[Research progress of direct-acting antiviral drugs in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C-related cirrhosis].

Chronic hepatitis C is a kind of viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus infection, which can further progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, and even death. Presently, there is no preventive vaccine yet. Therefore, preventing infection and safe and effective drug treatment are currently the most effective strategies for dealing with hepatitis C virus infection. Since 2014, the clinical application of direct-acting antiviral drugs has brought revolutionary changes to the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Direct-acting antiviral drugs have an excellent hepatitis C virus clearance effect, are well tolerated, have a good safety profile, and can significantly improve liver function, metabolic disorders, immune dysfunction, etc. However, some studies have pointed out that even if the hepatitis C virus is cleared during the treatment of chronic hepatitis C-related cirrhosis with direct-acting antiviral drugs, a considerable proportion of patients still have severe liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, and even liver disease-related death, so there are still some problems in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C- related cirrhosis with direct-acting antiviral drugs that need to be further explored. This article reviews the research progress of direct-acting antiviral drugs so as to provide meaningful references for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C-related cirrhosis.

[Correlation analysis between Pirani score and talo-navicular angle,calcaneo-cuboid angle and tibio-calcaneall angle of infant clubfoot under ultrasound].

Objective: To explore the evaluation effect of ultrasonography and Pirani score on tarsal deformity, treatment effect and pseudo-correction of congenital clubfoot in infants and young children, and the correlation between the two methods. Methods: This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 26 children (40 feet) with congenital clubfoot who were evaluated by ultrasonography in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to January 2023 were retrospectively collected. There were 16 males and 10 females. The age at the first ultrasound examination was (M(IQR)) 9.0 (18.0) days (range: 1 to 46 days). All patients were treated with Ponseti method by the same physician. The Pirani scores before and after treatment and at the last examination, and the talonavicular angle, calcaneocuboid angle and tibiocalcaneal angle measured by ultrasound were collected, and the treatment and follow-up were recorded. Paired sample t test, repeated measures analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test were used for data comparison, and Spearman correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the efficacy of ultrasound in evaluating different Pirani scores. Results: The number of plaster fixation in 26 children was 4.0 (1.0) times (range: 2 to 8 times). The medial talonavicular angle and posterior tibiocalcaneal angle were significantly improved after treatment and at the last follow-up compared with those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01). There was no difference in lateral calcaneocuboid angle before and after treatment and at the last follow-up (F=1.971, P>0.05). Pseudo-correction occurred in 2 cases (2 feet) during the treatment, with an incidence of 5%. Correlation analysis showed that there was a moderate positive correlation between talonavicular angle and Pirani midfoot score (r=0.480, P<0.01). There was no correlation between calcaneocuboid angle and Pirani midfoot score (r=0.114, P=0.105). There was a moderate negative correlation between tibial heel angle and Pirani hindfoot score (r=-0.566, P<0.01). The cut-off point of Pirani midfoot score of 1.5 was 38.78°, the sensitivity was 0.90, the specificity was 0.56, and the area under the curve was 0.75. The cut-off value of angle was 27.51 °, the sensitivity was 0.16, the specificity was 0.92, and the area under the curve was 0.44.The cut-off points of Pirani midfoot score of 3.0 were 45.08°and 9.96°, the sensitivity was 0.94 and 0.91, the specificity was 0.37 and 0.42, and the area under the curve was 0.59 and 0.62, respectively. The cut-off values of Pirani hindfoot score of 2.0 and 3.0 were 167.46° and 160.15°, respectively. The sensitivity was 0.75 and 0.67, the specificity was 0.81 and 0.83, and the area under the curve was 0.78 and 0.71, respectively. Conclusion: Ultrasound can complement with Pirani score, visually and dynamically observe the morphology and position changes of talonavicular joint, calcaneocuboid joint and tibiotalocalcaneal joint, monitor the recovery and pseudo-correction of tarsal bones, and better evaluate the therapeutic effect.

Orychophragmus violaceus and/or chicory forage affects performance, egg quality, sensory evaluation and antioxidative properties in native laying hens.

Orychophragmus violaceus (OV) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L., CC) can be used as fresh or dry forage for animals. To determine whether OV and/or CC have beneficial effects on performance and egg quality, a total of 1212 28-wk-old Beijing You Chicken (BYC) laying hens with similar performance were randomly allocated to 4 groups with 3 replicate pens per group, and 101 birds per pen. The birds were fed a basal diet (control), the basal diet + OV (3.507 kg/d/pen), the basal diet + CC (2.525 kg/d/pen), and the basal diet + OV + CC (OVC, 1.7535 kg/d/pen OV + 1.2625 kg/d/pen CC) for 3 wks after one wk of adaptation. The results showed that egg-laying rate was not affected by OV, CC and OVC (p > 0.05), but weekly average egg mass was significantly increased by OV and CC (p < 0.05). The feed egg ratio in the CC group (2.82) was significantly lower than that in the other three groups (p < 0.05). The eggshell thickness (EST), albumen height (AH) and Haugh unit (HU) were decreased by OV and CC (p < 0.05); while yolk color (YC) was increased in the CC and OVC groups (p < 0.05). Egg grade was decreased by OV (p < 0.05). Sensory evaluation showed that there was a trend for increased YC in OV, CC and OVC (p = 0.089). Serum total protein was significantly lower in OV group than those in the control and CC group (p < 0.05); serum albumin content was significantly decreased in OV, CC and OVC groups (p = 0.006). Serum glutathione peroxidase activity in CC and OVC groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study suggests that CC had a better effect on the performance of the native laying hens than OV. The OV and CC affected egg quality, while YC was increased in CC and OVC groups. The OVC improved YC and serum antioxidative properties of native laying hens without affecting the performance.

[Study on the resistance of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis to anti-tuberculosis drugs in group A].

Objective: To summarize the resistance of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis to anti-tuberculosis drugs in group A. Methods: In the retrospective study, a total of 1 226 clinical isolates from suspected multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Beijing TB control system from 2016 to 2021 were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains by MPB64 antigen detection test. Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) strains were screened by the phenotypic drug susceptibility using the proportion method. The drug susceptibilities of Levofloxacin(LFX), Moxifloxacin(MFX), Bedaquiline(BDQ) and Linezolid(LZD)were detected by the phenotypic drug susceptibility with microplate method. The drug resistance rate, drug resistance level and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) distribution of four anti-tuberculosis drugs in group A were analyzed. We calculated the demographic distribution of RR-TB, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB), pre-extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB), extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) patients and the cross resistance of LFX and MFX, then summarized the drug-resistance spectrum of BDQ-resistant and LZD-resistant strains and the treatment outcome of RR-TB patients. Measurement data were expressed as rate or composition ratio,χ2 test was used between and within groups, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 1 226 suspected multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients, the detection rates of RR/MDR/pre-XDR/XDR-TB patients were 20.8%(255/1 226), 15.2%(186/1 226), 5.7%(70/1 226), 0.5%(6/1 226), respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of patients with the four types of drug resistance in terms of age and treatment history (χ2=14.95, P=0.020;χ2=15.91, P=0.001). The drug resistance rates of LFX, MFX, BDQ and LZD in RR-TB patients were 27.5% (70/255), 27.5% (70/255), 0.4% (1/255) and 2.4% (6/255), respectively. The MICs of LFX, MFX and LZD-susceptible MTB were mainly at 0.25 mg/L, and the MIC of BDQ-susceptible MTB was mainly concentrated at 0.03 mg/L. 25.1% (64/255) of the RR MTB were resistant to both LFX and MFX, and 6 strains were resistant to LFX or MFX, showing incomplete two-way cross resistance. One BDQ-resistant strain and six LZD-resistant strains were detected. The treatment success rate of RR-TB patients was 74.4% (151/203), and there were statistically significant differences in treatment outcomes between resistant and sensitive patients on the LFX-containing treatment regimen (Fisher's exact test, P=0.012). Conclusions: The prevalence of fluoroquinolones (LFX and MFX) resistance in rifampicin-resistant MTB is very serious. LFX and MFX show incomplete bidirectional cross-resistance. BDQ and LZD have the most promising future in the treatment of MDR-TB. Improve drug-resistance testing will help to further improve the success rate of treatment.

[Research progress on the correlation between cirrhosis and frailty].

Frailty, which predicts high dependency and mortality, is a major challenge for healthcare systems in nations that are rapidly aging and is receiving increasing attention. Cirrhosis is often combined with frailty, which has a significant impact on patient health outcomes. Understanding the risk factors for frailty, elucidating the mechanism of cirrhosis combined with frailty, and early recognition and slowing down the occurrence and development of frailty are of great significance for the prognosis of cirrhotic patients. This article reviews the current research status of cirrhosis combined with frailty, including the definition and risk factors, mechanism, correlation, and intervention measures, in order to improve understanding and provide assistance for strengthening early identification, management, and intervention.

[The efficacy and safety of intravenous sucrose iron therapy for recurrent iron deficiency anemia].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron supplementation in patients with recurrent iron deficiency anemia (IDA) . Methods: This retrospective analysis of 90 patients with recurrent IDA from May 2012 to December 2021 was conducted, comparing the efficacy and safety of the intravenous iron therapy group and the oral iron therapy group. Results: Among the 90 patients with recurrent IDA, 20 were males and 70 were females, with a median age of 40 (range: 14-85) years. A total of 60 patients received intravenous iron supplementation and 30 received oral iron supplementation. The hematologic response rates in the intravenous iron group were significantly higher than those in the oral iron group at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment [80.0% (48/60) vs 3.3% (1/30) and 96.7% (58/60) vs 46.7% (14/30), all P<0.001, respectively]. The median increase in hemoglobin levels was also significantly higher in the intravenous iron group than in the oral iron group [38 (4, 66) g/L vs 7 (1, 22) g/L at week 4 and 44.5 (18, 80) g/L vs 19 (3, 53) g/L at week 8, all P<0.001]. The intravenous iron group had a significantly higher proportion of patients who achieved normal hemoglobin levels than the oral iron group (55.0% vs 0 and 90% vs 43.3%, all P<0.001, respectively). Iron metabolism indicators were tested before and after 8 weeks of treatment in 26 and 7 patients in the intravenous and oral iron groups, respectively. The median increase in serum ferritin (SF) levels in the intravenous iron group 8 weeks after treatment was 113.7 (49.7, 413.5) µg/L, and 54% (14/26) of these patients had SF levels of ≥100 µg/L, which was significantly higher than the median increase in SF levels in the oral iron group [14.0 (5.8, 84.2) µg/L, t=4.760, P<0.001] and the proportion of patients with SF levels of ≥100 µg/L (P=0.013). The incidence of adverse reactions was 3.3% (2/60) in the intravenous iron group, which was significantly lower than that in the oral iron group [20.0% (6/30), P=0.015]. Conclusion: Intravenous iron supplementation is more effective for hematologic response, faster hemoglobin increase, and higher iron storage replenishment rates compared with oral iron supplementation in patients with recurrent IDA, and it is well tolerated by patients.

[Analysis of tuberculosis epidemiological characteristics and drug resistance among the floating population in Beijing in 2019].

Objective: To analyze the epidemic characteristics and drug resistance of pulmonary tuberculosis among the floating population in Beijing and to provide a scientific basis for formulating strategies for the prevention and control of tuberculosis among the floating population. Methods: Data of tuberculosis patients who were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture was collected from 16 districts and one municipal institution of tuberculosis control and prevention in Beijing in 2019. The strain samples were tested for drug sensitivity by the proportional method. According to household registration location, patients were divided into the floating population and Beijing registration. SPSS 19.0 software analyzed tuberculosis patients' epidemic characteristics and drug resistance in the floating population. Results: In 2019, there were 1 171 culture-positive tuberculosis patients in Beijing, among the floating population, 593 (50.64%) patients were identified, with a male-to-female sex ratio of 2.2∶1 (409∶184). Compared to patients under household registration as Beijing residents, a higher proportion of young adults aged 20-39 years (65.09%,386/593) were noticed, with 55.65% (330/593) reported from the urban areas and 96.80% (574/593) were reported the first time. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After completing the drug sensitivity test, 37 cases were with multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis, accounting for 6.24% (37/593). The rates of isoniazid resistance (42.11%,8/19) and multidrug resistance (21.05%,4/19) in floating population patients after retreatment were significantly higher than those in newly treated patients (11.67%, 67/574 and 5.75%, 33/574), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Most patients with tuberculosis in the floating population in Beijing in 2019 were young males aged 20-39 years. The reporting areas were urban areas and the newly treated patients mainly. The patients with tuberculosis in the re-treated floating population were more likely to suffer from multidrug and drug resistance, which should be taken as the key population for prevention and control.

Astrocytes and major depression: The purinergic avenue.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric illnesses worldwide which impairs the social functioning of the afflicted patients. Astrocytes promote homeostasis of the CNS and provide defense against various types of harmful influences. Increasing evidence suggests that the number, morphology and function of astrocytes are deteriorated in the depressed brain and the malfunction of the astrocytic purinergic system appears to participate in the pathophysiology of MDD. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) released from astrocytes modulates depressive-like behavior in animal models and probably also clinical depression in patients. Astrocytes possess purinergic receptors, such as adenosine A2A receptors (Rs), and P2X7, P2Y1, and P2Y11Rs, which mediate neuroinflammation, neuro(glio)transmission, and synaptic plasticity in depression-relevant areas of the brain (e.g. medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala nuclei). By contrast, astrocytic A1Rs are neuroprotective and immunosuppressive. In the present review, we shall discuss the release of purines from astrocytes, and the expression/function of astrocytic purinergic receptors. Subsequently, we shall review in more detail novel evidence indicating that the dysregulation of astrocytic purinergic signaling actively contributes to the pathophysiology of depression and shall discuss possible therapeutic options based on knowledge recently acquired in this field.

Prognostic significance of lymph node ratio in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth.

The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been proposed as an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, little attention has been paid to its role in the specific subsite of the floor of the mouth (FOM). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the LNR in patients with FOM SCC. A retrospective analysis of 92 patients with FOM SCC who were treated with primary curative resection and neck dissection was conducted. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of the LNR. Both of these parameters were significantly worse (P < 0.001) in patients with neck metastases. The mean LNR was 0.145 in patients with positive lymph nodes. A LNR <0.145 was predictive of longer DFS, while the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that a LNR ≥0.175 indicated a significantly lower OS. This study confirms that metastatic cervical lymph nodes correlate with an adverse prognosis in patients with FOM SCC, and specifically, a LNR ≥0.145 is predictive. Therefore, the LNR in patients with FOM SCC may be a predictor of survival in these patients.

[Predictive value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on admission and before discharge for long-term all-cause death in hospitalized heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction].

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on admission and before discharge for long-term all-cause death (ACD) in patients hospitalized with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: Patients hospitalized and discharged from hospital alive with the clinical diagnosis of HFrEF in cardiac care unit (CCU) of TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital from January 2013 to December 2017 were consecutively enrolled. NLR, which was defined as neutrophil counts divided by lymphocyte counts, was measured 1 day within admission and 3 days before discharge to evaluate the prognostic value of admission NLR in combination with discharge NLR for the ACD after discharge by using of multivariate Cox regression analysis. Patients were followed-up until December 2020 or ACD. Results: A total of 368 patients hospitalized with HFrEF were enrolled with an age of (54±14) years, including 79 females (21.5%). During the median (inter-quartile range, IQR) duration of follow-up after discharge of 30 (10, 60) months, 95 patients died, thus, the rate of ACD was 25.8%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the NLR level before discharge was an independent predictor of ACD after discharge [hazard ratio (HR)=1.143, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.048-1.248, P=0.003] after adjusting for other parameters such as systolic blood pressure on admission and at discharge, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter on admission, and usage of aldosterone receptor blockers at discharge. Moreover, compared to those with NLR level at admission ≤2.25 and ≤2.00 before discharge, the long-term risk of ACD after discharge was nearly doubled for patients with NLR level at admission>2.25 and>2.00 before discharge (adjusted HR=1.968, 95%CI 1.198-3.234, P=0.008). Conclusions: The NLR level before discharge was an independent predictor of ACD after discharge for patients hospitalized with HFrEF. Combining NLR levels at admission and before discharge help to better predictive the risk of long-term ACD after discharge.

Antibacterial spectrum of four compounds from yeasts in koumiss.

Koumiss has beneficial therapeutic effects on bacterial diseases. Four antibacterial com- pounds from yeasts (Kluyveromyces marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in koumiss were evaluated for their antibacterial effects against three Gram-negative bacteria, three Gram-positive bacteria and five pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. The antibacterial compounds from yeasts in koumiss were extracted, and their main components were determined. The inhibition zones were analyzed, and their minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined. Aqueous phases of Kluyveromyces marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae at pH 2.0 and 8.0 produced larger inhibition zones than those in other phases, and then antibacterial compounds from K. marxianus (K2, pH=2.0; K8, pH=8.0) and S. cerevisiae (S2, pH=2.0; S8, pH=8.0) were obtained. Their main components were organic acids and killer toxins. K2 had more propanoic acid and S2 had more oxalic acid than others. The inhibition zones of K2, K8, S2 and S8 against three Gram-negative bacteria and three Gram-positive bacteria were 12.03-23.30 mm, their MICs were 0.01-0.13 g/mL, and MBCs were 0.03-0.50 g/mL. Meantime, the inhibition zones of K2, K8, S2 and S8 against five pathogenic E. coli were 16.10-25.26 mm, their MICs were 0.03-0.13 g/mL, and MBCs were 0.13-1.00 g/mL. These four antibacterial compounds from yeasts in koumiss had broad antibacterial spectrum. In addition, K2 and S2 were better than K8 and S8.

Spin-valley locking and bulk quantum Hall effect in a noncentrosymmetric Dirac semimetal BaMnSb2.

Spin-valley locking in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides has attracted enormous interest, since it offers potential for valleytronic and optoelectronic applications. Such an exotic electronic state has sparsely been seen in bulk materials. Here, we report spin-valley locking in a Dirac semimetal BaMnSb2. This is revealed by comprehensive studies using first principles calculations, tight-binding and effective model analyses, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements. Moreover, this material also exhibits a stacked quantum Hall effect (QHE). The spin-valley degeneracy extracted from the QHE is close to 2. This result, together with the Landau level spin splitting, further confirms the spin-valley locking picture. In the extreme quantum limit, we also observed a plateau in the z-axis resistance, suggestive of a two-dimensional chiral surface state present in the quantum Hall state. These findings establish BaMnSb2 as a rare platform for exploring coupled spin and valley physics in bulk single crystals and accessing 3D interacting topological states.

[Effects of irisin on lipid in mice and glycolipid metabolism in obese mice induced by diet].

Objective: To explore the role of low-dose irisin in the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) and activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in mice, and its effect on the metabolic function of diet induced obesity. Methods: A total of 22 C57/BLKS/J male mice fed with normal diet and 8 fed with high fat diet were separately divided into experimental and control group. The experimental group was given irisin (0.8 ng/g, 200 µl), while the control group was given the same volume (200 µl) of phosphate buffer saline every day for 14 consecutive days intraperitoneally. Food intake and body weight of mice were collected regularly every day. After intervention, the mice were killed and the changes of lipid content and activity in adipose tissue were detected by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The effects of irisin at different concentrations (0, 20 and 40 nmol/L) on primary white adipocytes and brown adipocytes were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on uncoupling protein 1(UCP1). In order to further evaluate whether irisin has the function of improving metabolism, the changes of serum indexes and hepatic steatosis in mice fed with high-fat diet were monitored. Results: The primary white and brown adipocytes derived from mice were successfully cultured and identified in vitro. In NCD mice, the weight gain of mice with irisin was lower than that of control mice [(-0.78±0.98) vs (0.27±0.55) g]. Histopathology showed that the area of white adipocytes with irisin was smaller than controls [(14.78±8.44) vs (29.49±12.97) µm2] and the brown adipocytes were larger than controls [(0.92±0.35) vs (0.19±0.12) µm2] (both P<0.05), while the expression of UCP1 in both adipose tissues was significantly higher in irisin group. After irisin treatment, the levels of blood glucose [(7.18±0.41) vs (13.48±2.07) mmol/L, P<0.01]and cholesterol [(2.38±0.26) vs (3.89±0.93) mmol/L, P<0.05] were significantly lower than controls, and the content of lipid droplets in liver cells was less than controls [ (2.73±1.96)% vs (14.04±6.29) %, P<0.001]. Conclusions: Low dose irisin can promote the browning of WAT and activate BAT, reducing the body weight of mice by producing heat. Irisin can also effectively improve diet-induced obesity and related metabolic disorders in mice.

[The relationship between premature atrial complexes and recurrence of atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis].

Objective: To explore the relationship between premature atrial complexes (PACs) and recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Published literature was searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, Weipu, China national knowledge infrastructure, Wanfang and China Biology Medicine disc up to 25 March 2020. RevMan5.3 software was used to analyzed the data and publication bias was performed by Stata 15.1. Results: A total of 8 studies were identified, including 1 252 AF patients with a mean age of 61.67 years, and male patients accounted for 70.6%. During follow-up, AF recurred in 425 cases. Meta-analysis showed that frequent PACs was an independent risk factor for recurrence of AF (HR=2.64, 95%CI:1.40-4.97). Subgroup analyses showed that PACs not only increasedthe risk of recurrence of AF after electrical cardioversion (HR=2.38, 95%CI:1.25-4.51), but also significantly increased the risk of recurrence of AF after catheter ablation cardioversion (HR=2.90, 95%CI:1.11-7.60). Conclusions: PACs is significantly associated with AF recurrence.

Burden of colorectal cancer attributable to diet low in milk in China, 1990-2017: findings from the global burden of disease study 2017.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has emerged as a major public health concern. However, little is known about the burden attributable to specific risk factors. The present study aimed to estimate the temporal trends and geographical variation of CRC burden attributable to a diet low in milk in China. METHODS: Following the general analytic strategy used in the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study, we assessed the age-, sex-, and province-specific mortality and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of CRC caused by a diet low in milk in China from 1990 to 2017. RESULTS: In 2017, a diet low in milk contributed 32 032 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) = 11 350-53 806] deaths and 726 710 (95% UI = 256 651-1 218 153) DALYs for CRC with a population attributable fraction of 17.1%. The age-standardised mortality and DALY rates per 100 000 were 1.7 (95% UI = 0.6-2.9) and 36.8 (95% UI = 13.0-61.7), respectively. An upward trend with age in rates of mortality and DALYs was observed. Males had higher age-standardised rates than females. The number of deaths and DALYs increased significantly from 1990 to 2017, whereas the corresponding age-standardised rates showed relatively stable trends. In 2017, Hunan and Liaoning were ranked as the top two provinces in terms of disease burden. Socio-demographic index had a weak correlation with the age-standardised mortality (r = 0.348, P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows a substantial increase in the CRC burden attributable to a diet low in milk over the past three decades. Greater priority in CRC prevention should be given to males and the elderly population throughout China, particularly in less-developed provinces.

[Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma concurrent with lung squamous cell carcinoma: a case report and literature review].

Objective: To explore the clinical manifestations, imaging features, pathological features, diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT)lymphoma concurrent with lung squamous cell carcinoma, and to improve the understanding of this disease. Methods: Using "Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, squamous cell carcinoma" as the search term, from January 1, 1983 to August 31, 2020, a total of 3 cases were retrieved in the PubMed database. In the Wanfang database, using "Lung mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, lung squamous cell carcinoma" as the search term, from January 1, 1990 to August 31, 2020, a total of 1 related document was retrieved. In the CNKI database, "(lung) mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, (lung) squamous cell carcinoma" was used as the search term, and no relevant case reports were retrieved. Results: A 64-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of chest tightness and shortness of breath for 10 days, cough and fever for one day. Enhanced CT of the chest showed a soft tissue mass shadow in the right lower hilar area, with obstruction of the adjacent bronchus, and local mild enhancement, suggesting of right lower lung cancer. In addition, the CT scan also showed consolidated shadows in the lower lobes of both lungs, scattered nodules, multiple lymphadenopathy in the mediastinum, and a small amount of pleural effusion on the right. Under bronchoscopy, a cauliflower-like neoplasm was seen at the opening of the lower right basal section, about 7 mm×8 mm, and biopsy showed that part of the mucosal structure was destroyed, with disappearance of the squamous epithelial layer, and the nuclei were large and deeply stained, and some were distributed in nests, with poor keratinization and a small amount of necrosis, and fibrous tissue reaction. Immunostaining revealed that the tumor was positive for p40, CK5/6 and EGFR and negative forTTF-1, NapsinA, PD-L1, p53, with about 30% Ki-67 positive cells. A puncture biopsy of the right lower lobe showed that the alveolar cavity was filled with nested lymphoid cells, consisting of small lymphocytes, central cell-like cells and monocyte-like cells, with occasionally large cells. Immunostaining revealed CD20+, CD79a+, scattered CD3+, Bcl2+, SMA vascular+, Bcl6-, CK-, CD10-, CyclinD1-, with about 3% Ki-67 positive cells. The histopathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue extranodal marginal zone lymphoma(MALT lymphoma),and lung squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma complicated with lung squamous cell carcinoma is rare and easy to be missed and misdiagnosed. Chest CT imaging shows single or multiple nodules, mass shadows or consolidation, often accompanied by air-bronchial signs in the lesion, bronchiectasis, ground glass density around the lesion, hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Occasionally, pleural effusion can be seen. Lung biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis.

LncRNA ZFPM2-AS1 aggravates the malignant development of breast cancer via upregulating JMJD6.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the expression pattern of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ZFPM2-AS1 in breast cancer (BC) tissues, and its biological influence on clinical features and prognosis in BC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ZFPM2-AS1 levels in 52 paired BC tissues and adjacent normal ones were detected. Then, the relationship between ZFPM2-AS1 level and clinical features in BC patients was analyzed. Regulatory effects of ZFPM2-AS1 on proliferative and migratory abilities in MCF-7 and SKBR3 cells were assessed. In addition, in vivo regulation of ZFPM2-AS1 in nude mice bearing BC was evaluated. Finally, the interaction between ZFPM2-AS1 and JMJD6 and the involvement of ZFPM2-AS1 in the development of BC were illustrated. RESULTS: The results showed that ZFPM2-AS1 was upregulated in BC tissues, and its high level was linked to advanced tumor stage, high rates of lymphatic metastasis, and distant metastasis, as well as poor prognosis in BC. The knockdown of ZFPM2-AS1 suppressed proliferative and migratory abilities in BC cells. In addition, JMJD6 was verified to be the downstream gene binding to ZFPM2-AS1, which was highly expressed in BC tissues and positively regulated by ZFPM2-AS1. In vivo knockdown of ZFPM2-AS1 in nude mice bearing BC showed a smaller tumor volume and lower tumor weight than controls. In addition, JMJD6 was downregulated in BC tumors extracted from mice with silenced ZFPM2-AS1. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA ZFPM2-AS1 is upregulated in BC and linked to tumor stage, metastasis, and prognosis in BC patients. It aggravates the malignant development of BC via upregulating JMJD6.

The medial compartment and patellofemoral joint degenerate more severely in early stage knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of degenerative characteristics of medial, lateral regions, femoral, patellar, and tibia parts of the knee joint in the early stage of knee osteoarthritis (OA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 66 patients with early-stage knee OA and 22 healthy volunteers who have no knee-related clinical symptoms were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. T2 mapping and 3D dual-echo images were acquired with a 3.0T MR scanner. The degenerative changes of the articular cartilage were quantified by a T2 mapping and cartilage thicknesses analysis. Any structural changes were conducted using the Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS). RESULTS: In patients with knee OA, the thicknesses of medial cartilages were significantly thinner than lateral ones (2.13 mm vs. 2.34 mm, p<0.0001), but with higher T2 values (40.38 ms vs. 38.4 ms, p<0.0001) and WORMS scores (12.12 vs. 0.47, p=0.004). No significant differences were observed between medial and lateral cartilage in the healthy volunteers. The T2 values of the femoral (p<0.001) and patellar (p=0.012) cartilages of OA patients were higher than that of the healthy controls. Within OA group, the T2 values of femoral (p<0.0001) and patellar (p<0.0001) cartilages were higher than tibial ones. Moreover, the WORMS scores of femoral (p=0.001) and patellar (p<0.0001) cartilages were higher than that of the tibial ones. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the medial compartment and patellofemoral knee joint degenerate more severely in patients with early-stage knee OA.

[A study on the correlation of phthalate metabolites in umbilical cord blood of 161 newborns with birth indicators in Beijing].

Objective: To analyze the correlation of phthalate metabolites in neonatal umbilical cord blood with birth indicators in Beijing, 2015. Method: From February to July in 2015, 161 pregnant women and their newborns who met the criteria were recruited from the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Haidian District, Beijing. Questionnaires were used to collect the demographic information of pregnant women such as age, smoking, drinking, and cord blood after delivery. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of phthalate metabolites in umbilical cord blood. The multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the correlation of phthalate metabolites in umbilical cord blood with the neonatal weight, length, and ponderal index. Result: The age of 161 pregnant women was (30.3±3.0) years. The weight, length and ponderal index of 161 newborns were (3 447.2±413.0) kg, (50.2±1.1) cm, and (26.7±2.2) kg/m3; 51.6% of newborns (83 cases) were boys. The concentrations of seven phthalate metabolites detected in umbilical cord blood, i.e., mono-methyl phthalate (MMP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP),mono-(2-isobutyl) phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), was (3.50±0.28), (2.65±0.47), (4.31±0.55), (6.26±0.57), (1.71±0.13), (1.10±0.09) and (0.47±0.06) ng/ml, respectively. The result of multiple linear regression model analysis showed that the concentrations of seven phthalate metabolites were not related to the neonatal weight, length, and ponderal index (all P values> 0.05). Conclusion: The concentrations of phthalate metabolites in neonatal umbilical cord blood are low, and they are not related to the neonatal weight, length, and ponderal index.