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Background Periodontal disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by bacterial infection which may lead to various systematic diseases. Recently, increasing studies have explored the correlation of periodontal disease with the risk of prostate cancer. However, the findings were inconsistent. Hence, this study aims to investigate the association between periodontal disease and the risk of prostate cancer by a meta-analysis. Material and Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched for publications up to July 17, 2020. Cohort and case-control studies evaluating the risk of prostate cancer in patients with periodontal disease were included. A fixed or random-effect model was used to calculate the summary relative risk (RR) along with 95% confidence interval (CI). All analyses were conducted using Stata 12.0 software. Results Seven studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled estimates showed that periodontal disease was significantly associated with the risk of prostate cancer (RR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.07-1.27; P = 0.001). Findings of sensitivity analyses proved that the overall results were robust. Conclusions Periodontal disease may be considered as a potential risk factor for prostate cancer. Although it’s a possibility, males should be more aware of their oral health and implement effective measures to prevent and treat periodontal disease. Key words:Periodontal disease, periodontitis, prostate cancer, meta-analysis

Background Chronic alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which may present with pathological changes such as myocardial insulin resistance, leading to ventricular dilation and cardiac dysfunction. Although a correlation between microRNA-155 (miR-155) and insulin signaling has been identified, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated to date. The purpose of the study was to determine whether overexpression of miR-155-5p in vivo could ameliorate chronic alcohol-induced myocardial insulin resistance and cardiac dysfunction. Material and Methods Wistar rats were fed with either alcohol or water for 20 weeks to establish chronic alcohol intakes model. Then the alcohol group were divided into three groups: model group, miRNA-155 group and AAV-NC group. Rats undergoing alcohol treatment were injected with AAV-miRNA-155 (adeno-associated virus 9) or its negative control AAV-NC, respectively. Gene expression was determined by real-time PCR, and protein expression was determined by western blot. Echocardiography was performed to assess terminal cardiac function. Insulin responsiveness was determined through the quantification of phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 (ser 307) and phosphorylated insulin receptor (Tyr 1185) levels. Results We found that cardiac function was attenuated in chronic alcohol intake rats, with an activated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, accompanied by an increase in p-IRS1(ser 307) and a decrease in p-IR (Tyr 1185) level in myocardial tissue. Also, alcohol drinking significantly up-regulated miR-155-5p level and its overexpression decreased p-IRS1 (ser 307) and increased p-IR (Tyr 1185) levels, and meanwhile inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway. Conclusion miR-155-5p upregulation ameliorates myocardial insulin resistance via the mTOR signaling in chronic alcohol drinking rats. We propose that miR-155 may serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for alcoholic heart disease.

Objective: The purpose of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine if low-ratio n-6/n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation affects serum inflammation markers based on the current studies. Methods: PubMed, Embase and The Cochrane library databases were systematically searched to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA intervention on inflammation markers up to July 2020. Data were pooled using standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), with P value ≦ 0.05 as statistical significance. Results: Thirty-one RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis indicated that increasing low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA supplementation decreased the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (SMD = −0.270; 95% CI: −0.433, −0.106; P = 0.001) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) (SMD = −0.153; 95% CI: −0.260, −0.045; P = 0.005). There were no significant effects on C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD = −0.027; 95% CI: −0.189: 0.135; P = 0.741). Subgroup analysis indicated that there was a significant reduction in TNF-α serum concentration in subjects from Asia (SMD: −0.367; 95% CI: −0.579, −0.155; P = 0.001) and in subjects with diseases (SMD: −0.281; 95% CI: −0.436, −0.127; P < 0.001). In the subgroup of the n-6/n-3 ratio ≦5, low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA supplementation could decrease the level of TNF-α (SMD: −0.335; 95% CI: −0.552, −0.119; P = 0.002). Serum IL-6 decreased significantly in patients from the Europe subgroup (SMD: −0.451; 95% CI: −0.688, −0.214; P < 0.001), but not in Asia (SMD: −0.034; 95% CI: −0.226, 0.157; P = 0.724), North America (SMD: −0.115; 95% CI: −0.274, 0.044; P = 0.157) and Oceania (SMD: 0.142; 95% CI: −0.557, 0.842; P = 0.690). Conclusion: Low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA supplementation could decrease significantly the concentration of serum TNF-α and IL-6, but not decrease CRP concentration.

Issues caused by maxillofacial tumours involve not only dealing with tumours but also repairing jaw bone defects. In traditional tumour therapy, the systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs, invasive surgical resection, intractable tumour recurrence, and metastasis are major threats to the patients’ lives in the clinic. Fortunately, biomaterial-based intervention can improve the efficiency of tumour treatment and decrease the possibility of recurrence and metastasis, suggesting new promising antitumour therapies. In addition, maxillofacial bone tissue defects caused by tumours and their treatment can negatively affect the physiological and psychological health of patients, and investment in treatment can result in a multitude of burdens to society. Biomaterials are promising options because they have good biocompatibility and bioactive properties for stimulation of bone regeneration. More interestingly, an integrated material regimen that combines tumour therapy with bone repair is a promising treatment option. Herein, we summarized traditional and biomaterial-mediated maxillofacial tumour treatments and analysed biomaterials for bone defect repair. Furthermore, we proposed a promising and superior design of dual-functional biomaterials for simultaneous tumour therapy and bone regeneration to provide a new strategy for managing maxillofacial tumours and improve the quality of life of patients in the future.

Context: Vitamin D (VD) has been found to play a key role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This meta-analysis explored the effects of VD supplementation in patients with NAFLD. Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched to find randomized control trials (RCTs) that measured the changes between the VD supplement group and the control group until May 2019. Standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated when data units were different, otherwise weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI was calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Results: Eight RCTs with 624 individuals were extracted. The main indicators, including serum alanine aminotransferase (WMD = -0.052; 95% CI: -3.740, 3.636; P = 0.978) and aspartate aminotransferase concentrations (WMD = -0.479; 95% CI: -2.791, 1.833; P = 0.685) were not significantly different between the intervention and placebo groups. In addition, no significant intergroup difference was observed in the following secondary indicators: fasting blood glucose (WMD = 0.466; 95% CI: -5.313, -10.879; P = 0.061), homeostasis model assessment (WMD = 0.380, 95% CI: -0.162, 0.923; P = 0.169), serum insulin concentration (WMD = 0.760; 95% CI: -0.532, 2.052; P = 0.249), high-density lipoprotein (WMD = -0.012; 95% CI: -0.188, 0.164; P = 0.891), and low-density lipoprotein (WMD = -0.115; 95% CI: -3.849, -3.620; P = 0.952). Conclusions: The results indicate that VD supplementation does not improve liver enzymes, insulin resistance, glucose metabolism parameters, and lipid levels in patients with NAFLD.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease. Identification of the biomarkers responsible for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndromes of psoriasis can help researchers recognize the different aspects of psoriasis and find novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of psoriasis. The current study investigated the levels of circulating Mo-MDSCs and Mo-MDSC-associated immune factors in the peripheral blood of psoriasis patients with different TCM syndromes. We found that the frequency of Mo-MDSCs (CD14+HLA-DR−/low cells) among CD14+ cells from plaque psoriasis patients with blood-stasis (BS) syndrome was significantly increased when compared with healthy controls p<0.001 and blood-heat (BH) syndrome group p<0.001, respectively. However, serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, TNF-α, IFN-γ, iNOS, Arg-1, and NO concentration showed no statistically significant difference between healthy controls and psoriasis patients as well as no significant difference between the BH and BS syndrome groups. Compared with healthy controls, the mRNA expression of Arg-1, TNF-α, ROR-γ, and PD-L1 was increased, while the mRNA expression of PD-1 and IL-10 was decreased in PBMCs from psoriasis patients. Moreover, the mRNA expression of TNF-α and FOXP3 in PBMCs showed a pronounced statistical difference between the psoriatic BH syndrome group and the BS syndrome group. Therefore, we provide evidence that the percentage of CD14+HLA-DR−/low MDSC/ CD14+ cells and TNF-α and Foxp3 mRNA expression levels in PBMCs are potential biomarkers for distinguishing TCM BH syndrome and BS syndrome.

The Tianshan Mountains hold important and complex ecosystems. They host some unique biological resources, especially some microbes that have very crucial application values. In this study, the composition and distribution of bacterial communities from soil at different elevations of the Tianshan Mountains, China, were investigated using culture-based and molecular-based methods. The relationship between the abundance of culturable bacteria and environmental factors was also analysed. A total of 121 isolates showing different phenotypic characteristics were obtained from soil and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. All strains were assigned to four phyla: Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the dominating bacterial phyla; Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas were the most prevalent genera. The community structures of culturable bacteria were significantly different at different elevations, there being some common bacterial communities and some unique groups at each altitude. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the abundance of culturable bacterial communities has a significant positive correlation with the NO3− content in the soil. It indicated that NO3− was a better predictor of soil culturable bacterial abundance in this region. The strains isolated from alpine soil in this study are not only an invaluable part of microbial diversity, but also good candidates for further elucidating the interaction relationship between plants and microorganisms.

Rural housing abandonment (RHA) is happening on a large scale in China and accumulatively leads to the phenomenon of village hollowing. This paper conducts a microscopic analysis on the influencing factors of individual decision making in the process of RHA through an empirical study on Pi County in southwest China. Our multi-level logistic regression shows that RHA is mainly influenced by the pulling forces of urban economy and the deteriorated physical condition of rural houses. We discuss that how these factors exert their influence is further linked with the institutional barriers in China that impede the free movement of residents and properties between urban and rural systems, which distorts individual choices towards RHA. Therefore, we suggest policies that promote the equalization of rural and urban residents and recognize the need for the free transfer of rural land and property, as well as the need to develop tools that effectively predict the emergence of RHA.

Background Quality indicators (QIs) are crucial tools in measuring the quality of laboratory services. Based on the general QIs of the Working Group “Laboratory Errors and Patient Safety (WG-LEPS)” of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), specific QIs have been established in order to monitor and improve the quality of molecular diagnostics, and to assess the detection level of associated disease. Methods A survey was conducted on 46 independent commercial laboratories in China, investigated using questionnaires and on-site inspections. Specific QIs established were mainly based on the specific laboratory work-flow for molecular diagnoses. The specific QI results from three volunteer laboratories were collected and used to validate their effectiveness. Results Of the 46 laboratories participating in the study, 44 (95.7%), conducted molecular diagnostics. Of 13 specific established QIs, six were priority level 1, and seven, priority level 3. At pre-evaluation of data from the three volunteering laboratories, it was found that the newly classified specific QIs had outstanding advantages in error identification and risk reduction. Conclusions Novel specific QIs, a promising tool for monitoring and improving upon the total testing process in molecular diagnostics, can effectively contribute to ensuring patient safety.

At present, China is in the stage of agricultural economic transformation and development. It is urgent to regard low-carbon agriculture as the main task of sustainable agricultural development. This paper takes Chengdu as an example to calculate the total carbon emissions and emission intensity of agricultural carbon in the past 2007-2018 years through the carbon emission coefficient method, and to analyze and evaluate the agricultural carbon emission structure and agricultural carbon emission level. Finally, it is concluded that the present situation of agricultural carbon emissions in Chengdu and its dynamic changes in the past ten years will help further clarify the types of agricultural carbon emissions in Chengdu. At the same time, it can also provide theoretical support for the action of energy conservation and emission reduction and the construction of ecological civilization in Chengdu.

In case of Xingwen County in Yibin city, this paper the 15 single indicators of natural factor, economic factor, and social factor which affect the ecological safety of land resources were selected, constructing the index system of the ecological security evaluation of Xingwen County in Yibin city. On this basis, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to determine the weight of each index, and then to calculate the value of ecological security; and the weighting function method was used to obtain that the level of land resources ecological security in Xingwen County is "good" in 2008. Moreover, the clustering analysis method was used to analyze the 15 single indicators of land ecological security, showing that the economic factor is the main factor which affects the ecological security of land resources in Xingwen County, and the corresponding countermeasures were proposed.

Compressed sensing (CS) is a new area of signal processing for simultaneous signal sampling and compression. The CS principle can reduce the computation complexity at the encoder side and transmission costs, but has huge computation load at the decoder. In this paper, a simple block-based compressed sensing reconstruction for still images is proposed. Firstly, original image is divided into small blocks, and each block is sampled independently. Secondly, the image block is divided into flat and non-flat block, and processed with different ways. Finally, mean filter and an improvement total-variation (TV) method is sued to optimize image. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively remove the blocking artifacts and reduce the computation complexity.

With the project planning and design of land consolidation, an index system for the ecological risks assessment is set up based on the identification of the ecological risks with 14 indexes and three factors as water, soil and biology. The index standard is studied out, and the weighting allocation of the index system is workout by AHP. The integrated index of ecological evaluation (ER) is established. The results of the trial use of the suggested index system indicate that, (1) The ER is reduced 28.94 after land consolidation, and the ecological risk is down from level III to level IV; (2) By the element analysis, the water ER is reduced from 21.53 to 6.16, its contribution to the ecological risk is 53%; The ERs of soil and biology are respectively 12.97 and 0.79, their contribution of ecological risk are lower than water.