1.Correlation between pen-holding posture, grip strength and myopia in school-aged children
Yuxiao WU ; Zhengyang TAO ; Zhirong XU ; Yu LIN ; Hongwei DENG ; Jun ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2024;42(9):827-833
Objective:To investigate the correlation between pen-holding posture, grip strength and myopia.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed.A total of 496 school-aged children in grades 1-6, who underwent eye examinations at Shenzhen Eye Hospital from November 2021 to May 2022 were consecutively enrolled as subjects.The subjects' age, grade, sex, refractive error and age of school enrollment were recorded.Subjects' grip strength and pen-holding posture were obtained with an electronic grip strength meter and a tool pen, and subjects were divided into correct pen-holding posture group and incorrect pen-holding posture group according to their pen-holding posture.Propensity scores for sex, grade, age at school entry, and grip strength in the two groups were matched using the nearest neighbor matching method.Multifactorial binary logistic regression analysis was performed with binocular myopia, monocular myopia, and emmetropia as dependent variables and grip strength, grade, refractive error, and pen-holding posture as independent variables.The correlation between grip strength and spherical equivalent was examined by Spearman rank correlation analysis and partial correlation analysis.This study protocol adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Eye Hospital (No.2022KYPJ032).Results:After matching propensity scores, there were 101 cases and 197 cases in the correct pen-holding posture group and incorrect pen-holding posture group, respectively.There was no statistical significance in sex, grade, age at enrollment, and grip strength between the two groups (all at P>0.05).Multinomial logistic regression results showed that using emmetropia as a reference, higher grade (4 versus 1∶7.601[1.307-44.206]; 5 versus 1∶4.392[1.039-18.562]), presence of anisometropia (21.366[5.750-79.397]) were relative risk factors for monocular myopia (all at P<0.05), and higher grade (3 versus 1∶4.389[1.783-10.800]); 4 versus 1∶15.398[3.267-72.574]; 5 versus 1∶7.447[2.232-24.851]; 6 versus 1∶6.462[2.116-19.734]) were relative risk factors for binocular myopia (all at P<0.05).Taking monocular myopia as a reference, higher grade (6 versus 1∶4.582[1.193-17.589]), presence of anisometropia (0.141[0.069-0.289]), and irregular pen-holding posture (2.608[1.340-5.075]) were associated factors for binocular myopia (all at P<0.05).According to partial correlation analysis, the spherical equivalent of the right eye of children with incorrect pen-holding posture was negatively correlated with the grip strength ( rs=-0.141, P=0.047). Conclusions:There is an association between pen-holding posture and myopia in school-aged children.Children with greater grip strength and incorrect pen-holding posture may have higher degrees of right eye refractive error.
2.Correlations of brain network functional connectivity alterations with cerebrospinal fluid pathological markers in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Chengbing GONG ; Zhengyang ZHU ; Jingxian XU ; Wenting SONG ; Haifeng CHEN ; Ruomeng QIN ; Hui ZHAO ; Yun XU
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2024;23(1):18-26
Objective:To explore the correlations of brain network functional connectivity (FC) alterations with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathological biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods:A total of 39 patients with cognitive impairment, admitted to Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from January 2020 to December 2022 were recruited; 23 patients were with AD and 16 with non-AD. Clinical data were compared between the 2 groups. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data were collected, and FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks were compared by independent component analysis. Correlations of FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks with concentrations of β-amyloid protein 1-42 (Aβ 1-42) and Tau protein in CSF were analyzed. Results:Compared with the non-AD group, AD group had significantly lower Aβ 1-42 in CSF ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between the left frontoparietal network (lFPN) and anterior default mode network (aDMN) and between the visual network (VN) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), as well as FC alterations in lFPN, were significantly increased in AD group ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between lFPN and cerebellar network (CEN), and FC alterations in aDMN, sensorimotor network (SMN) and VN were significantly decreased in AD group ( P<0.05). In AD group, FC in SMN was positively correlated with total Tau and phosphorylated-Tau181 in CSF ( P<0.05); FC between VN and PCC was positively correlated with total Tau in CSF ( P<0.05). CSF Aβ 1-42 was positively correlated with FC alterations in aDMN and VN, but negatively correlated with FC in FPN ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In AD patients, characteristic changes in FC within and between multiple brain networks are noted, which are related to changes of Tau protein and Aβ 1-42 in CSF.
3.Optimizing outdoor smoking points outside large exhibition halls based on real-time on-site PM2.5 and CO2 monitoring
Jin SUN ; Chenxi YAN ; Zhuohui ZHAO ; Chenchen XIE ; Zhengyang GONG ; Hao TANG ; Kunlei LE ; Yuzhi CHENG ; Zhuyan YIN ; Jingyi YUAN ; De CHEN ; Yunfei CAI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(6):673-680
Background Improper settings of outdoor smoking points in public places may increase the risk of secondhand smoke exposure among the population. Conducting research on air pollution in and around smoking spots and related influencing factors can provide valuable insights for optimizing the setting of outdoor smoking points. Objective To investigate the influence of the number of smokers at outdoor smoking points and the distance on the diffusion characteristics of surrounding air pollutants, in order to optimize the setting of outdoor smoking points. Methods Surrounding the exhibition halls in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), two outdoor smoking points were randomly selected, one on the first floor (ground level) and the other on the second floor (16 m above ground), respectively. At 0, 3, 6, and 9 m from the smoking points in the same direction, validated portable air pollutant monitors were used to measure the real-time fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations for consecutive 5 d during the exhibition, as well as the environmental meteorological factors at 0 m with weather meters including wind speed, wind direction, and air pressure. An open outdoor atmospheric background sampling point was selected on each of the two floors to carry out parallel sampling. Simultaneously, the number of smokers at each smoking point were double recorded per minute. The relationships between the number of smokers, distance from the smoking points, and ambient PM2.5 and CO2 concentrations were evaluated by generalized additive regression models for time-series data after adjustment of confounders such as temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. Results The median numbers of smokers at smoking points on the first and second floors were 6 [interquartile range (IQR): 3, 9] and 9 (IQR: 6, 13), respectively. Windless (wind speed <0.6 m·s−1) occupied most of the time (85.9%) at both locations. The average concentration of ambient PM2.5 at the smoking points (0 m) [mean ± standard deviation, (106±114) μg·m−3] was 4.2 times higher than that of the atmospheric background [(25±7) μg·m−3], the PM2.5 concentration showed a gradient decline with the increase of distance from the smoking points, and the average PM2.5 concentration at 9 m points [(35±22) μg·m−3] was close to the background level (1.4 times higher). The maximum concentration of CO2 [(628±23) μmol·mol−1] was observed at 0 m, and its average value was 1.3 times higher than that of the atmospheric background [(481±40) μmol·mol−1], and there was no gradient decrease in CO2 concentration with increasing distance at 0, 3, 6, and 9 m points. The regression analyses showed that, taking smoking point as the reference, every 3 m increase in distance was associated with a decrease of ambient PM2.5 by 24.6 [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 23.5, 25.8] μg·m−3 (23.2%) and CO2 by 54.1 (95%CI: 53.1, 55.1) μmol·mol−1 (8.6%). Every one extra smoker at the smoking point was associated with an average increase of PM2.5 and CO2 by 2.0 (95%CI: 1.7, 2.8) μg·m−3 and 1.0 (95%CI: 0.7,1.2) μmol·mol−1, respectively. The sensitivity analysis indicated that, under windless conditions, the concentrations of PM2.5 and CO2 at the smoking points were even higher but the decreasing and dispersion characteristics remained consistent. Conclusion Outdoor smoking points could significantly increase the PM2.5 concentrations in the surrounding air and the risks of secondhand smoke exposure, despite of the noticeable decreasing trend with increasing distance. Considering the inevitable poor dispersion conditions such as windless and light wind, outdoor smoking points are recommended to be set at least 9 m or farther away from non-smoking areas.
4.Mechanism of Huanglian Jiedutang in Inhibiting Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasomes and Ameliorating Acute Liver Injury in Septic Mice
Ruizhu ZHAO ; Zhengyang HUA ; Yuhang WANG ; Xinyue REN ; Dingxing FAN ; Shilei LOU ; Hui YAN ; Cong SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(22):27-34
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Huanglian Jiedutang in inhibiting the pyroptosis mediated by NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes and alleviating the acute liver injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the mouse model of sepsis. MethodFifty-four male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into blank, model, low- (3.08 g·kg-1), medium- (6.15 g·kg-1), and high-dose (12.30 g·kg-1) Huanglian Jiedutang, and positive control (dexamethasone) groups (n=9). The mice were administrated with Huanglian Jiedutang at different doses by gavage for 7 days, and then LPS (15 mg·kg-1) was injected intraperitoneally for the modeling of sepsis. In the positive control group, dexamethasone (0.05 g·kg-1) was injected intraperitoneally 1.5 h after modeling, and the mouse sepsis score (MSS) was recorded 12 h after modeling. The mice were sacrificed for the collection of blood and liver tissue samples. The levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were measured by a biochemical analyzer. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and IL-18 in the serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the liver tissue. The content of NLRP3 was observed by the immunofluorescence assay. The expression of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) was detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in the liver tissue were determined by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA levels of GSDMD, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18. ResultCompared with the blank group, the model group showed elevated levels of ALT and AST (P<0.01) and risen levels of inflammatory cytokines in the serum (P<0.01). In addition, the modeling resulted in edema and necrosis in the liver, and up-regulated the protein levels of GSDMD, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 (P<0.01) and the mRNA levels of GSDMD, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the drug intervention groups showed reduced content of inflammatory cytokines (P<0.01), alleviated pathological damage in the liver tissue, and down-regulated protein levels of GSDMD, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 (P<0.05,P<0.01) and mRNA levels of GSDMD, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.05,P<0.01) in the liver tissue. ConclusionHuanglian Jiedutang can inhibit pyroptosis and reduce inflammation by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes, thus demonstrating a therapeutic effect on acute liver injury in the mouse model of sepsis induced by LPS.
5.Midbody remnant regulates the formation of primary cilia and their roles in tumor growth
Zhengyang LI ; Huiming ZHAO ; Subing LI ; Zuoyi JIAO
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2024;53(2):261-268
Recent studies have shown that the formation of the primary cilium is associated with a specific cellular organelle known as the midbody remnant(MBR),which is a point-like organelle formed by shedding of the midbody at the end of mitosis.MBRs move along the cell surface close to the center body and regulate it to form primary cilia at the top of the centriole.Primary cilia can act as an organelle to inhibit tumorigenesis,and it is lost in a variety of tumors.Studies have shown that the accumulation of MBRs in tumor cells affects ciliogenesis;in addition,both MBRs and primary cilia are degraded in tumor cells through the autophagy pathway,and MBRs can also transfer tumor signaling pathway factors to primary cilia affecting tumorigenesis.In this article,the basic structure and the formation process of MBR and primary cilia are reviewed and the mechanism of MBRs regulating ciliogenesis is elaborated.The significance of MBR-mediated ciliogenesis in tumorigenesis and its potential as a target for cancer treatment are discussed.
6.Correlations of hippocampal subfield volumes with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Zhengyang ZHU ; Chengbing GONG ; Ruomeng QIN ; Wenting SONG ; Hui ZHAO ; Yun XU
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2023;22(10):1023-1029
Objective:To study the correlations of hippocampal subfield volumes with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.Methods:Forty-nine patients with cognitive impairment, including 30 AD patients and 19 non-AD patients, were recruited in Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Clinical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from May 2017 to December 2021. Concentrations of Aβ 1-42, total tau protein and phosphorylated tau protein in CSF were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Volumes of 12 hippocampal subfields were calculated using FreeSurfer image analysis. Differences of clinical data, neuropsychological scores and CSF biomarker concentrations between the 2 groups were compared. Partial correlation was performed to analyze the correlations of volumes of hippocampal subfields with CSF biomarker concentrations. Results:AD patients had significantly lower Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and Aβ 1-42 concentration in CSF than non-AD patients ( P<0.05); AD patients had significantly lower volumes of the right hippocampal parasitulum, dentate gyrus and CA4 than non-AD group ( P<0.05); the right parasubiculum volume was negatively correlated with CSF Aβ 1-42 ( r=-0.445, P=0.023) and positively correlated with CSF P-tau ( r=0.393, P=0.047) in AD patients. Volumes of left hippocampus tail, parasubiculum, CA1, molecular layer, dentate gyrus, CA3 and CA4 were negatively correlated with CSF total tau ( P<0.05). No significant correlation was noted between hippocampal subfield volumes and CSF biomarker concentrations in non-AD patients. Conclusion:Some right hippocampal subfields in AD patients atrophy compared with those in non-AD patients with cognitive impairment; the right parasubiculum may play a compensatory role in disease process, while volumes of the left hippocampus decreased with increased CSF total tau.
7.Repair of scalp defect with anterolateral thigh perforator flap after revascularisation of moyamoya disease: a report of 7 cases
Zhengyang LIANG ; Guohong ZHAO ; Pengfei WEI ; Huawei SUN ; Jianhua ZHANG ; Huikai BAI ; Jianjun ZHAO ; Shuai FENG ; Chen WANG ; Zhenjun XIE
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery 2023;46(3):254-259
Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of free anterolateral thigh perforator flap(ALTPF) in reconstruction of temporal scalp defect after blood circulation reconstruction surgery for moyamoya disease.Methods:From May 2020 to July 2022, 7 patients with scalp defect after revascularisation of moyamoya disease were treated in Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital (People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University). The patients were 4 males and 3 females, aged 33-59 years old, at 43 years old in average. There were 5 defects in left tempus and 2 in right tempus. The sizes of scalp defect were 4.5 cm × 5.5 cm-7.5 cm × 9.5 cm. Debridement and VSD management were primarily performed. After wounds were stabilised, ultrasound location of perforator vessels of ALTPFs was performed. Having confirmed that the perforator vessels were suitable for the surgical requirements, flap transfers were then performed. The descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery was end-to-side anastomosed with the superficial temporal artery, and the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex vein was end-to-end anastomosed with the superficial temporal vein. Postoperative follow-up was conducted through outpatient clinic visits, telephone and WeChat reviews. Appearance, texture of ALTPFs and the flap donor sites were observed in follow-ups. Comparisons of the changes of nervous system before and after surgery were made. Cognitive function of the patients was assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), together with the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) .Results:All 7 flaps survived. One flap had vascular compromise 6 hours after surgery, and was rectified after surgical intervention. All the patients were included in the postoperative follow-up for 7-33 (average 19) months. All flaps had good appearance with soft texture. There was no obvious difference in colour comparing with the skin around the recipient region. The donor sites healed well without hypertrophic scar. Examinations of nervous system of the patients were found the same as that before surgery. Using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), the average limb muscle strength of the patients was 4 before surgery and 4 after surgery, without change; Using the Ashworth assessment scale, the average preoperative and postoperative limb muscle tension in this group of patients was 1, without change; The Berg balance scale was used to evaluate the patient's balance function, with an average score of 42 before surgery and 42 after surgery, without any changes; There was no change in limb sensation before and after surgery; Using the MMSE, the average preoperative score and postoperative score of this group of patients were 25 points, without any change. Using the modified Barthel index scoring standard, the average preoperative score for this group of patients was 75 points, and the average postoperative score was 79 points, and the ADL of the patient had improved to various levels.Conclusion:Reconstruction of scalp defect with free ALTPF after revascularisation of moyamoya disease has obvious advantages, such as it closes the wound quickly, prevents infection and achieves a good appearance. This surgical procedure can produce a good clinical effect.
8.IKKβ mediates homeostatic function in inflammation via competitively phosphorylating AMPK and IκBα.
Juan LIU ; Yuxin ZHUANG ; Jianlin WU ; Qiang WU ; Meixian LIU ; Yue ZHAO ; Zhongqiu LIU ; Caiyan WANG ; Linlin LU ; Yingjiao MENG ; Kawai LEI ; Xiaojuan LI ; Qibiao WU ; Elaine Lai-Han LEUNG ; Zhengyang GUO ; Liang LIU ; Ting LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(2):651-664
Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ) is one of important kinases in inflammation to phosphorylate inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B (IκBα) and then activate nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Inhibition of IKKβ has been a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here we report that IKKβ is constitutively activated in healthy donors and healthy Ikkβ C46A (cysteine 46 mutated to alanine) knock-in mice although they possess intensive IKKβ-IκBα-NF-κB signaling activation. These indicate that IKKβ activation probably plays homeostatic role instead of causing inflammation. Compared to Ikkβ WT littermates, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) could induce high mortality rate in Ikkβ C46A mice which is correlated to breaking the homeostasis by intensively activating p-IκBα-NF-κB signaling and inhibiting phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) expression. We then demonstrated that IKKβ kinase domain (KD) phosphorylates AMPKα1 via interacting with residues Thr183, Ser184, and Thr388, while IKKβ helix-loop-helix motifs is essential to phosphorylate IκBα according to the previous reports. Kinase assay further demonstrated that IKKβ simultaneously catalyzes phosphorylation of AMPK and IκBα to mediate homeostasis. Accordingly, activation of AMPK rather than inhibition of IKKβ could substantially rescue LPS-induced mortality in Ikkβ C46A mice by rebuilding the homeostasis. We conclude that IKKβ activates AMPK to restrict inflammation and IKKβ mediates homeostatic function in inflammation via competitively phosphorylating AMPK and IκBα.
9.One stage repair of dorsum of hand and multiple fingers soft tissue defect with polyfoliate conjoined anterolateral thigh perforator flap
Guohong ZHAO ; Pengfei WEI ; Huawei SUN ; Jianhua ZHANG ; Zhenjun XIE ; Zhengyang LIANG ; Huikai BAI ; Jianjun ZHAO ; Shuai FENG
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery 2020;43(6):553-557
Objective:To investigate the surgical method and clinical effect of one-stage repair of soft tissue defects of dorsum of hand and multiple fingers by using the polyfoliate conjoined anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTP) .Methods:From November, 2015 to September, 2019, 9 cases of soft tissue defects of dorsum of hand and multiple fingers were treated, including 8 males and 1 female. The average age was 32 years old. Causes of injury: 4 cases of thermal injury, 3 cases of strangulation injury, and 2 cases of traffic accident injury. Location of injury: 7 cases of right hand, 2 cases of left hand. Three cases of dorsum of hand with 1st-4th fingers, 3 cases with 2nd-5th fingers, 2 cases with 2nd-4th fingers, and 1 case with 3rd-5th fingers; All with bone, joint and tendon exposure. There were 6 cases with fracture or joint dislocation. All of them had no obvious defect of bone and joint. VSD was used to cover them after debridement. According to the shape and size of the wound, all flaps were designed to repair the soft tissue defect as the polyfoliate conjoined ALTP. The flap size was 7 cm×13 cm-12 cm×17 cm. Regular outpatient, telephone and Wechat follow-up were carried out to evaluate the flap survival, appearance, color elasticity, donor scar, sensory recovery, finger function recovery and patient satisfaction.Results:Nine cases of flap survived well. The average followed-up time was 12 (6-18) months. The postoperative followed-up revealed satisfactory shapes of the flaps, protective touch and recovery of functions. The donor site had good healing and no effect on function. In the last followed-up, according to the trial criteria for function evaluation of upper limbs by Chinese Society of Hand Surgery, 5 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, and 1 case was fair. The hand function recovered well and returned to work and daily life on average 6 weeks after operation.Conclusion:The polyfoliate conjoined ALTP can repair the soft tissue defect of hand dorsum with multiple fingers at one stage, and the flap is in good shape. There is no need to divide the fingers. It is one of the ideal methods to repair the soft tissue defect of hand dorsum.
10.Mechanism of neural plasticity of acupuncture on chronic migraine.
Xiaobai XU ; Lu LIU ; Luopeng ZHAO ; Zhengyang QU ; Yupu ZHU ; Yajie ZHANG ; Linpeng WANG
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2017;37(10):1134-1140
Chronic migraine is one of neurological disorders with high rate of disability, but sufficient attention has not been paid in this field. A large number of clinical studies have shown traditional Chinese acupuncture is a kind of effective treatment with less side effects. Through the analysis of literature regarding acupuncture and migraine published from 1981 to 2017 in CNKI and PubMed databases, the mechanism of neural plasticity of acupuncture on chronic migraine was explored. It was believed the progress of chronic migraine involved the changes of neural plasticity in neural structure and function, and the neural plasticity related with neural sensitization during the process of chronic migraine was discussed from three aspects of electrophysiology, molecular chemistry and radiography. Acupuncture could treat and prevent chronic migraine via the mechanism of neural plasticity, but there was no related literature, hindering the further spreading and development of acupuncture for chronic migraine.

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