Objective: To analyze the impact of maternal metal exposure during early pregnancy on the physical development of offspring at 1 and 3 years of age, so as to provide scientific evidence for reducing the adverse effects of heavy metals on their health. Methods: From 2024 to 2018, a total of 1 588 mother child pairs from the Jiangsu Birth Cohort (JBC) were included in this study. Multiple linear regression models, generalized estimating equations (GEE), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were used to assess the associations between 24 urinary metal mass concentrations (adjusted for specific gravity, SG) during early pregnancy and offspring growth outcomes, including length/height for age Z score(HAZ), weight for age Z score(WAZ), weight for length/height Z score(WHZ), and head circumference for age Z score(HCAZ) at 1 and 3 years of age. Results: After adjusting for confounders, GEE analysis revealed that each natural log unit increase in maternal urinary concentrations of vanadium, tin, cerium, lead, and uranium during early pregnancy was associated with an average reduction in HCAZ by 14.29%, 4.82%, 2.62 %, 5.04 %, and 8.33%, respectively, at 1 and 3 years of age (FDR- P <0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that increased urinary vanadium concentration was associated with reduced HAZ at 1 year of age, while increased urinary concentrations of vanadium, chromium, tin, antimony, and uranium were associated with reduced HCAZ at 1 year of age (FDR- P <0.05). In the WQS regression model, each unit increase in the WQS index was associated with a 22.64% reduction in HCAZ at 1 year of age, with tin (22.2%) contributing the highest weight, followed by uranium (16.2%), lead (11.5%), vanadium (10.0%), arsenic (6.5%), and chromium (5.0%). Conclusions Prenatal exposure to specific metals and their mixtures may significantly impact the physical development of offspring at 1 and 3 years of age, particularly head circumference. These findings highlight the need to enhance monitoring of maternal metal exposure during early pregnancy to reduce the potential health risks posed by environmental metal pollution to infants and young children.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypomethylating agents (HMA) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) .Methods:A total of 409 MDS patients from 45 hospitals in Zhejiang province who received at least four consecutive cycles of HMA monotherapy as initial therapy were enrolled to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HMA. Mann-Whitney U or Chi-square tests were used to compare the differences in the clinical data. Logistic regression and Cox regression were used to analyze the factors affecting efficacy and survival. Kaplan-Meier was used for survival analysis. Results:Patients received HMA treatment for a median of 6 cycles (range, 4-25 cycles) . The complete remission (CR) rate was 33.98% and the overall response rate (ORR) was 77.02%. Multivariate analysis revealed that complex karyotype ( P=0.02, OR=0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.84) was an independent favorable factor for CR rate. TP53 mutation ( P=0.02, OR=0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.77) was a predictive factor for a higher ORR. The median OS for the HMA-treated patients was 25.67 (95% CI 21.14-30.19) months. HMA response ( P=0.036, HR=0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.95) was an independent favorable prognostic factor, whereas complex karyotype ( P=0.024, HR=2.14, 95% CI 1.10-4.15) , leukemia transformation ( P<0.001, HR=2.839, 95% CI 1.64-4.92) , and TP53 mutation ( P=0.012, HR=2.19, 95% CI 1.19-4.07) were independent adverse prognostic factors. There was no significant difference in efficacy and survival between the reduced and standard doses of HMA. The CR rate and ORR of MDS patients treated with decitabine and azacitidine were not significantly different. The median OS of patients treated with decitabine was longer compared with that of patients treated with azacitidine (29.53 months vs 20.17 months, P=0.007) . The incidence of bone marrow suppression and pneumonia in the decitabine group was higher compared with that in the azacitidine group. Conclusion:Continuous and regular use of appropriate doses of hypomethylating agents may benefit MDS patients to the greatest extent if it is tolerated.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a common macular disease, which can lead to the loss of central vision in young patients. Although the disease is self-limited to some extent, there is no shortage of patients with prolonged course and recurrent attacks, eventually leading to irreversible visual impairment. Therefore, taking reasonable treatment in a certain period is particularly important for the visual prognosis of patients. Although thermal laser photocoagulation of leakage points and photodynamic therapy (PDT) have achieved good effects, there are risks of retinal damage and retinal pigment epithelium atrophy. Subthreshold micropulse laser (SMLP) is a kind of subthreshold short pulse laser, which does not cause visible damage to the retina and is safer. In the era of lack of PDT drugs, SMLP has gradually become an important means of clinical treatment for CSC, especially for patients with no obvious leakage point or subfoveal leakage point. An in-depth understanding of the mechanism of action of SMLP and its efficacy and safety in the treatment of CSC is helpful for the promotion and application of SMLP in the clinical treatment of CSC.

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*

Background Tin and its compounds can cause serious harm to human respiratory system and nervous system, but there is no corresponding national standard method for the determination of tin in PM_2.5. Objective To establish a method for the determination of tin and its compounds in PM_2.5 by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) after ultrasonic extraction with concentrated hydrochloric acid. Methods We extracted a fixed volume of air at a constant speed through a sampler with preset cutting characteristics to trap PM_2.5 in the ambient air on quartz filter membranes. By selecting extraction solvent, comparing extraction temperature and time, and adjusting the acidity of solution to be measured, the sample pretreatment process was optimized, and a method for the determination of tin and its compounds in PM_2.5 by AFS was proposed, and its performance indexes such as linearity, detection limit, and lower limit of quantification were obtained. The accuracy and precision of the method were evaluated by the standard addition recovery test with blank quartz filter membranes, and the interference test was carried out by adding standard urban particulate samples. The proposed method and the method recommended by the “Handbook on Monitoring and Protection of Air Pollution (Haze) Effects on Population Health (2020)” (the Handbook) were applied to actual samples, and the results were compared. Results This experiment used concentrated hydrochloric acid as the extraction solvent. The higher the reaction temperature and the longer the reaction time, the higher the recovery rate. Therefore, 70 ℃ water bath ultrasonic extraction for 3 h was selected. In terms of the proposed method, the linear range of detection was from 5.00 μg·L⁻¹ to 50.00 μg·L⁻¹, with a correlation coefficient ≥0.999 and a detection limit of 0.27 μg·L⁻¹. When the quantitative detection of the lower limit was 0.90 μg·L⁻¹，and the sampling volume was 144 m³, the limit of quantification was 1.25 ng·m⁻³. The recovery rate of standard addition of blank quartz filter membranes was 94.1%-97.5%, with a relative standard deviation ≤3.2%; the recovery rate of standard addition of standard urban particulate matter samples was 93.5%-103.0%, and the relative standard deviation was ≤2.1%, indicating that coexisting components in PM_2.5 samples would not affect the determination of tin. For the 10 quartz filter membrane samples of PM_2.5 monitoring, the results of tin by the established method (extraction with concentrated hydrochloric acid) were higher than those of the Handbook recommended method (extraction with nitric acid), and the difference is (3.61±0.54) ng·m⁻³(t=21.303, P<0.05). Conclusion The established method for the determination of tin and its compounds in PM_2.5 by AFS after ultrasonic extraction with concentrated hydrochloric acid is simple, accurate, and suitable for laboratory determination of tin and its compounds in large quantities of PM_2.5 samples.

[摘 要] 目的：探讨幽门螺杆菌（Helicobacter pylori, Hp）感染对胃癌细胞共济失调毛细血管扩张突变（ataxia-telangiectasia mutated，ATM）基因表达的影响及其临床意义。方法：从TCGA数据库中获取胃癌相关RNAseq数据，比较ATM基因的表达差异，分析ATM表达与患者临床病理参数的相关性及预后价值，用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析，LinkedOmics数据库分析ATM相关基因，用R语言进行GO、KEGG富集分析。选用2019年3月至2019年12月贵州医科大学附属医院12例手术切除的胃癌及癌旁组织标本，以及胃癌细胞系AGS和BGC823，用感染复数40∶1的Hp GZ7菌感染细胞，用免疫组织化学染色法检测胃癌组织中ATM蛋白的表达，qPCR法检测胃癌组织和细胞中ATM mRNA的表达。结果：TCGA数据显示胃癌和Hp感染胃癌组织中ATM miRNA表达水平均显著高于癌旁组织（均P<0.01）；胃癌组织中ATM miRNA表达与患者的T分期、AJCC分期等病理参数呈正相关（均P<0.05），ATM高表达时生存率显著降低（P<0.05）。实验检测显示，胃癌组织标本中ATM蛋白的表达水平明显高于癌旁组织（P<0.01）；Hp感染胃癌细胞中ATM miRNA表达水平显著高于未感染胃癌细胞（P<0.01）。胃癌中ATM基因与NPAT等12 461个基因呈正相关（P<0.05），与MIF等7 764个基因呈负相关（P<0.05）。GO、KEGG富集分析显示，ATM富集到DNA修复复合体、癌症中的转录失调等信号通路。结论：ATM基因在胃癌组织中高表达，患者生存率随表达水平的增高而降低，其与患者的T分期、AJCC分期等病理参数相关，且Hp感染引起ATM表达水平升高可能是Hp引起胃癌的原因之一。

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, risk factors for critical illness and death of severe adenovirus pneumonia in children, so as to provide clinical evidences for early diagnosis and reliable treatment.Methods:A total of 75 pediatric cases with severe adenovirus pneumonia admitted to Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January to October 2019 were studied. The clinical features, laboratory and imaging data, therapeutic approaches, efficacy of the treatments and prognosis were investigated retrospectively. Patients were divided into severe group and critical group. Chi square test and Mann-Whitney U rank sum test were used to analyze the data of the two groups. The risk factors for critical illness and death were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression. Results:Among the 75 children, there were 52 males and 23 females, aged from 3 months to 8 years, including 30 of severe cases and 45 of critical case. The positive rate of adenovirus antigen in nasopharyngeal swab was 21% (15/72), and the positive rate of serum adenovirus IgM antibody was only 13% (10/75). However, the positive rate of adenovirus nucleic acid in nasopharyngeal swab was 75% (21/28). What is more, the positive rates of metagenomics next generation sequencing (mNGS) in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were 92% (33/36) and 96% (54/56), respectively, of which 95% (63/66) were confirmed as adenovirus type 7. Relatively high dose of ribavirin and integrated therapeutic approaches (respiratory support, glucocorticoids, immunoglobulin and organ supportive therapies) were used. The recovery rate was 77% (58/75), the improvement rate was 8% (6/75) and the mortality rate was 15% (11/75). The proportion of children with the duration of fever longer than 3 days after ribavirin treatment in the critical group was significantly higher than that in the severe group(51% (18/35) vs. 8% (2/26), χ 2=12.949, P<0.05). The risk factors for critical illness were younger than 4 years, longer duration of fever before and after admission to PICU, oxygenation index<300 mmHg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), ferritin>1 000 μg/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)>1 500 U/L, 5 lung lobes involvement, pleural effusion and (or) air leakage (all P<0.05). Among them, 5 lung lobes involvement was the independent risk factor for critical illness (adjusted OR=49.641, 95% CI 4.186-588.618, P=0.002). Risk factors for death included longer duration of fever after being admitted to PICU, oxygenation index<100 mmHg, ferritin>2 000 μg/L, interleukin (IL)-6>100 ng/L, LDH>1 500 U/L, pleural effusion and (or) air leakage (all P<0.05). Among them, IL-6>100 ng/L was the independent risk factor for the mortalities of critically ill children (adjusted OR=16.094, 95% CI2.059-25.787, P=0.008). Conclusions:The mortality rate of severe pediatric adenovirus pneumonia caused by adenovirus type 7 is high. High positive rates of adenovirus nucleic acid in nasopharyngeal swabs and mNGS in plasma or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contribute to early diagnosis, and mNGS can also be used for serotyping. Younger children under 4 years of age, persistent fever, extensive pulmonary lesions and significantly increased inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 are warning indicators for critical illness and poor prognosis. Relatively high dose of ribavirin combined with integrated therapeutic approaches are beneficial for prognosis.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in pediatric patients, and to provide data support and decision-making basis for the prevention and control of COVID-19. Methods: Cases of children aged 0-17 years reported by provincial health commissions in Anhui, Shandong, Zhejiang and Henan provinces were collected to analyze their spatial, temporal, and demographic distribution. Results: By 24:00 on February 6, 2020, a total of 107 pediatric patients had been reported in the four provinces, accounting for 3.8% (107/2 808) of the total cases reported in the four provinces during the same period. Anhui, Shandong, Zhejiang and Henan provinces had 25, 25, 28 and 29 cases, respectively. Cases ranged in age from 5 days after birth to 17 years, with a median age of 8 years. Boys accounted for 58.9%. Totally 38 cases had a history of sojourn in Wuhan or Hubei, 63 cases had a history of exposure to confirmed cases, and 6 cases with unknown exposure history. A group of 52 family clustering were found in 107 cases. All cases presented mild symptoms, no serious and no death. Conclusion Children were also susceptible to the COVID-19. Before February 2, the index pediatric cases were mainly the first generation cases, and after February 3, these pediatric cases were mainly the secondary-generation cases and those who had close contact with confirmed cases. The monitoring of children with secondgeneration cases and close contact with COVID-19 cases were valued.

We used the epidemic data of COVID-19 published on the official website of the municipal health commission in Anhui province. We mapped the spatiotemporal changes of confirmed cases, fitted the epidemic situation by the population growth curve at different stages and took statistical description and analysis of the epidemic situation in Anhui province. It was found that the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was 156/100 000 by February 18, 2020 and the trend of COVID-19 epidemic declined after February 7, changing from J curve to S curve. The actual number of new cases began to decrease from February 2 to February 4 due to the time of case report and actual onset delayed by 3 to 5 days.

TORCH, which is considered as a series of pathogens, including the Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus or Herpes simplex virus, often infects the pregnant women to induce the the fetus or newborn infection by transplacental infection or exposure to contaminated genital tract secretions at delivery. Increasing evidence have been confirmed that the infection of TORCH may cause the miscarriage, premature birth, malformed fetus, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation, neonatal multiple organ dysfunction and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. For most TORCH-infections cases may lacking the effective treatments during pregnancy, and it is important to achieve the effacing monitoring of TORCH infections before and during pregnancy. The laboratory testing of TORCH has the great significance. However, the consensus opinions still need to improve the the standardization of TORCH testing process and the correct interpretation. Based on the characteristics of the TORCH detection method, this article gives a consensus opinion on the standardized detection and clinical application of TORCH from the laboratory perspective according to the characteristics and types of infection of different pathogens.