A Retrospective Analysis of Death Among Chinese Han Patients with Schizophrenia from Shandong.

Purpose: To describe the mortality rate and cause of death among Han Chinese schizophrenia patients and to explore the risk factors affecting survival. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of death among patients with schizophrenia from Jan 1, 2012, to Dec 31, 2019, using the Severe Mental Disorders Information System of Shandong Province (henceforth referred to as the SMDI system) in Shandong, China. The cohort included 72,102 patients, and 11,766 patients died during follow-up. The data in this cohort study were derived from the SMDI system. We calculated the crude mortality rate and standardized mortality rate (SMR, standardized according to the sex and age composition of the population in Shandong Province) for patients with schizophrenia. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors affecting patient survival, and the statistical index was the hazard ratio (HR). Results: The mean age of the cohort patients was 47.21±14.05 years; 51.79% were males, and 48.21% were females. Among them, 68.98% (49,735) had only a primary education level, 85.36% (61,549) were farmers, 64.37% (46,413) were married, and 94.01% (67,775) received community management. A total of 16.32% of the cohort died. The SMR in patients with schizophrenia was 4.9, and it was higher for males than females (4.99 versus 4.82). Among the 6 registered causes of death, physical illness had the highest SMR (5.15), followed by other causes of death (4.86), mental illness-related complications (4.57), homicide (4.31), accidents (4.13), and suicide (3.87). Higher levels of education, employment (in-service status), marriage, and urban residence were protective factors for survival among patients with schizophrenia. Conclusion: In China, the SMR of schizophrenia is relatively high, and physical diseases are the main cause of death. We suggest that a variety of measures should be taken early to treat somatic diseases and reduce SMR in patients with schizophrenia.

[Analysis of Heavy Metal Pollution and Ecological Risk Assessment on Vegetation Leaves in Baoji City].

Using seven types of vegetation and seven heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, Cd, and As), the present study explored the ability of accumulation and degree of contamination in the leaves of vegetation in Binhe Road. The results demonstrated a negative trend between vegetation height and heavy metal content of vegetation leaves, i.e., as plant height increased, heavy metal contamination decreased. Leaves varied in the accumulation of heavy metals depending on the heavy metal and vegetation type. Cr, Mn, and Pb content were the most abundant in vegetation leaves. The highest values for Cr, Cu, Ni, and Mn were observed in the vegetative leaves of Hybrida vicary privet and were 217.33, 58.61, 36.79, 1676.14 mg·kg-1, respectively. The highest Pb content was 1295.64 mg·kg-1 in Ligustrun lucidum, the highest Cd content was 110.19 mg·kg-1 in Cedrus deodara, and the highest As content was 139.42 mg·kg-1in Prunus cerasifera. The degree of pollution in vegetation leaves was evaluated using the comprehensive index method Single-factor pollution index method and the Nemero Composite Index Method. The Single-factor pollution index of vegetation leaves with Prunus cerasifera, Platanus acerifolia, Cercis chinensis were between 0.02-1.23, and the Nemero Composite Index values were 1.01, 0.82, 0.4, respectively, with light pollution. The Single-factor pollution index of vegetation leaves by Cedrus deodara, Platycladus orientalis, Hybrida vicary privet and Ligustrun lucidum were much higher than 1, and the Nemero Composite Index was 16.53, 140.64, 98.80, and 37.52, respectively, with high levels of pollution. The potential ecological risk of heavy metals in vegetation leaves was determined using the Hakanson potential ecological risk assessment method. The order of the average potential ecological risk degree of the seven examined heavy metals was as follows:Cd > Ni > Cr > As > Pb > Cu > Mn, and the RI value range was 19.04-4020.29, with high levels of pollution.

[Differential geometry expression and analysis of regionalized variables of typical pollutants concentration in terrestrial environment].

Based on the basic concepts of differential geometry in analyzing environmental data and establishing related models, the methodology for differential geometry expression and analysis of pollutants concentration in terrestrial environment was presented. As a kind of regionalized variables, the spatial distribution pattern of the pollutants concentration was transformed into 3-dimension form, and fitted with conicoid. This approach made it possible to analyze the quantitative relationships between the regionalized variables and their spatial structural attributes. For illustration purpose, several sorts of typical space fabrics, such as convexity, concavity, ridge, ravine, saddle, and slope, were calculated and characterized. It was suggested that this approach was feasible for analyzing the regionalized variables of pollutants concentration in terrestrial environment.