Role of low-density lipoprotein in mediating the effect of air pollution on coronary heart disease: a two-step multivariate Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: Air pollution is affecting the health of millions of people all over the world. The causal correlations of PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide (NOx), as the main fine particulate matter, and coronary heart disease (CHD) are yet to be explored. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been a principal factor in the pathogenesis of CHD. It is an interesting issue to consider whether LDL mediates the effect of air pollutants in CHD pathogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) on the European population, followed up from 2010 to 2018, involving over 400,000 participants, was based on a land-use regression model. The annual mean concentrations of major air pollutant particles, PM2.5 (n=423,796), PM10 (n=423,796), and NOx (n=456,380), were recorded. The large GWAS database of CHD covered over ten million SNPs with independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). LDL database collected major biochemical blood parameters from over 400,000 patients (n=440,546). Taken together, we conducted independent two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses for the causality between air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, and NOx) and CHD. Multivariate MR analysis was conducted using causal relationships to determine the direct effects of exposure on outcome. The fixed-effect inverse variance weighted (IVW2) method was mainly employed to assess this relationship, with a confidence interval of 95% for the odds ratio (OR). Also, MR-Egger, weighted median, maximum likelihood ratio method, and random-effects inverse variance-weighted (IVW1) method were adopted as supplementary methods. RESULTS: Two-sample MR results based on the IVW2 method suggested positive correlations between PM2.5 and CHD [OR 1.875 (1.279-2.748), p=0.001], PM10 and CHD [OR 2.586 (1.479-4.523), p=0.001], and NOx and CHD [OR 2.991 (2.021-4.427), p=4.37E-08]. The direct effect and mediating proportion were calculated using multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR). Lastly, the mediating proportions of LDL in the regulatory roles of PM2.5, PM10, and NOx in CHD were 2.82%, 4.73%, and 9.54%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PM2.5, PM10, and NOx share direct causal associations with CHD, and LDL performs a mediating role in this pathogenic process. Early prevention against air pollution (such as increasing green areas and reducing large-scale industrial dust emissions) and early lipid-lowering treatment can effectively prevent the occurrence of CHD.

Upregulation of lncRNA NCK1-AS1 predicts poor prognosis and contributes to non-small cell lung cancer proliferation by regulating CDK1.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) NCK1-AS1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), analyze the association between its expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC patients, and study the biological function of NCK1-AS1 in vitro. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The relative expression of NCK1-AS1 in NSCLC tissues and cells was detected via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The association between the expression of NCK1-AS1 and the clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC was statistically analyzed. The effects of interference in the expression of NCK1-AS1 on the biological behaviors of NSCLC cells were detected via in vitro experiments, including Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay and flow cytometry. After interference in the expression of NCK1-AS1, the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) was determined using Western blotting. RESULTS: The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of NCK1-AS1 was up-regulated in 50 out of 64 cases of NSCLC tissues. It was found via statistical analysis that highly expressed NCK1-AS1 was positively correlated with tumor size, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. The results of qRT-PCR revealed that the expression of NCK1-AS1 was also up-regulated in NSCLC cells. After interference in the expression of NCK1-AS1, the proliferation of NSCLC cells was inhibited, and the cell cycle was arrested at G2/M phase. The results of Western blotting manifested that the expression of CDK1 was suppressed after interference in the expression of NCK1-AS1. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of NCK1-AS1 is up-regulated in NSCLC, which indicates a poor prognosis. Highly expressed NCK1-AS1 promotes the proliferation of NSCLC cells through activating CDK1.

Application of Demirjian's and Cameriere's Method in Dental Age Estimation of 8-16 Year Old Adolescents from Hunan Han Nationality.

ABSTRACT: Objective To apply Demirjian's and Cameriere's method for dental age estimation of adolescents from Hunan Han nationality, and compare the accuracy of the two methods. Methods A total of 480 orthopantomograms of?8-16 year?old adolescents from Hunan Han nationality?with no special diseases and good nutritional status were collected?by Xiangya Stomatological Hospital of Central South University from January, 2016 to July, 2017, among them 236 males and 244 females. The dental age of each adolescent was determined by Demirjian's method and Cameriere's method, respectively, and the paired t-test of the estimated dental age and the chronological age determined by the two methods was conducted by SPSS 20.0 software to compare the difference between estimated dental age and chronological age. Results Mean chronological age of males and females was 11.91 and 11.88 years, respectively. The estimated dental age determined by Demirjian's method showed an underestimate of chronological age by an average of 0.11 years （males） and 0.15 years （females）, while the estimated dental age determined by Cameriere's method showed an underestimate of chronological age by an average of 0.83 years （males） and 0.72 years （females）. Conclusion Demirjian's method is more accurate than Cameriere's method in dental age estimation of adolescents from Hunan Han nationality, therefore more suitable for dental age estimation of adolescents in this region.

[Research Progress of Vitreous Humor Detection Technique on Estimation of Postmortem Interval].

Estimation of postmortem interval （PMI） plays a crucial role in forensic study and identification work. Because of the unique anatomy location, vitreous humor is considered to be used for estima- ting PMI, which has aroused interest among scholars, and some researches have been carried out. The detection techniques of vitreous humor are constantly developed and improved which have been gradually applied in forensic science, meanwhile, the study of PMI estimation using vitreous humor is updated rapidly. This paper reviews various techniques and instruments applied to vitreous humor detection, such as ion selective electrode, capillary ion analysis, spectroscopy, chromatography, nano-sensing technology, automatic biochemical analyser, flow cytometer, etc., as well as the related research progress on PMI estimation in recent years. In order to provide a research direction for scholars and promote a more accurate and efficient application in PMI estimation by vitreous humor analysis, some inner problems are also analysed in this paper.

[Sources and characteristics of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, 2015-2016].

Objective: To understand the sources and characteristics of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, from 2015 to 2016. Methods: From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016, newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu were recruited in the study and they were asked to complete an in-depth field epidemiology questionnaire. Information related to their previous sexual behaviors and infection sources or routes were collected in the survey. The data were processed and analyzed with EpiData 3.0 and SPSS 19.0 software. Results: A total of 320 participants from 393 newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu during this period were surveyed and recruited in the study. Most of them were males (268, 83.8%), unmarried (141, 44.1%), aged between 25-44 years (166, 51.9%), had census register in other provinces (217, 67.8%) and educational level of junior high school (128, 40.0%). Among 305 cases whose infection times could be determined, 107 (35.1%) were newly infected within one year, and among 267 cases whose infection location could be determined, 200 (74.9%) were infected in Yiwu. New infections were mainly detected in those who had homosexual behaviors or causal sex partners (during the past year) and through active detection approach. Local infections were mainly among those who had local residence and commercial heterosexual behavior in Yiwu. Conclusions: Most newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu from 2015-2016 were infected for more than one year and locally infected. Census registration of other provinces, homosexual sexual behavior, and casual sexual behavior give major contribution to HIV/AIDS epidemic in Yiwu.

The Origin and Development of Medical Jurisprudence in Xiangya.

The origin of medical jurisprudence in China can be traced back to as early as 1920s, and since then, the discipline has undergone a great development. This paper, based on the disciplinary development of medical jurisprudence at Xiangya School of Medicine, illustrates its evolution in three aspects covering the scientific and theoretic foundation, legal system and policy support. The current investigation reflected a glimpse of the modern forensic science in China, providing useful historical reference for the development of Chinese forensic science.

Genetic Polymorphisms of 21 STR Loci in Hunan Province-based Han Population.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 21 short tandem repeat （STR） loci （D3S1358, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, Penta E, D2S441, TPOX, TH01, D2S1338, CSF1PO, Penta D, D10S1248, D19S433, vWA, D21S11, D18S51, D6S1043, D8S1179, D5S818, D12S391 and FGA）. METHODS: A total of 560 blood samples were collected from unrelated healthy individuals of Han population in Hunan Province. Chelex-100 extraction method was applied to the extraction of genomic DNA, and an AGCU EX22 Kit and 9700 STR amplification was used in amplification reactions. The products were separated and analyzed on 310 Genetic Analyzer. RESULTS: A total of 248 alleles were observed, the allelic frequencies ranging from 0.001 to 0.518. Observation of genotype distributions for each locus showed no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except Penta E （P=0.023）. The combined power of discrimination, combined power of exclusion, and combined matching probability of the 21 STR loci were approximately 0.999 999 999 999 999 999 999 999 8, 0.999 999 998, and 1.36×10⁻²5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The 21 STR loci show high polymorphisms in the Han population, which can provide valuable data and a theoretical basis for forensic individual identification and paternity testing.

Lung recruitment maneuver during proportional assist ventilation of preterm infants with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of lung recruitment maneuver (LRM) with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on oxygenation and outcomes in preterm infants ventilated by proportional assist ventilation (PAV) for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). STUDY DESIGN: Preterm infants on PAV for RDS after surfactant randomly received an LRM (group A, n=12) or did not (group B, n=12). LRM entailed increments of 0.2 cm H2O PEEP every 5 min, until fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2)=0.25. Then PEEP was reduced and the lung volume was set on the deflation limb of the pressure/volume curve. When saturation of peripheral oxygen fell and FiO2 rose, we reincremented PEEP until SpO2 became stable. RESULT: Group A and B infants were similar: gestational age 29.5 ± 1.0 vs 29.4 ± 0.9 weeks; body weight 1314 ± 96 vs 1296 ± 88 g; Silverman Anderson score for babies at start of ventilation 8.6 ± 0.8 vs 8.2 ± 0.7; initial FiO2 0.56 ± 0.16 vs 0.51 ± 0.14, respectively. The less doses of surfactant administered in group A than that in group B (P<0.05). Groups A and B showed different max PEEP during the first 12 h of life (8.4 ± 0.5 vs 6.7 ± 0.6 cm H2O, P=0.00), time to lowest FiO2 (101 ± 18 versus 342 ± 128 min; P=0.000) and O2 dependency (7.83 ± 2.04 vs 9.92 ± 2.78 days; P=0.04). FiO2 levels progressively decreased (F=43.240, P=0.000) and a/AO2 ratio gradually increased (F=30.594, P=0.000). No adverse events and no differences in the outcomes were observed. CONCLUSION: LRM led to the earlier lowest FiO2 of the first 12 h of life and a shorter O2 dependency.

Three New Species of the Genus Alulatettix Liang from China (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae).

Characters of the tetrigid genus Alulatettix Liang are redescribed. Three new species, Alulatettix nigromarginalis n. sp., Alulatettix flavotibialis n. sp., and Alulatettix tianzhushanensis n. sp., are described. An updated key to the species of this genus is provided.

Four New Species of Tetrigidae (Orthoptera).

Four new species of Tetrigidae (Orthoptera) from Anhui province, China, are described, namely Paragavialidium anhuiensis n. sp. of Scelimeninae, Bolivaritettix jinzhaiensis n. sp. of Metrodorinae, Bannatettix anhuiensis n. sp., and Formosatettix albomaculatus n. sp. of Tetriginae.

Two New Species of the Genus Formosatettixoides Zheng (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae).

Taxonomy of a tetrigid genus Formosatettixoides Zheng is reviewed. Two new species, Formosatettixoides nigellus n. sp. and Formosatettixoides dabieshanensis n. sp. are described. Redescription of the characters of the genus is given, the distribution and an updated key to the now 10 species of the genus are presented.

Overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor-B increases the growth, invasion, and angiogenesis of gastric carcinoma cells through protein kinase B.

Platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) promotes tumor metastasis by inducing tumor cell growth, invasion, and angiogenesis in several cancers. However, the roles of PDGF-B in gastric carcinoma are largely unknown. We established two gastric carcinoma cell lines, SGC7901 and BGC823, to stably overexpress PDGF-B by lentiviral vectors, and determined their growth, invasion and angiogenesis. Overexpression of PDGF-B significantly enhanced the cell proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis of both SGC7901 and BGC823 cells, accompanied with increased activation of AKT, which is a downstream target of PDGF signaling pathway. Consequently, an AKT kinase inhibitor abolished the PDGF-B overexpression-mediated up-regulation of growth, invasion and angiogenesis. These results indicate that PDGF-B signaling may promote the metastasis of gastric carcinoma through AKT signaling. Targeting the PDGF-B pathway may be an alternative strategy for the development of therapies for gastric cancers.

Altered expression of Krüppel-like factor 4 and ß-catenin in human gastric cancer.

The effects of the interaction between KLF4 and ß-catenin may be significant in human carcinogenesis and tumor development. This study aimed to determine whether the expression of KLF4 and ß-catenin in gastric cancer tissues is associated with clinicopathological characteristics. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect KLF4 and ß-catenin expression in tumor and corresponding non-cancerous tissues from 49 patients. The data revealed that KLF4 expression was significantly reduced in gastric cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. By contrast, the expression of the ß-catenin protein was significantly increased in all tumor tissues, but was not expressed in distant normal mucosae. The altered expression of the KLF4 and ß-catenin proteins was associated with advanced tumor stage and gastric cancer. In addition, the expression of the KLF4 and ß-catenin proteins was inversely associated in moderately differentiated human gastric cancers. This study showed that ß-catenin expression is significantly increased and KLF4 protein expression is markedly decreased in gastric cancer tissues, thus showing that the expression of KLF4 is inversely correlated with that of ß-catenin in gastric cancer. The altered expression of the two proteins is associated with advanced tumor stage in gastric cancer.

Chromium nanoparticle exhibits higher absorption efficiency than chromium picolinate and chromium chloride in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

This study was conducted to determine whether chromium nanoparticle (CrNano) exhibited higher absorption efficiency and possessed unique absorption mechanism in comparison to chromium picolinate (CrPic) and chromium chloride (CrCl(3)), as was postulated by previous reports. Twenty-one-day-old Caco-2 cell monolayers grown on semipermeable membranes in Snapwell tissue culture bichambers were incubated with CrNano, CrPic or CrCl(3) to examine their transport and uptake respectively. In the concentration range of 0.2-20 micromol/l, transport of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) across Caco-2 monolayers both in apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical direction was concentration-, and time-dependent, and temperature independent. The apparent permeability coefficient (P(app)) of CrNano was between 5.89 and 7.92 x 10(-6) cm/s and that of CrPic and CrCl(3) was between 3.52 and 5.31 x 10(-6) cm/s and between 0.97 and 1.37 x 10(-6) cm/s respectively. Uptake of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) by both apical and basolateral membranes was concentration- and time-dependent. Uptake of CrNano by apical membrane was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased when the incubation temperature was reduced from 37 degrees C to 4 degrees C. The transport efficiency of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) after incubation for 120 min at 37 degrees C was 15.83% +/- 0.76%, 9.08% +/- 0.25% and 2.11% +/- 0.53% respectively. The uptake efficiency of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) was 10.08% +/- 0.76%, 4.73% +/- 0.60% and 0.88% +/- 0.08% respectively. It was concluded that the epithelial transport of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) across the Caco-2 cell monolayers was mainly via passive transport pathways. In addition, CrNano exhibited considerably higher absorption efficiency than both CrPic and CrCl(3) in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Efficacy of chromium(III) supplementation on growth, body composition, serum parameters, and tissue chromium in rats.

Chromium(III) is often claimed to have a positive effect on body composition, while the responses in researches with supplementation of different chemical form of chromium are various and inconsistent. We have studied the effects of 6 weeks of treatment with three different forms of chromium (300 mug/kg) as chromium chloride, chromium tripicolinate, and chromium nanocomposite (CrNano) on growth, body composition, serum parameters, and tissue chromium in rats. The supplementation of CrNano significantly increased average daily gain, food efficiency, and lean body mass and decreased fat mass and body fat proportion and serum levels of glucose, urea nitrogen, triglyceride, and insulin. Chromium contents in liver, kidney, and hind leg muscle were increased significantly with the addition of CrNano in diet. The results indicate that chromium nanocomposite has higher efficacy on growth and body composition compared to the traditional chromium agents.

Evaluation of a new Spin-echo diffusion-weighted sequence on a 0.35 T open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-system: first experiences within 3 h after acute stroke.

In acute stroke, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging helps to select patients who are eligible for thrombolysis, but is almost exclusively implemented on closed-bore scanners, which make monitoring of patients difficult. We developed and tested a cardiac gated Spin-echo diffusion-weighted sequence with prescan finetrim and motion correction on an open system with 0.35 T. Nineteen stroke patients appropriate for thrombolytic therapy by clinical criteria were enrolled in a prospective study on an intention-to-treat basis. In all but one patient, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging including the new diffusion-weighted sequence were performed within 3 h after symptom onset. Images were evaluated for acute cerebral ischemia and hemorrhage by two radiologists blinded to clinical information. Magnetic resonance imaging required a mean total acquisition time of 26 min. Sensitivity for early infarction was 94% in diffusion-weighted imaging and 73% in computed tomography. Six patients were excluded from thrombolysis due to an infarct size of more than 1/3 of the territory of the middle cerebral artery exclusively diagnosed with diffusion-weighted imaging. Hemorrhage was recognised by both, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. We conclude that in acute stroke, diffusion-weighted imaging with an open system at 0.35 T is practicable. The implemented sequence reliably demonstrated the size of the infarction and improved the selection of patients who are eligible for thrombolysis.

[Therapeutic effect and its mechanism exploration on mainly using traditional Chinese medicine of replenishing qi and nourishing yin in treating Graves disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect and its mechanism mainly using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of replenishing Qi and nourishing Yin (RQNY) with a small dosage of Tapazol for treatment of Graves disease (GD). METHODS: The changes of thyroid function and the activity of sodium pump of human erythrocyte in the patients with Graves disease were observed and compared before and after treatment between the treated group (42 cases) by combining treatment mainly using TCM of RQNY and a small amount of Tapazol, and a control group (42 cases) by Tapazol alone. RESULTS: After treatment for half a year, one and two years, the serum levels of T3, T4 in above two groups were markedly decreased than those of before treatment, the therapeutical effect of treated group was superior to that of control group. The activity of sodium pump in human erythrocyte in the GD patients was obviously higher than that of normal group and that of before treatment. After treatment for one and two years mainly by TCM or Western medicine, the erythrocyte sodium pump activity was obviously lower than that of before treatment and that of normal group. The decrease of erythrocyte sodium pump activity in group of combination therapy was markedly lower than that in group of Western medicine. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy was much more effective on the functional remission of thyroid and energy metabolism in GD patients than that of using Tapazol therapy only.

A method for the calculation of currents on shielded gradient coils.

Alternate expressions for the current density on the shielding surface of a gradient coil are derived for cylindrical, planar, and hyperbolic gradient coils. For the planar and hyperbolic geometries, these expressions allow more rapid high-precision calculations of current densities than the conventional solution.