Objective: To explore the differential lipid metabolites in the plasma of mice with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF). Methods : Thirty SPF C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into 2 groups with 15 mice in each group. The experimental groups were divided into control group and bleomycin(BLM) group. The model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was induced by one-time intratracheal infusion of BLM(1 mg/kg). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the lung histopathology. The collagen fiber deposition in lung tissue was observed by Sirius red staining. The differential lipid metabolites in plasma of IPF mice were screened and enriched by lipidomics. Results : HE staining showed that the pulmonary tissue structure was disordered, alveolar septum was broken and alveolar wall was destroyed in BLM group. Sirius red staining showed a large amount of collagen fiber deposition in the lung interstitium of BLM group. The results of lipidomics analysis showed that the lipid metabolism profile of BLM group changed, 15 differential lipid metabolites were screened out, of which 11 differential lipid metabolites were up-regulated, and 4 differential lipid metabolites were down-regulated, mainly concentrated in glycerophosphoglycerophosphates, glycerophosphocholines, steroid lactones, etc. Conclusion The lipid metabolism profile of BLM group mice changes, differential lipid metabolites such as phosphoglycolate phosphatase(PGP)(18:0/18:0), PGP(i-12:0/i-24:0), PGP(i-13:0/a-25:0), and phosphatidylcholine(PC)(18:0/14:0), PC(18:3/16:0), lysophosphatidylcholine(LPC)(16:1), and LPC(18:3) may play an important role in the progression of IPF. These findings provide a new reference for further study of the molecular mechanism of IPF, and also provide a potential new target for clinical treatment.

Objective To screen and analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to oxidative stress in a silicosis mouse model using transcriptome sequencing technology. Methods i) A total of 30 workers without occupational dust-exposed history were selected as the control group and 17 patients with silicosis were selected as the silicosis group using a judgment sampling method. The levels of glutathione and malondialdehyde in the plasma of workers in the two groups were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ii) RAW264.7 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were randomly divided into the control group and the silica group, treated with 0 and 50 mg/L silica suspensions for 24 hours. Protein expression of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cells was determined by Western blotting. iii) The specific pathogen free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group and the silicosis model group, with 10 mice in each group. Mice were exposed to 50 μL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution and silica suspension at a mass concentration of 100 g/L, respectively, using a single tracheal exposure method. After 28 days of exposure, the pathological changes of mouse lung tissues were observed. Transcriptome sequencing was used to screen DEGs in the lung tissues of the silicosis mouse model, and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed. The expression of DEGs was verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results i) The level of malondialdehyde in the patients′ plasma was higher (P<0.01), while the level of glutathione was lower (P<0.01) in the silicosis group than that of the control group. ii) The relative expression of SOD2 protein decreased (P<0.05), while the relative expression of IL-6 and TNF-α proteins increased (all P<0.05) in the silica group of RAW264.7 cells compared with the control group. iii) The pathological results of lung tissues showed that the alveolar structure of mice was destroyed and silicotic nodules were formed in the silicosis model group. Transcriptome sequencing identified 3 703 DEGs, of which 3 199 were significantly down-regulated and 504 were significantly up-regulated. The GO enrichment analysis results showed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in biological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, immunity and hypoxia, with cellular components mainly located in membranes, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Molecular functions were enriched in oxidoreductase activity, protein binding, and adenosine triphosphate binding. The KEGG enrichment analysis results showed that the DEGs were mainly involved in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, and apoptosis signaling pathway. A total of 28 DEGs involved in the "oxidative stress response" pathway were screened by GO enrichment analysis. The qPCR verification results showed that the relative expression of DEGs carbonic anhydrase 3 (Car3), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (Mmp9), and MutY DNA glycosylase (Mutyh) involved in the "oxidative stress response" of lung tissues in the silicosis model group were lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion Oxidative stress response exists in silicosis patients. The oxidative stress-related genes Car3, Mmp9, and Mutyh are altered in the mouse lung tissues of the silicosis model through the oxidative stress pathway, suggesting that they could be new targets for the treatment of silicosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of acupuncture combined with Du-Moxibustion (ADM) on peripheral blood cell count and levels of immune factors in patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning. Methods A total of 70 patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning (leukopenia and neutropenia) were selected as the research subjects by judgement sampling method. They were randomly divided into a control group and an ADM group using a random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with conventional Western medicine such as leukocyte boosting and symptomatic treatment. While patients in the ADM group were treated with ADM treatment in addition to treatments of the control group, once per week for five consecutive weeks. Peripheral blood samples of patients were collected before and after treatment from both groups, to detect cell counts and serum levels of immune factors. Results The white blood cell count, red blood cell count, absolute lymphocyte count, absolute neutrophil count, platelet count, and levels of hemoglobin, immunoglobulins (Ig) A, IgM, IgG, complement C3 and complement C4 of patients in both groups improved after treatment compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). The white blood cell count, levels of IgA, IgM, IgG, complement C3 and complement C4 of patients in the ADM group were higher than those in the control group after treatment (all P<0.05). Conclusion ADM treatment can increase peripheral blood white blood cells and serum levels of immune factor in patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning (leukopenia, neutropenia), which helps improve patient recovery and can be promoted clinically.

Objective To investigate the effects of long-term exposure to three new types of light emitting diode (LED) sources on the behavior, learning, and memory of rats. Methods A total of 160 specific pathogen-free SD rats were divided into eight groups as followed, trichromatic fluorescent lamps color temperature control group, violet-chip full-spectrum white LED group, blue-chip white LED group, and blue-chip full-spectrum white LED group based on the light sources types, with color temperature of 4 000 K and 6 500 K groups in each group using the 4×2 factorial design. There were 20 rats in each group, with half of the rats were males and half females. Rats were exposed to artificial lighting, and the illumination was set at 750 lx. The rats in each group were exposed to different lighting environments for 12 hours per day for 24 weeks. The open-field and step-down tests were conducted in rats after 24 weeks exposure, followed by sacrifice of rats and measurement of organ coefficients. Differences in body weight, organ coefficients, and neurobehavioral indexes of rats in different groups were compared. Results The spleen coefficient of female rats decreased in blue-chip white LED of 6 500 K color temperature group, and the liver coefficient of male rats decreased in the violet-chip full-spectrum white LED of 4 000 K color temperature, blue-chip full-spectrum white LED of 4 000 K color temperature, and blue-chip full-spectrum white LED of 6 500 K color temperature groups, compared with the same-sex rats in trichromatic fluorescent lamps with same-color temperature control group (all P<0.05). The result of different types of light sources compared in the open-field test showed that the index of total distance and movement speed of female rats in the blue-chip full-spectrum white LED group were lower than those in the other three groups, and the time cost to the central area was longer than that in the blue-chip white LED group and the violet-chip full-spectrum white LED group (all P<0.05). The total distance and movement speed of male rats in the blue-chip full-spectrum white LED group were longer or higher than those in the violet-chip full-spectrum white LED group (all P<0.05). Based on the comparison of color temperature, the time and total distance of male rats in 6 500 K color temperature group were lower than that in the 4 000 K color temperature group (both P<0.05). In the step-down test, both male and female rats in the blue-chip full-spectrum white LED group made more errors compared with other three groups with the same gender (all P<0.05). Conclusion Based on the experimental conditions of this study, the blue-chip full-spectrum white light LED affects behavior, learning and memory of the rats, and trichromatic fluorescent lamp has the lowest effect on neurobehavior. The color temperature also affects behavior of the rats, and high color temperature has higher risk.

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods and genotypes of neonatal chronic granulomatous disease(CGD).Methods:From April 2013 to August 2020, neonates admitted to our hospital, diagnosed with neonatal CGD and confirmed using neutrophil respiratory burst test and genetic testing were retrospectively studied. Their clinical characteristics and diagnostic methods were summarized.Results:A total of eleven neonates with CGD were enrolled, including ten males and one female. The age of onset was 3-23 d and the age of admission was 11-28 d. 3 cases had family history. The initial symptoms were fever (10 cases) and coughing (1 case). The accompanying symptoms included coughing (6 cases), dyspnea (4 cases), skin pustules (3 cases), fever (1 case) and diarrhea (1 case). Lung CT showed patchy shadows (6 cases), pulmonary nodules (3 cases), round and irregular high-density shadow (1 case), pulmonary consolidation (1 case), pleural effusion (1 case) and pleural thickening (2 cases). CGD was pathologically diagnosed in one patient. Sputum culture showed Candida albicans (3 cases), Aspergillus fumigatum (2 cases), Aspergillus fumigatum combined with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli (1 case), Aspergillus fumigatum combined with Staphylococcus aureus (1 case). GM tests were positive in two cases and negative in other two cases. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were negative. White blood cell counts were (10.0-44.0)×10 9/L and C-reactive proteins were (14-165) mg/L. 11 cases had positive neutrophil respiratory burst test. Genetic tests showed CYBB gene mutations (9 cases) , NCF1 gene mutation(1 case) and NCF2 gene mutation (1 case). All cases received antibacterial and antifungal treatments for 2-5 weeks and were discharged with improvement. 8 patients survived, 5 received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 4 succeeded and one failed and continued to survive on oral medication. 3 cases took sulfamethoxazole, voriconazole or itraconazole orally for long periods. 3 cases died of severe infections after withdrawal of medication. Conclusions:Neonatal CGD is characterized by lung infections. Pulmonary CT shows mostly nodular or patchy shadows with occasional pulmonary consolidation or pleural effusion. It can be diagnosed by neutrophil respiratory burst test and genetic testing. X-linked CYBB gene mutations are common and autosomal recessive NCF1/NCF2 gene mutations less common.

Objective:To study the genetic profiles and clinical characteristics of neonatal-onset genetic epilepsy.Methods:From July 2016 to May 2021, patients with neonatal-onset genetic epilepsy admitted to our hospital and received second-generation genetic sequencing were enrolled in this study. According to the types of genetic variations, the patients were assigned into ion channel group and non-ion channel group. Clinical characteristics, treatments and prognosis of the two groups were compared.Results:A total of 36 patients with identified genetic variations were enrolled, involving 15 epilepsy-related genes. KCNQ2, SCN2A and STXBP1 were the most common pathogenic genes. 20 cases (55.6%) were in the ion channel group and 16 cases (44.4%) in the non-ion channel group. No significant differences existed in their general status, seizure types, EEG characteristics, treatments and outcomes between the two groups ( P>0.05). Among all 36 cases, the age of onset ranged from 10 min to 24 d after birth and 28 cases (78.8%) developed epilepsy within 1 week after birth. Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies were diagnosed in 20 patients. 7 patients were diagnosed with self-limited neonatal epilepsy, 2 were pyridoxine dependence, 2 were Zellweger syndrome and 1 case of self-limited familial neonatal-infantile epilepsy, Turner type mental retardation with epilepsy, PURA syndrome, Rett syndrome and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, each. The patients received antiepileptic drugs including phenobarbital, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, valproic acid, benzodiazepines (nizepam/clonazepam /clobazam/midazolam), lacosamide and lamotrigine. 5 patients died after giving up treatment. 31 patients were followed up for 6 to 50 months. 22 cases (71.0%) were controlled at 1- to 35-month-old including 21 cases (56.7%) with developmental delay. 6 cases (19.4%) had ineffective seizure control and 3 cases (9.7%) showed reduced seizures, all with varying degrees of developmental delay. Conclusions:Neonatal-onset epilepsy is correlated with multiple genes. KCNQ2, SCN2A, STXBP1 are the common pathogenic genes with multiple variants of KCNQ2 gene. Most patients have seizures within 1 week after birth. More than half of patients have ion channel related gene variations. Sodium channel blockers have certain effects as treatment.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features and prognosis of neonates with congenital fissure of larynx due to choking, and improve the diagnosis and treatment of congenital fissure of larynx by neonatal medical professionals.Methods:This study was a single-center retrospective case series report.With "choking" as the key word, combined with the information from the first page of the medical record, we searched in the electronic medical record system, and summarized the clinical characteristics and prognosis of neonates diagnosed as congenital fissure of larynx.The study period was from January 2017 to February 2021.Results:A total of seven cases were diagnosed as congenital fissure of larynx, accounting for 2.2% of the total number of hospitalized children due to choking during the same period.Among them, six cases were male, gestational age was 38 (36, 39) weeks, birth weight was 2 820 (2 255, 3 420) g, admission age was 18(5, 20) days and hospitalization duration was 26 (6, 45) days.The common clinical symptoms were choking (7/7) and cyanosis (5/7). Six of the seven children with fissure of larynx were clearly classified as type Ⅰ(two cases), type Ⅲ(three cases), and type Ⅳ(one case). All the seven cases were accompanied by other site/tracheal malformations or congenital abnormalities, among which four (4/7) cases had VACTERL syndrome.A total of three children (two cases of type Ⅲ and one case of type Ⅳ) underwent laryngeal cleft repair operation, and all died shortly after surgery.Four cases didn′t receive laryngeal cleft repair operation (two cases of type Ⅰ, one case of type Ⅲ, one case of parting was unknown), one case with type Ⅰ fissure of larynx accepted the tracheoesophageal fistula repair operation only, who was followed up until the age of two years and six months, and he could have normal diet, one case of typeⅠfissure of larynx with gastric tube discharge, who was followed up to one year and eight months old, could be normal diet too, the two cases of children with no difference between the growth with their peers; one case with type Ⅲ fissure of larynx was lost to follow-up; One case, whose classification was unknown, was followed up until he was 40 days old, and still could be fed orally.The physical development of the child was significantly behind that of the same age.Conclusion:Congenital fissure of larynx is rare, with choking as its main symptom and other malformations.Diagnosis and classification require fiberlaryngoscope and bolting laryngoscope under general anesthesia combined with bronchoscopy, which is difficult to treat.Type Ⅰ has a good prognosis, while type Ⅲ and Ⅳ have poor prognosis.

The goal of this study was to identify MSX1 gene variants in multiple Chinese families with nonsyndromic oligodontia and analyse the functional influence of these variants. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify the causal gene variants in five families with nonsyndromic oligodontia, and a series of bioinformatics databases were used for variant confirmation and functional prediction. Phenotypic characterization of the members of these families was described, and an in vitro analysis was performed for functional evaluation. Five novel MSX1 heterozygous variants were identified: three missense variants [c.662A>C (p.Q221P), c.670C>T (p.R224C), and c.809C>T (p.S270L)], one nonsense variant [c.364G>T (p.G122*)], and one frameshift variant [c.277delG (p.A93Rfs*67)]. Preliminary in vitro studies demonstrated that the subcellular localization of MSX1 was abnormal with the p.Q221P, p.R224C, p.G122*, and p.A93Rfs*67 variants compared to the wild type. Three variants (p.Q221P, p.G122*, and p.A93Rfs*67) were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic, while p.S270L and p.R224C were of uncertain significance in the current data. Moreover, we summarized and analysed the MSX1-related tooth agenesis positions and found that the type and variant locus were not related to the severity of tooth loss. Our results expand the variant spectrum of nonsyndromic oligodontia and provide valuable information for genetic counselling.
Anodontia/genetics* ; Humans ; MSX1 Transcription Factor/genetics* ; Pedigree ; Whole Exome Sequencing

Objective:To study the clinical features and prognosis of infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma-arteriovenous fistula (IHHE-AVF) complicated with heart failure in neonates.Method:From May 2016 to June 2020, neonates with IHHE-AVF complicated with heart failure admitted were retrospectively studied. The clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes were analyzed.Result:A total of 11 cases of IHHE-AVF complicated with heart failure were enrolled (male 5, female 6). The onset age of heart failure was 12.0 (0.0, 17.0) d. 6 cases showed IHHE on fetal ultrasound. All patients had significantly enlarged heart on chest X-ray. All patients had decreased left ventricular systolic function and pulmonary hypertension on echocardiography. All patients required respiratory support and 6 of them were intubated. 3 cases received conservative treatment (all dead). 1 case received surgery (dead). 7 cases received interventional therapy at the age of (25.6±18.5) d. 1 case was dead, and the other 6 cases were improved and discharged. All the 6 cases were followed up to 3~18 months. None of them had heart failure again. The IHHE were shrunk or completely disappeared. Coagulation function and platelet count were normal.Conclusion:The fatality rate of neonatal-onset IHHE-AVF complicated with heart failure is extremely high. Interventional therapy may be more effective than conservative therapy and surgery.

Objective:To investigate the expression of circ0008234 and miR-1205 in breast cancer and the oncology characteristics of CT.Methods:40 patients with breast cancer were collected as observational objects from Jan.2018 to Dec.2018 and 40 patients without breast cancer were selected as the control group. The expression levels of circ0008234 and miR-1205 of all patients were estimated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Bioinformatics was used for the predictions of circ0008234 target miRNA. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the interaction between circ0008234 and miR-1205. All patients of the observation group were examined by multi-slice CT. CT images were analyzed through observing tumor size, shape, calcification area, lymph node metastasis and margin. The correlation between CT signs and the expression of circ0008234 and miR-1205 was further analyzed.Results:The levels of circ0008234 of observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (2.23±0.86, 1.07±0.37, P=0.00) , but the expression levels of miR-1205 were lower than the control group (0.76±0.29, 1.04±0.29, P=0.00) . In the observation group, there were no significant differences in the expression of circ0008234 and miR-1205 among patients with different tumor marginal morphology and micro calcifications. However the expression of circ0008234 in patients with regular lump form were significantly higher than those in patients with inregular form (2.52±0.88, 1.91±0.74, P=0.025) , and the expression of miR-1205 were lower than those in patients with inregular form (0.66±0.30, 0.86±0.25, P=0.025) . In the observation group, the expression of circ0008234 in patients with mass diameter≥2 cm were significantly higher than those in patients with mass diameter<2 cm (2.59±0.95, 1.69±0.17, P=0.001) , but the expression of miR-1205 were lower than those in patients with mass diameter<2 cm (0.65±0.21, 0.92±0.33, P=0.003) . In the observation group, the expression of circ0008234 in patients with lymph node metastasis were higher than those without lymph node metastasis (2.55±1.09, 1.94±0.44, P=0.022) , but the expression of miR-1205 in patients with lymph node metastasis were lower than those without lymph node metastasis (0.65±0.26, 0.85±0.30, P=0.027) . miR-1205 was verified as a direct target of circ0008234 by luciferase assay. circ0008234 could negatively regulate the expression of miR-1205. Conclusion:There is a correlation between CT imaging signs and the expression of circ0008234 and miR-1205 in patients with breast cancer, which can provide more reference for the judgment of malignant degree and prognosis of patients with breast cancer.