OBJECTIVE: Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VD); however, these findings are inconsistent. It remains unclear whether these associations are causal. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching for observational studies on the association between IBD and dementia. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis based on summary genome-wide association studies (GWASs) was performed. Genetic correlation and Bayesian co-localization analyses were used to provide robust genetic evidence. RESULTS: Ten observational studies involving 80,565,688 participants were included in this meta-analysis. IBD was significantly associated with dementia (risk ratio [ RR] =1.36, 95% CI = 1.04-1.78; I ² = 84.8%) and VD ( RR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.18-5.70; only one study), but not with AD ( RR = 2.00, 95% CI = 0.96-4.13; I ² = 99.8%). MR analyses did not supported significant causal associations of IBD with dementia (dementia: odds ratio [ OR] = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.98-1.03; AD: OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.95-1.01; VD: OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.97-1.07). In addition, genetic correlation and co-localization analyses did not reveal any genetic associations between IBD and dementia. CONCLUSION Our study did not provide genetic evidence for a causal association between IBD and dementia risk. The increased risk of dementia observed in observational studies may be attributed to unobserved confounding factors or detection bias.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications* ; Dementia/etiology* ; Observational Studies as Topic ; Genome-Wide Association Study

With persistent breakthrough and maturity of surgical procedures and postoperative immunosuppressive therapy, the survival rate of liver transplant recipients and grafts has been significantly increased. The shortage of donor liver has become the main obstacle for clinical development of liver transplantation. How to expand the source of donor liver has become an urgent issue. Groundbreaking progresses have been made in the use of common marginal donor livers in clinical liver transplantation, such as elderly donor liver, steatosis donor liver, viral hepatitis donor liver and liver from donation after cardiac death. Nevertheless, multiple restrictions still exist regarding the use of marginal donor liver. Consequently, the definition of marginal donor liver and research progress in the application of common marginal donor livers were reviewed, and the opportunities and challenges of mariginal donoor liver were illustrated, aiming to provide reference for expanding the donor pool for clinical liver transplantation and bringing benefits to more patients with end-stage liver disease.

Purpose::Under-foot impact loadings can cause serious lower limb injuries in many activities, such as automobile collisions and underbody explosions to military vehicles. The present study aims to compare the biomechanical responses of the mainstream vehicle occupant dummies with the human body lower limb model and analyze their robustness and applicability for assessing lower limb injury risk in underfoot impact loading environments.Methods::The Hybrid III model, the test device for human occupant restraint (THOR) model, and a hybrid human body model with the human active lower limb model were adopted for under-foot impact analysis regarding different impact velocities and initial lower limb postures.Results::The results show that the 2 dummy models have larger peak tibial axial force and higher sensitivity to the impact velocities and initial postures than the human lower limb model. In particular, the Hybrid III dummy model presented extremely larger peak tibial axial forces than the human lower limb model. In the case of minimal difference in tibial axial force, Hybrid III's tibial axial force (7.5 KN) is still 312.5% that of human active lower limb's (2.4 KN). Even with closer peak tibial axial force values, the biomechanical response curve shapes of the THOR model show significant differences from the human lower limb model.Conclusion::Based on the present results, the Hybrid III dummy cannot be used to evaluate the lower limb injury risk in under-foot loading environments. In contrast, potential improvement in ankle biofidelity and related soft tissues of the THOR dummy can be implemented in the future for better applicability.

Objective:To explore the mechanisms of Qianlie Jindan Tablets(QLJD)acting on chronic nonbacterial prostatitis(CNP)in rats based on non-targeted urine metabolomics.Methods:According to the body mass index,we equally randomized 30 eight-week-old male SD rats into a blank control,a CNP model control and a QLJD medication group.We established the CNP model in the latter groups and,from the 4th day of modeling,treated the rats in the blank and model control groups intragastrically with nor-mal saline and those in the QLJD medication group with QLJD suspension,qd,for 30 successive days.Then we detected the changes in the metabolites of the rats by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry,and identified the differential metabolites in different groups by multivariate statistical analysis,followed by functional annotation of the differential metabolites.Results:Eight common metabolites were identified by metabolomics analysis,of which 5 were decreased in the CNP model controls and increased in the QLJD medication group,while the other 3 increased in the former and decreased in the latter group.Creatinine and genistein were important differential metabolites,and the arginine and proline metabolic pathways and isoflavone biosynthesis pathways were the main ones for QLJD acting on CNP.Compared with the blank controls,the model controls showed up-regulated arginine and proline metabolic pathways,increased production of creatinine,down-regulated isoflavone biosynthetic pathway and decreased produc-tion of genistein.The above changes in the model controls were all reversed in the QLJD medication group.Conclusion:QLJD acts effectively on CNP in male rats by regulating L-arginine and proline metabolic pathways,as well as the isoflavone biosynthesis pathway and naringenin metabolism.

Since the 1970s， patients with chronic pancreatitis （CP） have benefited from total pancreatectomy with autologous islet cell transplantation （TPAIT）. With the continuous development of surgical techniques and perioperative management over the past few decades， there have been improvements in islet cell function， insulin independence rate， and the survival rate of patients. This article summarizes the preoperative indications for TPAIT， the development of surgical operations， postoperative management and monitoring， and prognosis， so as to help clinicians learn more about TPAIT.

Led by Zheng Shusen, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) from Zhejiang University, the first multi-center cooperation project of liver transplantation for metastatic liver cancer in China, gathering 28 liver transplantation centers nationwide, was launched in Shanghai. All participating experts conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions regarding four topics including inclusion criteria of liver transplantation for metastatic liver cancer, the risk assessment and prognostic evaluation of liver transplantation for metastatic liver cancer, perioperative medication of liver transplantation for metastatic liver cancer, and the implementation details of multi-center cooperation project. Questionnaires were distributed to reach consensus and pinpoint the directions, aiming to carry out high-quality and standardized clinical researches on liver transplantation for metastatic liver cancer in China.

Colorectal cancer has been one of the leading malignancies with a high incidence and a great mortality in the world, Liver is the most common site of metastases.For nonresectable colorectal liver metastases(nrCRLM), no palliative therapy brings any change of terminal death.With limited sample sizes but long enough follow-ups, a series of clinical trials have confirmed that selected nrCRLM patients may be cured by liver transplantation(LT). However, there are great challenges of donor shortage, recipient criteria and high recurrence rate after LT.For promoting the curative effect and quality control, the authors elaborated upon various major issues of LT for nrCRLM, including non-resectability of colorectal liver metastases, chemotherapy-associated liver injuries, prognostic factors, surgical approaches and post-transplant therapies.

Objective:To analyze the absence of congenital arterial duct in fetus and to improve the diagnostic accuracy.Methods:Four hundred cases of congenital heart disease diagnosed by echocardiography during pregnancy were examined the fetal cardiovascular malformation and visceral malformation, and the absence of arterial duct was analyzed.Results:There were 24(6%)cases of absence of arterial duct, including 19 cases of left aortic arch and five cases of right aortic arch. There were 21 cases with main pulmonary arteries and 3 cases without main pulmonary arteries and branches. There were 15 cases of pulmonary artery stenosis with absence of arterial duct and the major cardiovascular malformations included six cases of single ventricle, six cases of atrial septal defect, four cases of single atrium, four cases of right atrium isomerism, four cases of double outlet right ventricle, four cases of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, three cases of tetralogy of Fallot, and three cases of persistent left superior vena cava. There were seven cases of pulmonary atresia with absence of arterial duct and with systemic-pulmonary collateral circulation. There was one case of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve and absent arterial duct and the pulmonary artery was dilated. There was one case of aortopulmonary septal defect with absent arterial duct, with normal pulmonary artery. There were also seven cases of asplenia, seven cases of pulmonary abnormality and seven cases of visceral inversion.Conclusions:The absence of arterial duct is often associated with congenital heart disease. Pulmonary atresia is often associated with systemic-pulmonary collateral circulation. The visceral malformations are related to the accompanying congenital cardiovascular malformations.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and molecular mechanism of Zhizhuwan decoction and its ingredient-contained serums on the proliferation and apoptosis of rat colon interstitial cells of cajal (ICC), and make a molecule-level analysis of the possible mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) purgation-tonifying therapy in treating slow transit constipation (STC). Method:A total of 40 rats were divided into Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(AMR) group, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus（AFI） group, Zhizhuwan group and blank serum group on random basis, with 10 in each group. Baizhu group was given 17.7 g·kg^-1·d^-1 of AMR decoction by gavage, AFI group was given 8.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1 AFI decoction by gavage, Zhizhuwan group was given 26.4 g·kg^-1·d^-1 Zhizhuwan decoction by gavage, and blank serum group was given 3 mL sterile distilled water for 7 consecutive days, once a day. Drug-contained serums and blank serum were collected from blood of the above groups and diluted to 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% concentrations. Each concentration was intervened for 24 h and 48 h, and the amount and status of ICC were observed. The best intervening concentration and time for each group with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) were determined. Rat colon ICC was divided into blank control group, blank serum group, AMR group, AFI group and Zhizhuwan group. ICC proliferation for each group was detected with EdU, ICC apoptosis for each group was detected by flow cytometry, and expressions of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal group, the best intervention concentration for blank serum group, AMR group and AFI group was 10%, while that for Zhizhuwan group was 5%. The best intervention times for the above groups were all 24 h. No distinct difference between the effect of blank control group and blank serum group on the proliferation and apoptosis of ICC was observed. In comparison with blank control group and blank serum group, AMR group, AFI group and Zhizhuwan group showed significant changes in ICC proliferation rate (P<0.05，P<0.01). There was a greater increase in ICC proliferation rate of Zhizhuwan group than that of AMR group and Zhizhu group (P<0.05，P<0.01), with no distinct difference between the changes of ICC proliferation rates in AMR group and AFI group. There was no significant difference between the changes of ICC apoptosis rates in AMR group, AFI group and Zhizhuwan group than in blank control group and blank serum group. There were significant increases in the expressions of XIAP and PCNA in AMR group, AFI group and Zhizhuwan group than in blank control group and blank serum group (P<0.05，P<0.01)， but with little difference among the three groups. Conclusion:At certain concentrations, Zhizhuwan, AFI and AMR all have the effect in improving ICC proliferation by increasing XIAP and PCNA expressions, with no evident effect on the apoptosis of ICC, based on TCM purgation-tonifying therapy, Zhizhuwan has the effect in improving ICC proliferation, with a better effect than single administration with AFI or AMR.