Objective To study the auditory processing abilities of children with learning difficulty and deter-mine the proportion of the children with auditory processing disorder.Methods A single factor completely random-ized experimental design was used.Seventeen children with learning difficulties and 31 normal children from grade 2 to grade 4 in Beijing were induded in this study.The abilities of low-pass filtered speech,competing sentences,di-chotic digits and frequency patterns were tested through auditory processing disorder screening test software.Results There were significant differences in the abilities of listening sentences and digits in competitive environment and recognizing frequency patterns between children with learning difficulty and without.The auditory processing ability of children with learning difficulties was obviously poorer than normal children.The incidence of auditory processing disorder among the children with learning difficulties was 41.176%~58.824%.Conclusion The auditory process-ing ability in the competitive environment of children with learning difficulties was obviously poorer and they need in-tervention specifically.

H um an violent behavior is a com plex behavior w hich is influenced by genetic and environ-m ental factors. T here is a trend in investigating the m echanism of violent behavior by using the genetic m ethods. T his article review s several candidate genes and advances in epigenetics w hich are associated w ith violent behavior. T he prospects and significance of violent behavior research from the view of gene polym orphism and epigenetics are also discussed.

Objective: To study the effects of triptolide-medicated serum on secretory function of adrenocortical cells isolated from rats. Methods: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into control group, prednisone group, and low-, medium- and high-dose triptolide groups. Rats were administered with normal saline, prednisone and low-, medium- and high-dose triptolide respectively by gastrogavage to prepare sera containing drugs. Primary adrenocortical cells were isolated from normal male rats and cultured with sera containing drug for 48 hours. Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was observed by immunohistochemical method and number of PCNA-positive cells was counted. Ultrastructure of adrenocortical cells was observed under a transmission electron microscope. Content of corticosterone in supernatant of adrenocortical cell culture was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to investigate the expression of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) mRNA. Results: As compared with the control group, content of corticosterone in supernatant of adrenocortical cell culture and expression of 3beta-HSD mRNA were significantly increased in the triptolide-treated groups, and the numbers of PCNA-positive cells were increased in the medium- and high-dose triptolide groups, however, they were decreased in the prednisone group. Conclusion: Triptolide-medicated serum can increase the secretion of corticosterone in rat adrenocortical cells in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential expression pattern of hsa-miR-9 between EBV-positive and -negative Burkitt lymphoma cell lines and its association with BCL-6.

METHODSThe expression of hsa-miR9 and BCL-6 mRNAs in EBV(+) Raji and EBV-Ramous cells in mRNA levels were detected using fluorescence quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR). The two cells lines were transiently transfected with hsa-mir9-inhibitor and hsa-mir9-minicsvia Oligofectamine 2000, and the changes in BCL6 expressions was detected using QRT-PCR and Western blotting. Annexin V/PI staining was used to analyze the apoptosis and morphological changes of the transfected cells.

RESULTSThe expression of Hsa-miR9 and BCL-6 was significantly higher in EBV(+) Raji cells than EBV(-) Ramous cells (P<0.01). BCL-6 mRNA and protein expression was reduced in EBV(+) Raji cells after transfection with hsa-miR9-inhibitor but up-regulated in EBV(-) Ramous cells transfected with hsa-miR9-minics. Flow cytometry revealed a significantly decreased apoptosis rate in EBV(+) Raji cells transfected with hsa-miR9-inhibitor but an increased rate in EBV(-) Ramous cells transfected with hsa-miR9-minics, and the results were confirmed by microscopic observations.

CONCLUSIONHsa-miR9 positively regulate the expression of BCL-6 and apoptosis of EBV(+) Raji cells and EBV(-) Ramous cells.

Apoptosis ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Division ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; Transfection

OBJECTIVES: Currently, it is difficult to assess the expression status of hormone receptor (HR) in breast malignant tumors with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-positive in the early preoperative stage, and it is difficult to predict whether it is non-invasively. This study aims to explore the value of MRI on the different HR expression status (HR⁺/HR^-) in HER-2 positive breast cancer. METHODS: Thirty patients with HR+ HER-2-positive breast cancer (HR+ group) and 23 patients with HR-HER-2-positive breast cancer (HR- group) from the First Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 7, 2015 and November 26, 2021 were selected as subjects, and all the patients were examined by MRI and all were confirmed by surgery or pathological biopsy puncture. The immunohistochemical staining results were used as the gold standard to analyze the basic clinical conditions, peri-lesion conditions and MRI sign characteristics in the 2 groups. RESULTS: There were all significant differences in terms of mass margins, internal reinforcement features, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values between the HR+ group and the HR- group (all P<0.05). The logistic multivariate regression model showed that: when the lesion presented as a mass-type breast cancer on MRI, the internal enhancement features of the lesion were an independent predictor for differentiation in the 2 types of breast cancer [odds ratio (OR)=5.95, 95% CI: 1.223 to 28.951, P<0.05], and the mass margin (OR=0.386, 95% CI: 0.137 to 1.082, P>0.05) and ADC value (OR=0.234, 95% CI: 0.001 to 105.293, P>0.05) were not the independent predictors in distinguishing the 2 types of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS Multiparametric MRI has good diagnostic value for HR expression status in HER-2-positive breast cancer. Combined logistic regression analysis to construct a predictive model may be helpful to the identical diagnosis.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Breast ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To evaluate early outcomes of transthoracic pulmonary valve implantation for the treatment of moderate and severe pulmonary regurgitation by using homemade self-expanding valve (SalusTM). Methods Patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation who underwent transthoracic pulmonary valve implantation in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from September 2, 2021 to November 25, 2022 were prospectively enrolled. The early postoperative complications and improvement of valve and heart function were summarized and analyzed. Results A total of 25 patients were enrolled, including 16 males and 9 females, with an average age of 24.5±1.5 years and an average weight of 57.0±3.0 kg. The mean systolic diameters of the bifurcation near the main pulmonary artery, the stenosis of the middle segment of the aorta and near the valve of the right ventricular outflow tract of the patients were 31.8±7.4 mm, 30.6±5.9 mm and 38.4±8.0 mm, respectively. All patients were successfully implanted with valves, and there were no serious complications such as death, coronary compression, stent fracture, valve displacement and infective endocarditis in the early postoperative period. The indexed left atrial longitudinal diameter, indexed right atrial longitudinal diameter, and indexed right ventricular outflow tract anteroposterior diameter decreased significantly after the operation. The degree of tricuspid and pulmonary valve regurgitation and the indexed regurgitation area decreased significantly. The above differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The early outcomes of transthoracic pulmonary valve implantation with homemade self-expanding pulmonary valve (SalusTM) in the treatment of severe pulmonary regurgitation is relatively good, and the long-term outcomes need to be verified by the long-term follow-up studies with large samples.

Objective To comprehensively analyze the clinical outcomes of total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in the treatment of functional single ventricle combined with heterotaxy syndrome (HS). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the patients with functional single ventricle and HS who underwent TCPC (a HS group) in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital between 2004 and 2021. The analysis focused on postoperative complications, long-term survival rates, and identifying factors associated with patient survival. Early and late postoperative outcomes were compared with matched non-HS patients (a non-HS group). Results Before propensity score matching, 55 patients were collected in the HS group, including 42 males and 13 females, with a median age of 6.0 (4.2, 11.8) years and a median weight of 17.0 (14.2, 28.8) kg. Among the patients, there were 53 patients of right atrial isomerism and 2 patients of left atrial isomerism. Eight patients underwent TCPC in one stage. TCPC procedures included extracardiac conduit (n=39), intracardiac-extracardiac conduit (n=14), and direct cavopulmonary connection (n=2). Postoperative complications included infections in 27 patients, liver function damage in 19 patients, and acute kidney injury in 11 patients. There were 5 early deaths. The median follow-up time was 94.7 (64.3, 129.8) months. The 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates were 87.2%, 85.3%, and 74.3%, respectively. After propensity score matching, there were 45 patients in the HS group and 81 patients in the non-HS group. Compared to the non-HS group, those with HS had longer surgical and mechanical ventilation time, higher infection rates (P<0.05), and a 12.9% lower 10-year survival rate. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified asplenia was a risk factor for mortality (HR=8.98, 95%CI 1.86-43.34, P=0.006). Conclusion Compared to non-HS patients, patients with HS have lower survival rates after TCPC, and asplenia is an independent risk factor for the survival of these patients.

Objective To analyze and summarize the early and medium-term outcomes of self-expanding interventional pulmonary valve stent (SalusTM) for right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction with severe pulmonary valve regurgitation. Methods We established strict enrollment and follow-up criteria. Patients who received interventional pulmonary valve in transthoracic implantation in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from September 2, 2021 to July 18, 2023 were prospectively included, and all clinical data of patients were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 38 patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation were included, with 23 (60.5%) males and 15 (39.5%) females. The mean age was 24.08±8.12 years, and the mean weight was 57.66±13.54 kg. The preoperative mean right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI) and right ventricular end-systolic volume index (RVESVI) were 151.83±42.84 mL/m2 and 83.34±33.05 mL/m2, respectively. All patients successfully underwent transcatheter self-expandable pulmonary valve implantation, with 3 (7.9%) patients experiencing valve stent displacement during the procedure. Perioperative complications included 1 (2.6%) patient of postoperative inferior wall myocardial infarction and 1 (2.6%) patient of poor wound healing. The median follow-up time was 12.00 (6.00, 17.50) months. During the follow-up period, there were no deaths or reinterventions, and no patients had recurrent severe pulmonary regurgitation. Three (7.9%) patients experienced chest tightness and chest pain, and 1 (2.6%) patient developed frequent ventricular premature beats. Compared with preoperative values, the right atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion were significantly reduced at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively, with improvement in the degree of pulmonary regurgitation (P<0.01). Compared with preoperative values, RVEDVI and RVESVI decreased to 109.51±17.13 mL/m2 and 55.88±15.66 mL/m2, respectively, at 1 year postoperatively (P<0.01). Conclusion 　Self-expanding interventional pulmonary valve in transthoracic implantation is safe and effective for severe pulmonary valve regurgitation and shows good clinical and hemodynamic results in one-year outcome.