Genetically predicted waist circumference and risk of atrial fibrillation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

INTRODUCTION@#Observational studies have revealed an association between waist circumference (WC) and atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is difficult to infer a causal relationship from observational studies because the observed associations could be confounded by unknown risk factors. Therefore, the causal role of WC in AF is unclear. This study was designed to investigate the causal association between WC and AF using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.@*METHODS@#In our two-sample MR analysis, the genetic variation used as an instrumental variable for MR was acquired from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of WC (42 single nucleotide polymorphisms with a genetic significance of P <5 × 10 -8 ). The data of WC (from the Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits consortium, containing 232,101 participants) and the data of AF (from the European Bioinformatics Institute database, containing 55,114 AF cases and 482,295 controls) were used to assess the causal role of WC on AF. Three different approaches (inverse variance weighted [IVW], MR-Egger, and weighted median regression) were used to ensure that our results more reliable.@*RESULTS@#All three MR analyses provided evidence of a positive causal association between high WC and AF. High WC was suggested to increase the risk of AF based on the IVW method (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-1.58, P = 2.51 × 10 -13 ). The results of MR-Egger and weighted median regression exhibited similar trends (MR-Egger OR = 1.40 [95% CI, 1.08-1.81], P = 1.61 × 10 -2 ; weighted median OR = 1.39 [95% CI, 1.21-1.61], P = 1.62 × 10 -6 ). MR-Egger intercepts and funnel plots showed no directional pleiotropic effects between high WC and AF.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our findings suggest that greater WC is associated with an increased risk of AF. Taking measures to reduce WC may help prevent the occurrence of AF.

Research hotspots and trends in railway workers' health at home and abroad: A bibliometric analysis / 环境与职业医学

Background The development of railways has a long history, but there is limited research on the health of railway workers at home and abroad. China's high-speed railway development has attracted worldwide attention in recent years, and it is of great significance to study how to promote the health of this occupational population to ensure the safety of railway transportation. Objective To identify development trends and hotspots in the field of railway workers' health at home and abroad. Methods The research literature related to the health of railroad workers dated from January 1, 1973 to December 31, 2022 was searched using the China Knowledge Network Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) databases. After screening and cleaning, the included literature was subjected to bibliometric analysis by applying CiteSpace 6.1R6 software to visualize and analyze literature co-citation, keyword emergence, and keyword timeline graphs, and by VOSviewer 1.6.19 to visualize and analyze country/region collaboration, keyword co-occurrence, and keyword clustering. Results During the period from 1973 until 2022, a total of 273 Chinese literature and 165 English literature were found to report studies related to the health of railway workers. The Chinese literature began to grow rapidly in 2009 and peaked in 2015, and the number of English literature published in a relatively flat state over the studied period. The country with the most papers indexed by Science Citation Index (SCI) was the United States (58 papers), which also presented the richest international collaborations. The document with the highest domestic citation frequency was published in the Chinese Journal of Mental Health in 1994, and the document with the highest SCI citation frequency was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 1994. The keyword co-occurrence analysis showed that the included Chinese literature mainly focused on health checkups, health management, hypertension, mental health, and chronic diseases and their prevalence; the included English literature focused on mortality, lung cancer, epidemiology, and diesel engine exhaust and its exposure. The analysis of emergent words showed that health management, frontline workers, and occupational stress were the topics of interest in Chinese literature in the last five years, while occupational stress, diesel exhaust emissions, and noise exposure were the topics of interest in English literature in the last ten years. The results of the timeline graph analysis suggested that the recent research directions in Chinese literature were health intervention, humanistic care, staff canteens, etc. There were few English-language articles related to this area after 2010. Conclusion The research hotspots of railroad practitioners' health will keep changing with the development of high-speed railways in countries around the world. The outstanding rise of Chinese literature issued in the last decade has been in striking contrast to the slow progress and decreasing of English literature. The Chinese literature has gradually expanded the hotspots from chronic diseases to health management, occupational stress, and sleep disorders.

Splicing abnormalities caused by a novel mutation in the PHKA2 gene in children with glycogen storage disease type IX / 中华肝脏病杂志

Objective: Glycogen storage disease type IX (GSD-IX) is a rare primary glucose metabolism abnormality caused by phosphorylase kinase deficiency and a series of pathogenic gene mutations. The clinical characteristics, gene analysis, and functional verification of a mutation in a child with hepatomegaly are summarized here to clarify the pathogenic cause of the disease. Methods: The clinical data of a child with GSD-IX was collected. Peripheral blood from the child and his parents was collected for genomic DNA extraction. The patient's gene diagnosis was performed by second-generation sequencing. The suspected mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The suspected splicing mutations were verified in vivo by RT-PCR and first-generation sequencing. Results: Hepatomegaly, transaminitis, and hypertriglyceridemia were present in children. Liver biopsy pathological examination results indicated glycogen storage disease. Gene sequencing revealed that the child had a c.285 + 2_285 + 5delTAGG hemizygous mutation in the PHKA2 gene. Sanger sequencing verification showed that the mother of the child was heterozygous and the father of the child was of the wild type. Software such as HSF3.1 and ESEfinder predicted that the gene mutation affected splicing. RT-PCR of peripheral blood from children and his mother confirmed that the mutation had caused the skipping of exon 3 during the constitutive splicing of the PHKA2 gene. Conclusion: The hemizygous mutation in the PHKA2 gene (c.285 + 2_285 + 5delTAGG) is the pathogenic cause of the patient's disease. The detection of the novel mutation site enriches the mutation spectrum of the PHKA2 gene and serves as a basis for the family's genetic counseling.

CT-Based Weighted Radiomic Score Predicts Tumor Response to Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To develop a CT-based weighted radiomic model that predicts tumor response to programmed death-1(PD-1)/PD-ligand 1(PD-L1)immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.Methods The patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated by PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2015 to February 2022 were retrospectively studied and classified as responders(partial or complete response)and non-responders(stable or progressive disease).Original radiomic features were extracted from multiple intrapulmonary lesions in the contrast-enhanced CT scans of the arterial phase,and then weighted and summed by an attention-based multiple instances learning algorithm.Logistic regression was employed to build a weighted radiomic scoring model and the radiomic score was then calculated.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)was used to compare the weighted radiomic scoring model,PD-L1 model,clinical model,weighted radiomic scoring + PD-L1 model,and comprehensive prediction model.Results A total of 237 patients were included in the study and randomized into a training set(n=165)and a test set(n=72),with the mean ages of(64±9)and(62±8)years,respectively.The AUC of the weighted radiomic scoring model reached 0.85 and 0.80 in the training set and test set,respectively,which was higher than that of the PD-L1-1 model(Z=37.30,P<0.001 and Z=5.69,P=0.017),PD-L1-50 model(Z=38.36,P<0.001 and Z=17.99,P<0.001),and clinical model(Z=11.40,P<0.001 and Z=5.76,P=0.016).The AUC of the weighted scoring model was not different from that of the weighted radiomic scoring + PD-L1 model and the comprehensive prediction model(both P>0.05).Conclusion The weighted radiomic scores based on pre-treatment enhanced CT images can predict tumor responses to immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Clinical and radiologic comparison between oblique lateral interbody fusion and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the short-term clinical efficacy and radiologic differences between oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF) and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on 58 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis treated with OLIF or MIS-TLIF from April 2019 to October 2020. Among them, 28 patients were treated with OLIF (OLIF group), including 15 males and 13 females aged 47 to 84 years old with an average age of (63.00±9.38) years. The other 30 patients were treated with MIS-TLIF(MIS-TLIF group), including 17 males and 13 females aged 43 to 78 years old with an average age of (61.13±11.10) years. General conditions, including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, complications, lying in bed, and hospitalization time were recorded in both groups. Radiological characteristics, including intervertebral disc height (DH), intervertebral foramen height (FH), and lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), were compared between two groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical effect.@*RESULTS@#The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, lying in bed, and hospitalization time in OLIF group were significantly less than those in the MIS-TLIF group (P<0.05). The intervertebral disc height and intervertebral foramen height were significantly improved in both groups after the operation (P<0.05). The lumbar lordosis angle in OLIF group was significantly improved compared to before the operation(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the MIS-TLIF group before and after operation(P>0.05). Postoperative intervertebral disc height, intervertebral foramen height, and lumbar lordosis were better in the OLIF group than in the MIS-TLIF group (P<0.05). The VAS and ODI of the OLIF group were lower than those of the MIS-TLIF group within 1 week and 1 month after the operation (P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in VAS and ODI at 3 and 6 months after the operation between the two groups(P>0.05). In the OLIF group, 1 case had paresthesia of the left lower extremity with flexion-hip weakness and 1 case had a collapse of the endplate after the operation;in the MIS-TLIF group, 2 cases had radiation pain of lower extremities after decompression.@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with MIS-TLIF, OLIF results in less operative trauma, faster recovery, and better imaging performance after lumbar spine surgery.

Predictors of outcome after endovascular therapy in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion / 国际脑血管病杂志

Objective:To investigate the predictors of outcome after endovascular therapy in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (ABAO).Methods:Patients with ABAO received EVT in Bozhou People’s Hospital from May 2019 to September 2022 were included prospectively. The demographic data, clinical data, relevant parameters of periprocedural period and follow-up data were collected. The outcome evaluation was performed at 90 d after procedure. The modified Rankin Scale score ≤3 was defined as good outcome, and >3 was defined as poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of good outcome after EVT. Results:A total of 42 patients with ABAO were included, 21 (50%) had a good outcome and 21 had a poor outcome. There were significant differences in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), posterior circulation Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS), the time from onset to recanalization, the proportion of patients with successful recanalization, use of remedial treatment, and complications were statistically significant in both groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for other risk factors, the low NIHSS score (odds ratio [ OR] 0.756, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.615-0.903; P=0.008), less use of remedial treatment measures ( OR 0.170, 95% CI 0.033-0.884; P=0.035) and high pc-ASPECTS ( OR 4.274, 95% CI 1.418-12.882; P=0.010) were the independent predictors of good outcomes. Conclusions:Half of the patients with ABAO have a good outcome after EVT. Low NIHSS score, high pc-ASPECTS at admission and less use of remedial measures are the independent predictors of good outcomes in patients with ABAO.

Association Between Daily Executive Function and Core Symptoms， Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo explore the association between daily executive function and core symptoms， the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder （ADHD） in children with autism spectrum disorder （ASD）， and the moderating effect of theory of mind and other cognitive abilities on this association. MethodsChildren aged 6-12 years with ASD were recruited， and 86 children were identified according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children， Fourth Edition （WISC-Ⅳ）， Strange Story Test （SST） and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function （BRIEF） were used to evaluate children's cognitive ability. Swanson Nolan and Pelham-Version Ⅳ Scale （SNAP-Ⅳ）， Social Responsiveness Scale （SRS）， and Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revise （RBS-R） were used to assess the severity of ADHD symptoms， social impairment， and repetitive stereotyped behavior. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the association between daily executive function and ADHD symptoms， social impairment， repetitive stereotyped behaviors. ResultsAfter controlling for the score of strange stories， verbal comprehension index （VCI） and other factors， the full scale score and each index of BRIEF were positively correlated with full scale score of SNAP （b = 0.619-0.741， b’ = 0.637-0.755）， SRS （b = 0.928-1.200， b’ = 0.417-0.513） and RBS-R （b = 0.326-0.525， b’ = 0.339-0.520） in children with ASD （P< 0.05）， and the SNAP total score was more strongly correlated with the full scale BRIEF score and each index score （b’ = 0.637-0.755，P< 0.01）. In addition to daily executive function， strange stories score （b = -2.218- -1.839） and age （b = 3.181-4.037） were also the important factors affecting the social function of children with ASD （P< 0.01）. There were no moderating effects of strange stories score and age on the association between BRIEF score and full scale score of SNAP， SRS， and RBS-R（P> 0.05）. ConclusionThe deficits of daily executive function in school-aged ASD children are significantly associated with core symptoms and ADHD symptoms， and the association is independent of other cognitive domains， such as theory of mind and verbal comprehension intelligence quotient.

Multiple Injections of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Improve Graft Survival in Human-to-Rat Skin Xenotransplantation through Immune Modulation

BACKGROUND@#Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) exert immunomodulatory effects in the treatment of transplant rejection. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ADSCs on the skin graft survival in a human-to-rat xenograft transplantation model and to compare single and multiple injections of ADSCs. @*METHODS@#Full-thickness human skin xenografts were transplanted into the backs of Sprague–Dawley rats. The rats were injected subcutaneously on postoperative days 0, 3, and 5. The injections were as follows: triple injections of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS group), a single injection of ADSCs and double injections of PBS (ADSC 9 1 group), and triple injections of ADSCs (ADSC 9 3 group). The immunomodulatory effects of ADSCs on human skin xenografts were assessed. @*RESULTS@#Triple injections of ADSCs considerably delayed cell-mediated xenograft rejection compared with the PBS and ADSC 9 1 groups. The vascularization and collagen type 1–3 ratios in the ADSC 9 3 group were significantly higher than those in the other groups. In addition, intragraft infiltration of CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, and CD68-positive cells was reduced in the ADSC 9 3 group. Furthermore, in the ADSC 9 3 group, the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-c) were decreased and immunosuppressive prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) was increased in the xenograft and lymph node samples. @*CONCLUSION@#This study presented that triple injections of ADSCs appeared to be superior to a single injection in suppressing cell-mediated xenograft rejection. The immunomodulatory effects of ADSCs are associated with the downregulation of IFN-c and upregulation of PGES in skin xenografts and lymph nodes.

Reliability of a chairside CAD-CAM surgical guide for dental implant surgery on the anterior maxilla: An in vitro study

PURPOSE@#. This study evaluated the reliability of the chair-side CAD-CAM surgical guide (CSG) in the anterior maxilla by comparing its accuracy with the laboratory 3D-printed surgical guide (3DSG) and manual surgical guide (MSG) concerning different levels of dentists' surgical experience. @*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#. Ten surgical guides of each type (MSG, 3DSG, and CSG) were fabricated on a control study model with missing right and left central incisors. Sixty implants were placed in 30 study models by two dentists (one inexperienced and one experienced) using three different types of surgical guides. Horizontal deviations at shoulder and at apex, vertical, and angular deviations were measured after superimposing the planned and placed implant positions in the software. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the accuracy of three types of surgical guides in each dentist group and the accuracy of each surgical guide between two dentists (α = .05). @*RESULTS@#. There were no significant differences in any deviations between CSG and 3DSG, apart from angular deviation, for both dentists’ groups. Moreover, both CSG and 3DSG showed no significant differences in accuracy between the two dentists (P > .05). In contrast, MSG demonstrated significant differences from CSG and 3DSG and a significant difference in accuracy between the two dentists (P < .05). @*CONCLUSION@#. CSG provides superior accuracy to MSG in implant placement in the maxillary anterior region and is comparable to 3DSG at different levels of surgical experience, while offering the benefits of shorter manufacturing time and reduced patient visits.

Postoperative Refractive Outcomes of Biometric Formulas in Phacovitrectomy with Gas Tamponade

Purpose@#To investigate the refractive accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation for biometric formulas in phacovitrectomy. @*Methods@#This retrospective study included 357 eyes of 357 patients who underwent phacovitrectomy using four commonly available IOL power formulas: Hoffer Q (87 eyes), Holladay 1 (78 eyes), Holladay 2 (91 eyes), and SRK/T (101 eyes). The mean refractive error (ME) and the mean absolute refractive error (MAE) were calculated based on the predicted postoperative refraction error, and they were compared using analysis of variance test. Subjects were divided into high myopic eyes (axial length, ≥26 mm) and nonhigh myopic eyes (axial length, <26 mm). @*Results@#The ME and the MAE after phacovitrectomy did not show a significant difference among the four IOL power formulas (p = 0.546 and p = 0.495, respectively). There was no significant statistical difference in formulas when the eyes were grouped into high myopia and nonhigh myopia (ME: p = 0.526 and p = 0.482, respectively; MAE: p = 0.715 and p = 0.627, respectively). The ME showed myopic shift in all formulas regardless of IOL formula used. The ME showed greater myopic shift in high myopia group than nonhigh myopia group in all formulas. @*Conclusions@#Our study did not find evidence for superiority of any formula in phacovitrectomy. However, in phacovitrectomy, possible myopic shift should be considered for IOL power calculation. Especially, in phacovitrecotmy in patients with high myopia, more myopic shift should be considered when selecting IOL.

Survey of Foodservice Management Status according to Welfare Facility Type for Disabled Persons

This study aimed to determine foodservice and hygiene management statuses at welfare facilities catering to disabled persons by facility type to provide basic data for foodservice management guidelines. An online survey was distributed to workers at 1,984 welfare facilities for disabled persons in Korea, and 531 facilities responded, which represented a response rate of 26.8%. The survey requested general information about the facilities, facility users, meals, hygiene, and management. Statistical analyses were performed, and frequency analysis and the chi-square test were used to investigate responses by facility type. The survey results revealed that daycare centers were most common and accounted for 27.4% of responses. Residential facilities for the severely disabled and sheltered workshops accounted for 16.9% and 16.4%, respectively, and residential facilities by disability type accounted for 13.0%. The presence of dietitians at welfare facilities varied by facility type. Welfare centers for the disabled (94.7%) had the highest percentage of dietitians, followed by residential facilities for the severely disabled (87.8%). On the other hand, sheltered workshops and daycare centers for disabled persons had the lowest percentages of dietitians (10.3% and 4.1%, respectively). This study highlights the variations that exist in foodservice management across different welfare facilities for disabled persons and emphasizes the challenges faced by those responsible for managing foodservices and maintaining hygiene, particularly in large facilities with no dietitians. Therefore, we recommend tailored meal management guidelines be developed for each type of welfare facility for disabled persons.

Extraction of mandibular third molars: relationship of preoperative anxiety with body mass index, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, and visual analog scale scores and predictors of postoperative complications

Objectives@#Patients undergoing oral surgery exhibit high anxiety, which may elevate their cortisol levels and affect postoperative recovery. Overweight patients are often encountered in the dental clinic due to the increasing prevalence of overweight. We aimed to investigate the relationships between preoperatively assessed body mass index (BMI), serum cortisol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores and preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing mandibular third molar (MM3) extraction and to identify predictors of postoperative complications. @*Patients and Methods@#We analyzed 43 patients (age, 20-42 years) undergoing MM3 extraction. At the first visit, patients completed the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) questionnaires. Their BMI and VAS scores were also calculated. The participants underwent blood tests 1 hour before MM3 extraction. On the first postoperative day, the participants’ VAS scores and serum hs-CRP levels were reevaluated. @*Results@#We found that BMI was significantly correlated with preoperative VAS scores. Further, BMI and preoperative hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated among women and patients undergoing extractions of fully impacted MM3s. No correlations were found between serum cortisol and other variables. The preoperative MDAS and VAS scores were significantly positively correlated, especially among patients undergoing extractions of fully impacted MM3s. Multiple linear regression showed that BMI and the eruption status of the MM3 were significant predictors of postoperative hsCRP levels and VAS scores, respectively. @*Conclusion@#In MM3 removals, patients with higher BMI showed elevated hs-CRP and higher VAS scores before surgery. Patients with higher anxiety among those undergoing extractions of fully impacted MM3s showed higher preoperative VAS scores. The two main predictors of postoperative complications were BMI and MM3 eruption status.

The double-barrier technique using platelet-rich fibrin for closure of oroantral fistulas

An oroantral fistula (OAF) or oroantral communication (OAC) is an opening between the oral cavity and the maxillary sinus. If left untreated, these openings may cause chronic maxillary sinusitis. Although small defects (diameter <5 mm) may close spontaneously, larger communications require surgical intervention. Various studies have been conducted on OAC closure using a platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane; most of these prior studies have involved simple direct application of PRF clots. This study introduces a new “double-barrier technique” using PRF for closure of an OAF involving sinus mucosal lifting and closure. The PRF material is inserted into the prepared maxillary sinus space, and the buccal advancement flap covers the oral side. This technique was successfully used to treat two patients with chronic OAF in the posterior maxillary region after implant removal or tooth extraction. The use of a PRF membrane in a double-barrier technique may have advantages in soft-tissue healing and could enable easy closure of chronic OAF with minimal trauma.

Comparing the Expression of Canonical and Non-Canonical Inflammasomes Across Glioma Grades: Evaluating Their Potential as an Aggressiveness Marker

Background@#Inflammasomes are key in the initiation of inflammatory responses and serve to de-fend the organism. However, when the immune system is imbalanced, these complexes contribute to tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of non-canonical inflammasomes on glioma malignancy. @*Methods@#We performed bioinformatics analysis to confirm the expression of canonical andnon-canonical inflammasome-related molecules according to the degree of malignancy through immunohistochemical examination of glioma tissues obtained with patient consent from our institution. @*Results@#Bioinformatics analysis confirmed that the expression levels of non-canonical inflam-masome-related molecules were significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues, and they also increased according to malignancy, which adversely affected the survival rate. Furthermore, in gliomas, positive correlations were found between N-form gasdermin-D, a key molecule associated with the non-canonical inflammasome, and other related molecules, including NLRP3, caspase-1, caspase-4, and caspase-5. These results were verified by immunohistochemical examination of glioma tissues, and the expression levels of these molecules also increased significantly with increasing grade.In addition, the features of pyroptosis were confirmed. @*Conclusion@#This study identified the potential of non-canonical inflammasomes as aggressiveness markers for gliomas and presented a perspective for improving glioma treatment.

The significance of split-face studies and electromyography in forehead rejuvenation

Background@#Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic substance with a wide range of uses, from the treatment of musculoskeletal spasms to antiaging regimens by improving wrinkles. Split-face studies in which drugs are injected in the right and left sides of the faces have been actively conducted in botulinum toxin studies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the reliability of a split-face study for determining the effectiveness of botulinum toxin based on eyebrow height and movement, and electromyography results. @*Methods@#Thirty-one women aged 35 to 55 years were included in the study. Eyebrow height was measured as the distance from the eyebrows to the upper eyelid margin on the primary gaze, and eyebrow movement was measured as the distance when the forehead was wrinkled for 5 seconds. A noninvasive method was used for electromyography of the frontalis muscles. @*Results@#No statistically significant differences in right and left eyebrow heights and movements, and electromyography findings (p= 0.256, p= 1.000, and p= 0.978, respectively) were found. Pearson correlation analysis showed that electromyography muscle activity is positively associated with eyebrow movement, respectively (p< 0.001). @*Conclusion@#We advocate the reliability of split-face study and the usefulness of electromyography of frontalis muscle in forehead rejuvenation research.

Bloodless de-epithelialization in reduction mammoplasty with hydrodissection using a digital automatic anesthesia injector: case series

De-epithelialization is a technique that thins out the epidermis layer of the skin to resurface defects in a cavity or to implant a flap pedicle subcutaneously, preserving the subdermal plexus to support the vascularity of the flap. However, in reduction mammoplasty, de-epithelialization of the pedicle is a time-consuming and tedious step. Although various methods have been proposed to facilitate the completion of this step, a standard has not been established. We used a digital automatic injector that could inject a mixture of lidocaine and epinephrine at a constant, adjustable rate without any special effort. With this method, we could inject local anesthetic into the junction of the epidermis and dermis accurately, which saved time by making dissection easier (hydrodis-section) and decreased bleeding during de-epithelialization. Furthermore, we could use less of the lidocaine and epinephrine mixture, thereby reducing its potential side effects.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in central precocious puberty patients: is routine MRI necessary for newly diagnosed patients?

Purpose@#The overall incidence of central precocious puberty (CPP) has increased in recent decades, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations are recommended in cases of suspected brain lesions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MRI abnormalities and to evaluate the need for routine brain MRI in patients with newly diagnosed CPP. @*Methods@#This retrospective study reviewed the data of patients newly diagnosed with CPP who underwent routine pituitary MRI at Korea University Anam Hospital from March 2020 to September 2021. A total of 199 girls and 24 boys was enrolled in this study. Positive MRI findings were categorized as abnormal pituitary, nonpituitary incidental, and pathological. In addition, we investigated the incidence of MRI abnormalities and evaluated their associations with clinical and biochemical factors. @*Results@#Positive brain MRI findings were observed in 84 patients (37.7%). Pituitary abnormalities were found in 54 patients (24.2%), with Rathke cleft cysts being the most common (16.1%). Incidental nonpituitary findings were observed in 29 patients (13.0%), while a pathological brain lesion (diagnosed as hypothalamic hamartoma) was observed in only 1 female patient (0.4%). No significant differences in sex or age were found in incidence of pituitary abnormalities or nonpituitary incidental findings. Compared with headache controls, significant associations were observed between abnormal pituitary findings on MRI and CPP (unadjusted odds ratio, 3.979; 95% confidence interval, 1.726–9.173). @*Conclusion@#True pathological findings were rare, even though the prevalence of abnormalities on pituitary MRI in patients with CPP was relatively high. Considering its cost-effectiveness, MRI screenings should be carefully considered in patients with CPP.

Determination of monosaccharide composition of polysaccharide and free monosaccharides in Cistanches Herba by ion chromatography-integral pulsed amperometry / 药学学报

Polysaccharides and free monosaccharides are important active components in Cistanches Herba, which have functions of anti-aging and immunological activity regulation. The study of monosaccharide composition in polysaccharide and free monosaccharide can lay a foundation for the study of primary structure, spatial structure of Cistanche polysaccharide and biological activity of Cistanches Herba. In this study, a method of water extraction and alcohol precipitation was used to extract Cistanche polysaccharide. Trifluoroacetic acid was selected as the hydrolytic acid for polysaccharide hydrolysis. An orthogonal experimental method is established. Three levels of acid concentration, hydrolysis temperature and hydrolysis time were selected to investigate the optimal hydrolysis condition. The optimal hydrolysis condition was 0.08 mol·L-1 trifluoroacetic acid hydrolysis at 100 ℃ for 3 h. The free monosaccharides of Cistanches Herba were extracted by water extraction. The established ion chromatogram integrated pulsed amperometry method can efficiently separate 11 monosaccharides in a short time. The method has good repeatability and high sensitivity, methodological experiment results meet the requirements of quantitative determination. It can accurately determine the monosaccharide composition of Cistanche polysaccharide and free monosaccharide content. Ion chromatography does not require derivatization operation and the pre-treatment steps are simple. This method can measure fructose, but PMP derivation-HPLC method can't. The monosaccharide composition of Cistanche polysaccharide include fucose, arabinose, rhamnose-galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, fructose, ribose and glucuronic acid, among which the contents of glucose and fructose are relatively high. The free monosaccharides in the water extract of Cistanches Herba include glucose, fructose and mannose.

Analysis of the of Pb, Cd and As in decoction of Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. by PBET digestion in vitro/Caco-2 cell model and their cumulative risk assessment / 药学学报

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to determine the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. The physiologically based extraction test (PBET) digestion in vitro/Caco-2 cell model was established to investigate the bioaccessible contents of Pb, Cd and As in decoction of Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. The target-organ toxicity dose modification of HI method (TTD) was used to evaluate the cumulative risk caused by the combined exposure of the total levels of Pb, Cd and As in Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. and the bioaccessible contents in the decoction. The results showed that the total contents of Pb, Cd and As in 4 batches of samples were in the range of 2.901-3.872, 1.299-1.800 and 0.062-0.216 mg·kg-1, respectively. After transportation by Cacco-2 cells, the bioaccessible contents of Pb, Cd, and As in the decoction were in the range of 0.045-0.080, 0.070-0.112 and 0.004-0.018 mg·kg-1. The results of risk assessment showed that calculated by the total amounts of heavy metals in the Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm., for the end points of nervous system, the cumulative risks of co-exposure of heavy metals in 3 batches of samples were of concern. After decoction and transportation by Caco-2 cells, for the end points of cardiovascular system, blood, nervous system, kidney and testis, the TTD modification of HI values of all batches of samples were less than 1, and the health risks were acceptable. The study provided methodology basis for a more objective assessment of the health risks of heavy metals and harmful elements in traditional Chinese medicine and for a more scientific limit standard of heavy metals and harmful elements.

Advances in research on small molecule regulators targeting HBV cccDNA generation and transcription / 药学学报

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) represents a significant global public health challenge. Despite the availability of several approved drugs for hepatitis B treatment, the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) renders HBV eradication elusive, thereby leading to disease relapse after drug withdrawal. This paper reviews the regulatory mechanisms of cccDNA formation, transcription and replication, and summarizes the research progress of related small molecule regulators from the perspective of medicinal chemistry.