Effects on soil organic carbon accumulation and mineralization of long-term vegetation restoration in Southwest China karst

Vegetation restoration significantly changes soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and mineralization, obviously affects soil carbon pool. To clarifying effects of vegetation restoration on SOC accumulation and mineralization is of great significance in reducing carbon emission and increasing carbon sequestration. In the present study, the effects on SOC accumulation and mineralization of four types of vegetation restoration engineering including seven species planting measures, all carried out for 28–31 years, were studied. Results showed the long-term vegetation restorations had significant effects on SOC accumulation and mineralization. Tree and vine forest construction measures significantly increased total SOC content and reserves, recalcitrant organic carbon content and proportion, and also obviously raised SOC mineralization rate and cumulative mineralization amount. Grassland construction measures significantly reduced total SOC content and reserves, obviously increased the proportion of soil active organic carbon, and also remarkably raised SOC cumulative mineralization proportion. In addition, the long-term vegetation restoration measures significantly changed the temperature sensitivity of SOC mineralization. The long-term vegetation restoration has remarkable effects on SOC mineralization and accumulation in Southwest China karst area. In the restoration, tree and vine forest construction measures should be preferred, and grassland construction measures should not be implemented. The present study results provide theoretical bases for scientific vegetation restoration of degraded karst ecosystems in Southwest China Karst and are of great significances in reducing soil carbon emission and increasing soil carbon sequestration

Association between spicy food and hypertension among Han Chinese aged 30–79 years in Sichuan Basin: a population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract Background While spicy food is believed to have cardiovascular-protective effects, its impact on hypertension remains uncertain due to conflicting findings from previous studies. This study aimed to explore the association between spicy food and hypertension in Sichuan Basin, China. Methods The baseline data of 43,657 residents aged 30–79 in the Sichuan Basin were analyzed including a questionnaire survey (e.g., sociodemographics, diet and lifestyle, medical history), medical examinations (e.g., height, body weight, and blood pressure), and clinical laboratory tests (e.g., blood and urine specimens). Participants were recruited by multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling in consideration of both sex ratio and age ratio between June 2018 and February 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to explore the effect of spicy food on hypertension and multivariable linear regression was applied to estimate the effect of spicy food on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP). Results Concerning hypertension, negative associations with spicy food consumption were observed only in females: compared to those who do not eat spicy food, the odds ratios of consuming spicy food 6–7 days/week, consuming spicy food with strong strength, and years of eating spicy food-to-age ratio were 0.886 (0.799, 0.982), 0.757 (0.587, 0.977), 0.632 (0.505, 0.792), respectively. No significant association was found in males (All P trends > 0.05). In the stratified analyses, participants in the subgroup who were 50 to 79 years old (OR, 95%CI: 0.814, 0.763, 0.869), habitually snored (OR, 95%CI: 0.899, 0.829, 0.976), had a BMI  0.05), except for a decrease of 0.591 mmHg ( 95%CI: -1.078, -0.105) in DBP among participants who consumed spicy food 1–2 days/week, compared to those who did not consume spicy food. Conclusion Spicy food may lower SBP and has an antihypertensive effect, particularly beneficial for women and individuals with fewer risk factors in the Sichuan Basin. Spicy food consumption may decrease DBP in women but increase it in men. Further multicenter prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings

Development and validation of a deep learning-based fully automated algorithm for pre-TAVR CT assessment of the aortic valvular complex and detection of anatomical risk factors: a retrospective, multicentre studyResearch in context

Summary: Background: Pre-procedural computed tomography (CT) imaging assessment of the aortic valvular complex (AVC) is essential for the success of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, pre-TAVR assessment is a time-intensive process, and the visual assessment of anatomical structures at the AVC shows interobserver variability. This study aimed to develop and validate a deep learning-based algorithm for pre-TAVR CT assessment and anatomical risk factor detection. Methods: This retrospective, multicentre study used AVC CT scans to develop a deep learning-based, fully automated algorithm, which was then internally and externally validated. After loading CT scans into the algorithm, it automatically assessed the essential anatomical structure data required for TAVR planning. CT scans of 1252 TAVR candidates continuously enrolled from Fuwai Hospital were used to establish training and internal validation datasets, while CT scans of 100 patients with aortic valve disease across 19 Chinese hospitals served as an external validation dataset. The validation focused on segmentation performance, localisation and measurement accuracy of key anatomical structures, detection ability of specific anatomical risk factors, and improvement in assessment efficiency. Findings: Relative to senior observers, our algorithm achieved significant consistent performance with remarkable accuracy, efficiency and ease in segmentation, localisation, and the assessment of the aortic annulus perimeter-derived diameter, and other basic planes, coronary ostia height, calcification volume, and aortic angle. The intraclass correlation coefficient values for the algorithm in the internal and external validation datasets were up to 0.998 (95% confidence interval 0.998–0.998), respectively. Furthermore, the algorithm demonstrated high alignment in detecting specific anatomical risk factors, with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity up to 0.989 (95% CI 0.973–0.996), 0.979 (95% CI 0.936–0.995), 0.986 (95% CI 0.945–0.998), respectively. Interpretation: Our algorithm efficiently performs pre-TAVR assessments by using AVC CT imaging with accuracy comparable to senior observers, potentially improving TAVR planning in clinical practice. Funding: National Key R&D Program of China (2020YFC2008100), CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2022-I2M-C&T-B-044)

Ticagrelor With or Without Aspirin in Chinese Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A TWILIGHT China Substudy

BACKGROUND: The risk/benefit tradeoff of dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention may vary in East Asian patients as compared with their non-East Asian counterparts. METHODS: The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized TWILIGHT trial (Ticagrelor With Aspirin or Alone in High-Risk Patients After Coronary Intervention) enrolled patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. After 3 months of treatment with ticagrelor plus aspirin, event-free and adherent patients remained on ticagrelor and were randomly assigned to receive aspirin or placebo for 1 year. The primary end point was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding; the key secondary end point was the first occurrence of death from any cause, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. RESULTS: Of 9006 enrolled and 7119 randomized patients in TWILIGHT, 1169 patients (13.0%) were enrolled at 27 Chinese sites in this prespecified substudy, of whom 1028 (14.4%) patients were randomized after 3 months. The incidence of the primary end point was 6.2% in the ticagrelor+aspirin group versus 3.5% in the ticagrelor+placebo group between randomization and 1 year (hazard ratio, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.31-0.99]; P=0.048). The key secondary end point occurred in 3.4% of patients in the ticagrelor+aspirin group versus 2.4% in the ticagrelor+placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.33-1.46]; P=0.34). There was no interaction between the region of randomization (China versus the rest of the world) and randomized treatment assignment in terms of the primary or key secondary end points. CONCLUSIONS: Ticagrelor monotherapy significantly reduced clinically relevant bleeding without increasing ischemic events as compared with ticagrelor plus aspirin in Chinese patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT02270242