3D intraoral scanning techniques support the effects of crown morphology on dental caries.

BACKGROUND: With the development and utilization of three-dimensional (3D) intraoral scanning (IOS) technology, the morphological characteristics of teeth were quantitatively assessed. In this research, we aimed to explore the prevalence of dental caries in relation to each measurable morphological indicator of the tooth body via 3D intraoral scanning techniques. METHODS: A hospital-based single-centre study was conducted at our hospital from Dec. 2021 to Apr. 2023. A total of 53 patients were involved in the study, providing complete morphological data for 79 teeth. Each patient completed an oral hygiene routine questionnaire and underwent examination by an experienced dentist to evaluate caries conditions before undergoing 3D intraoral scanning to obtain a digital dental model. Geomagic Studio 2014 was used to extract oral morphological data from the models. The acquired data were entered, cleaned and edited using Excel 2016 and subsequently exported to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. Chi-square analysis and logistic regression analyses were employed to test the associations. RESULTS: Among the participants, 33 (61.1%) were female, with a mean age of 26.52 ± 10.83 years. Significant associations were found between dental caries and the vertical distance between the distal tip and the gum (OR 14.02; 95% CI 1.80-109.07; P = 0.012), the distal lateral horizontal distance of occlusion (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.18-0.90; P = 0.026), and the mesial horizontal distance of occlusion (OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.12-4.31; P = 0.021). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated a P value of 0.33. CONCLUSIONS: The vertical distance between the distal tip and the gum, the distal lateral horizontal distance of the occlusion and the mesial horizontal distance of the occlusion were the influencing factors for dental caries (identified as independent risk factors). We hypothesize that these factors may be associated with the physiological curvature of teeth and the role of chewing grooves in plaque formation over time. However, further studies involving larger population samples and more detailed age stratification are still needed.

Determination of trace chelating carboxylic acids in rice by green extraction combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and its application in the evaluation of old and new rice.

RATIONALE: Accurate identification of old rice samples from new ones benefits their market circulation and consumers. However, the current detection methods are still not satisfactory because of their insufficient accuracy or (and) time-consuming process. METHODS: Chelating carboxylic acids (CCAs) were selectively extracted from rice, by stirring with chelating resin and a dilute Na2CO3 solution. The green analytical chemistry guidelines for sample preparation were investigated by using the green chemistry calculator AGREE prep. The extractant was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS), and statistical analysis of the analytical data was carried out to evaluate the significance of the difference by ChiPlot. RESULTS: The limit of quantitation for the CCAs is in the range of 1 to 50 ng/mL, with a reasonable reproducibility. The CCAs in 23 rice samples were determined within a wide concentration range from 0.03 to 1174 µg/g. Intriguingly, the content of citric acid, malonic acid, α-ketoglutaric acid and cis-aconite acid in new rice was each found to be distinctively higher than that in old rice by several times. Even mixtures of old and new rice were found to show much difference in the concentration of citric acid and malic acid. CONCLUSION: A green analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of CCAs by LC/MS analysis, and the identification of old rice samples from new ones was easily carried out according to their CCA content for the first time. The results indicated that the described method has powerful potential for the accurate identification of old rice samples from new ones.

A retrospective study of the detection of sepsis pathogens comparing blood culture and culture-independent digital PCR.

Fast and precise identification of microorganisms in the early diagnosis of sepsis is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes. Digital PCR (dPCR) is a highly sensitive approach for absolute quantification that can be utilized as a culture-independent molecular technique for diagnosing sepsis pathogens. We performed a retrospective investigation on 69 ICU patients suspected of sepsis. Our findings showed that a multiplex dPCR diagnostic kit outperformed blood culture in detecting the 15 most frequent bacteria that cause sepsis. Ninety-two bacterial strains were identified using dPCR at concentrations varying from 34 copies/mL to 105,800 copies/mL. The detection rate of dPCR was much greater than that of BC, with 27.53% (19/69) versus 73.91% (51/69). The sensitivity of dPCR was 63.2%. Our research indicated that dPCR outperforms blood culture in the early detection of sepsis-causing microorganisms. The diagnostic kit can detect a greater variety of pathogens with quantitative data, including polymicrobial infections, and has a quicker processing time. DPCR is a valuable technique that could aid in the proper management of sepsis.

Epidemiology and molecular characterization of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from neonatal intensive care units in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, China, 2017-2021.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates from neonatal intensive care units (NICU) between 2017 and 2021. METHODS: The antibacterial susceptibility of all strains was assessed using the VITEK 2 compact system. The presence of antibiotic resistance, virulence genes, sequence types (STs), capsular (K) types, and the wzi genes was determined through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Molecular typing was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the restriction enzyme XbaI. Additionally, the virulence potential of peg344-positive strains was evaluated using the string test and mouse intraperitoneal infection models. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted on the DNB system and PacBio platforms. RESULTS: A total of 46 CRKP isolates were collected during the study period. Out of these, 93.47% (43/46) were identified as CRKP strains belonging to the ST76-K10 type carrying blaNDM-5. It was observed that CRKP infection resulted in more severe clinical symptoms compared to CRKP colonization. Among the CRKP strains, a hypervirulent CRKP strain called KP-63, belonging to the ST23 type, was identified. This strain exhibited high mortality in the mouse infection model and was found to possess virulence genes. Genomic alignment analysis revealed a significant similarity between the virulence plasmid from KP-63 strain (pKP-63) and pK2044 from the hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strain NTUH-2044. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a potential dissemination of ST76-K10 type CRKP carrying blaNDM-5 in the NICU at Ningxia Hospital. Neonatal CRKP infection has been found to cause more severe clinical symptoms than colonization. Furthermore, we have discovered a CR-hvKP strain of ST23 with serotype K1, which exhibits a significant resemblance in its virulent plasmid to pK2044. Therefore, it is crucial to enforce effective measures to restrict the spread and hinder the evolution of CRKP within the hospital.

Epidemiology and Azole Resistance of Clinical Isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus from a Large Tertiary Hospital in Ningxia, China.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical distribution, in vitro antifungal susceptibility and underlying resistance mechanisms of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) isolates from the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between November 2021 and May 2023. Methods: Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the Sensititre YeastOne YO10, and isolates with high minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were further confirmed using the standard broth microdilution assays established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M38-third edition. Whole-Genome Resequencing and RT-qPCR in azole-resistant A. fumigatus strains were performed to investigate the underlying resistance mechanisms. Results: Overall, a total of 276 A. fumigatus isolates were identified from various clinical departments, showing an increasing trend in the number of isolates over the past 3 years. Two azole-resistant A. fumigatus strains (0.72%) were observed, one of which showed overexpression of cyp51A, cyp51B, cdr1B, MDR1/2, artR, srbA, erg24A, and erg4B, but no cyp51A mutation. However, the other strain harbored two alterations in the cyp51A sequences (L98H/S297T). Therefore, we first described two azole-resistant clinical A. fumigatus strains in Ningxia, China, and reported one azole-resistant strain that has the L98H/S297T mutations in the cyp51A gene without any tandem repeat (TR) sequences in the promoter region. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of enhancing attention and surveillance of azole-resistant A. fumigatus, particularly those with non-TR point mutations of cyp51A or non-cyp51A mutations, in order to gain a better understanding of their prevalence and spread in the region.

Household polluting cooking fuels and intrinsic capacity among older population: A harmonized nationwide analysis in India and China.

BACKGROUNDS: Household polluting cooking fuels, as an important changeable behavior, are related to various detrimental health effects among the elderly. There is limited research on the association between polluting cooking fuel use and intrinsic capacity (IC) as an indicator of healthy aging. This study aimed to evaluate the above-mentioned association in India and China, where polluting cooking fuel use is common. METHODS: We enrolled 33,803 participants aged ≥60 years from two nationally representative studies: the Longitudinal Aging Study in India and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Polluting cooking fuel use was defined as a self-report of using wood, coal, kerosene, crop residue, or dung. IC was measured by five aspects, including locomotion, cognition, vitality, sensory, and psychological capacity. The random-effects mixed linear regression and logistic regression with population weighting were performed. Multivariable-adjusted model and propensity score were used to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 47.54 % and 59.32 % of elderly adults reported primary cooking using polluting fuels in India and China, respectively. Using polluting cooking fuels was consistently associated with IC decline; particularly, cognitive capacity was the most susceptible domain. In India, participants using polluting fuels had a 1.062 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.047-1.078) times risk for IC deficits, whereas more prominent results were observed in China (odds ratio [OR]: 2.040, 95 % CI: 1.642-2.533). Such harmful effects might be alleviated by transferring from polluting to clean fuels. Additionally, the duration of polluting fuel use was also positively associated with IC deficits. CONCLUSION: This study provided substantial public implications on healthy aging for the elderly population at a global scale, strengthening the importance of health education and policy efforts to accelerate the transition from polluting to clean fuels.

Exposure to nickel chloride induces epigenetic modification on detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase M2.

Nickel (Ni) is a human carcinogen with genotoxic and epigenotoxic effects. Environmental and occupational exposure to Ni increases the risk of cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Our previous findings indicate that Ni alters gene expression through epigenetic regulation, specifically impacting E-cadherin and angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration. GST-M2, a member of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme family, plays a crucial role in cellular defense against oxidative damage and has been increasingly associated with cancer. GST-M2 overexpression inhibits lung cancer invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Hypermethylation of its promoter in cancer cells reduces gene expression, correlating with poor prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. The impact of Ni on GST-M2 remains unclear. We will investigate whether nickel exerts regulatory effects on GST-M2 through epigenetic modifications. Additionally, metformin, an antidiabetic drug, is being studied as a chemopreventive agent against nickel-induced damage. Our findings indicate that nickel chloride (NiCl2 ) exposure, both short-term and long-term, represses GST-M2 expression. However, the expression can be restored by demethylation agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and metformin. NiCl2 promotes hypermethylation of the GST-M2 promoter, as confirmed by methylation-specific PCR and bisulfite sequencing. Additionally, NiCl2 also influences histone acetylation, and metformin counteracts the suppressive effect of NiCl2 on histone H3 expression. Metformin reestablishes the binding of specificity protein 1 to the GST-M2 promoter, which is otherwise disrupted by NiCl2 . These findings elucidate the mechanism by which Ni reduces GST-M2 expression and transcriptional activity, potentially contributing to Ni-induced lung carcinogenesis.

Sodium butyrate (SB) ameliorated inflammation of COPD induced by cigarette smoke through activating the GPR43 to inhibit NF-κB/MAPKs signaling pathways.

Cigarette smoke is recognized as a major trigger for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leading to an amplified inflammatory response. The onset and progression of COPD are affected by multiple environmental and genetic risk factors, such as inflammatory mechanisms, oxidative stress, and an imbalance between proteinase and antiprotease. As a result, conventional drug therapies often have limited effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of sodium butyrate (SB) in COPD and explore its molecular mechanism, thereby deepening our understanding of the potential application of SB in the treatment of COPD. In our study, we observed an increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory factors interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) and MMP12 in both NR8383 cell and rat models of COPD. However, these expressions were significantly reduced after SB treatment. Meanwhile, SB treatment effectively decreased the phosphorylation levels of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and inhibited the nuclear translocation of these proteins in the COPD cells, leading to a reduction in the expression of various inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, SB also inhibited the expression level of the Nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which consists of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and Caspase-1 in the cigeratte smoke extract (CSE)-stimulated cells. Our results showed that CSE down-regulated the mRNA levels of G-protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) and GPR109A, while SB only up-regulated the expression of GPR43 and had no effect on GPR109A. Moreover, additional analysis demonstrated that the knockdown of GPR43 diminishes the anti-inflammatory effects of SB. It is evident that siRNA-mediated knockdown of GPR43 prevented the reduction in mRNA expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP9, and MMP12, as well as the expression of phosphorylated proteins NF-κB p65, JNK, and p38 MAPKs with SB treatment. These findings revealed a SB/GPR43 mediated pathway essential for attenuating pulmonary inflammatory responses in COPD, which may offer potential new treatments for COPD.

The burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to dietary risk factors in the provinces of China, 2002-2018: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: The burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is on the rise in China, yet a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the temporal trends and distribution of CVD burden attributable to dietary factors across the provinces remains elusive. This study endeavors to provide a comprehensive depiction of the burden of CVDs attributable to dietary risk factors across China's geographical regions from 2002 to 2018. Methods: Data from the China National Nutrition Surveys, the China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance, the Hypertension Survey, and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention cause-of-death reporting system were used to estimate the intake of dietary factor, the number of deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), mortality rate, for ischemic heart disease (IHD), ischemic stroke (IS), hemorrhage and other stroke (HOS) attributable to dietary factors at national and provincial levels in China from 2002 to 2018. Using a comparative risk assessment approach, we estimated the proportion of CVDs burden attributable to suboptimal intake of seven dietary factors, both individually and collectively, among Chinese citizens aged 20 years or older. Finding: The mean consumption of whole grains, soybeans, nuts, vegetables, fruits, red meat, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) exhibited an upward trend from 2002 to 2018. However, with the exception of red meat and SSBs, the average intake remained below the levels recommended levels outlined in the Chinese national dietary guidelines. Inadequate fruit, whole grain, and vegetables intake were the leading dietary risk factors for IHD, IS and HOS in China, while nuts, soybean and SSB were only associated with IHD mortality. From 2002 to 2018, the number of deaths and mortality rate for CVDs attributable to suboptimal diet among Chinese males were greater than that of females. With increasing age, the diet-related mortality rate for CVDs increased substantially. In 2018, the nationwide mortality rate attributable to diet was found to be 77.9 (95% UI, 77.5-78.1) per 100,000 population for IHD, 34.1 (95% UI, 33.8-34.2) for IS, and 32.8 (95% UI, 32.4-32.8) for HOS. Suboptimal diet was responsible for 16.0 million (95% UI, 13.8-18.4) DALYs and 1137.1 (95% UI, 980.4-1312.3) DALYs per 100,000 population for stroke, and 13.9 million (95% UI, 11.8-16.3) DALYs and 990.2 (95% UI, 841.2-1158.6) DALYs for IHD. Across the provinces of China, in 2018, the highest age-standardized mortality rates of all diet-related deaths were observed in Shandong (92.8 [95% UI, 89.9-93.3]) for IHD, Heilongjiang (38.1 [95% UI, 36.2-38.8]) for IS, and Tibet (68.3 [95% UI, 65.0-70.1]) for HOS. The highest diet related DALYs were observed in Henan (1.4 million [95% UI, 1.2-1.6] for IS, and 1.3 million [95% UI, 1.1-1.5] for IHD). Interpretation: This study provides a comprehensive picture of the geographic variation and temporal trends of the burden of CVDs attributable to dietary risk factors at the national and provincial levels from 2002 to 2018 in China, highlighting the need for geographically targeted intervention strategies to improve the quality of diet and reduce the diet-related burden of CVDs. Funding: National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1315303), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82103966).

Socioeconomic inequalities in dementia burden related to high body mass index, 2005-2018: findings from 1.25 million Chinese adults.

Background: Dementia has become a major public health concern worldwide, but comprehensive assessments of dementia burden attributable to high body mass index (BMI) in China have not been done. Methods: We used a temporal-spatial Bayesian hierarchical model to estimated BMI levels based on 1.25 million Chinese. We estimated dementia burden attributable to high BMI by age, sex, year, and socioeconomic development in terms of deaths and years of life lost (YLLs) and assessed the effect of population ageing. Findings: The average age-standardised BMI was 24.58 kg/m2 and 24.15 kg/m2 for men and women in 2018, respectively. 12,901 (95% UI, 10,617-15,420) dementia deaths were attributable to high BMI in China in 2018, with 5417 deaths from man and 7421 deaths from woman. The attributable age-standardised YLL rates for dementia increased 27% from 2005 to 2018. The attributable age-standardised mortality rates increased with human development index. People aged 80 years and older had the highest attributable mortality rate, and the rate decreased with decreasing age. Population ageing was an important component of the increase in dementia death. Interpretation: The rapid increase and large inequality highlighted the urgent need for evidence-based policies and interventions. We therefore call for establishing stronger anti-dementia strategies to promote the healthy ageing. Funding: China National Key Research and Development Program, China National Science & Technology Pillar Program, and National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China.

Impact of age-friendly living environment and intrinsic capacity on functional ability in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed healthy aging framework, supposing that intrinsic capacity (IC), environment and their interaction may have influence on functional ability (FA). It was still unclear how the IC level and age-friendly living environment impact on FA. This study aims to confirm the relationship between the IC level and age-friendly living environment with FA, especially in older adults with low IC. METHODS: Four hundred eighty-five community-dwelling residents aged ≥ 60 years were enrolled. IC constructed by locomotion, cognition, psychological, vitality, and sensory domains was assessed using full assessment tools recommended by WHO. Age-friendly living environment was measured with 12 questions adapted from the spatial indicators framework of age-friendly cities. FA was assessed using activities of daily living (ADL) and one question about mobile payment ability. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the association between IC, environment and FA. The influence of the environment on electronic payment and ADL under the IC layer was assessed. RESULTS: Of 485 respondents, 89 (18.4%) had ADL impairment, and 166 (34.2%) had mobile payment function impairment. Limited IC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.783, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.621-0.988) and poor environment (OR = 0.839, 95% CI = 0.733-0.960) were associated with mobile payment ability impairment. Our results suggested that a supportive age-friendly living environment influenced FA was more prominent in older adults with poor IC (OR = 0.650, 95% CI = 0.491-0.861). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed IC and the environment had an impact on mobile payment ability. The relationship between environment and FA showed differences according to IC level. These findings suggest that an age-friendly living environment is important to maintain and enhance elders' FA, especially in those with poor IC.

Rapid increasing burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease caused by high body mass index in 1.25 million Chinese adults, 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND: Temporal trends and geographical variations in disease burden for diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) attributable to high body mass index (BMI) in China have not been fully elucidated. METHODS: We estimated deaths and years of life lost (YLLs) for DM and CVD attributable to high BMI by age, sex, year, and region from 2005 to 2018 based on pooled data of 1.25 million adults. FINDINGS: Approximately 497,430 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 470,520-525,720) deaths for DM and CVD were attributable to high BMI in China in 2018, with 453,750 deaths from CVD and 43,700 deaths from DM. Between 2005 and 2018, there was a 17.35% increase in age-standardized mortality rate for DM and CVD attributable to high BMI. The high BMI-related DM and CVD YLL rates increased from 127.46 (95% UI 108.70-148.62) per 100,000 people aged 20-24 years to 5,735.54 (95% UI 4,844.16-6,713.53) per 100,000 people aged ≥80 years, respectively. The highest age-standardized mortality rate for high BMI-related DM and CVD in northeast, northwest, and circum-Bohai Sea regions of China. CONCLUSION: The disease burden for DM and CVD attributable to high BMI increased substantially between 2005 and 2018. Urgent measures are required at both national and regional levels for resource mobilization to slow the growing burden. FUNDING: The work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, China National Science & Technology Pillar Program, and National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China.

Polysaccharide of Ganoderma lucidum Ameliorates Cachectic Myopathy Induced by the Combination Cisplatin plus Docetaxel in Mice.

Cachexia is a lethal muscle-wasting syndrome associated with cancer and chemotherapy use. Mounting evidence suggests a correlation between cachexia and intestinal microbiota, but there is presently no effective treatment for cachexia. Whether the Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide Liz-H exerts protective effects on cachexia and gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by the combination cisplatin plus docetaxel (cisplatin + docetaxel) was investigated. C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin + docetaxel, with or without oral administration of Liz-H. Body weight, food consumption, complete blood count, blood biochemistry, and muscle atrophy were measured. Next-generation sequencing was also performed to investigate changes to gut microbial ecology. Liz-H administration alleviated the cisplatin + docetaxel-induced weight loss, muscle atrophy, and neutropenia. Furthermore, upregulation of muscle protein degradation-related genes (MuRF-1 and Atrogin-1) and decline of myogenic factors (MyoD and myogenin) after treatment of cisplatin and docetaxel were prevented by Liz-H. Cisplatin and docetaxel treatment resulted in reducing comparative abundances of Ruminococcaceae and Bacteroides, but Liz-H treatment restored these to normal levels. This study indicates that Liz-H is a good chemoprotective reagent for cisplatin + docetaxel-induced cachexia. IMPORTANCE Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome driven by metabolic dysregulation, anorexia, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Approximately 80% of patients with advanced cancer have cachexia, and cachexia is the cause of death in 30% of cancer patients. Nutritional supplementation has not been shown to reverse cachexia progression. Thus, developing strategies to prevent and/or reverse cachexia is urgent. Polysaccharide is a major biologically active compound in the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. This study is the first to report that G. lucidum polysaccharides could alleviate chemotherapy-induced cachexia via reducing expression of genes that are known to drive muscle wasting, such as MuRF-1 and Atrogin-1. These results suggest that Liz-H is an effective treatment for cisplatin + docetaxel-induced cachexia.

Sodium acetate ameliorates cisplatin-induced kidney injury in vitro and in vivo.

Cisplatin is an effective chemotherapeutic drug against tumors. Studies often report on the improvement of kidney injury by probiotics or short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs); however, the effects of SCFAs on cisplatin-induced kidney injury are rarely studied. The aim of this study is to evaluate the function of sodium acetate on preventing cisplatin-induced kidney injury. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. SA-ß-gal staining was performed to investigate premature senescence. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was analyzed by H2DCFDA staining. Propidium iodide (PI) staining was analyzed by cell cycle. Protein expression was determined by Western blot assay. Annexin Ⅴ/PI staining was used to investigate cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Tumor growth and kidney injury were evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. Sodium acetate ameliorated cisplatin-induced premature senescence and ROS production in SV40 MES-13 glomerular cells, NRK-52E renal tubular cells, and NRK-49F renal fibroblast cells. Cisplatin-induced cell cycle arrest was inhibited by sodium acetate in SV40 MES-13 and NRK-49F cells. Sodium acetate alleviated cisplatin-induced apoptosis in vivo and in vitro but not cisplatin-induced fibrosis. Our study demonstrated that sodium acetate inhibited cisplatin-induced premature senescence, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis by attenuating ROS production. This strategy may be useful in the treatment of cisplatin-induced kidney injury.

Cross-level interaction between individual education and regional chemical fertilizer consumption on the risk of hypertension: evidence from the China hypertension survey.

Hypertension is a common and costly public health burden in China, while the interaction effects of individual and contextual level factors on the risk of hypertension remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether the interaction effects between individual education and regional chemical fertilizer consumption are associated with the risk of hypertension based on a cross-level interaction perspective. Data was from the China Hypertension Survey (CHS) study, which used a nationally representative sample, and was conducted between 2012 and 2015. A total of 379 467 participants aged over 18 years from 221 counties in 31 provinces were included. A cross-sectional study design and two-level logistic models were conducted to investigate the cross-level interaction between individual education and regional chemical fertilizer consumption on the risk of hypertension after adjusting for potential confounding variables. Compared to individuals with high education (college or more), the adjusted OR (95%CI) for hypertension among those in the high school, middle school, and elementary school or less was 1.16 (1.12-1.21), 1.25 (1.20-1.30), and 1.49 (1.43-1.55), respectively. The association between regional chemical fertilizer consumption and hypertension was not significant. Interaction analysis showed that regional chemical fertilizer consumption was associated with an increased risk of hypertension for individuals with lower education. These patterns were consistent after stratified by sex. This study provided evidence from the Chinese population that interaction between individual education and regional chemical fertilizer was associated with risk of hypertension. Future research and policy aimed to improve population health and reduce hypertension could address the regional context of population as well as individual factors.

Long-Term Impacts of Diurnal Temperature Range on Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease: A Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study.

Previous studies have documented the associations between short-term diurnal temperature range (DTR) exposure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) via time-series analyses. However, the long-term impacts of DTR through a population-based prospective cohort have not been elucidated thoroughly. This study aimed to quantify the longitudinal association of DTR exposure with all-cause mortality and CVD in a nationwide prospective cohort and, by extension, project future DTR changes across China under climate change. We included 22,702 adults (median age 56.1 years, 53.7% women) free of CVD at baseline from a nationwide cross-sectional study in China during 2012-2015, and examined three health outcomes during a follow-up survey in 2018-2019. We estimated the chronic DTR exposure as baseline annual mean daily maximum minus minimum temperature. The Cox proportional hazards regression was adopted to assess the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI). We employed 31 downscaled global climate models under two shared socioeconomic pathways for future projection. During the median follow-up period of ~5 years, 1096 subjects died due to all causes while 993 and 597 individuals developed fatal or nonfatal CVD and fatal or nonfatal stroke, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of all-cause mortality, CVD, and stroke were 10.49, 9.45, and 5.64 per 1000 person-years, respectively. In the fully adjusted models, the risks for all-cause mortality, CVD, and stroke would increase by 13% (95% CI: 8-18%), 12% (95% CI: 7-18%), and 9% (95% CI: 2-16%) per 1 °C increment in DTR, respectively. Moreover, linear positive associations for the concentration-response curves between DTR and mortality and CVD were observed. We also found significantly greater DTR-related mortality risks among rural residents than their urban counterparts. The DTR changes featured a dipole pattern across China under a warming climate. The southern (northern) China would experience increased (decreased) DTR exposure by the end of 21st century. The present study indicates that chronic DTR exposure can exert long-term impacts on mortality and CVD risks, which may inform future public health policies on DTR-related susceptible population and regions.

The burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to high systolic blood pressure across China, 2005-18: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Temporal trends and geographical variations in cardiovascular disease attributable to high systolic blood pressure in China are not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to quantify the cardiovascular disease burden attributable to high systolic blood pressure at national and provincial levels in China. METHODS: In this population-based study, we evaluated systolic blood pressure and estimated the number of deaths, age-standardised mortality rates, and years of life lost (YLLs) due to cardiovascular disease and its subcategories (including ischaemic heart disease, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases) attributable to high systolic blood pressure, at the national level and by 31 provincial levels, in China, from 2005 to 2018. We pooled blood pressure data of 1·30 million adults aged 25 years and older from the China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance project, the China National Nutrition Survey, and the China Hypertension Survey. We applied a temporal-spatial Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate age-specific, sex-specific, province-specific, and year-specific average systolic blood pressure, and a comparative risk assessment method to compute the cardiovascular disease burden attributable to high systolic blood pressure by age, sex, year, and province. FINDINGS: Nationally, age-standardised mean systolic blood pressure was 132·5 mm Hg (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 124·6-140·3) in men and 129·4 mm Hg (121·7 to 137·2) in women. 2·67 million (95% UI 2·61 to 2·72) cardiovascular disease deaths in China were attributable to high systolic blood pressure, including 1·12 million deaths (1·07 to 1·16) due to ischaemic heart disease, 0·63 million deaths (0·60 to 0·65) due to ischaemic stroke, 0·58 million deaths (0·57 to 0·60) due to haemorrhagic stroke, and 0·34 million deaths (0·32 to 0·36) due to other cardiovascular disease. The age-standardised cardiovascular disease mortality rates associated with high systolic blood pressure were 268·99 per 100 000 people (95% UI 264·11 to 273·51) in 2005 and 220·84 per 100 000 people (216·30 to 224·76) in 2018, a percentage change of -17·90%; the rate changed by an average of -1·50% (95% UI -1·55% to -1·45%) per year from 2005 to 2018 nationally. YLL rates for total cardiovascular disease caused by high systolic blood pressure varied substantially across provinces, ranging from 3078·33 (95% UI 2807·40 to 3303·57) per 100 000 people in Beijing to 7189·98 (95% UI 6817·18 to 7507·99) per 100 000 people in Heilongjiang in 2018. Age-standardised YLL rates for ischaemic heart disease and ischaemic stroke attributable to high systolic blood pressure were particularly high in northeastern provinces, including Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Jilin. INTERPRETATION: The deaths and YLLs for cardiovascular disease attributable to high systolic blood pressure in China increased between 2005 and 2018, and age-standardised cardiovascular disease mortality rates decreased in the same timeframe. Our findings could help policy makers in promoting blood pressure control measures and implementing effective and locally adapted preventive interventions to reduce the prevalence of high systolic blood pressure and reduce the burden of systolic blood pressure-related cardiovascular disease in China. FUNDING: China National Key Research and Development Program, China National Science & Technology Pillar Program, and National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. TRANSLATION: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

The role of APTX4870 peptide in reducing cellular inflammatory responses by inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis-derived mycolic acid-induced cytotoxicity.

Tuberculosis is a serious zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and the M.tb complex. Mycolic acid is an extracellular carbohydrate polymer produced, secreted, and accumulated outside the cells of various Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Mycolic acid produced by Mycobacterium plays an important role in infection. However, there have been few reports on drugs that inhibit mycolic acid-induced cytotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the panned peptide in Mycobacterium-derived mycolic acid (M.tb-MA)-induced cell injury. The heptapeptide (APTX4870) was isolated from various phage libraries using phage display (Ph.D-7, Ph.D-12, and Ph.D-C7C). The efficacy of APTX4870 against mycolic acid was demonstrated by evaluating clinical samples and conducting in vitro and Vivo. APTX4870 inhibited apoptosis, increased autophagy to decrease inflammation, and reduced M.tb-MA-induced lung damage. These findings suggest that this heptapeptide, which selectively targets M.tb-MA, might be exploited as a potential novel M.tb therapeutic treatment.

Ocular Perfusion Pressure in 7- and 12-Year-Old Chinese Children: The Anyang Childhood Eye Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the distribution of mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) and its associated factors in Chinese children. Methods: We enrolled 3048 grade 1 students and 2258 grade 7 students of the Anyang Childhood Eye Study in central China. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were recorded with a digital automatic sphygmomanometer. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was assessed by a non-contact tonometer. MOPP was calculated as 2/3 × (DBP + 1/3[SBP - DBP]) - IOP. Risk factors for myopia were obtained through a questionnaire survey. Results: The MOPP was 33.83 ± 6.37 mm Hg (mean ± SD) in grade 1, which was lower than 36.99 ± 6.80 mm Hg in grade 7 (P < 0.001). Compared with myopic eyes, non-myopic eyes had higher MOPP in grade 7 (37.72 ± 6.72 mm Hg versus 36.58 ± 6.57 mm Hg, P < 0.001) and in grade 1 (33.88 ± 6.29 mm Hg versus 33.12 ± 7.03 mm Hg, P = 0.12). Multivariable analysis showed that higher MOPP was associated with less myopia (P < 0.001), higher body mass index (BMI; P < 0.001), thinner central corneal thickness (P < 0.001), less time on near work (P < 0.001), and more time on sleeping (P = 0.04). Conclusions: MOPP was higher in children of older age, with higher BMI, less time on near work, and more time on sleeping, and was higher in eyes with less myopia. Translational Relevance: We found that MOPP might be an indicator for the detection of myopia development.

[Clinical characteristics and risk factors of early septic patients complicated with bloodstream infection].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, risk factors and prognosis of early septic patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) in department of critical care medicine of Ningxia Medical University General Hospital. METHODS: Patients with sepsis admitted to department of critical care medicine of Ningxia Medical University General Hospital from November 1, 2019 to August 31, 2021 were included in a prospective observational study. Blood samples were collected for culture within 24 hours of sepsis diagnosis. General information, laboratory test indicators and blood culture results within 24 hours of sepsis diagnosis were recorded. Patients were followed up and prognostic indicators [mechanical ventilation time, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and 28-day survival] were observed. According to blood culture results, patients were divided into BSI group and non-BSI group. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were performed on the general clinical characteristics of patients in the two groups to screen the risk factors of early BSI in septic patients. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of risk factors for early BSI in septic patients. RESULTS: A total of 202 septic patients were included in this study, with 62 patients in BSI group and 140 patients in non-BSI group. The majority of patients in the BSI group were associated with abdominal infection (61.3%), and the majority of patients in the non-BSI group were associated with pulmonary infection (49.3%). A total of 76 strains were isolated from septic patients in BSI group, and the most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (26 strains, 34.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (11 strains, 14.4%), Enterococcus (7 strains, 9.2%), Bacteroides fragilis (6 strains, 7.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6 strains, 7.9%). There were no significant differences in mechanical ventilation time, the length of ICU stay and 28-day mortality between the BSI group and the non-BSI group. The difference of variables was statistically significant between two group according to Univariate analysis, which included body temperature, acute physiology and chronic health score II (APACHE II), use of antibiotics before admission to ICU, abdominal infection, hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum creatinine (SCr), total bilirubin (TBil), platelet count (PLT), blood lactic acid (Lac) and hypercalcitonin (PCT). Multivariate analysis showed that low PLT [odds ratio (OR) = 1.004, P = 0.019], high Lac (OR = 1.314, P = 0.002), high body temperature (OR = 1.482, P = 0.027), concomitant abdominal infection (OR = 2.354, P = 0.040), no use of antibiotics before admission to ICU (OR = 2.260, P = 0.049) were independent risk factors for early BSI in septic patients. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of PLT, Lac, body temperature, abdominal infection and no use of antibiotics before admission to ICU for predicting early BSI in septic patients were 0.711, 0.686, 0.594, 0.592 and 0.590, respectively. Youden index was used to calculate the optimal cut-off values, which was PLT 122.50×109/L, Lac 2.95 mmol/L, body temperature 39.45 centigrade, respectively. The highest level of AUC was 0.754, the PI guidance group was expected to achieve PI the sensitivity was 75.8%, and the specificity was 68.8%, which were observed when the 5 items were combined. CONCLUSIONS: Early septic patients with BSI are more serious than those without BSI. Low PLT, high Lac, high temperature, concomitant abdominal infection and no use of antibiotics before admission to ICU are independent risk factors for early BSI in septic patients, and the combination of these five factors has good predictive value.