Association between multiple metals exposure and sleep disorders in a Chinese population: A mixture-based approach.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have suggested a possible association between metals and sleep disorders. This study aimed to explore the association between Zn, Cu, Se, Mg and Ca and sleep disorders in single and multi-metal co-exposure models. METHODS: Logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline model (RCS), Quantile g computation (Q-gcomp), Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to investigate the association between metal levels and sleep disorders. RESULTS: Logistic regression showed that in the total population, the second, third, and fourth quartile Zn concentration exhibited a lower risk of sleep disorders compared with the first quartile, with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.783, 0.711, and 0.704, respectively. Compared with Zn/Cu and Zn/Se in the first quartile, the third and fourth quartiles showed a lower risk of sleep disorders. In the 30-59 years group, the risk of sleep disorders was 0.699 times greater for the fourth quartile Mg concentration than that for the first quartile. The risk of sleep disorders in Mg/Ca concentration in the third quartile was 0.737 times higher than in the first quartile. Q-gcomp, WQS, and BKMR model analysis showed the negative overall effect of mixtures of the five metals on sleep disorders, with Zn being the largest contributor. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that plasma Zn, Mg, Zn/Cu, Zn/Se, and Mg/Ca reduced the risk of sleep disorders, and the combined effect of multiple metals was negatively associated with the risk of sleep disorders, with Zn being the largest contributor to this relationship.

The effect of triethylamine on dye-sensitized upconversion luminescence and its application in nanoprobes and photostability.

Triethylamine (TEA) is an effective medium for inhibiting dye aggregation and improving the luminescence of dye-sensitized lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). However, excessive TEA will cause quenching of upconversion luminescence. In this paper, the possible mechanism of TEA affecting upconversion luminescence is discussed. It is found that TEA can enhance the nucleophilicity of the solvent, leading to dye shedding from the nanoparticles. Reducing the dielectric constant of the solvent can make TEA play a more positive role in upconversion luminescence and photostability of dye-sensitized UCNPs. When heptanol is selected as the solvent for CyBSO-sensitized ß-NaYF4:20%Yb3+,2%Er3+ (UNs), TEA can increase the upconversion luminescence by 6.0 times relative to that in methanol. More importantly, the optimal content of TEA in heptanol is 3700 times more than that in methanol. Under the action of large amounts of TEA in heptanol, a novel upconversion nanoprobe for detecting ascorbic acid is developed with a limit of detection of 0.103 µM and high selectivity over potential interfering species. Meanwhile, the high concentration of TEA in heptanol can improve the photostability of CyBSO-sensitized UNs by 10.4 times, which is of paramount importance for the practical application of dye-sensitized UCNPs.

Association between Serum Uric Acid and the Early Marker of Kidney Function Decline among Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Population: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and kidney function decline.@*METHODS@#Data was obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study on the Chinese middle-aged and older population for analysis. The kidney function decline was defined as an annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decrease by > 3 mL/min per 1.73 m 2. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to determine the association between SUA and kidney function decline. The shape of the association was investigated by restricted cubic splines.@*RESULTS@#A total of 7,346 participants were included, of which 1,004 individuals (13.67%) developed kidney function decline during the follow-up of 4 years. A significant dose-response relation was recorded between SUA and the kidney function decline ( OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.27), as the risk of kidney function decline increased by 14% per 1 mg/dL increase in SUA. In the subgroup analyses, such a relation was only recorded among women ( OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.45), those aged < 60 years ( OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05-1.42), and those without hypertension and without diabetes ( OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.41). Although the dose-response relation was not observed in men, the high level of SUA was related to kidney function decline ( OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.05-3.17). The restricted cubic spline analysis indicated that SUA > 5 mg/dL was associated with a significantly higher risk of kidney function decline.@*CONCLUSION@#The SUA level was associated with kidney function decline. An elevation of SUA should therefore be addressed to prevent possible kidney impairment and dysfunction.

Antimicrobial secondary metabolites from an endophytic fungus Aspergillus polyporicola.

Two new nucleoside derivatives, kipukasins O (1) and P (2), one new cyclohexenone derivative, arthropsadiol D (5), and one new natural product, (+)-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-benzofuranone (6), together with eleven known compounds (3, 4, 7-15), were obtained from the culture broth of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus polyporicola R2 isolated from the roots of Synsepalum dulcificum. Among them, the absolute configuration of compound 5 was determined by quantum chemical calculations of NMR chemical shifts and ECD spectrum. The antimicrobial activities of these compounds were evaluated. Compound 11 exhibited obvious inhibitory activity against MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium graminearum with MIC values of 4, 4, 4, 32, and 16 µg/mL, respectively. Compound 12 exhibited antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium and MRSA with MIC values of 4 and 16 µg/mL. Compound 6 exhibited antifungal activity against F. graminearum with MIC value of 32 µg/mL.

Metagenomic Analysis Identifies Sex-Related Cecal Microbial Gene Functions and Bacterial Taxa in the Quail.

Background: Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) are important and widely distributed poultry in China. Researchers continue to pursue genetic selection for heavier quail. The intestinal microbiota plays a substantial role in growth promotion; however, the mechanisms involved in growth promotion remain unclear. Results: We generated 107.3 Gb of cecal microbiome data from ten Japanese quail, providing a series of quail gut microbial gene catalogs (1.25 million genes). We identified a total of 606 main microbial species from 1,033,311 annotated genes distributed among the ten quail. Seventeen microbial species from the genera Anaerobiospirillum, Alistipes, Barnesiella, and Butyricimonas differed significantly in their abundances between the female and male gut microbiotas. Most of the functional gut microbial genes were involved in metabolism, primarily in carbohydrate transport and metabolism, as well as some active carbohydrate-degrading enzymes. We also identified 308 antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) from the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Euryarchaeota. Studies of the differential gene functions between sexes indicated that abundances of the gut microbes that produce carbohydrate-active enzymes varied between female and male quail. Bacteroidetes was the predominant ARG-containing phylum in female quail; Euryarchaeota was the predominant ARG-containing phylum in male quail. Conclusion: This article provides the first description of the gene catalog of the cecal bacteria in Japanese quail as well as insights into the bacterial taxa and predictive metagenomic functions between male and female quail to provide a better understanding of the microbial genes in the quail ceca.

Bioactive Secondary Metabolites of the Genus Diaporthe and Anamorph Phomopsis from Terrestrial and Marine Habitats and Endophytes: 2010-2019.

The genus Diaporthe and its anamorph Phomopsis are distributed worldwide in many ecosystems. They are regarded as potential sources for producing diverse bioactive metabolites. Most species are attributed to plant pathogens, non-pathogenic endophytes, or saprobes in terrestrial host plants. They colonize in the early parasitic tissue of plants, provide a variety of nutrients in the cycle of parasitism and saprophytism, and participate in the basic metabolic process of plants. In the past ten years, many studies have been focused on the discovery of new species and biological secondary metabolites from this genus. In this review, we summarize a total of 335 bioactive secondary metabolites isolated from 26 known species and various unidentified species of Diaporthe and Phomopsis during 2010-2019. Overall, there are 106 bioactive compounds derived from Diaporthe and 246 from Phomopsis, while 17 compounds are found in both of them. They are classified into polyketides, terpenoids, steroids, macrolides, ten-membered lactones, alkaloids, flavonoids, and fatty acids. Polyketides constitute the main chemical population, accounting for 64%. Meanwhile, their bioactivities mainly involve cytotoxic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-algae, phytotoxic, and enzyme inhibitory activities. Diaporthe and Phomopsis exhibit their potent talents in the discovery of small molecules for drug candidates.

Daily CO2 Emission Reduction Indicates the Control of Activities to Contain COVID-19 in China.

Lockdown measures are essential to containing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but they will slow down economic growth by reducing industrial and commercial activities. However, the benefits of activity control from containing the pandemic have not been examined and assessed. Here we use daily carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction in China estimated from statistical data for energy consumption and satellite data for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) measured by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) as an indicator for reduced activities consecutive to a lockdown. We perform a correlation analysis to show that a 1% day-1 decrease in the rate of COVID-19 cases is associated with a reduction in daily CO2 emissions of 0.22% ± 0.02% using statistical data for energy consumption relative to emissions without COVID-19, or 0.20% ± 0.02% using satellite data for atmospheric column NO2. We estimate that swift action in China is effective in limiting the number of COVID-19 cases <100,000 with a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 23% by the end of February 2020, whereas a 1-week delay would have required greater containment and a doubling of the emission reduction to meet the same goal. By analyzing the costs of health care and fatalities, we find that the benefits on public health due to reduced activities in China are 10-fold larger than the loss of gross domestic product. Our findings suggest an unprecedentedly high cost of maintaining activities and CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic and stress substantial benefits of containment in public health by taking early actions to reduce activities during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Naturally Occurring Flavonoids and Isoflavonoids and Their Microbial Transformation: A Review.

Flavonoids and isoflavonoids are polyphenolic secondary metabolites usually produced by plants adapting to changing ecological environments over a long period of time. Therefore, their biosynthesis pathways are considered as the most distinctive natural product pathway in plants. Seemingly, the flavonoids and isoflavones from fungi and actinomycetes have been relatively overlooked. In this review, we summarized and classified the isoflavones and flavonoids derived from fungi and actinomycetes and described their biological activities. Increasing attention has been paid to bioactive substances derived from microorganism whole-cell biotransformation. Additionally, we described the utilization of isoflavones and flavonoids as substrates by fungi and actinomycetes for biotransformation through hydroxylation, methylation, halogenation, glycosylation, dehydrogenation, cyclisation, and hydrogenation reactions to obtain rare and highly active biofunctional derivatives. Overall, among all microorganisms, actinomycetes are the main producers of flavonoids. In our review, we also summarized the functional genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis.

Impact and related mechanisms of glucose fluctuations on aortic fibrosis in type 1 diabetic rats / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the impact and related mechanisms of glucose fluctuations on aortic fibrosis in rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods: After injection of streptozotocin (STZ), male Sprague Dawley (SD) (8-12 weeks) rats (n=24) were randomly divided into three groups in accordance with the random number table: controlled STZ-induced diabetes (C-STZ) group (n=8); uncontrolled STZ-induced diabetes (U-STZ) group (n=8); STZ-induced diabetes with glucose fluctuations (STZ-GF) group (n=8). After three weeks, rats were sacrificed and aorta was obtained, aortic fibrosis was detected by Masson trichrome staining. The expression of collagen type 1 (collagen Ⅰ) was tested by immunofluorescence. The expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) was tested by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of collagen Ⅰ and Runx2 were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The protein expressions of collagen Ⅰ, Runx2 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB were determined by Western blot. Primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were cultured in three conditions: normal glucose (NG), high glucose (HG) and glucose fluctuations (GF). Cells in GF group were incubated for 72 hours with glucose alternating between 5.5 and 25 mmol/L every 12 hours. TPCA-1, the inhibitor of NF-κB, the expression of collagenⅠin different groups of cells was tested by immunofluorescence. The protein expressions of collagen Ⅰ, Runx2 and NF-κB were also determined by Western blot. Results: (1) The quantitative ratios of the area of fibrosis in the C-STZ group, U-STZ group, STZ-GF group were (8.42±0.10)%, (21.30±0.74)% and (44.39±1.09)% (P<0.05), respectively. The means of integral optical density (IOD) of collagenⅠ in the three groups were 11.92±0.88, 50.04±3.56 and 77.52±2.69, respectively (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of collagenⅠ in the three groups were 1.00±0.10, 2.02±0.28 and 2.83±0.33, respectively (P<0.05). The protein expressions of collagenⅠ in the three groups were 1.05±0.03, 2.06±0.32 and 4.93±0.25, respectively (P<0.05). (2) The average IOD of Runx2 in the three groups were 150.00±7.35, 204.84±2.32 and 391.48±7.13, respectively (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of Runx2 in the three groups were 1.02±0.02, 1.27±0.04 and 2.18±0.12, respectively (P<0.05). The protein expressions of Runx2 in the three groups were 1.03±0.01, 2.34±0.36 and 4.52±0.75, respectively (P<0.05). (3) The protein expressions of NF-κB in the three groups were 1.02±0.01, 1.96±0.13 and 2.64±0.21, respectively (P<0.05). (4) In vitro, application of inhibitor of NF-κB reversed glucose fluctuations-induced upregulation of protein levels of Col Ⅰ and Runx2 (P<0.05). Conclusion: Glucose fluctuations could aggravate aortic fibrosis through activating Runx2 via NF-κB signaling pathways.

Transcription Factor SOX18 Promotes Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression and Alleviates Cabozantinib-Mediated Inhibitory Effects.

The transcription factor SOX18, which was initially discovered as an activator of genetic transcription during embryogenesis, is now implicated in many diseases, including cancer, and is associated with the malignant tumor phenotype, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. However, the role of SOX18 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is not well understood. In the current study, SOX18 expression was evaluated in a 250 case-cohort of primary ccRCC tissues that included 103 cases of matched normal kidney tissues and 21 cases of metastatic tissues. Functional and mechanistic analyses were performed in cells that had SOX18 either overexpressed or silenced to evaluate the effects of SOX18 on cell function, the cellular response to cabozantinib, and SOX18-mediated molecular mechanisms. Our data revealed that upregulation and nuclear translocation of SOX18 promoted ccRCC carcinogenesis and metastasis. Elevated SOX18 expression was associated with advanced pathologic grades and TNM stages, as well as poor patient survival. SOX18 also regulated the cell cycle and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition to promote the malignant phenotype in ccRCC cells. The activation of EGF/EGFR and HGF/c-MET signaling in vitro and in vivo was induced by SOX18. Moreover, SOX18 activation bypassed the inhibitory effects of cabozantinib on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In conclusion, our data indicate that SOX18 may be a promising therapeutic target for ccRCC treatment.

Effect of the transdifferentiation of BECs into myofibroblasts on the pathogenesis of secondary cholestatic hepatic fibrosis.

The present study investigated the effect of the transdifferentiation of bile duct epithelial cells (BECs) into myofibroblasts on the pathogenesis of secondary cholestatic hepatic fibrosis and examined the underlying mechanisms. A total of 60 male rats with hepatic fibrosis were randomly divided into two groups: A secondary cholestatic hepatic fibrosis model group induced by ligation of the bile duct (BDL) and a sham group, which only underwent segregation of the choledochus. Rats in the BDL group were dynamically observed after week 1, 2, 3 and 4 post-BDL, and the remaining rats were sacrificed after week 5 to determine histological changes and hydroxyproline content. The cellular co-localization of cytokeratin (CK)7/α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) or α-SMA/desmin was detected by immunofluorescence staining and laser confocal microscopy, while the protein expression levels of CK7, α-SMA and desmin were determined by western blot analysis. Sirius red staining was also performed and quantified. The results revealed a significant correlation between the protein expression of CK7 and α-SMA (r=0.9692, P<0.01). Furthermore, a predominant correlation between the number of cells stained for CK7/α-SMA and collagen deposition in liver tissues was identified, while the correlation of cells with co-localized α-SMA and desmin was less pronounced. The transdifferentiation of BECs into myofibroblasts may be a key pathological factor in secondary cholestatic hepatic fibrosis formation.

Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on store-operated calcium channels in coronary artery smooth muscle cells derived from diabetic rat / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective@#To investigate the impact of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) on function and expression of store-operated calcium channels (SOCC) in coronary artery smooth muscle cells (SMC) derived from diabetic rat.@*Methods@#A total of 180 healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal group (N, n=45), placebo-treated diabetic group (D, n=45), lose dose n-3 PUFA treated diabetic group (DL, n=45) and high dose n-3 PUFAs treated diabetic group (DH, n=45). Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat animal model was established by two consecutive intraperitoneal injections. After modeling, rats in group DL and DH were treated with 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 and 50 mg·kg-1·d-1 n-3 PUFAs respectively per gavage for eight weeks. After eight weeks, rat coronary artery SMC was isolated by enzyme digestion. Changes of cytosolic calcium concentration in coronary artery SMC were examined by calcium fluorescence imaging technique, coronary artery tension was detected by myograph system, and protein expressions of SOCC on coronary artery SMC were measured by Western blot.@*Results@#SOCC induced ΔF340/F380 of group N, D, DL and DH were 0.425±0.023, 0.838±0.037, 0.342±0.052 and 0.364±0.045 respectively, which was significantly lower in group N, DL, DH than in group D (P<0.05). SOCC induced changes of tensions were 0.94±0.09, 1.95±0.18, 1.35±0.24 and 1.01±0.18 in the group N, D, DL and DH, respectively, which was significantly lower in group N and DH than in group D (P<0.05). Protein expressions of STIM1, Orai1 and TRPC1 were significantly higher in diabetic rat coronary SMC than in group N (P<0.05). STIM1 protein expressions were significantly lower in group DL and DH than in group D, and Orai1 and TRPC1 protein expressions were similar among group.@*Conclusions@#Coronary artery tension, cytosolic calcium concentration and protein expressions of SOCC are higher in diabetic rat coronary artery SMC when compared with normal rats. n-3 PUFA intervention could downregulate the protein expression of SOCC, reduce cytosolic calcium concentration and coronary artery tension, and is protective to the diabetic injury in coronary artery.

Synthesis and Biological Application of A Water-Soluble Fluorescent Probe Based on Coumarin Derivatives for Detection of Ferric Ion / 分析化学

A water-soluble fluorescent probe (7-diethyl amino-3-formaldehyde coumarin) for Fe3+ detection was designed and synthesiZed, and its structure was confirmed by 1 HNMR, 13 CNMR and MS spectra.This probe showed high emission intensity at 471 nm.With the continuous addition of Fe3+, the emission intensities at 471 nm decreased gradually, and showed an excellent linearity with Fe3+in the range of 0.02-60 μmol/L, and the regression equation was I=322.56-4.86CFe3+.This probe was able to detect Fe3+ qualitatively and quantitatively with the detection limit as low as 22 nmol/L.Besides, this probe showed high sensitivity to Fe3+over other metal ions.The detection process was reversible, which could be recycled for the Fe3+detection.In terms of good optical properties and the strong fluorescence in physiological pH, the probe was successfully applied in imaging Fe3+ of living Ramos cells.

Influence of SOX10 on the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the influence of SOX10 on the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells.@*METHODS@#SOX10 protein in prostate cancer cell lines PC3, DU145 and LNcap was detected by Western blotting analysis. The expression of SOX10 in prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU145) were knocked down by small interfering RNAs, and the efficiency of SOX10 by small interfering RNAs was confirmed using Western blotting analysis. CCK-8 assays were conducted to assess the influences of SOX10 on the proliferation of PC3 and DU145 cells, and invasion assays were conducted to assess the influences of SOX10 on the invasion of PC3 and DU145 cells.@*RESULTS@#After SOX10 in prostate cancer cells was knocked down by small interfering RNAs, the proliferation of prostate cancer cells PC3 and DU145 was significantly inhibited. Results of CCK-8 assays showed that the absorbance of PC3 and DU145 in SOX10-silenced groups was decreased compared with those in control groups (PC3: 0 d: 0.166±0.01, 0.162±0.012 vs. 0.155 ±0.01, P>0.05; 1 d: 0.210±0.011, 0.211±0.018 vs. 0.252±0.023, P>0.05; 2 d: 0.293±0.017, 0.280±0.028 vs. 0.433±0.030, P<0.01; 3 d: 0.363±0.071, 0.411±0.038 vs. 0.754±0.045, P<0.01; 4 d: 0.592±0.065, 0.670±0.093 vs. 1.456±0.111, P<0.01. DU145: 0 d: 0.168±0.018, 0.164±0.01 vs. 0.153 ±0.012, P>0.05; 1 d: 0.218±0.007, 0.206±0.024 vs. 0.255±0.02, P>0.05; 2 d: 0.297±0.013, 0.291±0.012 vs. 0.444±0.023, P<0.05; 3 d: 0.378±0.058, 0.419±0.026 vs. 0.762±0.039, P<0.01; 4 d: 0.681±0.094, 0.618±0.050 vs. 1.419±0.170, P<0.01). Meanwhile, knocking down SOX10 significantly suppressed the invasion of prostate cancer cells PC3 and DU145. Results of invasion assays showed that the numbers of invaded cells in SOX10-silenced groups were significantly less than those in control groups (PC3: 142±38, 171±17 vs. 304±55; DU145: 96±22, 134±23 vs. 341±34, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#SOX10 might promote prostate cancer progression by accelerating the ability of the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells, and SOX10 might be a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer.

A14MgBi11 (A = Ca, Sr, Eu): Magnesium Bismuth Based Zintl Phases as Potential Thermoelectric Materials.

A series of new magnesium bismuth Zintl phases, A14MgBi11 (A = Ca, Sr, Eu), have been synthesized, and their thermoelectric properties were systematically evaluated. These novel phases belong to the well-known Yb14MnSb11 family, whose structure adopts the tetragonal space group I41/acd (No. 142) with cell parameters of a = 17.0470(17)/17.854(2)/17.6660(7) Å and c = 22.665(5)/23.580(6)/23.2446(18) Å for Ca14MgBi11, Sr14MgBi11, and Eu14MgBi11, respectively. Without intentional optimization, these materials exhibit high potential as new thermoelectric candidates. Especially for Sr14MgBi11, a high zT value of 0.72 has been approached at 1073 K. The discovery of these new Zintl series is very interesting, which implies the high possibility of extending the 14-1-11 thermoelectric system to the bismuth analogues in the development of highly efficient thermoelectric materials. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were incorporated as well to help better understand the properties of these important compounds.

Picosecond mid-infrared optical parametric amplifier based on LiInSe2 with tenability extending from 3.6 to 4.8 µm.

A picosecond (ps) mid-infrared (MIR) optical parametric amplifier (OPA) with LiInSe2 crystal was demonstrated for the first time. The MIR OPA was pumped by a 30 ps 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser and injected by a barium boron oxide (BBO)-based widely tunable near-infrared seed. A maximum idler pulse energy of 433 µJ at 4 µm has been obtained under a pump energy of 17 mJ, and the corresponding pulse duration was estimated to be ~13 ps. To our knowledge, this is the highest single pulse energy generated by LiInSe2 crystal. Furthermore, an idler spectrum tuning from 3.6 to 4.8 µm was investigated at fixed pump energy of 15 mJ.

Structure, Magnetism, and Thermoelectric Properties of Magnesium-Containing Antimonide Zintl Phases Sr14MgSb11 and Eu14MgSb11.

New Mg-containing antimonide Zintl phases, Sr14MgSb11 and Eu14MgSb11, were synthesized from high-temperature solid-state reactions in Ta tubes at 1323 K. Their structures can be viewed as derived from the Ca14AlSb11 structure type, which adopt the tetragonal space group I41/acd (No. 142, Z = 8) with the cell parameters of a = 17.5691(14)/17.3442(11) Å and c = 23.399(4)/22.981(3) Å for the Sr- and Eu-containing compounds, respectively. The corresponding thermoelectric properties were probed, which demonstrated high potential of these compounds as new thermoelectrics for their very low thermal conductivity and moderate Seebeck coefficient. Magnetism studies and theoretical calculations were conducted as well to better understand the structure-and-property correlation of these materials.

Effect of air pollution on respiratory health in school-aged children in the main urban area of Chongqing, China / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of air pollution on respiratory health in school-aged children in the main urban area of Chongqing, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The main urban area of Chongqing was divided into polluted area and clean area according to the air pollution data shown on the Environmental Protection Agency Website of Chongqing between 2010 and 2015. A cluster sampling method was used to select 695 third- or fourth-grade children from 2 primary schools in the clean or polluted area as study subjects, with 313 children from the clean area and 382 children from the polluted area. Pulmonary function was examined for all children and a standard American epidemiological questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78-C) was used to investigate the prevalence of respiratory diseases and symptoms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the clean area, the polluted area had significantly higher concentrations of inhalable particles (PM), fine particulate matter (PM), and nitric oxide (NO) (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed after adjustment for confounding factors, and the results showed that compared with those in the clean area, the children in the polluted area had significantly higher risks of cough (OR=1.644), cough during cold (OR=1.596), expectoration during cold (OR=2.196), persistent expectoration (OR=1.802), and wheezing (OR=2.415). The boys and girls in the clean area had significantly higher forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second than those in the polluted area (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Air pollution in the main urban area of Chongqing is associated with the increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms in school-aged children and has certain effect on children's pulmonary function.</p>

Research Progress in Animal Model Replication of Chronic Gastritis / 中国药师

Chronic gastritis (CG) is a common disease of digestive system. It is of the utmost importance to reply the animal mod-el of CG in the researches on pathogenesis,treatment mechanism and drugs development. It's necessary to review the general situation about the replication of CG animal model since there is no spontaneous animal model of CG. The research literatures related to the rep-lication of CG animal model in recent years were reviewed,all kinds of methods on the animal model replication were reorganized sys-temically,and a new classification was established. Furthermore,the model mechanism,precautions and success rate of each classifi-cation method were evaluated concisely,scientifically and objectively in order to exploit the research ideas of researchers and provide reference for further studies.

Development and Initial Validation of the Novel Scale for Assessing Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There has been no a specific scale to measure quality of life (QOL) for prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to date. This study aimed to develop and initially validate the scale to evaluate QOL for prostate cancer patients receiving ADT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The scale was developed following international recommendations. Moreover, the items were all generated through literature review and referenced questionnaires. After being reviewed by expert panelists, the revised scale was formed and then completed by a convenience sample of 200 prostate cancer patients from our hospital. Explore factor analysis (EFA) was applied to test the construct validity, then split-half reliability, Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliability were applied to assess the reliability and stability of the scale.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The revised scale contained 22 items and a total of 200 participants had completed the scale. One hundred participants were randomly selected from the total 200 participants to perform EFA with varimax rotation on the revised scale, and "hot flashes" item was deleted for low factor loading. We selected only 3 items from each factor, then, the final scale was formed with 18-items. We selected another 100 participants to perform the EFA again on the final scale. It was demonstrated that the structure with 6 factors explained 72.5% of total variance and factor loading value was above 0.40 in all items of the factors. Moreover, the split-half reliability coefficient, Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliability coefficient were calculated to be 0.74, 0.63, and 0.89, respectively, exhibiting good reliability on the whole.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The scale was identified to be a valid and reliable instrument to measure QOL for prostate cancer patients receiving ADT. Moreover, further research is needed to overcome the potential drawbacks.</p>