Objective:To evaluate the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy treated with LT 4 on the growth and neuropsychology of offspring aged 0-36 months. Methods:A maternal-infant cohort was established in healthy singleton pregnant women aged 20-45 years without history of thyroid disease. Women developing subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy were treated with LT4. The weight, length, and head circumference of the offspring were recorded between 0 to 36 months after birth. Meanwhile, infant nutrition and family support were investigated. The Neuropsychological Development Questionnaire of 0-6 year old children was used to evaluate the neurodevelopment of offspring.Results:A total of 186 mother-infant pairs were included. All subjects were divided into the euthyroidism(ETH) group( n=136) and subclinical hypothyroidism(SHT) group( n=50) according to maternal thyroid function during pregnancy. The Z-scores(adjusted by months of age and gender) of weight, length, weight/length at birth, weight/length at 1 month, head circumference at 6 months, length at 8 months, weight/length at 24 months of SHT group were lower than those of the ETH group( P<0.05). Furthermore, the language competence of the SHT offspring at 12 months of age was also lower than that of the ETH group( P<0.05). Maternal subclinical hypothyroidism treated with LT 4 did not significantly affect preterm delivery, low birth weight, and developmental quotient <85, but reduced the risk of macrosomia(AOR 0.206, 95% CI 0.046-0.929, P=0.040). Conclusion:Although women with subclinical hypothyroidism received LT 4 treatment during pregnancy, the offspring still may suffer adverse effects on their growth and neural development.

Background: and Purpose To explore the causal relationships of elements of the exposome with ischemic stroke and its subtypes at the omics level and to provide evidence for stroke prevention. Methods We conducted a Mendelian randomization study between exposure and any ischemic stroke (AIS) and its subtypes (large-artery atherosclerotic disease [LAD], cardioembolic stroke [CE], and small vessel disease [SVD]). The exposure dataset was the UK Biobank involving 361,194 subjects, and the outcome dataset was the MEGASTROKE consortium including 52,000 participants. Results: We found that higher blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP: odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.04; diastolic BP: OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05; pulse pressure: OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.06), atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.25), and diabetes (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.18) were significantly associated with ischemic stroke. Importantly, higher education (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.79) decreased the risk of ischemic stroke. Higher systolic BP (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.10), pulse pressure (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.14), diabetes (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.45), and coronary artery disease (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.00) could cause LAD. Atrial fibrillation could cause CE (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.71 to 2.11). For SVD, higher systolic BP (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.07), diastolic BP (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.12), and diabetes (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.36) were causal factors. Conclusions The study revealed elements of the exposome causally linked to ischemic stroke and its subtypes, including conventional causal risk factors and novel protective factors such as higher education.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia characterized by the progressive cognitive and social decline. Clinical drug targets have heavily focused on the amyloid hypothesis, with amyloid beta (Aβ), and tau proteins as key pathophysiologic markers of AD. However, no effective treatment has been developed so far, which prompts researchers to focus on other aspects of AD beyond Aβ, and tau proteins. Additionally, there is a mounting epidemiologic evidence that various environmental factors influence the development of dementia and that dementia etiology is likely heterogenous. In the past decades, new risk factors or potential etiologies have been widely studied. Here, we review several novel epidemiologic and clinical research developments that focus on sleep, hypoxia, diet, gut microbiota, and hearing impairment and their links to AD published in recent years. At the frontiers of AD research, these findings and updates could be worthy of further attention.
Alzheimer Disease/etiology* ; Amyloid ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; tau Proteins

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the gene defect types and distribution characteristics of α- and β-thalassemia in Lingui District of Guilin City, Guangxi, so as to provide scientific basis for genetic consultation and prevention measures. METHODS: A total of 6 496 suspected cases for screening the thalassemia during physical examination, premarital examination, pregnancy examination and hospitalization in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University from May 2016 to October 2019 were analyzed. Gap-PCR, PCR-RDB and DNA sequencing techniques were used to detect the types and constituent ratios of gene defects in α- and β-thalassemia positive cases. RESULTS: Among 6 496 suspected patients, 1 363 were thalassemia carriers, the total positive rate was 20.98%. There were 677 cases of single-gene deletion and 26 cases of double-gene detetion on the deletional α-thalassemia, 115 cases of non-deletion α-thalassemia mutation and 4 cases of deletion plus mutation. The positive rate of α-thalassemia was 12.66%. There were 11 gene abnormalities for α-thalassemia, of which -- CONCLUSION Lingui district of Guilin city is a high incidence area of thalassemia. The mutation rate of α-thalassemia --
China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics*

Objective Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) is invariably fatal without surgical resection. The primary aim of the current study was to determine the safety of variable surgical resections for patient with HC and their survival after surgical resection. In addition, prognostic factor for the overall survival was also evaluated. Methods The study included 59 consecutive patients who were newly diagnosed with HC and underwent surgical resections with curative intend between February 2009 and February 2017. Patients were followed up at 3-6 months intervals after hospital discharge. Postoperative complications and overall survival were determined. Associations of clinicopathologic and surgeon-related factors with overall survival were evaluated through univariate analysis and Cox regression analysis. Results Of patients with Bismuth and Corlette (B & C) type Ⅲ (=19) and Ⅳ (=25) HC lesions, 33 (55.9%) were treated with hilar resection combined with major liver resection (MLR), while the other 11 patients with type Ⅲ and Ⅳ, and those with type Ⅰ (=8) and Ⅱ (=7) HC lesions were treated with hilar resection. The overall surgical mortality was 5.1% and surgical morbidity was 35.6%. There was no statistical difference in the mortality between MLR group and hilar resection group (6.1% 3.8%; =0.703, =0.145). The median follow-up period was 18 months (range, 1-94 months). The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rate was 59.3%, 36.5%, and 17.7%, respectively. The overall survival after resections was 18 months. In HC patients with B & C type Ⅲ and Ⅳ lesions, the median survival was 23 months for hilar resection with MLR and 8 months for hilar resection alone; the 1-, 3-, 5-year cumulative survival rate was 63.9%, 23.3%, and 15.5%, respectively for hilar resection with MLR, and 11.1%, 0, and 0, respectively for hilar resection alone, with significant differene observed (, 9.902; 95% , 2.636-19.571, =0.001). Four factors were independently associated with overall survival: preoperative serum Ca19-9 (, 7.039; 95% , 2.803-17.678, <0.001), histopathologic grade (, 4.964; 95% , 1.046-23.552, =0.044), surgical margins (=0.031), and AJCC staging (=0.015). Conclusions R0 resection is efficacious in surgical treatment of HC. MLR in combination with caudate lobe resection may increase the chance of R0 resection and improve survival of HC patients with B & C type Ⅲ and Ⅳ lesions. Preoperatively prepared for biliary drainage may ensure the safety of MLR in most HC patients. Novel adjuvant therapies are needed to improve the survival of HC patients with poor prognostic factors.

Objective To learn the population and infestation rates of cockroaches from 2017 to 2019 in Jiading District of Shanghai, to evaluate the effect of cockroach termination in household, and to provide information for cockroach control. Methods Cockroaches were controlled by dinotefuran baits and clean-up in households.Sticky trap and visual method were employed for density monitoring in farmers markets, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and residential areas.Visual method was used in households before and after using the insecticide. Results Sticky trap result showed the room infestation rate was 3.24%, mean adhesion rate was 3.29%, the density was 0.06 per board, and the density peak appeared in May.Rate of invasion and density decreased year by year.Blattella germanica was the dominant species, counting for 71.88%.The density, and rate of infestation, as determined by sticky trap method, were the highest in the farmers markets, followed by hospitals and residential areas.Determined by visual method, room infestation rate was 1.16%, and the infestation rate was 4.44%.The peak appeared in January.Infestation rate of the farmers markets was the highest, followed by hospitals and residential areas.By visual method, the room infestation rate was 59.01%, and 48.45% for nymphs.The room infestation and ootheca rates were 54.04% and 17.39%.The rate decreased more than 80% in 30 days after use of the insecticide. Conclusion Infestation rate of cockroach remains at low level in Jiading District.The effect of bait combined with environmental cleaning is remarkable.Future work should strengthen monitoring and control in farmers markets, hospitals and residential areas.

Background:Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) offers a new approach for adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).The study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tACS treating MDD.Methods:This is an 8-week,double-blind,randomized,placebo-controlled study.Ninety-two drug-naive patients with MDD aged 18 to 65 years will receive 20 daily 40-min,77.5-Hz,15-mA sessions of active or sham tACS targeting the forehead and both mastoid areas on weekdays for 4 consecutive weeks (week 4),following a 4-week observation period (week 8).The primary outcome is the remission rate defined as the 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS-17) score ≤7 at week 8.Secondary outcomes are the rates of response at weeks 4 and 8 and rate of remission at week 4 based on HDRS-17,the proportion of participants having improvement in the clinical global impression-improvement,the change in HDRS-17 score (range,0-52,with higher scores indicating more depression) over the study,and variations of brain imaging and neurocognition from baseline to week 4.Safety will be assessed by vital signs at weeks 4 and 8,and adverse events will be collected during the entire study.Discussion:The tACS applied in this trial may have treatment effects on MDD with minimal side effects.

Objective To investigate the effects of vitamin D on synthesis and secretion of lubricin in chondrocytes at the cellular level. Methods Rat articular chondrocytes were stimulated by TNF-α. Normal and inflammatory chondrocytes were treated by different doses of vitamin D respectively. ELISA and Western Blot were used to detect the secretion of lubricin in the supernatant and the synthesis level in the cells. Results TNF-α significantly reduced the activity of both normal chondrocytes and chondrocytes in inflammatory state. TNF-α also significantly reduced the expression of lubricin in the cells and supernatant. 1α,25(OH)2D3 increased the activity of both normal chondrocytes and chondrocytes in inflammatory state. 1α,25(OH)2D3 significantly elevated the secretion and expression of supernatant and intracellular lubricin only in chondrocytes stimulated by TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner, but not in normal chondrocytes. Conclusions Vitamin D can promote the secretion and expression of lubricin in inflammatory state chondrocytes, which may act as one of the mechanisms of vitamin D protecting the cartilage surface in osteoarthritis.

This study investigated the relationship among the severity of hearing impairment,vestibular function and balance function in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).A total of 35 ISSNHL patients (including 21 patients with vertigo) were enrolled.All of the patients underwent audiometry,sensory organization test (SOT),caloric test,cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) test.Significant relationship was found between vertigo and hearing loss grade (P=0.009),and between SOT VEST grade and hearing loss grade (P=0.001).The abnormal rate of oVEMP test was the highest,followed by the abnormal rates of caloric and cVEMP tests,not only in patients with vertigo but also in those without vertigo.The vestibular end organs were more susceptible to damage in patients with vertigo (compared with patients without vertigo).Significant relationship was found between presence of vertigo and SOT VEST grade (P=0.010).We demonstrated that vestibular end organs may be impaired not only in patients with vertigo but also in patients without vertigo.The cochlear and vestibular impairment could be more serious in patients with vertigo than in those without vertigo.Vertigo does not necessarily bear a causal relationship with the impairment of the vestibular end organs.SOT VEST grade could be used to reflect the presence of vertigo state in the ISSNHL patients.Apart from audiometry,the function of peripheral vestibular end organs and balance function should be evaluated to comprehensively understand ISSNHL.Better assessment of the condition will help us in clinical diagnosis,treatment and prognosis evaluation of ISSNHL.