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Objective: To investigate the influencing factors and population attributable risk percent (PAR%) of low back pain in automobile assemblers. Methods: A total of 634 assemblers from 11 automobile manufacturers in Shiyan City, Hubei Province were chosen as research subjects using judgment sampling method. The prevalence of low back pain in the past one year was investigated using Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. PAR% was used to analyze the contribution of influencing factors to low back pain. Results: The annual prevalence of low back pain was 68.8%. The results of multivariate logistics regression showed that length of service>15 years, high school or secondary college education or above, standing most of the time, sitting most of the time, the proportion of cumulative time of poor posture in work shift time ≥1/8, and bending for insufficient height of working space were the risk factors for low back pain (all P<0.05). The PAR% of the proportion of cumulative time of poor posture in work shift time ≥1/8 was 43.0%, 37.8% for standing most of the time, and 12.8% for bending for insufficient height of working space. Conclusion: The annual prevalence of low back pain was higher in automobile assemblers. The influencing factors included individual factors and occupational factors. The proportion of cumulative time of poor posture in work shift time ≥1/8, standing most of the time and bending for insufficient height of working space should be taken as the priority intervention factors to reduce the prevalence of low back pain among assemblers in this enterprise.
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Itch is an unpleasant sensation that provokes the desire to scratch. While acute itch serves as a protective system to warn the body of external irritating agents, chronic itch is a debilitating but poorly-treated clinical disease leading to repetitive scratching and skin lesions. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of chronic itch remain mysterious. Here, we identified a cell type-dependent role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in controlling chronic itch-related excessive scratching behaviors in mice. Moreover, we delineated a neural circuit originating from excitatory neurons of the ACC to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that was critically involved in chronic itch. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the ACC→VTA circuit also selectively modulated histaminergic acute itch. Finally, the ACC neurons were shown to predominantly innervate the non-dopaminergic neurons of the VTA. Taken together, our findings uncover a cortex-midbrain circuit for chronic itch-evoked scratching behaviors and shed novel insights on therapeutic intervention.
Subject(s)
Mice , Animals , Gyrus Cinguli/physiology , Pruritus/pathology , Mesencephalon , Cerebral Cortex/pathology , Neurons/pathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES@#To derive the paternity index (PI) calculation formula of the alleged father (AF) when the AF is a relative (parent/child, siblings, grandparent/grandchild, uncle/nephew, first cousins) of the child's biological mother.@*METHODS@#For the case when the AF is related to the child's biological mother, the existence of the relationship in the numerator and denominator hypothesis of PI was considered. The genotype frequency of the AF was calculated by using the frequency formula in which the mother's genotype was considered, while the random male in the denominator was substituted as another relative of the mother's same rank. The PI calculation formula was derived to eliminate the effect of the relationship between AF and the child's biological mother.@*RESULTS@#When the AF and the biological mother have first, second and tertiary kinship, a more conservative PI was obtained from the PI calculation formula derived in this study compared with the PI calculation method which did not consider kinship.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The calculation method provided in this study can eliminate the effect of the relation of the AF and mother on the PI in incest cases, to obtain more accurate and conservative identification conclusions.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Child , Paternity , Mothers , Genotype , FathersABSTRACT
Erectile dysfunction (ED) refers to the persistent inability to achieve and/or maintain a sufficient erection of the penis to obtain a satisfactory sexual life,which affects the quality of life of the patients and their sexual partners.To decipher the pathophysiological mechanism of ED,researchers have established a variety of animal models and achieved a series of progress.The cavernous nerve (CN) of rodents,anatomically similar to that of humans,is cost-effective,thick,and easy to be identified,which has gradually become the mainstream of animal models.In this paper,we reviewed the modeling methods of the neurological ED caused by bilateral CN injury in rats in recent years,summarized the model evaluation indicators,and discussed the application and progress of ED models in basic experimental research.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Rats , Animals , Erectile Dysfunction/etiology , Quality of Life , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Disease Models, Animal , Penile ErectionABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the average glandular dose of digital mammography in Zigong, China, and to explore the methods of reducing average glandular dose. Methods A total of 260 patients who underwent digital mammography at six hospitals located in Zigong during the year 2022 were included in this study. Their personal information, photography position, breast compression thickness, exposure parameters, and average glandular dose were collected. Analysis of variance and correlation analysis were performed for data analysis. Results Among the 260 patients who underwent digital mammography, the average breast compression thickness was 46.3 mm and the average glandular dose was 1.70 mGy. There was a significant difference in average glandular dose between patients with different breast compression thickness(P <0.05), and average glandular dose was positively correlated with breast compression thickness. There were no significant differences in average glandular dose between patients with different photography positions and patients with different ages (P>0.05). Conclusion The average glandular dose of patients undergoing digital mammography is at an acceptable level in Zigong. The average glandular dose is impacted by the breast compression thickness, target/filter, and exposure parameters. These factors should be optimized to reduce glandular dose during digital mammography.
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@#AIM: To study the protective effect of astragalus-containing serum on cobalt chloride(CoCl2)-induced hypoxia injury of human retinal pigment epithelial cells(ARPE-19), so as to explore whether astragalus can improve diabetic retinopathy(DR)by anti-oxidative stress.<p>METHODS: The ARPE-19 hypoxia model induced by CoCl2 was established and divided into the following 5 groups: normal group(cells were cultured normally without any treatment), hypoxia model group(200μmol/L CoCl2), blank serum group(200μmol/L CoCl2+blank serum), low-dose drug-containing serum group(200μmol/L CoCl2+10% medicated serum)and high-dose drug-containing serum group(200μmol/L CoCl2+20% medicated serum); CCK-8 detects cell viability; Detect the levels of reduced glutathione(GSH)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in the cell supernatant with a kit; ELISA was used to detect the content of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in cell culture medium; Real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)to detect the mRNA levels of VEGF, HIF-1α and Prolyl hydroxylase-2(PHD-2); The expressions of VEGF, HIF-1α and PHD-2 were detected by Western Blot.<p>RESULTS: Hypoxia model of ARPE-19 can successfully establish by CoCl2 at 200μmol/L. Low-dose and high-dose astragalus-containing serum could inhibit hypoxia-induced ARPE-19 proliferation(<i>P</i><0.05), increase the GSH level and reduce the MDA content in ARPE-19 with hypoxic injury(<i>P</i><0.05). Low-dose and high-dose astragalus-containing serum could inhibit the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in ARPE-19 hypoxic injury supernatant(<i>P</i><0.05), as well as the mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF, HIF-1α and PHD-2 in ARPE-19(<i>P</i><0.05).<p>CONCLUSION: Low-dose and high-dose astragalus-containing serum alleviates the hypoxia injury of ARPE-19 induced by CoCl2 through anti-oxidant effect.
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@#Primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG)is the most common type of glaucoma in clinical. It is characterized by progressive and irreversible development with high global incidence and high possibility of blindness. The pathogenesis of PACG is complicated. It is not only associated with the abnormality of the ocular anatomy, such as the small cornea, short eye axis and shallow anterior chamber, but also found that the abnormality of the lens, iris, ciliary body and choroid are related to the pathogenesis of PACG in recent years. Moreover, the occurrence of PACG is also closely related to genetic and psychological stress factors. Our study summarized some literatures and made a brief discussion on the pathogenesis of PACG from the three aspects of anatomical characteristics, genetic factors, and psychological stress. We hope to provide useful theoretical support for the early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.
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Background@#Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been identified as promising compounds for consideration as novel antimicrobial agents. @*Objectives@#This study analyzed the efficacy of cecropin B against Haemophilus parasuis isolates through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments. @*Results@#Cecropin B exhibited broad inhibition activity against 15 standard Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) strains and 5 of the clinical isolates had minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) ranging from 2 to 16 μg/mL. Microelectrophoresis and hexadecane adsorption assays indicated that the more hydrophobic and the higher the isoelectric point (IEP) of the strain, the more sensitive it was to cecropin B. Through SEM, multiple blisters of various shapes and dents on the cell surface were observed. Protrusions and leakage were detected by AFM. @*Conclusions@#Based on the results, cecropin B could inhibit HPS via a pore-forming mechanism by interacting with the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. Moreover, as cecropin B concentration increased, the bacteria membrane was more seriously damaged. Thus, cecropin B could be developed as an effective anti-HPS agent for use in clinical applications.
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Background@#Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been identified as promising compounds for consideration as novel antimicrobial agents. @*Objectives@#This study analyzed the efficacy of cecropin B against Haemophilus parasuis isolates through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments. @*Results@#Cecropin B exhibited broad inhibition activity against 15 standard Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) strains and 5 of the clinical isolates had minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) ranging from 2 to 16 μg/mL. Microelectrophoresis and hexadecane adsorption assays indicated that the more hydrophobic and the higher the isoelectric point (IEP) of the strain, the more sensitive it was to cecropin B. Through SEM, multiple blisters of various shapes and dents on the cell surface were observed. Protrusions and leakage were detected by AFM. @*Conclusions@#Based on the results, cecropin B could inhibit HPS via a pore-forming mechanism by interacting with the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. Moreover, as cecropin B concentration increased, the bacteria membrane was more seriously damaged. Thus, cecropin B could be developed as an effective anti-HPS agent for use in clinical applications.
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Both diabetes mellitus and liver cirrhosis have high incidence rate and mortality rate around the world, and in recent ten years, scholars in China and globally have conducted many studies on the association between diabetes mellitus and liver cirrhosis. This article systematically reviews the advances in the basic and clinical research on the influence of diabetes mellitus on liver cirrhosis and its complications and summarizes possible mechanisms. The results show that diabetes mellitus can accelerate the process of liver fibrosis, increase the risk of complications and progression to liver cancer in patients with liver cirrhosis, and reduce their survival rate.
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Hepatogenous diabetes (HD) is a common complication of end-stage liver disease, and many studies have confirmed its adverse effect on prognosis. In recent ten years, a great number of studies have been conducted on the pathogenesis of HD and some progress has been made. This article reviews the research advances in the pathogenesis of HD, in order to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of HD by clinicians.
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Objective@#To understand the epidemiological characteristic of the prevalence of aasthma in children in China, and to provide clues for the prevention and treatment of asthma in China.@*Methods@#A systematical literature retrieval on children asthma prevalence from CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP and PubMed databases was performed. Random effects model was used to calculate the combined prevalence of asthma and its 95% confidence interval (CI) with Stata 16.0 software, the subgroup analysis was conducted according to sex, age and region.@*Results@#A total of 26 studies were included, including 213 729 children, 112 169 boys and 101 560 girls. Meta-analysis showed that the combined prevalence of asthma in children aged 14 and under in China was 3.3%(95%CI=2.7%-4.0%). The subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of asthma in boys was higher than that in girls(Q=11.42, P=0.01). The prevalence of asthma in preschool children aged 4-6 was higher than that in infants aged 0-3 and school children aged 7-14(Q=8.03, P=0.02). And there was no significant discrepancy of the asthma prevalence among children between the north and south(Q=0.72, P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#The prevalence of childhood asthma in China presented an increasing trend. Our findings underscore more efforts to control and prevent asthma among children.
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Strain is the fundamental unit in microbial taxonomy. The functional diversity among strains has great influence on host phenotypes. With the development of microbiome research, knowing the composition and functional capacities of complex microbial communities at the strain level has become increasingly valuable in scientific research and clinical applications. This review introduces the principles of bioinformatics algorithms for strain analysis based on metagenomic data, the applications in microbiome research and directions of future development.
Subject(s)
Algorithms , Computational Biology , Metagenome , Metagenomics , Microbiota/geneticsABSTRACT
Objective To select and develop a SNP-STR multiplex amplification system with genetic markers compatible with current STR databases. To understand its genetic polymorphisms in Sichuan Han population and its application value in DNA mixture analysis. Methods Based on the STR genetic markers in commercial kits, SNPs adjacent to these STR markers were selected to be SNP-STR genetic markers. A SNP-STR multiplex amplification system with genetic markers based on allele-specific amplification was constructed using allele-specific amplification primers. The genetic polymorphism of the system in the Sichuan Han population was investigated and the efficiency of systems with different numbers of loci to detect the two individual DNA mixture samples was evaluated. Results An allele-specific multiplex amplification system constituted of 13 SNP-STR genetic markers was selected and constructed. In Sichuan Han population, the heterozygosity of each locus ranged from 0.76 to 0.88, and the combined discrimination power reached 0.999 999 999 999 999 968. In the analysis of the two individual DNA mixture samples： for single-locus amplification, the genotype of the minor components can still be detected when the mixture ratio reaches 1 000∶1; for multiple loci multiplex amplification, the maximum mixture ratio can reach 500∶1. As the number of loci in the system increased, the detection efficiency of the minor components in the DNA mixture decreased. Conclusion SNP-STR genetic markers have a higher polymorphism than STR. The multiplex amplification system made of SNP-STR genetic markers has a better analysis efficiency for mixed samples than traditional STR multiplex amplification system.
Subject(s)
Humans , China , DNA Fingerprinting , DNA Primers , Gene Frequency , Genetic Markers , Microsatellite Repeats , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Single NucleotideABSTRACT
The aim of this paper was to systematically evaluate the toxicity-reducing effect of Tripterygium-licorice in animal experiments,and also to provide evidence for basic research on the toxicity reduction of Tripterygium wilfordii. The PubMed,EMbase,Web of Science,CBM,CNKI and Wan Fang Databases from their establishment to August 31 th,2018 were searched. Two independent reviewers screened the papers,extracted the data,assessed the risk of bias using SYRCLE assessment tool and conducted Meta-analysis with Rev Man 5. 3 software. A total of 10 papers involving 31 studies were finally included,15 studies of which were used for Meta-analysis. Four studies were included for chronic hepatotoxicity animal model. In experimental group( 34 animals),Tripterygium was administered at dose of 0. 09-0. 1 mg·kg-1·d-1,and glycyrrhizic acid was administered at dose of 90-100 mg·kg-1,both for 2 weeks; in control group( 34 animals),glycyrrhizic acid was replaced with equal volume of normal saline. Eleven studies were included for acute hepatotoxicity animal model. In experimental group( 66 animals),glycyrrhizic acid was administered at dose of 75-480 mg·kg-1 for 7 days,then glycyrrhizic acid was stopped,and Tripterygium began to be administered at dose of 0. 6-1. 0 mg·kg-1 per 24 h or 48 h for a total of 1-2 times; in control group( 66 animals),glycyrrhizic acid was replaced with equal volume of normal saline or corresponding solvent. The results of Meta-analysis showed that in both chronic hepatotoxicity animal model and acute hepatotoxicity animal model,the transaminase levels in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group( P < 0. 05). Subgroup analysis of acute hepatotoxicity animal model showed that the transaminase levels in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group for every subgroup except " glycyrrhizic acid 75 mg·kg-1" subgroup. However,in terms of the mean difference( MD) and confidence interval( CI),there was no significant difference in transaminase decline between each subgroup. Low dose of glycyrrhizic acid( 90-100 mg·kg-1) has a toxicity-reduction effect on chronic hepatotoxicity induced by tripterygium( 0. 09-0. 10 mg·kg-1). Middle and high doses of glycyrrhizic acid( 120-480 mg·kg-1) have a toxicity-reduction effect on acute hepatotoxicity induced by tripterygium( 0. 6-1. 0 mg·kg-1),but with no significant dose-effect relationship.
Subject(s)
Animals , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Toxicity , Glycyrrhiza , Glycyrrhizic Acid , Tripterygium , Chemistry , ToxicityABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore clinical outcomes of buttress plating in treating posterior Pilon fracture by amodified posteromedial approach.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From July 2014 to January 2015, 10 patients with posterior Pilon fracture were respectively analyzed, including 7 females and 3 males, aged from 31 to 54 years old. One patient were type , 3 patients were type IIand 6 patients were type III according to classification of Pilon fracture by YU Guang-rong. All patients were treated by buttress plating through amodified posteromedial approach. Postoperative complications, fracture healing and reduction were observed, AOFAS score were used to evaluate function recovery at 1 year after operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months with an average of(14.1±3.2) months. All incisions were primarily healed at stage I without wound complication, neurovascular injuries or musculus flexor contracture. According to Burwell-Charnley imaging scoring, 8 patients got anatomical reduction and 2 patients got moderate reduction. All fracture got healing from 12 to 16 weeks with an average of(13.2±1.8) weeks. According to AOFAS score at 1 year after operation, 8 got excellent results and 2 moderate. All patients returned to work at about(4.7±1.4) months (ranged from 3 to 6 months) after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Buttress plating using a modified posteromedial approach in treating posterior Pilon fractures is an effective method, has less complications, and could recovery early weight-bearing functional exercise.</p>
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Gender differences in fatigue manifest as females being more prone to feel exhaustion and having lower muscle endurance. However, the mechanisms of these effects remain unclear. We investigated whether orosomucoid, an endogenous anti-fatigue protein that enhances muscle endurance, is involved in this regulation. Female rats exhibited lower muscle endurance, and this gender difference disappeared in orosomucoid-1-deficient mice. Female rats also exhibited weaker orosomucoid induction in serum, liver and muscle in response to fatigue compared with male rats. Ovariectomy elevated orosomucoid levels and increased swimming time, and estrogen replenishment reversed these effects. Exogenous estrogen treatment in male and female mice produced opposite effects. Estrogen decreased orosomucoid expression and its promoter activity in C2C12 muscle and Chang liver cells in vitro, and estrogen receptor or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase blockade abolished this effect. Therefore, estrogen negatively regulates orosomucoid expression that is responsible for the weaker muscle endurance in females.
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Health education and health promotion are important measures for comprehensive control of schistosomiasis in China,which can improve the compliance rate of residents involved in schistosomiasis control activities,reduce the water con-tact behavior of the target population,thus avoiding or decreasing the infection of schistosome in endemic areas.In recent years, the comprehensive control of schistosomiasis in China has achieved remarkable results.China has reached the goal of transmis-sion control and is moving toward the transmission interruption or even elimination of schistosomiasis.This article analyzes the role of health education and health promotion in schistosomiasis control programme and the current challenges.Meanwhile,sug-gestions are also put forward on how to conduct health education and health promotionin the stage of schistosomiasis elimination.
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<p><b>Background</b>A beneficial memory effect of acute fornix deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been reported in clinical studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute changes in glucose metabolism induced by fornix DBS.</p><p><b>Methods</b>First, the Morris water maze test and novel object recognition memory test were used to confirm declined memory in aged mice (C57BL/6, 20-22 months old). Then, four groups of mice were used as follows: aged mice with stimulation (n = 12), aged mice with sham-stimulation (n = 8), adult mice (3-4 months old) with stimulation (n = 12), and adult mice with sham-stimulation (n = 8). Ipsilateral hippocampal glucose metabolism and glutamate levels were measured in vivo by microdialysis before, during, and after fornix DBS treatment. Histological staining was used to verify the localization of electrodes and mice with inaccurate placement were excluded from subsequent analyses. The effects of fornix DBS on extracellular glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and glutamate levels over time were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance followed by Fisher's least significant difference post hoc test.</p><p><b>Results</b>The aged mice had a higher basal lactate/pyruvate ratio (LPR) and lactate/glucose ratio (LGR) than the adult mice (LPR: 0.34 ± 0.04 vs. 0.13 ± 0.02, t = 4.626, P < 0.0001; LGR: 6.06 ± 0.59 vs. 4.14 ± 0.36, t = 2.823, P < 0.01). Fornix DBS decreased the ipsilateral hippocampal pyruvate and lactate levels (P < 0.05), but the glucose levels were not obviously changed in aged mice. Similarly, the LGR and LPR also decreased in aged mice after fornix DBS treatment (P < 0.05). Glucose metabolism in adult mice was not significantly influenced by fornix DBS. In addition, fornix DBS significantly decreased the ipsilateral hippocampal extracellular levels of glutamate in aged mice (P < 0.05), while significant alterations were not found in the adult mice.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>The present study provides experimental evidence that fornix DBS could significantly improve hippocampal glucose metabolism in aged mice by promoting cellular aerobic respiration activity.</p>
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ABSTRACT Introduction To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel penile circumcision suturing devices PCSD and Shang ring (SR) for circumcision in an adult population. Materials and Methods A total of 124 outpatients were randomly assigned to receive PCSD (n=62) or SR (n=62). Patient characteristics, operative time, blood loss, return to normal activities time (RNAT), visual analogue scale (VAS), scar width, wound healing time, cosmetic result, and complications were recorded. Results There were no significant differences in blood loss, RNAT, or complications between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the VAS scores at the operation, at 6 or 24 hours after surgery (P>0.05). The wound scar width was wider in the SR group than in the PCSD group (P<0.01). Patients in the SR group had significantly longer wound healing time compared with those in the PCSD group (P<0.01). Patients who underwent PCSD were significantly more satisfied with the cosmetic results (P<0.01). Conclusions SR and PCSD are safe and effective minimally invasive techniques for adult male circumcision. Compared with SRs, PCSDs have the advantages of faster postoperative incision healing and a good effect on wound cosmetics.