Association between Sleep Quality and Body Weight Status in Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

@#Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is a new emerging situation that has dramatically impacted sleep quality and body weight status. This study aimed to determine the association between sleep quality and body weight status in Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online cross-sectional study involved 427 Malaysian adults aged 18 to 59. The convenience sampling method was used. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Self-administered socio-demographic, height, and weight for BMI were obtained. Pearson correlation test was conducted to measure the association between sleep quality and body weight status using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 22.0. Results: A total of 78.5% of them were females, and 84.8% of Malaysian adults reported poor sleep quality. The participants’ mean global PSQI score and body mass index were 8.1 (±2.7) and 24.6 (±6.1) kg/m2, respectively. 8.0% were underweight, followed by 55.5% of normal BMI, 17.5% overweight, and 19.0% obese. The study showed a significant and positive correlation between global PSQI score and body mass index (r=0.137, p=0.005). Conclusion: Sleep quality is significantly associated with body weight status. Adults with poorer sleep quality should be targeted when promoting healthy body weight. Future research on the interventions to improve adults’ sleep quality is essential, particularly during the pandemic.

Killing effect of anti-MSLN-iCAR-NK cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells on ovarian epithelial cancer cells / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To investigate the cytotoxic effects of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells of anti-mesothelin (MSLN)-chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cells (anti-MSLN-iCAR-NK cells) on ovarian epithelial cancer cells. Methods: Twenty cases of ovarian cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment at Henan Provincial People's Hospital from September 2020 to September 2021 were collected, and 20 cases of normal ovarian tissues resected during the same period due to other benign diseases were also collected. (1) Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to verify the expression of MSLN protein in ovarian cancer tissues. (2) Fresh ovarian cancer tissues were extracted and cultured to obtain primary ovarian cancer cells. Recombinant lentiviral vectors targeting anti-MSLN-CAR-CD244 were constructed and co-cultured with iPS cells to obtain anti-MSLN-iCAR cells. These cells were differentiated into anti-MSLN-iCAR-NK cells using cytokine-induced differentiation method. The cell experiments were divided into three groups: anti-MSLN-iCAR-NK cell group, natural killer (NK) cell group, and control group. (3) Flow cytometry and live cell staining experiment were used to detect the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells in the three groups. (4) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the expression levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), granzyme B (GZMB), perforin 1 (PRF1), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 in the three groups of ovarian cancer cells. Results: (1) Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that a positive expression rate of MSLN protein in ovarian cancer tissues of 65% (13/20), while normal ovarian tissues had a positive rate of 30% (6/20). The comparison between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=4.912, P=0.027). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the positive expression rate of MSLN protein in ovarian cancer tissues was 70% (14/20), while normal ovarian tissues had a positive rate of 30% (6/20). The comparison between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=6.400, P=0.011). (2) Flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptotic rate of ovarian cancer cells in the anti-MSLN-iCAR-NK cell group was (29.27±0.85)%, while in the NK cell group and control group were (8.44±0.34)% and (6.83±0.26)% respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the comparisons between the three groups (all P<0.01). Live cell staining experiment showed that the ratio of dead cells to live cells in the anti-MSLN-iCAR-NK cell group was (36.3±8.3)%, while in the NK cell group and control group were (5.4±1.4)% and (2.0±1.3)% respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the comparisons between the three groups (all P<0.001). (3) ELISA analysis revealed that the expression levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, GZMB, PRF1, IL-6, and IL-10 in ovarian cancer cells of the anti-MSLN-iCAR-NK cell group were significantly higher than those in the NK cell group and the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The anti-MSLN-iCAR-NK cells exhibit a strong killing ability against ovarian cancer cells, indicating their potential as a novel immunotherapy approach for ovarian cancer.

Application of strigolactone analogs in storage of Gastrodia elata / 中国中药杂志

This study explored the preservation effect of strigolactone analogs on Gastrodia elata tubers and screened out the suitable preservation measures of G. elata to provide a safer and more effective method for its storage and preservation. Fresh G. elata tubers were treated with 7FGR24, 2,4-D isooctyl ester, and maleic hydrazide, respectively. The growth of flower buds, the activities of CAT, and MDA, and the content of gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol were measured to compare the effects of different compounds on the storage and preservation of G. elata. The effects of different storage temperatures on the preservation of 7FGR24 were compared and analyzed. The gibberellin signal transduction receptor gene GeGID1 was cloned, and the effect of 7FGR24 on the expression level of GeGID1 was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR). The toxicity of the G. elata preservative 7FGR24 was analyzed by intragastric administration in mice to evaluate its safety. The results showed that compared with 2,4-D isooctyl ester and maleic hydrazide, 7FGR24 treatment had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of G. elata flower buds, and the CAT enzyme activity of G. elata was the highest, indicating that its preservation effect was stronger. Different storage temperatures had different effects on the preservation of G. elata, and the preservation effect was the strongest at 5 ℃. The open reading frame(ORF) of GeGID1 gene was 936 bp in length, and its expression level was significantly down-regulated after 7FGR24 treatment, indicating that 7FGR24 may inhibit the growth of flower buds by inhibiting the gibberellin signal of G. elata, thereby exerting a fresh-keeping effect. Feeding preservative 7FGR24 had no significant effect on the behavior and physiology of mice, indicating that it had no obvious toxicity. This study explored the application of the strigolactone analog 7FGR24 in the storage and preservation of G. elata and preliminarily established a method for the storage and preservation of G. elata, laying a foundation for the molecular mechanism of 7FGR24 in the storage and preservation of G. elata.

Research progress in strigolactones and application prospect in medicinal plants / 中国中药杂志

Strigolactones(SLs) are a class of sesquiterpenoids derived from the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway with the core carbon skeleton consisting of tricyclic lactone(ABC tricyclic ring) and α,β-unsaturated furan ring(D ring). SLs are widely distributed in higher plants and are symbiotic signals between plants and Arbuscular mycorrhiza(AM), which play key roles in the evolution of plant colonizing terrestrial habitats. As a new type of plant hormone, SLs possess such important biological functions as inhibiting shoot branching(tillers), regulating root architecture, promoting secondary growth, and improving plant stress resistance. Therefore, SLs have attracted wide attention. The biological functions of SLs are not only closely related to the formation of "excellent shape and quality" of Chinese medicinal materials but also have important practical significance for the production of high-quality medicinal materials. However, SLs have been currently widely studied in model plants and crops such as Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana, and few related studies have been reported on SLs in medicinal plants, which need to be strengthened. This review focused on the latest research progress in the isolation and identification, biological and artificial synthesis pathways, biosynthesis sites and transport modes, signal transduction pathways and mechanisms, and biological functions of SLs, and prospected the research on the regulation mechanism of SLs in the growth and development of medicinal plants and their related application on targeted regulation of Chinese herbal medicine production, which is expected to provide some references for the in-depth research on SLs in the field of Chinese medicinal resources.

Effects of Body Weight and Waist Circumference on Balance Function in Overweight and Obese Adults / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of body weight and waist circumference on static and dynamic balance function in overweight and obese adults. MethodsParticipants （n=103） were selected by cluster random sampling from the Hypoglycemic Weight Loss Clinic of the Endocrinology Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. All participants were assessed for basic data collection， biochemical test， body weight， waist circumference and height measurement， static balance function assessed by balance error scoring system （BESS） and dynamic balance function assessed by functional reach test （FRT）. The BESS score and FRT distance of all participants were compared among groups according to different BMI grades and WC grades. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of participants' dynamic and static balance functions. Results① With the increase of BMI grading， the BESS score showed an upward trend， and the difference between groups was statistically significant （P = 0.004）. The BESS score of normal WC patients was lower than that of central obesity patients （P < 0.001）， which indicated that compared with normal BMI， overweight and obese people had poor dynamic and static balance ability； ② With the BMI grading， the FRT distance increased， showing a downward trend （P < 0.001）. The FRT distance in normal WC patients was significantly higher than that in central obesity patients （P < 0.001）， which indicated that the static and dynamic balance ability of central obesity patients was worse than that of normal WC patients； ③ In BMI overweight group， the FRT distance decreased significantly with the increase of WC （P = 0.02）. The results showed that under the condition of no difference in BMI， Compared with normal WC， the dynamic and static balance ability of central obese patients was worse； ④ The influence of BESS score on BMI（B=4.12，P =0.027， 95% CI=0.48-7.75）and WC（B = 3.47，P = 0.046， 95% CI = 0.07 - 6.88）was significant. The influence of FRT distance on BMI（B = -5.68，P = 0.001， 95% CI = -8.95 - 2.41）and WC（B = -4.71，P = 0.003， 95% CI = -7.83 to -1.61）was significant， which indicated that the static and dynamic balance ability of obese people was worse with the increase of BMI， and the ability of dynamic and static balance of central obesity was worse than that of normal WC. ConclusionWaist circumference is an independent factor affecting the dynamic and static balance function of overweight and obese people. Under similar BMI， the dynamic balance function of central obese people is worse than that of people with normal waist circumference， leading to higher risk of falling.

Interventional treatment and early-stage follow-up of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To explore the application value of percutaneous peripheral interventional therapy in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septal (PA-IVS). Methods: Retrospective case summary. The data was collected from 25 children who were hospitalized at the Children's Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine from August 2019 to August 2022, had been diagnosed with PA-IVS by echocardiography, and underwent interventional treatment. The sex, age, weight, operation time, radiation exposure time, and radiation dose of the patients were collected. The patients were divided into the arterial duct stenting group and the non-stenting group. Preoperative tricuspid annular diameters and Z scores, right ventricular length diameters, and right ventricular/left ventricular length-diameter ratios were compared by paired t-tests. Right ventricular systolic pressure difference, oxygen saturation, lactic acid before and after the surgery were compared for 24 children who received percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. Right ventricular improvement in 25 children after operation was analyzed. The correlation between postoperative oxygen saturation and postoperative right ventricular systolic blood pressure difference, the degree of pulmonary valve opening and the Z value of tricuspid valve ring in the non-stenting group were analyzed. Results: A total of 25 patients with PA-IVS were enrolled in the study, of whom 19 were males and 6 females, with an age at surgery of 12 (6, 28) days and a weight of (3.7±0.5) kg. One of them underwent only stenting of the arterial duct; 20 children underwent only percutaneous pulmonary valve perforation and balloon angioplasty; 4 children underwent both procedures. The Z-value of the tricuspid ring was -1.5±1.2 in the group with arterial duct stenting, and -0.1±0.4 in the group without stenting (t=2.77, P=0.010). The tricuspid regurgitant flow rate 1 month after surgery was significantly lower than the preoperative ((3.4±0.6) vs. (4.8±0.9) m/s, t=6.62,P<0.001). In the 24 children with percutaneous pulmonary valve perforation and balloon angioplasty, the preoperative right ventricular systolic blood pressure was (110±32) mmHg, and the postoperative systolic blood pressure was (52±19) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) (F=59.55, P<0.001). The factors that may affect postoperative oxygen saturation in 20 cases of non-stenting group were analyzed. The results suggested that the pre and post-operative right ventricular systolic blood pressure differences (r=-0.11, P=0.649), and the pulmonary valve orifice opening (r=-0.31, P=0.201) and tricuspid annulus Z value (r=-0.18, P=0.452) at 1 month after the operation were not significantly correlated with the postoperative oxygen saturation. Conclusions: Interventional therapy can be used as the first choice for one-stage operation of PA-IVS. Percutaneous pulmonary valve perforation and balloon angioplasty are more suitable for children with well-developed right ventricles, tricuspid annulus, and pulmonary arteries. While the smaller the tricuspid annulus, the more dependent it is on the ductus arteriosus and thus patients are more suitable for arterial duct stenting.

Clinical Study of Cytomegalovirus Infection after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the risk factors of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and refractory CMV infection (RCI) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and their influences on survival.@*METHODS@#A total of 246 patients who received allo-HSCT from 2015 to 2020 were divided into CMV group (n=67) and non-CMV group (n=179) according to whether they had CMV infection. Patients with CMV infection were further divided into RCI group (n=18) and non-RCI group (n=49) according to whether they had RCI. The risk factors of CMV infection and RCI were analyzed, and the diagnostic significance of Logistics regression model was verified by ROC curve. The differences of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between groups and the risk factors affecting OS were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#For patients with CMV infection, the median time of the first CMV infection was 48(7-183) days after allo-HSCT, and the median duration was 21 (7-158) days. Older age, EB viremia and gradeⅡ-Ⅳacute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) significantly increased the risk of CMV infection (P=0.032, <0.001 and 0.037, respectively). Risk factors for RCI were EB viremia and the peak value of CMV-DNA at diagnosis≥1×104 copies/ml (P=0.039 and 0.006, respectively). White blood cell (WBC)≥4×109/L at 14 days after transplantation was a protective factor for CMV infection and RCI (P=0.013 and 0.014, respectively). The OS rate in CMV group was significantly lower than that in non-CMV group (P=0.033), and also significantly lower in RCI group than that in non-RCI group (P=0.043). Hematopoietic reconstruction was a favorable factor for OS (P<0.001), whereas CMV-DNA≥1.0×104 copies/ml within 60 days after transplantation was a risk factor for OS (P=0.005).@*CONCLUSION@#The late recovery of WBC and the combination of EB viremia after transplantation are common risk factors for CMV infection and RCI. CMV-DNA load of 1×104 copies/ml is an important threshold, higher than which is associated with higher RCI and lower OS risk.

Research progress in chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, and clinical application of Curcuma wenyujin and prediction of its quality markers / 中国中药杂志

Curcuma wenyujin, as one of the eight Daodi-herbs in Zhejiang province, is widely used. It has the effects of eliminating stasis and dissipating mass, moving Qi and activating blood, and clearing heart and relieving depression. Modern studies have shown that it has anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-thrombus and liver-protecting effects and mainly contains sesquiterpenoids, monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, and curcumins. This paper reviews the research progress in the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of C. wenyujin in the last decade, discusses the modern clinical applications combined with the traditional efficacy, and predicts its quality markers(Q-markers) from plant consanguinity, medicinal properties, efficacy, processing and measurability of chemical components based on the theory of Q-markers, so as to provide a reference for the establishment of a scientific quality evaluation system and the research and application of this herb in the future.

Comparison on Performance of Quantitative Ultrasound and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry in Evaluating Bone Health of Adults Aged 18-40 Years / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To compare the consistency of quantitative ultrasound(QUS)and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA)in measuring bone mineral density(BMD)of adults aged 18-40 years in Guangzhou and evaluate the diagnostic value of QUS for identifying low bone mass.Methods DXA was employed to measure the BMD and QUS to measure the speed of sound(SOS)in 731 participants.The Bland-Altman analysis was performed to evaluate the consistency of Z scores between SOS and BMD.With the BMD Z ≤-2.00 as the diagnostic criterion for low bone mass,the receiver operating characteristics curve of QUS was established,and the area under the curve(AUC)and the sensitivity,specificity,and correct diagnostic index for the optimal cut-off of SOS Z score were calculated.Results The results of Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean differences in the Z scores of SOS and BMD in males and females were 1.27(-0.94 to 3.47)and 0.93(-1.33 to 3.18),respectively.The AUC of SOS Z score in the diagnosis of low bone mass in males and females was 0.734(95%CI=0.380-0.788)and 0.679(95%CI=0.625-0.732),respectively.In males,the optimal cut-off of SOS Z score for low bone mass was -0.35,with the sensitivity,specificity,and correct diagnostic index of 64.1%,68.6%,and 0.327,respectively.In females,the optimal cut-off value of SOS Z scores for low bone mass was -1.14,with the sensitivity,specificity,and correct index of 73.9%,54.8%,and 0.285,respectively.Conclusion QUS and DXA show poor consistency in the diagnosis of BMD in the adults aged 18-40 years in Guangzhou,while QUS demonstrates an acceptable value in identifying low bone mass.

Association Between Dietary Knowledge and Food Preferences in Residents Aged 18 and Over in China Based on Latent Class Analysis / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the food preferences and explore the potential association between dietary knowledge and food preferences in residents aged 18 and over in China,so as to provide a basis for promoting healthy diets.Methods The latent class analysis was carried out with the 2015 cross-sectional data of China health and nutrition survey to categorize the food preferences among 8 783 residents aged 18 and over.Multinomial Logistic regression was adopted to assess the association between and dietary knowledge and food preferences.Results The food preferences of the residents aged 18 and over in China were classified into preference for less vegetable(3.28%),lack of preference(11.20%),diverse preferences(4.19%),and preference for healthy diets(81.33%).The proportion of the adults with dietary knowledge was 36.87%(3 238/8 783).The dietary knowledge varied in the adults with different food preferences(all P<0.001).After adjusting for gender,age,urban and rural distribution,education background,and annual household income,for each point increase in the dietary knowledge score,there was an estimated reduction of 22% in the probability of preferring less vegetables(OR=0.78,95%CI=0.76-0.80, P<0.001),13% in the probability of lacking preference(OR=0.87,95%CI=0.86-0.89, P<0.001),and 3% in the probability of having diverse preferences(OR=0.97,95%CI=0.94-1.00, P=0.030).Compared with those lacking dietary knowledge,the individuals with dietary knowledge had a 77% less probability of preferring less vegetables(OR=0.23,95%CI=0.16-0.32, P<0.001),a 55% less probability of lacking preference(OR=0.45,95%CI=0.39-0.53, P<0.001),and a 23% less probability of having diverse preferences(OR=0.77,95%CI=0.61-0.96, P=0.023).Conclusions The residents aged 18 and over in China presented four food preferences,including preference for less vegetables,lack of preference,diverse preferences,and preference for healthy diets,the last of which had the highest proportion.The individuals with lower levels of dietary knowledge have higher probability of preferring unhealthy food.

Analysis of related factors of behavioral problems in children with congenital pseudarthrosis of tibia

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with behavioral problems in children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. METHODS: Random sampling is utilized to obtain a sample of 90 patients. The behavioral problems of the patients are detected by Achenbach Children's Behavior Scale. Parental emotional problems are investigated by the Self-Rating Depression Scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that the detection rate of behavioral problems in children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia is 53.3% (48/90). Among these behavioral problems, an abnormal rate is higher in the four dimensions: thinking, violation of discipline, social interaction, and aggression. The anxiety and depression scores of caregivers are statistically higher in the abnormal group than in the normal group. The results of the multivariate analysis show that the anxiety degree of the parents had a significant impact on the behavior of the children. CONCLUSIONS: Children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia are facing the issues of high rates of behavioral problems. Parents of children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia had higher levels of anxiety and depression than parents of normal children. The anxiety and depressive state of mind of parents or caregivers had a significant impact on the behavior of children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.

Clinical observation on wrist-ankle acupuncture for shoulder-hand syndrome phaseⅠafter stroke / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between wrist-ankle acupuncture and conventional acupuncture on shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) phaseⅠafter stroke.@*METHODS@#A total of 64 patients with SHS phaseⅠafter stroke were randomized into a wrist-ankle acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, 32 cases in each group. On the basis treatment of internal medicine and conventional rehabilitation, wrist-ankle acupuncture was applied at upper 4 area, upper 5 area and upper 6 area on the affected side in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group, while acupuncture was applied at Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), etc. on the affected side in the conventional acupuncture group. The treatment was given 30 min each time, once a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, degree of hand swelling, shoulder-hand syndrome scale (SHSS) score, Fugl-Meyer assessment for upper extremity (FMA-UE) score and modified Barthel index (MBI) score were observed, and the clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated in both groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the VAS scores, degree of hand swelling and SHSS scores were decreased (P<0.05), and the FMA-UE scores and MBI scores were increased (P<0.05) compared before treatment in both groups; in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group, the VAS score, degree of hand swelling and SHSS score were lower (P<0.05), and the FMA-UE score and MBI score were higher (P<0.05) than those in the conventional acupuncture group. The total effective rate was 96.9% (31/32) in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group, which was superior to 90.6% (29/32) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Wrist-ankle acupuncture can effectively relieve pain and hand swelling, improve motor function of upper extremity and self-care ability of daily life in patients with shoulder-hand syndrome phaseⅠafter stroke, the therapeutic effect is superior to conventional acupuncture.

Determination of eight active components of Bufei Huoxue Capsules in rat plasma and their pharmacokinetics by UHPLC-MS/MS / 中国中药杂志

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS) method was established to investigate the pharmacokinetic behaviors of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, psoralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone in rat plasma after oral administration of Bufei Huoxue Capsules. After SD rats were administered with Bufei Huoxue Capsules suspension by gavage, blood samples were collected from the inner canthus at different time points. After protein precipitation, plasma samples were separated on ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile(A) and water(B) containing 0.1% formic acid in gradient elution. The positive and negative ions were measured simultaneously in the multi-reaction monitoring(MRM) mode. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and fitted by DAS 3.2.8. Psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, psoralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone were detected in the rat plasma after drug administration, with AUC_(0-t) of(3 357±1 348),(3 555±1 696),(3.03±0.88),(2.21±0.33),(1 787±522),(2 295±539),(5.69±1.41) and(3.40±0.75) μg·L~(-1)·h, and T_(max) of(1.56±0.62),(1.40±0.70),(0.21±0.05),(0.25±0.12),(0.26±0.11),(0.34±0.29),(0.74±0.59), and 0.25 h. The method is proved specific and repeatable and is suitable for the determination of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, pso-ralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone in the rat plasma, which can be applied to pharmacokinetic study.

Electroacupuncture Inhibits Neuronal Apoptosis Induced by Bilirubin Encephalopathy in SD Suckling Rats by Regulating NGB and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Objective In this study, electroacupuncture (EA) was used to analyze the expression changes of related proteins in neuroglobin (NGB), PI3K/AKT and apoptotic pathways in the temporal cortex of bilirubin encephalopathy (BE) rats, so as to investigate the therapeutic effect of EA on BE and the relevant mechanism of NGB in this process. Totally 39 seven-day-old SD rats were divided into Sham, BE model and BE+EA groups. The neonatal BE model was established by injecting bilirubin solution (10 μg UCB/g Weight) into the cerebellomedullary cistern, Sham group was injected with the same amount of normal saline. BE rats were treated with EA at Baihui (GV20) and Quchi (LI11) acupoints with the frequency of 2/15 Hz for 15 min. Treatment was performed 12 h before modeling, followed by treatment every 12 h, in a total of three times. HE, Nissl staining and electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the pathological and ultrastructural changes of nerve cells in each group. Results showed that EA treatment reduced the damage of cortical neurons of BE rats and increase the number of Nissl bodies. TEM confirmed that EA treatment could alleviate the degree of mitochondria edema. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression sites and cell types of NGB. Results showed that NGB was mainly expressed in cortical neurons. Western blotting showed that EA treatment increased the expression of NGB, PI3K (p110 alpha), pAKT (Ser473) (P< 0. 05, P< 0. 05 and P< 0. 01, respectively) and the ratio of apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2/Bax (P < 0. 001), decreased the expression of Cleaved Caspase-3 (P< 0. 05) in the temporal cortex of rats. TUNEL staining showed that EA reduced the number of apoptotic cells (BE group 186. 00±13. 86 vs BE+EA group 78. 67±11. 85, P< 0. 01) . This study confirms that EA can promote the expression of NGB in the temporal cortex of BE rats, then activate the PI3K/AKT pathway to exert its neuroprotective function and inhibit the occurrence of apoptosis. EA may become a potential treatment method for BE.

A Review of the Assessment of Sleep, Body Weight Status and Their Relationship in Adults

@#A lack of sleep is a modifiable risk factor for poor health, such as the risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. This article summarises significant studies that explore the assessment of body weight status and sleep quality and their association. A literature search was conducted in the electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE Complete at EBSCOhost and Scopus. The findings on the association between sleep quality and body weight status were inconsistent. Both short and long sleep duration were associated with obesity status. Overall, a positive relationship between sleep and obesity in adults was observed. Further research on sleep quality and its association with body weight status among adults is needed. Better health is associated with a longer and sufficient duration of sleep. Therefore, it is of great significance to enhance the public’s awareness of their sleep quality on body weight status.

Association of diet and physical activity with myopia among middle school students in Jiading District, Shanghai / 上海预防医学

Objective To explore the association between daily diet and physical activity with myopia in middle school students in Shanghai, so as to provide evidence for the prevention of myopia. Methods A stratified cluster random sampling of 795 students from two middle schools and one high school in Jiading District of Shanghai was selected. Data was extracted from 2017 adolescent health related behaviors surveillance in Shanghai. Results The reported rate of myopia among middle and high school students was determined to be 57.2%. The proportion of middle school students reporting no drinking soda, no eating desserts and no eating fried foods during the past week were 45.2%, 16.4% and 31.1%, respectively. The proportion of reporting eating fresh fruit, eating vegetables, drinking a cup of milk or yogurt among middle school students every day were 45.8%, 73.2% and 40.7%, respectively. The proportion of physical activity over 60 minutes and moderate intensity exercise over 30 minutes every day were 25.6% and 15.4%, respectively. The proportion of no drinking soda, no eating fried foods, eating fresh fruit every day, eating vegetables every day, and physical activity over 60 minutes during the past week in the non-myopia group were significantly higher than those in the myopia group(P < 0.01). Middle school students eating fresh fruit every day and physical activity over 60 minutes every day were determined to be protective factors for myopia(P < 0.01). Conclusion The proportions of Middle and high school students in Shanghai reporting healthy diet and physical activity are relatively low. Healthy diet and sufficient physical activity may be protective against myopia.

Effect of topical injection of cyclosporine A on saliva secretion and inflammation in the submandibular gland of non-obese diabetic mice / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of topical administration of cyclosporine A (CsA) on salivary secretion and inflammation of the submandibular glands in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice.@*METHODS@#Female NOD mice, 21 aged 14 weeks and 18 aged 21 weeks were selected and randomly divided into low-dose group, high-dose group and control group on average. CsA was injected into submandibular glands. One week later the saliva stimulated by pilocarpine was collected and measured. The submandibular glands were collected to make paraffin sections. The lymphocyte infiltration in submandi-bular gland was observed by microscope after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The number of lymphocyte infiltration foci was counted to calculate the focus sore and the ratio of lymphocyte infiltration area to total gland area was figured up by Leica image analysis system. The expressions of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-13, IL-17F, IL22 and IL-23a in the submandibular glands of the NOD mice were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell apoptosis in the submandibular gland was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin (ALB) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer to evaluate liver and kidney functions.@*RESULTS@#After topical injection of CsA in the submandibular gland, the stimulated salivary flow rate of the 14- and 21-week-old NOD mice significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and the number and area of lymphocyte infiltration foci in the 14-week-old NOD mice low-dose group significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Low and high dose of CsA had similar effects on reducing inflammation and improving salivary secretion. The overall level of inflammatory cytokines in the submandibular gland did not decrease significantly. The number of cell apoptosis of submandibular gland in the NOD mice treated with CsA decreased compared with the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference. Topical injection of CsA had no adverse effect on liver and kidney function in the NOD mice.@*CONCLUSION@#Topical injection of CsA can reduce lymphocyte infiltration in submandibular gland of NOD mice and improve salivary secretion.

Graduates’ and Employers’ Perceptions on Competencies Obtained from An Undergraduate Dental Curriculum Persepsi Graduan dan Majikan terhadap Kompetensi yang Diperolehi dari Kurikulum Program Pergigian Prasiswazah / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

@#The effectiveness of a dental curriculum as reflected by the competencies of the graduates is paramount in ensuring its relevance in the rapidly evolving field of dentistry. This work aimed to assess the competencies of dental graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as perceived by the graduates and their employers on the basis of the core competencies listed in the undergraduate dental curriculum. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 43 questions based on eight competency domains were sent to all UKM dental graduates of years 2012 to 2015 and to senior dental officers who represented their employers. The eight domains assessed were as follows: 1) gathering information at chair-side, 2) diagnosis, 3) treatment planning, 4) treatment and prevention, 5) communitybased, 6) management and administrative, 7) communication and 8) personal management and professional development. a total of 132 graduates (75%) and 18 employers (55%) responded. Only domain E on community-based skills was collectively rated ‘satisfactory’ while the rest of the seven domains had an ‘excellent’ rating by all respondents. With regard to individual skill, basic life support was rated very low for both groups (38.6% graduates and 23.5% employers). A strong association was found between the scores given by the graduates and their employers (p= 0.00). Generally, no difference was found between the scores of graduates from different years. The findings allow an evaluation of the curriculum in a myriad of angles. Although the graduates reported a good level of competency in most domains, the employers were reserved on the community-based skills. Poor competency in the key skill of basic life support in medical emergencies was highlighted and must be addressed in the curriculum or during training at the workplace.

Research Progress on the Relationship between Genetic Polymorphism and Violent Behavior of Patients with Schizophrenia / 法医学杂志

Schizophrenia is a common disease characterized by thinking obstructions and accompanied by cognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders. Under the control of psychiatric symptoms, patients with schizophrenia may self-injure or impulsively wound others, resulting in public risk and increase in the burden of family and society. In recent years, many studies have shown that the violent behavior of patients with schizophrenia is related to genetic factors. This article reviews the research progress on the relationship between genetic polymorphism and violent behavior of patients with schizophrenia, analyzes the possible mechanism of the correlation between the two, puts forward the limitations of current research and the directions of future research, and provides scientific basis for risk assessment and prevention of violent behavior of patients with schizophrenia.

The effect of systematic group music therapy on social living function and life quality in patients with schizophrenia / 上海预防医学

Objective To study the effect of systemic group music therapy (SGMT) on social living function and life quality in patients with schizophrenia. Methods By systematic sampling, 160 patients were divided into intervention group (80 patients) and control group (80 patients).Patients in the intervention group were treated by SGMT, and the control group was treated by general care.Comparison was made before intervention and 18 months after intervention on the following:scores of social living function as determined by the Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS), and Social Maladjustment (SOC) scale.The WHO quality of Life-BREF scale was used to analyze score changes of patients′ life quality. Results ADL, SDSS and SOC scores of the patients in intervention group were significantly lower than those in control group (P values all 0.05).In comparison of the life quality scores, physical health, mental health and social relationship scores were higher in intervention group than those in control group(P values all < 0.05).There was no significant difference between two groups in environment scores(P>0.05). Conclusion Implementation of SGMT intervention can efficiently improve patients′ social living function and quality of life.