Forced vital capacity and body mass index of Xinjiang children and adolescents: an analysis based on seven successive national surveys, 1985-2014.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary function is very important for the healthy development of children and adolescents. However, fewer studies have been conducted on pulmonary function trends in children and adolescents in remote areas. The aim of this study was to estimate the forced vital capacity (FVC) trend and its relationship with body mass index (BMI) among young people in Xinjiang during 1985-2014 using data from seven successive national surveys. METHODS: A total of 19,449 Xinjiang children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were extracted from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health. Height, weight, and FVC were measured repeatedly in each survey. FVC comparisons between adjacent surveys by age and sex were conducted by nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis after Kolmogorov-Smirnov of normality. One-way ANOVA and least significant difference(LSD) method was used to compare differences in FVC levels of Xinjiang children and adolescents with different BMI. The relationship between BMI and FVC was investigated using a nonlinear regression model. RESULTS: The FVC levels of Xinjiang children and adolescents peaked in 2000, with overall FVC levels being 8.7% higher in 2000 than in 1985. Since then, a substantial decline occurred, contrasting to 2000, with FVC levels decreasing by 27% in 2014, which was still lower than that in 1985 by 20.73%. The proportion of overnutrition boys increased from 0.2% in 1985 to 22.1% in 2014, and girls from 0.5% in 1985 to 14.5% in 2014. An inverted U-shape association between FVC and BMI values was obtained for Xinjiang children and adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted measures should be carried out in schools to control BMI levels to ensure good lung function in children and adolescents in Xinjiang. Future studies should pay more attention to other factors affecting FVC, such as dietary behaviour, physical activity, and racial differences among children and adolescents.

Comparative genomics of the medicinal plants Lonicera macranthoides and L. japonica provides insight into genus genome evolution and hederagenin-based saponin biosynthesis.

Lonicera macranthoides (LM) and L. japonica (LJ) are medicinal plants widely used in treating viral diseases, such as COVID-19. Although the two species are morphologically similar, their secondary metabolite profiles are significantly different. Here, metabolomics analysis showed that LM contained ~86.01 mg/g hederagenin-based saponins, 2000-fold higher than LJ. To gain molecular insights into its secondary metabolite production, a chromosome-level genome of LM was constructed, comprising 9 pseudo-chromosomes with 40 097 protein-encoding genes. Genome evolution analysis showed that LM and LJ were diverged 1.30-2.27 million years ago (MYA). The two plant species experienced a common whole-genome duplication event that occurred ∼53.9-55.2 MYA before speciation. Genes involved in hederagenin-based saponin biosynthesis were arranged in clusters on the chromosomes of LM and they were more highly expressed in LM than in LJ. Among them, oleanolic acid synthase (OAS) and UDP-glycosyltransferase 73 (UGT73) families were much more highly expressed in LM than in LJ. Specifically, LmOAS1 was identified to effectively catalyse the C-28 oxidation of ß-Amyrin to form oleanolic acid, the precursor of hederagenin-based saponin. LmUGT73P1 was identified to catalyse cauloside A to produce α-hederin. We further identified the key amino acid residues of LmOAS1 and LmUGT73P1 for their enzymatic activities. Additionally, comparing with collinear genes in LJ, LmOAS1 and LmUGT73P1 had an interesting phenomenon of 'neighbourhood replication' in LM genome. Collectively, the genomic resource and candidate genes reported here set the foundation to fully reveal the genome evolution of the Lonicera genus and hederagenin-based saponin biosynthetic pathway.

The predictive equations of resting metabolic rate for Tibetan adolescents aged 13-18 in Tibet, China.

OBJECTIVES: The resting metabolic rate (RMR) predictive equations suitable for Tibetan adolescents in Tibet, China, were developed to provide a reference for their reasonable energy intake. METHODS: We measured RMR by indirect calorimetry and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis in 325 Tibetan adolescents aged 13-18 years in Tibet, China. Stepwise regression analysis was used to develop the predictive equations. Pearson correlation analysis, paired sample t test, bias rate, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Bland-Altman were used to verify the validity of the predictive equations. RESULTS: The R2 of Model 8 (0.642) was larger than Model 2 (boys, 0.642; girls, 0.533) and Model 7 (0.540), and Model 10 (0.534) was larger than Model 4 (boys, 0.531; girls, 0.443) and Model 9 (0.477).Compared with the existing predictive equations, the correlation (0.68-0.84) between the predicted values and the measured values, CCC (0.74-0.81) and consistency (Similar proportions within the upper and lower limits but lower differences) were higher and the bias rate (-1.0% to -2.5%) and root mean square error (207.4-263.7 kcal/day) were lower in this study. By comprehensive comparison, Model 8 and Model 10 were more valid. CONCLUSIONS: The existing predictive equations cannot accurately predict the RMR of Tibetan adolescents in Tibet, China. In this study, the age segmentation predictive equations with age, sex, and fat free mass (FFM) as independent variables were more valid. The predictive equations were as follows: RMR (kcal/day) = 50.1 × FFM (kg) - 202.8 × Sex (F: 0; M: 1) - 72.1 × Age + 930.3, 13-15 years; RMR (kcal/day) = 58.4 × FFM (kg) - 441.1 × Sex (F: 0; M: 1) - 702.2, 16-18 years.

Distribution of cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents at different latitudes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences and characteristics of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among children and adolescents in regions with different latitudes in China. METHODS: A total of 9892 children and adolescents aged 7-22 years were selected from seven administrative regions in China by the stratified cluster random sampling method. CRF was measured by performance on the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) and estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max ). One-way ANOVA, one-way ANCOVA, and the Lambda Mu and Sigma methods were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Overall, the VO2max of children and adolescents at high latitudes was significantly lower than that of children at low and middle latitudes. The P10 , P50 , and P90 20mSRT values for children and adolescents of most age groups in high latitudes were less than those in low and middle latitudes. The 20mSRT-Z and VO2max -Z scores among children and adolescents aged 7-22 in high latitudes were lower than those in middle and low latitudes after adjusting for age, per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and per capita disposable income. CONCLUSION: In general, the CRF of children and adolescents at high latitudes was less than that at low and middle latitudes. Effective measures should be taken to improve CRF in children and adolescents at high latitudes.

An Original Aspirin-Containing Carbonic Anhydrase 9 Inhibitor Overcomes Hypoxia-Induced Drug Resistance to Enhance the Efficacy of Myocardial Protection.

PURPOSE: Hypoxic microenvironment plays a vital role in myocardial ischemia injury, generally leading to the resistance of chemotherapeutic drugs. This induces an intriguing study on mechanism exploration and prodrug design to overcome the hypoxia-induced drug resistance. METHODS: In this study, we hypothesized that the overexpression of carbonic anhydrase 9 (CAIX) in myocardial cells is closely related to the drug resistance. Herein, bioinformatics analysis, gene knockdown, and overexpression assay certificated the correlation between CAIX overexpression and hypoxia. An original aspirin-containing CAIX inhibitor AcAs has been developed. RESULTS: Based on the downregulation of CAIX level, both in vitro and in vivo, AcAs can overcome the acquired resistance and more effectively attenuate myocardial ischemia and hypoxia injury than that of aspirin. CAIX inhibitor is believed to recover the extracellular pH value so as to ensure the stable effect of aspirin. CONCLUSION: Results indicate great potential of CAIX inhibitor for further application in myocardial hypoxia injury therapy.

Roles of age, sex, and weight status in the muscular fitness of Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents living at altitudes over 3600 m: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the role of age, sex, and weight status in the development of muscular fitness in a large sample of Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents aged 7-18 years living in areas over 3600 m. METHOD: A sample of 4673 Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were recruited from 21 schools in three cities (Lhasa, Naqu, and Anduo) of Tibet, China. Grip strength, standing long jump, 30-s sit-ups, and 50-m dash were conducted to determine muscular fitness. Independent sample t tests were conducted to compare muscular fitness between boys and girls for each age group. The changes in mean scores on each muscular fitness test were estimated. The influence of weight status on muscular strength level was also estimated using one-way ANOVA and LSD tests. We also compared the average muscular fitness between Chinese Tibetan and Chinese average level. RESULTS: The muscular fitness of Chinese Tibetan boys aged 7-18 years was higher than that of girls, with older children outperforming younger children. Among the Chinese Tibetan boys, those in the normal-weight group showed the best performance, whereas overweight group showed the best performance among the girls. The performance of Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents in standing long jump and 50-m dash was lower while that in sit-ups was higher than the performance of their Chinese counterparts. CONCLUSION: Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents have relatively strong abdominal strength, but lower limb strength, which needs to be improved. Age, sex, and weight status should be considered when designing interventions to improve muscular fitness.

Relationship between waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese children and adolescents: Results from a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: This article assessed the relationship between waist circumference (WC) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of children and adolescents aged 7-18 years. METHODS: Using a stratified cluster random sampling method, 92,574 children and adolescents (47,364 males and 45,210 females) were extracted. CRF was measured by performance in the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) and the subsequent estimation of maximal oxygen consumption ( V ˙ O2max) using the Léger equations. Participants were divided into five groups of WC percentiles and three groups of CRF percentiles by the Lambda Mu Sigma (LMS). The correlation between WC and CRF was examined by one-way ANOVA and curvilinear regression analysis. RESULTS: WC increased with age, while V ˙ O2max showed an age-related decline. Controlling for gender, urban, and rural factors, for children and adolescents aged 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18 years, the V ˙ O2max Z-score of the normal WC group was significantly higher than the very low WC group (P < 0.05). Controlling for gender, urban, and rural factors, for participants aged 7-18 years, the V ˙ O2max Z-score of the normal WC group was significantly higher than the high WC group and the very high WC group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It generally shows a "parabolic" trend between WC-Z and V ˙ O2max-Z. The CRF among children and adolescents in the normal WC group is significantly higher than that in the low and the high WC groups.

Proteomic and Biological Analyses Reveal the Effect on Growth under Flooding Stress of Chickpea Irradiated with Millimeter Waves.

Chickpea cultivated on marginal lands in arid and semiarid tropics is one of the food legumes, and its growth is reduced by flooding stress. Millimeter-wave irradiation has influences on organisms, and it improves the growth of plants such as soybean. To reveal the dynamic effects of millimeter-wave irradiation on chickpea under flooding, gel- and label-free proteomic analysis was conducted. Millimeter-wave irradiation improved chickpea growth and its tolerance to flooding stress. According to functional categorization, oppositely changed proteins were correlated with photosynthesis, fermentation, and protein degradation. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that RuBisCO activase and large subunits decreased in leaves under flooding; however, they are recovered in irradiated chickpea even if it was in this condition. The activity and accumulation of alcohol dehydrogenase increased in roots under flooding; however, this followed the same pattern. Cell death was significantly increased and decreased by flooding on unirradiated and irradiated chickpeas, respectively. These findings suggest that irradiation with millimeter waves on chickpea seeds improves the recovery of plant growth through regulation of photosynthesis in leaves and fermentation in roots. Furthermore, millimeter-wave irradiation might promote chickpea tolerance under flooding via the regulation of cell death.

Omics and Transgenic Analyses Reveal that Salvianolic Acid B Exhibits its Anti-Inflammatory Effects through Inhibiting the Mincle-Syk-Related Pathway in Macrophages.

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the main water-soluble compound in Salvia miltiorrhiza, is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity, however, the underlying mechanism(s) is not completely uncovered. In this study, Sal B inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced M1 activation and promoted the transformation of macrophages from M1- to M2-type polarization. The altered lipid profiles of LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were partly restored by Sal B treatment. At the proteomic level, a total of 5612 proteins were identified and 432 were significantly changed in macrophages under LPS treatment. The differential proteins were classified into four clusters according to their expression level in blank, LPS, and Sal B groups. LPS-induced proteins in Cluster IV including Kif14, Mincle, and Sec62 were significantly recovered to almost normal levels by Sal B treatment. Use of knockdown Mincle or picetannol (inhibitor of Syk) led to significant reductions in the gene expressions of IL-1ß, iNOS, and IL-12 and the release of NO. The converse was, however, observed for overexpressed Mincle. In addition, LPS- or trehalose-6,6-dibehenate-induced phosphorylation of Syk and PKCδ was decreased by Sal B treatment. These results suggest that Sal B inhibition of LPS-induced inflammation might be through inhibition of the Mincle-Syk-PKCδ signaling pathway.

Integrative omic and transgenic analyses reveal the positive effect of ultraviolet-B irradiation on salvianolic acid biosynthesis through upregulation of SmNAC1.

Salvianolic acids (SalAs), a group of secondary metabolites in Salvia miltiorrhiza, are widely used for treating cerebrovascular diseases. Their biosynthesis is modulated by a variety of abiotic factors, including ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, an integrated metabolomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic approach coupled with transgenic analyses was employed to dissect the mechanisms underlying UV-B irradiation-induced SalA biosynthesis. Results of metabolomics showed that 28 metabolites, including 12 SalAs, were elevated in leaves of UV-B-treated S. miltiorrhiza. Meanwhile, the contents of several phytohormones, including jasmonic acid and salicylic acid, which positively modulate the biosynthesis of SalAs, also increased in UV-B-treated S. miltiorrhiza. Consistently, 20 core biosynthetic enzymes and numerous transcription factors that are involved in SalA biosynthesis were elevated in treated samples as indicated by a comprehensive proteomic analysis. Correlation and gene expression analyses demonstrated that the NAC1 gene, encoding a NAC transcriptional factor, was positively involved in UV-B-induced SalA biosynthesis. Accordingly, overexpression and RNA interference of NAC1 increased and decreased SalA contents, respectively, through regulation of key biosynthetic enzymes. Furthermore, ChIP-qPCR and Dual-LUC assays showed that NAC1 could directly bind to the CATGTG and CATGTC motifs present in the promoters of the SalA biosynthesis-related genes PAL3 and TAT3, respectively, and activate their expression. Our results collectively demonstrate that NAC1 plays a crucial role in UV-B irradiation-induced SalA biosynthesis. Taken together, our findings provide mechanistic insights into the UV-B-induced SalA biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza, and shed light on a great potential for the development of SalA-abundant varieties through genetic engineering.

Lighting the way: advances in transcriptional regulation and integrative crosstalk of melatonin biosynthetic enzymes in cassava.

The role of melatonin biosynthetic enzymes has been well studied. However, the transcriptional regulation of melatonin biosynthetic enzymes and their integrative crosstalk with other signaling pathways remain elusive. Here, we summarize recent progress in the functional analysis of melatonin biosynthetic enzymes and the major sites of melatonin synthesis in plants. We focus on the dual roles of melatonin biosynthetic enzymes in melatonin biosynthesis and in the crosstalk between melatonin and autophagy, antioxidant signaling, and stress responses in cassava. We highlight the transcriptional regulation and integrative protein complex of melatonin biosynthetic enzymes, and then raise the challenge of uncovering their precise regulation and crosstalk.

Ventilatory responses at submaximal exercise intensities in healthy children and adolescents during the growth spurt period: a semi-longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: To identify the changes of ventilation ([Formula: see text]E), tidal volume (VT) and respiratory frequency (fr) at different incremental step test intensities during maturation of children and adolescents. METHODS: A semi-longitudinal study was conducted on 68 healthy untrained boys and girls aged 11-17 years. The subjects were separated into three distinct age groups. [Formula: see text]E, VT and fr parameters were evaluated annually during 3 years by modifying incremental step test intensities according to ventilatory threshold (VTh) level (30, 60 and 90% of [Formula: see text]O2max). Absolute and relative values of ventilatory responses were analyzed and compared according to age and developmental phase. RESULTS: (1) Height, weight, lean body mass and vital capacity increased significantly from 11 to 17 years of age. (2) [Formula: see text]O2max, [Formula: see text]E, and VT increased during maturation even when exercise intensity changed, especially from 11 to 15 years of age. On the other hand, fr showed a decreasing trend. CONCLUSION: Increases of VT are the main reason for [Formula: see text]E increases during maturation of children. fr decreased independently of total body mass during maturation. [Formula: see text]E.kg-1 was stable despite intensity variations. VT.kg-1 increased significantly from 11 to 15 years then stabilized at 17 years. Lean body mass seems to explain the evolution of VT.kg-1 during maturation.

Morphophysiological and Proteomic Responses on Plants of Irradiation with Electromagnetic Waves.

Electromagnetic energy is the backbone of wireless communication systems, and its progressive use has resulted in impacts on a wide range of biological systems. The consequences of electromagnetic energy absorption on plants are insufficiently addressed. In the agricultural area, electromagnetic-wave irradiation has been used to develop crop varieties, manage insect pests, monitor fertilizer efficiency, and preserve agricultural produce. According to different frequencies and wavelengths, electromagnetic waves are typically divided into eight spectral bands, including audio waves, radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. In this review, among these electromagnetic waves, effects of millimeter waves, ultraviolet, and gamma rays on plants are outlined, and their response mechanisms in plants through proteomic approaches are summarized. Furthermore, remarkable advancements of irradiating plants with electromagnetic waves, especially ultraviolet, are addressed, which shed light on future research in the electromagnetic field.

Relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and latitude in children and adolescents: Results from a cross-sectional survey in China.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the correlation between latitude and the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of children and adolescents. METHODS: In 16 provinces and autonomous regions in China, 25,941 children and adolescents aged 10-18 were included. CRF was measured using the 20 m shuttle run test (20 m SRT) and estimated peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). One-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were used to explore the correlation between CRF and latitude in children and adolescents. RESULTS: The VO2peak values of the low (south), middle, and high (north) latitude groups for boys were 43.1, 43.1, and 40.7 mL/kg/min, respectively, and 40.0, 40.0, and 38.5 mL/kg/min for girls, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the regression coefficients (ß) between VO2peak-Z and both latitude-Z and (latitude-Z)2 for boys were -0.151 and -0.043, respectively. For girls, they were -0.142 and -0.020, respectively. The Partial correlation coefficient (r) for latitude-Z and (latitude-Z)2 were -0.14 and -0.04 for boys, and -0.13 and -0.02 for girls, respectively. CONCLUSION: The CRF among children and adolescents in high latitude regions is significantly lower than that in middle and low latitude region, and it generally shows a "parabolic" trend between Latitude-Z and VO2peak-Z.

Discovery of Potential Serum Protein Biomarkers in Ankylosing Spondylitis Using Tandem Mass Tag-Based Quantitative Proteomics.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic, chronic, and inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects 0.2% of the population. Current diagnostic criteria for disease activity rely on subjective Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index scores. Here, we aimed to discover a panel of serum protein biomarkers. First, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was applied to identify differential proteins between 15 pooled active AS and 60 pooled healthy subjects. Second, cohort 1 of 328 humans, including 138 active AS and 190 healthy subjects from two independent centers, was used for biomarker discovery and validation. Finally, biomarker panels were applied to differentiate among active AS, stable AS, and healthy subjects from cohort 2, which enrolled 28 patients with stable AS, 26 with active AS, and 28 healthy subjects. From the proteomics study, a total of 762 proteins were identified and 46 proteins were up-regulated and 59 proteins were down-regulated in active AS patients compared to those in healthy persons. Among them, C-reactive protein (CRP), complement factor H-related protein 3 (CFHR3), α-1-acid glycoprotein 2 (ORM2), serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), fibrinogen γ (FG-γ), and fibrinogen ß (FG-ß) were the most significantly up-regulated inflammation-related proteins and S100A8, fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5), and thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) were the most significantly down-regulated inflammation-related proteins. From the cohort 1 study, the best panel for the diagnosis of active AS vs healthy subjects is the combination of CRP and SAA1. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was nearly 0.900, the sensitivity was 0.970%, and the specificity was 0.805% at a 95% confidence interval from 0.811 to 0.977. Using 0.387 as the cutoff value, the predictive values reached 92.00% in the internal validation set (62 with active AS vs 114 healthy subjects) and 97.50% in the external validation phase (40 with active AS vs 40 healthy subjects). From the cohort 2 study, a panel of CRP and SAA1 can differentiate well among active AS, stable AS, and healthy subjects. For active AS vs stable AS, the area under the ROC curve was 0.951, the sensitivity was 96.43%, the specificity was 88.46% at a 95% confidence interval from 0.891 to 1, and the coincidence rate was 92.30%. For stable AS vs healthy humans, the area under the ROC curve was 0.908, the sensitivity was 89.29%, the specificity was 78.57% at a 95% confidence interval from 0.836 to 0.980, and the coincidence rate was 83.93%. For active AS vs healthy subjects, the predictive value was 94.44%. The results indicated that the CRP and SAA1 combination can potentially diagnose disease status, especially for active or stable AS, which will be conducive to treatment recommendation for patients with AS.

Ginsenoside Rg1 and the control of inflammation implications for the therapy of type 2 diabetes: A review of scientific findings and call for further research.

The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is gradually assuming pandemic proportions, leaving in its trail increased morbidity and mortality. This trend is mainly credited to the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles resulting in increased cases of overweightness and obesity. Traditionally, T2D is considered a metabolic disorder epitomized by prolonged elevated levels of glucose due to insulin resistance and/or decreased insulin secretion resulting from pancreatic ß-cells dysfunction. Our current understanding of the disease implicates the adipose tissue in the induction of low-grade chronic inflammation which in turn initiates a cascade of anti- and pro-inflammatory responses by the immune system ultimately damaging the ß-cells of the pancreas. The central role of inflammation in the initiation and progress of T2D is now receiving a lot of attention. This review gives an overview of the centrality of inflammation in the pathogenesis of T2D and focuses on the therapeutic potential of ginsenoside Rg1. This review is borne out of the hypothesis that, if inflammation is an absolute precondition to T2D initiation and progress, then attenuation of inflammation should hold therapeutic promise. In line with this, we highlight the anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 among others and proffer suggestions for future studies.

Psychological symptoms are associated with screen and exercise time: a cross-sectional study of Chinese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders among adolescents have become a worldwide public health problem. This study aimed to estimate the best combination of exercise time and screen time to promote the mental health of Chinese adolescents. METHODS: Participants included 7200 Chinese adolescents aged 13-18 years from six regions of China. Screen and exercise time data were collected via a self-rated questionnaire. Psychological symptoms (e.g., often feeling depressed, school-weary) were evaluated with the "Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents". Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analysis were conducted to investigate the differences in and correlations among screen time, exercise time, and psychological symptoms. RESULTS: The overall detection rate of psychological symptoms among Chinese adolescents was 21.4% (22.1% for boys and 20.6% for girls). Psychological symptom detection rates were lowest among adolescents with 1-2 h/d of screen time (19.5%) and those with 30-60 min/d of exercise time (17.3%). Screen time > 2 h/d (OR = 1.38, P < 0.001) and exercise time < 30 min/d (OR = 1.62, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with psychological symptoms. CONCLUSION: Screen and exercise time are associated with psychological symptoms in Chinese adolescents. A combination of 1-2 h/d of screen time and 30-60 min/d of exercise time is provided as a reference for better mental health.

Protection of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis.

Given the growing evidence of a link between gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis and multiple sclerosis (MS), fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), aimed at rebuilding GM, has been proposed as a new therapeutic approach to MS treatment. To evaluate the viability of FMT for MS treatment and its impact on MS pathology, we tested FMT in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS. We provide evidence that FMT can rectify altered GM to some extent with a therapeutic effect on EAE. We also found that FMT led to reduced activation of microglia and astrocytes and conferred protection on the blood-brain barrier (BBB), myelin, and axons in EAE. Taken together, our data suggest that FMT, as a GM-based therapy, has the potential to be an effective treatment for MS.

Comparison of growth and nutritional status of Chinese and Japanese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The difference in growth and nutritional status, both important indices of population quality, between Chinese and Japanese children and adolescents is unknown. AIM: This study aimed to compare growth and nutritional status between Chinese and Japanese children and adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The height-for-age and BMI-for-age distribution of 9,226 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from China and Japan were described with the Lambda Mu and Sigma method. Wasting, overweight and obesity were evaluated based on BMI-for-age cut-offs of the 2007 WHO Child Growth Reference. RESULTS: For boys, the overall average height, weight and BMI of Chinese participants were 3.0 cm, 4.8 kg and 1.2 kg/m2 greater compared with Japanese participants, respectively; for girls, these were 4.6 cm, 3.9 kg and 0.6 kg/m2, respectively. Compared with Japanese children, the 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles of height-for-age, 1Z-score, and 2Z-score of BMI-for-age of Chinese children were greater, whereas the minus 2Z-scores of Chinese children were less. The prevalence of wasting, overweight and obesity among Chinese participants was greater. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with Japanese children, Chinese children tended to be taller. The worrying burden of overweight, obesity and wasting was recognised among Chinese children.

Normative Reference Values and International Comparisons for the 20-Metre Shuttle Run Test: Analysis of 69,960 Test Results among Chinese Children and Youth.

There is increasing evidence that cardiorespiratory endurance (CRE) is declining among Chinese children and youth. The 20-meter shuttle run test (20-m SRT) is considered the most effective and widely used field-based measurement of CRE for children and youth worldwide. However, there have been few attempts to set 20-m SRT norms for Chinese children and youth. We aimed to develop sex- and age-specific 20-m SRT norms for Chinese children and youth, and compare them with international standards. Participants were 69,960 healthy children and youth aged 9-17 years from six geographical areas of China, selected using a stratified cluster random sampling method. Sex- and age-specific 20-m SRT percentiles and curves were extracted for four common 20-m SRT metrics (laps, completed stages/minutes, speed at the last complete stage, estimated peak oxygen uptake). We also estimated the prevalence of healthy CRE according to the interim international cut-points (42 mL.kg-1min-1 for boys, 35 mL·kg·1min-1 for girls). Chinese boys consistently outperformed girls, while more girls (86.4%) exhibited healthy CRE than boys (67.1%). Younger children and youth were more likely to meet the standards compared with the older, regardless of sex. Chinese children and youth underperformed international norms by 0.85% for boys and 3.1% for girls. The performance indicator (z-score) of Chinese children and youth was -0.01, indicating that 20-m SRT performance was worse than the international mean. The sex differences were also higher for international than Chinese students. This study provided national sex- and age-specific 20-m SRT Chinese norms, offering a valuable tool for screening, monitoring and identifying target groups for future interventions and early prevention of cardiovascular risk factors.