[Evaluation of histological changes of retrodisc attached tissue in patients with temporomandibular disorders by texture analysis: a pilot study]

Objective: To evaluate the histological changes of the retrodiscal tissue in the patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Methods: Thirty-three TMD patients were performed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) MRI examinations from April 2018 to April 2020 in TMD clinic, Hainan Hospital of General Hospital of Chinese PLA. The patients groups were classified according to the disc position as follows: normal position (NP) (29 TMJ), disk displacement with reduction (DDwR) (14 TMJ) and disk displacement without reduction (DDwoR) (23 TMJ). The gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) analysis was applied with the retrodiscal tissue on the open oblique sagittal proton weighted images. The texture parameters included as follows: angular second moment (ASM), contrast, correlation, inverse difference moment (IDM) and entropy. The statistical methods mainly included Kruskal-Wallis H test, one-way analysis of variance and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), to analyze the texture characteristic parameters of the retrodiscal tissue are statistically significant. Results: There was no significant difference of the retrodiscal tissue's ASM, contrast, correlation and IDM among 3 groups (P>0.05). The entropy in NP group (3.98±0.44) and DDwR group (4.20±0.52) presented significant higher than that in DDwoR group (3.70±0.38) (P<0.05). ROC analysis for the entropy demonstrated that the area under the curve was 0.70 when differentiating NP and DDwR (cut-off value 0.38, sensitivity 82.61%, specificity 55.17%), and was 0.79 when differentiating DDwR and DDwoR (cut-off value 0.47, sensitivity 82.61%, specificity 64.29%). Conclusions: Texture entropy could be primarily used to evaluate the histological and pathological changes of the retrodiscal tissue in the TMD patients.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and prognosis in myocardial infarction patients with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). Methods: The data were obtained from consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2005 to October 2016. The coronary angiography (CAG) showed that the coronary artery of the AMI patients was normal or near normal (<50% stenosis). The general clinical conditions and prognosis were analyzed. Composite endpoints included all-cause death, myocardial reinfarction, and re-admission to hospital for angina. Results: There were 5 474 patients diagnosed with AMI undergoing CAG examination during this 11 years. Among them, 139 cases were with MINOCA (2.5%). The age of the patients with MINOCA was (55.8±12.2) years, and most of them were men (69.1%). Among them, 52.5% (73 cases) were with hypertension, 43.2% (60 cases) were smoker, 9.4% (13 cases) were with diabetes, respectively. There are a variety of causes, however, 64.0% (89 cases) patients were with unclear etiology. After 1 year followed-up, 3 cases (2.2%) suffered death, 3 cases (2.2%) were developed to nonfatal myocardial reinfarction and 8.6% (12 cases) were re-admitted to hospital for angina. Conclusions: The prevalence of MINOCA is relatively low. Hypertension and smoking are the main risk factors. Patients are relatively young and most of them are male.

Compiling Magnetosheath Statistical Data Sets Under Specific Solar Wind Conditions: Lessons Learnt From the Dayside Kinetic Southward IMF GEM Challenge

The Geospace Environmental Modelling (GEM) community offers a framework for collaborations between modelers, observers, and theoreticians in the form of regular challenges. In many cases, these challenges involve model-data comparisons to provide wider context to observations or validate model results. To perform meaningful comparisons, a statistical approach is often adopted, which requires the extraction of a large number of measurements from a specific region. However, in complex regions such as the magnetosheath, compiling these data can be difficult. Here, we provide the statistical context of compiling statistical data for the southward IMF GEM challenge initiated by the "Dayside Kinetic Processes in Global Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Interaction" focus group. It is shown that matching very specific upstream conditions can severely impact the statistical data if limits are imposed on several solar wind parameters. We suggest that future studies that wish to compare simulations and/or single events to statistical data should carefully consider at an early stage the availability of data in context with the upstream criteria. We also demonstrate the importance of how specific IMF conditions are defined, the chosen spacecraft, the region of interest, and how regions are identified automatically. The lessons learnt in this study are of wide context to many future studies as well as GEM challenges. The results also highlight the issue where a global statistical perspective has to be balanced with its relevance to more-extreme, less-frequent individual events, which is typically the case in the field of space weather.

Distinct clinical features and serum cytokine pattern of elderly atopic dermatitis in China

BACKGROUND

Elderly atopic dermatitis (AD) is a newly defined subtype of AD stratified by age-related clinical pictures.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the clinical features and molecular profile of elderly AD patients in China, comparing with infantile, childhood and adolescent/adult AD.

METHODS

A total of 1312 patients diagnosed by Hanifin and Rajka diagnostic criteria of AD from Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China, were divided into four groups by age (2-18, 19-40, 41-60 and >60 years), and clinical features were evaluated by questionnaire and physical examination. Serum total IgE, eosinophil counts and various cytokines were further analysed in some of the patients and healthy controls.

RESULTS

Elderly AD showed significantly higher male/female ratio and rural/urban ratio than other age groups, and more than half of elderly AD first appeared after 60 years old. Skin lesions of elderly AD were more often seen in the trunk and extensor sites of the extremities. Level of serum IgE and eosinophil counts were significantly lower in elderly AD than those in other age groups. Serum levels of IL-4, TARC, IL-17A, IL-6, IL-22, IL-33 and TSLP were significantly higher in elderly AD patients than those of healthy controls, indicating a mixed Th2/Th17/Th22 inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly AD demonstrated unique clinical characteristics compared with other age groups and showed mixed Th2/Th17/Th22 skewing, indicating a unique pathogenesis for elderly AD.

[Analysis of baseline liver biochemical parameters in 324 cases with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Shanghai area]

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics and liver biochemical parameters of 324 cases admitted with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Shanghai area. Methods: Clinical data and baseline liver biochemical parameters of 324 cases with novel coronavirus pneumonia admitted to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from January 20, 2020 to February 24, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the status of illness: mild type (mild and typical) and severe type (severe and critical).The differences in clinical data and baseline liver biochemical parameters of the two groups were described and compared. The t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used for measurement data. The enumeration data were expressed by frequency and rate, and chi-square test was used. Results: Of the 324 cases with novel coronavirus pneumonia, 26 were severe cases (8%), with median onset of 5 days, 20 cases were HBsAg positive (6.2%), and 70 cases (21.6%) with fatty liver, diagnosed with X-ray computed tomography. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBil), albumin(ALB) and international normalized ratio (INR) of 324 cases at baseline were 27.86 ± 20.02 U/L, 29.33 ± 21.02 U/L, 59.93 ± 18.96 U / L, 39.00 ± 54.44 U/L, 9.46 ± 4.58 μmol / L, 40.64 ± 4.13 g / L and 1.02 ± 0.10. Of which, ALT was > than the upper limit of normal (> ULN), accounting for 15.7% (51/324). ALT and AST > ULN, accounting for 10.5% (34/324). ALP > ULN, accounting for 1.2% (4/324). ALP and GGT > ULN, accounting for 0.9% (3/324). INR > ULN was lowest, accounting for 0.6% (2/324). There were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in ALT [(21.5 vs. 26) U / L, P = 0.093], ALP [(57 vs.59) U/L, P = 0.674], and GGT [(24 vs.28) U/L, P = 0.101] between the severe group and the mild group. There were statistically significant differences in AST (23 U/L vs. 34 U/L, P < 0.01), TBil (10.75 vs. 8.05 μmol / L, P < 0.01), ALB (35.79 ± 4.75 vs. 41.07 ± 3.80 g/L, P < 0.01), and INR (1.00 vs. 1.04, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The baseline liver biochemical parameters of 324 cases with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Shanghai area was comparatively lower and the liverinjury degree was mild, and the bile duct cell damage was rare.

Process optimization and the relationship between the reaction degree and the antioxidant activity of Maillard reaction products of chicken liver protein hydrolysates

The aim of this study was to optimize the protein hydrolysates from chicken liver with xylose under Maillard reaction (MR) conditions using response surface methodology. The correlation between the browning degree, grafting degree, and the antioxidant activities of the Maillard reaction products (MRPs) was investigated. The optimal reaction conditions were achieved with a reaction temperature of 138.78°C, an initial pH of 7.99, and a reaction time of 93.14 min. The grafting degree (41.98%) and browning degree (2.582) of chicken liver protein hydrolysate MRPs (CLPHM) were notably higher (P < 0.05) than those of protein MRPs (CLPM) and were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of sonicated hydrolysate MRPs (SCLPHM). The reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and hydroxyl radical scavenging of CLPM, CLPHM, and SCLPHM were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than those of the protein or hydrolysate substrates. The grafting degree and browning degree of CLPM, CLPHM, and SCLPHM had positive correlations with DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Hence, this study could enhance the added value of chicken liver by exhibiting the enhancements from ultrasound pretreatment and the MR. MRPs could have an effective and potential application in the food industry.

Big Data and Artificial Intelligence： New Insight into the Estimation of Postmortem Interval

Abstract

The estimation of postmortem interval （PMI） is a core issue in forensic practice. A large amount of time-dependent data can be produced in the decomposition process of a body, however, such multidimensional data cannot be comprehensively and effectively analyzed and utilized by any existing conventional PMI estimation method. As a rapidly developing information technology, artificial intelligence （AI） has significant advantages in big data processing, due to it's comprehensiveness, efficiency and automation. Some scholars have already applied it to researches on the estimation of PMI, showing it's significant advantages in terms of accuracy and development prospect. This article reviews the significance, mode and progress of application of AI in PMI estimation and provides some suggestions and prospects for future study.

2019_nCoV/SARS-CoV-2: rapid classification of betacoronaviruses and identification of Traditional Chinese Medicine as potential origin of zoonotic coronaviruses

The current outbreak of a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome‐like coronavirus, 2019_nCoV (now named SARS‐CoV‐2), illustrated difficulties in identifying a novel coronavirus and its natural host, as the coding sequences of various Betacoronavirus species can be highly diverse. By means of whole‐genome sequence comparisons, we demonstrate that the noncoding flanks of the viral genome can be used to correctly separate the recognized four betacoronavirus subspecies. The conservation would be sufficient to define target sequences that could, in theory, classify novel virus species into their subspecies. Only 253 upstream noncoding sequences of Sarbecovirus are sufficient to identify genetic similarities between species of this subgenus. Furthermore, it was investigated which bat species have commercial value in China, and would thus likely be handled for trading purposes. A number of coronavirus genomes have been published that were obtained from such bat species. These bats are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and their handling poses a potential risk to cause zoonotic coronavirus epidemics.

Significance and Impact of the Study

The noncoding upstream and downstream flanks of coronavirus genomes allow for rapid classification of novel Betacoronavirus species and correct identification of genetic relationships. Although bats are the likely natural host of 2019_nCoV, the exact bat species that serves as the natural host of the virus remains as yet unknown. Chinese bat species with commercial value were identified as natural reservoirs of coronaviruses and are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since their trading provides a potential risk for spreading zoonoses, a change in these practices is highly recommended.

Identification of factors associated with minimal erythema dose variations in a large-scale population study of 22 146 subjects

Background

Minimal erythema dose (MED) has substantial inter‐ and intraindividual variations, reflecting the influence of very diverse factors. However, related studies showed little consistency probably because of their limited sample size.

Objective

To identify the factors associated with MED variations in a large‐scale population study.

Methods

The MED test was performed by following the international standard procedure on 22 146 subjects. The results were analysed in adjusted multivariable linear and logistic regression models.

Results

This large‐scale study revealed that lower MED was consistently associated with lighter skin [β‐coefficient = −0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.36 to 0.30, P = 6.41 × 10⁻⁸⁴]. Females had significantly higher MED than male (β = 0.91, 0.32–1.50, P = 2.93 × 10⁻³). Stratified analyses showed that MED was not associated with age [female: odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, 0.98–1.01; male: OR = 0.99, 0.97–1.00]. MED was lower in summer than in other seasons (spring: OR = 1.08, 1.06–1.11; autumn: OR = 1.11, 1.08–1.13; winter: OR = 1.20, 1.18–1.22). Furthermore, MED was associated with air temperature (β = −0.36, −0.49 to 0.23, P = 4.81 × 10⁻⁸) and air pressure (β = −0.64, −0.82 to 0.46, P = 8.01 × 10⁻¹²) in summer only while not in other seasons.

Conclusions

This study provides unprecedented evidence that MED is associated with skin colour, sex, season and meteorological factors, but not with age.

Association between Statin Use and Physical Function among Older Chinese Inpatients with Type 2 Diabetes

PURPOSE

Multiple statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) risk factors usually coexist in a given older diabetic patient, but the association between statin use and physical function in older Asian persons with T2MD remains uncertain. The present study therefore sought to provide insight into this uncertainty through a focused assessment of statin-associated outcomes in Chinese diabetic adults.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

The study included 146 participants with T2MD in the Center of Gerontology and Geriatric, West China Hospital.

MEASUREMENTS

The participants received the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Statin use and other medical data for each patient were determined via assessment of the inpatient hospital information system. Assessments of physical functions included ADLs, IADLs and the Timed "Up and Go" (TUG) test. Multiple regression analyses were then performed in order to determine the relationship between statin utilization and physical function.

RESULTS

The average age of these 146 participants (32 women, 21.9%) was 80.00±5.60 years. At enrollment, 78 (53.4%) of the 146 patients were treated with statins. Among the statin users, 48.7% presented with a lack of TUG ability, which was significantly greater than in non-statin users (27.9%). However, the rates of IADL and ADL disabilities did not differ significantly between groups. In a multiple regression analyses, statin use was associated with a three-fold (95% CI 1.06, 9.51) increase in the risk of TUG inability, after adjusted all covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant association between statin use and TUG inability in older Chinese inpatients with diabetes.

CircRNA_0016418 expedites the progression of human skin melanoma via miR-625/YY1 axis

OBJECTIVE

Some circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been testified to play crucial roles in the regulation of skin melanoma, including circRNA_0016418 (circ0016418). However, the regulatory mechanism of circ0016418 in skin melanoma is undiscovered.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The RNA expression was examined through quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and associated-proteins levels were measured via Western blot. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used for detecting cell proliferation. Transwell assay was conducted to assess the abilities of migration and invasion. The target relation was analyzed by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

The levels of circ0016418 and Yin Yang 1 (YY1) were up-regulated in skin melanoma tissues and cells. Knockdown of both circ0016418 and YY1 had suppressive effects on proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of skin melanoma cells. YY1 overexpression reverted the inhibitory effects on skin melanoma cells caused by circ0016418 knockdown. Circ0016418 negatively modulated microRNA-625 (miR-625) expression and miR-625 directly targeted YY1. Circ0016418 functioned as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-625 to regulate YY1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Circ0016418 regulated proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of skin melanoma cells through miR-625/YY1 axis. Circ0016418 might be a useful indicator of the therapeutic strategies of skin melanoma.

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion, and promotes apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer Calu-3 cells

OBJECTIVE

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. The carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) are transition metal carbonyls with the capacity to release carbon monoxide (CO). The aims of our study were to assess the effects and underlying mechanisms of CO-releasing molecules-2 (CORM-2) on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis in NSCLC cells, and to evaluate its potential application for lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NSCLC cells Calu-3 were treated with CORM-2, negative control and blank control. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed by cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), scratch assay and matrigel invasion chamber experiment, respectively. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Real-time PCR and Western blot were applied to examine the expression of apoptosis-related molecules on mRNA and protein levels.

RESULTS

CORM-2 markedly attenuated proliferation, migration and invasion of Calu-3 cells. CORM-2 treatment also significantly reduced the ratio of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/B cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein (Bax) while increased expression of caspase-3 and cytochrome c. The optimal dose of CORM-2 for Calu-3 cells was 100 µM.

CONCLUSIONS

CORM-2 modulates biological functions of NSCLC cells and may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.

Geographical distribution of ozone seasonality over China

Up to now, a nation-wide scale study of surface ozone (O₃) concentrations in China was limited due to scarce observation. Thanks to the establishment of national air quality monitoring network in 2013, surface O₃ data from 1402 stations during 2014-2017 were collected to investigate O₃ seasonality. Our analysis reveals that the variations of monthly O₃ averaged from daily mean concentration during a year show different temporal profiles depending on latitude. A unimodal structure (UMS) is generally found for latitudes over 35°N, whereas a bimodal structure (BMS) is in most of the cases identified south of 35°N. The peak of UMS is found in the period of May to July, whereas the first and second peaks of BMS are found from April to June, and from July to October, respectively. In addition, the seasonality of O₃ presents a strong dependence on pseudo-equivalent potential temperature and monsoonal clouds. The onset and retreat of warm and wet air are correlated to the summer minimum in BMS cases and to the sharp decrease of UMS in July. As far as the relationships between O₃ and carbon monoxide are concerned, the effects of clean maritime air masses on the summer trough of O₃ are not significant for inland sites. Overall, summer monsoon bringing warm and moist air and subsequent clouds leads to the suppression of photochemical production, thereby contributing directly to the geographical distribution of O₃ seasonality.

[Mediating effect of resilience on nursing occupational risk and job performance in nurses]

Objective: To analyze Nursing Occupational Risk, the relationship between resilience and job performance, and investigate the mediating effects of resilience on Nursing Occupational Risk and job performance. Methods: 406 nurses from33 clinical departments of Chengdu first-class hospital were recruited by randomsampling method. Thier Nursing Occupational Risk, resilience and job performance were interviewed by nursing occupational risk assessment questionnaire, the Scale of medical staff resilience and the job performance questionnaire, and analyze the relationship between variables. Results: The clinical nurses＇ resilience is 82.98±10.05, the clinical nurses' job performance is 145.79±23.55; here was a positive correlation between clinical nurses' resilience and job performance (P<0.05) ; three variable of resilience can explain 33.2% of the variation of clinical nurses job performance; in the highest the Nursing Occupational risk, resilience served to mediate the relationship between Nursing Occupational Risk and job performance, which was 56.77% of the total effect respective. Conclusion: resilience are closely related to job performance. Resilience plays mediating role in the relationships between Nursing Occupational Risk and job performance, three dimensions of resilience can predict nurses' job performance. Improving the resilience of nurses can effectively improve their job performance.

[Outcome of children with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with Chinese Children Leukemia Group acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CCLG-ALL) 2008 protocol]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the Chinese Children's Leukemia Group (CCLG) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) 2008 protocol (CCLG-ALL 2008) in the treatment of children's T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Methods: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of 84 newly diagnosed T-ALL children (63 males and 21 females) treated with CCLG-ALL 2008 protocol from April 2008 to April 2015 in the Department of Pediatric Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were analyzed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS), and COX regression was used to evaluate the influencing factors of OS and EFS. Results: (1) Baseline data: 84 children were included, 56 cases (67%) of children were younger than 10 years old. Patients whose white blood cell count≥50×10(9)/L ranked 70% (59/84). Karyotype: 58% (49/84) with normal karyotype, 10% (8/84) with abnormality of chromosome 11, 8%(7/84) with abnormality of chromosome 9, 2%(2/84) with abnormality in both chromosome 11 and chromosome 9, 8% (7/84) with other complex karyotypes. Fusion gene: 33%(28/84) were SIL-TAL1 positive. The patients were grouped by CCLG-ALL 2008 risk score, 40% (34/84) were in the intermediate risk group and 60% (50/84) in the high risk group. (2) Treatment efficacy: 84 cases were followed up until May 30, 2018. The follow-up time was 42.0 (0.3-120.0) months. The sensitivity rate of prednisone treatment was 56% (47/84); the complete response (CR) rate after the induction therapy of vincristine+daunoblastina+L-asparaginase+dexamethasone (VDLD)(d 33) was 88% (74/84); the total CR rate after VDLD induction combined with cyclophosphamide+cytarabine+6-mercaptopurine (CAM) treatment (d80) was 94% (79/84); the recurrence rate was 24% (20/84). Among the 20 recurrent cases, there were 13 cases (65%) with ultra-early recurrence (within 18 months after diagnosis), 6 cases (30%) with early recurrence (18 to 36 months after diagnosis); 1 patient (5%) with late recurrence (over 36 months after diagnosis). During the follow-up period, twenty-eight children (33%) died (22 cases with recurrence or suspending treatment without remission, 2 cases with infection, 1 case of sudden death in chemotherapy, 1 patient failed in transplantation, 1 patient with severe cirrhosis, and 1 patient with unknown cause). (3) Kaplan-Meier analysis: the 5-year OS and EFS of the 84 children were (63±6)% and (60±6)% respectively. (4) Efficacy in different risk groups: prednisone sensitivity rates in the two different risk groups were 100% (34/34) and 26% (13/50), respectively (χ(2)=3.237, P<0.05). The CR rates at the end of VDLD induction therapy (d 33) were 100% (34/34) and 80% (40/50), respectively (χ(2)=2.767, P<0.05). The recurrence rate of children in the two groups was 12% (4/34) and 32% (16/50), respectively (χ(2)=4.245, P<0.05).The mortality rates of the two groups were 21% (7/34) and 42% (21/50), respectively (χ(2)=3.198, P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the 5-year OS of the two groups were (77±7)% and (53±8)%; and the 5-year EFS of the two groups were (75±8)% and (49±8)% (χ(2)=4.235, 3.875, both P<0.05) . (5) COX multivariate regression analysis showed that the classification of risk according to CCLG-ALL 2008 was an important factor influencing the prognosis of children with T-ALL (OR=3.313, 95% CI 1.165-9.422, P=0.025). Conclusions: The results of the risk group treatment according to the CCLG-ALL 2008 protocol showed that the long-term survival of children with middle risk was significantly better than that of children at high risk.

P6306Hyperlipidemia inhibits the protective effect of lisinopril after myocardial infarction via activation of dendritic cells

Background

In clinical situation, patients with myocardial infarction (MI) usually suffered from hyperlipidemia, hypertension, renal dysfunction or diabetes as well and the interaction of those risk factors may affect the effectiveness of ACEI. Dendritic cell (DC) is a potent central immunoregulator that orchestrates various types of inflammatory cells in innate and adoptive immunity. The role of DCs in the inflammation of cardiovascular disease is a hotspot of international research.

Purpose

To investigate the improvement of cardiac remodeling and inflammatory immune response after MI via ACEI regulating DCs and explore that whether the protective effect of ACEI is under the circumstance of hyperlipidemia.

Methods

In vivo, MI mice models were created via coronary artery ligation. We detected the survival and left ventricular function on day 7 after MI. Tissue samples of the myocardium, spleen, bone marrow and peripheral blood were obtained and assessed for Ang2 concentration, inflammatory cytokines and DCs expression via immunohistochemistry, ELISA, flow cytometry and western blot. In vitro, we treated DCs with ox-LDL+AngIIfor 48 hours simulating the internal environment of MI in ApoE−/− mice to explore the mechanism involved in the DCs maturation and inflammation.

Results

Under the circumstance of hyperlipidemia, the cardioprotective effect of ACEI is attenuated through regulating DCs maturation and inflammation after MI, including survival rate (Figure 1) and left ventricular function. The number of DCs in cardiac tissue were increased in MI mice with hyperlipidemia (Figure 2), when compared with the WT group. The expression of the maturity phenotype related molecules, such as CD83, on the DCs in spleen were also increased in the ApoE−/− mice. Then, the expressions of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α. In vitro, it was found that the immune maturation and inflammation of DCs could be further induced by ox-LDL on the basis of AngIItreatment, as indicated by the upregulation of CD83 and CD86, the expressions of cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, ox-LDL could activate the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) signaling pathway, promoting the phosphorylation of interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase (IRAK)-4 and the nuclear transferring of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB).

Conclusion

We proved ACEI reduces the recruitment of DCs to the infarct, leading to a higher survival rate and improved function and remodeling through decreased inflammation resulting from immune response after MI. However, this effect was inhibited under the circumstance of hyperlipidemia. TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway might be the possible molecular mechanism involved in the immune maturation and inflammation of DCs induced by ox-LDL on the basis of AngII.

Acknowledgement/Funding

the Youth fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant 81600280

Genetic Polymorphisms in FGFR2 Underlie Skeletal Malocclusion

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 ( FGFR2) in craniofacial bones mediates osteoprogenitor proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The distortion of proper craniofacial bone growth may cause class II and class III skeletal malocclusion and result in compromised function and aesthetics. Here, we investigated the association between variations in FGFR2 and skeletal malocclusions. First, 895 subjects were included in a 2-stage case-control study with independent populations (stage 1: n = 138 class I, 111 class II, and 81 class III; stage 2: n = 279 class I, 187 class II, and 99 class III). Eight candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FGFR2 were screened and validated. Five SNPs (rs2162540, rs2981578, rs1078806, rs11200014, and rs10736303) were found to be associated with skeletal malocclusions (all P < 0.05). That is, rs2162540 was significantly associated with skeletal class II malocclusion, while others were associated with skeletal class III malocclusion. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that the common genotypes of rs2981578 and rs10736303 contained the binding sites of RUNX2 and SMAD4. Compared with the common genotypes, the minor genotypes at these 2 SNPs decreased the binding affinity and enhancer effect of RUNX2 and SMAD4, as well the levels of FGFR2 expression. In addition, FGFR2 expression contributed positively to osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Thus, we identified FGFR2 as a skeletal malocclusion risk gene, and FGFR2 polymorphisms regulated its transcriptional expression and then osteogenic differentiation.

Gaseous pollutant exposure affects semen quality in central China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Limited studies have explored the association between gaseous pollutant exposures and male reproductive outcomes, and findings remained inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the potential association  between gaseous pollutants and semen quality within different exposure windows. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We adopted semen quality data of 1852 subjects who attended the Reproductive Medicine Center of Renmin Hospital at Wuhan University during January 1st, 2013, to August 3rd, 2015. A generalized linear model was employed to assess the relationship between each exposure variable and sperm parameters in different exposure windows.

RESULTS

SO₂ exposure with lag 0-90 days was significantly associated with decreased sperm concentration (β: -1.362; 95% CI: -1.844, -0.879), sperm count (β: -2.979; 95% CI: -4.267, -1.691), and PR (β: -0.551; 95% CI: -0.710, -0.393). Similar trends were observed for SO₂ exposure with three other key periods (lag 0-9, 10-14, and 70-90 days). NO₂ exposure with lag 0-90 days was also associated with decreased sperm concentration (β: -0.517; 95% CI: -1.006, -0.027), sperm count (β: -1.914; 95% CI: -3.214, -0.615), and PR (β: -0.264; 95% CI: -0.425, -0.102). No relationship between gaseous pollutant exposure and ejaculate volume was observed in any exposure window.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our study indicated a strong adverse effect of gaseous pollutants on semen quality outcomes during the sperm development. Gaseous pollution exposure appeared to be more detrimental in the initial phase of spermatogenesis.