Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Objective To determine the fetal facial angles at 11 －38 weeks of gestation by three‐dimensional ultrasound ( 3DUS) and analyze the correlation between facial angles and gestational age( GA ) . Methods From 2013 April to 2014 February ,439 singleton fetuses ranged 11－38 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study . T he details of mid‐sagittal plane of facial profile was confirmed with 3DUS . Four facial angels were measured in this plane ,including frontomaxillary facial angle ( FM F ) ,frontonasal angle ( FNA ) ,mandibulomaxillary facial angle( M M F) and maxilla‐nasion‐mandible angle( M NM ) . T he intra‐and interobserver reliability were calculated in first 30 cases ,intra‐class correlation coefficient( ICC) greater than 0 .75 indicated good reliability . Pearson′s correlation coefficient ( r ) ,curve estimation and polynomial regression models were used to evaluate the correlation of the fetal facial angles with GA . Results ICC of the same observer were 0 .968 ,0 .962 ,0 .974 and 0 .988 ,respectively . ICC of different observer were 0 .948 , 0 .905 ,0 .874 and 0 .889 ,respectively . T he fetal facial angles of FM F ,FNA ,M M F and M NM showed correlations with GA ( r ＝ －0 .369 ,0 .447 ,－0 .470 ,0 .386 ; all P ＝0 .000) . Using GA as the independent variable and the facial angles as the dependent variables , the best fit regressing equation was cubic polynomial :FM F＝135 .300－6 .473×GA+0 .235×GA2 －0 .003×GA3 ( R2 ＝0 .240 , P ＝0 .000 ) ;FNA＝58 .920+7 .452×GA －0 .274×GA2 －0 .003×GA3 ( R2 ＝0 .297 , P ＝0 .000 ) ;M M F＝132 .329 －5 .337× GA+0 .191× GA2 －0 .002× GA3 ( R2 ＝ 0 .304 , P ＝ 0 .000) ;M NM ＝ －24 .592+ 4 .653× GA －0 .173× GA2 + 0 .002 × GA3 ( R2 ＝ 0 .413 , P ＝ 0 .000 ) . Conclusions The development of fetal facial angles are related to GA . T he growing patterns of fetal facial angles fit with a cubic polynomial function .

Objective To establish a new method to measure the elastic modulus of living circulating tumor cells (CTCs) by micropipette aspiration. Methods Living CTCs were enriched by commercial microfluidic chips and identified individually using EpCAM antibody under fluorescence microscope. The elastic modulus of CTCs was measured using micropipette aspiration and compared with cancer cell lines. Results For the elastic modulus of different cancer cell lines, heterogeneity was found not only between the different types of cancer cell lines but also inside the same cell line. The CTCs in breast cancer had a smaller elasticity modulus compared with MCF-7 cancer cell line. Conclusions This method can measure the elastic modulus of living CTCs, which provides cell mechanics data for studying the relationship between physical properties of CTCs and diagnosis of cancers, as well as developing the physical biomarkers of tumor cells.

Objective: To explore the value of prenatal ultrasound in diagnosis of congenital dacryocystocele. Methods: The ultrasonographic features of 16 fetuses with congenital dacryocystocele were retrospectively reviewed and the outcome of pregnancy were followed up. Results: The median gestational week detected with prenatal ultrasound was 30.29 weeks, the mean diameter was (8.96±1.96)mm. Congenital dacryocystoceles were unilateral in 12 fetuses and bilateral in 4 fetuses, 10 were female and 6 were male. The typical ultrasonic feature was anechoic cystic mass with clear boundary in relation to the medial and inferior aspects of the fetal orbit. The dacryocystocele resolved spontaneously prenatally in 5 fetuses, resolved spontaneously after delivery in 10 fetuses. One fetus died in caesarean section due to complete placenta previa. Conclusions Congenital dacryocystitis has its characteristic ultrasonographic features, and most cases can disappear naturally in prenatal or early newborns.

Objective · To prepare the liposomal pemetrexed and investigate its effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro and nude mice bearing MCF-7 xenograft tumors. Methods · Liposomal pemetrexed was prepared by film dispersion method. Inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines was evaluated by CCK-8 method, and anti-tumor effects were investigated on Balb/c nude mice bearing MCF-7 xenograft tumors. Results · Liposomal pemetrexed inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells. When the concentrations of pemetrexed were 0.20, 0.40 and 10.00 μg/mL, the cell viability in experiment group (liposomal pemetrexed) was significantly lower than that in control group (pemetrexed of same concentration gradient), with P values of 0.013, 0.035 and 0.041, respectively. Compared with blank group (same volume of PBS), the volumes and weights of tumors of nude mice in experiment group(liposomal pemetrexed) and control group (same volume of pemetrexed) were significantly lower, and the volume and weight of tumor in experiment group were also significantly lower than those in control group (P=0.000). Conclusion · Compared to bulk drug of pemetrexed, liposomal pemetrexed can inhibit the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and the Balb/c nude mice bearing MCF-7 xenograft tumors.

Objective To evaluate the fetal profile (FP) line with two-dimensional and three dimensional ultrasound, to explore the changes of fetal facial profile with gestational age,and to analyze the manifestation of FP line for abnormal chromosomal fetuses. Methods FP line, which was defined as the line that passes through the anterior border of mandible and the nasion, was test on the facial mid-sagittal plane. Firstly, from April 2013 to January 2014, FP line was analyzed in 439 normal fetuses of Peking Union Medical College Hospital at 11-38 weeks of gestation. According to the relationship between FP line and fetal frontal bone,it was divided into three types: the FP line passed anteriorly, across or posteriorly to the frontal bone, respectively. When the FP line passed posteriorly to the frontal bone, the distance (F distance) between the FP line with the frontal bone was measured. Secondly, 26 pathological fetuses (21 trisomy 21 fetuses with 13-33 weeks' gestation and 5 trisomy 18 fetuses with 21-31 weeks' gestation) were analyzed respectively. Results No cases with a FP line passed anteriorly to the frontal bone were found in all of normal fetuses. Most commonly seen was that FP line passed across to the frontal bone (92.26%). The FP line passed posteriorly to the frontal bone in up to 7.74%, and the mean F distance was 0.24 cm (range, 0.10-0.51 cm). In 21 fetuses of trisomy 21, 14 cases showed the FP line passed across to frontal bone, and 4 cases showed the FP line passed posteriorly frontal bone with the F distance from 0.23 cm to 0.55 cm. Three cases with sloping forehead with FP line passed anteriroly to frontal bone. As to 5 cases of trisomy 18, 2 cases showed FP line passed across to frontal bone, and 3 cases with micrognathia had FP line passed anteriroly to frontal bone. Conclusions No cases with a FP line passed anteriorly to the frontal bone were found in normal fetuses. The FP line, as a reference line for forehead and mandible abnormality, may be a useful tool to detect second trimester profile abnormalities such as sloping forehead and retrognathia.