Objective:To investigate the current status of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) in China in 2024 and to provide recommendations for ensuring the consistency of PGT-A results.Methods:This study was a nationwide external quality assessment research. The National Center for Clinical Laboratories of the National Health Commission conducted two surveys in June and December 2024, with participation from 31 laboratories across China. During each survey, quality control samples of varying concentrations were distributed: the first survey distributed 6 samples (Batch Nos. 202401-202406) and the second survey distributed 3 samples (Batch Nos. 202431-202433). Participating laboratories were required to submit information including detection platforms, single-cell amplification methods, library construction methods, sequencing instruments, and test results. Collected data were statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel to evaluate laboratories' PGT-A testing capabilities and determine whether results met predefined quality control requirements.Results:All 31 laboratories submitted results for both surveys. In the first survey, 90.3% (28/31) met qualification criteria with a 9.7% failure rate (3/31). For individual batches, pass rates were 90.3% (28/31) for batches 202401-202403 and 100% (31/31) for batches 202404-202406. The second survey achieved 100% (31/31) compliance across all three batches (202431-202433), with each batch maintaining a 100% pass rate.Conclusion:The detection quality of PGT-A in China is generally good, but with differences, and factors such as sample concentration, transportation conditions and detection methods affect the consistency of the results. The study highlights the urgent need for nationwide external quality assessment of PGT-A in China. This will help identify issues in laboratories in a timely manner and ensure the consistency of PGT-A test results.

Immunoinflammation mediates the development of hypertensive nephropathy,and aberrant activation of the complement system,an important component of the innate immune system,plays an important role in the development of hypertensive nephropathy.Complement inhibition is expected to be a potential strategy for the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy.In this article,we summarized and reviewed relevant studies on the complement system in the development of hypertensive nephropathy,and complement-targeted drug therapy,aiming to provide new ideas for clinicians on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive nephropathy.

Objective:To investigate the current status of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) in China in 2024 and to provide recommendations for ensuring the consistency of PGT-A results.Methods:This study was a nationwide external quality assessment research. The National Center for Clinical Laboratories of the National Health Commission conducted two surveys in June and December 2024, with participation from 31 laboratories across China. During each survey, quality control samples of varying concentrations were distributed: the first survey distributed 6 samples (Batch Nos. 202401-202406) and the second survey distributed 3 samples (Batch Nos. 202431-202433). Participating laboratories were required to submit information including detection platforms, single-cell amplification methods, library construction methods, sequencing instruments, and test results. Collected data were statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel to evaluate laboratories' PGT-A testing capabilities and determine whether results met predefined quality control requirements.Results:All 31 laboratories submitted results for both surveys. In the first survey, 90.3% (28/31) met qualification criteria with a 9.7% failure rate (3/31). For individual batches, pass rates were 90.3% (28/31) for batches 202401-202403 and 100% (31/31) for batches 202404-202406. The second survey achieved 100% (31/31) compliance across all three batches (202431-202433), with each batch maintaining a 100% pass rate.Conclusion:The detection quality of PGT-A in China is generally good, but with differences, and factors such as sample concentration, transportation conditions and detection methods affect the consistency of the results. The study highlights the urgent need for nationwide external quality assessment of PGT-A in China. This will help identify issues in laboratories in a timely manner and ensure the consistency of PGT-A test results.

Immunoinflammation mediates the development of hypertensive nephropathy,and aberrant activation of the complement system,an important component of the innate immune system,plays an important role in the development of hypertensive nephropathy.Complement inhibition is expected to be a potential strategy for the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy.In this article,we summarized and reviewed relevant studies on the complement system in the development of hypertensive nephropathy,and complement-targeted drug therapy,aiming to provide new ideas for clinicians on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive nephropathy.

Objective:To explore the effects of canagliflozin on cardiac function and its regulation of ferroptosis in rats with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Methods:Thirty-two 7-week-old Dahl salt-sensitive rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups: the control group (fed with low-salt diet), the HFpEF group (fed with high-salt diet), the canagliflozin 20 group (fed with high-salt diet and 20 mg·kg -1·d -1 canagliflozin), and the canagliflozin 30 group (fed with high-salt diet and 30 mg·kg -1·day -1 canagliflozin). Body weight and blood pressure of the rats in each group were monitored. Metabolic cage tests were conducted at the10 th week of the experiment, and echocardiography was performed at the 12 th week, after which the rats were killed. Blood and left ventricular samples were collected. HE staining, Masson staining, Prussian blue iron staining, and reactive oxygen species staining were performed to observe the cardiomyocyte size and shape, degree of interstitial fibrosis, iron staining, reactive oxygen species production under optical microscope. The ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes was observed under electron microscope. Western blotting and real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the expression levels of proteins and mRNA related to ferroptosis in left ventricular myocardial tissue of rats in each group. Results:After 1 week of adaptive feeding, all rats survived. Metabolic cage results showed that compared with control group, rats in the HFpEF group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group had more food intake, water intake and urine output, and lower body weight (all P<0.05). These changes were more pronounced in canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group than in HFPEF group, and only the body weight at the 12 th week showed a statistically significant difference between canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group ( P<0.05). The blood pressure of 6 th week and 12 th week, heart weight and left ventricular corrected mass of 12 th week of rats in HFpEF group were higher than those in control group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group, while the ratio of early mitral valve peak velocity to late mitral valve peak velocity of 12 th week was lower (all P<0.05). HE and Masson staining showed that compared to control group, the myocardial fibers in the left ventricular myocardial tissue of rats in HFpEF group were disordered, with larger cell diameter ((0.032±0.004) mm vs. (0.023±0.003) mm, P<0.05), irregular shape, obvious proliferation of interstitial collagen fibers, and higher collagen volume fraction (0.168±0.028 vs. 0.118±0.013, P<0.05). Compared with HFpEF group, rats in the canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 had more orderly arranged myocardial fibers, more regular cardiomyocyte shape, smaller cell diameter, and lower collagen volume fraction ( P<0.05). It was observed under electron microscopy that, compared to control group, most of the striated muscles in myocardial tissue of HFpEF group were broken, and the Z line and M line could not be clearly distinguished, some changes such as mitochondrial swelling, membrane thickening, cristae reduction or even disappearance occurred. In the canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group, the arrangement of striated muscles in the myocardial tissue of rats tended to be more regular, and the morphological changes of mitochondria were milder. Prussian blue iron staining results showed that the iron content in myocardial tissue of rats in HFpEF group was higher than that in control group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group. Reactive oxygen species staining results showed that the reactive oxygen species content in the myocardial tissue of rats in HFpEF group was higher than that of control group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group. Biochemical analysis of myocardial tissue showed that Fe 2+ and malondialdehyde content in myocardial tissue of rats in HFpEF group were higher than those in control group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group, while glutathione content was lower (all P<0.05). Western blot and RT-qPCR detection results showed that compared to control group, rats in HFpEF group had higher expression levels of transferrin receptor 1 (protein relative expression level: 1.37±0.16 vs. 0.31±0.12), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (protein relative expression level: 1.31±0.15 vs. 0.63±0.09) protein and mRNA, and lower expression levels of ferritin heavy chain 1 (protein relative expression level: 0.45±0.08 vs. 1.41±0.15) protein and mRNA (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in these indicators between canagliflozin 20 group and the canagliflozin 30 group (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 protein and mRNA expression in myocardial tissue of rats in four groups( P>0.05). Conclusion:Canagliflozin improves cardiac function in HFpEF rats by regulating the ferroptosis mechanism.

OBJECTIVES: Diarrheal disease continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. We investigated how anomalies in monthly average temperature, precipitation, and surface water storage (SWS) impacted bacterial, and viral diarrhea morbidity in Taiwan between 2004 and 2015. METHODS: A multivariate analysis using negative binomial generalized estimating equations was employed to quantify age-specific and cause-specific cases of diarrhea associated with anomalies in temperature, precipitation, and SWS. RESULTS: Temperature anomalies were associated with an elevated rate of all-cause infectious diarrhea at a lag of 2 months, with the highest risk observed in the under-5 age group (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.07). Anomalies in SWS were associated with increased viral diarrhea rates, with the highest risk observed in the under-5 age group at a 2-month lag (IRR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.42) and a lesser effect at a 1-month lag (IRR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.31). Furthermore, cause-specific diarrheal diseases were significantly affected by extreme weather events in Taiwan. Both extremely cold and hot conditions were associated with an increased risk of all-cause infectious diarrhea regardless of age, with IRRs ranging from 1.03 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.12) to 1.18 (95% CI, 1.16 to 1.40). CONCLUSIONS The risk of all-cause infectious diarrhea was significantly associated with average temperature anomalies in the population aged under 5 years. Viral diarrhea was significantly associated with anomalies in SWS. Therefore, we recommend strategic planning and early warning systems as major solutions to improve resilience against climate change.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is an idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head in childhood, the deformities of the femoral head occurring in the progress of disease could result in osteoarthritis. Treatment can be surgical or nonsurgical, but the timing and indications remain unclear. Understanding of the prognostic factors of LCPD is helpful to predict the outcome and guide the clinical management. This study reviewed the literatures about the prognosis of LCPD since 2000, the prognostic factors were summarized from three categoriesas general factors, disease factors and intervention factors. The general factors were the characteristic information of patient that can be obtained at the first time clinically. The age of onset is the most definite prognostic factor, the younger the age, the better the prognosis, and 6-8 years is an important watershed. Disease factors refer to the disease characteristic information obtained through evaluation. The modified Waldenstr?m stage of the disease needs to be confirmed first, early treatment can ensure better prognosis. Then the severity was evaluated, including the involvement of necrosis, morphological changes and extrusion of the femoral head. The more severe the disease, the worse the prognosis. Most predicters, such as Catterall grading and Herring lateral column typing, have to be used in late-stage of LCPD. The degree of femoral head perfusion evaluated in enhanced MRI or DWI-MRI is an early predictor of LCPD, but it is still in the preliminary exploratory. Intervention factors are the effects of different methods of treatment on prognosis, including the comparison of surgery or non-surgery, different non-surgical and different surgical methods. The determination of surgical or non-surgical treatment mainly depends on the age of onset and severity of disease, and the younger and milder cases tend to be non-surgical treatment, but the specific indications are still controversial.

Objective:To investigate the Graf classification results and risk factors of infants for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) by B-ultrasound screening in Tianjin.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted from January 2013 to December 2020 using the three-tier maternal and child health care management and the Tianjin maternal and child health information system for the early B-ultrasound screening data of 6-8 weeks old infants. The "2+1" screening model of "primary screening-re-screening-diagnostic treatment" was applied. The positive screening rate and age of infants at the time of referral for treatment in different years and different Graf classifications were analyzed, and the differences in positive infants with different sex, parity, fetal position, mode of production, gestational age, birth weight, and family history were compared. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for DDH.Results:A total of 807 889 babies were screened, and 2 039 children (2 841 hips) were detected with B-ultrasound Graf classification count IIa and above, with the positive rate was 2.52‰ (2 039/807 889). Among the abnormal hips, 685 were type IIa(+) hips, 959 were type IIa(-) hips, 367 were type IIb hips, 262 were type IIc hips, 227 were type D hips, 265 were type III hips, and 76 were type IV hips. Type IIa(-) was the most common, accounting for 33.76% (959/2 841), type IIa(+) accounted for 24.11% (685/2 841), type D and above was 19.99%(568/2 841). The abnormality rate of the left hip was 2.02‰ (1 632/807 889), which was greater than 1.50‰ (1 209/807 889) of the right side, and the difference is statistically significant (χ 2=63.09, P<0.001). The rate of hip abnormalities in female infants was 3.27‰ (2 541/777 272), greater than 0.36‰ (300/838 506) in male infants, which the difference between the sexes had statistically significant (χ 2=1 947.871, P<0.001). The positive rate of DDH in male infants was 0.50‰ (209/419 253), and that in female infants was 4.71‰ (1 830/388 636). The detection ratio of male to female infants was 1∶8.76, and the difference in the positive rate of DDH between the sexes was statistically significant (χ 2=1 420.102, P<0.001). Different fetal position (cephalic position/breech presentation), delivery method (normal delivery/cesarean section), birth weight (normal/low weight), family history (with DDH/without DDH) showed statistically significant differences in the positive rate of DDH ( P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in the positive rate of DDH at different parity (first/second and above) and gestational age (term/premature) ( P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that gender ( OR=10.50, P<0.001) and fetal position ( OR=3.40, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for DDH, and gestational age ( OR=0.91, P<0.001) was a protective factor for DDH. Differences in referral age of infants with different B-ultrasound Graf classification from year to year were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Through the "2+1" screening model of "primary screening-re-screening-diagnostic treatment", the DDH positive rate in 6-8 weeks old infants in Tianjin was 2.52‰, and the positive rate of DDH in female infants and left hip was higher. The more severe the Graf classification of B-ultrasound was, the younger the age of referral was. Women and infants with breech presentation had a higher risk of developing DDH, and the risk of DDH in preterm infants was lower.

Biodegradation of polyurethane (PUR) pollutants by microorganisms has received widespread attention currently. Identification of microorganisms capable of efficiently degrading PUR plastics is a key point. In this study, a strain P10 capable of degrading PUR was isolated from the plastic wastes, and identified as a bacterium belonging to the genus of Brevibacillus based on colony morphology and 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis. Brevibacillus sp. P10 was capable of degrading 71.4% of waterborne polyurethane (Impranil DLN) after 6 days growth in MSM medium with DLN as a sole carbon source. In addition, strain P10 can use commercial PUR foam as the sole carbon source for growth. Brevibacillus sp. P10 can degrade 50 mg PUR foam after 6 days growth in MSM medium supplemented with 5% (V/V) LB after optimization of degradation conditions. This indicates that Brevibacillus sp. P10 has potential to be used in biodegradation of PUR waste.
Bacteria ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Phylogeny ; Polyurethanes

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with SSRIs in the treatment of patients with depression. Methods A total of 83 patients with depression admitted to our hospital between January 2019 and January 2020 were selected as the research objects. Patients in the control group were treated with SSRIs, and the combined treatment (observation) group was treated with acupuncture on the basis of the control group. The clinical efficacy, anxiety (HAMD) and depression scale (HAMD) of patients in the two groups were compared. Results After treatment, the clinical efficacy of depression patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). HAMA and HAMD scores showed statistical difference between the two groups. HAMA and HAMD scores of patients in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture combined with SSRIs in the treatment of depression can significantly improve the patient's condition, reduce the patient's anxiety and depression, and has a positive significance for the treatment of the patients.