The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthodontic Adult Patients' Characteristics and Decision on Orthodontic Appliance.

Purpose: There is an overall paucity of data examining the specific details of orthodontic patients' patterns or orthodontic service disruptions possibly influenced by COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthodontic clinic disruption regarding the change in adult patients' characteristics and decisions of orthodontic treatment devices. Patients and Methods: A retrospective sample of 311 patients receiving orthodontic treatment from 2018 to 2022 were collected and divided into two groups: before (n = 167) and during (n = 144) the COVID-19 pandemic. Demographics, dental indices, the index of complexity outcome and need (ICON), and the degree of treatment difficulty were analyzed. Results: There were fewer students among patients during the COVID-19 pandemic than before (24.5% versus 35.9%, P = 0.036). Compared with patients before the pandemic, more patients selected ceramic brackets or Invisalign during the pandemic (P = 0.022). There were higher percentage of class I dental malocclusions among patients during than before the COVID-19 pandemic (P = 0.044). Moreover, the ICON score and the score of the degree of treatment difficulty were both significantly lower for patients during than before the COVID-19 pandemic (63.9±14.0 versus 58.3±15.3, P=0.001 and 7.4±2.6 versus 6.8±2.6, P=0.049, respectively). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the characteristics and decisions of orthodontic patients. Those who still came to the orthodontic clinic despite the COVID-19 outbreak may have been those with less malocclusion severity and treatment difficulty. Besides, during the time of covid-19 pandemic, more patients chose ceramic bracket and Invisalign as their orthodontic treatment device rather than conventional or self-ligating metal brackets.

[Influencing mechanism of stand age to the accumulation of microbial residue carbon in the Pinus masso-niana plantations]. / 林龄对马尾松人工林微生物残体碳积累的影响机制.

Clarifying the accumulation pattern of soil microbial residue carbon and its contribution to soil organic carbon (SOC) across stand age is helpful to understand the mechanism underlying soil carbon cycling. In this study, we analyzed the differences of amino sugar content, physicochemical properties and microbial composition in surface soil (0-10 cm) in young (6 a), middle-aged (13 a), near-mature (29 a), mature (38 a) and over-mature (57 a) Pinus massoniana plantations of subtropical China, quantified the microbial residue carbon content and its contribution to SOC, and discussed the mechanism. The results showed that SOC, total nitrogen, amorphous iron oxide and leucine aminopeptidase contents in the middle-aged plantation were significantly lower than those in the mature plantation. Soil pH and fungal/bacteria in young plantation were significantly higher than those in other age groups. Across the stand age gradient, the ranges of microbial, fungal and bacterial residue carbon were 7.52-14.63, 4.03-8.00 and 3.48-6.63 g·kg-1, respectively. The contents of all the residue carbon were significantly higher in the mature plantation than that of the middle-aged plantation, which were positively affected by soil total nitrogen content. The contribution of microbial, fungal, and bacterial residue carbon to SOC was 59.7%-72.3%, 33.4%-45.6%, and 24.3%-30.8%, respectively. The contribution of fungal residue carbon to SOC in young plantation was significantly higher than that in other age groups, and the contribution of bacterial residue carbon to SOC in middle-aged plantation was significantly higher than that in young and near-mature plantations, both of which were affected by soil inorganic nitrogen. Fungal residue carbon content was 1.2-1.7 times as that of bacterial residue carbon content, and dominated for the accumulation of microbial residue carbon. Results of the partial least squares model showed that stand age, soil environmental factors (such as leucine aminopeptidase, amorphous iron oxide, pH, and total nitrogen), bacterial residue carbon, fungal residue carbon and the contribution of bacterial residue carbon to SOC had total effects on the contribution of fungal residue carbon to SOC (-0.37, -1.16, 0.90, 1.09, and 0.83, respectively). In conclusion, stand age promoted the accumulation of microbial residue carbon but did not increase its contribution to SOC.

Association between periodontitis treatment and dementia in Taiwanese adults.

BACKGROUND: The chronic systemic inflammatory response in periodontitis may be a potential risk factor for dementia, especially in adults. This study determined the association between periodontal treatment and dementia in adults and evaluated the effect of regular scaling treatment on the risk of dementia in this population. METHODS: This case-control study identified 18,930 patients with a dementia-related diagnosis from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Scaling and periodontal emergency treatments were evaluated after 1 year and 3 years. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between periodontal emergency treatment and dementia risk. RESULTS: The results showed that scaling treatment rates were lower in the dementia cohort than the non-dementia cohort after 1 and 3 years. Patients who received periodontal emergency treatment within 3 years had a significantly increased risk of dementia. Furthermore, patients with periodontitis who did not receive scaling treatment within 3 years had a higher risk of dementia than patients without periodontitis (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10-1.35). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that periodontitis and dementia are associated, and that periodontitis is a risk factor for dementia in adults. The risk of dementia was dependent on the periodontal health status of adults, and our findings suggest that regular scaling can reduce the incidence of dementia in adults. Therefore, regular and routine scaling treatment is suggested for adults.

Anoectochiluszhongshanensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China.

A new species of Anoectochilus (Orchidaceae) from Guangxi, China, A.zhongshanensis, is described here, which was identified based on phylogenetic studies adopting combined plastid markers (rbcL-matK-trnL-F), morphological observation and chemical analysis. Molecular phylogenetic results support the systematic status of A.zhongshanensis as a new species in Anoectochilus genus. Morphologically, this new species is similar to A.zhejiangensis and A.malipoensis, but differs by its characteristic labellum and column, including the hastate or scalpel-shaped lobes of epichile, forward curved and pinnately divided cristate lobes at both sides of the mesochile and inverted triangle column wings. Furthermore, HPLC-ELSD analysis of these three species revealed the interesting chemotaxonomic difference that the principle and characteristic lactone glycoside in this new species was kinsenoside, rather than its diastereoisomer, goodyeroside A, a major glycoside in A.zhejiangensis and A.malipoensis.

An enhanced decision-making framework for predicting future trends of sharing economy.

This work aims to provide a reliable and intelligent prediction model for future trends in sharing economy. Moreover, it presents valuable insights for decision-making and policy development by relevant governmental bodies. Furthermore, the study introduces a predictive system that incorporates an enhanced Harris Hawk Optimization (HHO) algorithm and a K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) forecasting framework. The method utilizes an improved simulated annealing mechanism and a Gaussian bare bone structure to improve the original HHO, termed SGHHO. To achieve optimal prediction performance and identify essential features, a refined simulated annealing mechanism is employed to mitigate the susceptibility of the original HHO algorithm to local optima. The algorithm employs a mechanism that boosts its global search ability by generating fresh solution sets at a specific likelihood. This mechanism dynamically adjusts the equilibrium between the exploration and exploitation phases, incorporating the Gaussian bare bone strategy. The best classification model (SGHHO-KNN) is developed to mine the key features with the improvement of both strategies. To assess the exceptional efficacy of the SGHHO algorithm, this investigation conducted a series of comparative trials employing the function set of IEEE CEC 2014. The outcomes of these experiments unequivocally demonstrate that the SGHHO algorithm outperforms the original HHO algorithm on 96.7% of the functions, substantiating its remarkable superiority. The algorithm can achieve the optimal value of the function on 67% of the tested functions and significantly outperforms other competing algorithms. In addition, the key features selected by the SGHHO-KNN model in the prediction experiment, including " Form of sharing economy in your region " and " Attitudes to the sharing economy ", are important for predicting the future trends of the sharing economy in this study. The results of the prediction demonstrate that the proposed model achieves an accuracy rate of 99.70% and a specificity rate of 99.38%. Consequently, the SGHHO-KNN model holds great potential as a reliable tool for forecasting the forthcoming trajectory of the sharing economy.

Host ALDH2 deficiency aggravates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through gut-liver axis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the major cause of liver dysfunction. Animal and population studies have shown that mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is implicated in fatty liver disease. However, the role of ALDH2 in NASH and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. To address this issue, ALDH2 knockout (ALDH2-/-) mice and wild-type littermate mice were fed a methionine-and choline-deficient (MCD) diet to induce a NASH model. Fecal, serum, and liver samples were collected and analyzed to investigate the impact of the gut microbiota and bile acids on this process. We found that MCD-fed ALDH2-/- mice exhibited increased serum pro-inflammation cytokines, hepatic inflammation and fat accumulation than their wild-type littermates. MCD-fed ALDH2-/- mice exhibited worsened MCD-induced intestinal inflammation and barrier damage, and gut microbiota disorder. Furthermore, mice receiving microbiota from MCD-fed ALDH2-/- mice had increased severity of NASH compared to those receiving microbiota from MCD-fed wild-type mice. Notably, the intestinal Lactobacillus was significantly reduced in MCD-fed ALDH2-/- mice, and gavage with Lactobacillus cocktail significantly improved MCD-induced NASH. Finally, we found that ALDH2-/- mice had reduced levels of bile salt hydrolase and specific bile acids, especially lithocholic acid (LCA), accompanied by downregulated expression of the intestinal FXR-FGF15 pathway. Supplementation of LCA in ALDH2-/- mice upregulated intestinal FXR-FGF15 pathway and alleviated NASH. In summary, ALDH2 plays a critical role in the development of NASH through modulation of gut microbiota and bile acid. The findings suggest that supplementing with Lactobacillus or LCA could be a promising therapeutic approach for treating NASH exacerbated by ALDH2 deficiency.

Polylactic Acid-Based Biomaterials in Wound Healing: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To examine (1) the effectiveness of polylactic acid (PLA)-based biomaterials in wound healing, (2) their effects on wound infection prevention, and (3) their safety compared with existing biomaterials. DATA SOURCES: Data sources included PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), WEIPU, and WANFANG databases. STUDY SELECTION: Investigators included 14 studies discussing the effects of PLA-based biomaterials in cutaneous wound healing published from 2000 to 2021. DATA EXTRACTION: Authors extracted the following information from the selected studies: general information, study type, type of wound, PLA-based biomaterials and techniques, study period, outcome measures, and results. DATA SYNTHESIS: Polylactic acid-based biomaterials may promote wound healing through wound area repair, collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and cell activities, which are related to the good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and moisture management properties of PLA. A proper product structure may also help. Both the native PLA materials and PLA blends seem to be antibacterial, although more evidence is needed for the native PLA products. Because there was no severe adverse event or obvious cytotoxicity observed in the included studies, PLA-based biomaterials are likely safe. CONCLUSIONS: Polylactic acid-based biomaterials may be good wound dressing materials, although more evidence is needed to support their broader application in wound care.

Fecal microbiome transplant from patients with lactation mastitis promotes mastitis in conventional lactating mice.

Introduction: Lactation mastitis seriously severely affects the health of lactating females and their infants, yet the underlying causes of clinical lactation mastitis remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we used microbiota-humanized mice as a model to investigate the role of gut microbiota in lactation mastitis. We compared the fecal microbiota of lactation mastitis patients and healthy individuals and conducted fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments in an antibiotic-pretreated mouse model to test whether gut microbes contribute to human lactation mastitis. Results: Our results showed that gut microbiota diversity was reduced and dysbiosis was present in lactating mastitis patients. FMT from lactation mastitis patients (M-FMT), but not from healthy individuals (H-FMT), to antibiotic-treated mice resulted in lactation mastitis. The inflammation in mice caused by gut microbiota from lactating mastitis patients appears to be pervasive, as hepatocytes from mice that received feces from lactating mastitis patients showed marked swelling. In addition, serum pro-inflammatory factors, including IL-4, IL-17, MPO, IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α, were significantly increased in the M-FMT group. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B), a biomarker of gut dysbiosis, was significantly increased in the M-FMT group. At the phylum level, Actinobacteria were significantly increased, and Verrucomicrobia were significantly decreased in the M-FMT group. At the genus level, Ruminococcus and Faecalibacterium were significantly reduced, while Parabacteroides were significantly increased in the feces of both patients with lactation mastitis and M-FMT mice. Moreover, our study revealed an "amplification effect" on microbiota differences and mastitis disease following human-to-mouse FMT. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the gut microbiota in lactating mastitis patients is dysbiotic and contributes to the pathogenesis of mastitis.

Dietary Inflammatory Patterns Are Associated With Serum TGs and Insulin in Adults: A Community-Based Study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Dietary patterns related to inflammation have become a focus of disease prevention but the patterns may vary among populations. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to determine Taiwanese dietary inflammatory patterns and evaluate their associations with biomarkers of lipid and glucose. METHODS: Data were taken from 5664 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥55 y recruited in 2009-2013 in the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST). Dietary data were obtained from an FFQ. An empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) was derived from reduced rank regression models that explained the serum high-sensitivity CRP, plasma IL-6, and TNF receptor 1. Cross-sectional associations between dietary scores and biomarkers of total cholesterol (TC); HDL cholesterol; LDL cholesterol; TG; and ratios of TG/HDL cholesterol, TG/TC, fasting glucose, insulin, and HbA1c were analyzed via multiple linear regression and adjusted for major confounders. The false-discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference of ≥90 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women. RESULTS: Higher EDIP-HALST scores were associated with higher TG (per score increment: 1.62%, 95% CI: 0.58%, 2.76%; PFDR = 0.01), TG/HDL cholesterol (2.01%, 95% CI: 0.67%, 3.37%; PFDR = 0.01), and TG/TC (1.42%, 95% CI: 0.41%, 2.43%; PFDR = 0.01) and nonlinearly associated with insulin, with those in the middle tertile had the highest serum insulin concentrations (means: 5.12 µIU/mL, 95% CI: 4.78, 5.78; PFDR = 0.04) in men, but not in women. No heterogeneity was detected between sexes. The associations with TG (1.23%, 95% CI: 0.19, 2.23%; Ptrend = 0.02), TG/HDL cholesterol (1.62%, 95% CI: 0.30%, 2.96%; Ptrend = 0.02), and TG/TC (1.11%, 95% CI: 0.11%, 2.13%; Ptrend = 0.03) were stronger in participants with abdominal obesity, but were borderline associated in participants with normal abdominal circumferences (all Ptrend = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory diets, as measured via EDIP-HALST, are associated with serum TG concentration, particularly in participants with abdominal obesity. These findings may suggest that developing disease prevention strategies using dietary inflammatory patterns may be different by populations. J Nutr 20xx;x:xx.

Immunogenicity of an adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 trimeric S-protein subunit vaccine (SCB-2019) in SARS-CoV-2-naïve and exposed individuals in a phase 2/3, double-blind, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated immunogenicity of SCB-2019, a subunit vaccine candidate containing a pre-fusion trimeric form of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-protein adjuvanted with CpG-1018/alum. METHODS: The phase 2/3, double-blind, randomized SPECTRA trial was conducted in five countries in participants aged ≥ 18 years, either SARS-CoV-2-naïve or previously exposed. Participants were randomly assigned to receive two doses of SCB-2019 or placebo administered intramuscularly 21 days apart. In the phase 2 part of the study, on days 1, 22, and 36, neutralizing antibodies were measured by pseudovirus and wild-type virus neutralization assays to SARS-CoV-2 prototype and variants, and ACE2-receptor-binding antibodies and SCB-2019-binding antibodies were measured by ELISA. Cell-mediated immunity was measured by intracellular cytokine staining via flow cytometry. RESULTS: 1601 individuals were enrolled between 24 March and 13 September 2021 and received at least one vaccine dose. Immunogenicity analysis was conducted in a phase 2 subset of 691 participants, including 428 SARS-CoV-2-naïve (381 vaccine and 47 placebo recipients) and 263 SARS-CoV-2-exposed (235 vaccine and 28 placebo recipients). In SARS-CoV-2-naïve participants, GMTs of neutralizing antibodies against prototype virus increased 2 weeks post-second dose (day 36) compared to baseline (224 vs 12.7 IU/mL). Seroconversion rate was 82.5 %. In SARS-CoV-2-exposed participants, one SCB-2019 dose increased GMT of neutralizing antibodies by 48.3-fold (1276.1 IU/mL on day 22) compared to baseline. Seroconversion rate was 92.4 %. Increase was marginal post-second dose. SCB-2019 also showed cross-neutralization capability against nine variants, including Omicron, in SARS-CoV-2-exposed participants at day 36. SCB-2019 stimulated Th1-biased cell-mediated immunity to the S-protein in both naïve and exposed participants. The vaccine was well tolerated, no safety concerns were raised from the study. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of SCB-2019 was immunogenic in SARS-CoV-2-exposed individuals, whereas two doses were required to induce immune response in SARS-CoV-2-naïve individuals. SCB-2019 elicited a cross-neutralizing response against emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants at antibody levels associated with clinical protection, underlining its potential as a booster. CLINICALTRIALS: gov: NCT04672395; EudraCT: 2020-004272-17.

Ampicillin exacerbates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury by inducing intestinal microbiota imbalance and butyrate reduction.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Antibiotics (ATBx) and acetaminophen (APAP) are widely used worldwide. APAP is the most common cause of acute liver injury (ALI) and might be used in combination with ATBx in clinics. However, the impact of ATBx on APAP-induced ALI has rarely been studied. METHODS: First, we compared the effects of seven ATBx on APAP-induced ALI. Then, we analysed faecal, serum and liver samples to investigate the impact of the gut microbiota on this process. Finally, we assessed the role of short-chain fatty acids in this process. RESULTS: In this work, we found that the ALI was significantly aggravated in the mice treated with ampicillin (Amp) instead of other ATBx. Amp exposure reduced the diversity and altered the composition of gut microbiota. The altered gut microbiota aggravated APAP-induced ALF, which was proven by faecal microbiota transplantation from ATBx-treated mice. Metagenomic analysis showed a significantly decreased Lactobacillus abundance in Amp-treated mice. Gavage with Lactobacillus, especially Lactobacillus rhamnosus, significantly reversed the severer ALF induced by APAP and Amp. Moreover, Lactobacillus supplementation increased butyrate-producing clostridia and lowered butyrate levels in Amp-treated mice. In accordance, butyrate supplementation could also alleviate Amp-aggravated ALI. In addition, inhibition of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 counteracted the protective effect of butyrate on aggravated ALI induced by Amp and APAP. CONCLUSION: Together, this study revealed a potential health impact of Amp that may exacerbate liver damage when co-exposed to excess APAP.

The antitumour effects of caloric restriction are mediated by the gut microbiome.

Calorie restriction (CR) and intermittent fasting (IF) without malnutrition reduce the risk of cancer development. Separately, CR and IF can also lead to gut microbiota remodelling. However, whether the gut microbiota has a role in the antitumour effect related to CR or IF is still unknown. Here we show that CR, but not IF, protects against subcutaneous MC38 tumour formation through a mechanism that is dependent on the gut microbiota in female mice. After CR, we identify enrichment of Bifidobacterium through 16S rRNA sequencing of the gut microbiome. Moreover, Bifidobacterium bifidum administration is sufficient to rescue the antitumour effect of CR in microbiota-depleted mice. Mechanistically, B. bifidum mediates the CR-induced antitumour effect through acetate production and this effect is also dependent on the accumulation of interferon-γ+CD8+ T cells in the tumour microenvironment. Our results demonstrate that CR can modulate the gut taxonomic composition, which should be of oncological significance in tumour growth kinetics and cancer immunosurveillance.

Microplastic concentrations in river water and bed sediments in a tropical river: implications for water quality monitoring.

Recent increase in awareness of the extent of microplastic contamination in marine and freshwater systems has heightened concerns over the ecological and human health risks of this ubiquitous material. Assessing risks posed by microplastic in freshwater systems requires sampling to establish contamination levels, but standard sampling protocols have yet to be established. An important question is whether sampling and assessment should focus on microplastic concentrations in the water or the amount deposited on the bed. On three dates, five replicated water and bed sediment samples were collected from each of the eight sites along the upper reach of the Semenyih River, Malaysia. Microplastics were found in all 160 samples, with mean concentrations of 3.12 ± 2.49 particles/L in river water and 6027.39 ± 16,585.87 particles/m2 deposited on the surface of riverbed sediments. Fibres were the dominant type of microplastic in all samples, but fragments made up a greater proportion of the material on the bed than in the water. Within-site variability in microplastic abundance was high for both water and bed sediments, and very often greater than between-site variability. Patterns suggest that microplastic accumulation on the bed is spatially variable, and single samples are therefore inadequate for assessing bed contamination levels at a site. Sites with the highest mean concentrations in samples of water were not those with the highest concentrations on the bed, indicating that monitoring based only on water samples may not provide a good picture of either relative or absolute bed contamination levels, nor the risks posed to benthic organisms.

Association of leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number with longitudinal C-reactive protein levels and survival in older adults: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic chronic inflammation occurs with age. The association of the leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number, a measure of mitochondrial function in aging, with the temporal profile of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and mortality risk remains uncertain. The objectives of this study were to examine the association of the leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number with longitudinal high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and the association of the longitudinal high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels with mortality risk. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 3928 adults aged ≥ 55 years without systemic inflammation in the baseline examination of the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan, which started in 2009. Each participant received leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number measurement using a fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction at baseline, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein measurements at baseline and the follow-up examination five years later, and the ascertainment of all-cause death (until November 30, 2021). The relationships among the leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number, longitudinal serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, and time to all-cause mortality were examined using the joint longitudinal and survival modeling analysis. RESULTS: Of the 3928 participants (mean age: 69 years; 2060 [52%] were women), 837 (21%) died during follow-up. In the adjusted analysis, one standard deviation lower natural log-transformed baseline leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number was associated with an increase of 0.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02 to 0.08) standard deviation in serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in subsequent years. An increase of 1 standard deviation in instantaneous high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality of 1.22 (95% CI, 1.14 to 1.30). Similar results were obtained after further adjusting for baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (HR [95% CI], 1.27 [1.16 to 1.38]) and after excluding those with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein above 10 mg/L (HR [95% CI], 1.21[1.11 to 1.31]) or 3 mg/L (HR [95% CI], 1.19 [1.06 to 1.31]) during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A lower leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number was associated with persistently higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. Moreover, these higher time-varying high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were instantaneously associated with a higher risk of death.

Cross-Correlations between Scientific Physical Fitness, Body Mass Index Distribution, and Overweight/Obesity Risks among Adults in Taiwan.

Background and Objectives: Health-related physical fitness reduces the risk of chronic disease, promotes quality of life, and has enormous economic benefits considering the global health care costs resulting from obesity. However, relatively limited information is available regarding the dose-response relationship between scientific physical fitness and obesity risk. This study aimed to determine the associations of scientific physical fitness with body mass index (BMI) distribution and overweight/obesity risk among adults aged 23-64 years in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed data derived from the Scientific Physical Fitness Testing Program, Sports Administration, Ministry of Education, Taiwan. Responses from 16,939 participants from the database (7761 men and 9178 women, aged 23-64 years) were collected in this study. Each participant completed a series of scientific physical fitness measurements, including cardiorespiratory fitness (3 min progressive knee-up and step [3MPKS] test), muscular fitness (hand grip strength), and flexibility (sit-and-reach test). Anthropometric measurements included body height, weight, and BMI. The quartiles of scientific physical fitness results were identified as the dependent variable in the multiple linear and multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the associations of the scientific physical fitness measurements with BMI distribution and overweight/obesity risk, as well as the dose-response relationship. Results: The 3MPKS test was significantly associated with BMI (quartile 1 (Q1): ß = 1.900; quartile 2 (Q2): ß = 1.594; quartile 3 (Q3): ß = 1.079 for men, and Q1: ß = 1.454; Q2: ß = 0.882; Q3: ß = 0.555 for women), overweight (Q1: odds ratio (OR) = 2.117; Q2: OR = 2.056; Q3: OR = 2.063 for men, and Q1: OR = 3.036; Q2: OR = 2.542; Q3: OR = 1.959 for women), and obesity (Q1: OR = 6.530; Q2: OR = 5.747; Q3: OR = 3.557 for men, and Q1: OR = 3.238; Q2: OR = 1.431 for women) risk compared with quartile 4 (Q4) as the reference group with a dose-response relationship. In addition, relative hand grip strength was significantly associated with BMI (Q2: ß = -0.922; Q3: ß = -1.865; Q4: ß = -3.108 for men, and Q2: ß = -1.309; Q3: ß = -2.161; Q4: ß = -2.759 for women), overweight (Q2: OR = 0.806; Q3: OR = 0.697; Q4: OR = 0.278 for men, and Q2: OR = 0.667; Q3: OR = 0.398; Q4: OR = 0.228 for women), and obesity (Q1: OR = 0.528; Q2: OR = 0.206; Q3: OR = 0.049 for men, and Q1: OR = 0.351; Q2: OR = 0.129; Q3: OR = 0.051 for women) risk compared with Q1 as the reference group with a dose-response relationship. Conclusions: Higher levels of performance of the 3MPKS and relative grip strength tests were associated with lower BMI and overweight/obesity risk in both sexes. However, the sit-and-reach test was only partially related to BMI and overweight/obesity risk in both sexes. Cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness were effective predictors of BMI distribution and overweight/obesity risk in Taiwanese adults.

[A Prognostic Nomogram Based on Response to Bortezomib and BTK Expression for Treatment-Experienced Multiple Myeloma Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a prognostic nomogram based on response to bortezomib and BTK expression for treatment-experienced multiple myeloma patients. METHODS: The Oncomine database was utilized to determine BTK expression, sex, age, albumin, Mayo index, response to bortezomib treatment, follow-up time and survival status in multiple myeloma(MM) patients. Cut-off point for BTK expression was calculated using R software. Univariate and multivariate analyses by Cox proportional hazards regression were then performed. Significant prognostic factors were combined to build a nomogram. The discrimination ability and predictive accuracy of the nomogram were evaluated using the index of concordance (C-index) and calibration curves. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that response to bortezomib, BTK expression and sex were independent risk factors for prognosis. The C-index value of the nomogram made according to the independent risk factors was 0.729 (95%CI, 0.642-0.8164). The calibration curves showed good consistency between predicted and actual survivals for 1-year and 2-year overall survival. CONCLUSION: The proposed nomogram is accurate in predicting the prognosis of patients with MM.

Homologous and Heterologous Boosting of the Chadox1-S1-S COVID-19 Vaccine With the SCB-2019 Vaccine Candidate: A Randomized, Controlled, Phase 2 Study.

Background: Ongoing outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are driven by waning immunity following primary immunizations and emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants that escape vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies. It has been suggested that heterologous boosters could enhance and potentially maintain population immunity. Methods: We assessed the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of booster doses of different formulations of aluminium hydroxide-adjuvanted SCB-2019 vaccine (9 µg of SCB-2019, with or without CpG-1018 adjuvant, or 30 µg of SCB-2019 with CpG-1018) in Brazilian adults primed with ChAdOx1-S vector vaccine. S-protein antibodies and ACE2-binding inhibition were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on days 1, 15, and 29. Participants self-reported solicited adverse events and reactions. Results: All SCB-2019 formulations increased S-protein ELISA antibodies and ACE2 binding inhibition to a greater extent than ChAdOx1-S. After 30 µg of SCB-2019 + CpG + aluminium hydroxide, titers against wild-type S-protein were significantly higher than after ChAdOx1-S on days 15 and 29, as were titers of neutralizing antibodies against the wild-type strain and Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants. Boosting with SCB-2019 or ChAdOx1-S was well tolerated, with no vaccine-related serious or severe adverse events. Conclusions: Boosting ChAdOx1-S-primed adults with SCB-2019 induced higher levels of antibodies against a wild-type strain and SARS-CoV-2 variants than a homologous ChAdOx1-S booster, with the highest responses being with the 30-µg SCB-2019 + CpG + aluminium hydroxide formulation. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT05087368.

Associations of Health-Related Physical Fitness with Waist Circumference and Abdominal Obesity Risk in Taiwanese Adults.

In this study, we aimed to determine the associations among health-related physical fitness measurements, waist circumference (WC), and abdominal obesity risk in Taiwanese adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study based on data from the 2017 Taiwan Scientific Physical Fitness Survey (the TSPFS). We collected the responses from 17,973 participants (7907 men and 10,066 women) aged 23-64 years for this study. The participants completed the study protocol with a standardized structural questionnaire and a series of health-related physical fitness measurements. The fitness measurements included cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by a 3-min progressive knee-up and step test), muscular fitness (measured by a hand grip strength test), and flexibility (measured by a sit-and-reach test). Our anthropometric measurements included height, weight, WC, hip circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). We identified the quartiles of the health-related physical fitness results as the dependent variable in the multiple linear and multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the associations of the physical fitness measurements with WC distribution and abdominal obesity risk. We also considered the dose-response relationship. We found that cardiorespiratory fitness, relative grip strength, and flexibility were each significantly negatively associated with WC, but absolute grip strength was significantly positively associated with WC. We also found that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, relative grip strength, and flexibility were each associated with a lower risk of abdominal obesity. Moreover, our secondary finding was of a dose-response relationship between physical fitness performance, WC, and abdominal obesity risk. In short, health-related physical fitness was an effective predictor of waist circumference for both sexes of Taiwanese adults, and higher levels of health-related physical fitness were associated with lower risks of abdominal obesity in Taiwanese adults.

[Pregnancy Outcomes and Prognosis of Fetal Ventriculomegaly: A Retrospective Cohort Study].

Objective: To evaluate the pregnancy outcomes and neurodevelopment prognosis of subjects prenatally diagnosed with fetal ventriculomegaly (VM). Methods: All the subjects with VM diagnosed by ultrasound and were admitted and treated at West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University between March 2011 and September 2020 were retrospectively enrolled for a chohort study, while non-VM subjects of the same period were selected with a random number table to form the control group. Pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were compared, and the fetuses of both groups were followed up after birth for further assessment and comparison of their neurodevelopmental prognosis. Results: The live birth rate of the VM group was lower than that of the control group (77.63% [229/295] vs. 94.31% [265/281], P<0.001). Furthermore, the proportion of subjects that were transferred to NICU for monitoring and observation after birth was higher in the VM group than that of the control group (20.96% [48/229] vs. 4.53% [12/265], P<0.001). During the follow-up, it was found that the rate of neurodevelopmental abnormalities of the VM group was significantly higher than that of the control group (11.79% [27/229] vs. 1.90% [5/265], P<0.001). Moreover, neurodevelopmental abnormalities of VM fetuses were correlated to the following factors, the degree of VM ( P=0.010), intrauterine progression of VM ( P=0.024), and whether the postnatal cranial ultrasound result was suggestive of VM ( P=0.001). In addition, postnatal cranial ultrasound suggestive of VM was found to be an independent risk factor for neurodevelopmental abnormalities ( OR=9.434, 95% CI: 1.791-49.688, P=0.008). Conclusion: VM reduces the fetal live birth rate and may increase the risks of neurodevelopmental abnormalities after birth. All VM fetuses should be closely followed up for neurodevelopment status after birth, especially those with severe VM, intrauterine progression, and postnatal cranial ultrasound indicative of VM.

Characteristics and Dental Indices of Orthodontic Patients Using Aligners or Brackets.

Background. Clear aligners have become a treatment alternative to metal brackets in recent years due to the advantages of aesthetics, comfort, and oral health improvement. Nevertheless, few studies have analyzed the clinical characteristics and dental indices of orthodontic patients using aligners or brackets. Methods. A total of 170 patients received orthodontic treatment at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2021. Patients were stratified by types of treatment (Invisalign® clear aligner (n = 60) or metal bracket (n = 110). Results: Patients were aged 26.1 ± 7.2 years, and most were female (75.0%). The Invisalign® group was older than the bracket group (p = 0.003). The skeletal relationships were mainly Class I (49.4%), followed by Class II (30.0%) and Class III (20.6%). The molar relationships were primarily Class I (38.8%), followed by Class II (37.1%) and Class III (24.1%). The decayed, missing, and filled tooth (DMFT) index was 9.9 ± 6.0, including 2.1 ± 2.9 for decayed teeth, 0.5 ± 1.1 for missing teeth, and 7.3 ± 4.3 for filled teeth. There were no significant differences in the DMFT index or skeletal and molar relationships between the groups (p > 0.05). The index of complexity outcome and need (ICON) was 56.8 ± 13.5, and the score was lower in the Invisalign® group than in the bracket group (p = 0.002). Among the variables included in the ICON assessment, only the aesthetic variable was lower in the Invisalign® group than in the bracket group (p < 0.001). The Frankfort-mandibular plane angle was 27.9 ± 5.1 degrees. Finally, the E-line of the lower lip was lower in the Invisalign® group than in the bracket group (1.5 ± 2.4 versus 2.8 ± 3.1, p = 0.005). Conclusions. Older patients showed a greater intention to choose Invisalign® treatment for improving the appearance of their teeth than younger patients, who chose metal bracket treatment. The demand for Invisalign® aligner treatment for aesthetic reasons was substantial. A soft tissue profile with more protrusive lower lips and a greater need for orthodontic treatment was found in the bracket group.