Post-stroke fatigue, hope and discharge readiness: A cross-sectional survey.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationships among post-stroke fatigue, hope and discharge readiness in stroke patients, and to determine whether hope mediates the relationship between post-stroke fatigue and discharge readiness. BACKGROUND: In stroke patients, inadequate discharge readiness has been found to correlate with higher readmission and mortality rates. Although previous qualitative studies have confirmed the impact of fatigue on discharge readiness, few studies explore the impact of post-stroke fatigue and hope on discharge readiness of stroke patients. Consequently, the current research on this relationship and its underlying mechanisms is still quite limited. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Data were collected from 340 stroke patients. The research tools included demographic and disease characteristics, Discharge Readiness Assessment Scale for Stroke, Neurological Fatigue Index for Stroke and Herth Hope Index. The STROBE checklist was used to guide the presentation of this study. RESULTS: Discharge readiness was negatively correlated with post-stroke fatigue and positively correlated with hope. Additionally, post-stroke fatigue was negatively correlated with hope. Post-stroke fatigue had a direct negative effect on discharge readiness, and it can also generate indirect effects through hope. Hope was the partial mediator between post-stroke fatigue and discharge readiness, explaining 55.8% of the total effect. CONCLUSION: Discharge readiness of this population can be improved by reducing post-stroke fatigue and increasing hope. Therefore, effective management of post-stroke fatigue and hope will help improve discharge readiness. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is recommended that nursing staff should monitor the occurrence and development of post-stroke fatigue in stroke patients, dynamically evaluate the patient's level of hope, and pay attention to the important role of positive psychological qualities in the outcome of discharge. If medical staff can formulate corresponding intervention measures based on the influence path of discharge readiness, then the discharge readiness of stroke patients can be improved.

Subtypes of high-grade breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): incidence and potential clinical impact.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate and classify the molecular subtypes of high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and identify possible high-risk subtypes. The heterogenicity of DCIS with variable clinical and histopathological presentations has been recognized. Nevertheless, only histopathological grading and diameter are currently implemented in clinical decision-making following the diagnosis of DCIS. The molecular subtypes of DCIS and their IHC surrogate markers have not been defined in conventional treatment guidelines and recommendations. We applied the definitions of molecular subtypes according to the IHC surrogate markers defined for IBC and subclassified high-grade DCIS, accordingly. METHODS: Histopathological specimens were collected, revised, and regraded from 494 patients diagnosed with DCIS between 1996 and 2018. Other in situ and papillary lesions observed in breast biopsies were excluded from this study. 357 high-grade DCIS cases were submitted to IHC analysis. The markers investigated were ER, PR, HER2, and Ki67. RESULTS: 45 cases were classified as grade 1, 19 as grade 2, and 430 as grade 3. Sixty patients with high-grade DCIS had an additional invasive component in the surgical specimen. Thirty-three patients were diagnosed with recurrent DCIS or invasive cancer (minimum one year after their primary DCIS diagnosis). The proportions of luminal A and luminal B HER2-negative subtypes varied depending on whether 2011 or 2013 St. Gallen Consensus Conference guidelines were adopted. Luminal A was the most prevalent subtype, according to both classifications. The luminal B HER2-positive subtype was found in 22.1% of cases, HER2-enriched subtype in 21.8%, and TPN subtype in 5.6%. There were strong indications that HER2-enriched subtype was significantly more frequent among DCIS with invasive component (p = 0.0169). CONCLUSIONS: High-grade DCIS exhibits all the molecular subtypes previously identified in IBC, but with a somewhat different distribution in our cohort. HER2-enriched subtype is substantially related to the presence of an invasive component in DCIS; consequently, it is regarded as a high-risk entity.

A pervasive phosphorylation cascade modulation of plant transcription factors in response to abiotic stress.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Transcriptional regulation of stress-responsive genes is a crucial step in establishing the mechanisms behind plant abiotic stress tolerance. A sensitive method of regulating transcription factors activity, stability, protein interaction, and subcellular localization is through phosphorylation. This review highlights a widespread regulation mechanism that involves phosphorylation of plant TFs in response to abiotic stress. Abiotic stress is one of the main components limiting crop yield and sustainability on a global scale. It greatly reduces the land area that is planted and lowers crop production globally. In all living organisms, transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression. They participate in cell signaling, cell cycle, development, and plant stress response. Plant resilience to diverse abiotic stressors is largely influenced by TFs. Transcription factors modulate gene expression by binding to their target gene's cis-elements, which are impacted by genomic characteristics, DNA structure, and TF interconnections. In this review, we focus on the six major TFs implicated in abiotic stress tolerance, namely, DREB, bZIP, WRKY, ABF, MYB, and NAC, and the cruciality of phosphorylation of these transcription factors in abiotic stress signaling, as protein phosphorylation has emerged as one of the key post-translational modifications, playing a critical role in cell signaling, DNA amplification, gene expression and differentiation, and modification of other biological configurations. These TFs have been discovered after extensive study as stress-responsive transcription factors which may be major targets for crop development and important contributors to stress tolerance and crop production.

Transcriptome and Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Identifying Differentially Expressed Genes and Signal Pathways Involved in the Height Development of Banana (Musa spp.).

Plant height is an important and valuable agronomic trait associated with yield and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Dwarfism has positive effects on plant development and field management, especially for tall monocotyledon banana (Musa spp.). However, several key genes and their regulation mechanism of controlling plant height during banana development are unclear. In the present study, the popular cultivar 'Brazilian banana' ('BX') and its dwarf mutant ('RK') were selected to identify plant height-related genes by comparing the phenotypic and transcriptomic data. Banana seedlings with 3-4 leaves were planted in the greenhouse and field. We found that the third and fourth weeks are the key period of plant height development of the selected cultivars. A total of 4563 and 10507 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the third and fourth weeks, respectively. Twenty modules were produced by the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Eight modules were positively correlated with the plant height, and twelve other modules were negatively correlated. Combining with the analysis of DEGs and WGCNA, 13 genes in the signaling pathway of gibberellic acid (GA) and 7 genes in the signaling pathway of indole acetic acid (IAA) were identified. Hub genes related to plant height development were obtained in light of the significantly different expression levels (|log2FC| ≥ 1) at the critical stages. Moreover, GA3 treatment significantly induced the transcription expressions of the selected candidate genes, suggesting that GA signaling could play a key role in plant height development of banana. It provides an important gene resource for the regulation mechanism of banana plant development and assisted breeding of ideal plant architecture.

De novo chromosome-level genome of a semi-dwarf cultivar of Prunus persica identifies the aquaporin PpTIP2 as responsible for temperature-sensitive semi-dwarf trait and PpB3-1 for flower type and size.

Peach (Prunus persica) is one of the most important fruit crops globally, but its cultivation can be hindered by large tree size. 'Zhongyoutao 14' (CN14) is a temperature-sensitive semi-dwarf (TSSD) cultivar which might be useful as breeding stock. The genome of CN14 was sequenced and assembled de novo using single-molecule real-time sequencing and chromosome conformation capture assembly. A high-quality genome was assembled and annotated, with 228.82 Mb mapped to eight chromosomes. Eighty-six re-sequenced F1 individuals and 334 previously re-sequenced accessions were used to identify candidate genes controlling TSSD and flower type and size. An aquaporin tonoplast intrinsic protein (PpTIP2) was a strong candidate gene for control of TSSD. Sequence variations in the upstream regulatory region of PpTIP2 correlated with different transcriptional activity at different temperatures. PpB3-1, a candidate gene for flower type (SH) and flower size, contributed to petal development and promoted petal enlargement. The locus of another 12 agronomic traits was identified through genome-wide association study. Most of these loci exhibited consistent and precise association signals, except for flesh texture and flesh adhesion. A 6015-bp insertion in exon 3 and a 26-bp insertion upstream of PpMYB25 were associated with fruit hairless. Along with a 70.5-Kb gap at the F-M locus in CN14, another two new alleles were identified in peach accessions. Our findings will not only promote genomic research and agronomic breeding in peach but also provide a foundation for the peach pan-genome.

Prognostic value of a nomogram based on peripheral blood immune parameters in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma after intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: For patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has become one of the options for clinical local treatment. Immune parameters, including platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune inflammatory (SII), predict survival in various cancers. This study aimed to determine whether peripheral immune parameters can predict survival in patients with uHCC undergoing IMRT and establish a clinically useful prognostic nomogram for survival prediction. METHODS: The clinical data of 309 HCC patients were retrospectively analyzed and randomly divided into training (n = 216) and validation (n = 93) cohorts. PLR, NLR and SII were collected before and after IMRT. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors affecting survival, which were used to generate a nomogram. RESULTS: The median survival was 16.3 months, and significant increases in PLR, NLR, and SII were observed after IMRT (P < 0.001). High levels of immune parameters were associated with poor prognosis (P < 0.001); enlarged spleen, Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage (B and C), post-SII, and delta-NLR were independent risk factors for survival and were included in the nomogram, which accurately predicted 3- and 5-year survival. The nomogram was well verified in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of immune parameters are associated with poor prognosis in uHCC patients receiving IMRT. Our nomogram accurately predicts the survival of patients with uHCC receiving IMRT.

Drivers of improved PM2.5 air quality in China from 2013 to 2017.

From 2013 to 2017, with the implementation of the toughest-ever clean air policy in China, significant declines in fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations occurred nationwide. Here we estimate the drivers of the improved PM2.5 air quality and the associated health benefits in China from 2013 to 2017 based on a measure-specific integrated evaluation approach, which combines a bottom-up emission inventory, a chemical transport model, and epidemiological exposure-response functions. The estimated national population-weighted annual mean PM2.5 concentrations decreased from 61.8 (95%CI: 53.3-70.0) to 42.0 µg/m3 (95% CI: 35.7-48.6) in 5 y, with dominant contributions from anthropogenic emission abatements. Although interannual meteorological variations could significantly alter PM2.5 concentrations, the corresponding effects on the 5-y trends were relatively small. The measure-by-measure evaluation indicated that strengthening industrial emission standards (power plants and emission-intensive industrial sectors), upgrades on industrial boilers, phasing out outdated industrial capacities, and promoting clean fuels in the residential sector were major effective measures in reducing PM2.5 pollution and health burdens. These measures were estimated to contribute to 6.6- (95% CI: 5.9-7.1), 4.4- (95% CI: 3.8-4.9), 2.8- (95% CI: 2.5-3.0), and 2.2- (95% CI: 2.0-2.5) µg/m3 declines in the national PM2.5 concentration in 2017, respectively, and further reduced PM2.5-attributable excess deaths by 0.37 million (95% CI: 0.35-0.39), or 92% of the total avoided deaths. Our study confirms the effectiveness of China's recent clean air actions, and the measure-by-measure evaluation provides insights into future clean air policy making in China and in other developing and polluting countries.

Opposite trends of glycosides and alkaloids in Dendrobium nobile of different age based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS combined with multivariate statistical analyses.

INTRODUCTION: Alkaloids and glycosides are the active ingredients of the herb Dendrobium nobile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The pharmacological effects of alkaloids include neuroprotective effects and regulatory effects on glucose and lipid metabolism, while glycosides improve the immune system. The pharmacological activities of the above chemical components are significantly different. In practice, the stems of 3-year-old D. nobile are usually used as the main source of Dendrobii Caulis. However, it has not been reported whether this harvesting time is appropriate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the chemical characteristics of D. nobile in different growth years (1-3 years). METHODS: In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) was employed to analyze the constituents of D. nobile. The relative abundance of each constituent was analyzed with multivariate statistical analyses to screen the characteristic constituents that contributed to the characterization and classification of D. nobile. Dendrobine, a component of D. nobile that is used for quality control according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, was assayed by gas chromatography. RESULTS: As a result, 34 characteristic constituents (VIP > 2) were identified or tentatively identified as alkaloids and glycosides based on MS/MS data. Moreover, the content of alkaloids decreased over time, whereas the content of glycosides showed the opposite trend. The absolute quantification of dendrobine was consistent with the metabolomics results. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide valuable information to optimize the harvest period and a reference for the clinical application of D. nobile.

[Quality value transmitting of substance benchmarks in Danggui Buxue Decoction].

To clarify the key quality attributes of substance benchmarks in Danggui Buxue Decoction(DBD), this study prepared 21 batches of DBD substance benchmarks, and established two methods for detecting their fingerprints, followed by the identification of peak attribution and similarity range as well as the determination of extract and transfer rate ranges and contents of index components ferulic acid, calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside, and astragaloside Ⅳ. The mass fractions and transfer rates of DBD substance benchmarks from different batches were calculated as follows: ferulic acid(index component in Angelicae Sinensis Radix): 0.037%-0.084% and 31.41%-98.88%; astragaloside Ⅳ(index component in Astragali Radix): 0.021%-0.059% and 32.18%-118.57%; calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside: 0.002%-0.023% and 11.51%-45.65%, with the extract rate being 18.4%-36.1%. The similarity of fingerprints among 21 batches of DBD substance benchmarks was all higher than 0.9. The quality control method for DBD substance benchmarks was preliminarily established based on the HPLC fingerprint analysis and index component determination, which has provided a basis for the subsequent development of DBD and the quality control of novel related preparations.

Ultrasound-assisted catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) by an acid mine drainage based nZVI coupling with FeS2 system from aqueous solutions: Performance and mechanism.

Nowadays, nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) has been extensively applied for the decontamination of various pollutants, but passivation of nZVI severely affects its reactivity in use. In this study, ultrasound (US)-assisted catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) by an acid mine drainage based nZVI (AMD-nZVI) coupling with FeS2 system was systematically examined. Results show that the presence of FeS2 and US induced a synergistic enhancement of Cr(VI) removal by AMD-nZVI. Nearly 98% of Cr(VI) removal was achieved by AMD-nZVI/FeS2/US process within 60 min under optimal reaction conditions. Several coexisting substances with lower concentration including Pb(II), Ni(II), bisphenol A (BPA) and 2,4-diclorophenol (2,4-DCP) could be effectively removed in simultaneous manner with Cr(VI) removal. The inhibitory order of water matrix species on Cr(VI) removal was NO3- > PO43- > HCO3- > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Cl-, and a serious suppression effect was induced by humic acid (HA). Addition of ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid (CA) could enhance Cr(VI) removal rate. An enhanced reaction mechanism was proposed, which involved the regeneration of more Fe2+ and H+ by AMD-nZVI/FeS2/US process, leading to the reduction of Cr(VI) by AMD-nZVI and FeS2 into Cr(III) species inculding Cr2O3 and Cr(OH)3. This study well demonstrates that AMD-nZVI/FeS2/US process is considered as a potential candidate for the remediation of Cr(VI) in real wasterwater.

[Nutritional Knowledge and Skills of Fast-food Takeout Practitioners in Chengdu City].

Objective To investigate the current status of nutritional knowledge and skills of fast-food takeout practitioners in Chengdu City,so as to provide evidence for nutritional literacy education among takeout practitioners.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 832 employees of fast-food takeout restaurants in Chengdu from April to September in 2019 through a multi-stage random sampling strategy.Results The awareness rate of nutritional knowledge of fast-food takeout practitioners in Chengdu was 77.28%,and the correct rates of answers to daily oil intake for adults,daily drinking water for adults and daily salt intake for adults in the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents were respectively 17.43%,22.60% and 25.36%.In addition,the proportion of practitioners with the ability to estimate the recommended intake of food for a meal,the ability to estimate condiments intake and the ability to interpret nutrition labels were 8.77%,8.77% and 15.02%,respectively.The awareness rate of nutritional knowledge was the lowest(71.47%)in the practitioners aged≤25 and the highest(84.53%)in those aged 26-39,and the difference was statistically significant(χ 2 =14.419,P=0.001).High awareness rate of nutritional knowledge was found in the practitioners of Han ethnic group(78.45%)compared with those of ethnic minorities(57.14%)(χ 2=10.346,P=0.001).Besides,the practitioners with a high degree of education showed high awareness rate of nutritional knowledge( [Formula: see text]=36.514,P<0.001),and the correct rate of chefs(17.86%)was higher than that(12.82%)of food matching staff(χ 2=4.068,P=0.044).Conclusions The fast-food takeout practitioners in Chengdu generally have good nutritional knowledge while have some knowledge gaps.At the same time,the nutrition-related skills of takeout practitioners are not good.We should focus on strengthening the training of takeout restaurant employees for the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents and nutrition labeling-related knowledge,carry out targeted nutritional knowledge training,and comprehensively strengthen the training of nutrition-related skills.

[Study of the Relationship between Oral Diseases and Depression Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Older Adult Populations in China-A Retrospective Study Based on CHARLS Data].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between oral disease and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adult populations in China. METHODS: The data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) done between 2013 and 2015 were analyzed. A total of 3828 middle-aged and older adults showing no depressive symptoms in an assessment with the 10-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) were selected as the subjects of observation, and oral disease was taken as the dependent variable. Changes in depressive symptoms in the population were tracked in 2015, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the relationship between oral diseases and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 29.3% in middle-aged and older adults with oral diseases, and that of middle-aged and older adults without oral diseases was 20.4%, the difference being statistically significant ( P<0.001). After controlling for confounding factors, Cox proportional hazards model analysis found an association between oral diseases and depressive symptoms (hazard ratio [ HR]=0.683, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.583-0.800). It was more likely for middle-aged and older women ( HR=0.708, 95% CI: 0.573-0.874) with oral diseases to develop depressive symptoms than men ( HR=0.644, 95% CI: 0.506-0.819) did ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral diseases in the middle-aged and older adult populations tended to lead to depressive symptoms, and women showed higher rate than men did. Prevention and control measures should be taken actively in the course of oral disease treatment to promote mental health of middle-aged and older adults.

Formononetin ameliorates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by suppressing the ROS-TXNIP-NLRP3 pathway.

Formononetin (FN), a methoxy isoflavone abundant in many plants and herbs, has been evidently proven to possess multiple medicinal properties. Our study aimed to clarify the impact of FN on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (MIRI) and the involved mechanism. A rat model of MIRI was produced by ligation and loosening of the left anterior descending (LAD) branch of the coronary artery. Rats received 10 and 30 mg/kg of FN when the reperfusion started. At 24 h after surgery, cardiac function, infarct size, and sera levels of the cardiac markers and inflammatory mediators were measured. To mimic the inflammasome activation in cardiomyocytes, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were cultured and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus nigericin. Cell death and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined. Myocardial expression and activation of the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in rats were examined by western blotting. The level of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP)-NLRP3 interaction was assessed. FN notably attenuated cardiac dysfunction, infarct size, release of cardiac markers, and elevation of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. FN alleviated LPS plus nigericin-induced injury and ROS increase in NRCMs. Western blotting revealed that FN suppressed the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and TXNIP-NLRP3 interaction in rats. These findings indicate that FN ameliorated MIRI in rats and inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, at least partially, attributable to suppression of the ROS-TXNIP-NLRP3 pathway.

Hypoxia-induced exosomes promote hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and metastasis via miR-1273f transfer.

Exosomes are present within the local hypoxic tumor microenvironment, where they are able to transfer microRNAs between cells, thereby, effectively mediating cell-cell communication. Hypoxia plays a pivotal role in the progression of many tumor types such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but how hypoxia-induced exosomes in HCC affect HCC cells remains uncertain. In the present study, we found that hypoxic conditions induced increased exosomal production by HCC cells, and these exosomes, in turn, enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness in addition to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC cells under normoxic conditions. When we analyzed these exosomes, we found that miR-1273f were present at higher levels under hypoxic conditions, and we determined that this miRNA was responsible for directly replicating the effects of hypoxic exosomes within HCC cells, in addition to activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. We finally identified LHX6, which is a known inhibitor of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, to be a miR-1273f target. These results, thus, provide evidence that hypoxic conditions can lead HCC cells to express increased exosomes that facilitate miR-1273f expression in normoxic cells, thereby enhancing their malignant phenotype at least in part by targeting LHX6 for downregulation.

[Young Children's Family Sex Education in Rural Areas of Sichuan Province and Its Influencing Factors].

Objective To understand the family sex education for young children in rural areas of Sichuan province and analyze the influencing factors. Methods A multi-stage random sampling method was used to select 2246 parents of kindergarten children from rural areas in Sichuan province for a questionnaire-based survey.The Chi-square test and Logistic regression model were used for data analysis. Results It was found 1132(52.33%)parents had implemented family sex education for young children and 1031(47.67%)had not.Young children having asked sex-related questions(OR=1.536,95%CI=1.257-1.878),parents thinking that early childhood sex education is necessary(OR=3.691,95%CI=2.029-6.717),and parents having the intention to know early childhood sex education(OR=1.700,95%CI=1.274-2.269),and kindergarten having implemented early childhood sex education(OR=3.316,95%CI=2.515-4.372)were promoting factors for parents to conduct early childhood sex education,whereas a total annual household income at the middle level(OR=0.664,95%CI=0.456-0.968)was a hindering factor for parents to conduct early childhood sex education. Conclusions Parents of young children in rural areas of Sichuan province have poor awareness of sex education,and the proportion of parents who have never conducted sex education for children is high.The total annual income of the family,whether the children have asked about sex-related questions,parents' attitude towards early childhood sex education,and whether the kindergarten has conducted the early childhood sex education are important factors that influence the level of children's family sex education.

[Analysis on the Health-related Quality of Life and Influencing Factors among the Older Generation of Migrant Workers in Chengdu City].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status and distribution characteristics of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of the older generation of migrant workers in Chengdu, and analyze the factors influencing the quality of life of the older generation of migrant workers, so as to provide reference for formulating relevant policies to improve the health of the older generation of migrant workers. METHODS: From June 2017 to June 2018, the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method was used to select 1 492 non-registered migrant workers born before 1980 living in Chengdu city. The investigation was performed with questionnaire including demographic characteristics, working status, economic status, disease status, living environment and HRQOL. RESULTS: The scores of physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS) and the total score of HRQOL in the older generation of migrant workers were 50.78±7.54, 50.67±10.24 and 101.45±12.34, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that older age (standard regression coefficient ( Sß)=-0.061, P=0.026), low education level ( Sß=-0.053, P=0.038), being unmarried, divorced or widowed ( Sß=-0.064, P=0.009), chronic diseases ( Sß=-0.156, P<0.001), or two-week illness ( Sß=-0.190, P<0.001) were the risk factors of low HRQOL; High income level ( Sß=0.069, P=0.013), having a steady job ( Sß=0.126, P<0.001), having endowment insurance ( Sß=0.055, P=0.027) and satisfactory with the living environment ( Sß=0.060, P=0.016) were the contributing factors factors of high HRQOL. CONCLUSION: The HRQOL of the older generation of migrant workers in Chengdu is generally good. More attention should be paid to the migrant workers of older age, having lower income, suffering from chronic diseases, being unmarried/divorced/widowed, and lacking endowment insurance. Appropriate measures should be taken to improve the health status of the key groups.

[Prevalence and Metabolic Abnormalities of Fatty Liver Disease among Adults in Mianyang City,Sichuan Province].

Objective To understand the prevalence and metabolic abnormalities of fatty liver disease among adults in Mianyang City,Sichuan Province,and to analyze their influencing factors.Methods Totally 294 603 adults aged 18 years and older were enrolled by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method in Mianyang City from November 1,2014 to September 30,2015.Fatty liver was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound.The general demographic characteristics,smoking history,drinking history,and history of chronic disease were collected through questionnaires.Meanwhile,10 217 subjects were randomly selected for biochemical tests[fasting plasma gluose(FPG),triacylglycerol(TG),total cholesterol(TC),and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)].Results Of these 294 603 subjects,17 105(5.81%)had fatty liver.After having been age-adjusted based on the results of the sixth national census in 2010,the standardized prevalence was 5.32%.The prevalence was significantly higher in males(6.76%;standardized prevalence:7.24%)than in females(5.09%;standardized prevalence:4.08%)(χ 2=365.814,P<0.001)。The prevalence of fatty liver disease was significantly higher in people with current smokers(8.52%)/ex-smokers(8.89%),occasional alcohol users(6.79%)/regular alcohol users(10.51%)/daily alcohol users(10.62%),and patients with hypertension(12.14%)/diabetes(15.19%)/coronary heart disease(10.22%)than those without corresponding characteristics(all P<0.001).Abnormal increase in body mass index,diastolic blood pressure,FPG,TG,TC,and ALT were risk factors for fatty liver in Logistic regression model.Conclusions The prevalence of fatty liver in adults is relatively low in Mianyang City.Patients with fatty liver usually have varying degrees of abnormal increase in blood lipids,blood glucose,blood pressure,and ALT.Healthy lifestyles and comprehensively assessment of metabolic status are conducive to the prevention and treatment of fatty liver and extrahepatic complications.

Hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of volatile oils from fresh leaves of Michelia martini Levl.

.This study aimed to investigate the hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of volatile oils from Michelia martini Levl. The antioxidant property of volatile oils from Michelia martini in vitro was investigated by establishment of various systems. High fat diet induced rats were used to assess the hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of Michelia martini volatile oils in vivo. The level of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in serum, and the activities of catalase, malondialdehyde, super oxide dismutase and glutathione in liver of rats were assayed by standard procedures. Our results showed that Michelia martini exhibits strong hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities both in vitro and vivo. Our data were also supplemented with histopathological studies on liver tissues and aorta sections of rats.

Current Emissions and Future Mitigation Pathways of Coal-Fired Power Plants in China from 2010 to 2030.

As the largest energy infrastructure in China, the power sector consumed approximately half of China's coal over the past decade and threatened air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement targets. In this work, we assessed the evolution of coal-fired power plants and associated emissions in China during 2010-2030 by using a unit-based emission projection model, which integrated the historical power plant information, turnover of the future power plant fleet, and evolution of end-of-pipe control technologies. We found that, driven by stringent environmental legislation, SO2, NO x, and PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter) emissions from coal-fired power plants decreased by 49%, 45%, and 24%, respectively, during 2010-2015, compared to 15% increase in CO2 emissions. In contrast to ever-increasing CO2 emissions until 2030 under current energy development planning, we found that aggressive energy development planning could curb CO2 emissions from the peak before 2030. Owing to the implementation of a "near zero" emission control policy, we projected emissions of air pollutants will significantly decrease during 2016-2030. Early retirement of small and low-efficiency power plants would further reduce air pollutants and CO2 emissions. Our study explored various mitigation pathways for China's coal-fired power plants, which could reduce coal consumption, air pollutants, and CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency.

The study of biochemical profile of cyst fluid and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating hepatic hydatid cysts from liver simple cysts.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of biochemical profile of cyst fluid and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating hepatic hydatid cysts (HCs) from liver simple cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients underwent MR imaging. Twenty-nine patients had 29 hydatid cysts and 17 patients had liver simple cysts. Thirteen patients with hydatid cysts and seven patients with liver simple cysts were evaluated with cyst fluid biochemical analysis. The concentration of glucose, protein, calcium ion (Ca2+ ) electrolyte, macroscopic appearance, and parasitological sediment were evaluated in this study. RESULTS: In the respect of biochemical analysis cyst fluid, the concentration of glucose and calcium ion of HCs was significantly higher than that of the liver simple cysts. In the respect of DWI, in the b 1000 s/mm2 value in respect of mean application data center (ADC) values, there was a statistically significant difference between HCs group (the mean value was (2.50±0.79)×10-3  mm/s2 ) and liver simple cysts group (the mean value was (2.92±0.66)×10-3  mm/s2 ). However, no statistically significant results were obtained in the ADC measurements of b 500 s/mm2 between two groups. CONCLUSION: The analysis of cyst fluid combined with the measurement of ADC values in the b 1000 s/mm2 value could be considered a promising parameter as an alternative to the differential diagnosis of hepatic hydatid cysts from liver simple cysts.