Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of omphalocele, and to assess the risk factors associated with adverse outcomes.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data of 224 patients diagnosed with omphalocele, who were hospitalized at Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2013 to December 2022, were collected. Based on their discharge outcomes, the patients were classified into 2 groups: favorable outcomes and unfavorable outcomes. Chi-square test or continuity correction χ2 test or Fisher exact probability method, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for intergroup comparisons. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with adverse outcomes in omphalocele. Results:Among the 224 patients with omphalocele, 126 were male. A total of 208 patients (92.9%) had favorable outcomes, while 16 patients (7.1%) had unfavorable outcomes. In the unfavorable outcomes group, 14 patients had giant omphaloceles, while 100 patients had giant omphaloceles in the favorable outcomes group. The rates of herniation of more than two intra-abdominal organs in the hernial sac, congenital heart defects, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hypertension, sepsis and infection of the hernial sac, were all higher in the unfavorable outcomes group compared to the favorable outcomes group (all P<0.05). Patients with unfavorable outcomes had longer mechanical ventilation time, duration of oxygen use, duration of parenteral nutrition, hospital stays, and higher rates of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis compared to those with favorable outcomes (all P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that pulmonary hypertension ( OR=9.39, 95% CI 1.20-73.32), sepsis ( OR=8.59, 95% CI 1.32-55.86), and congenital heart defects ( OR=6.55, 95% CI 1.11-38.73) were all independent risk factors for adverse outcomes in omphalocele (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Infants with omphalocele are prone to complications such as cardiovascular malformations, infections, and pulmonary hypertension. Adverse outcomes in omphalocele are associated with pulmonary hypertension, sepsis, and congenital heart defects.

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

Objective:To explore the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a child with Hypotrichosis 14.Methods:A child who had presented at the Henan Provincial People′s Hospital on May 4, 2020 due to hair thinning was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the child and her parents. Genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to whole exome sequencing. Candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.Results:The child, a 5-year-old female, had presented with thin, soft lanugo-like hair which was easy to fall off. The child was found to harbor compound heterozygous missense variants of the LSS gene, namely c. 1609G>A (p.V537M) in exon 17 and c. 802T>G (p.F268V) in exon 8, which were respectively inherited from her father and mother. Both variant sites were highly conserved, though based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were rated as variants of unknown significance (PM2_Supporting+ PP3+ PP4). Conclusion:The c. 1609G>A (p.V537M) and c. 802T>G (p.F268V) compound heterozygous variants of the LSS gene probably underlay the clinical phenotype in this patient.

Objective:To investigate changes in disease status and their influencing factors in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with biologics during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods:Through printed or electronic questionnaires during February 10 th - 20 th, 2023, data were collected from patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with biologics in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from June 2019 to January 2023, and changes in the disease condition during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated. The t test or chi-square test was used for comparisons between groups, univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to investigate the factors contributing to the exacerbation of psoriasis, and stratified analysis was employed to evaluate the disease progression among the patients receiving different biologic therapies following treatment delays. Results:A total of 177 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were collected, including 115 males and 62 females; they were aged 6 - 83 (38.69 ± 14.18) years, with disease duration of 1 - 50 (13.48 ± 9.70) years. Among the patients, 74 (41.81%) experienced psoriasis exacerbation, 154 (87.01%) developed COVID-19, and 90 (50.85%) experienced delays in psoriasis treatment due to the pandemic. The results of univariate analysis indicated significant associations of psoriasis exacerbation with treatment delays, irregular treatment before the pandemic, and incomplete clearance of skin lesions ( P < 0.001 or 0.05), while no correlations were observed between psoriasis exacerbation and COVID-19 or gender (both P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that psoriasis exacerbation was associated with treatment delays due to COVID-19 ( OR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.35 - 8.22, P = 0.009) and incomplete clearance of skin lesions ( OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.28 - 7.50, P = 0.012), but not associated with irregular treatment before the pandemic ( P = 0.130). Among the patients treated with adalimumab, secukinumab, ustekinumab, and ixekizumab, those experiencing treatment delays exhibited higher rates of psoriasis exacerbation than those without treatment delays (all P < 0.05) . Conclusion:Patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis undergoing biologic therapy are prone to disease exacerbation when treatment is delayed due to COVID-19, especially those with incomplete lesion clearance.

Objective:To summarize the single-center experience of serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) in children with intestinal failure.Methods:The clinical data of 13 children who underwent STEP surgery at our department from Jan 2016 to Dec 2022 was retrospectively analyzed.Results:Eight children were females ,5 were males. There were 10 premature infants and 3 full-term infants. The gestational age was 26 +3-39 +5 weeks, and the birth weight was 860 -3 700 g. The median age of surgery was 12 months, the median length of small intestine was 70 (50-130) cm, the diameter of preoperative intestinal dilation was about 4.5 to 7.5 cm, and the operation interval was 2.5 to 3.0 cm. Continuous transverse enteroenteroplasty resulted in an average increase of 75% (66% to 100%) in the length of the dilated intestinal segment. The total length of the small intestine increases by 16.0% (12.5%-30.0%). After the operation, 12 of the 13 children (92.3%) were removed from parenteral nutrition to achieve intestinal adaptation of the remaining bowel, and the mean time of withdrawal from parenteral nutrition was 138(20-1 011) days after the operation. Intestinal dilatation occurred in 2 patients, and gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 4 patients, which healed after conservative treatment. Conclusions:STEP operation is suitable for children with short intestinal length and obvious expansion of intestinal tube. STEP can not only reduce the diameter of the enlarged intestine, but also extend the length of the intestine, increase the feeding tolerance, improve the clinical effect of enteral nutrition, and shorten the time for children to achieve intestinal adaptation.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most frequent and severe gastrointestinal diseases among neonates,especially preterm newborns.Its incidence is inversely associated with birth weight and gestational age.NEC is characterized by widespread or localized necrosis of the small intestine and colon,and intestinal perforation,septic shock and other complications can occur in severe cases.The overall survival rate of NEC has been improved in recent years.However,there is no uniform standards for early diagnosis and surgical intervention.Several biomarkers have been proposed for the early diagnosis of NEC and for the prediction of disease progression and severity.This review summarized the progress on early diagnosis and surgical indications of NEC.

Objective To study the effects of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair medicine on vasoactive substances,adhesion factors,inflammatory factors,and VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways,in order to elucidate the mechanism of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair on the treatment of ischemic stroke(IS).Methods The oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)was constructed,and the cell viability was detected by cell proliferation kit(CCK-8 method)to explore the optimal modeling time of seven components;The release of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)was detected by cytotoxicity kit;The expression of related cytokines was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);The mRNA expression of key proteins in the signaling pathway was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Reoxygenation after 6 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation of HUVEC is the best modeling time.High-dose chlorogenic acid group,ferulic acid group,senkyunolide H,low-dose and medium-dose butylidenephthalide group,medium-dose and high-dose senkyunolide A and ligustilide groups significantly decreased LDH leakage rate(P<0.05,P<0.01);The expression of IL-6 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,caffeic acid,butenylphthalide,senkyunolide H and senkyunolide A was significantly increased,the expression of IL-1 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid and senkyunolide A was significantly decreased,the expression of VEGF,ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid and senkyunolide H was significantly decreased,the expression of NF-κB in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid,senkyunolide H and ligustilide was significantly decreased,the expression of PAI-1 in the cells of ferulic acid and senkyunolide H partial dose group decreased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01);The mRNA relative expression levels of ERK,VEGF,NF-κB,VEGFR2 and MMP9 were significantly down-regulated in the cells of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid,caffeic acid,butylidenephthalide and senkyunolide A partial dose group,while the mRNA relative expression levels of AKT were significantly up-regulated in the cells of senkyunolide H and senkyunolide A partial dose groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion The medicinal components of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair may play a role in IS by inhibiting the mRNA expression of adhesion factor,inflammatory factor and key protein of VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in HUVEC.

Objective:To report a Chinese pedigree with autosomal dominant Waardenburg syndrome, and to identify causative gene mutations.Methods:Clinical data and peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband and her parents. Genomic DNA was extracted, gene mutations were detected through a next-generation skin-targeted sequencing panel, and Sanger sequencing was performed to verify causative mutations.Results:The proband clinically presented with irregular white patches on the abdomen and lower limbs, moderate to severe sensorineural deafness in the right ear, and iris heterochromia in both eyes. The proband′s mother presented with iris heterochromia in both eyes, epicanthus, early canities and thick eyebrows. In the family, both the proband and her mother were diagnosed with Waardenburg syndrome. A causative frameshift mutation c.976-977delinsT (p.Thr327Profs*54) was identified in both the proband and her mother, which caused the AG to TT base substitution at positions 976 - 977 in the coding region of exon 7 of the PAX3 gene, resulted in a frameshift from the amino acid position 327 to 54 in the PAX3 protein (threonine was substituted by proline at amino acid position 327). The proband′s father showed a normal phenotype, and his genetic test results were negative.Conclusion:The novel frameshift mutation c.976-977delinsT (p.Thr327Profs*54) in the PAX3 gene may contribute to the clinical phenotype of the patients with Waardenburg syndrome in the family.

A 60-year-old female proband presented with recurrent erythema, blisters and erosions all over the body for 30 years, which had been aggravated 10 days prior to the presentation. Skin examination showed erythematous swelling of the bilateral eyelids with scattered dark red crusts, scattered erythema and erosions on the nasolabial folds and chin, large areas of erythema and erosions on the neck, bilateral axillae, left cubital fossa, perineum and perianal area, accompanied by bright red granulation tissues and positive Nikolsky′s sign. The proband had two sons, both of whom occasionally presented with erythema and erosions on the axillae and groin, and had not been diagnosed or treated. Blood samples were collected from the proband and her two sons, and genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to whole-exome sequencing. A heterozygous deletion mutation c.955_957del (p.A319del) was identified in the ATP2C1 gene in the proband and her two sons, which had not been previously reported. The patient was finally diagnosed with generalized familial benign chronic pemphigus.

OBJECTIVE: To perform gene mutation analysis in a Chinese pedigree with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (DEB-Pr), and explore phetotype, genotype, and genotypes-phenotypes relationship of DEB-Pr. METHODS: Potential variants of the COL7A1 gene were detected by skin targeted sequencing panel and verified by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of the variation was analyzed. RESULTS: Compound heterozygous variants, c.4128delT and c.8234G>A, were detected in the COL7A1 gene of the two patients. The c.4128delT(p.Pro1376fs) variant was derived from their mother and unreported previously. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Standards and Guidelines, it was suggested to be a pathogenic mutation. The c.8234G>A(p.Arg2745Gln) variant was derived from their father, and possibly is a pathogenic variation. CONCLUSION In this study, the compound heterozygous variants of c.4128delT(p.Pro1376fs) and c.8234G>A(p.Arg2745Gln) of the COL7A1 gene probably underlies the disease in this patient and his sister. And our study expands the database on mutations of DEB-Pr.
Collagen Type VII/genetics* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica/genetics* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype