Estimating Changes in Population Size and Behavioral Characteristics in Men Who Have Sex With Men Between 2014 and 2019: Longitudinal Study

BackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for HIV infection. Accurate estimation of the population size and monitoring the risk sexual behavioral change of MSM is of great importance to develop targeted HIV prevention and interventions.ObjectiveThe goal of the research was accurate estimation of the population size and monitoring the risk sexual behavioral change of MSM.MethodsStreet interception investigation methods were conducted among males aged 16 years and older in selected sites in Shenzhen in 2014 and 2019. A population survey was used to estimate the population size of MSM. Logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the difference in behavioral characteristics in MSM from 2014 to 2019.ResultsIn this study, we surveyed 10,170 participants in 2014, of whom 448 (4.41%, 95% CI 4.01%-4.80%) participants were men who have ever had sex with another man (MSMe) and 229 (2.25%, 95% CI 1.96%-2.54%) were men who had sex with another man in the previous 6 months (MSMa). A total of 10,226 participants were surveyed in 2019, of which 500 (4.90%, 95% CI 4.47%-5.31%) and 208 (2.03%, 95% CI 1.76%-2.31%) participants were MSMe and MSMa, respectively. The results showed that the population size of MSM who are active (MSMa) in Shenzhen was 155,469 (2.29%, 95% CI 2.28%-2.30%) in 2014 and 167,337 (2.05%, 95% CI 2.04%-2.06%) in 2019. It was estimated that there were about 12,005,445 (2.04%, 95% CI 2.04%-2.04%) MSMa in China in 2019. Compared with 2014, the MSMa in 2019 were more likely to seek sex partners through mobile phone apps and less likely to have male and female sex partners in addition to having inconsistent condom use and more than 6 sex partners in the previous 6 months.ConclusionsIn Shenzhen, the proportion of MSMa among the general male population was lower in 2019 than in 2014, and the prevalence of HIV risk behavior was reduced in 2019. Although the preferred platform to find male sex partners among MSM has changed, intervention with high–HIV risk MSM could still help to reduce HIV risk behaviors among the whole MSM group. Because MSM prefer to seek sex partners through mobile phone apps, further study is needed to strengthen internet interventions with high–HIV risk MSM to curb the spread of HIV.     

Free volume dependence of the dielectric constant of poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite films

The free volume effects on the dielectric properties of the polymer are ambiguous, and the quantitative effect of free volume on the dielectric properties has rarely been systematically studied, especially in the high-elastic state dipolar (HESD) polymer. In this work, the free volume of dipolar poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is regulated by the addition of Al₂O₃, which greatly increase the size of free volume holes. Then the effect of free volume on the dielectric properties of PVDF/Al₂O₃ composites is discussed. The greatly enlarged size of free volume holes is believed to potentially generate disparate effects on dielectric constant under different frequencies in such kinds of HESD polymer-based composites, bringing about more remarkable frequency dependence of the dielectric constant. The influence of atomic-scale microstructure based on free volume further clarifies the free volume effects on the dielectric properties and provides valuable insights for the research of dielectric behaviour of polymer composites, which is constructive to design novel dielectric materials and further optimize the dielectric properties of dipolar dielectric polymer composites.

The size variation of free volume holes is found to potentially generate disparate effects on dielectric constant under different frequencies in high-elastic state dipolar poly(vinylidene fluoride).     

骨髓间充质干细胞培养液对大鼠皮层神经元氧糖剥夺损伤的保护作用及机制

目的:探讨骨髓间充质干细胞(bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells,BMSCs)培养液对大鼠皮层神经元氧糖剥夺(oxygen-glucose deprivation,OGD)损伤后细胞存活的作用及其影响机制。方法:分别取清洁级6～8周60～80 g SD大鼠和孕16～18 d孕鼠进行BMSCs和皮层神经元培养。培养第5天的皮层神经元建立OGD损伤模型,实验随机分为4组:氧糖剥夺组(OGD组);氧糖剥夺+BMSCs培养液组(OGD+CM组),神经元OGD后培养基更换为BMSCs培养液(CM)继续培养;OGD+CM+LY294002组及OGD+LY294002组,以上2组分别加入PI3K/AKT特异性抑制剂LY294002。各组培养12 h后分别通过电子显微镜和光学显微镜观察神经元形态结构。各组培养2 h后分别检测AKT、pAKT(Ser473)、激活型Casepase-3蛋白表达量,在培养48 h后检测神经元的存活率。结果:OGD培养后的神经元突起断裂、缩短、溶解,线粒体、内质网细胞器肿胀。OGD+LY294002组、OGD+CM组分别与OG...     

Stimulus-responsive and task-dependent activations in occipital regions during pitch perception by early blind listeners

Although it has been established that cross-modal activations occur in the occipital cortex during auditory processing among congenitally and early blind listeners, it remains uncertain whether these activations in various occipital regions reflect sensory analysis of specific sound properties, non-perceptual cognitive operations associated with active tasks, or the interplay between sensory analysis and cognitive operations. This fMRI study aimed to investigate cross-modal responses in occipital regions, specifically V5/MT and V1, during passive and active pitch perception by early blind individuals compared to sighted individuals. The data showed that V5/MT was responsive to pitch during passive perception, and its activations increased with task complexity. By contrast, widespread occipital regions, including V1, were only recruited during two active perception tasks, and their activations were also modulated by task complexity. These fMRI results from blind individuals suggest that while V5/MT activations are both stimulus-responsive and task-modulated, activations in other occipital regions, including V1, are dependent on the task, indicating similarities and differences between various visual areas during auditory processing.     

醒后卒中的影像学研究进展

我国最新居民致残和致死调查报告显示,卒中发病率高居首位,虽然近几年卒中致死率较前下降,但是因为疾病的致残性及后续康复带来的巨大社会支出,对卒中的探索及相关研究依然刻不容缓。急性缺血性卒中（acute ischemic stroke,AIS）占所有卒中的85%,醒后卒中（wake-up stroke,WUS）又占其中的20%左右。因在睡眠中发病,故具体发病时间不详。事实上,很多患者疾病发生在醒来前的很短时间,但治疗上却错失了溶栓或血管内治疗的机会,最终导致预后不良。目前针对WUS发病时间的研究越来越多,其中通过影像学手段推测WUS的发病时间指导其治疗尤为热门。本文对WUS的近期影像学研究进展作一综述。     

Architectural analysis of subconjunctival oblique limbus incision techniques in manual cataract extraction surgery by optical coherence tomography imaging

The purpose was to assess the profile of subconjunctival oblique limbus incision (SCOLI) design by using anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and try to emphasize the proper technique of wound construction. The structural dimensions and integrity of the wound were acquired from the patients, who had undergone manual small-incision cataract surgery with SCOLI techniques, using a Canon OCT anterior-segment imaging system on the first postoperative day. The use of AS-OCT allowed for an in vivo evaluation of SCOLI in high definition. The radial OCT scan image showed three staggered incisions, including conjunctiva incision, scleral entrance, and inner corneal lip. A tangential scan demonstrated that the internal lip is parallel to the curvature of the peripheral cornea. The en face image showed an asymmetric 4 arc-shaped configuration rather than a symmetrical one. In conclusion, AS-OCT could be used to analyze SCOLI to determine optimal wound construction and geometry. The results of this study indicated that an asymmetric 4 arc-shaped limbus tunnel incision was superior to the conventional linear equivalent in stability and nucleus delivery.     

Humoral response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in patients undergoing dialysis

Patients undergoing maintenance dialysis have a higher mortality rate associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and response rates to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 vary from 29.6% to 96.4% in such patients. This study aimed to assess the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in Korean patients undergoing dialysis. We enrolled 70 SARS-CoV-2-vaccinated patients undergoing dialysis, with 11 healthcare workers serving as healthy control subjects. Thirty-two patients had received a third vaccination, whereas 38 had received 2 vaccinations. The healthy control subjects completed the second vaccination. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain of the S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were measured The vaccination responder rates were 86% (37/43), 96% (26/27), and 91% (10/11) in the patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis and healthy controls, respectively. IgG antibody levels were significantly higher when a third dose was administered, independent of the type of vaccine or the time interval between vaccination and the subsequent blood sampling date. When a third dose of vaccine was administered, there was no difference in IgG antibody levels between those receiving cross-vaccination or a single vaccine. There was no significant difference in IgG antibodies between healthy controls and patients undergoing dialysis. Patients on dialysis exhibited a sufficient antibody-related response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, even in those receiving cross-vaccination, and the antibody titer was higher after a third vaccination. Therefore, it is necessary to administer a third vaccine dose to Korean patients undergoing dialysis.     

Effect of Xanthii Fructus alcohol extract on proliferation and apoptosis of HFLS-RA and its mechanism

Xanthii fructus (XF) is the dried and mature fruit of Xanthium sibiricum Patr. It has the effects of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-arthritic. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory disorder and often leads to disability. However, there are few studies on the treatment of RA by XF and the specific mechanism of treatment has not been clarified. This study was designed to explore the effects of proliferation and apoptosis by XF on human fibroblast-like synovial-RA (HFLS-RA) cells and investigate its mechanism. The cell proliferation ability was detected by MTS assay. Hoechst 33,342 staining was used to detect apoptosis, and the apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of NF-κB p65 and β-catenin were detected by Western Blotting. MTS, Hoechst 33,342, flow cytometry analysis showed that the alcohol extract of XF inhibited human fibroblast-like synovial-RA cells proliferation and promoted apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Western Blotting experiment showed that the extract of XF could reduce the expression levels of NF-κB p65 and β-catenin. The extract of XF has a significant therapeutic effect on RA in vitro by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our research will help to clarify the potential pharmacological mechanism of XF on RA and provide experimental basis for the application of XF in clinical treatment.