BACKGROUND: Weather conditions are a possible contributing factor to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible loss of vision. The present study evaluated the joint effects of meteorological factors and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) on AMD. METHODS: Data was extracted from a national cross-sectional survey conducted across 10 provinces in rural China. A total of 36,081 participants aged 40 and older were recruited. AMD was diagnosed clinically by slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Meteorological data were calculated by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis and were matched to participants' home addresses by latitude and longitude. Participants' individual PM_2.5 exposure concentrations were calculated by a satellite-based model at a 1-km resolution level. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models paired with interaction analysis were performed to investigate the joint effects of meteorological factors and PM_2.5 on AMD. RESULTS: The prevalence of AMD in the study population was 2.6% (95% CI 2.42-2.76%). The average annual PM_2.5 level during the study period was 63.1 ± 15.3 µg/m³. A significant positive association was detected between AMD and PM_2.5 level, temperature (T), and relative humidity (RH), in both the independent and the combined effect models. For PM_2.5, compared with the lowest quartile, the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across increasing quartiles were 0.828 (0.674,1.018), 1.105 (0.799,1.528), and 2.602 (1.516,4.468). Positive associations were observed between AMD and temperature, with ORs (95% CI) of 1.625 (1.059,2.494), 1.619 (1.026,2.553), and 3.276 (1.841,5.830), across increasing quartiles. In the interaction analysis, the estimated relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) and the attributable proportion (AP) for combined atmospheric pressure and PM_2.5 was 0.864 (0.586,1.141) and 1.180 (0.768,1.592), respectively, indicating a synergistic effect between PM_2.5 and atmospheric pressure. CONCLUSIONS This study is among the first to characterize the coordinated effects of meteorological factors and PM_2.5 on AMD. The findings warrant further investigation to elucidate the relationship between ambient environment and AMD.
Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Macular Degeneration/etiology* ; Meteorological Concepts

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hypertension is high among Chinese adults, thus, identifying non-hypertensive individuals at high risk for intervention will help to improve the efficiency of primary prevention strategies. METHODS: The cross-sectional data on 9699 participants aged 20 to 80 years were collected from the China National Health Survey in Gansu and Hebei provinces in 2016 to 2017, and they were nonrandomly split into the training set and validation set based on location. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to develop the diagnostic prediction model, which was presented as a nomogram and a website with risk classification. Predictive performances of the model were evaluated using discrimination and calibration, and were further compared with a previously published model. Decision curve analysis was used to calculate the standardized net benefit for assessing the clinical usefulness of the model. RESULTS: The Lasso regression analysis identified the significant predictors of hypertension in the training set, and a diagnostic model was developed using logistic regression. A nomogram with risk classification was constructed to visualize the model, and a website ( https://chris-yu.shinyapps.io/hypertension_risk_prediction/ ) was developed to calculate the exact probabilities of hypertension. The model showed good discrimination and calibration, with the C-index of 0.789 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.768, 0.810) through internal validation and 0.829 (95% CI: 0.816, 0.842) through external validation. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the model was clinically useful. The model had a higher area under receiver operating characteristic curves in training and validation sets compared with a previously published diagnostic model based on Northern China population. CONCLUSION This study developed and validated a diagnostic model for hypertension prediction in Gansu Province. A nomogram and a website were developed to make the model conveniently used to facilitate the individualized prediction of hypertension in the general population of Han and Yugur.
Adult ; Humans ; Asian People ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Surveys ; Hypertension/epidemiology* ; Nomograms ; Ethnicity

OBJECTIVE To investigate the characteristics and regulations of medication in different stages of disease by constructing a dynamic disease network and a cellular feature network spanning from myocardial infarction to heart failure.METHODS Based on transcrip-tome and single-cell sequencing data from a mouse model of left anterior descending coro-nary artery ligation,a dynamic early-middle-late network and cellular feature network were con-structed by integrating differential gene expres-sion trends and biological functions.The robust-ness of the perturbation effect of traditional Chi-nese medicine(TCM)on the disease network was calculated based on multi-target TCM,and we acquired the foundational data by analyzing the results of effectiveness.The predictive plat-form was scrutinized and assessed with regards to the functional attributes of FDA approved-drugs and compound prescriptions,in order to determine the primary stages of intervention and the drug patterns actions in the progression of heart failure.RESULTS In this study,we devel-oped a prediction and analysis platform for assessing the efficacy of drugs using a network-based approach.The accuracy of the system was validated by FDA approved-drugs.It was found that blood-activating drugs,heat-clearing drugs,and phlegm-expelling drugs exhibited favorable intervention effects during the early to middle stages of the disease by investigating the effects of single herbs and TCM prescriptions on disease progression.Similarly,phlegm-expelling drugs,spirit-nourishing drugs,and diuretic showed better intervention effects during the mid-dle to late stages.These findings were consis-tent with the clinical use of drugs.Analysis of the clustering heatmap results of TCM prescriptions revealed that the formulas aimed at qi stagnation and blood stasis had a strong effect in early stage,while the formulas for qi and yin deficiency and cardiorenal yang deficiency had a strong effect in the middle to late stages.Furthermore,analysis of the single-cell feature network demon-strated that TCM had advantages in modulating the changes in fibroblasts,myofibroblasts,endo-thelial cells,and granulocytes during the patho-logical process.Additionally,most prescriptions exhibited strong perturbation effects on the fea-ture network of NK-T cells,granulocytes,macro-phages,and myofibroblasts.CONCLUSION This platform quantitatively evaluates the primary action stages and characteristics of TCM and for-mulas involved in the dynamic process of myo-cardial infarction to heart failure based on the effective prediction of the efficacy of TCM and FDA approved-drugs.It provides reference for the precise clinical application of TCM and formu-las with multiple targets and multiple pathways.

OBJECTIVE To clarify the mecha-nism of Tou Tong Ning capsule(TTNC)and elu-cidate crosstalk between multi-components drug and trigeminal ganglia cells in migraine.METH-ODS We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing data and a quantitative evaluation algorithm of the disturbance of multi-target drugs on the dis-ease network to explore the specific pathology of TTNC for migraine.Cerebrovascular smooth muscle spasmolytic activity experiment was car-ried out to verify the results of bioinformatics analysis.RESULTS TTNC can effectively regu-late the functions of synaptic signaling,inflamma-tion and immune response,and cerebrovascular smooth muscle.For different cell subtypes of tri-geminal ganglia,TTNC can significantly disturb the robustness on neuronal cell networks and non-neural networks(fibroblast and vascular cells),indicating TTNC vasodilation activity of brain vessels and neural regulation activities of various neuro types.Contraction of cerebrovas-cular smooth muscle of mouse ex vivo confirmed the vasodilation activity of TTNC and active com-pounds(Emodin,Luteolin and Levistilide A).And literature mining confirmed the vasospasmolytic activity and neuroprotective effect activity of TTNC.CONCLUSIONS Integrating single-cell data and network disturbance tools provides a new strategy for the MoA of multi-components drug through cell subtyping.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of percutaneous osteoplasty (POP) combined with 131I therapy in patients with bone metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and assess the survival. Methods:From Januray 2008 to January 2020, 29 DTC patients with bone metastases (16 males, 13 females, age range: 24-64 years) who received POP combined with 131I therapy in Shanghai Sixth People′s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data and characteristics of patients were analyzed. The efficacy and prognosis were evaluated based on the changes of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and relieving condition of bone pain after the combined treatment. χ2 test was used to determine the association between clinical characteristics and efficacy, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the overall survival (OS) rate. Results:The biochemical response rate of serum Tg was 68.97% (20/29) after the combined treatment. For the influence on changes of serum Tg, whether or not combined with non-osseous distant metastasis, and cumulative dose of 131I treatment(≥22.2 vs <22.2 GBq) were statistically significant ( χ2 values: 5.448 and 4.371, both P<0.05). The rate of bone pain relief was 65.52%(19/29). Age (≥55 vs <55 years) and the cumulative dose of 131I treatment had statistically influences on bone relief ( χ2 values: 7.486 and 5.154, both P<0.05). The 5-years OS rate of patients was 87.68%, while the 10-years OS rate was 65.76%. Conclusion:POP combined with 131I therapy is effective on relieving the pain, reducing the serum Tg to some extent, and improving the long-term survival of DTC patients with bone metastasis.

Objective To compare the lung injury in thoracoscopic cardiac surgery with one-lung ventilation (OLV) and thoracotomy cardiac surgery.Methods A total of 60 patients underwent thoracotomy cardiac surgery (control group) or thoracoscopic cardiac surgery with OLV (observation group) in our hospital from May 2013 to December 2015 were enrolled,30 patients in each group.Two-lung ventilation was performed with a single-lumen endotracheal tube in the control group.In observation group,left lung ventilation was performed with a double-lumen endotracheal tube.Arterial blood gas analysis parameters,levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and surfactant protein A (SP-A) were detected after the induction of anesthesia (T1),before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)(T2),immediately after the onset of the CPB (T3),30 min after CPB (T,) and 60 min after CPB (T5),and the respiratory index (RI) was calculated at the above time points,as well.Lung tissues were collected during operation for nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) detection and pathological analysis.Results Compared with the control group,arterial partial pressures of oxygen (PaO2) were decreased at T3,T4 and T5,and RI values were increased at T2,T3,T4 and T5 in the observation group(P＜ 0.05).After surgery,the serum levels of ICAM-1 and expression levels of NF-κB in both two groups were increased,and serum levels of SP-A in both two groups were decreased;moreover,the levels of ICAM-1 and NF-κB in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05),and the level of SP-A in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05).The lung histopathological changes showed alveolar swelling,neutrophil infiltration and interstitial exudation in the observation group,and inflammation in the observation group was more obvious than that in the control group.Conclusion Comparing with thoracotomy cardiac surgery,lung injury is more serious in thoracoscopic cardiac surgery with OLV.

Objective: To investigate the impact factors for central neck lymph node metastases(CLNM) of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC). Methods: A total of 498 patients with PTC who underwent total or hemi-thyroidectomy plus central neck lymph node dissection between January 2014 and July 2016 were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinicopathological characteristics, thyroid function parameters and US findings that associated with CLNM of PTC. A nomogram was developed to predict the probability of CLNM. The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) was used to estimate the efficiency of the nomogram. Results: Among 498 patients, 284 patients were affected by CNLM. The sensitivity and specificity of US in predicting PTC metastasis in the central neck were 31.3% and 88.3%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that gender, age, number and size of suspicious malignant nodules in thyroid, and suspicious lymph node metastasis detected by ultrasonography were independently correlated with CLNM. The ROC showed that the AUC was 0.748, with sensitivity of 80.8%, and specificity of 59.8%. Conclusions Gender, age, number and size of suspicious malignant nodules in thyroid, suspicious lymph node metastasis were predictive factors for CLNM in patients with PTC. The nomogram developed based on related factors with CLNM is more sensitive than sonographic central neck lymph node features in predicting the probability of CLNM.

Objective To evaluate the effects of nursing quality and safety management based on information system.Methods The hospital constructed the nursing information system according to the actual needs of hospital nursing work,and evaluated the effects of nursing quality and safety management information system by questionnaire survey.Results The nurses′ satisfaction to information system was high,with the total score of satisfaction (58.37±8.34). The information system had obvious effects on preventing medical errors,improving patients safety,temperature drawing,information collection,etc. Conclusions Information system has become an important tool in clinical nursing work. It changes the traditional mode of work,improves the efficiency of the nursing work and nurses′ satisfaction,and it achieves the goal of returning nurses′ time to patients.

OBJECTIVETo identify a nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) responsive element within the Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 1 (SMURF1) gene promoter, and to demonstrate its role in the regulation of SMURF1 expression.

METHODSA series of truncated luciferase reporter plasmids of the SMURF1 promoter were constructed and transfected into hepatic cancer Hep G2 cells. Luciferase assays were carried out to assess the activities of such promoters. DNA binding and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were used to identify an NF-κB responsive element within the SMURF1 promoter. Lucifease plasmid with mutated NF-κB site was constructed and its activity was assessed. The expression of SMURF1 in Hep G2 cells was detected after transfection of NF-κB specific small interfering RNA (siRNA).

RESULTSThe SMURF1 promoter showed a high transcription activity, and the region of -519 to -378 was demonstrated to be a positive regulatory region. -411 to -420 of the SMURF1 promoter was an NF-κB responsive element, and NF-κB may specifically bind to this site. Mutation of this element may prominently decrease the activity of the promoter. Transfection of NF-κB siRNA evidently down-regulated SMURF1 expression.

CONCLUSIONNF-κB can specifically bind to the -411 to -420 region of the SMURF1 promoter and plays an essential role in the expression of SMURF1.

Gene Expression Regulation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; Transcription, Genetic ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To study the clinical value of heart‐type fatty acid binding protein(H‐FABP) ,high‐sensitive cTnI(hs‐cT‐nI),homocysteine(Hcy)andcystatinc(Cys‐C)intheearlydiagnosisofacutemyocardialinfarction(AMI).Methods 150casesof AMI patients with coronary arteriography (AMI group) were selected from the cardiovascular department admitted within the first 6hours of chest pain attack .An additional 30 case for control group .The level of four novel cardiac marker were measured in each group of serum .Results The level of serum H‐FABP ,hs‐cTnI ,Hcy and Cys‐C in AMI group were markedly higher than control group(P<0 .05) ,and rose with the increase of coronary artery lesions with statistical difference (P<0 .05) .Each cardiac markers showed high specificity in the diagnosis of AMI ,amongst which H‐FABP and hs‐cTnI ,stood out with sensitivity of 97 .34% and 89 .98% respectively .With Youden index ,positive likelihood ration ,negative likelihood ration ,positive predictive value and negative predictive value ,H‐FABP and hs‐cTnI appeared to have higher diagnostic value than Hcy and Cys‐C in AMI .Conclusion H‐FABP and hs‐cTnI displayed significant clinical value as a most sensitive indicator in the early diagnosis of AMI (within 6 hours of attack) . The level of H‐FABP ,hs‐cTnI ,Hcy and Cys‐C elevated as coronary artery lesions increase .