1.A resting-state fMRI study on brain functional activity changes m moderate and high myopia patients using fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation
Yuxiang HU ; Quan ZHOU ; Yuping LI ; Xiaoxuan XU ; Yifan WU ; Kezheng LIU ; Minyan ZHAN ; Xiaorong WU
Recent Advances in Ophthalmology 2017;37(3):239-243
Objective To investigate the changes of brain function in moderate and high myopia patients using fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF),and discuss the correlation between brain function changes and clinical data of patients with myopia.Methods Totally 21 moderate and high myopia patients (myopia group),and 21 healthy volunteers (normal control group) who were matched with myopia patients in age and gender,were selected to take rs-fMRI examination.The difference of fALFF of brain functional activity in patients with myopia and normal controls was compared,and the correlation between the changes of fALFF and clinical data of patients with myopia was analyzed,Results Compared with normal control group,the fALFF values of myopia group in the region of the left inferior frontal gyrus,putamen and right inferior frontal gyrus,putamen and insula were significantly lower (all P < 0.05,AlphaSim corrected).However,in bilateral cingulate gyrus,bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus,left postcentral gyrus,left superior parietal lobule and region,fALFF values were increased (all P < 0.05,AlphaSim corrected).Conclusion Patients with myopia are accompanied by abnormal neuronal activity in many brain areas,which may reflect the dysfunction of language understanding and attention control in myopic patients.
2.Research progress of chitinase 3-like protein 1 in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(5):592-597
Pulmonary fibrosis is an end-stage alteration of lung diseases characterized by fibroblast proliferation and accumulation of extracellular matrix with inflammatory damage and tissue structure destruction. The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis has not been fully defined. Chitinase 3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) plays an important role in various fibrotic diseases characterized by inflammation and tissue remodeling. During the development of pulmonary fibrosis, CHI3L1 promotes the release of inflammatory factors by binding to receptors such as chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule expressed on T-helper type-2 cells, interleukin (IL) -13 receptor subunit alpha-2, and galectin-3. CHI3L1 facilitates pulmonary fibrosis by modulating the levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 and IL-18. Additionally, CHI3L1 contributes to pulmonary fibrosis by participating in immune responses mediated by multiple cytokines and inflammatory factors, and directly facilitate pulmonary fibrosis by mediating the activity of pulmonary fibroblasts and alveolar macrophages. Moreover, CHI3L1 can serve as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment for lung diseases. However, specific therapeutic targets for CHI3L1 in pulmonary fibrosis remain unavailable. Future research should aim to identify unknown specific receptors or ligands for CHI3L1 and investigate its functions in various physiological and pathological responses.
3.Epidemiologic characteristics of influenza outbreaks in Shaanxi Province, 2014-2023
Bin CHEN ; Jing XU ; Ping MA ; Ninan HE ; Quan HAO ; Yifan HE ; Pengbo YU ; Xuan FENG ; Lei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(8):1120-1125
Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and pathogen spectrum of influenza outbreaks in Shaanxi Province from 2014 to 2023 and provide basis reference for strengthening regional influenza prevention and control.Methods:The data were collected from the Public Health Emergency Management Information System of the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System and the China Influenza Surveillance Information System. On-site epidemiological investigation information and etiological test results of influenza network laboratories reported in Shaanxi Province during 2014-2023 were collected, and descriptive analysis was conducted on the time, region, and location distribution of influenza outbreaks. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 386 influenza outbreaks were reported in Shaanxi from 2014 to 2023, with a total attack rate of 1.81% (14 880/821 001). The epidemic peaks mainly occurred in winter and spring (November to March of the following year), and there was an alternating pattern of epidemic peaks in different years (the early peak was in December, and the late peak was in March of the following year). The epidemic areas were mainly concentrated in the Qinba Mountains of southern Shaanxi (209, 54.15%) and Guanzhong Plain (173, 44.82%). The epidemic places were mainly distributed in primary schools (239, 61.92%), and the differences of epidemic areas and places were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Influenza A(H3N2) viruses were the predominant pathogen in the outbreak (849, 57.76%), and influenza A(H3N2), B (Victoria) lineage and A(H1N1)pdm09 virus alternately dominated the epidemic peak in different years. Conclusions:The peak of influenza outbreaks in Shaanxi Province was winter and spring during 2014-2023. Primary schools in the Qinba Mountains of southern Shaanxi and Guanzhong Plain should be targeted for prevention and control. In the prevention and control programs, close attention should be paid to the changing trend of dominant strains. Effective intervention measures should be targeted to the high-incidence areas and seasons.