| 1. |
- de Vries, Paul S., et al.
(författare)
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Multiancestry Genome-Wide Association Study of Lipid Levels Incorporating Gene-Alcohol Interactions
- 2019
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Ingår i: American Journal of Epidemiology. - : Oxford University Press. - 0002-9262 .- 1476-6256. ; 188:6, s. 1033-1054
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A person's lipid profile is influenced by genetic variants and alcohol consumption, but the contribution of interactions between these exposures has not been studied. We therefore incorporated gene-alcohol interactions into a multiancestry genome-wide association study of levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. We included 45 studies in stage 1 (genome-wide discovery) and 66 studies in stage 2 (focused follow-up), for a total of 394,584 individuals from 5 ancestry groups. Analyses covered the period July 2014-November 2017. Genetic main effects and interaction effects were jointly assessed by means of a 2-degrees-of-freedom (df) test, and a 1-df test was used to assess the interaction effects alone. Variants at 495 loci were at least suggestively associated (P < 1 x 10(-6)) with lipid levels in stage 1 and were evaluated in stage 2, followed by combined analyses of stage 1 and stage 2. In the combined analysis of stages 1 and 2, a total of 147 independent loci were associated with lipid levels at P < 5 x 10(-8) using 2-df tests, of which 18 were novel. No genome-wide-significant associations were found testing the interaction effect alone. The novel loci included several genes (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 5 (PCSK5), vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB), and apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide 1 (APOBEC1) complementation factor (A1CF)) that have a putative role in lipid metabolism on the basis of existing evidence from cellular and experimental models.
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| 2. |
- Maimaiti, Nazhakaiti, et al.
(författare)
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Cervical musculoskeletal disorders and their relationships with personal and work-related factors among electronic assembly workers
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Safety Research. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 0022-4375 .- 1879-1247. ; 71, s. 79-85
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Electronics assembly workers are reported to have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study investigated the prevalence of cervical MSDs and the complex relationships between cervical MSDs and individual, physical, psychosocial factors among electronics assembly workers. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, self-administered questionnaires from 700 workers in electronics manufacturing workshops were analysed. Information concerning musculoskeletal symptoms, personal and work-related factors was collected. Finally, the prevalence of cervical MSDs was computed for different subgroups, and the relationships with different factors were analyzed using logistic regression and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: The total 12 month prevalence of cervical MSDs among the survey population was 29.4%. Variables of gender, job tenure, twisting head frequently, neck flexion/extension for long time and work required to be done quickly showed significant associations with MSDs in a multivariate logistic regression (P < 0.05). The SEM analysis showed moderate and significant correlations between postural load (gamma = 0.279), gender (gamma = 0.233) and cervical MSDs, while there were weak but significant correlations between vibration (gamma = 0.024), work stress (gamma = 0.126), job tenure (gamma = 0.024) and cervical MSDs. Both work stress and vibration affected the MSDs indirectly through postural load. Conclusions: The logistic regression results support previous general epidemiological MSD studies, and indicates that individual, physical, and psychosocial factors are related to cervical MSDs. The SEM provides a better approximation of the complexity of the relationship between risk factors and cervical MSDs. Improving awkward postures may be effective ways to control the influence of occupational stressors or vibration on MSDs. Practical Applications: The study is to improve prevention of MSDs among electronics assembly workers and promote their occupational health.
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| 3. |
- Sung, Yun Ju, et al.
(författare)
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A multi-ancestry genome-wide study incorporating gene-smoking interactions identifies multiple new loci for pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure
- 2019
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Ingår i: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press. - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 28:15, s. 2615-2633
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Elevated blood pressure (BP), a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, is influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors. Cigarette smoking is one such lifestyle factor. Across five ancestries, we performed a genome-wide gene–smoking interaction study of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) in 129 913 individuals in stage 1 and follow-up analysis in 480 178 additional individuals in stage 2. We report here 136 loci significantly associated with MAP and/or PP. Of these, 61 were previously published through main-effect analysis of BP traits, 37 were recently reported by us for systolic BP and/or diastolic BP through gene–smoking interaction analysis and 38 were newly identified (P < 5 × 10−8, false discovery rate < 0.05). We also identified nine new signals near known loci. Of the 136 loci, 8 showed significant interaction with smoking status. They include CSMD1 previously reported for insulin resistance and BP in the spontaneously hypertensive rats. Many of the 38 new loci show biologic plausibility for a role in BP regulation. SLC26A7 encodes a chloride/bicarbonate exchanger expressed in the renal outer medullary collecting duct. AVPR1A is widely expressed, including in vascular smooth muscle cells, kidney, myocardium and brain. FHAD1 is a long non-coding RNA overexpressed in heart failure. TMEM51 was associated with contractile function in cardiomyocytes. CASP9 plays a central role in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Identified only in African ancestry were 30 novel loci. Our findings highlight the value of multi-ancestry investigations, particularly in studies of interaction with lifestyle factors, where genomic and lifestyle differences may contribute to novel findings.
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| 4. |
- Dong, Yidan, et al.
(författare)
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Study on the Associations of Individual and Work-Related Factors with Low Back Pain among Manufacturing Workers Based on Logistic Regression and Structural Equation Model
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Work-related musculoskeletal injuries are one of the major occupational health issues of the workers, especially low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of LBP among manufacturing workers and to identify associations of individual and work-related factors with LBP. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was performed with 1173 participating manufacturing workers. The questionnaire included individual factors, psychosocial and physical exposures, and musculoskeletal discomfort. It was analyzed by logistic regression and structural equation modeling (SEM). The 1-year prevalence of LBP among Chinese manufacturing workers was 33.6%. Logistic regression analysis showed that job tenure, awkward postures, vibration and job demand were positively-while social support and job control were negatively associated with LBP (p < 0.05). The SEM results indicated that, as shown in other studies, job types, job tenure, postural load, high job demand, low job control and vibration were directly associated with LBP, but also that job types, high job demand, low social support and vibration may have indirect effects on LBP-mediated by postural load.
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| 5. |
- Feitosa, Mary F., et al.
(författare)
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Novel genetic associations for blood pressure identified via gene-alcohol interaction in up to 570K individuals across multiple ancestries
- 2018
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public library science. - 1932-6203. ; 13:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Heavy alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for hypertension; the mechanism by which alcohol consumption impact blood pressure (BP) regulation remains unknown. We hypothesized that a genome-wide association study accounting for gene-alcohol consumption interaction for BP might identify additional BP loci and contribute to the understanding of alcohol-related BP regulation. We conducted a large two-stage investigation incorporating joint testing of main genetic effects and single nucleotide variant (SNV)-alcohol consumption interactions. In Stage 1, genome-wide discovery meta-analyses in approximate to 131 K individuals across several ancestry groups yielded 3,514 SNVs (245 loci) with suggestive evidence of association (P <1.0 x 10(-5)). In Stage 2, these SNVs were tested for independent external replication in individuals across multiple ancestries. We identified and replicated (at Bonferroni correction threshold) five novel BP loci (380 SNVs in 21 genes) and 49 previously reported BP loci (2,159 SNVs in 109 genes) in European ancestry, and in multi-ancestry meta-analyses (P < 5.0 x 10(-8)). For African ancestry samples, we detected 18 potentially novel BP loci (P< 5.0 x 10(-8)) in Stage 1 that warrant further replication. Additionally, correlated meta-analysis identified eight novel BP loci (11 genes). Several genes in these loci (e.g., PINX1, GATA4, BLK, FTO and GABBR2 have been previously reported to be associated with alcohol consumption. These findings provide insights into the role of alcohol consumption in the genetic architecture of hypertension.
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| 6. |
- Li, Weihua, et al.
(författare)
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Controllable and large-scale synthesis of carbon quantum dots for efficient solid-state optical devices
- 2024
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Ingår i: Nano Energy. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 2211-2855 .- 2211-3282. ; 122
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Carbon quantum dots (C-dots) showed excellent structure-tunable optical properties, mainly composed of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. They have been used for various types of solid-state optical devices. Due to the photoluminescence quenching caused by aggregation, it is a challenge to produce high quantum yield and large Stokes shift C-dots via controllable and simple approaches. In this work, we demonstrated a microwave assisted heating approach for the high-quality C-dots production with ten grams scale per batch in less than 4 min. The addition of metal cation promoted the formation of the foam-structure by forming carboxyl-metal-amine complex, enabling the spatial confined growth of the C-dots in a solid-state, contributing to the high quantum yield (QY) of 73% with a Stokes shift of 0.65 eV. By tuning the structure of the C-dots, excitation dependent and independent photoluminescent (PL) behavior were achieved because of the formation of the different types of energy states evidenced by transient PL and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. These optical properties enable the C-dots to be successfully integrated in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), having an external optical efficiency of 3.0% and a power conversion efficiency of 1.3% (225 cm2) and an excitation-dependent high-level anticounterfeiting fluorescent code, showing a great potential for solid-state optical system.
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| 7. |
- Weinstein, John N., et al.
(författare)
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The cancer genome atlas pan-cancer analysis project
- 2013
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 45:10, s. 1113-1120
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network has profiled and analyzed large numbers of human tumors to discover molecular aberrations at the DNA, RNA, protein and epigenetic levels. The resulting rich data provide a major opportunity to develop an integrated picture of commonalities, differences and emergent themes across tumor lineages. The Pan-Cancer initiative compares the first 12 tumor types profiled by TCGA. Analysis of the molecular aberrations and their functional roles across tumor types will teach us how to extend therapies effective in one cancer type to others with a similar genomic profile. © 2013 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Wuttke, Matthias, et al.
(författare)
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A catalog of genetic loci associated with kidney function from analyses of a million individuals
- 2019
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 51:6, s. 957-972
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is responsible for a public health burden with multi-systemic complications. Through transancestry meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and independent replication (n = 1,046,070), we identified 264 associated loci (166 new). Of these,147 were likely to be relevant for kidney function on the basis of associations with the alternative kidney function marker blood urea nitrogen (n = 416,178). Pathway and enrichment analyses, including mouse models with renal phenotypes, support the kidney as the main target organ. A genetic risk score for lower eGFR was associated with clinically diagnosed CKD in 452,264 independent individuals. Colocalization analyses of associations with eGFR among 783,978 European-ancestry individuals and gene expression across 46 human tissues, including tubulo-interstitial and glomerular kidney compartments, identified 17 genes differentially expressed in kidney. Fine-mapping highlighted missense driver variants in 11 genes and kidney-specific regulatory variants. These results provide a comprehensive priority list of molecular targets for translational research.
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| 9. |
- de las Fuentes, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Gene-educational attainment interactions in a multi-ancestry genome-wide meta-analysis identify novel blood pressure loci
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular Psychiatry. - : Springer Nature. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 26:6, s. 2111-2125
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Educational attainment is widely used as a surrogate for socioeconomic status (SES). Low SES is a risk factor for hypertension and high blood pressure (BP). To identify novel BP loci, we performed multi-ancestry meta-analyses accounting for gene-educational attainment interactions using two variables, “Some College” (yes/no) and “Graduated College” (yes/no). Interactions were evaluated using both a 1 degree of freedom (DF) interaction term and a 2DF joint test of genetic and interaction effects. Analyses were performed for systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure. We pursued genome-wide interrogation in Stage 1 studies (N = 117 438) and follow-up on promising variants in Stage 2 studies (N = 293 787) in five ancestry groups. Through combined meta-analyses of Stages 1 and 2, we identified 84 known and 18 novel BP loci at genome-wide significance level (P < 5 × 10-8). Two novel loci were identified based on the 1DF test of interaction with educational attainment, while the remaining 16 loci were identified through the 2DF joint test of genetic and interaction effects. Ten novel loci were identified in individuals of African ancestry. Several novel loci show strong biological plausibility since they involve physiologic systems implicated in BP regulation. They include genes involved in the central nervous system-adrenal signaling axis (ZDHHC17, CADPS, PIK3C2G), vascular structure and function (GNB3, CDON), and renal function (HAS2 and HAS2-AS1, SLIT3). Collectively, these findings suggest a role of educational attainment or SES in further dissection of the genetic architecture of BP.
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| 10. |
- Joshi, Peter K, et al.
(författare)
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Directional dominance on stature and cognition in diverse human populations
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 523:7561, s. 459-462
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Homozygosity has long been associated with rare, often devastating, Mendelian disorders, and Darwin was one of the first to recognize that inbreeding reduces evolutionary fitness. However, the effect of the more distant parental relatedness that is common in modern human populations is less well understood. Genomic data now allow us to investigate the effects of homozygosity on traits of public health importance by observing contiguous homozygous segments (runs of homozygosity), which are inferred to be homozygous along their complete length. Given the low levels of genome-wide homozygosity prevalent in most human populations, information is required on very large numbers of people to provide sufficient power. Here we use runs of homozygosity to study 16 health-related quantitative traits in 354,224 individuals from 102 cohorts, and find statistically significant associations between summed runs of homozygosity and four complex traits: height, forced expiratory lung volume in one second, general cognitive ability and educational attainment (P < 1 × 10(-300), 2.1 × 10(-6), 2.5 × 10(-10) and 1.8 × 10(-10), respectively). In each case, increased homozygosity was associated with decreased trait value, equivalent to the offspring of first cousins being 1.2 cm shorter and having 10 months' less education. Similar effect sizes were found across four continental groups and populations with different degrees of genome-wide homozygosity, providing evidence that homozygosity, rather than confounding, directly contributes to phenotypic variance. Contrary to earlier reports in substantially smaller samples, no evidence was seen of an influence of genome-wide homozygosity on blood pressure and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, or ten other cardio-metabolic traits. Since directional dominance is predicted for traits under directional evolutionary selection, this study provides evidence that increased stature and cognitive function have been positively selected in human evolution, whereas many important risk factors for late-onset complex diseases may not have been.
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| 11. |
- Wang, Fei, et al.
(författare)
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Endothelial cell heterogeneity and microglia regulons revealed by a pig cell landscape at single-cell level
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pigs are valuable large animal models for biomedical and genetic research, but insights into the tissue- and cell-type-specific transcriptome and heterogeneity remain limited. By leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing, we generate a multiple-organ single-cell transcriptomic map containing over 200,000 pig cells from 20 tissues/organs. We comprehensively characterize the heterogeneity of cells in tissues and identify 234 cell clusters, representing 58 major cell types. In-depth integrative analysis of endothelial cells reveals a high degree of heterogeneity. We identify several functionally distinct endothelial cell phenotypes, including an endothelial to mesenchymal transition subtype in adipose tissues. Intercellular communication analysis predicts tissue- and cell type-specific crosstalk between endothelial cells and other cell types through the VEGF, PDGF, TGF-beta, and BMP pathways. Regulon analysis of single-cell transcriptome of microglia in pig and 12 other species further identifies MEF2C as an evolutionally conserved regulon in the microglia. Our work describes the landscape of single-cell transcriptomes within diverse pig organs and identifies the heterogeneity of endothelial cells and evolutionally conserved regulon in microglia.
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| 12. |
- Cheng, Lihua, et al.
(författare)
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Design of wavelength division demultiplexers based on holographic gratings with a low polarization dependent loss
- 2006
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Ingår i: Guangzi Xuebao/Acta Photonica Sinica. - 1004-4213. ; 35:11, s. 1667-1671
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An optimizing method of main structure parameters (e. g. , the thickness of the crystal) and writing conditions (e. g., the incident angle) is presented for a holographic grating wavelength division demultiplexer based on photorefractive LiNbO3 crystals. The key performance parameters of the demultiplexer, such as the loss and the polarization dependent loss (PDL), are optimized by selecting favourite structure parameters using a rigorous coupled wave analysis method. Numerical results show that a low loss and a low PDL can be achieved by using the optimal crystal thickness and incident angle. The designed demultiplexer obtains the favourite synthetical performance for an actual application. The experimental method of the grating recorded is also introduced in the present paper. The experimental results accorded with theoretical computation commendably by testing the three different specimens.
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| 13. |
- Ding, Yunmei, et al.
(författare)
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Factors influencing kinesiophobia during the “blanking period” after radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation by the fear-avoidance model
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273. ; 363, s. 49-55
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The influencing factors of kinesiophobia (fear of movement) in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)during the post-operative “Blanking Period” are not known. The aims were to investigate the status of kinesiophobia in patients with AF during the post-operative “Blanking Period”, then further describe the occurrence and analyze the influencing factors of patients' kinesiophobia by the Fear-Avoidance Model. Materials and methods: In total,400 patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, during the post-operative “Blanking Period” from the selected hospital were included in this study. The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart (TSK-SV Heart), the Self-efficacy for Exercise (SEE) scale, and the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS) were used to assess kinesiophobia, exercise self-efficacy, and physical function. The study adopted a cross-sectional design. Results: The score of kinesiophobia during the “Blanking Period” after operation in patients with atrial fibrillation was (44.06 ± 10.77), and the rate of high kinesiophobia was 71.61%.Logistic regression results showed that age, education, household monthly income, resting heart rate, EHRA symptom classification, exercise self-efficacy, and physical function influenced the kinesiophobia of patients during the post-operative “Blanking Period”(p<0.05， p<0.01). Conclusions: Kinesiophobia is common in patients with atrial fibrillation during the postoperative “Blanking Period”, and the fear of movement is related to age, education, household monthly income, resting heart rate, EHRA symptom classification, exercise self-efficacy, and physical function. Clinical and nursing staff should pay close attention to the psychological problems in the post-operation “Blanking Period” of exercise rehabilitation in patients with atrial fibrillation, make timely interventions to reduce patients' fear of movement, and improve patients' compliance with exercise rehabilitation.
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| 14. |
- Dong, Yidan, et al.
(författare)
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Derived patterns of musculoskeletal symptoms and their relationships with ergonomic factors among electronic assembly workers : A latent class analysis
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Safety Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-4375 .- 1879-1247. ; 82, s. 293-300
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Multi-site musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) are considered to be more common and have more serious consequences than single-site MSS. This study aimed to determine whether derived patterns of MSS may be identified in electronic assembly workers and if extracted MSS classes are associated with personal and work-related factors. Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was performed with 700 participating electronic assembly workers. The questionnaire included individual factors, psychosocial and physical exposures, and MSS. The derived patterns of MSS and their relationships with ergonomic factors were analyzed using latent class analysis (LCA) and multinomial logistic regression models (MLRM). Results: The 1-year prevalence of MSS affecting only one body site or two or more body sites was 14.9% and 32.7%, respectively. The results of LCA showed three distinct classes of MSS patterns, which were labelled 'MSS in most sites' (5.0%), 'MSS in neck and shoulder' (27.0%), and 'MSS in one or no site' (68.0%). The results of MLRM showed that the 'MSS in neck and shoulder' was associated with job tenure (OR 5.579, 95% CI 2.488-12.511), excessive dynamic and static loads (OR 3.868, 95% CI 1.702- 8.793 and OR 5.270, 95% CI 2.020-13.747, respectively); while the 'MSS in most sites' was associated with high job demands (OR 4.528, 95% CI 1.647-12.445) and excessive dynamic loads (OR 111.554, 95% CI 4.996-2490.793). Conclusions: The results showed unique patterns of MSS among electronic assembly workers that were associated with personal and work-related factors. Practical applications: The findings highlight that the high prevalence of multi-site MSS in this group should be a focus. It also provides further evidence that LCA considering the number and location of anatomical sites involving MSS can be used to determine distinct classes of MSS patterns, which is of great significance for the epidemiological study and management of MSS in the future.
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| 15. |
- Gao, Lihua, et al.
(författare)
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Interfacial phenomenon and Marangoni convection of Fe–C melt on coke substrate under in situ observation
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Nature. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The interfacial phenomenon between liqiuid iron and coke is important for determining the melting efficiency in the blast furnace iron-making process. In this study, the interaction observed in the case of the iron-carbon (Fe–C) melt on coke substrate was investigated using a high-temperature vacuum wettability test equipment. The Fe–C melt did not wet and spread on the coke substrate with different graphitization degrees (r 0) at a high temperature of 1450 °C. The contact angles changed from 124.5° to 105.3°, and the r 0 increased from 9.30 to 50.00%, thus indicating a nonwetting state. The deepening of graphitization decreased the contact angle. Thereby, increasing the contact area between liquid iron and the carbonaceous material, which facilitated carbon dissolution. The irregular movements of Fe–C melt were observed in situ during the wetting process. The horizontal force of the droplet caused by interfacial tension and the contact angle; the Marangoni convection owing to the gradient of carbon concentration; and the impulse force caused by the generation, aggregation, and release of SiO bubbles at the interface were attributed to the driving force.
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| 16. |
- Jensen, Christian Fuglesang Skjødt, et al.
(författare)
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Sertoli and Germ Cells Within Atrophic Seminiferous Tubules of Men With Non-Obstructive Azoospermia
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Endocrinology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-2392. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) have impaired spermatogenesis. Dilated and un-dilated atrophic seminiferous tubules are often present in the testes of these patients, with the highest likelihood of active spermatogenesis in the dilated tubules. Little is known about the un-dilated tubules, which in NOA patients constitute the majority. To advance therapeutic strategies for men with NOA who fail surgical sperm retrieval we aimed to characterize the spermatogonial stem cell microenvironment in atrophic un-dilated tubules. Methods: Testis biopsies approximately 3x3x3 mm3 were obtained from un-dilated areas from 34 patients. They were classified as hypospermatogenesis (HS) (n=5), maturation arrest (MA) (n=14), and Sertoli cell only (SCO) (n= 15). Testis samples from five fertile men were included as controls. Biopsies were used for histological analysis, RT-PCR analysis and immunofluorescence of germ and Sertoli cell markers. Results: Anti-Müllerian hormone mRNA and protein expression was increased in un-dilated tubules in all three NOA subtypes, compared to the control, showing an immature state of Sertoli cells (p<0.05). The GDNF mRNA expression was significantly increased in MA (P=0.0003). The BMP4 mRNA expression showed a significant increase in HS, MA, and SCO (P=0.02, P=0.0005, P=0.02, respectively). The thickness of the tubule wall was increased 2.2-fold in the SCO-NOA compared to the control (p<0.05). In germ cells, we found the DEAD-box helicase 4 (DDX4) and melanoma-associated antigen A4 (MAGE-A4) mRNA and protein expression reduced in NOA (MAGE-A: 46% decrease in HS, 53% decrease in MA, absent in SCO). In HS-NOA, the number of androgen receptor positive Sertoli cells was reduced 30% with a similar pattern in mRNA expression. The γH2AX expression was increased in SCO as compared to HS and MA. However, none of these differences reached statistical significance probably due to low number of samples. Conclusions: Sertoli cells were shown to be immature in un-dilated tubules of three NOA subtypes. The increased DNA damage in Sertoli cells and thicker tubule wall in SCO suggested a different mechanism for the absence of spermatogenesis from SCO to HS and MA. These results expand insight into the differences in un-dilated tubules from the different types of NOA patients.
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| 17. |
- Jin, Xu, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence and associated factors of lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders among manufacturing workers : a cross-sectional study in China
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 12:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To survey the prevalence of lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among Chinese manufacturing workers, and to identify the associated factors. Design Observational study with cross-sectional design. Setting A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in four manufacturing factories in China. Participants 7908 manufacturing workers were included in this study after excluding non-conforming personnel. Outcome measures Individual and work-related information, and MSDs in the whole leg and knee region were measured by the anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Individual and work-related factors associated with MSDs and their effects were identified through multivariate logistic regression. Results Of all respondents, 3241 (41.0%) reported having had lower extremity MSDs in the recent 12 months, and for the knees, ankles/feet and hips/thighs were 29.5%, 23.9% and 16.7%, respectively. After confounder-adjusted single-factor analysis, 22 variables (of 24) were significantly related to the disorders. Factors like always kneeling/squatting for long periods, always standing for long periods and often lifting in an uncomfortable position were shown to have higher risks, with ORs of 2.77 (95% CI: 2.33 to 3.30), 2.30 (1.96 to 2.69) and 2.25 (2.04 to 2.47). Comparable results were found on knee disorders. The final model included 15 variables of demography, biomechanics and work organisation. The following factors showed increased risks of lower extremity MSDs: being female, being older, longer working years, higher body mass index (BMI), keeping the same posture for a long time, awkward position, shift work and monotonous work. Whereas having enough breaks reduced the risk. Conclusion The prevalence of lower extremity MSDs among Chinese manufacturing workers is high. The most commonly affected body regions were the knees and ankles/feet. Multiple factors were found associated with lower extremity MSDs including age, BMI, work experience, work organisations, physical ergonomics exposures, etc.
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| 18. |
- Pan, Haodong, et al.
(författare)
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COVID‐19 and cognitive impairment : From evidence to SARS‐CoV‐2 mechanism
- 2024
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Ingår i: Brain‐X. - 2835-3153. ; 2:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily manifests as respiratory dysfunction. However, emerging evidence suggests SARS-CoV-2 can invade the brain, leading to cognitive impairment (CI). It may spread to other brain regions through transsynaptic neurons, including the olfactory, optic, and vagus nerves. Moreover, it may invade the central nervous system through blood transmission or the lymphatic system. This review summarizes the neuroimaging evidence from clinical and imaging studies of COVID-19-associated CIs, including magnetic resonance imaging and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography. The mechanisms underlying COVID-19-associated CIs are currently being actively investigated. They include nonimmune effects, such as viral proteins, tissue hypoxia, hypercoagulability, and pathological changes in neuronal cells, and immune effects, such as microglia and astrocyte activation, peripheral immune cell infiltration, blood-brain barrier impairment, cytokine network dysregulation, and intestinal microbiota. Inflammation is the central feature. Both central and systemic inflammation may cause acute and persistent neurological changes, and existing evidence indicates that inflammation underlies the elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease. Finally, potential therapeutic options for COVID-19-associated CIs are discussed. In-depth research into the pathological mechanisms is still needed to help develop new therapies.
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| 19. |
- Shen, Xiantao, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular imprinting for removing highly toxic organic pollutants
- 2012
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Ingår i: Chemical Communications. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1364-548X. ; 48:6, s. 788-798
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecular imprinting technology allows synthesis of polymers with specific recognition ability towards target pollutants, which show potential to selectively remove Highly Toxic Organic Pollutants (HTOPs) in the presence of common organic matrices that are thousands of times more abundant than the targets. This feature article summarizes the current development of molecular imprinting for removing HTOPs from polluted water, with a special emphasis on the application of molecularly imprinted polymers to improve the efficiency of photocatalytic and biological degradation of HTOPs in wastewater.
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| 20. |
- Terenius, Olle, et al.
(författare)
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RNA interference in Lepidoptera : An overview of successful and unsuccessful studies and implications for experimental design
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of insect physiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-1910 .- 1879-1611. ; 57:2, s. 231-245
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) has revolutionized the study of gene function, particularly in non-model insects. However, in Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) RNAi has many times proven to be difficult to achieve. Most of the negative results have been anecdotal and the positive experiments have not been collected in such a way that they are possible to analyze. In this review, we have collected detailed data from more than 150 experiments including all to date published and many unpublished experiments. Despite a large variation in the data, trends that are found are that RNAi is particularly successful in the family Saturniidae and in genes involved in immunity. On the contrary, gene expression in epidermal tissues seems to be most difficult to silence. In addition, gene silencing by feeding dsRNA requires high concentrations for success. Possible causes for the variability of success in RNAi experiments in Lepidoptera are discussed. The review also points to a need to further investigate the mechanism of RNAi in lepidopteran insects and its possible connection to the innate immune response. Our general understanding of RNAi in Lepidoptera will be further aided in the future as our public database at http://insectacentral.org/RNAi will continue to gather information on RNAi experiments.
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| 21. |
- van de Vegte, Yordi, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic insights into resting heart rate and its role in cardiovascular disease
- 2023
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The genetics and clinical consequences of resting heart rate (RHR) remain incompletely understood. Here, the authors discover new genetic variants associated with RHR and find that higher genetically predicted RHR decreases risk of atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke. Resting heart rate is associated with cardiovascular diseases and mortality in observational and Mendelian randomization studies. The aims of this study are to extend the number of resting heart rate associated genetic variants and to obtain further insights in resting heart rate biology and its clinical consequences. A genome-wide meta-analysis of 100 studies in up to 835,465 individuals reveals 493 independent genetic variants in 352 loci, including 68 genetic variants outside previously identified resting heart rate associated loci. We prioritize 670 genes and in silico annotations point to their enrichment in cardiomyocytes and provide insights in their ECG signature. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses indicate that higher genetically predicted resting heart rate increases risk of dilated cardiomyopathy, but decreases risk of developing atrial fibrillation, ischemic stroke, and cardio-embolic stroke. We do not find evidence for a linear or non-linear genetic association between resting heart rate and all-cause mortality in contrast to our previous Mendelian randomization study. Systematic alteration of key differences between the current and previous Mendelian randomization study indicates that the most likely cause of the discrepancy between these studies arises from false positive findings in previous one-sample MR analyses caused by weak-instrument bias at lower P-value thresholds. The results extend our understanding of resting heart rate biology and give additional insights in its role in cardiovascular disease development.
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| 22. |
- wang, Daqin, et al.
(författare)
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A note on the rationing policies of multiple demand classes with lost sales
- 2015
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Ingår i: International Journal of Production Economics. - : Elsevier. - 0925-5273 .- 1873-7579. ; 165, s. 145-154
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We study inventory rationing in a system with multiple demand classes and lost sales. It is assumed to have at most one outstanding order, resulting in two periods in an order cycle separated by the time of order release. We review the most related work by Melchiors (2001, PhD Thesis, University of Aarhus; 2003, International Journal of Production Economics 81-82, 461-468), and find that the existing approximated and optimal policies are not easy to obtain due to computational complexity. Also as the rationing issue before order release is not well addressed in literature, in this paper we have proved the static rationing being optimal. Furthermore in such a system with two distinct periods, the optimal rationing policy is a combination of a dynamic policy during the replenishment lead time and a static policy before order release. In order to make the rationing policies to be readily used in practice, we introduce two approximated methods for calculating the rationing levels in two periods, respectively. The results, in particular the combination of static and dynamic rationing, outperform the existing approximations in literature. In addition, the computation is obviously simplified due to the efficient algorithm of dynamic rationing and the explicit expressions of static rationing.
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| 23. |
- Wang, Daqin, et al.
(författare)
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A periodic review lot sizing problem with random yields, disruptions and inventory capacity
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Journal of Production Economics. - : Elsevier. - 0925-5273 .- 1873-7579. ; 155, s. 330-339
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper examines a periodic-reviewed lot sizing problem with random yields, disruptions and limited inventory capacity. To characterise the continuous production, an additive random yield model is considered rather than a multiplicative one. Disruptions cause breakdowns to production. Inventory capacity is included since the production has to be shut down when the inventory buffer is full. Both disruptions and shutdowns lead to a start-up cost and a stochastic lead time to recover the production. These compound factors of uncertainty are encountered in practical planning decisions in process industries. We review the existing random yield models, which are then compared with the additive model. With a linear production cost, the additive model has an order-up-to policy to be optimal. Disruptions deteriorate the expected actual production quantity and the fill-rate dramatically, even though the optimal order-up-to level increases compared with the cases of no disruption. Considering inventory capacity makes the problem to be a non-convex dynamic programming problem. Numerical analysis shows that the performance is dramatically deteriorated when the inventory capacity is rather tight, which indicates the importance of selecting a proper inventory capacity to reduce the negative impacts and avoid redundant investment on capacity. Moreover, the start-up cost plays an important role in determining the level of inventory capacity.
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| 24. |
- Wang, Daqin, et al.
(författare)
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Inventory stacking with partial information
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Production Research. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 0020-7543 .- 1366-588X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An inventory stacking decision assigns positions to items which are stacked vertically, such as containers in container terminals and steel plates in steel plants. The performance of stacking decisions is greatly affected by the arrival and departure information on items. We study an inventory stacking problem with partial information based on industrial observation in a steel plant. On the inbound side, we investigate three levels of information on future arriving items and their effect on performance. On the outbound side, we study the impact of the retrieval sequence, which is often random. We develop models incorporating different availabilities of information and determine stacking strategies. The study shows that the stacking strategy and stacking performance depend highly on information quality and space utilisation. Especially, when the space utilisation is high, low-quality information deteriorates the performance and such information should be ignored. This contradicts the general belief that more information should bring better performance. The study further proposes a time window allocation approach to reduce the uncertainty in retrieval, and it is effective in improving stacking performance.
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| 25. |
- Wang, Maoze, et al.
(författare)
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Iontophoresis-Driven Microneedle Arrays Delivering Transgenic Outer Membrane Vesicles in Program that Stimulates Transcutaneous Vaccination for Cancer Immunotherapy
- 2023
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Ingår i: SMALL SCIENCE. - : Wiley-VCH Verlagsgesellschaft. - 2688-4046. ; 3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transdermal delivery of antigen and chemokine proteins that activates the maturation of skin dendritic cells (DCs) and direct the migration of activated DCs to lymph and spleen is an important alternative to conventional vaccines. However, stratum corneum forms a barrier to skin penetration. The poor cellular uptake of free antigens and chemokines also limits transcutaneous immunization efficacy. In this work, a pair of iontophoresis-driven microneedle patches is constructed, of which, two kinds of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from Escherichia coli transformed by plasmid encoding gp100 (IPMN-G) and chemokine ligand 21 (IPMN-C) are incorporated within microneedles, respectively. The topical application of IPMN-G and IPMN-C shows the effectiveness of transdermally delivering gp100 and CCL21 secreting vesicles to skin DCs. With iontophoresis as a driving generator, the release and uptake of transgenic OMVs in target cells are significantly enhanced, with transcutaneous immunization initiated. The in vivo applications of IPMN-G and IPMN-C with a 12 h interval retard the progression and prevent the occurrence of tumor spheroids. IPMN-GC is shown as a promising triplatform in engineering transgenic OMV-incorporated microneedles, driven by iontophoresis into a transcutaneous vaccine, providing a noninvasive system for the transdermal delivery of antigen and chemokine proteins for transcutaneous vaccination-meditated immunotherapy.
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