BackgroundThe prevalence of prehypertension has increased in China, and prehypertension frequently progress to hypertension over a short time period; both have become public health problems. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and blood pressure (BP) in China.MethodsA cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted in China using a stratified random cluster sampling method. Sex-specific VAI quartile cut-off points were used as follows: 0.88, 1.41, 2.45 in males and 0.85, 1.33, 2.22 in females. Prehypertension and hypertension were each defined according to The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) guidelines. A multivariate logistic analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship among VAI, prehypertension and hypertension.ResultsThe ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartiles of the VAI were 1.514 (1.074-2.133), P=0.018 and 1.660 (1.084-2.542), P=0.020, in males, after adjusting for age, education, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity, serum creatinine, fasting glucose, and plasma insulin. Following further adjustments for the above confounders, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes, the ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartile of the VAI were 1.660 1.533 (1.086-2.165), P=0.015, and 1.743 (1.133-2.680), P=0.011, in males. The ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartile of the VAI were 1.691 (1.223-2.338), P=0.001, and 1.682 (1.162-2.435), P=0.006, in females, after adjusting for age, education, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity, serum creatinine, fasting glucose, and plasma insulin. Following further adjustments for the above confounders, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes, the ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartile of the VAI were 1.688 (1.220-2.334), P=0.002, and 1.657 (1.141-2.406), P=0.008, in females.ConclusionsA higher VAI was positively associated with both prehypertension and hypertension in both males and females. It is both essential and urgent that clinicians take steps to control and prevent visceral adiposity.

No abstract

No abstract

BackgroundPredatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are the most important beneficial arthropods used in augmentative biological pest control of protected crops around the world. However, the genomes of mites are far less well understood than those of insects and the evolutionary relationships among mite and other chelicerate orders are contested, with the enigmatic origin of mites at one of the centres in discussion of the evolution of Arachnida.ResultsWe here report the 173 Mb nuclear genome (from 51.75 Gb pairs of Illumina reads) of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus cucumeris, a biocontrol agent against pests such as mites and thrips worldwide. We identified nearly 20.6 Mb (~ 11.93% of this genome) of repetitive sequences and annotated 18,735 protein-coding genes (a typical gene 2888 bp in size); the total length of protein-coding genes was about 50.55 Mb (29.2% of this assembly). About 37% (6981) of the genes are unique to N. cucumeris based on comparison with other arachnid genomes. Our phylogenomic analysis supported the monophyly of Acari, therefore rejecting the biphyletic origin of mites advocated by other studies based on limited gene fragments or few taxa in recent years. Our transcriptomic analyses of different life stages of N. cucumeris provide new insights into genes involved in its development. Putative genes involved in vitellogenesis, regulation of oviposition, sex determination, development of legs, signal perception, detoxification and stress-resistance, and innate immune systems are identified.ConclusionsOur genomics and developmental transcriptomics analyses of N. cucumeris provide invaluable resources for further research on the development, reproduction, and fitness of this economically important mite in particular and Arachnida in general.

No abstract

No abstract

This paper gives an overview of the occurrence of mite pests (Schizotetranychus nanjingensis Ma & Yuan, Aponychus corpuzae Rimando and Aculus bambusae Kuang) and their damage to the moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) in Fujian province, China. The effects of mites on the physiology of the plants and their yield are briefly discussed. Possible causes of their outbreaks in bamboo forests are outlined. A schematic model for the integrated management of bamboo mites is proposed.

Three species of the genus Schizotetranychus (Acari: Tetranychidae) are recorded and described from the leaves of the moso bamboo (Phyllostaychs pubescens) in Fujian, China. They are Schizotetranychus nanjingensis Ma & Yuan, S. bambusae Reck and S. tenuinidus Zhang & Zhang sp. nov. A key for separating the females of these three species is given. Notes on the biology of these mites are also provided.