Source Apportionment and Influencing Factor Analysis of Residential Indoor PM2.5 in Beijing

In order to identify the sources of indoor PM2.5 and to check which factors influence the concentration of indoor PM2.5 and chemical elements, indoor concentrations of PM2.5 and its related elements in residential houses in Beijing were explored. Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 samples that were monitored continuously for one week were collected. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM2.5 and 15 elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Se, Tl, V, Zn) were calculated and compared. The median indoor concentration of PM2.5 was 57.64 μg/m3. For elements in indoor PM2.5, Cd and As may be sensitive to indoor smoking, Zn, Ca and Al may be related to indoor sources other than smoking, Pb, V and Se may mainly come from outdoor. Five factors were extracted for indoor PM2.5 by factor analysis, explained 76.8% of total variance, outdoor sources contributed more than indoor sources. Multiple linear regression analysis for indoor PM2.5, Cd and Pb was performed. Indoor PM2.5 was influenced by factors including outdoor PM2.5, smoking during sampling, outdoor temperature and time of air conditioner use. Indoor Cd was affected by factors including smoking during sampling, outdoor Cd and building age. Indoor Pb concentration was associated with factors including outdoor Pb and time of window open per day, building age and RH. In conclusion, indoor PM2.5 mainly comes from outdoor sources, and the contributions of indoor sources also cannot be ignored. Factors associated indoor and outdoor air exchange can influence the concentrations of indoor PM2.5 and its constituents

Inflammatory markers predict survival in patients with postoperative urothelial carcinoma receiving tislelizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) adjuvant therapy

Abstract Background In the management of urothelial carcinoma, patient selection for immunotherapy, particularly with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1), is important for treatment efficacy. Inflammatory markers are useful for predicting treatment outcomes and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This study aims to retrospectively explore the associations between inflammatory markers and outcomes in patients with postoperative urothelial carcinoma undergoing tislelizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) adjuvant therapy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 133 patients with postoperative urothelial carcinoma who received tislelizumab adjuvant therapy at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from April 2020 to August 2023. The prognostic effects of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using Cox regression models. The correlation between inflammatory markers and the onset of irAEs was analyzed using logistic regression models. Results NLR 5 and MLR >0.31, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that an NLR 135. Patients who experienced irAEs had longer DFS and OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that irAEs were an independent prognostic risk factor for DFS and OS. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of irAEs among different NLR, PLR, and MLR groups. Conclusion In patients with postoperative urothelial carcinoma receiving tislelizumab adjuvant therapy, the assessment of NLR and MLR before treatment may serve as valuable predictive markers of clinical outcome

Acute effects of ambient air pollution on outpatient children with respiratory diseases in Shijiazhuang, China

Abstract Background Associations between ambient air pollution and child health outcomes have been well documented in developed countries such as the United States; however, only a limited number of studies have been conducted in developing countries. This study aimed to explore the acute effects of five ambient air pollutants (inhalable particles [PM10], fine particles [PM2.5], sulfur dioxide [SO2], nitrogen dioxide [NO2] and 0zone [O3]) on children hospital outpatients with respiratory diseases in Shijiazhuang, China. Methods Three years (2013–2015) of daily data, including cause-specific respiratory outpatient records and the concentrations of five air pollutants, were collected to examine the short-term association between air pollution and children’s respiratory diseases; using a quasi-Poisson regression generalized additive model. Stratified analyses by season and age were also performed. Results From 2013 to 2015, a total of 551,678 hospital outpatient records for children with respiratory diseases were collected in Shijiazhuang, China. A 10 μg/m3 increase in a two-day average concentration (lag01) of NO2, PM2.5, and SO2 corresponded to an increase of 0.66% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30–1.03%), 0.13% (95% CI: 0.02–0.24%), and 0.33% (95% CI: 0.10–0.56%) in daily hospital outpatient visits for children with respiratory diseases, respectively. The effects were stronger in the transition season (April, May, September and October) than in other seasons (the hot season [June to August] and the cool season [November to March]). Furthermore, results indicated a generally stronger association in older (7–14 years of age) than younger children (< 7 years of age). Conclusions This research found a significant association between ambient NO2, PM2.5, and SO2 levels and hospital outpatient visits in child with respiratory diseases in Shijiazhuang, China

Air Pollutants, Climate, and the Prevalence of Pediatric Asthma in Urban Areas of China

Background. Prevalence of childhood asthma varies significantly among regions, while its reasons are not clear yet with only a few studies reporting relevant causes for this variation. Objective. To investigate the potential role of city-average levels of air pollutants and climatic factors in order to distinguish differences in asthma prevalence in China and explain their reasons. Methods. Data pertaining to 10,777 asthmatic patients were obtained from the third nationwide survey of childhood asthma in China’s urban areas. Annual mean concentrations of air pollutants and other climatic factors were obtained for the same period from several government departments. Data analysis was implemented with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Results. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the situation of childhood asthma was strongly linked with SO2, relative humidity, and hours of sunshine (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that, among the predictor variables in the final step, SO2 was found to be the most powerful predictor variable amongst all (β=-19.572, p < 0.05). Furthermore, results had shown that hours of sunshine (β = -0.014, p < 0.05) was a significant component summary predictor variable. Conclusion. The findings of this study do not suggest that air pollutants or climate, at least in terms of children, plays a major role in explaining regional differences in asthma prevalence in China

Additional file 1 of Inflammatory markers predict survival in patients with postoperative urothelial carcinoma receiving tislelizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) adjuvant therapy

Supplementary material 1

Fc effector of anti-Aβ antibody induces synapse loss and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease-like mouse model

Passive immunotherapy is one of the most promising interventions for Alzheimer's disease (AD).However,almost all immune-modulating strategies fail in clinical trials with unclear causes although they attenuate neuropathology and cognitive deficits in AD animal models.Here,we showed that Aβ-targeting antibodies including their IgG1 and IgG4 subtypes induced microglial engulfment of neuronal synapses by activating CR3 or FcγRllb via the complex of Aβ,antibody,and complement.Notably,anti-Aβ antibodies without Fc fragment,or with blockage of CR3 or FcγRllb,did not exert these adverse effects.Consistently,Aβ-targeting antibodies,but not their Fab fragments,significantly induced acute microglial synapse removal and rapidly exacerbated cognitive deficits and neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice post-treatment,whereas the memory impairments in mice were gradually rescued thereafter.Since the recovery rate of synapses in humans is much lower than that in mice,our findings may clarify the variances in the preclinical and clinical studies assessing AD immunotherapies.Therefore,Aβ-targeting antibodies lack of Fc fragment,or with reduced Fc effector function,may not induce microglial synaptic pruning,providing a safer and more efficient therapeutic alternative for passive immunotherapy for AD

Fc effector of anti-Aβ antibody induces synapse loss and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease-like mouse model

Passive immunotherapy is one of the most promising interventions for Alzheimer's disease (AD).However,almost all immune-modulating strategies fail in clinical trials with unclear causes although they attenuate neuropathology and cognitive deficits in AD animal models.Here,we showed that Aβ-targeting antibodies including their IgG1 and IgG4 subtypes induced microglial engulfment of neuronal synapses by activating CR3 or FcγRllb via the complex of Aβ,antibody,and complement.Notably,anti-Aβ antibodies without Fc fragment,or with blockage of CR3 or FcγRllb,did not exert these adverse effects.Consistently,Aβ-targeting antibodies,but not their Fab fragments,significantly induced acute microglial synapse removal and rapidly exacerbated cognitive deficits and neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice post-treatment,whereas the memory impairments in mice were gradually rescued thereafter.Since the recovery rate of synapses in humans is much lower than that in mice,our findings may clarify the variances in the preclinical and clinical studies assessing AD immunotherapies.Therefore,Aβ-targeting antibodies lack of Fc fragment,or with reduced Fc effector function,may not induce microglial synaptic pruning,providing a safer and more efficient therapeutic alternative for passive immunotherapy for AD

Moderating effect of salidroside on intestinal microbiota in mice exposed to PM2.5

BackgroundSalidroside (SAL) has a protective effect on multiple organ systems. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the atmosphere may lead to disruptions in gut microbiota and impact intestinal health. The regulatory effect of SAL on the gut microbiota of mice exposed to PM2.5 requires further investigation.ObjectiveTo evaluate gut microbiota disruption in mice after being exposed to PM2.5 and the potential effect of SAL.MethodsForty male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6 to 8 weeks, were randomly divided into four groups: a control group, an SAL group, a PM2.5 group, and an SAL+PM2.5 group, each containing 10 mice. In the SAL group and the SAL+PM2.5 group, the mice were administered SAL (60 mg·kg−1) by gavage, while in the control group and the PM2.5 group, sterile saline (10 mL·kg−1) was administered by gavage. In the PM2.5 group and the SAL+PM2.5 group, PM2.5 suspension (8 mg·kg−1) was intratracheally instilled, and in the control group and SAL group, sterile saline (1.5 mL·kg−1) was intratracheally administered. Each experiment cycle spanned 2 d, with a total of 10 cycles conducted over 20 d. Histopathological changes in the ileum tissue of the mice were observed after HE staining. Colon contents were collected for gut microbiota sequencing and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) measurements.ResultsThe PM2.5 group showed infiltration of inflammatory cells in the ileum tissue, while the SAL+PM2.5 group exhibited only a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared to the control group, the PM2.5 group showed decreased Shannon index (P<0.05) and increased Simpson index (P<0.05), indicating that the diversity of gut microbiota in this group was decreased; the SAL+PM2.5 group showed increased Shannon index compared to the PM2.5 group (P<0.05) and decreased Simpson index (P<0.05), indicating that the diversity of gut microbiota in mice intervened with SAL was increased. The principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed a significant separation between the PM2.5 group and the control group, while the separation trend was less evident among the control group, the SAL group, and the SAL+PM2.5 group. The unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) clustering tree results showed that the control group and the SAL group clustered together first, followed by clustering with the SAL+PM2.5 group, and finally, the three groups clustered with the PM2.5 group. The PCoA and UPGMA clustering results indicated that the uniformity and similarity of the microbiota in the PM2.5 group were significantly decreased. Compared to the control group, the PM2.5 group showed decreased abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes and Candidatus_Saccharimonas (P<0.05) and increased abundance of phylum Proteobacteria, genus Escherichia, genus Bacteroides, genus Prevotella, genus Enterococcus, and genus Proteus (P<0.05). Compared to the PM2.5 group, the SAL+PM2.5 group showed decreased abundance of phylum Proteobacteria, phylum Actinobacteria, genus Prevotella, and genus Proteus (P<0.05), and increased abundance of Candidatus_Saccharimonas (P<0.05). The PM2.5 group showed reduced levels of propionic acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid compared to the control group (P<0.05), while the SAL+PM2.5 group showed increased levels of propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid compared to the PM2.5 group (P<0.05).ConclusionExposure to PM2.5 can cause pathological alterations, microbial dysbiosis, and disturbing production of SCFAs in intestinal tissue in mice. However, SAL can provide a certain degree of protective effect against these changes

Simulation Studies Provide Evidence of Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a Multi-Story Building via Air Supply, Exhaust and Sanitary Pipelines

A cross-layer non-vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in a quarantine hotel in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China in June 2021. To explore the cross-layer transmission path and influencing factors of viral aerosol, we set up different scenarios to carry out simulation experiments. The results showed that the air in the polluted room can enter the corridor by opening the door to take food and move out the garbage, then mix with the fresh air taken from the outside as part of the air supply of the central air conditioning system and re-enter into different rooms on the same floor leading to the same-layer transmission. In addition, flushing the toilet after defecation and urination will produce viral aerosol that pollutes rooms on different floors through the exhaust system and the vertical drainage pipe in the bathroom, resulting in cross-layer vertical transmission, also aggravating the transmission in different rooms on the same floor after mixing with the air of the room and entering the corridor to become part of the air supply, and meanwhile, continuing to increase the cross-layer transmission through the vertical drainage pipe. Therefore, the air conditioning and ventilation system of the quarantine hotel should be operated in full fresh air mode and close the return air; the exhaust volume of the bathroom should be greater than the fresh air volume. The exhaust pipe of the bathroom should be independently set and cannot be interconnected or connected in series. The riser of the sewage and drainage pipeline of the bathroom should maintain vertical to exhaust independently and cannot be arbitrarily changed to horizontal pipe assembly