A Morphometric Study of Head in the Population of Young Chinese Adults / Estudio Morfométrico de la Cabeza en la Población de Adultos Jóvenes Chinos

SUMMARY: Due to the complexity of head shape, limited 1D or 2D head anthropometry fail to fully capture its shape characteristics. Currently, there is limited research on clustering analysis of head shape from a shape difference perspective, especially for the head shape of Chinese people. Head shape is influenced by factors such as race, sex, and age, making it imperative to create a head shape database for Chinese individuals. In this study, three-dimensional head data of 339 Chinese young adult were collected, and the head shapes were clustered into 7 clusters using an improved k-medoids algorithm. The differences between clusters and the average head shape were further analyzed. It can be foreseen that the head shape database for Chinese young adult constructed in this study has important reference value for the ergonomic design of head-related products and head morphology research, among other fields.

Debido a la complejidad de la forma de la cabeza, la antropometría limitada de ésta, en 1D o 2D, no logra capturar completamente sus características de forma. Actualmente, existen estudios limitados sobre el análisis de agrupamiento de la forma de la cabeza, desde una perspectiva de diferencia de forma, especialmente en el caso de la población china. La forma de la cabeza está influenciada por factores como la raza, el sexo y la edad, por lo que resulta imperativo crear una base de datos sobre la forma de la cabeza de los individuos chinos. En este estudio, se recopilaron datos tridimensionales de la cabeza de 339 adultos jóvenes chinos, y las formas de la cabeza se agruparon en 7 grupos utilizando un algoritmo k-medoids mejorado. Las diferencias entre los grupos y la forma promedio de la cabeza se analizaron a profundidad. Se puede prever que la base de datos sobre la forma de la cabeza de adultos jóvenes chinos construida en este estudio, tiene un valor de referencia importante para el diseño ergonómico de productos relacionados con la morfología de la cabeza, entre otros campos.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of scrub typhus associated with hemophagocytic syndrome in 15 children / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To analyze the clinical features of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) associated with Orientia tsutsugamushi disease in children. Methods　The case data of patients with scrub typhus in Kunming Children's Hospital from January 1st 2019 to December 31st 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the HPS group and the non-HPS group according to whether associated with HPS. The clinical data of the two groups were analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Results　Eighty-five cases of scrub typhus in children were collected, 15 cases (17.6%) had HPS. The mean age of patients with HPS was (5.10±3.82) years, included 9 males and 6 female, there was no significant difference in gender and age between the HPS and the non-HPS group (P>0.05). Comparison of the two groups indicted that the incidence of cough, lung rales, edema, and hepatomegaly were significantly increased in the HPS group (P<0.05). The data showed that compared to the non-HPS group, the HPS group showed significant decreases in the levels of hemoglobin (HGB), platelet (PLT), albumin (ALB), fibrinogen (Fib) (P<0.05), and significant decreases in the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), triglyceride (TG), serum ferritin (SF) (P<0.05). The proportion of CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD4+/CD8+ were significantly decreased (P<0.05); the proportion of CD3+, CD8+ T lymphocytes were significantly increased (P<0.05). The proportion of pulmonary exudation or consolidation in the HPS group was higher than the non-HPS group, which was statistically significant (P<0.05). All the patients with scrub typhus associated with HPS were treated with oral doxycycline, and intravenous immunoglobulin was given in 13 cases (86.7%). There was one case of death and 14 cases discharged from hospital after treatment in HPS group. Conclusion　HPS in scrub typhus infected children is a nonnegligible complication. Prolonged fever, lung rales, hepatomegaly，HGB decreased, thrombocytopenia, hyperferritinemia, and abnormal lymphocyte subsets may associate with HPS. It should be alerted to scrub typhus when presenting with HPS in endemic areas. The scrub typhus associated with HPS can be successfully treated with appropriate antibiotic and immunomodulator treatment.

Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of scrub typhus based on 680 unexplained fever patients in Hainan / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of scrub typhus in 680 patients with unexplained fever in Hainan Island and provide guidance for local scrub typhus prevention and control. Methods　Blood samples from patients with clinically diagnosed unexplained fever in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou Municipal People's Hospital and Central South University Xiangya Medical College Affiliated Hospital, People's Hospital of Qiongzhong Li Miao Autonomous County were collected between 2018 and 2021, then samples were tested for Orientia tsutsugamushi specific IgM, IgG antibodies and Orientia tsutsugamushi 56kD-specific antigen genes using colloidal gold immunochromatography and PCR methods. The clinical and epidemiological information of the samples were also collected. Epidemiological analysis was carried out on the obtained sample information and test results. Results　A total of 680 samples from patients with clinically unknown fever were collected. The positive rates of scrub typhus IgM antibody, IgG antibody, PCR were 23.97% (163/680), 36.62% (249/680), 20.88% (142/680), respectively, and eschar or rash was observed in 12.06% (82/680) of all patients. According to the diagnostic criteria, 223 patients were finally diagnosed with scrub typhus. Among them, there were 111 males (49.78%) and 109 females (48.88%); the average age was (53.14±15.12) years old, and the 40-<60 years old was the main incidence group (98 cases, accounting for 43.95%). The ethnicity of the patient with scrub typhus was mainly Han ethnicity (136 cases, accounting for 60.99%). Farmers were the main morbidity group (93 cases, 41.70%). The patient with scrub typhus distributed throughout the island except for Sanya and Wuzhishan, with Haikou and Qiongzhong show the highest number of cases. The number of cases in autumn was the highest (114 cases, 51.12%). The clinical manifestations of infected patients were mainly non-specific symptoms and signs, 36.77% of patients developed skin-specific ulcers or eschars, which were mainly distributed in the shoulder and neck, armpits, elbow fossa, chest and abdomen, back, buttocks, groin, scrotum and other joints and skin folds of the upper and lower limbs. Conclusions　Hainan Island is the foci of scrub typhus and the epidemic time has obvious seasonality. Its prevention should focus on rural areas in autumn, and its clinical features are mainly high fever and eschar or ulceration.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Positive Thinking Scale in individuals after hip fracture surgery

Positive thinking is a form of positive cognition and a coping strategy. The Positive Thinking Scale (PTS) is used to measure positive thinking, but the reliability and validity of the PTS-Chinese have yet to be tested. This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the PTS-Chinese. A total of 154 patients post-hip fracture surgery completed the questionnaire in a hospital in Taiwan between April 2020 and December 2020. The scales in the questionnaire included the PTS, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Positive, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Negative, Barthel Index, and items related to happiness, demographics, and disease treatment. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis and average variance extracted show that the PTS-Chinese version exhibits construct validity. Scores on the PTS-Chinese version are positively related to scores on the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Positive and happiness items and negatively related to scores on the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Negative. This finding indicates that the PTS-Chinese demonstrates concurrent, predictive, and discriminant validity. The scale also presents acceptable reliability and test-retest reliability. Overall, the PTS-Chinese can be used to evaluate and track the positive thinking of patients. Further studies are needed to assess the psychometric properties of the PTS-Chinese in different cultures and ethnic groups. (AU)

Metagenomics approach to identify lignocellulose-degrading enzymes in the gut microbiota of the Chinese bamboo rat cecum

BACKGROUND: Lignocellulose is considered a renewable organic material, but the industrial production of biofuel from lignocellulose is challenging because of the lack of highly active hydrolytic enzymes. The guts of herbivores contain many symbiotic microorganisms that have evolved to hydrolyze plant lignocellulose. Chinese bamboo rats mainly consume high-fiber foods, indicating that some members of the intestinal tract microbiota digest lignocellulose, providing these rats with the energy required for growth. RESULTS: Here, we used metagenomics to analyze the diversity and functions of the gut microbiota in Chinese bamboo rats. We identified abundant populations of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, whose main functions involved carbohydrate, amino acid, and nucleic acid metabolism. We also found 587 carbohydrate-active enzyme genes belonging to different families, including 7 carbohydrate esterase families and 21 glycoside hydrolase families. The glycoside hydrolase 3, glycoside hydrolase 1, glycoside hydrolase 43, carbohydrate esterase 4, carbohydrate esterase 1, and carbohydrate esterase 3 families demonstrated outstanding performance. CONCLUSIONS: The microbes and enzymes identified in our study expand the existing arsenal of proficient degraders and enzymes for lignocellulosic biofuel production. This study also describes a powerful approach for targeting gut microbes and enzymes in numerous industries.

Clinical effect of anterolateral thigh flap repair on postoperative defects in oral malignant tumors / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @# To investigate the clinical efficacy of anterolateral thigh flap(ALTF) repair on postoperative soft tissue defects in oral malignant tumors. @*Methods @# The clinical data of 136 oral malignant tumor patients at the Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2017 to February 2019 were collected. All the patients had undergone enlarged tumor resection, and the defects were repaired simultaneously by ALTF. The flap survival rate and occurrence of postoperative complications were analyzed, and related functions were evaluated. @*Results @#The flap survival rate was 97.1% (132/136). Diabetes and the operation time were related to inactivation of the anterolateral thigh flap (P < 0.05). Fifty-three patients (40.0%) had systemic complications, and 38 patients (27.9%) had complications in the operation area, among which the pulmonary infection rate was the highest (28.6%). One year after the operation, 52 patients (38.2%) scored 10 points in language function evaluation. The mouth opening score of 58 patients (42.6%) was 10 points, and the swallowing function score of 82 patients (60.3%) was 10 points. @*Conclusion @#ALTF is an ideal free flap to repair soft tissue defects in oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors after resection, with a high survival rate, small donor injury and good postoperative recovery of relevant functions.

miR-183 promotes radioresistance of lung adenocarcinoma H1299 cells via epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Lung adenocarcinomas are usually sensitive to radiation therapy, but some develop resistance. Radiation resistance can lead to poor patient prognosis. Studies have shown that lung adenocarcinoma cells (H1299 cells) can develop radioresistance through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and this process is regulated by miRNAs. However, it is unclear which miRNAs are involved in the process of EMT. In our present study, we found that miR-183 expression was increased in a radioresistant lung adenocarcinoma cell line (H1299R cells). We then explored the regulatory mechanism of miR-183 and found that it may be involved in the regulation of zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) expression and mediate EMT in lung adenocarcinoma cells. qPCR results showed that miR-183, ZEB1, and vimentin were highly expressed in H1299R cells, whereas no difference was observed in E-cadherin expression. Western blot results showed that ZEB1 and vimentin were highly expressed in H1299R cells, while E-cadherin expression was decreased. When miR-183 expression was inhibited in H1299R cells, radiation resistance, proliferation, and cell migration were decreased. The expression of ZEB1 and vimentin in H1299R cells was decreased, while the expression of E-cadherin was increased. Moreover, miR-183 overexpression in H1299 cells enhanced radiation resistance, proliferative capacity, and cell migration ability. The expression of ZEB1 and vimentin in H1299 cells was increased, while that of E-cadherin was decreased. In conclusion, miR-183 may promote EMT and radioresistance in H1299 cells, and targeting the miR-183-ZEB1 signaling pathway may be a promising approach for lung cancer treatment.

A Polypeptide Specifically Binds to RAGE can Alleviate the Destroy of Blood Brain-Barrier caused by Amyloid beta

Background The interaction of the receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) on blood-brain-barrier(BBB) with amyloid β (Aβ) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of AD. RP1 is a RAGEspecific binding peptide, which was discovered in our previous experiments, and it has been proved to beeffective on AD cell model, however, its effects on BBB tight junctions (TJs) and on Aβ transport into the brain isunclear.Methods Immunofluorescence experiment was used to identify whether RP1 bound with RAGE specifically.BEnd3-immortalized mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells were used to construct a BBB model. TEER andFD40 tests were used to confirm the stability of the BBB model, and the colocalization of the RP1 and RAGE onthe surface bEnd3 cells was observed with confocal microscopy.Results We confirmed that RP1 can bind to RAGE specifically in vitro. Functional analyses indicated that RP1 caneffectively alleviate the destroy of TJs of BBB and the decrease of permeability of BBB caused by Aβ. Furthermore,RP1 can competitively inhibit the interaction of Aβ with the RAGE in vitro, and effectively inhibit Aβ transport intothe brain.Conclusion RP1 can inhibit BBB damage induced by Aβ and block RAGE-Aβ interaction effectively, and RP1 canbe a candidate of RAGE inhibitors contributing to AD treatment

Safety of a novel VEGF-target antibody's ocular application / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To verify the safety application of MIL60 in the treatment of corneal neovascularization both in vivo and in vitro.METHODS:We observed the biological characteristics of human corneal epithelial cells.The cell proliferation was analyzed using CCK-8 assay,which also used to test the toxicity of MIL60 and the solvent on cultured human corneal epithelial (HCE).FACs was used to analyze the apoptosis of HCE after treated with MIL60.Also we evaluated the effect of subconjunctival injection of MIL60 on corneal epithelial healing model in normal rat and rats with epithelium defect through slit lamp-microscopy,Draize scores and histopathology way.RESULTS:The proliferation speed of HCE in three groups was the same.MIL60 did no harm on the proliferation of HCE and the apoptosis of HCE,and has no effect on corneal epithelial healing and other parts of the ocular in rats without inflammation cells infiltration.CONCLUSION:When given subconjunctival injection,Mil60 does no harm to the proliferation and apoptosis of HCE,and is safe with ocular application.

Expression of ALEX1 in breast cancer and its clinical significance / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To detect the expression of ALEX 1 in the breast cancer tissues in order to verify whether ALEX1 has correlation with clinical pathological features in breast cancer .METHODS:Real-time PCR and immmunohis-tochemistry were applied to detect the expression of ALEX 1 at mRNA and protein levels in the breast tissues .The statistical analysis were performed for determining the correlation with the level of ALEX 1 and the clinical pathological features in breast cancer .RESULTS:The protein levels of ALEX1 in the breast cancer tissues were lower than that in the non-breast cancer tissues (P<0.01).The expression of ALEX1 had correlations with pathological grade , clinical stage, molecular type (P<0.05) but had no correlation with the patients ’ age, tumor size and tumor types in breast cancer .Furthermore, the result of real-time PCR showed that mRNA expression of ALEX 1 was also significantly reduced in the breast cancer tis-sues (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The expression of ALEX1 in the breast cancer tissues is lower than that in non-breast cancer tissues .The pathological grade and clinical stage in breast cancer are negatively correlated with the expression of ALEX1.

Protective action of aspirin and its against endothelial Nlrp3 inflammasome activation in response to LPS stimuli / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Recent studies have demonstrated that the Nlrp3 inflammasome serve as a central role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and endothelial dysfunction occurs in association with several cardiovascular risk factors. Given the demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects of aspirin, the present study was designed to test whether aspirin diminish NLRP3 inflammasome activation and prevent endothelium injury and associated coronary artery damage during LPS. METHODS Mouse carotid arterial endothelial cells (CAECs) were cultured and treated with 0.1-3 mmol·L-1 of aspirin in response to LPS (2 μg·mL-1) stimuli. After 24 h, the Nlrp3 inflammasome complexes consist of varied proteins were analyzed by WB. NO and T-AOC in the supernatant was detected by ELISA. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation for 24 h was observed by DCF fluorescence. The mice were treated with aspirin (12.5 mg·kg-1 per day, 62.5 mg·kg-1 per day, 125 mg·kg-1 per day) and dexametha?sone (0.0182 mg · kg- 1 per day) for 7 d. The level of IL- 1β,IL- 18 protein was detected by ELISA. RESULTS Immunofluorescence results showed the colocalization of Nlrp3 with ASC or caspase 1 decrease in a concentration- dependent manner. Meanwhile, the expression of Nlrp3 and caspase 1 protein was decreased with the concentration of aspirin, but no changes the expression of ASC protein. Nlrp3 protein levels in CAECs were 0.33- 0.8- fold and cle- caspase 1 protein levels in CAECs were 0.48-1-fold compared to those in LPS stimulation when treated with 0.1-3 mmol·L-1 aspirin for 24 h (P<0.01). Aspirin significantly antagonized the effect of LPS on NO (1.22-1.91-fold that of LPS stimulation, P<0.01) and T-AOC expression (1.02-1.90-fold that of LPS stimulation, P<0.01). As the different concentration of aspirin treated, the generation of ROS was 0.51-1.10-fold that of LPS stimulation (P<0.01). In vivo data shown the level of IL-1β, IL-18 protein from serum are in concordance with the level of Nlrp3 inflammasome activation. CONCLUSION We conclude that aspirin has anti- inflammatory properties, protecting CAECs from LPS-induced injury by inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation through ROS pathway.

A low-pH medium in vitro or the environment within a macrophage decreases the transcriptional levels of fimA, fimZ and lrp in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Many Salmonella Typhimurium isolates produce type 1 fimbriae and exhibit fimbrial phase variation in vitro. Static broth culture favours the production of fimbriae, while solid agar medium inhibits the generation of these appendages. Little information is available regarding whether S. Typhimurium continues to produce type 1 fimbriae during in vivo growth. We used a type 1 fimbrial phase-variable strain S. Typhimurium LB5010 and its derivatives to infect RAW 264.7 macrophages. Following entry into macrophages, S. Typhimurium LB5010 gradually decreased the transcript levels of fimbrial subunit gene fimA, positive regulatory gene fimZ, and global regulatory gene lrp. A similar decrease in transcript levels was detected by RT-PCRwhen the pH of static brothmediumwas shifted frompH 7 to amore acidic pH 4. A fimA-deleted strain continued to multiply within macrophages as did the parental strain. An lrp deletion strain was unimpaired for in vitro growth at pH 7 or pH 4, while a strain harboring an lrp-containing plasmid exhibited impaired in vitro growth at pH 4. We propose that acidic medium, which resembles one aspect of the intracellular environment in a macrophage, inhibits type 1 fimbrial production by down-regulation of the expression of lrp, fimZ and fimA.

Expression of leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) on osteoclasts and its potential role in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 is an inhibitory receptor primarily expressed by immune cells. This study was undertaken to define the role of this molecule in osteoclast differentiation and rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: In vitro osteoclast assays were performed to characterize the role of Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 in murine and human osteoclastogenesis. Human Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry staining in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The levels of soluble Human Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We found that multinucleated osteoclast formation from mouse bone marrow cells was inhibited by treatment with a monoclonal antibody against mouse Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 in vitro. By immunohistochemistry, we found that Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 was mainly expressed by macrophages in the inflamed synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis patients. In addition, serum and synovial fluid levels of soluble Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 were higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to healthy controls or osteoarthritis patients. Moreover, overexpression of Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 in CD14+ monocytes from healthy volunteers also inhibited human osteoclastogenesis. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these data demonstrate for the first time that Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 inhibits osteoclastogenesis. Therefore, these results may have therapeutic implications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. .