[Association between cardiometabolic diseases and quality of life and the mediation effect of perceived stress].

Objective: To explore the association between cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) and quality of life, the association between CMD and perceived stress, and the mediation effect of perceived stress on the association between CMD and quality of life, and to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of CMD and the improvement of quality of life in these patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected by the employees' physical examination of a company in Xi'an in 2021. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association between the status of CMD (divided into three categories: no CMD, presence of one kind of CMD, and with≥2 kinds of CMD (≥2 kinds of CMD were defined as cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM)), quality of life, and perceived stress. Mediation analysis with a multi-categorical independent variable was conducted to determine the mediation effect of perceived stress on the association between CMD and quality of life. Results: Among all 4 272 participants, 1 457 (34.1%) participants had one kind of CMD and 677 (15.8%) participants had CMM. The average scores for quality of life and perceived stress were (57.5±15.7) and (16.9±7.9), respectively. Compared with participants without CMD, after adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, no statistically significant associations were observed between one kind of CMD and perceived stress or quality of life (both P>0.05). Perceived stress did not mediate the association between one kind of CMD and quality of life. However, participants with CMM had lower quality of life and higher perceived stress than participants without CMD. The relative total effect coefficient c (95%CI) and the relative direct effect coefficient c' (95%CI) between CMM and quality of life were -3.71 (-5.04--2.37) and -2.52 (-3.81--1.24) (both P<0.05), respectively. The relative indirect effect coefficient a2b (95%CI) of perceived stress on the association between CMM and quality of life was -1.18 (-1.62--0.77) (P<0.05). The mediation effect size was 31.8%. Conclusions: CMM is negatively associated with quality of life and positively associated with perceived stress. Perceived stress partially mediates the association between CMM and quality of life. Our results suggest that, in addition to preventing and treating CMM actively, efforts should be taken to relieve the perceived stress of people with CMM to improve their quality of life.

[The prevalence of atrial cardiomyopathy in patients with different types of acute ischemic stroke and its relationship with cryptogenic stroke].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of atrial cardiomyopathy in patients with different types of acute ischemic stroke and its relationship with cryptogenic stroke. Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of onset who were admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January to September 2019 were prospectively and consecutively enrolled. All included patients were classified according to TOAST classification of ischemic stroke. Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of atrial cardiomyopathy among patients with different TOAST classifications. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of cryptogenic stroke. Results: A total of 1 098 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in the study, including 661 males and 437 females, with a median age [M(Q1,Q3)] of 61 (53, 68) years. The prevalence of atrial cardiomyopathy in patients with cryptogenic stroke[53.5% (46/86)] was higher than that in patients with large artery atherosclerosis [38.0%(63/166), P=0.018] and small vessel occlusion [19.4%(37/191), P<0.001], but was lower than that of patients in the cardioembolic group [97.3% (72/74), P<0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atrial cardiomyopathy was an associated factor for cryptogenic stroke (OR=2.945, 95%CI: 1.766-4.911, P<0.001). Conclusions: Atrial cardiomyopathy is associated with cryptogenic stroke. The prevalence of atrial cardiomyopathy in patients with cryptogenic stroke is higher than that in patients with large artery atherosclerosis and small vessel occlusion, but lower than that in patients with cardiac embolism.

[The prediction of disease progression by 18Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission computed tomography/CT in patients with dermatomyositis and interstitial lung disease].

To investigate the predictive value of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission computed tomography(PET)/CT for disease progression in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Sixty-seven DM patients who underwent [18F] FDG-PET/CT imaging were retrospectively analyzed from January 2012 to September 2017 at PLA General Hospital. Their clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics were recorded. Compared with those chronically progressed (C-ILD), patients with rapid progression (RP-ILD) had significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and standardized uptake value (SUV) in lungs (P<0.05). In patients with RP-ILD, SUV in lungs was positively correlated with age, disease course, and ESR. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that when lung SUV cut off value was 2.25, the sensitivity and specificity to predict disease progression was 77.8% and 72.8%, respectively. Old age, longer disease course, low creatine kinase level, higher ESR, and high SUV are prognostic factors for DM-associated ILD.

[Clinical characteristics of crystal deposits in joints and tendons in patients with gout].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the abnormal manifestations and clinical features of patients with gout according to the location of crystal deposits: in articulars or in tendons. METHODS: A total of 105 patients with gout who were continuously treated in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Peking University People's Hospital from June 2019 to December 2019 were selected and their knees, ankles, toes and painful joints and tendons were examined by high-frequency ultrasound. Then we grouped them according to the presence or absence of sodium urate crystals and the location of the crystals, collected their clinical data, and analyzed the clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 105 patients, 25 patients had no crystal deposits in the joints or tendons (as the non-crystal group), 43 patients had intra-articular crystals (as the joint group), and 37 patients had intra-tendon crystals with or without intra-articular crystals (as the tendon group). Among them, the most involved part of sodium urate crystals deposited in the joints was the metatarsophalangeal joint (29 cases, 67.4%), followed by knee joints (10 cases, 23.2%), ankle joints (9 cases, 20.9%). The most involved part of sodium urate crystals deposited in the tendon was the quadriceps tendon (16 cases, 43.2%), followed by the Achilles tendon (13 cases, 35.1%), the patellar tendon (12 cases, 32.4%), and the three heads of brachii tendons (5 cases, 13.5%). The three groups were compared using multi-sample analysis of variance/multi-sample rank sum test. Age, age of first increase in uric acid (UA), serum glucose (Glu) level and C reactive protein (CRP) were all significantly different. After multiple comparisons, compared with the non-crystal group, age, the age of first increase in uric acid, and CRP were significantly higher in the tendon group. There was no significant difference between the non-crystal group and the joint group. There was no significant difference between the tendon group and the joint group. CONCLUSION: In patients with gout, it is common for ultrasound to find crystals deposited in joints or tendons. The most commonly affected parts include the metatarsophalangeal joint, knee joint, ankle joint, quadriceps tendon, Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, and triceps tendon. There were significant differences among the three groups in age, age of first increase in uric acid, CRP and blood glucose, and the proportion of urinary calculi in patients with crystal deposits was significantly higher than those without crystal deposits.

[Impact of trigger timing of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist regimen for infertility patients of various ages].

Objective: To investigate the impact of trigger timing of gonadotropin- releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist regimen for infertility patients of various ages. Methods: This was a retrospective study, 1 529 infertility patients who receiving GnRH antagonist regimen in Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children from January 2017 to December 2018 were divided into the advance trigger group and the standard trigger group, and further divided into three subgroups according to age:<35 years, 35-40 years,>40 years. The number of retrieved oocytes and transplantable embryos, the clinical pregnancy rate and the live birth rate among patients in the advance trigger group and standard trigger group in various age subgroups were compared. Results: (1) The gonadotropin (Gn) days among the three age subgroups were significantly shorter in the advance trigger group compared to the same-aged standard trigger group (all P<0.01), but only in the 35－40 years and >40 years subgroups, the Gn doses in the advance trigger group [(2 702±551) and (2 780±561) U] were significantly less than those in the standard trigger group (all P<0.01). In the <35 years subgroup, the number of oocytes retrieved and transplantable embryos of the advance trigger group (6.6±4.8 and 2.6±2.7) were significantly less than those of the standard trigger group (all P<0.01), but there was no difference in the number of top-quality embryos (P=0.580); however, in the 35－40 years and >40 years subgroups, there were no significant differences between advance and standard trigger groups in terms of the afore mentioned 3 indicators (all P>0.05), only the numbers of top-quality embryos in the advance trigger group (0.6±1.0 and 0.6±0.9) were significantly higher than those in the standard trigger group (all P<0.01). (2) In the <35 years and 35－40 years subgroups, no significant differences were noted between the advance trigger group and standard trigger group with regard to the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (all P>0.05); but in the >40 years subgroup, the clinical pregnancy rate of the advance trigger group was significantly higher than that of the standard trigger group [33.0% (30/91) vs 19.2% (25/130), P=0.020], and there was no statistical difference in the live birth rate (P=0.064). (3) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that trigger timing was an independent predictor of clinical pregnancy rate in the >40 years subgroup (OR=0.334, 95%CI: 0.119-0.937, P=0.037), but not an independent predictor of live birth rate (P>0.05). Conclusions: Advance trigger in the GnRH antagonist protocol for infertility patients >40 years old could effectively reduce Gn times and Gn dosage, increase the number of top-quality embryos, and improve the clinical pregnancy rate. Therefore, compared with patients ≤40 years of age, patients >40 years might benefit more from advance trigger.

[Application of anti-HCV and HCV RNA detection in intravenous drug users].

Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of anti-HCV and HCV RNA so as to provide an accurate and efficient detection strategy for the diagnosis of HCV in intravenous drug users. Methods: 527 plasma samples from intravenous drug users were collected, and preliminary anti-HCV ELISA screening test was performed. A recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) was used as confirmatory assay for reactive antibody samples. All samples were tested for HCV RNA, followed by analysis of anti-HCV screening test, RIBA and HCV nucleic acid test results. Results: Anti-HCV ELISA results were reactive in 386 out of 527 intravenous drug users and non-reactive in 141. Among the 386 reactive antibody samples detected by RIBA, 370 cases were anti-HCV positive, 6 cases were anti-HCV indeterminate and 10 cases were anti-HCV negative. Anti-HCV ELISA and RIBA positive coincidence detection rate was 95.85% (370/386), and 70.21% (370/527) among intravenous drug users. HCV RNA was negative in all 10 anti-HCV RIBA non-reactive samples. 376 anti-HCV RIBA-positive and indeterminate samples were tested for HCV RNA, of which 56.93% (300/527) were current HCV infection, and 14.42% (76/527) were past HCV infection. Among 141 anti-HCV ELISA negative samples, the residual risk by anti-HCV ELISA screening for HCV RNA was 1.52% (8/527). HCV viral load distribution among intravenous drug users showed that the high viral load value (>10(7) IU/ml) and low viral load values (< 10(2) IU/ml) accounted for 1.95% and 2.27%, respectively, while the samples with viral load value of 1×10(2) ~ 1×10(7) IU/ mL accounted for 95.78% (295/308), and were mainly distributed in 1×10(5) ~ 1×10(6) IU/ml (37.99%). ELISA + RIBA + NAT assay detection strategies had differentiated 300 cases of current HCV infection, 76 cases of past HCV infection and 10 cases of false positive anti-HCV results, while ELISA+NAT assay detection strategies had only detected 300 cases of current HCV infection. However, of the 386 positive subjects screened for antibodies, 10 (2.59%) were undifferentiated false positives. Conclusion: Intravenous drug users are the high-risk population of HCV infection with high prevalence and high viral load. Anti-HCV screening for intravenous drug users will have a certain degree of residual risk. Therefore, anti-HCV ELISA screening and nucleic acid detection strategy can accurately diagnose the current infected patients; however, it cannot distinguish the false positive results of antibody screening.

Outcomes of incident atrial fibrillation in heart failure with preserved or reduced ejection fraction: A community-based study.

INTRODUCTION: The best management strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with heart failure (HF) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: This cohort study was conducted in Olmsted County, Minnesota, with resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Patients with incident AF occurring between 2000 and 2014 with a prior or concurrent HF were included. Patients with LVEF ≥ 50% were designated as HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and those with LVEF < 50% were designated as HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Rhythm control in the first year after AF diagnosis was defined as prescriptions for an antiarrhythmic drug, catheter ablation, or maze procedure. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoints were cardiovascular death, cardiovascular hospitalization, and stroke or transient ischemic attack. Of 859 patients (age, 77.2 ± 12.1 years; 49.2%, female), 447 had HFpEF-AF, and 412 had HFrEF-AF. There was no difference in all-cause mortality (10-year mortality, 83% vs 79%; p = .54) or secondary endpoints between the HFpEF-AF and HFrEF-AF, respectively. Compared with the rate control strategy, rhythm control in HFpEF-AF patients (n = 40, 15.9%) offered no survival benefits (adjusted HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.42-1.16; p = .16), whereas rhythm control in HFrEF-AF patients (n = 52, 22.5%) decrease cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.17-0.86; p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HFpEF-AF and HFrEF-AF had similar poor prognoses. Rhythm control strategy was seldom adopted in community care in patients with HF and AF. A rhythm control strategy may provide survival benefit for patients with HFrEF-AF and the benefit of rhythm control in patients with HFpEF-AF warrants further study.

Functional diversification of three delta-class glutathione S-transferases involved in development and detoxification in Tribolium castaneum.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are members of a multifunctional enzyme superfamily. Forty-one GSTs have been identified in Tribolium castaneum; however, none of the 41 GSTs has been functionally characterized. Here, three delta-class GSTs, TcGSTd1, TcGSTd2 and TcGSTd3, of T. castaneum were successfully cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. All of the studied GSTs catalysed the conjugation of reduced glutathione with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Insecticide treatment showed that the expression levels of TcGSTd3 and TcGSTd2 were significantly increased after exposure to phoxim and lambda-cyhalothrin, whereas TcGSTd1 was slightly upregulated only in response to phoxim. A disc diffusion assay showed that overexpression of TcGSTD3, but not TcGSTD1 or TcGSTD2, in E. coli increased resistance to paraquat-induced oxidative stress. RNA interference knockdown of TcGSTd1 caused metamorphosis deficiencies and reduced fecundity by regulating insulin/target-of-rapamycin signalling pathway-mediated ecdysteroid biosynthesis, and knockdown of TcGSTd3 led to reduced fertility and a decreased hatch rate of the offspring, probably caused by the reduced antioxidative activity in the reproductive organs. These results indicate that TcGSTd3 and TcGSTd2 may play vital roles in cellular detoxification, whereas TcGSTd1 may play essential roles in normal development of T. castaneum. These delta-class GSTs in T. castaneum have obtained different functions during the evolution.

Serum soluble ST2 is a potential long-term prognostic biomarker for transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Soluble ST2 (sST2) is a promising biomarker in inflammation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the association between serum sST2 and poor outcome in patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA)/ischaemic stroke. METHODS: Patients within 24 h after onset and with measured serum sST2 were prospectively enrolled in this study. Poor outcome was a combination of a new stroke event (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) and all-cause death within 90 days and 1 year. The associations of serum sST2 with poor outcome were analysed by Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: Among the 430 patients included, the median (interquartile range) sST2 was 17.72 (9.31-28.84) ng/mL. A total of 19 (4.4%) and 38 (8.8%) patients experienced poor outcome within 90 days and 1 year, respectively. Compared with the lowest sST2 tertile, hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence intervals (CI)] for the highest tertile were 5.14 (1.43-18.51) for poor outcome within 90 days and 3.00 (1.29-6.97) at 1 year after multivariate adjustments. Adding sST2 to a prediction model significantly improved risk stratification of poor outcome in TIA/ischaemic stroke, as observed by the continuous net reclassification improvement of 60.98% (95% CI, 15.37-106.6%, P = 0.009) and integrated discrimination improvement of 2.63% (95% CI, 0.08-5.18%, P = 0.043) at 90 days and the continuous net reclassification improvement of 41.68% (95% CI, 8.74-74.61%, P = 0.013) at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum sST2 levels in TIA/ischaemic stroke were associated with increased risks of poor outcome within 90 days and 1 year, suggesting that serum sST2 may be a potential long-term prognostic biomarker for TIA/ischaemic stroke.

Tunable hybridization of graphene plasmons and dielectric modes for highly confined light transmit at terahertz wavelength.

We theoretically report a novel graphene-based hybrid plasmonic waveguide (GHPW) by integrating a GaAs micro-tube on a silica spacer that is supported by a graphene-coated substrate. In comprehensive numerical simulations on guiding properties of the GHPW, it was found that the size of hybrid plasmonic mode (TM) can be reduced significantly to ~10-4(λ2/4), in conjunction with long propagation distances up to tens of micrometers by tuning the the waveguide's key structure parameters and graphene's chemical potential. Moreover, crosstalk between two adjacent GHPWs that are placed on the same substrate has been analyzed and ultralow crosstalk can be realized. The proposed scheme potentially enables realization of the various high performance nanophotonic components-based subwavelength plasmonic waveguides in terahertz domain.

A novel mechanism of memory loss in Alzheimer's disease mice via the degeneration of entorhinal-CA1 synapses.

The entorhinal cortex (EC) is one of the most vulnerable brain regions that is attacked during the early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we report that the synaptic terminals of pyramidal neurons in the EC layer II (ECIIPN) directly innervate CA1 parvalbumin (PV) neurons (CA1PV) and are selectively degenerated in AD mice, which exhibit amyloid-ß plaques similar to those observed in AD patients. A loss of ECIIPN-CA1PV synapses disables the excitatory and inhibitory balance in the CA1 circuit and impairs spatial learning and memory. Optogenetic activation of ECIIPN using a theta burst paradigm rescues ECIIPN-CA1PV synaptic defects and intercepts the decline in spatial learning and memory. These data reveal a novel mechanism of memory loss in AD mice via the selective degeneration of the ECIIPN-CA1PV pathway.

Dual antiplatelet therapy reduced stroke risk in high-risk patients with transient ischaemic attack assessed by ABCD3-I score.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several clinical trials have demonstrated that dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) benefited patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) with an ABCD2 score ≥4. The present study aimed to investigate whether the ABCD3-I score could be a more appropriate tool for selection of patients with TIA to receive DAPT in real-world settings. METHODS: We derived data from the TIA database of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The predictive outcome was ischaemic stroke at 90 days. The additive interaction effect was presented by the attributable proportion due to interaction. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to present cumulative stroke rates in different risk categories with monotherapy and DAPT. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine risk factors associated with stroke. RESULTS: Among 785 patients, the mean (SD) age was 56.95 (12.73) years and 77 patients (9.8%) had an ischaemic stroke at 90 days. A total of 55.8% of patients (attributable proportion due to interaction; 95% confidence interval, 20.8%-90.9%) were attributed to additive interaction of ABCD3-I score and antiplatelet therapy. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a significant difference between patients receiving monotherapy and DAPT in high-risk patients with TIA (P = 0.021). DAPT reduced 90-day stroke risk in high-risk patients with TIA as assessed independently by ABCD3-I score (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.92, P = 0.031). The benefit did not exist in low- and medium-risk patients by ABCD3-I score (patients with ABCD2 score ≥ 4 or <4). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk patients with TIA assessed by ABCD3-I score received the most pronounced clinical benefit from early use of DAPT in real-world clinical experience.

Modeled changes to the Great Plains low-level jet under a realistic irrigation application.

Low-level jets (LLJs) are relatively fast-moving streams of air that form in the lower troposphere and are a common phenomenon across the Great Plains (GP) of the United States. LLJs play an important role in moisture transport and the development of nocturnal convection in the spring and summer. Alterations to surface moisture and energy fluxes can influence the planetary boundary layer (PBL) development and thus LLJs. One important anthropogenic process that has been shown to affect the surface energy budget is irrigation. In this study, we investigate the effects of irrigation on LLJ development across the GP by incorporating a dynamic and realistic irrigation scheme into the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. WRF simulations were conducted with and without the irrigation scheme for the exceptionally dry summer of 2012 over the GP. The results show irrigation-introduced changes to LLJ features both over and downstream of the most heavily irrigated regions in the GP. There were statistically significant increases to LLJ speeds in the simulation with the irrigation parameterization. Decreases to the mean jet core height on the order of 50 m during the overnight hours were also simulated when irrigation was on. The overall frequency of jet occurrences increased over the irrigated regions by 5-10%; however, these differences were not statistically significant. These changes were weaker than those reported in earlier studies based on simple representations of irrigation that unrealistically saturate the soil columns over large areas over a long period of time, which highlights the importance and necessity to represent human activity more accurately in modeling studies.

Tau-mediated iron export prevents ferroptotic damage after ischemic stroke.

Functional failure of tau contributes to age-dependent, iron-mediated neurotoxicity, and as iron accumulates in ischemic stroke tissue, we hypothesized that tau failure may exaggerate ischemia-reperfusion-related toxicity. Indeed, unilateral, transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) suppressed hemispheric tau and increased iron levels in young (3-month-old) mice and rats. Wild-type mice were protected by iron-targeted interventions: ceruloplasmin and amyloid precursor protein ectodomain, as well as ferroptosis inhibitors. At this age, tau-knockout mice did not express elevated brain iron and were protected against hemispheric reperfusion injury following MCAO, indicating that tau suppression may prevent ferroptosis. However, the accelerated age-dependent brain iron accumulation that occurs in tau-knockout mice at 12 months of age negated the protective benefit of tau suppression against MCAO-induced focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The protective benefit of tau knockout was revived in older mice by iron-targeting interventions. These findings introduce tau-iron interaction as a pleiotropic modulator of ferroptosis and ischemic stroke outcome.

Household air pollution and personal exposure to nitrated and oxygenated polycyclic aromatics (PAHs) in rural households: Influence of household cooking energies.

Residential solid fuels are widely consumed in rural China, contributing to severe household air pollution for many products of incomplete combustion, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their polar derivatives. In this study, concentrations of nitrated and oxygenated PAH derivatives (nPAHs and oPAHs) for household and personal air were measured and analyzed for influencing factors like smoking and cooking energy type. Concentrations of nPAHs and oPAHs in kitchens were higher than those in living rooms and in outdoor air. Exposure levels measured by personal samplers were lower than levels in indoor air, but higher than outdoor air levels. With increasing molecular weight, individual compounds tended to be more commonly partitioned to particulate matter (PM); moreover, higher molecular weight nPAHs and oPAHs were preferentially found in finer particles, suggesting a potential for increased health risks. Smoking behavior raised the concentrations of nPAHs and oPAHs in personal air significantly. People who cooked food also had higher personal exposures. Cooking and smoking have a significant interaction effect on personal exposure. Concentrations in kitchens and personal exposure to nPAHs and oPAHs for households using wood and peat were significantly higher than for those using electricity and liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in HIV infection: taking the bad with the good.

In this review, we will describe the immunopathogies of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, IRIS. IRIS occurs in a small subset of HIV patient, initiating combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), where immune reconstitution becomes dysregulated, resulting in an overly robust antigen-specific inflammatory reaction. We will discuss IRIS in terms of the associated coinfections: mycobacteria, cryptococci, and viruses.

Household air pollution and personal exposure risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among rural residents in Shanxi, China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of pollutants of widespread concerns. Gaseous and size-segregated particulate-phase PAHs were collected in indoor and outdoor air in rural households. Personal exposure was measured and compared to the ingestion exposure. The average concentrations of 28 parent PAHs and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) were 9000 ± 8390 and 131 ± 236 ng/m(3) for kitchen, 2590 ± 2270 and 43 ± 95 ng/m(3) for living room, and 2800 ± 3890 and 1.6 ± 0.7 ng/m(3) for outdoor air, respectively. The mass percent of high molecular weight (HMW) compounds with 5-6 rings contributed 1.3% to total 28 parent PAHs. Relatively higher fractions of HMW PAHs were found in indoor air compared to outdoor air. Majorities of particle-bound PAHs were found in the finest PM0.25 , and the highest levels of fine PM0.25 -bound PAHs were in the kitchen using peat and wood as energy sources. The 24-h personal PAH exposure concentration was 2100 ± 1300 ng/m(3) . Considering energies, exposures to those using wood were the highest. The PAH inhalation exposure comprised up to about 30% in total PAH exposure through food ingestion and inhalation, and the population attributable fraction (PAF) for lung cancer in the region was 0.85%. The risks for inhaled and ingested intakes of PAHs were 1.0 × 10(-5) and 1.1 × 10(-5) , respectively.

[The application of (18)F fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the diagnosis and treatment of dermatomyositis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of (18)F fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F FDG-PET-CT) in the diagnosis and the evaluation of disease activity and remission of dermatomyositis(DM). METHODS: DM patients who were admitted to the Department of Rheumatology, the People's Liberation Army General Hospital (PLAGH) and underwent (18)F FDG-PET-CT examination were retrospectively reviewed from January 2012 to May 2015.Gender and age matched healthy controls (HC) were also enrolled.The standardized uptake value (SUV) of proximal limb girdle muscles in both groups were recorded and compared, so as between patients with DM or subclinical DM.The correlation between myodynamia of proximal limb girdle muscle, creatine kinase(CK), CK-MB, serum ferritin and SUV of each muscle group were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 58 patients with DM and 29 controls consecutively recruited in the study.The SUV of upper arms (1.814±0.830) g/ml, shoulders (2.134±0.797) g/ml and hips (1.883±0.683) g/ml in patients with classic DM were significantly higher than those with subclinical DM [(0.938±0.218) g/ml, (1.152±0.315) g/ml, (0.945±0.249) g/ml; P<0.05]. SUV of muscles in newly diagnosed patients was (1.051±0.031) g/ml, which was higher than that in subclinical patients.But the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The average SUV of evaluated muscles in DM group (2.033±0.858) g/ml was significantly higher than that in controls (1.076±0.167) g/ml (P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis revealed the area under the curve(AUC) of abnormal SUV detected by (18)F FDG-PET-CT for diagnosing DM was 0.953.The myodynamia of upper arms and SUV was negatively correlated (rs=-0.440, P=0.031). However, the level of serum creatine kinase and SUV was positively correlated (rs=0.500, P=0.013). The average SUV of patients whose time to remission was less than 3 months (1.746±0.466) g/ml was obviously less than that of patients with 3 to 6 months to obtain remission (2.815±0.848) g/ml (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The SUV of proximal limb girdle muscles detected by (18)F FDG-PET-CT has a positive diagnostic value for DM.Moreover, the SUV in upper arms is correlated with the muscle strength and the level of creatine kinase, which reflect disease activity. (18)F FDG-PET-CT might be an alternative method to evaluate the response of treatment.