MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are mediators of the aging process. The purpose of this work was to analyze the miRNA expression profiles of spermatozoa from men of different ages with normal fertility. Twenty-seven donors were divided into three groups by age (Group A, n = 8, age: 20-30 years; Group B, n = 10, age: 31-40 years; and Group C, n = 9, age: 41-55 years) for high-throughput sequencing analysis. Samples from 65 individuals (22, 22, and 21 in Groups A, B, and C, respectively) were used for validation by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A total of 2160 miRNAs were detected: 1223 were known, 937 were newly discovered and unnamed, of which 191 were expressed in all donors. A total of 7, 5, and 17 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) were found in Group A vs B, Group B vs C, and Group A vs C comparisons, respectively. Twenty-two miRNAs were statistically correlated with age. Twelve miRNAs were identified as age-associated miRNAs, including hsa-miR-127-3p, mmu-miR-5100_L+2R-1, efu-miR-9226_L-2_1ss22GA, cgr-miR-1260_L+1, hsa-miR-652-3p_R+1, pal-miR-9993a-3p_L+2R-1, hsa-miR-7977_1ss6AG, hsa-miR-106b-3p_R-1, hsa-miR-186-5p, PC-3p-59611_111, hsa-miR-93-3p_R+1, and aeca-mir-8986a-p5_1ss1GA. There were 9165 target genes of age-associated miRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of the target genes identified revealed enrichment of protein binding, membrane, cell cycle, and so on. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of age-related miRNAs for target genes revealed 139 enriched pathways, such as signaling pathways regulating stem cell pluripotency, metabolic pathways, and the Hippo signaling pathway. This suggests that miRNAs play a key role in male fertility changes with increasing age and provides new evidence for the study of the mechanism of age-related male fertility decline.
Humans ; Male ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Profiling

BACKGROUND: The benefits of healthy lifestyles are well recognized. However, the extent to which improving unhealthy lifestyles reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk needs to be discussed. We evaluated the impact of lifestyle improvement on CVD incidence using data from the China-PAR project (Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China). METHODS: A total of 12,588 participants free of CVD were followed up for three visits after the baseline examination. Changes in four lifestyle factors (LFs) (smoking, diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption) were assessed through questionnaires from the baseline to the first follow-up visit. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The risk advancement periods (RAPs: the age difference between exposed and unexposed participants reaching the same incident CVD risk) and population-attributable risk percentage (PAR%) were also calculated. RESULTS: A total of 909 incident CVD cases occurred over a median follow-up of 11.14 years. Compared with maintaining 0-1 healthy LFs, maintaining 3-4 healthy LFs was associated with a 40% risk reduction of incident CVD (HR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.45-0.79) and delayed CVD risk by 6.31 years (RAP: -6.31 [-9.92, -2.70] years). The PAR% of maintaining 3-4 unhealthy LFs was 22.0% compared to maintaining 0-1 unhealthy LFs. Besides, compared with maintaining two healthy LFs, improving healthy LFs from 2 to 3-4 was associated with a 23% lower risk of CVD (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60-0.98). CONCLUSIONS Long-term sustenance of healthy lifestyles or improving unhealthy lifestyles can reduce and delay CVD risk.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Humans ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

Objective To analyze the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in national surveillance sites of Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the scientific evidence for formulating the new schistosomiasis surveillance program and consolidating schistosomiasis elimination achievements. Methods A total of 54 to 55 national surveillance sites and 6 risk monitoring sites were assigned in historical endemic regions of Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2019, where the Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans, livestock, snails and wild feces were monitored. All data pertaining to the surveillance results were descriptively analyzed. Results There were 34 530 person-time local residents receiving serological screening for S. japonicum infections in national surveillance sites of Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2019, and the seroprevalance of S. japonicum infections were 0.29% to 0.68%; however, no egg-positives were detected. During the period from 2015 to 2019, there were 62 086 person-time mobile populations receiving serological screening for S. japonicum infections in national surveillance sites of Zhejiang Province, and the seroprevalance of S. japonicum infections were 0.32% to 0.56%; additionally, there were 27 egg-positives identified, including 3 imported cases with schistosomiasis haematobia and one case with acute schistosomiasis japonica, indicating that the adjusted prevalence of Schistosoma infections were 0.01% to 0.07% among mobile populations. A total of 829 livestock were examined for S. japonicum infections, with no positives detected. There were 10.55 hm² and 2.89 hm² snail habitats found in national surveillance sites and risk monitoring sites of Zhejiang Province during the 5-year period, respectively; however, no S. japonicum infections were identified in snails. Moreover, a total of 305 wild feces were tested for S. japonicum infections, and no egg-positives were identified. Conclusions The schistosomiasis elimination achievement have been consolidated in Zhejiang Province; however, the risk factors of re-emerging schistosomiasis have not been completely eliminated, such as residual snails and imported schistosomiasis cases. Further surveillance and control activities of snails and the source of S. japonicum infections should be reinforced.

BACKGROUND: Delivery room resuscitation assists preterm infants, especially extremely preterm infants (EPI) and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI), in breathing support, while it potentially exerts a negative impact on the lungs and outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to assess delivery room resuscitation and discharge outcomes of EPI and ELBWI in China. METHODS: The clinical data of EPI (gestational age [GA] <28 weeks) and ELBWI (birth weight [BW] <1000 g), admitted within 72 h of birth in 33 neonatal intensive care units from five provinces and cities in North China between 2017 and 2018, were analyzed. The primary outcomes were delivery room resuscitation and risk factors for delivery room intubation (DRI). The secondary outcomes were survival rates, incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and risk factors for BPD. RESULTS: A cohort of 952 preterm infants were enrolled. The incidence of DRI, chest compressions, and administration of epinephrine was 55.9% (532/952), 12.5% (119/952), and 7.0% (67/952), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for DRI were GA <28 weeks (odds ratio [OR], 3.147; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.082-4.755), BW <1000 g (OR, 2.240; 95% CI, 1.606-3.125), and antepartum infection (OR, 1.429; 95% CI, 1.044-1.956). The survival rate was 65.9% (627/952) and was dependent on GA. The rate of BPD was 29.3% (181/627). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for BPD were male (OR, 1.603; 95% CI, 1.061-2.424), DRI (OR, 2.094; 95% CI, 1.328-3.303), respiratory distress syndrome exposed to ≥2 doses of pulmonary surfactants (PS; OR, 2.700; 95% CI, 1.679-4.343), and mechanical ventilation ≥7 days (OR, 4.358; 95% CI, 2.777-6.837). However, a larger BW (OR, 0.998; 95% CI, 0.996-0.999), antenatal steroid (OR, 0.577; 95% CI, 0.379-0.880), and PS use in the delivery room (OR, 0.273; 95% CI, 0.160-0.467) were preventive factors for BPD (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Improving delivery room resuscitation and management of respiratory complications are imperative during early management of the health of EPI and ELBWI.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; China/epidemiology* ; Delivery Rooms ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy

Objective To study the distribution of hypoxia inducible factor ( HIF ) 3A gene single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs ) in Guangxi Han population and compare their distribution differences with different populations. Methods We conducted SNPscan technique to detect the genotypes of rsl 1672731 and rs2072491 on 286 Guangxi Han population included in the study and statistically analyzed the genotype and allele frequency and the HapMap-CEU, HapMap- HCB, HapMap-JPT, HapMap-GIH and HapMap-MEX data differences. Results Three genotypes, AA, AG and GG, were found in rsl 1672731 of HIF3A, with frequency of 42.7%, 45. 5% and 11. 8%, respectively, the allele frequencies of A and G were 65.5% and 34.5%, respectively. Three genotypes of CC, CT and TT, were found for rs2072491 with frequency distributions of 47.6%, 43.0% and 9.4%, respectively, the allele frequencies of C and T were 69.1% and 30.9%, respectively. There was no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of rsl 1672731 and rs2072491 between different genders in Guangxi Han population (P>0. 05). However, compared with the typing data of CEU, HCB, JPT, GHI, TSI and MEX from human genome project (HapMap), the genotype and allele frequencies of rsl 1672731 and rs2072491 were not significantly different from those of HCB and JPT (P>0. 05). The genotype and allele frequencies of rsl 1672731 and rs2072491 were statistically different with the date of CEU, GIH, TSI and MEX published by the HapMap (P<0.05). Conclusion The polymorphisms of HIF3A gene rsl 1672731 and rs2072491 have differences on different populations.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Xuanfei Huazhuo prescription in the treatment of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Method:A total of 40 patients with COVID-19 were selected and treated with Xuanfei Huazhuo prescription. The changes of body temperature, clinical symptoms, computed tomography (CT), blood routine and biochemical indexes were observed before and after treatment. Result:The 40 patients included 15 males and 25 females, with a male to female ratio of 1∶1.7. They were aged between 20-94 years old, with the average age of （43.9±16.3） years old. The course of disease was 8-23 days, with the average of （14±4.4） days. Compared with before administration, the patients' clinical symptoms, such as cough, fever, sputum, diarrhea, loss of appetite and fatigue, were all improved (P<0.05). Before treatment the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes of patients were mainly cold dampness lung (57.5%) and cold dampness Lung (42.5%), and the tongue coating was mainly white greasy coating (52.9%). After adjuvant treatment with Xuanfei Huazhuo prescription, the fever removal time was (2.48±2.56) days; white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte percentage (LYM%), neutrophil percentage (NEUT%), absolute value of lymphocytes (LYM #) indexes of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total bilirubin (TBIL), ratio of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase to glutamic pyruvic transaminase (AST/ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were basically restored to the normal range (P<0.05) compared with before administration. After adjuvant treatment with Xuanfei Huazhuo prescription, the results of three pharyngeal test virus nucleic acid tests were negative, and the lung CT showed that infected lesions were absorbed and all met the discharge criteria. All 40 patients met the discharge criteria and were all cured and discharged, with a cure rate of 100%. There has been no case of recurrence with a positive result of nucleic acid detection so far. The score of symptom and clinical index of patients after administration was （1.62±1.90）, which was significantly lower than that before administration (7.65±4.08, P<0.05). Conclusion:In the adjuvant treatment of COVID-19, Xuanfei Huazhuo prescription can reduce body temperature, promote the absorption of pulmonary inflammation, and improve clinical symptoms, such as fever and cough.