 levels were independently related to the prevalence of OSA in patients with CAD, suggesting that CTRP9 might play a role in the pathogenesis of CAD exacerbated by OSA.

Figure 1. CTRP9 levels in OSA and non-OAS groups

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Natural Science Foundation of China