Oxidative Upcycling of Polyethylene to Long Chain Diacid over Co-MCM-41 Catalyst.

Plastic pollution is an emerging global threat due to lack of effective methods for transforming waste plastics into useful resources. Here, we demonstrate a direct oxidative upcycling of polyethylene into high-value and high-volume long chain (C10-C20) saturated dicarboxylic acids in high carbon yield of 85.9% over cobalt-doped MCM-41 molecular sieves, in the absence of any solvent or precious metal catalyst. The distribution of the dicarboxylic acids can be controllably adjusted from short-chain (C4-C10) to long-chain ones (C10-C20) through changing cobalt loading of MCM-41 under nanoconfinement. Highly and sparsely dispersed cobalt along with confined space of mesoporous structure enables complete degradation of polyethylene and high selectivity of dicarboxylic acid in mild condition. So far, this is the first report on highly selective one-step preparation of long chain dicarboxylic acids. The approach provides an attractive solution to tackle plastic pollution and a promising alternative route to long chain diacids.

Tandem oxidative and thermal cracking of polypropylene at low temperatures.

Polypropylene waste was upcycled into terminal functionalized long-chain chemicals with the aid of anionic surfactants. The reaction only needs to be heated at 80 °C for 5 min by coupling exothermic oxidative cracking with endothermic thermal cracking. This work opens a new way to rapidly convert plastic waste into high-value-added chemicals under mild conditions.

Urban-rural disparity in cancer mortality and changing trend in Tianjin, China, during 1999 and 2016.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the urban-rural disparity in cancer mortality and changing trend during the past 18 years in Tianjin, China. METHODS: Cancer death data were obtained from Tianjin All Cause of Death Registration System (CDRS), which covers the whole population of Tianjin. We calculated and compared the constituent ratio of cancer deaths, age-standardized mortality rate(ASR)and changing trends between urban and rural areas. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2016, a total of 245,744 cancer deaths were reported, accounting 21.7% of all deaths in Tianjin. The ASR of total cancer mortality was higher in urban areas than in rural areas. A total of 33,739 persons were avoided dying of cancers in rural area compared to the urban death level from 1999 to 2016, which was 40.1% compare to the current level of rural areas. But the gap between urban and rural areas became narrowed gradually. The urban-rural ratios (urban/rural) of total cancer mortality changed from 1.76 (125.7/71.5)[95%CI,1.67,1.84] in 1999 to 1.11 (99.6/90.0)[95%CI,1.06,1.15] in 2016. The ASR of lung, liver and esophagus cancer became higher in rural areas than in urban areas in 2016. CONCLUSION: Cancer transition was obviously occurred in Tianjin and showed different speeds and big gap between urban and rural areas. Much more attention was needed to pay in rural areas which still have increasing trends in most cancers mortality recently.

Trend analysis of lung cancer mortality and years of life lost (YLL) rate from 1999 to 2016 in Tianjin, China: Does the lung cancer burden in rural areas exceed that of urban areas?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the trends in the mortality rate and years of life lost (YLL) rate of lung cancer in Tianjin, China, during the period from 1999 to 2016. METHODS: Lung cancer death data were obtained from Tianjin residents' all-cause death monitoring system, which covers the whole population of Tianjin. Crude mortality rate, age-standardized mortality rate, truncated rate (35-64 years), YLL and age-standardized YLL rate data were calculated and trends examined. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2016, a total of 93 358 lung cancer deaths were reported in Tianjin, which accounted for 38.0% of all cancer deaths (93 358/245744). The crude mortality rate of lung cancer had increased 58.5% from 1999 (40.15/100000) to 2016 (63.64/100000), average annual percent change (AACP) = 2.9%, P < 0.01. However, the age-standard YLL rate had decreased to 13.3% in 2016 than in 1999, AACP = -0.8%, P < 0.01, with a stable trend in males (AACP = -0.2%), and noticeable decreasing trend in females (AACP = -1.4%). The lung cancer mortality rate (ASRW) in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas in 1999, with a ratio of 1.99:1. However, it was lower in 2016, with the ratio of 0.98:1. For the truncated rate (35-64 years), it had decreased in urban areas compared with rural areas since the year 2013. CONCLUSION: Lung cancer remains the most fatal cancer in Tianjin. However, the age-standard YLL rate of lung cancer has decreased considerably accompanied by a decline in smoking rate years ago, especially in women and people living in urban areas. Considerable attention is therefore needed in the rural areas where cases of lung cancer are still rapidly increasing.

Downregulation of miR-541 induced by heat stress contributes to malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells via HSP27.

Environmental factors are one of the important factors affecting the occurrence of lung cancer. However, few studies have been done on the relationship between hot environment and lung cancer. In the present study, we demonstrated that heat stress leads to anchorage-independent proliferation, mitochondrial apoptosis, and autophagy of Beas-2B cells, which are normal lung bronchial epithelial cells. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) promoted heat stress-induced anchorage-independent proliferation and autophagy, but suppressed mitochondrial apoptosis, indicating that HSP27 might act as an oncogene in the malignant transformation of lung epithelial cells. We also showed that HSP27 promoted autophagy of these cells under heat stress via autophagy related 7 (ATG7) and ETS Transcription Factor ELK1 (ELK1), a transcription factor of ATG7, under heat stress. In addition, we showed that HSP27 translation could be repressed by microRNA miR-541, and the biological effects of miR-541 were the opposite to HSP27, suggesting that HSP27 is a downstream target of miR-541. In this study, we characterized a new mechanism whereby HSP27 promotes cell transformation during the onset of lung cancer. Our studies provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the lung carcinogenic effect of heat exposure. Specifically, heat stress promotes translation of HSP27 by inhibiting miR-541 accumulation, ultimately resulting in activation of autophagy, inhibition of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and malignant transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells. This study identifies miR-541 as a potential prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target to improve theory of environmental carcinogenesis.

Impact of smoke-free legislation on acute myocardial infarction and stroke mortality: Tianjin, China, 2007-2015.

BACKGROUND: Smoke-free legislation is an effective way to protect the population from the harms of secondhand smoke and has been implemented in many countries. On 31 May 2012, Tianjin became one of the few cities in China to implement smoke-free legislation. We investigated the impact of smoke-free legislation on mortality due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke in Tianjin. METHODS: An interrupted time series design adjusting for underlying secular trends, seasonal patterns, population size changes and meteorological factors was conducted to analyse the impact of the smoke-free law on the weekly mortality due to AMI and stroke. The study period was from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2015, with a 3.5-year postlegislation follow-up. RESULTS: Following the implementation of the smoke-free law, there was a decline in the annual trends of AMI and stroke mortality. An incremental 16% (rate ratio (RR): 0.84; 95% CI: 0.83 to 0.85) decrease per year in AMI mortality and a 2% (RR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97 to 0.99) annual decrease in stroke mortality among the population aged ≥35 years in Tianjin was observed. Immediate postlegislation reductions in mortality were not statistically significant. An estimated 10 000 (22%) AMI deaths were prevented within 3.5 years of the implementation of the law. CONCLUSION: The smoke-free law in Tianjin was associated with reductions in AMI mortality. This study reinforces the need for large-scale, effective and comprehensive smoke-free laws at the national level in China.

ROC analysis of three-dimensional psychological pain in suicide ideation and suicide attempt among patients with major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the predictive ability of the three-dimensional psychological pain scale (TDPPS) on suicide risk among MDD patients as compared to impulsivity, depression, hopelessness, psychache and acquired capability for suicide, and to determine the cut-off point of TDPPS in the identification of those at risk for suicide. METHOD: The sample comprised 137 depressed outpatients who were divided into subjects with a history of suicidal attempt (SA, N = 31) and those without such history (NSA, N = 106). All participants completed the questionnaires to evaluate interested variables. Broad sociodemographic and clinical variables were analyzed by using hierarchical and logistic regression analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: TDPPS, especially pain avoidance subscale displayed superior performance in accurately identifying suicide attempt compared with other measurements. The appropriate cut-off point was 58 for the TDPPS. CONCLUSIONS: TDPPS may be an effective screening scale for detecting depressed patients at high suicidal risk.

[Study on smoking-attributed mortality by using all causes of death surveillance system in Tianjin].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the smoking-attributed mortality by inclusion of smoking information into all causes of death surveillance. METHODS: Since 2010, the information about smoking status, smoking history and the number of cigarettes smoked daily had been added in death surveillance system. The measures of training, supervision, check, sampling survey and telephone verifying were taken to increase death reporting rate and reduce data missing rate and underreporting rate. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for smoking-attributed mortality. RESULTS: During the study period (2010-2014), the annual death reporting rates ranged from 6.5‰ to 7.0‰. The reporting rates of smoking status, smoking history and the number of cigarettes smoked daily were 95.53%, 98.63% and 98.58%, respectively. Compared with the nonsmokers, the RR of males was 1.38 (1.33-1.43) for all causes of death and 3.07 (2.91-3.24) for lung cancer due to smoking, the RR of females was 1.46 (1.39-1.54) for all causes of death and 4.07 (3.81-4.35) for lung cancer due to smoking, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study of smoking attributed mortality can be developed with less investment by using the stable and effective all causes of death surveillance system in Tianjin.

[Comprehensive assessment on the outcome of Tianjin Act of Tobacco Control].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the integrated effects of tobacco control programs through comparing the pre- and post-implementation of the Tianjin Tobacco Control Act (Act), in 4 successive years. METHODS: Case-related data on myocardial infarction was collected by Tianjin Surveillance System, New Case Registry. Both the representative sample size of indoor working places and public places for observation and PM2.5 monitored were selected through the calculation of Survey System, while the representative sample size of people involved in the survey for interview was under the Door to Door and Intercept. RESULTS: Through comparing the pre- and post-implementation programs on Act, the posting of "No Smoking Sign" had become much more visible in hospitals, schools, governmental buildings and the waiting areas of public transportation. People smoked much less in the main public places, excepting for hotels and public bath rooms (P < 0.05). Exposure to secondhand smoking (SHS) had a 26.5% (P < 0.01) decline, than the Act was implemented in workplace and public place. Despite the number of cases increased in the entire population in Tianjin (ß = -0.061, P = 0.00; ß = 0.059, P = 0.00), cases with myocardial infarction presented at the hospitals were declining annually, among the indoor workers. CONCLUSION: Act showed a positive effect in decreasing the number of smokers in public places thus protecting people from the negative effects on SHS. Message on health effect and social benefits on tobacco control should be disseminated to facilitate the comprehensive implementation of the Act.

[Epidemiological characteristics of hospital reported road traffic injuries case in Tianjin, 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the distribution of reported road traffic injuries case in Tianjin from January to December 2013. METHODS: The injury data was collected from the disease surveillance system which covered all the areas in Tianjin. All the reported injury cases were at their first medical care seeking in sentinel hospitals from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013. RESULTS: A total of 26 405 injury cases were reported, including 103 deaths (0.4%), during this period with the incidence of 263.01/100 000. The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.68: 1 and average age of the cases was (40.24 ± 17.58) years. The injuries caused by motor vehicle traffic accident accounted for 74.0% (19 547 cases) and the non-motor vehicle traffic accident caused cases accounted for 26.0% (6 858). The first four areas with higher incidence were Binhai (684.86/100 000) , Dongli (634.03/100 000) , Xiqing (519.83/100 000) and Jinnan (504.12/100 000) districts. The three districts with lower incidence were Heping (44.69/100 000), Nankai (52.36/100 000) and Hedong (64.34/100 000) districts. The mild, moderate and serious cases accounted for 59.7% (15 771 cases), 33.1% (8 747 cases) and 6.8% (1 783 cases) respectively. The differences in incidence among different districts and age groups were statistical significant (P<0.005). The death number in Tanggu district was highest, accounting for (26.21%) of the total, and age specific death number was highest in age group 45-64 years, accounting for 46.60% of the total. CONCLUSION: The case number and severity of road traffic accident caused injury varied with area and age group in Tianjin. It is necessary to develop targeted prevention and control measures to reduce the incidence of road traffic accident related injuries.