Association between air quality index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in Beijing / 环境与职业医学

Background Few studies have investigated the association between air pollution and arterial stiffness in Chinese population, and the findings are inconsistent. The problem of multicollinearity exists when modeling multiple air pollutants simultaneously. Objective To investigate potential association between air quality index (AQI) and population brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in Beijing. Methods This study retrieved medical examination data of 2971 participants from the Beijing Health Management Cohort, who were under 60 years old and not yet retired, from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. The most recent medical examination data available were utilized for this analysis. AQI data from 35 air pollution monitoring sites in Beijing and meteorological data (including atmospheric pressure, air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity) from 16 meteorological monitoring stations from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 were collected. An average AQI exposure level for 365 d before the date of physical examination for each participant was computed using inverse distance weighting. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between AQI and baPWV in Beijing, after adjusting for confounding variables including age, gender, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, medication history of diabetes, medication history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, education, smoking status, drinking status, and physical activity intensity. Subgroup analysis was performed by age, sex, presence of diabetes, and presence of hypertension. Results AQI demonstrated an overall decreasing trend during the study period and was lower in the northern regions and higher in the southern regions of Beijing. After adjusting the confounding variables, each 10 unit increase in AQI was associated with 6.18 (95%CI: 1.25, 11.10) cm·s−1 increase in baPWV in all participants, 8.05 (95%CI: 2.32, 13.79) cm·s−1 increase in the participants <50 years, 15.82 (95%CI: 8.33, 23.31) cm·s−1 increase in the female group, 10.10 (95%CI: 4.66, 15.55) cm·s−1 increase in the participants without diabetes, and 9.41 (95%CI: 4.21, 14.62) cm·s−1 increase in the participants without hypertension. However, there was no statistically significant association observed between AQI and baPWV in the age group ≥50 years, the male group, the diabetic group, and the hypertensive group (P>0.05). Conclusion An increase in long-term AQI levels is associated with an elevation in the degree of arterial stiffness. Individuals under 50 years old, females, without hypertension or diabetes are susceptible populations to arterial stiffness when being exposed to air pollution. Improving air quality may contribute to prevent arterial stiffness.

Effect of moxibustion at "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on immune function in healthy rats based on intestinal flora / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of moxibustion at "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on immune function and intestinal flora in healthy rats, thereby investigating the underlying mechanism of moxibustion on immune function.@*METHODS@#Twenty 8-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into a young blank group and a young moxibustion group, with 10 rats in each group. Similarly, twenty 8-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into a middle-aged blank group and a middle-aged moxibustion group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the two moxibustion groups received moxibustion at "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4), 15 min per session, once daily, five times a week, for a total of four months. The rats in the two blank groups were fed under normal conditions. After the intervention, thymus and spleen indexes were calculated; the morphology of thymus and spleen tissues was observed using HE staining; the flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CD and CD T lymphocytes and the CD/CD ratio was calculated; ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-17 (IL-17); 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the intestinal flora. Additionally, the correlation between the relative abundance of intestinal flora and serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the young blank group, the young moxibustion group exhibited an increase in the cortical area of thymus tissue with tighter lymphocyte arrangement; compared with the middle-aged blank group, the middle-aged moxibustion group showed an increase in thymus index (P<0.05) and an increase in the cortical area of thymus tissue. There were no significant differences in spleen index between the 2 moxibustion groups and the 2 blank groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the expression of CD, CD, and CD/CD ratio between the 2 moxibustion groups and the corresponding blank groups (P>0.05). Compared with the young blank group, the young moxibustion group had elevated IL-6 level (P<0.05); compared with the middle-aged blank group, the middle-aged moxibustion group had decreased IL-10 and IL-17 levels (P<0.05). Compared with the young blank group, the young moxibustion group exhibited increased Sobs index, Ace index, and Chao index (P<0.01, P<0.05), as well as increased relative abundance of Spirochaetota, Treponema, Turicibacter, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group (P<0.05), and decreased relative abundance of Dubosiella (P<0.05). Compared with the middle-aged blank group, the middle-aged moxibustion group had increased relative abundance of Spirochaetota, Treponema, norank_f_Peptococcaceae (P<0.05), and decreased relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Allobaculum, and Faecalibaculum (P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that relative abundance of Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group and unclassified _f_Lachnospiraceae was negatively correlated with serum TNF-α level (r=-0.39, P=0.03; r=-0.24, P=0.04), while relative abundance of norank_f_norank_o_Clostridia_UCG-014 and Lactobacillus was positively correlated with serum TNF-α level (r=0.37, P=0.04; r=0.43, P=0.02). The relative abundance of Roseburia and Monoglobus was negatively correlated with serum IFN-γ level (r=-0.40, P=0.02; r=-0.44, P=0.01), while relative abundance of Lactobacillus was positively correlated with serum IL-10 level (r=0.43, P=0.02).@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion could improve immune function in healthy rats, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of relative abundance of intestinal flora.

Association between time-weighted individual exposure to ambient pollutants and carotid intima-media thickness / 环境与职业医学

Background Evidence about the association between air pollution and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is inconsistent, and limited studies have explored the relationship between gaseous pollutants and CIMT. Additionally, personal activity patterns and infiltrated ambient pollution are not comprehensively considered to estimate individual exposure to air pollutants. Objective To investigate the relationship between long-term time-weighted individual exposure to ambient pollutants [fine particulate matter (PM2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO)] and the progression of CIMT. Methods This study was performed among 554 participants in the Beijing Health Management Cohort who were free of atherosclerotic lesions on carotid artery at baseline. Daily concentrations of pollutants were predicted at both residential and work addresses based on land-use regression model. With additional consideration of personal indoor and outdoor activity patterns at both addresses and exposure to ambient pollutants from traffic transportation, individual time-weighted concentration was calculated. Indoor exposure was estimated by infiltrated ambient pollutants (based on infiltration factors and land-use regression model). Personal activity patterns included type, time, location, and frequency. Exposure to ambient pollutants from different traffic transportations was estimated by the average outdoor pollutant concentrations at both residential and work addresses combined within filtration factors and time spent on commuting. Multiple linear regression was conducted to assess the association of time-weighted individual pollutant exposure and the central position of CIMT progression. Quantile regression was applied to explore the relationship between time-weighted individual pollutant exposure and the progression of CIMT on different percentiles. Results The median value of CIMT progression was 369.49 μm·year−1. PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and O3 were associated with CIMT progression in the multiple linear regression model. The largest effect sizes of PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 were obtained for one-year exposure (regression coefficient: 66.910, 64.077, and 191.070, respectively), and two-year exposure for O3 (regression coefficient: 62.197). The results of quantile regression demonstrated different effect sizes for pollutants among different percentiles on CIMT progression. Significant associations between CIMT progression and PM2.5 from P30 to P50, CO from P10 to P40, and PM10 from P30 to P60 were observed. Two-year and three-year exposures to NO2 (P10, P20 and P40) were also associated with CIMT progression. The association between SO2 and the progression of CIMT was proved on all percentiles, and larger effect sizes of one-year and two-year exposures to SO2 (except P90) were demonstrated with increasing percentiles. The upward trend for the coefficients was clearly presented from P50 to P80. Specifically, the coefficient of two-year exposure to SO2 ranged from 136.583 (P50) to 277.330 (P80). No statistically significant association was observed between O3 and CIMT progression on any percentile (P>0.05), and the results were inconsistent with those of the multiple linear regression. Conclusion Individual time-weighted exposures to PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO have the potential to promote the progression of CIMT, and the adverse effect of ambient pollution on atherosclerotic lesion is identified.

Molluscicidal effect of immersion with 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt against Oncomelania hupensis on the soil surface and inside the soil layer in winter / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To evaluate the molluscicidal effect of 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPNES) against Oncomelania hupensis on the soil surface and inside the soil layer by immersion method in winter. Methods O. hupensis snails were placed on the soil surface and 2, 5 cm and 10 cm under the soil layer outdoors in winter, and then immersed in 50% WPNES at concentrations of 1 mg/L and 2 mg/L for 1, 3 d and 7 d, while dechlorinated water served as controls. Snail mortality was observed following immersion with 50% WPNES on the soil surface and inside the soil layer. Results Following immersion with 50% WPNES at concentrations of 2 mg/L and 1 mg/L outdoors in winter, the 3-day corrected snail mortality rates were 98.0% and 76.0% on the soil surface, and the 7-day corrected snail mortality rate was both 100.0%. Following immersion with 50% WPNES at concentrations of 2 mg/L and 1 mg/L outdoors in winter, the 7-day corrected snail mortality rates were 95.5% and 85.6% 2 cm below the soil layer, 66.0% and 6.4% 5 cm below the soil layer. However, the 7-day snail mortality rate swere comparable between the 50% WPNES treatment group (at 2 mg/L and 1 mg/L) and controls 10 cm below the soil layer (both P > 0.05). Conclusion Immersion of 50% WPNES at a concentration of 2 mg/L for 7 days presents a high molluscicidal efficacy against O. hupensis on the soil surface and 5 cm within the soil layers in winter.

Evaluation of physical and neurocognitive development of infants conceived from frozen embryo transfer / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective • To evaluate the physical and neurocognitive development of infants conceived from frozen embryo transfer (FET). Methods • Two hundred and forty-eight infants (1.5-4 years old) conceived from FET and natural conception (NC) were recruited as the follow-up cohort of FET offspring, and their physical and neurocognitive development were followed up and evaluated. Multiple Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the potential risk of cognitive retardation in FET offspring. Results • There was no significant difference in composition ratio of Z score for height, weight and body mass index between the FET group and the NC control group. Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the NC control group, the risk of neurocognitive development abnormalities and retardation was higher in the FET group, especially in fine motor (OR=3.01, 95%CI 1.48-6.11) and social development domains (OR=3.76, 95%CI 1.63-8.69); and in the FET group, the social development risk of female infants was higher than that of male infants. Conclusion • FET may exert a negative impact on the early neurocognitive development of infants.

Antegrade Knuckle technique assisting reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking technique for caleified or tortuous chronic total occlusion recanalization / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To demonstrate the efficiency and safety of the modified reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking(CART)technique for chronic total occlusion(CTO)recanalization.Methods Thirteen patients with CTO underwent this modified reverse CART technique.Based on the traditional reverse CART,the technology advocated the use of antegrade guidewire Knuckle technology to promote access to the subintimal space.With the use of a strong penetrating and well controllable retrograde guidewire,balloon was inflated in the CTO lesion in favor of advancing the retrograde guidewire through the lesion to reach the proximal true lumen.Results The occlusion site was located in the RCA in 10 patients and in the LAD in 3 patients.Among the 13 lesions,2 had J-CTO score = 1,4 had J-CTO score = 2,6 had J-CTO score = 3,and 1 had J-CTO score=4.Nine cases were considered as the Werner`s Collateral Connection grade 1 and other 4 cases were grade 2.All 13 cases had achieved technical success.1 case needed pericardiocentesis due to collateral branch perforation.Conclusions CTO lesions can be efficiently and safely recanalized using this modified reverse CART technique.

Application of GuidezillaTM extension catheter in retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention of coronary arteries chronic total occlusion / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of Guidezilla TM guide extension catheter in retrograde technique for chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization. Methods We retrospectively collected 119 CTO cases from the 2nd Cardiology Department of Guangdong General Hospital who had received retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention( PCI). The Guidezilla TMguide extension catheters were applied in 39 cases from October 2015 to November 2016. 80 CTO cases without using the Guidezilla TMguide extension catheter during PCI admitted between January 2015 and October 2015 were collected as the control. Results The overal success rate of the 2 group was 84.0%. The group using the Guidezilla TMguide extension catheter had a higher success rate(100% vs.76.2%,P<0.05).The baseline clinical characteristics of the two groups showed no statistical diff erence. In terms of CTO crossing diffi culty by J-CTO score, patient in the Guidezilla TMguide extension catheter group had higher percentage of diffi cult lesions(35.9% vs.15.0%,P<0.001)and very difficult lesions(61.5% vs.32.5%,P<0.001).Patients in the Guidezilla TMguide extension catheter group had more longer lesions(89.7% vs.72.5%,P=0.035),blunt proximal occlusion(53.8% vs.32.5%,P=0.030)and tortuosity lesions(84.6% vs.63.8%,P=0.020). More cases in the control group needed a second operation(63.8% vs.25.6%,P<0.001)and more ostial/bifurcation lesions(62.5% vs.30.8%,P=0.002).All cases had no target vessel revascularization or in-hospital death. Conclusions Guidezilla TMguide extension catheter is convenient and safe for complicated CTO retrograde PCI.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus among multiparae / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective·To investigate the risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among multiparae. Methods?·?Women who had two consecutive pregnancies records in the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital from January 2012 to January 2017 were included into this study. The case group (116 cases) and control group (464 cases) were matched at the ratio of 1:4 according to the pre-pregnancy age in index pregnancy. Clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters including oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and lipid profiles were took into consideration by virtue of their medical records. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to compute the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95%CI so as to identify the risk factors. Results?·?Compared with the control group, the case group was associated with greater body mass index (BMI) change between pregnancies (aOR=1.35, 95%?CI=1.07-1.69), greater postprandial 1 h glucose load (aOR=1.99, 95%?CI=1.55-2.55) and 2 h glucose load (aOR=2.02, 95%?CI=1.51-2.70) at OGTT in index pregnancy, and greater first-trimester fasting plasma glucose (aOR=1.96, 95%?CI=1.16-3.32), total cholesterol (aOR=1.37, 95%?CI=1.06-1.77) and triacylglycerol (aOR=1.53, 95%?CI=1.10-2.14) in subsequent pregnancy. Conclusion?·?The elevated BMI change between pregnancies, the abnormal glucose and lipid profiles persisting from index to subsequent pregnancy lead to the occurrence of GDM.

Cloning identification and functional analysis of human IL-17A promoter

OBJECTIVE@#To conduct the cloning identification and characterization of the sequence of human IL-17A promoter so as to analyze the regulatory mechanism of the gene expression of IL-17.@*METHODS@#First of all, the potential promoter region of IL-17A was found by means of the bioinformatics methods. Then, it was cloned into the reporter vector with PCR technique. Finally, the activity of the test promoter was determined by dual luciferase reporter system.@*RESULTS@#Two transcriptional start points of the upper region, 600 bp and 1000 bp, of IL-17A were obtained by PCR clone and proved to have certain activities by dual luciferase reporter system. Also, they could be activated by IL-17A activator STAT3, which could start the expression of the reported gene.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Clone established the regulatory region of human IL-17A promoter, which provided bases to the subsequent function research.

Cloning identification and functional analysis of human IL-17A promoter

Objective To conduct the cloning identification and characterization of the sequence of human IL-17A promoter so as to analyze the regulatory mechanism of the gene expression of IL-17. Methods First of all, the potential promoter region of IL-17A was found by means of the bioinformatics methods. Then, it was cloned into the reporter vector with PCR technique. Finally, the activity of the test promoter was determined by dual luciferase reporter system. Results Two transcriptional start points of the upper region, 600 bp and 1000 bp, of IL-17A were obtained by PCR clone and proved to have certain activities by dual luciferase reporter system. Also, they could be activated by IL-17A activator STAT3, which could start the expression of the reported gene. Conclusions Clone established the regulatory region of human IL-17A promoter, which provided bases to the subsequent function research.

Antifungal Effects of New Synthetic Materials, KAF-200522 and KAF-200522-HCl, on in vitro and in vivo Models / 한국실험동물학회지

KAF-200522 and its chloride form, KAF-200522-HCl, were invented in Chemon inc. as new triazole antifungal agents with excellent activities in vivo and in vitro against wide range of fungi. As a result of in vitro susceptibility measurements, 80% minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC80) of both test articles against Candida albican sp. and Aspergillus fumigatus sp. were below 0.0156 microg/mL, which were over 4,100 times lower than those of fluconazole against fluconazole resistant C. albican sp. and A. fumigatus sp., and were over 16 times lower than those of amphotericin B against above same fungi. Additionally, against representative dermatophytes, Trichophyton sp., the MIC80s of both test articles were below 0.0156 microg/mL which were over 64 times lower than those of fluconazole and amphotericin B. As in vivo antifungal activities in A. fumigatus sp. infected mouse models, KAF-200522 treatment group at 600 mg/kg showed 80% survival rate which was 2 times higher than that of amphotericin B and showed 13.7 days in the mean survival time (MST) which was about 2.1 times higher than that of amphotericin B. But in KAF-200522-HCl treatment groups, all animals were found dead in contrast to 40% survival rate in amphotericin B treatment group, however dose dependent increases in MST was revealed. In conclusion, antifungal activities of KAF-200522 and its mimics, KAF-200522-HCl in vitro and in vivo were confirmed in this study, therefore the potentiality of the present compounds to be developed into new antifungal drug was expected.

Pharmacokinetic and Toxicokinetic Studies of Potential Antifungal Compounds, KAF-200522 and KAF-200522 . HCl, in Animal Models / 한국실험동물학회지

Recent researches on clinically used triazole antifungal reagents are focused on their pharmacokinetic disadvantage which increases the probability of inducing adverse effects in patients. For this point, in the present laboratory, Chemon Inc., has investigated new antifungal reactive compounds, KAF-200522 and its chloride form, KAF-200522 . HCl, which has a modified triazole structure. Pharmacokinetic data were measured with LC-MS/MS in male mice which were orally treated with the above compounds at 10 mg/kg. Tmax and t1/2 of KAF-200522 . HCl were comparable to KAF-200522, but AUC and Cmax were 1.4 and 1.6 times higher than those of KAF-200522, respectively. In beagle dogs, AUC and Cmax of KAF-200522 . HCl were 2.7 and 1.4 times higher than those of KAF-200522, and t1/2 was 3.5 times higher than that of KAF-200522. Moreover, in beagle dogs, the oral bioavailability value of KAF-200522 . HCl was revealed as 31.0% to contrast to 6.2% of KAF-200522. In 1-week repeated oral treatment toxicity study of KAF-200522 in male rats, inhibition of body weight gain was observed in 120 mg/kg treatment group, and loss of body weight was observed in 600 mg/kg treatment group. In the toxicokinetic study of KAF-200522, no accumulation after the systemic exposure was observed. In conclusion, as to the new antifungal drug development, KAF-200522 . HCl was considered to be advantageous in pharmacokinetic characteristics compared to KAF-200522.

Reference Data of the Main Physiological Parameters in Control Sprague-Dawley Rats from Pre-clinical Toxicity Studies / 한국실험동물학회지

The purpose of this paper is to provide reference data related to the body weight, food & water consumptions, urinalysis, hematology and serum biochemistry parameters and absolute & relative organ weights obtained from control Sprague-Dawley rats, used in the 4-week and 13-week repeated-dose toxicity studies conducted in our laboratory between 2005 and 2008. The mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum range values for hematology and serum biochemistry parameters, data of absolute & relative organ weights, and the difference between sexes and study duration of week 4 versus 13 week are presented. The studies were conducted according to "the standards of Toxicity Study for Medicinal Products" (2005) and The KFDA Notification No. 2000-63 'Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)' (2000) issued by KFDA. These data could be used as reference material of Sprague-Dawley rats by conducting the studies to evaluate the toxicological profile of pre-clinical toxicity studies.

Influence of G-CSF mobilization on functions of donor T lymphocyte subpopulation and acute graft-versus-host disease / 中国实验血液学杂志

To investigate the influence of G-CSF mobilization on functions of donor T lymphocyte subpopulation and acute graft-versus-host disease, peripheral blood samples of 20 healthy donors were collected before and after G-CSF mobilization. The whole blood was diluted with IMDM in ratio of 1:1 and then incubated with PMA + ionomycin + monensin at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2 for 4 hours. After being mobilized and stained, the IL-4, IFN-gamma and IL-2 positive cells were counted with three-color flow cytometry. The results showed that before G-CSF mobilization, the percentages of donor's CD3(+)IFN-gamma(+), CD4(+)IFN-gamma(+), CD8(+)IFN-gamma(+) T cells were 3.2% (0% - 45.9%), 1.3% (0% - 23.8%) and 1.5% (0% - 22.2%) respectively. The percentage of above mentioned cells in donor increased to 19.2% (0% - 53.9%), 9.5% (0% - 49.5%), 7.5% (0% - 38.1%) respectively after G-CSF mobilization. The IL-2 positive CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell percentage in pre-G-CSF mobilized donors was 1.5% (0% - 31%), 0.8% (0% - 30.0%) and 0% (0% - 5.3%) respectively and subsequently increased to 25.7% (0% - 51%), 19.8% (0% - 39.7%), 4.6% (0% - 20.9%) respectively after G-CSF mobilization. The IL-4 positive T subpopulation did not increased significantly after G-CSF mobilization. In the early stage after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, donor's Tc1 percentage in aGVHD group was significantly higher than that in non-aGVHD group. The morbidity of severe aGVHD in high Tc2 percentage group was significantly lower than that in low Tc2 percentage group. It is concluded that the donor's type I T cells increase after G-CSF mobilization, the Tc1 percentage of G-CSF mobilized donor is correlated with the occurrence of aGVHD in the early stage after HSCT, the percentage of Tc2 in donor is negatively correlated with aGVHD morbidity in recipients.