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Background: The therapeutic management of obesity is challenging, hence further elucidating the underlying mechanisms of obesity development and identifying new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets are urgent and necessary. Here, we performed differential gene expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify significant genes and specific modules related to BMI based on gene expression profile data of 7 discordant monozygotic twins. Results: In the differential gene expression analysis, it appeared that 32 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were with a trend of up-regulation in twins with higher BMI when compared to their siblings. Categories of positive regulation of nitric-oxide synthase biosynthetic process, positive regulation of NF-kappa B import into nucleus and peroxidase activity were significantly enriched within GO database and NF-kappa B signaling pathway within KEGG database. DEGs of NAMPT, TLR9, PTGS2, HBD and PCSK1N might be associated with obesity. In the WGCNA, among the total 20 distinct co-expression modules identified, coral1 module (68 genes) had the strongest positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.56, P = 0.04) and disease status (r = 0.56, P = 0.04). Categories of positive regulation of phospholipase activity, high-density lipoprotein particle clearance, chylomicron remnant clearance, reverse cholesterol transport, intermediate-density lipoprotein particle, chylomicron, low-density lipoprotein particle, very-low-density lipoprotein particle, voltage-gated potassium channel complex, cholesterol transporter activity and neuropeptide hormone activity were significantly enriched within GO database for this module. And alcoholism and cell adhesion molecules pathways were significantly enriched within KEGG database. Several hub genes, such as GAL, ASB9, NPPB, TBX2, IL17C, APOE, ABCG4 and APOC2 were also identified. The module eigengene of saddlebrown module (212 genes) was also significantly correlated with BMI (r = 0.56, P = 0.04), and hub genes of KCNN1 and AQP10 were differentially expressed. Conclusion: We identified significant genes and specific modules potentially related to BMI based on the gene expression profile data of monozygotic twins. The findings may help further elucidate the underlying mechanisms of obesity development and provide novel insights to research potential gene biomarkers and signaling pathways for obesity treatment. Further analysis and validation of the findings reported here are important and necessary when more sample size is acquired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) after hysterectomy has been recognized as a major clinical problem in the Western World. Reports on post-hysterectomy pain are relatively scarce in China. The aim of the current study was to prospectively investigate the incidence and the potential risk factors of CPSP at 3 months following hysterectomy in Chinese population. Methods: We assessed and collected data on preoperative socio-demographic characteristics, preexisting pain, anxiety and depression, sexual satisfaction, intra-operative variables, and acute postoperative pain intensity in a cohort of 870 women undergoing hysterectomy. The participants were interviewed to determine their suitability to diagnostic criteria of CPSP 3 months later. Logistic regression analyses were subsequently performed to identify predictors for CPSP. Results: The incidence of CPSP at 3 months after hysterectomy was 27.7%. Most of the women with CPSP suffered from mild pain and had a slight impact on daily life with sleep and emotion functional limitation. Risk factors for CPSP after hysterectomy were preoperative anxiety, depression, pelvic pain, preexisting pain, very-moderate sexual dissatisfaction, and acute postoperative pain at movement. Intra-operative dexmedetomidine infusion with 0.5 μg/kg/h was associated with a decreased incidence rate of chronic post-hysterectomy pain. Conclusion: Twenty-eight percent of patients after hysterectomy in southern Jiangsu china had CPSP with 92% of those women describing it as mild with sleep and emotion functional limitation. Patients with preoperative anxiety and depression, poor sexual satisfaction, preexisting pain, and acute postoperative pain on movement have been identified to be at risk to develop CPSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. L-carnitine has been used for several years as an adjuvant therapy in oxidative stress, blood sugar, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), anemia, etc. However, the efficacy of L-carnitine treating insulin resistance (IR) remains controversial. Homeostasis model assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) is widely used in the clinical evaluation of patients with IR. Objectives. A meta-analysis, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), was performed to assess the effect of L-carnitine on HOMA-IR patients. Material and methods. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched to identify RCTs which evaluated the effects of L-carnitine on HOMA-IR patients. We screened relevant studies according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the selected articles, we extracted the data: study design, sample size, age, L-carnitine dose and regimen, body mass index (BMI) of patients, mode of administration, study duration and study outcomes. Results. A total of 5 studies were included for the meta-analysis. The result showed L-carnitine was useful in the treatment of IR (WMD -0.724, CI -0.959 -0.488, p < 0.0001). Evaluation at 3, 6, 9, 12 months, the p-values were 0.875, 0.165, 0.031, 0, 007, respectively. Conclusions. L-carnitine was useful in treating patients with IR. L-carnitine can treat IR more effectively with prolonging the medication time. However, more RCTs with long-term L-carnitine treatment of IR are needed to confirm the viewpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Neutrophil CD64 (nCD64) is a promising marker for diagnosing bacterial infections. Several studies have investigated the performance of nCD64 for diagnosing neonatal sepsis and the results are variable. Interest in nCD64 for detecting serious bacterial infections is increasing rapidly. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to carry out a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of nCD64 in neonatal sepsis. As far as the authors know, no previous studies have undertaken this. Material and methods. A review of studies from Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Library, from inception through June 2015, found 7 studies (involving 2213 neonates) fulfilling the inclusion criteria. These 7 studies were subjected to a bivariate meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity and a summary receiveroperating characteristic (SROC) curve; I² was used to test heterogeneity, and the source of heterogeneity was investigated by influence analysis and meta-regression. Results. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 80% (95%CI, 69-88%) and 83% (95%CI, 71-90%), respectively. The area under the SROC curve (AUC) was 0.88 (95%CI, 0.85-0.91). The studies had substantial heterogeneity (I² = 87.1%). Conclusions. The results showed that nCD64 is a reliable biomarker for diagnosing neonatal sepsis (AUC = 0.88). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The findings from prospective studies on visual impairment (VI) and the risk of mortality are not consistent. Objective A meta-analysis of prospective studies was conducted to quantitatively summarise the evidence about the association between VI and the risk of mortality. Methods Pertinent studies were identified by a search of PubMed, Web of Science and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases up to December 2015. The random-effect model was used to combine study-specific relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was estimated by Egger's test and the funnel plot. Dose-response relationship was assessed by restricted cubic spline functions. Results This meta-analysis contained 29 prospective studies including 269 839 participants and 67 061 deaths. Compared to the no VI, the highest VI level was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality (RR: 1.36, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.46). The association remained significant in participants older than 65 years (RR: 1.28, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.39), and a significant association was also observed in men (RR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.54) and women (RR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.70), respectively. For dose-response analysis, a linear relation was found between visual acuity (VA) and the risk of mortality. For every 0.1 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR) increment, the risk of mortality increased by 4% (RR: 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06). Conclusions VI was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies on the antioxidant activity of sedatives have predominantly been in vitro investigations that are lacking clinical data, resulting in conclusion without cogency. The aim of the present prospective, randomized study was to use single sedative drugs for anesthesia induction to compare their antioxidant properties. The effects on the antioxidant system of midazolam, propofol and dexmedetomidine were assessed using oxidative stress indicators and micronuclei (MN). Forty-nine patients undergoing esophageal cancer radical prostatectomy were selected. Midazolam, propofol and dexmedetomidine were used to induce anesthesia. Venous blood samples were obtained prior to and at 2 and at 24 h after surgery, and oxidative stress indicators were detected using the appropriate kits. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay was executed and the frequencies of MN, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds were examined. It was found that the use of the three sedatives, respectively, led to a marked increase in the levels of free radical indicators at 2 h after surgery, which then decreased at 24 h after surgery. Furthermore, lower levels of oxidative stress were found following the use of propofol and dexmedetomidine compared with those following midazolam administration, and similar results were obtained regarding the level of MN. It is suggested that propofol and dexmedetomidine exhibit a superior antioxidant function to midazolam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy is a biological phenomenon whereby components of cells can self-degrade using autophagosomes. During this process, cells can clear dysfunctional organelles or unwanted elements. Autophagy can recycle unnecessary biomolecules into new components or sometimes, even destroy the cells themselves. This cellular process was first observed in 1962 by Keith R. Porter et al. Since then, autophagy has been studied for over 60 years, and much has been learned on the topic. Nevertheless, the process is still not fully understood. It has been proven, for example, that autophagy can be a positive force for maintaining good health by removing older or damaged cells. By contrast, autophagy is also involved in the onset and progression of various conditions caused by pathogenic infections. These diseases generally involve several important organs in the human body, including the liver, kidney, heart, and central nervous system. The regulation of the defects of autophagy defects may potentially be used to treat some diseases. This review comprehensively discusses recent research frontiers and topics of interest regarding autophagy-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: In the United States, synthetic folic acid has become an important source of folate in the era of mandatory folic acid fortification. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between total folate, natural folate and synthetic folic acid intakes and depressive symptoms among US adults.Methods and Study Design: Cross-sectional data was collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2016. Dietary data were obtained through two 24-h dietary recall interviews. Depressive symptoms were detected by PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), participants whose depression scores over 10 points were diagnosed as depressive symptoms. Weighted logistic regressions were used to analyze the associations between different forms of folate and depressive symptoms.Results: Among 19244 participants included in this study, 9.2% of them met the definition of depressive symptoms. In fully adjusted models, total folate intake and natural folate intake were inversely associated with depressive symptoms respectively, while synthetic folic acid was not. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of depressive symptoms were 0.69 (0.54-0.89), 0.51 (0.39-0.68) for the highest versus lowest quartile of total folate and natural folate intake, respectively. We also found two L-shaped dose-response curves among total folate intake, natural folate intake with depressive symptoms, respectively.Conclusions: Total folate intake, natural folate intake may be inversely associated with depressive symptoms among US adults, while the association was not significant between synthetic folic acid and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Television Viewing and Time Spent Sedentary in Relation to Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis" by D. Schmid et al. which appeared in a 2014 issue of the journal.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Physical Activity and Risks of Proximal and Distal Colon Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" by T. Boyle et al. in a 2012 issue.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity Ameliorates the Breast Cancer Risk in Diabetic Women" published in the journal in 2012.

Despite active control strategies, including the vaccination program in poultry, H9N2 avian influenza viruses possessing mutations in hemagglutinin (HA) were frequently isolated. In this study, we analyzed the substitutions at HA residue 193 (H3 numbering) of H9N2 and investigated the impact of these mutations on viral properties. Our study indicated that H9N2 circulating in the Chinese poultry have experienced frequent mutations at HA residue 193 since 2013, with viruses that carried asparagine (N) being replaced by those with alanine (A), aspartic acid (D), glutamic acid (E), glycine (G), and serine (S), etc. Our results showed the N193G mutation impeded the multiple cycles of growth of H9N2, and although most of the variant HAs retained the preference for human-like receptors as did the wild-type N193 HA, the N193E mutation altered the preference for both human and avian-like receptors. Furthermore, these mutations substantially altered the antigenicity of H9N2 as measured by both monoclonal antibodies and antisera. In vivo studies further demonstrated that these mutations showed profound impact on viral replication and transmission of H9N2 in chicken. Viruses with D, E, or S at residue 193 acquired the ability to replicate in lungs of the infected chickens, whereas virus with G193 reduced its transmissibility in infected chickens to those in direct contact. Our findings demonstrated that variations at HA residue 193 altered various properties of H9N2, highlighting the significance of the continued surveillance of HA for better understanding of the etiology and effective control of H9N2 in poultry. IMPORTANCE H9N2 are widespread and have sporadically caused clinical diseases in humans. Extensive vaccinations in poultry helped constrain H9N2; however, they might have facilitated the evolution of the virus. It is therefore of importance to monitor the variation of the circulating H9N2 and evaluate its risk to both veterinary and public health. Here, we found substitutions at position 193 of HA from H9N2 circulated since 2013 and assessed the impact of several mutations on viral properties. Our data showed these mutations resulted in substantial antigenic change. N193E altered the binding preference of HA for human-like to both avian and human-like receptors. More importantly, N193G impaired the growth of H9N2 and its transmission in chickens, whereas mutations from N to D, E, and S enhanced the viral replication in lungs of chickens. Our study enriched the knowledge about H9N2 and may help implement an effective control strategy for H9N2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]