Association between air pollutants and four major mental disorders: Evidence from a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Existing epidemiological studies have indicated a correlation between air pollutants and the occurrence of mental disorders. However, it is difficult to estimate the causal relationship between the two because of the limitations of traditional epidemiological research. In our study, we aimed to extensively explore the causal relationship between five types of air pollutants and four types of mental disorders. METHODS: Based on the IEU OPEN GWAS database, we performed a two-sample MR analysis. The primary analysis method utilized was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by the MR-Egger method and the weighted median method. Additionally, we conducted sensitivity analyses with the Cochran's Q statistic method, the leave-one-out method, and the MR-Egger intercept. We chose at least 4 GWAS datasets for each of the four psychiatric diseases and conducted a meta-analysis of our results of the MR analysis. RESULTS: The meta-analysis's findings demonstrated a causal link between depression and PM2.5 (OR=1.020, 95 %CI: (1.010,1.030), P=0.001). PM10 and schizophrenia are also causally related (OR=1.136, 95 %CI: (1.034,1.248), P=0.008). Nitrogen oxides and bipolar disorder have a causal relationship (OR=1.002, 95 %CI: (1.000,1.003), P=0.022). Nitrogen oxides and schizophrenia have a high causal association (OR=1.439, 95 %CI: (1.183,1.752), P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study observed a causal association between increased concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen oxides and the occurrence of depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Our research findings have certain guiding implications for treating and preventing mental disorders.

Tunnel driving occupational environment and hearing loss in train drivers in China.

OBJECTIVE: Hearing loss caused by high levels of noise is a potential occupational health disorder among train drivers around the world. This study aims to investigate the relationship between tunnel driving occupational environment and hearing loss in train drivers, to provide some insights into helping reduce hearing loss among train drivers. METHODS: This study analysed cross-sectional data for 1214 train drivers who work at China Railway Guangzhou Group. Health examination was taken by physicians with professional licences, and audiometric testing was performed by health technicians in a sound-isolated room. T/R is defined as the ratio of the length of the tunnels to the length of the railway along drivers' work routes. Different multivariate models and stratified models were established for sensitivity analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the ORs of hearing loss associated with tunnel driving occupational environment. RESULTS: The adjusted OR for high-frequency hearing loss in association with the highest T/R levels (30%-45%) versus the lowest T/R levels (<15%) was 3.72 (95% CI 1.43 to 9.69). The corresponding OR for speech-hearing loss was 1.75 (95% CI 0.38 to 8.06). The sensitivity analysis shows our results are suitable for various alternative models. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that there was a significant association between tunnel driving occupational environment and hearing loss. Train drivers who work in a higher T/R environment have worse hearing loss.

Porous bimetallic cobalt-iron phosphide nanofoam for efficient and stable oxygen evolution catalysis.

Developing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts with high activity and long-term stability is critical to achieving efficient hydrogen production from water electrolysis. Herein, a porous bimetallic cobalt-iron phosphide (CoFe-P) nanofoam is synthesized via a novel one-pot glucose-blowing followed by oxidization and then phosphidization process. The CoFe-P nanofoam presents a porous nanostructure which contributes to contact with electrolytes and release of generated gas during electrocatalytic reactions. As OER catalysts in alkaline, the bimetallic porous CoFe-P nanofoam exhibit a lower overpotential (258 mV@10 mA cm-2) as well as outstanding stability (70 h@100 mA cm-2), which surpasses the RuO2 and is comparable to many high-performance Co and Fe-based catalysts. It is demonstrated that the surface of CoFe-P undergo a reconstruction process and form new high active (CoxFe1-x)OOH. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the elevated activity is caused by the bimetal Co and Fe optimizing the d-band center (Ed) energy levels and thus balancing the adsorption-desorption capacities for OER intermediates. This work through constructing porous bimetallic nanofoam offers a feasible strategy to facilitate the reaction activity and prolong the long-term stability of OER.

Risk prediction model for early postoperative death in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study based on random forest algorithm and logistic regression.

BACKGROUND: At present, little is known about the risk factors of early postoperative death in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We collected the data of patients who were diagnosed with primary liver cancer between 2010 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and further allocated them to the training set and validation set. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of early postoperative death of HCC patients. Random forest and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis were used to screen out vital variables for the construction of the nomogram. It was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 4154 patients were selected in this process, including 2647 patients with postoperative early death (outcome1) and 1507 patients with liver cancer-specific postoperative early death (outcome2). Surgery method, age category, marital status and tumor grade were the risk factors for early postoperative death. As for the liver cancer-specific early postoperative death, AJCC, surgery method, chemotherapy and tumor grade were independent prognostic factors. Early death and liver cancer-specific early death nomograms have an area under curves of 0.643 and 0.679 in the training set, respectively, and 0.617 and 0.688 in the validation set. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis shows that the nomograms have good performance. CONCLUSION: This model provides an intuitive and practical tool for future studies based on large-scale cohorts by exploring the risk factors of early death in patients with HCCs undergoing surgery.

Evaluation of China Healthy Lifestyle for All Interventions Based on RE-AIM Framework - China, 2007-2020.

What is already known about this topic?: Since the launch of China Healthy Lifestyle for All (CHLA), each action area has been evaluated at the local level and effective results have been achieved in most areas. What is added by this report?: Based on the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) model, the study found that there is an imbalance in the development of CHLA, and some of the action goals and indicators are not satisfactory. What are the implications for public health practices?: A national action evaluation index system should be built to ensure the sustainability and scientific nature of this strategy. In addition, the government needs to attach great importance to CHLA to effectively help residents take health actions.