Determination of α-methylenecyclopropylglycine in Shahi and China litchi cultivars at three different maturity stages: A quantitative study using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

This study presents the contents of α-methylenecyclopropylglycine, a potentially toxic amino acid, in the peel, pulp and seed fractions of two well-known litchi varieties, namely Shahi and China, over a span of three harvest-seasons. For analysing α-methylenecyclopropylglycine, an LC-MS/MS-based method was validated. The method-accuracies fell within 75-110 % (RSD, <15 %) at 0.1 mg/kg (LOQ) and higher levels. A comparative evaluation of the results in peel, pulp and seed at 30 days before harvest (DBH), 15-DBH, and edible-ripe stage revealed that α-methylenecyclopropylglycine content increased as the litchi seeds grew towards maturity, regardless of the cultivar. In arils, at maturity, the concentration of α-methylenecyclopropylglycine ranged from not-detected to 11.7 µg/g dry weight. The Shahi cultivar showed slightly higher α-methylenecyclopropylglycine content in comparison to China litchi. This paper presents the first known analysis of combined seasonal data on different fruit components at various growth stages for the two chosen litchi cultivars grown in India.

Carbon emissions in China's steel industry from a life cycle perspective: Carbon footprint insights.

China is the most important steel producer in the world, and its steel industry is one of the most carbon-intensive industries in China. Consequently, research on carbon emissions from the steel industry is crucial for China to achieve carbon neutrality and meet its sustainable global development goals. We constructed a carbon dioxide (CO2) emission model for China's iron and steel industry from a life cycle perspective, conducted an empirical analysis based on data from 2019, and calculated the CO2 emissions of the industry throughout its life cycle. Key emission reduction factors were identified using sensitivity analysis. The results demonstrated that the CO2 emission intensity of the steel industry was 2.33 ton CO2/ton, and the production and manufacturing stages were the main sources of CO2 emissions, accounting for 89.84% of the total steel life-cycle emissions. Notably, fossil fuel combustion had the highest sensitivity to steel CO2 emissions, with a sensitivity coefficient of 0.68, reducing the amount of fossil fuel combustion by 20% and carbon emissions by 13.60%. The sensitivities of power structure optimization and scrap consumption were similar, while that of the transportation structure adjustment was the lowest, with a sensitivity coefficient of less than 0.1. Given the current strategic goals of peak carbon and carbon neutrality, it is in the best interest of the Chinese government to actively promote energy-saving and low-carbon technologies, increase the ratio of scrap steel to steelmaking, and build a new power system.

Rapid reduction of air pollution and short-term exposure risks in China.

With the continuous control of anthropogenic emissions, China's air quality has improved significantly in recent years. Given this background, research on how the short-term exposure risks caused by air pollution in China have changed is insufficient. This study utilized hourly concentration data from ground observation stations and the official air quality guidelines of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China and the World Health Organization as standards to systematically investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics and short-term exposure risks of air pollution in China from 2015 to 2022. The results indicate that various atmospheric pollutants except for ozone showed a decreasing trend yearly. Nationwide, both single pollutant air pollution days (SAPDs) and multiple pollutant air pollution days (MAPDs) showed varying degrees of reduction within 15 and 25 days, respectively. SAPD was dominated mainly by excessive PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants, while MAPD was dominated mainly by excessive pollutant combinations, including PM2.5 + PM10, CO + PM2.5 + PM10, and SO2 + PM2.5 + PM10. As the concentration of atmospheric pollutants decreased, the total excess risk (ER) decreased yearly from 2015 to 2022, but there were significant regional differences. Now, the ER is less than 0.25% in southern China, in the range of 0.25%-0.5% in the North China Plain and some cities in the northeast, and higher than 1% in the northwest. Particulate matter is currently the primary pollutant posing short-term exposure risk in China, especially due to the impact of sandstorm weather. This study indicates that China's atmospheric cleaning action is significantly beneficial for reducing health risks.

The incidence, mortality and disease burden of cardiovascular diseases in China: a comparative study with the United States and Japan based on the GBD 2019 time trend analysis.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are not only the primary cause of mortality in China but also represent a significant financial burden. The World Health Organization highlight that as China undergoes rapid socioeconomic development, its disease spectrum is gradually shifting towards that of developed countries, with increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease and stroke. We reviewed the rates and trends of CVDs incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) burden in China and compared them with those in the United States (US) and Japan for formulating CVDs control policies. Methods: Data on CVDs incidence, death and DALYs in China, the US and Japan were obtained from the GBD 2019 database. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in CVDs incidence and mortality in China, the US and Japan, calculate the annual percentage change and determine the best-fitting inflection points. Results: In 2019, there were approximately 12,341,074 new diagnosed cases of CVDs in China, with 4,584,273 CVDs related deaths, causing 91,933,122 DALYs. The CVDs age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) in China (538.10/100,000) was lower than that in the US and globally, while age-standardized death rate (ASDR) (276.9/100,000) and age-standardized DALY rate (6,463.47/100,000) were higher than those in the two regions. Compared with the US and Japan, from 1990 to 2019, the CVDs incidence rate in China showed an increasing trend, with a lower annual decrease in ASDR and a younger age structure of disease burden. Furthermore, the disease spectrum in China changed minimally, with stroke, ischemic heart disease, and hypertensive heart disease being the top three leading CVDs diseases in terms of incidence and disease burden, also being the major causes of CVDs in the US and Japan. Conclusion: The prevention and control of CVDs is a global issue. The aging population and increasing unhealthy lifestyles will continue to increase the burden in China. Therefore, relevant departments in China should reference the established practices for CVDs control in developed countries while considering the diversity of CVDs in different regions when adjusting national CVDs control programs.

The current status of nurses' psychological experience as second victims during the reconstruction of the course of event after patient safety incident in China: a mixed study.

BACKGROUND: Patient safety incidents are unavoidable and nurses, as parties involved, become second victims due to the incident itself and the way it is handled. In China, reconstructing the course of events is a crucial step in the aftermath of the incident; however, its impact on the emotional well-being of the second victim remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the psychological experiences and current conditions of nurses who act as second victims during the process of reconstructing the sequence of events. Additionally, the study aims to provide justifications for supporting these individuals. METHODS: An exploratory mixed research method was adopted to understand the emotional experience of the second victim when reconstructing the passage of the incident through qualitative research. Fourteen nurses with experience as second victims were selected for semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling according to the maximum difference sampling strategy. Through quantitative research, we explored the negative psychology and support needs of the second victims when they reverted to the incident, and a self-developed questionnaire (the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.895) was used to survey 3,394 nurses with experiences as second victims in 11 tertiary hospitals in Shanxi Province. RESULTS: In the qualitative part of the study, the emotional experience of the second victim's reconstruction of the course of events after a patient safety incident could be categorized into 3 themes: negative views as initial psychological impact, avoidance as part of psychological impact, and expectations and growth in overcoming negative psychological impact. The quantitative part of the study revealed that the emotions of guilt and self-blame accounted for the highest percentage after a patient safety incident. The second victim presented a high score of 39.58 ± 5.45 for support requirements. CONCLUSION: This study provides a better understanding of the true emotional experiences and the need for support of the second victim in the process of reconstructing the course of events. Following a patient safety incident, nursing administrators and healthcare institutions should consider the adverse psychological effects on the second victim, prioritize their support needs during the incident's reconstruction, create a positive safety culture, and reduce the risk of secondary victimization for these individuals.

Epidemiological investigation of allergic rhinitis in children aged 6-12 years in Bayannur City, China.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory condition of the nasal mucosa triggered by exposure to non-harmful substances. Over the past decade, the prevalence of AR in Chinese children has been steadily increasing. However, detailed epidemiological data on AR in children from Bayannur City are lacking. Methods: This study randomly selected six primary schools in Bayannur City. Electronic questionnaires were distributed via the web, and parents and children completed the questionnaires by scanning the two-dimensional code within a designated timeframe. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data. Results: A total of 4,754 valid responses were obtained. The self-reported prevalence of AR among children in Bayannur city was 39.79%. Multivariate analysis revealed that male gender, belonging to an ethnic minority, a history of food or drug allergies, frequent antibiotic use (≥3 times per year in the past two years, with each course lasting ≥3 days), and residence in urban or pastoral areas was associated with an increased prevalence of AR in children. The proportion of children experiencing moderate to severe AR hat impacted their studies or daily life was 48.78%. Chronic AR was reported in 56.71% of cases. Among AR patients with other allergic conditions, the incidence rates were as follows: bronchial asthma 35.99%, upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) 64.32%, secretory otitis media (SOM) 22.41%, obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea-syndrome (OSAHS) 49.58%, allergic dermatitis (AD) 48.72%, and allergic conjunctivitis (AC) 85.20%. The prevalence of AR was 50.30% in urban areas, 13.733% in rural areas and 20.90% in pastoral areas. Seasonal effects on AR prevalence were notably significant in urban and pastoral regions. Conclusions: The prevalence of AR among children in Bayannur city was 39.80%. Of those with AR, 48.72% experienced significant impacts on their learning or daily life, while only 14.80% had no other allergic conditions. There were significant variations in the prevalence and onset of AR among children between urban, agricultural and pastoral areas.

Analysis of the structure and trend prediction of China's total health expenditure.

Background: In the context of rapid economic and social development, there has been a continuous intensification of population aging, transformation of disease patterns, and wide application of new medical technologies. As a result, health expenditures in various countries have sharply soared. How to utilize limited medical resources to maximize the improvement of health levels has become a hot and challenging issue related to the well-being of all humanity. The relevant indicators of total health expenditure play a crucial role in monitoring and evaluating the fairness of health financing and health security in the region. Objective: This study explores the changes in the main expenses that constitute China's total health expenditure and uses indicators related to health expenditure to observe the changes and future development trends of China's health expenditure. Based on this, the utilization of China's health expenditure is monitored to identify possible problems, and thereby targeted suggestions for promoting the development of China's health and wellness cause are put forward. Methods: Based on the comparison of previous literature, this paper analyzes the changes and future development trends in China's health expenditure by using the relevant indicators of China's health expenditure through the structural variation analysis method and the gray prediction model. Results: The results show that the scale of government, social, and out-of-pocket health expenditures has continuously expanded, with social health expenditures becoming the main funding source for total health expenditures. The burden of medical expenditures on individuals has been further reduced. In the institutional method of total health expenditures, hospital expenditures account for about 60% of the total and are the main component. The expenditures of health administration and medical insurance management institutions are the main driving force behind the growth of total health expenditures. However, the proportion of health expenditures in China's GDP is relatively low, so more investment is needed in the healthcare sector, and the burden of individual medical expenses also needs to be continuously reduced. Discussion: In the future, China should further increase its investment in the medical and health sector. Specifically, the government should persist in investing in fundamental medical and health services. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to establish a scientific cost control mechanism for pharmaceuticals and broaden financing channels for healthcare, such as accelerating the development of commercial health insurance.

Familial hypodontia in bronze age Northwest China (1046-771BC).

OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to report hypodontia cases in a Middle Bronze Age high-tier cemetery in China and test the possible hereditary behind hypodontia by performing kinship tests on those individuals. DESIGN: In this study, dental anomalies were observed on a human skeletal sample (n = 45) uncovered from Yaoheyuan, China. Ancient DNA analysis was subsequently employed on a subsample of the Yaoheyuan individuals (n = 15), including individuals observed hypodontia and individuals randomly sampled from the cemetery for preliminary investigation on the cemetery demography. Kinship estimation tests (READ, TKGWV2, KIN, and F3 test) were subsequently employed. RESULTS: The Yaoheyuan elite population had a prevalence (n = 7, 15 %) of tooth agenesis in either the maxilla or mandible, with one to two teeth missing. All missing teeth were incisors, except for one individual missing maxillary second molar. Preliminary ancient DNA results indicate that several kinship groups existed among interred individuals, including those with hypodontia, indicating the hereditary origin of these cases. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypodontia observed on site is high compared to that in both modern East Asian populations and archaeological samples in the Chinese population. The preliminary kinship analysis suggests a case of familial hypodontia. Ancient DNA analysis should be thoroughly conducted in future studies to understand the genetic markers contributing to those hypodontia cases among the Yaoheyuan individuals.

Occurrence and molecular characterization of Giardia spp. in snakes from China.

Giardia intestinalis is a major diarrhea-causing parasite that colonizes the proximal small intestine of humans and various other mammalian species, including pets and livestock. Despite its global occurrence, there is limited information about the epidemiology of Giardia in reptiles, particularly snakes. The aim of this study was to amplify the beta-giardin (bg) gene of Giardia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by a comparative evolutionary tree analysis to determine the occurrence and molecular characterization of Giardia in snakes. We collected 603 asymptomatic samples from 26 provinces in China, representing species such as Pantherophis guttatus, Pantherophis obsoletus, Pituophis melanoleucus, Thamnophis sirtalis, Lampropeltis getula, and Heterodon nasicus. Ultimately, a occurrence of Giardia infection of 4.15 % was detected in these snakes, with corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) having a significantly higher occurrence than other species. Molecular analysis identified assemblage F as the predominant genotype, and also identified an assemblage B that can infect humans and a variety of mammals. The results of this study illustrate the potential risk of transmission of Giardia from snakes to humans, especially in environments where close contact occurs. The present epidemiological study examines epidemiological investigations of Giardia in reptiles, provides data to understand the zoonotic risk of Giardia, and emphasizes the need for targeted surveillance, stringent hygiene measures, and public awareness campaigns to reduce these risks.

Education and technological innovation in mitigating CO2 emissions and fostering green economic growth in China: Marginal effects and policy threshold analyses.

This study makes a significant contribution to China's ambitious goals of achieving carbon dioxide (CO2) neutrality and transitioning to green economic growth (GEG), and integrating the theoretical framework of the impact, population, affluence, and technology (IPAT) theory, with real-world application to reduce CO2 and promote GEG for sustainable development. Furthermore, the study examines the ongoing theoretical debate on whether an inverted U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) exists between technological innovations (TI) in environment-related fields and CO2 emissions in China, using data from 1990 to 2020 and employing the threshold instrumental variable two-stage least-squares (Th-IV2SLS) model. The findings indicate that all the variables representing education contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. The cost-effective levels of these variables to achieve CO2 reduction are as follows: a 93% literacy rate index, 12% education expenditure as a percentage of GDP, and an average of 6 years of schooling. Furthermore, TI also contributes to CO2 reduction, with a cost-effective level of 10.16% of TI. Educational variables promote GEG, with their respective cost-effective levels being 84% of the literacy rate index, 11.9% of education expenditure as a percentage of GDP, and an average of 5.5 years of schooling. In addition, TI promotes GEG, with a cost-effectiveness level of 10.4%. Moreover, there is a synergistic effect between education and TI that reduces CO2 emissions; however, the synergy that promotes GEG is relatively weak. Based on these findings, policy recommendations are provided to enhance the effectiveness of education and TI in reducing CO2 emissions and promoting GEG.

Association of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors with prevalence of diabetes in rural southwest China: a structural equation modelling approach.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of diabetes using structural equation modelling (SEM) to examine the pathways and associations of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on diabetes in rural southwest China. DESIGN: Data were collected from a cross-sectional health interview and examination survey among individuals aged ≥35 years in rural southwest China. Fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured for each participant. SEM was employed to assess the relationships between demographic characteristics (sex, age and ethnicity), socioeconomic position (SEP; annual household income, education level and access to medical services), lifestyle factors (obesity status (body mass index and WC) and physical inactivity), hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and family history of diabetes. SETTING: This study was conducted in rural Yunnan Province of China. PARTICIPANTS: 7536 individuals aged ≥35 years consented to participate in the study. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diabetes in the present study was 8.3%. Prevalence did not differ by gender (prevalence for both men and women was 8.3% (p>0.05)). The results of SEM indicated that SEP, age, ethnicity, obesity status and physical inactivity had both significant direct and indirect effects on diabetes, with total effect size of 0.091, 0.149, -0.094, 0.212 and 0.089, respectively (p<0.01). Family history of diabetes (0.128, p<0.01), hypertension (0.135, p<0.01) and hyperlipidaemia (0.137, p<0.01) were directly associated with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors have both direct and indirect effects on prevalence of diabetes in rural southwest China. Future efforts to implement comprehensive interventions to promote the prevention and control of diabetes should in particular focus on obese individuals.

Gender differences in the health workforce in China: an analysis of national data.

Gender differences in the health workforce matter for women's health and healthcare, and is also crucial for both health and economic development. Drawing on limited national gender data from China over the last 10 years, during which the country was undergoing a healthcare reform, this study dissects gender-related issues to identify existing problems, monitor progress, and develop strategies to promote change. Although women constituted the majority of health workers, they are predominantly engaged in service-oriented occupations. The gender distribution substantially differed between urban and rural primary health institutions. Moreover, significant differences in gender distribution among professional public health institutions were observed. The gender distribution of administrators varied in different types of health institutions. Women had lighter workloads because of the imbalanced distribution of specialties. Academicians comprised very few female scientists. To promote a more balanced gender distribution, policies should be developed to encourage a more reasonable division of family responsibilities. Further, equal higher education opportunities should be ensured for girls, especially in rural areas. Solutions to free more women from work-marriage-childcare conflicts and to decrease turnover rates deserve further discussion. Gender data should be highlighted and optimized to further advance gender differences among the health workforce and for women's health in China.

Association of HMGCR rs17671591 and rs3761740 with lipidemia and statin response in Uyghurs and Han Chinese.

Background: Dyslipidemia plays a very important role in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Genetic factors, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are one of the main risks of dyslipidemia. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) is not only the rate-limiting enzyme step of endogenous cholesterol production, but also the therapeutic target of statins. Methods: We investigated 405 Han Chinese and 373 Uyghur people who took statins for a period of time, recorded their blood lipid levels and baseline data before and after oral statin administration, and extracted DNA from each subject for SNP typing of HMGCR rs17671591 and rs3761740. The effects of HMGCR rs17671591 and rs3761740 on lipid levels and the effect of statins on lipid lowering in Han Chinese and Uyghur ethnic groups were studied. Results: In this study, for rs17671591, the CC vs. TT+CT model was significantly correlated with the level of LDL-C before oral statin in the Uyghur population, but there were no correlations between rs17671591 and the level of blood lipid before oral statin in the Han population. The CC vs. TT+CT and CT vs. CC+TT models were significantly correlated with the level of LDL-C after oral statin in the Uyghur population. There was no significant correlation between rs3761740 with blood lipids before and after oral statin in the Han population. For rs3761740, before oral statin, the CC vs. AA+CA model was significantly correlated with the level of LDL-C, and the CA vs. CC+AA model was significantly correlated with the level of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the Uyghur population. After oral statin, the CC vs. AA+CA and CA vs. CC+AA models were significantly correlated with the level of TC, LDL-C, and apolipoprotein (APOB), and the C vs. A model was significantly correlated with the level of TC, triglyceride (TG), LDL-C, and APOB in the Uyghur population. Particularly, the CT vs. CC+TT model of rs17671591 was significantly correlated with the changes of LDL-C after oral statin in the Uyghur population. In this study, we also explored the association of rs17671591 and rs3761740 with the rate of dyslipidemia as a reference. Conclusion: We found that HMGCR rs3761740 was correlated with the levels of TC, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C before and after oral statin in Uyghurs, but not with blood lipid levels in the Han population. In the Uyghur population, HMGCR rs17671591 was associated with the level of LDL-C before and after oral statin, and also affected the changes of LDL-C after oral statin.

DaxibotulinumtoxinA for injection to treat moderate or severe glabellar lines: A randomized, multicenter, Phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in China.

BACKGROUND: DaxibotulinumtoxinA for injection (DAXI), a novel botulinum toxin type A formulation, is FDA-approved for glabellar lines treatment. Its clinical efficacy has been demonstrated in two Phase III trials (SAKURA 1 and SAKURA 2). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate DAXI efficacy and safety in Chinese adults with moderate/severe glabellar lines. METHODS: In this Phase III, randomized (2:1), double-blind trial, Chinese adults with moderate/severe glabellar lines received 40 U DAXI or placebo into the corrugator muscles bilaterally and the procerus. Glabellar line severity was evaluated by investigators (Investigator Global Assessment-Frown Wrinkle Severity [IGA-FWS] scale) and participants (Patient Frown Wrinkle Severity [PFWS] scale) for ≥24 to 36 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of 2-point composite responders achieving ≥2-point reduction in IGA-FWS and PFWS scores at week 4 post-treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 307 participants received treatment (DAXI, 205; placebo, 102). A significantly greater proportion of participants in the DAXI arm vs the placebo arm achieved a 2-point composite response at week 4: 125 (61.0%) vs 1 (1.0%); difference, 60.0% [95% CI 49.40-66.46]; 2-sided p < 0.0001). At week 4, 94.1% of the DAXI-treated participants achieved an IGA-FWS score 0/1 (none/mild) and 86.3% achieved PFWS 0/1; median time to loss of none/mild on IGA-FWS and PFWS was 23.9 weeks. The benefits of DAXI over placebo through week 24 occurred regardless of the baseline IGA-FWS score, prior botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) exposure, sex or age. DAXI was well tolerated with no new safety signals. CONCLUSION: DAXI provided durable efficacy and acceptable safety for treating moderate/severe glabellar lines in Chinese participants.

Accelerating rare disease detection: an experience of multidisciplinary team model in undiagnosed diseases program in a children's hospital.

Background: A definite diagnosis goes undiscovered for a percentage of children with undiagnosed disorders, with significant medical, psychological, and social effects. Other than specialized clinical centers, exceptional molecular studies, common procedures, and devoted activities at the national and international levels, children with complex undiagnosed disorders require innovative approaches. Methods: In March 2016, Children's hospital of Fudan university represented the Children's Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP). The purpose of this study is to describe the project findings and underline the critical significance of multidisciplinary teamwork in China's undiagnosed rare illnesses program. We investigated the 758 cases in our UDP system retrospectively. Demographic information, laboratory test results, and genetic information were gathered. Results: Between January 2017 and December 2021, 758 cases were examined. Males made up 436 (57.5%) of the total. Over half of the patients were children under the age of five. The average patient course time preceding admission to UDP was 6.0 months (95% CI 10.512.6). These patients visited an average of 1.8 clinics during their diagnostic journey. Except for 69 individuals (90.9%), all had more than one presenting symptom in various organs: 460 (60.7%) had neurology difficulties, 151 (19.9%) had endocrine problems, and 141 (18.6%) had immunology problems. UDP has a diagnosis rate of 61.3%. Genetic testing was performed on 469 of the 758 patients, for a genetic diagnosis rate of 15.8%. The UDP method has a sensitivity of 94.5%, a specificity of 86.4%, a positive predictive value of 92.8%, and an negative predictive value of 89.5%. Conclusion: Our UDP targets an unmet need, namely the diagnosis of patients with complicated, multisystem illnesses. Using a multidisciplinary team model approach, this UDP pilot study achieved a reasonable diagnosis success rate, increasing the possibility of more diagnoses and new scientific discoveries of difficult and rare diseases.

Influence of eating while watching TV on food preference and overweight/obesity among adolescents in China: a longitudinal study.

Background: Eating while watching TV was found associated with unhealthy food preferences and obesity in adolescents in foreign studies, which is not clear in China. The study aims to explore the influence of eating while watching TV on food preferences and overweight/obesity in Chinese adolescents. Methods: Data from 1768 adolescents (aged 12-17 years) in the 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) was analyzed. The height and weight were measured. Mixed effect models were used to identify the associations between eating while watching TV and adolescents' food preferences and overweight/obesity. Results: Adolescents eating while watching TV ≥1 time/week were more likely to prefer fast food, salty snacks and soft drinks than those eating while watching TV <1 time/week. Adolescents eating meals while watching TV ≥1 time/week were less likely to prefer vegetables than those eating meals while watching TV <1 time/week. In addition, adolescents eating snacks while watching TV ≥1 time/week were more likely to be overweight/obesity than those eating meals while watching TV <1 time/week (odds ratio [OR] = 7.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-36.93). Conclusion: Eating snacks while watching TV was positively associated with adolescents' unhealthy food preferences and overweight/obesity. Eating meals while watching TV was associated with adolescents' unhealthy food preferences. Implementing web-based Community-based participatory research (CBPR) about reducing eating while watching TV may be a practical strategy to develop healthy food preferences and prevent overweight/obesity in Chinese adolescents.

Morphology and Phylogenetic Position of the Sargassum Nudibranch Scyllaea fulva Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 (Nudibranchia: Scyllaeidae): First Record in Hong Kong.

Scyllaeidae is a small group of nudibranchs comprising three genera (Scyllaea, Notobryon, and Crosslandia) with striking morphological similarities, making their identification challenging based on external features alone. Previous studies have highlighted the significance of central radular teeth in distinguishing Notobryon from Scyllaea and Crosslandia. The genus Scyllaea, commonly known as the sargassum nudibranch, currently consists of only two valid species, Scyllaea pelagica and Scyllaea fulva. These species inhabit seaweed Sargassum spp., feeding on hydroids. During a biodiversity survey conducted in April 2023, seven sargassum nudibranch individuals were collected from the seaweed Sargassum spp. at a depth of 2 meters in Tai She Wan through SCUBA diving. Initially, the specimens were misidentified based on their resemblance to Notobryon wardi and previous local records. However, thorough morphological and molecular examinations confirmed them to be Scyllaea fulva, representing the first record of this species in Hong Kong. Notably, our specimens lacked the blue spots observed in specimens from Thailand and the West Pacific Ocean, as reported in previous studies. Internally, a pineapple-like structure formed a honeycomb pattern on the surface of the masticatory edge of the jaw flap, with the presence of central radular teeth. A Maximum Likelihood tree analysis revealed Crosslandia to be the sister group of Scyllaea. Comparative analysis of intra-specific distances between individuals from the Philippines, French Polynesia, and Hong Kong indicated a close relationship between the Hong Kong specimens and those from the Philippines. Furthermore, we provide a detailed description of the external and internal morphology of Scyllaea fulva in this paper, integrating valuable morphological information for future species identification purposes.

Refractive errors in Tianjin youth aged 6-18 years: exploring urban-rural variations and contributing factors.

Purpose: Refractive errors, particularly myopia, constitute a significant global public health concern, contributing to morbidity and disability. A more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of refractive errors and the differences between urban and rural areas is essential to develop effective preventive measures for youth. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and risk factors of refractive errors among youth in urban and rural Tianjin, China. Methods: This school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. Elementary, middle, and high school students aged 6-18 years from both urban and rural areas of Tianjin were included. All participants underwent visual acuity testing and refractive measurement and completed comprehensive questionnaires. Results: A total of 346,146 participants (176,628 boys) were included in this investigation (50.36% for urban and 49.64% for rural, respectively). Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia were present in 56.8, 9.7, 56.64, and 21.3% of urban students, respectively. Similarly, rural students had a prevalence of 57.6, 11.5, 56.48, and 22.0% for the respective conditions. Compared to rural students, after adjusting for age, sex, and other significant variables, urban students were 1.05 times more likely to have myopia (95% CI: 1.03-1.07, p < 0.0001), 0.71 times less likely to have hyperopia (95% CI: 0.69-0.73, p < 0.0001), and 1.02 times more likely to have astigmatism (95% CI: 0.69-0.73, p < 0.0001). There was no significant association between anisometropia and residence (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.98-1.02, p = 0.9850). Sociodemographic and physiological factors contribute to the disparities in the prevalence of refractive errors between urban and rural areas. Age, increased near-work activities, and Decreased outdoor time were identified as risk factors for myopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia. Conversely, the absence of a parental history of refractive errors emerged as a protective factor for myopia and astigmatism among students. Lower parental education levels were negatively correlated with the risk of myopia and anisometropia in their children. Specifically, the lower the parental education, the greater the risk of myopia in their offspring. For urban students only, lower parental education was associated with an increased risk of astigmatism. Conclusion: Crude prevalence estimates May not accurately reflect the true burden of refractive error due to confounding factors such as age and sex. Accounting for these factors revealed that urban students were more likely to have myopia and astigmatism but less likely to have hyperopia compared to their rural counterparts. These disparities highlight the importance of considering geographical variations when implementing strategies for myopia control and prevention.

Insulin resistance and sarcopenia: a prognostic longitudinal link to stroke risk in middle-aged and elderly Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the leading cause of death in middle-aged and elderly people in China. Insulin resistance (IR) and sarcopenia are both closely associated with metabolic diseases. However, the relationship between these two indicators and stroke has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between IR and sarcopenia and the risk of new-onset stroke. METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2018, Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the association between IR surrogate indicators and sarcopenia status with stroke incidence. RESULTS: In the present study, during a median 7 years of follow-up, we included 7009 middle-aged and elderly residents, of whom 515 presented with stroke incidence. After adjustment for potential confounders, both baseline IR surrogates and sarcopenia independently predicted stroke risk. In addition, co-morbidities had a higher risk of stroke than other groups. The positive association between TyG-WC and sarcopenia on stroke risk was particularly significant [HR (95% CI): 2.03 (1.52, 2.70)]. In subgroups of different ages and sexes, the combination of IR and sarcopenia is associated with the highest risk of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: We found that IR and sarcopenia synergistically increase the incidence of stroke in older adults. This finding provides new perspectives for stroke detection and intervention and highlights the importance of early detection and management of IR and sarcopenia in older adults.