The Influence of Hyperglycemia on Liver Triglyceride Deposition in Partially Pancreatectomized Rats.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes always coexist. The relationship of fatty liver and hyperglycemia is not clear. We studied the influence of hyperglycemia on triglyceride (TG) accumulation in the liver and explored its possible mechanisms. SD rats were divided into three groups: Group A (sham operation control), Group B (partially pancreatectomized rats), and Group C (partially pancreatectomized rats treated with insulin). At 4 weeks after surgery, pancreatic weights and liver TG contents were measured. Serum biochemical parameters were determined, and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed. The gene expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein1c (SREBP-1c), carbohydrate regulatory element-binding protein (ChREBP), fatty acid synthase(FAS), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1), and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was determined by real-time PCR. Compared with Group A, postprandial glucose increased significantly; the concentrations of insulin and C-peptides, pancreatic weights and serum FGF21 levels were decreased, liver TG was increased significantly in Group B, and insulin treatment improved these changes. Compared with Group A, the gene expressions of FGF21, CPT-1 and FAS in the liver were decreased in Group B (all p<0.05). Compared with Group B, the gene expressions of FGF21, FAS, ChREBP, SREBP-1c and CPT-1 in the liver in Group C were all increased significantly (p<0.05, respectively). Hyperglycemia induced by partial pancreatectomy could lead to increased liver TG. Insulin treatment could decrease glucose levels and improve fatty liver, and genes related to lipid metabolism may play a role in this process.

Erectile dysfunction, depression, and anxiety in patients with functional anorectal pain: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Men with functional anorectal pain (FARP) report having erectile dysfunction (ED) and significant changes in psychological status. AIM: The study sought to investigate the risk factors associated with FARP among male Chinese outpatients, alongside the impact of FARP on patients' ED, depression, and anxiety. METHODS: This case-control study included 406 male participants, divided into FARP (n = 323) and healthy control (n = 73) groups. Demographic and disease characteristics were collected from the patients, and the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 were used to assess erectile function, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Baseline characteristics were described using descriptive statistics, logistic regression analysis identified factors influencing FARP, and its association with ED, depression, and anxiety were analyzed using linear and ordinal logistic regression analyses. Validity was ensured through subgroup and sensitivity analyses. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the association between FARP and ED, depression, and anxiety; the secondary outcome was the influencing factors of FARP such as lifestyle and work habits. RESULTS: Men with FARP were likely to have more serious ED (59.8% vs 32.9%), depression (20.7% vs 4.1%), and anxiety(31.5% vs 12.3%); have lower 5-item International Index of Erectile Function scores; or have higher Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 scores compared with unaffected participants. Alcohol intake, family relationship, high work pressure, and prolonged bowel movements were significantly associated with FARP severity. The association between FARP with ED, depression, and anxiety was statistically significant in both crude and adjusted models. FARP was associated with 2.47, 2.73, and 2.67 times higher risk for ED, depression, and anxiety, respectively. An increase pain severity increased the incidence of ED (moderate pain: 4.80 times, P < .000; severe pain: 3.49 times, P < .004), depression (moderate pain: 1.85 times, P < .017; severe pain: 2.04 times, P < .037), and anxiety (moderate pain: 1.86 times, P < .014).Clinical Implications: Changes in lifestyle and work habits can help prevent pain symptom exacerbation. Attention to erection and psychological issues in patients with FARP and interdisciplinary comprehensive treatment may improve the efficacy. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The study highlights a correlation between FARP and ED, depression, and anxiety, with pain severity being a contributing factor. However, the study's limitations include a small sample size and potential recall bias, and other sexual functions were not thoroughly explored. CONCLUSION: Patients with FARP have a higher prevalence of ED, depression, and anxiety, which increase with pain severity. Factors such as alcohol intake, work pressure, prolonged sitting, and longer defecation times are significantly correlated with FARP pain severity.

Curative effect of medicine cake sticking ultrasound drug penetration combined with body training on hemiplegia after stroke: An in vitro ultrasound targeted drug controlled release technology.

To explore the efficacy of ultrasound drugs in the treatment of hemiplegia after stroke. The evaluation included clinical symptoms and signs, the Stroke Scale, activities of daily living, sensory disorder Fugl-Meyer and Lindmark, electromyography sensory nerve amplitude, and conduction velocity indexes in both groups. There was no significant difference in the improved Fugl-Meyer and Lindmark score between treatment (26.97 ± 2.78) and the control group (27.45 ± 3.1) (t = 14.528, P = 0.593). After treatment, the observation group (37.10 ± 4.2) was significantly different from the control group (34.76 ± 4.36) (t = 11.259, P = 0.005) and (t = 10.15 ± 1.69), (40.87 ± 6.58) (t = 7.943,9.538, P = 0.564,0.826). After treatment, the observation group the Stroke Scale (4.27 ± 0.57), activities of daily living score (76.15 ± 12.38) and the control group (5.36 ± 0.89), (58.41 ± 9.69) (t = 16.274,5.379, P = 0.035,0.000) after treatment and F wave and M wave. The cure rate of the observation group was 77.50% (31/40), which was significantly better than that of the control group, 47.50% (19/40), with a significant difference (χ2 = 11.724,P = 0.000). After comparison, the total response rate of the observed group reached 92.500% (37 / 40), which was significantly higher than the 80.00% (32 / 40) of the control group. This difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 9.458, P = 0.015). This therapy closely links the theoretical knowledge of modern medicine with the theoretical knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, and uses the meridian theory to give full play to the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine.

Parental Postoperative Pain Management Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices in Pediatric Limb Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Post-surgical pain in children is common, severe, and inadequately controlled. An effective model should involve the participation of parents. AIMS: To investigate parental perceptions, attitudes, and practices in postoperative pain management in children with limb fractures and analyze the factors affecting parental practices. DESIGN: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Research was conducted at a tertiary Children's Hospital Affiliated with Soochow University. PARTICIPANTS: Parents whose children (age, 6-18 years) underwent orthopedic fracture surgery between January 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020, were recruited using purposive sampling. METHODS: The parents were asked to complete self-report questionnaires: "Pain Management Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire" and "Parents' Use of Pain Relief Strategies Questionnaire." The Wong-Baker Faces Scale was used to measure pain intensity in children. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and correlation and regression analyses were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Data of 180 parents were collected. Of the participants, 80.6%, 78.3%, and 71.7% had low-to-moderate scores for knowledge, general attitudes, and use of pain relief strategies, respectively. Moreover, 93.9% of parents had moderate-to-high scores for negative attitudes toward medication, despite 89.5% of them reporting moderate-to-high pain intensities in their children (median proxy-report of pain intensity, 7.0 [3.00]). Multivariate linear stepwise regression showed that parents' use of pain-relief strategies was related to their general attitudes, knowledge, and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Most parents had low-to-moderate scores for perceptions and general attitudes toward children's postoperative pain management, and use of pain relief strategies. Moreover, they lacked knowledge of and had negative attitudes toward pain assessment and analgesics, which significantly impacted their practices. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clinical pediatric nurses should provide appropriate support for the entire family of the child. Moreover, to enhance parental practices, they should develop targeted parental education programs for pain management, particularly regarding pain assessment tools and pain medications.

QR code technology in individual identification training provides an introduction in hands-on forensic DNA genotyping to medical students.

BACKGROUND: Forensic biology is a subject in the field of forensic science that stresses practical teaching and training in laboratory skills. Visualization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiles is important in individual identification and is easily performed by well-trained examiners. Therefore, developing a novel training project for obtaining individual DNA profiles can improve the quality of teaching for medical students or trainees. DNA profiles based on quick response (QR) codes can also be applied to practical teaching and operation training for individual identification. METHODS: A novel training project was developed through an experimental course in forensic biology. Blood samples and buccal swabs with oral epithelial cells, as used in the forensic DNA laboratory, were obtained from medical students at Fujian Medical University. DNA was isolated, and a number of short tandem repeat (STR) loci were used as genetic markers to generate DNA profiles. The students converted DNA profiles and individual information into a QR code. The QR code could then be scanned by a mobile phone for consulting and retrieval. Gene identity cards with QR codes were produced and provided to every student. The participation rate and passing rate of students who participated in the novel training project were calculated and compared with those of students in the traditional experimental course, and a chi-square test was carried out by SPSS 23.0 software to evaluate the teaching effectiveness. p < 0.05 indicated significant differences. In addition, a survey was conducted to investigate the likelihood of using of gene identity cards with QR codes in the future. RESULTS: A total of 54 of 91 medical students who studied forensic biology participated in the novel training project in 2021. Only 31 of 78 students who studied forensic biology participated in the traditional experimental course in 2020. The participation rate in the novel training project was 24% higher than that of the traditional experimental course. The participants in the novel training project showed better performance in forensic biological handling techniques. The passing rate of the students in the forensic biology course with the novel training project was approximately 17% higher than that of the students in the former course. The participation rates and passing rates of the two groups were significantly different (χ = 6.452, p = 0.008 and χ = 11.043, p = 0.001). In the novel training project, all participants made 54 gene identity cards with QR codes. Furthermore, in the DNA profiles of four African students who participated, we found two rare alleles that were not discovered in Asians. The survey showed that the use of gene identity cards with QR codes was accepted by most participants, and the likelihood of future utilization was 78%. CONCLUSION: We established a novel training project to promote the learning activities of medical students in experimental forensic biology courses. The participants showed great interest in using gene identity cards with QR codes to store general individual identity information and DNA profiles. They also examined the genetic population differences between different races based on DNA profiles. Hence, the novel training project could be useful for training workshops, forensic experimental courses, and medical big data research.

Oral and inhalation bioaccessibility of mercury in contaminated soils and potential health risk to the kidneys and neurodevelopment of children in Taiwan.

Health risk assessments of exposure to mercury (Hg) from soils via ingestion and inhalation are indispensable for Taiwanese people living in the vicinity of Hg-contaminated sites. In this study, anthropogenic soils were collected from various polluted sources in Taiwan. In vitro oral and inhalation bioaccessible fractions of Hg were analyzed to avoid from overestimating the exposure risk. Discrepancies in oral and inhalation bioaccessible levels of Hg in soils were found using different in vitro assays with different pH levels and chemical compositions. The freshly contaminated soil (soil S7) polluted by chlor-alkali production activity sampled before the site was remediated had the highest total Hg concentration of 1346 mg/kg, with the highest oral bioaccessibility of 26.2% as analyzed by SW-846 Method 1340 and inhalation bioaccessibility of 30.5% as analyzed by modified Gamble's solution. The lesser extent of aging of Hg in soil S7 increased the Hg availability for humans, which was also found based on results of a sequential extraction procedure. Results of the hazard quotient showed that soil ingestion was the main pathway causing non-carcinogenic risks for children and adults. Children were also exposed to higher risks than were adults due to higher frequencies of hand-to-mouth behaviors and lower body weights. Furthermore, hazard index results adjusted for oral and inhalation bioaccessible Hg were lower than those obtained based on the total Hg content; however, an unacceptable value of the non-carcinogenic risk (> 1) for children living near soil S7 was still observed. This study suggests that children living near sites polluted for a short period of time may suffer potential renal effects regardless of the bioaccessibility. Our findings provide suggestions for decision makers on setting new strategies for managing risks of Hg-contaminated soils in Taiwan.

[The Influence of Confinement Location on Maternal Psychological and Role Adaptation: A Six-Month Follow-Up Study].

BACKGROUND: Approximately 70% of postpartum women in Taiwan choose postpartum care institutions for their postpartum confinement. However, few studies have explored the follow-up relationship between confinement location and, respectively, maternal psychological and role adaptation. PURPOSE: To explore the differences in psychology and maternal role adaptation between postpartum women in two different confinement locations and to analyze the predictors of maternal confidence and maternal competence at six-months postpartum. METHODS: A comparative and follow-up research design was adopted. We recruited a convenience sample of two groups of women confined, respectively, at postpartum nursing centers and at home. One hundred fifty-seven mothers recruited after G-power estimation were enrolled as participants and completed demographic data and six scales at one-week, one-month, and six-months postpartum. The statistical analysis was performed mainly using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: For all participants, maternal confidence was positively associated with time, being multipara, having religious beliefs, and having better mother-infant bonding (p < .05). In addition, being confined at home, being unemployed, having religious beliefs, perceiving lower levels of stress and depression, having better sleep quality, and having better mother-infant bonding were associated with higher maternal competence (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Based on the findings of this study, postpartum nursing institutions should actively promote strategies to improve maternal competence to help mothers staying in postpartum nursing centers strike an optimal balance between recuperation and parenting preparation. Furthermore, obstetric health professionals should implement policies related to mother-infant bonding to increase maternal confidence and competence and, subsequently, facilitate maternal role adjustment.

H-NMR-based metabolomics study on the effects of raw and processed radix Wikstroemia indica on endogenous metabolites in rat plasma.

Based on metabolomics, to study the mechanism of Radix Wikstroemia indica (RWI) "Sweat soaking method" processing detoxification. The raw drug group and processed products was given raw RWI and processed RWI respectively by gavage. The control group was given the same amount of 1% sodium carboxy methyl cellulose distilled water by gavage. After 7 days of continuous gavage, blood samples were collected. The blood samples of rats in each group were analyzed by 1H-NMR technology to explore the changes of endogenous metabolism and the possible metabolic pathways to rats before and after processing. Compared with the control group, the raw RWI could significantly reduce 16 metabolites and increase 10 metabolites. The processed RWI can increase the levels of most metabolites that decrease to the raw RWI, such as 13 metabolites such as alanine, L-glutamine, L-valine, L-serine, betaine and glutamic acid; At the same time, the metabolites that increased in the level of crude products were down-regulated, such as asparagine, lactic acid, 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, sucrose, glucose and D-glucose. Compared with raw products, RWI treated with "Sweat soaking method" can reversely regulate or reduce amino acid, choline metabolism, energy and carbohydrate metabolism, thereby reducing hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

A Capillary Electrophoresis Method for Analyzing the Diversity of Vaginal Microbiome.

BACKGROUND: 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence analysis is the common method to identify the bacteria in human vaginal flora. While specific DNA primers were designed to target 16S rRNA gene sequences, DNA fragment analysis using capillary electrophoresis can obtain more accurate qualitative and quantitative information on the microbiome. This study aimed to assess the ability of capillary electrophoresis method to analyze the diversity of vaginal microbiome and provide a theoretical basis for the accurate gene detection of vaginal flora. METHODS: We collected 75 vaginal secretion samples from female outpatients aged 25 - 50, who had undergone rou-tine gynecologic examinations in Fujian provincial hospital from March 2021 to April 2021. Clinical diagnosis was based on the results of microscopic examination of Gram-stained specimens and biochemical tests of bacteria (pH value, catalase, leukocyte esterase, sialidases, ß-glucuronidase, and acetylglucosaminidase). Vaginal secretion samples were collected and then total bacterial DNA was extracted. We used six pairs of fluorescent dye tagged specific primers that were designed based on the 16S rRNA genes of four Lactobacillus species (L. iners, L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri), Gardnerella vaginalis, and Atopobium vaginae. PCR products of six species of bacteria were detected and analyzed by a 3130 Genetic Analyzer. RESULTS: Seventy-five samples were divided into two groups according to the vaginal microbiome evaluation, including 50 cases which had vaginal bacteria balance and 25 cases which had vaginal bacteria disorder. PCR amplification of 16S ribosomal RNA genes of L. iners, L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Atopobium vaginae was successfully performed on the DNA extracted from vaginal secretion samples. Four Lac-tobacillus species were detected in 4 - 33 cases of "Balance" group, and Gardnerella vaginalis was detected in 23 cases of "Disorder" group and, simultaneously, Atopobium vaginae was detected in 20 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the technique of DNA fragment analysis using capillary electrophoresis method, the most common vaginal bacteria in Chinese healthy women are L. iners and L. crispatus. Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae are the most common pathogenic bacteria detected in the patients who had vaginal bacteria disorder. Using capillary electrophoresis method to detect the vaginal bacteria will be useful for accurate identifica-tion of vaginal microbiome. There will be an application value to find out the composition of the vaginal microbiome rapidly and detect specific gene markers to identify potential pathogenic bacteria when women are at risk of serious illness before they develop obvious symptoms.

The Validation and Application of a Novel CYP2C19 Genotyping Approach Based on Capillary Electrophoresis in Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms have been described to have an important influence on the drug metabolism observed in human populations. A series of PCR-based molecule detection methods are applied to identify CYP2C19 genotype. The aim of the study is to validate the novel CYP2C19 genotyping approach with other methods and reveal the allele frequency distribution of CYP2C19 in Chinese Han population. METHODS: We applied a novel genotyping approach for CYP2C19 gene which was combining direct PCR and capillary electrophoresis (CE) technique. A series of fluorescent labeled primers were designed to amplify the particular DNA fragments which indicated the wild type of CYP2C19 genotype. The variants consist of CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*3 and CYP2C19*17 alleles. Both the novel PCR-based CE method and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method were used to identify the CYP2C19 genotypes in 324 whole blood samples originated from Chinese Han population. According to the different criterions for judgement of two methods, we can obtain the CYP2C19 alleles and genotypes of the same participants. Kappa statistics was used to evaluate the consistency of the two results and the frequencies of CYP2C19 alleles. The genotypes in Chinese Han population were calculated using EXCEL. Furthermore, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the CYP2C19 genotypes obtained by using the novel approach, Sanger sequencing was conducted to validate the CYP2C19 genotypes *1/*17 and *2/*3. RESULTS: Among the 324 specimens, 111 were *1/*1, 141 were *1/*2, 10 were *1/*3, 4 were *1/*17, 46 were *2/*2, 10 were *2*/3, 1 was *2/*17, and 1 was *3/*17. Allele distributions for CYP2C19 were *1, *2, *3, and *17 at 58.18%, 37.65%, 3.24%, and 0.93%, respectively. Both PCR-based CE method and RT-qPCR methods had good consistency in the genotypes of CYP2C19 polymorphism (Kappa value = 1.000, p < 0.05). The DNA sequences of CYP2C19 genotype *1/*17 were composed of c.681 G/G, c.636 G/G, and c.-806 C>T. In the same way, the DNA sequences of CYP2C19 genotype *2/*3 were composed of c.681 G>A, c.636 G>A, and c.-806 C/C. CONCLUSIONS: The variants including the CYP2C19*2 allele were the most common mutations in Chinese Han unrelated individuals. Both PCR-based CE method and RT-qPCR method had good consistency in the genotypes of CYP2C19 polymorphism. Nevertheless, because of more convenience and higher throughput, the novel PCR-based capillary electrophoresis approach showed to be more suitable for clinical gene screening.

Identification of circRNAs involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma after insufficient radiofrequency ablation.

Previous studies have reported that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of various diseases. In the present study, we aimed to identify potential circRNAs associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after insufficient radiofrequency ablation (IRFA). A xenograft mouse IRFA model was initially established, and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to confirm the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1). CircRNA expression alterations were screened by next-generation sequencing (RNA-seq). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted to predict the function of genes coding differentially expressed circRNAs. The selected circRNAs were validated utilizing PCR and Sanger sequencing. The relationships between circRNAs, microRNAs, PD-L1, and VEGFR-1 were predicted by bioinformatics. Overall, a total of 612 circRNAs were differentially expressed in IRFA-treated subcutaneous tumorigenesis tissue. Among them, 435 circRNAs were significantly upregulated and 177 circRNAs were downregulated. GO and KEGG analyses were employed to predict the functions of these circRNAs. Thereafter, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays determined that these seven circRNAs were overexpressed in the IRFA group, which was consistent with the RNA-seq results. Based on the bioinformatic analysis, seven circRNAs confirmed by Sanger sequencing were predicted to likely regulate PD-L1 and VEGFR-1 expression levels by functioning as sponges for microRNAs (miRNAs) and forming a circRNA-miRNA-PD-L1/VEGFR-1 regulatory network. Finally, IHC and qRT-PCR of PD-L1 and VEGFR-1 confirmed the activation of this pathway. Taken together, we report that differentially expressed circRNAs might simultaneously regulate PD-L1 and VEGFR-1 in the IRFA tissues, which provides a novel view of circRNAs in HCC progression after the IRFA procedure.

Beyond GHz optical frequency up-converted modulation of LEDs with integrated acousto-optic transducer.

Traditional visible light communication (VLC) via light-emitting diodes (LEDs) employs the on-off keying (OOK) modulation scheme. Even though optical frequency modulation has many advantages, it is hardly used for LED VLC because a high carrier frequency cannot be applied to the LED cavity due to the resistance-capacitance limit. Here, by monolithically integrating an LED with an integrated digital transducer, we experimentally demonstrate the intermixing of gigahertz surface acoustic waves and electrical data signals in the LED cavity at room temperature. An optical transmitter was realized by in situ frequency up-conversion of the data signals from an LED, which has the advantages of improving transmission performance by up-shifting the data spectrum away from low-frequency noise. Our proposed integrated acousto-optic transducer opens a new developing scheme on the frequency up-mixed data encoding of an LED beyond its inherent modulation bandwidth for future VLC.

Application of Multiple Short Tandem Repeat Loci for Rapid Diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Edward Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Chromosomal diseases with chromosomal abnormalities are one of the most common genetic diseases in humans, including abnormal numbers and structural abnormalities. Patau syndrome (also known as trisomy 13), Edward syndrome (also called trisomy 18), and Down syndrome (also known as trisomy 21) are all clinically fatal diseases caused by abnormal numbers of autosomes. However, there is no reliable and effective cure for chromosomal diseases, mainly relying on fast and accurate prenatal diagnosis technology to reduce the rate of birth defects. METHODS: Fluorescent-labeled primers were designed and then used in fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) composite amplification, capillary electrophoresis typing, and gene fragment analysis technology to detect 64 amniotic fluid samples, which were indicated high risks of trisomy 18 and 21 by non-invasive prenatal diagnostic technology (NIPT). The results are compared with the results of karyotype analysis and chromo-some copy variations (CNVs). RESULTS: Sixty-four samples were determined by FQ-PCR technology with the help of short tandem repeat (STR) regarded as molecular marker (STR-FQ-PCR), the result showed 61 cases of chromosomal aneuploidy were positive, including 14 cases of Edward syndrome and 47 cases of Down syndrome. A total of 460 STR locus genotypes were detected, containing 84 STR locus genotypes of Edward syndrome and 376 STR locus genotypes of Down syndrome. Chromosome karyotype analysis showed that the detected samples were all chromosomal aneuploidy. Among them were 15 cases of trisomy 18, including 14 cases of homozygous type and 1 case of chimeric type, 49 cases of trisomy 21, consisting of 47 cases homozygous type and 2 cases chimeric type. Sixty-two cases of chromosomal aneuploidy were detected by CNVs with 14 cases of trisomy 18 and 48 cases of trisomy 21. CONCLUSIONS: The detectable rate of STR-FQ-PCR technology is 95.31% while the karyotype analysis is the highest with 100%. For non-chimera and non-structural abnormal samples, the coincidence rate of results between STR-FQ-PCR technology and karyotype analysis was 100%. All above manifested the application of multiple STR loci for rapid diagnosis of Down syndrome and Edward syndrome has high clinical value.

[Using Immunohistochemical Markers and Clinicopathological Factors to Predict the Prognostic Survival of Different Types of Endometrial Cancer Recurrence].

OBJECTIVE: To probe for factors that can be used effectively to predict the prognostic survival of patients with endometrial cancer recurrence. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 473 patients with stage Ⅰ to Ⅲ endometrial cancer who underwent standard surgical treatment from October 2013 to May 2019 were retrospectively collected, and post-operative recurrence of the patients were followed up. Overall recurrence includes local recurrence and poor prognosis recurrence. The endpoint indicators of this study are the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with overall recurrence, local recurrence, and poor prognosis recurrence (PPR). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate the OS and RFS of patients. Cox proportional-hazards model was used to identify factors affecting the prognostic survival of patients with endometrial cancer recurrence. RESULTS: Among the 473 patients, 406 did not experience recurrence. A total of 67 patients, accounting for 14.2%, had recurrence. Among them, 27 had local recurrence, accounting for 5.7%, while 40 had poor prognosis recurrence, accounting for 8.5%. The median follow-up time of patients with recurrence was 38 months. The survival curve showed that the RFS and OS of the patients in the recurrence-free group remained unchanged, while the patients in the recurrence group, regardless of whether they had overall recurrence, local recurrence or PPR, experienced a decrease in RFS and OS( P<0.001). The overall 3-year OS rate of patients with recurrence was 44.8%, the median survival time was 29 months, and the median recurrence time was 17 months. The 3-year OS rate of patients in the recurrence-free group was 98.8%, and the median survival time was 40 months; the 3-year OS rate of patients with local recurrence was 59.3%, the median survival time was 27 months, and the median recurrence time was 15 months. The 3-year OS rate of patients with PPR was only 35.0%, the median survival time was 22 months, and the median recurrence time was 10 months. The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that, for overall recurrence patients, FIGO stage Ⅲ (hazard ratio ( HR)=3.432, P=0.005), increased expression of K-i67 ( HR=1.015, P=0.025), and decreased expression of estrogen receptor (ER) ( HR=0.985, P=0.005) are independent factors for the decline in RFS, FIGO stage Ⅲ ( HR=4.918, P=0.005) and the decreased expression of progesterone receptor (PR) ( HR=0.977, P=0.003) are independent factors for the decrease in OS. For patients with local recurrence, special pathological types ( HR=2.545, P=0.049) and increased expression of Ki-67 ( HR=1.024, P=0.033) are independent factors influencing the decrease in RFS, while decreased expression of PR ( HR=0.973, P=0.009) is an independent risk factor for decreased OS. For patients with PPR, FIGO stage Ⅲ ( HR=5.977, P=0.002) and decreased ER expression ( HR=0.984, P=0.023) are independent risk factors for the decline in RFS, while FIGO stage Ⅲ ( HR=10.098, P=0.001) is an independent factor influencing the decline of OS. CONCLUSION: FIGO stage Ⅲ, increased Ki-67 expression, and decreased ER expression can increase patients' risk of postoperative recurrence, and FIGO stage Ⅲ and decreased expression of PR can increase the risk of death in patients with recurrence.

Glycolytic Switch Is Required for Transdifferentiation to Endothelial Lineage.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that activation of cell-autonomous innate immune signaling facilitates the transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into induced endothelial cells, and is required to generate induced endothelial cells with high fidelity for endothelial lineage. Recent studies indicate that a glycolytic switch plays a role in induced pluripotent stem cell generation from somatic cells. METHODS: Seahorse and metabolomics flux assays were used to measure the metabolic changes during transdifferentiation in vitro, and Matrigel plug assay was used to assess the effects of glycolysis modulators on transdifferentiation in vivo. RESULTS: The metabolic switch begins rapidly after activation of innate immunity, before the expression of markers of endothelial lineage. Inhibiting glycolysis impaired, whereas facilitating glycolysis enhanced, the generation of induced endothelial cells. The toll-like receptor 3 agonist poly I:C increased expression of the mitochondrial citrate transporter Slc25A1, and the nuclear ATP-citrate lyase, in association with intracellular accumulation of citrate, the precursor for acetyl coenzyme A. These metabolic changes were coordinated with increased histone acetylation during transdifferentiation. CONCLUSION: Innate immune signaling promotes a glycolytic switch that is required for transdifferentiation, both processes being attenuated by ATP-citrate lyase knockdown. These data shed light on a novel link between metabolism and epigenetic modulation in transdifferentiation.

Exome sequencing in patients with microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and coloboma (MAC) from a consanguineous population.

Next-generation sequencing strategies have resulted in mutation detection rates of 21% to 61% in small cohorts of patients with microphthalmia, anophthalmia and coloboma (MAC), but despite progress in identifying novel causative genes, many patients remain without a genetic diagnosis. We studied a cohort of 19 patients with MAC who were ascertained from a population with high rates of consanguinity. Using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and whole exome sequencing (WES), we identified one pathogenic variant in TENM3 in a patient with cataracts in addition to MAC. We also detected novel variants of unknown significance in genes that have previously been associated with MAC, including KIF26B, MICU1 and CDON, and identified variants in candidate genes for MAC from the Wnt signaling pathway, comprising LRP6, WNT2B and IQGAP1, but our findings do not prove causality. Plausible variants were not found for many of the cases, indicating that our current understanding of the pathogenesis of MAC, a highly heterogeneous group of ocular defects, remains incomplete.

Adult primary testicular lymphoma: clinical features and survival in a series of patients treated at a high-volume institution in China.

BACKGROUND: To retrospectively investigate the clinical characteristics, initial treatment, relapse, therapy outcome, and prognosis of Chinese patients with primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) through analysis of the cases of our institute. METHODS: From December 2008 to July 2018, all patients with PTL were included in this study. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate PFS and OS. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare the survival times for groups of patients differing in terms of clinical and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: All 28 PTL patients (24 DLBCL, three NK/T lymphomas, and one Burkkit's lymphoma) with a median age of 65.5 years were included in this study. Six patients were observed recurrence among all the 22 individuals evaluated. Following orchiectomy and systemic chemotherapy, with or without intrathecal prophylaxis, complete response was achieved in 15 (68%) patients. For DLBCL patients, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 44.63 months (95% CI 17.71-71.56 months), and the median overall survival (OS) was 77.02 months (95% CI, 57.35-96.69 months). For all the DLBCL patients, the 5-year PFS and 5-year OS were 35.4% (95%CI, 14.8-56.0%) and 53.4% (95%CI, 30.1-76.7%). Without further chemotherapy following orchiectomy (HR = 3.4, P = 0.03) were associated with inferior PFS of DLBCL patients. Advanced Ann Arbor stage (HR =5.9, P = 0.009) and high (international prognostic index, IPI) score: 3-5 (HR =3.9, P = 0.04) were correlated with shorter OS of DLBCL patients. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that PTL is an aggressive malignant with a poor prognosis. Limited Ann Arbor stage, further chemotherapy following orchiectomy, and low IPI score (less than 2) are correlated with superior survival for DLBCL patients.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors for the management of advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

This study is a meta-analysis assessing the safety and efficacy of programmed cell death-1/cell death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors in order to improve their efficacy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. We retrieved studies of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies for non-small-cell lung cancer from electronic databases; 17 clinical trials were analyzed. The pooled hazard ratios for overall and progression-free survival (PFS), and the odds ratios (ORs) for the objective response rate (ORR) and adverse effects were calculated using Review Manager 5.3. The pooled hazard ratios for overall and PFS were 0.69 and 0.74, respectively, and the pooled OR for the ORR was 1.78, implying a significant improvement in overall survival (OS), PFS, and ORR with administration of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. In subgroup analysis, the ORs of the ORR were 2.48 in PD-L1 positive versus negative tumors, and 0.99 for a high dose of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors versus a low dose. The ORs for the occurrence of any treatment-related adverse effects and grades 3-5 treatment-related adverse effects were 0.33 and 0.30, respectively, suggesting a good safety profile. PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy has superior outcomes in terms of the ORR, OS, and PFS with tolerable adverse effects when compared with chemotherapy.

Prevalence and associated factors of myopia among rural school students in Chia-Yi, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of myopia has increased rapidly worldwide over the past few decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors for myopia in elementary and junior high school students in Chia-Yi, Taiwan. METHODS: We included 5417 students in total from Grade 1-6 (n = 4763) and Grade 7-9 (n = 654) from Chia Yi County in this population-based study. The students underwent noncycloplegic autorefractometry and an interview with a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: For this study population, the prevalence of myopia and high myopia was 42.0 and 2.0%, respectively, revealing a statistically significant increase with increasing age (p < 0.05). Junior high school students (aged 13-15) showed a greater prevalence of myopia than elementary school students (aged 7-12) (55.8% vs. 40.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that associated factors of myopia were body height (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.06), body mass index (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96-1.00), and ocular alignment (horizontal heterophoria vs. orthophoria, OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 2.08-2.70; tropia vs. orthophoria, OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.50-2.52) for elementary school students, whereas in junior high school students, they included body height (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04) and ocular alignment (heterophoria vs. orthophoria, OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.56-3.10). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided epidemiological data on myopia in rural school students in Chia-Yi, Taiwan, and demonstrated the association between heterophoria and myopia. Correction of refractive errors in the students remained a challenge.

Carriers and cutters: size-dependent caste polyethism in the tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata).

Body size is an important life-history trait in eusocial insects which plays a key role in colony fitness. The division of labour, represented by caste polyethism, correlates with divergent morphological traits. Size polymorphism has been noted in the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata; however, little is known regarding the differences in the size distributions of workers performing foraging tasks. In the present study, task partitioning was observed in the foraging activities of S. geminata. Two subgroups among foraging workers of S. geminata were discovered using the Gaussian mixture model: a large worker group (head width ≥ 0.924 mm) and a small worker group (head width < 0.924 mm). The foraging worker population comprised two distinct groups - 25.64% were large workers and 74.36% were small workers. Larger workers delivered heavier seeds faster than smaller workers, but this difference became less apparent when lighter seeds were being carried. When large prey such as crickets was encountered during foraging, S. geminata partitioned their tasks into cutting and transportation. The large workers were observed to cut cricket prey into fragments with their longer mandibles, and the small workers then transported these fragments back to the nest. These results present evidence of task partitioning among tropical fire ants, with different tasks being performed by ants of different castes.