BACKGROUND Low serum albumin levels are established predictors of adverse outcomes in various cardiovascular conditions.However,the role of serum albumin in mortality among elderly patients with chronic aortic regurgi...BACKGROUND Low serum albumin levels are established predictors of adverse outcomes in various cardiovascular conditions.However,the role of serum albumin in mortality among elderly patients with chronic aortic regurgitation(AR)has not been thoroughly investigated.This study aims to assess the relationship between serum albumin levels and mortality in this specific patient population.METHODS Our analysis included 873 elderly AR patients from the China Valvular Heart Disease study,with baseline serum albumin measured at enrollment.Mortality outcomes were monitored for two years post-enrollment,employing a Cox proportional hazards model with a two-piecewise Cox proportional hazards framework to investigate the nonlinear relationship between serum albumin levels and all-cause mortality.RESULTS During the 2-year follow-up period,we observed 63 all-cause deaths.The association between serum albumin levels and all-cause mortality displayed an approximating L-shaped curve,indicating a mortality threshold at 35 g/L.For serum albumin levels below 35 g/L,each 1 g/L decrease was associated with a 25%higher risk of all-cause mortality(HR=1.25,95%CI:1.07–1.45).In contrast,no significant change in mortality risk was observed when serum albumin levels were greater than or equal to 35 g/L.Moreover,when serum albumin is classified as hypoproteinemia(serum albumin<35 g/L),the higher risks of all-cause death were observed in hypoproteinemic patients(HR=2.93,95%CI:1.50–5.74).More importantly,the association between serum albumin and death was significantly stronger in overweight/obese patients(≥24 kg/m^(2)vs.<24 kg/m^(2),Pinteraction=0.006).CONCLUSIONS In elderly patients with AR,serum albumin levels showed an approximating L-shaped relationship with all-cause death,with thresholds of 35 g/L.Body mass index was significant effect modifiers of the association.These results suggest that serum albumin,as an inexpensive and readily available biochemical marker,may further improve the stratified risk of mortality in older AR patients.展开更多
In today's society,the rampant occurrence of metabolic diseases is becoming a severe challenge in the global health field.The incidence rate of metabolic diseases such as obesity,diabetes,nonalcoholic fatty liver ...In today's society,the rampant occurrence of metabolic diseases is becoming a severe challenge in the global health field.The incidence rate of metabolic diseases such as obesity,diabetes,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease continues to rise,posing a serious threat to human health and increasing the social medical burden.In recent years,the gut microbiota,as a key component of the human microbiota,has gradually entered the center of scientific research.Numerous studies have shown that the gut microbiota is closely linked to the body's metabolism,and its role in the occurrence and development of metabolic diseases should not be underestimated.Exploring the correlation between the two in depth is expected to open up a new path for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases,bringing hope for improving human health.展开更多
BACKGROUND Insulin resistance is a cardiometabolic risk factor characterized by elevated insulin levels.It is associated with fatty liver disease and elevated liver function tests(LFT)in cross-sectional studies,but da...BACKGROUND Insulin resistance is a cardiometabolic risk factor characterized by elevated insulin levels.It is associated with fatty liver disease and elevated liver function tests(LFT)in cross-sectional studies,but data from cohort studies are scarce.AIM To investigate the association between insulin and pathological LFT,liver disease,and cirrhosis in a populationbased retrospective cohort study.METHODS Anthropometric and cardiometabolic factors of 857 men and 1228 women from prospective cohort studies were used.LFT were obtained at two time points 8 years to 24 years after baseline.Liver disease diagnoses were obtained from nationwide registries.The association between insulin levels and the development of elevated LFT or liver disease and cirrhosis was analyzed.RESULTS Total follow-up was 54054 person-years for women and 27556 person-years for men.Insulin levels were positively correlated with elevated LFT during follow-up,whereas physical activity and coffee consumption were negatively correlated.Individuals with both insulin levels in the upper tertile and alcohol consumption above MASLD thresholds had an increased risk for both liver disease,adjusted hazard ratio(aHR)of 4.3(95%CI:1.6-14.6)and cirrhosis(aHR=4.8,95%CI:1.6-14.6).CONCLUSION This population-based study provides evidence that high insulin levels are a risk factor for development of elevated liver enzymes and clinically manifest liver disease.The results support the concept of metabolic dysfunction associated liver disease.展开更多
Osteoporosis is a known risk factor for rotator cuff tears(RCTs),but the causal correlation and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.This study aims to evaluate the impact of osteoporosis on RCT risk and investigate t...Osteoporosis is a known risk factor for rotator cuff tears(RCTs),but the causal correlation and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.This study aims to evaluate the impact of osteoporosis on RCT risk and investigate their genetic associations.Using data from the UK Biobank(n=457871),cross-sectional analyses demonstrated that osteoporosis was significantly associated with an increased risk of RCTs(adjusted OR[95%CI]=1.38[1.25–1.52]).A longitudinal analysis of a subset of patients(n=268117)over 11 years revealed that osteoporosis increased the risk of RCTs(adjusted HR[95%CI]=1.56[1.29–1.87]),which is notably varied between sexes in sex-stratified analysis.Causal inference methods,including propensity score matching,inverse probability weighting,causal random forest and survival random forest models further confirmed the causal effect,both from cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives.展开更多
This current cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between thyroid hormones and peripheral artery disease (PAD) among euthyroid Chinese population aged 40 years and above. Serum free triiodothyronine ...This current cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between thyroid hormones and peripheral artery disease (PAD) among euthyroid Chinese population aged 40 years and above. Serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid antibodies were measured.展开更多
Bone is an endocrine organ involved in modulating glucose homeostasis. The role of the bone formation marker osteocalcin (OCN) in predicting diabetes was reported, but with conflicting results. No study has explored...Bone is an endocrine organ involved in modulating glucose homeostasis. The role of the bone formation marker osteocalcin (OCN) in predicting diabetes was reported, but with conflicting results. No study has explored the association between baseline bone resorption activity and incident diabetes or prediabetes during follow-up. Our objective was to examine the relationship between the baseline bone resorption marker crosslinked C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) and glycemic dysregulation after 4 years. This longitudinal study was conducted in a university teaching hospital. A total of 195 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) women at baseline were invited for follow-up. The incidence of diabetes and prediabetes (collectively defined as dysglycemia) was recorded. A total of 128 individuals completed the 4-year study. The overall conversion rate from NGT to dysglycemia was 31.3%. The incidence of dysglycemia was lowest in the middle tertile [16.3% (95% confidence interval (CI), 6.8%-30.70/0)] compared with the lower [31.0% (95% CI, 17.2%-46.1%)] and upper [46.5% (95% CI, 31.2%-62.6%)] tertiles of CTX, with a significant difference seen between the middle and upper tertiles (P = 0.002 5). After adjusting for multiple confounding variables, the upper tertile of baseline CTX was associated with an increased risk of incident dysglycemia, with an odds ratio of 7.09 (95% CI, 1.73-28.99) when the middle tertile was the reference. Osteoclasts actively regulate glucose homeostasis in a biphasic model that moderately enhanced bone resorption marker CTX at baseline provides protective effects against the deterioration of glucose metabolism, whereas an overactive osteoclastic function contributes to an increased risk of subsequent dysglycemia.展开更多
BACKGROUND: The prevalences of hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, etc. are higher in Mongolian population because of the influence of various factors including genetics, geography, diet, etc. Therefore, it is he...BACKGROUND: The prevalences of hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, etc. are higher in Mongolian population because of the influence of various factors including genetics, geography, diet, etc. Therefore, it is helpful to develop researches on the genetics of various diseases including hypertension in Mongolian population. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the polymorphism of beta1 adrenergic receptor (β1-AR) gene G1165C (Arg389Gly), an important candidate gene for various diseases of cardiovascular system, and essential hypertension in Mongolian population. DESIGN : A cross-sectional study SETTINGS: Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical College; Wulate Houqi Red Cross Society. PARTICIPANTS: The survey was carried out from February 2003 to March 2005. Totally 239 Mongolian residents, whose blood relations of 3 generations were all Mongolians, were selected from Wulate Houqi, Inner Mongolia, and they were all informed with the survey and detected items. Based on the diagnostic standard of hypertension set by WHO in 1999, the subjects were divided into two groups according to the level blood pressure: ① Normal blood pressure group (n=117): systolic blood pressure (SBP) 〈 140 mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 〈 90 mm Hg, and those having histories of cerebrovascular disease, heart disease, diseases of liver, kidney and tiroides, and diabetes mellitus were excluded. ② Essential hypertension group (n=122): including 51 patients with simple high SBP. All the enrolled subjects had no blood relationship with each other, and had no history of miscegenation. METHODS : The body height, body mass, waist circumference and blood lipids were measured routinely, and their habits of smoking and drinking were also investigated. Penpheral venous blood (5 mL) was drawn, the genome DNA was extracted, and the polymorphisms of the β1-AR Gl165C (Gly389Arg) genotype were detected with the Sequenom system. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiment and SNP detection were performed in Huada Gene Laboratory of Bejing, then the univariate analysis of variance was applied in the sample comparison among groups, and the chi-square test was used to compare the genotypes and allele frequencies. The odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CO were calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The distributions of β1-AR Gl165C (Gly389Arg) genotypes and alleles were observed. RESULTS: A11 the 239 subjects were involved in the analysis of results, and no one missed, ①Comparison of β1-AR G1165C (Gly389Arg) genotypes and allele distnbutions: In Mongolian population, the frequencies of CC and GG+GC genotypes at β1-AR G1165C (Gly389Arg) site in the essential hypertension group (72%, 28%) were not significantly different from those in the normal blood pressure group (67%, 33%) (xz=0.841, P=-0.359; OR 0.773, 95%Cl: 0.445-1.342); The frequencies of C and G alleles also had no significant differences between the essential hypertension group (85%, 15%) and the normal blood pressure group (82%, 18%) (x^2=1.136, P=-0.287; OR: 0.769, 95%Cl: 0.747-1.248). ②The frequencies of CC and GG+GC genotypes at β1-AR G1165C (Gly389Arg) site had no significant differences between the patients with simple high SBP (71%, 29%) and the normal blood pressure group (x^2=0.250, P=-0.617; OR: 0.833, 95%C/: 0.408-1.703); The frequencies of C and G alleles were not significantly different between the patients with simple high SBP (86%, 14%) and the normal blood pressure group (x^2=0.670, P=-0.413; OR 0.766, 95%Cl: 0.404-1.453). CONCLUSION: In Mongolian population, the distributions of the genotypes and alleles of β1-AR Gl165C (Gly389Arg) have no obvious differences between the subjects with normal blood pressure and the patients with essential hypertension (including simple SBP increase), which suggests that G1165C (Glu389Asp) site of β1-AR gene may be not a genetic mark of essential hypertension and simple high SBP in Mongolian population.展开更多
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is a major public health issue worldwide. Immunoglobulin G(IgG) N-glycans are associated with risk factors for NAFLD, such as obesity and diabetes. A cross-sectional study i...Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is a major public health issue worldwide. Immunoglobulin G(IgG) N-glycans are associated with risk factors for NAFLD, such as obesity and diabetes. A cross-sectional study involving 500 Han Chinese adults recruited from a community in Beijing was carried out to explore the association between IgG N-glycans and NAFLD. IgG N-glycosylation was significantly associated with NAFLD, with the disease showing a negative correlation with galactosylation(GP14, GP14n, and G2n), positive correlation with fucosylation(FBG2n/G2n), and positive correlation with bisecting N-acetylglucosamine(Glc NAc) [FBG2n/FG2n and FBG2n/(FG2n+FBG2n)], after controlling age, gender, and prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. In other words, the present study showed a possible association between NAFLD and the loss of galactose and elevations of fucose and bisecting GlcNAc. Aberrant IgG glycosylation might therefore be a potential biomarker for the primary or secondary prevention of NAFLD.展开更多
Dear Editor, Nicotine is a psychoactive alkaloid that is thought to play a key role in addiction to commercial tobacco products [1] and cotinine is its primary metabolite [2]. Pharmacological treatment, such as nicoti...Dear Editor, Nicotine is a psychoactive alkaloid that is thought to play a key role in addiction to commercial tobacco products [1] and cotinine is its primary metabolite [2]. Pharmacological treatment, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), is a valid solution to this problem. Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens such as nitrosamines .展开更多
BACKGROUND: Many researches have suggested that apolipoprotein E (APOE) and total cholesterol metabolism are closely related with dementia. In the supposed theory, 219 site of APOE promoter region is near gene coding ...BACKGROUND: Many researches have suggested that apolipoprotein E (APOE) and total cholesterol metabolism are closely related with dementia. In the supposed theory, 219 site of APOE promoter region is near gene coding region, so its polymorphism may result in the abnormality of APOE gene and protein expression, and finally lead to dementia. OBJECTIVE: To observe the association between APOE promoter-219G/T polymorphisms with serum total cholesterol in patients with Alzheimer disease, and compare it with non-dementia people. DESIGN: Case-control, comparative observation. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Fengtian Hospital of Shenyang Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-five dementia patients including 27 males and 28 females aged (66±3) years and treated in the Department of Neurology, Fengtian Hospital were selected from January 2002 to December 2005 as the Alzheimer disease group. They all diagnosed according to the DSM-Ⅳdiagnostic criteria of Alzheimer disease instituted by American Psychiatry Association in 1994. Meanwhile, 44 none-dementia patients including 21 males and 23 females aged (66±3) years were selected from other clinical departments of Fengtian Hospital as control group. All the participants were informed the detection and agreed. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of all subjects, then 'NEST'PCR, DNA sequence and enzyme digestion were adopted to detect the expression of APOE promoter-219 polymorphism, following by biomedical statistics analysis based on the clinical total cholesterol level. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Polymorphism of APOE promoter-219 G/T and total cholesterol level. RESULTS: All 55 dementia patients and 44 non-dementia ones were involved in the result analysis. ①Allele and genotype frequency: The T allele frequency of the Alzheimer disease group was significantly higher than that in the control group [88.2% (97/110), 54.5% (48/88)], while G allele frequency was remarkably lower than that in the control group [11.8%(13/110), 45.5%(40/88), χ2=8.2, P < 0.01]. The TT allele frequency of the Alzheimer disease group was significantly higher than that in the control group [76% (42/55), 48% (21/44)], while GT+GG allele frequency was remarkably lower than that in the control group [24%(13/55), 52%(23/44), χ2=8.7, P < 0.01]. ②Total cholesterol level: The level of the TT genotype patients in the Alzheimer group was obviously higher than that in GT+GG genotype patients (t =2.46, P < 0.05); the cholesterol level in the two genotypes of the control group was similar (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: TT genotype and allele T in the APOE promoter-219 polymorphisms are the sensitive gene, and genotype TT has a relationship with the increase of total cholesterol level.展开更多
Objective Phoresy represents a non-parasitic association between animals of different taxa related to transportation. Members of several pseudoscorpion families are phoretic. In pseudoscorpions, phoresy may or may not...Objective Phoresy represents a non-parasitic association between animals of different taxa related to transportation. Members of several pseudoscorpion families are phoretic. In pseudoscorpions, phoresy may or may not be associated with their predatory behavior, enabling dispersal over larger distances than they could manage with their own short legs. This provides a wide distribution, and a potential food supply.展开更多
Lead,a heavy metal,which is nonessential but may be harmful to the human body,has been widely used to manufacture many products for use in the modern world.Lead-acid batteries have the advantages of low price,high saf...Lead,a heavy metal,which is nonessential but may be harmful to the human body,has been widely used to manufacture many products for use in the modern world.Lead-acid batteries have the advantages of low price,high safety,and advanced technology.展开更多
Objective The present study aimed to estimate the association between susceptibility to migraine and the 12nucleotide insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphism in promoter region ofα 2B -adrenergic receptor gene (AD...Objective The present study aimed to estimate the association between susceptibility to migraine and the 12nucleotide insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphism in promoter region ofα 2B -adrenergic receptor gene (ADRA2B).Methods A case-control study was carried out in Chinese Han population,including 368 cases of migraine and 517 controls.Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples,and DNA fragments containing the site of polymorphism were amplified by PCR.Data were adjusted for sex,age,migraine history and family history,and analyzed using a logistic regression model.Results There was no association between indel polymorphism and migraine,at either the allele or the genotype level.Conclusion These findings do not support a functional significance of ADRA2B indel polymorphism at position-4825 relative to the start codon in the far upstream region of the promoter in the present migraine subjects.展开更多
Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is one of the leading pathological causes of a wide spectrum of ischemic heart diseases, ranging from variant angina pectoris to acute myocardial infarction and even sudden cardiac death[...Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is one of the leading pathological causes of a wide spectrum of ischemic heart diseases, ranging from variant angina pectoris to acute myocardial infarction and even sudden cardiac death[1]. Furthermore, Pierron et al. concluded that CAS of angiographically normal or sub-normal arteries is responsible for death or myocardial infarction in 11.6% of all cases. Oddly, the incidence of CAS is remarkably higher in Asians than in Caucasians[3], suggesting genetic involvement In its pathogenesis.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To recognize the significances of the classification, evaluation, treatment, pathogenesis, etiological factors and related loci of hemispatial neglect (HSN) in the treatment and prognosis of stroke patie...OBJECTIVE: To recognize the significances of the classification, evaluation, treatment, pathogenesis, etiological factors and related loci of hemispatial neglect (HSN) in the treatment and prognosis of stroke patients. DATA SOURCES: Articles related to HSN in stroke published in English from January 1985 to December 2002 were searched in Medline database by using the keywords of "stroke, hemispatial neglect (HSN), rehabilitation". Chinese relevant professional works and articles were also referred to. STUDY SELECTION: The data were primarily checked. Inclusive criteria: ① articles about the HSN symptoms in stroke; ② articles about the classification, evaluation, treatment, pathogenesis, etiological factors and related loci of HSN, as well as the treatment and prognosis of stroke. The repetitive studies or reviews were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION : Totally 474 articles related to HSN in stroke were collected, 43 of them were involved and 431 repetitive studies or reviews were excluded. DATA SYNTHESES: HSN can be classified as sensory neglect and motor neglect. Because HSN is caused by the injury of network structure which mediated directed attention, it is generally believed that the inferior parietal Iobule of dominant hemisphere is the most closely correlated with neglect. The main theories related to the pathogenesis of HSN at present include "internal instruction", "directed bradykinesia", "sensory attention", etc. The main clinical manifestations are setover in drawing lines, picture drawing towards one side, imitation towards one side, picture description towards one side, etc., which can be evaluated by the line bisection test, target cancellation test, picture drawing test and pegboard test. The most important thing for the treatment is to make the patients continuously concentrate on the neglected side. CONCLUSION: HSN is an indicator for the bad outcome of cerebrovascular disease, the symptoms take longer time to rehabilitate with slow recovery, but quite a few HSN patients will get good prognosis if timely treatment and proper program are given.展开更多
Isolated case reports have circumstantially linked the use of the herbicide 2.4-dichlorophen-oxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to polyneuropathy. However, a critical review of the literature reveals numerous reasons for doubting...Isolated case reports have circumstantially linked the use of the herbicide 2.4-dichlorophen-oxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to polyneuropathy. However, a critical review of the literature reveals numerous reasons for doubting a relationship of 2.4-D to polyneuropathy: (1) too few cases given the wide use of the chemical: (2) no valid toxicologic or epidemiologic evidence; (3) the diversity of antecedent illness; (4) an unlikely time sequence of antecedent illness to exposure (pharmacokinetics); (5) the lack of polyneuropathy in medical patients given repetitive doses of 2.4-D; (6) the lack of polyneuropathy in heavily exposed military personnel involved in operation Ranch Hand; (7) the biological properties of 2.4-D which minimize penetration of 2.4-D into the nervous system under normal exposure conditions; and (8) the lack of polyneuropathy in a variety of experimental animal species given 2,4-D by several routes of exposure and at dose levels and durations of exposure many times greater than human applicator exposure. Thus, the weight of evidence indicates that 2.4-D is an unlikely cause of polyneuropathy. 1990 Academic Press. Inc.展开更多
We used PCR SSOP technique to study the blood of 56 patients and the HLA DQB loci in 22 cancer tissue of them. No significance was found between control group and stomach cancer group of their gene frequencies P>...We used PCR SSOP technique to study the blood of 56 patients and the HLA DQB loci in 22 cancer tissue of them. No significance was found between control group and stomach cancer group of their gene frequencies P>0 05), but ten kinds of genotype frequency increased greatly (0306X/0306X, 0306X/0304, 0306X/0401,020/020, 0501/06052,0501/0606X,0501/0501,0501/0603, 0307/0402,0301/0301,P<0 025). The typing results of cancer tissue showed no difference to their blood, and accordance rate was 100%. Our study suggests that:①Some HLA DQB genotypes may take actions in the pathologic of stomach cancer; ② The gene level of HLA DQB alleles in not participated in the abnormal presentation of HLA DQB in stomach cancer tissue.展开更多
BACKGROUND : Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have disclosed the changes of the motor function in the motor cortex of ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of tumor, which have special signi...BACKGROUND : Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have disclosed the changes of the motor function in the motor cortex of ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of tumor, which have special significance for making the surgical planning and most greatly minimizing the postoperative functional damages. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the manifestation characteristics of hand functional area and motor dysfunction using fMRI in patients with space-occupying lesions of tumor in motor cortex. DESIGN : A case-controlled observation SETTING: Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College .PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three patients (13 males and 10 females) with space-occupying lesions of central sulcus area, aged 21-53 years with a mean age of (47±1) years were selected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College. All the patients were diagnosed by MR scanning as space-occupying lesions of motor area, and pathologically confirmed that the lesions involved central sulcus and central Iobule; Lesions occurred in left and right hemispheres in 13 and 10 cases respectively. The tumor types were astrocytoma (n =8), metastatic tumours (n =7), meningiomas (n =5) and oligodendroglioma (n =3). The muscle strength was normal in 11 cases (grade 5) and obviously decreased in 12 cases (grade 2-3 in 3 cases and grade 4 in 9 cases); muscle strengths of both upper and lower limbs were decreased in 7 cases, and only that of upper limbs was decreased in 5 cases. Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects. Meanwhile, 9 healthy physical examinees (5 males and 4 females) of 20-56 years old with an average of (34±1) years were taken as controls. All the patients and healthy subjects were right-handed. METHODS: All the enrolled subjects were examined with MR scanning and functional imaging. Twenty cases whose clinical symptoms were mild in the patient group and 9 healthy volunteers adopted simple active finger-tapping movements, and for the 3 cases whose clinical symptoms were severe in the patient group, the simple passive finger-tapping movements were used. The manifestations in the activated brain areas were analyzed in the patients with brain tumor of different muscle strength and the controls. The motor deficit and activation of contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) in simple finger-tapping movements were observed in the patient group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Brain areas activated by finger-tapping movements in each group: (2) Activated volumes in hemisphere by finger-tapping movements between groups. RESULTS: The contralateral M1 area could not be activated in 1 case in the patient group,, all the other 22 patients and 9 healthy subjects were involved in the analysis of results. (1) In the control group, unilateral finger tapping movement activated the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), bilateral SMA and bilateral PMC. The activation volume was the largest in contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), smaller in the SMA, and the smallest in PMC. The finger tapping movement in healthy subjects could activate contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), bilateral SMA and bilateral PMC, which had no obvious differences from the manifestations of brain functional area activated by active finger tapping. There was no significant difference in the volume of activated functional areas between right and left hands. In the patient group, the central sulcos around the tumor in the activated M1 area displaced towards dorsal or ventral side, also extended. The distance of displacement in the functional area was determined as compared with the contralateral central sulcus, and the results suggested the M1 displacement, including that there were 10 cases with the M1 displacement larger than 10 mm in the patients with motor deficit, which were obviously more than in those without motor deficit (n =1, P 〈 0.01), and the activated volume in contralateral M1 area was obvious smaller in the patients with motor deficit than in those without motor deficit (P 〈 0.01). (2) The M1 activation and changes were observed in contralateral hemisphere in the patient group, and the activated volume was obviously larger than that in the control group (P 〈 0.01). The activated volumes of M1 and PMC in ipsilateral hemisphere were obviously larger than those in the control group (P 〈 0.05), but that of SMA had no obvious difference between the two groups (P 〉 0.05). CONCLUSION: fMRI can be used to observe the activation of the brain motor functional areas of patient with space-occupying lesions in motor area, and evaluate the state of their motor function. The larger the distance of displacement of M1 compressed by tumor, the more obviously the muscle strength decreases in the patients.展开更多
This study explored the association between the lncRNA HOTAIR polymorphism and susceptibility to lead poisoning in a Chinese population. We speculated that lead poisoning caused elevated levels of oxidative stress, wh...This study explored the association between the lncRNA HOTAIR polymorphism and susceptibility to lead poisoning in a Chinese population. We speculated that lead poisoning caused elevated levels of oxidative stress, which, in turn, activate the HOTAIR gene to cause apoptosis. Three lncRNA HOTAIR tagSNPs(rs7958904, rs4759314, and rs874945) were genotyped by TaqM an genotyping technology in 113 lead-sensitive and 113 lead-resistant Chinese workers exposed to lead. Rs7958904 was significantly associated with susceptibility to lead poisoning(P = 0.047). The rs7958904 G allele had a protective effect compared with the C allele and reduced the risk of lead poisoning(P = 0.016). Rs7958904 may act as a potential biomarker for predicting the risk of lead poisoning and distinguishing lead-sensitive individuals from lead-resistant individuals.展开更多
基金supported by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2017-12M-3-002)the Central High Level Hospital Clinical Research Operating Expenses,China(Zero Balance 2022-GSP-GG-15)the Natural Science Foundation Project of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China(2022LHQN08003).
文摘BACKGROUND Low serum albumin levels are established predictors of adverse outcomes in various cardiovascular conditions.However,the role of serum albumin in mortality among elderly patients with chronic aortic regurgitation(AR)has not been thoroughly investigated.This study aims to assess the relationship between serum albumin levels and mortality in this specific patient population.METHODS Our analysis included 873 elderly AR patients from the China Valvular Heart Disease study,with baseline serum albumin measured at enrollment.Mortality outcomes were monitored for two years post-enrollment,employing a Cox proportional hazards model with a two-piecewise Cox proportional hazards framework to investigate the nonlinear relationship between serum albumin levels and all-cause mortality.RESULTS During the 2-year follow-up period,we observed 63 all-cause deaths.The association between serum albumin levels and all-cause mortality displayed an approximating L-shaped curve,indicating a mortality threshold at 35 g/L.For serum albumin levels below 35 g/L,each 1 g/L decrease was associated with a 25%higher risk of all-cause mortality(HR=1.25,95%CI:1.07–1.45).In contrast,no significant change in mortality risk was observed when serum albumin levels were greater than or equal to 35 g/L.Moreover,when serum albumin is classified as hypoproteinemia(serum albumin<35 g/L),the higher risks of all-cause death were observed in hypoproteinemic patients(HR=2.93,95%CI:1.50–5.74).More importantly,the association between serum albumin and death was significantly stronger in overweight/obese patients(≥24 kg/m^(2)vs.<24 kg/m^(2),Pinteraction=0.006).CONCLUSIONS In elderly patients with AR,serum albumin levels showed an approximating L-shaped relationship with all-cause death,with thresholds of 35 g/L.Body mass index was significant effect modifiers of the association.These results suggest that serum albumin,as an inexpensive and readily available biochemical marker,may further improve the stratified risk of mortality in older AR patients.
文摘In today's society,the rampant occurrence of metabolic diseases is becoming a severe challenge in the global health field.The incidence rate of metabolic diseases such as obesity,diabetes,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease continues to rise,posing a serious threat to human health and increasing the social medical burden.In recent years,the gut microbiota,as a key component of the human microbiota,has gradually entered the center of scientific research.Numerous studies have shown that the gut microbiota is closely linked to the body's metabolism,and its role in the occurrence and development of metabolic diseases should not be underestimated.Exploring the correlation between the two in depth is expected to open up a new path for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases,bringing hope for improving human health.
文摘BACKGROUND Insulin resistance is a cardiometabolic risk factor characterized by elevated insulin levels.It is associated with fatty liver disease and elevated liver function tests(LFT)in cross-sectional studies,but data from cohort studies are scarce.AIM To investigate the association between insulin and pathological LFT,liver disease,and cirrhosis in a populationbased retrospective cohort study.METHODS Anthropometric and cardiometabolic factors of 857 men and 1228 women from prospective cohort studies were used.LFT were obtained at two time points 8 years to 24 years after baseline.Liver disease diagnoses were obtained from nationwide registries.The association between insulin levels and the development of elevated LFT or liver disease and cirrhosis was analyzed.RESULTS Total follow-up was 54054 person-years for women and 27556 person-years for men.Insulin levels were positively correlated with elevated LFT during follow-up,whereas physical activity and coffee consumption were negatively correlated.Individuals with both insulin levels in the upper tertile and alcohol consumption above MASLD thresholds had an increased risk for both liver disease,adjusted hazard ratio(aHR)of 4.3(95%CI:1.6-14.6)and cirrhosis(aHR=4.8,95%CI:1.6-14.6).CONCLUSION This population-based study provides evidence that high insulin levels are a risk factor for development of elevated liver enzymes and clinically manifest liver disease.The results support the concept of metabolic dysfunction associated liver disease.
基金the Scientific Research Innovation Capability Support Project for Young Faculty(ZYGXQNJSKYCXNLZCXM-H8)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2024ZYGXZR077)+3 种基金Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2023B1515120006)Guangzhou Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2024A04J5776)the Research Fund(2023QN10Y421)Guangzhou Talent Recruitment Team Program(2024D03J0004),all related to this study.
文摘Osteoporosis is a known risk factor for rotator cuff tears(RCTs),but the causal correlation and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.This study aims to evaluate the impact of osteoporosis on RCT risk and investigate their genetic associations.Using data from the UK Biobank(n=457871),cross-sectional analyses demonstrated that osteoporosis was significantly associated with an increased risk of RCTs(adjusted OR[95%CI]=1.38[1.25–1.52]).A longitudinal analysis of a subset of patients(n=268117)over 11 years revealed that osteoporosis increased the risk of RCTs(adjusted HR[95%CI]=1.56[1.29–1.87]),which is notably varied between sexes in sex-stratified analysis.Causal inference methods,including propensity score matching,inverse probability weighting,causal random forest and survival random forest models further confirmed the causal effect,both from cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81370960 and 81670795)the Ministry of Science and Technology(No.2015BAI12B14,2015BAI12B02,2016YFC0901200,and 2016YFC1305202)
文摘This current cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between thyroid hormones and peripheral artery disease (PAD) among euthyroid Chinese population aged 40 years and above. Serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid antibodies were measured.
基金supported by projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81370977,81570796 and 81370018)by the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee(14411960900)
文摘Bone is an endocrine organ involved in modulating glucose homeostasis. The role of the bone formation marker osteocalcin (OCN) in predicting diabetes was reported, but with conflicting results. No study has explored the association between baseline bone resorption activity and incident diabetes or prediabetes during follow-up. Our objective was to examine the relationship between the baseline bone resorption marker crosslinked C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) and glycemic dysregulation after 4 years. This longitudinal study was conducted in a university teaching hospital. A total of 195 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) women at baseline were invited for follow-up. The incidence of diabetes and prediabetes (collectively defined as dysglycemia) was recorded. A total of 128 individuals completed the 4-year study. The overall conversion rate from NGT to dysglycemia was 31.3%. The incidence of dysglycemia was lowest in the middle tertile [16.3% (95% confidence interval (CI), 6.8%-30.70/0)] compared with the lower [31.0% (95% CI, 17.2%-46.1%)] and upper [46.5% (95% CI, 31.2%-62.6%)] tertiles of CTX, with a significant difference seen between the middle and upper tertiles (P = 0.002 5). After adjusting for multiple confounding variables, the upper tertile of baseline CTX was associated with an increased risk of incident dysglycemia, with an odds ratio of 7.09 (95% CI, 1.73-28.99) when the middle tertile was the reference. Osteoclasts actively regulate glucose homeostasis in a biphasic model that moderately enhanced bone resorption marker CTX at baseline provides protective effects against the deterioration of glucose metabolism, whereas an overactive osteoclastic function contributes to an increased risk of subsequent dysglycemia.
基金a grant from theGreat Program of Inner Mongo-lia Medical College, No.NY2004ZD006
文摘BACKGROUND: The prevalences of hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, etc. are higher in Mongolian population because of the influence of various factors including genetics, geography, diet, etc. Therefore, it is helpful to develop researches on the genetics of various diseases including hypertension in Mongolian population. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the polymorphism of beta1 adrenergic receptor (β1-AR) gene G1165C (Arg389Gly), an important candidate gene for various diseases of cardiovascular system, and essential hypertension in Mongolian population. DESIGN : A cross-sectional study SETTINGS: Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical College; Wulate Houqi Red Cross Society. PARTICIPANTS: The survey was carried out from February 2003 to March 2005. Totally 239 Mongolian residents, whose blood relations of 3 generations were all Mongolians, were selected from Wulate Houqi, Inner Mongolia, and they were all informed with the survey and detected items. Based on the diagnostic standard of hypertension set by WHO in 1999, the subjects were divided into two groups according to the level blood pressure: ① Normal blood pressure group (n=117): systolic blood pressure (SBP) 〈 140 mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 〈 90 mm Hg, and those having histories of cerebrovascular disease, heart disease, diseases of liver, kidney and tiroides, and diabetes mellitus were excluded. ② Essential hypertension group (n=122): including 51 patients with simple high SBP. All the enrolled subjects had no blood relationship with each other, and had no history of miscegenation. METHODS : The body height, body mass, waist circumference and blood lipids were measured routinely, and their habits of smoking and drinking were also investigated. Penpheral venous blood (5 mL) was drawn, the genome DNA was extracted, and the polymorphisms of the β1-AR Gl165C (Gly389Arg) genotype were detected with the Sequenom system. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiment and SNP detection were performed in Huada Gene Laboratory of Bejing, then the univariate analysis of variance was applied in the sample comparison among groups, and the chi-square test was used to compare the genotypes and allele frequencies. The odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CO were calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The distributions of β1-AR Gl165C (Gly389Arg) genotypes and alleles were observed. RESULTS: A11 the 239 subjects were involved in the analysis of results, and no one missed, ①Comparison of β1-AR G1165C (Gly389Arg) genotypes and allele distnbutions: In Mongolian population, the frequencies of CC and GG+GC genotypes at β1-AR G1165C (Gly389Arg) site in the essential hypertension group (72%, 28%) were not significantly different from those in the normal blood pressure group (67%, 33%) (xz=0.841, P=-0.359; OR 0.773, 95%Cl: 0.445-1.342); The frequencies of C and G alleles also had no significant differences between the essential hypertension group (85%, 15%) and the normal blood pressure group (82%, 18%) (x^2=1.136, P=-0.287; OR: 0.769, 95%Cl: 0.747-1.248). ②The frequencies of CC and GG+GC genotypes at β1-AR G1165C (Gly389Arg) site had no significant differences between the patients with simple high SBP (71%, 29%) and the normal blood pressure group (x^2=0.250, P=-0.617; OR: 0.833, 95%C/: 0.408-1.703); The frequencies of C and G alleles were not significantly different between the patients with simple high SBP (86%, 14%) and the normal blood pressure group (x^2=0.670, P=-0.413; OR 0.766, 95%Cl: 0.404-1.453). CONCLUSION: In Mongolian population, the distributions of the genotypes and alleles of β1-AR Gl165C (Gly389Arg) have no obvious differences between the subjects with normal blood pressure and the patients with essential hypertension (including simple SBP increase), which suggests that G1165C (Glu389Asp) site of β1-AR gene may be not a genetic mark of essential hypertension and simple high SBP in Mongolian population.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China[81673247]the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(NSFC)-Australian National Health and Medical Research Council(NHMRC) Joint Research Project[NSFC 81561128020-NHMRC APP1112767]
文摘Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is a major public health issue worldwide. Immunoglobulin G(IgG) N-glycans are associated with risk factors for NAFLD, such as obesity and diabetes. A cross-sectional study involving 500 Han Chinese adults recruited from a community in Beijing was carried out to explore the association between IgG N-glycans and NAFLD. IgG N-glycosylation was significantly associated with NAFLD, with the disease showing a negative correlation with galactosylation(GP14, GP14n, and G2n), positive correlation with fucosylation(FBG2n/G2n), and positive correlation with bisecting N-acetylglucosamine(Glc NAc) [FBG2n/FG2n and FBG2n/(FG2n+FBG2n)], after controlling age, gender, and prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. In other words, the present study showed a possible association between NAFLD and the loss of galactose and elevations of fucose and bisecting GlcNAc. Aberrant IgG glycosylation might therefore be a potential biomarker for the primary or secondary prevention of NAFLD.
基金partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81271475 and 81571297)
文摘Dear Editor, Nicotine is a psychoactive alkaloid that is thought to play a key role in addiction to commercial tobacco products [1] and cotinine is its primary metabolite [2]. Pharmacological treatment, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), is a valid solution to this problem. Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens such as nitrosamines .
文摘BACKGROUND: Many researches have suggested that apolipoprotein E (APOE) and total cholesterol metabolism are closely related with dementia. In the supposed theory, 219 site of APOE promoter region is near gene coding region, so its polymorphism may result in the abnormality of APOE gene and protein expression, and finally lead to dementia. OBJECTIVE: To observe the association between APOE promoter-219G/T polymorphisms with serum total cholesterol in patients with Alzheimer disease, and compare it with non-dementia people. DESIGN: Case-control, comparative observation. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Fengtian Hospital of Shenyang Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-five dementia patients including 27 males and 28 females aged (66±3) years and treated in the Department of Neurology, Fengtian Hospital were selected from January 2002 to December 2005 as the Alzheimer disease group. They all diagnosed according to the DSM-Ⅳdiagnostic criteria of Alzheimer disease instituted by American Psychiatry Association in 1994. Meanwhile, 44 none-dementia patients including 21 males and 23 females aged (66±3) years were selected from other clinical departments of Fengtian Hospital as control group. All the participants were informed the detection and agreed. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of all subjects, then 'NEST'PCR, DNA sequence and enzyme digestion were adopted to detect the expression of APOE promoter-219 polymorphism, following by biomedical statistics analysis based on the clinical total cholesterol level. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Polymorphism of APOE promoter-219 G/T and total cholesterol level. RESULTS: All 55 dementia patients and 44 non-dementia ones were involved in the result analysis. ①Allele and genotype frequency: The T allele frequency of the Alzheimer disease group was significantly higher than that in the control group [88.2% (97/110), 54.5% (48/88)], while G allele frequency was remarkably lower than that in the control group [11.8%(13/110), 45.5%(40/88), χ2=8.2, P < 0.01]. The TT allele frequency of the Alzheimer disease group was significantly higher than that in the control group [76% (42/55), 48% (21/44)], while GT+GG allele frequency was remarkably lower than that in the control group [24%(13/55), 52%(23/44), χ2=8.7, P < 0.01]. ②Total cholesterol level: The level of the TT genotype patients in the Alzheimer group was obviously higher than that in GT+GG genotype patients (t =2.46, P < 0.05); the cholesterol level in the two genotypes of the control group was similar (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: TT genotype and allele T in the APOE promoter-219 polymorphisms are the sensitive gene, and genotype TT has a relationship with the increase of total cholesterol level.
基金funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2015-00681)the National Geographic Society, USA (EC0768-15)+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41772008)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31872198)
文摘Objective Phoresy represents a non-parasitic association between animals of different taxa related to transportation. Members of several pseudoscorpion families are phoretic. In pseudoscorpions, phoresy may or may not be associated with their predatory behavior, enabling dispersal over larger distances than they could manage with their own short legs. This provides a wide distribution, and a potential food supply.
基金financially supported by the Jiangsu Province Special Project of Clinical Science and Technology[Grant No.BL2014082]the Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Team[CXTDA2017029]the Jiangsu Provincial Medical Youth Talent[QNRC2016548]
文摘Lead,a heavy metal,which is nonessential but may be harmful to the human body,has been widely used to manufacture many products for use in the modern world.Lead-acid batteries have the advantages of low price,high safety,and advanced technology.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30800621)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.20080431121,200902530)
文摘Objective The present study aimed to estimate the association between susceptibility to migraine and the 12nucleotide insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphism in promoter region ofα 2B -adrenergic receptor gene (ADRA2B).Methods A case-control study was carried out in Chinese Han population,including 368 cases of migraine and 517 controls.Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples,and DNA fragments containing the site of polymorphism were amplified by PCR.Data were adjusted for sex,age,migraine history and family history,and analyzed using a logistic regression model.Results There was no association between indel polymorphism and migraine,at either the allele or the genotype level.Conclusion These findings do not support a functional significance of ADRA2B indel polymorphism at position-4825 relative to the start codon in the far upstream region of the promoter in the present migraine subjects.
基金supported by fund from Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (No. 9251001002000002)
文摘Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is one of the leading pathological causes of a wide spectrum of ischemic heart diseases, ranging from variant angina pectoris to acute myocardial infarction and even sudden cardiac death[1]. Furthermore, Pierron et al. concluded that CAS of angiographically normal or sub-normal arteries is responsible for death or myocardial infarction in 11.6% of all cases. Oddly, the incidence of CAS is remarkably higher in Asians than in Caucasians[3], suggesting genetic involvement In its pathogenesis.
文摘OBJECTIVE: To recognize the significances of the classification, evaluation, treatment, pathogenesis, etiological factors and related loci of hemispatial neglect (HSN) in the treatment and prognosis of stroke patients. DATA SOURCES: Articles related to HSN in stroke published in English from January 1985 to December 2002 were searched in Medline database by using the keywords of "stroke, hemispatial neglect (HSN), rehabilitation". Chinese relevant professional works and articles were also referred to. STUDY SELECTION: The data were primarily checked. Inclusive criteria: ① articles about the HSN symptoms in stroke; ② articles about the classification, evaluation, treatment, pathogenesis, etiological factors and related loci of HSN, as well as the treatment and prognosis of stroke. The repetitive studies or reviews were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION : Totally 474 articles related to HSN in stroke were collected, 43 of them were involved and 431 repetitive studies or reviews were excluded. DATA SYNTHESES: HSN can be classified as sensory neglect and motor neglect. Because HSN is caused by the injury of network structure which mediated directed attention, it is generally believed that the inferior parietal Iobule of dominant hemisphere is the most closely correlated with neglect. The main theories related to the pathogenesis of HSN at present include "internal instruction", "directed bradykinesia", "sensory attention", etc. The main clinical manifestations are setover in drawing lines, picture drawing towards one side, imitation towards one side, picture description towards one side, etc., which can be evaluated by the line bisection test, target cancellation test, picture drawing test and pegboard test. The most important thing for the treatment is to make the patients continuously concentrate on the neglected side. CONCLUSION: HSN is an indicator for the bad outcome of cerebrovascular disease, the symptoms take longer time to rehabilitate with slow recovery, but quite a few HSN patients will get good prognosis if timely treatment and proper program are given.
文摘Isolated case reports have circumstantially linked the use of the herbicide 2.4-dichlorophen-oxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to polyneuropathy. However, a critical review of the literature reveals numerous reasons for doubting a relationship of 2.4-D to polyneuropathy: (1) too few cases given the wide use of the chemical: (2) no valid toxicologic or epidemiologic evidence; (3) the diversity of antecedent illness; (4) an unlikely time sequence of antecedent illness to exposure (pharmacokinetics); (5) the lack of polyneuropathy in medical patients given repetitive doses of 2.4-D; (6) the lack of polyneuropathy in heavily exposed military personnel involved in operation Ranch Hand; (7) the biological properties of 2.4-D which minimize penetration of 2.4-D into the nervous system under normal exposure conditions; and (8) the lack of polyneuropathy in a variety of experimental animal species given 2,4-D by several routes of exposure and at dose levels and durations of exposure many times greater than human applicator exposure. Thus, the weight of evidence indicates that 2.4-D is an unlikely cause of polyneuropathy. 1990 Academic Press. Inc.
文摘We used PCR SSOP technique to study the blood of 56 patients and the HLA DQB loci in 22 cancer tissue of them. No significance was found between control group and stomach cancer group of their gene frequencies P>0 05), but ten kinds of genotype frequency increased greatly (0306X/0306X, 0306X/0304, 0306X/0401,020/020, 0501/06052,0501/0606X,0501/0501,0501/0603, 0307/0402,0301/0301,P<0 025). The typing results of cancer tissue showed no difference to their blood, and accordance rate was 100%. Our study suggests that:①Some HLA DQB genotypes may take actions in the pathologic of stomach cancer; ② The gene level of HLA DQB alleles in not participated in the abnormal presentation of HLA DQB in stomach cancer tissue.
基金a grant from theMedical Scientific ResearchFoundation of GuangdongProvince, No. A2003526
文摘BACKGROUND : Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have disclosed the changes of the motor function in the motor cortex of ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of tumor, which have special significance for making the surgical planning and most greatly minimizing the postoperative functional damages. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the manifestation characteristics of hand functional area and motor dysfunction using fMRI in patients with space-occupying lesions of tumor in motor cortex. DESIGN : A case-controlled observation SETTING: Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College .PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three patients (13 males and 10 females) with space-occupying lesions of central sulcus area, aged 21-53 years with a mean age of (47±1) years were selected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College. All the patients were diagnosed by MR scanning as space-occupying lesions of motor area, and pathologically confirmed that the lesions involved central sulcus and central Iobule; Lesions occurred in left and right hemispheres in 13 and 10 cases respectively. The tumor types were astrocytoma (n =8), metastatic tumours (n =7), meningiomas (n =5) and oligodendroglioma (n =3). The muscle strength was normal in 11 cases (grade 5) and obviously decreased in 12 cases (grade 2-3 in 3 cases and grade 4 in 9 cases); muscle strengths of both upper and lower limbs were decreased in 7 cases, and only that of upper limbs was decreased in 5 cases. Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects. Meanwhile, 9 healthy physical examinees (5 males and 4 females) of 20-56 years old with an average of (34±1) years were taken as controls. All the patients and healthy subjects were right-handed. METHODS: All the enrolled subjects were examined with MR scanning and functional imaging. Twenty cases whose clinical symptoms were mild in the patient group and 9 healthy volunteers adopted simple active finger-tapping movements, and for the 3 cases whose clinical symptoms were severe in the patient group, the simple passive finger-tapping movements were used. The manifestations in the activated brain areas were analyzed in the patients with brain tumor of different muscle strength and the controls. The motor deficit and activation of contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) in simple finger-tapping movements were observed in the patient group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Brain areas activated by finger-tapping movements in each group: (2) Activated volumes in hemisphere by finger-tapping movements between groups. RESULTS: The contralateral M1 area could not be activated in 1 case in the patient group,, all the other 22 patients and 9 healthy subjects were involved in the analysis of results. (1) In the control group, unilateral finger tapping movement activated the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), bilateral SMA and bilateral PMC. The activation volume was the largest in contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), smaller in the SMA, and the smallest in PMC. The finger tapping movement in healthy subjects could activate contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), bilateral SMA and bilateral PMC, which had no obvious differences from the manifestations of brain functional area activated by active finger tapping. There was no significant difference in the volume of activated functional areas between right and left hands. In the patient group, the central sulcos around the tumor in the activated M1 area displaced towards dorsal or ventral side, also extended. The distance of displacement in the functional area was determined as compared with the contralateral central sulcus, and the results suggested the M1 displacement, including that there were 10 cases with the M1 displacement larger than 10 mm in the patients with motor deficit, which were obviously more than in those without motor deficit (n =1, P 〈 0.01), and the activated volume in contralateral M1 area was obvious smaller in the patients with motor deficit than in those without motor deficit (P 〈 0.01). (2) The M1 activation and changes were observed in contralateral hemisphere in the patient group, and the activated volume was obviously larger than that in the control group (P 〈 0.01). The activated volumes of M1 and PMC in ipsilateral hemisphere were obviously larger than those in the control group (P 〈 0.05), but that of SMA had no obvious difference between the two groups (P 〉 0.05). CONCLUSION: fMRI can be used to observe the activation of the brain motor functional areas of patient with space-occupying lesions in motor area, and evaluate the state of their motor function. The larger the distance of displacement of M1 compressed by tumor, the more obviously the muscle strength decreases in the patients.
基金financially supported by Jiangsu Province Special Project of Clinical Science and Technology[grant project number BL2014082]supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesJiangsu Province Ordinary University Graduate Student Scientific Research Innovation Projects[grant project number SJZZ16-0035]
文摘This study explored the association between the lncRNA HOTAIR polymorphism and susceptibility to lead poisoning in a Chinese population. We speculated that lead poisoning caused elevated levels of oxidative stress, which, in turn, activate the HOTAIR gene to cause apoptosis. Three lncRNA HOTAIR tagSNPs(rs7958904, rs4759314, and rs874945) were genotyped by TaqM an genotyping technology in 113 lead-sensitive and 113 lead-resistant Chinese workers exposed to lead. Rs7958904 was significantly associated with susceptibility to lead poisoning(P = 0.047). The rs7958904 G allele had a protective effect compared with the C allele and reduced the risk of lead poisoning(P = 0.016). Rs7958904 may act as a potential biomarker for predicting the risk of lead poisoning and distinguishing lead-sensitive individuals from lead-resistant individuals.