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BACKGROUND We aim to investigate the potential causal link between blood pressure (BP) levels and cerebral artery dissection (CAD) risk by employing a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) framework. METHODS Utilizing large-scale genome-wide association studies-retrieved data, we employed various Mendelian randomization (MR) techniques, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and weighted mode, to ascertain BP's causal impact on CAD. The MR-Egger intercept was calculated to assess pleiotropy presence, determining heterogeneity by Cochran's Q statistic. RESULTS The findings highlighted a significant association between elevated systolic BP (SBP; IVW: OR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.11–8.61, P  = 0.031) and increased diastolic BP (DBP; IVW: OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.14–6.21, P  = 0.023) with CAD risk. Sensitivity analyses reinforced the robustness and reliability of these results. CONCLUSIONS The results from this TSMR study suggest a causal link between high SBP and DBP and the increased likelihood of CAD, which provides genetic evidence for a reduced risk of CAD under BP control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explored the correlation between inflammatory markers and ulcerative plaques based on carotid doppler ultrasound (CDU) in individuals with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: A total of 202 cases diagnosed with AIS associated with atherosclerotic plaque (AP) in the carotid artery were enrolled in this research. Collecting clinical baseline data, laboratory data (such as the complete blood count) and imaging data (CDU and Brain magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). Then the correlation between Systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII, SII = P N/L, where P, N, and L were the peripheral blood platelet, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, respectively), the shape and position of AP, the degree of carotid artery stenosis, and the presence of ulcerative plaques. Cutoff values were determined accordingly. Results: SII and high sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP) were independent risk factors for the presence of vulnerable carotid plaques. SII, type A plaque, plaque above carotid bifurcation, and severe carotid stenosis were independent risk factors for the presence of ulcerative plaque. The AUC value, the sensitivity, specificity, the best cutoff value of SII in predicting the presence of ulcerative plaque was 0.895, 93.3%, 89.2%, and 537.4 (109/L), respectively. Conclusion: SII at admission was found to be independently associated with the presence of AIS with vulnerable plaque, especially ulcerative plaques. Moreover, plaque ulceration was more likely to form when the area of higher plaque thickness was located in the upstream arterial wall of maximum plaque thickness (WTmax), plaque was above the carotid bifurcation and severe carotid stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serpentine concrete has excellent neutron shielding property, which has been widely used in the nuclear industry and medical industry to shield neutron radiation in foreign countries. With the rapid development of nuclear industry and rich serpentine minerals in China, it should be a lot of research and application of serpentine concrete, however, in fact, serpentine concrete is not only less studied in China, but also its application is far less than abroad. Therefore, the characteristics of serpentine aggregate were summarized, and the physical properties, particle shape characteristics and chemical composition of three kinds of serpentine subspecies aggregate were compared. The influence of serpentine aggregate on concrete property was described in detail, and the shortcomings of current research on serpentine concrete were analyzed. The application status of serpentine concrete was combed. Finally, in order to promote further research and application of serpentine concrete in China, the future development of this field was prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the potential causal association between PUFA and the risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) using Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis. A two-sample MR analysis was conducted utilising large-scale European-based genome-wide association studies summary databases. The primary MR analysis was carried out using the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, complemented by other methods such as MR-egger, weighted-median and weighted mode. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to validate the robustness of the findings. Results indicated a 31 % reduced risk of ICP for every 1 standard deviation (sd) increase in n -3 fatty acids levels (OR = 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·54, 0·89, P = 0·004) and in the ratio of n -3 fatty acids to total fatty acids (OR = 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·53, 0·91, P = 0·008). Conversely, there was a 51 % increased risk of ICP for every 1 sd increase in the ratio of n -6 fatty acids to n -3 fatty acids (OR = 1·51, 95 % CI: 1·20, 1·91, P < 0·001) and a 138 % increased risk for every 1 sd increase in the ratio of linoleic fatty acids to total fatty acids (OR = 2·38, 95 % CI: 1·55, 3·66, P < 0·001). The findings suggest that n -3 fatty acids may have a protective effect against the risk of ICP, while n -6 fatty acids and linoleic fatty acids could be potential risk factors for ICP. The supplementation of n -3 fatty acids, as opposed to n -6 fatty acids, could be a promising strategy for the prevention and management of ICP.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. The ubiquitin-proteasome system regulates the stability of most proteins controlling various biological processes in human cells. PSMD7, as a core component of the 26S proteasome, is critical for the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins in the proteasome. Currently, PSMD7 expression and its roles in the progression of breast cancer remain largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the level of PSMD7 in breast cancer tissues and investigated the underlying molecular events by which PSMD7 could play a role in tumor progression. The results showed that the PSMD7 level was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues. PSMD7 expression was closely associated with tumor subtype, tumor size, lymph node invasion, and TNM stage. A high PSMD7 level predicted poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, univariate Cox regression analysis indicated that lymph node invasion, distant metastasis, and PSMD7 expression were associated with OS and DFS. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that PSMD7 was an independent predictor of OS (HR=1.310, 95% CI=1.038-1.652). Importantly, PSMD7 knockdown induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, leading to cell senescence and apoptosis. PSMD7 knockdown inhibited the expression of key cell cycle-related proteins and promoted the stability of p21 and p27 in breast cancer cells. PSMD7 may be a valuable prognostic indicator and potential therapeutic target for breast cancer., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2020.)

Objective: To compare the differences in the characteristic medicinal cupping therapy between the traditional cupping device and the innovated cupping device., Methods: Fifty patients of neck and low back pain were selected. The self-comparison was adopted. The cupping therapy was applied to the acupoints located on the left or right side with the traditional cupping device and the innovated cupping device. The cupping sites were centered at bilateral Quyuan (SI 13) and Dachangshu (BL 25). The cups were retained for 10 min. The traditional cupping device was the glass with smooth border, 100mL. The innovated cupping device was the vacuum-sucking cup. The operative time, medicinal leakage, comfort and cupping marks were observed for the two different cupping devices., Results: The operative time with the innovated medicinal cupping device was shorter obviously compared with the traditional one at Quyuan (SI 13) and Dachangshu (BL 25, both P<0. 05). The comfort with the innovated medicinal cupping device was remarkably improved as compared with the traditional one at the two acupoints (both P<0. 05). The medicinal leakage was similar between the two different devices during the cupping operation (both P>0. 05). The cupping marks with the innovated medicinal cupping device were much deeper than those with the traditional one after cupping therapy., Conclusion: The innovated cupping device is more convenent and comfortable in operation during the characteristic medicinal cupping therapy.

Objective: To observe the impact of Sanjin tablet on the T lymphocyte subsets of the peripheral blood of female patients with recurrent urinary tract infection, to reveal the immune pharmacological mechanism of its prevention and treatment of the disease., Method: A randomized, controlled and open trial was adopted. The 68 patients were divided into treatment group (30 cases) and control group (28 cases). Two groups were both treated with conventional sensitive antibiotics, the treatment group took Sanjin tablet in addition. After bacteria in the urine were negative, the treatment group took maintenance therapy with Sanjin tablet for 3 months, the control group took appropriate low-dose antibiotics maintenance treatment for 3 months. The peripheral blood T lymphocyte levels before and after treatment, time from the initial treatment to the bacterial culture of urine was negative of the two groups, and the recurrence rate of urinary tract infection in 3 months after discontinuation of the two groups were observed., Result: After treatment, the CD3+, CD4+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ in peripheral blood of the treatment group were enhanced compared with untreated and the control group (P < 0.05). Time from the initial treatment to the bacterial was negative and the recurrence rate of the treatment group were significantly better than the control group (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Effective treatment with Sanjin tablet to the recurrent urinary tract infection of female patients will probablely through the mechanism of improving the cell-mediated immunity levels to achieve the effect of shortening the course of treatment and to reducing the recurrence rate.