The risk factors of 9-year follow-up on hypertension in middle-aged people in Tujia-Nationality settlement of China

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of hypertension in middle-aged people within the Tujia-Nationality settlement in China. Demographics questionnaires and fitness tests were performed to identify the risk factors of hypertension in middle-aged people in the years 2005, 2010 and 2014 in the area of southwest Hubei of China. Of the 2428 participants, 568 were classified as hypertensive, giving an overall occurrence of hypertension at 23.4%, and the prevalence of hypertension was the highest in the year 2014 (34.9%). Furthermore, Tujia minority had a significantly higher risk for having hypertension (odds ratio=1.055 with 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.039-1.072; P=0.001) than Han people. Individuals with the lowest level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) had a 2.483-fold risk for hypertension (95% CI, 1.530-4.031; P=0.001). Obesity and overweight individuals increased the risk by 3.470-fold and 2.124-fold, respectively, for having hypertension compared to normal weight people. Finally, white-collar workers had a 58.1 and 31.8% higher risk for hypertension than blue-collar workers in rural and urban areas, respectively. These results demonstrated that the prevalence of hypertension was higher between 2011 and 2014 in the area. The main risk factors for developing hypertension were found to be sex (as woman), Tujia minority, white-collar workers, overweight-obese, those with a middle school education, and those with the lowest CRF.

Imaging findings of adrenal primitive neuroectodermal tumors: a series of seven cases

OBJECTIVE

To explore the imaging features of adrenal primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included seven patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed adrenal PNETs. Among them, six underwent computed tomography (CT) scans, and one underwent magnetic resonance imaging. The imaging findings, including size, shape, margin, hemorrhage, calcification, cystic degeneration, regional lymph nodes involvement, tumor thrombus formation and enhancement pattern, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the seven adrenal PNET patients, six were male, and one was female. The median age was 26 years (range 2-56 years). The disease generally presented with either insidious symptoms (n = 4) or non-specific symptoms, including right flank pain (n = 1) and left upper abdominal discomfort (n = 2). On the pre-enhanced CT images, the tumor usually appeared as a well-defined, rounded or oval, heterogeneous mass without calcification. Certain tissue characteristics, such as cystic degeneration (n = 5), capsule (n = 4) and hemorrhage (n = 2), were observed. Regional lymph node involvement was observed in three cases, and renal vein thrombus was observed in one case. All cases showed mild heterogeneous enhancement of the tumor on the enhanced CT images.

CONCLUSION

An adrenal PNET commonly presents as a relatively large, well-defined, heterogeneous mass with cystic degeneration, necrosis and a characteristic mild contrast-enhancement pattern on multiphase enhanced images. PNET should be considered when the diagnosis of common tumors is not favored by signs on images.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT

This study was approved by the medical ethics committee of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. The approval number is 201512538.

CD19+ B cell subsets in the peripheral blood and skin lesions of psoriasis patients and their correlations with disease severity

T lymphocytes are important in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and increasing evidence indicates that B cells also play an important role. The mechanisms of action, however, remain unclear. We evaluated the ratios of CD19+ B cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 157 patients with psoriasis (65 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, 32 patients with erythrodermic psoriasis, 30 patients with arthropathic psoriasis, and 30 patients with pustular psoriasis) and 35 healthy controls (HCs). Ratios of CD19+ B cells in skin lesions were compared with non-lesions in 7 erythrodermic psoriasis patients. The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was used to measure disease severity. CD19+ B cell ratios in PBMCs from psoriasis vulgaris (at both the active and stationary stage) and arthropathic psoriasis patients were higher compared with HCs (P<0.01), but ratios were lower in erythrodermic and pustular psoriasis patients (P<0.01). CD19+ B cell ratios in erythrodermic psoriasis skin lesions were higher than in non-lesion areas (P<0.001). Different subsets of CD19+CD40+, CD19+CD44+, CD19+CD80+, CD19+CD86+, CD19+CD11b+, and CD19+HLA-DR+ B cells in PBMCs were observed in different psoriasis clinical subtypes. PASI scores were positively correlated with CD19+ B cell ratios in psoriasis vulgaris and arthropathic psoriasis cases (r=0.871 and r=0.692, respectively, P<0.01), but were negatively correlated in pustular psoriasis (r=-0.569, P<0.01). The results indicated that similar to T cells, B cells activation may also play important roles in different pathological stages of psoriasis.

Demonstration of a near-IR line-referenced electro-optical laser frequency comb for precision radial velocity measurements in astronomy

An important technique for discovering and characterizing planets beyond our solar system relies upon measurement of weak Doppler shifts in the spectra of host stars induced by the influence of orbiting planets. A recent advance has been the introduction of optical frequency combs as frequency references. Frequency combs produce a series of equally spaced reference frequencies and they offer extreme accuracy and spectral grasp that can potentially revolutionize exoplanet detection. Here we demonstrate a laser frequency comb using an alternate comb generation method based on electro-optical modulation, with the comb centre wavelength stabilized to a molecular or atomic reference. In contrast to mode-locked combs, the line spacing is readily resolvable using typical astronomical grating spectrographs. Built using commercial off-the-shelf components, the instrument is relatively simple and reliable. Proof of concept experiments operated at near-infrared wavelengths were carried out at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the Keck-II telescope.

Laser frequency combs emit a spectrum of equally spaced peaks that can provide precise frequency references useful for astronomy. Here, the authors demonstrate a frequency comb using electro-optical modulation, which has a line spacing that is resolvable using grating spectrographs unlike the mode-locking approach.