Objective To investigate the efficacy of laboratory tests in the renal damage early diagnosis of children with Henoch-Schoalein purpura (HSP) and clinical effect of early intervention.Methods For the 143 HSP patients with normal repeated urine routine test findings,renal function biomarkers including urinary proteins ( immunoglobulin G (IgG),micro-albumin ( MA ),transferrin (TRF),a1 -microglobulin ( α1 -MG),β2-Microglobulin (β2-MG) ) and urinary enzymes ( N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase ( NAG ),γ-glutamyltransferase (y-GT) ) were detected to investigate the details of renal function changes.One hundred and thirty-one HSP patients,who had abnormal laboratory test findings of renal function biomarkers mentioned above,were randomly divided into control group ( n =65 ) and intervention group ( n =66 ),and both groups received comprehensive treatment including cimetidine,loratadine and calcium agents.However,66 patients in intervention group received low-dose heparin via micropump-based continuous intravenous infusion and regular oral diammonium glycyrrhizinate treatment.Sixty-five patients were enrolled in control group,without further treatment.Results Among the 143 patients with normal urine routine examination,131 cases (91.61％ ) had abnormal findings of renal function biomarkers.After therapy either for 2 months or 4 months,urine protein and urine enzymes were lower than before treatment,and the difference was significant (P ＜ 0.01 ).In the control group only β2-MG,NAG,γ-GT3 indexes significantly lowered at the end of 2 months ( P ＜0.01 ),and all parameters were significantly decreased at the end of 4 months ( P ＜0.01 ).Furthermore,Intervention group had lower levels of renal function biomarkers at the end of 2 months or 4 months,as compared with the control group,showing significant difference ( P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01 ).Urinary IgG,MA,TRF,NAG recovered rapidly in the intervention group after 4 months and almost returned to the normal,but urinary α1-MG,β2-MG,γ-GT recovered slowly and still remained abnormal after 4 months due to the varying severity.After treatment for 4 months,the rate of urine testing abnormalities was higher in the control group than in the intervention group (36.92％ vs 6.10％ ),and the difference was significant (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Combined detection of renal function biomarkers is helpful for early diagnosis of renal damage in HSP patients.Early intervention with heparin and diammonium glycyrrhizinate can prevent kidney damage,delay disease progress.Early diagnosis and early intervention should be emphasized for the treatment strategy of the renal damage of children with HSP.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of low-dose heparin in the treament of children with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). Methods It was an open and comparative trial. Eightyeight children with PNS in the hypercoagulable state,on the basis of administrating with glucocorticosteroid,were administrated with low-dose heparin that infused by micro pump oriented to time ( group A). Eighty patients only treated with glucocorticosteroid were chosen as control (group B). Results Serum-albumin and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) increased,but fibrinogen (Fib) decreased after therapy in the group A,and they all showed significant differences (P ＜ 0. 01 ). Serum-albumin increased after therapy in the group B and there was significant difference (P＜0. 01 ). However,APTT and Fib in the group B showed no significant difference( P ＞ 0. 05 ) between post-treatment and pretherapy. Post-treatment serum-albumin and APTT in the group A were significantly higher than those in group B, and Fib was significantly lower than that in group B ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). The rate of urine protein remission in group A (82/88) was significantly higher than that in group B (63/80). Urine protein remission time and edema disappearance time were significantly shorter in group A than group B ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). APTT of group A at the peak concentration of heparin after therapy was significantly higher than that of pretherapy ( P ＜ 0. 01 ), and the ratio was 2. 38. However, there was no significant difference in APTT at the valley concentration of heparin between post-treatment and pretherapy ( P ＞ 0.05 ). Conclusion Low dose-heparin infused by micro pump oriented to time in the treatment of children with PNS has an obvious anticoagulative effect. It can improve the rate of urine protein remission and shorten edema disappearance time. Meanwhile it is safety ,requires no laboratory monitor and has few drug side effects,thus it deserves further clinical application.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of low dose dopamine combined with phentolamine in the treatment of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) with edema. Methods Retrospective control studies were performed in 155 patients of PNS with edema, who received comprehensive treatment with small dose dopamine combined with phentolamine (group A). Patients treated with furosemide infusion were recruited as control (group B). Results The urinary output, urinary sodium increased after therapy in group A, showing significant differences (P ＜ 0. 01). But urinary potassium excretion, serum sodium and potassium showed no significant difference after therapy in group A. The urinary output, urinary sodium and potassium excretion increased and the serum sodium and potassium decreased after therapy in group B, all showing significant differences between before and after treatment (P ＜0. 01). The edema relief rate,urinary output, urinary sodium excretion, serum sodium and potassium in group A was significantly higher whereas urinary potassium excretion were significantly lower than those of group B(P ＜0. 01). The rate of drug adverse reaction in group A was significantly lower than that of group B. Conclusion Low dose dopamine combined with phentolamine in PNS with edema is safe and effective,which may be a substitute of diuretic like furosemide in the treatment of edema of patients with different blood volume.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to explore the risk factors associated with intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) in critically ill patients at risk of malnutrition and to evaluate the efficacy of early enteral nutrition (EEN) and the role of biomarkers in managing ICU-AW. METHODS: This retrospective, observational cohort study included 180 patients at risk of malnutrition admitted to the emergency intensive care unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. Patients were divided into ICU-AW group and non-ICU-AW group according to whether they developed ICU-AW, or categorized into EEN and parenteral nutrition (PN) groups according to nutritional support. ICU-AW was diagnosed using the Medical Research Council score. The primary outcome was the occurrence of ICU-AW. RESULTS: The significant factors associated with ICU-AW included age, sex, type of nutritional therapy, mechanical ventilation (MV), body mass index (BMI), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr) levels (P<0.05). The PN group developed ICU-AW earlier than did the EEN group, with a significant difference observed (log-rank P<0.001). Among biomarkers for ICU-AW, the mean prealbumin (PAB)/C-reactive protein (CRP) ratio had the highest diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] 0.928, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.892-0.946), surpassing the mean Cr/BUN ratio (AUC 0.740, 95% CI 0.663-0.819) and mean transferrin levels (AUC 0.653, 95% CI 0.574-0.733). CONCLUSION: Independent risk factors for ICU-AW include female sex, advanced age, PN, MV, lower BMI, and elevated BUN and Cr levels. EEN may potentially delay ICU-AW onset, and the PAB/CRP ratio may be an effective diagnostic marker for this condition.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutations of SLC22A5 gene in patients with systemic primary carnitine deficiency (CDSP).

METHODSHigh liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) was applied to screen congenital genetic metabolic disease and eight patients with CDSP were diagnosed among 77 511 samples. The SLC22A5 gene mutation was detected using massarray technology and sanger sequencing. Using SIFT and PolyPhen-2 to predict the function of protein for novel variations.

RESULTSTotal detection rate of gene mutation is 100% in the eight patients with CDSP. Seven patients had compound heterozygous mutations and one patient had homozygous mutations. Six different mutations were identified, including one nonsense mutation [c.760C>T(p.R254X)] and five missense mutations[c.51C>G(p.F17L), c.250T>A(p.Y84N), c.1195C>T(p.R399W), c.1196G>A(p.R399Q), c.1400C>G(p.S467C)]. The c.250T>A(p.Y84N) was a novel variation, the novel variation was predicted to have affected protein structure and function. The c.760C>T (p.R254X)was the most frequently seen mutation, which was followed by the c.1400C>G(p.S467C).

CONCLUSIONThis study confirmed the diagnosis of eight patients with CDSP on the gene level. Six mutations were found in the SLC22A5 gene, including one novel mutation which expanded the mutational spectrum of the SLC22A5 gene.

Adult ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cardiomyopathies ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carnitine ; deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Muscular Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Organic Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Solute Carrier Family 22 Member 5 ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo detect potential mutations in six patients with citrullinemia.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the patients. Mutations of the ASS1, ASL and SLC25A13 genes were screened using microarray genotyping combined with direct sequencing.

RESULTSOne patient was diagnosed with argininosuccinate lyase deficiency, and has carried a homozygous c.1311T>G (p.Y437*) mutation of the ASL gene. The remaining five patients were diagnosed with neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis due to citrin deficiency, and have respectively carried mutations of the SLC25A13 gene including [c.851-854delGTAT+c.851-854delGTAT], [c.851-854delGTAT+IVS6+5G>A], [c.851-854delGTAT+IVS16ins3kb], [c.851-854delGTAT+IVS6-11A>G] and [c.851-854delGTAT+c.1638-1660dup23]. Among these, the c.1311T>G mutation was first identified in the Chinese population, and the IVS6-11A>G mutation was a novel variation which may affect the splicing, as predicted by Human Splicing Finder software.

CONCLUSIONThis study has confirmed the molecular diagnosis of citrullinemia in six patients and expanded the mutational spectrum underlying citrullinemia.

Argininosuccinate Lyase ; genetics ; Argininosuccinate Synthase ; genetics ; Citrullinemia ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation

Objective:To explore the characteristics of T lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in hyperlipidemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HLAP) and its prognostic value.Methods:This study included 184 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2018 to May 2021. Based on disease etiology, there were 92 HLAP cases and 92 non-hyperlipidemia-induced AP (NHLAP) cases. Stratified by disease severity according to 2012 Atlanta classification criteria, the patients were divided into the severe subgroup (SAP) and non-severe subgroup (NSAP). Peripheral venous blood samples were taken from all patients on day 1, 3, and 5 after admission. T lymphocyte subsets were determined by flow cytometry, and cytokines were detected by flow fluorometry. The number of CD4 +% and CD8 +% and the expression of cytokines were compared by Student’s t test or Mann-Whitney U analysis. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for severe AP, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to predict severe AP. Statistical significance was taken as P<0.05. Results:Compared with the NHLAP group, patients in the HLAP group had lower CD4 +%, while higher levels of IL-2 on day 1 ( P<0.05), and had also lower CD4 +%, while higher levels of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 on day 3 ( P<0.05). Furthermore, IL-6 and IL-10 levels of the HLAP group were significantly increased compared to the NHLAP group on day 5 ( P<0.05). IL-10 levels in the SAP subgroup were significantly higher than those in the NSAP subgroup on day 1 ( P<0.05). Compared with the NSAP subgroup, the SAP subgroup had elevated levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ on day 3 (all P<0.05), and had lower CD4 +%, while increased levels of IL-6 and IL-10 on day 5 (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that IL-10 was an immune indicator of independent risk factor for severe AP in the HLAP group on day 1 ( OR=1.139, 95% CI: 1.038-1.251, P<0.05). Finally, ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of IL-10 to assess HLAP with severe AP was 0.772, and the best cut-off value for predicting severe AP was 5.6 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 68.8%. Conclusions:Changes of CD4 +% and cytokines are different between the HLAP and NHLAP groups. IL-10 can be used as a predictor of early disease severity in patients with HLAP.

OBJECTIVE To detect potential mutations of GCDH gene in five patients with glutaric acidemia type I (GA-I). METHODS Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the patients. The 11 exons and their flanking sequences of the GCDH gene were amplified with PCR and subjected to direct sequencing. RESULTS Four mutations of the GCDH gene were identified among the patients, which included c.532G>A (p.G178R), c.533G>A (p.G178E), c.106_107delAC (p.Q37fs*5) and c.1244-2A>C. Among these, c.1244-2A>C was the most common, while c.106_107delAC was a novel mutation, which was predicted to be pathogenic by MutationTaster software. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of GA-I has been confirmed in all of the five patients. Identification of the novel GCDH mutations has enriched the mutational spectrum of the GCDH gene.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of adjusting the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) cut-off values for screening congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in newborns according to the seasons, and to establish a TSH screening cut-off value that is suitable for the actual situation in Quanzhou City.Methods:A total of 355 868 newborns who underwent CH screening at the Neonatal Disease Screening Center in Quanzhou in Fujian Province from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 were included in the study. Heel blood samples were collected and made dried blood spots. TSH levels in the heel blood of newborns were measured using genetic screening processor (GSP). The TSH cut-off values for CH screening were established using the percentile method and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve method, and were adjusted based on seasonal factors. The screening efficiency was then compared with the current TSH cut-off value (9.00 mU/L).Results:According to the percentile method, the 99th percentile TSH levels in newborn heel blood in spring, summer, autumn, and winter were 9.47, 9.01, 9.41, and 10.43 mU/L, respectively. Using these values as cut-off values, the initial screening positive rates in spring, summer, autumn, and winter were 1.00% (848/84 652), 1.04% (913/87 524), 1.00% (951/94 875), 1.00% (889/88 817) [1.27% (1 077/84 652), 1.05% (916/87 524), 1.23% (1 171/94 875), 2.01% (1 787/88 817) according to the current TSH cut-off value]. However, except for summer, there were 7, 6, and 17 cases of missed screening in spring, autumn, and winter, respectively. The cut-off values of TSH for the four seasons obtained by the ROC curve method were 9.01, 9.02, 9.01, and 9.01 mU/L, respectively. The initial screening positive rates in spring, autumn, and winter were consistent with the current cut-off values, at 1.27% (1 074/84 652), 1.23% (1 167/94 875), 2.01% (1 781/88 817), respectively, while in summer, it was 0.99% (866/87 524) [1.05% (916/87 524) according to the current TSH cut-off value], and the positive detection rates in all four seasons were 100.00%.Conclusions:It is not advisable to adjust the TSH cut-off value for CH screening according to seasons in Quanzhou City. Using the current TSH cut-off value of 9.00 mU/L for CH screening in Quanzhou City can effectively ensure the quality of screening.

Objective: To explore the spectrum of genetic variants among patients with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) from Quanzhou area of Fujian province. Methods: For 63 children affected with HPA, next generation sequencing was used to identify potential variants in PAH, PTS, PCBD1, QDPR, SPR and GCH1 genes. Results: Fifty two variants underlying phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency (PAHD) and 13 variants underlying 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase deficiency (PTPSD) were identified. Two patients carried variants of both PAH and PTS genes. The most common variants of the PAH gene were R53H (21.69%), R241C (18.07%), R243Q (12.05%) and EX6-96A>G (7.23%), which were mainly located in exons 7 (32.53%), 2 (21.69%), 6 (9.64%) and 12 (9.64%). The L227M variant of the PAH gene was unreported previously. N52S (35.00%), P87S (25.00%), IVS1-291A>G (10.00%) and T67M (10.00%) variants were the most common variants for the PTS gene and were mainly located in exons 2 (35.00%) and 5 (35.00%). Conclusion The variant spectrum underlying HPA in Quanzhou area showed a geographical specificity. A novel variant of the PAH gene (L227M) has been detected.