ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Non-specific chronic sialadenitis (NSCS) is a common pathology of labial salivary glands (LSGs), and NSCS with positive anti-SSA/SSB antibodies is common in clinical practice. Previous studies have evaluated the associations of high focus score (FS) with clinical manifestations in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients extensively, but the characteristics of pSS with NSCS have seldom been investigated. We here analyzed the characteristics of pSS patients with NSCS. METHODS: Among 425 patients who underwent LSG biopsies, 217 had pSS and 37 non-SS sicca patients had NSCS without other diseases (i.e., sicca controls). We categorized these 217 pSS patients into three groups based on the pathology of LSGs: FS ≥ 1 (n = 104), 0 ≤ FS < 1 (n = 76), and NSCS (n = 37). We then compared the three groups while focusing on the NSCS group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables that influenced NSCS. RESULTS: The mean age of pSS patients with NSCS (58.3 ± 11.0 years) was significantly higher than those with FS ≥ 1 (48.5 ± 14.9 years) and 0 ≤ FS < 1 (45.3 ± 13.7 years), but other clinical characteristics were similar. NSCS had a significant positive correlation with age (OR = 7.282, 95% CI 2.085-25.44 and OR = 13.130, 95% CI 3.368-51.189 for patients aged 45-64 years and > 65 years, respectively). Significantly higher levels of lymphocytic infiltration were found in the pSS NSCS group than in the sicca NSCS controls (48.6 vs. 10.8%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The pSS patients with NSCS were older than corresponding non-NSCS pSS individuals, but they had similar clinical features. NSCS is associated with age and seldom occurred below the age of 45 years, regardless of the presence or absence of pSS. NSCS may be a subtype of pSS in elderly patients.
ABSTRACT
We investigate whether slag and biochar applications have subsequent effects on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields by applying biochar (B), slag (S), and a biochar-slag mix (BS) to paddy fields in the Fuzhou Plain, China. Applications of the three treatments along with a control (CK) of no amendment were made in 2015 before early and late rice seedlings were transplanted. Two years later in 2017, the CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions in the different treatments and control were measured in the early and late rice growing seasons. The results showed that, in the rice growing season, the averaged CO2 emission in the control, biochar, slag, and mixed applications were (1723.66±194.56), (1245.52±155.05), (1140.29±79.68), and (1055.83±62.13) mg·(m2·h)-1, respectively. The CO2 emissions from the three treatments were significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05), and the reduction ratios of each treatment to the control were 27.74%, 33.84%, and 38.75%, respectively. The averaged CH4 emissions in the control, biochar, slag, and mixed applications were (0.45±0.03), (0.40±0.05), (0.36±0.10), and (0.25±0.04) mg·(m2·h)-1, respectively, which were lower, but not significantly so (P>0.05), than the control. The ratios of CH4 emissions from each treatment to the control were 11.11%, 20.00%, and 44.44%, respectively. The averaged N2O emissions from the control, biochar, slag, and mixed applications were (62.47±27.00), (115.09±30.94), (79.75±24.98), and (112.68±23.59) µg·(m2·h)-1, respectively. In comparison to the control, the biochar, slag, and mixed treatments increased the N2O emissions by 84.23%, 27.66%, and 80.37%, respectively. The global comprehensive warming potential indicated that the application treatments increased the comprehensive warming potential of the early and late rice paddy ecosystems; after 2 years of applying slag and biochar treatments, their effect on the emission reductions were not obvious.
ABSTRACT
From March 2013 to December 2014, we on-site inspected indoor concentrations of formaldehyde and a benzene series in 454 children's bedrooms that were decorated earlier than one year before our inspection. Large differences existed in the formaldehyde and benzene-series concentrations among individual bedrooms. Bedrooms that were inspected in winter had significantly higher concentration of formaldehyde than bedrooms that were inspected in other seasons (P<0.001), but the benzene-series concentration had no significant seasonal difference. Among bedrooms that were inspected in spring, those using different materials as wall coverings had significant differences in concentrations of the benzene series. Among bedrooms that were inspected in summer, those using different materials as floor coverings had significant differences in concentrations of the benzene series (P<0.01). Among bedrooms that were inspected in autumn, those with>5 household bonsais had significantly higher concentrations of formaldehyde than other bedrooms did. Among bedrooms that were inspected in winter, those with frequent use of air humidifiers and those in which pets were kept had significantly higher concentrations of the benzene series than other bedrooms did (P<0.05). These results indicate that, after a long time since decoration, the types of household wall and floor covering materials still have certain relationships with indoor benzene-series levels and, compared to decoration materials, household ventilation perhaps has greater effect on indoor formaldehyde levels. The indoor benzene-series level perhaps has associations with indoor humidity level and the keeping of pets in households. Household bonsaies may have limited effect on indoor formaldehyde and benzene-series levels in residences that were decorated a long time ago.
