Using arterial spin labeling blood flow and its histogram analysis to distinguish early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma from lymphoid hyperplasia

To investigate the feasibility of arterial spin labeling (ASL) blood flow (BF) and its histogram analysis to distinguish early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from nasopharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (NPLH).Sixty-three stage T1 NPC patients and benign NPLH patients underwent ASL on a 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging system. BF histogram parameters were derived automatically, including the mean, median, maximum, minimum, kurtosis, skewness, and variance. Absolute values were obtained for skewness and kurtosis (absolute value of skewness [AVS] and absolute value of kurtosis [AVK], respectively). The Mann–Whitney U test, receiver operating characteristic curve, and multiple logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis.The mean, maximum, and variance of ASL BF values were significantly higher in early-stage NPC than in NPLH (all P < 0.0001), while the median and AVK values of early-stage NPC were also significantly higher than those of NPLH (all P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the minimum and AVS values in early-stage NPC compared with NPLH (P = 0.125 and P = 0.084, respectively). The area under the curve (AUC) of the maximum was significantly higher than those of the mean and median (P < 0.05). The AUC of variance was significantly higher than those of the other parameters (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that variance was the only independent predictor of outcome (P < 0.05).ASL BF and its histogram analysis could distinguish early-stage NPC from NPLH, and the variance value was a unique independent predictor.     

Rural–urban disparities in knowledge,behaviors, and mental health during COVID-19 pandemic: A community-based cross-sectional survey

To examine the knowledge level, behaviors, and psychological status of the Chinese population during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the differences between urban and rural areas.We carried out a cross-sectional survey of the knowledge, behaviors related to COVID-19, and mental health in a probability sample of 3001 community residents in 30 provinces or districts across China from February 16–23, 2020. Convenience sampling and a snowball sampling were adopted. We used General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and knowledge and behaviors questionnaire of community residents regarding COVID-19 designed by us to investigate the psychological status, disease-related knowledge, and the behavior of Chinese urban and rural residents during the pandemic.The average score of anxiety and depression among urban residents was 9.15 and 11.25, respectively, while the figures in rural areas were 8.69 and 10.57, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the levels of anxiety (P < .01) and depression (P < .01). Urban participants reported significantly higher levels of knowledge regarding COVID-19 in all aspects (transmission, prevention measures, symptoms of infection, treatment, and prognosis) (P < .01), compared to their rural counterparts. While a majority of respondents in urban areas obtained knowledge through WeChat, other apps, and the Internet (P < .01), residents in rural areas accessed information through interactions with the community (P < .01). Urban residents fared well in exchanging knowledge about COVID-19 and advising others to take preventive measures (P < .01), but fared poorly in advising people to visit a hospital if they displayed symptoms of the disease, compared to rural residents (P < .01). Regression analysis with behavior showed that being female (OR = 2.106, 95%CI = 1.259–3.522), aged 18 ≤ age < 65 (OR = 4.059, 95%CI = 2.166–7.607), being satisfied with the precautions taken by the community (OR = 2.594, 95%CI = 1.485–4.530), disinfecting public facilities in the community (OR = 2.342, 95%CI = 1.206–4.547), having knowledge of transmission modes (OR = 3.987, 95%CI: 2.039, 7.798), symptoms (OR = 2.045, 95%CI = 1.054–4.003), and outcomes (OR = 2.740, 95%CI = 1.513–4.962) of COVID-19, and not having anxiety symptoms (OR = 2.578, 95%CI = 1.127–5.901) were positively associated with affirmative behavior in urban areas. Being married (OR = 4.960, 95%CI = 2.608–9.434), being satisfied with the precautions taken by the community (OR = 2.484, 95%CI = 1.315–4.691), screening to ensure face mask wearing before entering the community (OR = 8.809, 95%CI = 2.649–19.294), and having knowledge about precautions (OR = 4.886, 95%CI = 2.604–9.167) and outcomes (OR = 2.657, 95%CI = 1.309–5.391) were positively associated with acceptable conduct in rural areas.The status of anxiety and depression among urban residents was more severe compared to those living in rural areas. There was a difference in being positively associated with constructive behaviors between rural and urban areas.     

Necroptotic TNFα-Syndecan 4-TNFα Vicious Cycle as a Therapeutic Target for Preventing Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is a chronic degenerative disease for which the underlying mechanism still remains unclear. Compared with apoptosis and autophagy, necroptosis causes greater harm to tissue homeostasis by releasing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). However, the role of necroptosis and downstream key DAMPs in TMJOA is unknown. Here, rodent models of TMJOA were established by the unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemistry of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)/phosphorylation of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (pMLKL) were conducted to evaluate the occurrence of necroptosis in vivo. The therapeutic effects of blocking necroptosis were achieved by intra-articularly injecting RIPK3 or MLKL inhibitors and using RIPK3 or MLKL knockout mice. In vitro necroptosis of condylar chondrocyte was induced by combination of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC) mimetics and carbobenzoxy-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-[O-methyl]- fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk). The possible DAMPs released by necroptotic chondrocytes were screened by quantitative proteomics and blocked by specific antibody. Translucent cytosol, swollen organelles, and ruptured cell membranes, features of necroptosis, were frequently manifested in chondrocytes at the early stage of condylar cartilage degeneration in TMJOA, which was accompanied by upregulation of RIPK3/pMLKL. Inhibiting or knocking out RIPK3/MLKL significantly prevented cartilage degeneration. DAMPs released by necroptotic condylar chondrocytes, such as syndecan 4 (SDC4) and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), were verified. Furthermore, blocking the function of SDC4 significantly attenuated the expression of TNFα in cartilage and synovium, and accordingly increased cartilage thickness and reduced synovial inflammation. Thus, the necroptotic vicious cycle of TNFα-SDC4-TNFα contributes to cartilage degeneration and synovitis, and can serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating TMJOA. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

针刺辅助治疗难治性肠易激综合征临床试验方案关键点设计的思考＊

肠易激综合征（Irritable bowel syndrome，IBS）是临床常见病、多发病，其治疗方法丰富，但部分患者疗效欠佳，发展成难治性IBS。目前国内外关于针灸治疗难治性IBS的临床随机对照试验尚不多见。本文立足试验方案设计的“PICOS”原则，从研究对象及诊断标准、干预措施、对照措施、结局指标四个方面入手，重点探讨针刺辅助治疗难治性肠易激综合征临床试验设计的关键要点。从选择特色优势病种、明确诊断标准、制定符合临床实际的干预方案、运用符合目标的安慰针刺、结合研究设计和目的选定结局指标几个角度，阐述试验相关环节设计的原因和思考。     

Association of genetic variants at MYP10 and MYP15 with high myopia in a Han Chinese population

Background: Previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) has revealed the association between MYP10 at 8p23 and MYP15 at 10q21.1 and high myopia (HM) in a French population. This study is managed to discover the connection between some single nucleotide polymorphism (located at MYP10 and MYP15) and Han Chinese HM.

Methods and Results: This case-control association study contained 1673 samples, including 869 ophthalmic patients and 804 controls. Twelve tag SNPs have been selected from the MYP10 and MYP15 loci and genotyped by SNaPshot method. Among 12 SNPs, rs4840437 and rs6989782 in TNKS gene were found significant association with HM. Carriers of rs4840437G allele and rs4840437GG genotype created a low risk of high myopia (P = .036, OR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.71–0.93; P = .016, OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.56–0.96; respectively). Carriers of rs6989782T allele and rs6989782TT+CT genotype also had a decreased risk of high myopia (P = .048, OR = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.71–0.94; P = .006, OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.59–0.92; respectively). Other 10 SNPs displaced nonsignificant association with HM. Additionally, the risk haplotype AC and the protective haplotype GT, generated by two SNPs in TNKS, were considerably more likely to be association with HM (for AC, P = .002 and OR = 1.26; for GT, P = .027 and OR = 0.84).

Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that some heritable variants in the TNKS gene are associated with HM in the Han population. The possible functions of TNKS in the development and pathogenesis of hereditary high myopia still require further researches to identify.     

桃红四物汤联合银杏酮酯滴丸治疗老年出血性玻璃体混浊的临床疗效研究

目的:探究桃红四物汤联合银杏酮酯滴丸治疗老年出血性玻璃体混浊的临床疗效。方法:收集2016年12月-2018年12月我院收治的老年出血性玻璃体混浊患者67例,共67眼,根据随机对照表分为对照组和试验组,其中试验组34例,对照组33例,对照组予以银杏酮酯滴丸;试验组在对照组的基础上联用桃红四物汤。两组均服用30 d。治疗结束后对比分析两组患者临床疗效、出血吸收时间、血液流变学及视网膜中央动脉血流动力学。结果:治疗后两组患者高切全血粘度、低切全血粘度、纤维蛋白原、阻力指数(Resistance Index,RI)低于治疗前,收缩期峰值速度(Peak Systolic Velocity,PSV)、舒张末期血流速度(End Diastolic Velocity,EDV)高于治疗前,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后试验组临床总有效率、PSV、EDV高于对照组,出血吸收时间、高切全血粘度、低切全血粘度、纤维蛋白原、RI低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:桃红四物汤联合银杏酮酯滴丸治疗老年出血性玻璃体混浊临床疗效显著,适宜临床应用推广。     

盐酸氨溴索与多索茶碱治疗慢性支气管炎的疗效评价

目的探讨对慢性支气管炎急性发作期患者采用盐酸氨溴索联合多索茶碱治疗的临床疗效。方法选取本院收治的慢性支气管炎急性发作期患者88例为研究对象,收治时间为2018年3月-2019年3月,根据入院时间将患者随机分为两组,对照组(n=44)和观察组(n=44)。观察组患者采用盐酸氨溴索联合多索茶碱治疗,对照组采用多索茶碱治疗,对两组患者治疗后的治疗有效率以及两组患者症状改善情况进行观察比较。结果观察组患者治疗有效率(97.7%)高于对照组(84.1%),P <0.05;观察组患者症状改善情况优于对照组,P <0.05。结论盐酸氨溴索联合多索茶碱治疗慢性支气管炎急性发作期患者,临床疗效较好,改善患者症状情况。