A comprehensive exploration of the heterogeneity of immune cells in Han and Zang systemic lupus erythematosus patients via single-cell RNA sequencing.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune sickness with unclear pathogenesis. The goal of this research was to reveal the heterogeneity of immune cells in SLE patients of Han and Zang nationality by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bioinformatics profiling. METHODS: A total of 94,102 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from six volunteers with SLE (3 Zang, 3 Han) and six healthy controls were first conducted through scRNA-seq analysis. The immune cell subsets in the pathogenesis of SLE were analyzed as well. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was applied to confirm the results of sc-RNA seq analysis. RESULTS: For the Tibetan samples, the ratios of Naïve CD4 RPS4Y1 cells, Naïve CD4 cells, Memory BC CD24 and Memory BC differed significantly between the SLE and control samples, while that of CD8 CTL MAL cells was significantly different between the two groups in Han nationality samples. Variable differentiation states of CD8 CTL MAL cells, CD8 CTL GZMK cells, and Naïve CD4 cells were detected through pseudotime analysis. Moreover, T-cell receptor (TCR) abundance was notably higher in Tibetan SLE specimens than that in controls, while B-cell receptor (BCR) abundance in Tibetan and Han samples was higher than in control groups. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the immune cellular heterogeneity of SLE patients both Han and Zang nationality was explored based on various bioinformatics approaches, providing new perspectives for immunological characteristics of SLE among different ethnic groups.

Evaluating neonatal mortality in Malta compared with other EU countries: Exploring the influence of congenital anomalies and maternal risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Globally, 240,000 babies die in the neonatal period annually due to congenital anomalies (CA). Malta reports the highest neonatal mortality rate (NMR) among EU (European Union) Countries, constituting a public health concern. OBJECTIVES: This study describes the contribution of CA to NMR in Malta, investigating possible associations with known maternal risk factors of maternal age, nationality, and education. Additionally, it provides an update on the contribution of CA to neonatal deaths in Malta and other EU countries. METHODS: Anonymous data for births and neonatal deaths were obtained for 2006-2020 from the National Obstetrics Information System (NOIS) in Malta. Regression analyses adjusting for maternal risk factors were run on this data to explore possible associations with NMR. NMRs published by EUROSTAT 2011-2020 were used to compare mortality by underlying cause of death (CA or non-CA causes) for Malta and other EU countries. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2020, 63,890 live births with 283 neonatal deaths were registered in Malta, (NMR 4.4 per 1000 live births). CA accounted for 39.6% of neonatal deaths. No time trends were observed in either total NMR, NMR attributed to CA or mortality due to non-CA causes. Adjusted variables revealed associations for women hailing from non-EU, low-income countries. Malta registered high NMRs compared to EU countries, most marked for deaths attributed to CA. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2006 and 2020, Malta's NMR remained stable. Maternal Nationality, from non-EU low-income countries, was associated with higher neonatal mortality. The influx of such migrants may play a partial role in the high NMRs experienced. Malta's high NMR was primarily driven by early neonatal deaths, which included high proportions of deaths due to CA and is linked to the fact that termination of pregnancy is illegal in Malta.

Discrimination against suspected Islamic terrorists: Nationality, right-wing authoritarianism, and perceived threat as predictors of support for torture.

This research investigates discrimination against suspected Islamic terrorists based on tolerance for the use of torture. This research is justified by the need to identify how intergroup and ideological factors combine to express discrimination. Two experimental studies were conducted with a between-subjects design. Study 1 (N = 282) analysed the terrorist threat against the ingroup and the nationality of torturers with respect to support for torture against suspected Islamic terrorists. Study 2 (N = 165) analysed the interaction among terrorist threat against the ingroup and perceived threat (realistic and symbolic) as moderators in the relationship between RWA and discrimination. Study 1 indicated that support for torture was greater when the victims of terrorist acts and the torturers belonged to the ingroup. Study 2 indicated that the perceived threat encourages support for the use of torture, regardless of the levels of RWA. Taken together, these results elucidate the psychosocial processes that are present in the hostility towards social minorities from predominantly Muslim countries and in the strengthening of xenophobic political positions.

Dual nationality, anti-citizenship, and xeno-racism: Online tropes on migrant (in)gratitude, and (in)adequate Britishness of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an Iranian-British dual citizen, was detained by the Iranian state from April 2016 to March 2022 and charged with spying and propaganda activities against the Iranian state without due process. After her release and return to the UK, Zaghari-Ratcliffe criticized the UK government in a press conference, which triggered a Twitter campaign using the hashtags "sendherback" and "ungrateful." This campaign claimed that she did not show "enough gratitude" to Britain, the country that "saved" her. In this paper, we investigate the content of the Twitter campaign. Using the concept of anti-citizenship, we focus on xeno-racist discourses around Zaghari-Ratcliffe's dual nationality and how her belonging in Britain is challenged. We explore the role Zaghari-Ratcliffe's Iranian background plays in how her Britishness is rendered suspect, which then enables the racialized tropes in the #sendherback campaign.

Relationship between Maternal Socioeconomic Factors and Preterm Birth in Latvia.

Background and Objectives: Worldwide, preterm birth (PTB) stands as the primary cause of mortality among children under 5 years old. Socioeconomic factors significantly impact pregnancy outcomes, influencing both maternal well-being and newborn health. Understanding and addressing these socioeconomic factors is essential for developing effective public health interventions and policies aimed at improving pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to analyse the relationship between socioeconomic factors (education level, marital status, place of residence and nationality) and PTB in Latvia, considering mother's health habits, health status, and pregnancy process. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Medical Birth Register (MBR) of Latvia about women with singleton pregnancies in 2022 (n = 15,431). Data analysis, involving crosstabs, chi-square tests, and multivariable binary logistic regression, was performed. Adjusted Odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Results: Lower maternal education was statistically significantly associated with increased odds of PTB. Mothers with education levels below secondary education had over two times higher odds of PTB (aOR = 2.07, p < 0.001, CI 1.58-2.70) and those with secondary or vocational secondary education had one and a half times higher odds (aOR = 1.58, p < 0.001, CI 1.33-1.87) after adjusting for other risk factors. Study results also showed the cumulative effect of socioeconomic risk factors on PTB. Additionally, mothers facing two or three socioeconomic risk factors in Latvia exhibited one and a half times higher odds of PTB (aOR = 1.59, p = 0.021). Conclusions: The study highlights the cumulative impact of socioeconomic risk factors on PTB, with higher maternal education demonstrating the highest protective effect against it. This underscores the importance of education in promoting optimal foetal development. Since the influence of socioeconomic factors on PTB is not a widely studied issue in Latvia, further research is needed to improve understanding of this complex topic.

Features of d-vitamin status in young children in the Kazakh population.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: The purpose of the article is to form the parameters of vitamin D status in young children in the ethnic group of Kazakh nationality with the factor of highlighting the necessary recommendations for the prevention of hypovitaminosis D. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Methods for the study of the highlighted problem are the diagnosis of young children in the parameter of clinical and anamnestic research, which includes the collection of anamnestic data of children of Kazakh nationality within the framework of the identified data based on a questionnaire of parents, an evaluation component in the child's health factor at the level of his initial state, and laboratory analysis to determine 25(OH)D to identify the content of vitamin D using the method of electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. RESULTS: Results: Analysis of vitamin D levels revealed significant differences among age groups. In the 0-28-day group, average vitamin D was 13.35 ng/ml, with 92.8% deficient. In the 1-6-month group, it was 21.47 ng/ml, with 84% deficient. In the over 6-month group, it was 33.58 ng/ml, with 40% sufficient. Formula-fed children had the lowest levels (average 15.21 ng/ml), while breastfed children had insufficiency (average 23.91 ng/ml). Children with vitamin D supplementation averaged 25.9 ng/ml, compared to 19.01 ng/ml without supplementation. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The results point to a widespread deficiency of vitamin D and offer practical recommendations for its prevention, such as creating a unified system of timely diagnosis, implementing preventive measures in pregnant women and young children, including a balanced diet enriched with vitamin D, staying outdoors in the bright hours of the day.

Who do you Prefer to Take Care of you: A Jewish or an Arab Nurse? Nationality and Religion Preferences in Israeli Hospitals.

Studies show that there are patients who refuse treatment or demand that treatment be provided by a professional belonging to their ethnic group. We investigated whether patients have preferences for nationality and religion of nurses (PFNR), and which factors impact these preferences. The study included 1012 Jews and Arabs. Results show that Arabs and Jews prefer that a nurse of their own nationality and religion treat them. Trust is the most important factor that influences this preference. In the Israeli healthcare system, the patient-nurse encounter is affected by the strong bias that Jews and Arab Muslims hold against each other.

Trend and heterogeneity in forced vital capacity among Chinese students during 1985-2019: results from Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health.

BACKGROUND: Forced vital capacity (FVC) reflects respiratory health, but the long-term trend and heterogeneity in FVC of Chinese students were understudied. METHODS: Data were from Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health 1985-2019. Super Imposition by Translation and Rotation model was used to draw FVC growth curves. Sex-, region-, and nationality-heterogeneity in FVC was evaluated. Spearman correlation and generalized additive model was used to reveal influencing factors for FVC. RESULTS: Compared to 1985, age at peak FVC velocity was 1.09, 3.17, 0.74, and 1.87 years earlier for urban male, urban female, rural male, and rural female in 2019, respectively. Peak FVC velocity first decreased and then increased during 1985-2019, only male rebounded to larger than 1985 level. FVC declined from 1985 to 2005 and then raised. Males consistently had higher FVC than females, with disparities increasing in the 13-15 age group. Urban students also had higher FVC than rural students. In 2019, FVC difference between 30 Chinese provinces and the national average showed four scenarios: consistently above national average; less than national average until age 18, then above; greater than national average until age 18, then this advantage reversed; less than national average in almost all the age. Most Chinese ethnic minority students had lower FVC levels compared to Han students. Spearman correlation and generalized additive model showed that age, sex, and height were the leading influencing factors of FVC, followed by socioeconomic and environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese students experienced advanced FVC spurt, and there was sex-, region- and nationality-heterogeneity in FVC. Routine measurement of FVC is necessary in less developed areas of China.

Harassment in the headache field: a global web-based cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Matters of workplace harassment are an important issue. This issue needs to be recognized and studied to prevent occurrences. These important sensitive areas of effective workplace management are increasingly gaining more interest. We aimed to identify the prevalence of workplace sexual, verbal and physical harassment among headache professionals. METHODS: We adopted a cross­sectional exploratory survey approach with quantitative design. The survey was distributed electronically among headache healthcare and research professionals globally through the International Headache Society (IHS). RESULTS: Data were obtained from 579 respondents (55.3%; 320/579 women). A large percentage of respondents (46.6%; 270/579) had experienced harassment; specifically, 16.1% (93/578) reported sexual harassment, 40.4% (234/579) verbal harassment and 5.5% (32/579) physical harassment. Women were almost seven times more likely to experience sexual harassment compared to men (odds ratio = 6.8; 95% confidence interval = 3.5-13.2). Although women did also more frequently report other types of harassment, this was not statistically significant (odds ratio = 1.4; 95% confidence interval = 1.0-2.0). CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime exposure to workplace harassment is prevalent among headache professionals, especially in women. The present study uncovers a widespread issue and calls for strategies to be implemented for building a healthy and safe workplace environment.

Prenatal exposure to phthalates and polybrominated diphenyl ethers on neonatal health: A birth cohort study in Guangxi, China.

Few epidemiological studies have focused on prenatal phthalates (PAEs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) exposure to neonatal health in China. This study aimed to assess the associations between prenatal PAEs and PBDEs exposure and neonatal health in Guangxi, a Zhuang autonomous region of China. Concentrations of 4 PAEs metabolites (mPAEs) and 5 PBDEs congeners were measured in the serum of 267 healthy pregnant women. Birth outcomes and clinical data of neonates were collected after delivery. Mono-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) (81.52%) and BDE47 (35.21%) were the mPAEs and PBDEs congeners with the highest detection rate in serum. Prenatal exposures to mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), MEHP, and ΣmPAEs were negatively associated with birth weight (BW), birth length (BL), and gestational age (GA). Higher exposures to MBP, MEHP, and ΣmPAEs were associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) for low birth weight (LBW), but exposure to BDE28 exhibited the opposite effect. Moreover, higher exposures to MBP, MEHP, ΣmPAEs, BDE99, and ΣPBDEswere associated with an increased OR for premature birth (PTB) (P < 0.05). In contrast to MBP exposure, BDE28 exposure was associated with a higher OR for neonatal jaundice (NNJ) (P < 0.05). The interaction analysis showed a positive interaction between monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and BDE28 on the risk of NNJ and positive interaction between ΣmPAEs and BDE47 on the risk of NNJ. In addition, there are ethnicity-specific associations of prenatal PBDEs exposure with neonatal health in individuals of Zhuang and Han nationalities, and boy neonates were more sensitive to prenatal PBDEs exposure than girl neonates. The results revealed that prenatal exposure to mPAEs and PBDEs might have adverse effects on neonatal development, and the effects might be ethnicity- and sex-specific.

Correlation between negative life events and suicide attempts among Yi adolescents with HIV/AIDS in Liangshan Prefecture.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of suicide attempts among adolescents with HIV/AIDS in Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, as well as the correlation between negative life events, sleep, exercise, drug therapy and suicide attempts. METHODS: A total of 180 Yi adolescents aged 11-19 years with HIV/AIDS in a county of Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, were investigated by census. The main outcome indicators included the incidence of suicide attempts and whether negative life events, sleep, exercise, drug therapy and other factors were related to suicide attempts. RESULTS: We found that the incidence rate of suicide attempts among Yi adolescents with HIV/AIDS in Liangshan Prefecture was 13.9%. Negative life events were a risk factor for suicide attempts (OR = 1.047, p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.027-1.067). In the factors of negative life events, adaptation was a risk factor for suicide attempts (OR = 1.203, p = 0.026, 95% CI 1.022-1.416), and academic pressure showed a tendency to be a risk factor for suicide attempts (OR = 1.149, p = 0.077, 95% CI 0.985-1.339). However, the punishment factor, interpersonal stress factor and loss factor had no significant correlation with suicide attempts. There was no significant correlation between sleep, exercise, drug therapy and suicide attempts. CONCLUSION: The proportion of suicide attempts among Yi adolescents with HIV/AIDS in Liangshan Prefecture is high and should be considered. Negative life events are independent risk factors for suicide attempts, and it is necessary to strengthen the screening and early intervention for suicide attempts in HIV/AIDS adolescents with definite negative life events.

Association analysis of MTHFR (rs1801133 and rs1801131) and MTRR (rs1801394) gene polymorphisms towards the development of hypertension in the Bai population from Yunnan, China.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is one of the leading causes of human death and disability. MTHFR and MTRR regulate folate metabolism and are closely linked to hypertension, although the relationship is inconsistent among different ethnic groups. The present study aims to investigate the effects of MTHFR C677T (rs1801133), MTHFR A1298C (rs1801131), and MTRR A66G (rs1801394) polymorphisms on hypertension susceptibility in the Bai nationality of the Yunnan Province, China. METHODS: This case-control study included 373 hypertensive patients and 240 healthy controls from the Chinese Bai population. The genotyping of MTHFR and MTRR gene polymorphisms was carried out by using the KASP method. The effects of genetic variations of MTHFR and MTRR genes on hypertension risk were evaluated with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: The present study revealed that the CT and TT genotypes and T allele of MTHFR C677T locus were considerably associated with an increased risk of hypertension. In addition, MTHFR A1298C locus CC genotype could significantly increase the hypertension risk. The T-A and C-C haplotypes of MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C could increase the risk of hypertension. Further stratified analysis by risk rank of folate metabolism indicated that people with poor utilization of folic acid were more prone to develop hypertension. In the hypertension group, the MTHFR C677T polymorphism was significantly associated with fasting blood glucose, fructosamine, apolipoprotein A1, homocysteine, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde levels. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that genetic variations of MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C were significantly associated with susceptibility to hypertension in the Bai population from Yunnan, China.

Perceived barriers to career progression in the headache field: A global web-based cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: It is well recognized that underrepresented and minoritized groups do not have the same career opportunities. However, there are limited data on the range and specifics of potential barriers that withhold people in headache medicine and science from reaching their full potential. Moreover, people from different geographical regions often perceive different challenges. We aimed to identify world-wide perceived career barriers and possibilities for promoting equality amongst professionals in the headache fields. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among professionals in the field of headache globally. The questions of the survey were aimed at assessing perceived career barriers in four domains: professional recognition, opportunities in scientific societies, clinical practice, and salary and compensation. Perceived mentorship was also assessed. RESULTS: In total 580 responders completed the survey (55.3% women). Gender was the most important perceived barrier in almost all domains. Additionally, country of birth emerged as an important barrier to participation in international scientific societies. Career barriers varied across world regions. CONCLUSION: It is essential that longstanding and ongoing disparities by gender and country of origin for professionals in the headache field are globally acknowledged and addressed in areas of recruitment, retention, opportunities, mentor- and sponsorships, and advancement.

Association of Polymorphism in IL-18 Gene with Periodontitis in Uyghur Adults in Xinjiang and Evidence from Six Case-Control Studies with a Comprehensive Analysis.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of IL-18 137 G > C, 607 C > A gene polymorphism in Uyghur population with chronic periodontitis (CP) and combine the results with the meta-analysis. METHODS: In a case-control study, 200 cases with CP and 100 healthy controls were recruited; IL-18 137 G > C, 607 C > A genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). In the meta-analysis, we used electronic databases, including CNKI, Wan Fang, PubMed, EMBASE databases etc.to obtain relevant research published through June 2020. Studies were considered eligible if odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were provided or calculated from the given data. The size of the combined effect was calculated using STATA 15.0. RESULTS: Our study revealed significant association between CP and IL-18 137 G > C (P = .045, OR = 1.67), 607 C > A (P = .045, OR = 1.67). The overall meta-analysis revealed significant associations between IL-18 137 G > C polymorphism and CP risk in Allele, dominant, co-dominant and recessive genetic models. The subgroup analysis also showed a significant association between the IL-18 137 G > C and risk for periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis in the Asian (GC+ CC VS. GG: P = .047, OR = 1.64,95%CI = 1.01-2.68). CONCLUSIONS: IL-18 137 G > C, 607 C > A could be associated with susceptibility to periodontitis in Uyghur population. Further case-control of candidate genes studies targeting larger sample sizes and different ethnic groups are needed to arrive more accurate conclusions.

The prevalence of hyperuricemia and its correlates in Zhuang nationality, Nanning, Guangxi Province.

BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia has an increasing incidence in various regions year by year, in this study, we evaluated the prevalence of hyperuricemia in a routine physical examination in Nanning, Guangxi Province, and analyzed the influencing factors of hyperuricemia, aiming to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia and related diseases. METHODS: Data were collected from 1957 patients who underwent physical examinations at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University in China since 2017. Questionnaires were structured, including subjects' demographics, lifestyle, personal history, chronic disease history, medication history, etc. UA (uricase method), TC (cholesterol oxidase method), TG (glycerol phosphate oxidase method), HDL-C (direct method), LDL-C (direct method), BUN (rate method), creatinine (sarine oxidase method), and GLU (oxidase-peroxidase method) were detected. Independent risk factors for hyperuricemia were determined by bivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hyperuricemia was 16.6% (19.5% in males and 14.9% in females). Gender, waist circumference, BMI, the proportion of drinking, hypertension, high education, serum concentrations of TC, TG, LDL-C, BUN, and creatinine were significantly higher and the serum concentration of HDL-C was significantly lower in patients with and without hyperuricemia (all p < 0.05). Waist circumference, BMI, BUN, and creatinine were independent risk factors for hyperuricemia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hyperuricemia is very high in Guangxi. Public health lectures should be conducted to encourage people to establish a healthy lifestyle and strengthen early intervention for hyperuricemia to reduce the risk of cardio-cerebrovascular and other related diseases.

Motivational Factors to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The United Arab Emirates has been very successful in its vaccination campaign for the COVID-19 injection, and vaccine hesitancy is not currently a major concern. Nevertheless, the motivations of residents in the UAE to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are varied. In this study with 426 vaccinated participants, 55% expressed health motivations to receive the vaccine, whereas 45% expressed non-health motivations. Nationality was a predictive factor in motivation, as expatriates from South Asian countries expressed the lowest motivation to get the vaccine on the basis of intrinsic health reasons, followed by expatriates from Arab countries, Emiratis, and expatriates from the rest of the world. The same nationality pattern was observed in vaccine readiness and vaccine knowledge. Both of these variables had a correlation with intrinsic health motivation in receiving the vaccine. No significant difference across nationalities was observed regarding vaccine conspiracy beliefs, and this variable only had a weak negative correlation with motivations to receive the vaccine.

Dietary acculturation of international students in Pune, India: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Dietary acculturation refers to how a migrant group adopts the eating patterns of the host country. It results in changes in dietary behavior, dietary intake, and nutritional status of this vulnerable group. AIM: To study dietary acculturation of international students in Pune, India. METHODS: International students from three Universities in Pune were enrolled. Information on demography, dietary behavior, and dietary intake (using a food frequency questionnaire) was recorded using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The height and weight of the students were measured using standard, calibrated equipment. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. RESULTS: A total of 100 international students from Iran, Africa, and South Korea were grouped by nationality. Considerable variation was detected in the daily number of meals consumed, skipping meals, portion size changes, packaged food consumption, and supplement intake following migration between the groups. The intake of non-vegetarian food had declined drastically for all groups. However, the specific non-vegetarian item showing the greatest change differed according to the group's nationality. The intake of biscuits and cake had increased among all groups. African students showed an increase of 3.33 kg in body weight following migration. The intake of protein and micronutrients declined for all groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the changes in dietary behavior, dietary intake, and nutritional status of international students of different nationalities following migration to Pune, India. Thus, it emphasizes the need for nutrition interventions in international students in India.

The Sex Difference in 6-h Ultra-Marathon Running-The Worldwide Trends from 1982 to 2020.

Background and Objectives: The 6-h ultra-marathon is the shortest time-limited ultra-marathon race, but little has been investigated regarding this race format. Previously, only the age of peak performance in the context of longer time-limited ultra-marathons was determined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends in 6-h ultra-marathon races from 1982 to 2020 for female and male ultra-runners, the participation and performance by countries, the age of peak performance, and the differences in performance regarding countries. Materials and Methods: The sample included 23,203 female ultra-runners, aged 18-83 years, and 87,264 male ultra-runners, aged 18-85 years, who were finishers in a 6-h ultra-marathon held between 1982 and 2020. The age of peak performance was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by the Bonferroni Correction. The difference in performance by countries was verified using a linear regression model with the fastest runners from Russia in women, and Tunisia in men, used as reference. Results: Over the years, the men-to-women ratio decreased. The mean age was 43.20 ± 9.30 years for female and 46.09 ± 10.17 years for male runners. Athletes in younger age groups were faster than athletes in older age groups. Most female and male participants originated from Germany. Women from Russia (10.01 ± 1.28 km/h) and men from Tunisia (12.16 ± 1.46 km/h) were the fastest. Conclusions: In summary, in 6-h ultra-marathons held between 1982 and 2020, the participation for both women and men increased, while the men-to-women ratio decreased. The mean age was higher in men compared to women. Most female and male runners originated from Germany, but the fastest women were from Russia, and the fastest men from Tunisia. Future studies need to investigate whether Russian women and Tunisian men are also the best in other distance-limited ultra-marathon races, such as 12-h and 24-h.

[Comparison of different obesity indicators with dyslipidemia and hypertension in adults of Guangxi Yao ethnic group].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between obesity indicators and dyslipidemia and hypertension in the Yao population of Guangxi. METHODS: In 2015, we examined the body composition data of 784 Yao residents aged 18 years or older in Guangxi using a multi-stage whole-group random sampling method, analyzed the association between 10 indicators responding to the degree of obesity and dyslipidemia and hypertension, and analyzed the predictive value of each obesity indicator for dyslipidemia and hypertension by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves. RESULTS: There were 58.80% of Yao adults with dyslipidemia, with no difference between men and women(χ~2=0.24, P>0.05); 15.94% of Yao adults had hypertension, with a higher prevalence in men than in women(χ~2=4.76, P<0.05). ROC curves plotted with dyslipidemia as the dependent variable showed that the best predictor of risk of dyslipidemia prevalence in the Yao adult population was waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)(AUC=0.62, 95% CI 0.56-0.68) with a cut point of 0.86 in men and waist circumference(AUC=0.64, 95% CI 0.59-0.69) with a cut point of 75.50 cm in women. The ROC curves were plotted with hypertension as the dependent variable, and the result showed that the best predictor of risk of hypertension in the Yao adult population was: visceral fat content(AUC=0.62, 95% CI 0.56-0.68) with a cut point of 0.65 kg in men and WHR(AUC=0.67, 95% CI 0.62-0.72) with a cut point of 0.82 in women. CONCLUSION: Compared with indicators reflecting general obesity such as body mass index and percentage of body fat, indicators reflecting abdominal obesity such as waist circumference, WHR and visceral fat content are more closely related to two metabolic diseases such as dyslipidemia and hypertension in the Yao population.

[UGT1A1 gene mutations in Chinese Dong neonates in Sanjiang, Guangxi]. / 广西三江县侗族新生儿UGT1A1åŸºå› å˜å¼‚åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the characteristics of UGT1A1 gene mutations in Dong neonates in Sanjiang County of Liuzhou and its association with the pathogenesis of hyperbilirubinemia in Dong neonates. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed on 84 neonates who were diagnosed with unexplained hyperbilirubinemia in the Department of Neonatology, Sanjiang County People's Hospital, from January 2021 to January 2022. Sixty healthy neonates born during the same period were enrolled as the control group. Peripheral blood genomic DNA was extracted for both groups, and UGT1A1 exon 1 was amplified by PCR and sequenced. RESULTS: In the case group, 33 neonates were found to have G71R missense mutation, with a mutation rate of 39%. The case group had a significantly higher frequency of A allele than the healthy control group (21% vs 10%, P<0.05). The risk of hyperbilirubinemia in Dong neonates carrying G71R missense mutation was 2.588 times as high as that in healthy neonates carrying wild-type UGT1A1 gene (P<0.05). Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium testing showed that the UGT1A1 G71R locus was in genetic equilibrium in both groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: UGT1A1 G71R mutation is a high-frequency gene mutation type in Dong neonates in Sanjiang County, and G71R missense mutation is associated with hyperbilirubinemia in Dong neonates.