Association between serum homocysteine and arterial stiffness in elderly： a community-based study

Background Arterial stiffness and homocysteine are both powerful predictors of cardiovascular disease, especially in older popula tions. Previous studies have investigated the association of homocysteine with arterial stiffness in human subjects, while the relationship between homocysteine and arterial stiffness in the elderly is still indefinite. The current study examined the association of homocysteine with arterial stiffness in Chinese community-based elderly persons. Methods We related serum levels of homocysteine to two measures of arte- rial stiffness （carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity （PWV） and carotid-radial PWV） in 780 participants （46.3% men, mean age 71.9 years （ranging 65-96 years old）） from two communities of Beijing, China. Arterial stiffness were measured within two days of the time of bio- marker measurement. Results In multiple-adjusted models, homocysteine levels was strongly associated with the carotid-femoral PWV （standardized 13 = 0.13, P 〈 0.001）, even after adjustment for classical risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The association is also stronger when the carotid-femoral PWV is elevated above normal, whereas no significant association with homocysteine was observed for ca-rotid-radial PWV. Conclusions In Chinese elderly persons, serum homocysteine levels are associated with alterations of aortic stiffness.

Attitudes towards acceptance of an innovative home-based and remote sensing rehabilitation protocol among cardiovascular patients in Shantou, China

Background Cardiac rehabilitation （CR） protocols have diversified to include home-based cardiac tele-rehabilitation （HBCTR） as an alternative to hospital-based or center-based CR. To adopt the use of home-based cardiac tele-rehabilitation, it is necessary to assess cardiac patients＇ attitudes towards acceptance of such e-health technology, especially in China where knowledge of such technology is deficient. Methods Interviews were conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China. After percutaneous coronary interventional （PCI） surgery, patients completed the survey. Results Among the 150 patients, only 13% had ever heard of HBCTR. After an introduction of our HBCTR program, 60% of patients were willing to participate in the program. From our multivariate analysis of questionnaire data, age （OR： 0.92, 95% CI： 0.864）.98; P = 0.007）, average family monthly income （OR： 0.13, 95% CI： 0.05-0.341 P 〈 0.001）, education level （OR： 0.24, 95% CI： 0.10-0.59; P = 0.002） and physical exercise time （OR： 0.19, 95% CI： 0.06-0.56; P = 0.003） were independent predictors for acceptance of HBCTR. From the reasons for participation, patients selected： enhanced safety and independ ence （28.3%）, ability to self-monitor physical conditions daily （25 A%）, and having automatic and emergency alert （23.1%）. Reasons for refusal were： too cumbersome operation （34.3%） and unnecessary protocol （19.4%）. Conclusions Most patients lacked knowledge about HBCTR but volunteered to participate after they have learned about the program. Several personal and life-style factors influenced their acceptance of the program. These indicate that both improvement of technology and better understanding of the program will enhance active participation.

The association between orthostatic hypertension and all-cause mortality in hospitalized elderly persons

Background Little is known about the prevalence oforthostatic hypertension （OHT） and its effect on long-term mortality in the eld- erly. We evaluated the prevalence of OHT and its effect on mortality in hospitalized elderly patients. Methods Out of 1852 patients admit- ted between 31/12/1999 and 31/12/2000 to an acute geriatric ward, 474 patients （48% males） with a mean age of 81.5 ±6.8 years were en- rolled in this study. Blood pressure （BP） was measured three times during the day in a supine and standing position. Patients with at least one increase in systolic or diastolic BP levels upon standing were diagnosed with OHT. Medical history, physical examination and laboratory parameters were retrieved from the medical records. Mortality data until 18th June 2014 were retrieved from the computerized system of the Ministry of the Interior. Results Four hundred and seven patients （86%） were diagnosed with OHT. Those without OHT had a lowerbody mass index and were more likely males, smokers, had a higher rate of Parkinson＇s disease and less congestive heart failure compared with those with OHT. Patients with OHT had a better survival rate than those without OHT （P = 0.024）. Hazard ratios （HRs） for mortality in those with OHT adjusted to age and multiple risk factors were： 0.67 [95% confidence interval （CI）： 0.51-0.87] and 0.73 （95% CI： 0.55-0.97）, respectively; a similar tendency was noticed in a sensitivity analysis by gender. Conclusion Hospitalized elderly patients with OHT had a better survival rate than those without OHT.

Perfusion computed tomography in colorectal cancer:Protocols,clinical applications and emerging trends

Perfusion computed tomography (CT) has emerged as a novel functional imaging technique with gradually increasing importance in the management of colorectal cancer (CRC).By providing the functional tumor microvasculature,it also helps the assessment of therapeutic response of anti-angiogenic drugs as it may reflect tumor angiogenesis.Perfusion CT has been applied in clinical practice to delineate inflammatory or neoplastic lymph nodes irrespective of their size,identify micro-metastases and to predict metastases in advance of their development.It is of increasing significance for preoperative adjuvant therapies and avoidance of unnecessary interventions.Despite controversies regarding the techniques employed,its validity and reproducibility,it can be advantageous in the management of CRCs in which the prognosis is dependent on preoperative staging.With recent advances in the perfusion CT techniques,and incorporation to other modalities like positron emission tomography,perfusion CT will be a novel tool in the overall management of CRCs.This article aims at reviewing the existing clinical applications and recent advances of perfusion CT with a reference to future development in the management of CRCs.

A new discovered ABCA1 gene polymorphisms and the association of ABCA1 SNPs with coronary artery disease and plasma lipids in Chinese population

Single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNP） of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 （ABCA1） gene are related to plasma lipid and susceptibility to coronary artery disease （CAD）. Our first goal was to screen all 50 coding regions of ABCA1 to find new SNPs. Our second goal was to investigate the frequency distribution of R1587K and M883I polymorphisms of ABCA1 gene, which are the variant occurred most frequently, in Chinese people and to evaluate their association with the CAD phenotype and plasma lipids. Methods： Single-strand conformation polymorphism （SSCP） and DNA sequence were used for confirming new SNP of ABCA1, and restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP） were applied for confirming genotypes of R1587K and M883I in 112 CAD cases and 108 healthy people. Results： We discovered a new ABCA1 SNP in Chinese population, which converse 233 amino acids from Methionine to Valine （M233V）. This new ABCA1 SNP located in exon7, and might potentially modulate the biological function of lipid metabolism. For R1587K and M883I SNPs, the K allele and I allele frequency was 28.9% and 31.1%, respectively. The K allele at R1587K conferred lower mean values of HDL-C in a dose-dependent manner in both CAD patients and healthy people. However, 883I allele was not associated with plasma lipid level. Neither 1587KK nor 883II associated with increased risk of CAD. Conclusion： Our study finds a potential functional ABCA1 SNPs and revealed K allele of R1587K associated decreased HDL-C level in Chinese population.

Is extended biopsy protocol justified in all patients with PSA≥20ng/mL?

The aim of this study was to investigate whether it was necessary to increase the number of cores at initial prostate biopsy with patients of prostate-specific antigen （PSA） ≥ 20 ng/mL and to explore an appropriate individualized transrectal ultrasonograhpy （TRUS）-guided prostate biopsy for the detection of prostate cancer in men suspicious of prostate cancer. Methods： A total of 115 patients with PSA ≥ 20 ng/mL and suspicious of prostate cancer were prospectively randomized to perform TRUS-guided biopsy. Patients were randomized to a ＂6 ＋ X＂ cores or a ＂10 ＋ X＂ cores protocol. The primary end point was cancer detection rate. Secondary end points were cancer characteristics, rate of complications and the level of pain experienced by patients during TRUS-guided prostate biopsy. Results： Preoperative variables were similar in both groups. The overall prostate cancer detection rate was 73.9%. The ＂10 ＋ X＂ cores strategy increased cancer detection rate only 9.7% in patients with PSA ≥ 20 ng/mL but 〈 50 ng/mL, while there was no difference between the two strategies for cancer detection in patients with PSA ≥ 50.1 ng/mL. The number of extended biopsy cores and pain score of extended biopsy in prostate cancer patients increased significantly （P 〈 0.001）. Conclusion： Our findings suggest that there is no significant advantage in using extended biopsy protocol in all patients with PSA≥20 ng/mL.

Enhanced photocatalytic H_(2) production performance of CdS hollow spheres using C and Pt as bi-cocatalysts

Photocatalytic H2 production from water splitting is an effective method to solve energy crisis and environmental pollution simultaneously.Herein,carbon@CdS composite hollow spheres(C@CdS-HS)are fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method using porous carbon hollow spheres(C-HS)as the template.The C@CdS-HS shows an excellent photocatalytic H2-generation rate of 20.9 mmol h^(−1) g^(−1)(apparent quantum efficiency of 15.3%at 420 nm),with 1.0 wt%Pt as a cocatalyst under simulated sunlight irradiation;this rate is 69.7,13.9,and 3.9 times higher than that obtained with pure CdS hollow spheres(CdS-HS),C@CdS-HS,and CdS-HS/Pt,respectively.The enhanced photocatalytic H_(2)-evolution activity of C@CdS-HS/Pt is due to the synergistic effect of C and Pt as the bi-cocatalyst.The C-HS serves not only as an active site provider but also as an electron transporter and reservoir.Moreover,C-HS has a strong photothermal effect that is induced by near infrared light,which kinetically accelerates the H_(2)-production reaction.Additionally,the underlying charge transfer pathway and process from CdS to C−HS is revealed.This work highlights the potential application of C-HS-based nanocomposites in solar-to-chemical energy conversion.

The research on the operating models of public service platform of the Hubei province key-developing industrial clusters

Public service platform of industrial cluster includes Industry Association, Guarantee Agency, Productivity Center, R＆D Center, Inspection and Test Center, Training Institutions, Product Center and Professional Market, etc. By case study in Hubei province, local government and leading enterprises, they are the major part of public service platform constructing of industrial cluster.

TRAFFIC ENGINEERING IN IP BACKBONE NETWORK

This paper discusses traffic engineering with multi protocol label switching (MPLS) in a backbone of Internet data center (IDC) network. The traditional SPF routing limitations are analyzed and the traffic engineering concept is given. MPLS, resource reservation protocol (RSVP) and enhanced link status Protocols intermediate system to intermediate system (IS IS) are reviewed to provide a background for traffic engineering, the general issues of designing an MPLS system of IDC network for traffic engineering are then discussed. Finally a practical example with MPLS traffic engineering is shown.

ASSOCIATION OF INSULIN RESISTANCE AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH NORMAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE

Objective To examine insulin resistance and high sensitivity C-reactive protein （hsCRP） association with clinical and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease （CAD） in patients with normal glucose tolerance. Methods In 638 consecutive patients with normal glucose tolerance, 221 had atypical chest pain and normal coronary artery （control group）, 279 had stable angina and CAD （SAP group ）, and 138 suffered acute myocardial infarction （ MI group）. The degree of CAD was further divided into borderline lesion （ lumen diameter narrowing 50% - 69% ）, significant 1-, 2- or 3-vessel disease （ luminal diameter narrowing 〉I 70% ）. Fasting serum glucose, insulin and hsCRP levels and lipid profiles were measured, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance （ HOMA-IR ） was calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess risk factors for 3-vessel disease or acute MI. Results Serum hsCRP, lipoprotein （a） levels, and insulin resistance index （IRI） were higher in AMI group than those in SAP and control groups. Serum hsCRP level and IRI were also higher in 3-vessel disease than those in other groups. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that insulin resistance, cigarette smoking, serum hsCRP, and lipoprotein （a） levels were independent risk factors for acute MI. Lipoprotein （ a ） elevation was an independent risk factor for 3-vessel disease. Conclusion Insulin resistance and high serum hsCRP level were associated with occurrence of acute MI and angiographic severity of coronary disease in patients with normal glucose tolerance.

An Ideal Assortative Network and Synchronization

This paper proposes a novel complex network with assortative property based on multi-center networks. The average path length and clustering coefficient of the network are calculated, and the impact on the network topology is investigated. A simple dynamic system established on the proposed network is used to analyze how the assortative property of the network affects synchronization.

Research on the key technology of RFID and its application in modem logistics

The paper study communication protocol, the structure of the circuit, antenna design of radio frequency identification technology （RFID）, and puts forward a scheme based on IOT application： RFID logistics tracking system. Finally, the paper study the logistics distribution center information management model from three aspects of the system design objectives, system function analysis and system architecture design based on RFID.

Facility Management in the Globalized Society

Facility management is the multi-disciplinary kind of work that covers a wide range of various activities, responsibilities, and knowledge. Facility management provides and manages a variety of support services in order to prepare all the organisational functions, putting the accent on an integration of primary activities in strategic, tactical, and operational levels. In the final decade of the previous century, facility mmmgement industry emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors at the international level. Nowadays, the importance of the facility management is readily acknowledged in many companies worldwide, which recognises the necessity of properly managing elaborate and expensive support facilities. The tasks are multi-disciplinary and cover a wide range of activities, responsibilities, and knowledge, because every aspect of an organisation may come under the competency of the facility management. The main aim of the paper is to point out the well-founded applicability of the global facility management in companies, which in order to achieve the competitive advantage correctly strengthened the corporate core business and shift the support activities into the management of a specialist in this field. The paper also covers the scope of the facility management in the international context, and also in the Slovak Republic, considering the specificities of individual countries

Associations between walking parameters and subsequent sleep difficulty in older adults: A 2-year follow-up study

Purpose: This 2-year follow-up study aimed to examine the associations between total volume, frequency, duration, and speed of walking with subsequent sleep difficulty in older adults.Methods: A total of 800 older adults aged 65 years and over participated in the first survey in 2012 and 511 of them were followed 2 years later.The 5-item Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS-5) was used to measure sleep difficulty. Frequency, duration, and speed of outdoor walking were self-reported. Walking speed was assigned a metabolic equivalent value(MET) from 2.5 to 4.5. Total walking volume in MET-h/week was calculated as frequency × duration × speed. Negative binomial regressions were performed to examine the associations between volume and components of walking with subsequent sleep difficulty with covariates of age, sex, education, marital status, living arrangement, smoking, alcohol consumption, mental health, Charlson Index, exercise(excluding walking), and sleep difficulty at baseline.Results: Participants with low walking volume had a higher level of sleep difficulty 2 years later compared with those with high walking volume(incident rate ratios = 1.61, p = 0.004). When speed, frequency, and duration of walking were simultaneously entered into 1 model, only walking speed was significantly associated with subsequent sleep difficulty(after the model was adjusted for covariates and baseline sleep difficulty).Sensitivity analyses showed that walking duration emerged as a significant predictor among 3 walking parameters, with 2-year changes of sleep scores as dependent variable.Conclusion: Total amount of walking(especially faster walking and lasting for more than 20 min) is associated with less subsequent sleep difficulty after 2 years among older adults.

Psychosocial oncology in China——Challenges and opportunities

Objective:In China over the past decade,psychosocial oncology has emerged as a new program. Development of this program requires attention to current opportunities,obstacles and cultural concerns. Methods: A selected literature review of academic papers in Chinese and English language journals and web sites was analyzed for themes regarding the current status,challenges,and opportunities for psychosocial oncology in China. Results: China’s national cancer strategy (2004-2010),based on WHO guidelines,is focused on cancer prevention and treatment,as well as quality of life among cancer patients and their families. The Chinese Anti-Cancer Association is now funding research,training and international collaboration in psychosocial oncology. The newly organized Chinese Psychosocial Oncology Society,founded in 2006,aims to provide a national forum for psychosocial oncology research. Cultural and systemic challenges to establishing psychosocial oncology as a core discipline in China include: (1) the family’s desire to ‘protect’ cancer patients by with-holding cancer-related information; (2) stigma and privacy regarding mental health issues; (3) biomedical practitioners’ claims that psychosocial on-cology is not sufficiently evidence-based; and (4) limited funding for psychosocial oncology care and research. Conclusion: The International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) is considered a valuable resource towards China’s interest in partnering with the international psychosocial oncology community to enhance the discipline globally.

张任

张任,字希尹,一字瀛峰,嘉定人。嘉靖二十二年(1543)举人,嘉靖二十六年(1547)丁未科进士。任谨饬好修,与人交,无论崇卑耄稚,必饮之以和。然至服官莅政,知数渊敏,才识明练,无所假借。授都水司主事,督造漕船于淮南,勾稽敛散,宿猾屏慑。三年间,积赢羡,输之县官,多至八万余金。晋员外郎,出判大名,同知嘉兴,会倭寇扰境,军费不赀,任与郡守刘悫协心防御,民得安堵。祠于名宦。嘉靖三十五年(1556)迁袁州知府,正直端重,洁己爱民。袁州分宜人严嵩时为柄臣,绝无倚附,

Atrial remodeling in atrial fibrillation and association between microRNA network and atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation （AF） remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world which are related to palpita- tions, fainting, congestive heart failure or stroke. The mechanism for atria/fibrillation has been identified as electrical remod- eling, structure remodeling and intracellular calcium handling remodeling, microRNAs （miRNAs） have recently emerged as one of the important factors in regulating gene expression. So far, thousands of miRNA genes have been found in diverse ani- mals with the function of regulating cell death, cell proliferation, haematopoiesis and even participate in the processing of car- diovascular disease. In this review, we summarize the mechanism of AF and the association of microRNAs network with AF. We provide a potential perspective of miRNAs as the therapeutic target for AF.

Symmetry distribution of cities in China

The authors of this paper induced five principles of geographical symmetry based on the space distributions of cities and towns in China. There is a symmetry distribution of cities and towns. The symmetry characteristics are the following: (i) the average coordination number of the cities (including large cities, medium cities and county towns) is 6 ( i.g. rotation symmetry); (ii) the distribution of large and medium cities are shown to be the latticework in which two directions are parallel to two main tectonic ones in China, respectively; (iii) the distribution of county towns of a province is also shown to be the latticework in which two directions are parallel to two tectonic ones in this province (i. g. two-dimensional translation ) and (iv) the concentric circle distribution of cities (CCDC) is centered round a large city (i. g. rotation symmetry).

Research on Fiber-grating-based Wireless Sensor Networks

A 20-node fiber-grating-based wireless sensor network is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Each sensor node is integrated with the light source, 1-3 FBG sensing probes, wavelength demodulation, and wireless communication module. Via self-organized clusters and low energy adaptive clustering hierarchy （LEACH） route protocols, the sensor nodes are able to exchange sensing data with the control center, and the maximum communication radius of a sensor node is over 170m. The sensor node is battery-powered with a survival lifetime of up to 120 days at a network refresh rate of 5 minutes.

Almost Sure Asymptotics for Extremes of Non-stationary Gaussian Random Fields

In this paper, the authors prove an almost sure limit theorem for the maxima of non-stationary Caussian random fields under some mild conditions related to the covariance functions of the Gaussian fields. As the by-products, the authors also obtain several weak convergence results which extended the existing results.