Objective To explore the blood pressure variability (BPV) in pediatric patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and to assess the factors associated with pre-dialysis BPV (pre-HD BPV).Methods The pediatric patients who undergone regular dialysis for more than twelve months from Oct 2005 to Oct 2011 in hemo dialysis center of Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital were divided into high pre-HD BPV group and low pre-HD BPV group.Baseline characteristics,biochemical indexes and cardiac function parameters measured by echocardiography were collected in both groups and multiple linear regression analysis was performed.Results Pediatric patients in high pre-HD BPV group demonstrated significantly higher inter-dialytic weight growth rate (IDWG),pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure and average amount of dehydration than those in low pre-HD BPV group (P ＜ 0.05),while significantly lower hemoglobin and albumin levels than those in low pre-HD BPV group (P ＜ 0.05).Comparison among laboratory indicators,serum phosphorus and parathyroid hormone demonstrated significant difference between groups (P ＜ 0.05).For all pediatric patients,pre-HD BPV was positively correlated with IDWG (β=0.165),pre-dialysis systolicblood pressure (β=0.259),and iPTH (β=0.187),while negatively correlated with hemoglobin level (β=-0.199).Conclusions Increasing IDWG,higher pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure,anemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism influence BPV in pediatric patients on MHD.

Objective To explore the status-quo and possible constraints of scientific research in a municipal public hospital,provide countermeasures for the improvement of scientific research administration capacity.Methods Questionnaire survey was conducted to 1 356 medical staff in a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang province,information collected including the statusquo of scientific research,attitude towards scientific research,difficulties and suggestions.Results Among 1 316 valid questionnaires,61 ％ of the respondents agreed that scientific research was very important for the development of hospitals,83 ％ of the respondents were willing to use their spare time to conduct scientific research projects,and 61.2％ of them usually had plans to do research but did not know where to start.The main constraints identified were the poor academic atmosphere,lack of scientific research training,and lack of scientific research facilities and resources.Conclusions The medical staffs in a municipal public hospital have high subjective enthusiasm for scientific research,low personal research ability and poor research environment.It is suggested to improve the scientific research ability of the staff on the basis of improving the objective environmental conditions for research.

Objective To describe the repetitive nerve stimulation ( RNS) in anti-muscle specific tyrosine kinase (anti-MuSK) receptor antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MG), and compare with anti-acetylcholine receptor ( AChR ) positive myasthenia gravis , to figure out characteristics of anti-MuSK receptor MG.Methods We analyzed clinical and RNS data of nine anti-MuSK receptor MG and 19 age-and sex-matched anti-AChR MG.RNS was performed to the abductor digiti minimi , orbicularis oculi or musculus frontalis and trapezius .Results In anti-MuSK receptor MG , abnormal RNS in facial nerve was seen in 6/9 and in trapezius was 5/9, in limbs was 0.In anti-AChR MG, abnormal RNS in facial nerve was seen in 13/19, in trapezius was 18/19 and in limbs was 7/19.Abnormal in any of three parts was 8/9 and 19/19 in anti-MuSK receptor MG and anti-AChR MG, respectively.The RNS decrementing was more obvious in facial nerve in anti-Musk receptor MG than in anti-AChR MG.Negative prostigmin test was independently associated with anti-MuSK receptor MG (OR=4.25,95% CI 2.19 -15.25, P=0.015). Conclusions Abnormal RNS in any of three parts is more pronounced in anti-AChR MG compared with anti-MuSK receptor MG.RNS decrementing in facial nerve is more obvious in anti-AChR MG.Negative prostigmin test can aid in early suspicion in anti-MuSK receptor MG.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of facial onset sensory motor neuronopathy (FOSMN) syndrome.Methods:Ten patients diagnosed with FOSMN syndrome in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2012 to December 2022 were included. The clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of patients were analyzed and summarized, and the genetic testing was also performed in these patients.Results:The age of onset was (56.6±6.5) years, and the longest survival duration of disease was 10 years. All patients had numbness around the face and mouth as the first symptom and abnormal blink reflex. A total of 52 sensory nerve conduction nerves were detected, among which 2 median nerves and 2 μlnar nerves showed decreased amplitude of sensory nerve action potential. Needle electromyography showed neurogenic lesions, with both progressive and chronic denervation. Whole exome sequencing identified the heterozygous variant c.272A>C in the exon 4 of the SOD1 gene resulting in the amino acid change p.Asp90Ala in 1 patient. In all patients, the disease progressed relentlessly and eventually led to involvement of respiratory muscle. Conclusion:FOSMN syndrome is characterized by abnormal blink reflex and sometimes abnormal sensory nerve conduction may be shown on electrophysiologic testing.

Objective:To understand the current status of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia among preschool children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted with a multi-stage stratified sampling method to select 150 streets or townships from 10 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities (East: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Hainan; Central: Henan; West: Chongqing, Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Xinjiang; Northeast: Liaoning). From May 2022 to April 2023, a total of 21 470 children, including community-based children aged 0.5 to<3.0 years receiving child health care and kindergarten-based children aged 3.0 to<7.0 years, were surveyed. They were divided into 3 age groups: infants (0.5 to<1.0 year), toddlers (1.0 to<3.0 years), and preschoolers (3.0 to<7.0 years). Basic information such as sex and date of birth of the children was collected, and peripheral blood samples were obtained for routine blood tests and serum ferritin measurement. The prevalence rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were analyzed, and the prevalence rate differences were compared among different ages, sex, urban and rural areas, and regions using the chi-square test.Results:A total of 21 460 valid responses were collected, including 10 780 boys (50.2%). The number of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers were 2 645 (12.3%), 6 244 (29.1%), and 12 571 (58.6%), respectively. The hemoglobin level was (126.7±14.8) g/L, and the serum ferritin level was 32.3 (18.5, 50.1) μg/L. The overall rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were 10.4% (2 230/21 460), 28.3% (6 070/21 460), and 3.9% (845/21 460), respectively. The prevalence rate of anemia was higher for boys than for girls (10.9% (1 173/10 780) vs. 9.9% (1 057/10 680), χ2=5.58, P=0.018), with statistically significant differences in the rates for infants, toddlers and preschoolers (18.0% (475/2 645), 10.6% (662/6 244), and 8.7% (1 093/12 571), respectively, χ2=201.81, P<0.01), and the rate was significantly higher for children in rural than that in urban area (11.8% (1 516/12 883) vs. 8.3% (714/8 577), χ2=65.54, P<0.01), with statistically significant differences in the rates by region ( χ2=126.60, P<0.01), with the highest rate of 15.8% (343/2 173) for children in Central region, and the lowest rate of 5.3% (108/2 053) in Northeastern region. The prevalence rates of iron deficiency were 33.8% (895/2 645), 32.2% (2 011/6 244), and 25.2% (3 164/12 571) in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, respectively, and 30.0% (3 229/10 780) in boys vs. 26.6% (2 841/10 680) in girls, 21.7% (1 913/8 821), 40.0% (870/2 173), 27.1% (2 283/8 413), 48.9% (1 004/2 053) in Eastern, Central, Western, and Northeastern regions, respectively, and each between-group showed a significant statistical difference ( χ2=147.71, 29.73, 773.02, all P<0.01). The prevalence rate of iron-deficiency anemia showed a significant statistical difference between urban and rural areas, 2.9% (251/8 577) vs. 4.6% (594/12 883) ( χ2=38.62, P<0.01), while the difference in iron deficiency prevalence was not significant ( χ2=0.51, P=0.476). Conclusions:There has been a notable improvement in iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia among preschool children in China, but the situation remains concerning. Particular attention should be paid to the prevention and control of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia, especially among infants and children in the Central, Western, and Northeastern regions of China.

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics and nerve conduction damage in patients with early POEMS syndrome, and to explore the value of segment nerve conduction velocity in the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome. Methods: A total of 73 patients with POEMS syndrome and 27 healthy controls in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2009 to June 2019 were recruited in this study. The motor and sensory nerve conduction characteristics of median, ulnar, tibial, and peroneal nerves and the clinical features of the participants were analyzed. The analysis parameters included: (1) distal motor latency (DML), compound muscle action potential (CMAP); (2) the median velocity from elbow to wrist, the median velocity from axillary to elbow, the ulnar velocity from the site below elbow to wrist, the ulnar velocity from the site above elbow to below elbow, the ulnar velocity from axillary to the site above elbow, the tibial velocity from ankle to knee, the peroneal velocity from ankle to fibulae capitulum; (3) sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude of these nerves; (4) terminal latency indices (TLI) of median; (5) motor nerve conduction blocks. Results: Peripheral nerve damages were the initial symptoms in thirty-two patients in this group, accounting for 43.8% (32/73), and 81.3% (26/32) of these patients only showed numbness in lower extremities. All POEMS syndrome patients with numbness had abnormal sensory nerve conduction, and 9.5% (7/73) of patients without sensory symptoms also had abnormal sensory nerve conduction. On the other hand, the decrease of CMAP amplitude corresponded to clinical muscle strength decline and motor dysfunction. In the patients with POEMS syndrome, motor nerve conduction in the lower limbs were more likely to be affected and the damages were more severe than in the upper limbs: the proportion of CMAP disappearance in the lower limbs and upper limbs was 47.6% (112/235) vs 2.8% (7/252; χ²=133.698, P<0.01). Sensory nerve conduction damage was more severe than motor nerve conduction: the proportion of amplitude disappearance in sensory and motor conduction was 43.0% (141/328) vs 24.4% (119/487; χ²=133.698, P<0.01). The slowing of motor nerve conduction velocity was more common than the decrease of CMAP amplitude: the rate of slowing down of motor nerve conduction was 88.7% (432/487), and the rate of decrease of amplitude was 52.8% (257/487; χ²=151.905, P<0.01). The DML of median and ulnar nerve in the POEMS syndrome group was longer than that in the control group (median nerve: 4.4 (3.7, 5.0) ms vs 3.2 (3.0, 3.5) ms, U=854.000, P<0.01; ulnar nerve: 3.1 (2.7, 3.8) ms vs 2.5 (2.2, 2.7) ms, U=1 077.500, P<0.01). The TLI of median nerve in patients with POEMS syndrome was significantly higher than that of healthy controls (0.40±0.11 vs 0.35±0.06, t=3.466, P=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in nerve conduction velocity between the forearm segment and the upper arm segment in the POEMS group. Conclusions Neurological damages were common in patients with POEMS syndrome with sensory nerve damage often being the initial clinical manifestation. In patients with POEMS syndrome, the nerve damage in the lower limbs was more severe than in the upper limbs, and sensory nerve damage was more severe than motor nerve damage. Segmental motor nerve conduction results suggested that demyelination damage occurred earlier than axonal damage, and proximal lesions were slightly heavier than distal lesions. No conduction block was detected in these patients. These characteristics of segmental nerve conduction can provide more evidence for clinical diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.