Associations between IL-1RN variable number of tandem repeat, IL-1ß (-511) and IL-1ß (+3954) gene polymorphisms and urolithiasis in Uighur children of China.

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which may be related to urolithiasis. Genetic polymorphisms of the interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) have been proposed as markers for urolithiasis in some areas. Due to the high incidence of urolithiasis in Uighur children (Xinjiang, China) and existence of ethnic difference, our aim is to explore the potential of IL-1 gene polymorphisms and urolithiasis among these children. METHODS: Genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood of 115 patients and 98 controls were used for genotype polymorphisms analyses. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL- 1RN) gene variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) gene polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR method. PCR-based restriction analysis was done for the IL-1ß (-511) and IL-1ß (+3954) gene polymorphisms by endonucleases Ava I and Taq I, respectively. The genotype distribution, allele frequencies, carriage rate, and haplotype frequencies were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in genotypic frequencies between pediatric urolithiasis patients and control group for IL-1RN gene (χ 2=1.906, p=0.605), IL-1ß (-511) gene (χ 2=0.105, p=0.949), or IL-1ß (+3954) gene (χ 2=3.635, p=0.169). There were yet no significant differences of the allele frequencies of IL-1RN VNTR gene (p=0.779), IL-1ß (-511) gene (p=0.941), and IL-1ß (+3954) gene (p=0.418) in the case and control groups, as well as the carriage rate and haplotype of them (all p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The associations between IL-1RN VNTR, IL-1ß (-511) and IL-1ß (+3954) genes polymorphisms and urolithiasis were not significant in Uighur children. The results need to be confirmed in studies with larger population sample size, as well as in other ethnic groups.

Urinary incontinence and health burden of female patients in China: Subtypes, symptom severity and related factors.

AIM: Urinary incontinence (UI) causes long-term physical and psychological suffering to patients. Risk factors for different UI subtypes and symptom severity are still unclear, as well as their associations. We aimed to examine the potential influencing factors of UI episodes, UI severity and UI subtypes, and the associations among them. METHODS: A total of 611 women were recruited in Shantou, China. Clinical and demographic data were collected through electronic medical records, measurements and self-reports. UI diagnosis, subtypes and symptom severity were confirmed according to international uniform standards. The health burden of UI was evaluated by the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were carried out to examine the potential risk factors and associations among UI subtypes, symptom severity, and health burdens. RESULTS: Age, body mass index, comorbidity, lower urinary tract symptoms and constipation were associated with UI episodes and UI severity. Mixed UI patients had worse severity than urgency UI and stress UI, especially in leak times/week and daily life obstructing. Mixed UI patients also had higher health burdens, including mental health burdens, than urgency UI and stress UI patients. UI severity was positively associated with higher health burdens (ß = 0.46, 95% CI 0.34-0.60), especially in physical activities, travel and social relationship burden (ß = 0.61, 95% CI 0.40-0.85; ß = 0.55, 95% CI 0.19-0.76; ß = 0.65, 95% CI 0.38-0.91; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Age, body mass index, comorbidity, somnipathy and constipation were associated with UI episodes and symptom severity. Mixed UI showed the highest symptoms severity and health burdens. Worse UI severity increased the patient's physical health burden, but was not obvious for mental health burden. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 219-226.

Morphology and epidemiological study of idiopathic scoliosis among primary school students in Chaozhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) affects patients' quality of life, yet there have been few reports of its morphology and epidemiological study in the southeast region of China. The aim of this study is to access the curve characteristics, prevalence, and factors associated with IS in Chaozhou city. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 2018, in which scoliosis screening was conducted among 5497 primary school students in Chaozhou city. Then, a case-control study based on the screening involving 2547 children was followed for the exploration of the associated factors. The questionnaires covering demographic characteristics, postural habits, cognition and self-sensation of scoliosis, and physical conditions were addressed for the investigation. ORs with 95%CIs were calculated based on logistic regression analysis to evaluate the factors associated with scoliosis. RESULTS: The prevalence of IS among primary school students was 6.15% in Chaozhou city, with 4.04% for males and 8.71% for females. The average Cobb angle was 15° (range 8 to 37°). Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that female (OR=2.45), BMI (OR=0.67), having myopia (OR=1.49), self-sensation of scoliosis with symptoms (OR=5.52), insufficient sleep time (OR=2.65, 3.33), and less exercise time (OR=7.09, 7.29) were significantly associated with IS. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IS among primary school students in Chaozhou was at an average level, and it was significantly higher in females than in males. Lower body mass, having myopia, insufficient sleep time, and lower physical activity were associated with IS.

The Interactive Effects of Cognition on Coping Styles among Chinese during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has seriously affected people's life. The main aim of our investigation was to determine the interactive effects of disease awareness on coping style among Chinese residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A total of 616 Chinese residents from 28 provinces were recruited to participate in this investigation. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, cognition of COVID-19, and disease-related stress sources. Coping styles were assessed via the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). RESULTS: The survey showed that the main source of information on COVID-19 was different in relation to gender, age, educational level, and occupation (p < 0.001). People's knowledge of the disease, preventive measures, and stress factors were different in relation to demographic characteristics (p < 0.001). Compared with the baseline values, the scores of positive coping and negative coping based on SCSQ in relation to gender, age, educational level, and occupation were statistically significant (p < 0.001, except for participants older than 60 years). Different educational levels corresponded to statistical significant differences in positive coping (p = 0.004) but not in negative coping. CONCLUSIONS: During the pandemic, people with different characteristics had different levels of preventive measures' awareness, which influenced their coping styles. Therefore, during public health emergencies, knowledge of prevention and control measures should be efficiently provided to allow more effective coping styles.

Emotional and Cognitive Responses and Behavioral Coping of Chinese Medical Workers and General Population during the Pandemic of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) might affect the psychological health of population, especially medical workers. We aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional and cognitive responses and behavioral coping among Chinese residents. METHODS: An online investigation was run from 5 February to 25 February 2020, which recruited a total of 616 Chinese residents. Self-designed questionnaires were used to collect demographic information, epidemic knowledge and prevention of COVID-19 and characteristics of medical workers. The emotional and cognitive responses were assessed via the Symptom Check List-30 (SCL-30) and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Behavioral coping was assessed via Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). RESULTS: In total, 131 (21.3%) medical workers and 485 (78.7%) members of the general public completed the structured online survey. The structural equation models showed that emotional response interacted with cognitive response, and both emotional response and cognitive response affected the behavioral coping. Multivariate regression showed that positive coping enhanced emotional and cognitive responses, while negative coping reduced emotional and cognitive responses. The emotional response (depression, anxiety and photic anxiety) scores of the participants were higher than the norm (all p < 0.001); in particular, the panic scores of members of the general public were higher than those of medical workers (p < 0.05), as well as the cognitive response (paranoia and compulsion). Both positive and negative coping scores of the participants were lower than the norm (p < 0.001), and the general public had higher negative coping than medical workers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: During the preliminary stage of COVID-19, our study confirmed the significance of emotional and cognitive responses, which were associated with behavioral coping and significantly influenced the medical workers and the general public's cognition and level of public health emergency preparedness. These results emphasize the importance of psychological health at times of widespread crisis.

Associations between functional polychlorinated biphenyls in adipose tissues and prognostic biomarkers of breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been shown to influence expression of some biomarkers that are predictive/prognostic for breast cancer. Therefore, our study was conducted to further investigating associations of different functional PCBs in adipose tissue with breast cancer prognostic biomarkers. METHODS: Two hundred and five breast cancer patients were recruited in Shantou, China. Breast adipose tissues were collected during their resection surgery and levels of 7 PCB congeners were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The PCB congeners were divided into 4 groups according to structure-activity. Socio-demographic, clinical and pathological information were obtained from questionnaire and digital medical records. Odds ratios (ORs) for associations between prognostic biomarkers and PCB levels (tertile 3 [T3], tertile 2 [T2] vs. tertile 1) were estimated from logistic regression models. RESULTS: Most PCB congeners were detectable, with a highest level (22.06 ng/g lipid) of PCB153. As for estrogenic PCBs, increased PCB52 exposure was positively associated with PR expression (ORT2 = 2.36, Ptrend = 0.054), but higher PCB101 level was negatively associated with HER-2 (ORT3 = 0.24, Ptrend = 0.029) and tumor size (OR = 0.43). Limited dioxin-like PCB138 exposure was positively associated with ER (ORT2 = 3.23, ORT3 = 3.77, Ptrend = 0.047) but negatively with Top-IIα expression (ORT2 = 0.35, ORT3 = 0.28, Ptrend = 0.080). Higher PCB153 (CYP inducer) level was negatively associated with ER (ORT2 = 0.32, ORT3 = 0.19, Ptrend = 0.038) but positively with Ki-67 expression (ORT2 = 1.43, ORT3 = 3.60, Ptrend = 0.055). Higher neurotoxic PCB28 was positively associated with HER-2 (ORT3 = 5.43, Ptrend = 0.006) and tumor size (OR = 2.37). Moreover, total PCBs exposure was positively associated with VEGF-C (ORT2 = 76.91, ORT3 = 97.96, Ptrend = 0.041) and tumor metastasis (OR = 2.25). CONCLUSIONS: Different functional PCB congeners have different associations (both positive and negative) with breast cancer prognostic biomarkers, as well as tumor classification stage. Therefore, the development and aggressiveness of breast cancer may depend upon exposure to specific structure-activity of PCBs.

The effectiveness of intensity-modulated radiation therapy versus 2D-RT for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: At present, the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is mainly based on radiotherapy, but there are many radiation delivery techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 2-dimensional radiotherapy (2D-RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched all the eligible studies through the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase. The endpoint events in meta-analysis were overall survival (OS), tumor local control including local-regional free survival (LRFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and late toxicities. RESULTS: A total of ten publications met the criteria and were identified through searches of the databases and references. We included 13304 patients in the meta-analysis, of whom 5212 received IMRT and 8092 were allocated to 2D-RT alone group. Compared with 2D-RT treatment, the IMRT group was associated with a better 5-year OS (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.36-2.12), LRFS (OR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.82-2.37), and PFS (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.26-1.56). Additionally, the incidence of late toxicities such as late xerostomia (OR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.09-0.51), trismus (OR = 0.16; 95% CI = 0.04-0.60), and temporal lobe neuropathy (TLN) (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.24-0.67) for NPC patients in IMRT group were significantly lower than 2D-RT. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis demonstrates that IMRT provides improved long-term tumor overall survival and local control including LRFS and PFS. Additionally, IMRT yields a lower incidence of late toxicities induced by irradiation in NPC patients. Compared to 2D-RT, IMRT may be an effective treatment for patients with NPC. Further intensive studies should be pursued to examine the association.

Effects of PM2.5 on Cardio-Pulmonary Function Injury in Open Manganese Mine Workers.

Exposure to fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is associated with adverse health effects, varying by its components. The health-related effects of PM2.5 exposure from ore mining may be different from those of environment pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of PM2.5 exposure on the cardio-pulmonary function of manganese mining workers. A total of 280 dust-exposed workers who were involved in different types of work in an open-pit manganese mine were randomly selected. According to the different concentrations of PM2.5 in the working environment, the workers were divided into an exposed group and a control group. The electrocardiogram, blood pressure, and multiple lung function parameters of the two groups were measured and analyzed. The PM2.5 exposed group had significantly lower values in the pulmonary function indexes of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0), maximum mid expiratory flow (MMEF), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), percentage of peak expiratory flow out of the overall expiratory flow volume (PEFR%), forced expiratory flow at 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF 25, FEF75), forced expiratory flow when 25%, 50%, and 75% of forced vital capacity has been exhaled (FEF25%,FEF50%, FEF75%), and FEV1.0/FVC% (the percentage of the predicted value of forced vital capacity) than the control group (all p < 0.05). Both groups had mild or moderate lung injury, most of which was restrictive ventilatory disorder, and there was significant difference in the prevalence rate of restrictive respiratory dysfunction between the two groups (41.4% vs. 23.6%, p = 0.016). Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, especially sinus bradycardia, were shown in both groups, but there was no statistical difference of the prevalence rate between the two groups (p > 0.05). Also, no significant difference of the prevalence rate of hypertension was observed between the PM2.5 exposure and control groups (p > 0.05). PM2.5 exposure was associated with pulmonary function damage of the workers in the open-pit manganese mine, and the major injury was restrictive ventilatory disorder. The early effect of PM2.5 exposure on the cardiovascular system was uncertain at current exposure levels and exposure time.