Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

Although olaparib has demonstrated substantial clinical benefits as maintenance therapy in BRCA mutation-carrying women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, its effectiveness in patients without BRCA mutations remains poorly investigated. This study aims to provide the first evidence on the efficacy of mono-olaparib maintenance therapy in such context. Using real-world data from 11 high-volume tertiary care centers in China, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of olaparib as first-line maintenance therapy in patients with BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer. The primary objective was 1-year progression-free survival rate. Safety was also evaluated. Fifty patients with a median age of 54 years were included, and all of them tested negative for BRCA mutations but positive for homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). The 1-year PFS rate was 75.2% (95% CI, 63.4 to 89.2), and the median PFS was 21.0 months (95% CI, 13.8 to 28.2). All the patients received olaparib at a starting dose of 300 mg twice daily, and none experienced serious adverse events (AEs). Eight (16%) patients had dose adjustment, but none discontinued olaparib treatment due to AEs. We provide the first evidence that mono-olaparib could be a safe and effective maintenance treatment option for patients newly diagnosed with HRD-positive/BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer.
Humans ; Female ; Phthalazines/adverse effects* ; Piperazines/administration & dosage* ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Aged ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/administration & dosage* ; China ; Maintenance Chemotherapy ; BRCA2 Protein/genetics* ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects* ; Progression-Free Survival ; BRCA1 Protein/genetics*

Background: and Purpose We investigated the causal relationships between the gut microbiota (GM), stroke, and potential metabolite mediators using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: We leveraged the summary statistics of GM (n=18,340 in the MiBioGen consortium), blood metabolites (n=115,078 in the UK Biobank), and stroke (cases n=60,176 and controls n=1,310,725 in the Global Biobank Meta-Analysis Initiative) from the largest genome-wide association studies to date. We performed bidirectional MR analyses to explore the causal relationships between the GM and stroke, and two mediation analyses, two-step MR and multivariable MR, to discover potential mediating metabolites. Results: Ten taxa were causally associated with stroke, and stroke led to changes in 27 taxa. In the two-step MR, Bifidobacteriales order, Bifidobacteriaceae family, Desulfovibrio genus, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), phospholipids in high-density lipoprotein (HDL_PL), and the ratio of apolipoprotein B to ApoA1 (ApoB/ApoA1) were causally associated with stroke (all P<0.044). The causal associations between Bifidobacteriales order, Bifidobacteriaceae family and stroke were validated using the weighted median method in an independent cohort. The three GM taxa were all positively associated with ApoA1 and HDL_PL, whereas Desulfovibrio genus was negatively associated with ApoB/ApoA1 (all P<0.010). Additionally, the causal associations between the three GM taxa and ApoA1 remained significant after correcting for the false discovery rate (all q-values <0.027). Multivariable MR showed that the associations between Bifidobacteriales order, Bifidobacteriaceae family and stroke were mediated by ApoA1 and HDL_PL, each accounting for 6.5% (P=0.028) and 4.6% (P=0.033); the association between Desulfovibrio genus and stroke was mediated by ApoA1, HDL_PL, and ApoB/ApoA1, with mediated proportions of 7.6% (P=0.019), 4.2% (P=0.035), and 9.1% (P=0.013), respectively. Conclusion The current MR study provides evidence supporting the causal relationships between several specific GM taxa and stroke and potential mediating metabolites.

Objective:To compare the effect of two vs one stitch on outcomes in women with cervical incompetence who undergo emergency transvaginal cervical cerclage.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 38 cases of cervical incompetence patients who underwent emergency cervical cerclage at Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022. These subjects were divided into two groups: one stitch group (loop continuous suture and knot at cervical-vaginal junction level) and two stitches group (the first loop was closed with a single suture set, and the second loop was closed below the first loop near the cervical outlet) with 19 cases in each group. Two independent samples t or t'-test, rank-sum test, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the differences in perinatal outcomes between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the prolongation of gestational age after emergency transvaginal cervical cerclage. Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the gestational age at cervical cerclage between the two stitches and the one stitch group [24.9 weeks (23.9-25.9 weeks) vs 23.6 weeks (22.6-24.9 weeks), Z=－1.61, P=0.108]. The average gestational age at delivery [(33.1±4.8) vs (28.6±4.3) weeks, t=－3.10] and the prolongation of gestational age after cerclage[(8.5±4.6) vs (5.0±2.6) weeks, t=－2.90] were significantly greater in the two stitches group compared to those in the one stitch group, while the rates of preterm birth before 32 weeks (6/19 vs 16/19, χ2=10.80), 34 weeks (8/19 vs 17/19, χ2=9.47), and 37 weeks (14/19 vs 19/19, Fisher's exact test) were lower (all P<0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that the two stitches group had significantly higher efficacy in prolonging gestational age compared to the one stitch group [log-rank test χ2 (1)=13.10, P<0.05]. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the neonatal mortality between the two groups (2/19 vs 4/19, Fisher's exact test, P=0.660), survival neonates in the two stitches group had significantly higher birth weight [2 370.0 g (1 775.0-2 710.0 g) vs 1 300.0 g (1 210.0-1 660.0 g), Z=－3.14], lower admission rate to the neonatal intensive care unit (9/17 vs 15/15, Fisher's exact test), lower incidence of stage Ⅲ necrotizing enterocolitis (0/17 vs 5/15, Fisher's exact test), moderate-severe respiratory distress syndrome (5/17 vs 10/15, χ2=4.44), and grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ intraventricular hemorrhage (0/17 vs 7/15, Fisher's exact test) compared to those in the one stitch group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with emergency cervical cerclage with one stitch, the procedure with two stitches can prolong the gestational age and improve the neonatal prognosis more effectively.

Objective:To investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) following transvaginal cervical cerclage.Methods:This retrospective cohort study involved 170 singleton pregnancies with cervical incompetence who underwent vaginal cervical cerclage at Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from January 2021 to January 2022. Based on the onset of PPROM after cervical cerclage, the patients were divided into the PPROM group ( n=28) and the non-PPROM group ( n=142). Independent samples t-test, rank-sum test, Chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test were used to compare the general condition, pre- and postoperative data, pregnancy complications or comorbidities between the two groups, with a significance level at α=0.1. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors for PPROM after cerclage surgery. Results:The overall incidence of PPROM after vaginal cervical cerclage was 16.5% (28/170). Logistic regression analysis showed that a history of cervical conization ( OR=11.966, 95% CI:1.695-84.468), the use of Mersilene RS22 tape as the suture material ( OR=3.318, 95% CI:1.064-9.252), cervical length<2.5 cm after cerclage ( OR=3.486, 95% CI:1.116-10.888), and Mycoplasma genitalium- positive results for cervical secretion culture after surgery ( OR=4.856, 95% CI:1.487-15.861) were the independent risk factors for PPROM after cervical cerclage (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of PPROM following vaginal cervical cerclage is relatively high and can have unfavorable effects on pregnancy outcomes. Factors such as a history of cervical conization, the use of Mersilene RS22 tape for cerclage, cervical length<2.5 cm after cerclage, and Mycoplasma genitalium-positive results for cervical secretion culture after surgery may increase the risk of PPROM after cerclage.

A new definition of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has recently been proposed. We aim to examine the associations of MAFLD, particularly its discordance from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with the progression of elevated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and albuminuria in a community-based study sample in Shanghai, China. After 4.3 years of follow-up, 778 participants developed elevated baPWV and 499 developed albuminuria. In comparison with the non-MAFLD group, the multivariable adjusted odds ratio (OR) of MAFLD group for new-onset elevated baPWV was 1.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.55) and 1.35 (95% CI 1.07-1.70) for albuminuria. Participants without NAFLD but diagnosed according to MAFLD definition were associated with higher risk of incident albuminuria (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.07-2.94). Patients with MAFLD with high value of hepamet fibrosis score or poor-controlled diabetes had higher risk of elevated baPWV or albuminuria. In conclusion, MAFLD was associated with new-onset elevated baPWV and albuminuria independently of body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Individuals without NAFLD but diagnosed as MAFLD had high risk of albuminuria, supporting that MAFLD criteria would be practical for the evaluation of long-term risk of subclinical atherosclerosis among fatty liver patients.
Humans ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Albuminuria ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/diagnosis* ; Vascular Stiffness ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of CCN5 in endometriotic tissues and its impact on proliferation, migration and invasion of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). METHODS: We collected ovarian endometriosis samples from 20 women receiving laparoscopic surgery and eutopic endometrium samples from 15 women undergoing IVF-ET for comparison of CCN5 expression. Cultured HESCs were transfected with a recombinant adenovirus Ad-CCN5 for CCN5 overexpression or with a CCN5-specific siRNA for knocking down CCN5 expression, and the changes of cell proliferation, migration and invasion were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay and Transwell chamber assay. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to examine the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail-1 and vimentin in HESCs with CCN5 overexpression or knockdown. RESULTS: CCN5 expression was significantly decreased in ovarian endometriosis tissues as compared with eutopic endometrium samples (P < 0.01). CCN5 overexpression obviously inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HESCs, significantly increased the expression of E-cadherin and decreased the expressions of N-cadherin, Snail-1 and vimentin (P < 0.01). CCN5 knockdown significantly enhanced the proliferation, migration and invasion of HESCs and produced opposite effects on the expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail-1 and vimentin (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION CCN5 can regulate the proliferation, migration and invasion of HESCs and thus plays an important role in EMT of HESCs, suggesting the potential of CCN5 as a therapeutic target for endometriosis.
Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Endometriosis/metabolism* ; Endometrium/metabolism* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Female ; Humans ; Stromal Cells

OBJECTIVE: To explore the synergistic immunomodulatory mechanism of interferon alpha-1b, interleukin-2 and thalidomide (ITI) regimen on patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Sixty eight untreated de novo or relapsed or refractory or maintenance therapy patients with AML admitted in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and the other 11 medical units from March 2016 to May 2019 were treated with ITI regimen. Peripheral blood specimen per patient was collected into EDTA-K3 anticoagulation vacuum tube before the administration of ITI and 3 months after the treatment; peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and perforin and Granzyme B expression were analyzed by using flow cytometry; the levels of VEGF, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6 in the plasma were detected by using a cytometric bead array. Thirty-five healthy subjects from the hospital physical examination centre were selected as normal controls. RESULTS: The ratio of CD4 CONCLUSION The ITI regimen can raise the ratio of CD4
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Interleukin-2 ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Perforin ; Thalidomide

Objective: The study aims to predict 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and explore its association with sleep duration among Chinese urban adults. Methods: We analyzed part of the baseline data of a cohort that recruited adults for health screening by cluster sampling. The simplified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Framingham 10-year risk score (FRS) were used to measure sleep duration and CVD risk. Demographic characteristics, personal history of chronic diseases, lifestyle factors were collected using a questionnaire. Height, weight, total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were also measured. Multiple logistic regression models were performed to explore the association of sleep duration with the predicted CVD risk. Results: We included 31, 135 participants (median age 44 years, 53.02% males) free of CVD, cerebral stroke, and not taking lipid-lowering agents. Overall, 14.05%, and 25.55% of participants were at medium and high predicted CVD risk, respectively. Short sleep was independently associated with increased odds of medium to high risk of predicted 10-year CVD among males ( Conclusion A substantial number of adults free of CVD were at high 10-year CVD risk. Short sleep was associated with increased odds of predicted CVD risk.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Quality ; Young Adult