Association between telomere length in the DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes and the propofol dose in anesthesia induction: an observational study

Abstract Introduction: Propofol is a widely used anesthetic and its dose is closely related to aging. Telomere length (TL) is a unique heritable trait, and emerging as a biomarker of aging, health and disease. Telomerase RNA component (TERC) plays an important role in maintaining TL. We proposed a hypothesis that propofol dose in general anesthesia can be predicted by measuring TL before operation, which greatly reduced the risk of anesthesia, especially the elderly. Methods: The association between the propofol dose in anesthesia induction and: TL in the DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes; body weight; sex; difference of the Bispectral Index (BIS) before and after anesthesia induction in patients was evaluated by multivariable linear regression analyses. The mutation at the 5'end or 3'end of TERC was detected. We recruited 100 patients of elective surgery. Results: We found that propofol dose in anesthesia induction was clearly correlated significantly with TL (r = 0.78, p < 0.001), body weight (r = 0.84, p = 0.004), sex (r = 0.83, p= 0.84, p = 0.004), sex (r = 0.83, p = 0.004), and difference of BIS before and after anesthesia induction (r = 0.85, p = 0.029). By comparing the absolute values of standardized regression coefficients (0.58, 0.21, 0.19, and 0.12) of the four variables, it can be seen that TL contributes the most to the propofol dose in anesthesia induction. However, the mutation at the 5' end or 3' end of TERC was not found. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that the propofol dose in anesthesia induction was clearly correlated with genetically determined TL. TL may be a promising predictor of the propofol dose, which is beneficial to improve the safety of anesthesia and reduce perioperative complications.

Predictive value of serum inflammatory markers for histological chorioamnionitis among women with preterm premature rupture of membranes after undergoing cervical cerclage

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the predictive value of maternal White Blood Cells (WBC), neutrophils, and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) for diagnosing Histological Chorioamnionitis (HCA) among women with Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) who underwent cervical cerclage. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among women with singleton pregnancy and PPROM, who underwent cervical cerclage during 2018-2020. Results: A total of 55 eligible women were included in the final analysis, including 36 (61.02%) cases with HCA and 19 (38.98%) without HCA. Women with HCA had higher WBC count (12.31 ± 2.80) × 109/L and neutrophil count (9.67 ± 2.90)×109/L than those without HCA (10.35 ± 2.53) × 109/L and 7.82 ± 2.82 × 109/L, respectively) (both p < 0.05). The cut-off value of WBC count at 10.15×109/L was found to be the most effective in identifying HCA, with an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.707 (95% CI: 0.56-0.86; p = 0.012), sensitivity of 86.11%, specificity of 57.90%, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of 79.49%, Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 68.75%, and Youden index of 0.44. The combination of WBC + neutrophil had a slightly higher (AUC = 0.711, 95% CI: 0.57-0.86; p = 0.011), specificity (68.42%), and PPV (81.25%), but lower sensitivity (72.22%), than the WBC count alone. A cut-off value of neutrophil at 7.46 × 109/L was effective in identifying HCA, with an AUC of 0.689 (95% CI: 0.53-0.84; p = 0.022). Discussion: Combination use of WBC+neutrophil was found to be the most accurate predictor of HCA among women with PPROM after surgery of cervical cerclage.

A nomogram for preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma based on inflammation-related markers / 中华外科杂志

Objectives: To construct a nomogram for prediction of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) lymph node metastasis based on inflammation-related markers,and to conduct its clinical verification. Methods: Clinical and pathological data of 858 ICC patients who underwent radical resection were retrospectively collected at 10 domestic tertiary hospitals in China from January 2010 to December 2018. Among the 508 patients who underwent lymph node dissection,207 cases had complete variable clinical data for constructing the nomogram,including 84 males,123 females,109 patients≥60 years old,98 patients<60 years old and 69 patients were pathologically diagnosed with positive lymph nodes after surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to calculate the accuracy of preoperative imaging examinations to determine lymph node status,and the difference in overall survival time was compared by Log-rank test. Partial regression squares and statistically significant preoperative variables were screened by backward stepwise regression analysis. R software was applied to construct a nomogram,clinical decision curve and clinical influence curve,and Bootstrap method was used for internal verification. Moreover,retrospectively collecting clinical information of 107 ICC patients with intraoperative lymph node dissection admitted to 9 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to June 2021 was for external verification to verify the accuracy of the nomogram. 80 patients with complete clinical data but without lymph node dissection were divided into lymph node metastasis high-risk group and low-risk group according to the score of the nomogram among the 858 patients. Log-rank test was used to compare the overall survival of patients with or without lymph node metastasis diagnosed by pathology. Results: The area under the curve of preoperative imaging examinations for lymph node status assessment of 440 patients was 0.615,with a false negative rate of 62.8% (113/180) and a false positive rate of 14.2% (37/260). The median survival time of 207 patients used to construct a nomogram with positive or negative postoperative pathological lymph node metastases was 18.5 months and 27.1 months,respectively (P<0.05). Five variables related to lymph node metastasis were screened out by backward stepwise regression analysis,which were combined calculi,neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio,albumin,liver capsule invasion and systemic immune inflammation index,according to which a nomogram was constructed with concordance index(C-index) of 0.737 (95%CI: 0.667 to 0.806). The C-index of external verification was 0.674 (95%CI:0.569 to 0.779). The calibration prediction curve was in good agreement with the reference curve. The results of the clinical decision curve showed that when the risk threshold of high lymph node metastasis in the nomogram was set to about 0.32,the maximum net benefit could be obtained by 0.11,and the cost/benefit ratio was 1∶2. The results of clinical influence curve showed that when the risk threshold of high lymph node metastasis in the nomogram was set to about 0.6,the probability of correctly predicting lymph node metastasis could reach more than 90%. There was no significant difference in overall survival time between patients with high/low risk of lymph node metastasis assessed by the nomogram and those with pathologically confirmed lymph node metastasis or without lymph node metastasis (Log-rank test:P=0.082 and 0.510,respectively). Conclusion: The prediction accuracy of preoperative nomogram for ICC lymph node metastasis based on inflammation-related markers is satisfactory,which can be used as a supplementary method for preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastasis and is helpful for clinicians to make personalized decision of lymph node dissection for patients with ICC.

Survival analysis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated with adjuvant chemotherapy after radical resection based on CoxPH model and deep learning algorithm / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To establish a predictive model for survival benefit of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) who received adjuvant chemotherapy after radical resection. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 249 patients with ICC who underwent radical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy at 8 hospitals in China from January 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively collected. There were 121 males and 128 females,with 88 cases>60 years old and 161 cases≤60 years old. Feature selection was performed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Overall survival time and survival status were used as outcome indicators,then target clinical features were selected. Patients were stratified into high-risk group and low-risk group,survival differences between the two groups were analyzed. Using the selected clinical features, the traditional CoxPH model and deep learning DeepSurv survival prediction model were constructed, and the performance of the models were evaluated according to concordance index(C-index). Results: Portal vein invasion, carcinoembryonic antigen>5 μg/L,abnormal lymphocyte count, low grade tumor pathological differentiation and positive lymph nodes>0 were independent adverse prognostic factors for overall survival in 249 patients with adjuvant chemotherapy after radical resection (all P<0.05). The survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in the high-risk group was significantly lower than that in the low-risk group (P<0.05). Using the above five features, the traditional CoxPH model and the deep learning DeepSurv survival prediction model were constructed. The C-index values of the training set were 0.687 and 0.770, and the C-index values of the test set were 0.606 and 0.763,respectively. Conclusion: Compared with the traditional Cox model, the DeepSurv model can more accurately predict the survival probability of patients with ICC undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy at a certain time point, and more accurately judge the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Effect of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy on prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma:a multicenter retrospective study / 中华外科杂志

Objectives: To examine the influence of adjuvant chemotherapy after radical resection on the survival of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC) and to identify patients who may benefit from it. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 654 patients with ICC diagnosed by postoperative pathology from December 2011 to December 2017 at 13 hospitals in China were collected retrospectively. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,455 patients were included in this study,including 69 patients (15.2%) who received adjuvant chemotherapy and 386 patients (84.8%) who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. There were 278 males and 177 females,with age of 59 (16) years (M(IQR))(range:23 to 88 years). Propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to balance the difference between adjuvant chemotherapy group and non-adjuvant chemotherapy group. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curve,the Log-rank test was used to compare the difference of overall survival(OS) and recurrence free survival(RFS)between the two groups. Univariate analysis was used to determine prognostic factors for OS. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were then performed for prognostic factors with P<0.10 to identify potential independent risk factors. The study population were stratified by included study variables and the AJCC staging system,and a subgroup analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method to explore the potential benefit subgroup population of adjuvant chemotherapy. Results: After 1∶1 PSM matching,69 patients were obtained in each group. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). After PSM,Cox multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (HR=3.06,95%CI:1.52 to 6.16,P=0.039),width of resection margin (HR=0.56,95%CI:0.32 to 0.99,P=0.044) and adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=0.51,95%CI:0.29 to 0.91,P=0.022) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the median OS time of adjuvant chemotherapy group was significantly longer than that of non-adjuvant chemotherapy group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in RFS time between the adjuvant chemotherapy group and the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group (P>0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that,the OS of female patients,without HBV infection,carcinoembryonic antigen<9.6 μg/L,CA19-9≥200 U/ml,intraoperative bleeding<400 ml,tumor diameter>5 cm,microvascular invasion negative,without lymph node metastasis,and AJCC stage Ⅲ patients could benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Adjuvant chemotherapy can prolong the OS of patients with ICC after radical resection,and patients with tumor diameter>5 cm,without lymph node metastasis,AJCC stage Ⅲ,and microvascular invasion negative are more likely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Evaluative index system in physical training of basketball players / Sistema de índice avaliativo no treinamento físico dos jogadores de basquetebol / Sistema de índice de evaluación en la preparación física de los jugadores de baloncesto

ABSTRACT Introduction: The training should be performed according to the characteristics of basketball by establishing a scientific evaluation index system to fully exploit the potential of its players. Objective: Evaluate the index system for measuring physical training specific to basketball players. Methods: The physical training evaluation indexes of athletes were studied by checking the scientific literature and mathematical statistics, and an evaluation index for the physical training of young basketball players was designed and experimented. Results: The highest proportion of the special fitness score in athletic average was 46.25%; the proportion of the players' general fitness score represented 15% above and 13.75% below. The specific fitness level of basketball players is mainly at the average level. Conclusion: The effects of training can be effectively evaluated by the experienced index system, and it is useful for athletes to find deficiencies, make full use of their potential, improve skills and adapt basketball tactics. It may also provide more reserve talent for professional basketball. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: O treinamento deve ser realizado de acordo com as características do basquetebol estabelecendo um sistema de índice de avaliação científica para explorar plenamente o potencial de seus jogadores. Objetivo: Avaliar o sistema de índices de medição do treinamento físico específico para os jogadores de basquetebol. Métodos: Os índices de avaliação do treinamento físico dos atletas foram estudados verificando a literatura científica e estatísticas matemáticas, um índice de avaliação para o treinamento físico de jovens jogadores de basquetebol foi projetado e experimentado. Resultados: A maior proporção da pontuação da aptidão física especial na média atlética foi de 46,25%; a proporção da pontuação da aptidão física geral dos jogadores representou 15% acima e 13,75% abaixo, o nível de aptidão física específica dos jogadores de basquetebol está principalmente no nível mediano. Conclusão: Os efeitos do treinamento podem ser efetivamente avaliados pelo sistema de índice experimentado, sendo útil para que os atletas possam encontrar deficiências, aproveitar plenamente seu próprio potencial, melhorar as habilidades e adaptar as táticas do basquetebol. Também poderá fornecer mais talentos de reserva para o basquetebol profissional. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: El entrenamiento debe realizarse de acuerdo con las características del baloncesto estableciendo un sistema de índices de evaluación científica para explotar plenamente el potencial de sus jugadores. Objetivo: Evaluar el sistema de índices de medición del entrenamiento físico específico para jugadores de baloncesto. Métodos: Se estudiaron los índices de evaluación del entrenamiento físico de los deportistas mediante la comprobación de la literatura científica y la estadística matemática, y se diseñó y experimentó un índice de evaluación del entrenamiento físico de los jóvenes jugadores de baloncesto. Resultados: La proporción más alta de la puntuación de la aptitud física especial en la media atlética fue del 46,25%; la proporción de la puntuación de la aptitud física general de los jugadores representó un 15% por encima y un 13,75% por debajo, el nivel de aptitud física específica de los jugadores de baloncesto está principalmente en el nivel medio. Conclusión: Los efectos del entrenamiento pueden evaluarse eficazmente mediante el sistema de índice de experiencia, y es útil para que los deportistas encuentren las deficiencias, aprovechen al máximo su propio potencial, mejoren las habilidades y adapten las tácticas de baloncesto. También puede proporcionar más talentos de reserva para el baloncesto profesional. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Influence of progressive upper limb strength training on table tennis athletes / Influência do treinamento progressivo de força nos membros superiores em atletas de tênis de mesa / Influencia del entrenamiento progresivo de fuerza de los miembros superiores en atletas de tenis de mesa

ABSTRACT Introduction Progressive strength training can help athletes improve their strength levels quickly and safely. By controlling the frequency and amplitude of vibrations, muscles can produce unconscious and voluntary contractions that help prevent diseases such as osteoporosis. Objective To explore the change in sports performance caused by progressive upper limb muscle strength training in table tennis players. Methods 12 table tennis players with a minimum experience of 5 years were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The control performed traditional strength training methods while the experimental group used the progressive directed strength training method developed by the research team for nine weeks. Tests were performed on ISOMED 2000 equipment at the conditions of 60°/s and 450°/s. Results Circumference, muscle strength, and relative upper limb strength increased. In addition, a difference in the rate of the maximum elbow flexion moment of the athletes in the experimental group in the 60°/s test conditions was observed. At 450°/s, the maximum flexion and extension elbow moment showed a significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion The progressive strength training method significantly affects the athletes' maximum elbow flexion moment and maximum elbow extension moment than traditional strength training methods. Muscle strength progress was noted mainly in the elbow and wrist joints, with less intensity in the shoulders. Evidence Level II; Therapeutic Studies - Investigating the results.

RESUMO Introdução O treinamento progressivo da força pode ajudar os atletas a melhorar seus níveis de força de maneira rápida e segura. Controlando a frequência e a amplitude das vibrações, os músculos podem produzir contrações inconscientes e voluntárias que ajudam a prevenir doenças como a osteoporose. Objetivo Explorar a alteração no desempenho esportivo ocasionado pelo treinamento progressivo da força muscular nos membros superiores dos jogadores de tênis de mesa. Métodos 12 jogadores de tênis de mesa com experiência mínima de 5 anos foram aleatoriamente divididos em grupos experimental e controle. O controle efetuou métodos tradicionais de treinamento de força enquanto o grupo experimental utilizou o método progressivo de treinamento de força dirigida, desenvolvido pela equipe de pesquisa, por nove semanas. Os testes foram realizados no equipamento ISOMED 2000 nas condições de 60°/s e 450°/s. Resultados A circunferência, força muscular e a relativa força dos membros superiores aumentaram. Houve diferença na taxa do momento de flexão máxima do cotovelo dos atletas do grupo experimental nas condições de teste de 60°/s. A 450°/s, o momento máximo de flexão do cotovelo e o momento máximo de extensão do cotovelo também mostraram uma diferença significativa (P<0,05). Conclusão O método de treinamento progressivo de força afeta significativamente o momento máximo de flexão do cotovelo e o momento máximo de extensão do cotovelo dos atletas do que os métodos tradicionais de treinamento de força. O progresso da força muscular foi notado principalmente nas articulações do cotovelo e pulso, com menor intensidade nos ombros. Nível de evidência II; Estudos Terapêuticos - Investigação de Resultados.

RESUMEN Introducción El entrenamiento de fuerza progresivo puede ayudar a los atletas a mejorar sus niveles de fuerza de forma rápida y segura. Al controlar la frecuencia y la amplitud de las vibraciones, los músculos pueden producir contracciones inconscientes y voluntarias que ayudan a prevenir enfermedades como la osteoporosis. Objetivo Explorar el cambio en el rendimiento deportivo provocado por el entrenamiento progresivo de la fuerza muscular en las extremidades superiores de los jugadores de tenis de mesa. Métodos 12 jugadores de tenis de mesa con una experiencia mínima de 5 años fueron divididos aleatoriamente en grupos experimental y de control. El grupo de control realizó métodos de entrenamiento de fuerza tradicionales, mientras que el grupo experimental utilizó el método de entrenamiento de fuerza dirigido progresivo desarrollado por el equipo de investigación durante nueve semanas. Las pruebas se realizaron en el equipo ISOMED 2000 en las condiciones de 60°/s y 450°/s. Resultados La circunferencia, la fuerza muscular y la fuerza relativa de los miembros superiores aumentaron. Hubo una diferencia en la velocidad del momento de flexión máxima del codo de los atletas del grupo experimental en las condiciones de prueba de 60°/s. A 450°/s, el momento máximo de flexión del codo y el momento máximo de extensión del codo también mostraron una diferencia significativa (P<0,05). Conclusión El método de entrenamiento de fuerza progresivo afecta significativamente al momento de flexión máxima del codo de los atletas y al momento de extensión máxima del codo que los métodos tradicionales de entrenamiento de fuerza. El progreso de la fuerza muscular se observó principalmente en las articulaciones del codo y la muñeca, con menor intensidad en los hombros. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - Investigación de resultados.

Characteristics of body load in physical training for football players / Características da carga corporal do treinamento físico em jogadores de futebol / Características de la carga corporal del entrenamiento físico en jugadores de fútbol

ABSTRACT Introduction: Overtraining in football is caused by an imbalance between body load, stress, and recovery. High-volume non-scientific physical training and continuous high-intensity football matches are often the main reasons for the overtraining of athletes. Objective: This article explores the characteristics of the changes in physical function of football players during a complete training cycle. Methods: We use experimental methods to analyze the changes in the physical load characteristics of football players during high-intensity training. Results: Creatine kinase, urea nitrogen, and oxygen transport indicators did not change significantly during football training. Testosterone and cortisol will gradually increase with an increase of exercise load. Conclusion: In football training, we need to reasonably arrange the total exercise volume, exercise intensity, and exercise interval time of the athletes according to the trainer's physical adaptability and athletic ability, supplemented with nutrition and enthusiasm recovery measures. These methods can improve or enhance the physical function of football players. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

RESUMO Introdução: O treino excessivo no futebol é causado por um desequilíbrio entre a carga corporal, o estresse e a recuperação. O treinamento físico não científico de alto volume e as partidas contínuas de futebol de alta intensidade costumam ser as principais razões do treinamento excessivo dos atletas. Objetivo: Este artigo explora as características das mudanças de função física dos jogadores de futebol durante um ciclo completo de treinamento. Métodos: Usamos métodos experimentais para analisar as mudanças nas características de carga física de jogadores de futebol durante o treinamento de alta intensidade. Resultados: Os indicadores de creatina quinase, nitrogênio da ureia sanguínea e transporte de oxigênio não significativamente durante o treinamento de futebol. A testosterona e o cortisol aumentam gradualmente com o aumento da carga dos exercícios. Conclusões: No treinamento de futebol, precisamos organizar razoavelmente o volume total do exercício, sua intensidade e o tempo de intervalo dos atletas, de acordo com a adaptabilidade física e habilidade atlética do treinador, e com medidas de recuperação nutricional e de entusiasmo. Esses métodos podem melhorar ou aprimorar a função física dos jogadores de futebol. Nível de Evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - Investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: El sobreentrenamiento en el fútbol es causado por un desequilibrio entre la carga corporal, el estrés y la recuperación. El entrenamiento físico de alto volumen no científico y los partidos de fútbol continuos de alta intensidad suelen ser las principales razones del sobreentrenamiento de los atletas. Objetivo: Este artículo explora las características de los cambios en la función física de los jugadores de fútbol durante un ciclo completo de entrenamiento. Métodos: Utilizamos métodos experimentales para analizar los cambios en las características de la carga física de los jugadores de fútbol durante el entrenamiento de alta intensidad. Resultados: Los indicadores de creatina quinasa, nitrógeno ureico en la sangre y transporte de oxígeno no fueron significativos durante el entrenamiento. La testosterona y el cortisol aumentan gradualmente con el aumento de la carga de ejercicios. Conclusiones: En el entrenamiento de fútbol, se debe organizar razonablemente el volumen total de ejercicios, la intensidad y el tiempo de intervalo de los atletas en función del acondicionamiento físico y la capacidad atlética del entrenador, y con medidas de recuperación nutricional y de entusiasmo. Estos métodos pueden mejorar o potenciar la función física de los jugadores de fútbol. Nivel de Evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - Investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Screening of differentially expressed genes for colorectal cancer and prediction of potential traditional Chinese medicine: based on bioinformatics / 中国中药杂志

This study screened and analyzed the differentially expressed genes(DEGs) between colorectal cancer(CRC) tissues and normal tissues with bioinformatics techniques to predict biomarkers and Chinese medicinals for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. The microarray data sets GSE21815, GSE106582, and GSE41657 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO), and the DEGs were screened by GEO2 R, followed by the Gene Ontology(GO) tern enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs based on DAVID. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed by STRING, and MCODE and Cytohubba plug-ins were used to screen the significant modules and hub genes in the network. UCSC, cBioPortal, and Oncomine were employed for hierarchical clustering, survival analysis, Oncomine analysis, and correlation analysis of clinical data. Coremine Medical was applied to predict the Chinese medicinals acting on hub genes. A total of 284 DEGs were screened out, with 146 up-regulated and 138 down-regulated. The up-regulated genes were mainly involved in cell cycle, NLRs pathway, and TNF signaling pathway, and the down-regulated genes were related to mineral absorption, nitrogen metabolism, and bicarbonate reabsorption in proximal tubules. The 15 hub genes were CDK1, CDC20, AURKA, MELK, TOP2 A, PTTG1, BUB1, CDCA5, CDC45, TPX2, NEK2, CEP55, CENPN, TRIP13, and GINS2, among which CDK1 and CDC20 were regarded as core genes. The high expression of CDK1 and CDC20 suggested poor prognosis, and they significantly expressed in many cancers, especially breast cancer, lung cancer, and CRC. The expression of CDK1 and CDC20 was correlated with gender, tumor type, TNM stage, and KRAS gene mutation. The potential effective medicinals against CRC were Scutellariae Radix, Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, Arnebiae Radix, etc. The significant expression of CDK1 and CDC20 can help distinguish tumor tissues from normal tissues, and is related to survival prognosis. Thus, the two can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. This study provides a reference for related drug development.

A novel nomogram for individualized preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma / 中华外科杂志

Objective: Constructing and validating a nomogram model for preoperative prediction of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) lymph node metastasis to assist decision making during surgery. Methods: Retrospectively collecting the clinical and pathological data of 1 031 ICC patients who underwent partial hepatectomy at Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital of Naval Military Medical University,General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command,or Zhongda Hospital Southeast University from January 2003 to January 2014. There were 682 males and 349 females; mean age was 54.7 years(range:18 to 82 years). There were 562 patients who underwent lymph node dissection and 469 patients who did not. Among the patients in the dissection group,Lasso regression method was used to filtrate preoperative variables related to lymph node metastasis and establish a nomogram. Bootstrap method was used to internally validate the discrimination of the nomogram,and the accuracy of the nomogram was assessed by using calibration curves. Patients were divided into low-moderate and high-risk groups based on model prediction probability. Propensity score matching(PSM) was used to analyze the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with and without lymph node dissection in the two groups,and to judge the importance of lymph node dissection in the two groups. Results: Six factors related to ICC lymph node metastasis were determined by Lasso regression,including hepatitis B surface antigen,CA19-9,age,lymphadenopathy,carcinoembryo antigen and maximum tumor diameter. These factors were integrated into a nomogram to predict ICC lymph node metastasis. The aera under curve value was 0.764,and the C-index was 0.754. Stratified analysis showed that OS and RFS in the high-risk group of lymph node metastasis were significantly lower than those in the low-medium risk group(median OS:14.6 months vs. 27.0 months,P<0.01; median RFS:9.1 months vs. 15.5 months,P<0.01). In the high-risk group,the median OS was 16.7 months and 6.3 months(Log-rank test: P=0.187;Wilcoxon test:P=0.046),and the median RFS was 11.0 months and 4.8 months(P=0.403),respectively in the lymph node dissection group and undissected group after PSM. In the low-medium-risk group,the median OS was 22.7 months and 26.7 months(P=0.288),and the median RFS was 13.0 months and 14.5 months(P=0.306),respectively in the lymph node dissection group and undissected group after PSM. Conclusions: The nomogram could be used for preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis and prognostic stratification in patients with ICC. For patients with high risk of lymph node metastasis predicted by the model,active dissection should be performed. For patients predicted to be at low-moderate risk,lymph node dissection might be optional in some specific cases.

Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients underwent radical resection / 中华外科杂志

Objectives: To investigate the clinical value of adjuvant chemotherapy(ACT) in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC) who underwent radical resection and to explore the optimal population that can benefit from ACT. Methods: A retrospective cohort study method was adopted. The clinical and pathological data of 685 patients with ICC who underwent curative intent resection in 10 Chinese hepatobiliary surgery centers from January 2010 to December 2018 were collected;There were 355 males and 330 females. The age(M(IQR)) was 58(14) years (range: 22 to 83 years). Propensity score matching(PSM) was applied to balance the differences between the adjuvant and non-adjuvant chemotherapy groups. Log-rank test was used to compare the prognosis of the two groups of patients. A Bayesian network recurrence-free survival(RFS) prediction model was constructed using the median RFS time (14 months) as the target variable, and the importance of the relevant prognostic factors was ranked according to the multistate Birnbaum importance calculation. A survival prognostic prediction table was established to analyze the population benefiting from adjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Among 685 patients,214 received ACT and 471 did not receive ACT. A total of 124 pairs of patients were included after PSM, and patients in the ACT group had better overall survival (OS) and RFS than those in the non-ACT group(OS: 32.2 months vs. 18.0 months,P=0.003;RFS:18.0 months vs. 10.0 months,P=0.001). The area under the curve of the Bayesian network RFS prediction model was 0.7124. The results of the prognostic factors in order of importance were microvascular invasion (0.158 2),perineural invasion (0.158 2),N stage (0.155 8),T stage (0.120 9), hepatic envelope invasion (0.090 3),adjuvant chemotherapy (0.072 1), tumor location (0.057 5), age (0.042 3), pathological differentiation (0.034 0), sex (0.029 3), alpha-fetoprotein (0.028 9) and preoperative jaundice (0.008 5). A survival prediction table based on the variables with importance greater than 0.1 (microvascular invasion,perineural invasion,N stage,T staging) and ACT showed that all patients benefited from ACT (increase in the probability of RFS≥14 months from 2.21% to 7.68%), with a more significant increase in the probability of RFS≥14 months after ACT in early-stage patients. Conclusion: ACT after radical resection in patients with ICC significantly prolongs the OS and RFS of patients, and the benefit of ACT is greater in early patients.

Capsid destabilization and epitope alterations of human papillomavirus 18 in the presence of thimerosal / 药物分析学报

Thimerosal has been widely used as a preservative in drug and vaccine products for decades.Due to the strong propensity to modify thiols in proteins,conformational changes could occur due to covalent bond formation between ethylmercury(a degradant of thimerosal)and thiols.Such a conformational change could lead to partial or even complete loss of desirable protein function.This study aims to investigate the effects of thimerosal on the capsid stability and antigenicity of recombinant human papillomavirus(HPV)18 virus-like particles(VLPs).Dramatic destabilization of the recombinant viral capsid upon thimerosal treatment was observed.Such a negative effect on the thermal stability of VLPs preserved with thimerosal was shown to be dependent on the thimerosal concentration.Two highly neutralizing antibodies,13H12 and 3C3,were found to be the most sensitive to thimerosal treatment.The kinetics of antigenicity loss,when monitored with 13H12 or 3C3 as probes,yielded two distinctly different sets of kinetic parameters,while the data from both monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)followed a biphasic expo-nential decay model.The potential effect of thimerosal on protein function,particularly for thiol-containing proteinaceous active components,needs to be comprehensively characterized during formulation development when a preservative is necessary.

Association between circulating concentrations of vitamin D and risk of antenatal, postnatal depression: a meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Previous studies showed consistent results for associations between circulating concentrations of vitamin D and risk of antenatal, postnatal depression. Methods: Articles published in English before November 2020 were searched in databases as follows: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Medline, Google Scholar and Cochrane. These articles explored associations between circulating concentrations of vitamin D and risk of antenatal, postnatal depression.The present meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 12.0 software. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) extracted from included studies were computed using a random effects model or a fixed effects model according to heterogeneities between included studies. Q test and I2 were used to explore heterogeneities between included studies. Results: 7 cohort studies (including 1567 depression cases and 5254 controls) and 3 case-control studies (including 995 depression cases and 1265 controls) were included in the present study. The study showed that low circulating levels of 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D is significantly associated with a higher risk of antenatal and postnatal depression (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04, I2 = 90.7%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results have shown that the low level of vitamin D may be an adverse factor of antenatal and postnatal depression.

Prediction of radiotherapy effect by diffusion-weighted imaging in esophageal carcinoma xenograft model

Aim: This study was to evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting the efficacy of radiotherapy for esophageal cancer from xenograft model level. Subjects and Methods: Thirty-two tumor-bearing mice from the Eca-109 cell line nude mice models were established. The experimental group (n = 16) received a single dose of 15 Gy (6MV X-ray), whereas the control group (n = 16) did not receive any treatment. The tumor volume and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were obtained. The cell density, tissue necrosis ratio, and CD31 expression were determined at matched time points. Results: The tumor volume was smaller in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05) on the 7th day after radiotherapy (1.580 ± 0.965 cm3 vs. 2.671 ± 0.915 cm3). The ADC values were higher in the experimental group than in the control group on the 3rd day (P < 0.05) (998.15 ± 163.76 ×10− 6 mm2/s vs. 833.32 ± 142.15 ×10− 6 mm2/s). On the 3rd day after radiotherapy, the differences in cell density and necrosis ratio between the two groups were statistically significant; the tumor cell density was lower in the experimental group (25.56 ± 1.40%) than in the control group (33.48 ± 4.18%) (P < 0.05), and the proportion of tissue necrosis was higher in the experimental group (32.19 ± 1.21%) than in the control group (29.16 ± 2.16%) (P < 0.05). The negative and weak positive rate of CD31 expression in the experimental group was higher than the control group, whereas the generally positive and strong positive rate of CD31 expression was significantly lower than the control group in the early stage (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ADC values may change at the early stage before the morphological changes of tumors. Changes in cell density and necrosis ratio of transplanted tumors correspond to the changes in ADC values. DWI can be used for the early prediction of esophageal cancer radiotherapy efficacy

Association of leptin and leptin receptor polymorphisms with coronary artery disease in a North Chinese Han population

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Leptin (LEP) is a peptide hormone that acts via leptin receptor (LEPR) binding. Genetic evidence from different human populations has implicated LEP/LEPR in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD), and suggests that certain LEP/LEPR gene polymorphisms may increase the risk of CAD. The aim of this study was to assess two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LEP genes (rs2167270 and rs7799039) and two in LEPR genes (rs6588147, rs1137100) for association with CAD. METHODS: We enrolled 271 North Chinese Han CAD patients, and 113 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood, and the four SNPs were assessed using a MassArray system. RESULTS: The G allele frequency at rs2167270 was significantly higher among CAD cases than among controls. The AG genotype at rs7799039 was associated with a significantly decreased risk of CAD unlike the AA genotype used as the reference. The A allele was significantly associated with the CAD patient group. Interestingly, statistically significant differences in genotype and allele frequency at LEP rs2167270 and rs7799039 existed among females but not among males. CONCLUSIONS: The current study detected a significant association between genetic variations at LEP rs7799039 and rs2167270 and the risk of CAD in a north Chinese population, and revealed that LEP rs2167270 and rs7799039 gene polymorphisms might act as predisposing factors for CAD.

AIDS-related knowledge among college freshmen and its influence on sexual attitudes and behaviors in Jiangsu Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the status of knowledge about acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) among college freshmen in Jiangsu Province, and to analyze the influences of AIDS-related knowledge on their sexual attitudes and behaviors.@*Methods@#A total of 8 633 freshmen from 20 colleges and universities in Jiangsu Province were enrolled by multi-stage stratified sampling. The questionnaire for young students about the eight items of AIDS basic knowledge were used to investigate the AIDS-related knowledge, sexual attitudes and behaviors. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of the AIDS-related knowledge and to adjust the influences of AIDS-related knowledge on sexual attitudes and behaviors.@*Results@#The overall qualified rate of AIDS-related knowledge among college freshmen in Jiangsu Province was 87.6% and the qualified rate of 8 items were between 59.8% and 98.3%. The types of schools, nationality, mother s education level and whether only child or not were identified as independent factors for qualified rate of AIDS-related knowledge(P<0.05). The awareness of AIDS-related knowledge had significant impacts on the sexual attitudes and behaviors of college freshmen. Students with insufficient knowledge were more likely to approve premarital sexual behaviors(OR=1.31, 95%CI=1.11-1.63), willing to use condoms consistently(OR=1.67, 95%CI=1.43-1.92) and to accept the HIV tests(OR=4.54, 95%CI=3.13-6.52). Students with unqualified knowledge were more likely to have sexual behavior(OR=1.89, 95%CI=1.42-2.49), while those with sexual experiences and insufficient AIDS knowledge were more likely to use condoms consistently(OR=2.13, 95%CI=1.22-3.78).@*Conclusion@#The education on AIDS-related knowledge for teenagers was helpful to construct correct sexual concepts and develop healthy sexual behaviors. However, the AIDS-related knowledge of college freshmen in Jiangsu Province is not sufficient and needed to improve.

Rapid Identification on Chemical Components in Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum is a rare traditional Chinese medicine material in China. However, there are many varieties of various sources and different qualities in the market at present. In order to further define the pharmacodynamic substance basis, electrospray time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used to rapidly analyze chemical constituents of methanol extract of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum. Method::Chromatographic separation was performed on an UPLC RRHD SB-C18(3.0 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm)for gradient elution, with mixtures of acetonitrile and 0.1%formic acid-water as mobile phases at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min-1. The column temperature was maintained at 40 ℃. The data was collected in a negative ion mode with electro-spray ionization source(ESI). Result::According to molecular ion peaks and MS2 mass spectrometry characteristic fragment ions, Mass Bank databases, as well as the mass spectrometry information of reference substances and relevant literatures, a total of 83 constituents were identified, including 18 flavones, 31 isoflavones, 10 neoflavonoids, 9 isoflavanones, 7 other flavonoids and 8 other components. Conclusion::UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS can quickly, accurately and comprehensively identify chemical constituents in methanol extract of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum, and isoflavones, flavones, neoflavonoids and isoflavanones are the main chemical constituents, which laid a foundation for the basic research of medicinal substances of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum, and provided theoretical basis and technical support for the improvement of quality standards of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum.

Sedentary behaviors and physical fitness among middle school students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand the current situation of sedentary behaviors among middle school students and its relationship with physical health.@*Methods@#Data came from the Taizhou City and Township Health Survey in 2018. Sedentary behaviors and physical fitness of 2 374 middle school students in Taizhou were analyzed.@*Results@#The total time spent in sedentary behaviors of middle school students in Taizhou was (8.75±1.56) h/d on weekday and (7.34±1.55) h/d on weekend; Compared with students whose screen time <2 h/d in weekday or weekend, weekend homework time <2 h/d and private tutoring class <2 h/d, students whose screen time ≥2 h/d in weekday or weekend, weekend homework ≥2 h/d and private tutoring class ≥2 h/d showed higher rate of low physical fitness(OR was 1.43, 1.37, 1.12, 1.43, respectively, P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Long duration of weekend homework and private tutoring class, as well as high screen time in weekday and weekend is associated with decline of physical fitness among middle school students.

A predictive risk score model of textbook outcome for patients undergoing curative-intent resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma / 中国实用外科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors and develop a risk score model for the textbook outcome(TO)among patients undergoing curative-intent resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC).METHODS: Theclinicopathological data of 261 ICC patients between January 2011 and January 2017 in Zhongda Hospital of SoutheastUniversity and No.81 Hospital of PLA undergoing partial hepatectomy were retrospectively collected. Logistic regressionanalyses were performed to determine the significant risk factors for predicting TO.RESULTS: A total of 261 patientsundergoing curative-intent resection of ICC were enrolled in the study. Among them,TO was achieved in 67 patients(25.7%). A multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that older age,non-cirrhosis,reduced operative duration,and T1 a stage disease were independently associated with achieving a TO. A risk score to assess the probability of TOwas developed according the above four risk factors and had good accuracy and satisfactory calibration(χ~2=1.350,P=0.853).CONCLUSION: Younger ICC patients with short operation duration,no cirrhosis,and tumor diameter <5 cm mayhave the higher probability to achieve TO. The risk score model could accurately predict postoperative TO of patientswith ICC.