Association of TERT gene polymorphisms with clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia in a Chinese Han population of the Northwest region

BackgroundTo investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs10078761, rs12696304, rs2853669, rs16847897, rs2736100, rs10069690) of telomerase gene (TERT) and the risk clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a Chinese Han population of the Northwest region.MethodsA total of 150 BPH patients and 150 healthy older males from the northwest Chinese Han population were included in this study. The sample size for this unmatched case-control study was estimated by the look-up table method. Meanwhile, the general information and disease data of patients were collected. Age was only collected in healthy control subjects for statistical correction. Genotypes were detected using a multiplex PCR + ligase detection reaction (LDR). Typing results and clinical data were statistically analyzed using multiple linear regression and logistic regression. Pearson correlation was used for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.ResultsThe included population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no significant association between SNP and the risk of BPH by correlation analysis. However, 4 haplotypes (TCTGGT, TCTGTC, TGCCTC, and TGTGTC) were identified as risk factors of BPH by haplotype analysis. The SNP rs2853669 is an independent risk factor for smooth muscle type of hyperplasia. Besides, rs2736100, rs10078761, and rs10069690 which are in linkage disequilibrium are associated with the severity of BPH.ConclusionsPolymorphism of the TERT gene determines the different disease development and pathological manifestations of BPH in the Chinese Han population the Northwest region.     

Gender Variance in Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Conditions from Australia

Archives of Sexual Behavior - Gender variance is a broad term used to describe gender non-conforming behaviors. Past studies have used the parental response to Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Item...     

男男性行为者对HIV非职业暴露后预防的认知及相关因素分析

目的 了解MSM对HIV非职业暴露后预防（nPEP）的认知情况,以及使用nPEP的相关因素。方法 2019年3月15日至4月14日,采用滚雪球抽样方法,分别在北京市、深圳市和昆明市MSM社会组织招募年龄≥18岁男性、最近3个月发生过男男性行为、听说过HIV nPEP等符合条件的研究对象,通过“i卫士”收集人口学、行为学特征、nPEP基本知识及其咨询和使用情况。采用logistic回归模型对是否使用nPEP的相关因素进行分析。结果 共调查1 809人,nPEP基本知识知晓率为39.8%（720/1 809）,33.4%（605/1 809）咨询过nPEP,15.0%（271/1 809）使用过nPEP。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,研究对象使用nPEP的相关因素包括最近3个月与男性HIV感染者发生过性行为（OR=2.58,95%CI：1.64~4.07）、最近1年HIV检测次数≥2次（OR=2.47,95%CI：1.28~5.11）、nPEP基本知识知晓（OR=0.70,95%CI：0.49~0.99）、咨询过nPEP（OR=70.98,95%CI：40.51~136.83）。结论 MSM对nPEP认知不足,应加强MSM的nPEP相关宣传教育,促进MSM发生HIV暴露后尽快使用nPEP。     

Two immunogenic recombinant protein vaccine candidates showed disparate protective efficacy against Zika virus infection in rhesus macaques

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has caused major public health problems recently. To develop subunit vaccines for ZIKV, we have previously constructed recombinant ZIKV envelope protein domain III (EDIII), and the entire ectodomain (E80, which comprises EDI, EDII and EDIII), as vaccine candidates and showed both of them being immunogenic and protective in murine models. In this follow-up study, we compared these vaccine candidates in non-human primates. Both of them elicited neutralizing antibody responses, but only E80 immunization inhibited ZIKV infection in both peripheral blood and monkey tissues, whereas EDIII increased blood ZIKV RNA through possibly antibody-dependent enhancement. Further investigations revealed that the virion-binding antibody response in E80 immunized monkeys persisted longer and stronger than in EDIII immunized monkeys. These results demonstrate that E80 is superior to EDIII as a vaccine candidate, and that the magnitude, quality and durability of virion-binding neutralizing antibodies are correlates of protection.     

Translation and psychometric validation of the traditional Chinese version of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system Pediatric-25 Profile version 2.0 (PROMIS-25) in Chinese Children with Cancer in Hong Kong

Quality of Life Research - To translate and cross-cultural validate the PROMIS Pediatric-25 Profile 2.0 (PROMIS-25) into traditional Chinese, and to investigate its psychometric properties in...     

青少年身体自我概念与参与体育锻炼的关系研究

目的试图通过实证性研究考查我国部分青少年的身体自我概念水平与体育锻炼情况的关系。方法以5所1379名中学生为被试,身体自我描述问卷(简称PSDQ)和自编的体育锻炼情况调查表为研究工具。结果男中学生身体自我概念中除了健康维度外,其他维度的得分均显著高于女生(P<0.01);体育锻炼的各指标,即锻炼年限等均可以在某种程度上由身体自我概念的运动能力维度来预测。结论青少年的身体自我概念存在性别差异;身体自我概念的各个维度及总分与体育锻炼情况之间存在很多显著相关。     

Reactivity of human sera in a sensitive, high-throughput pseudovirus-based papillomavirus neutralization assay for HPV16 and HPV18

Sensitive high-throughput neutralization assays, based upon pseudoviruses carrying a secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter gene, were developed and validated for human papillomavirus (HPV)16, HPV18, and bovine papillomavirus 1 (BPV1). SEAP pseudoviruses were produced by transient transfection of codon-modified papillomavirus structural genes into an SV40 T antigen expressing line derived from 293 cells, yielding sufficient pseudovirus from one flask for thousands of titrations. In a 96-well plate format, in this initial characterization, the assay was reproducible and appears to be as sensitive as, but more specific than, a standard papillomavirus-like particle (VLP)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The neutralization assay detected type-specific HPV16 or HPV18 neutralizing antibodies (titers of 160-10240) in sera of the majority of a group of women infected with the corresponding HPV type, but not in virgin women. Sera from HPV16 VLP vaccinees had high anti-HPV16 neutralizing titers (mean: 45000; range: 5120-163840), but no anti-HPV18 neutralizing activity. The SEAP pseudovirus-based neutralization assay should be a practical method for quantifying potentially protective antibody responses in HPV natural history and prophylactic vaccine studies.     

Efficacy of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using intentionally cryopreserved epididymal spermatozoa

Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration was a great advancein the therapy of patients with non-recon-structable, obstructiveazoospermia, most notably congenital bilateral absence of thevas deferens. Using conventional in-vitro fertilization, pregnancieswere rarely achieved because the rate of oocyte fertilizationwas extremely poor. However, the use of retrieved spermatozoain conjunction with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)has dramatically increased the likelihood of embryo formation.Typically, sperm and oocyte harvesting are performed simultaneously.We have investigated whether frozen-thawed spermatozoa workas well as fresh spermatozoa. When we had concluded from ourown population of patients (groups I and II) that they did,we adopted a policy of aspirating spermatozoa, primarily cryopreservingthem and using them for ICSI at a later date. We found the fertilizationrates of this latter cohort of patients (group III) to be excellent(37% per oocyte), and the ongoing pregnancy rate is quite satisfactory(40 % per couple, 29% per cycle). We offer this approach asan alternative to the traditional scheme because it markedlyeases the burden of partner scheduling on both the couple andthe clinicians involved. In addition, assurance of the availabilityof male partner spermatozoa can be attained prior to beginningovulation induction.     

急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者院内新发心房颤动的列线图预测模型构建与验证

目的 探究急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死（ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction,STEMI）患者新发心房颤动（new-onset atrial fibrillation,NOAF）的风险预测模型构建并验证,以便为尽早发现高风险人群、及时采取干预措施提供依据。方法 选取2017年1月至2021年12月在重庆市第四人民医院心血管内科住院的1 080名STEMI患者,其中院内新发房颤患者作为NOAF组（n=87）,从未发生NOAF的STEMI患者中随机抽取一部分作为对照组（n=199）,比较2组患者人口学特征及入院时临床资料,利用LASSO回归模型分析STEMI患者发生院内新发心房颤动的风险因素。对纳入的患者按7∶3的比例划分为模型组及验证组,建立个性化的院内NOAF预测模型并进行验证。结果 LASSO回归结果提示,年龄、入院心率、Killip分级≥II级、右房内径、二尖瓣中度以上反流、氨基末端脑钠肽前体（N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide,NT-proBNP）为STEMI患者发生院内NOAF的重要预测因素（P<0.05）。利用上述6个预测指标构建列线图模型。模型组曲线下面积（area under the curve,AUC）为 0.842（95%CI=0.780~0.905）,准确度为0.840（95%CI=0.782~0.888）;验证组 AUC 为 0.858（95%CI=0.774~0.943）,准确度为0.826（95%CI=0.729~0.899）。同时,校准曲线提示预测模型的校正能力良好。结论 本研究成功构建了STEMI患者院内发生NOAF风险的预测模型,经相关指标证实该预测模型具有较好的预测效率和临床适用性。利用列线图可方便直观地协助临床医护人员筛选高NOAF风险患者,制定针对性的干预措施,为早期防治和改善预后提供依据。     

Externalization and internalization of cardiac endothelin receptors during different phases of sepsis in rat.

Objective. To study the redistribution ofendothelin- 1 (ET- 1 ) receptors in two subcellular organelles, the sarcolemreal membrane and the light vesicle, of rat heart during the progression of sepsis. Methods. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). ET1 receptor was assayed by using[125I]-ET1 binding. Marker enzyme activities, protein yield, and dry-to-wet weight ratio of cardiac membraneswere measured. Results. Septic rat heart exhibited two distinct phases: an initial hyperdynamic phase( 9h after CLP; early stage of sepsis) followed by a hypodynamic ( 18h after CLP, late stage of sepsis) phase. [125I]-ET1 binding study showed that during early stage of sepsis, the Bmax of ET1 receptors was increased by 30% in sarcolemma but decreased by 19% in light vesicles, while during late stage of sepsis, the Bmax was decreased by 24% in sarcolem-ma but increased by 38% in light vesicles. The total binding of sarcolemma and light vesicles was increased by 25% during early stage of sepsis but decreased by 17% during late stage of sepsis. Conclusions. These data indicated that ET1 receptors in the rat heart were externalized from light vesicles to sarcolemmal membranes during early hyperdynamic phase while internalized from surface membranes to intracellu-lar compartment during late hypodynamic phase of sepsis.