OBJECTIVE: Humans are exposed to complex mixtures of environmental chemicals and other factors that can affect their health. Analysis of these mixture exposures presents several key challenges for environmental epidemiology and risk assessment, including high dimensionality, correlated exposure, and subtle individual effects. METHODS: We proposed a novel statistical approach, the generalized functional linear model (GFLM), to analyze the health effects of exposure mixtures. GFLM treats the effect of mixture exposures as a smooth function by reordering exposures based on specific mechanisms and capturing internal correlations to provide a meaningful estimation and interpretation. The robustness and efficiency was evaluated under various scenarios through extensive simulation studies. RESULTS: We applied the GFLM to two datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In the first application, we examined the effects of 37 nutrients on BMI (2011-2016 cycles). The GFLM identified a significant mixture effect, with fiber and fat emerging as the nutrients with the greatest negative and positive effects on BMI, respectively. For the second application, we investigated the association between four pre- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and gout risk (2007-2018 cycles). Unlike traditional methods, the GFLM indicated no significant association, demonstrating its robustness to multicollinearity. CONCLUSION GFLM framework is a powerful tool for mixture exposure analysis, offering improved handling of correlated exposures and interpretable results. It demonstrates robust performance across various scenarios and real-world applications, advancing our understanding of complex environmental exposures and their health impacts on environmental epidemiology and toxicology.
Humans ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; Linear Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Environmental Pollutants ; Body Mass Index

BackgroundWomen may develop severe symptoms of stress disorder following childbirth， which may be exposed to a risk of developing mental health problems， and even lead to the recurrence of the illness in female patients with schizophrenia， while comparatively limited research has been undertaken concerning the clinical characteristics and treatment of puerperal schizophrenia in China. ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics of puerperal schizophrenia， so as to provide references for the clinical treatment. MethodsA total of 24 patients with puerperal schizophrenia who were hospitalized in the female ward of adult psychiatry department of the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from 2012 to 2020 and met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fourth edition （DSM-IV） diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia were included as puerperal group. Another 48 non-puerperal women with schizophrenia were concurrently enrolled as control group. Then the basic data， scores on Positive and Negative Symptom Scale （PANSS） and the discharge medication were recorded. ResultsThe percentages of newly onset and positive family history of psychosis in puerperal group were larger than those in control group， with statistical significance （χ²=9.321， 5.240， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Puerperal group scored higher on PANSS excitement factor （t=-2.220， P<0.05） and lower on negative factor （t=3.377， P<0.01） compared with control group. In terms of discharge medication， puerperal group reported a higher dosage of antipsychotic drugs （t=-2.095， P<0.05）， and a larger proportion of combined use of benzodiazepines or antidepressants （χ²=21.316， 5.114， P<0.05 or 0.01） compared with control group， with statistical significance. ConclusionPatients with puerperal schizophrenia display increased ratings of excitement symptoms and decreased ratings of negative symptoms， which necessitates the use of high doses of antipsychotic drugs， and combined use of benzodiazepines and antidepressants.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA)in measurement of appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASM)of adults.Methods A total of 836 adults aged 18-42 years were recruited in Guangzhou using a convenient sampling method from April 2021 to September 2022.ASM was measured using BIA and Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA).Using DXA as the standard method,the consistency between the BIA and DXA measurements was evaluated by intra-class correlation coefficients(ICCs)and Bland-Altman analysis in logarithmically transformed data,in order to evaluate the accuracy of BIA in ASM measurement.Receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of BIA for screening low muscle mass.Results A total of 774 individuals were included for analysis finally.ICCs for ASM measured by BIA and DXA were 0.774 and 0.667 in males and females,respectively.Mean ratios(limits of Agreement)of ASM were 0.94(0.80-1.10)and 0.91(0.78-1.05)in males and females,respectively.Area under curve of BIA for screening low muscle mass were 0.91 and 0.94 in males and females,respectively.The optimal cut-off values of Z-score by BIA for males and females were-0.57 and-0.66,respectively.Sensitivity and specificity for males were 82.5%and 86.0%,while being 86.8%and 93.8%,for females.Conclusion BIA shows a moderate consistency with DXA for measuring ASM in adults.Furthermore,BIA yields a good diagnostic value in identifying low muscle mass in adults aged 18-42 years.

Pulmonary fibrosis(PF)is a chronic progressive end-stage lung disease.However,the mechanisms un-derlying the progression of this disease remain elusive.Presently,clinically employed drugs are scarce for the treatment of PF.Hence,there is an urgent need for developing novel drugs to address such diseases.Our study found for the first time that a natural source of Prismatomeris connata Y.Z.Ruan(Huang Gen,HG)ethyl acetate extract(HG-2)had a significant anti-PF effect by inhibiting the expression of the transforming growth factor beta 1/suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic(TGF-β1/Smad)pathway.Network pharmacological analysis suggested that HG-2 had effects on tyrosine kinase phosphorylation,cellular response to reactive oxygen species,and extracellular matrix(ECM)disassembly.Moreover,mass spec-trometry imaging(MSI)was used to visualize the heterogeneous distribution of endogenous metabolites in lung tissue and reveal the anti-PF metabolic mechanism of HG-2,which was related to arginine biosyn-thesis and alanine,asparate and glutamate metabolism,the downregulation of arachidonic acid meta-bolism,and the upregulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism.In conclusion,we elaborated on the relationship between metabolite distribution and the progression of PF,constructed the regulatory metabolic network of HG-2,and discovered the multi-target therapeutic effect of HG-2,which might be conducive to the development of new drugs for PF.

Objective: To investigate the factors influencing parents willingness to vaccinate their children against influenza in Guangzhou, and to provide a scientific basic for effectively improving the coverage rate of influenza vaccine in children. Methods: According to economic level, one secondary school and one elementary school in each of the central administrative and peripheral districts of Guangzhou were selected by stratified cluster sampling. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 5 133 parents of the school students. Questionnaire content included the basic characteristics of children and their parents, and parents knowledge of influenza vaccination for children. Results: A total of 14.57%(748/5 133) of parents were unwilling to have their children vaccinated against influenza. The results of the multivariate Logistic regression analysis found that, compared with parents aged ≤35 years old, parents aged 41-45 years and ≥46 years were 49% (adjusted OR=1.49, 95%CI =1.11-2.00) and 86% (adjusted OR= 1.86 , 95%CI =1.33-2.60), respectively, more likely to refuse vaccinating their children. Parents with an annual income ≥ 200 000 yuan were 52% more likely to be unwilling to vaccinate their children than those with annual income <100 000 yuan (adjusted OR=1.52, 95%CI =1.12-2.06). Parents living within a walking distance ≥30 minutes from the vaccination clinic were 52% more likely to be vaccinereluctant than those living within a walking distance of ≤10 minutes (adjusted OR=1.52, 95%CI = 1.16- 1.99). Compared with parents who regarded the vaccine as safe, parents who did not believe that it was safe or who were unsure of its safety were more likely to refuse vaccinating their children, with adjusted OR(95%CI ) of 12.75(9.44-17.23) and 3.37(2.73- 4.15 ), respectively( P <0.01). Conclusion Parents age, annual income, recognition of the safety of influenza vaccines, and walking distance to the vaccination clinic are associated with parents willingness to vaccinate children against influenza. Hospitals, communities and schools should cooperate to carry out vaccination and popular science propaganda, and arrange vaccination sites rationally to improve the coverage of influenza vaccines.

Objective:To study the efficacy of laparoscopic limited anatomical hepatectomy (LLAH) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the right anterior section.Methods:The clinical data of 144 patients with HCC confined in the right anterior section undergoing hepatectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2015 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 122 males and 22 females, aged (54.5±9.7) years. Patients were divided into LLAH ( n=27), laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy (LAH, n=69), and laparoscopic non-anatomical hepatectomy (LNAH, n=48). Propensity score matching was used to compare the operative time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications, serum total bilirubin and albumin, and the prognostic indicators such as tumor-free survival (DFS) rate and cumulative survival rate between the groups. Results:After propensity score matching, there were 26 cases each in LLAH and LNAH group. There was no significant difference in operative time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay between LLAH group and LNAH group (all P<0.05). The total bilirubin and albumin in LLAH on the third day after operation were [ M( Q1, Q3)] 24.1(20.9, 29.1) μmol/L and (35.8±2.9) g/L, better than those in LNAH group 39.3(33.2, 57.0) μmol/L and (33.9±2.5) g/L, respectively. The 1- and 3-year DFS rates in LLAH group were 92.3% and 57.7%, higher than those in LNAH group (80.8% and 19.2%) (all P<0.05). After propensity score matching, there were 25 patients each in LLAH and LAH group. The operative time, postoperative hospital stay and postoperative complications of LLAH group were lower than those of LAH group, and the liver function parameters of LLAH group was also better than those of LAH group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in DSF rate between the two groups LLAH group and LAH group ( χ2=0.10, P=0.800). Conclusions:The perioperative outcome of LLAH for HCC within the right anterior section are similar to that of LNAH and better than that of LAH. The DFS of LLAH were better than that of LNAH and similar to that of LAH.

Objective:To determine the accuracy and clinical application of donor HLA quartile genotyping based upon transplanted kidney biopsy.Methods:The clinical and follow-up data are retrospectively reviewed for 38 recipients of kidney transplantation(KT)at First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from 2019 to 2022.They are suspected of rejection.HLA quartile genotyping of donor kidney is performed through puncture and DNA analysis by LABType SSO method.Known HLA genotypes of recipients are compared for predicting HLA genotypes of donors.Donor-specific antibody(DSA)is detected by Labscreen Single kit.And SPSS18.0 statistical software is employed for processing baseline data, donor/recipient HLA typing data, recipient DSA antibody data and transplant nephropathy parameters.Results:Among them, 12(31.58%)belonged to HLA-A, B, C, DR and DQ.Four loci are detected in 14 cases(36.84%). Three sites are detected in 10 cases(26.32%). Two sites are detected in 2 cases(5.26%)and a negative correlation exists between detected sites and transplantation time( rs=-0.707, P=0.001). The detection rate of HLA loci is 78.94%(30 cases). B: 65.78%(25 cases); C: 84.21%(32 cases); DR: 57.89%(22 cases); DQ: 100% (38 cases); HLA sites detected in puncture tissue are 89.47% consistent with the results of donor whole blood test, among which HLA-C and HLA-DQ sites are 100% consistent and HLA-A and HLA-B sites 87.50% and 90% consistent and HLA-DR sites 66.7% consistent( P<0.01). Spearman's rank correlation analysis indicated that pathological diagnosis of interstitial inflammation( rs=-0.432, P=0.017), renal tubule atrophy( rs=-0.587, P=0.001)and interstitial fibrosis( rs=-0.560, P=0.001)are correlated negatively with HLA detected sites in transplanted kidney puncture tissue.DSA is detected in 42.1% of recipients and 68.75% of recipients belonged to HLA-DQ. Conclusions:HLA typing results of puncture tissue are consistent with those of whole blood test.Time after transplantation, infiltration of transplanted nephritis cells and degree of fibrosis may influence the detection of HLA loci.Donor HLA quartile genotyping using transplanted kidney biopsy has some diagnostic values for detecting the presence of DSA.

Objective To investigate the food preferences and explore the potential association between dietary knowledge and food preferences in residents aged 18 and over in China,so as to provide a basis for promoting healthy diets.Methods The latent class analysis was carried out with the 2015 cross-sectional data of China health and nutrition survey to categorize the food preferences among 8 783 residents aged 18 and over.Multinomial Logistic regression was adopted to assess the association between and dietary knowledge and food preferences.Results The food preferences of the residents aged 18 and over in China were classified into preference for less vegetable(3.28%),lack of preference(11.20%),diverse preferences(4.19%),and preference for healthy diets(81.33%).The proportion of the adults with dietary knowledge was 36.87%(3 238/8 783).The dietary knowledge varied in the adults with different food preferences(all P<0.001).After adjusting for gender,age,urban and rural distribution,education background,and annual household income,for each point increase in the dietary knowledge score,there was an estimated reduction of 22% in the probability of preferring less vegetables(OR=0.78,95%CI=0.76-0.80, P<0.001),13% in the probability of lacking preference(OR=0.87,95%CI=0.86-0.89, P<0.001),and 3% in the probability of having diverse preferences(OR=0.97,95%CI=0.94-1.00, P=0.030).Compared with those lacking dietary knowledge,the individuals with dietary knowledge had a 77% less probability of preferring less vegetables(OR=0.23,95%CI=0.16-0.32, P<0.001),a 55% less probability of lacking preference(OR=0.45,95%CI=0.39-0.53, P<0.001),and a 23% less probability of having diverse preferences(OR=0.77,95%CI=0.61-0.96, P=0.023).Conclusions The residents aged 18 and over in China presented four food preferences,including preference for less vegetables,lack of preference,diverse preferences,and preference for healthy diets,the last of which had the highest proportion.The individuals with lower levels of dietary knowledge have higher probability of preferring unhealthy food.
Adult ; Humans ; Adolescent ; Food Preferences ; Latent Class Analysis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Nutrition Surveys ; China

Objective To compare the consistency of quantitative ultrasound(QUS)and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA)in measuring bone mineral density(BMD)of adults aged 18-40 years in Guangzhou and evaluate the diagnostic value of QUS for identifying low bone mass.Methods DXA was employed to measure the BMD and QUS to measure the speed of sound(SOS)in 731 participants.The Bland-Altman analysis was performed to evaluate the consistency of Z scores between SOS and BMD.With the BMD Z ≤-2.00 as the diagnostic criterion for low bone mass,the receiver operating characteristics curve of QUS was established,and the area under the curve(AUC)and the sensitivity,specificity,and correct diagnostic index for the optimal cut-off of SOS Z score were calculated.Results The results of Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean differences in the Z scores of SOS and BMD in males and females were 1.27(-0.94 to 3.47)and 0.93(-1.33 to 3.18),respectively.The AUC of SOS Z score in the diagnosis of low bone mass in males and females was 0.734(95%CI=0.380-0.788)and 0.679(95%CI=0.625-0.732),respectively.In males,the optimal cut-off of SOS Z score for low bone mass was -0.35,with the sensitivity,specificity,and correct diagnostic index of 64.1%,68.6%,and 0.327,respectively.In females,the optimal cut-off value of SOS Z scores for low bone mass was -1.14,with the sensitivity,specificity,and correct index of 73.9%,54.8%,and 0.285,respectively.Conclusion QUS and DXA show poor consistency in the diagnosis of BMD in the adults aged 18-40 years in Guangzhou,while QUS demonstrates an acceptable value in identifying low bone mass.
Male ; Female ; Adult ; Humans ; Absorptiometry, Photon/methods* ; Bone Density ; Ultrasonography ; Bone and Bones ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity