Objective: To understand the subjective and objective comfort evaluations of students from different age groups on desks and chairs, so as to provide reference for standardized allocation and use of desks and chairs. Methods: From January to April 2024, a total of 2 446 students were selected from 26 schools in 13 districts (counties/cities) in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Wuxi from Jiangsu Province by using cluster random method, including students in kindergartens, primary schools, junior high schools,senior high schools, colleges and universities. Standardized procedures were used to measure the height and weight of participants, and the matching desks and chairs models were selected according to the height. The subjective comfort of students on matching desks and chairs was investigated, and their objective comfort was evaluated by using a self designed questionnaire. The χ 2 test was used to analyze the differences of subjective perception and objective evaluation in comfort between different types of desks and chairs. Results: About 84.1% of the students subjectively thought that large desks and small chairs were very comfortable or relatively comfortable, followed by large desks and chairs (75.7%), and the proportion of small desks and chairs was the lowest among the three types (46.2%), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=722.46, P <0.01). The reporting rates of primary school, junior high school and senior high school students who subjectively considered large desks and chairs to be very comfortable/relatively comfortable were higher than that of other types of desks and chairs, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ 2=297.49, 252.82, 343.67, P <0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the subjective comfort evaluation of different types of desks and chairs among kindergarten children ( χ 2=3.21, P >0.05), and 66.3% of the students in colleges and universities felt very comfortable/relatively comfortable when they used the matching standard desks and chairs. The objective evaluation results of the comfort for the three types of desks and chairs were consistent with the subjective evaluation, but the proportions of the objective evaluation as very comfortable/relatively comfortable were higher than that of the subjective evaluation ( χ 2=20.76- 813.47, P <0.01). Conclusions Large desks and chairs, as well as large desks with small chairs are perceived comfortable, while small desks and chairs are perceived less comfortable. It is recommended to match the large desks and chairs or large desks and small chairs that are suitable for them according to the "standard", to promote physical and mental health of students.

Objective: To investigate the differences in the comfort of desks and chairs furniture among students with different body types according to the standard, so as to provide a reference for guiding students with overweight and obesity to choose the correct study furniture and revising the standards. Methods: From January to April 2024, 2 443 students from 26 schools in 13 districts (counties/cities) in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Jiangsu Province were selected by the cluster random sampling method to conduct physical examination. The subjective and objective evaluations of the comfort of height matched desks and chairs were investigated. The students were divided into non overweight, overweight, and obesity groups according to relevant criteria, and stratified analysis was performed. The χ 2 test was used to analyze differences in the comfort evaluations of desks and chairs among students with different body types. Results: Among the 2 443 students surveyed, 16.7% and 12.6% were respectively classified as overweight and obese. All students assigned the highest comfort ratings to large desks and small chairs (84.1%), and consistency was observed between students subjective and objective evaluations. The reporting rate of samll desks and chairs of obesity students subjective evaluation was lower (36.8%) than that of overweight and non overweight/obesity students (52.1%, 48.0%) ( χ 2=14.63, P <0.01). The overweight and obese group of primary school students had a worse evaluation of the comfort of large desks and chairs and small desks and chairs than those of the non overweight and obese groups( χ 2=15.78, 7.63, P <0.05). Among high school students, the overweight and obese group had worse evaluation of the comfort of large desks and chairs, as well as large desks and small chairs, than those of the non-overweight and obese groups( χ 2=9.62, 11.77, P <0.05). The objective evaluations revealed low compliance ratings on the posture of the thighs and calves for naturally forming an angle greater than 90° (55.6%), and headroom height under the table (50.3%) with small desks and chairs ( χ 2=94.05, 166.47, P <0.05). Conclusions Compared with non overweight/obese students, students with overweight and obese students report poor comfort evaluations of height matched desks and chairs. Revision of the standard should consider the body types of students, and evaluations of the comfort of desks and chairs furniture by students with overweight and obesity should be improved.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the regulatory role of nucleotide-bound oligomerized domain-like receptor containing pyrin-domain protein 6 (NLRP6) in liver lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Mouse models with high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 16 weeks (n=6) or with methionine choline-deficient diet (MCD) feeding for 8 weeks (n=6) were examined for the development of NAFLD using HE and oil red O staining, and hepatic expressions of NLRP6 were detected with RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. Cultured human hepatocytes (LO2 cells) with adenovirus-mediated NLRP6 overexpression or knock-down were treated with palmitic acid (PA) in the presence or absence of compound C (an AMPK inhibitor), and the changes in cellular lipid metabolism were examined by measuring triglyceride, ATP and β-hydroxybutyrate levels and using oil red staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting. RESULTS: HFD and MCD feeding both resulted in the development of NAFLD in mice, which showed significantly decreased NLRP6 expression in the liver. In PA-treated LO2 cells, NLRP6 overexpression significantly decreased cellular TG content and lipid deposition, while NLRP6 knockdown caused the opposite effects. NLRP6 overexpression in PA-treated LO2 cells also increased mRNA and protein expressions of PGC1A and CPT1A, levels of ATP and β-hydroxybutyrate, and the phosphorylation level of AMPK pathway; the oxidative decomposition of lipids induced by Ad-NLRP6 was inhibited by the use of AMPK inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS NLRP6 overexpression promotes lipid oxidation and decomposition through AMPK/CPT1A/PGC1A to alleviate lipid deposition in hepatocytes.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism* ; Animals ; Hepatocytes/metabolism* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Humans ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase/metabolism* ; Diet, High-Fat ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Signal Transduction

Objective: To establish a progressive research strategy for “colonic components analysis - efficacy verification and mechanism exploration - gut microbiota”, screen pharmacodynamic substances, and investigate their mechanism via gut microbiota. Methods: The pharmacodynamics of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) were assessed using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer was used to identify the prototype and metabolic components of GQD in the colon during UC. To analyze the structure and function of characteristic genera of GQD and its active components, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed. Results: We identified 67 prototypic and 14 metabolic components of GQD in the UC colon. The primary prototype components are flavonoids and alkaloids, including puerarin (PUE), baicalin (BAI), and berberine (BER). The metabolism was predominantly sulfonation. Efficacy verification showed that the main active components, puerarin, baicalin, and berberine, had good therapeutic effects on UC. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that GQD improved UC by regulating the structure and function of the gut microbiota. The abundance of gut microbiota involved in the metabolism of the prototype components was influenced by the corresponding components. The function prediction results showed that PUE was the most comparable to GQD, with 24 consistent pathways. BAI and BER showed comparable gut microbiota regulation pathways. Characteristic pathways of BER include glucometabolic processes. Conclusion This study focused on the key issues in the gut microbiota pathway and developed a progressive research strategy to understand the transformation mechanisms of colonic components. This research systematically analyzed the active components and metabolic transformation of GQD in the colon during the pathological state of UC, as well as changes in the structure and function of the gut microbiota, clarified the mechanism of GQD and its active components in improving UC via the gut microbiota pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)/eukaryotic initiation factor 2α(eIF2α)pathway in endoplasmic reticulum stress on the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSC).Methods Pathological sections of normal liver tissue after surgery were collected from 11 patients with hepatic fibrosis(S1-S4)and 9 patients with hepatic hemangioma and hepatic adenoma confirmed by liver biopsy,and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein expression levels of PERK,eIF2α,and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP).Human HSC-LX2 cells were treated with different concentrations of the endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer thapsigargin(0,125,250,500,and 1 000 nmol/L),and qRT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression level of PERK,while Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of PERK,inositol requiring protein 1(IRE1),activating transcription factor 6(ATF6),CHOP,and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).The method of lentivirus transfection was used to construct a PERK stable overexpression LX-2 group and a control group;qRT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of PERK,eIF2α,and α-SMA,Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of PERK,phosphorylated eIF2α(p-eIF2α),and α-SMA,and immunofluorescence assay was used to measure the expression of collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1(COL1A1).The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups;a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups.The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups.Results Compared with normal liver tissue,the liver tissue of patients with hepatic fibrosis had significantly higher expression levels of PERK,eIF2α,and CHOP(Z=-3.56,t=-5.75,Z=-3.52,all P<0.001).Compared with the solvent group,the groups treated with different concentrations of thapsigargin had significant increases in the expression levels of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated proteins PERK,CHOP,IRE1,ATF6,and α-SMA(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the PERK stable overexpression group had significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of PERK,eIF2α,and α-SMA and the protein expression levels of PERK,p-eIF2α,and α-SMA(all P<0.05),and immunofluorescence assay showed a significant increase in the expression level of COL1A1 in the PERK stable overexpression group(P<0.05).Conclusion PERK overexpression can induce the expression of α-SMA and COL1A1 in LX-2 cells,suggesting that the PERK signaling pathway might be one of the important mechanisms of HSC activation.

Objective: To understand the current status and associated factors of comorbidity of common illnesses among primary and middle school students in Shanghai, so as to provide a reference for improving the pathogenic environment and preventing the occurrence of comorbidity of common illnesses. Methods: From September to November 2021, a stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 30 331 middle school students from 112 schools in 16 districts of Shanghai, each with 2 primary schools, 2 junior high schools, 2 high schools and 1 vocational high school. Elementary school students, their health status and influencing factor questionnaires were analyzed. Results: The detection rate of two or more common diseases such as myopia, overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, and abnormal spinal curvature among primary and secondary school students in Shanghai was 38.91%, of which 29.64% of primary and secondary school students had two diseases at the same time, and 9.19% had three diseases, 0.09% had 4 diseases. The detection rate of comorbidity was higher in boys (44.12%) than in girls (33.40%), and higher in junior high school students (40.40%) than in high school students (38.58%) and primary school students (38.01%). The differences were statistically significant (χ2=366.44, 50.33, P<0.01). Multifactor Logistic regression analysis showed that girls sometimes supervise themselves and often remind themselves that their sitting and standing postures were negatively correlated with the common comorbidities of primary and secondary school students (OR=0.64, 0.93, 0.90); junior middle school students and watching TV/d ≥1 h, using computers for ≥1 h/d, and using mobile electronic devices for >1 h/d were positively correlated with the comorbidity of common diseases among primary and secondary school students (OR=1.07, 1.10, 1.06, 1.10) (P<0.05). Conclusions The prevalence of comorbidity of common illnesses among primary and middle school students in Shanghai is not optimistic, which might be associated with combined effects of various external environmental factors. Targeted intervention should be implemented to effectively prevent the occurrence of comorbidities among students.

COVID-19 associated Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) caused by peripheral nerve damage after SARS-CoV-2 infection is one of the most common COVID-19 related nervous system inflammatory diseases, with high incidence of respiratory failure and mortality. Positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cerebrospinal fluid of COVID-19 associated GBS patients has been rarely reported. This paper reports 4 patients with COVID-19 associated GBS in China who developed neurological symptoms 4-15 days after fever and were confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. All patients presented with progressive weakness of both lower limbs, 3 patients with autonomic dysfunction such as defecation and urination disorders, and 1 patient with polycranial neuritis and Miller-Fisher syndrome such as bilateral facial palsy, dysphagia, diplopia and ataxia. Nerve conduction velocity and F wave were abnormal in 3 patients, and motor conduction pathway was abnormal in 1 patient. Anti-ganglioside antibodies were tested in 3 patients, and GD1a-IgG was positive in 1 patient. All 4 patients underwent metagenomic next-generation sequencing examination in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was positive in blood and cerebrospinal fluid of 3 patients, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was positive in cerebrospinal fluid of 1 patient.

Hearing loss has become increasingly prevalent and causes considerable disability, thus gravely burdening the global economy. Irreversible loss of hair cells is a main cause of sensorineural hearing loss, and currently, the only relatively effective clinical treatments are limited to digital hearing equipment like cochlear implants and hearing aids, but these are of limited benefit in patients. It is therefore urgent to understand the mechanisms of damage repair in order to develop new neuroprotective strategies. At present, how to promote the regeneration of functional hair cells is a key scientific question in the field of hearing research. Multiple signaling pathways and transcriptional factors trigger the activation of hair cell progenitors and ensure the maturation of newborn hair cells, and in this article, we first review the principal mechanisms underlying hair cell reproduction. We then further discuss therapeutic strategies involving the co-regulation of multiple signaling pathways in order to induce effective functional hair cell regeneration after degeneration, and we summarize current achievements in hair cell regeneration. Lastly, we discuss potential future approaches, such as small molecule drugs and gene therapy, which might be applied for regenerating functional hair cells in the clinic.
Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner/physiology* ; Ear, Inner/physiology* ; Hair Cells, Auditory/physiology* ; Regeneration/genetics* ; Stem Cells

Objective:To compare and analyze the correlation between two kinds of point-of-care testing (POCT) instruments and Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument in detecting myocardial biomarkers,so as to provide reference for the selection of POCT instruments in clinical testing. Methods:A total of twenty patient's samples were selected,which concentration range covered the reportable range of detection results. Two kinds of POCT instruments (named respectively A and B) were used to detect the concentrations of plasma myoglobin (Myo),creatine kinase isoenzyme mass (CK-MB mass),cardiac troponin I(cTnI),and N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)/Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). The results of the electrochemiluminescence instrument were used as reference,and Pearson correlation analysis and Kappa test evaluation were used to evaluate respectively the correlation and consistency of the detected results between the two kinds of POCT instruments and Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument. Results:Our study demonstrated that there were good correlations in the detected results of Myo,CK-MB mass,cTnI,NT-proBNP/BNP between the instrument A and Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument,and between the instrument B and Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument (rinstrumentA=0.994,0.989,0.917,0.996,rinstrumentB=0.928,0.934,0.883,0.977,P<0.05),respectively. In the comparisons about consistencies,the concordance rates between instrument A and electrochemiluminescence instrument were respectively 90％,100％,70％ and 100％ in detecting Myo,CK-MB,cTnI and NT-proBNP,and the concordance rates between instrument B and electrochemiluminescence instrument were respectively 90％,100％,70％ and 100％ in detecting them. Both two kinds of POCT instruments had favorable consistencies with Roche electrochemiluminescence instrument (Kappainstrument A=0.798,1.00,0.429,1.00,Kappainstrument B=0.794,0.886,0.429,1.00),respectively. The precisions of both instruments were less than 10％. Conclusion:Both two kinds of POCT instruments can meet the requirements of clinical test,which have favorable correlations with electrochemiluminescence instrument in detecting myocardial biomarkers.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common tumor types and remains a major clinical challenge.Increasing evidence has revealed that mitophagy inhibitors can enhance the effect of chemotherapy on HCC.However,few mitophagy inhibitors have been approved for clinical use in humans.Pyrimethamine(Pyr)is used to treat infections caused by protozoan parasites.Recent studies have reported that Pyr may be beneficial in the treatment of various tumors.However,its mechanism of action is still not clearly defined.Here,we found that blocking mitophagy sensitized cells to Pyr-induced apoptosis.Mechanistically,Pyr potently induced the accumulation of autophagosomes by inhibiting autophagosome-lysosome fusion in human HCC cells.In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that Pyr blocked autophagosome-lysosome fusion by upregulating BNIP3 to inhibit synaptosomal-associated protein 29(SNAP29)-vesicle-associated membrane protein 8(VAMP8)interaction.Moreover,Pyr acted synergistically with sorafenib(Sora)to induce apoptosis and inhibit HCC proliferation in vitro and in vivo.Pyr enhances the sensitivity of HCC cells to Sora,a common chemotherapeutic,by inhibiting mitophagy.Thus,these results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of Pyr and imply that Pyr could potentially be further developed as a novel mitophagy inhibitor.Notably,Pyr and Sora combination therapy could be a promising treatment for malignant HCC.