Objective To construct 5 machine-learning models and compare their performance in predicting the associations between pre-pregnancy socio-psycho-behavioral exposures of both spouses and preconception outcomes.Methods Based on Chongqing Preconception Reproductive Health and Birth Outcome Cohort of volunteers recruited from Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children during January 2019 and March 2022,5 447 couples were recruited and surveyed through interviewer-interview for the demographic and social-psychological-behavioral data of both spouses(221 variables).According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,4 097 couples were finally included,and randomly assigned into a training set(n=2 867 spouses)and a validation set(n=1 230 spouses)at a ratio of 7∶3.Feature analysis and collinear screening were applied to select the potential exposure factors.In consideration of difficulty to carry out semen parameters analysis in primary healthcare institutions,feature Set 1 including sperm parameters and feature Set 2 excluding semen parameters were constructed by including or excluding sperm quality simultaneously in the training set and the validation set.Five algorithms,that is,Logistic Regression,Naive Bayes,Random Forest,Gradient Boosting Machine,and Support Vector Machine,were used to construct preconception outcome prediction models,and the parameters of each model were optimized using random search combined with grid search.The predictive performance of each model was compared using precision,recall,F1 score,area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC),and calibration curve.The optimal model was then selected by comparing the changes in the predictive ability of the questionnaire data for fertility outcomes with or without semen parameters.Results There were 24 variables screened out in feature Set 1,and 16 variables in feature Set 2.In feature Set 1,the gradient boosting machine performed better,with a relatively higher AUC value(0.651)and better F1 score(0.61).The logistic regression model performed stably(AUC value=0.647)and was suitable as the reference model.The random forest(AUC value=0.641),Naive Bayes(AUC value=0.641),and support vector machine(AUC value=0.634)performed second-best.By utilizing the gradient boosting machine,comparable results were found between the predictions from feature sets with or without semen parameters,as in feature Set 1,the AUC value of its validation set was 0.651(95%CI:0.629～0.681),the prediction accuracy was 0.63,the recall rate was 0.65,and the average precision value F1 was 0.61;and in feature Set 2,the AUC value of its validation set was 0.649(95%CI:0.624～0.663),and both the calibration curves were close to the ideal curve.The prediction results indicated that in feature Set 1,the features highly negatively correlated with preconception outcomes were female age,male age,and no pregnancy within 1 year without contraception,while the features highly positively correlated with preconception outcomes were female pregnancy history,total sperm vitality,and use of contraceptive measures before enrollment.Conclusion Among the 5 machine-learning algorithms performed in this cohort data,the gradient boosting machine shows slightly better performance.There are 24 factors being associated with preconception outcomes in both spouses,and the performance of the simplified model excluding semen parameters is not significantly declined.It is feasible to use machine-learning methods to predict human preconception outcomes through social-psychological-behavioral questionnaires.

Phytoremediation plays an important role in the treatment of heavy metal pollution in soil. In order to elucidate the mechanism of salicylic acid (SA) on copper absorption, seedlings from Xuzhou (with strong Cu-tolerance) and Weifang Helianthus tuberosus cultivars (with weak Cu-tolerance) were selected for pot culture experiments. 1 mmol/L SA was sprayed upon 300 mg/kg soil copper stress, and the photosynthesis, leaf antioxidant system, several essential mineral nutrients and the changes of root upon copper stress were analyzed to explore the mechanism of copper resistance. The results showed that Pn, Tr, Gs and Ci upon copper stress decreased significantly compared to the control group. Meanwhile, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid decreased with significant increase in initial fluorescence (F₀), maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSⅡ (Fv/Fm), electron transfer rate (ETR) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) content all decreased. The ascorbic acid (AsA) content was decreased, the glutathione (GSH) value was increased, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity in the leaves were decreased, and the peroxidase (POD) activity was significantly increased. SA increased the Cu content in the ground and root system, and weakened the nutrient uptake capacity of K, Ca, Mg, and Zn in the root stem and leaves. Spray of exogenous SA can maintain the opening of leaf stomata, improve the adverse effect of copper on photosynthetic pigment and PSⅡ reaction center. Mediating the SOD and APX activity started the AsA-GSH cycle process, effectively regulated the antioxidant enzyme system in chrysanthemum taro, significantly reduced the copper content of all parts of the plant, and improved the ion exchange capacity in the body. External SA increased the content of the negative electric group on the root by changing the proportion of components in the root, promoted the absorption of mineral nutrient elements and the accumulation of osmoregulatory substances, strengthened the fixation effect of the root on metal copper, and avoided its massive accumulation in the H. tuberosus body, so as to alleviate the inhibitory effect of copper on plant growth. The study revealed the physiological regulation of SA upon copper stress, and provided a theoretical basis for planting H. tuberosus to repair soil copper pollution.
Antioxidants ; Copper ; Helianthus/metabolism* ; Salicylic Acid/pharmacology* ; Chlorophyll A/pharmacology* ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Chlorophyll/pharmacology* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Photosynthesis ; Glutathione ; Plant Leaves ; Stress, Physiological ; Seedlings

Objective:To evaluate the performance of rural practitioners of endoscopic cleaning and disinfection participating in the Early Diagnosis and Treatment Program for Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers and to analyze the influencing factors.Methods:The questionnaires for skill assessment were designed based on the skill scheme and clinical practice of the Early Diagnosis and Treatment Program for Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers in rural China, and the App Early diagnosis, Early treatment was used as the examination platform. The practitioners in 539 county hospitals from 25 provinces participating in the program in 2019 were assessed for techniques and skills for endoscopic cleaning and disinfection and the excellence rate was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors for the examination. Results:A total of 1 671 endoscopic cleaning and disinfection practitioners participated in the assessment with the score of 73.41±16.60. The passing rate was 85.82%, and the excellence rate was 44.94%. Among all questions, the correct rate of "opportunistic screening flow chart" was the highest (98.21%), and that of "the evaluation index for mass screening" was the lowest (57.89%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the excellence rate was high in practitioners who had a bachelor degree or above ( OR=1.627,95% CI:1.319-2.007, P<0.001), the career for 5 to <15 years (5 to <10 years: OR=1.329,95% CI:1.045-1.689, P=0.020; 10 to <15 years: OR=1.384,95% CI:1.026-1.867, P=0.033), working in eastern and central regions (eastern regions: OR=3.476,95% CI:2.368-5.103, P<0.001;central regions: OR=4.028,95% CI:2.679-6.057, P<0.001) and with full understanding of the screening scheme ( OR=1.547,95% CI:1.246-1.921, P<0.001) . Conclusion:Practitioners on the Early Diagnosis and Treatment Program for Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers in rural China have mastered the basic screening scheme and skills for endoscopic cleaning and disinfection. The education background, duration of the career, area and understanding of screening scheme are influencing factors for the excellence rate of endoscopic cleaning and disinfection.

Objective:To explore the associations between perceived built environment attributes and adults’ leisure-time physical activity in four cities of China.Methods:Multistage cluster random sampling method was used to select adults aged 25 to 64 in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, and Qingdao. Data were collected from June 2017 to July 2018. The perception of the urban built environment was assessed by the neighborhood environment walkability scale-abbreviated (NEWS-A), and the physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Generalized linear mixed models were used to explore the relationship between the perceived built environment and leisure-time physical activities.Results:A total of 3 789 participants were included in the analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, better access to public services ( OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.02-1.75) and higher aesthetic quality ( OR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.09-1.73) were positively associated with the possibility of engaging in leisure-time physical activity in the past week. Similarly, these two attributes were positively associated with leisure-time walking. Higher scores on the perception of street connectivity were positively associated with leisure-time walking [ exp( β)=1.09, 95% CI: 1.00-1.19]. Higher residential density [ exp( β)=1.000 4, 95% CI:1.000 0-1.000 8], better access to physical activity destinations[ exp( β)=1.09, 95% CI: 1.00-1.19], and better aesthetics [ exp( β)=1.11, 95% CI:1.00-1.22] were associated with higher leisure-time physical activity. Similarly, these three attributes were positively associated with the possibility of meeting the WHO recommendations. Conclusion:Changing some urban built environment attributes may increase leisure-time physical activity.

China still has more than 30,000 patients of advanced schistosomiasis while new cases being reported consistently. D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product. As ascites being the dominating symptom in advanced schistosomiasis, the present study aimed to explore a prediction model of ascites with D-dimer and other clinical easy-achievable indicators. A case-control study nested in a prospective cohort was conducted in schistosomiasis-endemic area of southern China. A total of 291 patients of advanced schistosomiasis were first investigated in 2013 and further followed in 2014. Information on clinical history, physical examination, and abdominal ultrasonography, including the symptom of ascites was repeatedly collected. Result showed 44 patients having ascites. Most of the patients' ascites were confined in the kidney area with median area of 20 mm². The level of plasma D-dimer and pertinent liver function indicators were measured at the initial investigation in 2013. Compared with those without ascites, cases with ascites had significantly higher levels of D-dimer (0.71±2.44 μg/L vs 0.48±2.12 μg/L, P=0.005), as well ALB (44.5 vs 46.2, g/L) and Type IV collagen (50.04 vs 44.50 μg/L). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses indicated a moderate predictive value of D-dimer by its own area under curve (AUC) of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.54–0.73) and the cutoff value as 0.81 μg/L. Dichotomized by the cutoff level, D-dimer along with other categorical variables generated a prediction model with AUC of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.68–0.89). Risks of patients with specific characteristics in the prediction model were summarized. Our study suggests that the plasma D-dimer level is a reliable predictor for incident ascites in advanced schistosomiasis japonica patients.
Area Under Curve ; Ascites* ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Collagen Type IV ; Fibrin ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Physical Examination ; Plasma* ; Prospective Studies* ; ROC Curve ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica* ; Schistosomiasis* ; Ultrasonography

Inflammation response is the most crucial link in the pathogeneses of spinal cord injury (SCI),and is the basis of secondary damage. NF-κB Signalling pathway is activated excessively after SCI,so that numerous NF-κB possessing biological activities is quickly translocated into the nuclear and regulates the target genes,resulting in heightened inflammation and further tissue damage. Suppressing NF-κB signalling pathway and controlling inflammation response effectively are effective approaches to promoting SCI repair. It is found that curcumin has multiple target molecules to suppress NF-κB signalling pathway,block the excessive activation of NF-κB and reduce the expression of proinflammation cytokines,which plays an important role in SCI repair. This article discusses NF-κB signalling pathway,the contribution of NF-κB signalling pathway to SCI and the role of curcumins inhibition of NF-κB signalling pathway in SCI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the different individual number of sampling on the assay results of the medicinal materials.

METHODEpimedium pubescens and E. brevicornu were used as samples. The 6 sampling levels were formulated as 1 individual, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 individuals mix, each level with 3 parallels and 1 individual level5 parallels. The contents of epimedin C and icariin, and the peak areas of epimedin A, epimedin B, rhamnosyl icarisid II and icarisid II in all samples were analyzed by HPLC.

RESULTThe variation degree varied with species and chemical constituents, but the RSD and the deviation from the true value decreased with the increase of individual number on the same chemical constituent.

CONCLUSIONThe sampling number should be more than 10 individuals in quality control of Epimedium, and 50 or more individuals would be better for representing the quality of medicinal materials.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results