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*

Lithocarpus litseifolius is rich in the chalcones phloridzin and trilobatin, the biosynthesis pathways of which have not been fully demonstrated. Chalcone synthase(CHS) is the first key rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of flavonoids in plants. To explore the functions of CHS gene family in chalcone synthesis of L. litseifolius, this study screened out two CHS genes(LlCHS1 and LlCHS2) from the transcriptome data of this plant, and then bioinformatics analysis and functional characterization were performed for the two genes. The bioinformatics analysis showed that LlCHS1 and LlCHS2 were acidic hydrophilic stable proteins with no transmembrane domain, composed of 395 and 390 amino acid residues, respectively. Both of them contained the characteristic amino acid sequence "WGVLFGFGPGL" and highly conserved active sites(Cys-164, Phe-215, His-303, and Asn-336) of the CHS family. The phylogenetic tree showed that LlCHS1 shared the same clade with similar genes in Aquilaria sinensis, and LlCHS2 was closely related to similar genes in Malus domestica. Under exogenous addition of phloretic acid, co-expression of LlCHS1 or LlCHS2 with Aa4CL from Aromatoleum aromaticum in Escherichia coli catalyzed the production of phloretin from phloretic acid. This study laid a theoretical foundation for revealing the functions of CHS in plants and provided new enzymatic modules for producing phloretin by synthetic biology.
Acyltransferases/chemistry* ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/chemistry* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Amino Acid Sequence

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with different reperfusion strategies in Chinese county-level hospitals. METHODS: A total of 2,514 patients with STEMI from 32 hospitals participated in the China Acute Myocardial Infarction registry between January 2013 and September 2014. The success of fibrinolysis was assessed according to indirect measures of vascular recanalization. The primary outcome was 2-year mortality. RESULTS: Reperfusion therapy was used in 1,080 patients (42.9%): fibrinolysis ( n= 664, 61.5%) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) ( n= 416, 38.5%). The most common reason for missing reperfusion therapy was a prehospital delay > 12 h (43%). Fibrinolysis [14.5%, hazard ratio ( HR): 0.59, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.44-0.80] and primary PCI (6.8%, HR= 0.32, 95% CI: 0.22-0.48) were associated with lower 2-year mortality than those with no reperfusion (28.5%). Among fibrinolysis-treated patients, 510 (76.8%) achieved successful clinical reperfusion; only 17.0% of those with failed fibrinolysis underwent rescue PCI. There was no difference in 2-year mortality between successful fibrinolysis and primary PCI (8.8% vs. 6.8%, HR = 1.53, 95% CI: 0.85-2.73). Failed fibrinolysis predicted a similar mortality (33.1%) to no reperfusion (33.1% vs. 28.5%, HR= 1.30, 95% CI: 0.93-1.81). CONCLUSION In Chinese county-level hospitals, only approximately 2/5 of patients with STEMI underwent reperfusion therapy, largely due to prehospital delay. Approximately 30% of patients with failed fibrinolysis and no reperfusion therapy did not survive at 2 years. Quality improvement initiativesare warranted, especially in public health education and fast referral for mechanical revascularization in cases of failed fibrinolysis.
Humans ; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/therapy* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; East Asian People ; Treatment Outcome ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardial Infarction ; Registries ; Hospitals

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different medical treatment in advanced or unresectable angiosarcoma. Methods: This study was a single-center retrospective clinical study. Fifty-five advanced or unresectable angiosarcoma patients treated in Sun-Yat Sen University Cancer Center from January 2005 to August 2020 were enrolled. There were 34 patients who received first-line doxorubicin-based chemotherapy (doxorubicin group), 12 patients received first-line doxorubicin or liposome doxorubicin plus paclitaxel or albumin bound paclitaxel chemotherapy (combination therapy group), and 4 patients received first-line paclitaxel-based treatment (paclitaxel group). There were 6 patients who received anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy, another 2 patients received anti-PD-1 antibody plus anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy plus targeted therapy included 5 cases of first-line therapy and 3 cases of second-line therapy. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by RECIST 1.1 standard. The adverse reactions were evaluated by CTCAE4.0 standard. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was evaluated with Log rank test. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: There were 18 patients achieved partial response (PR) in 34 patients in the doxorubicin group, median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 4.5 months, and median overall survival (mOS) was 15 months. Four patients achieved PR in 12 patients in the combination therapy group, mPFS and mOS were 4 months and 19 months. Two patients achieved PR in 4 patients in the paclitaxel group, mPFS and mOS were 3 months and 9 months. However, only 1 in 6 patients achieved PR for anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy, mPFS and mOS were 3 months and 16 months. Two patients who received anti-PD-1 immunotherapy combined with anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy acquired PR for 17 months and more than 16 months. Median PFS (7.5 months) were longer in those with primary liver, lung and spleen angiosarcoma than in those with other primary site (3.0 months, P=0.028). The mOS (20 months) was longer in females than that in males (12 months, P=0.045). Primary tumor site, sex, age and treatment were not independent prognostic factors for angiosarcoma patients (P>0.05). Grade 3-4 cardiac toxicity was found in 2 patients in the combination therapy group. Conclusions: Doxorubicin-based and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy are the most important treatment for advanced angiosarcoma. Potential efficacy for targeted therapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy are showed in some patients with long duration of response and moderate adverse event.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Paclitaxel/adverse effects* ; Doxorubicin/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of CCKBR^fl/fl villin-Cre mice as a mouse model of salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH). METHODS: In the first part, 2-month-old CCKBR^fl/fl villin-Cre mice (CKO) and control CCKBR^fl/fl mice (WT) were fed with normal diet (0.4% NaCl) or high salt diet (4% NaCl), separately for 6 weeks. In the rescue study, one week of hydrochlorothiazide or saline injection were treated with the CKO mice fed high salt diet. The blood pressure, biochemical indexes, and the expression of small intestinal sodium transporters (NHE3, NKCC1, eNaC) was detected. The organ injury markers (MMP2/MMP9) and the histopathological changes of kidneys were observed, whereas the changes of duodenal sodium absorption were detected by small intestinal perfusion in vivo. RESULTS: The CCKBR^fl/fl villin-Cre mice with high salt intake exhibited high blood pressure, increased duodenal sodium absorption and urinary sodium excretion, and with renal injury. The protein expression of NHE3, NKCC1 and eNaC were also significant increase in the intestine of CKO-HS mice. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide remarkably attenuated the elevated blood pressure by high salt absorption in the CCKBR^fl/fl villin-Cre mice, but no significant histopathological changes were observed. CONCLUSIONS These results support a crucial role of intestinal Cckbr deficiency on SSH development and the diuretic antihypertension effect in CCKBR^fl/fl villin-Cre mice. The CCKBR^fl/fl villin-Cre mice with the high salt intake may serve as a stable model of salt-sensitive hypertensive induced by sodium overloading.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of gene mutation and overexpression in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. METHODS: Bone marrow cells from 208 NDMM patients were collected and analyzed. The gene mutation of 28 genes and overexpression of 6 genes was detected by DNA sequencing. Chromosome structure abnormalities were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: Gene mutations were detected in 61 (29.33%) NDMM patients. Some mutations occurred in 5 or more cases, such as NRAS, PRDM1, FAM46C, MYC, CCND1, LTB, DIS3, KRAS, and CRBN. Overexpression of six genes (CCND1, CCND3, BCL-2, CCND2, FGFR3, and MYC) were detected in 83 (39.9%) patients, and cell cycle regulation gene was the most common. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) changes were detected in 169 (81.25%) patients, the TP53 P72R gene SNP (70.17%) was the most common. Abnormality in chromosome structure was correlated to gene overexpression. Compared to the patients with normal chromosome structure, patients with 14q32 deletion showed higher proportion of CCND1 overexpression. Similarly, patients with 13q14 deletion showed higher proportion of FGFR3 overexpression, whereas patients with 1q21 amplification showed higher proportion of CCND2, BCL-2 and FGFR3 overexpression. CONCLUSION There are multiple gene mutations and overexpression in NDMM. However, there is no dominated single mutation or overexpression of genes. The most common gene mutations are those in the RAS/MAPK pathway and the genes of cyclin family CCND are overexpression.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Multiple Myeloma/genetics* ; Mutation

Objective: To estimate the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer in 2016 and their changing trend during 2010-2016 according to the cancer registration data in Henan province. Methods: The data quality including completeness, validity, and reliability of local registries which submitted the cancer registration data of 2016 were assessed according to the criteria of Guideline on Cancer Registration in China and IARC/IACR. Esophageal cancer cases (ICD10: C15) were extracted from the database, and the incidence and mortality stratified by gender, age, and areas (urban/rural) were calculated, the incidence and mortality of provincial cancer were estimated combined with provincial population data. China's 2000 census population and Segi's population were used to calculate the age-standardized rate. Joinpoint model was used to estimate the changing trend of age standardized incidence and mortality along with the calendar year. Results: Approximately 40.10 thousand new esophageal cancer cases were diagnosed in Henan in 2016, accounting for 13.46% of all new cancer cases, and it ranked the third among cancer of all sites. The crude incidence of esophageal cancer was 37.21/100 000 with an age-standardized incidence rate by China standard population (ASIRC) of 26.74/100 000 and an age-standardized incidence rate by world standard population (ASIRW) of 27.12/100 000. The incidence of esophageal cancer in males was higher than that in females, with the ASIRC of 34.53/100 000 and 19.19/100 000, respectively. It was higher in rural areas than that in urban areas, with the ASIRC of 28.13/100 000 and 20.90/100 000, respectively. About 29.30 thousand deaths of esophageal cancer in Henan in 2016, accounting for 15.61% of all cancer deaths in Henan, which ranked the third among cancer of all sites. The crude mortality rate was 27.14/100 000 with an age-standardized mortality rate by China standard population (ASMRC) of 18.74/100 000 and an age-standardized mortality rate by world standard population (ASMRW) of 18.78/100 000. The mortality in males was higher than that in females, with the ASMRC of 24.78/100 000 and 13.12/100 000, respectively. It was also higher in rural areas than that in urban areas, with the ASMRC of 19.48/100 000 and 15.73/100 000, respectively. The ASIRC and ASMRC were declining with annual percent change (APC) of 3.12% (APC=-3.12%; 95%CI: -5.30%, -0.90%; P=0.015) and 2.47% (APC=-2.47%; 95%CI: -4.70%, -0.20%; P=0.039) during 2010-2016. However, the significant declining trend was only observed in rural areas in Henan, and the changing trend was same between males and females. Conclusions: The incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer are declining since 2010, however, the disease burden remains large in Henan. Therefore, comprehensive prevention and control efforts should be strengthened according to its epidemic characteristics and risk factors.
China/epidemiology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Registries ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rural Population ; Urban Population

Objective: To estimate stomach cancer incidence and mortality in Henan, 2016 and analyze the trend of stomach cancer incidence and mortality from 2010 to 2016. Methods: Stomach cancer related data in 2016 was extracted from Henan cancer registration and follow-up system. All data were qualified in validity, reliability and completeness according to the Guideline on Cancer Registration in China and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/IACR). The incidence and mortality of stomach cancer were estimated by areas, gender and age based on the quality data and the registered population data of Henan province in 2016. The epidemic trend of stomach cancer was also been evaluated based on the age-standardized incidence and mortality by Chinese population (ASR China) from 2010 to 2016. Results: In 2016, the estimated incident cases of stomach cancer were 44 311. The incidence was 41.07/100 000, ASR China was 30.17/100 000, ASR by world population (ASR world) was 30.36/100 000, and the cumulative incidence rate was 3.84%. The incidences of male and female were 55.65/100 000 and 25.35/100 000, respectively. Meanwhile, 32 927 people died of stomach cancer in Henan. The mortality was 30.52/100 000, ASR China was 21.45/100 000, ASR world was 21.54/100 000, and the cumulative mortality was 2.53%. From 2010 to 2016, both the ASR China for incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in Henan showed a steady downward trend. In rural, the ASR China for incidence and mortality decreased rapidly, while the stable trend was observed in urban. Nevertheless, the incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in rural were still higher than those in urban. Conclusions: The incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in Henan province showed steadily declining trend from 2010 to 2016, and the geographical distribution difference between rural and urban areas was gradually narrowing. However, the disease burden was still high in 2016.
China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Registries ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rural Population ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Urban Population

Acupuncture is an ancient therapeutic method based on the theory of Chinese medicine (CM). Traditional acupuncture has many limitations; it is subjective and relies more on the experience of an acupuncturist, and the efficacy is sometimes irreproducible. In contrast, electroacupuncture (EA) has special characteristics in terms of objectivity and stability, thereby gaining considerable attention. Parameter setting plays a crucial role in EA practice. The current paper summarizes the current situation and limitations of parameter setting in EA practice. Objectification is the tendency and future of CM as well as EA. With the development of computerized technologies, such as wearable sensors, vast data, and artificial intelligence, CM syndromes can be successfully objectified. We propose the development of a novel self-feedback-adjust EA system, which may improve the parameter setting in EA and be beneficial to both the patients and clinicians.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Artificial Intelligence ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans