Objective To explore the biological functions of pyroptosis-related genes in pneumonic plague using bioinformatics methods,and to evaluate their potential applicability as diagnostic markers.Methods The pneumonic plague-related dataset GSE220123 was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database and screened for differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes(DE-PRGs).The functions of DE-PRGs were studied via Gene Ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses,and immune infiltration analysis.The hub genes were identified via protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis,and further screened for key genes with sustained high expression characteristics based on differential expression analysis.The relative expression levels of the key genes were verified using the reverse transcription real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)method.Results A total of 17 DE-PRGs were screened,and PPI network analysis revealed 7 Hub genes.Among them,Casp4 continued to be up-regulated during the course of pneumonic plague.The results of reverse transcription qPCR were consistent with the those of bioinformatic analyses.Conclusion DE-PRGs play a crucial role in the immune response of pneumonic plague,especially Casp4,which has significant applications as a diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for pneumonic plague.

BackgroundHome-based intervention occupies a prominent place in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder （ASD） in children， whereas previous studies on the effect of home-based early intensive behavioral intervention on verbal ability of children with ASD are somewhat inadequate. ObjectiveTo study the effects of intensive family behavioral of intervention based on Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program （VB-MAPP） on the language ability of children with ASD， so as to provide references for the development of family intervention strategies for children with ASD. MethodsChildren aged 2 to 3 years old who attended the Children's Rehabilitation Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College from September 2020 to December 2021 and met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） diagnostic criteria for ASD were selected as the study objects. A non-randomized concurrent control trial was conducted to compare a study group （n=24） receiving home-based early intensive behavioral intervention using VB-MAPP with a control group （n=14） receiving training from other special institutions or early childhood education institutions. The intervention lasted for 6 months in both groups. Before and after the intervention， the VB-MAPP milestone assessment was performed in the two groups， and the VB-MAPP milestone score， mand， trac and listener responds were selected as the study indicators. Then the intervention effect was compared between two groups， and the multiple linear regression was performed to screen the related influencing factors. ResultsAfter intervention， the total milestone assessment score， mand， tact and listener responds scores of study group were higher than those of control group， with statistical difference （Z=-4.339~-2.195， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Multiple linear regression analysis denoted that the average weekly hours of home-based intervention in the first three months had certain effect on listener responds （β=1.029， P<0.05）. ConclusionApplication of home-based early intensive behavior intervention using VB-MAPP may contribute to the improvement of verbal abilities such as mand， tact and listener responds in children with ASD. ［Funded by 2020 Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Strategy Special Fund （number， 20200601）］

Objective: To investigate the expression of cortactin in colorectal cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. Methods: The expressions of cortactin in normal colorectal mucosal tissue and colorectal cancer tissue in paraffin-embedded tissue microarray from 319 patients who were diagnosed as colorectal cancer and treated in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2006 to 2009 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test were used for survival analysis, and Cox proportional risk regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The positive expression rates of cortactin in colorectal cancer tissue and normal colorectal mucosal tissue were 61.1% (195/319) and 5.6% (18/319, P<0.001), respectively. T-stage, N-stage, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, degree of tumor differentiation, neural invasion and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were associated with the expression of cortactin (P<0.05). The positive expression of cortactin was associated with poorer disease-free survival (P=0.036) and overall survival (P=0.043), and the effect was more significant in patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ. For patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colorectal cancer, postoperative adjuvant therapy was associated with disease-free survival (P=0.007) and overall survival (P=0.015). The vascular tumor embolus, pathological type, preoperative CEA level and cortactin expression were independent influencing factors for disease-free survival (P<0.05). The age, AJCC stage, preoperative CEA level and cortactin expression were independent influencing factors for overall survival (P<0.05). Preoperative CEA level and cortactin expression were independent influencing factors for disease-free survival and overall survival (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cortactin is expressed in colorectal cancer and in stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ patients, it is a potential predictor of colorectal cancer prognosis.
Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen/metabolism* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cortactin/metabolism* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE：To provide th e ideas a nd for individualized anti-infective treatment of infection after surgery for infants and young children with intussusception and enterobrosis ，and to provide reference for clinical pharmacists participating in the clinical treatment. METHODS ：Clinical pharmacists optimized the anti-infection program for an 11-month-old infant patient infected after surgery with intussusception and enterobrosis in Ordos Central Hospital ；they put forward medication suggestions in respects of the selection of initial anti-infection treatment program ，drug replacement ，the selection of anti-infection treatment program after blood culture showed Enterococcus coli and Enterococcus faecium ，and dosage adjustment. RESULTS ：According to the judgment of the common pathogens and the hospital or community infections in the infant patient with intussusception and enterobrosis，cefoperazone sulbactam 1.0 g，q12 h was adjusted to cefoperazone sulbactam 0.5 g，q8 h combined with Metronidazole chloride sodium injection 20 mL，q8 h；when the blood culture showed E. coli （ESBL-）and E. faecium ，it was recommended to add vancomycin 0.15 g，q12 h. After poor treatment ，it was recommended to adjust the vancomycin dose to 0.2 g，q8 h. All the above suggestions were adopted by doctors. And the child ’s body temperature dropped after treatment ，the blood culture turned negative and laboratory indicators returned to normal. The child was discharged smoothly. CONCLUSIONS ：Infants and young children are special groups. Therefore ，before using antibiotics ，clinical pharmacists should evaluate the age ，body weight ，liver and kidney functions of infants and young children. They should also help doctors select and adjust drugs ，frequency and dosage on the basis of pharmacokinetic characteristics and safety ，so as to avoid adverse drug reactions while ensure curative effect.

Objective: To study the efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes of integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell (ASCT) and maintenance therapy in Chinese multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Methods: 200 MM patients receiving integrated strategy of bortezomib--based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy were retrospectively and prospectively analyzed from December 1. 2006 to April 30. 2018. Results: The complete remission rates (CR) and better than very good partial remission rates (VGPR) after induction therapy, transplantation and maintenance therapy were respectively 31% and 75.5%, 51.8% and 87.7%,73.6% and 93.4%. There was no difference between 4 cycles and more than 5 cycles induction chemotherapy. The negative rate of MRD detection by flow cytometry was 17.6% and 38.2% respectively after induction and 3 months after transplantation. The negative rate of MRD gradually increased during the maintenance therapy. The success rate of high dose CTX combined with G-CSF mobilization was 95.5% and transplantation related mortality (TRM) was zero. The median time to progress (TTP) was 75.3 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 99.5 months. TTP of patients obtaining CR and negative MRD after induction were longer that those of no CR and positive MRD. TTP and OS of patients receiving triple-drug induction and ASCT in early stage were longer than those of double-drug induction and ASCT in late stage. LDH≥240 U/L, high risk cytogenetics, ISS II+III stage and HBsAg positive were prognostic factors at diagnosis. However, only MRD and high risk cytogenetics were independent prognostic factors after transplantation and maintenance therapy. The clinical characteristics of patients of TTP ≥6 years were listed below: light-chain type M protein, ISS I stage, normal level of hemoglobin and platelet, normal LDH, HBsAg negative, chromosome 17p-negative, good response and sustained good response. Conclusions: Integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy can significantly improve the short-term and long-term efficacy. The prognostic factors of TTP in different disease stages were different. Response to treatment, especially MRD, played a more important role in prognostic factors.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Bortezomib/therapeutic use* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Multiple Myeloma/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To compare the postoperative analgesic effect between serratus plane block and thoracic paravertebral block in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery.Methods Sixty patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery, 38 males and 22 females, aged 18-65, BMI 18-25 kg/m2, falling into ASA physical status I or II.They were divided into groups S and T by random number table, 30 cases in each group.Two groups of patients were treated with general anesthesia with endobronchial intubation and PCIA after operation.Group S performed Ultrasound-guided serratus plane block and group T performed thoracic paravertebral block, 0.4％ropivacaine 30 ml were used in the two groups.The two groups of patients were observed 30 min after block, and the sensory block plane was measured with acupuncture and recorded.Recording operation time, onset time and duration of the block.Resting and cough VAS score were recorded at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hafter surgery.The first pressing time of the analgesic pump and times of press analgesic pump, the amount of sufentanil used and times the number of cases of useing piperidine were recorded within 48 hafter operation.Block related complications and analgesic related adverse reactions were recorded.Results Compared with group T, the operation time of the block obviously shortening but the duration obviously lengthening (P<0.01).Resting and cough VAS score at 12 hafter surgery significantly was lower (P<0.01).The first pressing time of the analgesic pump obviously lengthening, the number of press analgesic pump and the amount of sufentanil used significantly were reduced (P<0.01) in group S.Conclusion Ultrasound guided SP block and TPVB block can provide good postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery, but SP block is more durable, with less operation time and complications than TPVB block, and can effectively reduce the opioid demand and incidence of nausea and vomiting after operation.

BACKGROUND: Previous Caucasian studies have described venous thromboembolism in pregnancy; however, little is known about its incidence during pregnancy and early postpartum period in the Chinese population. We investigated the risk of venous thromboembolism in a “real-world” cohort of pregnant Chinese women with no prior history of venous thromboembolism. METHODS: In this observational study, 15,325 pregnancies were identified in 14,162 Chinese women at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong between January 2004 and September 2016. Demographic data, obstetric information, and laboratory and imaging data were retrieved and reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age at pregnancy was 32.4±5.3 years, and the median age was 33 years (interquartile range, 29–36 yr). Pre-existing or newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus was present in 627 women (4.1%); 359 (0.7%) women had pre-existing or newly detected hypertension. There was a small number of women with pre-existing heart disease and/or rheumatic conditions. Most deliveries (86.0%) were normal vaginal; the remaining were Cesarean section 2,146 (14.0%). The incidence of venous thromboembolism was 0.4 per 1,000 pregnancies, of which 83.3% were deep vein thrombosis and 16.7% were pulmonary embolism. In contrast to previous studies, 66.7% of venous thrombosis occurred in the first trimester. CONCLUSION: Chinese women had a substantially lower risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy and the postpartum period compared to that of Caucasians. The occurrence of pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism was largely confined to the early pregnancy period, probably related to the adoption of thromboprophylaxis, a lower rate of Cesarean section, and early mobilization.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cesarean Section ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Early Ambulation ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Observational Study ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnant Women ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Venous Thromboembolism ; Venous Thrombosis

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestation and electrophysiological, muscle imaging and pathological, molecular features of oculopharyngodistal myopathy (OPDM). Methods The clinical electrophysiological, muscle imaging and pathological, molecular data was collected from a case of OPDM. Data analysis was conducted together with a literature. Results The onset age of the patient was 25 years old. The sequential order of involved muscle was upper eyelid muscle, external ocular, laryngopharyngeal, facial, distal limb muscle and proximal upper limb. Serum creatine kinase was mildly elevated. Electromyography revealed myogenic changes with demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. Myopathological findings showed myopathic changes with rimmed vacuoles . Muscle image showed that fatty replacement of was more severe in lower legs than in thigh. Posterior muscle was severely involved in lower legs. All known genes responsible for distal and myofibrillar myopathies, vacuolar myopathies, and muscular dystrophies were excluded by targeted next-generation sequencing. Conclusion The case is a sporadic case. OPDM is a disease with a unique phenotype which not only affects muscle but also involves multiple system (demyelinating peripheral neuropathy、heart disease and so on).

AIM:To investigate the role of prostaglandin E2receptor 2 agonist (EP2A) in proliferation and homing of human CD34 +cells. METHODS:Bone marrow fluid and peripheral blood containing stem cells were collected from healthy donors mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in our department. Human CD34 +cells were isolated by the method of magnetic-activated cell sorting microbeads. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll-Paque centrifugation,and the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMMSC) were cultured with L-DMEM. Human CD34 +cells and BMMSC were divided into 4 groups,and treated with PGE2(as positive control),DMSO(as negative control),EP2A and EP2A+prostaglandin E2receptor 2 antagonist (EP2AA),respectively. After exposed to the reagents,human CD34 +cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay,the number of colonies was evaluated by colony-formation assay,the cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry,and the protein expression of survivin,β-catenin and CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) was detrmined by Western blot. Moreover, the concentration of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) in the BMMSC was detected by ELISA. RESULTS:The cell viability and the colony number of human CD34 +cells in EP2A group were not higher than those in negative control group. Furthermore,the proportion of human CD34 +cells treated with EP2A in G2/M phase was not elevated compared with negative control group. The protein expression of survivin and β-cate-nin did not up-regulated in human CD34 +cells exposed to EP2A,but the protein expression of CXCR4 in human CD34 +cells and the concentration of SDF-1α in BMMSC were elevated. CONCLUSION:EP2A promotes human CD34 +cell homing in vitro but not proliferation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential signaling pathway that regulates the proliferation of human CD34cells stimulated by prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 agonist (EP4A) in vitro.

METHODSTwenty samples of peripheral blood containing stem cells were collected from the G-CSF mobilized healthy donors in our department of hematology. Human CD34cells were isolated by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) microbeads kit. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay was used to determine the optimal concentration and time of EP4A to promote human CD34cell proliferation in vitro. Under the optimal condition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect mRNA level of β-catenin, and Western blot was used to assay protein expression of β-catenin and P-GSK-3β in human CD34cells treated with EP4A.

RESULTSCulturing with 10 µmol/L EP4A for 72 h, it was found that EP4A promoted human CD34cell proliferation significantly, and the proliferation rate of human CD34cells was 1.36 times higher than that of the control(P=0.002). Under the optimal condition, it was also found that EP4A enhanced the β-catenin expression at both mRNA and protein levels, and up-regulated phosphorylation of GSK-3β in human CD34cells, but these effects could be inhibited by the EP4A antagonist EP4AA.

CONCLUSIONEP4A can enhance human CD34cell proliferation in vitro by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.