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Aims Studies confirm that microalbuminuria (MAU) can not only predict diabetic kidney disease (DKD) but also indicate of systemic vascular endothelial injury. Thyroid hormones (TH) have been reported to be associated with various cardiovascular diseases and endothelial cell damage. Currently, few studies have reported the association between free thyroxine (FT4) to free triiodothyronine (FT3) ratio and MAU. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between FT4/FT3 ratio and MAU in euthyroid patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods This study enrolled a total of 1734 T2DM patients with euthyroid status. MAU was defined as 30 ≤ urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) < 300 mg/g. The participants were divided into MAU group and normal albuminuria group (NAU group). The relationship between FT4/FT3 ratio and MAU was analyzed. Results In this study, there were 367 patients with MAU. Compared with the NAU group, the MAU group had higher FT4/FT3 ratio (P < 0.001). In univariate analysis, the FT4/FT3 ratio was positively related to both UACR and MAU (both P < 0.001). In multivariate linear stepwise regression, the FT4/FT3 ratio is independently related to UACR (Standardized coefficients: 0.148, P < 0.001). In binary logistic regression analysis, the FT4/FT3 ratio emerges as an independent risk factor for MUA (odds ratio: 1.947, 95% confidence interval: 1.522–2.491). Conclusion The FT4/FT3 ratio was independently and positively correlated with MAU in euthyroid patients with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The signaling pathway of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and its receptor (natriuretic peptide receptor 2, NPR2) is implicated in the process of endochondral ossification, which is crucial for the linear growth of long bones. Loss-of-function mutations in the NPR2 gene cause short stature. This study aimed to identify and characterize truncating mutations in NPR2 among Chinese families with short stature. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were conducted to identify potential mutations. Bioinformatic analysis was utilized to assess the pathogenicity of two mutations. The effects of candidate mutation on gene expression, subcellular localization, protein stability, and protein function were further assessed through in vitro assays. Results: In this study, A novel mutation, c.2629_2630delAG, p.S877Hfs*10 and a previously reported mutation, c.1162 C > T, p.R388* (ClinVar database) in NPR2, were identified in the individuals, and these variants were inherited from the mother and father, respectively. Both mutations were predicted to be deleterious and have a significant impact on protein structure based on bioinformatics analysis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that mutant mRNAs evaded nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) to produce truncated NPR2 proteins with reduced stability and increased degradation. Furthermore, two truncated NPR2 proteins exhibited impaired localization at the cell membrane and severely reduced ability to stimulate cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production in HEK293T cells compared to wild-type (WT) NPR2 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study identified two loss-of-function mutations of the NPR2 gene in two Chinese families and offered new insights on the pathogenesis of short stature caused by NPR2 truncating mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In winter of 2020, government delayed the opening of schools because of the pandemic of COVID-19. In order to regulate children's mood, parents provided their children with the chance to use electronic products such as mobile phones. Educational systems across the country organized students to take part in online learning. Screen teaching is helpful for children to complete learning. But some children require an additional use of mobile phones or electronic products for entertainment and games. However, a longtime screen use will bring negative influence on psychological behaviors of children and affect their growth. In order to protect children, schools should set up online courses reasonably according to children's physical and mental characteristics. And parents should enrich home activity to meet the needs of children and take effective measures to minimize negative impact to children.

The real-time monitoring and evaluation of water quality provides a scientific basis for water resource management and promotes regional sustainable development. This study established a database using Landsat-8 satellite data and water quality data from the Ningxia Yellow River basin in China, spanning 2021 to 2023, and this paper proposes a custom residual convolutional neural network model with a hybrid attention mechanism, referred to as PCWA-ResCNN. The accuracy of the model in predicting turbidity, permanganate, ammonia nitrogen, and dissolved oxygen concentration was more than 95%. Compared to convolutional neural networks and long short-term memory models, this model performed better in predicting water quality parameters with significantly improved prediction performance. In terms of spatial distribution, the pollution degree in the middle reaches of the basin is relatively serious. However, the overall water quality is good, being mainly Class I and Class II water quality. The hybrid model established in this paper can better capture the complex nonlinear relationship between the observed values and the surface water reflectance, showing strong robustness. This model can be used for the water quality monitoring of complex inland rivers and lakes, and it can also provide effective support for relevant government departments to formulate scientific and reasonable water quality management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Substantial evidence has established a strong association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR). Insulin resistance metabolic score (METS-IR) is a new and more effective comprehensive indicator for measuring IR. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between METS-IR and NAFLD in T2DM population. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included 1097 adult patients with T2DM. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical indicators were collected, and the NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasound. The METS-IR was calculated. Based on the presence of NAFLD, the population was divided into non-NAFLD and NAFLD groups. The relationship between METS-IR and NAFLD was evaluated. Results: Compared with the non-NAFLD group, the METS-IR was higher in the NAFLD group (P < 0.001). The incidence rate of NAFLD increased across the quartiles of the METS-IR (P < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that METS-IR was positively correlated with NAFLD (Correlation Coefficient: 0.441, P < 0.001). The binary logistic regression analysis indicated that METS-IR was independently associated with NAFLD (OR: 1.120, 95% CI 1.080– 1.161). Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the METS-IR was 0.781 (95% CI 0.746– 0.817) and relatively higher than other evaluation variables. Conclusion: In patients with T2DM, METS-IR is closely associated with NAFLD, and might be a valuable predictor of NAFLD. Further research is needed to verify this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the effect of complex of natural and socio-economical factors on epizootic anthrax spread in the Republic of Chad as the disease remains a significant problem for livestock farming. Moreover, incidence of anthrax in humans due to exposure to diseased animals is steadily increasing. There are three climatic zones in the country territory that differ in rainfall level, relief and farming system. Regional differences in territorial dependence of anthrax nidus activity as well as its cycling and seasonal character were detected. Influence of some natural and economical factors on epizootic situation was assessed. No anthrax cases in animals were reported in Saharan natural-climatic zone for the analyzed period. Therewith, there are about 460,000 cattle in this zone and no anti-anthrax measures are taken. This fact can be accounted for desert arid climate and absence of rainfalls in this natural-climatic zone. In Sahelo and Sudan zones anthrax outbreaks in cattle are regularly reported due to higher moisture levels especially during raining season. Performed studies were aimed at improvement of measures for anthrax prevention in the Republic of Chad.

The unfavorable situation of epizootic anthrax in the Republic of Tchad plays a horrendous role marked with enormously negative impacts on the growth of livestock-breeding (animal husbandry) sec-tor. As a matter-of-fact, a wide variety of animals fall prey to this endemic ailment annually, especially cattle. The most practiced form of ranging in Tchad entails cattle breeding which involves the transmutations of breeds. Owing to the paucity of comprehensive frameworks designed to circumvent and arrest unintended repercussions in the administration of such a practice, the practice is susceptible to a plethora of errors that in turn facilitate epizootic processes, including epizootics of anthrax. More often than not, it is trans-mitted from one region of the country to the other. Subsequently, this endangers all other animal husbandry systems and subjects to grave danger people’s lives as well. The epizootic process is a spatial-temporal form of interaction between the population of the parasite and the host population. Nevertheless, the epi-zootic process is subject to influence exerted by the animal husbandry system, i.e. conditions, methods or means of keeping animals in a particular area. In this article is presented the statistics of affected beasts (cattle) in terms of population and these statistics are illustrated with the aid of tables and graphs.