OBJECTIVETo study the association between the prevalence of overweight/obesity and copy number variations (CNVs) among Han, Uyghur, and Kazak children in Xinjiang, China.

METHODSThe kindergartens in Ili, Altay, and Karamay in Xinjiang were selected as research sites, and stratified cluster sampling was used to select the children aged 3-7 years. Body height and body weight were measured, and exfoliated buccal mucosa cells were collected. CNVplex® was used to measure the CNVs of FTO_1, IRX3_1, IRX3_2, MC4R_1, and MC4R_2.

RESULTSA total of 603 children were surveyed (307 boys and 296 girls). There were 261 Han children, 194 Uyghur children, and 148 Kazak children. The overweight/obesity rates in Han, Uyghur, and Kazak children were 28.3%, 10.3%, and 31.1%, respectively (P<0.001). In Kazak children, the CNVs of IRX3_1 and MC4R_2 were associated with overweight/obesity (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of overweight/obesity in Han and Kazak children was 3.443 times (95%CI: 2.016-5.880) and 3.924 times (95%CI: 2.199-7.001), respectively, that in Uyghur children. The CNV of IRX3_1 was a risk factor for overweight/obesity (P=0.028, OR=2.251, 95%CI: 1.418-5.651).

CONCLUSIONSThe CNV of IRX3_1 is associated with overweight/obesity in Han, Uyghur, and Kazak children, and the association between the CNV of IRX3_1 and overweight/obesity in Kazak children should be taken seriously.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; ethnology ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity ; etiology ; genetics ; Overweight ; etiology ; genetics ; Risk Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

INTRODUCTIONTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used as an alternative in treating children with atopic dermatitis (AD) but its efficacy and potential side effects are debatable. We recently used a TCM capsule (PentaHerbs) on 9 children and observed significant reductions in clinical scores of disease severity. However, there have been concerns that the therapeutic effects of many forms of TCM are due to the presence of corticosteroids. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if common corticosteroids are present in PentaHerbs capsules.

MATERIALS AND METHODSPentaHerbs powder was analysed with thin-layer chromatography, infra-red spectrophotometry and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

RESULTSHydrocortisone, prednisolone, fludrocortisone and dexamethasone were not detected in the PentaHerbs capsules.

CONCLUSIONCorticosteroids are not present in the 5 familiar herbs that were earlier shown to have efficacy on AD.

Child ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Glucocorticoids ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Pilot Projects ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared

INTRODUCTION: Pregnant women are reported to be at increased risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to underlying immunosuppression during pregnancy. However, the clinical course of COVID-19 in pregnancy and risk of vertical and horizontal transmission remain relatively unknown. We aim to describe and evaluate outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 in Singapore. METHODS: Prospective observational study of 16 pregnant patients admitted for COVID-19 to 4 tertiary hospitals in Singapore. Outcomes included severe disease, pregnancy loss, and vertical and horizontal transmission. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients, 37.5%, 43.8% and 18.7% were infected in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. Two gravidas aged ≥35 years (12.5%) developed severe pneumonia; one patient (body mass index 32.9kg/m2) required transfer to intensive care. The median duration of acute infection was 19 days; one patient remained reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive >11 weeks from diagnosis. There were no maternal mortalities. Five pregnancies produced term live-births while 2 spontaneous miscarriages occurred at 11 and 23 weeks. RT-PCR of breast milk and maternal and neonatal samples taken at birth were negative; placenta and cord histology showed non-specific inflammation; and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific immunoglobulins were elevated in paired maternal and umbilical cord blood (n=5). CONCLUSION The majority of COVID-19 infected pregnant women had mild disease and only 2 women with risk factors (obesity, older age) had severe infection; this represents a slightly higher incidence than observed in age-matched non-pregnant women. Among the women who delivered, there was no definitive evidence of mother-to-child transmission via breast milk or placenta.
Abortion, Spontaneous/epidemiology* ; Adult ; COVID-19/transmission* ; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing ; COVID-19 Serological Testing ; Cohort Studies ; Disease Transmission, Infectious/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Fetal Blood/immunology* ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/statistics & numerical data* ; Live Birth/epidemiology* ; Maternal Age ; Milk, Human/virology* ; Obesity, Maternal/epidemiology* ; Placenta/pathology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/physiopathology* ; Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Prospective Studies ; RNA, Viral/analysis* ; Risk Factors ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Severity of Illness Index ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Umbilical Cord/pathology* ; Young Adult

Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists ; Consensus ; Cardiovascular System ; Cardiology ; Asia

OBJECTIVETo investigate the related factors of renal functions in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSA total of 438 hypertensive patients with complain of snoring at night were enrolled in the study from the First teaching Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University during March 2011 and March 2014. The diagnosis of OSAHS was confirmed with polysomnography examination, and the patients were divided into 4 groups according to the apnea hypoventilation index (AHI): hypertensive group (AHI<10/h, n=102), mild OSAHS group (AHI 10-<15/h, n=97), moderate OSAHS group (AHI 15-<30/h, n=149), and severe OSAHS group (AHI≥30/h, n=90). The blood urea, creatinine, eGFR, 24h-urinary total protein (24h UTP), 24h-urinary microalbumin, cystatin C (Cyst C) were measured and compared among groups, and the influencing factors of renal function were analyzed.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index(BMI), 24-hour systolic blood pressure (24hSBP), fasting blood-glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among the groups (P<0.05). 24h-UTP and 24h-urinary microalbumin in the severe OSAHS group were higher than those in other groups (P<0.05); and all patients with OSAHS had higher Cyst C levels than those without OSAHS (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI (OR=1.486, 95% CI 1.022-2.160) and severe OSAHS (OR=7.138, 95% CI 1.835-27.769) were influencing factors of 24h-UTP; blood pressure (OR=2.368, 95% CI 1.324-4.234) and BMI (OR=1.678, 95% CI 1.263-2.230) were influencing factors of 24h-urinary microalbumin; age (OR=1.998, 95% CI 1.325-3.013), blood pressure (OR=3.202, 95% CI 1.319-7.773) and severe OSAHS (OR=5.462, 95% CI 1.103-27.041) were influencing factors of Cyst C.

CONCLUSIONOSAHS is a risk factor for early renal damage in patients with hypertension. Age, BMI, blood pressure and severe OSAHS may be influencing factors for renal function in hypertensive patients with OSAHS.