Circular RNA(circRNA)is a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNA with complex biological func-tions,participating in various physiological and pathological processes.Due to their relatively stable stucture and tissue-specific and temporal expression patterns,circRNA have become a recent focus of biomedical research.Heart failure(HF)is characterized by impaired ventricular filling and/or ejection function caused by primary myocardial injury and car-diac overload,leading to the inability of the heart to meet the metabolic demands of the body's tissues.It is the end stage of numerous cardiac diseases.Studies have found that circRNA may play a crucial regulatory role in the progression of HF,particularly in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,cardiomyocyte apoptosis,autophagy and myocardial fibrosis.This review summarizes the formation,classification,functional forms,and roles in HF of circRNA,aiming to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of HF.

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of patients with Fabry disease caused by a GLA variant, IVS4+919G>A.Methods:It was a prospective study. Fabry disease screening was conducted among high-risk population in Ninghai from October 2021 to August 2023. Those children with decreased α-galactosidase enzyme activity<2.40 μmol/(L·h) or elavated Lyso-GL-3 level>1.10 μg/L in dried blood spot (DBS) method underwent GLA genetic testing for diagnosis confirmation. Meanwhile, family screening was carried out. A proband and his family members diagnosed with Fabry disease were research subjects. The clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with Fabry disease caused by the GLA variant (IVS4+919G>A) were analyzed.Results:The female proband aged 9.8 years with pain in both lower limbs as the initial symptom was found to have a heterozygous GLA variant IVS4+919G>A among 102 patients. In family screening, there were 4 family members (proband's father, elder sister, elder male cousin and elder female cousin) with Fabry disease and a family member (proband's fifth aunt) with a GLA variant. Among these 4 diagnosed family members, the elder male cousin of the proband, a boy aged 13.2 years had a heterozygous GLA variant, IVS4+919G>A with intermittent pain in both lower limbs as the initial symptom. The proband′s father had knee joint pain. The proband′s elder sister had decreased vision and his elder female cousin had no obvious symptoms. The proband′s fifth aunt with a GLA variant had decreased vision.Conclusions:High-risk screening in children and family screening are helpful for early diagnosis and treatment of Fabry disease. Neuropathic pain may be a early symptom in children with Fabry disease caused by the GLA variant, IVS4+919G>A.

Objective:To investigate the orthodontic needs and to analyze the influencing factors of orthodontic treatment of university students in Xi'an.Methods:The orthodontic questionnaire survey was conducted in university students by stratified cluster random sampling,the Dental health component(DHC)and aesthetic component(AC)in the orthodontic treatment needs index were used as the objective indicators of orthodontic treatment needs,and the self-perceived aesthetic component(SAC)of the subjects was used as the subjective indicator of the need for orthodontic treatment.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the influencing factors of university students'willingness to orthodontic treatment.Results:A total of 1135 university students were sur-veyed,including 578 males and 557 females.There were 224(19.74％),184(16.21％)and 120(10.57％)university students who required orthodontic treatment by DHC,AC and SAC analysis,respectively.Among the 224 university students who needed orthodontic treatment by DHC,68(30.36％)were willing to undergo orthodontic treatment,and 156(69.64％)were unwilling.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender,malocclusion,cognitive situation and social environment were independent influencing factors affecting the treatment intention.Conclusion:The objective orthodontic demand of Xi'an university students is high,but the demand for subjective orthodontic treatment is low.Gender,malocclusion,cognitive situation and social environment are the in-dependent influencing factors of university students'orthodontic treatment intention.

Objective: To compare the efficiency of four methods that remove calcium hydroxide in root canals and to guide clinical practice. Methods : Sixty-five isolated mandibular single root canal premolars were collected. After crown cutting and root canal preparation, a tooth was randomly selected as the blank control group, and the remaining 64 teeth were equally divided into Groups A and B (n = 32). Group A was injected with water-soluble calcium hydroxide, and Group B was injected with oil-soluble calcium hydroxide. After 2 weeks of drug sealing, Groups A and B were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8), including the lateral opening syringe group, sonic vibration group, ultrasonic group, and Er: YAG laser group. Before and after calcium hydroxide removal, the samples were scanned by cone-beam CT, and the data were imported into Mimics for 3D reconstruction. The root canal was divided into the following segments: superior root segment, middle and apical, and the calcium hydroxide volume of each segment of the root canal was calculated. The volumes of calcium hydroxide before and after removal were V1 and V2, respectively, with a clearance rate = (V1-V2)/V1×100%. Three-factor ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. After Groups A and B were reconstructed, the apical region with residual calcium hydroxide was selected, and the blank control was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results : Two types of calcium hydroxide could not be completely removed by the four flushing methods. The clearance rate of water-soluble calcium hydroxide was higher than that of oil-soluble calcium hydroxide (P<0.001). Among the three segments of the root canal, the clearance rate of the apical segment was lower (P<0.05). The Er: YAG laser treatment group showed the highest removal efficiency of two kinds of calcium hydroxide, which was higher than that of the other groups, especially in apical of the root. Compared with the sonic wave washing group and the syringe washing group, the ultrasonic wave washing group exhibited significant advantages (P<0.05). The clearance rate of the sonic wave washing group was higher in the oily calcium hydroxide root middle group than in the syringe washing group (P<0.05). SEM showed that the two kinds of calcium hydroxide could not be completely removed, but the residual rate of oil-soluble calcium hydroxide was large. Conclusion Both types of calcium hydroxide could not be completely removed, and compared to water-soluble calcium hydroxide, oil-soluble calcium hydroxide was more difficult to remove. Among the four cleaning methods, Er:YAG laser swing washing showed the higher cleaning efficiency.

Objective:To explore the relationship between illness perceptions and disability, and the relative importance of association of illness perceptions items and disability in HIV-infected people aged ≥50 years in Sichuan Province.Methods:By using multi-stage cluster sampling, the baseline data of a cohort of HIV-infected people aged ≥50 years in 5 counties (district) in Sichuan were obtained from 2018 to 2021. The disability was evalauted with instrumental activities of daily living scale (IADL), and the illness perception was evaluated by using brief illness perception questionnaire. General additive model and general linear model were used to analyze the association between illness perceptions and IADL. Weighted sum quartile sum regression was used to find the dominant items on the association. Software R was used for statistical anlysis.Results:A total of 1 587 HIV-inbfected peoeple aged ≥50 years were included in this study. The prevalence of disability was 26.1% ( n=414). The median score of illness perception was 33. The illness perceptions had a negative effect on the IADL score ( β=-0.15, P<0.001) and the partial score of IADL declined when illness perception score was larger than 38 ( P<0.05). Personal control (32.98%) and consequence (22.50%) whose weight were higher than average (12.50%) were the dominant items on the association between the score of illness perception and IADL score. Conclusions:The prevalence of disability in HIV-infected people aged ≥50 years in Sichuan was high. It is necessary to intervent on personal control and consequence in HIV-infected people aged ≥50 years when their illness perception scores are high to prevent the incidence and development of disability.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-1 is an important pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been documented in the regulation of bone inflammation and bone remodeling. A previous study has demonstrated that interleukin-1α can induce apoptosis while inhibiting osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and mechanism of interleukin-1α on osteoclast activation and bone loss in mice. METHODS: (1) Cell test: RAW264.7 cells were either treated with interleukin-1α alone or with receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) for 1 and 4 days. Cell viability was tested by cell counting kit-8 assay. The number of multinuclear osteoclasts was detected by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase assay. The mRNA and protein levels of osteoclast-specific genes and genes related to nuclear factor-κB pathway and Wnt/β-catenin pathway were tested by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence staining or western blot. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were either treated with interleukin-1α alone or with RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor for 7 days. The number of multinuclear osteoclasts was detected by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase assay. The protein levels of osteoclast-specific genes were tested by western blot. (2) Animal test: Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice (6-8 weeks old) were assigned into two groups at random: control group and test group. Mice were subsequently treated with interleukin-1α solution or PBS by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for 5 weeks. Bone tissues from the femurs were performed with micro-computed tomography analysis and hematoxylin-eosin staining, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, and immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cell test: Interleukin-1α alone significantly increased RAW264.7 cell proliferation, but stimulated cell differentiation into osteoclasts in combination with RANKL (P < 0.05). Interleukin-1α significantly increased the expression of osteoclast-related markers and the number of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinuclear cells in RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages in the existence of RANKL or RANKL+macrophage colony-stimulating factor (both P < 0.05). Interleukin-1α was found to significantly enhance the nuclear factor-κB and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in RAW264.7 cells (P < 0.05). Blocking of nuclear factor-κB or Wnt3 signaling not only reversed the activation of nuclear factor-κB and Wnt3 signaling but also weakened the enhanced expression of osteoclast-specific genes induced by interleukin-1α in RAW264.7 cells (P < 0.05). Animal test: interleukin-1α induced bone loss in mice while also upregulating the expression of osteoclast-specific markers, RANK, TRAF6 and p65, and Wnt3 in vivo (P < 0.05). The findings indicate that interleukin-1α can induce osteoclast activation and bone loss by promoting the nuclear factor-κB and Wnt signaling pathways.

Objective: To investigate the refractive status of children and adolescents aged 4-18 years in Chengdu, and to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of refractive parameters. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among 82 024 children and adolescents aged 4-18 years in Gaoxin District of Chengdu from August to September 2021. The prevalence of screening myopia, low vision rate, high myopia rate, refractive status and axial development were analyzed. Results: The prevalence of screening myopia in students aged 4-18 years was 40.42%(33 158/82 024). Low myopia was 24.51%(20 108/82 024), moderate myopia was 13.05%(10 703/82 024) and high myopia was 2.86%(2 347/82 024). The prevalence of screening myopia was 1.81% (233/12 848) in kindergarten, 34.44%(17 095/49 644) in primary school, 79.73%(9 738/12 214) in junior high school and 83.25% (6 092/7 318) in senior high school. The rate of visual impairment increased by year from the age of 4, and the rate of myopia increased most rapidly from 6 to 15 years old, the prevalenct of high myopia was compared between adjacent age groups: there were statistical differences between 9-15 years old were more likely to be nearsighted than boys( P <0.035 7). Significant differences in screening myopia between 5- and 7-17 year old groups,and in boys and girls.The median total diopter was 0.40 D at the age of 4 and developed to -2.90 D at the age of 18 . The diopter of girls aged 8-15 years was higher than that of boys, and there was statistical significance( Z=-2.53, -4.09, -5.67, -8.64, -5.56, -4.97, -2.52, -2.14, P <0.05). The axial length gradually increased with age, with the mean value of (22.31±0.59) mm at 4 years old and (24.91±1.00) mm at 18 years old. The mean corneal curvature did not change with age (43.19±1.47)D. Conclusion 6-15 years old is a especially critical period for myopia development. More efforts need to be taken to decrease the prevalence of myopia before 6 years old. Prevention of the development of high myopia should start before the age of 10. The prevalence of myopia in girls is higher than that in boys, more prevention and control of myopia should focus on girls.

Objective:To explore the validity of the effective arterial elastance (Ea) before and after fluid challenge in evaluating the fluid challenge in septic shock patients.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2016 to October 2020. 116 septic shock patients were enrolled. All patients received fluid challenge by 500 mL Gelatin or normal saline under invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO) and other hemodynamic variables were collected at 10 minutes before and immediately after fluid challenge. An increase in CO greater than 10% after fluid challenge was defined as the positive preload responsiveness, as well as the definition of positive pressure responsiveness was an increase in MAP greater than 10%. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves) were established to evaluate the predictive abilities of baseline Ea and other arterial load indices in detecting the preload responders and pressure responders. The correlation of the baseline Ea with CO changes after fluid challenge as well as MAP changes were tested by Pearson correlation analysis. Patients with positive preload responsiveness were divided into two groups according to the pressure responsiveness. The changes in Ea and other arterial load indices were analyzed.Results:A total of 116 patients were finally analyzed. Sixty-three patients were preload responders and 53 patients were preload non-responders. There was no significant difference in demographics and baseline physical variables between the two groups. Ea in preload responders was higher than that in preload non-responders (mmHg/mL: 2.51±1.08 vs. 1.87±0.68, P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that the baseline Ea could predict the preload responsiveness at an area under ROC curve (AUC) = 0.71 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.62-0.81, P < 0.001]. The cut-off value was 1.97 mmHg/mL with a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 60.4%. The baseline Ea did not present the predictive ability to detect the pressure responders and pressure non-responders (AUC = 0.52, 95% CI was 0.41-0.63, P = 0.73). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the changes in CO after fluid challenge was moderately correlated to the baseline Ea ( r = 0.47, P < 0.001), meanwhile a weak positive correlation between the changes in MAP and baseline Ea was found ( r = 0.20, P = 0.03). In preload responders, 27 (42.9%) of 63 patients were pressure responders and 36 (57.1%) patients were pressure non-responders. No statistical difference was found in the baseline Ea or other arterial load indices between the two groups. Fluid challenge decreased Ea both in pressure non-responders and pressure responders (mmHg/mL: 2.13±0.94 vs. 2.51±1.08, P < 0.01; 2.47±1.18 vs. 2.69±1.30, P < 0.05). Moreover, the changes in CO and changes in MAP were strongly correlated with the changes in Ea ( r values were -0.50 and 0.58, respectively, both P < 0.001). Conclusions:The Ea > 1.97 mmHg/mL before fluid challenge could predict fluid responsiveness in septic shock patients. The baseline Ea was not able to predict the subsequent changes in arterial pressure through fluid challenge. A significant decrease in Ea inducing by fluid administration explained why patients increased their CO without improving blood pressure.

Objective:To explore the expression of abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated (ASPM) in liver cancer tissues and clarify its prognostic relationship with clinicopathological features of liver cancer after liver transplantation.Methods:Immunohistochemistry was employed for detecting the expression of ASPM in 72 liver cancer tissues and 36 adjacent tissues of liver cancer liver transplant recipients fulfilling the Hangzhou criterion. In conjunctions with clinicopathological data, the correlation between the expression level of ASPM in liver cancer tissues and the clinicopathological characteristics and the post-transplantation prognosis for liver cancer were statistically analyzed.Results:During a median follow-up period of 29 months, 20 patients relapsed and 8 died after transplantation. Immunohistochemical results indicated that the high-expression rates of ASPM were 58.3% and 25.0% in liver cancer and adjacent tissues ( P=0.001). The difference was statistically significant. The high-expression rate of ASPM was significantly higher in liver cancer tissues than that in adjacent tissues. The expression level of ASPM was not correlated with gender, age, smoking/alcoholic history, hepatitis history, preoperative level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), tumor size, tumor load or vascular tumor thrombus ( P>0.05). And the postoperative high-expression rates of ASPM were 51.0% and 76.2% in pathological differentiation type Ⅰ-Ⅱ and Ⅲ-Ⅳ groups ( P=0.049). The difference was statistically significant. The wrose pathological differentiation type of liver cancer, the higher expression level of ASPM in liver cancer tissue. In liver cancer tissues, the overall 1/3/5-year survival rates of ASPM high/low-expression group were 97.6%, 80.6%, 80.6% and 93.3%, 89.7% and 89.7% respectively ( P>0.05). There was no statistical significance. And 1/3/5-year long-term disease-free survival rates were 78.6%, 55.5%, 55.5% and 86.3%, 86.3% and 86.3% respectively ( P=0.036). The difference was statistically significant. The disease-free survival rate was lower in ASPM high-expression group and post-transplantation prognosis was worse. Conclusions:The expression of ASPM is significantly higher in liver cancer tissues than that in adjacent tissues. And the expression level of ASPM in liver cancer tissues is correlated with pathological differentiation types of liver cancer and has an impact on tumor-free survival of patients after liver transplantation for liver cancer.

Objective:To investigate the effect of miR-204 on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in osteoporosis mice by Wnt signaling pathway and its mechanism.Methods:Female Kunming mice were divided into: control group, sham operation group and osteoporosis group. Ovariectomy mouse models were established and identified by bilateral ovariectomy; Mouse primary osteoblasts were extracted and identified; Cells was transfected and detected the miR-204 expression levels; MTT was used to detect the viability of each group of cells; Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected in each cell group; Cell flowmetry was used to detect apoptosis in each group; Cell flowmetry was used to detect the activity of Caspase-3 in each group of cells; Interaction between miR-204, β-catenin and LRP-5 was detected by dual luciferase reporter gene. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Wnt signaling pathway-related proteins.Results:The bone mineral density of the osteoporosis group was significantly lower than that of the control group and the sham operation group ( P=0.007, P=0.057) , indicating that the osteoporosis mice were successfully modeled; The expression level of miR-204 was significantly increased in the miR-204 mimics group ( P=0.007) , and decreased in the miR-204 inhibitor group ( P=0.031) ; The activity of bone cell and ALP activity of miR-204 mimics increased ( P=0.007, P=0.043) , and the activity of bone cell and ALP decreased by miR-204 inhibitor ( P=0.007, P=0.035) ; The invasive ability of miR-204 mimics was significantly increased ( P=0.006) , and the invasive ability of miR-204 inhibitor was decreased ( P=0.036) ; The apoptosis ability and Caspase-3 activity of miR-204 mimics were decreased ( P=0.041, P=0.045) , and the apoptosis ability and Caspase-3 activity of bone cells were enhanced by miR-204 inhibitor ( P=0.005, P=0.039) ; There were targeting relationship between miR-204 and β-catenin, LRP-5. The expressions of β-catenin and LRP-5 protein in osteoblasts of miR-204 mimics were up-regulated ( P=0.043, P=0.009) , and the expression of β-catenin and LRP-5 protein in bone cells of miR-204 inhibitor was down-regulated ( P=0.041, P=0.032) . Conclusion:miR-204 maybe promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, activate Wnt signaling pathway, and has certain protective effect on osteoporosis.