Epidemiologic Methods ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Rare Diseases ; epidemiology

[Objective]To evaluate the effects of sutureless technique in comparison to conventional techniques for repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TAPVC)with the method of propensity score analysis.[Methods]From October 2007 to December 2013,179 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were operated with sutureless technique(n = 81)or Conventional technique(n=98),and followed up at an interval of 1 month,3 months,6 months and then once a year post-operation. During analysis,three type of propensity-score matching methods,including nearest neighbor caliper matching,Mahalanobis metric matching with propensity score ,optimal full matching were used to create balanced groups of patients receiving each treatment. Surgeons’performance difference was assessed with random frailty proportional hazards models with gamma. Composite endpoints was defined by postoperative death or late death or postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction(PVO),which was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier curve and multivariable Cox proportional hazard model,adjusted by Preoperative-PVO,age,gender,weight and TAPVC type.[Results]Nearest neighbor caliper matching method was the best choice during propensity score analysis. After matching ,sutureless group included 73 patients and Conventional group73 patients. In sutureless group,cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)time(Z=2.18, P=0.030),cross-clamp time(Z=3.63,P<0.001),rate of composite endpoints(HR 95%CI=0.20(0.06~0.61),P=0.005),late death(HR 95%CI=0.03(0.01~0.55),P=0.017)were significantly better than that in Conventional group. In subgroup analysis ,for patients with pre-PVO,decreased composite endpoints was seen in sutureless group.[Conclusion]Comparison using thepropensity score analysis demonstrated that sutureless strategy for primary repair of TAPVC may associate with decreased mortality rate of post-PVO and CPB time and cross-clamp time.

Objective:To explore the environmental risk factors of different categories of congenital heart defects ( CHD) and provide evidence for further risk factors and prevention research of CHD pheno-types. Methods:Data of Guangdong CHD Register Study from 2004 to 2012 were used. In the study, 3 038 CHD cases and 3 038 paired controls from 34 hospitals distributed in 17 cities were registered and related information were collected using uniform, and structured questionnaires. All the CHD phenotypes were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) and classified into 6 categories according to their pathological features. Univariate analyses were adopted to filter poten-tial risk factors for each category of CHD. Then multivariate conditional Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios of the risk factors for each category of CHD. Results:The risk factors for left-to-right shunt CHD included low ( OR=2 . 63 , 95%CI:2 . 04 -3 . 39 ) or over birth weight ( OR =2 . 21 , 95%CI:1 . 47-3 . 32 ) , premature delivery ( OR=1 . 95 , 95%CI:1 . 53-2 . 49 ) , polyembryony ( OR=1. 99, 95%CI: 1. 22 -3. 26), maternal low education, mother as factory worker (OR =1. 62, 95%CI:1 . 32-1 . 98 ) , parity≥2 ( OR =1 . 38 , 95%CI: 1 . 13 -1 . 69 ) , maternal abnormal reproduction history ( OR=2 . 29 , 95%CI:1 . 75-3 . 01 ) , fever ( OR=2 . 38 , 95%CI:1 . 26-4 . 48 ) , virus infection ( OR=1 . 80 , 95%CI:1 . 29 -2 . 51 ) , medicine usage ( OR=1 . 73 , 95%CI:1 . 11 -2 . 69 ) , passive smoking ( OR=1 . 69 , 95%CI:1 . 26-2 . 29 ) , chemical agent contact ( OR=8 . 71 , 95%CI:2 . 33 -32 . 58 ) , living in newly decorated houses ( OR=2 . 56 , 95%CI:1 . 60-4 . 09 ) or room close to the main road ( OR=1 . 40 , 95%CI:1 . 14-1 . 72 ) in the first 3 months of pregnancy and father as factory worker ( OR=1 . 46 , 95%CI:1 . 23-1 . 73 ) . The risk factors for pulmonary outflow tract obstruction CHD in-cluded low ( OR =5 . 98 , 95% CI: 2 . 88 -12 . 44 ) or over birth weight ( OR = 6 . 56 , 95% CI:1. 19-36. 26), maternal low education, parity≥2 (OR=2. 08, 95%CI:1. 03-4. 22), virus infection in the first 3 months of pregnancy ( OR =4 . 30 , 95%CI: 1 . 27 -13 . 45 ) . The risk factors for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction CHD included father as factory worker ( OR=6 . 01 , 95%CI:1 . 05-34. 59). The risk factors for transposition of the great arteries included low birth weight (OR=12. 93, 95%CI:1. 14-146. 26), maternal low education, mother as factory worker (OR=3. 69, 95%CI:1. 53-8. 91). The risk factors for conditions with intra cardiac mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in-cluded parity=2 ( OR=3 . 45 , 95%CI:1 . 42-8 . 38 ) . The risk factors for other CHD included over birth weight (OR=4. 87, 95%CI:1. 19-19. 94), maternal abnormal reproduction history (OR=2. 96, 95%CI:1. 14 - 7. 68 ), virus infection ( OR = 4. 92, 95% CI: 1. 56 - 15. 47 ), medicine usage (OR=4. 90, 95%CI:1. 22-19. 77) or passive smoking (OR=10. 31, 95%CI:1. 25-85. 05) in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Conclusion:The environmental risk factors were discrepant among different categories of CHD. Further risk factors study of CHD phenotypes should be performed specially. To prevent CHD, attention should be paid to the risk factors which are related to multi or complex categories of CHD.

Objective This retrospective cohort study aims to evaluate and compare the prognosis of surgical repair for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TAPVC) with different drainage type.Methods From January 2006 to Decem-ber 2013, 328 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study .The distribution of the defects was 109 cases with cardiac, 161 with supracardiac, 32 with infracardiac, and 26 with mixed type of the drainage into the systemic circulation .The clinical re-cords of all the patients were reviewed.Studied variables were extracted from the clinical records.Followed-up was conducted at an interval of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and then once a year post-operation.Prevalence of peri-operative conditions were compared among four different types.Studied endpoints was defined by postoperative total death or pulmonary venous obstruc-tion(PVO), which was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier curve and multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, adjusted by differ-ent surgical strategy, emergency operation, preoperative-PVO, neonates, weight, combing with other complex cardiac defects,NYHA cardiac function, severe pulmonary hypertension and severe tricuspid regurgitation.Results There were significant discrepancyof preoperative conditions among four types of TAPVC.Patients with infracardiac TAPVC presented the most criticalsymptoms and clinical indexes, which included having largest proportion of neonates, preoperative PVO, severe NYHA grading,pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid regurgitation, having lowest body weight at operation and youngest age.The cardiopulmonarybypass time, aortic crossclamp time and mechanical ventilation time were significantly longer in infracadiac and mixedTAPVC comparing to the other two types.For early mortality(death in hospital), infracadiac(9.4%) and mixed(11.5%)TAPVC demonstrated higher rates of death than cardiac(4.6%) and supracardiac(7.5%)TAPVC, although had no statisticalsignificance.For intermediate-term results, mortality in infracadiac(21.9%) and mixed(30.8%) TAPVC were significantlyhigher than cardiac ( 8.3%) and supracardiac (11.8%) TAPVC.Reoperation was more frequently required in mixed(19.2%), then infracadiac(15.6%)TAPVC.Mixed and infracadiac types are independent risk factors for TAPVC prognosis,after adjusting by the confounding factors.Conclusion Mixed and infracadiac types are independent risk factors for postoperativedeath and PVO among TAPVC patients.This study provided evidence for clinical assessment and management strategy fordifferent types of TAPVC.

Objective:To study the toxicity of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) on adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and its effect on processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) -enzymolysis.Methods:In vitro experiments, PC12 cells were divided into blank control (CT) , low DOP (DOP1) , medium DOP (DOP2) , high DOP (DOP3) , low DOP+Aβ 25-35 (DOP1+Aβ) , medium DOP+Aβ 25-35 (DOP2+Aβ) , high DOP+Aβ 25-35 (DOP3+Aβ) , Aβ 25-35 (Aβ) , a total of 8 groups, each with 4 samples. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, the contents of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) , malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured, and cysteine protease 3 (Caspase-3) was determined by Western blot. In the transfection experiment, the hamster ovary (CHO) cells were transfected with APP695 and treated with different concentrations of DOP. They were divided into V-Flag control (V-Flag) , APP695-Flag (APP695) , low DOP (DOP1+APP695) , medium DOP (DOP2+APP695) , high DOP (DOP3+APP695) , a total of 5 groups, each with 4 samples. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the content of Aβ 1-40 and the activity of γ-secretase. In vivo experiment, 50 male Kunming mice of SPF grade, weighing (20±2) g, were selected and randomly divided into control, lead (Pb) , low DOP (DOP1＇) , medium DOP (DOP2＇) , high DOP (DOP3＇) consisted of 5 groups, each with 10 mice, continuously gavage for 6 weeks. Morris water maze method was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of DOP on learning and memory in mice, and ELISA method was used to detect β-secretase, γ-secretase activity and Aβ 1-40 content in brain tissue. Results:Compared with the CT group, the cell viabilities of the DOP2 and DOP3 groups were decreased, and the contents of LDH, MDA, and NO were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the CT group, the cell viabilities of DOP1+Aβ, DOP2+Aβ and DOP3+Aβ groups were decreased, the contents of LDH, MDA, NO were increased, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the Aβ group, the cell viability of DOP3+Aβ group was decreased, the contents of LDH, MDA, NO were increased, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the Aβ group, the contents of LDH and NO in the DOP2+Aβ group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the CT group, the expression levels of Caspase-3 in the DOP2 and DOP3 groups were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the Aβ group, the expression levels of Caspase-3 in the DOP2+Aβ and DOP3+Aβ groups were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the APP695 group, the contents of Aβ 1-40 and the activities of γ-secretase of the DOP2+APP695 and DOP3+APP695 groups were increased ( P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the activities of β-secretase, γ-secretase and the content of Aβ 1-40 in the brain tissue of DOP3＇group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the Pb group, the activities of β-secretase, γ-secretase and the content of Aβ 1-40 of the DOP3＇group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the target quadrant stay time and the number of crossings in the DOP2＇and DOP3＇groups were reduced, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:DOP has a certain toxic effect on PC12 cells, causing learning and memory impairment in mice, and may promote the pathological progression of Alzheimer＇s disease.

Objective:To study the toxicity of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) on adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and its effect on processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) -enzymolysis.Methods:In vitro experiments, PC12 cells were divided into blank control (CT) , low DOP (DOP1) , medium DOP (DOP2) , high DOP (DOP3) , low DOP+Aβ 25-35 (DOP1+Aβ) , medium DOP+Aβ 25-35 (DOP2+Aβ) , high DOP+Aβ 25-35 (DOP3+Aβ) , Aβ 25-35 (Aβ) , a total of 8 groups, each with 4 samples. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, the contents of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) , malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured, and cysteine protease 3 (Caspase-3) was determined by Western blot. In the transfection experiment, the hamster ovary (CHO) cells were transfected with APP695 and treated with different concentrations of DOP. They were divided into V-Flag control (V-Flag) , APP695-Flag (APP695) , low DOP (DOP1+APP695) , medium DOP (DOP2+APP695) , high DOP (DOP3+APP695) , a total of 5 groups, each with 4 samples. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the content of Aβ 1-40 and the activity of γ-secretase. In vivo experiment, 50 male Kunming mice of SPF grade, weighing (20±2) g, were selected and randomly divided into control, lead (Pb) , low DOP (DOP1＇) , medium DOP (DOP2＇) , high DOP (DOP3＇) consisted of 5 groups, each with 10 mice, continuously gavage for 6 weeks. Morris water maze method was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of DOP on learning and memory in mice, and ELISA method was used to detect β-secretase, γ-secretase activity and Aβ 1-40 content in brain tissue. Results:Compared with the CT group, the cell viabilities of the DOP2 and DOP3 groups were decreased, and the contents of LDH, MDA, and NO were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the CT group, the cell viabilities of DOP1+Aβ, DOP2+Aβ and DOP3+Aβ groups were decreased, the contents of LDH, MDA, NO were increased, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the Aβ group, the cell viability of DOP3+Aβ group was decreased, the contents of LDH, MDA, NO were increased, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the Aβ group, the contents of LDH and NO in the DOP2+Aβ group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the CT group, the expression levels of Caspase-3 in the DOP2 and DOP3 groups were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the Aβ group, the expression levels of Caspase-3 in the DOP2+Aβ and DOP3+Aβ groups were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the APP695 group, the contents of Aβ 1-40 and the activities of γ-secretase of the DOP2+APP695 and DOP3+APP695 groups were increased ( P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the activities of β-secretase, γ-secretase and the content of Aβ 1-40 in the brain tissue of DOP3＇group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the Pb group, the activities of β-secretase, γ-secretase and the content of Aβ 1-40 of the DOP3＇group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the target quadrant stay time and the number of crossings in the DOP2＇and DOP3＇groups were reduced, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:DOP has a certain toxic effect on PC12 cells, causing learning and memory impairment in mice, and may promote the pathological progression of Alzheimer＇s disease.

Abnormal aggregation of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) in brain plays a vital role in the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hence, inhibiting Aβ aggregation is one major tactic for therapy of AD. Previous studies have found that tolcapone can inhibit Aβ42 aggregation and reduce the cytotoxicity induced by Aβ42 aggregates, but clinical studies have found that tolcapone has strong liver toxicity. To reduce the liver toxicity of tolcapone, its side chain structure was modified to obtain its derivative phenethyl (E)-2-cyano-3-(3,4 dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzene)-acrylate (PCDNA). Thioflavin T (ThT) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) assays were used to explore the inhibitory effect of PCDNA on Aβ42 fibrillogenesis. The cytotoxicity assays were used to explore the inhibitory effect of PCDNA against the cytotoxicity induced by Aβ42 aggregates. In addition, the depolymerization effect of PCDNA on mature Aβ42 fibrils was also explored. Finally, molecular docking was used to explore the interaction between PCDNA and Aβ42 pentamer. These results lay the foundation for the study of the structural analogues of tolcapone as Aβ inhibitors.

Conditional logistic regression analysis and unconditional logistic regression analysis are commonly used in case control study,but Cox proportional hazard model is often used in survival data analysis.Most literature only refer to main effect model,however,generalized linear model differs from general linear model,and the interaction was composed of multiplicative interaction and additive interaction.The former is only statistical significant,but the latter has biological significance.In this paper,macros was written by using SAS 9.4 and the contrast ratio,attributable proportion due to interaction and synergy index were calculated while calculating the items of logistic and Cox regression interactions,and the confidence intervals of Wald,delta and profile likelihood were used to evaluate additive interaction for the reference in big data analysis in clinical epidemiology and in analysis of genetic multiplicative and additive interactions.

Competing risks occur frequently in the analysis of survival data that should be dealt with competing risk models.Competing risk is an event whose occurrence precludes the occurrence of the primary event of interest.Previous commonly used Kaplan-Meier method tends to overestimate the cumulative survival functions,while the traditional Cox proportional hazards model falsely evaluates the effects of covariates on the hazard related to the occurrence of the event.There are few domestic reports mentioning the concept,application and methodology of competing risk model as well as the implementation procedures or resolution of model conditions and parameters.The current work aims to explain the core concept and methodology of the competing risk model and to illustrate the process of analysis on cumulative incidence rate,using both the cause-specific hazard function model and the sub-distribution hazard function model.Software macro code in SAS 9.4 is also provided to assist clinical researchers to further understand the application of the model so to properly analyze the survival data.

China ; epidemiology ; Hemophilia A ; epidemiology ; Hemophilia B ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Prevalence