Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

Objective: To investigate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preterm birth subtypes. Methods: Based on the cohort of pregnant women in Anqing Prefectural Hospital, the pregnant women who received prenatal screening in the first or second trimesters were recruited into baseline cohorts; and followed up for them was conducted until delivery, and the information about their pregnancy status and outcomes were obtained through electronic medical record system and questionnaire surveys. The log-binomial regression model was used to explore the association between GDM and preterm birth [iatrogenic preterm birth, spontaneous preterm birth (preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor)]. For multiple confounding factors, the propensity score correction model was used to compute the adjusted association. Results: Among the 2 031 pregnant women with a singleton delivery, the incidence of GDM and preterm birth were 10.0% (204 cases) and 4.4% (90 cases) respectively. The proportions of iatrogenic preterm birth and spontaneous preterm birth in the GDM group (n=204) were 1.5% and 5.9% respectively, while the proportions in non-GDM group (n=1 827) were 0.9% and 3.2% respectively, and the difference in the proportion of spontaneous preterm birth between the two groups was significant (P=0.048). Subtypes of spontaneous preterm were further analyzed, and the results showed that the proportions of preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor in the GDM group were 4.9% and 1.0% respectively, while the proportions in the non-GDM group were 2.1% and 1.1% respectively. It showed that the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes in GDM pregnant women was 2.34 times (aRR=2.34, 95%CI: 1.16-4.69) higher than that in non-GDM pregnant women. Conclusions: Our results showed that GDM might increase the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes. No significant increase in the proportion of preterm labor in pregnant women with GDM was found.
Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Premature Birth ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Hospitals ; Iatrogenic Disease

To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment status of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children in the outpatient department of a children's hospital in Beijing from 2015 to 2019. This study used a cross-sectional study method to retrospectively analyze the data of AD patients who visited the Dermatology outpatient department of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, from April 2015 to April 2019. A total of 1 926 AD patients aged 0-17.5 years old living in Beijing and its surrounding areas were included, and the general situation, severity and distribution of AD disease, clinical characteristics and severity of AD, relevant influencing factors of AD onset, AD disease prognosis and treatment status were recorded. SAS 9.4, SPSS19.0, and R software were used for data processing, and descriptive statistical analysis, Chi-square test, Analysis of Variance, and correspondence analysis were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that the male to female ratio of AD patients in children included in this study was 1.4∶1; 79.0% (1 522/1 926), 86.1%(1 658/1 926), 91.3%(1 758/1 926), and 97.3%(1 907/1 926) of AD onset at the age of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years, respectively; mild of AD patients accounted for 13.2% (255/1 926)(SCORAD score 0-24), moderate of AD patients accounted for 50.1%(965/1 926) (SCORAD score 25-50), and severe of AD patients accounted for 36.7% (706/1 926)(SCORAD score>50).The age of severe AD patients were younger than mild and moderate AD patients. The face, head, trunk, and lower limbs were common areas of onset for moderate to severe AD, while the hands, feet, and ears were common areas of onset for severe AD patients. Temperature changes, hot water factors, mental and emotional states, and spring and winter were the main aggravation factors of AD;35.2% (678/1 926) aggravated and 61.8% (1 191/1 926) persistent. The more frequent bathing, the less severity of AD disease (χ²=29.791,P<0.001); 28.0% (520/1 856) of AD patients have no moisturizing habits, which were correlated with the severity of AD disease (χ²=15.908, P<0.05); the proportion of combined treatment medications in children with moderate to severe AD was significantly higher than mild AD patients. In conclusion, the patients with AD who went to specialist clinics were mainly moderate to severe patients and developed disease before the age of 5 years from 2015 to 2019.The severity of AD were mainly moderate to severe, and most of these patients had poor disease control. Traditional treatment plans had limitations. Identifying the clinical characteristics and treatment status of childhood AD would help us to carry out more targeted prevention and management work.
Humans ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent ; Dermatitis, Atopic/psychology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Hospitals ; Quality of Life

To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment status of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children in the outpatient department of a children's hospital in Beijing from 2015 to 2019. This study used a cross-sectional study method to retrospectively analyze the data of AD patients who visited the Dermatology outpatient department of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, from April 2015 to April 2019. A total of 1 926 AD patients aged 0-17.5 years old living in Beijing and its surrounding areas were included, and the general situation, severity and distribution of AD disease, clinical characteristics and severity of AD, relevant influencing factors of AD onset, AD disease prognosis and treatment status were recorded. SAS 9.4, SPSS19.0, and R software were used for data processing, and descriptive statistical analysis, Chi-square test, Analysis of Variance, and correspondence analysis were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that the male to female ratio of AD patients in children included in this study was 1.4∶1; 79.0% (1 522/1 926), 86.1%(1 658/1 926), 91.3%(1 758/1 926), and 97.3%(1 907/1 926) of AD onset at the age of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years, respectively; mild of AD patients accounted for 13.2% (255/1 926)(SCORAD score 0-24), moderate of AD patients accounted for 50.1%(965/1 926) (SCORAD score 25-50), and severe of AD patients accounted for 36.7% (706/1 926)(SCORAD score>50).The age of severe AD patients were younger than mild and moderate AD patients. The face, head, trunk, and lower limbs were common areas of onset for moderate to severe AD, while the hands, feet, and ears were common areas of onset for severe AD patients. Temperature changes, hot water factors, mental and emotional states, and spring and winter were the main aggravation factors of AD;35.2% (678/1 926) aggravated and 61.8% (1 191/1 926) persistent. The more frequent bathing, the less severity of AD disease (χ²=29.791,P<0.001); 28.0% (520/1 856) of AD patients have no moisturizing habits, which were correlated with the severity of AD disease (χ²=15.908, P<0.05); the proportion of combined treatment medications in children with moderate to severe AD was significantly higher than mild AD patients. In conclusion, the patients with AD who went to specialist clinics were mainly moderate to severe patients and developed disease before the age of 5 years from 2015 to 2019.The severity of AD were mainly moderate to severe, and most of these patients had poor disease control. Traditional treatment plans had limitations. Identifying the clinical characteristics and treatment status of childhood AD would help us to carry out more targeted prevention and management work.
Humans ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent ; Dermatitis, Atopic/psychology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Hospitals ; Quality of Life

Four new prenylflavonoid glycosides, namely koreanoside H-K (1-4), together with eleven known ones (5-15) were isolated from the leaves of Epimedium koreanum Nakai. Their structures were elucidated by 1D NMR, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, IR and UV. The identification of the sugar moieties was carried out by means of acid hydrolysis and HPLC analysis of their derivatives. It is worth noting that compound 3 and compound 4 were elucidated to contain fucose and quinovose moieties, which were two extremely rare sugar units from the genus Epimedium. The anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity of the new compounds was evaluated using A549 cell line. Compounds 1, 2 and 4 showed significant anti-pulmonary fibrosis activities.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Glycosides/pharmacology* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry*

Animals ; Cdc20 Proteins/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Embryo, Mammalian/embryology* ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Infertility, Female/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mutation ; Oocytes/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To study the application value of whole exome sequencing (WES) in critically ill neonates with inherited diseases. METHODS: A total of 66 critically ill neonates with suspected inherited diseases or unclear clinical diagnosis who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled as subjects. The clinical data of the neonates were collected, and venous blood samples were collected from the neonates and their parents for WES. The clinical manifestations of the neonates were observed to search for related pathogenic gene mutations. RESULTS: Among the 66 critically ill neonates with suspected inherited diseases or unclear clinical diagnosis (34 boys and 32 girls), 14 (21%) were found to have gene mutations by WES. One neonate had no gene mutation detected by WES but was highly suspected of pigment incontinence based on clinical manifestations, and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification detected a heterozygous deletion mutation in exons 4-10 of the IKBKG gene. Among the 15 neonates with gene mutations, 10 (67%) had pathogenic gene mutation, 1 (7%) was suspected of pathogenic gene mutation, and 4 (27%) had gene mutations with unknown significance. Among the 15 neonates, 13 underwent chromosome examination, and only 1 neonate was found to have chromosome abnormality. CONCLUSIONS Chromosome examination cannot be used as a diagnostic method for inherited diseases, and WES detection technology is an important tool to find inherited diseases in critically ill neonates with suspected inherited diseases or unclear clinical diagnosis; however WES technology has some limitation and it is thus necessary to combine with other sequencing methods to achieve an early diagnosis.
Critical Illness ; Exons ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn/genetics* ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase/genetics* ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Whole Exome Sequencing

[Objective] The aim of our study is to examine nodule prevalence in a population over 40 years old in order to explore the relation between prevalence of thyroid nodules and metabolic parameters.[Methods] A total of 1875 individuals who were over 40 years of age were received the questionnaire and underwent thyroid ultrasonography examinations.Height,weight,waist circumference,blood pressure were measured.Levels of fasting blood glucose,fasting serum insulin,glycated hemoglobin,blood lipids,thyroid stimulating hormone and free T4 were detected.Body mass index (BMI) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated.[Result] The study included a total of 1875 subjects (513 men and 1362 women).The age of subjects were between 41 and 113 years old,and the mean age was 57.4±7.1 years old.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was 51.2％,and the prevalence of thyroid nodules in women was significantly higher than that in men (53.4％ vs.45.2％,P=0.002).The prevalence of thyroid nodules was significantly higher in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (59.2％ vs.49.5％,P=0.009) and hypertension (56.5％ vs.47.8％,P＜ 0.001).Result of multivariate binary logistic regression revealed that hypertension (OR=1.405,P=0.002),female sex (OR=1.490,P=0.001),older age (OR=1.028,P＜0.001),and hypertriglyceridemia (OR=1.589,P=0.005) were independent risk factors for thyroid nodules.The prevalence of thyroid nodules increased along with age,systolic blood pressure and serum triglyceride level.[Conclusion] The prevalence of thyroid nodules and metabolism-related diseases were high in population over 40 years old.After adjusted for age and sex,hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension were possible independent risk factors for thyroid nodules especially in women.In general,hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension might play an important role in the pathological process of thyroid nodules.

PURPOSE: Little is known about combination of the circulating Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) DNA and tumor volume in prognosis of stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in the intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. We conducted this cohort study to evaluate the prognostic values of combining these two factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By Kaplan-Meier, we compare the differences of survival curves between 385 patients with different EBV DNA or tumor volume levels, or with the combination of two biomarkers mentioned above. RESULTS: Gross tumor volume of cervical lymph nodes (GTVnd, p < 0.001) and total tumor volume (GTVtotal, p < 0.001) were both closely related to pretreatment EBV DNA, while gross tumor volume of nasopharynx (GTVnx, p=0.047) was weakly related to EBV DNA. EBV DNA was significantly correlated with progress-free survival (PFS, p=0.005), locoregional-free survival (LRFS, p=0.039), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, p=0.017), while GTVtotal, regardless of GTVnx and GTVnd, had a significant correlation with PFS and LRFS. The p-values of GTVtotal for PFS and LRFS were 0.008 and 0.001, respectively. According to GTVtotal and pretreatment EBV DNA level, patients were divided into a low-risk group (EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm³; EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal ≥ 30 cm³; or EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm³) and a high-risk group (EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal ≥ 30 cm³). When patients in the low-risk group were compared with those in the high-risk group, 3-year PFS (p=0.003), LRFS (p=0.010), and DMFS (p=0.031) rates were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment plasma EBV DNA and tumor volume were both closely correlated with prognosis of stage II NPC patients in the IMRT era. Combination of EBV DNA and tumor volume can refine prognosis and indicate for clinical therapy.
Biomarkers ; Cohort Studies* ; DNA* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Nasopharynx ; Plasma ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy* ; Tumor Burden*