Objective To examine the association between the polymorphisms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)gene with heroin dependence.Methods Genomic DNA was isolated from the venous blood leukocytes of 308 unrelated patients with heroin dependence and 31 7 healthy individuals.Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)were genotyped using MassARRAY system.Data were analyzed using HaploView 4.0 and SPSS 20.0 software.Results There was a significant difference in the genotype frequency of rs6265 between heroin dependence group and healthy control group (χ2 =1 5.1 5 1,P =0.001).The rs6265 G allele was significantly higher than in controls (χ2 =9.864,P =0.002,OR =1.429,95% CI =1.143 -1.786).Furthermore,there was also a significant difference in the genotype frequency of rs13306221 between heroin dependence group and control group (χ2 =7.699,P =0.006).The rs13306221 G allele was significantly higher than in controls (χ2 =7.137,P =0.008,OR =0.539,95% CI =0.340-0.853).Strong linkage disequilibrium (LD)was observed in one block (D’> 0.9;r 2 >0.8),and significantly less G-G haplotype frequency of block 1 (χ2 =4.546;P =0.033)was found in heroin dependence group. Conclusion Our findings support the role of BDNF rs6265 and rs13306221 polymorphisms in heroin dependence and may guide future studies to identify other genetic risk factors for heroin dependence.

Objective To investigate the causes of abnormal decrease in maximum amplitude(MA)of thromboelastog-raphy(TEG)and its effect on prognosis by monitoring the changes of coagulation-related indexes in emergency trauma pa-tients.Methods A total of 319 cases of trauma patients admitted to our hospital from September 2020 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,and the coagulation-related indexes of 0 h and 24 h after admission were observed.According to the MA results,they were divided into normal MA group(>50 mm)and reduced MA group(≤50 mm)to compare the hemoglobin(Hb),platelets count(Plt),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),prothrombin time(PT),fibrinogen(Fib),thrombin time(TT),D-dimer(D-D),coagulation reaction time(R),clot formation kinetics(Angle),30 min clot dissolution rate(Ly30),MA,thrombine-antithrombin complex(TAT)and plasminase-α2 plasminase inhibitor complex(PIC).The correlation between MA and fibrinolysis indexes in 319 trauma patients was analyzed.According to whether tranexamic acid(TXA)was used,the reduced MA group was divided into a TXA group and a non-drug group.The differ-ences in the change of the above coagulation-related indexes,mortality rate and changes in blood product dosage were com-pared between the two groups.Results Compared with the normal MA group,Hb,Plt,Fib,diastolic blood pressure and GCS scores decreased,while heart rate,ISS score and mortality increased significantly in the reduced MA group(P<0.05).The R,PT and TT were prolonged significantly(P<0.05),and PIC and D-D increased significantly(P<0.05)in the re-duced MA group.Correlation analysis found that MA had no correlation with Ly30,TAT and APTT,but was correlated with Angle(r=0.803),Plt(r=0.544),Fib(r=0.581),PIC(r=-0.443)and D-D(r=-0.343).Compared with the non-drug group,the change of Angle,MA and FIB in the TXA group increased significantly(P<0.05),while the change of PIC de-creased(P<0.05).Cryoprecipitate and platelet transfusion in the TXA group reduced significantly(P<0.05),and red blood cell transfusion had a decreasing trend,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05).The mortality rate in the TXA group was reduced significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion Hyperfibrinolysis may be an important factor in the abnormal decrease of MA in emergency trauma patients.Treatment with TXA can improve its effect on MA,and reduce the transfusion of blood products and the patient mortality.

Objective:Facial artery is the main blood supply source of facial soft tissue, which has an important influence on facial plastic surgery and injection procedures. There are many types of facial arteries. They have wide coverage, and travel several layers. In this study, the detailed characteristics of the facial arteries were revealed by cadaver dissection.Methods:In 19 donated fresh cranial (28 sides) specimens, the facial arteries were dissected. And then the type, layer, relationship with nasolabial groove, length, diameter, distance from the oral commissure, branches and submental artery were observed and measured.Results:Facial arteries were found in all cadavers, starting from the external carotid arteries, branching submental arteries below the mandibular margins, ascending to the anterior edge of the masseter muscles, crossing the mandibles and entering the faces. After entering into the faces, the facial arteries branched the submental arteries(100%, 28/28), lower labial arteries (100%, 28/28), upper labial arteries (100%, 28/28), lateral nasal arteries (92.9%, 26/28) and the angular arteries (57.2%, 16/28) throughout the courses. According to the vascular route, the facial artery was classified into four types. In TypesⅠ(8 sides), all branches were included and the angular arteries arose directly from the lower segment of the facial arteries (28.6%). In TypesⅡ(8 sides), all branches were included and the angular arteries were the terminal branches (28.6%). In TypesⅢ(10 sides), angular arteries were absent (35.7%). In Type Ⅳ (2 sides), angular arteries and lateral nasal arteries were absent (7.1%). The lower segment of facial artery coursed under the facial expression muscles, and continued to the middle segment at the point which was (26.0±5.0) mm away from the oral commissure on the lateral side. The layer that the facial artery coursed was varied. It passed through the superficial layer of the facial expression muscles. After passing the horizontal line parallel to the lower margin of nasal sill, the upper segment continued to on the superficial layer of the facial expression muscles. The facial arteries were mostly located medial to the nasolabial fold(24 sides, 85.7%) and occasionally across the nasolabial fold(4 sides, 14.3%). The lengths of the upper, middle and lower segments of facial artery were (26.4±10.9) mm, (29.7±8.4) mm, and(33.5±6.9) mm, respectively. The diameters in starting point of upper, middle and lower sections were(2.45±0.48) mm, (1.85±0.12) mm, and (1.09±0.21) mm, respectively. The facial artery passed lateral to the oral commissure and the distance from the intersection of the horizontal line to the oral commissure was (26.0±5.0) mm. The starting point of the superior labial artery locacted below the horizontal line was (8.0±1.4)mm away from the horizontal line of the oral commissure and(55.0±5.2) mm from the mandibular angle. The starting point of the inferior labial artery located below the horizontal line was (17.1±11.1) mm from the horizontal line of the oral commissure, and the distance from the mandibular angle was (44.2±5.2) mm. The diameter of the submental artery in its starting point was (1.4±0.1) mm. The distance from the starting point of the submental artery to the horizontal line of the oral commissure was (34.9±2.6) mm, and the distance from the mandibular angle was (29.4±5.8) mm. The starting point of the submental artery was (6.4±0.8) mm from the lower margin of the mandible. In the midline of the mandible, the distance between the submental artery and the lower margin of the mandible was (9.0±1.0) mm. In the midsagittal plane, the starting point of the submental artery was(8.4±1.0) mm from the lower margin of the mandible.Conclusions:There were several types of facial arteries and the courses were various, but the way they branched and the layers they coursed had certain rules. Understanding the anatomy of facial arteries is helpful to keep the treatment safe.

Objective:Facial artery is the main blood supply source of facial soft tissue, which has an important influence on facial plastic surgery and injection procedures. There are many types of facial arteries. They have wide coverage, and travel several layers. In this study, the detailed characteristics of the facial arteries were revealed by cadaver dissection.Methods:In 19 donated fresh cranial (28 sides) specimens, the facial arteries were dissected. And then the type, layer, relationship with nasolabial groove, length, diameter, distance from the oral commissure, branches and submental artery were observed and measured.Results:Facial arteries were found in all cadavers, starting from the external carotid arteries, branching submental arteries below the mandibular margins, ascending to the anterior edge of the masseter muscles, crossing the mandibles and entering the faces. After entering into the faces, the facial arteries branched the submental arteries(100%, 28/28), lower labial arteries (100%, 28/28), upper labial arteries (100%, 28/28), lateral nasal arteries (92.9%, 26/28) and the angular arteries (57.2%, 16/28) throughout the courses. According to the vascular route, the facial artery was classified into four types. In TypesⅠ(8 sides), all branches were included and the angular arteries arose directly from the lower segment of the facial arteries (28.6%). In TypesⅡ(8 sides), all branches were included and the angular arteries were the terminal branches (28.6%). In TypesⅢ(10 sides), angular arteries were absent (35.7%). In Type Ⅳ (2 sides), angular arteries and lateral nasal arteries were absent (7.1%). The lower segment of facial artery coursed under the facial expression muscles, and continued to the middle segment at the point which was (26.0±5.0) mm away from the oral commissure on the lateral side. The layer that the facial artery coursed was varied. It passed through the superficial layer of the facial expression muscles. After passing the horizontal line parallel to the lower margin of nasal sill, the upper segment continued to on the superficial layer of the facial expression muscles. The facial arteries were mostly located medial to the nasolabial fold(24 sides, 85.7%) and occasionally across the nasolabial fold(4 sides, 14.3%). The lengths of the upper, middle and lower segments of facial artery were (26.4±10.9) mm, (29.7±8.4) mm, and(33.5±6.9) mm, respectively. The diameters in starting point of upper, middle and lower sections were(2.45±0.48) mm, (1.85±0.12) mm, and (1.09±0.21) mm, respectively. The facial artery passed lateral to the oral commissure and the distance from the intersection of the horizontal line to the oral commissure was (26.0±5.0) mm. The starting point of the superior labial artery locacted below the horizontal line was (8.0±1.4)mm away from the horizontal line of the oral commissure and(55.0±5.2) mm from the mandibular angle. The starting point of the inferior labial artery located below the horizontal line was (17.1±11.1) mm from the horizontal line of the oral commissure, and the distance from the mandibular angle was (44.2±5.2) mm. The diameter of the submental artery in its starting point was (1.4±0.1) mm. The distance from the starting point of the submental artery to the horizontal line of the oral commissure was (34.9±2.6) mm, and the distance from the mandibular angle was (29.4±5.8) mm. The starting point of the submental artery was (6.4±0.8) mm from the lower margin of the mandible. In the midline of the mandible, the distance between the submental artery and the lower margin of the mandible was (9.0±1.0) mm. In the midsagittal plane, the starting point of the submental artery was(8.4±1.0) mm from the lower margin of the mandible.Conclusions:There were several types of facial arteries and the courses were various, but the way they branched and the layers they coursed had certain rules. Understanding the anatomy of facial arteries is helpful to keep the treatment safe.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Previous research has shown maternal betaine supplementation alleviates fetal-derived hepatic steatosis. Therefore, this study examined the anti-inflammatory effect of maternal betaine intake in offspring mice and its mechanism.MATERIALS/METHODS: Female C57BL/6J mice and their offspring were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the treatment received during gestation and lactation: control diet (CD), fatty liver disease (FLD), and fatty liver disease + 1% betaine (FLD-BET). The FLD group was given a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD + STZ), and the FLD-BET group was treated with HFD + STZ + 1% betaine. After weaning, the offspring mice were given a normal diet for 5 weeks and then dissected to measure the relevant indexes. RESULTS: Compared to the CD group, the offspring mice in the FLD group revealed obvious hepatic steatosis and increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; maternal betaine supplementation reversed these changes. The hepatic mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-18, and Caspase-1 were significantly higher in the FLD group than in the CD group. Maternal betaine supplementation reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing C-terminal caspase recruitment domain (ASC). Maternal betaine supplementation also reversed the increasing protein expressions of nitric oxide dioxygenase-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in offspring mice exposed to HFD + STZ. Maternal betaine supplementation decreased the homocysteine (Hcy) and s-adenosine homocysteine (SAH) levels significantly in the livers. Furthermore, the hepatic Hcy concentrations showed significant inverse relationships with the mRNA expression of TNF-α, NLRP3, ASC, and IL-18. The hepatic SAH concentration was inversely associated with the IL-1β mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS The lipotropic and anti-inflammatory effect of maternal betaine supplementation may be associated with the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome in the livers of the offspring mice.