Background Prior epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to pyrethroid insecticides may adversely affect children’s respiratory health. However, only limited studies are currently available on this topic in China. Objective To explore the association between exposure to pyrethroid insecticides and pulmonary function in children in Shanghai. Methods From August 2019 to January 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted, recruiting 163 healthy school-aged children (aged 5–12 years) from Shanghai Children’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Basic information, including age, height, weight, and family income, was collected. Urine samples from the children were collected and were analyzed for the levels of three pyrethroid insecticide metabolites: 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), cis-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (CDCCA), and trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (TDCCA). Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was used for the analysis. Spirometry was used to assess pulmonary function and recorded following parameters: peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow between the 25th and 75th percentiles of forced vital capacity (FEF_25-75), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV₁/FVC. Multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline models were used to evaluate the associations between urinary pyrethroid insecticide metabolite levels and pulmonary function parameters. Results The study included 163 school-aged children, with an average age of (7.04 ± 2.08) years and an average body mass index (BMI) of (16.04 ± 2.72) kg·m⁻²; 75 (46.01%) of the participants were boys. The detection rates of 3-PBA, TDCCA, and CDCCA in urine were 85.28%, 17.79%, and 4.91%, respectively. The median creatinine-adjusted 3-PBA concentration was 0.150 μg·g⁻¹. After adjusting for confounders such as height, BMI, sex, age, delivery mode, annual family income, and maternal education level, the multiple linear regression model showed that urinary 3-PBA levels were negatively associated with both FVC [β=−0.030, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.058, −0.003; P=0.031] and FEV₁ (β=−0.032, 95%CI: −0.064, 0.000; P=0.04998). The final restricted cubic spline model showed a nonlinear association between urinary 3-PBA levels and FVC, FEV₁, PEF, and FEF_25-75（P for nonlinear < 0.05；P for overall < 0.05）. Conclusion The level of pyrethroid insecticide exposure in school-aged children in Shanghai is relatively high. The urinary 3-PBA concentration is negatively associated with pulmonary function, indicating potential adverse effects of pyrethroid insecticide exposure on respiratory health of school-aged children.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a girl with primary microcephaly and growth retardation. METHODS: A girl who was admitted to Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and her parents. Trio whole exome sequencing was carried out, and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. This study was approved by the Medical Ethnics Committee of Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (Ethics No. 202201278). RESULTS: DNA sequencing revealed that the child has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the WDR62 gene, including a frameshifting c.2963delC (p.Pro988Argfs*80) variant in exon 24 which was inherited from the unaffected father, and a nonsense c.3163G>T (p.Glu1055*) variant in exon 26, which was inherited from her unaffected mother. Both variants were predicted to affect the reading frame of the WDR62 gene. CONCLUSION Based on the clinical manifestations, results of genetic testing and pedigree analysis, the compound heterozygous variants were predicted to underlay the pathogenesis of microcephaly and growth retardation in this child. Above discovery has expanded the mutational spectrum for WDR62-associated Primary microcephaly type 2, and facilitated genetic counseling for the family.
Female ; Humans ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; Heterozygote ; Microcephaly/genetics* ; Mutation ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for the detection of low-level mosaicisms in amniotic fluid samples, and to retrospectively analyze the rare cases of mosaicisms. METHODS: Chromosomal karyotype of the fetus was determined by G-banding analysis of cultured amniotic fluid cells. CMA was used to detect copy number variation of fetal chromosomes, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to determine the proportion of fetal chromosomal mosaicisms in uncultured amniotic fluid cells. RESULTS: Among 825 prenatal samples, 4 cases of true fetal mosaicisms were detected, which yielded an incidence of 0.48%. Two cases were sex chromosomal mosaicisms, and two were autosomal mosaicisms, which involved chromosomes 8 and 9, respectively. All cases were verified by G-banding analysis of cultured amniotic fluid cells, CMA, and/or FISH. CONCLUSION CMA has a great value for detecting low-level mosaicisms in amniotic fluid samples, though the positive results need to be verified by other techniques and should be interpreted with caution. The review of rare cases can provide a basis for prenatal genetic counseling.
Humans ; Female ; Amniotic Fluid/metabolism* ; Pregnancy ; Mosaicism/embryology* ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Adult ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microarray Analysis/methods* ; Karyotyping ; Retrospective Studies ; Male

Objective:To explore the genetic basis for a girl with primary microcephaly and growth retardation.Methods:A girl who was admitted to Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and her parents. Trio whole exome sequencing was carried out, and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. This study was approved by the Medical Ethnics Committee of Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (Ethics No. 202201278).Results:DNA sequencing revealed that the child has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the WDR62 gene, including a frameshifting c. 2963delC (p.Pro988Argfs*80) variant in exon 24 which was inherited from the unaffected father, and a nonsense c.3163G>T (p.Glu1055*) variant in exon 26, which was inherited from her unaffected mother. Both variants were predicted to affect the reading frame of the WDR62 gene. Conclusion:Based on the clinical manifestations, results of genetic testing and pedigree analysis, the compound heterozygous variants were predicted to underlay the pathogenesis of microcephaly and growth retardation in this child. Above discovery has expanded the mutational spectrum for WDR62-associated Primary microcephaly type 2, and facilitated genetic counseling for the family.

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of an upper limb rehabilitation robot on the recovery of elbow function recovery following arthroscopic elbow joint release.Methods:Seventy-two patients who underwent arthroscopic elbow joint release at Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital from December 2022 to December 2023 were recruited. All patients were randomly assigned to either the conventional group (n=36; 16 males, 20 females; age 34.39±9.04 years, range 24-56; fractures: 4 intercondylar humerus, 18 olecranon, 8 radial head, 6 other) which received conventional rehabilitation postoperatively, or the robot-assisted group (n=36; 18 males, 18 females; age 33.78±9.98 years, range 20-59; fractures distribution identical to the conventional group) receiving conventional rehabilitation combined with robot-assisted upper limb rehabilitation therapy. The active range of motion (ROM) of elbow joint, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), visual analogue scale (VAS) of elbow joint were recorded preoperatively and at 4 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. The surface electromyography were analyzed at 3 months postoperatively.Results:All patients completed the 3-month rehabilitation program. At 4 weeks postoperatively, the conventional group exhibited a mean active ROM of 106.78°±9.91°, MEPS of 67.78±7.68, VAS of 2.11±0.74; the robot-assisted group showed active ROM of 113.72°±7.06°, MEPS of 73.33±9.28, VAS of 21.89±0.46. By 3 months postoperatively, the conventional group achieved a mean active ROM of 118.11°±6.75°, MEPS of 85.00±8.66, VAS of 0.67±0.67; robot-assisted achieved a mean active ROM of 127.61°±6.61°, MEPS of 91.11±6.57, VAS of 0.39±0.49. Both groups exhibited significant improvements in active ROM and MEPS, and significant reductions in VAS scores at 4 weeks and 3 months postoperatively compared with preoperatively values ( P<0.05). The robot-assisted group demonstrated significantly higher active ROM and MEPS at both 4 weeks and 3 months postoperatively, and a significantly lower VAS score at 3 months postoperatively, compared with the conventional group ( P<0.05). Surface electromyography at 3 months revealed significantly higher biceps brachii root mean square and significantly lower co-contraction index in the robot-assisted group compared to the conventional group ( P<0.05). No adverse symptoms were reported in the treated elbows of either group during the operation and follow-up period. Conclusion:The integration of upper limb rehabilitation robot-assisted therapy and conventional rehabilitation program significantly enhances the recovery of elbow range of motion and functional outcomes at 3 months following arthroscopic elbow joint release.

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

Gene therapy, harnessing the power of CRISPR-Cas9 and/or DNAzyme systems, stands as a pivotal approach in cancer therapy, enabling the meticulous manipulation of genes pivotal to tumorigenesis and immunity. However, the pursuit of precise gene therapy encounters formidable hurdles. Herein, a near-infrared upconversion theranostic nanomachine is devised and tailors for CRISPR-Cas9/DNAzyme systems mediate precise gene therapy. An ingenious logic DNAzyme system consists of Chain 1 (C1)/Chain 2 (C2) and endogenous lncRNA is designed. We employ manganese modified upconversion nanoparticles for carrying ultraviolet-responsive C1-PC linker-C2 (C₂P) chain and Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP), with outermost coats with hyaluronic acid. Upon reaching tumor microenvironment (TME), the released Mn²⁺ ions orchestrate a trifecta: facilitating endosomal escape, activating cGAS-STING signaling, and enabling T1-magnetic resonance imaging. Under near-infrared irradiation, Cas9 RNP/C₂P complex dissociates, releasing Cas9 RNP into the nucleus to perform gene editing of Ptpn2, while C1/C2 chains self-assemble with endogenous lncRNA to form a functional DNAzyme system, targeting PD-L1 mRNA for gene silencing. This strategy remodels the TME by activating cGAS-STING signaling and dual immune checkpoints blockade, thus realizing tumor elimination. Our theranostic nanomachine armed with the CRISPR-Cas9/DNAzyme logic systems, represents a resourceful and promising strategy for advancing cancer systemic immunotherapy and precise gene therapy.

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of an upper limb rehabilitation robot on the recovery of elbow function recovery following arthroscopic elbow joint release.Methods:Seventy-two patients who underwent arthroscopic elbow joint release at Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital from December 2022 to December 2023 were recruited. All patients were randomly assigned to either the conventional group (n=36; 16 males, 20 females; age 34.39±9.04 years, range 24-56; fractures: 4 intercondylar humerus, 18 olecranon, 8 radial head, 6 other) which received conventional rehabilitation postoperatively, or the robot-assisted group (n=36; 18 males, 18 females; age 33.78±9.98 years, range 20-59; fractures distribution identical to the conventional group) receiving conventional rehabilitation combined with robot-assisted upper limb rehabilitation therapy. The active range of motion (ROM) of elbow joint, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), visual analogue scale (VAS) of elbow joint were recorded preoperatively and at 4 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. The surface electromyography were analyzed at 3 months postoperatively.Results:All patients completed the 3-month rehabilitation program. At 4 weeks postoperatively, the conventional group exhibited a mean active ROM of 106.78°±9.91°, MEPS of 67.78±7.68, VAS of 2.11±0.74; the robot-assisted group showed active ROM of 113.72°±7.06°, MEPS of 73.33±9.28, VAS of 21.89±0.46. By 3 months postoperatively, the conventional group achieved a mean active ROM of 118.11°±6.75°, MEPS of 85.00±8.66, VAS of 0.67±0.67; robot-assisted achieved a mean active ROM of 127.61°±6.61°, MEPS of 91.11±6.57, VAS of 0.39±0.49. Both groups exhibited significant improvements in active ROM and MEPS, and significant reductions in VAS scores at 4 weeks and 3 months postoperatively compared with preoperatively values ( P<0.05). The robot-assisted group demonstrated significantly higher active ROM and MEPS at both 4 weeks and 3 months postoperatively, and a significantly lower VAS score at 3 months postoperatively, compared with the conventional group ( P<0.05). Surface electromyography at 3 months revealed significantly higher biceps brachii root mean square and significantly lower co-contraction index in the robot-assisted group compared to the conventional group ( P<0.05). No adverse symptoms were reported in the treated elbows of either group during the operation and follow-up period. Conclusion:The integration of upper limb rehabilitation robot-assisted therapy and conventional rehabilitation program significantly enhances the recovery of elbow range of motion and functional outcomes at 3 months following arthroscopic elbow joint release.

Objective:To explore the genetic basis for a girl with primary microcephaly and growth retardation.Methods:A girl who was admitted to Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and her parents. Trio whole exome sequencing was carried out, and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. This study was approved by the Medical Ethnics Committee of Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (Ethics No. 202201278).Results:DNA sequencing revealed that the child has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the WDR62 gene, including a frameshifting c. 2963delC (p.Pro988Argfs*80) variant in exon 24 which was inherited from the unaffected father, and a nonsense c.3163G>T (p.Glu1055*) variant in exon 26, which was inherited from her unaffected mother. Both variants were predicted to affect the reading frame of the WDR62 gene. Conclusion:Based on the clinical manifestations, results of genetic testing and pedigree analysis, the compound heterozygous variants were predicted to underlay the pathogenesis of microcephaly and growth retardation in this child. Above discovery has expanded the mutational spectrum for WDR62-associated Primary microcephaly type 2, and facilitated genetic counseling for the family.