OBJECTIVES: To investigate the molecular epidemiology of children with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Gansu, China, providing foundational data for intervention strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 159 PKU families who attended Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital from January 2012 to December 2024. Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, whole exome sequencing, and deep intronic variant analysis were used to analyze the PAH gene. RESULTS: For the 1 159 children with PKU, 2 295 variants were identified in 2 318 alleles, resulting in a detection rate of 99.01%. The detection rates were 100% (914/914) in 457 classic PKU families, 99.45% (907/912) in 456 mild PKU families, and 96.34% (474/492) in 246 mild hyperphenylalaninemia families. The 2 295 variants detected comprised 208 distinct mutation types, among which c.728G>A (14.95%, 343/2 295) had the highest frequency, followed by c.611A>G (4.88%, 112/2 295) and c.721C>T (4.79%, 110/2 295). The cumulative frequency of the top 23 hotspot variants reached 70.28% (1 613/2 295), and most variant alleles were detected in exon 7 (29.19%, 670/2 295). CONCLUSIONS Deep intronic variant analysis of the PAH gene can improve the genetic diagnostic rate of PKU. The development of targeted detection kits for PAH hotspot variants may enable precision screening programs and enhance preventive strategies for PKU.
Humans ; Phenylketonurias/epidemiology* ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase/genetics* ; Mutation ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Child ; Infant

BACKGROUND: Children's respiratory health demonstrates particular sensitivity to air pollution. Existing evidence investigating the association between short-term ozone (O₃) exposure and childhood pneumonia remains insufficient and inconsistent, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHOD: To provide more reliable and persuasive evidence, we implemented a multi-city, time-stratified case-crossover design with a large sample size, using data from seven representative children's hospitals across major geographical regions in China. To avoid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, individual-level medical records of inpatient children under 6 years of age diagnosed with pneumonia during 2016-2019 were collected. Conditional logistic regression models were fitted for each city, and city-specific estimates were pooled through a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. RESULTS: In total, the study included 137,470 pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. The highest pooled estimate for O₃ occurred at lag0-1, with a 10 µg/m³ increase in O₃ associated with a 1.57% (95% CI: 0.67%-2.48%) higher risk of pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. Stratified analyses indicated that the effects of O₃ were robust across different sexes, age groups, and admission seasons. We also observed a statistically significant increase in risk associated with O₃ concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (WHO-AQGs). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a significant positive association between O₃ and pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. Our findings substantially strengthen the evidence base for the adverse health impacts of O₃, underscoring the importance of O₃ pollution control and management in reducing the public health burden of pediatric pneumonia.
Humans ; Ozone/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Pneumonia/chemically induced* ; Child, Preschool ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Cross-Over Studies ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data* ; Child ; Cities/epidemiology* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Infant, Newborn ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*

Purpose::To identify the risk factors for training-related lower extremity muscle injuries in young males by a non-invasive method of body composition analysis.Methods::A total of 282 healthy young male volunteers aged 18 -20 years participated in this cohort study. Injury location, degree, and injury rate were adjusted by a questionnaire based on the overuse injury assessment methods used in epidemiological studies of sports injuries. The occurrence of training injuries is monitored and diagnosed by physicians and treated accordingly. The body composition was measured using the BodyStat QuadScan 4000 multifrequency Bio-impedance system at 5, 50, 100 and 200 kHz to obtain 4 impedance values. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check whether the data conformed to a normal distribution. Data of normal distribution were shown as mean ± SD and analyzed by t-test, while those of non-normal distribution were shown as median (Q 1, Q 3) and analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test. The receiver operator characteristic curve and logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate risk factors for developing training-related lower extremity injuries and accuracy. Results::Among the 282 subjects, 78 (27.7%) developed training injuries. Lower extremity training injuries revealed the highest incidence, accounting for 23.4% (66 cases). These patients showed higher percentages of lean body mass ( p = 0.001), total body water (TBW, p=0.006), extracellular water ( p=0.020) and intracellular water ( p=0.010) as well as a larger ratio of basal metabolic rate/total weight ( p=0.006), compared with those without lower extremity muscle injuries. On the contrary, the percentage of body fat ( p=0.001) and body fat mass index ( p=0.002) were lower. Logistic regression analysis showed that TBW percentage > 65.35% ( p=0.050, odds ratio =3.114) and 3rd space water > 0.95% ( p=0.045, odds ratio =2.342) were independent risk factors for lower extremity muscle injuries. Conclusion::TBW percentage and 3rd space water measured with bio-impedance method are potential risk factors for predicting the incidence of lower extremity muscle injuries in young males following training.

The advantages of fluorescence detection of uric acid were introduced compared to the traditional detection methods.The preparation process,detection principle and performance of organic,inorganic and organic-inorganic hybrid fluorescent probes were reviewed.The advantages and disadvantages of kinds of fluorescent probes were analyzed when used for uric acid detection,and the futural directions were pointed out for related research.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(6):93-104]

Objective:To explore potential predictors of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in early stage. Methods:The prospective multicenter study was conducted in Zhejiang, China from May 1 st, 2019 to January 31 st, 2020. A total of 1 428 patients with fever >48 hours to <120 hours were studied. Their clinical data and oral pharyngeal swab samples were collected; Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA in pharyngeal swab specimens was detected. Patients with positive Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA results underwent a series of tests, including chest X-ray, complete blood count, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and procalcitonin. According to the occurrence of RMPP, the patients were divided into two groups, RMPP group and general Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (GMPP) group. Measurement data between the 2 groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between clinical data and RMPP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyse the power of the markers for predicting RMPP. Results:A total of 1 428 patients finished the study, with 801 boys and 627 girls, aged 4.3 (2.7, 6.3) years. Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA was positive in 534 cases (37.4%), of whom 446 cases (83.5%) were diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, including 251 boys and 195 girls, aged 5.2 (3.3, 6.9) years. Macrolides-resistant variation was positive in 410 cases (91.9%). Fifty-five cases were with RMPP, 391 cases with GMPP. The peak body temperature before the first visit and LDH levels in RMPP patients were higher than that in GMPP patients (39.6 (39.1, 40.0) vs. 39.2 (38.9, 39.7) ℃, 333 (279, 392) vs. 311 (259, 359) U/L, both P<0.05). Logistic regression showed the prediction probability π=exp (-29.7+0.667×Peak body temperature (℃)+0.004×LDH (U/L))/(1+exp (-29.7+0.667×Peak body temperature (℃)+0.004 × LDH (U/L))), the cut-off value to predict RMPP was 0.12, with a consensus of probability forecast of 0.89, sensitivity of 0.89, and specificity of 0.67; and the area under ROC curve was 0.682 (95% CI 0.593-0.771, P<0.01). Conclusion:In MPP patients with fever over 48 to <120 hours, a prediction probability π of RMPP can be calculated based on the peak body temperature and LDH level before the first visit, which can facilitate early identification of RMPP.

Objective To investigate the mechanism through which RgpB,a virulence factor of Porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg),induces chemoresistance in esophageal squamous carcinoma.Methods The autophagy-regulating factors that interact with RgpB were screened by immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry.The interaction between RgpB and the autophagy regulator TBC1D5 was investigated using co-immunoprecipitation.The impact of Pg infection on the expression of esophageal cancer cell membrane receptor molecule Cx43 was assessed using Western blotting.Immunofluorescence assay was used to analyze the relationship among Lamp1,Cx43 and TBC1D5.The effect of Pg infection on autophagosome-lysosome fusion was evaluated using autophagy double fluorescence technique.The effects of Pg infection and a Cx43 inhibitor on proliferation of esophageal cancer cells after chemotherapy were examined with plate cloning assay and CCK-8 method.Results Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry identified TBC1D5 as an autophagy regulator interacting with RgpB,and co-immunoprecipitation suggested that RgpB could directly bind to TBC1D5.In Pg-infected esophageal cancer cells,the expression of Cx43 on the cell membrane was significantly higher than that in non-infected cells.Immunofluorescence assay showed that the expression of Cx43 on the membrane of esophageal cancer cells increased significantly after Pg infection,which blocked autophagosome-lysosome fusion as shown by stubRFP-sensGFP-LC3 lentivirus study.Plate cloning assay and CCK-8 assay showed that the Cx43 inhibitor significantly attenuated the effect of Pg infection for promoting proliferation of esophageal cancer cells after chemotherapy.Conclusion Pg infection in esophageal cancer blocked autophagosome-lysosome fusion in the tumor cells,thereby preventing Cx43 from lysosomal degradation and leading to chemoresistance of esophageal cancer.

In recent years, nucleic acid therapy, as a revolutionary therapeutic tool, has shown great potential in the treatment of genetic diseases, infectious diseases and cancer. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently the most advanced mRNA delivery carriers, and their emergence is an important reason for the rapid approval and use of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and the development of mRNA therapy. Currently, mRNA therapeutics using LNP as a carrier have been widely used in protein replacement therapy, vaccines and gene editing. Conventional LNP is composed of four components: ionizable lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipids, which can effectively load mRNA to improve the stability of mRNA and promote the delivery of mRNA to the cytoplasm. However, in the face of the complexity and diversity of clinical diseases, the structure, properties and functions of existing LNPs are too homogeneous, and the lack of targeted delivery capability may result in the risk of off-targeting. LNPs are flexibly designed and structurally stable vectors, and the adjustment of the types or proportions of their components can give them additional functions without affecting the ability of LNPs to deliver mRNAs. For example, by replacing and optimizing the basic components of LNP, introducing a fifth component, and modifying its surface, LNP can be made to have more precise targeting ability to reduce the side effects caused by treatment, or be given additional functions to synergistically enhance the efficacy of mRNA therapy to respond to the clinical demand for nucleic acid therapy. It is also possible to further improve the efficiency of LNP delivery of mRNA through machine learning-assisted LNP iteration. This review can provide a reference method for the rational design of engineered lipid nanoparticles delivering mRNA to treat diseases.

Oligoasthenozoospermia(OAS)is the main factor for male infertility,and the cause and pathogenesis of the disease remain unknown.Emerging data indicate that cellular autophagy is closely correlated with male reproduction,especially the biosynthet-ic and catabolic processes of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation.Nonetheless,it is not yet clear whether autophagy plays a protec-tive or a harmful role in these processes.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has exhibited a definite therapeutic effect on OAS,and its action mechanism might be closely associated with cellular autophogy,and its related markers and pathways.This article systemati-cally reviews the role of cellular autophagy in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation,as well as the therapeutic effect of TCM on OAS by regulating the process of autophagy,aiming to gain a deeper insight into the potential mechanism of TCM acting on OAS and provide some references for further improvement of its clinical efficacy.

Objective:To test the expression of miR-146a-5p RNA, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) as markers for predicting post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).Methods:Forty cerebral infarction patients who had been followed up after 3 months formed a PSCI group, and another 40 who showed no post-stroke impairment formed the normal (PSCN) group. Forty healthy age-matched people were the AMC group. The executive functioning of each participant was quantified using the digital span test (DST), a Stroop color word test (SCWT), part B of the trail making test (TMT-B), and a semantic fluency test (SFT). Plasma expression levels of miR-146a-5p, IL-6 and TNF-α were also recorded. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were prepared to analyze the value of the miR-146a-5p, IL-6, TNF-α and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores for predicting PSCI.Results:At baseline, the average expression of plasma miR-146a-5p in the PSCI group was significantly lower than in the other groups, with that of the PSCN group significantly higher than the AMC group′s average. Plasma IL-6 content in the PSCI group was significantly higher than in the other two groups on average, with that in the PSCN group significantly higher than in the AMC group. The average TNF-α levels in both the PSCI and PSCN groups were significantly higher than in the AMC group. Three months later, however, the average DST and SFT scores of the PSCI group were significantly lower than those of the other two groups, while TMT-B and stroop interference effects (SIE) times were significantly longer. TMT-B and SIE times in the PSCN group averaged significantly longer than in the AMC group. At baseline, the area under the curve predicting PSCI of plasma miR-146a-5P combined with MoCA scores was 0.90, with a sensitivity of 72.5% and specificity at the optimal critical point of 97.5%.Conclusions:A high level of plasma miR-146a-5p in the acute stage may protect an ACI patient′s cognitive functioning by inhibiting neuroinflammatory responses. Its expression level and the patient′s MoCA score can help to predict PSCI.

Vascular calcification is a highly regulated process of ectopic calcification in cardiovascular system while no effective intervention can be clinically performed up to date.As vascular calcification undergoes a common regulatory mechanism within bone formation,bone morphogenetic protein 7(BMP-7)main-tains contractile phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells and further inhibits vascular calcification via promoting the process of osteoblast differentiation,reducing ectopic calcification pressure by increasing bone formation and reducing bone resorption.This work systematically reviews the role of BMP-7 in vascular calcifi-cation and the possible mechanism,and their current clinical application as well.The current proceedings may help develope early diagnostic strategy and therapeutic treatment with BMP-7 as a new molecular marker and potential drug target.The expec-tation could achieve early prevention and intervention of vascular calcification and improve poor prognosis on patients.