Chinese Group Research Articles

Chinese migrants exhibit impaired postprandial lipaemia compared to Caucasian counterparts following both high fat and high carbohydrate test meals.

People of Chinese ethnicity develop type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at a younger age and lower body mass index (BMI) than their Caucasian counterparts. Furthermore, Chinese migrants to Westernised countries have an increased risk of metabolic diseases compared to those in their country of origin(1,2). We propose that this increased risk is due to a greater manifestation of metabolic abnormalities in response to altered diet and lifestyle behaviours. Although fasting lipaemia and glycaemia are commonly used to predict risk of CVD and T2DM, assessment of impaired postprandial metabolism has been found to be a more sensitive indicator of risk(3). We hypothesised that Chinese migrants, at risk of T2DM, exhibit impaired postprandial lipid and lipoprotein metabolism compared to Australian-born Caucasian counterparts. Chinese and Caucasian adults at risk of T2DM were recruited to the study in which postprandial lipaemia and glycaemia were monitored following consumption of a high fat and high carbohydrate breakfast meal followed by a mixed, lunch meal. In a nonrandomised acute crossover trial, 15 adults (n = 8 Chinese and n = 7 Caucasian) aged ≥ 18 and ≤ 65 years at risk of T2DM (AUSDRISK score > 12 (median = 14.0, IQR = 3.0)), attended two postprandial test days separated by ≥ 7-day washout period. Test breakfast meals were isocaloric (3.6 MJ), high fat (46% energy from fat, 46% energy from carbohydrates) or high carbohydrate (74% E carbohydrates, 17.5% E fat). Blood samples were collected at baseline (fasting), 180 min and 360 min after consumption of the breakfast meal. The lunch meal (3.7 MJ, 18% E fat, 76% E carbohydrates) was consumed 240 min after baseline. Samples were analysed for lipaemia and glycaemia. Additionally, chylomicron-rich, and VLDL-rich lipoprotein fractions were isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation and chylomicron particle number (apolipoprotein (apo) B48), triacylglycerol (TAG), and total cholesterol were assessed in these fractions. Data were analysed using a mixed between-within-subject analysis of variance. There were no differences in age, and baseline anthropometric measures between groups, apart from the Chinese group exhibiting significantly lower waist circumference and BMI compared to the Caucasian group. There were no differences between groups in blood measures, apart from a higher total- and LDL-cholesterol concentration in the Caucasian compared to the Chinese group (P<0.05). Despite identical fasting TAG concentrations, the Chinese group, compared with the Caucasian group exhibited significantly elevated serum TAG and chylomicron-apo-B48 concentrations at 360 min following both test meals (P<0.01). All other postprandial measures were not different between groups. These findings show that despite having identical or improved fasting glycaemia and lipid profile, the Chinese group exhibited impaired postprandial lipid metabolism which may contributes to their increased risk of metabolic diseases.

Designing youth mental health services to improve access: A qualitative study and framework analysis of youths’ perspectives in Singapore

IntroductionAlthough there is an increasing interest in making mental health services (MHS) accessible to youths, there is limited ground-up involvement of youths while designing MHS in Asian settings.ObjectivesThis qualitative study sought to understand what youths considered as important elements of youth centric MHS and how these could be designed to improve access by youths in Singapore.MethodsWe conducted seven focus group discussions, and four semi-structured interviews with 50 multiracial youths aged 15-35 years in Singapore - a high-income Southeast Asian country. Purposive sampling allowed adequate representation of age, gender, and race (mainly Chinese, Malay, and Indian) groups. Participants reflected on the features of an ideal MHS for youths and how these could improve youths’ attitude and access to services. Participants also shared their preferences and additional opinions for culturally tailored and age appropriate MHS. Framework analysis using the ‘Conceptual Framework of Access to Healthcare’ (Levesque et al. Int J Equity Health 2013, 12:18) was used to code transcripts and identify the key themes (Ritchie & Spencer. In Analyzing qualitative data, 1994).ResultsThe average age of the participants was 24 years. About one third of the participants had accessed MHS in the past. Three key themes were identified – making facilities ‘approachable’, ‘available and appropriate’ and ‘affordable’. (i) Making facilities approachable related to having non-stigmatizing, non-threatening and welcoming aesthetics, organizational culture, and personnel. The participants also recommended a range of professional services, digital tools, and online features to enhance the approachability of MHS designed for youths. (ii) Flexible operating hours, easy appointment management, accessible location, and easy availability to youths with unique needs (e.g., employed youths) or socio-cultural backgrounds were necessary for making facilities available and accessible to youths. (iii) While sharing challenges of family involvement in the help-seeking process, most of the participants, particularly those in the lower ages, talked about tailoring MHS to the ability of youths to pay for the services. Preferences such as having cheaper services for teenagers and initial contacts, offering more non-medical but trained professionals, and considering shorter in-person counselling sessions, followed by free online options were brought up by the participants.ConclusionsThe study provided insights into multiple aspects of MHS and how these could be designed to cater to the needs of youths in Singapore from their perspective. MHS that incorporate non-stigmatizing, flexible, non-threatening and affordable design approaches could improve help-seeking and early interventions in youths.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

When Non-Muslims Visit Muslims: A Study of Ethnic Chinese Pilgrimage Practices at Ong Tien's Grave in Astana Village, Cirebon

Cirebon, one of the areas that still preserves traditions from ancient times to the present, upholds pilgrimage as one such tradition. This article highlights a pilgrimage phenomenon whose tradition remains in Cirebon Regency. In Cirebon's pilgrimage tradition, which is quite 'unique,' the Chinese ethnic group carries out a pilgrimage when visiting the grave of Ong Tien in Astana Village, Gunung Jati Subdistrict, Cirebon Regency. According to local beliefs, Ong Tien, a descendant of the Chinese ethnicity, embraced Islam and was one of the wives of Sunan Gunung Jati. In this study, three religious adherents visit Ong Tien's grave: Buddhists and followers of Confucianism. Several questions are outlined: First, what are the beliefs of the Chinese ethnic group when visiting Ong Tien's grave? Second, what are the purposes of the Chinese ethnic group visiting Ong Tien's grave? And third, what activities do the Chinese ethnic group carry out when visiting Ong Tien's grave? I answer these questions using a Social-Anthropological approach. In analyzing the data, I employ a qualitative descriptive analysis method, aiming to explain and analyze the phenomenon of pilgrimage carried out by non-Muslims at Ong Tien's grave

Dietary Contribution to the Development of Precocious Puberty in Children

This study examined seven dietary factors contributing to precocious puberty in 200 children, with an age and gender-matched control group of 200 healthy children. The case group was classified according to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles; their dietary habits were investigated by questionnaire, with dietary statistics compiled for each Traditional Chinese Medicine evidence group. The χ2 test revealed a statistically significant higher exposure in the case group to five factors, namely frequent consumption of nutritional supplements, foods with high hormone content, anti-seasonal fruits and vegetables, products with high trace elements of zinc, and foods packaged in plastic (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that frequent consumption of nutritional supplements (odds ratio = 13.558), foods containing high levels of hormones (odds ratio = 11.829), anti-seasonal fruits and vegetables (odds ratio = 8.114), products containing high trace elements of zinc (odds ratio = 6.734 ), and plastic wrapped food (odds ratio = 3.419) were high-risk factors; the order of preference in dietary habits was as follows: salty > greasy > sweet > spicy > cold > hot > light.

Parenting at three generations of Oei Family in “Oei Hui Lan” biography

Oei Hui Lan family was the richest family in Southeast Asia until 20th century, and belongs to the Chinese elite group, so they also have good connection with the western people which made Oei family’s parenting style different from other ordinary Chinese Indonesian families at their time. This makes the author interested in researching parenting styles in three generations of Oei family. The author uses library research method, namely the content analysis method to analyze the data. The data is taken from "Oei Hui Lan: Kisah Putri Sang Raja Gula dari Semarang" by Agnes Davonar. The results of the analysis are parenting style in the first generation is mostly the same as the traditional Chinese parenting style. In the second and third generations are starting to be influenced by western family parenting style. Also, the use of western parenting style from the first to the third generation is found increasing.

Penggunaan Metode Diskusi Kelompok Kecil Tentang Kontribusi Etnis Tionghoa Pada Masa Pergerakan Nasional Untuk Menumbuhkan Sikap Toleransi Peserta Didik

This article aims to (1) determine the position of the Chinese ethnic group during the reign of the Dutch East Indies, (2) discuss the contribution of the Chinese ethnic group in fighting for Indonesian independence during the national movement period, and (3) determine the relationship between the contribution of the Chinese ethnic group during the national movement period and the growth of attitudes student tolerance. This article was conducted using a qualitative method with a literature study approach. The research results from this article show that the Chinese ethnicity, which has always been seen as an ethnic group that has close ties to the Dutch, has a low sense of Indonesian nationalism, and prioritizes their own interests, has made a major contribution in fighting for Indonesian independence. Where the educational reforms carried out by the Chinese elite gave birth to educated people who were then involved in various fields, both journalistic and political, to fight for the fate of the people and for Indonesian independence during the period of the national movement. Through the small group discussion method, history teachers can discuss the contribution of the Chinese ethnicity during the national movement to foster students' tolerance. As for the implementation of history learning using the small discussion group method, the history teacher should carry out several activities including preliminary, core and closing activities. Also, the history teacher conducts an evaluation to find out the tolerance attitude of students.

A Road to “Unity in Diversity”: The Case of Indonesia’s Chinese Minority Group

Indonesia is well-known for its diverse ethnic groups. The lovely motto bhinneka tunggal ika (unity in diversity) has long been used to foster national identity and demonstrate how these many ethnic populations may cohabit peacefully. However, this is not always the case, especially among the Chinese-Indonesian community. This article examines the history and current situation of the Chinese-Indonesian minority, which has faced various forms of violence and discrimination since the Dutch colonial era, to understand why Chinese Indonesians are frequently used as a scapegoat for problems in the country, particularly those related to economic disparity. It explores the causes and implications of the unfavourable sentiment against this ethnic group using Johan Galtung's concepts of direct, structural, and cultural violence. It also evaluates the Indonesian government's legislative and social actions to solve the issue, concluding that they are insufficient to promote constructive peace and justice. The article argues that a genuine reconciliation process is required to heal the trauma and promote mutual understanding among Chinese Indonesians and other ethnic groups.

A study on the interaction between civil business groups and the state from the perspective of public sphere theory—A comparison between the Shanghai branch of the China association and the Philippine Chinese charitable association Inc.

This article attempts to use public sphere theory as a starting point to compare the behavior of the British government in protecting the interests of British business in China in the 19th century with the Chinese government’s neglect of the interests of Chinese business in the Philippines. Mill’s method of finding identities will be used. This article uses the Shanghai Branch of the China Association and the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc. as representatives of civil business groups in the UK and China. For the UK, due to the public sphere of competition with the central government within the UK, civil business groups must consult with relevant civil business groups when implementing any economic foreign policy. This process promotes consensus between the British government and society to promotes the British government’s determination to maintain British business in China. However, for China, due to the absence of a public sphere where the central government interacts with society, even though Chinese civil business groups have huge interests overseas, the state and society have always been unable to form a positive interaction. At the same time, this situation also results in Chinese business in the Philippines having to rely on their abilities to maintain their local interests.

Assessing written production in L2 Mandarin Chinese: fluency and accuracy

Abstract This study utilized T-unit and character-unit indices to assess learners’ written production and evaluate their writing development in second language (L2) Chinese. Through a cross-sectional design, three L2 Chinese learner groups at different instructional levels completed a timed letter-writing task within 30 min. Guided by prior research, respective T-unit and character-unit measures were selected to assess fluency and accuracy of the collected writing data. The results showed that fluency was overall positively related to learners’ instructional level, regardless of the indices (T-unit vs. character-unit). Hence, T-units per minute and characters per minute are considered both valid tools to assess fluency in L2 Chinese writing. However, only errors per character, among the accuracy measures, was found to decline linearly with the increasing level, thus suggested to be valid for tapping accuracy development in L2 Chinese writing. Based on the findings, implications regarding the assessment of L2 Chinese texts were discussed.

Effect of Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu recipe on inflammatory factors and oxidative stress on viral myocarditis in children.

This observation purposed to investigate the effect of the Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu formula on children with viral myocarditis and its effect on inflammatory factors and oxidative response. A total of 121 children with viral myocarditis were randomly divided into two groups, namely the control group (N = 60) and the traditional Chinese medicine group (N = 61). The control group was mainly treated with routine therapy, while the traditional Chinese medicine group was treated with Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu recipes based on the control group. The creatine kinase, creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin I, brain natriuretic peptide, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in viral myocarditis patients were tested to estimate the myocardial function, inflammation, and oxidative situation. After Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu treatment, 15 cases were recovered, 20 were excellent, and 21 were effective, which had a significant difference from the control group. The concentration of creatine kinase, creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin I and brain natriuretic peptide was decreased in the traditional Chinese medicine group. The levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in the traditional Chinese medicine group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Superoxide dismutase was higher and malondialdehyde was lower than those in the control group. The use of Yangxin Huoxue Jiedu in the treatment of viral myocarditis has a definite clinical effect, which could improve myocardial function, reduce body inflammation, and promote oxidative recovery.

Gut microbiota-based discriminative model for patients with ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis and real-world study.

Gut microbiota directly interacts with intestinal epithelium and is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). A meta-analysis was performed to investigate gut microbiota composition of patients with UC in the United States. We also collected fecal samples from Chinese patients with UC and healthy individuals. Gut microbiota was tested using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Meta-analysis and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing revealed significant differences in gut bacterial composition between UC patients and healthy subjects. The Chinese UC group had the highest scores for Firmicutes, Clostridia, Clostridiales, Streptococcaceae, and Blautia, while healthy cohort had the highest scores for P-Bacteroidetes, Bacteroidia, Bacteroidales, Prevotellaceae, and Prevotella_9. A gut microbiota-based discriminative model trained on an American cohort achieved a discrimination efficiency of 0.928 when applied to identify the Chinese UC cohort, resulting in a discrimination efficiency of 0.759. Additionally, a differentiation model was created based on gut microbiota of a Chinese cohort, resulting in an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.998. Next, we applied the model established for the Chinese UC cohort to analyze the American cohort. Our findings suggest that the diagnostic efficiency ranged from 0.8794 to 0.9497. Furthermore, a combined analysis using data from both the Chinese and US cohorts resulted in a model with a diagnostic efficacy of 0.896. In summary, we found significant differences in gut bacteria between UC individuals and healthy subjects. Notably, the model from the Chinese cohort performed better at diagnosing UC patients compared to healthy subjects. These results highlight the promise of personalized and region-specific approaches using gut microbiota data for UC diagnosis.

ADAPT: Adaptive Camouflage Based Deception Orchestration For Trapping Advanced Persistent Threats

Honeypots serve as a valuable deception technology, enabling security teams to gain insights into the behaviour patterns of attackers and investigate cyber security breaches. However, traditional honeypots prove ineffective against advanced adversaries like APT groups due to their evasion tactics and awareness of typical honeypot solutions. This paper emphasises the need to capture these attackers for enhanced threat intelligence, detection, and protection. To address this, we propose the design and deployment of a customized honeypot network based on adaptive camouflaging techniques. Our work focuses on orchestrating a behavioral honeypot network tailored for three APT groups, with strategically positioned attack paths aligning with their Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, covering all cyber kill chain phases. We introduce a novel approach, deploying a camouflaged chatterbox application within the honeypot network. This application offers a regular chat interface while periodically tracking attacker activity by enabling periodic log transfers. Deployed for 100 days, our orchestrated honeypot recorded 13,906,945 hits from 4,238 unique IP addresses. Our approach categorizes attackers, discerning varying levels of sophistication, and identifies attacks from Hong Kong with similarities to known Chinese threat groups. This research significantly advances honeypot technology and enhances the understanding of sophisticated threat actors’ strategies in real operating networks.

Effect of rituximab on immune status in children with aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma/leukemia–a prospective study from CCCG-BNHL-2015

BackgroundLimited research has been conducted on the impact of rituximab on immune function and the incidence of side effects in children undergoing combination chemotherapy for aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma/leukemia. MethodsClinical data from 85 patients with primary pediatric aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma/leukemia, treated according to the Chinese Children's Cancer Group (CCCG)-mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (BNHL)-2015 protocol from June 1, 2015, to December 1, 2022, were collected from three tertiary medical centers in China. Patients with pre-existing malignancies or primary immune deficiencies (PIDs) were excluded. ResultsBetween June 1, 2015, and December 1, 2022, 85 patients (65 [76.5%] boys and 20[23.5%] girls; mean age, 6.95 years) were enrolled, and immune data at baseline during follow-up were analyzed. At the end of chemotherapy, a higher proportion of patients in the R4 group exhibited a decrease in peripheral blood CD3− CD19+ B cells (20[100%] of 20 vs 13[47.8%] of 18, p = 0.04), CD3+ T cells (21[91.3%] of 23 vs 14[60.9%] of 23, p = 0.016), and serum IgM (14[60.9%] of 23 vs 4[17.4%] of 23, p = 0.003) compared to the R3 group. However, these differences were no longer statistically significant six months after chemotherapy administration. The combination of rituximab with AA was associated with a higher incidence of significant thrombocytopenia (49[81.7%] of 60 vs 29[52.7%] of 55, p = 0.001) and infection (35[58.3%] of 60 vs 17[30.9%] of 55, p = 0.003) compared to AA alone. Furthermore, the combination of rituximab with BB was linked to a higher incidence of significant thrombocytopenia (32[52.5%] of 61 vs 31[31.0%] of 100, p = 0.007) compared to BB alone. ConclusionsWhile the effects of rituximab in combination with intense chemotherapy for childhood aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma/leukemia on children's immune function generally recovers within six months it may still prolong the recovery from immunoglobulinemia, posing a risk of secondary infections. Further studies are required to identify children with potential primary immunodeficiencies.

Metabolomic analysis of Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya Turczaninow) bulbils at different germination stages by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS

Bulbil germination is crucial to the survival of Chinese yam plants, the preservation of germplasm resources and the worldwide supply of food and natural medicine. There are still some unknowns regarding bulbil biochemical variations associated with germination. The metabolic changes during the germination of Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya Turczaninow) bulbils were studied using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) at eight-time points covering all four phases of germination. It was determined that 27 metabolites, including organic acids, amino acids, sugars, lipid metabolites, phenolics and steroids, were responsible for the variation in the Chinese yam bulbil groups. A metabolomics pathway was proposed based on the identified metabolites. The main processes affected during germination were those related to carbohydrate metabolism, the TCA cycle, lipid metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, lipid metabolism and polyphenol metabolism. It is one of the earliest reports on the metabolite identification and profiling of Chinese yam bulbils at different germination stages.

Parent company personnel embeddedness and stock price crash risk: evidence from Chinese enterprise groups

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the influence of parent company personnel embedding on the stock price crash risk (SPCR) of listed companies, along with the moderating effect of disparate locations between parent and subsidiary companies and other major shareholders.Design/methodology/approachThis research empirically tests hypotheses based on a sample of listed subsidiaries in China during the period between 2006 and 2021.FindingsOur results demonstrate that personnel embeddedness in the parent company significantly alleviates SPCR in subsidiaries. This effect is even more substantial when the parent and subsidiary companies are in different places. However, other major shareholders in the subsidiary company weaken it. Our additional analysis indicates that, relative to executive embeddedness, director embeddedness exerts a stronger effect on the SPCR of the subsidiary. Mechanism examination reveals that the information asymmetry and the level of internal control (IC) within the subsidiary are significant channels through which the personnel embeddedness from the parent company influences the SPCR of the subsidiary.Originality/valueThis study expands the literature on how personnel arrangements in corporate groups within emerging countries influence SPCR. We have extended the traditional concept of interlocking directorates to corporate groups, thereby broadening the understanding of the governance effects of interlocking directors and executives from a group perspective.

The effectiveness of Chinese instrumental music embedded with binaural beats in relieving anxiety related to academic stress among undergraduates: A randomized controlled trial

The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of binaural beat (BB) Chinese music, with dynamic theta- to delta-frequency progression, in relieving anxiety among Singapore undergraduates. It also examined whether the binaural effects differ between students with high and normal trait anxiety. This was a randomized controlled trial with 151 undergraduates assigned to listen to a single 30 min episode of BB Chinese music, Chinese music, or audiobook. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) measured stress, while the state subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) and root mean square of successive R–R interval differences (RMSSD) were outcome measures for anxiety. Results indicated that mean STAI-S and PSS reductions were not statistically significant between groups. No significant difference in mean change of RMSSD was detected when the BB Chinese music group was compared with the Chinese music or audiobook groups. However, students with high baseline trait anxiety experienced a greater, marginally significant reduction in STAI-S scores and an increase in RMSSD than those with normal trait anxiety after BB exposure. BB Chinese instrumental music may not have anxiolytic effects on healthy undergraduate populations, as evidence for an anxiolytic effect was observed only among students with high baseline trait anxiety, warranting further research on this population.

A novel traditional Chinese medicine combination for radiation

ObjectiveTo formulate an efficacious radioprotective combination of Chinese medicines with minimal toxicity. MethodsAqueous and alcoholic extracts from 38 traditional Chinese herbs were prepared. To produce drug-containing sera, rats received six doses of each extract via oral gavage at 12-h intervals. Subsequently, human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells were cultured in these drug-containing sera. The cell viability was assessed after different doses of irradiation to identify the radioprotective effects of Chinese herbal extracts. The efficacy of a selected Chinese herbal extract combination was further confirmed through cell viability analysis via in vitro colony formation and survival rate assessments in C57BL/6 mice post-irradiation. ResultsExtracts from Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR; two extracts), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), Platycladi Cacumen (PC), Schisandrae chinensis Fructus (SF), Scutellariae Radix (SR), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome (GRR) demonstrated radioprotective effects. The combination of the seven Chinese herbal extracts notably increased the survival and viability of the BEAS-2B cells exposed to varying doses of X-rays. Moreover, the group of mice receiving Chinese medicine combination and irradiation exhibited prolonged survival after exposure to 6.5 ​Gy X-rays with a median survival of （14 ​± ​2）d compared to （11 ​± ​2）d in the irradiated group without the herbal treatment. Additionally, the Chinese medicine combination group displayed a significantly higher 28 ​d survival rate (30%) compared to the irradiation-only group (16.6%, P ​< ​0.05). ConclusionThe novel combination of Chinese herbal extracts from ASR, CRP, PC, SF, SR, and GRR has the potential for radiation protection applications.

Low frequency of SLC26A4 c.919-2A > G variant among patients with nonsyndromic hearing loss in Yunnan of Southwest China

BackgroundGene variants are responsible for more than half of hearing loss, particularly in nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL). The most common pathogenic variant in SLC26A4 gene found in East Asian populations is c.919-2A > G followed by c.2168A > G (p.H723R). This study was to evaluate their variant frequencies in patients with NSHL from special education schools in nine different areas of Southwest China’s Yunnan.MethodsWe performed molecular characterization by PCR-products directly Sanger sequencing of the SLC26A4 c.919-2AG and c.2168 A > G variants in 1167 patients with NSHL including 533 Han Chinese and 634 ethnic minorities.ResultsThe SLC26A4 c.919-2A > G variant was discovered in 8 patients with a homozygous state (0.69%) and twenty-five heterozygous (2.14%) in 1167 patients with NSHL. The total carrier rate of the c.919-2A > G variant was found in Han Chinese patients with 4.50% and ethnic minority patients with 1.42%. A significant difference existed between the two groups (P < 0.05). The c.919-2A > G allele variant frequency was ranged from 3.93% in Kunming to zero in Lincang and Nvjiang areas of Yunnan. We further detected the SLC26A4 c.2168 A > G variant in this cohort with one homozygotes (0.09%) and seven heterozygotes (0.60%), which was detected in Baoshan, Honghe, Licang and Pu`er areas. Between Han Chinese group (0.94%) and ethnic minority group (0.47%), there was no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Three Han Chinese patients (0.26%) carried compound heterozygosity for c.919-2A > G and c.2168 A > G.ConclusionThese data suggest that the variants in both SLC26A4 c.919-2A > G and c.2168 A > G were relatively less frequencies in this cohort compared to the average levels in most regions of China, as well as significantly lower than that in Han-Chinese patients. These results broadened Chinese population genetic information resources and provided more detailed information for regional genetic counselling for Yunnan.

Effects of natural extract from medicinal herbs on broilers experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of natural extracts from nine medicinal herbs (SMA) on the growth performance, immunity, and intestinal integrity of broilers experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella. A total of 252 one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into 7 groups with 3 replicates per group and 12 broilers per cage. The groups were uninfected–untreated blank control group (BC), infected–untreated negative control group (NC), SMA treatment groups, Chinese medicine positive control group (CM), and chemical drug positive control group (CD). The SMA groups were infected and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.6 (SMA-L), 0.8 (SMA-M), and 1.0 (SMA-H) g/kg SMA. The CM and CD groups were infected and fed a basal diet supplemented with 15 g/kg Jiqiuchong San and 0.2 g/kg Diclazuril, respectively. Results showed that feeding SMA could significantly reduce the number of oocysts in infected chickens, especially 1.0 g/kg SMA, which exhibited moderate anticoccidial efficacy. When infected with E. tenella, the supplementation of 1.0 g/kg SMA increased the renal index; restored the hepatic, splenic, and bursal indexes to BC levels; increased the levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM, and IgY; and reduced the contents of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-10 of the infected chickens. Moreover, treatment with 1.0 g/kg SMA alleviated the pathological changes in cecal tissue and increased the contents of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, claudin-1, and mucoprotein 2 (mucin-2) in cecal tissues of E. tenella-infected chickens. We found that 1.0 g/kg SMA reduced the number of oocysts, improved immunity, and alleviated intestinal barrier damage, which could improve the growth performance of infected chickens. Thus, SMA proved to be an effective natural extract against E. tenella and has the potential to be used as an efficient anticoccidial drug or additive.

Clinical Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Radiation‐induced Bladder Injury

AbstractRadiation‐induced bladder injury is a common complication after pelvic radiotherapy. Few studies exist on diagnosing and treating radiation‐induced bladder injury, with no established guidelines or consensus in China or internationally. Clinical physicians' diagnosis and treatment of radiation‐induced bladder injury are primarily based on their own clinical experience, and there is an urgent need for unified guidelines to standardize clinical diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the Chinese Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, China Anti‐Cancer Association Tumor Support Therapy Committee, and China Anti‐Cancer Association Tumor Radiation Protection Committee gathered experts to develop Chinese clinical practice guidelines, guiding diagnosing and treating radiation‐induced bladder injury. The development of these guidelines adopted the grading system of evidence quality and recommendation strength (GRADE).