[Correlation of neck circumference with body mass index in preschool children]. / å­¦é¾„å‰å„¿ç«¥é¢ˆå›´ä¸Žä½“é‡æŒ‡æ•°çš„ç›¸å ³æ€§.

OBJECTIVES: To study the correlation between neck circumference and body mass index and the value of neck circumference in identifying overweight and obesity in preschool children. METHODS: The stratified cluster sampling method was used to recruit 3 719 children under 7 years from 10 kindergartens in Urumqi, China. General data were collected, and physical measurements were performed. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between neck circumference and body mass index. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the accuracy of neck circumference in identifying overweight/obesity. The Kappa consistency test was used to assess the consistency of neck circumference and body mass index in identifying overweight/obesity. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between neck circumference and body mass index in boys and girls of all ages (r≥0.50, P<0.001). According to body mass index as the criteria for overweight/obesity, the children were divided into an overweight/obesity group and a non-overweight/obesity group, and the analysis showed that the overweight/obesity group had a significantly larger neck circumference than the non-overweight/obesity group (P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis showed that neck circumference had an area under the ROC curve of >0.7 in identifying overweight/obesity for boys and girls. The Kappa consistency test showed that the neck circumference and body mass index had a Kappa value of >0.40 in identifying overweight/obesity in boys and girls of all ages. CONCLUSIONS: Neck circumference is positively correlated to body mass index, and neck circumference can be used to identify overweight/obesity in preschool children.

Primary desmoplastic small round cell tumor in the left orbit: a case report and literature review.

PURPOSE: Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a rare malignant neoplasm that most often occurs in the abdomen or pelvis of young men. We herein describe a rare case of desmoplastic small round cell tumor arising from the left orbit in a 16-year-old male. METHODS AND RESULTS: A biopsy was performed and the histology showed the nests of tumor cells with small round cell morphology. The tumor cells showed immunopositivity for desmin, CD99, CD56, SMA, NSE, CgA, SYN, Ki67 and vimentin. Fluorescence in situ hybridization study using EWSR1 break-apart probe was positive for EWSR1 gene rearrangement. After complete surgical resection of the tumor, we did not find tumor recurrence or metastasis with one-year follow-up. Furthermore, a review of the relevant English literature has been discussed. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, for the first time, we report a case of desmoplastic small round cell tumor which is located in the orbital region.

Alpha-synuclein levels in patients with multiple system atrophy: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the relationship between multiple system atrophy and α-synuclein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and neural tissue. METHOD: Literature search for relevant research articles was undertaken in electronic databases and study selection was based on a priori eligibility criteria. Random-effects meta-analyses of standardized mean differences in α-synuclein levels between multiple system atrophy patients and normal controls were conducted to obtain the overall and subgroup effect sizes. Meta-regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of age, gender and disease severity on standardized mean differences. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 11 studies involving 378 multiple system atrophy patients and 637 healthy controls (age: multiple system atrophy patients 64.14 [95% confidence interval 62.05, 66.23] years; controls 64.16 [60.06, 68.25] years; disease duration: 44.41 [26.44, 62.38] months). Cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein levels were significantly lower in multiple system atrophy patients than in controls but in plasma and neural tissue, α-synuclein levels were significantly higher in multiple system atrophy patients (standardized mean difference: -0.99 [-1.65, -0.32]; p = 0.001). Percentage of male multiple system atrophy patients was significantly positively associated with the standardized mean differences of cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein levels (p = 0.029) whereas the percentage of healthy males was not associated with the standardized mean differences of cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein levels (p = 0.920). CONCLUSION: In multiple system atrophy patients, α-synuclein levels were significantly lower in the cerebrospinal fluid and were positively associated with the male gender.

Association of sarcopenia and vitamin D deficiency with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to explore the association of sarcopenia and vitamin D deficiency with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: Skeletal muscle mass, serum 25(OH)D levels, and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of OP, sarcopenia, and vitamin D deficiency in RA patients was significantly higher than in controls (all P < 0.001). The percentage of GC use was 56.9%, and the prevalence of GIOP was 38.1% in 480 RA patients. The prevalence of OP in RA patients without sarcopenia was lower than that in RA patients with sarcopenia (P < 0.05). In RA patients with and without GC, the prevalence of OP in patients without sarcopenia was significantly lower than that in patients with sarcopenia (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05). Female sex (OR = 54.737; 95% CI: 7.103-421.809; P < 0.0001), age (OR = 1.078; 95% CI: 1.048-1.110; P < 0.0001), sarcopenia, and vitamin D deficiency (OR = 2.250; 95% CI: 1.246-64.065; P = 0.007) were risk factors for GIOP in RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: GIOP is associated with sarcopenia and vitamin D deficiency and is widespread among Chinese patients with RA. Key points ·Percentage of using GC and the prevalence of OP were all high in Chinese patients with RA. ·GIOP was widely existed in Chinese RA patients, which was associated with sarcoprnia and vitamin D deficiency.

[Association between mutations of SCN9A gene and pain related to Parkinsonism].

OBJECTIVE: To screening mutations of exons 15, 18 and 26 of sodium channel Nav1.7 (SCN9A) gene, and to assess its association with pain related to Parkinsonism. METHODS: Respectively, 101 patients with primary Parkinson's disease (PD) and 104 similar-aged volunteers without PD were recruited from March, 2008 to January, 2011. Mutations of above 3 exons in SCN9A gene was detected with PCR and direct sequencing. For 100 patients with Parkinsonism, the pain was scored with a McGill pain rating scale. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS. RESULTS: The prevalence of pain in Parkinsonian was 57%. 43.86% patients with pain were males, and 56.14% were females. Based on Chaudhuri criteria, the pain symptoms may be classified as musculoskeletal pain (10.52%), radicular pain (10.52%), dyskinesis pain (54.38%), pain from akathisia and restlessness (14.04%), dyskinesis combined with radicular pain (5.26%), skeletal muscles pain and headache (1.75%), and arthralgia (3.50%). Two missense mutations were identified, which included 2794A/C (0.941/0.059) (rs12478318) (M932L) in exon 15 and 3448C/T (0.988/0.012) (rs6746030) (R1150W) in exon 18. The wild type A/C for the 2794 locus had a higher prevalence in PD patients with pain, but this was not statistically different. All of the 5 heterozygotes for 3448 (C/T) were found in Parkinsonian patients with pain. No homozygotes were found. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of pain was higher in Parkinsonian patients than general population, and the proportion of males to females was similar. More patients have suffered dyskinesis pain. A 3448 (C/T) mutation of SCN9A gene may be related to pathogenesis of pain in Parkinsonism.

Synergistic effect of sarcopenia and poor balance on osteoporotic vertebral fracture in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of sarcopenia and poor balance on osteoporotic vertebral fracture (VOPF) in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 238 RA patients and 158 normal subjects were enrolled in the case-control study. Poor balance capability (Berg balance scale (BBS) score < 40) and sarcopenia (skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) <7.0 (male)/5.7 (female)) between RA patients and normal subjects were compared. Associations of poor balance capability or sarcopenia with disease activity, structural damage, and joint function in different groups were also investigated. RESULTS: The incidence of sarcopenia in RA was 58.4%, significantly higher than that in controls (P<0.0001). Moreover, the percentages of low balance capacity (BBS<40) in RA were 43.7%, which was higher than that in controls (P<0.0001). The prevalence of VOPF in the case group was 19.3%, which was higher than that in the controls (P<0.0001). In the RA group, compared to RA patients without VOPF, RA patients with VOPF had higher percentages of poor balance and sarcopenia (P<0.05). Compared with RA patients without sarcopenia or good balance, RA patients with sarcopenia or poor balance had a higher incidence of VOPF, higher disease activity, severer structural damage, and worse joint function (P<0.05). The incidence of VOPF in patients combined with good balance and non-sarcopenia (4.8%) was significantly lower than that in patients combined with poor balance and sarcopenia (38.2%) (P<0.0001). Logistic regression indicated that higher SMI and higher BBS scores were protective factors for VOPF in RA patients, while age was a risk factor for VOPF in RA patients (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia and poor balance are popular in Chinese patients with RA, and they are associated with disease activity and structural damage. There is a synergistic effect of sarcopenia and poor balance on VOPF in RA. Key Points • Sarcopenia and balance capability were popular (about a half) in patients with RA. • Sarcopenia and poor balance had a synergistic effect on VOPF in RA.

Inflammatory anemia may be an indicator for predicting disease activity and structural damage in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the relationship of serum hemoglobin (HB) level with disease activity and structural damage in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 890 RA patients and 890 normal subjects were enrolled in the case-control study. A HB threshold of< 110 g/L (women) and < 120 g/L (men) was used to determine anemia. All the patients were divided into three groups: non-anemia group (HB ≥ 120 g/L (male) or 110 g/L (female)), mild anemia group ((90 g/L < HB < lower limit of normal), and medium to severe anemia group (HB ≤ 90 g/L). Serum HB level and anemia prevalence between RA patients and normal subjects were compared. Associations of HB level with disease activity, structural damage, and function of joint in different groups were also investigated. RESULTS: The average of HB level in RA was (109.08 ± 17.96)g/l, which was lower than that in controls (136.75 ± 14.57)g/l (P < 0.001). Anemia was observed in 47% of the RA patients, while prevalence of anemia in control group was only 4.4%. In RA group, percentages of non-anemia, mild anemia, and medium to severe anemia were 47%, 38%, and 15%. Compared with non-anemia RA patients, RA patients with anemia had higher disease activity, severer structural damage and worse function of joint (P < 0.001). With the increase of anemia, the disease activity, structural damage, and dysfunction of joints increased significantly (P < 0.05-0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that HB level was negatively correlated with disease activity parameters, degree of joint destruction, and function (P < 0.05-0.001). Logistic regression indicated that serum HB level was protective factors for disease activity and structural damage in RA (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HB level was significantly related to disease activity and structural damage in RA patients.Key Points• Inflammatory anemia was popular (about a half) in patients with RA.• HB level was related to disease activity and structural damage in RA patients.

DPYD*2A/*5A/*9A and UGT1A1*6/*28 polymorphisms in Chinese colorectal cancer patients.

AIM OF STUDY: Fluorouracil drugs and irinotecan are commonly used in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), but some patients have severe toxic side effects in the conventional dose. DPYD*2A/*5A/*9A and UGT1A1 * 6/*28 polymorphisms are related to the toxicity of fluorouracil drugs and irinotecan, respectively. Herein, we investigated the frequencies of DPYD*2A/*5A/*9A and UGT1A1 * 6/*28 genotypes in Chinese CRC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this study, 117 CRC patients' tumor tissues were examined through sequencing technology of the first generation to explore the distribution of DPYD*2A/*5A/*9A and UGT1A1 * 6/*28 genotypes. RESULTS: DPYD*2A G/G genotype accounted for 100%. DPYD*5A A/A, A/G, and G/G genotypes accounted for 48.2, 37.5, and 14.3%, respectively. DPYD*9A T/T and T/C genotypes accounted for 85.7 and 14.3%, respectively. UGT1A1 * 6 G/G, G/A, and A/A genotypes accounted for 74.6, 21.8, and 3.6%, respectively. UGT1A1 * 28 TA6/TA6, TA6/TA7, and TA7/TA7 genotypes accounted for 71.8, 27.3, and 0.9%, respectively. The genotypes of DPYD*2A/*5A/*9A and UGT1A1 * 6/*28 were not associated with patient's sex, age, and primary tumor sites. Our findings showed that: (i) almost 57.1% of Chinese CRC patients had at least one variant of DPYD*5A and DPYD*9A; (ii) nearly 37.3% of Chinese CRC patients had at least one variant of UGT1A1 * 6 and UGT1A1 * 28. CONCLUSION: It suggests that it is necessary for Chinese CRC patients to detect the genotypes of DPYD*5A/*9A and UGT1A1 * 6/*28 before treating with fluorouracil drugs and irinotecan.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide) monolithic column embedded with γ-alumina nanoparticles microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of synthetic food dyes in soft drink samples.

The present work proposes a study of the synthesis of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide) monolithic column embedded with γ-alumina nanoparticles and its applications to the extraction of synthetic food dyes in soft drink samples. The monolithic column was synthesized inside fused silica capillaries using thermally initiated free-radical polymerization with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) as the monomer, N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide (MBAAm) as the cross-linker, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and dodecanol as the porogen. γ-Alumina nanoparticles were introduced to prevent the swelling of the organic polymer and enhance the loading capacity. In order to obtain optimum experimental conditions, sample pH, sample flow rate, sample volume, eluent flow rate were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, we obtained acceptable linearities, low limits of detection, and good intra-day/inter-day relative standard deviations. When applied to the determination of four synthetic food dyes (Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow, Allura Red, and Azorubine) in soft drink samples, satisfactory recoveries were obtained in the range of 90.4-109.2%.

Characterization and interactions of anodic isolates in microbial fuel cells explored for simultaneous electricity generation and Congo red decolorization.

To investigate functions and interactions of predominant microorganisms in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for simultaneous electricity generation and Congo red decolorization, four strains were isolated from the anodic biofilm, and identified as Pseudomonas (M-P and I-P), Bacillus (M-B) and Aquamicrobium (I-A). Higher maximum power density (by 158.2% and 58.1%) but lower Congo red decolorization rate (by 3.2% and 5.9%) were achieved in MFCs using pure cultures I-P and M-P as inoculums than those using I-A and M-B, respectively. By comparing MFCs using co-cultures with those using pure cultures (M-P&B versus M-B and M-P, I-P&A versus I-A and I-P), the maximum power density of MFCs using co-cultures increased 82.0%, 15.1%, 94.6% and -24.6% (minus meant decreased), but decolorization rate decreased 33.3%, 29.4%, 7.9% and 5.0%, respectively. The results indicated specific interaction could enhance the performance of MFCs and might benefit the development of bio-process controlling.

An assessment of seed quality on erythromycin production by recombinant Saccharopolyspora erythraea strain.

An assessment of seed quality on erythromycin production by recombinant strain Saccharopolyspora erythraea ZL1004 was investigated in 15 l fermenter. Adding 10 g/l corn steep liquor and 30 g/l soybean flour in seed medium were beneficial to improve cell growth, and the maximal biomass reached 36% at 40 h. Enzyme activity in cell showed that the maximal protease and minimum amylase were appeared in this stage. Compared with the control in 50 l fermenter, the cell metabolism with inoculation of the optimized seed cultivation was obviously quicker, and physiological response such as oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and carbon dioxide evolution rate (CER) were also improved. The maximal erythromycin A production was 9160 U/ml at 215 h, which was increased by 21.63% with respect to the control. It was the first report to integrate cell growth characteristics and physiological response method to assess the seed quality for erythromycin production.