Objective : To investigate the impact of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on the composition of 15 intestinal-derived estrogens and their metabolites (EMs) and its correlation with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) . Methods: Thirty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into a normal control group (Control) , a high- sugar high-fat diet combined with low-dose CCl4 -induced NAFLD model group ( Model) , and a group of model mice treated with fecal microbiota from normal female mice (FMT) . After 17 weeks of modeling , liver pathology in each group was observed using HE staining , biochemical methods were used to measure serum alanine aminotrans- ferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels , as well as hepatic triglyceride (TG) and total choles- terol (TC) levels. and the content of 15 EMs in portal vein serum was detected using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) . The correlation between disease phenotype and intesti- nal EMs was analyzed using Pearson ′s method. Results: The NAFLD model was successfully established , and the FMT group showed improved liver structure and morphology , with significant decreases in liver function and hepatic lipids compared to the Model group. In NAFLD mice , the contents of E1 , E2 , and their 2- and 4-position metabo- lites in portal vein blood serum was reduced compared to normal mice , while the content of most 16- and 17-posi- tion metabolites ( except 16α-OHE1) increased compared to normal mice. Correlation analysis showed that ALT was strongly positively correlated with E3 and 17-epiE3 , and strongly negatively correlated with E1 , E2 , 4- MeOE1 , and 16α-OHE1 . The TC was strongly positively correlated with 17-epiE3 and strongly negatively correla- ted with E1 , 4-MeOE1 , and 16α-OHE1 . Conclusion FMT restores the disrupted composition of intestinal EMs and improves NAFLD.

Objective To construct an intervention programme for breastfeeding among mothers of infants with congenital heart disease and to verify its effect.Methods Taking the capability-opportunity-motivation-behaviour model as the theoretical basis,the first draft of the intervention programme was formed through literature search and semi-structured interviews,and 8 experts in the relevant fields were selected to conduct expert validation and determine the content of the program.By the consecutive sampling method,infants and their mothers who attended the cardiothoracic disease clinic of a tertiary-level children's specialist hospital in Shanghai from 4 May to 24 June 2023,with a day-old age of≤14 d and a confirmed diagnosis of CHD,were selected as the study subjects.They were divided into an experimental group and a control group,with 16 cases in each group,by the method of randomized grouping by district.The experimental group received breastfeeding intervention for mothers of infants with CHD on the basis of routine care;the control group received routine care and basic disease education and breastfeeding counselling.At 1 and 3 months of the infants with CHD,the 2 groups were compared in terms of exclusive breastfeeding rate,daily human milk as a percentage of total feeds,weight for age Z-score and height for age Z-score.Results A total of 1 round of expert validation was conducted,with a valid questionnaire recovery rate of 100％and an expert authority coefficient of 0.94.The breastfeeding intervention programme for mothers of infants with CHD is a comprehensive approach that encompasses 3 key dimensions,including capability,opportunity,and motivation.The programme is designed to enhance mothers'ability to recognize feeding signals,master breastfeeding techniques,and maintain successful breastfeeding practices.It also addresses common breastfeeding challenges and provides effective solutions.Additionally,it includes strategies for breastmilk management and fosters family support for breastfeeding.The programme offers medical information support on breastfeeding and aims to elevate mothers'understanding of its benefits.It involves systematic monitoring and recording of breastfeeding volumes,as well as thorough assessments and guidance on infant growth and development,including but not limited to the 10 specific entries related to the infant's progress.The results of the generalized estimating equations and repeated measures analysis of variance revealed statistically significant between-group differences(P＜0.05)in the rates of exclusive breastfeeding,the proportion of daily human milk as a percentage of total feeds,and the weight-for-age(WAZ)and height-for-age(HAZ)z-scores of infants across the 2 groups at various time points.The results of simple effect analysis showed that the differences in exclusive breastfeeding rate,the proportion of daily human milk as a percentage of total feeds,WAZ and HAZ between the 2 groups before intervention were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).At the age of 3 months of the infants after the intervention,the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.003).The proportion of daily human milk as a percentage of total feeds for infants in the intervention group at 1 and 3 months of age was higher than that in the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).At 3 months of age,WAZ of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.037);HAZ of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at 1 and 3 months of age after intervention,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The breastfeeding intervention programme for mothers of infants with CHD,constructed on the basis of the COM-B model in this study,was comprehensive,feasible and acceptable.Implementation of the programme has potential positive effects on increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates and the daily human milk as a percentage of total feeds,and may also have a positive impact on WAZ and HAZ of infants.

Objective To investigate the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the regulation of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) in the peripheral blood of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted from normal healthy individuals and AR patients, then stimulated with CGRP, interleukin 33 (IL-33) and CGRP combined with IL-33 for 3 days, with blank stimulus as control. The percentage of ILC2 in the four groups was measured by flow cytometry. After being sorted, ILC2 was given to CGRP, IL-33 and CGRP combined with IL-33 stimulation for 3 days, with blank stimulus as control. The percentage of IL-5 and IL-13 positive cells in ILC2 was detected by flow cytometry, and the levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in ILC2 supernatant were measured by ELISA. Results The percentage of ILC2 in the peripheral blood of AR patients was significantly higher than that of the control group. The levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 were significantly increased by IL-33 single stimulation after culturing PBMCs. After adding IL-33 combined with CGRP stimulation, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 in PBMCs were significantly reduced; after CGRP single stimulation, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 in PBMCs were further decreased. After ILC2 was sorted and cultured, the levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 showed significant increase after IL-33 single stimulation. The levels of IL-5⁺ILC2 and IL-13⁺ILC2 were decreased by IL-33 and CGRP co-stimulation, and they were further reduced after CGRP single stimulation. Compared to IL-33 single stimulation, IL-5 and IL-13 levels dropped significantly due to the IL-33 and CGRP co-stimulation. The levels of IL-5 and IL-13 were further reduced by CGRP single stimulation. Conclusion CGRP inhibits the proliferation and activation of peripheral blood ILC2 in AR and exert anti-inflammatory effects in AR.
Humans ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/pharmacology* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-33/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-13 ; Lymphocytes ; Interleukin-5/pharmacology* ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Cell Proliferation

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a kind of cardiovascular diseases originated from atherosclerosis (AS), and chronic inflammation is one of the pathological characteristics. The peripheral blood leukocytes, especially mononuclear cells, play an important role in the AS processes. Recently, in a series of Epigenome-Wide Association Studies (EWAS), multiple DNA differential methylation sites in peripheral blood cells were found to be statistically associated with CHD, which suggested that these DNA differential methylation sites might serve as new risk factors for CHD. The recognition of the variant of DNA methylation as a common epigenetic nucleic acid modification in the occurrence and development of CHD, is ongoing. DNA methylation has the potential to become warning biomarkers, which might provide new ideas and evidences for mechanistic studies of CHD.

One hundred Alzheimer′s disease (AD) patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) treated with donepezil+risperidone group ( n=50, group 1) or hydrochloride memantine+risperidone group ( n=50, group 2) in geriatric departments of Hangzhou Seventh People′s Hospital were enrolled in the study. Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA), positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) were applied for evaluation; and blood routine examination, blood biochemistry, eletrocardiogram were performed in two groups before and after treatment. After treatment, MoCA score in group 2 (16.10±3.90) was significantly higher than that in group 1 (18.14±3.71)( t=-3.99, P<0.01), and PANSS score in group 2 (86.66±6.62) was significantly lower than that in group 1 (109.50±11.51; t=12.67, P<0.01). The incidence rates of dry mouth (16%,8/50), extrapyramidal side effects (10%,5/50) and the total score of TESS (3.92±2.02) in group 2 were markedly lower than those of group 1 [44%(22/50), 36%(18/50), (12.49±1.45);χ 2=9.33,9.54, t=17.90,all P<0.01]. Meanwhile, group 2 had significantly lower influences on the levels of blood lipids and fasting blood glucose (all P<0.01). The risperidone dose used in group 2 was significantly lower than that in group 1 [(2.06±0.50) vs. (3.85±0.89)mg, t=14.40, P=0.04].The results suggest that hydrochloridememantine combined with risperidone is more effective with less side effects compared to donepezil combined with risperidone for AD patients with BPSD.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child featuring delayed intellectual development. METHODS: The child and his parents were subjected to conventional G-banding karyotyping and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) analysis. Suspected copy number variations (CNVs) were verified in both parents. RESULTS: No karyotypic abnormality was found with the child and his parents. SNP-array results for both parents were normal. The child was found to harbor a de novo 172 kb deletion at 18q21.2 with a physical position of 52 957 042-53 129 237. The deletion only involved one OMIM gene, namely TCF4, resulting in removal of its exons 6 to 8. CONCLUSION The SNP-array assay has facilitated with the diagnosis of this child. Deletion of 18q21.2 region probably accounts for the Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) in this patient.
Child ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Developmental Disabilities ; genetics ; Facies ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; genetics ; Intellectual Disability ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Transcription Factor 4 ; genetics

Objective To explore the genetic basis for a child featuring severe mental retardation.Methods The child was subjected to target region capture and next generation sequencing.Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing.Results The child was found to harbor a hemizygous c.1A＞G (pMet1?) variation of the ARX gene,for which his mother was a heterozygous carrier.The mutation was unreported previously and was predicted to be "probably pathogenic" by bioinformatic analysis.Conclusion The c.1A＞G (pMet1?) variant of the ARX gene may underlie the occurrence of severe mental retardation in this child.

Objective: To explore the clinical features and molecular basis for a child featuring infantile epilepsy and developmental disorders. Methods: Clinical data and peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents were collected. The coding regions of genes associated with nervous system development were subjected to target region capture sequencing. Results: The child developed generalized spasm at 3 months and was diagnosed with epilepsy at 6 months of age. He was treated with Depakin but was diagnosed with mental retardation and developmental retardation at 3 years of age. A novel heterozygous c. 3842T>G variant of the SYNE1 gene was detected. His father was found to carry the same variant and had a history of convulsions in infancy but with no mental or developmental anomalies. Conclusion A novel variant of SYNE1 gene was identified in this child, and the prognosis may be poor.

The 29th International Symposium on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?Motor Neuron Disease was held in Glasgow from December 7 to 9, 2018. The symposium was divided into 23 topics, with 109 special reports and paper′s exchange and 515 posters exchange. This article briefly introduces some topics of the symposium, involving basic researches, clinical researches and clinical trials. Among these, basic researches include genetics and genomics, axonal degeneration, disease models, and preclinical therapeutic strategies; Clinical researches include epidemiology, clinical progression, cognitive and psychological change, neuropathology, neurophysiology, neuroimaging and biomarkers.

The 29th International Symposium on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-Motor Neuron Disease was held in Glasgow from December 7 to 9, 2018. The symposium was divided into 23 topics, with 109 special reports and paper′s exchange and 515 posters exchange. This article briefly introduces some topics of the symposium, involving basic researches, clinical researches and clinical trials. Among these, basic researches include genetics and genomics, axonal degeneration, disease models, and preclinical therapeutic strategies; Clinical researches include epidemiology, clinical progression, cognitive and psychological change, neuropathology, neurophysiology, neuroimaging and biomarkers.