Association of sudden sensorineural hearing loss with meteorological factors: a time series study in Hefei, China, and a literature review.

Air pollution can cause disease and has become a major global environmental problem. It is currently believed that air pollution may be related to the progression of SSNHL. As a rapidly developing city in recent years, Hefei has serious air pollution. In order to explore the correlation between meteorological variables and SSNHL admissions, we conducted this study. This study investigated the short-term associations between SSNHL patients admitted to the hospital and Hefei climatic variables. The daily data on SSNHL-related hospital admissions and meteorological variables containing mean temperature (T-mean; °C), diurnal temperature range (DTR; °C), atmospheric pressure (AP; Hp), and relative humidity (RH; %), from 2014 to 2021 (2558 days), were collected. A time-series analysis integrating distributed lag non-linear models and generalized linear models was used. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched. Literature published up to August 2023 was reviewed to explore the potential impact mechanisms of meteorological factors on SSNHL. The mechanisms were determined in detail, focusing on wind speed, air pressure, temperature, humidity, and air pollutants. Using a median of 50.00% as a baseline, the effect of exceedingly low T-mean in the single-day hysteresis effect model began at a lag of 8 days (RR = 1.032, 95% CI: 1.001 ~ 1.064). High DTR affected the admission rate for SSNHL on lag 0 day. The significance of the effect was the greatest on that day (RR = 1.054, 95% CI: 1.007 ~ 1.104) and then gradually decreased. High and exceedingly high RH affected the admission rate SSNHL on lag 0 day, and these effects lasted for 8 and 7 days, respectively. There were significant associations between all grades of AP and SSNHL. This is the first study to assess the effect of meteorological variables on SSNHL-related admissions in China using a time-series approach. Long-term exposures to high DTR, RH values, low T-mean values, and all AP grades enhance the incidence of SSNHL in residents. Limiting exposure to extremes of ambient temperature and humidity may reduce the number of SSNHL-related hospital visits in the region. It is advisable to maintain a suitable living environment temperature and avoid extreme temperature fluctuations and high humidity. During periods of high air pollution, it is recommended to stay indoors and refrain from outdoor exercise.

Pain-Related Risk Factors Among Radiologic Stages of Knee Osteoarthritis: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether risk factors related to pain vary at different stages of knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Individuals from the Osteoarthritis Initiative with available Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade and numerical rating scale (NRS) data at baseline were included in this study. Pain severity was classified into 3 categories based on NRS scores: no pain, mild pain, and moderate/severe pain. Knee OA severity was stratified into 4 categories according to the K/L system. Pain risk factors were evaluated using generalized ordinal logistic regression analysis, and a heatmap was created to compare differences in standardized regression coefficients between subgroups of patients with different knee OA severities. RESULTS: A total of 4,446 subjects were included in this study: 1,574 individuals without pain (35.4%), 1,138 individuals with mild pain (25.6%), and 1,734 individuals with moderate/severe pain (39.0%). For the entire population and subjects in the premorbid-stage subgroup, knee injury history, diabetes mellitus, depression, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and valgus malaligned knees were associated with more severe pain. Older age and stronger quadriceps muscles were associated with milder pain. As the disease progressed, the number of significant risk factors decreased. Only age and quadriceps muscle force remained significant in end-stage disease. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors are associated with pain in patients with knee OA. As the disease progresses, the number of significant risk factors gradually reduces. These findings suggest that strategies for managing pain related to knee OA should vary depending on radiographic grades.

On the role of ß-cyanoalanine synthase (CAS) in metabolism of free cyanide and ferri-cyanide by rice seedlings.

A study was conducted to investigate the contribution of ß-cyanoalanine synthase (CAS) to the botanical metabolism of free cyanide and iron cyanides. Seedlings of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. XZX 45) were grown hydroponically and then amended with free cyanide (KCN) or ferri-cyanide [K(3)Fe(CN)(6)] into the growth media. Total cyanide, free cyanide, and Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) in aqueous solution were analyzed to identify the speciation of K(3)Fe(CN)(6). Activity of CAS in different parts of the rice seedlings was also assayed in vivo and results indicated that dissociation of K(3)Fe(CN)(6) to free cyanide in solution was negligible. Almost all of the applied KCN was removed by rice seedlings and the metabolic rates were concentration dependent. Phyto-transport of K(3)Fe(CN)(6) was apparent, but appreciable amounts of cyanide were recovered in plant tissues. The metabolic rates of K(3)Fe(CN)(6) were also positively correlated to the concentrations supplied. Rice seedlings exposed to KCN showed a considerable increase in the CAS activity and roots had higher CAS activity than shoots, indicating that CAS plays an important role in the botanical assimilation of KCN. However, no measurable change of CAS activity in different parts of rice seedlings exposed to K(3)Fe(CN)(6) was detected, suggesting that K(3)Fe(CN)(6) is likely metabolized by rice directly through an unknown pathway rather than the ß-cyanoalanine pathway.

Crohn's disease patients with L4-esophagogastroduodenal phenotype is associated with a better prognosis: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: In the Montreal classification, L4 Crohn's disease (CD) is defined as an ileal disease, including L4-esophagogastric duodenum (EGD), L4-jejunum, and L4-proximal ileal involvement. According to the previous studies, the prognosis of L4 disease was worse than that of non-L4 disease. Among L4 diseases, the phenotypes of L4-jejunum and L4-proximal ileum indicated that the risk of abdominal surgery was higher. However, the prognosis of L4-esophagogastroduodenal remains largely elusive. Therefore, we aim to investigate whether the prognosis differs between CD patients with and without esophagogastroduodenal involvement. Methods: In this study, patients with L4-EGD phenotype (n = 74) who underwent gastroscopy, ileocolonoscopy, biopsies, and CTE from 2018 to 2020 were compared with L4 non-EGD controls (n = 148) who were randomly selected at a ratio of 1:2 in the same period. Demographic information inclusive of disease conduct and location, important points of the surgery, and hospitalization have been collected. The distinction between L4-EGD patients and non-L4-EGD patients was identified by way of multivariable logistic regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier technique was used to consider the possibility of abdominal surgical operation and complications, observed by means of Cox percentage hazard fashions to decide if L4 EGD independently estimated the endpoints inclusive of the abdominal surgery and the occurrences of complications. Results: L4-EGD group (n = 74) had a lower proportion of intestinal fistula than the control group (n = 148) (17.6% versus 34.5%; p = 0.009), and the probabilities of requiring abdominal surgery and multiple abdominal surgeries were also lower (21.6% versus 36.5%; p = 0.025), (6.8% versus 18.9%; p = 0.016), respectively. The frequency of hospitalization was lower in the L4-EGD group than in the control group (3-7 versus 4-9; p = 0.013). L4-EGD phenotype was found to be an independent protective factor for abdominal surgery and intestinal fistula in the Cox regression model, with HRs of 0.536 (95%CI: 0.305-0.940; p = 0.030) and 0.478 (95%CI: 0.259-0.881; p = 0.018), respectively. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the L4-EGD phenotype may have a better prognosis compared to the Non-L4-EGD phenotype. Our data may advocate a revision of the Montreal classification including separate designations for L4-EGD disease.

The Melastoma dodecandrum genome and the evolution of Myrtales.

Melastomataceae has abundant morphological diversity with high economic and ornamental merit in Myrtales. The phylogenetic position of Myrtales is still contested. Here, we report the chromosome-level genome assembly of Melastoma dodecandrum in Melastomataceae. The assembled genome size is 299.81 Mb with a contig N50 value of 3.00 Mb. Genome evolution analysis indicated that M. dodecandrum, Eucalyptus grandis, and Punica granatum were clustered into a clade of Myrtales and formed a sister group with the ancestor of fabids and malvids. We found that M. dodecandrum experienced four whole-genome polyploidization events: the ancient event was shared with most eudicots, one event was shared with Myrtales, and the other two events were unique to M. dodecandrum. Moreover, we identified MADS-box genes and found that the AP1-like genes expanded, and AP3-like genes might have undergone subfunctionalization. The SUAR63-like genes and AG-like genes showed different expression patterns in stamens, which may be associated with heteranthery. In addition, we found that LAZY1-like genes were involved in the negative regulation of stem branching development, which may be related to its creeping features. Our study sheds new light on the evolution of Melastomataceae and Myrtales, which provides a comprehensive genetic resource for future research.

Identification of MSRA gene on chromosome 8p as a candidate metastasis suppressor for human hepatitis B virus-positive hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still remains very dismal, which is mainly due to metastasis. In our previous studies, we found that chromosome 8p deletions might contribute to metastasis of HCC. In this study, we aimed to identify the candidate metastatic suppressor gene on chromosome 8p. METHODS: Oligo-nucleotide microarrays which included 322 genes on human chromosome 8p were constructed to analyze the difference in gene expression profiles between HCC tissues with and without metastasis. The leading differentially expressed genes were identified and selected for further analysis by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Recombinant expression plasmid vectors for each target gene were constructed and transfected into HCC cells and its in vitro effects on proliferation and invasion of HCC cells were also investigated. RESULTS: Sixteen leading differentially expressed genes were identified from the HCC tissues with metastasis compared with those without metastasis (p < 0.01, q < 16 %). Among of the 10 significantly down-regulated genes in HCC with metastasis, methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA) had the lowest p value and false discovery rate (FDR), and was considered as a potential candidate for metastasis suppressor gene. Real-time PCR and Western blotting confirmed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of MSRA were significantly decreased in HCC with metastasis compared with those without metastasis (p < 0.001), and MSRA mRNA level in HCCLM6 cells (with high metastatic potential) was also much lower than that of other HCC cell lines. Transfection of a recombinant expression plasmid vector and overexpression of MSRA gene could obviously inhibit cell colony formation (4.33 +/- 2.92 vs. 9.17 +/- 3.38, p = 0.008) and invasion (7.40 +/- 1.67 vs. 17.20 +/- 2.59, p= 0.0001) of HCCLM6 cell line. CONCLUSION: MSRA gene on chromosome 8p might possess metastasis suppressor activity in HCC.