microRNA-3037 targeting CYP6CY2 confers imidacloprid resistance to Sitobion miscanthi (Takahashi).

The wheat aphid Sitobion miscanthi is a dominant and destructive pest in agricultural production. Insecticides are the main substances used for effective control of wheat aphids. However, their extensive application has caused severe resistance of wheat aphids to some insecticides; therefore, exploring resistance mechanisms is essential for wheat aphid management. In the present study, CYP6CY2, a new P450 gene, was isolated and overexpressed in the imidacloprid-resistant strain (SM-R) compared to the imidacloprid-susceptible strain (SM-S). The increased sensitivity of S. miscanthi to imidacloprid after knockdown of CYP6CY2 indicates that it could be associated with imidacloprid resistance. Subsequently, the posttranscriptional regulation of CYP6CY2 in the 3' UTR by miR-3037 was confirmed, and CYP6CY2 participated in imidacloprid resistance. This finding is critical for determining the role of P450 in relation to the resistance of S. miscanthi to imidacloprid. It is of great significance to understand this regulatory mechanism of P450 expression in the resistance of S. miscanthi to neonicotinoids.

Projections from infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex glutamatergic outputs to amygdala mediates opioid induced hyperalgesia in male rats.

Repeated use of opioid analgesics may cause a paradoxically exacerbated pain known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), which hinders effective clinical intervention for severe pain. Currently, little is known about the neural circuits underlying OIH modulation. Previous studies suggest that laterocapsular division of the central nucleus of amygdala (CeLC) is critically involved in the regulation of OIH. Our purpose is to clarify the role of the projections from infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (IL) to CeLC in OIH. We first produced an OIH model by repeated fentanyl subcutaneous injection in male rats. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that c-Fos-positive neurons were significantly increased in the right CeLC in OIH rats than the saline controls. Then, we used calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) labeling and the patch-clamp recordings with ex vivo optogenetics to detect the functional projections from glutamate pyramidal neurons in IL to the CeLC. The synaptic transmission from IL to CeLC, shown in the excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs), inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) and paired-pulse ratio (PPR), was observably enhanced after fentanyl administration. Moreover, optogenetic activation of this IL-CeLC pathway decreased c-Fos expression in CeLC and ameliorated mechanical and thermal pain in OIH. On the contrary, silencing this pathway by chemogenetics exacerbated OIH by activating the CeLC. Combined with the electrophysiology results, the enhanced synaptic transmission from IL to CeLC might be a cortical gain of IL to relieve OIH rather than a reason for OIH generation. Scaling up IL outputs to CeLC may be an effective neuromodulation strategy to treat OIH.

Inhibition of Oligodendrocyte Apoptosis in the Prelimbic Medial Prefrontal Cortex Prevents Fentanyl-induced Hyperalgesia in Rats.

Opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is a problem associated with prolonged use of opioids in chronic pain management, and its effective treatment has been hampered by lack of mechanistic evidence. Oligodendrocytes have recently been linked with several pain-related diseases; however, little is known its role in OIH. The prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex (PL-mPFC) has emerged as a significant center of pain regulation, and is rich in oligodendrocytes. Herein we explored the effect of oligodendrocyte apoptosis of PL-mPFC on OIH. Using a fentanyl-induced rat model of OIH and proteomics analysis of the PL-mPFC, we observed a downregulation in 5 types of myelin-related proteins originating from oligodendrocytes; this was further verified by western blotting. Meanwhile, cleaved-caspase 3 (an apoptosis marker) was increased, whereas the oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) marker NG2 remained unchanged. These results suggest that downregulated myelin-related proteins may be associated with oligodendrocyte apoptosis rather than a reduction in their generating source, and immunohistochemistry confirmed this hypothesis. Behaviorally, prophylactic blockade of oligodendrocyte apoptosis by microinjection of z-DEVD-fmk into the PL-mPFC prevented fentanyl-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, but downregulated myelin basic protein (mbp) gradually recovered in 12 h. We suggest that OIH may be primed in part via oligodendrocyte apoptosis in the PL-mPFC. PERSPECTIVE: In this study we showed that oligodendrocyte apoptosis in the PL-mPFC is a key trigger for fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia. Targeting oligodendrocyte apoptosis in the PL-mPFC may prevented hyperalgesia priming induced by fentanyl.

Association between Oral vitamin C supplementation and serum uric acid: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Results from recent trials assessing the effect of oral vitamin C supplementation on serum uric acid (SUA) have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the association between oral vitamin C supplementation and serum uric acid. METHODS: PUBMED, EMBASE, CNKI, Web of Science, and CENTRAL of Cochrane library databases were searched to identify relevant articles published up to February 2020. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I-square (I2) statistics. Random-effects model was used to pool weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) as summary effect sizes. RESULTS: The total sixteen eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) containing 1,013 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled findings showed that vitamin C supplementation had a significant effect of lowering SUA. The subgroup analyses showed that the effect of vitamin C supplementation on SUA has positive association with mean age of participants <65 years old, the use of placebo or blank control, duration of trials <1 month and high-quality studies. In addition, sensitivity analysis showed that the results of this study were stable. Both Egger's test and Begg's test demonstrated that no evidence of significant publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: The results of present meta-analysis have demonstrated that vitamin C supplementation could make a reduction of SUA. The use of placebo, duration of intervention, age of the subjects and study quality have an impact on the effect of oral vitamin C, but the baseline of SUA not.

Prevalence and Prognostic Value of Heart Failure Stages: An Elderly Inpatient Based Cohort Study.

Background: The prevalence and prognostic value of heart failure (HF) stages among elderly hospitalized patients is unclear. Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational, multi-center, cohort study, including hospitalized patients with the sample size of 1,068; patients were age 65 years or more, able to cooperate with the assessment and to complete the echocardiogram. Two cardiologists classified all participants in various HF stages according to 2013 ACC/AHA HF staging guidelines. The outcome was rate of 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were used for survival analyses. Survival classification and regression tree analysis were used to determine the optimal cutoff of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to predict MACE. Results: Participants' mean age was 75.3 ± 6.88 years. Of them, 4.7% were healthy and without HF risk factors, 21.0% were stage A, 58.7% were stage B, and 15.6% were stage C/D. HF stages were associated with worsening 1-year survival without MACE (log-rank χ2 = 69.62, P < 0.001). Deterioration from stage B to C/D was related to significant increases in HR (3.636, 95% CI, 2.174-6.098, P < 0.001). Patients with NT-proBNP levels over 280.45 pg/mL in stage B (HR 2; 95% CI 1.112-3.597; P = 0.021) and 11,111.5 pg/ml in stage C/D (HR 2.603, 95% CI 1.014-6.682; P = 0.047) experienced a high incidence of MACE adjusted for age, sex, and glomerular filtration rate. Conclusions : HF stage B, rather than stage A, was most common in elderly inpatients. NT-proBNP may help predict MACE in stage B. Trial Registration: ChiCTR1800017204; 07/18/2018.

Treat-to-Target urate-lowering therapy in primary gout patients: A real-world retrospective study at a dedicated gout clinic in China.

BACKGROUND: Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis affecting 1.1% of the population in mainland China with a higher prevalence in coastal areas. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical outcomes following urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in a real-world group study of primary gout patients in China. METHODS: Electronic medical records of all the gout patients (n= 1588) that visited the Clinical Medical Center of Gout of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2016 to February 2018 were analyzed in this study. The patients were treated with a standard treat-to-target (T2T) ULT strategy according to the 2016 EULAR Guidelines. Clinical data were collected in the first visit and one-month (defined as the baseline of ULT), 7-month, and 13-month follow-ups were completed. RESULTS: Amongst the patients in the study, 92.70% accepted ULT and 82.93% completed ULT for 3 months, 63.54% for 6 months, and 40.49% (n= 643) for 12 months. Further analysis of the 643 patients included the following data: the sUA level reduced at month 7 and reduced further at month 13. The gout flares, patient global pain visual analogue score, and health assessment questionnaire score improved at month 7 but did not improve further at month 13, and the index tophus size did not.

Prevalence and Prognostic Significance of Frailty in Gerontal Inpatients With Pre-clinical Heart Failure: A Subgroup Analysis of a Prospective Observational Cohort Study in China.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of frailty in gerontal pre-clinical heart failure (stage B heart failure, SBHF) inpatients. Background: The association between frailty and SBHF remains unknown. Methods: We conducted a subgroup analysis of a prospective observational cohort study on frailty. The previous study recruited 1,000 elderly inpatients who were consecutively admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Beijing, China, from September 2018 to February 2019. The outcomes were all-cause death or readmission at 1-year follow-up. SBHF was diagnosed for asymptomatic cardiac structural or functional abnormalities. Frailty was assessed using the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment-Frailty Index (CGA-FI). Results: Overall, 531 inpatients aged ≥65 years were deemed to have SBHF and followed up for 1 year. Of them, 34.5% exhibited frailty. During the follow-up period, all-cause death or readmission occurred in 157 (29.5%) participants. Of these participants, 36.6% (67/183) and 25.9% (90/348) belonged to the frail and non-frail groups, respectively (χ2 = 6.655, P = 0.010). Frailty, defined by the CGA-FI, rather than Fried frailty phenotype, could independently predict 1-year all-cause death or readmission (hazard ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.35; P = 0.034) and was more suitable for predicting all-cause death or readmission than N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in female SBHF inpatients aged 80 years or over(AUCCGA-FI vs. AUCNT-proBNP 0.654 vs. 0.575, P = 0.017). Conclusions: Frailty is highly prevalent even among SBHF inpatients aged ≥65 years. The CGA-FI can independently predict 1-year all-cause death or readmission, rather than Fried frailty phenotype. Frailty in gerontal SBHF inpatients deserves more attention. Clinical Trial registration: ChiCTR1800017204; date of registration: 07/18/2018.

Trimethylamine N-Oxide, a Gut Microbiota-Dependent Metabolite, is Associated with Frailty in Older Adults with Cardiovascular Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to explore the association between trimethylamine N-oxide and frailty in older adults with cardiovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed a total of 451 people aged 65 years or older who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessments. Frailty status was determined using a frailty index constructed with 48 variables according to the cumulative deficits model. Physical frailty and cognitive frailty were also assessed in detail. Fasting plasma TMAO was measured by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The proportion of frail subjects was 29.9% (135/451). Plasma TMAO levels were significantly higher in frail patients than in nonfrail individuals (4.04 [2.84-7.01] vs 3.21 [2.13-5.03] µM; p<0.001). Elevated plasma TMAO levels were independently associated with the likelihood of frailty (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.01-4.38, p=0.046). Dose-response analysis revealed a linear association between the TMAO concentration and the OR for frailty. A 2-unit increase in TMAO was independently correlated with physical frailty (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08-1.41, p for trend 0.002) and cognitive frailty (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01-1.45, p for trend 0.04). CONCLUSION: Elevated circulating TMAO levels are independently associated with frailty among older adults with cardiovascular disease.

Association of whole grains intake and the risk of digestive tract cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between whole grains intake and digestive tract cancer risk; however, the results are still controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the association. METHODS: Studies published before March 2020 were searched in database and other sources. The risk ratio (RR) with the 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled using fix or random-effects models. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 34 articles reporting 35 studies, 18 studies of colorectal cancer, 11 studies of gastric cancer and 6 studies of esophagus cancer, involving 2,663,278 participants and 28,921 cases. Comparing the highest-intake participants with the lowest-intake participants for whole grains, we found that the intake of whole grains were inversely related to colorectal cancer (RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.84-0.93, P < 0.001), gastric cancer (RR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.53-0.79, P < 0.001), esophagus cancer (RR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.44-0.67, P < 0.001), respectively. However, subgroup analysis of colorectal cancer found no significant association in the case-control studies and studies of sample size < 500, and subgroup analysis of gastric cancer found no significant association in the cohort studies and studies of American population. No study significantly affected the findings in the sensitivity analysis. No publication bias was found in the studies for colorectal cancer and esophagus cancer except in the studies for gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides further evidence that whole grains intake was associated with a reduced risk of digestive tract cancer. Our result supports the dietary guidelines that increase whole grains intake to reduce the risk of digestive tract cancer.

The genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: an updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) genetic polymorphisms are considered to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but this is inconclusive. The aim of this study is to quantify the association between polymorphisms of BsmI and FokI in the VDR gene and T2DM risk through literature review. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Original articles published from 1999 to June 2014 were discovered through PubMed, ISI Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Wanfang Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with software STATA version 12.0. RESULTS: Twenty-three articles containing 30 case-control studies were included. The association between the BsmI polymorphism and T2DM was weak in two genetic models (Bb vs bb and BB+Bb vs bb). The subgroup analysis showed that this association was only found in the studies with a small sample size (<200). A strong association between FokI polymorphism and T2DM indicated that this gene polymorphism was possibly a risk factor for T2DM (ff vs FF: OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.28-1.93, p<0.001; Ff vs FF: OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.31-1.81, p<0.001; ff+Ff vs FF: OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.35-1.83, p<0.001), especially in Chinese populations. CONCLUSION: More reliable conclusions about associations between VDR genetic polymorphisms and T2DM will depend on studies with larger sample size and by ethnicity.

Timosaponin B-II Ameliorates Palmitate-Induced Insulin Resistance and Inflammation via IRS-1/PI3K/Akt and IKK/NF-[Formula: see text]B Pathways.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of timosaponin B-II (TB-II) on palmitate (PA)-induced insulin resistance and inflammation in HepG2 cells, and probe the potential mechanisms. TB-II, a main ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, notably ameliorated PA-induced insulin resistance and inflammation, and significantly improved cell viability, decreased PA-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] (TNF-[Formula: see text]) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Further, TB-II treatment notably decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and improved superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO). TB-II also reduced HepG2 cells apoptosis. Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and inhibitor of nuclear factor [Formula: see text]-B kinase (IKK)/NF-[Formula: see text]B pathways-related proteins, and IKK[Formula: see text], p65 phosphorylation, serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) at S307, tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, and Akt activation were determined by Western blot. Compared to model group, TB-II significantly downregulated the expression of p-NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65, p-IKK[Formula: see text], p-IRS-1, p-PI3K and p-Akt. TB-II is a promising potential agent for the management of palmitate-induced insulin resistance and inflammation, which might be via IR/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt and IKK/NF-[Formula: see text]B pathways.

Timosaponin B-II ameliorates diabetic nephropathy via TXNIP, mTOR, and NF-κB signaling pathways in alloxan-induced mice.

BACKGROUND: Many synthesized drugs with clinical severe side effects have been used for diabetic nephropathy (DN) treatment. Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to identify natural and safe agents to remedy DN. Timosaponin B-II (TB-II), a major steroidal saponin constituent in Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, exhibits various activities, including anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic functions. However, the anti-DN effects and potential mechanism(s) of TB-II have not been previously reported. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of TB-II on DN in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. METHODS: TB-II was isolated and purified from A. asphodeloides Bunge using macroporous adsorption resin and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The effect of TB-II on DN was evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic mice using an assay kit and immunohistochemical determination in vivo. The expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways was also measured using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: TB-II significantly decreased the blood glucose levels and ameliorated renal histopathological injury in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. In addition, TB-II remarkably decreased the levels of renal function biochemical factors, such as kidney index, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, urinary uric acid, urine creatinine, and urine protein, and it reduced lipid metabolism levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides and the levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in alloxan-induced mice. Furthermore, TB-II inhibited the expression of mTOR, TXNIP, and NF-κB. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that TB-II plays an important role in DN via TXNIP, mTOR, and NF-κB signaling pathways. Overall, TB-II exhibited a prominently ameliorative effect on alloxan-induced DN.

Polymorphisms in GCKR, SLC17A1 and SLC22A12 were associated with phenotype gout in Han Chinese males: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Gout is a common arthritic disease resulting from elevated serum uric acid (SUA) level. A large meta-analysis including 28,141 individuals identified nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with altered SUA level in a Caucasian population. However, raised SUA level alone is not sufficient for the development of gout arthritis and most of these SNPs have not been studied in a Han Chinese population. Here, we performed a case-control association analysis to investigate the relationship between these SUA correlated SNPs and gout arthritis in Han Chinese. METHODS: A total of 622 ascertained gout p9atients and 917 healthy controls were genotyped. Genome-wide significant SNPs, rs12129861, rs780094, rs734553, rs742132, rs1183201, rs12356193, rs17300741 and rs505802 in the previous SUA study, were selected for our analysis. RESULTS: No deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed either in the case or control cohorts (corrected p > 0.05). Three SNPs, rs780094 (located in GCKR, corrected p = 1.78E(-4), OR = 0.723), rs1183201 (located in SLC17A1, corrected p = 1.39E(-7), OR = 0.572) and rs505802 (located in SLC22A12, corrected p = 0.007, OR = 0.747), were significantly associated with gout on allelic level independent of potential cofounding traits. While the remaining SNPs were not replicated. We also found significant associations of uric acid concentrations with these three SNPs (rs780094 in GCKR, corrected p = 3.94E(-5); rs1183201 in SLC17A1, corrected p = 0.005; rs505802 in SLC22A12, corrected p = 0.003) and of triglycerides with rs780094 (located in GCKR, corrected p = 2.96E(-4)). Unfortunately, SNP-SNP interactions for these three significant SNPs were not detected (rs780094 vs rs1183201, p = 0.402; rs780094 vs rs505802, p = 0.434; rs1183201 vs rs505802, p = 0.143). CONCLUSIONS: Three SUA correlated SNPs in Caucasian population, rs780094 in GCKR, rs1183201 in SLC17A1 and rs505802 in SLC22A12 were confirmed to be associated with gout arthritis and uric acid concentrations in Han Chinese males. Considering genetic differences among populations and complicated pathogenesis of gout arthritis, more validating tests in independent populations and relevant functional experiments are suggested in future.

Plasma levels of C1q/TNF-related protein 1 and interleukin 6 in patients with acute coronary syndrome or stable angina pectoris.

BACKGROUND: C1q/TNF-related protein 1 (CTRP-1), a novel adipocyte factor, may participate in the mechanisms of metabolism and inflammation. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is correlated with the severity of coronary heart disease (CHD). In this study, we focused on the levels of CTRP-1 and IL-6 in patients with CHD. METHODS: Circulating CTRP-1 and IL-6 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 81 patients with acute coronary syndrome (n=41) or stable angina pectoris (n=40). CTRP-1 and IL-6 levels were also examined in 30 healthy individuals (control group). We examined the correlations between the levels of CTRP-1 and IL-6 and cardiac risk factors in CHD. Logistic regression analysis was performed to screen for factors that predict CHD. RESULTS: Both CTRP-1 and IL-6 concentrations were increased in the acute coronary syndrome or stable angina pectoris group compared with the control group (P<0.01). Both plasma levels of CTRP-1 and IL-6 in the single-, double- and triple-vessel lesion group were higher compared with the control group (P<0.01). CTRP-1 levels were positively correlated with IL-6 (r=0.667, P<0.01) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (r=0.520, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with HDL-C (r=-0.432, P<0.01). The logistic regression analysis showed that increases in CTRP-1 and IL-6 levels may be powerful predictors of CHD. CONCLUSIONS: The variation of plasma CTRP-1 and IL-6 concentrations may play an important role in reflecting the degree of inflammation in CHD and the severity of coronary arterial atherosclerosis. This potential suggests that evaluating CTRP-1 and IL-6 in combination may aid in predicting the occurrence of CHD.

Development of intraspinal ectopic endometrial tissue in connection with tethered cord syndrome.

We herein report a rare case of intraspinal ectopic endometrial tissue associated with tethered cord syndrome. The patient underwent MR imaging of the lumbar spine and CT spinal angiography. Asymptomatic dysraphism was also detected, including spinal bifida, low-lying conus medullaris, spinal meningocele and a lumbosacral lipoma. Venous reflux obstruction was also suggested. The patient underwent L2-S1 laminectomy and microdecompression of the lesion. The histological and immunohistochemical features were characteristic of ectopic endometrial tissue. Since the surgery, no neurological signs have been noted, either during or outside the patient's menstrual periods. The two-month follow-up MRI scans showed a regression of the lesion.

Clinical application and diagnostic value of noninvasive spinal angiography in spinal vascular malformations.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the value of computed tomographic (CT) spinal angiography with 256-slice CT and fast dynamic contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at 3.0 T in the diagnosis of spinal vascular malformations. METHODS: Seventeen patients who presented with suspected spinal vascular diseases by initial magnetic resonance and clinical findings all underwent CT spinal angiography. Among these, 10 patients underwent MRA, 15 patients underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) within 3 to 5 days, and 8 patients finally underwent surgical treatment. RESULTS: Computed tomographic angiography examination clearly showed the abnormal vascular lesions in 16 of the 17 patients, including 7 patients with the diagnosis of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula, 7 patients with perimedullary arteriovenous fistula, and 2 patients with spinal arteriovenous malformations. The results were consistent with the diagnosis of DSA or surgery. One patient was poorly diagnosed. The fistulas could be seen in 12 patients; feeding arteries were correctly displayed in 12 patients. The fistulas and feeding arteries were accurately shown in 7 of 10 patients by MRA; DSA results were also negative in the other 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal angiography with 256-slice CT and contrast-enhanced MRA at 3.0 T can clearly show the extent of spinal vascular malformations, feeding arteries, and fistulas. They are safe, noninvasive, as well as rapid and can shorten the time of DSA diagnosis and treatment.

A population-based case-control study on risk factors for gastric cardia cancer in rural areas of Linzhou.

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Although certain dietary factors and lifestyles have been suggested to be associated with gastric carcinogenesis, there have been few investigations focusing on rural areas. A case-control study was therefore carried out to investigate the risk factors of gastric cardia cancer (GCC) in rural areas of Linzhou. A total of 470 newly diagnosed cases of GCC and 470 healthy controls were included. Face-to-face interviews were conducted, using a uniform questionnaire containing questions on demographics, per capita income, living habits, dietary habits and family history of tumors. The relationship between putative risk factors and GCC was assessed by odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) derived from conditional logistic regression model by the COXREG command using SPSS 12.00. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate simultaneously the effects of multiple factors and other potential confounding factors. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that smoking (OR=1.939, 95%CI:1.097-3.426), alcohol drinking (OR=2.360, 95%CI: 1.292-4.311), hot food consumption (OR=2.034, 95%CI: 1.507-2.745), fast eating (OR=1.616, 95%CI: 1.171-2.230), mouldy food (OR=4.564, 95%CI: 2.682-7.767), leftover food (OR=1.881. 95%CI: 1.324-2.671), and family history of tumor (OR=2.831, 95%CI: 1.588-5.050) were risk factors for GCC. High per capita income (OR=0.709, 95%CI: 0.533-0.942), high education level (OR=0.354, 95%CI: 0.163-0.765), consumption of fresh fruits (OR=0.186, 95%CI: 0.111-0.311) and vegetables (OR=0.243, 95%CI: 0.142-0.415), and high BMI (OR=0.367, 95%CI: 0.242-0.557) were protective factors for GCC. Our data indicate that unhealthy lifestyle and dietary habits might be important contributors to GCC in this population.

Polymorphisms in the NLRP3 gene and risk of primary gouty arthritis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between genetic variants in 17 tagSNPs of the NLRP3 gene and the susceptibility to primary gouty arthritis. A genotype-phenotype analysis of 480 primary gout and 480 control patients was performed. Samples from all the patients were collected from The Affiliated Hospital of Medical College (Qingdao, China). Seventeen tagSNPs of the NLRP3 gene were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and MassARRAY technology was used for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. The genetic frequency of rs7512998 was significantly different between the gout and control patients (P<0.05), whereas no significant differences were identified for the remaining SNPs. The 17 SNPs conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in the control group (P>0.05). The haplotype association among the 17 SNPs of the NLRP3 gene indicated that no individual SNP was significantly associated with primary gouty arthritis. CTATCAGCGCCCAGTGC was the most common haplotype in the case and control groups, with a frequency of 0.224 and 0.243, respectively. However, the odds ratios (ORs) of the 8 haplotypes were not identified to be significantly associated with gouty arthritis (P>0.05 for all the 8 haplotypes). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between SNPs of the NLRP3 gene and the risk of primary gouty arthritis, although no significant association was identified. Further clinical studies and functional analysis are required to explore the potential associations between NLRP3 gene polymorphisms and the risk of primary gouty arthritis.

[Value of multidetector CT on aiding intraoperative judgement of serosal invasion of gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of multidetector CT on aiding intraoperative judgement of serosal invasion of gastric cancer. METHODS: Clinical data of 206 cases of gastric cancer undergoing radical surgery in the First Hosptial of China Medical University from August 2009 to June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperative CT findings and intraoperative judgement of serosal invasion in gastric cancer were compared with pathological results in order to investigate their values. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative CT findings and intraoperative judgement of serosal invasion were 88.5%, 81.5% and 98.9%, 61.3%, respectively. The accuracy of preoperative CT in diagnosing serosal invasion was higher than that of intraoperative judgement, while the difference was not statistically significant (84.5% vs. 77.2%, P=0.060). The rates of serosal invasion of normal type, reactive type, nodular type, tendonoid type and color-diffused type were 0 (0/29), 2.5% (1/40), 40.5% (15/37), 59.2% (29/49), and 82.4% (42/51) respectively. The accuracy of preoperative CT in diagnosing serosal invasion of gastric cancer with tendonoid type was higher than that of intraoperative judgement, and the difference was statistically significant (61.2% vs. 87.8%, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Multidetector CT plays an important role in aiding intraoperation judgement of serosal invasion of gastric cancer. For gastric cancer with tendonoid and color-diffused macroscopic serosal appearance, surgeons should pay attention to the value of preoperative CT findings.