Objective To explore the operative indication operation time and post-operative care for infants with large ventricular septal defects (VSD).Methods Eighty-eight infants who suffered from large VSD were selected,male 53 cases,female 35 cases,aged from 3 to 18 months[average (7.5-±2.9) months],weight from 5 to 13 kg [average (7.9 ± 1.9) kg].All patients underwent VSD repair and other accompanied anomaly corrections under cardiopulmonary bypass.Fifty-eight cases were operated through right atrium,14 cases through pulmonary artery and 16 cases through right ventricle.Patch repairs were done in all patients,78 cases given bovine pericardium patches,10 cases given self pericardium patches treated by Glutaral.Patients were sent to the intensive care unit after surgery,vasoactive drugs were used as a routine method.Antibotics were selected based on their sputum cultures postoperatively.Nutritional support was given in the earlier stage.Results There were no hospital death,average hospitalization days were (15.2 ± 5.9) days (from 11 to 32 days).The main complication were pneumonia (5 cases),bad coalesce of incision (4 cases),atelectasis (3 cases),minimal residual shunt of VSD (3 cases).All patients were discharged from hospital,76 cases were followed up from 1 to 12 months,2 cases had residual shunt of VSD,the residual shunt of the other case disappeared;76 patients had no clinical symptom,28 patients body weight returned to normal after 6 months of operation.There was no other complication and death.Conclusion Early surgical treatment for infants with large VSD is a safe and effective way with a better prognosis.

Objective To investigate the enterovirus ( EV)-carrying status and the circulating se-rotypes in healthy children from inner and border areas of Yunnan Province in 2014 and 2015 and to analyze the genetic characteristics of echovirus 6 (ECHO6), ECHO25 and ECHO11 strains. Methods Stool sam-ples were collected from children less than 15 years old living in 6 to 7 counties of 3 inner prefectures/cities and 8 to 9 counties of border prefectures/cities. Altogether 921 samples were collected including 453 sam-ples in 2014 (213 samples in inner counties and 240 samples in border counties) and 468 samples in 2015 (195 samples in inner counties and 273 samples in border counties). Viruses were isolated from the stool samples and their serotypes were identified by gene sequencing. Results The numbers of EV strains isola-ted from the samples collected in inner counties and border counties in 2014 were 20 ( isolating rate:9.39%, 20/213) and 16 (isolating rate: 6. 67%, 16/240), respectively. The overall isolating rate for 2014 was 7. 95% (36/453). The predominant species was enterovirus B, accounting for 88. 89% of all iso-lated strains (32/36), followed by enterovirus A species (11. 11%, 4/36). No strains of enterovirus spe-cies C (including poliovirus) and D was detected in 2014. In total, 46 EV strains were isolated in 2015 with an overall isolating rate of 9. 83% (46/468), including 13 strains in inner counties (isolating rate:6. 67%, 13/195) and 33 strains in border counties (isolating rate:12. 09%, 33/273). Most of the strains were enterovirus B species, accounting for 78. 26% (36/46), followed by enterovirus C species (19. 57%, 9/46) and enterovirus A species (2. 17%, 1/46). Altogether 82 EV strains were isolated in 2014 and 2015 with an isolating rate of 8. 90% (82/921), of which 33 strains were isolated in inner counties (8. 09%, 33/408) and 49 strains were isolated in border counties (9. 55%, 49/513). Among the 82 EV strains, 9 strains were polioviruses (0. 98%, 9/921) and all of them were Sabin-like polioviruses. The rest of the strains were non-polio enterovirus (7. 93%, 73/921). Conclusion In 2014, the EV isolating rate in inner counties (9. 39%) was higher than that in border counties (6. 67%). However, the EV isolating rate in border counties (12. 09%) was higher than that in inner counties (6. 67%) in 2015. Enterovirus B was the predominant species in both 2014 and 2015. No wild type polioviruses and enterovirus D species were detec-ted. Polio-free status was maintained well in Yunnan Province.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a chronic and progressive disease prevalent in the whole world and greatly threatens human health.The launch of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) brings a revolutionary change in the treatment of CHC.In recent years,several DAAs have been marketed in foreign countries and have achieved good clinical effects,and in China,some DAAs have also been approved and widely used in clinical practice,which contributes to the increase in the cure rate of hepatitis C.This article analyzes the features,clinical effects,and indications of DAAs marketed in China and reviews published real-world studies,in order to help clinicians select proper treatment regimens based on patients' features.

OBJECTIVE:To improve the original preparation technology,imitate Lamotrigine sustained-release tablets,and study its in vitro release behavior. METHODS:Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) E4M CR and HPMC K100LV CR were used to prepare the sustained-release matrix core. Using Eudragit? L30D-55 as enteric coating material,Lamotrigine sustained-re-lease tablets were prepared. Using the similar factor f2 of in vitro release rate of original preparation as index,single factor was used to screen the amount of lactose,mass ratio of HPMC E4M CR and HPMC K100LV CR,amount of HPMC and weight of coating layer in the formulation. RESULTS:The formulation of matrix core was as follow as lamotrigine 50 mg,HPMC K100LV CR 40 mg,HPMC E4M CR 61.4 mg,lactose 128 mg,and the optimal weight of coating layer of 3%. The in vitro release of self-made and original preparations were similar in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer containing 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate,pH 4.5 acetic acid sodi-um acetate buffer and water. CONCLUSIONS:Lamotrigine sustained-release tablets are successfully imitated,and the technology is more simple and feasible than original preparation.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of hepatic flare and evaluate efficacy of antiviral treatment in pregnant women with chronic HBV infection. Methods: A single-center, open-label, prospective study was conducted, and pregnant women with chronic HBV infection were enrolled. Liver function, HBV serum markers and HBV DNA of pregnant women with chronic HBV infection were reviewed during every 4 to 12 weeks of gestation period. The proportion and clinical characteristics of hepatitis flare during pregnancy were observed. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict hepatic flare in pregnant women with chronic HBV infection. Antiviral therapy with telbivudine (LdT) or tenofovir dipivoxil (TDF) was used to treat hepatic flare during pregnancy. Sequential entecavir (ETV) or TDF was applied after the delivery. Treatment course and drug withdrawal in pregnant women with hepatic flare was the same as those of the general patients with chronic hepatitis B. Liver function, HBV serum markers and HBV DNA were measured in pregnant women with hepatic flare at different time points (4, 12, 24 and 52 weeks). A t-test was used to compare the hepatic flare in pregnant women with and without hepatitis group. HBsAg and HBeAg were used to quantify the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of pregnant women with hepatic flare during pregnancy. Area under the ROC curve was used to calculate the optimal cut-off value corresponding to the maximum sensitivity and specificity of the ROC curve. Results: Of the 220 pregnant women with chronic HBV infection, 55 (25%) had hepatitis flare during pregnancy and received antiviral treatment. Among the 55 women with hepatic flare during gestation, 47 (85.46%) had hepatic flare in the mid-second trimester (12-24 weeks); average peak value of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 220.62 U/L, and the average peak value of ALT in 32 cases (58.18%) of pregnant women with hepatic flare was between 2–5 × ULN. HBsAg and HBeAg quantification were significantly lower in pregnant women with hepatic flare during pregnancy than with non-hepatitis (t = -3.745, P < 0.001; t = -2.186, P = 0.030). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women with HBeAg < 3.065 log10 s/co were 7.576 times more likely to have hepatic flare during pregnancy (95% confidence interval: 3.779-15.190). ALT normalization, undetectable HBV DNA levels, HBeAg loss and HBeAg seroconversion in 55 pregnant women with hepatic flare at 52-week treatment was 100% (55/55), 74.55% (41/55), 47.27% (26/55) and 41.82% (23/55), respectively. HBsAg quantification at 52 weeks was significantly lower than baseline HBsAg quantification (3.32 + 0.37) log₁₀ IU/ml and (3.95 + 0.40) log₁₀ IU/ml; t = 8.465, P < 0.001). Conclusion Hepatic flare often occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy in pregnant women with chronic HBV infection and baseline HBeAg quantification is an independent predictor of hepatic flare. HBeAg seroconversion rate increased at 52 weeks after antiviral therapy.

OBJECTIVE Mitochondria plays a crucial role in cellular homeostasis by regulating various pro-cesses,including calcium signaling and mitophagy.This study aimed to explore the involvement of prohibitin 2(PHB2),an inner mitochondrial membrane protein,in the modulation of mitochondrial calcium dynamics and mitoph-agy.METHODS HEK293T cells were used as the experi-mental cells and were divided into control,PHB2 knock-down,and PHB2 overexpression groups.To evaluate mitochondrial calcium dynamics,Rhod-2 AM and Mito-Tracker Green fluorescence dyesrhod-2 staining and laser confocal microscopy were employed to visualize mito-chondrial calcium imaging.Additionally,Green-5N was utilized to measure the rate of mitochondrial calcium uptake.The mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using JC-10 staining and laser confocal micros-copy,while cellular ATP levels were determined using ATP assay kits.Furthermore,mitochondrial autophagy was induced by treatment with CCCP,and the expression lev-els of TOM20,LC3,and PARKIN,key mitophagy-related proteins,were analyzed using Western blotting.RESULTS The results demonstrated that compared to the control group,the overexpression of PHB2 increased mitochon-drial calcium concentration,mitochondrial calcium uptake rate,ATP level and expression levels of LC3 and PAR-KIN,but decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and TOM20 expression.In contrast,PHB2 knockdown reduced mitochondrial calcium concentration,ATP level and expression levels of LC3 and PARKIN,but elevated mitochondrial membrane potential,and TOM20 expres-sion.CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that PHB2 plays a vital role in regulating mitochondrial calci-um dynamics,which in turn influences mitochondrial func-tion and modulates mitochondrial autophagy.These find-ings contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the interplay between PHB2,mitochondrial calcium signaling,and mitophagy.

Objective: To explore the difference of liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and to investigate the relationship between hepatic pathology and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Methods: 57 patients with chronic HCV infection and 346 patients with chronic HBV infection who were hospitalized at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2012 to September 2016 were enrolled. In chronic HBV infection, including 88 cases whose ALT were more than two times of upper limited of normal (ALT≥2×ULN) and 258 cases whose ALT were less than two times of upper limited of normal (ALT < 2×ULN).All the patients were underwent liver biopsy. Chronic HBV infection (ALT≥2×ULN and ALT < 2×ULN) and chronic HCV infection were compared respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using a Univariate χ²-test and Mann–Whitney U test for comparison. Correlations between variables were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation. Results: In chronic HBV infection group, 169 cases (48.8%) had inflammation grade≥2 (G≥2), 98 cases (28.3%) had fibrosis stage≥2 (S≥2), 81 cases (23.4%) with G≥2 and S≥2.In the ALT < 2×ULN group, there were 109 cases (42.2%) with G≥2, 62 cases (24%) with S≥2, 49 cases (19%) with G≥2 and S≥2. In the ALT≥2×ULN group, 60 cases (68.2%) with G≥2, 35 cases (39.8%) with S≥2, 31 cases (35.2%) with G≥2 and S≥2. The grade of inflammation and fibrosis have significantly different between ALT≥2×ULN group and ALT < 2×ULN group (χ² = 17.66, χ² = 8.06, P < 0.01). In chronic HCV infection group, 47 cases (82.5%) with G≥2, 20 cases (35.1%) with S≥2, 20 cases (35.1%) with G≥2 and S≥2. ALT had no correlation with inflammation and fibrosis (P > 0.05). The grade of inflammation was significantly different between chronic HCV infection and chronic HBV infection whose ALT < 2×ULN (χ² = 30.19, P < 0.01) but the fibrosis have no difference (χ² = 2.96, P > 0.05). Compared with chronic HBV infection whose ALT≥2×ULN, both inflammation and fibrosis had no significantly different (χ² = 3.65, χ² = 0.32, P > 0.05 respectively). Conclusion In chronic HBV infection whose ALT < 2×ULN, about 30%-40% liver tissue with significant necroinflammation and /or fibrosis. About 80% chronic HCV infection with significant necroinflammation, and the grade of inflammation has no correlation with ALT. The grade of inflammation has significantly different between chronic HCV infection group and chronic HBV infection group whose ALT < 2×ULN.

INTRODUCTION: Melanomas in Asians have different clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis from melanomas in Caucasians. This study reviewed the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of cutaneous melanoma diagnosed at a tertiary referral dermatology centre in Singapore, which has a multiracial population. The study also determined whether Asians had comparable relapse-free and overall survival periods to Caucasians in Singapore. METHOD: This is a retrospective review of cutaneous melanoma cases in our centre between 1996 and 2015. RESULTS: Sixty-two cases of melanoma were diagnosed in 61 patients: 72.6% occurred in Chinese, 19.4% in Caucasians and 3.2% in Indians, with an over-representation of Caucasians. Superficial spreading melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma and nodular melanoma comprised 37.1%, 35.5% and 22.6% of the cases, respectively. The median time interval to diagnosis was longer in Asians than Caucasians; median Breslow's thickness in Asians were significantly thicker than in Caucasians (2.6mm versus 0.9mm, CONCLUSION More physician and patient education on skin cancer awareness is needed in our Asian-predominant population for better outcomes.
Humans ; Melanoma/therapy* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Skin Neoplasms/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome