Objective To analyze the PLCβ4 gene mRNA expression and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on TCGA database. Methods Based on the data on 424 clinical samples (including 374 cases of HCC tissues and 50 cases of nontumor liver tissues) in the TCGA database, Kaplan–Meier method, Cox regression analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were performed to evaluate the relationship between PLCβ4 gene and the clinical characteristics and survival prognosis of HCC patients. Correlation analysis between PLCβ4 gene and 24 types of immune cells was applied to investigate the relationship between PLCβ4 gene and immune cell infiltration and mRNA expression level of TP53 gene, a high-frequency mutation gene in HCC. In addition, paraffin sections of highly, moderately, and poorly differentiated tumor tissues and normal liver tissues from HCC patients were collected. The histopathological observation was carried out via HE staining method, and the expression levels of PLCβ4 and Ki-67 proteins in each clinical sample were verified through the immunohistochemical method. Results The expression level of PLCβ4 gene in HCC was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.01), and all patients in the PLCβ4 high-expression group had a significantly longer overall survival than those in the low-expression group (P<0.05), which suggested that PLCβ4 substantially affected the prognosis of HCC patients. Correlation analysis showed that the expression level of PLCβ4 gene was highly correlated with immune cell infiltration and the expression level of TP53 gene. As verified by clinical sample experiments, HE staining experiments and immunohistochemical results revealed that PLCβ4 gene expression in HCC tissue samples was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.001), and it was negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation. Conclusion PLCβ4 may serve as an independent prognostic factor in HCC and is expected to be a novel molecular target for HCC treatment.

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.

ObjectiveTo determine the trend in diabetes-related death and probability of premature mortality among residents in Yangpu District of Shanghai and provide evidence for the formulation of relevant intervention strategies. MethodsMortality and demographic data were collected among residents in Yangpu District of Shanghai from 2002 to 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test with SPSS 21.0 and Excel 2010. Joinpoint regression was used to determine annual percent change （APC）. The mortality was standardized by utilizing the world standard population in 2000. ResultsA total of 25 091 cases of diabetes-related deaths were reported in Yangpu District， Shanghai from 2002 to 2020. The average annual crude mortality of diabetes-related diseases was 122.10/10⁵， which was 116.13/10⁵ in males and 128.23/10⁵ in females. The difference between males and females in crude mortality was statistically significant （P<0.05）. Moreover， primary causes of diabetes-related deaths were diabetes， cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases， and tumors. Among diabetic deaths， peripheral circulatory complications accounted for 50.79%， followed by renal complications （16.05%）. The crude mortality in males， females， and total of diabetes-related diseases showed an upward trend， while the standardized mortality remained stable with an upward trend in male and a downward trend in female. Furthermore， the crude mortality in males， females， and total of diabetes complicated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases showed an increasing trend. In contrast， both the standardized mortality in males and in total showed an increasing trend， while that in females remained stable. The overall crude mortality of diabetes was on the rise， which was increasing in males and stable in females. The overall standard mortality of diabetes was on the decline， which was increasing in males while declining in females. In addition， the probability of premature mortality caused by diabetes-related diseases， cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases complicated with diabetes， and diabetes decreased from 2002 to 2020 with no statistical significance. Males showed an upward trend while females showed a downward trend. ConclusionThe mortality of diabetes-related diseases， cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases complicated with diabetes， and diabetes among residents in Yangpu District of Shanghai is on the rise. Similarly， standardized mortality and probability of premature mortality in males for all three diseases are also on the rise. It warrants more attention to the health of male diabetes patients and targeted measures to reduce the disease burden.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the association of outdoor physical activity and insomnia symptoms with depressive symptoms in college students, so as to provide a theoretical basis for preventing and improving depression of the college students. Methods: A sample survey of 9 349 college students from 4 colleges and universities in 3 provinces in Hubei, Jiangxi and Chongqing were conducted from November to December 2021. The Patient Health Questionnaire, Insomnia Severity Index and outdoor physical activity questionnaire were used to evaluate the depressive symptoms, insomnia symptoms and outdoor activities of college students, respectively. The χ 2 test was used to compare the difference of the positive rate of depressive symptoms in college students. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between outdoor physical activity, insomnia symptoms and depressive symptoms. Generalized linear model was used to analyze the association of interaction effect of outdoor activity and insomnia symptoms with depressive symptoms. Results: The detection rate of depressive symptoms in college students was 37.4%. Significant differences in the detection rate of depressive symptoms were observed among college students with different majors, nationalities,educational backgrounds, family residence, family type, family economic conditions, study burden, number of friends, father s education level,mother s education level( P <0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that outdoor physical activity ( OR=0.51-0.69, P <0.01) and insomnia symptoms ( OR=6.15-21.30, P <0.01) were associated with depressive symptoms( P <0.01). Generalized linear model showed that insomnia symptoms( B =0.57), outdoor physical activity ( B =-0.15) and their interaction terms ( B =-0.02) were associated with college students depression( P <0.05). Conclusion This study suggests that insufficient time for outdoor physical activity and insomnia symptoms may increase the risk of depressive symptoms in college students. College students with insufficient time for outdoor physical activity and insomnia have a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) can significantly improve the outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to describe the ACS use rates among preterm infants admitted to Chinese neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and to explore perinatal factors associated with ACS use, using the largest contemporary cohort of very preterm infants in China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled all infants born at 24 +0 to 31 +6 weeks and admitted to 57 NICUs of the Chinese Neonatal Network from January 1st, 2019 to December 30th, 2019. The ACS administration was defined as at least one dose of dexamethasone and betamethasone given before delivery. Multiple logistic regressions were applied to determine the association between perinatal factors and ACS usage. RESULTS: A total of 7828 infants were enrolled, among which 6103 (78.0%) infants received ACS. ACS use rates increased with increasing gestational age (GA), from 177/259 (68.3%) at 24 to 25 weeks' gestation to 3120/3960 (78.8%) at 30 to 31 weeks' gestation. Among infants exposed to ACS, 2999 of 6103 (49.1%) infants received a single complete course, and 33.4% (2039/6103) infants received a partial course. ACS use rates varied from 30.2% to 100% among different hospitals. Multivariate regression showed that increasing GA, born in hospital (inborn), increasing maternal age, maternal hypertension and premature rupture of membranes were associated with higher likelihood to receive ACS. CONCLUSIONS The use rate of ACS remained low for infants at 24 to 31 weeks' gestation admitted to Chinese NICUs, with fewer infants receiving a complete course. The use rates varied significantly among different hospitals. Efforts are urgently needed to propose improvement measures and thus improve the usage of ACS.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: Bo investigate the regulatory relationship between NKD1 and YWHAE and the mechanism of NKD1 for promoting tumor cell proliferation. METHODS: HCT116 cells transfected with pcDNA3.0-NKD1 plasmid, SW620 cells transfected with NKD1 siRNA, HCT116 cells with stable NKD1 overexpression (HCT116-NKD1 cells), SW620 cells with nkd1knockout (SW620-nkd1^-/- cells), and SW620-nkd1^-/- cells transfected with pcDNA3.0-YWHAE plasmid were examined for changes in mRNA and protein expression levels of YWHAE using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was used to detect the binding of NKD1 to the promoter region of YWHAE gene. The regulatory effect of NKD1 on YWHAE gene promoter activity was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, and the interaction between NKD1 and YWHAE was analyzed with immunofluorescence assay. The regulatory effect of NKD1 on glucose uptake was examined in the tumor cells. RESULTS: In HCT116 cells, overexpression of NKD1 significantly enhanced the expression of YWHAE at both the mRNA and protein levels, while NKD1 knockout decreased its expression in SW620 cells (P < 0.001). ChIP assay showed that NKD1 protein was capable of binding to the YWHAE promoter sequence; dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that NKD1 overexpression (or knockdown) in the colon cancer cells significantly enhanced (or reduced) the transcriptional activity of YWHAE promoter (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence assay demonstrated the binding of NKD1 and YWHAE proteins in colon cancer cells. NKD1 knockout significantly reduced glucose uptake in colon cancer cells (P < 0.01), while YWHAE overexpression restored the glucose uptake in NKD1-knockout cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION NKD1 protein activates the transcriptional activity of YWHAE gene to promote glucose uptake in colon cancer cells.
Humans ; Colonic Neoplasms ; HCT116 Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; RNA, Messenger ; Glucose ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; 14-3-3 Proteins/metabolism*

Objective:To explore the value of subspecialty group collaboration combined with disease checklist-driven learning in overcoming the impact of the specialized disease treatment mode in subspecialty establishment on the cultivation of professional postgraduate students.Methods:In the teaching of general surgery and gastroenterology, sixty professional postgraduate students of grade 2019 were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 30 students in each group. The control group received traditional teaching, while the experimental group received the teaching mode of subspecialty group collaboration combined with disease checklist-driven learning. The teaching effectiveness and the degree of satisfaction with teaching were compared between the two groups. The data were analyzed using the t test and the chi-squared test using SPSS 20.0. Results:In actual teaching, compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly higher scores of theoretical assessment (71.51±11.32 vs. 87.23±10.51, P<0.05) and case analysis (73.61±6.82 vs. 92.37±6.87, P<0.05). The rates of satisfaction with theoretical knowledge learning, application of clinical thinking ability for diseases, teaching organization forms, and teaching effectiveness were 90.00%(27/30), 86.67%(26/30), 96.67%(29/30), and 93.33%(28/30) in the experimental group, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group [40.00%(12/30), 23.33%(7/30), 40.00%(12/30), and 46.67%(14/30), respectively; all P<0.05]. Conclusions:The subspecialty group collaboration combined with disease checklist-driven learning mode can overcome the problems of "narrow disease spectrum and narrow knowledge scope" in specialized postgraduate education, and guide students to break the teaching barriers generated by subspecialty construction to create a new form of comprehensive and multi-disease learning, with good prospects for promotion and application.

Objective:To explore the influence of chronic rhinitis on depressive symptoms of college freshmen and the mediating effect of avoidant personality.Methods:A cluster sampling method was used to survey 8 079 college freshmen from April 2018 to October 2018 using the Beck depression inventory and the avoidant personality diagnosis questionnaire based on DSM-Ⅳ.SPSS 25.0 software was used for descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation analysis, and the macro program PROCESS version 3.3 was used for the mediating effect.Results:(1) The detection rates of chronic rhinitis, avoidant personality and depressive symptoms were 22.90% (1 850/8 079), 19.22% (1 553/8 079) and 6.28% (507/8 079). The scores for avoidant personality disorder and depressive symptoms were 1.00 (0, 3.00) and 1.00 (0, 4.00), respectively. (2) The chronic rhinitis, avoidant personality and depressive symptoms were positively correlated ( rchronic rhinitis-avoidant personality=0.094, rchronic rhinitis-depressive symptoms=0.095, ravoidant personality-depressive symptoms=0.416, all P<0.001). (3) Chronic rhinitis could positively predict depressive symptoms ( β=1.113, P<0.001). (4) Avoidant personality played a mediating role between chronic rhinitis and depressive symptoms ( β=1.094, P<0.001), and accounted for 44.92%(0.500/1.113) of the total effect. Conclusion:Chronic rhinitis directly affect the depressive symptoms of college freshmen, and indirectly affect the depressive symptoms of college freshmen through the mediating role of avoidant personality.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) manipulation plus horse-riding squat exercise in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and optimize the combining protocol. Methods: Based on a 2×2 factorial design, 120 eligible KOA patients were randomized into a manipulation group (group A1B2), a manipulation plus horse-riding squat group (group A1B1), a sitting knee-adjustment group (group A2B2 group), and a sitting knee-adjustment plus horse-riding squat group (group A2B1), with 30 cases in each group. The intervention was conducted three times a week, lasting for four weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) was taken as the major measure for efficacy evaluation (including three component scores, pain, stiffness, and daily function, and total score). Results: The three component scores (pain, stiffness, and daily function) and the total score of WOMAC showed significant differences after the intervention in the four groups (P<0.05). There were significant inter-group differences in the WOMAC stiffness score amongst the four groups after the intervention (P<0.05). In group A1B1, the step length, stride, walking speed, and knee joint flexion angle changed significantly after treatment (P<0.05). After the intervention, the step length changed significantly in group A1B2 (P<0.05), and the walking speed changed significantly in group A2B1 (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the step length, stride, walking speed, or knee joint flexion angle among the four groups (P>0.05). The extensor peak torque at 180 °/s changed significantly in group A1B2 after treatment (P<0.05). Neither the intra-group nor the inter-group comparisons of the four groups revealed significant differences in the other isokinetic muscle strength parameters (P>0.05). The main effect of manipulation showed significant in affecting the WOMAC pain and total scores (P<0.05). The main effect of horse-riding squat exercise showed significant in affecting the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores (P<0.05). Conclusion: The four treatment protocols all can improve the symptoms of KOA, for instance, relieving pain and stiffness, and enhancing daily function. Group A2B1 produces the most eminent effect in relieving joint stiffness. The main effects of both manipulation and horse-riding squat exercise are significant in reducing pain. Besides, the main effect of horse-riding squat exercise is significant in relieving joint stiffness.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between morphology of esophageal and gastric mucosal and Helicobacter pylori ( HP) infection under white light gastroscope. Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on data of 1 339 patients who underwent 13C-urea breath test and white light gastroscopy at the same time in the Southwest Hospital of Army Medical University from September 2018 to August 2019. Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method was used to analyze the difference on detection rates of 22 indexes of gastroscopic mucosal manifestation between the HP infection group ( n=422) and the non-infection group ( n=917). Then the indexes with difference were further analyzed by binary logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under the curve and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of prediction of HP infection was calculated. Results:The diffuse redness, spotted redness, mucosal swelling, enlarged folds, sticky mucus, digestive tract ulcer, nodularity, hyperplastic polyp, xanthoma, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and depressive erosion were more common in patients with HP infection (all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that diffuse redness ( P<0.001, OR=75.974, 95% CI: 32.551-177.327), spotted redness ( P=0.002, OR=3.360, 95% CI: 1.536-7.349), mucosal swelling ( P<0.001, OR=3.150, 95% CI: 1.654-5.996) were independent risk factors for HP infection. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve of diffuse redness, spotted redness, mucosal swelling, enlarged folds, sticky mucus, peptic ulcer, and depressive erosion predicting HP infection were all greater than 0.5 ( P<0.05), among which, the area under curve of diffuse redness, spotted redness and mucosal swelling predicting HP infection were greater than 0.7. The sensitivities corresponding to the three indicators were 0.735, 0.512, and 0.445, the specificities were 0.992, 0.983, and 0.971, the positive predictive values were 0.978, 0.931, and 0.874, and the negative predictive values were 0.890, 0.814, and 0.792, respectively. Conclusion:Morphological manifestations of esophageal and gastric mucosa, especially diffuse redness, spotted redness, and mucosal swelling, are excellent indicators for HP infection under white light gastroscopy.