Background/Aims: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who failed antiviral therapy are at increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study assessed the potential role of metformin and statins, medications for diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidemia (HLP), in reducing HCC risk among these patients. Methods: We included CHC patients from the T-COACH study who failed antiviral therapy. We tracked the onset of HCC 1.5 years post-therapy by linking to Taiwan’s cancer registry data from 2003 to 2019. We accounted for death and liver transplantation as competing risks and employed Gray’s cumulative incidence and Cox subdistribution hazards models to analyze HCC development. Results: Out of 2,779 patients, 480 (17.3%) developed HCC post-therapy. DM patients not using metformin had a 51% increased risk of HCC compared to non-DM patients, while HLP patients on statins had a 50% reduced risk compared to those without HLP. The 5-year HCC incidence was significantly higher for metformin non-users (16.5%) versus non-DM patients (11.3%; adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio [aSHR]=1.51; P=0.007) and metformin users (3.1%; aSHR=1.59; P=0.022). Statin use in HLP patients correlated with a lower HCC risk (3.8%) compared to non-HLP patients (12.5%; aSHR=0.50; P<0.001). Notably, the increased HCC risk associated with non-use of metformin was primarily seen in non-cirrhotic patients, whereas statins decreased HCC risk in both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Conclusions Metformin and statins may have a chemopreventive effect against HCC in CHC patients who failed antiviral therapy. These results support the need for personalized preventive strategies in managing HCC risk.

Lysosomal dysfunction plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and possibly Parkinson-plus syndromes such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). This role is exemplified by the involvement of variants in the GBA1 gene, which results in a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase and is the most frequently identified genetic factor underlying PD worldwide. Pathogenic variants in the SMPD1 gene are a recessive cause of Niemann–Pick disease types A and B. Here, we provide the first report on an association between a loss-of-function variant in the SMPD1 gene present in a heterozygous state (p.Pro332Arg/p.P332R, which is known to result in reduced lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase activity), with PSP-Richardson syndrome in three unrelated patients of Chinese ancestry.

Cells in the arterial wall are constantly subjected to the shear stress generated by the blood flow. Shear stress plays a pivotal role in the formation of atherosclerosis. The endothelial cells located between the blood and the vessel wall have a unique response to the shear stress of the blood flow， which can convert mechanical stimulation into intracellular signals， thereby affecting the pathological process of atherosclerosis. Endothelial function is not only regulated by hormones， growth factors and other biochemical substances， but also affected by mechanical forces such as blood flow shear stress. Physiologically， shear stress can play an anti-atherosclerotic role in maintaining the homeostasis of endothelial cells. Pathological shear stress will lead to endothelial dysfunction and promote the progression of atherosclerosis. Under the mediation of different shear stress， the endothelial function can be regulated through epigenetic pathways or mechanically sensitive cation channels. Therefore， it is necessary to understand how various signal transduction pathways are affected by pathological shear stress， so as to cause endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） has been increasingly recognized for its curative effect in treating atherosclerosis， with the advantages of few side effects， multiple targets and multiple mechanisms. In recent years， the understanding of the anti-atherosclerosis mechanism of TCM mediated by shear stress has gradually deepened. This review will take endothelial function as the breakthrough point， systematically sort out the influence of shear stress on the pathological process of atherosclerosis and the related molecular mechanisms. Meanwhile， it is the first time to summarize the latest research progress of Chinese medicine against shear stress damage by sorting out the existing literature. This article mainly clarify the relationship between shear stress， endothelial function， atherosclerosis and TCM， in order to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment and pathological mechanism of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence and risk factors of multiple musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in auto workers and the associations between MSDs at different sites.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted in 3998 workers, who were selected from a Chinese auto corporation by cluster random sampling, using the revised Nordic MSDs standard questionnaire; 3800 completed questionnaires were returned. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for multiple MSDs. The logbinomial model was used to calculate the prevalence ratios (PRs) of MSDs at different sites and evaluate the associations between MSDs at different sites.

RESULTSOf the 3800 subjects, 2452 (64.5%) had MSDs at two or more sites, and 469 (12.3%) had MSDs at one site. The PRs varied from 1.5 to 6.7, with significant differences among different sites (P < 0.01). Relatively close associations were found between the MSDs at neck and shoulders, back and shoulders/waist, elbows and wrists/hands, waist and neck, wrists/hands and waist, hip and waist, knees and waist, and ankles/feet and elbows. The multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that the highest risk factor for MSDs was poor posture, including often working in an uncomfortable posture, neck bending forward, and neck twisting (ORs = 3.39, 1.93, and 1.38), followed by labor organization, in which break between tasks could decrease the risk of MSDs at three or more sites to 31%, staff shortage, which could increase the risk of MSDs by 75%, and pushing and pulling heavy objects (> 20 kg) (OR = 1.76).

CONCLUSIONMost auto workers with MSDs have multiple sites affected, and there are high associations between the MSDs at different sites. The major risk factors for multiple MSDs in auto workers include poor posture, labor organization, and heavy physical labor.

Adult ; Automobiles ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the main risk factors of low back pain of workers ina foundry factory of the automobile company using cross sectional epidemiological investigation, and to provide scientific base for preventing the disorder.

METHODSThe low back pain and work loads of 1340 workers in a foundry factory of the automobile company were investigated using questionnaire, and logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors.

RESULTSThe one-year morbidity of low back pain in workers was 58.9% the morbidities of low back pain in workers engaged in foundry, transportation and modeling were 64.6%, 64.6% and 62.5%, respectively. The lifting with squat postures, bending trunk heavily, bending trunk with twisting and moving the heavy objects were found to be the most dominant risk factors for low-back pain, the OR values were 2.085, 1.961, 1.967 and 1.956, respectively. The distributions of risk factors were different among the different jobs. The logistic regression analysis showed that moving the heavy objects, lifting with squat postures, bending trunk heavily, bending trunk with twisting existed simultaneously, also the work years and gender were the risk factors.

CONCLUSIONThe manual moving heavy objects, awkward working posture or both were the most important risk factors for low-back pain. The intervene ergonomic study should be performed in future to reduce the morbidity of low-back pain.

Adult ; Automobiles ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Industry ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workplace ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the growth characteristics of Curcuma longa, and provide basis for standardized cultivation.

METHODPlant samples were collected and investigated periodically.

RESULTAccording to the growth of different parts and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation of C. longa, the development of C. longa could be divided into five stages: emergence of seedlings, seedling, leaf, root tuber expansion, and dry substance accumulation of root tuber. In terms of number, leaf of C. longa increases gradually from one at first to eight at the final stage. Leaf size increases at a very low speed at the stage of seedling. However, leaves expands their sizes at a much higher speed at the stage of leaf. The dry substance in different parts accumulates increasingly with the development of C. longa dry substance mainly accumulates in leaves at the stage of leaf, and in rhizome at the stage of root tuber expansion. At the final stage, it mainly accumulates in root tuber.

CONCLUSIONCultivation technologies of C. longa and the relevant management methods could be established according to the growth of different parts of C. longa and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation in different stages.

Curcuma ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Desiccation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDMyocardial infarction results in tissue necrosis, leading to cell loss and ultimately to cardiac failure. Implantation of skeletal muscle satellite cells into the scar area may compensate for the cell loss and provides a new strategy for infarct therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a promising reagent for inducing myocardial angiogenesis. Skeletal myoblast transplantation has been shown to improve cardiac function in chronic heart failure models by regenerating muscle. We hypothesized that VEGF expression and vascular regeneration increased in infarcted myocardium by skeletal muscle satellite cells, which can promote vascular producing and improve survival environment in infarcted myocardium.

METHODSThe skeletal muscle satellite cells were implanted into the infarcted myocardium in a model through ligated left anterior artery in Louis Inbrad Strain rat. Specimens were got for identifying the expression of VEGF and the density of vascular by immunochemical method at two weeks after implantation.

RESULTSThe proliferation and differentiation of the skeletal muscle satellite cell was very well. The expression of VEGF was higher in the implanted group (146.83 +/- 2.49) than that in the control group (134.26 +/- 6.84) (P < 0.05). The vascular density in the implanted group (13.00 +/- 1.51) was also higher than that in the control (10.68 +/- 1.79) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe implanted satellite cell could excrete growth factor that would induce angiogenesis and improve cell survival environment in infarcted myocardium.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Regeneration ; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle ; cytology ; transplantation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

Background Myocardial infarction results in tissue necrosis, leading to cell loss and ultimately to cardiac failure. Implantation of skeletal muscle satellite cells into the scar area may compensate for the cell loss and provides a new strategy for infarct therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a promising reagent for inducing myocardial angiogenesis. Skeletal myoblast transplantation has been shown to improve cardiac function in chronic heart failure models by regenerating muscle. We hypothesized that VEGF expression and vascular regeneration increased in infarcted myocardium by skeletal muscle satellite cells, which can promote vascular producing and improve survival environment in infarcted myocardium.Methods The skeletal muscle satellite cells were implanted into the infarcted myocardium in a model through ligated left anterior artery in Louis Inbrad Strain rat. Specimens were got for identifying the expression of VEGF and the density of vascular by immunochemical method at two weeks after implantation. Results The proliferation and differentiation of the skeletal muscle satellite cell was very well. The expression of VEGF was higher in the implanted group (146.83±2.49) than that in the control group (134.26±6.84) (P<0.05). The vascular density in the implanted group (13.00±1.51) was also higher than that in the control (10.68±1.79) (P<0.05). Conclusion The implanted satellite cell could excrete growth factor that would induce angiogenesis and improve cell survival environment in infarcted myocardium.

OBJECTIVETo investigate if heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to evaluate mental workload.

METHODSForty-six volunteers were selected to simulate mental work by inputting the random number through keyboards. ECG was recorded by Holter 8800 during the performance and transferred into digital signal. Total power (TP), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) were analysed by Holter software.

RESULTSAlong with time, the inputting speed increased but accuracy decreased, and was positively correlated with TP, LF (r = 0.851 and 0.827 respectively, P < 0.05), showing a distinct dose-effect relationship. HRV values at rest were higher than during mental work [TP: (2 745.4 +/- 1 301.6) vs (686.2 +/- 420.7) ms(2)/Hz; HF: (670.6 +/- 393.8) vs (202.6 +/- 171.7) ms(2)/Hz; LF: (870.5 +/- 553.7) vs (206.0 +/- 187.9) ms(2)/Hz] indicating that they were decreased remarkably as the mental work started. Then, they were gradually increased with the workload (intensity and time) increased, but still at lower level.

CONCLUSIONHRV may be used as a parameter to evaluate mental workload but the change pattern of HRV needs to study further.

Adult ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; statistics & numerical data ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Processes ; physiology ; Rest ; physiology ; Workload