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Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. The aberrant expression of miR-365 has been found to be implicated in a wide array of human diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer. Studies on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA genes can help gain insight into the susceptibility to the condition. This study aimed to examine the relationship between miR-365 SNPs and the risk of IS. Methods: The study recruited 215 IS patients and 220 controls. The SNPscans genotyping was employed to genotype three polymorphic loci (rs121224, rs30230, and rs178553) of miR-365. The relative expression of miR-365 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients and controls was determined by using real-time quantitative PCR. Results: The miR-365 rs30230 polymorphism exhibited a significant association with the risk of developing IS (TC vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.92, P = 0.022; TT vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14-0.85, P = 0.021; TC +TT vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31-0.83, P = 0.007; T vs. C: adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.83, P = 0.004). Haplotype analysis revealed that the C-T-G haplotype was associated with a decreased risk of IS (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46-1.00, P = 0.047). Furthermore, miR-365 expression was significantly higher in IS patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Interestingly, patients with rs30230 TC or TT genotypes had lower miR-365 levels compared to their counterparts with CC genotypes (P < 0.001). Conclusions: ThemiR-365 rs30230 polymorphismmight bear an association with IS susceptibility in the Chinese population, and the rs30230 TC/TT genotypemight be a protective factor against IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reveals the contemporary Chinese state's active role in shaping the country's religion-related intangible cultural heritage (ICH) safeguarding, through a systematic review of China's official inventories of national representative ICH projects and extensive investigations of relevant local practices and initiatives. Although China is ruled by a political party officially embracing an atheist ideology, various elements of the contemporary Chinese state have been proactively involved in safeguarding religion-related ICH. The Chinese state's involvement in de facto religion-related ICH safeguarding predates its adoption of explicit ICH safeguarding narratives. Still, the Chinese state's practices and initiatives in safeguarding religion-related ICH flourished after ratifying the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2004. Since then, China's central government has established a nationwide framework to recognise representative ICH items, including religion-related ones. Beyond Beijing, various local state agencies have also developed noticeable enthusiasm for supporting the safeguarding of religion-related ICH. In addition to engaging directly with ICH safeguarding, the contemporary Chinese state has also shaped China's religion-related ICH by working closely with some academics and religious groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Achalasia is a rare primary esophageal motility disorder disease. It is reported that the long-term effect of fully coated anti-reflux metal stent (FCARMS) implantation is satisfactory. Operated by a skilled and experienced endoscopist, the effect of per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) treatment is equivalent to that of surgical myotomy. So far, there is still few evidence to prove FCARMS implantation or POEM which is better for achalasia. The choice of treatment for achalasia is still controversial. The aim of this study is to find a more suitable therapy for achalasia by comparing the efficacy of FCARMS implantation and POEM.Methods: A propensity score (PS) matching (1:2) was used in this retrospective cohort study. Data collected from consecutive patients of Achalasia, receiving FCARMS implantation or POEM therapy at the department of gastroenterology, the Seventh Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from May 2007 to May 2018. According to their previous treatment, they are divided into two groups, FCARMS group and POEM group. Clinical efficacy and complications were compared between the two groups.Results: A total of 166 cases were collected, including 113 cases of FCARMS and 53 cases of POEM. By PS matching, 150 patients were enrolled (100 cases of FCARMS and 50 cases of POEM). By comparison, the FCARMS group has shorter operation time, shorter fasting time and lower hospitalization costs than the POEM group (p < 0.05). Common complications in the FCARMS group are nausea, vomiting, and stent shift. Repetitions of gastroscopy in the FCARMS group was more often, which were 3.8 ± 2.4 (vs 2.1 ± 1.8 of POEM) (p = 0.00 < 0.05) The 6-month remission rates of the FCARMS combination POEM group were 89% and 94%, respectively (p = 0.39), and the 2-year remission rates were 61% and 90%, respectively (p = 0.00).Conclusions: Stent placement is a cost-effective and safe treatment option for achalasia. The short-term effect (less than 6 months) of FCARMS is similar to that of POEM, the long-term effect (more than 2 years), POEM is better than FCARMS. HRMIIis most suitable for POEM treatment. It indicate that Patients can choose treatment methods according to their own conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Shelving Disputes and Pursuing Joint Development' (SDPJD) has for decades been China's premier policy for resolving territorial disputes, especially those regarding islands. SDPJD is, however, commonly understood to be tripartite policy, in which 'shelving disputes' and 'pursuing joint development' are made conditional upon the principle of 'sovereignty belongs to China'. Although SDPJD aims to peacefully settle China's island territorial disputes in the East China Sea (Diaoyu Islands) and the South China Sea (Spratly Islands), the policy has not been particularly successful in practice. This is in part because, whereas 'shelving disputes' and 'pursuing joint development' are cooperative in nature, 'sovereignty belongs to China' is inherently confrontational. The prominence granted to 'sovereignty belongs to China' is linked to outmoded understanding of the concept of sovereignty and the tendency for Chinese scholars and officials to regard island territorial disputes as the zero-sum games. This paper argues that SDPJD's success is dependent upon separating 'sovereignty belongs to China' from 'shelving disputes' and 'pursuing joint development' and perhaps abandoning the former principle entirely. China should pursue non-confrontation resolution to island territorial pursuits, especially in the contexts of efforts to develop a peaceful and cooperative 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE. This study aims to determine the 12-month and lifetime prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and its sociodemographic correlates. DESIGN AND METHODS. A total of 5,926 subjects were randomly selected and interviewed. FINDINGS. The overall 12-month and lifetime prevalence of GAD was 0.8%, and 1.2%, respectively. Being older than 25 years and female, lower education level, unemployed status, and lower (< RMB500/month) or higher (> RMB2000/month) monthly income were associated with increased risk of GAD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. The low percentage of subjects treated for GAD indicates a major public health problem that should be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the association between lncRNA MALAT1 SNPs (rs3200401 C > T, rs619586 A > G, rs11227209 C > G) and the risk of T2DM in the Chinese Han population. • MALAT1 rs619586 and rs3200401 confer susceptibility for T2DM in the Chinese Han population and provide new genetic targets for the treatment of diabetes. • Further association and functional studies in different ethnic groups are needed to confirm our findings. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic, lifelong disease. The molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology of T2DM have not yet been fully elucidated. Dysregulation of the long non-coding RNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (lncRNA MALAT1) is considered one of the main contributing factors of the dysfunction found in many diseases, including those of the endocrine system. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lncRNA MALAT1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and T2DM in the Chinese Han population. We genotyped three SNPs (rs3200401 C > T, rs619586 A > G, rs11227209 C > G) of the MALAT1 gene, including 571 T2DM patients and 526 controls. The association between different genotypes and the risk of T2DM was analyzed using logistic regression, and the results were expressed by odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI), and then stratified by age, sex, and BMI. P < 0.05 on both sides was considered as statistically significant. We found that the CT + TT genotypes of the rs3200401 polymorphism were significantly associated with an increased risk of T2DM in Chinese Han population (OR = 1.77; 95% CI:1.35–2.33; P adjusted < 0.001), whereas MALAT1 rs619586 AG + GG genotypes were associated with a reduced risk of T2DM (OR = 0.67; 95% CI:0.48–0.94; P adjusted = 0.021). Subsequent stratified analysis showed that compared with the rs3200401 CC genotype, CT + TT genotypes were associated with an increased risk of T2DM in the male, female, age ≥ 65 years, and BMI ≥ 24 subgroups (OR = 1.68, 95% CI:1.10–2.56, P adjusted = 0.016; OR = 1.83, 95% CI:1.27–2.62, P adjusted = 0.001; OR = 1.86, 95% CI:1.38–2.52, P adjusted < 0.001; OR = 2.13, 95% CI:1.45–3.15, P adjusted < 0.001; respectively). Haplotype analysis showed that T-A-C haplotype had a 1.533-fold increased risk of T2DM (95% CI, 1.208–1.945, P < 0.001) and C-G-G was associated with a decreased risk of T2DM. No significant association was found between rs11227209 and T2DM risk (P > 0.05). The results suggest that MALAT1 rs619586 and rs3200401 confer susceptibility for T2DM in the Chinese Han population and provide new genetic targets for the treatment of diabetes and its complications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]