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Objective: To establish a method for the determination of triclocarban (TCC) and triclosan (TCS) in urine by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) after purification by QuEChERS. Methods: In May 2022, urine samples were extracted by acetonitrile, purified by QuEChERS, separated by Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm), and eluated with water-acetonitrile as mobile phase gradient at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The detection was conducted in negative ion mode (ESI(-)) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning, it was quantified with a internal standard method, and the methodology was verified. Results: The linear ranges of TCC and TCS were 0.5-100.0 μg/L and 1.0-100.0 μg/L, and the correlation coefficients were 0.9997 and 0.9991, respectively. The limits of detection and quantitation of TCC and TCS were 0.17 and 0.33 μg/L, and 0.5 and 1.0 μg/L, respectively. The recoveries of TCC and TCS were 100.1%-102.8% and 96.7%-108.6%, and the relative standard deviations were 4.9%-6.7% and 4.1%-8.3%, respectively, at 2.0, 10.0 and 80.0 μg/L. Conclusion: QuEChERS-UPLC-MS/MS method is simple, rapid, sensitive and reproducible, and can be used for rapid and accurate simultaneous detection of TCC and TCS exposure levels in occupational population.

In this study, the contamination of 51 mycotoxins in 416 edible oils were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. Totally, twenty-four mycotoxins were detected and nearly half of the samples (46.9%, n = 195) were contaminated simultaneously with six to nine kinds of mycotoxins. The predominant mycotoxins and contamination characteristics varied depending on the type of oils. More specifically, four enniatins, alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and zearalenone were the most frequent combination. Overall, peanut and sesame oils (10.7-11.7 mycotoxins on average) were found to be the most contaminated matrices whereas camellia and sunflower seed oils (1.8-2.7 species) were the opposite. Dietary exposure risks of mycotoxins were acceptable in most cases, however, the ingestion of aflatoxins (especially aflatoxin B 1 ) through peanut and sesame oil (margin of exposure: 239.4-386.3 < 10000) exceeded the acceptable carcinogenic risk level. Meanwhile, the risks of cumulative ingestion through the food chain should be of great concern, especially sterigmatocystin, ochratoxin A, AME and zearalenone., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To examine the characteristics of blood lymphocyte subsets in dermatomyositis-interstitial lung disease (DM-ILD) inflicted patients with positive anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5), as well as its prognosis value in this set of patients., Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from 253 DM-ILD patients from three hospitals in China between January 2016 to January 2021. Patients were grouped into anti-MDA5 antibody positive group (MDA5 + DM-ILD) and anti-MDA5 antibody negative group (MDA5 - DM-ILD) based on myositis-specific autoantibody test results. Demographic characteristics, lymphocyte subsets patterns and other clinical features were compared between the two groups. The association of lymphocyte subsets with 180-day mortality was investigated using survival analysis in MDA5 + DM-ILD., Results: Out of 253 eligible patients with DM-ILD, 59 patients were anti-MDA5 + and 194 were anti-MDA5 - . Peripheral blood lymphocyte count, CD3 + count, percentage of CD3 + , CD3 + CD4 + count, and CD3 + CD8 + count was lower in MDA5 + DM-ILD than in MDA5 - DM-ILD - (all P < 0.001) as well as CD3 - CD19 + count (P = 0.04). In MDA5 + DM-ILD, CD3 + CD8 + count ≤ 49.22 cell/μL (HR = 3.81, 95%CI [1.20,12.14]) and CD3-CD19 + count ≤ 137.64 cell/μL (HR = 3.43, 95%CI [1.15,10.24]) were independent predictors of mortality. CD3 + CD8 + count ≤ 31.38 cell/μL was associated with a higher mortality risk in all DM-ILD patients (HR = 8.6, 95%CI [2.12,31.44]) after adjusting for anti-MDA5 and other clinical characteristics., Conclusion: Significant lymphocytes decrease was observed in MDA5 + DM-ILD patients. CD3 + CD8 + cell count was associated with worse prognosis in both MDA5 + DM-ILD and all DM-ILD patients., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A comparative study on the relationship between condition factors and parasite density of Heterobranchus isopterus and Clarias gariepinus was conducted during the wet and dry seasons. Specimens were collected from the Bagoué River from August 2020 to July 2021. Two hundred eighty-four specimens of H. isopterus and 272 specimens of C. gariepinus were collected from all stations during both seasons. The standard length and weight of the fish were recorded and the condition factor was calculated for each individual. The gills were examined under a binocular loupe and the monogeneans were collected. Parasite counts showed that for both host species, the total number of parasites was higher in the dry season than in the wet season (p < 0.05). The correlation coefficient was determined to investigate the relationship between the condition factor and the total number of parasites. A significant positive correlation was observed between the condition factor and the number of parasites in both host species during the wet season. A negative correlation was observed in both hosts during the dry season. The information from this study could be taken into consideration in the sanitary management of the fish farming industry. The dry season could be considered as the season with favorable conditions for the development of most parasite species., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Obesity has become a global pandemic. WDTC1 is a WD40-containing protein that functions as an anti-obesity factor. WDTC1 inhibits adipogenesis by working as an adaptor of the CUL4-DDB1 E3 ligase complex. It remains unclear about how WDTC1 is regulated. Here, we show that the TRiC/CCT functions as a chaperone to facilitate the protein folding of WDTC1 and proper function in adipogenesis. Through tandem purification, we identified the molecular chaperone TRiC/CCT as WDTC1-interacting proteins. WDTC1 bound the TRiC/CCT through its ADP domain, and the TRiC/CCT recognized WDTC1 through the CCT5 subunit. Disruption of the TRiC/CCT by knocking down CCT1 or CCT5 led to misfolding and lysosomal degradation of WDTC1. Furthermore, the knockdown of CCT1 or CCT5 eliminated the inhibitory effect of WDTC1 on adipogenesis. Our studies uncovered a critical role of the TRiC/CCT in the folding of WDTC1 and expanded our knowledge on the regulation of adipogenesis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Tang, Cen, Yao, Yin, Weng, Zhao and Wang.)

Objectives: To provide a quantitative synthesis of studies on the relationship between vision impairment (VI) and cognitive outcomes in older adults., Method: A systematic search was undertaken of relevant databases for original articles published before April 2020. Random effect models were used to obtain pooled estimates of the associations between VI and cognitive outcomes (cognitive impairment and dementia) with subgroup analyses of VI measures, cross-sectional associations of VI with cognitive impairment, and longitudinal associations of baseline VI with incident cognitive impairment and dementia. Potential sources of heterogeneity were explored by meta-regression. Publication bias was evaluated with Egger's test., Results: Sixteen studies including 76,373 participants were included in this meta-analysis, with five cross-sectional studies and eleven longitudinal studies. There was a significantly increased risk of cognitive outcomes with VI identified by subjective measures (odds ratio (OR)=1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-1.99) and objective measures (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.40-1.78). The odds of baseline cognitive impairment were 137% higher in older adults with VI compared with those without VI (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.84-3.03) at baseline. Compared with older adults without VI at baseline, those with baseline VI had a higher relative risk (RR) of incident cognitive impairment (RR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.31-1.51) and dementia (RR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.19-1.75)., Conclusions: VI was associated with increased risks of cognitive impairment and dementia across cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Additional research and randomized clinical trials are warranted to examine the implications of treatment for VI, such as wearing glasses and cataract surgery, to avoid cognitive impairment and dementia.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the impact of aerobic exercise (AE) on parameters related to cardiotoxicity in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving anthracycline or trastuzumab., Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies on AE via the screening of standard databases from their inception to January 18, 2022. The risk of bias was assessed qualitatively using the domains outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data were analyzed quantitatively using fixed effects meta-analysis and subgroup analysis in RevMan software. Notable outcomes included imaging outcomes of cardiotoxicity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiac biomarkers., Results: A meta-analysis of the pooled evidence obtained from seven studies revealed that AE significantly increased peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 peak) and E/A values, compared to the values observed during usual care. Moreover, AE was safe and feasible, and was associated with a lower risk of adverse effects, a higher participation rate, and better results, when combined with resistance exercise., Conclusion: In BC patients receiving anthracyclines or trastuzumab, the effects of AE on the levels of cardiotoxicity were mixed; the diastolic functions and VO 2 peak values were improved, biomarkers were not affected, and the overall improvements in the levels of cardiotoxicity were promising, despite the use of different exercise parameters., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: We provide a contemporary consideration of long-term outcomes and trends of induction therapy use following lung transplantation in the United States., Methods: We reviewed the United Network for Organ Sharing registry from 2006 to 2018 for first-time, adult, lung-only transplant recipients. Long-term survival was compared between induction classes (Interleukin-2 inhibitors, monoclonal or polyclonal cell-depleting agents, and no induction therapy). A 1:1 propensity score match was performed, pairing patients who received basiliximab with similar risk recipients who did not receive induction therapy. Outcomes in matched populations were compared using Cox, Kaplan-Meier and Logistic regression modeling., Measurements and Main Results: 22 025 recipients were identified; 8003 (36.34%) were treated with no induction therapy, 11 045 (50.15%) with basiliximab, 1556 (7.06%) with alemtuzumab and 1421 (6.45%) with anti-thymocyte globulin. Compared with those who received no induction, patients receiving basiliximab, alemtuzumab or anti-thymocyte globulin were found on multivariable Cox-regression analyses to have lower long-term mortality (all p < .05). Following propensity score matching of basiliximab and no induction populations, analyses demonstrated a statistically significant association between basiliximab use and long- term survival (p < .001). Basiliximab was also associated with a lower risk of acute rejection (p < .001) and renal failure (p = .002)., Conclusion: Induction therapy for lung transplant recipients-specifically basiliximab-is associated with improved long-term survival and a lower risk of renal failure or acute rejection., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: This study aimed to examine and compare the associations between different multimorbidity measures and mortality among older Chinese adults., Study Design and Setting: Using the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey 2002-2018, data on fourteen chronic conditions from 13,144 participants aged ≥65 years were collected. Multimorbidity measures included condition counts, multimorbidity patterns (examined by exploratory factor analysis), and multimorbidity trajectories (examined by a group-based trajectory model). Mortality risk associated with different multimorbidity measures was each analyzed using Cox regression. C-statistic, the Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI), and the Net Reclassification Index (NRI) were used to compare the performance of different multimorbidity measures., Results: Participants with multimorbidity, regardless of measurements, had a higher risk of death compared with people without multimorbidity. Compared with the mortality prediction model using age and sex, C-statistics showed added discrimination (over 0.77, all P < .05) for models with multimorbidity measures. Multimorbidity trajectory showed integrated discrimination and net reclassification improvement for mortality prediction compared to condition count (IDI = 0.042, NRI = 0.033) and multimorbidity pattern (IDI = 0.041, NRI = 0.069)., Conclusion: Adding multimorbidity measures significantly improved the performance of a mortality prediction model using age and sex as predictors. Trajectory-based measures of multimorbidity performed better than count- and pattern-based measures for mortality prediction., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) are associated with depression. However, it is unclear whether coexisting CMDs may increase the risk of depression. We examined associations between cardiometabolic multimorbidity and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese., Methods: Participants aged ≥45 years were enrolled from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011-2018 (N = 18,002). Cardiometabolic multimorbidity was defined as the coexistence of ≥2 CMDs, including stroke, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. We used generalized estimating equation models to examine associations between cardiometabolic multimorbidity and depressive symptoms, including the dose effect of disease count and prevalent disease combinations, as well as individual and additive effects of specific CMDs., Results: The prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity was 24.5%. A higher number of CMDs had an additive dose effect on depressive symptoms that persisted consistently in specific CMDs. Stroke only, heart disease only, and diabetes only were each associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms compared with no CMDs. CMD combinations involving stroke, heart disease, or diabetes were each associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms compared with the absence of stroke, heart disease, or diabetes., Limitation: Self-reported chronic conditions., Conclusion: Stroke, heart disease, and diabetes showed individual and additive effects on CMD combinations, whereas hypertension and dyslipidemia only showed associations with depressive symptoms in combinations with other CMDs. These results suggest person-centered healthcare of mental health prevention and treatment for middle-aged and older adults with individual or multiple CMDs., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: To study the effect of anti-fibrotic tetrapeptide N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) on phosphorylated heat shock protein 27 (P-HSP27) and zinc finger family transcriptional repressor 1 (SNAI1) expression to explore the anti-silicosis fibrosis effect of Ac-SDKP. Methods: In December 2014, the rat silicosis animal model was prepared by one-time bronchial infusion of silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) dust. 80 SPF healthy adult Wistar rats were selected, and the rats were divided into 8 groups according to the random number table method, 10 in each group. Model control group for 4 weeks (feeding for 4 weeks) , model control group for 8 weeks (feeding for 8 weeks) : bronchial perfusion with normal saline 1.0 ml per animal. Silicosis model group for 4 weeks (feeding for 4 weeks) and silicosis model group for 8 weeks (feeding for 8 weeks) : bronchial perfusion of 50 mg/ml SiO(2) suspension 1.0 ml per animal. Ac-SDKP administration group for 4 weeks (feeding for 4 weeks) , Ac-SDKP administration group for 8 weeks (feeding for 8 weeks) : Ac-SDKP 800 μg·kg(-1)·d(-1) was administered by intraperitoneal pump. Ac-SDKP preventive treatment group: 48 h after Ac-SDKP 800 μg·kg(-1)·d(-1) administration, bronchial perfusion of SiO(2) suspension 1.0 ml per animal, raised for 8 weeks. Ac-SDKP anti-fibrosis treatment group: after bronchial perfusion of 1.0 ml of SiO(2) suspension for 4 weeks, Ac-SDKP 800 μg·kg(-1)·d(-1) was administered for 4 weeks. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of P-HSP27, SNAI1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) , and collage typeⅠ and Ⅲ in each group. The expression of P-HSP27 and SNAI1 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the co-localized expression of P-HSP27 and α-SMA was detected by laser confocal microscopy. Results: Compared with the model control group, the expressions of P-HSP27, SNAI1, α-SMA, and collage typeⅠ and Ⅲ in the silicosis fibrosis area of the rats in the silicosis model group were enhanced, and the differences were statistically significant ( P <0.05) . After Ac-SDKP intervention, compared with silicosis model group for 8 weeks, the expressions of P-HSP27, SNAI1 α-SMA, and collage typeⅠ and Ⅲ in the Ac-SDKP preventive and anti-fibrosis treatment groups were significantly decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P <0.05) . However, the expressions of P-HSP27 SNAI1, and collage typeⅠ and Ⅲ between the Ac-SDKP administration group and the model control group did not change significantly, and the differences were not statistically significant ( P >0.05) . Laser confocal results showed that the positive cells expressing P-HSP27 and α-SMA in the lung tissue of the silicosis model group were more than those in the model control group. Compared with the silicosis model group, the Ac-SDKP prevention and anti-fibrosis treatment groups expressing the positive cells of P-HSP27 and α-SMA decreased. Compared with the model control group for 8 weeks, there were some double-positive cells expressing P-HSP27 and α-SMA in the nodules of the silicosis model group for 8 weeks. Conclusion: Ac-SDKP may play an anti-silicic fibrosis effect by regulating the P-HSP27/SNAI1 pathway.

Background: Culex mosquitoes are vectors for a variety of pathogens of public health concern. New indicators of exposure to Culex bites are needed to evaluate the risk of transmission of associated pathogens and to assess the efficacy of vector control strategies. An alternative to entomological indices is the serological measure of antibodies specific to mosquito salivary antigens. This study investigated whether the human IgG response to both the salivary gland extract and the 30 kDa salivary protein of Culex quinquefasciatus may represent a proxy of human exposure to Culex bites., Methodology/principal Findings: A multidisciplinary survey was conducted with children aged 1 to 14 years living in neighborhoods with varying exposure to Culex quinquefasciatus in the city of Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire. Children living in sites with high exposure to Cx quinquefasciatus had a significantly higher IgG response to both salivary antigens compared with children living in the control site where only very few Culex were recorded. Moreover, children from any Culex-high exposed sites had significantly higher IgG responses only to the salivary gland extract compared with children from the control village, whereas no difference was noted in the anti-30 kDa IgG response. No significant differences were noted in the specific IgG responses between age and gender. Sites and the use of a bed net were associated with the level of IgG response to the salivary gland extract and to the 30 kDa antigen, respectively., Conclusions/significance: These findings suggest that the IgG response to Culex salivary gland extracts is suitable as proxy of exposure; however, the specificity to the Culex genus needs further investigation. The lower antigenicity of the 30 kDa recombinant protein represents a limitation to its use. The high specificity of this protein to the Culex genus makes it an attractive candidate and other specific antibody responses might be more relevant as a biomarker of exposure. These epidemiological observations may form a starting point for additional work on developing serological biomarkers of Culex exposure., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objectives: To investigate the associations between vision impairment (VI), vision correction (VC), and cognitive function., Method: We included 20,677 participants aged ≥45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015). Participants were grouped into no VI, distance VI (DVI) only, near VI (NVI) only, or both distance and near VI (DNVI), and VI(+)/VC(-), VI(+)/VC(+), VI(-)/VC(-), or VI(-)/VC(+) further at baseline. Cognitive function at baseline and subsequently every two years was applied as a dependent variable in a generalized estimating equation model., Results: DVI only, NVI only, and DNVI had significantly worse cognitive function over time than no VI (all p  < .05). DNVI had significantly worse cognitive function over time than DVI only and NVI only (all p  < .001). VI(+)/VC(+), VI(-)/VC(-), and VI(-)/VC(+) had significantly better cognitive function over time than VI(+)/VC(-) (all p  < .05). VI(-)/VC(+) had significantly better cognitive function over time than VI(+)/VC(+) and VI(-)/VC(-) (all p  < .05)., Conclusion: Cognitive function was worse in middle-aged and older Chinese with VI, especially in those with DNVI. VC was associated with better cognitive function over time regardless of the status of vision.

Humoral immunity to Plasmodium falciparum is acquired after repeated infections, and can lead to clinical protection. This study aimed to evaluate how human-, parasite-, and environment-related determinants can modulate the dynamics of IgG responses to Plasmodium falciparum after an infection. Individuals ( n = 68, average age = 8.2 years) with uncomplicated malaria were treated with ACT and followed up for 42 days. IgG responses to P. falciparum merozoite antigens ( Pf MSP1 , Pf MSP3 , Pf AMA1 , Pf GLURP-R0), to whole schizont extract ( Pf Schz), and to Anopheles gSG6-P1 and Aedes Nterm-34 kDa salivary peptides were measured. Regression analyses were used to identify factors that influence the dynamics of IgG response to P. falciparum antigen between D0 and D42, including demographic and biological factors and the level of exposure to mosquito bites. The dynamics of IgG response to P. falciparum differed according to the antigen. According to multivariate analysis, IgG responses to Pf Schz and to Pf GLURP-R0 appear to be affected by exposure to Aedes saliva and are associated with age, parasite density, and anti- Plasmodium pre-existing immune response at study inclusion. The present work shows that human exposure to Aedes saliva may contribute, in addition to other factors, to the regulation of anti- Plasmodium immune responses during a natural infection.

Obesity has become a global pandemic. Identification of key factors in adipogenesis helps to tackle obesity and related metabolic diseases. Here, we show that DDB1 binds the histone reader BRWD3 to promote adipogenesis and diet-induced obesity. Although typically recognized as a component of the CUL4-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, DDB1 stimulates adipogenesis independently of CUL4. A DDB1 mutant that does not bind CUL4A or CUL4B fully restores adipogenesis in DDB1-deficient cells. Ddb1 +/- mice show delayed postnatal development of white adipose tissues and are protected from diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, by interacting with BRWD3, DDB1 is recruited to acetylated histones in the proximal promoters of ELK1 downstream immediate early response genes and facilitates the release of paused RNA polymerase II, thereby activating the transcriptional cascade in adipogenesis. Our findings have uncovered a CUL4-independent function of DDB1 in promoting the transcriptional cascade of adipogenesis, development of adipose tissues, and onset of obesity., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

It is very important to seek a heavy metal soil stabilization/solidification (S/S) agent that has less risk of secondary release and has less impact on the soil. This study explored the repair effect of a new resin repair agent water-soluble thiourea-formaldehyde (WTF), and its stability under indigenous biodegradation and compared the repair effect with sodium sulfide (Na 2 S) and hydroxyapatite (HAP). Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid leaching experiments show that WTF can effectively solidify/stabilize 97.9-84.7% of Cu. At the same time, heavy metal speciation analysis experiments show that WTF does indeed convert the exchangeable Cu in the soil into a non-exchangeable form. Research on soil organic matter, biological carbon and enzyme activity after remediation shows that WTF has a more positive effect on soil function, compared with HAP and Na 2 S. Experiments using indigenous microorganisms to decompose the precipitation formed by WTF and Cu show that under the condition of less impact on soil microorganisms, the risk of secondary release of heavy metals caused by soil microorganisms after WTF remediation is less. These findings provide valuable experience for understanding the role of resin structure in preventing the secondary release of heavy metals and restoring soil function., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: To investigate associations between vision impairment (VI), vision correction (VC) and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese., Methods: 22 203 participants aged ≥45 years from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011 to 2015 were divided into four self-reported VI categories: no VI, distance VI (DVI) only, near VI (NVI) only, and both distance and near VI (DNVI); and four self-reported VI/VC subgroups: VI(+)/VC(-), VI(+)/VC(+), VI(-)/VC(-) and VI(-)/VC(+). Depressive symptoms were evaluated by 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10)., Results: Compared with no VI, DVI only (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.95, 2.31), NVI only (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.39, 1.63) and DNVI (OR = 2.75, 95% CI: 2.47, 3.07) were associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms. Compared with VI(+)/VC(-), VI(+)/VC(+) (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.98), VI (-)/VC(-) (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.53) and VI(-)/VC(+) (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.54) were associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms. Compared with no VI at baseline, baseline DNVI was significantly associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms after two (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.88) and four (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.68) years. Baseline depressive symptoms were significantly associated with higher odds of VI after two (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.34, 1.74) and four (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.34, 1.76) years., Conclusion: Adults with DNVI were more likely to report depressive symptoms in the future and those with depressive symptoms were more likely to report VI in the future. VC might be a protective factor for preventing depressive symptoms among adults with VI., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To determine if Pyk2 deficiency increases midpalatal suture bone mass and preserves sutural integrity after maxillary expansion., Setting and Sample: Thirty-six male Pyk2 knockout (KO) and control (WT) mice at 6 weeks of age., Materials and Methods: Mice received nickel-titanium spring expanders delivering 0 g (no intervention control), 10 or 20 g force for 14 days. High-resolution micro-CT was used to determine bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), sutural width and intermolar width. Effects on osteoclasts, chondrocytes and suture morphology were determined by histomorphometry., Results: Pyk2-KO controls (0 g) had 7% higher BV/TV compared with WT controls. Expanded Pyk2-KO maxillae also exhibited 12% (10 g) and 18% (20 g) higher BV/TV than WT mice. Although bone loss following expansion occurred in both genotypes, BV/TV was decreased to a greater extent in WT maxillae (-10% at 10g; -22% at 20 g) compared with Pyk2-KO maxillae (-11% only at 20 g). Expanded WT maxillae also showed a greater increase in sutural width, intermolar width and fibrous connective tissue width compared with expanded Pyk2-KO maxillae. Moreover, osteoclast number was increased 77% (10 g) and 132% (20 g) in expanded WT maxillae, but remained unchanged in expanded Pyk2-KO, compared to their respective controls. Cartilage area and chondrocyte number were increased to the same extent in expanded WT and Pyk2-KO sutures., Conclusions: These findings suggest that midpalatal suture expansion increases osteoclast formation in WT but not Pyk2-KO mice, leading to higher BV/TV in expanded Pyk2-KO maxillae. These studies suggest Pyk2-targeted strategies may be beneficial to increase bone density and preserve sutural integrity during maxillary expansion., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Multimorbidity has become a prominent problem worldwide; however, few population-based studies have been conducted among older Chinese with multimorbidity. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of multimorbidity and explore its common patterns among a nationally representative sample of older Chinese., Methods: This study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and included 19,841 participants aged at least 50 years. The prevalence of individual chronic diseases and multimorbidity during 2011-2015 were evaluated among the entire cohort and according to residential regions and gender. The relationships between participants' demographic characteristics and multimorbidity were examined using logistic regression model. Patterns of multimorbidity were explored using hierarchical cluster analysis and association rule mining., Results: Multimorbidity occurred in 42.4% of the participants. The prevalence of multimorbidity was higher among women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.51) and urban residents (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02-1.27) than their respective counterparts after accounting for potential confounders of age, education, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed four common multimorbidity patterns: the vascular-metabolic cluster, the stomach-arthritis cluster, the cognitive-emotional cluster, and the hepatorenal cluster. Regional differences were found in the distributions of stroke and memory-related disease. Most combinations of conditions and urban-rural difference in multimorbidity patterns from hierarchical cluster analysis were also observed in association rule mining., Conclusion: The prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity vary by gender and residential regions among older Chinese. Women and urban residents are more vulnerable to multimorbidity. Future studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the identified multimorbidity patterns and their policy and interventional implications., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objectives: Depressive symptoms are commonly seen among patients with multiple chronic somatic conditions, or somatic multimorbidity (SMM); however, little is known about the relationships between depressive symptoms and different SMM combinations. Our study aimed to delineate the patterns of SMM and their longitudinal associations with depressive symptoms among a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older Chinese adults., Design: We employed a longitudinal design., Setting and Participants: Older adults (N = 10,084) aged ≥45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011-2015 participated (mean age = 57.7 years at baseline; 53.3% men)., Methods: Sixteen chronic somatic conditions were ascertained at baseline via questionnaires. Depression was assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale at baseline and during follow-up. Patterns of SMM were identified via exploratory factor analyses. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the longitudinal associations between patterns of SMM and the presence of depressive symptoms at follow-up., Results: Compared with participants with no somatic condition, those with 1, 2, and 3 or more somatic conditions had a 21%, 66%, and 111% greater risk, respectively, for the presence of depressive symptoms. Increased factor scores for 4 patterns identified, cardio-metabolic pattern [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06, 1.20], respiratory pattern (AOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.17, 1.33), arthritic-digestive-visual pattern (AOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.22, 1.37), and hepatic-renal-skeletal pattern (AOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02, 1.16), were all associated with a higher risk of having depressive symptoms., Conclusions and Implications: All SMM patterns were independently associated with depression among middle-aged and older Chinese adults, with greater odds for people with comorbid arthritic-digestive-visual conditions and respiratory conditions. Clinical practitioners should treat the middle-aged and older population under a multiple-condition framework combining SMM and mental disorders., (Copyright © 2019 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background : Evidence on the association between physical performance and multimorbidity is scarce in Asia. This study aimed to identify multimorbidity patterns and their association with physical performance among older Chinese adults. Methods : Individuals aged ≥60 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011-2015 ( N = 10,112) were included. Physical performance was measured by maximum grip strength (kg) and average gait speed (m/s) categorized as fast (>0.8 m/s), median (>0.6-0.8 m/s), and slow (≤0.6 m/s). Multimorbidity patterns were explored using exploratory factor analysis. Generalized estimating equation was conducted. Results : Four multimorbidity patterns were identified: cardio-metabolic, respiratory, mental-sensory, and visceral-arthritic. An increased number of chronic conditions was associated with decreased normalized grip strength (NGS). Additionally, the highest quartile of factor scores for cardio-metabolic (β = -0.06; 95% Confidence interval (CI) = -0.07, -0.05), respiratory (β = -0.03; 95% CI = -0.05, -0.02), mental-sensory (β = -0.04; 95% CI = -0.05, -0.03), and visceral-arthritic (β = -0.04; 95% CI = -0.05, -0.02) patterns were associated with lower NGS compared with the lowest quartile. Participants with ≥4 chronic conditions were 2.06 times more likely to have a slow gait speed. Furthermore, the odds ratios for the highest quartile of factor scores of four patterns with slow gait speed compared with the lowest quartile ranged from 1.26-2.01. Conclusion : Multimorbidity was related to worse physical performance, and multimorbidity patterns were differentially associated with physical performance. A shift of focus from single conditions to the requirements of a complex multimorbid population was needed for research, clinical guidelines, and health-care services. Grip strength and gait speed could be targeted to routinely measure clinical performance among older adults with multimorbidity, especially mental-sensory disorders, in clinical settings.

Objectives: Post-lobectomy bleeding is uncommon and rarely studied. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of post-lobectomy haemorrhage and compare the outcomes of reoperation and non-operative management., Methods: We conducted a single-institution review of lobectomy cases from 2009 to 2018. The patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment for postoperative bleeding: reoperation or transfusion of packed red blood cells with observation. Transfusion correcting intraoperative blood loss was excluded. One or more criteria defined postoperative bleeding: (i) drop in haematocrit ≥10 or (ii) frank, sustained chest tube bleeding with or without associated hypotension. Covariates included demographics, comorbidities and operative characteristics. Outcomes were operative mortality, complications, length of hospital stay and readmission within 30 days., Results: Following 1960 lobectomies (92% malignant disease, 8% non-malignant), haemorrhage occurred in 42 cases (2.1%), leading to reoperation in 27 (1.4%), and non-operative management in 15 (0.8%). The median time to reoperation was 17 h. No source of bleeding was identified in 44% of re-explorations. Patients with postoperative haemorrhage were more often male (64.3% vs 41.2%; P < 0.01) and more likely to have preoperative anaemia (45.2% vs 26.5%; P = 0.01), prior median sternotomy (14.3% vs 6.0%; P = 0.04), an infectious indication (7.1% vs 1.8%; P = 0.01) and operative adhesiolysis (45.2% vs 25.8%; P = 0.01). Compared with non-operative management, reoperation was associated with fewer units of packed red blood cells transfusion (0.4 vs 1.9; P < 0.001), while complication rates were similar and 30-day mortality was absent in either group., Conclusions: Haemorrhage after lobectomy is associated with multiple risk factors. Reoperation may avoid transfusion. A prospective study should optimize timing and selection of operative and non-operative management., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursors have been polymerized at different radical polymerization temperatures for preparing sulfurized-polyacrylonitrile (S-PAN) composite cathodes in rechargeable lithium sulfur battery. The physical properties of these composites have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, Brunner-Emmet-Teller measurement and Gel permeation chromatography analysis. The electrochemical performance of the S-PAN composite cathodes made from the PAN precursor was investigated. The results showed that the molecular weight distribution of the PAN precursors affected the electrochemical performance of the S-PAN made from the PAN precursor. S-PAN composites derived from PAN with a narrower molecular weight distribution at 65 °C were exhibit the best electrochemical performance in lithium-sulfur battery.

Objective: To explore the effect of a breathing trainer on relieving the peak airway pressure caused by forced exhalation at the end of deep inspiration, gentle coughing at the end of calm inspiration and forced coughing at the end of deep inspiration in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Methods: From July to September 2018, 15 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, including 5 patients with invasive ventilation (3 with tracheotomy and 2 with endotracheal intubation), and 10 patients with non-invasive ventilation through mask. The patients included 14 males and 1 female, aging 48-79 years, with an average age of (68±10) years. A Breathing Trainer developed by both Dongguan Yongsheng Medical Products Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health was used to relieve the peak airway pressure. A one-way expiratory valve connected with a spring at the expiratory end of the Breathing Trainer was not opened until the pressure inside the airway was higher than 20 cmH(2)O (1 cmH(2)O=0.098 kPa), and opened completely when the pressure was higher than 35 cmH(2)O. Both before and after the Breathing Trainer was connected to the respiratory circuit, the patients were asked to exhale hard at the end of deep inspiration, to cough gently at the end of calm inspiration and to cough forcefully at the end of deep inspiration and the airway pressure were measured respectively. Each action was tested 3 times, and the interval time of each test was 1 min, and the interval of each action was 10 min. Results: Among the patients with tracheotomy or endotracheal intubation for invasive mechanical ventilation, when the patients exhaled hard at the end of deep inspiration,coughed gently at the end of gentle inspiration and coughed forcefully at the end of deep inspiration, the peak airway pressure measured before the ventilation circuit was connected to the Breathing Trainer was (30.0±4.5), (31.4±5.0) and (34.9±5.0)cmH(2)O, respectively, which was significantly higher than that after the ventilation circuit was connected to the Breathing Trainer(26.3±2.9), (26.7±3.5) and (29.0±4.1) cmH(2)O (all P< 0.01). Among the patients with non-invasive mechanical ventilation wearing face masks, when the patients exhaled hard at the end of deep inspiration, coughed gently at the end of gentle inspiration and coughed forcefully at the end of deep inspiration, the peak airway pressure was (17.7±1.9), (16.6±2.5) and (18.9±2.5) respectively, before the ventilation circuit was connected to the Breathing Trainer, and was (18.9±2.5), (16.3±1.9) and (18.8±2.0) cmH(2)O respectively, after the ventilation circuit was connected to the Breathing Trainer. There was no significant difference between them ( P> 0.05). Conclusion: The application of Breathing Trainer in the mechanical ventilation circuit of tracheotomy or endotracheal intubation could significantly reduce the peak airway pressure caused by hard exhalation and cough. It could be used as an active cough assist device for mechanical ventilation patients to prevent high airway pressure.

Objective: To investigate the effect of BAX gene deletion on the sensitivity of BCR-ABL-induced B-ALL cells of mice to imatinib and the related mechanism., Methods: The target gene-knock out (BAX -/- ) mice were used as bone marrow cell donors; the wild type bone marrow cells(B6BM) and BAX -/- bone marrow cells(B6BM-BAX -/- ) of mice were transfected by using reverse transcription virus, then the BCR-ABL transfected B6BM cells and B6BM-BAX -/- cells were treated with imatinib at different concentration (0,0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 μmol/L) for 48 hours. The number of viable cells was detected by trypan blue, the flow cytometry was used to detect the cell apoptosis, the Western blot was used to detect the changes of BAX, Caspase expression., Results: In BCR-ABL transfected bone marrow cells treated with imatinib, the numbers of viable cells of BAX deletion group was significantly higher than that of wild type groups with statristcal difference(P<0.05), and effect- and dose-dependency(r=-0.9533 for BAX deletion group, and r=-0.9812 for wild type group). The flow cytometry showed that the cell apoptosis in BAX deletion group signifincantly decreased, compared with wild type group(P<0.05). The Western blot showed that the expression of apoptotic protein Caspase 3 in BAX deletion group was significantly higher than that in wild type group(P<0.05)., Conclusion: BAX deletion can reduce the sensitivity of BCR-ABL-induced B-ALL cells to imatinib.

Electrodes with high conductivity and flexibility are crucial to the development of flexible lithium-ion batteries. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) LiFePO 4 and Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 fiber membrane materials were prepared through electrospinning and directly used as self-standing electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. The structure and morphology of the fibers, and the electrochemical performance of the electrodes and the full battery were characterized. The results show that the LiFePO 4 and Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 fiber membrane electrodes exhibit good rate and cycle performance. In particular, the all-fiber-based gel-state battery composed of LiFePO 4 and Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 fiber membrane electrodes can be charged/discharged for 800 cycles at 1C with a retention capacity of more than 100 mAh·g -1 and a coulombic efficiency close to 100%. The good electrochemical performance is attributed to the high electronic and ionic conductivity provided by the 3D network structure of the self-standing electrodes. This design and preparation method for all-fiber-based lithium-ion batteries provides a novel strategy for the development of high-performance flexible batteries., (Copyright © 2019, Chen et al.; licensee Beilstein-Institut.)

Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Xijiao Dihuang Decoction (, XJDHD) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced acute liver failure (ALF) as well as the underlying mechanism of action, and to clarify the key herbs and components of XJDHD., Methods: LPS/D-galactosamine (D-GalN) or TNF-α/D-GalN were intraperitoneally injected into C57BL/6J mice to induce ALF. Simultaneously, XJDHD or its individual herbs and components were orally administered. Survival rates, transaminase levels in serum, and hepatic histology were examined to evaluate the effects of XJDHD. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction were additionally performed to expound the mechanism underlying the anti-apoptotic activity of XJDHD., Results: Oral administration of XJDHD protected mice from lethal liver failure induced by LPS and TNF-α, with notable amelioration of liver injury in histology and a significant decrease in transaminase levels in serum. XJDHD significantly inhibited apoptosis of hepatocytes and enhanced expression of the antiapoptosis genes, c-Flip, Iap1, Gadd45b and A20. In addition, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. was identified as the key herb of XJDHD and galactose as the effective component of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. that protects against ALF., Conclusions: XJDHD inhibits TNF-α-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes by promoting the expression of nuclear factor κ B-regulated anti-apoptotic genes. Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. is the effective herb of XJDHD and galactose is an active component in this protection.

Celastrol could inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro. However, effect(s) of celastrol on gastric cancer is not well studied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of celastrol on human gastric cancer cell line MKN45 and the underlying mechanisms. We found that celastrol inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced cell apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest (p < .05, p < .01, or p < .001). Under celastrol treatment, overexpression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) increased cell viability, migration, and invasion and inhibited cell apoptosis compared with negative control (p < .05, p < .01, or p < .001). In addition, the phosphorylation of PTEN was significantly up-regulated, whereas PI3K, AKT, p65, and IκBα phosphorylation was statistically decreased by celastrol (p < .05 or p < .01) and then further reversed by miR-21 overexpression (p < .05 or p < .01). On the other side, miR-21 silence showed contrary results (p < .05) as relative to miR-21 overexpression. In conclusion, celastrol inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion and inactivates PTEN/PI3K/AKT and nuclear factor κB signaling pathways in MKN45 cells by down-regulating miR-21., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Our capability to visualize protein complexes such as RNA polymerase II (pol II) by single-molecule imaging techniques has largely been hampered by the absence of a simple bio-orthogonal approach for selective labeling with a fluorescent probe. Here, we modify the existing calmodulin-binding peptide (CBP) in the widely used Tandem Affinity Purification (TAP) tag to endow it with a high affinity for calmodulin (CaM) and use dye-CaM to conduct site-specific labeling of pol II. To demonstrate the single molecule applicability of this approach, we labeled the C-terminus of the Rpb9 subunit of pol II with donor-CaM and a site in TFIIF with an acceptor to generate a FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) pair in the pol II-TFIIF complex. We then used total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) with alternating excitation to measure the single molecule FRET (smFRET) efficiency between these two sites in pol II-TFIIF. We found they exhibited a proximity consistent with that observed in the transcription pre-initiation complex by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). We further compared our non-covalent labeling approach with an enzyme-enabled covalent labeling method. The virtually indistinguishable results validate our smFRET approach and show that the observed proximity between the two sites represents a hallmark of the pol II-TFIIF complex. Taken together, we present a simple and versatile bio-orthogonal method derived from TAP to enable selective labeling of a protein complex. This method is suitable for analyzing dynamic relationships among proteins involved in transcription and it can be readily extended to many other biological processes., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: The associations between dietary fat intake and cognitive function are inconsistent and inconclusive. This study aimed to provide a quantitative synthesis of prospective cohort studies on the relationship between dietary fat intake and cognitive function among older adults., Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases were searched for prospective cohort studies published in English before March 2018 reporting cognitive outcomes in relation to dietary fat intake. Four binary incident outcomes included were mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD) and cognitive impairment. The categories of dietary fat intake were based on fat consumption or the percentage of energy from fat consumption, including dichotomies, tertiles, quartiles and quintiles. The relative risk (RR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was pooled using a random effects model., Results: Nine studies covering a total of 23,402 participants were included. Compared with the lowest category of consumption, the highest category of saturated fat intake was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment (RR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.02-1.91) and AD (RR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.09-3.20). The total and unsaturated fat intake was not statistically associated with cognitive outcomes with significant between-study heterogeneity., Conclusion: This study reported a detrimental association between saturated fat intake and cognitive impairment and mixed results between unsaturated fat intake and selected cognitive outcomes. Given the substantial heterogeneity in the sample size and methodology used across studies, the evidence presented here should be interpreted with caution., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Objective: To carry out a quantitative estimate that related to the effects of short-term exposure to PM(2.5) on all-cause mortality and emergency visits in China by using the systematic review and Meta-analysis. Methods: We selected all the studies published before March 2018 from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, PubMed and EMBASE and data on relative risk ( RR ), excess risk ( ER ) and their 95 %CIs: appeared in these papers were extracted. According to the differences in the size or direction (heterogeneity) of the results, we computed summary estimates of the effect values using a random-effect or fixed effect model. We also conducted the subgroup analysis and Meta-analysis to have assessed the selected studies for the evidence of study bias. Results: A total of 33 original studies, indexed in databases, were identified. Among those studies, 39 sets of data on mortality and 4 sets of data on emergency were valid to show that within the daily concentration range from 47.7 to 176.7 μg/m(3), for 10 μg/m(3) increases in PM(2.5) concentrations, it would increase the daily numbers of deaths by 0.49% (95 %CI : 0.39%-0.59%) and 0.30% (95 %CI : 0.10%-0.51%) for all-cause deaths and all-cause emergency-room visits, respectively. For subgroup analysis, the combined effect of PM(2.5) in causing short-term all-cause deaths in the northern areas ( ER =0.42%, 95 %CI : 0.30%-0.54%) seemed lower than that in the southern areas ( ER =0.63%, 95 %CI : 0.44%-0.82%). The combined effect of PM(2.5) concentration below 75 μg/m(3) ( ER =0.50%, 95 %CI : 0.37%-0.62%) was higher than that of PM(2.5) concentration ≥75 μg/m(3) ( ER =0.39%, 95 %CI : 0.26%-0.52%). Conclusion: Within the concentration range from 47.7 to 176.7 μg/m(3), short-term exposure to current level of PM(2.5) might increase both the all-cause daily mortality and daily emergency visits in China.

Background: Acupuncture has a history of traditional use in China for women's health conditions including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but its effectiveness for this condition remains unclear. This review examined the available evidence supporting the use of acupuncture or acupressure to treat PMS., Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture or acupressure for women with PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)., Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Studies Online (CENTRAL CRSO), MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, PsycINFO, CINAHL (from inception to 21 September 2017), two clinical trial databases (from their inception to 21 September 2017), and four electronic databases in China (from their inception to 15 October 2017): Chinese Biomedical Literature database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP information/ Chinese Scientific Journals database and WANFANG. Reference lists from included articles were handsearched., Selection Criteria: We included studies if they randomised women with PMS and associated disorders (PMDD and late luteal phase dysphoric disorder/LPDD) to receive acupuncture or acupressure versus sham, usual care/waiting-list control or pharmaceutical interventions mentioned by the International Society for Premenstrual Disorders (ISPMD). If acupuncture or acupressure were combined with another therapy, these studies were also included where the additional therapy was the same in both groups. Cross-over studies were eligible for inclusion, but only data from the first phase could be used., Data Collection and Analysis: Two review authors independently selected the studies, assessed eligible studies for risk of bias, and extracted data from each study. Study authors were contacted for missing information. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. Our primary outcomes were overall premenstrual symptoms and adverse events. Secondary outcomes included specific PMS symptoms, response rate and quality of life., Main Results: Five trials (277 women) were included in this review. No trials compared acupuncture or acupressure versus other active treatments. The number of treatment sessions ranged from seven to 28. The quality of the evidence ranged from low to very low quality, the main limitations being imprecision due to small sample sizes and risk of bias related to detection bias and selective reporting.Acupuncture versus sham acupunctureAcupuncture may provide a greater reduction in mood-related PMS symptoms (mean difference (MD) -9.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) -10.71 to -7.35, one randomised controlled trial (RCT), n = 67, low-quality evidence) and in physical PMS symptoms (MD -9.11, 95% CI -10.82 to -7.40, one RCT, n = 67, low-quality evidence) than sham acupuncture, as measured by the Daily Record of Severity of Problems scale (DRSP). The evidence suggests that if women have a mood score of 51.91 points with sham acupuncture, their score with acupuncture would be between 10.71 and 7.35 points lower and if women have a physical score of 46.11 points, their score with acupuncture would be between 10.82 and 7.4 points lower.There was insufficient evidence to determine whether there was any difference between the groups in the rate of adverse events (risk ratio (RR) 1.74, 95% CI 0.39 to 7.76, three RCTs, n = 167, I 2 = 0%, very low-quality evidence).Specific PMS symptoms were not reportedThere may be little or no difference between the groups in response rates. Use of a fixed-effect model suggested a higher response rate in the acupuncture group than in the sham group (RR 2.59, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.92; participants = 100; studies = 2; I 2 = 82%), but owing to the high heterogeneity we tested the effect of using a random-effects model, which provided no clear evidence of benefit for acupuncture (RR 4.22, 95% CI 0.45 to 39.88, two RCTs, n = 100, I 2 = 82%, very low-quality evidence).Acupuncture may improve quality of life (measured by the WHOQOL-BREF) compared to sham (MD 2.85, 95% CI 1.47 to 4.23, one RCT, n = 67, low-quality evidence).Acupuncture versus no treatmentDue to the very low quality of the evidence, we are uncertain whether acupuncture reduces PMS symptoms compared to a no treatment control (MD -13.60, 95% CI -15.70 to -11.50, one RCT, n = 14).No adverse events were reported in either group.No data were available on specific PMS symptoms, response rate or quality of life outcomes.Acupressure versus sham acupressureWe found low-quality evidence that acupressure may reduce the number of women with moderate to severe PMS symptoms at the end of the trial compared to sham acupressure (RR 0.64 95% CI 0.52 to 0.79, one RCT, n = 90, low-quality evidence). The evidence suggests that if 97 women out of 100 in the sham acupressure group had moderate to severe PMS symptoms, the number of women in the acupressure group with moderate to severe symptoms would be 50 to 76 women.Acupressure may improve both physical (MD 24.3, 95% CI 17.18 to 31.42, one RCT, n = 90, low-quality evidence) and mental (MD 17.17, 95% CI 13.08 to 21.26, one RCT, n = 90, low-quality evidence) quality of life.No data were available on adverse events, specific symptoms or response rates., Authors' Conclusions: The limited evidence available suggests that acupuncture and acupressure may improve both physical and psychological symptoms of PMS when compared to a sham control. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether there was a difference between the groups in rates of adverse events.There is no evidence comparing acupuncture or acupressure versus current ISPMD recommended treatments for PMS such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Further research is required, using validated outcome measures for PMS, adequate blinding and suitable comparator groups reflecting current best practice.

Objective: BoneCeramic can regenerate bone in alveolar defects, but it remains unknown whether it is feasible to move a tooth through BoneCeramic grafting sites. The objective of this study was to investigate three-dimensional real-time bone responses and micromechanical properties in the grafting sites during orthodontic tooth movement., Methods: Sixty 5-week-old rats were randomly assigned into three groups to receive BoneCeramic, natural bovine cancellous bone particles (Bio-Oss), and no graft, respectively, after the extraction of the left maxillary first molar. After 4 weeks, the maxillary left second molar was moved into the extraction for 28 days. Dynamic bone microstructures and root resorption were evaluated using in vivo micro-computed tomography and histology. Stress distribution of tooth roots and biomechanical properties of corresponding bone tissue were examined by finite element methods and nanoindentation. Mixed-model analysis of variance was performed to compare the difference among time points with Bonferroni post hoc tests at the significance level of P < .05., Results: The BoneCeramic group had the least amount of tooth movement and root resorption volume and craters, highest bone volume fraction, trabecular number, mean trabecular thickness, microhardness, and elastic modulus, followed by Bio-Oss and the control group. The highest stress accumulated in the cervical region of the mesial roots., Conclusion: BoneCeramic has better osteoconductive potential and biomechanical properties and induces less root resorption compared with Bio-Oss grafting and naturally recovered extraction site.

Helicobacter suis colonizes the stomachs of a variety of animals, including humans, and is more likely than other Helicobacter species to induce gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Obesity is a low-grade chronic inflammatory state in which the induction of a chemokine network contributes to a variety of diseases. However, the effect of obesity on the development of gastric MALT in the presence of H. suis infection remains unclear. Here, we reveal that high-fat-diet-induced obesity upregulates the expression of lymphoid chemokines in the stomach and accelerates the H. suis infection-induced formation of gastric lymphoid follicles, potentially via a mechanism that involves the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. These findings provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of obesity-related diseases, especially those induced by Helicobacter infection., (© FEMS 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: Recent case reports suggest that amnion-chorion membranes (ACM) and dense polytetrafluoroethylene membranes (dPTFE) can be left exposed during ridge preservation. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of these membranes in ridge preservation, particularly when they are intentionally left exposed., Materials and Methods: A split-mouth, single-blind, randomized trial design was used to compare treatments with the two membranes in 22 nonmolar sites on the same arch. Ridge dimensions were recorded clinically and with cone beam computed tomography prior to and 3 months after ridge preservation. Postoperative discomfort was recorded with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) forms. Mixed‑model analysis of variance was used to test significance., Results: Clinical and radiographic ridge dimensions were not significantly different between the two treatments. ACM sites had significantly more osteoid and higher bone volume density but significantly less graft particles and bone surface density compared with dPTFE. Mineralized bone area and soft tissue area were not significantly different between the two treatments. ACM sites had significantly lower postoperative VAS scores compared with dPTFE., Conclusion: Intentionally exposed ACM is equally effective in ridge preservation compared with dPTFE. Additionally, ACM use may aid in reducing postoperative VAS scores, and potentially result in better quality of bone available for implant placement, as evidenced by improved histomorphometric measures.

Improving the specific capacity and electronic conductivity of TiO 2 can boost its practical application as a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries. In this work, a three-dimensional networking oxygen-deficient nano TiO 2-x /carbon fibre membrane was achieved by combining the electrospinning process with a hot-press sintering method and directly used as a self-standing anode. With the synergistic effects of three-dimensional conductive networks, surface oxygen deficiency, high specific surface area and high porosity, binder-free and self-standing structure, etc., the nano TiO 2-x /carbon fibre membrane electrode displays a high electrochemical reaction kinetics and a high specific capacity. The reversible capacity could be jointly generated from porous carbon, full-lithiation of TiO 2 and interfacial lithium storage. At a current density of 100 mA g -1 , the reversible discharge capacity can reach 464 mA h g -1 . Even at 500 mA g -1 , the discharge capacity still remains at 312 mA h g -1 . Compared with pure carbon fibre and TiO 2 powder, the TiO 2-x /C fibre membrane electrode also exhibits an excellent cycle performance with a discharge capacity of 209 mA h g -1 after 700 cycles at the current density of 300 mA g -1 , and the coulombic efficiency always remains at approximately 100%., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

The relationship between intake of fish and n-3 fatty acids and endometrial cancer risk has not been consistent across epidemiological studies. We quantitatively assessed the aforementioned association through a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed and Embase were searched through March 2017 for eligible epidemiological studies. Fixed or random-effects models were used to pool relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The dose-response relationship was also evaluated. Based on the literature search, five prospective studies and 11 case-control studies were identified. All 16 studies were categorized as high-quality studies. After pooling available risk estimates, no significant association was detected between overall fish intake and endometrial cancer risk. In subgroup analyses, every one additional serving/week of fish intake was significantly associated with inversed endometrial cancer risk in studies adjusted for smoking (RR (95% CI): 0.95 (0.91-1.00)), or studies performed in Europe (RR (95% CI): 0.90 (0.84-0.97)), but not in other tested subgroups. In studies conducted in Asia, there was significant positive association (RR (95% CI): 1.15 (1.10-1.21)). Regarding n-3 PUFA intake, marginally inverse associations of high EPA or DHA intake were detected (EPA: RR (95% CI) = 0.79 (0.61-1.04); DHA: RR (95% CI) = 0.85 (0.64-1.11)). Dose-response analyses suggested a significant nonlinear relationship between DHA intake and endometrial cancer risk (p: 0.04). Overall, this meta-analysis suggests that intake of n-3 PUFA may be inversely associated with endometrial cancer risk at some level of evidence, although the exact relationship, especially for fish intake, needs further characterization. Further well-designed studies are warranted., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of stress echocardiography in the risk stratification and prognosis of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD)., Background: Stress echocardiography is an established technique for diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognosis of patients with known or suspected CAD., Methods: We evaluated 409 patients (65 ± 10 years; 63% men) referred for stress echocardiography (45% treadmill, 55% dobutamine), who underwent stress echocardiography and coronary angiography within 3 months. All patients had multivessel CAD as defined by coronary stenosis (≥50% left main or ≥70% in two or more major epicardial vessels or branches). The left ventricle was divided into 16 segments and was scored on a five-point scale of wall motion. Patients with abnormal results on stress echocardiography were defined as those with stress-induced ischemia (increase in wall motion score of ≥1 grade)., Results: Follow-up (3.1 ± 1.3 years) for nonfatal myocardial infarction (n = 35) and cardiac death (n = 25) was obtained. In patients with multivessel CAD, stress echocardiography effectively risk-stratified normal (no ischemia, n = 83) vs. abnormal (ischemia, n = 326) groups for cardiac events (event rate 1.9 vs. 5.4%/year; P < 0.01). Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression model identified stress-induced ischemia (hazard ratio 5.5, 95% confidence interval 1.9-15.9, P = 0.002) as the most significant predictor of adverse cardiac events. A stepwise Cox proportional-hazards model demonstrated significant incremental prognostic value of stress echocardiography over clinical variables, stress electrocardiography and resting left ventricular function (P < 0.0001), with the highest global chi-square value., Conclusions: In patients with angiographically significant multivessel CAD, despite normal-stress echocardiography, there was an intermediate cardiac event rate (1.9%/year); abnormal-stress echocardiography identified a high-risk group (5.4%/year); and stress echocardiography provided incremental prognostic value for risk stratification and prediction of cardiac events.

Background/objectives: This study investigated the biomechanical properties and bone-implant intersurface response of machined and laser surface-treated stainless steel (SS) mini-screw implants (MSIs)., Material and Methods: Forty-eight 1.3mm in diameter and 6mm long SS MSIs were divided into two groups. The control (machined surface) group received no surface treatment; the laser-treated group received Nd-YAG laser surface treatment. Half in each group was used for examining surface roughness (Sa and Sq), surface texture, and facture resistance. The remaining MSIs were placed in the maxilla of six skeletally mature male beagle dogs in a randomized split-mouth design. A pair with the same surface treatment was placed on the same side and immediately loaded with 200 g nickel-titanium coil springs for 8 weeks. After killing, the bone-implant contact (BIC) for each MSI was calculated using micro computed tomography. Analysis of variance model and two-sample t test were used for statistical analysis with a significance level of P <0.05., Results: The mean values of Sa and Sq were significantly higher in the laser-treated group compared with the machined group (P <0.05). There were no significant differences in fracture resistance and BIC between the two groups., Limitation: animal study, Conclusions/implications: Laser treatment increased surface roughness without compromising fracture resistance. Despite increasing surface roughness, laser treatment did not improve BIC. Overall, it appears that medical grade SS has the potential to be substituted for titanium alloy MSIs., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Orthodontic Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)