[Research on the Progress of Applying Virtual Reality Technology in Preventing Falls in the Elderly].

The primary cause of injury and death in the elderly has been reflected in fall the elderly, so the application of reasonable and effective prevention strategies has great significance in reducing the risk of fall in the elderly. The research progress of virtual reality technology applied in preventing fall in the elderly at home and abroad over the years was systematically reviewed in this study. The mechanism of the technology in preventing fall in the elderly was mainly elaborated from five aspects of improving balance ability, gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, muscle strength and the fear psychology of falling. The purpose of this thesis is to broaden the research ideas of medical personnel on the prevention of fall of the elderly, provide more effective clinical practice plans, reduce the occurrence of fall, and guarantee the safety of the elderly.

Expression of the GZMB Gene Polymorphism, SNP rs8192917, in 990 Han Chinese Patients with Postoperative Keloids.

BACKGROUND A keloid is a pathological scar hyperplasia that is affected by genetic and environmental factors. Although the involvement of cytotoxic granzyme B in keloids has been recognized, there is almost no research on granzyme B (GZMB) gene polymorphisms and keloids. This study aimed to explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of GZMB and postsurgical keloid susceptibility in the Han Chinese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 3078 participants, including 990 patients with postsurgical keloids and 2088 controls without postsurgical keloids, were enrolled. We selected 15 common DNA variants in the GZMB gene for analysis. Associations were analyzed in both single marker-based and haplotype-based methods. The Genotype-Tissue Expression database was used to examine the biological significance of the targeted single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). RESULTS SNP rs8192917 was found to be associated with the susceptibility of keloids (t statistic=4.82, P=1.47×10⁻6). An increased risk of keloids was significantly associated with the minor allele (C allele) of rs8192917 (odds ratio=1.33; 95% CI=1.18-1.49], P=1.47×10⁻6). In addition, a significant association was reported for genotypes of rs8192917 and clinical severity of keloids (χ²=10.61, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS The results suggested there are significant associations between common genetic variants in GZMB and the susceptibility of postsurgical keloids in the Chinese Han population. These genetic polymorphisms were also related with the severity of postsurgical keloid symptoms in participants with keloids. The current study can contribute to future etiological and clinical research of keloids.

Effects of a pneumatic tube system on the hemolysis of blood samples: a PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.

Many studies have explored how using a pneumatic tube system (PTS) is related to the hemolysis of blood samples, but their conclusions have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis was to clarify whether using a PTS induces the hemolysis of blood samples. The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CNKI, CqVip, SinoMed and WanFang databases were searched for studies published between January 1970 and August 2019. The primary outcomes were the hemolysis rate and hemolysis index of blood samples after applying a PTS and manual transportation. We estimated the pooled risk ratio (RR) and the standardized mean difference (SMD), using random-effects models. This meta-analysis included 29 studies covering 3121 blood samples. No significant differences were found between the PTS and manual-transportation groups in the hemolysis rate [RR: 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57 to 1.70], hemolysis index (SMD: 0.19, 95% CI: -0.00 to 0.38), or level of potassium (SMD: 0.05, 95% CI: -0.03 to 0.12), alanine aminotransferase (SMD: 0.00, 95% CI: -0.10 to 0.11), or aspartate aminotransferase (SMD: 0.04, 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.17). However, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was significantly higher in the PTS group than in the manual-transportation group (SMD: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.34). Subgroup analysis revealed that the LDH level was clearly higher in the PTS group than in the manual-transportation group only when the PTS speed was ≥6 m/s or when the PTS distance was ≥250 m. According to this meta-analysis, PTSs were associated with alterations in LDH measurements, so it is sensible that each hospital validates and monitors their PTSs.

Analysis of the Current Status of Nurses' Knowledge of Pressure Injuries and Factors Influencing It in Shaanxi Province, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Pressure injuries are present in all healthcare environments and not only pose a significant health risk to individuals but also impose a heavy economic burden on society and families. Nurses, as the primary caregivers responsible for the prevention and management of pressure injuries, have knowledge that directly determines the incidence of pressure injuries. Aim: To understand the current status of nurses' knowledge of pressure injuries in Shaanxi Province and the factors influencing it. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Methods: In April - May 2022, 16,599 nurses from hospitals at all levels in Shaanxi Province were selected as survey subjects by convenience sampling method. They were surveyed using the general information questionnaire and the Pieper-Zulkowski pressure injury Knowledge Questionnaire through the Questionnaire Star platform. Results: 16,599 nurses had a pressure injury knowledge score of (44.32±10.11). Wound description and pressure ulcer staging dimensions were less than 60% correct. Comparison of pressure injury knowledge scores of nursing staff with different genders, hospital levels, titles, education, whether they were specialized nurses in wound stoma when they last attended a lecture on pressure ulcers, when they last read literature or books on pressure ulcers, and whether they ever looked for information about pressure ulcers on the Internet showed that the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05), which were the influencing factors of the knowledge scores of the nursing staff in Shaanxi Province. Conclusion: Clinical nurses' awareness of stress-related injuries still needs to be improved, and nursing administrators can improve the quality of pressure-related injury care by increasing nursing staff's awareness through continuing education, tiered training, and other measures.

MiR-671-5p sponging activity of circMMP1 promotes esophageal squamous cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the function and mechanism of circular RNA (circRNA) matrix metallopeptidase 1 (circMMP1) in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: CircMMP1 expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and its relationship with the prognosis of ESCC patients was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cells were transfected using corresponding plasmids, and the cell proliferation activity, migration and invasion capabilities in vitro were assessed. The protein level in tissues and cells was analyzed using western blotting. RNA pulldown, dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were performed in ESCC cells to detect the interaction between circMMP1 and miR-671-5p, or the correlation between miR-671-5p and ANO1. Xenograft tumor experiment was carried out to uncover the function of circMMP1 in vivo. RESULTS: The high level of circMMP1 in tumor tissues was associated with poor prognoses of ESCC patients. Knockdown of circMMP1 suppressed ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. MiR-671-5p was the target of circMMP1 and mediated the inhibition effect of circMMP1 on ESCC cells. CircMMP1 targeted miR-671-5p to regulate ANO1 expression, which was downstream of miR-671-5p. Overexpression of ANO1 weakened tumor-repressive function of circMMP1 knockdown in ESCC cells. Moreover, silencing of circMMP1 impeded ESCC tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our study provided novel evidence that circMMP1 accelerated ESCC progression by acting as a miR-671-5p sponge to enhance ANO1 expression.

CDKL3 Promotes Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Suppressing Autophagy Via Activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway.

This study aimed to assess the role of cyclin-dependent kinase-like 3 (CDKL3) in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as well as the underlying mechanisms. Western blot and qRT-PCR were utilized to analyze CDKL3 expression in 30 pairs of NSCLC and paraneoplastic tissues. A549 cells with CDKL3 knockdown and PC9 cells with CDKL3 overexpression were constructed by infecting cells with lentiviruses expressing shRNA of CDKL3 and expressing a full-length CDKL3 mRNA, respectively. The CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay were carried out to detect cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, respectively. Autophagosome morphology was observed by electron microscopy experiments, the expression of key components of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway was examined via Western blot and their mRNA expression levels were determined. Besides, the stably infected NSCLC cells with reduced expression or overexpression of CDKL3 were inoculated into the right-back flank of mice to generate tumors. The results showed that CDKL3 expression was dramatically increased in NSCLC tissues. Moreover, CDKL3 promoted the viability and migration of NSCLC cells by suppressing autophagy in vitro and in vivo. In addition, CDKL3 might modulate PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in NSCLC. Overall, CDKL3 might promote NSCLC cell viability and metastasis by inhibiting autophagy and activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Genetic Variation in the ZNF208 Gene at rs8103163 and rs7248488 Is Associated With Laryngeal Cancer in the Northwestern Chinese Han Male.

Background: Laryngeal cancer is more common in middle-aged and older men. We conducted an association analysis between ZNF208 polymorphisms and laryngeal cancer (LC) risk in the Northwestern Chinese Han male. Methods: A total of 352 subjects (172 LC patients and 180 controls) were involved in this study. Agena MassARRAY was used to determine the genotypes. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relevance. Results: Two SNPs were associated with the risk of LC: rs8103163, OR = 1.41, p = 0.043; rs7248488, OR = 1.45, p = 0.025. Furthermore, rs8103163 was associated with an increased risk of LC under a log-additive model (OR = 1.40, p = 0.042), and rs7248488 was related to a higher risk of LC under a recessive model (OR = 2.33, p = 0.025) and a log-additive model (OR = 1.44, p = 0.026). Conclusions: We first demonstrated that the rs8103163 A allele and the rs7248488 A allele in ZNF208 create susceptibility to laryngeal cancer in the Northwestern Chinese Han male.

TIMP2 genetic variation rs4789932 may associate with an increased risk of developing acne scarring based on a case-control study of Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory cutaneous disorder that has a higher prevalence in adolescents and young adults. Previous studies have indicated that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to its risk. The protein encoded by the TIMP2 gene is a natural inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Changes in TIMP2 expression are speculated to disrupt the TIMP/MMP balance and result in acne scarring. AIMS: Our study aimed to comprehensively explore the potential genetic susceptibility of TIMP2 to acne scarring based on a case-control study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 1060 patients with acne scarring (cases) and 2162 patients without acne scarring (controls) were enrolled in the present study. Seventeen tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TIMP2 gene were selected for genotyping. Genetic association analyses were conducted at both the single marker and haplotypic levels. Single marker-based association analyses were performed in the genotypic model and allelic model. The distributions of clinical variables in different genotype groups of targeted SNPs in patients with acne scarring were also examined. RESULTS: SNP rs4789932 was identified to be significantly associated with the risk of acne scarring in both the genotypic model (p = 0.001) and allelic model (p = 0.0002). The C allele of SNP rs4789932 was significantly associated with an increased risk of acne scarring (OR [95% CI] = 1.23 [1.10-1.37]). Significant differences were identified between the SNP rs4789932 genotypes and the clinical severity of acne scarring (p < 2.2 × 10-16 ). The C allele of SNP rs4789932 was associated with severe clinical features of acne scarring. CONCLUSIONS: A significant genetic marker of the promoter region in TIMP2 was identified to contribute to the risk of acne scarring in the Chinese Han population and was significantly associated with the clinical severity of acne scarring in patients.

The correlation between IL-4 polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk in a population in Northwest China.

Our aim was to investigate whether polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene are associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in a Chinese Han population. Six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-4 were genotyped by Agena MassARRAY in 248 CRC patients and 463 healthy controls. The association of IL-4 polymorphisms with CRC risk was assessed by genetic models, linkage disequilibrium, and haplotype analyses. The results suggested that the CC genotype of rs2243250 confers a lower risk of CRC in the recessive model [odds ratio (OR) = 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19-0.92, P = 0.020]. Similarly, rs2227284 GG was associated with a reduced risk of CRC in the codominant (OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04-0.82, P = 0.027) and recessive (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.04-0.83, P = 0.008) models adjusted for age. Our findings suggested that rs2243250 and rs2227284 in IL-4 are associated significantly with reduced CRC risk, which may facilitate the identification of CRC patients in Chinese populations.

Paraoxonase 1 gene (Q192R) polymorphism confers susceptibility to coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetes patients: Evidence from case-control studies.

Numerous published studies have investigated the relationship between the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene Q192R (rs662) polymorphism and the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. However, the results are still conflicting and inconclusive. Potentially eligible articles were searched for in related databases. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate the associations. Subgroup analysis was performed based on ethnicity. Ten case-control studies were included. A significant increase in the susceptibility for CAD in T2DM patients was found in the allelic model (OR = 1.49, p < 0.001), homozygote model (OR = 2.47, p < 0.001), heterozygote model (OR = 1.47, p < 0.001), dominant model (OR = 1.64, p < 0.001), and recessive model (OR = 1.74, p = 0.001). In subgroup analysis by ethnicity, a significant increase susceptibility was found in Asian populations in the allelic model (OR = 1.39, p = 0.001), homozygote model (OR = 2.15, p = 0.002), heterozygote model (OR = 1.37, p = 0.006), recessive model (OR = 1.65, p = 0.012), and dominant model (OR = 1.54, p < 0.001). A similar significant increase in susceptibility was found in Caucasian populations in the allelic model (OR = 1.75, p = 0.002), homozygote model (OR = 3.39, p = 0.002), recessive model (OR = 1.98, p = 0.030), heterozygote model (OR = 1.64, p = 0.001), and dominant model (OR = 1.83, p < 0.001). The results suggest that the PON1 Q192R polymorphism is associated with a significantly increased risk of CAD in T2DM patients in both Asian and Caucasian populations.

MiR-152-3p regulates cell proliferation, invasion and extracellular matrix expression through by targeting FOXF1 in keloid fibroblasts.

Emerging evidence has revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in keloid pathogenesis. However, potential molecular mechanism of keloid formation remains unclear. In the present study, our findings showed that miR-152-3p mRNA expression level was notably up-regulated in keloid tissues and keloid fibroblasts compared with that of normal skin tissues and normal skin fibroblasts, respectively. Furthermore, miR-152-3p inhibition remarkably suppressed cell proliferation, which was increased by miR-152-3p overexpression. Cell invasion was also significantly decreased by miR-152-3p inhibition, whereas was increased by miR-152-3p overexpression. The mRNA and protein expression levels of extracellular matrix components including type I collagen, type III collagen and fibronectin were decreased by miR-152-3p inhibition, but were increased by miR-152-3p overexpression. In addition, results of dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that FOXF1 is a direct target of miR-152-3p. FOXF1 overexpression significantly inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, and extracellular matrix in keloid fibroblasts, and the suppressive effects of miR-152-3p mimic on these functions were notably partly reversed by FOXF1 overexpression. Taken together, these findings indicated that miR-152-3p regulates cell proliferation, invasion and extracellular matrix expression through targeting FOXF1 in keloid fibroblasts, suggesting that miR-152-3p is a novel and promising molecular target for keloid treatment.

Self-management and blood pressure control in China: a community-based multicentre cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the relationship between self-management and blood pressure (BP) control in China. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Eight community health centres from four cities in the Northeast (Shenyang), Northwest (Xi'an), Southwest (Chengdu) and South (Changsha) of China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 873 adults with hypertension, including 360 men and 513 women. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: BP control was the primary outcome variable. This was categorised as good control if individuals with hypertension reduced their BP to <140/90 mm Hg, otherwise, it was categorised as poor control. Secondary outcomes included self-management, defined as: (1) context or condition-specific factors or physical/social environments (eg, age, sex, marital status, education, personal income and health insurance) and (2) process or knowledge/beliefs, self-regulation skills/abilities and social facilitation (eg, treatment, diet, exercise and risk factor management). Data were analysed using logistic regression models using SPSS V.20. RESULTS: A total of 67.1% (n=586) participants had poor BP control. Limited outpatient care benefits in mainly rural residents (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.81) and longer disease duration (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04) were associated with poor BP control. Self-management practices reduced the odds of having poor BP control (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: The individual and family self-management theory can serve as an effective theory for understanding the key contexts, processes and outcomes essential for BP control in China. Future research should evaluate the effect of a self-management intervention (eg, self-monitoring, medication adherence, regular and routine doctor visits, and social supports) for BP control in China using a multisite cluster randomised controlled trial. Sex and gender difference, cost and patient-reported outcomes should also be examined.