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Abstract Besides chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), autologous T cells can also serve as a new treatment approach for AML patients. However, the features of tumor-reactive T cells and their distinctive markers still lack full description. To evaluate the characteristics of tumor-reactive T cells, we collected bone marrow (BM) T cells from newly diagnosed AML patients with RUNX1::RUNX1T1 as examples for paired single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell V(D)J sequencing. Based on the STARTRAC-like algorithm, we defined bystander T cells and tumor-reactive T cells. Compared with bystander T cells, tumor-reactive T cells presented as senescent-like cytotoxic terminally differentiated T cells (Temra) with upregulated NK-related markers. Additionally, we found ADGRG1 could serve as the specific marker of CD8+ T tumor-reactive T cell and validated it through the Runx1Runx1t1/+; Mx1-Cre mouse model. In chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T and target cell system, ADGRG1 was selectively upregulated upon antigen-TCR encounter. Moreover, ADGRG1+CD8+ T cells released a higher level of IFN-γ and showed higher cell-killing ability when exposed to matched AML blasts. Together, our findings depict the single-cell profile of tumor-reactive T cells in AML BM and propose that ADGRG1 can act as an indicator of T cell tumor reactivity in AML, which may be further harnessed for adoptive cell therapy and tumor-reactive TCR enrichment.

Abstract Background Migraine is one of the most common diseases worldwide while current treatment options are not ideal. New therapeutic classes of migraine, the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists, have been developed and shown considerable effectiveness and safety. The present study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of atogepant, a CGRP antagonist, for migraine prophylaxis from the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods The Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed and https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ were searched for RCTs that compared atogepant with placebo for migraine prophylaxis from inception of the databases to Feb 1, 2024. Outcome data involving efficacy and safety were combined and analyzed using Review Manager Software version 5.3 (RevMan 5.3). For each outcome, risk ratios (RRs) or standardized mean difference (SMD) were calculated. Results 4 RCTs with a total of 2813 subjects met our inclusion criteria. The overall effect estimate showed that atogepant was significantly superior to placebo in terms of the reduction of monthly migraine (SMD − 0.40, 95% CI -0.46 to -0.34) or headache (SMD − 0.39, 95% CI -0.46 to -0.33) days, the reduction of acute medication use days (SMD − 0.45, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.39) and 50% responder rate (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.46 to 1.89), while no dose-related improvements were found between different dosage groups. For the safety, significant number of patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with atogepant than with placebo (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.21) while there was no obvious difference between the five dosage groups. Most TEAEs involved constipation (RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.91–3.41), nausea (RR 2.19, 95% CI 1.67–2.87) and urinary tract infection (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.05–2.11). In addition, a high dosage of atogepant may also increase the risk of treatment-related TEAEs (RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.02–2.63) and fatigue (RR 3.07, 95% CI 1.13–8.35). Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that atogepant is effective and tolerable for migraine prophylaxis including episodic or chronic migraine compared with placebo. It is critical to weigh the benefits of different doses against the risk of adverse events in clinical application of atogepant. Longer and multi-dose trials with larger sample sizes are required to verify the current findings.

Abstract Given that tumor microenvironment (TME) exerts adverse impact on the therapeutic response and clinical outcome, robust TME modulators may significantly improve the curative effect and increase survival benefits of cancer patients. Here, Au nanodots‐anchored CoFe2O4 nanoflowers with PEGylation (CFAP) are developed to respond to TME cues, aiming to exacerbate redox dyshomeostasis for efficacious antineoplastic therapy under ultrasound (US) irradiation. After uptake by tumor cells, CFAP with glucose oxidase (GOx)‐like activity can facilitate glucose depletion and promote the production of H2O2. Multivalent elements of Co(II)/Co(III) and Fe(II)/Fe(III) in CFAP display strong Fenton‐like activity for·OH production from H2O2. On the other hand, energy band structure CFAP is superior for US‐actuated 1O2 generation, relying on the enhanced separation and retarded recombination of e−/h+ pairs. In addition, catalase‐mimic CFAP can react with cytosolic H2O2 to generate molecular oxygen, which may increase the product yields from O2‐consuming reactions, such as glucose oxidation and sonosensitization processes. Besides the massive production of reactive oxygen species, CFAP is also capable of exhausting glutathione to devastate intracellular redox balance. Severe immunogenic cell death and effective inhibition of solid tumor by CFAP demonstrates the clinical potency of such heterogeneous structure and may inspire more relevant designs for disease therapy.

ObjectiveNivolumab, recently proven in a phase 3 clinical trial (CheckMate 901) to enhance survival when combined with gemcitabine-cisplatin for advanced urothelial carcinoma. This study aimed to assess its cost-effectiveness against gemcitabine-cisplatin alone, from US and Chinese payers’ perspectives.MethodsA partitioned survival model was established to assess the life-years, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), lifetime costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of nivolumab plus gemcitabine-cisplatin versus gemcitabine-cisplatin alone as first-line treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma. Univariate, two-way, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the model’s robustness. Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed.ResultsNivolumab plus gemcitabine-cisplatin and gemcitabine-cisplatin achieved survival benefits of 4.238 life-years and 2.979 life-years for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma, respectively. Compared with gemcitabine-cisplatin, nivolumab plus gemcitabine-cisplatin resulted in ICERs of $116,856/QALY in the US and $51,997/QALY in China. The probabilities of achieving cost-effectiveness at the current willingness-to-pay thresholds were 77.5% in the US and 16.5% in China. Cost-effectiveness could be reached if the price of nivolumab were reduced to $920.87/100mg in China. Subgroup analyses indicated that the combination had the highest probability of cost-effectiveness in patients under 65 or with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance-status score of 0 in the US and China.ConclusionNivolumab plus gemcitabine-cisplatin first-line treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma results in longer life expectancy than gemcitabine-cisplatin, but is not cost-effective in China at current price. However, cost-effectiveness is likely to be achieved in most patient subgroups in the US.

Eriodictyol (Eri) is a widely distributed flavonoid compound. We explored the effect of Eri on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the underlying mechanism. Eri reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in high-fat diet-induced NAFLD mice. Proteomics analysis showed that Eri regulated oxidative stress- and autophagy-related signaling pathways. Eri treatment upregulated MAP1LC3 (LC3)II/I, nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), downregulated Ubiquitin A-52 residue ribosomal protein fusion product 1 (UBA52) and SQSTM1 (p62), inhibited p-nuclear factor-κB (p-NF-κB), and reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) release. UBA52 knockdown or Eri treatment promoted autophagy in oil acid-induced HepG2 cells. UBA52 knockdown combined with Eri treatment produced a more prominent effect than either of the treatments alone. Eri also significantly ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation in db/db mice. Thus, Eri ameliorated NAFLD by downregulating UBA52 to promote autophagy and activated Nrf2/HO-1 to inhibit oxidative stress. Eri might be a potential compound for treating NAFLD.

Abstract Background T cell-redirecting bispecific antibodies establish a connection between endogenous T cells and tumor cells, activating T cells function to eliminate tumor cells without ex vivo genetic alteration or manipulation. Here, we developed a novel dual-specific antibody (DuAb) and an enhanced DuAb (EDuAb) with different stimulation signal to activate T cells, and evaluated their impact on the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods The expression plasmids of the DuAb and EDuAb containing CD80 molecule were constructed by cloning heavy chain and light chain variable fragments from anti-human CD19 (HI19a) and CD3 (HIT3a) monoclonal antibody hybridomas, respectively. The activation and the anti-tumor efficacy of human T cells mediated by DuAb and EDuAb were evaluated in vitro. B-cell ALL xenograft NSG mouse model was established to investigate the therapeutic effect in vivo. Results EDuAb promoted the optimal expansion of primary human T cells with low expression of inhibitory markers in vitro than DuAb did. Both DuAb and EDuAb showed a similar capability in inducing healthy donor T cells to specifically eliminate B-ALL cell lines and primary blasts from patients. The similar ability was also observed in the patient-derived T cells. In vivo study showed that both DuAb and EDuAb significantly alleviated tumor burden and extended survival of B-ALL xenograft NSG mice. The median survival of PBS, DuAb and EDuAb treatment groups were 27, 38 and 45 days, respectively. The phenotype of T cells and cytokine release in peripheral blood (PB) of B-ALL xenograft NSG mice on day 24 were analyzed as well. The results showed that the proportion of CD8+ T cells and cytokine levels, including IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α, were higher in the EDuAb group than that of DuAb. Moreover, both DuAb and EDuAb significantly decreased the residual leukemia cells in PB of B-ALL xenograft NSG mice. Conclusions Both DuAb and EDuAb showed great potential as novel treatments for B-ALL in clinical applications. However, compared to DuAb, EDuAb showed a significant advantage in promoting the proliferation and survival of T cells. Furthermore, EDuAb showed a better promising effect on eliminating tumor cells and extending survival in vivo, which provides new insights for the development of new multi-specific antibodies.

The relatively new discipline of pharmacovigilance (PV) aims to monitor the safety of drugs throughout their evolution and is essential to discovering new drug risks. Due to their specific and complex physiology, children, pregnant women, and elderly adults are more prone to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Additionally, the lack of clinical trial data exacerbates the challenges faced with pharmacotherapy in these populations. Elderly patients tend to have multiple comorbidities often requiring more extensive medication, which adds additional challenges for healthcare professionals (HCPs) in delivering safe and effective pharmacotherapy. Clinical trials often have inherent limitations, including insufficient sample size and limited duration of research; as some ADRs are attributed to long-term use of a drug, these may go undetected during the course of the trial. Therefore, the implementation of PV is key to insuring the safe and effective use of drugs in special populations. We conducted a thorough review of the scientific literature on PV systems across the European Union, the United States, and China. Our review focused on basic physiological characteristics, drug use, and PV for specific populations (children, pregnant women, and the elderly). This article aims to provide a reference for the development of follow-up policies and improvement of existing policies as well as provide insight into drug safety with respect to patients of special populations.

ObjectiveThe ASTRUM-005 trial demonstrated that adding serplulimab to chemotherapy significantly prolonged the survival of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but also increased the risk of adverse events. Given the high cost of serplulimab compared to chemotherapy, this study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of serplulimab plus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for extensive-stage SCLC from the perspective of China’s healthcare system.MethodsA Markov model was developed to simulate the disease process of extensive-stage SCLC and estimate the health outcomes and direct medical costs of patients. Scenario analyses, univariate sensitivity analyses, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the impact of different parameters on model uncertainty. The primary model outcomes included costs, life-years (LYs), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).ResultsCompared to placebo plus chemotherapy, serplulimab plus chemotherapy resulted in an additional 0.25 life-years and 0.15 QALYs, but also increased costs by $26,402, resulting in an ICER of 179,161 USD/QALY. Sensitivity analysis showed that the ICER was most sensitive to the cost of serplulimab, and the probability that serplulimab was cost-effective when added to chemotherapy was only 0 at the willingness-to-pay threshold of 37,423 USD/QALY. Scenario analysis revealed that price discounts on serplulimab could increase its probability of being cost-effective.ConclusionSerplulimab plus chemotherapy is not a cost-effective strategy for first-line treatment of extensive-stage SCLC in China. Price discounts on serplulimab can enhance its cost-effectiveness.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are usually prescribed to prevent gastrointestinal (GI) complications in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of the concomitant use of PPIs with aspirin-clopidogrel DAPT in patients with Coronary heart disease (CHD).Method: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to August 2022 for eligible studies. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the clinical outcomes. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to different PPI subtypes, populations, follow-up times and study types. This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022332195).Results: A total of 173,508 patients from 18 studies [2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 3 post hoc analyses of RCTs, and 13 cohort studies] were included in this study. Pooled data revealed that coadministration of PPIs significantly increased the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06–1.26, p = .001) and reduced the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) complications (HR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.30–0.64, p < .0001). Subgroup analysis results showed that the esomeprazole users and patients with coronary stenting in the PPI group were associated with an increased risk of MACEs compared with the non-PPI group. The occurrence of MACEs in PPI users was more common than that in non-PPI users in long-term follow-up (≥12 months) studies and in the observational studies. There was no significant differences in the incidences of net clinical adverse events (NACEs), all-cause mortality, or cardiac death between the two groups.Conclusion: In patients with CHD, the concomitant use of PPIs with aspirin and clopidogrel was associated with a reduced risk of GI complications but could increase the rates of MACEs (particularly in patients receiving esomeprazole or with coronary stenting). There was no clear evidence of an association between PPI use and NACEs, all-cause mortality, or cardiac death. The results could have been affected by the follow-up time and study type. Further large-scale RCTs with long-term follow-up are needed.

Abstract Background CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy has achieved impressive success in relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell malignancies, but relapse due to antigen escape is increasingly appearing reported. As the expression profile of CD22 is similar to that of CD19, CD22 has become a candidate target when CD19 CAR-T therapy fails. Methods A novel CD22 CAR incorporating scFv derived from an HIB22 hybridoma which bound the first and second Ig-like extracellular domains of CD22 antigen was constructed. Preclinical investigation of the CD22 CAR-T therapy against B-cell malignancies was evaluated by coculturing CD22 CAR-T cells with tumor cell lines or primary blasts from patients in vitro and using a xenograft mouse model in vivo. Further clinical study of CD22/CD19 CAR-T sequential therapy was conducted in 4 R/R adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients. Results The novel CD22 CAR-T treatment had specific cytotoxicity to CD22 + target cells, and the survival time of mice in the CD22 CAR-T treatment group was significantly prolonged. Furthermore, it’s validated that sequential CD22/CD19 CAR-T therapy was significantly superior than single CD19 or CD22 CAR-T treatment in a relapse xenograft model. All 4 patients achieved complete remission (CR) with negative minimal residual disease (MRD), including 3 patients who had received prior CD19-related immunotherapy. The proliferation of CD19 and CD22 CAR-T cells was observed respectively in vivo, and 3 of the 4 patients experienced cytokine release syndrome (CRS); 2 of these patients had grade 1 CRS and 1 had grade 3 CRS. Long term follow-up showed that 3 of the 4 (75%) patients had sustained CR for up to 1 year. Analysis of antigen expression in the relapsed patients demonstrated that loss or diminution of CD19 and CD22 expression might cause antigen escape from CAR-T surveillance. Conclusions In summary, the novel CD22 CAR-T therapy was validated with antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, our study demonstrated the safety and robust efficacy of sequential CD22/CD19 CAR-T therapy in xenograft models and clinical trials, especially as the salvage treatment for R/R B-ALL patients with antigen loss or in whom anti-CD19 related immunotherapy failure failed. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): ChiCTR1900025419, Supplementarily registered 26 August, 2019.

Metal magnetic memory (MMM) is a nondestructive testing technology based on the magnetomechanical effect, which is widely used in the qualitative detection of stress concentration zones for welded joints. However, there is inevitable residual stress after welding, which brings the bottleneck of quantitative identification between the weld residual stress concentration and the early hidden damage. In order to overcome the bottleneck of quantitative identification of weld defect levels with MMM technology, a modified maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) MMM quantitative identifying model is first proposed. The experimental materials are Q235B welded plate specimens. Fatigue tension experiments were operated to find the MMM feature laws of critical hidden crack by comparing with synchronous X-ray detection results. Six MMM characteristic parameters, which are, ΔHp(x), Gxmax, Zxmax, ΔHp(y), Gymax and Zymax, are extracted corresponding to the normal state, the hidden crack state and the macroscopic crack, respectively. The MLE values of the six parameters are obtained by the kernel density functions with optimized bandwidth from the view of mathematical statistics. Furthermore, the modified MLE MMM quantitative identifying model is established based on D–S theory to overcome the partial overlap of MLE values among different defect levels, of which the uncertainty is as low as 0.3%. The verification result from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is consistent with the prediction of the modified MLE MMM model, which provides a new method for quantitative identification of weld defect levels.

Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common malignant heterogeneous hematopoietic disease with very low average 5-year survival rate due to the refractory feature and high rate of relapse. CD123 is highly expressed on multiple types of AML cells, especially leukemia stem cells, and closely associated with the poor prognosis of AML. Aiming to meet the urgent demand to targeted therapeutics for the refractory AML patients, herein we synthesize a CD123 antagonistic peptide (PO-6) loaded in nanomicelles (mPO-6), and investigated its therapeutic effect and pharmacokinetics on a lab-established refractory AML mice model (AE & CKITD816V). It is shown that the PO-6 can effectively bind to the CD123+ AML cells and the micellar formulation mPO-6 increases the dissolution stability and the specific binding capacity. When injected intravenously, mPO-6 significantly prolongs the survival of the refractory AML mice by interfering CD123/IL-3 axis, evidenced by the down regulation of phosphorylation of STAT5 and PI3K/AKT and the inhibition of activated NF-κB in the nucleus, as well as by the analysis results of next generation RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) with the bone marrow of the AML mice. The antagonistic effect leads to the significantly reduction of AML cells infiltration in the bone marrow of the AML mice. In conclusion, mPO-6 could provide a potent antagonistic therapeutic approach for targeted treatment of AML.

Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a biologically and clinically heterogeneous disease with a dismal prognosis and limited treatment options. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have achieved unprecedented clinical responses in patients with B cell malignancies but a dismal consequences in AML. In our previous study, we found that interleukin-10 receptor (IL-10R) was overexpressed in most AML cells, and played an important role in promoting the stemness of leukemia cells. In this study, we developed a novel ligand-based CAR-T cell targeting IL-10R, which displayed striking cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo against AML cells. Except for monocytes, it had no significant adverse effects on the normal hematopoietic system, including CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). In addition, even though the incorporation of IL-10 in the CAR cassette led to phenotypes change, it had few adverse effects on the survival and biological activity of IL-10 CAR-T cells and did not cause excessive proliferation of leukemia cells. Therefore, we propose IL-10R is a novel promising therapeutic candidate for AML, and IL-10R targeted CAR-T therapy provides a new treatment strategy to improve the prognosis of AML.

Despite economic development and social changes, folk religion in China has not died out, but has survived and has even experienced a revival. Oscillating state policies have in general had a strong impact on religion in China. Though there is no official recognition of ethnic folk-religions, the state classifies them positively as manifestations of local cultural heritage and in this context has supported—not stifled—public folk religious practices among the Tu. This study deals with folk religious’ practice among the Tu ethnic group in Northwest China. The article highlights animist ontology as a theoretical perspective for analyzing the religious practices of the Tu ethnic group in China. The authors carried out anthropological procedures of participant observation and interviewing in the Tu community distributed in Qinghai Province and now present a portrait of the folk religion in typical Tu communities located in Minhe County and Huzhu County. The article also discusses the tripartite cosmology of the Tu and the positive interactions with national authorities. Quite apart from the issue of the impact of the state, the authors document, via prolonged ethnographic immersion in two regions, that the folk religion of the Tu is also closely linked to, and continues to have an impact on, daily life, particularly with regard to the construction and maintenance of ethnic community structure. This paper is organized as follows. First, we present ethnographic information on the religious beliefs and ritual practices of the Tu. The subsequent section then discusses how public folk-religious performances receive support from the state in the context of tourism and local economic development and how they contribute to the maintenance of community structure and social order. The conclusion summarizes the process by which ethnic folk religions have not only survived, but, in part as a result of state support for ethnic cultural heritage, experienced a revival.

Abstract Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a specific chromosome translocation involving RARα and its fusion partners. For decades, the advent of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) synergized with arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has turned most APL from highly fatal to highly curable. TBLR1-RARα (TR) is the tenth fusion gene of APL identified in our previous study, with its oncogenic role in the pathogenesis of APL not wholly unraveled. In this study, we found the expression of TR in mouse hematopoietic progenitors induces blockade of differentiation with enhanced proliferative capacity in vitro. A novel murine transplantable leukemia model was then established by expressing TR fusion gene in lineage-negative bone marrow mononuclear cells. Characteristics of primary TR mice revealed a rapid onset of aggressive leukemia with bleeding diathesis, which recapitulates human APL more accurately than other models. Despite the in vitro sensitivity to ATRA-induced cell differentiation, neither ATRA monotherapy nor combination with As2O3 confers survival benefit to TR mice, consistent with poor clinical outcome of APL patients with TR fusion gene. Based on histone deacetylation phenotypes implied by bioinformatic analysis, HDAC inhibitors demonstrated significant survival superiority in the survival of TR mice, yielding insights into clinical efficacy against rare types of APL.

Airborne fungi are one of the most ubiquitous kinds of inhalant allergens which can result in allergic diseases. Fungi tend to grow in warm and humid environments with regional and seasonal variations. Their nomenclature and taxonomy are related to the sensitization of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Allergic cross-reactivity among different fungal species appears to be widely existing. Fungus-related foods, such as edible mushrooms, mycoprotein, and fermented foods by fungi, can often induce to fungus food allergy syndrome (FFAS) by allergic cross-reactivity with airborne fungi. FFAS may involve one or more target organs, including the oral mucosa, the skin, the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, and the cardiovascular system, with various allergic symptoms ranging from oral allergy syndrome (OAS) to severe anaphylaxis. This article reviews the current knowledge on the field of allergic cross-reactivity between fungal allergens and related foods, as well as the diagnosis and treatment on FFAS.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is wreaking havoc on public-health and economic systems worldwide. Among the several neurological symptoms of patients with COVID-19 reported in clinical practice, olfactory dysfunction (OD) is the most common. OD occurs as the earliest or the only clinical manifestation in some patients. Increasing research attention has focused on OD, which is listed as one of the main diagnostic symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection. Multiple clinical and basic-science studies on COVID-19-induced OD are underway to clarify the underlying mechanism of action. In this review, we summarize the clinical characteristics, mechanisms, evaluation methods, prognosis, and treatment options of COVID-19-induced OD. In this way, we hope to improve the understanding of COVID-19-induced OD to aid early identification and precise intervention.

Abstract Background Migraine has been recognized as one of common diseases in the world whose current treatment options are not ideal. Lasmiditan, an oral 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)1F receptor agonist, appears more promising for the acute treatment of migraine because of considerably better effect profiles with no severe adverse events (AEs). This review aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of lasmiditan from the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase were searched on lasmiditan for the acute treatment of migraine from inception of the databases to Feb 1, 2020. Pain free and pain relief, global impression (very much/much better), and no/mild disability at 2 h in efficacy; total treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), dizziness, nausea, fatigue, paraesthesia and somnolence in safety were extracted from the included studies. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager Software version 5.3 (RevMan 5.3). Results Four RCTs with a total of 4960 subjects met our inclusion criteria. The overall effect estimate showed that lasmiditan was significantly superior to placebo in terms of pain free (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.55–1.87), pain relief (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.33–1.47), global impression (very much/much better) (RR 1.55, 95% CI 1.44–1.67), and no/mild disability (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.10–1.20) at 2 h. For the safety, significant number of patients experienced TEAEs with lasmiditan than with placebo (RR 2.77, 95% CI 2.53–3.03), most TEAEs were central nervous system (CNS)-related and included dizziness (RR 5.81, 95% CI 4.72–7.14), nausea (RR 2.58, 95% CI 1.87–3.57), fatigue (RR 5.38, 95% CI 3.78–7.66), paraesthesia (RR 4.48, 95% CI 3.33–6.02), and somnolence (RR 2.82, 95% CI 2.18–3.66). Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that lasmiditan is effective for the acute treatment of migraine with a higher incidence of CNS-related adverse reactions compared with placebo. Long-term, open-label, multi-dose trials are required to verify the current findings.

Abstract Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common hematopoietic malignancy that has a high relapse rate, and the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in AML patients is significantly increased. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of Tregs in the immune escape of acute myeloid leukemia. Methods The frequencies of Tregs and the expression of PD-1, CXCR4 and CXCR7 were examined by flow cytometry. The expression of CTLA-4 and GITR was tested by MFI. Chemotaxis assays were performed to evaluate Treg migration. The concentrations of SDF-1α, IFN-γ and TNF-α were examined by ELISA. Coculture and crisscross coculture experiments were performed to examine Treg proliferation and apoptosis and the effect of regulatory B cells (Breg) conversion. Results The frequencies of Tregs in peripheral blood and bone marrow in AML patients were increased compared with those in healthy participants. AML Tregs had robust migration towards bone marrow due to increased expression of CXCR4. AML Treg-mediated immunosuppression of T cells was achieved through proliferation inhibition, apoptosis promotion and suppression of IFN-γ production in CD4+CD25− T cells. AML Bregs induced the conversion of CD4+CD25−T cells to Tregs. Conclusion In AML patients, the Breg conversion effect and robust CXCR4-induced migration led to Treg enrichment in bone marrow. AML Tregs downregulated the function of CD4+CD25− T cells, contributing to immune escape.

The AML1-ETO (RUNX1-RUNX1T1) fusion gene created by the chromosome translocation t(8;21) (q21;q22) is one of the essential contributors to leukemogenesis. Only a few studies in the literature have focused on fusion gene-derived circular RNAs (f-circRNAs). Here, we report several AML1-ETO-related fusion circular RNAs (F-CircAEs) in AML1-ETO-positive cell lines and primary patient blasts. Functional studies demonstrate that the over-expression of F-CircAE in NIH3T3 cells promotes cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. F-CircAE expression enhances the colony formation ability of c-Kit+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Meanwhile, the knockdown of endogenous F-CircAEs can inhibit the proliferation and colony formation ability of AML1-ETO-positive Kasumi-1 cells. Intriguingly, bioinformatic analysis revealed that the glycolysis pathway is down-regulated in F-CircAE-knockdown Kasumi-1 cells and up-regulated in F-CircAE over-expressed NIH3T3 cells. Further studies show that F-CircAE binds to the glycolytic protein ENO-1, up-regulates the expression level of glycolytic enzymes, and enhances lactate production. In summary, our study demonstrates that F-CircAE may exert biological activities on the growth of AML1-ETO leukemia cells by regulating the glycolysis pathway. Determining the role of F-CircAEs in AML1-ETO leukemia can lead to great strides in understanding its pathogenesis, thus providing new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Background: Nosocomial meningitis with multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is a life-threatening complication in neurosurgery. Treatment of these infections is challenging because of poor penetration of the available antibiotics into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Intrathecal (ITH) or intraventricular (IVT) administration of antibiotics is increasingly used as the last treatment option against MDR/XDR Gram-negative bacteria meningitis not responding to intravenous (IV) regimens. However, pertinent data in pediatric patients is scarce.Case Presentation: A 14-year-old male patient developed meningitis from an MDR strain of A. baumannii following endoscopic endonasal resection of craniopharyngioma. Despite a combination therapy involving IV tigecycline, we observed clinical and bacteriologic failure. The patient was then successfully treated with an ITH and IV polymyxin B-based combination. Quantification of tigecycline and polymyxin B in CSF was performed with two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography (2D-HPLC) and HDLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), respectively. Adverse drug reactions (neurotoxicity and skin hyperpigmentation), probably induced by polymyxin B, were acceptable and reversible.Conclusions: The case illustrates ITH and IV Polymyxin B-based combination is an optimal therapeutic option against MDR A. baumannii meningitis in this pediatric patient. In the future, real-time PK/PD data obtained from patients during ITH/IVT polymyxin B therapy should be required to optimize polymyxin use with maximal efficacy and minimal adverse effects.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the multiple happiness questionnaire (MHQ) in new-generation migrant workers (NGMW), to compare the difference of well-being and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in NGMW with first-generation migrant workers (FGMW) and urban workers (UW), and to explore the relationship between well-being and HRQOL and analyze influential factors to well-being in NGMW in Zhejiang province, China. Methods By stratified sampling, 542 NGMW, 226 FGMW and 200 UW had completed the questionnaires in 2018. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (a) for internal consistency of the multiple happiness questionnaire (MHQ) was used. Factor analysis was applied for construct validity. Scores of well-being and HRQOL were compared between NGMW and control groups. Spearman’s correlation was performed to clarify the relationship between well-being and HRQOL in NGMW. Multiple linear regression analytical methods were used to adjust confounding effects and to identify the variables that were associated with well-being. Results MHQ had good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha overall was 0.960, subscales ranged from 0.754 to 0.957) and structural validity based on factor analysis. Except for life satisfaction and altruism commitment, there was a positive correlation between well-being and HRQOL in NGMW. There were significant differences in psychological well-being (PWB), health concern, subjective vitality, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) between NGMW and FGMW. Compared to UW, NGMW’s general well-being (GWB), subjective well-being (SWB), life satisfaction, positive relation and altruism commitment scores were lower and their negative affect was higher. The GWB score was related to MCS, PCS, self-reported social status, marital status, age and monthly income. Conclusion The results suggest that the MHQ is a reliable and valid measure for well-being in NGMW. There is a significant difference in well-being and HRQOL between NGMW and control groups. Well-being is higher in NGMW than in FGMW, but is lower than in UW. Well-being is related with HRQOL and may be affected by MCS, PCS, self-reported social status, marital status, age and monthly income in NGMW.

Abstract Background Chimeric antigen receptor engineered T cells (CAR-T) have demonstrated extraordinary efficacy in B cell malignancy therapy and have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for diffuse large B cell lymphoma and acute B lymphocytic leukemia treatment. However, treatment of T cell malignancies using CAR-T cells remains limited due to the shared antigens between malignant T cells and normal T cells. CD5 is considered one of the important characteristic markers of malignant T cells and is expressed on almost all normal T cells but not on NK-92 cells. Recently, NK-92 cells have been utilized as CAR-modified immune cells. However, in preclinical models, CAR-T cells seem to be superior to CAR-NK-92 cells. Therefore, we speculate that in addition to the short lifespan of NK-92 cells in mice, the costimulatory domain used in CAR constructs might not be suitable for CAR-NK-92 cell engineering. Methods Two second-generation anti-CD5 CAR plasmids with different costimulatory domains were constructed, one using the T-cell-associated activating receptor-4-1BB (BB.z) and the other using a NK-cell-associated activating receptor-2B4 (2B4.z). Subsequently, BB.z-NK and 2B4.z-NK were generated. Specific cytotoxicity against CD5+ malignant cell lines, primary CD5+ malignant cells, and normal T cells was evaluated in vitro. Moreover, a CD5+ T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) mouse model was established and used to assess the efficacy of CD5-CAR NK immunotherapy in vivo. Results Both BB.z-NK and 2B4.z-NK exhibited specific cytotoxicity against CD5+ malignant cells in vitro and prolonged the survival of T-ALL xenograft mice. Encouragingly, 2B4.z-NK cells displayed greater anti-CD5+ malignancy capacity than that of BB.z-NK, accompanied by a greater direct lytic side effect versus BB.z-NK. Conclusions Anti-CD5 CAR-NK cells, particularly those constructed with the intracellular domain of NK-cell-associated activating receptor 2B4, may be a promising strategy for T cell malignancy treatment.

This study is to determine the pharmacological effects of nano-lanthanum hydroxide (nano-LH) in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia, in comparison with other phosphate binders. Rat models of chronic renal failure and hyperphosphatemia were induced by adenine, which were treated with nano-LH (0.15, 0.10, and 0.05 g/Kg/d), lanthanum carbonate (0.30 g/Kg/d), and normal-size lanthanum hydroxide (0.10 g/Kg/d), respectively. To investigate the therapeutic effects, the serum levels of phosphorus, Scr, Ucr, BUN, UUN, PTH, and other hyperphosphatemia-related biochemical indicators were determined. A novel phosphorus-binding agent, nano-LH, was synthesized herein, which was rod-like particle with the length of 30–50 nm, width of 10–20 nm, and diameter of 5–10 nm. In vitro phosphorus binding experiments showed that nano-LH had better binding rate. Pharmacodynamic experiments confirmed that the therapeutic effects of lanthanum-hydroxide (0.10 g/kg/d) were superior to other existing phosphate binders in rat models of hyperphosphatemia, in lowering the blood phosphate level and improving the renal function. In the term of drug safety, our preliminary results showed that the nano-LH at appropriate dose did not cause death cases in mice, and the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were not significantly changed, indicating good oral safety. Nano-LH has high potency compared with several phosphate binders, which might be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in clinic.

Hyperoside, isolated from Drosera rotundifolia L., seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam., or Hypericum perforatum L., originally showed to possess an antifungal and antibacterial activity, while recently showed the protective effects against oxidative stress-induced liver injury. This study investigated such a protective effect of hyperoside and the underlying molecular mechanisms in vitro and in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-injured rat livers. The data showed that hyperoside was able to prevent the oxidative stress-induced liver morphological changes and CCl4-induced rat liver injury. Hyperoside reversed the decrease of superoxidase dismutase (SOD) level and the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) level in vivo. Moreover, hyperoside regulated the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 2 (PHLPP2)-protein kinase B (AKT)-glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) signaling pathway in tert-butylhydroquinone (t-BHP)-treated liver cells, e.g., Hyperoside reduced PHLPP2 expression to activate AKT phosphorylation, induce GSK-3β phosphorylation, and then increased nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation, reduced nuclear translocation of phosphorylated Fyn, and promoted heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, siRNA-mediated knockdown of PHLPP2 expression enhanced hyperoside-mediated activation of the AKT-GSK-3β kinase pathway in liver cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that hyperoside could protect against oxidative stress-induced liver injury by regulating the PHLPP2-AKT-GSK-3β signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a simple structured and unstable free radical molecule, which participates in the regulation of many pathophysiological processes. It functions both as a second messenger and as an endogenous neurotransmitter. Diazeniumdiolates (NONOates) are a series of compounds containing the functional parent nuclear structure of [N(O)NO]—, which are the most widely studied NO donors. NONOates are unstable and easy to release NO in physiological conditions. The biomedical applications and drug development of NO donor have attracted the scientists' attention in recent years. In this review, recent advances in NONOates research are highlighted in terms of chemical structures, molecular characteristics, pharmacological effects, and biomedical application prospects.

Skin toxicities induced by epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors such as Erlotinib plagues clinical challenges. Chinese formulas have a unique advantage in reducing side effects. Here, we aim to investigate the skin protecting function of XiaoZhenFang (XZF), a clinical adjuvant prescription made up of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon, Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, Forsythiae Fructus, Spirodelae Herba, Cortex Moutan and Prunellae Spica. Our data showed that XZF aqueous extract effectively reduced skin toxicities induced by Erlotinib in vivo using established mice model. Next, we used a systems pharmacology approach to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of XZF with the goal of understanding its effects at the system, organ, and molecular levels. 44 candidate compounds and 103 potential targets were identified by network pharmacology. Inflammation, cell stress and the EGFR-related signal pathways, which may participate in the skin protection afforded by XZF, were analyzed by gene enrichment. Importantly, our in vivo experimental results largely validated XZF’s mechanism of action, as predicted by the system pharmacology analysis. Our study uncovered the effect and mechanism of XZF in attenuating skin toxicities induced by EGFRI, providing a basis for the development of in-hospital preparations and new drugs for the prevention of skin toxicities.

Abstract Background Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T (CAR-T) cells have extraordinary effect in treating lymphoblastic leukemia. However, treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using CAR-T cells remains limited to date. Leukemogenesis always relates with the abnormalities of cytogenetics, and nearly one third of AML patients have activating mutations in Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) which reminded poor prognosis. Considering the FLT3 expressed in AML patients’ blast cells, it may be a new candidate target for CAR-T therapy to treat FLT3+ AML, especially patients harboring FLT3-ITD mutation. Methods The FLT3L CAR-T using FLT3 ligand as recognizing domain was constructed. The specific cytotoxicity against FLT3+ leukemia cell lines, primary AML cells, and normal hematopoietic progenitor stem cells (HPSCs) in vitro were evaluated. In addition, FLT3+ AML mouse model was used to assess the effect of FLT3L CAR-T therapy in vivo. Results FLT3L CAR-T cells could specifically kill FLT3+ leukemia cell lines and AML patients’ bone marrow mononuclear cells in vitro (with or without FLT3 mutation) and have more potent cytotoxicity to FLT3-ITD cells. In a human FLT3+ AML xenograft mouse model, FLT3L CAR-T cells could significantly prolong the survival of mice. Furthermore, it was found that FLT3L CAR-T cells could activate the FLT3/ERK signaling pathway of FLT3+ leukemia cells with wild-type FLT3; meanwhile, it had no inhibitory effects on the colony formation of CD34+ stem cells derived from normal human umbilical cord blood. Conclusions The ligand-based FLT3L CAR-T cells could be a promising strategy for FLT3+ AML treatment, especially those carried FLT3 mutation.

Abstract Background As the important suppressor of P53, iASPP is found to be overexpressed in leukemia, and functions as oncogene that inhibited apoptosis of leukemia cells. Sertad1 is identified as one of the proteins that can bind with iASPP in our previous study by two-hybrid screen. Methods Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence were perfomed to identified the interaction between iASPP and Sertad1 protein. Westernblot and Real-time quantitative PCR were used to determine the expression and activation of proteins. Cell proliferation assays, cell cycle and cell apoptosis were examined by flow cytometric analysis. Results iASPP combined with Sertad1 in leukemic cell lines and the interaction occurred in the cytoplasm near nuclear membrane. iASPP could interact with Sertad1 through its Cyclin-A, PHD-bromo, C terminal domain, except for S domain. Overexpression of iASPP in leukemic cells resulted in the increased cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis induced by chemotherapy drugs. While overexpression of iASPP and Sertad1 at the same time could slow down the cell proliferation, lead the cells more vulnerable to the chemotherapy drugs, the resistance to chemotherapeutic drug in iASPPhi leukemic cells was accompanied by Puma protein expression. Excess Sertad1 protein could tether iASPP protein in the cytoplasm, further reduced the binding between iASPP and P53 in the nucleus. Conclusions Sertad1 could antagonize iASPP function by hindering its entrance into nuclei to interact with P53 in leukemic cells when iASPP was in the stage of overproduction.

Abstract Background Due to increasing export of labor service, many children following their parents leave from rural areas to urban areas in China. These migrant children might have psychological stress and lower quality of life. However, even up to this day, little is known about the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the migrant children. This study aims at investigating their living conditions and exploring the influencing factors of migrant children’s HRQoL. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 856 migrant children, aged between 7 and 17, was conducted in Shaoxing. The 4 PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales (Physical, Emotional, Social, School) were administered to reveal migrant children’s quality of life, while demographic data questionnaire, Egna Minnen av. Barndoms Uppfostran and Social Support Rating Scale were used to reflect the influencing factors. Results For 824 effective questionnaires(all items were completed without any inconsistency in a questionnaire and all the information in the questionnaire is believable), the average age of these children was 12.80 ± 1.91.The average years that they stayed in Shaoxing were 6.41 years. The average score of HRQoL was 81.13 ± 10.77, Physical Functioning was 84.83 ± 12.49, Emotional Functioning was 71.32 ± 18.34, Social Functioning was 86.28 ± 14.12, and School Functioning was79.28 ± 13.16. There was no obvious difference (F = 0.138, P = 0.711) between boys and girls as for PedsQL. The score of PedsQL did not show significant association with migrant children’s gender and their school records, while school grade, the relationships with classmates, parental rearing style and social support showed significant correlations. Linear regression analysis showed that mother’s rejection, subjective support, father’s rejection, relationships with classmates, mother’s overprotection and level of using social support were influencing factors on PedsQL of migrant children. Conclusions Migrant children scored lower on health-related quality of life, which was associated with parental rejection, mother’s overprotection, less subjective support, badly getting along with classmates and that they cannot use social support well.

Abstract Background Migraine has been recognized as one of the leading causes of disability in the 2013 Global Burden of Disease Study and seriously affects the quality of patients’ life, current treatment options are not ideal. Monoclonal antibodies to calcitonin gene-related peptide and its receptor (CGRP-mAbs) appear more promising for migraine because of considerably better effect and safety profiles. The objective of this study is to systematically assess the clinical efficacy and safety of CGRP-mAbs for migraine therapy. Methods A systematic literature search in PubMed, Cochrane Library and Baidu Scholar was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which compared the effect and safety of CGRP-mAbs with placebo on migraine. Regarding the efficacy, the reduction of monthly migraine days from baseline to weeks 1–4, 5–8, and 9–12; responder rates were extracted as the outcome measures of the effects of CGRP-mAbs. Regarding the safety, total adverse events, the main adverse events, and other adverse events were evaluated. Results We found significant reduction of monthly migraine days in CGRP-mAbs vs. placebo (weeks 1–4: SMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.61 to −0.36; weeks 5–8: SMD −0.43, 95% CI −0.56 to −0.30; weeks 9–12: SMD −0.37, 95% CI −0.49 to −0.24). 50% and 75% responder rates (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.99 to 3.37; and OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.06 to 4.10) were significantly increased compared with placebo. There was no significant difference in total adverse events (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.51), and the main adverse events including upper respiratory tract infection (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.82 to 2.55), nasopharyngitis (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.16), nausea (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.32), injection-site pain (OR 1.73, 95% CI 0.95 to 3.16) and back pain (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.90) were not obviously changed compared with placebo control, but the results showed significant increase of dizziness in CGRP-mAbs vs. placebo (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.09 to 9.45). Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that CGRP-mAbs are effective in anti-migraine therapy with few adverse reactions, but more and larger sample-size RCTs are required to verify the current findings.

Objective: To explore the sociocultural factors influencing depression in Chinese infertile women in Hunan Province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 211 Chinese infertile women completed demographic details, a disease-related information questionnaire, a self-rating depression scale (SDS) and a social support rating scale (SSRS). Results: One hundred and seven (50.71%) of the participants were classified as depressed according to the self-rating depression scale. The average SDS index score was 50.06 ± 10.59. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation and a multivariable regression analysis, the results showed family type, feelings of discrimination, social support, feelings of shame and reproductive pressures were influential factors in depression among Chinese infertile women. Conclusion: Sociocultural factors influence depression levels in Chinese female infertile patients. The unique aspects of Chinese culture may have a negative mental impact on the patients, and cultural factors should be taken into consideration in the development of coping strategies for Chinese infertile women.

RUNX1 is a key transcription factor in hematopoiesis and its disruption is one of the most common aberrations in acute myeloid leukemia. RUNX1 alterations affect its DNA binding capacity and transcriptional activities, leading to the deregulation of transcriptional targets, and abnormal proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells. Identification of RUNX1 target genes and clarification of their biological functions are of great importance in the search for new therapeutic strategies for RUNX1-altered leukemia. In this study, we identified and confirmed that KLF4, a known tumor suppressor gene, as a direct target of RUNX1, was down-regulated in RUNX1-ETO leukemia. RUNX1 bound to KLF4 promoter in chromatin to activate its transcription, while the leukemogenic RUNX1-ETO fusion protein had little effect on this transactivation. KLF4 was also identified as a novel binding partner of RUNX1. RUNX1 interacted with KLF4 through Runt domain and further co-activated its target genes. However, RUNX1-ETO competed with RUNX1 to bind KLF4 through Runt and ETO domains, and abrogated transcription of KLF4. Finally, overexpression experiments indicated that RUNX1 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of t(8;21) leukemia cells via KLF4-mediated upregulation of P57. These data suggest KLF4 dysregulation mediated by RUNX1-ETO enhances proliferation and retards apoptosis, and provides a potential target for therapy of t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia.

Human populations confront three distinct climate challenges: (1) seasonal climate fluctuations, (2) sporadic climate crises, and (3) long term climate change. Religious systems often attribute climate crises to the behavior of invisible spirits. They devise rituals to influence the spirits, and do so under the guidance of religious specialists. They devise two types of problem-solving rituals: anticipatory climate maintenance rituals, to request adequate rainfall in the forthcoming planting season, and climate crisis rituals for drought or inundations. The paper compares rainfall rituals in three different settings: Israel (Judaism), Northwest China (ethnic village religion), and Haiti (Vodou). Each author has done anthropological fieldwork in one or more of these settings. In terms of the guiding conceptual paradigm, the analysis applies three sequentially organized analytic operations common in anthropology: (1) detailed description of individual ethnographic systems; (2) comparison and contrast of specific elements in different systems; and (3) attempts at explanation of causal forces shaping similarities and differences. Judaism has paradoxically maintained obligatory daily prayers for rain in Israel during centuries when most Jews lived as urban minorities in the diaspora, before the founding of Israel in 1948. The Tu of Northwest China maintain separate ethnic temples for rainfall rituals not available in the Buddhist temples that all attend. The slave ancestors of Haiti, who incorporated West African rituals into Vodou, nonetheless excluded African rainfall rituals. We attribute this exclusion to slavery itself; slaves have little interest in performing rituals for the fertility of the fields of their masters. At the end of the paper, we identify the causal factors that propelled each systems into a climate-management trajectory different from that of the others. We conclude by identifying a common causal factor that exerts a power over religion in general and that has specifically influenced the climate responses of all three religious systems.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to develop a Chinese HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (C-HSS) and test its reliability and validity among migrant workers in eastern China. Methods Nine hundred sixty four migrant workers completed the C-HSS questionnaire in Zhejiang province. The Split-half reliability coefficient (R) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (a) for internal consistency of the scale were used. Factor analysis was applied for construct validity. Scores of total and subscales were compared among migrants. Correlation between scores and knowledge of HIV/AIDS was analyzed. Results The 24-items scale and the four subscales of C-HSS had good internal consistency (R overall was 0.877, subscales ranged from 0.693 to 0.862; Cronbach’s alpha overall was 0.845, subscales ranged from 0.709 to 0.810). Correlation coefficients between each domain and total score were significant (p

This paper deals with analysis of gender issues in an ethnic religious system in Western China, the religion of the Tu ethnic group. We focused on gender in Tu religion, which entailed documenting gender dynamics in three major ethnographic domains that have been present in religious systems around the world and through time: spirit beliefs, rituals, and specialists. Though examined gender dynamics as they occur among the Tu in all three of these niches, we found that in the Tu spirit world, there are major male and female spirits who are viewed as having equal status and equal power over the weather. However, in the domain of ritual specialists, the gender situation changes. As for gender-differentiation in rituals, we found practices that excluded women from entering temples and from participating in public emergency rituals associated with weather crises. In addition, we have attempted to identify the multiple causal factors that that may have affected the evolution of Tu.

This paper presents information on the shamanic religious system practiced among the Tu ethnic group of Qinghai Province in Northwest China. After presenting ethnographic information on the spirit beliefs, rituals, and shamanic specialists of the Tu, the paper will use a systemic definition of religion to (1) identify changes that have occurred in the focus of Tu shamanism and the role of the shaman, and (2) identify a cluster of causal factors—techno-economic, sociopolitical, and ideational—exogenous to the religious system itself that appear to have played a role in generating these changes. The paper will focus on two specific changes: (1) a decrease in the frequency of private shamanic healing rituals, and (2) a corresponding increase in the importance of shamanic leadership in collective rainfall rituals that affect the entire community. The explanatory paradigm utilized is a modified adaptation to contemporary Chinese reality of the Historical Materialist paradigm pioneered by Marx and Engels and the Cultural Materialist paradigm developed by Marvin Harris. While continuing to emphasize the causal power of technological and economic factors, the Chinese experience, both at the macro level of transformations of the Chinese economy and at the micro level of Tu shamanism, forces analytic attention on the causal impact of socio-political and ideological variables.

Background: The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) has generally been used for patients，few studies in migrants who move from rural to urban within one country. Many studies asserted that social isolation presents a risk to individual health. Poor social networks are associated with worse QOL. This study examined health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and social support in new-generation migrant workers and compared it with urban workers.Methods: Nine hundred thirty new-generation migrant workers and 939 urban controls completed the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) by stratified sampling in 2011. Spearman’s correlation was performed to clarify the relationship between social support and HRQOL in migrants. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify the variables that were associated with HRQOL.Results: The general health, psychological health, and environmental scores of QOL in new-generation migrant workers were lower than in urban workers. New-generation migrants had poorer social support compared with urban controls with regard to general support, objective support, and support utilization. A positive correlation was found between social support and HRQOL. Workers with a higher level of education achieved better psychological, environmental, and general scores than workers with a primary education. Physical, social, environmental, and general health was also closely connected with the age factor. Physical health scores were higher in males than in females.Conclusion: These data suggest that new-generation migrant workers have significant impairment in HRQOL and receive less social support. HRQOL may be affected by social support, education, age, and gender.