Sex Disparities in the Association of Serum Uric Acid With Kidney Stone: A Cross-Sectional Study in China.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Urolithiasis is characterized by high rates of prevalence and recurrence. Hyperuricemia is related to various diseases. We hope to determine the association between serum uric acid (UA) level and kidney stone (KS). METHODS: In this population-based cross-sectional study, a total of 82,017 Chinese individuals who underwent a comprehensive examination in 2017 were included. The KS was diagnosed based on ultrasonography examination outcomes. Fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) for KS, and mean difference between the two groups were applied to determine the association of UA level with KS. RESULTS: Among the 82,017 participants included in this study (aged 18~99 years), 9,435 participants (11.5%) are diagnosed with KS. A proportion of 56.3% of individuals is male. The mean UA level of overall participants is 341.77 µmol/L. The participants with KS report higher UA level than the participants without KS [mean UA level 369.91 vs. 338.11 µmol/L; mean difference (MD), 31.96 (95% CI, 29.61~34.28) µmol/L]. In men, the OR for KS significantly increases from 330 µmol/L UA level. Every 50 µmol/L elevation of UA level increases the risk of KS formation by about 10.7% above the UA level of 330 µmol/L in men. The subgroup analysis for male is consistent with the overall result except for the participants presenting underweight [adjusted OR, 1.035 (0.875~1.217); MD, -5.57 (-16.45~11.37)], low cholesterol [adjusted OR, 1.088 (0.938~1.261); MD, 8.18 (-7.93~24.68)] or high estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) [adjusted OR, 1.044 (0.983~1.108); MD, 5.61 (-1.84~13.36)]. However, no significant association is observed in women between UA and KS either in all female participants or in female subgroups. CONCLUSION: Among Chinese adults, UA level is associated with KS in a dose-response manner in men but not in women. However, the association becomes considerably weak in male participants with malnutrition status.

Inter- and intra-observer variability for the assessment of coronary artery tree description and lesion EvaluaTion (CatLet©) angiographic scoring system in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Previously, we developed a novel Coronary Artery Tree description and Lesion EvaluaTion (CatLet©) angiographic scoring system, which was capable of accounting for the variability in the coronary anatomy and assisting in the risk-stratification of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Our preliminary study revealed that the CatLet score better predicted clinical outcomes for AMI patients than the Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score. However, the reproducibility of the CatLet score in both inter- and intra-observer remains to be evaluated. METHODS: A total of 30 consecutive AMI patients, admitted in September of 2015, were independently assessed by two experienced interventional cardiologists to evaluate the inter-observer reproducibility of the CatLet score. Another set of 49 consecutive AMI patients, admitted between September and October in 2014, were assessed by one of the two interventional cardiologists on two occasions 3 months apart to evaluate the intra-observer reproducibility of the CatLet score. The weighted kappa was used to express the degree of agreement. RESULTS: The weighted kappa values (95% confidence interval) for the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of the CatLet Score were 0.82 (0.59-1.00, Z = 7.23, P < 0.001) and 0.86 (0.54-1.00, Z = 5.20, P < 0.001), respectively, according to the tertile analysis (≤14, 15-22, >22). Regarding the adverse characteristics pertinent to lesions and dominance parameters, the kappa values for the inter-observer variability were 0.80 (0.56-1.00, Z = 6.47, P < 0.001) for total number of lesions, 0.57 (0.28-0.85, Z = 3.03, P < 0.001) for bifurcation, 0.69 (0.43-0.96, Z = 5.06, P < 0.001) for heavy calcification, 1.00 (0.72-1.00, Z = 6.93, P < 0.001) for tortuosity, 0.54 (0.26-0.82, Z = 3.78, P < 0.001) for thrombus, 0.69 (0.48-0.91, Z = 6.29, P < 0.001) for right coronary artery dominance, 0.69 (0.41-0.96, Z = 4.91, P < 0.001) for left anterior descending artery length, and 0.22 (0.06-0.51, Z = 1.56, P = 0.06) for diagonal size. Equivalent values for the intra-observer variability were moderate to almost perfect (range 0.54-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: The reproducibility of the CatLet angiographic scoring system for evaluation of the coronary angiograms ranged from substantial to excellent. The high reproducibility of the CatLet angiographic scoring system will boost its clinical application to patients with AMI.

Speciation Variation and Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Metal(loid)s in Surface Sediments of Intertidal Zones.

Speciation variation and comprehensive risk assessment of metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were investigated in surface sediments from the intertidal zones of the Yellow River Delta, China. Results showed that only the concentrations of As, Cd and Pb were significantly different between April and September (p < 0.01). In April, the residual fraction (F4) was predominant for As, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn. However, the exchangeable and carbonate-associated fraction (F1) was dominant for Cd averaging 49.14% indicating a high environmental risk. In September, the F4 fraction was predominant and the F1 fraction was very low for most metal(loid)s except Cd and Mn. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo), the F1 fraction and potential ecological risk index (PERI) of most metal(loid)s were relatively low in surface sediments for both seasons. But Pb, As and Ni were between the threshold effect level (TEL)and the probable effect level (PEL) for 66.67%, 83.33% and 91.67% in April and As and Ni were between TEL and PEL for 41.67% and 91.67%, which indicated that the concentration of them was likely to occasionally exhibit adverse effects on the ecosystem. Although the Igeo, the F1 fraction or PERI of Cd in both seasons was higher at some sites, the results of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicated that the biological effects of Cd were rarely observed in the studied area.

Distribution, sources, and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the Haihe River, a typical polluted urban river in Northern China.

The distribution, sources, and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in surface sediments from the Haihe River. Total PAH concentrations varied from 171.4 to 9511.2 ng g-1 with an average of 2125.4 ng g-1, suggesting serious pollution of the Haihe River in comparison with other reported rivers worldwide. PAH contaminants differed significantly among 17 sampling locations with high values occurring in industrial areas and densely populated areas. The composition of PAHs was characterized by high abundance of 4-ring and 5-ring PAHs, and benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, and benzo[a]pyrene were the predominant components. Molecular diagnostic ratios have confirmed that PAHs in Haihe River sediments resulted from mixed sources, primarily including various combustion processes. Ecological risk assessment using the Sediments Quality Guidelines indicated that PAHs in sediments could cause certain negative effects on aquatic organisms in most survey regions.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from the intertidal zone of Bohai Bay, Northeast China: Spatial distribution, composition, sources and ecological risk assessment.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can enter intertidal zones by various pathways and pose potential threats to intertidal ecosystem. We investigated distribution, composition, sources and risk assessment of PAHs in intertidal surface sediments of Bohai Bay. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 37.2ng·g-1 to 206.6ng·g-1, among which high values occurred near Nanpaishuihe River Estuary and Haihe River Estuary. The composition patterns of PAHs were characterized by the predominance of 3-ring and 4-ring PAHs, and acenaphthylene was the most dominant component. Diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis have confirmed that PAH contaminants originated from mixed sources, and the major was local combustion. The mean benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentration of total PAHs in intertidal sediments was 15.67ng·g-1, which was mostly contributed by seven carcinogenic PAHs. According to ecological risk assessment, negative effects related to acenaphthylene would occur occasionally in partial survey regions of the study.

Assessment of dual-probe Her-2 fluorescent in situ hybridization in breast cancer by the 2013 ASCO/CAP guidelines produces more equivocal results than that by the 2007 ASCO/CAP guidelines.

Dual-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization (D-FISH) is a widely accepted method to determine the gene amplification status of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2). In 2013, the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) updated the guidelines on the Her-2 testing for invasive breast cancer (BCa). The interpretation criteria for D-FISH changed accordingly. In this study, we compared the Her-2 FISH statuses based on the 2013 and 2007 ASCO/CAP guidelines in 1931 cases of BCa with Her-2 D-FISH testing at our hospital. We analyzed the clinicopathologic features of cases with equivocal results by the 2013 ASCO/CAP guidelines. Although the guideline update significantly improved the detection rate of Her-2 amplification, it also significantly increased the rate of equivocal results, posing a dilemma for clinical management. The equivocal results had a good reproducibility. The distribution of D-FISH-equivocal cases did not correlate with Her-2 status by immunohistochemistry, suggesting that Her-2 D-FISH equivocality may not reflect Her-2 overexpression. Compared with Her-2-negative cases by D-FISH, Her-2 D-FISH-equivocal cases had higher Ki67 expression, higher histological grade, more frequent lymph node metastasis, and lower estrogen receptor α expression, indicating a group of BCa with worse prognosis. The clinical significance of Her-2-equivocal results by D-FISH warrants further investigation.

[Assessment of schistosomiasis transmission interruption in Beichuan County, Sichuan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether Beichuan County reaches the national standard of schistosomiasis transmission interruption. METHODS: Three villages in Beichuan County were sampled as assessment spots, and the schistosomiasis infections of residents and domestic animals, the status of Oncomelania snails and the past records were assessed according to the Criteria for Control and Elimination of Schistosomiasis in China. RESULTS: No local schistosome infections were found in residents and cattle for successive 5 years and no snails were found for 2 successive years in the 3 villages. The files were documented completely. All the indices reached the national standard of schistosomiasis transmission being interrupted. CONCLUSION: Beichuan County has reached the national standard of schistosomiasis transmission interruption. However, the endemic surveillance of schistosomiasis still needs to continue.