Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Prevalence of and related risk factors in oral mucosa diseases among residents in the Baoshan District of Shanghai, China

Background Oral mucosal diseases (OMDs) encompass a variety of different types of diseases. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and related risk factors of OMDs among residents in the Baoshan District of Shanghai, China, and provide a scientific basis for prevention and control strategies. Methods A sample of 653 residents aged 17 to 92 years from the Baoshan community was investigated in 2014. Each resident was surveyed by questionnaire to evaluate their oral mucosa and oral mucosa examinations were conducted. We followed up with 607 residents in 2018. All data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 software package (Chicago, IL, USA) at the general population, gender and age levels. A X2 test was used to compare rates of risk factors and logistic regression analysis was used to detect the correlation between disease and risk factors. Results The prevalence rate of OMDs was found to be 9.19%–9.56% (2014–2018). The most common OMDs were atrophic glossitis (1.84%), recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU, 1.68%), burning mouth syndrome (BMS, 1.38%), oral lichen planus (OLP, 1.23%) and traumatic ulcers (1.23%). The prevalence of RAU and BMS in different age groups was significantly different. Tobacco and alcohol use and psychological factors in the OMDs group were higher than the no-OMDs group. Systemic diseases including diabetes mellitus (DM) was significantly relevant to OLP. Conclusion Age, tobacco and alcohol use, and psychological factor correlated strongly with the occurrence and development of OMDs, and they should be the focus of primary prevention. General epidemiological studies suggested that OLP was closely related to DM

Effects of surgery versus radiotherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer in terms of urinary, bowel, and sexual domains

Abstract Background The health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with localized prostate cancer (LPCa) after treatment mainly surgery and radiotherapy (RT) has received increasing attention. The aim of this study is to compare the HRQoL of LPCa after surgery and RT. Methods Web of Science, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched after January 2000 to observe the HRQoL scores after surgery and RT at different treatment time points. Results A total of 28 studies were included in this study, and the results showed that LPCa received surgery had better bowel scores than RT at ≤3 (weighted mean differences [WMD] = 4.18; p = 0.03), 3–6 (WMD = 4.16; p < 0.001), 6–12 (WMD = 2.99; p = 0.004), 24–60 (WMD = 1.87; p = 0.06), and ≥60 (WMD = 4.54; p = 0.02) months. However, LPCa received RT had higher urinary scores at ≤3 (WMD = −7.39; p = 0.02), 3–6 (WMD = −6.03; p = 0.02), 6–12 (WMD = −4.90; p < 0.001), 24–60 (WMD = −3.96; p < 0.001), ≥60 (WMD = −2.95; p < 0.001) months and had better sexual scores at ≤3 (WMD = −13.58; p = 0.09), 3–6 (WMD = −12.32; p = 0.06), 6–12 (WMD = −12.03; p = 0.002), 24–60 (WMD = −11.29; p < 0.001), and ≥60 (WMD = −3.10; p = 0.46) months than surgery. The scores difference between surgery and RT decreased over time. Conclusion Overall, for LPCa, surgery was associated with better HRQoL in the bowel domain, whereas RT was associated with better HRQoL in the urinary and sexual domains, with the difference between surgery and RT narrowing over time

Effects of Glucose Fluctuation Targeted Intervention on the Prognosis of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes following the First Episode of Cerebral Infarction

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of glucose fluctuation targeted intervention on neurologic function, independent living skills, and quality of life in type 2 diabetes patients following the first episode of cerebral infarction (CI). Methods. This was a randomized control trial. Following confirmed cerebral infarction, 75 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized into 2 groups: control group (n=37) with usual care, focused on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) control, targeting A1c0.05) in the reduction of A1c between the 2 groups, but the reductions of LAGE (P=0.030), 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) (P=0.023), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPG) (P=0.041), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (P=0.046) were significantly different. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of the intervention group was better than the control group (2.35±0.81 vs. 3.50±2.24, P=0.047). In terms of quality of life, there was no significant between-group difference in total Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) score, but in the intervention group, scores in the strength, hand function, and participation dimensions were higher than those in the control group (P=0.041, P=0.049, and P=0.048, respectively). Conclusion. Glucose fluctuation targeted intervention can improve nerve function for patients with T2DM following the first CI episode. This trial is registered with NCT03932084