BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study examined the association between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus in patients with H-type hypertension and assessed the possible effect modifiers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,255 eligible participants in the ‘H-type Hypertension Management and Stroke Prevention Strategic International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project’ among rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The mean level of total homocysteine (tHcy) in the diabetes mellitus population was 19.37 μmol/L, which was significantly higher than the non-diabetic patients (18.18 μmol/L). When tHcy was analyzed as a continuous variable, the odds ratio (OR) of diabetes was 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.35; per interquartile range). When tHcy was stratified according to the quintile, the ORs for diabetes were 2.86 (95% CI, 1.22–6.69) in the highest quintile (tHcy ≥ 20.60 μmol/L) compared to the reference group (tHcy < 12.04 μmol/L). When tHcy was grouped by 15 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L, patients with tHcy ≥ 20 μmol/L had a significantly (P = 0.037) higher risk of diabetes (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.04–3.96) than in those with tHcy < 15 μmol/L. Subgroup analysis showed that the tHcy-diabetes association was unaffected by other variables. CONCLUSION In this study of rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension, the tHcy levels showed a positive association with diabetes mellitus. This independent association is unaffected by other potential risk factors.

Objective To investigate the impact of shikonin(SHI)on the malignant biological activity of liver cancer cells by regulating Notch signaling pathway.Methods Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of Notch,Hairy mitosis-related enhancer-1(Hes1),hairy-related transcription factor-1(HEY1)protein in liver cancer tissue,paracancerous tissue,hepatoma cells(HepG2 cells,Hep3B cells,HCCLM3 cells,Huh-7 cells and SMMC-7721 cells)and normal liver cells(HL-7702 cells).Huh-7 cells were divided into the control group,the L-SHI group(1μmol/L SHI),the M-SHI group(2μmol/L SHI),the H-SHI group(4μmol/L SHI),the DAPT group(50μmol/L Notch signal inhibitor DAPT)and the H-SHI+VPA group[4μmol/L SHI and 8 mmol/L Notch pathway activator Valproic acid(VPA)].The proliferation of Huh-7 cells was detected by CCK-8 method and plate cloning test.The apoptosis and cell cycle of Huh-7 cells were detected by flow cytometry.Cell scratch test and Transwell invasion test were used to detect migration and invasion of Huh-7 cells.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation(EMT)and apoptosis related proteins.Results The expression levels of Notch,HES1 and HEY1 were obviously increased in liver cancer tissue and cells,and Huh-7 cells showed the most obvious difference,therefore,Huh-7 cells were taken as the research object.Compared with the control group,the protein levels of Notch,HES1,HEY1 and Bcl-2 decreased,and the proportions of S phase and G2 phase cells,OD450 value,number of clones,migration rate,number of invasive cells and levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin decreased significantly in the L-SHI group,the M-SHI group,the H-SHI group and the DAPT group(P＜0.05).The proportion of G1/G0 phase cells,apoptosis rate and levels of Bax,cleaved Casase-3,and E-cadherin increased obviously(P＜0.05).The effect of SHI was dose-dependent.Compared with the H-SHI group,the above indexes showed the opposite trend in the H-SHI+VPA group.VPA attenuated the effect of SHI on reducing the malignant biological activity of liver cancer cells.Conclusion SHI may inhibit the proliferation,migration and invasion of Huh-7 cells and promote apoptosis of Huh-7 cells by inhibiting Notch signal pathway.

Objective:To explore the effect of job insecurity on work engagement, and examine the mediating role of job satisfaction and the moderating role of occupational proactive behavior.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, nurses from Southern University of Science and Technology Hospital and Jiangyou Second People's Hospital were selected as the research objects in July 2022. General information questionnaire, Occupational Insecurity Scale, Occupational Satisfaction Scale, Work Engagement Scale and Occupational Proactive Behavior were used for questionnaire investigation. A total of 598 valid questionnaires were collected. Model 4 and Model 7 in the SPSS 22.0 Process were used to test the mediating effect and the moderated mediating effect respectively.Results:Occupational insecurity was negatively correlated with occupational satisfaction and work engagement ( r=-0.202, -0.165, P<0.01) , while occupational satisfaction was positively correlated with work engagement ( r=0.549, P<0.01) . Work satisfaction played a completely mediating role in the effect of job insecurity on work engagement (mediating effect value: -0.090 9, 95% confidence interval: -0.14 - -0.04) , accounting for 65.30% of the total effect. Occupational active behavior positively moderated the relationship between job insecurity and job satisfaction (β=0.07, P<0.01) . Conclusions:Nurses' work engagement is at a high level, but occupational insecurity will reduce nurses' job satisfaction and thus reduce their work engagement. Nurses with high occupational proactive behavior can alleviate the weakening of job insecurity on job satisfaction.

Adipocytokines are polypeptides or proteins that are secreted by fat cells with a wide range of biological activities. Adiponectin is a fatty cytokine with insulin sensitization. It possesses the function of anti- diabetes, atherosclerosis and anti-inflammation. Adiponectin may participate in regulating the development of cognitive impairment, which is considered as a new regulatory factor for cognitive impairment.
Adiponectin ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance

Objective To deveplope construct and validate a novel multiplex PCR system comprised of 30 Y-STR markers only with low and moderate mutation rates. Methods 30 Y-STRs characterized by low/moderate mutation rate and middle/high polymorphic was amplified simultaneously in a multiplex PCR system using the six color labeling fluorescence. PCR product was analyzed in a ABI 3500XL Genetic Analyzer. The accuracy, specifity, sensitivity and stability of the system and its validation on the mixtures were evaluated. Results The validation studies demonstrated that the system is a stable, accurate, and sensitive multiplex PCR system. The sensitivity was 0.0625ng DNA. Y-STR could be detection in a male/female DNA mixture ratio of 1:4. Conclusion The primary study demonstrates that this multiplex PCR system is effective and reliable for forensic routine DNA analysis. It will be very helpful for constructing Chinese forensic Y-STR database and population genetic research.

Postpartum depression(PPD)is one of the most common types of postpartum psychiatric syndromes. Because of the complex and changeable characteristics in PPD disease and the special period after childbirth, there are many clinical limitations in the study of this disease. Therefore,the preparation and establishment of a proper animal model closed to clinical and behavioral evaluation method plays an important role in study of its pathogenesis. This review mainly introduces the commonly used postpartum depression animal models and the behavioral evaluation method. It is hoped to provide a reference for further study of PPD pathogenesis and for the drug research and development.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features and mutation of TGFBI gene in a Chinese pedigree affected with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD).

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from 35 members including 11 patients from the pedigree. The 17 exons and splicing region of introns of the TGFBI gene were amplified by PCR. The products were directly sequenced and compared with GenBank database to identify potential mutation. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to predict the effect of mutation on proteins.

RESULTSA heterozygous mutation (p.R124C) was found in exon 4 of the TGFBI gene in all patients from the pedigree but not among unaffected members. The mode of inheritance of corneal dystrophy in this pedigree was identified as autosomal dominant. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the p.R124C mutation may be functionally deleterious. The phenotype of corneal dystrophy in the pedigree was determined to be LCD I type.

CONCLUSIONThe p.R124C mutation of the TGFBI gene probably underlies the pathogenesis of LCD in this Chinese pedigree. Genetic testing can facilitate proper diagnosis of this type of corneal dystrophy.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and TGFBI gene mutation in a Chinese family affected with Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from 53 members including 9 patients from the family. The 17 exons and splice region of introns of the TGFBI gene were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. All family members were subjected to ophthalmologic examination.

RESULTSA heterozygous mutation (R124L) was found in exon 4 of the TGFBI gene among all patients from the family. The same mutation was not found among unaffected family members. The inheritance pattern of the family was identified as autosomal dominant, and the Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy in the family was diagnosed as the geographic type.

CONCLUSIONThe R124L mutation of the TGFBI gene probably underlies the pathogenesis of Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy in this Chinese family. Molecular genetic approach is useful for the proper diagnosis of this type of corneal dystrophy.

Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics

BACKGROUND:Macropore morphology of a composite scaffold prepared by the three-dimensional printing technique is of great importance in determining the physicochemical and biological properties of tissue engineering scaffolds.OBJECTIVE:To fabricate strontium-containing mesoporous (Sr-MBG) bioactive glass (PCL) scaffolds by the three-dimensional printing technique, and to explore the effect of these scaffolds on MC3T3-E1 proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, thereby to find out the optimal macropore morphology.METHODS: Sr-MBG/PCL composite scaffolds were fabricated by the three-dimensional printing technique. The angles between fibrous latitudes and longitudes were set to 45°, 60° and 90°. Then the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3-E1 cells on the scaffolds were tested.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cell counting kit-8 results showed that MC3T3-E1 cells could proliferate on all the three kinds of scaffolds. The proliferation rate of MC3T3-E1 cells on the 45° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds was just slightly higher than that on the 60° and 90° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds at days 1 and 4 (P > 0.05), but there was a significant increase at day 7 (P < 0.05). The 45° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds exhibited a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3-E1 cells compared to the 60° and 90° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds at day 14 (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference among three groups at day 21 (P > 0.05). These results indicate that the 45° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffold is more suitable to promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of the MC3T3 cells than the 60° and 90° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate mutations of 41 STR loci. Methods 4546 bloodstain samples were typed from 1932 father–mother–child trios by using AGCU_21+1, AGCU_EX22 and GlobalFiler_ExpressTM amplification Kit. Calculate the mutation rates of STR loci. Results 154 mutations were identified at 32 of the 41 loci. The average mutation rate was 1.0×10-3per locus(95%CI: 0.8~1.1×10-3), and the mutations of SE33 was highest. 152(98.7%) mutation events were one-step mutation, 2(1.3%) events were two-steps. The mutation events occurred in 150 father–mother–child triplets. The mutations in 146(97.3%) triplets occurred at single locus, 8 mutations were observed at two loci in 4(2.7%) triplets simultaneously. 104 paternal and 22 maternal mutations could be determined under 79212 paternal and maternal allelictransfers. The ratio of paternal versus maternal mutations was 4.7:1, and 28 unassigned mutations were observed. Conclusion STR mutation are common in paternity testing, and we should pay more attention to it.