The prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome among Tibetan pastoralists in transition from nomadic to settled urban environment / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To study the prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) among Tibetan pastoralists in transition from high altitude nomadic to settled urbanized environment, especially dietary factors. Methods: The community-based cross-sectional study included 920 Tibetan adults (men 419, women 501). Data were collected using questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and biomarker tests. Questionnaires included socio-economic, lifestyle characteristics and food consumption. Principal component analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. The risk factors of MS and its components were analyzed by logistic regression model. Results: The prevalence rates of MS and its components were 32.8% (MS), 83.7% (decreased HDL-C), 62.1% (central obesity), 36.7% (elevated blood pressure), 11.8% (elevated TG), and 7.9% (elevated blood glucose), respectively. The prevalence of overweight was 31.2%, obesity 30.3%. Multivariate analysis showed smoking was associated factor for both of decreased HDL-C (OR=1.239, 95%CI: 1.025-1.496) and elevated TG (OR=1.277, 95%CI: 1.038-1.571). Alcohol drinking appeared as associated factor of elevated TG (OR=1.426, 95%CI: 1.055-1.927). However, physical activity showed as a protective factor for central obesity, decreased HDL-C, and elevated TG. With the increase of age, the adherence to the urban and western dietary patterns decreased, and that to the pastoral dietary pattern increased. By quintiles of dietary pattern scores, the urban dietary pattern was significantly associated with MS (trend test P=0.016). Conclusions: Tibetan pastoralists had high prevalence of both MS and obesity. Smoking, alcohol drinking, the transition from pastoral dietary pattern to urban dietary pattern and inadequate physical activity served as associated factors for MS and its components.

Detection of drug-resistance genes of / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the drug resistance of @*METHODS@#BALF specimens were collected from 245 children with RMPP who were admitted to the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from March 2016 to December 2020. A rapid cultured drug sensitivity assay was used to detect the resistance of MP isolates to nine commonly used antimicrobial drugs. The real-time PCR was used to measure MP DNA. The direct sequencing was used to detect gene mutations in MP 23SrRNA V region central ring.@*RESULTS@#Among the 245 BALF specimens, 207 tested positive for MP DNA, with a positive rate of 84.5%. The results of drug susceptibility test showed that the children with RMPP had a resistance rate of > 70% to macrolide antimicrobial drugs, with the highest resistance rate to clarithromycin, followed by roxithromycin, clindamycin, acetylspiramycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin, and these children had a resistance rate of < 5% to quinolone antimicrobial drugs. Among the 207 MP DNA-positive specimens, 41 (19.8%) had no drug-resistance gene mutations and 166 (80.2%) had drug-resistance gene mutations, among which 154 (74.4%) had an A→G mutation at 2063 locus of 23SrRNA V region central ring, 7 (3.4%) had an A→G mutation at 2064 locus, and 5 (2.4%) had mutations in both 2063 and 2064 loci. Among the 166 specimens with point mutations of the MP 23SrRNA gene, 159 (95.8%) had point mutations at 2063 locus. The A→G point mutation at 2063 locus of 23SrRNA V region central ring had a great impact on resistance to macrolide antimicrobial drugs. There was a significant difference in the distribution of alleles at 2063 locus between the children with resistance to clarithromycin, roxithromycin, clindamycin, acetylspiramycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin (@*CONCLUSIONS@#MP in the BALF of children with RMPP has a relatively high resistance rate to macrolide antimicrobial drugs. Resistance to macrolide antimicrobial drugs is closely associated with the A→G point mutation in the 23SrRNA gene, and the point mutation at 2063 locus of 23SrRNA V region central ring may affect the drug-resistance mechanism of MP.

Trends and risk factors of overweight and obesity among Chinese middle school students / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To investigate the trends and risk factors of overweight and obesity in Chinese middle school students. Methods Data from the China Education Panel Survey conducted in 2014, 2015 and 2016 were used (8 616, 8 762, 7 614; age range 11-18 years old). Overweight and obesity were defined according to Chinese sex-age-specific body mass index (BMI) cutoffs. Relationships between risk factors and BMI, overweight and obesity were tested, using linear regression and logistic regression models. Results The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2016 was 15.3% (17.9% in boys, 12.6% in girls). From 2014 to 2016, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was increasing steadily. After adjusting for age and sex in 2016, being only-child, self-perceived being overweight or obese, or living in urban area were associated with higher BMI (β(SE)=0.23(0.10), β(SE)=2.83(0.14), β(SE)=0.23(0.11), respectively). Self-perceived being overweight or obese was associated with overweight and obesity (OR=4.20, 95% CI: 2.97-5.40). Conclusions Overweight and obesity rates among Chinese middle school students increased steadily from 2014 to 2016. Efforts should be made on childhood obesity prevention and control, especially target at those being only-child, living in urban areas.

Effect of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) on perinatal nicotine-exposure-induced lung function and morphology of neonatal rats / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) versus "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) in the pregnant rats on perinatal nicotineexposureinduced lung function and morphology of newborn rats and explore the rule of acupoint effect in EA for the prevention from lung dysplasia in newborn rats.@*METHODS@#A total of 24 female SD rats were randomized into a normal saline group (S group), a nicotine group (N group), a nicotineST 36 group (N + ST 36 group) and a nicotineGB 34 group (N+GB 34 group), 6 rats in each one. Starting at the 6th day of pregnancy, 0.9% sodium chloride solution was injected subcutaneously in the S group, 1 mg/kg; and in the rest 3 groups, nicotine of the same dose was injected through to the 21st postnatal day to establish the perinatal nicotineexposure model. Simultaneously, during model preparation, EA was applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) in the N+ST 36 group and the N+GB 34 group respectively, once a day, through to the 21st postnatal day. The lung function analytic system for small animal was adopted to observe the changes in lung function indicators in newborn rats, such as peak inspiratory flow (PIF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), expiratory resistance (RE), inspiratory resistance (RI) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn). HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of lung, such as alveolar fusion and rupture.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the S group, PEF and Cdyn were lower and PIF, RI and RE higher in the N group (all 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in the pregnant rats significantly improves the perinatal nicotineexposureinduced lung function and morphology of newborn rats than electroacupuncture at "Yanglingquan" (GB 34).

Significance of neutrophil extracellular trap and its markers in the early diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the significance of plasma neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) and its markers in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children.@*METHODS@#A total of 160 children with CAP were enrolled as the CAP group, and 50 healthy children were enrolled the control group. According to disease severity, the CAP group was further divided into a mild CAP subgroup with 137 children and a severe CAP subgroup with 23 children. According to the pathogen, the CAP group was further divided into a bacterial pneumonia subgroup with 78 children, a Mycoplasma pneumonia subgroup with 35 children, and a viral pneumonia subgroup with 47 children. The levels of plasma NET and its markers [antibacterial peptide (LL-37), extracellular free DNA (cfDNA), and deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I)] were measured. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of each index in diagnosing CAP and assessing its severity.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the CAP group had significant increases in the levels of NET, LL-37, and cfDNA and a significant reduction in the activity of DNase I (P0.05). In the CAP group, plasma NET levels were positively correlated with white blood cell count (WBC), percentage of neutrophils, and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin and tumor necrosis factor-α (r=0.166, 0.168, 0.275, 0.181 and 0.173 respectively, P<0.05); LL-37 and cfDNA levels were positively correlated with WBC (r=0.186 and 0.338 respectively, P<0.05) and CRP levels (r=0.309 and 0.274 respectively, P<0.05); the activity of DNase I was negatively correlated with CRP levels (r=-0.482, P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that NET, LL-37, cfDNA, and DNase I had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.844, 0.648, 0.727, and 0.913 respectively in the diagnosis of CAP, with optimal cut-off values of 182.89, 46.26 ng/mL, 233.13 ng/mL, and 0.39 U/mL respectively, sensitivities of 88.12%, 35.63%, 54.37%, and 91.25% respectively, and specificities of 74.00%, 92.00%, 86.00%, and 76.00% respectively. In the assessment of the severity of CAP, NET, LL-37, cfDNA, and DNase I had an AUC of 0.873, 0.924, 0.820, and 0.778 respectively, with optimal cut-off values of 257.7, 49.11 ng/mL, 252.54 ng/mL, and 0.29 U/mL respectively, sensitivities of 83.21%, 86.96%, 78.26%, and 95.65% respectively, and specificities of 78.26%, 83.94%, 76.64%, and 56.93% respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Plasma NET and its related markers have a certain value in diagnosing CAP and assessing its severity in children.

Association of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 gene polymorphism with bronchial asthma and response to montelukast in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the association of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (PLA2G4) rs932476 polymorphism with the development of bronchial asthma and the response to montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, in children.@*METHODS@#A total of 128 children with bronchial asthma were enrolled as case group, and 100 healthy children were enrolled as control group. The genotype and allele frequencies of PLA2G4 rs932476 were compared between the two groups. The children in the case group were administered with montelukast except routine treatment for 2 months, and the changes in serum levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), interleukin-4 (IL-4), immunoglobulin E (IgE), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ), pulmonary function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) after treatment were observed.@*RESULTS@#There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of PLA2G4 rs932476 between the case and control groups, as well as between the groups with different severities of asthma (P>0.05). After treatment, the children with AA genotype had a significantly higher overall response rate than those with GG genotype. After treatment, the case group had significant reductions in the serum levels of IgE and IL-4 and a significant increase in the level of IFN-γ (P<0.05). After treatment, the children with GG genotype had a higher serum level of IL-4 and a lower level of IFN-γ than those with AA genotype. After treatment, the case group had significant increases in pulmonary function parameters, and the children with AA genotype had significantly higher parameters than those with GG genotype. The case group had a significant reduction in the level of FeNO, and the children with AA genotype had a significantly lower level than those with GG genotype after treatment. The case group had a significantly higher serum level of LTB4 than the control group before treatment (P<0.05). After treatment the case group had a significant reduction in the serum level of LTB4 (P<0.05). The children with GG genotype had a significantly higher level of LTB4 than those with AA genotype after treatment (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#PLA2G4 rs932476 polymorphism is not associated with the susceptibility and severity of bronchial asthma in children, but it may has certain influence on children's response to the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast, possibly by affecting the level of LTB4.

Value of simultaneous amplification and testing in early diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and related influencing factors / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of simultaneous amplification and testing (SAT) in the early diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in children and related influencing factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 526 children with community-acquired pneumonia who were hospitalized between December 2016 and December 2017 were enrolled. Particle agglutination was used to measure serum Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) antibody (MP-Ab). The value of SAT in the diagnosis of MPP was evaluated based on these results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Based on the results of serum MP-Ab measurement, 165 children were diagnosed with MPP. MP-SAT had a sensitivity of 90.9% (150/165), a specificity of 97.9% (368/376), and high accuracy (Youden index=0.89) in the diagnosis of MPP, suggesting that there was good consistency between these two methods (Kappa=0.90). The diagnostic sensitivity of MP-SAT in children with a short course of disease was significantly higher than that in children with a long course of disease (P=0.031). The diagnostic sensitivity of MP-SAT was significantly higher than that of single serum MP-Ab measurement (P=0.018), with poor consistency between these two methods (Kappa=0.039). MP-SAT had good consistency with double serum MP-Ab measurement (Kappa=0.91). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that course of disease (≥7 days) and out-of-hospital macrolide treatment were the main factors influencing the results of MP-SAT (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MP-SAT has high value in the early diagnosis of MPP and can effectively cover the shortage of single serum MP-Ab test in the acute stage and thus provide help for early clinical diagnosis. MP-SAT test should be performed in the early stage of the disease (<7 days) and before the application of macrolide treatment.</p>

Effect of health-promoting lifestyle on outcomes of suboptimal health status / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine evaluate the effect of health-promoting lifestyle on the outcomes of suboptimal health status (SHS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A prospective population cohort was conducted by consecutively enrolling 5676 college students who took routine health examination from March to May 2013. The participants were assessed for baseline health status and lifestyle and 2972 participants with SHS were followed up for 1.5 years. Exposure was defined as an unhealthy lifestyle. The health-promoting lifestyle was assessed via the Health-promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II). SHS was evaluated using the medical examination report and Sub-health Measurement Scale V1.0 (SHMS V1.0).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 2972 students with SHS, 422 showed recovery of the healthy status at 1.5 year follow-up, 579 showed progression into disease conditions, and 1971 remained in SHS. The participants with recovered health status presented with significant increase of SHMS V1.0 scores by 8.75∓6.95 points compared to the baseline assessment (t=-2.14, P=0.000) in physiological, psychological and social dimensions; they also showed a marked improvement of HPLP-II scores by 14.73 points in 6 dimensions (t=-15.34, P=0.000). Multivariable regression analyses with adjusted demographic variables revealed a significant association between health status and health-promoting lifestyle (P<0.05). Compared with a healthy lifestyle (minimal exposure), a 'poor' lifestyle (the highest level of exposure) was associated with a 30 times higher risk of developing SHS (OR: 30.598, 95% CI: 3.928-238.331), while a 'moderate' lifestyle (a relatively high-level exposure) had a 24 times higher risk of SHS (OR: 23.988, 95%CI: 14.695-39.158), and a suboptimal lifestyle had a nearly 4 times higher risk of SHS (OR: 4.306, 95%CI: 2.767-6.702).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>s SHS may evolve into either a healthy or a disease condition. A unhealthy lifestyle is the important risk factor contributing to the progression of SHS into a disease condition, suggesting the importance of intervention of unhealthy lifestyles in promoting good health.</p>

Associations between health-promoting lifestyle and suboptimal health status in Guangdong: a cross sectional study / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate associations between health-promoting lifestyle and suboptimal health status (SHS) in the population of Guangdong province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a clustered sample of 24 159 individuals aged 12-80 years from 2012 to 2013. Health-promoting lifestyle was assessed via the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II), and SHS was evaluated using the medical examination report and Sub-health Measurement Scale V1.0 (SHMS V1.0).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 24159 participants, subjects with SHS (46.0%) and disease status (35.2%) accounted for a much higher percentage than healthy subjects (18.8%). Regression analyses revealed a significant association between health status and healthy lifestyle (P<0.001). Unhealthy lifestyle was an important risk factor for SHS and disease, especially the former. Compared with the participants with a healthy lifestyle (minimal exposure), after demographic adjustment, subjects with a 'poor' lifestyle (maximal exposure) were at a 43 times higher risk of developing SHS (OR: 42.825, 95% CI: 30.567-59.997), those with a general lifestyle were at a 21 times higher risk of SHS (OR: 21.072, 95%CI: 17.258-25.729), and those with a suboptimal lifestyle had a 4 times higher risk (OR: 4.085, 95%CI: 3.352-4.979). In the general population, the major risk factors for SHS included poor stress management, poor self-actualization, inactive exercise and poor interpersonal relationship.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>s Unhealthy lifestyles are significantly related to an increased risk of SHS. Intervention of unhealthy lifestyles, controlling the risk factors of SHS, and rigorous management of the time window of SHS are necessary to promote the heath status.</p>

Causes of immune dysfunction in hyperbilirubinemia model rats

Objective: To explore the causes of immune dysfunction in neonatal rats with hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: A total of 60 newborn SD rats were equally randomized into normal saline (NS) group, LPS control group, bilirubin control group, low-dose group and high-dose group. After anesthesia, 0.1 mL NS was given to the NS and LPS control group and different doses of bilirubin for the other groups; 1 h later, the NS and bilirubin control group received the intraperitoneal injection of 0.05 mL NS and 1mg/kg LPS for the other groups. After 5 or 24 hours of model establishment, spleens were collected for detecting the expression levels of MyD88 and p-TAK1 protein and the spleen cells apoptosis by immunohistochemmistry and TUNEL method. After 24 hours of model establishment, serum inflammatory factors levels and T cell subsets distribution were determined by ELISA and flow cytometry. Results: In contrast to low-dose bilirubin, high-dose bilirubin could induce spleen cells apoptosis in coordination with LPS. After 5 hours of model establishment, compared with NS group, MyD88 expression level in low-dose group elevated while p-TAK1 level in high-dose group reduced (P+ T cells percentage were all higher than LPS control and NS group (P+ T cells percentage was lower than NS group (P<0.05). Conclusions: High-concentration plasma bilirubin in coordination with LPS could inhibit NF-κB signal pathways activation and aggravate inflammatory reaction, thus caused immunosuppression with inflammation cascade, which resulted in the immune dysfunction.

Causes of immune dysfunction in hyperbilirubinemia model rats

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the causes of immune dysfunction in neonatal rats with hyperbilirubinemia.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 newborn SD rats were equally randomized into normal saline (NS) group, LPS control group, bilirubin control group, low-dose group and high-dose group. After anesthesia, 0.1 mL NS was given to the NS and LPS control group and different doses of bilirubin for the other groups; 1 h later, the NS and bilirubin control group received the intraperitoneal injection of 0.05 mL NS and 1mg/kg LPS for the other groups. After 5 or 24 hours of model establishment, spleens were collected for detecting the expression levels of MyD88 and p-TAK1 protein and the spleen cells apoptosis by immunohistochemmistry and TUNEL method. After 24 hours of model establishment, serum inflammatory factors levels and T cell subsets distribution were determined by ELISA and flow cytometry.@*RESULTS@#In contrast to low-dose bilirubin, high-dose bilirubin could induce spleen cells apoptosis in coordination with LPS. After 5 hours of model establishment, compared with NS group, MyD88 expression level in low-dose group elevated while p-TAK1 level in high-dose group reduced (P<0.05). In high-dose group, inflammotory factors levels and CD8(+) T cells percentage were all higher than LPS control and NS group (P<0.05), while CD4(+) T cells percentage was lower than NS group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#High-concentration plasma bilirubin in coordination with LPS could inhibit NF-κB signal pathways activation and aggravate inflammatory reaction, thus caused immunosuppression with inflammation cascade, which resulted in the immune dysfunction.

Differential gene expressions in kidney Yang deficiency in individuals with sub-health status / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the gene expression profiles in kidney Yang deficiency in individuals with sub-health status.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The subjects identified to have Kidney-yang deficiency and sub-health status were enrolled in this study with healthy subjects as the normal control. Using gene chip technique and MAS software, the gene expression profiles in kidney Yang deficiency in the subjects with sub-health status were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Characteristic profiles of the differentially expressed genes were found between the kidney Yang deficiency group and normal control group. Among the total of 75 differentially expressed genes, 22 were up-regulated (with a ratio greater than 2) and 53 were down-regulated (with a ratio less than 0.5) in kidney Yang deficiency group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gene chip technique allows rapid and high-throughput screening for gene expression in kidney Yang deficiency and sub-health status, and a initial evidence of kidney Yang deficiency-related genes has been obtained.</p>

Identification of the binding site on glycophorin A for Plasmodium falciparum EBA-175 / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the binding site on glycophorin A (GPA) for EBA-175 to provide clue for developing short peptide vaccine and therapeutic agents against Plasmodium falciparum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With the recombinant protein of EBA-175 as the target molecule, the mimetic peptides of GPA were screened from a 12-mer random peptide library. Three rounds of biopanning were carried out, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), competitive ELISA, Dot-ELISA and Western blotting used to evaluate the binding between the phage-borne peptides and EBA-175. The insert DNA sequences of positive clones were determined and their amino acid sequences deduced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty clones from the third round were randomly selected, of which 27 were found positive by sandwich ELISA. Competitive ELISA proved that most of the phage-borne peptides could competitively inhibit the binding of antibody (EBA-175 Ab) with EBA-175. Analysis of DNA and amino acid sequences indicated that 24 positive phage clones contained the conservative sequence of IRR, which was highly homologous with the 114-116 amino acids of GPA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These phage-displayed peptides can bind with EBA-175, and the amino acid sequence IRR might play an important role in the binding between EBA-175 and GPA.</p>

Analysis of clinical manifestations of subheath status in a medical college of Guangdong Province / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical manifestation of subhealth status in teachers and medical staff.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An on-the-spot investigation was conducted in 891 personnel of a medical college using a self-designed subhealth questionnaire. The diagnostic criteria for subhealth status were formulated on the basis of literature review and expert counseling. The results were analyzed by frequency analysis and multiple-factor logistic analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total subhealth incidence was 57.2 %, and the clinical manifestations included many symptoms of the body, psychology and society. Multiple-factor logistic analysis revealed the most common clinical manifestations of subhealth status including ademonia, weariness, insomnia, waist and back pain, frequent sighs, eye dryness, inattention, irritability, foot and hand coldness, vulnerability to common cold etc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical manifestations of sub-health status complex.</p>

Interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine gallbladder / 中华消化杂志

Objective To demonstrate the morphology,distribution and ultrastructure of intersti- tial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the mouse gallbladder.Methods CD1 mice gallbladder tissue was stained with methylene blue for immunohistochemical examination by confocal microscopy and transmission elec- tron microscopy.Results The results revealed a dark blue network of ICC in the gallbladder.ICC were spindle-shaped,with thin and long processes in two poles.They were distributed in the all layers of the gall bladder wall.The ICC that had typical ultrastructure were adjacent to the smooth muscle and nerve cells. Conclusions Spindle-shaped ICC are present as a network structure in the gallbladder,which may act as slow wave pacemaker cells and have a major role in the transmission of signals from neurons to smooth muscle cells.