ObjectiveTo explore the application value of probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) in rapidly detecting and evaluating the morphological characteristics of digestive tract tissues in mice. MethodsTwelve male SPF Kunming mice aged 6 weeks were randomly divided into two groups. Six mice were subjected to gastric gavage with 52% Red Star Erguotou to establish the model, and six were given saline by gastric gavage as a control. After 28 days of modeling, 3 mice were randomly selected from each group. After deep anesthesia induced by inhalation of 3% isoflurane, the mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and rectum tissues were excised and immersed in 1% fluorescein sodium solution for staining. The microstructure of the mucosal surface of each tissue was observed using pCLE. The remaining mice in the model group and the control group were deeply anesthetized by inhaling 3% isoflurane, then cardiac perfusion was performed successively with saline and 4% paraformaldehyde. The stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and rectum tissues were excised for dehydration, section and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the morphological changes of the tissues were observed under a microscope. ResultsUnder pCLE imaging, fluorescence staining on the surface of the gastrointestinal mucosa was uniform in the control group; the morphology of gastric pits, intestinal villi, and intestinal crypts was intact, arranged compactly, and had distinct boundaries. In the model group, the gastrointestinal mucosa exhibited mucosal swelling and deformation, with uneven fluorescence staining and fluorescein leakage. Furthermore, some tissues showed defects or cell shedding, and the boundaries between adjacent characteristic structures (e.g., gastric pits, intestinal crypts) were blurred. HE staining showed that the gastrointestinal tissue structure of the control group mice was normal and well-organized, with no structural defects. Moreover, submucosal glands were uniform in size, with no hyperplasia observed, and no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. In the model group, some gastrointestinal mucosal structures were defective and sparsely arranged; submucosal glands showed atrophy, accompanied by obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. The histological characteristics detected by pCLE were consistent with those of HE staining. ConclusionpCLE can be used to obtain rapid, real-time, large-scale, and high-resolution microscopic imaging of the gastrointestinal mucosa, realistically and comprehensively displaying its physiological and microstructural characteristics. It shows promising prospects and practical utility in the histological evaluation of digestive system injuries in small animals.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of two children diagnosed with two rare genetic diseases simultaneously. METHODS: Two children with comorbidity of two genetic diseases due to dual genetic mutations diagnosed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University respectively in May 2022 and March 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical and genetic data of the two children were retrospectively analyzed. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethic No. 2021-062-01). RESULTS: Child 1 was a 2-year-and-4-month-old boy whose clinical manifestations included facial dysmorphism, developmental delay, short stature, microcephaly, cleft palate, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, recurrent infections and immunological abnormalities. Whole exome sequencing revealed that he had harbored a heterozygous c.6595delT (p.Y2199Ifs*65) variant of the KMT2D gene and a heterozygous c.1892G>A (p.R631Q) variant of the PIK3R1 gene. This has led to a dual genetic diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome and PI3Kδ-related immunodeficiency type 36. Child 2 was a 15-year-old girl whose clinical manifestations included epilepsy, Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy, long body trunk, short limbs, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and hyperparathyroidism. The child also had a family history of short stature. Whole exome sequencing revealed that she had harbored a heterozygous c.2T>C (p.Met1?) variant of the GNAS gene and deletion of exons 2 to 6 of the SHOX gene. The two variants have led to dual diagnose of pseudohypoparathyroidism and X-linked idiopathic short stature. CONCLUSION When the clinical phenotype of a genetic disease is complex and cannot be fully explained with a single genetic variant, multiple pathogenic variants should be considered, and this may lead to the diagnosis of co-morbid genetic diseases. To adopt or supplement corresponding genetic testing in time and re-analyze the genetic data may facilitate accurate diagnosis of co-morbid genetic diseases.
Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/genetics* ; Comorbidity ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation ; Rare Diseases/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and genotypic changes of six children with RARS2 gene variants. METHODS: The clinical data of 6 children with RARS2 gene variants diagnosed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2017 to August 2024 were collected. Genetic variants were detected using trio-whole exome sequencing. Genomic DNA was extracted from samples and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. Variants were detected and analyzed using relevant databases and software. Pathogenic variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. The protein structure encoded by a previously unreported variant was predicted using a SWISS-MODEL online server. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No.: 2024-373-01). RESULTS: Among the six children, four were males and two were females, with the most recent follow-up age ranging from 1-year-and-1-month to 7 years old. The age of onset was under 1 year in all cases. All six children exhibited seizures, including infantile spasms in three, spasms and tonic spasms in one, and focal seizures in two. One child became seizure-free for 4 ~ 5 years following Valproic acid combined with topiramate and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) pulse therapy, but subsequently experienced a relapse. Another child has remained seizure-free for nearly one year with oral sodium valproate, levetiracetam, and a "cocktail" therapy. Seizures were not controlled in the remaining four children. Pontocerebellar hypoplasia was observed on neuroimaging in two children. All six patients exhibited severe psychomotor retardation. A total of 10 RARS2 gene variants were identified, three of which were previously unreported. CONCLUSION The predominant clinical features of Pontocerebellar hypoplasia associated with RARS2 gene variants include infantile onset, severe psychomotor retardation or regression, drug-resistant epilepsy, and feeding difficulties. The characteristic neuroimaging finding is pontocerebellar hypoplasia. However, its appearance may vary widely with time. The majority of affected children have a poor prognosis.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Child ; Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies/genetics* ; Arginine-tRNA Ligase/genetics* ; Mutation ; Cerebellar Diseases

With the improvement of the quality of obstetric medical care, postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal death, has received high attention. And pregnancy associated venous thromboembolism (PA-VTE) has gradually become one of the leading causes of maternal death. The clinical characteristics of PA-VTE and the particularity of treatment determine the importance of early assessment and prevention. This article reviews the risk factors and current assessment status of PA-VTE, in order to provide references for clinical risk assessment and prevention of VTE in pregnant women.

Objective To observe the clinical characteristics ofretinoblastoma (RB) in Southwest China.Methods A retrospective clinical study.From January 2010 to December 2017,66 RB patients diagnosed in Ophthalmology Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University were included in the study.All the patients underwent ocular B-ultrasound,orbital CT or MRI examination.Ten patients underwent RetCam examination at the same time.Twenty-nine patients were diagnosed by histopathological examination,and 37 patients were diagnosed by clinical symptoms and imaging examination.According to whether the tumor invaded the orbit and optic nerve,it could be divided into extraocular stage and intraocular stage.Intraocular tumors were divided into A-E stages according to the international intraocular RB classification.Treatments were performed according to different stages.The general information,age at diagnosis,course of diseases (the time between onset symptoms and diagnosis),causes of visiting a doctor,classification,treatment methods and eyeball preservation rate were retrospectively analyzed.Results Patients all came from Southwest China (56 patients from Sichuan Province,2 patients from Yunnan Province,2 patients from Guizhou Province,and 6 patients from Tibet).The permanent residence were identified in 43 patients,including 27 patients (62.8％) from rural areas.There were 38 males (57.6％);50 unilateral tumors (75.8％) and 16 bilateral tumors (24.2％);51 firstvisiting patients (77.3％) and 15 re-visiting patients (22.7％).The average diagnostic age of first-visiting patients was 20.9 ± 14.4 months,with 23.2 ± 14.7 and 11.2 ± 7.6 months for unilateral and bilateral tumors,respectively.There were 41 patients had definite course and causes,of whom the average course was 90.6± 115.2 days.The most common cause was leucocoria in 32 patients (62.7％),followed by redness and swelling in 4 patients (9.8％),and other causes in 5 patients (12.2％).Among the 15 re-visiting patients,the average diagnostic age was 63.6± 46.8 months,the average course was 32.8 ± 45.5 months.Recurrence was occurred in 5 patients (33.3％),leucocoria in 4 patients (26.7％),postoperative complication in 3 patients (20.0％),protrusion in 2 patients (13.3％) and redness in 1 (6.7％) patient,respectively.Fifty out of 82 eyes were admitted to hospital,including 37 eyes of first-visiting patients and 13 eyes of re-visiting patients.Among 37 first-visiting eyes,there were 5 eyes (13.5％) in stage A-C,26 eyes (70.3％) in stage D-E,6 eyes (16.2％) in extraocular stage.Five eyes in stage A-C were treated with laser photocoagulation and (or) cryotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy.Four eyes in stage D were treated with intraocular arterial chemotherapy.Nineteen eyes (51.3％) were performed with enucleation,2 eyes (5.4％) with evisceration and 7 eyes (18.9％) abandoned treatment.Among 13 re-visiting eyes,6 eyes (46.2％,with 5 eyes of recurrence) had been enucleated before,4 eyes (30.8％) were in extraocular stage and 3 eyes (23.1％) in stage D-E.Five eyes (38.5％) were treated with evisceration,4 eyes (30.8％) with enucleation,1 eye with oculoplastic surgery and 3 eyes (23.1％) abandoned treatment.The rate of eye preservation was 18.0％,29.0％ for intraocular stage and 0％ for extraocular stage,respectively.Conclusion RB patients in Southwest China have a longer course between onset symptoms and diagnosis,more advanced classification and lower rate of eye preservation.

Objective? To explore the effects of home visit directed by Peplau interpersonal relationship model on negative emotions and medication adherence in elderly bronchial asthma patients. Methods? From May 2015 to May 2017, we selected 90 elderly bronchial asthma patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University as subjects by convenience sampling. All of the patients were divided into observation group and control group with the method of random number table, 45 cases in each group. Observation group carried out home visit nursing based on the Peplau interpersonal relationship model for elderly bronchial asthma patients. Control group adopted routine follow-up care. The medication adherence and disease cognition of patients both groups were recorded with the Medication Adherence Report Scale for Asthma (MARS-A) as well as Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire (ITAQ), and the anxiety and depression of patients both groups before and after intervention were assessed with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). We also observed the incidence of bronchial asthma acute attack in patients one year after discharge. Results? When home visit was completed and one year after discharge, the medication adherence of observation group was higher than that of control group, and the score of ITAQ was higher than that of control group and that at discharge with statistical differences (P＜ 0.05). One year after discharge, the incidence of bronchial asthma acute attack of observation group was lower than that of control group with a statistical difference (P＜ 0.05). When home visit was completed and one year after discharge, the scores of HAMA and HAMD of observation group were lower than those of control group with statistical differences (P＜0.05). Conclusions? Home visit directed by Peplau interpersonal relationship model help to reduce the incidence of acute attack of elderly bronchial asthma patients external hospital, relieve the negative emotions and improve disease cognition as well as medication adherence.

Objective? To explore the application of three-dimensional quality assessment model of structure-process-outcome in continued nursing care for elderly patients with lung cancer after operation. Methods? By purposive sampling, 48 elderly patients discharged after radical resection of lung cancer from January to December 2016 were taken as control group and received routine continuous nursing care. Another 51 elderly patients discharged after radical resection of lung cancer from June 2017 to June 2018 were taken as the observation group. Continuous nursing program based on structure-process-outcome quality assessment model was applied for the observation group. The effect of intervention was assessed by using Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPPH) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-30(QLQ-30). Results? At 6 months after discharge, the scores of each dimension of SUPPH scale in the observation group were statistically higher than those in the control group (P＜ 0.05). In the observation group the scores of "physical function", "role function", "social function" and "overall health" of QLQ-30 scale were higher than the control group, the scores of "fatigue", "pain", "insomnia", "lack of appetite", "constipation", and "diarrhea" were all lower than the control group with statistical significance (P＜0.05). Conclusions? The continuous nursing care based on the three-dimensional quality assessment model of structure-process-outcome for elderly patients with lung cancer can help to improve their sense of self-efficacy and quality of life.

Objective To observe the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like recep-tor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome in epilepsy model,and to explore the neuroprotective effect of melatonin. Methods SD rats aged 21-30 d were randomly divided into the control group(48 rats),the epilepsy group(48 rats)and the melatonin group(48 rats),and each group was subdivided into 4 subgroups according to the time points of 24 h,48 h, 72 h,and 7 d,with 12 SD rats in each subgroup. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohisto-chemical technique were used to analyze the expressions of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and interleukin(IL)-1β in hippocam-pus areas of rats at different points of time after seizures were induced,and their behavior changes were observed. Results The number of NLRP3-positive cells in the epileptic group increased,and reached the peak at 72 h. At 24 h,48 h,72 h,7 d,the number of NLRP3-positive cells in the epilepsy group(14. 20 ± 1. 64,23. 60 ± 1. 14,31. 20 ± 1. 30,25. 40 ± 2. 07)was significantly increased compared with those of the melatonin group(10. 60 ± 0. 89,17. 80 ± 1. 48,24. 00 ± 0. 71,20. 20 ± 1. 92)and the control group(2. 60 ± 0. 89,2. 40 ± 1. 14,2. 40 ± 1. 14,2. 40 ± 0. 55),and the differences were significant(F＝122. 977,375. 125,962. 743,262. 916,all P＜0. 05). The NLRP3 mRNA relative expressions in the epilepsy group (2. 57 ± 0. 12,3. 34 ± 0. 10,4. 84 ± 0. 19,3. 55 ± 0. 13)were significantly increased compared with those of the melatonin group (2. 03 ± 0. 08,2. 71 ± 0. 08,4. 03 ± 0. 14,2. 48 ± 0. 18)and the control group(1. 07 ± 0. 13,1. 08 ± 0. 15,1. 08 ± 0. 23,1. 07 ± 0. 18),and the differences were significant (F ＝422. 386, 1 154. 957,1 132. 112,512. 149,all P ＜0. 05);the Caspase -1 mRNA relative expressions in the epilepsy group (2. 47 ± 0. 07,3. 05 ± 0. 15,4. 39 ± 0. 18,3. 14 ± 0. 11)were significantly increased compared with those of melatonin group(1. 85 ± 0. 07,2. 49 ± 0. 08,3. 60 ± 0. 12,2. 15 ± 0. 12)and the control group (0. 98 ± 0. 25,0. 99 ± 0. 15,0. 98 ± 0. 23,0. 99 ± 0. 18),and the differences were significant(F ＝620. 099,580. 796,1 125. 225,645. 082,all P ＜0. 05);the IL-1β mRNA relative expressions in epilepsy group (2. 32 ± 0. 15,2. 90 ± 0. 18,4. 18 ± 0. 16,2. 74 ± 0. 07)were significantly increased compared with those of the melatonin group (1. 78 ± 0. 09,2. 35 ± 0. 11,3. 24 ± 0. 13,1. 78 ± 0. 16)and the control group(0. 97 ± 0. 13,0. 99 ± 0. 15,0. 97 ± 0. 23,0. 97 ± 0. 18),and the differences were significant(F＝267. 952,398. 767,1 140. 384,438. 962,all P ＜0. 05). Conclusions The NLRP3 inflamma-somes are activated in rat hippocampus with epilepsy induced by lithium-pilocarpine. NLRP3 inflammasome mediated inflammatory response probably involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. The melatonin may play a neuroprotective role by inhibiting expression of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Objective To investigate the status and analyze the influencing factors of structural empowerment and psychological empowerment of midwives in Suzhou.Methods Using convenience sampling,totally 309 midwives from fifteen hospitals in Suzhou were investigated with the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire-Ⅱ (CWEQ-Ⅱ) and Psychological Empowerment Scale (PES).Results The scores of structural and psychological empowerment of midwives were (18.07±3.12) and (14.82±2.01).There was a significantly positive correlation between midwives' structural and psychological empowerment (r=0.396,P＜0.01).Hospital level and whether participate in midwifery standardization training had an impact on structural empowerment score(P＜0.05).Age,parental status,job title,salary,delivery room working hours,number of night shifts per month,and whether or not participate in teaching had an impact on psychological empowerment score(P＜0.05).Conclusion Midwives' structural and psychological empowerments are at a moderate level.Administrators should take targeted intervention to create an empowerment-allowing working environment for midwives,stabilize midwives work force,strengthen midwifery discipline construction and make full specialized features of midwives.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics and causative mutation in an ethnic Han Chinese family affected with punctate palmoplantar keratoderma (PPPK).

METHODSClinical characteristics and inheritance pattern of the family were analyzed. Two seriously affected individuals from the family were investigated by whole exome sequencing. Three healthy individuals from the family and 120 non-PPPK individuals were evaluated to validate the result.

RESULTSThe family was characterized by keratotic papules on the palms and soles, which gradually increased in size and number with age and coalesced with each other, particularly over the pressure part of the palms and soles. The family has featured autosomal dominant inheritance. A heterozygous frameshift variant c.419delC in exons of the CELA1 gene was identified in all affected individuals but not among non-affected members.

CONCLUSIONA heterozygous frameshift variant c.419delC in CELA1 gene probably underlies the disease in the family affected with PPPK.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pancreatic Elastase ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Young Adult