Objective To systemically investigate 1) distribution of endogenous endotoxin (ET) in tissues and circulation; 2) its relationship with shock duration and organ damage; and 3) its possible mechanism after hemorrhagic shock.Methods To further elucidate the intrinsic relationship between endogenous endotoxin translocation and hemorrhagic shock, the present study systematically investigated the distribution of endogenous ET into the liver, lungs, kidneys and circulation, and the relationship between ET levels and the corresponding organ dysfunction with limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) chromogenic assay following hemorrhagic shock in rats. Results It was found that ET levels in hepatic homogenate markedly increased (P=0.09) 1.5 hours following shock compared with that in the sham group. After resuscitation, ET levels in hepatic, pulmonary and renal tissues were all significantly elevated. The levels kept increasing with the prolonged experimental time, and reached as high as 3.88±0.95 EU (endotoxin unit)/g in the livers, 2.53±1.46 EU/g in the lungs and 2.51±0.89 EU/g in the kidneys 12 hours after shock. ET levels in plasma reached a peak of 1.13±0.42 EU/ml at 1 hour following resuscitation, then rapidly decreased to the sham levels 3 hours following resuscitation. There was a close relationship between endotoxin translocation and shock duration. Correlation analysis further indicated that the changes in glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in plasma and angiotensin Ⅰ-converting exzyme (ACE) in pulmonary homogenate were significantly and positively correlated with the ET levels in the liver, kidneys and lungs after hemorrhagic shock. Conclusions Hemorrhagic shock can induce obvious endogenous ET translocation, which is closely related to the shock duration. Although only transient endotoxemia occurs after hemorrhagic shock, ET can massively accumulate in tissues (liver, lungs and kidneys), and may play an important role in the development of shock.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein(BPI) on the outcome of sepsis in mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Sepsis was induced by injection of 2x10(6) colony-formed unit E. coli J5 via the tail vein. BPI of 5 mg/kg or equal volume of normal saline(NS) were injected intravenously at the same time. Endotoxin and TNFalpha levels in serum were assayed using a chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate test and ELISA respectively. RESULTS: Seventy-two hour survival rate of septic mice was significantly higher in the BPI group (15/18) than in the NS group(8/18, P<0.01). Serum endotoxin levels in the BPI group (1.3+/-0.3 and 0.7+/-0.4 &mgr;g/L) were significantly lower than those in the NS group (3.9+/-0.8 and 2.5+/-0.9 &mgr; g/L, P<0.01) 0.5 and 1 hour following injection of bacteria respectively. The peak levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNFalpha)in the BPI group (1.9+/-0.6 &mgr;g/L) were also markedly lower than those in the NS group (3.8+/-0.8 &mgr;g/L, P<0.01) 1.5 hours following bacterial injection. But there was no significant difference in blood bacterial count between the BPI and NS groups 0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 hours after injection of bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: BPI has a marked protective effect on E. coli sepsis, which might be related to its action against bacterial endotoxin and its inhibition of TNFalpha production in sepsis.

Objective To understand the relationship between MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism and general status of pregnant women and offspring congenital heart disease (CHD).Methods A case-control study was conducted among the biological mothers of 100 infants with CHD and 100 healthy controls to collect the information about their demographic characteristics,general status during pregnancy and awareness of eugenics.Their MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism and serum homocysteine (HCY),folic acid,vitamin B12 levels were detected.Results The differences in MTHFR genotype and allele frequency between the two groups were not statistical significant (x2=1.08,P=0.582;x2=0.53,P=0.468),but the difference in serum HCY between two groups were statistical significant (t=-8.14,P=0.000).Univariate analysis showed that 14 factors had statistical significances (P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that mother's educational level(OR=3.386,95％ CI:1.279-8.961),annual household income (OR =8.699,95％ CI:2.177-34.765),chronic disease prevalence (OR=0.343,95％ CI:0.134-0.881),awareness of eugenics (OR=0.906,95％ CI:0.836-0.981),serum HCY level(OR=1.734,95％CI:1.458-1.986) and abnormal reproductive history(OR=3.710,95％ CI:1.217-11.308) were correlated with offspring CHD.Conclusion There was no correlation between MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism of pregnant women and offspring CHD,but low educational level,low annual household income,abnormal reproductive history,low awareness of eugenics and high serum HCY levels of pregnant women might increase the risk of offspring CHD.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis of and conservative management for lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta complicating first trimester abortion.

METHODSFour patients with previous caesarean section and severe hemorrhage in induced abortion in the first trimester were studied. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) was used to control bleeding and preserve the uterus.

RESULTSUAE controlled heavy uterine bleeding satisfactorily. One of the four patients asked for a hysterectomy after UAE, and her pathology report confirmed "lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta".

CONCLUSIONPrevious caesarean section is a risk factor for lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta. UAE is one of the best conservative management methods for heavy hemorrhage, especially for women who desire future fertility.

Abortion, Induced ; adverse effects ; Adult ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Placenta Accreta ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; etiology ; therapy ; Uterus ; pathology

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.