More obvious association between short-term ambient nitrogen dioxide and atrial fibrillation outpatient visits in cool seasons: A hospital-based study in northwestern China.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained heart rhythm disorder associated with high mortality and morbidity. Limited studies have been conducted to assess the relationship between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and AF attacks. This study aimed to explore the association between short-term ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure and outpatient visits for AF in Xi'an, China. Data on daily AF outpatient visits and air pollutants from 2013 to 2019 (2555 days) were obtained. A time-series approach using over-dispersed Poisson generalized additive model (GAM) was employed, and stratified analyses were performed to investigate the potential modifying effects by season, age, and gender. A total of 8307 outpatient visits for AF were recorded. Increased levels of NO2 were associated with increased AF outpatient visits, and the most significant effect estimates were observed at lag 03: A 10 µg/m3 increase of NO2 at lag 03 was related to an elevation of 5.59% (95% CI: 2.67%, 8.51%) in daily outpatient visits for AF. Stratified analyses showed that there were no gender and age difference in the effect of NO2, while more obvious association was observed in cool seasons (October to March) than in warm seasons (April to September). In summary, short-term ambient NO2 exposure can be positively associated with daily outpatient visits for AF, especially in cool seasons. This work provided novel data that the association between air pollutants and AF can vary by seasons, further supporting that the prevention of cardiovascular health effects should be strengthened in winter.

Association between short-term ambient air pollution and outpatient visits of anxiety: A hospital-based study in northwestern China.

Anxiety, a common and devastating mental disorder, has raised widespread interests. The impacts of air pollution on physical health are well known, whereas few studies have explored the association of atmospheric pollution, especially short-term air pollution exposure, with the risk of anxiety disorders. In addition, there are increasing concerns in emerging evidence supporting a possible etiological link. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the relationship between short-term exposure to atmospheric pollutants and anxiety outpatient visits in Xi'an, a city of northwestern China and a metropolis with relatively heavy air pollution. We collected the data of both daily outpatient visits and daily air pollution (SO2, NO2, and PM10) between January 1, 2010 and January 31, 2016 (2222 days). To clarify the association between short-term ambient atmospheric pollution exposure and anxiety outpatient visits, an over-dispersed Poisson generalized additive model was applied by adjusting the day of the week and weather conditions (including temperature, humidity, sunlight hours, and rainfalls). Positive association between gaseous air pollutants (SO2 and NO2) and anxiety daily outpatient visits was observed. Moreover, the largest estimated values of both SO2 and NO2 were evidence at lag 03 (4-day moving average lag), with 10 µg/m3 increase corresponded to the increase of outpatient anxiety visits at 4.11% (95% CI: 2.15%, 6.06%) for SO2 and 3.97% (95% CI: 1.90%, 6.06%) for NO2. However, there was no differences in susceptibility to air pollutants between different genders as well as different ages. Taken together, short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants, especially gaseous air pollutants (NO2 and SO2), can be related to higher risk of anxiety outpatient visits.

Association between air pollution and menstrual disorder outpatient visits: A time-series analysis.

Menstrual disorders are common diseases among reproductive-aged women with increasing concerns. Until now, there have been limited studies about the association between menstrual disorders and air pollution. This study aimed to investigate the association between short-term (concurrent day and within 1 week prior) ambient air pollution exposure and menstrual disorder outpatient visits in Xi'an, a metropolis in northwestern China. Daily baseline outpatient data of menstrual disorders from January 1, 2010 to February 18, 2016 (2239 days) were obtained. An over-dispersed Poisson generalized additive model was applied to discover the relationship between short-term air pollution exposure and the number of menstrual disorder outpatient visits by adjusting the day of the week and weather conditions. A total of 51,893 outpatient visits for menstrual disorders were recorded. A 10 µg/m3 increase of PM10 and NO2 concentrations corresponded to 0.236% (95% Cl: 0.075%, 0.397%) and 2.173% (95% Cl: 0.990%, 3.357%) elevations in outpatient-visits for menstrual disorders at lag 7 and lag 01 (concurrent day and previous 1 day), respectively. The association was more significant in young females (18-29 years) and there was no obvious association observed between SO2 and menstrual disorder outpatient visits. This is the first evidence that short-term exposure to ambient air pollution can be associated with an increased risk of menstrual disorder attacks. The results of our study may help to establish more comprehensive understanding of the health effects of ambient air pollution on menstrual disorders and other reproductive diseases.

Acute effects of air pollution on enteritis admissions in Xi'an, China.

The correlation between enteritis, a common digestive disease, and exposure to ambient air pollutants has not been examined in a comprehensive manner. The aim of this study was to determine whether an association between short-term air pollution exposure and outpatient visits for enteritis in Xi'an, China, occurred using a time-series investigation. Daily baseline data from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2015, were obtained. The overdispersed Poisson generalized additive model was used to analyze the association between air pollutant levels and frequency of enteritis. A total of 12,815 outpatient hospital visits for enteritis were identified. A 10-µg/m3 increase in average concentrations of particulate matter (PM)10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), and a 0.1-mg/m3 rise of carbon monoxide (CO) were associated with a significantly elevated number of outpatient visits for enteritis on concurrent days, while ozone (O3) did not markedly affect the frequency of enteritis clinical visits. There were no significant positive effects between two-pollutant and single-pollutant models. Lag models showed that the most prominent responses occurred on concurrent days. Confounding factors of gender and age played a significant role in the observations. Taken together, data indicate that air pollution may result in enhanced occurrence of enteritis attack.

[Dispersion behavior of effective ingredients in Chinese medicine decoctions].

OBJECTIVE: To research the disperse behavior of many Chinese medicine decoctions. METHODS: Through the analysis of the dispersible attributes of 22 kinds of Chinese medicine decoctions including Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae by means of turbidity, ultramicroscope and TEM, we found that a lot of nanometer particles existed in these decoctions after 4000 r/min centrifugation. Based on the model of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, we analyzed the influence on the loss of effective ingredients by way of centrifugation, alcohol precipitation, flocculation and salting-out edulcoration. RESULTS: The removal of infinite nanometer particles from these decoctions led to the greater loss of water-soluble and fat-soluble ingredients,and the latter accounts for the major loss. CONCLUSION: Oral liquid preparation of traditional Chinese medicine is a kind of nano-pharmaceutics with nanometer particles dispersed in the water as the carriers of effective ingredients in medicine.

Unexpected association between increased levels of ambient carbon monoxide and reduced daily outpatient visits for vaginitis: A hospital-based study.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a well-known "toxic gas". It represents a toxic inhalation hazard at high concentration and is commonly found in polluted air. However, a series of recent studies have suggested that low concentration of CO can also produce protective functions. This study was performed to investigate the association between ambient CO exposure and vaginitis outpatient visits. Daily baseline outpatient data of vaginitis from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015 were obtained from Xi'an, a heavily-polluted metropolis in China. The over-dispersed Poisson generalized additive model was applied to discover the relations between short-term ambient CO exposure and the number of vaginitis outpatient visits by adjusting day of the week and weather conditions. A total of 16,825 outpatient hospital visits for vaginitis were recorded. The mean daily concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) was well below Chinese and WHO guidelines. During the study period, increased levels of ambient CO was associated with reduced outpatient-visits through concurrent to lag 5 days, and the most significant association was evidenced at lag 05. A 0.1 mg/m3 increase in daily average CO at lag 05 corresponded to -1.25% (95%CI: -1.85%, -0.65%) change in outpatient-visits for vaginitis. Moreover, the association was more significant in those women aged 20-29 years. After adjustment for PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NO2, and O3, the negative associations of CO with vaginitis kept significant, suggesting relative stability of effect estimates. In summary, this is the first evidence that increased ambient CO exposure can be related to reduced daily outpatient visits for vaginitis. The results of our study may not only help to establish more comprehensive understanding of the health effects of ambient air on vaginitis and other gynecological diseases, but also provide a clue to new potential interventions.

[The pathway of absorption and conveying of puerarin microemulsion-in-oil].

The best absorption location of puerarin microemulsion-in-oil in intestine parva of rat and pharmacokinetic characteristics, and the pathway of absorption and conveying of puerarin microemulsion were studied. In situ rat perfusion method was used to investigate the intestinal absorption of puerarin. Through the changes of drug concentration in blocked and unblocked lymphs, to determine the pathway of absorption and conveying. Puerarin microemulsion-in-oil can be absorbed in any part of intestine, and the K(a), P(app) of every part is ileum > duodenum > jejunum > colon, and the K(a), P(app) of ileum is significantly larger than that of others. The absorption rate of different concentrations is not significantly different (P > 0.05). The puerarin transited by gastrointestinal tract, about 36.8% is absorbed by the lymphatic channels to enter the systemic circulation and 63.2% is absorbed by the non-lymphatic channels. The best part of intestine to absorb puerarin microemulsion is ileum, and it is passive transport. The pathway of conveying is lymphoid and non-lymphoid transit.

Correction: The Novel Relationship between Urban Air Pollution and Epilepsy: A Time Series Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161992.].

The Novel Relationship between Urban Air Pollution and Epilepsy: A Time Series Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The data concerning the association between environmental pollution and epilepsy attacks are limited. The aim of this study was to explore the association between acute air pollution exposure and epilepsy attack. METHODS: A hospital record-based study was carried out in Xi'an, a heavily-polluted metropolis in China. Daily baseline data were obtained. Time-series Poisson regression models were applied to analyze the association between air pollution and epilepsy. RESULTS: A 10 µg/m3 increase of NO2, SO2, and O3 concentrations corresponded to 3.17% (95%Cl: 1.41%, 4.93%), 3.55% (95%Cl: 1.93%, 5.18%), and -0.84% (95%Cl: -1.58%, 0.09%) increase in outpatient-visits for epilepsy on the concurrent days, which were significantly influenced by sex and age. The effects of NO2 and SO2 would be stronger when adjusted for PM2.5. As for O3, a -1.14% (95%Cl: -1.90%, -0.39%) decrease was evidenced when adjusted for NO2. The lag models showed that the most significant effects were evidenced on concurrent days. CONCLUSIONS: We discovered previously undocumented relationships between short-term air pollution exposure and epilepsy: while NO2 and SO2 were positively associated with outpatient-visits of epilepsy, O3 might be associated with reduced risk.