[Vertical Distribution and Source Tracking Analysis of Bacteria Composition and Nitrogen Metabolism Function of a Typical Urban Inland River].

Microorganisms play an important role in the urban river nitrogen cycle. Due to the three-dimensional fluidity of river water, it is necessary to clarify the vertical distribution of community composition and nitrogen metabolism functions of microorganisms and discover how hydrodynamic factors influence microorganism sources and community composition. Based on 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology, the bacteria community composition and nitrogen metabolism function of water and sediment in the North Canal at Tongzhou District Beijing City were analyzed. The effect of environmental and hydrodynamic factors on community composition and sources were studied. The results showed that the α diversity of sediment was significantly higher than that of water. Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum, which accounted for 54.72% and 32.36% in water and sediment, respectively. Functional prediction conducted using PICRUSt2 showed that the studied North Canal had an abundance of nitrogen metabolism ability, and 47 genes related to the nitrogen cycle were obtained. Water and sediment microorganisms had a similar distribution of nitrogen metabolism functions. The copy number of genes involved with denitrification, nitrogen assimilation, and dissimilation-reduction were high, whereas the abundance of genes related to biological nitrogen fixation and nitrification were relatively low. Source tracking analysis showed that bacteria in the water that originated from upstream, neighboring sides, and sediment were 60.05%, 37.93%, and 1.05%, respectively. The amounts of bacteria in sediment that migrated from upstream, neighboring sides, and water were 50.16%, 45.55%, and 1.55%, respectively. Environmental factors, hydrodynamic conditions, and their interactions explained water bacteria community composition for 44.22%, 3.21%, and 15.60%, respectively. For sediment bacteria, the degree of explanation was 13.05%, 1.56%, and 8.51%, respectively. This indicated that environmental factors and hydrodynamic factors controlled the community composition and nitrogen cycle functions together.

Higher-order dynamic effects of uncertainty risk under thick-tailed stochastic volatility.

Sudden and uncertain events often cause cross-contagion of risk among various sectors of the macroeconomy. This paper introduces the stochastic volatility shock that follows a thick-tailed Student's t-distribution into a high-order approximate dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model with Epstein-Zin preference to better analyze the dynamic effect of uncertainty risk on macroeconomics. Then, the high-dimensional DSGE model (DSGE-SV-t) is developed to examine the impact of uncertainty risk on the transmission mechanism among macroeconomic sectors. The empirical research found that uncertainty risk generates heterogeneous impacts on macroeconomic dynamics under different inflation levels and economic states. Among them, a technological shock has the strongest impact on employment and consumption channels. The crowding-out effect of a fiscal policy stimulus on consumption and private investments is relatively weakened when considering uncertainty risk but is more pronounced during periods of high inflation. Uncertainty risk can partly explain the decline in investments and the increase in interest rates and employment rates, given the impact of an agent's risk preferences. Compared with external economic conditions, the inflation factor has a stronger impact on the macro transmission mechanism caused by uncertainty risk.

[Applications and perspectives of ketone body D-ß-hydroxybutyrate in the medical fields].

Human body can obtain energy from either carbohydrate or fat digestion. Although glucose metabolism derived from carbohydrate-based diets has long been utilized for energy supply, it has been recently discovered that shifting from glucose to fatty acid metabolism may become a novel way for improving human health especially when carbohydrate is deprived. In recent years, intermittent fasting and ketogenic diets have received a lot of attention in respect to favoring fatty acid metabolism. In all cases, fatty acid metabolism produces D-ß-hydroxybutyrate (D3HB), which is a natural ketone body, as well as, a monomer of microbial poly-D-ß-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). D3HB can be utilized by different cells of the body as an alternative energy fuel or an intracellular signaling molecule with multiple downstream signaling pathways. Usually, the serum level of D3HB is increased during ketogenic diets, however, requires a very long period of adaptation (over 3-months) and exhibits unwanted adverse effects. Hence, exogenous ketone supplements using D3HB have become a more effective approach to induce and maintain nutritional ketosis for subsequent functional effects. This review describes how D3HB is produced and metabolized within the body, the functional roles played by D3HB, and a detailed summary of the different applications of exogenous ketones that have been explored to date in both nutritional and therapeutical context.

Fitting analysis and research of measured data of SAW yarn tension sensor based on PSO-SVR model.

With the rapid growth of the SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) yarn tension sensor, the requirement for its measurement accuracy is higher and higher. However, little research has been conducted in this field. Thus, this paper studies this field and provides a solution. This paper firstly investigates the principle and training of PSO-SVR model. On this basis, this paper also studies the association of output frequency difference data with the matching yarn tension exerted on the SAW yarn tension sensor. After that, employing the frequency difference data as input and corresponding tension as output, the PSO-SVR model is trained and employed to predict output tension of the sensor. Finally, the error with actually applied tension was calculated, the same in the least-squares approach and the BP neural network. By multiple comparisons of the same sample data set in the overall, as well as the local accuracy of the forecasted results, it is easy to confirm that the output error forecast by PSO-SVR model is much smaller relative to the least-squares approach and BP neural network. As a result, a new way for the data analysis of the SAW yarn tension sensor is provided.

Hydroxyapatite reinforced inorganic-organic hybrid nanocomposite as high-performance adsorbents for bilirubin removal in vitro and in pig models.

Highly efficient removal of bilirubin from whole blood directly by hemoperfusion for liver failure therapy remains a challenge in the clinical field due to the low adsorption capacity, poor mechanical strength and low biocompatibility of adsorbents. In this work, a new class of nanocomposite adsorbents was constructed through an inorganic-organic co-crosslinked nanocomposite network between vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES)-functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (V-Hap) and non-ionic styrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) resins (PS-DVB/V-Hap) using suspension polymerization. Notably, our adsorbent demonstrated substantially improved mechanical performance compared to the pure polymer, with the hardness and modulus increasing by nearly 3 and 2.5 times, respectively. Moreover, due to the development of a mesoporous structure, the prepared PS-DVB/V-Hap3 exhibited an ideal adsorption capacity of 40.27 mg g-1. More importantly, the obtained adsorbent beads showed outstanding blood compatibility and biocompatibility. Furthermore, in vivo extracorporeal hemoperfusion verified the efficacy and biosafety of the adsorbent for directly removing bilirubin from whole blood in pig models, and this material could potentially prevent liver damage and improve clinical outcomes. Taken together, the results suggest that PS-DVB/V-Hap3 beads can be used in commercial adsorption columns to threat hyperbilirubinemia patients through hemoperfusion, thus replacing the existing techniques where plasma separation is initially required.

Targeting regulation of the tumour microenvironment induces apoptosis of breast cancer cells by an affinity hemoperfusion adsorbent.

The cytokine network of tumour microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in cancer growth and progression. The current work aims to provide a new strategy for cancer therapy based on the targeted regulation of cytokines in the TME. Here, heparin-coupled polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-H) microspheres have been developed as an adsorbent for selectively remove tumour-induced immunosuppressive cytokines, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß), but not tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) which has an immune-stimulating effect and can inhibit tumour growth. The proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells after perfusion were tested by cell viability assays, flow cytometry analysis and mRNA microarray assays. Results showed that the PVA-H microspheres efficiently absorbed the majority of VEGF (74.39%) and TGF-ß (86.39%), but much less TNF-α (4.16%). The regulation of the cytokines had remarkable anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on breast cancer cells, which was further confirmed from the change of mRNA expression levels. Thus, targeting regulatory pathways within the TME by an affinity adsorbent that selectively depletes immunosuppressive cytokines is potentially a new and promising strategy for cancer therapy.

Effect of endothelial glycocalyx on water and LDL transport through the rat abdominal aorta.

The surface of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) is covered by a protective negatively charged layer known as the endothelial glycocalyx. Herein, we hypothesized its transport barrier and mechanosensory role in transmural water flux and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) transport in an isolated rat abdominal aorta perfused under 85 mmHg and 20 dyn/cm2 ex vivo. The endothelial glycocalyx was digested by hyaluronidase (HAase) from bovine tests. Water infiltration velocity (Vw) was measured by a graduated pipette. LDL coverage and mean maximum infiltration distance (MMID) in the vessel wall were quantified by confocal laser scanning microscopy. EC apoptosis was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique, and leaky junction rates were evaluated by electron microscopy. The results showed that a 42% degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx by HAase treatment increased Vw, LDL coverage, and MMID. Shear stress increased Vw, which cannot be inhibited by HAase treatment. Four hour-shear application increased about fourfolds of LDL coverage, whereas exerted no significant effects on its MMID, EC apoptosis, and the leaky junctions. On the contrary, 24-h shear exposure has no significant effects on LDL coverage, whereas increased 2.74-folds of MMID and about 53% of EC apoptotic rates that could be inhibited by HAase treatment. These results suggest endothelial glycocalyx acts as a transport barrier by decreasing water and LDL transport, as well as a mechanosensor of shear to regulate EC apoptosis, thus affecting leaky junctions and regulating LDL transport into the vessel wall.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A 42% degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx by hyaluronidase of the isolated rat abdominal aorta facilitated water and LDL transport across the vessel wall, suggesting endothelial glycocalyx as a transport barrier. A 24-h shear exposure increased LDL mean maximum infiltration distance, and enhanced EC apoptosis, which could be both inhibited by hyaluronidase treatment, suggesting endothelial glycocalyx may also act as a mechanosensor of shear to regulate EC apoptosis, thus affecting leaky junctions and regulating LDL transport.

[Comparative study of clinical efficacy between video-assisted anal fistula treatment and traditional fistula resection plus seton in treatment of complex anal fistula].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT) in treatment of complex anal fistula. METHODS: Clinical data of 87 patients with complex anal fistula undergoing operation at Department of General Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University from September 2015 to December 2016 were collected to conduct a cohort study. The operative procedure depended on economic conditions and patient preference. Patients were divided into VAAFT group (42 cases) and traditional fistula resection plus seton (FRS) group (45 cases). The procedure of FRS was to completely remove the fistula along external wall, the inner opening and surrounding scar tissues, then, the inner opening was closed with absorbable suture. For deeper and more complex fistula, the above procedure should be combined with seton. Based on the concept of endoscopic minimally invasive surgery, VAAFT could deal with the fistula and inner opening under direct vision. The brief steps were as follows: insertion of the anal fistula scope through external opening into the fistula; continuous injection of glycine-mannitol solution to expand and clean the foul fistula; electrocoagulation of all lesions; clearance of burnt tissues from the lumen with endoscopic brush and forceps; injection of medical fibrin glue through the inner opening; closing the inner opening by suture. Intraoperative and postoperative indices were compared between two groups. RESULTS: VAAFT group included 33 males and 9 females with mean age of (37.4±13.5) years, mean BMI of (24.3±3.2) kg/m2, and mean disease course of (4.8±3.9) months. Of 42 cases, 5 had preoperative diabetes mellitus, 31 were high fistula and 11 were low fistula. FRS group included 32 males and 13 females with mean age of (42.1±15.6) years, mean BMI of (24.8±3.7) kg/m2, and mean disease course of (5.7±3.6) months. Of 45 cases, 4 had preoperative diabetes mellitus, 37 were high fistula and 8 were low fistula. There were no significant differences in baseline data between two groups(all P>0.05). Compared with FRS group, VAAFT group had significantly shorter operative time [(44.6±10.5) minutes vs. (57.4±12.3) minutes, t=5.203, P=0.000], lower incidence of postoperative bleeding (14.3% vs. 33.3%,χ²=4.304, P=0.038), less pain (Visual Analogue Scale,VAS) (2.9±1.8 vs. 7.3±1.2, t=13.500, P=0.000), faster pain relief [(1.0±0.8) days vs. (4.5±1.2) days, t=15.890, P=0.000] and shorter hospital stay [(4.1±3.5) days vs.(7.5±2.3) days, t=5.389, P=0.000]. However, there were no significant differences between two groups in urinary retention rate, first postoperative fecal time and postoperative infection rate(all P>0.05). All patients were followed up for more than 6 months, FRS group had significantly higher incidence of anal incontinence than VAAFT group (20.0% vs. 2.4%, Fisher P=0.015). However, no significant difference in recurrence rate was found between VAAFT and FRS group(7.1% vs. 15.6%, Fisher P=0.317). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to traditional FRS treatment, VAAFT possesses some advantages in less injury, less pain, faster recovery, and lower postoperative anal incontinence rate. Thus, VAAFT is a superior operative choice in treatment of patients with complex anal fistula.

Using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) to develop crash modification factors for urban freeway interchange influence areas.

Crash modification factors (CMFs) are used to measure the safety impacts of changes in specific geometric characteristics. Their development has gained much interest following the adoption of CMFs by the recently released Highway Safety Manual (HSM) and SafetyAnalyst tool in the United States. This paper describes a study to develop CMFs for interchange influence areas on urban freeways in the state of Florida. Despite the very different traffic and geometric conditions that exist in interchange influence areas, most previous studies have not separated them from the rest of the freeway system in their analyses. In this study, a promising data mining method known as multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) was applied to develop CMFs for median width and inside and outside shoulder widths for "total" and "fatal and injury" (FI) crashes. In addition, CMFs were also developed for the two most frequent crash types, i.e., rear-end and sideswipe. MARS is characterized by its ability to accommodate the nonlinearity in crash predictors and to allow the impact of more than one geometric variable to be simultaneously considered. The methodology further implements crash predictions from the model to identify changes in geometric design features. Four years of crashes from 2007 to 2010 were used in the analysis and the results showed that MARS's prediction capability and goodness-of-fit statistics outperformed those of the negative binomial model. The influential variables identified included the outside and inside shoulder widths, median width, lane width, traffic volume, and shoulder type. It was deduced that a 2-ft increase in the outside and inside shoulders (from 10ft to 12ft) reduces FI crashes by 10% and 33%, respectively. Further, a 42-ft reduction in the median width (from 64ft to 22ft) increases the rear-end, total, and FI crashes by 473%, 263%, and 223%, respectively.

Anxiety symptoms in patients with frontal lobe epilepsy versus generalized epilepsy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of anxiety symptoms between patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and generalized epilepsy (GE). METHODS: Forty and 78 patients with FLE and GE respectively were enrolled in the study. Anxiety symptoms were measured with the Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HARS) and the anxiety subscale of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADSA). RESULTS: Compared to the GE group, the FLE group had significantly higher HARS (10.9±8.7 vs. 7.9±6.8, p=0.039) scores. Significant correlations were also found between anxiety symptoms and epilepsy-related variables, particularly with the seizure frequency and the number of currently taken anti-epileptic drugs. CONCLUSION: Anxiety symptoms are more common in patients with FLE in comparison to those with GE. Further studies are warranted to clarify the relationship between anxiety symptoms and FLE.

Frontal infarcts and anxiety in stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study examined the association between poststroke anxiety symptoms (PSA) and frontal lobe infarcts. METHODS: A cohort of 693 patients was recruited. PSA was defined as an anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score of 8 or above. The presence and location of infarcts were evaluated with MRI. RESULTS: Compared with the non-PSA group, PSA patients were more likely to have right frontal acute infarcts. Right frontal infarcts remained independent predictors of PSA in the multivariate analysis, with an odds ratio of 4.44 (P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that right frontal acute infarcts may play a role in the development of PSA.

Is insomnia associated with suicidality in stroke?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between insomnia and suicidality (SI) in Chinese patients with first or recurrent stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Acute stroke unit of a general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=787) with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the acute stroke unit of a university-affiliated regional hospital in Hong Kong. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Suicidality (SI) was assessed with the Geriatric Mental State Examination at 3 months after subjects' index stroke. Insomnia symptoms were evaluated with a standard insomnia questionnaire. The association between insomnia symptoms and SI was examined and adjusted for potential confounders, including age, sex, marital status, previous stroke, depression, fatigue, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and neurologic deficits measured with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients (11.1%) were found to have SI (SI group). Frequent awakening was significantly more common in the SI group than in the non-SI group and remained a significant predictor of SI in forward logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 1.7) after adjusting for possible confounders. CONCLUSIONS: These findings should alert clinicians to the potential danger of insomnia and the importance of its early identification and treatment in stroke patients.

Absence of cerebral microbleeds predicts reversion of vascular 'cognitive impairment no dementia' in stroke.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds may contribute to cognitive deficits in stroke. Cognitive impairment that does not meet the criteria for dementia (cognitive impairment no dementia) is common in stroke, and patients with such impairment can revert to normal cognition. AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS: This study examined the association between cerebral microbleeds and the reversion of cognitive impairment no dementia. METHOD: A total of 328 Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the acute stroke unit of a university-affiliated regional hospital in Hong Kong participated in the study. All subjects were assessed for cognitive impairment no dementia with a neuropsychological test battery at three- and 15 months following the index stroke. Of the 180 patients with cognitive impairment no dementia at three-months poststroke, 143 (79 · 4%) attended the 15-month follow-up. Twenty-nine subjects had reverted from cognitive impairment no dementia to normal cognitive status (reverters), 98 were nonreverters and 16 had progressed to dementia. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, the reverters were found to be younger, less likely to have hypertension and cerebral microbleeds, and to have smaller white matter hyperintensity volumes. In multivariate analysis, the absence of cerebral microbleeds remained an independent predictor of reversion with an odds ratio of 4.3. Absence of deep cerebral microbleeds predicted the reversion of the language domain, whereas the absence of lobar cerebral microbleeds predicted the reversion of the visuomotor speed domain. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the absence of cerebral microbleeds may be associated with a higher likelihood of a reversible cognitive impairment in stroke patients. The mechanism of how this occurs is not well understood.

Is fatigue associated with suicidality in stroke?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between poststroke fatigue and suicidality (SI) in Chinese patients with first or recurrent stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Acute stroke unit of a general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with acute ischemic stroke (N=595) admitted to the acute stroke unit of a university-affiliated regional hospital in Hong Kong. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SI was assessed with the Geriatric Mental State Examination at 3 months after the subjects' index stroke. Fatigue was evaluated using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). The association between the mean FSS score and SI was examined and adjusted for potential confounders, including age, sex, marital status, previous stroke, depression, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and neurologic deficits in terms of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score. RESULTS: Seventy-six (12.8%) of the patients had SI (the SI group). The FSS score was significantly higher in the SI group (4.0±1.4 vs 2.8±1.2). The FSS score remained a significant predictor of SI in the subsequent forward logistic regression (odds ratio=1.5), adjusting for the possible confounders. CONCLUSIONS: These findings should alert clinicians that early identification and treatment of fatigue may reduce the suicidal risk in stroke patients.

Clinical and radiologic correlates of insomnia symptoms in ischemic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVES: Insomnia is a common complaint in stroke survivors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlates of insomnia symptoms in Chinese ischemic stroke survivors. METHODS: A comprehensive psychiatric assessment was performed involving 508 ischemic stroke patients 3 months after their first-ever or recurrent acute stroke. Insomnia symptoms were evaluated with a standard insomnia questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).The evaluation of the MRI scans focused on infarctions, white matter lesions, and microbleeds. RESULTS: One hundred and eight-six patients (36.6% of the sample) had insomnia symptoms. Sixty-four patients (12.6%) had insomnia symptoms with daytime consequences. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, GDS score (OR = 1.157, p < 0.001) and acute frontal lobe infarction (OR = 1.933, p = 0.039) were significant predictors of insomnia symptoms, while the GDS score (OR = 1.251, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.959, p = 0.017) were significant predictors of insomnia symptoms with daytime consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia symptoms have a multi-factorial origin in stroke. Besides depressive symptoms, frontal lobe infarction and diabetes mellitus predict insomnia symptoms.

Anxiety disorders in Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety disorders (AND1) commonly occur in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) but their socio-demographic and clinical correlates have not yet been unequivocally determined. This study aimed to assess the frequency of ANDI and their correlates in Chinese PD patients. METHODS: A cohort of 133 patients of PD were recruited from three neurology outpatient clinics. Participants' neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric status was assessed using standardized rating instruments. ANDI were diagnosed by qualified psychiatrists using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders--4th Edition (SCID-DSM IV). RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (27.1%) were diagnosed with some types of ANDI; Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Social Phobia were the commonest subtypes of ANDI in PD (n = 11, 8.3%, in each of the three subtypes). Nine patients had more than one subtype of ANDI. In multivariate logistic regression, younger age of onset of PD [odds ratio (OR) = 2.654, 95% confident intervals (CI) = 1.120-6.289, p = 0.027), Geriatric Depression Scale score (OR = 1.179, 95% CI = 1.056-1.316, p = 0.003) and muscle cramps (> or = 1/week) (OR = 2.605, 95% CI = 1.098-6.184, p = 0.030) were independent correlates of ANDI. CONCLUSIONS: ANDI are common in Chinese PD patients. Younger age of onset of PD, severity of depressive symptoms, and muscle cramps may be independent correlates of ANDI suggesting that anxiety in PD has multifactorial origin.

Health-related quality of life in the family caregivers of stroke survivors.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify the factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of family caregivers of Chinese stroke patients. One hundred and twenty-three stroke patients consecutively admitted to a stroke clinic and their 123 family caregivers were recruited. The caregivers' HRQOLs were assessed with the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Two subscores of the SF-36, the Physical Component Summary and the Mental Component Summary Scores served as the dependent variables. Independent variables comprised patients and caregivers' demographic data and physical and psychological conditions in relation to caregivers' HRQOL. The severity of coexisting illnesses of both the patients and their caregivers was assessed using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was administered to rate both the patients and their caregivers' depressive symptoms. The extent of the patients' functional disability was assessed using the Barthel Index and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Global cognition of the patients was measured using the Mini Mental State Examination. The level of social support and recent life events of the caregivers were rated using Lubben Social Network Scale and the Modified Life Event Scale, respectively. The multiple linear regression revealed caregivers' Cumulative Illness Rating Scale and GDS score were associated with Physical Component Summary Score of SF-36. The patients and caregivers' GDS score were associated with Mental Component Summary Score of SF-36. Severity of depressive symptoms in Chinese stroke patients and their caregivers is an important factor associated with the caregivers' HRQOL. Further studies evaluating interventions on caregivers' HRQOL should include the assessment and management of mood disorders.

Falls in a psychiatric institution in Beijing, China.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the rate of falls and their relationship with sociodemographic and clinical factors in a psychiatric institution in Beijing, China. DESIGN AND METHODS: The case notes of 7,921 inpatients were scrutinized to identify patients who fell while in the hospital. FINDINGS: The fall rate in this study was 1.2% of all inpatients. Nearly all (89.7%) falls occurred when patients attempted to stand up, get out of bed, or walk. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Effective measures should be provided to prevent falls in psychiatric wards. A prospective study exploring predictors of falls is warranted.

Effects of norfloxacin and butylated hydroxyanisole on the freshwater microalga Scenedesmus obliquus.

The toxic effects of norfloxacin (NOR) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on the microalga Scenedesmus obliquus were assessed in terms of growth rate, concentration of chlorophyll a, activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-dealkylases (EROD), glutathione s-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and total malondialdehyde content (MDA). The 96 h EC(50) was 38.49 and 11.12 mg/l for NOR and BHA, respectively. Growth of S. obliquus was affected slightly under low concentrations of BHA (<4 mg/l) and NOR (<15 mg/l) over the 96 h exposure period. With the increasing concentrations of these two compounds, growth of S. oblique decreased significantly. Growth inhibition was 82.4% at 60.0 mg/l for NOR and 60.6% at 16.0 mg/l for BHA after 96 h. A similar trend was also observed for chlorophyll alpha. NOR and BHA affected Phase I and Phase II enzyme activities differently. Upon exposure to NOR, EROD was induced at concentration <15.0 mg/l and depressed at concentrations >30 mg/l significantly. CAT and GST exhibited similar trends during the exposure period. Compared to controls, MDA content only showed high induction at high concentrations of NOR (>30 mg/l). However, EROD activity did not display any change compared to control responses during BHA exposure, whereas GST showed significant induction for all concentrations over the exposure period. CAT activity showed induction at low concentration and depression at high concentration. MDA content increased with the rise of BHA during the exposure period. These types of assays, revealing toxic effects of NOR and BHA to phototrophs, could be employed to assess the potential risks of these xenobiotics to aquatic ecological systems.

Relationships of sleep duration with sleep disturbances, basic socio-demographic factors, and BMI in Chinese people.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at determining the mean total sleep time (TST) and the relationship between sleep duration and basic socio-demographic factors and BMI sleep problems in Chinese subjects. METHOD: A total of 5926 subjects were randomly selected and interviewed using standardized assessment tools. RESULTS: The reported mean TST was 7.76 h. Short sleepers were significantly older than medium and long sleepers. There were more urban residents who were short sleepers than medium and long sleepers. Short sleepers reported more sleep problems than medium and long sleepers. Short and long sleepers reported more psychiatric disorders than medium sleepers in both sexes, and short sleepers also had more major medical conditions in women. Short sleepers had a lower BMI than medium and long sleepers after controlling for the effects of age and psychiatric disorders in women. CONCLUSIONS: Nationwide epidemiologic surveys in China are needed to further explore the relationship between sleep duration and sleep problems.