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To rigorously evaluate the short-term and long-term effectiveness of Tuina (TN), alone and in combination with physiotherapy (PT), for Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) through a comprehensive, high-quality clinical trial. This randomized, single-blind trial was conducted from September 2020 to July 2023, involving 204 CNLBP patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University. Participants underwent a baseline assessment, 6 treatment sessions over 8 weeks, a post-treatment evaluation in the 9th week, and a 20-week follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to TN, PT, or a combination of TN and PT (TP) groups. Each treatment involved 6 sessions with a minimum 7-day interval, each lasting 30 minutes. Primary outcome was the change in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain. Secondary outcomes included the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Range of Motion (ROM) of the spine, Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Scale (TCMSS), and adverse events (AE). Among the 204 participants, 67.16 % were female, and 88.73 % completed the 20-week follow-up. All groups showed significant reductions in VAS scores post-treatment and at follow-up. Secondary outcomes improved significantly, with notable decreases in ODI and TCMSS scores. Pairwise comparisons within groups indicated statistical significance, particularly in ODI scores, with clinical relevance. No significant differences were found between the groups. ROM and SF-36 showed statistical but not clinical significance. Only one AE (0.49 %) was reported, with no severe incidents. All treatment groups, including TN, TP, and PT, demonstrated significant reductions in VAS scores for CNLBP patients, with effects lasting up to 20 weeks. While TN and TP showed substantial improvements in secondary outcomes, particularly in ODI scores, no significant differences were found between the groups. These findings suggest that all treatments can be effective for managing CNLBP, supporting clinical practitioners in selecting appropriate interventions for patients, especially for those unable to engage in active exercises, utilizing passive movements like TN to enhance health outcomes. • TN and TP significantly reduce CNLBP pain lasting up to 20 weeks. • All treatment groups showed improved secondary outcomes, particularly ODI and TCMSS. • No significant differences in efficacy between TN, PT, and TP groups. • TN offers an effective alternative for patients unable to perform active exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Pregnane X receptor (PXR), a xenobiotic-sensing nuclear receptor, plays a critical role in the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous substances in the liver. Here, we investigate whether PXR plays a role in pathogenesis of HCC. We show that liver tumors were developed in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-treated in PXR knockout (KO) mice. Hepatic levels of prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α) and aldo–keto reductase family 1 member C18 (Akr1c18), a prostaglandin synthase of catalyzing reduction of PGH 2 to PGF 2α , were significantly elevated in DEN-treated PXR KO mice. Hepatic mRNA levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), cyclin D1 (Ccnd1), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) were significantly increased in DEN-treated PXR KO mice. Other members of Akr1c family, liver metabolizing enzymes including Cyp1a2, Cyp2b10 and Cyp3a11, and bile acid synthesis enzyme Cyp7a1 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in DEN-treated PXR KO mice. Our findings revealed that PXR deficiency promoted DEN-induced HCC in mice via induction of Akr1c18 expression and PGF 2α levels and the increased PGF 2α levels synthetized by Akr1c18 enhanced hepatocytes proliferation and induced inflammatory cytokine production, which accelerated liver tumor development after DEN treatment, suggesting that PXR deficiency may create a microenvironment that is more prone to DEN-induced liver tumors and targeting PXR and Akr1c18 to reduce PGF 2α biosynthesis may be a potential and novel therapeutic strategy for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) play an important role in the treatment of various peritoneal surface malignancies, but its efficacy in peritoneal sarcomatosis (PS) remains unknown. Hence, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate outcomes of CRS-HIPEC in PS, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. 16 studies with a total of 320 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled mean length of hospital stay after CRS-HIPEC was 16.0 days (95% CI: 12.2–19.8) and rate of serious complications was 17.4% (95% CI: 9.8–26.3). The median DFS was 12.0 months (95% CI: 8.0–16.0) and the 5-year DFS was 21.8% (95% CI: 13.2–31.7). Overall pooled median OS was 29.3 months (95% CI: 23.8–34.8), with a 5-year OS of 35.3% (95% CI: 26.3–44.8). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with CC-0 cytoreduction had a higher median OS of 34.6 months (95% CI: 23.2–45.9). Median OS for patients with a primary tumour histology of leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma was 33.5 months (95% CI: 15.9–51.1) and 39.1 months (95% CI: 20.8–57.5) respectively. The site of recurrence was locoregional in 57.3% (95% CI: 38.9–74.8), distant in 17.3% (95% CI: 3.9–35.6), and both in 17.4% (95% CI: 5.8–32.2). In conclusion, our results suggest that CRS-HIPEC may improve outcomes in a select group of PS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assess whether treatment with probiotics improve gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled parallel-group phase II trial, SSc subjects with total score ≥ 0.1 on a validated SSc-specific gastrointestinal tract (GIT) questionnaire were randomized (1:1) to receive 60 days of high dose multi-strain probiotics (Vivomixx® 1800 billion units/day) or identical placebo, followed by an additional 60 days of probiotics in both groups. Between group differences in GIT score change were assessed after 60 days (primary outcome, time-point T1) and 120 days (secondary outcome, time-point, T2) by an intention-to-treat approach. Stool samples at three time-points were subjected to 16S next generation sequencing. Forty subjects were randomized to placebo-probiotics (n = 21) or probiotics-probiotics (n = 19). At T1, no significant improvement was observed between the two groups, reported as mean ± SE for total GIT score (placebo 0.14 ± 0.06 versus probiotics 0.13 ± 0.07; p = 0.85) or its subdomains. At T2, whilst there was no significant improvement in total GIT score (placebo-probiotics –0.05±0.06; probiotics-probiotics –0.18 ± 0.07; p = 0.14), there was significant improvement of GIT-reflux in the probiotic group (–0.22 ± 0.05 versus placebo-probiotics 0.05 ± 0.07; p = 0.004). Subjects on probiotics exhibited increasing stool microbiota alpha diversity compared to the placebo-probiotics group. Adverse events (AEs) were mild, with similar proportion of subjects with AEs and serious AEs in both groups. Whilst there was no clear improvement in overall GI symptoms after 60 days, we observed significantly improved GI reflux after 120 days of probiotics. The trial confirmed safety of multi-strain probiotics in SSc patients. Trial registration. Clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01804959 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Genetic association studies to date have not identified any robust risk loci for diabetic retinopathy (DR). We hypothesized that individuals with more diabetes genetic risk alleles have a higher risk of developing DR. Design Case-control genetic association study. Participants We evaluated the aggregate effects of multiple type 2 diabetes–associated genetic variants on the risk of DR among 1528 participants with diabetes from the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study, of whom 547 (35.8%) had DR. Methods Participants underwent a comprehensive ocular examination, including dilated fundus photography. Retinal photographs were graded using the modified Airlie House classification system to assess the presence and severity of DR following a standardized protocol. We identified 76 previously discovered type 2 diabetes–associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and constructed multilocus genetic risk scores (GRSs) for each individual by summing the number of risk alleles for each SNP weighted by the respective effect estimates on DR. Two GRSs were generated: an overall GRS that included all 76 discovered type 2 diabetes–associated SNPs, and an Asian-specific GRS that included a subset of 55 SNPs previously found to be associated with type 2 diabetes in East and/or South Asian ancestry populations. Associations between the GRSs with DR were determined using logistic regression analyses. Discriminating ability of the GRSs was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Main Outcome Measures Odds ratios on DR. Results Participants in the top tertile of the overall GRS were 2.56-fold more likely to have DR compared with participants in the lowest tertile. Participants in the top tertile of the Asian-specific GRS were 2.00-fold more likely to have DR compared with participants in the bottom tertile. Both GRSs were associated with higher DR severity levels. However, addition of the GRSs to traditional risk factors improved the AUC only modestly by 3% to 4%. Conclusions Type 2 diabetes–associated genetic loci were significantly associated with higher risks of DR, independent of traditional risk factors. Our findings may provide new insights to further our understanding of the genetic pathogenesis of DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess if natural genetic variation in hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is associated with altered retinal vessel diameter. Design: Two-stage cohort study. Participants and Controls: Discovery set (set 1, n = 682 children) and confirmatory set (set 2, n = 1293 adults). Methods: Children in the discovery set were genotyped for a panel of genetic markers within HGF. Markers that were found to be associated significantly with altered retinal vessel diameter then were genotyped in the confirmatory set. Main Outcome Measures: Increased or decreased retinal vessel diameter. Results: In the discovery set (n = 682 Chinese children aged 7 to 12 years), the variant allele of 4 HGF single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) demonstrated association with larger retinal arteriolar diameter. The effect of the variant allele seems to be strongest within a recessive model of inheritance (P min = 4.6×10−3) for all 4 SNPs. When these 4 SNPs were assessed in a confirmatory study comprising 1293 Chinese adults, successful replication was observed for one of them (HGF +63962; rs5745752); the variant allele was observed to correlate with significantly larger retinal arteriolar diameter, with its effect again strongest within a model of recessive inheritance (P = 0.049). Analyzed as a quantitative trait, recessive carriage at HGF +63962 resulted in on average a 3.5-μm increase in retinal arteriolar diameter among children and a 2.5-μm increase in adults (P = 7.0×10−3, analysis of variance; P = 3.0×10−3, Kruskal-Wallis test). Conclusions: This study suggests that natural variation within HGF is involved in the control of retinal arteriolar diameter and may be important in the pathogenesis of microvascular disease in individuals of Chinese descent. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Designing the MFDA-LPTL model for safe distance prediction from UAV to power lines. • Evaluating the mathematical model of safety distance analysis. • The suggested model improves the performance and decreases the processing time and positioning error. The research of the safety distance among drones and cable attracted wide attention with the rising deployment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to check for high-voltage overhead power systems. To increase the inspection operation's dependability and guarantee a safe and stable functioning of the transmission grid and inspections equipment, it is essential to determine the safety distance among the UAV and the driveway. Due to UAV patrol safety distances from overhead power lines, it is difficult to offer precise surfing information because of the lack of quantitative assistance. The author of the relevant study uses multi-sensor fusion data analysis (MFDA-LPTL). There have been discussions on the properties of large data sets, smart networks, and gigantic data sets before the emergence of low-cost power transmission lines and the benefits they may give. For example, using the adaptive weighted fusional method, which combines first-level data on homogenous sensor input based on critical UAV-influencing factors such as maximum inspection speed, wind speed, positioning error, and drone size, can help achieve this goal. As a secondary benefit, the theory makes use of more robust evidence than before. However, the use of big data analytics in present smart grids must be expanded due to numerous challenges, such as the need for new technologies and increased public awareness. The experimental analysis shows that the proposed MFDA-LPTL model increases the performance ratio of 98.9%, efficiency ratio of 97.2%, reduces the detection failure analysis of 10.2%, processing time of 7.8%, positioning error rate of 12.3% compared to other existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Dialysis Clinical Outcomes Revisited (DCOR) trial, a large, randomized, multicenter, open-label study, compared effects of sevelamer with calcium-based phosphate binders on mortality and hospitalization in hemodialysis patients. Many patients were lost to follow-up, precluding intent-to-treat analysis by using prospective data collection.Study Design: Preplanned secondary analysis, intent-to-treat design for all outcomes, using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data.Setting& Participants: Participants were 18 years or older and on hemodialysis therapy for more than 3 months, with Medicare as primary payor. The trial was completed at the end of 2004.Intervention: Sevelamer, calcium-based phosphate binders.Outcomes: Mortality, morbidity, and hospitalization end points.Measurements: DCOR subjects were linked to the CMS End-Stage Renal Disease database. Outcomes were evaluated through the CMS End-Stage Renal Disease enrollment and claims database; baseline characteristics and comorbid conditions were evaluated using CMS and case-report data.Results: Groups were well balanced except for a greater percentage of calcium-group patients with atherosclerotic heart disease. Analyses were adjusted by using 10 baseline characteristics. All-cause (17.7 versus 17.4 deaths/100 patient-years; P = 0.8 unadjusted; P = 0.9 adjusted) and cardiovascular mortality (9.0 versus 8.2 deaths/100 patient-years; P = 0.3 unadjusted; P = 0.4 adjusted) did not differ significantly between treatment groups. First hospitalization, cause-specific multiple hospitalizations, first morbidity, and multiple morbidity rates also did not differ significantly. Multiple all-cause hospitalization rate (1.7 versus 1.9 admissions/patient-year; P = 0.03 unadjusted; P = 0.02 adjusted) and hospital days (12.3 versus 13.9 days/patient-year; P = 0.05 unadjusted; P = 0.03 adjusted) were lower in the sevelamer group.Limitations: Outcome parameters and cardiovascular comorbidity assessments were derived from Medicare claims data; only subjects with Medicare-as-primary-payor status were included in hospitalization and morbidity analyses.Conclusions: In this secondary analysis, treatment with sevelamer versus calcium-based binders did not affect overall mortality (primary outcome), cause-specific mortality, morbidity, or first or cause-specific hospitalization (secondary outcomes), but there was evidence for a beneficial effect on multiple all-cause hospitalizations and hospital days (secondary outcomes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 70% of Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) in Singapore occur in residential areas, and are associated with poorer outcomes. We hypothesized that an interventional bundle consisting of Save-A-life (SAL) initiative (cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)/automated external defibrillator (AED) training and public-housing AED installation), dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) program and myResponder (mobile application) will improve OHCA survival.Methods: This is pilot data from initial implementation of a stepped-wedge, before-after, real-world interventional bundle in six selected regions. Under the SAL initiative, 30,000 individuals were CPR/AED trained, with 360 AEDs installed. Data was obtained from Singapore's national OHCA Registry. We included all adult patients who experienced OHCA in Singapore from 2011 to 2016 within study regions, excluding EMS-witnessed cases and cases due to trauma/drowning/ electrocution. Cases occurring before and after intervention were allocated as control and intervention groups respectively. Survival was assessed via multivariable logistic regression.Results: 1241 patients were included for analysis (Intervention: 361; Control: 880). The intervention group had higher mean age (70 vs 67 years), survival (3.3% [12/361] vs. 2.2% [19/880]), pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (9.1% [33/361] vs 5.1% [45/880]), bystander CPR (63.7% [230/361] vs 44.8% [394/880]) and bystander AED application (2.8% [10/361] vs 1.1% [10/880]). After adjusting for age, gender, race and significant covariates, the intervention was associated with increased odds ratio (OR) for survival (OR 2.39 [1.02-5.62]), pre-hospital ROSC (OR 1.94 [1.15-3.25]) and bystander CPR (OR 2.29 [1.77-2.96]).Conclusion: The OHCA interventional bundle (SAL initiative, DA-CPR, myResponder) significantly improved survival and is being scaled up as a national program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of NaOH and NaCl on the rheology and gel properties of hen egg white were investigated. As the concentration of NaOH increased, egg white gel exhibited lower opacity and particle turbidity with coincidental increase in zeta potential, while the addition of NaCl resulted in the formation of opaque egg white gel and increase of surface hydrophobicity, particle turbidity and zeta potential. Rheological tests showed that alkali treatment will affect the unfolding state of egg white proteins during the heat stage while NaCl addition can inhibit the unfolding of egg white proteins. The results of correlation analysis indicated that random coil and α-helix were in good correlation with gel textural properties. Therefore, the rheology and gel properties of alkali/salt-induced egg white dispersions were closely related to the changes in surface hydrophobicity, molecule surface charge, and protein secondary structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational studies suggest that myopic eyes carry a greater risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG); however, the evidence for this association is inconsistent. This may be the result of confounding factors that arise from myopia that complicate clinical tests for glaucoma. This study used Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to determine genetic causal associations among myopia, glaucoma, and glaucoma-related traits that overcome the effects of external confounders. Bidirectional genetic associations between myopia and refractive spherical equivalent (RSE), POAG, and POAG endophenotypes were investigated. Data from the largest publicly available genetic banks (n = 216,257–542,934) were analyzed. Multiple MR models and multivariate genomic structural modeling to identify significant mediators for the relationship between myopia and POAG. Genetic causal associations between myopia and POAG and POAG endophenotypes. We found consistent bidirectional genetic associations between myopia and POAG and between myopia and intraocular pressure (IOP) using multiple MR models at Bonferroni-corrected levels of significance. Intraocular pressure showed the most significant mediation effect on RSE and POAG (Sobel test, 0.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.17; P = 1.37 × 10–8). A strong bidirectional genetic causal link exists between myopia and POAG that is mediated mainly by IOP. Our findings suggest that IOP-lowering treatment for glaucoma may be beneficial in myopic eyes, despite the challenges of establishing a clear clinical diagnosis. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamide 6 (PA6) is widely utilized, yet it confronts challenges such as susceptibility to thermal oxidative aging and high sensitivity to notch impact during usage. In addressing these issues, two novel toughening macromolecular antioxidants, 3-(3,5-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid 2-acrylamidoethyl ester styrene copolymer (PAS) and 3-(3,5-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid 2-acrylamidoethyl- N -phenylmaleimide copolymer (PAN), were synthesized via free radical copolymerization. Upon incorporation into PA6, their effects on PA6 performance were investigated. Relative to pure PA6, PA6/PAN and PA6/PAS exhibited significant improvements in fracture elongation, with increases of 136.91 % and 313.83 % respectively, along with notch impact strength enhancements of 18.55 % and 24.89 % respectively. This enhancement can be attributed to PAN and PAS reducing the hydrogen bond density between PA6 molecular chains. Subsequent long-term accelerated thermal aging tests conducted at 150 °C, as well as performance testing of samples before and after aging, revealed that the aging of PA6/PAN and PA6/PAS could be delayed by 4–12 days. The exceptional anti-thermal oxidative aging ability and toughening effect of these two macromolecular antioxidants in PA6 showcase promising prospects for its expanded applications. [Display omitted] • The hydrogen bonds between antioxidants PAS and PA6 was proved. • The fracture elongation of PA56/PAS composite increased by 313.83 %. • The notch impact strength of PA6/PAS composite increased by 24.89 %. • The aging of PA56/PAS composite can be delayed by 12 days at 150 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure ultrasound-assisted extraction was used to extract polysaccharides from the Ligusticum chuanxiong rhizomes. Three independent variables, namely, extraction temperature ( X 1 ), ultrasonic power ( X 2 ) and extraction time ( X 3 ) were investigated. Response surface methodology was performed based on the results of single-factor tests. Experimental data were fitted to a second-order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis, and results were examined using appropriate statistical methods. The optimal conditions were as follows: extraction temperature of 85 °C, ultrasonic power of 187 W and extraction time of 29 min. Under these conditions, the experimental yield of polysaccharides was 5.33%, which is close to the predicted yield of 5.41%. The extracted and purified polysaccharides showed excellent antioxidative effects on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazy, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite previous studies suggesting that developmental care can provide benign stimulation to promote neural development of newborns, more evidence is needed regarding the other clinical benefits of developmental care. To evaluate the effect of implementing developmental care on the length of hospital stay, the improvement of care practice in neonatal intensive care units, as well as the short-term outcome of very low birth weight infants. Cluster-randomized controlled trial. From March 1, 2021 to March 1, 2022, 1400 very low birth weight infants were recruited from 14 tertiary neonatal intensive care units in China. We assigned 14 neonatal intensive care units to either developmental care or standard care. The length of hospital stay of the infants was the primary outcome analyzed at the individual level. Secondary outcomes were family centered care practice including parental involvement, the skin to skin care, exclusive breast milk, oral immune therapy and breastfeeding. The environmental management (noise and light) and the short-term outcomes were also evaluated. The length of hospital stay for the developmental care group was 65 % as long as that for the control group (HR: 0.65, 95 % CI, 0.451–0936, p = 0.021). After controlling the covariables, the adjusted HR = 0.755 (95 % CI, 0.515 to 1.107, p = 0.150). When compared to the control group, the developmental care group had greater access to SSC, with 22 infants (3.8 %) in the developmental care group compared to 13 infants (1.7 %) in the standard care group (p = 0.013). A greater proportion of infants in the developmental care group were fed at the breast, than those in the standard care group (136 [23.6 %] vs 9 [1.1 %]; p = 0.029). Compared to the control group, exclusively breast milk was significantly more favorable in the developmental care group (435 [75.6 %] vs 114 [15.0 %]; p = 0.001). The difference remained significant even after adjusting for covariates. However, the rate of oral immune therapy and parental involvement was similar in the two groups. The average noise and light levels in the developmental care group were significantly lower than those in the standard care group. After adjusting for confounders, the difference remained significant. There were no significant differences among groups in the mortality and major morbidity. Developmental care might have developed an accumulated effect over time on the length of hospital stay among very low birth weight infants. The implementation of developmental care can greatly improve family centered care practices and the neonatal intensive care unit environment. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05166720. Registration date: 1 March, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesized that the effect of blood lipid–related metabolites on primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) would differ according to specific lipoprotein particles and lipid sub-fractions. We investigated the associations of blood levels of lipoprotein particles and lipid sub-fractions with POAG. Cross-sectional study. Individuals recruited for the baseline visit of the population-based Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Disease study (n = 8503). All participants underwent detailed standardized ocular and systemic examinations. A total of 130 blood lipid–related metabolites were quantified using a nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics platform. The analyses were conducted in 2 stages. First, we investigated whether and which lipid-related metabolites were directly associated with POAG using regression analyses followed by Bayesian network modeling. Second, we investigated if any causal relationship exists between the identified lipid-related metabolites, if any, and POAG using 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) 3 cholesterol (after inverse normal transformation) and used the top variants associated with HLD3 cholesterol as instrumental variables (IVs) in the MR analysis. Primary open-angle glaucoma. Of the participants, 175 (2.1%) had POAG. First, a logistic regression model showed that total HDL3 cholesterol (negatively) and phospholipids in very large HDL (positively) were associated with POAG. Further analyses using a Bayesian network analysis showed that only total HDL3 cholesterol was directly associated with POAG (odds ratio [OR], 0.72 per 1 standard deviation increase in HDL3 cholesterol; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61–0.84), independently of age, gender, intraocular pressure (IOP), body mass index (BMI), education level, systolic blood pressure, axial length, and statin medication. Using 5 IVs identified from the GWAS and with the inverse variance weighted MR method, we found that higher levels of HDL3 cholesterol were associated with a decreased odds of POAG (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84–0.99, P = 0.021). Other MR methods, including weighted median, mode-based estimator, and contamination mixture methods, derived consistent OR estimates. None of the routine lipids (blood total, HDL, or low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol) were associated with POAG. Overall, these results suggest that the relationship between HDL3 cholesterol and POAG might be causal and specific, and that dysregulation of cholesterol transport may play a role in the pathogenesis of POAG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Supramolecular interactions of cobalt corrole and fullerene were investigated both in solution and the solid state. Results reveal that cobalt corrole has the attractive ability to be used as host for fullerene. The cocrystals of cobalt corrole and C60/C70 suitable for X-ray crystallographic analysis were obtained and structure details are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Anxiety is associated with poor health outcomes among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This review summarizes the prevalence and risk factors associated with elevated anxiety symptoms and disorders among CKD patients. Articles evaluating the prevalence and risk factors associated with elevated anxiety symptoms and disorders among CKD patients, as diagnosed via DSM 4th or 5th edition criteria, clinical interviews or validated questionnaires, were searched in Medline®, Embase®, PsychINFO® and CINAHL®. Using random-effects meta-analyses, the prevalence of elevated anxiety symptoms and disorders were estimated. A narrative review on the risk factors associated with elevated anxiety symptoms and disorders was presented. From 4941 articles, 61 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of anxiety disorders (9 studies, n = 1071) among CKD patients across studies was 19% while that of elevated anxiety symptoms (52 studies, n = 10,739) was 43%. Across continents, prevalence of elevated anxiety symptoms was highest in Europe and Asia. Between pre-dialysis and dialysis patients, the prevalence of elevated anxiety symptoms was not statistically different at 31% and 42% respectively. Common risk factors associated with elevated anxiety symptoms included concomitant depression, lower parathyroid hormone levels, increased comorbidities, increased duration of hospitalization, reduced perceived quality of life, and decreased vitality levels. Given the high prevalence of anxiety disorders and elevated anxiety symptoms, more studies are required to assess the role and outcomes of anxiety screening among CKD patients. This could facilitate early identification of at-risk patients and potentially improve their clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify novel susceptibility loci for high myopia. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) followed by replication and meta-analysis. A total of 14 096 samples from East and Southeast Asian populations (2549 patients with high myopia and 11 547 healthy controls). We performed a GWAS in 3269 Japanese individuals (1668 with high myopia and 1601 control participants), followed by replication analysis in a total of 10 827 additional samples (881 with high myopia and 9946 control participants) from Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. To confirm the biological role of the identified loci in the pathogenesis of high myopia, we performed functional annotation and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. We evaluated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with high myopia and GO terms enriched among genes identified in the current study. We identified 9 loci with genome-wide significance (P < 5.0 × 10–8). Three loci were previously reported myopia-related loci (ZC3H11B on 1q41, GJD2 on 15q14, and RASGRF1 on 15q25.1), and the other 6 were novel (HIVEP3 on 1p34.2, NFASC / CNTN2 on 1q32.1, CNTN4 / CNTN6 on 3p26.3, FRMD4B on 3p14.1, LINC02418 on 12q24.33, and AKAP13 on 15q25.3). The GO analysis revealed a significant role of the nervous system related to synaptic signaling, neuronal development, and Ras/Rho signaling in the pathogenesis of high myopia. The current study identified 6 novel loci associated with high myopia and demonstrated an important role of the nervous system in the disease pathogenesis. Our findings give new insight into the genetic factors underlying myopia, including high myopia, by connecting previous findings and allowing for a clarified interpretation of the cause and pathophysiologic features of myopia at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the testability of several vision and refraction tests in preschool-aged children. Design: Population-based study of Chinese preschool-aged children in Singapore. Methods: One thousand five hundred and forty-two Singaporean Chinese children aged 6 to 72 months were recruited through door-to-door screening of government-subsidized apartments in Singapore. Trained eye professionals administered all tests, including monocular logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity with the Sheridan Gardiner chart, monocular Ishihara color testing (Richmond Products Inc, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA), biometric measurements using IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany), and Randot stereoacuity (Stereo Optical Co, Chicago, Illinois, USA) for children 30 to younger than 72 months. Cycloplegic refraction and keratometry measurements also were determined using a table-mounted autorefractor (Canon Autorefractor RK-F1; Canon, Tokyo, Japan) in children 24 to younger than 72 months. Results: Testabilities were 84.8% for visual acuity (40.7% for age 30 to < 36 months, 70.8% for age 36 to < 42 months, 86.7% for age 42 to < 48 months, 94.8 for age 48 to < 54 months, 98.6 for age 54 to < 66 months, and 98.7% for age 66 to < 72 months), 81.1% for the Ishihara color test, 82.2% for Randot stereoacuity, 62.2% for table mounted autorefraction, and 91.7% for IOLMaster. All testabilities significantly increased with age (P < .0001). Girls had higher testability rates than boys for the autorefraction and Randot stereoacuity tests (P = .036 and .008, respectively). Conclusions: The vision and refraction tests were testable in a high proportion of preschool-aged Chinese Singaporeans. Preschool children in older age groups are likely to complete these tests successfully, with important implications for determining age limits for screening in the community and clinic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To determine susceptibility genes for high myopia in Singaporean Chinese. Design: A meta-analysis of 2 genome-wide association (GWA) datasets in Chinese and a follow-up replication cohort in Japanese. Participants and Controls: Two independent datasets of Singaporean Chinese individuals aged 10 to 12 years (Singapore Cohort Study of the Risk factors for Myopia [SCORM]: cases = 65, controls = 238) and more than 21 years (Singapore Prospective Study Program [SP2]: cases = 222, controls = 435) for GWA studies, and a Japanese dataset aged more than 20 years (cases = 959, controls = 2128) for replication. Methods: Genomic DNA samples from SCORM and SP2 were genotyped using various Illumina Beadarray platforms (>HumanHap 500). Single-locus association tests were conducted for each dataset with meta-analysis using pooled z-scores. The top-ranked genetic markers were examined for replication in the Japanese dataset. Fisher P was calculated for the combined analysis of all 3 cohorts. Main Outcome Measures: High myopia, defined by spherical equivalent (SE)≤−6.00 diopters (D); controls defined by SE between −0.50 and +1.00 D. Results: Two SNPs (rs12716080 and rs6885224) in the gene CTNND2 on chromosome 5p15 ranked top in the meta-analysis of our Chinese datasets (meta P = 1.14×10−5 and meta P = 1.51×10−5, respectively) with strong supporting evidence in each individual dataset analysis (max P = 1.85×10−4 in SCORM: max P = 8.8×10−3 in SP2). Evidence of replication was observed in the Japanese dataset for rs6885224 (P = 0.035, meta P of 3 datasets: 7.84×10−6). Conclusions: This study identified a strong association of CTNND2 for high myopia in Asian datasets. The CTNND2 gene maps to a known high myopia linkage region on chromosome 5p15. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Five field experiments were conducted to study the effects of continuous plastic film mulching on rice yield, water use efficiency and soil properties on different soils with great environmental variabilities in Zhejiang Province, China, under non-flooding condition. The experiment started in 2001 at five sites and ended in 2003 with one rice crop annually. Three treatments included plastic film mulching with no flooding (PM), no plastic film mulching and no flooding (UM), and traditional flooding management (TF). Soil samples were collected after the third year of the experimentation and were analyzed for soil properties. PM increased soil temperature, accelerated decomposition of organic carbon and root growth, there was a slight but statistically insignificant trend of decline in soil bulk density. PM produced the similar rice grain yield as TF at two sites, significantly higher grain yield (5.8% and 20.0% higher) at other two sites, but significantly lower (34.3% lower) yield at one site where no irrigation water was applied and rainfall was the sole water source for rice growth. PM increased water use efficiency by 69.6–106.0% and irrigation water use efficiency by 273.7–519.6%. Compared to TF, PM decreased soil organic matter content by 8.3–24.5%, soil total N by 5.2–22.0%, and available K by 9.6–50.4% at all sites. PM treatment also reduced soil available N by 8.5–26.5% at four sites. Soil total P content in PM treatments reduced by 13.5–27.8% at three sites, and increased by 6.6–8.2% at other two sites. However, PM increased soil available P by 20.9–64.7% at all sites. Systematic cluster analysis indicated the PM treatment distinctively clustered from the other treatment. These results suggested PM could gain higher yield under appropriate water condition and PM may change soil nutrient cycle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Though it is known that human α2-macroglobulin (α2M) inhibits most proteases, the effect of α2M has not been investigated on earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes (EFEs) from Lumbricus rubellus, which could be transported from intestine epithelium into blood as an intact molecule (Fan et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1526 (2001) 286). The activity of earthworm fibrinolytic III-1 (EFE-III-1) decreased to 65% when incubated with α2M, while it decreased to 30% in plasma under the same conditions. The first order rate of the inactivation of EFE-III-1 with α2M was similar to that of fast phase with plasma, indicating that α2M may be the inhibitor initially binding to the enzyme in blood. SDS-PAGE showed that incubation of EFE-III-1 with α2M a released fragment (∼90 kDa), followed by formation of a high molecular weight complex (∼700 kDa). There was a linear relationship between the apparent inhibition rate constant (k1) and [α2M], by double reciprocal plot. It was suggested, as described by Tsou (Acta Biochem. Biophys. Sinica 5 (1965) 398) and Tian (Biochem. J. 21 (1982) 1028), that the mechanism of α2M/EFE-III-1 interaction could be coincided with a complexing irreversible inhibition. Experiments in both the inactivation and the intrinsic fluorescence showed that α2M bound to the enzyme mole by mole equivalently. The intrinsic fluorescence of α2M was enhanced with an observable blue shift in emission maxima, suggesting that α2M was one of the important inhibitors to EFEs when it absorbed into blood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fate of diverse antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in anaerobic digestion (AD) system under different temperature remains largely unknow. This study employed the shotgun metagenomic sequencing and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing approaches and investigated the shifts of composition and abundance of more than 1360 ARGs, as well as microbial community, in a temperature-raising AD system (from 35 °C to 55 °C) treating municipal sewage sludge. Results suggested that the six ARGs, inlcuding mac B, tet A(58), bcr A, evg S, mtr A, and ole C, were predominated in digested sludge. More than 407ARG subtypes (30%) could be largely reduced under high temperature condition. Thermophilic AD (55 °C) provided a better removal for tetracycline, macrolide, penam, fluoroquinolone, acridine dye, and peptide resistance genes when compared to mesophilic AD (35 °C). The removal rates of these genes reached 29.7%–32.3%. In addition, at the end of thermophilic digestion process, the relative abundance of Firmicutes increased (from 18.22% to 74.89%), while Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi both decreased, from 36.39% to 6.80% and 20.29%–2.64%. This study further proposed the underlying mechanisms of effective elimination of ARGs under high temperature by: (1) the reduction of genes encoding antibiotic efflux pump, (2) the promotion of sludge biomass degradation rate, (3) the loss of microbial community diversity in AD systems, and (4) the inactivation of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The significance of current study is in characterizing the fate of ARGs across AD process, which allows to correlate diverse genetic properties with digesters' operational condition. Results provided an insight into the manipulation of AD technology (e.g. temperature) to efficiently remove ARGs from municipal sewage sludge. • Fate of ARGs in a temperature-raising anaerobic digester was investigated. • More than 1360 ARG subtypes were identified by metagenomics approach. • Effective reduction of ARGs under thermophilic condition was confirmed. • Underlying mechanisms of ARGs removal were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) are the most widely used insecticides in China and worldwide. Continuous use of NNIs can lead to their accumulation in soil, causing potential ecological risks due to their relatively long half-life. We used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to investigate the residual levels of nine neonicotinoids in greenhouse soils in Shouguang, East China, at different soil depths and with different crops (tomato and cucumber) after varying periods of cultivation. Seven neonicotinoids were detected in the soils of the tomato greenhouses and six were detected in the soils of the cucumber greenhouses, with total concentrations ranging from 0.731 to 11.383 μg kg−1 and 0.363 to 19.224 μg kg−1, respectively. In all samples, the neonicotinoid residues in the soils cultivated for 8–9 years were lower than in those cultivated for 2 years and 14–17 years. In the tomato greenhouse soils, the residual levels of NNIs were highest in the topsoil, with progressively lower concentrations found with depth. Under cucumber cultivation, the NNI residue levels were also highest in the topsoil but there was little difference between the middle and lower soil layers. Total organic carbon (TOC) decreased with soil depth while pH showed the opposite trend, showing a significant negative correlation in both types of soils (tomato soils ρ = −0.900, p =.001; cucumber soils ρ = −0.883, p =.002). Furthermore, TOC was significantly positively correlated, and pH was negatively correlated, with total NNI concentrations in both types of soils (TOC: tomato soils ρ = 0.800, p =.010; cucumber soils ρ = 0.881, p =.004; pH: tomato soils ρ = −0.850, p =.004; cucumber soils ρ = −0.643, p =.086). The results of an ecological risk analysis showed that acetamiprid represents a particularly high toxicity risk in these soils. Based on our analysis, NNI residues in the soils of tomato greenhouses and their associated ecological risks deserve more attention than those of cucumber greenhouse soils. Unlabelled Image • Neonicotinoid residues in topsoil were higher in both tomato and cucumber greenhouses. • The total amount of neonicotinoids in soil was significantly positively correlated with TOC. • The total amount of neonicotinoids in soil was significantly negatively correlated with pH. • Acetamiprid was with high ecological risks based on acute SSD models. • Greatest neonicotinoid effects in short-term cucumbers and long-term tomatoes greenhouse soils [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of soil microbiome is important for sustainable cultivation, especially under greenhouse conditions. Here, we investigated the changes in soil pesticide residues and microbial diversity and community structure at different cultivation years under a greenhouse system. The 9-to-14 years sites were found to have the least diversity/rich microbial population as compared to sites under 8 years and over 16 years, as analyzed with alpha diversity index. In total, 42 bacterial phyla were identified across soils with different pesticide residues and cultivation ages. Proteobacteria , Acidobacteria , and Bacteroidetes represented the dominant phyla, that accounted for 34.2–43.4%, 9.7–19.3% and 9.2–16.5% of the total population, respectively. Our data prove that certain pesticides contribute to variation in soil microbial community and that soil bacteria respond differently to cultivation years under greenhouse conditions. Thus, this study provides an insight into microbial community structure changes by pesticides under greenhouse systems and natural biodegradation may have an important part in pesticides soil decontamination. Unlabelled Image • The total concentrations of pesticides increased first, and then decreased with cultivation years increased. • The diversity of bacteria decreased first, and then increased with cultivation years increased. • Some microbe phylum and genera significantly associated with pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]