Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors among Employees in Public Utility Places of Zhejiang Province, China

Depression has been known to adversely influence the working performance of employees. However, compared with physical health, few studies have reported the prevalence of depressive symptoms among employees in workplaces. This study aimed to investigate the current situation and the relationships among the prevalence of depressive symptoms, physical health, social–psychological factors, working conditions, environmental perception, and workplace performance of employees in public utility places in Zhejiang Province, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the fourth quarter of 2019. A total of 1232 individuals responded to the survey. Six types of information—sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, psychosocial factors, four groups of physical symptoms, working performance, and depressive symptoms—were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed. The survey results showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among employees in public utility places in Zhejiang Province was 17.9%. Perceptions of a poor work environment, poor interpersonal relationships, an unfulfilling life, and frequent ocular and general uncomfortable symptoms were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms. Strong work ability, fulfilment in life, and taking the initiative to wear or use protective equipment at work were associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms. The results of this study will provide valuable guidance for the scientific intervention for depressive symptoms among public utility place employees in the future

Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils over the Past Five Years in Zhejiang, Southeast China

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils has attracted increasing attention in recent years. In this study, 1999 agricultural soil samples were collected from 11 cities in Zhejiang Province from 2016 to 2020, and the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of 3 of the most important heavy metals, i.e., lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) were analyzed. The results showed that Cd had a slightly higher sample over-standard rate of 12.06%. Spatial distribution and temporal trends showed that the Pb concentrations overall increased from 2016 to 2020 and mainly accumulated in southern Zhejiang. In addition, multiple exposure routes were evaluated for human health risks. Children are more susceptible to the adverse effects of heavy metals in agricultural soils, and oral ingestion was the major exposure route. Cr poses higher human health risks to humans than Pb and Cd in agricultural soils. Therefore, more rigid environmental monitoring and related soil remediation counter-measures for some sites with high concentrations of heavy metals are necessary to limit the potential threat to human health

Deciphering the Role of the Gut Microbiota in Exposure to Emerging Contaminants and Diabetes: A Review

Emerging pollutants, a category of compounds currently not regulated or inadequately regulated by law, have recently become a focal point of research due to their potential toxic effects on human health. The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in human health; it is particularly susceptible to disruption and alteration upon exposure to a range of toxic environmental chemicals, including emerging contaminants. The disturbance of the gut microbiome caused by environmental pollutants may represent a mechanism through which environmental chemicals exert their toxic effects, a mechanism that is garnering increasing attention. However, the discussion on the toxic link between emerging pollutants and glucose metabolism remains insufficiently explored. This review aims to establish a connection between emerging pollutants and glucose metabolism through the gut microbiota, delving into the toxic impacts of these pollutants on glucose metabolism and the potential role played by the gut microbiota

Poor Iodine Knowledge, Coastal Region, and Non-Iodized Salt Consumption Linked to Low Urinary Iodine Excretion in Zhejiang Pregnant Women

Background: Iodine deficiency in pregnant women, defined as a median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of less than 150 μg/L, is an important public health issue. To improve their iodine intake, it is important to understand the knowledge and practices regarding iodine. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted on 2642 pregnant women during 2016⁻2017 in Zhejiang province, China. A 3-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to record knowledge. The UIC and iodine content in household salt were determined. Results: Coastal participants were iodine deficient (median UIC 127.6 μg/L) while inland participants were iodine sufficient (median UIC 151.0 μg/L). The average knowledge scores were significantly lower for the coastal participants (24.2 points vs. 25 points for the inland participants; p < 0.001). The percentage for iodized salt consumption was significantly lower for the coastal participants (88.9% vs. 96.0% for those inland; p < 0.001). A generalized linear model analysis showed that non-iodized salt consumption, coastal region, and low knowledge scores were independently associated with a low UIC. Conclusions: Comprehensive interventional strategies are needed to develop to achieve an optimal iodine status. We recommend that coastal pregnant women should take iodine supplements based on the consumption of iodized salt, and improvement of iodine-related knowledge

ABI4 Regulates Primary Seed Dormancy by Regulating the Biogenesis of Abscisic Acid and Gibberellins in Arabidopsis

<div><p>Seed dormancy is an important economic trait for agricultural production. Abscisic acid (ABA) and Gibberellins (GA) are the primary factors that regulate the transition from dormancy to germination, and they regulate this process antagonistically. The detailed regulatory mechanism involving crosstalk between ABA and GA, which underlies seed dormancy, requires further elucidation. Here, we report that ABI4 positively regulates primary seed dormancy, while negatively regulating cotyledon greening, by mediating the biogenesis of ABA and GA. Seeds of the Arabidopsis <i>abi4</i> mutant that were subjected to short-term storage (one or two weeks) germinated significantly more quickly than Wild-Type (WT), and <i>abi4</i> cotyledons greened markedly more quickly than WT, while the rates of germination and greening were comparable when the seeds were subjected to longer-term storage (six months). The ABA content of dry <i>abi4</i> seeds was remarkably lower than that of WT, but the amounts were comparable after stratification. Consistently, the GA level of <i>abi4</i> seeds was increased compared to WT. Further analysis showed that <i>abi4</i> was resistant to treatment with paclobutrazol (PAC), a GA biosynthesis inhibitor, during germination, while <i>OE-ABI4</i> was sensitive to PAC, and exogenous GA rescued the delayed germination phenotype of <i>OE-ABI4</i>. Analysis by qRT-PCR showed that the expression of genes involved in ABA and GA metabolism in dry and germinating seeds corresponded to hormonal measurements. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation qPCR (ChIP-qPCR) and transient expression analysis showed that ABI4 repressed <i>CYP707A1</i> and <i>CYP707A2</i> expression by directly binding to those promoters, and the ABI4 binding elements are essential for this repression. Accordingly, further genetic analysis showed that <i>abi4</i> recovered the delayed germination phenotype of <i>cyp707a1</i> and <i>cyp707a2</i> and further, rescued the non-germinating phenotype of <i>ga1-t</i>. Taken together, this study suggests that ABI4 is a key factor that regulates primary seed dormancy by mediating the balance between ABA and GA biogenesis.</p></div