OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the causal association between circulating levels of zinc, magnesium, and other minerals and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using summary statistics from large-scale genome-wide association studies of European populations, including 18 382 ASD cases and 27 969 controls. Genetic data for iron, calcium, and magnesium were obtained from the UK Biobank, and data for zinc and selenium were sourced from an Australian-British cohort. A total of 351 genetic instrumental variables were selected. Causal inference was performed using inverse-variance weighting as the primary analysis method. Sensitivity analyses were performed by Cochran's Q test and MR-PRESSO global test to assess the robustness of the findings. RESULTS: No statistically significant causal effect was observed for circulating zinc, magnesium, calcium, selenium, or iron levels on ASD risk (all P>0.05). The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals from the inverse-variance weighting analysis were 0.934 (0.869-1.003) for zinc, 1.315 (0.971-1.850) for magnesium, 1.055 (0.960-1.159) for calcium, 1.015 (0.953-1.080) for selenium, and 0.946 (0.687-1.303) for iron. Sensitivity analysis revealed significant heterogeneity in the causal association between circulating calcium and ASD (P=0.006), while the effect estimate remained stable after MR-PRESSO correction (P=0.487). The causal effect estimates for the remaining minerals demonstrated good robustness. CONCLUSIONS This study did not find significant evidence supporting a causal association between circulating zinc, magnesium, calcium, selenium, or iron levels and ASD risk, providing important clues for the etiology of ASD and precision nutritional interventions.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics* ; Magnesium/blood* ; Zinc/blood* ; Minerals/blood* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Selenium/blood*

Viruses constitute a significant group of pathogens that have caused numerous fatalities and substantial economic losses in recent years, particularly with the emergence of coronaviruses. While the impact of SARS-CoV-2 appears to be diminishing in daily life, only a limited number of drugs have received approval or emergency use authorization for its treatment. Given the high mutation rate of viral genomes, host-directed agents (HDAs) have emerged as a preferred choice due to their broad applicability and lasting effectiveness. In contrast to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), HDAs offer several advantages, including broad-spectrum antiviral activities, potential efficacy against future emerging viruses, and a lower likelihood of inducing drug resistance. In our review article, we have synthesized known host-directed antiviral targets that span diverse cellular pathways and mechanisms, shedding light on the intricate interplay between host cells and viruses. Additionally, we have provided a brief overview of the development of HDAs based on these targets. We aim for this comprehensive analysis to offer valuable perspectives and insights that can guide future antiviral research and drug development efforts.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic potential of osthole for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), focusing on its ability to alleviate chronic pruritus (CP) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of osthole in both a 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) stimulated huma immortalized epidermal (HaCaT) cells. The anti-itch effect of osthole was specifically assessed in the AD mouse model. Using methods such as hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot (WB), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Osthole improved skin damage and clinical dermatitis scores, reduced scratching bouts, and decreased epidermal thickness AD-like mice. It also reduced the levels of interleukin (IL)-31 and IL-31 receptor A (IL-31 RA) in both skin tissues and HaCaT cells. Furthermore, Osthole suppressed the protein expression levels of phosphor-p65 (p-p65) and phosphor-inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-Bα (p-IκBα). Meanwhile, it increased the protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and PPARγ in HaCaT cells. CONCLUSION These findings indicated that osthole effectively inhibited CP in AD by activating PPARα, PPARγ, repressing the NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as the expression of IL-31 and IL-31 RA.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of glycemic control and diabetes duration on subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with both coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 33,238 patients with both CHD and T2D in Shenzhen, China. Patients were categorized into 6 groups based on baseline fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and diabetes duration (from the date of diabetes diagnosis to the baseline date) to examine their combined effects on subsequent MI. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used, with further stratification by age, sex, and comorbidities to assess potential interactions. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 2.4 years, 2,110 patients experienced MI. Compared to those with optimal glycemic control (FPG < 6.1 mmol/L) and shorter diabetes duration (< 10 years), the fully-adjusted hazard ratio ( HR) (95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]) for those with a diabetes duration of ≥ 10 years and FPG > 8.0 mmol/L was 1.93 (95% CI: 1.59, 2.36). The combined effects of FPG and diabetes duration on MI were largely similar across different age, sex, and comorbidity groups, although the excess risk of MI associated with long-term diabetes appeared to be more pronounced among those with atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION Our study indicates that glycemic control and diabetes duration significant influence the subsequent occurrence of MI in patients with both CHD and T2D. Tailored management strategies emphasizing strict glycemic control may be particularly beneficial for patients with longer diabetes duration and atrial fibrillation.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Disease/complications* ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Glycemic Control ; Blood Glucose ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

ObjectiveTo use the maternal morbidity WOICE Tool（Chinese version）to investigate the maternal morbidity in Shanghai， and to examine the current situation and associated factors of adverse symptoms and impaired functioning in the third trimester and postpartum period. MethodsPregnant women who made their initial visit and established a medical record at a tertiary obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Shanghai from March to August 2021 were recruited and a baseline survey was completed. The prevalence of maternal morbidity was surveyed in the third trimester and first 6 weeks postpartum. ResultsSelf-reported adverse physical symptoms were observed in 89.8% of women in the third trimester and 86.1% in first 6 weeks postpartum. The prevalence rates of anxiety and depression were 4.1% and 6.2% in the third trimester， and 6.2% and 7.5% in first 6 weeks postpartum， respectively. The proportions of women reporting impaired functioning were 80.3% in the third trimester and 64.1% in first 6 weeks postpartum， respectively. Physical symptoms were associated with parity， education， the newborn’s health status， and risk of experiencing violence. Psychological symptoms were associated with age， household responsibilities， employment status， the newborn’s health status， pre-pregnancy body mass index （BMI）， and risk of experiencing violence. Functionality was associated with the type of registered residence， education level， household responsibilities， and risk of experiencing violence. ConclusionThe physical health status of pregnant and postpartum women in Shanghai is better than that in the middle-income regions abroad， with anxiety and depression at average levels compared to national statistics in China. Physical， psychological， and functional status are affected by multiple factors including personal， health， family， and work conditions. Preventive measures should be taken from various perspectives to mitigate adverse symptoms and impaired functioning， and to improve the positive experience of pregnancy and childbirth.

By using thioflavin T(ThT)as displacement-based fluorescent probes,three kinds of aptasensors were constructed for rapid detection of three kinds of small molecules such as ochratoxin A(OTA),aflatoxin B1(AFB1)and adenosine.In the absence of target molecule,ThT bound with the aptamer to form an aptamer-ThT complex and exhibited a significant fluorescence response.Upon the addition of target molecule,because of the higher affinity between target and aptamer than that between ThT and the aptamer,ThT was displaced by the target molecule from the aptamer-ThT complex,resulting in weakened fluorescence signal.Based on this principle,the target molecule could be detected quantitatively.Further study through circular dichroism spectra showed that there was no significant change in the conformation of the aptamer after addition of ThT or target molecules.The stoichiometric ratios of ThT to OTAapt,AFB1apt and Adeapt measured through the method of equimolar continuous variation was 1∶1,1∶1 and 2∶1,respectively,and their dissociation constants were all larger than those between the target molecule and its aptamer.Therefore,the principle of this detection method was the displacement of fluorescent probe(ThT)in aptamer-ThT complex by target molecule,resulting in decrease of fluorescence intensity.Under optimal experimental conditions,the limits of detection(LODs)were 0.8 nmol/L for OTA,1.3 nmol/L for AFB1,and 0.10 μmol/L for adenosine,respectively.This method was label-free,simple to operate,with low cost,good selectivity and high sensitivity.The developed assay kit based on this method could be used for actual sample detection.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application value of the new tracer mitoxantrone hydrochloride in imaging of cervical lymph nodes and identifying of parathyroid, recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid cancer radical surgery.Methods:A prospective controlled study was conducted between January 2022 and April 2024 at Tianjin First Central Hospital, recruiting 180 patients with thyroid cancer, including 54 males and 126 females, aged from 26 to 69 years. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: the mitoxantrone hydrochloride lymph node tracing group (MHI group), the nanocarbon lymph node tracing group (nanocarbon group), and the control group without lymph node tracers, with 60 cases in each group. All patients underwent total thyroid resection and regional lymph node dissection. The number of detected lymph nodes and positive metastatic lymph nodes and surgical field clarity scores and the identification rate of parathyroid glands and the instances of inadvertent excision were compared between the groups. Serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels at different perioperative time points and treatment-related complications were analyzed. One-way ANOVA, chi-square test and two independent sample non-parametric tests, were employed for statistical analyses.Results:The mean operation time, neck drainage volume and hospital stay in the MHI group and the nanocarbon group were respectively significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The mean staining intensity score, tracer success rate and surgical field clarity score in MHI group were respectively significantly higher than those in nanocarbon group ( P<0.05). The mean numbers of dissected lymph nodes positive metastatic nodes and identification rates of parathyroid glands in MHI group were respectively significantly higher than those in both the nanocarbon and control groups ( P<0.05). The rates of inadvertent parathyroid excision in both MHI group and nanocarbon group were significantly lower than those in control group ( P<0.05). On postoperative day 1 and day 5, mean serum calcium and PTH levels in MHI group were respectively significantly higher than those in nanocarbon group and control groups. However, on postoperative day 1, there was no difference in mean serum calcium levels between the nanocarbon group and the control group ( P>0.05), though PTH level in the nanocarbon group was higher than that in the control group. By postoperative day 5, both serum calcium and PTH levels were higher in the nanocarbon group compared to the control group ( P<0.05). On postoperative days 30, there were no differences in serum calcium and PTH levels between the MHI group and the nanocarbon group ( P>0.05). The risks of facial numbness, hand and foot tetany and choking during drinking were lower in both the MHI and nanocarbon groups compared to the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:MHI demonstrates advantages in rapid targeted delivery and clear staining of the surgical field during regional lymph node dissection in radical thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer, effectively reducing the risk of collateral damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands.

Objective:To construct a virtual-real interactive system HE-01 for the treatment of microtia based on HoloLens and verify the feasibility of applying HE-01 in ear reconstruction.Methods:Six volunteers (3 males and 3 females, average age: 20.5 years old) and six patients with microtia(3 males and 3 females, average age: 7.6 years old) were recruited from Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from August to September 2021. The Mimics Research 21.0 software and 3-matic research software were used to construct a virtual three-dimensional auricle model. Based on HoloLens and occlusal splint navigation marker device, the virtual-real interactive system HE-01 for the treatment of microtia was constructed. The registration accuracy, tracking delay and display effect of different colors (red, green, blue and skin color) of HE-01 were evaluated through repeated experiments of volunteers. The operation process was defined through repeated experiments of patients and the feasibility of applying HE-01 in auricular reconstruction was verified.Results:HE-01 was built successfully and the operation flow was clear. The experiment of six volunteers (12 ears) showed a high registration accuracy (average error rate 2.3%-2.4%, less than 2.7% of the bilateral auricle size difference of normal people), low tracking delay (six volunteers were all less than 0.1 s), and best green and red display effect of virtual auricle guide under different angles (-60°, -30°, 0°, 30°, 60°). Experiments of patients with microtia showed that HE-01 could be applied to auricular reconstruction, and there were no obvious complications in wearing the navigation marker device, which had repeatability and stability.Conclusion:This study has completed the conceptual design of augmented-reality assisted auricular reconstruction based on navigation device, CT data and HoloLens. HE-01 has good registration accuracy, tracking speed and display effect, laying a good foundation for further software development and clinical transformation.

Objective:To construct a virtual-real interactive system HE-01 for the treatment of microtia based on HoloLens and verify the feasibility of applying HE-01 in ear reconstruction.Methods:Six volunteers (3 males and 3 females, average age: 20.5 years old) and six patients with microtia(3 males and 3 females, average age: 7.6 years old) were recruited from Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from August to September 2021. The Mimics Research 21.0 software and 3-matic research software were used to construct a virtual three-dimensional auricle model. Based on HoloLens and occlusal splint navigation marker device, the virtual-real interactive system HE-01 for the treatment of microtia was constructed. The registration accuracy, tracking delay and display effect of different colors (red, green, blue and skin color) of HE-01 were evaluated through repeated experiments of volunteers. The operation process was defined through repeated experiments of patients and the feasibility of applying HE-01 in auricular reconstruction was verified.Results:HE-01 was built successfully and the operation flow was clear. The experiment of six volunteers (12 ears) showed a high registration accuracy (average error rate 2.3%-2.4%, less than 2.7% of the bilateral auricle size difference of normal people), low tracking delay (six volunteers were all less than 0.1 s), and best green and red display effect of virtual auricle guide under different angles (-60°, -30°, 0°, 30°, 60°). Experiments of patients with microtia showed that HE-01 could be applied to auricular reconstruction, and there were no obvious complications in wearing the navigation marker device, which had repeatability and stability.Conclusion:This study has completed the conceptual design of augmented-reality assisted auricular reconstruction based on navigation device, CT data and HoloLens. HE-01 has good registration accuracy, tracking speed and display effect, laying a good foundation for further software development and clinical transformation.

Objectives:To report the sexual functional outcomes of vaginal dilation therapy in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome patients.Methods:From March 2020 to February 2023, 97 MRKH syndrome patients performed vaginal dilation therapy with guidance from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and 45 of them engaged in penetrative intercourse and were included in this prospective cohort study. The Chinese version of female sexual function index (FSFI) was used to assess sexual function. Functional success was defined as FSFI>23.45. Forty age-matched healthy women were selected as controls. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate the median time to success. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between neovagina length and sexual function. Complications were collected using follow-up questionnaires.Results:The functional success rate of vaginal dilation therapy was 89% (40/45) with a median time to success of 4.3 months (95% CI: 3.0-6.1 months). Compared to controls, MRKH syndrome patients had significantly lower scores in the orgasm domain (4.72±1.01 vs 4.09±1.20; P=0.013) and pain domain (5.03±0.96 vs 4.26±0.83; P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the FSFI total score (26.77±2.70 vs 26.70±2.33; P=0.912), arousal domain (4.43±0.77 vs 4.56±0.63; P=0.422) and satisfaction domain (4.88±0.98 vs 4.65±0.86; P=0.269) between MRKH syndrome patients and controls. MRKH syndrome patients had significantly higher scores in the desire domain (3.33±0.85 vs 3.95±0.73; P<0.001) and lubrication domain (4.37±0.56 vs 5.20±0.67; P<0.001). The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in MRKH patients was non-inferior to controls: low desire [3% (1/40) vs 23% (9/40); P=0.007], arousal disorder [3% (1/40) vs 3% (1/40); P>0.999], lubrication disorder [5% (2/40) vs 25% (10/40); P=0.012], orgasm disorder [40% (16/40) vs 20% (8/40); P=0.051], sexual pain [30% (12/40) vs 15% (6/40); P=0.108]. Conclusions:MRKH syndrome patients undergoing non-invasive vaginal dilation therapy could achieve satisfactory sexual life. Given its high functional success rate and slight complication, vaginal dilation therapy should be recommended as the first-line option, reducing the need for unnecessary surgeries.