Objective:To investigate vitamin D levels and the effect of exogenous vitamin D supplementation in the first trimester among pregnant women in our center.Methods:This was a prospective cohort study. A total of 98 women in the first trimester who were followed-up regularly in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 1 st 2020 to December 1 st 2021 were enrolled. Subjects who had medical conditions that affect vitamin D absorption or metabolism were excluded. Questionnaires were administered, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were detected using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method. According to the basic 25(OH)D level, different dosages of exogenous vitamin D were supplemented. After 4 weeks, 25(OH)D levels were detected again to evaluate the effect of supplementation. T test, analysis of variance, χ2 test, and multiple linear regression analysis were used for analysis. Results:The mean age of enrolled subjects was (33.5±4.0) years. The baseline 25(OH)D level was (41.2±20.0) nmol/L. Briefly, 70.4% (69/98) subjects were deficient in vitamin D, and 42.9% (42/98) patients were using vitamin D supplementation at the time of 25(OH)D testing. Single-factor analysis showed that vitamin D supplementation ( t=-4.21, P<0.001), season ( t=2.59, P=0.011), and nut-eating frequency ( t=2.67, P=0.009) were related to 25(OH)D levels. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only vitamin D supplementation had a relationship with 25(OH)D level ( B=13.84, P=0.006). According to the baseline 25(OH)D level, 400-5 000 U/d vitamin D3 was supplemented regularly for (4.1±2.5) weeks, and 25(OH)D levels significantly increased after supplementation [(64.1±18.1) vs (37.3±16.6) nmol/L, t=-9.36, P<0.001]. The ascending range was negatively associated with basic 25(OH)D level ( B=-0.66, P<0.001) and positively associated with supplementary dosage ( B=0.51, P<0.001). 25(OH)D levels increased by 0.51 nmol/L on average per 1 μg (40 U) of vitamin D supplementation daily. Conclusions:The proportion of vitamin D deficiency was high in the first trimester among pregnant women in our center. Exogenous vitamin D supplementation could significantly increase 25(OH)D levels, and the effect was negatively associated with basic 25(OH)D level but positively associated with supplementary dosage.

Objective:To observe the effects of preventative moxibustion on analgesia,substance P(SP),prostaglandin(PG)F2α and PGE2 in rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation,and to explore the analgesic mechanism. Methods:Sixty-four female Wistar non-pregnant rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a Western medicine group,and a preventative moxibustion group,with 16 rats in each group.Eight qualified diestrus rats were selected from each group.Except for the blank group,the other three groups established models of dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation using an ice water bath combined with estradiol benzoate and oxytocin.On the 8th day after modeling,the preventative moxibustion group was treated with gentle moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4),and the Western medicine group was given ibuprofen solution for 4 consecutive days.On the 11th day,the intervention groups(i.e.the Western medicine group and the preventative moxibustion group)were treated once again after being injected with oxytocin.The writhing score and the pain threshold of rats were determined;the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),SP,PGF2α,and PGE2 were measured;the mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B(TrkB)in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus were detected. Results:Compared with the blank group,the writhing score increased(P<0.01),the pain threshold decreased(P<0.01),the serum levels of BDNF,SP,and PGF2α increased(P<0.01),while the PGE2 decreased(P<0.01);the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus increased(P<0.01)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the writhing score decreased,the pain threshold increased,the serum BDNF,SP,and PGF2α levels decreased significantly,the serum PGE2 level increased,and the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus decreased significantly in the preventative moxibustion group and the Western medicine group,while the inter-group differences were significant(P<0.01).Compared with the Western medicine group,the writhing score decreased,the pain threshold increased,the serum BDNF,SP,and PGF2α,levels decreased,the serum PGE2 level increased,and the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus in the preventative moxibustion group decreased significantly,while the inter-group differences were significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:Preventative moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4)can improve the pain sensitization state of rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation,down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus;regulation of the serum SP,PGF2α,and PGE2 levels may be part of the mechanism.

Objective:To establish and validate reference intervals of serum vitamin K for healthy children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2023, involving 807 healthy children aged 0 to 14 years, selected by stratified random sampling based on the population distribution of children in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China. Sample collection was carried out in 16 hospitals across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Basic information of the children was collected using a standardized self-design questionnaire. Serum levels of vitamin K 1 and vitamin K 2 (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals was established by direct approach. The children were divided into different groups by age. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, and the reference intervals ( P2.5- P97.5) were determined using non-parametric methods. Screening 40 healthy children for small sample validation based on age groups within the reference range(25 from eastern, 10 from central, and 5 from western regions). Results:The age of the 807 children was 5.00 (2.00, 9.81) years, and 495 (61.3%) were males and 312 (38.7%) females. Reference intervals were established for 795 children, of whom 303 children were aged 1 month to 3 years and 492 were aged 4 to 14 years. The reference intervals for serum vitamin K 1 were 0.09-4.54 μg/L for children aged 1 month to 3 years, and 0.10-1.73 μg/L for 4-14 years. For MK-7, the intervals were 0.07-1.42 μg/L for 1 month to 3 years and 0.19-2.03 μg/L for 4-14 years. The reference intervals for MK-4 in children aged 1 month to 14 years were 0-0.42 μg/L. The measured values of serum vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in the validation samples did not exceed the reference limit in more than 2 samples. Conclusion:Reference intervals for vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years have been established and validated, and can be used to assess vitamin K nutritional status in children.

Objective:To observe the effects of different moxibustion time on cartilage morphology,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin(IL)-10 of the knee joint in rats with knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and to explore the best treatment time of moxibustion for KOA.Methods:Healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a 15-minute-moxibustion group,a 30-minute-moxibustion group,and a 60-minute-moxibustion group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,the KOA model was established in all groups by injecting sodium iodoacetate solution into the knee joint cavity of rats.Rats in the 15-minute-moxibustion group,the 30-minute-moxibustion group,and the 60-minute-moxibustion group were all treated with mild moxibustion intervention for 15 min,30 min,and 60 min,respectively at Neixiyan(EX-LE4)and Dubi(ST35)points near the patella,3 times a week for 4 weeks,12 times in total.Rats in the blank group and the model group were fixed for 30 min without moxibustion intervention.Macroscopic observation for the smoothness of knee cartilage surface was performed after the intervention.Hematoxylin-eosin staining,toluidine blue staining,and Mankin score were used to evaluate the pathological changes in the cartilage.The expression levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in the serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Compared with the blank group,the articular cartilage surface in the model group was rough,the chondrocyte arrangement was irregular,the Mankin score and the serum TNF-α expression were significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the expression of serum IL-10 was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the articular cartilage surface was smoother,the chondrocytes were arranged neatly,the Mankin score and serum TNF-α expression level were significantly lower in the three moxibustion intervention groups(P＜0.05);the serum IL-10 level in the 30-minute-moxibustion group and the 60-minute-moxibustion group was increased significantly(P＜0.05).Compared with the 15-minute-moxibustion group,the articular cartilage surface in the 30-minute-moxibustion group and the 60-minute-moxibustion group was smoother,the chondrocyte arrangement was more regular,the Mankin score and the serum TNF-α level were decreased significantly(P＜0.05),and the serum IL-10 level was increased(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the serum TNF-α or IL-10 level between the 30-minute-moxibustion group and the 60-minute-moxibustion group(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Moxibustion can obviously improve the morphology and structure of KOA articular cartilage,protect articular cartilage,inhibit cartilage inflammation,and delay KOA cartilage degeneration.Moxibustion's effect is closely related to moxibustion time;the therapeutic effect of the 30-minute-moxibustion and the 60-minute-moxibustion is better than that of the 15-minute-moxibustion.

Objective:To investigate the effects and the possible mechanisms of Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis in rats with functional dyspepsia(FD),thus to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of the Eight Confluent Points.Methods:Forty specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a blank group,a model group,an electroacupuncture(EA)group,and a Western medicine group by the random number table method,with 10 rats in each group.Rats in the blank group did not receive modeling or intervention.Rats in the other three groups were subjected to the FD with mood disorder model using the compound etiology modeling method.After the successful modeling,rats in the model group did not receive any interventions,rats in the Western medicine group received deanxit and mosaprid intervention,and those in the EA group received EA intervention on the ipsilateral Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)for 21 d.The sugar-water consumption rate was measured before the experiment and before and after interventions to assess the emotional status.The gastric emptying rate was measured after interventions to assess the gastrointestinal dynamics.The expression levels of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),and adrenal corticosterone(CORT)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Compared with the blank group,the sugar-water consumption rate and the gastric emptying rate were decreased(P<0.01),and the hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT expression levels were increased(P<0.01)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the sugar-water consumption rate and the gastric emptying rate were significantly increased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT were significantly decreased(P<0.01)in the EA group and the Western medicine group.The differences between the EA group and the Western medicine group were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:The Eight Confluent Points Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)can improve the mood and gastrointestinal dynamics in FD rats,which may be achieved by down-regulating the hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT,as well as by correcting the HPA axis hyperfunction.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the lens and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:226 subjects were recruited between August 14 to September 14, 2018 from the Endocrinology Department of Central South University Xiangya Hospital, the Third Hospital of Changsha City, and the Fourth Hospital of Changsha City. The OGTT test, combined with clinical indicators, were used as the gold standard. Subjects were screened for type 2 diabetes using both the lens AGE fluorescence assay and the gold standard. Drawing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, we calculated the area under the curve (AUC) and its 95% CI and calculated the AGE for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, Kappa value, and its 95% CI, and the optimal cut-off value were determined according to the Youden index. Taking diabetes as the outcome indicator and AGE as the binary indicator, three logistic regression models were constructed. Stratified by age and sub-center, the differences between fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose were compared between the AGE-negative and AGE-positive groups to determine the relationship between AGE and diabetes. Results:The area under the ROC curve was 0.86(95% CI: 0.81-0.91). According to the Youden index, the optimal cut-off point for AGE was 0.24. At this time, the sensitivity was 82.86(95% CI: 77.81-87.91), the specificity was 77.06(95% CI: 71.43-82.7), the Youden index was 59.92(95% CI: 53.36-66.49), the Kappa value was 79.62(95% CI: 74.22-85.02). Except for the 20-39-year-old group, the fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose of the AGE-positive group in different age groups, different sub-centers, and the general population were higher than those of the AGE-negative group (all P<0.05). After adjusting for the confounding effects of age, gender, and sub-center (model 3), the relative risk of diabetes in the AGE-positive group was 11.75 times higher than the AGE-negative group (95% CI: 5.61-24.60), all with P<0.001. Conclusion:There was a high correlation between AGE in the lens and the risk of type 2 diabetes. When the cut-off point of AGE is 0.24, it had high sensitivity and specificity and could be used as a practical tool for early screening of type 2 diabetes.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and clinical significance of Eltrombopag combined with immunosuppression therapy(IST) in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) in children.Methods:Clinical data of 63 children with initially diagnosed SAA in the Department of Hematology of Xinxiang Central Hospital from May 2017 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.All of them were all donors without siblings and they were classified into observation group (31 cases) and control group (32 cases). Patients in the observation group received IST combined with Eltrombopag treatment, and those in the control group received IST treatment.The Chi- square test was used to compare the overall remission (OR) rate and complete remission (CR) rate at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months, and incidence of infection and significant bleeding between groups.The t-test was used to compare the application of gra-nulocyte colony stimulating factor, the mean red blood cell transfusion, and the mean platelet infusion volume between groups.Kaplan-Meier method was adopted to analyze the 2-year overall survival (OS) rate and failure-free survival (FFS) rate, followed by the Log- rank test. Results:The 3-month and 6-month OR rate of the observation group were 61.29%(19/31 cases) and 80.64% (25/31 cases), respectively, which was significantly higher than that of the control group [37.50%(12/32 cases) and 59.38%(19/32 cases), χ2=45.27, 43.81, respectively, all P<0.05]. The 3-month and 6-month CR rate of the observation group were 32.26%(10/31 cases) and 45.16%(14 /31 cases), respectively, which was significantly higher than that of the control group [15.62%(5/32 cases) and 28.13%(9/32 cases), χ2=47.02, 48.35, respectively, all P<0.05]. The 12-month OR rate and CR rate in the observation group were 83.87%(26/31 cases), and 64.52%(20/31 cases), respectively, which were 81.25%(26/32 cases), and 59.38%(19/32 cases), respectively in the control group, and no significant differences in them were detected between the two groups (all P>0.05). The total amount of granulocyte colony stimulating factors [(13.58±4.28) doses vs.(23.24±6.68) doses, t=2.591], and the mean infusion volume of red blood cells [(5.48±1.67) U vs.(10.58±3.67) U, t=2.040] and platelets (4.15±2.47) bags vs.(9.15±3.87) bags, t=2.744) used in observation group within 6 months of treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The rate of infection (16.13% vs.43.75%, χ2=47.12) and significant bleeding (16.13% vs.37.50%, χ2=44.52) in the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The 2-year OS rate of the observation group and control group were 93.55% (29/31 cases), and 87.50% (28/32 cases), respectively.No significant difference in the OS rate was found between groups ( P=0.407 3), nor as the 2-year FFS rate(87.10% vs.78.13%, P=0.326 6). Conclusions:IST combined with Eltrombopag can significantly improve the early treatment response rate of SAA children without a sibling identical donor, which can reduce red blood cell and platelet transfusion, and the incidence of infection and bleeding.

Objective:To explore the effects of probiotics on feeding intolerance and early growth and development of preterm and very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).Methods:A total of 446 patients with VLBWI were enrolled in Henan Children′s Hospital from March 20, 2019 to March 20, 2022. They were divided into breast milk group (119 cases), breast milk+probiotic group (108 cases), formula group (115 cases) and formula+probiotic group (104 cases) according to the feeding mode and whether they received early probiotic supplement or not. The feeding programs of each group were carried out according to the “2013 Clinical Application Guide of nutritional support for newborn infants” and “the feeding guidelines for VLBWI”. On this basis, the probiotic supplement group was treated with Clostridium butyricum powder at a dose of 0.25 g/twice a day for 2 weeks, nasal feeding or bottle administration. The incidence of feeding intolerance, the time of recovery of birth weight, the time of reaching total gastrointestinal feeding, and the time of hospitalization in each group were observed, and the average increment of body mass, head circumference and body length in each group at 28 days after birth were compared.Results:In breast milk group, the incidence of feeding intolerance, total gastrointestinal feeding time, and hospital stay were significantly lower than those in the formula group [40.3% vs 47.8%, (13.2±2.4) vs (14.9±1.9) d, (26.5±7.5) vs (29.8±9.6) d], besides, the average increments of early growth and developmental indexes such as body mass, head circumference, and body length at 28 days of birth were significantly lower than those in the formula group [(15.4±2.7) vs (17.7±3.7) g/d, (5.8±1.0) vs (6.2±1.0) mm/week, (6.8±0.7) vs (7.3±0.8) mm/week], however, the recovery time of birth weight in the breast milk group was significantly higher than that in the formula group [(6.2±1.2) vs (5.3±1.4) d] (all P<0.05). The incidence of feeding intolerance, the recovery time of birth weight, the total gastrointestinal feeding time and the hospital stay in the breast milk+probiotics group were significantly lower than those in the breast milk group [34.3% vs 40.3%, (5.4±1.2) vs (6.2±1.2) d, (10.4±1.9) vs (13.2±2.4) d, (22.9±5.6) vs (26.5±7.5) d], besides, the average increments of body mass, head circumference and body length at 28 days of birth was significantly higher than that in the breast milk group [(17.2±3.5) vs (15.4±2.7) g/d, (6.2±1.0) vs (5.8±1.0) mm/week, (7.2±0.8) vs (6.8±0.7) mm/week] (all P<0.05). The incidence of feeding intolerance, total gastrointestinal feeding time and hospital stay in breast milk+probiotics group were significantly lower than those in formula+probiotics group [34.3% vs 47.1%, (10.4±1.9) vs (15.3±2.0) d, (22.9±5.6) vs (30.4±8.2) d] (all P<0.05), besides, there was no significant difference in the average increments of early growth and developmental indexes between the breast milk+probiotics group and the formula+probiotics group (all P>0.05). There were no significant difference in the above indexes between the formula+probiotics group and the formula group (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Probiotics can improve the clinical outcome of feeding intolerance and promote early growth and development of breast feeding VLBWI.

Objective: To study the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) characteristics of ultrasonic root canal irrigation when the file was placed at a certain depth in the root canal, to provide a reference for clinical application. Methods : First, scanning laser vibrometry (SLV) was utilized to analyze the characteristics of vibrational ultrasonic files under specific power. Then ICEM CFD 18.0 software was used to establish the root canal ultrasonic irrigation model. The insertion position of the ultrasonic working tip was set 1 mm away from the physiological apical foramen, and cloud images of the results were obtained by FLUENT 18.0 software. Volume fraction, flow velocity and pressure in the root canal were evaluated after setting the computing conditions. Results: The vibration of the ultrasonic working tip was mainly transverse vibration with slight longitudinal vibration. The amplitude of transverse vibration of each part of the working tip was different. Maximum values were observed at the apical end area of the file, and the closer to the base of the file, the smaller the amplitude. The area where the cavitation volume fraction of the rinsing fluid was greater than 0 was concentrated around the working point. The flow rate of the irrigating fluid was up to 2 m/s, within the area 0.2 mm in front of the working tip, the velocity of the irrigating fluid was greater than 0.1 m/s, while within the area 0.8 mm from the root tip, the velocity of the irrigating fluid was small or even zero. The apical pressure value was non-positive when the tip of the file was 1 mm away from the apical foramen in this model. Conclusion Based on the experimental results, it appears that when the ultrasonic working tip was placed 1 mm short of the working length, the ultrasonic irrigating flow did not overflow the root apical foramen and the irrigation process was relatively safe; the irrigation fluid had a strong irrigation effect within approximately 0.2 mm in front of the working tip.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between lexical semantic processing abnormalities and cognitive function and clinical symptoms in schizophrenia based on the activation diffusion model and semantic distance.Methods:All subjects matched with demographic data were randomly divided into experiment group( n=27) and control group( n=30). The semantic distance of words of different semantic categories and lexical categories were assigned at a level of 1-7.The semantic distance between the two groups was analyzed by repeated measures of variance, and the correlation analysis was conducted on the scores of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) in the experimental group. Results:The main effects of the groups in semantic distance were statistically significant( F(1, 55)=7.460, P=0.008, ηp2=0.981). The semantic distance in the experimental group (3.672±0.105)was lower than that in the control group (4.068±0.100). The main effect of the semantic category was statistically significant( F(1, 55)= 833.37, P<0.01, ηp2=0.938), and the semantic distance in the relative condition (1.965±0.074) was lower than that in the unrelative condition(5.775±0.117). Under the relative condition, concrete semantic deviation was negatively correlated with the total score of MCCB( r=-0.405, P=0.036)and speech learning ( r=-0.569, P=0.002). Abstract semantic deviation was negatively correlated with speech learning( r=-0.429, P=0.026). Under the unrelative condition, concrete semantic deviation was negatively correlated with MCCB total score ( r=-0.597, P=0.001), speech learning( r=-0.399, P=0.039)and other dimensions.Abstract semantic deviation was negatively correlated with MCCB total score( r=-0.593, P=0.001) and speech learning( r=-0.285, P=0.050). Under the relative condition, the abstract semantic deviation was positively correlated with the general symptom scale score( r=0.448, P=0.019). Under the unrelative condition, abstract vocabulary semantic deviation was positively correlated with PANSS total score( r=0.120, P=0.010), negative scale score( r=0.047, P=0.030) and general symptom scale score ( r=0.306, P=0.010). Conclusion:The semantic distance of lexical processing is abnormal in schizophrenia. The semantic deviation is related to the cognitive function index and symptom index.