Objective: To discuss the clinical value of neck circumference in screening for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, so as to provide a theoretical basis and new ideas for overweight and obesity screening. Methods: From May to July 2023, a total of 2 493 children and adolescents aged 3 to 16 were sampled from three schools by the cluster random sampling method. General data, neck circumference, body mass index (BMI), waisttoheight ratio, and other information were collected. Mann-Whitney ranksum test, Spearman correlation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to statistically analyze the data. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 3 to 16 was 33.05%, and the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 28.33%.The neck circumferences of boys and girls in the overweight and obese group showed statistically significant differences from the normal weight group during the preschool, schoolage, and adolescence periods (Z=-16.69--4.54, P<0.05). The neck circumferences of children of different genders were moderately positively correlated with BMI (r=0.50-0.79, P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that neck circumference had good accuracy in assisting the screening for the occurrence of overweight and obesity in boys and girls during the preschool, schoolage, and adolescence periods [the AUC for boys:0.80(0.71-0.89), 0.89(0.86-0.91), 0.84(0.81-0.87); the AUC for girls:0.76(0.67-0.86), 0.81(0.74-0.88), 0.73(0.68-0.77), P<0.01], the optimal neck circumference cutoff values for boys were 26.95, 28.95, 33.55 cm, and for girls were 25.05, 26.55, 28.35 cm respectively. The neck circumferences of boys and girls were moderately positively correlated with the waisttoheight ratio during the schoolage and adolescence periods (r=0.41-0.70, P<0.01). ROC curves showed that neck circumferences had good accuracy in assisting the screening for the occurrence of abdominal obesity in boys and girls during the schoolage and adolescence periods [the AUC for boys:0.89(0.86-0.92), 0.82(0.78-0.85); the AUC for girls:0.84(0.75-0.93), 0.87(0.75-0.93)], the optimal cutoff values for boys were 28.95, 32.75 cm; for girls were 26.45, 31.85 cm respectively. Conclusion The neck circumference can be applied to screen for overweight and abdominal obesity in children and adolescents, and can provide new ideas for the prevention and control of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

Objective:To compare the prevalence of frailty and related factors in middle-aged and elderly people aged ≥45 years in island and mountainous areas of Taizhou, Zhejiang Province.Methods:Based on cross-sectional design, stratified cluster sampling and quota sampling methods were adopted. One administrative district was randomly selected from each of six coastal and three inland administrative districts in Taizhou during July to August, representing two different geographical terrains. In the island area (Jiaojiang District), all residents aged ≥45 years were included by cluster sampling. In the mountainous area (Xianju County), participants were selected through quota sampling, with same gender and age distributions. Data about their demographic characteristics, lifestyle and health-related factors were collected through questionnaire surveys and laboratory examinations. The prevalence of frailty was assessed using the Fried frailty phenotype scale. Hierarchical analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to compare the influencing factors of frailty.Results:A total of 1 011 local residents were studied, in whom island and mountainous residents accounted for 48.1% (486/1 011) and 51.9% (525/1 011) respectively; men and women accounted for 45.9% (464/1 011) and 54.1% (547/1 011) respectively. Middle-aged (45-49 years), younger elderly (60-74 years), and older elderly (≥75 years) residents accounted for 38.6% (390/1 011), 44.6% (451/1 011), and 16.8% (170/1 011) respectively. The overall prevalence rate of frailty was 3.6% (36/1 011), the prevalence rate was 3.7% (17/464) in men and 3.5% (19/547) in women. The prevalence rates in age groups 45-59,60-74 years and ≥75 years were 0.3% (1/390), 2.2% (10/451), and 14.7% (25/170), respectively. The prevalence rates of frailty and pre-frailty in island area were 6.0% (29/486) and 39.1% (190/486), respectively, which was higher than those in mountainous area (1.3%, 7/525) and (30.9%, 162/525). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the risk for frailty in island residents was significantly higher than that in mountainous residents (a OR=1.55,95% CI: 1.07-2.25, P=0.019). In island area, older age (60-74 years:a OR=2.52,95% CI: 1.56-4.13; ≥75 years:a OR=11.65,95% CI:5.38-26.70), being women (a OR=1.94,95% CI: 1.20-3.17), suffering from depression (a OR=1.09,95% CI:1.02-1.17) were associated with frailty symptoms. In mountainous area, older age was also associated with an increased risk of frailty symptoms, but the OR value was lower than those in island area (60-74 years: a OR=1.74,95% CI:1.04-2.94;≥75 years: a OR=4.78,95% CI:2.45-9.50). Polydrug use (a OR=2.08,95% CI: 1.14-3.80) and suffering from depression (a OR=1.10,95% CI: 1.02-1.18) had significant positive association with frailty symptoms. Higher education level had significant negative association with frailty symptoms (junior high school: a OR=0.40,95% CI: 0.21-0.75; senior high school and technical secondary school: a OR=0.29,95% CI: 0.15-0.53; college or above:a OR=0.22,95% CI: 0.11-0.42). Conclusions:The prevalence of frailty in middle-aged and elderly community residents was significantly higher in island area than in mountainous area in Taizhou. The frailty-related factors varied with area. The elderly people (≥75 years) and women in island area had higher risk for frailty. Older age and suffering from depression were the independent risk factors for frailty. It is necessary to pay attention to the health risk factors and special environment in island area, and take comprehensive intervention measures to delay the process of debilitation and improve the quality of life of middle-aged and elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze a child with 11β hydroxylase deficiency (11β-OHD) due to CYP11B2/CYP11B1 chimeric gene. METHODS: Clinical data of the child who was admitted to Henan Children's Hospital on August 24, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents were collected and subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RT-PCR and Long-PCR were carried out to verify the presence of chimeric gene. RESULTS: The patient, a 5-year-old male, had featured premature development of secondary sex characteristics and accelerated growth, and was diagnosed with 21 hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). WES revealed that he has harbored a heterozygous c.1385T>C (p.L462P) variant of the CYP11B1 gene, in addition to a 37.02 kb deletion on 8q24.3. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the c.1385T>C (p.L462P) was rated as a likely pathogenic variant (PM2_Supporting+PP3_Moderate+PM3+PP4). The results of RT-PCR and Long-PCR suggested that CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 genes have recombined to form a CYP11B2 exon 1~7/CYP11B1 exon 7~9 chimeric gene. The patient was diagnosed as 11β-OHD and effectively treated with hydrocortisone and triptorelin. A healthy fetus was delivered following genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis. CONCLUSION 11β-OHD may be misdiagnosed as 21-OHD due to the potential CYP11B2/CYP11B1 chimeric gene, which will require multiple methods for the detection.
Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital/genetics* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2/genetics* ; Exons ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase/genetics*

To explore the mechanism of tea albino variation and high theanine formation, 'Fuyun 6' and a new theanine-rich tea cultivar 'Fuhuang 2' were as materials in this study, pigment content, metabolome and transcriptome of the two cultivars were analyzed by ultramicroelectron microscopy, widely targeted metabolomics, targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics. The results showed that five catechins, theobromine, caffeine, and 20 free amino acids, including theanine, glutamine, arginine, etc., were identified by targeted metabolomics. The amino acid content of 'Fuhuang 2' was significantly higher than that of 'Fuyun 6', and the theanine content was as high as 57.37 mg/g in 'Fuhuang 2'. The ultrastructure of leaves showed that the chloroplast cell structure of 'Fuhuang 2' was fuzzy, most of the grana lamellae were arranged in disorder, with large gaps, and the thylakoids were filiform. The determination of pigments showed that compared with 'Fuyun 6', the contents of chlorophyll A and B, carotenoids, flavonoids and other pigments of 'Fuhuang 2' decreased significantly, some important pigment-related-genes, such as chlorophyllase (CLH), 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED), flavonoid 3β-hydroxylase (F3H) and flavonoid 3', 5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H) were significantly changed. Compared with 'Fuyun 6', 'Fuhuang 2' identified 138 significantly changed metabolites (SCMs) and 658 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). KEGG enrichment analysis showed that SCMs and DEGs were significantly enriched in amino acid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism and TCA cycle. In general, the albino phenotype of 'Fuhuang 2' may be caused by a deficiency in photosynthetic proteins, chlorophyll metabolism genes and chlorophyll content. The accumulation of high theanine in 'Fuhuang 2' may be due to the low nitrogen consumption in yellowed leaves and the lack of carbon skeleton, amino and nitrogen resources are stored more effectively, resulting in the up regulation of metabolites and related gene expression in the amino acid synthesis pathway, theanine has become a significant accumulation of nitrogen-containing compounds in yellowed leaves.
Camellia sinensis/genetics* ; Chlorophyll A/metabolism* ; Plant Proteins/genetics* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Chlorophyll/metabolism* ; Transcriptome ; Flavonoids/metabolism* ; Amino Acids/genetics* ; Tea ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/metabolism* ; Nitrogen/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the inhibition of rutaecarpine (Rut) on left ventricular hypertrophy rat induced by abdominal aorta coarctation (AAC) and further explore the potential mechanisms. Methods Left ventricular hypertrophy was induced by AAC in male Sprague-Dawley rats.Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups:model control group,sham operation group,low-,middle- and high-dose (10,20,40 mg?kg-1?d-1 ) Rut group,with 10 rats of each group.Rut was administrated by gavage once daily from the first day after operation for consecutive 4 weeks.The sham operation and model groups were administrated with equal volume of 0.9％ sodium chloride solution.The hemodynamics parameters were detected by BL-420 E biology function laboratory system,and the left ventricular hypertrophy index (LVHI,left ventricular weight/ body weight) was measured at 8 h after administration of the last dose.The pathological changes of left ventricular hypertrophy were evaluated by HE staining.To elucidate the mechanism of protection,the mRNA expressions of atrial natriuretic factor ( ANF),extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) and MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) were analyzed by real time RT-PCR,and the protein expressions of MKP-1 and phosphorylated ERK2 (p-ERK2) were examined by Western blotting. Results Left ventricular hypertrophy induced by AAC was evidenced by the increased left ventricular weight (LVW) and LVHI (P<0.01),the decreased± dp/ dt max (P<0.01),and the elevated expression of ANF (P<0.01).Compared with model control,Rut (20,40 mg?kg-1?d-1 ) treatment significantly attenuated AAC-induced rat left ventricular hypertrophy,decreased the LVHI (P<0.05),left ventricular systole pressure (LVSP),and left ventricular end diastolic pressure ( LVEDP ) ( P < 0. 05), and increased ± dp/ dtmax ( P < 0. 01). In addition, Rut ( 20, 40 mg?kg-1?d-1 ) downregulated the expression of ANF,ERK2 mRNA,and ERK2 protein,but upregulated the MKP-1 mRNA and protein expression.However,Rut low-dose (10 mg?kg-1 ?d-1 ) was ineffective (P> 0.05). Conclusion Rut alleviates left ventricular hypertrophy induced by abdominal aorta coarctation,and the protection appears to be due,at least in part,to its inhibitory effects on the MAPK/ ERK signal pathway.

Objective To evaluate the short-term and long-term elinical effect of hepatectomy using Tissue-Link & Cusa,compared to the Pringle maneuver.Methods Clinical data of 87 HCC patients who had received hepatectomy by the Pringle's Maneuver (group A) or Tissue-Link & Cusa (group B) were retrospectively analyzed.Results The average amount of bleeding in Group A was more than group B (t =2.030,P =0.023).The time of operation in group A was shorter than group B (t =-2.896,P =0.006).The postoperative supplement of albumin in group A was more than group B,the level of serum total bilirubin on 7th day after operation was higher than group B (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in postoperation complications and the time in hospital (P ＞0.05).The rate of incisional recurrence and the rate of metastasis in or out of the liver in group A were higher than group B (P =0.029,0.021,0.016).The 2-and 3-year tumor-free survival rates and the 3-year overall survival rates in group A were lower than that in group B (P =0.047,0.036,0.042).Conclusions Hepatectomy using Tissue-Link & Cusa is superior to the Pringle's maneuver for the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.It has a clear operative field,less operative bleeding,less damage to liver function and a lower relapse rate of incisional margin.

Objective To evaluate the effect of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods HCC patients undergoing up-front hepatectomy (group A) were compared with those receiving TACE before hepatectomy (group B).Results Tumor size decreased significantly after TACE (t =3.3 1,P =0.021).The rates of tumor encapsulation and liver adhesions were significantly more often seen in group B.There were fewer tumor-residual and more frequent necrosis in group B.Operative time in group B was longer (t =2.71 ,P =0.046).The average blood loss and complication rate were of no difference between the two groups.The occurrence of pleural effusion and intrahepatic recurrence rate in group A was higher than group B (x2 =3.85 ,P =0.031) (x2 =2.76,P =0.046).The overall survival rate from the second year postoperative in group B was higher than group A (x2 =3.37, P =0.043).Conclusions TACE could diminish tumor, advance encapsulation and reduce tumor-residual.Preoperative TACE does not improve 1-, 2-, and 3-year tumor-free survival rates but improve 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates.

BACKGROUND:The mechanism of differentiation and proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells remains unclear. In addition, issues such as how signal pathways such as Ca2+and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cellproliferation and differentiation signals form complex signal network remain poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Ca2+in the induced differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes.
METHODS:Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from rat bone marrow using whone bone marrow adherence method, purified, amplified, and induced with hepatocyte growth factor. [Ca2+]i in the directional differentiated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and control bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were detected with flow cytometry. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells induced with hepatocyte growth factor were mixed with nimodipine of different concentration, and cells were divided into three groups:hepatocyte growth factor+nimodipine 10 mg/L, 50 or 100 mg/L groups. cellgrowth was observed with inverted phase contrast microscope and alpha 1-antitrypsin expression of the cells was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. The calcineurin M and the activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway was detected by reverse transcription-PCR and western blotting, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:[Ca2+]i in the directional differentiated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells was higher than in the control group (P<0.05). After addition of a larger dose of nimodipine, no differentiation of cells was obeserved and growth of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells was getting worse. There were few alpha 1-antitrypsin positive cells in the nimodipine groups. Calcineurin Mexpression was significantly increased in directional differentiated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and smal dose of nimodipine than the controls (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found among middle, high dose nimodipine and control groups (P>0.05). These findings indicate that Ca2+could participate in the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes incuded with cytokines, and also maintain the survival and proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To analyze the short-term and long-term effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods The clinical data of 70 HCC patients who had received thermal ablation (group A) done or in combination with TACE (group B) were retrospectively analyzed.Results The rate of intrahepatic distant recurrence in group B (25 cases) was lower than that in group A (45 cases) (X2 =3.845,P =0.046) and the tumor-free survival rate was higher than group A (X2 =5.020,P =O.030).There were no differences in the local tumor progression rate (X2 =0.853,P =0.374) and overall survival (x2 =2.316,P =0.154) between two groups.Incidence of bone marrow suppression in group B was higher than that of group A (X2 =5.642,P =0.042).Major complications didn't occur in any group(X2 =2.016,P =0.183).The costs was higher(t =7.738,P ＜0.001) and the hospital stay was longer (t =5.921,P =0.003) in group B than group A.Conclusions Compared with ablation alone,combined therapy is able to reduce short-term recurrence,and improve tumor-free survival.Combine therapy is safe and effective method for small liver carcinoma.

In order to obtain enough fusion protein for developing preclinical studies of IFNbeta-HAS, we screened Pichia pastoris transformants expressing high-level protein by immunology method. The yield of IFNbeta-HSA was about 500 mg/L by fed-batch fermentation. The purity of IFNbeta-HSA reached 96% through the steps of ultrafiltration, Blue Sepharose FF, Ni2+-IMAC and DEAE Sepharose FF. Analysis of Western blotting showed that IFNbeta-HSA had the antigenicity of IFNbeta and HSA. The specific activity was about 1.96 x 10(7) IU/mg by standard survival activity test on WISH cells challenged with VSV virus. This study provided a method to produce IFNbeta-HSA.
Fermentation ; Humans ; Interferon-beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Serum Albumin ; biosynthesis ; genetics