Measurement of the Tilt Angle of the Optic Disc Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Related Factors in Myopia.

Purpose: This study presents a novel, three-dimensional method for measuring the tilt angle of the tilted optic disc (TOD) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and investigates the correlation between ocular-related parameters and TOD. Methods: We included the right eyes of 243 healthy young individuals, categorized by axial length. We measured the ovality index (OI) and dihedral angle (DA) using SD-OCT infrared ray fundus photographs and high-resolution cross-sectional images of the optic disc, respectively. The relationships between OI, DA, and ocular-related parameters were analyzed. Results: Eyes in the longer axial length group exhibited a lower OI and a higher DA, along with thinner nasal and inferonasal circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) and thicker temporal and superotemporal cpRNFL. There was a significant relationship between DA and cpRNFL thickness. The new method utilizing DA to measure the tilt angle of TOD demonstrated high repeatability. Conclusions: We propose a novel, three-dimensional, and quantitative method for evaluating the tilt degree of TOD. A higher degree of myopia indicated a greater tilt angle of the TOD, and a greater TOD suggested additional changes in cpRNFL thickness. These findings should be considered when interpreting increased susceptibility and early assessment of glaucoma in myopia. Translational Relevance: DA could serve as a superior indicator for describing TOD morphology during eyeball elongation and evaluating its impact on related parameters of the optic disc and peripapillary structures in the myopic population.

A comparative cross-platform analysis of cuproptosis-related genes in human nonobstructive azoospermia: An observational study.

This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers associated with cuproptosis in human nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). We obtained 4 NOA microarray datasets (GSE145467, GSE9210, GSE108886, and GSE45885) from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus database and merged them into training set. Another NOA dataset (GSE45887) was used as validation set. Differentially expressed cuproptosis-related genes were identified from training set. Gene Ontology function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were conducted. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination were used to identify hub cuproptosis-related genes. We calculated the expression of the hub cuproptosis-related genes in both validation set and patients with NOA. Gene set variation analysis was used to explore their potential biological functions. The risk prediction model was built by logistic regression analysis and was evaluated in the validation set. Finally, we constructed a competing endogenous RNA network. The training set included 29 patents in the control group and 92 in the NOA group, and 10 cuproptosis-related differentially expressed genes were identified. Subsequently, we screened 6 hub cuproptosis-related genes (DBT, GCSH, NFE2L2, NLRP3, PDHA1, and SLC31A1) by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination. GCSH, NFE2L2, NLRP3, and SLC31A1 expressed higher in NOA group than in control group (P < .05) in the validation set (4 patients in control and 16 in NOA groups), while the expression levels of GCSH, NFE2L2, NLRP3, PDHA1, and SLC31A1 were higher in NOA group than in control group (P < .05) in our patients (3 patients in control and 4 in NOA groups). The model based on the 6-gene signature showed superior performance with an AUC value of 0.970 in training set, while 1.0 in validation set. Gene set variation analysis revealed a higher enrichment score of "homologous recombination" in the high expression groups of the 6 hub genes. Finally, we constructed a competing endogenous RNA network and found hsa-miR-335-3p and hsa-miR-1-3p were the most frequently related to the 6 hub genes. DBT, GCSH, NFE2L2, NLRP3, PDHA1, and SLC31A1 may serve as predictors of cuproptosis and play important roles in the NOA pathogenesis.

Mycotoxin zearalenone induces multi-/trans-generational toxic effects and germline toxicity transmission via histone methyltransferase MES-4 in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Zearalenone (ZEN), an endocrine-disrupting mycotoxin, is prevalent and persists in the environment. ZEN has the potential to cause adverse health impacts extending over generations, yet there is a lack of relevant research. Therefore, we explored the ZEN-induced multi-/trans-generational locomotive and reproductive toxicities, as well as the underlying epigenetic mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans. In multi-generational analysis, the evolution tendency and toxicity latency were observed under sustained exposure to 0.1 and 1 µM ZEN across five generations (P0-F4). The toxic effects were found in filial generations even if the initial parental exposure showed no apparent effects. Trans-generational results indicated the toxic inheritance phenomenon of 10 and 50 µM ZEN, where a single generation of ZEN exposure was sufficient to affect subsequent generations (F1-F3). Additionally, the pattern of locomotion was relatively sensitive in both generational studies, indicating varying sensitivity between indicators. Regarding epigenetic mechanism of toxicity transmission, ZEN significantly decreased the parental expression of histone methyltransferase encoded genes set-2, mes-2, and mes-4. Notably, the downregulation of mes-4 persisted in the unexposed F1 and F2 generations under trans-generational exposure. Furthermore, the mes-4 binding and reproduction-related rme-2 also decreased across generations. Moreover, parental germline specific knockdown of mes-4 eliminated the inherited locomotive and reproductive toxic effects in offspring, showing that mes-4 acted as transmitter in ZEN-induced generational toxicities. These findings suggest that ZEN is an epigenetic environmental pollutant, with a possible genetic biomarker mes-4 mediating the germline dependent transmission of ZEN-triggered toxicity over generations. This study provides significant insights into ZEN-induced epigenotoxicity.

Concentrated growth factor and collagen as barrier materials in alveolar ridge preservation for posterior teeth: a prospective cohort study with one-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of concentrated growth factor (CGF) membrane and collagen as barrier materials in sealing the alveolar socket in alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) in the posterior region during a one-year follow-up. METHODS: A total of 24 patients who underwent ARP in the posterior region were selected for inclusion and randomly assigned to the CGF group (12 cases) and Collagen group (12 cases). The patients in both groups underwent extraction of posterior teeth. The extraction sockets were filled with a bone substitute to the level of the pre-extraction buccal and lingual or palatal alveolar bone plates. The wounds in the CGF group were closed with a fabricated CGF overlaying the upper edge of the bone substitute material, whereas those in the Collagen group were closed with Bio-Oss Collagen. The implants were placed after 6 months. The evaluation was based on implant retention, re-grafting rate, and vertical and horizontal alveolar ridge bone volume changes measured by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 28.0 software. RESULTS: No patient withdrew throughout the follow-up period. No implant failure and no severe peri-implant or mucosal soft tissue complications were observed. Six months after the operation, the degree of vertical alveolar ridge height resorption in the CGF group was lower than that in the Collagen group (P<0.05). There were no statistically difference between the groups at 1 year after the operation (P>0.05). The amount of bone reduction in horizontal alveolar ridge width showed no difference between the groups at 6 months and 1 year after surgery (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CGF membrane and Bio-Oss Collagen as barrier materials for posterior ARP inhibited reduction in alveolar ridge bone mass.

Early-life exposure to mycotoxin zearalenone exacerbates aberrant immune response, oxidative stress, and mortality of Caenorhabditis elegans under pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis infection.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a prevalent mycotoxin that severely impacts human and animal health. However, the possible interactions between ZEN exposure, pathogen infection, immune system, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were rarely investigated. We studied the effects of early-life ZEN (50 µM) exposure on the immune response of Caenorhabditis elegans against Bacillus thuringiensis infection and the associated mechanisms. The transcriptomic responses of C. elegans after early-life ZEN exposure were investigated using RNA sequencing and followed by verification using quantitative PCR analysis. We also investigated the immune responses of the worms through B. thuringiensis killing assays and by measuring oxidative stress. The transcriptomics result showed that early-life exposure to ZEN resulted in 44 differentially expressed genes, 7 of which were protein-coding genes with unknown functions. The Gene Ontology analysis suggested that metabolic processes and immune response were among the most significantly enriched biological processes, and the KEGG analysis suggested that lysosomes and metabolic pathways were the most significantly enriched pathways. The ZEN-exposed worms exhibited significantly reduced survival after 24-h B. thuringiensis infection, reaching near 100% mortality compared to 60% of the controls. Using qRT-PCR assay, we found that ZEN further enhanced the expression of immunity genes lys-6, spp-1, and clec-60 after B. thuringiensis infection. A concurrently enhanced ROS accumulation was also observed for ZEN-exposed worms after B. thuringiensis infection, which was 1.2-fold compared with the controls. Moreover, ZEN exposure further enhanced mRNA expression of catalases (ctl-1 and ctl-2) and increased catalase protein activity after B. thuringiensis exposure compared with their non-exposed counterparts, suggesting an elevated oxidative stress. This study suggests that early-life exposure to mycotoxin zearalenone overstimulates immune responses involving spp-17, clec-52, and clec-56, resulting in excessive ROS production, enhanced oxidative stress as indicated by aggravated ctl expression and activity, and a decline in host resistance to pathogenic infection which ultimately leads to increased mortality under B. thuringiensis infection. Our findings provide evidence that could improve our understanding on the potential interactions between mycotoxin zearalenone and pathogens.

Tangeretin Supplementation Mitigates the Aging Toxicity Induced by Dietary Benzo[a]pyrene Exposure with Aberrant Proteostasis and Heat Shock Responses in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a common food contaminant that can impair organismal aging. Tangeretin (TAN) may mitigate aging toxicities as a dietary supplement. This study used Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to BaP on aging and to determine whether TAN supplementation could alleviate BaP-induced toxicity. Early life exposure to BaP (10 µM) significantly inhibited growth by 5%, and exposure to 0.1 to 10 µM BaP impaired C. elegans motility, resulting in a 3.4-6.5% reduction in motility. Chronic exposure to BaP (10 µM) age-dependently aggravated aberrant protein aggregation (7% increase) and shortened the median lifespan of the worms from 20 to 16 days. In addition, BaP worsened the age-dependent decline in motility and pharyngeal pumping, as well as the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, exposure to BaP resulted in significantly higher relative transcript levels of approximately 1.8-2.0-fold for the hsp-16.1, hsp-16.2, hsp-16.49, and hsp-70 genes. Stressed worms exposed to BaP exhibited significantly lower survival under heat stress. Dietary TAN supplementation alleviated the BaP-induced decline in motility, pumping, and poly-Q accumulation and restored heat shock proteins' transcript levels. Our findings suggest that chronic BaP exposure adversely affects aging and that TAN exposure mitigates the BaP-induced aging toxicity.

Research advances in the therapeutic potential of xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitors for periodontitis / 口腔疾病防治

@#Periodontitis is associated with abnormal purine metabolism, which is manifested by increased uric acid in host blood and increased expression of the purine-degrading enzyme, xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), in periodontal tissues. Both XOR and uric acid are pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory mediators under pathological conditions. Animal studies have found that injection of uric acid promotes the progression of periodontitis and that febuxostat (an XOR inhibitor) improves tissue destruction in periodontitis. Therefore, blocking the source of uric acid may be a therapeutic strategy to control the progression of periodontitis. In this article, the rationality of XOR inhibitors as potential therapeutic drugs for periodontitis is reviewed. The literature review results suggest that XOR inhibitors show antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-osteoclastic effects, and XOR inhibitors show clinical efficacy in the treatment of infectious, inflammatory and osteolytic diseases. Although there is no direct evidence to support the finding that XOR inhibitors can ameliorate periodontal microecological dysbiosis, these drugs can modulate intestinal microflora dysbiosis, and there is indirect evidence to support a beneficial effect of XOR inhibitors on periodontal microecological dysbiosis. In conclusion, XOR inhibitors may be used as immunomodulators for the adjuvant treatment of periodontitis by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and anti-osteoclast effects.

[Provenance of Groundwater Solute and Its Controlling Factors in Yancheng Area].

Affected by human activities and climate change, the deterioration of groundwater quality could continue to intensify, and it is difficult to repair after being polluted. In order to reduce the vulnerability of groundwater safety, it is urgent to strengthen research on groundwater quality. To analyze the characteristics of hydrochemical composition and control factors and to explore the impact of human activities, groundwater sampling was conducted in the alluvial and marine plains of Yancheng area, where industrial and agricultural activities were intense. The results showed that:① the TDS value of shallow groundwater was between 211 and 3790 mg·L-1, of which, brackish water samples accounted for 30.28% in Yancheng. The order of the concentration of anions and cations was:HCO3->Cl->SO42->NO3- and Na+>Ca2+>Mg2+>K+. However, from Type Ⅰ/Ⅱ water to Type Ⅴ water, with the increase in TDS value, the dominant anions and cations evolved from HCO3 type to Cl/SO4 type and from Ca type to Na type, respectively. ② In the initial Type Ⅰ/Ⅱ water bodies, Na+ should have mainly originated from the weathering erosion of albite, whereas Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3- should have had a common rock weathering source. In the subsequent water quality evolution process, the factors that led the TDS value to increase, or even to exceed the standard, were not limited to rock weathering, and the effects of evaporation-concentration and ion exchange were also very worthy of attention. ③ The enrichment factor analysis showed that the Cl- and SO42- were mainly from the input of sea salt sources, and their proportions were gradually increasing from the freshwater areas of Type Ⅰ/Ⅱ in the west to the brackish water areas in the east. However, Ca2+, K+, and HCO3- were mainly derived from crustal sources, and Ca2+ was precipitated due to saturation. ④ The NO3- derived from agricultural fertilizers was limited to water of category Ⅰ/Ⅱ and Ⅲ-1 (500 mg·L-1 < TDS ≤ 750 mg·L-1). Discharge of urban sewage mainly affected Type Ⅲ water bodies. The nitrates formed by agricultural organic fertilizers were mainly distributed in the water of Type Ⅳ and Ⅴ, which was the main rice-producing area of Sheyang, Jiangsu, and the SO42- formed by human activities in this area could be ignored. These should be one of the achievements in the development of regional ecological agriculture.

Effect of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy on the risk for retinal detachment after cataract surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy on the incidence of pseudophakic retinal detachment (RD). The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to study location, number of cases, mean follow-up time, and cataract procedure. The final analysis included 11 studies with 309 cases of RD in 65 117 eyes undergoing cataract surgery. Among them, 8232 eyes underwent Nd:YAG capsulotomy. This analysis demonstrated an increased risk for RD with Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy (relative risk [RR], 1.57; 95% CI, 1.17-2.12; P = .003; hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.03-2.62; P = .04). Subgroup analysis suggested somewhat stronger associations in Asian (RR, 4.54; 95% CI, 2.20-9.38; P < .0001) than in non-Asian populations (Americans, P = .12; Europeans and others, P = .21) and with extracapsular cataract extraction (RR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.83-4.83; P < .0001) than with phacoemulsification (P = .95). To conclude, Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy may be associated with an increased risk for pseudophakic RD.

Cellular CARD11 Inhibits the Fusogenic Activity of Newcastle Disease Virus via CBM Signalosome-Mediated Furin Reduction in Chicken Fibroblasts.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes an infectious disease that poses a major threat to poultry health. Our previous study identified a chicken brain-specific caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 11 (CARD11) that was upregulated in chicken neurons and inhibited NDV replication. This raises the question of whether CARD11 plays a role in inhibiting viruses in non-neural cells. Here, chicken fibroblasts were used as a non-neural cell model to investigate the role. CARD11 expression was not significantly upregulated by either velogenic or lentogenic NDV infection in chicken fibroblasts. Viral replication was decreased in DF-1 cells stably overexpressing CARD11, while viral growth was significantly increased in the CARD11-knockdown DF-1 cell line. Moreover, CARD11 colocalized with the viral P protein and aggregated around the fibroblast nucleus, suggesting that an interaction existed between CARD11 and the viral P protein; this interaction was further examined by suppressing viral RNA polymerase activity by using a minigenome assay. Viral replication was inhibited by CARD11 in fibroblasts, and this result was consistent with our previous report in chicken neurons. Importantly, CARD11 was observed to reduce the syncytia induced by either velogenic virus infection or viral haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and F cotransfection in fibroblasts. We found that CARD11 inhibited the expression of the host protease furin, which is essential for cleavage of the viral F protein to trigger fusogenic activity. Furthermore, the CARD11-Bcl10-MALT1 (CBM) signalosome was found to suppress furin expression, which resulted in a reduction in the cleavage efficiency of the viral F protein to further inhibit viral syncytia. Taken together, our findings mainly demonstrated a novel CARD11 inhibitory mechanism for viral fusogenic activity in chicken fibroblasts, and this mechanism explains the antiviral roles of this molecule in NDV pathogenesis.

Identification of a potential neutralizing linear epitope of hemagglutinin-neuraminidase in Newcastle disease virus.

BACKGROUND: The hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a major antigen that can induce protective antibodies in poultry. However, its antigenic epitopes have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, defining the linear epitopes of HN, especially neutralizing epitopes, will be useful for revealing its antigenic characterization. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed B-cell immunodominant epitopes (IDEs) of the HN protein from the vaccine strain LaSota using pepscan technology with LaSota-specific chicken hyperimmune antisera. We constructed IDEs-RFP plasmids and prepared anti-IDEs peptide mouse sera to identify IDEs through immunological tests. At last, the different diluted anti-IDE antisera were used in BHK-21 cells to perform the neutralization test. RESULTS: Five IDEs of the HN were screened and further verified by indirect immunofluorescence assays, dot blots and Western blots with NDV- and IDEs-specific antisera. All five IDEs showed good immunogenicity. IDE5 (328-342 aa) could recognize only class II NDV but did not react with the class I strain. Most of the IDEs are highly conserved among the different strains. A neutralization test in vitro showed that the peptide-specific mouse antisera of IDE4 (242-256 aa) and HN341-355, a reported neutralizing linear epitope, could partially neutralize avirulent LaSota as well as virulent strains at similar levels, suggesting that IDE4 might be a potential neutralizing linear epitope. CONCLUSION: The HN protein is a major protective antigen of NDV that can induce neutralizing antibodies in animals. We identified five IDEs of the HN using a pepscan approach with NDV-specific chicken hyperimmune antisera. The five IDEs could elicit specific antibodies in mice. IDE4 (242-256 aa) was identified as a novel potential neutralizing linear epitope. These results will help elucidate the antigenic epitopes of the HN and facilitate the development of NDV vaccines.

Characterization of precipitation in the background of atmospheric pollutants reduction in Guilin: Temporal variation and source apportionment.

Rainfall samples were collected from three observation sites in Guilin from 2013 to 2017, and the chemical composition characteristics of precipitation and the contribution made by different ion sources were analyzed when atmospheric pollutants levels were reduced. The results showed that acid gas emissions and atmospheric pollutant concentrations continued to decline during the study period. However, the change in the volume-weighted mean pH at the three sites suggested that acid rain pollution was not alleviated and began to deteriorate after 2015. The continuing downward trend for alkaline neutralizing ions (Ca2+, NH4+) in precipitation indicated that the reduction in alkaline neutralizing substances in the atmosphere was an important factor that led to the deterioration in acid rain across Guilin. The principal component analysis and spearman correlation analysis indicated five sources of ions in precipitation. Quantitative assessment of these five sources indicated that fossil fuel combustion contributed the most ions concentration in precipitation at the three sites, followed by agriculture, terrestrial (crustal) sources, marine sources, and biomass burning. Long-distance airflow might affect the acidity, the electrical conductivity (EC), and ion concentrations in precipitation across Guilin. The airflow trajectory from the west and southeast directions corresponded to higher acidity and ion concentrations. According to the current air pollution control strategy planned by Guilin, reducing atmospheric coarse particles and NH3 at the same time may potentially lead to further deteriorations in acid rain contents. Therefore, Guilin needs to develop more reasonable pollution prevention measures that synergistically control atmospheric pollutants and acid rain pollution.

Response of soil organic carbon fractions, microbial community composition and carbon mineralization to high-input fertilizer practices under an intensive agricultural system.

Microbial mechanisms associated with soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition are poorly understood. We aim to determine the effects of inorganic and organic fertilizers on soil labile carbon (C) pools, microbial community structure and C mineralization rate under an intensive wheat-maize double cropping system in Northern China. Soil samples in 0-10 cm layer were collected from a nine-year field trial involved four treatments: no fertilizer, CK; nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers, NP; maize straw combined with NP fertilizers, NPS; and manure plus straw and NP fertilizers, NPSM. Soil samples were analyzed to determine labile C pools (including dissolved organic C, DOC; light free organic C, LFOC; and microbial biomass C, MBC), microbial community composition (using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles) and SOC mineralization rate (from a 124-day incubation experiment). This study demonstrated that the application of chemical fertilizers (NP) alone did not alter labile C fractions, soil microbial communities and SOC mineralization rate from those observed in the CK treatment. Whereas the use of straw in conjunction with chemical fertilizers (NPS) became an additional labile substrate supply that decreased C limitation, stimulated growth of all PLFA-related microbial communities, and resulted in 53% higher cumulative mineralization of C compared to that of CK. The SOC and its labile fractions explained 78.7% of the variance of microbial community structure. Further addition of manure on the top of straw in the NPSM treatment did not significantly increase microbial community abundances, but it did alter microbial community structure by increasing G+/G- ratio compared to that of NPS. The cumulative mineralization of C was 85% higher under NPSM fertilization compared to that of CK. Particularly, the NPSM treatment increased the mineralization rate of the resistant pool. This has to be carefully taken into account when setting realistic and effective goals for long-term soil C stabilization.

[Chemical Characteristics and Source of Acid Precipitation in Guilin].

A total of 396 rainwater samples of Guilin from 2008 to 2011 were collected and analyzed for pH, 44 of which were analyzed for major ions. The analysis of pH values showed the obvious seasonal variation of acid rain in Guilin. The pollution level of summer was lower than those in other seasons, while the pollution levels in winter and spring were the highest. The investigation of fractional acidity(AF) and neutralization factors(NF) indicated that low acid rain pollution level in 2008 was caused by alkali neutralization, especially NH4+ and Ca2+. Studies of the origins of major ions showed that CI- and Na+ were mainly from sea, Ca2+ was mainly from the crustal dust while K+, SO42- and NO3- were mainly originated from anthropogenic source. Finally, the effect of regional transportation on acid rain of Guilin was analyzed and 3 originatons of acid-causing substance were oriented by an air trajectory clustering methodology based on hysplit-4 and a clustering algorithm including 1Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan and Hubei, with high population densities, these regions contributed 19% air mass in spring, 26% in summer, 19% in autumn and 36% in winter due to the northeast wind; 2Pearl River Delta, with airflow from west Pacific passing before arriving Guilin, contributing 19% in spring, 33% in autumn and 36% in winter; 3Nanning, Liuzhou. All strong acid rain vapor air mass converged in southwest Guilin in spring, and arrived in Guilin passing Naning and Liuzhou. In summer, under the direct control of southwest monsoon, the vapor from Indian Ocean directly arrived in Guilin, accounting for 75%. The southwest airflow passing these cities accounted for 14% in autumn and 63% in winter.

[Treatment and analysis of the early postoperative complications of tibial plateau fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To analysis the early complications of tibial fracture and its related factors, and propose a solution. METHODS: From December 2003 to December 2013,38 patients with early complications of tibial plateau fracture after operation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 35 males and 3 females, aged from 37 to 69 years old (averaged 42.3 years). According to Schatzker classification, 3 cases were classified as type II, 2 cases as type III, 2 cases as type IV, 19 cases as type V, 12 cases as type VI. The intervals between injury and operation ranged from 9 hours to 9 days, 26 cases within 3 days. Fifteen cases were treated with internal fixation of plates and 23 were treated by plate fixation and bone transplantation. Early complications included skin necrosis in 15 cases, infection in 6 cases, osteofascial compartment syndrome in 3 cases, common peroneal nerve injury in 2 cases, the superficial peroneal nerve injury in 3 cases, popliteal artery injury in 2 cases, loss of reduction in 7 cases. RESULTS: The wound of 14 cases healed at the first stage and 24 cases healed delay. Hospitalization days ranged from 7 to 67 days (averaged 25.6 days). All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months with an average of 16.4 months. The fracture healing time ranged from 3 to 9 months (averaged 6.9 months). According to Merchant knee function evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 19 cases, good in 12, fair in 5 and poor in 2. CONCLUSION: Early complications of tibial fracture after operation is closely associated with the severe fracture complexity and related with preoperative preparation, surgical timing, operation incision selection and surgical technique. Early detection and timely processing reduce damage.

[Trends of overweight and obesity in aged 7 to 18 Mongolian ethnic children and adolescents from 1985-2010].

OBJECTIVE: To study the overweight and obesity situation among Mongolian ethnic children and adolescents in the last 25 years and to provide a basis on related prevention and control measures. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was used, with 18 366 aged 7 to 18 Mongolian ethnic children and adolescents involved. Surveys on their physical health, in 1985, 2000 and 2010 were carried out. Comparison on the mean of BMI and the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in different years, genders, location of residence (urban or rural) was also made. RESULTS: Over the past 25 years, among the aged 7 to 18 Mongolian ethnic children and adolescents, the overall trend on their means of BMI was increasing. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in Mongolian ethnic children and adolescents were 2.1%, 0.5% in 1985, and 6.3%, 2.4% in 2000, with an increase of 2 to 4 times during the last 15 years. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were substantially increasing in the year 2010, to have reached 9.1% and 6.6%, which were 4 to 12 times of the figures in 1985. The detection rates of overweight and obesity in urban boys were 1.2%, 0 in 1985, 7.9%, 3.4% in 2000 and 11.0%, 11.8% in 2010. However, the rate of obesity in the rural boys were 0.6% and 0.6% in 1985, 2.8%, 2.1% in 2000 and 9.0%, 3.4% in 2010. In 1985 the rates of overweight and obesity in urban girls were 1.8%, 0.3%, 8.1%, 4.3% in 2000 and 9.4%, 8.4% in 2010. However, among the rural girls, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity prevalence was 8.8%, 2.2% in 1985, 4.5%, 0.9%, in 2000 and 10.2%, 4.5% in 2010. The rates of overweight and obesity among groups in different years showed significant differences (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Over the past 25 years, the prevalence rates on overweight and obesity increased significantly in Mongolian ethnic children and adolescents, and continued to rise, which called for reasonable and effective measures to be taken to prevent and control the occurrence of the problem.

Association of the renin gene polymorphism, three angiotensinogen gene polymorphisms and the haplotypes with essential hypertension in the Mongolian population.

Renin is a rate-limiting enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system and plays a crucial role in the regulation of blood pressure (BP). Angiotensinogen (AGT) is the precursor of potent vasoactive hormone angiotensin II and the AGT gene has been incriminated as a marker for genetic predisposition to essential hypertension (EH) in some ethnic groups. The purpose of the study is to explore the association of a new genetic marker of renin gene, and AGT gene M235T, A-6G, and A-20C polymorphisms and their haplotypes with EH in the Mongolian population. On the basis of the prevalence survey, 243 hypertensives and 258 normotensives who had no blood relationship with each other were selected as subjects. All the subjects were interviewed with questionnaires and their blood specimens were collected. Renin gene insertion/ deletion (I/D) polymorphism was genotyped by PCR-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. AGT gene M235T, A-6G, and A-20C polymorphisms were genotyped by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and single-strand conformation polymorphism. The frequencies of renin genotype DD and allele D in hypertensives (36.21%, 63.79%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in normotensives (29.84%, 57.17%, respectively, P < 0.05). The odds ratios (OR) of renin genotype ID, DD to renin genotype II on hypertension were 1.98 (OR 95% CI 1.08-3.72) and 2.51 (OR 95% CI 1.33-4.88), respectively. There were no significant differences in the distributions of genotypes and alleles for AGT gene M235T, A-6G, and A-20C polymorphisms and all different haplotypes between the two groups. Renin gene I/D polymorphism is associated with EH, whereas AGT gene M235T, A-6G, and A-20C polymorphisms and the haplotypes are not associated with EH in the Mongolian population.

Prehypertension and cardiovascular risk factor clustering among Mongolian population in rural and animal husbandry area, Inner Mongolia, China.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether and to what extent there is clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in the prehypertension phase among Mongolians in the rural and animal husbandry area of Inner Mongolia, China. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 2,589 Mongolian people aged > or=20 years served as subjects. Demographic data, lifestyle factors and family history of hypertension, blood pressure measurements, physical examination and blood samples were obtained and analyzed for all individuals. The proportions of 2 and > or =3 risk factors clustering were higher in hypertensives than in prehypertensives, and higher in prehypertensives than in normotensives (both P<0.01). After adjustment for age, sex and family history of hypertension, both prehypertension and hypertension were associated with mutually clustering of 5 risk factors; odds ratio (OR) of prehypertension with 1, 2 and > or =3 factors was 1.30 (1.02, 1.65), 1.93 (1.40, 2.67) and 2.44 (1.62, 3.68), respectively, and for hypertension the OR were 1.75 (1.31, 2.35), 3.84 (2.68, 5.48) and 6.95 (5.04, 10.63), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is clustering of risk factors in the phase of prehypertension among Mongolian people, so intervention measures should be taken to prevent progression to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.

Effects of a new nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on nitrate and potassium leaching in two soils.

In this study, soil column was used to study the new nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on nitrate (NO3(-)-N) and potassium (K) leaching in the sandy loam soil and clay loam soil. The results showed that DMPP with ammonium sulphate nitrate (ASN) ((NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3) or urea could reduce NO3(-)-N leaching significantly, whereas ammonium (NH4(+)-N) leaching increased slightly. In case of total N (NO3(-)-N+NH4(+)-N), losses by leaching during the experimental period (40 d) were 37.93 mg (urea), 31.61 mg (urea+DMPP), 108.10 mg (ASN), 60.70 mg (ASN+DMPP) in the sandy loam soil, and 30.54 mg (urea), 21.05 mg (urea+DMPP), 37.86 mg (ASN), 31.09 mg (ASN+DMPP) in the clay loam soil, respectively. DMPP-amended soil led to the maintenance of relatively high levels of NH4(+)-N and low levels of NO3(-)-N in soil, and nitrification was slower. DMPP supplementation also resulted in less potassium leached, but the difference was not significant except the treatment of ASN and ASN+DMPP in the sandy loam soil. Above results indicate that DMPP is a good nitrification inhibitor, the efficiency of DMPP seems better in the sandy loam soil than in the clay loam soil and lasts longer.

Interaction and relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme gene and environmental factors predisposing to essential hypertension in Mongolian population of China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of specific functional gene ACE (I/D) variants of the renin-angiotensin system with essential hypertension (EH) and interaction between ACE (I/D) gene and risk factors for EH in a genetically homogenous Mongolia rural population of China. METHODS: Individuals (n=1099) were recruited from general population of Kezuohouqi Banner in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. RESULTS: The association was found between ACE genotype DD plus ID and EH, with an interaction between ACE genotype DD plus ID and cigarette smoking in an additive model. Cigarette smoking index and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 7.10 to 1.16. Interaction between ACE genotype DD plus ID and alcohol drinking on EH appeared an additive model. Alcohol drinking index and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 1.66 to 1.09. BMI and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 6.15 to 2.49. Interactions between ACE genotype and WHR on EH showed a multiplicative model. In a short,there was an interaction between ACE gene and cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and BMI on EH, especially in a low dose-exposure effect CONCLUSION: It is important for individuals who carry ACE D allele gene to prevent EH, and furthermore, to prevent and control coronary heart disease, in a view of population-based prevention.