Objective To evaluate the value of serum Mac-2 binding protein (M2BP) for assessment of the severity of schisto somiasis-induced liver fibrosis, so as to provide insights into non-invasive diagnosis and disease surveillance of liver fibrosis caused by schistosomiasis. Methods A total of 234 individuals with a history of Schistosoma japonicum infection were sampled from Xinhua Village, Lushan City, Jiangxi Province from 2019 to 2020, and 234 serum samples were collected from all participants. All participants received B-ultrasound examinations of the liver. Serum samples were categorized into four groups (grades 0, Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis groups) according to B-ultrasound examination results, and then, each group was randomly divided into a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve group and an efficacy assessment group at a ratio of 7∶3. Serum M2BP concentration was measured in four groups using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and differences in serum M2BP concentrations were compared with analysis of variance and Spearman correlation analysis. Serum M2BP concentration was subjected to ROC curve analysis among individuals with different grades of schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis in the ROC curve group to determine the optimal diagnostic threshold of M2BP concentration at different fibrosis grades, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic performance. The diagnostic accuracy was verified by comparing the accordance rate and Kappa consistency test in the efficacy assessment group. Results Among 234 serum samples, there were 79 samples with grade 0 schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis, 87 samples with Grade Ⅰ, 46 samples with Grade Ⅱ and 22 samples with Grade Ⅲ according to the B-ultrasound examinations. The mean serum M2BP concentrations were (0.40 ± 0.31) [95% confidence interval (CI): (0.33, 0.47)], (0.64 ± 0.48) [95% CI: (0.53, 0.74)], (1.76 ± 0.58) [95% CI: (1.59, 1.93)] μg/mL and (2.56 ± 0.93) [95% CI: (2.14, 2.97)] μg/mL in the four groups, respectively (F = 150.796, P < 0.001), and the severity of schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis significantly positively correlated with serum M2BP concentration (rs = 0.715, P < 0. 001). The sample sizes of grades 0, Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis sera were randomly allocated as follows: 55 versus 24, 61 versus 26, 32 versus 14, and 15 versus 7 in the ROC curve and efficacy assessment groups, respectively, and the serum M2BP concentrations were (0.39 ± 0.29) μg/mL and (0.42 ± 0.36) μg/mL (F = 0.196, P > 0.05), (0.59 ± 0.47) μg/mL and (0.75 ± 0.51) μg/mL (F = 1.967, P > 0.05), (1.73 ± 0.59) μg/mL and (1.85 ± 0.57) μg/mL (F = 0.417, P > 0.05), and (2.46 ± 0.64) μg/mL and (2.76 ± 1.41) μg/mL (F = 0.491, P > 0.05), respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal diagnostic thresholds of serum M2BP concentration were 0.347 86 μg/mL (AUC = 0.635, P < 0.05), 1.188 83 μg/mL (AUC = 0.938, P < 0.000 1) and 2.021 21 μg/mL (AUC = 0.821, P < 0.000 1) for grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis. In addition, the accordance rates between the optimal diagnostic threshold of serum M2BP and B-ultrasound examinations for predicting grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ schistosomiasis-induceed liver fibrosis were 69.23%, 85.71% and 71.43% (χ2 = 1.340, P > 0.05), and the overall Kappa consistency test showed moderate consistency [Kappa = 0.608, 95% CI: (0.428, 0.788); Z = 6.609, P < 0.000 1]. Conclusions Serum M2BP may serve as a potential biomarker for assessing moderate to advanced schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis; however, its diagnostic value for early-stage schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis remains limited.

Objective:Analysis of the composition of pathogen spectrum and prevalence characteristics in throat swabs of patients with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Yucheng city, Henan province, from March to June 2023.Methods:After 1 153 throat swabs were collected from ARI patients in Yucheng, 18 respiratory pathogens were tested using a real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. The characterization of pathogens spectrum was analyzed.Results:A total of 1 153 throat swabs from ARI patients were collected from March to June 2023 in Yucheng, including 171 outpatients and 982 hospitalized patients. A total of 244 positive samples for common respiratory pathogens were detected (at least one pathogen per sample was detected). The total detection rate of respiratory pathogens was 21.16%, and the top three detection rates were, in descending order, human bocavirus (HBoV), enterovirus (EV), and human parainfluenza virus (HPIV). The main detection month for pathogens was May, with a detection rate of 42.3% (60/142). The main respiratory pathogens detected are HBoV, EV, and HPIV. The detection rate of the age group under 1 year old was the highest, at 25.1% (49/195), mainly consisting of HBoV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and HPIV. The main clinical manifestations of respiratory pathogen-positive patients were fever and cough, and the clinical diagnosis was mainly lower respiratory tract infection, all of which were hospitalized patients.Conclusions:The respiratory pathogens in ARI patients were mainly HBoV, EV, and HPIV from March to June, 2023 in Yucheng. The peak of the epidemic was in May, mainly infecting children under 5 years of age.

The Portable Life Support System(PLSS),serving as a core component of the Extravehicular Activity spacesuit,must balance the requirements of life support protection and lightweight design.This study proposes a sandwich structure design based on Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer and validates the structural reliability of the composite backpack under launch/return segment overloads and space collision conditions through multi-scenario mechanical simulations.Simulation results demonstrate that the design achieves maximum deformations of 0.372 mm(mounting plate)under 6 g acceleration and 7.4 mm(skeleton)under 0.97 MPa impact loading,satisfying structural integrity requirements under extreme loads.The composite backpack manufactured by the autoclave molding process has passed the impact protection test under load conditions,verifying the manufacturing feasibility of the composite PLSS.This research provides a technically reliable pathway for lightweight design of EVA spacesuit structures by using composite materials,offering practical engineering value.

Objective:Analysis of the composition of pathogen spectrum and prevalence characteristics in throat swabs of patients with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Yucheng city, Henan province, from March to June 2023.Methods:After 1 153 throat swabs were collected from ARI patients in Yucheng, 18 respiratory pathogens were tested using a real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. The characterization of pathogens spectrum was analyzed.Results:A total of 1 153 throat swabs from ARI patients were collected from March to June 2023 in Yucheng, including 171 outpatients and 982 hospitalized patients. A total of 244 positive samples for common respiratory pathogens were detected (at least one pathogen per sample was detected). The total detection rate of respiratory pathogens was 21.16%, and the top three detection rates were, in descending order, human bocavirus (HBoV), enterovirus (EV), and human parainfluenza virus (HPIV). The main detection month for pathogens was May, with a detection rate of 42.3% (60/142). The main respiratory pathogens detected are HBoV, EV, and HPIV. The detection rate of the age group under 1 year old was the highest, at 25.1% (49/195), mainly consisting of HBoV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and HPIV. The main clinical manifestations of respiratory pathogen-positive patients were fever and cough, and the clinical diagnosis was mainly lower respiratory tract infection, all of which were hospitalized patients.Conclusions:The respiratory pathogens in ARI patients were mainly HBoV, EV, and HPIV from March to June, 2023 in Yucheng. The peak of the epidemic was in May, mainly infecting children under 5 years of age.

Objective:To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of a child featuring Dias-Logan syndrome.Methods:A child with speech disorders and delayed psychomotor development from childhood who was admitted to the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in July 2022 was selected as the research subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents. Potential variant was screened by whole exome sequencing, and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. This study was approved by the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. 2023-K-011).Results:The child has presented with global developmental delay, microcephaly, special facial features and behavioral problems. Genetic testing revealed a de novo variant of the BCL11A gene, namely c. 561_567delACACGCA(p.Q187fs*7), which was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+ PS2+ PM2_Supporting). Conclusion:The heterozygous variant of BCL11A gene probably underlay the Dias-Logan syndrome in this child. Above finding has enriched the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of the BCL11A gene and provides a basis for genetic counseling and clinical decision-making.

The presence of high-level talents plays a crucial role in ensuring the successful establishment of national regional medical centers.It presents the high-level talent management experience of Henan Children's Hospital,aiming to facilitate the coordinated development of pediatrics in Central China.To address the practical challenges and difficulties encountered in high-level talent management within hospitals,lean talent management is achieved by standardizing the management structure,clarifying management objectives,refining the management mechanism,establishing a performance appraisal incentive system,and implementing an integrated'induction and utilization'management approach.These measures effectively facilitate the development of national children's regional medical centers.

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has made a major deployment to promote the expansion of high-quality medical resources and balanced regional layout, and the construction of national regional medical centers is an important measure to implement the landing. By analyzing the " three co-construction" mode of the National Children′s Regional Medical Center of Henan Children′s Hospital (Beijing Children′s Hospital Zhengzhou Hospital), this paper systematically introduced the internal and external decision-making, management and operation of the regional medical center from four aspects: management, talent, discipline and system. The practice and effectiveness in talent introduction and training, salary distribution, two-way communication, assessment and incentive, discipline construction, technology application, sharing and evaluation of scientific and technological innovation, institutional linkage and integration, as well as the construction of a hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system, were put forward. Suggestions such as construction according to local conditions, strengthening internal coordination, and optimizing external guarantee were put forward, so as to provide practical reference for the in-depth promotion of other national regional medical center construction projects.

Objective : To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of cases with pertussis in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide insights into pertussis diagnosis and control. Methods: A total of 186 patients with definitive diagnosis of pertussis in medical institutions in Yiwu City from November 1, 2020 to August 31, 2022 were recruited, and subjects' demographic, clinical symptoms and history of pertussis vaccination were collected using questionnaire surveys. The temporal, population, and spatial distribution and clinical symptoms of pertussis were analyzed using a descriptive epidemiological method, and the clinical characteristics of pertussis patients with different doses of pertussis vaccination were compared. Results: Pertussis was found to predominantly occur during the period between July and November (101 cases, 54.30%), and the three highest-incidence regions included Jiangdong Street, Beiyuan Street and Choujiang Street (87 cases, 46.77%). The 186 pertussis cases included 105 males (56.45%) and 81 females (43.55%), and included 144 cases with age of onset under 7 year (77.42%). Preschool and diaspora children were predominant among all pertussis cases, and the main clinical symptoms included spasmodic cough (97 cases, 52.15%), post-tussive vomiting (82 cases, 44.09%) and aggravated cough at night (77 cases, 41.40%). Routine blood tests measured 119 cases with abnormal white blood cell counts (63.98%), 137 cases with abnormal lymphocyte counts (73.66%), 39 cases with abnormal neutrophil counts (20.97%), 21 cases with abnormal platelet counts (11.29%) and 111 cases with abnormal hemoglobin concentrations (59.68%). There were 55 cases that were unvaccinated (29.57%), 23 cases that were not fully vaccinated (12.37%), and 108 cases that were fully vaccinated (58.06%). There were significant differences among pertussis cases with different doses of vaccination in terms of age, incidence of post-tussive vomiting, percentage of abnormal platelet counts and percentage of hemoglobin concentrations (all P<0.05). Conclusions The majority of pertussis cases are preschool and diaspora children in Yiwu City from November 1, 2020 to August 31, 2022, and the clinical symptoms mainly include spasmodic cough, post-tussive vomiting and aggravated cough at night, with atypical symptoms. The capability for differential diagnosis of pertussis is required to be improved in medical institutions.

Objective:To explore the effects of the compound ICG-001 on autism-like behaviors and the morphological development of dendritic spines in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of rats.Methods:Healthy Wistar rats were mated.The offspring were divided into the saline-treated group, ICG-001 control group, Sodium valproate (VPA) group and ICG-001 treatment group by using the random number table method.Each group had 12 rats.Social interaction, repetitive, compulsive and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents were assessed by three-chambered social approach, marble burying, open-field and elevated plus maze tests.The number of neuronal nuclei (NeuN)-positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region was calculated by the immunofluorescence method.Golgi staining was carried out to detect the density and morphological changes of dendritic spines in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of rats.The expression of phosphorylated LIM kinase 1(LIMK1), phosphorylated actin binding protein(Cofilin), fibros actin (F-actin) and developmentally-regulated brain protein A (Drebrin A) was examined by Western blot.The univariate analysis was made to examine whether the difference was statistically significant, and the data between groups were compared by the Tukey method. Results:(1) In the three-chambered social approach test, the rats in the saline-treated group, ICG-001 control group, VPA group and ICG-001 treatment group spent (219.42±5.38) s, (218.67±10.12) s, (126.58±5.02) s, and (218.58±6.63) s in the chamber, respectively.The corresponding preference score of the said 4 groups were 0.43±0.05, 0.43±0.04, 0.22±0.01 and 0.42±0.04, respectively.Compared with the VPA group, the ICG-001 treatment group spent longer time in the chamber and had a higher preference score (all P<0.05). (2) In the marble burying experiment, the number of marbles buried in said 4 groups were 9.13±0.52, 9.08±0.64, 15.13±0.82 and 9.42±0.86, respectively.ICG-001-treated rats buried markedly less marbles than VPA-exposed rats ( P<0.05). (3) In the open-field test, the rats in the said 4 groups spent (82.33±1.83) s, (81.32±4.19) s, (45.51±3.02) s and (81.44±3.19) s in the center area, respectively.Administration of ICG-001 significantly increased the time that VPA-exposed rats spent in the center area ( P<0.05). (4)In the elevated plus maze trial, the rats in the said 4 groups spent (107.75±7.23) s, (106.08±7.50) s, (63.42±1.91) s and (106.67±7.07) s in open arms, respectively.ICG-001 treatment notably increased the time that VPA-exposed rats spent in open arms ( P<0.05). (5) Immunofluorescence analysis results revealed that the number of NeuN-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region of said 4 groups was (41.83±1.17)×10 4/μm 2, (41.00±0.77)×10 4/μm 2, (27.17±0.95)×10 4/μm 2 and (40.00±0.90)×10 4/μm 2, respectively.ICG-001 treatment normalized the alteration in the number of NeuN-containing neurons in VPA-exposed rats ( P<0.05). (6) Golgi staining showed that the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons of said 4 groups was (0.74±0.04)/μm, (0.73±0.03)/μm, (0.49±0.03)/μm and (0.70±0.02) /μm, respectively.Of all types of dendritic spines, mushroom spines accounted for (0.49±0.02)%, (0.49±0.02)%, (0.33±0.02)% and (0.43±0.02) % in said 4 groups.Thin spines accounted for (0.27±0.02)%, (0.26±0.02)%, (0.34±0.01)% and (0.26±0.01) % in said 4 groups, respectively.Compared with the VPA group, the ICG-001 treatment group showed a significant increase in the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons ( P<0.05). After ICG-001 treatment, the number of mushroom spines greatly increased and the number of thin spines sharply decreased in VPA-exposed rats (all P<0.05). (7) According to Western blot test results, the phosphorylated LIMK1/LIMK1 ratio of the hippocampus in said 4 groups were 100.33±2.30, 99.34±2.28, 57.76±4.10 and 99.13±1.90, respectively.The phosphorylated Cofilin /Cofilin ratio were 100.18±2.43, 100.18±1.70, 57.12±1.88 and 99.53±1.69, respectively.The F-actin/globular actin(G-actin) ratio were 100.07±0.86, 99.99±1.72, 51.19±1.23 and 99.28±3.17, respectively.The expression level of Drebrin A were 100.79±1.19, 100.12±2.04, 52.86±3.26 and 99.97±2.44, respectively.Administration of ICG-001 effectively prevented the decrease of phosphorylated LIMK1, phosphorylated Cofilin, F-actin and Drebrin A in the hippocampus of VPA-exposed rats (all P<0.05). Conclusions:ICG-001 regulates the LIMK1/Cofilin signaling pathway, promotes the generation of F-actin, increases the expression of Drebrin A, and thereby alleviates autistic-associated symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out Sanger sequencing for MMACHC gene variants among 65 Chinese pedigrees affected with combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocysteinemia, and summarize their genetic and clinical characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: Clinical characteristics of the 65 children identified with Methylmalonic acidemia and homocysteinemia at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou Children's Hospital) from April 2017 to April 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Potential variants of the MMACHC gene were detected by direct sequencing of the PCR products. RESULTS: The median age of the 65 children was 3 months (14 days to 17 years old). These included 28 cases (43.08%) from neonatal screening, 11 cases (16.92%) with a history of jaundice, and 9 cases (13.85%) with various degrees of anemia. The main clinical symptoms included development delay, slow growth, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, lethargy, feeding difficulty, regression or decline in motor ability, recurrent respiratory infections, anemia, jaundice, respiratory and heart failures, hydrocephalus, limb weakness, and hypertension. Blood and urine tandem mass spectrometry screening has revealed increase of methylmalonic acid, propionyl carnitine, propionyl carnitine/acetylcarnitine ratio, and propionyl carnitine/free carnitine ratio to various extents, and blood homocysteine was increased in all patients. The detection rate of genetic variants was 98.46% (128/130), and in total 22 types of MMACHC gene variants were detected. The most common ones have included c.609G>A (W203X) (58/128), c.658-660del (K220del) (19/128), and c.80A>G (Q27A) (16/128). Two novel variants have been identified, namely c.565C>T (p.R189C) and c.624_ 625delTG (p.A208Afs), which were respectively predicted as likely pathogenic (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP2+PP3) and pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP2) based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Exon 4 had the highest frequency for the detection. CONCLUSION Identification of MMACHC gene variants has confirmed the diagnosis in the children, among which the c.609G>A variant has the highest frequency. Discovery of the new variants has enriched the mutational spectrum of the MMACHC gene.
Humans ; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/genetics* ; Hydrocephalus ; Oxidoreductases