Sex-specific reference values and determinants of infra-renal abdominal aortic diameter among women and men from general population

Introduction

Abdominal aortic diameter has shown to be a marker of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Among the non-aneurysmal populations, studies regarding abdominal aortic diameter normal reference values are sparse. Moreover, data regarding the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and aortic diameter among men and women are limited.

Purpose

To establish age- and sex-specific distribution of the infra-renal abdominal aortic diameters among non-aneurysmal older adults from the general population and to investigate the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and aortic diameters in men and women.

Methods

From a population-based cohort, 4032 participants (mean age, 67.2 years; 60.4% women) with infra-renal diameter assessment and without history of cardiovascular disease were included. Mean and quantile values of diameters were calculated in different age groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to detect the association of cardiovascular risk factors with diameters in men and women.

Results

The mean crude diameter was larger in men [mean (SD): 19.5 (2.6) mm] compared to women [17.0 (2.4)mm] but after adjustment for body surface area (BSA), the differences were small. There was a non-linear relationship between age and diameter (p<0.001). After 66 years of age, the increase in diameter with increasing age was attenuated. After age 74 years in women and 71 years in men, the relationship between age and infra-renal aortic diameter was no longer statistically significant (Figure). Waist [standardized β (95% CI): 0.02 (0.0–0.04) in women and 0.03 (0.01–0.06) in men] and diastolic blood pressure [0.04 (0.02–0.05) in women and 0.02 (0.0–0.04) in men] were the risk factors for diameters in both sexes. Body mass index [0.02 (0.01–0.09)], systolic blood pressure [−0.01 (−0.02 to −0.01)], smoking status [0.21 (0.02–0.39)], cholesterol [−0.19 (−0.29 to −0.09)], and lipid-lowering medication [−0.47 (−0.71 to −0.23)] were significantly associated with aortic diameter only in women.

Conclusion

The differences in the crude abdominal aortic diameter between women and men diminished after taking into account the BSA. The abdominal aortic diameter increased steeply with advancing age and up to 66 years of age. However, after 74 years in women and 71 years in men, the diameter values reached a plateau. We also observed sex differences in the associations of cardiovascular risk factors with abdominal aortic diameter.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Netherlands Organization for the Health Research and Development (ZonMw); the Research Institute for Diseases in the Elderly (RIDE)

Prognosis and risk factors associated with asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after endovascular treatment of large vessel occlusion stroke: a prospective multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (aICH) is a common occurrence after endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The aims of this study were to address its impact on 3-month functional outcome and to identify risk factors for aICH after EVT.

METHODS

Patients with AIS attributable to anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent EVT were enrolled in a multicenter prospective registry. Based on imaging performed 22-36 h post-EVT, we included patients with no intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or aICH. Poor outcome defined as a 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 4-6 and overall 3-month mRS score distribution were compared according to presence/absence of aICH, and aICH subtype using logistic regression. We assessed the risk factors of aICH using a multivariate logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Of the 1526 patients included in the study, 653 (42.7%) had aICH. Patients with aICH had a higher rate of poor outcome: odds ratio (OR) 1.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44-2.44). Shift analysis of mRS score found a fully adjusted OR of 1.79 (95% CI 1.47-2.18). Hemorrhagic infarction (OR 1.63 [95% CI 1.22-2.18]) and parenchymal hematoma (OR 2.99 [95% CI 1.77-5.02]) were associated with higher risk of poor outcome. Male sex, diabetes, coronary artery disease, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score, number of passes and onset to groin puncture time were independently associated with aICH.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with aICH, irrespective of the radiological pattern, have a worse functional outcome at 3 months compared with those without ICH after EVT for AIS. The number of EVT passes and the time from onset to groin puncture are factors that could be modified to reduce deleterious ICH.

Predictive factors of functional independence after optimal reperfusion in anterior circulation ischaemic stroke with indication for intravenous thrombolysis plus mechanical thrombectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intravenous thrombolysis plus mechanical thrombectomy (IVT + MT) is the best current management of acute stroke due to large-vessel occlusion and results in optimal reperfusion for most patients. Nevertheless, some of these patients do not subsequently achieve functional independence. The aim was to identify baseline factors associated with 3-month independence after optimal reperfusion and to validate a prediction model.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with intracranial anterior large-vessel occlusion, with indication for IVT + MT and achieving optimal reperfusion (defined as modified Treatment in Cerebral Ischaemia score 2b-3), from the THRACE trial and the ETIS registry, were included in order to identify a prediction model. The primary outcome was 3-month independence [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤ 2]. Multivariate inferences invoked forward logistic regression, multiple imputation and bootstrap resampling. Predictive performance was assessed by c-statistic. Model validation was conducted on patients from the ASTER trial.

RESULTS

Amongst 139 patients (mean age 65.5 years; 54.3% female), predictors of 3-month mRS ≤ 2 (n = 82) were younger age [odds ratio 0.62 per 10-year increase; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53-0.72] and higher Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) (odds ratio 1.65 per 1-point increase; 95% CI 1.47-1.86) with c-statistic 0.77. Model validation (n = 104/181 patients with 3-month mRS ≤ 2) demonstrated a moderate discrimination (c-statistic 0.74; 95% CI 0.66-0.81) combining age and ASPECTS. The validation model was improved by the adjunction of three candidate variables that were found to be predictors. Addition of baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, history of vascular risk factor and onset-to-reperfusion time significantly improved discrimination (c-statistic 0.85; 95% CI 0.83-0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

After optimal reperfusion, younger age, higher ASPECTS, lower NIHSS score, shorter onset-to-reperfusion time and absence of vascular risk factor were predictive of independence and could help to guide patient management.

Genome-wide association study reveals novel loci associated with fat-deposition and meat-quality traits in Pekin ducks

Meat-quality traits play an essential role in meat poultry production. To determine the genetic mechanisms of meat quality in Pekin ducks, we performed a large-scale GWAS to identify quantitative trait loci affecting meat quality in Pekin ducks. We measured 10 traits in 542 Pekin ducks and genotyped each duck using genotyping-by-sequencing. The genetic parameters (genomic heritability, genetic correlation) for 10 meat-quality related traits were evaluated. Based on the large genotype-phenotype dataset, we performed GWASs for all of these traits. A total of 33 significant QTL (P < 3.03 × 10^-5 ) across 13 chromosomes were identified by loci-based analysis. Some newly identified candidate genes were discovered for fat-deposition and meat-quality traits, including PAG1 for body weight and eviscerated weight, INTU and NUP35 for abdominal fat weight and ratio, NUP3 and ARHGDIB for skin fat weight and ratio, GOLGA5 for breast muscle toughness and breast tenderness, and CTDSPL and PKP1 for breast muscle thickness. The current study is the first systematic report regarding duck meat quality.

Abstract CT401: The experience of treating patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Background: Cancer patients are regarded as highly vulnerable group in the current SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. Up to date, the clinical characteristics of cancer patients with COVID-19 are largely unknown.

Patients and methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we collected and analyzed data of the cancer patients with y confirmed COVID-19 infection from three designated hospitals in Wuhan, China from Jan 13, 2020, to Feb 26, 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the risk factors associated with severe events defined as a condition that admission to an intensive care unit, the use of mechanical ventilation, or death. We also followed 124 cancer patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and their families for their infection rate and clinical outcome.

Results: Twenty-eight COVID-19 infected cancer patients were included with median age of 65.0 years (IQR:56.0-70.0) and male gender of 60.7% (17/28). Amount of these 28 patients, 7 (25%) had lung cancer, and 8 (28.6%) were considered to be infected via hospital-associated transmission. Fifteen (53.6%) patients had severe events with the mortality rate of 28.6%. The last anti-tumor treatment within 14 days from the diagnoses of COVID significant increased risk of developing severe events (HR=4.079, 95%CI 1.086-15.322, P=0.037). The common chest CT findings were ground-glass opacity (21, 75.0%) and patchy consolidation (13, 46.3%). The patchy consolidation on CT had a higher risk for developing severe events (HR=5.438, 95%CI 1.498-19.748, P=0.010). There was only one patient (1/124, 0.8%) who have been on ICI treatment for his metastatic HCC confirmed with COVID infection, and with mild clinic presentation and a short hospital course.

Conclusions: Cancer patients showed aggressive presentation and poor outcomes with the COVID-19 infection. It is recommended that vigorous screening for COVID-19 infection should be performed for cancer patients with anti-tumor. From our limited data, there is no evidence to suggest difference in cancer patients on ICI treatment.

Citation Format: Li Zhang, F Zhu, L Xie, C Wang, J Wang, R Chen, P Jia, H Q. Guan, L Peng, P Peng, P Zhang, Q Chu, Q Shen, Y Wang, S Y. Xu, J P. Zhao, M Zhou, Y Chen. The experience of treating patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic in China [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr CT401.

Display of quintuple glucagon-like peptide 1 (28-36) nonapeptide on Bacillus subtilis spore for oral administration in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To develop an oral delivery system of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) (28-36) for treating type-2 diabetes, B.S-GLP-1(28-36), a recombinant Bacillus subtilis spores transformed with a plasmid vector encoding five consecutive GLP-1 (28-36) nonapeptides with an enterokinase site was constructed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

GLP-1(28-36) nonapeptide was successfully expressed on the surface of B. subtilis spores and validated by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The therapeutic effect of oral administration of B.S-GLP-1(28-36) spores was evaluated in type 2 diabetic model mice. The efficacy of recombinant spores was examined for a period of 13 weeks after oral administration in diabetic mice. At the end of the sixth week, diabetic mice with oral administration of BS-GLP-1(28-36) spores showed decreased blood glucose levels from 2·4 × 10^{- 2}  mol l^-1 to 1·7 × 10^{- 2}  mol l^-1 . By the ninth week, the mean fasting blood glucose level in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group 30 min after injection of pyruvate. At the end of the 10th week of oral administration, the blood glucose of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group after intraperitoneal injection of glucose. By the 12th week, fasting blood glucose level and fasting insulin level were measured in all mice, the results showed that the recombinant spores increased the insulin sensitivity of mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of pathological observation showed that the recombinant spores also had a certain protective effect on the liver and islets of mice, and the content of GLP-1(28-36) in the pancreas of the experimental group was increased.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The results of this study revealed that GLP-1(28-36) nonapeptides can reduce blood glucose and play an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Effect of isoflurane on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of isoflurane on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 36 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=12), model group (n=12) and isoflurane group (n=12). In model group and isoflurane group, the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established via the ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery (ischemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 3 h). In sham group, the left anterior descending coronary artery was not ligated, but the chest was opened and threaded using the same method. After ischemia, the rats in isoflurane group were inhaled with isoflurane. The cardiac function of rats in each group was detected before ischemia (T0) and once every 2 h after reperfusion (T1-T4) for a total of 5 times, and the cardiac function indexes included ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). After the rats were executed, the myocardial infarction tissues were taken for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining to observe the morphological changes in tissues and the degrees of myocardial ischemia and infarction. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in myocardial cells in the infarction site in each group were detected using the MDA and SOD kits. Moreover, the expression levels of related proteins in the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in myocardial cells in the infarction site were detected via Western blotting.

RESULTS

In model group, the cardiac function was significantly damaged (p<0.01), there was significant pathological damage in the myocardium, the area of myocardial infarction was significantly increased (p<0.01), the MDA content was significantly increased (p<0.01), the SOD activity declined obviously (p<0.01), and the expression levels of p-p38 and p-tau protein were significantly increased (p<0.01) compared with those in control group. After intervention with isoflurane, the cardiac function of rats was significantly improved (p<0.01), the pathological damage in myocardial tissues was alleviated, the area of myocardial infarction was reduced (p<0.01), the MDA content declined (p<0.01), the SOD activity was increased (p<0.01), and the expression levels of p-p38 and p-tau protein were decreased (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Isoflurane can, through inhibiting the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, effectively protect the cardiac function of rats from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, reduce the area of myocardial infarction, alleviate the pathological damage in myocardial cells and reduce the oxidative stress response.

Characterization of co-culture of Aeromonas and Pseudomonas bacterial biofilm and spoilage potential on refrigerated grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Aeromonas and Pseudomonas are important bacterial species involved in spoilage of refrigerated freshwater fish. In this study, 10 Aeromonas and seven Pseudomonas bacterial strains were isolated from spoiled grass carp and identified. Twelve of seventeen bacterial strains showed high potential of biofilm formation and 14 of 17 can produce extracellular protease. In order to explore the spoilage capacity of dual-species, the sterile grass carp fillets were inoculated with mono- and dual-species of Aeromonas salmonicida and Pseudomonas azotoformans strains. The results revealed significantly higher levels of the total viable count and total volatile basic nitrogen in dual-species as compared to mono-species from day 6. The higher contents of histamine, cadaverine and serious degradation in muscles tissue were also observed in dual-species after 10 days of storage. Results of in vitro experiments showed that the co-culture of A. salmonicida and P. azotoformans significantly increased the bacterial maximum growth rate, promoted the biofilm formation and improved the spoilage capacity of bacterial strains. This study has revealed that the co-culture of Aeromonas and Pseudomonas bacterial strains accelerated spoilage process of grass carp and increased biofilm formation. It indicates that the mixed-cultures of spoilage micro-organisms pose a huge threat to food industry.

SAT0304 TOFACITINIB INHIBITS TGF-Β1-INDUCED ACTIVATED CELL FUNCTIONS OF MYOFIBROBLAST IN HUMAN LUNG FIBROBLAST POPULATIONS

Background:

Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is a class of refractory diseases.Non-specific treatment with hormone and immunosuppressive agents is mostly used at present, but the effect is limited and the long-term survival rate is not improved [1],while anti-fibrosis treatments (such as Pirfenidone and Nintedanib) have only recently been approved, the long-term efficacy is still unknown.

Tofacitinib(TOFA), a JAK inhibitor, has recently been used to treat patients with severe dermatomyositis related interstitial pulmonary disease, with significantly improved survival rate [2-4].A basic study showed that TOFA improved interstitial pulmonary disease in mice by promoting the proliferation of myelogenic inhibitory cells [5].However, whether TOFA can affect the migration and invasion of human lung fibroblasts and further research to reveal the mechanism of its inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis has not been reported.

Objectives:

To investigate the anti - fibrosis effect of TOFA in CTD-ILD.

Methods:

Cell migration and invasion Assays

HLFs were incubated with TOFA for 72h, followed by TGF- β1 for 24h.DMEM serum-free medium was used to determine the cell density to 5. 0 × 107/L, 600 uL medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum was added to the lower compartment of Transwell chamber, and 200 uL cell suspension was added to the upper compartment.Incubate in incubator for 12 h.After fixation, staining and sealing, the cells were observed and counted under a microscope. At least 5 random field transmembrane cells were counted in each hole, and the mean value was taken.For the invasion assays, Transwell chamber coated with matrigel was used, and the cell incubation time was 16 h.

Results:

1. Effect of TOFA on HLFs migration function (Figure 1)

Figure 1.

Effect of TOFA on HLFs migration function(×200).Mean ± SEM. n = 5.

The number of cells passing through the biofilm in the three groups was counted.It can be seen that TGF-β1 group significantly increased compared with control group (*P < 0.0001), and TOFA group significantly decreased compared with TGF- β1 group (#P < 0.0001), suggesting that TOFA can significantly inhibit TGF-β1- induced HLFs migration.

2. Effect of TOFA on HLFs invasion function (Figure 2)

Figure 2.

Effect of TOFA on HLFs invasion function(×200).Mean ± SEM. n = 5.

The number of cells passing through the matrigel in the three groups was counted.It can be seen that TGF-β1 group was significantly higher than the control group (*P < 0.0001), and TOFA group was significantly lower than TGF-β1 group(#P < 0.001), suggesting that TOFA can significantly inhibit the invasion function of HLFs induced by TGF-β1.

Conclusion:

TOFA can effectively inhibit the function of HLFs migration and invasion. Although further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism by which TOFA inhibit the function of HLFs migration and invasion, our study suggests that TOFA has a potential therapeutic effect for CTD-ILD.

References:

[1]Aparicio, I.J. and J.S. Lee, Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Diseases: Unresolved Issues. Semin Respir Crit Care Med, 2016. 37(3): p. 468-76.

[2]Kato, M., et al., Successful Treatment for Refractory Interstitial Lung Disease and Pneumomediastinum With Multidisciplinary Therapy Including Tofacitinib in a Patient With Anti-MDA5 Antibody-Positive Dermatomyositis. J Clin Rheumatol, 2019.

[3]Kurasawa, K., et al., Tofacitinib for refractory interstitial lung diseases in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated 5 gene antibody-positive dermatomyositis. Rheumatology (Oxford), 2018. 57(12): p. 2114-2119.

[4]Chen, Z., X. Wang, and S. Ye, Tofacitinib in Amyopathic Dermatomyositis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease. N Engl J Med, 2019. 381(3): p. 291-293.

[5]Sendo, S., et al., Tofacitinib facilitates the expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and ameliorates interstitial lung disease in SKG mice. Arthritis Res Ther, 2019. 21(1): p. 184

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19-infected cancer patients: a retrospective case study in three hospitals within Wuhan, China

Background

Cancer patients are regarded as a highly vulnerable group in the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To date, the clinical characteristics of COVID-19-infected cancer patients remain largely unknown.

Patients and methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we included cancer patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from three designated hospitals in Wuhan, China. Clinical data were collected from medical records from 13 January 2020 to 26 February 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to assess the risk factors associated with severe events defined as a condition requiring admission to an intensive care unit, the use of mechanical ventilation, or death.

Results

A total of 28 COVID-19-infected cancer patients were included; 17 (60.7%) patients were male. Median (interquartile range) age was 65.0 (56.0–70.0) years. Lung cancer was the most frequent cancer type (n = 7; 25.0%). Eight (28.6%) patients were suspected to have hospital-associated transmission. The following clinical features were shown in our cohort: fever (n = 23, 82.1%), dry cough (n = 22, 81%), and dyspnoea (n = 14, 50.0%), along with lymphopaenia (n = 23, 82.1%), high level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (n = 23, 82.1%), anaemia (n = 21, 75.0%), and hypoproteinaemia (n = 25, 89.3%). The common chest computed tomography (CT) findings were ground-glass opacity (n = 21, 75.0%) and patchy consolidation (n = 13, 46.3%). A total of 15 (53.6%) patients had severe events and the mortality rate was 28.6%. If the last antitumour treatment was within 14 days, it significantly increased the risk of developing severe events [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.079, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.086–15.322, P = 0.037]. Furthermore, patchy consolidation on CT on admission was associated with a higher risk of developing severe events (HR = 5.438, 95% CI 1.498–19.748, P = 0.010).

Conclusions

Cancer patients show deteriorating conditions and poor outcomes from the COVID-19 infection. It is recommended that cancer patients receiving antitumour treatments should have vigorous screening for COVID-19 infection and should avoid treatments causing immunosuppression or have their dosages decreased in case of COVID-19 coinfection.

[Advances in the research of severe burn-related corticosteroid insufficiency]

Despite considerable advances in diagnosis and treatment of the critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI), it is still not clear that whether it is common in severe burn patients or not, and how clinical diagnosis, treatment, and research progress. Severe burn is a systemic disease involving the damage of multiple organs of the whole body. The course of the disease is relatively long, and there often exists persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism. On the basis of CIRCI study, the epidemiological evidence, possible mechanism, suspicious clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of severe burn-related corticosteroid insufficiency (SBRCI) were briefly reviewed in this article in order to help clinical diagnosis and treatment of SBRCI.

[Advances in the research of persistent inflammation-immunosuppression-catabolism syndrome in severe burn]

Persistent inflammation-immunosuppression-catabolism syndrome (PICS) is a clinical syndrome in patients surviving from severe trauma or sepsis, which is characterized by prolonged stays in intensive care unit, persistent inflammation response, immune suppression, high protein catabolism, and high mortality. This article aims to review the proposed process of the concept, the mechanism, the clinical features, and the diagnosis and treatment progress of PICS, which is helpful for further understanding pathogenesis and pathophysiological mechanism of PICS in patients with severe burns and improving clinical curative efficacy and prognosis of patients with severe burns.

The ophthalmic artery: a new variant involving two branches from the supracavernous internal carotid artery

PURPOSE

We report an extremely rare, double ophthalmic artery configuration.

METHODS

We present 2D- and 3D-angiographic features of an anomalous origin of the ophthalmic artery.

RESULTS

The double ophthalmic artery was the result of the persistence of the primitive dorsal ophthalmic artery combined with the presence of a second orbital artery originating from the supracavernous internal carotid artery, passing through the superior orbital fissure and into the orbit to furnish the muscular, lacrimal and ethmoidal arteries and the medial long posterior ciliary artery.

CONCLUSIONS

A heretofore undocumented instance of ophthalmic artery duplication is presented. Knowledge of such variations is important for the planning of endovascular treatments and the comprehension of unusual angiographic images. Such fine arterial variants may very well be frequent, but difficult to demonstrate on simple 2D angiographies. Multiplanar reconstructions of 3D angiography data make it possible to diagnose rare, but embryologically predictable arterial variants.

Vacuolar protein sorting 4 is required for silkworm metamorphosis

Vacuolar protein sorting 4 (Vps4) not only functions with its positive regulator vacuolar protein sorting 20-associated 1 (Vta1) in the multivesicular body (MVB) pathway but also participates alone in MVB-unrelated cellular processes. However, its physiological roles at the organism level remain rarely explored. We previously identified their respective homologues Bombyx mori Vps4 (BmVps4) and BmVta1 from the silkworm, a model organism for insect research. In this study, we performed fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot to globally characterize the transcription and protein expression profiles of BmVps4 and BmVta1 during silkworm development and in different silkworm tissues and organs. The results showed that they were significantly up-regulated in metamorphosis, adulthood and embryogenesis relative to larval stages, and displayed a roughly similar tissue-and-organ specificity for transcriptions in silkworm larvae. Importantly, BmVps4 was down-regulated during the early period of the fifth instar, reaching the lowest level of transcription on Day 6, then up-regulated from Day 7 to the wandering, spinning and pupal stages, and down-regulated again in adulthood. Moreover, knocking down BmVps4 by RNA interference significantly inhibited silk gland growth, shortened spinning time, prolonged pupation, reduced pupal size and weight, and increased moth wing defects. Together, our data demonstrate the critical and broad requirements for BmVps4 in silkworm metamorphosis.

Sex Recognition of Skulls in Chinese Uygur

Abstract

Objective Logistic regression method was used to establish a multiple regression sex discriminant function to discriminate the complete skull model and the incomplete skull model without frontal bone, occipital bone and mandible of Uygur adults in Turpan, Xinjiang. Methods A total of 117 （60 male and 57 female） three-dimensional skull models were collected by CT. Sixteen cranial measurement indexes were measured and calculated by computer software. The multivariate regression sex discriminant function was established with Logistic regression method and retrospectively tested. Results Among the 16 measurement indexes, except for nose width （x₇） and maximum frontal breadth （x₁₃）, the remaining 14 indexes had statistical significance of differences between male and female （P<0.05）. For the discriminant function of complete skull established by eyebrow arch convexity （x₄）, mastoid width （x₆）, maximum cranial length （x₁₂）, cranial base length （x₁₅）, cranial circumference （x₁₆）, the male and female discrimination accuracy was 90.0% and 94.7%, respectively. For the sex discriminant function of incomplete skull without frontal bone established by mandibular angle width （x₁₀）, mandibular height （x₁₁） and cranial circumference （x₁₆）, the discrimination accuracy of male and female was 85.0% and 84.2%, respectively. For the sex discriminant function of incomplete skull without occipital bone established by the index of eyebrow arch convexity （x₄）, the discrimination accuracy of male and female was 80.0% and 73.7%, respectively. For the sex discriminant function of incomplete skull without mandible established by frontal chord （x₅） and occipital protrusion angle （x₉）, the discrimination accuracy of male and female was 85.0% and 78.9%, respectively. Conclusion The computer software and system developed in our study can achieve sex discrimination of complete skulls and incomplete skulls without frontal bone, occipital bone or mandible.

Prodrome in relapsing-remitting and primary progressive multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The multiple sclerosis prodrome remains poorly understood. We aimed to examine the prodrome in people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis at onset (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

METHODS

We conducted a matched cohort study using clinical and linked health administrative data in two Canadian provinces. We identified people with RMS, PPMS and age- sex- and geographically-matched population controls, and compared the number of physician encounters (total number, per International Classification of Diseases chapter, and per physician speciality) in the five years before symptom onset. Negative binomial regression models were sex, age, socioeconomic status and calendar year adjusted.

RESULTS

We identified 1887 RMS, 171 PPMS cases, and 9837 matched population controls. No difference existed in the total number of encounters in the five years before index between RMS and PPMS, or between the phenotypes and their respective controls. Compared to RMS cases, PPMS cases had more nervous system-related encounters (adjusted rate ratio, 3.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-8.49) and fewer encounters with dermatologists (adjusted rate ratio 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.96).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that people with RMS and PPMS may both experience a prodrome, although aspects may differ.

[Clinical value of pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin-based therapy in antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C in China]

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most common causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in China. The older standard treatment regimen for chronic hepatitis C was the pegylated interferon-alfa plus ribavirin(PR). Now newer oral medications called direct antiviral agents (DAAs) has been gradually changed to PR-based DAAs and interferon-free, oral DAAs; making chronic hepatitis C a curable disease. This article intends to expound the advantages and disadvantages of PR-based therapy and provide reference for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

[Management of analgesia and sedation in critically burned adult patients]

Analgesia and sedation play important roles in the overall treatment of critically burned adult patients. According to clinical actual situation of critically burned adult patients, a set of analgesic and sedative practices, including analgesia-based sedation, scientifically reasonable sedation status monitoring, early goal-directed sedation strategy, standardized and individualized strategy for analgesia and sedation, and early comfort using analgesia, minimal sedative, maximal human care strategy are recommended and widely implemented nowadays. However, guideline or consensus about how to provide analgesia and sedation treatment for critically burned adult patients is lacking. In this article, we discuss strategy for analgesic and sedative management in critically burned adult patients, with preexisting ideas in critical care medicine, pathophysiological characteristics of critically burned patients, and our clinical practice for reference.

Recent advances in the management of allergy associated diseases in children

The allergy symptoms could arise from variable organ systems and have fluctuating nature in severity as well as symptoms. Moreover, these symptoms could be related to multiple pathological states like common cold, chronic obstipation, diarrhea, etc. On the other hand, food allergy diagnosis that usually spread by IgE-mediated inhalant also poses a great challenge in front of the scientific fraternity. So far, many advances in the field of allergy diagnosis, as well as therapeutics, have been made. These advances include skin prick testing (SPT), serum specific IgE (sIgE) level test, component resolved diagnosis (CRD) test, etc. The present review article would be focused on important pathological states associated with allergy observed commonly in children. Moreover, the latest developments about timely management and accurate diagnosis are also discussed.