Background Existing studies suggest that cadmium exposure is associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the current epidemiological evidence is inconsistent. Objective To systematically evaluate the relationship between cadmium exposure and CVD through meta-analysis. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and SinoMed databases to collect observational studies on the relationship between cadmium exposure and CVD in human population published until July 30, 2024. On the basis of following predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the retrieved literature was systematically screened, and the basic information of the included research was extracted, including basic participant information, research outcomes, and data results. This study used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and a cross-sectional study evaluation protocol (11 items) recommended by the Quality of Health Care and Research Institutions of the United States for literature quality evaluation. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and assessment of publication bias of the data were conducted using Stata16.0 software. Result A total of 15 studies (18 datasets) were included, and the quality of all the studies was graded as medium or above. Among them, there were 10593 cases of CVD and 86801 controls. The results of meta-analysis showed that the standard mean difference (SMD) of the CVD case group was 0.44 and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was (0.30, 0.58), and the cadmium exposure level of the CVD case group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The subgroup analysis showed that the cadmium exposure levels in the CVD patients from the Americas (SMD=0.46, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.63) and Europe (SMD=0.14, 95%CI: 0.09, 0.19) were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The cadmium levels in blood (SMD=0.52, 95%CI: 0.31, 0.73) and urine (SMD=0.34, 95%CI: 0.16, 0.52) in the CVD case group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). In those cross-sectional studies (SMD=0.34, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.46), the cadmium exposure level in the CVD patients was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The sensitivity analysis showed robust meta-analysis results and the assessment of publication bias also showed no publication bias. Conclusion Cadmium exposure may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease after multiple studies were combined by meta analysis, suggesting that the scope and level of cadmium exposure in the population should be further controlled.

BACKGROUND:As a bone replacement and filling material,calcium phosphate stone bone cement has good biocompatibility,bone conductivity,and other advantages,especially its better biodegradability compared to other calcium phosphate bone cements.It has important application value in bone repair.However,due to its limitations such as insufficient mechanical properties,fast solidification reaction,and poor injection performance,it is currently only suitable for the repair of non weight-bearing bone. OBJECTIVE:To explore the modification of brushite cements with bioactive ions(metal and non metal ions)to expand its application range. METHODS:The author used PubMed,ScienceDirect,CNKI,and WanFang to search the literature published between 2018 and 2023 with the search terms"metal ion,iron,copper,strontium,magnesium,zinc,non-metal ion,modification,bone,brushite cements"in Chinese and"metal ion,iron,Fe,copper,Cu,strontium,Sr,magnesium,Mg,zinc,Zn,non-metal ion,modification,bone,brushite cements"in English.After reading titles and abstracts,the articles were initially screened,and irrelevant and duplicate articles were excluded.Finally,64 articles were included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Bioactive ions affect the hydration process of calcium phosphate bone cement.Different ions are substituted by ions and incorporated into the crystal structure of calcium phosphate bone cement,changing the crystal morphology of the cement and causing changes in physical and chemical properties such as setting time,injectability,and compressive strength.(2)Ionic modified calcium phosphate bone cement produces different ion release effects due to different crystal structures.Different types of ions have properties such as promoting angiogenesis/osteogenesis,antibacterial,anti-tumor,etc.In addition,calcium phosphate bone cement has good biodegradability,which has great advantages for the performance of various ions.(3)The physicochemical properties of calcium phosphate bone cement modified with different ions are as follows:iron,copper,strontium,magnesium,zinc,silver,and cobalt can prolong the setting time.Strontium,and magnesium can improve injection performance.Copper,strontium,magnesium,silver and silicon can enhance compressive strength.The ions that can simultaneously improve the three physical and chemical properties of calcium phosphate bone cement include strontium and magnesium.Good physical and chemical properties are a prerequisite for clinical application,so improving the setting time,injectability,compressive strength,and other properties of calcium phosphate bone cement with ions is of great significance for the research and application of bone cement.(4)The biological properties of calcium phosphate bone cement modified with different ions are as follows:copper,strontium,magnesium,zinc,cobalt,lithium,selenium,and silicon have promoting angiogenesis/osteogenic effects.Iron,copper,magnesium,zinc,and silver have antibacterial properties.Magnesium ions have anti-inflammatory properties.Copper and selenium have anti-tumor properties.(5)In summary,magnesium ions can improve the setting time,injectability,and compressive strength of calcium phosphate bone cement,while also promoting neovascularization/osteogenesis,antibacterial properties,and have good application prospects for the treatment of bone defects with concurrent infections.In addition,copper also has anti-tumor properties,so copper ions have great potential in the treatment of bone defects caused by infections and tumors.However,relevant research is still in the basic research stage,and the effects of different ion doping concentrations and synthesis conditions on the physicochemical properties of calcium phosphate bone cement need to be further explored.At the same time,the impact of biological properties also needs to be studied and observed for a longer period of time.

Objective:To compare the quality of sleep and rehabilitation after routine surgery versus day surgery in pediatric patients with snoring.Methods:This was a prospective study.Seventy pediatric patients with snoring, aged 4-6 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ, undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy in the Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from March to June 2023, were divided into routine surgery group (group R) and day surgery group (group D), with 35 cases in each group. A sleep-detecting bracelet was used to monitor the sleep status. The proportion of deep sleep, light sleep and rapid eye movement, sleep continuity score and the maximum and minimum heart rate were recorded on the night before surgery, the first and second night after surgery. Rehabilitation was assessed using Quality of Recovery-15 at 1 day before surgery and 24 and 48 h and 28 days after surgery.Results:Compared with group R, the maximum heart rate at the night before surgery was significantly decreased, the proportion of light sleep on the second night after surgery was increased, the proportion of rapid eye movement sleep on the second night after surgery was decreased, the scores for items on " getting support from hospital doctors and nurses", " feeling comfortable and in control", and " having a feeling of general well-being" and the total score of Quality of Recovery-15 were significantly decreased at 24 and 48 h after operation, and the score for items on " feeling rested" and " have had a good sleep" at 48 h after surgery was decreased in group D ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Pediatric patients with snoring have poor quality of early sleep and rehabilitation after day surgery compared with routine surgery.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy of Huanglian Jiedutang as an adjunctive treatment for acute cerebral infarction complicated with gastric motility disorder. MethodSixty patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with gastric motility disorder with fire toxin syndrome were randomly divided into a western medicine control group （control group） and a traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） combined treatment group （observation group）， with 30 cases in each group. The control group received basic treatment for cerebral infarction and relevant western medical symptomatic treatment based on the patients' gastrointestinal symptoms. The observation group received Huanglian Jiedutang in addition to the treatment provided to the control group. The treatment course was 7 days. Neurological deficit scores and gastrointestinal dysfunction scores were assessed in both groups before treatment and on the 4^th and 7^th days of treatment. Gastrointestinal electrographic parameters， serum citrulline （CIT）， and motilin （MTL） levels were measured in both groups before treatment and on the 7^th day of treatment. Clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. ResultCompared with the baseline in both groups， the neurological deficit scores and gastrointestinal dysfunction scores were significantly reduced on the 4th and 7^th days of treatment （P<0.05）. The reductions in these scores were more significant on the 7^th day compared with those on the 4^th day of treatment （P<0.05）. On the 4^th and 7^th days of treatment， the observation group showed a significantly greater reduction in neurological deficit scores and gastrointestinal dysfunction scores compared with the control group （P<0.05）. On the 7th day of treatment， compared with the baseline， both groups showed a significant increase in gastric antral and gastric body electric wave amplitudes as well as serum CIT and MTL levels （P<0.05）， and there were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of gastric antral and gastric body electric waves. On the 7th day of treatment， compared with the control group， the observation group had a significant increase in gastric antral and gastric body electric wave amplitudes as well as serum CIT and MTL levels （P<0.05）， and there were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of gastric antral and gastric body electric waves. After 7 days of treatment， the total effective rate in the observation group was 90.00% （27/30）， higher than 76.67% （23/30） in the control group， but the difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionAdjunctive treatment with Huanglian Jiedutang can effectively improve the symptoms of neurological function impairment and gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with gastric motility disorder， increase gastric antral and gastric body electric wave amplitudes， improve gastric motility disorder， and increase serum CIT and MTL levels， thereby improving the imbalanced secretion function of the gastrointestinal tract.

Objective To explore the possibility of β-lactoglobulin(BLG)as carrier of tamoxifen.Methods The binding mechanism of BLG and tamoxifen was studied by spectroscopic technique.Results Tamoxifen would lead to the fluorescence quenching of BLG,and its Kq value was much higher than the maximal Kq value of the dynamic quenching constant[(2.0 × 1010 mol/(L·s)].The quench-ing constant values were different under different pH values,and the values of thermodynamic parame-ters △H and △S were greater than 0.BLG can be combined with tamoxifen to form BLG-tamoxifen complex,and the endothermic process took hydrophobic force as the main force.Tamoxifen and BLG had different binding patterns under acidic and alkaline conditions,which mainly depended on the opening and closing state of the EF ring of BLG.Conclusion BLG has the ability to bind tamoxifen,which shows the potential value of BLG as a carrier of insoluble drugs.

Objective To explore the possibility of β-lactoglobulin(BLG)as carrier of tamoxifen.Methods The binding mechanism of BLG and tamoxifen was studied by spectroscopic technique.Results Tamoxifen would lead to the fluorescence quenching of BLG,and its Kq value was much higher than the maximal Kq value of the dynamic quenching constant[(2.0 × 1010 mol/(L·s)].The quench-ing constant values were different under different pH values,and the values of thermodynamic parame-ters △H and △S were greater than 0.BLG can be combined with tamoxifen to form BLG-tamoxifen complex,and the endothermic process took hydrophobic force as the main force.Tamoxifen and BLG had different binding patterns under acidic and alkaline conditions,which mainly depended on the opening and closing state of the EF ring of BLG.Conclusion BLG has the ability to bind tamoxifen,which shows the potential value of BLG as a carrier of insoluble drugs.

The widespread application of next generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical settings has enabled testing, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of genetic diseases. However, many issues have arisen in the meanwhile. One of the most pressing issues is the lack of standards for reporting genetic test results across different service providers. The First Forum on Standards and Specifications for Clinical Genetic Testing was held to address the issue in Shenzhen, China, on October 28, 2017. Participants, including geneticists, clinicians, and representatives of genetic testing service providers, discussed problems of clinical genetic testing services across in China and shared opinions on principles, challenges, and standards for reporting clinical genetic test results. Here we summarize expert opinions presented at the seminar and report the consensus, which will serve as a basis for the development of standards and guidelines for reporting of clinical genetic testing results, in order to promote the standardization and regulation of genetic testing services in China.

Objective To investigate the effects of triptolide (T10) on biological activity of sciatic nerve in cold preservation and nerve regeneration after allogeneic transplantation. Methods Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to test the proliferation of SCs in logarithmic phase in 1×10-6 mol/L, 1×10-7 mol/L, 1×10-8 mol/L and 1×10-9 mol/L of T10 solution. The sciatic nerves from Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated in 0 mol/L, 1×10-6 mol/L, 1×10-7 mol/L, 1×10-8 mol/L and 1×10-9 mol/L of T10 solution at 4 ℃ or 37 ℃ for 24 hours (n = 6). The expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was detected with Western blotting. Other sciatic nerve fragments were randomly divided into fresh nerve group (group A, n = 30), DMEM preservation group (group B, n = 30), T10 preservation group (group C, n = 30), T10 pretreatment DMEM preservation group (group D, n = 30) and T10 pretreatment T10 preservation (group E, n = 30), and were stored under 4 ℃ for four weeks. Calcein-AM/PI double staining laser confocal microscope and flow cytometry were used to detect the living cells and dead cells. The expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I, MHC-II and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was detected with Western blotting. The corresponding sciatic nerves were used to repaire 10 mm defects in Wistar rats (named groups A', B', C', D' and E'), and fresh sciatic nerve from Wistar rats were also used to do it (group F'). Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were tested 16 weeks after transplantation, and then the grafts were observed for the nerve regeneration. Results SCs proliferated as the controls in the T10 solution with a concentration of 1×10-9 to 1×10-7 mol/L (P > 0.05). The expression of all the neurotrophic factors was more under 37 ℃ than under 4 ℃ in all the concentrations of T10 solution, and it was the most in the concentration of 1×10-8 mol/L whenever under 37 ℃ or 4 ℃ (P < 0.05). After four weeks of cold preservation, compared with groups B, C and D, the living nerve cells were the most in group E, and the expression of MHC-I, MHC-II and ICAM-1 was the least (P < 0.05). CMAP, MNCV and the never regeneration were better in group E' than in groups A', B', C' and D' (P < 0.05). A large number of myelinated nerve fibers were observed in groups E' and F', uniformity in size, wide distribution, and with myelin sheath, compared with those in groups A', B', C' and D'. Conclusion A certain concentration of T10 can induce the sciatic nerve of rats to express neurotrophic factor in vitro, which can improve the biological activity of cold preservation nerves, reduce the immunogenicity, and promote the regeneration of recipient nerve after allogeneic transplantation. It is even better to be pretreated with T10 before cold preservation.

Neuroplastin 65 (Np65) is an immunoglobulin superfamily cell adhesion molecule involved in synaptic formation and plasticity. Our recent study showed that Np65-knockout (KO) mice exhibit abnormal cognition and emotional disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found 588 differentially-expressed genes in Np65-KO mice by microarray analysis. RT-PCR analysis also revealed the altered expression of genes associated with development and synaptic structure, such as Cdh1, Htr3a, and Kcnj9. In addition, the expression of Wnt-3, a Wnt protein involved in development, was decreased in Np65-KO mice as evidenced by western blotting. Surprisingly, MRI and DAPI staining showed a significant reduction in the lateral ventricular volume of Np65-KO mice. Together, these findings suggest that ablation of Np65 influences gene expression, which may contribute to abnormal brain development. These results provide clues to the mechanisms underlying the altered brain functions of Np65-deficient mice.
Affective Symptoms ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cognition Disorders ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; deficiency ; genetics ; physiology ; Mice, Knockout ; Microarray Analysis ; Organ Size ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Wnt3 Protein ; metabolism

Sympathetic arborizations act as the essential efferent signals in regulating the metabolism of peripheral organs including white adipose tissues (WAT). However, whether these local neural structures would be of plastic nature, and how such plasticity might participate in specific metabolic events of WAT, remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, we exploit the new volume fluorescence-imaging technique to observe the significant, and also reversible, plasticity of intra-adipose sympathetic arborizations in mouse inguinal WAT in response to cold challenge. We demonstrate that this sympathetic plasticity depends on the cold-elicited signal of nerve growth factor (NGF) and TrkA receptor. Blockage of NGF or TrkA signaling suppresses intra-adipose sympathetic plasticity, and moreover, the cold-induced beiging process of WAT. Furthermore, we show that NGF expression in WAT depends on the catecholamine signal in cold challenge. We therefore reveal the key physiological relevance, together with the regulatory mechanism, of intra-adipose sympathetic plasticity in the WAT metabolism.
Adipose Tissue, Beige ; cytology ; diagnostic imaging ; innervation ; metabolism ; Animals ; Catecholamines ; metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Mice ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Receptor, trkA ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; physiology