Gut microbial network signatures of early colonizers in preterm neonates with extrauterine growth restriction.

BACKGROUND: Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) represents a prevalent condition observed in preterm neonates, which poses potential adverse implications for both neonatal development and long-term health outcomes. The manifestation of EUGR has been intricately associated with perturbations in microbial and metabolic profiles. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the gut microbial network in early colonizers among preterm neonates with EUGR. METHODS: Twenty-nine preterm infants participated in this study, comprising 14 subjects in the EUGR group and 15 in the normal growth (AGA) group. Meconium (D1) and fecal samples were collected at postnatal day 28 (D28) and 1 month after discharge (M1). Subsequently, total bacterial DNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq system, targeting the V3-V4 hyper-variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. RESULTS: The outcomes of principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and examination of the microbial network structure revealed distinctive developmental trajectories in the gut microbiome during the initial three months of life among preterm neonates with and without EUGR. Significant differences in microbial community were observed at the D1 (P = 0.039) and M1 phases (P = 0.036) between the EUGR and AGA groups, while a comparable microbial community was noted at the D28 phase (P = 0.414). Moreover, relative to the AGA group, the EUGR group exhibited significantly lower relative abundances of bacteria associated with secretion of short-chain fatty acids, including Lactobacillus (P = 0.041) and Parabacteroides (P = 0.033) at the D1 phase, Bifidobacterium at the D28 phase, and genera Dysgonomonas (P = 0.042), Dialister (P = 0.02), Dorea (P = 0.042), and Fusobacterium (P = 0.017) at the M1 phase. CONCLUSION: Overall, the present findings offer crucial important insights into the distinctive gut microbial signatures exhibited by earlier colonizers in preterm neonates with EUGR. Further mechanistic studies are needed to establish whether these differences are the cause or a consequence of EUGR.

Utilization of Smoking Cessation Support Among Adults - 18 PLADs, China, 2020.

What is already known about this topic?: In 2018, unassisted smoking cessation (USC) was the predominant method for quitting smoking among Chinese adult smokers, accounting for 90.1% of cases. The utilization of professional smoking cessation support was comparatively low in this population. What is added by this report?: In 2020, the prevalence of USC methods increased to 93.1%. Concurrently, there was a slight increase in the utilization of pharmaceuticals (from 4.6% in 2018 to 5.5% in 2020) and counseling and quit line services (from 3.2% in 2018 to 7.5% in 2020). On the other hand, the use of e-cigarettes as a cessation aid decreased from 14.9% in 2018 to 9.8% in 2020. Smokers aged 15-24 years old were more likely to rely on pharmaceutical interventions (7.9%), and less likely to choose USC methods (79.0%). What are the implications for public health practice?: The promotion of professional cessation support is essential for enhancing smoking cessation rates.

Tobacco Use and Cessation Among College Students - China, 2021.

What is already known about this topic?: Previous studies about tobacco use among college students in China were conducted at the school level or city level, with fewer than 5,000 students participating. What is added by this report?: In 2021, China CDC conducted a national tobacco survey targeting students enrolled in the public higher education system. Overall, 124,119 students from 220 colleges and universities in 31 provincial-level administrative divisions participated in this survey. Current cigarette smoking, current daily smoking, willingness to quit, and smoking cessation among college students were explored. What are the implications for public health practice?: The current daily cigarette smoking rate of college students was significantly higher than that of senior high school students, especially higher vocational college students. Tobacco control interventions, such as a smoke-free school policy and smoking cessation services, need to be reinforced on college campuses.

Smoking Behavior Among Secondary School Students - China, 2021.

What is already known about this topic?: In 2019, China CDC conducted the National Youth Tobacco Survey among secondary school students, and the prevalence rates of ever, current, and frequent smoking were 17.9%, 5.9%, and 1.8%, respectively. What is added by this report?: The prevalence rate of cigarette use in males decreased largely from 2019 to 2021 in China, while it increased in 18 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) for females. The tobacco control situation remains challenging among vocational senior high school (VSHS) students. Significant geographical disparities existed in cigarette use. What are the implications for public health practice?: Targeted tobacco control policies aimed at VSHS students are needed, specifically those PLADs with higher smoking rates. Additionally, close attention should be paid to female smokers.

Cigarette availability and affordability among Chinese youth smokers: Findings from the 2019 China Youth Tobacco Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Preventing youth from tobacco use is a priority for tobacco control in China, and the government has taken many measures such as introducing tobacco control in the health education curriculum, banning smoking in school, promoting smoke-free household, and advocacy campaigns. The objective of this study was to understand the availability and affordability of cigarettes for middle school (MS) and high school (HS) students in China. METHODS: The data were extracted from the 2019 China National Youth Tobacco Survey, which was a school-based cross-sectional survey with a nationally representative sample of 288192 MS and HS students. The survey employed a randomized multistage stratified cluster sampling design with probability proportional to size sampling method and used an anonymous self-administrated questionnaire to collect data. The availability and affordability of cigarettes were analyzed, and all parameter estimates were weighted to account for the complex sampling design. RESULTS: In 2019, an estimated 80.5% of current smokers who were aged <18 years bought cigarettes in the past 30 days. Among them, 83.3% (83.0% of males and 85.2% of females; and 76.5% in MS and 87.6% in HS) had not been refused purchase of cigarettes because they were underage, with 84.1% in urban and 82.9% in rural areas, and 87.3% in central, 83.4% in eastern, and 80.5% in western regions of China. Among current smokers who bought cigarettes in the past 30 days, 77.3% had bought a pack of cigarettes (20 cigarettes) costing >10 RMB and at least 61.4% had more pocket money per week than the cost of a pack of cigarettes. Although 84.2% of current smokers bought cigarettes by the pack, 9.2% of current smokers reported that they bought cigarettes as sticks. CONCLUSIONS: Although the youth smoking rate dropped down from 2014 to 2019, the proportion of youth smokers that bought cigarettes was still high in China. Due to the high amount of pocket money, the current cigarette price was not an effective price barrier to prevent youth smoking. Selling cigarettes by the stick worsens the situation. Strengthening the enforcement of the 2021 Law on the Protection of Minors, increasing tobacco taxes and prices, and forbidding the selling of cigarette sticks, might assist the progress in youth tobacco control.