Heavy metal pollution at tourist attractions centers has caused widespread concern. In this study, the concentration of seven heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni, As, and Mn) in the surface soil of the Lushan scenic area was measured, and their pollution characteristics were assessed using the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index and geo-accumulation index; further, the human non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were evaluated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health risk assessment model. Correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and a positive matrix factorisation model were used to analyse the heavy metal sources. The results indicated that the heavy metal concentrations did not exceed the pollution threshold levels. The hazard quotients for the six heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni, and As) are below the threshold for non-carcinogenic health risk, whereas the carcinogenic health risk in the region is at an “acceptable” level; however, because of the high contribution of As, the carcinogenic health risks to residents of this area require continuous monitoring. Analysis revealed six sources of the pollutants: soil parent material, altitude, surface accumulation of organic matter, industrial dustfall, local human activities (life and agriculture), and tourism. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing appropriate strategies for a sustainable development of the scenic area.

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Our study elucidates significant differences in RM-associated host-microbe interactions between LUAD and LUSC. Besides, the microbes in tumor tissue could be used to predict the RM risk of LUSC, and the predicted risk score is associated with patients’ survival.

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Background. Rib head dislocation (RHD) in dystrophic scoliosis of type 1 neurofibromatosis (DS-NF1) is a unique disorder caused by skeletal dystrophy and scoliotic instability. No particular surgical manipulation is mentioned in the literature to instruct the spine surgeons to effectively obtain more migration of the dislocated rib head without resection. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of screw/hook insertion at vertebrae with RHDs on the retraction of penetrated rib head from spinal canal.Methods. 37 neurologically intact patients with DS-NF1 and concomitant 53 RHDs undergoing scoliosis surgery without rib head excision were retrospectively reviewed. We used pre and postoperative whole-spine radiographs to determine the Cobb angle and the vertebral translation (VT), and the CT scans to evaluate the intraspinal rib length (IRL) and rib-vertebral angle (RVA). The dislocated ribs were stratified into two groups according to the presence of screw/hook insertion at vertebrae with RHD: screw/hook group and non-screw/hook group. Results. 37 dislocated ribs with screws/hooks insertion at corresponding vertebrae were assigned into the screw/hook group and the remaining 16 dislocated ribs consisted of the non-screw/hook group. In the screw/hook group, the correction rates of Cobb angle and VT were significantly higher than the non-screw/hook group after surgery (58.7±16.0% vs. 30.9±12.4%, p=0.003; 61.8±18.8% vs. 35.1±16.6%, p=0.001; respectively). Similarly, more correction rates of IRL and RVA were found in the screw/hook group than the non-screw/hook group (63.1±31.3% vs. 30.1±20.7%, p=0.008; 17.6±9.7% vs. 7.2±3.6%, p=0.006; respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the correction rates of Cobb angle, VT and RVA contributed significantly to correction of IRL (β=0.389, 0.939 and 1.869, respectively; p=0.019, 0.001 and 0.002, respectively).Conclusion. Screw/hook insertion at dystrophic vertebrae with RHDs contributed significantly to the degree of retraction of penetrated rib head from spinal canal. This effectiveness is mediated by more corrections of VT and RVA.