circNOX4 activates an inflammatory fibroblast niche to promote tumor growth and metastasis in NSCLC via FAP/IL-6 axis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) orchestrate a supportive niche that fuels cancer metastatic development in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Due to the heterogeneity and plasticity of CAFs, manipulating the activated phenotype of fibroblasts is a promising strategy for cancer therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms of fibroblast activation and phenotype switching that drive metastasis remain elusive. METHODS: The clinical implications of fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-positive CAFs (FAP+CAFs) were evaluated based on tumor specimens from NSCLC patients and bioinformatic analysis of online databases. CAF-specific circular RNAs (circRNAs) were screened by circRNA microarrays of primary human CAFs and matched normal fibroblasts (NFs). Survival analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value of circNOX4 in NSCLC clinical samples. The biological effects of circNOX4 were investigated by gain- and loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo. Fluorescence in situ hybridization, luciferase reporter assays, RNA immunoprecipitation, and miRNA rescue experiments were conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of fibroblast activation. Cytokine antibody array, transwell coculture system, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to investigate the downstream effectors that promote cancer metastasis. RESULTS: FAP+CAFs were significantly enriched in metastatic cancer samples, and their higher abundance was correlated with the worse overall survival in NSCLC patients. A novel CAF-specific circRNA, circNOX4 (hsa_circ_0023988), evoked the phenotypic transition from NFs into CAFs and promoted the migration and invasion of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, circNOX4 correlated with the poor prognosis of advanced NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, circNOX4 upregulated FAP by sponging miR-329-5p, which led to fibroblast activation. Furthermore, the circNOX4/miR-329-5p/FAP axis activated an inflammatory fibroblast niche by preferentially inducing interleukin-6 (IL-6) and eventually promoting NSCLC progression. Disruption of the intercellular circNOX4/IL-6 axis significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastatic colonization in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a role of the circRNA-induced fibroblast niche in tumor metastasis and highlights that targeting the circNOX4/FAP/IL-6 axis is a promising strategy for the intervention of NSCLC metastasis.

Population-based evaluation of disparities in stomach cancer by nativity among Asian and Hispanic populations in California, 2011-2015.

BACKGROUND: Stomach cancer incidence presents significant racial/ethnic disparities among racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States, particularly among Asian and Hispanic immigrant populations. However, population-based evaluation of disparities by nativity has been scarce because of the lack of nativity-specific population denominators, especially for disaggregated Asian subgroups. Population-based stomach cancer incidence and tumor characteristics by detailed race/ethnicity and nativity were examined. METHODS: Annual age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated by race/ethnicity, sex, and nativity and tumor characteristics, such as stage and anatomic subsite, were evaluated using the 2011-2015 California Cancer Registry data. For Hispanic and Asian populations, nativity-specific population counts were estimated using the US Census and the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample data. RESULTS: During 2011-2015 in California, 14,198 patients were diagnosed with stomach cancer. Annual age-adjusted incidence rates were higher among foreign-born individuals than their US-born counterparts. The difference was modest among Hispanics (∼1.3-fold) but larger (∼2- to 3-fold) among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Americans. The highest incidence was observed for foreign-born Korean and Japanese Americans (33 and 33 per 100,000 for men; 15 and 12 per 100,000 for women, respectively). The proportion of localized stage disease was highest among foreign-born Korean Americans (44%); a similar proportion was observed among US-born Korean Americans, although numbers were limited. For other Asians and Hispanics, the localized stage proportion was generally lower among foreign-born than US-born individuals and lowest among foreign-born Japanese Americans (23%). CONCLUSIONS: Nativity-specific investigation with disaggregated racial/ethnic groups identified substantial stomach cancer disparities among foreign-born immigrant populations.

Hsa_circ_0096157 silencing suppresses autophagy and reduces cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer by weakening the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, and new diagnostic markers are urgently needed. We aimed to investigate the mechanism by which hsa_circ_0096157 regulates autophagy and cisplatin (DDP) resistance in NSCLC. METHODS: A549 cells were treated with DDP (0 µg/mL or 3 µg/mL). Then, the autophagy activator rapamycin (200 nm) was applied to the A549/DDP cells. Moreover, hsa_circ_0096157 and Nrf2 were knocked down, and Nrf2 was overexpressed in A549/DDP cells. The expression of Hsa_circ_0096157, the Nrf2/ARE pathway-related factors Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, and the autophagy-related factors LC3, Beclin-1, and p62 was evaluated by qRT‒PCR or western blotting. Autophagosomes were detected through TEM. An MTS assay was utilized to measure cell proliferation. The associated miRNA levels were also tested by qRT‒PCR. RESULTS: DDP (3 µg/mL) promoted hsa_circ_0096157, LC3 II/I, and Beclin-1 expression and decreased p62 expression. Knocking down hsa_circ_0096157 resulted in the downregulation of LC3 II/I and Beclin-1 expression, upregulation of p62 expression, and decreased proliferation. Rapamycin reversed the effect of interfering with hsa_circ_0096157. Keap1 expression was lower, and Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 expression was greater in the A549/DDP group than in the A549 group. HO-1 expression was repressed after Nrf2 interference. In addition, activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway promoted autophagy in A549/DDP cells. Moreover, hsa_circ_0096157 activated the Nrf2/ARE pathway. The silencing of hsa_circ_0096157 reduced Nrf2 expression by releasing miR-142-5p or miR-548n. Finally, we found that hsa_circ_0096157 promoted A549/DDP cell autophagy by activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway. CONCLUSION: Knockdown of hsa_circ_0096157 inhibits autophagy and DDP resistance in NSCLC cells by downregulating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

COVID-19 vaccination affects short-term anti-coagulation levels in warfarin treatment.

Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been recommended across the world, yet no study has investigated whether COVID-19 vaccination influences short-term warfarin anti-coagulation levels. Patients on stable warfarin treatment who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were prospectively enrolled and followed up for three months. INR values less than 10 days before vaccination (baseline), 3-5 days (short-term) and 6-14 days (medium-term) after vaccination were recorded as INR0, INR1, and INR2, respectively. The variations of INR values within individuals were compared, and the linear mixed effect model was used to evaluate the variations of INR values at different time points. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine covariates related to INR variations after COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination safety was also monitored. There was a significant difference in INR values between INR0 and INR1 (2.15 vs. 2.26, p = 0.003), yet no marked difference was found between INR0 and INR2. The linear mixed effect model also demonstrated that INR variation was significant in short-term but not in medium-term or long-term period after vaccination. Logistic regression analysis showed that no investigated covariates, including age, vaccine dose, genetic polymorphisms of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 etc., were associated with short-term INR variations. Two patients (2.11%) reported gingival hemorrhage in the short-term due to increased INR values. The overall safety of COVID-19 vaccines for patients on warfarin was satisfying. COVID-19 vaccines may significantly influence warfarin anticoagulation levels 3-5 days after vaccination. We recommend patients on warfarin to perform at least one INR monitoring within the first week after COVID-19 vaccination.

Prognostic Factors in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization.

BACKGROUND: Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute myeloid leukemia (Ph+ AML) is a rare leukemia subtype first classified by the World Health Organization in 2016. The incidence of Ph+ AML is approximately 0.5 - 3%, and its prognosis is poor. Ph+ AML with additional chromosomal abnormalities in children has rarely been reported, and its treatment and prognosis remain uncertain. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 649 patients with AML from 2006 - 2021. Six (0.9%) patients with Ph+ AML were identified and treated with conventional chemotherapy. The clinical features and prognoses were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Six cases of AML with a Ph chromosome were reported. One of the six individuals exhibited a biphenotypic immunophenotype, one exhibited a simple myeloid immunophenotype, and the other four exhibited myeloid and lymphoid expression. Karyotypic analysis (R banding) was performed in six cases, four of which were classical Ph chromosomal abnormalities, two of which had additional abnormalities outside the Ph chromosome. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis using the BCR/ABL fusion gene distinguished that the BCR major breakpoint break in three cases was type P210 and the BCR minor breakpoint break in three cases was type P190. The complete remission rate of the six patients in this study using conventional chemotherapy was 60%, with a median survival time of 7.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, Ph+ AML is a heterogeneous disease often associated with additional chromosomal abnormalities. Ph+ AML is seen with a lymphoid immunophenotype and alterations in associated genes such as the IGH gene. Adults were predominantly P210 and two cases in children were both P190. Conventional treatments are less effective, and there are no standard treatment regimens.

Treatment of Hemodialysis Vascular Access Repeated Stenosis with Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Angioplasty: A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to report our experience of angioplasty with paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) versus common balloon (CB) for the treatment of repeated failing vascular access. METHODS: Retrospective, single-center analysis consisting of 88 patients treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the period from October 2020 through December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of treatment as PCB (n = 41) and CB (n = 47). We analyzed target lesion primary patency and vascular access primary patency for 6 months and the rate of complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the target lesion primary patency which was similar for 6 months between the two groups (PCB group vs. CB group at 1, 3, and 6 months; 95.12 vs. 89.36% (p = 0.55), 75.61 versus 74.47% (p = 0.90), 53.66% versus 63.83% (p = 0.33), respectively). Similarly, vascular access primary patency in the PCB group and CB group was 90.24 and 89.36% (p = 0.83), respectively, at 1 month, 65.85 and 68.09% (p = 0.82), respectively, at 3 months, 39.02 and 53.19% (p = 0.18), respectively, at 6 months. There were no major complications after endovascular treatment. CONCLUSION: Compared to CB angioplasty, PCB angioplasty has no short-term patency benefit in the treatment of vascular access repeated stenosis.

SOCS5, targeted by miR-155-5p, plays a negative regulatory role in pulmonary hypertension through inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic pulmonary vascular disease and causes massive deaths. Here, we intended to investigate the function and mechanism of SOCS5 in PH. We engineered a hypoxia-induced PH model in mice. HE staining were implemented to evaluate pathological alterations in the lung tissues. The potential mechanism of SOCS5 in regulating hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) function was explored in vitro. RT-qPCR and western blot revealed that the level of SOCS5 was decreased both in PH mice and hypoxia-induced HPASMCs. Functional assays were performed for confirming the role of SOCS5 in modulating the cell phenotype and JAK2/STAT3 pathway in HPASMCs. Results revealed that overexpression of SOCS5 suppressed proliferation, migration and contraction of HPASMCs and negatively regulated the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in HPASMCs under hypoxia in vitro, while knockdown of SOCS5 accelerated it. As evidenced by mechanism studies, SOCS5 was targeted and regulated by miR-155-5p, hence affecting on HPASMC proliferation, migration and contraction. These outcomes indicated that the decreased level of SOCS5 in hypoxia-induced HPASMCs promoted the cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell contraction through activating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Moreover, SOCS5 was targeted by miR-155-5p. All in all, our work hinted that miR-155-5p/SOCS5/JAK2/STAT3 axis played a crucial part in PH.

Multiple stable isotopic approaches for tracing nitrate contamination sources: Implications for nitrogen management in complex watersheds.

Nitrate (NO3-) contamination of surface water is a global environmental problem that has serious consequences for watershed ecosystems and endangers human health. It is crucial to identify influences of different sources of NO3-, especially the incoming water from upper reaches. A combination of hydrochemistry and multi-isotope tracers (δ11B, δ15N-NO3-, and δ18O-NO3-) were used to determine NO3- sources and their transformation the North Jiulong River (NJLR), Southeast China. The findings revealed that NO3-, which accounted for an average of 87.1% of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), was the main chemical form of nitrogen species. The integration of dual stable isotopes of NO3-, δ11B, and hydrochemistry showed that NO3- was primarily contributed by sewage, soil nitrogen (SN), and ammonium (NH4+) via precipitation or fertilizers. The contributions from the sewage and soil nitrate source were almost equivalent and much higher than those from other sources in the NJLR watershed. The contributions from diverse sources varied seasonally and spatially. Manure and sewage (M&S) were the leading sources in the summer and autumn, accounting for 60.9 ± 8.5% and 47.3 ± 7.9%, respectively. However, NO3- fertilizers were the predominant source in the spring and winter. The NO3- inflow from upper reaches was proposed as an additional end-member to identify its contribution in the midstream and downstream in this study. The contributions of NO3- from the upper reaches were significant sources in the midstream and downstream, accounting for 27.2 ± 17.8% and 42.9 ± 21.9%, respectively. The obvious decline in local NO3-contribution shares from midstream to downstream implied structural changes in pollutant sources and regional environmental responsibility. Therefore, tracing nitrate sources and quantifying their contributions is critical for clarifying environmental responsibilities for precise local nitrogen management in watersheds.

Seismic noise in South China Sea: High-quality time-frequency analysis from 0.01 to 125 Hz.

An efficient and precise time-frequency analysis method for real-time ocean bottom seismometer (RTOBS) data in the South China Sea (SCS) is presented. Overcoming the limitations of conventional methods, the method involves temporal segmentation, unique frequency octaves, and Fourier transforms to generate power spectral density (PSD) and probability density function profiles. The method demonstrates superior precision, computational efficiency, and full-bandwidth (0 to Nyquist) capability compared to traditional techniques, as validated through theoretical and empirical evaluations. Applied to SCS RTOBS data, it unveils temporal PSD variations, shedding light on underwater noise sources like earthquakes, offshore blasting, ship-induced disturbances, and tidal effects. Establishing background noise levels in the SCS supports noise source categorization and ocean environment monitoring. Furthermore, comparing onshore and offshore seismic stations advances interdisciplinary research, fostering a comprehensive understanding of acoustics and seismology in the region.

New Insights into the Genetic Basis of Lysine Accumulation in Rice Revealed by Multi-Model GWAS.

Lysine is an essential amino acid that cannot be synthesized in humans. Rice is a global staple food for humans but has a rather low lysine content. Identification of the quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) and genes underlying lysine content is crucial to increase lysine accumulation. In this study, five grain and three leaf lysine content datasets and 4,630,367 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 387 rice accessions were used to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) by ten statistical models. A total of 248 and 71 common QTNs associated with grain/leaf lysine content were identified. The accuracy of genomic selection/prediction RR-BLUP models was up to 0.85, and the significant correlation between the number of favorable alleles per accession and lysine content was up to 0.71, which validated the reliability and additive effects of these QTNs. Several key genes were uncovered for fine-tuning lysine accumulation. Additionally, 20 and 30 QTN-by-environment interactions (QEIs) were detected in grains/leaves. The QEI-sf0111954416 candidate gene LOC_Os01g21380 putatively accounted for gene-by-environment interaction was identified in grains. These findings suggested the application of multi-model GWAS facilitates a better understanding of lysine accumulation in rice. The identified QTNs and genes hold the potential for lysine-rich rice with a normal phenotype.

Aging-accelerated differential production and aggregation of STAT3 protein in neuronal cells and neural stem cells in the male mouse spinal cord.

Aging-affected cellular compositions of the spinal cord are diverse and region specific. Age leads to the accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates and dysregulation of proteostasis. Dysregulated proteostasis and protein aggregates result from dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of spinal cord aging is essential and important for scientists to discover new therapies for rejuvenation. We found age-related increases in STAT3 and decreases in Tuj1 in aging mouse spinal cords, which was characterized by increased expression of P16. Coaggregation of lysine-48 and lysine-63 ubiquitin with STAT3 was revealed in aging mouse spinal cords. STAT3-ubiquitin aggregates formed via lysine-48 and lysine-63 linkages were increased significantly in the aging spinal cords but not in central canal ependymal cells or neural stem cells in the spinal cord. These results highlight the increase in STAT3 and its region-specific aggregation and ubiquitin-conjugation during spinal cord aging.

Nucleophilic Allylation of Acylsilanes in Water: An Effective Alternative to Functionalized Tertiary α-Silylalcohols.

A nucleophilic allylation of acylsilanes in water was developed, generating versatile functionalized tertiary α-silyl alcohols in high yields. With the assistance of hydrogen bonding, a reaction model of less reactive acylsilane was achieved. Unlike the conventional strategy, transition metals and an additional Lewis acid catalyst were not required, and rate acceleration was observed in water.

Proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPase 1 (PSMD1) facilitated the progression of lung adenocarcinoma by the de-ubiquitination and stability of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1).

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most metastatic, invasive, and fatal tumor type of non-small cell lung cancer that lacks satisfying therapy. The purpose of this work is to investigate the effects of proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPase 1 (PSMD1) on the progression of LUAD. Specific PSMD1 short hairpin RNA and PSMD1-overpression vectors were used to modify the expression of PSMD1 in LUAD cell lines. A xenograft model of LUAD was established with 5 × 106 stable PSMD1-downregulated A549 cells. The results showed that PSMD1 silence repressed the cell proliferation and induced the cell cycle arrest as well as the apoptosis of A549 and HCC827 cells. While the upregulation of PSMD1 led to the opposite. Furthermore, the results of co-immunoprecipitation revealed that PSMD1 interacted with PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1). And PSMD1 inhibited the ubiquitination and enhanced the stability of PINK1 protein. Subsequently, we found that PSMD1 promoted the viability and repressed the apoptosis of LUAD cells by stabilizing PINK1. PSMD1 knockdown suppressed the malignant phenotypes of LUAD in ex vivo experiments, as well as the in vivo growth of LUAD tumor by the degradation of PINK1. In summary, PSMD1 facilitated the progression of LUAD by the regulation of PINK1.

The role of ultrasonography in diagnosing acute closed volar plate injury of proximal interphalangeal joint.

BACKGROUND: Acute closed volar plate injury of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) is a common hand injury. In the past, there were few objective evaluation imaging methods for the degree of volar plate injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of high frequency ultrasonography in diagnosing volar plate injury, and to explore whether ultrasound can provide a beneficial guidance to clinical decision-making and appropriate treatment adopting through accurate US classification of volar plate injury. METHODS: From May 2019 to may 2022, 41 patients diagnosed with volar plate injury were included in this study. All patients underwent ultrasonography and X-ray examinations. The sonographic features were analyzed. A new kind of classification of volar plate injury based on ultrasonography findings was described. RESULTS: Either an injury of volar plate or an avulsion fracture of middle phalangeal base was identified clearly on ultrasonography, according to which volar plate injury could be divided into three types: A, B and C. Type A, avulsion fracture of the middle phalangeal base without volar plate rupture; Type B, full thickness tear of the volar plate without avulsion fracture; Type C, partial thickness tear of the volar plate. The average thickness of the three types of injured volar plate measured by ultrasound was 0.33 ± 0.05 cm, and the average thickness of the volar plate at the same site of the corresponding finger on the contralateral side was 0.22 ± 0.03 cm. There was significant difference between the two group (t = 11.823, p = 1.2476 *10^(-14)). CONCLUSIONS: High frequency ultrasonography could be a reliable, accurate, convenient and non-radioactive diagnostic imaging technique in the evaluation of acute closed volar plate injury of PIP. And ultrasound could provide a beneficial guidance to clinical decision-making and appropriate treatment adopting through accurate US classification.

Evaluation of meibomian gland dysfunction in type 2 diabetes with dry eye disease: a non-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the morphology and physiological function of the meibomian glands between type 2 diabetics with dry eye disease (DED) and control subjects. Doing so will help to better reveal the pathologic mechanisms of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and DED in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Ninety subjects were divided into the following four groups: DM-DED group: T2DM patients with DED (n = 30); DM control group: DM patients without DED (n = 18); DED group: DED patients without DM (n = 26); and normal control group: normal subjects (n = 16). All participants administered the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive Keratograph tear film break-up time (NIKBUT), Schirmer I test (SIT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), eyelid margin abnormality examinations, meibum quality and meibomian gland (MG) dropout evaluations. RESULTS: The percentage of MG dropout in the upper and lower lids was significantly higher in the DM-DED group than the DED group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in other MG parameters between these two groups. Oppositely, Significant difference was observed in all of MG parameters except MG dropout in the lower lids comparing DM group with normal controls (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). While the SIT values decreased in the DM-DED group compared to the DED group (P < 0.05), no significant differences were found in the values of other tear parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The higher prevalence and increased severity of MGD was found in patients with both T2DM and DED compared to those only with DED. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800019939, date of registration December 9, 2018, prospectively registered.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0002938 (circCRIM1) promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by upregulating transcription factor 12.

Growing evidence has indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of diverse malignancies. However, the majority of circRNAs involved in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain undefined and the exact functions and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in ESCC still need further exploration. In this study, we identified a novel onco-circRNA hsa_circ_0002938, derived from the exons of cysteine-rich transmembrane BMP regulator 1 (CRIM1) pre-mRNA, referred to as circCRIM1. We found that the expression of circCRIM1 was higher in ESCC tissues, compared to para-carcinoma tissues. Increased expression of circCRIM1 was positively correlated with clinical parameters of ESCC patients including tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor invasion range, and lymph node metastasis. Functionally, the results from the experiments in vitro showed that the knockdown of circCRIM1 suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ESCC cells. By conducting bioinformatics algorithms analyses and microRNA (miRNA) rescue experiments, we found that circCRIM1 could act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-342-3p in ESCC cells, and thereby upregulated the expression of transcription factor 12 (TCF12), a key regulator promoting the EMT process. Taken together, circCRIM1 facilitates the progression of ESCC by sponging miR-342-3p to regulate TCF12 and promote EMT, and the circCRIM1/miR-342-3p/TCF12 axis may be regarded as a potential predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for treating ESCC.

Prevalence and factors influencing depression among empty nesters in China: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Empty nesters are older people who live alone or an older couple without children to care for them. In China, empty nesters make up a significant community and are more likely to experience emotional issues, particularly depression. This study investigated the prevalence of depression and the factors influencing depression among Chinese home-bound empty nesters using meta-analysis. METHODS: Based on previous studies, we used search terms relating to empty nesters and depression in English and Chinese. Databases, including China Journal Full Text Database (CNKI), Wanfang, Wipu, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and UptoDate, were searched in April 2022, for relevant articles. Details including names of authors, year of publication, region of investigation, study type, sample size, depression detection scale, depression detection rate, and influencing factors were captured. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed based on the I2 index, and data analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software. RESULTS: A total of ten research articles involving 5337 Chinese empty nesters were evaluated in the present meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of depression among empty nesters in China was 43%. The prevalence of depression among urban empty nesters was 38% (95% CI: 0.24,0.52), and 36% (95% CI: 0.18,0.55) among rural empty nesters. Many factors, including female, income, marital status, chronic illness, relationship with children, and social support were linked to depression among urban empty nesters. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression among empty nesters was 43%. Therefore, based on the factors influencing depression, government departments can intervene early to improve the mental health of empty nesters. LIMITATIONS: The meta-analysis only included cross-sectional studies. Therefore, there is a need for more future original studies investigating depression among empty nesters in China.

Diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound for Poland syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The imaging diagnosis of Poland syndrome is mostly computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whereas high-frequency ultrasound for the diagnosis of Poland syndrome is relatively rare. PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound for Poland syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 15 patients diagnosed with Poland syndrome was performed, and the characteristics of ultrasound images were summarized. RESULTS: High-frequency ultrasound clearly depict the anatomical structures of each layer of the chest wall in patients with Poland syndrome. Ultrasonography mainly showed partial or total absence of the pectoralis major muscle on the affected side, and some of which were combined with the absence of the pectoralis minor muscle. The difference was statistically significant in the thickness of the affected chest wall compared with the healthy side (P < 0.01). Out of 15 cases with Poland syndrome, 11 were associated with ipsilateral brachydactyly or syndactyly, and high-frequency ultrasonography showed that the bifurcation position of the common palmar digital artery on the affected finger was lower than that on the healthy side. CONCLUSION: High-frequency ultrasound is an effective imaging method for the diagnosis of Poland syndrome.

The role of ultrasonography in diagnosis of neuralgic amyotrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of high frequency ultrasound in diagnosis of neuralgic amyotrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2020, the ultrasonographic images of 117 patients with neuralgic amyotrophy diagnosed by the Department of Neurology and hand & foot surgery of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The ultrasonographic features were summarized. RESULTS: High frequency ultrasound could clearly show the degree of the affected nerves: No ultrasonic findings were found in 12 cases (10%). The affected nerves were thickening and hypoechogenicity with loss of normal fascicular definition in 28 cases (24%). The affected nerves showed hourglass-like changes, including constriction and torsion in 77 cases (66%). In addition, ultrasound can determine the extent of the lesion, and microvascular imaging can display small blood flow signal within the nerve. There was a significant statistical difference between the diameter of the thickened nerve fascicle and the diameter of the nerve fascicle at the corresponding site of the contralateral normal limb. CONCLUSIONS: High frequency ultrasound is a valuable imaging method for diagnosis of neuralgic amyotrophy.

Germline Genetic Testing After Cancer Diagnosis.

Importance: Germline genetic testing is recommended by practice guidelines for patients diagnosed with cancer to enable genetically targeted treatment and identify relatives who may benefit from personalized cancer screening and prevention. Objective: To describe the prevalence of germline genetic testing among patients diagnosed with cancer in California and Georgia between 2013 and 2019. Design, Setting, and Participants: Observational study including patients aged 20 years or older who had been diagnosed with any type of cancer between January 1, 2013, and March 31, 2019, that was reported to statewide Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries in California and Georgia. These patients were linked to genetic testing results from 4 laboratories that performed most germline testing for California and Georgia. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was germline genetic testing within 2 years of a cancer diagnosis. Testing trends were analyzed with logistic regression modeling. The results of sequencing each gene, including variants associated with increased cancer risk (pathogenic results) and variants whose cancer risk association was unknown (uncertain results), were evaluated. The genes were categorized according to their primary cancer association, including breast or ovarian, gastrointestinal, and other, and whether practice guidelines recommended germline testing. Results: Among 1 369 602 patients diagnosed with cancer between 2013 and 2019 in California and Georgia, 93 052 (6.8%) underwent germline testing through March 31, 2021. The proportion of patients tested varied by cancer type: male breast (50%), ovarian (38.6%), female breast (26%), multiple (7.5%), endometrial (6.4%), pancreatic (5.6%), colorectal (5.6%), prostate (1.1%), and lung (0.3%). In a logistic regression model, compared with the 31% (95% CI, 30%-31%) of non-Hispanic White patients with male breast cancer, female breast cancer, or ovarian cancer who underwent testing, patients of other races and ethnicities underwent testing less often: 22% (95% CI, 21%-22%) of Asian patients, 25% (95% CI, 24%-25%) of Black patients, and 23% (95% CI, 23%-23%) of Hispanic patients (P < .001 using the χ2 test). Of all pathogenic results, 67.5% to 94.9% of variants were identified in genes for which practice guidelines recommend testing and 68.3% to 83.8% of variants were identified in genes associated with the diagnosed cancer type. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients diagnosed with cancer in California and Georgia between 2013 and 2019, only 6.8% underwent germline genetic testing. Compared with non-Hispanic White patients, rates of testing were lower among Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients.