Analysis of quality evaluation and optimal harvest period of Aurantii Fructus from different sources using UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

INTRODUCTION: The active constituents in Aurantii Fructus sourced from different regions within Hunan Province exhibit variations, with certain samples demonstrating substandard quality. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the chemical composition and quality of Aurantii Fructus from various sources, establish a robust methodology for quality evaluation, and determine the optimal harvesting period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The components of Aurantii Fructus were qualitatively analyzed using a non-targeted metabolomics approach. Multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to identify potential markers, enabling qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the quality and optimal harvest period of Aurantii Fructus. RESULTS: Overall, 155 compounds were identified in Aurantii Fructus, with Huangpi exhibiting the highest number of components. Eleven potential markers were selected to assess the quality of Aurantii Fructus. The average content of Huangpi was the highest, indicating a high level of similarity. The samples' overall scores were ordered as follows: Huangpi > Xiangcheng > Choucheng > Daidai. Anren and Changde's Huangpi exhibited high contents, being rich in chemical components, resulting in favorable scores. Similarly, Changde's Xiangcheng displayed significant medicinal value. As the harvest time was delayed, there was an increase in fruit size, accompanied by thinner peels and a continuous decrease in the contents of potential markers. The best harvest period of Aurantii Fructus was within 1 week before and after the Lesser Heat. CONCLUSION: The present study establishes a precise and efficient method for evaluating the quality of Aurantii Fructus, thereby providing more comprehensive insights into its composition. This research lays the foundation for subsequent development and utilization of Aurantii Fructus.

[Identification of Chinese medicine sea snake based on cytochrome B (Cytb)].

The identification of species primordium has been one of the hot issues in the identification of traditional Chinese medicine. Sea snake is one of the most valuable Chinese medicinal materials in China. In order to understand the origin and varieties of sea snake in the market, we studied the molecular identification of 46 sea snakes by cytochrome B(Cytb). After comparison and manual correction, the sequence length was 582 bp, and the content of A+T(58.9%) was higher than that of G+C(41.1%). There exist 197 variable sites and 179 parsimony-informative sites of the sequence. There are 44 kinds of sequence alignment with consistency equal to 100%, and 2 kinds equal to 96%. A total of 408 Cytb effective sequences were downloaded from GenBank database, with a total of 68 species. Phylogenetic tree of a total of 454 sea snake sequences with the samples in this study were constructed by neighbor-joining trees and Bayesian inference method, respectively, which can identify 42 samples of medicinal materials, while 4 samples can not be identified because of their low node support. The results showed that the species of the sea snake medicine were at least from 2 genera and 5 species, namely, Aipysurus eydouxii, Hydrophis curtus, H. caerulescen, H. curtus, H. ornatus and H. spiralis. This study suggested that the original species of commercial sea snake are very complex and can provide insight into the identification of sea snakes.

Ultrasonic/CT image fusion guidance facilitating percutaneous catheter drainage in treatment of acute pancreatitis complicated with infected walled-off necrosis.

BACKGROUND: As the firs-line treatment for acute pancreatitis (AP) related infectious walled-off necrosis (WON), percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) are usually accomplished under CT or US guidance, either of which has certain disadvantages. It is necessary to verify the clinical effects of using US and CT images fusion as guidance of PCD. METHODS: The total 94 consecutive AP patients with infected WON from January of 2013 to January of 2017 were included. Among these patients with infected WON, 48 received PCD under simple US guidance (US-PCD) and 46 under US/CT images fusion guidance (US/CT-PCD). The clinical data consisting of puncture data, drainage effectiveness indicators, intervention complications were collected. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics and disease related characteristics of two groups were comparable. After 48 h of PCD treatment, the US/CT-PCD group achieved a significantly higher imaging effective rate, and significantly lower inflammatory response indexes and severity score, than the US-PCD group (P < 0.05). The US/CT-PCD group required fewer puncture times and drainage tubes and lower rate of advanced treatment, showing higher operational success rate than the US-PCD group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the US/CT-PCD group exhibited significantly fewer puncture related complications, lower hospital stay, intubation time, and hospitalization expenses than the US-PCD group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PCD treatment under the US/CT images fusion guidance is a reliable intervention with definite clinical effects for AP complicated with infected WON.

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Common Among Nurses With Poor Sleep Quality in Shanghai, China: A Pilot Study.

This study aimed to determine whether functional gastrointestinal disorders are more common among nurses with self-reported poor sleep. In total, 468 nurses working the day shift or rotating shifts completed two questionnaires: the questionnaire for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using Rome III criteria and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The prevalence of poor sleep was 41.04% (95% confidence interval, CI: [36.23, 45.85]), and poor sleep was significantly more common among rotating-shift nurses than among day-shift nurses (50.70% vs. 29.95%; p < .05). Among nurses with poor sleep, the prevalence of IBS and functional constipation was 35.15% (95% CI: [27.86, 42.44]) and 11.52% (95% CI: [6.65, 16.39]), respectively. After adjusting for age, work schedule, night pain, and psychological factors, IBS (odds ratio, OR: 1.88; 95% CI: [1.03, 2.49]) and functional constipation (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: [0.64, 2.57]) were significantly more common in nurses with poor sleep. We conclude that IBS and functional constipation are prevalent in nurses with poor sleep. Poor sleep was independently associated with IBS and functional constipation among nurses in Shanghai, China.

APOC3 rs2070666 Is Associated with the Hepatic Steatosis Independently of PNPLA3 rs738409 in Chinese Han Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and apolipoprotein C3 gene (APOC3) promoter region single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2854117 and rs2854116 is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between other polymorphisms of APOC3 and NAFLD in Chinese. METHODS: Fifty-nine liver biopsy-proven NAFLD patients and 72 healthy control subjects were recruited to a cohort representing Chinese Han population. The polymorphisms in the exons and flanking regions of APOC3 and patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 polymorphisms were genotyped. RESULTS: Among the five SNPs (rs4225, rs4520, rs5128, rs2070666, and rs2070667) in APOC3, only rs2070666 (c.179 + 62 T/A) was significantly different in genotype and allele frequency (both p < 0.01) between groups of NAFLD and control. After adjusting for sex, age, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, body mass index, and the PNPLA3 rs738409 polymorphism, the APOC3 rs2070666 A allele was an independent risk factor for NAFLD with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.683 and 95 % confidence interval (CI) of 1.037-13.084. The APOC3 rs2070666 A allele was linked to the fourth quartile of the controlled attenuation parameter values (OR 2.769, 95 % CI 1.002-7.651) in 131 subjects, and also linked to the significant histological steatosis (OR 4.986, 95 % CI 1.020-24.371), but neither to liver stiffness measurement values nor to hepatic histological activity and fibrosis in NAFLD patients. CONCLUSIONS: The APOC3 rs2070666 A allele is a risk factor for NAFLD independent of obesity, dyslipidemia, and PNPLA3 rs738409, and it might contribute to increased liver fat content in Chinese Han population.

Effect of percutaneous catheter drainage on pancreatic injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis induced by sodium taurocholate.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) on pancreatic injury in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats. METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were equally randomized into three groups: a sham operated control group, an SAP control group, and a PCD group. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, the activity of group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in blood and ascitic fluid, and the pancreas level of group II PLA2 and trypsin activity were measured 24 h after the operation. The apoptosis of the pancreatic cells, the expression of cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), active caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax in the pancreas was detected. Pancreatic pathological changes were observed. RESULTS: The levels of proinflammatory cytokines, the activity of group II PLA2 and trypsin activity in pancreas in the SAP group were higher than those in the PCD group. The histopathological results revealed that the pancreatic injury was alleviated in the PCD group. The expression of COX-2 and iNOS in the pancreatic tissue in the SAP control rats was higher than that in the PCD rats. The expression of Bcl-2 was decreased and the expression of active caspase-3 and Bax was increased in the pancreas of PCD rats. The apoptosis index of the pancreatic cells in the PCD rats was higher than that in the SAP control rats. CONCLUSION: PCD can relieve SAP-induced pancreatic injury by inhibiting inflammatory reactions, and promoting apoptosis of pancreatic cells.

Impact of skin capsular distance on the performance of controlled attenuation parameter in patients with chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a non-invasive method for evaluating hepatic steatosis. However, larger skin capsular distance (SCD) can affect the accuracy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of SCD on the diagnostic performance of CAP and liver stiffness measurement (LSM). METHODS: Of 101 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and 280 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who underwent liver biopsy were prospectively recruited. CAP, LSM and SCD were performed using FibroScan with M probe. The areas under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUROCs) were calculated to determine the diagnostic efficacy. The optimal thresholds were defined by the maximum Youden index. RESULTS: SCD (B 30.34, P < 0.001) and hepatic steatosis (B 23.04, P < 0.001) were independently associated with CAP by multivariate analysis. The AUROCs were slightly higher for SCD <25 mm compared to those for SCD ≥25 mm for steatosis ≥5% (0.88 vs. 0.81), >33% (0.90 vs. 0.85) and >66% (0.84 vs. 0.72). For SCD <25 mm, the optimal CAP cut-offs for differentiating steatosis ≥5%, >33% and >66% were 255.0 dB/m, 283.5 dB/m and 293.5 dB/m. However, cut-offs were elevated by approximately 60-70 dB/m for SCD ≥25 mm. When stratified by fibrosis grade, LSM was significantly affected by SCD ≥25 mm for advanced fibrosis (≥F3) in NAFLD, but not in CHB. CONCLUSION: CAP is a promising tool for detecting and quantifying hepatic steatosis. SCD ≥25 mm may cause overestimation of steatosis. Similarly, SCD ≥25 mm affects the detection of advanced fibrosis by LSM in NAFLD patients.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Hyperlipidemia in China.

BACKGROUND: We explored the prevalence of and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in the adult population of Shanghai (China) with and without dyslipidemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey including 14 385 adults (aged 16 to 88 years) in Shanghai using a stratified, multistage cluster sampling approach. RESULTS: Type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia were found in 1456 (10.1%) and 4583 (31.9%) subjects, respectively. Type 2 diabetes was more common in males (11.4%) than in females (9.2%, P<0.01), in the elderly (> or =65 years, 22.5%) than in younger (<55 years, <10%, P<0.01) individuals, and in urban (12.8%) than in rural populations (5.2%, P<0.01). Diabetes incidence was higher among patients with hyperlipidemia than in controls (16.9% vs. 7.0%, P<0.01; OR=2.72, 95% CI 2.44-3.03). Compared with controls, the risk for diabetes in subjects with isolated hypertriglyceridemia, isolated hypercholesterolemia, and mixed hyperlipidemia increased 1.75-fold (95% CI 1.53-1.99), 1.53-fold (95% CI 1.17-2.01), and 2.93-fold (95% CI 2.37-3.63), respectively. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2h-postprandial plasma glucose (2h-PG) increased with age in both sexes. The age- and sex-adjusted FPG and 2h-PG levels in hyperlipidemia were significantly higher than in controls (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in hyperlipidemia patients exists in Shanghai. Hyperlipidemia is associated with elevated blood glucose levels and therefore requires prompt intervention for prevention and treatment of diabetes in patients with dyslipidemia.

Prohibitin as a novel autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis.

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY: The aim of this study was to verify whether prohibitin is a novel autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: First, recombinant human prohibitin (rhPHB) protein was cloned, expressed, and purified. Then the anti-prohibitin autoantibodies were detected by western blotting by using rhPHB protein to incubate sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Next, immunoprecipitation was employed to further illustrate whether anti-prohibitin antibodies exist in RA patients. And finally, autoantibodies against the rhPHB protein were investigated using a homemade ELISA kit through the assessment of 258 real clinical samples. RESULTS: It was revealed that anti-prohibitin antibodies existed in the sera of patients with RA. Reactivity of serum IgG against rhPHB was detected in 26 of 86 RA patients (30.3%), 7 of 86 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (8.1%), and 1 of 86 apparently healthy donors (HC) (1.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Prohibitin was proved to be a novel autoantigen and the corresponding anti-prohibitin autoantibodies were present in the RA patients' blood circulation.

Multiple correlations of mRNA expression and protein abundance in human cytokine profile.

With the development of genomic study, researchers found that it is insufficient to predict protein expression from quantitative mRNA data in large scale, which is contrary to the traditional opinion that mRNA expression correlates with protein abundance at the single gene level. To try to solve the apparent conflicting views, here we set up a series of research models and chose soluble cytokines as targets. First, human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from one health donor was treated with 16 continuously changing conditions, the protein and mRNA profile were analyzed by multiplex Luminex and genomic microarray, respectively. Among the tested genes, around half mRNA correlated well with their corresponding proteins (ρ > 0.8), however if we put all the genes together, the correlation coefficient for the 16 conditions varied from 0.29 to 0.71. Second, PBMC from 14 healthy donors were stimulated with the same condition and it was found that the correlation coefficient went down (ρ < 0.6). Third, 28 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were tested for their response to the same external stimuli and it turned out different individual displayed different protein expression pattern as expect. Lastly, autoimmune disease cohorts (8 diseases including RA, 103 patients in total) were assayed on the whole view. It was observed that there was still some similarity in the protein profile among patients from the single disease type although completely different patterns were displayed across different disease categories. This study built a good bridge between single gene analysis and the whole genome study and may give a reasonable explanation for the two conflicting views in current biological science.

Hepatic steatosis is highly prevalent in hepatitis B patients and negatively associated with virological factors.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The interaction between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatic steatosis remains unclear. We aimed to explore the trend of prevalence of hepatic steatosis and its relationship with virological factors in HBV infected patients. METHODS: Consecutive untreated patients with chronic HBV infection at Shunde Hospital between 2002 and 2011 were included. Quantification of HBV replication markers was performed by enzyme immunoassay, real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and immunohistochemical staining. Hepatic steatosis was defined as at least 5% hepatocytes affected. RESULTS: A total of 3,212 patients (2,574 men) with a mean age of 32 ± 9.3 years were analyzed. Serological testing showed detectable HBsAg in all, HBeAg in 63.8% and HBV DNA in 78.4% of patients. Liver biopsies demonstrated HBsAg- and HBcAg-positive immunostaining in 96.6 and 71% patients, respectively. Hepatic steatosis was present in 554 (17.3%) patients, with annual prevalence increased over time from 8.2 to 31.8% (trend analysis, x (2) = 51.657, P < 0.001). Compared to patients without steatosis, the percentages of serum HBeAg-positive and detectable HBV DNA, and intrahepatic HBsAg- and HBcAg-positive staining were decreased in steatosis patients (all P < 0.001). Adjusted for age and gender, intrahepatic HBsAg-positive staining remained as an independent factor associated with lower risk of steatosis (adjusted odds ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.835, 0.971) in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic steatosis in HBV infected patients has been raging over the past decade, and it is negatively associated with intrahepatic expression of HBsAg. Lifestyle intervention may be needed to halt the onset of steatosis in chronic HBV infection.

[Outward versus inward placement in Shang Ring circumcision for phimosis and redundant prepuce in adult men: analysis of 527 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects of two different circumcision procedures with the Shang Ring and compare their advantages and disadvantages. METHODS: A total of 527 adult males with phimosis or redundant prepuce underwent Shang Ring circumcision by conventional outward replacement (n = 254) and inward placement (n = 273), respectively. We observed the in-ring nocturnal pain, complications, ring-removal pain, degree of edema, recovery time, and patients' satisfaction after surgery, and compared them between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the conventional outward placement (5.9%) of the Shang Ring, the inward placement method showed the advantages of mild in-ring nocturnal pain, a low complication rate, significantly reduced ring-removal pain, and mild edema, but exhibited longer healing time. CONCLUSION: In Shang Ring circumcision for phimosis and redundant prepuce in adult males, each of the outward and inward placement methods has advantages and disadvantages of its own, but the latter is more advantageous and feasible.

[Supercritical CO2 extraction and component analysis of Aesculus wilsonii seed oil].

OBJECTIVE: To research the optimal extraction process of supercritical CO2 extraction and analyze the component of the oil extracted from Aesculus wilsonii seed. METHODS: Using the yield of Aesculus wilsonii seed oil as the index, optimized supercritical CO2 extraction parameter by orthogonal experiment methodology and analysed the compounds of Aesculus wilsonii seed oil by GC-MS. RESULTS: The optimal parameters of the supercritical CO2 extraction of the oil extracted from Aesculus wilsoniit seed were determined: the extraction pressure was 28 MPa and the temperature was 38 degrees C, the separation I pressure was 12 MPa and the temperature was 40 degrees C, the separation II pressure was 5 MPa and the temperature was 40 degrees C, the extraction time was 110 min. The average extraction rate of Aesculus wilsonii seed oil was 1.264%. 26 kinds of compounds were identified by GC-MS in Aesculus wilsonii seed oil extracted by supercritical CO2. The main components were fatty acids. CONCLUSION: Comparing with the petroleum ether extraction, the supercritical CO2 extraction has higher extraction rate, shorter extraction time, more clarity oil. The kinds of fatty acids with high amounts in Aesculus wilsonii seed oil is identical in general, the kinds of fatty acids with low amounts in Aesculus wilsonii seed oil have differences.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders among adolescents with poor sleep: a school-based study in Shanghai, China.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether functional gastrointestinal disorders are more common among adolescents with self-reported poor sleep. METHODS: Junior middle school and senior high school students (n = 1,362) were recruited from schools in Shanghai. Students completed two questionnaires: the questionnaire for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adolescents and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: The prevalence of poor sleep was 34.29% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 31.77-36.81] and there was no significant difference between genders (P = 0.991). The tendency towards poor sleep increased with age, with age group yielding a significant effect (P = 0.001). In junior middle school and senior high school students, the propensity towards poor sleep was 30.10% (95% CI = 27.08-33.12%) and 42.11% (95% CI = 37.67-46.55%), respectively. Among students with poor sleep, the prevalence of IBS was 19.70% (95% CI = 16.09-23.31). After adjusting for age, sex, night pain, and psychological factors, IBS was significantly more common in students with poor sleep (odds ratio = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.07-2.58). CONCLUSION: We conclude that IBS is prevalent in students with poor sleep. Poor sleep was independently associated with IBS among adolescents in Shanghai China.

Association of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus with overweight/obesity and fatty liver risk in offspring.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity and fatty liver are associated with adverse outcomes such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. It is very important to identify relevant risk factors and intervene as early as possible. At present, the relationship between maternal and offspring metabolic factors is conflicting. AIM: To estimate the association of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with overweight/obesity and fatty liver risk in offspring at 8 years of age. METHODS: The prospective study included mothers who all had a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 wk of gestation and whose offspring completed follow-up at 8 years of age. Offspring birth weight, sex, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured and calculated. FibroScan-502 examination with an M probe (Echosens, Paris, France) was prospectively conducted in offspring aged 8 years from the Shanghai Prenatal Cohort Study. RESULTS: A total of 430 mother-child pairs were included in the analysis. A total of 62 (14.2%) mothers were classified as obese, and 48 (11.1%) were classified as having GDM. The mean age of the offspring at follow-up was 8 years old. Thirty-seven (8.6%) offspring were overweight, 14 (3.3%) had obesity, and 60 (14.0%) had fatty liver. The prevalence of overweight, obesity and fatty liver in offspring increased significantly across maternal BMI quartiles (all P < 0.05). Among offspring of mothers with GDM, 12 (25.0%) were overweight, 4 (8.3%) were obese, and 12 (25.0%) had fatty liver vs. 25 (6.5%), 10 (2.6%) and 48 (12.6%), respectively, for offspring of mothers without GDM (all P < 0.05). In multiple logistic regression, after adjustment for variables, the OR for fatty liver in offspring was 8.26 (95%CI: 2.38-28.75) for maternal obesity and GDM. CONCLUSION: This study showed that maternal obesity can increase the odds of overweight/obesity and fatty liver in offspring, and GDM status also increases the odds of overweight/obesity in offspring. Weight management and glycemic control before and during pregnancy need to be highlighted in primary prevention of pediatric obesity and fatty liver.

In vivo growth of subclones derived from Lewis lung carcinoma is determined by the tumor microenvironment.

Heterogeneity is a fundamental feature of human tumors and plays a major role in drug resistance and disease progression. In the present study, we selected single-cell-derived cell lines (SCDCLs) derived from Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1) cells to investigate tumorigenesis and heterogeneity. SCDCLs were generated using limiting dilution. Five SCDCLs were subcutaneously injected into wild-type C57BL/6N mice; however, they displayed significant differences in tumor growth. Subclone SCC1 grew the fastest in vivo, whereas it grew slower in vitro. The growth pattern of SCC2 was the opposite to that of SCC1. Genetic differences in these two subclones showed marked differences in cell adhesion and proliferation. Pathway enrichment results indicate that signal transduction and immune system responses were the most significantly altered functional categories in SCC2 cells compared to those in SCC1 cells in vitro. The number and activation of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells and NK cells in the tumor tissue of tumor-bearing mice inoculated with SCC2 were significantly higher, whereas those of myeloid cells were significantly lower, than those in the SCC1 and LLC1 groups. Our results suggest that the in vivo growth of two subclones derived from LLC1 was determined by the tumor microenvironment rather than their intrinsic proliferative cell characteristics.

PPARGC1A rs8192678 G>A polymorphism affects the severity of hepatic histological features and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: The association between PPARGC1A rs8192678 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) requires further confirmation. In addition, it is still unknown whether PPARGC1A rs8192678 is associated with hepatic histological features in NAFLD in the Chinese population. AIM: To investigate the interaction between PPARGC1A rs8192678 and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and whether this polymorphism is associated with hepatic histological features. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with liver biopsy-proven NAFLD and 93 healthy controls were recruited to a cohort representing the Chinese Han population. The SAF (steatosis, activity, and fibrosis) scoring system was used for hepatic histopathological evaluation. The polymorphisms of PPARGC1A rs8192678 and patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 were genotyped. The intrahepatic mRNA expression of PPARGC1A was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients with NAFLD had NASH, of which 12 were nonobese. The PPARGC1A rs8192678 risk A allele (carrying GA and AA genotypes) had the lowest P value in the dominant model; the odds ratio (OR) for NAFLD was 2.321 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.121-4.806]. After adjusting for age, sex, and the PNPLA3 rs738409 risk G allele, the PPARGC1A rs8192678 A allele was a risk factor for NAFLD (OR 2.202, 95%CI: 1.030-4.705, P = 0.042). The genetic analysis showed that patients with NAFLD, moderate-to-severe steatosis (S2-3), and Activity 2-4 (A ≥ 2) were more likely to carry A in PPARGC1A rs8192678 (OR 5.000, 95%CI: 1.343-18.620, P = 0.012; and OR 4.071, 95%CI: 1.076-15.402, P = 0.031). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PPARGC1A rs8192678 risk A allele was also independently associated with S2-3, A ≥ 2, and NASH (OR 6.190, 95%CI: 1.508-25.410, P = 0.011; OR 4.506, 95%CI 1.070-18.978, P = 0.040; and OR 6.337, 95%CI: 1.135-35.392, P = 0.035, respectively) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and PNPLA3 rs738409 risk G allele. The results also showed that this polymorphism was associated with nonobese NASH (OR 22.000, 95%CI: 1.540-314.292, P = 0.021). The intrahepatic expression of PPARGC1A mRNA was significantly lower in the group of patients who carried the risk A allele (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The PPARGC1A rs8192678 risk A allele is associated with NAFLD, and with S2-3, A ≥ 2 and NASH in NAFLD patients, independent of PNPLA3 rs738409, and may be associated with nonobese NASH.

Goniurosaurus gezhi sp. nov., a new gecko species from Guangxi, China (Squamata: Eublepharidae).

Five species of geckos in the genus Goniurosaurus had been recorded from Guangxi, China. Here we describe a new species, Goniurosaurus gezhi sp. nov. Zhu, He Li. The new species is similar to those found in Guangxi and Guizhou provinces of China and Northern Vietnam, but unique in a combination of the following characters: (1) three body bands between limb insertions; (2) precloacal pores 18-20; (3) body small (SVL=70.6-83.8 mm); (4) body color orange to yellow. We evaluated the phylogenetic position of this new species based on the 16S mitochondrial gene. Molecular phylogenies validate this new species as distinct to currently described lineages within Goniurosaurus. The type specimens are deposited in the Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).

Prevalence, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and indicators for lean Chinese adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Nowadays, the percentage of non-obese or lean patients with NAFLD is increasing. NAFLD in non-obese populations, especially the lean subgroup with a normal waist circumference (WC), might lead to more problems than obese individuals, as these individuals may not visit clinics for NAFLD diagnosis or ignore the diagnosis of NAFLD. If the precise characteristics of these populations, especially the lean subgroup, are identified, the clinicians would be able to provide more appropriate advice and treatment to these populations. AIM: To investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and possible indicators for NAFLD in lean Chinese adults with a normal WC. METHODS: People without diabetes mellitus or significant alcohol consumption who underwent routine health examinations were included. Their fatty liver index (FLI), abdominal ultrasonography results, and controlled attenuation parameter were all assessed. Genotyping for single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with NAFLD was performed in another small group consisting of biopsy-proven NAFLD subjects and healthy controls. RESULTS: A total of 2715 subjects who underwent routine health examinations were included in the study. Among 810 lean participants with a normal WC, 142 (17.5%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for NAFLD. Waist-height ratio, hemoglobin, platelets, and triglycerides were significant factors associated with the presence of NAFLD in these participants. The appropriate cut-off value of the FLI score in screening for NAFLD in the lean subjects with a normal WC was 25.15, which had a 77.8% sensitivity and 75.9% specificity. There was no significant difference in the single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the SIRT1, APOC3, PNPLA3, AGTR1, and PPARGC1A genes between lean subjects with and without NAFLD (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: NAFLD is not uncommon in lean Chinese adults even with a normal WC. Metabolic factors, rather than genetic factors, may play important roles in the development of NAFLD in this population. A lower cut-off value of the FLI score in screening for NAFLD should be used for lean Chinese adults with a normal WC.

Abdominal paracentesis drainage ameliorates myocardial injury in severe experimental pancreatitis rats through suppressing oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal paracentesis drainage (APD) is a safe and effective strategy for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients. However, the effects of APD treatment on SAP-associated cardiac injury remain unknown. AIM: To investigate the protective effects of APD on SAP-associated cardiac injury and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: SAP was induced by 5% sodium taurocholate retrograde injection in Sprague-Dawley rats. APD was performed by inserting a drainage tube with a vacuum ball into the lower right abdomen of the rats immediately after SAP induction. Morphological staining, serum amylase and inflammatory mediators, serum and ascites high mobility group box (HMGB) 1, cardiac-related enzymes indexes and cardiac function, oxidative stress markers and apoptosis and associated proteins were assessed in the myocardium in SAP rats. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity and mRNA and protein expression were also examined. RESULTS: APD treatment improved cardiac morphological changes, inhibited cardiac dysfunction, decreased cardiac enzymes and reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, proapoptotic Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels. APD significantly decreased serum levels of HMGB1, inhibited nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase expression and ultimately alleviated cardiac oxidative injury. Furthermore, the activation of cardiac nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase by pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid intraperitoneal injection was effectively inhibited by adding anti-HMGB1 neutralizing antibody in rats with mild acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: APD treatment could exert cardioprotective effects on SAP-associated cardiac injury through suppressing HMGB1-mediated oxidative stress, which may be a novel mechanism behind the effectiveness of APD on SAP.