Background: To assess the mediation effect of gestational weight gain (GWG) and blood heavy metal levels in the late pregnancy affecting the association between early pregnancy metal exposure and fetal growth. Methods: We analyzed data from Korean Children’s Environmental Health Study cohort comprising 4,712 full-term births. Blood levels of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) during pregnancy, and newborn birthweights were retrieved. We applied single-exposure model to assess the association between heavy metal levels and newborn anthropometric measures and conducted path analyses to examine the direct and indirect effects of heavy metal levels in early pregnancy on newborn measures. Results: Exposure to Pb (β = −15.470, P = 0.036) and Cd (β = −24.150, P = 0.004) during late pregnancy were associated with lower birthweight. Early exposure to Pb was not directly associated with lower birthweight, however, mediation of late exposure to Pb (β = −7.417, P = 0.049) resulted in lower birthweight (β = −14.787, P = 0.036). Early exposure to Hg was associated with higher birthweight, however, indirect paths via GWG (β = 3.626, P = 0.048) and late Hg levels (β = −12.929, P = 0.111) countered each other, resulting in the nullification of the total effect (β = −8.519, P = 0.301). Conclusion The effect of Pb exposure in early pregnancy on birthweight was mediated by GWG and Pb exposures during late pregnancy. When assessing the impact of heavy metal exposure on birthweight, it is important to note that GWG and late heavy metal levels act as mediators, rather than confounders.

Background: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are often misdiagnosed as benign lesions, leading to inappropriate laser ablation. Misidentification may cause delays in proper diagnosis and surgical intervention, potentially affecting patient outcomes. Objective: We investigated the percentage of patients with BCC who were inappropriately treated with laser ablation following the introduction of dermoscopic examination reimbursement and analyzed their clinical and histological characteristics. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 106 patients with histologically confirmed BCC after reimbursement for dermoscopic examinations was implemented. Results: Among the 106 patients pathologically diagnosed with BCC, 11 patients (10.4%) had a history of laser ablation after being misdiagnosed with a benign lesion. All patients had pigmented BCCs on their faces, with the cheeks and nose (36.4% each) being the most frequent sites of involvement. The mean time between laser treatment and hospital visits was 30.9 months, and six patients (54.5%) were diagnosed with BCC within 1∼5 years after laser ablation. Of the 11 patients, six were treated by dermatologists, two by non-dermatologists, and two by non-licensed personnel. Nine patients showed at least one classic dermoscopic pattern, and the most common dermoscopic finding was the presence of multiple blue/gray globules (7/10, 70.0%). No recurrence after wide excision was observed during the last follow-up. Conclusion Despite dermoscopic examination reimbursement, our findings indicate that approximately 10.0% of BCCs are still misdiagnosed as benign lesions, as reported in a previous study. Therefore, when a malignancy is suspected, dermoscopic examination and biopsy should be considered to ensure an accurate diagnosis and facilitate appropriate treatment.

Objective:To observe the preventive and treatment effects of warming needle therapy on peripheral neuropathy after albumin-bound paclitaxel plus cisplatin chemotherapy.Methods:Eighty patients who received albumin-bound paclitaxel plus cisplatin chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer were divided into an observation group and a control group using the simple random allocation table method,with 40 cases in each group.The control group received methylcobalamin dispersible tablets via oral administration,and the observation group received warming needle therapy.They were observed for the incidence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN),Levi's specific sensory neurotoxicity grading,brief pain inventory(BPI)score,nerve conduction velocities of the limbs,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptom scores before treatment,at the 21st day of the first cycle of chemotherapy(D1),and the 21st day of the second chemotherapy cycle(D2).The clinical efficacy was assessed at D2.Results:The incidence of CIPN was 92.5%in the control group,higher than 75.0%in the observation group(P<0.05).At D2,the number of people graded 0 on Levi's specific sensory neurotoxicity grading was larger in the observation group than in the control group,and the number of those graded 2 was smaller in the observation group(P<0.05);the observation group had a higher markedly effective rate than the control group(P<0.05).At D2,the BPI general score,BPI pain intensity score,and BPI pain interference score significantly dropped in the observation group compared to those before treatment(P<0.05).At D1,the motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV)and sensory nerve conduction velocity(SNCV)of the limbs decreased in both groups compared to those before treatment;at D2,the MNCV and SNCV increased in the two groups compared to D1 and were higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).At D1,the TCM symptom scores increased in both groups compared to those before treatment,and the observation group was lower than the control group in comparing the scores of numbness in the extremities and poor appetite(P<0.05).At D2,the observation group showed decreases in all TCM symptom scores compared to D1 except for the scores of nausea and vomiting and poor appetite(P<0.05),while the control group had no significant changes in the TCM symptom scores compared to D1(P>0.05);the observation group was lower than the control group in comparing each symptom score(P<0.05).There were no significant adverse reactions in either group over the study period.Conclusion:Compared to oral administration of methylcobalamin dispersible tablets,warming needle therapy shows certain strengths in managing CIPN after albumin-bound paclitaxel plus cisplatin chemotherapy,and it can better improve chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal reactions.

Objective:Investigate the impact of calcification on the long-term outcomes of patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent PCI and had at least one CTO lesion at Fuwai Hospital between January 2010 and December 2013 were consecutively enrolled. Calcification was evaluated by coronary angiography, and patients were divided into two groups: moderate/severe calcification group and non/mild calcification group. Clinical follow-up was completed up to 5 years. Incidence of PCI-related complications and immediate procedural outcomes were compared between two groups, and the primary endpoint was the target lesion failure (TLF) at 5 years after PCI. Clinical follow-up endpoint events were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test, and Cox multivariate regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between calcification and TLF.Results:The study included 2 659 CTO patients with an age of (57.2±10.5) years, of whom 442 (16.6%) were female, and among whom 13.5% (360/2 659) had moderate/severe calcification. Compared with the non/mild calcification group, the moderate/severe calcification group had a higher incidence of PCI-related complications (43.2% (156/361) vs. 32.5% (772/2 374), P<0.001) and procedural failure (34.3% (124/361) vs. 24.3% (577/2 374), P<0.001). Additionally, the moderate/severe calcification group showed a higher risk of the primary endpoint event (TLF) during the 5-year follow-up (19.8% vs. 15.3%, log-rank P=0.028). Higher incidence of cardiac death was observed in moderate/severe calcification group (5.7% vs. 2.7%, log-rank P=0.003). Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that moderate/severe calcified plaques remained an independent risk factor for 5-year TLF after CTO-PCI ( HR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.01-1.79, P=0.043). Conclusion:Compared with CTO patients with non/mild calcification, those with moderate/severe calcification have higher procedural failure and complication rates, as well as poorer long-term prognosis, mainly due to an increase in cardiac death.

Objective To investigate the karyotypes and the correlation of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetuses with increased nu-chal translucency(NT),so as to provide a basis for prenatal genetic counseling.Methods The clinical data of 386 singleton pregnant women with NT≥2.5mm who underwent invasive prenatal diagnosis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The fetuses were grouped according to NT thickness(2.5-3.4,3.5-3.9,4.0-4.9,5.0-5.9,and ≥6.0 mm),fetal ultrasound abnormalities(isolated increased NT,non-isolated increased NT),and maternal age(advanced age ≥35 years,non-advanced age＜35 years).The chi-square test was used to compare the differences of the incidence of fetal chromosomal abnormalities among various groups.Results Among the 386 fetuses with increased NT,chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 87 cases with an overall detection rate of 22.5％(87/386),including chromosomal numerical abnormalities accounted for 82.8％(72/87)and copy number variations(CNVs)accounted for 17.2％(15/87).The detection rates of chromosomal abnormal-ities and numerical abnormalities increased with NT thickness(P＜0.05),while no statistically significant difference of CNV abnormali-ty rates was found(P=0.41).The detection rates of chromosomal abnormalities(36.5％)and CNV abnormalities(14.1％)in the non-isolated increased NT group were significantly higher than those in the isolated increased NT group(18.6％and 1.0％,respective-ly,both P＜0.05).The detection rates of chromosomal abnormalities(34.7％)and numerical abnormalities(31.6％)in the fetuses of advanced maternal age mothers with increased NT were significantly higher than those in the non-advanced age group(18.4％and 14.2％,respectively,both P＜0.05).However,the difference of CNV abnormality rates between the two groups was not statistically sig-nificant(P=0.62).Conclusion The detection rate of fetal chromosomal abnormalities elevated with increased NT thickness.Ad-vanced maternal age and the presence of other ultrasound abnormalities were the high-risk factors for fetal chromosomal abnormalities.The risks of CNV abnormalities may not be significantly correlated with NT thickness or maternal age but associated with the presence of other ultrasound abnormalities.

Objective:To investigate the association between estimated cumulative low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) exposure and the severity of coronary artery disease and long-term adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods:The subjects were from the PROMISE study. This study was a prospective cohort study led by Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, with participation from eight regional tertiary hospitals as sub-centers, and enrolled 18 701 patients with confirmed coronary heart disease between January 2015 and May 2019. Among them, 8 429 patients with ACS were included in this study. The estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure was calculated by multiplying LDL-C by age. Participants were then divided into four groups based on quartiles. Baseline data and coronary angiography data were collected, and participants were followed for 2 years. The primary endpoint was MACCE, which was composed of all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and stroke. Spearman correlation analysis was used to estimate the correlation between cumulative LDL-C exposure and the severity of coronary artery disease. The differences in MACCE among the four groups were compared, and multivariate Cox regression was used to divide the estimated cumulative exposure LDL-C into two groups, three groups, and four groups to analyze its relationship with MACCE.Results:The 8 429 ACS patients included in the study had an age of (60.9±11.4) years, with 1 951(23.1%) females. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure was positively associated with the preoperative SYNTAX score, three-vessel lesions disease, left main disease, and the number of target lesions (correlation coefficients r=0.14, 0.10, 0.04 and 0.03, respectively, with all P<0.05). The 2-year follow-up results indicated that the incidence rates of MACCE, all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in ACS patients grouped by different levels of estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The results of the Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that when the estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure was treated as a continuous variable and analyzed in two, three, and four groups, with the lowest group as the reference, the risk of MACCE occurrence in the high-value group increased by 21% (95% CI 1.08-1.37, P=0.002), 24% (95% CI 1.07-1.43, P=0.004), and 21% (95% CI 1.02-1.43, P=0.025) respectively. Conclusions:A positive correlation was found between estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure and severity of coronary artery disease. High estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure level is a risk factor for MACCE in ACS patients within 2 years.

Objective:To investigate the association between estimated cumulative low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) exposure and the severity of coronary artery disease and long-term adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods:The subjects were from the PROMISE study. This study was a prospective cohort study led by Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, with participation from eight regional tertiary hospitals as sub-centers, and enrolled 18 701 patients with confirmed coronary heart disease between January 2015 and May 2019. Among them, 8 429 patients with ACS were included in this study. The estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure was calculated by multiplying LDL-C by age. Participants were then divided into four groups based on quartiles. Baseline data and coronary angiography data were collected, and participants were followed for 2 years. The primary endpoint was MACCE, which was composed of all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and stroke. Spearman correlation analysis was used to estimate the correlation between cumulative LDL-C exposure and the severity of coronary artery disease. The differences in MACCE among the four groups were compared, and multivariate Cox regression was used to divide the estimated cumulative exposure LDL-C into two groups, three groups, and four groups to analyze its relationship with MACCE.Results:The 8 429 ACS patients included in the study had an age of (60.9±11.4) years, with 1 951(23.1%) females. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure was positively associated with the preoperative SYNTAX score, three-vessel lesions disease, left main disease, and the number of target lesions (correlation coefficients r=0.14, 0.10, 0.04 and 0.03, respectively, with all P<0.05). The 2-year follow-up results indicated that the incidence rates of MACCE, all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in ACS patients grouped by different levels of estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The results of the Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that when the estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure was treated as a continuous variable and analyzed in two, three, and four groups, with the lowest group as the reference, the risk of MACCE occurrence in the high-value group increased by 21% (95% CI 1.08-1.37, P=0.002), 24% (95% CI 1.07-1.43, P=0.004), and 21% (95% CI 1.02-1.43, P=0.025) respectively. Conclusions:A positive correlation was found between estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure and severity of coronary artery disease. High estimated cumulative LDL-C exposure level is a risk factor for MACCE in ACS patients within 2 years.

Objective:Investigate the impact of calcification on the long-term outcomes of patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent PCI and had at least one CTO lesion at Fuwai Hospital between January 2010 and December 2013 were consecutively enrolled. Calcification was evaluated by coronary angiography, and patients were divided into two groups: moderate/severe calcification group and non/mild calcification group. Clinical follow-up was completed up to 5 years. Incidence of PCI-related complications and immediate procedural outcomes were compared between two groups, and the primary endpoint was the target lesion failure (TLF) at 5 years after PCI. Clinical follow-up endpoint events were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test, and Cox multivariate regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between calcification and TLF.Results:The study included 2 659 CTO patients with an age of (57.2±10.5) years, of whom 442 (16.6%) were female, and among whom 13.5% (360/2 659) had moderate/severe calcification. Compared with the non/mild calcification group, the moderate/severe calcification group had a higher incidence of PCI-related complications (43.2% (156/361) vs. 32.5% (772/2 374), P<0.001) and procedural failure (34.3% (124/361) vs. 24.3% (577/2 374), P<0.001). Additionally, the moderate/severe calcification group showed a higher risk of the primary endpoint event (TLF) during the 5-year follow-up (19.8% vs. 15.3%, log-rank P=0.028). Higher incidence of cardiac death was observed in moderate/severe calcification group (5.7% vs. 2.7%, log-rank P=0.003). Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that moderate/severe calcified plaques remained an independent risk factor for 5-year TLF after CTO-PCI ( HR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.01-1.79, P=0.043). Conclusion:Compared with CTO patients with non/mild calcification, those with moderate/severe calcification have higher procedural failure and complication rates, as well as poorer long-term prognosis, mainly due to an increase in cardiac death.

Objective To investigate the karyotypes and the correlation of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetuses with increased nu-chal translucency(NT),so as to provide a basis for prenatal genetic counseling.Methods The clinical data of 386 singleton pregnant women with NT≥2.5mm who underwent invasive prenatal diagnosis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The fetuses were grouped according to NT thickness(2.5-3.4,3.5-3.9,4.0-4.9,5.0-5.9,and ≥6.0 mm),fetal ultrasound abnormalities(isolated increased NT,non-isolated increased NT),and maternal age(advanced age ≥35 years,non-advanced age＜35 years).The chi-square test was used to compare the differences of the incidence of fetal chromosomal abnormalities among various groups.Results Among the 386 fetuses with increased NT,chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 87 cases with an overall detection rate of 22.5％(87/386),including chromosomal numerical abnormalities accounted for 82.8％(72/87)and copy number variations(CNVs)accounted for 17.2％(15/87).The detection rates of chromosomal abnormal-ities and numerical abnormalities increased with NT thickness(P＜0.05),while no statistically significant difference of CNV abnormali-ty rates was found(P=0.41).The detection rates of chromosomal abnormalities(36.5％)and CNV abnormalities(14.1％)in the non-isolated increased NT group were significantly higher than those in the isolated increased NT group(18.6％and 1.0％,respective-ly,both P＜0.05).The detection rates of chromosomal abnormalities(34.7％)and numerical abnormalities(31.6％)in the fetuses of advanced maternal age mothers with increased NT were significantly higher than those in the non-advanced age group(18.4％and 14.2％,respectively,both P＜0.05).However,the difference of CNV abnormality rates between the two groups was not statistically sig-nificant(P=0.62).Conclusion The detection rate of fetal chromosomal abnormalities elevated with increased NT thickness.Ad-vanced maternal age and the presence of other ultrasound abnormalities were the high-risk factors for fetal chromosomal abnormalities.The risks of CNV abnormalities may not be significantly correlated with NT thickness or maternal age but associated with the presence of other ultrasound abnormalities.

Objective:To observe the preventive and treatment effects of warming needle therapy on peripheral neuropathy after albumin-bound paclitaxel plus cisplatin chemotherapy.Methods:Eighty patients who received albumin-bound paclitaxel plus cisplatin chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer were divided into an observation group and a control group using the simple random allocation table method,with 40 cases in each group.The control group received methylcobalamin dispersible tablets via oral administration,and the observation group received warming needle therapy.They were observed for the incidence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN),Levi's specific sensory neurotoxicity grading,brief pain inventory(BPI)score,nerve conduction velocities of the limbs,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptom scores before treatment,at the 21st day of the first cycle of chemotherapy(D1),and the 21st day of the second chemotherapy cycle(D2).The clinical efficacy was assessed at D2.Results:The incidence of CIPN was 92.5%in the control group,higher than 75.0%in the observation group(P<0.05).At D2,the number of people graded 0 on Levi's specific sensory neurotoxicity grading was larger in the observation group than in the control group,and the number of those graded 2 was smaller in the observation group(P<0.05);the observation group had a higher markedly effective rate than the control group(P<0.05).At D2,the BPI general score,BPI pain intensity score,and BPI pain interference score significantly dropped in the observation group compared to those before treatment(P<0.05).At D1,the motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV)and sensory nerve conduction velocity(SNCV)of the limbs decreased in both groups compared to those before treatment;at D2,the MNCV and SNCV increased in the two groups compared to D1 and were higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).At D1,the TCM symptom scores increased in both groups compared to those before treatment,and the observation group was lower than the control group in comparing the scores of numbness in the extremities and poor appetite(P<0.05).At D2,the observation group showed decreases in all TCM symptom scores compared to D1 except for the scores of nausea and vomiting and poor appetite(P<0.05),while the control group had no significant changes in the TCM symptom scores compared to D1(P>0.05);the observation group was lower than the control group in comparing each symptom score(P<0.05).There were no significant adverse reactions in either group over the study period.Conclusion:Compared to oral administration of methylcobalamin dispersible tablets,warming needle therapy shows certain strengths in managing CIPN after albumin-bound paclitaxel plus cisplatin chemotherapy,and it can better improve chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal reactions.