Potential Role of Probiotics in Ameliorating Psoriasis by Modulating Gut Microbiota in Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Mice

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated systemic disease that may be treated with probiotics. In this study, probiotic strains that could or could not decrease interleukin (IL)-17 levels were applied to imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mice via oral administration. Bifidobacterium adolescentis CCFM667, B. breve CCFM1078, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei CCFM1074, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri CCFM1132 ameliorated psoriasis-like pathological characteristics and suppressed the release of IL-23/T helper cell 17 (Th17) axis-related inflammatory cytokines, whereas B. animalis CCFM1148, L. paracasei CCFM1147, and L. reuteri CCFM1040 neither alleviated the pathological characteristics nor reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines. All effective strains increased the contents of short-chain fatty acids, which were negatively correlated with the levels of inflammatory cytokines. By performing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the diversity of gut microbiota in psoriasis-like mice was found to decrease, but all effective strains made some specific changes to the composition of gut microbiota compared to the ineffective strains. Furthermore, except for B. breve CCFM1078, all other effective strains decreased the abundance of the family Rikenellaceae, which was positively correlated with psoriasis-like pathological characteristics and was negatively correlated with propionate levels. These findings demonstrated effects of strain-specificity, and how probiotics ameliorated psoriasis and provide new possibilities for the treatment of psoriasis.     

Internet Access and Nutritional Intake: Evidence from Rural China

Over the past 4 decades, China has experienced a nutritional transition and has developed the largest population of internet users. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of internet access on the nutritional intake in Chinese rural residents. An IV-Probit-based propensity score matching method was used to determine the impact of internet access on nutritional intake. The data were collected from 10,042 rural households in six Chinese provinces. The results reveal that rural residents with internet access have significantly higher energy, protein, and fat intake than those without. Chinese rural residents with internet access consumed 1.35% (28.62 kcal), 5.02% (2.61 g), and 4.33% (3.30 g) more energy, protein, and fat, respectively. There was heterogeneity in regard to the intake of energy, protein, and fat among those in different income groups. Moreover, non-staple food consumption is the main channel through which internet access affects nutritional intake. The results demonstrate that the local population uses the internet to improve their nutritional status. Further studies are required to investigate the impact of internet use on food consumed away from home and micronutrient intake.     

The Potential Roles of Blood–Brain Barrier and Blood–Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier in Maintaining Brain Manganese Homeostasis

Manganese (Mn) is a trace nutrient necessary for life but becomes neurotoxic at high concentrations in the brain. The brain is a “privileged” organ that is separated from systemic blood circulation mainly by two barriers. Endothelial cells within the brain form tight junctions and act as the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which physically separates circulating blood from the brain parenchyma. Between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the choroid plexus (CP), which is a tissue that acts as the blood–CSF barrier (BCB). Pharmaceuticals, proteins, and metals in the systemic circulation are unable to reach the brain and spinal cord unless transported through either of the two brain barriers. The BBB and the BCB consist of tightly connected cells that fulfill the critical role of neuroprotection and control the exchange of materials between the brain environment and blood circulation. Many recent publications provide insights into Mn transport in vivo or in cell models. In this review, we will focus on the current research regarding Mn metabolism in the brain and discuss the potential roles of the BBB and BCB in maintaining brain Mn homeostasis.     

Association of Opioid Use Disorder With 2016 Presidential Voting Patterns: Cross-sectional Study in New York State at Census Tract Level

BackgroundOpioid overdose-related deaths have increased dramatically in recent years. Combating the opioid epidemic requires better understanding of the epidemiology of opioid poisoning (OP) and opioid use disorder (OUD).ObjectiveWe aimed to discover geospatial patterns in nonmedical opioid use and its correlations with demographic features related to despair and economic hardship, most notably the US presidential voting patterns in 2016 at census tract level in New York State.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis used data from New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System claims data and the presidential voting results of 2016 in New York State from the Harvard Election Data Archive. We included 63,958 patients who had at least one OUD diagnosis between 2010 and 2016 and 36,004 patients with at least one OP diagnosis between 2012 and 2016. Geospatial mappings were created to compare areas of New York in OUD rates and presidential voting patterns. A multiple regression model examines the extent that certain factors explain OUD rate variation.ResultsSeveral areas shared similar patterns of OUD rates and Republican vote: census tracts in western New York, central New York, and Suffolk County. The correlation between OUD rates and the Republican vote was .38 (P<.001). The regression model with census tract level of demographic and socioeconomic factors explains 30% of the variance in OUD rates, with disability and Republican vote as the most significant predictors.ConclusionsAt the census tract level, OUD rates were positively correlated with Republican support in the 2016 presidential election, disability, unemployment, and unmarried status. Socioeconomic and demographic despair-related features explain a large portion of the association between the Republican vote and OUD. Together, these findings underscore the importance of socioeconomic interventions in combating the opioid epidemic.     

SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Exhaled by Experimentally Infected Cynomolgus Monkeys

We analyzed size of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) aerosol particles shed by experimentally infected cynomolgus monkeys. Most exhaled particles were small, and virus was mainly released early during infection. By postinfection day 6, no virus was detected in breath, but air in the isolator contained large quantities of aerosolized virus.     

Road Traffic and Urban Form Factors Correlated with the Incidence of Lung Cancer in High-density Areas: An Ecological Study in Downtown Shanghai,China

The incidence of lung cancer is affected by air pollution, especially in high-density urban areas with heavy road traffic and dense urban form. Several studies have examined the direct relationship between lung cancer incidence and road traffic as well as urban form. However, the results are still inconsistent for high-density urban areas. This study focused on urban form and road traffic, aiming at revealing their relationship with lung cancer incidence in high-density urban areas at the neighborhood level. For this, an ecological study was conducted in downtown Shanghai to identify important indicators and explore quantitative associations. Negative binomial regression was fitted with lung cancer incidence as the dependent variable. The independent variables included indicators for road traffic and urban form, greenness, demographic, and socio-economic factors. The results showed that building coverage, averaged block perimeter area ratio, density of metro station without the glass barrier system, and the percentage of low-quality residential land were positively correlated with lung cancer incidence in the neighborhood, while population density was negatively correlated with lung cancer incidence. This study found a strong self-selection effect of socio-economic factors in the relationship between lung cancer incidence and greenness. These results may be useful for conducting health impact assessments and developing spatial planning interventions for respiratory health in high-density urban areas.     

重症先天性膈疝患儿的临床治疗策略

目的探讨重症先天性膈疝(CDH)患儿的临床治疗策略。 方法选择2015年1月至2019年10月,西北妇女儿童医院小儿外科收治的7例重症CDH患儿为研究对象。采用回顾性研究方法收集受试儿一般临床资料、治疗、转归及术后随访结果等进行分析。本研究遵循的程序符合2013年新修订的《世界医学协会赫尔辛基宣言》要求。 结果本组7例重症CDH患儿临床资料分析结果如下。①一般临床资料：7例患儿中,男、女性患儿分别为4例(No.2、5～7)与3例(No.1、3～4);1例(No.4)为足月单纯低出生体重儿,1例(No.7)为足月低出生体重合并多系统畸形儿,5例(No.1～3、5～6)为低出生体重早产儿;2例(No.2、7)为采取辅助生殖技术出生婴儿,均合并染色体异常。娩出方式：5例(No.1～4、7)经剖宫产术娩出,2例(No.5～6)自然分娩。4例孕母(No.1～2、6～7)有流产史。②治疗情况：除No.6患儿出生后1、5、10 min Apgar评分均为10分外,其余6例在手术室或产房采取气管插管、高频振荡通气(HFOV)、禁食、胃肠减压治疗。No.1患儿因合并多发复杂畸形,患儿家属放弃手术治疗,3例(No.4～6)经左侧胸后外侧切口入路手术,3例(No.2～3、7)经左上腹切口入路手术进行CDH修补术。③转归：1例(No.1)术前放弃治疗后死亡,3例(No.3～4、7)术后死亡。这4例死亡患儿中,除No.4患儿外,No.1、3、7患儿均合并复杂先天性心脏病及其他系统畸形。3例(No.2、5～6)患儿采取手术治疗后治愈出院,均合并早产、低出生体重、其他非复杂畸形。对这3例痊愈患儿术后随访结果显示,1例(No.2)术后1个月CDH复发,经再次CDH修补术治疗后,膈肌完整,截至随访时未见复发;No.5～6患儿截至随访时,均生长发育良好。 结论合并复杂先天性心脏病,可能是影响重症CDH患儿预后的主要因素之一。对重症CDH患儿娩出后采取即时气管插管、HFOV、延迟手术修复(DSR)等治疗策略,有助于提高该病患儿手术治愈率。     

XPO4、MAP2K4及ZIC1在子宫内膜癌组织表达及其对子宫内膜癌患者预后评估价值

目的探讨输出蛋白(XPO)4、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAP2K)4及小脑锌指结构蛋白(ZIC)1在子宫内膜癌(EC)组织中的表达及其对EC患者的预后评估价值。 方法选择2017年6月至2018年6月,无锡市妇幼保健院、复旦大学附属中山医院青浦分院收治的147例EC患者为研究对象。采用免疫组化染色法检测患者EC组织及癌旁正常组织XPO4、MAP2K4、ZIC1表达水平。采用χ²检验,对患者EC组织及癌旁正常组织XPO4、MAP2K4、ZIC1阳性率,以及不同临床病理特征患者EC组织XPO4、MAP2K4、ZIC1阳性率进行比较。采用Two-stage检验,对EC组织XPO4、MAP2K4、ZIC1呈阳性与呈阴性患者的3年总体生存(OS)率进行比较。本研究遵循的程序经过无锡市妇幼保健院、复旦大学附属中山医院青浦分院伦理委员会批准(审批文号：20160803、20160502)。 结果①本组患者EC组织XPO4、MAP2K4阳性率分别为34.7%(51/147)、38.1%(56/147),显著低于癌旁正常组织的66.7%(98/147)与72.8%(107/147),并且差异均有统计学意义(χ²＝30.060、35.812,P<0.001)。本组患者EC组织ZIC1阳性率为72.1%(106/147),显著高于癌旁正常组织的40.1%(59/147),并且差异亦有统计学意义(χ²＝30.512、P<0.001)。②不同年龄、EC直径及绝经与否患者的EC组织XPO4、MAP2K4、ZIC1阳性率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。不同国际妇产科联盟(FIGO)临床分期、组织病理学分级、子宫肌层侵犯程度及淋巴结转移与否患者EC组织XPO4、MAP2K4、ZIC1阳性率分别比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。③本组EC组织XPO4、MAP2K4呈阴性患者的3年OS率分别为42.7%、38.5%,均显著低于XPO4、MAP2K4呈阳性者的68.6%、71.4%,并且差异均有统计学意义(χ²＝8.960、P＝0.003,χ²＝15.077、P<0.001)。EC组织ZIC1呈阳性患者3年OS率为35.8%,显著低于ZIC1呈阴性者的68.3%,并且差异亦有统计学意义(χ²＝12.579、P<0.001)。 结论在EC组织中,XPO4、MAP2K4呈低表达,而ZIC1则呈高表达。XPO4、MAP2K4、ZIC1表达水平与患者组织病理学分级、淋巴结转移、FIGO临床分期、子宫肌层侵犯及3年OS率显著相关,其在评估EC患者发病、进展及预后中具有一定价值。     

炎症性肠病患者巨细胞病毒感染危险因素

目的探讨炎症性肠病(IBD)患者巨细胞病毒(CMV)感染危险因素及CMV包膜糖蛋白H(gH)基因分型与临床疗效的关系。方法选取2015年2月-2019年12月河北北方学院附属第一医院收治的IBD患者362例,调查CMV感染情况以及临床疗效,多因素Logistic回归分析IBD患者合并CMV感染的危险因素,分析感染不同CMV gH基因型IBD患者临床特点及临床治疗效果。结果362例IBD患者中CMV感染患者122例,CMV感染率为33.70%,单因素分析结果显示,年龄≥40岁、重度IBD病情、广泛结肠型病变范围、糖皮质激素治疗、免疫抑制剂治疗、抗病毒治疗、激素依赖、结肠切除、临床治疗无效是IBD患者CMV感染的危险因素(P<0.05);多因素Logistic回归分析显示年龄≥40岁、重度IBD病情、广泛结肠型病变范围、糖皮质激素治疗、免疫抑制剂治疗是IBD患者CMV感染的独立危险因素;122例IBD合并CMV感染患者中gH 1型85例(69.67%)、gH 2型37例(30.33%);gH 1型与gH 2型IBD合并CMV感染患者的年龄≥40岁、广泛结肠型病变范围、糖皮质激素治疗、免疫抑制剂治疗、结肠切除结局以及激素依赖占比比较差异无统计学意义,而gH 1型患者病情严重程度比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),gH 1型与gH 2型患者的治疗有效率比较差异无统计学意义(χ²=0.017,P=0.895)。结论年龄≥40岁、重度病程、广泛结肠病变、糖皮质激素以及免疫抑制剂治疗会增加IBD患者CMV感染风险,IBD并CMV患者以gH1型为主,但gH基因分型不会影响临床疗效。     

湖南部分地区40岁及以上居民烹饪污染性燃料及生物燃料暴露情况分析

目的了解湖南部分地区40岁及以上居民烹饪污染性燃料及生物燃料暴露情况,为污染性燃料和生物燃料暴露防控工作提供参考依据。方法调查对象来自于2019年湖南省5个慢性阻塞性肺疾病监测点,采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样方法,面对面询问调查方式收集相关信息。对样本复杂加权后分析不同特征人群烹饪污染性燃料和生物燃料暴露情况。结果实际纳入分析的有效样本为2981人。经复杂加权后,湖南省40岁及以上人群烹饪污染性燃料暴露率为19.69%(95%CI:18.11%~21.27%),烹饪生物燃料暴露率为16.14%(95%CI:14.66%~17.62%),烹饪污染性燃料暴露率和烹饪生物燃料暴露率均表现为女性高于男性(P<0.05),农村高于城镇(P<0.05),随年龄减小和文化程度升高而降低(均P<0.05)。结论湖南部分地区40岁及以上居民烹饪污染性燃料/生物燃料使用还是较为普遍,重点应针对农村地区女性采取适当措施以降低暴露水平。