[Investigation of the chronic respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function of adult residents in Hongtong County, Shanxi Province].

Objective: To investigate the chronic respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function of adult residents in 3 towns of Hongtong County, Shanxi Province, and to explore their risk factors. Methods: The investigation of chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function status of adult residents in Hongdong County is based on the regional population of the entire county in Hongdong County. The project was initiated by the Science and Technology Department of Linfen City and coordinated by the Hongdong County Government. The investigation will be conducted in 3 townships in Hongdong County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province from April to November 2021: Demographic characteristics, respiratory symptoms, smoking dust exposure and other personal history were collected through questionnaires. Physical examination, routine blood tests and lung function tests were also performed on each individual. SPSS 22.0 software was used to conduct t test, χ2 test, ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test for statistical analysis of the collected information. Results: 10 945 subjects aged 18-102 years were included in the analysis, of whom 3 754 (34.3%) were male, 1 222 (11.2%) had a history of dust exposure, 7 164 (65.5%) had used straw and firewood as cooking fuel, and 3 296 (30.1%) had a history of smoking. Among the participants, 394 (3.6%), 339 (3.1%), and 1 543 (14.1%) had respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, sputum, and dyspnea. Statistics showed that the population with chronic respiratory symptoms was more elderly and had a smoking history, and the incidence of chronic respiratory symptoms was higher in those who smoked more than 40 packs a year (all P<0.05). Men with a history of dust exposure were more likely to suffer from chronic cough and expectoration, while emaciation and biofuel use for more than 40 years were more likely to suffer from chronic expectoration and dyspnea (all P<0.05). The median values of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC in 1 second were 2.19 L/s, 3.24 L and 69.16%, respectively. Among them, the lung function of 5 801 (53.0%) respondents was lower than the expected value. The median FEV1/FVC decreased with the increase of age. The FEV1/FVC of people over 40 years old with smoking history was lower, the dust exposure history of people with decreased lung function was more than that of people with normal lung function, and the incidence of chronic expectoration and dyspnea was higher in people with decreased lung function (all P<0.05). The absolute value and ratio of eosinophils in patients with decreased ventilation function over 60 years old were significantly higher than those with normal ventilation function, but the level of body mass index (BMI) was lower (all P<0.05). Conclusion: In Hongdong County, Shanxi Province, grassroots residents have poor medical awareness, low lung function examination rate, chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function decline are associated with more risk factors. Primary medical institutions need to formulate prevention strategies and carry out lung function detection according to the actual situation, focusing on monitoring and follow-up of high-risk groups to achieve early and timely prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The effects of ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism on vasovagal syncope patients undergoing head-up tilt test supplemented with sublingual nitroglycerin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Head-up tilt test (HUTT) is clinically advantageous for diagnosing patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS). Nitroglycerin is mainly used as a stimulant during HUTT, and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is involved in the metabolism of nitroglycerin (NTG). ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism (ALDH2 rs671) is the most common variant in the East Asian population. This study aimed to assess the effects of ALDH2 rs671 on VVS patients undergoing HUTT supplemented with sublingual NTG (HUTT-NTG).  METHODS: Patients with recurrent VVS (at least 2 times) who were admitted to the syncope center of our hospital were enrolled. All VVS patients have undergone HUTT. The polymorphism of Glu487Lys gene of ALDH2 was measured by the DNA Microarray Chip Method. The results of HUTT-NTG of VVS patients with different ALDH2 genotypes were compared and their hemodynamic characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 199 VVS patients were enrolled, including 101 patients in the ALDH2*1/*1 group and 98 patients in the ALDH2*2 group. Among patients undergoing HUTT-NTG, 70.3% of patients in the ALDH2*1/*1 group and 68.4% of patients in the ALDH2*2 group were positive, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.77). The proportions of VASIS I, VASIS II, and VASIS III were 40.6%, 8.9%, and 20.8% in the ALDH2*1/*1 group, respectively, and the corresponding proportions in the ALDH2*2 group were 36.7%, 11.2%, and 20.4%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.91). The hemodynamic characteristics of different genotypes in VVS patients undergoing HUTT-NTG were compared, and no statistically significant difference was found. The median time of syncopal episode occurred after NTG administration in the ALDH2*1/*1 group was 6 min (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.0-9.0), and it was 6.0 min in the ALDH2*2 group (IQR: 4.25-8.0, P = 0.64). CONCLUSION: ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism did not affect the outcome of VVS patients undergoing HUTT-NTG, and no significant change in the hemodynamic characteristics of different genotypes was found.

[Effect of simulating leg length inequality on spinal and pelvic posture in the elderly].

Objective: To study the effects of simulating leg length inequality on the spine and pelvic posture in standing and walking states and to explore their compensatory laws. Methods: From January to April, a total of 44 healthy volunteers were rasterstereographically examined for spine and pelvis in Institute of Digitized Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University and Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University.Volunteers wore uniform shoes, and single 5 mm thick insoles were customized.The simulating leg length inequalities (5-30 mm) were artificially created by increasing insole height.The parameters of 3D body surface parameters and 4D dynamic parameters of the pelvic and spine were measured and statistically analyzed in standing and walking states. Results: In the static standing state, with the increase of the difference of both lower extremities, coronal plane pelvic tilt and sagittal plane pelvic torsion also increased[the maximum value about (10.6±4.3) mm and (3.3±3.5)°], as well as the frontal deviation of the spine [the maximum value about (11.1±17.9) mm]. But the pelvic rotation, vertebral surface rotation angle (rms) and spine sagittal plane deviation were no obvious changes.In the walking state, with the difference between lower extremities increased, the maximum angles of vertebral surface rotation to the left and right and pelvic rotation to the left and right were no obvious changes, but (coronal) spinal maximum offset distance to left and right increased [the maximum value about (9.8±5.1), (10.4±6.9) mm]. Conclusion: The effect of the leg length discrepancy on the pelvic coronal plane and the sagittal plane changes are obvious, but little effect has on the pelvic cross section.The pelvis is compensated by the increase of the inclination of the coronal plane and the sagittal angle at first order.Similarly, the effect on the coronal plane of the spine is more markedly, but the changes of sagittal and cross-section of the spine is less affected, the spine is mainly compensated by the coronal plane bending at second order.

Neutral Ceramidase Secreted Via Exosome Protects Against Palmitate-Induced Apoptosis in INS-1 Cells.

Aims: To investigate the effects of neutral ceramidase (NCDase) packaged in exosomes that are secreted from ß-cells on free fatty acid (FFA)-induced ß-cells apoptosis and its role in regulation of sphingolipid-mediated signaling pathway. Methods: HPLC and Western blotting were performed to determine NCDase activity and expression. Annexin V-fluorescein-isothiocyanate/propidium iodide flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis. Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used for ceramide (Cer), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and sphingosine (SPH) determination. Results: INS-1 cells over-expressed NCDase secreted active NCDase via exosomes. Exosomes isolated from the cultured medium of INS-1 cells that oxpressed NCDase could ameliorate palmitate-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the results showed that exosome-derived NCDase treatment reduced intracellular Cer/S1P ratio. Conclusions: ß-cell secreted active NCDase via exosome, the exosome-packaged-NCDase protected ß-cells from FFA-induced apoptosis through regulating sphingolipid metabolites and it might be a potential treatment for ß-cell lipotoxicity and type 2 diabetes.

Tauroursodeoxycholate, a chemical chaperone, prevents palmitate-induced apoptosis in pancreatic ß-cells by reducing ER stress.

BACKGROUND: Free fatty acids (FFA) can have deleterious effects on ß-cells and promote type 2 diabetes, a process known as lipotoxicity. Recently, the induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is one mechanism proposed to contribute to the detrimental effects of FFA on ß-cells. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) has been reported to show cytoprotective effects by alleviating ER stress induced by some cytotoxic stimuli. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TUDCA on FFA (palmitate)-induced apoptosis and ER stress in rat islet ß-cells. METHODS: The rat pancreatic ß-cell line INS-1 was cultured with palmitate (0.5 mM), or cultured togther with TUDCA (100 µM), Annexin V-fluorescein-isothiocyanate/propidium iodide flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis in INS-1 cells. Cell viability was evaluated with MTT reduction conversion assay. The expressions of ER stress marker GRP78, ER stress-associated pro-apoptotic effectors CHOP and ATF4 were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: TUDCA significantly reduced palmitate-induced cell apoptosis and growth inhibition in INS-1 cells. TUDCA also attenuated palmitate-induced expressions of GRP78, CHOP and ATF4 in INS-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results thus suggested that TUDCA could protect INS-1 cells from palmitate-induced injury, which might be due to the amelioration of ER stress and blocking the ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway.

Improvement of protein loading and modulation of protein release from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres by complexation of proteins with polyanions.

A novel method was proposed to incorporate and modulate protein release from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres by a modified w/o/w emulsion solvent evaporation technique with poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)/insulin complex suspension as the inner aqueous phase instead of the neat protein solution. It was found that a reversible, water-insoluble complex could be formed between PMAA and insulin by electrostatic interactions. A great increase in insulin entrapment efficiency was observed as the PMAA/insulin complex was adopted to prepare PLGA microspheres. A large number of the complex particles adsorbed at the surface of the microspheres, resulting in the more rapid insulin release. The complexation and microencapsulation processes have little effect on insulin bioactivity, which was revealed by examination of the plasma glucose levels of the diabetic rats administrated with the microspheres.

Bioadhesive fluorescent microspheres as visible carriers for local delivery of drugs. II: Uptake of insulin-loaded PCEFB/PLGA microspheres by the gastrointestinal tract.

Uptake of novel inherently fluorescent microspheres composed of a luminescent polyanhydride, poly[p-(carboxyethylformamido)-benzoic anhydride] (PCEFB), and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) (2:1, weight ratio) by the gastrointestinal tract was evaluated by fluorescent microscopy. Oral efficiency of the incorporated insulin also was determined by measuring reduction of plasma glucose levels after feeding diabetic rats with a single dose of the microspheres. We found that PCEFB/PLGA microspheres could adhere to the intestinal epithelium and traverse the absorptive cells. A large number of the spheres were observed in spleen, whereas few were detected in liver within the evaluated period of time. Apparent reduction of the plasma glucose levels was observed over a span of 6 h postfeeding. The unique properties of the delivery system such as biodegradability, bioadhesivity, and inherently luminescent characteristics render it an ideal "visible" tracer for monitoring oral fate of polymeric microspheres.

[Analysis of electrophoretic patterns of different body hairs of the same individual].

Keratin contents of different hairs from the head, pubic, armpit and leg of one individual were analyzed by SDS-PAGGE. Samples were collected from 20 individuals. The results showed that the electrophoretic patterns of different body hairs of the same individual were almost identical. The relative contents of keratin composition from the same individual were tested by Laser Densimetic Scanning. No obvious difference was found. Electrophoretic keratin patterns and relative keratin contents of head hairs from different parts (crown, left side, right side, forehead and occiput) of the same individual were observed. No obvious difference was found. It is concluded the analysis of electrophoretic keratin pattern of human body hairs can be used as an important evidence for forensic individual identification.

[Blunted growth hormone response to hGRF 1-29 NH2 in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus].

Basal serum growth hormone and response of GH to GRF in 10 patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes and in 10 control subjects were studied. The basal GH level in NIDDM was higher than that in control subjects. There was a significant difference. After an intravenous bolus of hGRF 1-29 NH2 with the dose of 1 microgram/kg body weight, GH (Peak level-basal level) decreased in NIDDM patients in comparing with control group (P < 0.05). These findings may suggest that the pituitary GH reserve is reduced in patients with NIDDM. There exists some defect in central GH control in diabetics with enhanced somatostatin secretion and abnormal sensitivity of the GH secretion cells to a variety of regulatory factors including GRF, glucose, amino-acids, free fat acid.