Explosion of research on psychopathology and social media use after COVID-19: A scientometric study

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in research on psychopathology and social media use, no comprehensive review has examined published papers on this type of research and considered how it was affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

AIM

To explore the status of research on psychopathology and social media use before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

METHODS

We used Bibliometrix (an R software package) to conduct a scientometric analysis of 4588 relevant studies drawn from the Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, and Scopus databases.

RESULTS

Such research output was scarce before COVID-19, but exploded after the pandemic with the publication of a number of high-impact articles. Key authors and institutions, located primarily in developed countries, maintained their core positions, largely uninfluenced by COVID-19; however, research production and collaboration in developing countries increased significantly after COVID-19. Through the analysis of keywords, we identified commonly used methods in this field, together with specific populations, psychopathological conditions, and clinical treatments. Researchers have devoted increasing attention to gender differences in psychopathological states and linked COVID-19 strongly to depression, with depression detection becoming a new trend. Developments in research on psychopathology and social media use are unbalanced and uncoordinated across countries/regions, and more in-depth clinical studies should be conducted in the future.

CONCLUSION

After COVID-19, there was an increased level of concern about mental health issues and a changing emphasis on social media use and the impact of public health emergencies.

The 'whole landscape' of research on systemic sclerosis over the past 73 years

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyse existing research on systemic sclerosis (SSc) conducted over the past 73 years to develop an essential reference for a comprehensive and objective understanding of this field of inquiry.

METHODS

Using the Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, and Scopus databases as data sources for the bibliometric analysis, we searched for published literature related to SSc over the past 73 years. The Bibliometrix package was used to analyse key bibliometric indicators, such as annual publication volume, countries, journals, author contributions, and research hotspots.

RESULTS

From 1970 to 2022, the number of SSc articles steadily increased, reaching its peak in 2020-2022, with approximately 1200 papers published in each of these three years. Matucci-Cerinic et al.'s team published the most articles (425). The United States (11,282), Italy (7027), and France (5226) were the most predominant contexts. The most influential scholars in the field were Denton, Leroy, Steen, and Khanna, with H-indices of 86, 84, and 83, respectively. Arthritis and Rheumatism was the most influential journal in this field (H-index 142). High-frequency keywords in the SSc field included fibrosis (738), inflammation (242), vasculopathy (145), fibroblasts (120), and autoantibodies (118) with respect to pathogenesis, and interstitial lung disease (ILD, 708), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, 696), and Raynaud's phenomenon (326) with regards to clinical manifestations.

CONCLUSION

In the past three years, SSc research has entered a period of rapid development, mainly driven by research institutions in Europe and the United States. The most influential journal has been Arthritis and Rheumatism, and autoimmune aspects, vasculopathy, fibrogenesis, PAH, and ILD remain the focus of current research and indicate trends in future research.

TM9SF1 promotes bladder cancer cell growth and infiltration

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common urological tumor. It has a high recurrence rate, displays tutor heterogeneity, and resists chemotherapy. Furthermore, the long-term survival rate of BC patients has remained unchanged for decades, which seriously affects the quality of patient survival. To improve the survival rate and prognosis of BC patients, it is necessary to explore the molecular mechanisms of BC development and progression and identify targets for treatment and intervention. Transmembrane 9 superfamily member 1 (TM9SF1), also known as MP70 and HMP70, is a member of a family of nine transmembrane superfamily proteins, which was first identified in 1997. TM9SF1 can be expressed in BC, but its biological function and mechanism in BC are not clear.

AIM

To investigate the biological function and mechanism of TM9SF1 in BC.

METHODS

Cells at 60%-80% confluence were transfected with lentiviral vectors for 48-72 h to achieve stable TM9SF1 overexpression or silencing in three BC cell lines (5637, T24, and UM-UC-3). The effect of TM9SF1 on the biological behavior of BC cells was then investigated through CCK8, wound-healing assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Overexpression of TM9SF1 increased the in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells by promoting the entry of BC cells into the G2/M phase. Silencing of TM9SF1 inhibited in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells and blocked BC cells in the G1 phase.

CONCLUSION

TM9SF1 may be an oncogene in BC.

Historical context, process, and development trends of pediatric thyroid cancer research: a bibliometric analysis

Objective

At present, the structure of knowledge in the field of childhood thyroid cancer is not clear enough, and scholars lack a sufficient understanding of the developing trends in this field, which has led to a shortage of forward-looking outputs. The purpose of this research is to help scholars construct a complete knowledge framework and identify current challenges, opportunities, and development trends.

Methods

We searched the literature in the Web of Science Core Collection database on August 7, 2023 and extracted key information from the top 100 most cited articles, such as the countries, institutions, authors, themes, and keywords. We used bibliometric tools such as bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace for a visualization analysis and Excel for statistical descriptions.

Results

The top 100 most cited articles fluctuated over time, and the research was concentrated in European countries, the United States, and Japan, among which scientific research institutions and scholars from the United States made outstanding contributions. Keyword analysis revealed that research has shifted from simple treatment methods for pediatric thyroid cancer (total thyroidectomy) and inducing factors (the Chernobyl power station accident) to the clinical applications of genetic mutations (such as the BRAF and RET genes) and larger-scale genetic changes (mutation studies of the DICER1 gene). The thematic strategy analysis showed an increasing trend towards the popularity of fusion oncogenes, while the popularity of research on traditional treatments and diagnostics has gradually declined.

Conclusion

Extensive research has been conducted on the basic problems of pediatric thyroid cancer, and there has been significant outputs in the follow-up and cohort analysis of conventional diagnostic and treatment methods. However, these methods still have certain limitations. Therefore, scholars should focus on exploring fusion genes, the clinical applications of molecular targets, and novel treatment methods. This study provides a strong reference for scholars in this field.

Identification of ZIC2 as a Potential Biomarker Linked with the Clinical Progression and Immune Infiltration of Oral Cancer: A Multicenter Study

Aim

To investigate the specific expression profile, clinicopathological significance and mechanism of Zic family member 2 (ZIC2) in oral cancer were unclear. Patients and Methods. We explored the expression pattern and clinicopathological significance of ZIC2 in oral cancer through performing in-house tissue microarray and integrated analysis global RNA-seq and microarrays containing large samples. The molecular basis of ZIC2 in oral cancer was further investigated in the aspects of transcription network and immune correlations. We also performed in vitro experiments and calculated drug sensitivity of oral cancer with different ZIC2 expression levels in response to hundreds of compounds.

Results

All data unanimously proved the significant overexpression of ZIC2 in oral cancer. The upregulation of ZIC2 was remarkably associated with the malignant clinical progression of oral cancer. ZIC2 was predicted to be targeted by miRNAs such as miR-3140, miR-4999, and miR-1322. The infiltration level of CD8+ T and central memory cells was positively related to the overexpression of ZIC2. Oral cancer patients with higher ZIC2 expression showed higher drug sensitivity to two compounds including AZD8186 and ERK_2240.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the upregulation of ZIC2 in oral cancer and its promoting effect on the clinical advancement of oral cancer. The potential clinical value of ZIC2 in oral cancer deserves attention.

[Efficacy and safety analysis of bupivacaine liposome for pericapsular nerve group block for postoperative analgesia in elderly patients with hip replacement]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of bupivacaine liposome for pericapsular nerve group block (PENGB) for postoperative analgesia in elderly patients with total hip replacement. Methods: A total of 42 elderly patients underwent total hip replacement were selected in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from May to July in 2023, including 19 males and 23 females, aged (68.8±6.3) years, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade Ⅰ to Ⅲ. They were divided into bupivacaine liposome group (observation group) and levobupivacaine hydrochloride group (control group) according to random number table, with 21 cases in each group. All the patients were anesthetized by lumbar anesthesia combined with PENGB. During PENGB, the observation group was injected with 10 ml (133 mg) bupivacaine liposome+5 ml normal saline, and the control group was injected with 10 ml (75 mg) levobupivacaine hydrochloride+5 ml normal saline. The primary outcome measures included the rest and movement visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h after operation, the sufentanil consumption in analgesic pump, the numbers of analgesic pump compressions, and the rates of additional parexib sodium use in ward. The secondary outcome measures were the changes in lower limb muscle strength, the length of hospital stay and the occurrence of adverse reactions. Results: There was no significant difference in the rest and movement VAS scores between the two groups at pre-operation and at 6 h after operation (P>0.05);but the rest and movement VAS scores at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h after operation in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05); the rest and movement VAS scores at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h after operation were lower than those at pre-operation in two group (P<0.05). The consumption of sufentanil in analgesic pump and parexib sodium usage in observation group were lower than those in control group at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after operation (P<0.05). The total number of analgesic pump compressions, the number of effective compressions and the number of ineffective compressions in 48 h in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.05). The muscle strength of the lower limbs of all patients were able to move against gravity at 12 h after operation. The incidence of nausea in 48 h after operation in observation group was 9.5% (2/21), which was lower than 42.9% (9/21) in control group (P=0.014). No postoperative vomiting occurred in all patients. The length of the hospital stay was (9.3±2.2) d in observation group and (8.9±1.9) d in control group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.500). Conclusion: Compared with levobupivacaine hydrochloride, liposomal bupivacaine in PENGB provides analgesic effects for up to 72 h after total hip replacement in elderly patients, reduces postoperative opioid and other analgesics usage, decreases the incidence of postoperative nausea, and has a minor effect on lower limb movement without prolonging hospitalization.

Triosephosphate isomerase 1 may be a risk predictor in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a multi-centered study integrating bulk RNA, single-cell RNA, and protein immunohistochemistry

BACKGROUND

Although great progress has been made in anti-cancer therapy, the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients remains unsatisfied. Quantities of studies demonstrate that glycolytic reprograming is essential for the progression of cancers, where triosephosphate isomerase 1 (TPI1) serves as a catalytic enzyme. However, the clinicopathological significance and potential biological functions of TPI1 underlying LSCC remains obscure.

METHODS

We collected in-house 82 LSCC tissue specimens and 56 non-tumor tissue specimens. Tissue microarrays (TMA) and immunohistochemical (IHC) experiments were performed. External LSCC microarrays and bulk RNA sequencing data were integrated to evaluate the expression of TPI1. We used a log-rank test and the CIBERSORT algorithm to assess the prognostic value of TPI1 and its association with the LSCC microenvironment. Malignant laryngeal epithelial cells and immune-stromal cells were identified using inferCNV and CellTypist. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to elucidate the molecular functions of TPI1 in LSCC tissue and single cells using Pearson correlation analysis, high dimensional weighted gene co-expression analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screen. We explored intercellular communication patterns between LSCC single cells and immune-stromal cells and predicted several therapeutic agents targeting TPI1.

RESULTS

Based on the in-house TMA and IHC analysis, TPI1 protein was found to have a strong positive expression in the nucleus of LSCC cells but only weakly positive activity in the cytoplasm of normal laryngeal cells (p < 0.0001). Further confirmation of elevated TPI1 mRNA expression was obtained from external datasets, comparing 251 LSCC tissue samples to 136 non-LSCC tissue samples (standardized mean difference = 1.06). The upregulated TPI1 mRNA demonstrated a high discriminative ability between LSCC and non-LSCC tissue (area under the curve = 0.91; sensitivity = 0.87; specificity = 0.79), suggesting its potential as a predictive marker for poor prognosis (p = 0.037). Lower infiltration abundance was found for plasma cells, naïve B cells, monocytes, and neutrophils in TPI-high expression LSCC tissue. Glycolysis and cell cycle were significantly enriched pathways for both LSCC tissue and single cells, where heat shock protein family B member 1, TPI1, and enolase 1 occupied a central position. Four outgoing communication patterns and two incoming communication patterns were identified from the intercellular communication networks. TPI1 was predicted as an oncogene in LSCC, with CRISPR scores less than -1 across 71.43% of the LSCC cell lines. TPI1 was positively correlated with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of gemcitabine and cladribine.

CONCLUSIONS

TPI1 is dramatically overexpressed in LSCC than in normal tissue, and the high expression of TPI1 may promote LSCC deterioration through its metabolic and non-metabolic functions. This study contributes to advancing our knowledge of LSCC pathogenesis and may have implications for the development of targeted therapies in the future.

Nitidine chloride regulates cell function of bladder cancer in vitro through downregulating Lymphocyte antigen 75

Nitidine chloride (NC) is effective on cancer in many tumors, but its effect on bladder cancer (BC) is unknown. We conducted cell function experiments to verify the antineoplastic effect of NC on BC cell lines (5637, T24, and UM-UC-3) in vitro. Then, mRNAs of NC-treated and NC-untreated BC cells were extracted for mRNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), expression analysis, and drug molecular docking were conducted to discover the target gene of NC. Finally, functional enrichment was analyzed to explore the underlying mechanisms. NC dramatically inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and it induced apoptosis and arrested the S and G2/M phases of BC cell lines. Lymphocyte antigen 75 (LY75) appeared to be the target of NC. LY75 was highly expressed and had the ability to distinguish BC tissue from non-cancerous tissue. Then, drug molecular docking confirmed the targeting relationship between NC and LY75. Gene enrichment analysis showed that the downregulated genes, after being treated with NC, were mainly enriched in pathways relevant to cell pathophysiological processes. NC inhibits BC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, induces apoptosis, and arrests cell cycles by downregulating the expression of LY75. This study provides molecular and theoretical bases for NC treatment of BC.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of XPO1 in solid tumors: meta-analysis and TCGA analysis

INTRODUCTION

Exportin 1 (XPO1) is overexpressed in several solid tumors, and is associated with poor prognosis. Here, we aimed to evaluate the implication of XPO1 expression in solid tumors through a meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for articles published until February 2023. Statistical data of the patients, odds ratios and hazard ratios (HRs), together with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to assess clinicopathological features and survival outcomes. Besides, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to explore the prognostic significance of XPO1 in solid tumors.

RESULTS

A total of 22 works, comprising 2595 patients were included in this study. The results suggested that increased XPO1 expression was associated with a higher tumor grade, more lymph node metastasis, advanced tumor stage, and progressively worse total clinical stage. Additionally, high XPO1 expression was associated with worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.12-1.81, P = 0.004) and shorter progression-free survival (HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.07-1.84, P = 0.01). An analysis using the TCGA dataset showed that high XPO1 expression was associated with poor OS and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

XPO1 is a promising prognostic biomarker and may constitute a therapeutic target for solid tumors.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023399159.

How has the field of metastatic breast cancer in bones evolved over the past 22 years?

Background

Although knowledge on metastatic breast cancer in bones (MBCB) has increased rapidly over the past 22 years, a comprehensive and objective bibliometric analysis is still lacking.

Materials and methods

We used R, VOSviewer, and Citespace software to conduct a bibliometric analysis of 5,497 papers on MBCB from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) using author, institution, country/region, citation, and keyword indicators.

Results

A general strong sense of scholarly collaboration was noted in the MBCB field at the author, research institution, and country/region levels. We discovered some outstanding authors and highly productive institutions, but with less collaboration with other academic groups. Unbalanced and uncoordinated developments were observed among countries/regions in the field of MBCB research. We also found that by using various indicators and applying different analysis methods to them, we were able to broadly identify primary clinical practices, relevant clinical experiments, and directions for bioinformatics regarding MBCB, changes over the past 22 years, and current challenges in the field. The development of knowledge on MBCB is progressing greatly; however, MBCB is still incurable.

Conclusion

This study is the first to use bibliometrics to provide an overall analysis of the scientific output of MBCB studies. Palliative therapies for MBCB are mostly in a mature state. However, research on the molecular mechanisms and immune response to tumors related to the development of treatments to cure MBCB remains relatively immature. Therefore, further research should be undertaken in this area.

Identification of immune-related genes and patient selection for hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant disease with a poor prognosis. Among the treatment strategies for HCC, tumor immunotherapy (TIT) is a promising research hotspot, in which identifying novel immune-related biomarkers and selecting suitable patient population are urgent issues to be solved.

Methods

In this study, an abnormal expression map of HCC cell genes was constructed using public high-throughput data from 7,384 samples (3,941 HCC vs. 3,443 non-HCC tissues). Through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) cell trajectory analysis, the genes defined as potential drivers of HCC cell differentiation and development were selected. By screening for both immune-related genes and those associated with high differentiation potential in HCC cell development, a series of target genes were identified. Coexpression analysis was performed using Multiscale Embedded Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (MEGENA) to find the specific candidate genes involved in similar biological processes. Subsequently, nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) was conducted to select patients suitable for HCC immunotherapy based on the coexpression network of candidate genes.

Results

HSP90AA1, CDK4, HSPA8, HSPH1, and HSPA5 were identified as promising biomarkers for prognosis prediction and immunotherapy of HCC. Through the use of our molecular classification system, which was based on a function module containing 5 candidate genes, patients with specific characteristics were found to be suitable candidates for TIT.

Conclusions

These findings provide new insights into the selection of candidate biomarkers and patient populations for future HCC immunotherapy.

[Study on related factors and characteristics of multimorbidity of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children in Hunan Province]

From January 2019 to December 2021, overweight and obese children who visited in health outpatient Center of Hunan Children's Hospital were studied to explore and analyze the rate, related factors and patterns of multimorbidity of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children in Hunan Province. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the multimorbidity-related factors of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. Association rules (apriori algorithm) were used to explore the multimorbidity patterns of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. A total of 725 overweight and obese children were included in this study. The multimorbidity rate of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children was 46.07% (334/725). Age, waist circumference, the frequency of food consumption such as hamburgers and fries and adding meals before bedtime were multimorbidity-related factors of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. The multimorbidity associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was relatively common. The patterns with the top three support degrees were "NAFLD+dyslipidemia","NAFLD+hypertension" and "NAFLD+hyperuricemia". The patterns with the top three confidence and elevation degrees were "Hypertension+dyslipidemia => NAFLD","Hyperuricemia => NAFLD" and "NAFLD+hypertension => dyslipidemia".

The expression characteristics and clinical significance of ACP6, a potential target of nitidine chloride, in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Acid phosphatase type 6 (ACP6) is a mitochondrial lipid phosphate phosphatase that played a role in regulating lipid metabolism and there is still blank in the clinico-pathological significance and functional roles of ACP6 in human cancers. No investigations have been conducted on ACP6 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) up to date.

METHODS

Herein, we appraised the clinico-pathological significance of ACP6 in HCC via organizing expression profiles from globally multi-center microarrays and RNA-seq datasets. The molecular basis of ACP6 in HCC was explored through multidimensional analysis. We also carried out in vitro and in vivo experiment on nude mice to investigate the effect of knocking down ACP6 expression on biological functions of HCC cells, and to evaluate the expression variance of ACP6 in xenograft of HCC tissues before and after the treatment of NC.

RESULTS

ACP6 displayed significant overexpression in HCC samples (standard mean difference (SMD) = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.56-0.83) and up-regulated ACP6 performed well in screening HCC samples from non-cancer liver samples. ACP6 expression was also remarkably correlated with clinical progression and worse overall survival of HCC patients. There were close links between ACP6 expression and immune cells including B cells, CD8 + T cells and naive CD4 + T cells. Co-expressed genes of ACP6 mainly participated in pathways including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, glucocorticoid receptor pathway and NABA proteoglycans. The proliferation and migration rate of HCC cells transfected with ACP6 siRNA was significantly suppressed compared with those transfected with negative control siRNA. ACP6 expression was significantly inhibited by nitidine chloride (NC) in xenograft HCC tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

ACP6 expression may serve as novel clinical biomarker indicating the clinical development of HCC and ACP6 might be potential target of anti-cancer effect by NC in HCC.

Downregulation of zinc finger protein 71 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and its potential molecular mechanism and clinical significance: a study based on immunohistochemistry staining and data mining

Background

The molecular mechanism of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is not completely clear, which leads to poor prognosis and treatment difficulties for LSCC patients. To date, no study has reported the exact expression level of zinc finger protein 71 (ZNF71) and its molecular mechanism in LSCC.

Methods

In-house immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining (33 LSCC samples and 29 non-LSCC samples) was utilized in analyzing the protein expression level of ZNF71 in LSCC. Gene chips and high-throughput sequencing data collected from multiple public resources (313 LSCC samples and 192 non-LSCC samples) were utilized in analyzing the exact mRNA expression level of ZNF71 in LSCC. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data was used to explore the expression status of ZNF71 in different LSCC subpopulations. Enrichment analysis of ZNF71, its positively and differentially co-expressed genes (PDCEGs), and its downstream target genes was employed to detect the potential molecular mechanism of ZNF71 in LSCC. Moreover, we conducted correlation analysis between ZNF71 expression and immune infiltration.

Results

ZNF71 was downregulated at the protein level (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.93, p < 0.0001) and the mRNA level (AUC = 0.71, p = 0.023) in LSCC tissues. Patients with nodal metastasis had lower protein expression level of ZNF71 than patients without nodal metastasis (p < 0.05), and male LSCC patients had lower mRNA expression level of ZNF71 than female LSCC patients (p < 0.01). ZNF71 was absent in different LSCC subpopulations, including cancer cells, plasma cells, and tumor-infiltrated immune cells, based on scRNA-seq analysis. Enrichment analysis showed that ZNF71 and its PDCEGs may influence the progression of LSCC by regulating downstream target genes of ZNF71. These downstream target genes of ZNF71 were mainly enriched in tight junctions. Moreover, downregulation of ZNF71 may influence the development and even therapy of LSCC by reducing immune infiltration.

Conclusion

Downregulation of ZNF71 may promote the progression of LSCC by reducing tight junctions and immune infiltration; this requires further study.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-022-02823-8.

Downregulation of zinc finger protein 71 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues and its underlying molecular mechanism

BACKGROUND

Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have poor prognoses due to a limited understanding of the pathogenesis of OSCC. Zinc finger protein (ZNF) is the largest transcription factor family in the human genome and exert diverse and important functions. Nevertheless, the exact expression status and molecular mechanism of ZNF71 have not been described in OSCC. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the specific expression level of ZNF71 in OSCC tissues and to further interpret the potential molecular mechanism of ZNF71 in the pathogenesis of OSCC.

METHODS

In-house immunohistochemical staining of 116 OSCC samples and 29 non-OSCC samples was employed to detect the expression status of ZNF71 at the protein level of OSCC tissues. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from 7 OSCC samples was used to explore the expression landscape of ZNF71 in different cell types from OSCC tissues. High-throughput RNA sequencing data and gene chips data from 893 OSCC samples and 301 non-OSCC samples were utilized to identify the specific expression level of ZNF71 at the bulk mRNA level of OSCC tissues. Here, standardized mean difference (SMD) value was applied to calculate the expression differences between OSCC group and non-OSCC group. Multiple datasets were included; hence, the results were considered to be more reliable. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the stability of the results. Enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis were used to explore the underlying molecular mechanism of ZNF71 in OSCC.

RESULTS

ZNF71 was significantly downregulated in OSCC tissues at the protein level (SMD = -1.96, 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI]: -2.43 to -1.50). ZNF71 was absent in various cell types from OSCC tissues including cancerous epithelial cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. ZNF71 was downregulated in OSCC tissues at the bulk mRNA level (SMD = -0.38, 95 % CI: -0.75 to -0.02). Enrichment analysis showed that positively and differentially co-expressed genes mainly concentrated on "herpes simplex virus 1 infection" and "regulation of plasma membrane bounded cell projection organization", and negatively and differentially co-expressed genes mainly participated in "cell cycle" and "DNA metabolic process". Moreover, the putative target genes of ZNF71 mainly participated in "cellular respiration" and "protein catabolic process". Finally, immune infiltration analysis revealed that ZNF71 expression was positively correlated with multiple immune cells including activated B cells, memory B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, and negatively correlated with various immune cells, including CD56 bright NK cells, neutrophil, and immature dendritic cells.

CONCLUSION

The downregulation of ZNF71 may influence the initiation and promotion of OSCC by reducing immune infiltration, accelerating cell cycle progression, and affecting metabolic process, and this requires further research.

Effect of phenolic compounds and hydroxyl content on the physicochemical properties of pine nut oil Pickering emulsions

BACKGROUND

For decades, pine nut oil Pickering emulsions have been stabilized using a covalent composite of two phenolic chemicals (tannic acid, TA; and gallic acid, GA) and whey protein isolate (WPI) following alkali treatment. Based on covalent composite particles being excellent sources of high-quality stabilizers, this research explored the influence of phenolic addition and hydroxyl content on stability, rheological parameters and characterization of Pickering emulsions.

RESULTS

Tannic acid was more effective in reducing the average particle size of the emulsion, which decreased from 479.4 ± 2.1 nm without addition to between 187.6 ± 5.9 and 368.2 ± 16.8 nm (P < 0.05). The potential values of all the emulsions were between -30 and -50 mV (except for the gallic acid addition of 2.5 g kg^-1 ). When the phenolic addition was 7.5 g kg^-1 , emulsions demonstrated the best emulsification ability. Pickering emulsion stabilized by WPI-TA and WPI-GA particles were successfully generated, according to confocal laser scanning microscopy. Rheological results showed that the increase of phenolic addition contributed to larger elastic modulus (G'), viscosity modulus (G″) and viscosity of emulsions, which was beneficial to the stability of emulsions.

CONCLUSION

Both phenolic compounds significantly improved the physicochemical stability of the emulsions (P < 0.05) and their oxidative stability. Covalently crosslinking phenolic compounds to proteins is a better method to prepare stable emulsions. It is more prominent that TA shows a more significant improvement in emulsion stability due to the number of hydroxyl groups it can provide. This research might serve as a theoretical foundation for enhancing the quality of pine nut oil-related products. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

αvβ1 integrin is enriched in extracellular vesicles of metastatic breast cancer cells: A mechanism mediated by galectin-3

Breast cancer cells release a large quantity of biocargo-bearing extracellular vesicles (EVs), which mediate intercellular communication within the tumour microenvironment and promote metastasis. To identify EV-bound proteins related to metastasis, we used mass spectrometry to profile EVs from highly and poorly metastatic breast cancer lines of human and mouse origins. Comparative mass spectrometry indicated that integrins, including αv and β1 subunits, are preferentially enriched in EVs of highly metastatic origin over those of poorly metastatic origin. These results are consistent with our histopathological findings, which show that integrin αv is associated with disease progression in breast cancer patients. Integrin αv colocalizes with the multivesicular-body marker CD63 at a higher frequency in the tumour and is enriched in circulating EVs of breast cancer patients at late stages when compared with circulating EVs from early-stage patients. With a magnetic bead-based flow cytometry assay, we confirmed that integrins αv and β1 are enriched in the CD63⁺ subsets of EVs from both human and mouse highly metastatic cells. By analysing the level of integrin αv on circulating EVs, this assay could predict the metastatic potential of a xenografted mouse model. To explore the export mechanism of integrins into EVs, we performed immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry and identified members of the galectin family as potential shuttlers of integrin αvβ1 into EVs. In particular, knockdown of galectin-3, but not galectin-1, causes a reduction in the levels of cell surface integrins β1 and αv, and decreases the colocalization of these integrins with CD63. Importantly, knockdown of galectin-3 leads to a decrease of integrin αvβ1 export into the EVs concomitant with a decrease in the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. Moreover, inhibition of the integrin αvβ1 complex leads to a reduction in the binding of EVs to fibronectin, suggesting that integrin αvβ1 is important for EV retention in the extracellular matrix. EVs retained in the extracellular matrix are taken up by fibroblasts, which differentiate into cancer associated fibroblasts. In summary, our data indicate an important link between EV-bound integrin αvβ1 with breast cancer metastasis and provide additional insights into the export of integrin αvβ1 into EVs in the context of metastasis.

Downregulated Dual-Specificity Protein Phosphatase 1 in Ovarian Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Study With Multiple Methods

Introduction: We aimed to explore the abnormal expression of dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) and its latent molecular mechanisms in ovarian carcinoma (OVCA).

Materials and Methods: Two clinical cohorts collected from two different hospitals were used to evaluate the expression of DUSP1 protein in OVCA tissues. RNA-sequencing and microarray datasets were utilised to verify DUSP1 expression at mRNA levels in both OVCA tissues and in the peripheral blood of OVCA patients. Furthermore, an integrated calculation was performed to pool the standard mean difference (SMD) from each cohort in order to comprehensively assess the expression of DUSP1 in OVCA. Furthermore, we examined the relationship among DUSP1, tumour microenvironment (TME), and chemotherapy resistance in OVCA. Moreover, we used pathway enrichment analysis to explore the underlying mechanisms of DUSP1 in OVCA.

Results: A pooled SMD of −1.19 (95% CI [−2.00, −0.38], p = 0.004) with 1,240 samples revealed that DUSP1 was downregulated in OVCA at both mRNA and protein levels. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9235 indicated the downregulated DUSP1 in peripheral blood may have a non-invasive diagnostic value in OVCA. Through six algorithms, we identified that DUSP1 may related to tumour-infiltrating T cells and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in OVCA. Pathway enrichment demonstrated that DUSP1 might participate in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. Furthermore, DUSP1 may have relations with chemotherapy resistance, and a favourable combining affinity was observed in the paclitaxel-DUSP1 docking model.

Conclusion: DUSP1 was downregulated in OVCA, and this decreasing trend may affect the infiltration of CAFs. Finally, DUSP1 may have a targeting relation with paclitaxel and participate in MAPK signaling pathways.

Downregulation of the enhancer of zeste homolog 1 transcriptional factor predicts poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer patients

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer and lacks effective biomarkers. This study seeks to unravel the expression status and the prospective transcriptional mechanisms of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC tissue samples. Moreover, another objective of this study is to reveal the prognostic molecular signatures for risk stratification in TNBC patients.

Methods

To determine the expression status of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC tissue samples, microarray analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed on in house breast cancer tissue samples. External mRNA expression matrices were used to verify its expression patterns. Furthermore, the prospective transcriptional mechanisms of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC were explored by performing differential expression analysis, co-expression analysis, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis were utilized to detect the prognostic molecular signatures in TNBC patients. Nomogram and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to predict the risk stratification ability of the prognostic-signatures-based Cox model.

Results

In-house TMAs (66 TNBC vs. 106 non-TNBC) and external gene microarrays, as well as RNA-seq datasets (1,135 TNBC vs. 6,198 non-TNBC) results, confirmed the downregulation of EZH1 at both the protein and mRNA levels (SMD = -0.59 [-0.80, -0.37]), as is opposite to that of EZH2 (SMD = 0.74 [0.40, 1.08]). The upregulated transcriptional target genes of EZH1 were significantly aggregated in the cell cycle pathway, where CCNA2, CCNB1, MAD2L1, and PKMYT1 were determined as key transcriptional targets. Additionally, the downregulated transcriptional targets of EZH2 were enriched in response to the hormone, where ESR1 was identified as the hub gene. The six-signature-based prognostic model produced an impressive performance in this study, with a training AUC of 0.753, 0.981, and 0.977 at 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival probability, respectively.

Conclusion

EZH1 downregulation may be a key modulator in the progression of TNBC through negative transcriptional regulation by targeting CCNA2, CCNB1, MAD2L1, and PKMYT1.

Expression Profile and Molecular Basis of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases Regulatory Subunit 2 in Endometrial Carcinoma Detected by Diversified Methods

Purpose: Our purpose was to systematically appraise the clinicopathological significance and explore the molecular bases of CKS2 in endometrial carcinoma. Patients and Methods: We measured the clinicopathological significance of CKS2 using diverse methods of public RNA-seq, microarrays, and in-house tissue microarrays to investigate the molecular basis of CKS2 in endometrial carcinoma through upstream transcriptional analysis, immune infiltration correlation analysis, and co-expression analysis. Results: Both the analysis for public RNA-seq plus the microarray data and in-house tissue microarray confirmed the significant overexpression of CKS2 in a total of 1,021 endometrial carcinoma samples compared with 279 non-cancer endometrium samples (SMD = 2.10, 95% CI = 0.72-3.48). The upregulated CKS2 was significantly related to the lymph node metastasis and advanced clinical grade of endometrial carcinoma patients (p < 0.001). Mutation types such as amplification and mRNA occurred with high frequency in the CKS2 gene in endometrial carcinoma patients. A series of miRNAs and transcription factors, such as hsa-miR-26a, hsa-miR-130a, hsa-miR-30, E2F4, MAX, and GABPA, were predicted to regulate the transcription and expression of CKS2. Significant links were found between CKS2 expression and the infiltration level of B cells, CD4⁺ T cells, and neutrophils in endometrial carcinoma. CKS2-coexpressed genes were actively involved in pathways such as the mitotic cell cycle process, PID aurora B pathway, and prolactin signaling pathway. Conclusion: The overexpressed CKS2 showed positive correlations with the clinical progression of endometrial carcinoma and was associated with various cancer-related biological processes and pathways, showing potential as a promising clinical biomarker for endometrial carcinoma.

[Clinical features of young inpatients with angle-closure glaucoma]

Objective: To analyze the composition of diagnosis in young inpatients with angle-closure glaucoma and to compare the clinical characteristics between primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and secondary angle-closure glaucoma (SACG). Methods: This was a retrospective case series study. Angle-closure glaucoma patients aged 40 years or younger and hospitalized in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from January 2012 to December 2019 were included. The clinical diagnosis, gender, onset age, and results of general ophthalmic examination, A-scan ultrasonography measurements, ultrasound biomicroscopy, optical coherence tomography and visual field were recorded. The proportions and composition of PACG and SACG, as well as the misdiagnosis ratio, were analyzed. The onset age, visual acuity, visual field, and ocular parameters were compared between patients with PACG and SACG. Non-normally distributed data were represented by M (Q₁, Q₃). The difference between groups were compared by Mann-Whitney U test, Chi square test, and independent sample t test. Results: A total of 243 patients (243 eyes) were included in this study. The mean onset age was (28±9) years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1∶1.79. There were 93 patients (38.3%) in PACG group and 150 (61.7%) in SACG group. The age of PACG [34(28, 38)] was older than that of SACG [28(19, 34)], and the proportion of males in the SACG group (44.0%, 66/150) was significantly higher than that in the PACG group (22.6%, 21/93) (Z=-5.34, χ²=11.46; both P<0.01). Nanophthalmos (22.7%, 34 cases), autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) (19.3%, 29 cases), uveitis (18.7%, 28 cases) and retinitis pigmentosa (14.0%, 21 cases) were the most common causes of SACG. The best corrected visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) was 0.10 (0.00, 0.48) and 0.40 (0.06, 1.00), mean deviation of visual field was -8.07 (-27.49, -2.09) and -15.04 (-28.75, -5.97) dB, and subfoveal choroidal thickness was (452.3±130.7) and (396.3±120.9) μm in the PACG and SACG groups, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (Z=-4.86, -2.14; t=2.37; all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in intraocular pressure, cup-to-disc ratio, extent of peripheral anterior synechia, central anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness between these two groups (all P>0.05). The misdiagnosis ratio was 10.7% (26/243) in all patients, while the misdiagnosis ratio of the SACG group (16.7%, 25/150) was higher than that of the PACG group (1.1%, 1/93) (χ²=14.61, P<0.001). Conclusions: PACG, nanophthalmos and ARB are the most common etiologies in young inpatients with angle-closure glaucoma. Compared to PACG, patients with SACG are younger, with worse visual acuity and more severe visual field defects, and easier to be misdiagnosed.

Expression Landscape and Functional Roles of HOXA4 and HOXA5 in Lung Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The role of HOXA family genes in the occurrence and progression of a variety of human cancers has been scatteredly reported. However, there is no systematic study on the differential expression, prognostic significance and potential molecular mechanism of HOXA4 and HOXA5 in LUAD.

METHODS

In-house immunohistochemistry (IHC), multi-center microarrays, RT-qPCR and RNA-seq data were incorporated for comprehensively evaluating the expression and prognostic value of HOXA4 and HOXA5 in LUAD. The mechanism of HOXA4 and HOXA5 in the formation and development of LUAD was analyzed from multiple aspects of immune correlations, upstream transcriptional regulation, functional states of single cells and co-expressed gene network. The functional roles of HOXA4 and HOXA5 in LUAD were validated by in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

As a result, in 3201 LUAD samples and 2494 non-cancer lung samples, HOXA4 and HOXA5 were significantly downexpressed (P < 0.05). The aberrant expression of HOXA5 was significantly correlated with the clinical progression of LUAD (P < 0.05). HOXA5 showed remarkable prognostic value for LUAD patients (P < 0.05). The expression of HOXA4 and HOXA5 in LUAD were negatively correlated with tumor purity and positively correlated with the infiltration of various immune cells such as B cells, T cells and macrophages. HOXA4 and HOXA5 overexpression had notable inhibitory effect on the proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the identified downexpressed HOXA4 and HOXA5 had significant distinguishing ability for LUAD samples and affected the cellular functions of LUAD cells. The low expression of HOXA5 indicated worse overall survival of LUAD patients. Therefore, the two HOXA family genes especially HOXA5 may serve as potential biomarkers for LUAD.

Down-Regulation of Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) in Hepatoblastoma and Its Relationship with Ferroptosis

Purpose

The molecular mechanisms and signal pathways of ferroptosis in hepatoblastoma (HB) have not yet been clarified. In previous studies, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) was reported to be correlated with several tumors, but the clinical significance of ATF3 has never been determined. Herein, we investigated the clinicopathological value and mechanisms of ATF3 in regulating ferroptosis in HB.

Methods

The mRNA microarray and RNA-sequencing data of 402 samples from our hospital and public databases were used to estimate ATF3 expression and assess its clinical role in HB. The standard mean difference (SMD) and summary receiver operating characteristic curves were utilized to judge the discrimination ability of ATF3 between HB and non-HB liver tissues. We examined the expression variation of ATF3 in HB cells after the treatment with erastin. We also predicted the target genes of ATF3 as a transcriptional factor from public Chromatin Immunoprecipitation-sequencing data and selected the ferroptosis-related genes for a signaling pathway analysis.

Results

In ten series, the pooled SMD for ATF3 was −0.91, demonstrating that ATF3 expression was predominantly lower in HB than in non-HB liver tissues. ATF3 down-regulation showed moderate potential to distinguish HB from non-HB liver tissues (area under curves = 0.83, 95% confidence interval = 0.79–0.86). Altogether, 4855 putative targets of ATF3 as a transcriptional factor were collected, among which, 60 genes were ferroptosis-related.

Conclusion

The down-regulated ATF3 expression may play a vital role in the occurrence of HB possible partially by regulating ferroptosis.

[Analysis of incidence and risk factors of neonatal ventilator associated pneumonia in a hospital in Hunan Province, 2016-2018]

Objective: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of VAP. Methods: A total of 1 872 neonates, who were admitted into NICU of Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital and subjected to mechanical ventilation from October 2016 to June 2018, were enrolled in the study. The neonates who met the diagnostic criteria of VAP were selected as the case group, and those who were treated with ventilator for 48 hours at the same time were regarded as the control group. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of VAP. Results: Of the 1 872 neonates who underwent the mechanical ventilation, the VAP occurred in 160 cases with the incidence rate of 8.5% (160 cases). The 227 specimens were collected. Gram-positive bacteria (n=116, 51.1%) were the main pathogens. The main pathogens were Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Acinetobacter baumannii. By Chi-square test, birth weight, birth age, Apgar score, duration of ventilator, and whether newborn mothers with pregnancy hypertension were influencing factors. The result of logistic regression analysis showed that compared with no pregnancy included hypertension, the first aid measure at birth was initial resuscitation, and the MV time ≤ 5 days, the risk factors of ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates included: their mothers with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy, using of tracheal intubation and ventilator time more than 5 days. Conclusion: The incidence of VAP in neonates receiving continuous MV therapy in neonatal intensive care unit is higher. Gram-positive bacteria are the main pathogens. VAP in neonates is related to whether newborn mothers with pregnancy hypertension, MV duration and tracheal intubation.

Therapeutic effects of acupuncture on sensory ataxia after a cerebral hemorrhage: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Sensory ataxia is a dysfunction of dynamic balance due to impairment of sensory input into the control of movement. The sequelae of stroke, such as hemiplegia, somatosensory impairment, and impaired balance may cause significant disability and may affect patients' quality of life. In addition to rehabilitation programs, acupuncture therapy has been applied to stroke patients and is recommended as a complementary therapy in stroke rehabilitation.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 70-year-old male had a sudden onset of conscious loss. The brain computed tomography showed intracerebral hemorrhage with subdural hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

DIAGNOSIS

Intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke was diagnosed.

INTERVENTIONS

He received craniotomy with hematoma evacuation immediately and waked up 3 weeks with bilateral hemiparesis (right side weaker than left), impaired position sensation and tactile perception in the right lower limb. He then began to receive rehabilitation therapy and had significant improvement in muscle strength and static balance, but no improvement in tactile perception of position sense in the right lower limbs and reached plateau. Then he received acupuncture therapies to Yongquan (KI1), Tongtien (BL7) and Houxi (SI3).

OUTCOMES

The patient's walking ability recovered after receiving rehabilitation programs for 3 years, but the impairment in proprioception and dynamic balance persisted. The perception and dynamic balance had significantly improved after patient received acupuncture therapy, especially the acupuncture point of Yongquan (KI1).

CONCLUSION

The clinical effect of acupuncture in combination with conventional rehabilitation therapy for neurological impairment recovery, improving activity of daily living performance and improving post-stroke imbalance was explored. We hope that this report can facilitate further well controlled quantitative objective studies on a big size of samples.

RNA-Sequencing, Connectivity Mapping, and Molecular Docking to Investigate Ligand-Protein Binding for Potential Drug Candidates for the Treatment of Wilms Tumor

Background

Wilms tumor, or nephroblastoma, is a malignant pediatric embryonal renal tumor that has a poor prognosis. This study aimed to use bioinformatics data, RNA-sequencing, connectivity mapping, molecular docking, and ligand-protein binding to identify potential targets for drug therapy in Wilms tumor.

Material/Methods

Wilms tumor and non-tumor samples were obtained from high throughput gene expression databases, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the voom method in the limma package. The overlapping DEGs were obtained from the intersecting drug target genes using the Connectivity Map (CMap) database, and systemsDock was used for molecular docking. Gene databases were searched for gene expression profiles for complementary analysis, analysis of clinical significance, and prognosis analysis to refine the study.

Results

From 177 cases of Wilms tumor, there were 648 upregulated genes and 342 down-regulated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the identified DEGs that affected the cell cycle. After obtaining 21 candidate drugs, there were seven overlapping genes with 75 drug target genes and DEGs. Molecular docking results showed that relatively high scores were obtained when retinoic acid and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, alsterpaullone, were docked to the overlapping genes. There were significant standardized mean differences for three overlapping genes, CDK2, MAP4K4, and CRABP2. However, four upregulated overlapping genes, CDK2, MAP4K4, CRABP2, and SIRT1 had no prognostic significance.

Conclusions

RNA-sequencing, connectivity mapping, and molecular docking to investigate ligand-protein binding identified retinoic acid and alsterpaullone as potential drug candidates for the treatment of Wilms tumor.

[The first identification of epidemic clone of enterotoxic Escherichia coli O∶6 serogroup highly associated with azithromycin resistance in Shanghai]

Objective: To investigate the molecular characterization of adult diarrhea cases caused by enterotoxic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and explore the practical model of epidemiology for laboratory technique and data needs based on the surveillance network. Methods: Epidemiological design and sampling targeted adult cases ETEC caused diarrhea in epidemic season. The enterotoxin type, serogroup, resistance, colonization factor and molecular type of ETEC were identified. Multiple dynamic phenotypic characteristics of ETEC were indicated by multidimensional and multivariable data. Results: From 2016 to 2018, 84 eligible ETEC strains were detected. The dominant serums/toxins were O∶6 (STh), O∶25 (LT), O∶159 (STh), O∶153 (STh). O∶6 (STh+CS21), which replaced O∶25 and O∶159 as the popular clones in 2018. Six cases of O∶153 (STh+CFA/I+CS8+PT34) in outbreak in 2017 were imported ones. The resistance rates of ETEC strains detected in adults to sulfasoxazole, naproxinic acid, ampicillin and azithromycin were more than 30%, multidrug resistance (MDR) reached 58.3%. Serum/toxin types suggested that attenuated strains were more likely to become MDR. Molecular typing confirmed that the genetic similarity of the dominant clone of O∶6 serogroup (PT20-24) was higher than O∶25 and O∶159. There was a high correlation between the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of azithromycin and the resistant gene mphA (87.5%, 28/32). O∶6 (STh+CS21+mphA) resistant clone was first detected in 2016. Conclusion: A new epidemic clone in adult ETEC diarrhea cases in Shanghai was O∶6 (STh+CS21+mphA). For the first time the association between azithromycin resistance gene mphA and a serum group of ETEC was observed. Multidimensional and multivariate analysis techniques based on epidemiology can help reveal the potential transmission pattern of ETEC for the accurate surveillance and early warning of outbreaks.

[The clinical effects of methylprednisolone combined with vestibular rehabilitation and methylprednisolone in the treatment of vestibular neuritis]

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of vestibular rehabilitation on vestibular neuritis. Method:Fifty patients with vestibular neuritis (VN) were randomly divided into study group (n=26) and control group (n=24). The patient in study group received methylprednisolone treatment and peripheral vestibular rehabilitation therapy, while that in the control group received methylprednisolone only. Spontaneous nystagmus (SN), caloric test (CP), directional preponderance (DP),vestibular muscle evoked potential (VEMP) were comparative for study group and control group at admission, 1 month after treatment, and 3 months after treatment. Result:①There was no significant difference in the balance between the two groups. ②After 1 month treatment, the directional preponderance of DP decreased (P<0.01) in the study group（21.09±16.90）% compared with the control group（41.11±24.03）%, VEMP extraction rate increased (P<0.05) in the study group compared with the control group, dynamic balance score of the study group (70.77±16.15) increased (P<0.05) compared with the control group (53.83±26.76). ③After 3 months, canal paresis CP of the study group (33.26±20.01)% decreased (P<0.05) compared with the control group (50.07±25.42)%, DP of the study group (8.63±5.65)% decreased (P<0.01) compared with the control group (17.98±8.84)%, and the comprehensive dynamic balance score of the study group (81.58±3.67) increased (P<0.01) compared with the control group (62.50±29.24). Conclusion:Peripheral vestibular rehabilitation can accelerate vestibular compensation and is an effective treatment for vestibular neurons.

[Analysis of clinical characteristics of discordant structural malformations in one of monochorionic diamnionic twins]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of structural malformations in one of monochorionic diamnionic twins (MCDA). Methods: The clinical data of 77 MCDA patients with structural malformations diagnosed by ultrasound were retrospectively reviewed from January 2012 to May 2017. The distribution of structural malformations, prenatal chromosomal karyotyping and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. Results: (1)Among the 77 MCDA patients with structural malformations, the single malformation accounted for 79%(61/77), the multiple malformations accounted for 21%(16/77). And there were a total of 94 types of malformations, the top three malformations were neurological malformations (32%, 30/94), cardiovascular malformations (29%, 27/94) and twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence (TRAPS;10%,9/94).(2)Among the 77 patients with structural malformation, 64 cases (83%, 64/77) were examined for fetal chromosomes, of whom 14 cases (22%,14/64) were examined for fetal chromosomes of both twins, with 1 case (1/14) of discordant fetal chromosome. (3)Among the 77 patients, 4 cases (5%, 4/77) with severe fetal malformations terminated pregnancy. Totally 29 cases (38%,29/77) with severe malformations were treated with selective fetal reduction, among whom 7 cases (24%, 7/29) experienced unexplained fetal death within 24 hours after the operation; 2 cases (7%, 2/29) happened inevitable abortion, and 2 cases (7%, 2/29) underwent unexplained fetal death during the late pregnancy. Of the remaining 44 patients (57%,44/77) with expectant treatment, 13 cases (30%,13/44) occurred twin transfusion syndrome (Ⅱ-Ⅳ), and were treated with fetoscopic laser occlusion. Eight patients had 2 survival twins, 4 patients delivered 1 survival twin, and 1 patient had dead twins. Conclusions: The most common malformations in MCDA twins are the nervous malformations, cardiovascular malformations and TRAPS. The chromosome karyotype of MCDA twins with structural malformations are sometimes discordant, and separate samling of the twins is suggested for prenatal diagnosis. Selective fetal reduction could be given to severe structural malformation in MCDA patients safely and effectively. For non-severe structural malformation in MCDA patients with twin transfusion syndrome, fetoscopic laser occlusion is safe and effective.

Expression of vimentin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its possible molecular mechanism: A study based on immunohistochemistry and bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

Although previous researchers have analyzed the expression level of vimentin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the sample size of each study was too small, and there was no further in-depth study utilizing microarray and RNA-sequencing data. More importantly, the role and molecular mechanism of vimentin in NPC have not yet been addressed comprehensively. Accordingly, the aim of the present research was to conduct a full exploration of the clinical significance of vimentin in NPC in a large sample size.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Immunohistochemistry was used to test the expression of vimentin in clinical samples. Data from relevant microarray and RNA-sequencing datasets were screened and extracted to explore the clinical role of vimentin in NPC. Subsequently, vimentin-related signaling pathways were investigated via in-silico approaches.

RESULTS

The clinical immunohistochemistry detection showed the positive expression ratio of vimentin was 24.6% (14/57) of the NPC specimens, whereas vimentin expression was negative in nasopharyngitis (NPG) tissues (0/20, P = 0.016). The mRNA and protein levels of vimentin were both remarkably up-regulated in NPC based on 196 and 1566 cases, respectively. The protein level of vimentin was also a risky factor for the prognosis prediction of NPC with the hazard ratios (HR) being 3.831. Gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analyses, the localization of vimentin was in both the cytoplasm and the cytoskeleton, and vimentin was involved in the regulation of molecular function, the execution phase of apoptosis, and the regulation of cellular component organization.

CONCLUSION

The high expression of vimentin plays a pivotal role in the development and poor progression of NPC, which indicates that vimentin may be an effective predictive indicator for NPC.

[Factors associated with malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in poor rural areas in Hunan Province, China]

Objective: To describe the situation and identify factors associated with malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in poor rural areas in Hunan Province in 2015. Methods: 8 735 rural infants and young children aged 6-23 months in 30 poor counties of Wuling Mountains and Luoxiao Mountains in Hu'nan province were selected by township-level probability proportional to size sampling (PPS) in August 2015, infants' body length and weight were measured, and questionnaires were used to collect infants' information on personal and family, and feeding status in the past 24 h. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were calculated according to the Growth Standards of Child Aged Under 7 in China which was established in 2009 by Community Health Department of National Health and Family Planning Commission, China (formerly Chinese MOH), and the prevalence of malnutrition was calculated according to the classification of children with anthropometric failure. Multi non-conditional logistic regression model were used to analyze factors associated with malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months. Results: The prevalence of malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months was 13.7% (1 198/8 735), the prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting among infants and young children aged 6-23 months were 4.8% (419/8 735), 9.7% (849/8 735) and 6.1% (531/8 735) respectively. Compared with male group, the OR value of malnutrition for the female group was 1.16; Compared with Han ethnic group, the OR value of malnutrition for the Miao and Tujia ethnic group were 0.83 and 0.66, respectively; Compared with mother with an education level of primary school or below, the OR value of malnutrition for the mother with junior high school, senior high school and university or above education were 0.65, 0.61 and 0.56, respectively; Compared with father with an education level of primary school or below, the OR value of malnutrition for the father with senior high school and university or above education were 0.71 and 0.61 respectively; Compared with normal birth weight group, the OR value of malnutrition for the low birth weight group and high birth weight group were 2.85 and 0.27 respectively; Compared with normal delivery group, the OR value of malnutrition for the premature delivery group was 1.37; all P values<0.05. Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in poor rural areas in Hunan province in 2015 was high; Infants and young children who were female, Han ethnic, parents with low education, low birth weight and premature delivery had higher risk of malnutrition.

[The correlation study between PM2.5 and the life quality in patients with allergic rhinitis]

Objective:This study aims to research the relationship betweeen allergic rhinitis (AR) patients life quality and the PM2.5 concentration. Method:Fifty-two patients with clinically diagnosed AR were enrolled in this study. Patients were asked to fill in the questionnaire about the quality of life of rhinoconjunctivitis (RQLQ) continuously. The concentrations of PM2.5 in their living environment were continuously tested for one month (31 days) and SPSS 19.0 software was used to analyze data through descriptive statistical method, Spearman correlation analysis and nonparametric test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result:There were significant association between PM2.5 and nasal symptoms (r=0.121, P<0.01), daily activities (r=0.146, P<0.01) and practical problems (r=0.099, P<0.01). However, sleep (r=0.059, P=0.051), non-hay fever symptoms (r=0.042, P=0.169), emotion (r=0.042, P=0.168), eye symptoms (r=0.087, P=0.274) and PM2.5 had no statistical significance. AR patients have faced notable differences in genders. The scores of activities, non hay fever symptoms and emotions also showed the difference. Female AR patients have demonstrated the statistical significance with the concentration of PM2.5 among the activity, non hay fever symptoms, practical problems, nasal symptoms and emotions. While the male AR patients existed a statistical significance in the concentration of PM2.5 only between the activity and nasal symptoms. Conclusion:PM2.5 concentration is negatively associated with the life quality of AR patients. The higher concentration of PM2.5, the lower AR patients quality of life they got.

[Analysis of repositioning nystagmus in patients with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo]

Objective:To conclude the four types of nystagmus in the final position during canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) for posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (PC-BPPV), and predict the outcome of CRP therapy. Method:Nystagmus were recorded by an infrared charge-coupled devicecamera when underwent CRP therapy, which observed in the final position and concluded into four types. Result:Two hundred and twenty-three patients were included in our research and the results as follow. ①The nystagmus replicates the initial nystagmus during the Hallpike maneuver, which suggests therapeutic outcome,128 cases in total (57.4%). ②The direction of vertical component is composite while the rotary component is the same, also deeming a successful trial, 35 cases (15.7%). ③The direction of both vertical component and rotary component isreverse to the initial, which indicates a poor response, 36 cases (16.1%). ④Twenty-four cases (10.8%) showed no certain nystagmus but exhibit horizontal nystagmus in roll-test, denoting that the otolith moves to the lateral semicircular. At this appointment, the horizontal nystagmus can resolute after several times of barbecue maneuver. There is a significant difference of the one-time success rate (χ²=46.198, P<0.01) and the mean treatment times (t=10.048, P<0.01) between cupulolithiasis and canalolithiasis PC-BPPV. Conclusion:Different nystagmus in the final position of CRP maneuver is important in predicting the repositioning outcome. The one-time success rate of canalolithiasis is better than cupulolithiasis.

[Nested case-control study on associated factors for anemia during pregnancy]

Objective: To explore the related factors of anemia during pregnancy and provide scientific evidence for the primary prevention of anemia during pregnancy. Methods: The pregnant women (≤12 pregnant weeks) who received the first pregnancy care in a local medical institution in Hunan province from June 2013 to November 2014 were included in this cohort study, and for them anemia had been excluded by physical examination. Baseline survey and follow up till childbirth were conducted for them. A queue-based nested case-control study (1 ∶ 2) was conducted (380 pregnant women with anemia detected in this study as case group, 760 pregnant women without anemia randomly selected and matched by age, habitual residence during pregnancy as control group. And t test, χ(2) test and logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify related factors of anemia during pregnancy. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that low family annual income level (net income) (OR=2.08, 95%CI: 1.22-3.59), low educational level (OR=2.09, 95%CI: 1.22-3.59), pre-pregnancy perm/hair dye (OR=2.23, 95%CI: 1.63-3.05), early pregnancy vomiting (OR=2.51, 95%CI: 1.56-4.03) were the risk factors for anemia during pregnancy. Intake of vitamin and trace element supplements (OR=0.69, 95%CI: 0.50-0.94), frequent meat, fish, shrimp, egg intakes (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.49-0.92), frequent soy milk, milk intakes (OR=0.51, 95%CI: 0.27-0.95) were the protective factors for anemia during pregnancy. Conclusion: A number of factors, such as family annual income level, education level, poisonous and harmful material contact, pregnancy reaction, nutrition, are related to the incidence of anemia during pregnancy, it is necessary to take preventive measures to reduce the incidence of anemia during pregnancy.

[Status of, and factors associated with, complementary feeding among infants and young children aged 6- 23 months in poor rural areas of Hunan Province, China]

Objective: To describe the status of, and to identify the factors associated with, complementary feeding among infants and young children aged 6- 23 months in poor rural areas of Hunan Province, China. Methods: A total of 8 735 infants and young children aged 6- 23 months from 30 poor rural counties in the Wuling and Luoxiao Mountains in Hunan Province were selected by township-level probability-proportional-to-size sampling in August 2015. Questionnaires were used to collect information on the feeding status of the infants in the previous 24 hours, along with personal/family information. The qualified rate of minimum dietary diversity (MDD), the minimum meal frequency (MMF) and the minimum acceptable diet (MAD) were calculated according to the WHO indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices. Multi non-conditional logistic regression models were used to analyze factors associated with complementary feeding among infants and young children aged 6- 23 months. Results: The findings indicated that 73.9% (6 452/8 735) of infants and young children aged 6-23 months received the minimum dietary diversity, 81.6% (7 124/8 735) of infants and young children aged 6- 23 months received the minimum meal frequency and 49.0% (4 276/8 735) of infants and young children aged 6- 23 months received an acceptable diet. Compared with the boys, the OR for the MMF and MAD for the girls were 1.15 and 1.11, respectively. Compared with the 6-11 month group, the OR for the MDD for the 12-17 month and 18-23 month groups were 0.41 and 0.38, respectively; the OR for the MMF for the 12-17 month and 18-23 month groups were 1.53 and 2.46, respectively; and the OR for the MAD for the 12-17 month and 18-23 month groups were 0.60 and 0.60, respectively. Compared with the Han ethnic group, the OR for the MDD, MMF and MAD for the Miao ethnic group were 1.43, 1.72 and 1.56, respectively; for the Tujia ethnic group were 2.21, 2.02 and 2.11, respectively; and for the Dong ethnic group were 0.62, 0.61 and 0.64, respectively. When analyzing data related to the children's mothers, compared with women who gestated at the age of 25- 29, the OR for the MMF for women who gestated at less than 20 years of age was 1.59 and at greater than or equal to 35 years of age was 1.33. Compared with women with primary school education or below, the OR for the MDD, MMF and MAD for women with junior high school education were 0.77, 0.74 and 0.80, respectively; for women with senior high school education were 0.67, 0.65 and 0.68, respectively; and for women educated to university level or above were 0.66, 0.47 and 0.60, respectively. Compared with the normal birth weight group, the OR for the MMF for the low birth weight group was 0.71, and for the high birth weight group was 1.30. Compared with the caregivers who provided qualified feeding knowledge, the OR for the MDD, MMF and MAD for the caregivers who provided unqualified feeding knowledge were 1.45, 1.30 and 1.40, respectively. Compared with the breastfed group, the OR for the MDD and the MMF for the non-breastfed group were 0.53 and 0.36, respectively. All P values were <0.05. Conclusion: Most infants and young children aged 6-23 months in poor rural areas of China met the MDD and MMF requirements, but fewer met the MAD requirements. The risk factors in infants and young children for complementary feeding included being of female gender, lower in age (months), of Miao or Tujia ethnicity, being born to a mother who gestated at less than 20 or ≥35 years of age, being born to a mother of low education, having a high birth weight, having a caregiver who provided unqualified feeding knowledge and being breastfed.

[Study of Basal metabolic rate of 81 young adults aged 20-29 years old in Changsha]

Objective: To determine the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of young adults aged between 20-29 years old in Changsha. Methods: We recruited volunteers to join in our research project from April to May, 2015. All recruited volunteers must meet the inclusion criteria: aged 20-29 years old, height between 164-180 centimeters in males and 154-167 centimeters in females, in good health condition, and with no habit of regular physical exercise in last year. Finally, 81 qualified volunteers were selected as research objects, including 43 males and 38 females. The BMR, resting lying metabolism rate and resting sitting metabolism rate of the subjects were detected, and the determined BMR was compared with the calculated results: from the adjusted Schofield equation. Results The BMR, resting lying metabolism rate and resting sitting metabolism rate among males were (166.10±22.09), (174.22±24.56), and (179.54±23.35) kJ·m(-2)·h(-1), respectively, which were all higher than those among females were (137.70±20.04), (149.79±19.25), and (167.78±26.02) kJ·m(-2)·h(-1), respectively, (P<0.001). The BMR of males and females calculated from the adjusted Schofield equation were (160.83±3.93), and (140.29±4.18) kJ·m(-2)·h(-1), respectively, and there was no significantly statistical difference found between the determined BMR and the calculated results from Schofield equation (adjusted) classified by sex, all P values >0.05. Conclusion: The BMR of young adults aged 20-29 years old in Changsha was in the national average level, and the adjusted Schofield equation displayed fine accuracy in predicting BMR of young adults aged 20-29 years old in Changsha.

Post-acute care for stroke - a retrospective cohort study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Stroke often causes functional decline in patients. Therefore, after the acute phase, many patients require post-acute care (PAC) to maximize their functional progress, reduce disability, and make it possible for them to return to their home and community. PAC can be provided in different settings. Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) proposed a PAC pilot program, effective since 2014, for stroke patients that allowed patients with the potential for functional improvement to receive PAC rehabilitation in regional or community hospitals. The purpose of this study was to explore the initial achievements and clinical impact of this program in Taiwan.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study that mainly analyzed basic hospitalization data and scores for function and quality of life, as recorded immediately after admission and before discharge, for stroke patients in the PAC program in a hospital in Taiwan.

RESULTS

This study collected complete data from a total of 168 patients. After an average of 43.57 days in the program, patients showed significant improvement in the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), the Barthel Activity Daily Living Index (B-ADL), the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activity Daily Living Scale (LB-IADL), the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), and the Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA), in mobility, self-care, and usual activity, as well as on anxiety/depression in the EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) and in the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). After discharge, 76.8% of the patients could return to their home and community.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the pilot PAC program significantly promoted recovery of function in stroke patients and helped them to return to their home and community. Patients with the potential for functional recovery should consider receiving PAC service in a hospital after discharge from acute stroke care.

Superlattice-Induced Insulating States and Valley-Protected Orbits in Twisted Bilayer Graphene

Twisted bilayer graphene (TBLG) is one of the simplest van der Waals heterostructures, yet it yields a complex electronic system with intricate interplay between moiré physics and interlayer hybridization effects. We report on electronic transport measurements of high mobility small angle TBLG devices showing clear evidence for insulating states at the superlattice band edges, with thermal activation gaps several times larger than theoretically predicted. Moreover, Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations and tight binding calculations reveal that the band structure consists of two intersecting Fermi contours whose crossing points are effectively unhybridized. We attribute this to exponentially suppressed interlayer hopping amplitudes for momentum transfers larger than the moiré wave vector.

Bifidobacteria possess inhibitory activity against dipeptidyl peptidase-IV

The incretin hormones are extremely rapidly metabolized by the ubiquitous enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV). Therefore, DPP-IV inhibitors which can prolong the incretin effect are the newest and promising drugs for management of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated whether Bifidobacteria colonizing the human gut possess DPP-IV inhibitory activity. Cell-free intracellular extracts of 13 Bifidobacterium strains isolated from breast-fed infant faecal samples were prepared and screened for DPP-IV inhibitory activity, and two Bifidobacterium strains-Bif. longum BBMN68 and Bif. lactis Bb12-were used as reference strains. Most of the strains showed varying levels of DPP-IV inhibitory property (7-27%). Strains of Bifidobacterium adolescentis IF1-11 and Bifidobacterium bifidum IF3-211 showed the greatest DPP-IV inhibitory activity (27 and 25%) as well as good in vitro probiotic properties. This initial finding suggested that new beneficial function of Bifidobacteria is strain-dependent and the strains or their components may have the potential application for management of type 2 diabetes via inhibiting gastrointestinal DPP-IV activity. Further investigations into the isolation and identification of the bioactive components of Bifidobacteria are warranted.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Our results show that Bifidobacteria isolated from breast-fed infants' faecal samples possess DPP-IV inhibitory activity. Strains of Bifidobacterium bifidum IF3-211 and Bifidobacterium adolescentis IF1-11, which showed excellent DPP-IV inhibitory properties as well as good in vitro probiotic properties, are expected to be beneficial for application as anti-diabetic probiotics.

Effects of motilin on intracellular free calcium in cultured smooth muscle cells from the antrum of neonatal rats

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of motilin on [Ca(2+)](i) regulation and its underlying molecular mechanism in cultured antral smooth muscle cells (ASMCs).

METHODS

Antral cells were isolated and cultured from neonatal rats, and then the [Ca(2+)](i) in these cells was evaluated by calcium fluorescent probe Fluo-3/AM on a laser scanning confocal microscope.

RESULTS

We show that motilin dose-dependently increased [Ca(2+)](i) concentration in cultured ASMCs. Pre-incubation of cells with either the calcium antagonist verapamil (10(-5) mol L(-1)) or the calcium chelator Egtazic (EGTA, 0.1 mmol L(-1)) significantly suppressed motilin (10(-6) mol L(-1)) induced [Ca(2+)](i) increase as indicated by fluorescent intensity. Interestingly, after mixing with the non-selective intracellular calcium release blocker TMB-8 (10(-5) mol L(-1)), guanosine triphosphate regulatory protein antagonist NEM (10(-5) mol L(-1)), phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor compound 48/80 (1.2 microg mL(-1)) and ryanodine at high concentration (10(-5) mol L(-1)), the motilin-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increase was only partially blocked. The protein kinase C inhibitor d-sphingosine (10(-6) mol L(-1)), however, did not show any inhibitory effect on motilin-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that motilin-stimulated [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in ASMCs is probably due to sustained extracellular Ca(2+) influx and Ca(2+) release from Ca(2+) stores via inositol tris-phosphate receptors and ryanodine receptors. Specifically, motilin-induced [Ca(2+)](i) release is accompanied with guanosine triphosphate-binding protein-coupled receptor-PLC-inositol tris-phosphate signalling cascades.

Crystal orientation and thickness dependence of the superconducting transition temperature of tetragonal FeSe1-x thin films

Superconductivity was recently found in the tetragonal phase FeSe. A structural transformation from tetragonal to orthorhombic (or monoclinic, depending on point of view) was observed at low temperature, but was not accompanied by a magnetic ordering as commonly occurs in the parent compounds of FeAs-based superconductors. Here, we report the correlation between structural distortion and superconductivity in FeSe(1-x) thin films with different preferred growth orientations. The films with preferred growth along the c axis show a strong thickness dependent suppression of superconductivity and low temperature structural distortion. In contrast, both properties are less affected in the films with (101) preferred orientation. These results suggest that the low temperature structural distortion is closely associated with the superconductivity of this material.

Effects of mushroom and herb polysaccharides, as alternatives for an antibiotic, on growth performance of broilers

(1) This in vivo trial was conducted to study the effects of polysaccharide extracts of two mushrooms, Lentinus edodes (LenE) and Tremella fuciformis (TreE), and a herb, Astragalus membranaceus (AstE) on growth performance, and the weights of organs and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of broiler chickens. (2) Three extracts (LenE, TreE and AstE) were supplemented at inclusion rates of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/kg from 7 to 14 d of age and compared with an antibiotic treatment group (20 mg/kg, virginiamycin (VRG) as well as a group of non-supplemented birds. (3) Body weight (BW) gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the extract-supplemented groups were not significantly different from those of the antibiotic group. Significant effects of type of extract and concentration on growth performance were found from 7 to 28 d of age. Generally, birds fed with LenE showed higher BW gain and lower FCR from 7 to 28 d of age than those fed with TreE and AstE and 2 g/kg LenE was considered the optimal inclusion rate for enhanced broiler growth. However, the extracts had no significant effect on the relative weights of organs and GIT compared with the antibiotic group. (4) The birds fed the extracts showed better growth performance than the non-supplemented birds, but were not significantly different from those fed VRG. Of the three extracts, LenE appeared to be a potential growth promoter. Future studies are needed to investigate whether the extracts can be used as alternatives for antibiotic growth promoters in challenged birds, and to elucidate the mechanisms for potentially enhanced growth performance in poultry.

Effects of mushroom and herb polysaccharides, as alternatives for an antibiotic, on the cecal microbial ecosystem in broiler chickens

An in vivo experiment was conducted to study the potential prebiotic effects of mushroom and herb polysaccharide extracts, Lentinus edodes extract (LenE), Tremella fuciformis extract, and Astragalus membranaceus Radix extract, on chicken growth and the cecal microbial ecosystem, as compared with the antibiotic Apramycin (APR). This investigation was carried out in terms of a dose-response study. The chickens were naturally infected with avian Mycoplasma gallisepticum prior to the experiment. The BW gain, cecal pH, viscosity, and predominant microbial populations were measured 1 wk after the extract and APR treatments. The extracts and APR significantly stimulated growth of the chickens infected with avian Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The average BW gain of the groups fed with the extracts was significantly lower than that of the antibiotic group. The extracts had no significant effect on cecal pH. However, cecal viscosity and microbial populations were significantly affected by feeding extracts and antibiotic. In contrast to APR, the extracts stimulated the number of the potentially beneficial bacteria (bifidobacteria and lactobacilli), while reducing the number of the potentially harmful bacteria (Bacteroides spp. and Escherichia coli). Of the 3 extracts, LenE was associated with the most cecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. With each increase in the LenE dose, birds tended to have higher BW gain and total aerobe and anaerobe counts. Numbers of predominant cecal bacteria, in particular, E. coli, bifidobacteria, and lactobacilli, were significantly increased with increases in the LenE dose. It would seem that these specific mushroom and herb polysaccharide extracts hold some promise as potential modifiers of intestinal microbiota in diseased chickens.

[Studies on dissolution of icariin from wuxian huichun capsules]

The accumulated dissolution of icariin from the traditional Chinese Wuxian Huichun capsules has been determined by roll-basket and three-wavelength UV spectrophotometry within 100 minutes. The values of T50 and Td for samples c, d are significantly greater than those for a, b. It is thus essential to determine the dissolution as a means to control the quality of capsules.

Magnesium levels in middle ear fluids and sera in otitis media with effusion

Middle ear fluids (MEE) and matched sera (S) were obtained from 50 patients with serous otitis media and magnesium levels were measured to determine if magnesium concentration was distinctly varied in otitis media with effusion (OME). The MEE/S ratio was considerably raised along with transient sensory hearing loss in chronic OME when compared with acute OME. The higher magnesium level found in the MEE implies that it is probably produced locally by the middle ear mucosa and may contribute to the hearing loss found. We also regard the MEE/S ratio as a prognostic factor in OME.

[24-hour esophageal pH monitoring. An analysis of 21 cases]

Esophageal pH monitoring was carried out with self-made portable pH recorder in 21 subjects for 24 hours under normal conditions. The results were as follows: the number of physiological gastroesophageal reflux (GER, pH < 4) was less than 23 times; the percentage of GER duration calculated by dividing the cumulative time of pH less than 4 by the total monitoring time was less than 1.4; the percentage was about 2 in upright position and less than 0.2 in lying position; the duration of the longest reflux episode was less than 5 minutes; the physiological gastroesophageal reflux occurred more often in upright position; while the pathological GER took place both in upright and lying position. Our study also indicated that the degree of esophagitis had no relation with the type of GER.

[Gastric elimination research on patients with gastric disease]

Liquid elimination function of the stomach was studied in 41 patients and 9 normal subjects by using SPECT technique. The result suggested that six kinds of the liquid elimination curve of stomach can be classified. Patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer mostly were kinds of slow elimination (1) and (2). Normal subjects mostly were kind of (6). The pathophysiologic significance of six kinds liquid elimination pattern needs further research.