BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of birth defect-related mortality. However, more recent CHD mortality data for China are lacking. Additionally, limited studies have evaluated sex, rural-urban, and region-specific disparities of CHD mortality in China. METHODS: We designed a population-based study using data from the Dataset of National Mortality Surveillance in China between 2008 and 2021. We calculated age-adjusted CHD mortality using the sixth census data of China in 2010 as the standard population. We assessed the temporal trends in CHD mortality by age, sex, area, and region from 2008 to 2021 using the joinpoint regression model. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2021, 33,534 deaths were attributed to CHD. The period witnessed a two-fold decrease in the age-adjusted CHD mortality from 1.61 to 0.76 per 100,000 persons (average annual percent change [AAPC] = -5.90%). Females tended to have lower age-adjusted CHD mortality than males, but with a similar decline rate from 2008 to 2021 (females: AAPC = -6.15%; males: AAPC = -5.84%). Similar AAPC values were observed among people living in urban (AAPC = -6.64%) and rural (AAPC = -6.12%) areas. Eastern regions experienced a more pronounced decrease in the age-adjusted CHD mortality (AAPC = -7.86%) than central (AAPC = -5.83%) and western regions (AAPC = -3.71%) between 2008 and 2021. Approximately half of the deaths (46.19%) due to CHD occurred during infancy. The CHD mortality rates in 2021 were lower than those in 2008 for people aged 0-39 years, with the largest decrease observed among children aged 1-4 years (AAPC = -8.26%), followed by infants (AAPC = -7.01%). CONCLUSIONS CHD mortality in China has dramatically decreased from 2008 to 2021. The slower decrease in CHD mortality in the central and western regions than in the eastern regions suggested that public health policymakers should pay more attention to health resources and health education for central and western regions.
Humans ; Heart Defects, Congenital/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; China/epidemiology* ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Adult ; Child ; Adolescent ; Infant, Newborn ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Rural Population

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic potential of osthole for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), focusing on its ability to alleviate chronic pruritus (CP) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of osthole in both a 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) stimulated huma immortalized epidermal (HaCaT) cells. The anti-itch effect of osthole was specifically assessed in the AD mouse model. Using methods such as hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot (WB), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Osthole improved skin damage and clinical dermatitis scores, reduced scratching bouts, and decreased epidermal thickness AD-like mice. It also reduced the levels of interleukin (IL)-31 and IL-31 receptor A (IL-31 RA) in both skin tissues and HaCaT cells. Furthermore, Osthole suppressed the protein expression levels of phosphor-p65 (p-p65) and phosphor-inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-Bα (p-IκBα). Meanwhile, it increased the protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and PPARγ in HaCaT cells. CONCLUSION These findings indicated that osthole effectively inhibited CP in AD by activating PPARα, PPARγ, repressing the NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as the expression of IL-31 and IL-31 RA.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum levels of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2),chitinase-3-like protein 1(CHI3L1)and cognitive impairment caused by cerebrovascular disease.Methods From October 2020 to October 2022,96 inpatients with cerebrovascular diseases admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu were regarded as the study subjects.The basic clinical data of the patients were recorded,the serum levels of PTGS2 and CHI3L1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and these patients were grouped into normal group(n=60)and impaired group(n=36)based on the presence or absence of cognitive impairment.The correlation between serum PTGS2 and CHI3L1 levels and fasting blood glucose(FBG)and homocysteine(Hcy)was analyzed by Pearson method.Logistic regression model was used to determine whether serum PTGS2 and CHI3L1 were independent risk factors for predicting cognitive impairment.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn,and the predictive value of CHI3L1 and serum PTGS2 expression level in cognitive impairment in patients with cerebrovascular disease was analyzed according to the area under the curve(AUC).Results Compared with the normal group,the levels of serum PTGS2(29.30±9.46 pg/ml vs 17.86±5.40 pg/ml)and CHI3L1(13.04±4.06 pg/ml vs 7.51±2.66 pg/ml)in the disorder group were increased,and the differences were statistically significant(t=7.553,8.065,all P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that FBG(OR=3.612,95%CI:2.324～5.614),Hcy(OR=2.584,95%CI:1.351～4.944),PTGS2(OR=1.964,95%CI:1.194～3.231)and CHI3L1(OR= 1.556,95%CI:1.023～2.367)were independent risk factors of cognitive impairment(all P＜0.05).PTGS2 was positively correlated with FBG and Hcy(r=0.368,0.551,all P＜0.05),and CHI3L1 was positively correlated with FBG and Hcy(r=0.510,0.376,all P＜0.05).The ROC curve showed that the area under curve(AUC)of PTGS2 and CHI3L1 in predicting cognitive impairment was 0.819 and 0.829,respectively.The AUC of the combined prediction of cognitive impairment was 0.902,which was obviously higher than that of the independent prediction of the two(Z =2.089,2.293;P=0.037,0.021),with sensitivity and specificity of 77.78%and 98.33%,respectively.Conclusion PTGS2 and CHI3L1 were highly expressed in the serum of patients with cognitive impairment of cerebrovascular disease,indicating that both were related to cognitive impairment of patients with cerebrovascular disease.

BACKGROUND:Frog active peptides have rich activities,such as antibacterial and anti-tumor,and are expected to solve the problem of antibiotic resistance. OBJECTIVE:The active peptide QUB2984 was discovered in the skin secretions of Agalychnis callidryas.Its structure and properties were simulated by bioinformatics.The peptide was synthesized,purified,and identified and its biological functions were investigated. METHODS:Agalychnis callidryas skin secretions were collected by electrostimulation.The sequence of QUB2984 was obtained through constructing a cDNA library with isolated mRNA.BLAST was used for peptide sequence alignment.Besides that,Iterative Threading ASSEmbly Refinement(I-TASSER)and HeliQuest tools were used for protein secondary structure simulation.It was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis,purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography,and structurally confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.The purified peptide was used to evaluate its biological activity.Its antibacterial effect was evaluated by the minimum inhibitory concentration method.Its cytotoxic effect was detected by MTT assay.Its safety was investigated by a hemolysis test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Peptide QUB2984 had basically α-spiral structure,with a relatively intact hydrophobic surface,and a certain destructive ability to biofilm.The third amino acid position of QUB2984 was composed of W and had a G-X-G structure.(2)The minimum inhibitory concentration of QUB2984 against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus was 2 μmol/L,the minimum inhibitory concentration against gram-negative Escherichia coli was 2 μmol/L,and the minimum inhibitory concentration against the fungus Candida albicans was 8 μmol/L.(3)The active peptide QUB2984 had obvious inhibitory effect on human non-small cell lung cancer cells NCI-H838 at 10-5 mol/L concentration,and the hemolytic effect on horse red cells at 64 μmol/L concentration was 50%.(4)The results showed that QUB2984 had anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activity,and it had a positive charge of +3,which was conducive to contact with bacteria or cells.

Objective To prepare paclitaxel-natural borneol complex,and to explore the prescription and preparation process of paclitaxel-natural borneol complex drug-loaded submicroemulsion,and its in vitro anti-tumor effect.Methods The Paclitaxel-natural borneol complex was prepared by grinding method and identified by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR)and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC).The compound drug-loaded submicroemulsion was prepared using a two-step high-pressure emulsification method.The single-factor investigation and the orthogonal experimental design were applied to optimize the formulation and preparation process.MTT assay,cell cloning assay,and cell scratch assay were used to evaluate the effect of this preparation on HCT-116 cells.Results The infrared spectral absorption peaks of taxol-natural borneol complex at 3 312.76 cm-1 and 3 513.92 cm-1 disappeared,and DSC analysis showed that a new absorption peak of taxol-natural borneol complex appeared at 154.56 ℃,indicating that taxol be coupled with natural borneol to form a new complex.The optimal prescription was 0.44％active pharmaceutical ingredient[paclitaxel-natural borneol(1∶3)],10％medium chain triglyceride,3％emulsifier[egg yolk lecithin-Poloxam 188(1∶2)],2％glycerol,0.3％oleate.The optimal process was emulsification at 80 ℃,60 MPa high pressure homogenization 10 times.The half inhibitory concentration(IC50)was 0.75 μg·mL-1 by MTT asssy in cell.In the cell cloning assay,the scratch healing area of blank control group,paclitaxel raw material and paclitaxel/natural borneol submicroemulsion were(36.44±3.35)％,(13.59±9.28)％,(8.30±4.09)％,respectively.The results were statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the plate cloning experiment,the cell cloning rates of blank control group,paclitaxel bulk drug group and submicroemulsion group were(37.92±0.729)％,(9.16±1.335)％and(3.36±1.065)％,respectively,the differents were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion This submicroemulsion has reasonable prescription,feasible process and good stability.Cell experiments showed that the submicronemulision effectively inhibits the proliferation and migration of HCT-116 cells,suggesting its potential as a promising antitumor agent.

Objective To analyze the blindness and visual impairment attributed to myopic maculopathy in highly myopic patients based on the ATN classification system,as well as associated risk factors.Methods In this retrospective case-control study,clinical data of 642 adult patients(642 eyes)with high myopia admitted to the Department of Fundus Disease,Chengdu Bright Eye Hospital from January 2022 to September 2023 were collected and analyzed.Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations were conducted for all patients.Myopic maculopathy in patients with high myopia was diagnosed and graded according to the ATN classification system.The patients were divided into the blindness or visual impairment group and the non or mild visual impairment group based on the WHO diagnostic criteria for blindness and visual impair-ment.Multivariate Logistic regression was utilized to analyze the risk factors for blindness or visual impairment in patients with high myopia.Results Among the 642 eyes,myopic maculopathy was identified in 355 eyes(55.30％).Of these,there were 330 eyes(51.40％)with myopic atrophy maculopathy(A2 and above),137 eyes(21.34％)with myopic trac-tion maculopathy,and 82 eyes(12.77％)with myopic neovascular maculopathy.The percentages of blindness and visual impairment were 2.02％(95％CI:0.93％-3.11％)and 8.41％(95％CI:6.26％-10.56％),respectively.Multivariate Lo-gistic regression analysis showed that older age,longer axial length and higher grade of myopic atrophy maculopathy were independent risk factors for blindness or visual impairment in patients with high myopia(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The ATN classification system can comprehensively reflect the disease severity and visual impairment of patients with myopic maculopathy.Older age,longer axial length and higher grade of myopic atrophy maculopathy are independent risk factors for blindness or visual impairment in patients with high myopia.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist(GnRH-a)protocol and gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist(GnRH-ant)protocol in POSEIDON group 1.Methods:From January 2019 to December 2020,399 patients in POSEIDON group 1 who underwent assisted reproductive technology in the Center of Reproductive Medicine,Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were retrospectively analyzed.Cohorts with similar baseline characteristics were screened by 1 ∶1 propensity score matching(PSM),and base-line data,clinical and laboratory parameters,and clinical outcomes were compared between GnRH-a and Gn-RH-ant groups.Results:①100 patients from GnRH-a group and 100 patients from GnRH-ant group were matched.②The total dose and total use time of gonadotropin(Gn)in GnRH-a group were higher than those in GnRH-ant group(P<0.001,P =0.048),and the hormone levels of luteinizing hormone,estradiol and progester-one on the day of HCG injection were lower than those in GnRH-ant group(P<0.001,P =0.011,P<0.001).There was no statistical difference in the number of follicles between the two groups(P>0.05),the number of oocytes retrieved,mature oocytes,normal fertilized oocytes,high-quality embryos and available embryos were lower in GnRH-a group than those in GnRH-ant group(P<0.01).③In GnRH-a group,the time to live birth(TTLB)was higher than GnRH-ant group(P =0.005),and the cumulative live birth rate(CLBR)was lower than GnRH-ant group(P =0.048),and there was no statistical difference in the number of transplants(P =0.536)and cumulative pregnancy rates(P =0.084)between the two groups.④The economic cost to live birth of GnRH-a group was higher than that of GnRH-ant group(P =0.02).Conclusions:Compared with GnRH-a group,Gn-RH-ant group could improve the cumulative live birth rate of a single ovulation induction cycle in patients in PO-SEIDON group 1,shorten the time to live birth and reduce the treatment cost of patients,and was the preferred protocol for patients in POSEIDON group 1.

Objectives To develop a multi-stage and multi-epitope vaccine, which consists of epitopes from the early secretory and latency-associated antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Methods The B-cell, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and helper T-lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes of 12 proteins were predicted using an immunoinformatics. The epitopes with antigenicity, without cytotoxicity and sensitization, were further screened to construct the multi-epitope vaccine. Furthermore, the proposed vaccine underwent physicochemical properties analysis and secondary structure prediction as well as 3D structure modeling, refinement and validation. Then the refined model was docked with TLR4. Finally, an immune simulation of the vaccine was carried out. Results The proposed vaccine, which consists of 12 B-cell, 11 CTL and 12 HTL epitopes, had a flexible and stable globular conformation as well as a thermostable and hydrophilic structure. A stable interaction of the vaccine with TLR4 was confirmed by molecular docking. The efficiency of the candidate vaccine to trigger effective cellular and humoral immune responses was assessed by immune simulation. Conclusion A multi-stage multi-epitope MTB vaccine construction strategy based on immunoinformatics is proposed, which is expected to prevent both active and latent MTB infection.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry* ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry* ; Vaccines, Subunit/chemistry* ; Computational Biology/methods*

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the incidence and severity of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with lung cancer are higher than those in healthy people. At present, the main anti-tumor treatments for lung cancer include surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and anti-angiogenesis therapy. While the effects of different anti-tumor treatments on the occurrence and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia are not uniform. Therefore, we aimed to describe clinical characteristics and antitumor therapy of patients with lung cancer and COVID-19 pneumonia, and examined risk factors for severity in this population. METHODS: From December 1, 2022 to February 15, 2023, a retrospective study was conducted in 217 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and pathologically confirmed lung cancer in the Jinling Hospital. We collected data about patients' clinical features, antitumor treatment regimen within 6 months, and the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Risk factors for occurrence and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia were identified by univariable and multivariable Logistic regression models. RESULTS: (1) Among the 217 patients included, 51 (23.5%) developed COVID-19 pneumonia, of which 42 (82.4%) were classified as medium and 9 (17.6%) were classified as severe; (2) Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed overweight (OR=2.405, 95%CI: 1.095-5.286) and intrapulmonary focal radiotherapy (OR=2.977, 95%CI: 1.071-8.274) are risk factors for increasing occurrence of COVID-19 pneumonia, while other therapies are not; (3) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) history (OR=7.600, 95%CI: 1.430-40.387) was more likely to develop severe pneumonia and anti-tumor therapies such as intrapulmonary focal radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy did not increase severity. CONCLUSIONS Intrapulmonary focal radiation therapy within 6 months increased the incidence of COVID-19 pneumonia, but did not increase the severity. However, there was no safety concern for chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery and immunotherapy.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Retrospective Studies ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Incidence ; Pneumonia/etiology*

Microglial surveillance plays an essential role in clearing misfolded proteins such as amyloid-beta, tau, and α-synuclein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. However, due to the complex structure and ambiguous pathogenic species of the misfolded proteins, a universal approach to remove the misfolded proteins remains unavailable. Here, we found that a polyphenol, α-mangostin, reprogrammed metabolism in the disease-associated microglia through shifting glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation, which holistically rejuvenated microglial surveillance capacity to enhance microglial phagocytosis and autophagy-mediated degradation of multiple misfolded proteins. Nanoformulation of α-mangostin efficiently delivered α-mangostin to microglia, relieved the reactive status and rejuvenated the misfolded-proteins clearance capacity of microglia, which thus impressively relieved the neuropathological changes in both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease model mice. These findings provide direct evidences for the concept of rejuvenating microglial surveillance of multiple misfolded proteins through metabolic reprogramming, and demonstrate nanoformulated α-mangostin as a potential and universal therapy against neurodegenerative diseases.