An inactivated PDCoV vaccine induces robust neutralizing antibodies and immune protection in pigs lasting for three months.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), a novel enteropathogenic coronavirus, causes diarrhea mainly in suckling piglets and has the potential to infect humans. Whereas, there is no commercially available vaccine which can effectively prevent this disease. In this study, to ascertain the duration of immune protection of inactivated PDCoV vaccine, suckling piglets were injected subcutaneously with inactivated PDCoV vaccine using a prime/boost strategy at 3 and 17-day-old. Neutralizing antibody assay showed that the level of the inactivated PDCoV group was still ≥1:64 at three months after prime vaccination. The three-month-old pigs were orally challenged with PDCoV strain CZ2020. Two pigs in challenge control group showed mild to severe diarrhea at 10-11 day-post-challenge (DPC), while the inactivated PDCoV group had no diarrhea. High levels of viral shedding, substantial intestinal villus atrophy, and positive straining of viral antigens in ileum were detected in challenge control group, while the pigs in inactivated PDCoV group exhibited significantly reduced viral load, minor intestinal villi damage and negative straining of viral antigens. These results demonstrated that PDCoV was pathogenic against three-month-old pigs and inactivated PDCoV vaccine can provide effective protection in pigs lasting for three months.

The relationship of platelet distribution width with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major complication in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Previous studies have demonstrated that platelet distribution width (PDW) is associated with cardiovascular events in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, we hypothesized that elevated PDW can predict all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in PD patients. METHODS: We recruited PD patients for a single-center retrospective cohort study from 1 January 2007, to 30 June 2020. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were made to determine the PDW cutoff value for predicting all-cause mortality. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to improve the equilibrium between groups. The relation of PDW with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards models. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to determine whether there was a linear relationship between PDW and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: A total of 720 PD patients were screened, and 426 PD patients were enrolled after PSM. After adjusting for confounders, Cox proportional hazards models showed that the PDW value was positively correlated with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.162, 95% CI 1.057-1.278, p = 0.002 and HR = 1.200, 95% CI 1.041-1.382, p = 0.012). The adjusted RCS analysis further showed that the relationship of PDW with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was linear (p for nonlinearly = 0.143 and 0.062). CONCLUSION: Elevated PDW is independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in PD patients.

Clinical significance of serum microRNA-146a and inflammatory factors in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia after azithromycin treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia after azithromycin treatment. microRNA-146a is known to regulate inflammatory responses, and excessive inflammation is a primary characteristic of MPP. METHODS: Children with MPP received conventional symptomatic therapy along with intravenous administration of azithromycin for one week. Serum levels of microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA kits, respectively. The correlation between microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors was analyzed by the Pearson method. Pulmonary function indexes were assessed using a pulmonary function analyzer, and their correlation with microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors after treatment was evaluated. Children with MPP were divided into effective and ineffective treatment groups, and the clinical significance of microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Serum microRNA-146a was downregulated in children with MPP but upregulated after azithromycin treatment, contrasting with the trend observed for pro-inflammatory factors. MicroRNA-146a showed a negative correlation with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pulmonary function parameters were initially reduced in children with MPP, but increased after treatment, showing positive/inverse associations with microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors. Higher microRNA-146a and lower pro-inflammatory factors predicted better efficacy of azithromycin treatment. MicroRNA-146a, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) were identified as independent factors influencing treatment efficacy. CONCLUSION: Azithromycin treatment in children with MPP upregulates microRNA-146a, downregulates pro-inflammatory factors, and effectively improves pulmonary function.

Clinical significance of serum microRNA-146a and inflammatory factors in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia after azithromycin treatment

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia after azithromycin treatment. microRNA-146a is known to regulate inflammatory responses, and excessive inflammation is a primary characteristic of MPP. Methods Children with MPP received conventional symptomatic therapy along with intravenous administration of azithromycin for one week. Serum levels of microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA kits, respectively. The correlation between microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors was analyzed by the Pearson method. Pulmonary function indexes were assessed using a pulmonary function analyzer, and their correlation with microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors after treatment was evaluated. Children with MPP were divided into effective and ineffective treatment groups, and the clinical significance of microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic multivariate regression analysis. Results Serum microRNA-146a was downregulated in children with MPP but upregulated after azithromycin treatment, contrasting with the trend observed for pro-inflammatory factors. MicroRNA-146a showed a negative correlation with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pulmonary function parameters were initially reduced in children with MPP, but increased after treatment, showing positive/inverse associations with microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors. Higher microRNA-146a and lower pro-inflammatory factors predicted better efficacy of azithromycin treatment. MicroRNA-146a, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) were identified as independent factors influencing treatment efficacy. Conclusion Azithromycin treatment in children with MPP upregulates microRNA-146a, downregulates pro-inflammatory factors, and effectively improves pulmonary function.

Prioritizing sustainable development goals in China based on a comprehensive assessment accounting for indicator interlinkages.

Prioritizing areas and targets, coordinated with development gaps, is necessary to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the face of resource limitations resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The SDG interlinkages further exacerbate the difficulty inherent in addressing these goals. However, previous studies failed to consider the indicator interlinkages in the process of aggregate performance assessments and thus cannot identify priorities based on indicator interlinkages and development gaps. This study integrated network analysis and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method to convert indicator interlinkages into indicator weights and then assessed the aggregate performance of the SDGs. Subsequently, the prioritized provinces and indicators were identified at the subnational level of China based on the aggregate performance of the SDGs, SDG growth rate and indicator interlinkages. The per capita net income of rural residents (2.3.2), the proportion of people living below 50% of the median income (10.2.1), and the under-five mortality rate (3.2.1) were the most contributing indicators to the aggregate performance of the SDGs, while the common challenges dealt with SDG 16, SDG 6, SDG 7 and SDG 12. Moreover, accelerating the development of western provinces would make it possible to overcome the traditional imbalance status, while resource-driven provinces should be paid special attention due to their poor aggregate performance of the SDGs and their lower growth rate. Thus, a coordinating strategy is highly recommended for allocating resources to the priority targets and finally achieving the SDGs.

Arginine vasopressin injection rescues delayed oviposition in cyp19a1b-/- mutant female zebrafish.

In zebrafish, estrogens produced in the ovaries via Cyp19a1a activity are required for both sexual differentiation of the ovary during early development as well as maintenance of the ovarian state during adulthood. The importance of Cyp19a1b that is highly expressed in the brain for female reproduction is still under study. We previously reported that female cyp19a1b -/- mutant zebrafish have significantly lower brain estradiol levels and impaired spawning behavior characterized by an increased latency to oviposition during dyadic sexual behavior encounters. In the current study, we provide evidence that the delayed oviposition in female cyp19a1b -/- mutants is linked to impaired arginine vasopressin (Avp) signaling. Droplet digital PCR experiments revealed that levels of the estrogen receptors, avp, and oxytocin (oxt) are lower in the hypothalamus of mutant females compared to wildtype fish. We then used acute intraperitoneal injections of Avp and Oxt, along with mixtures of their respective receptor antagonists, to determine that Avp can uniquely rescue the delayed oviposition in female cyp19a1b -/- mutants. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that Cyp19a1b-expressing radial glial cell (RGC) fibers surround and are in contact with Avp-immunopositive neurons in the preoptic areas of the brain. This could provide the neuroanatomical proximity for RGC-derived estrogens to diffuse to and activate estrogen receptors and regulate avp expression levels. Together these findings identify a positive link between Cyp19a1b and Avp for female zebrafish sexual behavior. They also suggest that the female cyp19a1b -/- mutant behavioral phenotype is likely a consequence of impaired processing of Avp-dependent social cues important for mate identification and assessment.

Simultaneous extraction and detection of peptides, steroids, and proteins in small tissue samples.

The detection and quantification of hormones are important to assess the reproductive and stress status of experimental models and for the diagnosis of diseases in human and veterinary clinics. Traditionally, steroid, peptide, and protein hormones are analyzed in individual experiments using different extraction methodologies. With the new advancement on HPLC sorbents, the simultaneous measurement of hormones from different categories becomes possible. In this study, we present a novel sample processing strategy for the simultaneous extraction and detection of peptides, steroids, and proteins using high-resolution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We demonstrate the sensitivity of our method for small tissues by acquiring data from brain, pituitary gland, and gonads of single zebrafish samples. This approach promises to shed light on the hormonal pathways and their interrelationships, providing knowledge on the integration of hormone systems.

Mutation of brain aromatase disrupts spawning behavior and reproductive health in female zebrafish.

Aromatase (Cyp19a1) is the steroidogenic enzyme that converts androgens into bioactive estrogens, and hence is in a pivotal position to mediate reproduction and sexual behavior. In teleosts, there are two aromatase paralogs: cyp19a1a that is highly expressed in granulosa and Leydig cells in the gonads with critical function in sexual differentiation of the ovary, and cyp19a1b that is highly expressed in radial glial cells in the brain with unknown roles in reproduction. Cyp19a1 -/- mutant zebrafish lines were used to investigate the importance of the cyp19a1 paralogs for spawning behavior and offspring survival and early development. Mutation of cyp19a1b was found to increase the latency to the first oviposition in females. Mutation of cyp19a1b in females also increased the number of eggs spawned; however, significantly more progeny died during early development resulting in no net increase in female fecundity. This finding suggests a higher metabolic cost of reproduction in cyp19a1b -/- mutant females. In males, the combined mutation of both cyp19a1 paralogs resulted in significantly lower progeny survival rates, indicating a critical function of cyp19a1 during early larval development. These data establish the specific importance of cyp19a1b for female spawning behavior and the importance of the cyp19a1 paralogs for early larval survival.

Mapping health vulnerability to short-term summer heat exposure based on a directional interaction network: Hotspots and coping strategies.

Health risk resulting from non-optimal temperature exposure, referred to as "systematic risk", has been a sustainable-development challenge in the context of global warming. Previous studies have recognized interactions between and among system components while assessing the vulnerability to climate change, but have left open the question of indicator directional interactions. The question is important, not least because indicator directional association analysis provides guidance to address climate risks by revealing the key nodes and pathways. The purpose of this work was to assess health vulnerability to short-term summer heat exposure based on a directional interaction network. Bayesian network model and network analysis were used to conduct a directional interaction network. Using indicator directional associations as weights, a weighted technique for the order of preference by similarity to ideal solution method was then proposed to assess heat-related health vulnerability. Finally, hotspots and coping strategies were explored based on the directional interaction network and health vulnerability assessments. The results showed that (1) indicator directional interactions were revealed in the health vulnerability framework, and the interactions differed between northern and southern China; (2) there was a dramatic spatial imbalance of health vulnerability in China, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and the Yangtze River Basin identified as hotspots; (3) particulate matter and ozone were recognized as priority indicators in the most vulnerable cities of northern China, while summer heat exposure level and variation were priority indicators in southern China; and (4) adaptive capacity could alter the extent of risk; thus, mitigation and adaptation should be implemented in an integrated way. Our study has important implications for strengthening the theoretical basis for the vulnerability assessment framework by providing indicator directional associations and for guiding policy design in dealing with heat-related health vulnerability in China.

Clinical characterization of polycythemia vera associated with IgA nephropathy in a single Chinese center: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm which is characterized by excessive production of erythrocytes as well as myeloid and megakaryocytic proliferation. PV associated with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) has rarely been reported in the literature. The long-term renal prognosis of these patients is unknown. METHODS: Clinical and pathological characteristics of 7 patients with renal biopsy-proven IgAN associated with PV were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The 7 patients were all males, with a mean age of 49.1 ±â€…18.8 years when admitted to our hospital. Systemic symptoms include: hypertension in case 2, 3, 5, and 6, splenomegaly in case 2, 4, and 5, and multiple lacunar infarction in case 6. Bone marrow biopsy test revealed relative erythroid hyperplasia and atypical megakaryocyte proliferation which consistent with a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm. All patients had JAK2V617F and BCR-ABL tested, and JAK2V617F positive in 2 patients. Mild mesangial proliferation was observed in 5 patients and moderate/severe mesangial proliferation in 2patients. Immunofluorescence mainly showed diffuse granular deposition of dominant IgA in mesangium. After follow-up of 56.7 ±â€…44.0 months, hemoglobin level was 144 ±â€…29 g/L and hematocrit lever was 0.470 ±â€…0.03, compared with 187 ±â€…29 g/L and 0.563 ±â€…0.087 respectively when admitted to our hospital. The urine protein was 0.85 ±â€…0.64 g/24 h compared with 3.97 ±â€…4.68 g/24 h. Case 3 progressed to end stage renal disease and had received hemodialysis for 5 years before renal transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that PV associated with IgAN mainly occurs in males and is often accompanied by hematuria and mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency. The long-term prognosis was good for most patients, and few progressed relatively quickly to end stage renal disease.

The role of glomerular lesions in the prognosis of patients with acute kidney injury during hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the role of glomerular lesions in patients who suffered from acute kidney injury (AKI) during hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). METHODS: The study comprised 66 patients with AKI during HFRS treated at the National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases of China, Jinling Hospital, from January 2014 to December 2018. According to the kidney pathological findings, the 66 patients were divided into two groups: the tubulointerstitial injury group (HFRS-TI group, n = 43) and the tubulointerstitial injury with glomerular lesions group (HFRS-GL group, n = 23). The clinical and pathological characteristics of the 66 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 9 cases of IgA nephropathy, 1 case of membranous nephropathy, 2 cases of diabetic nephropathy, and 11 cases of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in the HFRS-GL group. There were more males in the HFRS-GL group than in the HFRS-TI group (92.3% vs. 69.8%, p < .05). A higher proportion of interstitial fibrosis (56.5% vs. 27.9%, p < .05) and more immunoglobulin and complement depositions (p < .001) were observed in the HFRS-GL group than in the HFRS-TI group. Rates of remission of AKI were lower in the HFRS-GL group than in the HFRS-TI group (73.9% vs. 95.3%, p < .05). The presence of glomerular lesions (HR = 5.636, 95% CI = 1.121-28.329, p = .036) and moderate tubulointerstitial injury (HR = 3.598, 95% CI = 1.278-10.125, p = .015) were found to be independent risk factors for kidney prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AKI during HFRS can have glomerular lesions or glomerulonephritis. Patients with AKI during HFRS who have glomerular lesions or moderate renal tubulointerstitial injury proven by kidney biopsy have a relatively poor kidney prognosis. A kidney biopsy can help determine long-term prognosis in patients with AKI during HFRS.

Sub-Nanometer Acoustic Vibration Sensing Using a Tapered-Tip Optical Fiber Microcantilever.

We demonstrate a highly sensitive acoustic vibration sensor based on a tapered-tip optical fiber acting as a microcantilever. The tapered-tip fiber has a unique output profile that exhibits a circular fringe pattern, whose distribution is highly sensitive to the vibration of the fiber tip. A piezo transducer is used for the acoustic excitation of the fiber microcantilever, which results in a periodic bending of the tip and thereby a significant output power modulation. Using a multimode readout fiber connected to an electric spectrum analyzer, we measured the amplitude of these power modulations over the 10-50 kHz range and observed resonances over certain frequency ranges. Two types of tapered-tip fibers were fabricated with diameter values of 1.5 µm and 1.8 µm and their frequency responses were compared with a non-tapered fiber tip. Thanks to the resonance effect as well as the sensitive fringe pattern of the tapered-tip fibers, the limit of detection and the sensitivity of the fiber sensor were obtained as 0.1 nm and 15.7 V/nm, respectively, which were significantly better than the values obtained with the non-tapered fiber tip (i.e., 1.1 nm and 0.12 V/nm, respectively). The sensor is highly sensitive, easy to fabricate, low-cost, and can detect sub-nanometer displacements, which makes it a promising tool for vibration sensing, particularly in the photoacoustic sensing of greenhouse gases.

Applying contrast-enhanced ultrasound model to distinguish atypical focal adenomyosis from uterine leiomyomas.

Background: Different from conventional ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is better in observing microperfusion. For atypical focal adenomyosis and uterine leiomyomas that are difficult to be distinguished by conventional ultrasound, this study aims to further improve the differential diagnosis performance by using CEUS model. Methods: After screening the cases with difficulties in identifying focal myometrium lesions through conventional ultrasound, the number of cases covered in the focal adenomyosis group and leiomyomas group were 60 and 30 in derivation cohort, 14 and 7 in validation cohort. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of CEUS were analyzed according to the surgical pathology. The qualitative characteristics include: the enhancement level based on the myometrium, the contrast enhancement pattern, the enhanced time of the lesion based on the myometrium, post-contrast lesion border, the distribution of the contrast agent, and the wash-out time based on the myometrium. The quantitative characteristics include: arrive time (AT), time to peak (TTP), peak intensity (PI), ΔAT, ΔTTP, ΔPI, |ΔAT|, |ΔTTP|, |ΔPI| and lesion temporal variability. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to screen the independent risk factors, and a risk prediction model for the differential diagnosis of the two diseases was established. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to assess the diagnostic performance of the model. The validation cohort was used to further evaluate the diagnostic performance of the model. Results: Through the multivariate analysis, it concluded that short-term vessels first enhanced enhancement mode, unclear boundary, lesion temporal variability under CEUS >9.5 s, uneven contrast agent distribution could be independent risk factors for the diagnosis of adenomyosis [AUC =0.908, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.833-0.982]. We also determined the sensitivity (98.33%), specificity (70.00%), positive predictive value (PPV) (86.76%), negative predictive value (NPV) (95.45%), and accuracy (87.78%) of this model. Based on pathological diagnosis, the sensitivity and specificity of the model in the validation cohort were both 85.71%, with NPV of 75% and PPV of 92.3%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.898 (95% CI: 0.742-1.000). Conclusions: The establishment of CEUS model has certain clinical application value in differentiating atypical focal adenomyosis from leiomyomas.

Healthy aging index and its link with relative education between individual and neighborhood: a population-based, cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: There is increasing recognition of the importance of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) for establishing an age-friendly society. Despite the benefits of improved neighborhood SES, little is known about the link of relative education between individuals and neighborhoods with healthy aging. This study aims to construct a healthy aging index (HAI) accounting for indicators' interlinkages and to test the association of the HAI with relative education between neighborhoods and individuals. METHODS: The study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2011 to 2018, including middle-aged and older adults (≥ 45 years). The final sample comprised 11633 participants residing in 443 neighborhoods with 34123 observations. Based on 13 health indicators, a hybrid method integrating network analysis with TOPSIS was applied to construct a HAI accounting for health interlinkages. Weighted multilevel linear and ordered logistic models were used to estimate the effects of neighborhood education. RESULTS: Among the 11633 participants (mean [SD] age, 58.20 [8.91] years; 6415 women [52.82%]), the mean (SD) HAI was 48.94 (7.55) at baseline, showing a downward trend with age. Approximately 10% of participants had a HAI trajectory characterized by a low starting point and fast decline. A one-year increase in neighborhood education was independently associated with a 0.37-point increase (95% CI, 0.23-0.52) in HAI. Regardless of individual education, each participant tended to gain benefits from a neighborhood with higher education. However, the effects of increased neighborhood education were weaker for individuals whose education was lower than the neighborhood average. CONCLUSIONS: The HAI is an interaction system. Improving neighborhood education was beneficial to healthy aging, but individuals with lower education relative to the neighborhood average may experience poor person-environment fit and obtain fewer benefits from improved neighborhood education. Thus, in the process of improving neighborhood SES, individual-based interventions should be conducted for individuals whose education level is lower than the neighborhood average to achieve person-environment fit.

Global Population Exposure to Extreme Temperatures and Disease Burden.

The frequency and duration of extreme temperature events continues to increase worldwide. However, the scale of population exposure and its quantitative relationship with health risks remains unknown on a global scale, limiting our ability to identify policy priorities in response to climate change. Based on data from 171 countries between 2010 and 2019, this study estimated the exposure of vulnerable populations to extreme temperatures, and their contemporary and lag associations with disease burden attributed to non-optimal temperatures. Fixed-effects models and dynamic panel models were applied. Increased vulnerable population exposure to extreme temperatures had adverse contemporary effects on the burden of disease attributed to non-optimal temperature. Health risks stemming from extreme cold could accumulate to a greater extent, exhibiting a larger lag effect. Population exposure to extreme cold was mainly distributed in high-income countries, while extreme heat occurred more in low-income and middle-income countries. However, the association between population exposure to extreme cold and burden of disease was much stronger in low-income and middle-income countries than in high-income countries, whereas the effect size of population exposure to extreme heat was similar. Our study highlighted that differential strategies should be determined and implemented according to the characteristics in different countries.

Association of ambient air pollution exposure and its variability with subjective sleep quality in China: A multilevel modeling analysis.

Growing epidemiological evidence has shown that exposure to ambient air pollution contributes to poor sleep quality. However, whether variability in air pollution exposure affects sleep quality remains unclear. Based on a large sample in China, this study linked individual air pollutant exposure levels and temporal variability with subjective sleep quality. Town-level data on daily air pollution concentration for 30 days prior to the survey date were collected, and the monthly mean value, standard deviations, number of heavily polluted days, and trajectory for six common pollutants were calculated to measure air pollution exposure and its variations. Sleep quality was subjectively assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a PSQI score above 5 indicated overall poor sleep quality. Multilevel and negative control models were used. Both air pollution exposure and variability contributed to poor sleep quality. A one-point increase in the one-month mean concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) and ≤10 µm (PM10) led to 0.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002-1.006) and 0.3% (95% CI: 1.001-1.004) increases in the likelihoods of overall poor sleep quality (PSQI score >5), respectively; the odds ratios of a heavy pollution day with PM2.5 and PM10 were 2.2% (95% CI: 1.012-1.032) and 2.2% (95% CI: 1.012-1.032), respectively. Although the mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide met the national standard, they contributed to the likelihood of overall poor sleep quality (PSQI score >5). A trajectory of air pollution exposure with maximum variability was associated with a higher likelihood of overall poor sleep quality (PSQI score >5). Subjective measures of sleep latency, duration, and efficiency (derived from PSQI) were affected in most cases. Thus, sleep health improvements should account for air pollution exposure and its variations in China under relatively high air pollution levels.

Effects of compound small peptides of Chinese medicine on intestinal immunity and cecal intestinal flora in CTX immunosuppressed mice.

The study was designed to explore the improvement effect of CSPCM (compound small peptide of Chinese medicine) on intestinal immunity and microflora through the treatment of different doses of CSPCM. A total of 100 male Kunming mice were weighed and divided into five groups, namely, group A (control group), group B (model group), group C (0.1 g/kg·bw CSPCM), group D (0.2 g/kg·bw CSPCM), and group E (0.4 g/kg·bw CSPCM). The use of CTX (cyclophosphamide) caused a series of negative effects: the secretion of IL-2, IL-22, TNF-α, sIgA, length of the villi, and the area of Pey's node were significantly reduced (P < 0.05); the depth of crypt and the percent of CD3+ and CD4+ cells were significantly increased (P < 0.05); the cecal flora taxa decreased; the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus increased; and the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Deferribacteres, Proteobacteria, Mucispirillum, Bacteroides, and Flexisprra decreased. The addition of CSPCM improved the secretion of cytokines and the development of intestinal villi, crypts, and Pey's node. The number of CD3+ and CD4+ cells in groups C, D, and E was significantly higher than that in group B (P < 0.05). Compared with group B, the abundance of Firmicutes in groups C, D, and E was decreased, and the Bacteroidetes, Deferribacteres, and Proteobacteria increased. The abundance of Lactobacillus decreased, while that of Mucispirillum, Bacteroides, and Flexisprra increased. It is concluded that cyclophosphamide is extremely destructive to the intestinal area and has a great negative impact on the development of the small intestine, the intestinal immune system, and the intestinal flora. The CSPCM can improve the negative effects of CTX.

Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of polypoid lesions of gallbladder ≥ 1 cm.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Polypoid lesions of gallbladder (PLGs) ≥ 1 cm. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed on 180 patients with PLGs ≥ 1 cm. 175 cases were confirmed by pathological diagnosis and the remaining were confirmed by other imaging findings. The characteristics of lesions on conventional Ultrasonography (US) and CEUS were recorded. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in enhancement patterns between benign and malignant PLGs during both arterial (P < 0.001) and venous phases (P < 0.001). The malignant lesions typically yielded a "fast-in and fast-out" enhancement pattern. There was no significant difference in Arrival time (AT) between malignant and benign PLGs. If we consider wash-out time ≤ 40 s as a diagnostic standard for malignant lesions, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 88.24%, 85.62%, and 86.11%, respectively. Destruction of the Gallbladder (GB) wall was a particularly important indication of malignant PLGs, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 93.33%, 92.12%, and 92.22%, respectively. The accuracy of CEUS in the diagnosis of PLGs, as well as malignant and benign lesions, was 92.22%, 92.47%, and 91.17%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The "fast-in and fast-out" enhancement pattern, hyper-enhancement in comparison to the GB wall in the arterial phase, wash-out time ≤ 40 s, GB wall destruction, and hepatic parenchymal infiltration are the characteristic findings of malignant PLGs. Besides, CEUS provides a valuable reference to classify some of the benign lesions.

Brief Developmental Exposure to Fluoxetine Causes Life-Long Alteration of the Brain Transcriptome in Zebrafish.

Fluoxetine (FLX) and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are widely used to treat depressive disorders during pregnancy. Early-life exposure to FLX is known to disrupt the normal function of the stress axis in humans, rodents, and teleosts. We used a zebrafish line with a cortisol-inducible fluorescent transgene to study the effects of developmental daily exposure to FLX (54 µg/L) on the transcriptomic profile of brain tissues in exposed larvae and later as 6-month-old adults. High throughput RNA sequencing was conducted on brain tissues in unstressed and stressed conditions. Long-lasting effects of FLX were observed in telencephalon (Tel) and hypothalamus (Hyp) of adult zebrafish with 1927 and 5055 genes significantly (≥1.2 fold-change, false-discovery p-value < 0.05) dysregulated in unstressed condition, respectively. Similar findings were observed in Hyp with 1245 and 723 genes being significantly dysregulated in stressed adults, respectively. Differentially expressed genes converted to Homo sapiens orthologues were used for Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. The results showed alteration of pathways involved in neuroendocrine signaling, cholesterol metabolism and synaptogenesis. Enriched networks included lipid metabolism, molecular transport, and nervous system development. Analysis of putative upstream transcription regulators showed potential dysregulation of clocka and nr3c1 which control circadian rhythm, stress response, cholesterol metabolism and histone modifications. Several genes involved in epigenetic regulation were also affected by FLX, including dnmt3a, adarb1, adarb2, hdac4, hdac5, hdac8, and atf2. We report life-long disruptive effects of FLX on pathways associated with neuroendocrine signaling, stress response and the circadian rhythm, and all of which are implicated in the development of depressive disorders in humans. Our results raise concern for the persistent endocrine-disrupting potential of brief antidepressant exposure during embryonic development.

Proteome and transcriptome explore the mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharides to relieve florfenicol-induced kidney injury in broilers.

This experiment explored the mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharides (SMPs) on florfenicol (FFC)-induced kidney injury in broilers. Ninety healthy 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 replicates in each group and 5 chickens in each replicate. The three groups included control group, model group (0.15 g/L FFC), and SMPs group (0.15 g/L FFC + 5.00 g/L SMPs). After 5 days of experimental period, blood was collected, and kidney tissues were extracted. Renal injury was evaluated by serum biochemical indicators and pathological sections. Renal oxidative stress indexes were detected; transcriptomics and proteomics were used to comprehensively analyze the effects of SMPs on broiler kidney injury. The results showed that the model group inhibited average day gain (P < 0.01) and significantly adjusted blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), and creatinine (Cr) (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The histological observation of the kidneys in the model group showed abnormal morphology, and the oxidative stress parameters showed that FFC induced oxidative stress in the kidneys. Comprehensive transcriptome proteomic analysis data showed phosphoribose pyrophosphate synthase 2 (PRPS2), cytochrome 2AC1 (CYP2AC1), cytochrome 2D6 (CYP2D6), glutathione transferase (GST), and sulfotransferase 1B (SULT1B) expression levels changed. It is worth noting that our data showed that supplementation of 5.00 g/L SMPs in drinking water reversed the changes in BUN, Cr, and daily weight gain (P < 0.05) and relieved the abnormal kidney morphology caused by FFC. After SMPs processing, it improved the detoxification process of drug-metabolizing enzymes and improved the oxidative stress state induced by FFC. Therefore, SMPs reduced the nephrotoxicity caused by FFC by promoting drug-metabolizing enzymes and alleviating oxidative stress in the kidneys.