Investigating genetic diversity and population phylogeny of five Chongqing local chicken populations autosomal using microsatellites.

The genetic diversity and population structures of five Chongqing local chicken populations were investigated using by 24 microsatellite markers. Results revealed that the mean number of alleles (NA) ranged from 7.08 (Daninghe chicken, DN) to 8.46 (Nanchuan chicken, NC). The highest observed heterozygosity (HO) and expected heterozygosity (HE) were observed in DN (HO = 0.7252; HE = 0.7409) and the lowest HO and HE were observed in XS (Xiushan native chicken [XS], HO = 0.5910 and HE = 0.6697). The inbreeding coefficient (FIS) within population ranged from 0.022 (DN) to 0.119 (XS). Among the 24 microsatellite markers, four loci (MCW0111, MCW0016, ADL0278, and MCW0104) deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in all the studied populations. The results of population polygenetic analysis based on Nei's genetic distance and STRUCTURE software showed that the clustering of the five populations was incomplete consistent with geographical distribution. Moreover, a large number of gene flows were widespread among different populations, suggesting that genetic material exchanges occurred due to human activities and migration which was also verified by PCoA. In summary, this study preliminarily showed that Chongqing local chicken populations had rich genetic diversity and remarkable genetic divergence, but still high risk in conversion. These findings would be useful to the management of conservation strategies and the utilization of local chicken populations in further.

Trends and off-label utilization of antipsychotics in children and adolescents from 2016 to 2021 in China: a real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Global antipsychotic usage, including off-label prescriptions, has increased in recent decades. However, trends in China, particularly for children and adolescents, remain unclear. This study explored these trends from 2016 to 2021 and identified factors associated with off-label prescriptions. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed on-label and off-label prescriptions based on drug information approved by the China National Medical Products Administration. To identify factors associated with off-label prescriptions, we conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Our study included 48,258 antipsychotic prescriptions, 52.4% (25,295) of which were prescriptions for males. Of these, 61.7% (29,813) were off-label. Over time, the number of antipsychotics and the percentage of off-label prescriptions for children and adolescents overall increased from 2016 to 2021. The use of atypical antipsychotics increased, whereas that of typical antipsychotics decreased. For off-label usage, all of the factors in our study were associated with off-label usage, including age, sex, year, region, department, reimbursement, antipsychotic type, drug expense, number of polypharmacy and diagnoses. Additionally, tiapride (15.8%) and aripiprazole (18.6%) were the most common typical and atypical antipsychotics, respectively. For pediatric diseases, common diagnoses included mood or affective disorders (31.7%) and behavioral and emotional disorders, with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence (29.1%). Furthermore, a depressive state was the most common diagnosis for which antipsychotic polypharmacy was used for treatment. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, off-label antipsychotic prescriptions were common, with trends generally increasing among children and adolescents from 2016 to 2021. However, there is a lack of evidence supporting off-label usage, thus emphasizing the need for studies on the efficacy and safety of these treatments.

Efficacy of meridian massage for motor function after a stroke: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of meridian massage on motor function after a stroke. METHODS: This systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomised (RCTs) and quasi-randomised controlled trials (qRCTs) was performed to determine the effects of meridian massage on motor dysfunction following a stroke. Articles published until December 2020 related to stroke and meridian massage from National Library of Medicine, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, KoreaMed, Japan science and Technology Agency, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched. The primary outcomes included Fugl-Mayer Assessment (FMA), modified Barthel Index (mBI) and clinical efficiency, while the secondary outcomes included modified Ashworth (mAS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Two authors independently selected the literature, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias, after which Meta-analysis with subgroups and sensitivity analysis was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 16 RCTs and 3 q-RCTs involved 1556 patients satisfied the inclusion. Meta-analysis showed that compared to conventional rehabilitation, meridian massage had significantly better FMA [mean difference () = 1.16, 95% confidence interval (): 0.43, 1.89, = 0.002], FMA-L ( = 3.21, 95% : 1.97, 4.45, = 0.000 01), mBI ( = 8.87, 95% : 4.24, 13.49, = 0.000 02), clinical efficiency [relative risk (RR) = 1.37,95% : 1.24, 1.51, < 0.000 01], mAS ( = -0.69, 95% : -1.26, -0.11, = 0.02) and BBS ( = 5.07, 95% : 2.22, 7.93, = 0.0005). Subgroup analysis indicated no significant difference between meridian massage and control group when the intervention duration was >8 weeks ( = 0.89, 95% : -0.64, 2.42, = 0.25) but improving motor function in the meridian massage when the intervention duration was ≤ 8 weeks (< 4 weeks intervention duration = 0.84, 95% : 0.59, 1.10, < 0.000 01; 4-8 weeks = 2.41, 95% : 0.80, 4.01, = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Meridian massage as an alternative and complementary therapy seems to have short-term benefits in improving post-stroke motor function (particularly in the lower limbs), quality of life, clinical efficiency, and balance stability and muscle spasms. The high heterogeneity of the included studies and the low methodological quality certainly limits the confidence placed in this systematic review and Meta-analysis, warranting future well-designed studies.

Advances in insulin like growth factor binding protein 1 in the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is closely associated with cardiovascular diseases. Low IGF-I level and high insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) level in serum can be used as a marker in predicting the long term morbidity and mortality of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The article reviews the recent advances in IGFBP-1 in the prognosis of AMI.

Magnetic resonance image of sellar region in pituitary stalk interruption syndrome in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) manifestations of sellar region of children and adolescents with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS). METHODS: Thirty-one PSIS cases were selected from February 2001 to August 2010 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. MRI images were collected to calculate the volume and coronary area of the pituitary based on its measured height, width, and anteroposterior diameter. The results of the measurement were retrospectively analyzed together with clinical data. RESULTS: The patients in this study included 28 males and 3 females, aged 16.5∓3.8 years (range, 6~25 years). MRI images showed pituitary stalk rupture associated with ectopic posterior pituitary in 16 cases, significantly thinner or unclear pituitary stalk in 15 cases, in which 7 cases were found with vacuole turcica. All the 31 patients presented with reduced pituitary volume and dysfunction of anterior pituitary. CONCLUSION: PSIS may show pituitary stalk interruption with ectopic posterior, thinning or unclear of pituitary stalk, and with a variety of anterior pituitary hormone deficiency.