Gelatin based preservation technologies on the quality of food: a comprehensive review.

Gelatin has played a great potential in food preservation because of its low price and superior film forming characteristics. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research progress and application of gelatin preservation technologies (film, coating, antifreeze peptide, etc.), discussing their preservation mechanisms and efficiency through the viewpoints of quality and shelf life of animal and aquatic products as well as fruits and vegetables. It showed that bioactive and intelligent gelatin-based films exhibit antibacterial, antioxidant, water resistance and pH responsive properties, making them excellent for food preservation. In addition, pH responsive properties of films also intuitively reflect the freshness of food by color. Similarly, gelatin and its hydrolysate can be widely used in antifreeze peptides to reduce the mass loss of food during freezing and extend the shelf life of frozen food. However, extensive works are still required to extend their commercial application values.

Endovenous Microwave Ablation Versus Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Lower Limb Varicose Veins.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to retrospectively compare the clinical outcomes of endovenous microwave versus radiofrequency ablation combined with foam sclerotherapy in patients with lower limb varicose veins. METHODS: We identified patients with lower limb varicose veins treated with endovenous microwave ablation or radiofrequency ablation with foam sclerotherapy between January 2018 and June 2021 at our institution. Patients were followed-up for 12 months. Clinical results, including the pre-post-Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire and post-Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire and Venous Clinical Severity Score, were compared. Complications were documented and treated accordingly. RESULTS: We included 287 cases (295 limbs total; endovenous microwave ablation + foam sclerosing agent: n = 142, 146 limbs; radiofrequency ablation + foam sclerosing agent: n = 145, 149 limbs). The operative time was shorter for endovenous microwave ablation than radiofrequency ablation (42.58 ± 15.62 min vs. 65.46 ± 24.38 min, P < 0.05); however, other procedural parameters did not differ. Furthermore, hospitalization costs for endovenous microwave ablation were lower than those for radiofrequency ablation (21,063.74 ± 850.47 yuan vs. 23,312.40 ± 1,035.86 yuan, P < 0.05). At the 12-month follow-up, the great saphenous vein closure rate was similar in both groups (endovenous microwave ablation, 97% [142/146] vs. radiofrequency ablation, 98% [146/149]; P > 0.05). Additionally, the satisfaction or incidence rates of complications were not different among the groups. In both groups, the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire and Venous Clinical Severity Score values were significantly lower 12 months postsurgery than before surgery; however, the postoperative values did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: Endovenous microwave ablation effectively treated lower limb varicose veins, with similar short-term effects as radiofrequency ablation. Moreover, it had a shorter operative time and was less expensive than endovenous radiofrequency ablation.

Morphological Changes of the Mandibular Angle After Orthognathic Surgery with Class III Deformity in East Asia.

The aims of this study were to analyze the morphological changes of the mandibular angle after orthognathic surgery for mandibular setback and investigate related factors. This retrospective study included patients from January 2017 to December 2021 diagnosed with skeletal class III deformity who underwent BSSRO (Group I) or bimaxillary surgery (Group II). Preoperative (T0), within 1 month postoperatively (T1), and 6 months postoperatively (T2) CT scans were collected from 61 patients to three-dimensionally analyze the proximal segment displacement, the linear and angular changes of the mandibular angle. The gonion points moved posteriorly and laterally (P < 0.001), while the inferior movement was not significant (P = 1.000, P = 0.274). The intergonial width increased by 3.32 ± 1.87 mm and 2.34 ± 1.77 mm as revealed by T2 CTs, respectively, in Group I and Group II. Mandibular angle decreased in both groups and by 1.41 ± 2.95° in Group I and 1.37 ± 3.41° in Group II. The increase in intergonial width between T1 and T0 was negatively correlated with the preoperative mandibular angle (P = 0.003) and positively correlated with the transverse outward movement of the proximal segment (P < 0.001). After surgery, the intergonial width increased and the inferior and posterior border of the proximal segment flared outward. The changes in intergonial width and mandibular angle were mainly related to the rotation of the proximal segment, which has a certain impact on the aesthetics of the lower face. Therefore, controlling the position of the proximal segment is of vital importance to lessen the changes in the mandibular angle area.Level of Evidence III. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Evaluation of Different Fixation Methods Combinations After L-Shaped Osteotomy Reduction Malarplasty: An In Vitro Biomechanical Study.

BACKGROUND: This in vitro study compared the stability of different fixation method combinations for the zygomatic complex after simulated L-shaped osteotomy reduction malarplasty, a common facial contouring surgery in East Asia with high postoperative complications due to poor fixation methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study used 108 zygoma replicas with various fixation methods combinations in the zygomatic body (L-shaped plate with short wing on zygoma and on the maxilla, two bicortical screws, one bicortical screw with L-shaped plate, square plate, and rectangular plate) and zygomatic arch (Mortise-Tenon structure, 3-hole plate, and Mortise-Tenon structure plus short screw). The failure force under incremental load was applied through the Instron tensile machine to a well-stabilized model using a rubber band simulating the masseter muscle and recorded the increasing force digitally. ANOVA test was used for comparison between recorded values (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The results showed that the most stable combination was a six-hole rectangular plate and a Mortise-Tenon structure plus one short screw (358.55 ± 51.64 N/mm2). The results also indicated that the placement vector of the fixation methods around the L-shaped osteotomy and the use of the two-bridge fixation method were important factors in enhancing the stability of the zygomatic complex. CONCLUSION: The study suggested that surgeons should choose appropriate fixation methods based on these factors to reduce postoperative complications and improve surgical outcomes. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Exposure to smoky coal combustion emissions and leukocyte Alu retroelement copy number.

Household air pollution (HAP) from indoor combustion of solid fuel is a global health burden that has been linked to multiple diseases including lung cancer. In Xuanwei, China, lung cancer rate for non-smoking women is among the highest in the world and largely attributed to high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are produced from combustion of smoky (bituminous) coal. Alu retroelements, repetitive mobile DNA sequences that can somatically multiply and promote genomic instability have been associated with risk of lung cancer and diesel engine exhaust exposure. We conducted analyses for 160 non-smoking women in an exposure assessment study in Xuanwei, China with a repeat sample from 49 subjects. Quantitative PCR was used to measure Alu repeat copy number relative to albumin gene copy number (Alu/ALB ratio). Associations between clusters derived from predicted levels of 43 HAP constituents, 5-methylchrysene (5-MC), a PAH previously associated with lung cancer in Xuanwei and was selected a priori for analysis, and Alu repeats were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. A cluster of 31 PAHs reflecting current exposure was associated with increased Alu copy number (ß:0.03 per standard deviation change; 95% confidence interval (CI):0.01,0.04; P-value = 2E-04). One compound within this cluster, 5-MC, was also associated with increased Alu copy number (P-value = 0.02). Our findings suggest that exposure to PAHs due to indoor smoky coal combustion may contribute to genomic instability. Additionally, our study provides further support for 5-MC as a prominent carcinogenic component of smoky coal emissions. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings.

Genome-wide analysis of PIN genes in cultivated peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.): identification, subcellular localization, evolution, and expression patterns.

BACKGROUND: Auxin is an important hormone in plants and the PIN-FORMED (PIN) genes are essential to auxin distribution in growth and developmental processes of plants. Peanut is an influential cash crop, but research into PIN genes in peanuts remains limited. RESULTS: In this study, 16 PIN genes were identified in the genome of cultivated peanut, resolving into four subfamilies. All PIN genes were predicted to be located in the plasma membrane and a subcellular location experiment confirmed this prediction for eight of them. The gene structure, cis-elements in the promoter, and evolutionary relationships were elucidated, facilitating our understanding of peanut PINs and their evolution. In addition, the expression patterns of these PINs in various tissues were analyzed according to a previously published transcriptome dataset and qRT-PCR, which gave us a clear understanding of the temporal and spatial expression of PIN genes in different growth stages and different tissues. The expression trend of homologous genes was similar. AhPIN2A and AhPIN2B exhibited predominant expression in roots. AhPIN1A-1 and AhPIN1B-1 displayed significant upregulation following peg penetration, suggesting a potential close association with peanut pod development. Furthermore, we presented the gene network and gene ontology enrichment of these PINs. Notably, AhABCB19 exhibited a co-expression relationship with AhPIN1A and AhPIN1B-1, with all three genes displaying higher expression levels in peanut pegs and pods. These findings reinforce their potential role in peanut pod development. CONCLUSIONS: This study details a comprehensive analysis of PIN genes in cultivated peanuts and lays the foundation for subsequent studies of peanut gene function and phenotype.

Simultaneously mapping loci related to two plant architecture traits by phenotypic recombination BSA/BSR in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

KEY MESSAGE: We developed a new method phenotypic recombination BSA/BSR (PR-BSA/BSR), which could simultaneously identify the candidate genomic regions associated with two traits in a segregating population. Bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) has been widely used for identifying the genomic regions affecting a certain trait. In this study, we developed a modified BSA/bulked segregant RNA-sequencing (BSR-seq) method, which we named phenotypic recombination BSA/BSR (PR-BSA/BSR), to simultaneously identify candidate genomic regions associated with two traits in a segregating population. Lateral branch angle (LBA) and flower-branch pattern (FBP) are two important traits associated with the peanut plant architecture because they affect the planting density and light use efficiency. We generated an F6 population (with two segregating traits) derived from a cross between the inbred lines Pingdu9616 (erect and sequential; ES-type) and Florunner (spreading and alternating; SA-type). The selection of bulks with extreme phenotypes was a key step in this study. Specifically, 30 individuals with recombinant phenotypes [i.e., spreading and sequential (SS-type) and erect and alternating (EA-type)] were selected to generate two bulks. The transcriptomes of individuals were sequenced and then the loci related to LBA and FBP were simultaneously detected via a ΔSNP-index strategy, which involved the direction of positive and negative peaks in the ∆SNP-index plot. The LBA-related locus was mapped to a 6.82 Mb region (101,743,223-108,564,267 bp) on chromosome 15, whereas the FBP-related locus was mapped to a 2.16 Mb region (117,682,534-119,846,824 bp) on chromosome 12. Furthermore, the marker-based classical QTL mapping method was used to analyze the PF-F6 population, which confirmed our PR-BSA/BSR results. Therefore, the PR-BSA/BSR method produces accurate and reliable data.

Preliminary clinical observation of double C-arm digital subtraction angiography guidance during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the safety, preliminary clinical experience, and technical advantages of double C-arm digital subtraction angiography -assisted portal vein puncture for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. METHODS: Clinical data of 25 patients with portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis were retrospectively analyzed from January 2021 to June 2022. The fluoroscopy time, puncture time, mean portosystemic pressure gradient, dose area product, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was performed in all 25 patients, with a success rate of 100%. The fluoroscopy time, puncture time, and dose area product were 33.6 ± 8.5 min, 9.1 ± 5.7 min, and 126 ± 53 Gy·cm2, respectively. The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased from 22.5 ± 6.3 mmHg to 10.5 ± 2.3 mmHg (p < 0.01). No serious intraoperative and postoperative complications were found. CONCLUSION: Double C-arm digital subtraction angiography-assisted portal vein puncture is safe and feasible in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt operation. It can reduce the difficulty of the operation and possesses evident technical advantages.

Stability of different fixation methods after reduction malarplasty under average and maximum masticatory forces: a finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although titanium plates/screws are effective fixation methods (FM) after L-shaped osteotomy reduction malarplasty (LORM), the ideal FM remains controversial. This first finite element analysis (FEA) aimed to study the effect of various zygomatic body/zygomatic arch FM combinations and their placement vectors on the zygoma complex stability after virtual LORM under the effect of both average (150 N/mm2) and maximum (750 N/mm2) forces and three-dimensional (3D) mapping of stress and strain parameters distribution over the zygomatic bone, fixation methods, and total model. RESULTS: The fixation methods about the short-arm of the L-shaped osteotomy showed lower stress, strain, and displacement values than those across the long-arm osteotomy site. Combined with any zygomatic arch fixation methods (ZAFm), the two bicortical screws group (2LS) on the zygomatic body osteotomy site resulted in smaller displacements and the lowest zygoma bone stress and displacement when combined with Mortice-Tenon structure (MT) as zygomatic arch fixation method. Applied forces caused statistically significant differences in zygomatic bone stress (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001) and displacement (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: All FMs both on the zygomatic body and zygomatic arch provide adequate zygomatic complex stability after LORM. The 2LS group showed better resistance than rectangular plate (RP) and square plate (SP) with lower stress concentrations. The L-shaped plate with short-wing on the maxilla (LPwM) is more stable than having the short-wing on the zygoma bone (LPwZ). Future prospective clinical studies are required to validate the current findings.

Double C-Arm Digital Subtraction Angiography Guidance During Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of portal vein puncture with a new guidance system using double C-arm digital subtraction angiography (DSA) during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS The procedure details of TIPS placements performed on 39 patients in our center between January and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The procedure was performed under double C-arm DSA guidance (study group) and C-arm DSA (control group) in 18 and 21 patients, respectively. We analyzed the procedure's technical success, duration of the overall procedure, portal vein puncture, fluoroscopy, radiation exposure, complications, and mortality and morbidity rates 30 days after the procedure. RESULTS TIPS placement was performed successfully in all patients. The mean portal vein puncture time in the study group (9±5.7 min) was significantly shorter than in the control group (33±14.9 min, p=0.02). The complete mean dose area product of the procedure showed no significant differences (study group, 126±53 Gy/cm²; control group. 142±66 Gy/cm²; p=0.42). The intraprocedural complication rates were 0% and 19% in the study and control groups, respectively (p=0.04). The 30-day post-procedural mortality rate in the control group was 4.8% (1/21), with no deaths from technical complications. CONCLUSIONS Double C-arm DSA guidance is a safe and effective method to assist TIPS placement. This approach may result in shorter portal vein puncture time and lower intraprocedural complication rates.

One Year Follow-Up of Endovascular Microwave Ablation and Concomitant Foam Sclerotherapy in the Treatment of Primary Small Saphenous Vein Insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: In the last decade, the microwave ablation catheter specifically for treating lower extremity varicose veins has become popular. However, imited data is available on the efficacy, analysis, and evaluation of endovenous microwave ablation (EMWA) in treating SSV insufficiency. Our objective is to evaluated the feasibility, safety, and 1-year outcomes of EMWA and concomitant foam sclerotherapy of primary small saphenous vein (SSV) insufficiency. METHODS: Our team carried out a single-center, retrospective analysis of 24 patients treated with EMWAand concomitant foam sclerotherapy for primary SSV insufficiency. All operations were performed using a MWA catheter and polidocanol for the trunk and branches of the SSV, respectively. The SSV occlusion rate was assessed at the 6- and 12-month follow-up examinations using duplex ultrasound. Secondary outcomes included the Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, Pathophysiological (CEAP) clinical class; Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS); Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ); periprocedural pain; and complications. RESULTS: 100% of the cases have been technically successful. At the 6-month follow-up, all treated SSVs were occluded. The 12-month assessment duplex doppler showed anatomical success in patients with 95.8% (95% confidence interval, 0.756-0.994). The CEAP clinical class, VCSS, and the AVVQ had decreased significantly at the 6- and 12-month follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EMWA and concomitant foam sclerotherapy is a feasible and effective technique for treating SSV insufficiency.

Economic values of reproductive and growth traits in Chinese Yiling sheep.

This study aimed to calculate the economic value (EV) of reproductive and growth traits for Yiling sheep. A bio-economic model was developed to assess the economic value of litter size (LS), litter size at weaning (LSW), age at first lambing (AFL), lambing interval (LI), birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and 6-month body weight (6MW). The sensitivity of the economic value of traits to changes in market prices was also analyzed. In this study, the trait with the highest EV was LSW (427.97 ¥), followed by LS (419.96 ¥), BW (52.13 ¥), 6MW (14.46 ¥), WW (11.03 ¥), AFL (-0.51 ¥), and LI (-9.09 ¥). LS was the most important trait in the production system with a relative economic weight of 22.81%, followed by 6MW and LSW with relative economic weights of 18.98% and 19.01%, respectively. All traits assessed, except AFL and LI, had positive economic values, indicating that genetic improvement of these traits would have a positive impact on profitability. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that the economic value of AFL was not sensitive to price changes. All growth traits were unaffected by price changes in labor and medical costs. In addition, the LS, LSW, LI, WW, and 6MW were sensitive to changes in liveweight and feed prices. Generally, as feed prices increased, the economic value of all traits except LI and BW decreased. Except for LI and BW, the economic value of all traits increased due to the rise in liveweight prices. This suggested that liveweight and feed prices significantly affect the profitability of the production system.

Comparative Investigation on the Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) pulp from Five Cultivars.

Jackfruit is one of the major tropical fruits, but information on the phytochemicals and biological benefits of its pulp is limited. In this study, the phytochemicals and biological activities including antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities of five jackfruit pulp cultivars (M1, M2, M3, M7 and T5) were comparatively investigated. A total of 11 compounds were identified in all cultivars of jackfruit pulp, among which 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and tryptophan N-glucoside were reported for the first time in jackfruit. T5 exhibited the highest total phenolic content (7.69 ± 0.73 mg GAE/g DW), antioxidant capacity (109.8, 96.7 and 207 mg VCE/g DW for DPPH, ABTS and FRAP, respectively), antitumor activity (80.31%) and anti-inflammatory activity (78.44%) among five cultivars. These results can provide a reference for growers to choose jackfruit cultivar and offer an insight into the industrial application of jackfruit pulp derived-products.

Loading of erythropoietin on biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramics promotes osteogenesis and angiogenesis by regulating EphB4/EphrinB2 molecules.

Improving osteogenesis and angiogenesis using different cells and drugs is critical in the field of bone tissue engineering. Recent research has found that erythropoietin (EPO) plays an important role in both osteogenesis and angiogenesis. In this study, we grafted polydopamine and EPO onto the surface of biphasic calcium phosphate. The characterization and release property of the modified bioceramics were assessed. Cell proliferation, expression of osteoblastic and endothelial markers, and EphB4/EphrinB2 molecules were investigated while employing co-cultures of two different cells [rat vein endothelial cells (VECs) and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs)]. The modified bioceramics were finally implanted into the SD rats' femurs and followed by investigating the bone defect repair efficacy and the expression of EphB4/EphrinB2 molecules in vivo. The results indicated that the modified bioceramics could control the release of EPO continuously. The osteogenesis and angiogenesis were improved along with the increased expression of EphB4/EphrinB2 molecules. The expression of EphB4/EphrinB2 molecules was also significantly increased in vivo and the bone defect was repaired effectively. Overall, our findings demonstrated that EPO loading on biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramics could promote both osteogenesis and angiogenesis. The results suggest that EphB4/EphrinB2 may be crucial in the process. Graphical abstract.

Proteomic analysis of body wall and coelomic fluid in Sipunculus nudus.

In order to make clear the protein compositions of Sipunculus nudus and investigate its immune-related proteins, proteomic analysis was performed on body wall and coelomic fluid of Sipunculus nudus. A total of 1659 proteins were identified, and 539 proteins were differentially expressed in the coelomic fluid compared to those in the body wall, of which 415 proteins were up-regulated while 124 proteins were down-regulated. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that the GO terms involved in the two parts of Sipunculus nudus were similar, with metabolic processes, catalytic activity and cell occupying the top categories of biological process, molecular function and cellular component, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis showed that 49 pathways in body wall and 48 in coelomic fluid were mapped respectively, and these pathways were mainly related to cellular processes, environmental information processing, genetic information processing and metabolism. The COG analysis showed that 757 proteins from body wall and 889 from coelomic fluid were classified into 26 COG categories, respectively. Pfam annotation revealed the mainly immune-related proteins contained in Sipunculus nudus, such as insulin-like growth factor binding protein, catalase, basement membrane proteoglycan, titin. Our research provides the first proteomic information of Sipunculus nudus, which contributes to the study of functional proteins in Sipunculus nudus and is of great significance for the application of Sipunculus nudus in functional foods and medicines.

The Formation of Chitosan-Coated Rhamnolipid Liposomes Containing Curcumin: Stability and In Vitro Digestion.

There is growing interest in developing biomaterial-coated liposome delivery systems to improve the stability and bioavailability of curcumin, which is a hydrophobic nutraceutical claimed to have several health benefits. The curcumin-loaded rhamnolipid liposomes (Cur-RL-Lips) were fabricated from rhamnolipid and phospholipids, and then chitosan (CS) covered the surface of Cur-RL-Lips by electrostatic interaction to form CS-coated Cur-RL-Lips. The influence of CS concentration on the physical stability and digestion of the liposomes was investigated. The CS-coated Cur-RL-Lips with RL:CS = 1:1 have a relatively small size (412.9 nm) and positive charge (19.7 mV). The CS-coated Cur-RL-Lips remained stable from pH 2 to 5 at room temperature and can effectively slow the degradation of curcumin at 80 °C; however, they were highly unstable to salt addition. In addition, compared with Cur-RL-Lips, the bioavailability of curcumin in CS-coated Cur-RL-Lips was relatively high due to its high transformation in gastrointestinal tract. These results may facilitate the design of a more efficacious liposomal delivery system that enhances the stability and bioavailability of curcumin in nutraceutical-loaded functional foods and beverages.

A highly efficient nanoscale tapioca starch prepared by high-speed jet for Cu2+ removal in simulated industrial effluent.

BACKGROUND: Nanoscale tapioca starch (NTS) was successfully developed by high-speed jet in our previous study. In this study, the adsorption capacity of Cu2+ onto NTS was further discussed. The optimal adsorption conditions (pH, contact time, contact temperature, initial Cu2+ concentration, and adsorbent concentration), adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic were also evaluated. RESULTS: The results showed that NTS exhibited excellent performance in adsorption of Cu2+ , with adsorption capacities of 122.31 mg g-1 for Cu2+ (pH 7, 0.04 g L-1 , 0.2 g L-1 , 313.15 K and 10 min). The pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherms models could be used to explain the adsorption kinetics and adsorption equilibrium, respectively. The thermodynamic results showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic with an increase in entropy. Cu2+ was adsorbed onto NTS, which was confirmed by energy dispersive spectrometry analysis. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that NTS might be an effective, environment-friendly and renewable bio-resource adsorbent for removing heavy metals in industrial effluent. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Surgical Treatment Selection in Adult Class III Patients With Maxillary Transverse Deficiency.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of three commonly used treatments for skeletal class III malocclusion with maxillary transverse deficiency (MTD) (SCM) patients in East Asian, to find a quantitative method for precise discrepancy evaluation, and to find other potential indicators for treatment selection. A total of 239 adult SCM patients were divided into3 groups according to treatments.Dentofacial features were measured and the initial skeletal discrepancy was evaluated with computer-aided surgical simulation (CASS). Relationship between the degree of skeletal transverse discrepancy (STD) and other dentofacial features were analyzed by Spearman's rank correlation. The STD in East Asian could be quantitatively grouped as: mild (<4 mm), moderate (4-8 mm), and severe (>8 mm). Most patients (81%) could be diagnosed with mild STD, and were treated without surgical expansion. The upper first molars inclination, the required relative movement and the required maxillary movement were correlated to the degree of STD. The conventional orthodontic and orthognathic treatment without surgical expansion is the most frequent choice for East Asian SCM adults. CASS facilitated analysis is useful in an accurate MTD evaluation. Some dentofacial features were closely correlated to STD, and thus were helpful for the treatment selection.

Lung cancer risk by geologic coal deposits: A case-control study of female never-smokers from Xuanwei and Fuyuan, China.

Coal types vary around the world because of geochemical differences in their source deposits; however, the influence of coal emissions from different deposits on human health remains unexplored. To address this issue, we conducted the first study of the relationship between coal use from various deposits and lung cancer risk in Xuanwei and Fuyuan, counties in China where lung cancer rates are among the highest in the world among female never-smokers due to use of bituminous ("smoky") coal for heating and cooking. We conducted a population-based case-control study of 1031 lung cancer cases and 493 controls among never-smoking women in Xuanwei and Fuyuan. Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between coal use from various deposits across the lifecourse and lung cancer risk. There was substantial heterogeneity in risks by coal deposit (p = 7.8E-05). Compared to non-smoky coal users, risks by smoky coal deposit ranged from OR = 7.49 (95% CI: 3.43-16.38) to OR = 33.40 (95% CI: 13.07-85.34). Further, women born into homes that used smoky coal and subsequently changed to non-smoky coal had a higher risk (OR = 10.83 (95% CI: 4.61-25.46)) than women born into homes that used non-smoky coal and changed to smoky coal (OR = 4.74 (95% CI: 2.03-11.04, pdifference = 0.04)). Our study demonstrates that various sources of coal have considerably different impact on lung cancer in this population and suggests that early-life exposure to carcinogenic emissions may exert substantial influence on health risks later in life. These factors should be considered when evaluating the health risks posed by exposure to coal combustion emissions.

Field Emission Measurements of Solid Fuel Stoves in Yunnan, China Demonstrate Dominant Causes of Uncertainty in Household Emission Inventories.

Emission factors of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM2.5), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC), as well as combustion efficiency and particle optical properties were measured during 37 uncontrolled cooking tests of residential stoves in Yunnan Province, China. Fuel mixtures included coal, woody biomass, and agricultural waste. Compared to previously published emission measurements of similar stoves, these measurements have higher CO and PM2.5 emission factors. Real-time data show two distinct burn phases: a devolatilization phase after fuel addition with high PM2.5 emissions and a solid-fuel combustion phase with low PM2.5 emissions. The average emission factors depend on the relative contributions of these phases, which are affected by the services provided by the stoves. Differences in stove and fuel characteristics that are not represented in emission inventories affect the variability of emission factors much more than do the type of solid fuel or stove. In developing inventories with highly variable sources such as residential solid-fuel combustion, we suggest that (1) all fuels should be accounted for, not just the primary fuel; (2) the household service provided should be emphasized rather than specific combinations of solid fuels and devices; and (3) the devolatilization phase should be explicitly measured and represented.