Large-Scale Preparation of Micro-Nanofibrous and Fluffy Propylene-Based Elastomer/Polyurethane@Graphene Nanoplatelet Membranes with Breathable and Flexible Characteristics for Wearable Stretchy Heaters.

Effective personal thermal management is crucial for protecting human health during cold weather. Therefore, wearable heaters based on electric-heating membranes are one of the most promising devices to become essential appliances in our daily lives. The main challenge toward this goal is the development of electric-heating membranes with adequate breathable, flexible, and stretchable characteristics. In the work presented here, micro-nanofibrous fluffy electric-heating membranes were prepared by coating polyurethane/graphene nanoplatelet (PU@GNP) films onto melt-blown propylene-based elastomer (PBE) micro-nanofibrous membranes via a facile, cheap, and large-scale method consisting of a coating-compressing cyclic process. Investigation of the resulting PBE/PU@GNP membranes showed that the PU@GNP films were uniformly deposited onto the PBE micro-nanofiber surfaces, forming fluffy interconnected conducting channels. By applying a voltage of 36 V to the prepared PBE/PU@GNP membranes, the temperature increased to 69.7 °C, confirming excellent electric-heating features. Moreover, the porosity of the fabricated membrane could be tailored readily by adjusting the coating-compressing cycles. Benefiting from the conducting channels, the PBE/PU@GNP membranes exhibited efficiently regulated air permeability ranging from 212 to 60.2 mm/s, a prominent softness score of 53.8, and an excellent elastic recovery rate of 85.5%. These findings demonstrate that PBE/PU@GNP micro-nanofibrous fluffy membranes may well be suitable for application in electric-heating clothing. The cyclic coating-compressing preparation process may be attractive in industrial manufacturing.

Co-regulation of rainfall amount and timing on soil carbon mineralization in a typical salt marsh of the Yellow River Delta, China.

Studying the effects of rainfall regimes such as rainfall amount and timing on soil carbon mineralization is of great importance for our understanding the mechanisms underlying the stability and accumulation of soil carbon in coastal salt marshes. In this study, we examined the responses of soil carbon mineralization (CO2 and CH4 fluxes) from undisturbed soil columns to rainfall events in different seasons (dry and wet seasons) with filed experiments in a primary Suaeda salsa region in the Yellow River Delta salt-marsh wetland, which is far away from the coast and not affected by tides. The results showed that rainfall amount and timing had a significant interaction in affecting soil CO2 flux rates. During the dry season, large rainfall events significantly reduced soil CO2 flux rates but had no significant effect in the wet season, which might be closely related to the significant increase in soil water content and salinity. Rainfall amount, rainfall timing and their interactions had no significant effect on soil CH4 efflux rates. Rainfall timing and rainfall amount did not affect CH4/CO2. CH4/CO2 increased with increasing soil water content and salinity. Soil water content and soil salinity showed similar increases to increasing rainfall amount. Our results suggested that the changing rainfall regime under climate change in the future would have a great impact on soil carbon mineralization and carbon sink function by regulating soil water and salt migration in this region.

Effect of mesotherapy with nanochip in the treatment of facial rejuvenation.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of mesotherapy with nanochip for facial rejuvenation.Methods: 24 volunteers with aging skin were treated with a polycomponent formulation - NCTF® BOOST 135 HA for 5 times (once weekly for 3 times and successively biweekly for 2 times). Photographs were taken by VISIA at baseline, and after 1, 4, 10 weeks, while global scores for photoaging (GSP), improvement scores, volunteers' satisfaction, parameters describing the properties of the skin, and adverse effects were assessed during each follow-up period.Results: Total 20 volunteers completed the treatment. Evaluation of the whole face showed that GSP, skin texture (ophthalmic wrinkles, dermal thickness, and intensity of collagen fibers of skin), and skin brightness (Lab value) significantly improved at 4 weeks compared to baseline, while the difference between 4 and 10 weeks was not statistically significant. No evident improvement was observed in pigmented spots, telangiectasia, skin tightening, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin hydration. Slight erythema, pain was the most common side effect.Conclusion: Mesotherapy with nanochip can improve skin texture and brightness, but the effect is not permanent. It is recommended that the treatment be used as a complementary method for patients with facial rejuvenation needs.

[Health Benefit Analyses of the Clean Air Action Plan Implementation in Shanghai].

To understand the public health benefits of the Clean Air Action Plan implemented in Shanghai from 2013-2017, the changes of the PM2.5 exposure levels and related health and economic benefits were quantitatively evaluated by using air quality numerical modeling, health risk assessment, and environmental valuation methods. The results show that the proportion of the population exposed to a mean annual PM2.5 concentration lower than or equal to 35 µg·m-3 has increased from 1.62% in the base year to 34.06% in the control year. The death risk attributable to ambient PM2.5 exposure decreased from 15.2% in the base year to 11.9% in the control year. The total health benefits are approximately 11.841 billion RMB(95% CI:5.024-17.819 billion RMB), accounting for 0.55%(95% CI:0.23%-0.82%)of Shanghai's GDP in 2013. The implementation of the action plan has a positive effect on the protection of the health of the population. Health benefits in areas with dense populations and high PM2.5 declines are more pronounced within the outer ring line of Shanghai City.

A randomized guinea pig study on external cell growth factors after fractional ultrapulsed CO(2) laser therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser has been successfully used in treating fine wrinkles, acne scars, and photoaged skin. However, the downtime typically lasts a week or more. The purpose of this study was to observe the efficacy of external cell growth factors after Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser therapy. METHODS: The back skin of 20 male guinea pigs were divided into four regions after hair removal, then these four regions were irradiated with Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser, respectively. These 80 incised wounds were randomly divided into three therapeutic groups and a control group. The general condition of the wound healing was observed grossly. The determination of physiological functions was done and biopsies were harvested at different time points to compare the change of skin flexibility and fibroblasts number. RESULTS: The wound healing time of therapeutic groups shortened when compared with the control group. The flexibility of skin and the number of fibroblasts were also more than the control group. The effects of combined application of rhEGF and rb-bFGF therapeutic group were most conspicuous. CONCLUSIONS: Combined application of rhEGF with rb-bFGF could be more beneficial to the wound after Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser therapy. It could accelerate the wound healing and increase the flexibility of wound skin, so the significance was important to direct clinical application.

[Effects of airborne fine particulate matter on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function].

OBJECTIVE: to explore effects of airborne fine particulate matter exposure on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. METHODS: one hundred and seven field traffic policemen were recruited as airborne fine particulate matter high-exposure group and one hundred and one male residents as common exposure group. The individual sampler was used to measure fine particulate matter exposure levels of the two groups. To obtain personal information, especially respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, etc. a questionnaire survey was used. The pulmonary ventilation function was detected: forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), the first 1 second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0), FVC/FEV1.0% and peak flow values (PEF), and the difference of fine particulate matter exposure level and respiratory function of the two groups was compared. RESULTS: 24 h individual average fine particulate matter exposure concentration of traffic police and residents were respectively (115.4 ± 46.17) microg/m(3) and (74.94 ± 40.09) microg/m(3), the traffic police PM2.5 exposure levels were significantly higher than the residents. In the incidence of respiratory symptoms, compared with high-exposure group and common exposure group, coughing, expectoration, throat unwell, asthma, short of breath and nose discomfort, traffic police group was higher than residents group (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of lung ventilation function indexes, such as FVC and FEV1.0 was 25.23% and 12.15% respectively in high-exposure group, 11.88% and 2.97% in common exposure group, there was no statistical difference between two groups. Besides, the abnormal rate of FVC and FEV1.0, showed rising trend in high-exposure group with seniority. CONCLUSION: long-term higher levels of airborne fine particulate matter exposure, may impact respiratory health and impair pulmonary function.

Association analyses identify six new psoriasis susceptibility loci in the Chinese population.

We extended our previous genome-wide association study for psoriasis with a multistage replication study including 8,312 individuals with psoriasis (cases) and 12,919 controls from China as well as 3,293 cases and 4,188 controls from Germany and the United States and 254 nuclear families from the United States. We identified six new susceptibility loci associated with psoriasis in the Chinese study containing the candidate genes ERAP1, PTTG1, CSMD1, GJB2, SERPINB8 and ZNF816A (combined P < 5 × 10⁻8) and replicated one locus, 5q33.1 (TNIP1-ANXA6), previously reported (combined P = 3.8 × 10⁻²¹) in the European studies. Two of these loci showed evidence for association in the German study at ZNF816A and GJB2 with P = 3.6 × 10⁻³ and P = 7.9 × 10⁻³, respectively. ERAP1 and ZNF816A were associated with type 1 (early onset) psoriasis in the Chinese Han population (test for heterogeneity P = 6.5 × 10⁻³ and P = 1.5 × 10⁻³, respectively). Comparisons with the results of previous GWAS of psoriasis highlight the heterogeneity of disease susceptibility between the Chinese and European populations. Our study identifies new genetic susceptibility factors and suggests new biological pathways in psoriasis.

[Study of genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cell line induced by 14 nm and 280 nm carbon black particles in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cell line induced by 14 nm and 280 nm carbon black (CB) particles with micronucleus assay (CBMN), comet assay and hprt gene mutation test in vitro. METHODS: The genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells exposed to 14 nm and 280 nm CB particles at the doses of 0, 128, 256, 384 and 512 microg/ml for 24 h and 48 h was detected using above three genotoxic assays. Micronucleus (MN) assay, comet assay, hprt gene mutation test were used to detect the genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells induced by CB. Micronucleus rate (MNR), micronucleated cell rate (MCR), nuclear buds (Buds), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs), nuclear division index (NDI) and numbers of apoptotic cells served as indexes of CBMN assay; the percentage of DNA in the tail (% tail DNA) and the olive tail moment (OTM) were used as DNA damage indicators of comet assay; the hprt gene mutation frequency (Mf-hprt) served as the index of hprt gene mutation test. RESULTS: The % tail DNA, OTM in 14 nm CB group at the doses of 384 and 512 microg/ml for 48 h were 8.23% +/- 0.19%, 11.23% +/- 0.42% and 3.72 +/- 0.08, 4.90 +/- 0.18, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in control (5.10% +/- 0.08% and 2.22 +/- 0.03) (P < 0.01). The apoptotic cell rates in 14 nm CB group at the doses of 384 and 512 microg/ml for 48 h were 4.67 +/- 0.33 and 5.33 +/- 0.33, respectively, which were significantly higher than in control (0.00 +/- 0.00) (P < 0.05). The results of Mf-hprt were negative. CONCLUSION: The genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells exposed to 14 nm CB particles for 48 h could be detected. But the similar effects didn't appear in 280 nm CB group.

[Levels of environmental endocrine disruptors in umbilical cord blood and maternal blood of low-birth-weight infants].

OBJECTIVE: To monitor the biological levels of environmental endocrine disruptors (EDs, phthalates and surfactants) in the umbilical cord blood and maternal blood of low-birth-weight infants. METHODS: All 30 umbilical cord blood samples and 21 maternal blood samples were collected from low-birth-weight infants. The concentration of four kinds of phthalates (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP; mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, MEHP; di-ethyl phthalate, DEP; di-n-butyl phthalate, DBP) and two kinds of surfactants (4-nonylphenol, 4-NP; octylphenol, OP) in these blood samples were measured by using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The mean birth weight and birth length of low-birth-weight infants were (2158.48 +/- 125.06) g and (45.36 +/- 2.52) cm, respectively. The concentrations of DEP, MEHP, DBP, DEHP, 4-NP and OP were 18.90, 11.87, 7.67, 8.84, 1.51 and 2. 86 mg/L in maternal blood, and the detective rates were 86.7%, 63.3%, 60.0%, 63.3%, 56.7% and 66.7%, respectively. In umbilical cord blood, the concentrations of those EDs were 11.92, 9.94, 5.71, 5.20, 1.12 and 1.19 mg/L; the detective rates were 86.7%, 63.3%, 60.0%, 63.3%, 56.7% and 66.7%. No matter in maternal blood or in umbilical cord blood, the contents and detective rates of phthalates were higher than the surfactants. The concentration of MEHP was higher than its primer, DEHP. The contents of the target EDs in umbilical cord blood were less than those in the matched maternal blood. The percentages were 47.82% -84.05%. CONCLUSION: People could be exposed to EDs from embryo period. And this should be paid attention by the related departments.

[Clinical effect of treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin on patients with glucocorticosteroid induced facial dermatitis and its effect on skin barrier function].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin (abbr. as CHM) on glucocorticosteroid (GCS) induced facial dermatitis, and its effect in repairing skin barrier function. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients were randomly assigned into two groups, 68 in the treated group treated with CHM and 47 in the control group treated by oral administration of loratadine 10 mg once a day and ketotifen 1 mg once every night. The volume of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of patients was measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: The effective rate was 77.9% (53/68) and 14.9% (7/47) in the treated group and the control group respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups, and it was better in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The decrease of TEWL in the treated group was also superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin has significant clinical efficiency on GCS induced facial dermatitis and in repairing the skin barrier function.

[Progression of study on the health effects of indoor biological contaminants].

The use of HVAC (the heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system which leads to the inadequate circulation of indoor air, together with the popularization of family pets, creates an appropriate environment for survival and reproduction of air-borne microbes. Microbes with their toxin and allergen in air often adhere to saliva and particular matters, landing to the ground or floating in air for long time. Potential adverse health consequences may be led to subjects exposed to the biological contaminants. In particular, the disorders from the respiratory and allergic response were often reported. The progresses of studies on the biological contaminants during recent ten years were reviewed in the paper.

[Study on the oxidative injury of the vascular endothelial cell affected by PM2.5].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of cardiovascular disease affected by PM2.5. METHODS: ECV304 cells were exposed to PM2.5 of different concentration (50, 200 and 400 microg/ml), after 24h, the viability of cells by MTT, SOD and GSH contents in cells and apoptosis of cells determined by flow cytometer were measured. RESULTS: Viability of ECV304 cells declined and mortality of ECV304 cells increased gradually with increase of concentration, GSH contents in cells (mg/g prot) were 20.643 +/- 2.167, 16.774 +/- 2.911 (P < 0.05), 15.658 +/- 3.471 (P < 0.01), and SOD contents in cells (U/mg prot) were 5.878 +/- 0.401, 5.140 +/- 0.448 (P < 0.01), 4.817 +/- 0.451 (P < 0.01) when the concentration of PM2.5 was 50, 200 and 400 microg/ml. CONCLUSION: PM2.5 can cause vascular endothelial cells to die by way of oxidative injury, then induce cardiovascular disease.

[Applications of a rat model of chronic bronchitis on toxicity of PM2.5].

OBJECTIVE: To study the acute toxicity of PM2.5 to the rats with chronic bronchitis and the control rats and the difference between the model rats and the control rats on PM2.5 toxicity. METHODS: With the use of an intratracheal instillation, both groups were exposed to suspensions of PM2.5. After three times, the levels of ALB, LDH, AKP, MDA and GSH in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analyzed. RESULTS: PM2.5 could induce the acute toxicity to both model rats and control rats, and dose-response relationships were observed in all indexes. In model rats, the levels of ALB, LDH, AKP, and MDA were higher in control rats( P < 0.05), while the levels of GSH were lower in control rats (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PM2.5 could have acute toxic effects on both model rats and health rats, and the rats with chronic bronchitis are more susceptible to PM2.5 than health rats.