Guowei Pan

The campus-based study clarified the different characteristics of airborne MPs between indoor and outdoor environments and across different functional areas. Furthermore, the high association between indoor and outdoor abundances was revealed.

Introduction: It is accepted that nano- and micro-plastic (NMP) pollutants threaten ecosystems and human health by their bioaccumulation but, interestingly, their toxicity is shape-dependent. However, a clear definition of irregular NMPs, as the dominant shape in environmental and biological samples, is currently lacking when compared to spherical and fibrous NMPs. Objectives: This study quantifies morphometric descriptors in order to develop a standardized definition for irregular NMPs. Methods: Hyperspectral images of 34 spherical, 50 fibrous, and 45 irregular NMPs were collected from the literature. All shape-related features reported previously were analyzed using a machine learning model. Using five-fold cross-validation, a decision tree-based ensemble classifier with fixed parameters and Gini coefficient was established to screen key morphometric descriptors and their optimal interval ranges. The model was independently validated, enabling the accurate distinction of irregular NMPs from spherical and fibrous NMPs. Results: Three morphometric descriptors, including circularity, roundness, and perimeter-to-area ratio, were identified using five-fold cross-validation as optimal indicators for NMP shape classification. Optimal interval ranges for irregular NMPs were as follows: circularity (0.388 ± 0.004–0.768 ± 0.004), roundness (0.248 ± 0.01–0.752 ± 0.06) and perimeter-to-area ratio (>11.608 ± 1.39). This approach generated a 96.0% macro-averaged accuracy across these NMPs, with 100% precision and 89.0% recall. Conclusions: Irregular NMPs may be characterized using three morphometric descriptors, such as circularity, roundness, and perimeter-to-area ratio. The three-descriptor combination has highly accurate discrimination from spherical and fibrous NMPs.

Recent studies indicate that microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) act as key vectors for contaminants including cadmium (Cd). However, the bioavailability induced by their interaction remains controversial. Since both MNPs and Cd primarily accumulate in the liver after ingestion by organisms, hepatotoxicity induced by coexposure to MNPs (100 mg/kg body weight (BW)), 100 nm and 1 μm polystyrene (PS), and Cd (5 mg/kg BW) was examined in this study. Single or combined exposure models were established, and gavage was performed 5 times a week for 5 weeks. We observed that polystyrene (PS) accumulated in the mice liver. In comparison to the control group, all exposure groups exhibited significantly increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, altered hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, decreased P62 protein expression, and elevated Beclin-1 expression and LC3II/I ratios, indicating that PS alone or in combination with Cd disrupted liver structures and induced excessive autophagy and oxidative damage. Specifically, the 1 μm PS group induced significantly stronger hepatotoxic effects than the 100 nm PS group. In contrast, for 100 nm PS, although it was less toxic when administered alone, it significantly enhanced the Cd-induced liver injury. Notably, triple exposure to 100 nm PS, 1 μm PS, and Cd resulted in the most severe liver dysfunction, histopathological alterations, and activated cellular autophagy. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PS exposure alone or in combination with Cd triggered excessive autophagy and oxidative stress in hepatocytes by interfering with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby mediating liver injury. This study innovatively demonstrates that coexposure to different-sized PS particles and Cd can lead to complex liver injury patterns while particle size influences their combined hepatotoxicity with Cd.

To analyze the trends in cancer burden attributable to smoking and alcohol consumption in Liaoning Province from 2008 to 2019. Data on smoking and alcohol consumption were obtained from the Liaoning Provincial Chronic Disease and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance. Cancer incidence data were sourced from the Liaoning Province Cancer Registry Reporting System. We calculated the population attributable fraction (PAF) and age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) for cancers attributable to smoking, alcohol consumption, and the combined effects of both. In 2019, the PAFm attributable to smoking, alcohol consumption, and their combination in males in Liaoning Province were 38.68% (95% CI 25.37–50.22), 10.91% (95% CI 3.87–19.31), and 32.81% (95% CI 20.73–43.37), respectively, while the corresponding values in females were 8.73% (95% CI 3.03–17.99), 0.68% (95% CI 0.10–2.02), and 8.87% (95% CI 3.03–18.42), respectively. Among cancers attributable to smoking, lung cancer had the highest PAFm in both males and females. Among cancers attributable to alcohol consumption, oropharyngeal cancer had the highest PAFm. The ASIRs attributable to smoking, alcohol consumption, and their combination in males were 99.14 per 100,000 (95% CI 64.87-128.86), 14.95 per 100,000 (95% CI 5.32–26.48), and 110.45 per 100,000 (95% CI 69.33-147.05), respectively, while the values in females were 14.06 per 100,000 (95% CI 4.74–29.56), 0.42 per 100,000 (95% CI 0.06–1.24), and 14.46 per 100,000 (95% CI 4.80–30.70), respectively. Lung cancer had the highest ASIR among cancers attributable to smoking in both genders, while colorectal cancer had the highest ASIR among cancers attributable to alcohol consumption in both genders. The cancer burden attributable to smoking and alcohol consumption remains high. Future health policy formulation needs to consider these factors more comprehensively and implement targeted interventions.

China experienced a catastrophic haze episode in January 2013 (2013JHE), no study has compared the prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms between smokers and non-smokers in 2013JHE. A rapid cross-sectional assessment of perceived air pollution and the prevalence of coughing, phlegm, and wheezing was conducted among 4303 adults sampled from three cities in Liaoning. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the prevalence of coughing, phlegm, and wheezing. A path analysis was performed to test the relationships between number of cigarettes smoked daily, perceived air pollution score (PAPS), protective behavior score (PBS), and irritating feeling score (IFS). Among the participants, 26.3% felt irritated; 26.9% had acute respiratory symptoms; 22.9% had coughing; 20.2% had throat pain. The ORs for coughing, phlegm, and wheezing were all significantly increased among individuals with a history of respiratory disease, PAPS, PBS, and IFS. However, the ORs for coughing and wheezing were borderline significantly decreased among smokers, and the number of cigarettes smoked daily was negatively associated with PAPS and PBS in the path model. The 2013JHE had a serious impact local residents and significantly increased the prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms. Non-smokers and residents with a history of respiratory disease appear to be more susceptible sub-populations.

Aims: Multimorbidity, especially physical–mental multimorbidity, is an emerging global health challenge. However, the characteristics and patterns of physical–mental multimorbidity based on the diagnosis of mental disorders in Chinese adults remain unclear. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2004 to April 2005 among 13,358 adults (ages 18–65years) residing in Liaoning Province, China, to evaluate the occurrence of physical–mental multimorbidity. Mental disorders were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (version 1.0) with reference to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd Edition Revised), while physical diseases were self-reported. Physical–mental multimorbidity was assessed based on a list of 16 physical and mental morbidities with prevalence ≥1% and was defined as the presence of one mental disorder and one physical disease. The chi-square test was used to calculate differences in the prevalence and comorbidity of different diseases between the sexes. A matrix heat map was generated of the absolute number of comorbidities for each disease. To identify complex associations and potential disease clustering patterns, a network analysis was performed, constructing a network to explore the relationships within and between various mental disorders and physical diseases. Results: Physical–mental multimorbidity was confirmed in 3.7% (498) of the participants, with a higher prevalence among women (4.2%, 282) than men (3.3%, 216). The top three diseases with the highest comorbidity rate and average number of comorbidities were dysphoric mood (86.3%; 2.86), social anxiety disorder (77.8%; 2.78) and major depressive disorder (77.1%; 2.53). A physical–mental multimorbidity network was visually divided into mental and physical domains. Additionally, four distinct multimorbidity patterns were identified: ‘Affective-addiction’, ‘Anxiety’, ‘Cardiometabolic’ and ‘Gastro-musculoskeletal-respiratory’, with the digestive-respiratory-musculoskeletal pattern being the most common among the total sample. The affective-addiction pattern was more prevalent in men and rural populations. The cardiometabolic pattern was more common in urban populations. Conclusions: The physical–mental multimorbidity network structure and the four patterns identified in this study align with previous research, though we observed notable differences in the proportion of these patterns. These variations highlight the importance of tailored interventions that address specific multimorbidity patterns while maintaining broader applicability to diverse populations.

Objectives Burnout is common among medical personnel in China and may be related to excessive and persistent work-related stressors by different specialties. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of burnout, work overload and work-life imbalance according to different specialties and to explore the effect of specialty, work overload and work-life imbalance on burnout among medical personnel. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting This study was conducted in 1 tertiary general public hospital, 2 secondary general hospitals and 10 community health service stations in Liaoning, China. Participants A total of 3299 medical personnel participated in the study. Methods We used the 15-item Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS) to measure burnout. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the association between medical specialty, work overload, work-life imbalance and burnout. Results 3299 medical personnel were included in this study. The prevalence of burnout, severe burnout, work overload and work-life imbalance were 88.7%, 13.6%, 23.4% and 23.2%, respectively. Compared with medical personnel in internal medicine, working in obstetrics and gynaecology (OR=0.61, 95% CI 0.38, 0.99) and management (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.28, 0.72) was significantly associated with burnout, and working in ICU （Intensive Care Unit）(OR=2.48, 95% CI 1.07, 5.73), surgery (OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.18, 2.35) and paediatrics (OR=0.24, 95% CI 0.07, 0.81) was significantly associated with severe burnout. Work overload and work-life imbalance were associated with higher ORs for burnout (OR=1.64, 95% CI 1.16, 2.32; OR=2.79, 95% CI 1.84, 4.24) and severe burnout (OR=4.33, 95% CI 3.43, 5.46; OR=3.35, 95% CI 2.64, 4.24). Conclusions Burnout, work overload and work-life imbalance were prevalent among Chinese medical personnel but varied considerably by clinical specialty. Burnout may be reduced by decreasing work overload and promoting work-life balance across different specialties.