Two divergent haplotypes from a highly heterozygous lychee genome suggest independent domestication events for early and late-maturing cultivars.

Lychee is an exotic tropical fruit with a distinct flavor. The genome of cultivar 'Feizixiao' was assembled into 15 pseudochromosomes, totaling ~470 Mb. High heterozygosity (2.27%) resulted in two complete haplotypic assemblies. A total of 13,517 allelic genes (42.4%) were differentially expressed in diverse tissues. Analyses of 72 resequenced lychee accessions revealed two independent domestication events. The extremely early maturing cultivars preferentially aligned to one haplotype were domesticated from a wild population in Yunnan, whereas the late-maturing cultivars that mapped mostly to the second haplotype were domesticated independently from a wild population in Hainan. Early maturing cultivars were probably developed in Guangdong via hybridization between extremely early maturing cultivar and late-maturing cultivar individuals. Variable deletions of a 3.7 kb region encompassed by a pair of CONSTANS-like genes probably regulate fruit maturation differences among lychee cultivars. These genomic resources provide insights into the natural history of lychee domestication and will accelerate the improvement of lychee and related crops.

Projecting the Influence of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Warning Labels and Restaurant Menu Labeling Regulations on Energy Intake, Weight Status, and Health Care Expenditures in US Adults: A Microsimulation.

BACKGROUND: Accurate, readily accessible, and easy-to-understand nutrition labeling is a promising policy strategy to address poor diet quality and prevent obesity. OBJECTIVE: This study projected the influence of nationwide implementation of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) warning labels and restaurant menu labeling regulations. DESIGN: A stochastic microsimulation model was built to estimate the influences of SSB warning labels and menu labeling regulations on daily energy intake, body weight, body mass index, and health care expenditures among US adults. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: The model used individual-level data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and other validated sources. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: The model was simulated using the bootstrapped samples, and the means and associated 95% CIs of the policy effects were estimated. RESULTS: SSB warning labels and restaurant menu labeling regulations were estimated to reduce daily energy intake by 19.13 kcal (95% CI 18.83 to 19.43 kcal) and 33.09 kcal (95% CI 32.39 to 33.80 kcal), body weight by 0.92 kg (95% CI 0.90 to 0.93 kg) and 1.57 kg (95% CI 1.54 to 1.60 kg), body mass index by 0.32 (95% CI 0.31 to 0.33) and 0.55 (95% CI =0.54 to 0.56), and per-capita health care expenditures by $26.97 (95% CI $26.56 to $27.38) and $45.47 (95% CI $44.54 to $46.40) over 10 years, respectively. The reduced per-capita health care expenditures translated into an annual total medical cost saving of $0.69 billion for SSB warning labels and $1.16 billion for menu labeling regulations. No discernable policy effect on all-cause mortality was identified. The policy effects could be heterogeneous across population subgroups, with larger effects in men, non-Hispanic Black adults, and younger adults. CONCLUSIONS: SSB warning labels and menu labeling regulations could be effective policy leverage to prevent weight gains and reduce medical expenses attributable to adiposity.

Association between YKL-40 and asthma: a systematic meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Many studies have shown that chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), also known as YKL-40, is associated with asthma. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the role of serum YKL-40 in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of asthma, severity grading, and determination of disease state. METHODS: The PubMed, Ovid, and Cochrane databases were searched. A total of 17 articles involving 5696 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the level of YKL-40 was significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in the normal group regardless of age and residential location, and increased with severity and acute exacerbation (p < 0.05). YKL-40 levels were significantly different between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, and also between asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACO) and asthma (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: YKL-40 may act as a potential serological marker for the diagnosis of asthma, assessment of severity, indicator of the disease state, and differential diagnosis of COPD, ACO, and asthma.

Willingness to pay for reductions in health risks under anticipated regret.

In this paper, we study the willingness to pay for reductions in health risks within a framework of anticipated regret. We show that ex post information provision can be a relevant factor for regret theory to account for why people are sometimes so inclined to protect themself against certain types of health risks but not others. In particular, we find that under full resolution of uncertainty disproportionate aversion to large regrets exaggerates willingness to pay estimates. The effect induced by this notion of regret aversion can be interpreted as if regret-averse people overweight risk reductions due to prevention. However, as feedback over forgone acts is missing, the regret aversion effect disappears. Finally, we show that information avoidance induced by regret aversion can significantly bias our evaluation to prefer those health programs that completely eliminate a risk, i.e., the certainty effect.

GmPTF1 modifies root architecture responses to phosphate starvation primarily through regulating GmEXPB2 expression in soybean.

Though root architecture modifications may be critically important for improving phosphorus (P) efficiency in crops, the regulatory mechanisms triggering these changes remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that genotypic variation in GmEXPB2 expression is strongly correlated with root elongation and P acquisition efficiency, and enhancing its transcription significantly improves soybean yield in the field. Promoter deletion analysis was performed using 5' truncation fragments (P1-P6) of GmEXPB2 fused with the GUS gene in soybean transgenic hairy roots, which revealed that the P1 segment containing three E-box elements significantly enhances induction of gene expression in response to phosphate (Pi) starvation. Further experimentation demonstrated that GmPTF1, a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor, is the regulatory factor responsible for the induction of GmEXPB2 expression in response to Pi starvation. In short, Pi starvation induced expression of GmPTF1, with the GmPTF1 product directly binding to the E-box motif in the P1 region of the GmEXPB2 promoter. Plus, both GmPTF1 and GmEXPB2 highly expressed in lateral roots, and were significantly enhanced by P deficiency. Further work with soybean stable transgenic plants through RNA sequencing analysis showed that altering GmPTF1 expression significantly impacted the transcription of a series of cell wall genes, including GmEXPB2, and thereby affected root growth, biomass and P uptake. Taken together, this work identifies a novel regulatory factor, GmPTF1, involved in changing soybean root architecture partially through regulation of the expression of GmEXPB2 by binding the E-box motif in its promoter region.

The soybean ß-expansin gene GmINS1 contributes to nodule development in response to phosphate starvation.

Legume biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the most important N source in agricultural ecosystems. Nodule organogenesis from the primordia to the development of mature nodules with the ability to fix N2 largely determines BNF capacity. However, nodule growth is often limited by low phosphorus (P) availability, while the mechanisms underlying nodule development responses to P deficiency remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that nodule enlargement is severely inhibited by P deficiency, as reflected by the smaller individual nodule size from a soybean core collection in the field. Wide-ranging natural diversity in nodule size was further identified in soybeans reared in low P soils, with the FC-1 genotype outperforming FC-2 in assessments of nodulation under low P conditions. Among ß-expansin members, GmINS1 expression is most abundantly enhanced by P deficiency in FC-1 nodules, and its transcript level is further displayed to be tightly associated with nodule enlargement. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms discovered in the GmINS1 promoter distinguished the FC-1 and FC-2 genotypes and accounted for the differential expression levels of GmINS1 responses to P deficiency. GmINS1 overexpression led to increases in nodule size, infected cell abundance, and N2 fixation capacity and subsequently promoted increases in N and P content, soybean biomass, and yield. Our findings provide a candidate gene for optimizing BNF capacity responses to low P stress in soybean molecular breeding programs.

Natural lactucopicrin alleviates importin-α3-mediated NF-κB activation in inflammated endothelial cells and improves sepsis in mice.

Lactucopicrin, a bitter sesquiterpene lactone of leafy vegetables, such as chicory, curly escarole, and lettuce, possesses anti-malarial, anti-cancer and analgesic properties. However, it remains unknown whether lactucopicrin could inhibit vascular endothelial nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, a hallmark of vascular inflammatory diseases including sepsis. In tumor necrosis factor-α-stimulated human or mouse aortic endothelial cells, lactucopicrin dose-dependently inhibited NF-κB activation, and concomitantly repressed both vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1)-mediated monocyte adhesion. The lactucopicrin effect was not due to modulation of inhibitor of NF-κB kinases (IKK) α/ß/γ, inhibitor of NF-κB alpha (IκBα), and NF-κB/p65 DNA binding activity. Instead, lactucopicrin inhibited importin-α3 expression by destabilization of its mRNA, an effect mediating the lactucopicrin effect on NF-κB activity. More importantly, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-elicited septic mice, oral gavage with lactucopicrin decreased mortality by 30.5% as compared with the control treatment. This effect was associated with inhibited importin-α3 expression, suppressed NF-κB activation and VCAM-1/ICAM-1 expression, and inhibited leukocyte influx in the vascular endothelium of both lung and aorta. Collectively, our novel data suggest that dietary supplementation with lactucopicrin inhibits endothelial NF-κB activation by down-regulation of importin-α3 and thereby improves sepsis.

Lactucopicrin Inhibits Cytoplasmic Dynein-Mediated NF-κB Activation in Inflammated Macrophages and Alleviates Atherogenesis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice.

SCOPE: Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation in macrophages aggravates atherosclerosis. Dietary plant secondary metabolites including sesquiterpene lactone lactucopicrin target multiple organs. This study is focused on the impact of lactucopicrin on NF-κB activation in inflammed macrophages and atherogenesis in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In LPS-stimulated mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, lactucopicrin inhibits NF-κB activation, and concomitantly represses the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. This effect is not due to modulation of the inhibitor of NF-κB kinases (IKK) α/ß/γ and NF-κB inhibitor α, and NF-κB/p65 DNA binding activity. Instead, the lactucopicrin effect is reliant on the inhibition of cytoplasmic dynein-mediated p65 transportation, a prerequisite step for p65 nuclear translocation. In high-fat diet-fed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, lactucopicrin consumption dose-dependently reduces plaque area, inhibits plaque macrophage accumulation, attenuates plaque macrophage NF-κB activation, and reduces both plaque and serum inflammatory burden. However, lactucopicrin consumption does not affect the levels of serum lipids and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor beta). CONCLUSION: Dietary lactucopicrin inhibits atherogenesis in mice likely by its anti-inflammatory property. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with lactucopicrin is a promising strategy to inhibit atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Low Oral Bioavailability and Partial Gut Microbiotic and Phase II Metabolism of Brussels/Witloof Chicory Sesquiterpene Lactones in Healthy Humans.

Free and glycosylated sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), which are abundant in leafy vegetables including Brussels/witloof chicory, possess health-promoting effects in vivo. However, the pharmacokinetics of dietary source of SLs remain largely unknown. In this open-label and single-dose trial, sixteen healthy volunteers consumed 150 g of Brussels/witloof chicory juice containing 48.77 µmol SLs in 5 min. Blood, urine, and fecal samples were collected before and after chicory consumption in 24 h. No SLs were detected in the serum, urine, and fecal samples before chicory consumption in all of the participants. Chicory consumption increased lactucin, 11ß,13-dihydrolactucin, and their glucuronide/sulfate conjugates, rather than lactucopicrin and 11ß,13-dihydrolactucopicrin, as well as glycosylated SLs in biological samples. The peak concentration of total SLs in serum reached 284.46 nmol/L at 1 h, while, in urine, this peak was 220.3 nmol between 2 and 6 h. The recovery of total SLs in blood, urine, and feces was 7.03%, 1.13%, and 43.76% of the ingested dose, respectively. Human fecal suspensions with intestinal microbiota degraded glycosylated SLs in chicory, and converted lactucopicrin and 11ß,13-dihydrolactucopicrin to lactucin and 11ß,13-dihydrolactucin, respectively. Collectively, Brussels/witloof chicory SLs are poorly bioavailable and they undergo partial gut microbial and phase II metabolism in humans.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on miR-34a-5p/SIRT1 signaling in the trigeminal ganglion of rats with migraine].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on miR-34a-5p, silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog-1 (SIRT1) and nuclear factor-κB subunit p65 (NF-κB p65) in the trigeminal ganglion of rats with migraine, so as to explore the mechanisms of EA underlying prevention of migraine. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divi-ded into normal, sham operation, model, EA, and EA plus EX527(a SIRT1 inhibitor) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The rat model of migraine was established by electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion. Before modeling, EA was applied at "Waiguan"(TE5) and "Fengchi"(GB20) for 20 min each time, once a day for 5 consecutive days, and intraperitoneal injection of EX527 (5 mg/kg) every day simultaneously. Serum prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of miR-34a-5p, SIRT1 and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) mRNA，and protein expression of SIRT1, IL-1ß, NF-κB p65, NF-κB Ac-p65 and cyclooxygenase-2 （COX2） in trigeminal ganglia were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, separately. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of PGE2 and CGRP， the expression of miR-34a-5p, IL-1ß mRNA and protein, NF-κB p65, NF-κB Ac-p65 and COX2 protein expression in the trigeminal ganglion were remarkably increased (P<0.05), while the SIRT1 mRNA and protein decreased (P<0.05) in the model group in contrast to the normal group. Following EA intervention， the serum PGE2 and CGRP concentrations, miR-34a-5p expression, IL-1ß mRNA and protein, NF-κB p65, NF-κB Ac-p65 and COX2 protein expression were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05), and SIRT1 mRNA and protein significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with the EA group, the serum concentrations of PGE2 and CGRP, IL-1ß mRNA and protein, NF-κB p65, NF-κB Ac-p65 and COX2 protein expressions increased (P<0.05), and SIRT1 protein decreased (P<0.05) in the EA plus EX527 group. CONCLUSION: In migraine rats, EA can inhibit miR-34a-5p expression in the trigeminal ganglion, increase SIRT1 expression, down-regulate IL-1ß/COX2 inflammation signals, reduce PGE2 synthesis, and thus redue CGRP released from the peripheral terminals, which may be one of the mechanisms of EA in preventing migraine.

Protocatechuic Acid Inhibits Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Lesion Progression in Older Apoe-/- Mice.

BACKGROUND: Normalization of arterial inflammation inhibits atherosclerosis. The preventive role for protocatechuic acid (PCA) in early-stage atherosclerosis is well recognized; however, its therapeutic role in late-stage atherosclerosis remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether PCA inhibits vulnerable atherosclerosis progression by normalizing arterial inflammation. METHODS: Thirty-wk-old male apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe-/-) mice with vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions in the brachiocephalic artery were fed the AIN-93G diet alone (control) or supplemented with 0.003% PCA (wt:wt) for 20 wk. Lesion size and composition, IL-1ß, and NF-κB in the brachiocephalic arteries, and serum lipid profiles, oxidative status, and proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1ß, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and serum amyloid A) were measured. Moreover, the effect of PCA on the inflammation response was evaluated in efferocytic macrophages from C57BL/6J mice. RESULTS: Compared with the control treatment, dietary PCA supplementation significantly reduced lesion size (27.5%; P < 0.05) and also improved lesion stability (P < 0.05) as evidenced by increased thin fibrous cap thickness (31.7%) and collagen accumulation (58.3%), reduced necrotic core size (37.6%) and cellular apoptosis (73.9%), reduced macrophage accumulation (45.1%), and increased vascular smooth muscle cell accumulation (51.5%). Moreover, PCA supplementation inhibited IL-1ß expression (53.7%) and NF-κB activation (64.4%) in lesions. However, PCA supplementation did not change serum lipid profiles, total antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory cytokines. In efferocytic macrophages, PCA at 0.5 and 1 µmol/L inhibited Il1b/IL-1ß mRNA (27.2-46.5%) and protein (29.2-49.6%) expression and NF-κB activation (67.0-80.3%) by upregulation of MER proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MERTK) and inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1 (MAPK3/1). Strikingly, the similar pattern of the MERTK and MAPK3/1 changes in lesional macrophages of mice after PCA intervention in vivo was recapitulated. CONCLUSION: PCA inhibits vulnerable lesion progression in mice, which might partially be caused by normalization of arterial inflammation by upregulation of MERTK and inhibition of MAPK3/1 in lesional macrophages.

Protocatechuic acid from chicory is bioavailable and undergoes partial glucuronidation and sulfation in healthy humans.

Protocatechuic acid exerts multiple health-promoting effects such as anticancer, anti-atherosclerosis, and neuroprotection in animal models. While protocatechuic acid produced in the lower gastrointestinal tract by microbial catabolism of several flavonoids is bioavailable, the pharmacokinetics of protocatechuic acid has not been evaluated so far in humans following its oral consumption. In this open-label and single-dose pharmacokinetic trial, 16 healthy adults followed a low-phytochemical diet for three days. Next, after overnight fasting, participants consumed 150 g of chicory containing 248 µmol of protocatechuic acid. Blood, urine, and fecal samples were collected before and up to 24 hr after chicory consumption. Protocatechuic acid in the free and glucuronide/sulfate-conjugated forms was almost undetectable in serum, urine, and fecal samples before chicory consumption. Chicory consumption increased the levels of protocatechuic acid and its glucuronide/sulfate conjugates in biological samples. The maximum serum concentrations of protocatechuic acid in the free-, glucuronide-, and sulfate-conjugated forms were 3,273, 519, and 340 nmol/L, respectively. The recovery of total protocatechuic acid in blood circulation, urine, and feces was 23.79%, 12.17%, and 12.79% of the ingested dose, respectively. Moreover, glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of protocatechuic acid made up 34.79%, 60.15%, and 72.70% of its total recovery in blood circulation, urine, and feces, respectively. Collectively, protocatechuic acid from chicory is bioavailable and undergoes partial glucuronidation and sulfation in human adults, and its regular consumption may exert health-promoting effects.

INCREASING NODULE SIZE1 Expression Is Required for Normal Rhizobial Symbiosis and Nodule Development.

Nodulation is crucial for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in legumes, but the molecular mechanisms underlying BNF have remained elusive. Here, we cloned a candidate gene underlying a major nodulation quantitative trait locus in soybean (Glycine max), INCREASING NODULE SIZE1 (GmINS1). GmINS1 encodes a cell wall ß-expansin and is expressed primarily in vascular bundles, along with cortical and parenchyma cells of nodules. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms distinguishing the two parents were found in the GmINS1 promoter region. Among them, single-nucleotide polymorphism A/C has a significant effect on GmINS1 expression in the parental genotype P2, based on ß-glucuronidase activity and promoter deletion analysis. The expression of GmINS1 and the P2 genotype promoter was strongly associated with nodule development, not only in the parents but also in 40 progeny lines and 40 genotypes selected from a soybean core collection. Overexpression of GmINS1 resulted in increases in the number, biomass, infection cell abundance, and nitrogenase activity of large nodules and subsequently changed the nitrogen content and biomass of soybean plants. GmINS1 suppression via RNA interference had the opposite effect. Double suppression of GmEXPB2 and GmINS1 dramatically inhibited soybean nodulation. Our results reveal that GmINS1 is a critical gene in nodule development and that GmEXPB2 and GmINS1 synergistically control nodulation in soybean. Our findings shed light on the genetic basis of soybean nodulation and provide a candidate gene for optimizing BNF capacity through molecular breeding in soybean.

Apoptotic cell induction of miR-10b in macrophages contributes to advanced atherosclerosis progression in ApoE-/- mice.

Aims: We previously found that miR-10b inhibits cholesterol efflux from thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages through repressing ATP binding cassette transporter (ABCA1). Herein, we deciphered the mechanism underlying macrophage miR-10b expression and the role of miR-10b in atherosclerosis. Methods and results: MiR-10b expression was increased in the arteries with advanced but not early atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE-/- mice. Free cholesterol-induced macrophage apoptotic cells (FC-AM) promoted miR-10b expression in mouse resident peritoneal macrophages (RPM) by up-regulation of Twist1/2 in a Mer receptor tyrosine kinase dependent manner. Surprisingly, antagomiR-10b de-repressed ABCA1 in RPM engulfing FC-AM but not in RPM alone or RPM-derived foam cells; systemic delivery of antagomiR-10b enhanced reverse cholesterol transport from RPM engulfing FC-AM but not from RPM or the foam cells in ApoE-/- mice. Mechanistically, RPM engulfing FC-AM possessed sufficient miR-10b functionally repressing ABCA1 expression, whereas RPM and foam cells had little miR-10b incompetently repressing ABCA1 expression. Notably, antagomiR-10b administration reduced advanced plaque size and also enhanced plaque stability in ApoE-/-mice, which were associated with increased plaque macrophage ABCA1 expression and reduced plaque apoptosis and inflammation. However, antagomiR-10b administration did not affect early atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-/- mice. Conclusion: These data suggest that apoptotic cell induction of miR-10b in macrophages is important in advanced atherosclerosis progression.

Functional limitation and cognitive impairment among 80+ year old Chinese.

AIM: This study examined functional limitation in relation to cognitive impairment among 80+ year old Chinese. METHODS: Cognitively-intact adults ≥80 years old (n = 5161) came from the 1998 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Cognitive impairment was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination. Functional limitation was assessed by Katz activities of daily living (ADLs). Cox regressions were performed to examine the relationship between functional limitation in 1998 and cognitive impairment onset during the follow-up period of 1998-2012. RESULTS: Compared to those without ADLs limitation at baseline, participants with ADLs limitations were 49% more likely to develop cognitive impairment during follow-up. A dose-response relationship was identified - compared to those without ADLs limitation at baseline, those with one, two to five and all six ADLs limitations were 46, 50 and 180% more likely to develop cognitive impairment during follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSION: Baseline functional limitation strongly predicted cognitive impairment incidence in 80+ year old Chinese.

Satisfaction with local exercise facility: a rural-urban comparison in China.

INTRODUCTION: Rural-urban inequalities in China have been widening over the past few decades. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural residents may encounter various barriers to equal opportunities to effectively engage in physical activity. This study examines the rural-urban disparity in physical activity, proximity and satisfaction with local exercise facilities. METHODS: An in-person survey was conducted in 29 counties of 10 Chinese provinces in 2012. Five thousand questionnaires were administered by trained staff with a completion rate of 82.1%. The complete sample includes 1661 rural and 2446 urban residents. Eight dichotomous outcome measures were used, pertaining to leisure-time physical activity engagement; proximity to the nearest exercise facility from home; satisfaction level with the quantity, variety, fee levels, opening hours, and daily management and services of nearby exercise facilities; and satisfaction level with the local public sports service system. Nearest-neighbor matching was performed to match rural residents with urban residents by observed individual sociodemographics, including gender, age, education level and residential province. Pearson's χ2 test was used to assess the difference in sociodemographics and outcome measures between rural and urban residents before and after matching. RESULTS: Before nearest-neighbor matching, the frequency distributions of age and education level are significantly different between rural and urban residents (both p<0.0001). After matching, the differences in the frequency distributions between rural and urban residents become statistically non-significant for all observed sociodemographics: gender (p=0.170), age (p=0.934), education level (p=0.244) and residential province (p=1.000). Compared to their matched urban counterparts, rural residents are 8.1% (p<0.0001) more likely to be physically inactive in their leisure time and 5.8% (p=0.005) less likely to live within 30-minute walking distance to the nearest exercise facility. Rural residents are 15.7%, 15.7%, 8.6%, 13.5% and 14.7% more likely to be unsatisfied with the quantity, variety, fee levels, opening hours, and daily management and services of nearby exercise facilities, and 16.1% more likely to be unsatisfied with the local public sports service system than matched urban residents (all p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Substantial rural-urban disparities tend to be present in leisure-time physical activity, proximity to the nearest exercise facility, and satisfaction level with exercise facilities and the public sports service system. Policy interventions are warranted to improve the accessibility and affordability of local exercise facilities in rural areas as a way to promote physical activity among Chinese rural residents and reduce disparities.

PROXIMITY TO AN EXERCISE FACILITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CHINA.

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for premature morbidity and mortality. We studied the relationship between proximity to an exercise facility and leisure time physical activity in China. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 10 provinces in China during 2012 among 5,000 respondents with a completion rate of 82.1%. Respondents were asked about leisure time physical activity, defined as any exercise during the week. Respondents were also asked if they lived within 10 minutes walking distance from an exercise facility. The association between proximity to an exercise facility and physical activity were examined with multivariate regression analysis while attempting to control for sociodemographic factors and province of residence. Proximity to an exercise facility was found to be positively associated with leisure time physical activity. Individuals living within 10 minutes walking distance from an exercise facility were 6.79% (95% confidence interval: 3.67-10.01) more likely to have any leisure time physical activity than those who lived more than 10 minutes walking distance from an exercise facility. Physical exercise among females, younger adults, people with a higher education and urban residents appeared to have a greater association with distance to an exercise facility. Improving accessibility to an exercise facility might increase the likelihood of leisure time physical activity, especially among working-age urban Chinese.

Molecular epidemiological survey of hemoglobinopathies in the Wuxi region of Jiangsu Province, eastern China.

In order to determine the prevalence and molecular characterization of hemoglobinopathies in the Wuxi region of Jiangsu Province in the People's Republic of China (PRC), a total of 10,297 healthy people selected from a regional hospital were screened. Hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis, complete blood cell (CBC) count, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, reverse dot-blot and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) were used to detect Hb variants, thalassemias and hereditary persistence of fetal Hb (HPFH). Two thousand and twenty-one adult subjects were screened for thalassemia, five cases were identified as α-thalassemia (α-thal) carriers including three cases of the -α(3.7) (rightward) deletion, one case of the - -(SEA) deletion and one case of ß-thal [IVS-II-654 (C>T), (HBB: c.316-197C>T)]. The incidence of Hb variants, thalassemia and HPFH/δß-thal were 0.136% (14/10,297), 0.25% (5/2021) and 0.0001% (1/10,297), respectively. Eight genotypes of Hb variants were found, including Hb E [ß26(B8)Glu→Lys, GAG>AAG; HBB: c.79G>A], Hb J-Bangkok [ß56(D7)Gly→Asp (GGC>GAC); HBB; c.170G>A], Hb G-Coushatta [ß22(4)Glu→Ala (GAA>GCA); HBB: c.68A>C], Hb Queens [α34(B15)Leu→Arg (CTG>CGG) (α2 or α1); HBA2: c.104T>G (or HBA1)], Hb I [α16(A14)Lys→Glu, AAG>GAG (α1); HBA1: c.49A>G], Hb Beijing [α16(A14)Lys→Asn (AAG>AAC or AAT) (α2 or α1); HBA2: c.51G>C (or HBA1) or 51G>T (or HBA1)], Hb Ube-2 [α68(E17)Asn→Asp (AAC>GAC) (α2 or α1); HBA2: c.205A>G (or HBA1)] and Hb G-Taipei [ß22(B4)Glu→Gly (GAA>GGA); HBB: c.68A>G]. A Sicilian δß(0)-thal, identified for the first time in Asia, was also found in this survey.

Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus infections in women attending hospitals in Chaozhou of Guangdong province.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. Limited epidemiologic data of HPV prevalence are available for women attending hospitals in southern China. This study aimed to evaluate the profiles of HPV infection and cytology status in gynecological outpatients in Chaozhou City. METHODS: A total of 2833 eligible women were enrolled. The HPV GenoArray test was used for HPV detection and genotyping. Nearly one half of the HPV positive women received liquid-based cytology test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the predictable effects of age and genotype for categories of abnormal cytology. RESULTS: The prevalence of overall, high-risk, and low-risk HPV infection were 24.5%, 19.5% and 8.4%, respectively. A U-shaped age-specific prevalence curve was observed in overall HPV and high- risk HPV, but not in low-risk HPV, which declined with age increasing. The 6 most common high-risk HPV type in descending order, were types 52, 16, 58, 18, 68, and 33. Age and HPV genotype were both important determinants of abnormal cytology incidence, the older women (>45 years) and those infected with HPV type 16 and/or 18 having the highest risk for abnormal cytology. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the hypothesis that second-generation HPV prophylactic vaccines including HPV-52 and -58 may offer higher protection for women residing in Chaozhou and neighboring cities in Guangdong.