Objective To investigate the association between the index finger and ring finger length ratio (2D ∶ 4D) and of four loci (rs6461992‚ rs6968828‚ rs7801581‚ rs17427875) polymorphism of homeobox (HOX) A11 gene among Ningxia college students. Methods Digit camera was used to collect frontal hand photos of 667 Han college students (348 males and 319 females) from Ningxia province; Image analysis software was used to mark the anatomical points and measure finger lengths of the index and ring fingers of both hands; multiplex PCR was used to detect each locus polymorphisms of HOXA11 gene; statistical software was used to compare and analyze the differences and associations of 2D ∶4D and gene polymorphisms between different genders. Results Among Ningxia Han college students‚ both left hand and right hand 2D ∶ 4D were significantly higher in females than those of in males (all P< 0. 05)‚ and there were no significant sex differences in right-left hand 2D ∶4D; the genotypes and allele frequencies of rs7801581 locus of HOXA11 gene differed significantly between genders (all P < 0. 05)‚ and none of the other locus polymorphisms showed any significant sex differences; only female left hand 2D ∶4D was significantly associated with rs6461992 locus genotype in the relationship between 2D ∶4D and HOXA11 polymorphisms (P<0. 05). Conclusion There were significant sex differences in 2D ∶ 4D among Han college students in Ningxia‚ and the rs6461992 locus polymorphism of HOXA11 gene may be associated with the formation of 2D ∶4D in females.

Objective To investigate the association of 13 single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)sites in 6 phalange-bone development related genes[fibroblast growth factor receptor 2(FGFR2),indian hedgehog signaling molecule(IHH),Msh homeobox 1(MSX1),Runx family transcription factor 2(RUNX2),SRY-box transcription factor 9(SOX9),Wnt family member 5A(WNT5A)]with human index-ring finger length ratio(2D∶4D).Methods Digital cameras were used to take frontal photographs of the hands of 731 college students(358 males and 373 females)in Ningxia,and image analysis software was used to mark anatomical points and measure finger lengths of index(2th)and ring(4th);genotyping of 13 SNP sites(rs1047057,rs755793,rs41258305,rs3731881,rs3100776,rs12532,rs3821949,rs45585135,rs3749863,rs1042667,rs12601701,rs1829556,rs3732750)for 6 genes by multiplex PCR;One-Way ANOVA or independent sample t-test indirectly assessed the association between 2D∶4D and 13 SNP sites.Results Both left and right hand 2D∶4D were significantly higher in females than males in Ningxia college students(all P<0.01);no statistically significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of the 13 SNP sites among different sexes(all P>0.05);among different sexes,male left hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the genotype of SOX9 gene rs12601701 site(P<0.05)and right hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the genotype of WNT5A gene rs1829556 site(P<0.05);the female right hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the MSX1 gene rs12532(P<0.01)and rs3821949(P<0.05)sites genotypes.Conclusion SOX9(rs12601701),WNT5A(rs1829556)and MSX1(rs12532 and rs3821949)gene polymorphisms may be associated with the formation of 2D∶4D in Ningxia population.

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: Abnormal type I collagen (COL1) expression is associated with the development of many cardiovascular diseases. The TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway and circRNAs have been shown to regulate COL1 gene expression, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not fully understood. METHODS: Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were prformed to study the effect of circZBTB46 on the expression of alpha 2 chain of type I collagen (COL1A2). Co-immunoprecipitation assay was performed to observe the interaction between two proteins. RNA immunoprecipitation assay and biotin pull-down assay were performed to observe the interaction of circZBTB46 with PDLIM5. RESULTS: In this study, we investigated the role of circZBTB46 in regulating COL1A2 expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We found that circZBTB46 is expressed in VSMCs and that TGF-beta inhibits circZBTB46 formation by downregulating KLF4 expression through activation of the Smad signaling pathway. CircZBTB46 inhibits the expression of COL1A2 induced by TGF-beta. Mechanistically, circZBTB46 mediates the interaction between Smad2 and PDLIM5, resulting in the inhibition of Smad signaling and the subsequent downregulation of COL1A2 expression. Furthermore, we found that the expression of TGF-beta and COL1A2 is decreased, while circZBTB46 expression is increased in human abdominal aortic aneurysm tissues, indicating that circZBTB46-mediated regulation of TGF-beta/Smad signaling and COL1A2 synthesis in VSMCs plays a crucial role in vascular homeostasis and aneurysm development. CONCLUSIONS CircZBTB46 was identified as a novel inhibitor of COL1 synthesis in VSMCs, highlighting the importance of circZBTB46 and PDLIM5 in regulating TGF-beta/Smad signaling and COL1A2 expression.

OBJECTIVE: To derive the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome classification and subgroup syndrome characteristics of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: By extracting the CM clinical electronic medical records (EMRs) of 7,170 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke from 2016 to 2018 at Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Province, China, a patient similarity network (PSN) was constructed based on the symptomatic phenotype of the patients. Thereafter the efficient community detection method BGLL was used to identify subgroups of patients. Finally, subgroups with a large number of cases were selected to analyze the specific manifestations of clinical symptoms and CM syndromes in each subgroup. RESULTS: Seven main subgroups of patients with specific symptom characteristics were identified, including M3, M2, M1, M5, M0, M29 and M4. M3 and M0 subgroups had prominent posterior circulatory symptoms, while M3 was associated with autonomic disorders, and M4 manifested as anxiety; M2 and M4 had motor and motor coordination disorders; M1 had sensory disorders; M5 had more obvious lung infections; M29 had a disorder of consciousness. The specificity of CM syndromes of each subgroup was as follows. M3, M2, M1, M0, M29 and M4 all had the same syndrome as wind phlegm pattern; M3 and M0 both showed hyperactivity of Gan (Liver) yang pattern; M2 and M29 had similar syndromes, which corresponded to intertwined phlegm and blood stasis pattern and phlegm-stasis obstructing meridians pattern, respectively. The manifestations of CM syndromes often appeared in a combination of 2 or more syndrome elements. The most common combination of these 7 subgroups was wind-phlegm. The 7 subgroups of CM syndrome elements were specifically manifested as pathogenic wind, pathogenic phlegm, and deficiency pathogens. CONCLUSIONS There were 7 main symptom similarity-based subgroups in ischemic stroke patients, and their specific characteristics were obvious. The main syndromes were wind phlegm pattern and hyperactivity of Gan yang pattern.
Humans ; Syndrome ; Ischemic Stroke ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Liver ; Phenotype

Objective: To explore the application of up-conversing phosphor technology (UPT) to detect pathogenic organisms in the air. Methods: The performance of UPT was verified with Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia pestis and Escherichia coli O157 as simulated strains, including stability, specificity, sensitivity and response time tests; Air particle sampler is used to collect air samples in the field microenvironment test chamber, and UPT is used for detection. At the same time, compared with the traditional culture method, the practicability of UPT is verified. Results: The coefficient of variation in laboratory was 9.62% and 8.02% when the concentration of 10⁷ CFU/ml and 10⁸ CFU/ml were detected by UPT. The results were less than the allowable target, and the detection system had good stability. The specificity of UPT was verified by Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that no non-Staphylococcus aureus was detected, and the positive detection rate of different kinds of Staphylococcus aureus was 100%. The specificity of the detection system was good. The sensitivity of UPT for detecting Staphylococcus aureus was 10⁴ CFU/ml. Detection sensitivity of Yersinia pestis ≥10³ CFU/ml; The detection sensitivity of Escherichia coli O157 is ≥10³ CFU/ml, and the response time of UPT to bacteria is within 15 min (all 10 min 15 s). The detection results of bacteria contentration in the air of the on-site microenvironment test cabin by UPT showed that when the concentration of Escherichia coli O157 in the air reached above 10⁴ CFU/m³, the detection results of UPT were positive, and with the increase of air concentration, the numerical concentration measured by UPT showed an upward trend, which was positively correlated with the concentration of bacteria in the air. Conclusion: UPT may be feasible as a rapid method to evaluate the species and contentration of pathogenic organisms in the air.
Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technology

We aim to evaluate prostate health index as an additional risk-stratification tool in patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. Men with biochemical or clinical suspicion of having prostate cancer who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in two tertiary centers (Queen Mary Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, China) between January 2017 and June 2022 were included. Ultrasound-magnetic resonance imaging fusion biopsies were performed after prostate health index testing. Those who only had Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions were further stratified into four prostate health index risk groups and the cancer detection rates were analyzed. Out of the 747 patients, 47.3% had Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions only. The detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer in this group was 15.0%. The cancer detection rates of clinically significant prostate cancer had statistically significant differences: 5.3% in prostate health index <25.0, 7.4% in prostate health index 25.0-34.9, 17.9% in prostate health index 35.0-54.9, and 52.6% in prostate health index ≥55.0 (P < 0.01). Among the patients, 26.9% could have avoided a biopsy with a prostate health index <25.0, at the expense of a 5.3% risk of missing clinically significant prostate cancer. Prostate health index could be used as an additional risk stratification tool for patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions. Biopsies could be avoided in patients with low prostate health index, with a small risk of missing clinically significant prostate cancer.

Objective To investigate the relationship between digit ratio and schizophrenia in men from Ningxia Han nationality. Methods Using anthropometry, digital camera was used to obtain finger photographs of both hands of 216 male subjects (nonnal control; 116, schizophrenia patient; 100). The anatomical points were marked and the length of each finger of both hands were measured by computer image analysis software (Image-Pro Plus 6 . 0 ) . Differences of the mean digit ratio of left and right hand 2D:3D, 2D:4D, 2D:5D, 3D:4D, 3D:5D, 4D:5D between the control group and the patient group were compared. The correlation between 2D :4D and onset age in the patient group were analyzed. Results Except for left and right hand 3D :4D, digit ratios in patient group were significantly higher than those in control group (2D :4D and 3D :5D in both hands, right hand 3D :5D, p all<0. 001; 2D :3D and 4D :5D, left hand 3D :5D, P<0. 0 1 ) . Compared with the control group (left hand; 1%, right hand; 1%) , the percentage of 2D:4D Ss 1 were significantly higher ( P<0. 05) in the patient group (left hand; 6% , right hand; 7%). There were no conelations between 2D :4D mean value and onset age in patients group (P>0. 05). Conclusion Digit ratio is related to the occurrence of schizophrenia in Ningxia Han male.

Objective To investigate the association between 8 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) gene family and human digit ratio (2D ∶ 4D). Methods Randomly selected 808 college students (400 males and 408 females) as subjects, the digit ratio of left and right fingers were measured and calculated using computer image software. Eight SNPs (rs1000283, rs2236903, rs5479, rs56303414, rs676387, rs4445895, rs2066474, rs8190478) in HSD11B and HSD17B gene families were genotyped by multiplex PCR. The association between 2D ∶4D and different genotypes was analyzed by One-Way ANOVA. Results Female left hand(L)2D ∶ 3D, L2D ∶4D, L3D ∶4D, right hand(R)2D ∶4D, R2D ∶5D were significantly higher than male (P<0. 05). The genotype frequency of rs2236903 (HSD11B1) was significantly different between male and female (P < 0. 05). A good linkage disequilibrium was found between rs1000283and rs2236903 of HSD11B1 gene, rs5479 and rs56303414 of HSD11B2 gene, but there was no statistical difference in frequency between male and female students(P>0. 05). The genotypes frequency of the 8 SNPs were not significantly associated with digit ratio (2D ∶4D) in both males and females (P>0. 05). Conclusion There are significant gender differences in digit ratio in Ningxia Han college students, but there is no correlation between digit ratio and 8 SNPs in HSD11B and HSD17B gene families, suggesting that HSD11B and HSD17B gene families may have nothing to do with the formation of human digit ratio.

Objective:To compare ocular surface dry eye-related indexes and tear cytokine level changes in chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) patients after receiving topical treatment of 0.05% cyclosporine or 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted.A total of 60 chronic oGVHD patients (60 eyes) were recruited at Beijing University Third Hospital from April 2020 to April 2021.The patients were divided into tacrolimus group and cyclosporine group by a random number table, with 30 patients (30 eyes) in each group.Patients in tacrolimus group used 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops (twice a day) and patients in cyclosporine group used 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops (4 times a day).Additionally, 0.1% flumetholon (twice a day), deproteinized calf blood extract (3 times a day), and 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops (8 times a day) were applied for anti-inflammation and lubrication in both groups.Patients were screened according to exclusion criteria after 1-month treatment.Eventually, 21 patients (21 eyes) in tacrolimus group and 12 patients (12 eyes) in cyclosporine group were included for further study.Patients were examined before and 1 month after treatment.The primary evaluation indexes included Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), corneal fluorescein staining scores and tear film break-up time (BUT).Expressions of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-17, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in tears were detected before and after treatment using Luminex chip.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Peking University Third Hospital (No.M2020489).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any medical examination.Results:The OSDI differences between before and after treatment were 0.4(-5.6, 2.5) in tacrolimus group and 27.2(4.6, 45.0) in cyclosporine group, and the OSDI improvement was significantly greater in cyclosporine group than in tacrolimus group ( Z=-2.547, P=0.009).The differences of corneal fluorescein staining scores and BUT between before and after treatment were 5.0(2.5, 10.0) scores and 3.5(-0.5, 13.8) seconds in tacrolimus group, 0.0(-3.0, 0.0) scores and -1.5(-3.0, 0.0) seconds in cyclosporine group, respectively, with no significantly difference between both groups ( Z=-0.526, -0.804; both at P>0.05).The differences of IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, EGF and TNF-α expressions between before and after treatment in tacrolimus group and cyclosporine group were not significantly different ( Z=-0.487, -0.112, -0.412, -1.085, -1.198; all at P>0.05). Conclusions:Altered levels of all tested cytokines in oGVHD tears are of no significant differences between tacrolimus and cyclos porine treatment.In addition, 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops may be more comfortable than 1% tacrolimus for chronic oGVHD patients.