Measuring and predicting personal and household Black Carbon levels from 88 communities in eight countries.

Black Carbon (BC) is an important component of household air pollution (HAP) in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), but levels and drivers of exposure are poorly understood. As part of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, we analyzed 48-hour BC measurements for 1187 individual and 2242 household samples from 88 communities in 8 LMICs (Bangladesh, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe). Light absorbance (10 m) of collected PM filters, a proxy for BC concentrations, was calculated via an image-based reflectance method.

Identification of Immune-Cell-Related Prognostic Biomarkers of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Tumor Microenvironment.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most fatal cancers in the world. The 5-year survival rate of ESCC is <30%. However, few biomarkers can accurately predict the prognosis of patients with ESCC.

Bioinformatics analysis reveals the roles of cytoskeleton protein transgelin in occurrence and development of proteinuria.

Background: Proteinuria is a sensitive hallmark for progressive renal dysfunction. Transgelin (TAGLN) has been demonstrated to participate in etiology of proteinuria and dynamics of podocyte foot process; however, the mechanism of TAGLN involvement in proteinuria is unknown. The present study aimed to explore the roles of TAGLN in the development of proteinuria.

Analysis on the Effect of Different Surgical Methods on the Treatment of Senile Osteoporotic Spinal Compression Fractures and the Influencing Factors of Complications.

Osteoporotic fractures are a common type of fractures in the elderly, among which spinal compression fractures are more common. After the occurrence of fractures, due to the compression and burst of the vertebral body, this will lead to local kyphosis deformity and even affect the balance of the sagittal spine. In the past, conservative treatments were used for osteoporotic spinal compression fractures.

Change in the ophthalmoscopical optic disc size and shape in a 10-year follow-up: the Beijing Eye Study 2001-2011.

Background: To assess prevalence and associated factors of changes in the ophthalmoscopic optic disc size and shape.

Methods: The case-control study included all highly myopic eyes (myopic refractive error ≤-6.0 diopters) and a randomly selected group of non-highly myopic eyes, examined in the population-based Beijing Eye Study 2001 and 2011.

The correlation between Google trends and salmonellosis.

Background: Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) is a common infectious disease leading to gastroenteritis, dehydration, uveitis, etc. Internet search is a new method to monitor the outbreak of infectious disease. An internet-based surveillance system using internet data is logistically advantageous and economical to show term-related diseases.

Expression of Antigens Fused to Different Vectors and Their Effectiveness as Vaccines.

Pertussis is an acute respiratory tract infection caused by . Even though its current vaccine coverage is relatively broad, they still have some shortcomings such as short protection time and might be incapable of blocking the spread of the disease. In this study, we developed new pertussis vaccine candidates by separately fusing three pertussis antigens ( fimbriae 2 "Fim2", pertussis toxin S1 subunit "PtxS1", and filamentous hemagglutinin "FHA") to each of two immune-boosting carrier proteins (B subunits of AB5 toxin family: cholera toxin B subunit "CTB" and shiga toxin B subunit "StxB").

Machine Learning Identifies Metabolic Signatures that Predict the Risk of Recurrent Angina in Remitted Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Recurrent angina (RA) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has few known risk factors, hampering the identification of high-risk populations. In this multicenter study, plasma samples are collected from patients with stable angina after PCI, and these patients are followed-up for 9 months for angina recurrence. Broad-spectrum metabolomic profiling with LC-MS/MS followed by multiple machine learning algorithms is conducted to identify the metabolic signatures associated with future risk of angina recurrence in two large cohorts ( = 750 for discovery set, and = 775 for additional independent discovery cohort).

Assessment of changes in genetic transcriptome in nasal epithelial cells exposed to ozone-aged black carbon and pollen allergen by high-throughput transcriptomics.

Background: Air pollution may be associated with increased airway responsiveness to allergens in allergic rhinitis (AR). Ozone-aged environmental black carbon (OBC) is an important constituent of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), for which the mechanisms underlying its effects have not been fully elucidated in AR. The objective of the present study was to determine the OBC and pollen-induced alterations in the transcriptome in human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) in vitro.

Neural Network-Based Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Profile Compensation for Glaucoma Diagnosis in Myopia: Model Development and Validation.

Background: Due to the axial elongation-associated changes in the optic nerve and retina in high myopia, traditional methods like optic disc evaluation and visual field are not able to correctly differentiate glaucomatous lesions. It has been clinically challenging to detect glaucoma in highly myopic eyes.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a neural network to adjust for the dependence of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (RNFLT) profile on age, gender, and ocular biometric parameters and to evaluate the network's performance for glaucoma diagnosis, especially in high myopia.

Integrating Population Variants and Protein Structural Analysis to Improve Clinical Genetic Diagnosis and Treatment in Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus.

Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by renal inability to concentrate urine. We utilized a multicenter strategy to investigate the genotype and phenotype in a cohort of Chinese children clinically diagnosed with NDI from 2014 to 2019. Ten boys from nine families were identified with mutations in or along with dehydration, polyuria-polydipsia, and severe hypernatremia.

Visit-to-visit variability of lipid and cardiovascular events in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Visit-to-visit variability in lipid has been suggested as a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). However, no evidence exists on the prognostic value of lipid variability in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate whether lipid variability affects future MACEs in patients with FH receiving standard lipid-lowering therapy.

Improvement of Definite Diagnosis of Familial Hypercholesterolemia Using an Expanding Genetic Analysis.

Background: The deeper understanding of the complex hereditary basis of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) has raised the rationale of genetic testing, which has been underutilized in clinical practice.

Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the variant spectrum of FH in an expanding manner and compare its diagnostic performance.

Methods: A total of 169 Chinese individuals (124 index cases and 45 relatives) with clinical definite/probable FH were consecutively enrolled.

Peaks of circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer and associations in healthy eyes: the Beijing Eye Study 2011.

Aims: To investigate the distribution and associations of the circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) profile, characterised as peak height and peak position, in healthy eyes.

Methods: 667 healthy participants (294 male) were randomly selected from the Beijing Eye Study 2011. RNFLT was measured at 768 points at 3.

Engineered collagen-binding bone morphogenetic protein-2 incorporated with platelet-rich plasma accelerates lumbar fusion in aged rats with osteopenia.

In aged individuals, osteopenia is a great concern for achieving solid spinal fusion. Spinal malunion could lead to various implant-related complications and reduce postoperative quality of life. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of collagen-binding bone morphogenetic protein-2 (CBD-BMP-2) on the treatment of lumbar inter-transverse defects and to explore whether platelet-rich plasma could help CBD-BMP-2 to achieve a better outcome in terms of osteogenesis in senile rats with osteopenia.

A prediction model of delayed graft function in deceased donor for renal transplant: a multi-center study from China.

Background: Kidneys obtained from deceased donors increase the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) after renal transplantation. Here we investigated the influence of the risk factors of donors with DGF, and developed a donor risk scoring system for DGF prediction.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in 1807 deceased kidney donors and 3599 recipients who received donor kidneys transplants in 29 centers in China.

Use of saliva flow rate measurement in minor salivary glands autotransplantation for treatment of severe dry eye disease.

Aims: To use minor salivary glands' flow rate (MSGFR) measurement in minor salivary glands (MSGs) autotransplantation for the treatment of severe dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: MSGs autotransplantations were performed in 18 eyes (17 patients) with severe DED. MSGFR were measured before operation.

Phase 4 Safety and Efficacy Study of Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) in Previously Treated Chinese Patients With Severe/Moderately Severe Hemophilia A.

Antihemophilic factor (recombinant) (rAHF; ADVATE; Baxalta US Inc., a Takeda company, Lexington, MA, USA) is indicated for the treatment and prevention of bleeding in patients with hemophilia A. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of standard prophylaxis versus on-demand treatment with rAHF in previously treated Chinese patients with severe/moderately severe hemophilia A.

Thoracic endometriosis presented as catamental hemoptysis: a case series of a rare disease.

Objective: Thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES) is a rare disease in which a functioning endometrial tissue is observed in the pleura, lung, parenchyma, airways, and/or diaphragm. The optimal management of this disease remains a matter of debate. We aimed to report TES cases and their effective hormonal treatment and management.

Mechanism and prognostic indicators for explosion-related eye trauma: eye injury vitrectomy study.

Purpose: To explore the clinical features, surgical interventions and prognosis of injured eyes following explosion and to develop the risk factors for poor prognosis.

Methods: A nested case-control study. To the date of 31 December 2018, 99 explosion-related eye globes were selected from the Eye Injury Vitrectomy Study database, which is a multicenter prospective cohort study and began in 1990s.

The prevalence of lower eyelid epiblepharon and its association with refractive errors in Chinese preschool children: a cross-sectional study.

Background: To assess the prevalence and demographics of lower eyelid epiblepharon in Chinese preschool children and to evaluate its association with refractive errors.

Methods: In this population-based, cross-sectional study, a total of 3170 children aged 3 to 6 years from Beijing, China underwent examinations including weight, height, cycloplegic autorefraction and slit-lamp examination of external eyes. The prevalence of lower eyelid epiblepharon in preschool children was evaluated and its association with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and refractive errors was analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

Impact of liver fibrosis score on prognosis in patients with previous myocardial infarction: A prospective cohort study.

Background & Aims: Liver fibrosis score (LFS) has been used for predicting the cardiovascular outcomes (CVOs) in diverse populations. However, the association of LFS with CVOs in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) remains undetermined. We aimed to examine the prognostic value of LFS in patients with prior MI in a prospective cohort.