Objective:To investigate the association between small vulnerable newborn (SVN) phenotypes and the risk of neurodevelopmental delay at the age of 1 year.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 25 860 singleton infants from "The Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study" who completed the Gesell developmental scale assessment at 1 year of age between January 2013 and June 2025 were included. Maternal sociodemographic characteristics, and other information were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and maternal pregnancy-related information and neonatal birth data were extracted from medical records. Global developmental delay (GDD) was defined as a developmental quotient below 86 in ≥3 domains of the Gesell developmental scale, which assesses the adaptive, gross motor, fine motor, language, and personal-social domains. The random forest algorithm was employed for missing data imputation. Based on prematurity, small for gestational age (SGA), and low birth weight (LBW), newborns were categorized into 6 phenotypes: preterm-SGA-LBW, preterm-appropriate for gestational age (AGA)-LBW, preterm-AGA-nonLBW, term-SGA-LBW, term-LBW-only or term-SGA-only, and term-AGA-nonLBW phenotype. Among these, the first 5 were classified as SVN phenotypes, and the last one served as the reference group. Inter-group comparisons were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), χ2 tests, or Kruskal-Wallis test, as appropriate.?? Multivariable robust Poisson regression models were applied to analyze the association of different SVN phenotypes with the risks of GDD and developmental delays in specific domains, with stratified analyses by sex. Results:Among the 25 860 infants, 13 719 (53.1%) were male and 12 141 (46.9%) were female. The gestational age at birth was 39.4 (38.6, 40.0) weeks. The overall detection rate of GDD at 1 year of age was 3.7% (962/25 860). The rates of delay across developmental domains, in descending order, language in 8 134 cases (31.5%), gross motor in 4 488 cases (17.4%), personal-social in 1 271 cases (4.9%), adaptive in 1 262 cases (4.9%), and fine motor in 621 cases (2.4%). Compared with the reference group, preterm-AGA-LBW, preterm-SGA-LBW, preterm-AGA-noneLBW, and term-SGA-LBW phenotypes were all associated with an increased risk of GDD, with the adjusted RR (95% CI) of 6.07(5.01-7.35), 4.81(3.11-7.46), 2.10(1.54-2.88) and 1.89(1.29-2.76) respectively.The preterm-AGA-noneLBW phenotype was all associated with an increased risk of delay in gross motor, language and personal-social functional domains (all P<0.05). The term-SGA-LBW phenotype was associated with an increased risk of delay in gross motor, fine motor and personal-social functional domains (all P<0.01). Whereas the term-LBW-only or term-SGA-only phenotype showed no statistically association with developmental delay in any functional domain (all P≥0.05). Conclusion:The combined classification based on gestational age and birth weight helps identify infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental delay at 1 year of age, suggesting that it may offer a reference for the rational allocation of clinical resources.

Objective:To investigate the association between small vulnerable newborn (SVN) phenotypes and the risk of neurodevelopmental delay at the age of 1 year.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 25 860 singleton infants from "The Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study" who completed the Gesell developmental scale assessment at 1 year of age between January 2013 and June 2025 were included. Maternal sociodemographic characteristics, and other information were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and maternal pregnancy-related information and neonatal birth data were extracted from medical records. Global developmental delay (GDD) was defined as a developmental quotient below 86 in ≥3 domains of the Gesell developmental scale, which assesses the adaptive, gross motor, fine motor, language, and personal-social domains. The random forest algorithm was employed for missing data imputation. Based on prematurity, small for gestational age (SGA), and low birth weight (LBW), newborns were categorized into 6 phenotypes: preterm-SGA-LBW, preterm-appropriate for gestational age (AGA)-LBW, preterm-AGA-nonLBW, term-SGA-LBW, term-LBW-only or term-SGA-only, and term-AGA-nonLBW phenotype. Among these, the first 5 were classified as SVN phenotypes, and the last one served as the reference group. Inter-group comparisons were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), χ2 tests, or Kruskal-Wallis test, as appropriate.?? Multivariable robust Poisson regression models were applied to analyze the association of different SVN phenotypes with the risks of GDD and developmental delays in specific domains, with stratified analyses by sex. Results:Among the 25 860 infants, 13 719 (53.1%) were male and 12 141 (46.9%) were female. The gestational age at birth was 39.4 (38.6, 40.0) weeks. The overall detection rate of GDD at 1 year of age was 3.7% (962/25 860). The rates of delay across developmental domains, in descending order, language in 8 134 cases (31.5%), gross motor in 4 488 cases (17.4%), personal-social in 1 271 cases (4.9%), adaptive in 1 262 cases (4.9%), and fine motor in 621 cases (2.4%). Compared with the reference group, preterm-AGA-LBW, preterm-SGA-LBW, preterm-AGA-noneLBW, and term-SGA-LBW phenotypes were all associated with an increased risk of GDD, with the adjusted RR (95% CI) of 6.07(5.01-7.35), 4.81(3.11-7.46), 2.10(1.54-2.88) and 1.89(1.29-2.76) respectively.The preterm-AGA-noneLBW phenotype was all associated with an increased risk of delay in gross motor, language and personal-social functional domains (all P<0.05). The term-SGA-LBW phenotype was associated with an increased risk of delay in gross motor, fine motor and personal-social functional domains (all P<0.01). Whereas the term-LBW-only or term-SGA-only phenotype showed no statistically association with developmental delay in any functional domain (all P≥0.05). Conclusion:The combined classification based on gestational age and birth weight helps identify infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental delay at 1 year of age, suggesting that it may offer a reference for the rational allocation of clinical resources.

Objective To develop a preoperative question prompt list(QPL)for older patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and evaluate its effectiveness in application.Methods This trial adopted a randomized controlled design.The QPL was developed by literature review,expert discussions,and Delphi consultation.Convenience sampling was used to subject 76 older BPH inpatients treated in our department,and then they were randomly divided into control(routine communication,n=38)and intervention(QPL-assisted communication,n=38)groups.Number of the questions patient asking,communication duration,information recall,and communication quality were compared between the 2 groups.Results In the 2 rounds of expert consultation,the response rate of questionnaire was 94.44%and 100%,the authority coefficient was 0.89 and 0.93,the coefficient of variation was 0.05～0.22 and 0～0.11,and Kendall's coefficients was 0.645(Chi-square=87.782,P<0.001)and 0.733(Chi-square=74.789,P<0.001),respectively.The final QPL included 3 themes and 7 questions.The intervention group asked more questions(4.03±1.89 vs 2.11±1.27,P<0.05)but spent similar time for communication(8.18±2.11 vs 7.67±1.72 min,P>0.05).At 1 d before discharge,better information recall(8.74±1.12 vs 6.49±1.68,P<0.001)and communication quality(60.06±6.25 vs 54.86±7.98,P<0.05)were observed in the intervention group when compared with the control group.Conclusion Our developed preoperative communication QPL is of scientificalness and effectiveness for elderly BPH patients.This tool can not only encourage question-asking behavior,but also improve information recall and communication quality in the patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disorder involving complex immune regulation, where balancing localized and systemic immunosuppression is a key challenge. This study aimed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy by engineering the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN). We removed endogenous plasmids pMUT1 and pMUT2 from wild-type EcN and expressed the mPD-L1 (19‒238 aa)-mFc fusion protein on the bacterial surface using a cytolysin A (ClyA) fragment. This modification stabilized mPD-L1 (19‒238 aa) protein expression and promoted its recruitment to outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). The engineered strain, EcNΔ_pMUT1/2-ClyA-mPD-L1-mFc (EcN-ePD-L1-mFc), features conditional ePD-L1-mFc expression under the araBAD promoter, enhancing gut-targeted release and reducing systemic side effects. This strain improved treatment targeting and efficiency by enabling direct ePD-L1-mFc interaction with immune cells at inflammation sites. OMVs from this strain induced Treg proliferation, inhibited effector T cell proliferation in vitro, and significantly improved intestinal inflammation and colonic epithelial barrier repair in vivo. Additionally, the bacterium restored intestinal microbiota balance, increasing Lactobacillaceae and reducing Bacteroides. This study highlights the engineered bacterium's potential for targeted intestinal immune modulation and offers a novel local IBD treatment approach with promising clinical prospects.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transsacral magnetic root stimulation combined with sacral reflexes, external anal sphincter electromyography and pudendal nerve somatosensory evoked potentials in the assessment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD).Methods:Twenty-one NLUTD patients (1 with a supra-pontine lesion, 5 with a spinal cord injury, 5 with a cauda equina injury, and 10 with pelvic floor disorders) were enrolled. Needle electromyography (EMG) was used to record TMS-induced and transsacral magnetic stimulation-induced motor evoked potentials (tc-MEPs and ts-MEPs, respectively) related to the external anal sphincter (EAS). The dorsal nerve of the penis or clitoris was stimulated electrically to record the latency of the sacral reflex related to the EAS. Central motor conduction time (CMCT) and the tc/ts-MEP latency ratio were calculated to distinguish central from peripheral lesions.Results:In the one patient with a supra-pontine lesion, although the tc-MEP and ts-MEP latencies were within normal limits, the CMCT was prolonged (28.2ms) and the tc/ts-MEP ratio was large (7.4). Among the five patients with a spinal cord injury, one exhibited prolonged tc-MEP latency (50.6ms) and CMCT (47.8ms), along with a large tc/ts-MEP ratio (18.1). In the five patients with cauda equina injury and the ten with NLUTD secondary to pelvic floor disorders, CMCT was within the normal range [averaging (22.9±4.9ms) and (24.2±3.5ms), respectively], but the ts-MEP latency was prolonged [(7.1±2.1ms) and (8.6±3.7ms), respectively], and the tc/ts-MEP ratio was small [(4.4±0.9) and (4.3±1.5), respectively]. The tc/ts-MEP ratio demonstrated the best rate of abnormality detection (93.8%), with an area under the curve of 0.99, indicating good sensitivity.Conclusions:The tc/ts-MEP ratio can be useful for distinguishing central and peripheral lesions. A markedly increased tc/ts-MEP ratio may suggest central nervous system injury, whereas a decreased ratio may indicate peripheral nervous system injury.

To report a Chinese pedigree with benign hereditary chorea (BHC) related to NKX2-1 gene mutation. The proband, a 16-year-old boy, was admitted with a 15-year history of recurrent involuntary choreiform movements, exacerbated over 2 weeks. The results of whole-exome sequencing showed that the proband and his mother both had a heterozygous mutation in exon 2 of the NKX2-1 gene (c.231_232dup:p.Pro78Hisfs *24), leading to a clinical diagnosis of BHC. No patient carrying this variant was previously reported in the literature. The clinical phenotype of NKX2-1 gene defects is complex, with BHC being a characteristic manifestation of the nervous system. This group of disorders is also referred to as NKX2-1-related disorders. This article discusses the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment points of patients with NKX2-1-related disorder with reference to the current literature, aiming to enhance clinicians′ understanding and management of this disease.

Objective:To investigate the effects of dual vascularized tissue-engineered bone constructed by vascular bundles and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on repair of large bone defects and vascular regeneration.Methods:EPCs were seeded on the demineralized bone matrix (DBM) scaffolds and cultured for 6 days. The attachment and morphology of EPCs on DBM scaffolds were observed by electron microscopy. Next, the radial artery was implanted into a vascular groove opened inside the DBM-EPCs composite scaffolds. Finally, models of a large segmental bone defect were constructed using the radii from 18 New Zealand white rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups using a simple random sampling method: DBM group, DBM+EPCs group, DBM+vascular bundle group, and DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group. The DBM group and DBM+EPCs group shared the same rabbits so that transplantations were conducted into the left and right forearms respectively; the DBM+vascular bundle group and DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group also shared the same rabbits so that transplantations were conducted into the left and right forearms respectively. Consequently, there were 9 experimental sites in each group. X-ray examination and gross morphological observation were performed to evaluate the bone regeneration in the experimental rabbits in each group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery, and CD31 immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the vascular regeneration. Micro-CT was used to analyze bone tissue parameters and reconstruct the three-dimensional structures of the defects site at 12 weeks after surgery.Results:Compared with the DBM, DBM+EPCs and DBM+vascular bundle groups, the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group showed new bone tissue crawling on the scaffold surface at 4 weeks after surgery, almost complete healing of the bone defect area at 8 weeks, and forming of a complete and dense bone bridge and appearance of a bone marrow cavity at 12 weeks. Micro-CT data at 12 weeks after surgery showed regular arrangement of the trabeculae, significantly improved mineralization, and increased thickness of the bone cortex in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group. Additionally, in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group, the number of microvessels was significantly higher than that in the other groups at 4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery ( P<0.05), and the angiogenesis and bone tissue regeneration were particularly prominent at 12 weeks after surgery. The number of CD31 cells in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group increased significantly more than that in the DBM, DBM+EPCs and DBM+vascular bundle groups ( P<0.05). Conclusion:As the dual vascularized tissue-engineered bone constructed by vascular bundles and EPCs can significantly promote bone tissue regeneration and angiogenesis, it may be a potential therapeutic strategy for repair of large bone defects.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transsacral magnetic root stimulation combined with sacral reflexes, external anal sphincter electromyography and pudendal nerve somatosensory evoked potentials in the assessment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD).Methods:Twenty-one NLUTD patients (1 with a supra-pontine lesion, 5 with a spinal cord injury, 5 with a cauda equina injury, and 10 with pelvic floor disorders) were enrolled. Needle electromyography (EMG) was used to record TMS-induced and transsacral magnetic stimulation-induced motor evoked potentials (tc-MEPs and ts-MEPs, respectively) related to the external anal sphincter (EAS). The dorsal nerve of the penis or clitoris was stimulated electrically to record the latency of the sacral reflex related to the EAS. Central motor conduction time (CMCT) and the tc/ts-MEP latency ratio were calculated to distinguish central from peripheral lesions.Results:In the one patient with a supra-pontine lesion, although the tc-MEP and ts-MEP latencies were within normal limits, the CMCT was prolonged (28.2ms) and the tc/ts-MEP ratio was large (7.4). Among the five patients with a spinal cord injury, one exhibited prolonged tc-MEP latency (50.6ms) and CMCT (47.8ms), along with a large tc/ts-MEP ratio (18.1). In the five patients with cauda equina injury and the ten with NLUTD secondary to pelvic floor disorders, CMCT was within the normal range [averaging (22.9±4.9ms) and (24.2±3.5ms), respectively], but the ts-MEP latency was prolonged [(7.1±2.1ms) and (8.6±3.7ms), respectively], and the tc/ts-MEP ratio was small [(4.4±0.9) and (4.3±1.5), respectively]. The tc/ts-MEP ratio demonstrated the best rate of abnormality detection (93.8%), with an area under the curve of 0.99, indicating good sensitivity.Conclusions:The tc/ts-MEP ratio can be useful for distinguishing central and peripheral lesions. A markedly increased tc/ts-MEP ratio may suggest central nervous system injury, whereas a decreased ratio may indicate peripheral nervous system injury.

To report a Chinese pedigree with benign hereditary chorea (BHC) related to NKX2-1 gene mutation. The proband, a 16-year-old boy, was admitted with a 15-year history of recurrent involuntary choreiform movements, exacerbated over 2 weeks. The results of whole-exome sequencing showed that the proband and his mother both had a heterozygous mutation in exon 2 of the NKX2-1 gene (c.231_232dup:p.Pro78Hisfs *24), leading to a clinical diagnosis of BHC. No patient carrying this variant was previously reported in the literature. The clinical phenotype of NKX2-1 gene defects is complex, with BHC being a characteristic manifestation of the nervous system. This group of disorders is also referred to as NKX2-1-related disorders. This article discusses the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment points of patients with NKX2-1-related disorder with reference to the current literature, aiming to enhance clinicians′ understanding and management of this disease.

Objective:To investigate the effects of dual vascularized tissue-engineered bone constructed by vascular bundles and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on repair of large bone defects and vascular regeneration.Methods:EPCs were seeded on the demineralized bone matrix (DBM) scaffolds and cultured for 6 days. The attachment and morphology of EPCs on DBM scaffolds were observed by electron microscopy. Next, the radial artery was implanted into a vascular groove opened inside the DBM-EPCs composite scaffolds. Finally, models of a large segmental bone defect were constructed using the radii from 18 New Zealand white rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups using a simple random sampling method: DBM group, DBM+EPCs group, DBM+vascular bundle group, and DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group. The DBM group and DBM+EPCs group shared the same rabbits so that transplantations were conducted into the left and right forearms respectively; the DBM+vascular bundle group and DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group also shared the same rabbits so that transplantations were conducted into the left and right forearms respectively. Consequently, there were 9 experimental sites in each group. X-ray examination and gross morphological observation were performed to evaluate the bone regeneration in the experimental rabbits in each group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery, and CD31 immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the vascular regeneration. Micro-CT was used to analyze bone tissue parameters and reconstruct the three-dimensional structures of the defects site at 12 weeks after surgery.Results:Compared with the DBM, DBM+EPCs and DBM+vascular bundle groups, the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group showed new bone tissue crawling on the scaffold surface at 4 weeks after surgery, almost complete healing of the bone defect area at 8 weeks, and forming of a complete and dense bone bridge and appearance of a bone marrow cavity at 12 weeks. Micro-CT data at 12 weeks after surgery showed regular arrangement of the trabeculae, significantly improved mineralization, and increased thickness of the bone cortex in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group. Additionally, in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group, the number of microvessels was significantly higher than that in the other groups at 4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery ( P<0.05), and the angiogenesis and bone tissue regeneration were particularly prominent at 12 weeks after surgery. The number of CD31 cells in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group increased significantly more than that in the DBM, DBM+EPCs and DBM+vascular bundle groups ( P<0.05). Conclusion:As the dual vascularized tissue-engineered bone constructed by vascular bundles and EPCs can significantly promote bone tissue regeneration and angiogenesis, it may be a potential therapeutic strategy for repair of large bone defects.