Background While A few studies have suggested associations between ambient temperature and cardiac autonomic function, the relationship between hourly temperature variations and heart rate variability (HRV) remains unclear. Objective To examine the acute effects and lag patterns of short-term ambient temperature exposure on HRV at an hourly temporal resolution during cold and warm seasons, and to further characterize the exposure-response relationships. Methods We conducted a longitudinal panel study involving 1047 eligible participants who ordered repeated 24 h ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, between March 2020 and March 2022. Twelve HRV parameters were extracted, including standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the 5 min averages of NN intervals (SDANN), standard deviation of NN intervals index (SDNNIDX), root mean square of successive differences of adjacent NN intervals (rMSSD), triangle index (TI), percent of NN50 in the total number of NN intervals (pNN50), total power (TP), ultralow frequency (ULF), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF). Hourly meteorological data (mean temperature and relative humidity) were obtained from the nearest monitoring stations to participants' residences. Linear mixed effects models (LME) and generalized additive mixed effects models (GAMM) were employed to assess temperature-HRV associations and lag patterns during cold (from October to March next year) and warm (from April to September) seasons, with stratification by sex and age. Results A total of 1047 Urumqi residents who had repeated 24 h ambulatory electrocardiograms were included in this study. In both cold and warm seasons, the exposure-response relationship between ambient temperature and HRV showed an approximately linear negative correlation with no threshold effect; HRV parameters decreased as ambient temperature increased. The correlation between ambient temperature and HRV usually began at a lag of 6 h and disappeared around 24 h lag. The cold season induced a stronger effect on HRV decline, and for every 1 °C increase in ambient temperature during the cold season from lag 0 to 6 h, SDNN decreased by 0.72%, SDNNIDX decreased by 1.46%, TI decreased by 0.07%, SDANN decreased by 1.23%, rMSSD decreased by 1.00%, pNN50 decreased by 2.74%, TP decreased by 3.30%, ULF decreased by 3.74%, VLF decreased by 3.76%, LF decreased by 2.75%, HF decreased by 2.49%, and LF/HF decreased by 0.74%; for every 1 °C increase in ambient temperature during the warm season, SDNN decreased by 0.56%, SDNNIDX decreased by 1.08%, TI decreased by 0.29%, SDANN decreased by 0.56%, rMSSD decreased by 0.68%, pNN50 decreased by 2.11%, TP decreased by 2.64%, ULF decreased by 3.14%, VLF decreased by 2.74%, LF decreased by 1.85%, HF decreased by 1.68%, and LF/HF decreased by 0.47%. Conclusion Elevated ambient temperatures in Urumqi are significantly associated with decreased HRV in the residents, affecting cardiac autonomic function.

Objective To observe the risk factors of ischemic mitral regurgitation(IMR)in ischemic cardiomyopathy.Methods Totally 143 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy were retrospectively enrolled and divided into IMR+group(n=68)or IMR-group(n=75)based on IMR,while 50 healthy volunteers were taken as controls(control group).The general information,conventional ultrasonic parameters of left ventricle,three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(3D-STI)parameters as well as mitral valve structural and functional parameters were compared among groups,and the risk factors of IMR were screened with logistic regression analysis.Results Significant differences of left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV),left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV),left ventricular global longitudinal strain(LVGLS),the peak systolic twist(Twist),tenting volume(VTent)and total leaflet area(TLA)/annulus area(AA)were found between IMR+group and IMR-group(all P＜0.05).Decreased LVGLS,decreased Twist and increased VTent were all independent risk factors of IMR in ischemic cardiomyopathy(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Decreased LVGLS,decreased Twist and increased VTent were independent risk factors of IMR in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To examine the association between serum vitamin D level and thyroid function indicators among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide the evidence for the prevention and treatment of thyroid function abnormality among elderly patients with T2DM. Methods: Inpatients aged 60 years and older and admitted to the department of endocrinology of Zhejiang Hospital were selected as the study subjects. Gender, age, course of disease and other basic information were collected through questionnaire surveys. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25-(OH) D], thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), and total thyroxine (TT4) were measured. The correlation between serum vitamin D level and thyroid function indicators in elderly patients with T2DM was evaluated by a multiple linear regression model. Results: A total of 402 elderly patients with T2DM were surveyed, including 210 males (52.24%) and 192 females (47.76%), and had a median age of 70.00 (interquartile range, 12.00) years and a median course of disease of 14.00 (interquartile range, 14.00) years. There were 162 patients with insufficiency of vitamin D (40.30%) and 182 patients with deficiency (45.27%). The levels of TSH and glycated hemoglobin in the vitamin D deficiency group were (2.34±1.66) μIU/mL and (8.83±2.14) %, respectively, which were higher than those in the normal group [(1.74±1.10) μIU/mL and (8.11±1.75) %; P<0.05]. The levels of FT3 and FT3/FT4 in the vitamin D deficiency group were (2.86±0.48) μIU/mL and 2.85±0.71, respectively, which were lower than those in the vitamin D insufficiency group [(3.09±0.47) pg/mL and 3.14±0.81, P<0.05]. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a negative correlation between 25- (OH) D and TSH (β'=-0.159, P=0.001). Conclusion The vitamin D deficiency may be associated with the increase of TSH level among the elderly patients with T2DM.

Patients who initiated peritoneal dialysis (PD) in Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2013 were enrolled in the single center and retrospective study. Clinical and laboratory data were collected to analyze the long-term survival rates, technique survival rates and associated influencing factors. Patients were followed up until December 31, 2021 or endpoints occurred (death or stopping PD treatment). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate survival rates and technique survival rates. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of death and technique failure in PD patients. A total of 373 patients were enrolled in the study, with age of (52.1±15.8) years old and 199 (53.4%) males. During the follow-up, 154 (41.3%) patients died, 72 (19.3%) patients transferred to hemodialysis, and 40 (10.7%) patients received kidney transplant. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that overall survival rates of PD patients at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years were 92.2%, 76.6%, 66.0%, 52.4% and 38.6%, respectively. Technique survival rates were 93.5%, 84.8%, 74.2%, 62.8% and 44.5% at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression model results showed that age ( HR=1.055, 95% CI 1.039-1.073, P<0.001), transfer from hemodialysis ( HR=2.212, 95% CI 1.514-3.231, P<0.001), episodes of peritonitis ( HR=2.141, 95% CI 1.194-3.837, P=0.011), Charlson comorbidity index ( HR=1.525, 95% CI 1.305-1.783, P<0.001), and baseline albumin ( HR=0.951, 95% CI 0.925-0.978, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors of survival in PD patients. Episodes of peritonitis ( HR=2.327, 95% CI 1.274-4.250, P=0.006) and Charlson comorbidity index ( HR=1.244, 95% CI 1.035-1.496, P=0.020) were independent influencing factors of technique survival in PD patients. PD patients have good early survival rates and technical survival rates, but long-term outcomes need to be further improved. Peritonitis is a major risk factor for low long-term survival rates and technical survival rates in PD patients.

For improving epitope immunogenicity and achieving the co-immunization, late protein 1 (L1) of HPV type 16 (HPV16L1) was selected as the vector to carry the dominant epitope of Toxoplasma gondii because of the shared common population between Toxoplasma gondii and human papillomavirus (HPV). RSepitope-HPV16L1 (RSepitope fused at the "N-terminus" of HPV16L1) and HPV16L1-RSepitope (RSepitope fused at the "C-terminus" of HPV16L1) chimeras were constructed. After transfection of COS-7 cells with the recombinants, Western blot, RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence experiments confirmed that RSepitope-HPV16L1 could successfully express the corresponding mRNA and protein of RSepitope and HPV16L1, but the HPV16L1-RSepitope construct could not. A "prime-boost" immunization program was applied in mice to further evaluate the immune response elicited by the constructs, and the RSepitope-HPV16L1 immunization group produced the most significantly increased humoral and cellular immune responses (the highest RSepitope-specific IgG antibody level and the highest IFN-γ production, respectively), in which both elevated Th1 and Th2 immune responses were obtained. Moreover, the advantage of HPV16L1 as an epitope carrier was remarkable for RSepitope-HPV16L1, which induced a more prominent immunological response than RSepitope alone (without fusion with HPV16L1). Our research indicated that the N-terminus of HPV16L1 could be a better insertion site for enhancing target epitope immunogenicity, and our study offers a design for epitope vaccine of reasonable combination.
Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Epitopes ; Immunization ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Toxoplasma ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of osteopontin (OPN) splice variant mRNA, including the three isoforms OPN-A, OPN-B, and OPN-C, to explore its correlation with clinicopathologic features in gastric cancer, and to elucidate their role in tumor invasion and distant metastasis of gastric cancer.

METHODSThe expression of OPN-A, OPN-B and OPN-C mRNA were detected by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in 66 gastric cancer tissues. The relationship between the expression of OPN-A, OPN-B and OPN-C mRNA and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer was analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression of OPN-C mRNA in the gastric cancer tissue was 3.21-fold higher than that in peritumoral mucosal tissue, showing a significant difference between them (P < 0.001). OPN-C mRNA expression was correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, tumor diameter, lymph node meatastasis, distant meatastasis and had no correlation with differentiation grades. The low expression of OPN-C mRNA was correlated with long survival benefit (P = 0.03). The expression of OPN-A and OPN-B mRNA had no significant relationship with clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONSOne of the isoform of osteopontin (OPN) OPN-C mRNA is overexpressed in gastric cancer. The overexpression of OPN-C mRNA may reflect the progression and is associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer. OPN-C mRNA may have value as a prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer. However, the expression of OPN-A and OPN-B are not correlated with the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Disease Progression ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Protein Isoforms ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; mortality ; pathology

Objective To investigate the expression of osteopontin ( OPN) splice variant mRNA, including the three isoforms OPN?A, OPN?B, and OPN?C, to explore its correlation with clinicopathologic features in gastric cancer, and to elucidate their role in tumor invasion and distant metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods The expression of OPN?A, OPN?B and OPN?C mRNA were detected by real?time reverse transcriptase?polymerase chain reaction in 66 gastric cancer tissues. The relationship between the expression of OPN?A, OPN?B and OPN?C mRNA and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer was analyzed. Results The expression of OPN?C mRNA in the gastric cancer tissue was 3. 21?fold higher than that in peritumoral mucosal tissue, showing a significant difference between them (P<0.001). OPN?C mRNA expression was correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, tumor diameter, lymph node meatastasis, distant meatastasis and had no correlation with differentiation grades. The low expression of OPN?C mRNA was correlated with long survival benefit ( P=0.03) . The expression of OPN?A and OPN?B mRNA had no significant relationship with clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer. Conclusions One of the isoform of osteopontin ( OPN) OPN?C mRNA is overexpressed in gastric cancer. The overexpression of OPN?C mRNA may reflect the progression and is associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer. OPN?C mRNA may have value as a prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer. However, the expression of OPN?A and OPN?B are not correlated with the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate the expression of osteopontin ( OPN) splice variant mRNA, including the three isoforms OPN?A, OPN?B, and OPN?C, to explore its correlation with clinicopathologic features in gastric cancer, and to elucidate their role in tumor invasion and distant metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods The expression of OPN?A, OPN?B and OPN?C mRNA were detected by real?time reverse transcriptase?polymerase chain reaction in 66 gastric cancer tissues. The relationship between the expression of OPN?A, OPN?B and OPN?C mRNA and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer was analyzed. Results The expression of OPN?C mRNA in the gastric cancer tissue was 3. 21?fold higher than that in peritumoral mucosal tissue, showing a significant difference between them (P<0.001). OPN?C mRNA expression was correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, tumor diameter, lymph node meatastasis, distant meatastasis and had no correlation with differentiation grades. The low expression of OPN?C mRNA was correlated with long survival benefit ( P=0.03) . The expression of OPN?A and OPN?B mRNA had no significant relationship with clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer. Conclusions One of the isoform of osteopontin ( OPN) OPN?C mRNA is overexpressed in gastric cancer. The overexpression of OPN?C mRNA may reflect the progression and is associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer. OPN?C mRNA may have value as a prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer. However, the expression of OPN?A and OPN?B are not correlated with the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; Fluorouracil ; adverse effects ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; adverse effects ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; adverse effects ; Virus Activation ; drug effects

AIM:To investigate the impact of excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress on apoptotic cell death in a rat model of chronic cyclosporine A ( CsA ) nephrotoxicity .METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats on a low-salt diet were subcutaneously injected with vehicle (olive oil, 1 mL· kg-1· d-1) or CsA (15 mg/kg) daily for 1 or 4 weeks.Tu-bulointerstitial fibrosis and apoptotic cell death were estimated by trichrome staining and TUNEL staining .In addition , im-munohistochemistry and immunoblotting were used to evaluate the expression of immunoglobulin -binding protein ( BiP) , eu-karyotic initiation factor 2α(eIF2α), growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 153 (GADD153), caspase-12 and caspase-3.RESULTS:The rats treated with CsA for 1 week did not develop tubulointerstitial fibrosis and TUNEL-positive cells, whereas 4-week treatment with CsA induced typical tubulointerstitial fibrosis and increased TUNEL-positive cells. CsA induced a significant increase in BiP and caspase-12 expression peaked at 1 week, and then returned to normal levels at 4 weeks.In contrast, the expression of eIF2α, GADD153 and caspase-3 in CsA-treated rat kidneys were significantly in-creased in a time-dependent manner .CONCLUSION:Excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress causes apoptotic cell death by depleting molecular chaperones and stimulating the proapoptotic pathway in chronic CsA nephrotoxicity .