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Objective: We aimed to explore the geographic differences in psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life (QoL) among adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: A unified questionnaire was developed to collect data on psychological status and QoL of IBD patients from 42 hospitals across 22 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China's mainland from September 2021 to May 2022. Results: A total of 2478 patients with IBD were surveyed. The proportions of patients with anxiety (28.5% vs 23.1%), depression (32.3% vs 27.8%), and poor QoL (44.8% vs 32.2%) were significantly higher in patients from the northern region compared to the southern region (all P < 0.05). In the western region, the proportions of patients with anxiety (31.9% vs 23.0%), depression (37.7% vs 26.7%), sleep disturbances (64.5% vs 58.5%), and poor QoL (44.9% vs 34.8%) were significantly higher than in the eastern and central regions (all P < 0.01). Patients from inland regions had significantly higher rates of anxiety (27.1% vs 23.3%), depression (32.5% vs 26.0%), sleep disturbance (62.0% vs 57.7%), and poor QoL (43.5% vs 29.9%) compared to those from coastal regions (all P < 0.05). In economically underdeveloped areas, the proportions of patients with depression (33.1% vs 28.5%) and poor QoL (52.0% vs 32.4%) were significantly higher than in economically (relatively) developed areas (both P < 0.05). Conclusion: There are significant geographic differences in psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and QoL among Chinese patients with IBD, which might provide valuable insights for global IBD research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the observational data from Marine and Meteorological Observation Platform (MMOP) at Bohe, Maoming and buoys located in Shanwei and Maoming are used to study the characteristics of air-sea temperature and specific humidity difference and the relationship between wind and wave with the tropical cyclones over the South China Sea (SCS). The heat and momentum fluxes from eddy covariance measurement (EC) are compared with these fluxes calculated by the COARE 3.0 algorithm for Typhoon Koppu. The results show that at the developing and weakening stages of Koppu, both these differences between the sea surface and the near-surface atmosphere from the MMOP are negative, and data from the buoys also indicate that the differences are negative between the sea surface and near-surface atmosphere on the right rear portion of tropical cyclones (TCs) Molave and Chanthu. However, the differences are positive on the left front portion of Molave and Chanthu. These positive differences suggest that the heat flux is transferred from the ocean to the atmosphere, thus intensifying and maintaining the two TCs. The negative differences indicate that the ocean removes heat fluxes from the atmosphere, thus weakening the TCs. The wind-wave curves of TCs Molave and Chanthu show that significant wave height increases linearly with 2-min wind speed at 10-m height when the wind speed is less than 25 m/s, but when the wind speed is greater than 25 m/s, the significant wave height increases slightly with the wind speed. By comparing the observed sensible heat, latent heat, and friction velocity from EC with these variables from COARE 3.0 algorithm, a great bias between the observed and calculated sensible heat and latent heat fluxes is revealed, and the observed friction velocity is found to be almost the same as the calculated friction velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By analyzing the NCEP 1° × 1° reanalysis (2004-2008), a number of predictors (factors of variables) are established with the output from the GRAPES model and with reference to the sea fog data from observational stations (2004-2008) and field observations (2006-2008). Based on the criteria and conditions for sea fog appearance at the stations of Zhanjiang, Zhuhai and Shantou, a Model Output Statistics (MOS) scheme for distinguishing and forecasting 24-h sea fog is established and put into use for three representative coastal areas of Guangdong. As shown in an assessment of the forecasts for Zhanjiang and Shantou (March of 2008) and Zhuhai (April of 2008), the scheme was quite capable of forecasting sea fog on the coast of the province, with the accuracy ranging from 84% to 90%, the threat score from 0.40 to 0.50 and the Heidke skill from 0.52 to 0.56. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The systemic spread of colorectal cancer (CRC) is dominated by the portal system and exhibits diverse patterns of metastasis without systematical genomic investigation. Here, we evaluated the genomic evolution of CRC with multiorgan metastases using multiregion sequencing., Design: Whole-exome sequencing was performed on multiple regions (n=74) of matched primary tumour, adjacent non-cancerous mucosa, liver metastasis and lung metastasis from six patients with CRC. Phylogenetic reconstruction and evolutionary analyses were used to investigate the metastatic seeding pattern and clonal origin. Recurrent driver gene mutations were analysed across patients and validated in two independent cohorts. Metastatic assays were performed to examine the effect of the novel driver gene on the malignant behaviour of CRC cells., Results: Based on the migration patterns and clonal origins, three models were revealed (sequential, branch-off and diaspora), which not only supported the anatomic assumption that CRC cells spread to lung after clonally expanding in the liver, but also illustrated the direct seeding of extrahepatic metastases from primary tumours independently. Unlike other cancer types, polyphyletic seeding occurs in CRC, which may result in late metastases with intermetastatic driver gene heterogeneity. In cases with rapid dissemination, we found recurrent trunk loss-of-function mutations in ZFP36L2 , which is enriched in metastatic CRC and associated with poor overall survival. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of ZFP36L2 enhances the metastatic potential of CRC cells., Conclusion: Our results provide genomic evidence for metastatic evolution and indicate that biopsy/sequencing of metastases may be considered for patients with CRC with multiorgan or late postoperative metastasis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in CRC remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore a novel biomarker for CRC. In this study, we screened 361 differentially expressed genes; 152 downregulated genes; and 209 upregulated genes) through analysis of the GSE44861, GSE110223, GSE110224, and GSE113513 CRC datasets. Next, ASPM , CCNA2, CCNB1 , CEP55 , KIF20A , MAD2L1 , MELK , RRM2 , TOP2A , TPX2 , TRIP13 , and TTK were identified as hub genes associated with the cell cycle in CRC through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis using the Cytoscape and Metascape software, the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), and the Oncomine and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) databases. Furthermore, ASPM mRNA expression in CRC tissues was verified in Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas and our data, and ASPM was found to be significantly upregulated in CRC tissues compared with that in the noncancer colon tissues. Functionally, we showed that overexpression of ASPM significantly promoted the proliferation and inhibited apoptosis; silencing of ASPM suppressed the proliferation of CRC cells by affecting the cell cycle G1/S transition by reducing cyclin E1 expression, and inducing apoptosis. Overall, our findings indicated that ASPM plays a crucial role in the regulation of CRC cell proliferation, and ASPM is a potential candidate diagnostic tool and therapeutic target for CRC.

Objectives: An outbreak of the highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has sickened thousands of people in China. The purpose of this study was to explore the early clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD)., Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients with COVID-19 from a single centre. All patients underwent real-time reverse transcription PCR for SARS-CoV-2 on admission. Demographic and clinical factors and laboratory data were reviewed and collected to evaluate for significant associations., Results: The study included 541 patients with COVID-19. A total of 144 (26.6%) patients had a history of CVD. The mortality of patients with CVD reached 22.2%, which was higher than that of the overall population of this study (9.8%). Patients with CVD were also more likely to develop liver function abnormality, elevated blood creatinine and lactic dehydrogenase (p<0.05). Symptoms of sputum production were more common in patients with CVD (p=0.026). Lymphocytes, haemoglobin and albumin below the normal range were pervasive in the CVD group (p<0.05). The proportion of critically ill patients in the CVD group (27.8%) was significantly higher than that in the non-CVD group (8.8%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that CVD (OR: 2.735 (95% CI 1.495 to 5.003), p=0.001) was associated with critical COVID-19 condition, while patients with coronary heart disease were less likely to reach recovery standards (OR: 0.331 (95% CI 0.125 to 0.880), p=0.027)., Conclusions: Considering the high prevalence of CVD, a thorough CVD assessment at diagnosis and early intervention are recommended in COVID-19 patients with CVD. Patients with CVD are more vulnerable to deterioration., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Like DIP-STR markers (deletion/insertion polymorphism-short tandem repeat combinations), SNP-STR markers (single nucleotide polymorphism-STR combinations) are also valuable in forensic DNA mixture analysis. In this study, eight SNP-STRs were selected, and a stable and sensitive multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for amplifying these SNP-STRs and the Amelogenin gender marker according to the principle of amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). This novel multiplex set allows detection of the minor DNA contributor in a DNA mixture of any gender and cellular origin with high resolution (beyond a DNA ratio of 1:20). In addition, SNP-STR haplotype frequencies were estimated based on a survey of 350 unrelated individuals from Chinese Han population, and the combined power of discrimination (PD) and power of exclusion (PE) of the eight SNP-STRs were calculated as 0.99999999965 and 0.9996, which were obviously higher than that of the eight STR loci: 0.9999999954 and 0.9989 respectively. The results indicated that the SNP-STR compound markers have higher application value in forensic identification compared to standard autosomal STRs, especially in the analysis of imbalanced DNA mixtures., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

In this study, a novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for amplifying the newly introduced 13 rapidly mutating Y-STR markers (RM Y-STRs) including DYF387S1, DYF399S1, DYF403S1a/b, DYF404S1, DYS449, DYS518, DYS526b, DYS547, DYS570, DYS576, DYS612, DYS626, and DYS627. In addition, a survey for mutation rates of the 13 RM Y-STRs in Chinese Han population was performed to make sure of the mutation characteristic and application in Chinese group. With 14,476 allele transfers in 1034 father-son pairs, 221 mutation events occurred, of which 215 were one-step mutations and 6 were two-step mutations. Nineteen father-son pairs were found to have mutations at two loci and one pair at three loci. Based upon our research data, 18.96 % of all 1034 father-son pairs were successfully differentiated, and the estimated locus-specific mutation rates varied from 4.84 × 10 -3 to 6.29 × 10 -2 , with an average estimated mutation rate 1.53 × 10 -2 (95 % CI 1.33 × 10 -2 to 1.74 × 10 -2 ). Among the 13 Y-STR markers, eight loci (DYF399S1, DYF403S1a, DYF404S1, DYS449, DYS518, DYS547, DYS576, and DYS612) had mutation rates higher than 1.00 × 10 -2 , and the rest loci lower than 1.00 × 10 -2 in Chinese samples.