BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that the occurrence and severity of respiratory diseases in children are related to the concentration of air pollutants. Nonetheless, evidence regarding the association between short-term exposure to air pollution and outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in children remains limited. Outpatients cover a wide range of disease severity, including both severe and mild cases, some of which may need to be transferred to inpatient treatment. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the impact of short-term ambient air pollution exposure on outpatient visits for respiratory conditions in children. METHODS: This study employed data of the Second People's Hospital of Yichang from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2023, to conduct a time series analysis. The DLNM approach was integrated with a generalized additive model to examine the daily outpatient visits of pediatric patients with respiratory illnesses in hospital, alongside air pollution data obtained from monitoring stations. Adjustments were made for long-term trends, meteorological variables, and other influencing factors. RESULTS: A nonlinear association was identified between PM_2.5, PM₁₀, O₃, NO₂, SO₂, CO levels and the daily outpatient visits for respiratory diseases among children. All six pollutants exhibit a hysteresis impact, with varying durations ranging from 4 to 6 days. The risks associated with air pollutants differ across various categories of children's respiratory diseases; notably, O₃ and CO do not show statistical significance concerning the risk of chronic respiratory conditions. Furthermore, the results of infectious respiratory diseases were similar with those of respiratory diseases. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated that short-term exposure to air pollutants may contribute to an increased incidence of outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses among children, and controlling air pollution is important to protect children's health.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Respiratory Tract Diseases/chemically induced* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Infant ; Male ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Female ; Ambulatory Care/statistics & numerical data* ; Outpatients/statistics & numerical data* ; Adolescent ; Infant, Newborn

Antibiotic resistance is spreading at a faster rate than new antibiotic agents applied for clinical remedies. It is an urgent need to discover potential compounds to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Marine fungi offer a promising avenue for mining antibiotic-like molecules with chemical diversity. To discover structurally novel and antibiotic metabolites, we screened the in-house marine fungus genome library and found a fungus Stephanonectria keithii LZD-10-1 containing a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) cluster with 18 modules to synthesize a new subfamily of peptaibols with effective eradication against MDR pathogens. Targeting isolation of the cultured fungus afforded six new peptaibols, which exhibit the ability to kill MDR bacteria by targeting bacterial membrane phospholipids, especially phosphatidylglycerol (PG), leading to the dysfunction of bacterial membranes. Furthermore, their efficacies against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in both Galleria mellonella and mouse wound infection models were observed. This study underscores the significance of employing genome-guided approaches to identify untapped marine fungi as potential sources for novel antibiotic candidates with unique scaffolds.

Iron is an essential trace element in the human body, crucial in maintaining normal physiological functions. Recent studies have identified iron ions as a significant factor in initiating the ferroptosis process, a novel mode of programmed cell death characterized by iron overload and lipid peroxide accumulation. The iron metabolism pathway is one of the primary mechanisms regulating ferroptosis, as it maintains iron homeostasis within the cell. Numerous studies have demonstrated that abnormalities in iron metabolism can trigger the Fenton reaction, exacerbating oxidative stress, and leading to cell membrane rupture, cellular dysfunction, and damage to tissue structures. Therefore, regulation of iron metabolism represents a key strategy for ameliorating ferroptosis and offers new insights for treating diseases associated with iron metabolism imbalances. This review first summarizes the mechanisms that regulate iron metabolic pathways in ferroptosis and discusses the connections between the pathogenesis of various diseases and iron metabolism. Next, we introduce natural and synthetic small molecule compounds, hormones, proteins, and new nanomaterials that can affect iron metabolism. Finally, we provide an overview of the challenges faced by iron regulators in clinical translation and a summary and outlook on iron metabolism in ferroptosis, aiming to pave the way for future exploration and optimization of iron metabolism regulation strategies.

In order to further standardize the diagnosis and treatment of long-term systemic complications in kidney transplant recipients,Branch of Organ Transplantation of Chinese Medical Association initiated the formulation of"Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Long-term Systemic Complications in Kidney Transplant Recipients in China".Experts on organ transplantation were organized to summarize and integrate the latest progress in this field based on existing clinical guidelines,systematic evaluations,case studies,expert consensus.The guideline was formed after multiple rounds of discussion and reaching a consensus which included complications of hematological system,central nervous system,cardiovascular system,ocular,cutaneous and osteoporosis disorders.The full text focuses on 27 clinical problems and forms 40 recommendations,mainly involving the risk factors,classification,diagnosis,treatment and prevention of various complications.This guideline graded the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendation for each clinical issue using 2009 Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine(OCEBM)Grading and Strength of Recommendation criteria,so as to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of late complications,comprehensively improve the management capacity of clinicians to benefit kidney transplant recipients.

The diagnosis and treatment of digestive system complications of kidney transplant recipients is related to the long-term survival and quality of life of patients,which needs great attention.In order to further standardize its diagnosis and treatment,Branch of Organ Transplantation of Chinese Medical Association initiated the formulation of"Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Digestive System Complications in Kidney Transplant Recipients in China",and organized experts in organ transplantation and related disciplines to summarize the new progress in diagnosis and treatment of digestive system complications of kidney transplant recipients at home and abroad in recent years based on existing clinical research,systematic evaluation,case study,expert consensus and existing guidelines,and reached a consensus after many discussions.This paper focuses on 11 clinical problems,forming 16 recommendations,and grading the evidence quality and recommendation strength of each clinical problem by the evidence grading and recommendation strength standard of Oxford University Evidence-based Medicine Center in 2009,in order to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system complications of kidney transplant recipients,comprehensively improve the management ability of digestive system complications of clinicians in an all-round way and benefit transplant recipients.

Background:Following the short-term outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in December 2022 in China,clinical data on kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)with COVID-19 are lacking.Methods:We conducted a single-center retrospective study to describe the clinical features,complications,and mortality rates of hospitalized KTRs infected with COVID-19 between Dec.16,2022 and Jan.31,2023.The patients were followed up until Mar.31,2023.Results:A total of 324 KTRs with COVID-19 were included.The median age was 49 years.The median time between the onset of symptoms and admission was 13 d.Molnupiravir,azvudine,and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir were administered to 67(20.7%),11(3.4%),and 148(45.7%)patients,respectively.Twenty-nine(9.0%)patients were treated with more than one antiviral agent.Forty-eight(14.8%)patients were treated with tocilizumab and 53(16.4%)patients received baricitinib therapy.The acute kidney injury(AKI)occurred in 81(25.0%)patients and 39(12.0%)patients were admitted to intensive care units.Fungal infections were observed in 55(17.0%)patients.Fifty(15.4%)patients lost their graft.The 28-d mortality rate of patients was 9.0%and 42(13.0%)patients died by the end of follow-up.Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that cerebrovascular disease,AKI incidence,interleukin(IL)-6 level of>6.8 pg/mL,daily dose of corticosteroids of>50 mg,and fungal infection were all associated with an increased risk of death for hospitalized patients.Conclusions:Our findings demonstrate that hospitalized KTRs with COVID-19 are at high risk of mortality.The administration of immunomodulators or the late application of antiviral drugs does not improve patient survival,while higher doses of corticosteroids may increase the death risk.

Objectives:To investigate the clinical features and imaging characteristics of paralytic scoliosis secondary to spinal cord injury due to back-bend movements in dance training.Methods:The clinical and imaging data of patients with paralytic scoliosis secondary to spinal cord injury caused by back-bend move-ments in dance training who were admitted and treated surgically in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital(division of spine surgery,department of orthopedic surgery)from June 2016 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.All the patients underwent anteroposterior and lateral full spine X-ray examinations in sitting position.The ages of patients at the time of spinal cord injury,diagnosis of scoliosis and surgery were recorded.The planes of paraplegia,types of scoliosis,levels of involved segments,rotation of the apical vertebra,and pres-ence of hip dislocation were analyzed.The Cobb angle of the main curve of coronal scoliosis,pelvic obliquity angle(POA),and the angle of kyphosis were measured on anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films,and the flexibility of scoliosis was calculated.The correlation between the POA and Cobb angle of the main curve was analyzed as well.Results:A total of 19 patients were included in the study.All the patients were female aged 5-9 years(6.8±1.1 years)at the time of back-bend in dance causing spinal cord injury,6-11 years(8.6±1.3 years)at the time of diagnosis of scoliosis,and 10-26 years(13.2±3.9 years)at the time of surgery.All the patients were complete paralysis below the injury plane,which was at T10 level in 13 patients,T9 level in 2 patients,and T8 level in 4 patients.The main curve was all long C-type lumbar curvature or thoracolumbar curvature,and the number of segments involved in the main curve was 7-13(9±2),the Cobb angle was 50°-110°(74.2°±14.6°),and the flexibility of the main curve was 30％-54％(41％±10％).The apex rotation classified by Nash-Moe method fell in Ⅳ degree rotation in 12 cases,Ⅲ degree in 6 cases,and Ⅱ degree in 1 case.In sagittal plane,lumbar kyphosis was observed in 15 cases(78.9％);The local kyphosis angle was 27°-47°(34.3°±5.8°),and the lumbar lordosis angle was-47°-55°(-16.9°±34.1°);The thoracic vertebrae showed a compensated kyphosis reduction or even lordosis,with a thoracic kyphosis angle of-10°-25°(10.4°±9.1°).All the patients were complicated with hip subluxation,17(89.5％)patients among which were unilateral,and most were located on the concave side of the main curve;2(10.5％)patients were complicated with bilateral subluxation,which was more serious on the concave side of the main curve.All the patients had pelvic tilt,with a POA of 9°-39°(22.8°±8.4°).Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between the POA and Cobb angle of main curve(r=0.635,P＜0.05).Conclusions:Pa-tients with paralytic scoliosis secondary to spinal cord injury due to back-bend movements in dance training present with a long C-type lumbar curve or single thoracolumbar curve,which has a large curve span,long segments involvement,severe vertebral rotation,relatively soft deformity,and short compensatory curve at the proximal end of the main curve.All the patients are combined with pelvic tilt and hip subluxation on the concave side of the main curve.Pelvic tilt is positively correlated with the severity of scoliosis.In the sagittal plane,a compensatory decrease in the thoracic kyphosis is manifested,and lumbar or thoracolumbar kyphosis is presented.

Age-related ovarian hypofunction includes a decrease in follicle quantity and quality as well as alterations in the ovarian microenvironment，the mechanisms of which are mainly related to mitochondrial dysfunction，free radical and antioxidant systems，telomere and telomerase alterations，and apoptosis，and is one of the major factors contributing to infertility in advanced maternal age （AMA）. Despite the tremendous progress in assisted reproductive technology in recent decades，few breakthroughs have been made in alleviating age-related ovarian hypofunction and improving reproductive outcomes for AMA. In recent years，there has been an increasing number of studies on the multi-level and multi-targeted mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） to improve age-related ovarian hypofunction by modulating mitochondrial homeostasis，alleviating oxidative stress，and inhibiting apoptosis，while more high-quality randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of TCM in assisted reproductive technology. Given this，this article presented a systematic review of recent research and randomized controlled trials on the mechanism of Chinese medicine active ingredients，single Chinese medicine， and Chinese medicine compounds in delaying age-related ovarian hypofunction，to clarify the current status and shortcomings of the research. This paper provides medication management of TCM for effectively alleviating age-related ovarian hypofunction and improving reproductive outcomes for AMA.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of acute rejection (AR) within one year after pediatric kidney transplantation (KT) and the effect of AR onset time on prognosis.Methods:From January 2011 to October 2021, a total of 112 patients aged under 18 years at the time of transplantation were selected.After excluding 6 of them with early renal non-function caused by non-rejection, 106 cases were examined.There were 63 males and 43 females with the age of 15(12, 16) years.The donors were living related (n=26) and deceased (n=80).According to the presence/absence and onset time of AR, they were assigned into three groups of AR within one year, AR after one year and non-AR.The relevant clinical data of donor/recipient, influencing factors of AR and therapeutic outcomes of AR were retrospectively compared.One-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test was utilized for comparing 1-year renal function after the occurrence of AR among three groups.With graft-function loss as an end-point event of follow-up, the effects of AR within one year and AR after one year on survival rate and function of graft-kidney were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve.Results:The median follow-up period of 106 pediatric KT recipients was 35 months.During follow-ups, 19 episodes of AR occurred in 17(16.0%) patients and 89 recipients exhibited no AR episode by the end of follow-up (non-AR group).As for initial AR, 9 episodes of AR occurred within one year (AR within one year group) and 8 episodes of AR after one year (AR after one year group).After anti-rejection treatment, 8 patients (47.1%) achieved full recovery and 6 patients (35.3%) failed to completely normalize and 3 patients (17.6%) developed graft failure.Univariate analysis indicated that, as compared with non-AR group, female recipients, donors aged under 8 years and early postoperative infection with parvovirus B19 were risk factors of AR within one year ( P=0.032, P=0.039, P=0.047).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the incidence rates of AR within one year in patients with donors aged under 8 years and early postoperative parvoviral infection were 14.5%(8/55) and 30.0%(3/10) respectively.They were significantly higher than 2.0%(1/51) and 6.3%(6/96) of patients with donors aged above 8 years and those without parvoviral infection ( P=0.012, P=0.004).With graft-function loss as an end-point event of follow-up, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that 10-year kidney graft survival rate in AR within one year and AR after one year groups were 88.9% and 65.6%.Both were significantly lower than that in non-AR group (98.9%).And the inter-group differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.286, P=0.038; χ2=7.787, P=0.005).However, no significant difference existed in survival rate between AR within one year and AR after one year groups ( P=0.689).One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test indicated that estimated glomerular filtration rates at 3/6/12 months after an onset of AR in AR within one year group were (76.8±51.6), (80.6±56.6) and (85.6±40.2) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2.The values of 3/6 months were lower than (125.3±39.2) and (124.7±38.2) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2 in AR after one year group.And the inter-group differences were statistically significant ( P=0.021, P=0.039).The values of 3/6/12 months were lower than (112.2±34.2), (115.3±33.2) and (117.4±30.2) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2 in non-AR group.And the inter-group differences were also statistically significant ( P=0.019, P=0.020, P=0.020). Conclusions:Female recipients, donors aged under 8 years and early postoperative infection with parvovirus B19 may elevate the risks of AR in children within one year of KT.AR within one year affects the survival rate of graft-kidney and renal function.

There is currently a huge worldwide demand for donor kidneys for organ transplantation. Consequently, numerous marginal donor kidneys, such as kidneys with microthrombi, are used to save patients' lives. While some studies have shown an association between the presence of microthrombi in donor kidneys and an increased risk for delayed graft function (DGF) (McCall et al., 2003; Gao et al., 2019), other studies have demonstrated that microthrombi negatively impact the rate of DGF (Batra et al., 2016; Hansen et al., 2018), but not graft survival rate (McCall et al., 2003; Batra et al., 2016; Gao et al., 2019). In contrast, Hansen et al. (2018) concluded that fibrin thrombi were not only associated with reduced graft function six months post-transplantation but also with increased graft loss within the first year of transplantation. On the other hand, Batra et al. (2016) found no significant differences in the DGF rate or one-year graft function between recipients in diffuse and focal microthrombi groups. To date, however, the overall influence of donor kidney microthrombi and the degree of influence on prognosis remain controversial, necessitating further research.
Humans ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Tissue Donors ; Kidney ; Allografts