Objective To investigate the relationship between onset of malnutrition and growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor(GH-IGF) axis in children with congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods Fifty cases with CHD were divided into two groups,13 cases of cyanotic group and 37 cases of acyanotic group.And the acyanotic group was then subdivided into two groups,25 cases of heart failure group and 12 cases of without heart failure group,and 20 normal children were selected as control group.The nutritional status of these children were evaluated by detecting the serum total protein,serum protein,body height and weight.IGF-Ⅰ and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3) and growth hormone binding protein(GHBP) were detected by immunoradiometric assay.Results The acute malnutrition ratio and chronic malnutrition ratio in the children with CHD were 62% and 28%,respectively.The acute malnutrition ratio was similar between cyanotic group and acyanotic group(P=0.105);the chronic malnutrition ratio significantly increased in cyanotic group than that in cyanotic group(P=0.006).The levels of serum IGF-Ⅰ and IGFBP-3 decreased in the patients with CHD,which significantly decreased in cyanotic group and heart failure group.The level of serum GHBP decreased in cyanotic group and heart failure group.Conclusions The levels of serum IGF-Ⅰ and IGFBP-3 in patients with CHD decrease,which are related to growth hormone receptor down regulated,that is one of the molecular mechanisms of growth hormone resistant or insensitivity,growth hormone counteract or insensitivity are one of the reasons of acute and chronic malnutrition in children with CHD.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of notifiable infectious diseases reported in Zhejiang Province in 2020 for prevention and control. Methods: Data of notifiable infectious diseases reported in Zhejiang Province in 2020 were extracted from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence and death of notifiable infectious diseases were analyzed and compared with the averages from 2015 to 2019; then the characteristics of some key diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ), influenza and other infectious diarrhea were summarized. Results: Totally 487 271 cases of 30 kinds of infectious diseases were reported. The incidence and mortality rate was 832.94/100 000 and 0.615 4/100 000, which were 7.05% and 14.60% lower than the average value of 2015-2019.The weekly morbidity of Class A and Class B infectious diseases fluctuated between 1.24/100 000 and 3.68/100 000, and hit the bottom in the sixth to eighth week. The morbidity of Class C infectious diseases was 154.19/100 000 in the first week, then dropped to 4.83/100 000 in the second to sixth week and maintained at a low level. High morbidity of infectious diseases were reported in Hangzhou ( 1 412.62/100 000 ), Jinhua ( 960.35/100 000 ) and Ningbo ( 921.25/100 000 ). The morbidity of class C infectious diseases in Hangzhou was 1 248.80/100 000, which was far higher than that of other ten prefecture-level cities. The diseases with high reported morbidity were influenza (438.45/100 000), other infectious diarrhea (140.29/100 000 ), hand-foot-and-mouth disease ( 99.64/100 000 ), pulmonary tuberculosis ( 41.92/100 000 ), syphilis (41.37/100 000) and viral hepatitis ( 30.48/100 000 ). More deaths were reported in AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis, and the mortality were 0.482 1/100 000 and 0.116 2/100 000. A total of 1 306 confirmed cases, 302 asymptomatic infections and 1 death of COVID-19 were reported. Conclusion In 2020, the incidence rate of notifiable infectious diseases in Zhejiang decreased compared with the average value of 2015-2019. Pulmonary tuberculosis, syphilis and hepatitis B still have high morbidity, and the COVID-19 epidemic spread widely. The morbidity of some respiratory infectious diseases and imported infectious diseases have dropped significantly compared with previous years.

OBJECTIVETo study the signal roles of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) on proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scar(HS-FB) and normal skin (NS-FB) by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1).

METHODSHS-FB and NS-FB were cultured and passaged in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium(DMEM). The PTK activity in unstimulated or IFN-gamma or TGF-beta1-stimulated HS-FB and NS-FB (10,30,60 and 120 min) were assayed by phosphorus (32P) incorporation. Cell proliferation was determined with MTT stain. The type III procollagen was measured by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSTGF-beta1 did not change PTK activity but it increased predominately proliferation and collagen synthesis of HS-FB and NS-FB in time-dependent fashion. Genistein, an inhibitor of PTK, inhibited HS-FB and NS-FB to proliferate and synthesize collagen but it could not change the roles on proliferation and collagen synthesis by TGF-beta1. IFN-gamma activated transiently PTK (P < 0.05) and increased proliferation and collagen synthesis of both fibroblast (P < 0.05, at 30 min, 60 min). As the recovery of PTK activity, the proliferation and collagen synthesis were inhibited by IFN-gamma at 120 min. Furthermore, Genistein abrogated the transient increased roles and partly reversed the longterm inhibitory functions by IFN-gamma (P < 0.05) . There were no difference on PTK activity, proliferation and collagen synthesis between HS-FB and NS-FB.

CONCLUSIONSPTK did not mediate the signal of TGF-beta1 but transduced the signal of transient increased roles of IFN-gamma. Inhibited or activated PTK might mediate the signal of decreasing or increasing proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblast.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Dermis ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo assess the influence of growth hormone receptor (GHR) Ex3 genotype on the short-term response to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS).

METHODSThirty prepubertal children with ISS receiving rhGH treatment [0.116±0.02 IU/(kg/d)] were randomly recruited. The GHR Ex3 locus was genotyped using a PCR multiplex assay. The growth data including growth velocity, height SDS for chronological age (HtSDSCA), height SDS for bone age (HtSDSBA) and predict final height were compared in children with different GHR genotypes 6 months after rhGH treatment.

RESULTSAfter 6 months of rhGH treatment, the children with ISS carrying d3/d3 alleles showed a significantly higher increment in growth velocity than those carrying fl/fl alleles (6.3±1.6 cm/year vs 3.4±0.5 cm/year; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe polymorphism in GHR Ex3 is associated with the responsiveness to rhGH treatment, showing that the growth velocity in ISS children with d3/d3 genotype is significantly higher than those with fl/fl genotype.

Child ; Exons ; Female ; Genotype ; Growth Disorders ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Human Growth Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics

Objective To explore the correlations between the scarlet fever and meteorological factors in Zhejiang Province. Methods The data which was been analyzed including month case of scarlet fever and meteorological factors from JAN 2005 to DEC 201 4,were analyzed for the degree and characteristic of the correlations between the scarlet fever and meteorological factors with generalized additive model(GAM).Results There were negative correlation between scarlet fever and meteorological factors including water vapor pressure and hours of sunshine.There were complex nonlinear correlations between scarlet fever and meteorological factors including precipitation,average barometric pressure,average wind speed and average temperature .The relationship between scarlet fever and meteorological factors including average barometric pressure,average wind speed and average temperature showed approximate quadratic function.The precipitation above 3 500(0.1 mm),average barometric pressure above 1 0 200(0.1 hPa)and under 1 0 050(0.1 hPa),average wind speed between 1 8.7 -23.6 (0.1 m/s)and average temperature between 1 00 -250 (0.1 ℃) were the suitable meteorological condition for scarlet fever.Conclusion There were complex nonlinear correlations between the scarlet fever and meteorological factors.Precipitation,average barometric pressure,average wind speed and average temperature may be associated with the incidence of scarlet fever.

BACKGROUNDAn epidemiologic link between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and abnormal glycometabolism had been established. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance, and to explore the relation between insulin resistance and hepatitis C virus genotype, serum hepatitis C virus-RNA level in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

METHODSThree hundred and fifty-nine consecutive patients (CHC, n = 296; chronic hepatitis B (CHB), n = 63) were evaluated. HCV genotyping was performed by restriction fragment method and serum hepatitis C virus-RNA quantified PCR for all CHC patients in the baseline serum. Fasting levels of insulin and glucose were measured in all patients and the homeostatic assessment of insulin resistance was calculated in the baseline serum.

RESULTSType 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 15.5% of 296 CHC patients. Insulin resistance was present in 23.8% of the 235 nondiabetic CHC patients, in 23.1% of the 182 nondiabetic and noncirrhotic CHC patients, and associated with high serum HCV RNA level (OR: 1.754; 95%CI: 1.207 - 2.548, P = 0.003) and age > 40 years (OR: 3.542; 95%CI: 1.257 - 9.978, P = 0.017). Insulin resistance was less frequent in CHB than in matched CHC (7.9% vs. 21.4% respectively, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of insulin resistance in CHC was significantly higher than that in CHB patients, associated with high serum HCV RNA level and age > 40 years.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; metabolism ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; classification ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible influence of cryoglobulinemia on the antiviral effect in chronic hepatitis C patients, who were treated with combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin.

METHODSForty consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were enrolled in the study. They received pegylated interferon alfa-2a (40kD, 180mug/w) along with ribavirin. Baseline cryoglobulins were detected in the sera by cryoprecipitation. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping was performed and HCV viral load was detected at baseline, and at 4, 12 weeks during treatment, 24 weeks after cessation of treatment.

RESULTSEighteen (45.0%) patients infected with HCV were cryoglobulins positive at baseline. Mean serum HCV RNA level in cryoglobulins positive patients was higher than that in cryoglobulins negative patients (6.36+/-0.63 vs. 5.70+/-1.20, P = 0.032). The rapid virological response (RVR) rate was statically different between cryoglobulins positive patients and cryoglobulins negative ones (6/18, 33.3% vs. 15/22, 68.2%, P = 0.028). In contrast, no difference was found in early virological response (EVR) rate between the cryoglobulins positive patients and cryoglobulins negative ones (14/17, 82.4% vs. 18/21, 85.7%, P = 1.0). Sustained virological response (SVR) rate in cryoglobulins positive and cryoglobulins negative was different (0/3, 0 vs 6/6, 100%, P = 0.012). The rate of patients achieved RVR was different between the patients infected with HCV genotype 1 b of two groups (cryoglobulins positive: 2/13, 15.4% vs cryoglobulins negative 14/21; 66.7%, P = 0.005). However, the rate of EVR in patients infected HCV genotype 1 b was not statistically different (cryoglobulins positive: 9/12, 75.0% vs. cryoglobulins negative 17/20; 81.2%, P = 0.647).

CONCLUSIONThe rates of RVR and SVR achievement in cryoglobulinemia positive CHC patients are lower than those in cryoglobulinemia negative CHC patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cryoglobulinemia ; complications ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo characterize a supernumerary marker chromosome (SMC) by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and traditional cytogenetic techniques, and to explore the clinical application of these techniques in delineating de novo marker chromosomes.

METHODSA mental retardation patient received chromosome test by ordinary G banding. CGH and FISH techniques were used to analyze the origin of the de novo SMC, and N banding technique and C banding techniques were used to analyze the SMC structure. The phenotypic effects of the SMC were analyzed after the karyotype was determined.

RESULTSBy G banding technique, the patient was showed to have a mosaic karyotype with SMC: mos.47, XX, +mar [31]/48, XX, +2mar[29]. CGH analysis showed a gain of 15q11 --> q14, and the result was confirmed by FISH with chromosome 15 painting probe. The further FISH analysis showed the SMC had two signals with UBE3A probe for detecting Prader-willi syndrome/Angelman syndrome (PWS/AS). N banding and C banding analysis showed the SMC had a double satellite and double centromere, respectively. Combined with the above results, the karyotype of the patient was: mos.47, XX, +der (15) (pter --> q14::q14 --> pter) [31]/48, XX, +2der (15) (pter --> q14::q14 --> pter) [29]. ish der(15)(WCP15+, UBE3A++, PML-).

CONCLUSIONCGH is a valuable method to detect imbalanced chromosomal rearrangement. Combined with FISH and the traditional cytogenetic technique, it provides a valuable technique platform for characterizing the structure of the de novo SMC, and a basis for exploring the relation between karyotype and phenotype, prognosis and recurrent risk.

Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Banding ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; methods ; Cytogenetics ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Karyotyping

Objective:To analyze factors related to rheumatoid arthritis and anemia in elderly people.Methods:Clinical data of 58 elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA)admitted to the Department of Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from May 2019 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into the anemia group and the non-anemia group based on the hemoglobin(Hb)index.Laboratory test results and general clinical data were compared between the two groups.Factors related to RA with concurrent anemia were analyzed by binary Logistic regression analysis.Association rules analysis was conducted using SPSS Clementine to identify strong correlations between red blood cells(RBC)and objective clinical parameters.Results:There was no significant difference in general clinical data between the two groups(all P>0.05). There were significant differences between the two groups in laboratory test results of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), total cholesterol(TC), apolipoprotein B(ApoB), albumin(Alb), superoxide dismutases(SOD), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), Fe, mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH)and mean hemoglobin concentration(MCHC)(all P<0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that PLR( OR=3.718, 95% CI: 1.119-8.742, P=0.022)and LDL-C( OR=2.319, 95% CI: 1.026-3.061, P=0.038)were independent risk factors for RA with concurrent anemia.Association rules analysis showed that decline in RBC was strongly correlated with changes in PLR, hs-CRP and LDL-C. Conclusions:RA with concurrent anemia in elderly patients is closely correlated with levels of molecules related to lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response.Close monitoring of lipid metabolism and inflammation is recommended during clinical treatment.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether patients infected with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) show a differential distribution profile of IL-28B polymorphisms according to the presence of concomitant cryoglobulinemia.

METHODSSixty-two consecutive CHC patients were enrolled in the study between December 2008 and December 2010. All patients received combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (weekly, 180 g, subcutaneous injection) plus ribavirin (daily, 10to15 mg/kg body weight, oral) for 48 weeks, with individualized dosage adjustments according to the patient's clinical situation. Cryoglobulins were detected visibly by separation of cryoprecipitates in patient serum samples. Three IL-28B SNPs (rs8099917, rs12979860, and rs12980275) were detected by sequencing. Response to treatment was assessed by measuring serum levels of HCV RNA by quantitative PCR at baseline (prior to treatment initiation), during treatment (4 and 12 weeks after treatment initiation), end of therapy (48 weeks after treatment initiation), and post-treatment (24 weeks after end of therapy). The significance of between-group differences were assessed by the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTSCryoglobulinemia was detected in 43.5% (27/62) of the CHC patients and showed a female bias (59.3% vs. males: 34.3%, P = 0.05). Compared to CHC patients without cryoglobulinemia, the CHC patients with cryoglobulinemia showed significantly higher levels of HCV RNA at baseline (5.64+/-1.20 vs. 6.37+/-0.67, P less than 0.05) but lower frequencies of the IL28B rs8099917 TT genotype (94.3% vs. 63.0%, P = 0.002), rs8099917 T allele (97.1% vs. 81.5%, P = 0.003), and rs12979860 C allele (94.3% vs. 83.3%, P = 0.048). CHC patients with cryoglobulinemia and having the rs8099917 TT, rs12979860 CC, or rs12980275 AA genotype achieved a higher rate of sustained virological response.

CONCLUSIONCryoglobulinemia in CHC patients is associated with a differential distribution of IL-28B polymorphisms, and certain polymorphisms may be related to anti-viral treatment response.

Adult ; Alleles ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cryoglobulinemia ; blood ; complications ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukins ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Viral ; blood