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ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine sex disparity in metabolic syndrome prevalence and its risk factors among Chinese adults.MethodsUsing the 2010–2012 China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS), a nationally representative cross-sectional study on nutrition and non-communicable chronic diseases, a total of 98,042 participants aged 18 years and older were included in the analysis. Dietary information was collected with a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the updated NCEP ATP III criteria. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to examine the associations between sociodemographic and dietary factors with metabolic syndrome prevalence, and the results are presented using odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsThe overall standardized prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 24.2% (24.6% in men and 23.8% in women). The metabolic syndrome prevalence was positively associated with age in men and women. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was negatively associated with the physical activity level among men and inversely associated with the education level among women (P for trend < 0.01). Frequent consumption of fungi and algae was an underlying risk factor for metabolic syndrome in men, whereas frequent consumption of nuts and pork was associated with a decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women.ConclusionsThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome in men was not different from that in women. There are sex-specific associations between multiple risk factors and metabolic syndrome.

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Since late December 2019, the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19; previously known as 2019-nCoV) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been surging rapidly around the world. With more than 1,700,000 confirmed cases, the world faces an unprecedented economic, social, and health impact. The early, rapid, sensitive, and accurate diagnosis of viral infection provides rapid responses for public health surveillance, prevention, and control of contagious diffusion. More than 30% of the confirmed cases are asymptomatic, and the high false-negative rate (FNR) of a single assay requires the development of novel diagnostic techniques, combinative approaches, sampling from different locations, and consecutive detection. The recurrence of discharged patients indicates the need for long-term monitoring and tracking. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods are evolving with a deeper understanding of virus pathology and the potential for relapse. In this Review, a comprehensive summary and comparison of different SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic methods are provided for researchers and clinicians to develop appropriate strategies for the timely and effective detection of SARS-CoV-2. The survey of current biosensors and diagnostic devices for viral nucleic acids, proteins, and particles and chest tomography will provide insight into the development of novel perspective techniques for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Appropriate infant and young child feeding could reduce morbidity and mortality and could improve cognitive development of children. However, nationwide data on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding status in China are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess current exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding status in China. A national representative survey (Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey) of children aged under 6 years was done in 2013. Stratified multistage cluster sampling was used to select study participants. World Health Organization (WHO) infant and young child feeding indicators were firstly used to assess exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practice nationwide. In total, 14,458 children aged under two years (0 to <730 days) were studied from 55 counties in 30 provinces in China. The crude exclusive breastfeeding rate under 6 months was 20.7% (908/4381) and the weighted exclusive breastfeeding rate was 18.6%. The crude prevalence of minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet were 52.5% (5286/10,071), 69.8% (7027/10,071), and 27.4% (2764/10,071) among children aged 6–23 months, respectively. The weighted rate was 53.7%, 69.1%, and 25.1%, respectively. Residential area, household income and maternal education were positively associated with the three complementary feeding indicators. The exclusive breastfeeding rate under 6 months was low and complementary feeding practice was not optimal in China. Residential area, household income and maternal education might be used to target infants and young children to improve complementary feeding practice.

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During protein synthesis, mRNA and tRNA are moved through the ribosome by the process of translocation. The small diameter of the mRNA entrance tunnel only permits unstructured mRNA to pass through. However, there are structured elements within mRNA that present a barrier for translocation that must be unwound. The ribosome has been shown to unwind RNA in the absence of additional factors, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show using single molecule F€ orster resonance energy transfer and small angle X-ray scattering experiments a new global conformational state of the ribosome. In the presence of the frameshift inducing dnaX hairpin, the ribosomal subunits are driven into a hyper-rotated state and the L1 stalk is predominantly in an open conformation. This previously unobserved conformational state provides structural insight into the helicase activity of the ribosome and may have important implications for understanding the mechanism of reading frame maintenance.

The prevalence and influencing factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Chinese residents aged 20 or older were investigated. The data were collected from China Nutrition and Health Surveillance (2015–2017), which used a stratified, multistage, random sampling method. A total of 130,018 residents aged 20 years or older from 31 provinces were included in this study. The National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria were used to define MetS. The standardised prevalence of high waist circumference, high blood pressure and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were 40.8%, 49.4% and 41.1%, respectively. The following factors were associated with a higher prevalence of MetS: female [odds ratio (OR) = 1.773, 95% CI = 1.709–1.840]; older age (OR = 1.037, 95% CI = 1.036–1.039); living in north China (OR = 1.087, 95% CI = 1.058–1.117); high body mass index (OR = 1.402, 95% CI = 1.395–1.408); higher income [OR (95% CI): 1.044 (1.007–1.083), 1.083 (1.044–1.124) and 1.123 (1.078–1.170) for moderate, high, and very high income, respectively]; family history of hypertension (OR = 1.237, 95% CI = 1.203–1.273); family history of diabetes (OR = 1.491, 95% CI = 1.426–1.558) and current smoking status (OR = 1.143, 95% CI = 1.098–1.191). Living in the countryside (OR = 0.960, 95% CI = 0.932–0.988), moderate alcohol consumption (OR = 0.917, 95% CI = 0.889–0.946) and being physically active (OR = 0.887, 95% CI = 0.862–0.913) were associated with a lower prevalence of MetS. The prevalence of MetS among residents aged 20 years or older in China is increasing, especially among women, people aged 45 years or older and urban residents. Preventive efforts, such as quitting smoking and engaging in physical activity, are recommended to reduce the risk of MetS.