The Latest Research Progress on Cell-Free DNA and Prospects of Its Forensic Application / 法医学杂志

In recent years,with the continuous progress of DNA extraction and detection technology,cell-free DNA(cfDNA)has been widely used in the life science field,and its potential application value in forensic identification is becoming more and more obvious.This paper reviews the concept,formation mechanism,and classification of cfDNA,etc.,and describes the latest research progress of cfDNA in personal identification of crime scene touch DNA samples and non-invasive prenatal pater-nity testing(NIPPT).Meanwhile,this paper summarizes the potential application of cfDNA in injury inference,and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of common cfDNA analysis methods and techniques,and its application prospects,to provide a new idea for the wide application of cfDNA in the field of forensic science.

Modified Fuzheng Yiliu Decoction Combined with XELOX Regimen for the Treatment of Postoperative Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer of Qiand Yin Deficiency Type:A Randomized Controlled Study / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of modified Fuzheng Yiliu Decoction(composed of Astragali Radix,Codonopsis Radix,Ligustri Lucidi Fructus,Hedyotis Diffusae Herba,Moutan Cortex,Visci Herba,etc.)combined with XELOX regimen(Oxaliplatin plus Capecitabine)for the treatment of postoperative patients with advanced gastric cancer of qi and yin deficiency type.Methods A total of 80 postoperative patients with advanced gastric cancer of qi and yin deficiency type were randomly divided into the Chinese medicine group and the control group,with 40 cases in each group.Both groups received chemotherapy with XELOX regimen,while the Chinese medicine group was given modified Fuzheng Yiliu Decoction.Three weeks constituted a course of treatment,the medication of Chinese medicine decoction lasted for two weeks or more in each course of treatment,and a total of 8 courses of treatment were performed.The incidence of adverse reactions during chemotherapy was monitored and changes in serum tumor markers of serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen 199(CA199)and alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)were observed in the two groups before and after treatment.Moreover,the patients'quality of life was assessed by the scores of Karnofsky's Performance Status(KPS)and World Health Organization Quality of Life Measurement Scale(WHOQOL-100).Long-term follow-up was carried out for the evaluation of the prognostic indicators such as overall survival and one-year and 2-year overall survival rates.Results(1)Patients in the two groups were all followed up,and the median follow-up time was 27 months(95%CI:23.59-27.86).(2)After treatment,the levels of serum CEA and AFP in the Chinese medicine group were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),while serum CA199 tended to decrease compared with those before treatment,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05);in the control group,the levels of serum CEA,CA199,and AFP were not significantly decreased after treatment(P＞0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the decrease of serum CEA,CA199 and AFP levels in the Chinese medicine group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(3)The adverse reactions during chemotherapy in the two groups mainly involved bone marrow suppression,gastrointestinal reactions and liver function abnormalities,etc.The incidences of all adverse reactions in the Chinese medicine group tended to be lower than those in the control group,but the differences were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).(4)After treatment,the KPS scores of patients in both groups were improved compared with those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the improvement in the Chinese medicine group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)After treatment,the scores of the four dimensions of WHOQOL-100 such as health status,mobility,life feelings,and other activities of daily life in the Chinese medicine group were significantly improved compared with the pre-treatment(P＜0.05),whereas there was no significant improvement in the control group(P＞0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the improvement of the scores of each dimension of the WHOQOL-100 in the Chinese medicine group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(6)The median survival in the Chinese medicine group was 29.0 months(95%CI:25.95-31.70)and that in the control group was 22.0 months(95%CI:19.67-25.58),indicating that the median survival was significantly prolonged in Chinese medicine group(P＜0.01).The one-year and 2-year postoperative survival rates were 97.5%and 77.5%in the Chinese medicine group and 92.5%and 47.5%in the control group,respectively.The intergroup comparison showed that the one-year and 2-year postoperative survival rates in the Chinese medicine group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Modified Fuzheng Yiliu Decoction can effectively alleviate the adverse reactions during adjuvant chemotherapy for postoperative patients with advanced gastric cancer of qi and yin deficiency type,improve the quality of life of patients,and prolong the survival time of patients.

Role and Possible Mechanism of Clock Gene Rev-erbα in Exercise-induced Mitochondrial Biogenesis / 生物化学与生物物理进展

The clock gene Rev-erbα, also known as nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (Nr1d1), is a crucial regulatory factor in organisms. It exhibits circadian rhythmic expression in metabolically active tissues such as skeletal muscles, heart, liver, and adipose tissue, responding to various environmental stimuli. Rev-erbα plays a significant role in regulating circadian rhythms, metabolic homeostasis, and other physiological processes, earning its designation as an “integrator” of the circadian system and metabolism. Rev-erbα establishes complex connections with other clock genes through the transcriptional-translational feedback loop (TTFL), which is important for the rhythmic output of biological clock system and for the relative stability of phases and cycles. Mitochondrial biogenesis is a physiological process initiated by cells to maintain energy homeostasis by using existing mitochondria as a template for self-growth and division. As the “energy factory” of organism, disruptions in mitochondrial biogenesis are closely associated with the development of various diseases. Studies have shown that not only the factors involved in mitochondrial biogenesis have circadian oscillations, but also the morphology, dynamics and energy metabolism of mitochondria themselves have cyclic fluctuations throughout the day, suggesting that mitochondrial biogenesis is regulated by the biological clock system, in which the clock gene Rev-erbα plays a key role, it drives mitochondrial biogenesis and synergistically regulates autophagy to normalize a number of physiological processes in the body. Rev-erbα is sensitive to both internal and external environmental changes, and disruptions in circadian rhythms, metabolic diseases, and aging are significant inducers of changes in Rev-erbα expression, and its concomitant inflammation and oxidative stress may be an intrinsic mechanism for inhibiting mitochondrial biogenesis. Therefore, the enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis by regulating the Rev-erbα activity status may be an important way to improve the pathology and promote the health of organism. Exercise, as a commonly accepted non-pharmacological tool, plays an important role in enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and promoting health. It has been found that there is a close relationship between exercise and Rev-erbα. On the one hand, exercise stimulation directly affects the expression of Rev-erbα, especially high-intensity and long-term regular exercise; on the other hand, Rev-erbα achieves indirect regulation of exercise capacity by mediating processes such as skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy, muscle mass maintenance, energy metabolism and skeletal muscle regeneration. Based on the above findings, it is hypothesized that Rev-erbα may serve as a key bridge between exercise and mitochondrial biogenesis. Exercise enhances the transcriptional response of Rev-erbα in the nucleus, upregulates the expression of Rev-erbα protein in cytoplasm, activates the AMP-activated proteinkinase (AMPK)/ silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) pathway, regulates Ca2+ flux and downstream signaling molecules; meanwhile, exercise can upregulate antioxidant gene expression and alleviate oxidative stress through Rev-erbα, which ultimately enhances the function of mitochondria, and promotes mitochondrial biogenesis. In conclusion, the clock gene Rev-erbα emerges as a crucial target for exercise-induced enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis. In this paper, the biological characteristics ofRev-erbα, the role of Rev-erbα in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and the factors that may influence it, the interaction between exercise and Rev-erbα, and the potential mechanism of exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis via Rev-erbα are sorted out and discussed, which can provide theoretical references to the mechanism of exercise-promoted mitochondrial biogenesis.

Construction of cell factories for production of valencene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae / 药学学报

Valencene, a kind of sesquiterpenoid with a citrus flavor, is mainly found in Valencia orange and is commonly used in cosmetics and food additives, as well as industrial synthetic nootkatone. In this study, synthetic biology was used to create a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell factory to produce valencene. Fistly, valencene synthase gene (CnVS) from Callitropsis nootkatensis was inserted into the chromosome of the chassis strain YTT-T5. The resulting strain VAL-01 could produce 1.1 mg·L-1 valencene. Protein fusion technique was used, different valencene synthases were compared and the copy number of key genes was adjusted, yielding valencene to 436.4 mg·L-1. Then, knocking-out the transcription factor ROX1 resulted in valencene improvement by 17.4%. Moreover, the induction system of galactose was regulated, transcription factor PDR3 and INO2 were overexpressed. The engineered strain VAL-10 could produce 2 798.6 mg·L-1 valencene by high cell density fermentation method (nearly 2 500 times higher than VAL-01). This study provides a basis for green production of valencene.

Construction of cell factories for production of patchoulol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae / 中国中药杂志

Patchoulol is an important sesquiterpenoid in the volatile oil of Pogostemon cablin, and is also considered to be the main contributing component to the pharmacological efficacy and fragrance of P. cablin oil, which has antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, and other biological activities. Currently, patchoulol and its essential oil blends are in high demand worldwide, but the traditional plant extraction method has many problems such as wasting land and polluting the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new method to produce patchoulol efficiently and at low cost. To broaden the production method of patchouli and achieve the heterologous production of patchoulol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the patchoulol synthase(PS) gene from P. cablin was codon optimized and placed under the inducible strong promoter GAL1 to transfer into the yeast platform strain YTT-T5, thereby obtaining strain PS00 with the production of(4.0±0.3) mg·L~(-1) patchoulol. To improve the conversion rate, this study used protein fusion method to fuse SmFPS gene from Salvia miltiorrhiza with PS gene, leading to increase the yield of patchoulol to(100.9±7.4) mg·L~(-1) by 25-folds. By further optimizing the copy number of the fusion gene, the yield of patchoulol was increased by 90% to(191.1±32.7) mg·L~(-1). By optimizing the fermentation process, the strain was able to achieve a patchouli yield of 2.1 g·L~(-1) in a high-density fermentation system, which was the highest yield so far. This study provides an important basis for the green production of patchoulol.

Comparison of three different measurement methods to determine resting energy expenditure in patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

Objective: To compare the differences to determine resting energy expenditure (REE) measured with indirect calorimetry and REE predicted by formula method and body composition analyzer in patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis, so as to provide theoretical guidance for the implementation of precision nutrition intervention. Methods: Patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who were admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital from April 2020 to December 2020 were collected. REE was determined by the body composition analyzer and the H-B formula method. Results: were analyzed and compared to REE measured by the metabolic cart. Results A total of 57 cases with liver cirrhosis were included in this study. Among them, 42 were male, aged (47.93 ± 8.62) years, and 15 were female aged (57.20 ± 11.34) years. REE measured value in males was (1 808.14 ± 201.47) kcal/d, compared with the results calculated by the H-B formula method and the measured result of body composition, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). REE measured value in females was (1 496.60 ± 131.28) kcal/d, compared with the results calculated by the H-B formula method and the measured result of body composition, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.016 and 0.004, respectively). REE measured with the metabolic cart had correlation with age and area of visceral fat in men (P = 0.021) and women (P = 0.037). Conclusion: Metabolic cart use will be more accurate to obtain resting energy expenditure in patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. Body composition analyzer and formula method may underestimate REE predictions. Simultaneously, it is suggested that the effect of age on REE in H-B formula should be fully considered for male patients, while the area of visceral fat may have a certain impact on the interpretation of REE in female patients.

Evaluation of the predictive effect of parafoveal blood flow density of macula on the number of intravitreal Conbercept injections in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To investigate blood flow density within 300μm(FD-300)around the foveal avascular zone(FAZ)in optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)of patients with macular edema(ME)complicated with non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO), and to explore and evaluate the predictive effect of this parameter on the number of intraocular drug injections.METHODS: A retrospective case study. A total of 50 patients(50 eyes)who were diagnosed as non-ischemic BRVO combined with ME and received intravitreal conbercept(IVC)in the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2021 to March 2022 were selected, and they were treated with 3+PRN regimen. The 25 cases(25 eyes)treated with intraocular injection ≤5 times were classified as group B, and 25 cases(25 eyes)treated with intraocular injection >5 times were classified as group C, and 25 fellow eyes were randomly selected as control group A. OCTA was used to scan the macular area in 3mm×3mm to collect images of retinal blood flow, the central macular thickness(CMT)and FD-300. The CMT, best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), and FD-300 were compared between the two groups at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12mo after the third injection.RESULTS: The BCVA(LogMAR)of the affected eye in both groups B and C at 1, 3, 6 and 12mo after the third injection was significantly lower than baseline(all P<0.05); the CMT and FD-300 were significantly lower than baseline(all P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the change of BCVA(LogMAR)was positively correlated with the baseline FD-300 and CMT(group B: r=0.77, 0.70, all P<0.01; group C: r=0.89, 0.78, all P<0.01). The number of intraocular injections was negatively correlated with the baseline FD-300(group B: r=-0.63, P<0.01; group C: r=-0.71, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the FD-300 at baseline is a factor that affects the number of intraocular drug injection.CONCLUSION: IVC can effectively alleviate macular edema of the affected eye,improve visual acuity and reduce FD-300. The eyes with worse BCVA and lower FD-300 at baseline may require more injections of anti-VEGF. Observation of FD-300 with OCTA can better predict eventual vision recovery of non-ischemic BRVO with ME before treatment.

Macular microvasculature in central retinal artery occlusion with paracentral acute middle maculopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To investigate the changes in the macular microvasculature in eyes with central retinal artery occlusion(CRAO)and paracentral acute middle maculopathy(PAMM).METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 27 cases(27 eyes)who diagnosed with CRAO-PAMM and 29 patients(29 eyes)diagnosed as CRAO but with no PAMM were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2021. There were 33 normal people(33 eyes)who underwent physical examination in our hospital selected as control group. Optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)was used to measure retinal blood flow and thickness parameters in the 3 mm×3 mm area of the macula. The correlation among macular retinal blood flow density, retinal thickness, foveal avascular zone(FAZ)area, FAZ perimeter, acircularity index(AI), flow density in a 300-μm-wide region around the FAZ(FD-300)and lesion area, best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)in the CRAO-PAMM group was analyzed.RESULTS: Among the three groups, there were significant differences in the overall and parafoveal blood flow density of superficial capillary layer(SCP)and deep capillary layer(DCP), foveal thickness, FAZ area, FAZ perimeter, AI and FD-300(all P<0.05). In the CRAO-PAMM group, the lesion area was negatively correlated with DCP overall and parafoveal blood flow density(r=-0.569, P=0.002; r=-0.543, P=0.004), and positively correlated with the parafoveal thickness(r=0.606, P=0.001); BCVA(LogMAR)was negatively correlated with DCP foveal and parafoveal blood flow density(r=-0.433, P=0.024; r=-0.515, P=0.006), and positively correlated with FAZ area, perimeter and lesion area(r=0.484, P=0.011; r=0.531, P=0.004; r=0.417, P=0.030).CONCLUSION:Patients with CRAO and PAMM have lower macular blood flow density, heavier macular edema and poorer visual acuity, and BCVA may be influenced by both lesion area and FAZ area.

Parafoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex and its characteristics of multi-modal imaging in 11 cases / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To observe the imaging characteristics of multi-modal imaging in perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex(PEVAC).METHODS: A retrospective case analysis. There were 11 patients(11 eyes)diagnosed as PEVAC by multi-modal imaging in our hospital included in this study from February 2021 to February 2022. All patients underwent the examinations of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), fundus photography, fluorescein fundus angiography(FFA), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).RESULTS: On fundus examination, six out of eleven eyes presented as a unilateral and isolated lesion with diameter ≥150μm, five out of eleven eyes presented as multiple lesions(ranging from 2 to 4)and the diameter of each lesion <150μm, seven eyes with retinal edema and/or hard exudation. FFA revealed an oval-like hyper-fluorescent lesion of parafoveal in the late phase with enhancement but no leakage. Late peripheral telangiectasia leakage is seen with oedema. OCTA examination revealed a parafoveal small mass hyper-reflex showed aneurysmal dilation in the superficial and deep capillary, and capillary rarefaction was observed around the lesion. B-scan showed strong blood flow signal inside. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)therapy was performed in 4 patients with macular edema. However, there was no notable improvement after treatment.CONCLUSION: Multi-modal imaging can help confirm the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PEVAC, there is a poorly response to anti-VEGF therapy.

Effect of Suanzaoren Tang on Learning， Memory and Expression of Proteins Related to Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity in PCPA-induced Insomnia Rat Model / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Suanzaoren Tang on the behavior， growth-associated protein-43 （GAP-43）， postsynaptic density protein-95 （PSD-95）， and synaptophysin Ⅰ （SynⅠ） of insomniac rats induced by p-chlorophenylalanine （PCPA）， and to investigate the mechanism of Suanzaoren Tang in improving the behavior of the insomniac rats. MethodSeventy-two SD rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups （12 rats in each group）： control group （normal saline）， PCPA （0.35 g·kg-1·d-1） group， estazolam （2.7×10-4 g·kg-1·d-1） group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （3.25， 7.5， 15 g·kg-1·d-1， respectively） Suanzaoren Tang groups. The rat model of insomnia was established by intraperitoneal injection of PCPA and then the rats were administrated with corresponding drugs for 7 continuous days. The Morris water maze and Y-maze were used to test the learning and memory functions， and the open field to test anxiety. Histopathological changes in the hippocampus were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The mRNA and protein levels of GAP-43， PSD-95， and SynⅠ in hippocampus were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR)， Western blot， and immunohistochemistry （IHC）. ResultCompared with the control group， the PCPA group showcased long escape latency， shortened time in the quadrants， and decreased times of crossing the platform in Morris water maze， decreased alternation correct rate was significantly Y-maze， and increased distance， mean velocity， and time in center of the open field test （P<0.01）. Furthermore， the PCPA-treated rats showed obvious pathological damage in the hippocampus and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of GAP-43， PSD-95， and SynⅠ in hippocampus （P<0.01）. Compared with the PCPA group， the treatments with estazolam and different doses of Suanzaoren Tang improved the rat performance in Morris water maze， Y-maze， and open field test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated the hippocampal damage， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of GAP-43， PSD-95， and SynⅠ （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionSuanzaoren Tang may alleviate the learning and memory disorders and anxiety in PCPA-induced insomnia rat model by up-regulating the mRNA and protein levels of hippocampal synaptic plasticity-associated proteins GAP-43， PSD-95， and SynⅠ.

Study of hot spring bathing and chronic disease prevalence among residents between 30 and 65 in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province / 上海预防医学

Objective To investigate hot spring bathing behavior and chronic disease prevalence of residents aged 30 to 65 in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province. Methods Totally 3 708 individuals between 30 and 65 in five typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province were included in this study. Their hot spring bathing behavior and chronic disease prevalence were recorded. Unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze the association between hot spring bathing and the incidence of chronic diseases. Results 71.3% of the residents in the hot spring areas had bathed in hot springs, with the proportion higher in males than females(χ2=92.856, P < 0.001). 76.3% of people took hot spring baths fewer than or equal to 6 times per year, 30.8% of residents often chose to take hot spring baths in the evening, and 37.6% of the residents took hot spring baths for 21-40 minutes. Bathing was more common in winter. 11.5% and 17.9% of the residents added other substances and used hot spring facilities, and most of them added traditional Chinese medicine and used the sauna. 46.6% and 41.6 % of the residents took hot spring baths to relax and relieve fatigue. The self-reported prevalence rate of chronic diseases was 522.1‰, and the top five single diseases were lumbar intervertebral disc disease(119.7‰), hypertension(118.1‰), urinary calculus(77.7‰), cervical intervertebral disc disease(53.7‰)and osteogenesis(44.5‰). Compared with those who never bathed in hot springs, taking hot spring baths 7-11 times a year was negatively correlated with chronic diseases.(OR=0.551, 95%CI: 0.345-0.879). Conclusion Hot spring bathing is popular in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province, but its frequency is not high. The overall prevalence of chronic diseases is relatively high, and the order of most prevalent chronic diseases is different from that in other areas. Proper hot spring bathing is negatively correlated with chronic diseases.

Association between hot spring bathing and quality of life of smokers in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province / 上海预防医学

Objective To analyze the association between hot spring bathing and the quality of life of smokers living in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou to make suggestions on improving their quality of life. Methods The study is a cross-sectional study whose data was collected by questionnaires. The WHO Quality of Life Scale(WHO QOL-BREEF)was used to measure quality of life. Results The quality of life in the psychological domain(14.09±1.83 vs 13.79±1.82, P < 0.05)and the environmental domain(12.70±1.84 vs 12.37±1.67, P < 0.05)among smokers who took hot spring baths was significantly higher than that among those who did not. After adopting ordinary logistic regression model to adjust for other factors, for the physical domain, the odd of scoring"good"in the WHO scale in group of smokers who took hot spring baths less that once a month was 0.70 lower than that in those who took baths at least once a month(OR=0.70, 95%CI: 0.54-0.91). In psychological domain, the odd of the group of smokers who did not take hot spring baths was 0.65 lower than that in those who took baths at least once a month(OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.47-0.90). And the odd of the group of smokers who bathed less than once in a month was 0.71 lower than those who bathed at least once a month(OR=0.71, 95%CI: 0.54-0.92). Conclusion There is a positive relationship between hot spring bathing and quality of life, which prompts that people who smoke take hot spring baths to improve their quality of life.

Association between hot spring bathing behavior and hypertension and the mediating effect of sleep quality problems in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province / 上海预防医学

Objective To investigate the association between hot spring bathing behavior and hypertension and understand the mediation effect of sleep quality problems on the association. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults aged 30 to 65 living and working around five hot springs in Guizhou Province, employing a self-designed questionnaire on the health status and hot spring bathing, and 3 708 qualified questionnaires were collected. Participants were divided into three groups according to their frequency of hot spring bathing: never, occasionally, and frequently. Stratified via sex and sleep quality, the binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between different hot spring bathing frequencies and self-reported hypertension. Results Significant difference was detected in the self-reported hypertension between groups who never bathe(13.7%), who occasional bathe(9.4%)and who frequently bathe(8.5%)among female participants(χ2=10.460, P=0.005). However, no significant difference was found among different bathing groups in males. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that compared with no bathing, occasional(OR=0.692)and frequent (OR=0.594)hot spring bathing were associated with lower hypertension prevalence among female population, and female groups of occasional and frequent bathing with sleep quality problems had smaller OR(OR=0.571 and 0.406, respectively). After sleep quality problems were included, hot spring bathing was still associated with lower hypertension risk, and the OR values of occasional bathing and frequent bathing groups were 0.723 and 0.611, respectively. The sleep quality problems of female population played a partial mediating role in the association between hot spring bathing and hypertension, and the relative mediating effects of occasional bathing and frequent bathing with hypertension were both statistically significant(Zm=-2.022 and -1.995, P < 0.05), which accounted for 34.34% and 30.15% of the total effects, respectively. Conclusion Regular hot spring bathing may play an auxiliary role in the prevention of hypertension, and it may provide a stronger protection for women, and especially those with sleep quality problems. Sleep quality problems may explain part of the association between hot spring bathing and hypertension in female population.

Prevalence of osteoarthrosis and its association with hot spring bathing among local adults in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province / 上海预防医学

Objective To investigate the prevalence of osteoarthrosis and the association between hot spring bathing and osteoarthrosis among local adults in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province. Methods A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among residents aged from 30 to 65 in five typical hot spring areas, including Xifeng(Xifeng County, Guiyang), Jianhe(Jianhe County, Qiandongnan), Fodingshan(Shiqian County, Tongren), Guiyu(Wudang District, Guiyang)and Huishangu(Suiyang County, Zunyi). Residents' basic information, bone and joint diseases prevalence, hot spring bathing, and other health-related behaviors were investigated in this study. The prevalence of local bone and joint diseases was analyzed, and binary logistic regression was used to calculate OR(95%CI)to analyze the association between hot spring bathing and bone and joint diseases. Results A total of 3 708 adults(1 648 males and 2 060 females)were included as the statistical analysis survey subjects, and 794 people reported bone and joint diseases, accounting for a prevalence rate of 21.41%, 95% CI: 0.201-0.227. The prevalence of females(24.56%)was higher than that of males(17.48%)(P < 0.001). The prevalence rates of diseases increased with age(χtrend2=130.265, P < 0.001). There were also statistically significant differences in the prevalence rate of bone and joint diseases among different genders, age groups, occupations, education levels, and smoking behaviors(P < 0.05). After gender, age, occupation, education and smoking were adjusted for, compared with the group who never took hot spring baths, participants who took hot spring baths occasionally(OR=0.793, 95%CI: 0.631-0.996)and frequently(OR=0.713, 95%CI: 0.536-0.948)were associated with a lower risk of bone and joint diseases. Conclusion The prevalence of osteoarthrosis is 21.41% in the typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province. Older or females have a higher risk of prevalence of bone and joint diseases. Hot spring bathing may be associated with a lower risk of bone and joint diseases.

Current status and influencing factors of osteoporosis risk among residents in typical hot spring areas in Guizhou Province / 上海预防医学

Objective To understand the current status of osteoporosis risk and influencing factors for residents from 30 to 65 years old in typical hot spring areas in Guizhou province, and to provide a theoretical basis for reducing the risk of osteoporosis and the prevention of osteoporosis in the population. Methods A health questionnaire for residents in typical hot spring areas in Guizhou, osteoporosis risk test questions, Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI), etc were used. A face-to-face survey of 3 708 residents was conducted, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of osteoporosis risk in hot spring areas. Results 2 403(64.81%)residents of 3 708 people surveyed were at risk of osteoporosis, of whom 1 434(87.4%)males and 969 females(47.1%)had a higher risk of osteoporosis (χ2=652.4, P < 0.001). As age increased, more residents were at risk of osteoporosis(χ2=273.4, P < 0.001), and numbers of residents of 30-39 years old, 40-59 years old, and above 60 years of age at risk of osteoporosis were 319(49.2%), 1 572(62.9%), and 512(93.6%). Male osteoporosis risk was negatively correlated with an education level of undergraduate and above(OR=0.37, 95%CI: 0.19-0.73). Age 40-59(OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.07-2.22), 60 and above(OR=6.39, 95%CI: 2.76-14.79), and sleep disorders(OR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.08-2.35)may increase the risk of osteoporosis in male residents in hot spring areas. Less oil in daily diet may increase the risk of osteoporosis in women(OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.23-2.36). Age 40-59(OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.17-2.03), over 60 and above(OR=16.24, 95%CI: 10.10-26.12), and sleep disorders(OR=1.84, 95%CI: 1.48-2.28)were positively correlated with risk of osteoporosis in women. Women with junior high school degree(OR=0.61, 95%CI: 0.47-0.80), high school degree(OR=0.57, 95%CI: 0.37-0.89)and undergraduate degree and above(OR=0.59, 95%CI: 0.39-0.98)had a lower risk of osteoporosis than women who were illiterate or semi-illiterate. The osteoporosis risk test questions showed that smoking, heavy drinking, and erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire were the main sources of osteoporosis risk in men. Menopause before the age of 60, ≤45 years old, no milk and no calcium supplements, parents with osteoporosis or bone fractures were the major risk sources of osteoporosis in women. Conclusion The risk of osteoporosis among male residents from 30 to 65 years old in typical hot spring areas in Guizhou province is higher than that among women. Education of osteoporosis prevention should be strengthened among local residents to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

Interpretation of 2016 Chinese Expert Consensus on Diagnosis and Treatment of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma / 中国实用内科杂志

Led by the Thyroid Cancer Professional Committee of the China Anti-cancer Association(CATO), experts from 21 thyroid centers jointly formulated the 2016 Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.Its content covers surgical, pathological, imaging, endocrine and nuclear medicine and other professional fields, and summarizes the latest clinical research results in the field of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma in recent years and the actual situation in China.The expert consensus includes 23 recommendations, including the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and outlook of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, which provides a more reasonable and standard diagnosis and treatment plan.The purpose of this paper is to interpret the application of the consensus two years after its release and the reactions in the industry.

Advances in research on the function and disease of desmoglein 2 / 医学研究生学报

Desmoglein (DSG) is an important constituent of desmosome, a single transmembrane glycoprotein that binds to desmocollin (DSC), regulates intercellular adhesion and transmits intracellular and extracelluar signals. Studies have shown that DSG2, one subtype of the DSG, is abnormally expressed in tumor cells and has certain value for targeted treatment and prognosis. This paper reviews the structure, biological functions and related diseases of DSG2 protein.

Effect and Mechanisms of Lycii Fructus on Hepatoma HepG2 Cell Line-induced Cachexia in Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of the extracts from fresh Lycii Fructus (LBL) on hepatoma HepG2 cell-induced cachexia in mouse.Method: The human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was injected into BALB/C mice to establish the cachexia model.Then the LBL was fed to the models respectively in low dose (5 mg·kg-1) or high dose (25 mg·kg-1).After 28 days of continuous feeding,the mice's body weight was detected.The expression levels of creatine kinase (CK),interleukin-1β (IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The muscle degradation and the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) were detected by immunohistochemistry staining.The expression levels of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were determined by Western blot.Result: Compared with cachexia group,the loss of body weight and muscle decomposition were significantly inhibited both in the low dose LBL group and high dose LBL group (P0.05,PPβ,IL-6 and TNF-α in both the low-dose LBL group and the high-dose LBL group (PPPκB were inhibited both in the low-dose LBL group and the high-dose LBL group (PConclusion: LBL could inhibit the cachexia induced by hepatoma HepG2 cell line in mouse,suggesting LBL could reduce major cytokine and plasma inflammatory factors through p-p38 MAPK pathway.

The Serum Exosome Derived MicroRNA-135a, -193b, and -384 Were Potential Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#MicroRNAs (miRs) are attractive molecules to be considered as one of the blood-based biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The goal of this study was to explore their potential value as biomarkers for the diagnosis of AD.@*METHODS@#The expression levels of exosomal miR-135a, -193b, and -384 in the serum from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia of Alzheimer-type (DAT), Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD), and vascular dementia (VaD) patients were measured with a real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) method.@*RESULTS@#Both serum exosome miR-135a and miR-384 were up-regulated while miR-193b was down-regulated in serum of AD patients compared with that of normal controls. Exosome miR-384 was the best among the three miRs to discriminate AD, VaD, and PDD. Using the cut-off value could better interpret these laboratory test results than reference intervals in the AD diagnosis. ROC curve showed that the combination of miR-135a, -193b, and -384 was proved to be better than a particular one for early AD diagnosis.@*CONCLUSION@#Our results indicated that the exosomal miRs in the serum were not only potential biomarker of AD early diagnosis, but might also provide novel insights into the screen and prevention of the disease.

Associations Between Pericardial Adipose Tissue Volume and Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Energy Consumption / 中国循环杂志

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the of pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) volume and cardiovascular disease risk factors and energy consumption. Methods:From September 2014 to December 2015,we enrolled 152 inpatients underwent coronary artery CT examination due to suspected coronary heart disease in the Hospital on Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine.The volume of PAT was assessment by 64-slice CT, the energy consumption was assessment by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The clinical data, biochemical indexes, PAT volume were analyzed. Results : (1) PAT volume was significantly correlated with age, gender, BMI, HOMA-IR, FPG, HDL-C, TG, total physical activity energy consumption, total middle intensity physical activity energy consumption, total energy consumption of sedentary (P<0.05 or P<0.001); (2) PAT volume of patients with insulin resistance was significantly higher than those without insulin resistance; (3) Multiple regression analysis revealed that age, gender, BMI, total middle intensity physical activity energy consumption were independent predictors of PAT volume. Conclusions: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) volume is associated with age, gender, systolic blood pressure, BMI, total middle intensity physical activity energy consumption.