OBJECTIVE: To investigate protective effect of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) through autophagy-associated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in acute kidney injury (AKI)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups according to a random number table, including the normal saline (NS)-treated sham group (sham group), NS-treated ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) group (IRI group), and low- (5 g/kg·d) and high-dose (10 g/kg·d) CS-treated IRI groups (CS1 and CS2 groups), 12 rats in each group. Nephrectomy of the right kidney was performed on the IRI rat model that was subjected to 60 min of left renal pedicle occlusion followed by 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of reperfusion. The wet-to-dry (W/D) ratio of lung, levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin- β and tumor necrosis factor- α, and biomarkers of oxidative stress such as superoxide dismutase, malonaldehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), were assayed. Histological examinations were conducted to determine damage of tissues in the kidney and lung. The protein expressions of light chain 3 II/light chain 3 I (LC3-II/LC3-I), uncoordinated-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1), P62, AMPK and mTOR were measured by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: The renal IRI induced pulmonary injury following AKI, resulting in significant increases in W/D ratio of lung, and the levels of Scr, BUN, inflammatory cytokines, MDA and MPO (P<0.01); all of these were reduced in the CS groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the IRI groups, the expression levels of P62 and mTOR were significantly lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while those of LC3-II/LC3-I, ULK1, and AMPK were significantly higher in the CS2 group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION CS had a potential in treating lung injury following renal IRI through activation of the autophagy-related AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in AKI-induced ALI.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Cordyceps/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Kidney/pathology* ; Acute Kidney Injury/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Acute Lung Injury/drug therapy* ; Mammals/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between the use of metformin and the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was designed from the Fangshan family cohort in Beijing. According to metformin use at baseline, 2 625 patients with type 2 diabetes in Fangshan, Beijing were divided into metformin group or non-metformin group and the incidence of ischemic stroke between the different groups during follow-up was estimated and compared by Cox proportional hazard regression model. The participants with metformin were first compared with all the parti-cipants who did not use metformin, and then were further compared with those who did not use hypoglycemic agents and those who used other hypoglycemic agents. RESULTS: The patients with type 2 diabetes were with an average age of (59.5±8.7) years, and 41.9% of them were male. The median follow-up time was 4.5 years. A total of 84 patients developed ischemic stroke during follow-up, with a crude incidence of 6.4 (95%CI: 5.0-7.7) per 1 000 person-years. Among all the participants, 1 149 (43.8%) took metformin, 1 476 (56.2%) were metformin non-users, including 593 (22.6%) used other hypoglycemic agents, and 883 (33.6%) did not use any hypoglycemic agents. Compared with metformin non-users, the Hazard ratio (HR) for ischemic stroke in metformin users was 0.58 (95%CI: 0.36-0.93; P = 0.024). Compared with other hypoglycemic agents, HR was 0.48 (95%CI: 0.28-0.84; P < 0.01); Compared with the group without hypoglycemic agents, HR was 0.65 (95%CI: 0.37-1.13; P=0.13). The association between metformin and ischemic stroke was statistically significant in the patients ≥ 60 years old compared with all the metformin non-users and those who used other hypoglycemic agents (HR: 0.48, 95%CI: 0.25-0.92; P < 0.05). Metformin use was associated with a lower incidence of ischemic stroke in the patients with good glycemic control (0.32, 95%CI: 0.13-0.77; P < 0.05). In the patients with poor glycemic control, and the association was not statistically significant (HR: 0.97, 95%CI: 0.53-1.79; P>0.05). There was an interaction between glycemic control and metformin use on incidence of ischemic stroke (P_interaction < 0.05). The results of the sensitivity analysis were consistent with the results in the main analysis. CONCLUSION Among patients with type 2 diabetic in rural areas of northern China, metformin use was associated with lower incidence of ischemic stroke, especially in patients older than 60 years. There was an interaction between glycemic control and metformin use in the incidence of ischemic stroke.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Female ; Metformin/adverse effects* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Cohort Studies ; Ischemic Stroke/complications* ; Prospective Studies ; Hypoglycemic Agents/adverse effects* ; Stroke/prevention & control* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between sleep habits (sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep onset timing) and ischemic stroke, and whether there is an interaction between sleep habits and ischemic stroke susceptibility gene loci. METHODS: A questionnaire survey, physical examination, blood biochemical testing and genotyping were conducted among rural residents in Beijing, and the gene loci of ischemic stroke suggested by previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were screened. Multivariable generalized linear model was used to analyze the correlation between sleep habits, sleep-gene interaction and ischemic stroke. RESULTS: A total of 4 648 subjects with an average age of (58.5±8.7) years were enrolled, including 1 316 patients with ischemic stroke. Compared with non-stroke patients, stroke patients with sleep duration ≥9 hours, sleep efficiency < 80%, and sleep onset timing earlier than 22:00 accounted for a higher proportion (P < 0.05). There was no significant association between sleep duration and risk of ischemic stroke (OR=1.04, 95%CI: 0.99-1.10, P=0.085). Sleep efficiency was inversely associated with the risk of ischemic stroke (OR=0.18, 95%CI: 0.06-0.53, P=0.002). The risk of ischemic stroke in the subjects with sleep efficiency < 80% was 1.47-fold (95%CI: 1.03-2.10, P=0.033) of that in the subjects with sleep efficiency ≥80%. Falling asleep earlier than 22:00 was associated with 1.26 times greater risk of stroke than falling asleep between 22:00 and 22:59 (95%CI: 1.04-1.52, P=0.017). Multifactorial adjustment model showed that rs579459 on ABO gene had an interaction with sleep time (P for interaction =0.040). When there were two T alleles for rs579459 on the ABO gene, those who fell asleep before 22:00 had 1.56 times (95%CI: 1.20-2.04, P=0.001) the risk of stroke compared with those who fell asleep between 22:00 and 22:59, and there was no significant difference when the number of pathogenic alleles was 0 or 1. In the model adjusted only for gender, age and family structure, sleep duration and the number of T allele rs2634074 on PITX2 gene had an interaction with ischemic stroke (P for interaction=0.033). CONCLUSION Decreased sleep efficiency is associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke, and falling asleep earlier than 22:00 is associated with higher risk of ischemic stroke. Sleep onset timing interacted with rs579459 in ABO gene and the risk of ischemic stroke. Sleep duration and PITX2 rs2634074 may have a potential interaction with ischemic stroke risk.
Aged ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Ischemic Stroke ; Middle Aged ; Sleep/genetics* ; Stroke/genetics* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: To study the genetic polymorphism and population genetic parameters of 16 X-STR loci in Xinjiang Uygur population. METHODS: The Goldeneye^® DNA identification system 17X was used to amplify 16 X-STR loci in 502 unrelated individuals (251 females and 251 males). The amplified products were detected by 3130xl genetic analyzer. Allele frequencies and population genetic parameters were analyzed statistically. The genetic distances between Uygur and other 8 populations were calculated. Multidimensional scaling and phylogenetic tree were constructed based on genetic distance. RESULTS: In the 16 X-STR loci, a total of 67 alleles were detected in 502 Xinjiang Uygur unrelated individuals. The allele frequencies ranged from 0.001 3 to 0.572 4. PIC ranged from 0.568 8 to 0.855 3. The cumulative discrimination power in females and males were 0.999 999 999 999 999 and 0.999 999 999 743 071, respectively. The cumulative mean paternity exclusion chance in trios and in duos were 0.999 999 997 791 859 and 0.999 998 989 000 730, respectively. The genetic distance between Uygur population and Kazakh population was closer, and the genetic distance between Uygur and Han population was farther. CONCLUSIONS The 16 X-STR loci are highly polymorphic and suitable for identification in Uygur population, which can provide a powerful supplement for the study of individual identification, paternity identification and population genetics.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Ethnicity/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Paternity ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Chromosomes, Human, X/genetics*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic polymorphism of InDel loci in SifalnDel 45plex system in the Han population in Jiangsu Province and the Mongolian population in Inner Mongolia, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the system in forensic medicine. METHODS: SifaInDel 45plex system was used for genotyping in blood samples of 398 unrelated individuals from the above two populations, and allele frequencies and population genetic parameters of the two populations were calculated respectively. Eight intercontinental populations in the gnomAD database were used as reference populations. The genetic distances between the two studied populations and eight reference populations were calculated based on the allele frequencies of 27 autosomal-InDels (A-InDels). The phylogenetic trees and multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis diagrams were constructed accordingly. RESULTS: Among two studied populations, the 27 A-InDels and 16 X-InDels showed no linkage disequilibrium between each other and the allele frequency distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The CDP of the 27 A-InDels in two studied populations were all higher than 0.999 999 999 9, and the CPE_trio were all less than 0.999 9. The CDP of the 16 X-InDels in Han in Jiangsu and Mongolian in Inner Mongolia female and male samples were 0.999 997 962, 0.999 998 389, and 0.999 818 940, 0.999 856 063, respectively. The CMEC_trio were all less than 0.999 9. The results of population genetics showed that the Jiangsu Han nationality, Inner Mongolia Mongolian nationality and East Asian population clustered into one branch, showing closer genetic relationship. The other 7 intercontinental populations clustered into another group. And the above 3 populations displayed distant genetic relationships with the other 7 intercontinental populations. CONCLUSIONS The InDels in the SifaInDel 45plex system have good genetic polymorphism in the two studied populations, which can be used for forensic individual identification or as an effective complement for paternity identification, and to distinguish different intercontinental populations.
Humans ; Phylogeny ; Gene Frequency ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Genetics, Population ; Asian People/genetics* ; China ; INDEL Mutation

AIM: To evaluate the effect of 0.02% mitomycin-C(MMC)on the corneal density after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy(Trans-PRK). METHODS: Retrospective case analysis. Selected 28 patients with 56 eyes in moderate myopia who underwent Trans-PRK surgery from January 2021 to June 2021 in our hospital. They were divided into MMC group in 28 eyes with a combination of 0.02% MMC 20s during the surgery and the control group in 28 eyes was not use MMC during the surgery. The Pentacam anterior segment analyzer was used to measured the corneal density in different diameter ranges and different thickness layers before and after surgery at 14d, and after surgery at 1 and 3mo.RESULTS: The total corneal density value of MMC group was 16.60(15.70,17.10 )before the surgery, after the surgery at 14d was 16.63(15.90,17.50 ), at 1mo was 16.57(15.10,16.70 ), at 3mo was 16.04(14.60,16.60 ). The total corneal density value of control group was 16.30(15.50,17.30 )before the surgery, after the surgery at 14d was 16.20(15.20,17.10 ), at 1mo was 16.08(14.90,16.40 )and at 3mo was 15.60(14.60,16.40 ). In the zone of 0-2mm diameter was centered on the corneal vertex, the corneal density of the two groups at 14d after the surgery was higher than those before surgery(P<0.001 ). In the zone of 2-6mm diameter, the corneal density of the two groups at 1mo and 3mo after surgery was higher than those before the surgery(P<0.001). In the zone of 6-10mm, the corneal density of the two groups at 14d, 1 and 3mo after surgery was higher than those before the surgery(P<0.001). In the layer of anterior 120 μm, the corneal density of the two groups at 1mo and 3mo after the surgery was decreased than that before surgery(P<0.01). In the middle layer, the corneal density of the two groups at 1mo after the surgery was decreased than those before surgery(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The use of 0.02% MMC during the operation can reduce the corneal density and increase the corneal light transmittance in the early postoperative period. The occurrence and prognosis of haze can be effectively quantified by observing the changes of corneal optical density in different ranges in different time periods after operation.

As a novel population of neural crest-origin precursor cells, skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs) can be isolated from both embryonic and adult dermis. These cells have important values for research and potential clinical application in wound healing, organ regeneration and disease treatment for advantages in the abundance of cell sources, accessibility, potential of multipotent differentiation, and absence of ethical concerns. Here we review the developmental and anatomical origins of SKPs and their potential application in regenerative medicine. SKPs originate from the embryonic neural crest, and their sources may vary in different areas of the body. SKPs are widely found in the dermis, especially in the dermal papilla (DP), which was known as a niche of SKPs. The multipotent SKPs can used for autologous transplantation and are of vital importance in tissue repair.

Objective To assess the level of sulfur dioxide(SO2) residues in sea shrimps on the market and to evaluate the health risk of the SO2 exposure of Wenzhou population by eating sea shrimp .Method SO2 residues in 246 sea shrimp samples collected from Wenzhou market from 2015 to 2016 were analyzed. The point assessment method was used to evaluate the risk of SO2 exposure for consumers,using the data of residents' consumption survey in 2008 in Zhejiang Province.Results The median of SO2 residual in the whole shrimp and the shrimp without shell were 20.05 mg/kg and 10.65 mg/kg respectively(P<0.05). The over-standard rate of SO2 for the whole shrimp and the shrimp without shell were 19.11% and 5.69%(P<0.05) respectively. The average exposure of SO2 in general population by eating the whole shrimp and the shrimp without shell were 0.0459 mg/kg BW and 0.0076 mg/kg BW respectively. However,the exposure of SO2 in high-consuming population (>P97.5) by eating the whole shrimp and the shrimp without shell were 0.1142 mg/kg BW and 0.0189 mg/kg BW respectively. The exposure level of SO2 in men were lower than in women. Conclusion The health risk of the SO2 exposure by eating sea shrimp in general population and high-consuming population is in a low level in Wenzhou.

Objective To investigate the knowledge, attitude, behavior about Dietary Guidelines for Chinese (2007) among elderly residents in 2 communities in Wenzhou City, and to exoplore the appropriate method for dietary intervention for elderly people. Methods A questionnaire survey was carried out in 784 people aged 50 years and above in two communities in Wenzhou from December, 2014 to January, 2015 about Dietary Guidelines for Chinese (2007) .The awareness of knowledge, attitude and behavior about nutrition were recorded, and multiple linear regressions were taken to evaluate the impression of knowledge. Results The awareness rate of knowledge was 58.28%, and the awareness about 'Which is the healthiest way to cook?' was the hot question (89.29%) while 'Which disease can be prevented by eating iodized salt?' was not (0.89%) . And 53.06% of respondents interested in nutrient knowledge, and 14.54% of them thought they had learned the knowledge about nutrition, and 39.54% of them thought knowledge had impact on health, and 76.53% of them would like to change their unhealthy dietary behavior. About 50.89% of respondents got knowledge about nutrition from TV or radio programs. Intake frequency about vegetables and fish were 88.01% and 62.63%respectively, while intake frequency about milk and milk products and beans and their products were 21.43% and 15.43%respectively. Multiple linear regression promoted that, female, a high degree of education, less number of offspring, people who had married, people whose income came from social insurance had positive impact on the awareness rate of knowledge. Conclusion The awareness rate of knowledge among elderly people was low, and intake frequency about milk and milk products and beans and their products were efficient. But they would like to change their unhealthy behavior. Long-term education about nutrition should be taken for elderly people.

BACKGROUNDGlobally, the proportion of child deaths that occur in the neonatal period remains a high level of 37-41%. Differences of cause in neonate death exist in different regions as well as in different economic development countries. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the causes, characteristics, and differences of death in neonates during hospitalization in the tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of China.

METHODSAll the dead neonates admitted to 26 NICUs were included between January l, 2011, and December 31, 2011. All the data were collected retrospectively from clinical records by a designed questionnaire. Data collected from each NICU were delivered to the leading institution where the results were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 744 newborns died during the 1-year survey, accounting for 1.2% of all the neonates admitted to 26 NICUs and 37.6% of all the deaths in children under 5 years of age in these hospitals. Preterm neonate death accounted for 59.3% of all the death. The leading causes of death in preterm and term infants were pulmonary disease and infection, respectively. In early neonate period, pulmonary diseases (56.5%) occupied the largest proportion of preterm deaths while infection (27%) and neurologic diseases (22%) were the two main causes of term deaths. In late neonate period, infection was the leading cause of both preterm and term neonate deaths. About two-thirds of neonate death occurred after medical care withdrawal. Of the cases who might survive if receiving continuing treatment, parents' concern about the long-term outcomes was the main reason of medical care withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONSNeonate death still accounts for a high proportion of all the deaths in children under 5 years of age. Our study showed the majority of neonate death occurred in preterm infants. Cause of death varied with the age of death and gestational age. Accurate and prompt evaluation of the long-term outcomes should be carried out to guide the critical decision.

Cause of Death ; China ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; mortality ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Perinatal Death ; Retrospective Studies