Fluoride and acid enrichment in coal fire sponges in the Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, Northern China.

Coal fire sponges (CFSs) are a type of sponge-like contaminated soil bulge common in coal fire areas. However, the impacts of CFSs on the local environment are not yet understood. Thus, this study investigated soil samples from CFSs in the Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China, focusing on the acidity, sulfate, and fluorine content. The results showed that the CFSs were highly acidic, with an average pH of 0.76, and contained high levels of SO42- (257.29 × 103 µg/g), total fluorine (TF, 2011.6 µg/g), and water-soluble fluorine (WF, 118.94 µg/g), significantly exceeding those in the regional background soil and indicating that CFSs are a point source of heavy pollution. Soils in the 8000 m2 reclamation zone showed elevated acidity and high SO42- (129.6 × 103 µg/g), TF (1237.8 µg/g), and WF (43.05 µg/g) levels, which was likely the result of the weathering and dissemination of CFS. The CFS samples were rich in hydrogen fluoride, releasing 202.05 ppb of it when heated to 40 °C. Correlation analysis indicated that the acid sulfate soils in CFSs are likely caused by HSO4-/SO42-. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry detected four characteristic ions (F-, H3O+, H2SO4+, and HSO4-) in all micro-domains of each sample, indicating that ionic fluorine compounds and sulfuric acid hydrate were found in the CFS samples. Sulfate minerals detected in CFSs included CaSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, CdSO4, NH4HSO4, and Na2SO4. Thus, the results identified CFSs as a transmission channel for contamination, with erosional surface soils as the carrier, for the first time. CFSs pose a serious threat of contamination, albeit over limited areas.

Diagnostic value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide combined with small airway function test for chronic cough / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) combined with small airway function test to replace bronchial provocation test and induced sputum test in differentiating cough variant asthma (CVA) from eosinophilic bronchitis (EB).Methods:The clinical data of 105 patients with chronic cough admitted to The Third People's Hospital of Hubei, Jianghan University from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients consisted of 40 patients with CVA (CVA group), 25 patients with EB (EB group), and 40 patients with other chronic coughs (other chronic cough group). FeNO and lung function were compared between groups. The value of FeNO, small airway function, and their combination in differentiating CVA from EB were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curves.Results:FeNO level was the highest in the CVA group [33.0 (30.0, 37.8) ppb], followed by the EB group [28.0 (25.5, 32.0) ppb], and the lowest in other chronic cough group [13.0 (11.0, 15.0) ppb]. There was significant difference in FeNO level between groups ( H value = 79.00, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1), FEV 1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF) between groups (all P > 0.05). Maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) [74 (66.0, 77.4) in the CVA group, 80 (79.0, 83.3) in the EB group, 88.0 (86.4, 90.0) in other chronic coughs group], FEF25 (%) [70.0 (60.3, 75.1) in the CVA group, 78.0 (74.1, 85.0) in the EB group, 81.7 (78.9, 86.3) in other chronic coughs group], FEF50 (%) [75.2 (67.1, 80.8) in the CVA group, 80.6 (75.7, 85.9) in the EB group, 89.4 (87.0, 90.5) in other chronic coughs group], FEF75 (%) [76.4 (68.7, 85.8) in the CVA group, 80.9 (77.4, 89.7) in the EB group, 90.8 (87.2, 94.2) in other chronic coughs group] were significantly lower in the CVA group than those in other chronic coughs group. With the exception of FEF25 (%), MMEF (%), FEF50 (%), and FEF75 (%) were significantly lower in the EB group compared with other chronic coughs group. MMEF (%) and FEF25 (%) in the CVA group were significantly lower compared with the EB group. There were significant differences in MMEF (%), FEF50 (%), and FEF75 (%) between groups ( H = 62.82, 47.04, 47.41, 49.11, all P < 0.01). There were significant differences in FEF50 (%) and FEF75 (%) between CVA and EB groups (both P > 0.05). In binary logistic regression equation, FeNO and MMEF (%) were important indexes to distinguish CVA from EB ( P < 0.05). Bronchial provocation test and induced sputum test were used as the gold standard to distinguish CVA from EB. When FeNO and MMEF (%) were used separately to distinguish CVA from EB, the optimal threshold value was 30.0 ppb and 77.7 respectively, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.77 and 0.82 respectively, the diagnostic sensitivity was 70% and 77.5% respectively, and the diagnostic specificity was 72% and 88% respectively. When FeNO and MMEF (%) were used in combination to distinguish CVA from EB, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.89, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was 75% and 96% respectively. Conclusion:FeNO and MMEF (%) can be used to distinguish CVA from EB. FeNO combined with MMEF (%) has a higher value in distinguishing CVA from EB than FeNO and MMEF alone.

A Multi-center Study of COVID-19 with Multivariate Prognostic Analysis

PurposeCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is now a global health concern. However, there is no detailed analysis of the factors related to patients improvement. Patients and methodsWe compared the clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, CT images, and treatment of COVID-19 patients from two different cities in China. One hundred and sixty-nine patients were recruited from January 27 to March 17, 2020 at five hospitals in Hubei and Guangxi. They were divided into four groups according to age and into two groups according to presence of comorbidities. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed for the prognosis of the disease. ResultsFifty-two patients (30.8%) had comorbidities, and the percentage of critical COVID-19was higher in the comorbidities group (11.6%vs.0.9%, p<0.05). Older patients had higher proportion of severe or critical disease. The results showed that lymphocyte count was significantly associated with the number of days from positive COVID-19 nucleic acid test to negative test; number of days from onset of symptoms to confirmation of diagnosis was significantly associated with the time it took for symptoms to improve; and number of days from onset of symptoms to confirmation of diagnosis and disease severity were significantly associated with chest computed tomography improvement. ConclusionsAge, comorbidities, lymphocyte count, and SpO2 may predict the risk of severity of COVID-19. Early isolation, early diagnosis, and early initiation of management can slow down the progression and spread of COVID-19. Key PointsAge and comorbidities can predict the risk of severity of COVID-19, Lymphocyte count and SpO2 may predict the risk of severity of COVID-19. Early isolation, Early diagnosis can slow down the progression of COVID-19

Application value of urinary calprotectin in differential diagnosis between prerenal and intrinsic pediatric acute renal injury / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the value of urinary calprotectin in differential diagnosis between prerenal and intrinsic pediatric acute renal injury(AKI).Methods A total of 68 cases with AKI were enrolled in this study,and they were divided into prerenal AKI group(25 cases) and intrinsic AKI group(43 cases) according to their tissue perfusion.The general data was collected,and the blood urea nitrogen(BUN),serum creatinie(Scr),BUN/Scr,potassium,fractional excretion of filtrated sodium(FENa),urine osmotic pressure,B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP),urinary calprotectin,neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL),kidney injury molecule 1 (Kim-1) were recorded and compared between the 2 groups.Results There were significant differences between prerenal AKI group and intrinsic AKI group in Scr[(439.0 ± 278.0) μmol/L vs.(603.0 ± 286.0) μmol/L,t =2.30,P ＜ 0.05],BUN/Scr (20.58 ±5.62 vs.14.93 ±4.32,t =4.65,P＜0.05),FENa[(1.5 ±0.6)％ vs.(8.1 ±2.6)％,t =12.46,P＜ 0.05],BNP[95.6(54.0,109.4) ng/L vs.512.3(320.1,520.3) ng/L,Z =2.21,P ＜0.05],urinary calprotectin [20.7(4.3,42.4) μg/L vs.402.4(60.1,498.7) μg/L,Z=3.13,P＜0.05] and NGAL[74.9(14.5,365.5) μg/L vs.684.2(56.2,1 502.5) μg/L,Z =2.35,P ＜0.05].Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that urinary calprotectin[area under the curve(AUC) =0.940] and BNP(AUC =0.909) both had higher value in differential diagnosis.When the cut off value of calprotectin was 240.6 μg/L,its specificity was 96.0％ and the sensitivity was 86.0％.When the cut off value of BNP was 120.6 ng/L,its specificity was 92.0％ and the sensitivity was 90.7％.The diagnostic accuracy was low in Scr,but moderate in BUN,Scr,FENa and NGAL.BUN,potassium,urine osmotic pressure and Kim-1 had no diagnostic value.Conclusions Urinary calprotectin may have higher diagnostic value in the differential diagnosis between prerenal and intrinsic pediatric AKT.It can be used in the clinical diagnosis as a reference index.

Risk factors of early renal damage in children with Henoch Schonlein purpura / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To analyze the risk factors of early renal damage in children with Henoch Schonlein purpura(HSP).Methods The clinical data of 196 children with HSP admitted to our hospital from April 2012 to January 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.They were divided into the renal damage group and non-renal damage group within 90 d after confirmed diagnosis.The related clinical data such as serum immunoglobulin and urinary microalbumin were compared between the two groups,and the risk factors of early renal damage in children with HSP were screened.Results There were significant differences between the two groups on age,joint symptoms,recurrent purpura,persistent rash,gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain(with χ2 or t of 11.345,16.223,11.275,43.211,12.592,17.771,P<0.05).The white blood cell count,platelet count,immunoglobulin A(IgA) level and urinary albumin level also showed significant differences between the two groups(t=33.750,60.442,9.451,8.458,P<0.05).The multivariate regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for early renal damage in children with HSP included age(OR=2.703),recurrent purpura(OR=2.721),persistent skin rash(OR=1.782),gastrointestinal bleeding(OR=11.472),abdominal pain(OR=2.046),IgA level(OR=1.221) and urine microalbumin(OR=3.214).Conclusion Age,recurrent purpura,persistent skin rash,gastrointestinal bleeding,abdominal pain,IgA level and urine microalbumin are closely related to early renal damage in children with HSP.

The role of mirabegron in overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To present a systematic review assessing the efficacy and safety of mirabegron for overactive bladder (OAB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed using the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Science Citation Index Expanded. The literature reviewed included meta-analyses, randomized and nonrandomized prospective studies. We utilized mean difference (MD) to measure the mean number of incontinence episodes and the mean number of micturitions, and OAB questionnaire (OAB-q) and odds ratio (OR) to measure adverse events rates. We used the Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager 5.1 software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We identified six publications that strictly met our eligibility criteria. Meta-analysis of extractable data showed that mirabegron was more effective than placebo in treating OAB despite different drug dosages in the efficacy end points: mean number of incontinence episodes per 24 h (MD -0.54; 95% CI -0.63, -0.45; p = 0.001), mean number of micturitions per 24 h (MD -0.55; 95% CI -0.63, -0.47; p = 0.001), OAB-q (MD -4.49; 95% CI -6.27, -2.71; p = 0.001) and adverse events (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.83, 1.19; p = 0.92). When compared to tolterodine, mirabegron was more effective in terms of mean number of incontinence episodes per 24 h (MD -0.25; 95% CI -0.43, -0.06; p = 0.009). However, there were no differences between mirabegron and tolterodine in mean number of micturitions per 24 h (MD -0.17; 95% CI -0.35, 0.01; p = 0.07) and OAB-q (MD -1.09; 95% CI -2.51, 0.33; p = 0.13). Mirabegron also had a lower adverse reaction rate (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.8, 1.0; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In this diverse population, mirabegron was an effective and safe pharmacologic therapy for OAB.