All-fiber-device-coupled compact, transportable ultra-stable laser

In response to the demand for operation in non-laboratory environments, there has been a trend toward the development of compact, transportable ultra-stable lasers. This paper reports on this sort of laser system assembled in a cabinet. The whole optical part utilizes fiber-coupled devices to simplify the integration. In addition, spatial beam collimation and alignment into the high-finesse cavity are realized by a five-axis positioner and a focus-adjustable fiber collimator, which significantly relax the alignment and adjustment. A theoretical analysis is performed on how the collimator adjusts the beam profile and coupling efficiency. The support structure of the system is specially designed as well so that it features robustness and transportation without performance degradation. The observed linewidth is 1.4 Hz within a duration of 1 s. After subtracting the linear drift of 70 mHz/s, the fractional frequency instability is better than 4 × 10^-15, for the averaging time ranging from 1 to 100 s, which is close to the thermal noise limit of the high-finesse cavity.

[A convenient and time-saving method for primary culture of mature white adipocytes from mice]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a simple, low-cost and time-saving method for primary culture of mature white adipocytes from mice.

METHODS

Mature white adipocytes were isolated from the epididymis and perirenal area of mice for primary culture using a modified mature adipocyte culture method or the ceiling culture method. The morphology of the cultured mature adipocytes was observed using Oil Red O staining, and the cell viability was assessed with CCK8 method. The expression of PPARγ protein in the cells was detected with Western blotting, and the mRNA expressions of CD36, FAS, CPT1A and FABP4 were detected using RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

Oil Red O staining showed a good and uniform morphology of the adipocytes in primary culture using the modified culture method, while the cells cultured using the ceiling culture method exhibited obvious morphological changes. CCK8 assay showed no significant difference in cell viability between freshly isolated mature white adipocytes and the cells obtained with the modified culture method. Western blotting showed that the freshly isolated adipocytes and the cells cultured for 72 h did not differ significantly in the expression levels of PPARγ protein (P=0.759), which was significantly lowered in response to treatment with GW9662 (P < 0.001). GW9662 treatment of the cells upregulated mRNA expressions of CD36 (P < 0.001) and CPT1A (P=0.003) and down-regulated those of FAS (P=0.001) and FABP4 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We established a convenient and time-saving method for primary culture mature white adipocytes from mice to facilitate further functional studies of mature adipocytes.

[Research progress on the relationship between air pollution and gestational diabetes]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common pregnancy complications and has serious implications for the health of mothers and their offspring. In recent years, studies have confirmed that air pollution is one of the main risk factors for diabetes, and there is increasing evidence that air pollution exposure is closely related to the occurrence of gestational diabetes. However, current studies on the association between air pollutant exposure and the incidence of gestational diabetes are inconsistent, and the window period of pollutant exposure is still unclear. Limited mechanistic studies suggest that airborne particulate matter and gaseous pollutants may affect GDM through multiple mechanisms, including inflammation, oxidative stress, disruption of adipokine secretion, and imbalance of intestinal flora. This review summarizes the relationship between air pollutant exposure and the incidence of GDM in recent years, as well as the possible molecular mechanism of the occurrence and development of GDM caused by air pollutants, in order to provide scientific basis for preventing pollutant exposure, reducing the risk of GDM, improving maternal and fetal outcomes and improving the quality of the birth population.

National trends in suicide-related behaviors among youths between 2005-2020, including COVID-19: a Korean representative survey of one million adolescents

OBJECTIVE

It is difficult to conclude that COVID-19 is associated with a decrease in the suicide attempts rate by comparing only a short-term period. Therefore, it is necessary to examine attempted suicide rates through a trend analysis over a longer period. This study aimed to investigate an estimated long-term trend regarding the prevalence of suicide-related behaviors among adolescents in South Korea from 2005 to 2020, including COVID-19.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We sourced data from a national representative survey (Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey) and analyzed one million Korean adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (n=1,057,885) from 2005 to 2020. The 16-year trends regarding the prevalence of sadness or despair and suicidal ideation and attempt and the trend changes before and during COVID-19.

RESULTS

Data of 1,057,885 Korean adolescents was analyzed (weighted mean age, 15.03 years; males, 52.5%; females, 47.5%). Although the 16-year trend in the prevalence of sadness or despair and suicide ideation and attempt consistently decreased (prevalence of sadness or despair between 2005-2008, 38.0% with 95% confidence interval [CI], 37.7 to 38.4 vs. prevalence in 2020, 25.0% [24.5 to 25.6]; suicide ideation between 2005-2008, 21.9% [21.6 to 22.1] vs. prevalence in 2020, 10.7% [10.3 to 11.1]; and suicide attempt between 2005-2008, 5.0% [4.9 to 5.2] vs. prevalence in 2020, 1.9% [1.8 to 2.0]), the downward slope decreased during COVID-19 (βdiff in sadness, 0.215 with 95% CI 0.206 to 0.224; βdiff in suicidal ideation, 0.245 [0.234 to 0.256]; and βdiff in suicide attempt, 0.219 [0.201 to 0.237]) compared with pre-pandemic period.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that the observed risk of suicide-related behaviors during the pandemic was higher than expected through long-term trend analysis of the prevalence of sadness/despair and suicidal ideation and attempts among South Korean adolescents. We need a profound epidemiologic study of the change in mental health due to the pandemic's impact and the establishment of prevention strategies for suicide ideation and attempt.

Impact of economic growth on physical activity and sedentary behaviors: a Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

This study systematically reviewed scientific evidence regarding the impact of economic growth on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors.

METHODS

A keyword and reference search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EBSCO from the inception of an electronic bibliographic database to November 2021. Studies that met all of the following criteria were included in the review: (1) study designs: observational studies; (2) study subjects: people of all ages; (3) exposure: macroeconomic growth; (4) outcomes: PA or sedentary behaviors/sitting time.

RESULTS

15 studies were identified. Eight among 12 studies found economic growth positively associated with at least one domain/measure of PA, whereas the remaining four found an inverse relationship. One of two studies examined the association of economic growth and physical inactivity found a positive relationship, while another found no significant relationship. Four studies examined the associations between economic growth and sedentary behaviors, and the results were inconclusive. The impact of economic growth on PA is through three main pathways-(a) building and maintaining parks and green spaces, (b) adoption of the modern workplace and high technology, and (c) motorized transportation.

CONCLUSION

Building and maintaining parks and green spaces can effectively promote leisure time physical activity and active commute in developed countries, whereas promoting workplace and transportation-related PA could be prioritized in developing nations. Future research calls for longitudinal study design and further exploration of macro-environmental factors. Policymakers and stakeholders should be informed about the potential PA reduction resulting from economic growth and develop preventive strategies to alleviate the problem.

Analysis of SOD1 Variants in Chinese Patients with Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease, and genetic contributors exert a significant role in the complicated pathogenesis. Identification of the genetic causes in ALS families could be valuable for early diagnosis and management. The development of potential drugs for patients with genetic defects will shed new light on ALS therapy.

AIM

To identify causative variants in three Chinese families with familial ALS (FALS), reveal the pathogenic mechanism, and look for the targeted drug for ALS.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Whole-exome sequencing and bioinformatics were used to perform genetic analysis of the ALS families. Functional analysis was performed to study the variants' function and search for potential drug targets.

RESULTS

Three heterozygous missense variants of the SOD1 gene were identified in families with FALS. The clinical manifestations of these patients include spinal onset, predominant lower motor neurons presentation, and absence of cognitive involvement. Functional analysis showed that all three SOD1 variants led to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, reduced cell viability, and formation of cytoplasmic aggregates. Remarkably, the decreased cell viability induced by variants was rescued after treatment with the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified three SOD1 variants in three families with FALS. The variant SOD1 toxicity was associated with oxidative damage and aggregation, and N-acetylcysteine could rescue the decreased cell viability induced by these variants. Our findings support a pathogenic role for ROS in SOD1 deficiencies, and provide a potential drug N-acetylcysteine for ALS therapy, especially in SOD1-patients with limb onset.

Tinware-Inspired Aerobic Surface-Initiated Controlled Radical Polymerization (SI-Sn0CRP) for Biocompatible Surface Engineering

Surface anchored polymer brushes prepared by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization (SI-CRP) have raised considerable interest in biomaterials and bioengineering. However, undesired residues of noxious transition metal catalysts critically restrain their widespread biomedical applications. Herein, we present a robust and biocompatible surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization catalyzed by a Sn(0) sheet (SI-Sn⁰CRP) under ambient conditions. Through this approach, microliter volumes of vinyl monomers with diverse functions (heterocyclic, ionic, hydrophilic, and hydrophobic) could be efficiently converted to homogeneous polymer brushes. The excellent controllability of SI-Sn⁰CRP strategy is further demonstrated by the exquisite fabrication of predetermined block and patterned polymer brushes through chain extension and photolithography, respectively. Additionally, in virtue of intrinsic biocompatibility of Sn, the resultant polymer brushes present transcendent affinity toward blood and cell, in marked contrast to those of copper-based approaches. This strategy could provide an avenue for the controllable fabrication of biocompatible polymer brushes toward biological applications.

Comparison of automated breast volume scanning with conventional ultrasonography, mammography, and MRI to assess residual breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy by molecular type

AIM

To compare the accuracy of hand-held ultrasonography (US), mammography (MG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and automated breast volume scanning (ABVS) in defining residual breast cancer tumour size after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed breast cancer and who received NAT at the Breast Center, Peking University People's Hospital, were enrolled prospectively. Imaging was performed after the last cycle of NAT. The residual tumour size, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) to predict pathological complete response (pCR) were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 156 patients with 159 tumours were analysed. ABVS had a moderate correlation with histopathology residual tumour size (ICC = 0.666), and showed high agreement among triple-positive tumours (ICC = 0.797). With 5 mm as the threshold, the coincidence rate reached 64.7% between ABVS and pathological size, which was significantly higher than that between US, MG, MRI, and pathological size (50%, 45.1%, 41.4%; p=0.009, p=0.001, p<0.001, respectively). For ROC analysis, ABVS demonstrated a higher area under the ROC curve, but with no statistical difference, except for MG (0.855, 0.816, 0.819, and 0.788, respectively; p=0.183 for US, p=0.044 for MG, and p=0.397 for MRI, with ABVS as the reference).

CONCLUSIONS

The longest tumour diameter on ABVS had a moderate correlation with pathological residual invasive tumour size. ABVS was shown to have good ability to predict pCR and would appear to be a potential useful tool for the assessment after NAT for breast cancer.

Research for correlation between heart rate variability parameters and bone mineral density in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

The relationship of CAN and BMD, fracture risk is still unclear in T2DM. The aim of the present study is to investigate the correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) and BMD in T2DM.

METHODS

The study included 276 patients with T2DM aged ≥ 50 years, and Cardiovascular Autonomic Reflex Tests (CARTs) were applied to divide patients into two groups: CAN ( ±). 24 h Ambulatory ECG was assessed for HRV, BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray bone densitometry, and FRAX scores were calculated for 10-year hip fracture risk (HF¹) and major osteoporotic fracture risk (MOF). Adjusted regression analysis was performed to investigate influence factors for BMD and fracture risk. ROC curve was used to analyze the optimal cut-off point of LF/HF for screening osteoporosis.

RESULTS

Baseline data showed significant differences in the duration of T2DM, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D], femoral neck BMD, hip BMD, lumbar BMD, HF¹, and MOF between the CAN ( +) and CAN (-) groups. The proportion of patients with osteoporosis increased as the degree of CAN lesion increased. Correlation analysis showed that LF/HF was significantly correlated with BMD, especially with hip (r = - 0.534, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that LF/HF was a risk factor for reduced BMD and increased fracture risk. The optimal cut-point value for LF/HF to predict osteoporosis by ROC curve analysis was 3.17.

CONCLUSIONS

CAN is associated with reduced BMD and increased fracture risk in patients with T2DM, and LF/HF may have the potential to be a predictor of diabetic osteoporosis and have some clinical value in early diagnosis of diabetic osteoporosis and non-traumatic fractures in T2DM.

[Effect analysis of the modified wire-loop snare technique in retrieving severely tilted inferior vena cava filters]

Objective: To examine the application effect of the modified wire-loop snare technique in retrieving severely tilted inferior vena cava filters (IVCF). Methods: The clinical data of 18 patients (12 males and 6 females, aged (62.1±13.1) years (range: 29 to 78 years)) who underwent the modified wire-loop snare technique to retrieve IVCF at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, and Jimo District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2017 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The applied filters included drum-type filters (OptEase in 7 cases, Aegisy in 2 cases) and conical filters (Celect in 6 cases and Denali in 3 cases). Preoperative CT angiography and intraoperative digital subtraction angiography showed that the filter was severely tilted and the hook was covered by hyperplastic intima of the vena cave vein. A modified wire-loop snare technique was used to retrieve drum-type filters and conical filters via femoral and jugular vein approaches, respectively. After successful puncture, the long sheath was placed, the 4 F (1 F≈0.33 mm) vertebral catheter and a snare were inserted through the long sheath, and the 5 F pigtail catheter was inserted simultaneously to guide a 0.035 inch soft guide-wire (260 cm in length) to pass through the top of the filter and turning back. The tip of the soft guide-wire was snared by the vertebral catheter and pulled out of the sheath. The 4 F vertebral catheter was inserted following the tip of the guide-wire to form a wire-loop using the vertebral catheter and the pigtail catheter. After fixing the tip and tail of the soft guide-wire in vitro, the long sheath was pushed forward to cut the hyperplastic intima and the hook was pulled away from the vena cava wall to retrieve the filter under the support of two catheters. Results: The filters were successfully retrieved in 17 cases, the operation time was (25.5±8.7) minutes (range: 15 to 45 minutes), no complication occured. The hook of one filter (Celect) penetrated out of the vena vava wall and the wire-loop could not pull the hook back into the vena cava. Then the filter was removed by laparotomy. Conclusion: The modified wire-loop snare technique could retrieve the severely tilted retrivable drum-type filters and conical filters, even when serve adhesion exists between the filter and the vena cava wall.

[Retraction: Hydrogen alleviates collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice by inhibiting IL-22 levels]

The retraction has been discussed after the authors asked to retract this article due to incorrect attribution and affillation of the authors.

[Short-term efficacy and safety of vedolizumab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease]

Objective: To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of vedolizumab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: Patients with moderate and severe active IBD at the first use of vedolizumab from May 1 to October 31, 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Then the clinical characteristics, and the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab were evaluated. Meanwhile, the clinical response rate, biological response rate and endoscopic response rate were calculated. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the independent influencing factors of short-term clinical efficacy and safety. Results: A total of 78 patients (44 males and 34 females) with IBD were enrolled, with a mean age of (40.5±11.9) years. The clinical remission rate, clinical response rate, biological remission rate, biological response rate and endoscopic remission rate was 60.3% (47/78), 85.9% (67/78), 70.5% (55/78), 43.6% (34/78) and 47.0% (31/66) respectively after 14 weeks of treatment. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 kg/m² (HR=5.04, 95%CI: 1.50-16.91, P=0.009) and biological remission at 6 weeks of treatment (HR=15.22, 95%CI: 3.16-73.38, P=0.001) were predictors of endoscopic remission at 14 weeks of treatment. Adverse reactions occurred in 57 patients, with an incidence of 73.1%. The main manifestations were liver and kidney damage (37.2%) and infection (26.9%). Conclusions: More than half of patients with moderate and severe active IBD can achieve clinical remission after 14 weeks of vedolizumab treatment. Baseline BMI level and biological remission at 6 weeks of treatment are predictors of mucosal healing at 14 weeks. The incidence of adverse reactions is not low, although serious adverse reactions are rare in short-term treatment.

[The influence of gastroenterologists' intrinsic motivation on work burnout and the mediating effects of work stress]

Objective: To analyze the influence of intrinsic motivation on work burnout and the mediating effects of work stress. Methods: In 2020, questionnaire survey was conducted in 1 655 gastroenterologists working in 28 provinces of China. Mediation model was used to analyze the mediating effects of work stress in the relationship between intrinsic motivation and burnout. Resutls 1655 valid questionnaires were collected, including 1 132 women and 523 men, with an average age of 39.26. Intrinsic motivation was related to reduced level of burnout, including emotional exhaustion, dehumanization and low sense of accomplishment (β=-2.06, -1, 77 and-4.20;P<0.001). Job stress partially mediated the negative correlation between intrinsic motivation and job burnout in three dimensions, accounting for 40%, 15% and 5% (β=-1.58, -0.36 and-0.21;P<0.05), respectively. In female physicians, the intrinsic motivation was more directly related to the reduction of burnout, especially in the dimension"emotional exhaustion"(direct effect accounting for 62% in female gastroenterologists and 46% in male). Conclusions: Enhancing the intrinsic motivation of gastroenterologists can directly reduce burnout and indirectly reduce burnout by alleviating work stress. In the same work environment, female physicians' intrinsic motivation had a greater and more direct effect on reducing burnout.