AIM: To compare the differences in intraocular pressure and anterior segment biometric parameters among Tibetan populations permanent residing at different altitudes in Xizang autonomous region, and to explore the impact of high-altitude environments on ocular characteristics.

METHODS:This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data were collected from Tibetan patients who visited the People's Hospital of Xizang Autonomous Region from September 2019 to October 2021. Participants were divided into two groups based on their permanent residence altitude: a higher altitude group(2 500-3 750 m)and a very high-altitude group(>3 750 m). The eye with better best corrected visual acuity was selected for each participant. Intraocular pressure, refractive error, and anterior segment biometric measurements \〖white-to-white corneal diameter(WTW), central corneal thickness(CCT), anterior chamber depth(ACD), lens thickness(LT), axial length(AL)\〗 were recorded and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: A total of 43 Tibetan patients(43 eyes)were enrolled in this study, comprising 23 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 57.88±13.90 y. There were 19 patients(19 eyes)in the very high-altitude group and 24 patients(24 eyes)in the higher altitude group. The mean intraocular pressure in the very high-altitude group was 11.79±1.72 mmHg, which was significantly lower than 13.44±2.43 mmHg in the higher altitude group(P=0.019). CCT in the very high-altitude group was 482.70±23.76 μm, significantly thinner than 503.00±31.09 μm in the higher altitude group(P=0.012). AL in the very high-altitude group was 22.96±0.96 mm, significantly shorter than 23.64±1.10 mm in the higher altitude group(P=0.020). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in WTW, ACD, LT, or refractive error(all P>0.05).

CONCLUSION:Among the Tibetan population in Xizang autonomous region, as the altitude of residence increases, intraocular pressure significantly decreases, CCT becomes thinner and AL shortens. These morphological changes suggest possible adaptive remodelling of the eye in very high-altitude environments, and a thinner cornea may be an important factor contributing to the lower measured intraocular pressure values.

Objective To explore the causal relationship among 731 types of immune cells and breast cancer.Methods Genome-wide association data for immune cells and breast cancer were used.Mendelian randomization analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighting(IVW)and weighted median(WM)methods,and sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy.Results A total of 19 immune cell phenotypes were identified to potentially have a causal association with breast cancer,using IVW as the main analysis method(P>0.05)and correcting P values using the false discovery rate method at a significance level of 0.05,excluding reverse causality.Of these,eight and 11 immune phenotypes may increase and decrease the risk of breast cancer,respectively.Conclusion This study explored the causal relationship between immune cells and breast cancer.Results show that certain immune cell phenotypes could serve as predictive markers for the early diagnosis of breast cancer and the development of new immun-otherapeutic strategies.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) score for the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP), infectious pancreatic necrosis and patients′ death.Methods:Clinical data of 719 patients with AP were collected from the AP database of the National Clinical Research Center for Digestive System Diseases from January 2016 to June 2018. According to the severity of the disease, they were divided into MAP group (506 cases), MSAP group (112 cases) and SAP group (101 cases). AGI, APACHEⅡ, MCTSI and BISAP scores were calcululated in the three groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. The predictive value of the above four scoring systems for the hospitalization days, disease severity, infectious pancreatic necrosis and death was analyzed, respectively.Results:There were no cases of infectious pancreatic necrosis or death in the MAP group, but there were 9 cases of infectious pancreatic necrosis and 2 deaths in the MSAP group and 19 cases of infectious pancreatic necrosis and 8 deaths in the SAP group. There was a strong correlation between AGI score and AP patients′ hospitalization days ( r=0.619). AUC of AGI, APACHEⅡ, MCTSI and BISAP score in predicting the AP patients′ severity (MSAP+ SAP) was 0.967 (95% CI 0.951-0.982), 0.769(95% CI 0.720-0.899), 0.842(95% CI 0.809-0.875), 0.862 (95% CI0.832-0.893). AUC for forecasting infectious pancreatic necrosis was 0.803, 0.677, 0.692, 0.724, and the 95% CI was 0.724-0.882, 0.573-0.781, 0.582-0.636, 0.801-0.812. AUC for predicting death in patients with AP were 0.915, 0.597, 0.659, 0.812, and the 95% CI were 0.843-0.986, 0.444-0.751, 0.498-0.698 and 0.882-0.926. AGI score had the highest predictive value, followed by BISAP score, and the correlation between these two scores was the closest. The predictive value of AGI combined with BISAP score for infectious pancreatic necrosis and patient death (AUC were 0.837, 0.942, 95% CI were 0.770-0.903, 0.897-0.987) was better than that of AGI and BISAP score alone. Conclusions:AGI score combined with BISAP score is more effective in predicting the severity of AP, the occurrence of infectious pancreatic necrosis or patient death.

Mussle foot protein has a main component which is named dopa. Dopa can be used to promote a relatively firm adhesion of mussels to the surface of solid materials through forming dihydrogen bonds, π-π/π-cation bonds and chelating metals,etc. To exploit these interactions, there is the opportunity to apply dopa-inspired compounds to improve the dentin-resin bonding. The current review provides valuable information concerning the mechanism of adhesion mediated by mussel foot protein and describes the application of dopa-inspired compounds in the dentin-resin bonding. The article provides novel information for future research in optimization of the properties of dentin-resin bonding.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of pretreating with oral immunosuppressants alone for ABO-incompatible (ABOi) renal transplant recipients with an initial isoagglutinin titer <1: 8.Methods:From September 2014 to October 2019, 16 cases of ABOi renal transplantation pretreated with oral immunosuppressants alone and 32 cases of ABO-compatible (ABOc) renal transplantation were recruited for comparing the inter-group incidence of graft function, acute rejection, infection and recipient and allograft survival.Results:The 16 ABOi renal transplantations were AB-to-A(n=4), AB-to-B(n=3), A-to-B(n=1), B-to-A(n=4), A-to-O(n=2) and B-to-O(n=2). The initial isoagglutinin titer (IgM & IgG) and that on the date of transplantation were both ≤1∶8. The median follow-up period was 495(90-1696) days. One patient in ABOi group underwent allograft nephrectomy due to hyperacute rejection. The graft survival rates were 93.75%(15/16) and 100%(32/32) in ABOi and ABOc groups respectively. No recipient died. No significant inter-group difference existed in postoperative renal function after 6 months (serum creatinine μmol/L: 114.30±28.13 vs. 106.08±23.80, P=0.38; eGFR ml/min/1.73 m 2: 64.93±19.60 vs. 82.34±22.58, P=0.13). In ABOi group, there were 3 episodes of postoperative infection, 2 episodes of acute rejection within 2 weeks (including 1 episode of hyperacute rejection) and 1 episode of acute rejection after 2 weeks; 5 episodes of postoperative infection, no acute rejection within 2 weeks and 5 episodes of acute rejection after 2 weeks in ABOc group. No significant inter-group difference existed in the incidence of infection or rejection ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Using oral immunosuppressant alone is both safe and feasible for ABOi renal transplantation recipients with an initial isoagglutinin titer ≤1∶8. It may greatly simplify the pretreatment scheme for those with a low initial isoagglutinin titer and lower the incidence of complications.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of individualized preconditioning in ABO-incompatible living donor kidney transplantation.Methods A series of 36 living donor kidney transplants across a wide range of ABO blood group incompatibilities using individualized preconditioning protocols were performed from September 2014 to June 2017.Preconditioning included oral immunosuppressants with or without the administration of rituximab,PE or DFPP.Medical records and electronic databases were reviewed for isoagglutinin titers,patient and graft survivals,graft function,rejections,infections as well as surgical complications.Results Of 30 ABO blood group incompatibilities,there were 6 cases of AB to A,2 cases of AB to B,4 cases of A to B,3 cases of B to A,13 cases of A to O (13),and 8 cases of B to O.Median initial ABO antibody titers were 1∶32 (1∶2-1∶256) (IgM) and 1 ∶ 8 (0-1∶64) (IgG),respectively.Individualized preconditioning included oral immunosuppressants alone (10 cases),oral immunosuppressants + PE (4 cases),oral immunosuppressants + PE + DFPP (1 case),oral immunosuppressants + rituximab + PE (16 cases),oral immunosuppressants + rituximab + DFPP (2 cases),and oral immunosuppressants + rituximab + PE+ DFPP (3 cases).After individualized preconditioning,an acceptable ABO antibody titer (≤1 ∶ 16) was obtained on the day of transplantation.Median follow-up duration was 12 months (1-33).Graft and patient survival rate was 94.4％ (34/36) and 100％ (36/36) respectively.Median value of serum creatinine at one year posttransplantation was 89 μmol/L,and eGFR was (81.07 mL/min/1.73 m2).In total,there was one episode of urinary tract infection and upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage,two cases of hyperacute rejection (leading to graft loss),acutecelluar-mediated rejection,delayed graft function,bone marrow suppression and pneumonia,and 3 cases of acute antibody-mediated rejection and wound fat liquefaction,respectively.Conclusion Our initial experience indicates that individualized preconditioning protocol based on initial ABO antibody titers is safe and technically feasible,and leads to excellent short-term survival of ABOi living donor kidney transplantation.