Large-Area Preparation of a Robust Superamphiphobic Coating for Chemical Mechanical Polishing Application.

In the chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process, the abrasive particles in the polishing slurry tend to agglomerate easily and crystallize on the equipment surfaces during recycling, which can lead to poor wafer processing quality and additional tedious cleaning work. To overcome this issue, a simple and cost-effective self-cleaning surface preparation method has been developed. In this study, elastic and stretchable hydroxyl polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OH) was selected as the functional material, it was chelated with pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercapto propionate), and then 2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate was further grafted in situ to the polymer chains via a photoinduced thiol-ene click reaction. Hydrophobically modified micronanoscale silica particles were used to construct robust hierarchical micronanostructures while imparting stable mechanical wear resistance to the coating. The resulting superamphiphobic film exhibits the "lotus effect" and exceptional self-cleaning ability, repelling liquids such as water, hexadecane, and polishing slurry. Furthermore, the coating demonstrated outstanding chemical resistance and antifouling ability. Thus, it provides a feasible solution for preventing abrasive crystallization at critical locations where the polishing slurry flows in the CMP equipment. This work contributes to the enhanced application of superrepellent coatings in the CMP stage of semiconductor material processing.

A lncRNA bra-miR156HG regulates flowering time and leaf morphology as a precursor of miR156 in Brassica campestris and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators in plant growth and development. Here the function of a lncRNA fragment was studied, which was predicted as an endogenous target mimic (eTM) of miR156 in Brassica campesrtis. Unexpectedly, the transformation of this lncRNA into Arabidopsis thaliana neither inhibited the expression of miR156a nor resulted in any phenotypes that differed from the control plants (CK). The full-length sequence of the lncRNA (named bra-miR156HG) was then obtained using RACE and transferred into A. thaliana. The transgenic plants displayed a delay in flowering time, an increasing number of rosette leaves, and a changed morphology of cauline leaves, which was similar to the plants that expressed bra-miR156a. In contrast, the overexpression of bra-miR156HG in B. campestris resulted in an increased tip angle of leaves and changed the length-width ratio of leaves at different nodes, suggesting that bra-miR156HG may be involved in regulating the leaf morphology. Collectively, our study showed that bra-miR156HG functions as a precursor of bra-miR156a involved in regulating plant flowering time and leaf development under different biological backgrounds. The secondary structure of lncRNA is essential not only for the normal roles that it plays but also for expanding the functional diversities.

MYB transcription factors and their roles in the male reproductive development of flowering plants.

As one of the largest transcription factor families with complex functional differentiation in plants, the MYB transcription factors (MYB TFs) play important roles in the physiological and biochemical processes of plant growth and development. Male reproductive development, an essential part of sexual reproduction in flowering plants, is undoubtedly regulated by MYB TFs. In this review, we summarize the roles of the MYB TFs involved in the three stages of male reproductive development: pollen grains formation and maturation, filament elongation and anther dehiscence, and fertilization. Also, the potential downstream target genes and upstream regulators of these MYB TFs are discussed. Furthermore, we propose the underlying regulatory mechanisms of these MYB TFs: (1) A complex network of MYB TFs regulates various aspects of male reproductive development; (2) MYB homologous genes in different species may be functionally conserved or differentiated; (3) MYB TFs often form regulatory complexes with bHLH TFs.

Relationship between anxiety and drug abstention motivation in men with substance use disorders: a cross-sectional study of compulsory isolation rehabilitation in China.

Studies have found that anxiety is among the common negative emotions in individuals with substance use disorders. Anxiety affects drug abstention motivation, but the mechanism underlying this effect is still unclear. The current study aimed to examine the relationship among anxiety, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, psychological resilience and drug abstention motivation in an attempt to explore the mechanism underlying drug abstention motivation. The participants were 732 men with substance use disorders who were sent to compulsory rehabilitation in China. All participants completed measures of anxiety, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, psychological resilience and drug abstention motivation through questionnaires. The results indicated that anxiety negatively predicts drug abstention motivation. Regulatory emotional self-efficacy mediates the relationship between anxiety and drug abstention motivation. In addition, psychological resilience moderates the mediation between anxiety and regulatory emotional self-efficacy. The current results are not only helpful for understanding the relationship between anxiety and drug abstention motivation from the perspective of emotion but also of great significance for guiding individuals with substance use disorders in enhancing their drug abstention motivation by reducing negative emotion.

Hovenia acerba Lindl.: An insight into botany, phytochemistry, bioactivity, quality control, and exploitation.

Hovenia acerba Lindl. is not only a popular fruit with rich nutrients, but also a traditional Chinese medicine with multiple clinical values. It possesses therapeutic properties of clearing away heat and diuresis, relieving alcohol, protecting liver, quenching thirst, and eliminating annoyance. There are structurally diverse components of H. acerba Lindl., which mainly including flavonoids (1-39) (58.2%), triterpenoid saponins (40-47) (12.0%), organic acids (48-60) (19.4%), other compounds (61-67) (10.4%), and their structural characteristics were summarized and analyzed in this review. The extracts or monomer compounds of H. acerba Lindl. had been reported to exert various pharmacological activities, such as anti-alcoholism, hepatoprotective, anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, and other activities are summarized and discussed in this review. In addition, the quality control, present exploitation, and developed products of this plant have also been analyzed and summarized, which provide valuable references for in-depth research and development of H. acerba Lindl. in this review. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Hovenia acerba Lindl. is an edible and medical fruit with many functional properties. An insight into botany, phytochemistry, bioactivity, quality control, and exploitation study of H. acerba Lindl. was carried out to summarize and analyze in this review. This review will provide a strong foundation for the further studies of H. acerba Lindl. focusing on its development and utilization.

Efficacy of brachytherapy combined with endocrine therapy and external beam radiotherapy in the treatment of intermediate and high-risk localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To explore the efficacy and safety of brachytherapy combined with endocrine therapy (ET) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in the treatment of patients with intermediate- and high-risk localized prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: A total of 128 patients with intermediate- and high-risk localized PCa treated in our hospital, were included, encompassing 64 cases undergoing brachytherapy combined with ET (control group), and 64 cases undergoing intensity-modulated EBRT on the above basis (combination group). The clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, the serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level before and after treatment, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and expanded prostate cancer index composite (EPIC) score were compared between the two groups. The overall survival (OS) of patients was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. RESULTS: After treatment, the EPIC scores of urinary function, intestinal function, sexual function and hormone function declined significantly in both groups, and they were significantly higher in the combination group than in the control group. At 12 months after treatment, the combination group had an obviously lower serum PSA level, and obviously higher Qmax than the control group. All patients were followed up for 12-60 months. In the combination and control group, OS was 87.5% and 81.3%, disease-specific survival (DSS) was 89.1% and 78.1%, the biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) was 76.6% and 60.9%, and distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) was 87.5% and 71.9%, respectively. Log-rank test showed no statistically significant differences in OS and DSS between the two groups, but both bPFS and DMFS in the combination group were remarkably superior compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Brachytherapy combined with ET and EBRT has definite efficacy in intermediate- and high-risk localized PCa, which can significantly improve the physiological function, raise the quality of life of patients, and effectively control the disease progression.

LsHSP70 is induced by high temperature to interact with calmodulin, leading to higher bolting resistance in lettuce.

High temperatures have significant impacts on heat-tolerant bolting in lettuce. In this study, it was found that high temperatures could facilitate the accumulation of GA in lettuce to induce bolting, with higher expression levels of two heat shock protein genes LsHsp70-3701 and LsHsp70-2711. By applying VIGS technology, these two Hsp70 genes were incompletely silenced and plant morphological changes under heat treatment of silenced plants were observed. The results showed that lower expression levels of these two genes could enhance bolting stem length of lettuce under high temperatures, which means these two proteins may play a significant role in heat-induced bolting tolerance. By using the yeast two-hybrid technique, it was found that a calmodulin protein could interact with LsHsp70 proteins in a high-temperature stress cDNA library, which was constructed for lettuce. Also, the Hsp70-calmodulin combination can be obtained at high temperatures. According to these results, it can be speculated that the interaction between Hsp70 and calmodulin could be induced under high temperatures and higher GA contents can be obtained at the same time. This study analyses the regulation of heat tolerance in lettuce and lays a foundation for additional studies of heat resistance in lettuce.

Resveratrol Sensitizes Colorectal Cancer Cells to Cetuximab by Connexin 43 Upregulation-Induced Akt Inhibition.

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that acts as an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agent. Cetuximab inhibits the phosphorylation and activation of EGFR and blocks downstream signal pathways of EGF/EGFR, including Ras-Raf-MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways. Akt activation is an important factor in cetuximab resistance. It has been reported that resveratrol and connexin 43 regulate Akt in different ways based on tissue type. Since connexin 43 interacts with Akt, and resveratrol is known to upregulate connexin 43, we investigated whether resveratrol can sensitize colorectal cancer cells to cetuximab via connexin 43 upregulation. Our work confirmed that resveratrol increases the inhibition of growth by cetuximab in vitro and in vivo, upregulates connexin 43 expression and phosphorylation, increases gap junction function, and inhibits the activation of Akt and NFκB in parental or cetuximab-treated parental HCT116 and CT26 cells. Resveratrol did not exhibit these effects on connexin 43-shRNA transfected cells, so connexin 43 upregulation may contribute to Akt inhibition in these cells. Given these data, resveratrol may sensitize colorectal cancer cells to cetuximab via upregulating connexin 43 to inhibit the Akt pathway.

The function of histone lysine methylation related SET domain group proteins in plants.

Histone methylation, which is mediated by the histone lysine (K) methyltransferases (HKMTases), is a mechanism associated with many pathways in eukaryotes. Most HKMTases have a conserved SET (Su(var) 3-9,E(z),Trithorax) domain, while the HKMTases with SET domains are called the SET domain group (SDG) proteins. In plants, only SDG proteins can work as HKMTases. In this review, we introduced the classification of SDG family proteins in plants and the structural characteristics of each subfamily, surmise the functions of SDG family members in plant growth and development processes, including pollen and female gametophyte development, flowering, plant morphology and the responses to stresses. This review will help researchers better understand the SDG proteins and histone methylation in plants and lay a basic foundation for further studies on SDG proteins.

CircRNA Expression Pattern and ceRNA and miRNA-mRNA Networks Involved in Anther Development in the CMS Line of Brassica campestris.

Male-sterile plants provide an important breeding tool for the heterosis of hybrid crops, such as Brassicaceae. In the last decade, circular RNAs (circRNAs), as a novel class of covalently closed and single-stranded endogenous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), have received much attention because of their functions as "microRNA (miRNA) sponges" and "competing endogenous RNAs" (ceRNAs). However, the information about circRNAs in the regulation of male-sterility and anther development is limited. In this study, we established the Polima cytoplasm male sterility (CMS) line "Bcpol97-05A", and the fertile line, "Bcajh97-01B", in Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis Makino, syn. B. rapa ssp. chinensis, and performed RNA expression profiling comparisons between the flower buds of the sterile line and fertile line by whole-transcriptome sequencing. A total of 31 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs, 47 DE miRNAs, and 4779 DE mRNAs were identified. By using Cytoscape, the miRNA-mediated regulatory network and ceRNA network were constructed, and the circRNA A02:23507399|23531438 was hypothesized to be an important circRNA regulating anther development at the post-transcriptional level. The gene ontology (GO) analysis demonstrated that miRNAs and circRNAs could regulate the orderly secretion and deposition of cellulose, sporopollenin, pectin, and tryphine; the timely degradation of lipids; and the programmed cell death (PCD) of tapetum cells, which play key roles in anther development. Our study revealed a new circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, which is involved in the anther development of B. campestris, which enriched the understanding of CMS in flowering plants, and laid a foundation for further study on the functions of circRNAs and miRNAs during anther development.

The zinc-finger transcription factor BcMF20 and its orthologs in Cruciferae which are required for pollen development.

Brassica campestris Male Fertility 20 (BcMF20) is a typical zinc-finger transcription factor that was previously isolated from flower buds of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis). By applying expression pattern analysis, it can be known that BcMF20 was specifically and strongly expressed in tapetum and pollen, beginning from the uninucleate stage, and was maintained during the mature-pollen stage. As BcMF20 was highly conserved in Cruciferae, it can be indicated that this zinc-finger transcription factor is important during the growth of Cruciferae. In this study, 12 C2H2-type zinc-finger TFs which shared high homology with BcMF20 were found from NCBI via BLAST. A new molecular phylogenetic tree was constructed by the comparison between BcMF20 and these 12 C2H2-type zinc-finger TFs with NJ method. By analyzing this phylogenetic tree, the evolution of BcMF20 was discussed. Then, antisense RNA technology was applied in the transgenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana to get the deletion mutants of BcMF20, so that its function during the pollen development can be identified. The results showed: BcMF20 are in the same clade with three genes from Arabidopsis. The inhibition of BcMF20 expression led to smaller amounts of and lower rate in germination of pollen and lower rate in fruit setting in certain transgenetic plants. This also led to the complete collapse of pollen grains. By SEM and TEM, pollen morphology and anther development processes were observed. In the middle uninucleate microspore stage, a relatively thin or even no primexine was formed in microspores. This may result in the malformation of the pollen wall and finally cause the deformity of pollens. Above all, it can be indicated that BcMF20 may act as a part of regulation mechanisms of TAZ1 and MS1. Together they play a role in a genetic pathway in the tapetum to act on proliferation of tapetal cells and keep the normal development of pollens.

[Status of prevalence, awareness, treatment and controll on hypertension among adults in 10 regions, China].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the status of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among half a million adults in 10 regions under the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) cohort. METHODS: The baseline survey of CKB was performed in 10 areas across China during 2004-2008, included 512 891 adults aged from 30 to 79 years. Regional differences of prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension were compared after adjustment for age and/or sex. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hypertension from the CKB was 35.2% (180 612/512 891), with the highest as 44.4% in Zhejiang and the lowest as 22.0% in Haikou. Prevalence in the rural areas (35.1%) was higher than that in the urban areas (32.1%), with statistical significance (P<0.001). Among all the participants with hypertension, 59 703 (33.1%) were aware of hypertension, 65 172 (36.1%) were receiving anti-hypertension treatment and 22 329 (12.4%) were under controll. However, only a small part of those receiving treatment were under controll (30.5%, 19 884/65 172) in this study. The control of hypertension and of those receiving treatment were higher in Suzhou for males (17.4%, 39.1%), while were higher in Liuzhou for females (23.5%, 42.6%) than those in other regions. CONCLUSIONS: Participants under the CKB presented relatively high prevalence of hypertension, but lower rates on awareness, treatment and control of hypertension. Distribution of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension varied greatly among the ten areas, under the CKB.

[Regional differences on patterns of physical activity and leisure sedentary time: findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank study, including a million people from 10 regions].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the gender and regional differences in patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior across 10 study areas through data from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) that involving half a million adults. METHODS: The baseline survey of CKB took place in 5 urban and 5 rural areas across China during 2004-2008. After excluding those who had a prior history of heart disease, stroke and/or cancer, 486 514 participants (age: 30-79 y) were included in the analyses. MET-h/d was calculated for each one of the participant, based on the type, duration and intensity of self-reported physical activity, along with time spent on sedentary activity. These data were compared, after standardization for age between sex and study areas. RESULTS: The mean total physical activity was 22.9 MET-h/d among men, 20.6 MET-h/d among women, and the mean sedentary leisure time appeared 3.1 h/d in men and 2.9 h/d in women. In men, the total physical activity ranged from 13.3 MET-h/d in Haikou to 31.3 MET-h/d in Zhejiang, while in women it ranged from 14.7 MET-h/d to 30.2 MET-h/d across the 10 areas. For sedentary leisure time, it ranged from 2.0 h/d in Zhejiang to 3.8 h/d in Sichuan in men and 1.6 h/d to 3.7 h/d in women. In both men and women, occupational physical activities (77.6% and 59.8% respectively) accounted for most of the daily activities, while leisure time physical activities accounted for the least (3.1% in both men and women). Among men, the proportion of occupational physical activity ranged from 86.5% in Zhejiang to 69.4% in Haikou (69.4%), while in women it ranged from 74.8% in Zhejiang to 40.9% in Henan. Gansu (men 17.8%, women 18.1%) reported the highest proportion of transportation physical activities. Among women, areas reporting the highest proportion of physical activity at home would include Henan (54.0%) and Hunan (39.1%), whereas adults in Zhejiang (20.0%) reported the lowest proportion. Among men, Hunan (18.0%) reported the highest proportion of physical activity at home. Compared with rural areas, male and female participants from urban areas tended to have more leisure time for physical activity and less vigorous-intensity physical activity. CONCLUSION: The patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior including the levels of physical activity, domains and intensity of physical activities. Sedentary leisure time appeared all various greatly across different regions in China.

Gender-specific association between tobacco smoking and central obesity among 0.5 million Chinese people: the China Kadoorie Biobank Study.

OBJECTIVES: Lifestyle factors are well-known important modifiable risk factors for obesity; the association between tobacco smoking and central obesity, however, is largely unknown in the Chinese population. This study examined the relationship between smoking and central obesity in 0.5 million Chinese adults, a population with a low prevalence of general obesity, but a high prevalence of central obesity. SUBJECTS: A total of 487,527 adults (200,564 males and 286,963 females), aged 30-79 years, were enrolled in the baseline survey of the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) Study conducted during 2004-2008. Waist circumference (WC) and WC/height ratio (WHtR) were used as measures of central obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence of regular smokers was significantly higher among males (60.6%) than among females (2.2%). The prevalence of central obesity increased with age and BMI levels, with a significant gender difference (females>males). Of note, almost all obese adults (99.4%) were centrally obese regardless of gender. In multivariable regression analyses, adjusting for age, education, physical activity, alcohol use and survey site, regular smoking was inversely associated with BMI in males (standardized regression coefficients, ß= -0.093, p<0.001) and females (ß= -0.025, p<0.001). Of interest, in the BMI stratification analyses in 18 groups, all ßs of regular smoking for WHtR were positive in both genders; the ßs showed a significantly greater increasing trend with increasing BMI in males than in females. In the analyses with model adjustment for BMI, the positive associations between regular smoking and WHtR were stronger in males (ß= 0.021, p<0.001) than in females (ß= 0.008, p<0.001) (p<0.001 for gender difference). WC showed considerably consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that tobacco smoking is an important risk factor for central obesity, but the association is gender-specific and depends on the adjustment for general obesity.

[Epidemiology of major depressive episodes among Chinese adults aged 30-79 years: data from the China Kadoorie Biobank].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the socio-demographic patterns on 12-month major depressive episodes (MDE) among Chinese adults aged 30-79 years. METHODS: Socio-demographic variables from half a million Chinese people aged 30-79 years in the China Kadoorie Biobank study during 2004-2008, were collected. For those showing signs of depression, an additional World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form (CIDI-SF) was face to face administrated, to assess the MDE according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM)- IV criteria. Chi squared and non-parametric tests were used to compare the differences between socio-demographic categories, depressive symptoms and help-seeking behaviors. Associations with MDE for socio-demographic variables were examined by logistic models. RESULTS: A total of 3 281(6.40‰) studied subjects showed an MDE in the preceding 12 months. Gender, marital status, occupation and household income were correlated with MDE. Somatization was common in Chinese MDE patients while symptoms as weight change (99.91%), sleeping disorder (83.60%) and feeling tired (81.59%), stood for the top 3. As for each episode, the proportions and the total number of depressive symptoms appeared higher among females (P < 0.05). One third of the patients did not seek for any social support or psychotherapy with only 8.99% had ever taken antidepressant drugs. CONCLUSION: Rates of depression varied significantly between social groups in Chinese adults aged 30-79. In this study, only 65.19% of the MDE patients ever has sought help or received treatment.

The associations of month of birth with body mass index, waist circumference, and leg length: findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank of 0.5 million adults.

BACKGROUND: Season of birth (SoB) has been linked with various health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the associations between month of birth (MoB) and adult measures of leg length (LL), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC). METHODS: We analysed survey data from 10 geographically diverse areas of China obtained through the China Kadoorie Biobank. Analysis included 487 529 adults with BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m(2). A general linear model was used to examine the associations between MoB and adult measures of LL, BMI, and WC, adjusted for survey site, sex, age, education level, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, physical activity level, sedentary leisure time, height (only for WC and LL), and hip circumference (only for LL). RESULTS: MoB was independently associated with both BMI and WC. Birth months in which participants had higher measures of adiposity were March-July for BMI and March-June for WC. The peak differences were 0.14 kg/m(2) for BMI and 0.47 cm for WC. The association between MoB and LL depended on survey site. Participants who were born in February-August in four sites (Harbin, Henan, Gansu, and Hunan) had the shortest LL (all P < 0.01). The peak difference in mean LL was 0.21 cm. No statistically significant association between MoB and LL was noted in the other sites (Qingdao, Suzhou, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Liuzhou, and Haikou). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that MoB is associated with variations in adult adiposity measures and LL among Chinese adults. Low exposure to ultraviolet B radiation and subsequent reduced levels of vitamin D during the late second and early third trimesters may be involved in these phenomena.

Embedment of Ag(I)-organic frameworks into silica gels for microextraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in soils.

Three Ag(I)-organic frameworks, [Ag5(pydc)2(CN)]n, {[Ag4(pydc)2]CH3CN}n, and [Ag(4,4'-bpy)NO3]n, were synthesized and embedded into silica gels to form metal-organic-framework (MOF)-embedded gels for the microextraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soils. Despite the great differences in the structures of the organic ligands, all three Ag(I)-organic frameworks were found to effectively accumulate and concentrate PBDEs from sample solutions prepared with contaminated soil and purified water, indicating the important roles of Ag centers in PBDE extraction. Under the optimal experimental conditions (MOF mass, water volume, temperature, extraction time, and back-extraction time) for PBDE extraction from sample solutions, the detection limits of seven PBDEs (BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183) ranged from 0.01 to 2.6ngg(-1) for [Ag5(pydc)2(CN)]n, 0.20-0.64ngg(-1) for {[Ag4(pydc)2]CH3CN}n, and 0.60-3.08ngg(-1) for [Ag(4,4'-bpy)NO3]n. The reproducibilities of the three methods were all satisfactory with relative standard deviations (RSDs) in the range of 2.2-9.6%, 5.3-10.4%, and 6.9-9.4% for [Ag5(pydc)2(CN)]n, {[Ag4(pydc)2]CH3CN}n, and [Ag(4,4'-bpy)NO3]n, respectively. The use of Ag(I)-organic frameworks for the microextraction of PBDEs was validated using both certified reference soils and field-contaminated soils, and the proposed methods are recommended as rapid and environmentally friendly alternatives for the extraction and determination of PBDEs in soils.

[Differences in diet intake frequency of adults: findings from half a million people in 10 areas in China].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the differences in diet intake frequency of adults in 10 areas surveyed by China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) project. METHODS: CKB project recruited voluntary residents aged 30-79 years from 5 urban areas and 5 rural areas in China. The baseline survey was conducted among 512 891 eligible subjects during 2004-2008. The intake frequencies of 12 food groups were assessed through in-person interviews and analyzed. The results were adjusted for age and sex structure of the study population. RESULTS: Rice was the main cereal consumed every day in urban areas (99.0%) and rural areas (99.9%) in southern China, while wheat was the main cereal consumed every day in rural areas (99.0%) and Qingdao (88.4%) in northern China. Most subjects in Henan (98.8%) consumed other staple food every day. The lowest proportion of daily intake of fresh vegetables was observed in Gansu (74.0%) . In both southern and northern areas, urban subjects had higher proportions of daily intakes of fresh fruits, preserved vegetables, and meat than rural subjects. Similar results were found when comparing the proportions of intakes of poultry and fish/seafood at least 1 day every week. Contrast to southern China (urban: 6.5%, rural: 6.9%) , the proportions of daily intake of fresh eggs were higher in both urban areas (37.1%) and rural areas (14.6%) in northern China. The highest proportions of daily intake of soybean products and dairy products were observed in Harbin (10.0%) and Qingdao (34.3%). CONCLUSION: The intake of cereal, fresh eggs and soybean products differed between the south and the north of China. The intake of meat, poultry, fish/seafood, fresh fruits, preserved vegetables and dairy products varied considerably between urban areas and rural areas.

[Regional specific differences in prevalence of overweight/obesity in China: findings from China Kadoorie Biobank study in 10 areas in China].

OBJECTIVE: To describe gender and regional differences in the prevalence of overweight/obesity in adults found by China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study, involving 512 489 adults, in 10 areas in China. METHODS: The baseline survey of CKB was conducted in 5 urban areas and 5 rural areas in China during 2004-2008. After excluding those with extreme value of BMI (<15.0 kg/m(2) or >50 kg/m(2)), 512 489 subjects were included in the analysis. Overweight/obesity was classified according to BMI and WC, and diagnosed according to the guideline for prevention and control of overweight/obesity in Chinese adults. The gender and regional specific distributions of overweight/obesity were compared after adjusting for age. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity was higher in females (45.3%) than in males (41.7%), and the prevalence of central obesity was also higher in females (44.6%) than in males (38.3%). Both the prevalence of overweight/obesity (66.9% in males and 67.5% in females) and the central obesity (63.3% in males and 64.9% in females) were highest in Qingdao. The area specific difference in the prevalence was more obvious in males than in females. Rural areas all had the low prevalence except Henan. Moreover, central obesity was diagnosed in some subjects (15.3% in females, 9.8% in males) with normal/low BMI (<24.0 kg/m(2)). This phenomenon was more obvious in Qingdao (22.2% in males and 23.2% in females). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight/obesity in adults varied greatly across different areas in China.

[Regional differences in adults' tea drinking pattern: findings from China Kadoorie Biobank study in 10 areas in China].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the gender and regional differences in adults' tea drinking pattern found in China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) survey, involving half million adults, in 10 areas in China. METHODS: The baseline survey of CKB was conducted in 5 urban areas and 5 rural areas in China during 2004-2008. The information on tea drinking of 512 891 adults aged 30-79 years was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of regular tea drinking (i.e., weekly) was 50.7% in males and 21.3% in females. Among 10 areas, Hunan reported the highest regular tea drinking prevalence (74.3% in males, 76.6% in females), while Henan reported the lowest regular tea drinking prevalence (5.5% in males, 1.0% in females). Most regular tea drinkers consumed green tea except those from Zhejiang and Haikou. Hunan reported the highest tea consumption per time (3.8 g in males, 3.1 g in females), per day (6.2 g in males, 4.1 g in females) and per week (38.4 g in males, 25.0 g in females). CONCLUSION: The adults' tea drinking pattern i.e. frequency, type, amount of tea and preferred concentration of tea water, varied greatly among the 10 regions covered by CKB study.