Generalized models for estimating cerebral lateralisation of young children using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound.

Thompson et al., 2023 (Generalized models for quantifying laterality using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Human Brain Mapping, 44(1), 35-48) introduced generalised model-based analysis methods for determining cerebral lateralisation from functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD) data which substantially decreased the uncertainty of individual lateralisation estimates across several large adult samples. We aimed to assess the suitability of these methods for increasing precision in lateralisation estimates for child fTCD data. We applied these methods to adult fTCD data to establish the validity of two child-friendly language and visuospatial tasks. We also applied the methods to fTCD data from 4- to 7-year-old children. For both samples, the laterality estimates from the complex generalised additive model (GAM) approach correlated strongly with the traditional methods while also decreasing individual standard errors compared to the popular period-of-interest averaging method. We recommend future research using fTCD with young children consider using GAMs to reduce the noise in their LI estimates.

Prognostic implications of systemic immune-inflammation index in myocardial infarction patients with and without diabetes: insights from the NOAFCAMI-SH registry.

BACKGROUND: It is well-known that systemic inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII, platelet × neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) is a novel index that is used for the characterization of the severity of systemic inflammation. Recent studies have identified the high SII level as an independent predictor of poor outcomes in patients with AMI. We aimed to investigate the prognostic implications of SII in AMI patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: We included 2111 patients with AMI from February 2014 to March 2018. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause death and cardiovascular (CV) death. Multiple imputation was used for missing covariates. RESULTS: Of 2111 patients (mean age: 65.2 ± 12.2 years, 77.5% were males) analyzed, 789 (37.4%) had DM. Generalized additive model analyses showed that as the SII increased, the C-reactive protein and peak TnT elevated while the LVEF declined, and these associations were similar in patients with and without DM. During a median of 2.5 years of follow-up, 210 all-cause deaths and 154 CV deaths occurred. When treating the SII as a continuous variable, a higher log-transformed SII was significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR: 1.57, 95%CI: 1.02-2.43) and CV mortality (HR: 1.85, 95%CI 1.12-3.05), and such an association was also significant in the diabetics (HRs and 95%CIs for all-cause death and CV death were 2.90 [1.40-6.01] and 3.28 [1.43-7.57], respectively) while not significant in the nondiabetics (Pinteraction for all-cause death and CV death were 0.019 and 0.049, respectively). Additionally, compared to patients with the lowest tertiles of SII, those with the highest tertiles of SII possessed significantly higher all-cause mortality (HR: 1.82, 95%CI 1.19-2.79) and CV mortality (HR: 1.82, 95%CI 1.19-2.79) after multivariable adjustment, and this relationship remained pronounced in the diabetics (HRs and 95%CIs for all-cause death and CV death were 2.00 [1.13-3.55] and 2.09 [1.10-3.98], respectively) but was not observed in the nondiabetics (HRs and 95%CIs for all-cause death and CV death were 1.21 [0.75-1.97] and 1.60 [0.89-2.90], respectively). Our restricted cubic splines analyses indicated a pronounced linear association between SII and mortality only in diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: In AMI patients with DM, high SII is an independent predictor of poor survival and may be helpful for patient's risk stratification.

Relationship between glycated hemoglobin levels and three-month outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients with or without diabetes: a prospective Korean cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: In patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke, there is ongoing debate surrounding the connection between chronic hyperglycemic status and their initial clinical outcomes. Our objective was to examine the connection between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and adverse clinical outcomes at both 3-months adverse clinical outcomes in individuals with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with and without diabetes. METHODS: The present prospective cohort study involved 896 AIS patients without diabetes and 628 with diabetes treated at a South Korean hospital from January 2010 to December 2016. The target independent variable is HbA1c. The outcome variable is a modified Rankin scale score ≥ 3. A binary logistic regression model was applied to assess the connection between HbA1c levels and 3-month poor clinical outcomes in AIS patients with and without diabetes. Additionally, a generalized additive model and smoothed curve fitting were utilized to explore potential nonlinear associations between HbA1c levels and 3-month adverse clinical outcomes in AIS patients with and without diabetes. RESULTS: The binary logistic regression model could not identify any statistically significant connection between HbA1c and 3-month adverse clinical outcomes in AIS patients, both those with and without diabetes, after correcting for various factors. However, a nonlinear relationship emerged between HbA1c and 3-month adverse clinical outcomes in AIS patients with diabetes. The inflection point for HbA1c was determined to be 6.1%. For HbA1c values ≤ 6.1%, an inverse association was observed between HbA1c and 3-month adverse clinical outcomes in diabetic AIS patients, and each 1% increase in HbA1c in AIS patients with DM was associated with an 87% reduction in 3-month adverse clinical outcomes (OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.02-0.81). Conversely, when HbA1c exceeded 6.1%, a positive association between HbA1c and 3-month adverse clinical outcomes became apparent in diabetic AIS patients, and each 1% increase in HbA1c in AIS patients with DM was associated with a 23% increase in 3-month adverse clinical outcomes (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.03-1.47). However, it's important to note that no significant linear or nonlinear relationships were observed between HbA1c levels and 3-month adverse clinical outcomes in AIS patients without diabetes. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a nonlinear connection and threshold effect between HbA1c and 3-month adverse clinical outcomes in AIS patients with diabetes. AIS patients with diabetes had a lower risk of 3-month adverse clinical outcomes when their HbA1c control was close to 6.1%. Our findings may aid treatment decision-making and potentially guide interventions to optimize glycemic control in AIS patients.

Wildfire Impacts on O3 in the Continental United States Using PM2.5 and a Generalized Additive Model (2018-2023).

We examined PM2.5 and Hazard Mapping System smoke plume satellite data at ∼600 United States (US) air monitoring stations to identify surface smoke on 14.0% of all May-September days for 2018-2023, with large influences in 2020 and 2021, due to California fires, and 2023, due to Canadian fires. Days with smoke have an average of 11 µg m-3 more PM2.5 and 8 ppb higher maximum daily 8 h average (MDA8) O3 concentrations than nonsmoke days, and they also account for 94% of all days that exceed the daily PM2.5 health standard (35 µg m-3) and 36% of all days that exceed the O3 health standard (70 ppb). To estimate the smoke contributions to the O3 MDA8, Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were built for each site using the nonsmoke day data and up to 8 predictors. The mean and standard deviation of the residuals from the GAMs were 0 ± 6.1 ppb for the nonsmoke day data and 4.3 ± 7.9 ppb for the smoke day data, indicating a significant enhancement in the MDA8 O3 on smoke days. We found positive residuals on 72% of the smoke days and for these days, we calculate an average smoke contribution to the O3 MDA8 of 7.8 ± 6.0 ppb. Over the 6 year period, the percentage of exceedance days due to smoke in the continental US was 25% of all exceedance days, and the highest was in 2023 (38%). In 2023, the Central US experienced an unusually high number of exceedance days, 1522, with 52% of these impacted by smoke, while the Eastern US had fewer exceedance days, 288, with 78% of these impacted by smoke. Our results demonstrate the importance of wildland fires as contributors to exceedances of the health-based national air quality standards for PM2.5 and O3.

Association of PM2.5 exposure in early pregnancy and maternal liver function: A retrospective cohort study in Shenzhen, China.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has adverse effects on the liver function, but epidemiological evidence is limited, especially regarding pregnant women. This study aims to investigate the association between PM2.5 exposure in early pregnancy and maternal liver function during pregnancy. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 13,342 pregnant participants. PM2.5 and Ozone (O3) exposure level, mean temperature, and relative humidity for each participant were assessed according to their residential address. The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TBIL) were measured during the second and third trimesters. Data on PM2.5 and O3 exposure level were sourced from Tracking Air Pollution in China (TAP), while the mean temperature and relative humidity were obtained from the ERA5 dataset. The Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was used to analyze the associations between PM2.5 exposure and maternal liver function during pregnancy, adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: According to the results, each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with an increase of 3.57% (95% CI: 0.29%, 6.96%) in ALT and 4.25% (95% CI: 2.33%, 6.21%) in TBIL during the second trimester and 4.51% (95% CI: 2.59%, 6.47%) in TBIL during the third trimester, respectively. After adjusting for O3, these associations remained significant, and the effect of PM2.5 on ALT during the second trimester was further strengthened. No significant association observed between PM2.5 and AST. CONCLUSIONS: PM2.5 exposure in early pregnancy is associated with increasement of maternal ALT and TBIL, suggesting that PM2.5 exposure may have an adverse effect on maternal liver function. Although this finding indicates an association between PM2.5 exposure and maternal liver function, more research is needed to confirm our findings and explore the underlying biological mechanisms.

Association between dietary riboflavin intake and cognitive decline in older adults: a cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Research exploring the link between dietary riboflavin intake and cognitive decline in this demographic is limited. Our aim was to examine the association between riboflavin intake levels and cognitive decline. METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2011 to 2014 were utilized in this cross-sectional analysis. The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease test Word Learning delayed recall trial (DR), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Animal Fluency Test(AFT) and Z test were used to evaluate cognitive performance. Multivariate logistic regression, restricted cubic spline and subgroup analysis were performed to evaluate the associations between riboflavin intake and cognitive decline. RESULTS: The study included a total of 2255 patients, with 47.9% being male. The incidence of cognitive decline was 23.8%. After adjusting for all selected covariates, we found that high riboflavin intake was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment in adults in the United States. When riboflavin intake was used as a Categorical variable, compared to those with the lowest intake, the odds ratio (OR) of individuals with the highest riboflavin intake for DR test, AFT test, DSST test and Z test were 0.73 (95% CI: 0.53~1), 0.68(95% CI: 0.49-0.96),0.53(95% CI: 0.37-0.77) and 0.56(95% CI: 0.39-0.8). The study also found an L-shaped association between riboflavin intake and cognitive decline, with an inflection point at approximately 2.984 mg/d. CONCLUSIONS: Our cross-sectional study in a nationwide sample of American old adults suggests that dietary riboflavin intake was negative associated with cognitive decline.

Relationship between triglyceride-glucose index and blood eosinophils among asthmatic individuals in the USA.

BACKGROUND: Presently, the majority of investigations primarily evaluate the correlation between triglyceride-glucose index (TyGI) with lung diseases, such as asthma. However, they did not delve into the correlation between TyGI and inflammatory responses related to the disease. Few studies have explored the association between TyGI and blood eosinophil count (BEOC). Thus, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were used in this study to evaluate the correlation between TyGI and BEOC in individuals with asthma. METHODS: This study investigated 3902 individuals with asthma. Linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between TyGI and BEOC in patients with asthma. Subsequently, the GAM and threshold effect models were used to validate the presence of either a nonlinear or linear association between TyGI and BEOC. Finally, stratified analyses were conducted to ascertain the correlations between different subgroups. RESULTS: Four linear regression models confirmed a positive linear correlation between TyGI and BEOC in patients with asthma. In Model D, which controlled for all covariates, BEOC increased by 12.44 cells/uL for every extra unit of TyGI. The GAM and threshold effect models further verified the positive linear correlation between TyGI and BEOC. The XGBoost model indicated that the six most significant variables influencing BEOC, in order of relative importance, were age, cholesterol level, body mass index (BMI), poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), BNEUC, and TyGI. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with asthma, the study discovered a linear positive correlation between TyGI and BEOC. This indicates a potential connection between TyGI and alterations in the immune status of individuals with asthma, which may help detect abnormalities in a timely manner and provide a reference for clinical decision-making. This study offers fresh insights for the future exploration of the management and treatment of asthma.

Physical activity, residential greenness, and cardiac autonomic function.

PURPOSE: This population-based study examines the associations between physical activity (PA), residential environmental greenness, and cardiac health measured by resting short-term heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Residential greenness of a birth cohort sample (n = 5433) at 46 years was measured with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) by fixing a 1 km buffer around each participant's home. Daily light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and the combination of both (MVPA) were measured using a wrist-worn accelerometer for 14 days. Resting HRV was measured with a heart rate monitor, and generalized additive modeling (GAM) was used to examine the association between PA, NDVI, and resting HRV. RESULTS: In nongreen areas, men had less PA at all intensity levels compared to men in green areas. Women had more LPA and total PA and less MPA, MVPA, and VPA in green residential areas compared to nongreen areas. In green residential areas, men had more MPA, MVPA, and VPA than women, whereas women had more LPA than men. GAM showed positive linear associations between LPA, MVPA and HRV in all models. CONCLUSIONS: Higher LPA and MVPA were significantly associated with increased HRV, irrespective of residential greenness. Greenness was positively associated with PA at all intensity levels in men, whereas in women, a positive association was found for LPA and total PA. A positive relationship of PA with resting HRV and greenness with PA was found. Residential greenness for promoting PA and heart health in adults should be considered in city planning.

Study on the correlation between the number of mushroom poisoning cases and meteorological factors based on the generalized additive model in Guizhou Province, 2023.

BACKGROUND: Mushroom poisoning is a significant food safety issue in Guizhou Province, China. Studies on this topic are essential for its prevention and control. We aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of mushroom poisoning and study the correlation between its cases and meteorological factors in Guizhou Province. METHODS: We collected data on mushroom poisoning and meteorological factors in Guizhou Province in 2023. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the epidemiological features of mushroom poisoning and meteorological factors. We used Spearman correlation analysis and the generalized additive model to examine the relationship between meteorological factors and the number of mushroom poisoning cases. RESULTS: In 2023, mushroom poisoning cases in Guizhou Province were concentrated among individuals aged 20-59. Clinical symptoms were primarily gastrointestinal symptoms and occurrences peaked from June to October, mainly in the northeastern region of the province. Most incidents occurred in households. In 72 mushroom poisoning incidents where species were identified, 33 poisonous mushrooms were found. The number of mushroom poisoning cases in Guizhou Province was positively correlated with each meteorological factor(P < 0.05). The generalized additive model showed a significant nonlinear relationship between DGT, PRE, RHU, SSD, and the number of mushroom poisoning cases (P < 0.05). Interaction analysis showed that the risk of mushroom poisoning in Guizhou Province increased with the rising values of any two of these four meteorological factors. CONCLUSION: Mushroom poisoning incidents in Guizhou Province are characterized by high-risk groups, seasonality, and specific high-incidence regions and places. Public awareness for high-risk groups and early warnings for high-incidence regions and places should be strengthened every summer and fall. There is a correlation between meteorological factors and the number of mushroom poisoning cases, suggesting that these factors could serve as early warning indicators for the prevention and control of mushroom poisoning.

Relationship between temperature and acute myocardial infarction: a time series study in Xuzhou, China, from 2018 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: It is widely known that the incidence rate and short-term mortality of acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) are generally higher during the winter months. The goal of this study was to determine how the temperature of the environment influences fatal acute myocardial infarctions in Xuzhou. METHODS: This observational study used the daily meteorological data and the data on the cause of death from acute myocardial infarction in Xuzhou from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. After controlling meteorological variables and pollutants, the distributed nonlinear lag model (DLNM) was used to estimate the correlation between temperature and lethal AMI. RESULTS: A total of 27,712 patients with fatal AMI were enrolled. 82.4% were over the age of 65, and 50.9% were men. Relative to the reference temperature (15 ℃), the 30-day cumulative RRs of the extremely cold temperature (- 2 ℃) for the general population, women, and people aged 65 years and above were 4.66 (95% CI: 1.76, 12.30), 15.29 (95% CI: 3.94, 59.36), and 7.13 (95% CI: 2.50, 20.35), respectively. The 30-day cumulative RRs of the cold temperature (2 ℃) for the general population, women, and people aged 65 years and above were 2.55 (1.37, 4.75), 12.78 (2.24, 5.36), and 3.15 (1.61, 6.16), respectively. No statistically significant association was observed between high temperatures and the risk of fatal AMI. The influence of the cold effect (1st and 10th) was at its peak on that day, and the entire cold effect persisted for 30 days. Temperature extremes had an effect on the lag patterns of distinct age and gender stratifications. CONCLUSION: According to this study, the risk of fatal AMI increases significantly in cold weather but not in hot weather. Women above the age of 65 are particularly sensitive to severe weather events. The influence of frigid weather on public health should also be considered.

Exploring the effects and interactions of meteorological factors on the incidence of scrub typhus in Ganzhou City, 2008-2021.

BACKGROUND: Scrub typhus poses a substantial risk to human life and wellbeing as it is transmitted by vectors. Although the correlation between climate and vector-borne diseases has been investigated, the impact of climate on scrub typhus remains inadequately comprehended. The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of meteorological conditions on the occurrence of scrub typhus in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province.  METHODS: From January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2021, we gathered weekly records of scrub typhus prevalence alongside meteorological data in Ganzhou city. In order to investigate the correlation between meteorological factors and scrub typhus incidence, we utilized distributional lag nonlinear models and generalized additive models for our analysis. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2021, a total of 5942 cases of scrub typhus were recorded in Ganzhou City. The number of females affected exceeded that of males, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.86. Based on the median values of these meteorological factors, the highest relative risk for scrub typhus occurrence was observed when the weekly average temperature reached 26 °C, the weekly average relative humidity was 75%, the weekly average sunshine duration lasted for 2 h, and the weekly mean wind speed measured 2 m/s. The respective relative risks for these factors were calculated as 3.816 (95% CI: 1.395-10.438), 1.107 (95% CI: 1.008-1.217), 2.063 (95% CI: 1.022-4.165), and 1.284 (95% CI: 1.01-1.632). Interaction analyses showed that the risk of scrub typhus infection in Ganzhou city escalates with higher weekly average temperature and sunshine duration. CONCLUSION: The findings of our investigation provide evidence of a correlation between environmental factors and the occurrence of scrub typhus. As a suggestion, utilizing environmental factors as early indicators could be recommended for initiating control measures and response strategies.

Urinary paraben exposure increases the risk of a low estimated glomerular filtration rate in Taiwanese general population.

BACKGROUND: The inconsistent relationship between chemical exposure and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has been examined in only a few studies. We investigated the association between paraben exposure and indicators of renal function in a total of 361 individuals recruiting from a representative study. METHOD: The levels of urinary parabens, including methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP), and butylparaben (BuP), were measured using UPLC-MS/MS. The association between paraben exposure and indices of renal function was assessed using multiple logistic regression and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR). RESULTS: The median levels of urinary parabens in the adult group were significantly higher than those in the minor group, that is, 397 vs. 148 ng/mL for MeP, 38.8 vs. 13.6 ng/mL for EtP, 117 vs. 57.7 ng/mL for PrP, and 6.61 vs. 2.79 ng/mL for BuP (all P < 0.001). In the adult group, multivariate regression models confirmed a positive association between the albumin-to-creatinine ratio and urinary MeP (ß = 0.580) and a positive association of BUN (ß = 0.061) and a negative association of eGFR (ß = -0.051) with urinary EtP (all P < 0.001). In the adult group, compared with the lowest tertile group, the adjusted odds ratio in the third tertile (T3) of urinary EtP levels indicated a 3.08 times increased risk of eGFR abnormalities, followed by the second tertile (T2) with a 2.63 times increased risk. The generalized additive model (GAM) and BKMR models showed a non-linear correlation between urinary EtP levels and early CKD, as well as reduced eGFR. We observed a significant positive cumulative effect of urinary paraben on eGFR, and a significant positive single exposure effect of urinary EtP with eGFR abnormality. CONCLUSION: We found a significant association between exposure to EtP and an increased risk of high BUN levels and decreased eGFR.

Interaction between air pollutants and meteorological factors on pulmonary tuberculosis in northwest China: A case study of eight districts in Urumqi.

Meteorological factors and air pollutants are associated with the spread of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), but few studies have examined the effects of their interactions on PTB. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of meteorological factors and air pollutants and their interactions on the risk of PTB in Urumqi, a city with a high prevalence of PTB and a high level of air pollution. The number of new PTB cases in eight districts of Urumqi from 2014 to 2019 was collected, along with data on meteorological factors and air pollutants for the same period. A generalized additive model was applied to explore the effects of meteorological factors and air pollutants and their interactions on the risk of PTB incidence. Segmented linear regression was used to estimate the nonlinear characteristics of the impact of meteorological factors on PTB. During 2014-2019, a total of 14,402 new cases of PTB were reported in eight districts, with March to May being the months of high PTB incidence. The exposure-response curves for temperature (Temp), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), air pressure (AP), and diurnal temperature difference (DTR) were generally inverted "U" shaped, with the corresponding threshold values of - 5.411 °C, 52.118%, 3.513 m/s, 1021.625 hPa, and 8.161 °C, respectively. The effects of air pollutants on PTB were linear and lagged. All air pollutants were positively associated with PTB, except for O3, which was not associated with PTB, and the ER values for the effects on PTB were as follows: 0.931 (0.255, 1.612) for PM2.5, 1.028 (0.301, 1.760) for PM10, 5.061 (0.387, 9.952) for SO2, 2.830 (0.512, 5.200) for NO2, and 5.789 (1.508, 10.251) for CO. Meteorological factors and air pollutants have an interactive effect on PTB. The risk of PTB incidence was higher when in high Temp-high air pollutant, high RH-high air pollutant, high WS-high air pollutant, lowAP-high air pollutant, and high DTR-high air pollutant. In conclusion, both meteorological and pollutant factors had an influence on PTB, and the influence on PTB may have an interaction.

U-Shaped Association between Serum Chloride Levels and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure in Intensive Care Units.

Serum chloride level has clinical significance in the prognosis of heart failure. Little is known regarding the association between serum chloride levels and in-hospital mortality in patients with heart failure.This retrospective study used clinical data obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care Database. The study cohort comprised patients who were categorized on the basis of their serum chloride levels, and the primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. To assess the impact of serum chloride levels at the time of intensive care unit admission on in-hospital mortality, we used various statistical approaches, including multivariable logistic regression models, a generalized additive model, and a two-piecewise linear regression model. In addition, subgroup analysis was conducted to examine the robustness of the main findings.This study comprised 15,983 participants. When compared with the reference group (Q5), the groups with the highest (Q7) and lowest (Q1) blood chloride levels exhibited increased in-hospital mortality, with fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 1.36 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.71] and 1.25 (95% CI: 1-1.56), respectively. A U-shaped relationship was observed between blood chloride levels and in-hospital mortality, with the lowest risk observed at a threshold of 105.017 mmol/L. The effect sizes and corresponding CIs below and above the threshold were 0.969 (95% CI: 0.957-0.982) and 1.039 (95% CI: 1.002-1.076), respectively. Stratified analyses demonstrated the robustness of this correlation.The relationship between serum chloride levels and in-hospital mortality in patients with heart failure was U-shaped, with an inflection point of 105.017 mmol/L.

Effects of ambient PM2.5 on non-accidental death: a time-series study in Shenzhen, China during 2014-2019.

This study aims to investigate the impact of PM2.5 on non-accidental death of residents. The single-pollutant model revealed that the influence of PM2.5 on non-accidental death was significant at lag0 and lag4-6, and was greatest at lag5. A 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was related with a 1.31% increase in non-accidental deaths. The connection between PM2.5 and non-accidental death was stronger in femalesthan males, in people aged ≥ 65 years than people aged < 65 years, and in people below high school education than people with high school education or above. Two-pollutant model revealed that the influence of PM2.5 on non-accidental death was essentially unchanged when CO, SO2, and O3 were included and reduced when NO2 was included. The multiple-pollutant model showed that the effect of ambient PM2.5 on non-accidental death was reduced. An increase in PM2.5 concentrations may cause an increase in non-accidental death.

Temperature modification of air pollutants and their synergistic effects on respiratory diseases in a semi-arid city in Northwest China.

Air pollutants and temperature are significant threats to public health, and the complex linkages between the environmental factors and their interactions harm respiratory diseases. This study is aimed to analyze the impact of air pollutants and meteorological factors on respiratory diseases and their synergistic effects in Dingxi, a city in northwestern China, from 2018 to 2020 using a generalized additive model (GAM). Relative risk (RR) was employed to quantitatively evaluate the temperature modification on the short-term effects of PM2.5 and O3 and the synergistic effects of air pollutants (PM2.5 and O3) and meteorological elements (temperature and relative humidity) on respiratory diseases. The results indicated that the RRs per inter-quatile range (IQR) rise in PM2.5 and O3 concentrations were (1.066, 95% CI: 1.009-1.127, lag2) and (1.037, 95% CI: 0.975-1.102, lag4) for respiratory diseases, respectively. Temperature stratification suggests that the influence of PM2.5 on respiratory diseases was significantly enhanced at low and moderate temperatures, and the risk of respiratory diseases caused by O3 was significantly increased at high temperatures. The synergy analysis demonstrated significant a synergistic effect of PM2.5 with low temperature and high relative humidity and an antagonistic effect of high relative humidity and O3 on respiratory diseases. The findings would provide a scientific basis for the impact of pollutants on respiratory diseases in Northwest China.

Estuarine environmental flow assessment based on the flow-ecological health index relation model: a case study in Yangtze River Estuary, China.

Environmental flow (e-flow) is the water demand of one given ecosystem, which can become the flow regulation target for protection and restoration of river or estuarine ecosystems. In this study, an e-flow assessment based on the flow-ecological health index (EHI) relation model was conducted to improve ecosystem health of the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE). Monitoring data of hydrology, biology, and water environment in the last decades were used for the model establishment. For the description of the YRE ecosystem, an EHI system was developed by cumulative frequency distribution curves and adaption of national standards. After preprocessing original flow values into proportional flow values, the generalized additive model and Monte Carlo random sampling were used for the establishment of the flow-EHI relation model. From the model calculation, the e-flow assessment results were that, in proportional flow values, the suitable flow range was 1.05-1.35, and the optimum flow range was 1.15-1.25 (flows in Yangtze River Datong Station). For flow regulation in two crucial periods, flows of 42,630-65,545 m3/s or over 14,675 m3/s are needed for the suitable flow of YRE in summer (June-August) or January, respectively. An adaptive management framework of ecological health-based estuarine e-flow assessment for YRE was contrived due to the limitation of current established model when facing the extreme drought in summer, 2022. The methodology and framework in this study are expected to provide valuable management and data support for the sustainable development of estuarine ecosystems and to bring inspiration for further studies at even continental or global levels.

[Impact of Air Pollutants on Outpatient Visits for Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis in Lanzhou].

Objective To analyze the correlation between air pollutants and pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits in Lanzhou,and provide scientific insights for the life guidance of the affected children and disease prevention by relevant departments.Methods A generalized additive model was employed to analyze the effects and lagged effects of air pollutants on pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits in Lanzhou while controlling for confounding factors such as long-term trends,holiday effects,day of the week effects and meteorological factors.Results The effects of NO2,PM2.5,PM10,and SO2 on pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits were most significant on the current day(Lag0),but were not statistically significant (all P>0.05);CO also had the most significant effect on Lag0,and for every 10 µg/m3 increase in its concentration,the excess risk (ER) for pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits was 0.05% (95%CI=0-0.10%,P=0.049);and O3 exhibited the most significant effect on day 7 of the cumulative lag (Lag07),with a statistically significant increase in the ER for each 10 µg/m3 increase in its concentration of 7.40% (95%CI=5.31%-9.53%,P<0.001) for pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits.Age stratification showed that children aged 0-3 years with atopic dermatitis were the most sensitive to CO,with an increased ER of 0.09% (95%CI=0.04%-0.15%,P<0.001) for every 10 µg/m3 increase in concentration,and children aged 7-14 years with atopic dermatitis were the most sensitive to O3,with an increased ER of 8.26% (95%CI=4.99%-11.64%,P<0.001) for every 10 µg/m3 increase in concentration.Seasonal stratification showed that CO exerted a stronger effect on pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits in summer and fall,with ER values of 0.45% and 0.16% (both P<0.001),respectively,while O3 had a significant effect on outpatient visits in winter,with an ER value of 20.48% (P<0.001).Conclusion Elevated daily average concentrations of air pollutants CO and O3 in Lanzhou were positively correlated with the number of outpatient visits for atopic dermatitis in children,with significant seasonal effects and age-stratified sensitivities.

Interactions Between Serotonin Transporter Gene and Adverse Childhood Experience in a Generalized Additive Model: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: While most people experience potentially traumatic events (PTEs), including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the stress reactions to PTEs on mental health outcomes are highly heterogeneous. Resilience is influenced by a complex biopsychosocial ecological system, including gene serotonin transporter-linked promoter region or 5-HTTLPR /rs25531 by ACEs interactions. AIMS: This pilot study investigated the gene-by-environment interactions on mental health outcomes in adults enrolled in a health care profession program using a generalized additive model (GAM). METHODS: Seventy health care college students (mean age = 27.4 years, 67.1% women) participated in this cross-sectional study. Saliva samples were collected from students to analyze 5-HTTLPR/rs25531. Participants completed the ACE Questionnaire and the Mental Health Inventory. GAMs with different interaction terms were built adjusting for age, gender, and race. The value of the effective degree of freedom (EDF) quantifies the curvature of the relationship. RESULTS: Among participants with the long allele of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531, a linear pattern was found between the total ACE score and mental health outcomes (EDF = 1). Conversely, among participants with the short allele, EDF was approximately 2, indicating a curved association suggesting that mental health worsens in individuals exposed to up to four types of ACEs. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of up to four ACEs on mental health was stronger among individuals with the short allele of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 than those with the long allele. Although this study does not claim to provide a definite approach to analyzing gene-by-environment interactions, we offer a different perspective to explore the relationship.

Generalized models for quantifying laterality using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound.

We consider how analysis of brain lateralization using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD) data can be brought in line with modern statistical methods typically used in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Conventionally, a laterality index is computed in fTCD from the difference between the averages of each hemisphere's signal within a period of interest (POI) over a series of trials. We demonstrate use of generalized linear models (GLMs) and generalized additive models (GAM) to analyze data from individual participants in three published studies (N = 154, 73 and 31), and compare this with results from the conventional POI averaging approach, and with laterality assessed using fMRI (N = 31). The GLM approach was based on classic fMRI analysis that includes a hemodynamic response function as a predictor; the GAM approach estimated the response function from the data, including a term for time relative to epoch start (simple GAM), plus a categorical index corresponding to individual epochs (complex GAM). Individual estimates of the fTCD laterality index are similar across all methods, but error of measurement is lowest using complex GAM. Reliable identification of cases of bilateral language appears to be more accurate with complex GAM. We also show that the GAM-based approach can be used to efficiently analyze more complex designs that incorporate interactions between tasks.