[Relationship between obesity and death by multi-morbidity status in older adults in China].

Objective: To explore the relationship between obesity status and death stratified by different multi-morbidity status in older adults in China. Methods: Data for older Chinese adults aged ≥65 years were from Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Multi-morbidity patterns based on 13 chronic conditions were explored using exploratory factor analysis. Cox models were used to examine relationships between obesity status and death stratified by disease count and multi-morbidity patterns at baseline, respectively. Besides, obesity status was defined by baseline body mass index and waist circumference. Results: A total of 6 272 participants were included in the analyses. Multi-morbidity including cardio-metabolic, sensory perception and other patterns were identified. For those without any chronic condition, compared with those without central obesity, central obesity was associated with a higher risk for death (HR=1.66, 95%CI:1.04-2.66). For those only with one chronic condition, compared with normal weight, underweight was associated with a higher risk for death (HR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.10-1.80). For those with multi-morbidity, compared with normal weight, underweight increased the risk for death (HR=1.19, 95%CI:1.05-1.34). Compared with those without central obesity, central obesity decreased the risk for death (HR=0.88, 95%CI:0.78-0.99). Conclusions: Relationships between obesity status and death varied by multi-morbidity status in older adults in China. Underweight and non-central obesity were associated with increased risks for death in older adults with only one chronic disease or multi-morbidity. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to multi-morbidity status in the management of obesity in older adults and provide effective targeted body weight management plan.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0010882 promotes the progression of gastric cancer via regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Accumulating studies have reported that circular RNAs (circRNAs) can act as novel prognostic biomarkers in multiple malignant tumors. Here, we conducted a study to investigate the potential function and molecular mechanism of action of hsa_circ_0010882 in gastric cancer (GC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of hsa_circ_0010882 in the plasma of GC patients and in GC cell lines was verified by qRT-PCR. Its association with overall survival of GC patients was then analyzed by statistical analysis. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays were used to investigate the physiological function of hsa_circ_0010882 in GC cells in vitro in the context of proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Moreover, the molecular mechanism of action of hsa_circ_0010882 was predicted using online databases and a literature review. A Western blot assay was used to detect the levels of proteins in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. RESULTS: We found that hsa_circ_0010882 expression was significantly upregulated in the plasma of GC patients and GC cell lines. Increased expression of hsa_circ_0010882 was significantly correlated with tumor size and histological grade. In addition, GC patients with higher expression of hsa_circ_0010882 had significantly lower overall survival than patients with lower expression of hsa_circ_0010882. Multivariate analysis showed that hsa_circ_0010882 expression could be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. The proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of GC cell lines were inhibited following hsa_circ_0010882 knock-down, while GC cellular apoptosis increased. Further, overexpression of hsa_circ_0010882 leads to increased proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of GC cell lines. While apoptosis was higher in the GC cell line group with low expressing hsa_circ_0010882 than the control group, no significant difference in apoptosis was detected between the hsa_circ_0010882 overexpressing and the control group. Finally, a mechanistic analysis demonstrated that the hsa_circ_0010882 was positively associated with PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Hsa_circ_0010882, as an oncogenic molecule, is highly expressed in the plasma of patients with GC and is associated with poor prognosis. It plays an important role in proliferation, migration, and invasive genotypes of GC cell lines via regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Additionally, it might be a potential prognostic biomarker for GC patients.

Fish-borne trematode metacercariae detected in fish commonly used for raw consumption in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam

@#Raw or undercooked fish dishes are the major sources of human infection of fishborne trematodes (FBT) and the situation of metacercarial infection in fish greatly affect the prevalence in humans, especially those fish that are commonly used for raw consumption. To investigate the situation of infection with metacercaria of FBT in fish often used to prepare raw fish dishes by local people to assess the risk of infection to humans in Ninh Binh province, Vietnam. 345 fish belonging to five species of freshwater and one species of brackish water fish were collected from fishermen or small-scale fish dealers in Kim Son and Yen Khanh districts, Ninh Binh province between May 2017 and May 2018. Metacercaria of FBT was discovered by pepsin and hydrochloric acid digestion techniques and identified by the morphological and molecular analysis. Among examined fish, 44.06% infected with FBT metacercaria and the highest prevalence was in Cyprinus carpio (86.54%), Ctenopharyngodon idellus (78.43%) and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (66.67%) while Konosirus punctatus – the brackish water fish – were free from infection. Three species of FBT were found; namely Haplorchis pumilio (accounting for 99.84% of collected metacercariae), Haplorchis taichui and Clonorchis sinensis. The average density was 1.06 metacercariae per gram of freshwater fish and the highest number was of C. idellus (6.38 cysts/gram) followed by Cirrhinus molitorella and C. carpio. Results of the study show the high prevalence of infection of FBT metacercariae among freshwater fish often used to prepare raw fish dishes in Ninh Binh province. These findings suggest the need for greater awareness of the risk from raw fish dishes among public health authorities and people.

[Meta analysis on HBsAg-positive rate among general populations aged 1-59 years, 2007-2016, China].

Objective: To perform a Meta-analysis on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive rates among general Chinese population aged 1-59 years. Methods: We systemically reviewed the related data (January 2007 to August 2016) published from Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, and PubMed. We also assessed the HBsAg-positive rates among general Chinese populations aged 1-59 years, using a random effects regression model with the comprehensive Meta-analysis software 2.2. Results: A total of 46 papers were finally included, with a total sample size of 625 053 individuals. Results from the Meta-analysis showed that the overall combined HBsAg-positive rate was 5.7% (95%CI: 4.8%-6.6%) among general Chinese populations aged 1-59 years. When comparing the HBsAg-positive rates in different regions, data showed that the HBsAg-positive rate of was higher in the mid-western areas (6.3%, 95%CI: 4.9%-8.0%) than in the eastern areas (5.5%, 95%CI: 4.4%-6.8%). Results showed that HBsAg-positive rates was higher in males (6.1%, 95%CI: 5.3%-7.0%) than in females (4.8%, 95%CI: 4.2%-5.5%). As for the HBsAg-positive rates in different time periods, data showed positive rate of 6.3% (95%CI: 5.5%-7.2%) in 2007-2009, 5.9% (95%CI: 4.4%-8.0%) in 2010-2012 and 3.5% (95%CI: 2.0%-6.1%) in 2013- 2016, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was decreasing between 2007 and 2016 in China, making the country an intermediate endemic area on HBV.

Comparative analysis of protein expression in differentiated thyroid tumours: a multicentre study.

This study compared clinical features and protein expression profiles in differentiated thyroid tumours to identify protein markers with the potential for indicating malignancy status. Tissue microarrays were constructed using 119 thyroid tumour samples (45 papillary carcinomas, 26 follicular carcinomas, 48 adenomas). Generally, there was overexpression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, Hector Battifora mesothelial-1 (HBME-1), MMP-2, pituitary tumour-transforming gene (PTTG) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in malignant thyroid carcinomas, and overexpression of fragile histidine triad (FHIT), p16 and E-cadherin in thyroid adenomas. Multiple factor binary logistic regression analysis indicated that MMP-2, HBME-1, p16 and FHIT were independently related to differentiated thyroid tumours. Receiver-operating characteristics for these four factors showed HBME-1 as best for diagnostic accuracy. Sensitivity and specificity were enhanced using an HBME-1 and p16 cluster. HBME-1 expression was not significantly different for papillary and follicular carcinomas, whereas p16 expression was significantly specific.

Sprouting of axon-like processes from axotomized retinal ganglion cells induced by normal and preinjured intravitreal optic nerve grafts.

The failure of axonal regeneration in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is currently attributed to the glial environment of the lesion site which elaborates a multitude of inhibitory factors. Less attention has been paid to the potential of trophic support associated with the CNS, especially in relation to the status of the damaged CNS after an injury has been evoked. Using a grafting paradigm to implant an optic nerve (ON) segment into the vitreous, we have addressed how a prior damage of the ON before grafting influences its ability to stimulate retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to sprout axon-like processes. Our results showed that a normal noninjured ON implanted intravitreally stimulated sprouting of RGCs, as revealed by sliver staining of the sprouting cells, as well as increasing the number of RGCs which express GAP-43. A prior crush injury of the ON 7 days before its implantation into the vitreous resulted in a significant decrease in its ability to stimulate RGC sprouting when the crush lesion segment was used as the graft, whereas grafts taken from segments proximal and distal to the lesion segment had potencies similar to that of the noninjured graft. Both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were drastically reduced in number in the lesion segment graft, suggesting their involvement in the secretion of soluble trophic factors that may play a role in the sprouting and regeneration of damaged neurons.

Hyaluronate production by the inner ear during otic capsule and perilymphatic space formation.

Otosclerosis has been hypothesized to result from a disorder of the extracellular matrix of the cartilaginous rests present in the adult temporal bone. Matrix relationship to bone formation and remodeling, as well as the fact that the pathogenesis of otosclerosis is expressed by the action of both of these processes, strongly suggests that more knowledge is needed about the process of otic capsule development. In pursuit of this goal, otic complexes were explanted from mouse embryos that ranged in age from 10.5 to 16 days old and were then exposed to 3H-glucosamine (50 microCi/ml) for 6 hours in vitro. Total labeled glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and labeled hyaluronate content of each age group of otic explants were measured, and the results were compared to a developmental series of the otic regions of whole embryos stained with either toluidine blue or alcian blue. Increases in the synthesis of the total GAGs were observed on embryonic day 11 and for a prolonged period extending from gestation day 13.5 through day 16. The first increase of GAGs occurred at the initiation of metachromasia and positive staining by toluidine blue of the region of aggregated periotic mesenchyme cells that form the otic capsule. The second increase in GAGs was correlated with chondrification of the capsule. Hyaluronate production revealed a different pattern. Synthesis of hyaluronate exhibits peaks at 10.5, 12.5, and for an extended period of from 13.5 to 14.5 days of gestation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)