OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Obvious epigenetic differentiation occurred on Lycium barbarum in different cultivation areas in China. To investigate the difference and change rule of DNA methylation level and pattern of L. barbarum from different cultivation areas in China, the present study employed fluorescence-assisted methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism(MSAP) to analyze the methylation level and polymorphism of 53 genomic DNA samples from Yinchuan Plain in Ningxia, Bayannur city in Inner Mongolia, Jingyuan county and Yumen city in Gansu, Delingha city in Qinghai, and Jinghe county in Xinjiang. The MSAP technical system suitable for the methylation analysis of L. barbarum genomic DNA was established and ten pairs of selective primers were selected. Among amplified 5'-CCGG-3' methylated sites, there were 35.85% full-methylated sites and 39.88% hemi-methylated sites, showing a high degree of epigenetic differentiation. Stoichiometric analysis showed that the ecological environment was the main factor affecting the epigenetic characteristics of L. barbarum, followed by cultivated varieties. Precipitation, air temperature, and soil pH were the main ecological factors affecting DNA methylation in different areas. This study provided a theoretical basis for the analysis of the epigenetic mechanism of L. barbarum to adapt to the diffe-rent ecological environments and research ideas for the introduction, cultivation, and germplasm traceability of L. barbarum.
China ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Primers ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Lycium/genetics*

BACKGROUND: Shenyankangfu Tablet (SYKFT) is a Chinese patent medicine that has been used widely to decrease proteinuria and the progression of chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This trial compared the efficacy and safety of SYKFT, for the control of proteinuria in primary glomerulonephritis patients, against the standard drug, losartan potassium. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Primary glomerulonephritis patients, aged 18-70 years, with blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 45 mL/min per 1.73 m MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was change in the 24-hour proteinuria level, after 48 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 735 participants were enrolled. The percent decline of urine protein quantification in the SYKFT group after 48 weeks was 8.78% ± 2.56% (P = 0.006) more than that in the losartan 50 mg group, which was 0.51% ± 2.54% (P = 1.000) less than that in the losartan 100 mg group. Compared with the losartan potassium 50 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 50 mg group had a 13.39% ± 2.49% (P < 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein level. Compared with the losartan potassium 100 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 100 mg group had a 9.77% ± 2.52% (P = 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein. With a superiority threshold of 15%, neither was statistically significant. eGFR, serum creatinine and serum albumin from the baseline did not change statistically significant. The average change in TCM syndrome score between the patients who took SYKFT (-3.00 [-6.00, -2.00]) and who did not take SYKFT (-2.00 [-5.00, 0]) was statistically significant (P = 0.003). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group. CONCLUSION: SYKFT decreased the proteinuria and improved the TCM syndrome scores of primary glomerulonephritis patients, with no change in the rate of decrease in the eGFR. SYKFT plus losartan potassium therapy decreased proteinuria more than losartan potassium therapy alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02063100 on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Objective:To observe the features of posture control in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Methods:From May, 2017 to May, 2018, patients with iNPH in our hospital (n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 15) were measured with sensory organization test on Balance Manager. The balance scores and strategy scores under six conditions were recorded and the comprehensive balance scores were calculated. Results:The balance scores decreased in the patients in the conditions of eyes-open/stable-support, eyes-close/stable-support, eyes-close/unstable-support and eyes-disturb/unstable-support compared with those of the controls (|Z| > 2.042, P < 0.05), as well as the comprehensive balance scores (Z = -3.617, P < 0.001); while the strategy scores increased in the conditions of eyes-close/stable-support, eyes-open/unstable-support, eyes-close/unstable-support and eyes-disturb/unstable-support (|Z| > 2.333, P < 0.05). Conclusion:There are balance disorders in the patients with iNPH, mainly associating with the disorders of proprioceptive and vestibular senses, and application of hip strategy.

Objective:To explore the application value of whole-process ultrasound-guided percutaneous portal vein puncture islet transplantation.Methods:From October 2018 to May 2021, 16 diabetics underwent whole-process ultrasound-guided percutaneous portal vein puncture islet transplantation at First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.The whole process was guided by ultrasound for completing percutaneous portal vein puncture catheterization, islet infusion monitoring, bleeding prevention and ablation hemostasis after bleeding.Results:Ten patients [8 males and 2 females with a mean age of(45.9±21.1)years]underwent 16 islet transplants, including one islet(5 cases), two islets(4 cases)and three islets(1 case). A single puncture was successfully performed without damage to other extrahepatic organs, persistent portal hypertension, portal vein embolism or infection.Bleeding at liver puncture site occurred in 3 cases and ultrasound radiofrequency ablation was performed for immediate hemostasis.Among them, postoperative blood glucose stabilized at 4~12 mmol/l post-operation.And 5 cases(31.3%)achieved insulin independence for>2 months and 10 cases(62.5%)lowered insulin dosage by>50% as compared with preoperative level.The level of fasting C-peptide recovered or was higher than normal in 10 cases(62.5%)and became obviously elevated in the remainders.In 11 cases(68.8%)of them, liver transaminase was briefly and mildly elevated post-operation, and no other complications were observed.Conclusions:The whole-process ultrasound-guided percutaneous portal vein islet transplantation is both safe and feseasible.It avoids the injury of transplanted kidney caused by contrast agent and radiological radiation to operator and patient.It is a method of islet transplantation worth a wider popularization.

The fruit of Lycium barbarum L. (FLB) is a food and medicinal herb. Identifying suitable production regions for this plant would be beneficial to its cultivation and production. In this study, the Maxent model was used to identify ecologically suitable regions for the growth of L. barbarum L. In addition, based on its chemical composition, the suitable regions for production were identified by literature analysis and chemometrics. The results show that suitable regions for L. barbarum L. culture are mainly distributed in the northwest of China; suitable regions for the production of medicinal FLB were mainly concentrated in the district of Ningxia, Baiyin, Jiuquan and Zhangye of Gansu, and parts district in west of Inner Mongolia. All are the traditional production regions for FLB, which is consistent with the good quality of FLB produced in Ganzhou in ancient times, and the genuine medicinal materials of FLB produced in Zhongning of Ningxia today. The suitable regions for edible FLB were mainly distributed in northwest of Qinghai, Jiuquan and Zhangye of Gansu, as well as Aksu and Kizi sukirgiz of Xinjiang. The fruit type index of FLB in these regions is large, and the content of fructose and glucose in the fruit is high, which satisfies the edible commodity property. The study results lay a foundation for realizing the regional distribution and development of L. barbarum based on its different uses.

Objective:Biobank construction plays an irreplaceable role in the research of accurate prevention and treatment of diseases. Shared biobank network based on a large crowd queue is the way of the future. This subject is one of the key contents of national precision medicine "The Breast Cancer Cohort Study in Chinese Women: (BCCS-CW)" , aiming to solve the bottleneck of insufficient standardization and sharing.Methods:The establishment of "entity library-information library-extension library" , the widely Shared network of biobank of breast cancer specific disease cohort, and the establishment of strict standard setting and quality control standard to construct the standardized biobank.Results:This biobank provides a shared biobank resource for breast cancer risk assessment, prediction and early warning, early screening, classification, individualized treatment, efficacy and safety prediction and monitoring and other accurate prevention and treatment programs and clinical decision-making system research.Conclusion:The data of this biological sample bank is refined and complete, and the sample size of cases is sufficient, which can meet the research needs of medical big data, genomics, metabonomics, epigenetics and other fields.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and safety of minimally invasive surfactant administration (MISA) in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS).Methods:In this multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial, 92 preterm infants with gestation age ≤30 weeks and diagnosed with NRDS were enrolled in 8 level Ⅲ neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region from 1 st July 2017 to 31 st December 2018. They were randomly assigned to minimally invasive surfactant administration (MISA) group or endotracheal intubation surfactant administration (EISA) group according to random number generated by computer. Infants in both groups received calf pulmonary surfactant preparation at a dose of 70-100 mg/kg. The data of demography, perinatal situation, medication administration, complications, clinical outcomes in the two groups were compared with Chi-square test, Student′s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher′s exact test. Results:Among the 92 preterm infants, 53 were males, 39 were females; 47 were in the MISA group (25 males), and 45 were in the EISA group (28 males). The gestational age and birth weight were (29.5±1.2) weeks and (1 271±242) g in all patients, (29.5±1.4) weeks and (1 285±256) g in the MISA group, and (29.6±0.9) weeks and (1 255±227) g in the EISA group. The duration of surfactant infusion and the length of whole procedure in the MISA group were significantly longer than that in the EISA group (60 (18, 270) s vs. 50 (30, 60) s, Z=3.009, P=0.003; 90 (60, 300) s vs. 60 (44, 270) s, Z=3.365, P=0.001). For the outcomes, the incidence of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were lower in the MISA group than in the EISA group (36% (17/47) vs. 67% (30/45), χ 2=8.556, P=0.003; 26% (12/47) vs. 47% (21/45), χ 2=4.464, P=0.035). Conclusions:Minimally invasive surfactant administration is applicable in preterm infants ≤30 weeks gestational age with NRDS. Although the length of whole procedure is longer than route endotracheal administration, the benefit of decreasing the incidences of hsPDA and BPD outweighs this demerit.

The widespread application of next generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical settings has enabled testing, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of genetic diseases. However, many issues have arisen in the meanwhile. One of the most pressing issues is the lack of standards for reporting genetic test results across different service providers. The First Forum on Standards and Specifications for Clinical Genetic Testing was held to address the issue in Shenzhen, China, on October 28, 2017. Participants, including geneticists, clinicians, and representatives of genetic testing service providers, discussed problems of clinical genetic testing services across in China and shared opinions on principles, challenges, and standards for reporting clinical genetic test results. Here we summarize expert opinions presented at the seminar and report the consensus, which will serve as a basis for the development of standards and guidelines for reporting of clinical genetic testing results, in order to promote the standardization and regulation of genetic testing services in China.