Qingwu Jiang

Epidemiology of Schistosomiasis in the People’s Republic of China, 2004

Although the number of human infections decreased, human prevalence increased from 4.9% in 1995 to 5.1% in 2004.

Green tea drinking and multigenetic index on the risk of stomach cancer in a Chinese population

The purpose of our study was to examine the roles of green tea drinking, other risk and protective factors, and polymorphism of susceptibility genes such as GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and p53 codon 72 and their possible joint effects on the risk of stomach cancer. A population‐based case‐control study was conducted in Taixing, China, including 206 newly diagnosed cases with stomach cancer and 415 healthy control subjects. Epidemiological data were collected by in‐person interviews using a standard questionnaire. Polymorphisms of susceptibility genes were assayed by PCR‐RFLP techniques. A multigenetic index was created by summing up the number of risk genotypes. The data were analyzed using the logistic regression model. A reverse association between green tea drinking and risk of stomach cancer was observed with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34–1.01). Dose‐response relationship was shown (p‐trend < 0.05). A higher score on the multigenetic index was associated with increased risk of stomach cancer with an adjusted OR of 2.21 (95% CI = 1.02–4.79) for those with at least 3 risk genotypes compared to those with <2 risk genotypes. Green tea drinking was suggested to have more than multiplicative interactions with alcohol consumption with an adjusted OR for interaction of 4.57 (95% CI = 1.62–12.89), and with higher multigenetic index with adjusted OR for interaction of 2.31 (95% CI = 0.88–6.03). The protective effect of green tea drinking was observed on the risk of stomach cancer and the possible effect modification by susceptibility genes was suggested.

Urinary phthalate metabolites are associated with body mass index and waist circumference in Chinese school children.

Background Lab studies have suggested that ubiquitous phthalate exposures are related to obesity, but relevant epidemiological studies are scarce, especially for children. Objective To investigate the association of phthalate exposures with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in Chinese school children. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in three primary and three middle schools randomly selected from Changning District of Shanghai City of China in 2011–2012. According to the physical examination data in October, 2011, 124 normal weight, 53 overweight, and 82 obese students 8–15 years of age were randomly chosen from these schools on the basis of BMI-based age- and sex-specific criterion. First morning urine was collected in January, 2012, and fourteen urine phthalate metabolites (free plus conjugated) were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the associations between naturally log-transformed urine phthalate metabolites and BMI or WC. Results The urine specific gravity-corrected concentrations of nine urine phthalate metabolites and five molar sums were positively associated with BMI or WC in Chinese school children after adjustment for age and sex. However, when other urine phthalate metabolites were included in the models together with age and sex as covariables, most of these significant associations disappeared except for mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and monoethyl phthalate (MEP). Additionally, some associations showed sex- or age-specific differences. Conclusions Some phthalate exposures were associated with BMI or WC in Chinese school children. Given the cross-sectional nature of this study and lack of some important obesity-related covariables, further studies are needed to confirm the associations.

Characteristics and sexually transmitted diseases of male rural migrants in a metropolitan area of Eastern China.

Goal: The goal of this study was to identify the correlates and determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among male rural migrants in Shanghai, China. Study: The authors conducted a community-based cross-sectional study with an anonymous questionnaire interview and collection of blood and first-void urine samples for STD screening. Results: One thousand eighty-six (85.3%) of 1273 male rural migrants approached were interviewed. Among the 986 sexually active migrants, the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis was 3.5%, 0.5%, and 1.0%, respectively. None were infected with HIV. The prevalence of STDs was 3.2% for construction workers, 5.6% for market vendors, and 5.6% for factory workers. Risk factors for STDs were longer duration in Shanghai, frequent hometown visits, having multiple sex partners, and the desire to have multiple sex partners. Conclusions: The prevalence of STDs among male rural migrants is relatively low. Maintaining the current low prevalence can reduce the risk of an HIV epidemic among Shanghai migrants, but prevention messages need to be tailored to the low level of literacy in many migrants.

Layered SiC Sheets: A Potential Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The large-scale practical application of fuel cells cannot come true if the high-priced Pt-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) cannot be replaced by other efficient, low-cost, and stable electrodes. Here, based on density functional theory (DFT), we exploited the potentials of layered SiC sheets as a novel catalyst for ORR. From our DFT results, it can be predicted that layered SiC sheets exhibit excellent ORR catalytic activity without CO poisoning, while the CO poisoning is the major drawback in conventional Pt-based catalysts. Furthermore, the layered SiC sheets in alkaline media has better catalytic activity than Pt(111) surface and have potential as a metal-free catalyst for ORR in fuel cells.

Antibiotics in Drinking Water in Shanghai and Their Contribution to Antibiotic Exposure of School Children

A variety of antibiotics have been found in aquatic environments, but antibiotics in drinking water and their contribution to antibiotic exposure in human are not well-explored. For this, representative drinking water samples and 530 urine samples from schoolchildren were selected in Shanghai, and 21 common antibiotics (five macrolides, two β-lactams, three tetracyclines, four fluoquinolones, four sulfonamides, and three phenicols) were measured in water samples and urines by isotope dilution two-dimensional ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Drinking water included 46 terminal tap water samples from different spots in the distribution system of the city, 45 bottled water samples from 14 common brands, and eight barreled water samples of different brands. Of 21 antibiotics, only florfenicol and thiamphenicol were found in tap water, with the median concentrations of 0.0089 ng/mL and 0.0064 ng/mL, respectively; only florfenicol was found in three bottled water samples from a same brand, with the concentrations ranging from 0.00060 to 0.0010 ng/mL; no antibiotics were found in barreled water. In contrast, besides florfenicol and thiamphenicol, an additional 17 antibiotics were detected in urine samples, and the total daily exposure doses and detection frequencies of florfenicol and thiamphenicol based on urine samples were significantly and substantially higher than their predicted daily exposure doses and detection frequencies from drinking water by Monte Carlo Simulation. These data indicated that drinking water was contaminated by some antibiotics in Shanghai, but played a limited role in antibiotic exposure of children.

Physicochemical insight into gap openings in graphene

Based on a newly developed size-dependent cohesive energy formula for two-dimensional materials, a unified theoretical model was established to illustrate the gap openings in disordered graphene flakes, involving quantum dots, nanoribbons and nanoporous sheets. It tells us that the openings are essentially dominated by the variation in cohesive energy of C atoms, associated to the edge physicochemical nature regarding the coordination imperfection or the chemical bonding. In contrast to those ideal flakes, consequently, the gaps can be opened monotonously for disordered flakes on changing their sizes, affected by the dimension, geometric shape and the edge saturation. Using the density functional theory, accordingly, the electronic structures of disordered flakes differ to the ideal case because of the edge disorder. Our theoretical predictions have been validated by available experimental results, and provide us a distinct way for the quantitative modulation of bandgap in graphene for nanoelectronics.

Achievements of schistosomiasis control in China.

The control of schistosomiasis has been spectacularly successful in terms of controlling endemicity and severity of the disease during the last 50 years. It can be categorized into two stages. From 1955 through 1980, the transmission-control strategy had been widely and successfully carried out. By the end of 1980, the epidemic of schistosomiasis was successfully circumscribed in certain core regions including areas at the middle and low reaches of the Yangtze River and some mountainous areas in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, where control of schistosomiasis had been demonstrated to be very difficult to be sustained. Therefore, since 1980, schistosomiasis control in China has been modified to employ a stepwise strategy, based on which morbidity control has been given priorities and if possible transmission control has been pursued. However, since snail-ridden areas remain unchanged so far, reinfections occur frequently. This necessitates a maintenance phase to consolidate the achievements in the control of schistosomiasis. In the mean time, we are challenged with some environmental, social and economical changes in terms of controlling schistosomiasis. Successfully controlling schistosomiasis in China is still a long-term task but will be achieved without doubt along with the economic development and the promotion of living and cultural standard of people.

Antibiotic body burden of Chinese school children: a multisite biomonitoring-based study.

To explore the antibiotic body burden of Chinese school children, total urinary concentrations (free and conjugated) of 18 representative antibiotics (5 macrolides, 2 β-lactams, 3 tetracyclines, 4 quinolones, and 4 sulfonamides) were measured by ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry among 1064 school students recruited from 3 economically and geographically distinct areas in east China in 2013. All 18 antibiotics were detected in urine samples with the detection frequencies ranging from 0.4 to 19.6%. The antibiotics were detected in 58.3% of urine samples overall, and this detection frequency reached at 74.4% in one study site. Of them, 47.8% of the urine samples had a sum of mass concentration of all antibiotics between 0.1 (minimum) and 20.0 ng/mL, and 8 antibiotics had their concentrations of above 1000 ng/mL in some urine samples. Three veterinary antibiotics, 4 human antibiotics, and 11 human/veterinary antibiotics were found overall in 6.3, 19.9, and 49.4% of urine samples, respectively. The detection frequencies and concentration levels of antibiotics in urine samples differed by study areas. Concerning mixed exposures, a total of 137 combinations of antibiotics and 20 combinations of antibiotic categories were found overall. Two or more antibiotics or categories were concurrently detected in more than 20% of urine samples. On the basis of a usage analysis, contaminated food or environment might be relevant exposure sources for tetracyclines, quinolones, and sulfonamides.

Identifying high-risk regions for schistosomiasis in Guichi, China: A spatial analysis

Schistosomiasis epidemic is reemerging in some areas of China. The extensive snail habitat is a major challenge for a sustainable schistosomiasis control. Direct surveillance on snails for the disease control is no longer a desirable disease control approach due to current low density of infected snails and reduced funding. In this study the benefit of indirect monitoring of acute schistosomiasis cases, using spatial methods including disease mapping and spatial clustering analysis was explored in Guichi, China. Significant global clustering existed for acute cases and two statistically significant spatial clusters were detected, and subsequently validated by field surveys. Our study indicates that the application of geographic information system (GIS) and spatial methods are useful in the epidemiologic surveillance and risk assessment for acute schistosomiasis, providing an alternative approach with minimal funds required.