Lutein Prevents Liver Injury and Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Rats Subjected to Chronic Alcohol Intake.

Chronic alcohol intake can affect both liver and intestinal barrier function. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the function and mechanism of lutein administration on the chronic ethanol-induced liver and intestinal barrier damage in rats. During the 14-week experimental cycle, seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups, with 10 rats in each group: a normal control group (Co), a control group of lutein interventions (24 mg/kg/day), an ethanol model group (Et, 8-12 mL/kg/day of 56% (v/v) ethanol), three intervention groups with lutein (12, 24 and 48 mg/kg/day) and a positive control group (DG). The results showed that liver index, ALT, AST and TG levels were increased, and SOD and GSH-Px levels were reduced in the Et group. Furthermore, alcohol intake over a long time increased the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß, disrupted the intestinal barrier, and stimulated the release of LPS, causing further liver injury. In contrast, lutein interventions prevented alcohol-induced alterations in liver tissue, oxidative stress and inflammation. In addition, the protein expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin in ileal tissues was upregulated by lutein intervention. In conclusion, lutein can improve chronic alcoholic liver injury and intestinal barrier dysfunction in rats.

Lutein Can Alleviate Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis Induced by Excessive Alcohol to Ameliorate Reproductive Damage in Male Rats.

Chronic excessive alcohol intake may lead to male reproductive damage. Lutein is a carotenoid compound with antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of lutein supplementation on male reproductive damage caused by excessive alcohol intake. In this study, an animal model of excessive drinking (12 mL/(kg.bw.d)) for 12 weeks was established and supplemented with different doses of lutein (12, 24, 48 mg/(kg.bw.d)). The results showed that the body weight, sperm quality, sex hormones (FSH, testosterone), and antioxidant markers (GSH-Px) decreased significantly, while MDA and inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α) increased significantly in the alcohol model group when compared to the normal control group. After 12 weeks of high-dose lutein supplementation with 48mg/(kg.bw.d), the spermatogenic ability, testosterone level, and the activity of marker enzymes reflecting testicular injury were improved. In addition, high-dose lutein supplementation downregulated the NF-κB and the pro-apoptosis biomarkers (Bax, Cytc and caspase-3), whereas it upregulated the expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2. These findings were fully supported by analyzing the testicular histopathology and by measuring germ cell apoptosis. In conclusion, lutein protects against reproductive injury induced by excessive alcohol through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Dentistry in Yichang, China, and Protective Suggestions for Normalisation of Epidemic Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, and it affects all aspects of life, including dental care. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the daily operations of the stomatology department and provide some guidance for dental health care personnel around the world in continuing to provide exemplary care while limiting the spread of COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analyses were performed on dental patients' medical records from the stomatology department of the First People's Hospital of Yichang, China, which were collected in the pre-epidemic, epidemic, and post-epidemic periods. Hospital-wide triage and stomatology department-specific protocols were established in the hospital to prevent cross-infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The number of patients decreased and proportion of emergency cases increased during the epidemic period. With prevention protocols in place, the number of dental patients returned to the normal range with a slight elevation during the post-epidemic period. Thus far, there has not been a single documented case of COVID-19 related to dental treatment in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has a major impact on daily life, including dental care services. Effective prevention and control measures including 3 levels of protection-zoning, instrumentation, and environmental disinfection-are needed for dental settings to provide care.

Effect of different routes of administration on early cognitive function following inguinal hernia repair.

PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of different routes of dexmedetomidine administration on early cognitive function following inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: A total of 83 patients with pediatric inguinal hernias admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to October 2020 were divided into control group (CNG, n = 41) and observation group (OG, n = 42) by random number table. The OG was given 2 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride by intranasal administration, and the CNG was treated with 0.5 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride via intravenous (IV) infusion pump. The hemodynamics, condition of anesthesia, awakening, and safety were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels at T1 and T2 in the OG were not different from those in the CNG (P > 0.05), and heart rates in the OG were all higher than those in the CNG (P < 0.05). The incidence of emergence agitation during awakening was 4.76% in the OG, which was lower than 21.95% compared with the CNG (P < 0.05). Ramsay sedation scores at 15 and 30 min after awakening in the OG were higher than those in the CNG, and PAED scores in the OG were lower than those in the CNG (P < 0.05). Cognitive, language, and motor scores in the OG were higher than those in the CNG at 3 days after surgery (P < 0.05), and the incidence of cognitive dysfunction was 4.76% in the OG at 3 days after surgery, which was lower compared with 21.95% in the CNG (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Application of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride by intranasal administration or intravenous infusion before induction can ensure rapid postoperative awakening of the children without causing significant fluctuations in blood pressure and oxygen saturation, and both methods have a high safety profile. However, intranasal administration results in more satisfactory sedation, less postoperative agitation upon awakening, and reduces postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Analysis of anxiety-related factors amongst frontline dental staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in Yichang, China.

BACKGROUND: Dental staff were characterized with the tolerance of enduring stress and they are at a high risk to respiratory infectious disease. This study compared the anxiety level of the frontline dental staff (FDS) to the general public in Yichang during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and examined potential explanatory factors to the differences. METHODS: Two online questionnaires were used separately to collect data from FDS and the general public. The Chinese version of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was included for the assessment of anxiety. Firstly, a Chi-square test was conducted to compare the anxiety state between these two groups. Then, a bivariate analysis using Cramer's V and Eta squared was conducted to find the potential factors. Lastly, a binary logistic regression was performed to examine the association between potential factors and the anxiety state of FDS. RESULTS: In general, FDS were 4.342 (95% CI: 2.427-7.768) times more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders than the general public. The bivariate analysis showed that age, Level Three Protective Measures (PM-3), conflicts with patients and/or colleagues were moderately associated with the anxiety state of FDS. But the knowledge of COVID-19, the treatment to suspected or confirmed cases both had a weak association with the anxiety among FDS. Conversely, workload, the exposure to potential infectious substance and conducting aerosol generated performance were not significantly related to the anxiety of FDS. As the model indicated, an elder age and PM-3 protective measures could lower the anxiety state of FDS, whereas the conflict with patients or/and colleagues would worsen it. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, FDS were more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders than the general public. An elder age, sufficient personal protective measures and good relationships with colleagues and patients would help them to maintain good mental health.

A Comparison of SCC Behaviors for Two States of Fe85Ga15 Alloys in a 3.5 wt % NaCl Solution.

The new magnetostrictive material Fe-Ga alloy has drawn considerable attention due to its excellent performance. The microstructure of the Fe-Ga alloy, which varies with the state of preparation or processing, not only affects the magnetostriction but also the mechanical service stability, i.e., the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) property. In this paper, we report a comparison of the SCC behaviors for two states of Fe85Ga15 alloys by using constant load experiments and the electrochemical method. Results showed that the hot-rolled Fe85Ga15 alloy exhibited better mechanical properties compared to the as-cast Fe85Ga15 alloy. SCC was found in both Fe85Ga15 alloys in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution, and the as-cast alloy was more sensitive to SCC. The normalized thresholds of SCC for the as-cast and hot-rolled Fe85Ga15 alloys are 0.34 and 0.81, respectively. Furthermore, results also indicated that the SCC mechanism is an anodic dissolution for the Fe85Ga15 alloy.

Estimation of PM2.5 Concentrations in China Using a Spatial Back Propagation Neural Network.

Methods for estimating the spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentrations have been developed but have not yet been able to effectively include spatial correlation. We report on the development of a spatial back-propagation neural network (S-BPNN) model designed specifically to make such correlations implicit by incorporating a spatial lag variable (SLV) as a virtual input variable. The S-BPNN fits the nonlinear relationship between ground-based air quality monitoring station measurements of PM2.5, satellite observations of aerosol optical depth, meteorological synoptic conditions data and emissions data that include auxiliary geographical parameters such as land use, normalized difference vegetation index, elevation, and population density. We trained and validated the S-BPNN for both yearly and seasonal mean PM2.5 concentrations. In addition, principal components analysis was employed to reduce the dimensionality of the data and a grid of neural network models was run to optimize the model design. The S-BPNN was cross-validated against an analogous but SLV-free BPNN model using the coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean squared error (RMSE) as statistical measures of goodness of fit. The inclusion of the SLV led to demonstrably superior performance of the S-BPNN over the BPNN with R2 values increasing from 0.80 to 0.89 and with the RMSE decreasing from 8.1 to 5.8 µg/m3. The yearly mean PM2.5 concentration in China during the study period was found to be 41.8 µg/m3 and the model estimated spatial distribution was found to exceed Level 2 of the China Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) enacted in 2012 (>35 µg/m3) in more than 70% of the Chinese territory. The inclusion of spatial correlation upgrades the performance of conventional BPNN models and provides a more accurate estimation of PM2.5 concentrations for air quality monitoring.

Clinical Efficacy Evaluation for Treating Trigeminal Neuralgia Using a Personalized Digital Guide Plate-Assisted Temperature-Controlled Radiofrequency.

The aim of this study was to explore the application and efficacy of personalized digital guiding plate-aided radiofrequency in treating trigeminal neuralgia (TN). A total of 117 cases (93 patients) of TN from January 2015 to December 2016 were divided into the study group (n = 53) and the traditional group (n = 64). Patients in the study group were treated by the radiofrequency through a personalized digital guiding plate, whereas those in the traditional group were treated by the traditional method. We found that no significant difference between these 2 groups in age, sex, and divisions affected (V2, V3). However, the values for operation time, recurrence rate, and patient's satisfaction in the plate assisted group were significantly improved compared with those in the traditional group. Therefore, the personalized digital guiding plate-assisted radiofrequency has higher application value than traditional method.

An in-depth analysis identifies two new independent signals in 11q23.3 associated with vitiligo in the Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, characterized by progressive loss of skin pigmentation, which is caused by the interactions of multiple factors, such as heredity, immunity and environment. Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs638893 at 11q23.3 region was identified as a risk factor for vitiligo in genome-wide association studies and multiple SNPs in this region have been associated with other autoimmune diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify additional susceptibility variants associated with vitiligo at 11q23.3 in the Chinese Han population. METHODS: We selected and genotyped 26 SNPs at 11q23.3 in an independent cohort including 2924 cases and 4048 controls using the Sequenom MassArray iPLEX® system. Bonferroni adjustment was used for multiple comparisons and P value <1.92×10-3 (0.05/26) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The A allele of rs613791 and G allele of rs523604 located in CXCR5 were observed to be significantly associated with vitiligo (OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.11-1.31, P=1.20×10-5; OR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.07-1.23, P=1.90×10-4, respectively). The C allele of rs638893 (a previously reported one) located upstream of DDX6 was also significantly associated with vitiligo (OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.12-1.38, P=3.04×10-5). The genotypes distribution of 3 SNPs also showed significant differences between case and control (rs613791: P=7.00×10-6, rs523604: P=4.00×10-3, rs638893: P=1.20×10-5, respectively). The two newly identified SNPs (rs613791 and rs523604) showed independent associations with vitiligo by linkage disequilibrium analysis and conditional logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified two new independent signals in the associated locus 11q23.3 for vitiligo. The presence of multiple independent variants emphasizes an important role of this region in disease susceptibility.

Deep sequencing of the MHC region in the Chinese population contributes to studies of complex disease.

The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region has been shown to be associated with numerous diseases. However, it remains a challenge to pinpoint the causal variants for these associations because of the extreme complexity of the region. We thus sequenced the entire 5-Mb MHC region in 20,635 individuals of Han Chinese ancestry (10,689 controls and 9,946 patients with psoriasis) and constructed a Han-MHC database that includes both variants and HLA gene typing results of high accuracy. We further identified multiple independent new susceptibility loci in HLA-C, HLA-B, HLA-DPB1 and BTNL2 and an intergenic variant, rs118179173, associated with psoriasis and confirmed the well-established risk allele HLA-C*06:02. We anticipate that our Han-MHC reference panel built by deep sequencing of a large number of samples will serve as a useful tool for investigating the role of the MHC region in a variety of diseases and thus advance understanding of the pathogenesis of these disorders.

Association analysis revealed one susceptibility locus for vitiligo with immune-related diseases in the Chinese Han population.

Generalized vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by melanocyte loss, which results in patchy depigmentation of skin and hair, and is associated with an elevated risk of other immune-related diseases. However, there is no reported study on the associations between immune susceptibility polymorphisms and the risk of vitiligo with immune-related diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential influence of 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 18q21.31 (rs10503019), 4p16.1 (rs11940117), 3q28 (rs1464510), 14q12 (rs2273844), 12q13.2 (rs2456973), 16q12.2 (rs3213758), 10q25.3 (rs4353229), 3q13.33 (rs59374417), and 10p15.1 (rs706779 and rs7090530) on vitiligo with immune-related diseases in the Chinese Han population. All SNPs were genotyped in 552 patients with vitiligo-associated immune-related diseases and 1656 controls using the Sequenom MassArray system. Data were analyzed with PLINK 1.07 software. The C allele of rs2456973 at 12q13.2 was observed to be significantly associated with vitiligo-associated immune-related diseases (autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases) (P = 0.0028, odds ratio (OR) = 1.27). In subphenotype analysis, the rs2456973 C allele was also significantly associated with early-onset vitiligo by comparing with controls (P = 0.0001) and in the case-only analysis (P = 0.0114). We confirmed that 12q13.2 was an important candidate locus for vitiligo with immune-related diseases (autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases) and affected disease phenotypes with early onset.

[Study on the injury effect of ammonium perchlorate to lung].

OBJECTIVE: To study the injury effect of ammonium perchlorate (AP) to lung and to explore whether AP can cause pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS: To detect the levels of cell counts, TNF-alpha, MDA, HYP and the synthesis of collagen in BALF or rat lung after a certain time when rats were injected AP by intratracheal instillation. RESULTS: AP could bring about acute lung damage and inflammatory reaction. The levels of TNF-alpha of different groups in different time were obviously higher than the normal control group(P < 0.05). AP could affect the levels of MDA, HYP and the synthesis of collagen. But it had no obviously pathological change of pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSION: There were acute injury effect about AP to lung, but this experiment could not make sure whether AP could cause pulmonary fibrosis.

[Toxic effects of ammonium perchlorate on thyroid of rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of toxicity of ammonium perchlorate (AP) on thyroid of rats. METHODS: Eighty-eight Wistar rats were treated orally with different dosages of AP. Three treated groups received 129, 257, 514 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) of AP respectively and one control group drunk water for 13 weeks. Another 3 groups received 1.2, 46.5, 465.0 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) of AP respectively and one control group drunk water for 36 weeks. The behavior and change of body weight in rats were observed. The levels of thyroid hormones in serum were measured and the pathological changes of thyroid tissue were observed as well. RESULTS: There were no differences in behavior and change of body weight between different AP exposure time. When the rats were treated with AP 514 mg for 13 weeks, free triiodothyronine (FT3, 2.48 pmol/L), free thyroxin (FT4, 13.33 pmol/L) were lower than those in control group (3.24, 20.92 pmol/L respectively, P<0.05). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, 0.375 mIU/L), thyroglobulin (TG, 3.37 microg/L) were higher than those in control group (0.29 mIU/L, 2.00 microg/L respectively, P<0.05). When the rats were treated with AP 465 mg for 36 weeks, FT3 (2.65 pmol/L) was lower than that in control group (4.97 pmol/L, P<0.01). FT4 in 46.5, 465 mg groups (10.63, 2.17 pmol/L respectively) were lower than that in control group (15.74 pmol/L, P<0.05, P<0.01). TSH in 465 mg group (0.34 mIU/L) was higher than that in control group (0.14 mIU/L, P<0.05). Histopathologic examination showed that follicle proliferation, no colloid in follicle, gore, follicular diminishing or atresia were found in 46.5, 465 mg groups with a dose-effect relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The toxic effects of AP on the growth of rats were not found, but those on the thyroid of rats were found significantly. Thyroid is the target organ of AP. It is considered that none effect dose of AP for rat thyroid may be 1.2 mg.kg(-1).d(-1), its threshold dose may be 46.5 mg.kg(-1).d(-1).