Objective:To investigate the effects of urinary nickel exposure on insulin resistance, islet function and diabetes risk in adults aged 18 years and above in China.Methods:Based on the China National Human Biomonitoring from 2017 to 2018, a total of 500 diabetes patients were randomly selected as the case group, and the matched euglycemic control were selected by 1∶1 matching ratio. The urinary and venous blood samples of the subjects were collected, and the urinary nickel levels and serum glucose metabolism indexes such as fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin were detected, and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), β cell function index (HOMA-β), and adjusted HOMA-β were calculated by using homeostasis model assessment. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between urinary nickel level and diabetes risk. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the association of urinary nickel level with HOMA-IR, HOMA-β and adjusted HOMA-β.Results:The sex ratio of controls and cases was 1∶1. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that after adjusting for factors such as education level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, rice and meat intakes, family history of diabetes, BMI, total cholesterol level, hypertension, and urinary creatinine, compared with T1 group, the ORs of diabetes risk in the T2 and T3 groups were 1.36 (95% CI: 0.98-1.89) and 1.60 (95% CI: 1.14-2.24), respectively. The multiple linear regression model showed a positive association between urinary nickel levels and the elevated HOMA-IR, the β value of HOMA-IR in the T3 group was 0.12 (95% CI: 0.01-0.25) compared with the T1 group and each one-unit increase in the log-transformed urinary nickel level (2.71 μg/L) was associated with a 0.06 elevation in HOMA-IR (95% CI: 0.02-0.10). Meanwhile, the urinary nickel levels were negative associated with the adjusted HOMA-β, the β value of adjusted HOMA-β in the T3 group were -0.26 compared with the T1 group (95% CI: -0.41- -0.11), and each one-unit increase in the log-transformed urinary nickel level (2.71 μg/L) was associated with a -0.09 decrease in adjusted HOMA-β(95% CI: -0.14- -0.04). Conclusion:Higher urinary nickel level is positively correlated with elevated insulin resistance and diabetes risk while negatively correlated with the function of pancreatic islet β cells in adults in China.

Objective:To investigate the association between C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin (ALB) ratio (CAR) and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods:Clinical data of 791 PD patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2019 were retrospectively collected. According to the baseline quartiles of CAR, patients were divided into three groups: low-level CAR group (CAR≤0.161 mg/g, n=264), medium-level CAR group (CAR 0.162-0.214 mg/g, n=263) and high-level CAR group (CAR≥0.215 mg/g, n=264). The clinical data among the three groups were compared. Follow-up was ended on March 31, 2020, or when the patients stopped PD due to death, shift to hemodialysis, renal transplantation or recovery of renal function. Kaplan-Meier survival curve, multivariate Cox proportional hazard model and Fine-Gray competing risk model were used to assess the relationship between CAR and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality. The association between CAR, CRP, ALB, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), or platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and mortality in PD patients was compared by receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) analysis. Results:The age of the patients was (59.8±15.7) years old, and 447(56.5%) patients were males. 714(90.3%) patients had hypertension. 233(29.5%) patients had diabetes. 182(23.0%) patients had cardiovascular diseases. The median follow-up time was 55(31, 88) months. By the end of the follow-up, 236 deaths (29.8%) happened, and 95 patients (12.0%) died from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis results showed that the overall survival rate of the high-level CAR group was lower than those of the low-level CAR group and medium-level CAR group (Log-rank test χ2=109.50, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis and Fine-Gray competing risk model revealed that CAR was independently correlated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality after adjusting for confounding factors ( HR=2.891, 95% CI 1.921-4.351, P<0.001; SHR=1.297, 95% CI 1.128-1.490, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve ( AUC) of CAR for predicting the risk of all-cause mortality in PD patients was 0.737(95% CI 0.700-0.774), which was superior to those of CRP ( AUC=0.643, 95% CI 0.599-0.687), NLR( AUC=0.608, 95% CI 0.563-0.653) and PLR ( AUC=0.554, 95% CI 0.508-0.601), and slightly lower than ALB ( AUC=0.752, 95% CI 0.716-0.788). The optimal cutoff value of CAR for death was 0.19 mg/g, with the sensitivity and specificity of 70.8% and 68.3%, respectively. Conclusions:Increasing CAR level is an independent risk factor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality in PD patients, and its correlation with mortality is higher than those of inflammatory parameters such as CRP, NLR and PLR.

Objective:To investigate the effect of long-chain non coding RNA (lncrna) loc730101 in the proliferation, invasion and migration of U2OS cells, and its mechanism.Methods:From February, 2019 to October, 2019, U2OS cells cultured in vitro were divided into control group (normal culture), negative group (transfection nega- tive control), and interference group (transfection of interference sequences targeting LOC730101). The expression of LOC730101 in cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell proliferation ac tivity was tested by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Cell clone formation rate was mearused by plate clone formation test. Cell cycle distribution was tested by flow cytometry. Cell invasion and migra- tion were examed by Transwell chamber. The expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins Vimentin, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related proteins in cells β-catenin, c-Myc, cyclin D1(CyclinD1) and matrix metalloproteinase-7(MMP-7) proteins were detected by Western blotting method. The date was statistical analysed and considered as statistically significant when P<0.05. Results:Compared with the control group, the expression level of LOC730101 (0.25±0.03 and 1.00±0.06) in interference group and control group, respectively. The same below), cell survival rate [(57.65±3.26)% and (100.00±7.39)%], clone formation rate [(13.03± 2.12)% and (25.35±3.58)%], number of invasive cells(51.36±3.48 and 92.85±6.62), number of migrating cells (77.15± 5.05 and 136.92±15.35), the percentage of cells in S phase [(20.54±2.15)% and (28.15±2.38)%] and G 2/M phase [(16.87±2.12)% and (23.36±3.12)%], as well as the expression level of Vimentin (0.52±0.04 and 1.17±0.13), N-cadherin (0.31±0.03 and 0.65±0.04), β-catenin (0.42±0.03 and 0.73±0.04), c-Myc (0.29±0.03 and 0.65±0.03), CyclinD1 (0.26± 0.02 and 0.58±0.04), MMP-7 protein (0.55±0.03 and 0.86±0.06) was decreased significantly ( P<0.05), while the per- centage of cells in G 0/G 1 phase [(62.62±5.15)% and (48.46±3.65)%] and the expression level of E-cadherin protein(0.82± 0.06 and 0.38±0.03) were increased significantly in the interference group ( P<0.05). But there was no significant differ- ence in each index in the negative group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Reduce the regulation of LOC730101 can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of U2OS cells, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the influence of liraglutide intervention combined percutanous coronary intervention(PCI) therapy on acute myocardial infarction( AMI) with type 2 diabetes( T2DM) patients'myocardial injury, ventricular remodeling( VR), and cardiac function. Methods Eighty patients with AMI and T2DM were included in the study, and they were randomly divided into observation group and control group according to the random number table, each with 40 patients. The patients in the control group received metformin and conventional insulin combined PCI treatment, and the patients in the observation group received metformin and liraglutide combined PCI treatment. The changes in the values of ventricular remodeling indexes, cardiac function and serum related indexes were compared after 3 months treatment between the two groups. Results ( 1) The body weight and fasting blood glucose levels of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group( P＜0.05), and fasting insulin levels were significantly higher than those of the control group(P＜0.01). (2)The levels of N-terminal-pro-B- type natriuretic peptide ( NT-proBNP ), creatine kinase isoenzymes-MB ( CK-MB), and troponin I ( TnI) in the observation group 3 months after treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05). (3)The levels of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6) in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group 3 months after treatment( P＜0. 05). ( 4) The values of left ventricular end systolic diameter ( LVESD ), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septum thickness ( IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness ( LVPWT), left ventricular mass index ( LVMI), left ventricular end systolic volume ( LVESV), and left ventricular end diastolic volume(LVEDV) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group; the values of left ventricular fraction shortening(LVFS), left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), and mitral valve early diastolic blood flow rate (VE)/atrial systolic flow velocity ( VA), all were higher than those of the control group ( P＜0. 05). Conclusion Lraglutide intervention combined with PCI therapy on AMI with T2DM patients may reduce myocardial injury, induce ventricular remodeling, enhance cardiac function, and improve prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficiency of domestic snare applied during retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions.Methods A total of 27 patients who underwent retrograde PCI for CTO and used domestic snare during the procedure were enrolled in our study from March 2012 to November 2016.Clinical data, angiographic characteristics and PCI details were collected.Clinical data, characteristics of CTO lesion, effect of the domestic snare and snaring time were retrospectively analyzed.Special complications related to the domestic snare and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were also documented.Results Domestic snare was used in all the procedures, which included facillitating the micro-catheter to pass through the CTO lesions in 6 patients and assisting the RG3/rotational guide-wire externalization in all the 27 patients.Mean snaring time was 3.5±5.4 minutes.Stents were successfully implanted in 26 patients except in 1 patient who failed to receive stent implantation for severe coronary calcification.No complications including coronary dissection, fracture of guide-wire and unreleased snare happened during the procedures and no MACE occurred during hospitalization.Conclusions Domestic snare facilitates retrograde micro-catheter crossing CTO lesions and retrograde guide-wire entering the guiding catheter and externalization.It is a simple, safe and efficient method.

Objective:To treat the chronic non-atrophic gastritis patients induced by Helicobacter pylori with Qingweizhitong Weiwan combined with standard triple therapy,and to detect the differential expression of related immflammation genes with PCR array,and to clarify its mechanism.Methods: Ten patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis complicated with Helicobacter pylori infection were used as treatment group and 10 health people were used as health control group. The patients in treatment group were treated with Qingweizhitong Weiwan combined with standard triple therapy for 14 d. The blood samples of the subjects in treatment group and health control group were collected before and after treatment,and QIAGEN human antibacterial response PCR array was performed to test the total RNA inperipheral blood and to analyze the differential expressions of 84 inflammation-related genes.Results:The differential expressions of 20 inflammation-related genes were found.Compared with health control group,the expression levels of 20 genes in treatment group before treatment were up-regulated (Fold-change>2);after treatment,the expression levels of 20 genes were down-regulated,and 11 of them were similar to the level in health control group (Fold-change< 2).More specifically,part of 20 genes was related to NLRP3 inflammasome.Compared with health control group,the gene expression levels of CASP1,IL1B,NLRP3,and PYCARD in treatment group before treatment were up-regulated (P <0.05).Compared with before treatment,the expression levels of CASP1,IL1B,NLRP3,and PYCARD in treatment group after treatment were down-regulated (P <0.05).Conclusion:The mechanism of Qingweizhitong Weiwan combined with standard triple therapy in the treatment of chronic non-atrophic gastritis patients induced by Helicobacter pylori may be related to inhibiting the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes and interfering the antimicrobial innate immune response.

BACKGROUND:The finite element analysis used to study the biomechanical properties of foot structure contributes to overcome the disadvantages of traditional mechanical analysis of specimens. OBJECTIVE:To summarize some representative finite element models of the foot and review the establishment methods of finite element models of the foot with biomechanical properties. METHODS:A computer-based online search was conducted in CNKI, Wanfang and PubMed databases by using the key words of“finite element model, biomechanic, foot structure”from 1999 to 2015. The language was limited to both Chinese and English. Establishment methods of finite element models of the foot structure containing obtaining of model establishment data, establishment of solid model, setting methods of properties of model materials. The application of finite element analysis of the foot structure in sports biomechanics and medical orthotics was summarized to point the characteristics and disadvantages of finite element analysis application in biomechanics. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:An increasing number of studies on foot biomechanics provide the platform for finite element analysis of the foot applied in biomechanical analysis. Many key technologies, including self-adaption image segmentation method, hexahedron grid product method and establishment of finite element models with various materials have to be utilized to converse the medical images into digital models of finite element analysis during establishment of finite element models. Results of model establishment may be affected by limitation conditions, accuracy of image col ection, calculation results of finite element analysis. The reliability of finite element models can be increased by modify technologies and verification methods.

Objective To explore and evaluate the method and feasibility of applying the contrast agent fluorescein sodium to enhance the efficiency of Cerenkov radiation energy transfer (CRET).Methods Fluorescein sodium was employed as the energy transfer receptor of 18 F-FDG Cerenkov radiation (CR) to achieve stronger signal.18F-FDG was mixed with fluorescein sodium of different concentrations:0.05,0.10,0.20,1.00,2.00,4.00,8.00 mmol/L.Optical signal strength was quantified by ROI analysis.The influence of fluorescein sodium concentration on CRET efficiency and the optimal concentration that could achieve most optical signal augmentation were studied.The optimal concentration of fluorescein sodium was mixed with 1.85-11.10 MBq 18F-FDG for CLI.Linear regression was performed to investigate the range of 18F-FDG dose with most optical signal augmentation and the influence of 18F-FDG dose on CRET efficiency.A tumorbearing nude mouse was imaged after intravenous injection of 18F-FDG and then imaged again after injection of fluorescein sodium post 18 F-FDG injection.These two sets of images were compared to evaluate the CRET efficiency in vivo.Results In vitro study showed that 1.00 mmol/L fluorescein sodium was the optimal concentration for 18F-FDG dose ranging from 1.85 MBq to 11.10 MBq.The signal from 18F-FDG mixed with fluorescein sodium was 3.7 times stronger than that from 18F-FDG alone.Experiment in vivo suggested that 18F-FDG mixed with fluorescein sodium could effectively enhance the signal strength by CRET.Conclusion 18F-FDG mixed with fluorescein sodium may improve the efficiency of CRET,therefore,can enhance the signal strength,reduce the exposure time and achieve better signal to noise ratio.

OBJECTIVEDeveloping a high-frequency ultrasonic skin imaging system to obtain the high resolution ultrasonic image of the skin. And further analyzing the ultrasonic images of skin to explore the imaging characteristics of skin structure and then explore the value of high-frequency imaging in the application of skin diagnosis.

METHODS50 MHz single element ultrasonic transducer, mechanic linear scanning method is used in the imaging system. The resolution and the ability of recognize the skin issue is verified by linear target scanning and clinical trials.

RESULTSBoth the axial and lateral resolution of the system reaches 50 microm. The subtle structure of normal skin tissue is clearly visible. Some diseases have obvious appearance in the image.

CONCLUSIONS50 MHz ultrasonic skin imaging system is of high resolution and is valuable to skin structure detect and disease diagnosis.

Objective Developing a high-frequency ultrasonic skin imaging system to obtain the high resolution ultrasonic image of the skin. And further analyzing the ultrasonic images of skin to explore the imaging characteristics of skin structure and then explore the value of high-frequency imaging in the application of skin diagnosis. Methods 50 MHz single element ultrasonic transducer, mechanic linear scanning method is used in the imaging system. The resolution and the ability of recognize the skin issue is verified by linear target scanning and clinical trials. Results Both the axial and lateral resolution of the system reaches 50 mm. The subtle structure of normal skin tissue is clearly visible. Some diseases have obvious appearance in the image. Conclusions 50 MHz ultrasonic skin imaging system is of high resolution and is valuable to skin structure detect and disease diagnosis.