OBJECTIVES: To identify potential plasma lipidomic biomarkers that distinguish non-metastatic medulloblastoma (nmMB) from metastatic medulloblastoma (mMB) in children. METHODS: In this prospective study, 17 children with mMB and 20 matched children with nmMB were enrolled. Plasma samples were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Lipid metabolites were evaluated for their associations and diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis based on lipid profiles clearly separated nmMB from mMB, and 14 differential lipids were identified, including DG(18:2/20:4/0:0) and SM(d18:1/20:0). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed nine metabolites with area under the curve greater than 0.7. Differential lipids were enriched in sphingolipid, glycerophospholipid, and arachidonic acid metabolism, suggesting an association with the metastatic phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Plasma lipidomics provides a new approach to identify mMB, and the identified lipid metabolites may support early diagnosis and treatment, prognostic assessment, and selection of therapeutic targets for metastatic medulloblastoma.
Humans ; Medulloblastoma/diagnosis* ; Lipidomics ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Cerebellar Neoplasms/blood* ; Biomarkers, Tumor/blood* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Lipids/blood*

BACKGROUND: Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD. METHODS & RESULTS: The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology. CONCLUSION The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.

Nitrogen narcosis is a neurological syndrome that manifests when humans or animals encounter hyperbaric nitrogen, resulting in a range of motor, emotional, and cognitive abnormalities. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is known for its significant involvement in regulating motivation, cognition, and action. However, its specific contribution to nitrogen narcosis-induced hyperlocomotion and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we report that exposure to hyperbaric nitrogen notably increased the locomotor activity of mice in a pressure-dependent manner. Concurrently, this exposure induced heightened activation among neurons in both the ACC and dorsal medial striatum (DMS). Notably, chemogenetic inhibition of ACC neurons effectively suppressed hyperlocomotion. Conversely, chemogenetic excitation lowered the hyperbaric pressure threshold required to induce hyperlocomotion. Moreover, both chemogenetic inhibition and genetic ablation of activity-dependent neurons within the ACC reduced the hyperlocomotion. Further investigation revealed that ACC neurons project to the DMS, and chemogenetic inhibition of ACC-DMS projections resulted in a reduction in hyperlocomotion. Finally, nitrogen narcosis led to an increase in local field potentials in the theta frequency band and a decrease in the alpha frequency band in both the ACC and DMS. These results collectively suggest that excitatory neurons within the ACC, along with their projections to the DMS, play a pivotal role in regulating the hyperlocomotion induced by exposure to hyperbaric nitrogen.
Animals ; Gyrus Cinguli/drug effects* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Locomotion/drug effects* ; Neurons/drug effects* ; Mice ; Nitrogen/toxicity* ; Inert Gas Narcosis/physiopathology* ; Corpus Striatum/physiopathology*

Background Workers engaged in benzene-exposed or benzene-containing solvent-exposed operations in China are predominantly subjected to a low concentration of benzene series compounds, and prolonged exposure to low concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) may have implications for blood pressure. Objective To investigate the influence of low-concentration BTX exposure on the blood pressure of workers, aiming to provide a basis for enterprises to devise associated health management strategies to mitigate the occurrence of hypertension among workers exposed to low concentrations of BTX. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, 884 workers from a petroleum refining enterprise in Hainan who participated in an occupational health examination in 2022 were selected as the study population, and were divided into an exposure group of 649 workers and a control group of 235 workers based on their reporting of BTX exposure or not. Data on workplace BTX concentrations and health examinations of the study subjects were collected and questionnaires were administered. In addition, S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA), hippuric acid (HA), and methyl hippuric acid (MHA, including the three isomers 2-MHA, 3-MHA, and 4-MHA) were measured in the urine of the workers using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to assess internal BTX burden. The effects of low-concentration BTX exposure on blood pressure were analyzed. Results In 2022, the concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene of all monitoring points did not exceeded the national limits by either time-weighted average (TWA) or short-term exposure limit (STEL), indicating low-concentration BTX exposure. Regarding the internal burden of BTX, the concentrations of benzene metabolite S-PMA, toluene metabolite HA, and xylene metabolites 3-MHA and 4-MHA in the urine samples in the exposure group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between urinary S-PMA concentration and diastolic blood pressure in the workers (r=0.265, P < 0.05). Differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure distributions were statistically significant among workers grouped by sex, age, work years, educational levels, monthly income, body mass index (BMI), alcohol use, dietary oil, and types of residential address (P < 0.05). Significant differences in systolic blood pressure distribution were observed among workers by smoking status and levels of labor intensity (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the workers in the exposure group exhibited a significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.05). The results of multiple linear regression showed that age, sex, and BMI had statistically significant effects on systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05), while age, work years, and BMI had statistically significant effects on diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.05). The systolic blood pressure of age > 35 years, male, overweight and obese workers was significantly higher than that of age ≤ 35 years, female, and underweight workers, and the diastolic blood pressure of age > 35 years, work years > 5 years, and obese workers was higher than age ≤35 years, ≤5 years of service, and underweight workers. Low-concentration BTX exposure was one of the main influencing factors for elevated diastolic blood pressure, and the exposed workers showed a 1.337 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Low-concentration BTX exposure, work years > 5 years, and obesity may elevate blood pressure among petroleum refininig workers. Regular blood pressure monitoring and enhanced health interventions for this occupational group are warranted.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)has become one of the effective methods for treating patients with aortic valve disease.With the continuous maturity of technology,innovation of instruments and increasing experience,the indications for TAVR has been expanded.Following international trends,the number of TAVR in China has steadily increased with each passing year.In 2023,the long-term follow-up results of TAVR in low-risk AS patients further confirm the long-term benefits of TAVR.The relevant research on TAVR for patients with aortic regurgitation and patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis provide evidence support for the expansion of TAVR indications.At the same time,the development of valve devices and new technological innovations are emerging in an endless stream,and the new concept of full life cycle management is increasingly being valued.Especially in China,the development of local devices is progressing rapidly,and multiple devices have entered the clinical research stage.The clinical manifestations and research results are worth pursuing.

Objective:To analyze the effect of recombinant human thrombopoietin(rhTPO)on platelet(PLT)reconstitution after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation(APBSCT)in patients with multiple myeloma(MM).Methods:The clinical data of 147 MM patients who were diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and received APBSCT as the first-line therapy were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether rhTPO was used during APBSCT,the patients were divided into rhTPO group(80 cases)and control group(67 cases).The time of PLT engraftment,blood product infusion requirements,the proportion of patients with PLT recovery to ≥ 50 × 109/L and ≥ 100 × 109/L at+14 days and+100 days after transplantation,and adverse reactions including the incidence of bleeding were compared between the two groups.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in sex,age,M protein type,PLT count at the initial diagnosis,median duration of induction therapy before APBSCT,and number of CD34+cells reinfused(all P＞0.05).The median time of PLT engraftment in the rhTPO group was 10(6-14)days,which was shorter than 11(8-23)days in the control group(P＜0.001).The median PLT transfusion requirement in the rhTPO group during APBSCT was 15(0-50)U,which was less than 20(0-80)U in the control group(P=0.001).At+14 days after transplantation,the proportions of patients with PLT 2 50 × 109/L in the rhTPO group and the control group were 66.3％and 52.2％,while the proportions of patients with PLT ≥ 100 × 109/L were 23.8％and 11.9％,respectively,with no significant differences(all P＞0.05).At+100 days after transplantation,the proportion of patients with PLT ≥ 50 × 109/L in rhTPO group and control group was 96.3％and 89.6％,respectively(P＞0.05),but the proportion of patients with PLT ≥ 100 × 109/L in rhTPO group was higher than that in control group(75.0％vs 55.2％,P=0.012).There was no difference in the overall incidence of bleeding events in different locations during period of low PLT level of patients between the two groups.In rhTPO group,the rhTPO administration was well tolerated,and the incidences of abnormal liver and kidney function and infection were similar to those in the control group.Conclusion:When MM patients undergo first-line APBSCT,subcutaneous injection of rhTPO can shorten the time of platelet engraftment,reduce the transfusion volume of blood products,and be well tolerated,moreover,more patients have achieve a high level of PLT recovery after transplantation,which is very important for ensuring the safety of APBSCT and maintenance therapy.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with combined pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP ) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT ). Methods:The clinical manifestations,laboratory tests,imaging findings,and treatment outcomes of 21 allo-HSCT patients with PJP diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Soochow Hopes Hematology Hospital from July 2018 to July 2023 were retrospective analyzed.Results:Among the 21 patients,the male-to-female ratio was 2.5:1,and the median age was 36 years old with a range of 15-62 years.The median time to diagnosis of PJP after transplantation was 225 days.The clinical manifestations lack specificity,and the main clinical symptoms include respiratory symptoms (dyspnea,cough,sputum,etc.) and fever.Laboratory examination revealed peripheral blood lymphocyte counts decreased in 15 cases,CD4+T lymphocyte absolute values less than 200 cells/μl in 19 patients,C-reactive protein levels significantly increased in 20 patients,lactate dehydrogenase levels increased in 14 patients,and 1,3-β-D-glucan detection levels increased in 14 patients.Chest CT manifestations can be divided into three types:ground glass type,nodular type,and mixed type.Among them,the incidence of ground glass type was the highest (18/21),with 2 cases of nodular type and 1 case of mixed type.The sequence number of Pneumocystis jiroveci was detected through mNGS (15-57570),and 11 patients had mixed infections.In terms of treatment,TMP-SMX,Caspofungin,and methylprednisolone were administered,and 17 patients achieved improvement in their condition.Four patients died,all of whom died from respiratory failure.Conclusion:PJP is a critically ill condition after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,and diagnosis is difficult.Early diagnosis can achieve better prognosis.The sensitivity of mNGS in diagnosing PJP is high,providing the possibility of early and accurate diagnosis for clinical practice,which is worthy of application and promotion.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of tension-type headache(TTH)in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years globally in 1990-2021,and to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of TTH.Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study data,the age-standardized prevalence distribution of TTH and its changing trend were analyzed among the children and adolescents aged 0-19 years,with different sexes,age groups,sociodemographic index(SDI)regions and countries/territories.Results The age-standardized prevalence rate(ASPR)of TTH in children and adolescents aged 0-19 globally in 2021 was 17 339.89/100 000,which was increased by 1.73%since 1990.The ASPR in females was slightly higher than that in males(1990:17 707.65/100 000 vs 16 403.78/100 000;2021:17 946.29/100 000 vs 16 763.09/100 000).The ASPR in adolescence was significantly higher than that in school-aged and preschool periods(1990:27 672.04/100 000 vs 10 134.16/100 000;2021:28 239.04/100 000 vs 10 059.39/100 000).Regions with high SDI exhibited a higher ASPR than the other regions,with significant differences in prevalence rates across different countries.From 1990 to 2021,there was a slight increase in global ASPR,with an average annual percentage change(AAPC)of 0.06%.Females experienced a smaller increase than males based on AAPC(0.04%vs 0.07%).There was reduction in ASPR in preschool and school-aged groups,with an AAPC of-0.02%,while there was a significant increase in ASPR in adolescence,with an AAPC of 0.07%.ASPR decreased in regions with low-middle and low levels of SDI,with an AAPC of-0.02%and-0.04%,respectively,while it increased in regions with middle SDI,with an AAPC of 0.24%.Conclusions There is a consistent increase in the ASPR of TTH in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years globally,with significant differences across sexes,age groups,SDI regions and countries/territories.

Objective To understand the change in distribution and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from blood specimens of Hunan Province,and provide for the initial diagnosis and treatment of clinical bloodstream infection(BSI).Methods Data reported from member units of Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Survei-llance System from 2012 to 2021 were collected.Bacterial antimicrobial resistance surveillance method was imple-mented according to the technical scheme of China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System(CARSS).Bacteria from blood specimens and bacterial antimicrobial susceptibility testing results were analyzed by WHONET 5.6 soft-ware and SPSS 27.0 software.Results A total of 207 054 bacterial strains were isolated from blood specimens from member units in Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System from 2012 to 2021,including 107 135(51.7％)Gram-positive bacteria and 99 919(48.3％)Gram-negative bacteria.There was no change in the top 6 pathogenic bacteria from 2012 to 2021,with Escherichia coli(n=51 537,24.9％)ranking first,followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis(n=29 115,14.1％),Staphylococcus aureus(n=17 402,8.4％),Klebsiella pneu-moniae(17 325,8.4％),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(n=4 010,1.9％)and Acinetobacter baumannii(n=3 598,1.7％).The detection rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)decreased from 30.3％in 2015 to 20.7％in 2021,while the detection rate of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(MRCNS)showed an upward trend year by year(57.9％-66.8％).No Staphylococcus was found to be resistant to vancomy-cin,linezolid,and teicoplanin.Among Gram-negative bacteria,constituent ratios of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 43.9％-53.9％and 14.2％-19.5％,respectively,both showing an upward trend(both P＜0.001).Constituent ratios of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were 3.6％-5.1％and 3.0％-4.5％,respectively,both showing a downward trend year by year(both P＜0.001).From 2012 to 2021,resistance rates of Escherichia coli to imipenem and ertapenem were 1.0％-2.0％and 0.6％-1.1％,respectively;presenting a downward trend(P＜0.001).The resistant rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae to meropenem and ertapenem were 7.4％-13.7％and 4.8％-6.4％,respectively,presenting a downward trend(both P＜0.001).The resistance rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii to carbapenem antibiotics were 7.1％-15.6％and 34.7％-45.7％,respectively.The trend of resistance to carbapenem antibiotics was relatively stable,but has de-creased compared with 2012-2016.The resistance rates of Escherichia coli to the third-generation cephalosporins from 2012 to 2021 were 41.0％-65.4％,showing a downward trend year by year.Conclusion The constituent ra-tio of Gram-negative bacillus from blood specimens in Hunan Province has been increasing year by year,while the detection rate of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacillus remained relatively stable in the past 5 years,and the detection rate of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus has shown a downward trend.

Objective To investigate changes in the distribution and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)specimens in Hunan Province,and provide reference for correct clinical diagnosis and rational antimicrobial use.Methods Data reported by member units of Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System from 2012 to 2021 were collected according to China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Sys-tem(CARSS)technical scheme.Data of bacteria isolated from CSF specimens and antimicrobial susceptibility tes-ting results were analyzed with WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 20.0 software.Results A total of 11 837 bacterial strains were isolated from CSF specimens from member units of Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Sys-tem from 2012 to 2021.The top 5 strains were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(n=6 397,54.0％),Acineto-bacter baumannii(n=764,6.5％),Staphylococcus aureus(n=606,5.1％),Enterococcus faecium(n=465,3.9％),and Escherichia coli(n=447,3.8％).The detection rates of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphyloco-ccus(MRCNS)and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)were 58.9％-66.3％and 34.4％-62.1％,respectively.No Staphylococcus spp.were found to be resistant to vancomycin,linezolid,and teicoplanin.The de-tection rate of Enterococcus faecium was higher than that of Enterococcus faecalis,and the resistance rates of En-terococcus f aecium to penicillin,ampicillin,high concentration streptomycin and levofloxacin were all higher than those of Enterococcus faecalis(all P=0.001).Resistance rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin was 85.0％,at a high level.Resistance rate of Escherichia coli to ceftriaxone was＞60％,while resistance rates to enzyme inhibitors and carbapenem antibiotics were low.Resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae to ceftriaxone was＞60％,to en-zyme inhibitors piperacillin/tazobactam and cefoperazone/sulbactam was＞30％,to carbapenem imipenem and me-ropenem was about 30％.Resistance rates of Acinetobacter baumannii to most tested antimicrobial agents were＞60％,to imipenem and meropenem were 59.0％-79.4％,to polymyxin B was low.Conclusion Among the bac-teria isolated from CSF specimens,coagulase-negative Staphylococcus accounts for the largest proportion,and the overall resistance of pathogenic bacteria is relatively serious.Bacterial antimicrobial resistance surveillance is very important for the effective treatment of central nerve system infection.