1.Beyond Body Weight: Body Composition and Cellular Health in a Workplace Obesity Intervention Programme
Mohd Nahar Azmi Bin Mohamed ; Nurul Zfarina Binti Mohd Zaid
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2026;41(S1):58-
Introduction:
Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by complex
alterations in body composition and metabolic health. Traditional reliance on body weight may overlook important
physiological adaptations during lifestyle intervention.
Methodology:
A cohort of 99 participants at programme entry underwent
body composition assessment using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Parameters included percent body fat (PBF),
visceral fat area (VFA), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and
phase angle (PhA). Correlation analyses were performed to
explore relationships between adiposity, muscle mass, and
cellular health.
Results:
Participants demonstrated elevated adiposity (PBF 38.9 ±
8.9%; VFA 142.9 ± 56.1 cm²). PhA was inversely associated
with VFA (r ≈ −0.23, p <0.05) and positively associated with
SMI (r ≈ 0.49, p <0.001). Notably, a subset of overweight
individuals exhibited relatively preserved PhA, indicating
heterogeneity in metabolic health despite similar adiposity
levels.
Conclusion
Body composition and PhA provide complementary
insights into metabolic health beyond body weight. These
findings support the role of bioimpedance-derived parameters in identifying metabolic heterogeneity and guiding
personalized obesity management.
Body Composition
;
Body Weight
;
Workplace
;
Obesity
2.The inhibition effect of SOCS1 gene on the growth of human myelodysplastic syndrome cells and its potential mechanisms.
Yongxiao ZHANG ; Yinghua LI ; Rui SHI
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(3):221-227
Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) on the proliferation and apoptosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) cells SKM-1 and its potential mechanisms. Methods SOCS1 was overexpressed in SKM-1 cells by transfection with exogenous SOCS1-overexpressing plasmid. Cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed with CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of proteins related to the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK2/STAT) signaling pathway. Additionally, a NOD/SCID mouse model of MDS was established to record mouse body weight and survival time, assessing the impact of the SOCS1 gene on the growth of SKM-1 cells in vivo. Results Transfection of the SOCS1-overexpressing plasmid significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of SOCS1 in the MDS cell line SKM-1. Overexpression of SOCS1 remarkably reduced cell viability, inhibited cell proliferation, and promoted apoptosis of SKM-1 cells, which also decreased the expression of phosphorylated-JAK2 (p-JAK2), phosphorylated-STAT3 (p-STAT3), and p-STAT5 proteins. Furthermore, in vivo experiment results showed that the body weight and survival time of mice in the SOCS1 overexpression group were significantly better than those in the MDS model group, and the number of CD45+ SKM-1 cells in the peripheral blood was significantly lower than that in the MDS model group, indicating that SOCS1 overexpression could inhibit the activity of SKM-1 cells in mice. Western blot results verified the protein expression level of SOCS1 in the bone marrow of mice in the SOCS1 overexpression group was significantly higher than that in the MDS model group, while the protein expression levels of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, and p-STAT5 were significantly lower than those in the MDS model group. Conclusion SOCS1 inhibits the proliferation of MDS cell line SKM-1 and promotes its apoptosis by negatively regulating the JAK2/STAT signaling pathway, making it a potential therapeutic target for myelodysplastic syndromes.
Animals
;
Humans
;
Mice
;
Apoptosis
;
Body Weight
;
Bone Marrow/metabolism*
;
Janus Kinase 2/metabolism*
;
Mice, Inbred NOD
;
Mice, SCID
;
Myelodysplastic Syndromes/metabolism*
;
Phosphorylation
;
STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
;
STAT5 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
;
Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein/metabolism*
;
Cell Proliferation
3.Value of different calculation methods for weight growth velocity in predicting long-term neurological and physical development outcomes in preterm infants.
Pei-Hong JI ; Xuan SUN ; Jin-Zhi GAO ; Ling CHEN
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(2):165-170
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the value of weight growth velocity, calculated using the Patel exponential model and the Z-score change method, in predicting the neurological and physical development outcomes of preterm infants with a gestational age of <30 weeks in the long term.
METHODS:
A retrospective study was conducted involving preterm infants with a gestational age of <30 weeks who were hospitalized and treated in the Department of Neonatology at Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from January 2017 to June 2022, and were followed up at the outpatient service more than 18 months of age. The preterm infants were divided into high and low rate groups based on the two calculation methods, and the two methods were compared regarding their predictive value for neurological and physical development outcomes in the long term.
RESULTS:
The average age of the last follow-up was (23.0±3.6) months. For neurological development, according to the Patel exponential model, the low rate group exhibited a significantly higher abnormal rate in the fine motor domain compared to the high rate group (P<0.05). Using the Z-score change method, the low rate group had significantly higher abnormal rates in both gross motor and fine motor domains, and significantly lower developmental quotients for gross motor, fine motor, and adaptive behavior domains compared to the high rate group (P<0.05). For physical development, there were no significant differences in body length, body weight, head circumference, or the incidence rate of growth restriction between the low rate and high rate groups identified by either method (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Weight growth velocity calculated using the Z-score change method is more effective in predicting long-term neurological outcomes in preterm infants, while weight growth velocity derived from both methods shows no significant association with long-term physical development outcomes.
Humans
;
Infant, Premature/growth & development*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Child Development
;
Male
;
Female
;
Body Weight
;
Infant
;
Nervous System/growth & development*
4.Correlation between bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers in preschool children and the influencing factors for bone mineral density.
Luopa NI ; Ailipati TAILAITI ; Kereman PAERHATI ; Min-Nan WANG ; Yan GUO ; Zumureti YIMIN ; Gulijianati ABULAKEMU ; Rena MAIMAITI
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(8):989-993
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolic markers in preschool children and the influencing factors for BMD, and to provide a clinical basis for promoting bone health in children.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 127 preschool children who underwent physical examination in the Department of Child Health Care of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, from June to December 2024. BMD and bone metabolic markers were measured, and physical examination was performed. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of general information on BMD Z-score in preschool children. Spearman's rank correlation test was used to investigate the correlation of BMD Z-score with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), serum bone Gla protein (BGP), and parathyroid hormone (PTH).
RESULTS:
BMD Z-score significantly differed by ethnicity, weight category, and height category (all P<0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that weight and height significantly influenced BMD Z-score (P<0.05), whereas sex, age, ethnicity, and parental education level did not (P>0.05). In children, BMD Z-score was positively correlated with 25-OHD level (rs=0.260, P<0.001) and BGP level (rs=0.075, P=0.025) and was negatively correlated with PTH level (rs=-0.043, P=0.032).
CONCLUSIONS
Weight, height, 25-OHD, BGP, and PTH are influencing factors for BMD in preschool children. In clinical practice, combined measurement of bone metabolic markers may provide a scientific basis for early identification of children with abnormal BMD and prevention of osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
Humans
;
Bone Density
;
Child, Preschool
;
Female
;
Male
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Vitamin D/blood*
;
Parathyroid Hormone/blood*
;
Biomarkers/blood*
;
Osteocalcin/blood*
;
Bone and Bones/metabolism*
;
Calcium-Binding Proteins/blood*
;
Linear Models
;
Matrix Gla Protein
;
Extracellular Matrix Proteins/blood*
;
Body Weight
;
Infant
5.Weight change across adulthood in relation to the risk of COPD.
Entong GONG ; Ziwei KOU ; Yinan LI ; Qinghai LI ; Xinjuan YU ; Tao WANG ; Wei HAN
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():64-64
BACKGROUND:
Despite some studies identifying a potential association between obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk, previous research had overlooked the dynamic nature of body weight over time, leading to inconsistent findings. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between adult weight change and COPD risk by adjusting for potential confounding factors.
METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from ten NHANES cycles (1999-2018), including adults aged 40-74 years. Weight change patterns were assessed using BMI at three time points and classified into five categories per period. Absolute weight change was also grouped into five levels. Multivariate logistic regression models, incorporating sampling weights, were used to examine associations between weight change and COPD, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle covariates.
RESULTS:
Compared with participants who maintained normal weight, stable obesity participants had increased risk of COPD from age 25 years to 10 years before the survey (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.15 to 1.83), in the 10 years period before the survey (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.47 to 2.08), and from age 25 years to survey (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.46 to 2.31). Three periods indicate that weight gain in adulthood was associated with risk of COPD. In addition, substantial weight gain of more than 20 kg was associated with a higher risk of COPD. In stratified analyses, we also observed a more significant association between weight change and the risk of COPD in never smokers compared to former smokers.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggested that stable obesity and weight gain in adulthood were associated with an increased risk of COPD compared to those who maintain a normal weight, and that the association between weight gain and the incidence of COPD appears closer in patients who have never smoked.
Humans
;
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/etiology*
;
Middle Aged
;
Male
;
Female
;
Adult
;
Aged
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Weight Gain
;
Obesity/complications*
;
Risk Factors
;
United States/epidemiology*
;
Nutrition Surveys
;
Body Mass Index
6.Effects of Compositional Isotemporal Substitutions of 24 Hours Activity Behaviors on Novel Obesity Indicators in College Students.
Yun-Feng SONG ; Chi XU ; Si-Jie TAN ; Yu-Gang QI
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(2):164-174
Objective To explore the effects of time reallocation among moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA),light physical activity(LPA),sedentary behavior(SB),and sleep on a body shape index(ABSI),body roundness index(BRI),conicity index(CI),and relative fat mass(RFM)of college students by the compositional isotemporal substitution method,thus providing measures for alleviating the obesity problem of college students. Methods Two hundred and ten college students(111 males and 99 females)aged 18-22 years old were recruited from Tianjin University of Science and Technology from April to June in 2023.Three-dimensional acceleration sensors were used to collect data of MVPA,LPA,SB,and sleep of college students.The body height,body weight,and waist circumference were measured,and four novel obesity indicators(ABSI,BRI,CI,and RFM)were calculated.The effects of substituting each activity behavior for 15 min on the obesity indicators were predicted,and the dose-effect relationship was explored at intervals of 5 min from -30 to 30 min.Results MVPA was negatively correlated with ABSI(β=-0.03,P=0.001),BRI(β=-0.27,P=0.049),CI(β=-0.10,P=0.001),and RFM(β=-9.95,P=0.004).LPA was negatively correlated with CI(β=-0.05,P=0.011)and RFM(β=-8.74,P=0.007).Neither SB nor sleep had correlations with ABSI,BRI,CI,and RFM.The results of 15 min isotemporal substitutions showed that increasing the MVPA time decreased the ABSI,BRI,CI,and RFM by 0.006-0.008,0.306-0.393,0.162-0.205,and 2.468-2.897,respectively.Decreasing the MVPA time increased the ABSI,BRI,CI,and RFM by 0.012-0.014,0.548-0.632,0.286-0.328,and 4.358-4.748,respectively.In the dose-effect relationship from -30 min to 30 min,MVPA was irreplaceable,and the negative benefits from substituting MVPA for other activity behaviors were much greater than the positive benefits from substituting MVPA for other activity behaviors.Conclusions Future research should take 24 hours activity behaviors as a whole.Increasing the time spent on MVPA and LPA and decreasing the time spent on SB is one of the effective ways to alleviate the obesity problem among college students.
Humans
;
Male
;
Students
;
Female
;
Young Adult
;
Obesity
;
Sleep
;
Adolescent
;
Exercise
;
Universities
;
Sedentary Behavior
;
Body Mass Index
;
Body Weight
7.Impacts of Internalized Weight Bias and Weight Control Beliefs on Eating Behaviors in Women Losing Weight.
Dan-Ping ZHENG ; Hong-Wei ZHU ; Yu-Jia YANG ; Jing-Yi ZHANG ; Hai-Yan ZHANG ; Zhi-Yuan ZHANG ; Wei CHEN
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(5):822-829
Objective To investigate the internalized weight bias and weight control beliefs regarding the current status,influencing factors,and impacts on eating behaviors of women losing weight. Methods A convenient sampling method was used to select the females who underwent physical examination in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August to December 2023.The general information questionnaire,Weight Bias Internalization Scale,Weight Control Belief Questionnaire,and Chinese version of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire were utilized for investigation.Latent class analysis was conducted to explore the potential categories based on the characteristics of internalized weight bias and weight control beliefs.Univariate analysis and multiple-factor linear regression analysis were performed to explore influencing factors of potential categories and their effects on eating behaviors. Results A total of 518 subjects were included in this study.The internalized weight bias and weight control beliefs could be classified into three potential categories: low weight bias tolerance type(53.7%),medium weight bias persistence type(29.5%),and high weight bias overcritical type(16.8%).Logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index,unmarriage,and divorce were the influencing factors of the high weight bias overcritical type.The scores of non-control eating and emotional eating in medium weight bias persistence type and high weight bias overcritical type were higher than those in low weight bias tolerance type(all P<0.001). Conclusions The attitudes of Chinese women towards body weight can be categorized into low weight bias tolerance type,medium weight bias persistence type,and high weight bias overcritical type.The high weight bias overcritical type is characterized by high weight bias and high personal responsibility attribution,and it is closely associated with negative eating behaviors.A high body mass index,unmarriage,and divorce are high-risk factors for developing the high weight bias overcritical type.
Humans
;
Female
;
Feeding Behavior/psychology*
;
Surveys and Questionnaires
;
Adult
;
Body Mass Index
;
Weight Loss
;
Body Weight
;
Body Image
;
Middle Aged
;
Weight Prejudice
8.Effect and mechanism of Puerariae Lobatae Radix in alleviating insulin resistance in T2DM db/db mice based on intestinal flora.
Hong-Yang ZHU ; Ye LIU ; Jia-Rong LI ; Yu-Hui LIU ; Zi-Ling RONG ; Yu-Ting LI ; Shi-Yao CHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(17):4693-4701
This study aimed to examine the effect and underlying mechanism of Puerariae Lobatae Radix on insulin resistance in db/db mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) based on the analysis of intestinal flora. Fifty db/db mice were randomly divided into a model group(M group), a metformin group(YX group), a high-dose Puerariae Lobatae Radix group(YGG group), a medium-dose Puerariae Lobatae Radix group(YGZ group), and a low-dose Puerariae Lobatae Radix group(YGD group). Another 10 db/m mice were assigned to the normal group(K group). After continuous administration for eight weeks, body weight and blood sugar of mice were measured. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect glycosylated serum protein(GSP) and fasting serum insulin(FINS), and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) was calculated. The histopathological changes in the pancreas were observed by HE staining. Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α expression in the pancreas was detected using immunohistochemistry. The structural changes in fecal intestinal flora in the K, M, and YGZ groups were detected by 16S rRNA. Western blot was used to detect the expression of farnesoid X receptor(FXR) and takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5(TGR5) in the ileum, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(CYP7A1) and sterol 27α-hydroxylase(CYP27A1) in the liver, and G protein-coupled receptors 41(GPR41) and 43(GPR43) in the colon. Compared with the K group, the M group showed increased body weight, blood sugar, serum GSP, fasting blood glucose(FBG), and FINS, increased HOMA-IR, inflammatory infiltration of islet cells, necrosis and degeneration of massive acinar cells, unclear boundary between islet cells and acinar cells, disturbed intestinal flora, and down-regulated FXR, TGR5, CYP7A1, CYP27A1, GPR41, and GPR43. Compared with the M group, the YX, YGG, YGZ, and YGD groups showed decreased body weight, blood sugar, serum GSP, FBG, and FINS, islet cells with intact and clumpy morphology and clear boundary, necrosis of a few acinar cells, and more visible islet cells. The intestinal flora in the YGZ group changed from phylum to genus levels, and the relative abundance of intestinal flora affecting the metabolites of intestinal flora increased. The protein expression of FXR, TGR5, CYP7A1, CYP27A1, GPR41, and GPR43 increased. The results show that Puerariae Lobatae Radix can improve the inflammatory damage of pancreatic islet cells and reduce insulin resistance in db/db mice with T2DM. The mechanism of action may be related to the increase in the abundance of Actinobacteria, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides in the intestinal tract and the protein expression related to metabolites of intestinal flora.
Mice
;
Animals
;
Insulin Resistance
;
Blood Glucose/metabolism*
;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics*
;
Pueraria/chemistry*
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
;
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
;
Body Weight
;
Necrosis
9.Effect of 28-day administration of Psoraleae Fructus water extract on early liver injury in rats.
Bo XU ; Guang-Tao YAO ; Jun XIE ; Lei RAN ; Xin-Yu A ; Lian-Bo XIAO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(16):4459-4466
This study aims to investigate the hepatotoxicity of Psoraleae Fructus water extract and the underlying mechanism in rats. Forty-eight rats were randomly assigned into four groups: a blank group and low-(BZGL, 6.25 g·kg~(-1)), medium-(BGZM, 12.5 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose(BGZH, 25 g·kg~(-1)) Psoraleae Fructus water extract groups. The rats were treated for 28 days, and toxicity and mortality were observed daily. After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed, and the body weight, liver index, and liver-to-brain ratio were calculated. The morphological changes in the liver tissue were observed, and the serum levels of related biochemical indicators were measured. The results showed that compared with the blank group, Psoraleae Fructus water extracts of different doses decreased the body weight, increased the liver index and liver-to-brain ratio, and caused liver hypertrophy and pathological changes. Pathological examination revealed that the rats in Psoraleae Fructus water extract groups had bile duct hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and liver cell fibrosis. Compared with the blank group, BGZL elevated the levels of alanine transaminase(ALT), α-glutathione S-transferase(α-GST), and total bile acid(TBA)(P<0.05), and BGZM and BGZH elevated the levels of ALT, TBA, α-GST, γ-glutamyl transferase(γ-GT), purine nucleoside phosphorylase(PNP), ornithine carbamoyltransferase(OCT), and arginase(ArgI)(P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, Psoraleae Fructus water extracts of different doses down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of bile salt export pump(BSEP) and farnesoid X receptor(FXR) and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), nuclear factor kappaB(NF-κB), and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase(CYP7A1)(P<0.05). The results suggested that Psoraleae Fructus water extract caused toxicity in rats, showing a dose-toxicity relationship. Psoraleae Fructus water extract may cause liver damage, which may be due to its effect on liver bile acid secretion and induction of inflammation.
Rats
;
Animals
;
Water
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Liver
;
NF-kappa B
;
Liver Cirrhosis
;
Bile Acids and Salts
;
Body Weight
;
RNA, Messenger
10.Diosgenin alleviates NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet in rats via mTOR/SREBP-1c/HSP60/MCAD/SCAD signaling pathway.
Su-Wen CHEN ; Guo-Liang YIN ; Chao-Yuan SONG ; De-Cheng MENG ; Wen-Fei YU ; Xin ZHANG ; Ya-Nan FENG ; Peng-Peng LIANG ; Feng-Xia ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(19):5304-5314
This study aims to observe the effects of diosgenin on the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c(SREBP-1c), heat shock protein 60(HSP60), medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(MCAD), and short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(SCAD) in the liver tissue of the rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and explore the mechanism of diosgenin in alleviating NAFLD. Forty male SD rats were randomized into five groups: a control group, a model group, low-(150 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) and high-dose(300 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) diosgenin groups, and a simvastatin(4 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) group. The rats in the control group were fed with a normal diet, while those in the other four groups were fed with a high-fat diet. After feeding for 8 weeks, the body weight of rats in the high-fat diet groups increased significantly. After that, the rats were administrated with the corresponding dose of diosgenin or simvastatin by gavage every day for 8 weeks. The levels of triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), alanine transaminase(ALT), and aspartate transaminase(AST) in the serum were determined by the biochemical method. The levels of TG and TC in the liver were measured by the enzyme method. Oil-red O staining was employed to detect the lipid accumulation, and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining to detect the pathological changes in the liver tissue. The mRNA and protein levels of mTOR, SREBP-1c, HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD in the liver tissue of rats were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot, respectively. Compared with the control group, the model group showed increased body weight, food uptake, liver index, TG, TC, ALT, and AST levels in the serum, TG and TC levels in the liver, lipid deposition in the liver, obvious hepatic steatosis, up-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of mTOR and SREBP-1c, and down-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD. Compared with the model group, the rats in each treatment group showed obviously decreased body weight, food uptake, liver index, TG, TC, ALT, and AST levels in the serum, TG and TC levels in the liver, lessened lipid deposition in the liver, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, down-regulated mRNA and protein le-vels of mTOR and SREBP-1c, and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD. The high-dose diosgenin outperformed the low-dose diosgenin and simvastatin. Diosgenin may prevent and treat NAFLD by inhibiting the expression of mTOR and SREBP-1c and promoting the expression of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD to reduce lipid synthesis, improving mitochondrial function, and promoting fatty acid β oxidation in the liver.
Rats
;
Male
;
Animals
;
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics*
;
Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1/metabolism*
;
Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*
;
Diosgenin/metabolism*
;
Chaperonin 60/therapeutic use*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Liver
;
Signal Transduction
;
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
;
Triglycerides
;
RNA, Messenger/metabolism*
;
Simvastatin/therapeutic use*
;
Body Weight
;
Lipid Metabolism
;
Mammals/metabolism*


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