Long-term associations of PM PM and PM with asthma and asthma-related respiratory symptoms in the middle-aged and elderly population.

Background: Few studies have compared the associations between long-term exposures to particulate matters (aerodynamic diameter ≤1, ≤2.5 and ≤10 µm: PM, PM and PM, respectively) and asthma and asthma-related respiratory symptoms. The objective of the present study was to compare the strength of the aforementioned associations in middle-aged and elderly adults.

Effects of occupational exposure to dust, gas, vapor and fumes on chronic bronchitis and lung function.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and therefore the identification of the modifiable risk factors [such as exposure to vapors, gases, dust and fumes (VGDF)] for accelerate disease progression has important significance.

Methods: We conducted COPD surveillance in six cities of southern China between 2014 and 2019. We recorded the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis, respiratory symptoms, occupational exposure to VGDF and other covariates by using a structured questionnaire.

The airway microbiome mediates the interaction between environmental exposure and respiratory health in humans.

Exposure to environmental pollution influences respiratory health. The role of the airway microbial ecosystem underlying the interaction of exposure and respiratory health remains unclear. Here, through a province-wide chronic obstructive pulmonary disease surveillance program, we conducted a population-based survey of bacterial (n = 1,651) and fungal (n = 719) taxa and metagenomes (n = 1,128) from induced sputum of 1,651 household members in Guangdong, China.

Cross-sectional study on prevalence and risk factors for falls among the elderly in communities of Guangdong province, China.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of falls among the elderly in Guangdong, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in six communities of Guangdong province. People over 60 years old were selected with multistage random-cluster sampling.

Effects of long-term PM exposure on metabolic syndrome among adults and elderly in Guangdong, China.

Background: We aimed to explore the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components including fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood pressure, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and waist circumference among adults and elderly in south China.

Methods: We surveyed 6628 participants in the chronic disease and risk factors surveillance conducted in 14 districts of Guangdong province in 2015.

Impact of polluting fuels for cooking on diabetes mellitus and glucose metabolism in south urban China.

We hypothesized that exposure to polluting fuels for cooking was associated with abnormality of glucose metabolism and diabetes mellitus (DM) in south urban China. 3414 residents were surveyed in 14 urban areas of Guangdong Province in 2018. We recorded polluting fuels for cooking exposure, different DM status (DM, prediabetes), fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycated hemoglobin (HbA ), and other covariates by using a structured questionnaire.

Health transition of the causes of mortality between 2005 and 2015 in Guangdong, China.

Objectives: To analyse the patterns of transition of health burden for 110 causes of death by stratification of age, sex and geographic regions in Guangdong between 2005 and 2015.

Methods: We analysed the age-specific, sex-specific, region-specific mortality in Guangdong based on assembled databases. County-level surveillance data were calculated to inform city-level changes.

Exposure to biomass fuel is associated with high blood pressure and fasting blood glucose impairment in females in southern rural China.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the association between household exposure to biomass fuel and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components including blood pressure, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and waist circumference among females in southern rural China.

Methods: We surveyed 1664 residents in the Chronic Disease and Risk Factors Surveillance, conducted in 14 districts of Guangdong province. We recorded the use of biomass fuel, MetS and its components, and other covariates by using a structured questionnaire.

Short-term exposure to ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide and emergency department visits and hospital admissions due to asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Air pollution is a major environmental hazard to human health and a leading cause of morbidity for asthma worldwide.

Objectives: To assess the current evidence on short-term effects (from several hours to 7 days) of exposure to ozone (O), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and sulphur dioxide (SO) on asthma exacerbations, defined as emergency room visits (ERVs) and hospital admissions (HAs).

Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and other electronic databases to retrieve studies that investigated the risk of asthma-related ERVs and HAs associated with short-term exposure to O, NO, or SO.

Composition of gut and oropharynx bacterial communities in Rattus norvegicus and Suncus murinus in China.

Background: Rattus norvegicus and Suncus murinus are important reservoirs of zoonotic bacterial diseases. An understanding of the composition of gut and oropharynx bacteria in these animals is important for monitoring and preventing such diseases. We therefore examined gut and oropharynx bacterial composition in these animals in China.

Age-standardized mortality, disability-adjusted life-years and healthy life expectancy in different cultural regions of Guangdong, China: a population-based study of 2005-2015.

Background: Guangdong province is dominated by three cultural regions: Canton, Hakka and Hoklo. However, little is known about the disease burden within these regions, particularly because different population,environmental and socioeconomic risk factors might cause different patterns of mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALY), life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (HALE). We aimed to compare the patterns of disease burden in Canton, Hakka and Hoklo regions between 2005 and 2015.

Effects of cigarette smoking and biomass fuel on lung function and respiratory symptoms in middle-aged adults and the elderly in Guangdong province, China: A cross-sectional study.

We sought to investigate the association between active cigarette smoking (ex- and current smokers) with or without exposure to biomass fuels and respiratory symptoms/lung function in middle-aged adults and the elderly. In the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease surveillance conducted in six cities of Guangdong province, China, we surveyed 1986 residents aged 40-93 years. We recorded respiratory symptoms, smoking status, use of biomass fuel, and other covariates by using a structured questionnaire.

Regional, age and respiratory-secretion-specific prevalence of respiratory viruses associated with asthma exacerbation: a literature review.

Despite increased understanding of how viral infection is involved in asthma exacerbations, it is less clear which viruses are involved and to what extent they contribute to asthma exacerbations. Here, we sought to determine the prevalence of different respiratory viruses during asthma exacerbations. Systematic computerized searches of the literature up to June 2017 without language limitation were performed.

Viral metagenomics of six bat species in close contact with humans in southern China.

Accumulating studies have shown that bats could harbor various important pathogenic viruses that could be transmitted to humans and other animals. Extensive metagenomic studies of different organs/tissues from bats have revealed a large number of novel or divergent viruses. To elucidate viral diversity and epidemiological and phylogenetic characteristics, six pooled fecal samples from bats were generated (based on bat species and geographic regions characteristic for virome analysis).

Serological Prevalence Against Japanese Encephalitis Virus-Serocomplex Flaviviruses in Commensal and Field Rodents in South China.

Background: Japanese encephalitis caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is an endemic zoonotic disease of high public health importance in the Asian Pacific region. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of JEV infection in commensal and field rodents in South China.

Materials And Methods: RNA copies of JEV were detected in brain samples of rodents using real-time RT-PCR.

Impact of air pollution on the burden of chronic respiratory diseases in China: time for urgent action.

In China, where air pollution has become a major threat to public health, public awareness of the detrimental effects of air pollution on respiratory health is increasing-particularly in relation to haze days. Air pollutant emission levels in China remain substantially higher than are those in developed countries. Moreover, industry, traffic, and household biomass combustion have become major sources of air pollutant emissions, with substantial spatial and temporal variations.

[Investigation of antimicrobial resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from rat-like animals around a hospital in Guangzhou].

Objective: To investigate antimicrobial resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in fecal samples from rat-like animals.

Methods: Rat-like animals were captured using cages around a hospital and the neighboring residential area between March and October, 2015. K.

Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Characteristics of Herpesviruses in Rectal Swab Samples from Rodents and Shrews in Southern China.

Herpesviruses (HVs) can cause asymptomatic, benign, or fatal infections in a variety of animal species. However, the prevalence and phylogenetic characteristics of HVs in rodents and shrews in China are poorly understood. We thus performed a molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of rat and shrew HVs in southern China between 2012 and 2014.

Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Characterization of Bat and Human Adenoviruses in Southern China.

Several novel adenoviruses (AdVs) have recently been identified in humans and other animal species. In this study, we report the molecular detection of and phylogenetically characterize bat and human AdVs detected in fecal or rectal swab samples collected in southern China. To detect AdVs, a 252-261 bp fragment of the DNA polymerase (DPOL) gene was amplified using nested PCR.

Detection of novel adenoviruses in fecal specimens from rodents and shrews in southern China.

The prevalence and phylogenetic characteristics of AdVs in rodents and shrews in China are still unknown. To explore the epidemiological characteristics of rodent and shrew AdVs in southern China, 255 fecal samples derived from four rodent species and 90 from shrews were collected in Xiamen and Guangzhou city of southern China. Amplification of a 314-324-bp fragment from the DNA polymerase gene of AdVs was attempted by using a nested PCR.

High prevalence and diversity of viruses of the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, family Herpesviridae, in fecal specimens from bats of different species in southern China.

Several studies have reported the detection of herpesviruses (HVs) in bats. However, the prevalence and phylogenetic characteristics of HVs in bats are still poorly understood. To elucidate the epidemiological characteristics of bat HVs in southern China, 520 fecal samples from eight bat species were collected in four geographic regions of southern China.