OBJECTIVE: To explore whether streptococcal infection may aggravate renal damage in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis and its possible mechanism. METHODS: In the study, 485 children diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis from July 2015 to December 2019 were selected to analyze their clinical data retrospectively. According to the diagnosis of discharge, whether it was combined with streptococcal infection, the children were divided into two groups. The experimental group contained 91 children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis combined with streptococcal infection, and there were 394 children who were not infected with Streptococcus in the control group. Suitable test items were preliminarily selected through artificial neural network, and then data analysis was performed through SPSS 23.0. RESULTS: The children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis infected with streptococcus had statistically significant differences compared with the uninfected children in the test items of urine protein, liver and kidney function, immunoglobulin and complement. Anti-streptolysin O had mild correlation with IgG (Spearman r=-0.328), fibrin degradation products (Spearman r=-0.207), total protein (Spearman r=-0.202) and globulin (Spearman r=-0.223). Compared with the children who were not infected with streptococcus, the differences of the average levels of age (P=0.001), IgG (P < 0.001), fibrin degradation products (P=0.019), total protein (P < 0.001), globulin (P < 0.001), IgA (P < 0.001), IgM (P=0.003), complement 3 (P=0.016), complement 4 (P=0.002), albumin/globulin ratio (P=0.007), alkaline phosphatase (P=0.036), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=0.039) in the infected children were statistically significant. In order to explore the risk factors of kidney damage in the children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, Logistic regression was performed using anti-streptolysin O, age, immunoglobulin and complement as independent variables, urine protein detection parameters, liver and kidney functions as dependent variables. Age ≤10 years old and hypocomplementemia might be risk factors for aggravating renal damage in the children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis. CONCLUSION Streptococcal infections may aggravate renal damage in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, in which hypocomplementemia, inflammation, fibrinolysis and disorders of coagulation perhaps play an important role. Children with streptococcal infection should be treated with anti-infective treatment in time and necessarily, and followed up after discharge regularly.
Humans ; IgA Vasculitis/complications* ; Streptococcal Infections/complications* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Nephritis/microbiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Kidney/pathology* ; Adolescent

Objective To compare the general conditions， clinical characteristics， and polysomnographic features of patients before， around， and after menopause.Methods Participants were divided into premenopausal， perimenopausal， and postmenopausal groups by the age of 45 years and 55 years. General conditions， clinical characteristics， and polysomnographic indicators were compared across these groups.Results A total of 316 patients before， around， and after menopause were included in this study. There were no significant between-group differences in the body mass index， smoking and alcohol consumption rates， sleep latency， sleep duration， sleep efficiency， and the durations and proportions of deep and light sleep. The perimenopausal and postmenopausal groups showed significantly increased nocturnal awakenings and significantly decreased nocturnal oxygen saturation compared with the premenopausal group. The apnea-hypopnea index （AHI） differed significantly between the three groups， showing an increasing trend.Conclusion Changes in reproductive status do not alter objective sleep duration and efficiency， and subjective perception contributes more to sleep disturbances around menopause. Changes in nocturnal sleep continuity， the AHI， and nocturnal minimum oxygen saturation suggest complex neuro-molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of hormonal variations on sleep in women.
Perimenopause

Particle size and surface properties are crucial for lymphatic drainage (LN), dendritic cell (DC) uptake, DC maturation, and antigen cross-presentation induced by nanovaccine injection, which lead to an effective cell-mediated immune response. However, the manner in which the particle size and surface properties of vaccine carriers such as mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) affect this immune response is unknown. We prepared 50, 100, and 200 nm of MSNs that adsorbed ovalbumin antigen (OVA) while modifying β-glucan to enhance immunogenicity. The results revealed that these MSNs with different particle sizes were just as efficient in vitro, and MSNs with β-glucan modification demonstrated higher efficacy. However, the in vivo results indicated that MSNs with smaller particle sizes have stronger lymphatic targeting efficiency and a greater ability to promote the maturation of DCs. The results also indicate that β-glucan-modified MSN, with a particle size of ∼100 nm, has a great potential as a vaccine delivery vehicle and immune adjuvant and offers a novel approach for the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents that target other lymph-mediated diseases.

Background Research on non-target organ damage of biological pesticides has attracted much attention. Rotenone exposure may be far beyond the occupational environment, and the exposureduring pregnancy may be increased through bioaccumulation, fruit or vegetable residues, and other forms of oral intake. At present, the effects of rotenone on placental development and its mechanism are still unknown. Objective To investigate the developmental damage of rat placenta and evaluate the expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3β) and beta catenin (β-catenin) followed by rotenone exposure through the placental barrier during pregnancy, as well as to propose possible associated mechanisms. Methods Eighteen sexually mature SD female infertile rats without specific pathogens were selected and divided into three groups: blank control group (0.9% saline), corn oil group, and rotenone group (corn oil + 2 mg·kg⁻¹ rotenone) by random number method, six female animals in each group. Another six male rats were selected and mated to the female rats at night with a female to male ratio of 3:1 per cage. Pregnant rats were given 0.9% saline, corn oil, and 2 mg·kg⁻¹ rotenone preparation by isovolumetric gavage once daily for the entire gestation period (19 d), and their conditions were observed after the last dose. The pregnant rats were anesthetized, and the size of the placenta and blood perfusion were detected by ultrasound the next day of the last dose of rotenone. Then, 3 pregnant rats in each group were sacrificed immediately and the placenta and umbilical cord tissues were dissected. The remaining 9 pregnant rats gave birth naturally, and the fetuses were observed for developmental evaluation and weighed. The histopathological changes of umbilical cord and placenta were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The reactive oxygen species levels of placenta tissues were detected by flow cytometry. The Ca²⁺-ATPase activity of placenta tissues was detected by colorimetric method. The localization and levels of GSK-3β and β-catenin expression of placenta were detected by immunohistochemistry. The p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β and p-β-catenin/β-catenin protein expression in placental tissues were measured by Western blotting. Results No injury or death was recorded during the pregnant rats receiving rotennon administration. Adverse pregnancy outcomes such as fetal absorption and postpartum stillbirth were found in the rotenone group, and the weight of the fetal mice decreased (P<0.05). The B-ultrasound showed disc-shaped placenta with a thick middle and thin edge, smooth fetal surface, rough maternal surface, visible placental lobules, granular echotexture of the placenta with comma-like echogenic densities, and chorionic plate showing deep indentations, no calcification, degeneration, or necrosis in each group. Compared with the corn oil group, the fetal surface diameter of the placenta was reduced in the rotenone group (P<0.05). The Doppler color ultrasound showed that interplacental blood flow was reduced in the rotenone group, while interplacental blood flow was abundant in the blank control and the corn oil groups. The hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that smooth muscle cells in the umbilical cord tissues of rats were loosely arranged, with fuzzy nuclei and inflammatory infiltration in the rotenone group. The placental trophoblast cells were small in size, disorderly arranged with nuclear fragmentation and cytoplasm turbidity. The tissue reactive oxygen species level in the rotenone group was higher than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). The Ca²⁺-ATPase activity of placental tissues was reduced in the rotenone group (P<0.05). The immunofluorescence low-magnification observation showed that GSK-3β and β-catenin were expressed in placental tissue, weak fluorescence expression in the decidua basalis, strong fluorescence expression in the labyrinthine layer structure. The labyrinthine layer under high magnification showed that compared with the blank control group and the corn oil group, the brightness of β-catenin fluorescence expression in the rotenone group decreased (P<0.05), and the brightness of GSK-3β expression increased (P<0.05). The Western blotting results showed that the expression of β-catenin and p-GSK-3β proteins decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of GSK-3β protein increased (P<0.01) in the rotenone group. No significant expression of p-β-catenin protein was detected in the placenta tissue of each group. Conclusion Rotenone exposure during pregnancy induces placental hypoperfusion, growth retardation, and oxidative stress in rats, as well as down-regulation of β-catenin and p-GSK-3β protein expression, and up-regulation of GSK-3β protein expression, which may further lead to abnormal pregnancy and fetal restricted growth.

Objective Using event-related potentials(ERPs),to study the effect and mechanism of negative emotion accumulation hepatic insufficiency on working memory in normal people.Methods Fifty subjects in each of the emotionally stable group and emotionally unstable group were given two load tasks(0-back and 1-back)in the N-back paradigm,the reaction time and correct rate were recorded,and the ERPs components N200 and P300 were detected.The latency and amplitude of P300 were analyzed statistically.Results ①Compared with the emotionally stable group,the emotionally unstable group had a longer reaction time(P<0.05).②Compared with the emotionally stable group,the subjects in the emotionally unstable group had prolonged N200 latency,decreased P300 amplitude significantly(P<0.05),and P300 latency had a tendency to extend(P<0.1).Conclusion Long-term accumulation of negative emotions and liver failure in normal people have the performance of decreased working memory,which may be related to the reduction of attention resource allocation and the impairment of cognitive processing function.

Objective:To understand the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and associated risk factors of severe adenovirus(ADV)pneumonia in children, providing the basis for targeted prevention and treatment.Methods:Clinical features of children with ADV pneumonia at Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the severity of the disease, cases were divided into severe ADV pneumonia group and common ADV pneumonia group.The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of two groups were compared, and risk factors for the occurrence of severe ADV pneumonia were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 158 patients with ADV pneumonia were enrolled, including severe ADV pneumonia 104 cases(8.98%) and ordinary ADV pneumonia 1 054 cases(91.02%).The median age of severe ADV pneumonia group was 1.17 (0.83, 2.73) years, which was significantly younger than that of common ADV pneumonia group 3.16 (1.50, 4.50) years( P<0.05), and 77.89% (81/104) of them were younger than 3 years old.The occurrence of severe ADV pneumonia was predominant in winter and spring, accounting for 71.15% (74/104).Cough was present in 89.42% (93/104) and fever in 99.01% (103/104) of the severe ADV pneumonia group.Compared with the common ADV pneumonia group, the severe ADV pneumonia group had a significantly longer febrile time[10(6, 14)d vs. 5(4, 7)d, P<0.05], significantly higher incidence of shortness of breath, wheezing, convulsions/coma[100% vs. 2.09%, 45.19% vs. 13.57%, 10.57% vs. 1.99%, P<0.05], and significantly higher incidences of emphysema, pleural effusion, bronchial signs, pulmonary solids, and atelectasis [21.15% vs. 2.09%, 5.77% vs. 0.19%, 4.81% vs. 0, 3.85% vs. 0.09%, P<0.05].Multivariable Logistic regression showed that age younger than 1.71 years old, wheezing, and the presence of underlying diseases (moderate to severe anaemia, congenital heart disease, neurological disease) were risk factors for the development of severe ADV pneumonia ( P<0.05).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of age<1.71 years old(20 months old) for predicting the occurrence of severe ADV pneumonia were 65.4% and 71.5%, respectively. Conclusion:The age of most severe ADV pneumonia is less 3 years in Suzhou.It usually occurres in winter and spring, with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing as the main symptoms.Pulmonary manifestations such as pleural effusion, emphysema, pulmonary consolidation, and atelectasis may occur.The underlying disease, wheezing, and age of onset less than 1.71 years (20 months) old are independent risk factors for severe ADV pneumonia.

Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) family is important for production of volatile aromatic compounds and synthesis of plant hormones. To explore the biological functions and gene expression patterns of CsCCD gene family in tea plant, genome-wide identification of CsCCD gene family was performed. The gene structures, conserved motifs, chromosome locations, protein physicochemical properties, evolutionary characteristics, interaction network and cis-acting regulatory elements were predicted and analyzed. Real time-quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the relative expression level of CsCCD gene family members under different leaf positions and light treatments during processing. A total of 11 CsCCD gene family members, each containing exons ranging from 1 to 11 and introns ranging from 0 to 10, were identified. The average number of amino acids and molecular weight were 519 aa and 57 643.35 Da, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed the CsCCD gene family was clustered into 5 major groups (CCD1, CCD4, CCD7, CCD8 and NCED). The CsCCD gene family mainly contained stress response elements, hormone response elements, light response elements and multi-factor response elements, and light response elements was the most abundant (142 elements). Expression analysis showed that the expression levels of CsCCD1 and CsCCD4 in elder leaves were higher than those in younger leaves and stems. With the increase of turning over times, the expression levels of CsCCD1 and CsCCD4 decreased, while supplementary LED light strongly promoted their expression levels in the early stage. The expression level of NCED in younger leaves was higher than that in elder leaves and stems on average, and the expression trend varied in the process of turning over. NCED3 first increased and then decreased, with an expression level 15 times higher than that in fresh leaves. In the late stage of turning over, supplementary LED light significantly promoted its gene expression. In conclusion, CsCCD gene family member expressions were regulated by mechanical force and light. These understandings may help to optimize tea processing techniques and improve tea quality.
Camellia sinensis/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/genetics* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Tea

Objective:To compare peripheral blood tenascin-C (TN-C) level in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) on admission, after treatment and at recovery, and to assess the potential of TN-C as a novel predictor for coronary artery lesion.Methods:Retrospective study.Blood samples of 44 KD patients [including 21 patients with coronary artery lesions (CAL + group) and 23 patients without coronary artery lesions(CAL - group)], 39 anaphylactoid purpura patients and 36 non-infected and non-vasculitis controls in the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College during January 1, 2018 and November 1, 2018 were collected.TN-C level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Normally distributed data were compared by the t test; otherwise, they were compared by the Mann- Whitney U test. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient or Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between TN-C and other laboratory indexes. Results:For KD patients, TN-C levels on admission [(32.0±13.8) μg/L] and after treatment [(33.5±11.4) μg/L] were significantly higher than that at recovery [(23.3±10.8) μg/L](all P<0.01), which was positively correlated with C-reactive protein ( r=0.317, P=0.038), and negatively correlated with sodium level ( r=-0.472, P=0.004). No significant difference in TN-C level was found between CAL + group and CAL - group [on admission: (31.7±15.4) μg/L vs.(32.3±12.5) μg/L; after treatment: (32.2±11.6) μg/L vs.(34.8±11.3) μg/L; at recovery: (22.6±7.3) μg/L vs.(24.0±13.4) μg/L; all P>0.05]. In addition, TN-C level in patients with KD [(32.0±13.8) μg/L] and anaphylactoid purpura [(37.2±18.2) μg/L] was significantly higher than that of control children [(24.0±8.05) μg/L] (all P<0.01). Conclusions:The study findings are able to prove the potential of peripheral blood TN-C as a predictor for coronary artery lesion in KD patients, nor as a maker of vascular injury.Nevertheless, it may be used as an indicator of immune response in the acute phase of KD.

This paper reviews the status quo of recent years’ research on autophagy and damage of chondrocytes in Kashin-Beck disease （KBD） and osteoarthritis （OA）. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and mTOR regulate the autophagy activity of chondrocytes. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway can promote the proliferation of chondrocytes and cause their damage by inhibiting their autophagy activity. This might play an important role in the occurrence and progression of bone and joint diseases such as KBD and OA， and provide scientific basis for revealing the pathogenesis and treatment plan of them.

The clinical data of a case of compound oxidative phosphorylation deficiency type 10 (COXPD10) caused by a new site mutation of MTO1 gene in the Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University on December 29, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The patient was a 2 months and 19 days old boy of Han nationality.The main clinical manifestations were shortness of breath, hyperlactic acidemia, hyperammonemia and brain damage.Cardiac hypertrophy was not obvious.Heterozygous mutations at c. 344delA and c. 1055C>T sites in the MTO1 gene have not been reported in domestic and foreign literature.COXPD10 caused by MTO1 gene mutations may result in diversified clinical manifestations due to inconsistent mutation sites.For hyperlactic acidemia with unknown predisposing factors, early genetic examination should be conducted to confirm the possibility of COXPD10.