BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of birth defect-related mortality. However, more recent CHD mortality data for China are lacking. Additionally, limited studies have evaluated sex, rural-urban, and region-specific disparities of CHD mortality in China. METHODS: We designed a population-based study using data from the Dataset of National Mortality Surveillance in China between 2008 and 2021. We calculated age-adjusted CHD mortality using the sixth census data of China in 2010 as the standard population. We assessed the temporal trends in CHD mortality by age, sex, area, and region from 2008 to 2021 using the joinpoint regression model. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2021, 33,534 deaths were attributed to CHD. The period witnessed a two-fold decrease in the age-adjusted CHD mortality from 1.61 to 0.76 per 100,000 persons (average annual percent change [AAPC] = -5.90%). Females tended to have lower age-adjusted CHD mortality than males, but with a similar decline rate from 2008 to 2021 (females: AAPC = -6.15%; males: AAPC = -5.84%). Similar AAPC values were observed among people living in urban (AAPC = -6.64%) and rural (AAPC = -6.12%) areas. Eastern regions experienced a more pronounced decrease in the age-adjusted CHD mortality (AAPC = -7.86%) than central (AAPC = -5.83%) and western regions (AAPC = -3.71%) between 2008 and 2021. Approximately half of the deaths (46.19%) due to CHD occurred during infancy. The CHD mortality rates in 2021 were lower than those in 2008 for people aged 0-39 years, with the largest decrease observed among children aged 1-4 years (AAPC = -8.26%), followed by infants (AAPC = -7.01%). CONCLUSIONS CHD mortality in China has dramatically decreased from 2008 to 2021. The slower decrease in CHD mortality in the central and western regions than in the eastern regions suggested that public health policymakers should pay more attention to health resources and health education for central and western regions.
Humans ; Heart Defects, Congenital/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; China/epidemiology* ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Adult ; Child ; Adolescent ; Infant, Newborn ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Rural Population

Epigenetics is the link between the genome and environment, which can respond to physiological (such as age) or environmental factors (such as diet, stress, and pollution) and induce changes in epigenetic modifications (such as DNA methylation, non-coding RNA, and histone modifications). It can also serve as cellular memory transmitted from generation to generation. Sperm is highly responsive to such environmental changes and has unique epigenetic profiles. The paternal inter-/trans-generational inheritance mediated by sperm epigenetic changes is closely related to the health of offspring, which is an issue of great concern. This review has summarized the epigenetic mechanisms of paternal inter-/trans-generational inheritance and recent studies on the paternal inheritance mediated by sperm epigenetic changes in human and mice, which may facilitate understanding of the relationship between paternal epigenetic changes and the health of offspring caused by physiological or environmental changes and provide a basis for genetic counseling and clinical intervention.
Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; Male ; Animals ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; DNA Methylation ; Paternal Inheritance ; Mice

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of a Chinese pedigree affected with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) due to a truncating variant of ALPK3 gene. METHODS: A 44-year-old male admitted to Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province on December 29, 2018 was selected as the study subject. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was carried out, and candidate variant was interpreted by following the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). For ALPK3 was considered an autosomal recessive gene, the WES results was considered insufficient to explain his phenotype. In April 2023, the proband's WES data were re-analyzed using updated annotation pipelines, and peripheral blood samples were collected from his first-degree relatives (mother and brother) for Sanger sequencing validation. Conservation analysis and protein structural modeling were performed to assess the impact of the variant. Clinical evaluation and genetic counseling were provided to the proband's family members. Relevant literature on ALPK3tv-induced HCM patients were searched in Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, CNKI, and PubMed database using "ALPK3" and "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy" as keywords. Clinical characteristics of HCM patients with heterozygous ALPK3tv variants were summarized and compared with the clinical characteristics of HCM patients with positive sarcomere-associated gene variants (SARC+). This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University (Ethics No.: K20230314). RESULTS: The proband was a 44-year-old male who was transferred to our institution on December 29, 2018 due to "chest tightness and pain for 6 months, exacerbated for 2 days". Emergency coronary angiography was performed, which led to a preliminary diagnosis of "acute coronary syndrome", and the patient was admitted to the Cardiology Department for treatment. Based on electrocardiogram and echocardiogram findings, the diagnosis was revised as HCM. The patient's condition has stabilized post-coronary angiography, and he was discharged with improved condition. On January 2019, WES was conducted to determine the etiology of the proband's HCM. WES results identified a novel heterozygous c.2156dupC (p.Pro720ThrfsTer53) truncating variant in the ALPK3 gene. At that time, the inheritance pattern could not explain the phenotype. In 2022, a literature indicated that heterozygous ALPK3tv could lead to autosomal dominant HCM. Consequently, in April 2023, the proband's whole-exome data were re-annotated, revealing changes in the transcript and protein versions, with the updated site annotated as ALPK3 (NM_020778.5): c.1550dupC (p.Pro518ThrfsTer53). Sanger sequencing confirmed that the proband's mother and brother also carried this variant. The mother exhibited obstructive HCM, while the brother showed no related phenotype. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated conservation of this site across multiple species, and the variant has resulted in the loss of a protein domain. Based on ACMG guidelines, the variant was classified as likely pathogenic. Literature review and Bayesian calculation further elevated the pathogenicity rating, indicating that this variant was the cause of HCM in the patient. Literature study revealed distinctions between HCM caused by this variant type and SARC+ HCM. The age of onset among heterozygous ALPK3tv patients was delayed by approximately 10 years compared to SARC+ patients. Both forms of HCM exhibited a male predominance, which was particularly marked in individuals with ALPK3tv. Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy was more prevalent in heterozygous ALPK3tv patients than in SARC+ patients. The incidence of apical or concentric hypertrophy patterns was higher in heterozygous ALPK3tv patients compared to asymmetric septal hypertrophy, which predominated in SARC+ patients. ALPK3tv patients exhibited lower penetrance and later onset compared to SARC+ patients. A positive correlation between left ventricular wall thickness and age was noted in female patients only. CONCLUSION In this pedigree, the proband has presented with HCM, characterized by echocardiographic evidence of apical left ventricular hypertrophy without significant outflow tract obstruction or extracardiac phenotypes. Although his mother and brother had carried the same heterozygous ALPK3 (NM_020778.5) c.1550dupC (p.Pro518ThrfsTer53), the mother exhibited severe obstructive HCM, while the brother was asymptomatic, suggesting incomplete or age-dependent penetrance within the family. This study has enriched the evidence for the pathogenicity of ALPK3tv among Chinese HCM pedigrees and underscored the importance of periodic literature reviews and genetic re-analysis for unresolved genetic testing results.
Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Adult ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/genetics* ; Heterozygote ; Asian People/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation ; China ; Female ; East Asian People

Objective To explore the effects of Qingshen Granules(QSG)on adenine-induced renal fibrosis in mice and in uric acid(UA)-stimulated NRK-49F cells and its mechanism for regulating exosomes,miR-330-3p and CREBBP.Methods A mouse model of adenine-induced renal fibrosis were treated daily with QSG at 8.0 g·kg-1·d-1 via gavage for 12 weeks.An adeno-associated virus vector was injected into the tail vein,and renal tissues of the mice were collected for analyzing exosomal marker proteins CD9,Hsp70,and TSG101 and expressions of Col-Ⅲ,α-SMA,FN,and E-cad using Western blotting and immunofluorescence and for observing pathological changes using HE and Masson staining.In the cell experiment,NRK-49F cells were stimulated with uric acid(400 μmol/L)followed by treatment with QSG-medicated serum from SD rats,and the changes in expressions of the exosomal markers and Col-Ⅲ,α-SMA,FN,and E-cad were analyzed.Dual luciferase reporter assay was employed to examine the targeting relationship between miR-330-3p and CREBBP,whose expressions were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting in treated NRK-49F cells.Results The mouse models of adenine-induced renal fibrosis showed significantly increased levels of CD9,Hsp70,and TSG101,which were decreased by treatment with QSG.The expressions of Col-Ⅲ,α-SMA,and FN increased and E-cad decreased in the mouse models but these changes were reversed by QSG treatment.QSG treatment obviously alleviated renal fibrosis in the mouse models.Intravenous injection of adeno-associated viral vector obviously inhibited miR-330-3p,increased CREBBP levels,and reduced fibrosis in the mouse models.Dual luciferase assay confirmed CREBBP as a target of miR-330-3p,which was consistent with the results of the cell experiments.Conclusion QSG inhibits renal fibrosis in mice by regulating the exosomes,reducing miR-330-3p levels,and increasing CREBBP expression.

Objective To explore the effects of Qingshen Granules(QSG)on adenine-induced renal fibrosis in mice and in uric acid(UA)-stimulated NRK-49F cells and its mechanism for regulating exosomes,miR-330-3p and CREBBP.Methods A mouse model of adenine-induced renal fibrosis were treated daily with QSG at 8.0 g·kg-1·d-1 via gavage for 12 weeks.An adeno-associated virus vector was injected into the tail vein,and renal tissues of the mice were collected for analyzing exosomal marker proteins CD9,Hsp70,and TSG101 and expressions of Col-Ⅲ,α-SMA,FN,and E-cad using Western blotting and immunofluorescence and for observing pathological changes using HE and Masson staining.In the cell experiment,NRK-49F cells were stimulated with uric acid(400 μmol/L)followed by treatment with QSG-medicated serum from SD rats,and the changes in expressions of the exosomal markers and Col-Ⅲ,α-SMA,FN,and E-cad were analyzed.Dual luciferase reporter assay was employed to examine the targeting relationship between miR-330-3p and CREBBP,whose expressions were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting in treated NRK-49F cells.Results The mouse models of adenine-induced renal fibrosis showed significantly increased levels of CD9,Hsp70,and TSG101,which were decreased by treatment with QSG.The expressions of Col-Ⅲ,α-SMA,and FN increased and E-cad decreased in the mouse models but these changes were reversed by QSG treatment.QSG treatment obviously alleviated renal fibrosis in the mouse models.Intravenous injection of adeno-associated viral vector obviously inhibited miR-330-3p,increased CREBBP levels,and reduced fibrosis in the mouse models.Dual luciferase assay confirmed CREBBP as a target of miR-330-3p,which was consistent with the results of the cell experiments.Conclusion QSG inhibits renal fibrosis in mice by regulating the exosomes,reducing miR-330-3p levels,and increasing CREBBP expression.

Objective:To observe the effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) on the prognosis of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) accompanied with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted in Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology when authors worked as medical team members for treating COVID-19. COVID-19 patients with pulse oxygen saturation/fraction of inspiration oxygen (SpO 2/FiO 2, S/F) ratio < 235, managed by medical teams [using S/F ratio instead of oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) to diagnose ARDS] from February to April 2020 were included. The patients were divided into NIPPV group and HFNC group according to their oxygen therapy modes. Clinical data of patients were collected, including general characteristics, respiratory rate (RR), fraction of FiO 2, SpO 2, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), S/F ratio in the first 72 hours, lymphocyte count (LYM), percentage of lymphocyte (LYM%) and white blood cell count (WBC) at admission and discharge or death, the duration of dyspnea before NIPPV and HFNC, and the length from onset to admission. The differences of intubation rate, all-cause mortality, S/F ratio and RR were analyzed, and single factor analysis and generalized estimation equation (GEE) were used to analyze the risk factors affecting S/F ratio. Results:Among the 41 patients, the proportion of males was high (68.3%, 28 cases), the median age was 68 (58-74) years old, 28 cases had complications (68.3%), and 34 cases had multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS, 82.9%). Compared with HFNC group, the proportion of complications in NIPPV group was higher [87.5% (21/24) vs. 41.2% (7/17), P < 0.05], and the value of LYM% was lower [5.3% (3.4%-7.8%) vs. 10.0% (3.9%-19.7%), P < 0.05], the need of blood purification was also significantly lower [0% (0/24) vs. 29.4% (5/17), P < 0.05]. The S/F ratio of NIPPV group gradually increased after 2 hours treatment and RR gradually decreased with over time, S/F ratio decreased and RR increased in HFNC group compared with baseline, but there was no significant difference in S/F ratio between the two groups at each time point. RR in NIPPV group was significantly higher than that in HFNC group after 2 hours treatment [time/min: 30 (27-33) vs. 24 (21-27), P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in rate need intubation and hospital mortality between NIPPV group and HFNC group [66.7% (16/24) vs. 70.6% (12/17), 58.3% (14/24) vs. 52.9% (9/17), both P > 0.05]. Analysis of the factors affecting the S/Fratio in the course of oxygen therapy showed that the oxygen therapy mode and the course of illness at admission were the factors affecting the S/F ratio of patients [ β values were -15.827, 1.202, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were -29.102 to -2.552 and 0.247-2.156, P values were 0.019 and 0.014, respectively]. Conclusion:Compared with HFNC, NIPPV doesn't significantly reduce the intubation rate and mortality of patients with COVID-19 accompanied with ARDS, but it significantly increases the S/F ratio of those patients.

This study aimed to obtain the first national estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Chinese children. We targeted the population of 6 to 12-year-old children for this prevalence study by multistage convenient cluster sampling. The Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale was used for the screening process. Of the target population of 142,086 children, 88.5% (n = 125,806) participated in the study. A total of 363 children were confirmed as having ASD. The observed ASD prevalence rate was 0.29% (95% CI: 0.26%-0.32%) for the overall population. After adjustment for response rates, the estimated number of ASD cases was 867 in the target population sample, thereby achieving an estimated prevalence of 0.70% (95% CI: 0.64%-0.74%). The prevalence was significantly higher in boys than in girls (0.95%; 95% CI: 0.87%-1.02% versus 0.30%; 95% CI: 0.26%-0.34%; P < 0.001). Of the 363 confirmed ASD cases, 43.3% were newly diagnosed, and most of those (90.4%) were attending regular schools, and 68.8% of the children with ASD had at least one neuropsychiatric comorbidity. Our findings provide reliable data on the estimated ASD prevalence and comorbidities in Chinese children.

Surface molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs) for selective adsorption of ampicillin sodium were synthesized using surface molecular imprinting technique with silica gel as a support. The physical and morphological characteristics of the polymers were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis and nitrogen adsorption–desorption test. The obtained results showed that the SMIPs displayed great adsorption capacity (13.5μg/mg), high recognition ability (the imprinted factor is 3.2) and good binding kinetics for ampicillin sodium. Finally, as solid phase extraction adsorbents, the SMIPs coupled with HPLC method were validated and applied for the enrichment, purification and determination of ampicillin sodium in real milk and blood samples. The averages of spiked accuracy ranged from 92.1%to 107.6%. The relative standard deviations of intra-and inter-day precisions were less than 4.6%. This study provides a new and promising method for enriching, extracting and determining ampicillin sodium in complex biological samples.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; pathology ; Humans ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; pathology ; Salivary Glands ; pathology

Objective To study and establish a high quality digital 3D anatomical modeling of the mandible with full teeth.Methods A set of accurate digital models of standard anatomical specimens of mandibular teeth were obtained by laser scanning, and the 3D mandible model was reconstructed by CT scan data;then, a registration deformation method based on the geometry and image anatomical landmark was employed to do the registration of each tooth to the mandible model, and finally the tooth enamel , dentin, periodontal ligament were generated .Results A high quality digital 3D anatomical modeling of the mandible with full teeth was built , each tooth had detail crown and whole root , the distinction between the enamel , dentin, periodontal ligament , and any anatomical regions can be zoomed and rotately displayed . Conclusion The digital 3D anatomical modeling of the mandible with full teeth has realistic 3D imaging view and convenient teaching-learning function , and has tremendous apllication futures in the stomatology , maxillofacial and other medical departments .