Objective To compare the short-term efficacy of high-intensity ultraviolet B (UVB) versus 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of vitiligo.Methods Eighty patients with vitiligo were equally divided into two groups to be treated with high-intensity UVB twice a week or 308-nm excimer laser once a week for eight weeks.Repigmentation was evaluated at the end of the treatment.Results After eight weeks of treatment,repigmentation of different degrees was observed in 83.6％ and 86.1％,and marked repigmentation in 42.1％ and 50％,of the UVB-and excimer laser-treated lesions,respectively.The response rate was significantly lower in facial lesions receiving high-intensity UVB radiation than in those receiving excimer laser radiation (49.1％ vs.68.4％,x2 =4.32,P ＜ 0.05),but similar at the other body sites between the two treatment (all P ＞ 0.05).The cumulative dosage required for initial repigmentation was similar between high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser (t =0.89,P ＞ 0.05),while the treatment sessions and cumulative dosage required for marked or better repigmentation were significantly increased in UVB-compared with excimer laser-treated lesions (both P ＜ 0.01).In addition,both high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser were suitable for childhood and active vitiligo.Conclusions Both high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser are safe and effective in the treatment of vitiligo with rapid onset of action,and the latter appears to be superior to the former in efficacy.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid (UA) level and abdominal obesity or metabolic syndrome (MS).Methods A total of 875 subjects,with 350 males and 525 females,aged 40-65 years old,were enrolled in this study.The clinical and biochemical data were collected and MRI was used to assess the visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues.The relationships between UA level and abdominal obesity or MS were analyzed,and the cut-off values of UA for abdominal obesity and MS were determined.Results Raised risks of abdominal obesity (OR =4.35,95％ CI 1.91-9.90 in males; OR =5.44,95％ CI 2.41-12.31 in females) and MS (OR =4.47,95 ％ CI 2.08-9.62 in males; OR =11.62,95％ CI 3.43-39.37 in females) were observed with the increase of UA level.The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that UA was an independent risk factor for hypertriglyceridemia (OR =2.23,95％ CI 1.02-4.87 in males ; OR =3.04,95％ CI 1.49-6.23 in females) in all subjects and for abdominal obesity(OR =3.23,95％ CI 1.32-7.91) and hypertension (OR =2.35,95％ CI 1.37-4.05)in the females.Among the females,the regression line analyzed by simple correlation indicated that the UA level of 244.0 μmol/L was corresponded to the visceral adipose tissue area of 80 cm2.The optimal cut-off point of UA for the diagnosis of MS was 258.8 μmol/L determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve.Conclusions The level of UA is closely correlated with abdominal obesity and MS in the middleaged Chinese.The elevated UA level is an independent risk factor for abdominal obesity and MS in the female.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between common functional gastrointestinal diseases symptoms with psychological factors, diet and lifestyles by using the network analysis method which has achieved great success in the field of psychology in recent years.Method:A questionnaire survey was conducted in two military units using the cluster sampling method during July 2020, and a total of 1 805 subjects were included. Functional gastrointestinal disease symptoms were evaluated with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). The state, trait anxiety scale and stress response scale were used to evaluate the mental and psychological state by self-evaluation. R was used to build the network and calculate statistical parameters.Results:1 486 of the 1 805 subjects (82.3%) had experienced functional gastrointestinal diseases symptoms within 2 weeks, but most of them were mild. Network analysis shows that there was a strong interaction between digestive system symptoms with different clinical manifestations (Spearman coefficient ranges 0.31-0.56). There was a clear relationship between functional gastrointestinal symptoms and mental and psychological factors (Spearman coefficient ranges 0.16-0.27), but there was no clear interaction with diet, age, education level, body mass index, etc. Functional gastrointestinal diseases symptoms were connected with mental and psychological factors through two nodes: stress and indigestion. The stability coefficient of node strength correlation was 0.75, indicating that the network was stable.Conclusions:The current study revealed the network structure and features of functional gastrointestinal diseases symptoms with mental and psychological factors. The key linking nodes provided potential interfering target for controlling functional gastrointestinal symptoms related to mental and psychological factors.

Objective : To investigate the effect of (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP⁃1) on inner ear hair cell injury with noise⁃induced hearing loss and its potential mechanism in rats. Methods : Twenty Specific pathogen⁃free (SPF) Sprague⁃Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control group and noise exposure group. The rats of noise exposure were exposed to 4 kHz at 101 dB sound pressure level (SPL) for 8 h. Auditory brainstem responses(ABR) were measured in animals before noise exposure and 24 h after noise exposure. Surface preparation , transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry were performed on cochlea tissuesto elucidate changes in Epac expression in rat after noise exposure. The expression levels of Epac1、Rap1、CaMK⁃ Ⅱ、Bax、Bcl⁃2、cleaved caspase3(CC3) and cleaved caspase9(CC9) were analyzed using Western blot. Results : There was found a stable temporary threshold shift after noise exposure( P < 0. 05) . The missing of outer hair cells occurred after noise exposure(P < 0. 05) . Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the epidermis plate of HCs was partially dissolved , with loss or fusion of stereocilia , some HC organelles showed serious injuries after noise exposure. Epac1 immunostaining intensities were substantially enhanced in OHCs after noise exposure( P < 0. 05) . The expression levels of Epac1 , CaMK⁃ Ⅱ and Rap1 protein were significantly up⁃regulated after noise exposure(P < 0. 05) . The expression level of Bcl⁃2 was significantly down⁃regulated after noise exposure(P < 0. 05) . The expression levels of Bax , CC3 and CC9 were significantly up⁃regulated after noise exposure(P < 0. 05) . Conclusion Epac1 ⁃Rap1 signaling pathway mediates the early pathological damage in noise⁃exposed cochlea , and participates in the regulation of inner ear hair cells apoptosis. Epac1 ⁃Rap1 pathway is expected to become a new target for intervention in noise⁃induced hearing loss.