Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; physiology ; Metabolic Syndrome ; embryology ; etiology ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo investigate lifting-related musculoskeletal disorders in metal processing, to analyze the risk factors, and to study the validity and feasibility of using NIOSH lifting equation in China.

METHODSThe questionnaires of semi-structured interview, the Ovako Working Posture Analysing System (OWAS) postural analysis and variables of the NIOSH equation were applied to the study. The study population consisted of 69 workers mainly involved in manual materials handling (MMH), categorized as Job A; and 51 machinery workers, served as controls, that were less MMH task involved, as Job B.

RESULTSThe prevalence of low back pain (LBP), which was defined at least one episode lasting for more than 24 hours in the past 12 months, were 63.8% and 37.3% for Job A and Job B, respectively. However, the prevalence of LBP lasting for more than a week due to lifting were 26.09% and 5.88% for Job A and B, respectively. The proportion of awkward back postures were found higher in Job A than that of Job B (66% vs 63%, P < 0.05). The NIOSH Lifting Index (LI) was estimated to be 2.4 for Job A, and 0 < LI < 1 for Job B. The analysis of multiple regressions revealed that the repetitiveness of lifting and length of service had greatly attributed to the occurrence of LBP. The "composite load" (object weight x activity repetitiveness) had a significant adverse effect on lower back meaning that the objective weight remains an ingredient part of the risk.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of LBP is not only related to the force load, but the repetitiveness of lifting and awkward postures. The method of OWAS observation and US-NIOSH equation are important tools in assessing characteristics and risk factors of LBP for MMH tasks. Further study aimed at developing an integral scheme for the assessment system is needed.

Adult ; Back Injuries ; epidemiology ; etiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors ; Weight Lifting ; injuries

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of brain SPECT imaging with a novel Aβ plaque probe,131 I-2-(4'-dimethylaminophenyl) -6-iodoimidazo[ 1,2-α ] pyridine ( 131 I-IMPY) in early AD.Methods Thirteen patients with AD (3 males,10 females,age ranged 52 - 79 y),11 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI,4 males,7 females,age ranged 48 - 67 y) and 14 normal controls (6 males,8 females,age ranged 42 - 67 y) were enrolled in this study.131I-IMPY SPECT imaging was acquired in 2 -3 h after the agent injection.ROIs were drawn on cerebral lobes and cerebellum.The ratios of mean radioactivity of cerebral lobes over cerebellum (Rcl/cb) were calculated.The t-test was used for data analysis.Results In patients with MCI,Rcl/cb ratios were increased in parietal gyrus,temporal gyrus and frontal gyrus (right:1.15±0.18,1.18±0.12,1.14±0.14; left:1.16±0.11,1.19±0.18,1.15±0.09)compared with those in normal control group ( right:1.02 ± 0.12,1.05 ± 0.14,1.01 ± 0.12 ; left:1.03 ±0.13,1.05 ±0.13,1.01 ±0.14; t:2.1642 to 2.8757,all P ＜0.05).Rcl/cb ratios of basel ganglia and occipital gyms in MCI group (right:0.92 ±0.18,1.12 ±0.15; left:0.94 ±0.15,1.13 ±0.17) showed no statistical difference compared with those in normal control group (right:0.82 ±0.15,1.06 ±0.18;left:0.85 ±0.16,1.08 ±0.15; t:0.7805 to 1.4344,all P＞0.05).In patients with AD,Rcl/cb ratios were increased in parietal,temporal,basal ganglia and occipital lobes (right:1.16 ±0.19,1.24 ±0.17,1.16 ±0.13,1.14±0.11,1.23±0.10; left:1.17±0.21,1.25±0.15,1.18±0.08,1.17±0.16,1.25±0.11)compared with those in normal control group( t:2.1001 to 6.2789,all P ＜0.05).Rcl/cb ratios of parietal,temporal and frontal lobes in AD group showed no statistical difference compared with those in MCI group (t:0.1316 to 0.9806,all P ＞ 0.05 ),while Rcl/cb ratios of basal ganglia and occipital lobes in AD group were increased compared with those in MCI group ( t:2.0850 to 3.6772,all P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion 131 I-IMPY as a β- amyloid plaque probe for brain SPECT imaging may be potentially helpful for early diagnosis of AD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) in the process of THP-1 monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation.

METHODSQuantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were performed to analyze the expression of LSD1 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in THP-1 monocytes and THP-1-derived macrophages. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was applied to detect the occupancy of LSD1 and H3K4 methylation at IL-6 promoter during THP-1 monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. IL-6 mRNA level and H3K4 methylation at IL-6 promoter were analyzed using qRT-PCR and ChIP assay in LSD1-knockdown THP-1 cells treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours. Fluorescence activated flow cytometry was performed to reveal the percentage of macrophages differentiated from THP-1 monocytes.

RESULTSThe expression of LSD1 reduced during THP-1 monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation (P<0.01). LSD1 occupancy decreased and H3K4 methylation increased at IL-6 promoter during the differentiation. With knockdown of LSD1, H3K4 methylation at IL-6 promoter was found increased after TPA treatment at different times points (all P<0.05, except 24 hours). The percentage of macrophages increased significantly in the THP-1 cells with LSD1 knockdown (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLSD1 is repressed during the monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation of THP-1 cells. Suppression of LSD1-mediated H3K4 demethylation may be required for THP-1 monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation.

Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dealkylation ; Histone Demethylases ; physiology ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo verify the regulation of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT 2), which is associated with cholesterol metabolism, by saturated fatty acids (SFAs).

METHODSPalmitic acid (PA), the most abundant saturated fatty acid in plasma, and oleic acid (OA), a widely distributed unsaturated fatty acid, were used to treat hepatic cells HepG2, HuH7, and mouse primary hepatocytes. In addition, PA at different concentrations and PA treatment at different durations were applied in HepG2 cells. In in vivo experiment, three-month male C57/BL6 mice were fed with control diet and SFA diet containing hydrogenated coconut oil rich of SFAs. The mRNA level of ACAT2 in those hepatic cells and the mouse livers was detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSIn the three types of hepatic cells treated with PA, that SFA induced significant increase of ACAT2 expression (Pü0.01), whereas treatment with OA showed no significant effect. That effect of PA was noticed gradually rising along with the increase of PA concentration and the extension of PA treatment duration (both Pü0.05). SFA diet feeding in mice resulted in a short-term and transient increase of ACAT2 expression in vivo, with a peak level appearing in the mice fed with SFA diet for two days (Pü0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFA may regulate ACAT2 expression in human and mouse hepatic cells and in mouse livers.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Primers ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fatty Acids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver ; enzymology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; metabolism

Objective To explore the changes in the serum periostin (PN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the clinical significance.Methods The serum samples from 53 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) as case group and 50 healthy subjects as control group were collected and compared in this study.And the DM patients included 15 patients with DM without fundus lesions (DM group),18 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR,NPDR group) and 20 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR,PDR group).The serum levels of PN and VEGF were analyzed by ELISA assay,and the correlation of DR with serum PN and VEGF levels was evaluated.Results The differences in serum PN and VEGF between the case group and control group were statistically significant (both P ＜ 0.05).And there were significant difference in PN and VEGF levels among the DM group,NPDR group,PDR group and control group (all P ＜ 0.05).Meanwhile,there was no significant difference in serum PN between the DM group and NPDR group (P ＞ 0.05),but there were statistically significant differences among the other groups (all P ＜ 0.05).There were statistically significant differences in serum VEGF among the four groups (all P ＜ 0.05).And finally,positive correlations were found between PN and VEGF in the NPDR group and PDR group (r =0.483,0.509,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion PN and VEGF play an active role in the initiation and development of DR,and they have a close correlation with the neovascularization and fibrovascular membrane of the advanced stage of DR.

Objective:To study the genetic profile of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with unknown etiology in Guangdong Province and the clinical significance of jaundice-related genetic screening.Methods:From July to September, 2021, neonates with hyperbilirubinemia of unknown etiology born in different hospitals in Guangdong Province were studied. 24 neonatal jaundice-related exons were sequenced using targeted capture and high-throughput sequencing technology. The pathogenic variants were analyzed.Results:A total of 331 cases, 139 (42.0%) cases showed positive screening results with five diseases, including 65 (19.6%) cases of Gilbert syndrome, 48 (14.5%) cases of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency,18 (5.4%) cases of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide deficiency, 4 (1.2%) cases of Citrin deficiency and 4 (1.2%) cases of Dubin-Johnson syndrome. 149 (45.0%) cases carried one or more genetic variants and 43 (13.0%) cases showed no clinically significant variants. The 8 high-frequency mutation loci (carrier rate >1%) are UGT1A1 gene c.211G>A and c.1091C>T, G6PD gene c.1466G>T and c.1478G>A, SLC10A1 gene c.800C>T, SLC25A13 gene c.852_855del TATG, HBB gene c.126_129delCTTT and c.316-197C>T.Conclusions:Genetic factors are important for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with unknown etiology in Guangdong. The common pathogenic genes are UGT1A1, G6PD, SLC10A1, and SLC25A13 and the population carries high-frequency mutation loci. Therefore, genetic screening in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia of unknown etiology has important clinical significance.

To provide the ancient literary evidence support for the clinical application and development of classical prescription based on systematical collection and analysis of the ancient Chinese medical literature containing Jinshui Liujun Jian, including its origin and development. Bibliometric analysis was used and information of Jinshui Liujun Jian in ancient Chinese medical literature was then collected for statistical analysis of formula compositions, main indications, dosage, preparation methods, etc. A total of 151 valid items of data were obtained from 48 ancient Chinese medicine books. Jinshui Liujun Jian was first recorded in Jingyue Quanshu written by ZHANG Jiebin. This prescription consisted of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Pinelliae Rhizome, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Poria and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome Praeparata cum Melle, and it was mainly used to treat the deficiency of lung and kidney, edema and excess production of phlegm, or Yin deficiency in the old, insufficient blood-qi, wind-cold evil, cough and disgusting, asthma and excessive phlegm. Doctors in later dynasties mostly followed the prescription compositions, dosages and indications in Jingyue Quanshu, and extended the clinical application of this prescription.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prescriptions ; Rhizome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influencing factors of low back pain and the relationship of the influence of bad working posture, weight load and frequency of load and the dose-response relationship among the occupational workers of key industries in China. METHODS: A total of 57 501 employees from 15 key industries in China were selected as research subjects using stratified cluster sampling method. The occurrence of low back pain in the past one year, as well as occupational factors such as job type, labor organization and work posture were investigated by using the Chinese version Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China was 16.4%(9 448/57 501). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of low back pain in females was higher than that in males(P<0.01). Married, obese, occasional and frequent smokers, and a history of lower back disease were associated with increased risk of low back pain(all P<0.05). The risk of low back pain was associated with older age, higher education level, and lower frequency of physical exercise(all P<0.01). The risk of low back pain was higher with longer working time, greater back curvature, and the high frequency of long standing and sitting position work, uncomfortable working posture, repeated operation per minute, and lifting>5 kg weight(all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The influencing factors of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China include bad working posture, high frequency load, weight load and other individual factors. There is a dose-response relationship with low back posture load and frequency of load.

As a natural plant source of artemisinin,a first-line drug against malaria,Artemisia annua directly affects the extraction process of artemisinin and the source of artemisinin. At present,traditional breeding methods combined with tissue culture are often used to breed high-yield artemisinin-containing new varieties of A. annua. However,the breeding method has the disadvantages of low efficiency and continuous selection. In this study,heavy ion beam irradiation technology was used to observe the specific germplasm resources of A. annua,and the morphological characteristics,agronomic traits and artemisinin content were used as indicators to observe the selection materials and materials. The cultivated new varieties were compared with trials and regional trials. In addition,the new variety of A. annua was identified by SRAP molecular marker technology. The results showed that the new variety of A. annua, " Kehao No.1",had an average yield of 235. 0 kg of dry leaf per mu,which was more than 20% higher than that of the control. Especially,the average artemisinin content was 2. 0%,which was 45% higher than that of the control,and the " Kehao No.1" has high anti-white powder disease,high-yield and high-quality new varieties. Therefore,mutagenic breeding of heavy ion beam irradiation can significantly improve the yield and artemisinin content of the " Kehao No. 1" and it has a good promotion value.
Artemisia annua/genetics* ; Artemisinins/analysis* ; Heavy Ions ; Mutagenesis ; Phenotype ; Plant Breeding ; Plants, Medicinal/genetics*