OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between eight serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and regional fat depots, we analyzed the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2018 cycles. METHODS: Multiple linear regression models were developed to explore the associations between serum PFAS concentrations and six fat compositions along with a fat distribution score created by summing the concentrations of the six fat compositions. The associations between structurally grouped PFASs and fat distribution were assessed, and a prediction model was developed to estimate the ability of PFAS exposure to predict obesity risk. RESULTS: Among females aged 39-59 years, trunk fat mass was positively associated with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Higher concentrations of PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoate (PFDeA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and n-perfluorooctanoate (n-PFOA) were linked to greater visceral adipose tissue in this group. In men, exposure to total perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) and long-chain PFSAs was associated with reductions in abdominal fat, while higher abdominal fat in women aged 39-59 years was associated with short-chain PFSAs. The prediction model demonstrated high accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9925 for predicting obesity risk. CONCLUSION PFAS exposure is associated with regional fat distribution, with varying effects based on age, sex, and PFAS structure. The findings highlight the potential role of PFAS exposure in influencing fat depots and obesity risk, with significant implications for public health. The prediction model provides a highly accurate tool for assessing obesity risk related to PFAS exposure.
Humans ; Fluorocarbons/blood* ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Environmental Pollutants/blood* ; Abdominal Fat ; Nutrition Surveys ; Alkanesulfonic Acids/blood* ; Obesity ; Environmental Exposure

Objective:This study aims to explore the feasibility and practicality of ChatGPT in scientific research statistics through examples, in order to better understand and evaluate the application value of ChatGPT in scientific research statistics.Methods:Literature research was used to illustrate the principles of ChatGPT artificial intelligence model, combined with practical examples and tests, to assess the reliability of its results and analyze the advantages and limitations of ChatGPT in scientific research statistics.Results:ChatGPT can be applied to various scenarios in scientific research statistics, such as literature retrieval and organization, experimental design, statistical analysis programming, and statistical graphing. It can provide efficient scientific research statistical analysis capabilities, but it also has limitations.Conclusions:Although there are limitations, ChatGPT has a promising future in scientific research statistics, and it will be applied widely and deeply to greatly facilitate scientific research.

Objective:To explore the effects of Baduanjin and balancer exercise on motor and non-motor symptoms for patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods:From May, 2017 to September, 2018, 31 patients with PD were collected from the inpatients, outpatients and outside of our hospitals. The patients accepted Baduanjin and balancer exercise successively, three weeks for each exercise, and were assessed with Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part I, II, III and IV, and Non-motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) before and after each exercise. Results:Four cases dropped out during Baduanjin exercise. The total score, the scores of part I, II and III of MDS-UPDRS, and NMSS score (t > 3.274, P < 0.01) decreased significantly after Baduanjin exercise. Other three cases dropped out during balancer exercise. The total score and the score of part III of MDS-UPDRS decreased significantly after balancer exercise (t > 2.763, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Baduanjin exercise can improve the motor and non-motor symptoms of mild to moderate PD, but not significant for motor complications; while balancer exercise can improve the motor symptoms, but not significant for non-motor symptoms and motor complications.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of modified Heweitang in the treatment of functional dyspepsia （FD） due to liver-stomach disharmony and its regulation of gastrointestinal hormones and brain-gut peptides. Method:One hundred and twenty-six eligible patients were randomized into a control group （62 cases） and an observation group （64 cases）. Patients in the observation group took the modified Heweitang granules with warm water 30 min after meals， 10 g/time， 3 times/day， while those in the control group took the corresponding placebo granules at the same dose in the same manner. The treatment in both groups lasted for four weeks. Before and after treatment， the four main symptoms including postprandial satiety， early satiety， upper abdominal pain， and upper abdominal burning sensation were scored， followed by the examination of gastric emptying （GE） and the scoring of the functional digestive disorders quality of life questionnaire （FDDQL）， 7-point global overall symptom scale （GOSS）， and liver-stomach disharmony syndrome. The cholecystokinin （CCK）， motilin （MTL）， gastrin （GAS）， serotonin （5-HT）， vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP）， and substance P （SP） levels before and after treatment were detected， and then the safety was evaluated. Result:After treatment， the scores of the four main symptoms， GOSS， and liver-stomach disharmony syndrome in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.01）， while the GE rate and FDDQL scores in the observation group were higher （P<0.01）. The CCK， GAS， 5-HT， and VIP levels of the observation group declined as compared with those of the control group （P<0.01）， whereas the MTL and SP levels were elevated （P<0.01）. After treatment， the overall response rate in the observation group was （51/57）89.47%， higher than （15/56）26.79% in the control group （χ²=45.696， P<0.01）. No drug-related adverse reactions were found during the trial. Conclusion:The modified Heweitang is efficient and safe in relieving the main and related symptoms and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome， regulating the secretion of gastrointestinal hormones and brain-gut peptides， promoting GE rate， and improving the quality of life of patients with FD due to liver-stomach disharmony.

The aim of this paper was to study the specific mechanism of Fangji Huangqi Decoction(FHT) in decreasing uric acid and improving renal function in mice with hyperuricemia(HUA) induced by potassium oxonate, so as to provide theoretical basis for the research and development of drugs for clinical prevention and treatment of HUA and the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. Sixty Kunming male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, with 10 mice in each group, namely normal group, model group(250 mg·kg~(-1) potassium oxonate), FHT high, medium and low-dose groups(10 920, 5 460, and 2 730 mg·kg~(-1)) and positive drug allopurinol group(5 mg·kg~(-1)). Drug administration was given once a day for 7 days. On the 6 th day, mice of each group were kept in metabolic cages, and their urine was collected for 24 hours for determination of uric acid, creatinine, and β2-microglobulin(β2-MG) levels. After 7 days, the animals were sacrificed to determine serum uric acid, creatinine β2-MG and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) levels, and their liver and kidney tissues were collected. The liver tissues were used for subsequent determination of xanthine oxidase(XOD) activity, and the kidney tissues were used for subsequent determination of IL-1β levels, pathological tests and related Western blot experiments. In the cell transfection experiment, the cells were divided into blank group, model group(4.8 mmol·L~(-1) uric acid treatment), FHT administration group(4.8 mmol·L~(-1) uric acid+200 μg·mL~(-1) FHT), leucine-rich repeat kinase 1(LRRK1)-small interfering RNA(siRNA) group(4.8 mmol·L~(-1) uric acid+LRRK1-siRNA transfection) and LRRK1-siRNA+FHT group(4.8 mmol·L~(-1) uric acid+LRRK1-siRNA transfection+200 μg·mL~(-1) FHT). After 24 h incubation, the level of IL-1β in the cell supernatant was detected, and the cellular proteins were extracted and used to determine LRRK1, epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), PDZ kinase 1(PDZK1) and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) protein expression levels. The results showed that, FHT could significantly reduce the uric acid, creatinine and β2-MG levels in serum and β2-MG levels in urine, increase the uric acid and creatinine levels in urine, and improve the renal pathological results of the HUA mice, but showed no effect on liver XOD activity; at the same time, we found that the expression level of IL-1β in serum and kidney, NF-κB, LRRK1 and EGFR protein levels in kidney of HUA mice were significantly increased, and the expression level of PDZK1 protein was significantly decreased, while FHT could significantly improve the abnormal expression of these proteins, and FHT increased protein expression of renal organic anion transporter 1(OAT1), OAT3 and ATP bin-ding transporter G2(ABCG2) in HUA mice, but FHT had no effect on the expression of urate transporter 1(URAT1). In the cell transfection experiment, after transfection of LRRK1-siRNA, the levels of IL-1β, EGFR and NF-κB in supernatant were significantly reduced, and the expression of PDZK1 protein was significantly increased. As compared with the LRRK1-siRNA group, the levels of IL-1β, EGFR, PDZK1 and NF-κB did not change significantly with the additional FHT. This study showed that FHT may regulate the renal uric acid transport system through LRRK1 gene, improve the capacity of uric acid excretion, so as to reduce the level of serum uric acid. At the same time, FHT can not only protect the kidney directly, but also in an indirect manner by reducing the level of uric acid.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Hyperuricemia/drug therapy* ; Kidney ; Male ; Mice ; Uric Acid

Objective Based on the data of scientific research output in a top three hospital in Beijing from 2015 and 2016,stochastic frontier analysis is conducted to estimate the efficiency of scientific research performance in different departments of this hospital,so as to draw the impetus for the growth of departments.Methods According to the results of the stochastic frontier model,comprehensive analysis and evaluation are conducted for the research performance of various departments.Results The overall average technical efficiency of the hospital is 0.44,and improvement space for the technical efficiency of scientific research performance is still 0.56.There are significant differences in the technical efficiency of each department.Among the four major categories,the D section is higher than the technical efficiency of class A,B and C departments.Conclusions The overall technical efficiency of the hospital is not high,the level of scientific research output of the four types of departments is not balanced,which should be emphasized in the improvement of scientific research performance level.

Objective Discussion on the methods of retrospectively selecting peer review experts based on the results of review.Methods Based on the review data of peer reviewers,peer review experts are retrospectively selected based on the voting,rating and comprehensive evaluations,as well as their variations and errors during the review.Results Through the retrospective selection of peer reviewers,there is a better convergence of reviews,which assures the quality of future peer reviews.This method is superior to the prospective selection of peer reviewers.Conclusions Based on the results of the review,retrospective selection of peer review experts is feasible and helpful for the selection of high-level peer review experts,which can improve the quality of peer review and standardize peer review.

Objective To study the dynamic changes of scientific research efficiency of 51 departments in a top three hospitals in Beijing from 2014 to 2016,and to provide reference information for improving the efficiency of scientific research in hospital departments.Methods The CCC model of DEA,BCC model were used for lateral analysis,and then Malmquist index was used for longitudinal analysis.Results There were 12 (23.53％) departments in 2014,11 (21.57％) departments in 2015,9 (17.65％) departments in 2016 data envelopment analysis was valid,from 2014 to 2016,41 (80.39％) departments of the hospital increased the total factor productivity.Conclusions The total factor productivity of the 51 departments in the hospital increased from 2014 to 2016,and technological progress was the main reason for its growth.

Objective Based on the three years' peer review data of a project fund,the results of fund peer review were analyzed and evaluated,to provide references for further improvement of the peer review and management.Methods Based on the fund's peer review results of 2145 projects in three years,descriptive statistics,single-item identification index were adopted,as well as RJ normality test,t-test and other statistical methods,to analyze and assess the overall data of fund,project categories,individual scores,etc.Results The score distribution of the three year peer review project of the fund is almost normal distribution,and the overall consistency of peer review shows a better trend.The analysis shows that the peer review experts of the fund have better consistency in terms of project innovation,rationality and characteristics.While there were differences in the peer review of applicability.Conclusions The three year peer review data of the fund show that three years' evaluation results are reliable,reasonable,and the quality of evaluation is good,showing a better development trend in both project quality and expert consistency.

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs662 of the paraoxonase 1 gene (PON1) and the risk of male infertility.

METHODSThis case-control study included 403 male idiopathic infertility patients aged 29.00 ± 4.48 years in the case group and 329 normal fertile men aged 28.28 ± 4.08 years as healthy controls. We obtained DNA from the peripheral venous blood of the subjects, genotyped the SNP rs662 of PON1 by Sequenom MassArray, and analyzed the association between different genotypes of PON1 rs662 and male infertility using the logistic regression model.

RESULTSCompared with the normal controls, the infertility patients showed a significantly increased level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (［16.30 ± 17.76］ vs ［4.72 ± 2.51］ U/L, P < 0.01) but a decreased percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) (［7.40 ± 14.17］ % vs ［41.93 ± 9.06］ %, P < 0.01) and sperm concentration (［2.74 ± 3.64］ vs ［75.83 ± 63.66］ ×10⁶/ml, P < 0.01). Statistically significant differences were not found in the other parameters between the two groups of subjects, nor in the correlation of male infertility with the heterozygous genotype GA versus the wild homozygous genotype GG (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.63－1.53, P = 0.923) or the homozygous genotype AA versus the wild homozygous genotype GG (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.56－1.34, P = 0.525).

CONCLUSIONSThe SNP rs662 of PON1 was not correlated with male infertility, which, however, needs to be confirmed by further studies with larger samples from a larger area.