A Mendelian randomization study of the effect of selenium on autoimmune thyroid disease.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of selenium on autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is a subject of ongoing debate. This study aimed to analyze the causal correlations of selenium with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), autoimmune hyperthyroidism (AIH), and Graves' disease (GD) by Mendelian randomization (MR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms related to selenium, AIT, AIH, and GD were sourced from the IEU Open GWAS project and FinnGen. Exposure-outcome causality was assessed using inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, and weighted median. Horizontal pleiotropy was examined using the MR-Egger intercept, heterogeneity was evaluated with Cochran's Q test, and the robustness of the results was confirmed via leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The MR analysis revealed that selenium did not exhibit a causal relationship with AIT (OR 0.993, 95% CI 0.786 to 1.108, p=0.432), AIH (OR 1.066, 95% CI 0.976 to 1.164, p=0.154), or GD (OR 1.052, 95% CI 0.984 to 1.126, p=0.138). Moreover, the MR-Egger intercept and Cochran's Q test demonstrated the absence of horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity in these results (p>0.05). Sensitivity analysis affirmed the robustness of these results. CONCLUSIONS: This MR analysis concluded that selenium was not linked to AIT, AIH, or GD risk. Therefore, indiscriminate selenium supplementation is not advisable for AITD patients without concurrent selenium deficiency.

Is polyethylene glycol loxenatide 100 µg the preferred glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes mellitus? A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy, safety and optimal dose of polyethylene glycol loxenatide (PEX168) for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical trials of PEX168 for T2DM were identified in 8 databases, with a build time limit of January 2023. Included studies were subjected to meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA). RESULTS: On the efficacy endpoint, the meta-analysis showed that PEX168 100 µg significantly reduced 0.86% glycated hemoglobin type A1c (HbA1c) (MD -0.86, 95% CI -1.02 - -0.70,  p<0.00001), 1.11 mmol/L fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (MD -1.11, 95% CI -1.49 - -0.74, p<0.00001) and 1.91 mmol/L 2h postprandial glucose (PPG) (MD -1.91, 95% CI -3.35 - -0.46, p=0.01) compared with placebo. The TSA showed that all these benefits were conclusive. On safety endpoints, total adverse events (AEs), gastrointestinal (GI) AEs, serious AEs, and hypoglycemia were comparable to placebo for PEX168 100 µg (p>0.05). In the dose comparison, the HbA1c, FPG, and 2h PPG of PEX168 200 µg were comparable to 100 µg (p>0.05), while GI AEs were significantly higher than 100 µg (RR=2.84, 95% CI 1.64-4.93,  p=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: PEX168 100 µg can significantly lower blood glucose and does not increase the risk of total AEs, GI AEs, and hypoglycemia, which may be a preferred glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Acromegaly presented with acne vulgaris: a retrospective study with 123 cases.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a prevalent skin condition. We have found that some acromegaly patients have acne. However, no study has examined the relationship between acromegaly and acne. OBJECTIVE: To explore prevalence and correlation of adult acne in patients with acromegaly. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, we collected questionnaires, clinical information, and laboratory test results of acromegaly patients from January 2022 to December 2022 at Huashan Hospital. Of the 133 questionnaires returned, 123 had valid responses. RESULTS: Of the 123 patients with acromegaly enrolled in this study, 54.5% had adult acne. No statistically significant difference was found in prevalence between male and female patients. 61.2% of adult acne patients reported late-onset acne. Late-onset acne patients first developed acne years before acromegaly diagnosis (mean of 5.6 years for male and 4.5 years for female patients). Some acne patients have received traditional anti-acne treatment. Moreover, 31% of the patients reported no improvement, and only 3.5% of patients claimed complete resolution of acne after treatment. Before acromegaly treatment, the prevalence of adult acne was 51.2%, with mild acne accounting for 73.0%, moderate acne accounting for 23.8%, and severe acne accounting for 3.2%. After acromegaly treatment, the prevalence of adult acne was significantly decreased to 37.4% (P = 0.007). An overall decrease in acne severity was noted, with 93.5%, 6.5%, and 0% having mild, moderate, and severe acne, respectively. A total of 83.6% of the patients had self-assessed acne remission, and 33.3% of the patients reported complete acne resolution. However, 9.0% of patients reported that their condition had worsened after acromegaly treatment. After treatment, GH, IGF-1, IGF-1 index, insulin levels, and HOMA-IR decreased significantly in all patients with acromegaly (P < 0.05). Acne remission correlated positively with IGF-1 levels, but not with GH levels. The relationship between acromegaly and acne remains to be elucidated. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide preliminary evidence of the high prevalence of adult acne in acromegaly patients, and a high rate of late-onset acne as well. Traditional anti-acne treatments are less effective. Acne could be considerably relieved by treating acromegaly. Acne remission positively correlated with IGF-1 decline as well, which revealed the correlation between acne and IGF-1.

Bibliometric analysis of intestinal microbiota in diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to use bibliometrics to explore the research overview and research hotspots. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relevant literature on intestinal flora and diabetic nephropathy in the Web of Science Core Collection was sorted out, and VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Scimago Graphica and other software were used to conduct data visualization analysis on the number of publications, countries, institutions, journals, authors, keywords and citations. RESULTS: A total of 124 relevant literatures were included. From 2015 to 2022, the number of published papers increased every year. The countries, institutions and journals that published the most articles in this field are China, Isfahan University Medical Science and Frontiers in Pharmacology. Liu Bicheng and Mirlohi Maryam are the authors with the most published articles in this field. The main keywords of research in this field are obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, indoxyl sulfate, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and Chinese herbal medicine. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first bibliometric analysis of diabetic nephropathy and gut microbiota, reporting hot spots and emerging trends. Obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, indoxyl sulfate, SCFAs and Chinese herbal medicine are the main keywords of current research, and SCFAs and Chinese herbal medicine may be the hotspots of future research.

Efficacy and safety of iguratimod combined with methylprednisolone for primary Sjögren's syndrome: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the combination of iguratimod (IGU) and methylprednisolone (MP) for the efficacy and safety of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) by a meta-analysis and a trial sequential analysis (TSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical studies of IGU combined with MP for pSS were searched through eight databases. Revman 5.3 and TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta were used for the meta-analysis and TSA. RESULTS: In terms of efficacy endpoints, compared with "HCQ+MP" group, "IGU+MP" group decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) [mean difference (MD)=-5.15, 95% confidence interval (CI)=(-7.37, -2.93), p<0.0001], immunoglobulin G (IgG) [MD=-3.38, 95% CI=(-4.13, -2.64), p<0.00001], immunoglobulin M (IgM) [MD=-0.64, 95% CI=(-1.19, -0.09), p=0.02], Immunoglobulin A (IgA) [MD=-1.16, 95% CI=(-1.92, -0.39), p=0.003], EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) [MD=-1.62, 95% CI=(-2.07, -1.17), p<0.0001], EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) [MD=-2.07, 95% CI=(-2.54, -1.59), p<0.0001], increase platelet (PLT) [MD=13.21, 95% CI=(9.77,16.65), p<0.00001], and improve Schirmer I test (SIT) [MD=1.86, 95% CI=(1.40, 2.32), p<0.0001]. TSA presented that these benefits observed with the current information volume were all conclusive, except for IgM. In terms of safety endpoints, the total adverse event rates (AEs), leucopenia, gastrointestinal (GI) AEs, skin diseases, and liver dysfunction of the "IGU+MP" group and the "HCQ+MP" group were comparable. And TSA indicated that the results need to be confirmed by additional studies. Harbord regression showed no publication bias (p=0.986). CONCLUSIONS: IGU combined with MP effectively attenuates autoimmune responses (IgG, IgM, IgA), reduces clinical symptoms and disease activity (ESR, PLT, ESSPRI, ESSDAI), and improves the exocrine gland functional status (SIT) in patients with pSS. IGU combined with MP does not increase the risk of adverse events, which means that IGU combined with MP may be a safe and effective strategy for the treatment of pSS and has value for further research exploration.

Is tirzepatide 15 mg the preferred treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes? A meta-analysis and trial-sequence-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to evaluate tirzepatide's efficacy and safety in treating type 2 diabetes by meta-analysis and trial-sequential-analysis (TSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight databases were searched for clinical trials on tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes with a time limit of November 2022. Revman5.3 and TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta were selected for meta-analysis and TSA. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, the meta-analysis demonstrated that tirzepatide 15 mg reduced hemoglobin-type-A1C (HbA1c) (p<0.00001), fasting-serum-glucose (FSG) (p<0.00001), and weight (p<0.00001). Compared with insulin, tirzepatide 15 mg reduced HbA1c (p<0.00001), FSG (p<0.00007), and weight (p<0.00001). Compared with glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor-agonist (GLP-1 RA), tirzepatide 15 mg reduced HbA1c (p=0.00004), FSG (p=0.001), and weight (p<0.00001). In safety endpoints, the meta-analysis revealed that adverse events (AEs) of placebo, insulin and GLP-1 RA were comparable to tirzepatide 15 mg. The total AEs (p=0.02) and gastrointestinal (GI) AEs (p=0.03) were higher in tirzepatide 15 mg than in the placebo, while hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dl) was comparable. The major adverse cardiovascular events-4 (MACE-4) (p=0.03) and hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dl) (p<0.00001) of tirzepatide 15 mg were lower when compared to insulin, while total AEs (p=0.03) were increased. Compared with GLP-1 RA, tirzepatide 15 mg was comparable in safety endpoints in total AEs and GI AEs, while hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dl) (p=0.04) was higher. TSA indicated that HgA1c, FSG, and weight benefits were conclusive. In safety endpoints, only MACE-4 and hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dl) of Tirzepatide 15 mg vs. Insulin were conclusive. Harbord regression of AEs suggested no evident publication bias (p=0.618). CONCLUSIONS: Tirzepatide 15 mg reduced HbA1c and weight more effectively than placebo, insulin, and GLP-1 RA. Total AEs were higher than placebo and insulin but comparable to GLP-1 RA. Tirzepatide 15 mg is a kind of optimal strategy to treat type 2 diabetes. However, there is a need to focus on GI AEs.

[Chinese multidisciplinary expert consensus on the management of adverse drug reactions associated with savolitinib].

MET gene is a proto-oncogene, which encodes MET protein with tyrosine kinase activity. After binding to its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor, MET protein can induce MET dimerization and activate downstream signaling pathways, which plays a crucial role in tumor formation and metastasis. Savolitinib, as a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting MET, selectively inhibits the phosphorylation of MET kinase with a significant inhibitory effect on tumors with MET abnormalities. Based on its significant efficacy shown in the registration studies, savolitinib was approved for marketing in China on June 22, 2021 for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with MET 14 exon skipping mutations. In addition, many studies have shown that MET TKIs are equally effective in patients with advanced solid tumors with MET gene amplification or MET protein overexpression, and relevant registration clinical studies are ongoing. The most common adverse reactions during treatment with savolitinib include nausea, vomiting, peripheral edema, pyrexia, and hepatotoxicity. Based on two rounds of extensive nationwide investigations to guide clinicians, the consensus is compiled to use savolitinib rationally, prevent and treat various adverse reactions scientifically, and improve the clinical benefits and quality of life of patients. This consensus was prepared under the guidance of multidisciplinary experts, especially including the whole-process participation and valuable suggestions of experts in Traditional Chinese Medicine, thus reflecting the clinical treatment concept of integrated Chinese and western medicines.

[Effect of sctence information regulator 3 on temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis].

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is a common subclass of temporomandibular disorders, with complicated causes and limited treatment. In addition to inflammatory reaction, structural changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) as condylar osteophyte formation, sclerosis, erosion, and subchondral bone cysts will happen at the same time. At present, it is found that epigenetic regulation can affect the growth and development of TMJ and regulate the immune inflammatory reaction, so we can speculate that epigenetic modification is involved in the occurrence and development of TMJOA. This paper reviews the researches of silence information regulator 3 (SIRT3), which is a key factor in epigenetics, in the field of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.In order to discuss the effect of SIRT3 on the growth and development of TMJ by mediating acetylation modification, such as bone, cartilage, synovium and blood vessels, as well as alleviating osteoarthritis and synovitis. By doing this, the understanding of TMJOA can be enriched, with the goal of finding a new possibility for the clinical treatment of TMJOA.

[Study on the incidence of adult herpes zoster in Yichang city and its association with early-life famine exposure].

Based on Yichang health big data platform, 850 608 patients from September 2018 to September 2019 were included in this study. According to the date of birth, the participants were divided into early childhood famine exposure group, fetal famine exposure group and non-famine exposure group. The incidence of adult herpes zoster (HZ) in Yichang city was analyzed, and the correlation between early life famine exposure and adult HZ was analyzed. In 2019, the crude incidence rate of adult HZ in Yichang was 6.83‰. The crude incidence rate of adult HZ in females (7.26‰) was higher than that in males (6.40‰). Compared with the non-famine exposure group, fetal famine exposure was associated with the incidence of adult HZ (OR=1.21; 95%CI: 1.01-1.45, P=0.041). After stratification by sex, fetal famine exposure was only found to be associated with the onset of adult HZ in females (OR=1.28, 95%CI:1.02-1.61, P=0.034).

[Clinicopathological features and prognosis of fumarate hydratase deficient renal cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of fumarate hydratase deficient renal cell carcinoma (FH-RCC). METHODS: Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used to detect the expression of fumarate hydratase (FH) in tumor tissues of 109 different types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients aged 60 years and younger from the Department of Urology of Peking University First Hospital from January 2013 to December 2019. The clinicopathological data and prognosis of FH-RCC were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: There were eleven patients with FH-negative expression. Seven were males and four females. The age of onset ranged 16-53 years (mean age: 36.7 years), and four female patients all had a history of uterine leiomyoma. Only one first-degree relative of one patient had renal cancer, and none of the patients had a history or family history of cutaneous leiomyomas. The diameter of the tumor was 2.1-12.0 cm (mean: 8.83 cm). Renal sinus or perirenal fat invasion was seen in nine cases, tumor thrombus in renal vein or inferior vena cava in six cases, lymph node metastasis in seven cases, adrenal gland invasion in four cases and splenic capsule invasion in one case. The cases were initially diagnosed as type Ⅱ papillary RCC (7/49, 14.3%), collecting duct carcinoma (2/9, 22.2%) and unclassified RCC (2/51, 3.9%). Tumor histopathology mostly showed a mixture of different structures, such as papillary, tubular cystic, solid, and so on. The most common histological structures were papillary (9/11, 81.8%) and tubular (8/11, 72.7%). Three cases had sarcomatoid areas. At least focal eosinophilic nucleolus (WHO/grades Ⅲ-Ⅳ) and perinuclear halo could be seen in all cases. Immunohistochemical (IHC) stains of most tumors were negative for CA9, CD10 and CK7. The results of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that there was no translocation or amplification of TFE3 gene in two cases with TFE3 IHC expression. All the patients were followed up for 11-82 months. Mean survival was 24 months. Five cases died of distant metastasis 9-31 months after operation (mean: 19 months), and five of the six patients alive had became metastatic. CONCLUSION: Morphologically, FH-RCC overlaps with many types cell RCC. A mixture of papillary and tubular cystic arrangement is the most common growth pattern of FH-RCC. At least focally large and obvious eosinophilic nucleoli are an important histological feature of this tumor. The negative expression of FH can help to confirm the diagnosis. Young female RCC patients with uterine leiomyomas should be suspected of FH-RCC. Some FH-RCC cases lack clinical evidence. The suspicion raised by pathologists based on histological characteristics is often the key step to further genetic testing and the final diagnosis of the tumor.

[Prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among AIDS patients in Nanchang City].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among AIDS patients in Nanchang City during the period between May and September, 2016. B. hominis infection was detected in patients'stool samples using a PCR assay, and the CD4+ T cell count was measured in subjects'blood samples. In addition, the risk factors of B. hominis infection in AIDS patients were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A survey was conducted in Nanchang City from May to September 2016. A total of 505 AIDS patients were investigated, and the prevalence of B. hominis infection was 4.16%. Univariate analysis revealed that B. hominis infection correlated with the occupation (χ2 = 8.595, P = 0.049), education level (χ2 = 14.494, P = 0.001), type of daily drinking water (χ2 = 10.750, P = 0.020), root of HIV infections (χ2 = 8.755, P = 0.026) and receiving anti-HIV therapy (χ2 = 23.083, P = 0.001) among AIDS patients, and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified daily direct drinking of tap water as a risk factor of B. hominis infections [odds ratio (OR) = 7.988, 95% confidential interval (CI): (1.160, 55.004)] and anti-HIV therapy as a protective factor of B. hominis infection [OR = 0.183, 95% CI: (0.049, 0.685)]. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of B. hominis is 4.16% among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. Daily direct drinking of tap water is a risk factor, and anti-HIV therapy is a protective factor of B. hominis infection among AIDS patients living in Nanchang City.

[Prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis infections among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis infections among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among students sampled from a primary school in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City on April, 2018, and their stool samples were collected for microscopic examinations, in vitro culture and PCR assays to analyze the prevalence of Blastocystis infections and subtype of the parasite. In addition, the risk factors of Blastocystis infections among primary school students were identified using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 466 primary students were surveyed, and the subjects had a mean age of (9.81±1.66) years and included 236 males (50.64%) and 230 females (49.36%). The prevalence of Blastocystis infections was 15.24% (71/466) among the study students, and there was no significance difference in the prevalence between male and fe- male students (16.52% vs. 13.91%; χ2 = 0.616, P = 0.433). In addition, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of Blastocystis infections among grade 1 (6.35%, 4/63), grade 2 (5.17%, 3/58), grade 3 (21.74%, 15/69), grade 4 (25.30%, 21/83), grade 5 (10.19%, 11/108) and grade 6 students (20.00%, 17/85) (χ2 = 15.410, P = 0.009). There were four Blastocystis subtypes characterized (ST1, ST3, ST6 and ST7), in which ST6 was the most common subtype (45.07%, 32/71), followed by ST3 (25.35%, 18/71). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that minority ethnicity [odds ratio (OR) = 4.259, 95% confidential inter- val (CI) : (1.161, 15.621)] and low maternal education level (primary school and below) [OR = 9.038, 95% CI: (1.125, 72.642)] were identified as risk factors of Blastocystis infection among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of Blastocystis infections detected among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, and ST6 and ST3 are predominant subtypes. Minority ethnicity and low maternal education level (primary school and below) are risk factors for Blastocystis infections in primary school students.

[Predictive value of complement and coagulation indicators in sepsis related acute kidney injury].

Objective: To explore the predictive value of complement and coagulation indicators in sepsis related acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: Clinical data of 217 patients with sepsis admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Unit of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from January 2018 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into sepsis with AKI group and without AKI group. Laboratory indicators of all patients were collected, including complement C3, complement C4, activated partial thrombin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), D-dimer, procalcitonin(PCT), etc. logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors of sepsis related AKI. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive value of independent risk factors. Results: Among 217 patients, 120 patients developed sepsis related AKI and 97 patients didn't. PCT, lactic acid, PT, APTT, INR and D-dimer in AKI patients were significantly higher than those without AKI (P<0.01). Complement C3 and complement C4 were significantly lower in AKI group (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that blood pressure<90/60 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)(OR=3.705, 95%CI 1.536-8.934,P=0.004), increased lactic acid (OR=1.479, 95%CI 1.089-2.008, P=0.012), decreased complement C3 (OR=0.027, 95%CI 0.005-0.152, P<0.001) and prolonged APTT (OR=1.090, 95%CI 1.047-1.137,P<0.001)were independent risk factors predicting AKI. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of these multivariates were 0.741 (95%CI 0.675-0.807), 0.798 (95%CI 0.732-0.864), 0.712 (95%CI 0.643-0.781) and 0.716 (95%CI 0.648-0.783) respectively. The relevant sensitivity was 57.5%, 80.8%, 87.5%, 59.2%, and the specificity was 90.7%, 75.3%, 51.5%, 77.3%, respectively. The AUC of the combined four indicators was 0.880 (95%CI 0.835-0.926) with the sensitivity 75.0% and the specificity 90.7%. Conclusion: The low level of complement C3 and prolonged APTT predict sepsis related AKI, and the predictive value can be enhanced if hypotension and hyperlactacidemia are added.

[Advances in supercooling liver preservation].

Liver transplantation is currently the only effective treatment for end-stage liver disease. The preservation of donor liver before transplantation is important. But both traditional static cold storage and machine perfusion are limited by the preservation time, so that the allotment space of donor liver is limited, which inevitably leads to the abandonment of part of donor liver.At present, to find a preservation technology that not only guarantees the quality of donor liver but also has a longer effective preservation time is the direction of joint efforts of all clinicians. Supercooling liver preservation(SLP) to find a preservation technology that not only guarantees the quality of donor liver but also has a longer effective preservation time is the direction of joint efforts of all clinicians. SLP, a new method based on using cryoprotectants to keep donor liver under -6 ℃ and recovering the graft with subnormothermic machine perfusion that enables long-term transplantation survival following 4 days of liver preservation, made a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of liver preservation, carved out a new field for the research of liver preservation. This article reviews the latest experimental research progress of SLP in the field of liver transplantation.

[Prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infection in inpatients in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infection in inpatients in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community hospital in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, and the inpatients were surveyed by questionnaires. After obtaining the informed consent from the inpatients or legal guardians, the stool and blood samples were collected and examined by microscopy and PCR from April 17 to May 1, 2018. The univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of the B. hominis infection. RESULTS: A total of 198 hospitalized patients were investigated, and the infection rate of B. hominis was 10.61% (21/198), and the infection rate of the females (12.10%) was higher than that of the males (8.11%), but the difference was not statistically significant. The highest rate of infection was 19.23% in the age group of 10 to 20 years, followed by 17.74% in the age group of 60 years and above, and the lowest rate was 2.38% in the age group of 20 to 40 years. The difference in infection rates of B. hominis among the different age groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The infection rate of B. hominis in the people who used dry pail latrines was 33.30%, which was higher than that of the people who used water flush toilets (9.10%) (P < 0.05). The genotypes of B. hominis were ST1, ST3, ST6 and ST7, and ST6 and ST3 being the most predominant genotypes which accounted for 47.62% (10/21) and 38.10% (8/21) respectively, and among the infected males, the genotypes were only ST3 and ST6. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that among the factors affecting B. hominis infection, only keeping pets was a risk factor [OR = 3.798, 95% CI (1.245, 11.581), P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of B. hominis infection is found in the inpatients in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, the predominant genotypes are ST6 and ST3, and keeping pets may be one of the main risk factors.

[Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infection among patients with HIV/AIDS in Fuyang City Anhui Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among patients with HIV/AIDS in Fuyang City, Anhui Province. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Fuyang City, Anhui Province in 2016. The demographic and socioeconomic status, and the lifestyle and production style were collected using a questionnaire survey. B. hominis DNA was detected in subjects'stool samples using a PCR assay, and the CD4+ T lymphocyte count and HIV viral load were measured in the subjects' blood samples. The risk factors of B. hominis infections among patients with HIV/AIDS were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 398 HIV/AIDS patients were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 49.3 years, a mean body weight of 55.9 kg and a mean height of 164.4 cm. The prevalence of B. hominis infection was 6.78% in the study subjects, and no gender- (χ2 = 1.589, P = 0.207), education level- (χ2 =0.508, P = 0.776), marital status- (χ2 = 0.419, P = 0.811) or occupation-specific prevalence (χ2 = 2.744, P = 0.615) was detected. Among the patients with HIV/AIDS, there were no significant differences in the age (t = 0.370, P = 0.712), height (t = 1.587, P =0.113), body weight (t = 0.516, P = 0.606), CD4+ T lymphocyte count (t = 1.187, P = 0.230) or HIV viral load (t = 0.193, P =0.496) between B. hominis-infected and uninfected individuals. Dinking non-tap water [OR = 6.554, 95% CI: (1.876 to 22.903)] and keeping dogs [OR = 5.895, 95% CI: (2.017 to 17.225)] were identified as risk factors for B. hominis infection in patients with HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of B. hominis infection is high in HIV/AIDS patients, and drinking non-tap water and keeping dogs are risk factors for B. hominis infection among HIV/AIDS patients.

[Current status of pesticides against ticks].

Ticks can spread a variety of diseases and cause serious damage to animal husbandry. However, the existing insecticide and vaccine control methods have some disadvantages. In this paper, we review the research status of tick pesticides, including the chemical pesticides and non-chemical pesticides (Chinese herbal medicine, nanometer material, virus, fungus and bacterium pesticides), and analyze the disadvantages of the existing researches on pesticides against ticks, in order to provide a theoretical reference for establishing high-efficient and safety tick control methods.

[Decabromodiphenyl ethane: a review of its pollution levels and toxicity].

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) is a kind of new brominated flame retardants, which is widely used as a replace of decabromodiphenyl ether in electronic appliances, textiles and other goods. This review summarizes environmental levels and body burden of human beings of DBDPE in recent years. The data shows that the concentration of DBDPE in the environment and human tissues shows an upward trend. According to limited experiments about its toxicity, DBDPE shows similar toxicity to decabromodiphenyl ether. DBDPE can interfere thyroid hormones balance, and cause damage to liver, reproductive development, kidney, et al, which implies that DBDPE might be another new persistent organic pollutant. Further researches are needed.