An atlas on risk factors for gastrointestinal cancers: A systematic review of Mendelian randomization studies.

Objective: Gastrointestinal cancers are one of the most frequent cancer types and seriously threaten human life and health. Recent studies attribute the occurrence of gastrointestinal cancers to both genetic and environmental factors, yet the intrinsic etiology remains unclear. Mendelian randomization is a powerful well-established statistical method that is based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) to evaluate the causal relationship between exposures and outcomes.

Shared genetic basis and causality between schizophrenia and inflammatory bowel disease: evidence from a comprehensive genetic analysis.

Background: The comorbidity between schizophrenia (SCZ) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) observed in epidemiological studies is partially attributed to genetic overlap, but the magnitude of shared genetic components and the causality relationship between them remains unclear.

Methods: By leveraging large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for SCZ, IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease (CD), we conducted a comprehensive genetic pleiotropic analysis to uncover shared loci, genes, or biological processes between SCZ and each of IBD, UC, and CD, independently. Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were applied to assess the causality across these two disorders.

[Application of CAD in custom tray design for teaching of dental postgraduates].

Purpose: To evaluate the teaching effect of making custom trays via CAD in dental postgraduates.

Methods: Twenty-seven dental postgraduates from first to third grade at the School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University, Shanghai were given an informed consent to explain and request participation in the study. First, a lecture about the theory and process of fabricating custom tray via traditional hand-made method and CAD technique was given, then the students fabricated custom trays via the two methods and completed an online survey.

Trueness of One Stationary and Two Mobile Systems for Three-Dimensional Facial Scanning.

Purpose: To evaluate the trueness of one stationary and two mobile systems for 3D facial scanning.

Materials And Methods: Twenty participants were included in this study. After marking facial soft tissue landmarks, their faces were scanned using three facial scanning systems: the Bellus3D Dental Pro app on an iPad Pro 2020 (Apple; IP); the ARC-7 Face Scanning System (Bellus3D; BA); and the EinScan Pro 2X Plus (Shining 3D Tech; EP) following the manufacturers' operating instructions.

Photographic Reproduction and Enhancement Using HVS-Based Modified Histogram Equalization.

Photographic reproduction and enhancement is challenging because it requires the preservation of all the visual information during the compression of the dynamic range of the input image. This paper presents a cascaded-architecture-type reproduction method that can simultaneously enhance local details and retain the naturalness of original global contrast. In the pre-processing stage, in addition to using a multiscale detail injection scheme to enhance the local details, the Stevens effect is considered for adapting different luminance levels and normally compressing the global feature.

Identification of a novel allele HLA-C*03:560N by next-generation sequencing in a hematopoietic stem cell recipient.

A frameshift because of a single nucleotide deletion results in a novel null allele, HLA-C*03:560N.

Microbial characteristics response to the soil quality of newly created farmland on the Loess Plateau.

Microbiome plays an important role in evaluating soil quality for sustainable agriculture. However, the suitability of biological indicators in reclaimed farmland is less understood. Using high-throughput sequencing, we evaluated the soil microbial community of the newly created farmland (NF) after reclamation with two local high-yield farmlands (slope farmland (SF), check-dam farmland (CF)) on the Loess Plateau.

Potential health risk assessment of HFRs, PCBs, and OCPs in the Yellow River basin.

The concentrations of PBDEs, NBFRs, DP, PCBs, and OCPs were analyzed in water samples of the Yellow River Basin (YRB) and in soil and maize samples collected from basin irrigation areas to understand the status of POPs and associated health risks. The results showed: (1) the congeners of eight PBDEs and seven NBFRs were detected in 10 tributaries, with average concentrations of 1575 and 4288 pg. L.

COVID-19 in Children: Clinical Characteristics and Follow-Up Study.

Since December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread globally. But the clinical symptoms and detailed follow-up of children with COVID-19 infection are lacking. Here, we conducted a retrospective study including children with confirmed COVID-19.

Association of HLA class II (-DRB1,-DQB1,-DPB1) alleles and haplotypes on susceptibility to aplastic anemia in northern Chinese Han.

The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes, playing key roles in mediating the immune response, especially HLA class II alleles were suggested to play a role in the activation of autoreactive T-cells in aplastic anemia (AA). Previous studies in different ethnic groups have indicated that some of HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 alleles had a protective or susceptive association with the prevalence, pathogenesis and development of AA. HLA class II genes, especially HLA-DQB1 and -DPB1 alleles or haplotypes at high-resolution level associated with AA have not been fully identified in northern Chinese Han populations.

Pollution status of the Yellow River tributaries in middle and lower reaches.

To determine the water quality status of the primary tributaries in middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin, water collected from the confluence of the ten tributaries and some physical, chemical and biological parameters were analyzed, and then water quality index and health risk were evaluated. Of the ten main tributaries in the middle and lower reaches, only the Qingshui River had water of medium quality in the upper reaches, while all the other tributaries contributed water of poor quality. The Jindi and Dawen rivers in the lower reaches had the poorest water quality, especially the Jindi River.

Accuracy of digital complete dentures: A systematic review of in vitro studies.

Statement Of Problem: Reports on digital complete dentures (CDs) are increasing. However, systematic reviews on their accuracy and influencing factors are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the accuracy of digital CDs and to summarize influencing factors.

Utility of next-generation sequencing methods to identify the novel HLA alleles in potential stem cell donors from Chinese Marrow Donor Program.

The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) is the most polymorphic region of the human genome. Compared with Sanger-sequencing-based typing (SBT) methods, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has significantly higher throughput and depth sequencing characteristics, having dramatic impacts on HLA typing in clinical settings. Here, we performed NGS technology with Ion Torrent S5 platform to evaluate the potential four novel HLA alleles detected in five donors from Chinese Marrow Donor Program (CMDP, Shaanxi Province) during routine Sanger SBT testing.

Targeted co-delivery of Beclin 1 siRNA and FTY720 to hepatocellular carcinoma by calcium phosphate nanoparticles for enhanced anticancer efficacy.

Purpose: FTY720, known as fingolimod, is a new immunosuppressive agent with effective anticancer properties. Although it was recently confirmed that FTY720 inhibits cancer cell proliferation, FTY720 can also induce protective autophagy and reduce cytotoxicity. Blocking autophagy with Beclin 1 siRNA after treatment with FTY720 promotes apoptosis.

Exosome-Mimetic Nanovesicles from Hepatocytes promote hepatocyte proliferation in vitro and liver regeneration in vivo.

The liver has great regenerative capacity after functional mass loss caused by injury or disease. Many studies have shown that primary hepatocyte-derived exosomes, which can deliver biological information between cells, promote the regenerative process of the liver. However, the yield of exosomes is very limited.

[Relationship between High-Resolution HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 Alleles and Haplotype Polymorphisms with Myeloid Leukemia of Han People in North China].

Objective: To investigate the potential relationship between the high-resolution HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 alleles and haplotype polymorphism with actute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) of Han people in North China.

Methods: A total of 1241 healthy unrelated Han people's bone marrow donors in North China were used as a control group, 259 patients with myeloid leukemia were genotyped at high-resolution level by means of PCR-SBT, -SSO and -SSP typing methods for HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 loci. The frequencies of HLA allele and haplotype were calculated by software Arleguin 3.

Role of stem cell-derived exosomes in cancer.

Exosomes are small, extracellular membrane- enclosed vesicles that contain a variety of molecules, including proteins, DNA, mRNA and non-coding RNA; these vesicles have been defined as new tools for intercellular communication between cells. Numerous types of cells, including stem cells, secrete exosomes into the extracellular environment, and are significant communicators in the tumor microenvironment. Stem cells are a unique cell population defined by their ability to indefinitely self-renew, differentiate into a variety of cell lines, and form clonal cell populations.

A Highly Stretchable and Autonomous Self-Healing Polymer Based on Combination of Pt···Pt and π-π Interactions.

A new self-healing polymer has been obtained by incorporating a cyclometalated platinum(II) complex Pt(C N N)Cl (C N N = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl) into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backbone. The molecular interactions (a combination of Pt···Pt and π-π interactions) between cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes are strong enough to crosslink the linear PDMS polymer chains into an elastic film. The as prepared polymer can be stretched to over 20 times of its original length.

Changes in the MicroRNA Profile of the Mandible of Ovariectomized Mice.

Background/aims: In postmenopausal women, a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip and spine is associated with an increased risk of tooth loss, possibly caused by the loss of the alveolar bone. The present study explored the effect of the ovariectomy (OVX) of mice on the miRNA expression profile of their bones.

Methods: Micro-CT and histological analysis were performed on mice following OVX or sham-operation using the right mandibles.

Synthesis of bi-phase dispersible core-shell FeAu@ZnO magneto-opto-fluorescent nanoparticles.

Bi-phase dispersible core-shell FeAu@ZnO magneto-opto-fluorescent nanoparticles were synthesized by a modified nanoemulsion process using poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO-PPO-PEO) as the surfactant. The morphology and crystal structure of the nanoparticles were studied by TEM/HRTEM and XRD. The nanoparticles manifest soft ferromagnetic and/or near superparamagnetic behavior with a small coercivity of ~19 Oe at room temperature.

MiR-24 functions as a tumor suppressor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through targeting FSCN1.

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that the dysregulation of miRNAs expression is involved in the tumorigenesis by acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. However, no study investigates the function and mechanisms of miR-24 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR, MTT, colony formation, soft-agar, wound healing, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis models were performed to test the expression levels and functions of miR-24 in NPC.

Comparative transcriptomics analysis reveals difference of key gene expression between banana and plantain in response to cold stress.

Background: Banana and plantain (Musa spp.) comprise an important part of diets for millions of people around the globe. Low temperature is one of the key environmental stresses which greatly affects the global banana production.

Facile synthesis and photocatalytic activity of bi-phase dispersible Cu-ZnO hybrid nanoparticles.

Bi-phase dispersible Cu-ZnO hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized by one-pot non-aqueous nanoemulsion with the use of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO-PPO-PEO) as the surfactant. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) show high crystallinity of the Cu-ZnO hybrid nanoparticles and an average particle size of ~19.4 nm.

Integrated microRNA-mRNA analysis revealing the potential roles of microRNAs in tongue squamous cell cancer.

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a rare and aggressive type of cancer, which is associated with a poor prognosis. Identification of patients at high risk of TSCC tumorigenesis may provide information for the early detection of metastases, and for potential treatment strategies. MicroRNA (miRNA; miR) and mRNA expression profiling of TSCC tissue samples and normal control tissue samples were obtained from three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data series.