ObjectiveTo investigate the trends in diabetes mortality and potential years of life lost (PYLL) among residents of Huangpu District, Shanghai from 1993 to 2021, to analyze the long-term trends of diabetic patients with different characteristics and to provide a reference for scientific prevention and control of diabetes in aging urban areas. MethodsDiabetes mortality data were obtained from the Huangpu District cause of death registration records in the Shanghai death cause registration system. Indicators such as crude mortality rate, standardized mortality rate, potential years of life lost (PYLL), average years of life lost (AYLL), annual percentage change (APC), and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were used to analyze diabetes-related mortality and life loss. Statistical analyses were performed using software SPSS 21.0 and Joinpoint 5.0.2. ResultsFrom 1993 to 2021, the average annual crude mortality rate of diabetes in Huangpu District was 46.56/100 000, and the average annual standardized mortality rate was 20.44/100 000. The crude mortality rate and standardized mortality rate of diabetes for female residents were higher than those for males. The crude mortality rate showed an overall increasing trend [AAPC=2.81% (95%CI: 0.20%‒5.49%), P<0.05], while the increase in standardized mortality rate significantly slowed [AAPC=0.15% (95%CI: -2.27%‒2.63%)], P<0.05]. The mortality rate rose rapidly in the 70‒74 years age group and peaked in the 85‒ years age group (607.69/100 000). Diabetes accounted for a cumulative PYLL of22 741 person-years, with an average annual AYLL of 1.88 years and an average annual potential years of life lost rate (PYLLR) of 0.82‰. Male residents had higher PYLL, AYLL, and PYLLR than females. ConclusionDiabetes mortality rates in Huangpu District have increased year by year, resulting in significant life loss. However, the age-standardized mortality rate increase has markedly slowed. Efforts should focus on elderly diabetic patients aged ≥70 years, by leveraging platforms such as community-based chronic disease health support centers, efforts should be made to enhance diabetes screening service for middle-aged and elderly residents. Consequently, elderly diabetic patients’ awareness of diabetes and responce to related complications is improved, which would be conducive to controling the progression of complications and reducing the mortolity risk of diabetes.

Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

Background: Clinical dexamethasone (DEX) treatment or stress in bovines results in extensive physiological changes with prominent hyperglycemia and neutrophils dysfunction. Objectives: To elucidate the effects of DEX treatment in vivo on cellular energy status and the underlying mechanism in circulating neutrophils. Methods: We selected eight-month-old male bovines and injected DEX for 3 consecutive days (1 time/d). The levels of glucose, total protein (TP), total cholesterol (TC), and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in blood were examined, and we then detected glycogen and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, phosphofructosekinase-1 (PFK1) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity, glucose transporter (GLUT)1, GLUT4, sodium/glucose cotransporter (SGLT)1 and citrate synthase (CS) protein expression and autophagy levels in circulating neutrophils. Results: DEX injection markedly increased blood glucose, TP and TC levels, the Ca 2+ /P 5+ ratio and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and significantly decreased blood IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Particularly in neutrophils, DEX injection inhibited p65-NFκB activation and elevated glycogen and ATP contents and SGLT1, GLUT1 and GR expression while inhibiting PFK1 activity, enhancing G6PDH activity and CS expression and lowering cell autophagy levels. Conclusions DEX induced neutrophils glucose uptake by enhancing SGLT1 and GLUT1 expression and the transformation of energy metabolism from glycolysis to pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)-tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. This finding gives us a new perspective on deeper understanding of clinical anti-inflammatory effects of DEX on bovine.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of procalcitonin (PCT) in predicting mortality of patients with acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP).Methods:The clinical data of 196 ABP patients admitted in the emergency department of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical College from January 2013 to June 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The enrolled patients were divided into survival group ( n=176) and death group ( n=20) according to clinical outcome, and their clinical characteristics, laboratory results(including WBC, CRP, PCT), APACHEⅡ score, BISAP score, modified Marshall score, SOFA score and CTSI at admission were compared between two groups. The ROC curve and AUC were used to evaluate the effectiveness of PCT and multiple scoring systems in predicting mortality in ABP patients, and the Delong test was used to compare the predictive efficacy of various methods at 1-2 d, 3-4 d, and 5-7 d days after onset. Results:The PCT level, APACHEⅡ score, BISAP score, modified Marshall score, SOFA score, and CTSI of patients in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group [6.98(3.12, 13.64) μg/L vs 0.55(0.17, 1.74) μg/L, 12.00(6.00, 18.75) vs 6.00(3.00, 9.00), 3.20±1.47 vs 1.59±1.05, 2.85±0.37 vs 1.96±0.64, 5.50(4.00, 9.50) vs 2.00(1.00, 4.25), 5.05±2.33 vs 3.39±1.74], and all the differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). The AUC of PCT for predicting death was 0.881 (95% CI 0.820-0.938)and the cut-off value was 2.44. The predictive value of PCT was similar to that of the modified Marshall score, BISAP score and SOFA score, but higher than that of APACHEⅡ score and CTSI (all P values <0.05). The predictive AUC of PCT at 3-4 days after onset was higher than that of modified Marshall score, BISAP score and SOFA score, and were significantly higher than those at 1-2 days after onset. Conclusions:PCT can be used to predict the mortality of ABP within 7 days of onset. The predictive value of PCT was comparable to the modified Marshall score, BISAP score and SOFA score, and the best predictive time was 3-4 days after onset.

Objective:To detect the expression level of RAB39B gene and the effect of RAB39B on autophagy and α-synuclein, and then investigate the role of RAB39B gene mutation c.536dupA in the pathogenesis of Parkinson′s disease.Methods:Based on the novel RAB39B gene c.536 dupamutation identified in the previous work, the recombinant expression plasmid (pcDNA3.1-HA-RAB39B-536) of RAB39B gene with this mutation and wild-type recombinant expression plasmid (pcDNA3.1-HA-RAB39B) of RAB39B gene were constructed, and the recombinant expression plasmid was transfected into N2a cells with liposome as experimental group. The control group was made up with N2a cells transfected with plasmid pcDNA3.1-HA-RAB39B. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation techniques were used to detect the expression level of mutant RAB39B gene and the effects of RAB39B on autophagy and α-synuclein.Results:In the N2a cell model, the transcription level of mutant RAB39B was about twice that of wild type RAB39B, while the protein level of mutant RAB39B (0.30±0.00) was significantly lower than that of wild type (1.50±0.25, t=8.313, P<0.05). After adding proteasome inhibitor MG132, the protein level of mutant RAB39B increased (0.70±0.10, t=6.925, P<0.05); the level of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 BⅡ/Ⅰ of mutant RAB39B (3.11±0.30) was significantly lower than that of wild type (7.03±0.20, t=18.831, P<0.05); overexpression of wild type and mutant RAB39B did not affect the level of endogenous α-synuclein; overexpression of wild-type RAB39B resulted in elevated level of exogenous wild-type (p.A53T; from 0.60±0.11 to 1.25±0.08, t=8.254, P<0.05) and mutant (from 0.55±0.08 to 1.15±0.08, t=9.293, P<0.05) α-synuclein. Conclusions:The stability of the RAB39B protein decreased with the appearance of c.536 dupA mutation, the mutant protein may be degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, and this mutation may affect the autophagy level of cells. RAB39B protein may interact with α-synuclein in vivo and may be involved in the maintenance of the stable level of α-synuclein.

Objective:To report the clinical, electrophysiological and genetic features in a Chinese family with distal hereditary motor neuropathy type V (dHMN-V) and screen the pathogenic mutant gene.Methods:A family with the history of inherited peripheral neuropathy was recruited in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in July 2017. The clinical features and electrophysiological data were investigated. Genetic testing on well-established genes associated with hereditary peripheral neuropathy was conducted by targeted high throughput sequencing and the candidate variant was screened in the family and normal controls.Results:There were four affected individuals in the family. The proband, a 25-year-old male, was characterized by weakness and atrophy in the distal extremities primarily affected the upper extremities without sensory impairment. Electrophysiological study showed chronic neurogenic pattern in the upper and lower limb muscles. The motor conduction showed reduced velocity and compound muscle action potential amplitude, while the sensory conduction studies results were normal. The grandfather, a maternal uncle and a cousin of the proband exhibited similar clinical manifestations and electrophysiological abnormality. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous mutation, c.880G>A(p.G294R), in the GARS gene in the proband. Proband′s mother and two other affected individuals carried the mutation which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The mutation site was not found in the unaffected members from the family and 300 unrelated normal controls. The variant is a novel mutation which has not been reported in dbSNP, ExAC and 1000 Genomes Project databases. Conclusion:The results suggest that the novel c.880G>A(p.G294R) mutation of the GARS gene is responsible for the Chinese patients with dHMN-V, and the findings broaden the mutational spectrum of GARS gene.

Objective To assess the predictive effect of myocardial injury biomarkers (proBNP, CK-MB, and cTnI) on the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods The records of 246 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis who were treated at Ruijin Hospital Emergency Department from January 2015 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the revised 2012 Atlanta guidelines, these patients were divided into the mild acute pancreatitis (MAP, n=47), moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP, n=151) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP, n=48) groups. The highest plasma levels of troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase (CK)-MB, N-terminal B-type brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) were recorded for comparison within 72 h after admission. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ ) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) and Balthazar computed tomography severity index (CTSI) were calculated at admission within 72 h. Whether there is an occurrence of organ dysfunction, and the organ types and persist time of organ dysfunction were recorded. The analysis of variance, SNK-q test and paired samples t test were used for the statistical analysis. Results The levels of proBNP, CK-MB, and cTnI were significantly higher in the SAP group than in the non-SAP group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated cTnI had the maximum predictive power (AUC=0.872), while proBNP had the least predictive ability (AUC=0.763). The established model, which is to explore whether the myocardial injury markers had the predictive value, showed that the combination of myocardial injury indicators (CK-MB, cTnI) and traditional indicators had higher predictive value for SAP than traditional indicators alone (AUC=0.966 vs. AUC=0.945, P=0.04). Conclusions The elevated markers of myocardial injury had certain predictive value for severe acute pancreatitis.

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and genetic mutations in 3 pedigrees with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP).Methods Three pedigrees diagnosed as having HSP in our hospital from January 2014 to November 2015,were chosen;the clinical manifestations,electrophysiology and imaging features of the patients in these three families were analyzed.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood,and the targeted gene capturing was employed to identify the disease-causing genes of these patients.Results The patients from the first family was familiar HSP,and the main clinical features were progressive lower limbs weakness and abnormal gait without cognitive impairment;the patients from the second family were familiar HSP and those from the third family were HSP without family history,and the main clinical features of the two pedigrees were slowly progressive spastic paraplegia and cognitive impairment.In addition,thin corpus callosum was visible in MR imaging of family three.Genetic testing showed the first family presented with a known mutation c.715C＞T ofA TL1 exon 7 and the loci co-segregated in the family.The second family presented with novel compound heterozygous mutations in the SPG11 gene:c.3099_3103delGTTTG mutation of exon 17and c3817 3818insTGA mutation of exon 22;novel compound heterozygous mutations in the SPG11 gene in the third family were detected as follows:c.6194C ＞G mutation of exon 32 and c.5121+1C＞T splicing mutation ofintro 29.Conclusions Four novel mutations in SPG11 gene and one known mutation in A TL1 gene are found,which enriches the known HSP mutation types.Targeted gene capture is an efficient and rapid tool for identifying the causation of some complex and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective Acquiring genetic information of Y-SNPs and Y-STRs genetic makers from samples with the surname of Kong, which is useful for exploring the correlation between surname and Y chromosome in forensic applications studies.Methods Two multiplex genotyping assays and SNaPshot assay were used to analyze 255 unrelated male blood samples who share the same surname Kong and 330 unrelated male blood samples obtained randomly. 17 Y-STRs were typed for the surname Kong population samples. The software Arlequin 3.5.1.2 and the program Network 4.6.1.1 were used for data statistical analysis.Results 13 haplogroups were observed. The highest haplogroup frequency in the two populations were O3a2c1a-M117 (21.57%, 14.85%). 196 haplotypes in Kong population deifned by 17 Y-STRs locus were obtained and the haplotype diversity was 0.9939. 14-12-25-28-19-15-12-19-12-11-12-22-12-11-14-10-19 is the typical haplotype. Median Joining algorithm and Mismatch Distribution were adopted to analyze the Y-STR haplotye under haplogroup O3-M122, and the result shows that there are two “central star” distribution. Conclusion Combined with Y-SNP and Y-STR analysis showed that the Kong population had experienced complicated exchanges and expansion or continued growth, which has more than one surname origin. Hence, its population genetic structure and historical differences have potential applications in forensic science.