Objective: Previous studies have discovered a correlation between cigarette smoking and cortical thickness and surface area, but the causal relationship remains unclear. The objective of this investigation is to scrutinize the causal association between them. Methods: To derive summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on cortical thickness, surface area, and four smoking behaviors: 1) age of initiation of regular smoking (AgeSmk); 2) smoking initiation (SmkInit); 3) smoking cessation (SmkCes); 4) cigarettes per day (CigDay). Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was employed to examine genetic association analysis. Furthermore, for traits with significant genetic associations, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted. Results: The LDSC analysis revealed nominal genetic correlations between AgeSmk and right precentral surface area, left caudal anterior cingulate surface area, left cuneus surface area, left inferior parietal surface area, and right caudal anterior cingulate thickness, as well as between CigDay and left caudal middle frontal surface area, between SmkCes and left entorhinal thickness, and between SmkInit and left rostral anterior cingulate surface area, right rostral anterior cingulate thickness, and right superior frontal thickness (rg=-0.36–0.29, p<0.05). MR analysis showed a unidirectional causal association between left caudal middle frontal surface area and CigDay (βIVW=0.056, pBonferroni=2×10-4). Conclusion Left caudal middle frontal surface area has the potential to serve as a significant predictor of smoking behavior.

Objective: Previous studies have discovered a correlation between cigarette smoking and cortical thickness and surface area, but the causal relationship remains unclear. The objective of this investigation is to scrutinize the causal association between them. Methods: To derive summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on cortical thickness, surface area, and four smoking behaviors: 1) age of initiation of regular smoking (AgeSmk); 2) smoking initiation (SmkInit); 3) smoking cessation (SmkCes); 4) cigarettes per day (CigDay). Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was employed to examine genetic association analysis. Furthermore, for traits with significant genetic associations, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted. Results: The LDSC analysis revealed nominal genetic correlations between AgeSmk and right precentral surface area, left caudal anterior cingulate surface area, left cuneus surface area, left inferior parietal surface area, and right caudal anterior cingulate thickness, as well as between CigDay and left caudal middle frontal surface area, between SmkCes and left entorhinal thickness, and between SmkInit and left rostral anterior cingulate surface area, right rostral anterior cingulate thickness, and right superior frontal thickness (rg=-0.36–0.29, p<0.05). MR analysis showed a unidirectional causal association between left caudal middle frontal surface area and CigDay (βIVW=0.056, pBonferroni=2×10-4). Conclusion Left caudal middle frontal surface area has the potential to serve as a significant predictor of smoking behavior.

Objective: Previous studies have discovered a correlation between cigarette smoking and cortical thickness and surface area, but the causal relationship remains unclear. The objective of this investigation is to scrutinize the causal association between them. Methods: To derive summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on cortical thickness, surface area, and four smoking behaviors: 1) age of initiation of regular smoking (AgeSmk); 2) smoking initiation (SmkInit); 3) smoking cessation (SmkCes); 4) cigarettes per day (CigDay). Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was employed to examine genetic association analysis. Furthermore, for traits with significant genetic associations, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted. Results: The LDSC analysis revealed nominal genetic correlations between AgeSmk and right precentral surface area, left caudal anterior cingulate surface area, left cuneus surface area, left inferior parietal surface area, and right caudal anterior cingulate thickness, as well as between CigDay and left caudal middle frontal surface area, between SmkCes and left entorhinal thickness, and between SmkInit and left rostral anterior cingulate surface area, right rostral anterior cingulate thickness, and right superior frontal thickness (rg=-0.36–0.29, p<0.05). MR analysis showed a unidirectional causal association between left caudal middle frontal surface area and CigDay (βIVW=0.056, pBonferroni=2×10-4). Conclusion Left caudal middle frontal surface area has the potential to serve as a significant predictor of smoking behavior.

Objective: Previous studies have discovered a correlation between cigarette smoking and cortical thickness and surface area, but the causal relationship remains unclear. The objective of this investigation is to scrutinize the causal association between them. Methods: To derive summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on cortical thickness, surface area, and four smoking behaviors: 1) age of initiation of regular smoking (AgeSmk); 2) smoking initiation (SmkInit); 3) smoking cessation (SmkCes); 4) cigarettes per day (CigDay). Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was employed to examine genetic association analysis. Furthermore, for traits with significant genetic associations, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted. Results: The LDSC analysis revealed nominal genetic correlations between AgeSmk and right precentral surface area, left caudal anterior cingulate surface area, left cuneus surface area, left inferior parietal surface area, and right caudal anterior cingulate thickness, as well as between CigDay and left caudal middle frontal surface area, between SmkCes and left entorhinal thickness, and between SmkInit and left rostral anterior cingulate surface area, right rostral anterior cingulate thickness, and right superior frontal thickness (rg=-0.36–0.29, p<0.05). MR analysis showed a unidirectional causal association between left caudal middle frontal surface area and CigDay (βIVW=0.056, pBonferroni=2×10-4). Conclusion Left caudal middle frontal surface area has the potential to serve as a significant predictor of smoking behavior.

Objective: Previous studies have discovered a correlation between cigarette smoking and cortical thickness and surface area, but the causal relationship remains unclear. The objective of this investigation is to scrutinize the causal association between them. Methods: To derive summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on cortical thickness, surface area, and four smoking behaviors: 1) age of initiation of regular smoking (AgeSmk); 2) smoking initiation (SmkInit); 3) smoking cessation (SmkCes); 4) cigarettes per day (CigDay). Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was employed to examine genetic association analysis. Furthermore, for traits with significant genetic associations, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted. Results: The LDSC analysis revealed nominal genetic correlations between AgeSmk and right precentral surface area, left caudal anterior cingulate surface area, left cuneus surface area, left inferior parietal surface area, and right caudal anterior cingulate thickness, as well as between CigDay and left caudal middle frontal surface area, between SmkCes and left entorhinal thickness, and between SmkInit and left rostral anterior cingulate surface area, right rostral anterior cingulate thickness, and right superior frontal thickness (rg=-0.36–0.29, p<0.05). MR analysis showed a unidirectional causal association between left caudal middle frontal surface area and CigDay (βIVW=0.056, pBonferroni=2×10-4). Conclusion Left caudal middle frontal surface area has the potential to serve as a significant predictor of smoking behavior.

Objective: To explore the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who received entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxianwan for 78 weeks. Methods: Patients with chronic HBV infection were randomly treated with entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxian for 78 weeks. Ishak fibrosis score was used for blind interpretation of liver biopsy specimens. The improvement in liver fibrosis condition before and after the treatment was compared. Student's t test and non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U-Test and Kruskal-Wallis test) were used to analyze the measurement data. The categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square test method and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to test bivariate associations. Results: Liver fibrosis improvement rate after 78 weeks of treatment was 36.53% (80/219) and the progression rate was 23.29% (51/219). The improvement of liver fibrosis was associated to the degree of baseline fibrosis and treatment methods (P < 0.05). The improvement rate of hepatic fibrosis in patients treated with anluohuaxianwan combined with entecavir at baseline F < 3 (54.74%, 52/95) was significantly higher than that in patients treated only with entecavir (33.33%, 16/48), P = 0.016 and the progression rate of hepatic fibrosis (13.68%, 13/95) was lower than that in patients treated alone (18.75%, 9/48), P = 0.466. In patients with baseline F < 3, the proportion of patients with improved and stable liver fibrosis in the combined treatment group (68.1%, 32/47) was higher than that in the treatment group alone (51.7%, 15/29). Conclusion Combined anluohuaxianwan and entecavir treatment can significantly improve the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Furthermore, it has the tendency to improve the stability rate and reduce the rate of progression of liver fibrosis.

Based on the understanding of TCM and western medicine on diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), the relationship between DPN pathogenesis and blood stasis of TCM is discussed from the perspective of modern medicine. It is indicated blood stasis is the key pathogenesis to DPN, and a two-step acupuncture treatment of DPN from the theory of blood stasis is proposed. The first step is to analyze the pathogenesis of blood stasis, which could block the progress of the disease and diminish the symptoms. The second step is to apply acupuncture for pathological result of blood stasis by following the principle of, as a result, the purpose of treating both symptoms and root cause is achieved.

Objective:To investigate the effects of moxibustion on the serum metabolism in healthy human body based on the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) metabolomics technology, and to find the differences in metabolites, as well as to elucidate the effects of moxibustion on healthy human body from the viewpoint of global metabolism. Methods:Sixty subjects of healthy young men from the enrolled students were randomly divided into a moxibustion group and a control group using random number table, with 30 cases in each group. Subjects in the moxibustion group accepted mild moxibustion on the right Zusanli (ST 36), once a day, 15 min for each time, and continuous treatment for 10 d; those in the control group did not receive any intervention. There were 28 cases in the moxibustion group and 23 cases in the control group after interventions. On the 1st day, 5th day and 10th day of the intervention, serum samples were collected from subjects of the two groups, and metabolic spectra were obtained by the1H NMR technology. Results: Before and after the intervention, serum1H NMR of the moxibustion group was significantly different, while the difference was insignificant in the control group. Metabolite changes in the moxibustion group were mainly in low density lipoprotein (LDL)/very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), valine, isoleucine, leucine, lactic acid, glutamine, citric acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, creatine, glycine, glycerol, glucose, tyrosine, histidine, formic acid, alanine, lysine, acetic acid, and glutamic acid. Conclusion:Moxibustion can cause changes of serum metabolic patterns in healthy human by influencing the concentrations of branched-chain amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other metabolites to strengthen body's metabolisms of amino acids and fatty acid.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the reason of biochemical suboptimal response in CHB patients with complete virological response after more than 2 years standard treatment with Nucleos(t)-ide analogs (NUCs).To evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of bicyclol tablets plus on the basis of the original treatment and lifestyle intervention. in CHB patients complicated with fatty liver.

METHODSIn 40 patients with chronic hepatitis B meeting the inclusion criteria,the liver biopsy was conducted.And patients complicated with fatty liver were treated with bicyclol tablets (25 mg, t.i.d) additional consecutive 48 weeks. The changes of serum biochemistry indexes and liver fibrosis index were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAmong 40 patients, 27 were complicated with fatty liver(69.23%), fatty degree in liver cell and liver inflammatory were closely related to the advanced fibrosis (x² =4.746, P=0.029; x² =5.072, P=0.024). The expression of HBsAg in serum and liver tissue showed no correlation with the advanced fibrosis (x² = 0.273, P=0.601; x² = 0.020, P =0.887) After bicyclol tablets treatment, serum biochemistry of patients complicated with fatty liver significantly decreased (F=58.045, P =0.000), plasma GST-PX significantly increased (t=15.109, P =0.000), plasma MDA significantly decreased (t=-10.786, P=0.000); LSM significantly decreased (t=2.255, P=0.036; t =5.376, P =0.002).

CONCLUSIONFor the antiviral purpose of guide treatment, CHB patients treated with Nucleos(t)-ide analogs (NUCs) with biochemical suboptimal response, other risk factors should be considered as early as possible. Bicyclol plus lifestyle intervention was effective for chronic hepatitis B combined fatty liver patients with poor biochemical responses.

Objective To investigate optimum dose of anesthesia in pediatric axillary brachial plexus branch block under ultrasound-guided. Methods Forty-eight children from May 2012 to May 2013 in hand surgery of our hospital,whose age was from 6 to 12 years,were randomly divided into four groups, each group has 12 cases. The doses of Ropivacaine were different in different groups. Group A was 0. 25 mL/kg,group B was 0. 2 mL/kg,group C was 0. 15 mL/kg,group D was 0. 10 mL/kg. And Ketamine was added to the treatment ac-cording to the incidence of anesthesia intraoperative. Evaluating the effect of anesthesia according to the situation of nerve block,observing an-esthesia duration time,dosage of anesthesia and rates of complications. Results The blocking effect of group A,B and C in each nerve area was correspond after 30 min,and anesthesia efficiency was higher than group D,but additional rate was lower than group D,the differences were statistically significant (P<0. 05). The block time in group D was shorter than the other groups,and the dose of Ketamine was most, and the block onset,perfect time were longer than the other groups (P<0. 05). But the differences between group A,B,C were not signifi-cant. Two cases in group D converted to general anesthesia. Four groups did not occur complication related narcotic drug. Conclusion In pediatric brachial plexus block used Ropivacaine under ultrasound-guided would get complete branch block,the exact effect of anesthesia, smaller dosage of local anesthesia. When the dosage of Ropivacaine was 0. 15 mL/kg could achieve a better anesthesia effect.