ObjectiveTo investigate the chemical hazards in the production line of lithium batteries, so as to provide a scientific basis for the management of occupational-health risk and to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the lithium battery industry. MethodsAn on-site survey on the process flow of the production of lithium battery was conducted in an enterprise. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the occupational environment were collected by Summa canisters, carbonates and N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) were collected using activated carbon tubes, and airborne metals were collected using filter membranes. VOCs, carbonates and NMP were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and airborne metal elements in the dust samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ResultsNon-targeted environmental monitoring results indicated that NMP was detected in the negative /positive electrode coating, assembly and drying filling workstations, dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was detected in the assembly, drying and electrolyte injection workstations, and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) was detected solely in the electrolyte injection workstation. Semi-quantitative analyses of VOCs identified 136 pollutants, including acrylonitrile and halohydrocarbons. Quantitative targeted environmental monitoring results revealed the highest geometric mean (GM) concentration of EMC (31.450 mg·m^-3) was found in the assembly and drying workstations, diethyl carbonate (DEC) was detected in all workstations. While vinylene carbonate (VC) and ethylene carbonate (EC) were detected only in electrolyte injection, assembly and drying workstations. NMP was detected in all positive electrode coating samples, with a GM concentration of 5.68 mg·m^-3 (concentration range: 4.0‒ 7.4 mg·m^-³). Lithium was exclusively detected in dust samples from the liquid injection workstation (GM: 0.014 μg·m^-³). ConclusionNMP, EMC, DEC, and other chemicals are identified at the key workstations such as the positive electrode coating, electrolyte injection, assembly and drying in the lithium production line. Furthermore, semi-quantitative VOCs analyses identified 136 pollutants, demonstrating a characteristic of multicomponent chemical exposure.

Humans ; Air Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Genotype ; China/epidemiology* ; Hypertension/epidemiology*

Occupational pneumoconiosis (referred to as “pneumoconiosis”) caused by exposure to occupational dust is the most serious occupational disease in China. Biological monitoring on occupational populations exposed to dust is important for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pneumoconiosis. Biological monitoring is a systematic engineering process that includes a series of processes such as biological samples selection, selection of biological monitoring indicators, and selection of detection methods. The biological samples for biological monitoring mainly include urine, blood, exhaled breath gas, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, saliva, sputum, and more. The indicators of biological monitoring involve multiple pathways such as oxidative stress, inflammatory response, collagen synthesis/degradation, phagocytic cell apoptosis, and pathways related to the formation of pneumoconiosis. Suitable detection methods need to be determined upon different biological monitoring indicators, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, high-performance liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, etc. Currently, there is a lack of true clinically valuable biological monitoring indicators that can indicate the correlation between dust exposure and the hazards of occupational populations, and there are no systematic and complete biological monitoring methods reported. It is necessary to further standardize the biological monitoring process and search for specific biological monitoring indicators.

Objective: To analyze the impact of persistent obesity on their lung function, so as to offer insights for implementing intervention measures to increase lung function in obese school age children. Methods: A total of 335 children from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort established in 2009 in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, who participated in the follow up at the ages of 7 years (2016) and 10 years (2019), were selected as the study participants. Physical measurements including height, weight, and lung function were recorded. According to the World Health Organization standard, that is, gender and age specific to correct the body mass index to calculate the body mass index Z score, was used to evaluate the obesity status of children at the age of 7 and 10. Children were divided into four groups, including sustained non obesity group, restored obesity group, newly classified obesity group, and persistent obesity group. Meanwhile, the lung function prediction equations recommended by the Global Lung Function Initiative were used to standardize the lung function indexes of children. Pulmonary function differences among these groups were examined, and the relationship between childhood obesity and pulmonary function was longitudinally analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results: The prevalence of obesity were 9.0% and 16.1% at the age of 7 and 10 years, respectively. The proportion of both newly classified and persistent obesity group were 8.1%, respectively. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were (1 269.90±202.70) and (1 415.70±230.00) mL, respectively, at the age of 7 years. FEV 1 and FVC at the age of 10 years were (1 440.80±403.20) and (1 555.60±517.60) mL, respectively. Cross sectional analysis at age 7 showed that forced expiratory flow at 75% vital capacity (FEF 75 ) ( β=-0.52, 95%CI =-0.96--0.07) and maximal mid expiratary flow (MMEF) ( β=-0.45, 95%CI =-0.89--0.00) were significantly lower in obese children compared to their non obese peers ( P < 0.05). Longitudinal analysis indicated that obese children had lower levels of lung pulmonary function, with a statistically significant difference in FEV 1 ( β=-0.44, 95%CI=-0.85--0.02, P <0.05). There was no significant difference among the various obesity groups ( P >0.05), while gender stratified results revealed significant reductions in FEV 1/FVC in newly classified obese girls at age 10 years ( β=-1.76, 95%CI =-3.13--0.38) and in MMEF in persistently obese girls at age 10 years ( β=-1.44, 95%CI = -2.79- -0.09) ( P <0.05). Conclusion Obesity may contribute to reduced lung function levels in school aged children, with newly classified and persistent obesity having more pronounced effects on lung function in girls.

Background Perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large group of emerging pollutants, are ubiquitous in the ecological environment. Their multiple organ toxic effects on human body are reported. Understanding the exposure level of PFAS in cord serum and associated influencing factors can provide scientific evidence for studying maternal and newborn health effects and risk regulation. Objective To explore the exposure levels of PFAS in cord serum and potential impact factors. Methods This study was based on the maternal and infant database and the cord serum sample bank of the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS) established in 2009. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, living environment, and lifestyle of mothers during pregnancy. A total of 1097 cord serum samples were measured utilizing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Q-Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify influencing factors related to PFAS exposure level in cord serum. Results A total of 38 types of PFAS were detected in the cord serum samples, including 20 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA), 14 perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSA), and 4 other types of PFAS. The detection rates of 14 PFAS compounds were above 50%. The detection rates of perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA) were in the range of 99.18%-100.00%. The median concentrations of PFOA and 6∶2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (6∶2CI-PFESA) were higher than those of the other compounds, which were 3.76 µg·L⁻¹ and 2.61 µg·L⁻¹, respectively. The correlation coefficients among cord serum PFAS were in the wide range of 0.0911-0.8429 (P < 0.05). The associations between PFHxS and perfluoro-1-heptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) (r=0.8429, P < 0.05), PFOS and PFHpS (r=0.7012, P < 0.05), and PFUdA and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) (r=0.7875, P < 0.05) were positive. The proportions of PFCA and PFSA in the cord serum samples were 60.1% and 38.4%, respectively. PFOA and 6∶2 Cl-PFESA were the predominant compounds in the cord serum samples, whose proportions were 37.8% and 19.3%, respectively. The concentrations of specific types of cord serum PFAS had varied associations with the following demographic variables of pregnant women: age, parity, education level, gestational age, and occupation. The multiple linear regression analysis found that the concentrations of 8 PFAS (PFHxS, PFHpS, PFNA, PFOS, PFDA, PFUdA, PFDoA, and 6∶2 CI-PFESA) in umbilical cord serum were lower in pregnant women aged 25 years and older than in those under the age of 25 years; compared to pregnant women with education levels at or below junior middle school, those with education levels at or above high school had lower concentrations of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA); the concentration of PFHpA in cord serum was negatively correlated with household annual income; multiparous women had higher concentrations of PFNA, PFUdA, and PFDoA than primiparous women; compared to mothers engaged in manual labor, the concentration of perfluoro-1-butanesulfonic acid (PFBS) in umbilical cord serum was lower in mothers engaged in mental labor, while the concentrations of PFBS and PFOA were lower and the concentrations of perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) and 8∶2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (8∶2CI-PFESA) were higher in mothers of other occupational types; the concentrations of umbilical cord serum PFOA, PFOS, PFUdA, and PFDoA were positively correlated with the gestational age of pregnant women, while N-methylperfluoro-1-octanesulfonamido acetic acid (N-MeFOSAA) was negatively correlated with the gestational age of pregnant women; PFTrDA was negatively correlated with the birth weight of newborns; compared with those with insufficient gestational weight gain, those with adequate gestational weight gain had lower PFDoA, while those with excess gestational weight gain had higher N-MeFOSAA. Conclusion PFAS compounds exposure is common in the mothers and infants in the study area. PFOA and 6∶2 CI-PFESA are the two main compounds in cord serum. Cord serum PFAS are associated with several demographic characteristics of the pregnant women. Future research needs to pay more attention to PFAS alternatives and other emerging contaminants.

Objective:To explore the impact of different autonomous breathing exercises on regional pulmonary ventila-tion using electrical impedance tomography(EIT),in order to provide effective rehabilitation guidance for pa-tients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)in selecting exercise standards and methods. Method:A total of 28 healthy volunteers were recruited in the study,who performed the following breathing exercises in a comfortable standing position:①quiet breathing;②diaphragmatic breathing;③pursed-lip breath-ing;④pursed-lip combining diaphragmatic breathing.The four breathing modes were randomly determined for each subject.Chest EIT was continuously performed during the whole process.The tidal volume(TV),end-ex-piratory lung impedance(EELI),center of ventilation(CoV),global inhomogeneity index(GI)and regional ventilation delay(RVD)were compared during the four breathing modes. Result:Compared with quiet breathing,diaphragmatic breathing,pursed-lip breathing,and diaphragmatic pursed-lip breathing significantly increased TV(P＜0.05),reduced EELI(P＜0.05)and decreased CoV(P＜0.05,with in-creased ventral ventilation).GI of diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip combining diaphragmatic breathing was significantly reduced(P＜0.05,more uniform ventilation),while RVD of pursed lip breathing and pursed lip combining diaphragmatic breathing was significantly increased(P＜0.05). Conclusion:Diaphragmatic breathing,pursed-lip breathing,and pursed-lip combining diaphragmatic breathing can effectively increase pulmonary ventilation and reduce pulmonary functional residual volume.However,the three breathing exercises have different impacts on pulmonary ventilation:pursed-lip breathing shifts ventilation more significantly towards the ventral side(smaller COV),and has a more significant regional ventilation de-layed(larger RVD),while diaphragmatic breathing improves ventilation homogeneity(smaller GI).Therefore,from the perspective of regional pulmonary ventilation,it is recommended that COPD patients should alternate between diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing independently during breathing exercises to achieve better breathing exercise effects.

Background Parabens, a widely used class of preservatives, are suspected to be potential obesogens as emerging endocrine disrupting chemicals with reproductive and developmental toxicity. Objective To analyze five urinary parabens (PBs) and estimate the associations of exposure to PBs with adiposity measures in 10-year-old school-age children. Methods A total of 471 school-age children aged 10 years from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect socio-demographic information, physical activity, and dietary intake. Weight, height, and waist circumference of children were measured, and age- and sex-adjusted body mass index (BMI-Z score) was calculated. Spot urine samples were collected during the follow-up visits. Urinary concentrations of five PBs including methyl-paraben (MeP), ethyl-paraben (EtP), propyl-paraben (PrP), butyl-paraben (BuP), and benzyl-paraben (BzP) were detected by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Generalized linear models (GLMs) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to estimate associations of individual/overall urinary PBs concentrations with BMI Z-score and waist circumference. Results The positive rates of selected five urinary PBs were in the range from 78.98% to 98.94%. The urinary PBs concentrations (geometric mean) were in the range of 0.31-5.43 μg·L⁻¹. The children's BMI Z-score and waist circumference (mean ± standard deviation) were (0.56±1.40) and (67.62±10.07) cm respectively. The GLMs results showed that the urinary BzP concentration was negatively associated with waist circumference (b=−0.08, 95%CI: −0.14, −0.02; P=0.01). In sex-stratified analysis, the urinary concentration of BzP was negatively associated with BMI-Z score (b=−0.59, 95%CI: −0.88, −0.30; P<0.001) and waist circumference (b=−0.80, 95%CI: −1.23, −0.37; P<0.001) in boys, but not in girls. The BKMR results also found significant negative correlations of urinary BzP concentrations with BMI-Z score and waist circumference, which were consistent with the GLM results. Conclusion The selected 10-year-old children are extensively exposed to PBs in the study area. Furthermore, childhood PBs exposure may have potential impacts on childhood adiposity measures with sex-specific effects.

Objective:To assess the differences in multidimensional clinical manifestations between patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) matching the Rome Ⅲ criteria but not matching Rome Ⅳ and IBS patients matching the Rome Ⅳ criteria, among patients diagnosed with IBS according to Rome Ⅲ criteria.Methods:From November 2016 to October 2017, a total of 472 IBS patients admitted to six hospitals were selected, which included Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (139 cases), Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine of Zhejiang University (95 cases), the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University (96 cases), the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University (90 cases), the People′s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (20 cases), and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University (32 cases). The 472 IBS patients were divided into the group that matching the Rome Ⅳ criteria (Rome Ⅳ group), and the group that matching the Rome Ⅲ criteria but not matching the Rome Ⅳ criteria (Rome Ⅲ group). The basic characteristics (IBS course, post-infectious IBS, history of smoking or drinking, etc.), abdominal symptoms, and defecation-related symptoms of two groups were compared and analyzed by face-to-face questionnaires. Multi-dimensional clinical manifestations assessment was completed by questionnaires, which included gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS), irritable bowel syndrome-severity scoring system (IBS-SSS), irritable bowel syndrome-quality of life (IBS-QOL), and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Independent sample t-test, rank sum test, and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were 344 patients (72.9%) in Rome Ⅳ group and 128 patients (27.1%) in Rome Ⅲ group. The IBS course of patients in Rome Ⅳ group was longer than that in Rome Ⅲ group (3.0 years (7.0 years) vs. 2.0 years (5.7 years)), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-2.73, P=0.006). The GSRS scores of loose stools and abdominal pain of IBS patients in Rome Ⅳ group were higher than those in Rome Ⅲ group, and the GSRS scores of increased exhaust and abdominal distension of IBS patients in Rome Ⅳ group were lower than those in Rome Ⅲ group (3.0(2.0) vs. 2.0(4.0), 3.0(2.0) vs.1.0(2.0), 1.5(3.0) vs. 2.0(3.0), 1.0 (3.0) vs. 2.0(3.0)), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-2.48, -9.90, -2.11 and -2.06, P=0.013, <0.001, =0.035 and =0.040). The proportions of fatigue and dizziness of IBS patients in Rome Ⅳ group were higher than those in Rome Ⅲ group (58.4% (201/344) vs. 43.0% (55/128), 30.8% (106/344) vs. 29.7% (38/128)), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=8.37 and 12.36, P=0.004 and <0.001). The scores of anxiety and depression subscales of the HADS of IBS patients in Rome Ⅳ group were higher than those in Rome Ⅲ group (6.5 (6.8) vs. 6.0 (6.0), 5.0 (6.0) vs. 3.0 (5.0)), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-2.58 and -2.40, P=0.010 and 0.017). The scores of IBS-SSS scale, abdominal pain severity, abdominal pain frequency, and impact on quality of life of IBS patients in Rome Ⅳ group were all higher than those in Rome Ⅲ group (249.5 (108.0) vs. 177.0 (111.8), 50.0 (25.0) vs. 20.0 (30.0), 50.0 (70.0) vs. 10.0 (30.0), 66.0 (42.0) vs. 42.5 (34.0)), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-7.79, -9.64, -10.65 and -2.48, P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001 and =0.013). The score of IBS-QOL for behavioral disorder of IBS patients in Rome Ⅳ group was lower than that in Rome Ⅲ group (74.5±21.6 vs. 79.2±17.7), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.22, P=0.027). Conclusion:The clinical symptoms of patients mathching the Rome Ⅳ criteria are more typical and severe, as compared with those of IBS patients matching the Rome Ⅲ criteria but not matching the Rome Ⅳ criteria.

Astragalosides are the main active constituents of traditional Chinese medicine Huang-Qi, of which cycloastragenol-type glycosides are the most typical and major bioactive compounds. This kind of compounds exhibit various biological functions including cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, etc. Owing to the limitations of natural sources and the difficulties encountered in chemical synthesis, re-engineering of biosynthetic machinery will offer an alternative and promising approach to producing astragalosides. However, the biosynthetic pathway for astragalosides remains elusive due to their complex structures and numerous reaction types and steps. Herein, guided by transcriptome and phylogenetic analyses, a cycloartenol synthase and four glycosyltransferases catalyzing the committed steps in the biosynthesis of such bioactive astragalosides were functionally characterized from Astragalus membranaceus. AmCAS1, the first reported cycloartenol synthase from Astragalus genus, is capable of catalyzing the formation of cycloartenol; AmUGT15, AmUGT14, AmUGT13, and AmUGT7 are four glycosyltransferases biochemically characterized to catalyze 3-O-xylosylation, 3-O-glucosylation, 25-O-glucosylation/O-xylosylation and 2'-O-glucosylation of cycloastragenol glycosides, respectively. These findings not only clarified the crucial enzymes for the biosynthesis and the molecular basis for the structural diversity of astragalosides in Astragalus plants, also paved the way for further completely deciphering the biosynthetic pathway and constructing an artificial pathway for their efficient production.

Objective: To evaluate the status of dietary diversity and determinants among school age left behind children. Methods: A total of 501 children aged 9-10 years in Sheyang Mini Cohort Study were enrolled from Sheyang City in Jiangsu Province during 2019. A questionnaires survey was administrated to collect left behind and socioeconomic information. Twenty four hour dietary recall survey was conducted, dietary diversity score (DDS 10 and DDS) and food variety score (FVS) were computed according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Weight and height of children were measured and sex and age standardized body mass index was used to define obesity. Multivariable regression models were preformed to explore the determinants of dietary diversity in school age left behind children. Results: The proportion of left behind children was 40.9%. The mean value and standard deviation of three kinds of dietary diversity score (DDS 10 , DDS, FVS) in left behind children were (5.69±1.31)(6.55±1.44) and (13.48± 4.23 ), respectively. All of these were lower than that in non left behind children (DDS 10 :5.99±1.29; DDS:6.79±1.40; FVS:14.15±4.22). Significant difference in DDS 10 between left behind and non left behind children was observed ( P =0.01). The results of multivariable regression demonstrated that gender, passive smoking, family education level and family economic status were related to dietary diversity scores ( P <0.05). Conclusion Dietary diversity in school age left behind children was not optimistic and gender, passive smoking, parental education level, family economic status and left behind situation play a critical role in dietary diversity among these children.