NTN1 gene was risk to non-syndromic cleft lip only among Han Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) found NTN1, NOG and the region between CREBBP and ADCY9 were risks to non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P). However, the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes with NSCL/P in Western China is unknown. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We selected seven SNPs in NTN1, NOG and between CREBBP and ADCY9, and then performed transmission disequilibrium test (TDT), parent-of-origin effect and sliding window haplotype analysis to test the associations among 302 NSCL/P case-parent trios from Western Han Chinese. RESULTS: We found allele G at rs4791774 in NTN1 was significantly overtransmitted among non-syndromic cleft lip only (NSCLO) (p = 0.0067, OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.17-2.74); rs4791774 and rs9915089 tightly linked with each other among NSCL/P (D' = 0.87, r2  = 0.67) and haplotypes carrying the risk allele G at rs4791774 were always found to be overtransmitted from parents to cases. Motif analysis indicated that allele G at rs4791774 could greatly alter the affinity of Myc_disc7, so allele G at rs4791774 in NTN1 might modulate C-MYC transcription to participate in the aetiology of NSCLO. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested allele G at rs4791774 in NTN1 gene is risk of NSCLO, which could greatly increase the risk to have a baby with cleft.

Impact of different concentration iodinated contrast media on pain and comfort in abdominal computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether high concentration iodinated contrast media (CM), compared with low concentration CM, could reduce pain and discomfort levels in patients who had level II and III venous conditions. METHODS: This prospective, single-center study enrolled patients who had level II and III venous conditions and underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scan between July 2021 and February 2022. The venous condition to establish peripheral venous access for CM injection was graded using the Intravenous Access Scoring system, of which level II and III indicated poor venous condition and difficult venous access. Patients received iomeprol 400 in high concentration group and ioversol 320 in low group at an identical iodine delivery rate of 1.12 gI/s. The primary outcomes were pain and comfort levels. The secondary outcomes included adverse events and image quality. Patients rated pain intensity via Numerical Rating Scale and comfort level via Visual Analogue Scale with higher scores indicating higher levels of pain and discomfort. Quantitative and qualitative image assessment were compared between two groups. Continuous variables were compared using Student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were compared using χ2 test, χ2 test for trend or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: A total of 206 patients (mean age, 60.13 ± 12.14 years; 81 males) were included with 99 in the high concentration group and 107 in the low concentration group. The high group had significantly lower pain scores (median 1 [IQR: 0-2] vs 2 (IQR 2-4), p < 0.001) and comfort scores (1 [IQR: 0-3] vs 3 [IQR: 2-5], p < 0.001) than the low group. Incidence of CM extravasation did not significantly differ (1.0 % vs 4.5 %, p = 0.214). No hypersensitivity reaction was observed. Qualitative assessment showed higher clarity scores of intrahepatic hepatic artery and portal vein in the high group. Quantitative assessment results were comparable between two groups. CONCLUSION: High concentration iodinated CM could lower pain intensity and improve comfort levels without comprising image quality of CT scan. High concentration CM is a preferable choice in patients with poor venous conditions during contrast-enhanced CT scan.

Rise in Postprandial GLP-1 Levels After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Involvement of the Vagus Nerve-Spleen Anti-inflammatory Axis in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

PURPOSE: The mechanism underlying postprandial glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) changes after metabolic surgery remains mostly unclarified. This investigation aimed to address whether the vagus nerve-spleen anti-inflammatory axis is involved in the rise in postprandial GLP-1 levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats following metabolic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T2DM rat model was established with a high-fat diet and a low dose of streptozotocin and subjected to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and splenic denervation. A mixed-meal tolerance test for postprandial GLP-1 response was performed. TNF-α in the plasma, spleen, and ileum was measured by ELISA, and alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) expression in the spleen was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: Postprandial GLP-1 improvement by RYGB was accompanied by the reduction of TNF-α levels in spleen and ileum and up-regulation of splenic α7nAChR in T2DM rats. Splenic denervation abrogates a rise in postprandial GLP-1 levels in response to the mixed-meal challenge, along with higher TNF-α levels in spleen and ileum and down-regulation of splenicα7nAChR, compared with denervated sham rats. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal that the vagus nerve-spleen anti-inflammatory axis mediates the rise of postprandial GLP-1 response after RYGB through lowering TNF-α contents in the intestinal tissue in T2DM rats.

Spatiotemporal Distribution and Epidemiological Characteristics of Hospital Admissions for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Guangdong, China, 2013-2020.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the spatiotemporal distribution and epidemiological characteristics of hospital admissions for carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) in Guangdong, China, from 2013 to 2020. Methods: Data on age- and sex- specific numbers of hospital admissions due to COP in Guangdong (2013-2020) were collected. Daily temperatures were downloaded through the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System. We analyzed temporal trends through time series decomposition and used spatial autocorrelation analysis to detect spatial clustering. The distributed lag nonlinear model was used to quantify the effects of temperature. Results: There were 48,854 COP admissions over the study period. The sex ratio (male to female) was 1:1.74. The concentration ratios (M) ranged from 0.73-0.82. The highest risk occurred in January (season index = 3.59). Most cases were concentrated in the northern mountainous areas of Guangdong with high-high clustering. COP in the study region showed significant spatial autocorrelation, and the global Moran's Ivalue of average annual hospital admission rates for COP was 0.447 ( P < 0.05). Low temperatures were associated with high hospital admission rates for COP, with a lag lasting 7 days. With a lag of 0 days, the effects of low temperatures [5th (12 °C)] on COP were 2.24-3.81, as compared with the reference temperature [median (24 °C)]. Conclusion: COP in Guangdong province showed significant temporal and spatial heterogeneity. Low temperature was associated with a high risk of COP, and the influence had a lag lasting 7 days.