Background
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of epidemiologic and physician‐diagnosed pollen‐induced AR (PiAR) in the grasslands of northern China and to study the impact of the ...intensity and time of pollen exposure on PiAR prevalence.
Methods
A multistage, clustered and proportionately stratified random sampling with a field interviewer‐administered survey study was performed together with skin prick tests (SPT) and measurements of the daily pollen count.
Results
A total of 6043 subjects completed the study, with a proportion of 32.4% epidemiologic AR and 18.5% PiAR. The prevalence was higher in males than females (19.6% vs 17.4%, P = .024), but no difference between the two major residential and ethnic groups (Han and Mongolian) was observed. Subjects from urban areas showed higher prevalence of PiAR than rural areas (23.1% vs 14.0%, P < .001). Most PiAR patients were sensitized to two or more pollens (79.4%) with artemisia, chenopodium, and humulus scandens being the most common pollen types, which were similarly found as the top three sensitizing pollen allergens by SPT. There were significant regional differences in the prevalence of epidemiologic AR (from 18.6% to 52.9%) and PiAR (from 10.5% to 31.4%) among the six areas investigated. PiAR symptoms were positively associated with pollen counts, temperature, and precipitation (P < .05), but negatively with wind speed and pressure P < .05).
Conclusion
Pollen‐induced AR (PiAR) prevalence in the investigated region is extremely high due to high seasonal pollen exposure, which was influenced by local environmental and climate conditions.
China presently contributes the largest amount of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emission into the atmosphere in the world. Over the past decade, numerous studies have been conducted to characterize the ...concentration and forms of atmospheric Hg in China, which provide insights into the spatial and temporal distributions of atmospheric Hg through ground-based measurements at widely diverse geographical locations and during cruise and flight campaigns. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of the state of understanding in atmospheric Hg in China. Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and particulate-bound mercury (PBM) measured at the remote sites in China are substantially elevated compared to the background values in the Northern Hemisphere. In Chinese urban areas, the highly elevated GEM, PBM and gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) were mainly derived from local anthropogenic Hg emissions, whereas regional anthropogenic emissions and long-range transport from domestic source regions are the primary causes of the elevated GEM and PBM concentrations at remote sites. Using 7-9 years of continuous observations at a remote site and an urban site, a slight increase in atmospheric GEM (2.4-2.5 % yr-1) was identified (paired samples test: p < 0.01), which is in agreement with the increasing domestic anthropogenic emissions. Anthropogenic GEM emission quantity in China estimated through the observed GEM / CO concentration ratios ranged from 632 to 1138 t annually over the past decade, 2-3 times larger than published values using emission activity data. Modeling results and filed measurements show dry deposition is the predominant process for removing Hg from the atmosphere, 2.5-9.0 times larger than wet deposition, due to the elevated atmospheric GEM and PBM concentrations that facilitate dry deposition to terrestrial landscapes. Further studies to reconcile the observed and simulated Hg concentrations, to understand the impact of domestic emission reduction on Hg concentration and deposition and to delineate the role of Hg emission and deposition of China in the global Hg biogeochemical cycle, are needed.
Summary
Our study demonstrated a high incidence of recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after PVP treatment for OVCFs. A risk score based on all significant factors can predict the rate of ...recollapse and gain clinical benefits to prevent recollapse in patients at high risk.
Background
Recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) has obtained much attention. However, little is known about risk factors and score for recollapse of the augmented vertebrae.
Objective
To determine risk factors and furthermore develop a risk score related to recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after PVP treatment for OVCFs.
Methods
Patients who were treated with PVP for single OVCFs and met this study’s inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed. The follow-up period was at least 2 years. Associations of recollapse with co-variates (age, gender, bone mass density BMD with a T-score, fracture level, intravertebral cleft IVC, fracture type, cement volume, cement leakage, leakage into a disc, cement distribution pattern, Non-PMMA-endplate-contact NPEC, preoperative fracture severity, reduction rate RR, reduction angle RA) were analyzed and a risk score for recollapse was further developed to predict recollapse.
Results
A total of 152 patients were included. Recollapse group was found in 42 (27.6%) patients. Preoperative IVC, solid lump cement distribution pattern, more RR (a cutoff value of 7%) and larger RA (a cutoff value of 3°) was significantly associated with increased risk for recollapse of the augmented vertebrae. A risk score was developed based on the number of risk factors present in each patient. Patients with a score of 4 had an approximately ninefold increased risk of developing recollapse over patients with a score of 0. The receiver operating characteristic curve of the risk score generated an area under the curve of 0.899 (95% CI 0.642–0.836,
P
= 0.000).
Conclusion
A risk score based on preoperative IVC, cement distribution pattern, reduction rate, and reduction angle predicts the rate of recollapse. Additional studies should aim to validate this score and inspect clinical benefits of recollapse prophylaxis in patients at high risk.
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the main products of indigestible carbohydrates that are fermented by microbiota in the hindgut. This study was designed to investigate the effects of oral SCFAs ...administration on the lipid metabolism of weaned pigs. A total of 21 barrows were randomly allocated into three groups, including control group (orally infused with 200 mL physiological saline per day), low dose SCFAs group (orally infused with 200 mL SCFAs containing acetic acid 20.04 mM, propionic acid 7.71 mM and butyric acid 4.89 mM per day), and high dose SCFAs group (orally infused with 200 mL SCFAs containing acetic acid 40.08 mM, propionic acid 15.42 mM and butyric acid 9.78 mM per day). The results showed that the average daily feed intake of SCFAs groups were lower than that of control group (P<0.05). Oral administration of SCFAs decreased the concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and insulin (P<0.05), and increased the leptin concentration in serum (P<0.05). The total fat, as well as TC and TG levels in liver, was decreased by oral SCFAs administration (P<0.05). In addition, SCFAs down-regulated the mRNA expressions of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (P<0.05), and enhanced the mRNA expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1α (CPT-1α) in liver (P<0.05). SCFAs also decreased FAS, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor σ mRNA expressions in longissimus dorsi (P<0.05). And in abdominal fat, SCFAs reduced FAS and ACC mRNA expressions (P<0.05), and increased CPT-1α mRNA expression (P<0.05). These results suggested that oral administration of SCFAs could attenuate fat deposition in weaned pigs via reducing lipogenesis and enhancing lipolysis of different tissues.
The cross sections of e+e-→π+π-hc at center-of-mass energies from 3.896 to 4.600 GeV are measured using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron ...Collider. The cross sections are found to be of the same order of magnitude as those of e+e-→π+π- J/ψ and e+e-→π+π-ψ (2S), but the line shape is inconsistent with the Y states observed in the latter two modes. Two structures are observed in the e+e- → π+π- hc cross sections around 4.22 and 4.39 GeV / c 2 , which we call Y ( 4220 ) and Y ( 4390 ) , respectively. A fit with a coherent sum of two Breit-Wigner functions results in a mass of (4218.4 $+5.5\atop{-4.5 ± 0.9) MeV/c2 and a width of 66.0$+12.3\atop-8.3$±0.4 MeV for the Y (4220), and a mass of (4391.5 $+6.3\atop-16.8$ ± 1.0) MeV/c2 and a width of (139.5$+16.2\atop-20.6 ± 0.6) MeV for the Y (4390), where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones systematic. The statistical significance of Y ( 4220 ) and Y(4390) is 10σ over one structure assumption.
Because of the half-filled t_{2g}-electron configuration, the BO_{6} octahedral distortion in a 3d^{3} perovskite system is usually very limited. In this Letter, a perovskitelike oxide ...Hg_{0.75}Pb_{0.25}MnO_{3} (HPMO) with a 3d^{3} Mn^{4+} state was synthesized by using high pressure and high temperature methods. This compound exhibits an unusually large octahedral distortion enhanced by approximately 2 orders of magnitude compared with that observed in other 3d^{3} perovskite systems like RCr^{3+}O_{3} (R=rare earth). Essentially different from centrosymmetric HgMnO_{3} and PbMnO_{3}, the A-site doped HPMO presents a polar crystal structure with the space group Ama2 and a substantial spontaneous electric polarization (26.5 μC/cm^{2} in theory) arising from the off-center displacements of A- and B-site ions. More interestingly, a prominent net photocurrent and switchable photovoltaic effect with a sustainable photoresponse were observed in the current polycrystalline HPMO. This Letter provides an exceptional d^{3} material system which shows unusually large octahedral distortion and displacement-type ferroelectricity violating the "d^{0}-ness" rule.
Cross sections of the process e+e− → π0 π0 J / ψ at center-of-mass energies between 3.808 and 4.600 GeV are measured with high precision by using 12.4 fb−1 of data samples collected with the BESIII ...detector operating at the BEPCII collider facility. A fit to the measured energy-dependent cross sections confirms the existence of the charmoniumlike state Y ( 4220 ) . The mass and width of the Y ( 4220 ) are determined to be ( 4220.4 ± 2.4 ± 2.3 ) MeV / c2 and ( 46.2 ± 4.7 ± 2.1 ) MeV , respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The mass and width are consistent with those measured in the process e+e− → π+π− J / ψ. The neutral charmonium-like state Zc ( 3900 )0 is observed prominently in the π 0 J / ψ invariant-mass spectrum, and, for the first time, an amplitude analysis is performed to study its properties. The spin-parity of Zc ( 3900 )0 is determined to be JP = 1+, and the pole position is ( 3893.1 ± 2.2 ± 3.0 ) − i ( 22.2 ± 2.6 ± 7.0 ) MeV / c2, which is consistent with previous studies of electrically charged Zc ( 3900 )±. In addition, cross sections of e+e− → π0Zc ( 3900 )0 → π0π0 J / ψ are extracted, and the corresponding line shape is found to agree with that of the Y ( 4220 ).
In this paper, the spin and parity of the Zc(3900)± state are determined to be JP = 1+ with a statistical significance larger than 7σ over other quantum numbers in a partial wave analysis of the ...process e+e- → π+π-J/Ψ. We use a data sample of 1.92 fb-1 accumulated at $ \sqrt{s}=4.23 $ and 4.26 GeV with the BESIII experiment. When parametrizing the Zc(3900)± with a Flatté-like formula, we determine its pole mass Mpole = (3881.2±4.2stat ±52.7syst) MeV/c2 and pole width Γpole = (51.8± 4.6stat ± 36.0syst) MeV. Finally, we also measure cross sections for the process e+e- → Zc(3900)+π- + c.c. → J/Ψπ+π- and determine an upper limit at the 90% confidence level for the process e+e- → Zc(4020)+π- + c.c. → J/Ψ π+π-.
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