Epidemiological study: Correlation between diet habits and constipation among elderly in Beijing region

AIM To investigate correlations between diet and prevalence of constipation among elderly people in Beijing.METHODS A total of 2776(≥ 60 years) were selected in Beijing region for investigation. Data regarding constipation and diet habits was collected via hierarchical status, segmentation and random cluster sampling. Investigation included constipation-related demographic indicators and diet habits. Door-to-door questionnaires and surveys included daily staple food intakes, frequency of fish, egg, fruits and vegetables consumption. Constipation was defined according to the China Chronic Constipation Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline(2013), with the following constipation judgment indicators: decreased defecation frequency, dry and hard stool, and difficulty in defecation.RESULTS The prevalence of constipation among elderly people in Beijing region was 13%. There was a positive correlation between prevalence of constipation and age, but negative correlations between prevalence of constipation and staple food, fish and dietary fibres(fruits and vegetables) intakes. These differences were all statistically significant.CONCLUSION The prevalence of elderly constipation in Beijing region is closely related to diet habits, and is significantly decreased by high staple foods intake, fish eating and high dietary fibres(fruits and vegetables) consumption.

Effects of a high fat diet on intestinal microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases

Along with the rapid development of society, lifestyles and diets have gradually changed. Due to overwhelming material abundance, high fat, high sugar and high protein diets are common. Numerous studies have determined that diet and its impact on gut microbiota are closely related to obesity and metabolic diseases. Different dietary components affect gut microbiota, thus impacting gastrointestinal disease occurrence and development. A large number of related studies are progressing rapidly. Gut microbiota may be an important intermediate link, causing gastrointestinal diseases under the influence of changes in diet and genetic predisposition. To promote healthy gut microbiota and to prevent and cure gastrointestinal diseases, diets should be improved and supplemented with probiotics.

Epidemiological study of elderly constipation in Beijing

AIM: To investigate the present situation of elderly constipation in urban and rural areas of the Beijing region.METHODS: A total of 1942 cases(≥ 60 years) were selected in the Beijing region for investigation. Constipation-related data collection was carried out via hierarchical status, segmentation, and random cluster sampling. Patient data concerning constipation-related demographic indicators, education level, occupation, economic status, and history of gastrointestinal disease was obtained via questionnaires and surveys. Constipation was defined according to the Rome Ⅲ criteria, with the following constipation judgment indicators: defecation less than 3 times per week, stool weight less than 35 g/d, dry and hard stool, and difficulty in defecating during more than 25% of evacuation attempts.RESULTS: Of the 1942 cases, 634 were diagnosed with constipation, and the total prevalence rate was 32.6%, which increased with age. There was a statistically insignificantly higher prevalence of constipation in females(compared to males) and urban areas(compared to rural areas). There was a statistically insignificantly higher prevalence in the illiterate group compared to the literacy group. Those engaged in mental work suffered from statistically significantly higher constipation prevalence than those engaged in physical labor. A total of 1847 cases did not suffer from gastritis, of which 595 cases were constipated; although the prevalence rate was 32.2%, showing a higher incidence of constipation in patients with gastritis, no significant statistical difference between the two groups was found. A total of 59 cases with a past history of biliary tract disease were found, of which 26 had constipation; constipation prevalence was 44.1%(far higher than other groups), which was a statistically significant difference.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of elderly constipation in the B eijing region closely resembles Western countries, and is significantly affected by region, age, and past history of other related illnesses.

Solvothermal synthesis of nano-CeO_2 aggregates and its application as a high-efficient arsenic adsorbent

Aggregates of cerium dioxide nanoparticles(nano-CeO_2) were successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal process in this study. The crystallographic information and morphological information of nano-CeO_2 were systematically studied by X-ray diffraction(XRD),transmission electron microscopy(TEM), laser particle size analyzer(LA) and specific surface area and pore size analyzer during the solvothermal process. Among all the obtained samples, the 18-h solvothermal-prepared nano-CeO_2 aggregates show the best crystallinity and the largest specific surface area of 110.92 m^2·g^(-1). Owing to the high activity derived from the high specific surface area of the aggregates, the application as arsenic(As) adsorption was also studied. The adsorption efficiency of arsenic by nano-CeO_2 aggregates was established as the function of adsorbent dose, then pH value and at last adsorption time.The results indicate that the nano-CeO_2 aggregates show a high efficiency in removing arsenic from low As concentration solution, from which the nano-CeO_2 adsorbent could be easily separated. In addition, the adsorption kinetics is best fitted to pseudo-second-order model(R^2 = 0.99999).

Microstructure and mechanical properties improvements in cemented carbides by(Cr,Mo,Ta)_(2)(C,N) inhibitors

Grain growth inhibitors can effectively suppress the grain size of tungsten carbide(WC),and consequently improve the hardness and strength of the cemented carbides;however,the toughness,one of the most important properties,usually deteriorates with inhibitors.Here,(Cr,Mo,Ta)_(2)(C,N) synthesized by carbothermal reductionnitridation was used as a novel inhibitor,and its effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the cemented carbides were investigated.The results showed that the cemented carbides containing(Cr,Mo,Ta)_(2)(C,N)outperformed its counterpart comprising the traditional inhibitors in comprehensive mechanical properties,which was mainly attributed to the better inhibition performance provided by the(Cr,Mo,Ta)_(2)(C,N) solid-solution powders.With the content of(Cr,Mo,Ta)_(2)(C,N) increasing from 0 wt% to 1.25 wt%,the average grain size of WC in the cemented carbides decreased from 0.85 to 0.60 μm firstly,and then increased to 0.64 μm.With 1.00 wt%(Cr,Mo,-Ta)_(2)(C,N) addition,the cemented carbides with the best performance of hardness(HV_(30)) of 15.55 GPa,transverse rupture strength of 4272 MPa,fracture toughness of13.91 MPa·m1/2 were obtained.The electron backscattered diffraction(EBSD) measurements showed that cemented carbides with(Cr,Mo,Ta)_(2)(C,N) processed more amount of∑2 boundary compared with the other specimens,which contributed to better fracture resistance.