Prevalence and indoor environment risk factors of otitis among preschool children in Urumqi, China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the indoor environmental risk factors to provide measures for the prevention and control of otitis in preschool children. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was administered to preschool children aged 2-7 years from 60 kindergartens in six districts of Urumqi City in August 2019. Multiple regression was run to predict influence factors for otitis media in preschool children. RESULT: A total of 8153 valid questionnaires were collected. After adjusting for age, the prevalence of otitis among preschool children in Urumqi was 13.1%. Multivariate logistic regression showed that previous antibiotic treatment, treatment with one to two antibiotics before 1 year of age, presence of walls with aqueous or latex paint, use of carpet floor bedding in rooms, newly decorated homes of mothers before pregnancy, purchase of new furniture for homes of children at 0-1 year of age, and presence of flowering plants in the residence of children at 0-1 years of age were all identified as risk factors for the development of otitis in children. CONCLUSION: Parents should also pay attention to indoor living environments, and reduce indoor renovation in the homes of children during their growth and development, which can positively improve children's indoor living environment, thus effectively preventing otitis in preschool children.

Muscle strength training in the abdominal core in athletes / Treinamento de força muscular no centro abdominal em atletas / Entrenamiento de la fuerza muscular en el núcleo abdominal en atletas

ABSTRACT Introduction: Gymnastics requires high-level body coordination and control. The key to success for gymnasts is to control and adjust the center of gravity through the abdominal core muscles. Abdominal core resistance training is mainly aimed at fulfilling this purpose. Objective: Analyze the results of abdominal core resistance training on the fitness of gymnasts. Methods: 20 volunteer gymnasts were selected by random sampling. The experimental participants were tested for functional exercise capacity. The study focused on the athletes' weaknesses during exercise. After completing the abdominal core resistance training, the fitness test was performed. The data obtained were analyzed statistically. Results: The peaks of the flexor and dorsal muscles were significantly enhanced (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups before and after training of body flexors and extensors (P>0.05). Conclusion: Abdominal core resistance training plays a positive role in improving the fitness of gymnasts. Coaches can actively introduce abdominal core resistance training into their regular exercises to improve athletes' fitness. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: A ginástica exige coordenação e controle corporal de alto nível. A chave para o sucesso dos ginastas é controlar e ajustar o centro de gravidade através dos músculos do centro abdominal. Os exercícios de força do centro abdominal visam principalmente cumprir este propósito. Objetivo: Analisar os resultados do treinamento de força muscular no centro abdominal sobre a aptidão física dos ginastas. Métodos: 20 ginastas voluntários foram selecionados por amostragem aleatória. Os participantes experimentais foram testados quanto à capacidade de exercício funcional. O estudo focalizou os pontos fracos dos atletas durante o exercício. Após a conclusão do exercício de força do centro abdominal, efetuou-se o teste de aptidão física. Os dados obtidos foram analisados por estatisticamente. Resultados: Os picos dos flexores e músculos dorsais foram significativamente aprimorados (P<0,05). Não houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos antes e depois do treinamento de flexores e extensores corporais (P>0,05). Conclusão: O exercício da força do centro abdominal tem um papel positivo na melhoria da aptidão física dos ginastas. Os treinadores podem introduzir ativamente o treino de força do centro abdominal nos exercícios habituais para melhorar a aptidão física dos atletas. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La gimnasia requiere un alto nivel de coordinación y control corporal. La clave del éxito para los gimnastas es controlar y ajustar el centro de gravedad mediante los músculos del núcleo abdominal. Los ejercicios de fuerza del núcleo abdominal están dirigidos principalmente a cumplir este propósito. Objetivo: Analizar los resultados del entrenamiento de la fuerza muscular del núcleo abdominal en la aptitud física de los gimnastas. Métodos: Se seleccionaron 20 gimnastas voluntarias por muestreo aleatorio. Los participantes en el experimento fueron sometidos a pruebas de capacidad de ejercicio funcional. El estudio se centró en los puntos débiles de los atletas durante el ejercicio. Después de completar el ejercicio de fuerza del núcleo abdominal, se realizó una prueba de aptitud física. Los datos obtenidos se analizaron estadísticamente. Resultados: Los picos de los músculos flexores y dorsales aumentaron significativamente (P<0,05). No hubo diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos antes y después del entrenamiento de los flexores y extensores del cuerpo (P>0,05). Conclusión: El ejercicio de fuerza del núcleo abdominal tiene un papel positivo en la mejora de la condición física de los gimnastas. Los entrenadores pueden introducir activamente el entrenamiento de la fuerza del núcleo abdominal en los ejercicios habituales para mejorar la forma física de los deportistas. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Prevalence and indoor environment risk factors of otitis among preschool children in Urumqi, China

Abstract Objective To investigate the indoor environmental risk factors to provide measures for the prevention and control of otitis in preschool children. Method In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was administered to preschool children aged 2-7 years from 60 kindergartens in six districts of Urumqi City in August 2019. Multiple regression was run to predict influence factors for otitis media in preschool children. Result A total of 8153 valid questionnaires were collected. After adjusting for age, the prevalence of otitis among preschool children in Urumqi was 13.1%. Multivariate logistic regression showed that previous antibiotic treatment, treatment with one to two antibiotics before 1 year of age, presence of walls with aqueous or latex paint, use of carpet floor bedding in rooms, newly decorated homes of mothers before pregnancy, purchase of new furniture for homes of children at 0-1 year of age, and presence of flowering plants in the residence of children at 0-1 years of age were all identified as risk factors for the development of otitis in children. Conclusion Parents should also pay attention to indoor living environments, and reduce indoor renovation in the homes of children during their growth and development, which can positively improve children's indoor living environment, thus effectively preventing otitis in preschool children.

Mitochondrial Genetic Diversity of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Associated with Cassava in Lao PDR.

Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) caused by Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (SLCMV), has rapidly spread in Southeast Asia (SEA) since 2016. Recently it has been documented in Lao PDR. Previous reports have identified whitefly species of B. tabaci as potential vectors of CMD in SEA, but their occurrence and distribution in cassava fields is not well known. We conducted a countrywide survey in Lao PDR for adult whiteflies in cassava fields, and determined the abundance and genetic diversity of the B. tabaci species complex using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) sequencing. In order to expedite the process, PCR amplifications were performed directly on whitefly adults without DNA extraction, and mtCOI sequences obtained using nanopore portable-sequencing technology. Low whitefly abundances and two cryptic species of the B. tabaci complex, Asia II 1 and Asia II 6, were identified. This is the first work on abundance and genetic identification of whiteflies associated with cassava in Lao PDR. This study indicates currently only a secondary role for Asia II in spreading CMD or as a pest. Routine monitoring and transmission studies on Asia II 6 should be carried out to establish its potential role as a vector of SLCMV in this region.

Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma With Discordant p16 and HPV mRNA Results: Incidence and Characterization in a Large, Contemporary United States Cohort.

Early studies estimate that 5% to 10% of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas overexpress p16 but are unassociated with transcriptionally-active high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Patients with discordant HPV testing may experience clinical outcomes that differ from traditional expectations. To document the rate of p16 and HPV mRNA positivity, characterize patients with discordant testing, and identify features that may warrant selective use of HPV-specific testing after p16 IHC, a multi-institutional, retrospective review of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients with p16 IHC and HPV mRNA testing by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed. Of the 467 patients, most had T1 or T2 tumors (71%), 82% were p16 positive, and 84% were HPV mRNA positive. Overall, most tumors were nonkeratinizing (378, 81%), which was strongly associated with p16 and HPV positivity (93% and 95%, respectively). Overall, 81% of patients were double positive, 14% double negative, and 4.9% discordant (3.4% p16 negative/HPV mRNA positive and 1.5% p16 positive/HPV mRNA negative). The survival rates of these discordant patient groups fell squarely between the 2 concordant groups, although in multivariate analysis for both disease-free survival and overall survival, discordant patients were not found to have statistically significantly different outcomes. Reclassifying patients by applying HPV mRNA testing when p16 results and morphology do not match, or when p16 results are equivocal, improved prognostication slightly over p16 or HPV mRNA testing alone. Patients with discordant testing demonstrate a borderline significant trend toward survival differences from those with concordant tests. When evaluated independently, patients who were p16 negative but HPV mRNA positive had a prognosis somewhat closer to double-positive patients, while those who were p16 positive, but HPV mRNA negative had a prognosis closer to that of double-negative patients. We suggest an algorithm whereby confirmatory HPV mRNA testing is performed in patients where p16 status is not consistent with tumor morphology. This captures a majority of discordant patients and improves, albeit modestly, the prognostication.

MicroRNA-146b regulates hepatic stellate cell activation via targeting of KLF4.

 Background. We previously identified miR-146b as being up-regulated during the development of hepatic fibrosis using deep sequencing technology and gene expression analysis. However, the roles and related mechanisms of miR-146b in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which are involved in fibrogenesis and fibrosis, have not been elucidated. RESULTS: We report that miR-146b expression was increased in TGF-ß1-treated HSCs. TGF- ß1 enhanced α-SMA and COL1A1 protein expression in HSCs and stimulated proliferation of these cells compared with cells transfected with inhibitor NC. Conversely, miR-146b knock-down decreased α-SMA and COL1A1 expression and inhibited HSC proliferation. In addition, we found that miR-146b specifically regulated the translation of Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) by targeting its 3' untranslated region. Forced expression of KLF4 inhibited TGF- ß1-induced enhancement of α-SMA and COL1A1 expression in HSCs, as well as proliferation of these cells. Moreover, miR-146b expression was negatively associated with KLF4 expression but positively associated with expression of α-SMA and COL1A1 during hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the participation of miR-146b as a novel upstream effector of HSC activation via direct targeting of KLF4. Thus, targeted transfer of miR-146b into HSCs could be a useful strategy for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

Deep sequencing analysis of microRNA expression in porcine serum-induced hepatic fibrosis rats.

AIM: Recent studies have suggested miRNA dysregulation in liver tissue mediates the pathogenesis of various liver diseases especially liver fibrosis, but the microRNA changes during PS-induced hepatic fibrosis are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to screen the miRNA differences in rat liver fibrosis model and clarify the relationship of miRNAs with the development of PS-induced liver fibrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two fibrotic and two normal liver tissues from 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were collected and sequenced. MiRNA profiling results and fibrosis-related genes were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and bioinformatics was used to predict miRNA targets. RESULTS: In total, 48 miRNAs were detected to be aberrantly expressed in fibrosis tissue compared to normal tissue. Further functional analysis of the deregulated miRNA targets revealed the miRNAs are involved in several biological functions and pathways. In addition, the expression level of miR-27a and miR-146b and fibrosis-related genes were significantly up-regulated by using qRT-PCR in fibrotic liver tissues when compared to the normal liver tissues. CONCLUSION: PS-induced hepatic fibrosis results in up-regulation of the miR-27a and miR-146b in liver tissues, suggestingmiR-27a and miR-146b would be associated with the development of PS-induced liver fibrosis and be potential therapeutic targets during hepatic fibrosis.