Search

Xinling Zhao,1,2,&ast; Huijin Jie,3,&ast; Jun Wang,1 Yu Liu,4 Yilin Liu,2 Fuyi Qin,2 Qing Long,2 Xi Hou,5 Xin-Wen Zhang,6 Wenzhi Wu,7 Xiaoqin Wu,2 Jing Li,8 Yong Zeng2 1Department of Clinical Psychology, People’s Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychiatry, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 3Haining Fourth People’s Hospital, Haining, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Clinical Psychology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Psychiatry, Hong He Second People’s Hospital, Jian Shui, People’s Republic of China; 7Faculty of psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 8Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jing Li; Yong Zeng, Email lijingjingjing222@163.com; zengyong@kmmu.edu.cnBackground: Adolescents with major depressive (MDD) episodes associated with childhood trauma have a poorer response to treatment and a higher risk of suicide. The underlying etiology is unclear. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) could improve depressive symptoms by down-regulating mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, which was involved in adverse environmental stimuli during neurodevelopment. BDNF and mTOR have not been reported simultaneously in adolescents with major depressive episodes associated with childhood trauma.Methods: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) were used to evaluate the recruited adolescents with major depression episodes. Serum BDNF and p-mTOR levels were measured by ELISA in 31 adolescents with major depression episodes with childhood trauma and 18 matched healthy control.Results: The serum levels of BDNF were significantly lower (p< 0.001); and the serum levels of p-mTOR were high (p=0.003) in the adolescents with the first episode of major depressive episode accompanied by childhood trauma. Of the 31 adolescents with major depressive episodes, 17 had suicide or self-injury. Compared with the healthy control group, the serum levels of BDNF in patients with suicide or self-injury were lower than those without suicide or self-injury(p< 0.001); the serum levels of p-mTOR were higher than those without suicide or self-injury (p=0.01). While in patients without suicide or self-injury, only serum p-mTOR was significantly higher than that in healthy group (p=0.028). BDNF was negatively correlated with CDRS-R (r=− 0.427, p=0.006), p-mTOR was positively correlated with CDI (r=0.364, p=0.048). According to Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC), the combination of serum BDNF and p-mTOR levels have better diagnostic value.Conclusion: Neurotrophic and signaling pathways, involving BDNF and p-mTOR, may play a role in adolescent MDD with a history of childhood trauma, especially patients with suicide and self-injury tendencies.Keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor, p-mTOR, major depressive disorder, suicide, adolescent, childhood trauma

Chenglin Miao,1,&ast; Yali Cui,1– 3,&ast; Yingying Li,1 Qianqian Qi,1 Wenling Shang,1 Huilian Chen,2,3 Yujie Gao,2,3 Ruomei Yuan,2,3 Qichen Long,4 Wenjing Wu,1 Xia Wang,1 Ziyi Yan,1 Yongmei Jiang1,5 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Meishan Women and Children’s Hospital, Alliance Hospital of West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Meishan, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital (Tianfu), Sichuan University/Sichuan Provincial Children’s Hospital, Meishan, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China; 5Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ziyi Yan; Yongmei Jiang, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 28 8857050 ; +86 28 85501543, Email yan_z_y2@qq.com; jiangyongmeiwst@163.comPurpose: This study was designed to evaluate the immune protective efficacy of the novel Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) protein vaccine PiuA-PlyD4 through immunoinformatics prediction and in vitro and in vivo experiments.Methods: In this study, we conducted immunoinformatics prediction and protection analysis on the fusion protein PiuA-PlyD4. The epitope composition of the vaccine was analyzed based on the prediction of B-cell and helper T-cell epitopes. Meanwhile, the molecular docking of PiuA and TLR2/4 was simulated. After immunizing C57BL/6 mice with the prepared vaccine, the biological safety, immunogenicity and conservation were evaluated. By constructing different infection models and from the aspects of adhesion inhibition and cytokines, the protective effect of the fusion protein vaccine PiuA-PlyD4 on S. pneumoniae infection was explored.Results: PiuA-PlyD4 has abundant B-cell and helper T-cell epitopes and shows a high antigenicity score and structural stability. Molecular docking analysis suggested the potential interaction between PiuA and TLR2/4. The specific antibody titer of fusion protein antiserum was as high as (7.81± 2.32) × 105. The protective effect of the immunized mice on nasal and lung colonization was significantly better than that of the control group, and the survival rate against S. pneumoniae infection of serotype 3 reached 50%. Cytokine detection showed that the humoral immune response, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cellular immune pathways were all involved in the process.Conclusion: The study indicates that PiuA-PlyD4, whether the results are predicted by immunoinformatics or experimentally validated in vivo and in vitro, has good immunogenicity and immunoreactivity and can provide effective protection against S. pneumoniae infection. Therefore, it can be considered a promising prophylactic vaccine candidate for S. pneumoniae.Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, fusion protein vaccine, PiuA-PlyD4, immunoinformatics prediction, protective efficacy

Xiaoying Zhu,1,2 Fengqin Tian,2 Yulei Li,2 Qunfeng Lu,3 Qinqin Long,2 Xidai Long,1,2 Demin Cao2 1Medical College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Clinical Pathological Diagnosis & Research Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Demin Cao; Xidai Long, Email caodm@ymun.edu.cn; sjtulongxd@ymun.edu.cnBackground: Recent research highlights the contribution of co-infections to elevated disease severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients. Given China’s decision to ease epidemic prevention policies in December 2022, a comprehensive exploration of the risks and characteristics of co-infections with respiratory pathogens becomes imperative.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 716 COVID-19 patients admitted to a primary hospital in China. The detection of twelve respiratory pathogens was conducted using qPCR, and the potential risk factors were analyzed through Cox regression analysis.Results: Within this cohort, 76.82% of cases exhibited co-infection involving eleven distinct pathogens. Among these, bacterial co-infections were observed in 74% of cases, with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae emerging as the most prevalent bacterial co-infection agents. Additionally, 15% of cases presented with viral co-infections, predominantly involving influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus. Nevertheless, our investigation suggested that there might be some inappropriate antibiotic use in treatments. Furthermore, risk analysis unveiled dyspnea, hypoproteinemia, low lymphocyte counts, and co-infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae as prominent risk factors for COVID-19 inpatients.Conclusion: Our findings underscore a significant occurrence of co-infections among COVID-19 patients during the epidemic, emphasizing the need for enhanced antibiotic stewardship. Effective management strategies should encompass respiratory status, nutritional aspects, and vigilance towards co-infections involving M. pneumoniae during COVID-19 treatment. This study underscores the significance of comprehensive management protocols to address the multifaceted challenges presented by co-infections in COVID-19 patients.Keywords: COVID-19, co-infection, respiratory pathogens, risk factors

Qingting Li,1,&ast; Yao Chen,1,&ast; Maritta Välimäki,1 Qing Long,1 Jundi Yang,2 Jia Guo1 1Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Nursing, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, 999077, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jia Guo, Email guojia621@163.comBackground: Depressive symptoms are prevalent in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus and related with poor disease outcomes. Both general self-efficacy and coping style are associated with depressive symptoms. A model about proactive coping indicates that coping style plays a mediation role between general self-efficacy and depressive symptoms. But, empirical evidence is missing about this potential mediation relationship which may be a barrier of taking precise strategies for relieving depressive symptoms.Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus and explore whether coping style preference mediates the association between general self-efficacy and depressive symptoms.Methods: This was a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey (June–July 2017) among 721 persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (45.4% male and 54.6% female) aged from 22 to 96 years old. Data on general self-efficacy, coping style preference and depressive symptoms were collected using validated questionnaires in hospital setting. The mediation model was tested using the bootstrapping (K=5000) in the MPlus program version 7.4. The results were reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.Results: The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was 58% (n = 418) among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus at hospital setting. A higher level of general self-efficacy was related to less depressive symptoms via positive coping preference (p < 0.01).Discussion: About two-thirds of persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus experienced elevated depressive symptoms during hospitalization. The intervention elements, including strengthening general self-efficacy and promoting positive coping, are promising to decrease their depressive symptoms.Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, coping style, mediation analysis

Nan Wang,1 Xuanyu Huang,1 Qian Long2 1School of Life Science, Jiaying University, Meizhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Nan Wang; Qian Long, Email wangnan@jyu.edu.cn; dr_longqian@foxmail.comBackground: Altered lipid metabolism is associated with gastric cancer (GC) progression. Comprehensive analysis to identify critical lipid metabolic drivers for predicting overall survival (OS) is not fully elucidated in GC. Our study aim to explore a novel lipid metabolism-related prognostic marker for GC.Methods: Transcriptional status and clinical features were obtained from the TCGA-STAD database. The differentially expressed lipid metabolic genes and the risk prognostic model were developed by using bioinformatics and Cox regression analyses. ROC and Kaplan–Meier analysis were established to assess the performance of the risk predictive score model. GSE84437 dataset was used for external validation. Immunochemistry (IHC) was used to examine the expression of CYP19A1 in GC patients. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was conducted to elucidate the underlying enriched mechanisms. TIMER and CIBERSORT analysis were performed to explore the relationship between CYP19A1 and immune microenvironment.Results: A novel lipid metabolic gene signature (including MTTP, CYP19A1, MYB, SERPINE1), and specifically CYP19A1, might be a promising prognostic factor for GC. Using the validation cohort, ROC curves indicate a good showing of our risk model. Based on the signature yielded a significant difference OS time between the low- and high-risk groups. Cox regression indicates that the signature is an independent prognostic variable. ROC curves present better and reliability predictive accuracy. The IHC data validate that high expression of CYP19A1 was found in GC tissues. GSEA analysis reveals that higher expression of CYP19A1 may significantly up-regulate genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and glycerolipid metabolism. CIBERSORT analysis suggests that CYP19A1 is related to the infiltration of multiple immune cells.Conclusion: CYP19A1 could be an independent prognostic factor and a novel metabolic-targeted treatment strategy for gastric cancer.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: gastric cancer, lipid metabolism, prognostic signature, CYP19A1, immune infiltration

Yuanyuan Jiang,1 Shan Jiang,1,2 Qing Long,1 Jundi Yang,1,3 Jyu-Lin Chen,4 Jia Guo1 1Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USACorrespondence: Jia Guo, Tel +86 13875947418, Email guojia621@163.comBackground: Women in rural areas of China face the unique risk of developing diabetes, but data on the glycemic status among women without prior diabetes diagnosis in rural areas are lacking which may limit the decision-making for diabetes screening or prevention. This study was aimed to describe the glycemic status of women determined by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and explore its associating factors.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among women without prior diabetes diagnosis from two counties of rural areas in Central South China from July to October 2018. On the basis of the life course framework, data on socio-demographic, environmental health, genetic, biological (blood pressure, weight and height, lipids), psychosocial, and healthy behavioral factors were collected on site either through questionnaires or field measurements. The questionnaires included social-demographic sheet, Perceived Stress Scale, Self-efficacy scales for health-related diet and exercise behaviors, and Chinese Diabetes Risk Questionnaire. Generalized linear model analysis was performed to determine the associating factors of glycemic status, which was measured by HbA1c level.Results: A total of 647 women were included in the study. The median age of women was 51.00 years (range 35– 65 years). The median HbA1c level was 5.1% (interquartile range 4.6%-5.5%, range 4– 13.6%), and 8.7% (n=56) of women were identified as elevated glycemic status (HbA1c> 6%). Environmental health factors (eg, living in less-developed county [β=0.206, p=0.027]), biological factors (eg, higher body mass index [β=0.201, p=0.036], higher total cholesterol [β=0.097, p=0.040], history of gestational diabetes mellitus [β=0.722, p< 0.001]), and psychosocial factors (eg, higher perceived stress [β=0.247, p=0.002]) were associated with higher HbA1c level.Conclusion: This study reported 8.7% of elevated glycemic status among women without prior diabetes diagnosis in rural Hunan Province, China. After a comprehensive investigation based on a theoretical framework, living in a less-developed county of rural areas, having larger body mass index, higher total cholesterol, higher perceived stress, and a gestational diabetes mellitus history were identified as associating factors of higher HbA1c level. Professional support regarding weight control, blood lipid control, stress management, and the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus should be recommended among this population, especially for women from less-developed counties.Keywords: women, rural areas, glycemic status, hemoglobin A1c, associating factors, survey

Hongqiong Meng,1 Qionghua Long,1 Ruiping Wang,1 Xian Zhou,1 Huipeng Su,1 Tingting Wang,1 Ya Li2 1Department of General Medicine, Yan’an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Yan’an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ya LiDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Yan’an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, 245 Renmin East Road, Kunming, Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail 563825085@qq.comPurpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of death and morbidity worldwide. A better understanding of new biomarkers for COPD patients and their complex mechanisms in the progression of COPD are needed.Methods: An algorithm was conducted to reveal the proportions of 22 subsets of immune cells in COPD samples. Differentially expressed immune-related genes (DE-IRGs) were obtained based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the GSE57148 dataset, and 1509 immune-related genes (IRGs) were downloaded from the ImmPort database. Functional enrichment analyses of DE-IRGs were conducted by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). We defined the DE-IRGs that had correlations with immune cells as hub genes. The potential interactions among the hub genes were explored by a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network.Results: The CIBERSORT results showed that lung tissue of COPD patients contained a greater number of resting NK cells, activated dendritic cells, and neutrophils than normal samples. However, the fractions of follicular helper T cells and resting dendritic cells were relatively lower. Thirty-eight DE-IRGs were obtained for further analysis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these DE-IRGs were significantly enriched in several immune-related biological processes and pathways. Notably, we also observed that DE-IRGs were associated with the coronavirus disease COVID-19 in the progression of COPD. After correlation analysis, six DE-IRGs associated with immune cells were considered hub genes, including AHNAK, SLIT2 TNFRRSF10C, CXCR1, CXCR2, and FCGR3B.Conclusion: In the present study, we investigated immune-related genes as novel diagnostic biomarkers and explored the potential mechanism for COPD based on CIBERSORT analysis, providing a new understanding for COPD treatment.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, immune-related genes, IRGs, CIBERSORT, diagnosis

Qian Long,&ast; Yan Wang,&ast; Guowei Che Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Guowei CheDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail cheguoweixw@126.comAbstract: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death. Due to advances in the diagnosis and treatment technologies for breast cancer, patients with breast cancer are living longer than before, resulting in an increased risk of developing subsequent malignancies, among which lung cancer is the most common. This review presents the current evidence about the risk, influencing factors and prognostic factors of developing primary lung cancer after treatment for breast cancer. The aim is to help clinicians improve their understanding, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer after breast cancer.Keywords: second lung cancer, breast cancer, review

Wencong Lv,1 Jiaxin Luo,1 Qing Long,1 Jundi Yang,2 Xin Wang,1 Jia Guo1 1Clinical Nursing Department, Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Nursing Department, School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jia GuoClinical Nursing Department, Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13875947418Email guojia621@163.comBackground: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of glycemic control in young people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but most of them do not perform SMBG as recommended. Few studies comprehensively explored factors that correlate with adherence to SMBG among this population on the basis of a framework. Hence, the aims of this study were to describe adherence to SMBG among young people with T1DM in China and explore its associating factors according to the Self and Family Management (SFM) framework.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on young people with T1DM in Hunan Province of China from July to August 2020. Based on the SFM framework, self-reported questionnaires were organized for the collection of data on adherence to SMBG, socio-demographic and clinical factors, resources, health care system, and personal factors. Factors associated with adherence to SMBG were determined through multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: A total of 165 young people were invited, of which 122 (73.9%) completed the questionnaires. The mean age was 12.41 years (SD = 3.18), and the proportion of young people who adhered to SMBG was 53.3%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that children aged 8– 12 years (OR = 0.188, P = 0.002), from two-parent families (OR = 0.232, P = 0.019), and with better personal factors (eg, with more information of SMBG, OR = 1.072, P = 0.020; lower diabetes-related worry, OR = 0.917, P = 0.031; higher level of pain during SMBG, OR = 1.852, P = 0.001), had better adherence to SMBG.Conclusion: Nearly half of the young people with T1DM were not adherent to SMBG in China. Clinicians need to pay more attention to adolescents from single-parent families with regard to their adherence to SMBG. Providing management strategies of SMBG, including delivering SMBG-related information, decreasing diabetes-related worry, and relieving pain related to SMBG, may improve adherence.Keywords: self-monitoring of blood glucose, young people, type 1 diabetes mellitus, influencing factors

Yu-hua Song,1 Peng Peng,1 Chun Qiao,2 Jian-yong Li,2 Qi-qiang Long,1 Hua Lu2 1Department of Haematology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hua LuDepartment of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13951717512Fax +86 025-83626373Email luhua1956@aliyun.comPurpose: To evaluate the influence of FLT3-ITD mutations on the treatment response and long-term survival of newly-diagnosed patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide.Methods: The long-term survival of 90 newly-diagnosed APL patients (age range 12– 75 years) was retrospectively analyzed.The FLT3-ITD mutation rate was assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing analysis. Its impact on the treatment response, event-free survival(EFS), or overall survival(OS) was investigated in patients with and without the mutations.Results: The FLT3-ITD mutation rate in newly-diagnosed APL patients was 20% (18/90). The white blood cell (WBC) count at diagnosis in patients with mutations was significantly higher than that in patients without mutations while the FLT3-ITD mutation rate was higher in the high-risk group than in the low/intermediate-risk group. Patients with mutations had a significantly higher early death (ED) rate (16.67% vs 1.39%) for those lacking the mutation (P =0.024). However, the complete remission (CR) and differentiation syndrome (DS) rates in the two groups were similar. Kaplan Meier analysis for EFS and OS at five years showed a significant difference between the patients stratified by FLT3-ITD mutation status (log-rank P =0.010 and P =0.009, respectively).Conclusion: FLT3-ITD mutations can be related to high peripheral WBC counts in APL patients. APL patients with mutations displayed a higher ED rate compared to those without mutations. Patients carrying mutations had reduced five-year EFS and OS rates. Thus, reducing the overall death rate during induction treatment might be an effective way to improve the prognosis of patients with FLT3-ITD mutations.Keywords: acute promyelocytic leukemia, APL, FLT3-ITD, internal tandem duplication, ITD, prognosis, survival

Wei Zeng,1,2 Chunyuan Zhang,2 Qingshan Long,3 Yalan Li1 1Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Boai Hospital of Zhongshan, Southern Medical University, Zhongshan, 528400, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurosurgery, Huizhou Third People’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Huizhou, 516002, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yalan LiDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail tyalan@jnu.edu.cnObjective: Dexmedetomidine, an α 2-adrenergic receptor agonist, mitigates cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients after surgery with general anesthesia. However, the underlying mechanism by which dexmedetomidine reduces cognitive dysfunction remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuronal dysfunction in cultured hippocampal neurons.Methods: LPS, in the presence and absence of dexmedetomidine, was applied to cultured hippocampal neurons to mimic post-surgical inflammation. Neuronal morphology, including neurite outgrowth and synaptic transmission, was observed, and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents were recorded by electrophysiological patch-clamp.Results: LPS significantly impaired neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, which was reversed by dexmedetomidine treatment. Electrophysiological patch-clamp results showed that LPS induced synaptic transmission dysfunction, which was restored after dexmedetomidine addition. Furthermore, Western blotting assays showed that LPS suppressed the AKT/GSK-3β/CRMP-2 signaling pathway and dexmedetomidine countered the inhibitory effect of LPS by re-activating this pathway.Conclusion: In general, dexmedetomidine protected against the effects of LPS-induced hippocampal neuron damage, including neurite outgrowth and synaptic transmission. Overall, dexmedetomidine modulated the AKT/GSK-3β/CRMP-2 signaling pathway to alleviate LPS-induced neurological dysfunction.Keywords: dexmedetomidine, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, neurological impairment, AKT, GSK-3β, CRMP-2

Qifang Long, Weipei Zhu, Liangsheng Guo, Li Pu Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Weipei Zhu Email weipeizhu@163.comBackground: To establish a novel delivery system of RGD-conjugated resveratrol human serum albumin (HAS) nanoparticles in ovarian cancer therapy.Methods: The nanoparticles system was characterized for physicochemical properties, the stability in the serum and in vitro release. The comparison between RVT injection, HSA-RVT NPs and RGD-HSA-RVT NPs regarding tissue distributions and pharmacokinetics was also carried out using mice as the animal models.Results: The results showed that RGD-HSA-RVT NPs were characterized of small particle size about 128.2 nm and negative zeta potential about − 21.42 mV, and drug controlled to release slowly on a biphasic pattern. Compared with control groups, RGD-HSA-RVT NPs showed the higher cellular uptake and cell inhibition rates. In vivo data showed that RGD-HSA-RVT NPs have good tumor enrichment characteristics and a significant difference in tumor inhibition, compared with the control group.Conclusion: RGD-conjugated resveratrol HSA nanoparticles are an ideal drug delivery system, which can play a role in the treatment of ovarian cancer.Keywords: resveratrol, HAS, nanoparticle, cellular uptake, cell viability, tissue distributions, pharmacokinetics

Que Bai,1,* Kai Han,1,* Kai Dong,1 Caiyun Zheng,1 Yanni Zhang,1 Qianfa Long,2 Tingli Lu1 1School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, People’s Republic of China; 2Mini-Invasive Neurosurgery and Translational Medical Center, Xi’an Central Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710003, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Qianfa Long; Tingli Lu Tel +86 029-88460332Email lonva@live.cn; lutinglixinxin@nwpu.edu.cnAbstract: Diabetic wound shows delayed and incomplete healing processes, which in turn exposes patients to an environment with a high risk of infection. This article has summarized current developments of nanoparticles/hydrogels and nanotechnology used for promoting the wound healing process in either diabetic animal models or patients with diabetes mellitus. These nanoparticles/hydrogels promote diabetic wound healing by loading bioactive molecules (such as growth factors, genes, proteins/peptides, stem cells/exosomes, etc.) and non-bioactive substances (metal ions, oxygen, nitric oxide, etc.). Among them, smart hydrogels (a very promising method for loading many types of bioactive components) are currently favored by researchers. In addition, nanoparticles/hydrogels can be combined with some technology (including PTT, LBL self-assembly technique and 3D-printing technology) to treat diabetic wound repair. By reviewing the recent literatures, we also proposed new strategies for improving multifunctional treatment of diabetic wounds in the future.Keywords: hydrogels, nanoparticles, nanotechnology, diabetic wound healing

Quanyi Long, Hongjiang Li, Yuan Fan, Jia Zhang Department of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hongjiang LiDepartment of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-28-85768836Email kz4480@163.comBackground: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TatD DNase Domain Containing 1 (TATDN1) is a recently characterized oncogenic lncRNA in several types of cancer including breast cancer. Our preliminary microarray analysis revealed its upregulation in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its inverse correlation with microRNA-26b (miR-26b), which is a tumor suppressive miRNA in breast cancer. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the interaction between TATDN1 and miR-26b in TNBC.Methods: A total of 66 pairs of TNBC and non-tumor tissues were collected from 66 patients (45.8 ± 10.5 years old) with TNBC through biopsy under the guidance of MRI before initiation of any therapies. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR), transient cell transfection, methylation specific PCR (MSP) and cell proliferation assay were carried out in this study.Results: We found that TATDN1 was upregulated and miR-26b was downregulated in TNBC. Correlation analysis showed that the expression of TATDN1 and miR-26b was inversely correlated. In TNBC cells, overexpression of TATDN1 mediated the downregulation of miR-26b. Knockdown of TATDN1 led to the upregulation of miR-26b. Methylation-specific PCR showed that TATDN1 positively regulated the methylation of miR-26b gene. Cell proliferation analysis showed that TATDN1 positively regulated the proliferation of TNBC cells. Overexpression of miR-26b attenuated the effects of TATDN1 overexpression on cell proliferation.Conclusion: Therefore, overexpression of TATDN1 promotes cancer cell proliferation in TNBC by regulating the methylation of miR-26b gene.Keywords: triple negative breast cancer, TATDN1, miR-26b, methylation, proliferation

Ping Mao,1 Shan Jiang,2 Jia Guo,2 Yuanyuan Jiang,2 Qing Long,2 Yujia Tang,2 Jiaxin Luo,2 James Wiley,3 Allison Vorderstrasse4 1Department of Nursing, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; 4School of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, USACorrespondence: Jia GuoXiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13875947418Email guojia621@163.comBackground: The purpose of this study was to describe the status of abnormal glucose tolerance with a longer duration after delivery among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a rural community of China, and to explore the influence of socio-demographic factors, GDM-related factors (family history of diabetes, number of children, receipt of treatment for GDM), psychosocial factors (perceived stress, self-efficacy, and social support), lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sedentary activity, fruit or vegetables intake), and obesity indicators (body mass index and waist circumferences) on abnormal glucose tolerance.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among women with prior GDM in two county-level hospitals in Western and Eastern Hunan, China from November 2017 to June 2018. Under the guidance of life course theory, data were collected using self-report measures of socio-demographic and GDM-related factors as well as psychosocial factors (perceived stress, self-efficacy, and social support) and postpartum lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sedentary activity, and fruit and vegetable intake). Additionally, a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was conducted, and weight, height, and waist circumference were measured on site.Results: A total of 425 women were included in this study, with an average postpartum duration of 18.04 months. Of these women, 20.9% had abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT). A multivariate analysis indicated that the proportion of abnormal glucose tolerance increased with increased age (OR = 2.13; 1.27– 3.57, p=0.004), ethnic minority (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 0.96– 2.72, p=0.069), lower educational levels (OR:0.58, 95% CI: 0.33– 1.02, p=0.057), receipt of treatment for GDM during pregnancy (OR =1.93; 1.11– 3.37, p=0.020) and larger waist circumference (OR = 1.08; 1.05– 1.12, p=0.000).Conclusion: More than one-fifth of the women with GDM in rural China had progression to AGT. More postpartum programs aimed at reducing waist circumference are warranted to delay or prevent progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus for rural Chinese women with prior GDM.Keywords: gestational diabetes mellitus, abnormal glucose tolerance, postpartum, risk factors, waist circumference

Jiqiao Yang,1,2 Li Xu,1 Pengcheng Liu,1 Zhenggui Du,1 Jie Chen,1 Faqing Liang,1 Quanyi Long,1 Di Zhang,1,3 Helin Zeng,1 Qing Lv1 1Department of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 3Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, JapanCorrespondence: Qing LvDepartment of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37, Chengdu 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-2885422873Email lvqingwestchina@163.comBackground: Radioisotopes and blue dyes are used as dual tracers in the current gold standard procedure of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) performed for breast cancer. However, the blue dye or the radioisotope as a single tracer is also being applied in some institutes. We aimed to explore the risk factors for the miss-detection of SLNs with the radioisotope and the blue dye and to describe the distribution of SLNs missed by each tracer.Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing SLNB with radioisotope and blue dye as dual mapping agents were enrolled between August 2010 and August 2018. Radioactivity count, blue dye staining status, and size and location of each SLN were prospectively documented.Results: In total, 2382 SLNs from 1010 patients were included for statistical analyses. The sentinel node identification rate was 100% for dual tracers, 99.4% for radioisotope, and 89.1% for blue dye. SLN identification using the blue dye was more likely to fail in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (p < 0.001) and mastectomy with reconstruction (p = 0.005). Furthermore, miss-detection was significantly more frequent in smaller and uninvolved nodes. Among all SLNs, 8.2% were located in level II and one was in level III. Notably, single tracer of blue dye tended to fail in the detection of lymph nodes in higher levels (p < 0.001).Conclusion: This study explored the association between features and the incidence of the failure to detect SLNs using radioisotope and blue dye. The locations of the miss-detected SLNs are demonstrated to provide a reference for SLNBs conducted using blue dye or radioisotope as a single tracer.Keywords: breast cancer, sentinel lymph node, radioisotope, blue dye, single tracer

Jun Zhou,1 Gonghao Ling,1 Jia Cao,1 Xun Ding,1 Xingnan Liao,1 Meng Wu,2 Xinyu Zhou,3 Haibo Xu,1 QingYun Long1 1Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Ultrasound, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Haibo Xu; QingYun LongDepartment of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13545009416; +86 15827339526Email xuhaibo1120@hotmail.com; longqy2005@sina.comBackground: Photothermal therapy (PTT) has great potential application in the treatment of tumors. However, due to the low penetration of near-infrared light (NIR) and the low concentration of nanomaterials in the tumor site, the application of PTT has been limited.Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of transcatheter intra-arterial infusion of lecithin-modified Bi nanoparticles (Bi-Ln NPs) combined with interventional PTT (IPTT) on hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: Bi-Ln NPs were prepared by emulsifying the hydrophobic Bi nanoparticles and lecithin, and the photothermal conversion and cytotoxicity of Bi-Ln NPs were then measured by infrared imaging and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, respectively. Twenty-four VX2 hepatic carcinoma rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Rabbits in group A received Bi-Ln NPs by intra-arterial infusion and NIR laser treatment (IA Bi-Ln NPs + Laser), group B received Bi-Ln NPs by intravenous infusion and NIR laser treatment (IV Bi-Ln NPs + Laser), group C received PBS (phosphate buffer saline) via intra-arterial infusion with NIR laser treatment (IA PBS + Laser), group D received PBS via intra-arterial infusion (IA PBS). Transcatheter intra-arterial infusion was conducted by superselective intubation under digital subtraction angiography (DSA) guidance. IPTT was performed by introducing an NIR optical fiber access to the rabbit VX2 hepatic carcinoma under real-time ultrasound guidance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to evaluate the tumor size. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) were conducted 7 days after treatment to evaluate the necrosis rate and viability of tumor, respectively.Results: The Bi-Ln NPs have the advantages of good biological compatibility and high photothermal conversion efficiency. Minimally invasive transcatheter intra-arterial infusion can markedly increase the concentration of Bi-Ln NPs in tumor tissues. IPTT can contribute to the significant improvement in the photothermal efficiency of Bi-Ln NPs. Compared to other groups, the group of IA Bi-Ln NPs + Laser showed a significantly higher tumor inhibition rate (TIR) of 93.38 ± 19.57%, a higher tumor necrosis rate of 83.12 ± 8.02%, and a higher apoptosis rate of (43.26 ± 10.65%) after treatment.Conclusion: Transcatheter intra-arterial infusion combined with interventional PTT (IPTT) is safe and effective in eradicating tumor cells and inhibiting tumor growth and may provide a novel and valuable choice for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.Keywords: transcatheter intra-arterial infusion, interventional photothermal therapy, Bi nanoparticles, hepatocellular carcinoma

Bin Liang, 1,* Hua Xiang, 2,* Cong Ma, 3 Bin Xiong, 1 Yilong Ma, 4 Chang Zhao, 4 Yuanhui Yao, 2 Zishu Zhang, 3 Changyong Chen, 5 Haiping Li, 5 Qingyun Long, 6 Jun Zhou, 6 Chao Luo, 7 Huaiming Qiu, 7 Hongyao Hu, 8 Hui Zhao, 8 Guofeng Zhou, 1 Chuansheng Zheng 1 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Interventional Radiology, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Interventional Radiology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital General South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Radiology, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Region, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Interventional Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei General Hospital, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chuansheng ZhengDepartment of Radiology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail hqzcsxh@sina.com Guofeng ZhouDepartment of Radiology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail zhouguofeng69@126.comPurpose: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with CalliSpheres® microspheres (CSM-TACE) and conventional TACE (cTACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Patients and Methods: Three hundred and thirty-five HCC patients receiving CSM-TACE or cTACE were consecutively enrolled in this multi-center, retrospective cohort study, and then divided into CSM-TACE group and cTACE group accordingly. Complete response (CR), objective response (ORR) and disease control response (DCR) was assessed according to mRECIST criteria at 1 month (M1), 3 months(M3) and 6 months(M6) after treatment. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Liver function indexes and adverse events (AEs) were also evaluated.Results: CR at M3 (P=0.020) and ORR at M1 (P< 0.001), M3 (P< 0.001) and M6 (P=0.017) after treatment were significantly higher in the CSM-TACE compared with cTACE group. DCRs, PFS (25.3 months vs 24.2 months, P=0.503) and OS (27.8 months vs 25.3 months, P=0.203) were similar between the two groups. CSM-TACE was independently correlated with higher ORR at M1 (P=0.002) and longer OS (P=0.023). Abnormal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P=0.049) was independently associated with lower ORR at M3, and history of alcohol intake (P=0.019) and largest nodule size ≥ 7 cm (P=0.015) independently correlated with lower ORR at M6 (P=0.015). Largest nodule size ≥ 7 cm (P=0.029) and abnormal albumin (ALB) (P=0.046) were independently associated with shorter PFS. Child-Pugh stage B/C (P=0.023), abnormal ALB (P=0.001), ALP (P=0.008) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (P=0.005) were independently associated with shorter OS. Most liver function indexes and AEs were similar between the two groups (P> 0.05), except that ALP (P=0.005), total bilirubin (P=0.031), pain during procedure (P=0.034) and occurrence of fever post(treatment (P=0.017) were significantly elevated in the CSM-TACE compared with cTACE group.Conclusion: CSM-TACE presents with a better treatment response and similar survival profile compared with cTACE in HCC patients.Keywords: chemoembolization, CalliSpheres microspheres, hepatocellular carcinoma, treatment response, survival, predictive factor

Objective To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway genes with the genetic susceptibility of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Chinese population. Methods Bioinformatics database analysis combined with literature screening was used to identify the key genes involved in the HRR pathway. Following a pathway-based case-control study design, 413 patients with CRC and 1 671 cancer-free controls were recruited from 3 affiliated hospitals of the Army Military Medical University. TagSNPs of the selected genes and 50 kb of their upstream and downstream regions were genotyped using ILLUMINA human genome chip. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the SNPs and the risk of CRC. Results Seventeen key genes in the HRR pathway were selected based on literature screening and bioinformatics database analysis. Sixteen of the total of 2207 genotyped SNPs were found significantly associated with the risk of CRC, among them the allele A at rs11226 of RAD52 3'-UTR was associated with an 1.4-fold higher risk of CRC than the allele G (OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.22~1.66, P=6.67×10-6), and the allele G at rs75893366 of CRTC3-AS1 gene was associated with a 0.43-fold lower risk of CRC than allele A (OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.25~0.74, P=1.81×10-3). But after Bonferroni correction, only the SNP of rs11226 showed significant differences in both male and female patients in stratified analysis. Conclusion The 17 SNPs of the key genes in the HHR pathway are significantly associated with the risk of CRC, suggesting that the variations in HHR pathway genes contribute to the genetic susceptibility of CRC.

Xin Wang,1 Jun-Fei Luo,2 Lin Qi,3,4 Qing Long,1 Jia Guo,1 Hong-Hong Wang11Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2The College of Literature and Journalism, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 4Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground and purpose: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is important to the management of diabetes mellitus, yet most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) do not perform SMBG as recommended. The current status and influential factors of SMBG in China have not been well investigated. This study aimed to describe the present status of SMBG adherence in China and investigate the influential factors based on electronic questionnaires.Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July of 2017 at hospitals in Changsha, China. Seven hundred and twenty-one patients with T2DM completed the information‑motivation‑behavioral (IMB) skills questionnaire and other electronic questionnaires composed of demographic and clinical characteristics as well as diabetes-related and psychological scales. Univariate comparisons and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationships among SMBG adherence and related factors.Results: Seven hundred and twenty-one patients with valid questionnaires were included. Only 27.5% (198/721) of the patients with T2DM were SMBG adherent based on the guideline of the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) in 2017. Among all groups of treatment regimens, the rate of SMBG adherence was highest at 36.6% (82/224) in patients on oral hypoglycaemic drugs (OHAs). In multivariable analysis, the treatment of OHAs (OR =3.731, CI 2.162–6.437) and diet/exercise (OR =3.534, CI 1.841–6.783), the patient having their own blood glucose meter (OR =6.916, CI 4.054–11.800) and a higher education level (OR =3.780, CI 1.688–8.466) were significantly associated with SMBG adherence.Conclusion: Most Chinese patients with T2DM did not perform SMBG as recommended. The treatment of OHAs and diet/exercise, the patient having their own blood glucose meter, a higher education level and other factors were correlates of SMBG adherence. There is clearly a need for prospective, multicenter, large-scale studies to explore the reasons for patients’ failure to practice SMBG adherence.Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, self-monitoring of blood glucose, adherence, glycemic control, China

Aim. Diabetes in children is becoming more prevalent in some countries. However, in most countries, little is known about the epidemiology of this disease. This study is aimed at estimating the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and prediabetes among children in Vietnam and examining factors associated with the conditions. Methods. A total of 2880 students aged 11-14 years old were recruited for the survey, using a school-based and nationally representative sampling frame. Capillary blood samples of participants were collected to measure fasting glucose level, using glucose meter OneTouch Verio Pro+. Diabetes and impaired fasting plasma glucose were initially diagnosed based on the cut-off points of the American Diabetes Association criteria. Diabetes status and type of diabetes of participants were confirmed at a hospital. Additionally, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were conducted following a standardized procedure. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between outcome and independent variables. Results. The overall prevalence of diabetes among the participants was 1.04‰ (three cases), with 2 cases (0.75‰) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (one known and one newly diagnosed) and 1 case newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (0.35‰). The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 6.1%. Body mass index, place of residence, and age were found to be significantly associated with the impaired fasting glucose condition in participants. Conclusion. The prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children in Vietnam is lower than that in some other countries reported recently. However, there is a high prevalence in impaired fasting glucose, requiring attention from policymakers to take action to prevent the occurrence of the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in children in the future.

Using first-principles calculations, site occupancy behaviors of transition elements in C15 NbCr2 Laves phase are systematically investigated. Elements Y, Sc, Zr, Hf, Cd, Ta, Ti and Ag prefer to occupy the Nb site, and elements Zn, Pt, Re, Tc, Ir, V, Os, Rh, Ru, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe and Cu favor to occupy the Cr site; whereas elements Mo, W, Pd and Au have weak site preference for Cr or Nb site. The present calculations agree well with the available experimental and previously calculated results. It was found that the site occupancy behavior of transition elements in NbCr2 is mainly affected by the radii of transition elements. The present calculations also propose the correlation between the site preference energy and radii of transition elements.

Xiaojie Chu,1–3,* Yang Li,1–3,* Qiong Long,1–3 Ye Xia,1–3 Yufeng Yao,1–3 Wenjia Sun,1–3 Weiwei Huang,1–3 Xu Yang,1–3 Cunbao Liu,1–3 Yanbing Ma1–3 1Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, 2Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, 3Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are currently being developed. However, no therapeutic efficacy has been achieved in clinical trials for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer. One of the important issues in increasing vaccine efficacy is determining the best way to enhance tumor antigen-specific cellular immune responses. This study aimed to explore the virus-like particles (VLPs) of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) as potential therapeutic vaccine carriers and to assess its immunological characteristics.Methods: Chimeric VLPs presenting a HPV 16 cytotoxic T lymphocytes epitope E749–57 (amino acid 49–57 of the E7 protein) were prepared using recombinant genes. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with VLPs and grafted with tumor cells TC-1 which is an E7-expressing tumorigenic cell line. The dynamic tumor growth was monitored and anti-tumor immune responses were investigated.Results: Using a preventive strategy, immunization with VLPs resulted in nearly complete suppression of tumor growth. In treatment studies, VLP immunization significantly suppressed the tumor progression in mice carrying 2–3 mm tumors and in those bearing even larger tumors with diameters up to 8–9 mm. The VLP structure was shown to be important to induce vigorous antitumor immunity and effects. In immunized mice, enhanced E749–57-specific cellular immune responses were evidenced by increased interferon (IFN)-γ expression and decreased interleukin (IL)-4 expression in splenic lymphocytes, as well as an elevated number of effector cells expressing IFN-γ in response to the in vitro stimulation of the specific peptide E749–57. In addition, effective immune memory after VLP immunization was maintained for at least 16 weeks, preventing significant tumor growth after subsequent TC-1 challenge.Conclusion: While VLPs were highly immunogenic in stimulating humoral immunity, our results strongly indicated that VLPs, such as HBcAg particles, might also be potent therapeutic vaccine carriers to elicit robust cellular immune responses, even in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of a tumor. Keywords: cellular immune responses, human papillomavirus, tumor, therapeutic vaccine, virus-like particles

Rainfall erosivity describes the capability of rainfall to cause soil erosion from a surface during a storm. Currently, the average long-term annual and monthly rainfall erosivity for a location may be obtained from isoerodent maps using a sample of climate stations across the United States (US). However, at the state-scale these measures are sporadic, using rainfall data from an increasingly outdated period, which may not reflect possible changing rainfall erosivity. Focusing on the state of Kentucky, US, we developed rainfall erosivity grids from the state Mesonet system to determine if erosivity has changed spatially and temporally between the original erosivity datasets from the latter twentieth-century and 2011–2020. We further used the Mesonet-derived dataset to develop a GIS-based model to estimate potential soil erosion for croplands during the fallow-season when soil is most prone to erosive storms. Results indicated that monthly erosivity increased across the state between the two periods. Larger increases in erosivity during the latter part of the fallow-season resulted in higher estimated soil erosion from croplands, particularly to the west. These findings may provide guidance in identifying and targeting croplands at greatest potential risk of soil erosion during the fallow-season for additional monitoring, mitigation and management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Accumulating evidences indicate regional grey matter (GM) morphology alterations in pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD); however, large-scale morphological brain networks (MBNs) undergo these patients remains unclear. Objective To investigate the topological organization of individual-level MBNs in pediatric GHD. Methods Sixty-one GHD and 42 typically developing controls (TDs) were enrolled. Inter-regional morphological similarity of GM was taken to construct individual-level MBNs. Between-group differences of topological parameters and network-based statistics analysis were compared. Finally, association relationship between network properties and clinical variables was analyzed. Results Compared to TDs, GHD indicated a disturbance in the normal small-world organization, reflected by increased Lp, γ, λ, σ and decreased Cp, Eglob (all P FDR < 0.017). Regarding nodal properties, GHD exhibited increased nodal profiles at cerebellum 4-5, central executive network-related left inferior frontal gyrus, limbic regions-related right posterior cingulate gyrus, left hippocampus, and bilateral pallidum, thalamus (all P FDR < 0.05). Meanwhile, GHD exhibited decreased nodal profiles at sensorimotor network -related bilateral paracentral lobule, default-mode network-related left superior frontal gyrus, visual network -related right lingual gyrus, auditory network-related right superior temporal gyrus and bilateral amygdala, right cerebellum 3, bilateral cerebellum 10, vermis 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 (all P FDR < 0.05). Furthermore, serum markers and behavior scores in GHD group were correlated with altered nodal profiles (P ≤ 0.046, uncorrected). Conclusion GHD undergo an extensive reorganization in large-scale individual-level MBNs, probably due to abnormal cortico-striatal-thalamo-cerebellum loops, cortico-limbic-cerebellum, dorsal visual-sensorimotor-striatal, and auditory-cerebellum circuitry. This study highlights the crucial role of abnormal morphological connectivity underlying GHD, which might result in their relatively slower development in motor, cognitive, and linguistic functional within behavior problem performance.

Abstract CF2-containing compounds hold significant potential in drug discovery, organic synthesis, and materials science. However, synthesizing various CF2-containing building blocks from a single compound remains challenging. Here, we present a Cu-catalyzed, switchable defluoroborylation and hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylated alkynes, yielding four types of CF2-containing compounds. The chemo- and regio-selective sp2/sp3 1,2-diborylation and sp2 monoborylation of 1-(trifluoromethyl)alkynes are controlled by adjusting the solvent and ligand quantity. Additionally, altering the base allows selective generation of gem-difluoroalkenes or difluoromethylalkenes. Notably, our method prevents over-defluorination of the CF3 group on unsaturated C-C bonds during nucleophilic additions, preserving the pharmaceutically valuable CF2 group. Experimental data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate the regioselectivities of Cu-Bpin addition and the regulatory role of the ligand in selective deborylation processes.

This study sought to use tropical almond leaves (TALs) for the simple fabrication of iron-containing activated carbon (IAC). Iron precursor (FeCl3) and activating agent (KOH) were sequentially preloaded in TALs. One-pot pyrolysis then generated iron-based particles (8.7 wt%), mainly metallic iron crystals, within AC support. The specific saturation magnetization of IAC was measured to be 48.9 emu/g, highlighting its ability to be efficiently separated using external magnetic fields. Moreover, the activation process yielded IAC with a large total volume of 0.28 cm3/g and a high specific surface area of 463 m2/g. Accordingly, IAC was investigated as an oxidation catalyst to degrade methylene blue (MB) by H2O2. At pH 3.0, 800 ppm H2O2, and 0.10 g/L IAC, 95.3% of MB (200 ppm) was removed after 30 min of adsorption and 60 min of oxidation. Altogether, iron-containing activated carbon from fallen leaves of tropical almonds proved its potential for robust methylene blue degradation by H2O2.