Association between maternal diabetes mellitus and allergic diseases in children - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Existing knowledge suggests that gestational diabetes mellitus was inconsistently associated with offspring allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the association between maternal diabetes mellitus and the risk of offspring allergic diseases by systematic review. METHODS: We searched and retrieved three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for articles on the association between maternal diabetes mellitus and offspring allergic diseases published before December 31, 2019. Stata software version 16.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Eight published studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled effect estimates showed the association between maternal diabetes mellitus and allergic outcomes, including asthma (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.27), wheezing (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.21), and atopic dermatitis (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.22-1.57). Maternal diabetes mellitus was not associated with the risk of allergic sensitization, with a pooled effect estimate of 1.07 (95% CI: 0.45, 2.58). CONCLUSION: Maternal diabetes mellitus may increase the risk of allergic diseases in their children. However, this finding should be validated with future large-sample epidemiological studies covering a wider spectrum of allergic diseases.

Effect of endometrial thickness and embryo quality on live-birth rate of fresh IVF/ICSI cycles: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Successful implantation and delivery require both the functional embryo and receptive endometrium in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. However, little is known about embryo-endometrial interaction on live-birth. We aimed to investigate the independent effect and interaction of endometrial thickness (EMT) and embryo quality on live-birth in fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 15,012 ART cycles between 2013 and 2016 in three centers in China. Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations was employed to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We estimated the interaction of embryo quality and EMT on live-birth rate (LBR). RESULTS: The LBR per cycle was 42.8% overall. LBR increased with increasing EMT and reached a plateau (50.6 to 54.2%) when EMT was 11 mm or thicker. Embryo quality represented by cumulative score was associated with LBR independently of number of embryos transferred and EMT. LBR was not increased with thicker EMT when only Q1 cleavage-stage embryo transferred (aRR 0.95, 95%CI 0.61-1.46). LBR was not increased significantly with thicker EMT with transfer of two good-quality cleavage-stage embryos and any blastocyst combination except Q1 group. There was significant interaction between EMT and embryo quality on LBR for cleavage-stage ETs (P=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the nonlinear EMT-LBR association and the EMT cut-off value of 11 mm which may be of more clinical significance for predicting live-birth. Embryo quality is an independent prognostic tool for LBR. Our finding of significant embryo-endometrial interaction indicates combination of EMT and embryos quality might improve the prognostic value in clinical practice for live-birth in patients undergoing transfer of 1-2 fresh cleavage-stage embryos.

Urinary trihalomethane concentrations and liver function indicators: a cross-sectional study in China.

While it is known that exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs), impairs liver function, few epidemiological studies have explored this association. Here, we determined the concentrations of four urinary trihalomethanes (chloroform [TCM], and three Br-THMs, bromodichloromethane [BDCM], dibromochloromethane [DBCM], and bromoform [TBM]), and nine serum liver function indicators in 182 adults ≥ 18 years of age, examined at a medical examination center in Wuxi, China, in 2020 and 2021. Generalized linear model analysis revealed positive associations between urinary DBCM and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB). Urinary Br-THMs and total THMs (TTHMs) were positively associated with ALT, AST, TBIL, indirect bilirubin (IBIL), TP, and ALB (all P < 0.05). Urinary THMs were not associated with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) or glutamine transaminase (GGT) (all P > 0.05). Generalized additive model-based penalized regression splines were used to confirm these associations. In conclusion, THM exposure was associated with altered serum biomarkers of liver function.

Association between Urinary BPA Substitutes and Precocious Puberty among Girls: A Single-Exposure and Mixed Exposure Approach from a Chinese Case-Control Study.

There is an argument that BPA substitutes may have the same or more deleterious health effects as BPA due to their structural similarity. This study explored the association between urinary BPA substitutes and precocious puberty among girls by including 120 girls with precocious puberty (cases) aged 2-10 years enrolled at Nanjing Children's Hospital Department of Endocrinology in China between April 2021 to September 2021 and 145 healthy girls (controls) recruited from a primary school. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of single exposures, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation were used for the mixed effect. In the multivariate logistic regression, BPS (bisphenol S), TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol A), and BPFL (bisphenol-FL) were significantly associated with increased risk of precocious puberty (odds ratio (OR) = 1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 2.76, p = 0.014), (OR = 1.46, CI: 1.06, 2.05; p = 0.023), and (OR = 1.47, CI: 1.01, 2.18; p = 0.047), respectively. The BMKR and quantile-based g-computation models revealed consistent associations for single exposures and there was insufficient evidence for the associations of the mixed exposure of bisphenols with precocious puberty. In conclusion, BPA substitutes such as BPS, TBBPA, and BPFL may be associated with an increased risk of precocious puberty in girls.

Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of parotid gland malignancies: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To systematically evaluate the qualitative diagnostic value of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for parotid gland tumors. However, there is still a lot of controversy in this area, and the results of different studies are not consistent. Therefore, it is necessary to use meta method to analyze the significance of multimodal MRI in the diagnosis of parotid gland tumors. Methods: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of multimodal MRI for parotid gland malignancies. We performed a search in the databases of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese BioMedical Literature (CBM). Quality evaluation and data extraction were performed for the included articles, and meta-analysis was performed on the included studies using Stata 15.0 software. Results: After screening, a total of 5 relevant documents met the standards and were included. The results of analysis showed that the MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging (MRI-DWI) combined sensitivity and specificity were 0.54 (0.22-0.83) and 0.93 (0.79-0.98). The MRI with dynamic contrast-enhanced (MRI-DCE) combined sensitivity and specificity were 0.81 (0.48-0.95) and 0.95 (0.92-0.97). The pooled area under the curve (AUC) of the MRI-DWI was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.91) and the pooled area under the curve (AUC) of the MRI-DCE was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94-0.97). Discussion: The results of meta-analysis showed that multimodal MRI had good sensitivity, specificity and high sensitivity in the diagnosis of parotid gland carcinoma. However, there is high heterogeneity, which needs to be verified by a large number of clinical studies.

A comprehensive quality analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials of Asian ginseng and American ginseng based on the CONSORT guideline.

Ginseng is an international herb that has been used for thousands of years. Two species most commonly applied and investigated in the ginseng family are Asian ginseng and American ginseng. The number of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) has conspicuously increased, driven by the rapid development of ginseng. However, the reporting of RCT items of ginseng is deficient because of different trial designs and reporting formats, which is a challenge for researchers who are looking for the data with high quality and reliability. Thus, this study focused on providing an extensive analysis of these two species and examined the quality of the RCTs, based on the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guideline. Ninety-one RCTs conducted from 1980 to 2019 that were related to Asian ginseng and American ginseng used singly met our inclusion criteria. We found that the reporting quality of the two species has improved during the past 40 years. Publication date and sample size were significantly associated with the reporting quality. Rigorous RCTs designed for the species of ginseng are warranted, which can shed light on product research and development of ginseng in the future.

Exploratory analysis of the associations between urinary phytoestrogens and thyroid hormones among adolescents and adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010.

Phytoestrogens are naturally plant-derived compounds that could bind to estrogen receptors and mimic estrogenic effects. Previous studies showed a positive association between phytoestrogens and hypothyroidism; however, little is known on phytoestrogens and thyroid hormones. This study was designed to investigate the associations between urinary phytoestrogens and thyroid hormone levels. Based on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010, 4103 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Linear regression models and multiple linear regressions models were applied to examine the relationships between urinary phytoestrogens and thyroid hormone levels. Urinary O-desmethylangolensin (O-DMA) was found to be correlated with serum FT4 levels in the female 20-60-year-of-age group (ß=0.018, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.031). Higher enterolactone (ENT) levels were significantly positively associated with TSH levels in the 12-19-year-of-age female group (ß=0.196, 95% CI: 0.081, 0.311). In the male group, enterodiol (END) was significantly positively correlated with TSH and TT3 in the 12-19-year-of-age group, respectively (TT3: ß=3.444, 95% CI: 0.150, 6.737; TSH: ß=0.104, 95% CI: 0.005, 0.203). However, equol (EQU) levels were negatively associated with TT4 (12-19-year-of-age: ß=- 0.166, 95% CI: - 0.279, - 0.034; 20-60-year-of-age: ß=- 0.132, 95% CI: - 0.230, - 0.034). Our study provided epidemiological evidence that urinary phytoestrogens were powerfully associated with thyroid hormone levels. The results also supported that phytoestrogens acted as endocrine disruptors. It is imperative and important to pay attention to the intake of phytoestrogens.

Quality Evaluation of Randomized Controlled Trials of Rhodiola Species: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Rhodiola is a worldwide used medicinal plant for its various medicinal functions, and the number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Rhodiola is increasing in recent years. This study aims to evaluate the reporting quality and risk of bias of the current RCT reports of different Rhodiola species. METHODS: Six databases including Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrial.gov, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched to identify RCTs that used Rhodiola as a single intervention and were published in English or Chinese from inception to December 2020. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 statement was used as the checklist for assessment, and a scoring system was applied to the evaluation of RCTs. Score 0 represents no reporting or inadequate reporting, and score 1 represents adequate reporting. The risk of bias of the included studies was also assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. RESULTS: A total of 39 RCTs were included in this study, including 23 RCTs of Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea), 8 RCTs of Rhodiola crenulata (R. crenulata), and 8 RCTs of Rhodiola wallichiana (R. wallichiana). None of the included studies met all the CONSORT statement criteria, and the reporting quality of RCTs of the three Rhodiola species was all generally poor. Based on the risk of bias assessment, the majority of included studies were judged to have an unclear risk of bias in most domains due to inadequate reporting. CONCLUSIONS: There is inadequate reporting among the included RCTs of different Rhodiola species, and RCTs of Rhodiola with higher reporting quality and better methodological quality are needed.

Glucose oxidase-mediated sodium alginate gelation: Equipment-Free detection of glucose in fruit samples.

In this study, a paper-based sensor, combined with a visual distance-readout method, was developed to determine glucose in fruit samples based on the glucose oxidase-mediated sodium alginate gelation. The type of filter paper, the concentration of sodium alginate and the enzymatic reaction conditions were systematically investigated. Under optimal conditions, the increase in diffusion diameter showed a good linear relationship with glucose concentration between 1.4-7.0 mM, and the limit of quantification was 1.4 mM. Finally, the applicability of the proposed strategy was successfully verified by measuring glucose concentrations in fruit samples. The results generated by the developed paper-based sensor were in good agreement with the results obtained from a glucose assay kit. The recoveries were 91.8%-99.1%. In short, the present study developed a simple, low-cost and efficient method for assessing fruit quality and for guiding fruit intake for diabetic patients, especially in remote or resource-limited regions.

Independent and combined associations of urinary heavy metals exposure and serum sex hormones among adults in NHANES 2013-2016.

Accumulating evidences indicated that heavy metals may disrupt human sex hormones. However, the combined effects of heavy metals on sex hormones remain to be clarified. To explore the independent and combined associations between heavy metal exposure and serum sex hormones among adults, data of 2728 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was applied. We examined independent and combined associations of fourteen urinary heavy metals and three serum sex steroid hormones (total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)). Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate the independent associations between metal exposure and sex hormone alterations. Principle component analysis -weighted quantile sum regression (PCA-WQSR) model was performed to estimate the combined associations in our individuals. In the co-exposure model, we determined that weighted quantile sum (WQS) index of industrial pollutants was negatively associated with E2 in females (WQS Percent change8-metal = -20.6%; 95% CI: -30.1%, -9.96%), while in males WQS index of water pollutants was negatively related to SHBG (WQS Percent change8-metal = -5.35%; 95% CI: -9.88%, -0.598%). Cadmium (Cd), tin (Sn) and lead (Pb) were the dominating metals of female E2-negative association while Ba was the leading contributor related to male SHBG reduction, which was consistent with the results of multivariate linear regression. Additionally, in postmenopausal women, the associations of E2 decrease with heavy metal co-exposure remained significant while Cd and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) were identified as hazardous metals in the mixture. We concluded that the exposure to heavy metals was associated with human sex hormone alterations in independent or combined manners. Considering the design of NHANES study, further studies from other national-representative surveys are necessary.

West meets east: open up a dialogue on phytomedicine.

The desire to extend the wisdom of traditional health systems has motivated the trade of many phytomedicine on a global scale for centuries, especially some dietary herbs, making a great overlap exits between western and eastern phytomedicine. Despite the communication since ancient times, a key disconnect still exists in the dialog among western and eastern herbal researchers. There is very little systematic effort to tap into the friction and fusion of eastern and western wisdom in utilizing phytomedicine. In this review, we analyzed the similarities and differences of three representative phytomedicine, namely Rhodiola, seabuckthorn, and fenugreek, aiming to open up new horizons in developing novel health products by integrating the wisdom of the east and the west.

Ginseng: A bibliometric analysis of 40-year journey of global clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Ginseng has a long history of widespread use and remarkable effects as traditional medicine, adjuvant and dietary supplement. The therapeutic value, diverse functionalities and rapid development of ginseng have driven a significant increase in the number of ginseng clinical trials, ranging from its use in various ailments, formulation to safety concerns. Despite the persistent interest in ginseng clinical research, the medical effectiveness of ginseng is inconclusive and there is a lack of bibliometric analysis of the hundreds of ginseng clinical trials. AIM OF REVIEW: This review aims to provide an extensive overview of ginseng clinical trials over the past 40 years (1979-2018) in combination with a qualitative and quantitative analysis. The annual clinical trial analysis of time distribution, country and institution network analysis for space cooperation, statistical analysis for various functions, as well as efficiency and effect size were performed for global ginseng clinical trials. Besides, preparation categories, administration routes, and the safety of ginseng clinical trials were also investigated. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: The 40-year journey of ginseng clinical trials has experienced emerging, boom, and stable or transitional stages. The global network of ginseng clinical trials has relevant regional distribution in Asia, North America and Europe. South Korea makes a great contribution to building up large research clusters and strong cooperation links. Universities are the key contributors to ginseng clinical trials. The development of ginseng products could be focused on the clinical trial in diseases with higher effectiveness or effect size, such as sexual function and cognitive & behavior and require rigorous investigations and evidence to evaluate safety. More attention should be paid to different effects from different preparations. We believe this review will provide new insights into the understanding of global ginseng clinical trials and identifies potential future perspectives for research and development of ginseng.

Association between selected urinary heavy metals and asthma in adults: a retrospective cross-sectional study of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Heavy metal in the physical environment may alter immune function and predispose to develop asthma in human. Our study was aimed to investigate associations between urinary heavy metals and asthma in adults. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 3425 subjects aged 20 years and older in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014. Binary logistic regression was applied to analyze associations between cobalt (Co), tungsten (W), and uranium (U) and asthma. We found positive associations between U and asthma (OR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.25, 2.44, P for trend < 0.01). U was positively associated with asthma in 20-59 years group (OR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.11, 2.46), while W and Co were related with asthma among in above 60 years group (OR = 2.39, 95%CI: 1.24, 4.58, P for trend = 0.02; OR = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.02, 3.47, respectively). U was linked with asthma in both males and females (OR = 1.93, 95%CI: 1.16, 3.20; OR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.01, 2.51, respectively). Positive associations between U and asthma were discovered among adults with family history of asthma or not (OR = 2.15, 95%CI: 1.17, 3.95, P for trend = 0.03; OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.08, 2.43, P for trend = 0.03, respectively). Remarkable association was observed between U and asthma in adults without hay fever (OR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.24, 2.60, P for trend = 0.02). Our findings provide epidemiological evidence to highlight a need to prioritize heavy metals exposure with asthma.

Serum albumin mediates the effect of multiple per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on serum lipid levels.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are synthetically manufactured chemicals recognized to be toxic, bioaccumulative, and persistent. Previous studies on PFAS exposure and serum lipid levels have mainly focused on individual PFASs; however, the influence of multiple-PFAS exposure on the serum lipid profile remains unclear. This study was performed to evaluate the combined effects of multiple PFASs on serum lipid levels. Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (2011-2014), we first established a linear regression model to estimate the association between single-PFAS exposure and the serum lipid profile. Then, a weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model and a Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model were used to evaluate the effects of multiple-PFAS exposure on the serum lipid profile. A mediating effect model was used to assess how albumin mediates these effects. We found that PFASs were significantly associated with the levels of serum lipids, including high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (TC). The WQS index was significantly correlated with the levels of HDL (ß: 2.03, 95% CI: 0.74-3.32, P-value = 0.002), LDL (ß: 4.16, 95% CI: 1.07-7.24, P-value = 0.008) and TC (ß: 6.54, 95% CI: 3.00-10.1, P-value < 0.001). In the BKMR analysis, our results demonstrated that the effect of PFASs on serum lipids increased significantly when the concentrations of the PFASs were at their 60th percentiles or above compared to those at their 50th percentile. Mediation analysis showed that albumin mediated the effects of selected PFASs on the levels of serum lipids except for triglycerides (TG). PFAS exposure was correlated with the levels of serum lipids, and this correlation was mediated by albumin. Our results suggest that a comprehensive evaluation of multi-PFAS exposure could better characterize real-life exposure compared with single-PFAS exposure.

Prenatal low-dose DEHP exposure induces metabolic adaptation and obesity: Role of hepatic thiamine metabolism.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and is widely used in industrial plastics. However, the long-term health implications of prenatal exposure to DEHP remains unclear. We set out to determine whether prenatal DEHP exposure can induce metabolic syndrome in offspring and investigate the underlying mechanisms. A mouse model of prenatal DEHP exposure (0.2, 2, and 20 mg/kg/day) was established to evaluate the long-term metabolic disturbance in offspring. The mice were profiled for the hepatic metabolome, transcriptome and gut microbiota to determine the underlying mechanisms. Thiamine supplementation (50 mg/kg/day) was administered to offspring to investigate the role of thiamine in ameliorating metabolic syndrome. Prenatal exposure to low-dose DEHP (0.2 mg/kg/day) resulted in metabolic syndrome, including abnormal adipogenesis, energy expenditure and glucose metabolism, along with dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, in male offspring. Notably, hepatic thiamine metabolism was disrupted in these offspring due to the dysregulation of thiamine transport enzymes, which caused abnormal glucose metabolism. Prenatal low-dose DEHP exposure caused life-long metabolic consequences in a sex-dependent manner, and these consequences were be attenuated by thiamine supplementation in offspring. Our findings suggest low-dose DEHP exposure during early life stages is a potential risk factor for later obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Astragali Radix (Huangqi): A promising edible immunomodulatory herbal medicine.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Astragali Radix (AR, Huangqi in Chinese), the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or A. membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge., possesses diverse therapeutic effects against fatigue, dyspepsia, diarrhea, heart diseases, hepatitis, and anemia. In recent years, increasing evidence has indicated the multiple immunomodulatory activities of AR in preclinical and clinical studies. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review attempts to elaborate the immunomodulatory effects of AR and its potential application in the treatment of immune related diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature search AR was carried out using multiple internationally recognized databases (including Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley, ACS, Springer, Taylor & Francis, and CNKI). RESULTS: The immunomodulatory effects of AR are closely attributed to its active constituents such as polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids. We also demonstrate that AR can be used as a potential therapeutic intervention for immune related diseases through regulating immune organs, mucosal immune, and immune system (innate immunity and acquired immunity). CONCLUSION: AR promotes the development of immune organs, enhances mucosal immune function, increases the quantity and phagocytic capacity of innate immunity, promotes the maturation and differentiation of acquired immunity cells, and improves the expression of antibodies in acquired immunity. We believe that AR has a broad research space in the adjuvant treatment of immune related diseases, which could be a breakthrough point to improve the application value of AR.

Cumulative live birth rates of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection after multiple complete cycles in China.

There were few studies of cumulative live birth rates (CLBRs) based on multicenter reproductive clinical data from the general Chinese population. Here we report a retrospective cohort study, including 14 311 women with 17 315 cycles, in three reproductive centers to evaluate two estimated parameters of CLBRs with multiple transfer cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in a Chinese population. We found that CLBRs were related to female age and endometrial thickness. By the fourth transfer cycle, the conservative and optimal estimates of CLBRs were 52.95% and 77.30% in women under 30 years of age, and 18.17% and 26.51% in those 37 years of age or older, respectively. The two estimates were 44.70% and 63.15% in women with endometrial thickness more than 7 mm, and 32.05% and 46.18% in those with less than 7 mm, respectively. In addition, body mass index (BMI), duration of infertility, and infertility diagnoses may also be related to CLBRs on certain conditions. The findings from this study on CLBRs after multiple transfer cycles of IVF/ICSI treatment on different conditions in the Chinese population should be beneficial to both infertile couples and clinicians.

Composition variations and spatiotemporal dynamics of dissolved organic matters during the occurrence of green tide (Ulva prolifera blooms) in the Southern Yellow Sea, China.

Seawater samples were collected from April 6 to September 6, 2017 in the Southern Yellow Sea, China where green tides often occurred, and analyzed for nutrients, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM). The DOC concentrations increased significantly in the green tide areas by approximately 1.2 times compared to those in the non-green tide areas. From the large-scale outbreak to the complete dissipation of the green tide, the fluorescence intensities of the four FDOM fluorescent components identified in the green tide areas were significantly higher than those in the non-green tide areas. During the extinction period, the fluorescence intensities of the three humus-like components and one protein-like component were approximately 1.8 and 1.3 times higher than those in the non-green tide areas, respectively. These findings suggested that the outbreak of green tide could release DOM into water and affect the biogeochemical cycle in green tide regions.

Tai Chi can prevent cardiovascular disease and improve cardiopulmonary function of adults with obesity aged 50 years and older: A long-term follow-up study.

To research the possible role of Tai Chi in preventing cardiovascular disease and improving cardiopulmonary function in adults with obesity aged 50 years and older.Between 2007 and 2012, 120 adults with obesity, aged 50 years and older, were divided into a Tai Chi group and a control group, with 60 participants in each group. The 2 groups were evaluated for weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure (BP), body mass index, and incidence of chronic disease during follow-up monitoring.Two- and 6-year follow-up showed that the average BP in the Tai Chi group along with either the systolic or diastolic pressure decreased significantly compared to those in the control group (P < .001). Waist and hip circumference, weight, and body mass index in the Tai Chi group were significantly reduced compared to those in the control group (P < .001). The cardiopulmonary function of the control group and the Tai Chi group changed, with the cardiac index significantly higher in the Tai Chi group than in the control group (P < .05). The Tai Chi group had significantly higher levels of lung function, including vital capacity, maximal oxygen uptake, and total expiratory time, than the control group. The total incidence of complications and mortality in the Tai Chi group were much lower than those in the control group (P < .001). The incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in the Tai Chi group (16.67%) was lower than that in the control group (38.33%).Tai Chi is not only a suitable exercise for elderly people with obesity, but it can also help to regulate BP, improve heart and lung function in these individuals, as well as reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases, helping to improve their quality of life.

Association between Serum Vitamin Levels and Depression in U.S. Adults 20 Years or Older Based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005⁻2006.

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability around the world. Although several studies have been conducted to analyze the association between vitamins and depression, the results have been inconsistent. Based on the database of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2005⁻2006), a cross-sectional analysis was conducted to uncover the correlations between serum vitamin concentrations and depression in 2791 participants over 20 years of age. Vitamin concentrations in serum were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a standardized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or radioassay kit method. A nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression symptoms. The binary logistic regression model was applied to analyze the association between vitamins and depression. In the whole population, negative associations were discovered between folate concentrations (p for trend = 0.02), trans-β-carotene (p for trend = 0.01) and depression, while positive associations were found among vitamin B12 concentrations (p for trend = 0.008), vitamin A concentrations (p for trend = 0.01) and depression. In order to evaluate the influence of gender on the pathogenesis of depression of vitamins exposure, we performed gender-stratified analysis. In females, folate concentrations (p for trend = 0.03) and vitamin B12 concentrations (p for trend = 0.02) were correlated with depression. In males, no significant association was found between depression and serum vitamin concentrations. The correlation of vitamins with depression deserves further investigation in larger and diverse populations, especially in females.