Abstract Background: The accuracy of diagnosis and the safety of treatment in colonoscopy depends largely on the quality of bowel cleansing. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and adverse reactions of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) combined with lactulose with that of PEG alone in bowel preparation before colonoscopy. Methods: The authors searched a number of databases including EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and China Academic Journals Full-text Database. The authors screened according to literature inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessed the quality of the included literature, and extracted the data. The meta-analysis of included literature used RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 software. Results: A total of 18 studies, including 2274 patients, were enrolled. The meta-analysis showed that PEG combined with lactulose had a better efficacy (OR = 3.87, 95% CI 3.07‒4.87, p = 0.000, and I2 = 36.2% in the efficiency group; WMD = 0.86, 95% CI 0.69‒1.03, p = 0.032 and I2 = 0% in the BBPS score group) in bowel preparation for patients with or without constipation. Moreover, PEG combined with lactulose had fewer adverse reactions, including abdominal pain (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 0.94‒2.14, p = 0.094), nausea (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.13‒2.28, p = 0.009) and vomiting (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.14‒2.74, p = 0.011), than PEG alone. No significant reduction in the incidence of abdominal distention was observed. Conclusion: PEG combined with lactulose may be a better choice for bowel preparation before colonoscopy compared with PEG alone.

Abstract Objective Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease associated with impaired quality of life and heredity. This study aimed to investigate the association of allergic rhinitis in preschool children with exposure to indoor environment-related factors early in life. Methods In August 2019, the authors implemented a study among 2020 preschool children in Urumqi City using a case-control design. The study included parental reports for the occurrence of AR in children, parental history of respiratory disease, and indoor environmental correlates of maternal exposure from 1 year prior to pregnancy until the child's age of 0-1 year. Results Mode of birth (cesarean section) (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.02∼1.67), father with AR (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.08∼3.44), mother with AR (OR = 3.70, 95% CI = 2.88∼4.74), mother with asthma (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.18∼8.20), and mother with newly purchased furniture in the parents' residence during pregnancy (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.03∼2.14) were risk factors for AR in children. Conclusions The focus of allergic rhinitis should be on children with a family history of AR and asthma and cesarean delivery. Primary prevention efforts for AR in preschool children are avoiding exposure of children to indoor environmental hazardous factors early in life.

O estudo buscou investigar a associação entre consumo de frutas e verduras e placa carotídea (PC) e espessura íntima-média carotídea (EIMC), dois preditores de aterosclerose entre adultos das áreas urbana e rural com alto risco de desenvolver doenças cardiovasculares (DCVs) em uma região da China. Foram identificados 11.392 adultos com alto risco de DCV, entre 71.511 indivíduos da população geral, em um estudo transversal entre novembro de 2015 e maio de 2016 na Província de Jiangsu. Entre esses 11.392 participantes de alto risco, a prevalência de PC foi de 36,7%. As variáveis independentes, ou seja, frequências de consumo de frutas e verduras, foram avaliadas através de um questionário de frequência alimentar. As variáveis de desfecho, EIMC e PC, foram medidas por ultrassom. A análise ANCOVA não mostrou associação entre valores de EIMC e frequências de consumo de frutas e verduras. Foram introduzidos modelos de regressão logística multivariada para examinar a associação entre consumo de frutas e verduras e PC. Depois de ajustar para potenciais fatores de confusão, as ORs para participantes com consumo eventual e diário de verduras para qualquer PC foram 0,67 (IC95%: 0,58-0,78) e 0,70 (IC95%: 0,62-0,79), respectivamente, comparado com aqueles com consumo raro de verduras. Enquanto isso, as ORs ajustados foram 0,77 (IC95%: 0,64-0,92) e 0,80 (IC95%: 0,68-0,94), separadamente, para adultos com consumo eventual e diário de verduras para desenvolver uma PC única, comparado aos que relatavam consumo raro de verduras. Entretanto, não foi observada uma associação significativa entre consumo de frutas e PC. Entre a população chinesa com alto risco de DCV, o consumo de verduras frescas mostrou associação negativa com o risco de desenvolvimento de placa carotídea.

This study aimed to investigate the association of vegetable and fruit consumption with carotid plaque (CP) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), two predictors of carotid atherosclerosis, within urban and rural adults at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in regional China. A total of 11,392 adults at high CVD risk were identified from general population of 71,511 in this cross-sectional study, conducted between November of 2015 and May of 2016 in the Jiangsu Province. Among these 11,392 high risk participants, CP prevalence was 36.7%. The independent variables, vegetable and fruit intake frequency, were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. The outcome variables, CIMT and CP, were measured by ultrasound examination. The ANCOVA analysis showed no association between CIMT values and vegetable and fruit intake frequencies. Multivariate logistic regression models were introduced to examine the association between vegetable and fruit intake and CP. After adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratios (ORs) for participants who occasionally and daily consumed vegetable to experience any CP were 0.67 (95%CI: 0.58-0.78) and 0.70 (95%CI: 0.62-0.79), respectively, compared with those rarely consumed vegetable. While the adjusted ORs were 0.77 (95%CI: 0.64-0.92) and 0.80 (95%CI: 0.68-0.94), separately, for occasional and daily vegetable consumers to develop single CP relative to their counterparts who rarely consumed any vegetables. However, no significant association between fruit consumption and CP was observed. Among the Chinese population at high CVD risk, consumption of fresh vegetables was negatively associated with the risk of developing carotid plaque.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación del consumo de frutas y verduras con la placa carotídea (PC) y el grosor íntima-media carotídeo (GIMC), dos predictores de la aterosclerosis carotídea en adultos urbanos y rurales, con alto riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) en una región de China. Se identificaron, en este estudio transversal, a 11.392 adultos con alto riesgo de ECV dentro de una población general de 71.511, realizado entre noviembre de 2015 y mayo de 2016 en la provincia de Jiangsu. De estos 11.392 participantes en alto riesgo, la prevalencia de PC fue de un 36,7%. Las variables independientes, así como la frecuencia de consumo de verduras y fruta, se evaluaron mediante un cuestionario de frecuencia de comidas. Las variables de resultado, GIMC y PC, se midieron por un examen de ultrasonido. El análisis ANCOVA mostró que no existía asociación entre los valores GIMC y la frecuencia en el consumo de verduras y frutas. Los modelos de regresión logística multivariantes se introdujeron para examinar la asociación entre el consumo de verduras y frutas y la PC. Tras el ajuste para los factores potenciales de confusión, las ORs de haber tenido alguna PC para los participantes que ocasionalmente y diariamente consumían verduras fueron 0,67 (IC95%: 0,58-0,78) y 0,70 (IC95%: 0,62-0,79), respectivamente, comparadas con quienes raramente consumían verduras. Mientras que las ORs ajustadas fueron 0,77 (IC95%: 0,64-0,92) y 0,80 (IC95%: 0,68-0,94), separadamente, para los consumidores ocasionales y los consumidores diarios de verduras de desarrollar una única PC, en relación con sus contrapartes que raramente consumían verduras. No obstante, no se observó una asociación significativa entre el consumo de frutas y la PC. Entre la población con alto riesgo de ECV, el consumo de verdura fresca estuvo negativamente asociado con el riesgo de desarrollar PC.

O estudo buscou investigar a associação entre consumo de frutas e verduras e placa carotídea (PC) e espessura íntima-média carotídea (EIMC), dois preditores de aterosclerose entre adultos das áreas urbana e rural com alto risco de desenvolver doenças cardiovasculares (DCVs) em uma região da China. Foram identificados 11.392 adultos com alto risco de DCV, entre 71.511 indivíduos da população geral, em um estudo transversal entre novembro de 2015 e maio de 2016 na Província de Jiangsu. Entre esses 11.392 participantes de alto risco, a prevalência de PC foi de 36,7%. As variáveis independentes, ou seja, frequências de consumo de frutas e verduras, foram avaliadas através de um questionário de frequência alimentar. As variáveis de desfecho, EIMC e PC, foram medidas por ultrassom. A análise ANCOVA não mostrou associação entre valores de EIMC e frequências de consumo de frutas e verduras. Foram introduzidos modelos de regressão logística multivariada para examinar a associação entre consumo de frutas e verduras e PC. Depois de ajustar para potenciais fatores de confusão, as ORs para participantes com consumo eventual e diário de verduras para qualquer PC foram 0,67 (IC95%: 0,58-0,78) e 0,70 (IC95%: 0,62-0,79), respectivamente, comparado com aqueles com consumo raro de verduras. Enquanto isso, as ORs ajustados foram 0,77 (IC95%: 0,64-0,92) e 0,80 (IC95%: 0,68-0,94), separadamente, para adultos com consumo eventual e diário de verduras para desenvolver uma PC única, comparado aos que relatavam consumo raro de verduras. Entretanto, não foi observada uma associação significativa entre consumo de frutas e PC. Entre a população chinesa com alto risco de DCV, o consumo de verduras frescas mostrou associação negativa com o risco de desenvolvimento de placa carotídea.

This study aimed to investigate the association of vegetable and fruit consumption with carotid plaque (CP) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), two predictors of carotid atherosclerosis, within urban and rural adults at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in regional China. A total of 11,392 adults at high CVD risk were identified from general population of 71,511 in this cross-sectional study, conducted between November of 2015 and May of 2016 in the Jiangsu Province. Among these 11,392 high risk participants, CP prevalence was 36.7%. The independent variables, vegetable and fruit intake frequency, were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. The outcome variables, CIMT and CP, were measured by ultrasound examination. The ANCOVA analysis showed no association between CIMT values and vegetable and fruit intake frequencies. Multivariate logistic regression models were introduced to examine the association between vegetable and fruit intake and CP. After adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratios (ORs) for participants who occasionally and daily consumed vegetable to experience any CP were 0.67 (95%CI: 0.58-0.78) and 0.70 (95%CI: 0.62-0.79), respectively, compared with those rarely consumed vegetable. While the adjusted ORs were 0.77 (95%CI: 0.64-0.92) and 0.80 (95%CI: 0.68-0.94), separately, for occasional and daily vegetable consumers to develop single CP relative to their counterparts who rarely consumed any vegetables. However, no significant association between fruit consumption and CP was observed. Among the Chinese population at high CVD risk, consumption of fresh vegetables was negatively associated with the risk of developing carotid plaque.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación del consumo de frutas y verduras con la placa carotídea (PC) y el grosor íntima-media carotídeo (GIMC), dos predictores de la aterosclerosis carotídea en adultos urbanos y rurales, con alto riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) en una región de China. Se identificaron, en este estudio transversal, a 11.392 adultos con alto riesgo de ECV dentro de una población general de 71.511, realizado entre noviembre de 2015 y mayo de 2016 en la provincia de Jiangsu. De estos 11.392 participantes en alto riesgo, la prevalencia de PC fue de un 36,7%. Las variables independientes, así como la frecuencia de consumo de verduras y fruta, se evaluaron mediante un cuestionario de frecuencia de comidas. Las variables de resultado, GIMC y PC, se midieron por un examen de ultrasonido. El análisis ANCOVA mostró que no existía asociación entre los valores GIMC y la frecuencia en el consumo de verduras y frutas. Los modelos de regresión logística multivariantes se introdujeron para examinar la asociación entre el consumo de verduras y frutas y la PC. Tras el ajuste para los factores potenciales de confusión, las ORs de haber tenido alguna PC para los participantes que ocasionalmente y diariamente consumían verduras fueron 0,67 (IC95%: 0,58-0,78) y 0,70 (IC95%: 0,62-0,79), respectivamente, comparadas con quienes raramente consumían verduras. Mientras que las ORs ajustadas fueron 0,77 (IC95%: 0,64-0,92) y 0,80 (IC95%: 0,68-0,94), separadamente, para los consumidores ocasionales y los consumidores diarios de verduras de desarrollar una única PC, en relación con sus contrapartes que raramente consumían verduras. No obstante, no se observó una asociación significativa entre el consumo de frutas y la PC. Entre la población con alto riesgo de ECV, el consumo de verdura fresca estuvo negativamente asociado con el riesgo de desarrollar PC.

Abstract Circulating miRNAs presenting in plasma in a stable manner have been demonstrated their potential role as a promising biomarkers in many human diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, melanoma and ovarian carcinoma. However, few circulating miRNAs could be used for breast ductal cancer diagnosis. Here, we identified miR-1273g-3p as a biomarker for detecting breast ductal cancer. We detected miR-1273g-3p levels in the plasma of 39 sporadic breast ductal cancer patients and 40 healthy donors by Stem-loop Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed the plasma miR-1273g-3p level were significantly up-regulated in breast ductal cancer patients compared with healthy donors (p=0.0139). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve also revealed the significantly diagnostic ability of miR-1273g-3p in patients (p=0.0414). In addition, the plasma level of miR-1273g-3p was closely related to IIIB-IIIC TNM stage. We also confirmed the higher expression level of miR-1273g-3p in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (4.872±0.537) than normal breast cells (Hs 578Bst). Taken together, miR-1273g-3p could represent as a potential biomarker for early breast ductal cancer diagnosis.

In this study we focused on the development of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and investigated changes in the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) in different tissues. We sampled grape skin at four, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks after anthesis; developing flowers when blooming at 0%, 5%, 50%, and 90%; and leaves at two and four weeks before anthesis and at two, four, six, eight, nine, and 10 weeks after anthesis. We also examined the type and fluctuation of volatile contents. ADH activity increased with the development of flowers and grape skins, which led to the increasing of types and concentration of alcohols. Low levels of 9-HPL led to low concentrations of C9 compounds. According to this paper, C6 compounds became abundant with the development of grape berries, while the activity of 13-HPL kept at a low level in the flowers and grape skins. There might have been a high level of 13-HPL activity from the end of flowering until fruit setting that we did not detect. Furthermore, similar C6 and C5 compounds were detected across all tissues, including hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-2-penten-1-ol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol and 3-hexen-1-ol. Generally speaking, the concentrations of C6 and C5 compounds could be used as the criterion of maturation of the three grape tissues.

The role of B cells in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has not been explored in depth. In the present study, the activation status of B cells from peripheral blood of healthy controls (N = 20) and patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB, N = 15) or chronic hepatitis B (CHB, N = 30) was evaluated by measuring the expression levels of B-cell activation markers CD69 and CD86, using quantitative real-time PCR and flow cytometry. Moreover, the potential mechanism underlying B-cell activation during HBV infection was further investigated by analyzing the expression profile of FCRL1, an intrinsic activation molecule of B cells. An elevation in the levels of B-cell activation markers including CD69 and CD86 was observed in the AHB patients (44.31 ± 9.27, 27.64 ± 9.26%) compared to CHB patients (30.35 ± 11.27, 18.41 ± 6.56%, P < 0.05), which was still higher than healthy controls (12.23 ± 7.84, 8.22 ± 3.43%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of FCRL1 was found to be similar to B-cell activation markers, which was highest in AHB patients (70.15 ± 17.11%), lowest in healthy donors (36.32 ± 9.98%, P < 0.05) and half-way between these levels in patients with CHB (55.17 ± 12.03%, P < 0.05). The results were positively associated with aberrant B-cell activation. These data suggest that B cells can play a role in HBV infection, and therefore more effort should be devoted to exploring their functions.