The development and training effect of innovative undergraduate dental talents training project: A 6-year retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

To summarize the development of Innovative Undergraduate Dental Talents Training Project (IUDTTP) and investigate the training effect of this extracurricular dental basic research education activity from 2015 to 2020 to obtain educational implications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Guanghua School of Stomatology established the IUDTTP in 2015. The authors recorded the development process and analysed the participation situation, training effect, academic performance and overall satisfaction during 2015-2020 through documental analysis, questionnaire and quiz. The t-test, chi-square test and ANOVA were used to test the difference.

RESULTS

The educational goal, education module and assessment system of IUDTTP evolved and developed every year. A total of 336 students and 79 mentors attended the IUDTTP from 2015 to 2020, with the participation rate increasing from 45.1% to 73.5%. The participants exhibited favourable basic research abilities, manifesting as the increase of funded projects and published papers and satisfying quiz scores. Almost all students (94.94%) admitted their satisfaction with the IUDTTP. Moreover, the attended students surpassed the non-participants in terms of GPA, the number of acquired scholarships and outstanding graduates (p < .05). Likewise, the enrolment rate of postgraduate participants was significantly higher than non-participants.

CONCLUSIONS

To date, the training effect indicated that the IUDTTP has fulfilled the education aim. It brought positive effects on promoting research interest, cultivating research capacities and enhancing academic performance. The potential deficiencies of extracurricular educational activities, including inflexibility in schedule and insufficiency in systematisms, may be remedied by more systematic educational settings in the future.

Brusatol attenuated proliferation and invasion induced by KRAS in differentiated thyroid cancer through inhibiting Nrf2

BACKGROUND

Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) can be developed from differentiated thyroid cancer, and this dedifferentiated transformation leads to poor prognosis and high mortality. The role of Nrf2 in the dedifferentiation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) induced by KRAS remains unclear.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In this study, two DTC cell lines, BCPAP and WRO, were used to evaluate the function of Nrf2 in the dedifferentiation caused by wild-type KRAS (KRAS-WT) and G12V point mutation KRAS (KRAS-G12V).

RESULTS

The overexpression of KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V increased the proliferative and invasive ability of BCPAP and WRO cells. Aggressive morphology was observed in KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V overexpressed WRO cells. These results suggested that overexpression of KRAS-WT or KRAS-G12V may induce dedifferentiation in DTC cells. The expression of Nrf2 was increased by KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V in DTC cells. In addition, compared with normal thyroid tissues, the expression of Nrf2 protein was considerably higher in thyroid cancer tissues on immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, and the increased expression of Nrf2 indicated a poor prognosis of thyroid cancer. These results indicated that Nrf2 is the KRAS downstream molecule in thyroid cancer. Functional studies showed that the Nrf2 inhibitor Brusatol counteracted the proliferative and invasive abilities induced by KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V in BCPAP and WRO cells. In addition, the xenograft assay further confirmed that Brusatol inhibits tumor growth induced by KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, this study suggests that Nrf2 could be a promising therapeutic target in KRAS-mediated dedifferentiation of thyroid cancer.

Intelligently Quantifying the Entire Irregular Dental Structure

Quantitative analysis of irregular anatomical structures is crucial in oral medicine, but clinicians often typically measure only several representative indicators within the structure as references. Deep learning semantic segmentation offers the potential for entire quantitative analysis. However, challenges persist, including segmentation difficulties due to unclear boundaries and acquiring measurement landmarks for clinical needs in entire quantitative analysis. Taking the palatal alveolar bone as an example, we proposed an artificial intelligence measurement tool for the entire quantitative analysis of irregular dental structures. To expand the applicability, we have included lightweight networks with fewer parameters and lower computational demands. Our approach finally used the lightweight model LU-Net, addressing segmentation challenges caused by unclear boundaries through a compensation module. Additional enamel segmentation was conducted to establish a measurement coordinate system. Ultimately, we presented the entire quantitative information within the structure in a manner that meets clinical needs. The tool achieved excellent segmentation results, manifested by high Dice coefficients (0.934 and 0.949), intersection over union (0.888 and 0.907), and area under the curve (0.943 and 0.949) for palatal alveolar bone and enamel in the test set. In subsequent measurements, the tool visualizes the quantitative information within the target structure by scatter plots. When comparing the measurements against representative indicators, the tool's measurement results show no statistically significant difference from the ground truth, with small mean absolute error, root mean squared error, and errors interval. Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients indicate the satisfactory agreement compared with manual measurements. We proposed a novel intelligent approach to address the entire quantitative analysis of irregular image structures in the clinical setting. This contributes to enabling clinicians to swiftly and comprehensively grasp structural features, facilitating the design of more personalized treatment plans for different patients, enhancing clinical efficiency and treatment success rates in turn.

Networks of Limited-Valency Patchy Particles

Equilibrium gels provide physically attractive counterparts of nonequilibrium gels, allowing statistical understanding and design of the equilibrium gel structure. Here, we assemble two-dimensional equilibrium gels from limited-valency "patchy" colloidal particles and follow their evolution at the particle scale to elucidate cluster-size distributions and free energies. By finely adjusting the patch attraction with critical Casimir forces, we let a mixture of two-valent and pseudo-three-valent patchy particles approach the percolated network state through a set of equilibrium states. Comparing this equilibrium route with a deep quench, we find that both routes approach the percolated state via the same equilibrium states, revealing that the network topology is uniquely set by the particle bond angles, independent of the formation history. The limited-valency system follows percolation theory remarkably well, approaching the percolation point with the expected universal exponents.

Abnormal maxillary sinus diagnosing on CBCT images via object detection and 'straight-forward' classification deep learning strategy

BACKGROUND

Pathological maxillary sinus would affect implant treatment and even result in failure of maxillary sinus lift and implant surgery. However, the maxillary sinus abnormalities are challenging to be diagnosed through CBCT images, especially for young dentists or dentists in grassroots medical institutions without systematical education of general medicine.

OBJECTIVES

To develop a deep-learning-based screening model incorporating object detection and 'straight-forward' classification strategy to screen out maxillary sinus abnormalities on CBCT images.

METHODS

The large area of background noise outside maxillary sinus would affect the generalisation and prediction accuracy of the model, and the diversity and imbalanced distribution of imaging manifestations may bring challenges to intellectualization. Thus we adopted an object detection to limit model's observation zone and 'straight-forward' classification strategy with various tuning methods to adapt to dental clinical need and extract typical features of diverse manifestations so that turn the task into a 'normal-or-not' classification.

RESULTS

We successfully constructed a deep-learning model consist of well-trained detector and diagnostor module. This model achieved ideal AUROC and AUPRC of 0.953 and 0.887, reaching more than 90% accuracy at optimal cut-off. McNemar and Kappa test verified no statistical difference and high consistency between the prediction and ground truth. Dentist-model comparison test showed the model's statistically higher diagnostic performance than dental students. Visualisation method confirmed the model's effectiveness in region recognition and feature extraction.

CONCLUSION

The deep-learning model incorporating object detection and straightforward classification strategy could achieve satisfying predictive performance for screening maxillary sinus abnormalities on CBCT images.

Quantification of the apical palatal bone index for maxillary incisor immediate implant assessment: A retrospective cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Apical palatal bone is important in immediate implant evaluation. Current consensus gives qualitative suggestions regarding it, limiting its clinical decision-making value.

OBJECTIVES

To quantify the apical palatal bone dimension in maxillary incisors and reveal its quantitative correlation with other implant-related hard tissue indices to give practical advice for pre-immediate implant evaluation and design.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of immediate implant-related hard tissue indices in maxillary incisors obtained by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was conducted. Palatal bone thickness at the apex level (Apical-P) on the sagittal section was selected as a parameter reflecting the apical palatal bone. Its quantitative correlation with other immediate implant-related hard tissue indices was revealed. Clinical advice of pre-immediate implant assessment was given based on the quantitative classification of Apical-P and its other correlated immediate implant-related hard tissue indices.

RESULTS

Apical-P positively correlated with cervical palatal bone, whole cervical buccal-palatal bone, sagittal root angle, and basal bone width indices. while negatively correlated with apical buccal bone, cervical buccal bone, and basal bone length indices. Six quantitative categories of Apical-P are proposed. Cases with Apical-P below 4 mm had an insufficient apical bone thickness to accommodate the implant placement, while Apical-P beyond 12 mm should be cautious about the severe implant inclination. Cases with Apical-P of 4-12 mm can generally achieve satisfying immediate implant outcomes via regulating the implant inclination.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantification of the apical palatal bone index for maxillary incisor immediate implant assessment can be achieved, providing a quantitative guide for immediate implant placement in the maxillary incisor zone.

Measuring the binary thickness of buccal bone of anterior maxilla in low-resolution cone-beam computed tomography via a bilinear convolutional neural network

Background

The thickness of the buccal bone of the anterior maxilla is an important aesthetic-determining factor for dental implant, which is divided into the thick (≥1 mm) and thin type (<1 mm). However, as a micro-scale structure that is evaluated through low-resolution cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), its thickness measurement is error-prone under the circumstance of enormous patients and relatively inexperienced primary dentists. Further, the challenges of deep learning-based analysis of the binary thickness of buccal bone include the substantial real-world variance caused by pixel error, the extraction of fine-grained features, and burdensome annotations.

Methods

This study built bilinear convolutional neural network (BCNN) with 2 convolutional neural network (CNN) backbones and a bilinear pooling module to predict the binary thickness of buccal bone (thick or thin) of the anterior maxilla in an end-to-end manner. The methods of 5-fold cross-validation and model ensemble were adopted at the training and testing stages. The visualization methods of Gradient Weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM), Guided Grad-CAM, and layer-wise relevance propagation (LRP) were used for revealing the important features on which the model focused. The performance metrics and efficacy were compared between BCNN, dentists of different clinical experience (i.e., dental student, junior dentist, and senior dentist), and the fusion of BCNN and dentists to investigate the clinical feasibility of BCNN.

Results

Based on the dataset of 4,000 CBCT images from 1,000 patients (aged 36.15±13.09 years), the BCNN with visual geometry group (VGG)16 backbone achieved an accuracy of 0.870 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.838-0.902] and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.924 (95% CI: 0.896-0.948). Compared with the conventional CNNs, BCNN precisely located the buccal bone wall over irrelevant regions. The BCNN generally outperformed the expert-level dentists. The clinical diagnostic performance of the dentists was improved with the assistance of BCNN.

Conclusions

The application of BCNN to the quantitative analysis of binary buccal bone thickness validated the model's excellent ability of subtle feature extraction and achieved expert-level performance. This work signals the potential of fine-grained image recognition networks to the precise quantitative analysis of micro-scale structures.

Regulating Blood Clot Fibrin Films to Manipulate Biomaterial-Mediated Foreign Body Responses

The clinical efficacy of implanted biomaterials is often compromised by host immune recognition and subsequent foreign body responses (FBRs). During the implantation, biomaterials inevitably come into direct contact with the blood, absorbing blood protein and forming blood clot. Many studies have been carried out to regulate protein adsorption, thus manipulating FBR. However, the role of clot surface fibrin films formed by clotting shrinkage in host reactions and FBR is often ignored. Because of the principle of fibrin film formation being relevant to fibrinogen or clotting factor absorption, it is feasible to manipulate the fibrin film formation via tuning the absorption of fibrinogen and clotting factor. As biological hydroxyapatite reserved bone architecture and microporous structure, the smaller particle size may expose more microporous structures and adsorb more fibrinogen or clotting factor. Therefore, we set up 3 sizes (small, <0.2 mm; medium, 1 to 2 mm; large, 3 to 4 mm) of biological hydroxyapatite (porcine bone-derived hydroxyapatite) with different microporous structures to investigate the absorption of blood protein, the formation of clot surface fibrin films, and the subsequent FBR. We found that small group adsorbed more clotting factors because of more microporous structures and formed the thinnest and sparsest fibrin films. These thinnest and sparsest fibrin films increased inflammation and profibrosis of macrophages through a potential signaling pathway of cell adhesion-cytoskeleton-autophagy, leading to the stronger FBR. Large group adsorbed lesser clotting factors, forming the thickest and densest fibrin films, easing inflammation and profibrosis of macrophages, and finally mitigating FBR. Thus, this study deepens the understanding of the role of fibrin films in host recognition and FBR and demonstrates the feasibility of a strategy to regulate FBR by modulating fibrin films via tuning the absorption of blood proteins.

Plasma polymerized bio-interface directs fibronectin adsorption and functionalization to enhance "epithelial barrier structure" formation via FN-ITG β1-FAK-mTOR signaling cascade

BACKGROUND

Transepithelial medical devices are increasing utilized in clinical practices. However, the damage of continuous natural epithelial barrier has become a major risk factor for the failure of epithelium-penetrating implants. How to increase the "epithelial barrier structures" (focal adhesions, hemidesmosomes, etc.) becomes one key research aim in overcoming this difficulty. Directly targeting the in situ "epithelial barrier structures" related proteins (such as fibronectin) absorption and functionalization can be a promising way to enhance interface-epithelial integration.

METHODS

Herein, we fabricated three plasma polymerized bio-interfaces possessing controllable surface chemistry. Their capacity to adsorb and functionalize fibronectin (FN) from serum protein was compared by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The underlying mechanisms were revealed by molecular dynamics simulation. The response of gingival epithelial cells regarding the formation of epithelial barrier structures was tested.

RESULTS

Plasma polymerized surfaces successfully directed distinguished protein adsorption profiles from serum protein pool, in which plasma polymerized allylamine (ppAA) surface favored adsorbing adhesion related proteins and could promote FN absorption and functionalization via electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds, thus subsequently activating the ITG β1-FAK-mTOR signaling and promoting gingival epithelial cells adhesion.

CONCLUSION

This study offers an effective perspective to overcome the current dilemma of the inferior interface-epithelial integration by in situ protein absorption and functionalization, which may advance the development of functional transepithelial biointerfaces. Tuning the surface chemistry by plasma polymerization can control the adsorption of fibronectin and functionalize it by exposing functional protein domains. The functionalized fibronectin can bind to human gingival epithelial cell membrane integrins to activate epithelial barrier structure related signaling pathway, which eventually enhances the formation of epithelial barrier structure.

Construction of an end-to-end regression neural network for the determination of a quantitative index sagittal root inclination

BACKGROUND

Immediate implant placement in the esthetic area requires comprehensive assessments with nearly 30 quantitative indexes. Most artificial intelligence (AI)-driven measurements of quantitative indexes depend on segmentation or landmark detection, which require extra labeling of images and contain possible intraclass errors.

METHODS

For the initial attempt, the method was tested on sagittal root inclination measurement. This study had developed an accurate and efficient end-to-end model incorporating a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on unlabeled cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images for immediate implant placement diagnosis and treatment. The model took pretrained ResNeXt101 as the backbone and was constructed based on 2,920 CBCT images with corresponding angles of the tooth axis and bone axis. The performance of our CNN model was evaluated on a separate test set.

RESULTS

Our model exhibited high prediction accuracy in sagittal root inclination measurements, as evidenced by the low mean average error of 2.16°, the high correlation coefficient of 0.915 to manual measurement, and the narrow 95% confidence interval shown by Bland-Altman plots. The intraclass correlation coefficient further confirmed the measurement accuracy of our model was comparable with that of junior clinicians. The model took merely 0.001 seconds for each CBCT image, making it highly efficient. To better understand the model's quality, we visualized our end-to-end CNN model through Guided Backpropagation, Grad-CAM, and Guided Grad-CAM, and confirmed its effectiveness in region recognition.

CONCLUSIONS

We succeeded in taking the first step in constructing the end-to-end immediate implant placement AI tool through sagittal root inclination measurements without intermediate steps and extra labeling on images.

Characterization and differentiation of pollen lipidomes and proteomes from different intrafloral stamens in heterantherous Senna bicapsularis

Numerous compounds in pollen can affect the foraging decision-making of bees. Clarification of phytochemical components and identification of key substances for bee foraging preference in pollen are essential steps for apiculture and developing a conservation strategy. Senna bicapsularis, a heterantherous plant that possesses three different stamen types in the same flower, among which bees forage selectively, provides us with an ideal research model for identification of potential substances of bee foraging preference. The lipid and protein compositions of pollen from the anthers of different stamens of S. bicapsularis were investigated and compared. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) were highest among lipid molecules in pollen from short (S) stamens than from long (L) and medium (M) stamens. This result is consistent with the FA content measurement, showing the highest FAs and UFAs content in S pollen, especially α-linolenic acid. We inferred that α-linolenic acid might be one of the key substances for bee foraging preference in pollen. Moreover, proteomic analysis showed that several differentially expressed proteins involved in lipid biosynthesis were highly accumulated in S pollen, such as choline kinase 2, 3-oxoacyl-ACP synthase-like protein and choline/ethanolamine phosphotransferase 1, in line with the highest FA content of S pollen. Additionally, DEPs involved in 'starch and sucrose metabolism', 'phenylpropanoid biosynthesis' and 'cyanoamino acid metabolism' were more represented in S compared with L and M pollen. The study suggests that differences in proteomic and lipidomic profiling among the three different stamen types might affect foraging decision-making of bumblebees.

The picture of undergraduate dental basic research education: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Undergraduate dental basic research education (UDBRE) is broadly regarded as an important approach for cultivating scientific research talent. This scoping review aims to summarize the current status of UDBRE in terms of educational goals, teaching program and content, assessment system, training outcomes, barriers, and reflections.

METHODS

The authors performed a systematic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) to identify peer-reviewed articles written in English from their inception to January 29, 2021. Articles were reviewed and screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Related data from the included publications were then collected and summarized.

RESULTS

The authors searched 646 publications and selected 16 articles to include in the study. The education goals included cultivating five major dental basic research capabilities (n=10, 62.5%) and developing interest in basic research (n=2, 12.5%). As for the teaching program, the mentor-guided student research project was the most popular (n=11, 68.8%), followed by didactic courses (n=5, 31.3%), experimental skills training (n=1, 6.3%), and the combination of the above forms (n=3, 18.8%). However, the assessment system and training outcome diverged. Existing evidence showed that UDBRE reached satisfying education outcomes. Barriers included excessive curriculum burden (n=2, 12.5%), tutor shortage (n=3, 18.8%), lack of financial support (n=5, 31.3%), and inadequate research skills and knowledge (n=5, 31.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although efforts were made, the variation between studies revealed the immature status of UDBRE. A practical UDBRE education system paradigm was put forward. Meanwhile, more research is required to optimize a robust UDBRE system with clear education goals, well-designed teaching forms, and convincing assessment systems.

CARBONATED BEVERAGES AFFECT LEVELS OF ANDROGEN RECEPTOR AND TESTOSTERONE SECRETION IN MICE

Objectives

This work aimed to study the influences of carbonated beverages (CBs) on the testis growth and the expression levels of androgen receptor (AR) of mice.

Methods

Two experimental groups of 30 mice each PEP-1 and PEP-2 drank 50% and 100% Pepsi-Cola, respectively for 15 days. Other 2 experimental groups of 30 mice each COC-1 and COC-2 drank 50% and 100% Coca-Cola, respectively for 15 days. The control group (CG) of 30 mice drank water. Bilateral testes were harvested aseptically on days 0, 5, 7, 10, 13 and 15. Real-time PCR and Western blot were implemented to detect levels of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA and protein in testis tissues.

Results

Testes masses of PEP-2, COC-1 and COC-2 were greater than those of PEP-1 and CG (P < 0.05). On day 15, testis longitudinal diameter (TLD) of CBs-treated mice was increased as compared to CG. TLD, testes transverse diameters (TTD) and AR proteins levels of PEP-2 and COC-2 were increased in comparison with CG (P<0.05). Serum testosterone concentrations of PEP-2 were higher than that of COC-1 and CG (P < 0.05). Levels of AR mRNAs of four CBs-treated mice were increased by 60.18%, 67.26%, 65.93% and 78.76%.

Conclusions

A high concentration of Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola could raise TLD and TDD, enhance testosterone secretion, and increase serum EGF concentrations.

P-382 Decrease of serum estradiol prior to human chorionic gonadotrophin administration have an impact on live birth in IVF/ICSI cycles

Study question

Whether decrease of serum estradiol prior to human chorionic gonadotrophin administration have an impact on live birth in IVF/ICSI cycles?

Summary answer

The E2 change before the day of hCG administration had significant correlation with live birth. The live birth rate decreased with decreasing serum E2 level.

What is known already

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a decrease of estradiol (E2) levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration on in vitro fertilization /intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes, including cycles with long, antagonist and micro stimulus protocols.

Study design, size, duration

In this retrospective cohort study, 1303 patients who received IVF/ICSI non-donor treatment were identified. Patients were divided into two groups according to live birth and the characteristics of IVF/ICSI cycles were compared between groups, including baseline infertility parameters, ovarian stimulation characteristics and embryo laboratory manipulation parameters.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 1303 patients who received IVF/ICSI non-donor treatment were identified. Patients were divided into two groups according to live birth and the characteristics of IVF/ICSI cycles were compared between groups, including baseline infertility parameters, ovarian stimulation characteristics and embryo laboratory manipulation parameters. The multivariate logistic regression model was performed to adjust potential confounders and assess correlation between E2 dynamics before hCG administration and live birth.

Main results and the role of chance

Our results revealed that patients without live birth had higher age (32.13 ± 4.33 vs. 30.21 ± 3.71, P &lt; 0.001) and pervious miscarriages (0.57 ± 0.95 vs. 0.46 ± 0.83, P = 0.0295), while had lower number of oocytes retrieved (8.95 ± 4.69 vs. 12.36 ± 5.54, P &lt; 0.001), day of hCG E2 (8269.53 ± 4104.22 vs. 9580.71 ± 3534.11, P &lt; 0.001) and endometrium thickness (10.37 ± 3.66 vs. 11.50 ± 3.40, P &lt; 0.001) compared with patients with live birth. Additionally, the multivariate logistic regression analysis displayed significant impact of serum E2 change on the live birth, and the achievement of live birth [OR (95%CI) 0.81 (0.71, 0.92), P = 0.001] decreased with the decreasing level of serum E2 before hCG trigger day. Estradiol stratification analyses displayed the OR and 95% CI for the association between △E2 and live birth among patients with different levels of estradiol decline (&lt;25%, 25%–50%, 50%–75%, &gt;75%). Compared with the &lt;25% decline and 25%–50% decline groups, the ORs of 50%–75% and &gt;75% decline groups were 1.66 (95% CI: 1.12-2.45, P = 0.012) and 2.00 (95% CI: 1.39-2.89, P &lt; 0.001), respectively, after adjusting potential confounders.

Limitations, reasons for caution

There was concealment of randomization and blinding of outcome assessments reducing the risk of selection and measurement bias.

Wider implications of the findings

In summary, the E2 change before the day of hCG administration had significant correlation with live birth, and the live birth decreased with the decreasing level of serum E2 before hCG trigger day. The patients with a greater decline in the E2 level more likely to had poor clinical outcomes.

Trial registration number

Chi CTR1900026088

Exogenous melatonin prevents type 1 diabetes mellitus-induced bone loss, probably by inhibiting senescence

Exogenous melatonin inhibited the senescence of preosteoblast cells in type 1 diabetic (T1D) mice and those cultured in high glucose (HG) by multiple regulations. Exogenous melatonin had a protective effect on diabetic osteoporosis, which may depend on the inhibition of senescence.

INTRODUCTION

Senescence is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying diabetic bone loss. Increasing evidence has shown that melatonin exerts anti-senescence effects. In this study, we investigated whether melatonin can inhibit senescence and prevent diabetic bone loss.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 160 mg/kg streptozotocin, followed by the oral administration of melatonin or vehicle for 2 months. Then, tissues were harvested and subsequently examined. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured under HG conditions for 7 days and then treated with melatonin or not for 24 h. Sirt1-specific siRNAs and MT1- or MT2-specific shRNA plasmids were transfected into MC3T3-E1 cells for mechanistic study.

RESULTS

The total protein extracted from mouse femurs revealed that melatonin prevented senescence in T1D mice. The micro-CT results indicated that melatonin prevented bone loss in T1D mice. Cellular experiments indicated that melatonin administration prevented HG-induced senescence, whereas knockdown of the melatonin receptors MT1 or MT2 abolished these effects. Sirt1 expression was upregulated by melatonin administration but significantly reduced after MT1 or MT2 was knocked down. Knockdown of Sirt1 blocked the anti-senescence effects of melatonin. Additionally, melatonin promoted the expression of CDK2, CDK4, and CyclinD1, while knockdown of MT1 or MT2 abolished these effects. Furthermore, melatonin increased the expression of the polycomb repressive complex (PRC), but knockdown of MT1 or MT2 abolished these effects. Furthermore, melatonin increased the protein levels of Sirt1, PRC1/2 complex-, and cell cycle-related proteins.

CONCLUSION

This work shows that melatonin protects against T1D-induced bone loss, probably by inhibiting senescence. Targeting senescence in the investigation of diabetic osteoporosis may lead to novel discoveries.

Large Culprit Plaque and More Intracranial Plaques Are Associated with Recurrent Stroke: A Case-Control Study Using Vessel Wall Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intracranial atherosclerotic plaque features are potential factors associated with recurrent stroke, but previous studies only focused on a single lesion, and few studies investigated them with perfusion impairment. This study aimed to investigate the association among whole-brain plaque features, perfusion deficit, and stroke recurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with ischemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerosis were retrospectively collected and categorized into first-time and recurrent-stroke groups. Patients underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging and DSC-PWI. Intracranial plaque number, culprit plaque features (such as plaque volume/burden, degree of stenosis, enhancement ratio), and perfusion deficit variables were recorded. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent factors associated with recurrent stroke.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-five patients (mean age, 59 [SD, 12] years; 115 men) were included. Compared with the first-time stroke group (n = 100), the recurrent-stroke group (n = 75) had a larger culprit volume (P = .006) and showed more intracranial plaques (P < .001) and more enhanced plaques (P = .003). After we adjusted for other factors, culprit plaque volume (OR, 1.16 per 10-mm³ increase; 95% CI, 1.03-1.30; P = .015) and total plaque number (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.13-1.52; P < .001) were independently associated with recurrent stroke. Combining these factors increased the area under the curve to 0.71.

CONCLUSIONS

Large culprit plaque and more intracranial plaques were independently associated with recurrent stroke. Performing whole-brain vessel wall imaging may help identify patients with a higher risk of recurrent stroke.

A 2-year locomotive exploration and scientific investigation of the lunar farside by the Yutu-2 rover

The lunar nearside has been investigated by many uncrewed and crewed missions, but the farside of the Moon remains poorly known. Lunar farside exploration is challenging because maneuvering rovers with efficient locomotion in harsh extraterrestrial environment is necessary to explore geological characteristics of scientific interest. Chang'E-4 mission successfully targeted the Moon's farside and deployed a teleoperated rover (Yutu-2) to explore inside the Von Kármán crater, conveying rich information regarding regolith, craters, and rocks. Here, we report mobile exploration on the lunar farside with Yutu-2 over the initial 2 years. During its journey, Yutu-2 has experienced varying degrees of mild slip and skid, indicating that the terrain is relatively flat at large scales but scattered with local gentle slopes. Cloddy soil sticking on its wheels implies a greater cohesion of the lunar soil than encountered at other lunar landing sites. Further identification results indicate that the regolith resembles dry sand and sandy loam on Earth in bearing properties, demonstrating greater bearing strength than that identified during the Apollo missions. In sharp contrast to the sparsity of rocks along the traverse route, small fresh craters with unilateral moldable ejecta are abundant, and some of them contain high-reflectance materials at the bottom, suggestive of secondary impact events. These findings hint at notable differences in the surface geology between the lunar farside and nearside. Experience gained with Yutu-2 improves the understanding of the farside of the Moon, which, in return, may lead to locomotion with improved efficiency and larger range.

[Gut microbiome composition in pre-adolescent children with different meat consumption patterns]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the composition of gut microbiome in pre-adolescent children with different meat consumption patterns.

METHODS

This study was conducted among 44 healthy school-age children (age range 8-10 years) in Shenzhen. According to the monthly intake frequency ratio of white meat and red meat, the children were divided into red-meat group (n=15), balanced group (n=16) and white-meat group (n=13). The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to investigate the children's diet, and samples of morning feces were collected to study the gut microbiome. The fecal DNA was extracted and amplified, and the composition of the intestinal microbiome of the children was analyzed using Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing.

RESULTS

The children in red meat and white meat groups showed significantly lower abundance and diversity of gut microbiota than those with a balanced diet (P < 0.05). LEfSe analysis of the genus in the fecal samples showed that Escherichia-Shigella, Coprobacillus and Peptoniphilus were enriched in red-meat group and Holdemanella was enriched in the white-meat group as compared with the balanced group. In the samples of the balanced group, 31 and 25 genus (such as Laurespirillum and Rumenococcus) were significantly enriched as compared with the samples of the red-meat group and the white-meat group, respectively. Prediction of the gut microbiota KEGG pathway using PICRUSt2 suggested that compared with that in the balanced group, the gut microbiota in red-meat group had significant activation of the pathways involving lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis (P < 0.01), arachidonic acid metabolism (P < 0.01), thyroid hormone synthesis (P < 0.001), and carbohydrate digestion and absorption (P < 0.05). But compared with the white-meat group, the red-meat group showed only significant activation of the pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism (P < 0.05) and thyroid hormone synthesis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The preference of red meat and white meat consumption may significantly reduce the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota in pre-adolescent children. A red meat-rich diet may cause enrichment of Escherichia-Shigella and significant activation of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway, suggesting the potential benefit of a balanced diet for pre-adolescent children.

Analysis of the sagittal root angle and its correlation with hard and soft tissue indices in anterior teeth for immediate implant evaluation: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

To assess the root angle characteristics of maxillary incisors, and to analyze the relationship between the root angle and other implant-related anatomical indices to use the sagittal root angle as an index for immediate implant evaluation and design.

METHODS

A random sample consisting of 400 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and 65 maxillary plaster models were selected for the present study. CBCT and stereolithography (STL) scan images were imported as DICOM files into coDiagnostiX software for matching the hard and soft tissue. The angle between the long axis of the anterior tooth and the corresponding alveolar bone and implant-related hard and soft tissue indices were measured in the sagittal section. Descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, multi-level comparisons, and correlation analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The average sagittal root angles were 15° at the central incisor and 19° at the lateral incisor. The root angle in males was significantly larger than that in females, and increased with age. The largest angle, 22.35°, was found in the lateral incisors of the oldest (> 50 years old) male group. The root angle was found to correlate with coronal buccal bone thickness, coronal palatal bone thickness, apical buccal bone thickness, palatal bone thickness, and the below apex bone thickness.

CONCLUSIONS

The sagittal root angle could reflect the distribution of other implant-related anatomical indices, which may provide additional reference for the evaluation of immediate implant placement.

Osteoporosis is accompanied by reduced CD274 expression in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Underlying pathomechanisms of osteoporosis are still not fully elucidated. Cell-based therapy approaches pose new possibilities to treat osteoporosis and its complications. The aim of this study was to quantify differences in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) between healthy donors and those suffering from clinically manifest osteoporosis. Cell samples of seven donors for each group were selected retrospectively from the hBMSC cell bank of the Trauma Department of Hannover Medical School. Cells were evaluated for their adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential, for their proliferation potential and expression of surface antigens. Furthermore, a RT2 Osteoporosis Profiler PCR array, as well as quantitative real-time PCR were carried out to evaluate changes in gene expression. Cultivated hBMSCs from osteoporotic donors showed significantly lower cell surface expression of CD274 (4.98 % ± 2.38 %) than those from the control group (26.03 % ± 13.39 %; p = 0.007), as assessed by flow cytometry. In osteoporotic patients, genes involved in inhibition of the anabolic WNT signalling pathway and those associated with stimulation of bone resorption were significantly upregulated. Apart from these changes, no significant differences were found for the other cell surface antigens, adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation ability as well as proliferation potential. These findings supported the theory of an influence of CD274 on the regulation of bone metabolism. CD274 might be a promising target for further investigations of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and of cell-based therapies involving MSCs.

Revealing pseudorotation and ring-opening reactions in colloidal organic molecules

Colloids have a rich history of being used as 'big atoms' mimicking real atoms to study crystallization, gelation and the glass transition of condensed matter. Emulating the dynamics of molecules, however, has remained elusive. Recent advances in colloid chemistry allow patchy particles to be synthesized with accurate control over shape, functionality and coordination number. Here, we show that colloidal alkanes, specifically colloidal cyclopentane, assembled from tetrameric patchy particles by critical Casimir forces undergo the same chemical transformations as their atomic counterparts, allowing their dynamics to be studied in real time. We directly observe transitions between chair and twist conformations in colloidal cyclopentane, and we elucidate the interplay of bond bending strain and entropy in the molecular transition states and ring-opening reactions. These results open the door to investigate complex molecular kinetics and molecular reactions in the high-temperature classical limit, in which the colloidal analogue becomes a good model.

Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging in synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint

The aim of this paper was to investigate the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Fourteen patients with SC of the TMJ were included in the study. Clinical and MRI features were analysed and divided into three types based on MRI classification: type I with loose bodies, type II with homogeneous masses, and type III with a mixture of loose bodies and homogeneous masses. All SCs occurred in the superior compartment of the TMJ. There were two patients (14%) categorised as type I, five (36%) as type II and seven (50%) as type III. Four patients (29%) had disc perforation, and nine had bone erosion; among those nine, seven (78%) had type III and two (22%) type II. Histological examination showed inflammation and calcification in the synovial membrane and, and cartilage of the hyaline type in all cases. MRI has advantages in the diagnosis of SC.

Triplex qRT-PCR with specific probe for synchronously detecting Bovine parvovirus, bovine coronavirus, bovine parainfluenza virus and its applications

Bovine parvovirus (BPV), bovine coronavirus (BCoV) and bovine parainfluenza virus (BPIV) are common etiologies causing gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in dairy herds. However, there are few reports on the synchronous detection of BPV, BCoV and BPIV. The present article aimed to develop a quick and accurate RT-PCR assay to synchronously detect BPV, BCoV and BPIV based on their specific probes. One pair universal primers, one pair specific primers and one specific probe was designed and synthesized. After the concentrations of primer and probe and annealing temperature were strictly optimized, the specificity, sensitivity and repeatability of the established triplex probe qRT-PCR were evaluated, respectively. The results showed the recombinant plasmids of pMD18-T-BPV, pMD18-T-BCoV and pMD18-T-BPIV were 554bp, 699bp and 704bp, respectively. The optimal annealing temperature was set at 45.0°C for triplex qRT-PCR. The triplex probe qRT-PCR can only synchronously detect BPV, BCoV and BPIV. Detection sensitivities were 2.0×102, 2.0×102 and 2.0×101 copies/μL for BPV, BCoV and BPIV, being 1000-fold greater than that in the conventional PCR. Detection of clinical samples demonstrated that triplex probe qRT-PCR had a higher sensitivity and specificity. The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variation were lower than 2.0%. Clinical specimens verified that the triplex qRT-PCR had a higher sensitivity and specificity than universal PCR. In conclusion, this triplex probe qRT-PCR could detect only BPV, BCoV and BPIV. Minimum detection limits were 2.0×102 copies/μL for BPV and BCoV, and 2.0×101 copies/μL for BPIV. The sensitivity of this triplex probe qRT-PCR was 1000-fold greater than that in the conventional PCR. The newly qRT-PCR could be used to monitor or differentially diagnose virus infection.

Direct laser acceleration of electrons assisted by strong laser-driven azimuthal plasma magnetic fields

A high-intensity laser beam propagating through a dense plasma drives a strong current that robustly sustains a strong quasistatic azimuthal magnetic field. The laser field efficiently accelerates electrons in such a field that confines the transverse motion and deflects the electrons in the forward direction. Its advantage is a threshold rather than resonant behavior, accelerating electrons to high energies for sufficiently strong laser-driven currents. We study the electron dynamics via a test-electron model, specifically deriving the corresponding critical current density. We confirm the model's predictions by numerical simulations, indicating energy gains two orders of magnitude higher than achievable without the magnetic field.

Energy gain by laser-accelerated electrons in a strong magnetic field

This paper deals with electron acceleration by a laser pulse in a plasma with a static uniform magnetic field B_{*}. The laser pulse propagates perpendicular to the magnetic field lines with the polarization chosen such that (E_{laser}·B_{*})=0. The focus of the work is on the electrons with an appreciable initial transverse momentum that are unable to gain significant energy from the laser in the absence of the magnetic field due to strong dephasing. It is shown that the magnetic field can initiate an energy increase by rotating such an electron, so that its momentum becomes directed forward. The energy gain continues well beyond this turning point where the dephasing drops to a very small value. In contrast to the case of purely vacuum acceleration, the electron experiences a rapid energy increases with the analytically derived maximum energy gain dependent on the strength of the magnetic field and the phase velocity of the wave. The energy enhancement by the magnetic field can be useful at high laser amplitudes, a_{0}≫1, where the acceleration similar to that in the vacuum is unable to produce energetic electrons over just tens of microns. A strong magnetic field helps leverage an increase in a_{0} without a significant increase in the interaction length.

TaqMan real-time PCR for detecting bovine viral diarrhea virus

The present study was aimed to establish a novel TaqMan real-time PCR (RTm-PCR) for detecting and typing bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), and also to develop a diagnostic protocol which simplifies sample collection and processing. Universal primers and TaqMan-MGB probes were designed from the known sequences of conserved 5' - and 3'-untranslated regions (5'UTR, 3'UTR) of the NADL strain of BVDV. Prior to optimizing the assay, cDNAs were transcribed in vitro to make standard curves. The sensitivity, specificity and stability (reproducibility) were evaluated. The RTm-PCR was tested on the 312 feces specimens collected from persistently infected (PI) calves. The results showed the optimum conditions for RTm-PCR were 17.0 μmol/L primer, 7.5 μmol/L probe and 51.4°C annealing temperature. The established TaqMan RTm-PCR assay could specially detect BVDV without detecting any other viruses. Its detection limit was 1.55×100 copies/μL for viral RNA. It was 10000-fold higher than conventional PCR with excellent specificity and reproducibility. 312 samples were tested using this method and universal PCR from six dairy farms, respectively. Positive detections were found in 49 and 44 feces samples, respectively. The occurrence rate was 89.80%. In conclusion, the established TaqMan RTm-PCR could rapidly detect BVDV and effectively identify PI cattle. The detection limit of RTm-PCR was 1.55 copies/μL. It will be beneficial for enhancing diagnosis and therapy efficacy and reduce losses in cattle farms.

Deflection of a reflected intense circularly polarized light beam induced by asymmetric radiation pressure

A deflection effect of an intense laser beam with spin angular momentum is revealed theoretically by an analytical modeling using radiation pressure and momentum balance of laser plasma interaction in the relativistic regime as a deviation from the law of reflection. The reflected beam deflects out of the plane of incidence with a deflection angle up to several milliradians, when a nonlinear polarized laser, with the intensity I_{0}∼10^{19}W/cm^{2} and duration around tens of femtoseconds, is obliquely incident and reflected by an overdense plasma target. This effect originates from the asymmetric radiation pressure caused by spin angular momentum of the laser photons. The dependence of the deflection angle of a Gaussian-type laser on the parameters of laser pulse and plasma foil is theoretically derived, which is also confirmed by three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of circularly polarized laser beams with the different intensity and pulse duration.

Radiation reaction as an energy enhancement mechanism for laser-irradiated electrons in a strong plasma magnetic field

Conventionally, friction is understood as a mechanism depleting a physical system of energy and as an unavoidable feature of any realistic device involving moving parts. In this work, we demonstrate that this intuitive picture loses validity in nonlinear quantum electrodynamics, exemplified in a scenario where spatially random friction counter-intuitively results in a highly directional energy flow. This peculiar behavior is caused by radiation friction, i.e., the energy loss of an accelerated charge due to the emission of radiation. We demonstrate analytically and numerically how radiation friction can dramatically enhance the energy gain by electrons from a laser pulse in a strong magnetic field that naturally arises in dense laser-irradiated plasma. We find the directional energy boost to be due to the transverse electron momentum being reduced through friction whence the driving laser can accelerate the electron more efficiently. In the considered example, the energy of the laser-accelerated electrons is enhanced by orders of magnitude, which then leads to highly directional emission of gamma-rays induced by the plasma magnetic field.

EDACO, a derivative of myricetin, inhibits the differentiation of Gaoyou duck embryonic osteoclasts in vitro

1. This study determined the effects of (E)-3-(2-(4-(3-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy)ethoxy)-5,7-dimethoxy-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (EDACO) on the differentiation of Gaoyou duck embryonic osteoclasts cultured in vitro. 2. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) were collected from 23-d-old Gaoyou duck embryos and induced by macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand in the presence of EDACO at different concentrations (i.e. 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 µM). Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and resorption ability determination were conducted. 3. Results suggested that EDACO suppressed the shaping of positive multinucleated cells and the number of TRAP-positive cells in the 20, 40, 80 and 160 μM EDACO groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Besides, the absorption activity of differentiated duck embryonic osteoclasts was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) in both 80 and 160 μM EDACO groups. 4. Overall, EDACO can inhibit the differentiation of BM-MNC into mature osteoclasts in duck embryos.1.

[Rush poppers use and risks of human papillomavirus infection among men who have sex with men in Urumqi: mediation effect through high-risk sexual behaviors]

Objective: To study the prevalence of rush poppers use among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Urumqi and to analyze the mediating effect of high-risk sexual behavior between the use of rush poppers and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Methods: From January to June 2018, 651 MSM were recruited through network and publicity. Data was collected by using online questionnaire and anal swab were collected from them for HPV genotyping. According to Baron and Kenny's criterion, multivariate logistic regression models was used to analyze the mediation effect of high-risks sexual behaviors (multiple sexual partners, anal intercourse condom use) between rush poppers use and HPV infection. Results: A total of 651 subjects were (32.0±8.0) years old, and 174 subjects (26.7%) had ever used rush poppers in the past 6 months, while 350 subjects (46.9%) had more than 2 sexual partners and 188 subjects (28.9%) did not use anal condom. After adjusting age and marital status, rush poppers use was associated with HPV infection (OR (95%CI) was 2.34 (1.63-3.36), P<0.05), and sexual partners in the past 6 months (OR (95%CI) was 2.72 (1.89-3.93), P<0.05).After adjustment for age, marital status, sexual partners in the past 6 months, and anal condom use, rush poppers use was still associated with HPV infection (OR (95%CI) was 2.21 (1.53-3.19), P<0.05).After adjustment and adjustment of age, marital status, rush poppers use and anal sex condom use, the number of sexual partners at nearly 6 months was still associated with HPV infection (OR (95%CI) was 1.46 (1.05-2.04), P<0.05). Conclusion: Sexual partners in the past 6 months have a mediation effect between rush poppers use and HPV infection in Urumqi. For the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, we should focus on rush poppers use.

Creation of Electron-Positron Pairs in Photon-Photon Collisions Driven by 10-PW Laser Pulses

A novel approach is proposed to demonstrate the two-photon Breit-Wheeler process by using collimated and wide-bandwidth γ-ray pulses driven by 10-PW lasers. Theoretical calculations suggest that more than 3.2×10^{8} electron-positron pairs with a divergence angle of 7° can be created per shot, and the signal-to-noise ratio is higher than 10^{3}. The positron signal, which is roughly 100 times higher than the detection limit, can be measured by using the existing spectrometers. This approach, which could demonstrate the e^{-}e^{+} pair creation process from two photons, would provide important tests for two-photon physics and other fundamental physical theories.

Visible light communication using dual camera on one smartphone

Dual camera is becoming increasingly prevalent among smartphone camera schemes these days. This paper demonstrates a system prototype by using the color and monochrome cameras on one smartphone simultaneously for visible light communication. To achieve this, we propose a novel dual-modulation scheme. The baseband signal is firstly modulated by color ratio modulation-color shift keying (CRM-CSK) to broadcast color ratio information that can be distinguished by the color camera. Next to it, gray level modulation (GLM) is utilized to generate CRM symbols with gray levels that can be distinguished by the monochrome camera. Our experiment shows a significant improvement in the downlink data rate of the optical camera communication (OCC) using a single light source.

Space-based observations of crustal deflections for drought characterization in Brazil

Widespread environmental impacts of frequent drought episodes in Brazil have resulted in several drought-related diagnostics studies. However, the potential of many "opportunistic sensors", such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), has not yet been considered in hydrological hazard monitoring in Brazil. In this study, the response of the Earth's crust to Brazil's 2012-2015 drought event in different structural provinces is analyzed by comparing GPS-observed vertical crustal deformations (VCDs) with the terrestrial water storage (TWS) derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). The results indicate that there is no spatial correlation between annual amplitudes of the TWS and VCDs in different structural provinces apart from the purely elastic response of the crust to TWS dynamics, at almost all the 39 GPS stations that were analyzed. However, approximately 15% of the monitoring stations show that VCD leads TWS with a phase lag of 2-4 months. Errors associated with VCD and TWS are within the accepted range for space geodetic techniques (i.e., GPS and GRACE) and despite the need for further investigation, the phase lead seems to be associated with rainfall, which impacts the TWS through the hydrographs. Overall, the GPS-based drought index (DI_VCD) reflects the water depletion in many regions of Brazil, which agrees with the GRACE-based DI_TWS in terms of the Spearman correlation coefficient (ranging from 0.4 to 0.9) in the Amazon, Tocantins, La Plata, and São Francisco river basins. This agreement confirms the drought persistence during the study period and that DI_VCD can be used to monitor hydrological droughts. In regions in which DI_TWS sufficiently agrees with DI_VCD (48% of the sites), near real-time drought monitoring is feasible. This could be useful in the optimization of models for the forward prediction of drought events in other regions worldwide, where GPS vertical displacements strongly correlate with hydrological GRACE signals.

Influence of lung function and sleep-disordered breathing on stroke: a community-based study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Impaired lung function is regarded as a risk factor for stroke in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the association between reduced lung function and incident stroke in a community-based population with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) remains unknown.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed within the Sleep Heart Health Study cohort. Full montage home sleep testing and spirometry data on 2082 and 2072 individuals with and without SDB, respectively, were analysed. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between lung function and incident stroke.

RESULTS

Over 11.7 years, 183 cases of stroke were identified in participants without pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, including 71 and 112 with an apnoea-hypopnoea index <5 events/h and ≥5 events/h, respectively. In the entire population, lung function was inversely associated with incident stroke [hazard ratio (HR) 0.913 (95% confidence interval 0.839-0.994) for every 10% increase in percentage of predicted forced vital capacity]. When the population was divided according to the presence/absence of SDB, the association of lung function with incident stroke became stronger in individuals with SDB [HR 0.899 (0.822-0.984) for every 10% increase in percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s; HR 0.881 (0.787-0.987) for every 10% increase in percentage of predicted forced vital capacity] but not in individuals without SDB.

CONCLUSIONS

Lung function may serve as a risk factor for incident stroke in a community-based population, especially in those with SDB. Spirometry may help improve the risk management for primary care in community-based populations.

[The changes of adipocytokines after surgery in OSAHS patients with insulin resistance]

Objective:To evaluate the changes of adipocytokines after surgery in OSAHS patients with insulin resistance.Method:Eighty-four OSAHS patients were enrolled in this study and divided into two group based on insulin resistance: IR group(n=52) and non-IR group(n=32). All patients received UPPP surgery. The levels of chemerin,visfatin and obestatin were measured before and one week after surgery.Result:Before surgery,the levels of chemerin,visfatin and HOMA-IR in IR group were higher than those in non-IR group,while level of obestatin was lower than those in non-IR group. One week after surgery,the level of obestatin in IR group was lower than those in non-IR group. The levels of chemerin,visfatin and HOMA-IR were decreased while obestatin increased after surgery. Correlation analysis showed that UPPP surgery was negatively related with △chemerin（r=-0.685，P<0.05）and △HOMA-IR（r=-0.622，P<0.05）.△HOMA-IR was positively associated with △chemerin（r=0.634，P<0.05）.Conclusion:The levels of chemerin,visfatin and obestatin are significantly improved after UPPP surgery. Level of chemerin seems to have a close relationship with IR.