High ambient temperature increases the number of emergency visits for upper urolithiasis in Hefei City, China.

Background: Few studies have examined the effect of ambient temperature on upper urolithiasis in developing countries, with even fewer considering individual factors.

Methods: The present study analyzed data on emergency department visits for upper urolithiasis from three hospital sites of a large hospital in Hefei, China, during 2016-2020. Data on environmental factors during the same period were also analyzed.

Serum and urinary carnosinase-1 correlate with kidney function and inflammation.

The carnosinase dipeptidase 1 (CNDP1) gene has been reported as a susceptibility locus for the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). While the (CTG) allele affords protection in the Caucasian population, we have previously shown that this allele is less frequently present in the Chinese population and therefore a protective role for the (CTG) allele is difficult to demonstrate. In the present study, we sought to assess if carnosinase-1 (CN-1) concentrations in serum and/or urine are associated with progression of DKD and to what extent CN-1 influences diabetes-associated inflammation.

Val109Asp Polymorphism of the Omentin-1 Gene and Incidence of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Chinese Han Population: A Correlation Analysis.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of the Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene with the risk and severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: This study enrolled 383 patients with primary KOA and 460 healthy controls. The genotypes were determined by the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism.

Lack of Association Between Infection and the Risk of Thyroid Nodule Types: A Multicenter Case-Control Study in China.

The prevalence of infection is high worldwide, while numerous research has focused on unraveling the relationship between infection and extragastric diseases. Although infection has been associated with thyroid diseases, including thyroid nodule (TN), the relationship has mainly focused on potential physiological mechanisms and has not been validated by large population epidemiological investigations. Therefore, we thus designed a case-control study comprising participants who received regular health examination between 2017 and 2019.

Decrease of peripheral blood mucosal-associated invariant T cells and impaired serum Granzyme-B production in patients with gastric cancer.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an invariant T cell subset, which have been reported to play an antimicrobial role in infectious diseases. However, little is known about it in malignant diseases and tumors, especially in gastric cancer (GC). So in this study, we aim to examine the frequency, phenotype, partial functional capacity and clinical relevance of this cells from GC patients' peripheral blood by flow cytometry.

Human papillomavirus infection and follow-up on positive results in 7222 female samples obtained from 2016 to 2019 in Hefei, China.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection rates in women vary regionally. This study analyzed HPV infection in women of different age groups in Hefei, China, performed follow-up on positive cases, and discussed infection prognoses.

Methods: Samples (7,222) of exfoliated cervical cells were collected in Hefei and tested with an HPV assay kit against 27 HPV genotypes.

Ascorbic acid enhances low-density lipoprotein receptor expression by suppressing proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 expression.

Ascorbic acid, a water-soluble antioxidant, regulates various biological processes and is thought to influence cholesterol. However, little is known about the mechanisms underpinning ascorbic acid-mediated cholesterol metabolism. Here, we determined if ascorbic acid can regulate expression of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), which binds low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) leading to its intracellular degradation, to influence low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism.

[Correlation between Anxiety, Depression and Changes in Th17/Treg and Inflammatory Levels in Patients with Pulmonary Nodules].

Background: The incidence of lung cancer is increasing annually. Clinicians pay special attention to lung tests during physical examinations. Due to the popularity of low-dose computed tomography, not only can lung cancer be diagnosed early, but physical examinations often reveal the presence of pulmonary nodules, an important health issue that cannot be ignored.

Hsp70 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Disease Susceptibility and HRQOL Improvement in Chinese Han Population With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate whether heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) gene polymorphisms are implicated in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) susceptibility, the efficacy of glucocorticoids (GCs) treatment, and improvement of health-related quality of life.

Methods: A total of 499 SLE patients and 499 controls were included in a case-control study, and 468 SLE patients treated with GCs for 12 weeks were involved in a follow-up study. Patients who completed the 12-week follow-up were divided into GCs-sensitive and GCs-insensitive group by using the SLE disease activity index.

The clinical value of the prostatic exosomal protein expression in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis: a single-center study.

Objective: Levels of urinary prostatic exosomal protein (PSEP) were detected to evaluate the clinical potential of PSEP as a diagnostic marker of chronic prostatitis (CP).

Materials And Methods: The level of urinary PSEP was measured in 412 cases by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, including 202 controls and 210 CP cases. Of the CP patients, 116 cases met the definition of the USA National Institutes of Health category III (NIH-III), with 60 cases of NIH-IIIA and 56 cases of NIH-IIIB.

Rosiglitazone alleviates intrahepatic cholestasis induced by α-naphthylisothiocyanate in mice: The role of circulating 15-deoxy-Δ -PGJ and Nogo.

Background And Purpose: Intrahepatic cholestasis is mainly caused by dysfunction of bile secretion and has limited effective treatment. Rosiglitazone is a synthetic agonist of PPARγ, whose endogenous agonist is 15-deoxy-Δ -PGJ (15d-PGJ ). Reticulon 4B (Nogo-B) is the detectable Nogo protein family member in the liver and secreted into circulation.

Age, height, BMI and FBG predict prostate volume in ageing benign prostatic hyperplasia: Evidence from 5285 patients.

Aims: Several studies have reported a potential association between prostate volume (PV) and prostate disease. Here, we classified the risk factors for PV among benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients.

Methods: In all, 4293 BPH patients with available clinical information were enrolled.

The prevalence and risk factors of prostatic calculi in Han Chinese: a cross-sectional study based on health examinations.

Purpose: Prostatic calculi (PCal) are commonly present with prostate disease; we aim to map the incidence and associated clinical risk factors of PCal in Han Chinese.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively selected men who sought a medical check-up in 2018. Basic clinical items, including age, weight, height, prostate specific antigen (PSA), uric acid (UA), fasting blood glucose (FBG), urinalysis results, and transabdominal prostate ultrasound, were recorded.

Association of oestrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms with systemic lupus erythematosus risk: An updated meta-analysis.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, chronic autoimmune disease, and oestrogen is considered to be a predisposing factor for SLE. Although some studies are conducted to explore the association between oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) gene polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility, their results are inconsistent.

Methods: Meta-analysis was conducted to confirm whether ERα gene polymorphisms were associated with SLE susceptibility, and the strength of association was anticipated by pooled ORs with 95% CIs.

MicroRNAs in alcoholic liver disease: Recent advances and future applications.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by hepatocyte damage, inflammatory cell activation, and increased intestinal permeability leading to the clinical manifestations of alcoholic hepatitis. Selected members of the family of microRNAs (miRNAs) are affected by alcohol, resulting in an abnormal miRNA profile in the liver and circulation in ALD. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs that regulate inflammation, lipid metabolism and promote cancer are affected by excessive alcohol administration in mouse models of ALD.

Body mass index and age at natural menopause: a meta-analysis.

Objective: There is no universal consensus on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and age at natural menopause (ANM). The primary bias was confounding by cigarette smoking because smoking was a strong confounding factor related to lower BMI and earlier menopause. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of BMI on ANM.

A cutoff point for arterial stiffness using the cardio-ankle vascular index based on carotid arteriosclerosis.

The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been widely accepted as a good indicator of arteriosclerosis. However, the lack of a reliable diagnostic criterion for CAVI hampers the proper clinical screening for arteriosclerosis using CAVI and impedes the prompt treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is an urgent need to determine a criterion for CAVI in arteriosclerosis prevention.