<b>OBJECTIVEb>To study the expression of bone matrix protein (BMP) induced by bovine bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in vitro.

<b>METHODSb>Type I collagen, osteopontin (OPN), osteonectin (ON), osteocalcin (OC), and bone sialoprotein (BSP) were detected by immunohistochemistry in C2C12 cultured from day 1 to day 28.

<b>RESULTSb>The signaling of bone matrix protein expression became weaker except for type I collagen, OC and BSP after 5 days. Fourteen days after culture, the positive signaling of type I collagen, OPN, ON, OC, and BSP was gradually declined, and could be detected significantly as compared with that of the negative control on day 28. BMP assay showed that the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was higher in C2C12 culture than in the control during the 14-day culture. Also, total protein and DNA significantly increased during the 14-day culture. High levels of ALP were seen in preosteoblasts and osteoblasts in vivo and in differentiating osteoblasts in vitro. ALP was well recognized as a marker reflecting osteoblastic activity.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>Native bovine BMP induces conversion of myoblasts into osteoblasts, produces type I collagen, and plays significantly role in osteoinduction and bone matrix mineralization of C2C12 in vitro.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Matrix ; metabolism ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; Cell Line ; DNA ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; physiology ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism

To understand the mutational characteristics of ATP7B gene of hepatolenticular degeneration in Xinjiang region. 24 cases were diagnosed as hepatolenticular degeneration and the exon of ATP7B gene was detected in some of their siblings and parents. A total of 45 ATP7B gene mutations (93.75%) were detected in 24 cases, of which 14 cases were homozygous mutations or compound heterozygous mutations, six cases were heterozygous mutations and four cases were no mutations. A total of 24 gene mutations and 14 SNPS were detected, including 8 new mutations: c.251C > A, c.121A > c, c.2945C > A, c.2194C > T, c.2947T > c, c.3626T > A, c.3662_3664del, c.3557G > T. The most common mutations were c.2621C > T (p.A874V) [16.7% (4/24)] and c.2333G > T (p.R778L) [12.5% ​​(3/24)]. A total of 4 cases were diagnosed as pre-symptomatic. In this study, the most common mutation in the ATP7B gene is A874V. The most common genetic mutations in Han and Uyghur patients were different. The most common mutation in Han and Uyghur patients is R778L and A874V. Exon 11 is the gene mutations hot spot for patients with hepatolenticular degeneration in Xinjiang region, and is one of the priority exons to be detected when screening patients with suspected hepatolenticular degeneration.

Background/Aims: Gastroparesis is identified as a subject that is understudied in Asia. The scientific committee of the Asian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association performed a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices survey on gastroparesis among doctors in Asia. Methods: The questionnaire was created and developed through a literature review of current gastroparesis works of literature by the scientific committee of Asian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association. Results: A total of 490 doctors from across Asia (including Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam) participated in the survey. Gastroparesis is a significant gastrointestinal condition. However, a substantial proportion of respondents was unable to give the correct definition and accurate diagnostic test. The main reason for lack of interest in diagnosing gastroparesis was “the lack of reliable diagnostic tests” (46.8%) or “a lack of effective treatment” (41.5%). Only 41.7% of respondents had access to gastric emptying scintigraphy. Most doctors had never diagnosed gastroparesis at all (25.2%) or diagnosed fewer than 5 patients a year (52.1%). Conclusions Gastroparesis can be challenging to diagnose due to the lack of instrument, standardized method, and paucity of research data on normative value, risk factors, and treatment studies in Asian patients. Future strategies should concentrate on how to disseminate the latest knowledge of gastroparesis in Asia. In particular, there is an urgent need to estimate the magnitude of the problems in high risk and idiopathic patients as well as a standardized diagnostic procedure in Asia.

<b>Objective:b> To estimate the health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) of adults in Zhejiang province and evaluate the health status of the adults. <b>Methods:b> This study was based on the mortality data collected from Zhejiang Chronic Disease Surveillance Information and Management System, and mortality rates from the underreporting survey and self-reported health data in 2016. Hierarchical Ordered Probit (HOPIT) model was used to estimate the severity-weighted prevalence of disability. Sullivan's method was used to calculate the HALE. <b>Results:b> After adjustment by HOPIT model, the severity-weighted prevalence of disability increased significantly with age (χ(2)=5 795.81,P<0.001), and it was higher in females than in males (χ(2)=5 353.27, P<0.001). The life expectancy and self-evaluated HALE were 59.08 years and 48.68 years, respectively, in those aged ≥20 years, the difference was 10.40 years due to disability. The proportion of HALE loss due to disability in the total life expectancy was 17.61%, and it increased with age. HALE was higher in males than in females (49.21 years vs. 48.14 years), and in urban residents than in rural residents (49.92 years vs. 47.43 years). <b>Conclusion:b> The proportion of loss of HALE in the total life expectancy in adults was high in Zhejiang, and it higher in males than in females, in urban residents than rural residents. Programs on improving health care in women and rural residents should be promoted.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Chronic Disease/epidemiology* ; Disabled Persons/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Life Expectancy/ethnology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sex Distribution

<b>Objective:b> To explore the relationship between different dimensions of infectious disease-specific health literacy scale in China. <b>Methods:b> Structural equation model (SEM) was employed to assess the psychometric properties of the infectious disease-specific health literacy scale. Based on the database from a randomly selected sample of 4 499 adult residents in three provinces in China, from March to May 2015. AMOS 21.0 software was used to build the SEM for data analyses. <b>Results:b> SEM analyses showed a good model fit of data, with the following satisfied parameters: goodness-of-fit index was 0.969, adjusted goodness-of-fit index was 0.962, root mean square residual was 0.038, root mean square error of approximation was 0.038, standardized root mean square residual was 0.032, Tacker-Lewis index/non-normed fit index was 0.926, comparative fit index was 0.934, normed fit index was 0.925, relative fit index was 0.915, incremental fit index was 0.934, parsimony goodness-of-fit index was 0.782, parsimony-adjusted normed fit index was 0.817, parsimony-adjusted comparative fit index was 0.825 and critical N was 702. The established SEM showed that the total influence path coefficient of "infectious disease-related knowledge and values" on the "infectious disease prevention" , "management or treatment of infectious diseases" and "identification of infection sources" were 0.771, 0.744 and 0.843, respectively. The total influence path coefficients of "identification of infection sources" , "infectious disease prevention" on "management or treatment of infectious diseases" were 0.164 and 0.535, respectively. The effect of "infectious disease-related knowledge and values" on "management or treatment of infectious diseases" appeared the greatest (55.4%), followed by "infectious disease prevention" (28.6%) and "identification of infection sources" (2.7%). <b>Conclusion:b> This SEM could be optimistically used for planning and evaluation of health education and promotion programs on infectious diseases prevention.
Adult ; China ; Health Literacy ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Psychometrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective:b> To explore the difference in intensive care unit (ICU) readmission rate between high dependency unit (HDU) and general ward for the patients with severe liver disease (SLD), and reflect the effect of HDU on SLD patientse. Methods:b> A clinical cohort of patients transferred out of ICU was established, and patients with severe liver disease who were transferred to HDU& general ward from July 2017 to December 2021 in the intensive care Unit of the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital were continuously enrolled. The main liver function indexes and MELD scores between the two groups were compared. Analyze the differences in severity and ICU readmission rate of SLD patients transferred to different wards, and clarify the role of HDU in the management of SLD patient. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) was used to investigate the value of MELD score in predicting the occurrence of return to ICU. Results:b> The level of INR, TB, ALT and MELD scores of SLD patients transferred to HDU were significantly higher than those of patients transferred to general ward (all P < 0.05). MELD > 17 was found in 70.7% of SLD patients transferred to HDU group, while MELD ≤ 17 was found in 61.9% of SLD patients in general ward group. The ICU readmission rate of all patients in this cohort was 11.4%. By MELD quartile stratification, patients with SLD whose MELD > 23 had a significantly higher ICU readmission rate (20.0%) than those with SLD whose MELD ≤ 23 (8.6%) (P = 0.020). The ICU readmission rate was 8.2% when MELD ≤ 23 in the HDU group and 9.1% when MELD > 23, showing no significant difference (P = 1.000). The ICU readmission rate was 8.8% when MELD ≤ 23 in the general ward group. ICU reentry rate increased significantly to 36.4% when MELD > 23 (P = 0.001). MELD Score predicts that the optimal cut-off value of SLD patients in general ward readmitted to ICU was 23.5. Conclusion:b> The high dependency unit could better admit patients with SLD who were transferred out of ICU and required step-down treatment, and significantly reduced the ICU readmission rate of patients with SLD who were transferred out of ICU with MELD > 23. The patients with SLD and MELD score > 23 are suitable to be transferred from ICU to HDU.

<b>Objective:b> To explore the survival factors and construct a prognostic index (PI) for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). <b>Methods:b> From January 2004 to June 2016, a total of 634 patients with pathologically confirmed OSCC were recruited in a hospital of Fujian. The clinical and follow-up data of all the patients with pathologically confirmed OSCC were collected to identify the factors influencing the prognosis of OSCC. All the patients were randomly divided into two groups: modeling group (modeling dataset, n=318) and validation group (validation dataset, n=316). Randomization was carried out by using computer-generated random numbers. In the modeling dataset, survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Cox regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of prognosis factors. An PI for OSCC patients prognostic prediction model was developed based on β value of each significant variable obtained from the multivariate Cox regression model. Using the tertile analysis, patients were divided into high-risk group, moderate-risk group, and low-risk group according to the PI, the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Harrell's c-statistic (C index) were used to evaluated the model's predictability. <b>Results:b> Results from the multivariate Cox regression model indicated that aged ≥55 years (HR=2.22, 95%CI: 1.45-3.39), poor oral hygiene (HR=2.12, 95%CI: 1.27-3.54), first diagnosis of lymph node metastasis (HR=5.78, 95%CI: 3.60-9.27), TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ (stage Ⅰ as reference) (HR=2.43, 95%CI: 1.10-5.37) and poor differentiation (well differentiation as reference) (HR=2.53, 95%CI: 1.60-4.01) were the risk factors influencing the prognosis of OSCC. The PI model had a high predictability in modeling group and validation group (AIC and C index were 1 205.80, 0.700 2 and 1 150.47, 0.737 3). <b>Conclusion:b> Age, poor oral hygiene, first diagnosis of lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and histological grade were factors associated with the prognosis of OSCC, and the PI model has a certain significance in the clinical treatment of OSCC.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy* ; China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms/therapy* ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Humans ; Lung ; Pneumoconiosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

<b>Objective:b> To describe the genetic structure of populations in different areas of China, and explore the effects of different strategies to control the confounding factors of the genetic structure in cohort studies. <b>Methods:b> By using the genome-wide association study (GWAS) on data of 4 500 samples from 10 areas of the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB), we performed principal components analysis to extract the first and second principal components of the samples for the component two-dimensional diagram generation, and then compared them with the source of sample area to analyze the characteristics of genetic structure of the samples from different areas of China. Based on the CKB cohort data, a simulation data set with cluster sample characteristics such as genetic structure differences and extensive kinship was generated; and the effects of different analysis strategies including traditional analysis scheme and mixed linear model on the inflation factor (λ) were evaluated. <b>Results:b> There were significant genetic structure differences in different areas of China. Distribution of the principal components of the population genetic structure was basically consistent with the geographical distribution of the project area. The first principal component corresponds to the latitude of different areas, and the second principal component corresponds to the longitude of different areas. The generated simulation data showed high false positive rate (λ=1.16), even if the principal components of the genetic structure was adjusted or the area specific subgroup analysis was performed, λ could not be effectively controlled (λ>1.05); while, by using a mixed linear model adjusting for the kinship matrix, λ was effectively controlled regardless of whether the genetic structure principal component was further adjusted (λ=0.99). <b>Conclusions:b> There were large differences in genetic structure among populations in different areas of China. In molecular epidemiology studies, bias caused by population genetic structure needs to be carefully treated. For large cohort data with complex genetic structure and extensive kinship, it is necessary to use a mixed linear model for association analysis.
China ; Genetic Structures ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Principal Component Analysis

<b>Objective:b> To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality in hypertensive population. <b>Methods:b> All participants were selected from a prospective cohort study based on a rural population from Henan province, China. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the associations of different levels of BMI stratification with all-cause mortality. Restricted cubic spline models were used to detect the dose-response relation. <b>Results:b> Among the 5 461 hypertensive patients, a total of 31 048.38 person-years follow-up was conducted. The median of follow-up time was 6 years, and 589 deaths occurred during the follow-up period. Compared to normal weight group (18.5 kg/m(2)%CI: 0.37-1.87), 0.81 (95%CI: 0.67-0.97), and 0.72 (95%CI: 0.56-0.91), respectively. The dose-response analysis showed a nonlinear, reverse "S" shaped relationship (non-linearity P<0.001). <b>Conclusion:b> Overweight or obese might have a protective effect on all-cause mortality in hypertensive population, which supports the "obesity paradox" phenomenon.
Adult ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Body Mass Index ; Cause of Death ; China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Hypertension/mortality* ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult