AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2(SMYD2)in facilitating renal fibrosis through the macrophage-myofibroblast transition in diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD).METHODS:(1)C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus(DM).The experimental groups were categorized as follows:normal control,DM(20 weeks),DM(28 weeks),and DM(36 weeks).Blood glucose(BG),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were determined using a biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were performed to assess morphological and fibrotic changes in renal tissues.Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of SMYD2,histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation(H3K4me3),arginase-1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine the localization and expression of F4/80,α-SMA,SMYD2,CD86,CD206 and CD163.(2)Mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro and assigned to groups as follows:normal glucose(NG)+negative control siRNA(siNC),high glucose(HG)+siNC,NG+SMYD2 siRNA(siSMYD2),and HG+siSMYD2.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of relevant proteins.RESULTS:(1)Compared with normal control group,the levels of BG,SCr and BUN were significantly elevated in DM(28 weeks)and DM(36 weeks)groups(P＜0.05).Renal tissue exhibited tubular atro-phy,dilation,and collagen fiber deposition.The levels of H3K4me3,arginase-1,MMP9,Col Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins were up-regulated(P＜0.05).The CD86,CD206,CD163 and F4/80 were primarily localized in the interstitial macrophages of the renal tubules,α-SMA was predominantly detected in the renal interstitium,and SMYD2 was mainly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells and the renal interstitium.(2)Compared with NG+siNC group,the protein levels of SMYD2,H3K4me3,arginase-1,CD163,Col Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and p-Smad3 in the cells of HG+siNC group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Knockdown of SMYD2 resulted in a reduction of these indicators(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The SMYD2 protein appears to facilitate renal fibrosis in DKD by promoting the macrophage-myofibroblast transition,potentially through the modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To comprehensively assess the nutritional literacy among family caregivers of elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), so as to provide reference for developing clinical nutrition management strategies for elderly CHF patients.Methods:This study was a descriptive qualitative research. From February to March 2025, purposive sampling was used to select 17 family caregivers of elderly CHF patients at Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University as research subjects for semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed using a directed content analysis approach.Results:Three themes and nine subthemes were identified, including functional nutrition literacy (lack of disease-related nutrition knowledge, difficulty in knowledge transformation and utilization, and barriers to voluntary nutritional adherence), interactive functional literacy (limited channels for accessing nutrition information, broken healthcare services, insufficient motivation for proactive communication, and demand for professional dietary guidance), and critical nutrition literacy (challenges in distinguishing information authenticity, reliance on inherent cognition for evaluation) .Conclusions:Family caregivers of elderly patients with CHF commonly lack relevant nutritional knowledge. Healthcare providers should attach importance to the education of nutrition knowledge and skills for family caregivers, establish a multidimensional nutrition education system, develop personalized nutrition guidance plans, and integrate the family-community-medical collaborative support network to systematically strengthen caregivers' understanding of disease nutrition management for elderly CHF patients and enhance their compliance with nutrition care practices.

Objective:To comprehensively assess the nutritional literacy among family caregivers of elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), so as to provide reference for developing clinical nutrition management strategies for elderly CHF patients.Methods:This study was a descriptive qualitative research. From February to March 2025, purposive sampling was used to select 17 family caregivers of elderly CHF patients at Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University as research subjects for semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed using a directed content analysis approach.Results:Three themes and nine subthemes were identified, including functional nutrition literacy (lack of disease-related nutrition knowledge, difficulty in knowledge transformation and utilization, and barriers to voluntary nutritional adherence), interactive functional literacy (limited channels for accessing nutrition information, broken healthcare services, insufficient motivation for proactive communication, and demand for professional dietary guidance), and critical nutrition literacy (challenges in distinguishing information authenticity, reliance on inherent cognition for evaluation) .Conclusions:Family caregivers of elderly patients with CHF commonly lack relevant nutritional knowledge. Healthcare providers should attach importance to the education of nutrition knowledge and skills for family caregivers, establish a multidimensional nutrition education system, develop personalized nutrition guidance plans, and integrate the family-community-medical collaborative support network to systematically strengthen caregivers' understanding of disease nutrition management for elderly CHF patients and enhance their compliance with nutrition care practices.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2(SMYD2)in facilitating renal fibrosis through the macrophage-myofibroblast transition in diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD).METHODS:(1)C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus(DM).The experimental groups were categorized as follows:normal control,DM(20 weeks),DM(28 weeks),and DM(36 weeks).Blood glucose(BG),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were determined using a biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were performed to assess morphological and fibrotic changes in renal tissues.Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of SMYD2,histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation(H3K4me3),arginase-1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine the localization and expression of F4/80,α-SMA,SMYD2,CD86,CD206 and CD163.(2)Mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro and assigned to groups as follows:normal glucose(NG)+negative control siRNA(siNC),high glucose(HG)+siNC,NG+SMYD2 siRNA(siSMYD2),and HG+siSMYD2.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of relevant proteins.RESULTS:(1)Compared with normal control group,the levels of BG,SCr and BUN were significantly elevated in DM(28 weeks)and DM(36 weeks)groups(P＜0.05).Renal tissue exhibited tubular atro-phy,dilation,and collagen fiber deposition.The levels of H3K4me3,arginase-1,MMP9,Col Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins were up-regulated(P＜0.05).The CD86,CD206,CD163 and F4/80 were primarily localized in the interstitial macrophages of the renal tubules,α-SMA was predominantly detected in the renal interstitium,and SMYD2 was mainly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells and the renal interstitium.(2)Compared with NG+siNC group,the protein levels of SMYD2,H3K4me3,arginase-1,CD163,Col Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and p-Smad3 in the cells of HG+siNC group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Knockdown of SMYD2 resulted in a reduction of these indicators(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The SMYD2 protein appears to facilitate renal fibrosis in DKD by promoting the macrophage-myofibroblast transition,potentially through the modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the expression of serum Maresin 1 and pro-platelet basic protein(PPBP)in patients with diabetes nephropathy(DN)and their correlation with long-term prognosis.Methods A total of 83 patients with diabetes nephropathy admitted to Tangshan Central Hospital from May 2018 to May 2020 were selected as the diabetes nephropathy group.In the same period,60 patients with simple type 2 diabetes were selected as the diabetes group and 60 healthy people as the control group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the levels of serum Maresin1 and PPBP.Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the levels of serum Maresin1 and PPBP and renal pathological damage.COX proportional hazard regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing the long-term poor prognosis of patients with diabetes nephropathy.ROC curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum Maresin1 and PPBP for the long-term poor prognosis.Results The levels of serum Maresin1(15.90±4.53 ng/ml,12.34±4.29 ng/ml,9.65±4.38 ng/ml)in the control group,diabetes group and diabetes nephropathy group were decreased in turn while the levels of serum PPBP(263.45±85.22 pg/ml,349.28±80.49 pg/ml,435.76±87.21 pg/ml)were increased in turn,and the differences were statistically significant(F=35.159,72.678,all P＜0.05).With the increase of IFTA score,interstitial inflammation score,and glomerular grading,serum Maresin1 level was decreased(F=25.838,25.187,9.751,all P＜0.05),while serum PPBP level was increased(F=56.513,92.702,58.137,all P＜0.05),and the differences were statistically significant,respectively.Serum Maresin1 was negatively correlated with IFTA score,interstitial inflammation score,and glomerular grading(r=-0.637,-0.581,-0.594,all P＜0.05),while serum PPBP was positively correlated with IFTA score,interstitial inflammation score,and glomerular grading(r=0.659,0.664,0.608,all P＜0.05),with significant differences.The course of diabetes nephropathy(HR=1.135,95％CI:1.012～1.370),24-hour urinary protein(HR=1.087,95％CI:1.016～1.164),PPBP(HR=1.208,95％CI:1.119～1.365),and IFTA score(HR=1.139,95％CI:1.024～1.219),interstitial inflammation score(HR=1.122,95％CI:1.006～1.249)and glomerular grading(HR=1.139,95％CI:1.052～1.273)were independent risk factors for long-term prognosis of diabetes nephropathy patients,while eGFR(HR=0.934,95％CI:0.892～0.993)and Maresin1(HR=0.903,95％CI:0.816～0.982)were protective factors for long-term prognosis(all P＜0.05).The areas under the curve(AUC)of serum Maresin1,PPBP and two indicators combined to predict the long-term poor prognosis of patients with diabetes nephropathy were 0.781,0.777 and 0.901,respectively.The AUC of two indicators combined was higher than that,and the differences were significant(Z=3.049,3.258,all P＜0.05).Conclusion In patients with diabetes nephropathy,serum Maresin1 was decreased and PPBP was increased,and the two indexes were closely related to the degree of renal injury.The combined test could effectively predict the long-term poor prognosis of patients.

Objective    To explore the effect of pulmonary arterial hypertension on the children with functional single ventricle in the early period after Fontan operation. Methods    Forty-three children with pulmonary arterial hypertension after Fontan operation were enrolled in our department between January 2015 and December 2016. There were 24 males and 19 females at a median age of 4.3 years ranging from 2.5 to 4.8 years. The pulmonary arterial pressure was evaluated by cardiac catheterization. There were 23 children diagnosed without pulmonary hypertension (a non-PAH group) including 16 males and 7 females, while 20 patients were diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (a PAH group) including 8 males and 12 females. Postoperative parameters related to outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results    There was no death in the non-PAH group, but the mortality of children in the PAH group was 20.0% (4/20， χ2=5.34, P=0.02). The central venous pressure (t=–2.50, P=0.02), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, Z=–3.50, P<0.01), peritoneal dialysis rate (χ2=5.40, P=0.02), incidence of arrhythmia (χ2=4.40, P=0.03) in the PAH group were significantly higher than those of the non-PAH group. The early postoperative utilization rate of pulmonary vascular targeting agents in the PAH group was significantly higher than that in the non-PAH group (χ2=6.30, P=0.04). Conclusion    Pulmonary arterial hypertension is one of the most important factors which influence the early postoperative prognosis of children with functional single ventricle after Fontan operation.

Objective To explore the value of MRI in diagnosis of fetal meconium peritonitis.Methods Seven meconium peritonitis fetuses proved by surgery and pathology were enrolled.The prenatal MRI findings and clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.Results Six fetuses showed a large amount of ascites,intestinal tube floating in the abdomen,small intestine gathered together.One fetus showed a giant abdominal cystic mass,with bowel compressed,displaced and uneven dilated.Four fetuses showed small colon and rectum,or without meconium signal.Two fetuses were accompanied by bilateral hydrocele.Amniotic fluid increased in 3 cases.After the neonates were born,1 case of them died from sudden heart rate decline during operation,1 case died from severe pulmonary edema after operation,and 5 cases survived after operation.Conclusion MRI has some features in the prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis,which can provide an important basis for postpartum treatment and evaluation of prognosis.

Purpose Unilateral absence of pulmonary artery is a rare congenital pulmonary arterydysplasia whose untypical symptom often leads to missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.Diagnostic and follow-up values of ultrasound cardiogram to pediatric congenital unilateral absence of pulmonary artery (UAPA) are explored in this paper.Materials and Methods Ultrasound cardiogram images of 35 UAPA patients confirmed by surgery or CT angiography in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from May 2009 to July 2016 were analyzed retrospectively,and images characteristics of the correctly diagnosed and missed diagnosis or misdiagnosed ultrasound cardiogram were analyzed.Results Among these 35 UAPA patients,21 cases were on the right side,14 cases on the left side,16 cases single UAPA and 19 cases combined with other intracardiac malformations.27 cases were initially diagnosed by ultrasound cardiogram,7 cases were missed diagnosed and 1 case misdiagnosed,with 77.1％ diagnosis accuracy.UAPA ultrasound cardiogram showed that normal bifurcation structure of pulmonary artery disappears.Main pulmonary artery continued to be one-side pulmonary artery,running to left or right and forming left branch or right branch of pulmonary artery.Pulmonary artery of the one-side absence of pulmonary segment supplied blood through aorta or other branches or vessels on the other side.After receiving unilateral pulmonary artery reconstruction surgery,ultrasound cardiogram of 8 patients of one month indicated that average flow rate of close-end anastomosis was (1.22± 0.17) m/s and far-end (2.17± 0.56) m/s.Conclusion Ultrasound cardiogram is efficient for UAPA preoperative diagnosis.Meanwhile,it is convenient,noninvasive and efficient in assessing anastomosis and pressure of pulmonary artery after surgery.

Objective To evaluate the risk factors,diagnostic index of the restrictive right ventricle physiology(rRV) and the impact of the mid-term outcome of the patients.Methods Eighty patients(30 in rRV group and 50 in non-rRV group) undergoing TOF repair admitted in our department from Oct 2011 to May 2012 were studied.Perioperative clinical data were collected and echo data were recorded after operation.Mixed linear regression for repeated measures was used to compare the variables and analyze the correlations.Results Patients in rRV group were younger with longer cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) time,aortic cross clamp time,ventilation time,intensive care unit and hospital stay compared with those in non-rRV group(P<0.01,respectively).The younger patients with longer CPB time had high risk of rRV by logistic regression analysis.Within 7 days post operation,the increase of saturation of venous oxygenation and decrease of oxygen extraction ration were slower in rRV group than those in non-rRV group(P<0.05,respectively).Lactate decreased in both groups,but was higher in rRV group throughout the 7 days(P=0.03).NT-proBNP was higher in rRV group throughout the 7 days than that in non-rRV group.NT-proBNP≥4750pg/ml often indicated the patients in the state of rRV.CRP slightly increased in 1-2 days post operation,and decreased thereafter,and the decrease was slower in rRV group(P=0.08).With regard to the mid-term outcome,there was no significant differences in the incidences of the obstruction of the right ventricle outflow and main pulmonary artery,the stenosis of the branch of pulmonary artery and the degree of the pulmonary valve regurgitation.Conclusion rRV is associated with significantly higher levels of NT-proBNP and CRP.The incidence of rRV correlates with age on operation and positively correlates with CPB time.NT-proBNP would be regarded as an indicator of the incidence of rRV.The study indicated the rRV would have impact on the early outcome of the patients but there was no significant effect on mid-term outcome.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognosis and clinical features of patients with giant coronary artery aneurysm (GCAA) caused by Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODKD complicated with GCAA was diagnosed in 55 patients between January 2003 and December 2012 in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center.Of the 55 patients, 48 were studied(43 boys, 5 girls). According to the follow-up time, these patients were divided into four groups: ≤ 1 year follow-up group, > 1-3 years follow-up group, > 3-5 years follow-up group, and > 5-10 years follow-up group. These patients were investigated at the acute stage, and were followed up respectively at two weeks, one month, three months, six months, and one year after hospitalization and every 3 to 6 months after a year. All patients regularly accepted echocardiography and electrocardiographic examination, while some cases accepted CT coronary angiography (CTA) examination and coronary angiography (CAG) examination to confirm the condition of GCAA.

RESULT(1) The age of 48 patients ranged from 2 months to 10 years. Twenty cases were less than 1 age (42%), 30 cases were under 3 years of age (62%) and follow-up time was (4.0 ± 3.1) years. Age at endpoint was 1.5 to 19 years, mean (6.8 ± 4.2) years respectively. (2) In ≤ 1 year follow-up group, the proportions of no significant changes, retraction, and stenosis were 48%, 48% and 4% respectively. In > 1-3 years follow-up group, the proportions of no significant changes, retraction, and stenosis were 39%, 39% and 22% respectively. In > 3-5 years follow-up group, the proportions of no significant changes, retraction, and stenosis were 30%, 35% and 35% respectively. In > 5-10 years follow-up group, the proportions of no significant changes, retraction, stenosis were 30%, 20% and 50% respectively. Compared with the ≤ 1 year group, a significant increase in the proportion of coronary artery stenosis occurred at the other three groups.Significant difference in the stenosis rate could be found between the ≤ 1 year group and the other three groups respectively (χ(2)=6.026, 11.121, 15.652; P=0.019, 0.002, 0.001). (3) The rate of retraction in bilateral GCAA group (20 cases) was lower than unilateral GCAA group (28 cases ); bilateral GCAA group had lower rate than the unilateral group(15% (3/20) vs. 36% (10/28)). There was no significant difference in coronary artery outcome between two groups (P > 0.05) . (4) There were six severe ischemic heart disease in 48 cases including 2 deaths. (5) CTA showed coronary artery wall thickening, mural thrombus and calcification, the CAG could display coronary artery occlusion and recanalization and collateral vessels formation.

CONCLUSIONKD complicated with GCAA may occur in infants under one year of age, especially infants under 6 months of age. A significant increase in the proportion of coronary artery stenosis occurred with the follow-up time extended. The proportion of bilateral GCAA patients who had ischemic heart disease and died was higher than the unilateral cases. The combined application of echocardiography, CTA and CAG may greatly help to discover coronary thrombosis, stenosis and occlusion.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Aneurysm ; complications ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Thrombosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; Prognosis