The Chinese National Twin Registry: a ‘gold mine’ for scientific research

The Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) currently includes data from 61 566 twin pair from 11 provinces or cities in China. Of these, 31 705, 15 060 and 13 531 pairs are monozygotic, same‐sex dizygotic and opposite‐sex dizygotic pairs, respectively, determined by opposite sex or intrapair similarity. Since its establishment in 2001, the CNTR has provided an important resource for analysing genetic and environmental influences on chronic diseases especially cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the CNTR has focused on collecting biologic specimens from disease‐concordant or disease‐discordant twin pairs or from twin pairs reared apart. More than 8000 pairs of these twins have been registered, and blood samples have been collected from more than 1500 pairs. In this review, we summarize the main findings from univariate and multivariate genetic effects analyses, gene–environment interaction studies, omics studies exploring DNA methylation and metabolomic markers associated with phenotypes. There remains further scope for CNTR research and data mining. The plan for future development of the CNTR is described. The CNTR welcomes worldwide collaboration.     

Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Patients With STEMI Treated With Fibrinolysis: TREAT Trial

BackgroundThe efficacy of ticagrelor in the long-term post–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with fibrinolytic therapy remains uncertain.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ticagrelor when compared with clopidogrel in STEMI patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy.MethodsThis international, multicenter, randomized, open-label with blinded endpoint adjudication trial enrolled 3,799 patients (age <75 years) with STEMI receiving fibrinolytic therapy. Patients were randomized to ticagrelor (180-mg loading dose, 90 mg twice daily thereafter) or clopidogrel (300- to 600-mg loading dose, 75 mg daily thereafter). The key outcomes were cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke, and the same composite outcome with the addition of severe recurrent ischemia, transient ischemic attack, or other arterial thrombotic events at 12 months.ResultsThe combined outcome of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke occurred in 129 of 1,913 patients (6.7%) receiving ticagrelor and in 137 of 1,886 patients (7.3%) receiving clopidogrel (hazard ratio: 0.93; 95% confidence interval: 0.73 to 1.18; p = 0.53). The composite of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, severe recurrent ischemia, transient ischemic attack, or other arterial thrombotic events occurred in 153 of 1,913 patients (8.0%) treated with ticagrelor and in 171 of 1,886 patients (9.1%) receiving clopidogrel (hazard ratio: 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.71 to 1.09; p = 0.25). The rates of major, fatal, and intracranial bleeding were similar between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups.ConclusionAmong patients age <75 years with STEMI, administration of ticagrelor after fibrinolytic therapy did not significantly reduce the frequency of cardiovascular events when compared with clopidogrel. (Ticagrelor in Patients With ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Pharmacological Thrombolysis [TREAT]; NCT02298088)     

Dexmedetomidine enhances ropivacaine-induced sciatic nerve injury in diabetic rats

Background

Previous studies suggest that dexmedetomidine has a protective effect against local anaesthetic-induced nerve injury in regional nerve blocks. Whether this potentially protective effect exists in the context of diabetes mellitus is unknown.

A new lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid lactone from Chloranthus japonicus

Chromatographic fractionation of the EtOH extracts of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Chloranthus japonicus, has led to the isolation of a new lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid lactone derivative (1). Rosmarylchloranthalactone E (1), which consists of lindenane sesquiterpenoid lactone and rosmarinic acid moieties linked via an ester bridge, was structurally elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS data. Compound 1 was a potent phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 0.96 ± 0.04 μM.     

绵阳市2017年男男性行为者性行为特征及无保护措施肛交影响因素

目的 了解男男性行为者(men who have sex with men ,MSM)性行为特征,分析无保护措施肛交影响因素。 方法 2017年1—10月,在四川省绵阳市采用滚雪球抽样法,进行MSM行为学及血清学的横断面抽样调查,用χ²检验、Logistic回归模型进行无保护措施肛交影响因素的单因素及多因素分析。 结果 回收有效问卷1 242份,近6个月肛交91.6%,其中71.4%有保护措施。近6个月商业性行为1.7%,其中31.6%有保护措施。近6个月异性性行为9.7%,其中30.8%有保护措施。近6个月高频率肛交24.5%,多性伴50.3%。近6个月肛交无保护措施的艾滋病病毒阳性率10.5%,高于有保护措施的1.8%(χ²=41.837,P＜0.001)。多因素分析结果,年龄＞30岁(OR=1.627,95%CI: 1.192～2.221)、使用Rush(OR=2.122, 95%CI:1.293～3.482)者近6个月无保护措施肛交可能性更大,高中及以上文化(OR=0.401,95%CI:0.269～0.600)、艾滋病防治知识全对(OR=0.639, 95%CI:0.428～0.954)、近1年接受预防服务(OR=0.537,95%CI:0.312～0.923)、近6个月多性伴(OR=0.635, 95%CI:0.480～0.841)者近6个月无保护措施肛交可能性更小。 结论 MSM性行为复杂,无保护、多性伴普遍,大年龄、低文化、艾滋病防治知识不全对、未接受预防服务者发生无保护措施肛交的风险较大,应针对性开展行为干预。     

Disparity between recent graduates’ and experienced surgeons' assessment of time to operative independence

Background

In cardiothoracic surgery, little data exist on the transition to operative independence. We aimed to compare current perceptions of operative autonomy of junior cardiothoracic surgeons and senior colleagues who oversee transitional years.

Simultaneous measurement of patient dose and distribution of indoor scattered radiation during digital breast tomosynthesis

Introduction

Breast cancer incidence increases from the age of 30 years. As this age range coincides with that in which women usually pursue pregnancy, undergoing medical examinations for conditions such as breast cancer is a concern, especially when pregnancy is uncertain during the first eight weeks. Moreover, in this age range, breast often exhibits a high density, thus compromising diagnosis. For such density, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) provides a more accurate diagnosis than 2D mammography given its higher sensitivity and specificity. However, radiation exposure increases during DBT, and it should be determined.