AIM: To discuss the application and clinical significance of the ratio of area under the curve over 24 hours to minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC

Objective: To evaluate the ability of ITS2 region as a DNA barcode for identifying the plants in Euphorbiaceae in Hainan. Methods: The ITS2 of ribosomal DNA was amplified and sequenced by bidirectional sequencing of PCR products. Sequence assembly and consensus sequence generation were performed by using Codon Code Aligner. Phylogenetic study was performed using software MEGA 6.0 in accordance with Kimura-2-parameter (K2P) model, and the phylogenetic tree was constructed by using the Neighbor-joining (NJ) method. The ITS2 secondary structure was predicted using the ITS2 Database server. The distribution of intra-versus inter-specific variability was compared using DNA bar coding gaps. Results: The variable sites and the informative sites were accounted for 84% and 69.67% of the ITS2 regions length. In the cluster dendrogram, all species showed monophyletic. The maximum intra-specific distance was 0.067 3, and the minimum inter-specific distance was 0.119 1. There was significant bar coding gap between intra-specific and inter-specific variation. To compare the ITS2 secondary structure, we noticed that it had no obvious distinguishment of intra-specific, while had obvious distinguishment of inter-specific. Conclusion: ITS2 sequence can be used as a DNA barcode for the rapid identification of the plants in Euphorbiaceae in Hainan.

Radiation brain injury in the temporal lobe is the most common and severe neurological complication after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Early detection and treatment are the key to control the progress of radiation brain injury. However, when abnormal changes were found in conventional MRI, brain injury had developed to irreversible middle and late stage frequently. Functional MRI, including magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging, perfusion-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, diffusion-tensor imaging, and diffusion-kurtosis imaging, can quantitatively reflect the microstructure changes of tissues through many parameters. Some of the parameters could be considered as image markers for diagnosis of radiation brain injury in the early stage. Research advances of functional MRI in early brain injury after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma were reviewed in this article.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of LncRNA GAPLINC on the cell proliferation of RA-FLSs. MethodsRA-FLSs were cultured from synovial specimens. The expression of LncRNA GAPLINC in RA-FLSs and trauma-FLSs groups was detected by qRCR. GAPLINC suppression was transfected by siRNA and the inhibition efficiency was detected by qRCR. Flow cytometry was adopted to determine the change of cell growth and cell cycle distribution. 【ResμLts】 The expression of LncRNA GAPLINC was significantly higher in RA-FLSs than that of the trauma-FLSs （P<0.05）.Transfection of GAPLINC-siRNA significantly decreased the expression of LncRNA GAPLINC. GAPLINC silence in RA-FLSs revealed significant inhibition in cell proliferation which was showed by the reduced cell number in S phase（P<0.05）. Moreover， flow cytometry assay showed GAPIINC-siRNA treatment group had an accumμLation of cells in the G0/G1 phase and decreased RA-FLSs in the S and G2/M phase（P<0.05）. After GAPLINC knockdown， mRNA and protein levels of Cyclin D1 and PCNA， which were positively correlated with proliferative phenotype， were decreased （P<0.05）， while p21， which was negatively correlated with proliferative phenotype， was up-regμLated （P<0.05）. ConclusionsThe mRNA expression of GAPLINC was higher in RA-FLSs compared with trauma-FLSs ，which was statistically significant（P<0.05）. The silence of LncRNA GAPLINC coμLd significantly inhibit RA-FLSs cell growth and suppress the cell cycle transformation， which suggests that GAPLINC may play a role in the regμLation of proliferation of RA-FLSs， leading to synovial hyperplasia and contributing to RA progression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the current status and high-risk factors of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes （PBL） of radiation workers in Hainan Province. MethodsA total of 200 radiological workers who underwent occupational health examination in Hainan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2021 to December 2021 were selected to collect the occupational health examination data and the rate of PBL chromosomal aberrations. The influencing factors of PBL chromosomal aberrations were analyzed by logistic regression model. The predictive value of logistic regression prediction model on PBL chromosomal aberrations were determined by using the reciver operator characteristic （ROC） curve. ResultsA total of 20 000 cells （100 cells/person） were tested. The chromosomal aberration rate was 0.37% （74/20 000） and the PBL chromosomal aberration rate in the subjects was 6.00% （12/200）. Univariate analysis showed that PBL chromosomal aberrations in radiological workers were related to age， length of service， type of work and education （all P<0.05）， but not to gender （P>0.05）. The logistic regression prediction model was constructed based on the influencing factors， with χ²=9.413， df=9， P=0.852， suggesting a good model fit. The logistic regression prediction model predicted the area under the curve （AUC） for the occurrence of PBL chromosomal aberrations in radiation workers was 0.914 （95%CI： 0.866‒0.949）， with a cut-off value of 3.05， corresponding to a prediction sensitivity and specificity of 100.00% and 75.98%， respectively. ConclusionThe incidence of PBL chromosomal aberrations in radiological workers in Hainan Province was 6.00%， with age， working age and job type as high-risk factors and education level as a protective factor. The prediction model constructed by the above factors can provide a reliable basis for clinical prediction of PBL chromosomal aberrations in radiological workers.

OBJECTIVES: Gonadal hormone is essential for the health of postmenopausal women, however, few studies have focused on the epidemiological distribution of gonadal hormones in postmenopausal women in very late postmenopausal women. This study aims to investigate and analyze the differences of serum gonadal hormone content and its influential factors among female centenarians in Hainan, China. METHODS: The questionnaire and physical examination data of 741 female centenarians and 401 elderly females in Hainan Province were collected, and venous blood samples were taken to detect the indexes of lipid metabolism, bone metabolism, and gonadal hormone. The differences of gonadal hormones and relavant factors in female centenarians were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The serum levels of estradiol and progesterone of female centenarians were significantly higher than those of the elderly females (both P<0.001). The serum levels of estradiol and testosterone of ethnic minority centenarians were higher than those in Han nationality (P<0.001), and the serum estradiol and testosterone concentrations were relatively higher when the daily activities were more than 10 min (both P<0.05). Serum estradiol concentration was negatively correlated with apolipoprotein A-I, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride and bone formation markers such as calcium, inorganic phosphorus and vitamin D3, and was positively correlated with the special sequence of β-collagen (markers of bone resorption) (all P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS For the extremely late postmenopausal women (such as centenarians), there may be characteristic expressions of gonadal hormones, especially estradiol. There is an unprotective correlation of serum estradiol with lipid metabolism index and bone metabolism index in female centenarians, so it is necessary to evaluate the estrogen content and the use of estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Centenarians ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Ethnicity ; Female ; Humans ; Minority Groups ; Testosterone

AIM: To investigate the central corneal thickness(CCT)distribution of the children with ametropia in the non-contact tonometry(NCT), and the different intraocular pressure(IOP)measurements with Goldmann applanation tonometry(GAT)and the OCULUS Corvis ST(CST)corneal biomechanical analyzer, meanwhile, to evaluate the correlation between IOP and CCT.

METHODS: NCT was used to measure 39 children(78 eyes)of non-glaucomatous ametropia with single eye or binocular IOP higher than 21 mmHg. The IOP was measured again with CST and GAT. The two instruments were measured in random order and the CCT was measured by CST and corrected the IOP according to the CCT. The eyes were divided into the normal group and the thicker group according to the CCT. The three IOP values were analyzed by the ANOVA, and the IOP and CCT was analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS: In the normal CCT group, the IOP by CST was lower than that the GAT and NCT measurements and the difference was statistically significant(F=5.12, P=0.01). In the thicker group, the comparison of the three intraocular pressure measurement methods was statistically significant(F=15.72, P<0.001). IOP by NCT and GAT were significantly correlated with CCT(r_NCT=0.298, P_NCT=0.04; r_GAT=0.408, P_GAT=0.01). There was no significant correlation between CST corrected intraocular pressure and CCT(r_CST=0.062, P_CST=0.593).

CONCLUSION: The CCT of ametropia children with high IOP by Topcon tonometry were thicker. The corrected intraocular pressure of CST is lower than NCT and GAT. NCT and GAT were positively correlated with CCT. For children with thicker CCT, CST corrects intraocular pressure was closer to the real intraocular pressure value than NCT and GAT.

Objective To explore the clinical features of critical cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods The clinical data of nine patients who were diagnosed with critical COVID-19 in Hainan General Hospital from January 21, 2020 to February 6, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. RT-PCR testing for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was performed with multi-sites synchronize specimens including pharyngeal swab, blood, excrement, and urine. The serum levels of leucocyte, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and lactic acid between the improved group (five cases) and the deteriorated group (four cases) were compared. The t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups. Results There were eight males (88.9%) and 1 female enrolled. The patients aged 28-77 years old, with an age of (52.9±18.0) years. By March 4, 2020, all five cases in improved group were cured and discharged, three cases in deteriorated group died and 1case remained in critical condition. All multi-sites specimens of patients in improved group turned negative in 2-4 weeks of illness onset, while those of cases in deteriorated group showed sustained viral nucleic acid positive (up to 48th day of illness onset). The white blood cell counts ((13.52±8.24)×10 9 /L vs (10.49±4.46) ×10 9 /L), C-reactive protein ((139.71±87.46) mg/L vs (78.60±55.40) mg/L) and procalcitonin ((2.32±4.03) ng/mL vs (0.28±0.58) ng/mL) , lactic acid ((3.70±4.14) mmol/L vs (2.33±0.53) mmol/L) in deteriorated group were all significantly higher than those in improved group ( t =2.908, 5.009, 4.391 and 2.942, respectively, all P <0.01). A rapid rise of serum IL-6 level up to 8 500 pg/mL was observed in one patient three days prior to death. Conclusion Among the patients with critical COVID-19, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines of the death cases are higher than those of improved and discharged cases.

Organ transplantation is the most effective treatment for various types of end-stage diseases. To resolve the problem of donor shortage in organ transplantation, the possibility of xenotransplantation has been gradually explored by surgeons. Pig is one of the common donor sources for xenotransplantation. As a bridge between two species, the viruses carried by pig organs may be transmitted between species and cause the risk of zoonosis. Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) is integrated into the genome, which is a category of retrovirus featuring cross-species transmission. In this article, the influencing factors of transmission characteristics of PERV, the transmission risk of PERV and its recombinant virus, and the detection and transmission risk assessment of PERV in xenotransplantation test were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for alleviating severe shortage of donor organs and driving the advancement of xenotransplantation technologies.

AIM: To evaluate macular light sensitivity and fixation stability in anisometropic amblyopia by microperimetry.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 39 children(39 eyes with amblyopia and 39 fellow eyes)who were initially diagnosed with monocular anisometropic amblyopia between July 2020 and January 2022 and 42 patients with normal best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)but suffered from improper refraction were selected, and the right eyes were selected as control group. Microperimetry(MP-3)was used to measure the average threshold(AT)of macular light sensitivity at 10°and fixation stability [including the percentage of fixation points within 2° and 4°(P1, P2), bivariate contour ellipse area(BCEA)for 68.2%, 95.4% and 99.6% of points] in amblyopic eyes, fellow eyes and normal control group. The AT and fixation stability of amblyopic eyes, fellow eyes and normal control group were compared.RESULTS: Children with amblyopia had significantly lower AT than fellow eyes and right eyes of normal control group(all P<0.017), and there were no differences in the macular light sensitivity of both fellow eyes and normal control group(P=0.555). The P1 was significantly lower in amblyopic eyes than in fellow eyes and normal control eyes(all P<0.017), and there were no differences in P1 between fellow eyes and normal control group(P=0.887).There were no differences in P2, 68.2%BCEA, 95.4%BCEA and 99.6%BCEA in patients among the three groups(all P>0.05). Moreover, there was no correlation between BCVA and AT, P1, P2, 68.2%BCEA, 95.4%BCEA and 99.6%BCEA in amblyopic eyes, fellow eyes and normal control eyes(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: The macular light sensitivity and fixation stability within 2° may be decreased in eyes with anisometropic amblyopia.