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Background: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been used as an effective noninvasive method for treating fractures and osteoarthrosis, but the application in the field of oral implantation is in its infancy. This study aimed to clarify the effect and mechanism of LIPUS on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and implant osseointegration, and to provide an experimental basis for future clinical applications., Methods: Dental implants were inserted into Wistar rat femurs, and LIPUS was performed for 4 weeks. Micro-CT and toluidine blue staining were used to assess implant osseointegration. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were used to identify enriched functional terms and signalling pathways for differentially expressed genes from LIPUS-treated rat BMSC RNAseq data obtained from the GEO database. The random forest method was used to identify key risk genes according to the mean decrease Gini (MDG) coefficient. Then, LIPUS was applied to treat rat BMSCs, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, alizarin red staining, RT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine whether LIPUS could promote BMSC osteogenic differentiation via integrin α11 (ITGA11) and the focal adhesion pathway., Results: Our in vivo experimentations verified that LIPUS significantly increased new bone formation and osseointegration around the implant in rats. Bioinformatics analysis of RNA-seq data revealed that the upregulated genes in BMSCs after LIPUS treatment were significantly enriched in osteoblast differentiation-related functions and focal adhesion-related pathways. Random forest analysis revealed that ITGA11 was the most significant factor affecting BMSC osteogenic differentiation among the differentially expressed genes. In addition, LIPUS significantly increased ALP expression and mineralized nodule formation in rat BMSCs by upregulating ITGA11 and increasing the activity of FAK/PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway., Conclusions: LIPUS can effectively promote implant osseointegration in rats and improve rat BMSC osteogenic differentiation by upregulating ITGA11 and increasing the activity of the downstream focal adhesion pathway., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the Animal Ethical and Welfare Committee of Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University (licence number: KQYY-202110-006), Beijing, China. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the impact of different estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values like cystatin C-based eGFR (eGFRcys), creatinine-based eGFR (eGFRcr), and their difference (eGFRdiff; eGFRcys -eGFRcr), on the incidence of heart failure (HF) in patients with type 2 diabetes(T2D)., Methods: Being a prospective cohort study, it included 7,967 patients with T2D who underwent serum creatinine and cystatin C tests as part of the Kailuan Group's 6th annual health examination (2016). Subsequently, eGFRcys, eGFRcr, and eGFRdiff were calculated. Patients were categorized into three groups: negative (<-15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), midrange (-15 to 15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), and positive (> 15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) eGFRdiff groups, respectively. Furthermore, the relationship between the various eGFR measurements and new-onset HF were studied using Cox proportional hazards regression, and the potential improvement in predictive capability was evaluated by adding these eGFR metrics to established HF risk models., Results: Among 7967 participants with mean age of 60.51 years, there were 20.92% women and 79.08% men. At baseline, eGFRcys and eGFRcr values differed by more than 15 mL/min/1.73m 2 in 41.3% of participants. During a median follow-up period of 3.76 years, there were 172 (2.16%) new HF cases and 517 (6.49%) all-cause deaths. The cumulative incidence of HF in the midrange, negative, and positive eGFRdiff groups was 1.74%, 4.10%, and 0.61%, respectively (p < 0.001). In multivariable adjusted models, participants in the negative eGFRdiff group had higher risk of HF compared with the midrange eGFRdiff group (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.57-2.94). Conversely, participants in the positive eGFRdiff group had lower risk for HF (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.17-0.93). And each 15 mL/min/ 1.73 m 2 higher eGFRdiff was associated with 34% (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.58 - 0.47)lower risk of incident HF. The predictive capacity for HF risk in diabetic individuals was enhanced by adding eGFRcys or eGFRdiff to established HF risk models, with eGFRcys showing more significant additional predictive value., Conclusion: These findings suggest that large differences between eGFRcys and eGFRcr were common in community-based population with T2D. Different eGFR metrics can independently predict HF incidence in patients with T2D. Additionally, metrics like eGFRcys and eGFRdiff provide significant predictive value for HF risks beyond traditional risk factors, with eGFRcys showing more pronounced benefits in such cases., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Previous observational studies have highlighted potential relationships between the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene, short leukocyte telomere length (LTL), and cerebrovascular disease. However, it remains to be established as to whether TERT gene variants are associated with an elevated risk of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and whether there is a causal relationship between LTL and CSVD., Methods: Five TERT single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed in 307 CSVD patients and 320 healthy controls in whom LTL values were quantified. Allele models and four genetic models were used to explore the relationship between these SNP genotypes and CSVD risk. A Mendelian randomization analysis of CSVD risk was then performed using LTL-related SNPs and the polygenic risk score (PRS) constructed from these SNPs as genetic instrumental variables to predict the causal relationship between LTL and CSVD risk., Results: Model association analyses identified two SNPs that were significantly associated with CSVD risk. LTL was significantly correlated with age (P < 0.001), and the MR analysis revealed an association between short LTL and an elevated risk of CSVD. PRS-based genetic prediction of short LTLs was also significantly related to an elevated CSVD risk., Conclusion: Multiple genetic models and MR results indicate that TERT gene SNPs may be related to an elevated risk of CSVD, and that shorter LTL may be causally linked to such CSVD risk., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a challenging inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder, whose therapies encounter limitations in overcoming insufficient colonic retention and rapid systemic clearance. In this study, we report an innovative polymeric prodrug nanoformulation for targeted UC treatment through sustained 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) delivery. Amphiphilic polymer-based 13.5 nm micelles were engineered to incorporate azo-linked 5-ASA prodrug motifs, enabling cleavage via colonic azoreductases. In vitro, micelles exhibited excellent stability under gastric/intestinal conditions while demonstrating controlled 5-ASA release over 24 h in colonic fluids. Orally administered micelles revealed prolonged 24-h retention and a high accumulation within inflamed murine colonic tissue. At an approximately 60% dose reduction from those most advanced recent studies, the platform halted DSS colitis progression and outperformed standard 5-ASA therapy through a 77-97% suppression of inflammatory markers. Histological analysis confirmed intact colon morphology and restored barrier protein expression. This integrated prodrug nanoformulation addresses limitations in colon-targeted UC therapy through localized bioactivation and tailored pharmacokinetics, suggesting the potential of nanotechnology-guided precision delivery to transform disease management., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Lignocellulosic biomass is currently underutilized, but it offers promise as a resource for the generation of commercial end-products, such as biofuels, detergents, and other oleochemicals. Rhodococcus opacus PD630 is an oleaginous, Gram-positive bacterium with an exceptional ability to utilize recalcitrant aromatic lignin breakdown products to produce lipid molecules such as triacylglycerols (TAGs), which are an important biofuel precursor. Lipid carbon storage molecules accumulate only under growth-limiting low nitrogen conditions, representing a significant challenge toward using bacterial biorefineries for fuel precursor production. In this work, we screened overexpression of 27 native transcriptional regulators for their abilities to improve lipid accumulation under nitrogen-rich conditions, resulting in three strains that accumulate increased lipids, unconstrained by nitrogen availability when grown in phenol or glucose. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the best strain (#13) enhanced FA production via activation of the β-ketoadipate pathway. Gene deletion experiments confirm that lipid accumulation in nitrogen-replete conditions requires reprogramming of phenylalanine metabolism. By generating mutants decoupling carbon storage from low nitrogen environments, we move closer toward optimizing R. opacus for efficient bioproduction on lignocellulosic biomass., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Despite the implementation of various postoperative management strategies, the prevalence of postoperative fatigue syndrome (POFS) remains considerable among individuals undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. While the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist esketamine has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing sleep quality and alleviating postoperative pain, its impact on POFS remains uncertain. Consequently, the objective of this study is to ascertain whether perioperative administration of esketamine can effectively mitigate the occurrence of POFS in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy., Methods: A total of 133 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer were randomly assigned to two groups, namely the control group (Group C) (n = 66) and the esketamine group (Group E) (n = 67), using a double-blind method. The Group C received standardized anesthesia, while the Group E received esketamine in addition to the standardized anesthesia. The primary outcome measure assessed was the Christensen fatigue score at 3 days after the surgical procedure, while the secondary outcomes included the disparities in postoperative fatigue, postoperative pain, sleep quality, and adverse reactions between the two groups., Results: In the group receiving esketamine, the fatigue scores of Christensen on the third day after surgery were significantly lower compared to the Group C (estimated difference, -0.70; 95% CI, -1.37 to -0.03; P = 0.040). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the occurrence of fatigue in the Group E compared to the Group C on the first and third days following surgery (P < 0.05). Also, compared to individuals who had distal gastrectomy, those who had entire gastrectomy demonstrated a higher degree of postoperative tiredness reduction with esketamine. Furthermore, the Group E exhibited reduced postoperative pain and improved sleep in comparison to the Group C. Both groups experienced similar rates of adverse events., Conclusions: The use of esketamine during the perioperative period can improve POFS after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, without adverse reactions., Trial Registration: Registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300072167) on 05/06 /2023., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: WOX genes are a class of plant-specific transcription factors. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) family is a member of the homeobox transcription factor superfamily. Previous studies have shown that WOX members play important roles in plant growth and development. However, studies of the WOX gene family in blueberry plants have not been reported., Results: In order to understand the biological function of the WOX gene family in blueberries, bioinformatics were used methods to identify WOX gene family members in the blueberry genome, and analyzed the basic physical and chemical properties, gene structure, gene motifs, promoter cis-acting elements, chromosome location, evolutionary relationships, expression pattern of these family members and predicted their functions. Finally, 12 genes containing the WOX domain were identified and found to be distributed on eight chromosomes. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the blueberry WOX gene family had three major branches: ancient branch, middle branch, and WUS branch. Blueberry WOX gene family protein sequences differ in amino acid number, molecular weight, isoelectric point and hydrophobicity. Predictive analysis of promoter cis-acting elements showed that the promoters of the VdWOX genes contained abundant light response, hormone, and stress response elements. The VdWOX genes were induced to express in both stems and leaves in response to salt and drought stress., Conclusions: Our results provided comprehensive characteristics of the WOX gene family and important clues for further exploration of its role in the growth, development and resistance to various stress in blueberry plants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aims: We aimed to explore the associations between urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) and cardia-cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in Chinese population with type 2 diabetes(T2D)., Methods: We included 8975 participants with T2D but free of prevalent CVD (including myocardial infarction, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke) at baseline from Kailuan study who were assessed with uACR between 2014 and 2016. The participants were divided into three groups based on their baseline uACR: normal (< 3 mg/mmol), microalbuminuria (3-30 mg/mmol), and macroalbuminuria (≥ 30 mg/mmol). Cox regression models and restricted cubic spline were used to evaluate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of incident CVD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to see if incorporating uACR into existing models could improve performance., Results: During a median follow-up of 4.05 years, 560 participants developed first CVD event (6.24%). After adjustment for potential confounders, participants with microalbuminuria had higher risks of CVD compared with normal uACR, with HRs of 1.57(95% CI 1.04-2.37) for myocardial infarction, 1.24(95% CI 1.00-1.54) for ischemic stroke,1.62(95% CI 0.73-3.61) for hemorrhagic stroke, and 1.30(95% CI 1.07-1.57) for total CVD. The risks gradually attenuated with uACR increase, with HRs of 2.86(95% CI 1.63-5.00) for myocardial infarction, 2.46(95% CI 1.83-3.30) for ischemic stroke, 4.69(95% CI 1.72-12.78) for hemorrhagic stroke, and 2.42(95% CI 1.85-3.15) for total CVD in macroalbuminuria. The addition of uACR to established CVD risk models improved the CVD risk prediction efficacy., Conclusions: Increasing uACR, even below the normal range, is an independent risk factor for new-onset CVD in T2D population. Furthermore, uACR could improve the risk prediction for CVD among community based T2D patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Evidence on the willingness of men who have sex with men (MSM) with oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) experience, especially those with suboptimal adherence, to take long-acting injectable PrEP (LAI-PrEP) is critical to guide future LAI-PrEP implementation., Objective: The objective was to assess the willingness of MSM with oral PrEP experience to take LAI-PrEP., Methods: MSM who participated in the China Real-world Study of Oral PrEP (CROPrEP) were enrolled in this study. Information on the willingness of MSM to take LAI-PrEP and potential correlates was collected using a structured online questionnaire. The main outcomes were the willingness of MSM to take LAI-PrEP and its association with HIV-related behaviours, sexually transmitted infections, and oral PrEP history. Logistic regression was used to identify correlates of the willingness of MSM to take LAI-PrEP., Results: A total of 612 former CROPrEP participants (FCPs) were included in this study. There were 315 (51.5%) daily oral PrEP (D-PrEP) users and 297 (48.5%) event-driven oral PrEP (ED-PrEP) users at the last follow-up. Most FCPs (77.8%) were willing to take free LAI-PrEP. FCPs with no less than two sexual male partners (aOR = 1.54, [95% CI: 1.04, 2.29], P = 0.031), those with male partners with unknown HIV statuses (aOR = 2.04, [95% CI: 1.31, 3.18], P = 0.002), those with recreational drug use (aOR = 1.58, [95% CI: 1.05, 2.40], P = 0.030), and those with HSV-2 positivity (aOR = 2.15, [95% CI: 1.30, 3.57], P = 0.003) were more willing to take LAI-PrEP, while ED-PrEP users (aOR = 0.66, [95% CI: 0.45, 0.98], P = 0.037) and FCPs with suboptimal oral PrEP adherence (aOR = 0.58, [95% CI: 0.36, 0.94], P = 0.026) were less willing to take LAI-PrEP., Conclusion: LAI-PrEP has good prospects for expanding PrEP coverage. However, FCPs with suboptimal oral PrEP adherence are less likely to take LAI-PrEP. Further intervention and implementation efforts are needed to improve the willingness of MSM to use LAI-PrEP, and sexual health should be considered during the discussion about PrEP initiation., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: The doctor-patient relationship (DPR) plays a crucial role in the Chinese healthcare system, functioning to improve medical quality and reduce medical costs. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Difficult Doctor-Patient Relationship Questionnaire (DDPRQ-10) among general hospital inpatients in China., Methods: The research recruited 38 resident doctors responsible for 120 participants, and factor analyses were used to assess the construct validity of the scale. Convergent validity was evaluated by examining the correlation between DDPRQ-10 and depressive symptoms, burnout, and self-efficacy, using the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Both multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) and unidimensional item response theory (IRT) frameworks were used to estimate the parameters of each item., Results: The Chinese version of DDPRQ-10 showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.931), and fitted in a modified two-factor model of positive feelings and negative feelings (χ2/df = 1.494, GFI = 0.925, RMSEA = 0.071, SRMR = 0.008, CFI = 0.985, NFI = 0.958, NNFI = 0.980, TLI = 0.980, IFI = 0.986). Significant correlations with PHQ-9 with DDPRQ-10 and both subscales were revealed (r = 0.293 ~ 0.333, p < .001), while DDPRQ-10 score also significantly correlated with doctors' MBI score (r = -0.467, p < .001). The MIRT model of full scale and IRT models of both subscales showed high discrimination of all items (a = 2.30 ~ 10.18), and the test information within the range of low-quality relationship was relatively high., Conclusion: The Chinese version of DDPRQ-10 displayed satisfactory reliability and validity and thus was appropriate for measuring the DPR in Chinese medical settings., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Constipation is one of the most common non-motor symptoms in PD patients, and the constipation, can appear before motor symptoms. Incorrect treatment of constipation in PD patients can result in colonic volvulus and pseudo intestinal obstruction, as well as a reduction in the therapeutic effect of anti-PD drugs due to absorption issues. There is, however, no comprehensive and scientific nursing intervention plan for PD patients' constipation who are constipated., Methods: A multi-disciplinary nursing research group of five people was established to construct the first draft of intervention plan through literature review. We chose 15 experts from 7 universities and tertiary hospitals spread over 5 provinces (cities), including 4 neurologists, 9 clinical nursing specialists in neurology, 1 dietician, and 1 rehabilitator. Two rounds of consultations were held from April to July 2022 with 15 experts to screen and revise the indicators at each level, confirming their importance and feasibility at each level., Results: There were three primary indicators (pre-intentional stage, intentional stage, and action stage) in the two rounds of expert correspondence, nine secondary indicators (disease risk perception, adverse consequence expectation, self-efficacy and intention of action; action plan, coping plan and coping self-efficacy; produce healthy behaviors, maintain healthy behaviors, recover behaviors and recover self-efficacy), and 22 tertiary indicators., Conclusions: After the implementation of two rounds of Delphi method, the final formed constipation intervention program for PD patients provides the basis for clinical nursing practice, which has the characteristics of convenience, comprehensiveness, dependence, scientific and feasibility. Therefore, it has application and promotion value., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Pumpkin seeds are major oil crops with high nutritional value and high oil content. The collection and identification of different pumpkin germplasm resources play a significant role in the realization of precision breeding and variety improvement. In this research, we collected 75 species of pumpkin from the Zhejiang Province of China. 35,927 near-infrared hyperspectral images of 75 types of pumpkin seeds were used as the research object., Results: To realize the rapid classification of pumpkin seed varieties, position attention embedded three-dimensional convolutional neural network (PA-3DCNN) was designed based on hyperspectral image technology. The experimental results showed that PA-3DCNN had the best classification effect than other classical machine learning technology. The classification accuracy of 99.14% and 95.20% were severally reached on the training and test sets. We also demonstrated that the PA-3DCNN model performed well in next year's classification with fine-tuning and met with 94.8% accuracy., Conclusions: The model performance improved by introducing double convolution and pooling structure and position attention module. Meanwhile, the generalization performance of the model was verified, which can be adopted for the classification of pumpkin seeds in multiple years. This study provided a new strategy and a feasible technical approach for identifying germplasm resources of pumpkin seeds., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Taxaceae, is a class of dioecious and evergreen plant with substantial economic and ecology value. At present many phytochemical analyses have been performed in Taxus plants. And various biological constituents have been isolated from various Taxus species. However, the difference of compounds and antioxidant capacity of different tissues of T. media is not clear., Results: In the present study, we investigated the metabolites and antioxidant activity of four tissues of T. media, including T. media bark (TB), T. media fresh leaves (TFL), T. media seeds (TS), T. media aril (TA). In total, 808 compounds, covering 11 subclasses, were identified by using UPLC-MS/MS. Paclitaxel, the most popular anticancer compound, was found to accumulate most in TS, followed by TB, TFL and TA in order. Further analysis found that 70 key differential metabolites with VIP > 1.0 and p < 0.05, covering 8 subclasses, were screened as the key differential metabolites in four tissues. The characteristic compounds of TFL mainly included flavonoids and tanninsis. Alkaloids and phenolic acids were major characteristic compounds of TS and TB respectively. Amino acids and derivatives, organic acids, saccharides and lipids were the major characteristic compounds of TA. Additionally, based on FRAP and ABTS method, TS and TFL exhibited higher antioxidant activity than TB and TA., Conclusion: There was significant difference in metabolite content among different tissues of T. media. TFL and TS had higher metabolites and antioxidant capacity than other tissues, indicating that TFL and TS were more suitable for the development and utilization of T. media in foods and drinks., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by premature closure of coronal sutures, results in skull and facial deformities along with abnormal brain and ocular development., Case Presentation: Here, we report a case of a 27-year-old ethnic han male patient who presented with complex binocular strabismus secondary to Crouzon syndrome. At the time of surgery, extraocular muscles were found to be fibrotic and results of the pathological examination revealed degeneration of muscle fibers, which were replaced by adipose tissue. The entire exome sequencing DNA testing indicated that the patient and his father possessed the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene c.G812T:p.G271V heterozygous mutation. Binocular strabismus corrective surgery was performed in this patient with a satisfactory outcome., Conclusions: This case demonstrates that Crouzon syndrome patients can show an FGFR2 gene c.G812T:p.G271V mutation and display clinical symptoms such as extraocular muscle fibrosis, exotropia, exophthalmos, and a pointed head deformity., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Evidence from previous studies has suggested that ginger extract exhibits the potential as an alternative treatment for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we want to investigate whether ginger supplement improves the clinical manifestation of hospitalized COVID-19 individuals., Methods: A total of 227 hospitalized individuals with COVID-19 were randomized to either the control (n = 132) or intervention group (n = 95). The intervention group took ginger supplement orally at the dosage of 1.5 g twice daily, until they were discharged from the hospital. Both groups received the same standard of general medical care during hospitalization, and the length of stay was recorded and compared between groups., Results: Among all participants, a significant reduction in hospitalization time (the difference between the treatment and control groups was 2.4 d, 95% CI 1.6-3.2) was detected in response to the ginger supplement. This effect was more pronounced in men, participants aged 60 years or older, and participants with pre-existing medical conditions, relative to their counterparts (P-interactions < 0.05 for all)., Conclusion: Ginger supplement significantly shortened the length of stay of hospitalized individuals with COVID-19., Trial Registration: The trial was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200059824)., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: It has not yet been determined whether gastroscopy and colonoscopy screening help patients with gallbladder diseases. We aim to retrospectively investigate the relationship between gallbladder diseases and gastrointestinal polyps in order to provide a theoretical basis for the early screening of gastrointestinal polyps in patients with gallbladder disease., Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study involving 1662 patients who underwent gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and abdominal ultrasound as part of their health check-up from January 2015 to July 2020. We also compared the patients with and without gallbladder diseases to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal polyps., Results: Patients with gallbladder polyps had greater odds of having colorectal polyps (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.77, 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 1.23 to 2.54, p=0.002) and gastric plus colorectal polyps (adjusted OR=2.94, 95%Cl: 1.62 to 5.32, p<0.001) than those without. Patients with multiple gallbladder polyps had greater odds of having colorectal polyps (adjusted OR=2.33, 95% CI: 1.33 to 4.07, p=0.003) and gastric plus colorectal polyps (adjusted OR=3.95, 95% CI: 1.72 to 9.11, p=0.001), and patients with gallbladder polyps had greater odds of having left-colon polyps (adjusted OR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.25 to 2.88, p=0.003) and colorectal adenoma (adjusted OR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.66, p=0.005). We also noted that women with gallbladder polyps had a higher prevalence of colorectal polyps (OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.20 to 3.77, p=0.010) and gastric plus colorectal polyps (OR=3.69, 95% CI: 1.58 to 8.62, p=0.003). However, no positive correlation was observed between gallbladder stones and gastrointestinal polyps., Conclusions: Gallbladder polyps are significant indicators of colorectal and gastric plus colorectal polyps. Hence, gastroscopy and colonoscopy screening should be performed for patients with gallbladder polyps, particularly female patients and those with multiple gallbladder polyps., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Iron overload plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Non-invasive evaluation of renal iron overload in diabetes in the management and intervention of diabetic nephropathy is of great significance. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating renal iron overload in diabetes using a rabbit model., Methods: The rabbits were randomly divided into control, iron-overload (I), diabetes (D), and diabetes with iron-overload (DI) groups (each n = 19). The diabetes models were generated by injecting intravenous alloxan solution, and the iron-overload models were generated by injecting intramuscular iron-dextran. BOLD MRI was performed immediately (week 0) and at week 4, 8, and 12 following modeling. The differences in renal cortex (CR 2 * ) and outer medulla R 2 * (MR 2 * ) and the ratio of MR 2 * -CR 2 * (MCR) across the different time points were compared., Results: Iron was first deposited in glomeruli in the I group and in proximal tubular cells in renal cortex in the D group. In the DI group, there was iron deposition in both glomeruli and proximal tubular cells at week 4, and the accumulation increased subsequently. The degree of kidney injury and iron overload was more severe in the DI group than those in the I and D groups at week 12. At week 8 and 12, the CR 2 * and MR 2 * in the DI group were higher than those in the I and D groups (all P < 0.05). The MCR in the I, D, and DI groups decreased from week 0 to 4 (all P < 0.001), and that in the I group increased from week 8 to 12 (P = 0.034). CR 2 * and MR 2 * values displayed different trends from week 0-12. Dynamic MCR curves in the D and DI groups were different from that in the I group., Conclusion: It presents interactions between diabetes and iron overload in kidney injury, and BOLD MRI can be used to evaluate renal iron overload in diabetes., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Deep-sea mussels living in the cold seeps with enormous biomass act as the primary consumers. They are well adapted to the extreme environment where light is absent, and hydrogen sulfide, methane, and other hydrocarbon-rich fluid seepage occur. Despite previous studies on diversity, role, evolution, and symbiosis, the changing adaptation patterns during different developmental stages of the deep-sea mussels remain largely unknown., Results: The deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus platifrons) of two developmental stages were collected from the cold seep during the ocean voyage. The gills, mantles, and adductor muscles of these mussels were used for the Illumina sequencing. A total of 135 Gb data were obtained, and subsequently, 46,376 unigenes were generated using de-novo assembly strategy. According to the gene expression analysis, amounts of genes were most actively expressed in the gills, especially genes involved in environmental information processing. Genes encoding Toll-like receptors and sulfate transporters were up-regulated in gills, indicating that the gill acts as both intermedium and protective screen in the deep-sea mussel. Lysosomal enzymes and solute carrier responsible for nutrients absorption were up-regulated in the older mussel, while genes related to toxin resistance and autophagy were up-regulated in the younger one, suggesting that the older mussel might be in a vigorous stage while the younger mussel was still paying efforts in survival and adaptation., Conclusions: In general, our study suggested that the adaptation capacity might be formed gradually during the development of deep-sea mussels, in which the gill and the symbionts play essential roles., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Pyroptosis is a highly programmed inflammatory cell death process that represents an innate immune response. In this study, the occurrence of pyroptosis in rat mesangial cells (RMCs) and the effect of Huaier (Trametes robiniophia Murr) on this process were investigated., Methods: RMCs were incubated with OX7 antibodies (0.5 μg/ml, 2.5 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml), normal rat serum (NRS) and Huaier (1 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml). RMC morphology was observed under a light microscope and by immunofluorescence. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was assessed using the CytoTox 96 Non-Radioactive Cytotoxicity Assay Kit. Western blot assays were performed, and then the RMCs were incubated with the methylase DNMT3B and the demethylase 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine., Results: Morphological, LDH, immunofluorescence and western blot analyses showed that RMCs were lysed when stimulated with OX7 antibodies and NRS. RMC lysis released inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-18, interleukin-1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1), and Huaier protected RMCs by controlling lysis and the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Lysis was mediated by pyroptosis due to the positive expression of GSDME. The methylase DNMT3B reduced the expression of GSDME induced by OX7 together with NRS. Furthermore, Huaier significantly suppressed the expression of GSDME, which was increased by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine., Conclusions: Pyroptosis might occur in RMCs, and Huaier can protect RMCs by upregulating the methylation of a group of molecules., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: To compare the accuracy of photogrammetry, intraoral scanning and conventional impression techniques for complete-arch implant rehabilitation., Methods: A master cast containing 6 implant abutment replicas was fabricated. Group PG: digital impressions were taken 10 times using a photogrammetry system; Group IOS: intraoral scanning was performed to fabricate 10 digital impressions; Group CNV: splinted open-tray impression technique was used to fabricate 10 definitive casts. The master cast and conventional definitive casts were digitized with a laboratory reference scanner. For all STL files obtained, scan bodies were converted to implant abutment replicas using a digital library. The accuracy of a digitizer was defined by 2 main parameters, trueness and precision. "Trueness" was used to describe the deviation between test files and reference file, and "precision" was used to describe the closeness between test files. Then, the trueness and precision of three impression techniques were evaluated and statistically compared (α = 0.05)., Results: The median trueness was 24.45, 43.45 and 28.70 μm for group PG, IOS and CNV; Group PG gave more accurate trueness than group IOS (P < 0.001) and group CNV (P = 0.033), group CNV showed more accurate trueness than group IOS (P = 0.033). The median precision was 2.00, 36.00 and 29.40 μm for group PG, IOS and CNV; Group PG gave more accurate precision than group IOS (P < 0.001) and group CNV (P < 0.001), group CNV showed more accurate precision than IOS (P = 0.002)., Conclusions: For complete-arch implant rehabilitation, the photogrammetry system showed the best accuracy of all the impression techniques evaluated, followed by the conventional impression technique, and the intraoral scanner provided the least accuracy., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Restoration with locking-taper implants is a widely used methodology. However, conical connection systems such as locking-taper implant systems have rarely been examined. This study provides a retrospective investigation of locking-taper fixed restorations, mainly focusing on prosthetic complications., Methods: Patients undergo treatment with conical connected implants from 2008 to 2010 were examined. Preparation of the implant sites was performed according to the standard procedures for the Bicon system. Bone healing took over 6 months, and the prosthetic procedure was initiated thereafter. Integrated abutment crowns or gold porcelain crowns were used, and the prosthesis type was a single crown or a fixed dental prosthesis. Once the crown was in place, its occlusion was thoroughly checked and adjusted, and then the crown was glazed or finely polished. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative complication-free rates for 5 and 10 years. Additionally, a Cox regression model was used to identify the factors that independently influenced the results. Implant survival and marginal bone loss were also investigated., Results: A total of 392 patients who underwent 541 implants and 434 locking taper implant-based restorations from 2008 to 2010 were examined. The overall 5-year cumulative complication-free rate was 83.34%. The most common prosthetic complication was veneer chipping, with a frequency of 67.53%. According to the Cox regression model, the complication-free rate of integrated abutment crowns was significantly higher than that of gold porcelain crowns, that of molar regions was significantly higher than that of premolar regions, and that of females was significantly higher than that of males. Only three implant failures happened, and the mean marginal bone loss values at 1- year, 5-years and 10- years were 0.25 mm (95% CI ± 0.12), 0.40 mm (95% CI ± 0.03) and 0.51 mm (95% CI ± 0.05), respectively., Conclusion: Veneer chipping was the most common complication with locking-taper implant-supported fixed restorations. The incidence of complications for IACs is significantly higher than that for GPCs. Age, location, and prosthesis type are not determinants of prosthetic complications. Besides, the long-term clinical effect of locking-taper implant can meet the clinical needs. The bone tissue level around the implant can maintain long-term stability., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Neural tumors can generally be divided into central nervous system tumors and peripheral nervous tumors. Because this type of tumor is located in the nerve, even benign tumors are often difficult to remove by surgery. In addition, the majority of neural tumors are malignant, and it is particular the same for the central nervous system tumors. Even treated with the means such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, they are also difficult to completely cure. In recent years, an increasingly number of studies have focused on the use of mRNA to treat tumors, representing an emerging gene therapy. The use of mRNA can use the expression of some functional proteins for the treatment of genetic disorders or tissue repair, and it can also be applied to immunotherapy through the expression of antigens, antibodies or receptors. Therefore, although these therapies are not fully-fledged enough, they have a broad research prospect. In addition, there are many ways to treat tumors using mRNA vaccines and exosomes carrying mRNA, which have drawn much attention. In this study, we reviewed the current research on the role of mRNA in the development, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of neural tumors, and examine the future research prospects of mRNA in neural tumors and the opportunities and challenges that will arise in the future application of clinical treatment.

Background: There is limited information about the types of recreational drugs used by men who have sex with men (MSM) in China or the consequent impact on sexual health and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition., Methods: We recruited MSM from seven cities in China between 2012 and 2013 using multiple approaches including advertisements on gay websites, collaborating with local MSM community-based organizations, peer referrals, and venues such as gay bars and bathrooms visited by MSM. We divided participants into four subgroups based on the number of recreational drugs (RDs) used in the previous 6 months. We defined use of multiple RDs as use of ≥2 types of RDs. Demographics and HIV-related high-risk behaviors were collected, and blood samples were tested for recent HIV infection by the HIV-1 subtypes B, E, and D immunoglobulin G capture enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA). We used multivariable logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographics to determine the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the subgroups of RD use for recent or established HIV infection., Results: A total of 4496 Chinese MSM participated; 28.4% used RDs, and 5% used multiple types of RDs. The prevalence of each RD use was as follows: poppers (25.9%), ecstasy (2.4%), ketamine (1.2%), amphetamine (0.6%), tramadol (0.4%), methamphetamine (3.8%), and codeine (1.9%). Users of multiple RDs commonly used poppers combined with one or more other types of RDs. Multiple RD users were likely to be aged 26-30 years (vs. 18-25 and > 30 years), live in non-local cities (vs. local cities), never married (vs. married), have a high monthly income (vs. no income and 1-599 USD), use versatile positions during anal intercourse (vs. top or bottom), and have inadequate HIV-related prevention knowledge (vs. adequate). As the number of RDs used in the previous 6 months increased, the prevalence of HIV-related high-risk behaviors increased (P < 0.05 for all). The odds of recent HIV infection were higher among those who used one type (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.5-3.0) or two types of RD (aOR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.0-5.2) in the previous 6 months compared to the odds among those who did not use RDs., Conclusion: The level and pattern of multiple RD use among Chinese MSM were different from high-income countries. MSM who used more RDs are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, and these behaviors may be associated with increases in new HIV infections.

Background: Rectal douching (RD) is widely practiced by men who have sex with men (MSM), and is associated with increased risk of HIV infection. However, the mechanism of how RD increases the risk of HIV infection is not well understood, and there is limited data on RD behavior in MSM practicing anal sex in China. We examine the purpose of RD, its timing in relation to anal sex, the types of RD products used, and risky sexual behaviors among MSM reporting anal sex., Methods: Between August 2017 and December 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted among adult MSM in Shenyang, China. Data were collected on demographics, sexual behaviors, and RD for the most recent sexual intercourse by means of interviewer-administered face-to-face questionnaires. Blood samples were collected to test for antibodies to HIV and syphilis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the risk factors associated with HIV infection., Results: A total of 515 eligible MSM participated in this survey (median age: 31 years). During the most recent anal intercourse, 28.3% (146/515) had condomless receptive anal intercourse (CRAI), 21.4% (110/515) practiced serosorting, and more than half (61.6%, 317/515) reported RD before or after anal sex. Of those practicing RD, 96.8% (307/317) conducted RD before sex, while 62.5% (198/317) conducted RD after sex. The douching devices used were primarily shower hoses (85.3%, 262/307), and relatively few MSM used commercial RD products (8.1%, 25/307) before sex. The prevalence of HIV-1 and syphilis was 11.7% and 13.2%, respectively. HIV infection was positively associated with RD, practicing RD before sex, the interaction between RD and CRAI using a shower hose for RD and other risk factors, practicing RD after sex, CRAI, using nitrite inhalants, main sexual role with males as bottom and syphilis infection., Conclusions: RD is popular among Chinese MSM. Improper noncommercial RD tools use (such as shower hose), the interaction effect between RD and CRAI associated with HIV infection. Public health workers and the MSM community should publicize scientific knowledge and prevention approaches relating to RD and HIV transmission to MSM. We recommend that further studies should be conducted to understand the detailed mechanism between RD and increased HIV prevalence.

Background: The results of studies on changes in intracranial pressure in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery are inconsistent. Meanwhile, previous neurosurgery studies have suggested that propofol and sevoflurane have inconsistent effects on cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular self-regulation. The purpose of this study is to compare changes in the optic nerve sheath diameter in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery under anesthetic maintenance with propofol versus sevoflurane., Methods: This study included 110 patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery with an estimated operative time of more than 2 h under general anesthesia. The study was a randomized controlled study. The optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) at various time points was measured by ultrasound, including when the patients entered the operating room (Tawake), after successful anesthesia induction and endotracheal intubation (Tinduction), when the body position was adjusted to the Trendelenburg position and the CO 2 pneumoperitoneum pressure reached 14 mmHg, which was recorded as T 0 . Then, measurements were conducted every 15 min for the first 1 h and then once every hour until the end of the surgery (T 15 , T 30 , T 45 , T 1h , T 2h …), after the end of surgery and the tracheal tube was removed (T end ), and before the patients were transferred to the ward (T pacu )., Results: A significant difference in optic nerve sheath diameter was found between two groups at T 15 , T 30 , T 45 (4.64 ± 0.48 mm and 4.50 ± 0.29 mm, respectively, p = 0.031;4.77 ± 0.45 mm and 4.62 ± 0.28 mm, respectively, p = 0.036;4.84 ± 0.46 mm and 4.65 ± 0.30 mm, respectively, p = 0.012), while there was no significant difference at T awake and other time points., Conclusion: During laparoscopic gynecological surgery lasting more than 2 h, the optic nerve sheath diameter was slightly larger in the propofol group than that in the sevoflurane group in the first 45 min. No significant difference was observed between the two groups 1 h after surgery., Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03498235 . Retrospectively registered 1 March 2018. The manuscript adheres to CONSORT guidelines.

Background: Colon cancer is the most common type of gastrointestinal cancer and has high morbidity and mortality. Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is the main pathological type of colon cancer, and much evidence has supported the correlation between the prognosis of COAD and the immune system. The current study aimed to develop a robust prognostic immune-related gene pair (IRGP) model to estimate the overall survival of patients with COAD., Methods: The gene expression profiles and clinical information of patients with colon adenocarcinoma were obtained from the TCGA and GEO databases and were divided into training and validation cohorts. Immune genes were selected that showed a significant association with prognosis., Results: Among 1647 immune genes, a model with 17 IRGPs was built that was significantly associated with OS in the training cohort. In the training and validation datasets, the IRGP model divided patients into the high-risk group and low-risk group, and the prognosis of the high-risk group was significantly worse (P<0.001). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses confirmed the feasibility of this model. Functional analysis confirmed that multiple tumor progression and stem cell growth-related pathways were upregulated in the high-risk groups. Regulatory T cells and macrophages M0 were significantly highly expressed in the high-risk group., Conclusion: We successfully constructed an IRGP model that can predict the prognosis of COAD, providing new insights into the treatment strategy of COAD.

Background: Chitosan (CTS), a natural polysaccharide, exhibits multiple functions of stress adaptation regulation in plants. However, effects and mechanism of CTS on alleviating salt stress damage are still not fully understood. Objectives of this study were to investigate the function of CTS on improving salt tolerance associated with metabolic balance, polyamine (PAs) accumulation, and Na + transport in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)., Results: CTS pretreatment significantly alleviated declines in relative water content, photosynthesis, photochemical efficiency, and water use efficiency in leaves under salt stress. Exogenous CTS increased endogenous PAs accumulation, antioxidant enzyme (SOD, POD, and CAT) activities, and sucrose accumulation and metabolism through the activation of sucrose synthase and pyruvate kinase activities, and inhibition of invertase activity. The CTS also improved total amino acids, glutamic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation. In addition, CTS-pretreated plants exhibited significantly higher Na + content in roots and lower Na + accumulation in leaves then untreated plants in response to salt stress. However, CTS had no significant effects on K + /Na + ratio. Importantly, CTS enhanced salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathways and also up-regulated the expression of AsHKT1 and genes (AsNHX4, AsNHX5, and AsNHX6) encoding Na + /H + exchangers under salt stress., Conclusions: The application of CTS increased antioxidant enzyme activities, thereby reducing oxidative damage to roots and leaves. CTS-induced increases in sucrose and GABA accumulation and metabolism played important roles in osmotic adjustment and energy metabolism during salt stress. The CTS also enhanced SOS pathway associated with Na + excretion from cytosol into rhizosphere, increased AsHKT1 expression inhibiting Na + transport to the photosynthetic tissues, and also up-regulated the expression of AsNHX4, AsNHX5, and AsNHX6 promoting the capacity of Na + compartmentalization in roots and leaves under salt stress. In addition, CTS-induced PAs accumulation could be an important regulatory mechanism contributing to enhanced salt tolerance. These findings reveal new functions of CTS on regulating Na + transport, enhancing sugars and amino acids metabolism for osmotic adjustment and energy supply, and increasing PAs accumulation when creeping bentgrass responds to salt stress.

Background: Nitrite inhalant use is very common among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. However, there is lack of national representative data on use among Chinese MSM, and the mechanism of how nitrite inhalant use impacts HIV infection in MSM is unclear. This meta-analysis aims to understand the characteristics of Chinese MSM nitrite inhalant users and to determine the associations between nitrite inhalant use and sexual behaviors, the prevalence of HIV, and the prevalence of syphilis., Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Wanfang Data, and VIP Chinese Journal Database for relevant literature published from January 1985 to December 2017., Results: Fifteen eligible studies, with a total of 18,981 Chinese MSM participants, were included. Compared with nitrite inhalant nonusers, users were more likely to be younger, have a higher level of education, and seek sexual partners using the Internet. Nitrite inhalant users were more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, including condomless anal intercourse (odds ratio [OR] = 1.33), group sex (OR = 2.26), and commercial intercourse (OR = 1.50). Nitrite inhalants users had a higher prevalence of HIV (OR = 1.83), higher prevalence of syphilis (OR = 1.38) and had higher lifetime HIV testing rates (OR = 1.33) compared with nonusers (each p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Nitrite inhalant users have higher HIV and syphilis prevalence by increasing levels of high-risk sexual behaviors. China should expand HIV testing, treatment as prevention (TasP), and Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among MSM, especially among nitrite inhalants using MSM, to reduce their risk of HIV infection and transmission.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective biomedical strategy to prevent transmission of HIV infection, although medication adherence remains a challenge. We present the protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial to measure the effectiveness of a real-time monitoring and just-in-time intervention on medication adherence among PrEP users in China., Methods: Study participants will include 1000 men who have sex with men (MSM) from four cites in China (Shenyang, Beijing, Chongqing and Shenzhen) attending a tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) PrEP project as part of a real-world, prospective multicentre cohort study (CROPrEP). Participants will be randomised into the intervention and control arms in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the intervention arm will be provided with remote real-time monitoring equipment that triggers twice just-in-time SMS (Short Messaging Service) medication reminders to PrEP users every half an hour when a scheduled dosage is missed, and followed with just-in-time SMS medication reminders to clinicians half an hour when there is no supplement after the second just-in-time SMS reminder to PrEP users. Clinicians will initiate individualised telephone intervention as soon as possible upon receipt of the just-in-time SMS missed dose alert. Those in the control arm will only receive generic weekly SMS reminders. The study will last 6 months. Participants will be seen at follow-up visits at three and 6 months. Trial outcomes to be measured include self-reported adherence assessed via questionnaire and pill counts, as well as drug concentration test results., Discussion: Medication adherence is critical to achieve optimal benefits from PrEP. This study will be the first individualised behaviour intervention using real-time technology to increase adherence among MSM PrEP users globally. If found effective, a real-time monitoring and just-in-time intervention system may be utilized for improving adherence and thus effectiveness of global PrEP application., Trial Registration: This study registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( ChiCTR1900025604 ) on September 2, 2019.

Background: Clinical treatment of osteosarcoma suffers from high recurrence rate. Therefore, is of great clinical values to develop predictive markers for recurrent osteosarcoma. Cervical carcinoma high-expressed lncRNA 1 (lncRNA CCHE1) participates in several types of malignancies, while its functionality in osteosarcoma is unknown. This study was therefore carried out to explore the involvement of lncRNA CCHE1 in recurrent osteosarcoma., Methods: A total of 87 osteosarcoma patients received surgical resection and 38 healthy volunteers were included in this study. The 87 osteosarcoma patients were followed up for 5 years to record the recurrence of osteosarcoma. Plasma levels of lncRNA CCHE1 and ROCK1 on the day of discharge and during follow-up were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and ELISA, respectively. The effects of CCHE1 siRNA silencing on ROCK1 expression were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot. Transwell assay was performed to analyze the role of lncRNA CCHE1 and ROCK1 in regulating cell invasion and migration., Results: We observed that, on the day of discharge, plasma lncRNA CCHE1 was upregulated in osteosarcoma patients who developed distant recurrence (DR) during follow-up than in osteosarcoma patients who developed local recurrence (LR), patients with non-recurrence (NR) and healthy controls. On the day of discharge, plasma levels of ROCK1 were higher in DR, LR and NR groups in comparison to healthy controls. On the day of discharge, plasma levels of lncRNA CCHE1 were positively correlated with plasma levels of ROCK1 only in patients who developed DR during follow-up, but not in patients who developed LR, NR and control groups. During follow-up, plasma levels of lncRNA CCHE1 were further increased in DR group but slightly decreased in LR and NR groups. LncRNA CCHE1 siRNA silencing inhibited, while ROCK1 overexpression promoted osteosarcoma cell invasion and migration. ROCK1 overexpression attenuated the role of CCHE1. LncRNA CCHE1 siRNA silencing led to inhibited ROCK1 expression in cancer cells., Conclusion: Therefore, lncRNA CCHE1 may participate in postoperative distant recurrence of osteosarcoma caner possibly by interacting with ROCK1 to promote cancer cell invasion and migration.

Gastrointestinal cancer, the most common solid tumor, has a poor prognosis. With the development of high-throughput sequencing and detection technology, recent studies have suggested that many chemical modifications of human RNA are involved in the development of human diseases, including cancer. m 6 A, the most abundant modification, was revealed to participate in a series of aspects of cancer progression. Recent evidence has shown that methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), the first identified and a critical methyltransferase, catalyzes m 6 A methylation on mRNA or non-coding RNA in mammals, affecting RNA metabolism. Abnormal m 6 A levels caused by METTL3 have been reported to be involved in different aspects of cancer development, including proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. In this review, we will shed light on recent findings regarding the biological function of METTL3 in gastrointestinal cancer and discuss future research directions and potential clinical applications of METTL3 for gastrointestinal cancer.

Background: Revealing the mechanical role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis can contribute to novel therapeutic target for cancers. The regulatory role of linc01134 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been studied yet., Materials and Methods: qRT-PCR and western blot were conducted to measure relevant RNA and protein expressions. CCK-8, colony formation, EdU, flow cytometry, wound-healing, transwell assays and xenograft experiments were performed to determine the role of linc01134 in HCC. ChIP and luciferase reporter assays were performed to analyze the effects of Yin Yang-1 (YY1) on linc01134 transcription activity. Relevant mechanical experiments were performed to verify interaction between relative genes., Results: YY1 enhanced linc01134 transcription by interacting with linc01134 promoter. Knockdown of linc01134 inhibited proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), yet promoting apoptosis in HCC cells. Mechanically, linc01134 acted as miR-324-5p sponge and interacted with insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) to increase the stability of YY1 mRNA expression. Up-regulated YY1 continuously stimulated linc01134 expression by enhancing linc01134 promoter activity, forming a positive feedback loop., Conclusion: Linc01134/miR-324-5p/IGF2BP1/YY1 feedback loop mediates HCC progression, which possibly provide prognosis and treatment target of HCC.

Background: BMP3 gene is often found hypermethylated and hence inactivated in several types of cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC), indicating that it has a suppressor role in carcinogenesis. Though BMP3 is a reliable biomarker for screening CRC, the molecular mechanism of BMP3 in carcinogenesis remains largely unknown., Methods: The expression level of BMP3 was examined by immunohistochemistry staining and western blot. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and real-time quantitative MSP were used to test the hypermethylation status of BMP3 gene. Analyses of BMP3 function in colon cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were performed using HCT116 and KM12 cells. BMP3 was further knocked down or overexpressed in CRC cells, and the effects on cell growth of xenograft tumors in nude mice were assessed. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining were used to analyze the association between BMP3 and BMPR2 or BMP3 and ActRIIB. Microarray analysis was performed to identify most differentially expressed genes and pathways regulated by BMP3. The BMP3-regulated SMAD2-dependent signaling pathway and TAK1/JNK signal axes were further investigated by quantitative PCR and western blot., Results: BMP3 gene was hypermethylated and its expression was downregulated in both CRC tissues and cell lines. Expressing exogenous BMP3 in HCT116 inhibited cell growth, migration, and invasion and increased rate of apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. However, shRNA-mediated attenuation of endogenous BMP3 in KM12 reversed such inhibitory and apoptotic effects. Furthermore, BMP3 could bind to ActRIIB, an activin type II receptor at the cellular membrane, thereby activating SMAD2-dependent pathway and TAK1/JNK signal axes to regulate downstream targets including caspase-7, p21, and SMAD4 that play crucial roles in cell cycle control and apoptosis., Conclusions: Our study reveals a previously unknown mechanism of BMP3 tumor suppression in CRC and provides a rationale for future investigation of BMP3 as a potential target for the development of novel therapeutic agents to fight CRC.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a promising and effective tool to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission; however, context-specific data to guide optimal implementation are currently lacking in China. This study aims to systematically collect comprehensive, empirical data to determine effective ways to implement PrEP among at-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) in China., Methods: The CROPrEP project, a real-world study of PrEP use, will recruit 1000 high-risk HIV-negative MSM participants from four cities in China, who will be able to choose between daily or event-driven dosing regimens, according to their preference. Participants will be followed up at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 for PrEP provision, clinical evaluation, laboratory testing (e.g., emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) concentrations, and HIV/sexually transmitted infections), alongside detailed, self-administered online questionnaires regarding sexual behaviors, adherence, and attitudes. Online weekly notes will be used to record pill use and sexual practice. Various measurements will be triangulated to assess adherence, including: self-reported adherence, pill count, and drug concentration. A propensity score matching model will be fitted to examine the effectiveness of PrEP use in HIV seroconversion compared with non-PrEP users selected from a local expanding cohort study of HIV-1-negative MSM at participating research centers. Analyses using a generalized estimating equation model will focus on elucidation of the cascade of PrEP implementation, effectiveness, safety, and possible effects of PrEP use on sexual behaviors. This study will provide a comprehensive assessment of real-world PrEP use among Chinese MSM, to develop guidelines and strategies for PrEP implementation in China., Discussion: The CROPrEP project is the first study of the TDF/FTC combination as PrEP in China, which will provide primary data on PrEP implementation, including: the cascade of PrEP use, "real-world" effectiveness, adherence, and safety. The findings from this study have potential to be vital for promoting the integration of PrEP within the portfolio of HIV prevention interventions and developing guidance on PrEP implementation in China., Trial Registration: ChiCTR-IIN-17013762 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry). Date of registration: 8 December 2017.

Background: Women with vanishing twin syndrome are associated with increased risks of adverse neonatal outcomes, such as preterm birth (PTB) and low birthweight (LBW), compared with those in singleton live births following single embryo transfer (SET) in assisted reproductive technology (ART)., Methods: Anonymized data on all cycles performed in China were obtained from the Reproductive Medicine Department at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, which had involved 127597 cycles following double embryos transfer (DET), including 54585 fresh embryos transfer (ET) cycles and 73012 frozen embryos transfer (FET) cycles. In addition, the obstetric outcomes, such as gestation age, PTB, small for gestation age (SGA), birthweight (BW), LBW, congenital malformation, pediatric admission and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission in the fresh ET and FET cycles, were analyzed. Moreover, logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust the confounders, including age of women, body weight index (BMI), value of AMH, infertile years, current cycle, antral follicles, cause of infertility, number of oocytes retrieved, endometrial thickness at the date of transplantation, number of high-quality embryos, and embryo stage., Results: In the fresh ET cycles, the BW and gestational age in study group were lower than those in control group, which were (2962.4 ± 563.1vs. 3104.9 ± 498. 5, p = 0.000) and (262.8 ± 8.4 vs. 268.9 ± 13.9, p = 0.000), respectively. Relative to control group, the study group was linked with increased risks of PTB (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.45, 95% CI:1.98-3.03, adjusted p = 0.000), LBW (aOR2.11, 95% CI:1.67-2.65, adjusted p = 0.000), pediatric admission (aOR 2.55, 95% CI2.07-3.13, adjusted p = 0.000), and NICU admission (aOR 1.98, 95% CI1.32-2.96, adjusted p = 0.001), but there were no statistically significant differences in the risks of SGA (aOR 1.09, 95% CI0.82-1.45, adjusted p = 0.960) and congenital malformation (aOR 0.94, 95% CI0.53-1.68, adjusted p = 0.640) between the two groups. In the FET cycles, the gestational age and BW in study group were lower than those in control group, which were (263.0 ± 15.7vs. 273.0 ± 10.5, p = 0.000) and (3099 ± 662.1vs. 3352 ± 671.5), respectively. The study group was associated with increased risks of PTB (aOR2. 45, 95% CI: 2.23-3.43, adjusted p = 0.000), LBW (aOR 2.67, 95% CI: 2.13-3.34, adjusted p = 0.000), pediatric admission (aOR2.62, 95% CI2.14-3.21, adjusted p = 0.000), and NICU admission (aOR 2.22, 95% CI1.43, 3.46, adjusted p = 0.001) compared with those in control group, but differences in the risks of SGA (aOR 0.98, 95% CI0.71-1.36, adjusted p = 0.730) and congenital malformation (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.60,1.63, adjusted p = 0.940) between the two groups were not statistically significant., Conclusions: Our study finds that singleton live births with VTS have higher risks of LBW, PTB, pediatric admission and NICU admission than those without VTS in both the fresh and frozen cycles, even after adjusting for confounders. However, no increased risks of SGA or congenital malformation are observed in singleton live births in both the fresh and frozen ART cycles following DET.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) may contribute somewhat to drug metabolism, and thus affecting the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study aimed to determine the frequencies of underweight, normal and overweight/obesity at pre-HAART in a large cohort of HIV-infected Chinese patients, and investigate the prospective effects of BMI on immune reconstitution after HAART initiation., Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was performed to analyze the effects of BMI on immune reconstitution in HIV-infected patients treated with HAART. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between baseline BMI and increased CD4+ T lymphocyte levels at 12 and 30 months after initiating HAART. In addition, Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the relationship between BMI and time to achieve immunologic reconstitution (CD4+ T lymphocytes>500cells/μL) during the follow-up period., Results: Among the 1612 enrolled patients, 283 (17.6%) were overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 ), 173 (10.7%) were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 ) and the remaining were normal weight. Prior to HAART initiating, overweight HIV-infected patients were mostly males, older ages, exhibited higher CD4+ T lymphocytes and lower viral loads (p < 0.01 for all). Patients with higher baseline BMI had an independently positive effect on 30-month CD4+ T lymphocyte recovery (p = 0.028), but not 12-month CD4+ T lymphocyte gain (p = 0.104). In addition, a Cox proportional hazard model with baseline BMI as an independent variable indicated that BMI was correlated with an increased likelihood of achieving immunologic reconstitution over time (hazard ratios [HR] 1.03; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.01-1.06; p = 0.011), after adjusting for baseline age, gender, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD4/CD8 ratio, viral load and WHO stage., Conclusions: Higher baseline BMI could predict better immune reconstitution in HIV-infected patients after HAART initiating.

The steadily increasing demand on transportation fuels calls for renewable fuel replacements. This has attracted a growing amount of research to develop advanced biofuels that have similar physical, chemical, and combustion properties with petroleum-derived fossil fuels. Early generations of biofuels, such as ethanol, butanol, and straight-chain fatty acid-derived esters or hydrocarbons suffer from various undesirable properties and can only be blended in limited amounts. Recent research has shifted to the production of branched-chain biofuels that, compared to straight-chain fuels, have higher octane values, better cold flow, and lower cloud points, making them more suitable for existing engines, particularly for diesel and jet engines. This review focuses on several types of branched-chain biofuels and their immediate precursors, including branched short-chain (C4-C8) and long-chain (C15-C19)-alcohols, alkanes, and esters. We discuss their biosynthesis, regulation, and recent efforts in their overproduction by engineered microbes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Background: Many mathematical and statistical models and algorithms have been proposed to do biomarker identification in recent years. However, the biomarkers inferred from different datasets suffer a lack of reproducibilities due to the heterogeneity of the data generated from different platforms or laboratories. This motivates us to develop robust biomarker identification methods by integrating multiple datasets., Methods: In this paper, we developed an integrative method for classification based on logistic regression. Different constant terms are set in the logistic regression model to measure the heterogeneity of the samples. By minimizing the differences of the constant terms within the same dataset, both the homogeneity within the same dataset and the heterogeneity in multiple datasets can be kept. The model is formulated as an optimization problem with a network penalty measuring the differences of the constant terms. The L 1 penalty, elastic penalty and network related penalties are added to the objective function for the biomarker discovery purpose. Algorithms based on proximal Newton method are proposed to solve the optimization problem., Results: We first applied the proposed method to the simulated datasets. Both the AUC of the prediction and the biomarker identification accuracy are improved. We then applied the method to two breast cancer gene expression datasets. By integrating both datasets, the prediction AUC is improved over directly merging the datasets and MetaLasso. And it's comparable to the best AUC when doing biomarker identification in an individual dataset. The identified biomarkers using network related penalty for variables were further analyzed. Meaningful subnetworks enriched by breast cancer were identified., Conclusion: A network-based integrative logistic regression model is proposed in the paper. It improves both the prediction and biomarker identification accuracy.

Background: We investigated the effectiveness of one education course to lower the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms among breast cancer (BC) patients during radiotherapy (RT)., Methods: All 290 one-sided BC patients were evenly randomized into intervention or control arm. "Intervention" patient was additionally provided with one three-hour course on psychological stresses and management skills. Changes of anxiety and depression score and their 3-level severity category ('normal', 'borderline' and 'abnormal' scored 0-7, 8-10 and 11-21, respectively) from HADS questionnaire over RT were evaluated by multivariable linear and ordinal logistic regressions., Results: Response rates were 94 and 100% by "intervention" and "control" arm, respectively. Means of score changes by "intervention" and "control" (n = 145) were + 0.59 (SD = 2.47) and + 0.11 (SD = 2.55) for anxiety and + 0.81 (SD = 2.81) and + 0.45 (SD = 2.77) for depression scores, respectively. 'Abnormal' anxiety and depression patients were 4.1 and 6.9% at baseline and 4.8 and 6.9% at end of RT at 'control' arm; those rates were 6.6 and 7.4%, and 8.8 and 10.3% at 'intervention' arm, respectively. Both changes on anxiety and depression measurements between two arms were all insignificant (p > 0.20)., Conclusions: One education course did not reduce the score and severity of anxiety and depression symptoms over RT period., Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry #: ChiCTR-IIR-16008818 at www.chictr.org.cn .

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and bacterascites (BA) represent frequent and serious complications in cirrhosis patients with ascites. However, few detailed data are available regarding the clinical and bacteriological feature of SBP or BA patients in China., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed bacteriological and clinical characteristics of patients with SBP and BA at Beijing 302 Hospital in China from January 2012 to December 2015., Results: A total of 600 patients with SBP (n = 408) or BA (n = 192) were enrolled. Patients with BA appeared to have a less severe clinical manifestation and lower mortality rate than patients with SBP. Gram-negative bacteria formed the majority of pathogens in SBP (73.9%) and BA (55.8%) cases. Higher ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) count and hepatocellular carcinoma were independent risk factors for BA episode progressing to SBP. The concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was independent risk factor for 30-day mortality of BA patients. For patients with SBP, the independent risk factors for 30-day mortality were age, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, septic shock and hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with third-generation cephalosporin or carbapenems resistant infection had a significantly lower survival probability. There were significant differences in clinical characteristics and outcome among the major bacteria. Multivariate analysis showed that patients infected with Klebsiella spp. had higher hazard ratio of 30-day mortality., Conclusion: Our study reported the bacteriological and clinical characteristics of patients with SBP and BA. Higher ascitic fluid PMN count and hepatocellular carcinoma were found to be independent risk factors for BA episode progressed to SBP. Outcome of ascitic fluid infection in patients with cirrhosis was influenced by the type of bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility.

Background: Dyslipidemia is commonly seen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. Understanding the risk factors of abnormal lipid profiles is urgent for proposing targeted approaches to prevention. Our objective was to assess the incidence and associated factors of abnormal lipid profiles and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) among antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve men who have sex with men (MSM) acute HIV infection (AHI) and chronic HIV infection (CHI) patients in China., Methods: We compared lipids parameters such as triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and AIP between MSM HIV-infected patients and MSM HIV negative controls. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate risk factors of higher AIP., Results: We performed a case control analysis of 110 AHI, 110 CHI and 100 HIV negative MSM participants. The TC, HDL-C and LDL-C levels were decreased in the AHI and CHI groups compared to the controls (3.90 ± 0.73 mmol/L and 3.72 ± 0.74 mmol/L versus 4.49 ± 0.91 mmol/L, p < 0.001; 1.00 ± 0.25 mmol/L and 1.01 ± 0.30 mmol/L versus 1.19 ± 0.29 mmol/L, p < 0.001; 2.11 ± 0.57 mmol/L and 2.22 ± 0.58 mmol/L versus 2.75 ± 0.78 mmol/L, p < 0.001). The AIP score was higher in the AHI patients compared to the control group [0.08 (-0.05-0.20) versus-0.04 (-0.21-0.22), p = 0.039]. In total groups, AIP was associated with AHI and TG positively (β = 0.029 ± 0.012, p = 0.015;β = 0.273 ± 0.009, p < 0.001) and correlated with HDL-C inversely (β = -0.444 ± 0.023, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: HIV infection contributed to decreased TC, LDL-C and HDL-C. AHI contributed to higher AIP level. An urgent need exists for earlier HIV diagnosis and better prevention of dyslipidemia in China.

Background: Compulsory drug detention is the most frequent way to control drug use in China; however, it has often been criticized. This qualitative study aimed to investigate abstinence self-efficacy and its sources of drug users in a compulsory male drug detention center in Shanghai, China, and the attitudes of the drug users to this form of rehabilitation., Methods: Thirty-six participants were interviewed (semi-structured, in depth) about their history of drug use and rehabilitation, self-evaluation of addiction, motivations to abstain, plans for the future and attitudes toward rehabilitation. A thematic analysis was undertaken of the transcripts with responses to interview questions being coded for content., Results: Two main types of self-efficacy were found - "overconfidence" (n = 16) and "helplessness" (n = 17). Overconfident participants underestimated their levels of addiction, overestimated their self-control and held external motivations and attributions. In contrast, helpless participants overestimated their levels of addiction, underestimated their self-control and had internal motivations and attributions. Compared to overconfident participants, helpless participants had more relapse history, and were more inclined to interpret relapse as a failure and attribute relapse to themselves. More helpless participants were abandoned by their family members, and received blame from the family members instead of encouragement, but their family members motivated them to abstain. Helpless participants experienced more negative emotions and had worse physical status. They said compulsory detention was a strong support for them and was the most effective way to abstain; while overconfident participants said compulsory detention was not necessary and not useful., Conclusion: It is important to increase the motivation of overconfident drug users and the perceived control of helpless drug users. Compulsory drug detention has strengths in supporting drug users who feel helpless to resist drug use. Adjustments and improvements of compulsory drug detention are suggested.

Background: Although various pancreaticojejunal duct-to-mucosa anastomosis methods have been developed to reduce the postoperative risks of pancreaticoduodenectomy, pancreatic fistula remains the most serious complication with a high incident rate. The aim of this study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of one-layer and two-layer duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy., Methods/design: In this study, adult patients who sign consent forms will be recruited and scheduled for elective pancreaticoduodenectomy. One hundred and fourteen patients will be included and randomized before pancreaticojejunal reconstruction and after resection of the lesion from the pancreatic or periampullary region. The primary efficacy endpoint is the incident rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula. Statistical analysis will be based on the intention-to-treat population. Patients will be followed up for 3 months by monitoring for complications and other adverse events., Discussion: This prospective, single-center, randomized, single-blinded, two-group parallel trial is designed to compare one-layer with two-layer duct-to-mucosa anastomosis for pancreaticojejunal anastomosis during elective pancreaticoduodenectomy., Trial Registration: Clinical Trials.gov: NCT02511951 . Registered on 29 July 2015.

Background: During early HIV-1 infection (EHI), the interaction between the immune response and the virus determines disease progression. Although CD1c + myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) can trigger the immune response, the relationship between CD1c + mDC alteration and disease progression has not yet been defined., Methods: EHI changes in CD1c + mDC counts, surface marker (CD40, CD86, CD83) expression, and IL-12 secretion were assessed by flow cytometry in 29 patients., Results: When compared with the normal controls, patients with EHI displayed significantly lower CD1c + mDC counts and IL-12 secretion and increased surface markers. CD1c + mDC counts were positively correlated with CD4+ T cell counts and inversely associated with viral loads. IL-12 secretion was only positively associated with CD4+ T cell counts. Rapid progressors had lower counts, CD86 expression, and IL-12 secretion of CD1c + mDCs comparing with typical progressors. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models suggested patients with low CD1c + mDC counts (<10 cells/μL) had a 4-fold higher risk of rapid disease progression than those with high CD1c + mDC counts. However, no relationship was found between surface markers or IL-12 secretion and disease progression., Conclusions: During EHI, patients with low CD1c + mDC counts were more likely to experience rapid disease progression than those with high CD1c + mDC counts.

Background: Blood loss and the requirement of blood transfusions during liver transection have been shown to correlate well with higher morbidity and mortality rates and a worse prognosis. Various devices for liver parenchymal transection have been developed to reduce intraoperative blood loss. The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of BiClamp® forcep transection compared to a clamp crushing technique in patients undergoing liver resection., Methods/design: This study will include patients 18 years and older scheduled for hepatectomy with hepatic vascular exclusion who give informed consent. A sample size of 48 patients in each randomization arm will be calculated to detect a difference in the reduction of blood loss of approximately 200 ml (90% power and α = 0.05 (two-tailed)). The primary efficacy endpoint of the trial will be the total intraoperative blood loss based on the randomized dissection technique. The statistical analysis is based on the intention-to-treat population. Patients will be followed up on for three months for complications and adverse events., Discussion: This prospective, single-center, randomized controlled, single-blinded, two-group parallel trial is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of BiClamp forcep hepatectomy versus clamp crushing for parenchymal transection during elective hepatic resection., Trial Registration: This trial was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT02197481 ) on 15 July 2014.

Background: Surgical therapies are the first-line treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, the high incidence of tumor metastasis after liver surgery remains a severe problem. We aim to investigate the roles and the underlying mechanism of YQ23, stabilized non-polymeric diaspirin cross-linked tetrameric hemoglobin, in liver tumor metastasis after major hepatectomy and partial hepatic ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury., Methods: An orthotopic liver tumor model in Buffalo rat was established using the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line McA-RH7777. Major hepatectomy for tumor-bearing lobe and partial hepatic I/R injury were performed at two weeks after orthotopic liver tumor implantation. YQ23 (0.2 g/kg) was administered at 1 hour before ischemia and immediately after reperfusion. Blood samples were collected at day 0, 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 for detection of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs)., Results: Our results showed that YQ23 treatment effectively inhibited intrahepatic and lung metastases together with less tumor angiogenesis at 4 weeks after major hepatectomy and partial hepatic I/R injury. The levels of circulating EPCs and Tregs were significantly decreased in YQ23 treatment group. Furthermore, YQ23 treatment also increased liver tissue oxygenation during hepatic I/R injury. Up-regulation of HO1 and down-regulation of CXCR3, TNF-α and IL6 were detected after YQ23 treatment., Conclusions: YQ23 treatment suppressed liver tumor metastasis after major hepatectomy and partial hepatic I/R injury in a rat liver tumor model through increasing liver oxygen and reducing the populations of circulating EPCs and Tregs.

Background: Yunnan has the largest number of reported HIV/AIDS cases among all Chinese provinces, the reported prevalence of HIV among Yunnan men who have sex with men (MSM) passed 10%, while HIV incidence epidemic and molecular characteristics of new infected Yunnan MSM were not evaluated before., Methods: An 18 months prospective followed up with a frequency of 3 month per visit were conducted among HIV seronegative MSM in Kunming cityduring 2009-2011. Interviewer-administrated questionnaires were carried out. Blood specimens were obtained to test for syphilis and HIV, in which HIV were evaluated by standard HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and HIV nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). Near full-length regions of the HIV-1 were evaluated for subtyping, primary drug resistance mutations., Results: During the follow-up 70.1% of the recruited 378 MSM retained in the cohort. Eleven MSM seroconverted to HIV and fifteen MSM seroconverted to syphilis. The HIV incidence and syphilis incidence was 3.5 (95% CI 1.8-6.2) cases /100 person year(PY) and 5.3 (95% CI 3.0-8.7) cases/100 PY, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that baseline syphilis infection (aHR, 17.7), occupation (students vs. others [aHR, 5.7], retirees vs. others [aHR, 4.1]), bleeding experience after receptive anal intercourse (aHR,7.6), and minority ethnic(vs. Han) [aHR, 5.7] were independent risk factors for HIV seroconversion(each P<0.05). Among the 7/11 successfully amplified near full-length sequences, 71.4% (5/7) were CRF01&#95;AE, and 28.6% (2/7) were CRF07&#95;BC. Two HIV transmission pairs were detected among seroconverted minority ethnic MSM., Conclusions: HIV incidence was moderately high among Yunnan MSM. Yunnan province need to strengthen both HIV and syphilis screening among MSM population. Some subpopulations of MSM, such as students, retirees and minority ethnic groups require more HIV epidemic surveillance and strengthened behavior interventions. HIV subtypes and primary drug resistance should be continually monitored to track cross-group transmission of HIV strains.