Relationship between water iodine and children's goiters.

Excessive iodine can lead to goiters. However, the relationship between the water iodine concentration (WIC) and goiter rate (GR) is unclear. This study aims to explore the factors that influence children's GR in areas with high WIC and analyse the threshold value of the GR increase associated with the WIC. According to the monitoring of the areas with high WIC in China in 2018-2020, a total of 54 050 children in eight high water iodine provinces were chosen. Drinking water, urine and edible salt samples of children were collected. The thyroid volume (Tvol) was measured. A generalised additive model (GAM) was used to analyse the relationship between the WIC and GR in children. Among the 54 050 children in areas with high WIC, the overall GR was 3·34 %, the median of water iodine concentration was 127·0 µg/l, the median of urinary iodine concentration was 318 µg/l and the non-iodised salt coverage rate (NISCR) was 63·51 %. According to the GAM analysis results, water iodine and urinary iodine are factors that influence the Tvol and GR, while the NISCR affects only the GR. When the WIC was more than 420 µg/l or the urinary iodine concentration was more than 800 µg/l, the GR increased rapidly. When the NISCR reached more than 85 %, the GR was the lowest. Thus, in areas with high WIC, WIC more than 420 µg/l may increase the risk of goiter, and the NISCR should be increased to over 85 % to avoid goiters in children.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation improves lipid metabolism and endothelial function by providing a beneficial eicosanoid-pattern in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) have been reported to have beneficial cardiovascular effects, but its mechanism of protection against acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who are under guideline-based therapy is not fully understood. Here, we used a metabolomic approach to systematically analyze the eicosanoid metabolites induced by ω-3 PUFA supplementation and investigated the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Participants with AMI after successful percutaneous coronary intervention were randomized to 3 months of 2 g daily ω-3 PUFA and guideline-adjusted therapy (n = 30, ω-3 therapy) or guideline-adjusted therapy alone (n = 30, Usual therapy). Functional PUFA-derived eicosanoids in plasma were profiled by metabolomics. Clinical and laboratory tests were obtained before and 3 months after baseline and after the study therapy. RESULTS: By intent-to-treat analysis, the content of 11-HDoHE, 20-HDoHE and 16,17-EDP and that of epoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (EEQs), derived from docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, respectively, were significantly higher with ω-3 group than Usual therapy, whereas that of prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2) and leukotriene B4, derived from arachidonic acid, was significantly decreased. As compared with Usual therapy, ω-3 PUFA therapy significantly reduced levels of triglycerides (-6.3%, P < 0.05), apolipoprotein B (-4.9%, P < 0.05) and lipoprotein(a) (-37.0%, P < 0.05) and increased nitric oxide level (62.2%, P < 0.05). In addition, the levels of these variables were positively correlated with change in 16,17-EDP and EEQs content but negatively with change in PGJ2 content. CONCLUSIONS: ω-3 PUFA supplementation may improve lipid metabolism and endothelial function possibly by affecting eicosanoid metabolic status at a systemic level during convalescent healing after AMI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn. Unique identifier: ChiCTR1900025859.

Large-scale transcriptome analysis identified RNA methylation regulators as novel prognostic signatures for lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The abnormal expression of genes is an essential factor affecting the prognosis of cancer. RNA modification is a way of regulating post-transcriptional levels, including m6A, m5C, m1A RNA methylation. Studies have found that RNA methylation regulates tumorigenesis development and stem cell regeneration. However, there are few studies on lung adenocarcinoma. This study aims to explore the clinical value of RNA methylation for lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We summarized thirty-one RNA methylation regulators. The training set was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the test set was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The Wilcoxon test was used to analyze the expression of RNA methylation regulators. We constructed tumor subgroup models and risk models based on the expression of those regulators. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) confirmed the accuracy of the models. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) validates the results in vitro. RESULTS: Most RNA methylation regulators had distinct expressions in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues (P<0.05). All the models showed high predictive performance (AUC: 0.65-0.82), and the five-year survival of patients in each group was statistically different (P<0.05). The patients in the high-risk group were more likely to have a higher stage, more lymph node metastases, and distant metastases, showing a poor clinical outcome. Patients with high expression of NOP2 or HNRNP were more likely to have a poorly differentiated in vitro experiment. CONCLUSIONS: With our study, we found that the expressions of most RNA methylation regulators were significantly different in cancer and para-cancerous tissues. Different molecular phenotypes constructed by RNA methylation regulators can be independent risk factors for the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma. Our study demonstrates the critical role of RNA methylation in lung adenocarcinoma, and it is expected to supply a reference for the prognostic stratification and treatment strategy development of lung adenocarcinoma.

Unidirectional excitation of plasmonic waves via a multilayered metal-dielectric-metal Huygens' nanoantenna.

Huygens' nanoantennas maintain orthogonal electric and magnetic dipole resonances satisfying the Kerker condition and can generate directional radiation in both the near-field and far-field regimes. Here we study a multilayered metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) Huygens' type nanoantenna which is capable of launching surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) unidirectionally when excited by a dipole source. We show that the radiative decay rates of the dipole source are strongly enhanced by the antenna, and the generated SPP waves propagate in opposite directions at two different wavelengths. The directionality of the excited SPPs can be switched by changing the geometry and the material composition. We further demonstrated that the beam width of the SPP waves can be narrowed by arranging the MDM antennas in a chain.

Physiological and comparative proteomic analysis reveals different drought responses in roots and leaves of drought-tolerant wild wheat (Triticum boeoticum).

To determine the proteomic-level responses of drought tolerant wild wheat (Triticum boeoticum), physiological and comparative proteomic analyses were conducted using the roots and the leaves of control and short term drought-stressed plants. Drought stress was imposed by transferring hydroponically grown seedlings at the 3-leaf stage into 1/2 Hoagland solution containing 20% PEG-6000 for 48 h. Root and leaf samples were separately collected at 0 (control), 24, and 48 h of drought treatment for analysis. Physiological analysis indicated that abscisic acid (ABA) level was greatly increased in the drought-treated plants, but the increase was greater and more rapid in the leaves than in the roots. The net photosynthetic rate of the wild wheat leaves was significantly decreased under short-term drought stress. The deleterious effects of drought on the studied traits mainly targeted photosynthesis. Comparative proteomic analysis identified 98 and 85 differently changed protein spots (DEPs) (corresponding to 87 and 80 unique proteins, respectively) in the leaves and the roots, respectively, with only 6 mutual unique proteins in the both organs. An impressive 86% of the DEPs were implicated in detoxification and defense, carbon metabolism, amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, proteins metabolism, chaperones, transcription and translation, photosynthesis, nucleotide metabolism, and signal transduction. Further analysis revealed some mutual and tissue-specific responses to short-term drought in the leaves and the roots. The differences of drought-response between the roots and the leaves mainly included that signal sensing and transduction-associated proteins were greatly up-regulated in the roots. Photosynthesis and carbon fixation ability were decreased in the leaves. Glycolysis was down-regulated but PPP pathway enhanced in the roots, resulting in occurrence of complex changes in energy metabolism and establishment of a new homeostasis. Protein metabolism was down-regulated in the roots, but enhanced in the leaves. These results will contribute to the existing knowledge on the complexity of root and leaf protein changes that occur in response to drought, and also provide a framework for further functional studies on the identified proteins.

[A quantitative study of anterior chamber angle with ultrasound biomicroscopy after cataract surgery with phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lenses implantation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in anterior chamber angle after phacoemulsification and foldable IOL implantation with ultrasound biomicroscopy. METHODS: Small-incision phacoemulsification and foldable IOL implantation were performed in 50 eyes of 46 senior patients, and the changes of anterior chamber angle were determined quantitatively by using ultrasound biomicroscopy before and one month after the surgery. RESULTS: In all patients, the angle was widened significantly one month after surgery (P < 0.01). The measurements of TIA500 (trabecular-iris angle at 500 micro m from the scleral spur), AOD250 (angle-opening distance at 250 micro m from the scleral spur) and AOD500 (angle-opening distance at 500 micro m from the scleral spur) increased significantly after the operation (P < 0.01). The mean post/pre-operative TIA500 ratio, AOD250 ratio and AOD500 ratio were 1.65 (1.12 - 4.91), 1.81 (1.06 - 2.67) and 1.65 (1.01 - 2.76), respectively. A significant negative correlation existed between preoperative and postoperative data. CONCLUSION: Small-incision cataract surgery deepens the anterior chamber and widens anterior chamber angle significantly in senior patients. The narrower the preoperative angle, the higher ratio of post/preoperative ratio found.

[Visual outcome with the array multifocal intraocular lens].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the visual outcome of Array IOL, and examine the location of the lens. METHODS: 255 eyes in 196 patients received phaco and IOL implantation were randomized as test group 121 eyes (Array IOL) and case control group 134 eyes (monofocal Hydroview IOL). Postoperative examination included distance and near, uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, refractive results, and measurement of corneal curvature. Follow-up period ranged from three months to one year. RESULTS: Three months after surgery, 97.2% eyes (107/110) in test group with Array IOL had a distance visual acuity >/= 0.5, and in 24.5% (27/110) >/= 1.0. The difference was not significant (P > 0.05). 84.6% eyes (93/110) in test group had an uncorrected near acuity >/= 0.5 and 20.0% (22/110) >/= 1.0. The difference was significant (P < 0.01). The rate of wearing spectacles was 33.3% in test group and 90% in case control group. One month after surgery, 6 eyes in test group with haptic asymmetric location were not affected with visual recovery. The surgery-induced astigmatism in test group was 0.31 D, and no visual impairment appeared in both groups. Posterior capsule opacification was seen in 6 eyes in test group and 12 in case control group. CONCLUSION: The implantation of Array IOL not only has a good distance uncorrected visual acuity, but also with better near visual acuity. Also this surgery is safe, reliable and no special complication-induced.