Residential greenness attenuated associations of long-term exposure to air pollution with biomarkers of advanced fibrosis.

Long-term exposure to air pollutants and residential greenness related to advanced fibrosis have been sparsely studied in low- and middle-income countries. A total of 29883 participants were selected from a cross-sectional survey of the Henan Rural Cohort. Concentrations of air pollutants (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1.0 µm (PM1), ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), ≤ 10 µm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) for participants were predicted by using a spatiotemporal model. Residential greenness of each participant was indicated by Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Independent and joint associations of air pollutants and residential greenness indices with prevalent advanced fibrosis reflected by fibrosis-4 score (FIB4), aspartate-to-platelet-ratio index (APRI) and ALT/AST ratio were analyzed by generalized linear mixed models and their interactive effect on prevalent advanced fibrosis were visualized by using the interplot method. Long-term exposure to PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 were positively related to FIB4 or APRI as well as prevalent intermediate-high advanced fibrosis; EVI was negatively related to FIB4 or APRI as well as prevalent intermediate-high advanced fibrosis. Negative associations of residential greenness indices (EVI or NDVI) with prevalent advanced fibrosis were decreased as increased air pollutants (PM1, PM2.5, PM10 or NO2) (P < 0.05 for all). This study indicated that residential greenness may partially attenuate negative effect of long-term exposure to air pollutants related to increased prevalent intermediate-high advanced fibrosis, implying that residential greenness may be an effective strategy to reduce the burden of prevalent hepatic fibrosis and its related disease in association with exposure high levels of air pollutants. The Henan Rural Cohort study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=11375 ).

Associations of mixture of air pollutants with estimated 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk modified by socio-economic status: The Henan Rural Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Low socio-economic status (SES) and exposure to single-air pollutant relate to increased prevalent atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), however, interactive effect between SES and exposure to single- or multiple-air pollutants on high 10-year ASCVD risk remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 31,162 individuals were derived from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. Concentrations of air pollutants (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1.0 µm (PM1), ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) or ≤10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) were assessed using a spatiotemporal model based on satellites data. Independent and joint associations of SES, single- and multiple- air pollutants with high 10-year ASCVD risk were evaluated using logistic regression models, quantile g-computation and structural equation models. The interactive effects of SES and exposure to single- or multiple air pollutants on high 10-year ASCVD risk were visualized by using Interaction plots. RESULTS: Exposure to single air pollutant (PM1, PM2.5, PM10 or NO2) related to increased high 10-year ASCVD risk among individuals with low education level or personal average monthly income, compared to the ones with high education level or personal average monthly income. Furthermore, similar results of exposure to mixture of air pollutants with high 10-year ASCVD risk were observed. Positive interactive effects between low SES and exposure to high single air pollutant or the mixture of air pollutants on high 10-year ASCVD risk were observed. CONCLUSION: Positive association of low SES with high 10-year ASCVD risk was amplified by exposure to high levels of single air pollutant or a mixture of air pollutants, implying that individuals with low SES may more susceptible to air pollution-related adverse health effect.

Downregulation of miR-892b inhibits the progression of osteoarthritis via targeting cyclin D1 and cyclin D2.

BACKGROUNDS: Osteoarthritis (OA) is an orthopedic inflammatory disease which can cause functional disability and chronic pain. MiRNAs are known to play important roles in OA. To identify the targets for the treatment of OA, bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore differentially expressed miRNAs between OA and normal samples. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. To mimic OA in vitro, primary chondrocytes were stimulated with IL-1ß. Meanwhile, flow cytometry was performed to detect the cell apoptosis and cycle distribution. In addition, protein and mRNA expressions were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. Finally, in vivo model of OA was constructed to investigate the function of miR-892b in OA. RESULTS: The data indicated that miR-892b was identified to be upregulated in OA samples. Additionally, miR-892b antagomir markedly reversed IL-1ß-induced growth decline of chondrocytes via inhibiting the apoptosis. IL-1ß notably elevated the expressions of MMP1 and MMP13 and downregulated the level of Aggrecan in chondrocytes, while miR-892b antagomir reversed these phenomena. Meanwhile, cyclin D1 and cyclin D2 were the direct targets of miR-892b. In addition, IL-1ß-induced G1 phase arrest in chondrocytes was partially abolished by of miR-892b antagomir. In vivo study indicated miR-892b antagomir could significantly alleviate the symptom of OA in a rat model. CONCLUSION: MiR-892b antagomir inhibits the progression of OA via targeting Cyclin D1 and Cyclin D2. Thus, our finding might supply a novel target for OA treatment.

[Experimental study on radiofrequency ablation technology for treatment of infected wounds in minipigs].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of radiofrequency ablation technology for the treatment of infected wounds in minipigs. METHODS: Infected wounds of full-thickness skin defects (about 6.15 cm2/wound) were prepared in 8 6-month-old minipigs (weighing, 30-35 kg) using the method of Davis et al. The 160 wounds were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 40). Infected wounds were debrided with the radiofrequency ablation technology in group A, with the electric knife in group B, and with the scalpel in group C; no treatment was done in group D as a control. The healing rate, healing time, and tissue filling rate were observed; bacterial quantitative examination and histological examination were done at 0, 2, 7, and 14 days after operation. RESULTS: All infected wounds were successfully established after 48 hours when Staphylococcus aureus dilution were inoculated. The wounds after radiofrequency ablation technology treatment were fresh and flat with slight bleeding; the healing time of group A was significantly shorter than that of groups B, C, and D (P < 0.05), and the healing rate of group A was significantly higher than that of groups B, C, and D at 7 and 14 days after operation (P < 0.05). The tissue filling rate of group A was significantly higher than that of groups B, C, and D at 2 days after operation (P < 0.05); the tissue filling rates of groups A, B, and C were significantly higher than that of group D at 7 and 14 days after operation (P < 0.05). At 0, 2, 7, and 14 days, there were significant differences in the bacterial count per gram tissue among 4 groups (P < 0.05), the order from low to high was groups A, B, C, and D. The histological observation showed that the surface of wound was smooth in group A at 0 day, and group A was better than the other groups in wound healing; at 2 days, some exudates were observed in 4 groups, but it was least in group A. There was inflammatory cell infiltration in various degrees in 4 groups at 7 and 14 days; it was lightest in group A with thick epithelium and dense collagen bundles, followed by groups B and C, and it was severe in group D. CONCLUSION: The radiofrequency ablation technology can effectively remove the necrotic tissues of infected wounds, remarkably reduce the number of bacteria, improve the healing rate, and shorten the healing time of wounds.

Effect of radiofrequency ablation on healing of infected full-thickness wounds in minipigs.

The success of debridement is critical to optimize the treatment outcomes of traumatic wounds. To investigate the impact of radiofrequency ablation on healing potential of infected wounds, minipigs with infected full-thickness skin defects on backs were divided into 4 treatment groups randomly: radiofrequency ablation debridement, electric knife debridement, sharp instrument debridement, and no treatment. The healing rate, healing time, tissue filling rate, bacterial quantitative, and histological assay were evaluated postoperatively. The results obtained provide evidence that the wounds after radiofrequency ablation treatment enhanced the skin wound-healing efficacy and had better outcomes of tissue filling compared with other debridement therapies. Furthermore, we quantified the bacterial counting level in wound samples, and the results revealed a more significant decreasing trend in radiofrequency ablation group than that of the electric knife debridement group and the sharp instrument debridement group. Postoperative histological measurements showed that there were better granulation formation and re-epithelialization and collagen deposition in radiofrequency ablation-treated wounds than those in other groups. The present findings demonstrate that radiofrequency ablation has a significantly influence on reducing the number of bacteria and improving the healing quality and is a promising candidate for treatment of infected wounds.

[Clinical safety about repairing the peripheral nerve defects with chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical safety about repairing the peripheral nerve defects with the acellular allogeneic nerve. METHODS: The 41 patients (male 38, female 3, age 10 - 55 years old, average 28.9 years old) who were performed chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft transplanting to repair nerve defects from 2002 to 2011. The average interval from injury to nerve repairing was 4.1 months (range, 10 hours to 9 months). There were 41 cases nerve defects including 10 brachial plexus nerves, 3 radial nerves of upper arm, 4 ulnar nerves of forearm, 12 digital and toe nerves, 2 sciatic nerves, 2 femoral nerves, 3 tibial nerves and 5 common peroneal nerves. There were 12 cases combined fractures and 20 soft tissue injury or defects. The average length of the nerve allograft to bridge the nerve defects was 6.1 cm (range, 2 - 10 cm). No immunosuppressive drugs were used in all cases. The clinical safety was evaluated through physical examination, blood biochemistry and immunity detection. RESULTS: All cases were followed up post-operation. They got primary wound healing except 2 superficial infection who got delay healing through dressings changing. No any adverse effects happened including immunological rejection, hypersensitivity reaction, deep infection, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: It is safe and feasible to repairing human peripheral nerve defects with chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft.