Objective: To investigate the prevalence of intention to smoke and current smoking and identify its influencing factors among middle school students in Ningbo City, so as to provide insights into the development and implementation of tobacco control among adolescents. Methods: The epidemiological data of tobacco use among adolescents in Ningbo City in 2021 were collected, including demographics, tobacco use, parents' and close friends' smoking status, secondhand smoke exposure and tobacco advertisement exposure. The intention to smoke, current smoking, secondhand smoke exposure and tobacco advertisement exposure were descriptively analyzed among middle school students, and the factors affecting intention to smoke, current smoking were identified using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Totally 1 591 questionnaires were allocated to middle school students, and 1 574 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 98.93%. The respondents included 787 junior high school students, 535 high school students and 252 vocational high school students, and the prevalence was intention to smoke and current smoking was 6.73% and 1.78% among the respondents, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified boys (OR=2.398, 95%CI: 1.466-3.922), high school students (OR=2.051, 95%CI: 1.212-3.470), vocational high school students (OR=2.011, 95%CI: 1.108-3.650), more than 100 yuan disposable pocket money per week (OR=2.534, 95%CI: 1.301-4.935) and close friends' smoking (OR=4.310, 95% CI: 2.755-6.757) as risk factors of intention to smoke, and boys (OR=12.420, 95%CI: 1.645-93.753), close friends' smoking (OR=11.628, 95%CI: 4.348-31.250) and parents' smoking (OR=2.667, 95%CI: 1.029-6.897) as risk factors of current smoking among middle school students. The prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure and tobacco advertisement exposure was 76.43% and 51.65%, and television/video/cinema was the most likely route of tobacco advertisement exposure (42.06%). Conclusions The prevalence of intention to smoke and current smoking is low among middle school students in Ningbo City; however, the proportions of exposure to secondhand smoke and tobacco advertisement are relatively high. Tobacco control interventions are recommended to be intensified targeting high-risk populations, such as vocational high school students.

Objective To evaluate global left ventricular(LV) strain of patients with chronic renal failure(CRF) by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(3D-STI) and discuss the possible association between global peak strain and ejection fraction of LV.Methods The study includes 22 patients in the renal failure period,25 patients with uremia (pre-dialysis),and 20 healthy controls.Global peak longitudinal strain (GPSL),global peak area strain(GPSA) and global peak radial strain(GPSR) were measured by 3D-STI.Then possible association between GPSL,GPSA,GPSR and LVEF were discussed by the Pearson correlation analysis.Results The GPSL,GPSA,GPSR were statistically different in the control group,patients in the renal failure period and patients with uremia.There were significant differences between groups(F =13.28,4.65,4.68,P ＜ 0.01) as following,all of GPSL,GPSA,GPSR were lower in uremia group compared with control group [q =7.48(GPSL),4.19(GPSA),4.72(GPSR),P ＜0.01],GPSL was lower in renal failure group compared with control group [q =4.9 (GPSL),P ＜0.01].The Pearson correlation analysis revealed GPSL,GPSA,GPSR were strongly associated with LVEF(r =-0.679,-0.781,0.719,P ＜0.01).Conclusions In patients with CRF,the global peak strain can reveal the systolic function of left ventricle and the global peak longitudinal strain can recognize systolic dysfunction more sensitively.

Objective To investigate the MR characteristics of ulnar nerve and muscles in cubital tunnel syndrome.Methods Twenty eight patients with cubital tunnel syndrome and 28 asymptomatic volunteers underwent MR imaging,MR neurography was performed by using an isotropic three dimensions T2 sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions (3D T2 SPACE)on 15 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome.To evaluate changes in T2 signal intensity of the ulnar nerve,regions of interest were placed in the center of the location of the highest apparent ulnar nerve signal intensity on the axial FS T2WI images and in normal muscle within the same image slice,and the ratio of signal intensity was calculated.The sensitivity of 3D T2 SPACE sequence in detecting cubital tunnel syndrome was determined.The standard t tests were used to assess whether ulnar nerve size and relative signal intensity in symptomatic patients were statistically different from normal volunteers.Results The cross-sectional area of ulnar nerve in 24 patients and 2 volunteers was enlarged,the signal intensity of ulnar nerve in 26 patients and 16 volunteers was increased.Increased signal and muscle atrophy adjacent to the ulnar nerve were detected in 4 patients.Cubital tunnel syndrome was detected in 14 patientson 3D T2 SPACE sequence.The mean ulnar nerve sizes in the symptomatic and normal group were (0.15±0.06)and (0.06±0.01)cm2 respectively,the mean relative signal intensities in the symptomatic and normal groups were (2.86± 1.45) and 1.57±0.39 respectively (t values were 2.220 and 4.546,P＜0.05).Conclusions Ulnar nerve size and T2 signal intensity were increased,in patients with cubital tunnel syndrome.In addition,muscles innervated by the ulnar nerve showed atrophy with increased T2 signal intensity.

ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics of left ventricular (LV) twist and discuss the relationship between LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV twist in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI).MethodsForty-six patients with CKD and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. After conventional echocardiography, LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) were measured by Biplane Simpson method and the LVEF was calculated. And relevant parameters of LV rotation and twist were measured by speckle tracking imaging. Correlation analysis of LVEDV, LVESV and LV peak rotation and twist were analyzed respectively. ResultsCompared with the control group, LV peak twist and the apical rotation were decreased in CKD patients, which was statistically significant (t=0.002 and 0.020, bothP<0.05). The inferior wall and posterior intermediate septum of basal segment were significantly decreased (t=0.044 and 0.041, both P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed LV apical peak rotation had a relationship with LVEDV and LVESV (r= 0.355 and 0.409, bothP<0.01).Conclusion2D-STI is an practical noninvasive method which can analyze LV twist accurately and recognize LV systolic dysfunction of CKD patients sensitively.

Objective: To investigate the e-cigarette use and its influencing factors among middle school students in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide insights into e-cigarette control among adolescents. Methods: Students of junior high schools, high schools and vocational high schools in Ningbo City were sampled using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method from September to October 2021. Students' general information, cigarette and e-cigarette use and e-cigarette advertising exposure were collected using 2021 China Youth Tobacco Survey Questionnaire, and proportions of e-cigarette current use and attempt to use were analyzed. Factors affecting the attempt to use e-cigarettes were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 1 591 questionnaires were allocated, and 1 574 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective rate of 98.93%. The respondents included 863 males (54.83%) and 711 females (45.17%); 787 junior high school students (50.00%), 535 high school students (33.99%) and 252 vocational high school students (16.01%). The proportion of current e-cigarette use was 1.91% and the proportion of attempt to use e-cigarettes was 6.61%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified males (OR=2.544, 95%CI: 1.438-4.501), living in rural areas (OR=2.084, 95%CI: 1.195-3.634), having close friends who were smokers (OR=4.828, 95%CI: 2.936-7.940), witnessing teachers smoking at school (OR=2.766, 95%CI: 1.642-4.659), e-cigarette advertising exposure (OR=2.155, 95%CI: 1.315-3.532), current cigarette use (OR=9.365, 95%CI: 2.610-33.603) and attempt to use cigarettes (OR=7.519, 95%CI: 4.115-13.737) as promoting factors for the attempt to use e-cigarette. Conclusions There are e-cigarette use behaviors among middle school students in Ningbo City. Having teachers or close friends who were smokers, cigarette use behaviors and e-cigarette advertising exposure may increase the risk of attempt to use e-cigarettes among middle school students.

In this study, the effects of hyperosmolality on the expression of urea transporter A2 (UTA2) and aquaporin 2 (AQP2) were investigated in transfected immortalized mouse medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) cell line. AQP2-GFP-pCMV6 and UTA2-GFP-pCMV6 plasmids were stably transfected into mIMCD3 cells respectively. Transfected mIMCD3 and control cells were cultured in different hypertonic media, which were made by NaCl alone, urea alone, or an equiosmolar mixture of NaCl and urea. The mRNA and protein expression of AQP2 was elevated by the stimulation of NaCl alone, urea alone and NaCl plus urea in AQP2-mIMCD3 cells; whereas NaCl alone and NaCl plus urea rather than urea alone increased the mRNA and protein expression of UTA2 in UTA2-mIMCD3 cells, and all the expression presented an osmolality-dependent manner. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression of UTA2 rather than AQP2 was found to be synergistically up-regulated by a combination of NaCl and urea in mIMCD3 cells. It is concluded that NaCl and urea synergistically induce the expression of UTA2 rather than AQP2 in mIMCD3 cells, and hyperosmolality probably mediates the expression of AQP2 and UTA2 through different mechanisms.

Objective To investigate the serum IL-33 level and its association with TH1,TH2,TH17 and Treg cells in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion(URSA).Methods Forty-six URSA patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.The proportions of TH1,TH2,TH17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood samples were determined by flow cytometry,and serum IL-33 levels by ELISA.Results The levels of serum IL-33 in URSA patients were significantly lower than that in healthy controls.The proportions of TH2 and Treg cells in URSA patients were significantly lower than that in healthy controls (P ＜ 0.05),while the proportions of TH 1 and TH 17 cells in URSA patients were significantly higher than that in healthy controls.Serum IL-33 levels were negatively correlated with the proportions of TH 1 and TH17 cells,and positively with that of TH2 cells,while no correlation with Treg cells.Conclusion Serum IL-33 levels decrease significantly in URSA patients,and are correlated with the proportions of TH1,TH2 and TH17 cells,indicating that IL-33 may be associated with TH1,TH2 and TH17 cells in URSA patients.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of smoking among adults in Ningbo City from 2018 to 2021, so as to provide the scientific evidence for improving the tobacco control policy and evaluating the effectiveness of the tobacco control policy. Methods: The permanent residents at ages of 15 to 69 years were recruited from 10 counties ( districts ) in Ningbo City using the stratified multistage random sampling method from 2018 to 2021, and subjects' demographic features, smoking and secondhand smoke exposure were collected using the National Questionnaire for Surveillance on Healthy Literacy and Tobacco Epidemic in Chinese Residents. All data were standardized to the Sixth National Population Census in 2010. The prevalence of smoking, smoking cessation and exposure to secondhand smoke and the trends for the prevalence were estimated among adults in Ningbo City from 2018 to 2021. Results: A total of 6 581, 6 340, 6 380 and 6 400 valid questionnaires were recovered from 2018 to 2021, and the effective recovery rates were 99.20%, 97.46%, 97.76% and 98.02%, respectively. The respondents had male to female ratios of 1∶1.05, 1∶1.07, 1∶1.05 and 1∶1.14, and had urban-rural population ratios of 1∶0.75, 1∶0.62, 1∶0.60 and 1∶0.78 from 2018 to 2021, respectively. The prevalence of current smoking was 21.99%, 21.42%, 22.07% and 20.30%, and the standardized prevalence was 22.03%, 20.12%, 21.33% and 19.38% from 2018 to 2021, respectively, appearing no significant changing trend ( χ2trend=3.751, P=0.053 ). The prevalence of current smoking was significantly higher among rural residents than among urban residents, and higher in men than in women ( all P<0.05 ). The prevalence of smoking cessation was 24.44%, 27.11%, 26.97% and 29.59%, and the standardized prevalence was 21.96%, 26.90%, 24.92% and 28.38% from 2018 to 2021, appearing a tendency towards a rise ( χ2rend=11.193, P=0.001 ). The prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke was 52.40%, 50.18%, 48.99% and 44.58%, and the standardized prevalence was 54.08%, 51.45%, 49.95% and 46.76% from 2018 to 2021, showing a tendency towards a decline ( χ2rend=62.094, P<0.001 ) . Conclusions The prevalence of current smoking was approximately 20% among adults in Ningbo City from 2018 to 2021, with a tendency towards a decline in the prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke and a tendency towards a rise in the prevalence of smoking cessation. Rural male residents are key targets for tobacco control.

Objective:To investigate myocardial fibrosis-related factors in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Methods:Ninety-six patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who received treatment in Zhoushan Hospital between January 2019 and January 2021 were included in this study. General data of all patients were collected. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all patients. Percentage of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was calculated. These patients were divided into positive and negative groups according to whether myocardial fibrosis existed. Related parameters were compared between the two groups. Correlations between related parameters and myocardial fibrosis range were analyzed.Results:Patient age in the positive group was significantly lower than that in the negative group [(42.84 ± 14.38) years vs. (50.71 ± 14.74) years, t = 2.04, P < 0.05]. The percentage of patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV heart function, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level, cardiac troponin (cTnI) level, creatine kinase-MB level, and myoglobin level in the positive group were 29.41% (20/68), 2 761.73 (1 505.22, 3 784.62) ng/L, 0.971 (0.447, 1.687) μg/L, (3.25 ± 2.65) μg/L and (66.14 ± 31.17) μg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the negative group [3.57% (1/68), 862.35 (551.48, 1 094.83) ng/L, 0.146 (0.037, 0.256) μg/L, (0.73 ± 0.22) μg/L, (28.82 ± 2.34) μg/L, t = 12.17, 55.28, 3.17, 5.18, 8.18, all P < 0.05]. Left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac index in the positive group were (62.31 ± 17.89)% and (2.85 ± 0.71) L·min -1·(m 2) -1, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the negative group ( t = 2.89, 6.18, both P < 0.05). Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular maximum wall thickness (LVMWT) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in the positive group were (56.32 ± 17.28) mL/m 2, (2.24 ± 0.41) cm, (126.15 ± 12.34) g/m 2, which were significantly higher than those in the negative group ( t = 2.17, 2.75, 13.10, all P < 0.05). In the positive group, 18 patients had moderate and severe hypertrophy, 20 patients had moderate hypertrophy, and 30 patients had mild hypertrophy. There were significant differences in NT-proBNP, cTnI level and (LGE) extent between positive and negative groups ( t = 43.27, 5.28, 11.18, all P < 0.05). NT-proBNP, cTnI level and LGE extent increased with the increase in hypertrophy. Percentage of LGE was negatively correlated with patient age, and it was positively correlated with NT-proBNP, cTnI, LVDSV, LVMWT and LVMI. The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have a relatively high incidence of myocardial fibrosis. The extent of myocardial fibrosis is negatively correlated with patient age and it is positively correlated with NT-proBNP, cTnI, LVDSV, LVMWT and LVMI.

Objective:To investigate the wear resistance of four low-shrinkage commercial composite resins and two traditional composite resins in vitro and discuss the relative influencing factors, and to illustrate the inner relationship of the wear resistance of resins and material composition.Methods:Four low-shrinkage commercial composite resins including CLEARFIL MAJESTY Posterior(CMP), Filtek LS(LS), Admira(AD), Kalore(KA) and two traditional composite resins including Filtek Z350XT (Z350), Solitaire2(S2) were chosen.The bar-shaped specimens were fabricated and mounted in a UMT-2 wear testing machine and abraded with the two-body media (distilled water) with a Si3N4 ball as antagonist.The maximum wear depth was determined after 14 400 cycles.The friction coefficient was determined during the test.The worn surfaces were examined with SEM.Results:CMP showed the lowest maximum wear depth and KA presented the highest maximum wear depth.The maximum wear depth ranked as follows: CMP