OBJECTIVE: To screen the serum biomarkers in workers occupationally exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles(TiO_2 NPs) using metabolomics technology. METHODS: Using a typical sampling method, 56 workers who have occupationally exposed to TiO_(2 )in a TiO_2 NPs manufacturer were selected as the exposure group and 44 employees without occupational exposure to TiO_2 were selected as the control group. The high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technology was used to perform non-targeted metabolomics detection. The difference in serum metabolite profiles of the TiO_2 NPs exposure group and the control group were analyzed. Key differential metabolites and potential biomarkers were screened. The sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers were assessed through receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve.RESULTS: We detected a total of 1 492 mass spectrum peaks in serum samples by serum metabolomics analysis, and 413 well-matched metabolites were obtained after annotation and identification. The results of principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis showed that a total of 296 differentially expressed metabolites were found in the serum of individuals of the exposure group compared with the control group(all P<0.01). Among them the relative expression of metabolites increased in 265 species and decreased in 31 species. The ROC analysis results showed that the area under the ROC curve of five metabolites exceeded 0.900, and these metabolites included tanacetol A,(5 E)-2-hydroxy-4-oxobenzopenta-5-en-1-ylacetic acid, triterpene saponins organic compounds, 9,10,13-trihydroxystearic acid, and liquoric acid. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the relative expression of all the five metabolites were positively correlated with occupational exposure to TiO_2 NPs after adjusting for the influence of confounding factors such as gender, age, body mass index, smoking and drinking(all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure to TiO_2 NPs could induce changes in serum metabolite profiles. The metabolites represented by tanacetol A in serum can be used as potential biomarkers for indicating occupational exposure to TiO_2 NPs.

Objective: To understand cognitive flexibility among college students with childhood neglected experience, and to provide a thoretical basis and data reference for the study of cognitive characteristics of neglected people and its intervention. Methods: A total of 719 college students were surveyed using the Childhood Neglect Scale, and were screened through Childhood Neglect Scale. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Verbal Fluency Test(VFT)were adminstered among those with childhood neglect to understand the responding flexibility and spontaneous flexibility. Results: The proportion of subjects with neglect experience was 43.74%. Boys,non-only children,students in rural areas neglect experience were higher(P<0.05). The neglect experience of childhood affects the individual’s response flexibility(t=2.22, P<0.05), as well as spontaneous flexibility(t=-2.17, P<0.05). Conclusion Childhood neglect experience has a negative impact on cognitive flexibility.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation is effective in restoring sinus rhythm and left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is increasingly used for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to observe the feasibility and safety of performing AF ablation and LAAC in a single (one-stop) procedure. METHODS: Consecutive AF patients who underwent the combined procedure of AF ablation and LAAC with WATCHMAN device between March 2017 and September 2018 were prospectively enrolled. Baseline and intra-procedural parameters were evaluated. Three-month and subsequent 1-year follow-up were performed in all and earlier-enrolled subjects, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 178 AF patients (94 males, 68.9 ± 8.1 years) underwent the one-stop procedure with CHA2DS2-VASc score 3.3 ± 1.5 and HAS-BLED score 1.6 ± 1.0, respectively. Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients while additional linear ablation was applied if the operator deemed necessary, yielding immediate ablation success rate of 98.9% (176/178). In the subsequent LAAC, satisfactory seal (residual leak <5 mm) was achieved in all patients. One stroke and four cardiac perforations occurred peri-operatively. At 3-month follow-up, sinus rhythm and satisfactory seal were maintained in 153/178 (86.0%) and 178/178 (100%) patients, respectively. One stroke and one delayed cardiac tamponade occurred, while no device-related thrombus or device migration was observed. During the 1-year follow-up for the earlier enrolled subjects, 52/72 (72.2%) of the patients maintained sinus rhythm. There was no stroke or systemic embolism observed. CONCLUSION Combining catheter ablation and LAAC in a single procedure can be successfully and safely performed in non-valvular AF patients of Chinese population.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of conjoint fascial sheath (CFS) suspension to correct the complications caused by the frontal muscle flap suspension and levator palpebrae superioris shortening in the treatment of severe blepharoptosis. Methods: From February 2017 to April 2018, 19 severe blepharoptosis patients (21 eyelids) were operated before by the frontal muscle flap suspension and levator plapebrae superioris shortening, and repaired through the technology of CFS suspension. Results: There were 19 cases, 17 cases operated by CFS suspension showed a good appearance and basically symmetrical of two eyes, and the other 2 cases obtained satisfactory results though reoperation. There were no complications of exposure keratitis, ectropion and infection occurred. Meantime the effect was satisfactory according to the follow-up ranging from 3 months to 12 months. Conclusions The application of conjoint fascial sheath (CFS) suspension shows a promising procedure in the treatment of severe blepharoptosis caused by the frontal muscle flap suspension and levator palpebrae superioris shortening.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of miR-99a-5p in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), to predict the target genes and to analyze its function by using bioinformatics. METHODS: The expression levels of bone marrow miR-99a-5p in MDS patients were detected by qRT-PCR, and the correlation of miR-99a-5p expression with clinical pathological characteristics, percentage of marrow blasts , chromosome karyotype and peripheral blood hemogram were analyzed. The target genes of miR-99a-5p were predicted by Targetscan, Miranda and Microcosm, and the intersection of the predicted results of 3 softwares was used as a potential target gene for miR-99a-5p. RESULTS: The expression level of bone marrow miR-99a-5p in MDS patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P<0.01); According to the prognostic score of IPSS, MDS patients were divided into relatively low risk group (including low risk group and intermediate risk group 1) and relatively high risk group (including intermediate risk group 2 and high risk group). Analysis showed that the expression level of bone marrow miR-99a-5p in relatively low risk group was 2.40 times higher than that in healthy control group (P<0.01), the expression level of bone marrow miR-99a-5p in relatively high risk group was 6.66 times higher than that in healthy control group (P<0.01), the expression level of miR-99a-5p in relatively high risk group was 2.80 times higher than that in the relatively low risk group ( P<0.01) ; the expression level of bone marrow miR-99a-5p in t-MDS group was 6.35 times higher than that in healthy control group (P<0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between the expression level of miR-99a-5p and the percentage of marrow blasts (P<0.01), but the expression of miR-99a-5p did not correlate with chromosome karyotype and peripheral blood hemogram; In this study it was obtained that ST5 might participate in pathological mechanism of MDS by bioinformatic analyses and references. CONCLUSION The expression levels of miR-99a-5p is up-regulated in MDS patients, and its expression showed a rising tendency which may be involved in the pathogenesis of MDS by regulating target gene ST5.
Bone Marrow ; Computational Biology ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; MicroRNAs ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes

BACKGROUND: The current upper-frequency cutoff of 150 Hz sometimes causes loss of pacemaker spike and misdiagnosis. We hypothesized that low-pass filter (LPF) other than 150 Hz could improve the detection of pacemaker spike. This study aimed to examine the effect of different LPF on pacemaker spike detection in remote and bedside electrocardiogram (ECG). METHODS: Patients with permanent pacemaker implantation were included during routine follow-up. Standard 12-lead ECGs at 6 different upper-frequency cutoff (40, 100, 150, 200, 300, and 400 Hz) were collected. All ECGs were then transmitted to the remote clinic center. Ventricular and atrial pacing were analyzed by 2 independent medical practitioners. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients' ECGs were analyzed (mean age 73.8 ± 10.2 years and 85 with dual-chamber pacemakers). About 75.3% (64/85) of patients were diagnosed as atrial pacing by pacemaker programming. Among 6 different upper-frequency cutoff, the 300 Hz turned out to perform best in detecting atrial-paced spike (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61-0.84 vs. 0.56, 95% CI: 0.61-0.84 at 150 Hz; P = 0.002) on bedside ECGs. Using programming as the golden standard, the 300 Hz LPF has a sensitivity of 59.4%, specificity of 85.7%, positive predictive value of 92.7% and negative predictive value of 40.9% on bedside ECGs. As for the ventricular pacing, the 300 Hz LPF also had a higher accuracy (AUC = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.84-1.00) than that at 150 Hz (AUC = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.77-0.94; P < 0.001) in detecting ventricular-paced spike on bedside ECGs. The results of remote ECGs were similar with bedside ECGs. CONCLUSIONS A filter of 300 Hz cutoff may be recommended for ECG spike detection. With the recommended parameter, remote ECG can perform as well as bedside ECG.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies