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Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited disorder of lipid metabolism characterized by significant elevation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increasing the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and causing serious consequences for FH patients and the whole society. The development of molecular biotechnology is crucial for screening, diagnosing, and treating patients with FH. This paper systematically summarizes how the development of genetic testing technologies, particularly next-generation sequencing, has improved the accuracy of diagnosis and efficiency of genetic screening for FH, while also introducing many variations of unknown significance. In contrast to pharmacotherapy, transgenic technology and gene editing technology offer the potential to rectify the molecular aberration within the patient's physiological system, holding promise for eradicating FH at the molecular level. However, preliminary results have shown that patients could suffer from side-effects, such as liver damage, and long-term follow-up is needed to clarify the efficacy of these technologies. Therefore, this article reviews the latest advances in molecular biotechnology, including genetic testing technology and gene therapy technology, in the diagnosis and treatment of FH, aiming to provide new perspectives for FH related research.

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the detection of pine nut allergen Pin k 2 in food matrices. Pine nuts were ground, degreased, and enzymatically extracted and the hydrolysate was separated and analyzed by using an Easy-nLC 1000-QExecutive high-resolution mass spectrometer, and the mass spectral data obtained were processed using Protein Pilot TM software and the Uniprot protein database. The specificity was verified by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), and three pine nut-specific peptides were selected finally. The developed method exhibited a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.001–50 mg/mL, and the limit of quantification was 1 mg/kg. The average recoveries for blank biscuit, chocolate and beverage were 88.50%–107.57%, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) not exceeding 6.08%, and the matrix effect was 89.77%–96.13%. This method has the advantages of high sensitivity and good specificity, and can be applied to the detection of pine nut allergens in food samples such as biscuits, chocolate, and beverages, which provides technical support for the authentication of food labels and the detection of latent allergens in foods.

The digestibility of myofibrillar proteins (MP) extracted from yak meat cooked to different internal temperatures of (40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 ℃) was determined during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, and total carbonyl content, total sulfhydryl content and Schiff base content before and after digestion were measured. Ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy, endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were used to investigate the oxidation and digestion patterns of yak meat proteins during gastrointestinal digestion. The results showed that total protease hydrolysis of MP from yak meat cooked to 60 ℃ was the highest after simulated gastric and intestinal digestion (88.64%). The rates of pepsin hydrolysis and total protease hydrolysis of MP from yak meat cooked to 80 ℃ decreased by 34.10% and 22.47%, respectively, and the rate of trypsin hydrolysis increased by 75.34% compared with MP from raw yak meat. The total carbonyl content after simulated gastric and intestinal digestion increased by 81.42% and 77.40%, respectively, and the total sulfhydryl content decreased by 30.02% and 36.43%, respectively, compared with raw MP. With an increase in cooking temperature, the Schiff base content gradually increased, the UV absorbance was significantly enhanced, and the endogenous fluorescence intensity was significantly reduced. The SDS-PAGE patterns showed that the protein bands were severely degraded and even disappeared after digestion. It was found that the digestibility of MP from yak meat cooked to 60 ℃ was the highest. The degree of protein oxidation in yak meat cooked to 80 ℃ was the strongest and increased during gastrointestinal digestion.

C20H16FNO5, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 9.5235(2) Å, b = 22.1323(2) Å, c = 8.95249(19) Å, β = 101.445(3)°, V = 1779.66(7) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0410, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1194, T = 279.5 K.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blending with the phase change material (PCM) to prepare thermal energy storage film has the disadvantage of leakage. The waste fly ash (FA) can be used as the substrate of PCM to prevent leakage and give the FA high value. In this study, the rude fly ash (RFA) with the modification of rinsing and HCl treatment impregnates the stearic acid (SA) directly to prepare rFAS and HFAS, respectively. The PVA/FAS thermal energy storage films are prepared by solution casting. The surface properties and the absorption capacity analysis of the FA indicated that the modification can increase the surface areas and average pore volume and the HFAS have the best adsorption capacity. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) show that the SA successfully adsorbed on the FA. The PVA/FAS thermal energy storage films with the 15% HFAS content have the best tensile strength (9.87 MPa), thermal conductivity (0.611 W*[m.sup.-1]*[K.sup.-1]), and thermal energy storage property (59.04 J*[g.sup.-1] after 1 cycle time) because of the best compatibility between HFAS and PVA. After 500 cycle times, the latent heat of the PVA/HFAS decreased only 4.62% and the PVA/RFAS and PVA/RFAS decreased by 8.32%, and 10.87%, respectively. KEYWORDS phase change materials, polyvinyl alcohol, thermal energy storage films, waste fly ash, 1 | INTRODUCTION Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has advantages such as nontoxic, biodegradable, water-soluble, and good film forming properties, which is widely used in the field of food packaging films. [1-3] [...]

Background: Although liver metabolic dysfunction has been found to potentially elevate susceptibility to cognitive impairment and dementia, there is still insufficient evidence to explore the non-linear association of liver enzymes with cognitive performance. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the non-linear relationship between liver enzymes and cognitive performance. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2764 individuals aged ≥ 60 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2014 were included. The primary data comprised liver enzyme levels (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), AST/ALT ratio, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)), and cognitive performance was the major measured outcome. The associations were analyzed using weighted multivariate logistic regression, subgroup analysis, a generalized additive model, smooth fitting curves, and threshold effects. Results: The results of the fully adjusted model indicated that ALP was negatively associated with the animal fluency test (AFT) score (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.11–1.98), whereas ALT demonstrated a positive association with the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) test score (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53–0.97). Additionally, the AST/ALT ratio was negatively associated with the global cognitive test (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.53–3.73), CERAD (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.77–3.84), and digit symbol substitution test (DSST) scores (OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.57–4.02). GGT was also negatively associated with the AFT score (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01–1.33) in unadjusted model. A non-linear relationship was observed between liver enzymes and the risk of cognitive impairment as assessed by the global cognitive test. Specifically, when ALP > 60 U/L, 0.77 < AST/ALT < 1.76, and 25 < GGT < 94 U/L, higher liver enzyme levels were significantly associated with an elevated cognitive impairment risk, while a lower cognitive impairment risk when ALT level was > 17 U/L. Conclusions: There is a non-linear relationship between liver enzymes and cognitive performance, indicating that liver enzyme levels should be maintained within a certain level to mitigate the risk of cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of a professional learning management system(LMS)platform is one of the important tasks in modern medical education reform. Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) had built the LMS based on open-source software modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment(Moodle)that supports the implementation of blended teaching methods. First, a teaching model for performing blended teaching effectively based on Moodle was built. Under the guidance of such model, the autonomous learning environment was established, which provided orderly, abundant and various learning resources for 46 medicine related courses in PUMC. In such a virtual environment, the students' self-directed learning could guided, supervised and provided feedback. The teachers could combine the virtual learning environment with classroom teaching closely, and develop more innovative and exploratory teaching activities. Furthermore, the data from whole learning process could be accumulated by Moodle easily to evaluate the teaching quality. Through Moodle, modern teaching methods could be applied in the medical education in PUMC effectively and efficiently.

Peking Union Medical College sets up a review course of Biochemistry in the general introduction of medicine for the 4+4 clinical medicine pilot class. The mixed classroom design was carried out with Moodle platform to help students with different bachelor education experience to review, consolidate and strengthen their knowledge of Biochemistry as a compulsory course for premedical students. Under the support of Moodle, we created an autonomous learning environment, integrating Macmillan sapling e-learning resources, and establishing a chapter-based pre-class test to improve students' mastery of basic knowledge. Moodle's “Quiz” and “Workshop” were used in case-based learning to help students to link biochemical changes to clinical manifestation of illness. The positive exploration of the teaching mode of Biochemistry by Moodle fits to the training of the students in the pilot class.

Objective Based on the health big data platform of Yichang city, to analyze the characteristics of allergic diseases of children born in medical institutions from 2017 to 2022 in Yichang city, and to clarify the distribution of allergic diseases among children in Yichang city. Methods Statistical analysis was conducted based on the records of born children with allergic diseases in the outpatient clinic of urban comprehensive medical institutions from 2017 to 2022 in the big data cloud platform of Yichang city. Results The number of visits of male children was 68 707, more than that of female children, and the number of visits had been increasing since 2017. The highest number of hospital visits was 46 190 (37.86%) among children of 0-1 year old, of which the highest number of visits was 3 331 (13.74%) among children of two months. Atopic dermatitis/eczema and allergic rhinitis had a higher number of visits with 46 156 and 14 388 visits, respectively. The age of onset of atopic dermatitis was earlier, with the age of first consultation being 0.42 years, and the age of onset was earlier in males than in females. Atopic dermatitis/eczema and allergic rhinitis were the most common multimorbidities. Conclusion For children with atopic dermatitis/eczema and/or allergic rhinitis, the focus is on the development of concomitant diseases to further interrupt the allergic process and promote early detection, prevention and treatment of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To search for potential prognostic markers for severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) using non-targeted metabolomics. Methods Testing plasma samples from 30 healthy people and 68 SCAP patients (all collected from January 2015 to June 2019 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital) by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). According to clinical prognosis, patients were divided into survive group (n=49) and non-survive group (n=19). OPLS-DA (multivariate statistical analysis) and Kruskal Wallis Test (single variable statistical analysis) were used to identify differential metabolites. Correlation analysis of clinical indicators and prognostic analysis were also used for differential metabolites. Results Totally 3 463 metabolites were detected in healthy people and SCAP patients by LC-MS. Among them, 126 metabolites were screened out by OPLS-DA andKruskal Wallis Test analysis methods. Prognostic analysis showed that the quantity of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) was significantly different between survive group and non-survive group (P＜0.05, AUC＞0.75). Correlation analysis of clinical indicators showed that 5-HT was positively correlated with oxygenation index (OI) and negatively correlated with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score. Conclusions The 5-HT as a potential prognostic marker for SCAP, may predict the prognosis of SCAP patients.

Novel asymmetric bismaleimide (BMI) oligomers with different molecular weights and dianhydrides were designed and synthesized by 3,4'-oxydianiline (3,4'-ODA), 2,3,3,4-oxydiphthalic dianhydride (a-ODPA), and 2,3,3',4 biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (a-BPDA). The chemical structures of BMI oligomers were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) exhibited broad peaks, suggesting amorphous structures. Heat flow curves of oligomers measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) displayed wide processing window due to low glass transition temperatures ([T.sub.g]). BMI oligomers exhibited high solubility in common organic solvents. Particularly, the OD-BMI-1 oligomer exhibited excellent solubility of more than 50 wt% in DMAc solvent. [T.sub.g] value and minimum complex viscosity of OD-BMI-1 oligomer were only 121[degrees]C and 8.1 Pa s, respectively. The cured BMI resins possess high thermal and thermaloxidative stability. The [T.sub.g] and the temperature of 5% weight loss in nitrogen were above 256 and 449[degrees]C, respectively, and the residual weight percentages at 800[degrees]C were all >49%. Moreover, films made of BMI resins exhibited excellent mechanical properties flexibility, as confirmed by photograph and DMA results of films. The elongation at break of the prepared films was found to be high (almost >9.6%)., INTRODUCTION Bismaleimide (BMI) resins are important class of high performance thermosetting polymers. They are employed as base resins in advanced composites and printed circuit boards due to their high performance-to-cost [...]