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Purpose: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is widely used in diabetes management and now recommended for diagnosis and risk assessment. Our research focused on investigating the optimal cutoff points of HbA1c for diagnosis of diabetes and prediabetes in Chinese breast cancer women, aiming to enhance early detection and tailor treatment strategies. Patients and Methods: This study involved 309 breast cancer women without diabetes history in China. Patients were categorized into groups of newly diagnosed diabetes, prediabetes, and normal glucose tolerance using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) according to the 2010 ADA criteria. HbA1c data were collected from all patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the effectiveness of the HbA1c screening. Results: Among the 309 breast cancer women without diabetes history, 96 (31.0%) were identified with diabetes and 130 (42.1%) had prediabetes according to OGTT, and the incidence of normal glucose tolerance was only 26.9% (83). ROC curve analysis, using OGTT as a reference, revealed that the area under the curve of 0.903 (P< 0.001, 95% CI, 0.867– 0.938) for HbA1c alone, indicating high accuracy. The optimal HbA1c cutoff for identifying diabetes was determined to be 6.0%, with a sensitivity of 78.1% and specificity of 86.4%. For prediabetes, the ROC curve for HbA1c alone showed that the area under the ROC curve of 0.703 (P< 0.001, 95% CI, 0.632– 0.774), with an optimal cutoff of 5.5% (sensitivity of 76.9% and specificity of 51.8%). Conclusion: The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes is very high in breast cancer women without diabetes history in China. The optimal cutoff points of HbA1c for identifying diabetes and prediabetes are 6.0% and 5.5% in Chinese breast cancer women, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new definition for liver disease associated with known metabolic dysfunction. Based on new diagnostic criteria, we aimed to investigate its prevalence and risk factors in Chinese population.Methods: We conducted this study in a health examination population who underwent abdominal ultrasonography in China. The diagnosis of MAFLD was based on the new diagnostic criteria. The characteristics of the MAFLD population, as well as the associations between MAFLD and metabolic abnormalities, were explored. Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were performed to compare different variables. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors for MAFLD.Results: Among 139,170 subjects, the prevalence of MAFLD was 26.1% (males: 35.4%; females: 14.1%). The prevalence based on female menopausal status, that is, premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal, was 6.1%, 16.8%, and 30.2%, respectively. In different BMI groups (underweight, normal, overweight and obese), the prevalence was 0.1%, 4.0%, 27.4% and 59.8%, respectively. The proportions of abnormal metabolic features in the MAFLD group were significantly higher than those in the non-MAFLD group, as was the proportion of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (42.5% vs. 11%, P < 0.001). In nonobese individuals with MAFLD, the proportions of abnormal metabolic features were also all significantly higher than those in nonobese individuals without MAFLD. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS), dyslipidaemia, and hyperuricaemia, respectively, in the MAFLD group (53.2%, 80.0%, and 45.0%) was significantly higher than that in the non-MAFLD group (10.1%, 41.7%, and 16.8%). Logistic regression revealed that age, BMI, waist circumference, ALT, triglycerides, fasting glucose, uric acid and platelet count were associated with MAFLD.Conclusions: MAFLD is prevalent in China and varies considerably among different age, sex, BMI, and female menopausal status groups. MAFLD is related to metabolic disorders, especially obesity, while metabolic disorders also play important roles in the occurrence of MAFLD in nonobese individuals. MAFLD patients exhibit a high prevalence of MS, dyslipidaemia, hyperuricaemia, and elevated liver enzymes. MAFLD tends to coexist with systemic metabolic disorders, and a deep inner relationship may exist between MAFLD and MS. Metabolic disorders should be considered to improve the management of MAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the first case of mosaic disease in pumpkins caused by tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in Jiangsu Province, China. In June 2019, virus-like symptoms, including green-yellow mosaic and mottling of leaves, were observed on approximately 50% of pumpkins in a greenhouse in Yangzhou city. Analysis confirmed the presence of TMV in the affected plants, and subsequent tests demonstrated the pathogenicity of TMV in pumpkin cultivars. This finding is significant as pumpkin is an economically important vegetable crop in the region. The study was supported by various research programs and does not involve human participants or animals. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Prior research has shown an association between breast and thyroid cancers, although their relationship is unclear. In China, asymptomatic women undergoing regular health checkups usually undergo breast and thyroid ultrasonography screening. The present cross-sectional ultrasound-based study estimated the prevalence of breast masses (BM) and thyroid nodules (TN) and their relationship among a population-based cohort of Chinese women. Methods: This study included 34,184 consecutive asymptomatic Chinese women who underwent both breast and thyroid ultrasound evaluation during one health care examination. Detected lesions were assigned into categories of different malignant risks according to the Breast and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-/TI-RADS). Binomial logistic regression was used to determine the association between occurrence of BM and TN, and multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation of BM and TN in different BI-/TI-RADS categories. Associations between BM and TN, as well as anthropometric and biochemical markers, were also explored. Results: Of those enrolled, 6371 (18.6%) had BM, 12,153 (35.6%) had TN, and 2279 (6.7%) had both. After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), and height, females with TN had a higher risk of BM (odds ratio [OR] = 1.151, 95% confidence interval [CI 1.081–1.225], p < 0.0001) than those with normal thyroids, and females with BM had a higher risk of TN (OR = 1.165 [CI 1.096–1.238], p < 0.0001) than those without BM. Women with a TN >10 mm (OR = 1.249 [CI 1.104–1.413], p = 0.0004) and those with a TN ≤10 mm (OR = 1.134 [CI 1.062–1.211], p = 0.0002) were at higher risk of BM compared with those with normal thyroids. As RADS categories increased, so did the correlation between BM and TN. The increased risk of TN was associated with a higher BMI, height, systolic blood pressure, and a lower plasma albumin level. The increased risk of BM was associated with a lower BMI, plasma albumin levels, and higher height. Conclusions: A high prevalence of BM and TN was detected by ultrasonography screening in this cohort of Chinese women. These lesions occurred frequently and simultaneously, particularly in women with lesions in higher RADS categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal posture and spinal mobility have been demonstrated to cause functional impairment in the quality of life, especially in the postmenopausal osteoporotic population. Most of the literature studies focus on either thoracic kyphosis or lumbar lordosis, but not on the change of the entire spinal alignment. Very few articles reported the spinal alignment of Chinese people. The purpose of this study was threefold: to classify the spinal curvature based on the classification system defined by Satoh consisting of the entire spine alignment; to identify the change of trunk mobility; and to relate spinal curvature to balance disorder in a Chinese population. Methodology/Principal Findings: 450 osteoporotic volunteers were recruited for this study. Spinal range of motion and global curvature were evaluated noninvasively using the Spinal-Mouse® system and sagittal postural deformities were characterized. Results: We found a new spine postural alignment consisting of an increased thoracic kyphosis and decreased lumbar lordosis which we classified as our modified round back. We did not find any of Satoh's type 5 classification in our population. Type 2 sagittal alignment was the most common spinal deformity (38.44%). In standing, thoracic kyphosis angles in types 2 (58.34°) and 3 (58.03°) were the largest and lumbar lordosis angles in types 4 (13.95°) and 5 (28.61°) were the smallest. The range of flexion (ROF) and range of flexion-extension (ROFE) of types 2 and 3 were usually greater than types 4 and 5, with type 1 being the largest. Conclusions/Significance: The present study classified and compared for the first time the mobility, curvature and balance in a Chinese population based on the entire spine alignment and found types 4 and 5 to present the worst balance and mobility. This study included a new spine postural alignment classification that should be considered in future population studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed to replace the concept of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The relationship between MAFLD and breast lesions has not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to explore their prevalence and relationship among general population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. After considering the exclusion criteria, 46,547 consecutive women who synchronously accepted breast and abdominal ultrasonography during one physical check-up between January 2015 and September 2018 were enrolled in this study. Prevalence of breast masses (BM), BI-RADS categories breast lesions and MAFLD in general population were revealed and the association between MAFLD and breast mass, BI-RADS categories breast lesions was analyzed by conducting logistic regression models. Results: Of 46,547 participants, 8,020 (17.23%) had BM, 6,345 (13.63%) had MAFLD. Women with MAFLD had a lower BM prevalence than those without MAFLD (11.87% vs.18.08%; p<0.001). Overall, women with MAFLD had a lower risk of BM compared to those without MAFLD (adjusted OR=0.849, 95%CI: 0.775-0.930, p<0.001). Analysis based on BI-RADS categories breast lesions demonstrated that MAFLD is negatively related to BI-RADS 2/3 categories breast lesions (BI-RADS 2 category adjusted OR=0.980, 95%CI: 0.906-1.061, p=0.626; BI-RADS 3 category adjusted OR=0.736, 95%CI: 0.641-0.845, p=0.001), while associated with higher risk of BI-RADS ≥4 categories breast lesions (adjusted OR=1.220, 95%CI: 1.005-1.480, p=0.044). Subgroup analysis across age (18-44, 45-54 and≥55 years old) and body mass index (<25 and ≥25kg/m²) demonstrated that MAFLD was negatively associated with BI-RADS 2/3 categories breast lesions in premenopausal and perimenopausal women, and positively associated with BI-RADS ≥4 categories breast lesions in postmenopausal women, whether in obese or not. Conclusions: MAFLD was inversely associated with BM and BI-RADS 2/3 categories breast lesions in premenopausal and perimenopausal women, irrespective of obesity presence; MAFLD increased the risk of BM and BI-RADS ≥4 categories breast lesions in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations of Balanophora from southern China are often identified by local botanists as B. laxiflora based on their long cylindric male inflorescence, subsessile male flowers with slender rudimentary bracts, and subdiscoid synandria. In this study, we clarify the identity of seven such populations based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis using nuclear 18S and ITS ribosomal DNA sequences. We confirmed the occurrence of dioecious populations of B. yakushimensis and two previously unrecognized species, which we describe here as B. parajaponica and B. appressa. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that B. parajaponica, B. yakushimensis, B. appressa, B. laxiflora, and the agamospermic B. japonica, formed a well resolved clade, viz. the B. laxiflora clade. The four dioecious species, although highly similar in the morphology of male inflorescence and flowers, can be separated by leaf morphology and arrangement, ovary color, and arrangement of female flowers. The species limit of B. laxiflora, however, remains unresolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]