Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

Objective:To discuss the differential effects of apolipoprotein E(APOE)gene polymorphism in the neurotoxicity-reactive astrocytes,and to provide the theoretical basis for the study of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods:The primary cortical astrocytes from the APOE-knockout mice(APOE-/-)were isolated and cultured in vitro,and the purity of the cells was identified by immunofluorescence staining.The human APOE3 and APOE4 recombinant over-expression plasmids were constructed and separately transfected into the primary APOE-/-astrocytes,and the APOE-/-primary cells were regarded as control.Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of APOE and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)proteins in the cells;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to detect the APOE level in the cellular culture supernatant.The inflammatory models were prepared with the primary astrocytes transfected with APOE3 and APOE4 and co-stimulated with interleukin-1α(IL-1α),tumor necrosis factor(TNF),and complement C1q.The cells were divided into APOE3+PBS group,APOE4+PBS group,APOE3+IL-1α+TNF+ C1q group,and APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+C1q group.Cell immunofluorescence staining method was used to observe the morphology of the cells in various groups;real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the expression levels of glypican 4(Gpc4),glypican 6(Gpc6),thrombospondin 1(Thbs1),thrombospondin 2(Thbs2),SPARC-like protein 1(Sparcl1)and glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),C3,and S100 calcium binding protein B(S100B)mRNA in the cells in various groups;microsphere phagocytosis assay was used to detect the phagocytic capacities of the cells in various groups;Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-3(Caspase-3)proteins in the cells in various groups.Results:Compared with APOE-/-group,the expression levels of APOE and GFAP proteins in the cells and the APOE level in the cellular culture supernatant in transfected APOE3 and transfected APOE4 groups were increased(P<0.01).The fluorescence microscope observation results showed that compared with APOE3+PBS and APOE4+PBS groups,the astrocytic processes in APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group and APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group became shorter and the cell bodies became larger;compared with APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group,the astrocytic processes in APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were even shorter.Compared with APOE3+PBS and APOE4+PBS groups,the expression levels of Gpc4,Gpc6,Thbs1,Thbs2,and Sparcl1 mRNA in the cells in APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group and APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group,the expression levels of Gpc4,Gpc6,Thbs1,Thbs2,and Sparcl1 mRNA in the cells in APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with APOE3+PBS and APOE4+PBS groups,the expression levels of GDNF mRNA in the cells in APOE3+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group and APOE4+ IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were decreased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of C3 and S100B mRNA were increased(P<0.01);compared with APOE3+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group,the expression level of GDNF mRNA in the cells in APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group was decreased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of C3 and S100B mRNA were increased(P<0.05).Compared with APOE3+ PBS group and APOE4+PBS group,the numbers of hagocytosis of microspheres in the cells in APOE3+ IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group and APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were significantly decreased;compared with APOE3+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group,the number of hagocytosis of microspheres in the cells in APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group was significantly decreased.Compared with APOE3+PBS group and APOE4+PBS group,the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein in the cells in APOE3+IL-1α+TNF+ Cq1 group and APOE4+IL-1α +TNF+Cq1 group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01)and the expression levels of Caspase-3 protein were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with APOE3+ IL-1α+TNF+Cq1 group,the expression level of Bcl-2 protein in the cells in APOE4+IL-1α+TNF+ Cq1 group was decreased(P<0.01),and the expression level of Caspase-3 protein was increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:The APOE4 genotype has a stronger ability to induce the inflammatory factors compared with APOE3;it can lead to a neurotoxicity-reactive astrocyte phenotype,increase the neurotoxicity,affect the astrocyte apoptosis,and aggravate the neuron damage.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fronto-orbital plasty using premature frontal suture osteotomy with frontoparietal transposition for the treatment of metopic synostosis.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of children with metopic synostosis who were treated in the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Children’ s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2015 to October 2023 with fronto-orbital plasty, which involved premature frontal suture osteotomy with frontoparietal transposition. The frontal and parietal bones were divided into two bones, then the supraorbital bridge was cut off and the premature frontal suture was removed. The parietal bone block was then placed on the upper edge of the orbital bone, followed by the placement of the two pieces of the frontal bone on the upper edge of the parietal bone. Finally, all bone blocks were secured using absorbable plates. Pre-and post-operative CT scans and reconstructions were performed to measure changes in cranial cavity volume, and complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, infection, and recurrence of metopic synostosis were followed up.Results:A total of 5 patients with metopic synostosis were enrolled, 4 males and 1 female, aged 5 to 14 months. The operation time was 4.5 to 5.5 hours, and the intraoperative blood loss was 50 to 150 ml. All patients completed the treatment without serious complications. The cranial cavity volume increased by 48.53 to 172.00 cm 3 after the operation. Follow-up was conducted for 3 to 6 months, and the trigonocephaly was completely improved without any serious complications. Short-term follow-up indicated stable craniofacial morphology. Conclusion:Fronto-orbital plasty using premature frontal suture osteotomy with frontoparietal transposition is an effective and safe treatment for metopic synostosis. The procedure has a low risk of recurrence and complications, and the result are positive. Recurrence was scarce in the short term, and the long-term situation needs to be observed.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fronto-orbital plasty using premature frontal suture osteotomy with frontoparietal transposition for the treatment of metopic synostosis.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of children with metopic synostosis who were treated in the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Children’ s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2015 to October 2023 with fronto-orbital plasty, which involved premature frontal suture osteotomy with frontoparietal transposition. The frontal and parietal bones were divided into two bones, then the supraorbital bridge was cut off and the premature frontal suture was removed. The parietal bone block was then placed on the upper edge of the orbital bone, followed by the placement of the two pieces of the frontal bone on the upper edge of the parietal bone. Finally, all bone blocks were secured using absorbable plates. Pre-and post-operative CT scans and reconstructions were performed to measure changes in cranial cavity volume, and complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, infection, and recurrence of metopic synostosis were followed up.Results:A total of 5 patients with metopic synostosis were enrolled, 4 males and 1 female, aged 5 to 14 months. The operation time was 4.5 to 5.5 hours, and the intraoperative blood loss was 50 to 150 ml. All patients completed the treatment without serious complications. The cranial cavity volume increased by 48.53 to 172.00 cm 3 after the operation. Follow-up was conducted for 3 to 6 months, and the trigonocephaly was completely improved without any serious complications. Short-term follow-up indicated stable craniofacial morphology. Conclusion:Fronto-orbital plasty using premature frontal suture osteotomy with frontoparietal transposition is an effective and safe treatment for metopic synostosis. The procedure has a low risk of recurrence and complications, and the result are positive. Recurrence was scarce in the short term, and the long-term situation needs to be observed.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between microRNA (miR)-21, miR-191 and clinical stage of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: 100 patients with DLBCL treated in Shanxi Fenyang Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected as the research subjects. All patients was divided into stage I, stage II, stage III and stage IV according to Ann-Arbor (Cotswolds) staging system at admission. The baseline data of patients at different clinical stages were counted and compared in detail. The relationship between the levels of miR-21 and miR-191 and the clinical stage of DLBCL patients was mainly analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 100 patients with DLBCL, there were 15 patients at stage I, 25 patients at stage II, 37 patients at stage III and 23 patients at stage IV. The levels of miR-21 and miR-191 in patients at stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were increased gradually, which showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). According to Kendall's tau-b correlation analysis, it was found that the levels of miR-21 and miR-191 were positively correlated with the clinical stage of DLBCL patients (r=0.566, 0.636). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the overexpression of serum miR-21 and miR-191 was a risk factor for high clinical stage in patients with DLBCL (OR>1, P<0.05). Bivariate Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between miR-21 and miR-191 levels in patients with DLBCL (r=0.339). CONCLUSION The overexpression of miR-21 and miR-191 in patients with DLBCL is related to high clinical stage.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Guizhi Fuling Capsule (GZFLC) on myeloma cells and explore the mechanisms. METHODS: MM1S and RPMI 8226 cells were co-cultured with different concentrations of serum and the cell experiments were divided into negative (10%, 20% and 40%) groups, GZFLC (10%, 20%, and 40%) groups and a control group. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and flow cytometry were used to detect the viability and apoptosis levels of myeloma cells. The effects on mitochondria were examined by reactive oxygen specie (ROS) and tetrechloro-tetraethylbenzimidazol carbocyanine iodide (JC-1) assays. Western blot was used to detect the expression of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), cleaved caspase-3, -9, cytochrome C (Cytc) and apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1). RPMI 8226 cells (2 × 10⁷) were subcutaneously inoculated into 48 nude mice to study the in vivo antitumor effects of GZFLC. The mice were randomly divided into four groups using a completely randomized design, the high-, medium-, or low-dose GZFLC (840, 420, or 210 mg/kg per day, respectively) or an equal volume of distilled water, administered daily for 15 days. The tumor volume changes in and survival times of the mice in the GZFLC-administered groups and a control group were observed. Cytc and Apaf-1 expression levels were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: GZFLC drug serum decreased the viability and increased the apoptosis of myeloam cells (P<0.05). In addition, this drug increased the ROS levels and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (P<0.01). Western blot showed that the Bcl-2/Bax ratios were decreased in the GZFLC drug serum-treated groups, whereas the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, -9, Cytc and Apaf-1 were increased (all P<0.01). Over time, the myeloma tumor volumes of the mice in the GZFLC-administered groups decreased, and survival time of the mice in the GZFLC-administered groups were longer than that of the mice in the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues from the mice in the GZFLC-administered groups revealed that the Cytc and Apaf-1 expression levels were increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION GZFLC promoted apoptosis of myeloma cells through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and significantly reduced the tumor volumes in mice with myeloma, which prolonged the survival times of the mice.
Mice ; Animals ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Wolfiporia ; Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism* ; Mice, Nude ; Apoptosis ; Mitochondria/metabolism*

Objective: To review the clinical characteristics, to illustrate diagnosis and management experience of orbital and cranial complications of pediatric acute rhinosinusitis. Methods: The clinical data of 24 children with orbital and cranial complications of acute rhinosinusitis who received endoscopic sinus surgery combined with drug treatment in Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 19 boys and 5 girls. The age varied from 13 to 159 months, with a median 47.5 months. The following diagnoses were obtained: 12 isolated subperiosteal orbital abscess, 2 associated with preseptal abscess, 2 associated with intraorbital abscess, 7 associated with optic neuritis, and 1 associated with septic cavernous sinus thrombosis. Clinical characteristics, organism isolated and outcomes were analyzed through descriptive methods. Results: All 24 patients presented with fever; 9 presented with nasal congestion and purulent discharge. The clinical manifestations of orbital infection included orbital edema, pain, proptosis and displacement of globe in all patients, while visual impairment was recognized in 7 children. Purulent drainage was cultured in 17 patients, among which 12 were positive. All patients underwent nasal endoscopic surgical interventions uneventfully, excluding one patient who required a second surgical procedure. Follow-up period ranged from 5 to 64 months. All patients resolved fully, with the exception of 2 children who got permanent blindness with visual loss preoperative. There was no recurrence or death. Conclusions: Orbital and cranial complications of pediatric acute rhinosinusitis could be severe with an occult onset. For patients with vison impairment, any signs of intracranial complications and a lack of response to conservative management, an urgent endoscopic intervention is needed.
Male ; Female ; Child ; Humans ; Abscess/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinusitis/therapy* ; Orbital Cellulitis ; Acute Disease ; Exophthalmos ; Orbital Diseases/therapy*

AIM: To investigate the effect of repeated intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and aflibercept on corneal nerve of patients with macular edema.METHODS: A total of 64 patients(64 eyes)enrolled in our hospital from June 2021 to June 2022 were treated with intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF). There were 20 cases(20 eyes)of diabetic macular edema, 19 cases(19 eyes)of wet age-related macular degeneration and 25 cases(25 eyes)of retinal vein occlusion. Corneal confocal microscope was used to collect images of corneal subbasal nerve plexus before injections and at 1mo after each intravitreal injection based on 3+pro re nata(PRN)treatment regimen. Furthermore, the length and density of corneal nerve were measured.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in corneal nerve density of patients injected with aflibercept between pre-injection and post-injection(P>0.05), while the corneal nerve length after 2nd and 3rd injections was lower than that of pre-injection(all P<0.01). There were no significant changes in corneal nerve density and length in patients with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab(all P>0.05), and there was no significant differences in corneal nerve density and length after 3 injections of the two drugs(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Repeated intravitreal anti-VEGF drug may affect corneal nerve to some extent. For patients who need repeated intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF, attention should be paid to the changes of corneal nerves.

The development of chemoresistance which results in a poor prognosis often renders current treatments for colorectal cancer(CRC).In this study,we identified reduced microvessel density(MVD)and vascular immaturity resulting from endothelial apoptosis as therapeutic targets for overcoming chemoresistance.We focused on the effect of metformin on MVD,vascular maturity,and endothelial apoptosis of CRCs with a non-angiogenic phenotype,and further investigated its effect in overcoming chemoresistance.In situ transplanted cancer models were established to compare MVD,endothelial apoptosis and vascular maturity,and function in tumors from metformin-and vehicle-treated mice.An in vitro co-culture system was used to observe the effects of metformin on tumor cell-induced endothelial apoptosis.Transcriptome sequencing was performed for genetic screening.Non-angiogenic CRC developed inde-pendently of angiogenesis and was characterized by vascular leakage,immaturity,reduced MVD,and non-hypoxia.This phenomenon had also been observed in human CRC.Furthermore,non-angiogenic CRCs showed a worse response to chemotherapeutic drugs in vivo than in vitro.By suppressing endo-thelial apoptosis,metformin sensitized non-angiogenic CRCs to chemo-drugs via elevation of MVD and improvement of vascular maturity.Further results showed that endothelial apoptosis was induced by tumor cells via activation of caspase signaling,which was abrogated by metformin administration.These findings provide pre-clinical evidence for the involvement of endothelial apoptosis and subsequent vascular immaturity in the chemoresistance of non-angiogenic CRC.By suppressing endothelial apoptosis,metformin restores vascular maturity and function and sensitizes CRC to chemotherapeutic drugs via a vascular mechanism.

Mammals exhibit limited heart regeneration ability, which can lead to heart failure after myocardial infarction. In contrast, zebrafish exhibit remarkable cardiac regeneration capacity. Several cell types and signaling pathways have been reported to participate in this process. However, a comprehensive analysis of how different cells and signals interact and coordinate to regulate cardiac regeneration is unavailable. We collected major cardiac cell types from zebrafish and performed high-precision single-cell transcriptome analyses during both development and post-injury regeneration. We revealed the cellular heterogeneity as well as the molecular progress of cardiomyocytes during these processes, and identified a subtype of atrial cardiomyocyte exhibiting a stem-like state which may transdifferentiate into ventricular cardiomyocytes during regeneration. Furthermore, we identified a regeneration-induced cell (RIC) population in the epicardium-derived cells (EPDC), and demonstrated Angiopoietin 4 (Angpt4) as a specific regulator of heart regeneration. angpt4 expression is specifically and transiently activated in RIC, which initiates a signaling cascade from EPDC to endocardium through the Tie2-MAPK pathway, and further induces activation of cathepsin K in cardiomyocytes through RA signaling. Loss of angpt4 leads to defects in scar tissue resolution and cardiomyocyte proliferation, while overexpression of angpt4 accelerates regeneration. Furthermore, we found that ANGPT4 could enhance proliferation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and promote cardiac repair in mice after myocardial infarction, indicating that the function of Angpt4 is conserved in mammals. Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of heart regeneration at single-cell precision, identifies Angpt4 as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration, and offers a novel therapeutic target for improved recovery after human heart injuries.
Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Cell Proliferation ; Heart/physiology* ; Mammals ; Myocardial Infarction/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Pericardium/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Zebrafish/metabolism*