Polygenic Risk Score Modifies the Association of HbA1c With Hearing Loss in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese: The Dongfeng-Tongji Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence regarding the modifying effect of the polygenic risk score (PRS) on the associations between glycemic traits and hearing loss (HL) was lacking. We aimed to examine whether these associations can be influenced by genetic susceptibility. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 13,275 participants aged 64.9 years from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort. HL was defined according to a pure tone average >25 dB in the better ear and further classified by severity. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) were defined based on the 2013 criteria from the American Diabetes Association. A PRS was derived from 37 single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with HL. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the associations of PRS and glycemic traits with HL and its severity. RESULTS: Elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and T2D were positively associated with higher HL risks and its severity, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 1.04 (95% CI 1.00, 1.08) to 1.25 (95% CI 1.06, 1.46). We also found significant interaction between HbA1c and PRS on risks of overall HL and its severity (P for multiplicative interaction <0.05), and the effects of HbA1c on HL risks were significant only in high PRS. Additionally, compared with normoglycemia in the low PRS, T2D was respectively associated with an OR of up to 2.00 and 2.40 for overall HL and moderate to severe HL in the high PRS (P for additive interaction <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PRS modifies the association of HbA1c with HL prevalence among middle-aged and older Chinese.

Associations of Long-Term Exposure to PM2.5 and Its Constituents with Erythrocytosis and Thrombocytosis in Rural Populations.

Evidence on the effect of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis prevalence was limited. We aimed to investigate the association of PM2.5 and its constituents with the risks of erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis. The present study included a total of 33,585 participants from the Henan Rural Cohort at baseline between 2015 and 2017. A hybrid satellite-based model was employed to estimate the concentrations of PM2.5 mass and its constituents (including black carbon [BC], nitrate [NO3-], ammonium [NH4+], inorganic sulfate [SO42-], organic matter [OM], and soil particles [SOIL]). The logistic regression model was used to assess the associations of single exposure to PM2.5 and its constituents with the risks of erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis, and the quantile G-computation method was applied to evaluate their joint exposure risk. For the independent association, the odds ratios for erythrocytosis/thrombocytosis with 1 µg/m3 increase was 1.049/1.043 for PM2.5 mass, 1.596/1.610 for BC, 1.410/1.231 for NH4+, 1.205/1.139 for NO3-, 1.221/1.359 for OM, 1.300/1.143 for SO42-, and 1.197/1.313 for SOIL. Joint exposure to PM2.5 and its components was also positively associated with erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis. The estimated weight of NH4+ was found to be the largest for erythrocytosis, while OM had the largest weight for thrombocytosis. PM2.5 mass and its constituents were positively linked to prevalent erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis, both in single-exposure and joint-exposure models. Additionally, NH4+/OM was identified as a potentially responsible component for the association between PM2.5 and erythrocytosis/thrombocytosis.

Prevalence and morphological subtype distributions of anaemia in a Chinese rural population: the Henan Rural Cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the recent prevalence and the distributions of morphological subtypes of anaemia in the rural population. DESIGN: Anaemia was defined according to the WHO and the Chinese criteria, and the morphological subtypes of anaemia were classified based on the erythrocyte parameters. The age-standardised prevalence was calculated according to the data of the Population Census 2010 in China. SETTING: A cross-sectional study in Henan Province. PARTICIPANTS: 33 585 subjects aged 18-79 years old. RESULTS: The standardised prevalence of anaemia across the WHO and the Chinese definitions was 13·63 % and 5·45 %, respectively. Regardless of which criteria was used, the standardised prevalence of anaemia was higher among women than among men and that increased with age in men, while markedly decreased after menopause in women. There were shifts in morphological patterns of anaemia using the WHO and the Chinese criteria that the standardised prevalence of microcytic anaemia was 3·74 % and 2·97 %, normocytic anaemia was 9·20 % and 2·34 %, and macrocytic anaemia was 0·75 % and 0·14 %, respectively. Besides, there were differences in the influencing factors of anaemia according to different criteria or gender. However, age, education level and renal damage were consistently significantly associated with anaemia in all participants. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia may still be a serious health problem in rural China. It is necessary to reformulate prevention and management strategies to reduce the disease burden of anaemia.

Kitchen ventilation attenuated the associations of solid fuel use and long duration for cooking with the increased prevalence of normocytic anemia.

Evidence on the potential risk factors of normocytic anemia, the most prevalent morphology subtype of anemia, was scarce to date. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of cooking fuel use or daily cooking duration with normocytic anemia and further explore the modification effect of mechanical ventilation. Participants totaling 29,448 from the Henan Rural Cohort were included in this study. Normocytic anemia was defined by hemoglobin (based on the World Health Organization criteria) and mean corpuscular volume. Cooking-related data was collected by questionnaire, and the average daily cooking duration was calculated by the weekly cooking frequency and the cooking duration of each meal. Logistic regression models were employed to derive the combined and independent associations of cooking fuel type and daily cooking duration with normocytic anemia and the modification effect of ventilation. Compared with people who never cooked, both clean fuel and solid fuel users were significantly associated with increased prevalent normocytic anemia [OR (95% CI) = 1.196 (1.014, 1.411) and 1.335 (1.105, 1.614), respectively], and the effect estimates on normocytic anemia risk were 1.260 (1.043, 1.523), 1.320 (1.104, 1.578), and 1.310 (1.081, 1.587) in participants who daily cooked < 1 h/day, 1-2 h/day, and ≥ 2 h/day, respectively. These relationships were attenuated in subjects with mechanical ventilation (All P < 0.05). Cooking with solid fuel or for a long duration are independently associated with prevalent normocytic anemia in rural population, and mechanical ventilation could attenuate these associations. Future efforts to reduce the burden of anemia could target the universal use of ventilation and solid fuel use or cooking duration reduction.Clinical trial registration: The Henan Rural Cohort Study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). Date of registration: 06 July, 2015. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=11375.

Relationship of miRNA­126 and miRNA­122 expression with type 2 diabetes mellitus and related glucose metabolism parameters: A systematic review and meta­analysis.

There are increasing numbers of studies investigating the potential link between microRNAs (miRNAs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. Based on the prior evidence and the differentially expressed candidate plasma exosome miRNAs in our established discovery study, the current meta-analysis studied miR-126 and miR-122 specifically. The purpose of the present study was to systematically and quantitatively evaluate the relationship of miR-126 and miR-22 expression level with T2DM risk as well as related glucose metabolism parameters. Moreover, the present study was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline (PRISMA 2020 statement). PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure electronic databases were used to identify eligible original studies prior to May 3, 2022. The random-effects models were employed to explore the overall effect estimates [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), or correlation coefficient (r, 95% CI)]. The subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the potential sources of heterogeneity. The potential publication bias was assessed by the Begg's funnel plot and Egger's tests. A total of 46 articles were included in the present meta-analysis. The results revealed that higher exposure level of miR-126 was related to lower T2DM risk in 5 analytical epidemiological studies [OR=0.73, 95% CI: (0.55, 0.96)], lower fasting blood glucose (FBG) [N=22, r=-0.26, 95% CI: (-0.42, -0.10)], and lower homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index [N=9, r=-0.28, 95% CI: (-0.52, -0.05)]. Besides, positive correlations were observed between miR-122 expression and FBG [N=10, r=0.34, 95% CI: (0.20, 0.48)], as well as HOMA-IR index [N=9, r=0.40, 95% CI: (0.16, 0.64)]. The relationship of miR-126 and miR-122 expression with T2DM risk and these glucose metabolism parameters may be influenced by study types, sample size, different source and mean age of participants. In conclusion, in the general healthy population, higher miR-126 expression was related to lower T2DM risk, FBG level and HOMA-IR index; higher miR-122 expression was closely correlated with higher FBG level and HOMA-IR index. These findings have notable clinical and public health implications for screening and control glucose metabolic disorders, insulin resistance and T2DM development.

Lower socioeconomic status strengthens the effect of cooking fuel use on anemia risk and anemia-related parameters: Findings from the Henan Rural Cohort.

The established evidence of cooking fuel use and socioeconomic status related to anemia is limited in low- and middle-income countries. The current study aims to examine the independent and combined effects of cooking fuel use and socioeconomic status on anemia risk as well as anemia-related parameters in rural China. A total of 21,050 participants were included from the baseline of the Henan Rural Cohort. Anemia was determined according to the World Health Organization criteria. Data on cooking fuel use (electricity, gas and solid fuel) and socioeconomic status (education and income levels) were collected using a standardized questionnaire by face-to-face interview. Logistic and linear regression models were applied to evaluate the effects of cooking fuel use or socioeconomic indicators on anemia risk, hemoglobin (HGB), red blood count (RBC), and hematocrit (HCT) levels. Using gas or solid fuel for cooking was positively associated with prevalent anemia risk and negatively related to HGB, RBC, and HCT levels compared to using electricity. Significant independent associations were also found between socioeconomic status (education and income levels) and prevalent anemia risk as well as these anemia-related parameters. In general, with decreased socioeconomic status, associations of using gas or solid fuel for cooking with advanced anemia risk as well as lower anemia-related parameters were increased. Furthermore, participants using gas or solid fuel for cooking and with lower education or income level were related to increased high anemia risk as well as low HGB, RBC and HCT levels, compared to those using electricity for cooking and with high education or income level (P <0.05 for all). The finding suggested that lower socioeconomic status strengthens the adverse effect of cooking fuel use on the higher anemia risk and lower HGB, RBC, and HCT levels in rural China.

Biomechanical evaluation of seven fixation methods to treat pubic symphysis diastasis using finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pubic symphysis diastasis (PSD) hinders the connection between bilateral ischia and pubic bones, resulting in instability of the anterior pelvic ring. PSD exceeding 25 mm is considered disruptions of the symphyseal and unilateral/bilateral anterior sacroiliac ligaments and require surgical intervention. The correct choice of fixation devices is of great significance to treat PSD. This study aimed to evaluate the construct stability and implant performance of seven fixation methods to treat PSD using finite element analysis. METHODS: The intact skeleton-ligament pelvic models were set as the control group. PSD models were simulated by removing relevant ligaments. To enhance the stability of the posterior pelvic ring, a cannulated screw was applied in the PSD models. Next, seven anterior fixation devices were installed on the PSD models according to standard surgical procedures, including single plates (single-Plate group), single plates with trans-symphyseal cross-screws (single-crsPlate group), dual plates (dual-Plate group), single cannulated screws, dual crossed cannulated screws (dual-canScrew group), subcutaneous plates (sub-Plate group), and subcutaneous pedicle screw-rod devices (sub-PedRod group). Compression and torsion were applied to all models. The construct stiffness, symphyseal relative micromotions, and von Mises stress performance were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The construct stiffness decreased dramatically under PSD conditions. The dual-canScrew (154.3 ± 9.3 N/mm), sub-Plate (147.1 ± 10.2 N/mm), and sub-PedRod (133.8 ± 8.0 N/mm) groups showed better ability to restore intact stability than the other groups (p < 0.05). Regarding regional stability, only single-plate fixation provided unexpected regional stability with a diastasis of 2.1 ± 0.2 mm (p < 0.001) under a compressive load. Under a rotational load, the single-crsPlate group provided better regional angular stability (0.31° ± 0.03°, p < 0.001). Stress concentrations occurred in the single-Plate, sub-Plate, and sub-PedRod groups. The maximum von Mises stress was observed in the single-plate group (1112.1 ± 112.7 MPa, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The dual-canScrew fixation device offers ideal outcomes to maintain stability and prevent failure biomechanically. The single-crsPlate and dual-Plate methods effectively improved single-Plate device to enhance regional stability and disperse stresses. The subcutaneous fixation devices provided both anterior pelvic ring stability and pubic symphysis strength.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00426 contributes to doxorubicin resistance by sponging miR-4319 in osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: LINC00426 is a newly identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with unacknowledged biological roles. Here we set out to characterize the expression status of LINC00426 in osteosarcoma and understand its mechanistic involvement in incidence of doxorubicin (Dox) resistance. METHODS: The relative expression of LINC00426 and miR-4319 was determined by real-time PCR. Cell viability and proliferation in response to LINC00426 silencing or miR-4319 over-expression was measured with CCK-8 kit and colony formation assay, respectively. The direct association between LINC00426 and miR-4319 was analyzed by pulldown assay with biotin-labelled probes. RESULTS: LINC00426 was significantly up-regulated in Dox-resistant osteosarcoma (OS) both in vitro and in vivo, which intimately associated with unfavorable prognosis. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of LINC00426 remarkably compromised cell viability and proliferation in Dox-resistant OS cells, which accompanied with decrease of IC50 and activation of caspase-3. We further predicted and validated the regulatory effects of miR-4319 on LINC00426 expression. Simultaneously, we provided evidences in support of direct binding between LINC00426 and miR-4319 by pulldown assay. Reciprocally negative regulation was observed between LINC00426 and miR-4319 each other. CONCLUSION: Ectopic introduction of miR-4319 significantly surmounted the Dox resistance in OS cells, while miR-4319 inhibition in LINC00426-deficient cells greatly restore this phenotype. We uncovered the important contribution of LINC00426/miR-4319 to Dox resistance in osteosarcoma. REVIEWERS: This article was reviewed by Bo Liang and Sinan Zhu.

[Arthroscopy-assisted treatment of severe comminuted distal radial fracture using external fixators].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of arthroscopy-assisted treatment of severe comminuted distal radial fracture with external fixators and kirschner wire fixation. METHODS: Twenty-seven cases of severe comminuted distal radial fracture treated between March, 2010 and January, 2012 were reviewed. During the operation, the carpal joint space was expanded with the external fixator, and the fracture was fixed by Kirschner wire after open reduction. The carpal joint was observed intraoperatively with arthroscopy to ensure full reduction, and the distal posterior interosseous nerve was then severed. The results of postoperative X-ray and wrist functional status of the carpal joints were recorded. Another 27 cases of severe comminuted distal radial fracture treated by conventional surgical approach served as the control group. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for a mean of 13.2 (5-27) months. Compared with the conventional surgical approach, arthroscopy-assisted treatment resulted in a significantly shorter operative time with better appearance of the articular surface and also better wrist function assessed using the Krimmer system (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopy-assisted external fixator treatment is effective for management of severe comminuted distal radial fracture and avoids the stair-like appearance of the articular surface to achieve the maximal functional recovery of the carpal joints and reduce traumatic arthritis.