Patients with psoriasis are at an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, a systematic analysis of its global prevalence has not been performed to date. Here, we performed a systematic ...review and meta‐analysis to assess the prevalence of MetS among patients with psoriasis. We searched five databases from inception through September 2021 and used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) tools to assess observational study quality. Stata SE 15.1 was used to perform the data analysis. Subgroup, meta‐regression and sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate interstudy heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated using Egger's and Begg's linear tests. The global prevalence of MetS in patients with psoriasis was 32% (95% confidence interval CI, 0.26–0.38). The prevalence in adults was 32% (95% CI, 0.29–0.36), while that in children and adolescents was 9% (95% CI, 0.00–0.18). Latin America had the highest prevalence of 47% (95% CI, 0.43–0.51), whereas North America had the lowest prevalence of 26% (95% CI, 0.16–0.37). Patients with psoriasis vulgaris (29%; 95% CI, 0.23–0.35) or severe psoriasis (37%; 95% CI, 0.27–0.46) had a higher prevalence of MetS than those with other psoriasis types. These findings suggest that MetS should be appropriately recognized and managed in patients with psoriasis. More population‐based prospective observational studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the coexistence of MetS in patients with psoriasis.
Objectives: Specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor-1 (PLA2R1) are associated with increased risk of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) in ...European populations. We hypothesized links between IMN and SMN with these SNPs in two Chinese cohorts.
Methods: A cohort of 166 IMN patients and 144 controls from southern China (Group A) and a cohort of 212 IMN patients, 118 SMN patients, and 162 controls from northwestern China (Group B) were recruited. SNPs within PLA2R1 (rs3749119, rs3749117, rs35771982, rs3828323, and rs4664308) were identified and the frequencies of genotypes and alleles were determined for the different groups.
Results: Relative to controls, IMN patients had a greater prevalence of rs35771982, rs3749117, and rs4664308 in Group A (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.13-2.31, P = 0.011; OR = 1.62 (1.15-2.29), P = 0.006 and OR = 1.17 (1.06-1.28), P = 0.001, respectively) and in Group B (OR = 1.58 (1.13-2.22), P = 0.009; OR = 1.68 (1.22-2.33), P = 0.002 and OR = 1.15 (1.06-1.25), P < 0.001, respectively). Genotype and allele distributions of rs4664308 differed significantly between SMN patients and controls in Group B (OR = 1.58 (1.10-2.26), P = 0.012). Genotype and allele distribution of rs35771982 and rs4664308 differed significantly between PLA2R-Ab(+) and PLA2R-Ab(-) IMN patients in Group B (OR = 1.59 (1.09-2.31), P = 0.018 and OR = 1.15 (1.03-1.29), P = 0.005, respectively).
Conclusion: This study of two cohorts from different regions of China indicate that specific PLA2R1 polymorphisms are associated with IMN and SMN.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate comparatively, in women undergoing caesarean section under spinal anesthesia, the effectiveness of hyperbaric bupivacaine combined with 3 different adjuvants ...(fentanyl, clonidine, and dexmedtomidine) on quality of blockade and maternal and neonatal repercussions.
84 patients undergoing elective surgeries under spinal anesthesia were randomized into 4 groups of 21 each, gB, gBF, gBC and gBD. Patients in groups gb, gBF, gBC and gBD were given bupivacaine alone, bupivacaine plus fentanyl (15.0 µg), bupivacaine plus fentanyl plus clonidine (75 µg), and bupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine (10 µg), respectively. Hemodynamic parameters evaluated were the onset and level of sensory block, perioperative analgesia, degree and recovery time of motor block, duration of analgesia, sedation, and maternal-foetal repercussions.
The onset of blockade was significantly faster in groups with adjuvants clonidine and dexmedetomidine compared with gB and gBF. Patients in Groups gB and gBF reported pain during the perioperative period. Duration of analgesia was significantly higher in Group gBD and was comparable to gBC and time to motor block recovery was significantly higher in Group gBD. Sedation was significant in Group gBD and gBC.
Addition of dexmedetomidine and clonidine as adjuvants to hyperbaric bupivacaine provided adequate anesthesia and postoperative analgesia compared to fentanyl adjuvant without causing any significant side effects.
Summary
The Chinese perch Siniperca knerii Garman, 1912 is an endemic perciform freshwater fish species mainly distributed in the Yangtze River and the Pearl River of China. To evaluate their genetic ...diversity in these rivers, microsatellite markers were used to assess the genetic structure and genetic variability among nine wild populations of S. knerii. In this study, the 12 loci used were polymorphic, with observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranging from 0.4079 to 0.8886 and polymorphism information content (PIC) ranging from 0.4511 to 0.7146. Results showed that six populations from the Yangtze River had a higher genetic diversity than those from the three Pearl River populations. The Bayesian STRUCTURE analysis recovered genetic clusters that matched localities perfectly or the kind of ecology environment with a significant Fst between them. The findings of this research should provide useful information for management and conservation of S. knerii stocks.
Although compressional Pc5 waves are well known in the energy conversion and regulation of charged particles in the magnetosphere, the detailed features of associated electron pitch angle ...distributions (ePADs) are poorly understood. Based on Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) observations from 2010 to 2016, ePADs in the magnetic decreases (troughs) of compressional Pc5 waves are classified into three types: cigar, butterfly, and pancake. They are found in the electrons with respective energy ranges of 100–1,000 eV (larger than 10 keV), 1–10 keV (larger than 1 keV), and 6–30 keV (100 eV–10 keV) in (non)whistler‐type compressional Pc5 waves, that is, cases where whistler‐mode waves are present (absent) in the magnetic troughs. These statistical ePAD features observed in the whistler‐ and nonwhistler‐type waves are suggested to be associated with the Landau resonance of whistler‐mode waves and drift‐shell splitting effect.
Plain Language Summary
Ultralow frequency (ULF) waves play a significant role in modifying the charged particles in the magnetosphere. In compressional Pc5 waves, each magnetic trough can be considered a mirror‐like structure. Therefore, such waves can significantly modulate charged particles. Studying the ePADs in compressional Pc5 waves is crucial for understanding the dynamic behaviors of electrons. Using THEMIS‐A data, we present a statistical study to investigate ePADs in compressional Pc5 waves. ePADs are mainly observed in three types: cigar, butterfly, and pancake. Each of the ePADs shows a different energy dependence in two types of compressional waves. The two types of events are defined based on the presence or absence of whistler‐mode waves in the magnetic troughs of compressional Pc5 waves. The statistical results suggest that the ePADs in nonwhistler‐type compressional waves are affected by the background ePADs. For whistler‐type compressional waves, whistler wave‐particle interactions might be important, suggesting a cross‐scale coupling of the energy transport in compressional Pc5 waves.
Key Points
Cigar, butterfly, and pancake electron pitch angle distributions are found in the magnetic troughs of compressional Pc5 waves
Electron pitch angle distributions show different energy dependences in whistler‐ and nonwhistler‐type compressional Pc5 waves
Electron pitch angle distribution features in compressional waves could be related to Landau resonance and drift shell splitting
Liquor distiller's grains with solubles (LDGS) is high in yield and rich in crude fiber and crude protein, which suggests that LDGS might be developed and used as unconventional feedstuff for ducks. ...The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sources and levels of LDGS on growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum parameters, and intestinal morphology of Cherry Valley ducks from 15 to 42 D of age. A total of 3,300 15-day-old male ducks were randomly assigned into a 1 plus 2 × 5 factorial design including 2 different sources of LDGS (unfermented LDGS ULDGS and fermented LDGS FLDGS) at 5 levels (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20%) for 4 wk. Each treatment group included 6 pens with 50 ducks per pen. Levels of dietary LDGS and the interaction between sources and levels of LDGS had no effect on final body weight, average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain, or feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) of ducks from day 15 to 42 (P > 0.05). Compared with dietary ULDGS, dietary FLDGS increased final body weight (P < 0.05) and ADFI (P < 0.05) and decreased the F:G (P = 0.03). The levels of LDGS and interaction effect between levels and sources of LDGS had no effect on carcass characteristics (P > 0.05). Regardless of the inclusion level, ducks fed with diets containing FLDGS had a higher percentage of thigh muscle (P < 0.01) than birds fed with diets containing ULDGS. Sources of dietary LDGS, levels of dietary LDGS, and their interaction had no effect on serum biochemistry parameters (P > 0.05) and intestinal morphology, including villus height, crypt depth, and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of LDGS in the diet at levels up to 20% had no negative effect on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum parameters, and intestinal morphology of ducks. Compared with ULDGS, FLDGS increased final body weight, ADFI, and thigh muscle yield and decreased the F:G of ducks. Therefore, LDGS, especially with fermentation, could be developed as an unconventional feedstuff resource for ducks from 15 to 42 D of age.
The sudden enhancements of magnetic strength, named magnetic peaks (MPs), are often observed in the magnetosheath of magnetized planets. They are usually identified as flux ropes (FRs) or magnetic ...mirror mode structures. Previous studies of MPs are mostly on the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) scale. In this study, an electron scale MP is reported in the Earth magnetosheath. We present a typical case with a scale of ~7 electron gyroradii and a duration of ~0.18 s. A strong magnetic disturbance and associated electrical current are detected. Electron vortex is found perpendicular to the magnetic field line and is self‐consist with the peak. We use multipoint spacecraft techniques to determine the propagation velocity of the MP structure and find that the magnetic peak does propagate relative to the plasma (ion) flow. This is very different from the magnetic mirror mode that does not propagate relative to the plasma flow. Furthermore, we developed an efficient method that can effectively distinguish “magnetic bottle like” and “FRs like” structures. The MP presented in this study is identified as magnetic bottle like type. The mechanism to generate the electron scale magnetic bottle like structure is still unclear, suggesting that new theory needs to be developed to understand such small‐scale phenomena.
Key Points
Electron scale magnetic peak is observed with the scale size of ~7 ρe (~0.06 ρi) in the magnetosheath
Electron vortex is found perpendicular to the field line and the current system is consistent with the magnetic peak
The magnetic peak is determined as magnetic bottle shape rather than flux rope by a new method
Mn-based nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as new class of probes for magnetic resonance imaging due to the impressive contrast ability. However, the reported Mn-based NPs possess low relaxivity and ...there are no immunotoxicity data regarding Mn-based NPs as contrast agents. Here, we demonstrate the ultrahigh relaxivity of water protons of 8.26 mM(-1) s(-1) from the Mn3O4 NPs synthesized by a simple and green technique, which is twice higher than that of commercial gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (4.11 mM(-1) s(-1)) and the highest value reported to date for Mn-based NPs. We for the first time demonstrate these Mn3O4 NPs biocompatibilities both in vitro and in vivo are satisfactory based on systematical studies of the intrinsic toxicity including cell viability of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, normal nasopharyngeal epithelium, apoptosis in cells and in vivo immunotoxicity. These findings pave the way for the practical clinical diagnosis of Mn based NPs as safe probes for in vivo imaging.
To develop a brief, reliable screening questionnaire for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for use in primary care settings.
We developed a COPD Screening Questionnaire (COPD-SQ) using ...data collected from 19,800 subjects aged ≥40 years obtained from an epidemiological study of COPD in China in 2002 (Phase I). A stepwise logistic regression method was adopted for item reduction and scoring. We then assessed the COPD-SQ through a cross-sectional study (Phase II) among 3231 subjects aged ≥40 years.
The final COPD-SQ consisted of seven items: age, smoking pack-years, body mass index, cough, dyspnoea, family history of respiratory diseases and exposure to biomass smoke from cooking. Using the questionnaire to screen for COPD in Phase II, we obtained high classification accuracy with an area under the curve of 0.812 (95%CI 0.786-0.838). The sensitivity, specificity and correct classification rates for COPD diagnosis were respectively 60.6%, 85.2% and 82.7% at a cut-off score of 16.
The COPD-SQ can be used in first-level screening for COPD.
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