1.Numerical simulation of effect of vegetation configuration on human thermal comfort
Dong DONG ; Yu TAI ; Yi LUO ; Wusi ZHANG ; Kangkang GU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2023;40(8):900-909
Background The urban heat island effect has a significant negative impact on human health. Urban green space can effectively improve the urban thermal environment while enhancing human thermal comfort. Objective To investigate the effects of vegetation configuration structure on temperature and humidity and on human thermal comfort, with a view to providing reference for the landscape planning of urban reserve, preventing and reducing the impact of urban heat island effect on the health of urban residents. Methods The study was carried out on a typical clear and cloudless summer day without extreme weather in a university reserve area in Hefei. The numerical simulation accuracy of ENVI-met software was verified by measured data. Based on the quantitative definition of vegetation configuration structure scheme from vertical and horizontal perspectives, nine simulation scenarios were established based on three aspects including vegetation configuration type (grass, shrub + grass, tree + grass, tree + shrub + grass), planting layout (column planting, uniform spot planting), and planting density [the aspect ratio of trees (ART) between plants was 0.75, 1.13, 1.50, and 2.25, respectively] to quantitatively evaluate the cooling and humidifying effects and human thermal comfort [physiological equivalent temperature (PET)] of the vegetation configurations. Results The change trends of the cooling and humidifying effects of all the simulated scenarios were consistent, basically first increasing and then decreasing. Among all the simulated scenarios, the cooling and humidifying effects of scenario 8 (tree + grass, ART=2.25, uniform spot planting) were the best, with the greatest cooling of 1.36 ℃ and humidification of 6.29% in comparison to the worst scenario 1 in the reserve area. The human thermal comfort of scenario 9 (tree + shrub + grass, ART=2.25, uniform spot planting) was the best, with the PET of 35.37 ℃. The order of improvement effect of different vegetation configurations on thermal comfort from strong to weak was tree + shrub + grass structure (scenario 9) > tree + grass structure (scenario 8) > shrub + grass structure (scenario 2) > grass structure (scenario 1). At 15:00, the PET value of tree + shrub + grass structure (scenario 9) decreased by 7.44 ℃ in comparison to that of grass structure (scenario 1). The higher the planting density among trees, the higher the difference in temperature and relative humidity between the simulated and the original scenarios. In case of holding the same amount of greenery, uniform spot planting showed better human comfort when the vegetation was planted sparsely, but the difference between the PET value of scenario 3 (tree + grass, ART=0.75, uniform spot planting) and scenario 5 (tree + grass, ART=1.5, column planting) was only 0.15 ℃; when the vegetation was planted densely, column planting was more favorable to wind circulation and more effective in reducing the temperature of the site, with a lower PET value of 0.87 ℃ for scenario 7 (tree + grass, ART=2.25, column planting) than for scenario 4 (tree + grass, ART=1.13, uniform spot planting). Conclusion Urban green space has obvious cooling and humidifying effects in summer. The human comfort of tree + shrub + grass structure with uniform spot planting is optimal, and the cooling and humidifying effects of tree + grass structure with uniform spot planting are the most obvious. The optimization of vegetation configuration structure is crucial for reducing urban heat island, improving human thermal comfort, and promoting residents’ health.
2.Risk factors for hypoparathyroidism after thyroid papillary carcinoma
Shihang XUE ; Zhiyu LI ; Weizhu WU ; Tongcheng ZHANG ; Zhenyi LU
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2019;13(2):119-123
Objective To determine the clinicopathological risk factors and reliable biochemical predictors of the development of hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy plus central compartment node dissection in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Methods A study was performed on 93 patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy with central compartment node dissection due to PTC.The rate of hypoparathyroidism was calculated.We evaluated the correlations between hypoparathyroidism and clinicopathological factors by chi-square test and logistic regression model for multivariate analysis.The prediction value of PTH and serum calcium level was assessed by a 2×2 contingency table and ROC curve analysis.Results Postoperative hypoparathyroidism was found in 46 patients (49.5%) and 2 with permanent hypoparathyroidism.Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (P=0.034),perithyroidal extension (P=0.003),bilateral cancer(P=0.045)and bilateral central neck dissection (P=0.028)were risk factors for postoperative hypoparathyroidism in patients with PTC.Multivariate analysis showed that perithyroidal extension (P=0.003) and bilateral central neck dissection(P=0.044)were independent risk factors for postoperative hypoparathyroidism in patients with PTC.ROC curve analysis showed that PTH level in the first after operation played significant roles in predicting hypoparathyroidism(AUC 0.875).Conclusions Hypoparathyroidism is the most common complication after total/near-total thyroidectomy.Perithyroidal extension and bilateral central neck dissection are the important risk factors of hypoparathyroidism.The level of PTH is a reliable and early predictive indicator of postoperative hypoparathyroidism.
3.Effect of baseline serum VEGF level on clinical factors,pathological features and prognosis of patients with non-triple-negative breast cancer
Tongcheng XIAN ; Xuelin ZHANG ; Jun BIE ; Minye YANG ; Jie WANG ; Yi LUO
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;45(15):1849-1855
Objective To analyse the effect of baseline serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)level on clinical factors,pathological features and prognosis of patients with non-triple-negative breast cancer.Methods A total of 120 patients with non-triple-negative breast cancer admitted to the hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were selected as the study objects.According to the TNM stage of the tumor,the stud-y objects were divided into 80 patients with TNM stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ(group A)and 40 patients with TNM stageⅢ(group B).Serum VEGF levels,clinical factors and pathological features were compared between the two groups.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the optimal cut-off value of serum VEGF level in predicting stage Ⅲ breast cancer.Survival curves for overall survival and disease-free survival were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method,and comparisons were made using the Log-rank test.The effects of baseline serum VEGF levels on overall survival and disease-free survival in non-triple-negative breast cancer were investigated by multivariate Cox regression model.Results Serum VEGF,D-dimer,fibrinogen(FIB),fi-brin degradation products(FDP),cancer antigen 125(CA-125)and cancer antigen 15-3(CA15-3)in group B were significantly different from those in group A(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum VEGF in TNM stage Ⅲ of non-triple-negative breast cancer was 0.875,95%CI(0.802-0.948),P<0.001.The levels of D-dimer,FIB,FDP,CA-125 and CA15-3 in serum VEGF≥180.40 pg/mL patients were higher than those in serum VEGF<180.40pg/mL patients,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).In patients with serum VEGF<180.40 pg/mL,the proportion of tumor T1 stage,tumor N0 and N1 stage,TNM stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ,and Luminal type A were higher than those with serum VEGF≥180.40 pg/mL patients,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The disease-free survival rate of serum VEGF<180.40 pg/mL patients was significantly higher than that of serum VEGF≥180.40 pg/mL patients,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).After correction,VEGF≥180.40 pg/mL was a risk factor for recurrence and metastasis of non-triple-negative breast cancer[HR=2.563,95%CI(1.772-3.708),P<0.001].Conclusion High baseline VEGF levels are associated with progression of non-triple-negative breast cancer and are an influential factor in its prognosis.